Issuu

The Women Shaping Our Community

There’s something worth pausing for this month. With Mother’s Day here, I find myself thinking about the women who have shaped my life in ways both big and small. The ones who showed up, offered perspective, gave support, and didn’t always expect recognition for it. Their impact isn’t always loud, but it stays with you.

As we worked through this issue, that idea kept coming back.

You’ll meet women like Vicki Carley, whose work happens behind the scenes, connecting people and opportunities in ways that help shape Boise’s future. The events we enjoy, the energy we feel downtown, those things don’t happen by accident.

You’ll also read about Tammy de Weerd, who has taken a life of public service and turned it into something more personal, finding new ways to connect people through storytelling and shared experiences.

In Eagle, Jennifer Zebio is creating something quieter, but just as meaningful. What looks like a small shop becomes a place where people slow down, connect, and spend time together.

And throughout this issue, you’ll see women building, leading, creating, and contributing in ways that don’t always make headlines, but make a real difference in the communities we live in.

That’s what makes this place what it is.

For me, this issue is also a reminder to take a moment and acknowledge that. To reach out, say thank you, and recognize the people who have had an impact, whether it’s a quick note, a call, or just taking the time to let someone know they matter.

Here’s to the women who continue to shape our lives and our community, often quietly, but always meaningfully.

Happy Mother’s Day.

VINCE GEWALT, PUBLISHER @BOISELIFESTYLE

May 2026

PUBLISHER

Vince Gewalt | vince.gewalt@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Tricia Busalacchi | tricia.busalacchi@citylifestyle.com

STAFF WRITER

Jordan Gray | editorial@boisecitylifestyle.com

SALES SUPPORT ASSISTANT

Maria Serondo | support@boisecitylifestyle.com

SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR

Russell Detablan | editorial@boisecitylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Ashley Loeb, Jordan Gray, Jana Kemp, Renee Van Ausdle, Laura Sanchezquan, Kali Kasorzyk, Amy Tinnin

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Ashley Loen, Phil White, 8th Street Studio, Jennifer Zebio, Amy Tinnin

Corporate Team

CEO Steven Schowengerdt

President Matthew Perry

COO David Stetler

CRO Jamie Pentz

CoS Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Evan Deuvall

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kirstan Lanier

QUALITY CONTROL SPECIALIST Marina Campbell

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Making Boise a Destination City

Vicki

From City Hall to Shared Stories

Tammy

Neon That Refused Darkness

Vangie

The annual Red Shoe Shindig brought the community together in February to support families served by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho. The evening highlighted the organization’s mission to provide a place for families to stay close while their children receive medical care. Guests heard from the Burton family, whose son Zeke spent 268 nights at the House, a powerful reminder of the impact of that support.

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The event also recognized this year’s “Heart of Care” honorees for their compassion and service. With more than $440,000 raised, the evening will help ensure families have comfort, stability, and proximity to care when they need it most.

Photography by @rmhidaho

ARTICLE BY JANA KEMP PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL WHITE, 8TH STREET STUDIO

“Tourism is my passion. We live here too, and we want Boise to continue to be a great place to live and visit.”

Making Boise a Destination City

Vicki Carley helps secure major events that drive tourism, partnerships, and long-term growth across the city

Ever wondered how conventions and citywide events like the Big Sky Basketball Tournament come to Boise?

Meet Vicki Carley, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for Block 22 Property Management, whose work happens largely behind the scenes—but whose impact is felt across the city.

“I love helping bring big events to Boise,” Vicki says. The Big Sky men’s and women’s tournaments began here in 2019 and returned again in March 2026, with a renewed commitment through 2032—an example of the kind of long-term partnerships that help shape Boise’s event calendar.

Tourism is one of the top industries bringing new dollars into Idaho, and Vicki’s role is to help make those visits happen. Much of her work begins long before an event is ever announced.

“I spend a lot of time knocking on doors, asking questions, and inviting people to collaborate,” she says.

