Sheep Quilt Project Set For 2021 Festival
The Trailing of the Sheep Festival is planning a Sheep Quilt Project for the popular event’s 25th anniversary to be held next year. Organizers announced last week that the Festival is soliciting squares from anyone who wishes to have them sewn together to make a quilt. The finished product will be raffled off at the Happy Trails Festival Closing Party on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2021.
This commemorative piece will help raise funds to produce the Festival and, depending on the number of squares received, multiple quilts may be created, organizers said.
Quilt squares can be made of any fabric and may be crocheted, knitted or felt. The theme is “sheep” and can include sheep ranching life, the Festival and sheep life. Below is a list of requirements:
• All materials used must be prewashed to reduce shrinkage.
• If not washable, identify square as such.
• If made of any ‘see-through’ materials (like crochet), please
attach securely onto a fabric backing.
• Finished squares must be 12 inches by 12 inches, plus allow
at least 1 inch for seams. Submit a 13-inch-by-13-inch square
with your image covering the full 12-inch-by-12-inch space.
• Include up to 50 words about you and your art and 20 words
about your square. The Festival will be publishing the stories
with the completed quilt.
Please contact Sheila Kelley via sheila@trailingofthesheep.org, by Oct. 15, 2020, to let her know you intend to submit a square or with any questions. Squares, Bio and Square Stories need to be received by Dec. 31, 2020. Also, please let Sheila know if you are interested in creating a special Festival square. Once the squares are received, they will be sewn together with a wool batting by Festival friends. The quilt(s) will be completed, on display and raffle tickets will go on sale July 1, 2021.
Details on the Festival will continue to be posted at www.trailingofthesheep.org.
Ketchum Crosswalk System
Approved For Spring
The Ketchum Urban Renewal Agency (KURA) has approved funding for the installation of a so-called High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWK) system. The signal will be placed at the corner of 4th and Main streets.
HAWK signals are pedestrian-activated traffic control devices that help make pedestrian crossings safer for people walking, biking or driving. The system works similar to other pedestrian signal crossings. Pressing the crossing button will activate lights signaling vehicles to stop and allowing pedestrians to cross safely.
For a driver, the HAWK signal appears differently than other traffic lights. At rest, HAWKs remain dark and drivers continue en route. Once triggered, it will then go through a series of yellow and red sequences requiring motorists to slow down and stop. When the pedestrian phase is complete, the HAWK will go dark again, allowing motorists to continue through the intersection.
The HAWK signal will synchronize with the signal at Sun Valley Road and Main Street, where the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) will be converting the stop light to a “pedestrian scramble.”
The scramble phase stops all vehicular traffic, thereby allowing pedestrians to cross an intersection in any direction, including diagonally, at the same time. Pedestrian scramble crossings enhance the safety and mobility of pedestrians, although wait times can be longer. This change to the stop light eliminates the right turn on red that is allowed at most intersections but enhances the safety of pedestrians in that no vehicles move through the intersection while pedestrians cross.
KURA adds the HAWK project to a list of others the agency has financed to improve pedestrian movements throughout the city. The KURA has contributed over $1.1 million on improvements such as the Warm Springs sidewalk, sidewalk infill projects in the downtown core and the expansion of 4th Street next to The Community Library.
“The incredible amount of funding they’ve given to build and repair our sidewalks makes us a safer community for our residents and visitors, but also really improves the look of our city,” said Mayor Neil Bradshaw.
At the Ketchum City Council special meeting on Sept. 29, Council approved the contract agreement with Electric One West along with $20,000 in funding for the project. ITD has also partnered on this project by providing poles, mast arms equipment, personnel and various other items and expertise. Synchronizing these types of signals has not previously been done on the Idaho state highway system. ITD is contributing to this project to improve pedestrian safety and work toward better mobility and economic opportunity in the region. The total cost of the project is $183,617.
The city will begin outreach with residents and business owners as we approach spring to provide details on the schedule and operation of the new traffic configurations.
