Sandpoint - Its Places & Its People

Sandpoint Teens Raise Money for Mission Work in Uganda

2010-07-19T16:27:00.000-07:00

Sandpoint High School students Aubrie Perry and Bailey Scrimsher, both 15, have a plan. A very expensive plan.

Their families each sponsor a child from Uganda through International Children’s Network and both girls would like to travel to visit their sponsored child as well as participate in mission work.

The cost of the two- to three-week trip? Approximately $3,000 each. But that is not deterring these girls from doing all they can to achieve their goal.

“I did a bake sale when we had our yard sale,” said Scrimsher. “I made $80, but a lot of that was just donations.”

A couple of months ago the girls brainstormed and came up with the idea of putting on a week long day camp for girls.

“My parents then came up with the idea of making it an educational camp because parents like that,” said Perry.

So they went to work designing and printing their own colorful brochures for Camp Fun ‘n The Sun, which took place the week of July 5.

The result? After expenses, the girls each earned approximately $400 and will put that money toward their trip, which they hope to take next summer.

The girls worked hard planning various lessons and crafts for each day of camp and carefully shopped for supplies so they could maximize their profit.

“Our moms were a big help,” said Scrimsher.

With a different theme and an average of 10 campers each day, the girls had to carefully plan their activities for the five hours the kids were in their care.

“We did not want them running around in circles. We wanted them to be safe,” said Scrimsher.

The first day was eco-friendly day. The girls instructed and assisted the campers on how to make pine cone bird feeders and they each decorated an aluminum water bottle that they could use throughout the week.

“That way they didn’t have to use paper cups the whole week,” said Perry, emphasizing that the project was in line with the lesson on conservation.

When researching their lesson plans for the week, the girls relied heavily on the Internet and the video sharing website You Tube.

“It is so nice to actually see how it (the crafts) all is done,” said Scrimsher.

The second day was spa day where the campers learned how to make their own scrub using sugar and baby oil and Scrimsher massaged each of the girls’ feet while Perry painted their toenails and fingernails.

“They kept telling us they felt so spoiled,” said Perry.

On Wednesday, the teens introduced a unit on nutrition. Each of the girls received an apron which they decorated, and made homemade granola and pretzels.

“We showed them it is better to make your own food so you know what is going in it,” said Scrimsher.

“It also showed them that things that taste good are still good for you,” adds Perry.

On science day the girls led the campers in experiments crafting volcanoes out of clay and then using baking soda and vinegar to simulate a volcanic eruption.

The week culminated with water day on Friday where the kids decorated their own fish bowl and each was given a goldfish to take home.

Lunch was also provided by the girls who gave the kids a choice of peanut butter and jelly or a turkey sandwich in addition to a cheese stick, fruit and drink.

Scrimsher said the most challenging aspect of the experience was organizing and purchasing all the things needed for the various activities throughout the week.

“But then you see all our hard work pay off and it is worth it,” said Perry. “The pros definitely outweigh the cons,” adds Scrimsher.

One of the most rewarding aspects was to see how some of the more shy kids were able to make new friends.

The girls said they hope to travel to Uganda with their mothers next summer, but if that doesn’t work out, they will go not it will be sometime before they graduate in 2013.

While in Uganda, Scrimsher would like to help out at a medical clinic. Perry said she would like to interview some of the kids, take their picture and put together the information packets to share with families back home.

“I really want to help the kids get sponsors,” said Perry.

But whether they travel to Uganda next summer or later, they plan to host the camp again next summer.

“We’re hoping next year will be bigger and better,” said Scrimsher, who adds that she is hopeful this will also help land some babysitting jobs.

“It’s really hard work, but it all pays off in the end,” said Perry.

Economic Downturn Gives Sandpoint a Chance to Plan for Next Growth Spurt

2010-07-19T16:25:00.000-07:00

It appears there is an upside to the downturn in the economy after all. According to Sandpoint’s city planner Jeremy Grimm the lull in growth has allowed the city and its citizens to work diligently on its comprehensive plan – a map that will help steer Sandpoint’s development and growth for the next 20 years.

“It (the economic slowdown) has been a perfect storm in a good way for us,” said Grimm, adding that the plan is in response to the rapid growth experienced earlier this decade. “It allows us to prepare ourselves for the next wave of growth.”

The last time Sandpoint’s government prepared a comprehensive plan was 1977. But since Grimm was hired in the spring of 2007, his primary focus has been on working with the community to develop a plan that will take the city through the next two decades.

Grimm and his committee sought input from a large cross section of the community through many different approaches – large public meetings, surveys, and being present at many community events such as the Bonner County Fair and the Festival at Sandpoint.

“It (the rapid growth) really woke people up,” said Grimm, adding that the result was additional funds being allocated for various plans including the Urban Area Transportation Plan, a Parks and Trails Plan and a Comprehensive Plan.

The comprehensive plan was presented to the Sandpoint City Council in the spring of 2009 and after a total of 23 meetings and workshops, the council unanimously adopted it in February 2009.

The 122-page document addresses several topics including property rights, school facilities and transportation, land use, population, economic development, natural resources, public services, facilities and utilities, recreation and housing.

“But the zoning is really where the rubber meets the road,” said Grimm.

According to Grimm, back in the 1920s the Supreme Court granted cities the power to protect its citizens’ health, safety and welfare.

“Welfare has been interpreted by the courts to also mean the character of a community,” said Grimm.

The previous zoning laws did little to ensure consistency with the comprehensive plan, said Grimm. But parking lots, landscaping, residential space and building height were all part of what he and others deemed important to ensure that the Sandpoint area became a desirable place to live and visit.

“My charge was to bring to the planning commission the skeletal framework (of the plan),” said Grimm.

From there the commission used its own personal knowledge of the community, its history and desires for the future to fine tune the plan. Grimm provided the research on various codes throughout the country which had resulted in the type of community Sandpoint strives for.

“We had at least 10 public meetings on the development of the commercial code,” said Grimm.

In a meeting last month, the city council passed the first part of the zoning revisions that were addressed in the comprehensive plan – the commercial zoning laws.

The language of the new law was an effort to strike a balance between bringing incentives to downtown developers as well as ensuring the city did not over regulate growth.

In an effort to bring more residential properties to the downtown corridor, the new zoning law allows for buildings up to 65 feet high so long as at least 50 percent of the structure above 35 feet is devoted to residential use.

Also, all buildings must be capable of accommodating a second floor. Therefore, if a new structure is built as a single story, its walls and infrastructure must be such that it can accommodate an additional story in the future.

Grimm said it was the goal of the comprehensive plan to make Sandpoint unique among other western mountain towns and to make Sandpoint a place where people can walk to work, church or to do their shopping.

He said several areas, such as Hayden, have several strip malls and big box stores. Sandpoint residents want something different.

“We are trying to make our commercial areas attractive and a place where people want to be,” said Grimm.

Under the new zoning law, parking may not be built in front of new structures; instead it must be built either behind or on the side of a new building thereby allowing passers-by to enjoy a window shopping view. Buildings must be up against the lot line with the exception of public art or a civic area – a place where people can congregate and relax on a bench or enjoy a cup of coffee – between the building and the sidewalk or street.

Grimm said that if they prove to be highly successful with their plan, the result will be a desirable place to live, work and play.

“The challenge then becomes affordability,” said Grimm. “We have to be vigilant to be sure it does not become a playground for only the wealthy.”

But even after three years, Grimm said there is still much work to be done. “We have another year worth of code reform and regulatory development.”

Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center Honors WWII era Women Pilots

2010-07-19T16:17:00.000-07:00

Ask anyone what role women played during World War II and the answer is likely to be that their jobs were diverse – working in factories, providing support for the soldiers, and some serving as nurses on the front lines. But chances are no one will tell you that civilian women served as pilots flying military aircraft for the United States Army Air Forces.

More than 1,000 women were trained as aviation cadets, which enabled the male pilots to serve where they were needed most – in combat. The women were civilians who received approximately 27 weeks of training. And their role, which included flying over 60 million miles in fighter, bomber, transport and training aircraft, was equally important.

Known as the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs), it is said that the group helped pave the way for women to serve as military pilots today. But the women were never recognized for their contributions to World War II.

In fact, it was not until 1977 that the women were granted veteran status. And when 38 of the 1,074 women pilots lost their lives while defending their country, their bodies were flown home in poorly made pine caskets and the funerals were paid for by their friends and families, not the government. None of the families received an American flag.

After the WASPs were disbanded in December 1944, the women’s military records were sealed and labeled secret – keeping them out of the reach of historians. But in the 1980s the records were declassified and people began to learn more about these heroes in American history.

On Saturday these women will be honored in a special tribute hosted by the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center in Sagle, just south of Sandpoint. The event, Women of Courage 2010, is open to the public. More than 20 of the nearly 300 still-living women pilots from World War II will be on hand to share their stories of overcoming gender bias to serve their county.

Pamela Bird, of the Bird museum, said she first learned of the Women’s Airforce Service Pilots when a former FAA helicopter pilot visited the museum last fall.

“He asked me, had I ever thought about having an event for the WASPs?” Bird recalled. “I responded that I had not as I didn’t know much about them.”

Coincidentally, Bird met two of the women who had served with WASPs. One, Alyce Rohrer, got her pilot’s license in the early 1940s before receiving her driver’s license.

“She wanted to serve her country in a special way and do something she was great at, and that was flying,” said Bird. “She wanted to be a fly girl and ferry and transport every type of plane the military flew all over the world to the fighter pilots so their time would be freed up to do their job. When the recruiter came along, she signed up and was on her way to serve her country.”

One woman, Betty Jo Streff Reed, writes in her biography that she was barely out of high school when she began to take flying lessons. Of the $18 weekly paycheck she received from working at the Marshall Field department store in Chicago, Reed devoted one half to her flying lessons. After joining the WASPs, Reed writes, she helped pay for the bodies of her 38 fallen comrades to be sent home since the government would not.

“We marched everywhere, we did calisthenics, aerobatics, and all the things the boys did – except for combat training,” writes Reed. “I would have gone into combat though. We were so proud of our country, and we were going to do what was right.”

Mary Ann Martin Wyall writes in her biography that people are now more aware than ever of the important role she and her colleagues played in America’s history.

“Our senior years have enhanced our reputation as true pioneers of women in military aviation,” said Wyall. “The generation of women now in the military realize what the WASP program accomplished in order for them to become part of military aviation in all branches of military service.”

The more Bird learned about these women, the more she wanted to do something to honor them.

“There are less than 300 alive in history. Two have passed away within the last 10 days,” said Bird. “It is time to do something to educate those of today so history won’t be lost, as well as to honor, to thank in a proper way these incredible ladies who have changed history forever.”

Washington Elementary Students Get Art Lesson From Resident Artist

2010-06-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

With budget cuts being a predominant theme in schools, an art program can often be one of the first things to be dropped from the curriculum.

But thanks to Sandpoint’s Arts Alliance, a nonprofit organization formed in 2006 and devoted to providing arts education, artist services and advocacy, students at Sandpoint’s Washington Elementary School were able to receive instruction from a professional artist over the last several months. The end result? A piece of public art for the entire community to enjoy.

The alliance’s Artists in Residence Program allowed nearly 100 fourth- and fifth-grade students to work with a local artist to create a public mosaic mural, the theme of which was “Protecting Our Local Waters.” Students crafted handmade ceramic relief pieces in the form of plants, bugs, animals and plankton, which were then incorporated into a ceramic tile mosaic mural on the side of the school.

Lizzy Hughes, the executive director of the Arts Alliance, said the program is intended to teach students the manner in which a piece is created.

“It focuses on the process more than the product,” said Hughes.

When planning this year’s artist in residence project, Hughes said she wanted to ensure that the Arts Alliance worked closely with the schools to integrate the project with their curriculum.

“It gives them (the students) a more well-rounded understanding of their subject matter,” said Hughes. “And I really wanted to make sure that we did a project that was either environmental or social justice oriented so the students have a better understanding of caring for their environment.”

Teacher Sally Loveless said that the fifth-grade students do a project each year called Waterfest, which teaches them about water and various habitats. It provided a perfect opportunity for kids to incorporate what they learned in their classroom with the art project.

“Being able to do art once a week was phenomenal,” said teacher Ellen Darling, adding that it was amazing to see the process go from a pencil sketch to a beautiful mosaic mural.

For the past several months local artist Lynn Guier has worked with the students, teaching them everything from the importance of public art to the process involved in creating a mosaic mural.

There was a unit on healthy water where the Arts Alliance brought in scientists who work with fish, local Lake Pend Oreille, and water collection systems. The students were involved in fish identification, creating fish prints, learning about sedimentation, macro invertebrates and water quality.

After doing research in library books and on the Internet, the students eventually chose the animal they each wanted to draw to be a part of the mural.

Fifth-grader student Ben Schwartz described the process.

“First you draw what you want and then you trace it onto (tracing) paper. You put the paper onto a slab of clay, apply details, glaze it and then you bake it,” said Schwartz, whose creations included a chipmunk, a turtle and a fish.

Fourth-grader Burke Palmer-Fullerton said the message the students wanted to convey is the importance of the environment. “We tried to put out a good note on conserving water,” he said.

Guier said as murals go, this creation rivals some of the better pieces of public art. “I wanted this to be the most spectacular piece of art they’ve seen in Sandpoint,” she said, adding that both the students and teachers were wonderful to work with. “The students all took it very seriously.”

Fourth-grader Sam Diercks said before this project, he typically enjoyed just sketching in a book he has at home. “I didn’t think of myself as an artist before this. Just as a drawer. Now I’m a little bit of a painter,” he said.

Sam and his classmate Rachel Meyer agree it is important to have art in public places where many can enjoy it.

“It might remind someone of their childhood and may make them think of Disneyland,” said Sam.

“It can bring back memories,” added Rachel.

One important lesson Darling said the students have learned is that they each have their own creativity.

“It really allowed each of them to blossom,” she said.

Everyone involved in the project said it was a joint effort by many in the community who came together to teach the children everything from science, to conservation to art.

“It’s more than just art,” said Darling. “It’s thinking about our environment and history. It adds another dimension.”

Decades After High School, Friends Maintain Close Relationship

2010-06-23T12:42:00.000-07:00

In the age of e-mail, Facebook and texting, it is fairly easy for friends to stay in touch. But for Sandpoint resident Loris Michael, it is a letter or a phone call that mean more to her than anything.

“I like to stay in touch with people, but on a personal level,” said Michael who admits that while it may take more time than simply sending an e-mail, it is well worth it.

It is that philosophy which has enabled Michael to stay connected with her friends with whom she graduated from North Platte High School in Nebraska 52 years ago. There were 265 students in her class, but it is Michael’s connection with 10 of the women that has helped the group through decades of life’s ups and downs.

“Over time these are the women who stayed in touch,” said Michael.

But communication was not always easy. With only four of the 11 staying in Nebraska, they did not see each other as often as they liked and they were all busy raising children.

“No one called in those days because (long distance) phone calls were extremely expensive,” said Michael.

So instead the women began writing round robin letters in the early 1970s.

“One would write and mail it to the next person,” said Michael. “It would sometimes take from May to September by the time it got around to everyone.”

The letters would arrive at least twice a year and Michael still enjoys reading them.

“There’s a lot of history in some of those letters,” she said.

As their children grew older, it became easier for the women to reunite every couple of years. It was during one reunion in 1984 when they dressed up in old time costumes and had their photo taken.

Deciding they needed a name, they began to call themselves the Floozies and gave each other nicknames. They even wrote out a Floozie Family Tree – a testament to the bond that is as close as that shared by sisters.

Michael said that when the women get together there are always crazy gifts exchanged, time to reminisce over old photos and a lot of laughs.

“We don’t have to do anything special,” said Michael. “We revert to being 17 when we’re together. We laugh, put on our pajamas and slippers.”

Michael recalls one reunion she attended with her Floozie friends when she arrived at the Denver airport and was greeted by the women who were decked out in tiaras, boas, wands and balloons.

“I almost got back on the plane, I was so embarrassed,” jokes Michael. “They are way crazier than I am.”

The reunions are like a giant slumber party with sleeping bags and girl talk until early mornings.

At one reunion, one of the women had handcrafted a porcelain doll for each of her friends that resembled the recipient in her younger years. It is a gift Michael treasures.

But it isn’t always fun and games. When one member of the group suffers, there is no hesitation on the part of the others to lend a hand. When Michael was diagnosed with cancer approximately five years ago she visited Nebraska upon completion of her treatment. All her friends came to check on her, some traveling several hours just so they could see she was OK.

“That tells you a lot about your friendships,” said Michael.

Two of the women have died and as the others celebrate their 70th birthdays this year they are realizing it is more challenging to travel.

Since moving to Sandpoint in 1999 Michael has wanted her friends to visit North Idaho. But some of them now face illnesses or are taking care of their spouses who are ill, making travel difficult. This weekend however, four of them traveled to North Idaho to visit Michael and explore the place she calls home.

“I want to show them what a beautiful part of the world this is,” said Michael.

Through the years these women have helped each other through divorce, losing a spouse and more. It is that support and the bond they share that has made the difference.

“They’re a strong bunch of women,” said Michael as she shared a story of how one of the members was determined to make it to one more reunion before she died. She made it and died one month later. “They’re brave and strong.”

As Michael reminisces about her friendships in life, she said she wishes more people would reach out the way she and her friends did so many years ago – through phone calls and letters or cards.

“There’s nothing like old friendships,” she said.

Sandpoint High School Graduate Lives Life With Positive Attitude, A Lesson Learned from His Mother

2010-06-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

If there is one lesson 18-year-old A.J. Smith has already learned, it is that attitude is everything.

“Life is full of good and bad things, but life will only get you down if you let it,” said the Sandpoint High School senior.

It was a lesson Smith learned from his mother, Norma Taylor, who died last year from pancreatic cancer. “My attitude towards life I learned from my mom,” he said.

It is that attitude that got Smith through his senior year, excelling both academically and athletically.

A.J., whose given name is Abinadi John, is the second of four children. An outstanding athlete, he played football all four years at Sandpoint and has played lacrosse since seventh grade.

Never afraid to try new things, Smith tried out for basketball for the first time this year and made varsity.

“I went from knowing nothing at all to going to someone they could count on to put in if need be,” said Smith, who had his best year academically this year with a 3.7 grade-point average. He encourages others to try new things. “Don’t wait until the last chance to take a chance to do something you might really enjoy.”

When Sandpoint made it to the state championship in football this year, Smith said it was one of the most exciting moments of his life.

That excitement is likely to continue. He will play football at University of Montana Western in the fall on a scholarship and was also offered a scholarship by Montana State University Northern – something he knows would make his mother proud.

The memories of his high school years will always be special. But not just for the reasons that most young people cherish those years. For Smith it will always bring back memories of times spent with his mother.

“She was the most encouraging person,” said Smith, who said his mom would make every game her health would allow. But when she couldn’t attend his mom was the first person he would call after a game.

“She’d never ask if we won or lost. She’d ask if I had fun.”

When she was reaching the end stages of her life, Smith and his mom would spend a lot of time talking.

“We would sit and talk about things we wouldn’t normally,” he said.

During the last few months of his mother’s life, Smith said he struggled with whether to quit the lacrosse team. He was worried about his mom, but his teammates and coach encouraged him to play so he stuck with it. The day after she died he had a game and made the decision to play what was the last game of the season.

“She always said she would make it to a game and she never was able to,” he said. “The game I played the day after she died, that was the last game. I guess she finally got to see me play.”

During his years at Sandpoint High School, Smith received several football honors including all state, all league and all North Idaho honors his junior year and all league and all North Idaho honors his senior year. It was after football season his junior year that his mom started expressing her desire to buy Smith a letterman’s jacket. But they are expensive – about $400 – and due to her illness, his mom was not able to work regularly.

He assured his mom he did not need it, but it was something she kept talking about. When Smith’s friend Mike Hubbard asked why he didn’t have a jacket, he confided in him that his mother had wanted to buy one but never got the chance. So the kids and their moms got together and surprised Smith with the gift his mom never got the chance to give him.

“Right before we went to the playoffs (senior year) I got my letterman,” he said. “It is definitely one of the nicest things anyone’s ever done for me.”

Sandpoint High School Newspaper and Year Book Receive Awards at National Conference

2010-05-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

For Sandpoint High School junior Jesse Webster Merwin, love of writing began at an early age.

“I grew up having my mom and papa read to me,” said Jesse. “When I was 8 years old, I started to write stories. A friend and I wrote a 12-page mystery back then.”

But it was when she was in seventh grade and started to read the Sandpoint High School student newspaper, the Cedar Post, that Jesse became interested in journalism.

“Bailey (her sister) would bring home the Cedar Post and I would read every word,” said Jesse. By the time she reached her freshman year, Jesse said she read it cover to cover right when it came out and would eagerly await publication of the next issue, usually about three weeks later.

Now, as she finishes her junior year at Sandpoint High School, Jesse is proud to say that next year she will be the editor in chief of the Cedar Post, an award-winning publication.

Students from Sandpoint High School’s Cedar Post and Monticola, the school’s yearbook, attended the National Journalism Education Association High School Convention in Portland recently and both publications came home with several awards.

“There were about 3,000 people at the conference and I believe there were about 500 schools,” said Jennifer Prandato, this year’s editor for the Cedar Post. “People came from pretty much every state in the U.S.”

According to Barbara Tibbs, the staff adviser for Monticola, this was the first time in 10 years the yearbook staff attended the conference because Cedar Post staff typically attended the fall conference.

“The newspaper staff returned to going to the spring conference and we (the yearbook staff) could go together,” said Tibbs. “Fall conferences are difficult for spring-delivery books to attend.”

The Cedar Post placed seventh in the nation for the December 2009 edition in the eight-page-and-under division, something Prandato attributes to the perseverance of a group of young writers.

“We had a very young and inexperienced staff this year, so the fact that we were able to learn so fast shows that they really have a talent,” said Prandato.

Merwin said they may compete next year in the 10-page-and-over category, but adds that will remain to be seen. She does have a goal, however, and she intends to achieve it through a variety of ways.

“Hopefully we will get in the top three next year,” she said.

One of the changes she will implement as editor is to make the paper more visually attractive to high school students.

“Instead of writing longer stories, we will break it up with color fact boxes and photos,” said Merwin, who adds that the editorial staff will also take strong positions on issues. “Hopefully we’ll get more letters to the editor.”

One prestigious award was received by Sandpoint junior Connor Griesemer who placed second in an unrelated photo contest through the Edward R. Murrow College of Journalism at Washington State University.

“The (photo) contest was open to high schools in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska and they received over a hundred entries,” said Prandato.

Something unique about the Cedar Post is that it is a student-run newspaper. While they do have an adviser, William Love, the administration does not dictate to the students what should and should not be printed.

“But at the same time we do recognize that we are a high school paper and not everything is appropriate for freshmen or the seventh-graders who may be reading it,” said Merwin, who hopes that students who read the paper will be inspired to write.

“You might not use it in calculus, but writing is something you’ll always need,” she said. “Students may not want to write a 10-page English paper, but if you tell them they can write a no-nonsense story, they usually like it.”

But don’t think the Cedar Post will be the last place you will get the chance to read Merwin’s articles.

“I want to go into political journalism,” she said. “My dream job is to write a political column for the New York Times.”

Stay tuned. My bet is that she will do just that.

Other awards won by Sandpoint High School students

Blaine Shultz, honorable mention in yearbook copy/caption: sports; Barry Wilson, honorable mention in literary magazine: poetry; Jennifer Prandato, honorable mention in newspaper layout; Evan Metz, excellence in editorial cartooning; Amanda Hayes, honorable mention in news writing; Graham Cole, honorable mention in feature writing; Jessie Webster Merwin, excellence in editorial writing; Eddie Ogle, excellence in sports writing; Dylan Vogel, excellence in yearbook student life photography (one of his winning photos is shown on the front page of the JEA website); Kendall Stratton, honorable mention in computer design: photoshop art.

Friendship Deepens Between Two Women in Their Search for Birth Parents

2010-05-16T17:10:00.000-07:00

Barb Hecker always knew she was loved. Adopted at birth, she was blessed with a wonderful family and a happy childhood.

“My brother and I were thrilled to know that we were twice loved,” said Hecker, of Sandpoint. “Our birth mothers loved us enough to make sure we had a good home, and our adoptive parents carried on from there.”

But when Hecker had her own children, she felt something missing.

“I got tired of going to the doctor’s office, filling out forms and always putting ‘unknown’ on health history,” said Hecker.

It prompted her to begin the search for her birth parents 12 years ago. She contacted the agency that handled her adoption and within two weeks she had the information needed to locate her birth mother.

Unfortunately, she had died. But Barb learned she had two half-brothers.

She traveled to Texas to meet them and at the advice of the agency, did so alone.

“They said I did not want to have to worry about my husband and kids because I would be busy processing my own emotions,” said Hecker. It was advice for which she is grateful.

And if her half-brothers had any doubt Hecker was their sister, it vanished the minute they saw her.

“My brothers took one look at me and they knew,” said Hecker, who is told she shares many traits with her birth mother. “They said it was like seeing a ghost.”

After returning to Sandpoint, Hecker shared her story with her friend Laurie Anderson, of Sagle.

Like Hecker, Anderson was adopted. Born in the Seattle area, she grew up in Ellensburg.

“Every time we went to Seattle, I would always look around and wonder,” Anderson said of her curiosity about her birth parents.

But she was not sure about whether she wanted to begin the search.

“I felt it may be hurtful to my parents,” Anderson said of her adoptive parents. But because she had four children of her own, she, too, wanted to know about her ethnic background as well as any potential health issues. So with Hecker’s help she began the process.

“If it weren’t for Barb, I would not have done it,” Anderson said.

Working with the Washington Adoptive Rights Movement, it took three years for Anderson to locate her birth mother.

“They said it was the least amount of information they ever had to go on,” Anderson said.

Initially, her birth mother was not sure she wanted to meet. But after Laurie's birth mother notified Laurie's birth father, the couple agreed to meet their daughter they gave up decades before.

Anderson asked Hecker to accompany her to the meeting.

“I wanted to take Barb because if it weren’t for her I would not have done this,” Anderson said. “And because she did not get the chance to meet her birth mother I wanted her to be a part of it.”

Together the friends flew to Seattle to meet Anderson’s birth parents who had flown from Oklahoma City and Colorado.

They had dinner at the Space Needle and talked at length, asking questions and fulfilling one another’s curiosity.

Anderson’s birth mother, still unsure of the meeting, looked to Hecker for advice on how to handle this newfound relationship. She said she had never had other children and did not think she could be a mom.

“I told her, ‘Laurie does not want a mother. She wants a friend,’ ” Hecker said. “She said, ‘I can do that.’ ”

She also shared with Hecker that when she found out she was pregnant, Anderson’s birth father flew back from overseas, brought her a string of pearls and proposed to her. But she declined, saying she was not ready.

Anderson’s birth mother had kept the string of pearls and brought them with her when she met Anderson.

“She asked me what I thought about her and Laurie’s birth father presenting Laurie with the pearls,” Hecker said. “I told her I was sure she would love it.”

Hecker was right. It is a gift Anderson treasures.

As both women discovered more about their biological beginnings, their closure began and their friendship grew. “There’s definitely a bond,” Anderson said.

“A deep-down bond,” Hecker said, adding that it was healing for her to share the journey with Anderson. “It is a very intimate experience.”

Both Anderson and Hecker advise that searching for one’s birth parents may not be for everyone. But if one does undertake the search, Hecker said people need to be sure they are doing it for the right reasons, such as discovering medical history, or just to know the story behind why they were given up for adoption. It can help to give closure.

“It is definitely a journey, but it is one worth taking,” Anderson said.

Hecker agrees.

“You can’t have peace until you find the pieces,” she said.

Sue Vogelsinger Recalls Her Years in the White House and Washington, D.C.

2010-05-02T21:30:00.000-07:00

Sue Vogelsinger first learned of her boss’s death while reviewing one of his upcoming speeches. The place was Dallas. The date was Nov. 22, 1963. Her boss was President John F. Kennedy.

“My colleague, Chris Camp, and I were working on speech copy for the next stop. We were on Air Force One in (Kennedy’s) cabin when one of the stewards came through and said to pack up,” said Vogelsinger, a Sagle, Idaho, resident who served as a member of Kennedy’s press staff.

Decades later Vogelsinger smiles as she remembers the man she calls physically awe-inspiring, quick-witted and a man who truly loved his job.

“Being around President Kennedy was exhilarating,” said Vogelsinger.

After graduating from Penn State, Vogelsinger’s goal was to earn money so she could move to California.

She first worked for a Florida senator until November 1958, when she was hired by the Kennedy campaign to work with press secretary Pierre Salinger.

“I chose to work for Salinger on the theory that working with him would involve travel,” said Vogelsinger. And she was right.

After a successful campaign, Vogelsinger worked on the transition team.

“My final duty the night before the inauguration was to take a copy of President Kennedy’s inaugural address to President (Harry) Truman,” said Vogelsinger. “Much to my surprise I was able to go right up to his (hotel) room and knock on the door.”

Truman opened the door in his bedroom slippers and invited her in to meet Bess. Later that night, Vogelsinger was hospitalized for exhaustion and missed the inauguration and the ball.

During Kennedy’s administration Vogelsinger traveled extensively with the president and was in Ireland with him for the Kennedys’ emotional return to the home of their ancestors.

With a press staff of only eight, the days were long and draining – especially during the Cuban Missile Crisis and other such times.

“But you really did not care because it was so exciting and so exhilarating,” said Vogelsinger.

After Kennedy’s assassination, President Lyndon Johnson chose to keep Kennedy’s staff. Vogelsinger said many felt they could not do a good job for Johnson – their hearts weren’t in it. She left the White House in April 1964 to assist Salinger in his campaign to be a senator from California.

Married by this time to Bruce – who happens to be a Republican – she returned to Washington, D.C., and became pregnant with twin girls, Sera and Julia.

But a love for the Kennedys and politics led Vogelsinger back into part-time work for Robert Kennedy, opening and answering his personal mail. Vogelsinger was at home in Virginia when she received the call that Robert Kennedy had been killed.

“I worked on helping get that funeral together, too,” said Vogelsinger.

Over the years, Vogelsinger worked with several other political figures, including George and Eleanor McGovern, Ted Kennedy, Jimmy Carter and Hillary Clinton.

During Ted Kennedy’s 1980 campaign Vogelsinger was in charge of scheduling for the Kennedy wives, sisters and 29 grandkids.

“Teddy used to call me the saint,” said Vogelsinger.

She worked on President Jimmy Carter’s inaugural committee, and in 1986 she and a friend opened a media relations firm. Vogelsinger was pulled back in to the political scene by the desire to work closely with White House staff when President Bill Clinton was elected. She volunteered her time and worked closely with the first lady.

One of her favorite projects was her involvement with the promotion of Hillary Clinton’s first book, “It Takes a Village,” as a liaison between the White House and the book’s publisher.

Vogelsinger has admiration for Hillary Clinton; even through all the scandals of Monica Lewinski and the Whitewater investigations, Hillary Clinton amazed her, she said.

“She kept in amazingly good spirits,” said Vogelsinger.

Of all her years working with so many administrations, Vogelsinger said the biggest public misconception was that of Hillary Clinton.

Vogelsinger adds that her observations of both Clintons were of a couple very devoted to one another. “They were very warm and affectionate with each other. You could certainly tell they cared deeply about each other.”

Vogelsinger and her husband’s desire to be close to their daughters, who live in Sandpoint, precipitated a move from Washington, D.C.

“Politics has gotten so mean and vicious that I do not miss what it would be like today,” said Vogelsinger. “But I do miss what it was.”

The couple spent New Year’s Eve 1999 at the White House and shortly thereafter moved to Idaho.

“It was a good way to end my political career,” she said.

In four decades in Washington, D.C., Vogelsinger said one experience always took her breath away.

“I had to pinch myself each time I took off in the helicopter from the White House lawn sitting with the president of the United States,” she said.

This Week in Sandpoint....Career Fair & Opening of the Sandpoint Farmers Market

2010-04-25T15:12:00.000-07:00

It’s the first sign of summer in Sandpoint. Vendors line the perimeter of downtown’s Farmin Park and spill into neighboring Jeff Jones Town Square. The Farmers Market at Sandpoint, a nonprofit organization managed by its members, takes place Saturday mornings and Wednesday afternoons.

As this 22-year-old Sandpoint tradition opens Saturday, it is making changes to adapt to the struggling economy. According to Emily Levine, vendor and market board member, this year food stamps will be accepted.

