Winter's starting to show up. Friday's storm knocks about 20 degrees off the highs and drops the snow level to around 8,100 feet, and Sun Valley has picked its opening day: Thursday, Nov. 26.

Before the lifts turn, there's an election. Two questions on valley ballots are local, Ketchum's local-option tax and Hailey's fire district, so we laid out what a yes and a no each change. And if you're looking for plans, Saturday is the busiest day on the calendar.

Top of Mind

Two local questions on the Nov. 3 ballot, and what each one changes

Ketchum: the local-option tax. A yes renews the city's extra sales tax for 15 years at higher rates: lodging from 2% to 4%, and retail (not groceries or fuel) and building materials from 1% to 1.5%. That's about $2 million more a year, all for streets, sidewalks, and paths, or 50 cents more on a $100 purchase. A no lets the tax expire at the end of 2027, and the city says it would then cut police and dispatch, Mountain Rides, and events unless a later vote passes. It needs 60%.

Hailey: the fire district. A yes moves fire service into Blaine County Fire & Rescue's district in October 2027, at an estimated $51.44 per $100,000 of taxable value starting in 2028, while the city cuts its own levy by about $383,000. The station stays staffed around the clock, the trucks move to the district, and the district's elected board sets the budget. A no keeps fire service with the city, which expects to return to volunteer and paid-on-call firefighters in 2028, who go to the station before a truck heads out. Mutual aid continues either way.

Voting: early voting runs weekdays 8 to 5 through Oct. 30 at the Old County Courthouse in Hailey. Absentee requests are due Friday, Oct. 23, at 5.

Sources: City of Ketchum, IME, Aug. 19, City of Hailey, Blaine County, and VoteIdaho

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Town Hall

SchoolsSchool enrollment fell 143 students short of the district's forecast. The district counted 2,685 students on Sept. 11 against a projection of 2,828, which means about $500,000 less in state money next year. Superintendent Jim Foudy called it a "significant decline" and said the district's working hypothesis is "that it's largely due to housing." [IME]

Sun ValleyThe 2027 World Cup Finals are confirmed. Skiing's international federation gave Sun Valley final approval to host the season-ending races, March 20 to 25. Grandstand seats are sold out; watching elsewhere is free. [IME]

CareyCarey freezes non-essential spending. The city is answering a $25,266 IRS claim over missing 2021 to 2024 payroll tax forms (the mayor says the taxes were paid), seeking a $90,000 bank loan, and selling a city lot. Water and sewer rates are under review. [KMVT]

BellevueBellevue's Gannett Ranch hearing didn't happen Monday. The city calendar lists the Oct. 19 Planning and Zoning meeting as canceled, with no new date. The developer proposes annexing about 190 acres south of town for up to 439 homes. The commission's next meetings are Nov. 9 and Nov. 23; agendas aren't posted yet. [city]

HaileyHailey's summer water surcharges end today, Oct. 22, along with the city's conservation credit program. Credits are applied after the season, capped at $500 or the metered user fee, whichever is lower. [city]

KetchumLast day for Ketchum's road and path survey is today, Oct. 22. It covers a Highway 75 turn lane, a path underpass, and new paths. [IME]

KetchumKetchum is up for USA Today's best ski town. Voting is open once a day through Nov. 9, and the top 10 are announced Nov. 18. [vote]

MeetingsKetchum City Council, Thursday 5, on appointing a city administrator, then 5:30; Bellevue and Hailey councils, Monday 5:30; county commissioners, Tuesday; housing authority, Wednesday 11:30, Hailey, on handing Ketchum's 76 units to the city. [IME calendar]

Out & About

This week

Thu Oct 22  Squash Blossom Farm's fall pop-up stand at Mountain High Creamery, across from Hank & Sylvie's in Ketchum, 3 to 5. Fall produce from the Bellevue farm. Again Oct. 29 and Nov. 5. [info]

Thu Oct 22 to Sat Oct 24  Friends of the Hailey Public Library Book & Bake Sale, Town Center West: Thursday and Friday 9 to 6, bake sale included; $10 bag sale Saturday 9 to 2. Proceeds go to the library.

