BUSINESS NEWS
COVID-19 Panic Hits The Valley PG 11 SUN VALLEY
KETCHUM
HAILEY
HEALTH NEWS
GALLERY NEWS
Keeping The Valley Safe And Healthy PG 4
Shows & Viewings PG 6
BELLEVUE
PICABO
CAREY
WOOD RIVER WEEKLY YOUR VOICE IN THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY
Free | March 18 - 24, 2020 | Vol. 1 - No. 11 | woodriverweekly.com
“ Yo u a r e b r a v e r t h a n y o u b e l i e v e , s t r o n g e r t h a n y o u s e e m , s m a r t e r t h a n y o u t h i n k , and loved more than you’ll ever know.”~Winnie the Pooh
PANIC, SCREENING, ANOTHER COVID-19 CASE HITS VALLEY
Female patient over the age of 50 is recovering well at home
S
By Eric Valentine
outh Central Public Health District (SCPHD) and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) have confirmed a third positive case in southcentral Idaho of novel coronavirus. The newly confirmed case is a female patient over the age of 50. She is recovering well in her home under isolation and was not hospitalized, health officials said. This individual self-isolated as soon as she began showing symptoms. So far, investigation has not linked this case with the first two cases reported previously in Blaine County. The point of transmission is still under investigation. SCPHD issued a statement early Tuesday morning stating the epidemiology team has been working around the clock to identify any people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 by all three confirmed cases and monitor them for symptoms. “So far, none of the people exposed to the virus by our first three cases have shown symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19,” Logan Hudson, the public health director for SCPHD, said. “But we need people to be vigilant. If you are sick, it’s a good idea to self-isolate until you are healthy again. If you are showing symptoms of this coronavirus, call your doctor and ask if you should be evaluated for a test.” Screening At St. Luke’s On Tuesday, St. Luke’s Wood River opened a COVID-19 screening and testing station outside the physician office annex at St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center at 100 Hospital Drive in Ketchum. The station should only be accessed by people experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, such as severe coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue and fever. Patients will be able to stay in their cars for screening, registration and, if needed, testing for suspected coronavirus, the hospital said. The screening station will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, until further notice. The screening station is in a tent. Vehicles should enter via the traffic light at 100 Hospital Drive and Highway 75, and yield to emergency vehicles. There is no upfront cost to the screening procedure, hospital spokesperson Joy Prudek said. Patients who need immediate medical care for their symptoms will be directed appropriately to the Emergency Department. Individuals meeting testing criteria who do not require hospitalization will be sent home to self-quarantine while awaiting test results. Those who do not meet testing criteria will be sent home with instructions. Until further notice, St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine will only be scheduling same-day appointments for non-respiratory health concerns at the physician office annex, Suite 109, in Ketchum. The Hailey clinic will be open only for previously scheduled appointments. To schedule an appointment, contact (208) 788-3434, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you do not have a primary care provider, please contact: ● St. Luke’s Wood River Family Medicine in Hailey, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (208) 788-3434.
Hospital workers set up a screening station for Valley residents seeking coronavirus screening. Photo credit: Chris Seldon ● St. Luke’s Center for Community Health (for non-medical evaluations and questions, such as assistance finding a primary care provider and accessing other local resources), Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (208) 727-8733. If you need assistance after hours, please call (208) 381-9000. For general questions, call the Idaho CareLine state hotline at 2-1-1 or 1-800-926-2588.
Hotline Information South Central Public Health District is now running two hotlines for information about COVID-19. One in English at (208) 737-1138 and one in Spanish at (208) 737-5965. These hotlines are currently running from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Dear Community, First and foremost, thank you for your continued support to shop locally. We are doing our best to keep the shelves stocked and the store as healthy as possible. In an effort to control the spread, we ask that if you are feeling unwell or think you may have been in contact with someone who is sick, please do not come into our stores. Instead, we ask that you call or email us. Although our delivery system isn’t robust enough to deliver to everyone, we will do everything in our power to provide to those in need, with seniors in our community receiving preference. This will hopefully help reduce the amount of face-to-face contacts in our community and ideally limit the spread. Supply of product continues to be a challenge. We are in close contact with our suppliers and they continue to update us with timing and quantities available. We do ask that you limit your purchase of product to TWO of any one item per household (this does not apply to our produce department). We do believe that the supply will improve over the next few days.
We continue to be diligent in the cleaning of our facilities and are ensuring that our team members stay healthy and are prepared to assist in this most uncertain time. Thanks again to everyone for doing their part! We will continue to update as the situation progresses. Stay safe! ~ The Atkinson Family & Team
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Wood River Weekly
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March 18 - 24, 2020
YOU CAN FIND IT IN BLAINE! SUN VALLEY 3D PHOTO
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CLASSIFIEDS HAILEY TOWNHOME FOR RENT:
741 Willow Drive-Unit #B1. Unfurnished 2BD, 1 BA, all appliances. On one level in small 10 unit complex. Secure garage/w storage & one assigned parking space. Bus stop 50 feet away. References required. 1st Months rent, security/ cleaning deposit. One year lease. No pets, no smoking. $1,595 monthly/plus utilities. Available April 1. Shown by appointment only. Call Jeannine: (206) 766-0523.
HOUSEKKEEPING
Responsible, experienced & great references, housekeeper now accepting new clients. Free estimates available for: homes, condos & offices. beatrizq2003@hotmail.com, (208) 720-5973
COMPUTER & IT SUPPORT Sterling Davis
FINE FINISH CARPENTRY Custom Cabinetry • Interior Finish Remodeling • Kitchen • Baths CAD Cabinetry Design Mike @ (208) 720-7250 Check out our Facebook page www.ffcid.com
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Want to Rent Garage space for Car Storage, only limited access needed, nothing special seeking as cheap as possible, text details & pic 208-720-1975
Call for pick-ups Please Remember Us For Donations
3930 S. Woodside Blvd Hailey, Idaho 83333
(208) 788-0014
Text (up to 25 words): $5 Additional Text: 20¢ per word Photos: $5 per image • Logo: $10 Deadline: Monday at 1 p.m Space reservations: classifieds@woodriverweekly.com
CLASSIC SUDOKU answer from page 12
RETIREMENT HORSE BOARDING
Retirement horse boarding for geldings. Limited vacancy. Small family farm environment with excellent facilities. Experienced geriatric care. Veterinarian references. Text or call (208) 720-7252
HELP WANTED
CROSSWORD
answer from page 12
Idahome Technical Services (208) 721-7661 Business IT, Home Technology, Computer Services/ Repair
Jack of all trades. Reliable, insured, clean. Small jobs to large remodel projects, or the “honey-do” list. Call Mark, (208) 573-1784
Now Open
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 10 am - 6 pm Saturday & Sunday 10 am - 4 pm
Mandi 208.721.7588
PRICING
Housekeeper now accepting new clients.
NOW HIRING: Summer Reading Intern The Community Library seeks a Children’s and Young Adult Library Summer Reading Intern. This position performs a variety of tasks relating to the Children’s Library, the Young Adult Library, and the Bloom Truck. There are multiple paid part-time seasonal positions available. Application Instructions: Bilingual skills in English and Spanish are highly advantageous for all positions. For complete job description and application instructions, visit (comlib.org/about/employment-opportunities/).
