western treasure valley magazine holiday 2015

Holiday seasonkicks off with

beautiful branches

Add a tastytwist to a

traditional dessert

Decorating thatdoesnt cost anarm and a leg

The art of entertainment

Holiday partya winter favorite

Holiday season

Festival of Trees

Add a tasty

Holidayfl avor

Set thescene

HOLID

AY E

DITI

ONWESTERN

TREASURE VALLEY

MAGAZINE

2 WTV MAGAZINE Holiday 2015

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WTV MAGAZINE Holiday 2015 3


28

Entertaining:Presentation helpsset the mood

7

Judy Presnell:Passionate for painting on canvas

12

The Graces:Their dream home is a godsend

14 6 Letter from the Editor 8 Do It Yourself26 Calendar36 Out and About38 Books39 Why I Love the

Western Treasure Valley

The Gills share tips for entertaining at their annual holiday party.

See story on page 20.

The Gills share tips for entertaining

ON THE COVER

DETAILS

Pumpkin cheesecake:Discover a new holidayfavorite this year

10FOOD

ART

AT HOME

Historical churches:Houses of worship have long history in local area

34HISTORY

IN EVERY ISSUE

10

7


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WESTERN TREASURE

VALLEYMAGAZINE

Publisher EditorsJohn Dillon Kristi Albertson

Leslie Thompson

DesignersTom PerrymanLori Schaffeld

Melissa Swetland

ContributorsEmily Carpenter

Zachary ChastaineMax A. Chavez

April EhrlichJessica Else

Larry MeyerAlyssa Olson

Terri SchlichenmeyerBrandon Walton

AdvertisingDebbie Regalado

Kelly JonesLark MacKenzieDoug Spencer

Contact informationWestern Treasure Valley Magazine

c/o The Argus Observer1160 S.W. Fourth St.

Ontario OR [email protected]

Advertising inquiries(541) 823-4816

Western Treasure Valley Magazine is published six times a year by

The Argus Observer, a division of Wick Communications Co.

Single copies are available at select locations throughout the Western Treasure Valley.

Copyright 2015 by The Argus Observer.


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www.

Letter from the

EDITOR

Buddy the Elf is my spirit animal. For those who havent seen the modern classic Christmas movie Elf, Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a man who learns he is not, in fact, a cotton-headed ninny-muggins of an elf but a human who has been raised by elves at the North Pole. He sets off on an adventure to meet his real father in New York City and spreads Christmas cheer along the way. Buddys enthusiasm for Christmas is out of place in a jaded modern society, but I empathize. If left to my own devices, Id listen to Christmas music and sip cider year round. Thats why the holiday issue of Western Treasure Valley Magazine is one of my favorites. Weve featured a couple of longstanding traditions, including a local couples much-anticipated annual gala and the festival WKDWXQRIFLDOO\NLFNVRIIWKHKROLGD\

season each year in Ontario. Food is, of course, a major component of many holiday celebrations. Treasure Valley Treats Lisa Mathews shared a recipe that will help bakers embrace the seasons passion for pumpkin. For readers who like to sew, we have a pattern for a holiday table mat that can be customized for any season. We also offer tips for creating a beautiful holiday display that wont cost an entire paycheck. Houses of worship play a central role in many peoples holiday celebrations, and we offer an overview of some of the valleys oldest churches. In our artist section, painter Judy Presnell gives us a peek inside her studio and her process. In Payette, the Graces open their lovely home and share the steps that brought them to Idaho from California. We hope you enjoy this issue of Western Treasure Valley Magazine.

We would love to hear about your holiday traditions and hope youll share them with us.

Kristi [email protected]


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Center: 1 Fat Quarter Inner border, backing and binding:

yards of fabric Outer border: 1 Mini Charm Pack

(or 30 2 -inch squares) Batting

Directions:* Use a scant -inch seam

Story and photos by Jessica Else

Fabric the key to holiday table matIn stitches

Cutting: Cut one piece 8 inches by

14 inches for center piece from the Fat Quarter.

From the backing/binding fab-ric, cut two strips at 2 inches width of fabric. Set aside for the binding.

Inner border: Open up the backing/binding fabric. Cut the following strips from one end, making sure to reserve a piece at least 17 inches by 22 inches for backing:

Cut two strips at 1 inches by 14 inches

Cut two strips at 1 inches by 10 inches

Sewing: Sew a 14 -inch strip to

each side of the 8 -inch by 14 -inch center piece. Press the seam toward the darker fabric.

O1

In stitches youre feeling crafty and

looking for a quick project to get in the holiday spirit, look no further than this table mat created by Donna Else of Weiser.

The key to the mat, Else says, is material.

Fabric choice is what makes a project, Else says. You can have the same pattern and get completely different results based on fabric choice.7KHQLVKHGVL]HRIWKLVKROLGD\

table mat is 14 by 20 inches. Heres what youll need to get started:

If


Sew a strip to the top and bot-tom of the center piece. Press the seam toward the darker fabric.

Sew eight Mini Charm squares together to make a strip. Press all seams one direction. Make one more strip with eight Mini Charm squares and press.

Sew a Mini Charm strip to each side of the center piece. Press the seam toward the inner border. Square off the ends if needed.

Sew seven Mini Charm squares together to make a strip. Press the seams all one direction. Sew one more strip with seven Mini Charm squares. Press the seams all one direction.

Sew a Mini Charm strip to each end of the center piece. You may need to re-press one seam at the end of the strip the oppo-site direction so that the seams rest together when sewing. This will reduce bulk.

Cut backing and batting at least 2 inches larger than the front. Layer by placing the backing right-side down, then the bat-ting, then the top, right-side up. Hand baste, pin or use fabric spray adhesive to hold in place.

Quilt in the ditch on each side of the inner border, or quilt as desired.