“The Moscow Farmers Market spearheaded the system for Idaho,” said Levine who last year attended a farmers market management conference. “It (accepting food stamps) is a natural progression for the farmers market. It will allow low-income people to be able to use the market.”

The same guidelines that apply to the use of food stamps in grocery stores will apply at the market.

The only exception, said Levine, is that people will be able to purchase plant starts for food items with their food stamps.

“The plant starts is a real cool thing so people who want to can have their own garden,” she said.

Each vendor who accepts food stamps will go through training. When customers arrive at the market they will go to the market manager who will issue food market script which can be used throughout the entire market season.

Sandpoint’s market has grown each year. “In our busy season we will have at least 80 to 85 vendors at market on a given Saturday, and approximately 30 vendors at our Wednesday markets,” said market manager RaeAnn Mavity. She said the Saturday market has a farm/food section as well as fine arts and crafts. There’s also live music.

Career Fair Wednesday

If you are among the many who are struggling to find employment, you may want to visit Sandpoint on Wednesday for the Fifth Annual Career Fair hosted by the Idaho Department of Labor and the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce from noon to 6 p.m. at the Bonner Mall.

The fair, sponsored by Litehouse, Inc., will host employers who will accept applications and some who even intend to conduct on-site interviews.

“One of the most challenging obstacles in obtaining a job is getting your foot in the door, and the Career Fair allows job seekers opportune face-to-face interaction with employers,” said Amy Little, president and CEO of Sandpoint’s Chamber of Commerce.

While some people may be searching for full-time work and others just need a part-time position, organizers say there will be something for everyone. The employers include those looking to hire in a variety of industries including health care, manufacturing, education and management.

“The (available) jobs are changing daily as new positions open and existing ones are filled,” said Bridgette Bradshaw-Fleer of the Idaho Department of Labor. Organizers say there are tasks job seekers can do prior to attending the event that will help to create a positive impression on the employers present.

The Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce has a list of employers who are attending the fair listed on its website, www.sandpointchamber.org (http://www.sandpointchamber.org) . Job seekers can research the employers and prepare and present résumés tailored to the appropriate position for which they are applying.

Preparing a short introduction and dressing appropriately can go a long way to creating a lasting impression.

Additionally, Ruth Wimberley of Human Resource Consulting and Amber Snoddy of Business Management Services will be available at the fair to support and counsel job seekers, offering suggestions on résumés and answering questions.

Idaho Meth Project Launches Paint the State Contest

2010-04-25T15:10:00.000-07:00

Everyone has seen the billboards. One look and eyes quickly turn back to the road. They portray people whose appearances have deteriorated to the point of rotting teeth and discolored skin.

That is exactly what the Idaho Meth Project has hoped to accomplish since launching its campaign two years ago. A nonprofit organization, the Idaho Meth Project is a prevention program whose goal is to prevent first-time meth use.

Sarah Ingram of the National Meth Project, based in Los Angeles, said that the program is now in eight states, with Idaho being the third state to implement it two years ago. Other states include Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Wyoming, Hawaii, Georgia and the southern portion of Illinois.

Founded by California resident Thomas Siebel, the project came about as a result of Siebel’s exposure to the meth problem while spending a portion of each year in Montana.

“Montana was fifth in the nation per capita in meth use,” said Ingram, who adds that Siebel came up with the idea of creating a public education campaign based on the premise of consumer marketing.

“Instead of selling a product he wanted to unsell a product,” said Ingram. The goal was to target kids who are at risk of trying any type of controlled substance and educating them about the dangers of methamphetamine use before they ever have a chance to experiment with the dangerous drug.

According to Ingram and information released by her office on Monday, the results have been significant.

“We have had great results in Montana. Since the time the project started, teen meth use (in Montana) is down 62 percent,” she said. The results are from a survey put out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and administered in all 50 states. Since introducing the Idaho Meth Project, statistics show that meth use among teens in Idaho has decreased 52 percent in just two years.

According to statistics provided by the Idaho Meth Project, the state spends $66 million dollars annually to incarcerate users of methamphetamine.

To help further their cause of preventing the use of meth, the Idaho Meth Project on Monday launched a new campaign aimed at sending an anti-meth message through each of Idaho’s 44 counties. The Paint the State contest will involve 13- to 18-year-olds who will produce artwork – of any style and any medium – with a clear anti-meth message. The contest was first done in Montana in 2006.

“In Montana they (the contest participants) painted everything from barns to walls to cows,” said Ingram, who added that Montana’s contest generated more than 660 images.

As part of its goal to spread the message, the contest guidelines state that the artwork must be visible from public places – whether it is a highway, a field or city streets. With permission from the owner – and in some cases the city in which the artwork is displayed – the artwork can be on display for an undetermined amount of time. However, the contest guidelines require that it must be on display during the week of July 12-18 in order to be eligible for prize money.

Funded primarily through private donations, the Idaho Meth Project is awarding a total of $3,000 in prizes for each county. The first-place winner in each county will receive $1,500 with second and third receiving $1,000 and $500, respectively. First-place winners from each county will compete for the state prize of $5,000. Idaho artist Charles Gill and a statewide panel will judge the competition.

Paint the State program coordinator Elli Brown has traversed the state. Some of the suggestions she brings to organizers include having a local artist assist teens with their vision and encouraging those who may not be able to afford supplies to contact local businesses to help sponsor their project.

Ingram said that Paint the State is a wonderful way for kids to learn more about the dangers of meth use.

“It’s a great way to get the message to the community at a grass roots level,” she said. “And teens talking to other teens is a powerful way to communicate.”

For more information log onto www.paintthestateidaho.org

Sandpoint's Earth Day Celebration April 22nd at the Events Center

2010-04-18T15:02:00.000-07:00

Making a difference. That is the focus of Sandpoint’s Earth Day celebration this week. While communities worldwide celebrate Earth Day’s 40th anniversary, the Idaho Conservation League and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper will host Sandpoint’s third annual celebration.

The free event will bring together more than 20 organizations who share a common goal – to educate people on how they can make a positive difference and protect the Earth not only today but for generations to come.

Organizers have planned activities and displays for everyone from preschool to retired members of the community. Children’s activities include crafts, a movie and a scavenger hunt. Representatives from the Idaho Fish and Game Department’s Watchable Wildlife education program will also be on hand to give children a chance to see live owls.

Other activities include a free tree sapling giveaway, a book signing by Jane Fritz, author of “Legendary Lake Pend Oreille,” and demonstrations on how to make nontoxic home cleaners.

One of the main attractions of the evening will be the participation of chefs from several area restaurants who will prepare full dinners using locally grown ingredients.

This is the third year that Emily Levine and Sarah Rusnak have worked with the local Earth Day event, helping to bring awareness to the fresh produce available throughout the year in Sandpoint and the surrounding communities.

In years past, Levine and Rusnak have contacted local farmers, picked up donated food and cooked for the event themselves. But this year Levine said will be a bit different.

“We are involving local restaurants who will each prepare one dish,” said Levine. To support those participating restaurants, Six Rivers Market, a Web-based food cooperative that markets locally grown products, will give each restaurant a one-month free membership.

“I think Six Rivers Market is a really amazing organization and resource for local food,” said Levine. “It bridges the gap between producers and consumers.”

Mimi Feuling and Rob Fredericks of Cascade Creek Farm in Bonners Ferry have been involved with Sandpoint’s Earth Day event since the beginning. Over the last two years they have supplied most of the meat, wheat and some of the eggs used by Levine and Rusnak.

Feuling also sits on the board of directors for Six Rivers Market and is excited about what the cooperative has done for the community and that it is able to assist in this year’s celebration.

“Six Rivers producers have a pretty good selection of items, even though the weather is pretty iffy,” said Feuling, who adds that there is grass-fed beef, pastured pork, natural lamb, yak, and bison for meat choices. “We have local farmers’ cheese, cheddar cheese, goat chevre, raw goat milk feta and eggs. There are greens – lettuce, spring mix, spinach, fresh rosemary and nasturtium.”

But the products available are not limited to meat, vegetables and dairy. There are also honey, salad dressing, barbecue sauce, jam and syrup.

Levine, who owns local farm Red Wheelbarrow Produce, said she first became involved with promoting local food when she lived in Minnesota. There, someone invited her to participate in a local food challenge where they ate only food that was grown within 200 miles of her community. When she moved to Sandpoint about four years ago, she saw a need for more produce in the area and believed there was a demand that would support more local farms. It was then she decided to start her own and is pleased with the support the local restaurants have shown.

“We have a lot of restaurants and cooks that are very supportive of using local foods and who have been shopping at the farmers market,” said Levine.

Feuling agrees that purchasing locally grown and produced food will benefit everyone and it is that message she hopes to convey at the Earth Day event.

“Buying local gets the consumer fresh, healthy, nutrient-rich food,” she said. “It supports the local economy and builds the fabric of our communities.”

Levine said she hopes the Earth Day event will help bring awareness to what produce is available in the community year round.

“Hopefully it will have a snowball effect, with people starting to demand more local food; the quality will only increase as more producers will in turn increase their production for the off-season,” said Levine.

Information:

When: Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m.

Where: Sandpoint Events Center, on the corner of Pine Street and Euclid Avenue.

Information: www.greensandpoint.com (http://www.greensandpoint.com)

Cost: Free

Participating restaurants: Café Bodega, Spuds, Pine Street Bakery, Eichardt’s Pub, Common Knowledge and DiLunas

Kinderhaven Launches Blue Ribbon Campaign in Recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month

2010-04-11T16:47:00.000-07:00

They are heartbreaking stories. Tales of lost innocence. Abuse, neglect and violence at the hands of one in whom children place all their trust – their parents, caregivers or a close family friend. And it is that loss of trust that can significantly impact a child’s development. Because the stories are so upsetting, they have remained untold. Until now.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. Staff and the board of directors for Sandpoint’s Kinderhaven – a privately funded nonprofit home for abused and neglected children that serves the five northern counties in Idaho – are taking the opportunity to let people know that these stories are happening in this area. The goal is to not only educate the community on signs of abuse but to give the children a voice.

Kim Diercks, president of Kinderhaven’s Board of Directors, tells of a 12-year-old who walked his younger sibling five miles to Bonner General Hospital’s emergency room to be treated for a severe allergic reaction. The family was living in a van in a store parking lot and the parents were away all day drinking. And this was not an isolated event. Sometimes the parents would disappear for two to three days leaving the 12-year-old to care for his many siblings.

Former board president Marsha Ogilvie has countless stories that come to mind about other past or present Kinderhaven residents.

“There was an 8-year-old little girl who was drugged by her mother’s boyfriend, sexually abused while being filmed along with a neighbor boy,” said Ogilvie. “The pornographic images were then published on the Internet.”

And then there was the story of an 18-month-old boy who had been deprived of milk because his father felt he was too old for a bottle. His father burned the boy’s scrotum and finger tips with a lighter.

Longtime board member Barb Merritt recalls one occasion when a small child crawled to her, lifting his arms, begging to be held. She bent down to pick him up and was quickly stopped by the Kinderhaven staff.

“You must scoop him up from his bottom,” she was told. She lifted the young child’s shirt only to discover bruises covering his midsection. Picking him up as one normally would a small child would have meant excruciating pain for him.

One day Merritt took one of the young residents on a bike ride – offering some special one-on-one time with a trusted adult. The two stopped for lunch along the way.

“He ordered everything on the children’s menu,” said Merritt. “He said he wanted to eat one meal and bring back all the rest to share with his siblings (who were also at Kinderhaven). This child loves to share everything.” She tearfully adds that this same boy told staff members that his mom had tried to kill him.

In an effort to raise awareness, Kinderhaven officials have launched a blue ribbon campaign – originally started by a grandmother who lost a grandchild to abuse – with the blue representing the bruises that cover an abused child’s body.

“Our primary goal is to increase awareness of child abuse – its prevalence and symptoms – as a first step in helping prevent it,” said Kinderhaven’s executive director Phyllis Horvath. “For social change to occur we must first have awareness of the issue.”

Drive through Sandpoint during April and you will see blue ribbons on several trees in the area as well as several hundred Sandpoint residents sporting blue wristbands with Kinderhaven inscribed on them.

“We sold out of the wristbands within the first couple of days,” said Diercks, adding that the initial order of 1,000 had to be reordered to meet the high demand.

In April, Kinderhaven representatives will visit Chamber of Commerce meetings and Rotary organizations, throughout the five northern counties, educating groups on Kinderhaven’s role in their communities.

Unfortunately, the high cost of running a facility that must be staffed 24 hours a day 365 days a year has left Kinderhaven nearly $70,000 short of its budget this year. The goal is to not only raise awareness but they are hopeful that even in these tough economic times people can dig a little deeper and contribute what they can to help protect the most vulnerable members of the communities.

“Whether it is a child donating a week’s allowance or a company choosing Kinderhaven to be the beneficiary of its giving, every bit helps,” said Horvath. “In 14 years we have not turned a child away due to lack of funds and we don’t want this to be the year we have to do that. We must do what we can to protect all children. Every child deserves a chance in life.”

How to help

To make a tax-deductible donation to Kinderhaven, go online to www.kinderhavensandpoint.com or mail your donation to Kinderhaven, P.O. Box 2097, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

If you suspect child abuse, call the local Health and Welfare Child Protective Services. There is a hot line for confidential reporting. If you witness an incident of abuse or if you fear that a child is in immediate danger, call 911.

More information

From 2000 through 2009, 2,657 children have entered the foster care system in Idaho’s five northern counties. Statewide during those same years there were 13,377 children who entered foster care.

Sandpoint-based Kinderhaven has sheltered 1,300 kids since opening in 1996.

Kinderhaven partners with Court Appointed Special Advocates and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Each child is appointed a CASA worker who is specifically there to represent the child’s interest. Health and Welfare, by law, must take into consideration the interest of the child and the rights of parents.

When a child is in the foster care system and experiences one change in living arrangements, that child has a 60 percent chance of successfully moving through the system and into adult years. If the child experiences two changes, the chances of success drop to 15 percent; with three changes, it drops to 5 percent

Sandpoint Is a Finalist for America's Coolest Small Town

2010-04-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

It is referred to by many here as the “aha!” moment – the time when they cross the long bridge into Sandpoint, take in the view and realize that they have found their new home. The beauty of Lake Pend Oreille surrounded by the mountains is what initially lures many to this resort town. But it doesn’t take long after arriving for people to realize there is much more to this community than its breathtaking views.

The uniqueness of Sandpoint is one reason it is among the finalists for Budget Travel Magazine’s America’s Coolest Small Town’s contest. Of the 147 nominations received, Sandpoint has made the cut to the top 21 towns and currently sits in 10th place. Other communities in the running include Red Lodge, Mont.; the Oregon towns of Sisters and Bandon; Sitka, Alaska; Brevard, N.C.; Cooperstown, N.Y.; Egg Harbor, Wis.; and the current leader, Ely, Minn. The voting will end May 9.

“Being nominated for this award is a privilege for us. We are thrilled so many new people will discover how special our community is and hopefully plan a visit,” said Amy Little, president and CEO of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. “Winning would be an amazing honor for us.”

For Dan and Ruth Wimberly, it was a visit to friends that made them realize that they too wanted to make Sandpoint their home.

After living in Sacramento for 20 years, the couple knew they wanted to leave California as they neared retirement. They had visited Dan’s high school friend Pete Merritt and his wife Barb in Sandpoint several times and grew to love the area.

“It was important for us to live in a town where people are involved with the community, take pride in the community, care about each other and where there are a lot of activities,” said Ruth, who with Dan made the move to North Idaho in April 2006.

During one of their visits, the Merritts took the Wimberlys to a fundraiser put on by the Angels Over Sandpoint. The evening included entertainment and a roast of local restaurateur Jim Lippi. It was there that they witnessed a unique camaraderie and community spirit like they have never seen before.

“The community support, combined with the mountains and the lake, sold us on Sandpoint,” said Ruth. “We never regretted our decision and bless the day that we made the decision to move here.

The Wimberlys echo the sentiment of many when they say that there is no other town this size that can compete with what Sandpoint has to offer.

“The Festival at Sandpoint, the giving nature of the community, the shows, plays and concerts at the Panida, Lost in the ’50s weekend and Schweitzer Mountain – it’s a lot of great things in a small-town package,” said Ruth. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce members are encouraging Sandpoint residents as well as those who visit to show their pride and love for this North Idaho gem and cast their vote for Sandpoint as the Coolest Small Town in America.

Ballots can be cast daily online until May 9. People can also submit images of their favorite, places, events and activities from the Sandpoint area.

Visit http://www.budgettravel.com/bt-srv/coolestsmalltowns/CST2010.html to share with others what many already know – Sandpoint is the coolest small town in America.

NAMI Far North Helps Educate Law Enforcement on Mental Illness

2010-04-04T10:15:00.001-07:00

Bonner County Sheriff Deputy Chris Bonner grew up around law enforcement. During the course of his career and the careers of now-retired family members, Bonner says he has seen progress in the way first responders handle crisis situations when interacting with those who suffer from mental illness.

”Back then (the practice) was to lock them up and say they were someone else’s problem,” said Bonner. “But we as a society cannot afford to do that.”

So when Bonner had the opportunity to attend a 40-hour Crisis Intervention Team training program that addressed mental illness, he didn’t hesitate.

“I recognize that mental illness is something we deal with more than we realize,” said Bonner. “I wanted to be able to better communicate with people who are going through crisis.”

Bonner County Sheriff’s Office served as the host agency for the training, which was put on with the help of grants and volunteers from the National Alliance for Mental Illness’s Far North chapter, based in Sandpoint. Ann Wimberley, the chapter’s president, said she is grateful to those who take the time to learn more about this critical issue.

“It’s a huge investment of time for both individuals and departments,” she said.

Sgt. Bill Tilson of the Coeur d’Alene Police Department took the training in February 2009 and was recently named one of two Crisis Intervention Team Officers of the Year for 2009. He said the training has served him well. “The (CIT) academy gives law enforcement a full look into mental illness including signs and symptoms, the drugs used to treat mental illness, the thought processes of the mentally ill, along with strategies to work with those going through a crisis,” said Tilson. “I’ve used the training in suicide prevention calls, those suffering a crisis, and more.”

Among those in attendance at the latest training were deputies from Bonner County Sheriff’s Department, Kootenai County dispatchers, officers from as far away as Southern Idaho, and an employee of an assisted living home.

Holly Bonwell is a clinical supervisor at the Department of Health and Welfare in Coeur d’Alene. She serves as the mental health coordinator for the crisis team in this region.

“We are becoming much more aware of the needs and concerns of our consumers and community partners,” said Bonwell, who adds that the most common misconception is that individuals choose to be mentally ill and they can stop their behavior at any time. Nothing could be further from the truth and that is the most important lesson Bonwell wants people to learn from the crisis team training.

“People don’t choose to become mentally ill. (We need to) reduce the stigma, and provide officers with tools, resources and strategies to assist this population,” she said. One Sandpoint woman, Sara (not her real name), is pleased people are investing their time to learn more about mental illness. Sara’s adult son was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and she said family members are faced with many challenges – including how to cope during times of crisis – when helping a loved one cope with a severe mental illness.

“Our family has had a steep learning curve. We had to set aside preconceived notions about mental illness and develop ways to help our loved one cope with those awful symptoms to have a better life,” said Sara. “We are so appreciative to law enforcement agencies who have understood the need to approach these emergency responses in a more professional way by taking the training.”

Tilson recalls an incident where the training helped him calm a potentially suicidal teenager.

“I arrived on the scene with another officer and saw that his (the boy’s) father and brother were holding him down due to his violent nature,” said Tilson. But instead of arresting the boy, Tilson said he used the skills he learned in crisis training to communicate with him. “He was released, he sat up and we had a great conversation. In talking with him and the family, we were able to get him to the hospital for the help he needed rather than jail for a crime that may have been the result of his illness rather than the intent to injure someone. This is an example of how the training works. Ultimately, the goal in these cases is to choose the most appropriate path for a person with a mental illness, which is not always criminal activity.”

Although the CIT training ended just a few weeks ago, Bonner says he too has already used much of what he learned.

“It has already paid off huge dividends. I use the tools almost on a daily basis,” said Bonner who encourages all law enforcement to take part in this training. “It’ll make us a better agency and will make us better officers. And it will definitely make us a better asset to our community.”

Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Optimistic In Spite of Budge Cuts

2010-03-14T13:37:00.000-07:00

Priorities. Ask anyone what their priority in life is and the answer most likely will be something that relates to the well being of their family. For parents, many will say their top priority is giving their children the best upbringing possible – including a good education.

But as I turned on the television to watch the Academy Awards last week, I once again wondered what the real priority is in our country. I am continually amazed at the amount of money that goes into film making and the salaries made by all involved in the industry. And what about professional athletes and the tax money spent to build bigger and better stadiums?

Unfortunately, our country may say its priority is education, but when it comes to funding for our public schools many find that hard to believe. And it doesn’t seem to be getting any better.

With a 13 percent drop in enrollment over the last four years, Lake Pend Oreille School District, like many nationwide, has experienced a significant decrease in funding.

“While the school district not only expected major funding cuts at the state level due to our declining enrollment it also anticipated a struggling Idaho economy,” said district Superintendent Dick Cvitanich, who added that the severity of the state’s financial position was not anticipated.

According to Cvitanich, the state cut kindergarten through 12th grade funding by 7 percent this fiscal year and could cut it an additional 8.5 percent next fiscal year. The district also anticipates losing another 3 percent of its enrollment, largely due to the fact that many of these students’ families worked in the labor industry which has experienced a severe decline in North Idaho. But Cvitanich hopes that will change.

“Affordable housing for families is slowly starting to make its appearance,” he said. “This is good news.”

But until that time, Lake Pend Oreille School District has to deal with the numbers it has right now and that can only mean more cuts.

So how does a school district deal with such a blow to its budget? That is precisely what Cvitanich and the Lake Pend Oreille School Board are trying to figure out. And not everyone likes the answers.

One proposal is to close down Northside Elementary School, which has many parents concerned. But Cvitanich said that is just one of many options being considered.

“We are looking at all programs. Since over 80 percent of our budget is made up of staffing, that becomes a logical choice. We will definitely be reducing, however, we hope to address most of these cuts through retirements and attrition,” said Cvitanich. “These reductions will be in all categories: certified, classified and administrative. Our ongoing goal is to keep the cuts as far away from the classroom as possible.”

But what effect will these cuts have on both the students and the teachers?

“We know that reductions in staff will have an effect on the amount of time teachers can spend with children,” said Cvitanich, referring to the inevitable increase in class size.

But he adds that research shows that it is the teacher who makes the true difference in providing a quality education.

While that may be true, I know I am not alone when I say I am concerned for the teachers who must deal with increased class size while trying to teach to what is already a classroom of children whose academic abilities differ greatly.

As difficult as it has been for Cvitanich, I have been impressed with what he has accomplished during his tenure at the district. He is readily available to the community and eager to listen to input from parents. But he is in a difficult situation with the lack of funding available. Nonetheless, he is doing what he can to reassure families that their children’s education remains his top priority.

In an open letter to the community that is published on the district’s Web site, Cvitanich writes, “Despite what may be ahead for us in public education in Idaho, we do know our schools will open next year. There will be a warm building and an excited classroom teacher for each eager student. Staff will continue to work hard and we will attempt to provide the best learning environment possible given the situation.”

Yes, these are difficult times for our economy, but I am glad that there are people out there who still believe that educating our children is a number one priority.

Sandpoint Couple Doing What They Can To Find a Cure for Son's Rare Disease

2010-03-14T13:34:00.000-07:00

As first-time parents, Brian and Tricia Sturgis did not immediately recognize when their son Henry was not progressing in his development. But looking back, the signs were there.

Tricia began to notice Henry, now 3, was different when the two attended play groups. While other kids his age were sitting up and bearing weight on their feet, Henry did not.

“Play dates are your guide,” said Tricia. “You do not want to compare your kids to others, but you can put things on your radar.”

At the age of 16 months, Brian and Tricia finally had a diagnosis for their little boy – cystinosis, a genetic disease which causes the amino acid cystine to accumulate in the body’s cells. As it accumulates it destroys some of the body’s organs, including the kidneys, liver, muscles, white blood cells, eyes and central nervous system.

“He already had rickets (softening of the bones) and kidney disease at 16 months,” said Tricia, who would like to see screening available at birth so immediate treatment could keep some of the side effects at bay.

Because the disease is so rare – afflicting only 500 people nationwide and 2,000 worldwide – the couple quickly found that there is little research money, support or resources available. But that has not stopped Brian and Tricia from doing everything in their power to find a cure for their little boy.

They first sought support from other families who face the same challenges.

“There is a little girl who lives in Clarkston who has it,” said Brian. “That was pretty key to meet someone else living with it.”

Then in May 2008 they attended a fundraiser put on by The Cystinosis Research Foundation and were inspired when they learned what is being done to raise money for research and the progress that has already been made.

“That really inspired us,” said Tricia, who with Brian and the help of many friends and relatives put on their first fundraiser in September 2008. Since then the couple have raised approximately $200,000 and are recognized as among the leaders nationwide when it comes to donating to the California-based Cystinosis Research Foundation.

“We really looked to see where people were putting their money and this place made sense,” said Brian. “These people are hopeful they will find a cure within five years.”

Since its formation in 2003, the CRF has funded more than $10.8 million in cystinosis research.

“Twice a year the CRF puts out a worldwide call to the scientific community for research proposals,” said Tricia. “Currently, the CRF is funding 41 studies and 10 research fellows in North America and Europe.”

Currently Henry is on eight medications, six of which must be administered every six hours.

“When he was first diagnosed, we gave it (his medication) to him through his mouth,” said Brian, describing how he and Tricia had to wake Henry up at midnight and sometimes it would take 40 minutes to get him back to sleep. But in June 2008, they had a gastrostomy tube implanted in Henry’s stomach allowing them to administer his medicine without waking him up or subjecting him to the medications’ terrible taste.

Henry, or Hank as some call him, is a bubbly 3-year-old who attends preschool two mornings a week and also goes to speech, occupational, physical and water therapy. Tricia says she enjoys watching Henry interact with other kids, especially those from whom he receives support, specifically a boy who attends speech therapy with Henry.

“They make each other feel secure and welcome. They’ve become best buddies,” she said. “It is definitely one of the positives.”

In spite of the busy therapy and medication schedule, the couple seem to take it all in stride.

“It’s your new norm,” said Brian. “You forget how life was before.”

Tricia encourages others facing challenges in their life – medical or otherwise – to seek support from others who may be in similar circumstances.

“Find someone who can offer the support of hope,” said Tricia.

The couple say their primary goal is to continue to raise money and to donate it to research to find a cure in time for Henry; their secondary goal is to have better treatment available.

Tricia was recently appointed to the CRF board of directors and will travel to California on March 18 to present the foundation with a check from the latest fundraiser, a 24-hour ski event that was held at Schweitzer Mountain. They are in the planning stages of a Sept. 11 bike ride to raise more money for their foundation – 24 Hours for Hank. It is hope for their son and others like him that keeps them going.

“You never know whose life you’re going to change,” said Tricia, in her heart praying that Henry’s will be one of them. “I have a renewed sense of hope. People should never give up on hope because it (a cure) could be just around the corner.”

For More information go online to http://cystinosisresearch.org/ to learn more about cystinosis. To learn more about fundraisers for Henry Sturgis, go to http://www.24hoursforhank.org

Sandpoint Resident Peter Faletto Inspires Fundraising Efforts in Memory of Jimmie Heuga

2010-02-28T08:12:00.000-08:00

In early February, Sandpoint resident Peter Faletto was saddened to hear of the death of one of his greatest heroes, Jimmie Heuga.

Heuga was a man who influenced Faletto in both his personal and professional life, and it is Heuga who Faletto will honor March 13 by raising funds in his memory and donating them to a cause to which Heuga devoted his life.

“Jimmie Heuga was only 66 years old (when he died),” said Faletto. “But he led a life that are only dreams to most of us.”

When Heuga was 15, he was the youngest member ever to be selected to the U.S. Ski Team. At the Olympic Games in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1964, Heuga received a bronze medal in the slalom, finishing just shy of silver medalist Billy Kidd. For the next few years, Heuga continued to excel in the sport. But his glory was short-lived.

“He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at the peak of his career,” said Faletto. Heuga first noticed symptoms of numbness and vision changes in 1967 but continued competing until he was diagnosed in 1970.

But just as Heuga competed to beat the odds on the ski mountain, he also was not to be defeated in his latest challenge in life.

The medical community had advised Heuga and others afflicted with MS to avoid physical activity. The thought was that activity would intensify the symptoms of the disease.

“He defied conventional wisdom that told him to go home and prepare to die and chose to work through his pain and fatigue instead,” Faletto said. “He pushed the envelop of life and his efforts helped doctors rewrite their ideas on how to treat MS.”

In 1984 Heuga started a foundation that is now known as Can Do Multiple Sclerosis. Heuga’s philosophy was that by engaging in physical activity and positive thinking one can slow the progression of MS. Now decades later, Heuga’s theory is the standard of care for treating MS.

Last year Heuga visited Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort in Sandpoint. He influenced the way Faletto, a physical therapist, treats his patients.

“Last year I had the honor of helping Jimmie Heuga get through his days at Schweitzer Mountain when he came here to support our efforts to help his foundation,” said Faletto, who works for Sandpoint-based Pneumex, a world leader in the treatment of back pain and performance enhancement.

But it was during his work as a home health aide in Logan, Utah, when Faletto began working with MS patients.

“One of my first patients was Gary Smith, a salty Marine with a huge heart and love for the outdoors that was greater than anyone I know,” Faletto said. “He managed to finish his master’s degree, write a book, record an album, had an Emmy winning documentary about his work, and built one of the first (handicapped accessible) homes in the United States – all of this after his diagnosis.”

For the past several years, area residents Billy Bob Goyen and Pam Burke have organized a fundraiser for MS at Schweitzer. Faletto has offered to help. This year’s fundraiser, called the 2010 Vertical Express for MS, will be on March 13 with proceeds going to Heuga’s foundation.

Faletto’s goal is to raise $25,000 in honor of Heuga’s life and the 25th anniversary of the Vertical Express, a fundraising campaign at ski resorts across the West. Teams of skiers and snowboarders raise money to compete in events on the slopes. Prizes are awarded for fundraising efforts.

Teams that raise at least $15,000 will receive an expenses-paid trip to the Vertical Express Awards in Vail, Colo., in mid-April.

Faletto is not stopping there.

“For next year I am working with the Can Do center to establish a fundraising program that will generate between $150,000 and $300,000 every year from now on,” he said.

For more information on how to donate to or participate in Schweitzer Mountain’s 2010Vertical Express for MS March 13, contact Peter Faletto at (208) 691-8888 or e-mail peterfaletto@mac.com.

CHaFE 150 Registration is Open

2010-02-21T15:19:00.000-08:00

The mountaintops may still be covered with snow, but that isn’t stopping people from thinking and planning for warm sunny days. With registration already open for the third annual CHaFE 150, bicycle riders are eagerly planning their training schedules for the June 12 event.

CHaFE 150 – which stands for Cycle Hard for Education – is a 150-mile bike ride hosted by Panhandle Alliance for Education, a nonprofit organization that raises funds which go toward providing programs and educational opportunities for youth and families.

“Our goal is to provide funding for innovative, strategic and competitive grant programs to encourage excellence,” said Brad Williams, the treasurer for Panhandle Alliance.

According to Williams, last year’s race raised $33,000, all of which went to fund the Panhandle Alliance’s Ready! for Kindergarten program.

Ready! is a national program put on by Panhandle Alliance with support from Lake Pend Oreille School District and the National Children’s Reading Foundation. The philosophy behind the program is that children learn best when taught by someone they love and trust – their parents or caregivers.

The Saturday classes are taught to parents of children through age 5 and are geared toward promoting interaction between the children and their parents and caregivers in a way that will promote literacy, math and social skills.

According to Williams, Panhandle Alliance budgeted $62,000 for this school year’s Ready! program, and the popularity of the classes has indicated that it will only grow, making it critical that they raise as much as possible through the bike ride.

“The enrollment for the program exceeded our expectations in the first year and was expanded for this second year,” said Geraldine Lewis, the director of events and fundraising for Panhandle Alliance. “We hope the ride continues to grow in its fundraising power, so we can continue to meet the needs of families in the Ready! program.”

Tracy Gibson is the coordinator for the Ready! program and said the impact on families has been significant.

