Sandpoint Magazine Summer 2010 Issue.

M A G A Z IN E

SUMMER 2009

Sandpoint

Ride YOUR

BIKE – A BICENTENNIAL –

DAVID THOMPSON

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inside: OFFICIAL Sandpoint VISITOR Guide Interview with Intermountain Community Bancorp CEO Curt Hecker, Sandpoint Transition Initiative, Selkirk Hiking with an Artist, a History of Road Names, Changing Education in Sandpoint, Calendars, Dining, Real Estate ... and so much more

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he warmth of a home emanates from within.

208.263.5101 tssir.com © MMIX Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark licensed to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

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208-263-5101 www.TSSIR.com

imply Incredible Sandpoint, Idaho

DOVER BAY~This stunning 285 acre waterfront community on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille celebrates all that Idaho has to offer with an abundance of outdoor recreation including 9 miles of paths, 9 acres of parks and beaches, varied wetlands and inlets for kayaking and endless activities on the lake and river! Enjoy access to the full service Marina and Retail Village w/ Café & Market, Lake Club Fitness Center and Beach Bungalows!

MARINA TOWN CONDOMINIUMS~Luxury waterfront residences featuring over 500 ft of frontage on Pend Oreille w/ 2 to 4 bedrooms, granite, wood floors and more! Starting at $595,000. Call Cindy 208.255.8360 or Stan 208.290.7024.

BAYSIDE SOUTH CONDOMINIUMS~Twobedroom condos with 1380 sq ft and a den. New home styles start at $298,000. Call Sandy 208.290.1111 or Sarah 208.290.3402 or Natalie 208.610.4785.

BAYSIDE HOMESITES~Build your dream home on one of these beautiful home sites just steps away from the city beach and Marina Village in the heart of the Dover Bay Waterfront Community. Lot sizes range from .19 to .38 acre. Priced from $145,000. Call Tony 208.290.8965 or Brian 208.290.2486.

COTTAGES IN DOVER MEADOWS~Customizable Craftsman-style homes. 2 to 5 bedroom plans. Standard features include: Granite, tile, gas fireplace, 2 car garage, covered porches, fully landscaped & maintained yards, and more! Prices starting at only $279,900. Call Merry 208.255.9444 or Bobby 208.610.1442 for details & personal tour.

PARKSIDE BUNGALOWS~Cozy 1 & 2 bedroom bungalows in the heart of the action at Dover Bay! Fireplace, deck & loft option. Starting at $198,500! Call Rick 208.304.5665 or Carrie 208.290.1965 or PJ 208.610.8034.

REEDWALK~Spacious Waterfront Homesites! Reedwalk is located on Brown’s Inlet Bay. These sites offer Southern exposure, mountain views and kayak access to Lake Pend Oreille. Lot sizes range from .51 to .99 acres Priced from $288,000 $354,000. Call Tony 208.290.8965 or Brian 208.290.2486.

SUNSET SADDLE ESTATES~Dover Bay’s most exclusive neighborhood! Lakefront home sites located in the far west wing of our resort community. Priced from $390,000. Call Tony 208. 290.8965 or Brian 208.290.2486.

all the Discovery Center at Dover Bay:

DISCOVERY CENTER HOURS: Monday - Saturday, 8:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

208.265.0627 SPECIAL SUMMER EVENTS: • June 6 – “Talk Dirt to Me” Home and Garden Show at Dover Bay Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. • July 11-12 – Dover Bay Days Saturday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

© MMVII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Farm Bouffan © Cezanne Museum/Superstock, Inc., used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated, Except Offices Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. Sandpoint office: 208-263-5101, 200 Main Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

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Contents SANDP O INT MAGAZINE

Summ e r 2 0 0 9 , Vo l . 1 9 , N o . 2

FEATURES Fuel-free Adventure

by Ian Phalen with Chris Guibert Five friends ditch petrol for human-powered sailing and biking

Fat Tires and Life on Two Wheels by Cate Huisman Mountain bike enthusiasts and the biking lifestyle. Plus: Events and group

David Thompson Bicentennial by Jack Nisbet Charting the explorerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s arrival and activities in 1809. Plus: Kullyspel House archaeology, Indian Meadows and recreating Thompsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s canoe.

Sandpoint Transition Initiative by Scott Daily Aiming to create a sustainable, resilient and vibrant community

Hiking the Selkirks with an Artist

by Julie Hutslar Art appreciation for the hiker: Light, shadows and place are everything

Road Names by Ben Olson Lasting legacies that connect people with their town and its history

Natives & Newcomers 105

Change in Sandpoint: Education

by Carrie Scozzaro Since 1886, education issues prevail as challenges grow more complex

Almanac

Who, What and Why in Greater Sandpoint

Calendar

With Festival at Sandpoint calendar and Hot Picks

Interview

Curt Hecker, CEO of Intermountain Community Bancorp

Real Estate

Mountain Town Market: A bright spot in the national picture Sandpoint 2.0: More efficient, urban city charted by new comp plan Life Anew for Selle Grange: Mother-daughter team transforms old hall Elegant Lakefront Retreat: Castle-like home an architectural masterpiece

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SUMMER 2009

9 20 25 86 86 91 95 98

109

Dining Guide

117

Lodging

124

Services

125

Sandpoint of View

130

On the cover: Doug Marshall found Katie Omodt hitching a ride on the handlebars with John Cochran at Sandpoint City Beach. Above: Chris Guibert captured Ian Phalen on Buckhorn Ridge in the Purcell Mountains, and Marshall memorialized the scenery that David Thompson saw from Kullyspel House.

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DEPARTMENTS

Eats & Drinks

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Contributors

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publisher’s note Sometimes, when I’m out sailing on Lake Pend Oreille, or paddling in the Clark Fork Delta or spying the lake from some high mountain trail, I wonder to myself: How amazing it must have been to see this place before civilization arrived. To imagine coming into this country before railroads and highways, electric transmission towers and clear-cuts and a lakeshore crowded with buildings, is to put oneself in the moccasins of the native Kalispel or David Thompson, who with his band of trappers and traders was the first white man to lay eyes on our lake. Thompson is our area’s version of Lewis and Clark. He’s the figure that divides the history of our region from its time as untouched wilderness peopled by native tribes to the period of white settlement with its successive waves of trappers, miners and loggers. This year marks the 200th anniversary of Thompson’s arrival. A lot has surely changed these past two centuries, but the fine story by Thompson historian Jack Nisbet in this issue at least gives us a glimpse of what it was like back then. Of course, this remains a mighty beautiful place to live, and other stories in this issue remind me of that. Anyone who exults in the freedom of two wheels will enjoy Cate Huisman’s stories on bicycling for fun or just to get around town. And don’t miss Scott Daily’s terrific closing essay on page 130. It’s a bittersweet reminder of what we can lose when civilization encroaches – and to make the most of our time. –C.B.

