June is an exciting time in Hailey, Idaho. The weather is great, the flowers are blooming, the hills are green, the warm air is filled with the symphony of singing birds, and school gets out for the summer. So it’s only fitting that the community came out to celebrate the Hailey Chamber’s monthly festivities.
The City of Hailey held what turned out to be one of the most popular BAHs (Business After Hours) in years. Held on West Croy Street, between the Library and the Hailey Hotel—which generously provided assorted cocktails for the community—hundreds of people of all ages stopped by. Mayor Fritz Haemmerle briefly addressed the crowd, reminding everyone that it’s great to live in place like Hailey where we still wave to one another while passing by.
The City of Hailey’s BAH highlights included delicious appetizers and light fare from some of Hailey’s finest eateries like Jersey Girl, The Town Pump, Lago Azul and Chapalitas, beer donated by Haemmerle Law, mixed drinks from the “Hay-Ho” as local affectionately call the historic Hailey Hotel, and the culinary sensation of the evening, Chief Craig’s Smoked Chicken. After the success of his poultry at the BAH and his chilly at the Firefighters Chili Cook-off, the Chief is undoubtedly in the running for the best cooking fireman in the nation!
The Business Card Raffle was nothing shy of awesome. Lucky winners took home prizes like a slip and slide from King’s, free lube, oil and filter changes from Goode Motor, free Bike Share packages, a fishing rod and a tank of gas from the Splash & Dash in Bellevue, as well as gift certificates to popular places like Hailey Coffee Company, Luke’s Pharmacy, The Idea Shop/Sun Valley Real Deals and the Wood River Sustainability Center.
Other great prizes came from successful local business like Aspire Physical Therapy, Chic Nail and Beauty Bar, Christopher and Company, Growing Concerns Hair Design, Haemmerle Law, Hailey Library, JAM Design, Local author Dave Bingham, Mountain Rides, Mountain West Bank, and mason jar of Five Bee Hive honey.
June’s Wake Up Hailey (WUH) was held at Washington Federal Bank on Main Street. A few dozen folks stopped by for coffee and muffins from The Coffee House.
Esmeralda Palomera and the staff at Washington Federal did a great job hosting the event. Not surprising since the bank has been having a very positive impact on the community recently. Washington Federal teamed up with Goode Motor and the Hailey Chamber to host the first Hailey Family Carnival earlier in the month. The carnival was a huge hit and plans on returning next year. Washington Federal has also became the home of the shop local “Chamber Bucks” program. The $10 and $25 Chamber Bucks have been very popular as gift ideas for everyone from dads and grads to coaches and co-workers.
July’s WUH will be held at Giddy Up Coffee on July 14 in Bellevue and co-hosted by our friends at the Bellevue Chamber.
July’s BAH will be held at Goode Motor on Main Street and is being co-hosted by Sun Valley Title. It promises to be a big one as the winner of the “I Love Hailey Truck Raffle” will be driving off with a brand new, four-wheel drive Dodge Ram pick-up!
By Mike McKenna