Wood River Weekly
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March 18 - 24, 2020
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WRW STAFF PUBLISHER Christopher Seldon (208) 788-4789 publisher@woodriverweekly.com
Do YOU want to be able to customize YOUR insurance coverage?
MARKETING & SALES Mandi Iverson (208) 721-7588 mandi@woodriverweekly.com Jennifer Simpson (208) 721-0658 jennifer@woodriverweekly.com NEWS EDITOR Eric Valentine news@woodriverweekly.com ARTS & EVENTS, SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR Dana DuGan dana@woodriverweekly.com COPY EDITOR Patty Healey PRODUCTION & DESIGN Mandi Iverson mandi@woodriverweekly.com
Call Wood River Insurance — your local Independent agency, that serves you FIRST.
Christopher Seldon chris@woodriverweekly.com ACCOUNTING accounting@woodriverweekly.com DEADLINES Display & Classified Ads, Monday 5 p.m. Calendar Submissions — Friday 5pm CONTACT Wood River Weekly P.O. Box 3483 Hailey, Idaho 83333 (208) 788-4789 woodriverweekly.com PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Due to current circumstances, Wood River Weekly would like to let the community know that we will do our best to continue to inform the public regarding updates on COVID-19. If we need to pause our publication due to the coronavirus outbreak, please know our goal is to be back online and in stands as soon as possible.
Nominate Your
HEALTH HEROES
Do you know individuals or groups who have worked to protect, promote, and enhance the health of southern Idaho citizens over the past year? Nominate them as a Health Hero!
Nominations are due April 1, 2020 (208) 737-5900 phd5.idaho.gov/Health-Heroes
jane’s artifacts arts / / crafts / / papers / / office / / party
JANE’S ARTIFACTS IS ALWAYS TRYING TO OFFER THE BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AND KEEP OUR EMPLOYEES SAFE DURING THIS CRITICAL TIME.
Temporary hours will be 8-5 Monday thru Saturday and 10-4 Sunday. We are offering home and curb side delivery. Call or e-mail with requests, provide payment details and we will deliver or have ready at the back door.
208-788-0848 OR EMAIL US AT JANESARTIFACTS@COX.NET Thank you for your business and understanding, Stay Safe! Thank You! Jane & Staff. 106 S. MAIN, HAILEY • 208.788.0848 • JANESARTIFACTS@COX.NET
Harrison Insurance
an authorized select independent agency “For All Your Insurance Needs!” One-stop shopping for Business, Commercial, Home, Auto, Umbrella, Life, Health and Medigap insurance policies 208.788.3255 - nathan@harrisonins.com 101 E. Bullion Ste. 2A Hailey, ID
Prime Rib Friday 5 pm ‘til it is gone
$18.99
w. baked potato & Side call-ins welcome - reserve your prime rib
315 S Main St., Hailey, Idaho 83333 • (208) 788-0772 • teambbqidaho@gmail.com
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Wood River Weekly
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March 18 - 24, 2020
BLAINE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
FREE GRAB-N-GO FOOD DISTRIBUTION
NEWS
HEALTH
Drastic Measures, Drastic Times Valley leadership, organizations take unprecedented steps amid coronavirus outbreak
I ALL CHILDREN 18 AND UNDER MUST BE PRESENT TO PICK UP FOOD. THIS IS NOT A PLACE TO SOCIALIZE OR CONGREGATE.
Schedule: Wednesday, March 18 • Thursday, March 19 • Friday, March 20 *Future distribution dates will be announced later. TIME 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:10 11:15-11:25
LOCATION
TIME
Gannett Fire Station Westwood Trailer Park Alturas Elementary School parking lot Balmoral River St. and Bullion Park and Ride Meadows Country Chalet Suntree Hollow
11:30-11:40 11:55-12:10 11:00-11:30 11:30-12:00 11:30-12:30
LOCATION Blue Haven Limelight Apartments on Warm Springs Bellevue Elementary School parent drop-off lane Hailey Elementary School Parent dropoff lane on Elm Carey School elementary drop-off lane
Blaine County School District #61
www.blaineschools.org For updates check www.blaineschools.org and follow us on Facebook
OUR MISSION: To inspire, engage, educate and empower every student. NUESTRA MISIÓN: Inspirar, involucrar, educar y capacitar a cada estudiante.
DISTRITO ESCOLAR DEL CONDADO DE BLAINE
DISTRIBUCIÓN DE ALIMENTOS GRATUITOS PARA LLEVAR
PARA TODOS LOS NIÑOS MENORES DE 18 AÑOS DEBEN ESTAR PRESENTES PARA RECOGER LOS ALIMENTOS. ESTE NO ES UN LUGAR PARA SOCIALIZAR O REUNIRSE. SE PIDE DE LA MANERA MÁS ATENTA A LOS NIÑOS QUE SOLAMENTE RECOJAN EL ALMUERZO Y SE LO LLEVEN A CASA.
Horario: Miércoles 18 de marzo • Jueves 19 de marzo • Viernes 20 de marzo *Las fechas de distribución a futuro se anunciarán más adelante. HORA
11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:20 11:00-11:10 11:15-11:25 11:30-11:40
UBICACIÓN
HORA
Estación de bomberos de Gannett 11:55-12:10 Parque de casa móviles Westwood 11:00-11:30 Estacionamiento de la Escuela Primaria Alturas Balmoral 11:30-12:00 Parada del autobús River St. y Bullion/Park and Ride The Meadows 11:30-12:30 Country Chalet Suntree Hollow Blaine County School District #61 Blue Haven
UBICACIÓN
Apartamentos Limelight en Warm Springs Escuela Primaria Bellevue - carril donde se dejan y recogen a los estudiantes Escuela Primaria Bellevue - carril donde se dejan y recogen a los estudiantes en la calle Elm Escuela Carey - carril donde se dejan y recogen a los estudiantes
www.blaineschools.org Para actualizaciones visite www.blaineschools.org y sígannos en Facebook
OUR MISSION: To inspire, engage, educate and empower every student. NUESTRA MISIÓN: Inspirar, involucrar, educar y capacitar a cada estudiante.
