As an experienced sales leader in North Idaho, let me demonstrate why you can trust me to help you navigate the market for top results. Contact me for a personalized consultation.
“We have worked with other agents but when we started working with Cindy, her strategies and results were noticeably more effective. Cindy keeps us informed about the process and we have confidence in her pricing advice. She communicates reliably and persuasively while presenting information fairly and openly so that we can make decisions in our best interest. We also love working with her because she’s so darn personable - she celebrates along with us. It’s like working from the inside with a best friend”
Dan & Jackie“Cindy was a pleasure to work with throughout our listing time. Ours was a higher value home & property with a lot of complexity. She created a successful marketing presence and displayed great negotiating skills in a successful closing with all parties’ interests resolved. Some applicable words to describe her would be responsive, thorough, persistent, thoughtful and knowledgeable. We would definitely rehire her for any future real estate transactions.”
Jon & Linn
“Your timely communication, transparency, and ability to address any concerns promptly showcased your commitment to customer satisfaction. We thoroughly enjoyed working with you from both a personal and professional standpoint. Hope to see you in Sandpoint soon!”
Michele & Rick
“Your advice regarding property appearance, the need for necessary improvements, if any, and your knowledge of the many desirable features of the Sandpoint area made you a fantastic representative for us. I was immensely impressed with your diligent work ethic and your ability to master and fuse together the complicated financial and environmental issues that led to a rapid sale of my lake home.”
Carl B.
“If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”
The philosopher and natural science writer Loren Eiseley began his 1953 essay, “The Flow of the River,” with those words. They’re an apt way to introduce this edition of Sandpoint Magazine, in which the magic of water figures prominently.
Compared to other places, we’re blessed here with freshwater lakes and streams. First to mind, of course, is immense Lake Pend Oreille. It’s oft-repeated that our lake is the fifth deepest in the country. But the sheer volume of water it holds, an estimated 43.9 million acre feet, ranks only behind the Great Lakes, Lake Tahoe, and Alaska’s Iliamna Lake.
That’s just to speak of the big one. Depending on who’s counting there are some 140 smaller lakes, and almost 2,000 miles of rivers and streams in North Idaho. We truly have a wealth of water here, a big reason so many people love to be here.
We devote a substantial part of this magazine to our wonderful waters: the beauty of our waterfalls, the joy of a summer swim, the pleasures of the small lakes, the wildlife with whom we share the wealth. With all that, we still barely scratch the surface of the ways our waters enrich our lives. So dive in, and find some inspiration to make your own watery discoveries.
Of course, our glorious nature and vibrant town serve up myriad less wet ways to experience the delights of the season. Whether you’re in the water, in the mountains, or in town, make this summer one to remember. - CB
31 interview: Dr. cathy king
Publisher Chris Bessler
COO Jeff Lagges
Editor Trish Gannon
Events Editor Misty Grage
Advertising Director Clint Nicholson
Art Director Pamela Milless
Design Team Robin Levy, Dan Seward
Digital Marketing Jenifer Rowan, Erica Larson, Shelby Ambrose, Brandy Nicholson
Office Manager Susan Otis
IT Manager Ethan Roberts
Sales Mitchell Fullerton
Distribution Panhandle Special Needs, Inc
New ownership at Cedar Street Bridge 111 beyond the ordinary
Unique vacation rentals add to the experience
Islands appear In Pack River Delta restoration
housing Unleashed Bonner County is burgeoning with apartments
building contractors gain support NICBA brings resources to local builders
shining bright Backwoods Solar keeps customers plugged in
beach Returns with the sun
Katie Adams, Ashley Aumick, Cameron Barnes, Ryan Berry, Samantha Berryman, Erin Busby, Sandy Compton, Rich Cower, Kevin Davis, Marie Dominique-Verdier, Susan Drinkard, Susan Drumheller, Dan Eskelson, Jane Fritz, Jasper Gibson, Soma Gulick, Zach Hagadone, Beth Hawkins, Fiona Hicks, Leland Howard, Phil Hough, Cate Huismann, Laurie Huston, Patty Hutchens, Steve Jamsa, Matthew Jorgensen, Jessica Kettle, David Keyes, Leslie Kiebert, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Herbert Klein, Linda Lantzy, Jenny Leo, Gwen Le Tutour, Annie Love, Marianne Love, Doug Marshall, Jim Mellen, Ammi Midstokke, Stan Myers, Janie Osborne, Don Otis, Tanyia Oulman, Amy Peterson, Annie
Pflueger, Regan Plumb, Brandon Puckett, Scott Rulander, Rebecca Sanchez, Renee Sande, Francie Street, Greg Utzig, Corey Vogel, Mark Vogt, Pam Webb
Sandpoint Magazine is published twice yearly, in May and November, by: Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc. 405 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-263-3573 • www.keokee.com Printed in USA by Century Publishing, Post Falls, Idaho.
©2024 by Keokee Co. Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.
Subscriptions: $12 per year, payable in advance. Subscribe at www.SandpointMagazine.com.
Social media posts about Sandpoint’s backyard forest—Pine Street Woods—have included notes about and pictures of rabbits, moose, cougars, and birds—the kinds of species you’d expect here in the Panhandle.
News about camels and yaks is somewhat more rare. But it’s become a regular thing early each summer, along with tidings of the somewhat-more-common goats and sheep and llamas that come along with them.
The motley herd comes through in the midst of their annual summer travels with their herder, Chris Wujek. They constitute an all-natural, totally organic plan to help clear the meadow in the woods of invasive plants, including hawkweed, daisies, tansies, and wild roses. Grazing animals are a time-tested, age-old alternative to herbicides.
The herd is invited for June. “That’s when the hawkweed flowers,” said Marcy Timblin, communications director for Kaniksu Land Trust, which owns the Woods. From these animals’ varying perspectives, she continued, our invasives “taste delicious.” And having an eclectic herd come to visit means there will be a noxious weed for every taste. But being the itinerant herd they are, with other dining opportunities along their route, they may not turn up 'til as late as August.
Wujek brings a portable fence to keep the animals in a specific area each day, moving them daily so that eventually they graze the entire meadow. The fence also keeps them away from species that KLT wants to protect, such as aspen, larch, and wild raspberries.
Not only do the animals help get rid of the unwanted stuff, they leave useful stuff behind in the form of manure, which improves the soil. As the soil gets healthier, native plants will be able to get a foothold in the meadow again.
During their weeks in residence, the animals are quite an attraction to passing hikers. Their shepherd enjoys their human visitors. “He loves the kids; he loves the people aspect of it,” said Timblin. “He’s very personable and loves to teach people about the animals.” Hikers may pet the animals with his permission, and occasionally a plucky passerby has ridden one.
In past years the herd has included young animals who increase the draw, especially for young visitors. The baby goats are particularly snuggly; the baby camels perhaps somewhat less so, but since camels are rarely seen in North Idaho, they have a distinct appeal.
Want to visit the herd? Start looking for news of their arrival in early summer on all of KLT’s usual social media channels. Once they arrive, they should be around for about three weeks.
–Cate Huisman
Funded by area grants and individual contributions, Kaniksu Land Trust will be breaking ground this spring on the first of three “rewilding” projects designed to expand the school district’s elementary outdoor education program.
Rewilding is the concept of restoring land to its natural uncultivated state, helping to repair damaged ecosystems, and restore degraded landscapes.
All three projects will be adjacent to the area elementary schools they will serve: Kootenai, Farmin Stidwell, and Washington.
“We looked at how we could make outdoor learning more accessible, so that it’s happening right outside the classroom door. That’s what burst open this idea of ‘Let’s take this rewilding idea to the children’s play yards,’” said Katie Egland Cox, executive director of KLT.
The first project—a 10-acre lot behind Kootenai Elementary, which features wetlands—will begin with installing a trail system and elevated boardwalk.
“You can make nature come alive through experiential programs and that’s what we’re trying to do—give children the ability to move their bodies, learn, and be outside,” said Cox.
While the three projects will each look different and vary in size, features of one or more of them will include fruit trees, rain gardens, trail systems, amphitheaters, and outdoor classroom spaces with names like Meadow Mound and Birch Grove.
“We’re looking at a three-year period for all three projects to be completed, but we need to raise more money for that to happen,” said Cox.
“We’re hoping that our grant funders will be so enthralled with what we’ve done at Kootenai that they’ll fund the next two projects, as well.”
–Renée Sande
Sandpoint retiree Gerri Frye might not be working, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t hard at work—becoming a multi-faceted artist, that is.
According to Joyce Dillon Studio Coordinator Jan Rust, Frye holds the record for most adult art classes attended at Pend Oreille Arts Council’s educational hub.
“I joked, ‘It’s like I’m getting an MFA at the Joyce Dillon School,’ and I did—I took as many classes as I could,” Frye said during a recent Tuesday afternoon weaving class. “That’s how I got through my first winter in Sandpoint.”
POAC’s Joyce Dillon Studio—named for the woman whose posthumous financial contribution made the whole thing possible—opened in 2022 and strives to further the nonprofit’s mission of making activities in the arts accessible for the community.
In accordance with Dillon’s wishes, POAC Board President Carol Deaner said the studio is meant to be a place “where local artists and students, both young and old, can continue expanding their artistic endeavors.”
JDS offers courses in an ever-evolving wealth of mediums, including drawing, painting, pastels, ceramics, sculpture, weaving, metalwork, and fiber arts. Artwork by both students and instructors is displayed proudly throughout the classroom, which occupies the back portion of POAC’s new space at 313 N. Second Ave. in Sandpoint.
Rust said there are countless benefits to creating art at any age, from the energizing effect of learning a new skill to the gratifying results of having made something with your own two hands.
“It is good for your brain and good for your spirit,” she said.
Learn more at www.artinsandpoint.org. Those with skills to teach are also encouraged to apply as a JDS instructor.
LOCAL ACTORS AND HISTORIANS PARTNER UP FOR WALKING TOURS OF HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN TOWN, INCLUDING THE FORMER SANDPOINT CITY HALL THAT NOW HOUSES THE MUSIC CONSERVATORY OF SANDPOINT.
PHOTO COURTESY BONNER COUNTY HISTORY MUSEUM.
Want to learn more about local history? The Bonner County Historical Society & Museum has partnered with the city of Sandpoint’s Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation Commission to take selected groups on walking tours through the downtown while offering various fun facts about Sandpoint and its denizens. Local historians and actors will headline these engaging presentations.
Join the Arts Commission for its signature “A Walk Through History,” which focuses on Sandpoint architecture. On the fourth Friday of every month at 10 a.m. meet up in front of the Panida Theater for this free tour. (Registration is encouraged.)
On Fridays in June through August, the museum sponsors a “Newcomer Cucumber” tour. “The term was used in an early 1900s newspaper; it’s how settlers described newcomers to the area,” said Heather Coombs, the museum’s director. “Today, we use this cheeky term to welcome old timers, new residents, and visitors alike.”
This is a deep dive into local history that takes about an hour, and you’ll walk about a mile (or around 2,000 steps if you’re keeping track). Learn about key historic families, businesses, and stories dating from the earliest beginnings of North Idaho’s “Sandy Point.” The tour starts at Elevate Real Estate Group’s indoor reception area at 212 N. First Ave. in Sandpoint, and you can book your spot online at www.bonnercountyhistory.org/tours.
“Before it’s over you’ll have met Rex, the collie that opened doors for the ladies at Gold Medal Grocery; discovered the dramatic story of Sand Creek’s dueling bridges; and witnessed the watery birth of Bonner General Hospital,” promised Coombs.
You can continue your journey through Sandpoint’s past with the Sandpoint Walking Tour brochure (online at www.sandpointidaho.gov/hpctour). Tours are facilitated through the city of Sandpoint’s Parks & Recreation enrichment programming. Do all three, and you’ll soon find yourself a local yokel. (Okay, no you won’t, but you’ve got to start somewhere!)
–Trish Gannon
Big achievements, it is said, start with big dreams.
That’s true for an ambitious effort to acquire the former Coldwater Creek headquarters in Kootenai for use as an interdisciplinary hub where nonprofit organizations and local businesses can share resources to collectively build a stronger community.
The campus has operated since 2017 under successive owners as the Sandpoint Technology Center. This spring the complex went up for auction.
The sprawling property has 12 acres encompassing 120,000 square feet of office space, a 220-seat auditorium, some 97,500 square feet of warehouse space, and an additional 17,000-square-foot building.
Currently, a dozen companies and nonprofit groups lease about half the complex. One of those tenants is the Community Resource Envision Center, and when the property came up for auction, CREC Executive Director Katie Begalke saw an opportunity to coalesce support and acquire it as a center for nonprofits and entrepreneuers. She invited local groups into an initial call with a potential investor, “thinking I’d get about five. But 16 different parties joined the call,” she said. “There’s been so much excitement.”
Brent Baker of the Pend Oreille Economic Partnership has helped lead the effort. “While still a long shot at this stage, we are very excited about the potential,” he said. At press time, a supportive investor was involved; more collaborators are invited.
Begalke and Baker can be contacted via their websites, www.crecidaho.com and www.pepidaho.org.
–Chris Besslerspend more time doing what So you can
Entering its 36th year of operation, Silverwood Theme Park has enjoyed phenomenal growth. The popular attraction, just 30 miles south of Sandpoint on Highway 95, now averages 600,000 visitors per year and boasts more than 70 rides and attractions—a far cry from its humble beginnings when it only offered train rides.
And this summer it’s only getting bigger (and more fun!) with the addition of Emerald Forest—a new 3-plus–acre section of the Boulder Beach Water Park that offers some mighty cool attractions.
The first addition is the Pacific Northwest’s first ever water coaster—called “Eagle Hunt”— which gives riders the chance to race each other down its 925-foot waterslides (making it the longest in the nation!). The idea behind the interactive, dueling water coaster is that guests can time themselves against the clock as well as against their friends’ times. Silverwood tells riders that they should “brace for high-speed twists and exhilarating drops on this coaster masterpiece.”
A second new offering is the Salmon Run splash pad area for children, which features eight different slides for kids to choose from, ranging in length from 36 to 82 feet. All eight slides converge into a central splash pad area, creating an “aquatic haven for youthful joy.”
Rounding out Emerald Forest will be a new food service area, the Rapids Grill and Bar, as well as 32 new cabanas and five new larger cabanas for groups.
It’s all part of the plan in continuing to help guests enjoy their visit to Silverwood.
“When planning this expansion, we listened to the feedback of our guests,” said Jordan Carter, director of marketing and entertainment. “By adding the food pavilion, a kids’ area, more cabanas, and another slide, we are getting everyone’s needs taken care of.”
Silverwood Theme Park is open May through October; Boulder Beach Water Park opens Memorial Day Weekend, with the new Emerald Forest expected to open sometime in June.
Learn more at www.silverwoodthemepark.com.
–Beth Hawkins
With its vast expanse of hiking, biking, and cross-country ski trails, all set amidst breathtaking scenery, the 180-acre Pine Street Woods is a well-used community space. In its inaugural year in 2020, Pine Street Woods welcomed over 20,000 visitors, and that number has continued to grow.
Overseen by Kaniksu Land Trust, Pine Street Woods is home to many educational programs and camps, including the Sandpoint Nordic Club ski programs, as well as the Pend Oreille Pedaler mountain biking camps and clinics.
Over the past four years the Sandpoint Rotary Club, committed to funding projects that leave a lasting positive impact on the community, have diligently raised funds to construct a welcome shelter at the site, and that effort has now paid off.
“Sandpoint Rotary wanted to make sure donated money went to something that benefited the Pine Street Woods,” said Rotarian David Keyes. “Rotarians have made this a hands-on project, and club members are excited to make the shelter a reality.”
According to Jim Zuberbuhler, president of Kaniksu’s board, the welcome shelter will be located adjacent to the Woods’ upper parking lot and will not only provide a refuge for visitors but also serve as an information hub with signage and maps orienting users to the myriad trails at the property.
“The design for the project is complete, and the site work and construction will begin as soon as weather permits this spring,” said Zuberbuhler of the $42,000 project. “Rotary and Kaniksu Land Trust anticipate that the shelter will be completed by summer 2024.”
“We will do anything to benefit Pine Street Woods and the public,” added Keyes, “and the welcome shelter checks off all the boxes for a Rotary project.”
–Patty Hutchens
Having grown up in Sandpoint as a voracious reader, it was natural for Marcia Vanderford to own a bookstore. She and her husband Tom opened Vanderford’s Books and Office Products in 1978. Now in its 47th year, Vanderford’s is transitioning into Vanderford’s Books on Second Avenue (321 N. Second Ave.) as they move around the corner from their original location on Cedar. The focus will be primarily books with a side of other merchandise. While the store size is a bit smaller, it’s still big on promoting choice when it comes to readership.
As an independent bookstore Vanderford’s has seen changes in reader habits over the years. When it first began there was no Internet and people depended on stores to purchase books. But even with online options there are those who prefer a hands-on approach to buying a book, so Vanderford’s has a loyal following and new clientele are finding their way into the store. “Independent bookstores are important for small towns like Sandpoint,” said Vanderford. She is a firm believer that people should have the ability to choose what they read. “There is a need to provide freedom and diversity when it comes to reading.”
When the Vanderfords bought the original store from Gary Pietsch it carried stationery and candles with books in the back as an afterthought. Over the years Marcia and Tom built up the store, offering a combination of books and office products. While the office products are no longer, there are plenty of books available in their new location, with its cheerful blue walls and shelves brimming with reads for every taste.
The Vanderfords have seen Sandpoint change over nearly a half century of providing books and products to the community, and no doubt will see more changes. But one thing remains the same: a book is a gift that can be opened again and again.
–Pam Webb
In many ways, Bonner Taxi offers exactly what you’d anticipate from a small-town taxicab business: rides to and from nearby locations, priced by the mile; trips to and from the Spokane Airport; and services like shopping and delivering for local folks who have a hard time getting out on their own.
But for Evan and Johnelle Metz, the adventure of owning Bonner Taxi since January 2023 has entailed a whole lot more.
“Personally I've done catering deliveries, trips to the Canadian border,” Evan Metz said. “I've delivered blood samples to Spokane for same-day testing, and even driven people to TriCities and Seattle. It's a pretty jack-of-all-trades business model that's, in many ways, defined by customer needs and creativity.
“If it's a job that can be done with a minivan,” he added, “we can probably do it.”
Those jobs have often gone beyond the bounds of simply driving, shopping, and delivering. Bonner Taxi’s drivers are also accustomed to being a listening ear, friendly face, and helping hand when needed. Thanks to the area’s rural nature, it’s not uncommon for a driver to assist far-reaching patrons with everyday tasks.
“When you need something handled on a Saturday night when the handyman isn’t available, you don't have any family
left in town, and the neighbor kid moved away to college, who do you call?” Metz said. “Bonner Taxi, that's who.”
Even after nearly a decade in business (including the time spent under previous ownership), Metz is surprised to hear that many locals still don’t know that Bonner Taxi exists. Importantly, many also don’t realize it’s run by a young family working hard to provide needed services.
“I just want the community to know that Sandpoint has a volatile seasonal market and it's a very expensive place to live and do business,” Metz said. “We help as many people as we can as fast as we can because we love this community.”
Bonner Taxi is available Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next morning. Metz advised prospective riders to call early, especially on weekend nights, and use the online reservation tool when possible to ensure the most streamlined service. And for those utilizing a taxi for more traditional purposes—like a safe ride home after a fun night out featuring intoxicating beverages—they should know that there is a $100 fee for any unfortunate regurgitations.
“Do us both a favor and don't puke in the cab,” Metz said. “Thanks!”
Learn more at www.bonnertaxi.com.
- Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
A changing of the guard brings new
New people have taken over leadership roles in some key organizations in Sandpoint life over the last few months.
Over at the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, Mickey Quinn is now serving as executive director. Quinn has been a fan of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce since 1998, when she managed the Cedar Street Bridge.
"It was a winter holiday event and I remember an army of volunteers, hundreds of people attending, and that great community feeling of everything coming together," she said.
Fast forward to February 1 when she was selected for the top position, succeeding Kate McAlister.
"I am so excited," she said. "I want to bring back that excitement and remind members about the benefits of being in the Chamber."
Since moving here in 1996 Quinn has volunteered for either the Chamber or the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association for nearly the entire time. As a newcomer to the area she quickly discovered the Chamber helped her assimilate.
“I have never experienced becoming part of a community so quickly,” she said. “The exposure with the Chamber definitely helped.”
John Hennessy had a great mentor when he stepped into the role of CEO at Bonner General Health last December.
Sheryl Rickard had been the Sandpoint hospital’s CEO for 37 years and Hennessy had worked with Rickard as the facility’s chief financial officer for seven years.
It’s been a smooth transition by all measures during a time
when community hospitals are facing some stiff headwinds.
“BGH has a commitment to high quality care, patient safety, and clinical excellence,” he said. “It is deeply embedded in every employee that we truly care about each and every patient.”
BGH employes 430 people.
Hennessy’s measurement of success is simple and that is to build a healthier community.
The year 2024 also kicked off with a new mayor for Sandpoint. Jeremy Grimm had a pretty good idea what he was getting himself into when he was elected Sandpoint’s mayor in November, replacing Shelby Rognstad.
A 16-year resident who once served as the city’s planning and community development director, he knew the town’s population growth was going to continue and that an ancient water treatment plant, some bad roads, and a need for affordable housing were issues that weren’t going to go away. So he has a plan and is “filling up the bench” to address these issues and more as he restructures how city government operates.
“I love this opportunity,” he said. “The history here; the process of getting things done and listening to the community is a privilege for me. I am looking forward to forging new relationships and providing opportunities for the public to be more involved with the way their city runs.”
Sandpoint's historic Panida Theater was in need of attention and some leadership when Robb Talbott entered stage right in November.
As the curtain lifted on Talbott's tenure as the Panida executive director, he hoped his experience—and love—for Sand-
point's iconic theater would help as the facility eyes its 100th birthday in 2027.
"I have been putting on events at the Panida since 2017 and I absolutely love the space and I recognize it is loved by the community," he said. "I feel the connections I've made coordinating, producing, and presenting events through Mattox Farm Productions put me in a unique position to help the Panida fulfill its potential as a hub of the Sandpoint arts community."
Center stage for Talbott is the Century Fund campaign. The ambitious goal is to raise $1.9 million by 2027 to focus on renovation and long-deferred repairs.
Talbott is aware of the special place the community-owned venue has and knows its survival is paramount as "we prepare it to thrive into the next generation.
"With community engagement, a dedicated crew of volunteers and staff, and successful grant writing, the Panida will be a welcoming space for our community as well as the larger arts community (long into the future)," he said.
– David Keyes
Once an access to Highway 95 for people living north of town, Popsicle Bridge was ‘bypassed’ in the 1970s, when the highway was reconstructed and the bridge condemned. Then, in the late ’90s, North Idaho Bikeways raised money to rebuild the bridge for hikers and bikers. This spring the bridge, which sees good use by those walking or biking the Sand Creek multi-use trail, was rebuilt yet again by the city of Ponderay. The bridge was named for a nearby factory that operated for a few years in the 1960s that created—you guessed it—popsicle sticks.
Traver’s Park will soon see the beginning of Phase 2 of what is a quite large expansion of the skatepark. Plans for the skaters, which can be seen on the city of Sandpoint’s website, will create terrain over three times larger than the current concrete skatebowl. The goal is to create features that accommodate all “wheels” (scooters, inline skaters, bikes, and wheelchairs plus the skateboards) plus provide outdoor lighting, partial shade coverage, and seating areas for those who want to sit and watch the action.
Are you a Sheldon, or a Penny? A perennial victim, or an aggressive hunter? It doesn’t take a television show to find out, as this spring a new adventure facility opened in Sagle: 7B Paintball, offering both low impact and HPA speedball. Located on Hidden Creek Road, the facility has a wide selection of rental equipment and unlimited air. Oh, and a hayride to take you out to the playing field. Look for them @7B Paintball on Facebook.
