AMERICA250 AND BLACKFOOT125The Bingham Arts Council’s America250 Chalk Art Festival on Broadway Street sidewalks is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7 & 8. They will provide each artist with a chalk set with red, white, blue and black chalk to create patriotic themed art. There are three age categories that will all be judged separately: 10-12, 13-15, and 16+. They invite everyone to come create, connect, celebrate America. You can register by emailing m.dunaski23@gmail.com.

ANNOUNCEMENTSRemember that there is serious need for blood donations. The Bingham County Red Cross donation times and sites in August are:

Wednesday, Aug. 5 from 9 a.m. — 2 p.m. at the Bingham Memorial Hospital Medical Office Building located at 98 Poplar St. and Friday, Aug. 14 from 11:30 a.m. — 6 p.m. at the LDS Rose Building located at 403 N.150 W.

Don’t forget that this is the last week that the Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church will be passing out free sack lunches to kids 18 years old and younger. They are located at 168 S. University Ave. and distribute the lunches from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. School is getting closer all the time.

The 61st Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival is this week with activities all week — including relay races at noon Friday- Sunday, Aug. 7-9 at the Grandstands.

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGSWednesday:

Music in the Park is from 6:30-8 p.m. at Courthouse Park. Tonight the music will be by Lane Angell and Zack Martinez. If you haven’t experienced live music in the park, don’t miss out on a fun evening.

Thursday:

The Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival Kid’s Day Parade is today starting at 10 a.m. starting at the east end of Agency Rd. For more details, including streets that are closed and where to park check https://www.facebook.com/shobantribes#. There is also a Luck of the Draw Dance Special sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club. For a fun twist, the dance categories will be drawn after the Grand Entry.

Friday:

At the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Week there is a Fun Run/Walk opportunity sponsored this morning by the Waapi Kani Mental Wellness & Recovery Services. It is free and all ages are invited to join in from 8:30 — 10:30 a.m. starting at 85 A. West Agency Rd. Registration starts at 8 a.m.

Today is the day to be a screever and create a chalk drawing to celebrate America. Registration is at 9 a.m. on Broadway St. in Downtown Blackfoot, if you haven’t reserved your square in advance. You’ll be assigned your “canvas” and given your chalks with the reminder that you have until 5 p.m. to finish your masterpiece.

It’s book swap or selling time at the Snake River Community Library, going from 9 a.m. — 4 p.m. You can swap or buy books all day long, but if you want to sell books, reserve a table by calling 208-684-3063. The library is located at 924 W. Highway 39 next to the Snake River High School.

Local historian and author, Rich Just, is sharing his knowledge of early Snake River Valley settlements at the Bingham County Historical Society Museum tonight at 7 p.m. He will be introducing his book Coyote Moon which features his great-grandmother Emma Just. The Museum is at 190 N. Shilling and a fitting setting for an early Bingham County history evening. The gathering is free and there will be refreshments.

Saturday:

The America250 Chalk Art Festival squares will be judged today at 11 a.m., after the artists have touched up their artwork. Pictures will be taken then, but the winners will be announced in two weeks on Friday, Aug. 14 at The Candy Jar Gallery.

Meanwhile, the Broadway Market shoppers will have an extra bonus of enjoying sidewalk art this month due to the Chalk Art Festival. Come see the celebration of America in chalk form as you browse and support local businesses and vendors. The market goes from noon to 5 p.m. on Broadway from Bridge to Pacific.

Ever want to learn Spanish? Japanese? Or English? The Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church offers free language classes every Saturday. For details contact them at 208-785-3611. All learners are welcome… bienvenido … irasshaimase!

The One People, One Purpose, One Future Shoshone-Bannock Indian Festival Parade starts at 10 a.m. They will be focusing on honoring Native Female Veterans or active-duty members if they can attend. For those that can’t attend or can no longer attend, their families can carry a picture on the float to honor their sacrifice.

Isaac Tonasket & Apache Spirit will be the After Dark Festival Special at the Shoshone-Bannock Casino Hotel. This dance night is in the Painted Horse Buffet — and totally free, no buffet purchase required. While it starts at 8 p.m., it is open to all ages until 10 p.m. After that you need to be 18+ years young to join the dance.

Tuesday:

Ever hear of a Cooking Bootcamp? Want to learn some new ways to use the freezer? The University of Idaho Extension Office is having a Freezer Meals Bootcamp from 3-5 p.m. today where you will prep two dinners for 4 in a gallon freezer bag to take home. The menu is Honey Mustard Chicken Drumsticks and Hawaiian Pineapple Chicken. Bring a cooler to take them home safely. The class costs $25. Call 208-785-8060 to reserve a space. They are located at 412 W. Pacific St. in Blackfoot.

And don’t forget these regular events:

The Village volunteer mid-day action, Wednesday, 10-3, 250 W. Judicial St. 208-569-6298.

Elks Lodge, public lunch, Wednesdays & Fridays, 11-1:30, 123 N. Ash St.

Zumba, Thursdays & Tuesdays, 2:15 p.m., Senior Center at 20 E. Pacific St. $4, all abilities.

Shelley Farmers Market, Thursdays, 4:30-7:30, at 184 N. Park. Expanding Grand Raffle.

St. Paul’s Episcopalian Church open Fridays, 7-7, at 72 N. Shilling.

Bingham County Humane Society spay/neuter voucher purchases Friday, 12-4 p.m. at 766 S. Broadway, next to Arctic Circle.

Zumba, Saturdays, 8:30 a.m., Blackfoot Rec Center, 1350 Parkway Dr. #31,$4, all abilities.

Blackfoot Farmers’ Market, Saturdays, 9-1 p.m., Jensen’s Grove, 793 E. Airport Rd.

Blackfoot Christian Fellowship XII Stones free, delivered dinners, 208-785-3247.

Bingham County Humane Society spay/neuter voucher purchases Tuesdays, 12-6 p.m. at 766 S. Broadway, next to Arctic Circle.

Folk Style Wrestling, Tuesdays, 7 p.m., at Blackfoot Jiu Jitsu, 1010 W. Bridge St. suite F.

RIPPLESThe Shelley/Firth Community Back to School Supply Drive is in full swing. They are looking for pens, pencils, folders, notebooks, calculators, backpacks, scissors, glue sticks, paper, paper clips, rulers, paints, markers, crayons, highlighters, water bottles, hole punch, staplers, Kleenex and hand soap. Wow, what a list. Something for everyone to contribute to?

They are accepting donations through Sunday, Aug 30 at the Shelley Broulims, the Shelley Senior Citizen Center, the Shelley Grace Community Church, the Firth Medical Center or Collette’s.

If you have events or announcements to be included — contact me at jannmmneish@gmail.com. I need the information by the Friday before publication on Wednesday.