That collaboration includes working with organizations like Visit Boise and the Southwest Idaho Travel Association, as well as venues and businesses across the city. Together, they present Boise not just as a destination, but as a coordinated and welcoming experience for event organizers.

Block 22 manages several of downtown Boise’s key hotels and venues, including The Grove Hotel and Idaho Central Arena— both central to hosting and supporting large-scale events.

When a convention or tournament comes to town, the impact extends well beyond the event itself. Hotels fill, restaurants see increased traffic, and visitors explore the region—often extending their stays to experience more of what Idaho has to offer.

But bringing those events to Boise is not automatic. It requires coordination, persistence, and a clear understanding of what sets the city apart.

Working closely with the Boise Centre and partners across the community, Vicki helps shape how Boise is presented to planners considering future events. Site visits are often where those efforts come together.

“Once we get people here, they fall in love with Boise,” she says.

Visitors frequently point to the city’s walkability, accessibility, and sense of community. Behind the scenes, that experience is supported by ongoing investment in downtown hotels and venues, including recent updates at properties like The Grove Hotel that help Boise remain competitive for larger events.

Vicki’s connection to Boise runs deep. Her family moved here in 1989, and her career has spanned hospitality, arena management, and public-private partnerships.

“I’ve been lucky in my career,” she says, “to work with people who care about this community.”

That commitment extends beyond events. Block 22 supports a range of local arts and cultural organizations, contributing to the broader experience that both residents and visitors value.

At the center of it all is a simple idea: bringing people to Boise is not just about filling rooms or hosting events—it’s about sustaining what makes the city a place people want to be.

“Tourism is my passion,” Vicki says. “We live here too, and we want Boise to continue to be a great place to live and visit.”

Big Sky Tournament action at Idaho Central Arena

QUIET WORK, LASTING IMPACT

From small steps to

lasting change,

these women are helping shape their communities through work that speaks for itself

Spend enough time in the Treasure Valley and you start to notice how things come together.

A business opens and finds its footing. A space begins to feel like somewhere people want to return to. A project gains traction, not all at once, but slowly, through consistent effort and attention. It rarely happens overnight, and it is not always tied to a single person or moment.

More often, it is the result of people who stay with it.

This issue highlights women who are part of that ongoing work across the community. Their roles are different, and their paths do not look the same. Some are building something of their own. Others are contributing

in ways that support and strengthen what is already there. In many cases, their impact is not immediate or obvious, but over time, it becomes clear.

What connects them is not a title or a specific kind of work.

It is a willingness to show up, to take responsibility for what they are building, and to keep going even when progress is slow.

Together, they reflect how this place continues to grow through effort, consistency, and people who care about where they live and what they are part of.

Editor’s Note: Know someone making an impact? Editorial@BoiseCityLifestyle.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL WHITE, 8TH STREET STUDIO

Dr. Sarah Quilici, Bishop Kelly High School

Christa Sutton, K-Counseling & Anxiety Treatment

Barbara Kaylor, R. Grey Gallery

Kathy Rowan, Riverstone International School

Tara Bruner, Olive and Vyne

Nicole Diantonio & Julie Tollofson, Hendricks Commercial Properties

Suzi Boyle, Castle & Cooke Mortgage

Georgia Stokes, The Tile House

Quincy Rainey, Alpine Tree Service

Dr. Jennifer Jordan, Eagle Therapist Collective

Dana Biberston, Clyde Capital Group

Kathy Humphries, Pi Baby Boutique

Mona Warchol, Sunnyslope Wine Trail

Anna Marie Aldinger, IBL Events

Marcela Bullen, Château des Fleurs Beth Haney, Eagle Aesthetics

Cinda Robbins & Star Moxley, Crazy Neighbor

Elizabeth Baggerly, Proletariat Wine Company

Kecia Carlson, Madeline George Garden Design Nursery

Meagan Ellis, Treasure Valley Family YMCA

eat kind

EMBRACING A PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR BODY

Wellness isn’t about restricting — it’s really about giving. Giving to yourself and to your body in a way that allows them both to thrive. The cool part? The things that give to your body naturally give to your mind, your hormones, your earth, your relationships, and so on — it’s all beautifully interconnected in that way. Eat your greens, cook at home, choose local produce and quality meats, don’t be scared of healthy fats — but also support local farmers, move in a way that makes your body and mind feel good, prioritize times of mindfulness and stillness.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 6 oz. filets of wild caught salmon

