Which Kuna City Council candidates attended this week's council meeting?

Three candidates for Kuna City Council were in the audience at Tuesday's City Council meeting. Of course, current City Council member Jeff Lang was present. Attending as well were Briana Buban-Vonder Haar, Joe Stear and Dan Johnson.

Reader complaint received today

A subscriber came into my office today to ask me a question about the elections.
She saw this week's issue and bought a copy, saying she couldn't wait three days to read it.
"It takes you three days to get your paper?" I asked.
"Yep, my father-in-law gets to it first, then my mother-in-law, then my husband. It's three days before I can even see it."

Who likes liver and onions? Anyone?

One of the candidates at the mayoral forum Monday night suggested “we should try to get Scott to write more about city issues” as a way to close the information gap between the city and residents.
Of course, he was referring to me, with the implication that residents don’t know what the city is up to because I’m not writing enough about city issues. I’m curious as to what city issues he’d like me to write more about. I’ve written about the LID, the city hall bond issue, the problems business owners have had with city government regulations, the police budget, the church request for a community garden, the senior center floor, etc. The list kind of goes on and on.
I think I know what the code is here, though. When some folks say they want me to “write about,” what they’re really saying is that they want me to “rail against.” They don’t just want me to “write about” a business’s trouble with the city. By gum, they want me to rant and rave and call the city names and call for the resignation of the mayor and the public flaying of the planning director and probably throw in a call for an Attorney General’s inquest. No, it’s not quite enough, I guess, for some folks that I simply present the facts.

Vincent Kituku to speak at the Kuna Chamber of Commerce lunch tomorrow

Dr. Vincent Kituku will be the featured speaker at the October meeting of the Kuna Chamber of Commerce, 11:45 to 1 on Thursday, Oct. 20, at Kuna City Hall, 763 W. Avalon St.
Dr. Kituku is a sought-after motivational speaker who has given presentations to Fortune 500 companies, workforce development agencies, chambers of commerce and Realtors. He has been the motivational speaker for the Boise State University Football Team since 1998.
The topic of Dr. Kituku’s presentation is “Growing Your Business and Community in Uncertain Times.” He says there is no need to talk about the current economic cloud, because it has become the new normal.
This presentation focuses on five must-know strategies to grow your business and community in uncertain times.
Lunch will be catered by El Gallo Giro and is $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers. Please RSVP by Monday, Oct. 17, to Mary Anne at 922-9254 or email information@kunachamber.com.

Kuna household hazardous waste collection is tomorrow

llection will take place from noon to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, in the parking lot behind the Kuna city park.
This collection, sponsored by J&M Sanitation, the city of Kuna and Ada County, is for Kuna and Ada County residents only.
Materials that will be accepted include automotive products, antifreeze, brake and transmission fluid, latex or oil-based paints, wood stains, paint thinner, pest controls, garden chemicals, automotive batteries, household batteries, household cleaners, pool and spa chemicals, TV’s and computer monitors.
Not accepted: explosives, ammunition, radioactive materials, asbestos, biological waste, tires, appliances or garbage.

Kuna Alcohol/Drug Free Youth town hall meeting will be Oct. 20 on underage drinking and prescription drug abuse

The Kuna Alcohol/Drug Free Youth coalition will be hosting a Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, at Kuna Middle School, 1360 W. Boise St.
The meeting will cover underage drinking prevention and the dangers of prescription drugs.
Families and youth are welcome. The event will include free dinner and soft drinks.
It can be medication left over from your last surgery. Maybe they’re the pills you keep on the dresser or tucked inside your purse. Teens are finding prescription drugs wherever people they know keep them — and abusing them to get high. In fact, 70 percent of people age 12 and older who abuse prescription painkillers say they get them from a relative or friend — leading to several troubling trends:
• Every day, more than 2,000 kids age 12 to 17 try a painkiller nonmedically for the first time.
• Teens abuse prescription drugs more than any illicit street drug except marijuana.
• Drug treatment admissions for prescription painkillers increased more than 300 percent from 1996 to 2006.
What’s also disturbing is they don’t realize these drugs can be just as dangerous as street drugs. So kids who would never try street drugs might feel safe abusing prescription drugs. Misperceptions about prescription drug abuse have serious consequences. Now that you know prescription drug abuse is a problem, here are ways parents can keep it from affecting their kids’ lives:
• Safeguard all drugs at home. Monitor quantities and control access.
• Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the medical provider’s advice and dosages.
• Be a good role model by following the same rules with your own medicines.
• Properly dispose of old or unneeded medicines.
• Ask friends and family to safeguard their prescription drugs as well.
Following these steps is a start. Let your teen know where you stand.
When you talk about the risks of drugs and alcohol, include prescription drugs in the conversation. To learn more, visit THEANTIDRUG.COM or call 1-800-788-2800.

Kuna city candidate forums are this week

The Kuna Grange and the Kuna Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to host forums for the candidates for this year’s Kuna city elections:
• Mayoral candidate forum, 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17, at the Kuna Grange Hall, 189 S. Linder Road.
• City Council forum, 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Kuna High School Commons, 637 E. Deer Flat Road.

Indian Creek Winery hosts its annual Harvest Fest on Sunday

Indian Creek Winery will host its annual Harvest Fest from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16. The winery is located at 1000 N. McDermott Rd. in Kuna, 922-4791, www.indiancreekwinery.com. The event includes grape stomping, arts and crafts, live music and harvest tours. The event is free and family friendly.

Big Red Barn Bazaar ready for another season

Area crafters are gathering to help the Kuna Community Food Bank this holiday season. It’s the Big Red Barn Bazaar, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Oct. 14 to Dec. 4. Fall and Christmas décor – gifts and more! $1 suggested admission donation at the door to benefit the Kuna Community Food Bank. The Big Red Barn Bazaar is located at 5780 W. Kuna Road (between Happy Valley and Robinson roads). For details, go to www.BigRedBarnBazaar.webs.com or call 559-3413.

Irrigation season over in Kuna

Irrigation season in the city of Kuna has officially ended. The city of Kuna was scheduled to shut off irrigation water to municipal customers on Wednesday, Oct. 12.