Check here for Community announcements, reminders and events to attend this coming week.

AMERICA250/BLACKFOOT125 UPCOMING EVENTThe Idaho America250 quilts are now displayed in the State Capitol 4th floor Rotunda. These are the quilts or quilt blocks that have been submitted by quilters all over the state. The display will be up until Monday, Apr. 13.

Blackfoot’s America250 event for April is a Colonial Town Gathering at Ridgecrest Elementary School on Saturday, Apr. 18 at 6 p.m. This family friendly event will be a mingling of trappers coming for the rendezvous, local folk who choose to dress for the time period and the rest of us who come to appreciate and learn. There will be an area to discover more about the clothes and home activities in the colonies. Black powder weapons of the time will also be demonstrated as well as a 40 mm cannon. Bring ear buds if you don’t like loud sounds, a bag to gather sweets after the candy cannon is fired and a lawn chair if you want a place to rest and watch the activities.

To prepare for the Paul Revere enactment, you can make and decorate your own patriot three-corner hat. You might even wave it in the air with ‘Huzzahs’ as “Paul Revere” arrives on a real horse to re-enact bringing vital information that protected the Continental Army. The Revolutionary Spud Revere will also be on hand for photo opportunities.

Since April is the Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Bingham Crisis Center is holding a S.T.A.R. Hunt after the America250 Colonial Gathering, starting at 8 p.m. They invite all adults to come and “light up the night” to honor domestic and sexual violence survivors — and to find thousands of hidden stars.

As a strictly 18 years and older event, the first 300 adults to register in advance will be let loose on the elementary school fields to hunt stars by flashlights and fill their bucket or basket. In case you are wondering, the reason the hunt is for stars instead of eggs is because S.T.A.R. stands for Sexual Trauma Awareness Response. In a landmark year of celebrating freedoms, it seems fitting that personal freedom from violence has a place in our celebrations. You do not have to be a violence survivor to participate. Register at https://binghamcrisiscenter.org/.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/REMINDERSWednesday, Apr. 15 is the deadline to file your taxes and, for some, to save money on their property taxes through the Property Tax Reduction program, also known as the Circuit Breaker.

For help with the tax filing, the AARP is helping with income taxes every Tuesday and Thursday night from 5-8 p.m. at the Bingham County Senior Center at 20 E Pacific St. This service is free and open to anyone.

For help with the Circuit Breaker, the county assessor department is the place to go or call. Just like the income taxes, the Circuit Breaker has to be done each year. If you qualify you can get a property tax reduction of between $250-1500, depending on your qualifying income.

To qualify you have to fit all 4 conditions: you’re an Idaho resident, you own and occupy a home or mobile home that fits within certain value (ask the assessor about this one, generally you can’t own a mansion and qualify), your total 2025 income after medical expenses was $39,130 or less and you are either 65 years old or older, former POW/hostage, blind, widowed, disabled or motherless or fatherless and under 18 years old.

For example, if you live in your home or mobile home, earned $39,130 or less in 2025 after medical expenses and are 65 years old or older, you probably qualify. Also true if you are a younger widowed person or blind or disabled. If this is your circumstance, contact Bingham County Assessors Department at 208-782-3017 before the 15th.

The Village: a Foster Care Closet is closed for the next 3 weeks or until they are fully moved into their new location at 250 W Judicial St. They will still be able to fill Emergency placement orders or emergent needs if you call 208-569-6298.

COMMUNITY HAPPENINGSWednesday

The Elk’s Lodge, located at 123 N. Ash in Blackfoot is open to the public for lunch from 11 a.m. — 1:30 p.m. today.

The Shelley City Council meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall, located at 101 S. Emerson Ave. Among other business items, they will be holding a public hearing about water rate and water meter rate increases.

Thursday

The On The Hook Fish and Chips food truck is back at C-A-L Ranch Store parking lot at 250 N Meridian St. They will be serving up the “absolute Best Wild Alaskan Cod Fish & Chips in the Mountain West” — cooked to perfection — from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

The local Democrats are meeting at the Blackfoot Public Library conference room tonight at 6 p.m. All are welcome.

Taste of Teton is holding their monthly Wine Tasting opportunity in their updated speakeasy, located at 80 N Broadway in Blackfoot. From 6-8 p.m., they will be pouring the wine and serving food. Costs $15 for 5 pours. RSVP by calling 208-681-5952.

Friday

The St. Paul’s Episcopalian Church is open every Friday from 7 a.m. — 7 p.m. for anyone that wants a quiet sanctuary in an historic and beautiful church. They are located at 72 N Shilling in Blackfoot.

The Elk’s Lodge, located at 123 N. Ash in Blackfoot is open to the public for lunch from 11 a.m — 1:30 p.m. today.

Today is the deadline for ordering your Lemon Pudding Cookies at the Bingham County Senior Center. They cost $6 for a 6-pack of large cookies, freshly baked. Pickup will be on Thursday, Apr. 16. The Senior Center is located at 20 E Pacific; they are open today from 8:15 a.m. — 3 p.m.

Blackfoot Downtown Market will be from 4 — 8 p.m. today at The Craft Shop/SEWcial Room, located at 45 N Broadway. The market, hosted by The Next Step Forward Foundation, will feature local artisans and homemade goods and an opportunity to gather as a community.

The Primary candidates that are in a race will be answering questions at the Bingham County Senior Center tonight, starting at 6 p.m. This includes the legislative district candidates, the county commissioner candidates and the county coroner and assessor candidates. Come and discover who you want to be your leaders, representatives and elected professionals. The evening is co-hosted by the Senior Center and the Greater Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce. The senior center is located at 20 E Pacific St in Blackfoot.

Sunday

The Knights of Columbus are hosting a pancake breakfast at 11 a.m. — noon at the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church social hall located at 583 W Sexton St in Blackfoot. All are welcome.

Monday

Dr. Larry Murillo is speaking at the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Library Meet the Author Night at the Shoshone-Bannock Hotel and Event Center. The gathering will start at 6 p.m. in the Chief Tendoy Room. All are welcome. Murillo’s new book “I See a Soul” has recently been released.

Wednesday, April 15

Also today is the Greater Blackfoot Chamber of Commerce Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at the Taste of Teton, located at 80 N. Broadway St. in Downtown Blackfoot. Javier Hurtado, a marketing specialist will present “9 Minutes of Marketing + 1 Minute Video = A Lifetime of Customers”. The lunch is presented by Bingham Healthcare Marketing Department. Chamber members have a lunch discount, but all are welcome.

The Blackfoot Community Players and the Snake River Theatre Company are presenting Prince of Egypt on July 9-20. Auditions are today and tomorrow, Apr. 15 & 16, from 7-9 p.m. in the Blackfoot High School drama room, at 870 S. Fisher St., accessible through the gym entrance on Fisher. They ask you prepare a 1-minute song and a 1-minute monologue of your choice. A piano and Bluetooth speaker is available for accompaniment.

Until next week….

If you have events or announcements to be included — contact me at jannmmneish@gmail.com. Press deadline for the Bingham News Chronicle is Monday.