“Our enrollment always exceeds the room we have available. Currently we have seven full classes. It is growing as fast as we can round up the people power,” said Gibson, adding that the program requires teachers, child care providers, volunteers and Panhandle Alliance board members to pull off every session. “Remarkably, we have an overwhelming number of people who can see the importance of early childhood education and volunteer their time.”

Registration for the CHaFE 150 opened Feb. 10 and participation is limited to 300 people. The Facebook page has more than 160 members.

The route for the June 12 ride begins in Sandpoint and heads north toward Canada before taking riders east into Montana. Riders will enjoy beautiful scenery of the Bull and Clark Fork Rivers with breathtaking views of the Cabinet Mountains as well as the majestic shore of Lake Pend Oreille, something Williams said is a distinguishing factor from other rides.

“What distinguishes us from other rides are really two things: first, the roads and scenery. Our route is really world-class. Few other places have our scenery and light-traffic roads,” said Williams. “The second is our support. Geraldine (Lewis, the event organizer) has organized a ride that has the best support of any ride in the region.”

The ride’s break stops are manned by volunteer groups who Williams said go out of their way to provide creative ways to feed and support the riders.

“We have a rotating trophy going to the break stop group that provides the most innovative and interesting experience (to the riders),” he said.

Last year organizers introduced the ½ CHaFE for riders not yet ready for the full 150-mile ride. This year that 80-mile route will begin in Troy, Mont. – with CHaFE organizers busing the participants to Montana. It will end in Sandpoint, where all participants will be treated to food and entertainment upon crossing the finish line.

The goal is to have each participant raise at least $500 in pledges, which will go a long way to assisting the Ready! program.

“Organizationally, our goal is fundraising,” said Williams. “However, our goal for the participants is to take a reasonable amount of time so that it is a fun experience. We want them to have a great day and come back year after year.”

Information:

The third annual Cycle Hard for Education starts in Sandpoint.

Ride length: 150 miles or 80 miles

Cost: $120

To register: Visit www.chafe150.org (http://www.chafe150.org)

Community Rallies to Support Retired Businessman Ernie Belwood

2010-02-14T20:13:00.000-08:00

It does not take long for newcomers to Sandpoint to realize that this town has an unusually strong sense of community spirit.

And there are few who have contributed more to that spirit than Sandpoint’s Ernie Belwood. There is a saying that what goes around, comes around, and now it is Sandpoint’s turn to give back to the retired businessman who has done much for this community over the last several decades.

Before Christmas, Belwood was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He has been in Oregon since early January, undergoing treatment at the Oregon Health Sciences University Hospital. According to his close friend, Bobbie Huguenin, Belwood is fighting for his life and is in for a long road ahead as he recovers from surgery and treatment.

His recovery has been prolonged by complications from surgery due to a suture that did not hold. Belwood has fought infections but Huguenin said he is improving every day. It has been a painful process, she said, but Belwood’s sense of humor and remarkable attitude have shone through.

“Throughout it all, he managed to find some ways to be funny,” said Huguenin. “He has the great gift of natural wit and an outstanding sense of humor.”

Belwood retired from his furniture business in 2004, leaving his daughter, Lori, to run the family store, Belwood’s Furniture. But the family chose to close the downtown landmark last summer to concentrate on other business ventures and so Ernie could fully enjoy retirement. Hearts were saddened to see the doors of Belwood’s Furniture close, but many were happy for the family as it truly was a decision made out of choice and not driven by the economy.

As a tribute to the man who has been a downtown businessman and active community member for more than 35 years, the Sandpoint Lions Club chose Belwood to be the Grand Marshal for last summer’s Fourth of July parade.

As Belwood recovers in Oregon, there is much love and support echoing through this community. Last weekend more than 100 friends and family members gathered at Sandpoint’s City Beach to attend what they called an Ernie Event. They made a giant card for Belwood and the Sandpoint Fire Department was on hand with its large ladder truck to take an aerial photo of the gathering. It was a message of love being sent across the miles.

Other Ernie fans are soliciting donations to help defray the family’s expenses including accommodations, meals and transportation. Linda Plaster, Sharon Rench McCormick and Huguenin all agree that it is time to give back to the man who never said no when asked by the many organizations for donations to local causes.

Sandpoint City Councilwoman Marsha Ogilvie was involved with Kinderhaven, a home for abused and neglected children, from the time it opened in 1996. She said without the generosity of Ernie Belwood, the home’s beginning would not have been the same.

“He immediately said yes to helping with the first fundraiser for Kinderhaven,” said Ogilvie. “He had never met me, didn’t know who I was, but he didn’t hesitate with his answer.”

Because Kinderhaven had limited funds, Belwood allowed them to purchase the furniture, appliances and other home furnishings on credit.

“When you have more you can pay more, he told us,” said Ogilvie.

When the organizers of an event for Sandpoint’s Women Honoring Women called upon Ernie to help set up a big screen and video at the last minute, Belwood did not hesitate.

“Ernie rushed over in his pajamas and made everything right,” said Ogilvie. “Because of Uncle Ernie the event went off without a hitch.”

So thank you, Ernie Belwood, for showing the people of Sandpoint what the meaning of community is.

Sandpoint Residents Researching the Concept of Communiversity to Expand Educational Opportunities for Area Residents

2010-01-31T07:51:00.000-08:00

Living in a small town is a lifestyle many in the Sandpoint community cherish. But it also comes with limitations. Just ask Paul Walsh.

Addressing a crowd at Sandpoint’s Panida Theater recently, Walsh spoke of the difficulty he encountered at age 50 when he was forced to change careers.

Having been in the construction business for several years, Walsh said he was no longer able to perform all the physical demands of his job and had to explore other options.

“Everything I knew how to do was physical,” said Walsh. “It became apparent I needed to go back to school.”

He looked into obtaining a degree as a radiology technician, which required him to take classes in Coeur d’Alene.

“Between clinics and school and the travel time, it consumed my life,” said Walsh. “If it weren’t for the travel time I would have had time for a part-time job.”

Walsh’s story is a familiar one. And thanks to a new program that is being researched by Sandpoint community members, people here may soon have the option of enrolling in courses locally that will allow them to earn a four-year degree or become trained in various trades such as construction, tourism or various sustainable life skills such as gardening.

The program, Communiversity, has already proven to be successful in meeting the diverse academic, vocational and personal learning needs of communities across the country.

Communiversity is a form of learning that brings together many generations in a learning environment. By sharing ideas and supporting one another, the entire community benefits from the learning experience.

On Jan. 21, Gus Whalen from Featherbone Communiversity in Gainesville, Ga., spoke to a crowd of approximately 150 Sandpoint residents about the benefits and logistics behind implementing a Communiversity in this area.

Whalen’s great-grandfather founded the Warren Featherbone Co. which has been in existence for 126 years. Gus is now chairman of the company and directs the Warren Featherbone Foundation of which the Communiversity is a part.

Whalen said the founding members of the Featherbone Communiversity include the multigenerational trio of Brenau University Department of Nursing, the Interactive Neighborhood for Kids and the Lanier Technical College Manufacturing Development Center, all of whom brought their own funding to the project. The model provides local support for those wishing to obtain education no matter what stage of life they are in.

Whalen shared with the audience the company’s history and how it overcame many difficult times to become an important part of the economic stability of not only its home state, but also the country. Crisis, he said, is always dangerous but is also something that captures one’s attention and provides people with opportunities. He promised the crowd that by the end of the evening they may not remember all he said, but they would begin to talk about how the ideas exchanged could transform the community.

“We are not independent people, we are interdependent,” he told the crowd. He likened a community to that of a group of Sequoia trees. Although they tower above the earth, the average root is just 3 feet.

“They grow best where we grow best – in a community,” said Whalen. “They hook their roots and support each other.”

By providing a place in a community where everyone from children to the elderly can learn, collaborate and explore new ideas, Whalen believes only good things can happen.

“It’s the idea that every citizen in the community is a student,” he told the crowd. “And what is so wonderful about this model is that there are no inhibitions to collaboration.”

Sandpoint High School teacher Connie Kimble was the driving force behind Whalen’s appearance. She heard him speak at a seminar she attended and was taken with what he had to say. She shared his ideas with a group of community leaders who have met over the past several months

A panel of representatives from Lake Pend Oreille School District, Bonner County Economic Development, the Pend Oreille Arts Council and several area colleges, including the University of Idaho and North Idaho College, answered questions from the audience following Whalen’s talk. Among the inquiries was what type of distance learning is available to Sandpoint residents. A representative from the University of Idaho said that it is their goal to offer live classes in Sandpoint and he would welcome the opportunity to partner with other area colleges so they do not duplicate but instead complement one another’s efforts.

Karl Dye from Bonner County Economic Development stated he is in favor of pursuing better facilities for distance learning. Lake Pend Oreille School District Superintendent Dick Cvitanich said the community is currently under-utilizing the schools in our area and he would welcome a chance to open them up to the community during periods of nonuse by the students.

One of the next steps in pursuing the concept of a Communiversity, said Kimble, is to seek input from the community.

“Local businesses are going to be critical in making this happen because we are all interconnected,” she said.

She is hopeful that this will be a pivotal step in making Sandpoint a thriving town for those who want to further their learning.

“In spite of economic issues, and maybe even as a result of some, we as a community can make our region an epicenter for exciting lifelong learning opportunities that will benefit everyone in Bonner County,” Kimble said. “We need this to stay viable and alive. Knowledge is power.”

For further information on the Featherbone Communiversity, go to www.featherbone communiversity.org

Sandpoint High School Students Required to Submit to Breathalyzer Test Regardless of Suspicion

2010-01-31T07:46:00.000-08:00

Presumption of innocence. It is the foundation of our legal system and is a right granted to every citizen regardless of age.

But as Sandpoint High School students lined up to enter their Winter Ball last weekend, each and every attendee was required to submit to a breath analysis test – regardless of whether they appeared to be under the influence of alcohol.

“(The practice of administering breath analysis tests) started last year, in response to a Cedar Post article in which students stated they were entering dances under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said Sandpoint High School Principal Becky Kiebert, referring to the student-run school newspaper.

For the most part, it seems that students do not mind the new rule. Jennifer Prandato is the editor of the Cedar Post and said she thinks the new policy had been well accepted by the students.

“The fact that even just a few students were taking advantage of the nonbreathalyzer rule is a serious enough situation that student council invested in breathalyzers,” said Prandato. “From my experience, the dances have actually been a lot more enjoyable since the rule has been implemented.”

Lake Pend Oreille School District’s Superintendent Dick Cvitanich said he has heard few complaints regarding the newly adopted policy.

“I believe this practice has worked well for us at Sandpoint High School,” said Cvitanich, who adds that one of the district’s responsibilities is to develop wholesome student activities that are well supervised. “Some students and families take issue with it because they believe it can or could be unevenly enforced or that their privacy is invaded. However, I can think of only one negative parent reaction.”

Kiebert said Sandpoint High School is not alone in its policy.

“Coeur d’Alene High School does it at every dance,” said Kiebert, adding that most parents have reacted in favor of the policy. “Students complained at first but, as (with) all changes, they are used to it now and I have heard no complaints this year.”

While the administration and students generally do not appear to take issue with this practice, it is my opinion that it sends a message of distrust to the children in our community.

Instead of administering tests to each and every student who enters the dance, why not show the students that we adults have faith in them and we trust they will make the right decision? If a student exhibits behavior that indicates he or she may be under the influence of alcohol, then administer the breath test, and if a student is shown to have been drinking, contact the parents and remove the student from the dance.

One might think that is a naïve approach and that it is better to apply the practice uniformly so no one can claim to be singled out. But I think the practice is not only an infringement on the students’ rights but sends them the wrong message of mistrust.

And what about the students who do not drink before the dance but who, in spite of a search, successfully sneak alcohol into the dance? Does the school then administer a second test?

I think Conrad Underdahl of Lakeland High School has the right approach.

“We do not breathalyze all students who come to dances,” said Underdahl. “But we do have the equipment to breathalyze those students who, based on their behavior, raise suspicion.”

One mother of a Sandpoint High School student is opposed to uniformly administering the breath analysis tests and said that while alcohol is a problem, the bigger issue is the use of marijuana.

Through a breath analysis one can detect the consumption of alcohol, but this mother, who wished to remain anonymous, has a valid concern: What about drug use? Where do we draw the line? If we are not careful, our children will soon be submitting to a urinalysis to detect drug use. Let’s show them that instead of distrusting them, we have faith in them. Allow them the same presumption of innocence that we adults enjoy. Wait until there is reason to believe a student is under the influence of drugs or alcohol before we require a breath analysis or potentially even more invasive tests.

Sandpoint Wellness Council Promotes Holistic Health

2010-01-25T17:16:00.000-08:00

In today’s world, an increasing number of people are taking their health care into their own hands. Generations before simply followed the doctors’ orders and assumed they were getting the best treatment possible.

But with so much more information at our fingertips and more treatments available for everything from cancer to the common cold, people are taking steps to educate themselves to ask the appropriate questions when meeting with their medical care provider.

For a group of health care professionals in Sandpoint, education is the key to their mission. Comprised of nine professionals who specialize in areas such as physical therapy, yoga, massage therapy, chiropractic care and homeopathy, Sandpoint Wellness Council provides research-based information on a holistic approach to health.

“We have people who are hungry for information,” said Krystle Shapiro, a massage therapist who founded the Sandpoint Wellness Council two years ago.

Mary Boyd, a physical therapist and member of the Sandpoint Wellness Council, agrees that education is vital to providing people with the best care possible.

“Physicians just don’t have the time to spend with patients and explain things like how the spine works and what happens when you are bending a certain way,” said Boyd.

Boyd said people tend to go to doctors when they experience symptoms and do not focus as much on what brought on their symptoms. “But we (holistic practitioners) focus on the causes (of the symptoms),” said Boyd.

Owen Marcus, whose specialty is Rolfing – a process that focuses on manipulating the soft tissue of the body in order to bring the body into alignment with gravity – was approached by Shapiro and thought the Wellness Council was a brilliant idea.

“I had a holistic medical clinic in Scottsdale (Ariz.) for 17 years. Certainly, providing alternative health modalities was a big part of our mission. But a large portion of our work centered on promoting the idea of holistic health – making people aware of it and trusting of it,” said Marcus, who adds that he has witnessed firsthand what holistic health has done for thousands of clients. “With our current health-care crisis, I believe we have a great opportunity to educate frustrated consumers about effective alternatives.”

In their quest to educate the community on how to treat the entire mind, body and spirit, the Sandpoint Wellness Council publishes numerous articles in local publications, posts information on a blog and hosts a monthly radio talk show.

“Through our articles, radio shows and public appearances, I hope holistic therapies become a valid adjunct to whatever people currently do to enhance their well being,” said Marcus.

Because the group includes such diverse practices – some of which include quantum biofeedback which reads the energy throughout one’s body via a machine that was invented by NASA scientists; CranioSacral massage therapy that focuses on one’s cranial rhythm through the monitoring of the cerebral spinal fluid; and herbology and aromatherapy – the members of the group try to experience one another’s fields by visiting the other practitioners and witnessing their techniques firsthand. By doing this, they are more knowledgeable and can refer their clients to other services which may benefit them.

“I will recognize when something is out of my scope of practice,” said Shapiro who adds that through her association with other holistic practitioners she is able to then refer her client to someone who can benefit them. “As a team we are all committed to making the patient better.”

Boyd says that medicine has become so specialized that there is no longer a focus on the whole patient.

“We want to be supportive of people,” said Boyd. “And for those who are open to different ideas, it’s our job to educate them.”

To further its goal, the Sandpoint Wellness Council plans to host educational workshops this year as well as publish a newsletter.

“Just as we are an art and green town, I am the instigator in positioning Sandpoint as a holistic town. The (Sandpoint Wellness) council has been kind enough to support me in this position,” said Marcus. “I want to enroll many more in that concept. People move here for these reasons. I believe that, on several levels, our wealth of holistic practitioners is an untapped resource for our community.”

Another goal of the council is to meet with doctors in the community to let them know more about the Sandpoint Wellness Council and its members who are certified in their fields.

“We want to raise awareness of what is available and prompt people to ask questions,” said Shapiro. “Health care is really a team effort for the benefit of the patient. When people are aware of all the options and benefits, they have a better chance of being well.”

For more information, log onto www.sandpointwellnesscouncil.com

Texting While Driving Issue A Hot Item for Sandpoint City Council

2010-01-17T18:47:00.000-08:00

I remember it vividly. It was two and a half years ago when newscasts around the country flashed pictures of five young women, ages 17 and 18, who were killed in a car accident in New York.

Their vehicle swerved into oncoming traffic and cell phone records indicated that in all likelihood the driver was sending text messages while driving. The nationwide reaction was one of horror. Texting was a new way of communication then, especially among teens. How could people even think of engaging in such a distracting activity while behind the wheel?

Since then texting has became increasingly popular. Teens memorize keypads the way we adults used to memorize the keyboard of a typewriter. Over time, the images of these beautiful young women robbed of a full life faded away, and unfortunately so did much of the caution involved with texting while driving. Now each day I witness people driving while looking down at what I presume is their phone.

As my oldest son started driver’s education this week, I found myself reiterating what I have told him all along – absolutely under no circumstances should he ever use his phone while driving.

A ban on texting while driving currently exists in 19 states as well as in the District of Columbia and Guam. Six states have laws prohibiting local jurisdictions from enacting such laws, instead leaving it up to the state government to do so. Idaho has neither.

Banning texting while driving has been a hot issue for the Sandpoint City Council. Early last month, the council voted 4-3 against enacting an ordinance requiring all drivers, bicyclists and skateboards to use a hands-free device when talking on a cell phone while driving or riding within the Sandpoint city limits. The proposed ordinance also included a ban on texting while engaged in these activities. Mayor Gretchen Hellar cast the deciding votes against enactment.

Outgoing city Councilwoman Helen Newton’s proposal was made as a safety measure. It made sense. Those who voted against the proposed ordinance cited the primary reason for their opposition was the difficulty in enforcement and the ability of law enforcement to ticket texting drivers under the existing inattentive driving law.

Following the 4-3 defeat, Councilman John O’Hara brought a different version to the council. The revised proposal imposed a ban on text messaging while driving and prohibited any cell phone use by drivers who were driving with only a learner’s permit or if they’re under instruction.

But just a day before the ordinance was to take effect, Hellar vetoed the ordinance, once again citing issues of enforceability and the fact that there were already laws in place allowing the Sandpoint Police Department to cite a driver for inattentive driving.

There have been many reactions, both positive and negative, to the recent veto by Hellar, and there is talk that this will be brought up again when the new council is sworn in next week.

Newly elected city Councilman Justin Schuck said he is reserving judgment on the issue.

“If council decides to take a position on the veto, I look forward to discussing the issue with full council and considering the opinions of the public during the public hearing,” said Schuck. “Recently, (Councilwoman) Carrie Logan has provided a great deal of research on the issue that might shed some new light.”

Opponents of the ban cite issues of a city seeking to micromanage their residents. Those in favor of an ordinance cannot understand why people would not want such a law enacted. After all, it goes to the very safety of the community.

I agree texting while driving is dangerous. But I also believe that the difficulty of enforcement could be a logistical nightmare.

Perhaps it is time for those passionate about a ban to stop wasting time at the local level and instead bring this to Boise where their time and energy could potentially protect 1.5 million citizens instead of 6,000. And let’s do it before Sandpoint or another town in Idaho is the lead story on national news due to tragic deaths that are a result of texting while driving.

Gifts Sent from Heaven

2010-01-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

The gifts were sent about 10 days prior to Christmas. When opened, tears of remembrance flowed and the phones around Sandpoint began to ring with friends calling one another to see if they received a similar package with the same mysterious return address.

One thing the recipients had in common was their close-knit friendship with the late Hazel Hall who died in August at 96.

It quickly became clear that these gifts were handpicked by Hall prior to her death and delivered by a special elf.

“It just gives me goose bumps to think that she planned this,” said Patti Clemons who received a porcelain angel in her package.

Sue Brooks said she was aware that Hall had been sorting out all of her belongings for the last couple of years.

“Her bedroom was a collection of carefully dated and sorted boxes,” said Brooks. “Hazel was carefully planning everything that would take place upon her passing. She was at peace with the idea and ready to go.”

All of the gifts were mailed with a return address of a post office box in Dover, Idaho, and the sender’s name was simply “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Not only is that the title of a well-known Christmas movie, but it is also the title of one of the late photographer Ross Hall’s most popular photographs. Ross was Hazel’s husband, who passed away in 1990. His work is known far beyond the borders of Sandpoint. It is also the motto by which Hazel Hall lived her life and obviously the reminder she wanted to send her friends at Christmas time.

“Hazel always thought it was a wonderful life,” said her friend of 38 years, Mary Walter, who received a pin from the Festival at Sandpoint in her package. “Nothing ever got her down.”

“To know she was thinking of us, knew how sad we would be without her and then, to leave a little something of her to us is just one of the many reasons we loved her,” said Marsha Ogilvie who received a greeting card in her package; one that she had sent Hall several years prior.

Sue Brooks also received a gift which she said was obviously chosen especially for her.

“My gift was a saying on a magnet that reads ‘May your path be strewn with flowers, memories, friends and happy hours. May blessings come from heaven above to fill your life with peace and love,’ ” said Brooks, who has already memorized the saying. “The message was clearly for me and personal. You see, I use to bring her flowers. She loved flowers and the life and color they brought to her place.”

“Only Hazel would do something so special before she passed on,” adds Walter.

Brooks said that Hall had a way of making everyone feel special and she is touched by the message Hall sent after her passing.

“She knew how we would all be affected by this and I believe these were meant to be a final message of how much we all meant to her,” said Brooks.

Sandpoint resident Bobbie Huguenin knew Hall her entire life. In fact, she says, she has a photo of the Halls with her on the day Bobbie was brought home from the hospital .

“Losing Hazel was the loss of a link to my entire life,” said Huguenin, who received what she describes as a lovely sounding bell in her mystery package. “I have a large bell collection I’ve had since childhood. I think that’s why that’s what I received it. We rang bells during the Mass at Christmas and I used Hazel’s bell.”

Barb Perusse, who received a wreath pin in her package, calls Hall her inspiration.

“It warms my heart to have her so close to me,” said Perusse. “She was such a remarkable woman and her depths of caring and love are something I will always strive to work towards.”

Clemons, like all the women who received a gift from beyond, will treasure her gift of the angel and knows it will be a constant reminder of her special friend and that Hall is always with her.

“For me it confirmed what I have always known – that Hazel is our angel and now she is watching over all of us,” said Clemons.

Red Tape - A Unique Play Incorporating Art as Theater - Opens at the Panida January 15th

2010-01-10T13:36:00.000-08:00

Sandpoint has long been recognized as an artists’ community. But just when you think the creative level could not be more intriguing for a small town such as this, a new form of art is introduced.

Next weekend marks the opening of an original play in Sandpoint, “Red Tape.” But this production is more than the telling of a story through actors memorizing and interpreting a script. It incorporates nine pieces of art by a local but internationally acclaimed artist, the writing and directing of two residents well known in the local theater community, and interpretive music performed by a local musician.

The concept is known as “art as theater.”

“The interpretation of art in a theatrical way is not a new concept,” said Teresa Pesce, who wrote “Red Tape.” “But it is new to this area.”

It began when Pesce visited the art studio of Stephen Schultz. Intrigued by his work, Pesce came up with the idea of writing a story based on her interpretation of it.

Pesce “selected nine paintings and found a common theme,” said Deb McShane, who is directing the play.

Pesce was drawn to the spools of tape winding their way through several of Schultz’s paintings.

For Pesce, it brought to mind being caught up in the red tape of bureaucracy, a term derived from an old British practice of using red tape to tie up official papers.

“We are all wrapped up in red tape,” said Pesce. “It’s the emotional and psychological way we were brought up.”

After writing the script, Pesce brought it to Schultz and read it to him. “He gave his blessing,” said McShane. “He has been so gracious.”

The play’s narrator, a character in his late 60s, looks back on his life, when as a young man of 25 he was trying to establish himself.

“It is an exploration of what love is, how love feeds us and how love inspires us. Do we have to prove our love?” said McShane. “There are no easy answers in the play.”

It also examines brotherly love versus romantic love and explores how nature and nurture intertwine, causing people to frequently replicate family patterns.

“It is a very enigmatic piece,” said McShane. “It poses some very big questions about who we are.”

Both Pesce and McShane say that the multigenerational talent from which they were able to choose their cast amazes them.

“We have just an astounding group of actors in this town,” McShane said.

Schultz’s paintings, some of which measure as large as 10 by 15 feet, form the set for the play.

“It’s a gallery of the narrator’s mind,” McShane said.

The production has a musical component as well. Sandpoint resident Alan Ball, who plays keyboards at various venues in town, will be playing the opening music on the Panida Theater’s grand piano, as well as pieces between scenes.

“We showed him (Ball) Stephen’s work, showed him the script and turned him loose,” Pesce said.

The music “will keep the feeling of the play and give a glimmer of what’s coming up,” said Ball.

It may seem like the tone of the play is serious throughout, but Ball said that is not the case. “There is an undercurrent of humor which you can reflect in the music as well.”

At intermission, lasagna, chocolate and wine will all be served, and following each performance the audience will be invited to go up on stage to view the artwork up close and meet the artist.

The Sandpoint performances are just the start of Pesce’s work. She plans to introduce the art-as-theater concept in both Spokane and Coeur d’Alene with the goal of touring plays.

“We have a community filled with talent,” said Pesce. “And the sky is the limit when it comes to interpreting art on stage.”

The Panida Theater is in downtown Sandpoint. The shows are at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and Jan. 22-23. Tickets are $12 each; senior and student ticket price is $10. They are available at Eichardts, Eve’s Leaves and at the door

Sandpoint Winter Carnival Returns January 14th

2010-01-10T13:34:00.000-08:00

Looking for a place to get away but don’t want to stand in line at airports or battle the crowds of bigger cities? This week in Sandpoint, residents and visitors will celebrate the 37th Annual Winter Carnival. With several days of festivities planned, organizers say that the old favorites will return and new ones will be added to the roster.

The carnival kicks off with the popular Taste of Sandpoint Thursday at the Sandpoint Events Center from 5 to 8 p.m. This carnival tradition showcases food from more than a dozen Sandpoint restaurants. Patrons can purchase food and beverage tickets at the door at $1 each; and organizers say the average cost of a sample dish, beer or glass of wine ranges from $3 to $7.

“The Taste of Sandpoint is huge, usually 700 to 800 people attend,” said Amy Little, executive director for the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. “You can try out different cuisine at local places without spending a lot of money.”

Thursday also marks the beginning of two new events this year – Dine Around Sandpoint and Shop Around Sandpoint.

Dine Around Sandpoint will go through Feb. 16, and will feature special menu items, discounts, wine specials and special events at several area restaurants. Each time a customer dines at a participating restaurant, they will be entered into a drawing for various prizes including the grand prize of dinner for two once a month for a year.

Thursday will commence a five-day Sandpoint shopping spree, also known as Shop Around Sandpoint. By visiting area merchants and collecting six passport stamps, participants will be eligible to win a variety of prizes including the grand prize of two season tickets to the Festival at Sandpoint, an annual summer concert series.

On Friday evening, downtown from 5 to 7 p.m., galleries and shops will host the Winter Art Trek showcasing original artwork of several local and regional artists. If you cannot make it on Friday evening, the event continues Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Maps for this self-guided tour are available from several downtown merchants.

While downtown, people can stop by Taylor-Parker Motor Co. at 300 Cedar St. between 5 and 8 p.m. to enjoy short action films of daring snow stunts. Right down the street at Pend d’Oreille Winery, there will be an opportunity to enjoy the incredible performance of fire spinners.

And a favorite among many when introduced last year, the Rail Jam, which includes a ski and snowboard stunt competition, will take place Friday evening from 6 to 9 p.m., along with a bonfire, at Jeff Jones Town Square at Main Street and Third Avenue.

“The Rail Jam and the fire dancers at the winery were very popular last year,” said Little. “They are just fun to watch and total spectator sports. The bonfire was also near the Rail Jam and it just felt fun to be able to be outside in the winter.”

The Rail Jam includes skiers and boarders who perform acrobatic moves on handrails and other man-made apparatus. The contestants are judged on style, amplitude, difficulty and variety. A rail which measures 30 feet tall and 100 feet long will dominate the square as riders compete for cash prizes.

One of the newest members of the business community is eager to join the action and has stepped forward to host Family Fun Day and Coffee Tasting. On Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at 524 Church St., Evans Brothers Coffee Roasting Studios will offer food, live music, hand-crafted coffees and indoor and outdoor activities for all ages.

Saturday evening the action will be at Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, which will again host a torchlight parade and fireworks.

On Sunday morning from 10 a.m. to noon, Eichardt’s Pub at 212 Cedar St. plans to host a K-9 Keg Pull. Dogs of all sizes compete while pulling empty kegs that are matched in size to the dog. Organizers say that for a miniature dog, a keg could be as small as a beer can while full-size dogs will pull full-size kegs.

Winter Carnival brings life to what is typically a quieter time of the year in downtown Sandpoint.

“Last year there were people everywhere – packed restaurants and license plates from all over the region,” said Little.

For more information on the Sandpoint Winter Carnival, log onto www.sandpoint.org/wintercarnival (http://www.sandpoint.org/wintercarnival)

Teen Whose Life Sparkled Won't Be Forgotten

2010-01-03T07:13:00.000-08:00

Joyful. The Beatles. Funny. Taco. Bright colors. These are just some of the words and phrases shared on Dec. 23 at a Sandpoint candlelight vigil that was held to honor the life and memory of a boy taken from this world much too soon.

William Johnson, 15, a sophomore at Sandpoint High School, died Dec. 22 in a ski accident at Schweitzer Mountain Resort – a mountain Will had skied for years and knew well.

Like thousands of others, Will answered the beckoning of the incredible beauty of Schweitzer Mountain. While it is hailed as one of the top ski resorts in the country, Schweitzer is no different than other ski mountains in that the sports of skiing and snowboarding have an inherent level of risk regardless of the experience of the skier or boarder. Tragically, Will fell victim to one of those risks.

Will died after falling into a tree well – a void which forms around the base of trees in forested areas which receive snowfalls of deep powder. Will’s death is a tragedy that has hit this town hard, especially the young community members, many of whom are experiencing the death of someone close for the first time.

“Will is the first big loss for me,” said 15-year-old Buddy Chambers, who has known Will since their days in preschool.

I am personally blessed to have known Will since he was 5. His family lives down the street and my son, Kevin, and Will had been friends since kindergarten. When we learned of Will’s death one of the first things Kevin said was Will was never without a smile. He is right. No one enjoyed life more than this talented, energetic and joyful young man.

Will had three older doting, loving sisters – Juliette, Victoria and Rebecca. Their mom and dad, Susan and Brad, were so proud of the man Will had become.

“Will was liked by everyone,” said Frank Cafferty, a member of the Sandpoint Middle School staff, where Will attended seventh and eighth grade.

With an imagination and a confidence that often escapes teenagers, Will was always the entertaining one in a crowd – whether it was spontaneously joining a group of local joggers on a run during a Washington, D.C., class trip two years ago or bargaining with the woman in the ice cream truck to sell him ice cream in exchange for a shoe. Will’s sense of humor could bring laughter to anyone even when they were having a horrible day.

“You never saw Will in a bad mood. He was an energetic and funny kid and could always bring a smile to your face,” said Chambers, who added that his friend’s death has made him mindful of spending more time with his own family.

Within days of Will’s death, a Facebook page titled “R.I.P. William Johnson 1994-2009” already had more than 600 followers – a sign of just how many lives this boy touched. Struggling to make sense of this tragedy, friends, relatives and classmates have used the Facebook Web site to share their memories. One classmate writes that William Johnson is the definition of the happiest, funniest kid that walked the face of the earth.

Another classmate writes, “Will, (your) smile and your attitude toward everything was infectious. You could always brighten the mood in a room, even if it was already as bright as we thought it could be.”

Described by his family as a true Renaissance man, Will excelled in anything he put his mind to. Will played the saxophone, bassoon, guitar, trombone and bagpipes. He enjoyed running on the Sandpoint High School cross country team, which this year was coached in part by his sister Rebecca.

Chambers knows Monday will be a difficult day as the students head back to school. But he said he has learned some important lessons from Will’s death.

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to the candlelight vigil, but my mom told me that while it may be hard for me to go, it may not be as bad for other people if I was there, too,” said Chambers, who also found comfort in visiting with Will’s family on Christmas morning.