Square up all the sides. Take the two binding strips

and sew the ends together to make one long strip. Fold in half the long way and press.

Sew the binding to the back of the table mat:

Starting at the center of one edge, align raw edge of binding to the table runner. Start sewing 1 inch past the end of the binding, sewing through all layers. Stop inch from the corner, backstitch, cut threads.

Take the table mat out from under the machine. Fold the

strip upward to create a diag-onal fold. Hold fold in place and bring strip down, making the horizontal fold align with the edge of the table mat.

Start sewing at the top of the fold, sewing through all layers. Continue, turning at each corner. When you get close to your starting point, cut off excess binding, leaving enough to turn under the raw edge on end. Place the begging loose end of binding inside the folded end, encasing the raw end. Finish sewing binding on.

Fold binding over the front. Pin, press, mitering the cor-ners and top stitch in place. | WTVM |

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so she swaps the bourbon for vanilla extract.If pumpkin cheesecake is not your thing,

Mathews suggests making apple bread or spritz cookies. Both are traditional holiday recipes that not many people make anymore, particularly the spritz cookies, as they require a cookie press.

As for choosing ingredients, Mathews goes with what she knows best. She picks out the brands she worked with as a child when baking with her mother.

For instance, some might choose to use fresh pumpkin for baking. Its a tedious process that requires slicing, boiling and scooping pumpkin HVKZKLFKSURGXFHVDERXWYHWLPHVPRUHthan a baker would need for one recipe. For this reason, Mathews goes the canned route.

You work with what you know, she said. If it tastes good, it works.

Mathews grew up in a family that loved to bake. She began baking as a child, then grew to love cake decorating. Before opening Treasure Valley Treats in Ontario three years ago, she taught cake decorating classes at Jo-Ann Fabric in Ontario. Then she decided to open her own business, where she now offers similar classes.

ou show up to the holiday party, looking your best and beaming with a homemade pumpkin pie. You cant wait for everyone to try it.

But then you see it: a rival pumpkin pie. Of course someone else thought of bringing the same thing. Pumpkin pie is standard. This year, be a little different. Bring a pumpkin cheesecake.

Treasure Valley Treats owner Lisa Mathews would not bring a pumpkin pie to a holiday party, because she doesnt like pumpkin. Thats a hard bullet to bite this season, as pumpkin DYRUVDUHDOOWKHUDJH3XPSNLQPXIQVSXPSNLQODWWHVHYHQSXPSNLQOLSEDOPOOgrocery store aisles. Mathews attributes the craze to marketing.

Still, she cant say no to a pumpkin FKHHVHFDNH7KHSXPSNLQDYRULVDOLWWOHPRUHmild, and cheesecake is richer than a standard pie. She likes to make her own mini pumpkin cheesecakes with a graham crust and crushed pecans. 7KHSHFDQVVKRXOGEHQHO\FUXVKHGDQGWKH

grahams almost like sand. Otherwise, the crust will crumble, and the cheesecake will break.

When baking, Mathews suggests following WKHUHFLSHWKHUVWWLPHDURXQGWKHQPDNLQJPRGLFDWLRQVODWHU6LQFHVKHKDVPDGHWKLVrecipe several times before, she knows where VKHOLNHVWRPDNHPRGLFDWLRQV)RURQHher original recipe calls for a bourbon cream topping. She doesnt keep alcohol in the shop,

YStory and photos by April Ehrlich

Add a pumpkin twist to a traditional dessert

CheCheesecakefor the

HolHolidays


Pecan crust: cup graham cracker crumbs

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8.%DNHIRUPRUHPLQXWHVWKHQWUDQVIHUWRDUDFNDQGFRROXQWLOOXNHZDUP&RYHUORRVHO\ZLWKIRLODQGUHIULJHUDWHRYHUQLJKW| WTVM |

Pumpkin Cheesecake

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If Judy Presnells paintings have a familiar look about them, there is a good reason.Born and raised in Ontario,

the artist has lived in Oregon and Idaho all of her life. She has been a resident of Idaho since 1973, and what she has seen and experienced often shows up in her paintings.

Her subjects may be places where she and her family have hunted, places she has photographed, or subjects that UHHFWIDPLO\H[SHULHQFHV

Art has always interested Presnell, although she has had other jobs. She worked for the New Plymouth School District for 29 years and later for Bear Mountain Machine.

But art has always been constant. For a while, her artistic bent had a culinary twist.

I started decorating cakes, she said.

After a couple of years in that craft, however, Presnell decided to move on.

I wanted something to be permanent, she said.

That permanent artistic focus is painting. During high school, she took classes from Roger Ashby, who was a well-known local artist as well as a teacher at Ontario High School. Over the years, she also has been taught by Myrna Gross, a fellow New Plymouth resident.

Presnell works strictly with oil paints. She is not interested in working with other mediums, such as acrylic or watercolors.

That is what I started with and did not want to try anything else, she said. I wanted to master that.3UHVQHOOQGVYDULHW\LQKHU

topics and her canvas. Her subjects include horses, wildlife and American Indians, and she paints on more than just canvas.

She also has painted on saws, rocks and skulls.

Presnell has done two or three RUDOVDQGRQHRUWZRVHDVFDSHVbut plans to stick to western themes.

She attributes her subject matter to her upbringing. Her parents and grandparents shaped her into a hunter and artist, she said.

While growing up, she spent a lot of weekends in the mountains FDPSLQJVKLQJDQGKXQWLQJincluding in such areas as Ironside, Unity and Juntura, where her family had lived, she said. Locations in the upper county in both Oregon and Idaho can be seen in her paintings. She also spent a lot of time riding horses on her grandfathers ranch.