Blaine County COVID-19 Group
Recommends Harvard Risk Assessment
Representatives of St. Luke’s, South Central Public Health District, Blaine County, Blaine County School District, Visit Sun Valley and The Hunger Coalition are calling for widespread adoption of the Blaine County Risk Level Plan which is based on Harvard Global Health Initiative (HGHI) metrics and guidelines.
This group of health leaders and stakeholders—called the Adaptive Planning Committee (APC)—has been meeting over the past few months to collaborate on developing an adaptive plan for the community to navigate COVID-19. Their acceptance of one set of metrics is key to establishing effective COVID mitigation policy.
“Our Valley’s core identity is that we take care of each other and our community as a whole. The APC is working together to share relevant information such as the latest on testing capabilities and availability, best practices for businesses and schools and regarding emerging trends in our neighboring communities,” the committee said in a statement to the press.
The APC is also developing messaging and education on steps we can all take, such as following the 3 Ws (Watch your distance; Wash your hands; Wear a face covering), understanding how to protect ourselves from influenza and about being mindful while enjoying all that our Valley offers.
Jacob Greenberg, Blaine County Commissioner and co-chair of the APC, explained, “It is important for our residents and visitors to feel safe and supported, which is how we can have the best opportunity to thrive economically, emotionally and physically. We are a unique community. COVID-19’s silver lining is that we can come together authentically, albeit from an appropriate distance, and show the world our strength and resiliency.”
Nonstop Flights From 6 Cities To Continue
The prospects of traveling conveniently to and from Sun Valley are looking up. Six cities are scheduled for nonstop flights in the upcoming winter season. Those cities are: Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and Salt Lake City.
Fly Sun Valley Alliance (FSVA), in partnership with Sun Valley Resort, recently announced the Friedman Memorial Airport (SUN) airline flight schedule for the upcoming winter season, which will provide travelers easy access to the Valley’s ski resort destination.
Sun Valley Resort recently announced it does not plan to implement a reservation system or limitations on visitation for season passholders or so-called Epic passholders this upcoming winter season.
“While the demand for air travel this winter due to COVID-19 remains uncertain, Sun Valley is well-positioned as a winter vacation destination,” Carol Waller, FSVA director, said.
Waller also noted that the increase of remote workers and second homeowners now living in the Wood River Valley on a more permanent basis will likely mean an increase in demand for outbound travel from SUN.
“For both our visitors and local residents, maintaining all of our key flight routes and easy air access is critical to our successful economic recovery,” Waller remarked.
According to SUN, the total for the currently scheduled winter 2020–21 seats is 82,246, up 4 percent from the previous winter. Flights are available for booking and the 2020–21 winter schedule is available at flysunvalleyalliance.com.
Flight Schedules
From Seattle (SEA), Alaska Airlines will offer two weekly nonstop flights on Thursday and Sunday from October 1 – December 13, then increase to two daily nonstop flights during the holidays, December 17 through January 4 (one flight on Tuesdays/Wednesdays). From January 4 through April 11, Alaska will offer one daily flight and will add a second daily flight five days a week Thursday through Monday from Feb 11 through April 11.
From Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO), United will offer daily nonstop flights December 17 – January 4, two flights a week on Thursday and Sunday January 5 – Feb 10, and then four flights a week on Thursday, Friday, Sunday and Monday from Feb 11 – March 27. Delta will also offer a daily nonstop flight from LAX December 19 to January 10.
From Chicago (ORD), United will offer its nonstop service daily during the holidays, December 17 – January 4, and then weekly on Saturdays throughout the rest of the season, January 9 through March 27.
From Denver (DEN), United Airlines will offer daily nonstop flights from December 17 – March 27.
From Salt Lake City (SLC), Delta Air Lines, which serves Sun Valley year-round, has increased its schedule to four daily nonstop flights during the core winter season, offering easy connections to a multitude of cities. Delta has committed to 75 percent seat capacity limits on all system flights through January 6, which accounts for the increase in their flights, but frequency changes may happen during the season based on demand.