• 1 Tbsp. avocado oil

• 1 Tbsp. coconut aminos

• Zest and juice from one lemon

• 1 Tbsp. stone ground mustard

• 1 4 oz. container coconut yogurt, unsweetened

• 2 Tbsp. fresh dill, minced

• 2 Tbsp. capers, drained and minced

• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Marinate the salmon in the lemon juice, coconut aminos, and stone ground mustard for up to two hours.

2. Drizzle salmon with avocado oil, sprinkle with salt and ground pepper, and broil on high for five to seven minutes, until cooked to desired temperature.

3. Mix coconut cream, lemon zest, dill, capers, and ground pepper together.

4. Top salmon with coconut cream, serve with roasted or sautéed veggies, brown or cauliflower rice, or fresh greens. Enjoy!

simple roasted salmon with dill coconut cream

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From City Hall to Shared Stories

TAMMY DE WEERD EXPLORES CONNECTION, FAMILY, AND LIFE BEYOND PUBLIC SERVICE

Retirement plans can often take unexpected turns.

For Tammy de Weerd, who served as mayor of Meridian for 16 years, a retirement of speaking engagements and consulting shifted with one glass of wine.

“My husband and I have been traveling the world by wine region for the last two-and-a-half decades,” she said. “And we were sitting in South Africa at an old winery, and we were drinking an incredible wine that had an inspiring story. And my middle daughter, she had known that we wanted to do something with our knowledge of wine and our passion for wine, said, ‘You really need to bring these stories to life through video.’ And that was actually when our vision for our Spoken Wines business venture was born.”

What began as a passing idea over a glass of wine has since grown into something more defined.

Through Spoken Wines, de Weerd highlights new wines and the stories behind them, drawing from both global wine regions and those closer to home.

“We're just really excited to get people more enthusiastic about wine,” de Weerd said. “And the more they know about wine and the story behind it, it makes those wines extra special. It's not just liquid in the glass. There's history, there's people's lives, there're trials and triumphs.”

For de Weerd, that idea extends beyond wine. Her perspective on storytelling has also been shaped by more personal experiences, including co-authoring a book about her daughter’s unjust detention overseas, a journey she shared in a previous Boise Lifestyle feature

After years spent helping shape one of Idaho’s fastest-growing cities—guiding economic development, infrastructure, and community spaces—her focus has shifted.

ARTICLE BY JORDAN GRAY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL WHITE + PROVIDED

De Weerd is aided in bringing the work to life by husband Jan de Weerd, a retired horticulturalist, and two of her four children – one daughter in South Africa, and another in the Netherlands.

“That's been really fun, being able to work with our kids on a project like this,” de Weerd said.

De Weerd handles the videography for their YouTube and Instagram accounts, while Jan works with importers and offers perspective on how soils and climate affect the grapes. Everyone samples the wine.

“They’re all my favorites,” de Weerd said. “I’ll probably have a favorite with every winery we’re highlighting. I heard a sommelier say, ‘Don’t blame the grape if you don’t like that wine. You might not like that region.’ So, never discount a wine. Just find a new region and explore there.”

Featured wineries have included Hells Canyon Winery in Idaho and Aaldering in South Africa, where Spoken Wines first took shape. Their

travels in search of new wineries have taken them to France, Mexico, South Africa, and Australia, with plans for Argentina and Chile.

Sometimes those stories are closer to home. A conversation with a local vintner led the de Weerds to Rolling Hills Vineyard in Garden City, where a family-run operation mirrored something familiar— parents and children working side by side, each with a role to play.

