Do you fly fish, bird or visit Silver Creek Preserve? Are you interested in assisting with conservation? The Nature Conservancy wants to hear from you!

Silver Creek has long been recognized as one of the finest spring creeks in the country. A new enhancement plan seeks to make it even better.

The Nature Conservancy has announced that it will work with Ecosystem Sciences, a non-profit Boise-based consulting firm, to develop a comprehensive plan to restore stretches of Silver Creek and its tributaries that need most help, and to use the restoration methods that will have the most conservation benefit. The effort will result in habitat projects that benefit the fishery as well as many wildlife species.

“The goal of this project is to improve the fish and wildlife habitat on a watershed level at Silver Creek, and to make it the most resilient it can be for the long term,” says Dayna Gross, the Conservancy’s Silver Creek Preserve manager.

Ecosystem Sciences will create a comprehensive, integrated watershed plan for the...

By John Pluntze

The Seattle-based blues band, Ravinwolf ( www.ravinwolf.com / www.myspace.com/ravinwolfband ), which has already enjoyed two successful gigs here in the Wood RIver Valley during the past week, at Papa Hemi''s Hideaway (on March 3rd & 10th), will be performing tonight at Hailey's Sun Valley Brewing Company Restarant & Bar (from 7-10 p.m.), as well as at Bellevue's Silver Dollar Saloon on Friday, March 12th (at 9 p.m.), and at Fresshies in Hailey on Saturday, March 13th at 6 p.m.

This critically-acclaimed acoustic blues band (Barbie Hull, in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer last year, called them a band that "takes you someplace new in vocals," and one that features two "refreshingly original guitar artists"), is currently embarked on a four-state, eight-week tour of Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho that first began on Valentine's Day weekend and one that will eventually encompass more than 30 cities throughout the Northwest.

"It's been a really rough...

Registration is underway for the Spring season of Girls on the Run.  The season will run from March 22 to May 22 and culminates on May 22 with the New Balance Girls on the Run 5k & Healthy Living Exop that is open to the whole community. 

Register online now! Also registration have been sent home from the schools, and downloadable English and Spanish forms are available at girlsontherunwrv.org. This Spring's sites will all be held on school grounds and include:

Hemingway Elementary, M/W, 2:45-4:00 pm

Hailey Elementary, T/TH, 2:45-4:00 pm

Woodside Elementary, T/TH, 2:45-4:00 pm

Bellevue Elementary, M/W, 2:45-4:00 pm

Full or partial scholarships are available, so please inquire, or fill out our scholarship form.  No girl will be turned away because of need.  Call Mary at 788-7863 or email mary@girlsontherunwrv.org if you have any questions.

Last week I attended a conference sponsored by the Arthur B. Schultz Foundation Social Micro-enterprise Initiative (SMI). This organization (Their web site is here) provides loans to small and medium sized businesses in Kenya, Vietnam, Ghana, Nicaragua and Palestine. These businesses are too big for micro-credit and too small to access the private credit markets. The loans are paid forward through charitable donations rather that paid back to SMI.

Zeina, the young Palestinian woman who was responsible for selecting and monitoring the participating businesses on the West Bank, described the difficulties that these business men and women have in building their businesses....

The Wood River Arts Alliance thanks everyone who made the 3rd annual Children's Arts Festival possible! 

Thank you to the CAF planning committee:  Claudia McCain, Hilarie Neely, Sara Gorby, Kim Gasenica and Kathy Wygle.  All of you contributed so much to the day.

Thank you to the instructors of all our classes:

Scott Slonim for the digital photography class;

Susan Ward, Pam Sabel, Martha Hollenhorst, Maureen Jenner, Roger Crist, Deida Runswick, Diana Sharpless, Nancy Liston for the visual arts classes by Boulder Mountain Clayworks, Petite Picasso, Sun Valley Center for the Arts and Ketchum Arts Festival;

John Glenn, Denise Simone, Sara Gorby, Kristy Kuntz, and Keith Moore for the drama classes by Company of Fools, St. Thomas Playhouse and nexStage Theatre;

Hilarie Neely, Julie Fox-Jones and Britta Von Tagen for the dance classes by Footlight Dance and Nia of Sun Valley;

Kim Gasenica and Mitzi Mecham for the music classes by Sun Valley Summer Symphony School of Music and Music n’ Me Wood River Music Academy;...

By John Pluntze

Don't think you're hallucinating if you happen to see visiting New York musician Ross Pederson ( www.myspace.com/rosspederson ) -- who'll once again be dazzling and delighting audiences in equal measure this week at Sun Valley Resort's Duchin Room, as part of the Paul Tillotson Trio ( www.paultillotson.com ) -- playing his drums or cymbals with his fingertips, and/or placing small cymbals atop his snare drum and then playing it that way ... because you are!!!

