Got an interesting e-mail from a reader pressing me about this morning's editorial, which criticized Gov. Butch Otter's proposed education budget cuts.

"What happens next year if the conditions don't improve, or are worse? Do we raise taxes? That appears to be the only option," the writer said.

The Greenbelt's use rises just like the temperature.

Get a nice afternoon like this (Thursday) and the river path gets pretty busy with walkers, runners and cyclists.

The chattering of kingfishers, honking of geese and splashing of ducks also make it a pretty cool place to end the day with a stroll or ride.

After enduring those cold temperatures and wind the last few days, this afternoon feels pretty good.

There's a lot to criticize in Idaho Gov. Butch Otter's plan for the federal stimulus dollars — but at least he got one thing right.

He made short work of one of worst ideas to come along this year — using $44.8 million in one-time stimulus dollars to try to pay for ongoing income tax cuts.

I'm jealous, Hailey. This guy is amazing. I've seen Shimabukuro perform at the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, Calif. He's an emotionally evocative, technically proficient musician who does things with the ukelele that you wouldn't even imagine. He's also funny and entertaining on stage.

From the press release:

"The concert takes place Friday, April 3, at 7:30 pm at the Liberty Theatre, Hailey. Tickets are $20 for Sun Valley Center for the Arts members and $25 for nonmembers. Purchase tickets online at www.sunvalleycenter.org or call 208.726.9491 ex 10 or visit The Center in Ketchum. Advance purchase is recommended."

Congrats, Hailey. Maybe next time he'll play Boise, too. He'd be terrific at Alive After Five.

UPDATE 03/24: The Hailey show is sold out. But Shimabukuro will be stopping at the Record Exchange in Boise for a free in-store gig at 6 p.m. April 2. (Yes, I admit it. I gently hassled them to book him. Power of the press, bab-ee!)

Here's Shimabaukuro's gorgeous take on a George Harrison classic:

Anyone who wants to buy some fresh beer from Pete Ricks’ Beer Valley Brewing is in luck.

The Ontario-based brewery is now open for limited hours on weekends so they can sell 64 ounce growlers of fresh Owyhee Amber Ale, Pigskin Pale Ale, Leafer Madness Imperial Pale Ale, and Black Flag Imperial Stout. The brewery will also be selling cases of 22-ounce bottles of the aforementioned beers directly to thirsty consumers.

Ricks is also giving tours of the brewery but his Oregon brewing license does not allow for any free tasting, which, of course, is the best part of any brewery tour. So that’s a bummer.

Sen. Nicole LeFavour, D-Boise, elicited that response from Gov. Butch Otter's budget chief Wayne Hammon after asking about the lack of bike paths in the governor's transportation funding package.

"I know it sounds frivolous," LeFavour said, "but this emphasis on cars and roads with a total lack of dedication to public transportation. We can't keep going down this path. We need to prepare for the future."

Hammon replied: "The future of Idaho is not contained in the North End. There are people all over this state that don't have the option of riding their bike to work."

Lake City High's Katie Baker was named Idaho's 2008-09 Gatorade girls basketball player of the year Thursday, taking home the honor for the third consecutive year.

The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area is such a great place to visit, especially in the Swan Falls area.

It offers a series of hiking and biking trails, jet-boating and rafting in the river, fishing and lots of bird watching, especially for eagles and hawks. The cool thing is that it's only about 45 minutes from Boise.

The trouble is, the Swan Falls area can get pretty trashy. That's why it's neat that Kevin Kern of Kuna is conducting a cleanup in the area on April 11. He needs volunteers.

If House Bill 213 passes, motorized and non-motorized boaters would have to pay an annual tax for a sticker before they could launch on Idaho's waters.

The bill, which is floating through the Idaho Legislature, is being touted as a way to fight the invasion of quagga mussels, tiny creatures that wreak havoc in waterways and water systems. This is a serious threat with consequences that could cost Idaho $94 million a year to maintain and clear out water systems.

Downtown Boise business people are lining up to join a task force to study streetcars, greeting the proposal with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism.

Contrast that to the debate over a Downtown transit center that would serve as a focus point for bus and bike commuters. Hold-the-enthusiasm skepticism has jeopardized a couple of potential site and has left local officials scrambling for a solution. "(Businesses) want to be by it," Mayor Dave Bieter told the Statesman editorial board this morning. "They don't want to be on it."