By Eric Valentine
f it has walls and a roof, surfaces, and groups of humans congregating, then it’s probably closed or cancelled by now. One by one and one after another the past several days, Valley event organizers and government bodies announced closures and other drastic measures to prevent large-scale coronavirus outbreak here. By Monday, it was clear—even with only two COVID-19 cases reported in Blaine County and five across the state as of press deadline Tuesday—this enclave resort region would be resorting to the safety measures in play all across the world. “We applaud some of the proactive efforts already taken in our community to prevent the spread of disease,” said Melody Bowyer, South Central Public Health District director. “Some of these recommendations aren’t easy and won’t be popular, but ensuring the health, safety and well-being of our communities is a top priority.” What follows is a rundown of the essential services and high-profile events that announced extreme changes in recent days due to the coronavirus pandemic. Wood River Weekly will continue posting various updates on its Facebook page at facebook.com/woodriverweekly as press releases become available. The Infrastructure Schools—Blaine County School District Board Chairman Keith Roark and Superintendent Dr. GwenCarol Holmes announced that all schools and facilities are closed to the public through Sunday, April 5. This included the BCSD Community Campus. The district also announced that it would be operating free Grabn-Go food distribution for all children 18 and under starting March 18 through March 20. Most distribution times start around 11 a.m., but specifics can be found online at blaineschools.org. Future dates will be announced later on the district’s website and Facebook page. Government—For the most part, and as of press deadline Tuesday, city and county offices are open to essential workers. Public events, however, have been cancelled or postponed, and details can be found fairly easily online. In Hailey, City Hall remains open for public business; however, business will be conducted by phone and under only highly necessary conditions by appointment. Effective at close of business on Monday, Hailey City Hall joined its outlying offices—including Hailey Police Department, Hailey Fire Department, Hailey Public Library and Hailey Public Works Facilities—in locking its doors to public access while remaining open and available by phone. What about other government institutions, like the DMV? To reduce large gatherings of people, the Idaho Transportation Department’s Division of Motor Vehicles announced it is instituting a 90-day extension on some credentials. The public is also encouraged to use the DMV’s online services rather than go to the county Sheriff’s and Assessor’s offices for essential services. The 90-day extension applies to driver’s licenses and non-commercial registration. If one of these credentials expires between March 1 and May 31, you will have until June 30 to renew. And how about the courts? The Idaho Supreme Court released an emergency order to provide administrative guidance to local courts over the weekend. The order establishes measures with guidance for implementation through April 10. “If a person has a court date scheduled, they should contact their local court to determine whether the judge overseeing their case will hold the hearing and whether they will be required to attend in person or via telephone. The order does not direct the process of any individual case and the Supreme Court has not vacated any individual cases’ hearings or excused the appearance of any individual,” the court said. Mountain Rides had announced transit would continue but that capacity would be limited to the number of seats available on any bus. In other words, no more standing room allowed. To make sure there are enough seats at busy commute times, Mountain Rides said it will run two buses on the northbound leg of the Valley Route departing Clover Street, Bellevue, at 7 a.m. each weekday. To help ensure that boarding of the bus happens as quickly as possible and to give passengers a chance to space themselves evenly among all seats on the bus, Mountain Rides, on all routes and at all times, will run fare-free. Concurrent with the closure of Sun Valley Resort mountain operations, Mountain Rides will discontinue service on the Bronze Route and the Gold Route. First Responders—There have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 with any of the police and emergency personnel as of press deadline Tuesday. In Hailey, the police chief did institute a no-handshaking policy between officers and members of the public. “Please do not be offended when a member of the Hailey Police does not shake your hand if offered to do so. Avoiding human contact unless the call we are on dictates it will be vital to our officers’ well-being,” Continued NEXT PAGE
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March 18 - 24, 2020
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NEWS CONTINUED
HEALTH
Hailey Police Chief Steve England wrote. But what about the medical field and all that testing that’s supposed to be happening? According to South Central Public Health District, there’s not as much going on as medical professionals would like. “South Central Public Health District does not have any COVID-19 testing kits in any of our five offices. Doctors’ offices and county offices also do not store these kits. The COVID-19 testing kits are distributed from federal organizations, like the CDC, directly to authorized labs. Healthcare providers can send in samples to these labs for testing,” Brianna Bodiily, SCPHD public information officer, explained. The lack of testing makes it that much more critical for people to practice social distancing as much as possible. Nonprofits—Charitable organizations have been taking proactive, anticoronavirus steps, too. At Mountain Humane, the adoption center and the The Barkin’ thrift store have been closed, but intake, impounding and food delivery programs continue. The Environmental Resource Center announced its office would be closing and that recycling dropoffs suspended until reopening. “Our outdoor education programs may take a different form for the time being, but they will continue,” Lindsay Mollineaux, ERC executive director, said. “Please connect with us online at ercsv.org and on social media.” The Infotainment Sun Valley Resort—Sun Valley and Snowbasin resorts decided to close for the remainder of the 2019-2020 winter season. Mountain operations were completely shut down, but the resort said Sun Valley Village opera-
Just because you are sick doesn’t mean you have COVID-19. Image credit: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
tions would be limited. Sun Valley Film Festival—At first the festival said the show would go on, but in a revised capacity. Once the first case of COVID-19 hit the Valley, that changed. Festival organizers didn’t postpone—they cancelled outright and said cheers to next year.
Libraries—The Hailey Public Library was the first to close all programs and services until April 6. Items currently checked out to patrons will not be due until the library reopens, the library said. By Monday afternoon, Ketchum and Bellevue libraries followed suit.
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Wood River Weekly
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ART GALLE
March 18 - 24, 2020
Please call Art Galleries for show times, hours and private viewing.
WOOD RIVER FINE ARTS
New Paintings
Terri Kelly Moyers
“Stoney Girl�
Oil on linen
36� high X 48� wide
Terri Kelly Moyers
Wood River Fine Arts is proud to represent these ďŹ ne artists  Â?Â?Â?Â? Â €‚ ƒ „ …† ƒ Â… ‡ ˆ ‰ ‰ Š
‹ ‡‡ ˆ Œ‹ „ ‡‡ „ † ƒ ‡ Š Ž † Ž Ž ‘
360 East Avenue, In The Courtyard | Ketchum 208.928.7728 | www.woodriverfinearts.com
Tim Shinabarger, “Lined Out and Leavin'�, 16.50 x 57.50
W
Wood River
ood River Fine Arts celebrates spring with new paintings and sculpture from our nationally renowned group of artists. We are pleased to welcome Montana sculptor Tim Shinabarger to the gallery and will be displaying works by this talented individual. Tim’s work has graced the major western museum shows around the country and is part of many permanent museum collections, including the National Wildlife Art Museum in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Our show will offer new paintings of Idaho by three prominent artists working in the northern part of our state. George Carlson, Daniel W. Pinkham and Amy Sidrane have drawn their inspiration from the spectacular landscape of Coeur d’Alene and the chain lakes region near Harrison, Idaho. We hope you will visit us during your stay in Ketchum. We offer a boutique gallery experience with a casual Ketchum, Idaho ambiance. Wood River Fine Arts is located at 360 East Avenue in Ketchum (The Courtyard Building). For more information contact owners Tom Bassett and Sandy Gregorak at (208) 928-7728 or visit our website at www.woodriverfinearts.com.
Tim Shinabarger, “G
KNEELAND GALLERY
State Of
Ovanes Berberian, “Big Island (Hawaii), oil, 12� x 16�
“State of the Art� A Group Exhibition of Idaho Artists
Exhibition: March 11th - April 30th
271 First Avenue N., Ketchum, ID 83340 ∙ 726-5512 ∙ www.kneelandgallery.com
John Horejs, “Summer Aspen Grove�, oil on canvas, 40� x 50�
S
Kneeland
ome of the most beautiful scenery to inspire our artists lies right on our doorstep. This group exhibition features artists who live in Idaho or paint our beautiful landscape. Featured artists include Virginie Baude, Ovanes Berberian, John Horejs,
ERIES
Wood River Weekly
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March 18 - 24, 2020
7
JUDITH KINDLER OBSCURE
And Sculpture
r Fine Arts O P E N H O U R S : M O N - S AT : 9 A M - 5 P M S U N DAY : 1 2 P M - 5 P M M A R C H G A L L E RY W A L K & A R T I S T C H A T C A N C E L E D
GAIL SEVERN GALLERY
400 First Avenue North
•
Ketchum, ID 83340
•
W W W. G A I L S E V E R N G A L L E R Y. C O M
208.726.5079
•
info@gailseverngallery.com
O P E N S E V E N D AY S A W E E K
GAIL SEVERN GALLERY
March Shows Gail Severn Gallery
Marcia Myers - REMEMBRANCE March 6th - April 12th, 2020
Great Northern”, 6'3 x 6 x 3'6, 2015, bronze, edition of 8
f The Art
The fresco paintings of Marcia Myers speak of the essential, where visual cues give way to an underlying visceral experience expressed in pure painterly terms. Myers transformed the ancient fresco technique into modern terms. The experience was distilled into a synthesized abstraction of the essential in the artists’ mind and became the inspiration for a lifetime of painting. Myers’ last body of work before her death was the culmination of a 28-year journey through time, integrating the technique of the masters with a vision of modernity, giving birth to the modern fresco.
