'Normal' Survey + Rolling Tomato + Tubing The River

The masks are being left in the car and the commute is once again becoming the usual Monday morning routine. The Boise Daily offers a link to survey results to determine if Boise residents are really ready to go back to "normal." Rolling Tomato is returning food back to those who need it and a new company is offering guided tours of the Boise River.

Taking a look at the weather today:

• Friday: Clear throughout the day. Temps: High of 71° & low of 45°

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Patch Pick: Mask wearing is easing and employees are starting to return to the office. But, is everyone comfortable with the return to "normal?" Ian Max Stevenson with the Idaho Statesman has the results of a survey asking if residents are comfortable to the idea of a "normal life." (Idaho Statesman)

Here are the top 5 stories for today:

1. Tubing the Boise River is a right of passage for many in the city. Now, a new business is offering a guided raft tour as discovered by Anna Daly Gamboa of BoiseDev. The tours appear fancier than the traditional cut-offs and leaky inner tube! (BoiseDev)

2. Also from BoiseDev, Karen Lehr writes of Rolling Tomato, a nonprofit distributing recovered food to needy residents. Since 2016, the group has recovered over 37,000 pounds of food previously headed to the landfill. (BoiseDev)

3. In the summer of 2020, one block of downtown Boise was designated car-free. Now, according to Natasha Williams of KIVI, data shows pedestrians only in the area has helped businesses during the recent tough times. (KIVI)

4. Staff of KTVB report a Nampa man has pleaded not guilty in charges related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Duke Edward Wilson, 66, appeared in federal court Wednesday. (KTVB)

5. Kevin Miller of KIDO asks a question many of us ponder while on the Connector: Is Idaho A Safe State For Driving? According to statistics gathered by Miller, we may be better off than we think. (KIDO)

Boise Fact Of The Day:

With a population of about 15,000 Basque residents making up the Basque Block section of the city, Boise has the second-largest Basque population in the United States.

Boise Community Calendar:

- Friday Night Art is at the Greenbelt Market. Stop by and enjoy a glass of wine while speaking with a local artist. The first glass of wine is poured at 5 p.m.

- The Boise Art Museum continues the online auction. Browse and bid here.

The weekend is finally here and many will experience an extra day off. Stay safe and enjoy the warm weather. The Boise Daily will be here to update you on the happenings in Boise so don't forget to subscribe.

-John

About me: I was born and raised in Boise before leaving the area for the University of Idaho. I'm an award winning journalist, editor and high school sports enthusiast. On the weekends, you will most likely find my son and I exploring in our 1971 Jeep CJ-5.