Masks Again + Bah Humbug Cancellation + Coach Passes

Happy Thursday, neighbors! Let's get you all caught up to start today off on an informed note.

The resurgence of COVID-19 news appears to dominate the Boise Daily today. Boise students will return to masks while West Ada students will not have masks, but parents in both districts are unhappy with the decisions. The virus has also caused the demise of a holiday celebration months away while the city's mayor and health officials continue to talk about the rising numbers. Finally getting away from COVID news, a former Bronco basketball coach has passed.

First, today's weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 97, low: 63.

Here are the top stories today in Boise:

1. As parents purchase school supplies for the upcoming Boise school year, masks, again, need to be on the list. The Boise School District School Board voted to reinstate masks for all students for the upcoming school year. (Boise Patch)
2. The Grinch (COVID-19) has already made an appearance in Boise even with Christmas months away. Saint Alphonsus has called off the annual Festival of Trees celebration, citing concerns over rising positive numbers and hospitalizations. (Boise Patch)
3. Continuing with rising COVID-19 numbers, KTVB-TV's staff attended an online meeting with the Boise mayor and healthcare leaders discussing hospital rates and vaccine strategies. (KTVB.com)
4. Also from KTVB-TV, Andrew Baertlein writes the largest school district in the state, West Ada, is being asked by parents to reconsider the district's no mask policy. (KTVB.com)
5. The former coach of the Boise State University and Washington State's women's basketball, June Daugherty, dies at 64 according a story reprinted by the Idaho Press Tribune. (Idaho Press-Tribune)

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Today in Boise

• Sage International School is hosting a Meet the Teacher and Supply drop-off on Thursday for K-5th. (8 a.m.)
• Fairmont Junior High hosts the 8th Grade Welcome Back on Thursday. (8:30 a.m.)
• Across town, North Junior High School will also host 8th Grade Admissions. (8:30 a.m.)
• Tag You're It, Benefit Sales is open! Wednesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Come join us and find furniture, antiques, household and lots more! We put new inventory out daily and Saturday is sale day! 20 percent off furniture and 50 percent off everything else (over $1) !! Check us out for great deals! (9 a.m.)
• Following the 8th grade, the 9th Grade Admissions at North Junior High School starts at 10 a.m. (10 a.m.)
• North Junior High School welcomes 7th Grade Admissions at noon. (Noon)
• The Idaho Chapter of the Sierra Club holds the The Canals Connect Community Coalition. This is a big-tent space for interested nonprofits, businesses, residents and others coalesce once-a-month to talk and strategize about how to help advance urban pathways in the Treasure Valley utilizing irrigation infrastructure. Contact Eric Willadsen to find out how to get involved; eric.willadsen@sierraclub.org. (Noon)
• Fairmont Junior High School holds the 9th Grade Welcome Back starting at 1 p.m.(1 p.m.)
• Staying with school openings, Forge International Schools host Meet the Teacher/Supply Drop Off on Thursday. (1 p.m.)
• Treat yourself to a fun night with your favorite downtown retailers, services, watering holes and restaurants on Supersized First Thursday in Downtown Boise. (2 p.m.)
• The Warm Springs Counseling Center offers a group for all girls to have a safe place for self expression. The purpose of the group is to maintain authentic connection with peers in the community, strengthen self-esteem, abandon self-doubt, and give opportunities for genuine self-expression through verbal sharing and creative activity. 8-week program In-person group held every Thursday, ages 13-16, 3:30- 4:45 p.m. once a week. This group is ending Aug. 5. (2:30 p.m.)
• Join other volunteer advocates to take action to save Idaho's salmon and river communities. (7 p.m.)
• Local history can be overly positive, focusing on the events and people that residents can be proud of, area businesses and governments want people to move here after all. However, these rosy histories are only partially true. Some of the local businessmen, and a woman or two, we praise established their wealth by exploiting the women of the oldest profession in the world. Quite a few of the beautiful old houses in Boise witnessed grizzly murders, as did a hotel or two. Ghost stories proliferate in old newspapers and "mad" doctors, semi-normal in their day, practiced "medicine" on the local population. From pandemics and sewage, to Old West style shootouts, we have it covered. Come with Idahistory and we'll tell you all we know and more! A Macabre History of Boise Reanimated - A Walking Tour. (7 p.m.)