Garth Williams, “Chasing Butterflies”, oil on canvas, 20” x 24”
d Galley Lori McNee, Robert Moore, Karen Niederhut, Silas Thompson, Bart Walker and Garth Williams. For more on Kneeland Gallery, see Page 8
Marcia Myers, “Quadratti MMII-XI”, Fresco on Linen, 20” x 20” x 2” Continued GAIL SEVERN GALLERY Page 8
Marcia Myers, “Tempio di Iside”, Fresco on Linen, 76” x 30” x 2”
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Wood River Weekly
GAIL SEVERN GALLERY CONTINUED
•
March 18 - 24, 2020
KNEELAND GALLERY
Where Painting Is State Of The Art
Gail Severn Gallery Continued from Page 7
Michael Gregory - TRUE WEST PART II March 6th - April 12th, 2020
Michael Gregory, “Big White”, Oil on Canvas / Panel, 66” x 50”
Part II of Michael Gregory’s immediately recognizable paintings with its American icons of barns, homesteads, and imagined fields. These structures serve as a backdrop where human drama unfolds. A rich blend of history and memory, Michael’s paintings touch on the fundamental traits of exploration and isolation as seen in the American West. The buildings, ranches, and farms are reminders of people who lived in that landscape and testaments to their fortitude.
Sun Valley artist Lori McNee will display several paintings at Kneeland Gallery, including “Golden Moment – Silver Creek,” oil on canvas, 24 inches by 36 inches.
Kneeland Gallery’s new show features Idaho painters
Judith Kindler OBSCURE March 6th - April 12th, 2020 Judith Kindler’s latest body of mixed media work veils the meaning of her imagery, obscuring objects and figures, creating and alluring ambiguity. These large scale enigmatic works are mounted on aluminum panels that float on the wall. In addition, Kindler exhibits sculptural experimentations in concrete and canvas. Crackled surfaces like old walls are painted with images of birds in trees with undefined objects. These textural surfaces are in contrast with the modern clean surfaces of the photo based work.
I Judith Kindler, “Too Much to Think About”, Mixed Media on Aluminum Panel, 72” x 36”
Kara Maria - CLOUD CRYSTALS March 6th - April 12th, 2020 Cloud Crystals is a collaborative monotype project between artist Kara Maria and artist/master printmaker Kathryn Kain. The prints were inspired by the 1864 book Cloud Crystals: A Snow-Flake Album. It documents the work of Frances Chickering, who used a cut-out method based on her direct observation of individual snowflakes under magnification to record more than 200 shapes. Maria and Kain utilized stencils they made based on Chickering’s original illustrations to create their Cloud Crystals series.
Kara Maria “The Awakening of Silence”, Acrylic on Canvas, 26” x 26”
By DANA DUGAN
t seems appropriate in these interesting times we live in to look inward. Not just toward our lives and our families, our social connections and our work, but where we live. Isolation can do that to a person. Kneeland Gallery in Ketchum has always celebrated Idaho artists, and for its new winter-to-spring transitional exhibition, “State of the Art,” the gallery will show eight different artists who live and work in the Gem State. “Idaho is a local theme that our clients are familiar with,” said Carey Molter, gallery director. “This will be a themed group show of Idaho artists that will take us into spring. “There will be landscapes and figurative work, some of which will be more affordable as we’re moving into slack.” But, most importantly are the array of talented artists whose work will be displayed. These include Virginie Baude, Ovanes Berberian, John Horejs, Lori McNee, Robert Moore, Karen Niederhut, James Palmersheim, Silas Thompson, and Bart Walker. A master colorist, Ovanes Berberian lives in Rigby, and also spends time painting in Tuscany. He will be represented in this show with some new seascapes of Hawaii. The Armenian-born Berberian is a pleinair purist who is inspired by a direct confrontation with his subject in the wild. John Horejs has been with Kneeland longer than any other painter, Molter said. “The gallery will show new paintings from him, spring subjects of aspen trees and river scenes. He spends half his year in Burley and the other half in Phoenix. He’s a wonderful mentor.” Horejs’s work is done directly on gallery-wrapped box canvases that are designed to be hung without frames. He paints the entire canvas
Idaho artist Ovanes Berberian will show “Pacific Shores,” oil on panel, 9 inches by 19 inches, during the ‘State of the Art’ show.
in red, then works on the painting on top of that, giving his work an unusual warmth. Robert Moore lives on a farm in the heart of the Snake River basin in southern Idaho. “He’s interesting to watch,” Molter said. “He puts his canvases down flat on a table, or on the back of an ATV for plein air, and squeezes tubes of paint right onto the canvas. He then moves the paint around with a palette knife and both hands.” In a different vein is the work of James Palmersheim, of Moscow. His stunning pastels are very near to photorealism. As a fisherman, he is drawn to Idaho’s rivers and lakes, including Silver Creek and Redfish Lake. Part of his process is to sand his paper so it’s smooth, like a very fine-grain paper. “It makes the blue of the water almost fluid and gives each piece a super-soft and smooth look,” Molter said. “Then he’ll use a wet brush for finer areas, like each little reed or blade of grass. He’s wonderful with reflections, so many of his paintings show a tree or mountain reflected. I have four of his up for this show.” Sun Valley artist Lori McNee will also have a couple of local landscapes in the show, one of the Big Wood River, and one moody moon-
light scene with cows, as well as a couple of still-lifes. There will also be several smaller pieces by artists from Idaho that aren’t landscapes, such as some figurative work, and some beach scenes by Karen Niederhut. There are also paintings by Virginie Baude, a French painter who lives in Tetonia. She paints wolves, with part of the proceeds from her paintings going to a wolf charity. As well, a protégé of Robert Moore’s, Garth Williams, who does animals, has some bear paintings in the show. “Idaho—it’s a focus but not our sole focus,” Molter said. “We have artists who live in the West. In fact, we have as many artists from Utah as from Idaho. Of course, the Plein Air Festival is the biggest thing we do every summer in early August. The workshops feature many of the same artists we’ll show in this exhibition.” There will not be an opening on Friday, but the exhibit, “State of the Art,” will open during regular business hours and will stay up through April. For more information on Kneeland and the Plein Air Festival, visit KneelandGallery.com.