The young Fargo, North Dakota native -- who arrived here nearly a month ago from New York at Tillotson's request to sit in as a guest musician with that justly-venerated and very popular jazz trio, and whose many musical accomplishments over the years include working with the Grammy-nominated One O'Clock Lab Band -- admits that what he sometimes does onstage is NOT your typical drum work by any means.

"It's still very much a trial and error thing for me," Pederson said, laughing, referring to his often literally hands-on approach...

Chato was found as a stray wandering near traffic. He is a young, exuberant, and friendly dog who shined at the Paw n' Pole last weekend. He even performed some of his newly learned obedience in front of an appreciative crowd. Chato is the type of dog that loves everyone he meets, and he's always up for a walk, run or some playtime. He is friendly with other dogs, but still very much a pup. He loves to train and would like an adopter who will continue to work with him.  It doesn’t seem that he has a mean bone in his body, he is eager to please and always happy to get attention. This is a nice young, handsome dog that should mature into a wonderful companion. Chato is a medium size (50lbs) Rottweiler mix born around  9/08. For More information about Chato or any of the other wonderful dogs and cats awaiting adoption at the Animal Shelter of the Wood River Valley, please visit our website at www.animalshelterwrv.org or call 788-4351.

By Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter

Update: Embedded below is the Seattle radio interview the head of the Idaho Dept of Commerce did today. The interview starts around 4:15 into the audio. Among other items, he highlights that the state of Washington spends four times more per capita than Idaho.

It's true that a rising tide lifts all boats. But how those boats are handled makes a big difference when the tide is out and the waters get rough.

State governments across the country are dealing with the continuing national recession in different ways. In Idaho, our focus is on stability. Predictable tax and regulatory policies are what our employers need in order to maintain their operations through this rough patch, and it's what employers elsewhere are looking for when they consider expanding or relocating.

Other states, however, have chosen some interesting and in my view counterproductive approaches. Last month, for example, Oregon voters approved their legislature's decision to raise taxes on the wealthy and on many...

How does one digest the myriad of technology choices in modern times?  How can anyone trust salesmen when all the information seems changed from one person to the next?  There always seems to be one opinion overriding another and it's almost impossible to find a decent baseline with which to cultivate a healthy technological growth.  Additionally, when those opinions are stripped away, most people are left with a set of ideas and facts that are loosely connected and have no real applicable use. 

That is what this column will be designed to alleviate.  

As the world continues its push into more advanced, and complicated, tech wonders, this column will attempt to weed out the noise and only explain, in an understandable language, the relevance of technology as it applies to our Valley's readers and users.  Nowhere can it be found a set of guides and steps to help people really grasp what new technology they may actually need and what can be easily avoided.  

Everything...

Editor Note: The new SunValleyOnline has a Reviews section where we encourage the community to review local businesses. Suzanne Buchanan recently reviewed Sego located in Ketchum. You are welcome to not only read it but also add your own perspective to this and other reviews. Do you have a business you frequent that you have an opinion of? Don't be bashful. Share your perspective. Let's just keep it constructive if you have critiques.

Read the full review here. The following is the intro...

This weekend, the hubby and I went on a double date to Ketchum's lastest and greatest restaurant---Sego. We dropped the kids off at the monthly YMCA's Saturday Sitters and enjoyed the next 3 hours of adult time.

We have heard mixed reviews about Sego, so I was ready to experience it all and form my own opinion...

Light on the Mountains Center for Spiritual Living is honored to announce that Cheryl Welch, owner of Chapter One Bookstore in Ketchum, is this year’s recipient of the Ann and Doug Christensen Humanitarian Award.  Cheryl was a driving force in creating the annual Sun Valley Wellness Festival, has sponsored the Hemingway School book fair for over 30 years and with Chapter One Bookstore, she has provided a platform and gathering point for many people and events in our community The Ann and Doug Christensen Humanitarian Award was created by Light on The Mountains Center for Spiritual Living as a way to honor people whose dedicated work has greatly influenced the quality of life in our local community and beyond.

This year’s luncheon honoring Cheryl will take place on Saturday, April 17, from 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, at The Lodge Dining Room in Sun Valley.  Tickets are $30 and reservations can be made by calling Shelley Coben at (208) 788-1498 or through email office@lightonthemountains.com<...

What: Volunteering for the Spring Break Snow School

Location: Sawtooth Botanical Garden (11 Gimlet Road, Ketchum, ID 83340)

Dates: Monday, March 15-Friday, March 19, 2010              

Time:  8:45 A.M.-2:30 P.M.