Sandpoint Magazine is published twice yearly, in May and November, by Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 722, Sandpoint, ID 83864. E-mail: inbox@keokee.com Web: www.keokee.com Phone: 208-263-3573 Publisher Chris Bessler Editor Billie Jean Plaster Editorial Assistant Beth Hawkins Advertising Director Clint Nicholson Art Director Laura White Administration Catherine Anderson Contributors Katie Botkin, Sandy Compton, Scott Daily, Erica Curless, Jane Fritz, Lisa Gerber, David Gunter, Cate Huisman, Julie Hutslar, Jack Nisbet, Ben Olson, Ian Phalen, Carrie Scozzaro, Amie Wolf and Dianna Winget The entire contents of Sandpoint Magazine are copyright ©2009 by Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc. No part may be reproduced in any fashion. Subscriptions: $12 per year. Send all address changes to the address above. Visit our Web magazine at www.SandpointMagazine.com. Printed in USA

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Scott Daily

makes time for writing sometimes – when the clouds part and he finds a moment of grace. For this issue of Sandpoint Magazine, he contributed the story about the Sandpoint Transition Initiative (page 31), as well as the Sandpoint of View essay (page 130). He lives with his family in Sagle where he competes with ravens for eggs from his henhouse, a chaotic pastime that is representative of his life as a permaculture design practitioner, grant writer, community organizer and father of two.

Cate Huisman is

a not-nearly-gnarly mountain biker who enjoyed interviewing numerous, enormously gnarly bikers for her articles on the two-wheeled life in and around Sandpoint (page 50). Her town bike is so conveniently old and beaten up that she never has to lock it, while her cool new mountain bike takes her over bumps and drops that she wouldn’t belong on without it.

Julie Hutslar

realized how much inspiration she has gotten from the incredible mountains in which she lives as she was compiling paintings for the feature story, “Hiking the southern Selkirks with an artist,” page 68. From all the places she has lived – Hawaii to Paris and many parts in between – there is nowhere she would rather spend the rest of her life than right here in the mountains around Sandpoint. Learn more about her artwork, books and work in the healing arts at www.jrhutslar.com.

Jack Nisbet

Teacher and naturalist lives in Spokane and is the author of two books about David Thompson: “Sources of the River” and “The Mapmaker’s Eye.” Interviews for this issue’s cover story and sidebars (page 58) reminded him that there is a lot left to figure out about the man. Nisbet’s current project, which will appear this fall, is titled “The Collector: David Douglas and the Natural History of the Northwest.”

Ian Phalen

is back to regale Sandpoint Magazine readers with another tale of unconventional adventure with Chris Guibert and his camera (page 43). A treasure trove of energetic, local friends continues to inspire this freebooter to get off the couch and chase rainbows, search for nirvana and the like. Nearby mountains and waterways beckon and promise more stories, as long as the duct tape holds up.

Carrie Scozzaro

, an art teacher for Lakeland School District, wrote our social change feature on education (page 79). She discovered abundant salad options while covering Eats and Drinks (page 109), which includes a new Q&A section on local chefs. When not teaching or writing, Carrie is preparing artwork, including for her March solo exhibit at Stage Right Cellars and June show at Redtail Gallery.

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Almanac

Fresh fruit

Family-run Riley Creek Blueberry Farm cultivates 4,000 plants

PHOTOS BY Billie Jean Plaster

One August day, Molly Simko and her children walk past row upon row of blueberry bushes, orange pails in hand, eventually settling on a row close to the far side of the field. Hunkering down in the shade, she and her young children, Lily and Wes, start plucking the ripe, juicy fruit from among the more than 4,000 plants found at Riley Creek Blueberry Farm. The family usually makes the trip from their home in Hope once a year, picks until they’re “too hot and dirty” and then swims at Riley Creek Recreation Area. “The people here are really friendly, and we get fresh-picked berries,” Molly says. The largest blueberry operation in The Simko family, left, pick blueberries on their annual trip to Riley Creek Blueberry Farm. Below left, Whitney Urmann packs and weighs berries.

Bonner County, Riley Creek Blueberry Farm is a family-run operation on 5 acres just north of U.S. Highway 2 in Laclede. Stan Urmann and his wife, Anita, started the farm in 1994, harvesting 900 pounds that year. Last year, in its 14th season, the farm yielded 40,000 pounds. Their teenaged daughter, Whitney, works alongside them, helping to sort, weigh and pack berries. “This is a perfect size for a family

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farm,” Stan says. The Urmanns sell all of their berries locally at their onsite store on the “honor system,” as well as at Sandpoint Farmers Market and two local grocery stores, Mitchell’s in Priest River and Yoke’s in Sandpoint. About half of the fruit is harvested through the “u-pick” method, while the other half is picked mostly by youth looking to make some extra cash. John Hamilton, a 14-year-old neighbor, has worked at the farm since he was 6 and now carries the title of field foreman. “My job is kind of easy and I make good money. I get to drive the four-wheeler around and eat blueberries on occasion,” he says. Stan says blueberries need full sun, acidic soil and lots of water – about a gallon per plant per day. Berries should be picked before noon for the best quality. “Our claim to fame is our ability to create a really quality blueberry,” he says. –Billie Jean Plaster

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Almanac

Jazz pianist Bill Reid

This musician’s one cool ‘cat’

PHOTO BY CHRIS DeCLEUR

If music has many expressions, it’s been said that the one that washes away the dust of everyday life is jazz. In the 1930s and ’40s, jazz was king. But with the advent of rock ’n’ roll, the small combos and big bands fell out of the mainstream. Today, thanks to Ken Burns, Wynton Marsalis and Marian McPartland, plus festivals and public broadcasting, jazz has made a very cool comeback. One “cat,” who has played piano

Bill Reid plays gigs regularly in Sandpoint.

professionally for 60 years, and jazz for 40, is Sandpoint resident Bill Reid. There isn’t a classic jazz tune that he doesn’t know or can’t improvise if you hum a few bars. Reid is definitely a big fish in the local pond of jazz musicians. Classically trained, his finesse on the keyboard is inspired by Gene Harris, Oscar Peterson and George Shearing.