I love being outdoors. When you are an artist, there is a lot of subject matter. You notice more

Putting experience on canvas

Artists upbringing, love for outdoors show up in oils

Story by Larry MeyerPhotos by Alyssa Olson


than the

than the

average person,

Presnell said.Artists also

interpret other peoples experiences

through their medium. One RIKHUSLFWXUHVUHHFWVZKDW

may have been a close call for her son, Presnell said. +HZDVWUDFNLQJDFRXJDULQ,GDKREXWKDGORVWLWVWUDFNV:KLOHWU\LQJWRQGWKHWUDFNVDJDLQPresnell said her son happened to ORRNXSRQO\WRVHHWKHFRXJDUZDVZDWFKLQJKLPIURPEHWZHHQVRPHQHDUE\URFNV

Presnell, using her sons description of the incident, painted DVFHQHRIDURFN\EOXIIDQGSXWDcougar in the picture.+HURZQH[SHULHQFHVFRORUKHUDUWDVZHOO3UHVQHOOKDVKXQWHGHYHU\year, and her trophy collection LQFOXGHVHONELJKRUQVKHHSDQGcougars. Not only do the mounts VKRZFDVHKHUDELOLW\ZLWKDUHDUPWKH\DOVRDOORZKHUWRVWXG\WKRVHanimals to get proper perspective as she paints them.

Her studio is in the upstairs of KHUKRPHZKLFKLVRQDFUHVQHDU1HZ3O\PRXWK6KHSXWVDORWRIelements from different sources or locations together in one picture, she said.

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SXWWLQJKHULGHDVGRZQDQGJXULQJRXWWKHSURSRUWLRQV,WWDNHVher about 50 to 85 hours to do a painting, she said. Typically she paints in the afternoon, and she GRHVDORWRIKHUZRUNGXULQJWKHZLQWHU

6KHKDGVRPHRIKHUDUWLQTreasure Valley Art Association VKRZVZKHQWKH\ZHUHKHOGLQ:HVW3DUN3OD]D0RVWUHFHQWO\Presnell had an exhibit featuring RQO\KHUZRUNDW)RXU5LYHUVCultural Center in Ontario.7KLVLVP\UVWVKRZLQJVKH

said. :KLOHVKHZLOOGRSDLQWLQJVRQ

commission, Presnell said she SUHIHUVGRLQJZKDWPRYHVPH6KHGRQDWHVSDLQWLQJVWRVXSSRUWQRQSURWRUJDQL]DWLRQVVXFKDVWKH5RFN\0RXQWDLQ(ON)RXQGDWLRQIRULWVDQQXDODXFWLRQDQGWRWKH5REHUW0DQZLOO$XFWLRQLQ1HZ3O\PRXWKto raise money for scholarships.

| WTVM |


When Glenda and Alan Grace found their dream home a couple of years DJRWKH\QHYHUH[SHFWHGWRQGLWwhere they did. Theyd been looking for their perfect place in California for more than a decade when God seemed to guide them one in Idaho.

When we bought the house, we felt like God gave us this home, Alan said.

They had traveled to Payette from California to visit their daughter, Natalie Snook, for her 40th birthday. Thats when their grandson persuaded them to look at a riverfront house he had seen listed for sale.

When the Graces saw the 2-acre property on the Payette River, it felt like home.

We werent planning to move, Glenda said, but we came here and felt like, Wow! This is it.

After falling in love with the lay of the land and the exterior of the home and outbuildings, they were eager to see what was on the other side of those walls. The couple met the Realtor the next day to look at the entire property.

Alan asked Glenda what she thought, and she told him she loved it. When the couple learned the listed price, they didnt wait a minute longer.

That was all she wrote, Glenda said.Negotiations began, and after some time,

$80,000 was knocked off the listed price.In California, something like this would have

cost $3 million, easy, Alan said, commenting that the river, acreage and established trees alone would cause the market value to skyrocket. Add to that a beautiful home, and a seven-digit price tag would have been more than feasible

When Glenda and Alan Grace found After falling in love with the lay of the land and &RXQWLQJEOHVVLQJV

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Story and photos by Leslie Thompson


in Lakewood, California, where the couple lived.

But in Payette, they were able to close on the home for much less. It was originally listed at $360,000, and the seller had dropped the price to $290,000 when Alan FRXQWHUHGZLWKDQDORIIHU

We said, Throw in the swing, bar stools and riding mower, and well give you $280,000, Alan said.

Their offer was accepted, and the swing stayed at the house while the couple headed home to pack up their California OLYHVDQGWHOOWKHLURWKHUYHFKLOGUHQZKRstill lived there, that they were moving to Idaho.

The outdoor swing has a bench seat nestled between two large wagon wheels. Its been moved since the Graces have had it and is now sitting next to the river, where it offers anyone who sits in it a wide open vantage point of the Payette River.

Though they dont know the name of the man who made it, the Graces do know that the swing was made by a local man in his 90s, who only built six of them.


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Our joke is, as soon as I mow, there will be a storm that night, Alan said with a laugh.

Settling inWhile Alan takes care of everything on the outside H[FHSWWKHRZHUEDVNHWV*OHQGDVQLFKHLVWKHinterior. And she has made it inviting.,GRQWGRWKHRXWVLGH,GRWKHLQVLGH*OHQGDVDLG,WVKDUGIRUKLPWROHWJR+HOLNHVWRSDUWLFLSDWH

she said while looking at Alan.7KDWVEHFDXVH$ODQZRUNHGLQRRULQJIRUVRORQJ

that he was used to making decisions for their living space.,GLGRRULQJIRU\HDUVDQGKDGLGHDVRIKRZLW

should be. I overruled her, Alan said with a chuckle.But not here, Glenda laughed back.The Graces have an immaculate two-story, three-

bedroom, three-bath home, which is still a work in progress.,WVPRUHWKDQKDOIZD\GRQH$ODQVDLG

+HH[SODLQHGWKDWWKH\FRPSOHWHGRQHURRPDWDWLPHZKHQWKH\UVWPRYHGLQVWDUWLQJZLWKWKHPDVWHUbedroom. That included any painting that needed done before furniture was moved in. 2QFHWKHEHGURRPZDVQLVKHGWKH\GLGWKHRIFH

the kitchen and the living room.Glenda has carefully put together the rooms with

furniture, accessories and art that are complementary and inviting.,WVYHU\IXQGHFRUDWLQJDQG,ORYHGRLQJLWDQG

putting love and beauty into our home, Glenda said. I just feel a huge sense of gratitude.

