YMCA OFFERS DIGITAL STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS
The Wood River Community YMCA in Ketchum is offering a series of digital storytelling workshops beginning on Tuesday, May 10.
The workshops, geared toward participants of the YMCA’s Chronic Disease Program, start at 6 p.m. and will be held each Tuesday through May 31 in the YMCA’s Community Room.
The workshops are being held in partnership with Ketchum-based SOLU Publishing.
“This is an amazing opportunity for a community partnership that will bring stories to life,” said Mattie Mulick, YMCA Chronic Disease Program coordinator. “Working within our chronic disease programs, such as our Parkinson’s program, Multiple Sclerosis Connection Group and arthritis community, we can offer a guided event that will capture life’s greatest gifts: stories.
“We will be using SOLU’s state-of-the-art software that utilizes an iPad or laptop to create your digital story,” Mulick said. “SOLU inspires you to remember who you are and record your life stories using video, voice, photos and text. Each story you tell is instantly organized and preserved using a friendly book-like fashion. Create interactive memoirs for you and your loved ones to enjoy for generations.”
For more information or to register for the workshop series, contact Mulick at (208) 928-6719 or at mmulick@woodriverymca.org.
YMCA CONTINUES ‘ENHANCEFITNESS’ PROGRAM
The Wood River Community YMCA continues to offer EnhanceFitness, one of its newest programs that the YMCA describes as an “evidence-based program designed for people living with arthritis.”
The YMCA reported in a press release that EnhanceFitness, endorsed by Y-USA, the CDC [Centers for Disease Control] and Senior Services, is a 16-week program, with three 60-minute classes per week, “designed to safely increase participants’ fitness levels through aerobic and strength-training exercises, while building a sense of community and social connectedness. Each 60-minute class includes cardio, strength training, balance, posture and flexibility.”
“We have already seen amazing results with the graduates of our program,” said Mattie Mulick, YMCA Chronic Disease Program coordinator. “These classes will create a strong foundation for someone who is just starting out on their health journey, recovering from setbacks, surgeries or injuries, working on mobility, or living with a chronic disease such as arthritis that may have changed their physical abilities.”
Anyone interested in signing up for a free demo should contact Mulick at (208) 926-6719 or mmulick@woodriverymca.org. New sessions start the first Monday of each month.
WRHS STUDENTS WIN AWARDS AT MUSIC FESTIVAL
Music students from Wood River High School brought home 10 awards for ensembles and five individual awards from the Heritage Music Festival in March in Anaheim, Calif.
Awards included the Instrumental Sweepstakes for a combination of scores from bands and orchestras.
The school’s Chamber Orchestra received the Outstanding Orchestra award, as well as a gold medal. In addition, the WRHS Orchestra received a silver award.
The Dixie Band won a first place, the Jazz Band a second place and the Concert Band a third place.
Gold medals went to all four choral groups, with Colla Voce and The B-Tones take first places, and Carmina Montis and Spiritus winning second places.
WRHS students received four of the five Maestro Awards presented for exceptional soloists. Awards went to Arika Gourley and Jorgen Lawrence for violin and Olivia Stimac and Beck Vontver for voice.
A special “Magic in You” award, presented by Disneyland to an outstanding student for contributions to the classroom and to the lives of fellow students, went to choral department sophomore Madeline Austin.
“The Magic in You award is a lovely celebration of Madeline’s willingness to be supportive of her fellow choir members and a great affirmation of the impact of our music program,” said WRHS Choral Director Max Stimac. “It is wonderful to witness the positive effects that a vibrant music program can have on our students.”
SUN VALLEY RESORT HONORED BY GOLF DIGEST
Golf Digest has awarded Sun Valley with its Editor’s Choice Award for Best Resorts in the Americas in 2016, recognizing the resort for its “challenging courses, pristine views and superior product.” The resort announced the award on April 21.
“We are excited to receive this honor from Golf Digest,” said resort General Manager and Vice President Tim Silva. “This award is a testament to our team’s commitment to service and the superior gold experience we provide our guests from the links to the clubhouse to the views.”
The resort further announced nine holes at its Elkhorn course and all nine holes on its White Clouds course will open on Saturday, April 30. The White Clouds course offers 3,600 yards of play, with 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains. The Elkhorn course, a semi-private course, provides a water hazard on every hole except one, making it one of the most challenging golf courses in Idaho.
Sun Valley Resort is offering two early-season golf packages this year. Additional information is available at (800) 786-8259 or www.sunvalley.com.
SKI MAGAZINE OPENS ANNUAL READER SURVEY
SKI Magazine invites its readers to participate in its annual reader survey to select the best ski resort in North America.
Last year, SKI Magazine readers ranked Sun Valley Resort as number two, second only to Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada.
The magazine is offering survey participants the chance to win a pair of K2 Pinnacle 88 or Alluvit 88 skis.
The survey can be accessed at www.skinet.com.
CHARTER SCHOOL CONTINUES PUSH FOR FUNDING
Some 40 parents, faculty and staff from Syringa Mountain School, Blaine County’s only publicly funded charter school, attended the April 19 meeting of the Blaine County School District Board of Trustees to continue the school’s effort to be designated an “Innovative School.”
The designation would allow what Syringa described in a press release as “equalized funding.” Syringa currently spends about $6,500 per year per student, while the school district spends about $16,500 per student. The difference is the result of the district’s ability to collect property taxes, an advantage denied to the state’s charter schools.
The Innovative Schools Act, approved this year by the state Legislature, is an attempt to equalize funding by allowing school districts to designate charter schools within their boundaries as Innovative Schools, offering alternative education methodologies.
Syringa, now in its second year of operation for grades K-6, uses the Waldorf education methodology as opposed to the traditional education model.
“This legislation creates a unique opportunity for the BCSD and Syringa to carve out a new partnership for the benefit of Blaine County families and children seeking public education choices,” educational consultant Mary Gervase, one of the founders of Syringa, told the school board at the April 19 meeting. “It has always been our intention to incubate the Waldorf methodology in a less constrained setting as a public charter school so that it could, at some point, benefit a larger student population.”
Syringa reported further that school authorities plan to attend a work session with the district board of trustees on May 3 to “start talks on achieving an agreement that would be to the benefit of all Blaine County public school children.”