Boise Patch Notebook

• Boise State University: "Aug. 4 is known as International Owl Awareness Day, and an opportunity for us to hoot about these fantastic birds." (Instagram)
• Idaho Humane Society: "Are you ready for the lifelong commitment of caring for a four legged best friend?" (Facebook)
• Boise Bully Breed Rescue: "Knox Check him out! Available for adoption! You too can talk endlessly about him." (Facebook)
• Boise Fire Department: "We had so much fun at National Night Out! #NationalNightOut #boisefiredepartment #BoisePolice #cityofboise" (Facebook)
• Boise Bully Breed Rescue: "Pippin is available for adoption, contact: Stockton Animal Shelter, located in Stockton, CA." (Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Showers and thunderstorms expected this afternoon and evening. Areas most favorable are highlighted on the map." (Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Thunderstorms have developed in southeast Oregon and far southwest Idaho." (Facebook)
• Boise Bully Breed Rescue: "Redding is available for adoption. He has graduated from the 8-week training program at the Givens Prison Dog Training." (Facebook)
• Boise Bully Breed Rescue: "Thank you to Volunteer Mike for taking Rhino on a 2 hour river walk." (Facebook)
• #BoiseBucketList: " Boise Soul Food Festival Soul food: deep-home cooking cuisine with roots in the south." (Instagram)
• Idaho Humane Society: "Sophie (name changed) is an 8-week old ball of cuteness that arrived at our Veterinary Medical Center." (Facebook)
• #BoiseBucketList: " Yoga in the Yard looking for a unique setting for your next yoga class?" (Instagram)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "A strong thunderstorm has formed near the Idaho/Oregon border and is moving northeast." (Facebook)
• Boise Police Department: "Once again #NationalNightOut was a success! Our officers were all over Boise tonight catching up with and meeting the residents." (Facebook)
• Boise Bully Breed Rescue: "Wilson is available for adoption. Wilson is loving doggy daycare at Good CitiZen Doggie Daycare!" (Facebook)
• Boise Bully Breed Rescue: "Wyatt update! He is available for adoption, contact Dog Trainer Dan Harjes at 516-603-0499." (Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Today will be the warmest day of the next 7 days, with temperatures in the low 100s in the valleys." (Facebook)
• Boise State Public Radio: "Pam Hemphill faces several misdemeanor charges in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol." (Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Thunderstorms heading toward the Treasure Valley have weakened, but will send gusty winds up to 40 mph." (Facebook)
• Boise State Public Radio: "The mask requirement applies to everyone inside Boise school buildings, and outdoors for large groups." (Facebook)
• Boise State Public Radio: "“I appreciate the Navajo people not politicizing wearing masks or staying home." (Facebook)
• Zoo Boise: "Don't miss your chance to visit Butterflies in Bloom at Zoo Boise. Butterflies in Bloom is a walk-through greenhouse." (Facebook)
• BOISE FARMERS MARKET: "Check out this awesome new collaboration from @idahokombucha ! It is available in 16-ounce cans in the BFM drive-thru." (Instagram)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Gusty winds are expected with thunderstorms over southeast Oregon and southwest Idaho tonight and Thursday." (Facebook)
• Radio Boise: "It may be a @partyofone.krbx, but you're all invited. Every Tuesday night/Wednesday morning from 1-3 a.m." (Instagram)
• Idaho Humane Society: "Are you looking for a job? Come join our team! We have a lot of positions available." (Facebook)
• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "Satellite shows lots of smoke from California fires streaming around the area this morning." (Facebook)
• Boise Bully Breed Rescue: "Happy Birthday to staff member Bill the Dog Guy!" (Facebook)
• The Local - Boise: "Enjoying 'The Local fare' in Boston at the country’s oldest restaurant." (Instagram)
• Ballet Idaho: "There are only a few days left for early access to The Nutcracker tickets!" (Facebook)

You're officially in the loop for today! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with another update. If you're loving these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— John Braese

About me: Welcome to the Boise edition of patch.com. I am the community editor in this exciting endeavor for the Boise area. I was born and grew up in Boise, attending Bishop Kelly High School before graduating from Borah High School more than a few years ago. I have seen Boise grow substantially in the last few years, but still maintain my hometown appeal. I want to hear about what is important to you and the stories you wish to see on patch.com. Feel free to reach out to me via email at john.braese@patch.com or drop me a phone call or text at 208 954-9585.