The couple have an eye for art and used to frequently support local artisans at a festival in Laguna Beach, California.

They have artists in the family, too, whose pieces can be found in and around the Grace home. There are several sculptures by their son, Brandon %HQNHOPDQZKRVKDUHVKLVSDUHQWVORYHIRU&KULVW+HWDNHVEURNHQVNDWHERDUGVDQGDUUDQJHVWKHPLQWR


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huge montages of Jesus, some of which have been snatched up by stars from the Touched by an Angel TV series.

There is also a square wooden tabletop hanging on a wall in the garage that their daughter, Tawny McKenzie, painted when she was a newlywed.

The garage is home to Alans man cave, which Glenda said is still in progress.

There is plenty of space in the garage for Alans man cave as well as an assortment of vehicles; in IDFWWZRVHPLVFDQWLQVLGHLW

The Graces know that for a fact, because when they PRYHGIURP/DNHZRRGWKHLUEHORQJLQJVWLQWRWZRsemi trailers, which then stayed in the garage until WKH\ZHUHQDOO\XQORDGHG

Retirement home7KHFRXSOHVD\WKH\IHHOEOHVVHGDERXWQGLQJWKH

perfect spot to spend their retirement in.The woodwork in the house is stunning. The

cabinetmaker used cherry wood, Alan said.The river and surrounding trees offer a perfect

backdrop any time of day, but especially in the morning. That is why the couple start each day by sitting in the chairs in front of the large picture windows in their bedroom. From there they can look out at the river where the shimmering of the sunrise glints back at them.

Alan is semi-retired and works two days a week at Floors to Go in Ontario.+HZRUNVSDUWWLPHRRULQJDQGIXOOWLPHKHUHWKHLU

son-in-law Dean Snook aid.Glenda had worked for 19 years as a business

development consultant for health care that was provided to employees, but only did that for a month when she moved here before deciding to retire completely.

It was a high-stress job, and I was ready to enjoy life, she said.

That is exactly what the couple are doing now: relaxing in their new home in Payette and planting roots in the community.

| WTVM |


Plan ahead.Start out small. Keep it simple. That advice about planning and

hosting a holiday party comes from Dennis and Merry Gill, who have been holding a Christmas party at their home in northwest Ontario for about 20 years. The annual bash is a holiday tradition for many.Its one of our most favorite

things we do for the holidays, said Dennis, who chairs the English Department at Treasure Valley Community College.7KH*LOOVUVWVPDOOJHWWRJHWKHU

was for about 10 people. Every year since, their party has gotten bigger. Now more than 100 invitations are sent out, and they average about 120 people at the yearly event.3HRSOHRIWHQFDOOWRQGRXWZKHQ

the party is so they can mark it on their calendars. While the number grows every year, the core group has remained consistent for two decades.Some of the original 10 still try to

make it, said Merry, who works at Iseri Travel Agency. 7KHSDUW\LVLQWHQGHGIRUDVSHFLF

group of people namely, their many friends. The Gills devote Christmas Eve and Christmas Day to family, when they can give their

full attention to celebrating one another.We never mix family and friends,

Dennis said. Our big party is for friends. For Merry, planning for Christmas LVDFWXDOO\D\HDUURXQGSURFHVVShe is always on the lookout for her next new Christmas ornament or decoration. She has found them on trips to other countries and around the United States.I can go to Arizona in the summer DQGQGD&KULVWPDVRUQDPHQWshe said. Im a total Christmas fanatic. I get carried away. I keep adding more and more.She has a dresser full of

Christmas ornaments, which eventually go into bins for storage.Dennis complains, Merry said.To keep the numbers in check, for

every new ornament obtained, one is donated to charity. While she is on the lookout all

year, Merrys planning begins in earnest in the fall. Decorating for Christmas begins right after Thanksgiving.The party is always the second

full weekend of December, which gives the Gills two weeks after Thanksgiving to get the house ready. That is no small task, since their house is nearly 6,000 square feet.

Despite the enormity of the job, the *LOOVGRQWQGGHFRUDWLQJWLUHVRPHMerry lives for Christmas, Dennis

said. She loves decorating.She has decorating down to an art.I try to do a tree a day, room by

room, she said. We have it pretty ZHOORUJDQL]HGMerry does most of the decorating,

and Dennis does a lot of moving things in and out of the house. That includes the 40 to 50 bins RIGHFRUDWLRQVZKLFKDUHZHOOmarked. 7KHYH&KULVWPDVWUHHVLQWKHLUKRXVHDUHDUWLFLDO7KHWUHHVDUHstored without being taken apart, and they do not change from year to year.The table decorations are what

change, as do any live decorations around the house. For those live plants and wreaths, Merry often relies on Laura Kurth at Andrews Seed Co.The party is about more than a

festive atmosphere. Although the Gills acknowledge putting out food is all about presentation, they also strive to keep their meals simple and accessible, with a mix of hot and cold foods.We want people to eat it, Merry VDLG:HOOXSWKHWDEOHVThere are a variety of alcoholic

and nonalcoholic drinks, all of

Entertainingwith the Gills

6725


which are clearly labeled. The hot foods include such items as sausages in barbecue sauce and asparagus wrapped in bacon. Cold food usually includes cheeses and crackers. The Gills also serve dessert.No matter the course, everything LVDQJHUIRRGDOORZLQJJXHVWVto mix and mingle throughout the home. Some of it is catered, some is purchased and heated as necessary, and some of it is homemade. Dont think you have to make

everything, Merry said.She and Dennis spend most of the

day of the event cooking, but come nightfall, they devote themselves to their guests.We want to enjoy the party, too,

