BY KAREN BOSSICK

Former Secretary of State John Kerry, a Sun Valley homeowner, will address the hometown folk at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at the Argyros Performing Arts Center in Ketchum. He will also talk at the Community Library prior to that.

• Kerry, a long-time senator and one-time candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, willappear at a VIP reception at 5 p.m. at the Argyros. A short question-and-answer session will follow his talk.

  Kerry has long been an imposing figure on the national and world stage, his passion for creating a better world for his fellow Americans instilled by former president John F. Kennedy.

  His service as Secretary of State during the Obama Administration solidified him as a quintessential mentor, navigating listeners through a barrage of fast-speed news under the United States current administration and changing global politics.

  So many people turned out to learn his perspective on today’s tumultuous political climate last year at the Community Library, that Kerry offered to hold a second talk. It was just as packed.

  General admission tickets for the evening talk are $25, available at www.theargyros.org. VIP tickets cost $100 and include light hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine and a meet-and-greet with former Sec. of State John Kerry.

  Proceeds will go to the Blaine County Democrats.

  In addition to the talk at the Argyros:

• Kerry will offer a free talk about climate change and his new initiative World War Zero at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 26, at Ketchum’s Community library.

  The program is being presented through a partnership with the Hailey Climate Action Coalition, the Environmental Resource Center and the library. It will be moderated by Scott Runkel, Upper School science teacher at the Sun Valley Community School and one of the co-founders of the Hailey Climate Action Coalition.

  The discussion will include the new initiative World War Zero, which Kerry launched with fellow Sun Valley home owner Arnold Schwarzenegger. Schwarzenegger showed up at last year’s talk and broached his concerns about climate change. Kerry also talked extensively about climate change at that talk.

  The lecture hall will open at 2:30 p.m. and seating will be available on a first-come, first served basis. Livestreaming will be available during and after the event at https://livestream.com/comlib.

• Kerry will also meet with a group of local students to discuss climate change prior to his public presentation.