Thu Oct 22  Business After Hours with the Valley Chamber at Snake River Pool & Spa, 221 S River St, Hailey, 5 to 7. Small bites, drinks, and raffle prizes. [info]

Thu Oct 22  "In the Company of Wolves: An American Journey," a one-night wolf documentary narrated by Jeff Bridges, Merlin's Magic Lantern, Ketchum, 7:10, $10. [info]

Thu Oct 22 and Fri Oct 23  Ballet Sun Valley Fall Festival: 14 pre-professional dancers from the San Francisco Ballet School, the Argyros, 7:30, $38 to $98. [tickets]

Thu Oct 22  Altan, the Donegal traditional Irish band, with Paddywagon, the Liberty Theatre in Hailey, 8, doors 7:30, $30 in advance, $35 at the door. [tickets]

Fri Oct 23  "Wayward," the first feature documentary on the history of women's snowboarding, the Liberty Theatre, 6 to 9, $30. All proceeds go to the Sun Valley Snowboard Team. The film contains mature themes and some language; recommended for ages 13 and up. [tickets]

Fri Oct 23  T'anta wawa breadmaking for Día de los Muertos with Leo Padilla and Rosmery Serva Boyle, the Hunger Coalition's kitchen in Bellevue, 6 to 8. Free; register ahead, space is limited. [info]

Sat Oct 24  The Wood River Trails Coalition's last volunteer day of the season: seeding the Fox Creek trail, 9 to 1, from the trailhead north of Ketchum. Tools provided; sign the waiver online. No dogs. [info]

Sat Oct 24  Rotarun Ski Swap, Sturtevants Hailey, 10 to 4, with a 50%-off fire sale 3 to 4. Selling? Register gear online and drop it off Friday 3 to 6. Sellers keep 70%. [info]

Sat Oct 24  Solo dance clinic with the Sun Valley Figure Skating Club, Sun Valley Indoor Arena, 11 to 12:30, then open skate to 1. All ages and levels, adults too. $30, members $20. [info]

Sat Oct 24  Valley Traditional Music Jam, open acoustic session for all levels, the Community Library, 3 to 5, free. [info]

Sat Oct 24  Celebración de Día de los Muertos at the Hunger Coalition in Bellevue, 4 to 7, free and bilingual: ofrendas in the greenhouses, Son de Valle, folkloric dance, food, and face painting. [info]

Sat Oct 24  Teton Gravity Research's "Actually, It Is Rocket Science," its 31st ski and snowboard film, the Argyros, 4:30 and 8. [tickets]

Sat Oct 24  Sun Valley Glitter Games, Campion Ice House, Hailey, 7 to 9. Sun Valley Suns players team up with local figure skaters. $25, kids 12 and under $15. [tickets]

Sat Oct 24  "Good Faith Medical Judgement: Idaho Physicians Speak," drawn from interviews with Idaho doctors who left the state and who stayed, the Liberty Theatre, 7 to 9. [info]

Sun Oct 25  Pumpkin carving with apple cider in Bonni's Garden at the Wood River YMCA, Ketchum, 11 to 2:30. Free for everyone. [info]

Sun Oct 25  Courageous Kids, adaptive climbing for any age with physical or developmental special needs, the YMCA wall, 1 to 3, free. Register at [email protected]. [info]

Sun Oct 25  Battle of the Brews: Homebrew Edition at TNT Taproom, 271 Sun Valley Rd, Ketchum, 3. Tasters $10, brewers $15. 21 and over; register ahead. [tickets]

Sun Oct 25  Community Breathwork at the Flourish Foundation, 1030 Airport Way, Hailey, 4:30 to 6, $0 to $75 sliding scale. Register ahead. [info]

Sun Oct 25  "Evil Diva," a free reading of Stephen Karam's new play about mothers and daughters, the Argyros, 5. Reserve a ticket. Ages 16 and up. [tickets]

Mon Oct 26  Free kayak roll session for grades 6 to 11 with the Community School's Outdoor Program, Easley Hot Springs, 4 to 5:30. Gear provided; families arrange rides. RSVP. [sign up]

Mon Oct 26  Ken Burns' "The War," episode two, with the Wood River Museum, the Community Library, 2 to 4:15, free. Register online. [info]

Tue Oct 27  Alexander Maksik on "Passengers," his National Book Award-longlisted novel, the Community Library, 5:30. Register to attend in person; also streamed. [info]

Tue Oct 27  Open studio: printmaking, SVMoA's Hailey Classroom, 314 2nd Ave S, 6 to 8, $35, members $30, students $15. Ages 16 and up. [info]

Wed Oct 28  Tech Roundtable: Advanced AI, the Community Library, 5 to 7, free. [info]

Wed Oct 28  "Wild Horse Nine," Martin McDonagh's new film with John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell, ahead of its release, plus local filmmaker Will Nordstrom's short "Lovebite," from the Sun Valley Film Festival, the Argyros, 5:30. $20, free for members. Rated R. [tickets]