This last season’s Winter Carnival featured something unique to Sandpoint—the world’s longest ski hat. Carried by staff and supporters of the Bonner County History Museum, the hat is estimated at 617 feet long. It was created for the 1977 Winter Carnival parade by Gini Woodward and Scott Hadley, and features the names of sponsors who helped fund the project.
What does the name Sagle mean, anyway? It seems back in 1900 pioneer Nathan Powell wanted the town to be called Eagle, but when he submitted the name to the post office he learned it had already been used in Idaho. Powell resubmitted the name with an “S” replacing the “E,” possibly as a joke. And so it came to be.
Construction began this spring on the James E. Russell Sports Center in Sandpoint’s Travers Park. The indoor court facility is the result of a generous, multi-million dollar donation from his family in memory of Russell, a Sandpoint High School alum who went on to a successful career as an engineer in science applications. An avid tennis player, the facility donated in his name will offer four tennis and 16 pickleball courts for year-round use, plus a 50-person community use room.
25 Free Community Track Meet at Sandpoint High School Track, (ages 9-14). 8 a.m. to noon. Sponsored by Sandpoint City Rec, SHS Track, and SHS Cross Country. Check for updates at Sandpoint Parks & Rec Facebook page.
24-26 & 31 Legally Blonde the Musical, by Lake Pend Oreille Reperatory, Panida Theater, 208-263-9191. www.Panida.org
1-2 Legally Blonde the Musical, by Lake Pend Oreille Reperatory, Panida Theater, 208-263-9191. www.Panida.org
8-9 Sandpoint Renaissance Faire at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer Rd., 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. www. SandpointRenFaire.com
14 POAC ArtWalk, a city-wide art exhibit. 208-263-6139 www.ArtInSandpoint.org.
14 Schweitzer Summer Opening Day. 208-263-9555. www.Schweitzer.com
15 CHAFE 150. Series of bike races plus a family fun ride. www.CHAFE150.org
14-16 Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival, Busta Park. Friday 6:30 p.m. Kids’ color run kickoff. Events begin 8 a.m. Saturday, 7 a.m. on Sunday. www.MFBigFoot.com 22-23 Race the Wolf. Ultra-marathon
and trail race series from Lake Pend Oreille to Montana and the Canadian border. www.RaceTheWolf.com
27 Summer Sampler, epicurian delights from many talented local chefs. The event includes libations, live music, giveaways and fun for the whole family. 208263-2161. www. SandpointChamber.org
28 Monet’s Soirée POAC annual art party at the Heartwood Center. 208-2636139. www.ArtInSandpoint.org.
28-30 Sandpoint Summerfest. Music, magic and more. Includes a disc golf tournament. Sagle’s Eureka Institute. 208-263-2217. www.Eureka-Institiute.org
29 Monarch Grind 70–mile gravel grinder for cyclists, start and finish near Clark Fork. 208.610.9990. www. SyringaCyclery.com
4 Fourth of July Celebration Sandpoint Lions host downtown parade. Children’s parade begins at 9 a.m. Grand Parade follows at 10 a.m. Day-long celebrations also held in Clark Fork and Priest River.
11 Pairings in the Pines Progressive tasting event through Pine Street Woods. 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. 208-263-9471 www. Kaniksu.org
12-13 Sandpoint Pride Festival Join PFLAG Sandpoint at the Granary Arts District, 513 Oak St. www.SandpointPride.com
12-14 Sandpoint Antique & Classic Boat Show Sandpoint City Boardwalk, with boat parade up Sand Creek. 208-610-5007 www.acbs.org
19-21 YogaFeast Yoga, food, dance, music, and art. At the Eureka Institute in Sagle. 208-263-2217. www.EurekaInstitiute.org
20-21 Northwest Wine Fest Schweitzer’s two-day summer wine-tasting event. 208263-9555. www.Schweitzer.com
21-22 Spokane to Sandpoint Relay. Two day, 200-mile relay adventure begins at Green Bluff north of Spokane, and finishes on the beach of Lake Pend Oreille in Sandpoint. www.SpokanetoSandpoint.com
25-Aug 2 Festival at Sandpoint See calendar on page 29.
29 In a Landscape: Classical Music in the Wild An outdoor concert series created by American pianist Hunter Noack. A nine-foot concert grand Steinway piano is set in awe-inspiring natural landscapes instead of the traditional concert hall. 6 p.m. at Pine Street Woods. 208-263-9471 www.kaniksu.org
POAC Gallery & Classroom Studio
FIRST FRIDAY RECEPTIONS
313N.2ndAve. DowntownSandpoint
Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm Saturday: 10am - 4pm
47th Annual
OPENING RECEPTION
J une 14th - 5 - 8pm
Over 30 Locations in downtown Sandpoint
1-4 Festival at Sandpoint continues, closing with Taste of the Stars wine tasting. See calendar on next page 2-3 Bonner County Rodeo at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer Rd. In conjunction with the PRCA event, there will also be women’s barrel racing sanctioned by WPRA. 208-263-8414 www. SandpointBonnerCountyRodeo.com
3 Long Bridge Swim 1.76 mile open air swim along Sandpoint’s Long Bridge. Race time is 9 a.m. and proceeds benefit children and adult swim programs in the Sandpoint area. www.LongBridgeSwim.org 10-11 POAC Annual Arts and Crafts Fair. Arts, food, and youth art arena. All proceeds benefit POAC programming. 208-263-6139 www.ArtinSandpoint.org
AUGUST 10TH & 11TH 2nd & Main Downtown Sandpoint
Artist Studio Tour
AUG 30TH - SEPT 1ST
Over 20 artist studios Tour Hours: 9am - 4pm
Learn more at: www.ArtinSandpoint.org
Bonner County Fair Enjoy this old-fashioned country event at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, featuring the Challenge of Champions bull riding, and the Demolition Derby. 208-263-8414. www.BonnerCountyFair.com
16 Montana Shakespeare in the Free performance of “Hamlet” at Lakeview Park, 901 Ontario St., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. www. ShakespeareInTheParks.org
30-Sept. 1 Artists’ Studio Tour. Selfguided driving tour of working studios throughout North Idaho. 800-800-2106 www.ArtInSandpoint.org
30-Sept. 2 Fall Fest at Schweitzer Live bands plus more than 80 beers, ciders, seltzers, and a handful of wines. 208263-9555. www.Schweitzer.com
TBA Annual Wings Over Sandpoint Fly-in. Regional pilots fly into Sandpoint Airport. The Fly-in features a breakfast and aircraft display. Sponsored by the Sandpoint EAA Chapter 1441. 208-255-9954
1 Artists’ Studio Tour. Self-guided driving tour of studios throughout North Idaho. 800-800-2106 www.ArtInSandpoint. org
1-2 Fall Fest. Beer tasting and fun at Schweitzer. 208-263-9555. www. Schweitzer.com
14 Ponderay Neighbor Day. Familyfriendly community carnival at Harbison Field (behind the Hoot Owl) in Ponderay. Vendors, pony rides, face painting, beer garden, petting zoo, carnival games and more. It’s all free (except the beer)! www. CityOfPonderay.org
9-14 WaCanId Ride. Six-day bicycling event covers 370 miles/595 kilometers and showcases the International Selkirk Loop’s spectacular scenery. www. WaCanId.org
14 Find Your Strength 5k & 1k. Begins and ends at City Beach. The race concludes with an after-party with kids’ activities and more. www.BonnerGeneral. org/find-your-strength
TBA Panhandle Overland Rally. Enjoy overland education, booths, live music, camping, overland survival training, and much more. www. PanhandleOverlandRally.com
Oct
3-28 Scarywood at Silverwood Theme Park www.ScarywoodHaunt.com
12 Harvest Fest. Sandpoint Farmers’ Market closes out the season with entertainment, food booths, activities, displays at Farmin Park. 208-597-3355. www.SandpointFarmersMarket.com
26 ShredFest. End-of-the-season races, routes, and party for mountain bikers of all ages at Pine Street Woods. www. PendOreillePedalers.org
The Festival at Sandpoint’s 41st annual summer concert series at Memorial Field features great music under the stars! Gates for evening shows open at 6 p.m., and concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. unless stated otherwise. Taste of the Stars wine tasting requires a supplementary ticket. Get tickets, maps, and info online at www.FestivalatSandpoint.com.
Thursday, July 25
This blues, folk and alternative rock band has piled up three gold-selling records, one platinum LP, and the 6x-platinum opus “Four” highlighted by the Grammy award-winning “Run Around.” Most recently, in 2022, they notched another Grammy nomination for best traditional Blues album for “Traveler’s Blues.” This is a standard show, and front of stage will be standing room only. Sandpoint native Justyn Priest will open.
Friday, July 26 –
An integral part of what used to be the underground folk punk and alternative rock scenes, the group has seen hits including perennial fan favorite, “American Music.” This cult favorite will bring what’s been called their “unpredictable, organic sound” to northern Idaho, showcasing why they were one of the most successful alternative rock bands of the ’80s. Music begins at 8:00 p.m. for this concert. This is a standard show, and front of stage will be standing room only.
Saturday, July 27 - trombone Shorty with Big Boi
A returning favorite, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews has been called “part Jimi Hendrix, part James Brown and all New Orleans” for his hard-edged funk band that employs brass-band beats, rock dynamics and improvisation in a jazz tradition. Big Boi opens the concert. This is a standard show, and front of stage will be standing room only.
Sunday, july, 28 – TBA
Information not yet available at press time. Visit the Festival website for information.
wednesday, July 31 – Maren Morris
Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Maren Morris is rooted in country, though her music blends in pop, R&B, and Hip-Hop. In addition to her Grammy win, she has broken streaming records, and sold out iconic venues across the globe. She will be dancing with herself and the Festival crowd at this dancing concert. This is a standard show, and front of stage will be standing room only.
thursday, Aug. 1 – Lee Brice with Madeline Merlo
Seven-time Academy of Country Music Award winner Lee Brice (“Memory I Don’t Mess With,” “One of Them Girls”) is one of the most played country music artists on Pandora, and has racked up nine number one singles. His 2010 top country song “Love Like Crazy” broke a 62-year record for longest run on the country charts. Madeline Merlo will open.
friday, Aug. 2 - Jason Mraz & the Superband
Grammy-award-winning musician and songwriter Jason Mraz (“I’m Yours,” “Lucky,” “I Won’t Give Up”) blends folk, jam band music, hip-hop, and soft rock in a style that’s created fans worldwide. A competitor in season 32 of Dancing With the Stars, his newest album is based on dance music. The Molly Miller Trio will open. This is a standard show, and front of stage will be standing room only.
saturday, Aug. 3 – Colbie Caillat & Gavin DeGraw
Colbie Caillat is a two-time Grammy award winner with two platinum albums and eight #1 singles including “Realize,” “Try,” and the crowd-pleasing “Lucky.” She’s known as an expert storyteller and a personal and engaging artist. She is joined by pop/rock singer Gavin DeGraw, the son of Lynne and John Wayne, with whom she recorded “We Both Know,” which garnered another Grammy nomination.
sunday, Aug. 4 – How to Train Your Dragon: In Concert conducted by Morihiko Nakahara. The acclaimed DreamWorks film presented in HD, with composer John Powell’s Academy Award-nominated score performed live to picture by the 70+ person Festival at Sandpoint orchestra in a thrilling experience for all ages. An add-on bonus ticket may be purchased for Taste of the Stars, featuring beer, wine, and spirits from around the region. Underwritten by Innovia, the evening also features face-painting and a fireworks finale. Gates open at 5 p.m. with Taste of the Stars until 7:00 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m.
I’m a real estate professional who combines my keen understanding of the housing market and my extensive experience as an investor and developer with the determination, focus and energy it takes to succeed. What I love about my job is getting my clients to think differently.
For Buyers, that means helping them see what a house can be. You can’t always buy the finished product. Sometimes you need to create it.
For Sellers, return on investment is what it’s all about, whether that takes a big change, like renovations, or a small change, like paint and staging. It’s presenting a property at its best.
I try to translate vision into reality, helping my buyers to buy smart and my sellers to sell prepared. And best of all seeing every client get a return on their investment.
What if your realtor was more than just another order taker, simply checking off boxes?
You’d have a solid relationship with a trusted advisor.
What if your realtor had a background in investing, development and construction – on top of detailed knowledge of the housing market?
You’d steer away from the lemons, make a savvy investment and see the possibilities where no on else could.
What if your realtor had 20+ years as a full time, local agent?
You’d have that experience working for you, like your own personal secret weapon.
DR. CATHY KING AND A WORLD VETS’ TEAM MEMBER ON SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND, GALAPAGOS, CLAD IN BIOSECURITY
DR. CATHY KING AND A WORLD CLAD IN BIOSECURITY
SUITS TO MONITOR BIRD
POPULATIONSBELOW: DR. KING
POPULATIONSBELOW: DR. KING WITH A CRITICALLY ENDANGERED PETREL IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. PHOTOS COURTESY WORLD VETS.
PETREL IN THE GALAPAGOS WORLD VETS.
Local veterinarian and founder of World Vets is on a mission to provide veterinary aid and disaster relief in developing countries
by Marianne Love
In 2007, during a routine vet visit, Sherrie Boston’s dog Buddy suddenly collapsed, due to an underlying problem, at Hometown Animal Hospital in Deer Park, Washington. Hospital owner Dr. Cathy King revived him and took some blood samples. A week later, when Buddy relapsed, and it was obvious that hope was gone, Boston called, after hours, to make an appointment the next morning to have Buddy euthanized.
“[Dr. King] told me to bring him in now; she would meet us at the clinic,” Boston recalled. “She did not want me waiting until morning.”
Afterward, Boston wanted to do something for “Dr. Cathy,” for going above and beyond the call of duty.
“She had a jar on the reception desk for folks to make a donation to World Vets,” Boston explained. “I made a $50 donation in memory of Buddy.”
World Vets was conceived, created, and managed by its founder, Dr. Cathy King, a 1990 Sandpoint High School graduate who received her veterinary schooling at the University of Idaho and Washington State University.
A 2017 Sandpoint Magazine article reported on the organization’s accomplishments through its first decade. (Read it at www.sptmag.com/worldvetsbegins )
Sherrie Boston still contributes to World Vets regularly.
“The work being done worldwide is so important,” Boston said, noting that “many organizations do rescue-type work but none spend resources, like World Vets, to help third-world countries become more educated about animal care.”
Headquartered in Gig Harbor, Washington, the World Vets vision was inspired by Dr. King’s visit to Mexico, where she learned the plight of homeless street dogs being put to death through mass poisonings.
By 2016, the nonprofit organization had received United Nations recognition for sending teams of veterinary volunteers, including some professionals from North Idaho, to spay, neuter, and care for cats and dogs in developing countries.
A U.S. Navy partnership involved civilian veterinary teams volunteering for ship-based humanitarian aid missions. Volunteers had also aided natural disaster rescue missions. Additional
partnerships with foreign municipalities ended inhumane treatment of animals in several regions of the world.
World Vets opened the Latin America Veterinary Training Center in Nicaragua, doubling as an educational center for South American veterinary students and as a free animal-care clinic for street dogs, working horses, and other farm animals.
In the early days, King served as lead vet on every mission. Later, she focused on cultivating and developing new programs in new countries. She also earned her Coast Guard boat captain’s license, enabling her to pilot the specially designed marine animal rescue boat on missions throughout Puget Sound.
Recently, the American Veterinary Medical Association selected King for its 2024 AVMA Global Veterinary Service Award, honoring her outstanding service in contributing to international understanding of veterinary medicine.
After more than two decades, her passion and devotion toward World Vets continues to intensify.
“If I’m awake, I’m working,” she said.
The pandemic years slowed the organization’s momentum but also opened the door for World Vets to establish a permanent presence in the Galapagos Islands 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, considered to be one of the world’s premiere spots for viewing wildlife.
King considers this partnership, finalized with Galapagos National Park last October, an ultimate achievement. In this recent interview, she discussed the Galapagos mission as well
dr. cathy king
as World Vets’ overall impact. What events and situations in your formative years in the Sandpoint area led you on your professional journey?
I was born in Coeur d’Alene. My family moved to Careywood when I was 7. Later, we moved to a small 5-acre farm in Sagle with horses and sheep. My early career aspiration was to be either an architect or a veterinarian. By age 7, I decided to be a veterinarian and never changed my mind.
Growing up, I held a variety of animal and farm-related jobs. I entered the veterinary field at 16/17 as a kennel cleaner at Pend Oreille Veterinary Service and later moved up to veterinary assistant. Mostly, I cleaned up a lot of dog poop! A few times I went out on ranch calls with Dr. Jeff Warren, which was a highlight of my job there.
I also participated in Schweitzer Valley Dwellers 4-H Club, with horse, sheep, and veterinary science projects.
Through the Arabian horse club, I competed in horse judging and horse bowl. All of those experiences and jobs played a role in developing skills and interests leading to my career.
In high school I worked as an Idaho legislative page, sponsored by my Southside Elementary School principal Mr. Jim Stoicheff, Speaker of the House at the time. I lived with a legislative secretary in Boise. I was never much of a reader back then, but there was a copy of Charles Darwin’s book “On the Origin
of Species” in my bedroom which I read. That was my first introduction to the Galapagos Islands.
The next year at the University of Idaho, I learned that one of my good friends in the dorm was born and had spent her early years living on the Galapagos Islands. Her dad was the director of the Charles Darwin Research Station.
I heard some great stories about Galapagos. It wouldn’t be until decades later that I’d be working there, but those two random events planted a small seed that
always had me fascinated with the islands. What is the World Vets’ mission and how has it evolved over the past 23 years?
World Vets initially addressed pet overpopulation in developing countries by providing free sterilization programs, access to veterinary care, and local capacity building for long-term sustainability. Over the years, our work has grown to include 50-plus countries with programs that have included response for major international disasters, and direct animal care for a variety of species including dogs, cats, livestock, horses, donkeys, and wildlife.
Our teams have worked with nomadic herdsmen on the outer edges of the Gobi desert in Mongolia, helped donkeys of the Maasai tribe in Tanzania, and deployed on U.S. Navy hospital ships, providing veterinary services across multi-country missions in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
We’ve responded to sick and injured marine mammals in the Pacific Northwest, including everything from harbor seal pups to sea lions to whales. We’ve trained hundreds of veterinarians across Latin America in surgical and anesthesia techniques. We’ve also provided emergency response and veterinary services for threatened and endangered wildlife species in the Galapagos Islands, including Galapagos sea lions, penguins, sea turtles, giant tortoises, and a variety of sea/land birds.
While we still have many ongoing sterilization programs, our organization has evolved and adapted to respond to almost any type of urgent or critical animal issue that can benefit from skilled veterinary teams and expertise.
World Vets is totally donor-supported. We’re always so grateful to the many donors who have supported us over the years through monthly giving, legacy gifts, grants and foundation support, and in-kind donations. Because we have volunteers from across the country and even the world who work on our
projects, many people hear first-hand accounts from veterinarians, technicians, and others who have been a part of the incredible work that has been done over the years. That helps get the word out in a very organic way.
Our veterinary teams are all skilled volunteers who pay their own travel costs and donate their time. Project fees paid by the volunteers also support field projects in various countries. One of our major donors right now, the SeaWorld Conservation Fund, supports critical wildlife efforts and capacity building in Galapagos, work that our veterinary teams have done over the years.
tables, lights, etc.
Summer is our busy time for marine mammal rescue work in Washington. We’re often caring for harbor seal pups in our urgent care clinic or responding on one of our rescue boats to any kind of sick, injured, or entangled marine mammal.
A recently memorable case involved a Beluga whale which made its way into Puget Sound/Salish Sea; normally they live in the Arctic. We responded on our rescue boat, with a team of scientists, to evaluate the wayward whale. We used
drone images to evaluate body condition, captured photo identification images to match against existing databases, and environmental DNA samples were collected from surface seawater from which researchers successfully sequenced a fragment of mitochondrial genome, determining that the whale was from the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic region. The whale had traveled thousands of kilometers, ending up just a couple miles from our headquarters. It was sighted for 18 days in the Salish Sea. We hope it
What are the major dayto-day activities at the Gig Harbor headquarters?
Currently we’re working on packing a shipping container full of equipment and supplies that will be headed for the Galapagos Islands. Nearly everything we use in Galapagos needs to be brought in by ship or plane.
Shipping logistics are complicated, but it will be worth it when the container arrives with a rescue boat, veterinary supplies, and medical equipment, including machines for digital x-rays, ultrasound, anesthesia, and dentistry, plus surgery
eventually made its way back north. How did the partnership with the Galapagos Islands unfold?
World Vets has been working in northern Ecuador for 15 years, so I’d been to the country many times working on our sterilization program there. The Galapagos Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site located on the equator. Environmental conditions and cool ocean currents have created a unique
island ecosystem with many species not located anywhere else in the world. Animals such as marine iguanas, giant tortoises, blue footed boobies, Galapagos sea lions, hammerhead sharks, Galapagos penguins, and flamingos are just a few of the unique and diverse animals found on and around the islands.
For our wildlife program, we partner with Galapagos National Park rangers and respond to any sick, injured, or entangled wildlife as part of the Rapid
Response Program. We also do ongoing disease investigations on animals that are found dead. Most of the wildlife we work with are on the endangered species list. The wildlife program took several years to fully develop as we worked through necessary regulations and requirements to obtain the proper authorizations to work there.
We also did a one-year onsite feasibility study, with a veterinary team from World Vets there responding to wildlife cases, so that we had a thorough understanding of the types of cases, the specialized equipment needed, and overall logistics of working there. The program was officially announced at a public event in Galapagos in 2023. To date, we have responded to about 250 wildlife calls.
This year we’ll build the first wildlife rescue center on San Cristobal Island which will be phase one of a multiphase project. The initial building will include capabilities for surgery, examinations and treatments, diagnostic imaging, laboratory diagnostics, patient holding areas, and necropsy. Future plans call for building a larger wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, rescue, and research center, serving all the islands. We currently have two-and-a-half full-time veterinarians on our Galapagos Wildlife project as well as support staff and volunteers. As the program grows, the staff will increase as needed.
What advice do you have for young people aspiring to make a difference in the world?
My advice is to follow your dreams but recognize that it takes a lot of hard work, persistence, and dedication to get the dream jobs, whatever the profession. It rarely happens overnight and usually requires multiple advanced degrees and years of work experience. So, dream big, but plan to put in the work.
What are your reflections on your professional journey thus far?
I always knew I wanted to become a
veterinarian. When I was younger, I could never have dreamed of where my career would take me. I’ve been a veterinarian for 27 years and have been fortunate to work in many fulfilling areas of the profession, on virtually all types of animals, including domestic, livestock, wildlife, and now primarily marine mammals. I’ve worked with veterinarians from all over
DR. KING (CENTER) ALONG WITH THE DIRECTOR OF THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK AND OTHER DIGNITARIES AT THE OFFICIAL GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE FIRST WILDLIFE RESCUE CENTER ON SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND, GALAPAGOS. THE PROJECT IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN WORLD VETS AND THE GALAPAGOS NATIONAL PARK PHOTO COURTESY WORLD VETS.
the world as we collaborated to help animals that, in many cases, would not otherwise have access to care. Working in the Galapagos has definitely been a dream come true and makes all the years of hard work worth it.
Learn more at www.worldvets.org.
CEDAR TREES AND FERNS IN THE PRIEST LAKE AREA ARE THE TYPES OF SPECIES FOUND GROWING IN A TEMPERATE RAINFOREST.
PHOTO BY DOUG MARSHALL. by Cate HuismanHikers who visit North Idaho from west of the Cascade Mountains might feel more at home here than they anticipated. Many of our favorite hikes pass through an inland temperate rainforest that looks and feels like forests west of the mountains. Having expected to stroll among ponderosa pines, visitors instead recognize the feathery fronds of western redcedar and the tipped-over tops of western hemlock.