Contact: Teresa at (208) 726-9358 or teresa@sbgarden.org

More Information: The Sawtooth Botanical Garden could really use your help with our Spring Break Snow School! This program is designed to teach kids from ages 4-12 about seasonality, winter, snow, the water cycle, and how plants and animals survive in the winter. We will be having a blast making crafts and participating in outdoor games and activities, including snowshoeing and sledding. We need volunteers to help with set-up and clean-up of crafts and other activities, assist with leading games, and support us in ensuring that the program runs smoothly. Even a couple hours of your time would help us greatly! If you are interested, please contact Teresa immediately.

March 9, 2010 – Julie Cord has been named the new chairperson of Sustain Blaine, the volunteer coalition behind the GoBlaine! strategy for economic vitality throughout Blaine County. 

Cord is a Wood River Valley native who grew up on her family's ranch in the Bellevue triangle.  This background, combined with her experience in real estate and property management, give her a broad and informed perspective on the challenges facing Blaine County today.  Cord has been actively involved in Sustain Blaine since its inception in 2007. 

"My family has lived and worked here for many generations and I care deeply about the past, present and future of Blaine County," said Cord. 

"Our local economy is suffering now because 60% of our gross domestic product has been in real estate, construction and tourism," Cord continued.  "We need to diversify our economic base, while still maintaining the intrinsic values that make Blaine County such a special place.  My commitment to these values is what...

Swimming, movies, food and fun all in one night!  The YMCA will be hosting the first Flick and Float of the year on Saturday, March 20th from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Grab your friends and family for this special night of watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs while floating and playing in the pool.  Hot dogs, chips, and a drink is included in this fun night.  You won't want to miss out on all the fun, so call the YMCA to reserve your spot today.  Pre-registration is required to ensure that we have enough food and staff. 

Community School 4th Grade teacher, Trent Herbst, is competing in the Iditarod going on right now. We will bring you updates posted on Trent's blog. Several of those posts are below to catch you up. The following is the profile on the Iditarod website:

Trent Herbst, 39, was born and raised in Wisconsin. He began mushing in 2005. He became interested in the Iditarod while teaching in Switzerland. A teacher for 16 years, Trent graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse with a major in Elementary Education. He says his fourth grade students (past and present) in Idaho, build race sled, pack checkpoint bags, sew booties and construct snowshoes for his race. He offers a huge thank you to all his family and friends for their constant support. This year, "I have the privilege of running with some of the fantastic young athletes from Ed and Tasha Stielstra's kennel. He and his wife, Candida, have one daughter, Kali, age 7. The family spends their summers in their cabin in Homer. Trent is a member of Mush with...

A  glorious Sunday graced the Animal Shelter’s 25th Annual  “Silver Anniversary”  Paw n’ Pole celebration March 7th. We had a nice turn-out, and the warm, sunny weather inspired some very creative costumes, both dog and human!  Not intended as a  major fundraiser, the Paw n' Pole is promoted as an affordable family  “funraiser.” There's some real racing (... at least to the extent you can call X-C and Snowshowing with a dog on a leash racing), but it's really almost a spoof on racing... a great way to finish off the weekend after three days of the Janss. Costume contests and Pet Tricks run while the results are being tallied. Lunch is included (and BTW Atkinsons' freshly made chili is fabulous!).  The Animal Shelter shows off some of it's star dogs... beautiful, social dogs with enough brains, personality and good looks to make the top breeders weep! 

Paw n' Poles generally break even, because race registration prices are deliberately kept low , but this...

The Idaho Botanical Garden and the Sawtooth Botanical Garden are proud to announce the establishment of a reciprocal agreement between the two Idaho gardens.  Going forward, members of the Sawtooth Botanical Garden will receive FREE regular admission to the Idaho Botanical Garden.  Additionally, members of both gardens will receive discounted pricing for educational programs at either garden. 

Julia Rundberg, Executive Director of the IBG and Carter Hedberg, Executive Director of the SBG first met last December to discuss the idea.  Carter said, “Julia and her team were very open to establishing a relationship.  She’s been a wonderful partner and I’m confident that both gardens will benefit from working more closely together.  Eventually, we hope to collaborate on a number of events and programs as well as horticultural resources”.  This agreement goes into effect immediately for members of both gardens.

The Idaho Botanical Garden is a non-profit organization established...

Looking for something fun for your kids to do during Spring Break this year?

Music N Me in Hailey has the perfect answer: send them to a Staycation Mini Rock and Roll Camp! The popular summer camp has been modified to fit a one-week break that will include a performance in Hailey at a big "Staycation Bash" which will also feature a scavenger hunt.

The cost for the camp is $20 per day. Call Mitzi Mecham at 788-2494 to register or if you have any questions!

Staying home for Spring Break has *never* been so much fun!

By Wendy Jaquet, Idaho District 25 Representative

Spring is here.  Leadership says we will be wrapping up as soon as the end of this month which is positive since it costs us about $30,000 per day to be here!