Wood River Weekly
SUN VALLEY INSTITUTE
RESILIENCE
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March 18 - 24, 2020
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ADVERTORIALS
The Urgent Importance Of Supporting Students’ Success Resilience JAN MURRAY
NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA
By Jan Murray
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BY SUN VALLEY INSTITUTE
e are all feeling uncertain right now. The first and most important priority is to be safe and healthy, to take care of ourselves and the ones around us. As the extent and impact of the coronavirus become more evident, the vulnerabilities of our global system are clear and building resilience within our community is even more urgent. As we take more precautions, including by physically distancing ourselves and spending more time at home, we have the opportunity to reflect on where we are and what actions will progress new types of social connections, support each other and strengthen our community. Whether it is learning something new, addressing challenges in our lives, or having a meaningful talk on the phone, this is a time to check in, heal and rebuild. It is also a chance for us to turn our community risks into opportunity, redoubling our efforts to build resilience on all fronts. Over our first five years, Sun Valley Institute has advanced resilience by convening our community to identify our greatest risks and opportunities, identify specific projects to advance together and by building our own programs to transform our food and energy systems, critical sectors for our resilience. Together we are surfacing the system we need, one that is more local, more healthy, and more secure, a system that benefits us and the natural environment upon which our quality of place depends. In a time of rapid change, building self-reliance and stronger community fabric is urgent work. Out of this crisis, we can emerge better equipped to handle future emergencies by increasing independence locally, building stronger bonds within our community, and advancing the work of protecting our quality of place for now and forever. Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay connected and inspired.
COFFEE CHATS WITH KIKI
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By KIKI TIDWELL
pring slack used to be an accepted way of life here back when I moved here in 1981. Everyone planned for it; after ski season, the restaurants and bars closed, and the locals tried to get to Mexico for some sun after the long winter. Tumbleweeds rolled down the main street of Ketchum. We didn’t really even have much of a summer business for many, many years. The difference today is that we have developed much more of a year-round economy and people haven’t planned to have no work and no business for several months like they used to. The coronavirus pandemic is sending us into The Big Slack anyway. However, we have strengths and assets here now that we didn’t used to have. When I moved here, there weren’t even fax machines. Now, many people can stay employed through home computers and be connected to people needing their gig, piecework or full-time services through sites like UpWork. I have employed a mom in Denver who I found on UpWork who helps me with my WordPress site on about an hour-per-week basis. I would love to find a social media person here locally for my Instagram. We also have residents and part-time residents who may have planned to not be here during the spring months, traveling or whatever, but who are now here for the duration of the virus. They may be in that higher-risk age bracket, but 70 is the new 40, and they are in much better health and have the energy and time now on their hands to volunteer and give back. Many certainly have some financial abundance to share; this has been demonstrated in our community by support for so many nonprofits and capital campaigns in recent years. For those folks, please see the fine print below as to how you can help. We have fresh air and sunshine! It is turning out to be very important that our air is not polluted like Wuhan. Most of all, we have a small-town community mindset where we consistently look out for each other. Okay, so now is the time for our community to start with our strengths and pull together for each other. I have listened to pundits say that what we are going to be facing now will be most similar to what America faced in the outbreak of World War II in terms of sacrifice,
OUR VOICE COUNTS Aloha to my wonderful community, with special thanks for this opportunity to showcase our latest community contribution. My name is Jan Murray, and I met Herbert and Maricruz Romero at the Flourish Foundation volunteer training, nearly two years ago. We have common values and commitments to bridging our two cultures, and we volunteer at one anothers’ events. Today, Herbert has given me this space to introduce to you our new elementary school mental health and social support group being offered at Syringa Mountain School. The program, called ‘My Life Matters,’ is being sponsored by the Crisis Hotline of Idaho, under the direction of Tammy Davis, executive director. We’ve been in the school a few weeks now, and the kids are fabulous. The Syringa staff offers us backing that is receptive and supportive. They have actually performed the work we’re doing, and have personal experience implementing similar outreach programs in higher education circles. They express deep appreciation for what we’re offering. To learn more about what we’re doing, please check the Crisis Hotline website: www.thecrisishotline.org, and click on Programs, to learn more about this life-changing curriculum, and even make a donation to help us continue our work of giving our youth tools and a voice in their emotional health and well-being. We are certain that children will benefit greatly from learning tools for personal development, and their participation in these groups will enhance their lives forever. Thank you so much, again, to the Romeros and to Kiki Tidwell, for this moment to connect with you. NUESTRA VOZ CUENTA Aloha a mi maravillosa comunidad, con un agradecimiento especial por esta oportunidad de mostrar nuestra última contribución comunitaria. Mi nombre es Jan Murray, y conocí a Herbert y
The Big Slack disruption, and uncertainty. I believe that we will have it better, as China has given us an example that, if we are aggressive in our response, we can limit the immediate disruption to a matter of months. When the War started, people had no idea how long it was going to be and if their home was going to be invaded. My mom was a six-year-old in Honolulu when Pearl Harbor was bombed. Her father ran into her Sunday school class and threw her and her brother and sister into their car and drove like a bat-out-of-hell while anti-aircraft bombs fell on the street behind them. The military erected barbed wire almost overnight on the beach of their beachfront home. Within about a week, I believe, my grandmother had to evacuate with her children to the mainland in a lumbering old seaplane. Decades later, my usually-gruff grandfather cried as he told me how he watched the plane struggle to gain altitude over the ocean as it took his family away for an unknown period of time. It turned out to be years. We have faced worse and have risen to the challenge; we can do this. The absolute first thing we can do for each other is to actually stay home. If you have the slightest sore throat or cough or fever, DO NOT just ignore it and go to the grocery store or work anyway. You have to self-isolate! Someone’s life could depend on it. As well, information is coming out that people may not have symptoms but they may have the virus and may be spreading it unknowingly, especially 20-somethings. If you have traveled to or come from another area that has experienced many cases, perhaps self-quarantine even without symptoms for 14 days. A period of time of being homebound is a relatively small sacrifice that will make a big difference in the big picture of how we can defeat the spread of the disease. More in next week’s column about how county government can help (BC started with live-streaming meetings finally!) but for now, let’s face this Big Slack by each doing what we can individually. And maybe dig out the old Western bandana you have in a back drawer and use it around town—to cover your nose and mouth, but also as a fashion statement that “we’ve got this.” The fine print—for those who can: We want our restaurants and shops to survive! For those restaurants
Maricruz Romero en la capacitación de Voluntarios de la Fundación Flourish, hace casi dos años. Tenemos valores y compromisos comunes para unir nuestras dos culturas, y somos voluntarios en los eventos de uno y otro. Hoy me ha dado este espacio para presentarles nuestro nuevo grupo de apoyo de Salud Mental y Social de la Escuela Primaria, que se ofrece en “Syringa Mountain School.” El programa, llamado “My Life Matters,” está patrocinado por la Línea Directa de Crisis de Idaho, bajo la dirección de Tammy Davis, directora ejecutiva. Ya llevamos unas semanas en la escuela y los niños son fabulosos. El personal de Syringa nos ofrece un respaldo receptivo y solidario. Realmente han realizado el trabajo que estamos haciendo, y tienen experiencia personal implementando programas de divulgación similares en los círculos de Educación Superior. Expresan un profundo agradecimiento por lo que estamos ofreciendo. Para obtener más información sobre lo que estamos haciendo, visite el sitio web de la Línea Directa de Crisis: www.thecrisishotline.org y haga clic en “Programas,” para obtener más información sobre este plan de estudios que cambia la vida e incluso haga una donación para ayudarnos a continuar nuestro trabajo de donación. nuestras herramientas juveniles y una voz en su salud emocional y bienestar. Estamos seguros de que los niños se beneficiarán enormemente de las herramientas de aprendizaje para el desarrollo personal, y su participación en estos grupos mejorará sus vidas para siempre. Muchas gracias, nuevamente, a los Romeros y a Kiki Tidwell, por este momento para conectarse con ustedes. Nuestra Voz Cuenta (Our Voice Counts) is a guest advertorial hosted by Herbert Romero and sponsored by Kiki Tidwell.