“I love to play music,” says Reid, who has performed in clubs from upstate New York to Spokane before and after his retirement in 1991 as a telephone lineman for the local phone company. “It’s not work to me, it’s enjoyment.” Here in Sandpoint, Reid does special gigs at Three Glasses or Coldwater Creek Wine Bar and plays every Sunday afternoon at Di Luna’s Café. In addition to solo work, he performs in a trio with fellow jazz musicians and singers, Maria Larson and Bruce Duykers. Playing Sandpoint is not new to Reid. Back when he was in his 20s, he played all the “joints” (that’s 1940s musician lingo for bars, taverns and clubs) in town. Unlike today, he says nearly every social gathering place back then had a piano. The joints could get pretty rowdy, he says, but music and the dancing it sparked were thoroughly enjoyed. “Singing, music appreciation and playing an instrument was something nearly every person learned in school,” says Reid, now 79. “And we were lucky to have good songwriters like Cole Porter and Irving Berlin. Music was just what people did when friends got together.” –Jane Fritz

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Queen Marie’s Sandpoint stowaway

Historic incident put boy in the limelight When Queen Marie of Romania came through Sandpoint on Nov. 2, 1926, her royal train crossing the country on the Northern Pacific tracks never even stopped. But it did slow down just enough to allow a stowaway to climb aboard. Lester Brown was a 12-yearold Sandpoint boy who wanted a closer look at the queen when he jumped on the back platform of the steam-powered Royal Romanian. Before he could jump off, the train picked up speed and Brown was trapped aboard. A secret service agent soon discovered the SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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young man, by then on the verge of tears. When the queen learned of his plight, she reportedly said, “Bring him right in to me.” Queen Marie ordered that a telegram be sent to the boy’s parents advising them that he was in her care, reported the SpokesmanReview in a story published the next day. Brown ended up being hosted by the queen and her two children for the two-and-a-halfhour ride to Spokane, playing bean bag with them and eating a royal dinner on the train before its arrival. The queen even bestowed SUMMER 2009

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Almanac

Sandpoint senior aims high

Orton competes in triathlons, learns how to fly

Annette Orton looks like a typical grandmother as she relaxes in front of the fireplace in the lobby of Sandpoint’s new senior living community, Luther Park, where she lives. But looks can be deceiving. This 78-year-old retired high school science teacher is far from typical – and proud of it. Orton has a fitness resume that resembles a professional athlete’s. She’s done marathons, completed more than 30 triathlons and participates annually in the Long Bridge Swim. “I long had a desire to exercise,” says Orton, whose daughter’s marathon training inspired her to run a marathon just before retiring at 60. Then smitten by the competition bug, now she signs up for triathlons to motivate herself to train. “I didn’t want to do it on my own. It’s a carrot in front of my nose,” she says. Orton started training for triathlons at age 66 and, for the first time in her life, put her face underwater when she took up swimming. Caretaking an ill husband prevented her from training as much as she would have liked, but Orton, now a widow, was determined to keep entering competitions. She’s come a long way since her first triathlon in Denver in 1997, which was a women-only event. Orton looks to other athletes for ways to improve, but her main goal is to have fun.

“When that gun goes off, I just go!” says Orton. “I’m not fast, but I have great endurance.” As if training and competing in triathlons don’t keep her busy enough, Orton is also getting her pilot’s license. She knew she had to learn how to fly when she first rode in a glider, piloted by her neighbor in 2003. In addition to a glider – a motorless aircraft – she owns a Cessna 150, a two-seat general aviation airplane. Several obstacles kept her from getting her pilot’s license over the years, but she started taking flying lessons

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SUMMER 2009

again in 2008 and now routinely makes solo flights to various rural and commercial airports in the Pacific Northwest. Orton has met all requirements except the final exam, which she hopes to take just after her birthday in May. “The most exciting thing in my life besides my three children is my airplane,” she says. Amie Wolf

Sandpoint that night on the Northern Pacific, thrilled by his experience and celebrated in his hometown. Years later, he became the town’s mayor, becoming quasi royalty himself. Appointed in 1972 and elected mayor in 1973, he served until his death in 1976. –Billie Jean Plaster Lester Brown poses with some gifts he received from Queen Marie of Romania, who notified his parents by telegram that he was in her care.

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gifts upon the boy – an autographed photograph and a copy of a fairy tale she authored, in which she inscribed “To Lester Brown from Marie, queen, after an unexpected meeting.” The prince and princess also gave him an autographed photograph of themselves. Brown returned to

Triathlete Annette Orton took up flying in her 70s after riding in a glider.

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Almanac Geologic trail to follow Ice Age floods

A bill approved by Congress in March to create the Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail is likely to float some extra attention to Sandpoint. The floods were a remarkable chapter in the region’s geologic history. As the Ice Age was ending 15,000 years ago, a finger of the continental ice sheet covered this area in a glacier 2,000 feet thick. The ice dammed up the Clark Fork River and inundated western

Visualize a 2,000-foot ice dam here: View from Johnson Peak toward location of ancient glacier.

Montana under an immense lake. Geologists believe the ice dam failed multiple times, unleashing cataclysmic floods as huge volumes of water raged across the Idaho Panhandle and 300 miles down the Columbia River to the ocean. “It’s amazing to think of that much water rushing through with that much

Blacksmith follows in father’s footsteps

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Harald Hartmann is the only master blacksmith he knows. He is a Kunstschmied, an artisan smith, German-trained and second-generation. He came to the United States at age 3, started working with his father when he was 12, and at 18 began his formal training, which lasted a total of eight years. “The German way isn’t to just let your kids sit around. I tried other things, and my dad said ‘Nope, you’re coming to work in my shop,’ ” Hartmann says. Hartmann crafts pieces on commission, often chandeliers for homeowners in Sandpoint and elsewhere. While he has made horseshoes, what people think of most often after hearing he is a blacksmith, the shoes were strictly decorative. He doesn’t work as a smith who shoes and trims horse hooves – also called a farrier – though he knows local farriers who make a decent living. “In the old days, the blacksmith was one of the most important people in the community,” he says, due not only to the horse-and-buggy mode of transportation but the nature of what was available to create commercial goods. In his shop a short walk from Lake Pend

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Oreille, Hartmann selects a few steel strips called bar stock, which he gets in 20-foot lengths from Pacific Steel and cuts to suit. He heats the bars in his coal forge until they glow yellow; the correct color for malleability. He then removes them from the fire and hammers them into shape on his father’s

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speed and force,” says Sylvie White, owner of the Maps & More store and president of the local chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI), which worked for years to promote the trail. White noted the floods carved much of the region’s landscape. Among other marks, the ice dams left big gouges in the rock cliffs on the north side of the Clark Fork River, a couple miles east of Clark Fork. “It’s like a giant bear claw scraped right there,” she said. The National Park Service will likely have a budget of $8 million to $12 million to create a series of interpretive sites along the flood route, and White thinks a site here is likely. As the location of the ice dam, this area was the nexus of the floods. In fact, her group calls itself the “Coeur du Deluge” chapter – that’s French, more or less, for heart of the floods.

CLOTHING COM PANY

Master blacksmith Harald Hartmann crafts decorative pieces on commission.

anvil, a solid piece that has withstood the blows of a century. He loves his job, he says.

Sandpoint Events Center

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PHOTO BY KATIE BOTKIN

To learn more about the Ice Age floods or the IAFI, go to iafi.org or contact Sylvie White at Maps & More, 109 Main St., 265-8883.

FINAN Mc DONALD

–Katie Botkin

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Almanac

Bypass: By the numbers

Const r uction

tr af f ic

908: Projected total working days

12,000: Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) on Highway 95 through downtown, 2007. On average 740 are commercial trucks.