Wed Oct 28  QPR suicide prevention training with the Love Like Ky Foundation, the Community Library, 5:30 to 7. Free; register online. [info]

Wed Oct 28  Improv 2.0, four Wednesdays with Wood River Rep's Andrew Alburger, Community Campus, Hailey, 6:30 to 8, $150. [info]

Wed Oct 28  The Afrosonics, the Liberty Theatre, 7 to 10. [tickets]

Every Monday

10:30  Story time at the Community Library, preschool age, free. [info]

2 to 4  Mondays We Stitch, Sun Valley Lodge atrium. Knitting, needlepoint, and crochet, all levels, free. [IME]

3 to 4  Paws to Read at the Community Library: kids read to therapy dogs, free. [info]

4 to 6  Community Meal at Bloom, 110 Honeysuckle St, Bellevue, free. Thursdays too, noon to 2. [IME]

4:30 to 6  Knitting Circle at the Community Library, free. Bring needles and yarn. [info]

6 p.m.  Mindful Mondays, the Advocates' women's support group. Childcare provided. Call (208) 788-4191 for the location.

Every Tuesday

1 to 2  Lunchtime Language Spanish at the Community Library, free. [info]

4 to 9  Teacher Tuesday at Roots Wine Bar, 122 S Main St, Hailey: two house wines plus fries, $30.

5 to 7  Cooking Club / Club de Cocina at Bloom Community Kitchen, free. Register at (208) 788-0121.

6 to 8  Free English class for adults / Clase de inglés gratis, the Community Library, through Dec. 15. [info]

7 p.m.  Trivia Showdown at Whiskey's on Main, Ketchum, free, through Dec. 29. [IME]

Every Wednesday

10:15  Baby and toddler story time at the Hailey library, free. [info]

Noon to 1  Yoga and meditation with Ryan Redman at the Flourish Foundation, free.

2 to 5  Stitch group at Knit + Needle, free, all levels, drop in. [info]

5 and 6:30  Beginner Spanish at Town Center West through the Hailey library, level one then level two. [info]

5:30 to 7  Craft Circle at the Hailey library, ages 16 and up. Bring any handicraft. [info]

5:45 and 6:15  Country line dance lessons with Line Dance Idaho, BCRD FitWorks, Hailey: beginners, then intermediate. No partner needed. $8, free for BCRD members. [info]

6 to 9, then 9  At Whiskey's on Main: ballroom lesson at 6 ($40, a drink included), open dance 7 to 9, then free karaoke.

Every Thursday

11:30 to 12:30  Pop-In Poetry at the Community Library, free. [info]

4 p.m.  Teens Art Collective at the Hailey library, free. [info]

5 to 7  Stitch group at Knit + Needle again, the evening one. [info]

6:30  Trivia at the TNT Taproom, 271 E Sun Valley Rd, Ketchum. Free, 21 and over.

Every Friday

11 a.m.  Story time at the Hailey library, free. [info]

5:30 to 6:30  Flow & Restore yoga at the Flourish Foundation, Hailey, all levels, by donation. [IME]

6:30 to 8  Dusty Hayz & Drifter, country, vintage pop, and Latin ballads, La Cabanita at the Mint, Hailey, free, through Dec. 18. [IME]

Every Saturday

10 a.m.  Dungeons and Dragons club for youth at the Hailey library, free. [info]

3:30  Story time again at the Hailey library, free. [info]

Every Sunday

Noon, while supplies last  Tacos and Touchdowns at Whiskey's on Main: $20 all-you-can-eat taco bar.

Most nights

Thu to Sat 5:30 to 8:30, Sun 1 to 4  Live music in the Limelight lounge, 151 Main St S, Ketchum. Free, no cover. [IME]

Coming up

Thu Oct 29 and Fri Oct 30  Warren Miller's "Days Off," Sun Valley Opera House: Thursday 7, Friday 6 and 9. Prices rise closer in. [info]

Fri Oct 30 and Wed Nov 4  Free Community School events: kids' climbing day, YMCA, Friday 9:45 (K to 8th grade); "The Sound of Music" sneak peek, Wednesday 6:30 (grades 5 to 11). RSVP. [sign up]

Sundays Nov 1 to 22  Line Dance Idaho's beginner couples swing and two-step, BCRD FitWorks, Hailey, 3 to 4. Five couples, almost full; reserve at (208) 309-3037.