KIKI TIDWELL
that will choose to stay open, perhaps we can support them by ordering take-out and tipping at least 30 percent on the order or by buying gift certificates over the phone. I have heard of people giving lump-sum cash to a restaurant owner to spread among the staff. And speaking of service people, what about sending your annual Christmas tip now to your manicurist, hairstylist, masseuse, or other person who makes your life better with their services? Once the snow melts, take that first fly-fishing lesson, or guided mountain bike ride that you haven’t quite found time for. Buy that e-bike you were thinking about. We can give our usual year-end or extra charitable donations now—to arts organizations, to nonprofits, and especially to The Senior Connection, which is providing meals to the elderly. The Hunger Coalition would most appreciate cash donations rather than food donations as they can buy efficiently. If shops are open, maybe use that travel money you were going to spend to walk into five shops you haven’t been in before and purchase something. (Please use Purell before shopping!) Spend this time at home to use local labor to get to home projects that have been on your wish list for a while, whether it is solar panels on your roof, or help with reorganizing files and clutter.
Blaine County Commissioner Candidate
www.tidwellcommissionercampaign.com twitter: @kikitidwell
K iki Tidwell
Paid For By Citizens For Kiki Tidwell, Cindy Mann Treasurer.
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Wood River Weekly
•
March 18 - 24, 2020
C OM M EN T AR Y
Fishing R epoRt
NO BONES ABOUT IT THE “WEEKLY” FISHING REPORT FOR MARCH 18 - 24 FROM PICABO ANGLER
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ne of the special things about fly fishing is how meditative it can be—the moving water, the sounds of nature, the almost poetic loop formed with each cast. All this and more comes together to completely consume the mind. With everything going on right now, it’s a perfect time to head for the river and find a little bit of solitude, maybe even a couple of hungry trout. Silver Creek has finally started to color up a little bit with the recent spike in flows. The midges continue to hatch in strong numbers, with plenty of fish up on them, especially lower in the system. The baetis are showing up but seem to be much more sporadic in numbers and seem to be hatching in some sections of the creek better than others. Streamer fishing has been really good on the cloudier days and folks fishing dry dropper rigs with midge and baetis nymphs are having success. The creek closes at the end of March so be sure to take advantage before then. The Big Wood River has been fishing great! There are fish being caught on dry flies, nymphs and streamers. Look for fish taking midges in tailouts in the afternoon and keep an eye out for some baetis to show up. A dry dropper setup with a Parachute Adams and midge or baetis nymph below it is a great way to cover water until you find rising fish. Start with a deeper dropper earlier in the day and, as it warms up, you can adjust accordingly to the depth fish are feeding. If you get a cloudy day, try swinging a small sculpin pattern or egg-sucking leech and target some fired-up prespawn rainbows. The Big Wood, like Silver Creek, closes at the end of this month, so get after it while you can! The lower Big Lost River, unlike Silver Creek and the Big Wood, stays open year-round, so when the other places close, this can be a fantastic option up until they raise the water. Look for big hatches of baetis and midges mixed in; this can be some of the best fishing of the year on the lower Lost as the fish are fired up and the baetis can be extremely thick. Watch out for spawning fish, as this fishery spawns early compared to our other fisheries. Focus on not wading on cleaned gravel and leave fish that are actively spawning alone! Picabo Angler is offering a cannot-miss SPECIAL on guided trips until the end of the month. Call us at the shop today to find out more: (208) 788-3536. Happy fishing, everyone!
Hwy 20 in Picabo info@picaboangler.com (208)788.3536 www.picaboangler.com
FRAN JEWELL
Calming Therapies For Dogs
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By Fran Jewell
omehow, in the past couple of years, I ended up on an email list for veterinarians. I have no idea how that happened, because I sure am not a doctor, but I get some really wonderful news about what’s new in veterinary medicine. Things that keep popping up are new devices, supplies and medications to help calm dogs. Everywhere on the Internet and through any animal retailers are devices, hormones, homeopathics, essential oils, flower essences, medications, and behavior modification techniques to help dogs cope with their anxiety and anxiety-producing aggression. While it is wonderful to see that the pet industry is addressing a very serious problem, I can’t help but ask myself why is there so much anxiety for dogs in the first place? When I was a kid, no one ever had a dog that had such severe anxiety that the dog had to be medicated. The only thing my Brittany spaniel did not like was her bath! In the same pet-supplier ads, there are photos of dogs with ponytail ears, clothing for every occasion, nail polish, tutus, beds shaped like human beds and sofas. Every dog on the planet now sleeps on our bed or on every piece of furniture. We call our dogs
SCIENCE OF PLACE
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advertised quick fixes mentioned above? I contend that many of the problems we face today with our dogs can be attributed to lack of leadership, or anthropomorphism, which seem to go hand in hand. While we love our dogs madly, we must remember and cherish them for being DOGS—another incredible species. They are not furry humans. We need to understand that many times poor or unknown breeding can contribute to genetically poor temperaments that do not change quickly or at all. While many dogs can make huge strides forward in overcoming anxiety, we need to accept that sometimes they cannot. It is my contention that dogs need to be respected for who they are and not necessarily what we, as humans, expect or want them to be. Patience and behavior knowledge is critically important in bringing and keeping mentally healthy dogs into our lives. 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 www.positivepuppy. com or call (208) 578-1565.
Spring is Here
BY HANNES THUM
pring is here. Or is it? Should it be simple to say? Perhaps, not. Let’s start with what happens tomorrow. Thursday, March 19, is the vernal equinox this year, which generally marks the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The vernal equinox is that beautiful moment that occurs once per year when the sun is lined up directly over Earth’s equator, on its way from the Southern Hemisphere to the Northern Hemisphere. While the sun has been shining primarily on the Southern Hemisphere for the past six months, we’ve been experiencing both fall and winter, but that all changes tomorrow. From March 19 on through September 22 (which is the autumnal equinox, when the sun crosses the equator heading the other direction), the sun will be over the Northern Hemisphere and us northern folks will experience spring and then summer. Most people and most calendars state that the vernal equinox marks the first day of spring. So, fair enough. Spring starts tomorrow.