70,000: Truckloads of excavated material 7,000: Cubic meters of concrete 455: Miles of wick drains 7: Miles of piling 77,250: Cubic yards of fill in creek for shoreline extension and bike path 3.6 acres: Loss of summertime open navigable water in Sand Creek from Bridge Street to Highway 200

13,800: AADT projected for 2014. On average 762 commercial trucks. 28%: Amount of AADT that ITD projects bypass will remove from downtown. Most heavy truck traffic projected to be removed. 9,936: Extrapolated AADT entering downtown in 2014

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It’s been the longest-running, most hotly disputed – and now, most expensive – public works project in our town’s 108-year history. But a half century after it was first proposed, construction began last fall on the U.S. Highway 95 bypass up the Sand Creek peninsula. The bypass is intended to relieve traffic congestion and provide a route for through-drivers and trucks around the downtown. Opponents argued there were other routes that would not sacrifice the town’s waterfront, but the Idaho Transportation Department’s (ITD) choice of Sand Creek garnered influential support and withstood legal challenges. The 2.1-mile alignment runs from the north end of the Long Bridge to the Highway 95-Highway 200 interchange, entailing construction of five bridgeways and 65 retaining walls. Construction is expected to last until 2012.

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E C O N O M IC S

E N V I R ON M E N TAL

$144.6 million: Total project cost including engineering, land acquisition, construction

55: Average decibel level of sound on docks at Power House, pre-bypass

$98 million: Portion for construction contract $68.9 million: Average cost per mile for 2.1-mile project 150: Projected project-related jobs gained for three-year construction period $35: Average hourly wage for construction jobs

PHOTO BY tina Friedman

Almanac

67: Projected decibel level from traffic after bypass completion. A 10 db difference represents a sound that is 10 times more intense

Sand Creek: Summer 2008, left, and in April 2009, above. Artist’s conception below portrays what ITD projects the bypass to look like when completed; opponents contend the bypass footprint will be larger than pictured.

225: Estimated mature cottonwood, birch and other trees removed along length of project 1: Rope swing removed 360: Estimated daily swings on rope, July-August

Sources: Idaho Transportation Department; North Idaho Community Action Network; news stories. Link to sources in the Sandpoint Online “Hot Issues” archive, direct link: www.sandpointnews.com

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Almanac

Tribes preserve endangered languages One theory runs that languages with

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fewer than 100,000 speakers are endangered, in which case only about 10 percent of the world’s approximately 6,000 languages are safe. Some linguists take the stance that this sort of change is an appropriate result of a shifting global environment, but most are happy that more work is done on endangered languages every day, and in the United States, much of it is tribe-initiated. Tribal languages can be spread over states or even across countries; the Kootenai, for example, has six tribes in Montana, Canada (spelled Kootenay in that country) and Idaho, with varying language programs. The tribe in Bonners Ferry has had an informal class; it plans to develop it further, though the details are yet to be formalized. Geography and funding can have a lot to do with what kind of language program a tribe has. “Many now have the opportunity to study through the public school system,” said Jennifer Weston of Cultural Survival, a national organization concerned with revitalizing language. Such is the case for the Kalispel dialect of the Salish language. There are daily classes in Cusick, Wash., at local K-12 schools, and in addition, there is a class at the community building in nearby Usk accredited through

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Eastern Washington University. While the younger students learn nursery rhymes, high school and college students memorize traditional stories. J.R. Bluff, the senior teacher and organizer, got a head start on the curriculum by adapting resources from the Center for Interior Salish into their local dialect. He says, by this point, “You don’t have much choice. If you come to class, you’ll learn.”

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Top: Kalispel tribal leader J.R. Bluff, left, leads classes in the tribe’s dialect of the Salish language. Above: Bluff’s students act out one of the tribe’s traditional stories in the language.

–Katie Botkin

Think Remodel • Think ReSt re

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Water

Almanac

Years of Service & Experience

Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail connects people, communities Gary Payton and John Coyle have

Boat Service & Accessories Old Town Canoes & Kayaks • Water Toys • Skis • Tubes

2 LocaTionS

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Downtown Sandpoint - 213 church St. 263-5157 Schweitzer Village 255-1660

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significant things in common. Both retired from service, Payton as an Air Force colonel, and Coyle from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after 30 years at Albeni Falls Dam and Lake Pend Oreille. And, both are deeply interested in the proposed Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, a twomile-long shoreline trail that begins at the old Humbird Mill site north of Sandpoint City Beach and extends to Black Rock in Ponderay. Coyle began in 1974 as park manager at Albeni Falls and became natural resource manager for the entire lake. Coyle also met Ross Hall Sr., who with partner Wells McCurdy in 1966 purchased the lake frontage then called “Bum Jungle” with an eye toward developing it. The inherently unstable nature of the property, though, did not lend itself to development, and as time went on, the Hall family embraced the possibility of making it public. In pursuit of stabilizing the waterfront, a Corps responsibility, Coyle and the Corps have moved that purpose forward. In a very real sense, Coyle finished the foundation for the trail, overseeing construction of the last section of the “bank protection structure,” as the Corps refers to it, at the northeast end of the trail. It is this structure that is the trail – that hikeable, bikeable, dog-friendly tread along the lake that many folks already use, though the details of public access are still being worked out. With the Hall family’s encouragement, the Friends of Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, chaired by Susan Drumheller, was formed in 2007 to foster a public trail into existence. “It started out as a small group,” Coyle says, “but now it’s really taken off. I’m really impressed with how many people and entities have signed on to make this work.” Payton is one of the people. “The Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail is a great opportunity to draw the people of Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai together,” he says. Deeply interested in eco-justice and connecting communities, Payton has volunteered to write a draft Trail Concept Plan. This spring the Friends began with a three-page

Left: Gary Payton Below: John and Maggie Coyle

outline to be fleshed out by December. “We are in conversation with property owners,” Payton says, as well as representatives of the communities, the Corps, railroad and government entities that include the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, EPA, National Park Service and funding organizations. The concept plan will allow the Friends to share their vision with the communities and pave the way toward resolving public access issues, ensuring that this portion of lakeshore will be enjoyed by generations to come. Coyle couldn’t be more pleased. “I really feel everyone in these communities wants to see this happen,” he says. “A trail and a green belt are its highest and best use.” Friends of POB Trail lead walks on the proposed trail in summer; see more at www. pobtrail.org. –Sandy Compton

Map by Sean Haynes

Alpine Shop

Waterfront walk

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FUN On Our Lake

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DOVERBAYMARINA OPENFORTHE

2009

BOATING SEASON

See ya on the Lake Sandpoint Marina

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Holiday shores / East Hope Marina 46624 Hwy 200 East, Hope • 208.264.5515

Dover Bay Marina 208.263.3083

WAT E R F R O N T P R O P E R T Y M A N A G E M E N T 2 0 8 - 2 6 3 - 3 0 8 3 • w w w. s a n d p o i n t wat e r f r o n t. c o m