What’s happening here? Many areas around Sandpoint are discontinuous parts of a forest type that is otherwise rare east of the Cascades, although common west of them. This environment is remarkable not only for having plants that are more prevalent along the coast, but for the variety and number of them it supports: “There are no other inland temperate zones on earth that harbour so many species,” avows the Canadian conservation organization Wildsight, which monitors this rainforest as it extends into British Columbia.
A temperate rainforest is different from a tropical one. It is defined in part by “cooler annual temperatures [and] more rainfall“ than the areas surrounding it, said Preston Andrews, a local plant scientist. “The driest part of the year has significant precipitation, so it's not really a strictly dry summer,” as is typical east of the mountains. “About a quarter of the precipitation comes in the summer,” he added.
We have our local mountains to thank for this peculiarity. Weather systems traveling west to east are forced up to get over the Selkirks, Cabinets, and Purcells, and their clouds must drop rain or snow to gain the height to pass.
Not all nearby hikes are in the rainforest. Local geographic variation means that this type of forest appears in some parts of our region but not others. Rainforest species are found where the altitude, snowmelt, summer rain, and slope orientation provide what these plants need to grow and thrive. In any given area, cooler, north-facing slopes may exhibit the characteristics of the rainforest, while sunnier southern slopes may instead support species more adapted to drier climates, such as ponderosa pine and western larch (tamarack). A hiker crossing a ridgetop may thus experience both on a single trail.
While these conditions create areas amenable to the creation of a rainforest, there is reason to wonder how species that appear to have developed on the west coast got to these inland areas. Their presence is especially remarkable given the expanse of dry, inhospitable land between the coast and here.
There are two theories about this, and both may be true.
It appears that some species migrated north from some of the drainages of the Clearwater River. At one time this area was much closer to the coast, and it was not covered by glaciers as the areas to the north were.
Even more rainforest species appear to have migrated here from the rainforest on the West Coast. “It's remarkable how plants that are immobile can find ways of dispersing to locations that are favorable for growth,” said Andrews. “Well over a
hundred species that are mainly coastal have moved to this inland area.” These plants could have arrived as seeds in the stomachs of migrating birds or on the fur of other migrating animals, including humans—such as the coastal people who for millennia traveled to Celilo Falls on the Columbia River to trade with people from the interior.
The coastal plants we have here include many lichens, mosses, and fungi that are rarely the focus of the casual hiker. But several species will be familiar to travelers from both sides of the mountains, including red alder, licorice fern and sword fern, buckthorn, Rocky Mountain maple, and, in the spring, varieties of shooting stars, lady’s slippers, and mariposa lilies.
Not only does the rainforest have a lot of species, it has a lot of biomass in general. For this reason, it is one of the few parts of the continental U.S. that can support “a full complement of large carnivores,” as one source describes them. It’s why we have relatively large numbers of animals near the top of the food chain, including grizzly and black bears, lynx, wolverines, and cougars.
Hikers may traverse the rainforest in many areas around Sandpoint. The Waterfall Trail from the Schweitzer roundabout descends into the rainforest as it approaches the falls, and Mickinnick Trail passes through it in the dark, cool grove of trees just past the first bench. Rainforest species line the Ross Creek, Spar Creek, and the East Fork Lightning Creek trails as well.
As the Earth warms, this unique environment may be starting to vanish from the interior, and this may not be something humans can change. But we might stave it off for a few generations by limiting encroachment from logging and recreation. “Plants are very resourceful,” said Andrews. “They will find ways to survive. We need to protect the areas that we know exist for as long as we can.”
Indeed we do. That green, shady forest is a great place to escape to on a hot summer day.
IN THE KANIKSU NATIONAL FOREST NORTH OF PRIEST RIVER, NUMEROUS TRAILS WILL LEAD YOU INTO NORTH IDAHO’S TEMPERATE RAINFOREST.
PHOTO BY LELAND HOWARD.
by Stan Myers
Over 45 years of pushing and pulling by our neighbors, spurred by politics, gold, agriculture, and timber interests, resulted in Idaho’s unique shape and funny panhandle. The northern border with Canada had been settled in 1846. We were part of the Oregon Territory and then the Washington Territory until President Abraham Lincoln established the Idaho Territory in 1863. All of present-day Montana and most of present-day Wyoming was at that time included in Idaho.
That act settled our western border, including the western straight line of the future panhandle, from Lewiston to Canada. But Idaho Territory was too big for the times and a political battle was on for the creation of a Montana Territory.
At question was just where the Idaho-Montana border should be. The Continental Divide was a natural boundary but that would have divided Montana political and mining interests. After a night of political wrangling, without any Idaho representatives present, President Lincoln signed the Montana Organic Act and Idaho found itself less than half of its former size. It had gained the eastern straight line of the 45-mile-wide Panhandle. By 1868, the future state of Idaho’s final shape was
sealed to fate.
A border on paper is not a border on the ground. Idaho is famous for rugged mountains; straight-line boundaries don’t follow natural divides but cross mountain ranges and rivers and make surveying difficult. But in 1897, Congress said it had to be done.
The eastern side of the Panhandle is 70 miles long, from the Canadian border to a point on the Coeur d’Alene Mountains divide. It was to be surveyed in three field seasons from 1897 to 1899.
Border surveys must be very precise; the nearest suitable survey control point was a stone monument in front of the Spokane courthouse. The plan was to survey from the courthouse northeastward and establish the north and south endpoints of the eastern Panhandle line in the first year and then survey and establish with stone and iron monuments the “random line” between in the second and third years.
This epic work began by dispatching top surveyor E.L. “Rolly” Perkins from Washington D.C., who enlisted two other surveyors, Samuel “Silent Sam” Gannett and Dewitt Reaburn, to help carry out the job. With horses, mules, a packer, field
FROM TOP: THE 1899 PACK STRING CARRIED SECTIONS OF THE GRANITE MONUMENT FROM HERON TO THE SOUTHERNMOST ENDPOINT OF THE EASTERN STRAIGHT PANHANDLE LINE ON THE COEUR D’ALENE DIVIDE. LITTLE BARNEY IS LIKELY SHOWN; THIS IMAGE FROM THE USGS SURVEY REPORT ILLUSTRATES THE DIFFICULTY IN TRANSLATING STRAIGHT LINES ON A MAP TO UNDULATING GROUND; THE SECTIONED GRANITE MONUMENT WAS REASSEMBLED AND THIS PRESENT-DAY VIEW IS TAKEN FROM THE MONTANA SIDE, LOOKING INTO IDAHO. PREVIOUS PAGE: IRON MONUMENT #67 IS LOCATED ON THE CHAR CREEK/THUNDER CREEK RIDGE, LOOKING DOWN EAST FORK CREEK. ALL CURRENT PHOTOS BY STAN MYERS.
assistants, axe-men, and a cook, the group started out from Spokane in June of 1897.
Using line-of-sight-surveying and triangulation from mountain tops, checked by astronomical observations at night, they were able to establish the two points by October 1, despite heavy smoke from forest fires that hindered surveying and early snows.
In the summer of 1898, the group returned to the southern endpoint and surveyed the 70-mile line northward to the Canadian border. Perkins recorded that the total elevation ups and downs along the 70 miles was 63,000 feet and they established 92 points on prominent summits and stream crossings for the placement of border monuments the following summer.
In 1899, they retraced the survey, corrected errors, cut out a 10-foot line and placed the monuments along the border, which are still there today. There were three, six foot tall, 10-inch square granite monuments, each with “Idaho” and “Montana” chiseled on sides, that were placed at the southern endpoint near the Clark Fork River, and near the Clark Fork River and Kootenai River crossings. The granite monuments cost $14.50 each but the price included delivery to the nearest railroad station.
One monument was sawn into ten sections, so it could be packed from the Heron, Montana railroad station by mules up to the Coeur d’Alene divide. Once there, it was cemented together. Another 89 monuments were iron rods, six feet long by three-and-half inches in diameter, with brass caps marked with the mileage from the Canadian border.
One of the field assistants, Ross Brattain, described crossing the Clark Fork River just above the treacherous Cabinet Gorge with a boat, towing some of the horses and mules across the river, while others swam and drifted downstream. They purchased food from the Daugharty mercantile in Clark Fork, but Brattain also describes killing a mountain goat for meat and catching trout in the West Fork of Blue Creek.
As the line approached the rugged country near Scotchman Peak, two of the axemen up and quit. The big rock slabs around Scotchman Peak proved to be difficult with the pack animals and one of the mules, Little Barney, slipped and went off a cliff. His packsaddle snagged a tree and he hung 40 feet above the bottom of the cliff until the tree broke and he plunged into the rocks below. To the amazement of the crew, Little Barney got up and shook himself; his only injury was a large piece of torn skin on his rump.
Brattain left the group at the Kootenai River to go to college and the surveyors finally finished the job at the Canadian border on October 31 in two-and-one-half feet of snow.
It’s easy to locate ourselves today, but it’s worth remembering that to make accurate maps from almost nothing, a whole lot of difficult and heroic work, by rugged individuals, had to be done first.
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People are excited about mushrooms. And with good reason. These fascinating fungi—in all their glory—are revered in our country for their magical properties and the delicious diversity they bring to the table.
Simply type in a search for “morels” and you’ll find a morel madness of sorts has taken over the nation.
“I could talk for hours on mushrooms and the cool things they do,” said Casey Harris, local mushroom forager and amateur mycology educator. “There are just uncountable ways that mushrooms have evolved to do things like nothing else on the planet.”
One amazing property is how mushrooms conduct an intricate, underground “wood-wide web,” using their mycelium (roots) to weave nutrient-rich conduits between certain plants and trees for them to communicate with, feed, and send danger signals to one other. To ensure the web stays healthy, the fungi spread their spores in a myriad of interesting ways.
Harris explains how there’s a mushroom called Bird’s Nest, designed so that when a raindrop hits its cup shape, it will splash thousands of spores up to 6 feet away. Then there’s Shaggy Mane—when it starts to die or gets rained on, it
releases an enzyme, digests itself, and flows away in a puddle of goop to spread its spores.
Not only do mushrooms keep our forests healthy, they also offer a tantalizing experience for the taste buds.
“There’s so many textures and flavors of mushrooms that are exceptionally delicious,” said Harris. “I found some short black morels, put them on a pizza, and they tasted like the best steak I ever had.”
Tim Gerlitz, amateur mycologist and 33-year administrator for the North Idaho Mushroom Club, said of the 50- or 60-plus morel species worldwide, five or six appear in North Idaho, usually showing up by the end of April.
“But they can be elusive. They may grow in one place one year and never appear again.”
Gerlitz said to look for morels where the forest and soil have been disturbed, for example, by logging operations, forest road construction, campgrounds, or forest fire.
Mushrooms are also showing up more and more on your favorite restaurant’s menu, which you can thank your local mushroom farmer for.
In 2019, Coeur d’Alene’s Gem State Mushrooms came to fruition after George Viaud started reading about specialty mushrooms. He soon found himself down a rabbit hole about how to grow them and decided to approach his neighbor/ brother-in-law, Paul Platt, who “likes to grow things.
“We thought, ‘Hey, there’s this niche, the area doesn’t have this diverse of product offering, so let’s fill that,’” said Platt.
What they soon found was that mushrooms were very temperamental and while there was lots of information out there, there were also lots of gaps. Through trial and error, sweat and tears, they learned just how precise and timely all variables in their growing operation needed to be.
“It’s like a biological arms race in a way, you’ve got to keep things just right,” said Viaud.
Joined by their wives, Jennifer Viaud and Stephanie Platt, all four of them have very demanding full-time jobs while the men maintain the growing operation and the women cover outreach.
“It’s been exhausting, but it’s definitely a labor of love,” said Viaud.
Producing up to 500 pounds weekly, Gem State Mushrooms supplies such restaurants as The Fat Pig and Barrel 33 in Sandpoint and Baba in Spokane, among others. They also have ongoing booths at farmers’ markets.
“It’s pretty much standard fare for a chef to open up a box of our mushrooms. Their eyes get big as saucers and they say 'Wow, I’ve never seen mushrooms look so good,’” said Stephanie Platt.
“It’s so fun to show people just how delicious and diverse they are.”
THERE ARE JUST UNCOUNTABLE WAYS THAT MUSHROOMS HAVE EVOLVED TO DO THINGS LIKE NOTHING ELSE ON THE PLANET
The story of Sandpoint’s community hospital begins at the Panhandle’s heart: the blue waters of Lake Pend Oreille.
Bonner General Hospital, Inc. came to be in 1949, when community members who were determined to secure adequate healthcare for the growing post-war population arranged for the purchase of an old infirmary building located at the lake’s southernmost tip in Farragut. The building floated the 45 miles to Sandpoint in pieces, and saw reconstruction in the same location where BGH exists today, 75 years later.
As can be expected, Bonner General has seen many changes during its seven decades in business—a significant one coming in 2014, when it rebranded as Bonner General Health to better reflect its diversity of healthcare services. But one thing remains unchanged: determined community members who, across generations, have ensured BGH’s continued operation and evolution.
BGH is a nonprofit partially funded via hospital district tax dollars, amounting to a unique financial situation—but there is
a flipside to any precariousness that comes with being an independent, nonprofit, rural critical access hospital.
“Patients are not a number at BGH; they are neighbors, friends, and family,” said Sheryl Rickard, who worked at BGH for 37 years, spending nearly two decades as CEO.
“Being able to provide personalized care and take the time to show compassion to patients and their families means a lot to the BGH healthcare team,” she added.
That personalized care is beginning to tailor itself to the area’s increasingly aged demographic. According to current CEO John Hennessy, Bonner General is taking active steps to better serve the county’s older residents. A key, he said, is an emphasis on preventative care.
“By helping our patients manage chronic conditions—and ideally preventing the start of new health problems—we can hopefully reduce the need for more intensive treatments and interventions down the line,” Hennessy said.
The problems posed by changing demographics came to
the fore in 2023 when, faced with difficulty retaining obstetric physicians along with declining numbers of births, BGH made the hard decision to discontinue labor and delivery services. Since then, however, a task force of doctors and administrators are working on a path to restore those services.
Rickard recalled a number of challenges during her time at the helm, but credited past and present boards of directors (including the late Jack Parker, a longtime board member for whom the hospital’s skybridge over Alder Street is named), medical staff, employees, and volunteers as being “critical to the health of BGH.
“People who move to Sandpoint for the quality of life are some of the best and brightest,” she said. “It’s difficult to compete with the larger institutions on salaries but it’s hard to find a better place than Sandpoint to raise a family and have a good, fulfilling life.”
The “best and brightest” really shone, she said, during the coronavirus pandemic. Rickard said she now sees the pandemic as a moment of reckoning for the healthcare sector as a whole, encouraging those behind the scenes to respond swiftly to the community’s changing needs.
“That was not an easy time for anyone, but I hope that the staff who worked extra hours in extremely challenging conditions can look back at that time with pride knowing that they made a difference in the lives of so many.”
In that same spirit, Hennessy credits the hardworking folks across the hospital’s departments for providing the kind of steadfast service that makes 75 years in operation possible.
“Our staff, providers, management team, and board of direc-
“Bonner General is a gift to our community. In February 1971, it was a secure blessing to begin employment as an RN at Bonner General Hospital, which has proven to be a stable longevity tenure of more than 50 years. Bonner General provides the assurance for critical health care and is a major employer in this community. The camaraderie among the employees is truly beyond exception and does not go unnoticed by the patients. One feels a family atmosphere.”
Gwen Pogue, nurse at BGH for half a century
“Bonner General Health’s 75th anniversary gives us the opportunity to honor all of those who contributed to making the hospital what it is today. BGH would not be successful without the support of the community; the foresight and guidance of the board of directors; the talented medical staff, and the dedicated and compassionate employees and volunteers both past and present. When you think of a hospital, you often think of doctors, therapists, and nurses, and while those individuals are critical to
tors throughout the years have consistently been committed to excellence and compassionate care for our community,” he said. “This has been the driving force behind our success and is what will allow us to continue to provide excellent healthcare close to home.”
Rickard agreed. “I feel confident that BGH will be celebrating many more anniversaries due to the strong position they are in to face the future with expertise and dedication to providing the highest quality care.”
the quality of care provided, it is important to remember all of the support staff that allows the medical professions to provide safe, efficient care. All staff, providers, and volunteers are part of the excellent healthcare team at BGH.”
Sheryl Rickard, former Bonner General CEO who spent 37 years with the hospital
“Bonner General really let me work to bring the community into the hospital, and the hospital out to the community, to think outside the box to make things happen. And that’s continuing. Over the years there have been so many great things about the hospital. When we brought in Air Med One it was the first emergency helicopter hospital service in North Idaho. This was the first North Idaho hospital to use ER physicians board-certified in emergency medicine. It’s been such a pleasure to work with so many highly qualified nurses and doctors.”
Sharon “Bitsy” Bistodeau, former Nursing Supervisor, now Behavioral Health Case Manager. Started at BGH in 1992.
HOSPITAL BUILDING FLOATED UP LAKE PEND OREILLE IN SECTIONS AND CONSTRUCTED ON CURRENT SITE
PURCHASED PHYSICAL THERAPY FROM STEVE HEINRICH, NOW HAS 3 OFFSITE CLINICS
ADDITION OF 2-SOUTH (SURGICAL WING), ICCU, AND RADIOLOGY SECTION
A NEW BUILDING WAS DEDICATED, SERVING A POPULATION OF 26,000 1978
ADDED MAMMOGRAPHY AND (IN ’89) CT SCANNERS
EMERGENCY ROOM ADDITION
WEST WING ADDED, INCLUDED HELIPORT
PURCHASED FORMER SAFEWAY BUILDING; REMODELED INTO MEDICAL OFFICE BUILDING
JACK PARKER SKYBRIDGE BETWEEN HOSPITAL AND PARKWOOD BUILDING DEDICATED 2020 OPENING OF BG OPHTHALMOLOGY; HAS NOW SURPASSED 1,000 SURGERIES AT BGH 2021
ACQUIRED SANDPOINT WOMEN’S HEALTH
PROVIDED SPACE WITH KOOTENAI CANCER SERVICES FOR LOCAL CHEMOTHERAPY
HEALING GARDEN CONSTRUCTED 2005 OPENED BONNER GENERAL IMMEDIATE CARE
PURCHASED 3-D MAMMOGRAPHY AND EXOSKELETON FOR REHAB
ADMINISTERED OVER 13,000 COVID VACCINATIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY DURING THE PANDEMIC 2023
NEW CEO JOHN HENNESSY LOOKS FORWARD TO BGH’S NEXT 75 YEARS
by Jane Fritz
In Willa Cather’s famous novel, “The Song of the Lark,” a young girl from a small, railroad mountain town discovers her singing voice. Her artistic gift is encouraged by her community, as well as serendipity. She grows to become an international opera diva, astounding everyone.
In real life Sandpoint, another small, railroad community, Zoë Miller sang songs from Disney movies with compelling female characters like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Mulan.” But it was the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint where she learned to sing opera and appreciate classical music. Most importantly the school’s supportive environment helped her grow to believe in herself.
Founded in 2009 and accredited, the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint is an innovator in arts education, instructing more than 500 students, from early childhood to adulthood, by inspiring excellence in the performing arts. The school’s scholarship programs remove financial and geographic barriers so
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For five years Miller’s talent was honed and nurtured by vocal teacher Brenda Rutledge at MCS; she became an MCS honors student where she delved into extra study, music theory, and was afforded special performance opportunities. This strong foundation empowered her to graduate from the Lionel Hampton School of Music at the University of Idaho. Now 23, and a lyric soprano, Miller recently performed her first major operatic role as Rosalinde in Strauss’s “Die Fledermaus.”
Looking forward to grad school, Miller dreams of studying in Vienna. She is on a path to a classical singing career.
“The difference between Zoë’s lovely voice and the abundance of other young musicians in our midst is the consistent and brilliant teaching her singing represents,” said Verne Windham, former classical music director at Spokane Public Radio, after listening to her graduate recital.
“It is a credit to Sandpoint that she has gotten that exemplary training from the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint,” he added.
Back in 2018, Windham featured Miller and other Conservatory honors students in a live “From the Studio” program on KPBX. Another outstanding student performing was 12-yearold Levi Hill, now Levi Wright, playing a movement from Beethoven’s “Sonata Opus 13” on the piano, a complex and powerful work.
Now 18, Wright remembered that he was 5 years old when he first heard and saw an electric piano played by his father in a Costco store. He was captivated immediately by its sound, and they went home with the instrument. He excelled quickly on his own, then by age 9 he started at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. He said the school gave him discipline and his teachers, Melody Puller and Matt Goodrich, were “phenomenal” in cultivating his artistic gift.
“They’ve inspired me in ways I wouldn’t have been able to predict; I’m constantly learning from them,” said Wright. He added that the school also taught him valuable life lessons and helped him navigate professional situations like performing in adjudicated competitions such as Music Northwest, where his playing was impressive and he won awards.
The Conservatory and the community enthusiastically supported his residency at Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, a prestigious center where he spent four summers during high school. He forged friendships there with students from around
the world who share his artistic passion and learned from outstanding guest artists, always returning to Sandpoint’s Music Conservatory to share what he was learning.
Seated at the Bösendorfer grand piano (believed to be one of the great and rare pianos of its kind in the Pacific Northwest) in the Conservatory’s Little Carnegie Concert Hall, instead of Beethoven or Chopin, Wright stops to play a Debussy piece known for its difficulty and musicality that he learned at Interlochen. Over those four years Wright began to realize the depth of his instrument and music in general—inherent emotional qualities—that helped him face overwhelming challenges in his young life.
“I figured out that I could pour everything I was feeling into music, and process it through playing,” he said. “Music can be such a vulnerable expression of a person.” Believing so strongly in the healing power of music, rather than seeking a performance career, Wright wants to share his gift. He has been accepted into the Berklee College of Music in Boston in its Music Therapy program, where he’ll gain real world experience by collaborating with a diverse community of musicians, faculty, and industry and health professionals. He’ll attend this preeminent college for the study of music if he can find enough financial aid.
“The Music Conservatory taught me everything I know. They gave me the grounding to do what I do, always allowing me to grow,” he said. “They genuinely care about my success; to
go places.” There’s no doubt that he will.
This visionary school impacts the future of performing arts through the creative lives of its students in an environment that is all about connections with mentors, collaboration, and pursuing opportunities for the future.
“After 15 years, our school is all about our students,” said founder and Executive Director, Karin Wedemeyer. “Preparing a young musician for a possible career is very much part of what we do and we take it very seriously.”
It’s like a Willa Cather novel, really, as this small, rural town helps to spark and nurture students like these, and others, guiding them into a bright, shining future.
In September 2022 the New York Times published an article titled “Gravel Biking is Picking Up Speed.” Flash forward two years on and gravel continues to be the fastest growing cycling discipline across the world. In the U.S. alone there are more than two million miles of unpaved roads which for many in the cycling community means scenery, safety, and adventure.
Coupled with this, a new wave of events and races have also burgeoned—and Sandpoint has been no exception. Events such as the 3/4 Minus Cykeltur, CHAFE 150 gravel, and Monarch Grind have come together to
create the Idaho Panhandle Gravel Series. Whether it be road cyclists making the switch to less trafficked roads, cyclocross riders wanting new challenges, or first-time riders feeling the pull of the welcoming gravel scene, it’s clear that gravel is more than a passing trend.
Though people have been venturing off paved trails since the invention of the bicycle it wasn’t until 2006 that the term “gravel cycling” really took off. This is in large part thanks to the now famous Unbound Gravel—a 200 mile (320km) event held in the Flint Hills of Emporia, Kansas. With just 34 participants its first year, by 2023, 4,743 riders registered for the notoriously grueling event. Notably, a 2018 study by Penn State found that the economic impact of the Unbound weekend reached $5.5 million with hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, and local shops all sharing the benefits.