INSPIRATIONS FROM MY HEART
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“fur babies” or “fur kids” to express just how important they are in our family. While I am not here to say dogs should not be so important to us in our lives, I will say that canine anxiety usually comes from two places: 1) genetics, or lack of careful breeding; and 2) being treated like humans instead of dogs, or “anthropomorphism.” Somehow, our society has learned to appreciate dogs in our lives and has begun to see how important dogs are for our mental health, physical health and in our protection (detection dogs, police dogs, and military dogs and service dogs, to name a few), but forgotten that dogs should be HONORED as dogs. Dogs are a blissfully wonderful species that should be respected for who they are. When we treat dogs as dogs and understand their hereditary and social makeups, then we begin to put less pressure on them to be social with EVERY dog they meet. We also begin to understand their need to work and please, not live as couch potatoes or even be spoiled with lack of structure and no rules. We must begin to understand the importance that genetics plays in the sound temperament of any dog. Studies are now showing just exactly how important genetics are in any dog—mixed breed or purebred. How does this relate to anxiety and all the
BY DOVE
ow!! Such rapid change in our world in just a few short days! That brings us to the question of what are you going to do with your energy? You can worry, go into fear, ignore the situation and proceed as normal, or take advantage of the opportunity to grow from this change. I could get pissed because I can’t buy toilet paper. I have tried, with no luck. None at Costco or Atkinsons’ or Chateau. Or I can see if I can just go with what I have. In the olden days, the Sears catalog was placed in the outhouse as a means of wiping your behind but, alas, the Sears catalog is now online, and not an option for this most delicate of chores. Someone suggested The New York Times
But, is it the most accurate thing to say that spring starts tomorrow? How should the calendar know? Should the changing of the seasons not be dictated by something more natural or more connected to the weather? Something more ecological, perhaps? It makes me wonder, once again, about the natural time cues that our local environment gives us. As I write this, only a few stray and wispy snow patches remain on the south face of Carbonate. I have been watching the face melt out and dry out, daily, for weeks now. It certainly seems earlier than normal, this “browning up” of Carbonate. But, it’s something that happens every spring, sooner or later, and it seems to be a turning point for many local human residents—I can see them now, scampering up and down like tiny ants. I even saw one of them go up wearing shorts. Would all those hikers not agree that spring is here, and before March 19? I have also been searching, daily, with my students for the first buds to show on the aspen and cottonwood trees around our classroom. Maybe we’re a bit early to be looking—they’re not showing themselves
Choices as a substitute but I know that would clog up the plumbing, so I am left on my own. I could quit eating and then maybe my waistline would decline, only using a little bit of the precious toilet paper, one square at a time. These ideas seem a little extreme. Maybe I should have a dinner party with masks, then I won’t have to cook, just a smoothie and a straw would be the tool. Ask everyone to bring a roll of toilet paper as the hostess gift and then my supply would be cool. I would be the hostess with the ‘mostess’ of the precious commodity. You know all those unmatched socks that you have not thrown away? What an opportunity to put them to good use! Wipe your butt and then throw them away, or wash them and reuse them, as the case may be. Your butt will be clean and free from muse.
HANNES THUM
yet. But, buds aside, there are some shoots of green grass starting to show themselves from the melted-out yards around town, and I’ve even heard rumor of some gardens in the south valley that have already started to show flowers. Who’s to say? If you want to believe the calendar and that the tangible, predictable equinox should be the start of spring, fair enough. But I imagine that there are many folks in this valley who measure the changing of the seasons by their own yardsticks. Maybe the start of spring is when the Big Wood starts to rise and churn with runoff. Maybe it’s when the first kestrel is spotted (one of my favorite yardsticks, although I haven’t seen one with my own eyes yet). Maybe it’s the first day one feels ready to wear shorts outside for a hike after work. In any case, happy springtime. Hannes Thum is a Wood River Valley native and has spent most of his life exploring what our local ecosystems have to offer. He currently teaches science at Sun Valley Community School.
DOVE
Your unmatched socks will be repurposed and maybe you will find a pair you didn’t know was still there. Just put a bucket of bleach water by the stool and wash the old socks out as the new rule. Adult diapers are still on the shelf; I could try that and see if I liked the result. I suggest you just relax, and find humor in all that exists. It will raise your immune system and keep you well. Love one another in all that you do. That’s all that really matters. Give up the greed—leave some stuff on the shelf. Necessity is the mother of invention. We are amazing beings. Embrace your creativity and love the moment. Life is a gift. The purpose is joy. Find yours.
Wood River Weekly
MONEY MATTERS
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March 18 - 24, 2020
SUZANNE HAZLETT
Upside Of A Down Market
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By Suzanne Hazlett, MBA, CIMA®, CFP®
egendary investor Warren Buffett doesn’t try to guess how current events will play out in the market. “I don’t think I can make money by predicting what’s going to go on next week or next month,” he said. “I do think I can make money by predicting what will go on in the next 10 years.” When the state of the financial markets is keeping you up at night, here are four things you can do: LONG-TERM vs. SHORT-TERM If your investments are for long-term purposes, remind yourself time is on your side. If you have invested in a long-term strategy with funds needed for current expenses, you may need to sell at least enough of those investments to meet your immediate cash needs. RISK APPETITE It is a prudent to reassess your tolerance for the market’s roller-coaster nature periodically. Many advisors use risk assessment tools. They can help clarify the risk associated with your performance aspirations, which can inform suitable investment decisions. BALANCING ACT + TAX LOSS HARVESTING Rebalancing is a tactic used by professionals on an ongoing basis. When financial markets shift, they can impact the balance of different types of assets within a portfolio. Selling some assets and reinvesting those dollars in others is a smart
THE WAY I SEE IT
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’m sitting on my bed cutting up old clothes because there’s no toilet paper for sale in Blatant County. What do you want me to do—hose off outside? It’s too cold! I’ve searched everywhere and all the stores are out of stock. I’ve gone to public restrooms in the area and pilfered paper towels but they’re, literally, too rough. I’ve gone through old copies of The New Yorker and found them much too slick. Actually, the best substitutes are our own local newspapers— just the right texture. But, never mind that, apparently it IS the End of Days! It’s a Godpandemic! Okay, look on the bright side, which is my wont. How important is the mortgage payment or the rent? There will be no more paid bills emanating from my home. I’m even contemplating not paying my post office box fee due at the end of the month. Hey, you know what? It won’t be difficult to run out of things because it’s the END of DAYS! Hey, you’re low on Coffee-mate! So what? It’s the END of DAYS! Just get me toilet paper! I’ll just watch TV until... (you know). Let’s see, what’s on tonight? “The Day After” is on ABC, “Marooned” is on NBC and “I’ll Cry Tomorrow” is on the movie channel. Then, there’s “Lost” on A&E, “Survivors” on CBS and reruns of “You Bet Your Life” on the Comedy Channel. Maybe I’ll
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NEWS
BUSINESS
Wash UP! Calm DOWN!
tactic to use when your investments get too heavily weighted in one area and underweighted in another. When making these changes in taxable accounts, selling securities that are showing losses allows an investor to “harvest” those losses so they may be used to offset gains and income and potentially reduce your tax bill. DOLLAR COST AVERAGING If you are working at building your nest egg, a down market can be advantageous. Continuing incremental investing allows you to invest over time when values are low, positioning you to benefit when values increase, thereby averaging your investment costs and volatility exposure. A down market can present opportunities and provide valuable reminders. Take a breath. Assess your plan. If you find yourself off course and your investments are not in alignment with your intended strategy, you may be able to get back on track by taking these four steps. Suzanne Hazlett, MBA, CIMA®, CFP® is an investment advisor and financial planner. HAZLETT WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC is independent of Raymond James and is not a registered broker/dealer. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. 675 Sun Valley Road Ketchum, Idaho, 208.726.0605. HazlettWealthManagement.com
CHRIS MILLSPAUGH
End Of Days
BY CHRIS MILLSPAUGH
just read the Bible and do some prep work. There’s nothing to do here in the End of Days. Major League Baseball spring training games have been cancelled and the start of the season delayed. The National Basketball Association is cancelling their season altogether. As a point of fact, all sports leagues are on hold. Anybody worried about where Tom Brady will sign next? He’ll be right here with us in the End of Days. There will be no concerts, political rallies or gatherings over 250 people. There’s no future in history, and today, there is no tomorrow. But, I’ve been wrong before. Last week I couldn’t even find my own column in this newspaper. Sad, isn’t it? So, Trump will be our last president. That’s all he ever wanted, anyway. Number 45 - 2016 until the End of Days! He did mention that there’d be hell to pay if he wasn’t. (How strict!) So, for all of you list-makers out there, give it a rest. If you write a horoscope, don’t bother. If you make predictions. quit now while you’re ahead. If you’re fond of watching “Coming Attractions” at the old moviehouse, when they come on, go buy some popcorn. (And ask for extra napkins!) Some say that I am an alarmist. Yeah, well, I don’t think so. By the way, this is probably my last column. Nice talking to you.