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Calendar

Ca l e[Hot nda r Picks] June

May 31-June 6 Sandpoint Bike Week. Pend Oreille Pedalers and North Idaho Bikeways sponsor an event-packed week. See story, page 56. 265-7979

4 SHS Spring Fling. Panida Theater hosts the Sandpoint High School Choir in this annual event at 6 p.m. 263-9191 6 Summer Sounds. Free concert series sponsored by Pend Oreille Arts Council with local and regional musicians happens every Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. through Sept. 5 at Park Place Stage at the corner of First and Cedar. Bon Taj performs. 263-6139 7 Dance Recital. Studio One’s annual spring dance concert, The Lion King, begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Panida Theater. 263-9191 10 Saffire – The Uppity Blues Women. KPBX Spokane Public Radio presents a “thank you” show at 7:30 p.m. in the Panida, featuring this female acoustic blues group. 263-9191 12-July 27 Artwalk I. Sponsored by POAC, this revolving art exhibit at 20 or so gallery locations downtown begins with opening receptions on June 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., many with live music. Self-guided walking tours continue through July 27. 263-6139 12-13 Relay for Life. Annual event to benefit local cancer efforts, at the fairgrounds. 660-1445 13 CHaFE 150. See Hot Picks. 13 Summer Sounds. Monarch Mountain Band performs. See June 6. 17 43rd Annual Farm Tour. Take an informative bus tour to some of the region’s small farms. Sponsored by Sandpoint Chamber. 263-0887

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18 Summer Sampler. Taste the cuisine from Sandpoint’s finest restaurants, breweries and wineries beginning at 5 p.m. at Farmin Park, plus enjoy cook-offs, live music and more. SandpointChamber.org. 263-0887

19 Voice of Reason Concert. Stonehouse Productions presents the Voice of Reason reggae concert at 8 p.m. in the Panida Theater; opening act is Outpost. 263-9191 19-20 Arts Alliance Solstice Celebration. Third annual event at Fifth and Oak, art gallery tour plus outdoor movie on Friday at 5:30 p.m. ‘til dark; on Saturday, take in art activities, live music, demonstrations and more from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. 265-4303 19-20 Winery Anniversary Party. Pend d’Oreille Winery releases its reserve Cabernet Sauvignon for its 15th anniversary, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. Plus wine discounts, live music and complimentary appetizers. 265-8545 SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Experience a scenic bike ride unlike any other The 2nd annual CHaFE 150 regional bike ride on June 13 takes participants on a gorgeous, one-day ride through Idaho and Montana to benefit early childhood education. Choose the full 147-mile course, or the new ½ CHaFE at 75 miles. This year, the ride begins and ends at City Beach in downtown Sandpoint. CHaFE150.org. 263-7040

Wooden Boat Festival, a Sandpoint tradition Just about everyone appreciates the beauty of a wooden boat, and Sandpoint’s admiration peaks during the 7th annual Sandpoint Wooden Boat Festival July 10-12. Browse along the Boardwalk on Sand Creek for boat viewing, plus partake in many other in-town events, including a pancake breakfast, parade of boats and free family events. Sponsored by the Inland Empire Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, and the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association. DowntownSandpoint.com. 255-1876

Take a peek inside artists’ studios Hop in the car for a summer drive to the working studios of area artists during the 7th annual Artists’ Studio Tour. This unique regional event happens during the weekends of Aug. 14-16 and Aug. 21-23 from 10 a.m. to 5 19-21 Horsin’ Around Horse and Mule Expo. Second annual event with featured clinician Jack Mervin, extreme trail race, trainers’ challenge and more at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. HorsinAroundExpo.com. 290-2701

p.m., and offers a rare opportunity to visit with the finest painters, sculptors, photographers, jewelers, potters, glass artists and more. To navigate your way through this selfguided driving tour, pick up a brochure at many downtown retail, gallery and restaurant locations, or visit ArtTourDrive.org.

David Thompson documentary screens The local premiere of the documentary Shadows of David Thompson takes place Sept. 12 at the Panida as part of the David Thompson Bicentennial. The film looks at Thompson’s life and work, featuring original music and interviews with modern-day Thompson historians. Period scenes recreating key events in the story have been staged with the cooperation of state and regional historical societies and local fur-trade re-enactors in Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Alberta. Presented by the Bonner County Historical Society and David Thompson Bicentennial Committee. 263-9191

Inaugural fun run event takes in the view The Scenic Half is a new event featuring a half marathon (about 13 miles), 10K and 5K fun run, and kids’ run on Sept. 20 starting at Sandpoint City Beach. The races are “out and back” courses which include crossing the Long Bridge. Presented by the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, this event benefits the Bonner Community Food Bank. ScenicHalf.com. 263-0887 to commemorate fur trade geographer David Thompson, including a one-day conference, teacher workshop, Kalispel Encampment and living-history event. See story, page 64. 263-2344

20 Danceworks 2009. Annual performance at the Panida, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. 263-9191

27 Schweitzer Summer Celebration. Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s summer season opener includes a barbecue, free scenic chairlift rides and fun family activities, such as climbing wall and hiking. 263-9555

24-27 David Thompson Bicentennial. Series of events slated in and around Hope

27 Summer Sounds. A Touch of Jazz performs. See June 6.

20 Summer Sounds. Larry Mooney performs. See June 6.

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Calendar July

p.m. to 8 p.m. Self-guided walking tours continue through Sept. 14. 263-6139

3 Jesse Colin Young Concert. American folk singer performs in concert, 8 p.m. at Panida Theater. 263-9191

August

4 Fourth of July. Sandpoint Lions Club sponsors Fourth of July festivities with a parade downtown in the morning followed by stage performances and a raffle at City Beach in the afternoon, plus a fireworks show at dusk. 263-0887 4 Summer Sounds. Peter Lucht performs. See June 6.

1 Quilt Show. Clark Fork Valley Quilters hosts its 12th annual show from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hope Memorial Community Center. 264-5375 1 Summer Sounds. The Mick Coon Band performs. See June 6.