Jan de Weerd interviews the Pasculli family at Rolling Hills Vineyard

The next generation at Williamson Orchards & Vineyards in Caldwell

Other Idaho wineries they’ve featured, including Cinder, Telaya, and others across the Snake River Valley, reflect a similar spirit of collaboration and shared growth within a young but evolving wine region.

“It’s where conversations are had and where people can find common ground,” she said. “People around the world are coming together around the table, and food and wine are equally important.”

De Weerd’s life isn’t solely devoted to wine though. Two of her children live in the Treasure Valley, along with 10 of her 11 grandchildren.

“One of the reasons I retired was so I could better connect with my kids and my grandkids,” she said. “And having daughters on different continents makes it even more interesting trying to keep connected. That's been a great part of the Spoken Wines work, it’s really helped connect us in a whole different way.”

When not traveling or telling vintners’ stories, de Weerd continues to invest in the community she once led—remaining involved with local organizations and initiatives that helped shape Meridian’s growth over the past two decades.

“I do stay involved in Meridian,” she said. “It is still my home. It still is where my passion is. And it always will be.”

Members of the Robertson family at Hells Canyon Winery

Cinder tasting room

De Weerd’s deeply personal journey shaped by faith and family

Here in Eagle, haberdashery reflects a slower pace where stitching creates connection, conversation, and community

WHERE STITCHING BUILDS COMMUNITY

ARTICLE BY STAFF WRITER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY JENNIFER ZEBIO

On a quiet corner in downtown Eagle, where sidewalks invite you to slow your pace and linger a little longer, The Cottage on Second blends easily into the rhythm of the neighborhood. Inside, the atmosphere shifts again—quieter, more intentional. At the back of the shop, past carefully arranged home goods and gifts, is the Haberdashery. It’s here that owner Jennifer Zebio is shaping something less obvious than a retail space and closer to a gathering place, built around the simple act of stitching. Before opening The Cottage on Second, Jennifer spent more than two decades working as a private banker. Her days were structured, fast-paced, and outwardly successful.

But after retiring and moving through a season of raising her daughters and caring for a grandparent, she began to look for something different—something that felt more personal.

The turning point came during an Honor Flight trip to Washington, D.C. with her grandfather. A visit to a small gift shop there stayed with her, not for what it sold, but for how it felt. The idea of creating something similar—something rooted in experience rather than transaction—began to take shape.

In 2023, she purchased The Cottage on Second, continuing a long-standing Eagle business while gradually redefining what it could be.

“I’m a very traditional person,” Jennifer says. “So much has gone online. I’ve always been drawn to things that are in-person, that bring people together.”

That instinct led her back to home arts. After trying quilting, she found embroidery and needlepoint offered something she hadn’t expected. The work required focus, but it also created space for stillness.

“I found a sense of calm in it,” she says. “And I wanted to share that with other people.”

The Haberdashery grew from that idea. Here, the word takes on a different meaning—not a definition, but a feeling. A place where materials are only the starting point, and the experience is what draws people in.

In Eagle, where community life still centers around walkable streets and familiar faces, that kind of space resonates. Interest in needlepoint and embroidery has quietly returned in recent years, as more people look for ways to step away from screens and into something tactile.

At The Cottage, that shift is visible not just in what’s offered, but in how people gather.

Classes in the Home Arts Studio have become central to the experience. Beginners sit alongside longtime stitchers. Conversations move easily— from patterns and techniques to books, travel, and the details of everyday life.

Open stitching sessions extend that rhythm, inviting anyone to join. What begins as a project often becomes something more—a shared table, a conversation, a sense of belonging.

“Haberdashery isn’t just about stitching,” Jennifer says. “It’s about creating community.”

In Eagle, that idea feels less like a concept and more like a continuation of something already here—one stitch, one conversation, and one connection at a time.

What begins as a simple stitch often becomes something more—a shared table, a conversation, and a sense of belonging that keeps people coming back again.