Nearly empty store shelves at Atkinsons’ Market in Bellevue mirror the conditions of most supermarkets across the country. Photo credit: Mandi Iverson
Valley businesses grapple with COVID-19 fallout
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By Eric Valentine
ven before the first cases of the coronavirus in Blaine County had been confirmed, the peaceful confines of this mountain-encircled valley could not firewall the nationwide panic that saw store shelves depleted, airports congested, and a plethora of press releases and memes streamed across social media screens. And then, on Friday, it was official: Idaho had its first confirmed case of COVID-19. By Sunday, it was also official, Blaine County had two. As it has been widely reported, the news led to closures and cancellations of every major event in the Valley, including the Sun Valley Film Festival that was slated to start March 18 and the Sun Valley Resort ski season that typically wraps up in mid to late spring. Those are just two examples of how the financial lifeblood of a resort town got sent to limbo. What comes next—not so much in terms of the virus, but rather the economy—has Valley residents pretty riled up. “Everyone is in a panic and supplies are low,” Atkinsons’ store manager Tom Pyle said from his Ketchum location. “Hopefully, in a week or two, supply can catch up with demand. Right now, we have only 10 percent of the product we should have available.” Pyle explained that the distributors simply cannot get enough trucks on the road to meet the sudden spike of demand. “If you order 1,000 cases of something, you might get 500,” Pyle said. The panic was enough to trigger a Monday morning press release titled “Slow It Down, Do Your Part” from Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw. In it, Bradshaw said, “I urge everyone to consider their actions, exposure risk and contagion risk from the perspective of the larger public health impact of a rapid spread of COVID-19, versus a more gradual spread. Medical resources in Blaine County have a better chance of meeting the needs of our valley if the rate of spread is gradual and not rapid. We all can help slow it down. Our efforts in this regard will save lives.” Bradshaw went on to offer a task list residents could take on to help get through these challenging times. The list included these requests: • • • • • •
Non-essential businesses should limit operations. Restaurants to close or restrict to take-out only. Shop thoughtfully. Please leave something on the shelves for others. Keep your distance but be there to support your neighbor. Monitor your health. Be kind to those around you—let us know when you have seen an act of kindness with the hashtag #KetchumKind.
One industry staying open for now—at least in Idaho—is food services, specifically restaurants, clubs, and bars. Most already run on razor-thin profit margins and are operated by employees who live off tips and work paycheck to paycheck. With the newfound practice of social-distancing, a night out drinking, eating and dancing qualifies as the opposite. Jenni Conrad, owner and director of operations for The Mint in Hailey, says her establishment is doing everything it can to keep things going. “We’re kind of lucky we have a big restaurant space, so we can keep diners pretty far apart,” Conrad said. “We’re cleaning every 30 minutes. We’re doing curbside takeout. We’re doing what we can. Our staff is putting on a good face and, fortunately, we’ve had no one sick here. But a half-empty restaurant isn’t what a staff wants to see.” Conrad confirmed that all concerts and events at The Mint have been cancelled through March, but plans are to keep the restaurant going as long as possible and with a likely reduction in hours of operation. Conrad said other outside-the-box solutions were being floated, too—for instance, offering gift certificates so that people could make purchases now but patronize an establishment later. In theory, that could help some establishments cover costs while shutdowns are being enacted. “I’ve got three concerts I’m issuing refunds for right now,” Conrad said. “Every little bit helps.”
12
Wood River Weekly
CHAMBER CORNER
•
March 18 - 24, 2020
MIKE MCKENNA
Hard way Pipeline
Offering More Than Food The Hunger Coalition feeds hope By Mike McKenna
I
n trying times like these, it’s nice to know there is someone out there who cares. It’s easy to let worry be your friend when a quarantine is in effect and money for even basic needs can be tough to come by. That’s why we’re lucky The Hunger Coalition (THC) is here. THC is already usually busy, serving over 4,000 families in 2019 alone. But the COVID-19 pandemic is shifting things into another gear. One week in and they have already set a new record for most families served in a single day. Thankfully, they were ready, having increased their food purchases in anticipation of the layoffs and other challenges locals will face. The fact is, more than one in three Blaine County residents is considered “ALICE,” or Asset Limited Income Constrained but Employed. Basically, ALICE is any person or family that is one crisis away from having trouble affording food. The combination of exceptionally high food costs—Blaine County has the eighth highest in the country—and high housing costs, make the line between getting by and struggling a rather fine one. One crisis, like a hospital visit or a broken-down car or a month without tips, can make it tough for many local families to eat. And when you’re in those moments of stress, it’s nice to know that the team at THC has been working hard to be there for you. “Our goal is to figure out how we can work together to produce a healthier Blaine County and reduce food insecurity,” said Mary Simms, development coordinator for THC. Founded in 2004, the number of people THC feeds has been going up steadily over the last half-dozen years. To help meet their growing demand and to be prepared for national emergencies like the coronavirus, THC is in the process of expanding. They will be moving their facility in the Southern Belle Industrial Park in Bellevue across the street to the old Clearwater Landscaping property. In addition to their offices, the facility will include the Bloom Community Food Center. The Food Center will be home to a community kitch-
Steel Fencing
Kelly Wardell 208-309-0916
How To Play Sudoku
The Classic Sudoku is a number placing puzzle based on a 9x9 grid with several given numbers. The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.
CLASSIC SUDOKU See answer on page 2
Photo credit: courtesy of The Hunger Coalition
en, a year-round greenhouse and discount membership market. The Food Center will help the team at THC reach more of the community. One of the hardest parts about being food insecure is reaching out for help. The stigma is a big hurdle. By creating a welcoming community space, everyone can access good food at the same place—no matter how life is treating you that day. THC was going to share its plans by hosting March’s Business After Hours, but the BAH has been postponed. TNC will share its hopes and reach out for feedback after things settle down after the pandemic passes. Until then, THC would like you to know they are here for you and they could use your help, too. Donations to keep the food coming in are gratefully accepted at TheHungerCoaliton.org.
CROSSWORD SPONSORED BY
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Wednesday through Saturday 11:00 to 5:00 Always available by appointment and if we’re here.
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509 S. Main Street • Bellevue, Idaho
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THE WOOD RIVER VALLEY 7-DAY WEATHER FORECAST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:
AM Snow Showers 40%
high 42º
low 26º WEDNESDAY
Mostly Sunny 10%
high 46º low 29º THURSDAY
Partly Cloudy 20%
high 47º low 29º FRIDAY
Mostly Sunny 10%
high 48º low 28º SATURDAY
Mostly Sunny 20%
high 47º low 31º SUNDAY
AM Snow Showers 30%
high 47º low 31º MONDAY
Snow To Rain 40%
high 46º low 28º TUESDAY
SKI. BIKE. LIVE!
Elevate your experience. 340 N Main Street in Ketchum sturtevants-sv.com • 726-4501