As gravel amplifies and similar events continue popping up in our community will Sandpoint see similar benefits? In the case of the longstanding CHAFE 150, this is absolutely true.
“CHAFE put $108,000 into educational programs last year and has put well over $1 million into education donations over the life of the ride,” said Brad Williams, one of the event creators. “We also have quite a big economic impact as only about 25 percent of our riders are local; the remainder travel to Sandpoint” where they spend their dollars in local stores, restaurants, and hotels.
The event first took form in 2008 when 150 people registered for what was then just a road event. As it grew over the years, so did the hum of excitement for unpaved riding. In 2023, CHAFE decided to add a new course to their event options—a 55-mile gravel route.
“We really want to keep the ride relevant. Gravel seems to
be the fastest growing area of biking,” said Williams. “I ride a few different events around the Northwest and I thought a gravel ride was an ideal addition.”
Syringa Cyclery owner and biking aficionado Charles Mortensen was in a similar state of mind when creating Sandpoint’s first gravel event, the 3/4 Minus Cykeltur, in 2019. His intro to the discipline came 10 years prior through racing cyclocross.
“Everyone had cyclocross bikes. No one had gravel bikes, but they would go out and ride [cyclocross bikes] on single track,” Mortensen said.
The first year of the 3/4 Minus, 130 people lined up for a 52or 75-mile option filled with paved roads, gravel, and singletrack throughout the greater Sandpoint area. Riders mounted a mixture of road, gravel, and hardtail bikes—the atmosphere was electric.
Pend Oreille Pedaler’s board member and 3/4 Minus finisher Jeff Smith has experienced the welcoming community of gravel all over the world. It’s taken him to exotic places like Iceland, along with more regional events like the Oregon Trail, which traverses through the Cascades over the course of five days.
“The cool thing about gravel races is that they’re very inclusive. There’s people that are there to race and there are people like me who are just trying to finish” Smith said. “That’s the spirit of it. It’s not super competitive unless you want it to be.”
Whatever the case may be for the growing world of gravel, the opportunities and benefits for riders, adventurers, and businesses alike seem abundant.
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David Benscoter may not have a larger-than-life folk hero status like Johnny Appleseed, but he is doing as much as he can to find the “lost” apples planted by early day settlers in orchards in eastern Washington and North Idaho—before it’s too late.
An apple historian and researcher, Benscoter and his nonprofit, The Lost Apple Project, are working to recover these precious lost cultivars by traveling the backroads of the Inland Empire looking for ancient trees brought west by nurserymen and pioneers on wagon trains.
He has combed through endless old documents from county fairs, to nursery catalogs at museums and libraries, hoping to find clues that lead to the discovery of an apple cultivar, or variety, that may still be out there in the wild.
Research is not new to Benscoter, who worked for 24 years as an FBI agent researching tedious documents before his re-
tirement. Now he’s often referred to as “the apple detective.”
So far, he and his cohorts have located 20 lost cultivars, including the delicious Nero, Gold Ridge, Shackleford, and Kittageskee varieties he believes could have commercial success “because of their excellent flavors.”
The word is spreading: Benscoter’s efforts have been featured in “Outside Magazine,” the “New York Times,” and in London periodicals. Now the story of lost and recovered apples is detailed in Benscoter’s highly readable and well-researched book fittingly entitled “Lost Apples,” co-written with Linda Hackbarth. While not a science book, it does include descriptors of cultivars, their histories, how they are grafted onto other apple trees for preservation, and current genetic testing methods by the Temperate Orchard Conservancy in Molalla, Oregon, along with some colorful stories of the settlers who planted seedlings and seeds to have fruit available over the
winters. “Every apple has a certain number of days it has to be in a freezing climate,” he said.
Hardbound and beautifully illustrated with 55 original mouth-watering, watercolor portraits of apples from the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection—the majority of which were painted by more than 20 artists between 1886 and 1916, before color photography was available— the book will hold interest for Northwest history buffs and apple enthusiasts, such as the 18,000 Facebook followers of the Lost Apple Project.
You would never even know there were once so many apple varieties in these parts, and that’s Benscoter’s goal—to rescue them before they are lost forever. What he means when he says “rescue” is testing the apples and then employing grafting procedures to nurture a new, but very old, apple-tasting sensation.
The book is available in July. Look for it locally at Corner Bookstore, Vanderford’s, Bonners Books, the Keokee Publishing offices and online at www.keokeebooks.com as well as at regional booksellers including Auntie’s Bookstore in Spokane, said Chris Bessler, book publisher.
As for lost apples, the search goes on, “and they could be in your backyard,” Benscoter said. (If they are, leave the detective a message at the Facebook page.)
n a hot summer day, what could be more fun than grabbing a basket or cooler and heading off into the woods in search of huckleberries? Sure, it’s a fun recreational activity and a great way to stretch your legs. But when food is scarce, gathering fruit can mean the difference between hunger and hope. That was certainly true for the local Kalispel and Kootenai tribes, which devoted a season each year to huckleberry harvest and often returned to the same berry picking locations year after year.
The early white settlers also found bounty in the mountains. During the lean years of the 1920s and ’30s, local families camped in the mountains to pick huckleberries, which were then sold to customers in town. “We got around 54 cents to 58 cents a gallon,” Elizabeth Montague recalled. “The code of the woods was each young person picked one gallon of berries a day for the camp, and that was our board and room. And then any others we’d pick, Papa kept a book, and we were credited with that, and then when we came down in September, we each got our amount of money to buy our school clothes.”
The berries were not only sold, but consumed. “We had huckleberry soup and we had huckleberries in dumplings and we had huckleberry pie occasionally,” Montague said. “And then we had huckleberry dumplings again. And then we had huckleberry pancakes. And then we had huckleberry soup again. All summer long, your teeth were blue.” In spite of the hard work, Montague enjoyed herself. “It was a highlight of our year to go to the mountains.”
Even in town, berry picking was a popular activity. Montague reminisced, “When we were teenagers, groups of us would get together and we’d leave here about 5 o’clock in the morning and take our buckets and our pack sacks and we’d walk nine miles up old Baldy and we’d pick berries all day. And then we’d traipse back down.” If they were lucky, a passing logging truck would give them a lift.
Vera Miller, born in 1897, recalled, “We had a lot of wild berries. We could take our pails when they were ready and ripe and … pick our berries and take them home and can them.” Sometimes her family would trade huckleberries with local Native Americans, receiving potatoes in return.
These days, some families guard their favorite berry-picking spots more closely than their bank-account passwords. Even so, in a good year there are plenty of patches ripe for the picking.
Research has long shown that spending time outdoors provides many health benefits, both physical and mental. The Japanese concept of shinrin-yoku or “forest bathing,” meaning spending significant time among trees, has proven health benefits and helps defend against anxiety, stress, and depression.
Folks like Vera Miller and Elizabeth Montague were intimately familiar with the health benefits of fresh air, sunshine, and physical exercise. They may not have had access to the research, but they drew on instinct, as well as the wisdom of generations of mothers urging their children to “Go outside and play!”
Go thou and do likewise. It’s summer, after all.
KIDS BRAVING THE ROCK SLIDES AT LIONHEAD IN PRIEST LAKE.
PHOTO BY FIONA HICKS
BONNER GENERAL HEALTH’S EMERGENCY
ROOM ‘COLLECTION OF ACCIDENTS’ BOARD COMPILED THE SUMMER OF 2023.
LEAPING FROM THE PILINGS IS THRILLING, BUT DANGEROUS... AND ALSO ILLEGAL.
It’s fun out there, but beware the hazardsby Susan Drumheller
Iwas an over-eager parent, anxious for my daughter to experience the wonders and thrills of the great outdoors. Sometimes that urge put my only child’s life and limbs in jeopardy.
I’m not alone. Many parents need to check their zeal to avoid close calls, or worse, while enjoying the natural wonders of North Idaho.
Consider the Lionhead natural waterslide in the Selkirk Mountains. A corridor of black plastic garbage bags line the trail. Perhaps intended as a kind gesture from other visitors, the plastic bags make you slide faster. But this is no backyard Slip ‘N Slide.
When we reached the sloping slab of granite bedrock, with Lion Creek washing down it, I was oblivious to the potential danger. Yet many serious accidents have occurred here.
I plopped my 6-year-old down on a garbage bag and sent her down the slippery slope to her fate. She shot down, fell backwards, and whacked her head on the hard granite bedrock. She whirled
down toward a pool at the bottom and a jumble of tree trunks and branches just beyond it. Would she stop? Was she concussed?
She came to a stop in a pool just before a widow-maker log pile, surviving relatively unscathed. But I’ve borne the scars of parental guilt ever since.
Bonner General’s emergency department is witness to many outdoor-related emergencies each summer, such as a toddler who applied bear spray to herself when it was left within easy reach. They catalog the most common injuries each season artistically on a dry erase board with hash marks. Leading mishaps involve fireworks and bonfires, bike and ATV accidents (remember the helmets!), insect stings, water sports, and dehydration. Most are preventable with some extra awareness of your surroundings, said ER nurse Lori Garza.
“If you’re going camping, scout out a little bit,” she said— keeping an eye out for dangerous terrain, and wasp’s nests both in trees and hiding in the ground. And stay hydrated. “You can
dehydrate really fast, even when it’s not hot,” she said.
Both Garza and Sheriff’s Marine Lt. Doug McGeachy warn boaters to not drink and drive to reduce careless boating activities—such as towing too many kids on a tube, or under a bridge where a random wave could smash them against the pilings.
McGeachy is haunted by a case on Priest Lake when two children nearly perished from carbon monoxide poisoning from hanging off the back of a slow-moving boat. Riding on the transom, or swim step, of a boat is illegal because “you could be overtaken by fumes,” he explained.
The two young girls lost their grip on the boat as it was headed back to shore. One was found floating face down, unconscious and not breathing. The family rushed the girls to a resort, where a doctor and two nurses sitting on the deck recognized the emergency and were able to take over CPR. A Life Flight helicopter happened to be in the area, which flew the children to a hospital.
“Had all those resources not fallen into place as they did, that probably would have been a different outcome,” McGeachy said.
Another life-threatening risk—one that has claimed at least one life since McGeachy joined the force in 2019—are summer storms that kick up monster waves on Lake Pend Oreille.
Former rafting guide Courtney Sanborn developed respect for the whitewater of Lake Pend Oreille the hard way when she and her 12-year-old daughter Logan took the family powerboat to camp with friends at Green Bay about 10 years ago.
Sanborn moored the boat to a buoy offshore. Overnight, the winds picked up and branches rained down on the campground. By morning the boat was clearly starting to sink as waves kept breaking over it, and they had to swim to the boat. “It was a helluva swim out there,” Sanborn said. “We both got banged up just getting in the boat.” That turned out to be the easy part.
They headed far enough into the open lake so the waves wouldn’t smash them against the rocks and cliffs onshore.
“The waves were huge,” she said. “We were getting tossed,” and as they turned the corner into Garfield Bay, “we literally high-sided in the power boat.” They were slammed around the interior. “I thought, ‘Great, I am going to flip a power boat’.”
The boat landed upright and made it into Garfield Bay. When they arrived, “I was bawling,” she recalled. “I was very grateful for the fact that we walked away with just bumps and bruises and minor cuts.”
That close call may have helped prevent others. That “Thank-God-I-didn’t-kill-my-kid moment” was on her mind when, as safety coordinator for the Long Bridge Swim, Sanborn—with other race officials—made the call to cancel the annual long-distance swim in 2017 due to high winds.
Don’t let these stories keep you and your kids indoors, however. The benefit of exploring the outdoors is worth the risk, and a little common sense can generally ensure your adventures will result in cherished family memories.
‘Think before you sink’ and other sage advice
by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
Being a great steward of local trails means practicing forethought beyond simply knowing what to bring along in a backpack. With some understanding of trail infrastructure and conditions, anyone can be kinder to trails.
The first takeaway: Know what kind of trail you’re on.
According to Dan Gilfillan, a natural resource specialist with the U.S. Forest Service
A BRUSHING CREW (DEB HUNSICKER, CARL RANTZOW,
HOLDER, AND ELLA BECK) WITH FRIENDS OF SCOTCHMAN PEAKS ON STAR PEAK. DEDICATED CREWS OF VOLUNTEERS FROM MANY GROUPS WORK THROUGH THE SEASON ON TRAIL MAINTENANCE. PHOTO BY
who oversees recreation and trails operations in the Sandpoint, Priest Lake, and Bonners Ferry Ranger Districts, local USFS offices keep maps on hand—as well as online—that empower hikers, horseback riders, and gearheads to understand trail uses and restrictions before hitting the mountain. This is important during all times of the year, since the Forest Service also plays host to groomed snowmobile trails.
“It’s very difficult to recover [a trail] from a wheeled vehicle traveling on an over-snow route,” Gilfillan said. “It also takes a great deal of effort to repair a motorized trail that has had unauthorized vehicles on it.”
The second takeaway applies whether tires, hooves, or boots are getting you where you’re going: Know the conditions.
“‘Think before you sink’ and ‘Turn back if you leave a track’ are easy ways to remember the damage done by using soft trails,” said Regan Plumb, conservation director for Kaniksu Land Trust, which cares for a variety of public-access properties near Sandpoint, including the 180-acre Pine Street Woods.
“This damage takes countless hours to repair by volunteer crews,” she continued, “and when a visitor steps off the trail to skirt the mud, that can make things even worse.”
Despite best efforts to choose a firm trail, let’s say you do come across a swampy section. That leads us to our third takeaway: Stay the course.
By going off trail to avoid mud or ruts, hikers actually do more damage. Jason Welker, who serves as executive director
of mountain biking and volunteer trail maintenance group Pend Oreille Pedalers, said that veering off course can cause “braiding,” which widens the trail and damages adjacent resources.
“Ruts and footprints in the middle of a trail will heal themselves over time,” Welker said. “Widening of a trail by users avoiding mud cannot be healed.”
Ensuring trails are capable of bouncing back from particularly difficult conditions requires a human touch, which brings us to the final takeaway: Get involved.
The Forest Service has staff dedicated to trail maintenance, and Gilfillan said other government agencies—like the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and Bonner County’s snowmobile trail groomers—also do their part to keep hiking routes accessible. However, volunteer organizations are an invaluable asset. Gilfillan said some particularly active groups include Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Idaho Trails Association, Priest Lake Valley Backcountry Horsemen, and Welker’s group, Pend Oreille Pedalers.
It’s possible that paying the ultimate kindness to local trails could mean breaking trail while breaking a sweat, as all these groups welcome volunteer trail-workers.
“We live in a very special place. We are surrounded by public lands—public lands that are supported by your tax dollars and managed by the U.S. Forest Service,” Gilfillan said. “They are your trails as much as mine. If you truly want to see the local trails maintained at a higher level, get involved.”
YOUNG RESIDENTS AT BHT’S SPRUCE STREET HOME GIVE THE HIGH-FIVE TO STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS, FROM LEFT BACK ROW: JOHN ROGERS, WAYNE PETERSON, BARB OLER, NATALIE MEDEIROS. FRONT ROW: REBEKAH LITTLE, PATTY SHOOK, JOANNE BARLOW, GAYLE BRYAN, LINDA HEISS AND JANET PULTORAK. STAFF PHOTO.
When one eighth grader at Sandpoint Middle School was asked to make a poster of a favorite family axiom for a school assignment years ago, he drew a fish struggling upstream in a river current. It read: “Sometimes fish swim the other way.”
There are people in Bonner County who have found themselves swimming backwards—or for whom the metaphoric river has dried up completely—and face homelessness due to domestic violence, income loss, health, and other life setbacks. There are many stories about a local man who lives in trees, and families who live in tents or cars hidden in the backwoods. They are not made up.
For those who are fighting the current, the local group Bonner Homeless Transitions offers the proverbial fishing gear and bait they need to get their lives back on track.
BHT, formerly known as Bonner County Homeless Task Force, provides temporary housing for up to two years of sober living at two homes it operates, one at Blue Haven South on Florence Street and the second at the former Kinderhaven house on Spruce Street that BHT now leases. The group also helps with clothing, transportation, job acquisition, healthcare,
parenting skills, and food. Some residents are young women while others are elderly and a few are male—but 65 percent who live in the BHT facilities are children.
This assistance isn’t completely free to recipients, according to Barb Oler, BHT president. Tenants are required to find work and to help pay heating, Internet, and other operational costs.
To gather the major funding needed, Bonner Homeless Transitions relies on donations and fundraising. BHT recently raised monies through the Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge, and is reinvigorating its major fundraiser, the Little Black Dress Gala.
BHT’s Executive Director Rebekah Little, with Oler and her board of directors—Patty Shook, Janet Pultorak, Debbie Love, Linda Heiss, Alisha Kowalski and Wayne Peterson—are setting ambitious goals. They include improvements for its current homes, plus the hoped-for purchase of three lots near one of their sites to build additional apartments.
The work is ongoing, but Bonner Homeless Transitions will continue offering a line of safety for folks when “fish swim the other way.”
See more at www.bonnerhomelesstransitions.org
Bonner Homeless Transitions’s biggest annual fundraiser to raise money for its efforts to provide shelter is the Little Black Dress gala, set for Saturday, September 28.
“The fundraiser is moving from the fairgrounds this year to the Idaho Club, which has generously donated space for this event,” said Barb Oler, president of the organization.
There will be a live auction plus sponsor-
ship opportunities to adopt a room at one of the homes, which could mean providing new bed linens, a fresh coat of paint, furniture, and/or a new mattress, depending on the room’s needs, Oler explained. Get more information, and tickets as the event draws closer, at www.bonnerhomelesstransitions.org
–Susan Drinkard
5 Needles at White Pine #318 and #319
5 Needles at White Pine Lodge! Extraordinary, brand-new, fully furnished Schweitzer Mountain residences boasting lake and mountain views, located right in the heart of Schweitzer Village! Exceptional views of Lake Pend Oreille, the Cabinet Mountains, and the valley below. Fully furnished, turn-key, 2-bedroom, 2-bath corner residence (#319) and a separate studio residence that functions as a lock-off (#318). $2,650,000
A brand new, premium quality, fully furnished mountain condo ready for immediate enjoyment! Offering 3 spacious bedrooms, and 3.5 bathrooms with an open concept kitchen and living area this is a perfect spot for both relaxation and entertainment. Enjoy the mountain views from the comfortable Italian leather sofas, with the warmth of the gas fireplace and radiant floor heating. With private hot tub! $1,350,000
Welcome to Black Bear at Schweitzer! Here’s a true one-bedroom condo with a nice layout, including a cozy gas fireplace in the living area, as well as bunks to sleep a few more in beds. There’s also a common area recreation room and a large storage locker for all your gear. Great ski-in, ski-out access is just a few steps away! $575,000
This is condo evokes that quintessential mountain vibe with a welcoming remodel including hand hewn logs overlooking a tranquil snowy landscape where the warm glow of the fireplace welcomes you into a haven of comfort and relaxation. This condo has two bedrooms, and can sleep 7. There’s also a private laundry and a newly remodeled bathroom. Walking distance to lifts. $629,000
Iconic Schweitzer stand-alone cabin with expansive views of the ski runs, the Selle Valley, the Cabinet Mountains and even partial views of Lake Pend Oreille from your expanded deck. Perfect for full time living, or it would make an outstanding vacation rental with no HOA or rental restrictions. This home was recently remodeled from the studs up by the current owners to their exact specifications, sparing absolutely no expense! $899,000
5 Needles at White Pine Lodge! Extraordinary, brand-new residence (#415) boasting fantastic Schweitzer views, located right in the heart of the Village. Dramatic 2-story residence in this mountain contemporary condominium lodge. Soaring 28-foot beamed ceilings with full height window wall and tiled fireplace. 2 bedrooms, 3 baths plus large, open loft ensuite & spacious outdoor deck. $1,925,000
It s not enough to have the dream Live it.
1675 Peninsula Road, Hope
Welcome to the coveted Hope Peninsula, where you’ll find a stunning, newer custom-built home offering 110+ front feet of Lake Pend Oreille frontage. This property has 180-degree views overlooking all of the islands with Schweitzer views to the west. This modern waterfront home is exquisite in regard to the attention to detail both inside and out. Also featuring a huge detached shop and separate onebedroom ADU with lake views on .75 acres. $4,900,000
Just moments from Downtown Sandpoint, and at the end of the desirable Ponder Point Lane area, nestled along the serene and stunning shores of Lake Pend Oreille, you will find a remarkable south facing, low bank, 170’ waterfront lot that is build-ready, with a new survey, Geotech complete and city water and sewer available. This incredible property embodies endless possibilities for the pinnacle of luxury living. Adjacent waterfront lot also available. $2,845,000
Expansive mountain views, a well-built and spacious home, and complete privacy set this offering apart! With 12.5 acres in total, this includes a separate 6.31 acre building lot, all located at the end of the road and bordered by timber land AND with public water access to Jewel Lake just down the road. This property offers serene interior and exterior spaces with room to roam. $980,000
This commercial building has prime HWY 200 frontage in downtown Clark Fork. This well-maintained building offers three separate commercial suites, as well as a large shop with the ability to combine potential living space with potential work space. Or each suite can simply be leased individually. Lots of options in a nice-looking building with great exposure! $450,000
Less than one mile from Sandpoint, you will find this 3.4 acre lot on Cedar Ridge. This highly coveted location offers ample privacy in an area with a country feel but just moments to everything the downtown area offers. There’s already a building site cleared at the top of the lot offering 180 degree territorial views with distant views of the lake to the east. The lot is gently sloping and all useable in an area of very nice homes. $649,000
A rare opportunity to own a large 1.84 acre lot in beautiful Dover Bay! This lot boasts the ultimate privacy, water access to Browns Inlet, open land as well as a mature grove of Cedar trees to build between. Sewell Engineering topo survey and engineered fill plan completed! Also just moments to Sandpoint and a quick drive to world class skiing at Schweitzer! $350,000
Hidden in the midst of our ever-more-densely populated urban area, Sand Creek threads furtively through an emerald ribbon of backyards on its last few miles to Lake Pend Oreille. Ducks paddle undisturbed in the quiet water. Moose wade in the shallows, otters play along the shore, and eagles and osprey patrol overhead.
With private property on both sides and few public access points, this languid stream doesn’t see the intense summer action that occurs downstream at the beach. But the creek itself is a public waterway, and as such it is a quiet haven for small, human-powered boats. Admittedly, it’s a short one—upstream of the Schweitzer Cutoff Bridge, it’s not navigable, even in a canoe in high-water summer. It is decidedly not the next great water playground of Sandpoint’s summer denizens.
Instead, it is a place of refuge. “Everything in town is being developed, built on, and changed—Sand Creek is a place to go to get away from the development surrounding us and enjoy a slice of nature,” said one appreciative local.
The question will be how to keep it that way.
Kaniksu Land Trust got involved with planning a sustainable future for this green ribbon at the request of multiple stakeholders: surrounding landowners, recreational users, local governments. It initiated the Sand Creek Connections project to envision how best to maintain this Eden as change presses in from all sides.
As is common with KLT projects, many partners are involved. The project’s steering committee includes representatives from the city of Sandpoint, the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society, and the city of Ponderay, as well as three property owners along the creek, and the Kalispel tribe. An advisory committee extends further to people and organizations with expertise in water quality, plants, fish, conservation education, and land use planning.
PHOTOS, TOP AND ABOVE: ONCE PAST THE CEDAR STREET BRIDGE, SAND CREEK OFFERS THE IDEA OF SECLUSION DESPITE ITS LOCATION IN THE MIDDLE OF TOWN. PHOTOS BY JASPER GIBSON. AT RIGHT: THOSE IN THE KNOW HAVE LONG VALUED THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY A RESPITE FROM THE HUBBUB OF EVERYDAY LIFE BY PADDLING ALONG SAND CREEK. PHOTO BY REGAN PLUMB.
The National Park Service has been involved too, in what is perhaps a first for our area. Its Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program has provided planning and technical assistance.