5 Sunday Concerts on the Lawn. POAC sponsors this free, live concert series featuring regional musicians at the Dover Bay Marina at 2 p.m. every Sunday in July. Bright Moments performs. 263-6139

2 Schweitzer Huckleberry Festival. Schweitzer honors the native huckleberry with hosted picking hikes beginning at 9 a.m.; plus enjoy arts and crafts displays and a village barbecue starting at 10 a.m. Special huckleberry-themed activities begin at noon and live music from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 255-3081

10-12 Sandpoint Wooden Boat Festival. See Hot Picks. 10 Carrie Rodriguez Concert. Singer/songwriter from Texas who plays the fiddle and tenor guitar, performs at the Panida, 8 p.m. 263-9191

5-26 Twilight Bike Races. Every Wednesday in August, show up with your bike at 4 p.m. at Schweitzer for races on a course that changes weekly, with kids’ races and after-event parties. 255-3081

11 Summer Sounds. The Selkirk Brass Quintet performs. See June 6. 11-12 Dover Bay Days. Join the Dover Bay community for home tours, boat demos, food, music, shopping, kayaking and more; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. 263-5493

6-16 Festival at Sandpoint. 27th annual internationally renowned outdoor concert series on the lawn at Memorial Field. See festival calendar, page 22. 265-4554

12 Sunday Concerts on the Lawn. Swing Street Big Band performs, featuring vocalist Karen Nielsen. See July 5. 16 Festival at Sandpoint Art Unveiling. Annual fine art poster unveiling for the Festival at Sandpoint, held at 5 p.m. 265-4554

7 Plein Air Paint Out. Reception at Timber Stand Gallery features paintings from artists who ventured into the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness for several days to explore and to paint. 263-7748 7-28 Movies on the Mountain. Every Friday night at dusk in August, enjoy free outdoor movies at Schweitzer Mountain Resort on a giant inflatable screen. 255-3081

18 4th Annual Sandpoint Fly-In. Regional pilots fly into Sandpoint Airport and hold an aircraft display open to the public, sponsored by the Sandpoint EAA Chapter 1441. 255-9954

8-9 Arts & Crafts Fair. POAC’s 37th annual juried art exhibit at City Beach features artists’ booths, kids’ activities and more. 263-6139

18 Schweitzer Bluegrass Festival. Outdoor concerts on the mountain plus family activities. 263-9555

8 Summer Sounds. Rex James performs. See June 6. 14-16 Artists’ Studio Tour. See Hot Picks.

18 Summer Sounds. Mike and Shanna Thompson perform. See June 6.

25 Crazy Days. Downtown merchants offer big deals in annual sidewalk sale. Sponsored by Downtown Sandpoint Business Association. 2551876 25 Summer Sounds. Backstreet Dixie performs from 10 a.m. to noon; Carl Rey and the Blues Gators play from noon to 2 p.m. See June 6. 26 Sunday Concerts on the Lawn. Carl Rey and the Blues Gators performs. See July 5. 31-September 14 Artwalk II. Sponsored by POAC, this second revolving art exhibit gets started on July 31 with opening receptions at 20 or so gallery locations downtown from 5:30

14-15 Bonner County Rodeo. The Bonner County Fairgrounds hosts the annual rodeo, 7 p.m. each night. 263-8414 15 Summer Sounds. Bridges Home performs. See June 6. 15 The Tempest. Montana’s Shakespeare in the Parks presents The Tempest at 6 p.m. Mountain Time (5 p.m. Pacific) at the Heron Ballfield behind Heron Community Center. Free to the public; bring a chair or blanket, even a picnic, and enjoy this professional performance. 406-847-2388

SUMMER 2009

22 Summer Sounds. Usnea performs. See June 6. 25-29 Bonner County Fair and Demolition Derby. The theme of this year’s traditional country event at the Bonner County Fairgrounds is “Blue Jeans and Black Tie A-Fair,” and includes lots of livestock, 4-H auction and contests, crafts, produce and flower exhibits. Fair concludes with the popular Demolition Derby on Aug. 29. 263-8414 28-29 Ponderay Days. Ponderay Community Development Corporation sponsors this sixth annual community celebration with food, festivities, carnival, games and an Injector’s Car Club show. 255-2414 29 Summer Sounds. TBA. See June 6.

September 5-6 Schweitzer Fall Fest. Schweitzer’s annual outdoor music festival, with live performances, discounted chairlift rides, kids’ activities and microbrews. 263-9555 5 Summer Sounds. SHS Steel Pan Band performs. See June 6. 11-12 Harvest Party. Pend d’Oreille Winery annual late-summer event with the release of the 2007 Primativo, live music both evenings plus Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. when there’s corkspitting and grape-stomping competitions, a smelling bee and wine tasting. 265-8545 12 Shadows of David Thompson. See Hot Picks. 19-20 The Scenic Half. See Hot Picks. 24-27 Idaho Draft Horse and Mule International. The Northwest’s largest draft horse and mule expo at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. 263-8414

October 9 Pat McManus Play. A hilarious new McManus Comedies play performed by actor Tim Behrens, 8 p.m. at the Panida. 263-9191 10 Harvestfest. The Sandpoint Farmers Market closes out the season with entertainment, food booths, arts and crafts, and displays at Farmin Park. 597-3355 10 Oktoberfest. Traditional autumn celebration with a variety of festivities, sponsored by Downtown Sandpoint Business Association. DowntownSandpoint.com. 255-1876 10 Patrick Ball Celtic Harp Concert. Harpist and storyteller performs at Panida Theater, 8 p.m. 263-9191 24 Warren Miller Ski Film. Annual event held at the Panida Theater, sponsored by the Alpine Shop. 263-5157 31 Schweitzer Halloween Festivities. Spook it up on the mountain with parties for all ages, plus the Haunted House. 255-3081 SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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14-15 Spokane-to-Sandpoint Relay Race. Runners begin atop Mount Spokane and make their way through 15 cities en route to the finish line at Sandpoint. www.SpokanetoSandpoint.com. 509346-1440

19 Sunday Concerts on the Lawn. Canned Music performs. See July 5.

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1 Long Bridge Swim. Hundreds of swimmers compete in a 1.76-mile swim across Lake Pend Oreille, in this 15th annual event. www. LongBridgeSwim.com. 265-5412

21-23 Artists’ Studio Tour. See Hot Picks.

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Calendar

live big . . . we’re here when you need us.

Festival at Sandpoint

Spread out a blanket, or unfold a lawn chair, and enjoy the sights and sounds under northern Idaho’s big summer sky during the 27th annual Festival at Sandpoint. The casual and relaxed atmosphere at Memorial Field, located on the shore of Lake Pend Oreille, creates a customized concert experience without equal. The eight performance dates fall over a two-week period from Aug. 6-16. Buy a season pass or individual tickets by calling 265-4554, toll-free 888-265-4554, or go to www.FestivalatSandpoint.com. Gates open at 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, and at 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Thursday, Aug. 6 Firefall and Poco Rock band Firefall, formed in 1974, experienced its biggest hit single “You Are the Woman” in 1976. Other hits include “Just Remember I Love You” (No. 11 in 1977), “Strange Way” (No. 11 in 1978) and “Staying with It” from 1981. Poco is an American country rock band formed in the late ‘60s. Their album “Pickin’ Up the Pieces” is the only debut album ever to receive a perfect rating from Rolling Stone magazine. Playing acoustic songs both new and familiar, Poco’s hits include “Keep on Tryin’ ” and “Call it Love.”

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Michelle Shocked, influenced by her Texas roots and political activism, proclaims herself “the most sophisticated hillbilly you’ll ever meet.” Indeed, her music fittingly holds a phantom Texas taproot quality as well as a selfstyled wanderlust. Jonatha Brooke is an American folk rock singer, songwriter and guitarist, whose music often includes poignant lyrics and complex harmonies. Come early for a complimentary microbrew tasting at 6 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 7 Blues Traveler with JJ Grey & Mofro

Friday, Aug. 14 Donavon Frankenreiter with Keller Williams

Phat Phriday headliner Blues Traveler, a favorite of night show comedian David Letterman, has enjoyed success with upbeat pop singles “Run-Around” and the catchy “Hook.” Opening act is JJ Grey & Mofro, whose soulful hip-shaking live show showcases his southern roots.

