Local Services

Where Community Thrives

Under Executive Director Lisa Hansen, Meridian’s Senior Center brings people together in a space designed to keep older adults engaged, connected, and living life fully Article by Jordan Gray | Photography by Kate Ragsdale of Rags Photography To those wandering the paths of Meridian’s Julius M. Kleiner Park, the angled rooflines near the park’s southeast tip might only gather a quick glance. An office, perhaps, or something tied to park maintenance. But step through the doors, and the...

Life + Culture

Meridian + Valley Events

MAY 2026 Article and Photography by 1 — Jazz Night Egyptian Theatre, 7 PM: Big band jazz with The Switch in Time Orchestra.   boisemusicweek.org 30-2 — Spring Rendezvous 5668 W. Flying Hawk Ln.: Falconers share wisdom and honor mentors.  falconry.org 2-17 Spring Parade of Homes Across Treasure Valley: Self-guided showcase of current design and construction. boiseparadeofhomes.com 2 — Meridian Main Street Market Old Town Meridian, 9 AM: Weekly Saturday market, local vendors...

Life + Culture

Quietly Building What Lasts

From businesses to community spaces, these women are part of the work that continues to shape the Treasure Valley Photography by Phil White, 8th Street Studio Spend enough time in the Treasure Valley and you start to recognize the people behind it. Not always by name, and not always all at once, but through the places they’ve shaped, the work they’ve built, and the way things come together around them. A business that feels intentional. A space that draws people in. A project that keeps...

Food + Beverage

For the Love of Cooks

Meridian's Cooks & Books Cooking Studio and Bookshop brings joy Article and Photography by Jana Kemp Alicia Mattera’s love of learning, teaching and cooking prompted her to found and open Cooks & Books in 2025. “Things came together for the cooking school and bookstore concept: the space became available; the permitting lined up quickly; and the build-out of the store and the cooking class kitchen happened rapidly,” said Alicia. As a former high school family and consumer sciences teacher...

Life + Culture

The Woman Behind Eagle’s Robbery

A 1924 bank heist in Eagle reveals the surprising role of Dora Douglas, a mother whose story quickly disappeared from headlines Article by Pamela Kleibrink Thompson | Photography by Idaho Penitentiary Idaho State Archives Career paths rarely follow a straight line. In 1924, they could take an even more unexpected turn. Prohibition was the law of the land, and headlines were filled with unlikely criminals. In New York, a bobbed-haired bandit named Celia Cooney captured national attention...

Life + Culture

Saturday Rhythm of Old Town

Meridian Main Street Market a cornerstone of downtown life Article by Staff Writer On Saturday mornings in Old Town Meridian, the day begins early. Vendors arrive before most of the city has finished its first cup of coffee. Tents rise along the street as tables fill with fresh produce, baked goods, and handmade goods from across the Treasure Valley. Musicians tune guitars. Families wander in with coffee in hand and dogs on leashes. By midmorning, the street has found its rhythm. For nearly...

Life + Culture

Eighteen Years of Quiet Impact

Beatrice Black’s tenure reflects a shift in understanding domestic abuse, and the community effort required to support healing and long-term change Article by Jordan Gray | Photography by WCA After nearly two decades leading the Women’s and Children’s Alliance, Beatrice Black is preparing to step away. A certified public accountant with a background in small entrepreneurial firms and a housing nonprofit, she didn’t seem like the most obvious candidate to lead the Women’s and Children’s...

Arts + Culture

Joan of Art

Shaped by loss, Joan Edwards turns compassion into action through art, advocacy, and community support Article by Martha Channer | Photography by Leo Bretanos It takes courage to negotiate our way through life. More often than not, it is adversity, not ease, that shapes who we become. The willingness to keep moving forward, to build something meaningful out of difficult circumstances, is what ultimately strengthens communities, fosters generosity, and creates opportunity. For Joan Edwards...

Life + Culture

A Different Measure of Growth in Wine

Inside a family’s approach to building opportunity, supporting people, and redefining what success looks like Article by Tammy de Weerd | Photography by Spoken Wines We came to Santa Julia to understand the wine. That is, after all, why most people travel to Mendoza—for the views of the Andes and the wines that have shaped Argentina’s global reputation. We walked the vineyards and talked irrigation and organic farming. We heard the story of a civil engineer who arrived to demonstrate an...

Fitness

Mountain Luxury, Thoughtfully Reimagined

A short drive from Meridian, Grand Hyatt Deer Valley offers late-season skiing, thoughtful dining, restorative spa experiences, and a refined mountain atmosphere Article by Aimee L. Cook Dreaming of a five-star mountain getaway without boarding a plane? Grand Hyatt Deer Valley offers Idaho travelers a refined retreat just a day’s drive from Meridian. Nestled in Utah’s scenic Wasatch Back, the resort feels removed from daily routine while remaining comfortably accessible — an easy long weekend...