As we say goodbye to this amazing young man, I know Will’s laughter and smile will echo in the hearts of this community for years to come. And for those who don’t know how to say goodbye, perhaps we can all take a lead from a Christmas post on Facebook by Will’s sister Rebecca. “Good night sweet prince. Merry Christmas my lovely brother. Sleep in heavenly peace.”

A Furry Fate - Clark Fork Couple Finds and Adopts Abandoned Dog

2010-01-03T07:09:00.000-08:00

Some things are just meant to be no matter how much one fights it. Just ask Angela and Ash Updike, of Clark Fork.

The couple were on a run near their home when they saw two people pushing a dog out of the back of a pickup. The truck sped away with the dog chasing it, begging not to be left behind.

The Updikes took the dog on their run and afterward drove directly to Panhandle Animal Shelter in Sandpoint. The pair love animals, but they already owned another dog and were sure she would not welcome an addition to the family.

“Charlie is an alpha dog,” Angela Updike said of the Brazilian mastiff they have had for seven years.

But after taking the Labrador-Rottweiler mix to the shelter, Ash Updike could not get him off his mind.

“Ash went and walked him every day,” Angela Updike said.

“I work in town and knew he needed to walk,” Ash Updike said. “I felt bad for him just sitting in there.”

He quickly grew fond of the dog the shelter named Dan.

“I quit walking him for about a week,” he said. “I couldn’t let myself get attached.”

The Updikes live in Clark Fork and work in Sandpoint, Ash for Northland Cable Television and Angela as a massage therapist. Because they travel to Sandpoint daily during the week, they rarely go to Sandpoint on the weekends. And seldom do they shop at Wal-Mart, preferring instead to shop at locally owned stores. But one weekend in mid-November they strayed from their normal routine.

They found themselves at the Sandpoint Wal-Mart stopping to purchase some bulk items. When they left, they exited out the door farthest from their parked car. And that was when they knew fate had won.

At the exit was a representative from Panhandle Animal Shelter with a dog who resembled Dan.

“Ash kept saying it was Dan,” said Angela, who had not seen the dog since they had taken him to the shelter.

The shelter volunteer confirmed it was Dan. But the Updikes said they could not adopt him, because they had another dog and were sure the dogs would not get along. But with encouragement from the shelter volunteer they got Charlie from their car and introduced the animals. The next thing they knew the Updikes were traveling to the shelter to complete the paperwork to adopt Dan.

“I really think he found us,” Angela said.

The Updikes quickly fell in love with Dan, who turned out to be housebroken and mild mannered.

“I think he was probably a hunting dog,” Ash said.

During the adoption process, the Updikes were struck by the commitment of both staff and volunteers at Panhandle Animal Shelter.

“The people there truly believe in what they are doing,” Ash said.

It costs $70 to adopt a dog from the shelter and $45 for a cat. If the animal is over a year old then the fee is reduced by $10. The fee includes all worming and vaccinations, an exam at the veterinary service of one’s choice, a collar, ID tag, pet registration and a bag of pet food.

The shelter also offers people an opportunity to foster-parent a dog in the event they are unsure if a dog is right for their family. The shelter needs many donations – even plastic grocery bags to pick up after the dogs on their walks.

According to the Updikes, Panhandle Animal Shelter is what is known as a no kill shelter. “That is why there are so many (animals),” said Angela.
“There is a drop off 24 hours a day so dogs do not have to get dropped like Dan was,” said Ash.

"I don’t want to encourage people to get rid of their animals, but if they absolutely cannot keep them then take them to the shelter. It is far better than exposing them to the elements,” said Angela who is sure that Dan would have died from exposure or would have been hit by a vehicle on Highway 200 if they had not found him. “This area is very fortunate to have a place like this. It is a very special shelter.”

Shelter information

For more information on Panhandle Animal Shelter and its programs, go to www.pasidaho.org (http://www.pasidaho.org) or call (208) 265-7297

After a Year Battling Cancer, Two Year Old Tyler Cordle Is A Christmas Miracle

2009-12-27T10:57:00.000-08:00

Tyler Cordle’s mom used to say if there was one thing she feared, it was something happening to her son. She always prayed to keep him safe and healthy.

So when she and her husband were told on Dec. 1 last year that their then 13- month-old boy had neuroblastoma stage 4 cancer and only had a 30 percent chance of survival, her world fell apart. But even doctors cannot predict miracles.

Today, watching 2-year-old Tyler smile and laugh while playing with his toys, one would never suspect the battle this little boy has fought during the last year.

Shortly before he was diagnosed, it was clear Tyler was experiencing pain in his legs and hips. He screamed when his parents raised his legs to change his diaper, and he could no longer pull himself up on the furniture. His parents took him to the doctor and were told it could be a virus from a recent cold that had settled in his joints.

But Tyler did not improve, so they took X-rays. What they found set this young family’s world into a tailspin. Two spots were found on his leg, and the family was sent immediately to Spokane, where Tyler underwent a complete body scan. There were six tumors in all – two on his skull, one on his lung, two on his leg, and the primary spot on his right kidney. The cancer was also in his bone marrow.

“I completely shut down,” said Tyler’s mom.

But with the support of family, friends and a community of people they did not even know, the Cordle family saw Tyler through a year of seven chemotherapy treatments, 12 rounds of radiation, more than 40 blood and platelet transfusions and a stem cell transplant using his own harvested cells. And then there were five rounds, each round lasting five days, of antibody therapy – something that was recently approved as standard protocol for treating Tyler’s type of cancer.

“That was a huge piece of the puzzle,” said Tyler’s mom. “It increased his chance (of survival) by 20 percent.”

It was after the second round of chemotherapy that the family began to see signs of their prayers being answered.

Doctors ordered scans to see if and how well Tyler had responded to the first two rounds of chemotherapy.

“The doctor said to not expect much improvement because of how aggressive the cancer was,” said Tyler’s mom.

Thankfully, they were wrong. Five of the six tumors were gone and the remaining tumor had shrunk to half the size. And the cancer was no longer found in the bone marrow.

“There’s no way to explain it other than it was a miracle,” said Tyler’s mom.

But because the cancer could still be lurking in his cells, the doctors continued with the treatment plan and in March were able to remove the main tumor – detaching it from the kidney and shaving part of the liver to which it had attached.

Although he was delayed in some areas – not walking until he was 21 months old and experiencing high-pitch hearing loss due to the treatments – today Tyler gives no indication that he is anything but a happy, healthy 2-year-old.

“It is hard to say if he is slower because of the cancer or it could just be him,” said Tyler’s mom.

Just this week, Tyler finished his last treatment, certainly a cause for celebration.

But the Cordle family could not have gotten through this year without the help of their families, the community and, for Tyler, his little stuffed puppy.

“It’s his best friend,” said his mom, explaining that through the cancer treatments her son amazed everyone with his attitude.

“In Seattle he was just able to lay in the bed with no energy, and yet he would still blow the nurses kisses and give them high fives. “He’s always happy.”

The family is grateful that Tyler will most likely not remember anything of what he has endured in the past year. And with treatment over, goals for Tyler now include gaining weight and strengthening his immune system.

Now in remission, Tyler’s chances of survival are at 65 percent. But the family is betting on 100 percent.

“We are all choosing to think he’ll be OK,” said his mom as she scooped him onto her lap.

Sandpoint Foster Family Fights For Rights, Answers

2009-12-20T09:53:00.000-08:00

During the Christmas season, messages of hope echo through churches, favorite Christmas movies and in the hearts of all who celebrate the season. And hope is exactly what people in Sandpoint are holding onto right now. For the last few months there has been a sadness hanging over this small community.

Grieving the loss of one of its youngest members, residents have come together to support a 2-year-old boy’s foster family during a time of anguish and heartbreak. Joey (not his real name) did not die. Instead he was taken by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and placed with a family in Kootenai County – a family with whom Joey had never lived but who the agency named as Joey’s adoptive family.

Joey came to live with Anna and Lacey Blackford when he was nine days old. Over the next 23 months, he captured the hearts of his new family and all with whom he came in contact. But in the matter of a few hours he was torn from their arms, leaving a family and community devastated.

Anna and Lacey Blackford were in shock. After all, during the court hearing which terminated the parental rights of the birth parents, the Blackfords were asked if they intended to adopt Joey and they confirmed what everyone already knew – Joey was part of their family and they had every intention of making that permanent.

So when a selection committee made up of Health and Welfare employees awarded custody to a foster family in Post Falls, the Blackfords were stunned.

“We had plans with our caseworker to meet for our celebration,” said Anna Blackford. “But instead got a call from her telling us that they decided on a different family. She told me she couldn’t even come over because she couldn’t face our family. She was devastated because she was sure he would be with us.”

The Blackfords contacted their attorney to see what their rights were. But Idaho does not have a Foster Parent Bill of Rights.

“There was nothing said about us not being good parents,” said Anna. “In fact we were told (by Health and Welfare) that we were great parents to him.”

But when word got out that they were contesting the placement, they received a call from Health and Welfare and were told that instead of turning Joey over in 30 days, they were picking Joey up within a few hours.

Anna pleaded successfully to be allowed to take Joey to Coeur d’Alene to meet the adoptive family. But she only had three hours in which to do it and she was told she could not bring her kids.

“We took him (Joey) to the CdA office, met the other family, told them everything we could think of in an hour, put him in their car and walked away while he was crying and screaming for us. This was absolutely the hardest thing we have ever had to do,” said Anna.

And although they were promised that they would receive updates on Joey and that their children would be able to see Joey to say their goodbyes, the department has not come through on those promises.

Told they were unable to appeal the decision, the Blackfords chose to appeal to the court system to see if it would overrule the committee and award permanent placement to the Blackfords. But at the hearing on Dec. 7, Judge Debra Heise ruled that the Blackfords did not have legal standing to contest the decision of Idaho Health and Welfare.

“Foster parents in Idaho have no rights to ‘their’ children. They have no rights to adopt, no rights to question what is in their best interest and no rights to fight for what is right,” writes Anna Blackford on the Save Joey Facebook page which has over 800 followers.

The Blackfords’ attorney filed an appeal under the Idaho Administrative Procedures Act on Nov. 24. The Department of Health and Welfare has 30 days to respond.

“Thirty days would be Christmas Eve,” said Anna.

Anna said that since word of their loss has spread, her phone has been ringing off the hook with calls from fellow foster parents eager to share their stories and show their appreciation for standing up to the system. Anna says people are not always willing to fight out of fear of losing their foster care license or fear of losing the children who are currently placed in their homes.

Determined to make sure this never happens to another family, Anna and Lacey Blackford have had meetings with state Sen. Shawn Keough exploring what they can do to change the laws in Idaho.

“It isn’t just us,” said Anna. “It’s way bigger than that. I cannot do it alone.”

But even if the most recent appeal does not succeed, the Blackfords are not done fighting.

“We will continue our fight to bring Joey home,” said Anna.

And while they await a response from the Department of Health and Welfare regarding their latest request, perhaps the Blackfords can take comfort from one of the posts on the Save Joey Facebook page.

“This fight over one baby is in the same month that we celebrate the birth of another baby. The angels that watched over one are watching over the other.”

How to help:

A bank account has been set up at Panhandle State Bank to help the Blackfords with their legal expenses. To donate, visit any Panhandle State Bank and tell them you want to donate to the Blackford family.

In addition to making donations to Panhandle State Bank, you can also donate through PayPal. Please direct all payments through PayPal to the following e-mail account: savejoey @gmail.com

With Help from Junior Achievement Volunteer Kendon Perry, Sagle Sixth Grade Students Open New Business

2009-12-20T09:46:00.000-08:00

Sandpoint businessman Kendon Perry once had an employee tell him that he believed everyone should own their own business at least once.

Now Perry is helping Liz Gollen’s sixth-grade students at Sagle Elementary School get a taste of business ownership.

Perry visits the classroom once a week as a volunteer teacher for Junior Achievement, an international nonprofit group that sends adults into the classroom to teach children about how to run a business.

Perry, an agent for Farm Bureau Financial Services, teaches the concepts that are fundamental to the mission of Junior Achievement – work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

“It’s important for kids in our society to know how to manage a household as well as how to manage a business,” said Perry. “Free enterprise and entrepreneurship are the backbone of our community.”

The Junior Achievement program includes 9.3 million students in 123 countries. A hands-on curriculum, Junior Achievement brings together the business community, educators and volunteers to teach students the skills necessary to succeed in a global economy.

This fall, Perry has worked with the students laying the groundwork for the opening of their business – Koffee Kidz. The students launched their business on Dec. 15 and will hold their official grand opening in January. The business requires that they arrive early, make coffee, set up their work stations and sell coffee to the parents who are dropping their children off.

In addition to Perry, a representative from local coffee company, Evans Brothers, spoke to the class on how to run a coffee business. Evans Brothers also is the supplier of the coffee for the class project. The kids buy cups, filters, creamers and sugar from Insight Distributing.

“Evans Brothers Coffee and Insight Distributing have been very supportive and helpful,” Perry said.

One recent day, Perry, an enthusiastic parent volunteer, began teaching his weekly class by checking in with each of the many departments in the school-run business – marketing, human resources, purchasing, accounting and production.

“What was on your list from the other day?” he asks the advertising department, emphasizing the need to be prepared because opening day is less than a week away.

When addressing the purchasing department, Perry makes sure the students realize their responsibilities include more than ordering and receiving supplies. “Did you count it to make sure that everything you ordered was received?” asks Perry.

He talks to them about purchasing terms and extending credit, making sure the students understand when the bill is due.

The next time this group comes together will be their first day of sales. Perry wants the kids to think about any potential problems that may arise. Where will they get the water from? Will they rent one hot pot or two?

The kids are concerned about reaching those parents who may not drop their children off in front of the school. It is then Perry introduces the concept of business referrals.

“Your reputation will start to grow,” he tells the students.

After the class is done meeting with Perry, they break off into their separate groups, eager to finalize their projects before opening day.

Perry’s wife, Judy Perry, helps the students in the accounting department. She walks them through the process of using QuickBooks accounting software and explains how to receive an item and generate the payments.

“We do pretty much everything,” Judy Perry said. “Income, expenses and show them about loans. We try to make it as real as possible.”

While most students are being introduced to concepts for the first time, the Perry’s son, Kyle, who is one of the students in the class, said he is already familiar with a lot of what is being taught.

“I already knew a lot of stuff like loans and interest,” he said. “I’ve run a business before. I have my own lawn mowing business.”

All of the students know their tasks and realize the importance each role plays in the bigger picture.

“We had to make the order forms and the checklist and laminate them,” said Matthew Curtiss, who is in the human resources group.

Another student, Sara Gillmer, said the program has taught her how to be a better business person. Her classmate Bailey Potter agrees.

“We have learned to get to know our customers and our products and how to be successful,” said Bailey.

Another student, Caroline Suppiger, eager to help out in any way possible, said she is participating in three of the departments – human resources, production and bookkeeping.

“We’ve learned about businesses and how they are set up,” she said, adding that Perry taught some of the students Junior Achievement in fifth grade but they did not take it as far as operating an actual business. “This year is a lot more hands on.”

Gollen says her students are doing a great job and credits Perry’s enthusiasm with motivating the kids. “Mr. Perry has really taken this project to the next level,” said Gollen.

Sandpoint Charter School Expansion Due to Open In March

2009-12-13T11:14:00.000-08:00

Walk through the halls of Sandpoint Charter School and you will find most classrooms empty. It’s not because of low enrollment but because the students flock to the computer labs to work on some of the many projects designed to encourage creativity.

While Sandpoint Charter School is a public school, its teaching style differs from a traditional school.

A hands-on, project-based philosophy integrates several of the subjects students study into a project that will help them learn not just one subject but many, at the same time encouraging independent research.

“The role of the teachers is to facilitate the projects,” said Sandpoint Charter School Principal Alan Millar.

Until this year the school only offered grades six through eight.

“We had parents coming in and asking what their options are for high school,” said Millar, who said research shows that once children reach high school years they generally prefer to stay in the setting where they have been.

When it was clear that there was a high demand for the charter school to add higher grades, a group of five teachers and four community members researched options and presented their plan to extend the school to grades nine through 12 to the Lake Pend Oreille School Board.

“The district voted unanimously,” said Millar.

This fall the school opened to 46 students in ninth and 10th grade and will add an 11th grade next year. But it was also important that the older students had their own facility.

Earlier this fall, the district broke ground on a 20,000-square-foot building expected to be completed in March. The building will eventually house up to 200 high school students. It is designed with small classrooms centered around a large common area where up to 75 students will be able to work on their projects on school-provided laptops.

The cost of the building is approximately $1.5 million, 75 percent financed by a loan from USDA Rural Development agency and the other portion financed by a loan from Mountain West Bank.

“The charter schools do not have access to bonds,” Millar said. “Ninety-five percent of our funding is from state money that follows the child.”

Unlike the lower grades in the Sandpoint Charter School, grades nine and 10 have gone paperless. The school provides each student with a mini netbook computer.

“Kids are literally walking down the hall typing,” said Millar, who adds that the education they are providing at the charter school is actually a hybrid of online education with a personal touch.

Freshman Kaitlin Wallace said going to a small high school like the Sandpoint Charter School gives her the advantage of more one-on-one time with her instructors, and she prefers the small-school setting to that of the large traditional public high school.

Teacher Rich Kallage was instrumental in researching the requirements for Sandpoint Charter High School and helped develop graduation requirements.

“It’s an academically challenging environment,” said Kallage, adding that students who attend a charter school develop the ability to take on ambiguous projects and have more initiative when it comes to starting and completing projects – something that will serve them well in postsecondary education.

Millar and Kallage agree that an important aspect of their new high school will be to provide postsecondary guidance, including administering aptitude tests and counseling students about their options after high school.

“Students have a massive amount of information they have to navigate through,” said Millard.

Other philosophies of the Sandpoint Charter School are community involvement and environmental consciousness. While schools nationwide took part in a walk-to-school day in early October, those at Sandpoint Charter School did not stop there. They are taking part in something they call the Greener Mile Project. It is a competition to see which group – teachers and staff versus the classes – can bike or walk to school the most in a given trimester. So far the leading class has biked or walked 244 miles.

All involved with bringing the new high school from vision to reality are enthusiastic about the opportunities it will provide.

“Any change takes a small group of dedicated people,” said Millar.

Bulldog Fans Span Generations

2009-12-13T11:04:00.000-08:00

As soon as the Sandpoint High School football team qualified for the state championship last month, Barb Hecker went into action.

The mother of senior running back Cody Hecker organized a charter bus to bring as many fans as possible to the championship game at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow.

“I went on one (charter bus) in 2003 to Pocatello for a playoff game,” Hecker said. “It was a lot of fun and good bonding for parents and community supporters.”

When word got out that Hecker was organizing a bus for fans, her phone rang off the hook.

“I had people calling and telling me their stories of when they played for the Bulldogs years ago or how they have attended the games for years,” Hecker said. “People were so glad to have a bus and not have to drive late at night. I also think that the community was so excited and got wrapped up with this team. There were so many great athletes and no superstars. They all worked together as a team.”

Sandpoint may have lost the game, but the Bulldogs won the hearts of many football fans.

Ray Belote, 72, is a Sandpoint resident who has attended almost all the home games over the last 40 years.

“I’ve gone to some of the away games too,” said Belote, who graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1955 and played on the football team.

He and three friends drove to Pocatello in 2003 – the last time the Sandpoint Bulldogs played for (and lost) the championship. He was in Boise in 1997 when the Bulldogs last won the state championship.

Watching the kids play brings back memories of when he was a player.

“We had a pretty good winning record (when he was in high school),” said Belote, who also attends many of the high school basketball games. “I played end at that time, which I guess is wide receiver now.”

Belote said he is always amazed at how much bigger and faster the players are now in comparison to when he was playing. “And smarter,” he adds.

Bob and Wanda Gooby also took advantage of the charter bus. Bob Gooby is a 1953 graduate of Sandpoint High and has attended basketball and volleyball games throughout the years.

“We are interested in the team and it was a nice opportunity to go and watch them,” said Bob Gooby. “It was a nice little adventure.”

The Goobys enjoy going to the games and following the kids, some of whom they know and others they don’t.

“There are two things that take place (when you go to the games),” said Bob Gooby. “First you see the kids and watch them grow up and second we always see a group of people who we’ve known for a long time and we visit with them.”

“We just love the kids,” said Wanda Gooby.

Ski Schweitzer for $10 Friday, December 11th With Proceeds Going to Community Cancer Services

2009-12-06T13:13:00.000-08:00

On Friday, Schweitzer Mountain Resort will host the fourth-annual Day for Heather, offering $10 lift tickets all day for all ages and a chance to ski what Powder Magazine calls the best park in the Pacific Northwest.

The event is named in memory of Heather Gibson, a member of the Sandpoint community who did much to change the face of cancer in North Idaho before she died from the disease in August 2006.

“I knew Heather as a mother and a friend,” said Sandpoint resident Steve Meyer. “She loved skiing and made some of her best friends up at Schweitzer. I feel fortunate that I had more than a few opportunities to take out a fresh powder field with Heather, Greg (Heather’s husband) and her buddies.”

Because Heather’s husband was a member of the ski patrol, those who worked at Schweitzer and those who skied with Heather went through Heather’s eight-year cancer journey with her. It is because of their desire to carry on her mission to support cancer patients in this North Idaho community that Schweitzer Mountain has continually offered all the proceeds from a Day for Heather to Community Cancer Services. That cancer resource and information center was founded by Gibson and has served Bonner and Boundary counties since 2003. Prior to Gibson’s death, the board of directors designated Community Cancer Services as Heather’s House.

“This gift that Schweitzer gives each year to the cancer patients in this community amazes me,” said Stefanie Nostdahl, board president for Community Cancer Services. “We have literally hundreds of clients who are coming to us for help. When cancer hits, it comes with a lot of other issues and because of Schweitzer and other donors we are able to help at a very difficult time in people’s lives.”

Since opening, Community Cancer Services has grown quickly and now offers support groups for men, women, caregivers and children in addition to financial assistance to help defray the cost of transportation, medical bills, prescriptions and utility payments.

There also are resources such as a lending library, wigs and hats for people who lose their hair from treatments, and the Look Good Feel Better Program, which is run in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. A part-time social worker is on staff to assist with the emotional needs of the clients and their families.

Because all services are offered free to the clients, support from the community is essential.

To kick off the Day for Heather, Steve Meyer and his wife Julie are hosting a Sip ’n Shop at their Pend d’Oreille Winery on Thursday. That evening, Pend d’Oreille Winery will donate a portion of its profits to Community Cancer Services.

“We hope our event turns out to be a place where people can come together to learn about CCS, Heather’s House and to raise a glass in celebration of Heather’s life,” said Meyer, who added that Heather used to stop by the winery frequently on her way home just to check in with her friends. “Her visits always brought a ray of light and hope into the winery tasting room, and I will always remember those moments with love and gratitude.”

Thursday: Wine tasting and holiday shopping with a portion of the profits donated to Community Cancer Services, home of Heather’s House, at Pend d’Oreille Winery, 220 Cedar St., in Sandpoint.

Friday: Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort hosts a Day for Heather with $10 lift tickets all day, all ages. To learn more about the Day for Heather, go to www.schweitzer.com (http://www.schweitzer.com) .

To donate: Tax deductibles donation may be sent to Community Cancer Services, 1215 Michigan St., Suite B, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce to Move to Downtown Sandpoint

2009-12-06T13:07:00.000-08:00

The Sand Creek Byway has been a hotly contested issue in Sandpoint for several years, dividing business owners and residents who eagerly shared their arguments either for or against a highway bypass. But now that the construction of the byway is well under way, many on both sides of the issue are concerned that visitors may not take the time to explore Sandpoint’s quaint and scenic downtown.

“We are all looking forward to the completion of the byway,” said Marsha Ogilvie, who received the most votes in November for one four-year seat on the Sandpoint City Council. “Until then we can be proactive and plan for the future. I think the possibilities are exciting for the downtown corridor. The City Council needs to aggressively pursue the continued revitalization of downtown. The downtown is the life blood of our community.”

One change that’s sure to help keep visitors coming downtown is the much anticipated move later this month of the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, which will relocate from its current location on Highway 2 to the former Panhandle State Bank building.

“Visitors to our area often go to the chamber first for information, and bringing these visitors into the downtown core will bring their potential business as well,” said newly elected council member Jamie Davis. “In addition, the chamber’s function as a business network will pull potential new businesses into the downtown area.”

Amy Little, the chamber’s executive director, said the move was precipitated by financial concerns as well as a need to connect better with the community.

“The building we are in currently is over 30 years old and has a lot of repair and maintenance issues. We also basically run a rest stop for the city, county and state with no financial support from them to offset the costs of not only building maintenance but the maintenance of our grounds,” said Little, who adds that it would cost $10,000 just to repair the roof of the current chamber and visitor’s center. “More importantly, we also had been thinking of looking at ways to combine forces and facilitate better communication with other nonprofits. The (new) location offers us a chance to do that.”

Justin Schuck, another newly elected City Council member, is excited about the opportunities for growth that the chamber move will bring.

“Having the location downtown will surely help tourists access pertinent information while visiting the downtown core,” said Schuck, who adds that the new location will help promote relationships among downtown merchants, the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association and the Chamber of Commerce. “The new location is much more amenable for meetings, gatherings, and a hub for co-sponsored events.”

Little said many people assume – incorrectly – that the Chamber of Commerce and the visitor’s center are the same entity.

“The two entities are separate but complementary to one another,” she said. Unlike the chamber, the visitors’ center operates at a deficit each year, forcing the chamber’s budget to cover the shortfall.

“We (provide financial support) because the visitor’s center helps us further our mission to support, develop and promote the business community of the greater Sandpoint area,” Little said.

Sandpoint Teen Center Provides After School Programs and an Opportunity to Serve the Community

2009-11-29T12:48:00.000-08:00

In a world where teens struggle to fight off the temptations of peer pressure, there is one place in Sandpoint that has done all it can to provide a safe and secure environment where kids can go after school, interact with friends, and give back to the community.

The Sandpoint Teen Center is in its sixth year and for the first time has a paid part-time director, providing consistency for the kids who attend the center.

“We want to provide a place where they (teens) can socialize, but we still enforce respect,” said Sandpoint Teen Center board member Joan Avery. “And we need to respect them as much as we want them to respect us.”

Avery said fellow board member Dr. Gary Hopkins, an adjunct professor of public health at Loma Linda University, has performed research worldwide and his findings strongly confirm that teens have a much higher chance of avoiding drugs and alcohol not only if they have a caring adult in their lives, but also if they are given an opportunity to serve others.

Located just a few blocks from Sandpoint Middle School and Sandpoint High School, the center is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is a full kitchen, foosball table, pingpong table, playing cards, board games, a Wii, and a place where kids can study.

“We are willing to provide whatever kids need,” said Avery.

Each Tuesday is community service day at the center. During the fall quarter director Andy L’Heureux took the kids to a nearby retirement community where they interacted with the residents.

“That has turned out to be a great thing,” L’Heureux said.

The teens are currently making decorations for the annual Kinderhaven Festival of Trees, a fundraiser whose profits go to the local group home for abused and neglected children. The students also plan to help with snow shoveling this winter and to work with the animal shelters.

From Dec. 11 through Dec. 17 the students will hold a gingerbread contest at Cedar Street Bridge in downtown Sandpoint. Open to the entire community, it will give the students another opportunity to be involved.

“One of the most important things is keeping the kids socializing with each other and the community,” L’Heureux said.

And the kids do love to socialize.

“It’s not necessarily quiet in here, but it’s fun and it’s manageable,” Avery said.

She said because kids come from different schools, they have formed some special friendships at the center, where staff does not allow use of cell phones or any other electronic device.

“It is building a community,” said board member Margareta Larson.

The staff and volunteers also invite members of the community to join the teens at the center and share their expertise.

“We bring people in to share skills with the kids because a child may connect with one of them and discover that’s what they want to do for a living,” said Avery.

Volunteers are critical and those who do it love the connection they make with the kids, even if they may be unsure at first.

“And the more volunteers we have the more kids we can reach,” said Avery.

“They (volunteers) need to understand that they don’t need to come every day. Maybe even start one to two times a month,” said Larson.

The mission statement says in part that they are committed to providing a safe, positive and enriching environment, but all agree that a safe place is what is more important than anything.

“They need a safe place where kids can come and know they’re not going to be bullied or offered drugs,” said Avery. “This is not a place for troubled kids.”

The volunteers and L’Heureux are enthusiastic about their work with the teens. They laugh as they share stories of different games and antics of the kids. They also are proud of the fact that the kids are giving back to the community of Sandpoint.

“Teens need to be shown how they can to contribute to and become a part of the community,” said Avery.

L’Heureux agrees. “We are building bridges between the generations.”

For more information

Contact the Sandpoint Teen Center at (208) 263-0221. The center is open Monday and Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. It is on the corner of Pine and Division streets

November is National Alzheimer's Month

2009-11-22T18:55:00.000-08:00

The disease is frightening. Its victims are mothers, fathers, spouses and grandparents who do not recognize the faces of those who have loved them for most of their lives. The disease is Alzheimer’s.

This week as many gather around the dinner table to give thanks for the blessings in their lives, there will be many residents in Bonner County expressing gratitude for the help of a nonprofit organization called DayBreak Center.

DayBreak opened in August 2008 and is an adult-day care center for people who suffer from dementia.

“Being a caregiver is a form of torture were it not for the love that has long prevailed,” said Paul, who is a caregiver of a current DayBreak client. “The long journey into the night is one of those painful experiences from which there is no escape. Understanding the experience is one of the things that can help ease the pain and make the trip more bearable.”

And helping caregivers and clients understand the journey is just one of the many services that DayBreak provides.

In addition to providing respite, staff at the center lead the clients in research-based therapeutic activities that help stimulate their memory, give the clients a chance to socialize, exercise and provide resources for the clients’ families.

According to DayBreak program coordinator Nancy Wood, a registered nurse with a bachelor of science degree, all clients are in the mid- to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s.

“The load (of caring for an Alzheimer patient) can never be lifted from those who care,” said Paul. “It is one of those burdens life brings that can’t be shared. There is simply no escape. And that is where respite comes into play.”

According to information gathered in a study conducted in early 2008 prior to opening DayBreak, there are approximately 400 known cases of Alzheimer’s in Bonner County. But according to information provided in DayBreak’s Business Plan, information from the Inland Northwest Alzheimer’s Association estimates that the number of those suffering from Alzheimer’s is in all probability closer to 900 – and that number is likely to increase significantly over the next several years.

Wood said it is estimated that by 2015, 20.9 percent of Bonner County’s population will be 65 or over.

November is National Alzheimer’s Month, and the staff at DayBreak is eager to share information on not only the disease but the resources available for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Wood said there are more than 60 forms of dementia – one of which is Alzheimer’s – and more than 5 million Americans will be affected by Alzheimer’s alone this year.

Initially caregivers feel some guilt about dropping off their loved one, said Wood, but that guilt dissipates when the caregiver sees that their friend or relative enjoys DayBreak.

“It gives them (the caregiver) the energy to get through the rest of the day,” said Wood, who emphasizes that many caregivers rarely get a good night sleep since Alzheimer’s patients are prone to wandering.

One misconception is that Alzheimer’s is a disease which affects only memory, but the truth is that the disease is fatal. Wood said that as the disease increases there is nerve cell death in the brain. This leads to an Alzheimer patient losing basic physical functions such as walking and swallowing.

“Deaths attributed to Alzheimer have increased over 47 percent from 2000 to 2006, compared with decreases of 11 percent due to heart disease,” said Wood who adds that more than 70 percent of people with Alzheimer’s live at home.

Carol has cared for her husband for several years and has found DayBreak a welcome relief not just for her but also her husband.

“DayBreak makes it possible for me to take a much needed break from care giving and my husband enjoys being there.”

DayBreak will hold an open house Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will include entertainment and refreshments. Donations to DayBreak can be mailed to 830 Kootenai Cut-Off Road, Ponderay, ID 83852. The center is open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and care is $7.50 per hour. For more information, call(208) 265-8127 or the Senior Center at (208) 263-6860.

Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary With New Church Building

2009-11-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

Good things come to those who wait. Just ask the people of Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel in Clark Fork.

For the past seven years the congregation has held its Sunday worship services in Hope Elementary School, with Pastor Scott Douglas working out of a 700-square-foot space the remainder of the week.

“I would have to leave when (church) groups needed to use the space,” Douglas said.

But now Douglas does not have to leave his office when members of his congregation hold meetings or classes.