Phat Phriday brings back California-bred surfer Donavon Frankenreiter, one of the more original voices on the acoustic-rock scene. Frankenreiter’s newest album released in 2008 includes the hit “Life, Love and Laughter.” Opening for Frankenreiter is Keller Williams, often described as a “one-man jam band,” usually performing with an acoustic guitar.

Saturday, Aug. 8 Boz Scaggs with The Subdudes

Thursday, Aug 13 Michelle Shocked with Jonatha Brooke

Super Saturday features Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and guitarist Boz Scaggs, who gained fame in the ‘70s with “Lowdown,” “Lido Shuffle,” and “What Can I Say.” In the ‘80s, Scaggs achieved more well-known success with “Look What You’ve Done to Me.” Scaggs hits the tour circuit every summer, and in his spare time grows grapes in Napa Valley, where he produces wine with his wife. The Subdudes hail from New Orleans, and their music is a blend of blues, gospel, funk and R&B with harmonic vocals.

Saturday, Aug. 15 Clint Black with Jypsi

Sunday, Aug. 9 Family Concert: Green Eggs and Hamadeus!

Maestro Gary Sheldon conducts the Spokane Symphony Orchestra in A Tribute to Benny Goodman, “The King of Swing,” with special guest Richard Stoltzman, a two-time Grammy Award winner, on the clarinet as fireworks cap off the Grand Finale concert. Come early for complimentary wine tasting at 4:30 p.m.

Round up the kids and head to the festival’s Family Concert, featuring the Spokane Youth Orchestra conducted by Gary Sheldon. Fun activities for the kids, including an Instrument Petting Zoo, help round out the always-popular concert.

Super Saturday headliner Clint Black is a Grammy Award-winning country singer who has made a career out of turning his songs into hits. Black continues to churn out the hits while also appearing in several movies and in “Celebrity Apprentice.” Jypsi is an American country music group composed of four siblings. Sunday, Aug. 16 A Tribute to Benny Goodman

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PHOTO BY MARIE-DOMINIQUE VERDIER

Interview

Curt Hecker, Intermountain Community Bancorp CEO Leads bank through mega growth and shaky financial times

“I

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story can be attributed to hard times for the economy as a whole. Although it remains well capitalized when compared with big banks that seem to monopolize the financial news headlines, IMCB also has struggled of late, reporting a net income of $1.2 million for fiscal 2008, compared with the $9.4 million reported in the prior-year period. As if that weren’t enough to keep a By CEO up at night, Hecker was contacted last fall by the FDIC, which offered up $27 million in so-called TARP David funds as part of a U.S. Treasury program to infuse Gunter new capital into the banking system. After weighing the pros and cons of taking the money, he decided that the federal government was handing him the ball – so he took it. While many of his peers were cutting their operations to the bone and moving to the sidelines, Hecker said he saw a chance to score big for the communities he serves. His description was just one more example of the sports metaphors that pepper his speech as he defines his approach to life and business. “It comes down to an attitude,” he says. “To use a football analogy: We’re in the game and we’ve got to play. It takes both offense and defense to win, but in the end, it takes points. The outcome is going to determine whether a play was a good play or not. Operating from a position of absolute strength gives me confidence that I’m prepared SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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’ve never worked this hard in my life,” Curt Hecker says from a swivel chair at the head of a long wooden table in the third-floor boardroom of the Panhandle State Bank building. And then he smiles. Hecker, the president and CEO for the bank’s parent corporation, Intermountain Community Bancorp (IMCB), comes across as a seasoned competitor itching to stay on the field in the last quarter of a big game. Decades after playing football as an inside linebacker for Boise State University (BSU), he still has the look of someone who could – figuratively or literally – knock you on your butt if you got between him and the goal line. After earning a degree in business management from BSU and later graduating from the Pacific Coast Bankers’ School at the University of Washington, Hecker began his career at West One Bank in 1984 before joining Panhandle State Bank as its president in 1995, a time when its branches were limited to Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry. Publicly traded as IMCB and headquartered in Sandpoint, it now operates a network of 18 community bank branches in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The size of the parent company and his seat on the Coldwater Creek board of directors – a post he has held since 1995 – work together to explain some of Hecker’s recent hard work, but a bigger part of the

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What do you do to blow off steam?

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The thing I do is spend time with the family. That time is really valuable right now. In winter, when I get a chance, it’s grab my skis and snowmobile and go up to Roman Nose or Trestle Creek. We take the snowmobiles up, hike the hill and then ski down and spend the day just being out in the snow and sunshine. That’s when I really can download. Being on the water is also huge for us, whether it’s fishing or waterskiing, wakeboarding or just going for a cruise on the lake. It’s a family event where we can be alone together and it’s a big stress reliever.

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208-263-1435

Does your family still start the day by going out on the lake?

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and I’m going to win the game.” Hecker, 48, lives in a home along the Pend Oreille River with his wife, Barb, and son Cody, a junior at Sandpoint High School. Their oldest son, Chad, is a junior at Hecker’s alma mater, BSU. Spending time with his family – whether on snowy peaks or out on the lake depending on the season – is this executive’s highest priority. He regrets that his time with them has been at a premium for the past year, but he seems energized by the chance to act as coach in the midst of the most difficult economic environment of his professional life.

Yep. We get a good seven or eight months’ worth of waterskiing in every

year. It’s a 4:30 wake-up call and by 5:30 we’re starting to make the first passes. We usually spend an hour and a half out there while the sun’s coming up and the fog is lifting off of the lake. It’s a very enjoyable thing to do before you have to start thinking about work for the day. What, if anything, did you learn from playing football that’s coming in handy in this business environment?

A lot of success in my life has come as a result of competitive sports. What I learned is hard work and being able to persevere under adverse situations. You can draw a lot of analogies from sports life to academic life to business life where you face things that are hard to overcome. And there’s stress and fear within all of them. How to control yourself and control your thoughts is something that I learned very early on. Fear is a good motivator and it’s not necessarily all negative. The stress, when it’s under control, is something I find is healthy. It’s something I learned in college football. That’s a good bridge to the recent financial news. How much psychology do you think is behind the current economic malaise and how much of it is based on reality?

A large amount of it is based on fear.

