Ketchum To Host Holiday Tree Lighting In Town Square
The City of Ketchum will usher in the holiday season with a tree lighting in Town Square, 480 4th Street East, at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 5. This free event will include food and drinks, cookies, music, hot cocoa, and the arrival of Santa at 5 p.m.
Wood River YMCA To Host ‘Dawn Wall’ Screening
The “Dawn Wall” film, produced by Red Bull Media, depicts the captivating journey of American rock climbers Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson climbing the Dawn Wall of Yosemite National Park in January of 2015. This film will screen for free at the Wood River Community YMCA at 101 Saddle Road in Ketchum from 6–8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 6.
Former Secretary Of State John Kerry To Discuss Memoir At Community Library
Former Secretary of State John Kerry will discuss his new memoir, “Every Day is Extra,” at The Community Library in Ketchum, 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 22. The program is free and open to the public.
Kerry’s latest book, released this fall, shares a candid account of a life of extraordinary public service, including his distinguished military service in the Vietnam War, 28 years as a U.S. Senator, a run for President as the Democratic nominee in 2004, and, most recently, the post of U.S. Secretary of State in the Obama Administration.
The doors will open at 3:15 p.m., and it also will be Livestreamed online so that people may view the program from other devices and locations. The Livestream link will be available through the Library’s home page on Dec. 22 at comlib.org.
Books will be available for purchase from Chapter One Bookstore and at the library at the time of the event, and a book signing will follow the program.
Idahoans Recover $1.3 Million In Benefits Using Life Insurance Policy Locator
The national life insurance policy locator service provides consumers with valuable assistance to search for a policy or to file a life insurance claim.
According to a press release from the Idaho Department of Insurance, since the service was launched by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in 2016, it has helped Idahoans the past two years locate 109 policies that have paid out nearly $1.3 million in death benefits.
The user-friendly locator provides free nationwide access and streamlines the process for searching for ‘lost’ life insurance policies or annuities. Nationally, nearly 25,000 such policies have paid consumers $368 million in death benefits since the online service became available.
Idahoans can access the locator through the Department website to submit a secure and confidential request. Participating insurers will work to match requests with available policyholder information. Matches are reported to state insurance departments. Insurers then make contact with beneficiaries or their authorized representatives.
Hagerman To Host Christmas Extravaganza
Neighboring Hagerman will host a Christmas Extravaganza on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the old high school gym.
The event will include horse and wagon caroling, dancers, musicians, an open mic from 3–5 p.m., live music, 24 vendors, food, Santa and his elves, raffles, a “sticker” run, prizes and more presented by the Hagerman Valley Foundation.
Idaho 6th In Nation For School Funding
According to a press release from the Idaho Republican Party, Idaho continues to rank high for increases in public school funding.
The statement comes on the release of new numbers tallied by the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO).
For fiscal year 2018, Idaho ranked sixth in the nation for K-12 spending as a percentage of total spending. Idaho spent 26.4 percent of total expenditures on public schools. The average for other states is 19.6 percent.
Additionally, Idaho ranks ninth (tied with South Dakota) for increases in state public school funding. Idaho’s state funding increase from 2017 to 2018 was 6.8 percent, compared to an average of 4.6 percent for all states.
The numbers come from NASBO’s annual State Expenditure Report, which analyzes spending in all 50 state budgets.
Over the four past years, Idaho taxpayers have funded increases of at least $100 million in new K-12 funding per year:
In 2015, public schools received $101.2 million in additional state General Fund spending, a 7.4 percent increase over the previous year.
In 2016, there was $108.8 million in additional General Fund spending, a 7.4 percent increase over the previous year.
In 2017, $100.6 million in additional General Fund spending, a 6.3 percent increase.
In 2018, $100 million in additional General Fund spending, a 5.9 percent increase.
Warfield Brewery To Host Local’s Slack Beer Dinner
Ketchum’s Warfield Brewery teams up with Jackson’s Roadhouse Brewing Co. for a Local’s Slack Beer Dinner at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 6.
Warfield chef Sean Temple will be pairing five courses of seasonal, local, farm-fresh dishes with Warfield and Roadhouse beers. Roadhouse Brewing Co. will be on hand to talk beer and share in the festivities. There is limited availability so reserve a spot by calling the Warfield at (208) 726-2739. Cost is $75 per person.
Hailey To Host Holiday Market
The Community Campus in Hailey will play host to a holiday market from 3–8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 7 and 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 8.
A group of 22 vendors will offer a selection of edibles, wearables, and decorative items perfect for the holidays.
The campus is adjacent to Wood River High School at 1050 Fox Acres Road in Hailey.
The Center Seeks Special Kitchen Items For Upcoming Exhibition
Be a part of creating a visual arts exhibition at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts by taking in an object from one’s own kitchen that holds a special meaning.
The exhibit “At the Table: Kitchen as Home” is part of the ongoing BIG IDEA project.
While on loan to The Center, these objects will be displayed on shelves, surrounded by artist Ferris Cook’s drawings of kitchen implements. Each person who contributes an item will be asked to fill out a “recipe card” that includes their name and the story behind the object they chose to lend. Cards will be available for people to fill out when they drop off their item at The Center.
The Center will continue to accept them through Friday, Dec. 14.
The Center’s BIG IDEA project is a series of lectures, workshops, films and theatre productions to encourage community participation and discussion about the importance of the kitchen in our lives.
The visual arts exhibition will be on view through March 1, 2019.
Admission to The Center’s museum is always free, and the public is invited to visit the exhibition during The Center’s open hours, Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m., and, in February, Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, visit sunvalleycenter.org or call (208) 726-9491.