The goal is to create a community vision document with action strategies based on community goals. This will serve as the basis for more public engagement at an open house during the summer of 2024.
Access to the creek is currently quite limited. Visitors can launch their craft at City Beach or at the east end of the Bridge Street Bridge. (By 2025 they will have another option after the city builds a planned small-craft launch at the Visitor Center on Highway 95.) They can paddle north as far as Cedar Park, a little-known and quite small public area just upstream of the Schweitzer Cutoff Bridge. There, in summer’s high water, they might step out of their probablyaground craft and have a picnic ashore. Or they can launch on the west side of Popsicle Bridge, which is public property, but problematic. “The Popsicle bridge gets a lot of use,” said Regan Plumb, conservation director for KLT. “The access is terrible to get your canoe or kayak in, but people still do it. And there's no parking. There's no trash [can], there's no bathroom.” The resulting accumulation of human detritus is an annoyance to those who are otherwise fortunate to live nearby.
In the future, there might be more access at a site just downstream that KLT owns and plans to give to the Kalispel tribe. The tribe plans to keep it open to the public, while leaving it in its natural state.
Because much of the land along the shore is privately owned, there is little hope for any extension of the creekside walking and biking trail that runs from the Bridge Street Bridge north under the highway and on to Popsicle Bridge. But there is still hope for a trail along the west side, below the big new houses. Many in Sandpoint recall that when the University of Idaho sold this creekside
land to private developers, there was a promise that a public trail would be created next to the water. Conversations and negotiations continue about this path, which will extend south from the Popsicle Bridge.
But is encouraging access to this remarkable sliver a good idea? It appears to be the best alternative. A survey of neighbors and other interested parties, conducted this past winter, indicates that they want the creek to continue as a haven of peace and quiet. But they know that people will continue to come, and they recognize that planning for them is their best hope to preserve it.
Beyond the desire for peace and quiet is the question of how human use will affect the water’s cleanliness and clarity. Upstream it is, after all, a source of drinking water for the city. “Water quality is huge, a really high priority, and something that keeps coming up over and over in all of our outreach,” said Plumb. Numerous comments on the survey mentioned the presence of invasive plants, and the vision will include a strategy to mitigate those and encourage the return of displaced natives.
But if people are to continue using the creek without damaging it, education will be a necessity. That is part of the project, too, although the form it will take is as yet unspecified. The idea is that public access points can be used to help people understand how they can visit in a way that keeps the waterway healthy. In order to minimize signage in the natural environment, a mobile app is one of the options being considered.
Hopeful quiet paddlers, wildlife lovers, and shoreside walkers should keep an eye on KLT’s website (www. kaniksu.org) to find out the date of the open house this summer. A draft of the vision document may be on the website as well. Planning will wrap up by the end of 2024, when grant writing to fund the vision will begin.
“
Everything in town is being developed, built on, and changed—Sand Creek is a place to go to get away from the development surrounding us and enjoy a slice of nature
PHOTO BY DOUG MARSHALL char falls
There's something about the roaring noise, the spray, and the subtle thud in the ground that has attracted people throughout millennia to the places where water falls out of the mountains. Well-known naturalist John Muir once wrote that, “As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls... .” For those who have experienced their majesty, the sight of water falling from a height lives with them forever.
There may be a scientific basis underlying a natural love of waterfalls: negative ions. When water crashes against itself, oxygen atoms can pick up an extra electron; the resulting molecule then has more electrons than protons. Research has shown that when exposed to these negative ions, as they’re called, some people respond by increasing their production of serotonin, which can reduce depression, along with experiencing an increased rate of oxygen absorption. A pounding surf, or a rousing thunderstorm, has the same effect. As WebMD put it, “Negative ions can have positive vibes.” The smell where this occurs is known as petrichor.
In North Idaho, blessed with both mountains and abundant precipitation, even waterfalls might be taken for granted as there are so many. But they're not—they are places of pilgrimage that people flock to as soon as winter passes and water begins to flow. Two popular hiking guides, “Trails of the Wild Cabinets,” and “Trails of the Wild Selkirks,” published by Keokee Books, include a features section that notes hikes where waterfalls are an added bonus.
Char Falls is located east of Sandpoint and includes a 16-mile drive on gravel roads, followed by a hike of a little over a mile. When you’ve reached a set of small cascades... you’re not there yet, though there’s several benches where you can rest and watch the small drops. There’s a downhill, rocky path farther on that leads to the falls.
For amazing falling water just off the highway, Kootenai Falls east of Troy, Montana, is one of the largest undammed waterfalls in the West. It’s a bit more than an hour’s drive from Sandpoint to this major falls where the Kootenai River steps down in multiple cascades and, trust us, negative ions abound.
Grouse Creek Falls is the closest to Sandpoint, located off of Grouse Creek Road. It's only a half-mile hike to reach it, but you do have to wade through the water a bit. It is
the smallest falls of all these on the list, actually a series of small falls that drop a total of 20 to 30 feet.
Snow Falls (pictured on our cover) is located just south of Bonners Ferry on Snow Creek Road #402. There's both a lower and upper falls, with wooden stairs and an observation deck at the first. The lower falls drop about 20 feet, and the upper about 30.
Myrtle Falls is just a few miles from Snow Falls, within the Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge. While the trail to the falls is somewhat steep, it's also short, and ADA compliant. Another tiered fall, it drops a total of 100 feet.
Near the Canadian border you'll find Copper Falls, considered well worth the drive by visitors. With a 1.4 mile loop trail that includes benches along the way and an observation deck for viewing, the 225–ft. drop of the falls is stunning.
Granite Falls lies west of Sandpoint near Nordman, Idaho. It's a one-mile loop trail with a spur trail that takes you to the lower falls. A wooden walkway is the viewpoint for the upper falls. Lasota Falls is hidden between the two. A bonus to Granite Falls is that it's located within the Roosevelt Grove of Ancient Cedars, trees that are estimated to be about 3,000 years old. At high water, there are almost 50 falls that are part of this system.
Travel through that ancient forest to reach American Falls, past Nordman. The trail (#308) is the beginning (or end, depending on direction of travel) of the Idaho State Centennial Trail.
Cow Creek Falls, shown on page 7, is a prime example of the wonder that water works in our area. Though it’s on national forest land, it appears on no maps and requires a certain amount of bushwhacking to reach. It’s one of the many unnamed waterfalls that await discovery off the beaten path—particularly in spring and early summer, when winter snows are melting and waters are rushing. It’s one of the gifts our area offers those with the courage to explore.
See map on page 89.
PHOTO BY DAN ESKELSON copper falls
PHOTO BY LINDA LANTZY myrtle falls
PHOTO BY JIM MELLEN granite falls
When I learned to swim, it was in my grandparents’ chlorinated Los Gatos pool. As the ice clinked in their midmorning cocktails , my hair took on a green tinge. My parents rescued me from that pool and the future of California in 1985 with the promise of abundance in a land known as Idaho.
This was before they knew about winter, short growing seasons, and the impact of a defensive porcupine. With a copy of “Five Acres to Independence” and a chainsaw, we made our way north.
“In Idaho,” my dad said, “we can swim in a lake so clean, we can drink the water. We’ll grow our own food and build a house from the trees on our land!”
He described a paradise of birch trees with their white bark and rustling leaves, and a lake wider and deeper than any I’d seen before. His dreams were my first exposure to understanding that wealth was not a measure of money, but of accessibility to nature—the undeniable birthright of all creatures of the planet.
In June the following year, unable to wait any longer for its promise of purification, I plunged into Lake Pend Oreille’s clear, frigid waters with my eyes open. The lake surrounded my body and life with a new rhythmic and undulating connection to the environment we shared.
The subsequent summers of my childhood were spent on Lake Pend Oreille’s shores in perpetual discovery of new rocky beaches, cliffs to jump from, sketchy rope swings. It was our place of reprieve and recreation as we built our log cabin on Gold Hill. I watched as my mother swam laps parallel to the shore, her sleek, strong arms hovering then slicing into the water as she glided by. My father went through a fleet of rubber rafts as we explored rocky edges and wind-battered trees.
My brother and I led expeditions on the nearby island of Sourdough Point, catching fish and turtles and looking for the eggs of Canada geese.
Then the HOA started complaining and we were banished as non-members. Thus we migrated down the road to another narrow strip of pebbles that had perfect dappled sunlight under the sweet smell of cottonwoods and a little rock island just beneath the surface. Then someone put a dock nearby and told us it was private property. We never met the owners, though one summer we saw their RV parked there for at least a week.
Later, we gravitated toward the shoreline hangouts of our friends: the old waterfront of what is now Seasons, the rope swing that dangled over Sand Creek.
As the years went by, some of our favorite secret and social swimming holes disappeared. Today, public access to the shoreline remains threatened by growth and development. It is also impacted by the volume of visitors arriving in the summer, making a simple trip to the lakeshore a challenge of logistics, traffic, and crowds.
Yet this is a city of civic engagement and environmental appreciation, both of which have contributed to efforts to
preserve and restore public access. The city of Sandpoint’s Downtown Waterfront Design concept creates improved access opportunities along Sand Creek and connectivity to City Beach. Kaniksu Land Trust is collaborating with the Kalispel tribe and others to create a water trail along the shores that will tell the story of Kalispel canoe culture. The city of Ponderay and Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail are implementing the Front Yard Project to preserve and extend the trail along with lakefront access. Further afield, it was the concerns of Bonner County citizens that led the Idaho Legislature to take up a bill this session to amend current law regarding the vacation of public rights-of-way in order to further protect the public’s access to publicly owned land and water.
It is perhaps the memory-makers and summer-dreamers and shoreline-wanderers who offer the most momentum to these projects and others. For those of us who bring our children and dogs and gratitude to the edges of the lake, our voices of appreciation and conservation can help lead to lasting impact.
See map on next page for areas with public access to the water.
PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: OUR FURRY KIDS ALSO LIKE TO BE PART OF THE FUN. PHOTO BY ASHLEY AUMICK. IN OR OUT? COLD WATER CAN MAKE FOR TOUGH DECISIONS. PHOTO BY MISTY GRAGE. INTRODUCING THE LITTLEST ONES TO WATER IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE. PHOTO BY FIONA HICKS. A ROPED OFF SWIMMING AREA MAKES FOR SAFE SWIMMING AT TRESTLE CREEK. PHOTO BY COREY VOGEL.
WATERFALLS RECREATION SITE WITH SWIMMING #
These are all family friendly with developed recreation sites, ranging from fairly minimal to more developed; many have roped-off swimming areas.
Outside town:
(1) Dover City Beach
(2) Springy Point campground
(3) Mud Hole park at Priest River
(4) Trestle Creek park
(5) Samowen campground in Hope
(6) Garfield Bay campground
(7) Riley Creek campground
Sandpoint and adjacent:
(8) Sandpoint City Beach
(9) Lakeview Park
(10) Third Ave Pier
(11) Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail
(12) Sand Creek Trail
(13) Dog Beach
Power user hint: Ride your bike for sweetest access to these delightful shoreline experiences! In some cases you can bring a dog. (Check for specific leash rules.)
South lake:
(14) Farragut State Park
(15) Whiskey Rock Bay
Here are two secluded cobblestone beaches in the southern lake only accessible by boat or trail. They are a downhill hike to the shore and an uphill hike back!):
(16) Evans Landing, accessed by Trail No. 64
(17) Maiden Rock, accessed by Trail No. 321
More details on these sites are available in the Lake Pend Oreille guide online, at www.sptmag.com/lakeguide.
If you want to see your favorite water sports lover as giddy as a dog with two tails, introduce them to the “magic carpet ride” or “best powder day” of water sports: wing foiling.
“It’s so smooth, it feels like flying, like a powder day every day, but there’s no crowds, no lines,” said Gwen Le Tutour, avid wing foiler and all-around water sports enthusiast.
In 2019, wing foiling became the latest and greatest evolution of hydrofoil technology—the use of a wing-like lifting surface to propel a water vessel or board out of the water; the faster the speed, the higher the lift. However, different from its foiling predecessors, wing foiling also involves a hand-held sail or “wing,” using both wind and water energy for a ride like no other.
“Slowly, foiling has spread out to many disciplines—surf foiling, SUP foiling, kite foiling and now, wing foiling. It’s combining a lot of different sports that have been around for a long time, and making them more versatile,” said Le Tutour.
While active in water sports most of his life, growing up surfing and windsurfing off his native coast of Brittany, France, it wasn’t until he moved to the U.S. that Le Tutour started tow foiling (behind a boat) in Florida.
A recent Sandpoint transplant, Le Tutour found his way to the Pacific Northwest by way of his American wife; he had no idea he would find a like-minded community of foilers and now a good friend, Tony Mueller.
“We just showed up at City Beach at the same time and I said, ‘Let’s ride together,’” said Le Tutour.
Mueller had recently retired to his lake cabin on Pend Oreille from his home in California. With a history of surfing, kayaking, and paddle board-racing he was looking to slow things down while also looking for a new challenge.
“My first wing came from South Africa, in the fall of 2018, as they were the first ones in production and I wanted to try it,” said Mueller.
“So I went to the beach with my sail and board and saw this guy out on the water with a foil and a kite and he was launching and crashing, and I was like, ‘Whoa,
I need to meet this guy.’”
Now the two men meet up regularly and make videos of their time on the water, some of which are added to a YouTube channel with fellow water sports enthusiast, Damien LeRoy (@ damienleroyyoutube).
In the winter months, Le Tutour spends his time in Florida where he teaches different types of foiling with LeRoy. In the summer months, he takes his teaching to City Beach, in Sandpoint.
This year will be the first year he’ll have a jet ski to tow beginners, which is key in helping them to understand and learn how to maneuver the board and foil.
“What’s so cool about foiling, is that it’s opened the door to so many different conditions,” said Le Tutour. “Where before, say with wind surfing, you needed quite a bit of wind so you needed to be on the ocean to make it fun, now—for places like Sandpoint, it’s the perfect example—foiling has opened it up to doing these water sports anywhere.”
Lakes of any kind are special places indeed, and we in North Idaho are lucky to live in a place where lakes are everywhere and part of our identity.
The big lake—Pend Oreille—is often called a veritable “inland sea.” I love the serene side of the big lake, kicking back with lines in the water and no one visible for miles around. Tie up on a beach, soak up the sun, and watch the world go by. There’s nothing better. I like to bring a mask and snorkel and cruise the rocky shorelines to see all the fish I can’t seem to catch.
...but small lakes have a lot to offer
If you want to get to know the big lake, start with buying the Fishing Hot Spots map, available at most local sport shops and marinas. It shows the names of points, bays, major peaks, and geographically significant areas, such as Maiden Rock. But make no mistake; it’s not always serene. If you listen to anyone who has spent a lot of time on Pend Oreille you’ll hear a story or two about how, “she can kick up in an instant, waves six feet high.” On one such day while sailing with a friend we were forced to take shelter in Camp Bay thinking to dodge a squall. Allowing it to pass, we struck a course to Kilroy Bay
and discovered we had been lulled into the heart of the tempest. The rain came down in sheets and combined with the water spraying over the bow every time we speared into another 6-foot wave. The 33-foot sailboat held her own but one mistake and we’d have been Paddler food.
There are numerous small lakes that offer a different type of enjoyment.
As an example, high up in the headwaters of Snow Creek is Snow Lake, surrounded by spruce timber and thick with false huckleberry brush. The day I hiked in I brought my fishing pole as there were some nice cutthroat trout residing there. My plan was to fish my way around the lake. After a few casts I noticed I was sharing the lake with three moose, each one at a different location, and we were spaced out like the points on a compass. I realized I would have to stay put at the north point and after a while they crunched off into the woods.
For some good tips on what types of fish inhabit certain mountain lakes you’ll want to check out the Idaho Fish and Game website, at www.idaho.idfg. gov. Click on “Fishing” and select “Alpine Lake Fishing.” From there you can get information on numerous lakes and the species of fish found in recent surveys or discover if the lake is ever stocked and with what type of fish.
Mountain lakes are not always easy to get to. Antelope Lake, just south of Clark Fork, has a subalpine feel to it but at 2,756 feet it sits slightly above the Clark Fork River. There are two ways to get into this lake. The hike in starts from the Mosquito Creek trailhead on the north side of Antelope Mountain. The trail begins in the shady cedar forest and gradually breaks out to rocky benches overlooking the Clark Fork Valley and Lake Pend Oreille.
The other way in allows you to drive all the way to the lake. The dirt road heads off Highway 200 about two miles south of Clark Fork. The road can be quite sporty so a four-wheel drive is appropriate or at least a high-clearance
vehicle. Idaho Fish and Game regularly stocks Antelope Lake with rainbow and cutthroat trout so this is a good lake to spend some time with your rod and reel.
Mountain lakes are a great place to spot wildlife. Often it happens when you least expect it. I and a group of others once saw a woodland caribou in a marshland between two lakes. We were all surprised to see it there. The old boy was somewhat of a ghost in the Selkirk Mountains but we knew Two Mouth Lakes was a stronghold for the remaining few. That was the first, and last, time I saw a woodland caribou. Sadly, the last few remaining caribou were moved to Canada as they were no longer able to remain viable here.
Other critters can also be spotted, so be on the lookout for the common bobcat, black bear, beaver, moose, white-tail and mule deer, elk, and mountain goats. If you’re real lucky you can spot more elusive lynx, wolverine, fisher, and marten. Although common, but somewhat elusive, I don’t recommend looking for mountain lions or grizzly bears.
If camping, make sure you are prepared for a wildlife encounter. Keep a clean campsite by not leaving your food exposed, especially if you leave camp on a day hike. Bears are the major concern since they can do some serious damage to your camp (and yourself) if they are attracted by the scent of food. Do your cooking at least 100 feet away from your tent, hang your food at night, and never bring food into your tent while you’re sleeping. In grizzly country, like at Lake Darling, there are often metal bear boxes at mountain lakes to securely store your food, which is easier than hanging it from a tree. Keep in mind you’re a visitor, so admire the beauty, appreciate the serenity, and respect the tenacity of the creatures that live there.
There are dozens of small lakes in northern Idaho to explore and enjoy. A good way to discover them is with a USGS topo map of the county, and a visit to your local forest service office.
PAGE 93: ROCK LAKE, IN THE CABINET MOUNTAINS, IS A POPULAR DESTINATION. PHOTO BY KEVIN DAVIS. PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: IT’S A BALANCING ACT ABOVE HARRISON LAKE. PHOTO BY JASPER GIBSON. CLIFTY MOUNTAIN RISES BEHIND DAWSON LAKE. PHOTO BY ANNIE PFLEUGER. THERE’S TIME FOR CONTEMPLATION AT UPPER ROMAN NOSE. PHOTO BY KEVIN DAVIS. SMALL LAKES LIKE ROBINSON CAN OFFER SERENITY FOR A QUIET PADDLE. PHOTO BY LINDA LANTZY. STILL WATER REFLECTS THE SURROUNDINGS AT BEEHIVE LAKE. PHOTO BY DON OTIS.
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THE BACK OF THE MCFARLAND HOUSE FEATURES EXPANSIVE PARKING, A PLUS FOR A DOWNTOWN PROPERTY. INSET: THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS FAMILIAR TO ALL. PHOTOS
by Pam Webb McFarland
t’s the mystery house. As you round the corner onto First coming from the Long Bridge you most likely have noticed a stately, three-story house on the corner. Is it a business? A family home? The answer is it's been both and then some.
Heather Upton, Sandpoint’s art and historic preservation officer, attested that the property where the McFarland House sits was first sold to Jack Waters back in the 1890s. Ignatz Weil, a local lawyer who represented Waters’ estate, took possession of the property for services rendered after Waters’ death. In 1905 Weil built what was considered the finest home in Sandpoint at that time. The Weils occupied the house until losing it in the 1929 stock market crash when L.D. McFarland, owner of McFarland Pole Company (now McFarland Cascade) bought it. It has been referred to as the McFarland House since that time.
Unlike many of the older homes found around Sandpoint, the McFarland House at 227 S. First Avenue shares proximity with the county courthouse, Community Hall, and various businesses. When Weil built the house it was closer to the original wagon bridge crossing the Pend Oreille River, which used to come off of what is now Superior, said Hannah Coombs of the Bonner County Historical Society. Although the bridge eventually relocated, the house stayed, and the business district grew up around it.
The McFarland House has enjoyed a variety of lives since it was first built. For many years the McFarland family made it their home until the house switched to commercial use. It has been occupied by the McFarland business, a dentist, a florist, an attorney, a bed and breakfast, a title company, a catering service, and even as the temporary home of the Bonner County Historical Society. In the past it occasionally transformed into a haunted house and for many years it showcased spectacularly lighted Christmas trees in the front yard. It’s also been a venue for weddings. In its most recent years it was briefly a family residence before the county began leasing it 2017 for the Lilly Brooke Family Justice Center.
A tour of the house reflects how it has retained its vintage heritage. In 2007 the building was restored and its gleaming white exterior and host of leafy trees make this Sandpoint icon worth a closer look. From the street sidewalk there are nine steps leading up to the front door. Five columns support the covered wraparound porch, and the tall leaded windows provide a friendly face to those passing. The front door leads into a spacious living room, with a striking marble fireplace. The living room leads into subsequent first floor rooms including a large dining room. The impressive balustrade staircase leads upstairs where there are several bedrooms, a sitting area, and the former maid’s room, which has its own staircase leading to the kitchen. Considering the house faces the busyness of First Avenue it is quiet and tranquil inside the house. Currently zoned commercial, the 4,121 sq. ft. home has four bedrooms and four bathrooms, and the potential for becoming a residence once again. The house has aged well over its nearly 120 years.
Over the years a few changes were made such as adding a sunroom, a garage, and a paved driveway. In 1990 the house received the Orchid Award from Preservation Idaho which recognizes historic preservation efforts.
At present the house is for sale, with a price tag of $1.7 million. Listed by William Mitchell at Evergreen Realty, it sits on almost a half acre of land. To the east of the property, an additional .43 acres is also for sale.
The McFarland House is a Sandpoint icon that is ingrained in the town’s history. The city is in the process of establishing a historical district as part of its comprehensive plan, which would benefit the McFarland House; however, the plan is still in process. Upton relates that public input will be crucial in deciding which buildings should be included in establishing a Local Historic District stating, “It’s clear that the McFarland House stands as a testament to Sandpoint’s rich history.”
While Sandpoint grew around the house, it is no mystery why the house has held public interest for so long. Hopefully it will remain a local landmark long into the future.
For over 12 years Century 21 RiverStone has SOLD more properties than any other office in Bonner County
Even a casual observer of Sandpoint would be hard pressed to name a more iconic downtown landmark than the Cedar Street Bridge. After more than a century as a linchpin in the Sandpoint core, its story mirrors the community’s transition from mill town to resort destination. First it was a wooden footpath, then a wagon route and car bridge, and, finally, a one-of-a-kind public market. Now it’s adding another chapter, with new ownership, local management, and a host of ideas intended to provide a pathway from the past into the future.
“We really see it as a bit of the center point of the community,” said owner Joseph Worth, who purchased the landmark at the beginning of the year. “Between the location, diversity of businesses, and uniqueness of the property, it carries this ability to pull the community together.
“So much of the world is focused on competition, but we see the bridge as the opposite,” he added. “We see it as a cooperative environment that hopefully people feel and experience when they visit.”
Worth is a 48-year-old husband with two daughters who lived in San Diego until 2023 before his family moved to the
Dallas suburb of Southlake, Texas. He is an entrepreneur and currently runs a film studio in Fort Worth.
His connection to Sandpoint came in 2020, when Worth and his family traveled north to visit a close friend—“who is more like family”—who had relocated to town. Since then, Worth reckoned he’d been back between five or six times, and “can’t seem to stay away for long.
“The people, the beauty of the area and the quaintness of the town have made it a respite for us,” he said. “We tend to slow down and really connect with people when we visit, so it’s become very special to us.”