On Sept. 20 Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel celebrated its 10th anniversary in a big way. The congregation held the first service in its new 11,000-square-foot church, which sits on five acres in Clark Fork right off Highway 200. The church has a bookstore, an education wing, a large sanctuary with a state-of-the-art sound system, an office and fellowship hall.

The sanctuary holds approximately 300 people – about two-thirds the population of Clark Fork.

“There’ve been up to 210 to 220 people in here on a Sunday,” Douglas said.

About four years ago, the members of Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel began to consider building a new church. Frustrated when they were not able to locate anything that met their needs and budget, they were ready to give up. “It was almost as if God said he’s going to let us try it on our own. We were ready to give up and then someone said they had 5 acres they would donate,” said Douglas, adding that the donor wishes to remain anonymous.

Because the land sits 5 feet below the flood plain, acquiring permits took about a year and a half, Douglas said.

In anticipation of purchasing land, the congregation had saved more than $300,000.

“Don’t ask me how we did that. It was a God thing,” Douglas said. The congregation used the money for a down payment on the new building.

The church’s mortgage is about $470,000 – but not for long. A man who recently died willed his Clark Fork vacation home to the church. The church will own the home – valued at approximately $1 million – free and clear by next year. When the home is sold, the church will pay off the mortgage and have money left over.

“We’ll be able to make good use of that money and fund our overseas mission programs and also help our local community,” Douglas said.

Those overseas missions are many. The Clark Fork church owns an orphanage in Siberia, which is set to open soon and will be home to 30 children. Douglas said the church hopes to reach the nation by reaching the kids through the orphanage.

“Kids are prone to faith,” he said. “Kids believe things that don’t make sense. Our job is to teach them why it does make sense.”

The church also recently purchased a building in Siberia that it will use as a rural pastor training center.

“We will train Russians and equip them for the ministry,” Douglas said.

The church also sponsors missions in Peru and Mexico.

It is faith that has led Douglas to where he is today. He worked as a grocery store manager in Phoenix until 1999. Knowing he was called to serve God, Douglas and his wife, Valerie, planned to attend Bible college in California. They moved to Clark Fork in 1999 after spending time with relatives in Heron, Mont., knowing they had found their home. Douglas canceled his Bible college plans and started Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel.

“It’s been on-the-job training ever since,” Douglas said.

He and Valerie have three grown children, ages 35, 32 and 31. About five years ago they also adopted three siblings who are now 5, 6 and 7.

One of the congregation’s next goals is to open a Christian school in the new building, for kindergarten through sixth grade, by next September.

“Everything is such a blessing,” Douglas said. “There is no limit to what God can do with anyone and in any place.”

More information
Contact Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel at (208) 266-1911 or go to www.calvarychapelclarkfork.org

November 15th Marks the Beginning of National Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week

2009-11-15T21:46:00.000-08:00

His name was Tim. He died a few months ago from injuries suffered in an auto accident. He was not a well-known community member nor was he a successful business person. But he also is not forgotten. A longtime member of the Sandpoint community, Tim was homeless and suffered from mental illness. He spent nights at homes of acquaintances and often sought shelter under the Dover Bridge.

On Tuesday, there will be a candlelight vigil to celebrate Tim’s life and to remember other homeless people who have lost their lives.

The vigil is one of many events taking place locally this week, National Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week. Sponsored by Transitions in Progress, these events are an opportunity to inform Sandpoint residents about the homeless in the community and let residents know what they can do to help.

“We will have an event almost every day of the week,” said Craig Koester, president of the board of directors for Transitions in Progress, formerly known as Bonner County Homeless Task Force.

Because the homeless are not visible on downtown streets like those in large cities, there is a misconception that homelessness is not an issue here. But the truth is the homeless population is growing considerably and Transitions in Progress is doing all it can to help not only the homeless but also those who are victims of domestic violence.

Transitions in Progress has several properties around Bonner County that house families, women and their children escaping abusive situations, and women who are single and in transition.

Harmony House is the only fully staffed 24-hour shelter in the county for victims of abuse.

“This is important because these things (abuse) do not happen 8 to 5,” said Koester. “To stay (in an abusive relationship) is not an option. We give people a path that provides hope.”

Cherie Peak is the director at Harmony House. She said that they also provide the only state-approved battered treatment program in Bonner or Boundary counties.

“We also provide support groups as well as outreach and education in the community,” said Peak.

Although there has been a decrease in the number of women seeking shelter over the past couple of years, Peak said that is beginning to change.

“The numbers are starting to rise again, and I suspect it has to do with the economic downturn,” said Peak. “The economy has always been a trigger (for violence).”

But homelessness and abuse are not independent of one another.

“Between thirty to forty percent of people we consider homeless are direct victims of domestic violence,” said Koester, emphasizing that abuse does not always mean physical abuse.

“Abuse takes many forms,” said Koester. “Emotional, financial and psychological.”

A longtime advocate for the homeless, Koester devotes much of his time to Transitions in Progress which, due to lack of funds, is currently without an executive director.

“We have three program managers who operate independently and report to the board,” said Koester, who is writing a new business plan for Transitions. “My biggest job is outreach and awareness and asking for support in any way possible.”

Another Transitions in Progress properties is Blue Haven. Located in Sandpoint, it provides transitional housing for up to nine families. Blue Haven director Tamie Martinsen said she has seen higher socioeconomic classes coming to apply for help.

“We have had professionals contacting us this year – people who have never found themselves in this situation and who don’t even know how to apply for food stamps,” Martinsen said.

She said there are currently seven families on the waiting list.

“We are always full,” Martinsen said.

When Transitions does not have room, Martinsen said she often refers people to Coeur d’Alene or Spokane.

“That is hard because people don’t want to leave their communities,” she said.

The Trestle Creek Friendship Center, which is located on a five-acre property, offers several three-bedroom, two-bath homes for families and a four-bedroom home for single women.

The facilities operated by Transitions in Progress house approximately 60 to 70 people, more than half of them children. “If they weren’t at our facility they would be homeless,” Koester said.

“Our goal is to keep families together.”

Koester and the staff at Transitions in Progress hope that this week’s events will enlighten the community about the needs of the homeless and victims of abuse in Bonner County.

“We need to give people a chance, give people direction and give them hope, and then they are able to go out and become productive members of society,” said Koester

Sandpoint Events For Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week

Monday

Priest River Community Meal, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Priest River Senior Center; co-sponsored with Priest River Ministries.

Tuesday

Discussion with public officials: Planning and zoning, mayor, City Council, police, sheriff, county supervisors, 5:30 to 7:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Fourth and Alder, Sandpoint.
Candlelight vigil in remembrance of Tim Fury and other homeless people who have died. This event will feature the drum and pipe corps; 8 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Fourth and Alder, Sandpoint.

Wednesday

Community Feast, noon to 5 p.m., Sandpoint Gardenia Center.

Saturday

Transitional Housing Open House, 1 to 3 p.m., Trestle Creek Supportive Housing, 71 Freeman Lane, Hope.
For more information about services provided by Transitions in Progress, or to offer help, call (208) 265-2952

Sandpoint Community Comes Together to Support the Panida Theater

2009-11-15T21:44:00.000-08:00

The Panida Theater is a treasured landmark in downtown Sandpoint. It opened in 1927 and was named for its location – the Panhandle of Idaho.

In the early years it served as a vaudeville and movie house, but while the types of performances may have changed over the years, one thing has remained – talented performers still take the stage.

But operating the community-owned theater isn’t easy. It takes money and commitment. After years of neglect, Sandpoint residents came together in the 1980s to save the theater, which boasts beautiful architecture.

The community efforts paid off, and the Panida is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Year after year, a community effort of donations, grants and volunteers keep the Panida alive and well.

Late last year, Sandpoint’s Community Assistance League awarded the Panida a grant of $600 that was used to purchase chandeliers for the Little Theater. The Fenton Family Fund of the Idaho Community Foundation also contributed $20,000 to the theater. According to Karen Bowers, executive director of the Panida, that money was designated to improve the Little Theater space and for general operating expenses.

According to those involved with the Panida, grants chairwoman Phyllis Goodwin played an instrumental role in the Panida’s receipt of several grants over the last year.

Others who contributed greatly over the last year include:
The Idaho Commission on the Arts, which awarded an entry track grant of $4,942 for general operating expenses as well as an ARRA/Act Stimulus grant for employees in the amount of $8,807.

Mountain West Bank, which presented a donation of $5,000 from its Community Giving Fund.
The Equinox Foundation, formerly Fenton Family Foundation, which contributed $500 for general operating expenses and to support the ongoing restoration work of the Panida.
The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, which awarded $10,000.
The Idaho Heritage Trust, which announced a grant of $5,000 for a historical-finishes study to restore the interior walls of the Panida, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which announced a grant of $4,000.

The Florence Wasmer Fund for Arts & Culture with the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, which awarded the theater a grant of $1,600 to purchase new stage sound equipment.

Bowers said the theater has three other employees: a technical director, an executive assistant and a maintenance person. The theater has an annual budget of approximately $160,000, but there are always ongoing projects.

Bowers said one upcoming goals is to complete the refurbishing of the chairs.

“That is at least a $40,000 project,” she said.

The ceiling may also be in need of repair. However, until professionals can look at it and assess what needs to be done Bowers is unsure of the extent of that project.

“We’ve got a lot of things down the line,” said Bowers, including joining the Little Theater with the main theater.

Bowers said all future projects are directed at restoring the theater to its original splendor, and the community has been instrumental in making that happen.

“The Panida extends its gratitude to all the foundations and organizations who have given so generously in the last year to help maintain and preserve the community’s beloved historic theater,” said Erik Daarstad, a member of the Panida’s board of trustees.

Sandpoint Residents Vote in Favor of Water Bond

2009-11-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

For a city that sits on one of the largest lakes in North America, no one would ever suspect there is a problem with adequate water supply. But looks are deceiving. The reality is that there is a problem in the city of Sandpoint – and it has the potential to be a 5-million-gallon-a-day problem.

Last Tuesday, Sandpoint residents approved the issuance of a bond to expand the Lake Pend Oreille Water Treatment Facility, which currently has a capacity of 3.5 million gallons per day.
“Our peak days in late summer are over 5 million gallons per day,” said Kody Van Dyk, Sandpoint’s Public Works Director. “We have been fortunate that the Little Sand Creek snow pack has been good the past two years because that source has been enough to supplement the lake plant source.”

City officials have forecasted that if growth continues in Sandpoint as it has over the last several years, the demand for water will exceed the supply by approximately 5 million gallons each day.
Prior to a community forum on Oct. 28 which featured the candidates for city council, Van Dyk addressed the crowd about the bond. There was much talk about the bond and how conservation may be a better alternative.

But the discussion did not stop there. Each candidate was given an opportunity to speak about his or her position regarding the proposed bond.

City Councilman Michael Boge spoke to the crowd and said he was against the bond and that he has not watered his lawn in the 15 years he has lived in Sandpoint. Conservation during the two summer months when water usage is at its peak is what he proposed as a more sensible solution.
Helen Newton, who ran as an incumbent but lost in last week’s election, stated that as an elected official she should not disclose her position. “My vote is as private as yours,” she told the crowd.

But on Tuesday, the voters did not keep their voices or opinions private. They voted 763 to 367 in favor of the water bond.

According to the city, the cost of the expansion will be approximately $17 million. However, the city will receive a $5.1 million grant from USDA Rural Development, stimulus money that would not be available to the city in the future if the bond had failed.

Many initially opposed the bond because of the projected $17 million cost. However, when you break it down Van Dyk said the cost to each household will be as little as 20 cents per day or $6 per month.

The improvements that will take place do not just include expansion of the existing plant; it also includes replacing the existing sand filters with membrane technology which provides a physical barrier between the water and existing pathogens, viruses and pharmaceuticals.

“The membrane technology is a consistent, positive barrier between whatever is in the lake water and the consumers,” said Van Dyk. “The current system is good and provides great water. The problem is that the lake plant’s current technology is incapable of consistently filtering out all contaminants.”

Van Dyk said the plan is for the first phase of the upgrade and reconstruction to increase the capacity of the plant system to 10 million gallons per day and to size pumps and pipes for an eventual capacity of 17 million gallons per day.

If the bond had not passed, the City Council was prepared to discuss the possibility of still approving the expansion and financing it through rate hikes that could have cost residents as much as $16 per month. Van Dyk echoed that sentiment stating that if the bond were to fail, the city would still have needed to upgrade the existing facilities to replace worn-out components, replace inefficient motors and insulate the buildings.

Growth has been consistent in Sandpoint and if voters had cast their ballots against the water bond, they still would have ended up paying more whether it was through financing improvements through rate hikes or a bond in the future when construction costs would have been higher and the grant money would not have been available. Growth is inevitable. Planning for the future in the most economical way is the responsible way to address the growth. The community of Sandpoint should be commended for doing its research and voting to expand and improve its existing facility.

Winners of the three four-year city council seats were Marsha Ogilvie, Jamie Davis and Justin Schuck. Incumbent by appointment, John O’Hara, lost by four votes and incumbents Michael Boge and Helen Newton also were defeated. John Reuter ran uncontested for a two-year seat on Sandpoint’s City Council.

Sandpoint Brothers Are Well Grounded Nationally Ranked Snowboarders

2009-11-08T10:06:00.000-08:00

Ask brothers Kix and Dash Kamp about their life, and they will tell you they are just a couple of kids who have fun at what they do. But dig a little deeper and you will find that the secret to their success lies in the combination of hard work, perseverance and positive attitudes.

Their names are unique. Kix, 12, was named after country music star Kix Brooks. Dash, 17, was named after the small community in which he was born – Dash Point, Wash.

The brothers are avid snowboarders and compete through the United States of America Snowboard Association, attending competitions throughout the western U.S. and Canada. Their names can be found in national rankings. Dash is ranked 17th in the nation in slope style open class and Kix is 26th.

Kix said the greatest moment thus far in competing was when he placed third in the country at age 9.

Although fun, it doesn’t come easy.

“It is definitely a never ending ladder. You have to set your goals and work up from there,” said Dash. But more than anything, he said, “Kix and I are really in this to have fun and do it for as long as we can.”

To help accommodate their lifestyle, the boys have been home schooled most of their lives and say they prefer that to the traditional school setting.

“It’s a great program and easier because sometimes the noise in the classroom can be distracting,” said Kix.

“We start at 8 and are usually done by 11:30, eat lunch and are out on the mountain from 12 until closing,” said Dash, who with a smile adds “but if it’s a really good powder day we will go right out to the mountain and do our school work that night.”

It is a schedule that has served them well. The two are excellent students with grade-point averages around 3.50.

For the past six years the boys have lived at Schweitzer Mountain Resort with their mother, Paula Kamp. Their dad, Slate Kamp, also lives in the community and although their parents are divorced the boys say they have both been there for them and supported them all the way.

“We all come together as a team,” said Dash.

Each of the boys is sponsored by a variety of international and local companies. Among them are Oakley, Litehouse, Batwaves, DC Shoes and Union Bindings.

“And, of course, mom and dad,” adds Dash.

Sponsorships help cover most of their equipment cost, which includes four snowboards for Kix and five for Dash.

“It is very cool to be sponsored and to have people want us to promote their product,” said Dash. “Our sponsors are also very proud that we keep a high GPA. They like well-rounded kids representing their product.”

The boys have grown up on Schweitzer Mountain. Kix started skiing at age 3 and boarding when he was 6. Dash began skiing at 2 and boarding at 4. Although they both enjoy skiing and boarding, when it comes to competing they strictly board. Dash has been competing since he was 11 and Kix since age 8.

In the summer months they travel to Mount Hood, Ore. for at least two weeks to keep their skills sharp.

They support and encourage one another, with Dash often giving tips to his younger sibling. The boys don’t get nervous when it comes to competition and say that it helps make them stronger.

“I like everything about snowboarding and competition,” said Kix. “You may not always agree with the judge but you just have to move forward.”

His older brother agrees. “The competition part is what makes snowboarding a renowned sport,” said Dash. “The judging builds character.”

Up until last season the boys had a full time coach who also lived with the family at Schweitzer. They both say they cannot imagine growing up anywhere else.

“It’s an awesome place to live,” said Dash. “It is so peaceful.”

“It’s like Red Bull,” said Kix with a smile. “You can’t get enough of it!”

As for the future, the boys would both like to go as far as they can with snowboarding and build it into a career.

“I want to do my best and go pro,” said Kix, who has played soccer in the past and also now plays lacrosse and football. In addition to snowboarding, Dash plays on the Sandpoint High School tennis team.

Dash is entering his last year of high school and is looking into colleges in Colorado where he will continue to compete. “I want to get a degree in business and come out with my own snowboard line one day,” Dash said.

Of his days on the mountain, Dash said he has some great memories, and heavy snow days were some of the most memorable.

“Waking up to realize it has just snowed 2 ½ feet, the Internet is down so you cannot do online school that day and the public schools are closed and all my friends are coming up to the mountain is the best,” he said.

Something else that makes the brothers cool kids is not just the snowboarding, but what they choose to do with it. They are both members of Boarders for Christ, a group of young Christians who enjoy sharing their passion for boarding and their values in life.

“Boarders for Christ is about snowboarders going out and showing the personality of a Christian,” said Kix. “If people ask for help we will help them.”

When asked who has influenced them the most in their years of snowboarding and competition, the boys both agree. It has been their mother.

“There is really no way we can ever thank her for all she does for us,” said Dash. “She is definitely one of the biggest heroes in my life.”

Refuse To Be a Victim Class November 7th

2009-11-01T17:23:00.000-08:00

In March, the CEO of Intermountain Community Bank, Curt Hecker, held town hall meetings informing the community of the corporation’s new program, Powered by Community.

The goal of the program is to create a relationship among businesses, nonprofit organizations, residents and area resources in an effort to bring economic growth to the communities where ICB conducts business. Months later, ICB has made good on its promise and provided many resources to help stimulate the local economy.

In partnership with Idaho Small Business Center, Panhandle State Bank in Sandpoint, a subsidiary of ICB, has hosted a series of workshops free of charge to area residents.

“These are usually $29 (per person) for the workshop, but Panhandle State Bank is underwriting them so they are free,” said Kim Diercks, a commercial loan officer with the bank as well as the community development officer at the Sandpoint branch.

The classes are aimed at helping business owners and residents survive and thrive in a struggling economy. They cover topics such as starting one’s own business, marketing, managing business finances and developing goals.

But there are other issues to be addressed – issues that concern all residents not just business owners. Diercks said that while security is always an issue in the banking industry, there are a lot of common-sense practices people can do in everyday life but do not always think about. Personal safety, she said, is an issue that is becoming more important with difficult economic times.

“With this economy people are going to be more desperate,” said Diercks.

Next Saturday, Nov. 7, Panhandle State Bank in conjunction with the Sandpoint Police Department will offer the Refuse to be a Victim class free of charge.

Sgt. Dave Giffin of the Sandpoint Police Department is one of only two people in North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Montana who is certified to teach the class.

Several years ago, Giffin put in a great deal of time trying to get Neighborhood Block Watch programs started in Sandpoint. Unfortunately, he said, it was with little success. People were more interested in learning how to protect themselves without relying upon their neighbors.

Giffin attended a one week class to become a certified instructor for Refuse to be a Victim.

Next week’s four-hour class will cover topics such as the psychology of criminal predators, mental preparedness, home security, physical security, automobile security, technical security (including identity theft and cyberfraud), self-defense training and personal protection devices.

The class on Nov. 7 is limited to 30 people, but Diercks said if demand exists they will sponsor a second workshop.

To register
If you would like to register for the Nov. 7 Refuse to be a Victim class or learn more about the seminars put on by the Powered by Community program, log on to www.poweredbycommunity.com. If you would like to learn more about Refuse to be a Victim, contact Sgt. Dave Giffin at the Sandpoint Police Department,(208) 265-1482

Learn More About the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail Saturday November 7th

2009-11-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

Hiking, biking, rollerblading, walking and running. You see it all in Sandpoint.

The city and other small towns which border Lake Pend Oreille are filled with residents who seek every opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful setting they call home. And very soon they will have more options to choose from when heading outdoors.

Through a cooperative effort by the cities of Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai as well as Bonner County and the Department of Environmental Quality, a $650,000 Federal Brownfields Assessment grant was awarded to help clean up and develop an area along the northwest shore of Lake Pend Oreille.

Brownfields are real property which, due to the presence of or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant, make the redevelopment of that property more complicated. Grants are awarded to help clean up and reinvest in these properties thereby protecting the environment.

A Brownfields Assessment grant is used to inventory, characterize and assess contaminated sites, to plan for cleanup and redevelopment, and to involve the community in that process.

The grant received by these communities will be used to plan a new trail – The Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail – which will run along the lakeshore side of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway’s tracks connecting the cities of Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai.

According to the information provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the coalition’s efforts will focus on a 2-mile stretch of the Lake Pend Oreille shoreline. Contamination exists in this area due to the rapid expansion of natural resource extraction industries beginning in the late 1800s.

Also cited as a cause of contamination are activities which included smelting and refining, lumber mill operations, and illegal dumping. Assessment of brownfields is expected to provide information about contamination and help expedite redevelopment along the shoreline corridor.

On Saturday, landscape architects from Idaho and Montana will come together to assist the communities in designing the trail which will run along the northwest shore of Lake Pend Oreille.

The event, the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail Charrette, will involve a day of architects working together to produce architectural renderings of the project. The idea is to then work from that particular plan in further design and planning discussions.

The design workshop will investigate options for the trail, including trailheads, linkages to existing trails and paths, education and interpretive opportunities, and trail location and design considerations.

“This is a great opportunity to roll up our sleeves with expert designers and explore how to maximize the possibilities of this trail corridor so that that it can be the pride and joy of residents throughout Bonner County,” said Erik Brubaker, Ponderay’s city planner.

At the end of the day there will be an open house at the Sandpoint Business and Events Center which will give the community an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the ideas and architectural renderings that result from the workshop.

“We’d like to encourage folks to attend to get engaged in this project and help us evaluate some of the possibilities,” said Steve Gill, DEQ Brownfields specialist

A community open house is scheduled Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sandpoint Business and Events Center to discuss Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail charrette. The public community will have an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the ideas and architectural renderings that result from the workshop

The Holiday Season Means Busy Time for Area Fundraisers

2009-10-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is approaching and soon the calendar will be filling up with parties and events to celebrate the season. But in Sandpoint the holidays mean much more than office parties.

It is a time when the community comes together to answer the appeal of several area nonprofit groups who desperately need financial help – whether it is to help the homeless through a cold and snowy winter, keep the shelves stocked at the local food banks, or assist the group home for abused and neglected children fund its ever increasing needs.

One of the holiday events, Holly Eve, is a favorite among residents. Its founder, Marilyn Sabella, first hosted Holly Eve 29 years ago – when she raised $1,500 – and hasn’t missed a year since. Over the years, countless nonprofit organizations have benefited from the Holly Eve Foundation. Sabella says last year was a milestone for the event.

“We broke the million dollar mark last year,” said Sabella, who attributes the success of the event to the extreme generosity of the people of Sandpoint. “I do not think this event could happen in very many communities. But in Sandpoint so many individuals and businesses come together to make it work.”

Due to its popularity, the event outgrew its previous venue and will be held at the Sandpoint Events Center for the second year. Proceeds will be donated to the Festival at Sandpoint, the Panida Theater, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Community Cancer Services and Bonner Community Hospice.

Sabella said the board of directors for Holly Eve Foundation typically funds programs that have difficulty obtaining funding from other sources.

“All of our board members have had personal experience with these organizations,” said Sabella.

This year’s event will take place on Nov. 21 and tickets are $25. There will be food from 18 area restaurants, champagne, live and silent auctions as well as entertainment and a fashion show. Tickets go on sale Monday and are available at Eve’s Leaves, the Festival at Sandpoint office and the downtown branch of Panhandle State Bank.

Another popular seasonal event is Kinderhaven’s Festival of Trees. Kinderhaven, a privately funded group home for abused and neglected children, held its first Festival in 2000. The staff and board of directors were thrilled when they raised just over $6,000. As the community learned more about the mission of Kinderhaven, the event rapidly grew in popularity and now typically makes around $150,000.

“We have made a name for ourselves in the community,” said board member Jacinda Bokowy. “It is too bad that a place like Kinderhaven has to exist, but that is the reality. There are children who are not safe in their own homes.”

Kinderhaven’s annual budget varies between $216,000 to $240,000, depending upon the number of children living in the home. During the past year Kinderhaven cared for an average of eight children each month.

According to Phyllis Horvath, Kinderhaven’s executive director, one of the biggest expenses is liability and worker’s compensation insurance which runs around $18,000.

“That’s a significant cost that most people probably wouldn’t intuitively think about,” said Horvath.

But organizers of this year’s event said that despite a struggling economy, the support of the community remains.

“Even in these hard economic times for a lot of our local businesses, it’s amazing to me that all they have to hear is, ‘I’m working on an auction package for Kinderhaven’ and they ask ‘what can I do?’ ” said Bokowy. “It just proves that we’re doing something right at Kinderhaven. This community really comes together when the children need us.”

The festival begins on Dec 3 with a free family night from 4 to 7 p.m. when the community is invited to view the decorated trees, wreaths and gift baskets. On Friday, Dec 4 there will be a holiday luncheon. Dec. 5 will be the progressive gala which will feature two events in one – a silent auction with hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar followed by dinner and the live auction of decorated trees. More information on how to get tickets to this event can be found at www.kinderhavensandpoint.com.

These are two of many fundraisers this community puts on during the next few months, and each year the same sentiment is echoed through this town: people are amazed at how much money can be raised in a town of just 8,000 people. But Sabella says these fundraisers are successful not due to a few people but because of many.

“People give what they can and when you put it all together it makes a big impact,” said Sabella

It is that spirit of giving that has earned Sandpoint the reputation of being more than a small town – it is the very definition of a community.

Sandpoint High School Students Plan for Model United Nations Trip

2009-10-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, students from Sandpoint High School will travel to New York City in March to participate in a Model United Nations conference. The trip is the culmination of a yearlong course that focuses on international issues including trade, terrorism, poverty and the control of nuclear weapons.

Sandpoint High School teacher Debbie Smith said the 27 students who attended last year came away with not only awareness of international issues but also a significant improvement in public speaking skills.

“They and I really learned how powerful learning through simulation is,” said Smith. “After the conference they had to give class presentations describing their experience and what they learned, and it was amazing how intelligently and comfortably they spoke on the really complicated international issues they debated in their committees, including topics such as weaponization of space, land mines, HIV-AIDS and other illnesses that affect the world.”

The International Relations/Model United Nations class is categorized as a social studies course, incorporating history, geography, government and economics. Through the course the students learn about several international issues while developing skills in public speaking, negotiation and debate.

“They not only spoke about these issues but they also could eloquently discuss the proposed solutions that their committees came up with,” said Smith. “It really would impress any adult who does not realize the potential of high school students to really think.”

The conference is typically attended by students from all 50 states and around the globe. The students will debate on the floor of the United Nations and cover issues which they have researched throughout the year.

The students are assigned one or two countries at the beginning of the year and study world issues as they pertain to those countries. Last year the Sandpoint students were assigned Ethiopia and Djibouti.

“It was eye-opening for the students to see U.S. foreign policy through another country’s eyes,” said Smith.

The cost of this year’s trip is $1,200 per student, $300 of which is funded by a grant from Panhandle Alliance for Education. This year 17 of Smith’s 19 students will travel to New York for the conference.

The first fundraiser will be held Nov. 14 at the Panhandle State Bank’s atrium in downtown Sandpoint. The students, dressed in international costume, will serve hors d’oeuvres, and there will be music performed by different groups including the Sandpoint High Steel Drum Band.

In keeping with the theme, international-food appetizers will be served. There will also be wine, beer and juice available.

The event is not only a good opportunity for students to raise money, but it also offers them an opportunity to educate the community on what they are doing in class and how they will benefit from this trip.

According to Smith, the success of the Model United Nations program requires a significant amount of community support.

“The challenge of fundraising is ever-present and we really need community sponsors,” she said.

Information:

A fundraiser for Sandpoint High School Model U.N. class will be Nov. 14 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Panhandle State Bank in Sandpoint. Tickets are $25 and are available at Outdoor Experience, Eichardt’s Pub and Monarch Mountain Coffee or by contacting the school.

To donate funds to the class, send a check to Sandpoint High School, SHSMUN, Attn: Lyn, 410 S. Division, Sandpoint, ID 83864. Donations are tax deductible.

For inquiries about the program, contact Debbie Smith at(208) 263-3034 or e-mail debbie.smith@lposd.org. The students are also looking for items to be donated for a silent auction

Bonners Ferry Community Reaches Out to Businesses in a Time of Need

2009-10-18T18:34:00.000-07:00

At a time when things were at an economic low for the auto industry, an unexpected setback struck Riverside Auto in Bonners Ferry. On Aug. 3, the community watched as the 6,500-square-foot building which housed the dealership’s sales department and accounting offices went up in flames. But the fire did not discourage the dealership owners.

“The next morning we were out digging through our stuff and setting up our sales department,” said Wendy Hawks, daughter of owners Bill and Linda Hiatt. While officials were never able to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire, it is believed to have been caused by an electrical cord in one of the offices.

The dealership, which sells Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge as well as used vehicles, was closed for half a day as community members stopped by offering condolences, bringing flowers and volunteering to help in any way possible. An accountant who also had an office in the building, said she experienced the same outpouring from the community, according to Bill Hiatt Jr., president of Riverside Auto.

Area businesses donated trailers to temporarily house the sales and accounting departments and the Chamber of Commerce sent pizzas.

According to the Hiatt family, rebuilding will take approximately 120 days.

“We are trying to hire as many local people as we can for the subcontracting,” said Linda Hiatt, explaining that their definition of local encompasses the area where much of their customer base comes from – Boundary and Bonner counties.

The mother-daughter team of Linda Hiatt and Hawks have offices temporarily set up in an RV – one that Linda and Bill typically take down south for part of the winter. This year, that will have to wait until construction of the new building is complete.

It’s a challenge to do the everyday work and meet with contractors to organize the rebuilding, but the staff of 24 is keeping a positive attitude.

When they designed the new building, Hiatt Jr. said they kept the needs of their customer in mind. They will have covered space outside for the delivery of new vehicles as well as a nice waiting area.

“It’s centered around the needs of our customers,” he said.

When the town was still recovering from the fire at Riverside Auto, another blaze shook it up on Aug. 27. TrussTek, a business operated by Bill Byler and his four sons, also went up in flames. The 41,000-square-foot building was a total loss. But like Riverside Auto, TrussTek was up and running in no time.

“We actually had at least part of a manufacturing line that was not in the building,” said Byler. “We were able to continue to build at a reduced level immediately.”

When the construction industry was booming, Byler said the company employed approximately 80 people.

“Of the business we did have (before the fire), we are operating at at least 50 to 75 percent.”

Because of the slow economy, Byler said they considered not rebuilding, but because of the community they knew they had to.

“That was the positive part of this whole thing,” said Byler. “The community came in and supported, encouraged and blessed us.”

He said two days after the fire approximately 100 people worked at their business from morning to evening to help clean up.

“The community offered us anything we needed,” said Byler.

Those at Riverside Auto said many in the community were concerned they would not rebuild.

“Especially with everything going on in the car industry,” said Hiatt Jr. But the idea not to rebuild did not enter their minds.

The Hiatt family says they are grateful to the community and were overwhelmed by generosity. “We would show up at a restaurant to eat and the owners would buy our meals,” said Hiatt Jr.

The kindness extended far beyond the borders of Bonners Ferry, as owners of their biggest competitors called to offer their support. “We heard from everyone,” said Hiatt Jr. “Greg Taylor (owner of Taylor-Parker Motor Co. in Sandpoint) even drove up here during the fire, just to make sure we were all OK.”

“That is the nice thing about living in a small community,” adds Linda Hiatt. “There are a lot of good people.”

The opening of the new building will give the family a chance to show their appreciation.

“We’ll have a big grand opening and make it something special to give back to the community,” said Hiatt Jr.

Harvest Ball Will Benefit Bonner County Food Bank

2009-10-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

Asking for help is never easy. But as the cost of living continues to increase, many people – especially seniors – are finding themselves having to make choices no one should have to make. This is something Alice Wallace witnesses almost every day.

Wallace is director of Bonner County Food Bank in Sandpoint. Her mother, Florence Carter, started the food bank in 1980 and Alice took over in 1997, a time when the food bank served approximately 2,100 people each month.

