First Thursday marks beginning of Jaialdi month for Basques in Boise

Some of the secrets behind Boise''s history will be unveiled at the Basque Mural on the corner of Capitol Blvd and Grove Street, as four new interpretive signs are dedicated to the enjoyment of Boiseans and visitors to the Basque community.

The ceremony to unveil the newly-created interpretive signs, that will begin at 5:00 p.m. at the Basque Mural, one of Boise''s public art pieces created in 2000 by volunteers.

The crowd will continue onto the Arborglyph Mural at 607 Grove Street,&' || 'nbsp;where Dave Green, local artist and designer, will discuss his artist tribute to Idaho''s Sheepherders, inspired by the names, dates and messages carved by many during their lonely hours on to the prairie.

The group will then move over two blocks to the Church of the Good Shepherd on 420 W. Idaho, which was built in 1919 as the nation''s only known Basque chapel

The Star Rooming House (512 W. Idaho), one of Boise’s first Basque boarding houses, will be the final stop before returning to the Basque Museum for some light refreshments.

At 6:30 p.m. there will be a special re-dedication ceremony held at the Fronton (619 Grove St.), where the public is invited to witness the renovations that have been carried out on the interior of this historic building.

The restoration and improvement projects include new color for the walls, a painted ceiling, wall paneling, a new locker room, shower, and a re-surfaced floor.

Following the frontón ceremony, Boise''s Basque band Amuma Says No will perform at the Leku Ona Basque restaurant in downtown Boise. The concert, which will start at 8.00 in the evening, will be followed by a special event in Washington D.C. on July 14 as part of the American Folklife Center''s Homegrown Concert series.

Apart from this special date, 2010 will be a special year for the band as July''s Basque international festival Jaialdi will be their first as a band.