The close family friend who introduced Worth to Sandpoint—and the bridge—was Stacey Mueller, who the Worths knew from their San Diego days. Today she is the Cedar Street Bridge property manager who, together with longtime tenant Shery Meekings, provides day-to-day troubleshooting, collaboration, and leadership to the more than 20 vendors who call the 400-foot-long, 30,000-square-foot bridge home.
“We want to lift it up to the place where I think it’s meant to be,” Mueller said, “and I don’t think it’s ever achieved that place yet. And I think it takes someone that has a heart to see that and
ABOVE AND RIGHT: SHERRY MEEKINGS OF CREATIONS AND STACY MUELLER, MANAGER AT CEDAR STREET BRIDGE, CELEBRATE A BRIGHT FUTURE.; UPSTAIRS OFFERS AN EXPANSIVE VIEW OF DOWNTOWN AND SAND CREEK. PREVIOUS PAGE: THE BRIDGE CELEBRATED A GRAND REOPENING IN APRIL. PHOTOS BY CAMERON BARNES.
to be here and be a cheerleader to gather the team.”
Meekings agreed that Mueller provides the “missing piece” to the inner workings of the Cedar Street Bridge, being a full-time, onsite property manager with “such a heart for this building”
“She would just show up on her own time to come and love on this space,” said Meekings, who has been a bridge tenant for 15 years as owner of Carousel Emporium and Creations with her husband Scott, who also owns Creations Toy Store. “It’s by no mistake that we’re sitting here together.”
Mueller described Shery and Scott Meekings as “torchbearers and the ambassadors for the bridge” over the years.
“Shery and Scott, they really carried the heartbeat of what makes the bridge special,” she said.
Worth also remarked on the tight-knit nature of the bridge community, saying that, “When the opportunity came, investing in the bridge was a natural expression of our love for Sandpoint.
“From an investment standpoint it’s a
non-traditional type of thing; we just believe in the people and community and see a long-term rising tide of interest for North Idaho,” he added.
Both optimism and spirits are high at the bridge these days, with Mueller and Meekings both pointing to plans including more gathering spaces such as a family dining option (or two) and an expansion of Creations to include a “LEGO experience” that will be geared toward older kids all the way up to adults, with a LEGO club, building challenges, and other events.
The Sand Creek-facing patio will be open for the summer, and there are plans in the works for creating “The Loft”—a second-floor hangout spot to be constructed above the cafe at the First and Cedar entrance. “Vacancies are filling up so fast my head’s spinning,” Mueller said.
“We want to get it back to the place where it’s the third place,” Mueller said, describing a location where people can go between home and work.
“You gather there with friends, family—you create great memories. You have to have a spot that makes way for that,” she said.
Meekings agreed, saying the past two years have seen a lack of gathering spaces “where people can sit and gather and share life.”
The new breath of enthusiasm at the bridge follows a period of controversy, as the most recent owners—California attorneys Claire and Frank Fox—made waves when they bought the
space in 2022 and immediately instituted steep rent increases that resulted in an exodus of vendors, all while putting in place a number of restrictions on tenants and customers alike. That went up to and included putting locks on the bathrooms and requiring visitors to ask business owners for the keys.
“The very first thing we did when we got the keys was we took the locks off the bathrooms,” Mueller said. “[B]asically what it was saying was, ‘We say yes to our guests,’ and that’s kind of what we want to bring back into the bridge. … [W]hat we’re going to do is go straight into that good space, where the heart of Sandpoint and of the tenants and the community are first and foremost.”
Meekings echoed that, describing the new bridge philosophy as, “heart, friendliness, and creativity—and history.
“We want our community here. That’s the point of this big beautiful building,” she said, noting that in her time on the bridge she’s worked with six different owners, each bringing different strengths and challenges, but leading to a rebirth of the community spirit of the space.
“We’re at this beautiful place now—I don’t think we would have Joseph as an owner right now if we didn’t go through all that,” she said. “We have this amazing set of hands holding us now, and we have all these experiences to bring together and lift this thing up even higher and reach our community and have it shine as it should.”
NO NEED TO TRAVEL TO NEW ZEALAND; EXPERIENCE THE CHARM AND WHIMSEY OF HOBBITON JUST OVER THE MONTANA BORDER. PHOTOS BY JANIE OSBORNE.
by Pam Webb
Sandpoint and surrounds are known for lake possibilities, mountainous experiences, impressive natural settings, and decidedly rural atmosphere, along with an abundance of train traffic. These draws for a visitor are mirrored in the following rental options, which help to create a memorable vacation or even stay-cation.
A bit beyond Sandpoint, The Shire of Montana is a magical option and Frodo would certainly appreciate the luxury upgrades found in this hobbit-inspired dwelling located in Trout Creek.
The Shire of Montana is a distinctive, two-bedroom cottage with full kitchen, dining area, and bathroom. There is also a deck and barbeque. A flat screen TV, Blu-Ray player, a library, and a wood-burning stove add to the enjoyment. Be prepared for a magical light show when dusk falls upon this mini hobbit village.
Complimentary “trollhouse” cookies accompany a scenic view of Whitepine Ranch, with a rustic barn and a pond that attracts a myriad of critters, including deer, moose, and maybe a bear. Due to the delicate artistry found in The Shire, children under 13 are not allowed, nor are pets.
Tall people have no worries: this is a human-sized hobbit house. Learn more at www.theshireofmontana.com.
Adults pining for their childhood treehouse days can book a popular vacation rental, Treehouse Cottage in Sagle.
Hosts Jon and Becky Rand own this hand-built, three-story dwelling. The airy living room showcases a stunning view of the Pend Oreille River and lake beyond, with notable features throughout, including original portholes from Rudolph Valentino’s yacht. There is a king size bed, a wet bathroom, and a basic kitchenette. Free of television (although wi-fi is available), this is an ‘unplug and relax’ getaway. Guests have access to a private dock for lake activities or they can bike into town utilizing the nearby paved trail.
The treehouse is available May-early October, and pets are not allowed. Only older children can be brought along. You’ll find them at www.sptmag.
Advanced Drywall Concepts provides a wide range of drywall services from small drywall repairs to complete remodels, and commercial & residential jobs. Whatever your drywall needs are, we can help you improve and complete any project.
com/sagletreehouse.
Twin Cedars Vacations owner Billie Jean Gerke provides a variety of rental experiences from lakefront RV sites to unique tents just outside of Sandpoint.
Glamping lovers will appreciate the Boho tent, said Gerke. It sleeps four with an outdoor shower and a portapotty, and provides beach access along with other amenities, including hot tub use. The Gypsy bell tent, situated on a hill, accommodates six and rests on a wooden deck with a nearby kitchen and bathhouse. Both tent experiences offer stunning views of Lake Pend Oreille, providing a combination of soothing, restful outdoor camping with ambient luxury. Dogs are welcome with the Boho tent only if night-kenneled. Learn more at www.twincedarsvacations.com.
The Loosey Caboosey celebrates train love with the opportunity to stay in a 1978 caboose.
THE LOOSEY CABOOSEY, NEW TO THE VACATION RENTAL SCENE THIS YEAR, IS DESIGNED FOR TRAIN LOVERS, MANY OF WHOM COME TO THE AREA BECAUSE SANDPOINT IS A TRAIN ‘FUNNEL’ FOR THE RAILROADS. JON AND HEATHER HENRY LOVINGLY RESTORED A CABOOSE FOR ACCOMMODATIONS. PHOTOS BY PAM WEBB.
Owner Jon Henry grew up in a train family, and his wife, Heather, always wanted a train-themed house. So when a Facebook ad offered a caboose for sale, they bought it. They planted the caboose in a tranquil, woodsy setting in Elmira, about 20 miles north of Sandpoint. After months of restoration and decoration, Loosey Caboosey is guest ready and sleeps four.
A propane fireplace makes for comfy colder weather stays. An outdoor fire pit and barbeque ensure pleasant fair weather visits. Sandpoint and Schweitzer are less than 30 minutes away. Learn more at www.looseycaboosey.com.
Cedar Grove is an option for those looking for a time of reflection, away from the everyday grind… and running water. For over 15 years Pam Mimmack and Elissabeth DeFreitas have provided accommodations for those seeking peace and solitude. Meeting individual needs is their focused intent. North of Sandpoint, the three hermitages are nestled in a grove of cedar woods; each has a microwave and a refrigerator. Two come with porta-potties, but showers are available in the main house. Short and long term stays can be arranged, as well as simple meals and massage. Availability is from June through winter upon request. Visit www.truselfpassage.com.
Thanks to the creative efforts of a few vacation rental owners, time spent indoors can also be as memorable as the area itself with a one-of-a-kind getaway.
DSS Construction is rebranding as Smithwright - the high mark for custom home building in North Idaho. Just as shipwrights honed their skills in the rugged environments of coastal regions, Smithwright’s expertise was forged in the mountains and forests of North Idaho, where the demands of the terrain cultivated a culture of excellence in construction. Creating a fusion of tradition and innovation, where time-honored techniques meet cutting-edge design to create homes that epitomize elegance and durability.
When explorer David Thompson passed along Lake Pend Oreille toward establishing Kullyspell House on the Hope Peninsula, he likely crossed a series of meadows at the mouth of Pack River. The stream meandered through its delta, winding through a series of islands, oxbow channels, and isolated ponds. The unregulated lake (no dams until 140-plus years later) annually flooded the meadows in spring, plus those at Denton Slough and the Clark Fork River delta. Floods left a new layer of silt each year, supporting a crop of native grasses and shrubs growing between the channels.
In 1952, water began to build behind construction of Albeni Falls Dam. The meadows became inundated annually from late spring until early fall, killing the grasses that had held the delta soils in place for centuries. Under the pressure of summer flooding, the delta’s islands and channels began to dissemble.
Pete Rust, an Idaho Department of Fish and Game biologist, noted that the death of delta vegetation caused loss of several thousand acres of habitat around the lake at Pack River, Denton, and the Clark Fork deltas. IDFG, in cooperation with Bonneville Power Administration, is working to reverse some of the damage. After the lake drawdown last November, Aqua Terra Restoration of Driggs, Idaho, began rebuilding islands and deepening some of the channels in the delta. Using an array of heavy equipment including excavators, cats, and dump trucks, tons of riprap were placed to stabilize island shorelines. Sediments that have built up in the channels over time were excavated and used to fill the islands to above summer flood level.
IDFG’s goal is to create nine new islands and 10 deeper water habitats.
The main focus is wildlife habitat restoration. The delta is an
important part of the local fishery—including endan gered Bull trout—as well as critical waterfowl habitat. IDFG sees the work as important to both the lakeside environment and hunting. The delta has long been a duck and goose-hunting destination, and, according to Rust, the winter’s work will make it a better place to hunt.
The contractor finished in mid April, after seeding the new islands with native grasses and planting thousands of willows, serviceberry, spiraea, sedges, and bulrushes along the margin areas of the new islands. Rust is hopeful to continue delta restoration on the south side of the railroad queue in the next few years. “I’m determining how much money is left,” he said. “We will likely have enough for a final smaller project.”
WORK THROUGHOUT THE PAST WINTER IN THE PACK RIVER DELTA IS MEANT TO HELP RESTORE THE AREA FOR WILDLIFE. THE AREA IS IMPORTANT FOR WATERFOWL, MOOSE, EAGLES, OSPREY, AND HERONS. PHOTO COURTESY IDAHO FISH AND GAME. INSET PHOTO: SOMETIMES, TO THE DELIGHT OF VIEWERS, THE DELTA CAN ATTRACT SOME SURPRISING “WILDLIFE.” PHOTO BY ERIN BUSBY.
by Sandy Compton
Apartments in the Sandpoint area weren’t necessarily rare a half-century ago, but for the most part they were more discreet than the crop recently sprung up in Sandpoint, Ponderay, and Dover. Condo Del Sol acted like an apartment complex of sorts after it was built in the ’60s. It was a big deal when House of Flowers’ greenhouse on Cedar gave way in the ’70s to Cambridge Apartments, a modest 24-units (now 32). Predating these were small complexes scattered around town: Sand Creek (now condos) on Third with 12 units; The Villa at Main and Boyer with 16; Church Street Apartments next to the Alpine Shop; and a number of rooms above businesses like the Cabinet Gorge Bar (now Eichardt’s), the grocery at Pine and Second, and the buildings in the 300 block of First Avenue.
The “big” apartment houses of the ’60s were the Superior Apartments (still at the corner of Second and Superior with 13 units), a huge three-story house owned by the Pennington family that sat where the Bonner General Hospital parking lot is on the east side of Third, and the big house on Oak that was moved to become Blue Haven.
For quite some time, the apartment supply grew slowly, with duplexes and town-house style rentals being added, plus affordable housing units on Pine and Ridley Village Road brought online by Bill Brown Management.
Brown specialized in low-income and assisted-living apartments, and still does. All told, Brown manages about 200 apartments. Syringa Estates on North Division was the last Brown project brought online, and it’s now 30 years old.
EVEN THE HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT COULDN’T KEEP UP WITH SANDPOINT’S POPULATION GROWTH, AS SEEN IN THESE PHOTOS, TAKEN ON THE SAME DAY AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF TOWN. PICTURES BY SANDY COMPTON. PONDERAY LODGE (AT TOP) IS COMPLETE AND LOOKING FOR TENANTS, WHILE THE APARTMENTS ON SAMUELSON, BEHIND THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE (MIDDLE) AND HOMESTEAD VILLAGE, OFF HIGHWAY 2, ARE NEARING COMPLETION. STAFF PHOTOS.
In year 2000, the apartment building curve started to climb, and has gotten steeper in recent years. By 2013, about 400 multifamily units (i.e. individual units in multi-apartment buildings) had been added to the market. The triangle of land bounded by Highway 95, Idaho 200, and Schweitzer Cutoff Road saw a concentration of growth as Mountain View, Alder Creek, Mount Baldy, and Woodland Crossing were developed. Recent additions to that assemblage are the new Ponderay Lodge, 72 units on Tibbetts Lane near the Cenex store; and Schralpenhaus, 84 one- to three-bedroom apartments built by Schweitzer Mountain Resort in partnership with Eastmark Capital Group to house Schweitzer employees at affordable rents.
Schweitzer human resources director Scott Auld noted that after sale of the Schweitzer ski operations to Alterra, Schralpenhaus passed out of resort ownership, but Schweitzer still leases about half the units for employee housing at lower than market price.
Other rental units are also becoming available, including lowincome units behind the Bonner County sheriff’s office on North Boyer, and Homestead Village on Highway 2 just past Superior.
Defining market price depends on who you ask and who you are. If you’re a senior citizen or a disabled person with an income level that qualifies, you may be able to rent a onebedroom for about $650 a month at one of Brown’s facilities, at Sixth Street Senior Apartments next to Super One, or at Samuelson Senior Apartments, tucked between Bonner County Fairgrounds and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe tracks. The rent is subsidized by a low-income housing tax credit, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As far as unsubsidized rents go, it’s hard to get a real average. The Census Bureau says the median gross rent in Sandpoint between 2018 and 2022 was $1,039, $230 less than the national average, and just $995 in the county as a whole. That’s misleading. A beginning date of 2018 predates COVID, and with COVID came a big increase in demand in and around Sandpoint. Between April 1, 2020 (does that sound familiar?) and July, 2022, according to the U.S. Census department, the population just in the city of Sandpoint grew by 12.9 percent. It has grown so fast that the population signs at both ends of town can’t keep up with it. One says 7,835, the other says 9,523, and all-knowing Google says there are 10,820 souls in residence. The county as a whole, the bureau shows, grew by 11.6 percent in that same time frame.
Casual research—ie. cruising apartment rental sites on the ’net, of which there are way too many—reveals rent for a onebedroom, one-bath, 700-square-foot apartment is between $1,200 and $1,500 a month, depending on the view. Add a bedroom for about $500 a month.
But the average cost of rent seems to be falling. Supply is outstripping demand.
Ned Brandenberger, president of Sandpoint Property Management, wrote a report for his clients in December of 2023 outlining the situation on rentals in the greater Sandpoint area.
He assesses a more competitive market is coming for a number of local and nonlocal developers—news that’s hopeful for renters, at least in the short term. He also notes that multifamily housing units offering 469 apartments were under construction as of last spring (2023); 393 townhome/multifamily units have been permitted, and 275 condo/multifamily units are in the advanced planning phase. He noted further that while population growth in the county is on a decline, the demand for apartments remains steady. “The market is elastic, and a decrease in rental prices will allow more prospective renters to enter the market. For example, those who could not afford to rent previously or were living with family to save money ” he said. “But now is a great time to rent an apartment.”
While COVID “gave people the opportunity to move to a rural area but keep their job somewhere else, those opportunities have lessened in the years since,” Brandenberger said. With fewer newcomers coming in, and a lot more apartments available to rent, “It’s simply supply and demand,” Brandenberger said. “There’s definitely been a price adjustment,” he explained. “Prices for rentals are going down, and most rental units are offering incentives, like waiving pet fees, for example, for moving in.”
According to the Census Bureau, Sandpoint had a poverty rate of 16.1 percent in 2022, about 5 percent higher than the national average. One out of six persons in Sandpoint lives below the poverty level. For some, this is a choice. Sandpoint has become a lifestyle town, a place for young folks to live on air for a time while having the time of their lives. It’s a temporary phase—their parents hope. With the median price of a house in Sandpoint over $450,000, an apartment—a shared one at that—is their only choice.
For those unable to buy in our market, there will be more rentals available now and in the months to come… “and that’s a good thing,” Brandenberger said.
When the Panhandle Builders Association in Bonner County ceased to operate approximately two years ago, the North Idaho Building Contractors Association saw an opportunity to provide support, resources, cross-collaboration, and advocacy to its northern neighbors.
“I have always viewed the relationship between Bonner and Kootenai counties as lumped together by outside perspectives, collectively referred to as North Idaho, but each county also has unique cultures and needs,” said Levi Snyder, the past president of NIBCA, the local association of the National Association of Homebuilders.
Local builders’ associations are membership organizations comprised of volunteers who provide resources, references, advice, and advocacy. The NIBCA, based in Coeur d’Alene, was established in 1970 and now includes the counties of Kootenai, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Shoshone.
“For those looking for quality, reputable contractors for their home build, expansion, or remodel or the associates who specialize in those processes, a building association can serve as a one-stop shop with real people and real experiences,” explained Snyder.
In addition, NIBCA serves as an industry resource that provides information on public policy, legislation, codes, zoning, and impact fees.
While there are no current plans for an office location within Bonner County, Snyder stated there has been a definite commitment to increasing support and presence in the area as more local contractors have expressed interest.
Emily Bradley, executive officer for NIBCA, said there are currently over 380 members of NIBCA, with 33 members having physical addresses in Bonner County. However, many members conduct business in multiple counties.
Local contractors and their associates are invited to visit any of the association’s events. For the second year, the NIBCA hosted the Home and Garden Show at Bonner County Fairgrounds in April (pictured above), and they will host the Parade of Homes in the fall in both Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint.
"Entry to the Home and Garden show was free with a non-perishable food item that was donated to the local food bank," said Bradley, adding that there was also a food and beer garden and an education stage.
Event vendors included building and remodeling, financial and professional services, furnishings, kitchens and bathrooms, outdoor living, interior design, and lifestyle. With so many offerings, the event drew a crowd.
“Membership requires a review process, but it is the ultimate way to get involved and get plugged into the community,” said Snyder.
Learn more at www.nibca.com.
Caribou Creek Home on Acreage
816 Ponderosa Ranch Rd, Sagle Listed at $12,500,000
MLS # 20240735
Embrace the true beauty of the Pacific Northwest with this stunning 7,748-square-foot Caribou Creek Swedish Cope log home. Nestled on 44.60 acres, this waterfront property is a testament to craftsmanship and natural elegance. The home features six bedrooms and five full baths to ensure convenience and comfort for everyone. The heart of the home lies in the open kitchen/living/dining room concept, designed for seamless entertainment. Custom hickory cabinets, sub-zero fridge, top-of-the-line Z line appliances, and two composite sinks. The master bedroom is a luxurious retreat, with two walk-in closets, a Hydro Tub, and duel shower heads in the walk-in shower. The outdoor areas are equally remarkable, stretching across 200ft of frontage along Pend Oreille River with an expansive outdoor living space featuring an outdoor kitchen, large seating area, an above-ground Passion Swim Spa and a pavilion that opens up to the beach. The property is rounded out by two shops, providing lots of room for vehicles, equipment, or hobbies. Gardening enthusiasts will appreciate the 16’x32’ greenhouse. This stunning estate boasts a 60KVA whole-property generator. From the interior design to meticulously designed outdoor spaces, this property offers the perfect blend of natural beauty and luxurious living.
Pend Oreille River Waterfront
207 Lariat Ct, Sagle, ID Listed at $2,497,000
MLS #20240833
Meticulously maintained Waterfront Estate situated on 3.73 acres w/170’ of deep water frontage on the Pend Oreille River. 2980 sqft, 4 bd / 3 ba, with beautiful stone & wood accents, Bosch appliances, Milgard windows, Hubberton Forge lighting, & many other high-end finishings! Panoramic water & Mtn views while allowing an abundance of natural light. Private dock, fenced yard space & garden area all go together to create the perfect oasis. Don’t miss this rare opportunity at a stunning Waterfront Home w/end of the road privacy.
Stunning Lake Pend Oreille Views TBB Green Monarch Ln, Sandpoint, ID Listed at $3,500,000
MLS #20240816
Stunning views from this 1.97 acre lot and impressive home design at the Idaho Club. This to-be-built home has been placed to maximize the panoramic lake and surrounding mountain views. 3403 sqft main home w/ 3 bd, 3ba, office, workout room, bonus room and 2 car garage. Detached 700 sqft ADU with 1bd, 1ba, office and kitchen above an additional 2 car garage. Home plans already approved by the Design and Review Board and builder is ready to start. The Idaho Club offers peace of mind and provides access to The Idaho Club amenities. Golf and Social Memberships are also available. Don’t delay!
by Susan Drinkard
Brandon Peterson made his mark in the ski and boarding community. Last fall he was inducted into the New Mexico Ski Hall of Fame for his contributions (a long list) to the early snowboarding scene in that state. He moved back to the Northwest, his home, and worked as the events manager for Schweitzer for 11 years.
Now he’s shredding some new terrain in a different industry—renewable energy—as owner of Backwoods Solar. He and wife, Mary, bought the business last May, and he has brought his business savvy and proclivity for success with him.
“When I was in New Mexico I got very interested in the Earthship homes that were being pioneered and built in the area. I helped in the construction of a couple of them and among their other features they use renewable energy, which was fascinating to me. When I decided to leave the ski indus-
try, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do for my next adventure and I ended up applying at Backwoods Solar. That really renewed my interest and desire to use renewable energy.”
It’s been 46 years since solar pioneers Liz and Steve Willey brought renewable energy options to North Idaho, where they lived and worked out of their bus for five years before building an eclectic off-grid home. After they retired, a few other owners worked the business, then subsequently moved on. Now it’s Peterson’s turn at the helm of the oldest renewable energy retailer in the country, and he’s continuing the reasons why this business has endured for so long.
“We know the solar energy components we sell because we live with these solar products in our homes. Firsthand experience gives us the unique ability to personalize whatever renewable energy system people need,” he said.
If you are pondering the idea of off-grid living or going
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: BRANDON PETERSON’S SEARCH FOR ADVENTURE LED HIM TO THE SOLAR INDUSTRY; THE “POWER SYSTEM DEMO WALL” THAT VISITORS TO THE STORE CAN SEE.; MANY OF THE CREW AT BACKWOODS SOLAR ARE ALTERNATIVE ENERGY USERS THEMSELVES.