Merry said. We are not cooking during the party. We hire somebody to take care of the dishes, put out the QDSNLQVUHOOWKHERZOVDQVZHUWKHdoor and take coats.Thats a necessity with a guest list as

long as the Gills.We would be constantly running to

the door, Merry said.Despite how highly orchestrated the

event is, the party is an informal affair, designed to allow people to come and


go through the evening. It is a come by when

you want, but there is a GHQLWHHQG0HUU\VDLGThe party starts at 7

p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. Some may come and stay for a half-hour. Others stay for the whole

evening. 7KDWVSHUIHFWO\QH

Dennis said.He and Merry

understand that people may have other stops they need to make.That is why the open KRXVHZRUNV0HUU\VDLG

A lot of people come just WRVHHWKHKRXVHTo make everyone feel

comfortable, the Gills try to make sure their guests will know someone at the party. And while they do dress their home to impress, comfort is their

primary goal.The main thing is we try WRNHHSLWVLPSOH'HQQLVsaid. We want people to feel comfortable. If something goes wrong, GRQWVWUHVVLW

| WTVM |

November/December

of eventsNovember/Decem

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of eventsof eventsof eventsof eventsCALENDAR


Nov. 20-22)HVWLYDORI7UHHVThis annual fundraiser for Meals on Wheels features

spectacularly decorated trees for sale, as well as a number of holiday crafts. Kick off the Christmas season by browsing the festival at the Clarion Inn, 1249 Tapadera Ave., Ontario.Festival of Trees is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 20;

free cinnamon rolls and coffee will be served from 7 to 9 a.m.The festival is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 21; Santa

Claus will be there from noon to 3 p.m.The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22.For more information, call Debbie Blackaby at (541) 889-

8693, Barbara Olson at (208) 642-9222 or Rita Lewis at (541) 889-3154.

Dec. 46DQWDV%UHDNIDVW

The Ontario Area Chamber of Commerces annual Santas Breakfast takes place at 6:45 a.m. Dec. 4 at the Elks Lodge, 20 S.W. Third St. in Ontario.

The grand marshal and junior grand marshal of the Winter Wonderland Parade will be recognized. In addition to a door prize gift exchange, appearances by area businesses and a buffet breakfast, all present will have an opportunity to meet the Jolly Old Elf himself.

For more information, call the Chamber at (541) 889-8012.

Dec. 4&KULVWPDVLQ3D\HWWH3D\HWWHXVKHUVLQWKHKROLGD\VHDVRQWKHUVW)ULGD\LQ

December.The tree-lighting ceremony at Bancroft Park, at the corner

of Main Street and Center Avenue, starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Fire trucks will deliver Santa Claus, and Mayor Jeff Williams is slated to give a speech.After the ceremony, Santa will head to the Payette Muse-

um, 90 S. Ninth St., where children can visit him for photos and candy. The Payette Fire Department will host its chili feed from 5 WRSPDWWKHUHGHSDUWPHQW1WK6W7KHUH

JKWHUVZLOOEHVHUYLQJchili and cinnamon rolls. They are asking guests to bring unwrapped presents as donations for the Help Them to Hope toy drive.Throughout the month, the city hosts a downtown store-

front decorating contest. Residents can vote on their favor-ite window on the citys Facebook page.For more information, call (208) 642-6024.

Dec. 4&KULVWPDVWUHHOLJKWLQJFour Rivers Cul-

tural Center will host a Christmas tree lighting from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4.There will be photo

opportunities with Santa and a magician on site. Treasure Valley Com-munity College swing band and the Ontario High School choir will be caroling. There will also be vendors with food and drinks available including apple cider, popcorn balls and cotton candy.The Cultural Center is

located at 676 S.W. Fifth Ave. in Ontario.For more information, call (541) 889-8191.

Dec. 4-5; 11-12+ROLGD\)DLUThe Holiday Fair takes place Dec. 4 and 5, and Dec. 11

and 12 at the Malheur County Fairgrounds, 795 N.W. Ninth St. in Ontario.For more information, call the fairgrounds at (541) 889-

3431.

Dec. 5:LQWHU:RQGHUODQG3DUDGHThe annual Winter Wonderland Parade starts at 1 p.m.

Dec. 5 in Ontario.6HHRDWVFHOHEUDWLQJWKLV\HDUV1RUWK3ROHWKHPH

marching bands, classic cars and more in the traditional parade that starts near Albertsons and heads downtown. Participation is free; sign up through the Ontario Area Chamber of Commerce.For more information, call the Chamber at (541) 889-8012.

apple cider, popcorn balls

located at 676 S.W. Fifth Ave. in Ontario.


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Dec. 5&KULVWPDVWUHHOLJKWLQJFruitland Community Events is hosting its Christmas

tree lighting at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Olde School in Fruit-land.There will be a tree lighting, a concert and a visit from

Santa with photo opportunities.The school is located at 500 S.W. Third St.

Dec. 11+ROLGD\FRQFHUWTreasure Valley Symphonys Holiday Concert takes

place at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Meyer-McLean Theatre in Four Rivers Cultural Center, 650 College Blvd., On-tario.For more information, call (541) 881-5586.

Dec. 121LWH/LWH3DUDGHNyssas holiday parade starts at 6 p.m. Dec. 12.This years theme is Old-fashioned Christmas. Participa-

tion is free; sign up through the Nyssa Chamber of Com-merce and Agriculture. Lineup for the lit parade is along Park Avenue, starting by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.The Chamber also hosts lighting and display contests

for residences and businesses.For more information, call (541) 372-3091.

