STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK
Hey, partner. It’s time for that famous Syringa Mountain Hoedown.
And this time it comes with a little saloon-style gambling.
Cowboys and cowgirls attending the fourth annual hoedown on Saturday, April 28, will be given a cup of poker chips to try their luck in blackjack and roulette.
And when they’ve won all they want, they can kick up their heels and twirl their skirt to Strings Attached, a bluegrass from Twin Falls that sports two-time state champion fiddle player Jeni Jacobson.
A little rusty on your line dancing? Dale and Peggy Bates will be there to teach the steps.
The hoedown, designed to raise money for the Syringa Mountain School in Hailey, will be held at Natootsi Estate Barn off Broadford Road in Bellevue.
Tickets, available for $40, will include a barbecue dinner made up of locally sourced foods created by Al McCord of the Wood River Sustainability Center and wine and beer from Warfield Distillery and Sawtooth Brewery.
Christina Giordani will have craft cocktails available for purchase at her Road Bars.
Those who can’t attend can still help out by purchasing raffle tickets good for more than $600 in restaurant gift certificates, wellness treatments and other items. Raffle tickets cost $10 for one or six for $50.
Or, shop the Syringa online auction, which boasts an array of items including toys, lodging, services and gift certificates.
Tickets can be purchased and online shopping done at www.biddingowl.com/syringamountain or at the door. Raffle tickets will also be available at pop-up sales in local supermarkets.
“In the Wild West, people relied on community and Syringa has relied on its community for the last four years—we are so appreciative,” said Aris Flood, parent council chair.
Syringa Mountain School is an arts-inspired public school inspired by the core principles of Waldorf education. It is a public tuition-free option for Blaine County families with children in grades kindergarten through 7th.
It receives 70 percent of its operating expenses from the government but must fund the rest through donations.
For more information, visit www.syringamountainschool.org or contact Principal Nigel Whittington at info@syringamountainschool.org.
DID YOU KNOW?
Syringa Mountain School students recently received a visit from children’s author Leslie Patricelli, whose most recent book is “Best Buds under Frogs.”
Students were particular enchanted with Patricelli’s story of getting the flu on the first day of fourth grade and being sent to school when her mother thought it was a case of the nerves.
It was one messy day! she said.
Syringa’s new library has all of the Hailey author’s books on its shelves. Developed by librarian Crystal Oliphant, it now houses more than 2,500 titles, all of which have been donated.