“It’s been a steady increase for years,” said Wallace, who adds that in August they served 4,200 clients – more than 10 percent of the population in Bonner County. Yet, the food bank still has only three employees, the same number as in 1997.

Wallace has many stories of her clients. One story she shares is of an elderly couple who recently visited the food bank for the first time. They held onto each other as their eyes perused the shelves. Wallace said she recognized the couple from the day before, when they came into the bank but left without saying a word. But on this day Wallace invited them into her office, talking to them and listening to their story.

The couple was like many others – having to make a choice between purchasing much-needed medications, paying their rent or purchasing food to put on the table. For the last two weeks they had eaten only bologna and white bread. But after filling out their list of preferred foods, the couple left with healthy food and hearts full of gratitude.

Wallace said she has seen more and more seniors, who are not used to asking for help, find the courage to come into the food bank, and she is grateful that they do.

“They will get by without or try to figure something out. But today they are on a fixed income, prices are increasing and they need our help,” said Wallace, who estimates that the Bonner County Food Bank will distribute at least 500,000 pounds of food this year.

“These are people losing their homes or are unable to pay for medication. It is devastating to a family when they have to go through something like that,” said Wallace.

In addition to food, Wallace has a new-coats-for-kids program. She stretches the grant money she receives, and this year was able to purchase $6,000 to $7,000 worth of coats for $900.

“We have so many families who have never had a new coat, hats or mittens,” said Wallace.

The food bank also distributes Salvation Army gas vouchers to travel to medical appointments, prescription vouchers and vouchers for diapers and infant formula.

Wallace said the process is simple. People only need to show that they are residents of Bonner County and bring proof of income. The application process takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

The food bank has an annual budget of $145,000, and is always in need of funds. Its sole fundraiser, the Fall Harvest Ball, will be Saturday night. The event began last year when a group of local chefs wanted to give back to the community that has supported them.

The concept behind the event is to have local chefs cook for those in the community who are hungry.

Local realtor Patrick Werry has the role of recruiting and coordinating restaurants and chefs.

“I am so impressed with the restaurant owners and the chefs with their participation,” said Werry. “The idea was put in front of them and it is awesome to see the passion they have for this event.”

Some of the participating restaurants include 41 South with Chef Jeremy Heidel, Trinity at City Beach with Chef Edsol Sneva and Dish Home Cooking with Chef Lucas Mason. Also participating is Pine Street Bakery.

Each restaurant will feature a course of the five-course meal, and entertainment will be provided by Carl Rey & the Blues Gators.

Last year the group reached its goal of $10,000 and this year they hope to raise even more.

“All of the money goes right back into Bonner County,” said Wallace. The event will be at the Sandpoint Events Center from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost is $50 per person, and Wallace said there are many items for people to bid on, including a bicycle, float plane ride, approximately 50 gift certificates to area stores and restaurants and an autographed shirt from former NFL player Jake Plummer.

The event will also serve as the kick-off to the Easy to Care Program. People can sign up to have monthly donations of as little as $5 automatically withdrawn from their bank accounts.

“Almost everyone has been affected in one way or another with our economy,” said Werry. “A small amount can go a long way in someone else’s life.”

For tickets to the Fall Harvest Ball, Saturday from 6-10 p.m. at Sandpoint Events Center, call Karel Miller at (208) 946-6646 or contact the food bank at(208) 263-3663. Tickets are $50 per person

Resorts Keep Access Affordable for Locals

2009-09-27T16:38:00.000-07:00

Until recently, many Sandpoint residents believed the paradise in which they live was a well-kept secret. But with local resorts such as the Idaho Club – a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course – and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort receiving national attention, the secret is getting out. And residents fear their year-round playground will soon become too expensive for many locals to afford.

When the Idaho Club first opened, many Sandpoint residents found the membership fee cost-prohibitive. There were grumblings among many that these resorts were becoming too expensive for those working and living in this area.

People spoke of possible solutions, among them giving discounts to local residents. This suggestion has been offered by the committee working on the Buy Local campaign in Sandpoint to businesses throughout Bonner County – spend money locally to reinvest in the community and keep friends and neighbors employed.

But Idaho Club owner Chuck Reeves said it was never the intent of the Idaho Club to be completely private. That is the reason that this summer it opened tee times to nonmembers and offered discounts to Bonner County residents.

“The business model for the Idaho Club has always contemplated outside, nonmember play on the course,” Reeves said. “As part of our real estate component, we have lodge homes that owners may place in a rental program with the club. Because of this, the golf course is not entirely private and probably never will be.”

Before 11 a.m. the course is open only to members of the Idaho Club, but from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this summer Bonner County residents were charged $110 plus tax for a round of golf, as opposed to $125 that was charged to nonresidents. From 2 to 4 p.m. the rate went down to $65 for Bonner County residents while nonresidents paid $80. Since Labor Day, the twilight rate begins at 1 p.m.

“It’s really a good-neighbor policy,” said Idaho Club director Mike Deprez, adding that the new fee schedule was popular with Bonner County residents.

Schweitzer resort offers discounts
People are hoping that Schweitzer Mountain Resort follows the path paved by the Idaho Club.

But Tom Chasse, CEO of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, said that while there are no plans to make such an offering exclusive to Bonner County residents, the resort offers special rates throughout the season and gives back to the community in many ways.

“If there is any rate decrease, why just limit it to Bonner County?” said Chasse, adding that to do so would limit the reach of its services and what it can do for the community of Sandpoint.

A Day for Heather is an annual event during which Schweitzer sells $10 lift tickets all day. This year the event is scheduled for Dec. 11, and all the proceeds generated that day are donated to a local nonprofit organization that benefits cancer patients.

“Imagine if we limited the rate for Day for Heather (to Bonner County residents),” said Chasse.

Schweitzer hosts other events throughout the year that benefit other local organizations, such as the Rotary.

In a further effort to give back to the community, Schweitzer opens the mountain on Friday and Saturday evenings from 3 to 7 beginning each January and sells lift tickets to local groups for $4. The groups then sell them to the public, with the profits going to help their organizations.

Chasse points out there is a large advantage to offering reduced rates beyond the borders of Bonner County.

“Our job in the winter time is to get people to the area who can take advantage of all that Sandpoint has to offer,” said Chasse.

While the Idaho Club and Schweitzer Mountain may take a different approach, both in their own way are giving back to the community, helping to stimulate the local economy and, most importantly, keeping Bonner County’s playgrounds affordable.

Walt Minnick to Speak at Annual Wild Idaho North! on October 3rd

2009-09-27T16:31:00.000-07:00

On Saturday in Sandpoint, the Idaho Conservation League will host the 13th annual Wild Idaho North! to highlight energy issues as they relate to the future of North Idaho.

The event, Idaho and Energy: Common Cents Conservation, will feature presentations by U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, Roger Valdez of Sightline Institute, a sustainability think tank in Seattle, and staff from the Idaho Conservation League. The day will be devoted to discussion on issues of conservation, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Minnick will speak on energy issues and other topics, and Valdez will address energy efficiency and policy. Valdez is a research associate at Sightline Institute, a nonprofit research and communications center that concentrates on the Pacific Northwest.

Organizers of the event say that this year there will be a chance to learn on a more interactive basis. Attendees are invited to participate in an educational competition called the Pacific Northwest Futures Game.

The game was created by the University of Idaho and Innovative Leadership Australia, an economic development group, and explores the impact that decisions made by both public and private sectors have on the economy, environment and well-being of the community.

Participants are divided into teams and work together to address issues such as investing public funds and land use.

The challenge is to find the balance between being good stewards of the environment while also focusing on economic development.

Attendees who wish to participate in this specific event should arrive at 2 p.m.

Later in the event, there will be a happy hour with an open beer and wine bar and appetizers from area restaurants. There will also be items up for auction some of which will include a ski weekend at Schweitzer Mountain Resort and a raft trip.

All proceeds will benefit the Idaho Conservation League.

What: 13th annual Wild Idaho North!, Idaho and Energy: Common Cents Conservation

When: Saturday, 2 to 7 p.m.

Where: Sandpoint Business and Events Center

Cost: $45

Information: Register by contacting the Idaho Conservation League at www.idahoconservation.org or calling (208) 265-9565

NAMI Far North Hosts Fundriaser and Information Event September 26th

2009-09-20T09:28:00.000-07:00

In Sandpoint, neighbors and friends are like family. It is part of what makes this town a true community. Those involved with a relatively new Sandpoint organization, NAMI Far North, hope the people of this town will embrace community members who struggle with day-to-day challenges.

NAMI Far North is the Sandpoint chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. On Saturday, the group will hold an event called Take a Seat at the Table – an ice cream social that will bring people together to raise money and awareness of diseases that have long been misunderstood and whose victims suffer in silence due to the stigma frequently associated with mental illnesses.

“This event is both a public-awareness and fundraising event,” said Ruth McKnight, founding vice president of NAMI Far North. “We’d like to inform people about our monthly meetings and support services. We want to start using information and education to dispel the misconceptions about mental illness and enlighten the bad ideas that have contributed to so much stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness.”

Take a Seat at the Table is aimed at community involvement.

“The metaphor of the table stresses the idea that at the family dinner table, everyone has needs – needs for nourishment, conversation, connectedness, affirmation, belonging,” McKnight said. “We all have needs, but we all also have something to contribute.”

In keeping with the theme, chairs, benches and stools decorated by local artists will be auctioned off in addition to a table from a Bonner’s Ferry furniture maker and several other items including gift certificates for restaurants, a weekend getaway and quilts.

According to those involved with NAMI, mental health care receives less attention and financial support than that given to other illnesses; and that is partially due to misconceptions.

“As I listen to people talk about mental illness, I detect a pervasive underlying misunderstanding about the neurobiological nature of brain disorders. People do not think of mental illnesses as diseases like any other, such as diabetes or cancer. They think of them as character flaws or lack of will power or as someone’s fault,” McKnight said. “Few people comprehend that mental illnesses can be chemical in nature, or related to malformation of the brain itself, or can be caused by injury or be triggered by trauma.”

Since it was formed by a group of five people in 2007, NAMI Far North has grown to over 40 members. In addition to supporting and sharing with those who suffer from mental illness, the group also lends support to family and friends of those with a mental illness.

The group meets the third Wednesday of every month – with the exception of December – at Bonner General Hospital. McKnight said it provides an important service that people may not otherwise receive.

Part of NAMI Far North’s mission of educating the public on mental illness includes an 11-week class in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry called Family-to-Family. Taught by trained NAMI family members, the course provides information, insight, understanding and empowerment to family and friends of individuals with serious mental illness.

The proceeds raised at Saturday’s event will allow NAMI Far North to expand its mission in North Idaho, including the training of law enforcement.

“We are already spearheading the Crisis Intervention Team training in the five northernmost counties of Idaho, with 22 officers already certified as CIT experts equipped to handle psychiatric emergency and mental illness disturbance call-outs with better outcomes,” McKnight said. “We plan to train and certify another 24 officers in February in a second CIT Academy in Kootenai County in February 2010.”

If you go

Take a Seat at the Table
What: Ice cream social and silent and live auction. Live music, family friendly.

When: Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m.

Where: Panhandle State Bank atrium, 414 Church St., Sandpoint.

Cost: $10 per person or $25 for a four-person family. Tickets are available at Eve’s Leaves, Common Knowledge Bookstore and Tea Shop in Sandpoint, Bonners Books in Bonners Ferry and Outskirts Gallery in Hope.

On the Web: www.nami.org

Pawsitive Works Pairs At Risk Youth With Shelter Dogs

2009-09-20T09:26:00.001-07:00

Seven years ago Karen Schumacher visited a prison in Washington and saw inmates interacting with dogs. She was intrigued.

“It was amazing to watch,” said Schumacher explaining that the human-animal connection builds trust and contributes to the mental and physical wellness of the prisoners.

The experience motivated her to begin Pawsitive Works, a six-week program that links youths in the juvenile probation program with shelter dogs. The goal of the program is to instruct the youths to recognize behavioral issues in the dogs and use behavior modification and positive reinforcement tools to modify not only the dog’s behavior but the child’s as well.

The result is an increased self-esteem for the child and a respect for the needs of others – and of course a dog that is more likely to be adopted due to his good behavior.

To begin, Schumacher and other professionals spent the last several years researching educational materials that are compatible to both the children and the dogs and established guidelines to keep both the kids and dogs safe.

The curriculum for Pawsitive Works was the result of a collaboration of many, including Rhonda Hamerslough who has her Ph.D. in education and Jackie Crawford who is a family and youth therapist.

The pilot program was finally put into action in Boundary County last February linking youths from Boundary County with animals from area shelters.

The program, which is funded through donations and is beginning to receive some grants, was deemed a huge success.

“The first couple of sessions we review (the dog’s) body language,” said Schumacher. The youths look at photos as well as observe dogs from the shelters and learn to identify when a dog may be weary, excited, over stimulated or stressed.

The animals and youths are matched up according to their personality traits.

“If we have a hyper young person who has a hard time focusing, it would be wonderful to match that youth with a dog who may also have a hard time staying focused,” said Schumacher, explaining that the young person will need to slow down and focus their own behavior to help the dog do the same.

The probation department refers the youth to the program, and applications are submitted to Pawsitive Works.

“As an organization we have the right to question whether a particular child would be a good fit for the program,” said Schumacher. “But the probation officers really are in the best position to assess who would be the best candidates.”

Schumacher said the program will be sold to various entities, and she and her staff will continue to provide support.

“We will always be available to help and consult,” said Schumacher.

Because animal shelters typically do not have much in the way of discretionary funds, the county purchases the program and the shelter contributes in a variety of ways.

Schumacher said the shelters in Bonner and Boundary counties have agreed to hold the animals in their facility for the duration of the program, even if they are adopted midway through the class. It provides stability for the animals during the training process.

“Shelters are overcrowded everywhere so that is asking a lot of them,” said Schumacher.

She and her colleagues will track the progress of both the animals and the youths to determine the long-term effects of the program. They will be in contact with the probation officers to see whether the youths have reoffended or violated the terms of their probation.

With the pilot program hailed a success in Boundary County, a six-week program began last week in Bonner County. Four youths on probation will partner with dogs from area shelters.

During the pilot program Schumacher says one of the participants, a young man, was initially uncommunicative giving only monosyllabic answers. But by the third session he was rolling around on the ground and playing with the dog and at the fourth session he was interacting and providing suggestions for behavior modification.

“It was a real breakthrough and very heartwarming,” Schumacher said.

Pawsitive Works is currently forming its board of directors and is always in need of volunteers. If interested in serving on the board or volunteering, contact Karen Schumacher at(208) 946-3883or log onto www. pawsitiveworks.com.

Bar Owner's Boycott of Philadelphia Eagles Receives Mixed Reviews

2009-09-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

The day highly anticipated by football fans everywhere has finally arrived. Today marks the opening day of the 2009 NFL season.

From now until the Super Bowl, sports enthusiasts will gather around the TV to watch their favorite teams battle it out. Whether it is in one’s family room, neighbor’s house or the local sports bar, gathering to watch Sunday afternoon or Monday night football is a tradition in this country.

But what if your favorite team signs a player who has just been released from prison, and in protest of that player’s behavior the local sports bar refuses to air any game in which that team plays? That is the case at Slate’s Prime Time Grill and Sports Bar just north of Sandpoint in Ponderay. Slates, which has 20 HD television screens throughout the bar and restaurant, is a favorite of many sports enthusiasts in this area.

Steve Coffman, the owner of Slate’s, has made it known that he is disgusted that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed Michael Vick, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterback who was just released from federal prison, where he served 18 months in addition to six months of house arrest on charges of running a dogfighting operation.

The case brought national attention to the extreme cruelty bestowed upon man’s best friend. Evidence showed that if dogs did not perform according to expectations, Vick and others violently killed them by means such as hanging, drowning and electrocution.

Coffman is an animal lover and has joined other restaurant and bar owners in the nationwide Sack Vick campaign – boycotting all Philadelphia Eagles games as well as the team’s corporate sponsors.

As part of the campaign, Web sites are marketing T-shirts stating things like “Hide your beagle, Vick’s an Eagle” and “Hey, Michael, how would you like to be hung, electrocuted or drowned for not performing well enough?”

But with scandals such as famed quarterback Brett Favre’s addiction to painkillers in the 1990s – and more recently Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth, who was involved in a DUI vehicular manslaughter incident which landed him a full year suspension – what is the surprise of another NFL player falling from grace? After all, if sports bars were to boycott every team whose players were in trouble with the law, they would in all likelihood not be showing many games.

Although phone calls to Coffman went unreturned, the Slate’s owner has said in television interviews that this is the final straw – “enough is enough,” he told one television reporter.

But what do Sandpoint residents feel about this move?

Martin Rodriguez of Sandpoint is a die-hard football fan, and while he says he thinks Vick should have served more time than he did, he also does not agree with boycotting a team because of a crime for which a player has served time.

“Obviously they (the Eagles) signed a player who had done something wrong, but he did serve his time,” said Rodriguez. “I don’t know what else people want him to do.”

But as Coffman told a television news reporter last month, “How can I cheer for a team or a player, knowing what he’s done? It seems like they get in trouble, get a slap on the hand by the commissioner, and they’re back playing sports, making millions of dollars.”

In a time when businesses are doing all they can to make a profit, the fact that Steve Coffman is boycotting the Philadelphia Eagles and its sponsors is refreshing. If more people stood up for what they believe in and made a statement even when it has the potential of costing them business, perhaps the NFL would not be signing convicted felons. Mr. Coffman, I, for one, applaud you.

Lake-A-Syst Program Offers Education for Landowners and Developers

2009-09-14T11:08:00.000-07:00

One reason people move to this area is the setting. Nestled among the mountains, Sandpoint sits on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille. But a growing concern for this community and others like it is the ability to maintain and preserve the quality of the water.

Molly McCahon is the coordinator for the Lakeshore Assessment System program, known as Lake-A-Syst, sponsored by Bonner Soil and Water Conservation District. She said the key is to educate property owners at the early stage of land development. She works with landowners on Priest Lake, Twin Lakes and Lake Pend Oreille, instructing them on ways to protect their water from chemicals and environmental pollutants.

“It is more effective to reach people before they make decisions on land development,” said McCahon, adding that it is more difficult to make changes once designs have been put in place. “It is important to let people know what would happen in the future if we don’t take care of our lake now.”

She cites erosion, algae blooms in swimming areas, and continual spending on the treatment of aquatic invasive weeds as examples.

This year Lake-A-Syst received three grants, including an $8,000 award from the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. With educational materials already available to property owners on Lake Pend Oreille, this year’s grant money will be used to develop materials for the Priest Lake and Twin Lakes areas.

Linda O’Hare, district administrator for Bonner Soil and Water Conservation, describes the materials as a nine-chapter booklet that provides education and tools for assessing whether residents and businesses are doing their part to maintain good water quality.

“At the end of each chapter is a self-assessment test,” O’Hare said. “People can determine whether they are high risk or low risk when it comes to making good decisions on the water quality.”

Topics covered include lawn and garden management, household wastewater treatment, landscape and new construction, management of storm water runoff, and household hazardous waste and petroleum products management, as well as a brief discussion on Eurasian milfoil.

“The booklet is designed for shoreline landowners, but it is useful to everyone” said McCahon.

A key component of the education is to target landscapers and contractors upon whom landowners rely when making their landscaping decisions. McCahon attends garden shows, home improvement shows, and other related events and is currently developing a class to further educate these groups of professionals.

From what she observes along the shoreline, McCahon said there is much that can be done to improve the care of the shorelines.

Issues such as overfertilizing a lawn can become a problem because turf has a shallow root system; if the lawn extends all the way to the shoreline, the water can easily become contaminated. McCahon also said phosphorus contamination can develop into other issues.

“You do not want phosphorus in the water because it encourages the growth of aquatic weeds, such as Eurasian milfoil, and causes algae blooms. As we all know too well, Eurasian milfoil has become a huge problem in Lake Pend Oreille,” said McCahon.

With a degree in landscape architecture, McCahon helps landowners design vegetative buffers and implement their plan.

“The landowner supplies the plants, materials and labor,” said McCahon who provides fifteen hours of her time to a landowner at no charge.

She goes door to door distributing the materials and walks the property with the landowners, offering suggestions when needed.

“We are here because of our lake, and with the increase in development comes the increased risk of pollution,” said McCahon. “If we don’t take care of it, we may lose the quality of life we currently enjoy. I just want to see responsible development.”

For more information on the Lake-A-Syst program, go to www.plrcd.org/lakeasyst/ or call Molly McCahon at (208) 263-5310

Bonner County Jail Garden Thrives Under the Care of its Inmates

2009-09-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

Hidden behind the buildings of the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office in Sandpoint is a sight one wouldn’t expect to see on jail grounds. A beautiful garden of three-quarters of an acre.

Tended to from spring until the fall freeze by inmates at Bonner County Jail, the garden provides food to area food banks and senior centers. But it does much more than feed the county’s less fortunate; it feeds the spirits of those who are responsible for its success.

Sgt. Bob Van Buren oversees the Inmate Labor Program. He said working in the garden has a positive effect on the men’s attitudes.

“Once they’re out here a bit they take ownership,” Van Buren said. “They take a lot of pride in it.”

The garden first began in the 1990s when Sheriff Chip Roos was in command. Back then it was a small garden used to supplement the jail kitchen.

The program waned, but was started up again under Sheriff Elaine Savage and has continued to grow over the past few years. Now Sheriff Daryl Wheeler has assured Van Buren that in spite of budget cuts, the garden will remain. And that’s a good thing.

“I’d go down fighting,” said Van Buren, obviously proud of the work his crew has accomplished.

The garden includes beets, zucchini, squash, pumpkins, potatoes, turnips, tomatoes and corn, all of which are distributed to food banks throughout the county.

Some of the men have never spent any time gardening and learn from one another.

“They learn a lot of responsibility,” said Van Buren, whose role is purely supervisory. “They make all the decisions and are very polite. The ones I have to police don’t last.”

Their work has earned the inmates three blue ribbons in the past two years at the Bonner County Fair.

As of late August, they had harvested more than 4,600 pounds of produce and expect to exceed last year’s total of 7,566 pounds.

“It’s great for the community, and it is good for us,” said inmate Robert Kraly who has worked in the garden for two months. “It gives us a feeling of accomplishment watching it grow.”

Josh Russell has worked in the garden since April. With no experience, he began by tilling the garden. Now the newcomers look to him for guidance.

“It makes me feel better that we are helping the community,” Russell said.

Perhaps the real reward comes when the inmates accompany Van Buren on the food deliveries.

“It’s good for those in the community to see us doing something good instead of getting into trouble,” said inmate Josh Freiburger. “I like seeing the smile on people’s faces when we deliver the food.”

But the Inmate Labor Program is not limited to work in the garden. Inmates have helped remodel the courthouse; performed construction projects at the former Federal Building; worked at the Priest River substation; and worked at the county shop. In the winter they also shovel snow for the county and area seniors.

For many it is a chance to also learn a new skill such as carpentry or vehicle repair.

“It shows them that they can work in society,” Undersheriff Bob Bussey said.

According to Bussey, the inmates are assigned work based on behavior, attitude and their classification as a prisoner. Over the past couple of years, the total savings to the county due to work performed by inmates, excluding the salary for the supervisor, totals $394,709. “And that is a conservative estimate,” Bussey said.

He said the program participants are not violent offenders and are well-supervised.

Bussey said the program would not be as successful as it is without Van Buren. But there have been others who have contributed as well, including the Bonner County Extension Office and the Master Gardeners Program.

“It’s been a very good program,” Bussey said. “A community project.”

Ugandan Children Bring Message of Hope Through Song to Sandpoint Community

2009-08-30T16:44:00.001-07:00

Nine months ago they lived in extreme poverty in Uganda. Their stories are of desperation, sadness, abuse and loneliness. Many of them are orphaned. Others have parents who are unable to care for them.

But today they have a voice; and those voices sing out a message of hope. The children are members of the Matsiko (which means hope in their native language) Children’s Choir, a choir of International Children’s Network. They were guests in Sandpoint for a week in early August and instantly made their way into the hearts of residents.

“It breaks my heart to have to say goodbye to them,” said Tamara Scrimsher, whose family sponsors a child and served as host family to two children during the visit.

Sandpoint was just one of many stops for the choir, which arrived in the United States in June. They will travel throughout the Midwest and western United States until March, sharing their stories and their voices.

According to Don Windham, founder and president of International Children’s Network, as late as last November these children lived in remote villages of Uganda. The fact that they are here is nothing short of a miracle, he said. Getting a passport for a child who is orphaned and for whom they cannot find a record of birth is next to impossible.

“It is difficult to even get citizenship,” said Windham.

Windham and Sandpoint resident Heather Pedersen, who traveled to Uganda in March to assist Windham, participated in several discussions with authorities, trying to procure the proper paperwork to allow the children to leave the country.

The obstacles were many, but Pedersen said she didn’t mind. “I am very grateful for the (country’s) protectiveness of the children,” she said.

Pedersen said she first became familiar with the Matsiko Children’s Choir when last year’s choir came to Sandpoint. They were short on host housing, so she opened up her home. Instead of having children stay there, she housed Windham, staff and other adults.

“We had a week together and I was able to learn more (about the program),” said Pedersen. Her background is in strategic planning, marketing and technical support – talents which she thought could benefit International Children’s Network.

While in Sandpoint this year, the children performed at the Festival at Sandpoint, at an evening fundraiser for Uganda and for nonprofit agencies in Sandpoint, and at area churches. Their energy was contagious and the community instantly welcomed the group.

At the evening fundraiser, slide shows and video showed the land from which the children came. In a country the size of Oregon, children wander the streets barefoot and dirty, in torn clothes, and their faces show no signs of hope.

Sponsorship of $30 a month gives the children hope that in the future they will be able to provide for their own family and will break the vicious cycle of poverty. Something unique to International Children’s Network, said Pedersen, is that sponsorship provides a child education all the way through university.

“We need to remember that ending poverty is not just about feeding them, it is about education,” said Pedersen.

Anna, a 10-year-old girl, captured the audience’s attention at the Festival at Sandpoint and at the fundraiser when she bounced on stage and urged the audience to be quiet and listen. But the audience heard nothing. Anna said that was her for many years; silent and without a voice.

“Now, I have a voice and speak for all the orphaned and at-risk children in the whole entire world,” she said.

She told the audience there are 600 million children worldwide just like her – orphaned or at risk. If they all joined hands they would circle the globe 18 times.

After hearing the stories and listening to the children’s voices people lined up to become sponsors.

For Pedersen, the most moving sight while in Uganda was that of the children praying.

“They are angels’ voices talking to God,” she said of the 10 minutes each evening that the children spent thanking and praising God.

There are now 5,000 children sponsored through International Children’s Network and each one has a special story. And they also have hope. Both Pedersen and Windham say the children have been lied to all of their lives and until now they have had difficulty placing trust in anyone. But that has changed.

“The reason they have hope is because they’ve seen it work,” said Windham.

Sandpoint Economy Doing Well In Spite of Economic Downturn

2009-08-30T16:39:00.000-07:00

A recession? You could have fooled those in downtown Sandpoint during this past month. With activities such as artist tours, an arts & crafts fair, a fun run and of course the Festival at Sandpoint, the streets were backed up, the parking lots were full and the majority of those driving through the downtown corridor had out of state license plates.

It was a welcomed sight for what many feared would be a slow tourist season in this resort community.

Gloria Waterhouse, owner of the Inn at Sand Creek, said this year has been an exceptional year for her business. She credits that in part to the fact that couples, especially non-residents, are choosing Sandpoint as a beautiful setting for their weddings.

“A lot of people chose Sandpoint this summer for their destination weddings,” said Waterhouse who adds that the Inn’s suites have been at maximum capacity nearly every weekend. “Extended families and friends will book the entire property for the weekend.”

Waterhouse also owns the Sand Creek Grill which closed last year, but has been the sight of many wedding receptions and ceremonies this summer. As far as future plans for the Grill, Waterhouse said “Stay tuned.”

It is not just the hospitality industry that has been successful this summer in Sandpoint. Retail sales, although slower, are still better than expected.
Pend d’Oreille Winery in downtown Sandpoint is a favorite stop for many tourists. Owner Steve Meyer said that while this year’s sale of merchandise has slowed, wine sales stayed steady or had a modest increase.

While Meyer says that the beauty of Sandpoint as well as the arts community and outstanding restaurants will always attract tourists to this area, he credits the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce with continuing to market Sandpoint as a tourist destination.

“The Tourism Committee of the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce has done a great job of pulling together the major players in the tourism business which has really helped to maintain the Sandpoint brand as a sure bet for limited tourism dollars,” said Meyer.

Ray Smith, owner of Athlete’s Choice in downtown Sandpoint, said that while his business has slowed down from last summer’s pace, the tourists and locals have continued to visit his downtown store.

"The majority (of the tourists) are from Canada,” said Smith. “We have a great customer base from there who visit us every year.”

Smith said the opening of a Big 5 in Sandpoint does not seem to have affected business at his sporting goods store.

“We have not had to lay off any employees for this summer,” said Smith. “Our profits started dipping due to the economy before Big 5 moved in, and we carry a lot of different things than Big 5 so we are not really in direct competition with them.”

Grant Merwin, owner of Merwin’s Hardware, knows what it is like to have a big box store threaten one’s livelihood. A few years ago Home Depot opened in nearby Ponderay, but Merwin said Sandpoint residents have remained loyal to the locally owned store. So when the economy started taking a downturn, Merwin said he was surprised to hear rumors circulating that his store was closing its doors.

“That is totally false,” said Merwin. “We are alive and well and moving in a positive direction.”

While Merwin did have to lay off one of his employees, he said what has been about a 20 percent decrease in sales this year, in part due to the lack of construction in the area and the economic status of the entire country, has proven to be a lesson in business and a reinforcement of the faith he has in his customers.

“We cut our inventory down so instead of carrying 12 of a certain item, we now may carry 6 of that item,” said Merwin. “We are running a lot more efficient now.”

Merwin added that his loyal customers have been the reason for the store’s years of success, and they have continued to support him even during challenging economic times.

“What drives our business is the local residents,” said Merwin who adds that he is grateful for their continued patronage. “People are very patient when we tell them we have to order an item that we normally would have carried. They are very willing to wait a couple of days.”

Merwin adds that what could also fuel the belief that the economy is weak is the tendency for businesses to keep raising the bar.

“If we had the numbers we have today ten years ago, we would have been jumping for joy,” said Merwin. “But as the numbers increase so do our expectations. Maybe we are setting the bar too high.”

Merwin said that his store has definitely seen a trend in the positive direction over the last several months and it is one he believes will continue.

So for now, local business owners are pleased that the economic climate has not affected this community as badly as it has other areas in the country; and if tourism continues and people continue to discover Sandpoint, the entire local economy will continue to do well.
“Sandpoint is still one of the most beautiful places around,” said Waterhouse. “A lot of people are still making this their vacation destination.”

Battles Over Treatment of Milfoil in Lake Pend Oreille Leaves Residents Seeking for Alternative Solutions

2009-08-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

August in Sandpoint. There are few settings more ideal for a summer vacation.

The weather is warm and the lake temperature is just right for swimming, skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. But what appears to be picture perfect is not always so. Again this year, residents and visitors are confused about the safety of swimming in Lake Pend Oreille during the month of August.

The culprit? The chemical application used in late summer to treat Eurasian milfoil – an underwater plant that begins to grow in early spring and inhibits the growth of other plants that are beneficial to the ecology of lakes and rivers.

Terry McNabb, the owner and manager of AquaTechnex, the company Bonner County’s Public Works Department has contracted to treat the milfoil, assures residents that the chemicals used are safe.

“The EPA has studied these products extensively. When EPA issues a label or license to sell and apply an aquatic herbicide, the research they have performed specifically looks at the issue (of safety for swimmers),” said McNabb. “The U.S. EPA spends about 10 years researching aquatic herbicides prior to allowing them for application to water. They have to meet much stricter criteria than most other products.”

The milfoil plant was discovered in the United States in the early 1900s and can now be found in rivers and lakes throughout North America. According to the Department of Ecology, milfoil is easily spread among bodies of water on boats, trailers and fishing poles.

As it grows, milfoil forms dense vegetation on the surface of the water, depriving the water of oxygen and trapping sediments.

In late summer the milfoil plants become brittle, breaking apart and spreading, making August the ideal month to apply treatments.