Dec. 177KH&KULVWPDV3UHVHQFHCountertenor Terry Barber presents The Christmas

Presence, a Christmas concert, at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Meyer-McClean Theatre in Four Rivers Cultural Center, 650 College Blvd., Ontario.The program

is full of clas-sical holiday favorites, including Irvin Berlins White Christmas.For more

information, call (541) 881-8191.

Dec. 31*UDQG2SHUD+RXVHWRXUVTour the historical Grand Opera House and Vale Hotel

in an open house event from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 31.The hotel, opened in 1908, and the Grand Opera House,

which opened in 1895 at 123 Main St. in Vale, are being renovated under the direction of the Drexel H. Founda-tion. For more details, call Kelsey Tolman or Sandijean Fuson at (541) 473-3470 and leave a message.


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Story by Kristi Albertson | Photos by Leslie Thompson

LVLRQVRIVXJDUSOXPVOO'HEELH Blackabys head all year long.

Wherever she goes, from January to 'HFHPEHU%ODFNDE\LVRQWKHORRNRXWIRUornaments, ribbons and baubles. The items VKHQGVZLOOEHRQGLVSOD\WKHZHHNHQGEHIRUHThanksgiving at Ontarios Festival of Trees, the :HVWHUQ7UHDVXUH9DOOH\VXQRIFLDONLFNRIIWRthe holiday season.7KHWKUHHGD\IHVWLYDOOOVWKH&ODULRQ,QQZLWK

holiday decorations, crafts and, on its opening PRUQLQJDGHOLFLRXVEUHDNIDVWFRPSOHWHZLWKhomemade cinnamon rolls. But the highlight of the annual event is the display of 30 or more IXOO\GHFRUDWHGDUWLFLDO&KULVWPDVWUHHV

The 2014 festival featured 37 trees, said %ODFNDE\WKHHYHQWVFKDLUZRPDQ7KRVHWUHHVboasted themes from Alice in Wonderland to candy-cane striped, but Blackabys favorite KDGD&KULVWPDVFDUROLQJWKHPH,WLQFOXGHGDlantern, carolers and ornaments shaped like musical notes.7KHWUHHZDVWKHUHVXOWRI\HDUVRISODQQLQJ6RPHWLPHVLWZLOOWDNHPHWKUHHRUIRXU\HDUV

to pull together enough things to make the WUHHZKDW,HQYLVLRQLWWREH%ODFNDE\VDLG,DOZD\VZDQWHGWRGRDFDUROHU,ZDQWHGWRGRDWUHHEDVHGRQVQRZZLWKDODPSSRVW7KDWFDPHWRJHWKHUZKLFK,ZDVH[FLWHGDERXW

The trees serve a greater purpose than just FHOHEUDWLQJWKH&KULVWPDVVSLULW)HVWLYDORI7UHHVLVDIXQGUDLVHUIRU0DOKHXU&RXQW\0HDOVRQ:KHHOVZKLFKSURYLGHVIRRGWRKRPHERXQGseniors, and Help Them to Hope, a program that delivers meals to hundreds of local families HYHU\&KULVWPDV%DUEDUD2OVRQZKRRUJDQL]HVWKHIHVWLYDOZLWK%ODFNDE\DQG5LWD/HZLVKDVEHHQSDUWRIthe event since the very beginning. In 1989, she ZRUNHGZLWK1DQF\%XWOHU0F*XLUHDW0DOKHXU&RXQFLORQ$JLQJDQG&RPPXQLW\6HUYLFHVZKLFKZDVORRNLQJIRUDZD\WRIXQGLWV0HDOVon Wheels program.

Butler-McGuire had seen a Festival of Trees HOVHZKHUHDQGWKHZRPHQWKRXJKWLWZRXOGEHDJRRGWIRU2QWDULR

VFestival of Trees ushers

in holiday season


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

Top: Hot pink ribbons wind their way through the white limbs of this Hello Kitty-themed Christmas tree. An anonymous angel donated it to the 2014 Festival of Trees.

0LGGOH$QHO\SDLQWHGPLQLDWXUHKRXVHLVKLGGHQDPRQJbaubles and ribbons on this tree.

Bottom: Olaf, a character from the Disney movie Frozen, hangs out with other characters from the movie on this tree donated by Silver Signet Graphic Design.


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Gold graces the limbs of many trees at the event.

Wheels program, Blackaby said. I feel that the seniors are a forgotten, hidden group of people who are often overlooked in our society. Their needs are very, very important to me.

Theyre not out there with their hands out, she added. Its not in their nature to be asking people for help.

The issue hit close to home, she said.Having grandparents who are elderly

inspired me to do what I do, she said.That passion came in handy in Blackabys UVW\HDURQWKHFRPPLWWHH+HUFRchairwoman was sick, so Blackaby ended up shouldering a good portion of the burden. It was at times overwhelming for


a woman who had no previous experience with the festival.

It was just, here you go, sink or swim, and I chose to swim, she said. Ive been involved ever since.

She doesnt work alone. Olson takes care of the administrative paperwork and makes note of who donates what from year to year. Lewis tracks the money and handles the accounting.

The latter is no small task. Festival of 7UHHVKDVFRPHDORQJZD\IURPLWVUVWyear; it now brings in an average of $15,000 to $20,000 annually. The event makes up about 70 percent of the annual funding for the Meals on Wheels program, Olson said.

Lewis makes treasurers reports throughout the year, Olson said. Blackaby spends her year hunting for decorations.

Every piece of it to me is like a team, Olson said.

While she, Blackaby and Lewis have been the festivals driving force for years, they insist it couldnt be done without the communitys generosity.