PHOTO PREVIOUS PAGE: SOLAR PANELS (OR SOLAR MODULES) READY FOR INSTALLATION. ALL PHOTOS BY CAMERON BARNES.
partially off grid—called a grid tie system—now’s the time, said Peterson, because solar panel prices have gone down. With tax incentives, longer-lasting batteries, and price reductions, powering your home with sunshine isn’t as costly to consumers as in years past.
But it’s not just solar panels, or solar modules. If a family has a stream on their property, a micro-hydro turbine is the way to go “because a stream runs 24-7,” he said, adding that hydropower can be even more efficient than solar modules.
Batteries are a big deal in this industry and the technology has changed. Backwoods Solar has its own brand of lithium iron phosphate batteries that can last 20 years, and cold weather tolerant lithium titanate batteries can last up to 50, as opposed to five to seven years with conventional, lead-acid batteries. They are also more sophisticated and safer than leadacid batteries because they don’t off-gas, so active venting is not required, Peterson explained.
Backwoods Solar employs 12 people. Not all of them who help customers work out of the headquarters behind the Pack River Store, though people travel great distances to seek advice and to see in person what the equipment looks like. Most of the
service is provided on the telephone, and seven of the 12 employees work to answer all questions related to keeping homeowners’ power stations functioning. That is the advantage to Backwoods Solar—after-sale support, for years and years.
“That’s our niche in the industry,” he said. “The learning curve is big, but we teach our customers to be their own electric utility company.”
The company’s reputation has spread, and sales are occurring throughout the U.S. “Idaho, Washington, California, Tennessee, New Mexico, and Texas,” are just some of the places Sandpoint’s Backwoods Solar has helped to power. Peterson said the self-sufficiency movement has driven sales, as did the pandemic, but renewable energy sales are not confined to people of one political bent or another. Some customers want to be energy independent, while others are motivated by environmental stewardship.
Peterson is now maneuvering Backwoods Solar to new pinnacles of success, bringing renewable energy to the forefront, just as he did for snowboarding in New Mexico. Learn more at www.backwoodssolar.com.
10 acre River View Homesites starting in the low 300’s
Here is a great opportunity to own one of these remaining 25 of 28 homesites. These 10 Acre parcels have amazing views of the Pend Oreille River! All the parcels are 10 acres in size with underground power to the property line for each lot and have limited CC&R’s with no minimum timeframe to build. Several lots border public land and there is an easement for the remaining lots to have access too! These homesites are located just 20 minutes to downtown Sandpoint and 45 minutes to Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort and The Idaho Club golf course. The public boat launch for river access is just 2 miles away and Willow Bay Marina is nearby with seasonal boat slips for rent. Come and enjoy thousands of acres of public lands in Bonner and Boundary County for all of your four season recreational fun!
Just as waters rise around Bonner County every spring, so the real estate market begins to perk up as buyers solidify their desire to live in this area.
Fabiola Ferris, president of the Selkirk Association of Realtors, noted, “the general consensus is that real estate is picking up, (and) agents are busy. Listing agents are having lots of showings with positive feedback.”
Currently local realtors are dealing with new rules regarding commissions. Late last year, settlement of a case in federal court in Missouri changed the way real estate commissions will be earned. Formerly, the commissions for both the buyer’s and seller’s agents were typically paid by the person selling the home, and the percentage rate of payment was listed when advertising the home in the Multiple Listing Service. By making that information readily available, it’s been argued, real estate agents could effectively collaborate to “fix” those rates.
But that simply wasn’t true is the argument of both the Idaho Association of Realtors and the local association. “Commission amounts have always been negotiable,” explained Ferris.
Under the new rules, whether a seller agrees to offer a commission to the agent representing the buyer of the property can no longer be included in the MLS listing. Instead, a buyer’s
agent showing property will have to call and ask specifically whether any compensation is offered if a sale is made, and how much that will be. “That will mean a little more due diligence, asking more questions, and helping buyers and sellers negotiate even more clearly,” said Tracy Kasper, a former president of the Idaho Association of Realtors.
While many home sellers have the impression they can simply refuse to pay a buyer’s commission, doing so could put them at a competitive disadvantage. And if the home buyer has to pay his/her agent’s commission, this may hurt lower income or first-time home buyers, as agent’s commissions, as of now, cannot be included in the home’s financing. That money will have to come out of the buyer’s pocket.
But this is a brand new practice, and it’s hard to predict what other changes it might bring. There is already at least some discussion that federally backed loans might allow commission fees to be included in a financing package.
It may be a bumpy road ahead as buyers and sellers, along with their agents, adjust to this new reality and as always, you’ll get what you pay for. But if someone wants to sell, and someone wants to buy, deals can be made.
— Trish Gannon
Sales data based on information from the Selkirk MLS for the periods indicated. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Statistics are based on the period Oct 2023-Mar 2024
Slowest month for sales Jan 2024 Oct 2023
Despite varying life experiences, this issue’s Natives and Newcomers share some commonalities. They love the outdoors and believe they live in the best of places to pursue their passions, from horses to sheepshearing to growing Christmas trees. As always, their stories enrich the charm of the Sandpoint-area community.
Roxane Conrad’s Marine Corps career, which included world travel, firearms instruction, and major shooting competitions, allowed her to return to Sandpoint to fulfill a lifelong dream.
“I ended up mostly where I thought I would,” said Conrad, a 1982 Sandpoint High grad, “but the journey far exceeded anything I could have imagined, from the national recognition to the Olympics to 26 years in the Marine Corps.”
After her 2008 retirement, she and husband Kerry Berg, also a retired Marine, returned to her childhood farm, transforming it into a thriving horse facility.
Conrad grew up loving horses at the farm on Forest Siding Road. Her parents, Charles and LaNelda Conrad, also former Marines, named the road.
“It was a railroad siding that has since been removed,” Conrad recalled. “We used to play around parked trains.”
At age 3, after meeting her first horse, Popcorn, Conrad resolved that horses would always be a part of her life.
“She was a half-Arab mustang off the Montana range,” she said. “Popcorn gave me Skybird who gave me Shadow who traveled much of my Marine Corps career with me.”
As a teen, training Skybird, Conrad knew she needed to find
a way to earn the money required to raise and train horses.
“My parents had no means to help financially, so I had to figure it out on my own,” she said. “The Marine Corps gave me the means to succeed. The bonus is that I was good at being a Marine.”
Starting in communications, she later became a range officer, teaching a variety of firearms to military personnel.
“My parents taught me that whatever job I was given—like it or not—to do my very best,” she recalled. That lesson impacted her as a Marine because she would not have chosen to be a competitive shooter.
“I was good at it, though, and it worked out well for me,” she said. She won medals in the Pan American Games and competed in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. She also earned distinction as the first Marine to be named U.S. Armed Forces Female
Athlete of the Year.
Now 59, Conrad is living her dream as owner, trainer, riding instructor, and equestrienne at Shadowland Sport Horses, also a stabling facility, run with Marine precision.
“Always have a great work ethic,” she said, “regardless of what’s happening around you.”
Q. Who is your favorite old timer? There’s actually two: Lloyd Bennett and Red Sarff. Lloyd was a true horseman who taught me how to truly listen to horses and understand them better. Red Sarff, a logger, instilled how important the forest was, not just the trees, and to appreciate what it had to offer.
Q. What values were you taught that you hope will guide future generations? Living in the country, your neighbors should be someone you can rely on. Also, to take care of each other and hope they will appreciate the country and cherish it as much as you do.
Q. Why did you return to Sandpoint? Growing up here, I knew this life was what I wanted and all I ever imagined. Returning here with Kerry was a bonus. I met him because of the Marine Corps.
Q. What hasn’t changed about this area during your lifetime? The mountains, although, in my opinion, too many people are moving into them.
Q. What is your favorite meal, and where do you enjoy it? I really don’t have one. Restaurants are too expensive for what they offer, and the service is rarely very good. Home-cooked
meals are hard to beat.
Growing up on a Sagle stump ranch provided Don Gunter valuable experiences for his forestry career and for life in general.
Take, for example, the axes with the paper bag and ribbon tied to the axe handle, which he and his siblings received from their dad as Christmas gifts.
“We were very excited, but we asked him what the paper bag was for,” Gunter recalled. “He said it was to put our toes in when we cut them off and then bring them to the house. Best safety lesson I ever received.”
Gunter’s farm life included occasional skunk sprays, bovine rodeos, caring for owls or coyote pups, and a variety of woodsrelated projects. All influenced his career and his appreciation for trees, rural life, and the outdoors.
After his 1969 Sandpoint High School graduation, he attended the University of Idaho, earning a BS in forestry with a major in forest products.
Gunter’s U.S. Forest Service career involved a potpourri of
responsibilities, including timber management, fire control, acting forest ranger, etc.
“A typical day changed quite often in my career,” he said. “I would say that one thing was common—working with people.”
After retiring, he also worked as a forestry consultant for Inland Forest Management.
Gunter married “the girl next door,” Crystal Moline. The couple raised two sons and a daughter and remained fully involved in communities wherever Gunter’s work took them, eventually back home in Sagle.
He lives on land bordering his childhood home and still deals with trees as owner of 5G’s Christmas Trees. At 73, he reflects on meaningful lessons he’s learned.
“Appreciate life. It can be so short,” he said. “Friendships are worth more than silver or gold.”
Q. Who is your favorite old timer? Vernon Gunter, my grandfather, was a kind, humble man. Although very crippled and nearly deaf, he was hard-working with a smile and a kind word for all.
Q. What values were you taught that you hope will guide future generations? Be honest, be dependable, help those who have needs, be involved with people, and share a smile and laughter.
Q. Why did you return to Sandpoint? We wanted to return to broader valleys, lakes, and family. Also, a chance to tinker on a farm, including raising Christmas trees.
Q. What has not changed about the area during your lifetime? The natural beauty of the area, especially the lakes and mountains.
Q. What is your favorite meal, and where do you enjoy it? Fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, with fresh fruit and garden vegetables along with strawberry parfait pie for dessert. Crystal’s kitchen at home.
Give Dana Peterson a horse, she’ll ride it. Give her a truck, she’ll drive it. Combine the two, and Dana considers herself in heaven. She has spent a good portion of her life doing both.
Family horse-club involvement in the Lake Tahoe to northern California area steered Peterson toward a horse-related, on-the-road job.
“I drove a truck and LQ horse trailer [a trailer with living quarters] all over the U.S. for several years,” she explained. “I was on the road for two weeks each month.”
During that time, Dana, 62, now an accounting specialist at
of the Rocky Mountains in Fernie, British Columbia.
Bonner General Health, organized major barrel-racing events.
“I was the ‘everything’ person at these events,” she said. “I got to visit so many great places.”
A lifelong horsewoman and outdoors lover who also worked in architectural and business-related circles, Peterson recently moved from Grass Valley, California to Sandpoint with her husband Jeff.
“We sold our home, packed our belongings into a semi trailer, and moved into an RV while searching for our next home," Peterson recalled. They eventually found Selle Valley.
“We love our property and being so close to the grandkids,” she said. “We look forward to retiring here and spending more time enjoying the beautiful area.”
Meanwhile, Peterson enjoys working with her Bonner General colleagues.
“I work with a great group of ladies,” she said. “We’re a tight-knit group.” She also said that her new life in Sandpoint has brought positive personal changes.
“My anxiety is gone,” Peterson said. “My Type A personality is relaxing, and I’ve learned to go with the flow.”
Q. Where do you experience the most joy? Trail riding and exploring various trail systems in the area; [there are] so many places to ride and explore. I’m looking forward to riding to some of the lakes this summer.
since moving here? I love our place. We have lots of work to do, but we love projects and seeing the fruits of our labor. Being close to the grandkids and family is also a blessing.
When Trevor Hollenback visited Austria in 2014, he experienced a lifedefining moment.
“I saw sheep shearing for the very first time,” the 35-year-old Daher Aircraft quality inspector recalled. Hollenback was so fascinated that he wanted to learn the skill from the Austrian shearer who spoke little English.
Kaeley Jade • Alex Maher
Charles Benjamin
Resident DJ Cona
Q. What are the differences between Sandpoint and your previous community? The pace is much slower and relaxed here. Both communities look similar with the trees and mountains, but I feel more relaxed here, for sure.
Q. How do you hope to contribute to the community? No idea at this time. After retirement, I’m sure I’ll find ways to be a part of the community.
Q. What’s been your reception from your neighbors? Best neighbors ever. We were made to feel welcome right away, and we work together quite well. We help each other out, and keep an eye out for each other. It’s a nice feeling to come home to.
Q. What’s made you feel at home
After learning that he should receive training where there were a lot of sheep and with an English-speaking instructor, the Ventura, California native traveled to New Zealand. Nowadays, he has his own sheep-shearing business, operating out of Sandpoint and teaching shearing at Northern California’s U.C. Hopland Research and Extension Center.
“It’s not easy to make time for it each spring and fall,” he said, “but it’s completely worth it.”
Hollenback’s “9 to 5” job involves inspections on the Daher Kodiak Aircraft Co. final assembly line.
“We build the entire Kodiak by hand from the ground up, right here in Sandpoint,” he said. “How cool is that? My job is to validate that production personnel, assembling and installing these systems,
have done so in accordance with our stringent requirements.”
Hollenback consults company documents for pertinent information, comparing it to each airplane he inspects.
His enthusiasm and attention to detail have earned him the nicknames of “the Optimizer” and “the Research Department.”
Researching options actually convinced him and his wife Lindsay to move to Sandpoint. As outdoors lovers, they traveled the West, searching for natural beauty and a sense of community.
“We passed through Sandpoint ... got a good feeling … and had some serendipitous encounters,” he recalled. “We were confident this was where we would end up.”
Q. Where do you experience the most joy? It’s a tie between the Panida Theater and Trestle Creek Recreation Area. Productions and movies at the Panida are a blast. Picnics with family at Trestle Creek can't be beat.
Q. What are the differences between Sandpoint and your previous community? The driving. The level of insanity on the jam-packed freeways and roads of Southern California is unparalleled. Being (comparatively) unhurried during daily errands and commutes here is a huge blessing.
Q. How do you hope to contribute to the community? By starting small and expanding outwards. First, by taking care of myself, then by caring for my family, then my friends, neighbors, coworkers, etc.
Q. What’s been your reception from your neighbors? Our neighbors are amazing. No matter what we need, or when we need it, they are there for us, and we for them. I've had neighbors of varying quality throughout my life. Our current ones are by far the best.
Q. What’s made you feel at home since moving here? Neighbors and friends. These connections make us feel so lucky to call Sandpoint home. The natural beauty seems to be the draw for many, but for us—from day one—it's been the community. The natural beauty is just the icing on the cake.
Best Western Edgewater Resort 208-263-3194 or 800-635-2534
Beyond Hope Resort 208-264-5251
Cabin in the Cedars 208-263-1212
Daugherty Management 208-263-1212
Dover Bay Bungalows 208-263-5493
FairBridge Inn & Suites 208-263-2210
Lodge at Sandpoint 208-263-2211
Pend Oreille Shores Resort 208-264-5828
Selkirk Lodge
208-265-0257 or 877-487-4643
Shire of Montana
406-827-7200
Sleep's Cabins 208-255-2122
Twin Cedars Camping and Vacation Rentals 208-920-1910
54 x x x x x Downtown Sandpoint on the lake. Indoor pool, sauna, fitness room, hot tub. All rooms with lake view. Dine at Trinity at City Beach. Also 22-site RV park.
84 x x x Located on the Hope Peninsula. RV sites, tent sites, restaurant, cafe, showers, marina and private venues available. www.beyondhoperesort.com
2 x Two cute cabins, 400 feet apart from each other on beautiful Sunnyside. Minutes from Lake Pend Oreille and under 15 minutes to downtown Sandpoint and Schweitzer. Up to 4 guests: www.airbnb.com/h/CabinInTheCedars Up to 6 guests: www.airbnb.com/h/LittleHouseInTheWoodsBnb
100 x x x x Sandpoint’s luxury vacation home rentals, with properties on the lake and the mountain. See ad on page 5. www.staysandpoint.com
19 x x x x x
Waterfront bungalows at Dover Bay in Marina Village. Fully furnished, lake and mountain views. Fitness center, marina, hiking/biking trails. www.doverbaybungalows.com
60 x Free breakfast with waffles, 24-hour hot tub, free wireless internet. Family suites. At the base of Schweitzer Mountain, two miles from Lake Pend Oreille. www.fairbridgesandpoint.com
25 x x x x Accommodations for retreats and banquets. Lakeside with swimming and docks. Views of lake and mountains for an unforgettable Idaho vacation. www.lodgeatsandpoint.com
50 x x x x Fully furnished condos and on-site athletic club on Lake Pend Oreille. Stay and play packages. www.posresort.com
70 x x x x x x Mountain accommodations, stay-and-play packages. Spectacular mountain and lake views. Outdoor heated pool and hot tubs. See ad on back cover. www.schweitzer.com
1 x Luxuriously appointed vacation home decorated in the style of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Hobbiton, just 8 miles east of Trout Creek, Montana. Spectacular views, eco-friendly mentality, and master craftsmanship. Find out why the “New York Times” called it a “truly unique experience.” See ad on page 115. www.theshireofmontana.com
2 x x Sleep’s Cabins have been a beloved part of the community and a landmark on Lake Pend Oreille since the 1930s. Perfect for family vacations. www.sleepscabins.com
10 x x Vacation rental home, bell tents, camping cabin and RV sites on 10+ beautiful acres with an outdoor hot tub at Hawkins Point on Lake Pend Oreille. www.twincedarsvacations.com
Embarking on the lunchtime journey in downtown Sandpoint is akin to stepping into a labyrinth of culinary possibilities, each promising a unique experience. Picture this: amidst your bustling workday, you've carved out a precious hour to rendezvous with colleagues or friends for a leisurely meal. The prospect is enticing, yet the reality can often be a delicate balancing act between efficiency and enjoyment. Can it be done? With the city's diverse array of dining establishments, ranging from quaint bistros to bustling eateries that offer a dine-in experience, choosing the perfect spot can feel like navigating a maze blindfolded. While the allure of indulging in a relaxed lunch, complete with games, desserts, and endless cups of coffee, is undeniable, the constraints of a one-hour break impose a sense of urgency.
Every minute becomes a valuable currency, the clock is ticking, and the fear of being ensnared in a sluggish queue or enduring interminable waits for food looms large. The luxury of unhurried dining remains elusive for the working individual, necessitating a vigilant eye on the clock and a strategic approach to mealtime.
To alleviate the pressure and ensure a seamless dining experience, we've carefully curated a list of ten downtown dining havens, excluding fast food joints. These establishments boast not only delectable fare but also a commitment to serving the working community efficiently without compromising on quality. Factors such as convenient parking or proximity within walking distance, prompt seating, attentive service, and expeditious checkout processes were thoroughly evaluated to compile this esteemed selection.
However, despite the best-laid plans, the unpredictability of life may throw a curve ball, with unforeseen closures disrupting even the most meticulously orchestrated lunch plans. Thus, a prudent precaution suggests verifying operational hours in advance through a quick phone call, safeguarding against unexpected closures and disappointments. Some of our local restaurants have weekday closures, so it is best to check beforehand.
Arming oneself with knowledge by perusing menus beforehand empowers diners to make informed choices swiftly, optimizing their precious dining window. Additionally, strategically timing lunch engagements slightly before or after the peak rush may lessen crowds and provide a smoother, more leisurely experience.
In essence, mastering the art of the lunch hour in downtown Sandpoint is a delicate dance, requiring finesse in balancing efficiency with enjoyment. Armed with these insights and strategies, diners can navigate the lunchtime hustle with
confidence, savoring every moment of their midday respite. Obviously, we couldn’t go to every restaurant in town, and tastes vary, but here are ten (in no particular order) that passed our test not just for quality, but for getting you in and out within the lunch hour.
Are you looking for a taste of tradition with a twist? Jalapenos, nestled at 314 N. 2nd Ave., spices up the scene with its Mexican flair, offering both indoor and outdoor dining for a fiesta in every bite. Meanwhile, Connie’s Cafe at 323 Cedar St., keeps it cozy with classic diner-style seating and a summer patio perfect for laid-back vibes. Over at DiLuna’s Cafe at 207 Cedar St., it's all about local love, with fresh ingredients crafting a breakfast and lunch menu inspired by the region. And don't miss out on the sizzle at the Hydra Steakhouse on 115 Lake St., where steak, seafood, and sandwiches are served up in an atmosphere that's as intriguing as the dishes themselves.
Ready to dive into deliciousness? Just hop in line, order at the counter, and snag a seat at these hot spots: Bluebird Bakery at 329 N. First, tantalizes taste buds with freshly baked bread and pastries that perfectly complement their lunch sandwich lineup. The Tango Cafe, now housed in the Sandpoint Center at 414 Church St., offers a symphony of flavors with all-day breakfast, pasta, salads, sandwiches, pastries, and
Now Available With
a fully loaded coffee bar. Heart Bowls at 102 S First Ave. Suite 100, (formerly Ivano’s building) is your go-to for guiltfree indulgence, boasting a menu of acai and smoothie bowls, rice bowls, salads, breakfast sandwiches, and bagels. And for a south-of-the-border sensation, Joel’s Mexican Restaurant at 229 Church St., has got you covered with San Diego-style burritos and plenty of veggie options. Note that their seating area is closed this summer due to staffing issues, so you’ll want to plan for this one as a to-go, or to eat on their outdoor patio.
Want a pro tip? Every place is faster when you order ahead.
Here’s to stress-free dining and moments well spent amidst the bustling streets of downtown Sandpoint.
—Sue Otis
THE FLOAT HOUSE IS A POPULAR DESTINATION FOR SUMMER DINING.
Eddie Sneva has been working in restaurants a long time—most of his adult life in fact. But all the restaurants he’s worked at have one thing in common: water. From Cedars floating restaurant in Coeur d’Alene to stints at Trinity in Sandpoint and Dish at Dover Bay, they’ve always been places known for their close relationship to Idaho’s abundant waters. Even his most recent “gig”—as general manager at Schweitzer’s Chimney Rock—is water based, although that water is mostly contained in feet of snow. So taking over ownership of the Floating Restaurant in Hope, otherwise known as the Floater, was almost pre-ordained. “It’s like, same page, different location,” Sneva said
Although now a restaurant owner himself, Sneva will continue working winters at Chimney Rock as the Float House, which gently rides the waves of Ellisport Bay in Hope, is strictly a summer job. “Both myself and my staff will rotate the seasons between the two,” said Sneva. The lake in the summer, the
mountain in the winter? Sneva laughed as he acknowledged, “It’s why we all live here, right?”
The long-term relationship between Sneva and his staff made for a fairly easy transition when the Float House opened in April this year. “We had our last day on the mountain on a Wednesday, and opened on the lake on Saturday,” Sneva said. “It was pretty quick, but it worked. And so far, the response from diners has been incredible.”
The arrangement hearkens back to the 1980s when Four Seasons owned the restaurant, and shifted staff between the lake in the summer and Schweitzer’s St. Bernard in the winter.
Sneva explained that even though the Floating Restaurant has a long-standing and loyal clientele, he changed the name of the restaurant to convey to diners that there was a new owner and with it, some changes. “I’ve changed the menu quite a bit,” he said. The Float House will feature American food, but it’s modern-day American food that reflects what a melting pot the nation truly is.
The restaurant offers a menu with exotic influences, among them Birria Cigars (braised flank steak, Oaxaca cheese, avocado-tomatillo salsa, charred pepper coulis, chili oil, pickled carrots, golden tortillas, and cilantro micros), calimari, Korean cauliflower (a fried cauliflower with gochujang BBQ and pickled cucumbers), and shrimp pad thai, along with more familiar offerings like steak, seafood, burgers, and a bacon+bleu meatloaf that features Snake River Farms wagyu ground beef, ground bacon, and whipped bleu cheese.
There's a full liquor bar as well that includes Italian prosecco, French wines, Jeremiah Johnson Scotch ale, and homegrown specialties like huckleberry lemonade made with Tito's vodka.