AquaTechnex, whose work is funded by a grant from the Idaho Department of Agriculture, began its work in Lake Pend Oreille on Aug. 10, and McNabb said the project will stretch across approximately 70 miles of shoreline. The first chemical applied is a granular herbicide that is placed on a pellet and has a timed release over a period of 24 hours. According to AquaTechnex, its only prohibition is for human consumption or for irrigation of certain plants – otherwise it is perfectly safe. The company then follows up with another herbicide application.

“Both of the products approved by the U.S. EPA for this project have been cleared to be used without the imposition of a swimming restriction,” said McNabb, who added that his company posts notices along the shorelines 48 hours prior to application to advise people of the project.

Some have reservations
In spite of reassurances, some residents aren’t buying it.

Sagle resident Suzan Fiskin moved here from Seattle 2 ½ years ago in part because of the beauty of the area. She has attended meetings, questioned the company that is administering the chemical treatments and says she is appalled at the lack of research into alternative environmentally friendly ways to treat the milfoil. Furthermore, she says, she has yet to be convinced that there is a problem.

“The most precious commodity we have and the one that is in highest demand is fresh water,” said Fiskin. “And to not even consider nontoxic and noninvasive alternatives before poisoning our pristine lake is unconscionable. I never saw that it (chemical-free alternatives) was ever on the table.”

Fiskin says she knows people who live on the river who have not even received notice of when this will be done.

“They have done nothing to inform people who will be most affected by this,” said Fiskin.

She also said that she knows people who have suffered from rashes, nausea and illnesses, due, she says, to the chemicals treating the milfoil.

Requests for delays
Some residents have requested that AquaTechnex wait until at least the end of the summer, specifically after Labor Day, to begin the treatments. But AquaTechnex says timing is critical to the effectiveness of the treatment and must be done during the month of August when the plant is at a specific stage of growth.

McNabb said a nonchemical alternative such as harvesting can be effective but is extremely expensive and takes a great deal of time.

“The real issue in this system is these other technologies are well beyond the budget, because of the area that needs to be targeted and because of the objective of reducing the population dramatically. Bottom barriers, for example, cost about $1 per square foot and there are 43,560 square feet per acre,” said McNabb.

But Scott Rief, owner of Rief Diving in Sandpoint, disagrees. Rief says he uses two different methods to rid an area of milfoil – dredging and bottom barriers. To assist in the dredging Rief said he uses a large pump that moves 500 gallons of water per minute. Since milfoil typically does not grow in deep water, the diver is assisted by someone on the barge to help keep on track.

The barrier method is performed by placing a 10-by-10-foot square, made out of PVC and road fabric and weighted down by sand, over the infested area. The barrier deprives the milfoil of sunlight and kills it.

According to Rief the barrier method is the preferred method, as there is less room for human error. Either method, however, is chemical free.

Rief attempted to place bids when the treatment started a few years ago but says he was met with much opposition from state officials and was not able to obtain the required permits until the bidding deadline had passed.

Rief said he also had extensive support from local people willing to help out financially just to prevent chemicals from being dumped into the lake.

“I thought it was great,” said Rief. “I had a lot of private people willing to pay out of their pocket to help the lake and their waterfront.”

In 2006 Bonner County became eligible to receive funding from the state Department of Agriculture for the treatment of milfoil and that year AquaTechnex won the bid and targeted approximately 4,000 acres of the plant. A different firm won the bid in 2007 and 2008, but AquaTechnex has returned this year to apply the treatments.

McNabb said that in 2004 the surveys performed determined the plant covered an area of approximately 6,700 acres in the Pend Oreille lake and river system. Today he says that number is under 1,000 acres, showing that the treatments are highly effective.

Long-term solutions urged
Fiskin said she would like to see a committee formed that would look into a long-term solution instead of what she says is short-term thinking. She would also like a full investigation into the cumulative effect of the chemicals. “But I don’t see that the natural alternatives even have an opportunity unless it is self-funding,” she said. “It is all about the money.”

Jennifer Ekstrom, the executive director for Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper, said she believes the conditions in Lake Pend Oreille and the river this year seem conducive to divers dredging the lake as opposed to using any chemical treatments.

“When it comes to protecting our magnificent lake that we all enjoy, I would like to take a conservative approach,” Ekstrom said.

Sandpoint Mourns the Loss of Hazel Hall

2009-08-23T15:33:00.000-07:00

Two weeks before her death, 96-year-old Hazel Hall had lunch with her friends at the home of Jim and Mary Walter. There, she laughed and celebrated in the hot summer sun. It was the last time the close-knit group was together and a memory that those who survive Hall will hold closely in their hearts.

“Her mantra was ‘attitude and gratitude,’ ” said friend Sue Brooks. “She thanked God every day for her family and friends and health. She was a woman of deep faith.”

Hall was preceded in death by her husband, Ross Hall, in 1990. He was a nationally known photographer, and together they ran the Ross Hall Studio in Sandpoint, which at one time employed nearly 100 people.

Hall proudly shared that she ran the couple’s studio on her own while Ross was stationed at Farragut during the war.

“I was the only photographer in the county for a while,” said Hall in May.

Hall did much to contribute to the community she called home since 1932. Raising three children, Hall was an important part of their activities, including Campfire and Scouting. She also worked with several community organizations, including a civic club that helped build trails and plant flowers; assisted in the Little Theater; and was an instrumental part in the start-up of what is now Pend Oreille Arts Council.

Recognizing her contributions to the community, the mayor of Sandpoint declared Hazel Hall Day on her 95th birthday last year.

As part of that celebration, people donated time and money to create something memorable in Hall’s honor. After a year of planning, a Children’s Garden, located at Bonner General Hospital’s Healing Garden, was dedicated in May of this year.

Although healthy and engaging up until the end, Hall had said she was ready to begin the next phase of her journey.

“She told me in May that she would be ready (to die) in August, after all her grandkids were here for a visit in July,” said Hall’s friend Barb Perusse, who shared Hall’s birthday.

Barbara Merritt said Hall told her at the luncheon that she had seen her late husband’s face a lot lately.

“Maybe that is a sign,” Hall told Merritt.

As her friends gathered last weekend and reminisced, they all had special memories.

“I love the way she always pounded her fist on the table if she wanted to make a point,” said Jim Walter.

When she greeted her friends she would put her hands on their face and look caringly into their eyes. “It was as if she was trying to memorize your face,” said Sherri O’Brien.

“Hazel always had a clever limerick for every occasion,” said Sue Brooks. “Often she made one up right on the spot.”

Brooks and her friend Marsha Ogilvie took turns making sure that Hall always had fresh flowers.

“Every time one of us went to her place with the flowers she always lit up with delight and clapped her hands together and said ‘Oh boy! How did you know? I was just about to throw the old ones out.’ And then she would giggle,” said Brooks. “It was the same thing every time. We loved it.”

Many in Sandpoint are mourning her loss and celebrating her incredible life. They say they were privileged to know such a wonderful woman.

“If we are lucky, someone comes along and touches our heart forever,” said Brooks. “I will treasure every moment I had with her and I am incredibly blessed that she was my friend.”

Sandpoint High School's Cindy Smith Voted Idaho Dance Team Coach of the Year

2009-08-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Cindy Smith doesn’t fool around when it comes to coaching the Sandpoint High School dance team.

She sets her expectations high and the young women whom she instructs always rise to the occasion. It is because of those expectations and hard work that the dance team from this small North Idaho community consistently places near the top in state competitions.

Earlier this summer Smith, who is starting her seventh year at Sandpoint High School, was voted 2009 Idaho Dance Team Coach of the Year by the Idaho State Dance and Cheer Association. It was an honor that Smith says was totally unexpected, but one that Jennifer Prandato says was highly deserved.

Prandato is one of the co-captains of this year’s dance team and is entering her senior year at Sandpoint. She has danced under Smith’s instruction for six years and praises Smith not only for the lessons in dance but the lessons in life she has taught her.

“She teaches us dance second and teaches us how to live our lives first,” said Prandato.

Smith, whose team practices year round, introduces each new year by holding a team meeting. She provides the team members with a handout outlining her expectations both in and out of the dance team setting. And she tells the kids they have only one chance and this is it. If they are caught drinking, smoking or violating any of her other rules, they are dismissed from the team.

“I tell them if they are choosing to represent their team and their school, they need to make the choice ahead of time (to act appropriately),” said Smith, adding that by letting them know upfront what is expected, the students can and do meet those expectations.

“She tells us to never allow ourselves to be seen in a different light than how we want to be seen,” said Prandato, who said that her fellow students respect the fact that dance team members do not participate in any behavior that would risk their position on the team.

“Peer pressure is tough for any high school student,” said Smith, who adds that she is proud of the life choices her dancers have made over the years.

Smith has extensive experience – she coached high school dance in California from 1982 to 1995; she was a dancer at Disneyland for seven years in the 1980s; she was a dancer for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers; she taught high school and college classes; owned a dance studio in Wisconsin; and was the head instructor and regional dance program director for United Spirit Association.

As coach and mentor to the young women, Smith puts in long hours, meeting with the team every day during the school year from 7 to 7:45 a.m. and sometimes after school and on weekends when working on special routines.

Smith also spends time writing grants to bring in master teachers from around the country that will help further the girls’ ability.

“She will fly in choreographers and instructors,” said Prandato. “We learn a lot.”

Smith credits Panhandle Alliance for Education, a local education foundation, for making those options available.

“They are truly a blessing,” she said. “They have allowed me to bring in amazing talent from around the country to get what they (the girls) cannot here.”

While Prandato said she prefers Smith’s coaching style above all others, it is helpful to have the exposure to other coaches for when she and her teammates go onto college and are exposed to different coaching techniques.

Having other coaches talk to the girls about the options they have if they choose to pursue dance beyond college has been very helpful.

“There are so many ways to use dance,” said Prandato, citing teaching, coaching and commercial dancing. “She helps us see what is available after high school, into college and beyond.”

Smith said she could not be the coach she is today if it weren’t for the girls. While the school requires a minimum grade-point average of 2.0, Smith requires her students to carry a minimum 2.5 GPA. But even that goal is one the girls have far exceeded.

“They have amazing GPAs,” said Smith, citing 3.6 as last year’s team’s cumulative GPA. “They have an incredible future ahead of them.”

She says the dance team is like a family and her goal is to have her students succeed and make the right life choices. So far she said she has not been disappointed.

“These girls are classy and have great integrity,” said Smith “They are hard-working girls who want to make a difference. They really make my job easy.”

Architect Restores his Family's Legacy

2009-08-16T18:30:00.000-07:00

In 1923 Brian Runberg’s grandmother, Vivienne Beardmore McAlexander, celebrated her 18th birthday at the grand opening of the Beardmore Block in downtown Priest River. The building was owned by Vivienne’s father and Runberg’s great-grandfather, Charles Beardmore, who the previous year had commissioned prominent architects Whitehouse and Price to build the structure for Beardmore’s timber and mining businesses.

According to Runberg, soon after Beardmore became Bonner County’s largest employer and the building an important piece of Priest River’s history.

“My grandmother sold the building in 1972,” said Runberg. Then in 2006, Runberg, a Seattle-based architect and a graduate of the University of Idaho, found out the building was for sale again. He arranged a visit.

“I was absolutely horrified at the condition it was in,” he said. Water damage and vandalism had taken a toll over the years. “I knew something had to be done quickly, otherwise it would be under the wrecking ball.”

Determined to rebuild that which his great-grandfather worked so hard to create, Runberg decided to buy the building and began renovating it.

“I remember running around in it (the Beardmore Block) when I was little,” said Runberg, 44, who had not been inside in nearly 30 years, until the 2006 purchase.

He said his great-grandfather built the Beardmore Block because he believed in the future of North Idaho – a sentiment echoed by Runberg.

“I’m preserving and restoring it for those very same reasons,” he said. “The building was his (Charles Beardmore’s) final legacy, so it is very important to me.”

Now, nearly 90 years after the Beardmore Block first opened, Runberg has been honored for his work in the renovation. In early July, he attended the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco, where he was presented with the Grand Award for Adaptive Re-use. The conference acknowledges architectural and construction excellence throughout the Western United States.

“The (Beardmore Block) project serves as an important precedent for the region that historic buildings can be preserved in an appropriate way,” said Runberg, who relied on his personal memories as well as the many stories his grandmother shared with him to help maintain much of the integrity of the building.

The Beardmore Block is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only five buildings on the Register nationally that also hold LEED Gold certification.

To qualify for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, nearly everything coming out of the building during remodeling must be recycled, Runberg said. In the case of the Beardmore Block, more than 95 percent of the original structural material has remained in the building. Also, more than 50 percent of the nonstructural material, including most of the wood, was used in the renovation.

Judges at the conference noted that the renovation of the Beardmore Block was a great example of how preservation of existing features can be integrated with sustainable design strategies.

Runberg said the building was torn down to the studs. The roof was rebuilt to drain to a reservoir in the basement, which in turn provides for all of the tenants’ nondrinkable water needs. Also, in a climate like North Idaho’s, efficient heating is important. Runberg installed new insulation that dramatically increased the thermal efficiency of the 86-year-old building and also used energy-efficient light fixtures. Renewable energy from photovoltaic cells also contributes to the use of green technology.

“As a result,” said Runberg, “the Beardmore Block is 40 to 50 percent more efficient than a new building built today with current energy standards.”

Additional strategies Runberg implemented to maintain much of the original materials were to reconstruct the original window frames to hold thermal glass and to reconstruct original plumbing fixtures to reduce water use.

“Using green technology is the most appropriate approach, not only for new construction but also renovations,” said Runberg, who adds that it is also proving to be cost-effective. “When carefully planned and executed it does not take that much more cost or effort and the benefits will be for generations to come.”

He said the green technology is a pioneering approach for a new era. Nearly 90 years ago his great-grandfather sought a similar pioneering spirit to build the landmark.

Runberg said that while the award is an honor, what excites him most is the reopening of the Beardmore Block contributes to the rebirth of Priest River, where the economy has been hard hit by the decline of the timber industry.

The Beardmore Block is “the kingpin of the Priest River downtown historic core,” said Don Watts of the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office. “It’s a great example of early 20th-century architecture and design.”

The building has attracted tenants including a wine bar that occupies the first floor, an engineering firm, a financial consulting firm and a tax accountant. And for the first time in years, there are parking issues in downtown Priest River – a problem that puts a smile on the faces of many residents.

“It’s exactly what my grandparents would have wanted,” said Runberg.

August Brings Music & Arts to Sandpoint

2009-08-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Whether it is music or visual arts you enjoy, Sandpoint is the place to be the month of August. From the Festival at Sandpoint to the Artist’s Studio Tour to the annual Arts & Craft Fair at City Beach, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy.

The Artist’s Studio Tour of North Idaho, which is celebrating its seventh year, is a two-weekend event featuring 30 of this area’s finest artists.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 14-16 and again Aug. 21-23, artists will open their studios for people to browse the creations of the artists who say they are inspired by the beauty of North Idaho.

“You will find working artists and artisans demonstrating their crafts,” said Joanne Heaviland, one of the artists who will have her photography on display. “You can peruse the offerings direct from the artist and connect the dots from inspiration to finished product.”

Some of this year’s featured artists include Susan Dalby, whose work in glass, jewelry and watercolor made her the chosen artist to create this year’s Festival at Sandpoint poster.

But the tour is not limited to certain mediums of art. Included in the tour are artists who work with metal sculpture, pottery, photography, jewelry, silk painting, woodwork and stained glass.

“It is a delightful experience filled with soulful inspiration, amazing creativity and often mini adventures just finding the studios,” said Heaviland. The studios are spread out from north of Sandpoint in Hope to Garfield Bay to the south.

For those who cannot make it to either of the tour weekends, Heaviland says that the studios are also open by appointment all summer long.

More information and a map to locate the studios can be found at www.arttourdrive.org.

Pend Oreille Arts Council’s annual Arts and Crafts Fair
On Saturday and next Sunday, Sandpoint’s City Beach will be full of not just those seeking relief from the heat, but also those wishing to view the unique creations of more than 100 artists and artisans from across the United States and Canada.

Sponsored by the Pend Oreille Arts Council, the Arts and Crafts Fair is in its 37th year. While it is the arts and crafts that attract people to the event, there also are live performances each hour, an area where youth can participate in hands-on activities, a variety of food vendors and several demonstrations by various artists.

According to Kim Queen, executive director for Pend Oreille Arts Council, it is the quality of the artwork that brings visitors back year after year.

“Everything is 100 percent handmade by the artist, and each artist is on hand to talk about the work,” said Queen. “You gain an understanding of the process it took to create it and get a feel for the person who made it.”

And it is no mistake that the fair always takes place at the same time as the Festival at Sandpoint.

“By hosting the Arts and Crafts Fair during that time, it enables patrons to truly enjoy a full arts experience in Sandpoint,” said Queen.

Organizers utilize volunteers in all aspects of the fair, and this year there will be approximately 90.

“We have artists apply (to be at the fair) from all over the western U.S. and Canada, but most of the artists represented are from Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and a few from California,” said Queen. “In previous years, we have seen vendors from as far away as Kentucky, Florida and even Maine.”

Queen said the most unique aspect of the fair is the wide variety of displays.

“We offer such a variety of mediums – jewelry, oil and watercolor paintings, fiber arts, metal, woodworking and glass – the list goes on,” said Queen. “Every year, you will see something very different than the year before.”

Festival at Sandpoint
On Thursday the sidewalk at Sandpoint’s War Memorial Field will once again be lined with people vying for the best seat for the opening night of the popular eight-day Festival at Sandpoint.

The music festival is a favorite among locals and people from all over the Northwest. Families, co-workers and friends spread out their blankets and enjoy a picnic prior to the show. Attendees can either bring in their own food and beverages or take advantage of what’s available from the many vendors on hand.

Organizers say one reason the event is so popular is not only because of the exceptional music, but also because of the intimate setting. Overlooking the lake, watching the osprey fly across the evening sky and relaxing on blankets or chairs, it is as though one is in their own backyard.

Opening this year’s Festival on Thursday evening will be the 1970s bands Firefall and Poco. The bands were supposed to appear at last year’s event but mistakenly double-booked, so fans and organizers were thrilled when they agreed to perform as the opening act this season.

Other performers during the eight-day event include Blues Traveler with JJ Grey and Mofro, Friday; Boz Scaggs with the Subdudes, Saturday; a family concert, Green Eggs and Ham with the Spokane Youth Orchestra, next Sunday; Michele Shocked with special guest Jonatha Brooke, Aug. 13; Keller Williams and Donavon Frankenreiter, Aug. 14; country music star Clint Black with special guest Jypsi, Aug. 15; and the grand finale on Aug. 16 featuring the Spokane Symphony.

Festival at Sandpoint
Tickets are still available and range from $29.95 to $49.95 with the exception of the family concert which is $5 per person.

For more information or to purchase tickets go online to http://www.festivalat sandpoint.com/ or call (888) 265-4554.

Celebrate Life Fun Run / Walk August 8th

2009-08-02T10:14:00.000-07:00

Six years ago, Sandpoint resident Jenny Meyer sat with her daughter, Grace, on Sandpoint’s Long Bridge cheering as people walked, ran, rolled and strolled their way from Sandpoint’s Dog Beach to the south end of the bridge and back.

The event was the first Celebrate Life Fun Run/Walk – a fundraiser started by Meyer’s sister, Julie Walkington, and her friend and co-worker January Tuinstra to help those like Meyer who were fighting cancer.

Meyer was able to witness three more years of the event before dying from breast cancer in June 2008. But the lives she touched have not forgotten the young mother with the beautiful smile who first found out she had cancer when she was pregnant with her daughter, now 8.

“Jenny and I both became pregnant within a month of each other,” said her close friend Stormy Peterson. “I remember one week we were absolutely elated talking about babies and baby names and then the following week discussing what her options were now that she knew she had been diagnosed with cancer and how it would affect little Grace. Grace was born in November in perfect health. Jenny made the right decision.”

Through the years Walkington, a nurse at Bonner General Hospital, knew she wanted to do something to not only help her sister, but also others who she saw on a daily basis fight cancer.

“January and I put our heads together and came up with the idea of Celebrate Life,” said Walkington. “Our goal has always been to reach out and help many different people in their diagnosis.”

Although Meyer never walked across the bridge, she was present every year to support those participating and spent many hours behind the scenes preparing for the event.

“Jenny always thought of everyone else first. I know that Celebrate Life meant a great deal to her,” said Peterson. “She was always so proud of her younger sister Julie for pulling this (event) together to help local cancer patients. Knowing that this foundation is helping other people live would be enough for Jenny.”

Meyer was an inspiration to many for the way she lived her life. Never without a smile no matter how badly she felt, Meyer’s initial goal was to live long enough to see her daughter go off to her first day of kindergarten. She met and exceeded that goal.

“When I think about Jenny, I can imagine her smile which inevitably puts a smile on my face. She appreciated her life while some of us may take it for granted,” said Peterson.

To keep her spirit and memory alive, many of Meyer’s friends and family continue to participate in Celebrate Life carrying on its mission – to offer assistance and enhance the lives of family, friends and neighbors affected by cancer.

“Celebrate Life is really about just that,” said Walkington. “Celebrate the day; celebrate your life, wherever you are on your life’s journey.”

Walkington said she and Tuinstra are determined to keep their word to Meyer. They will always keep the event simple. To them that means not turning it into a timed race, keeping it always family oriented and always making sure that anyone who wants to participate can – even if they are incapacitated.

Each year the proceeds from the event are put back into the community to support the needs faced by cancer patients including grocery, restaurant, gas and coffee vouchers, massages, floral arrangements, medical equipment, firewood, medicine and financial assistance.

The money that is raised is distributed to patients and their families through Bonner General Hospital’s out-patient clinic, Bonner Community Hospice and Kootenai Cancer Center at Bonner General Hospital and is all spent locally in the Sandpoint area.

“I always remember Jenny telling me that it was so special for someone who is going through cancer to be given a gift by one of the nurses with no strings attached,” said Walkington, adding that the group is able to fulfill unique and special requests.

“Since we first started in 2004 we have raised about $75,000,” she said. Peterson, who said she thinks about Meyer not only on the day of Celebrate Life, but also the other 364 days of the year, said she carries in her heart the lessons that her friend taught her.

“Jenny was that one person who you always wish you could be – grounded, honest and true to who she was. She taught me to be a good mother and to live in the moment because the moments don’t last long,” said Peterson. “This is a gift of knowledge that I will cherish forever.”

Celebrate Life Run/Walk
The event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Dog Beach at the north end of the Long Bridge in Sandpoint, with registration and check in beginning at 8 a.m.

Registration forms can be downloaded at www.bonnergen.org and follow the links to Celebrate Life and they are also available at Sandpoint Furniture in Ponderay, Bonner General Hospital and Meyer’s SporTees in Bonner Mall.

Sandpoint Seaplane Service a Great Way to See Sandpoint

2009-08-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Driving north across the Long Bridge into Sandpoint there can be no dispute that this area is one of the most beautiful places in the entire country. In fact in 2001 USA Today called Sandpoint a Norman Rockwell-meets-Ansel Adams classic.

But just when you think it couldn’t get more scenic, imagine taking in the views of the mountains, lakes, rivers and trees from an aerial vantage point.

Sandpoint Seaplane Service, based out of the Dover Bay Resort Marina just west of here, opened in August 2008 and offers everything from tour flights, charter flights, to fly-in wilderness adventures.

Owners Stephen and Darene Ruff say that both residents and visitors enjoy taking in the scenery from an osprey’s view.

“It’s a treat to be able to take folks up and see them enjoy the incredible natural beauty of this area,” said Stephen Ruff. “I’ve flown over a lot of country, including Alaska, and there’s really no place quite like it – the peaks, lakes and rivers are gorgeous any time of year.”

With a variety of options, people can enjoy anywhere from a 20-minute tour to a customized extended tour.

The 20-minute tour takes in a 40-mile loop over the Pack River Delta, Ellisport Bay, the mouth of the Clark Fork River and returns along the Green Monarchs, and Garfield and Bottle Bay. Ruff says a one-hour tour often includes Upper Priest Lake and Montana’s Bull River.

While the clientele is fairly evenly split between tourists and local residents, Ruff said much of the tourist business is generated by local people.

The tours have provided vacation activities, family outings, a treat for those visiting on business trips, a way to scout hunting spots, a tool to be used when locating real estate, and also birthday and anniversary gifts.

“We have had a lot of people in marketing use (the service) for aerial photography,” said Ruff. “We have also had a few people who want to take photos of their own home.”

Sandpoint resident Debbie Heise recently treated her daughter, Mackenzie, and two of her friends to a scenic adventure for Mackenzie’s 15th birthday.

“I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and this is what she came up with,” said Heise. “I thought it was so cool.”

Heise said the flight was her first over the Sandpoint area and was truly an incredible experience.

“It was awesome,” said Heise. “You get such a different feel for what is here from literally a bird’s-eye view.”

Ruff, said Heise, is knowledgeable and treated the teenage girls to a flyover of each of their homes. Each passenger wears earphones equipped with a microphone so they can communicate over the noise of the engine.

One thing that surprised Heise was not only the number of homes she saw, but also how different the vegetation looked from an aerial view.

A noninstrument rated pilot, Ruff has more than 30 years of experience and 7,000 hours of flying time, which includes 12 years flying in the remote Arctic regions of Alaska.

“We made a living up there taking people to places no one else could get them to,” said Ruff.

The couple moved to Sandpoint six years ago. Since that time they have worked toward the goal of opening the flight service which operates summer and winter.

They take the floats off the plane in late fall and put the wheels on giving clients the same opportunity for scenic flights from the Sandpoint Airport during the winter months.

“It is a real treat to go into the back country and see the lakes and rivers,” said Ruff.

The plane used for Sandpoint Seaplane Service is a five-passenger Cessna 206 which, according to Ruff, has the right combination of power, stability and good visibility that makes it perfect for backcountry flying.

Ruff said that anyone interested in a flight should call him ahead of time to schedule.

“We always check the weather and the best time of day to go. This time of year it is better to go in the cooler part of day,” said Ruff. “There is a certain amount of preplanning that goes into every flight. It is important to us that people have an enjoyable time.”

And for those wanting to play a little hooky and take a little longer lunch hour, Ruff says he couldn’t be based out of a better place than the Dover Bay Resort Marina.

“Dover Bay is a great place to operate from, as the climb-out over the river is spectacular. And of course, it’s very convenient. You could eat at the Dover Bay Café and take in a flight over the lake, all during your lunch hour.”

For more information or to schedule a flight, call Stephen Ruff at (208) 290-3257 or log onto http://www.sandpoint.com/seaplane/.

Bonner Partners In Care in Need of Additional Funds

2009-07-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

Health care is on everyone’s minds. Turn on the news and nearly every newscast has a report on how the new administration is going to reform our health care system so that every citizen has access to affordable medical care.

But for many there is no time to wait. Just walk by the offices of Panhandle Health District in Sandpoint on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The line begins to form at 5:15 p.m., and each person there has a story. They are people seeking help with medical issues, prescriptions and referrals to specialists, and each hopes to be one of the eight patients the volunteer doctor will see that evening.

The free medical services are available thanks to a nonprofit group in Sandpoint, Bonner Partners in Care, that opened in the summer of 2003. Its goal is to ensure that all residents have access to basic health care regardless of their ability to pay.

A group of 12 physicians and 18 nurses rotate schedules and volunteer to help those in the community who are not able to afford medical care.

But Bonner Partners in Care, like many nonprofit organizations, is in financial need. While many area organizations, such as Community Assistance League and The Angels over Sandpoint, have donated to Partners in Care, the group still is about $3,000 short of being able to take advantage of a $54,000 matching grant. The organization has until July 31 to reach its goal.

The clinic’s annual budget is $85,990, with an additional $77,181 in donated volunteer time by physicians, nurses and administrative volunteers, said clinic Director Catherine Perusse.

“Lab work and diagnostic testing provided by Bonner General Hospital, prescriptions provided by local pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies all really make the clinic possible,” she said.

The economy has had a significant effect on both the amount of funds available and the number of applicants who need access to the clinic.

“Donations and grants have decreased this year,” said Perusse. “There is less money available for all programs as grantors have not been able to maintain past levels of contributions. This summer we are seeing approximately twice the number of individuals we normally see this time of year.”

She adds that the demand for services is typically greater in the fall due to health concerns such as bronchitis, sinusitis and other typical winter illnesses.

Patients who qualify for services at Bonner Partners in Care don’t have private insurance, Medicaid, Medicare or the ability to pay for medical services. Patients are required to pay a minimal fee – anywhere from $1 to $10 – based on their gross income.

Because the medical staff can only see between eight and 10 patients during clinic hours, triage is done by Perusse and the volunteer nurse, and the more urgent cases are seen that night.

“We do not turn anyone away who requires immediate treatment,” said Perusse. “One way or another we provide the immediate care that each person needs. Others who have less urgent needs return for the next scheduled clinic.”

While each of the 1,100 clients has a unique story, one that especially moved Perusse is that of a 9-year-old diabetic whose parents found themselves unemployed, uninsured and running out of insulin for their son.

“When his father called he had two doses of insulin left. The clinic was able to purchase an additional 30 days worth of insulin for them and then get the boy on a prescription assistance plan and regular medical management so that he had a reliable, steady supply of life-saving insulin,” said Perusse.

Those involved with the clinic argue that the service provided to the community has benefits extending beyond the patient, including improving the local economy, addressing a social challenge, avoiding shifting health care costs to taxpayers, and reducing hardships to those who would otherwise avoid seeking medical help until an emergency arises.

“Every clinic evening, an average of one-half of the patients are new patients, who, due to the economy and the loss of their jobs, have found themselves without medical insurance, many for the first time in their lives,” Perusse said.

Donations can be mailed to Bonner Partners in Care, 1020 Michigan St., Sandpoint, ID 83864. For more information, call Clinic Director Catherine Perusse, at (208) 255-9099.

Sandpoint's Historic Preservation Commission Supports Renovation of Local Train Depot

2009-07-26T14:21:00.000-07:00

An island of history. That is how Sandpoint resident Aric Spence describes the Sandpoint Train Depot. But that island may soon be deserted.

The train station stands between new lakefront condominiums and construction of the city’s new bypass. The building still has the original white tile floor from 1916. But leaking roofs and sagging ceilings have left the future of the historic structure in jeopardy.

The Sandpoint Depot, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, is the oldest active passenger depot of what was the Northern Pacific Railway, the first northern transcontinental railway. BNSF, formerly known as Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, now owns the depot, the only Amtrak stop in Idaho.

When acoustic tile started falling to the floor in June, the depot was closed for safety reasons. Service by Amtrak continues, but only from the outside platform.

Spence, a member of Sandpoint’s Historic Preservation Commission and who chairs the subcommittee for the historic depot, has been in talks with BNSF and Amtrak on the future of the building and the Amtrak stop in Sandpoint. Amtrak says it will continue to stop at its current location, but that could change.

Even so, the depot may not remain. Spence and other residents fear that what has happened in other cities could also come to pass in Sandpoint. In Connecticut, a depot built in 1875 was in such disrepair it was replaced with what resembled an outdoor bus stop shelter.

Spence and other members of the Historic Preservation Commission are pushing for restoration of the Gothic-style Sandpoint depot, as well as its purchase by the city.

“It is a one-of-a-kind depot that was the foundation for Sandpoint’s growth,” Spence said.

He argues the city would see an economic benefit from thousands of additional visitors to downtown. That alone, he said, would go a long way to revitalizing the downtown core.

According to Spence, there has been a steady increase in Amtrak ridership for Sandpoint. It hit 6,181 passengers in 2008, up from 4,932 in 2004.

The depot will receive even more exposure and use when the bypass is completed, he said. With a future bike path passing by, the depot eventually could house a coffee shop, Spence said. And with nontrain riders using the station for other services, it will provide a great opportunity for those people to learn more about the benefits of rail transportation, he argues.

The Sandpoint City Council recently expressed its support in doing what they can to restore the depot but stopped short of expressing interest in buying it. City Council member, Carrie Logan, said the council passed a resolution at a recent meeting which strongly outlines interest in retaining the station as operational and opens the door for discussions with Amtrak and BNSF for restoration of the depot. But Logan also said that due to the current state of the economy the City Council is not prepared to accept the full financial burden of restoration.

“I don’t believe the council is interested in a one-sided project that involves taking on financial responsibility for the depot,” said Logan.

“But if we could develop a partnership with several entities and could locate funding that would not involve city tax dollars, I think we could garner council and more importantly community support for a rehabilitated train station.”