Friday, March 12th is our last day to do budgets as per the revised calendar.  Often the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, JFAC goes back to do some trailer bills, some clean ups.  The legislature most often adjourns two weeks after JFAC has finished its work.  That’s why March 26 or April 2 look like good dates.

The big actions this week were JFAC votes on Education, Health and Welfare budgets and Corrections budgets.  The Education budget is divided into six silos and includes the following:

Administrators (6.5% decrease on top of 3% decrease last fiscal year), teachers (4% decrease, as well as freezing the steps for longevity and steps for increased education), operations, children’s programs, facilities (bond levy equalization), and deaf and blind services....

By Sheila Liermann

Friday, April 2nd, 8 PM - The Mint

Just $20 at the door!

Costume Contest: Dress up like your dog or cat and win prizes!

Guess the Dog Biscuits in a Jar and win $300.

Come dressed in costume or casual attire.

Sorry, our beloved pets aren’t invited due to health laws.

In the meantime, please stop by our sponsors (DL Evans Bank, Hailey Coffee Company, Thunderpaws Pet Shoppe and the Barkin’ Basement -- see attached for locations) to guess the number of dog biscuits in a jar and win $300.

Just 5 bucks per guess. (Winner to be announced during The Fur Ball)

Tuesday, March 9th @5pm

Come to the Sawtooth Botanical Garden for an informative class and demonstration on the how, when and why’s of seasonal pruning.  Join Derek Hagberg of East Fork Landscape Company as he discusses proper techniques for pruning and general maintenance of  your trees and ornamentals.   Ensure a long and fruitful life for your garden by gaining knowledge from an expert!

 Derek Hagberg is the owner of East Fork Landscape Company in Sun Valley, Idaho.  He received his degree in horticulture from Iowa University and is an ISA Certified Arborist.  Derek has worked for the past 10 years in New York, New Jersey, Colorado and Iowa honing his skills in the many facets of landscape management.  He will be teaching a class at the Sawtooth Botanical Garden on the proper techniques for seasonal pruning and home gardening management.

Class will be held at SBG, Tuesday, March 9

This is Blase Reardon of the Sawtooth National Forest Avalanche Center with your Backcountry Avalanche Advisory and Weather Forecast for Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7:30 am for the areas surrounding Sun Valley.

City of Ketchum (www.ketchumfire.org) & the Friends of the Sawtooth Avalanche Center bring you this advisory.

Bottom Line by Region:

North Wood River Valley

Today the avalanche danger is estimated to be MODERATE with pockets of CONSIDERABLE on steep, shaded slopes at mid and upper elevations. The past few days have seen a half dozen or more natural and human-triggered slides; the largest of these were near the crest of the Smoky Range. More human-triggered avalanches are likely today where recent storm snow and wind-deposited snow have loaded weak layers that formed in mid-February. These weak layers are composed of faceted snow and surface hoar and are buried 8-16” deep on many shaded slopes. Near ridgelines and in open bowls, moderate to strong easterly winds have drifted snow and buried these layers...

By John Pluntze

Ketchum's nexStage Theatre, which just hosted two terrific back-to-back "Winter Sol Festival" concerts this past weekend, has two more big events coming up this month that residents and visitors alike may want to mark on their calendars.

This coming Wednesday (March 10th), at 7 p.m. -- as part of the recently-opened Sun Valley Center for the Arts' new "I Spy: Surveilance & Security" exhibition -- attorney, author and tech expert Frederick Lane will give a talk there at the theater titled "Living In a Wired World: Can Personal Privacy Survive in the 21st Century?"

Lane, who has written five non-fiction books (including "The Decency Wars," "Naked Employee," "American Privacy" and "Obscene Profits") and has been featured on a number of national TV and radio programs (including NPR, and Jon Stewart's "The Daily Show"), will take a hard look at the rapidly-evolving world of computers, privacy and free speech -- discussing, among other things, how we reveal ourselves online...

Dynamite Marketing will deliver more than 2,000 pounds of its Super Premium natural dog food to the Idaho Humane Society on March 10 at 10:30 a.m. The donation is valued at $3,000 and is enough to feed the approximately 200 dogs for 125 days.

The gift is the result of Dynamite’s Facebook contest, in which Dynamite pledged to donate a pound of natural dog food for every Facebook fan who has signed up since Jan. 1.

In addition, Dynamite will enter the names of all Facebook fans into a drawing, and will donate 200 pounds of natural dog food to the shelter of the winner’s choice.

The gift is in keeping with Dynamite’s tradition of making charitable donations to motivate sales. Last year, the company offered its top distributors a choice of a personal prize such as a trip to Maui or double the value as a donation to charity. The result was $22,000 in charitable donations.

“People who buy our products are passionate about their animals and about making the world a better place,” said Callie Novak, Dynamite vice president....