This year’s Parade reflects how homes are changing across the Treasure Valley region

A LOOK INSIDE TODAY’S NEW HOMES

ARTICLE BY STAFF WRITER

Each May, the Treasure Valley opens its doors.

Not all at once, and not in one place, but across Boise, Meridian, Eagle, Star, and Kuna, where new homes are quietly taking shape. For a couple of weeks, those homes are open to anyone who wants to step inside.

The Spring Parade of Homes runs May 2 through May 17, offering a chance to walk through homes across the region and see what’s being built right now. For some, it’s inspiration. For others, it’s curiosity. For many, it’s just something they’ve always done this time of year.

WHAT YOU NOTICE FIRST

It usually starts in the kitchen.

People linger there a little longer, looking at finishes, layout, and light, before moving into the rest of the home and eventually outside. Patios and backyards aren’t afterthoughts anymore. They’re part of how people actually live.

Even if you’re not building, you start to notice things. Homes feel more practical. Spaces are doing more. Offices are expected now. Storage is better thought out. There’s a sense that homes are being designed around real life, not just how they look.

BEFORE THE DOORS OPEN

Long before the doors open, builders and designers have been working toward this moment. The Parade is one of the few times all of that work is visible at once.

On April 30, the BCA Parade of Homes Awards Banquet recognizes those homes before the public ever sees them. It’s a smaller part of the event, but it matters to the people behind it.

Once the Parade begins, the homes take over.

ACROSS THE VALLEY

They’re spread across the Valley, and that’s part of the experience. You see where growth is happening. Some areas feel established. Others are just getting started.

For a lot of people, the Parade is something they come back to every year. Not because they’re building, but because it gives them a way to see what’s changing.

You can stop at one home or a handful. Spend an hour or most of the day.

In a region that continues to grow, it’s one of the easiest ways to see it for yourself. Learn more at BoiseParadeofHomes.com.

Plant You r Kitchen Garden

BACKYARD GARDENS OFFER FRESH VEGGIES AND FOOD FOR YOUR SOUL

A quick guide for simple ideas to start off your backyard kitchen garden. With endless health and medicinal benefits, combined with the beauty and enjoyment to be found, gardening is endlessly rewarding.

GETTING STARTED

• Plant your vegetable options right into your beds with flowers, the pollinators (bees, butterflies and more) are attracted to the beautiful flowers and your veggies will easily and abundantly go-tofruit, living harmoniously in one bed.

• Every garden needs a rain gauge - you’ll be surprised at how fun it is to check. There is nothing like rain water for your garden. (This is optional, but definitely fun).

• Get your family involved. It’s never too late!

• Just go for it, our local climate can be weird and often extreme but don’t let it stop you- the most success and fun I’ve had was just going for it. Experiment and see what you love and what works best for you!

• In most cases, when watering, don’t water the petals and leaves, (especially when they’re in direct sunlight) try to water straight to the soil. All they need is water, nutrients and light to thrive! (and maybe a little love helps too!)

• Don’t forget herbs: Lavender, Mint, Lemon Verbena, Oregano, Basil, Cilantro, Parsley and more. Don’t be afraid to skip the spice rack and grab your seasoning from the garden.

What to Plant

Whether starting from seed or seedlings, you can’t go wrong with these options. Start with foods you know you like to eat.

TOMATOES: They’re delicious, money-saving, good for eating fresh and for preserving. Tomatoes come in endless colors, shapes and sizes. Plant them in a sunny location with well-drained soil, ideally in full sun, and ensure they receive consistent moisture, supporting them with cages or stakes as they grow.

OKRA: Okra loves our hot summers and full sun. Don’t wait too long to pick your okra, ideally harvesting them when they are 2 to 4 inches long. Can be eaten raw on a salad or best served deep fried. (The flower that turns into the okra itself is uniquely beautiful as well!)

EGGPLANT: Eggplant is a short season vegetable and a relative of peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and tobacco. It thrives in heat and full sun and can be deliciously made into baba ganoush and many other delicious dishes.