Wed Nov 4  Sterling silver stacking ring workshop, Jenn Tormey Jewelry, Ketchum, 4 to 8. $200, all materials. Six students max, 18 and up. [tickets]

Thu Nov 5 and Fri Nov 6  Flourish Foundation at OCHI Gallery, Ketchum: exhibition opening Thursday 5 to 6:30, community meditation Friday 4:15. RSVP. [info]

Sat Nov 7  Girls on the Run 5K, Swiftsure Ranch, Bellevue, 10 a.m. Open to the community; register, $10 suggested donation. No dogs. [info]

Thu Nov 12  Death Cafe, an open conversation about death, Flourish Foundation, Hailey, 6 to 8. $0 to $50; register. [info]

Sun Nov 15  Five Gates Grief Vigil, Flourish Foundation, Hailey, 5 to 7:30. $0 to $75. Limited to 20; register. [info]

Mon Nov 16  Rota-Rippers applications due. Free learn-to-ski and snowboard at Rotarun for kids 5 to 11, Mondays and Tuesdays this winter. [info]

Tue Nov 17  "Are Nativars Equivalent to Native Plants?" Dr. Stephen Love, the Community Library, 5:30. Register to attend in person. [info]

Thu Nov 19  Santa's Workshop: floral candle lanterns and ornaments, Sawtooth Botanical Garden, 6 to 7:30, $40. Space is limited. [tickets]

Over Galena

Thu Oct 22  Movie night at Mountain Village's Velvet Falls Dance Hall, kids' film at 6, teens and adults at 8. [info]

Sun Oct 25  What's still open in Stanley. The Stanley Supper Club serves its last fall dinner Sunday; Papa Brunee's is open Friday and Saturday, Mountain Village daily. Sawmill Station's bistro closes after Oct. 31. [info]

Tue Oct 27  Book discussion: "Migrations," the Stanley Community Library, 5:30 to 7:30. [info]

The Dirt

River and fish. The Big Wood is down to 140 cfs at Hailey, 71% of the 197 cfs median; a week ago it ran 148. Silver Creek at the Sportsman Access is 86 cfs, 71% of its 122 median. [USGS]

A wet Thursday, a cold Friday. Rain and thunderstorms move in Thursday afternoon, and Friday brings a 90% chance of rain valley-wide. Highs drop from the low to mid 60s Thursday to about 51 Friday. Expect around an inch of rain and a snow level near 8,100 feet. Sun returns for the weekend, with highs in the low 50s. [National Weather Service]

Getting ready for the season. Sun Valley's opening day is Thursday, Nov. 26, at 9 a.m., with live music at River Run. BCRD's preseason Nordic passes are $285 through Nov. 22, then $340; kids 17 and under ski free with a pass. [resort] [BCRD]

Over Galena. Valley Creek at Stanley is 89 cfs, 95% of its median, and the Salmon below the Yankee Fork is 464. Stanley's Friday rain may mix with snow, then a low near 12 Friday night. [National Weather Service]

Open House

Work is underway on River Bend, 81 workforce apartments in Hailey. The Wood River Community Housing Trust's four buildings on Hospital Drive, near St. Luke's, broke ground Aug. 31; the trust expects them done in 2028. [IME]

Table Talk

Rickshaw's last night before its fall break is tonight, Oct. 22. The Ketchum restaurant is closed Oct. 23 through Nov. 23. [post]

Cookbook's slack special is on. Order an appetizer and entrée, and a draft beer or bread pudding is on the house. [post]

Ketchum's Lizzy's Fresh Coffee won Overall Champion at the Golden Bean The Americas 2026 roasting competition, announced Oct. 5 in Denver. [IME]

Help Wanted

KetchumLimelight Hotel Ketchum is hiring a year-round cook at up to $25 an hour, with benefits and ski passes, plus winter barbacks, servers, bartenders, and front desk staff. Applications close Nov. 8. [postings]

HaileyFriedman Memorial Airport needs a part-time parking lot ambassador, about 25 hours a week, Thursday to Sunday, at $25 an hour. [posting]

BellevueMountain Rides, the valley's bus system, is hiring a full-time director of finance and administration. [posting]

HaileyThe Wood River Land Trust is hiring a communications and events manager, full-time, at $63,000 to $73,000 to start, with a possible four-day week. [posting]

Sun ValleyThe Community School needs a part-time learning specialist, 20 hours a week, starting Nov. 30 for the rest of the school year. [posting]

Hiring? Put your opening in front of the whole valley. Email [email protected].

If you do one thing this weekend, carve a pumpkin at the Y on Sunday.

See you next Thursday.

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