Although Amtrak has decided for now to maintain service to Sandpoint, Logan’s opinion is that it’s just a stopgap measure.

“We need to actively work on a plan for the longterm sustainability of the station,” she said.

“City Council did unanimously vote for the resolution to support keeping the Amtrak stop in Sandpoint, but they removed the wording talking about acquisition,” Spence said. “In my mind the acquisition of the depot is required for Amtrak to continue to use it. “

Spence added that the cost to repair and restore the station is unknown at this point, but to initially make it safe for use again would require at the very least a new roof or roof repair.

But Spence said he hopes that funding will also come from Amtrak.

“It is also important to note that Amtrak received substantial money from (the Idaho Transportation Department) during the byway negotiations and has recently said that if they continue to stop at the Sandpoint Depot that they would use those funds to assist with restoration of the station,” Spence said. “Amtrak has in the past partnered with municipalities around the country to help them with station revitalization, and the Sandpoint Depot is a perfect opportunity for this partnership.”

Sandpoint Transitions Investigating Ways to Resolve Glass Recycling Issue

2009-07-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

Recycling glass. The question in Sandpoint these days seems to be, do they or don’t they? Residents are uncertain whether the glass they put out on the curb each week is actually being recycled or whether it is dumped into a landfill.

In an effort to clear up some of the confusion, a group displayed a sign in the recent Fourth of July parade that said Sandpoint does recycle glass. Some people who observed the sign said they were sure the statement was incorrect. So what is the truth and why the confusion?

“It is because of the confusion that we did that,” said Jen Del Carlo, chairman of the working group researching waste issues for the recently formed Sandpoint Transitions Initiative, which was responsible for the sign in the parade. “I don’t know exactly where the confusion has come from.”

Perhaps the confusion lies in the fact that Bonner County does not recycle glass but the city of Sandpoint does.

According to Sandpoint Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk, Bonner County transfer stations no longer accept glass because of a lack of market, a practice Del Carlo says began in early 2008.

“They (Bonner County) crushed it (the glass) at the Colburn Culver transfer station where I believe they used it for fill. They were notified by the state Department of Environmental Quality early in 2008 that they could not continue to do that so glass now goes to the landfill (in Oregon),” said Del Carlo.

Andrea Wells of Waste Management, Sandpoint’s trash contractor, confirmed that Sandpoint does recycle, or reuse, glass.

“It goes to a Waste Management facility in Medical Lake (Washington) on Graham Road where they crush it and use it as a road base,” Wells said.

But whether it is the county hauling the glass to a landfill or the city of Sandpoint transporting the glass to Washington to be recycled, the cost is not cheap.

“There is no money in glass recycling,” said Wells, who adds that the cost can vary depending upon factors such as the cost of fuel.

“Recycling is not the moneymaker people think it is. It is much cheaper to make glass from scratch.”

The fear among members of the community is that it will no longer become cost-effective to transport the glass for recycling and the city will follow the path of the county when it comes to disposal of glass.

That is just one of many reasons that the Sandpoint Transitions Initiative was formed late last year. Its goal is to create a sustainable, resilient and vibrant community in the Sandpoint area by forming committees that will research issues and implement programs on everything from ways to eliminate waste by creating a circular flow of materials and energy to how to drastically reduce carbon emissions. And in the short time it has been in existence, the research work groups are making progress.

“We are investigating options for the reuse of glass and providing that information to the county,” said Del Carlo. “There are companies in Utah and Oregon that purchase glass for use in tile. The city of Lewiston is purchasing a glass crusher so that they can turn their glass into fill that would otherwise have to be purchased for use in city projects.”

Del Carlo said Sandpoint collects more than 10 tons of glass a month and Bonner County spent an average $93,000 per month last year for trucking costs and landfill fees to take glass to the landfill in Arlington, Ore.

“We see reducing the material that goes to landfills as an important first step in our mission. Ideally resources that currently end up in landfills would be reused locally in other products, for example composting paper, yard waste and food scraps, which makes up 63 percent of the solid waste in Bonner County, for use in gardens, recycling plastic into park benches, and reusing glass,” Del Carlo said.

Other steps the group has taken include working with organizations such as The Festival at Sandpoint to encourage a green approach to their event.

“Our goal is for plastic and Styrofoam food containers used by the vendors be replaced with biodegradable ones that will be composted along with food waste,” said Del Carlo, adding that the Festival already does a great job using volunteers to separate recyclable beverage containers.

The group is also working closely with Michael Boge of the Sandpoint City Council to review the city’s contract with Waste Management. One proposed change is to include curbside recycling for area businesses – a program in which 46 out of 47 businesses surveyed said they would gladly participate.

They would also like to see the city contract with Waste Management to accept all recyclable plastics.

“Sandpoint recycles food and beverage containers with a 1 or 2 on the container,” said Wells, who said Waste Management does not have a say in what is recycled.

“We recycle what they (the city of Sandpoint) requests we recycle.”

To learn more about Sandpoint Transitions Initiative and how to help, go to www.sandpoint transitioninitiative.org/.

2010 Groundbreaking Scheduled for New Sandpoint Recreation Center

2009-07-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

Jamie Packer would have been the first to lace up his skates and take the ceremonial first step onto a new indoor hockey rink in Sandpoint.

But Packer did not live long enough to see that dream achieved. He died in a car accident four years ago.

Still, Packer’s name will live on in the new 225,000-square-foot Jamie Packer Centre.

In late June, developer Bruce Pedersen received approval from the Sandpoint City Council to build the recreation center, which will include a three-story parking structure. The recreation center will be built at the site of the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, which relocated last year.

The idea for a recreation center had long been a dream of Packer, Pedersen’s brother- in-law, Rob Pierce, and other hockey enthusiasts. But when Pedersen bought a portion of the St. Joseph property, he didn’t have the center in mind.

“I bought it as an investment because of its proximity to the downtown core,” said Pedersen. But when he also became involved in Pierce’s project, Pedersen’s ideas changed.

“It hit me, why not here? (A recreation center) should be downtown, close to the schools,” said Pedersen, who earlier this year began the footprint studies for the project.

Pedersen is trained as a veterinarian and also is a co-founder of the book-sharing Web site BookCrossing.com. Land development was an interest, but not in his background. So he sought advice from urban designers, and he said it became evident that it made sense to build the center on the proposed site.

Estimated to cost $40 million, Pedersen said the funding will primarily come from grants, sale of townhouses built on the site and matching funds from nonprofit organizations.

“This is new ground. Therefore we have a variety of sources,” Pedersen said. “It’s a lofty goal and I think we have the right team to pull it off.”

They expect to break ground in 2010 and to complete the project within two years.

But Pedersen emphasizes that it will be much more than an ice rink.

It could host other community events such as graduations or musical performances. The design also calls for the center to be sectioned off to accommodate multiple events simultaneously.

“Hockey is a part of it, but it is really about the youth,” Pedersen said. “Having a safe haven and building relationships with kids and helping instill all the values that are embedded during those formative years. It’s an investment in our future.”

Although the proposal met with some opposition, Pedersen said it was no more than what one would normally encounter.

“Ninety percent of the opposition came from within a block (of the center),” said Pedersen. “People are scared of the unknown, but we will be able to alleviate some of those fears.

“The walls have been defined and we’ve been given our parameters (by the Sandpoint City Council) but there is some malleability and we welcome input.”

One of the original community members who worked to get a rink in Sandpoint, Packer shared his vision with others and told of a similar facility in his Canadian hometown. Pedersen said they wanted to honor him by naming the facility after Packer and retaining the Canadian spelling of “centre.”

Packer worked as a golf pro at the former Hidden Lakes Golf Course and was known to many as a man who exemplified fitness, unity and community. Organizers say the programs housed within the new center will help stimulate the mind, body and spirit – just like Packer – to transform people’s lives.

“It will be the perfect environment to create more Jamie Packers,” Pedersen said.

Sandpoint High School Graduation to Undergo Changes in the Future to Curb Inappropriate Behavior by Students

2009-07-12T11:24:00.000-07:00

For the past three years, Sandpoint High School Principal Becky Kiebert has received a few gifts from seniors during graduation ceremonies, but they were not gifts of gratitude.

Some students handed her condoms. Last year it was Hawaiian leis. This year’s pranks included an attempted kiss on the lips by a student who was acting on a dare. “It was totally inappropriate,” said Kiebert. A police investigation led to a charge of unwanted touching against the student.

Sandpoint’s principal is not the only one harassed during graduation ceremonies. According to Kiebert, Post Falls High School Principal Dena Naccarato received inappropriate gifts from two students at this year’s ceremony.

Both Kiebert and Naccarato recently attended a meeting with colleagues and shared their experiences. Most students behave appropriately, Kiebert said.

“Ninety nine percent of these kids are great,” said Kiebert.

Lake Pend Oreille School Superintendent Dick Cvitanich agrees, but said it is not uncommon to have a few people participate in these pranks.

“I have attended many graduations in my 34 years of education. I have seen good behavior, poor behavior, and everything in between from both kids and parents,” said Cvitanich. “I would not say this graduation was disrespectful. There were a handful of kids who acted inappropriately when their moment came on the stage. This, unfortunately, happens from time to time. The vast majority of students were respectful and appropriate.”

Those students who are being punished this year include a student who is performing school service while another is watching a video on appropriate conduct and must write a public letter of apology to be published in a local newspaper. The third student will have to answer to the unwanted touching charge.

To make sure this doesn’t happen again, Kiebert plans to have students sign statements agreeing that if they do anything inappropriate they will not receive their diploma at the ceremony. Inappropriate behavior will include presenting any so-called gifts to anyone on stage. Also, Kiebert, who has always been the person who has greeted the students on stage, will remain seated as the superintendent and a member of the school board present the diplomas.

“We will also have an SRO (school resource officer) at the bottom of the stage,” said Kiebert.

Above all, Kiebert said she will emphasize to the students that graduation is not necessarily about them, but is an opportunity to recognize and thank others who have helped them through their years of education and to thank them respectfully.

“I tell them it’s about their parents, grandparents and the community. All the people who have supported them,” said Kiebert.

Sandpoint Youth Travel to Costa Rica to Work With Endangered Turtles

2009-07-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

Sandpoint Middle School eighth-grade student Devan Fitzpatrick has a pretty good idea what profession she wants to pursue when she is older. But just to be sure, she thought she should investigate it a little further, so she signed up for a trip to Costa Rica to work with endangered leatherback turtles.

“I want to be a marine biologist so it (the trip) helped me see what my options are,” said Fitzpatrick. “The trip was definitely inspiring.”

Fitzpatrick, along with 13 other seventh- and eighth-grade Sandpoint Middle School students, recently spent 11 days in Costa Rica working on a conservation project through the Eco Teach Foundation to help save endangered leatherback turtles.

Student Sam Levora said the trip was one of the best experiences of his life. “The turtles have been around for millions of years,” he said.

According to the Eco Teach Foundation, the species have declined in population by 75 percent over the last 15 years.

“This is our third year of doing these trips,” said one of the leaders, Sandpoint Middle School teacher Perky Smith-Hagadone, whose students have helped protect more than 2,000 eggs and hatchlings.

Joining Smith-Hagadone on the trip for a second year was Sandpoint Middle School teacher Marcea Marine. The program, they say, is not affiliated with Lake Pend Oreille School District. While in Costa Rica, the students performed volunteer tasks such as cleaning trash out of rivers and canals as well as protecting leatherback turtle hatchlings from predators.

The young conservationists observed that Costa Ricans do not have the same values as Americans when it comes to doing their best to keep the environment clean. But when the students started cleaning plastic bags and other trash from the rivers and canals, the residents wanted to help.

“It was really cool to see them want to help,” said Fitzpatrick. “It made you feel like you made a difference.”

But the work with the leatherback turtles was definitely a highlight for most of the students.

“When they (the turtles) crawled on the beach, we caught their eggs in a plastic bag,” said Katie Nicolich. “We took them to the hatchery where we dug a hole to keep them (the eggs) safe from predators.”

Smith-Hagadone explains that new eggs cannot be put into a nest where eggs have already hatched because of the chance of disease. “So we had a bucket brigade, where the dirty, spent sand is dug out of the old nest and taken to a hole in the sand at the beach. Then new sand is placed in the nest for the next round of eggs.”

Marine explains that the hatchery is fenced off so predators cannot get in. After the students or other volunteers during the season collect the eggs, they place them in a nest about 70 centimeters deep.

“After placing the fertile and infertile eggs in the nest, we pack the sand down around them,” said Marine. “After 60 days, the hatchlings crawl out and then we gather the hatchlings. The hatchlings are weighed, the shell is measured and then we place them on the beach about seven meters from the shore. They follow the light of the ocean and immediately crawl to the ocean.” All of that work is performed between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.

“We let go 550 hatchlings this year,” said Bailey Tomazich, who also explains why it is so important to keep the river clean from pollution. “The turtles think the plastic bags (in the water) are jellyfish so they latch onto them.”

Another threat to the leatherback turtles is poachers taking the eggs to use as an aphrodisiac in drinks.

Marine said what she enjoys most about taking the children on a trip like this is watching them take pride in their environment.

“They really learn to work together,” said Marine.

While the students were there to work, they all agree that it was an incredibly fun experience.

“It was a balance of fun and actual work,” said student Sam, who along with others raised the approximate $2,500-per-person cost by shoveling snow, babysitting and holding craft sales and yard sales.

Sam said one of the things that surprised him was the friendliness of the people of Costa Rica. “They were very kind,” he said.

That was also an observation of Devan , who said until now she had never been out of the country.

“I like learning about different cultures. Their families are like ours but bigger. And even though they don’t have much, they want to share what they do have,” she said.

In addition to working on the turtle project, the students also stayed one night with a Costa Rican family and spent time with members of the Bribri Indian tribe.

“They (the Bribri Indians) had a performance for us and sang songs. Then we sang the national anthem and other songs like This Land is Your Land,” said Bailey .

The kids from America also played soccer against some of the Bribri Indian children.

There were also activities such as white water rafting, zip lining and a boat ride where they observed various types of wildlife.

An experience none will likely forget, the students also came away with a very important lesson.

“I’m interested in saving the environment and doing what I can,” said Katie . “We only have one earth and so we have to preserve it as long as possible to save it for the next generations.”

Stonehouse Entertainment Brings Exciting New Concerts to Sandpoint

2009-07-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

It used to be if you lived in Sandpoint and were looking to attend concerts put on by top musicians, you had to travel to Spokane or wait for the summer to attend the Festival at Sandpoint. But thanks to Tyler Stonehocker and his production company Stonehouse Entertainment, that is no longer the case.

Over the last several months Stonehouse Entertainment has brought several concerts to downtown Sandpoint and has done its best to keep ticket prices affordable.

Sandpoint resident Chris Bessler for one has been pleased.

“We’ve been getting some terrific acts at the Panida and other venues,” said Bessler. “Stonehouse is bringing in artists that you just wouldn’t expect to see in a town of 8,000.”

Stonehocker is a member of the band Stoney Holiday as well as part owner of Three Glasses Restaurant and Wine Bar in downtown Sandpoint. A tourist manager for several years, Stonehocker said that when he wasn’t playing with his band he sought out something to do that was still related to music.

“So I thought why not sell music?” said Stonehocker. “Even if I lose money, I feel good because my product makes people happy.”

Now 29 years old, Stonehocker started in the music industry at 18 working at the Tacoma Dome as a stagehand. He worked with some of the bigger bands in the industry including Bob Dylan.

“Music has always been a part of my life,” said Stonehocker, who says growing up he liked everything from Billy Idol to Michael Jackson.

Over time, he began to build a reputation with touring companies and decided to open his own production company.

But to start a production company takes money and time. That is why Stonehocker thought Sandpoint would be the perfect place to start.

“Sandpoint is a great size town. I don’t need a huge semitruck, I can just fit all of the equipment into one truck,” said Stonehocker, who says owning his own sound system helps significantly reduce his overhead costs. That, in addition to being able to provide the 150-seat concert venue at Three Glasses, helps keep tickets in the range of $15.

“It all ties in really nice,” said Stonehocker, who books the larger concerts at the historic downtown Panida Theater.

Because the musicians tend to charge more for performing on weekends, Stonehocker books most of the concerts Sunday through Thursday nights.

Incorporated in November of last year, the company has yet to turn a profit. However, looking at the music lined up for the summer months it won’t take long.

Already this summer, the alternative rock band Cracker as well as the Irish rock band the Young Dubliners have been booked. And reggae fans attended the recent Voice of Reason concert at the Panida.

“There hadn’t been a reggae concert at the Panida in a long time,” said Stonehocker, adding that there are many fans of that genre in this area.

In addition to Stonehouse Entertainment’s concerts, Bessler said other production companies also are doing their share to enrich the lives of Sandpoint area residents.

“In the last couple months at the Panida I’ve seen Mason Jennings, a terrific young singer and songwriter. Joan Baez played one of the finest concerts I’ve ever been too; it was like she was in our living room, making jokes about Bob Dylan,” said Bessler. “Jackie Greene rocked the house about a month ago.”

Bessler and many others hope the trend of recent months continues.

“We’re just fortunate to get these kinds of amazing musicians here in our little town. I doubt anyone is making a lot of money from it, but it’s making us richer culturally – that’s for sure,” said Bessler.

Jacey's Race Will Benefit Young Victims of Cancer

2009-07-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

In March 2001, Nanci Grayson Jenkins was bathing her then 4-year-old daughter, Jacey Lawson, when she noticed a small protrusion from her stomach.

“I thought it was odd, but I wasn’t really worried about it,” said Jenkins, who thought it could have been due to constipation or overeating. But after a couple of days Jenkins had her physician friend look at it. Thinking it could be an inflamed liver due to a cold or other infection, she too did not seem alarmed.

“Even the next day when I took Jacey and her sister, Calena, skiing she didn’t have any problems,” Jenkins said.

But after a long day of skiing, Jacey took off her sweater and what Nanci saw under Jacey’s tightly-fitting leotard, set her into a panic.

Jacey immediately saw a doctor and was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Her prognosis was good and the family was told that this specific cancer had about an 85 percent success rate. But more tests meant more grim news.

“Her cancer had metastasized,” Jenkins said. “She was stage four and all bets were off.”

The aggressive treatment began immediately.

“She had surgery that lasted more than six hours. They removed a grapefruit-size mass from her abdomen, two marble-size tumors from her tiny lungs and some bone marrow,” Jenkins said. “They started her on chemotherapy and two weeks later began full lung radiation.”

Initially Jacey was able to keep her spirits up, but as the months wore on her energy diminished.

“Jacey was just a full-of-life kid. She went to a preschool appropriately called “Make a Mess and Make Believe,” and that name says a lot about what she did. She loved to learn, play and fantasize and make a mess,” Jenkins said.

At the time of Jacey’s diagnosis, Jenkins and Jacey’s father, Steve, were struggling in their marriage. They divorced one year later. Jenkins had resigned from her job the day Jacey was diagnosed, so her income was limited.

“I knew I couldn’t possibly become an expert on cancer and adequately participate in Jacey’s health care, take care of her sister, and manage to work another job,” she said. “I was in shock and my knee-jerk response was to put all of my energy into saving my children. So that meant an immediate change in my financial situation.”

Jenkins’ friends Erin Moore and Ron Jenkins – now Nanci Grayson Jenkins’ husband – looked for a way to help with the mounting medical bills. They organized Jacey’s Race, a 5k and 1K run/walk to not only raise money, but to raise awareness of childhood cancer.

“They created the race to have people focus on their wonderfully healthy bodies and appreciate moving them while generating money to help pay medical bills,” Jenkins said.

When she and her family moved to Sandpoint in 2005 they wanted to continue the tradition they started in Colorado. Eager to help other young cancer patients, they held Jacey’s Race in Sandpoint in 2007. Each year the proceeds are donated to young cancer patients in the area as well as to organizations that help support cancer patients.

When she attended the very first Jacey’s race in Colorado, she did so with a very sick child. But the support she and her family received made all the difference in the world.

“We showed up that day and I was overwhelmed by the positive energy,” she said. “The hope and encouragement we received that day carried us through the rest of Jacey’s treatments. The money allowed us to pay some bills and took a little of the immediate financial stress off so we could focus on her health and emotional needs. We feel like every child deserves to have that.”

This year the beneficiaries of the July 12 event are Sagle resident Decker Weill, 7, and Sandpoint resident Nate Rench, 19. Weill has been in active treatment for over a year and travels to Spokane and Seattle for his treatments for neuroblastoma. Rench, a student at the University of Idaho, was diagnosed with testicular cancer and has been living with his family in Sandpoint while undergoing treatment at Kootenai Cancer Center.

At 12, Jacey is happy, healthy and cancer-free and is a ray of sunshine for others going through the battle against cancer. She serves as the ambassador for Jacey’s Race and interacts with the beneficiaries kids. Her job is to try to answer their questions and help them by the fact that she’s been through a similar journey.

Now, eight years after Jacey’s diagnosis, Jenkins encourages parents of children with a life-threatening illness to ask questions, seek out the best medical care and involve the whole family in the process.

“Siblings are scared and worried and need to be involved,” Jenkins said.

Sandpoint has embraced Jacey’s Race and Jenkins hopes the event will continue to grow with each year.

“If we can give even a little of what we received back and we can make a difference in another child’s life, then maybe we endured a childhood cancer diagnosis for an important reason,” she said.

Jacey’s Race
The event is planned for July 12 at Sandpoint High School. Race registration begins at 7 a.m.

Sign up the day of the event or online at www.jaceys-race.com or until 3 p.m. July 10 at Athlete’s Choice, Centerfield Sports or Bonner General Hospital in Sandpoint, or Fleet Feet Sports in Coeur d’Alene.

If you are unable to participate but would like to support Jacey’s Race, you can send a check to Jacey’s Race Fund, 471 Ravenwood Drive, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

Andrea Littlefield Joins Community Cancer Services' Board of Directors

2009-07-01T08:33:00.000-07:00

When Andrea Littlefield learned that her friend’s eighteen month old son had cancer, she sprang into action. She enlisted the help of many in the community and within a matter of weeks they put together a fundraiser that brought in over tens of thousands of dollars for young Tyler Cordle.

“I knew I had to do something to help,” said Littlefield.
In her efforts to help her friend, Littlefield also contacted Community Cancer Services, a local non-profit organization that provides both emotional and financial support for cancer patients and their families.

Now, several months later, young Tyler is in remission and Littlefield continues her crusade to help those in the community suffering from the horrible disease which knows no boundaries.

Littlefield recently joined the board of directors for Community Cancer Services and has also taken on the role of chairperson of CCS’s fundraising committee.

“I really wanted to join the board because CCS does so much for people in our community,” said Littlefield who hopes to educate the community about all the services available. “And really no one knows about CCS until they are faced with cancer and don’t know where to turn to.”

According to Stephanie Moss, Program Director at CCS, the demand for services has increased significantly and the result is a greater than ever need for funds.

“CCS is currently serving 264 active clients,” said Moss. “"We have seen a large increase in the need for services within the last year and attribute this in part to the increase in cancer awareness as well as the economy.”
Littlefield recognizes that many in the community may not have the financial or emotional help available to help them when faced with a cancer diagnosis and that is where CCS is critical.

“There are people that don’t have fundraisers put on for them, or are so far away from their family that they don’t have the help or support that they need to get through something like this. It may be too much and they just may give up,” said Littlefield. “But because CCS is in our community, it can help make people stronger.”

Putting on the fundraiser earlier this year for young Tyler Cordle was a huge undertaking for Littlefield, but knowing that she, with the help of others, can make a difference was an inspiration.

“It was a huge group effort,” said Littlefield. “It inspired me to do whatever I can to help and be a part of something that touches so many other people.”

To learn more about Community Cancer Services and its programs, please call them at 208-255-2301, log onto www.communitycancerservices.org or stop by their offices at 1215 Michigan Street, Suite B.

Physicians Believe Educating Patients on Hospice Services is Key to Quality of Life During End Stages

2009-06-28T16:44:00.000-07:00

Physicians are taught to save lives. But when a patient has a terminal diagnosis, that is not always possible.

“Doctors do not like to come to terms with what can be viewed as their own failures,” said Sandpoint physician Tim Bonine. “But when a cure isn’t possible, we need to redefine success. We need to do what we can to keep our patients comfortable and help them reach their goals - whether it is a trip to the Grand Canyon or spending one last summer with their grandkids.”

And when that time comes, Bonine and other Sandpoint physicians turn to Bonner Community Hospice, a department of Bonner General Hospital.

“I am a big proponent of Hospice,” said Bonine.

Debra Kellerman, Executive Director of Bonner Community Hospice, says that people don’t make the decision to come to Hospice in a vacuum.

“Physicians play a significant role in encouraging eligible patients to consider hospice care,” said Kellerman. “Coming to the realization that curative care can no longer benefit a patient, brings the physician and the patient face-to-face with death. Helping patients understand the benefits of hospice care can help shift a patient’s focus to a more realistic situation and allow a patient to fully participate in their end of life care and decision-making.”

But according to Dr. Steven Puffer, medical director for Bonner Community Hospice, it has only been in the last 20 years that the American medical system has begun to educate doctors on palliative care.

“We still have the mindset of always looking at treatment options,” said Puffer. “But at least now (medical students) are doing rotations with hospice care.”

Sandpoint physician Dan Meulenberg says patients are not always receptive to hearing about Hospice; and he attributes that in large part due to the misconception people have about the organization.

“Sometimes it takes two or three times to bring it up before a family is receptive to it,” said Meulenberg. “The misconception that it’s (hospice care) for the last few weeks of life is totally erroneous.”

Puffer agrees saying that terminally ill patients are often unwilling to address the issue of their death.

“But it isn’t about a choice. It’s about the trajectory of your disease,” said Puffer.

Kellerman adds that while Hospice is considered the ‘gold standard’ for end of life care, many patients enroll in hospice only in the last weeks or days of life.

“Hospice is still thought of as a place of last resort; a last-ditch, brink of death kind of care,” said Kellerman. Although families perceive the value of hospice care in the last few days of a patient’s life, earlier referrals and longer hospice stays have greater benefits to improving the patient’s remaining quality of life.

“Ideally we would serve patients for months,” said Puffer. “But patients are coming too late.”

So when is it time for a physician to talk to the patient about Hospice?

“I am guided a lot by what a patient is voicing to me,” said Bonine.

He has seen patients who are 80 years old and do not want to go through chemotherapy or radiation but instead want to make the most of what time they do have left; and there are other patients who want to fight an illness up to the very end.

“When a patient tells me they want to get the best quality of life of what time they have left that is by definition Hospice,” said Bonine.

Puffer says part of the difficulty that doctors face is that they cannot predict exactly how long a patient has to live. “From a physician’s standpoint, we don’t have the tools to predict longevity,” he said. “We have to use the art of medicine instead of the science of medicine.”

Dr. Meulenberg says that once a patient ceases treatment by a specialist, the primary care physician once again steps in to take over the patient’s care and helps manage any pain the patient has. The history the primary care doctor shares with a patient can be a big advantage.

“As a primary care doctor we are there before (the diagnosis), during treatment and at the end and we’ll be there with the family when it’s over too,” said Meulenberg. He said having that type of relationship with a patient makes it easier for him to know when the time is right to approach a patient about Hospice care. “If I have someone who I’ve taken care of for ten years, then I have a good sense of what their goals and expectations are.”

But the real key is for the physicians to educate patients on the services and benefits of Hospice. Once they understand it, patients and their caregivers find great comfort in the services provided.

“We are not looking to pull out all the stops (when a patient is referred to Hospice),” said Bonine. “We are instead trying to give the patient as much dignity and as much freedom of choice as possible.”

Puffer and the team of Hospice employees meet at least every two weeks to review each patient’s file.

“Hospice is a team approach to patient care,” said Puffer.

Dr. Bonine emphasizes the supportive role that hospice provides to the caregiver is often overlooked. Initially, said Bonine, some caregivers feel overwhelmed thinking their loved one will die at home. “But after they learn about the support that is available through hospice it often becomes the family’s preference,” he said.
Meulenberg encourages patients to utilize Hospice to the fullest extent and not wait until the final days of life. “It’s an amazing way to craft your last few months on earth. The people at Hospice are experts at helping people have a noble finish to life.”

To learn more about the services Bonner Community Hospice provides, please contact them at 208-265-1179. Bonner Community Hospice serves both Bonner and Boundary counties

Buy Bonner Campaign Set to Kick Off By Summer's End

2009-06-22T18:51:00.000-07:00

Last March when the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce announced the formation of a buy-local task force, the community response was impressive.

Since then, an increasing number of individuals and businesses have come together to help implement the plan to encourage residents to purchase goods and services from local businesses.

The as-yet unofficial name of the campaign is Buy Bonner. The program is set to launch at the end of the summer.

A response to a struggling economy, the Buy Bonner campaign has partnered with Spokane’s recently launched Buy Local program to promote a regional effort to support local communities.

“We have been discussing and promoting the notion of keeping money locally for quite some time,” said Amy Little, the executive director for the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. “Rather than re-create the wheel, we started looking at what other communities were doing and invited the Spokane Chamber to find out how they put theirs together. It was then that we found out that they have been planning on using their program to drive a regional buy-local program. We were thrilled to learn that we could partner with them.”

Kim Diercks, community development officer at Panhandle State Bank in Sandpoint, serves on the Buy Bonner task force. Diercks and her husband owned a local restaurant which recently fell victim to the struggling economy. Her personal experience, coupled with what she sees in her work in the financial industry, are reasons why Diercks feels it is critical to promote shopping locally whenever possible.

“One of the slogans of Spokane’s campaign is ‘Keep Our Neighbors Working,’ and with closing the restaurant, that strikes home,” said Diercks.

Committee members say that educating people about the ramifications of taking business away from the community is vital in its campaign.

“We know we can’t do much about the national economy, but what we can do is support each other by becoming aware of how much it costs all of us when we take our money out of our community,” said Diercks.

Little said that simply putting up signs to encourage people to purchase locally is not the answer.

“People need to understand why staying local is important,” said Little. “It doesn’t matter if it’s shopping, dining or linen service. Whatever it is, people need to see the big picture. People don’t think about where that dollar travels in the community and how much of an impact it makes. That is really the task ahead of us.”

One idea the committee has come up with to help promote Buy Bonner is to provide workshops to train businesses on how to make the transition from being competitors to working in a cooperative environment.

“We have a group called Sandpoint Transition Initiative and I think they will be working on the competitive-to- cooperative model with our community,” said Little.

Other ideas include providing a logo for businesses to display if they are participating in the campaign as well as providing a training program for participating businesses.

“We want to include any employer in our area because they create jobs, pay payroll and taxes,” said Diercks, who said any community member is welcome to join their efforts whether they own a business or not. “On our buy local committee, we have representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, Ponderay Community Development Corporation, Bonner County Economic Development Corporation and Downtown Sandpoint Business Association.”

Little agrees that it is important to seek input from as many people and businesses as possible.

“Nothing this great can be done alone. We want to gather community leaders and members who are concerned and create a program to truly benefit the entire community,” Little said. On the committee is Meadow Summers, one of the founders of the new Six Rivers Market in Sandpoint. Six Rivers is a local cooperative that brings together producers and consumers of food and products within 250 miles of Sandpoint. Summers joined the task force because she believes it is important to do what she can to support the local economy.

“Six Rivers Market is about products that are crafted and produced locally,” said Summers. “A major goal for Six Rivers Market is to encourage more local production. Although we focus on food and agricultural items, by supporting all local businesses we can help achieve our goal.”

Summers adds that while there are people in Sandpoint who will drive farther to save a few dollars, there are also many people who clearly see the benefits of shopping locally.

“(They) see through the ‘cheaper prices’ and realize shopping locally is a much more economical choice in the long run by keeping dollars local and supporting local jobs,” said Summers. As part of its campaign, the Buy Bonner committee will encourage participating businesses to offer residents a percentage or dollar amount reduction in prices for goods and services.

Diercks said education and communication will be a large part of the campaign since many people are not aware of all the items that can be purchased locally.

“We just want people to spend money consciously, rather than just assuming that a great deal online is always better, or that everything is cheaper at Costco,” said Diercks, who agrees with Summers that when you factor in gas for out-of-town shopping trips, items are not necessarily cheaper.

Little says that shopping locally will have a different meaning to different people.

“Those big-box stores are just as important to our local economy,” said Little. “Many of them are members of local business organizations, but even more important, they employ many members of our community who otherwise may be unemployed. It really is about education. People don’t always realize the impact of a dollar in our community, whether it’s from a tourist or a local or a big-box store. All of it is important.”