ARTICLE BY LAURA SANCHEZQUAN

PEPPERS: Like tomatoes, peppers have many purposes and variations. Plant them in a sunny location with welldrained soil after the last frost, spacing them 18 inches apart, and provide consistent watering while ensuring the soil doesn't become waterlogged.

Flowers Bring Pollinators

Flowers bring joy to all five of our senses, but they also bring pollinators to our garden in order to ensure your backyard kitchen will produce lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Not to mention they also contain health and even medicinal properties.

HIBISCUS:

Make sure your hibiscus plants, whether tropical or hardy, get at least 6 hours of sun per day in order to achieve optimum blooming. Hibiscus flowers can be made into a delicious tea that can be served hot or ice cold (and is a good source of Vitamin C). With over 200 varieties of hibiscus world wide, their blooms only last a day or two! Stunning in all shapes, sizes and colors.

MARIGOLDS:

To the surprise of most people, marigold flowers are edible. Whether used fresh, dried, or infused into various beverages, Marigolds have a multitude of uses in the kitchen. An added benefit of planting these bright and low maintenance flowers next to tomatoes– they help keep pests away from devouring your tomatoes while also encouraging pollinators.

ZINNIAS: PLUMBAGO:

These bright, colorful garden gems have many benefits beyond their beauty and ease of care. Along with attracting pollinators, and being low maintenance they also have medicinal properties. Zinnias have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, they’re rich in antioxidants, and the natural compounds in zinnias can help calm irritated skin and reduce redness.

Plumbago is thought to have many health benefits, such as its anti-ulcer, anti-oxidant, and anti-cancer properties, resulting from its principal chemical components, which are concentrated in the roots, leaves, and stems of plants. This attractive light purple flowering plant thrives in the sun, and has moderate watering needs. Trim and prune to suit your own preferences of growth and it’s a welcome, abundantly beautiful member of any garden.

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RETHINKING STRENGTH, REDEFINING WOMEN’S FITNESS

Moving beyond extremes, three women help redefine fitness through education, balance, and long-term sustainability

For many women, the pressure to “do it right” in fitness starts early, eat less, do more, stay disciplined. At some point, the body pushes back.

For Olivia, Peyton, and Grace, that moment became the beginning of something different. What they had each experienced through sport, training, and personal struggle didn’t match what they had been taught, and it wasn’t something they could sustain long term.

Former college athletes Peyton and Grace first connected through lacrosse and their shared approach to

fitness, while Olivia’s path looked different. Her relationship with strength came through struggle, and eventually, through healing. Together, they began to recognize a common issue. Many women weren’t lacking discipline. They were lacking education.

“One of the number one things we see with women is severe undereating,” Peyton explains. The issue isn’t motivation. “People don’t even know what macros are,” she says. “A lot of it is fear fueled by a lack of education about food.”

ARTICLE BY ASHLEY LOEB | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASHLEY LOEB + PROVIDED

That fear shows up in different ways. It can look like skipping meals while still making it to the gym, or pushing for progress while feeling constantly depleted. On the outside, it looks like discipline, but internally, the body is struggling.

For Olivia, that disconnect became impossible to ignore.

Despite years of sports, she had never been taught how to properly fuel her body. When she started pursuing fitness on her own, the results came quickly. Weight loss, a sense of control, validation. But the impact followed just as fast. Her cycle stopped. Her hair began to thin. Social situations became isolating. “That taste of being thin was hard to leave,” she admits.

Eventually, her body forced a change.

A binge episode became the turning point that led her to seek help and ultimately to Grace. What followed wasn’t immediate. It was a gradual rebuilding of trust, both physically and mentally. Strength training became part of that shift, but not in the way she had originally understood it.

“It’s one of the simplest ways to feel evidence of discipline,” she says. Not punishment or control, just consistency. Showing up. Following through. Over time, that mindset carried into other areas of her life, from her career to her confidence. “If I could share one message,” she says, “it’s that you will be benefited so much in other aspects of life.”