But it hasn’t changed too much, Sneva said. “A long time ago the restaurant here was called ‘The Golden Hind Floating Restaurant.’ So our color scheme for the restaurant is gold and black, to honor that. And Float definitely had to stay in the name,” he said, knowing that no matter what words are on the sign, locals will probably call the restaurant the Floater for as long as it exists.
One thing Sneva feels strongly about is keeping the restaurant affordable in these days of $10 milkshakes and $20 burgers. “The most expensive entree on our menu is $28,” he said, “and that’s the high point I’d like to keep. That’s one thing we’ve already gotten feedback on from customers—that they can eat out at a very nice restaurant, with very good food, and not break the bank.” His burgers, by the way, even though made with Kobe beef, clock in at $16.
The lulling sound of waves lapping against the sides of the building; good food that fills your stomach; a snappy cocktail in hand as you watch the sun slowly set into the waters of Lake Pend Oreille… who could ask for more? A lot of it might be new, but even if you’ve never been there before, you’ll feel like you came home.
—Trish Gannon
Sandpoint is home to an impressive roster of wellknown companies like Litehouse and Kochava, whose products and services are recognized across the U.S. and the world. Now we can add another company to the local list that aims for national notoriety— Nutlicious, a start-up food manufacturing company in Dover that produces hazelnut spreads and is keeping an eye on future growth.
“We launched Nutlicious with three main products, Hazelnut Butter Spread, Hazelnut Dark Cocoa Spread, and Hazelnut Cocoa Spread,” said Chief Executive Officer John York. “These products were designed to offer the U.S. markets a more historically traditional hazelnut spread experience, which consists of high hazelnut content at a reasonable cost.”
Hazelnut Butter Spread is a delicious delicacy; it’s rich and creamy and perfect when dolloped on bread or a piece of fruit. York said the coloration and texture of the Hazelnut Butter is the product that’s more familiar for Americans, as
A NUTTY SPREAD MADE LOCALLY IS GAINING IN POPULARITY. COURTESY PHOTO.it resembles peanut butter. But that’s where he draws the line on similarities.
“The incredible taste of roasted hazel-
nuts, in my opinion and many others’, is far superior.” Take that, Skippy!
Nutlicious also recently launched three new varieties of Hazelnut Butter Spreads— Espresso, Mocha, and Latte—that are made with locally roasted coffee from Evans Brothers Coffee here in Sandpoint.
The company employs 15 people as of May 2024, in positions including quality assurance, supply chain, research and development, maintenance, production, and warehousing. The company operates in the Dover facility previously
owned by a supplement maker, Thorne, which moved to South Carolina in 2016. Nutlicious began renovations of the Dover facility in May 2022, and began production in May 2023. “The facility was purchased by our sister company in 2021 as a possible production facility but mainly as an investment.”
The transition from a vitamin manufacturer to a food manufacturer has not necessarily been an easy one. “As any preexisting facility would need to have alterations to meet our requirements and needs, this facility faced some unique challenges during our renovations,” York said.
Now up and running, Nutlicious is looking to the future. “This facility has already been approved for a 40,000-square-foot expansion that will begin as soon as required to continue to grow the company.”
York admits to some unique challenges that come with having a business located in this area. “Supply chain can sometimes be challenging in North Idaho, mostly during the winter,” he said. “The city of Dover has been wonderful and provided terrific service and assistance as we have needed to get this company up and running. The local folks in Dover and Sandpoint have been fantastic and the support and encouragement we have received has been second to none.”
As for York himself, he doesn’t have any previous ties to North Idaho or Sandpoint. He arrived with 20 years of experience in food manufacturing and has a background in agriculture. York is impressed with the people who live here, and of course the natural beauty. “Surrounded by stunning forests, being located next to a gorgeous lake, and 20 minutes from the ski slopes, it isn’t a bad place to live!”
To purchase Nutlicious products, including the new coffee spreads, visit the online store at www.nutlicious.com. The company offers 3- and 4-packs of their products with free shipping.
—Beth Hawkins
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes (perhaps the ashes of a wood-burning pizza oven?), Sandpoint’s new artisan pizzeria The Forge is born from the remnants of a dream that local dough connoisseur Mike Johnson saw come true in 2020, when his pop-up Panhandle Pizza Kitchen events saw the development of a loyal following.
“The positive feedback and joy we saw in people during those early days made it really obvious that this was something we needed to do full time,” Johnson said.
Enter The Forge, located at 306 Pine Street—the brick-andmortar manifestation of Johnson’s passion for meticulously crafted pizza.
At the centerpiece of Johnson’s full-time gig are two workhorse ovens. First, straight from Naples, Italy, is a wood-fired masterpiece made by one of the oldest oven-making families in the world, the Acunto family. It will play host to the classic, 12inch artisan pizzas that put Panhandle Pizza Kitchen on the map.
Second, an Italian deck oven will provide the creative heat
for other pizza styles. Johnson is particularly excited about the cheese-crusted Detroit-style pizzas that The Forge will offer.
“We're bringing some pizzas to Sandpoint that no one has seen up here and we're really excited about it,” he said.
Johnson described the menu as “artisanal American pizza influenced heavily by Italian tradition”—so influenced, in fact, that some ingredients were chosen while on a “scouting trip” to southern Italy, including a 100-year aged balsamic vinegar and chili peppers brought in from the Calabria region.
Across the board, The Forge is proud to use carefully curated ingredients that are organic, non-GMO and, in every possible case, locally sourced. That careful ingredient selection combined with the fact that all the restaurant's dough is naturally leavened means diners will notice a difference.
“Folks will leave our restaurant without feeling like they just ate a brick,” Johnson said.
Learn more at www.forgeartisanpizza.com
–Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
‘Yes, we’re coming back,” said local restaurateur Justin Dick, of the news that will please legions of Trinity at City Beach fans: The restaurant will reopen this summer at its popular waterfront location. “There’s still a lot of work to do, some hoops to jump through, before it happens, but we’re well on the way,” Dick said in announcing the re-opening.
The restaurant closed last winter to allow Dick to focus on establishing 113 Main, his latest venture and one of Sandpoint’s newest restaurants, along with uncertainties surrounding Trinity’s location as a part of the Edgewater Resort Hotel. The entire building is old, and slated to be torn down. New owners Averill Hospitality are planning a new resort hotel, but that work will not start this summer, leaving an opening for Trinity to return.
Justin Doll, director of development for Averill Hospitality, said the company is
pleased that Trinity will be able to reopen.
"We've been holding on, hoping that Justin would be able to return this summer," said Doll. "We know how much this restaurant means to the community, especially in the summer when locals and their visiting family and friends love being at the beach.
"We hope it works out well, and Justin and Trinity continue to stay even past the summer months."
Doll noted that Averill is working with its architect on the plans for the new hotel, and the construction schedule isn't yet firmed up.
Trinity's closure sparked dismay among area diners last winter, who have come to count on the restaurant as their go-to place for special occasions, and a place to enjoy a great meal while overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. The closure had sparked hundreds of comments on the restaurant's Facebook page. Local Paula Marcinko shared, “You guys have been my favorite forever … sad day.” Kathy Chambers chimed in with “Trinity has felt like a big local family to so many; we felt it every time we walked through the doors. From your hostesses, bartenders, servers, managers, bussers, cook staff, everything was done with such love. It all will be so missed in our community!” And even those from afar felt the pain. Norma O’Brien wrote, “So sorry to see you leave such a beautiful location! We drive down from Canada every couple of months and always eat at Trinity—every meal has been delicious and the service is the best!”
In May, Dick said Trinity's operating schedule is somewhat in flux as he tries to hire staffing for what will undoubtedly be a busy summer season. He might have to shift resources from his new downtown restaurant, 113 Main, to staff Trinity. "We all miss the water!” he noted. But he said Trinity will be open for lunch and dinner, hopefully seven days a week, with live music in the evenings Friday through Sunday.
Dick also aims to bring back the Trinity happy hour, and said the restaurant will “still serve all the old Trinity classics and favorites.”
In addition, he’s looking at ways he can keep prices down. “Like everyone, we see that everything costs more these days—from groceries to gasoline to electricity," he said. "We don’t want to cut the quality, though. After COVID, when prices jumped, a lot of places went to buying cheaper cuts of meat. We’re going to keep buying quality foods to serve.”
Quality food, great service, and one of the best dining decks in town; these are the things that Dick said make Trinity great, and what people can count on once again, at least for one more summer.
As for the future? “Who knows?” he offered. “We’ve got a great relationship with the new owners, and we’ll see what they might want. But that’s going to take some time.”
But for now, grab yourself a huckleberry margarita and a friend, and plan to soak up some sun on the deck at Trinity. Make memories while the sun is shining.
—Trish Gannon
There’s changes on the restaurant scene in Hope.
The ever-popular Floating Restaurant is under new ownership, and has a new name: The Float House made its debut on April 18. (See story on page148.)
Over on the old highway, Brianna Changala and Brad Banks (former longtime staff at the Floating Restaurant) have taken over the lease at Hotel Hope and plan to open B’s Beacon, a bar/lounge with dining area, sometime around Father’s Day.
Elissa Robbins, former owner of the Floater, said she is enjoying retirement
and “cooking up tacos in Mexico most of the year.” Her decades-long fans from the Floater wish her the best!
In Sandpoint, Joel’s has announced they will only be taking phone and window orders this summer as they (along with most local restaurants) struggle with staffing issues left over from the pandemic times. A large number of supporters were reminded of the restaurant's beginning as a popular taco truck in town, and vowed to continue their support. One drawback? Joel’s burritos pack some poundage, and now you’ll have to carry that weight all by yourself to your favorite summer dining spot.
Right downtown, the District Bistro, Martini Bar & Wine Shop (formerly I Saw Something Shiny, at 313 N. First Ave.) is continuing its transition into one of the hottest spots for fine dining, craft cocktails, and wine with a refinement of its name. Complete with expanded name, owner Liz Fausnight said it’s open Mondays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with patio seating for days when the weather is glorious.
Connie’s Cafe & Lounge, 323 Cedar St., is ready for summer with Benny on the Deck—live music every Wednesday at 4 p.m. hosted by Benny Baker and featuring a different musical guest every week. The popular cafe and lounge has something for everyone and every day a reason to visit: live music on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday;Taco Tuesday; and Trivia Night on Wednesday along with historically great food every day. Business in the front and party in the back? The cafe has private dining rooms excellent for group meetings while the lounge features great happy hour specials. Connie’s works hard to live up to its promise of good people, good food, and good drinks.
Ste. 100, owner Katie Adams has installed a self-order kiosk. “(With this), customers can take their time and place their order on their own. This offering was inspired by wanting to offer an experience to our guests who might feel overwhelmed speaking to people in busy environments, or for those who want to take their time while ordering and not feel slow, and really just think about all people who might be neurodivergent and need a different model,” Adams explained. Heart Bowls is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and offers up all types of healthy treats including açaí bowls, rice bowls, breakfast sandwiches, and avocado toasts, along with smoothies, coffees, and espresso drinks and a range of gluten-free baked goods.
Just across the street, on Tuesdays, check out Barrel 33 (100 N. First Ave.) when they pull out the grill for $3 chicken, pork, or beef tacos. It includes a micro-cilantro topping, plus sour cream, guacamole, and pico de gallo on the side. They're available starting at noon and until they're sold out. Hours have been extended from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m.
to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Don’t miss the tiki bar and back patio, with specials and off menu items, and live music on Fridays and Saturdays (weather permitting). Patrons can find out about special events like paint & sip or trivia night by following Barrel 33 on Facebook, Instagram, and at their website at www.barrel33sandpoint.com.
Evans Brothers Coffee, 524 Church St., just keeps racking up the awards. They were just awarded the prestigious Good Food Award for a fourth time (and two years in a row). This national honor
is awarded to the winners of a number of food categories, and recognizes the exceptional food crafters who top the charts in a blind tasting, and also meet stringent environmental and social responsibility standards for their product. For coffee, submissions are received from top specialty roasters all over the country.
Evans Brothers is once again a winner in the North Region, which includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and the Dakotas. This year’s award was received for the Kenya Gichathaini AA. While this coffee is sold out, you can find
another delicious Kenyan coffee on their website now.
Evans Brothers Coffee was founded by brothers Rick and Randy in the winter of 2008/09 over long rides on Schweitzer’s old Chair 6. They celebrate 15 years in business this summer with an all day and night party on September 21.
Powderhound Pizza, 201 E. Superior St. is ready for a full, summer focus on their downtown location, serving up their legendary sandwiches, pizza, chicken wings, and salads. The large outdoor patio, combined with happy hour drink specials, means this is the place to be from 2 to 5 p.m. As always, they’ll be streaming your favorite sports all season long.
With fresh wood and paint, the old A&Ps Bar and Grill on
First Avenue was transformed, and now sports a new name as well—1908 Saloon. But don’t let the name fool you. While the interior, also freshened up with a deep cleaning and some paint, envisions a saloon-type atmosphere, the intent of the establishment is to serve as a go-to hot spot for a nice family meal.
“We want to be more of a nice family restaurant instead of a late night dive bar,” said Tyler Byrd, the restaurant’s new chef/ manager. “It’s all about the food vibe, and service.”
Out in Ponderay, Breakfast Cantina (next to Starbucks) has closed. You can look for some of their items to appear on the menu at Farmhouse BBQ, which has the same owners.
EVANS BROTHERS COFFEE
Roastery and Cafe has won the prestigious Good Food Award four times (including the past two years) and voted Best Coffee in Bonner County for 13 years running. Located in Sandpoint’s historic Granary Arts District, full espresso and brew bar, housemade seasonal drinks, local pastries and burritos. Open daily 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 208-265-5553 www.EvansBrothersCoffee.com
MOJO COYOTE AT SCHWEITZER
Mojo Coyote at Schweitzer 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. Enjoy a fresh Evans Brothers espresso and treat your sweet tooth to a warm scone. Freshbaked pastries, breakfast burritos and lunch specials. Fine selection of beer and wine. 208-255-3037 www.schweitzer.com
113 Main 113 Main St. Cozy, historic, downtown corner location offers delicious scratch cooking, a full beer/ wine bar plus premium hand-crafted cocktails and entrees. Hours not set at press time, check their Facebook page (113 Main Sandpoint) for information. 208-255-7558
BARREL 33 08
Barrel 33 101 N. 1st Ave. Wine, beer, and cider tastings plus a carefully curated menu featuring fresh, local ingredients, designed for sharing. Open 7 days a week. 208-920-6258 www.barrel33sandpoint.com
CLARK FORK PANTRY 03
Clark Fork Pantry 204 E. 4th St. Clark Fork. All natural, made-from-scratch baked goods, homemade soups, and sandwiches on freshly baked bread, made to order from the deli. Wide selection of bulk foods, snacks, spices and gift items. Open Mon-Sat. 208-2661300 www.clarkforkpantry.com
Miller’s Country Store & Deli 1326 Baldy Mtn. Rd. Wholesome goodness with a selection of fine deli meats and cheeses, bulk food items, pie fillings, fresh-baked pies, breads, and pastries—plus soup and sandwiches, take-home dinners, and soft-serve ice cream. Open Monday through Friday. 208-263-9446 www. millerscountrystoresandpoint.com
RIDGE NATURAL FOODS
Winter Ridge Natural Foods 703 Lake St. A natural foods grocery store with an in-house deli, bakery, meat department, organic produce department, a juice and espresso bar, and hot food bar with indoor seating. Open daily. 208-265-8135 www.winterridgefoods.com
Chimney Rock 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. Fireplaces, comfortable seating in the bar, and diverse cuisine. High quality steaks, hearty pasta, scrumptious salads, exquisite seafood. Open daily inside the Selkirk Lodge at Schweitzer. 208-255-3071 www.schweitzer.com
THE CLUBHOUSE RESTAURANT
Clubhouse Restaurant 151 Clubhouse Way. At the Idaho Club, just off Hwy. 200. Ever-changing menu, impeccable service and energetic ambiance. Locally sourced ingredients and an eclectic menu. Expansive patio dining available. Open for lunch and dinner. 208-265-2345 www.IdahoClubHospitality.com
Connie’s Cafe 323 Cedar St. Every day there’s a reason to stop at Connie’s Cafe. Good people, good drinks, good food. Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lounge w/live music, local musicians, patio seating. Open 7 days a week. 208-255-2227 www.conniescafe.com
Crow’s Bench 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. Located in the Humbird Hotel, featuring fabulous views and a Bavarian-inspired cuisine. Reservations are recommended. 208-255-3051 www.schweitzer.com
The District Bistro, Martini Bar & Wine Shop. 313 N. First Ave. Exceptional cuisine, unrivaled wine selection and craft cocktails at a full bar. Convenient, downtown location. Sidewalk seating for soaking up the sun. Open Mon-Sat. 208-265-8653 www.thedistrictinsandpoint.com THE
THE FLOAT HOUSE RESTAURANT 14
Float House 47392 Hwy. 200, Hope. The area’s only floating restaurant featuring modern American food. Full bar and lounge. Indoor and outdoor seating. 208-920-5027 www.theFloatHouseIdaho.com
JALAPEÑOS RESTAURANT 15
Jalapenos Restaurant 314 N. 2nd Ave. Traditional and Americanized Mexican dishes in a family friendly atmosphere. Full bar, gluten-free menu and quick to-go menu. Open Thur-Tue. 208-263-2995 www.sandpointjalapenos.com
Old West Texas BBQ 73400 Hwy. 2, Moyie Springs at the Hemlocks RV Resort. Authentic, slow-cooked Texas BBQ served cafeteria style, or vacuum-packed meats available to take home. Open Thur-Sun 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. or ‘til BBQ is sold out. 208-267-4363 www.HemlocksLodging.com
201 E. Superior AND on Schweitzer Mountain! Legendary pizza with a wide selection of greens, appetizers and sandwiches. Beer, wine, outdoor patio. Streaming your favorite sports all season long. 208-255-0685 (town) 208-255-5645 (Mtn) www.powderhoundpizza.com
HOUSE AT SCHWEITZER
Skyhouse at Schweitzer 10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. Experience a lunch outing unlike any other at the summit of Schweitzer! A chefinspired menu from locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients. 208-263-9555 www.schweitzer.com
Sweet Lou’s 477272 U.S. Hwy. 95 in Ponderay. Terrific traditional and regional fare. Family friendly restaurant with full bar. Two more locations in Coeur d’Alene and Athol. Open daily. 208-263-1381 www.sweetlousidaho.com
Trinity at City Beach 58 Bridge St. Back for the summer with lunch and dinner. Expansive, outdoor dining overlooking City Beach. Full bar and live music. Reservations recommended. 208-255-7558 www.trinityatcitybeach.com TRINITY
MICKDUFF’S BREWING CO. BREWPUB
MickDuff’s Brewing Co. Brewpub 419 2nd Ave. Enjoy craft ale in the iconic, restored old federal building downtown. Traditional and updated pub fare. Outdoor seating. Open daily. 208-255-4351 www.mickduffs.com
Second Avenue Pizza 215 S. Second Ave. Piled-high specialty pizzas, calzones, specialty salads and sandwiches. Gluten-free choices. Beer and wine, take-and-bake pizzas available. 208-263-9321 www.secondavenuepizza.com
Eichardt’s Pub & Grill 212 Cedar St. Relaxing pub and grill mixes casual dining with seriously good food. Completely family friendly. More than a dozen beers on tap, good wines, and live music. Upstairs game room with fireplace. 208-263-4005 www.eichardtspub.com
MICKDUFF’S BREWING CO.BEER HALL & BREWERY
MickDuff’s Brewing Co. Beer Hall & Brewery 220 Cedar St. Tasting room boasts 16 taps, local bar art, free popcorn and weekly entertainment. Beer hall is bring-your-own-food friendly. 21 years or older. Open daily. 208209-6700 www.mickduffs.com
102 Euclid Ave (second floor) Sandpoint, ID 83864 www.yellowroom.org 208-738-3864
A non-profit therapeutic community wellness space
Providing well-being classes, workshops, and events accessible to every-body
Donations support us in providing sustainable offerings to those in need
Scholarships available
Get your first month for only $30 with code FIRSTMONTH
theyellowroomsandpoint@gmail.com
Alpine Motors Your GMC truck dealer. New and used sales and leasing. Full service, parts and body shop. Highway 95 N., Ponderay, 208-263-2118, 1-800-430-5050. www.alpinemotors.net
Sandpoint Community Resource Center provides an extensive website offering information about how to receive help in areas as diverse as healthcare, housing, utilities, and clothing, while also connecting those who want to help with groups in need of volunteers. There is even an option to register your organization’s need for volunteer support. Learn more about it at www.sandpointcommunityresource.com 208-920-1840.
Shop Sandpoint Go to www.shopsandpoint. com, for local web links to trusted services, merchants, artists, craftspeople, farmers and green building. Write your own reviews in the new SandpointBlog. Fun reading, recycling, and more!
Keokee A marketing communications firm providing web design, hosting, search engine optimization and marketing, graphic design, editorial, media consultation and more. 405 Church St., 208.263.3573. www.keokee.com. We publish Sandpoint Magazine and sandpointonline.com
Vanderford’s Books on Second Avenue
Sandpoint’s hometown bookstore since 1978, now at 321 N. Second Ave. Offering a wide selection of the latest books and novels. 208-263-2417 • www.bookshop.org/shop/ vanderfords
Get a current rate sheet on our website at www.sandpointmagazine.com or call
Sandpoint Super Drug
The Center for Functional Nutrition offers a full line of clinical nutrition products including Klaire, Thorne, Pure, Ortho Molecular, and Apex. 604 N. 5th Avenue.
208-263-3573 and talk to Sales Director Clint Nicholson (ext. 123; email clint@keokee.com).
It's true. Piracy exists on Lake Pend Oreille, Sandpoint’s watery gem. However, this particular pirate is a treasure and not a threat. A local celebrity, pirate captain Dan Mimmack hauls out the Wind Spirit from June through August at Sandpoint’s City Beach, providing excursions for children, and has done so for the last 12 years. A wood craftsman, and the original owner of Northwest Handmade, Pirate Dan looks forward to summer when he runs out his sails with a captive audience of children (along with their accompanying adult chaperones) to sail up the billowing blue waters of Sand Creek.
As someone who loves boats, finding a handcrafted pirate ship for sale definitely shivered Mimmack's timbers. A sailor since his teenage years, he knew he had to purchase the boat when he spotted a Craigslist ad for the Wind Spirit. “I think he was a pirate in a former life,” said Pam Mimmack, his wife of 31 years, who met Dan in Kona, Hawaii when he was working on fishing boats.
After traveling to Olympia, Washington, Mimmack brought home the ship and began the long process of restoration. The ship was originally painted white and needed a lot of TLC. Mimmack’s woodworking skills availed him the ability to restore the ship and add modifications to sail under the Cedar
Street Bridge. He also added a cannon and the trademark plank.
“The excursions are Dan’s way of giving back to the community, especially children and adults with special needs who don’t have access to boats,” said Pam. “The first time Dan pulled up at City Beach the kids swarmed the boat and it hasn’t stopped.”
Once aboard, Pirate Dan initiates his guests into becoming temporary pirates by handing out eye patches and water cannons to squirt the unsuspecting as they sail up Sand Creek. Other times the Wind Spirit will pull up on the beach and Pirate Dan will pull out a treasure chest and rubber swords for a pirate play session. Although the excursions are child-oriented, adults are also fans, especially grandmothers who gleefully take a turn at the water cannon.
Mimmack relishes his role as the Sandpoint Pirate; however, pirates do eventually sail toward retirement and Pirate Dan will be retiring his cutlass and ship after August this year. Future plans for the ship are uncertain, although it’s hoped there is another pirate on the horizon ready to sail the Wind Spirit to carry on the joyous tradition Pirate Dan Mimmack began so long ago. “The ship is available for birthday parties and family experiences,” said Pam.
To book, call 208-255-8916.