The Clarion Inn donates the space for the festival. That has been an enormous EHQHW2OVRQVDLG,QLWVHDUO\\HDUVWKHevent moved each year.

That makes the festival really hard. People didnt always know where it was, Olson said. Now its in a consistent location.

In addition to the space, scores of volunteers help decorate the trees. In 2014, eight businesses that sponsored trees decorated them themselves, Blackaby said. Other volunteers help set up and take down the festival.

Then there are the hundreds of people who stop by and who purchase trees and other items there.

It takes a community to make this happen, to create the magic of the Christmas season, Blackaby said.

| WTVM |

Left: Looking closely at the red, white and green dominating the We are Santas Elves tree, it becomes apparent that not all the elves are whole. Notice the upside-down elf leg tree topper.


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Top: Counting all the snowmen on the Snowman Welcome tree might prove problematic, as there are so many hidden in the details. The tree was donated by Hanigan Chevrolet Ontario and Jeep Chrysler Dodge of Payette.

0LGGOH$JOLWWHU\VQRZDNHLVKLGGHQLQWKHEUDQFKHVRIRQHRIthe Christmas trees.

Bottom: Not everything donated to the event is a tree or wreath. These wooden letters and hand-sewn snowmen and a reindeer were among items available for purchase.


Story by Emily Carpenter

Churches have long history inthe Western Treasure Valley

For many people in the Western Treasure Valley, the church is the center of their holiday celebrations. And many churches in the Western Treasure Valley have been the center of celebrations for decades. One of the oldest traditions in the area LV (SLVFRSDOLDQ 7KH UVW (SLVFRSDOservice in Payette was conducted by two missionaries in 1887. The missionaries were court-martialed their second day in town based on charges brought by other pastors after they administered to a drunken VKHHSKHUGHU IDWDOO\ VWDEEHG LQ D JKWaccording to a history put together by the National Episcopal Historian and Archivists for a 2003 Historic Episcopal Engagement Calendar. The current structure was built in 1891. The windows were purchased from stained-glass window wholesalers, parish nurse Charlie Manning said. St. James still has the windows that were carted in with a horse and wagon. A German Lutheran congregation WKHRULJLQ RI6W -RKQV(YDQJHOLFDO&KXUFKLQ3D\HWWHGDWHVQHDUO\DVIDUback as St. James. The earliest known meeting was a service and baptism in 1898. Most of WKLVUVWFRQJUHJDWLRQVSRNH*HUPDQIn the early 1900s, part of the congregation began meeting in the Swedish Lutheran Church and was RIFLDOO\ RUJDQL]HG DV WKH /XWKHULVFKH6W-RKDQQLV*HPHLQGH]X3D\HWWHZLWK34 members, according to information

provided by the Payette County Historical Society. The current structure was built in DQGWKHUVWVHUYLFHVZHUHKHOGLQEnglish. In 1924 the name was changed WR6W-RKQV(YDQJHOLFDO&KXUFK In Nyssa, one of the oldest churches is WKH&KXUFKRIWKH1D]DUHQH,WEHJDQLQa tent set up by the traveling evangelist H.S. Hester who, according to recently retired Pastor Tom Cook, came to 1\VVD LQ WR VWDUW D 1D]DUHQHchurch. The original congregation consisted RI MXVW PHPEHUV 7KH\ GLGQW KDYHa building until 1939, when they built a small, wooden structure on Sixth Street. It only took two years to outgrow the UVWEXLOGLQJ,QWKHFRQJUHJDWLRQbegan building the current church on Fifth Street. Jan Wilson, who attended the church for more than 65 years, said in a letter to the congregation: It was built uniquely, with the entrance being at the corner of the building. Bethany Presbyterian Church in Ontario began in 1902 as a tent in a vacant lot near the railroad station, according to the History of Bethany Presbyterian Church written for the centennial celebration. After a dust storm blew it down, it was moved to an alley between two buildings. In 1903, the congregation used an abandoned building, which burned down in 1904 shortly after the church was made RIFLDO Janet Moore, who has attended the

church for 76 years, and her husband $QG\ UHPHPEHU WKH FKXUFKV QH[Wphase, completed in 1911: It was just a little square church with a bell tower, she said. The congregation eventually sold that EXLOGLQJWRKHOSSD\IRUWRGD\VFKXUFKThe new building is lined with stained glass windows dedicated to past family PHPEHUV LQFOXGLQJ 0RRUHV SDUHQWVOne window at the front of the sanctuary was carried over from the old building. &KULVWLDQ FKXUFKHV DUHQW WKH RQO\ones with a long local history. The Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple dates back to the post-World War II years, after hundreds of Japanese-Americans were interned and worked in labor camps in the area. The groundbreaking for the Ontario temple took place in 1952. Some second-generation and senior members of the temple can remember bringing wheelbarrows of dirt when the lower level was excavated to add the social hall and kitchen. The temple was made in the traditional Japanese style. You go in and your eyes are drawn KRUL]RQWDOO\ ,Q FRQWUDVW \RX JR WR D&KULVWLDQ FKXUFK WKHUHV D VWHHSOHsaid the Rev. Joshin Dennis Fujimoto.


(Photos courtesy of Nyssa Church of the Nazarene) Clockwise, from top left:

s4HE#HURCHOFTHE.AZARENEISSHOWNIN1959.

s4HE#HURCHOFTHE.AZARENEBEGANCON-STRUCTIONONITSCURRENTBUILDINGIN

s.YSSA#HURCHOFTHE.AZARENEISSHOWNWITHITSCONGREGATIONIN

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(Photos courtesy of Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple) Clockwise, from top left:

7KHJRPRQVKXKHDGPLQLVWHURI-RGR6KLQVKX%XGGKLVPEDVHGLQ.\RWR-DSDQDWWHQGHGWKHdedication ceremony at the Idaho-Oregon Buddhist Temple in 1957 or 1958.