Grace approaches the work with a focus on behavior and sustainability.

After discovering lifting during ACL rehabilitation, she learned that change doesn’t come from extremes. “Habits don’t change overnight,” she says. Instead, it’s built over

time through small, consistent actions and meeting people where they are.

That’s often where the real work begins.

For many women, the hardest step isn’t lifting weight. It’s walking into the gym. “A lot of it starts with being confident enough to take up space,” Grace says. The shift becomes less about the number on the scale and more about how the body feels, how it moves, and how it holds up over time.

Muscle starts to represent more than appearance. It supports metabolism, bone density, and long-term health.

Peyton experienced a similar shift. Learning how to properly fuel her body didn’t just improve her performance. It expanded her life. Cooking became something she enjoyed, not avoided. Food became something to understand, not fear.

What started as conversations, sometimes between sets, sometimes on a treadmill, eventually grew into something more intentional. They called it The Growth Project, a space where women could learn, ask questions, and work on strength training and nutrition in a more supportive way.

Because what kept coming up wasn’t just training or nutrition. It was trust.

Trust in your body. Trust in the process. Trust that strength doesn’t come from doing more, but from understanding what your body needs.

And over time, that trust carries into other areas of life, how people show up in their work, their relationships, and for themselves.

And for them, that’s really what this work is about.

Neon That Refused Darkness

Blue, pink, and red neon flickers every night against the Boise skyline on Grove Street—light that once hung over storefronts now illuminating a different kind of memory. For longtime resident Vangie Osborn, the glow marks the culmination of decades spent tracking down, rescuing, and restoring Boise’s vintage signs— work that, over time, required more patience than she first imagined.

The result is the Neon Grove, the city’s first outdoor gallery of historic neon.

The idea traces back to a moment Osborn nearly passed by.

After graduating from Boise State University in 1974, she worked for the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. While scouting retail space for a fundraiser, she came across two forgotten signs: the Royal Optical eyeglasses and a coffee cup from the Quickie Café. When she asked about them, she learned they were no longer wanted.

“At the time I passed on accepting the signs,” she said. “But a few years later I had the idea to create an installation in a small pocket park using those signs and maybe two or three others.”

The thought stayed with her. Eventually, she went back for the signs—and began noticing others.

What began as a modest concept gradually took shape as something more ambitious. Osborn founded the nonprofit Signs of Our Times, dedicating years to locating, preserving, and restoring pieces of Boise’s commercial past—often relying on relationships, persistence, and a willingness to keep moving the idea forward even when progress came slowly. Over time, the collection grew to dozens of signs, many of them neon, each tied to a business that once helped define the city’s streets.

“Many of my friends have helped along the way,” she said. “My two partners, Will Spearman and Michael Baltzell, along with Dwaine Carver, have been essential.”

From the beginning, Osborn envisioned the signs as part of the public landscape. Today, the City of Boise owns the Neon Grove, located along Grove Street between 12th and 13th Streets—close to where many of the signs originally hung. Partnerships with local businesses, including Anthony Guho’s Capitol City Downtown Development, and a network of sign specialists helped bring the project into the city’s Arts & History Department.

In early 2026, the broader Rebuild Linen Blocks project, which includes the Neon Grove, received a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies.

Vangie

Osborn’s decades-long pursuit to preserve Boise’s past now glows across a changing downtown landscape

ARTICLE BY RENEE VAN AUSDLE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAPITAL

CITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

For Osborn, the timeline was never exact.

“I’ve had many supporters over the years—although some began to wonder if I’d ever finish the project,” she said with a laugh. “Life gets in the way.”

In October 2025, about 200 people gathered for the ribbon-cutting and first lighting. As the signs flickered on, many in the crowd recognized pieces of their own past—familiar shapes and colors returning to view in a new setting.

