AMERICA250 AND BLACKFOOT125The second half of the Chalk Art Festival by the Bingham Arts Council will be Friday, Aug 14 at 6 p.m. That is when the winners of the three categories — 10-12 years, 13-15 years and 16+ years — will be announced and celebrated. The unveiling and revealing will be at The Candy Jar Gallery located at 105 NW Main Street. There were 16 artists that braved the heat and the challenges of chalk art.

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

Friday, Aug. 14 from 11:30 a.m. — 6 p.m. at the LDS Rose Building located at 403 N.150 W.

The Shelley/Firth Community Back to School Supply Drive is still 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.

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.

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGSWednesday

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

Thursday

The Shelley Senior Center is journeying to the Museum of Idaho in Idaho Falls or their Declaration: 250 Years of U.S. exhibit and the Journey to a lost world exhibit. They will leave at 11:30 a.m. It costs $12 plus mone to get a grilled cheese and gelato at Manwaring Cheese after the museum visit. Call for details and to reserve a spot, 208- 357-3621.

The Shelley Children’s Market is from 5-8 p.m. at the City Park. These young entrepreneurs are presenting their products which they have developed and are selling completely on their own — no parent advantage here. Come support Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs Today. The Shelley Farmers’ Market is cancelled this week to support these budding CEOs.

While in Shelley, stay for The Goonies, their Movie in the Park for this week that will be shown at dusk. Remember your chairs or blankets — and popcorn, naturally.

Friday

It’s cookie time at the Bingham County Senior Center in Blackfoot. Time to order their back-to-school special Peanut Butter & Jelly Cookie. A 6 pack of these super-sized cookies are

$6; a 6 pack of super-sized gluten free cookies are $10. The center’s hours are from 8-11 a.m. today and they are located at 20 E. Pacific St. Be prepared to pick up your cookies next Thursday, Aug 20 between 8:15 a.m. — 3 p.m.

Chief Tahgee Elementary Academy Community Wide Open House is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the school located at 34 S. Hiline Road. Come see their beautiful new school and how they are intergrating their language and culture into the curriculum. Appetizers will be served.

Bingo! A night of “Fun, Bingo and Food” at the Bingham County Senior Center starts about 6:15 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30. It gets busy so come early or call ahead to reserve a spot. (208-785-4714) this Meals on Wheels fundraiser costs $10 per person and that includes food and 1 bingo card. Extra cards are available. There is also a 50/50 raffle. Sorry kids, only those 18+ years old can play.

America250 Chalk Art Festival awards will be presented at 6 p.m. at The Candy Jar at 105 NW Main Street . Come support and celebrate the brave artists.

Saturday

Ever want to learn Spanish? Japanese? English? The Jason Lee Memorial United Methodist Church offers free language classes every Saturday at 9 a.m. at the church located at 168 S. University Ave. To start the semester there will be a Language and Coffee orientation gathering today at 9 a.m. where you can learn of the options. You can enroll then, or by Thursday, Aug 20. Classes will start on Saturday Aug 22. For details contact them at 208-785-3611. All learners are welcome… bienvenido … irasshaimase!

Keith Sweat & Pretty Ricky will be performing at the Sho-Ban Casino tonight at 8 p.m., doors opening at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $69 and can be purchased online at shobangaming.com.

Sunday

The 15th annual Kermes Festival hosted by the Saint Bernard Catholic Church begins at 10 a.m. with an open-air mass at the Jensen Grove Park. That will be followed by a festival of food booths, raffles, music, and conversation for adults and activities for kids that runs from noon — 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to come.

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.

DJ Trivia Tumbleweed, Wednesdays, 7-9 p.m., 40 W. Pacific 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 Bingham County Senior Citizens Center in Blackfoot is looking for volunteers to help as a front desk greeter or be a driver of Meals on Wheels — or subs for these positions. They remind us that “even volunteering once in a while can make a tremendous difference!” If this fits your way to give back, call 208-785-4714 or stop by at the center at 20 E. Pacific. Their hours are M-Th from 8:15 a.m. — 3 p.m. and Fri from 8-11 a.m. They are closed on Saturday and Sunday.

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.