7KH%XGGKLVWWHPSOHVDQQXDO2ERQ)HVWLYDOshown here in 1955, once was held outside Eastside &DIHRQ6RXWKHDVW6HFRQG6WUHHW

:KDWLVQRZWKHPLQLVWHUVUHVLGHQFHZDVZKHUHVHUYLFHVRULJLQDOO\ZHUHKHOG7KLVSKRWRZDVWDNHQin 1950 or 1951.



Out and About

OUTABOUT

&PAYETTE CAR SHOW AND SHINE AND SWAP MEET | Sept. 12, 2015

Mark and Linda Goodman

Amani, Lily and Jamie Garcia

Cindy Erickson and Sherry Mann

Julie Klinginsmith and Angie Klinginsmith

Ray Rushin and Paul Duplissie


OUTABOUT

&

ANGEL WINGS NETWORK RUN/WALK FUNDRAISER | Sept. 12, 2015

Katie Davis and her Great Pyrenees, ButchLogan Giambo, Kendall Giambo, Brayden Giambo, Gerri Creach, Sammy Creach, Anita Goff, Bobby Goff, Drew Goff (kneeling) and Madison Goff

Brooke Smith, Paige Gehm, Logan Gehm and, in the stroller, Nolan Gehm

Linda Hemminger, Twyla Cairns, Britney Crigler, Peg Mixdorf, Bridgett Brest, Shirley Glemser (front)

&DSW)UHGGLH+HUQDQGH]UHJKWHU6DP/XQD-U/WDee Slyter, Chief Kerry Nyce (holding a photo of Assis-tant Chief Lou Gaff, who died of lung cancer this year), Lt. Kenny Kimball, engine crew member Pete Ney and KLVGRJ*XQWKHUDQGUHJKWHU-DLPH0RQGUDJRQDOOof Weiser Fire Department

Back, from left, Lucas Marin and Alice Marin; front, from left, Gaby Ramirez, Kaylee Cone and Matlin Wolery


transgender woman and, later, with two gay men. In Germany, he stayed with a couple in their castle. Five minutes after he met his Chilean host, the host went to work; that was blind trust, says Galimberti, but then again, there was nothing there to steal. In tropical Fiji, he stayed in a home made of metal sheeting with no air conditioning, and in Colombia, he found love. $WUVWEOXVKLWDSSHDUVWKDW0\&RXFKLV


No. The reason he excels at both law and politics is because there is one ability he has that makes him unique in the Western Treasure Valley. In a skill reminiscent of a superheros power, Hrizuk can tell you the history of any person, place or thing in the Western Treasure Valley. Maybe his ability stems more from the fact that he has spent nearly his entire life in the area and has developed a special bond with it. I love knowing everybody, Hrizuk said. When I go in somewhere I know who Im dealing with. Its the people I knew, the people I grew up with. We are a family, not just a town. Hrizuk moved to Fruitland when he was just 4 years old. From that point, he became a SURPLQHQWJXUHZLWKLQWKHWRZQDQGthe surrounding communities. From winning Idaho history contests, academic bowls and geography bees, one couldnt live in the area without hearing the name Reece Hrizuk.But just as his fame was reaching an all-time high, Hrizuk had to move to Portland right before his junior year of

high school when his father got a new job. It wasnt until I really left that I really appreciated it, Hrizuk said. After Hrizuk graduated from Tigard High School, he enrolled at Oregon State University, where he began studying politics. I started working politics and I did a lot of stuff in Oregon, Hrizuk said. While I was doing that, I started realizing that the best people were in the Western Treasure Valley. After he graduated with a bachelors degree in political science, he enrolled in Gonzaga Universitys law school. When I went up to law school, I kind of knew I always wanted to come back by then, Hrizuk said. And thats exactly what he did.Hrizuk moved back to Fruitland upon graduating from Gonzaga in 2012. :KHQ,QLVKHGODZVFKRRO*OHQLee was retiring and selling his practice, Hrizuk said. It was just perfect timing to come back home. It was something that opened the doors for me, and ever since the whole area has been good to me. Since Hrizuk has come back, he

has successfully opened his own law practice in Fruitland where he focuses on estate planning, real estate and business law. My business is booming and is through the roof, Hrizuk said. I cant keep up with it all, but I like what I do. My practice is all about community and I couldnt be happier helping clients throughout the surrounding area and developing not just great business relationships, but also friendships. Hrizuk is also a member of the Fruitland City Council, Fruitland Community Events Board, Rotary Club, the Elks Lodge, the Lions Club, is chairman of the Apple Jam Dinner and plays piano for Fruitland Church of the Brethren every Sunday. The best reward is to see the impact you make on the community, Hrizuk said. Hrizuk said he has no plans in the foreseeable future to leave and will continue to help the Western Treasure Valley be the best it can be. I enjoy life here more than anywhere else I have been, Hrizuk said. I want to raise my family here someday.| WTVM |

Story and photo by Brandon Walton

Reece Hrizuk has a rare gift.Its not the gift of law, although he is one of the best attorneys \RXZLOOQG,WVQRWKLVNQRZOHGJHRISROLWLFVEXW\RXZRXOGEHKDUGSUHVVHGWRQGDQ\RQHZKRNQRZVPRUHDERXWQDWLRQDODQGORFDOSROLWLFV

Why I love theWestern Treasure Valley

I enjoy life here more than anywhere else I have been. I want to raise my family here someday.


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reasure Valley Community College oers more than 40 areas

of study, including majors, minors, and certicate programs.

With so many choices, you can tailor your studies to your

interests and earn the credentials you need in a competitive job

market. With experienced faculty as mentors, learning goes

beyond the classroom. TVCC combines instruction with real-

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