“People constantly tell me the signs remind them of businesses and Boise in their youth,” she said. “Even people who didn’t grow up here find them nostalgic.”

Some moments stood out. “The daughter of Chuck Dragoo was there, along with the woman who had owned the Sands,” she said. “Both talked about how seeing the signs again brought back so many memories. It reaffirmed how important it is to honor the past.”

The work, she says, is not finished.

Osborn is preparing to install the Cub Tavern sign— once located where Bar Gernika stands today—on the Smith Building at 1015 Main Street. Plans also include returning the 1950s Idanha neon sign to its building and restoring the “Boise” portion of the Hotel Boise sign.

For decades, she chased forgotten neon, refusing to let Boise’s past fade, until memory lit the streets again for everyone.

“My original idea—after the pocket park—was to install a collection of signs in a downtown alley to create an old streetscape,” she said.

She continues to search for others, including the rotating shoe from King’s that once stood at 8th and Idaho. Many of the signs she has collected over the years are still waiting— stored, restored, or in progress—until the right place can be found for them.

“I’d be thrilled to locate any of the many neon signs that once gave Boise its glow.”

Looking back, Osborn says persistence mattered most.

“I hate to quote Nike,” she said. “But the advice is simple: just do it. Don’t let a good idea die.”

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A CENTURY OF MUSIC Rooted in Community AND Connection

Since 1919, Boise Music Week has offered free performances shaped by local talent and shared experience

ARTICLE BY STAFF WRITER | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

For more than a century, something remarkable has happened in Boise each spring.

Stages fill. Choirs gather. Musicians—many of them neighbors, teachers, students, and friends—step forward to perform, not for ticket sales or touring audiences, but for the community.

From May 2 through May 10, Boise Music Week returns for its 107th year, continuing what is considered the longest-running free musical celebration in the country.

That longevity traces back to a simple idea.

In 1919, Eugene A. Farner returned home from World War I with a vision: create a first-class musical celebration featuring local talent—and make sure no one would ever have to pay to attend.

More than a century later, that promise still holds.

Every performance is free. Every show is powered by volunteers. And every year, the talent comes from within the Treasure Valley.

The week feels less like a festival and more like a reflection of the place it comes from.

This year’s lineup returns with a mix of familiar and new performances. Music in the Park opens at the Gene Harris Bandshell, followed by Dance Night at Borah High School. Community Worship Night, the Children’s Music Series, and a series of noontime organ recitals once again fill First Presbyterian Church.

At the Egyptian Theatre, audiences will find both All That’s Jazz and the silent film accompanied by live organ—an experience that still draws a crowd.

The week builds toward its largest production: How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, staged at the Morrison Center. Lighthearted and energetic, it continues a long tradition of bringing a full musical to Boise audiences each year.

While the performances are polished, what happens behind the scenes is just as significant. Boise Music Week is entirely volunteer-driven, supported by thousands of donated hours—from performers and directors to set builders and event organizers.

That collective effort has allowed the event to endure, even as Boise has grown and evolved.

Over time, Boise Music Week has adapted. Early outdoor performances at the Idaho Statehouse moved indoors during wartime restrictions, later re-emerging in parks and venues across the city. Youth-focused events have shifted with school calendar

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

FRI, MAY 1 • 7:00 PM

Jazz Night — Egyptian Theatre

SAT, MAY 2 • 3:30–8:00 PM

Music in the Park — Gene Harris Bandshell

SAT, MAY 2 • 7:00 PM

Dance Night — Borah High School

SUN, MAY 3 • 7:00 PM

Community Worship — First Presbyterian Church

MON, MAY 4 • 12:15 PM

Organ Recital — First Presbyterian Church

MON, MAY 4 • 7:00 PM

Showcase Concert — Borah High School

TUE, MAY 5 • 12:15 PM

Organ Recital — First Presbyterian Church

WED, MAY 6 • 12:15 PM

Organ Recital — First Presbyterian Church

THU, MAY 7 • 12:15 PM

Organ Recital — First Presbyterian Church