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There are two factors, and I’d weigh them about the same. First, the public’s confidence in the financial system is a major concern that we have to overcome. That exists because there were fundamental decisions that were made that caused that distrust. Without recognizing what the problems are and putting things into place to correct them, we can’t deal with that confidence. The problems we’ve had are common sense-oriented. As individuals and as a country, we lost our common sense. If we’re going to point a finger or look for someone to blame, we have to point the finger at ourselves, because we’re all part of this. In banking, virtually all of us can sit back and say that we saw people – we might have even participated in helping people – get into loans that they just couldn’t afford. It just didn’t make good common sense. As a country, as a globe, as a community, it went on for years and we were all thinking that the bubble would never get too big and that the economy would never burst. But it did.

CHARESSE MOORE

With all the bad news surrounding the big banks and the bailouts needed to prop them up, could we be entering a new era where people rediscover the value of small, community banks?

I think we’re seeing that right now.

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Interview The Hecker family, from left, Chad, Barb, Cody and Curt, spend much of their family time recreating on the lake.

continue to benefit from that as market share moves away from the larger institutions to a more localized scenario. When you learned that IMCB was eligible for $27 million in federal funds, what mental gymnastics did you go through as CEO while deciding whether to accept it or not?

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There are roughly 8,000 banks in the United States and, of those, 19 of them control two-thirds of the total domestic deposit base. So that leaves community banks with the other third. For the most part, those community banks are healthy. They’re not the ones who started this mess, but they’re certainly getting rained on by the issues that the larger banks have had and will continue to have going forward. In my world – the world of community banks – things are pretty simple. It’s still about relationships. We take customers’ deposits and we loan it back to small business customers, or loans for a house or a car. That really doesn’t change for us. What will change, for the big banks, is that their mass-transaction products won’t exist anymore. Community banks will

Between Christmas and New Year’s was a real soul-searching time for me, to determine whether we take the money and what is the right thing to do if we do take it. A lot of things were going through my mind as a result of what had happened to the economy, but what was important was preparing for the future and a lot of uncertainty. My first thought was, Do we hold our cards and just sit back and let things happen? That would have meant playing an ultra-conservative role by laying off a significant number of employees and preparing to deleverage the company. Many bankers have done that. While we were and are well-capitalized, what it came down to for me was that, if I took these dollars, I needed to defend and protect the bank with them. But I also needed to play offense. It all comes down to leadership. I think the future of banking is wonderful, but if we’re scared of it, we’re going to miss opportunities. I guess I’m still young enough

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Interview “Back in 2005, we all said, ‘The sky’s not going to fall – buy, buy, buy,’ and we lost respect for how materialistic we had become.” at this point and competitive enough that we can play. Not without risks, but we do need to play. … We knew we wanted to take this thing forward and continue to invest in the community. That’s where the “Powered by Community” concept came from. That’s meant to be a local stimulus plan, right? How does it work?

Right now, loan demand is down and we need to get it back up in a prudent way. Powered by Community is designed to put in an organizational structure to work with community leaders, groups, nonprofits and whatever economic stimulus is going to be coming down so that we are prepared to get dollars and find ways to make loans in our community. The idea is to work with the communities we serve to design the products and services they need with them so that we can get those dollars out. The other phase of this is a commitment to take on 100 new projects and challenge other banks and

their people to take part. There are thousands of projects out there that need to be done. It’s not a product, it’s a process. I envision this going on for many years as we work through the economic issues. If you could write how this chapter of your life comes out, what would you like to be saying about how you handled this challenge?

I’d like to be able to say that I learned a ton from the experience and that I learned to control fear by going through the process. I also want to be able to say that I learned, once again, about the need for perseverance. Back in 2005, we all said, “The sky’s not going to fall – buy, buy, buy,” and we lost respect for how materialistic we had become. And how greedy. More than anything, I’d like to look back and say that we learned a wonderful lesson and brought back traditional values. I’d like to say that we found the answer to the question of how our kids and grandkids were going to be able to have the same kind of quality of life that we had. We’re living through an important part of history. I want to say that we learned to deal with what we had to deal with. I would never want to go through it again, but I’m damned glad I did, because it made me a better man.

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At Intermountain Community Bank we love the local communities we live in...local lakes, local camping, local fun. Plus itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s only a hop, skip, and a jump away. We know you want to keep your money invested in your community and with someone you trust. Since 1981 we have been your community bank, and we are now engaging local leadership to create community-based economic prosperity with our Powered By Community Program. Check out www.PoweredByCommunity.com to get involved.

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5/4/09 12:59:38 PM

Sandpoint Transition Initiative

Aims to create sustainable, resilient and vibrant community In June 2008 Sandpoint became the second city in the United States to be recognized as a Transition Town. And its future looks promisingly green. By Scott Daily

e live in a volatile world. Fuel costs, collapsing economies, corporate abuses, and climate change affect us all and serve as constant reminders that our modus operandi as a consumer society is due for some major tweaking. Sandpoint has seen its share of community sustainability micro-movements over the past decade. Many of these micro-movements have lingered and have been nurtured by individuals dedicated to the notion of living simply and consciously – of building a green local economy, where residents support one another, where ideas can be cultivated and tested, and where our livings are not made by contributing to the degradation of the world around us. There was the magazine, Full Circle, published in the mid-1990s followed by the Public Forum on Sustainability and the Sandpoint EcoCenter. Various other projects and micro-movements have come and gone, while others flourished and took on new form. But all of these have played a role in shaping the broader sustainability movement that runs as an undercurrent within the community. Many of the players are now contributing to a unified movement more dynamic than anything seen in the past.

PHOTO BY MARSHA LUTZ

Keynote speaker Michael Brownlee, director of the Transition effort in Boulder, Colo., and a representative of Transition U.S., gives a PowerPoint presentation at “The Great Unleashing.”

The Great Unleashing On Nov. 14, 2008, the Sandpoint Transition Initiative (STI) was offi

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February of that year they organized meetings, held discussions, and showed an array of films focused on topics such as community food systems, peak oil and alternative energy, all of which shared a common thread central to the Transition Movement: Rebuilding community resilience. They used the Transition Handbook (available at Common Knowledge Bookstore) as a blueprint on how to replicate the efforts of early Transition Towns established in other countries. But even with the handbook, organizers know that it is an emerging and evolving movement, constantly revising and refining itself, testing new boundaries and ideas. “STI is evolving and it requires cooperation and trust, and, in the end, SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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cially introduced to Sandpoint with an overflow attendance at the Panida Theater. Many were turned away as its 500-plus seats were filled. The result of hundreds, even thousands of combined hours of community organizing before and after the event has resulted in a lot of attention here at home, as well as nationally. The New York Times was one of the most recent mainstream outlets to do a story on Sandpoint, but this time the focus was on its sustainable community movement rather than on Sandpoint being a great place to vacation, retire or invest in real estate. The Great Unleashing, as it is called, was the result of nine months of organizing by a handful of residents led by Sandpoint’s Richard and Berta Kuhnel and Karen Lanphear, of Hope. Since

5/4/09 1:09:56 PM

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SUMMER 2009

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those human elements are going to make all the difference between future success and just repeating the past,” says Lanphear. “It is built around the idea of common good and creating a shared future that honors the past … while asking us all to find new ways of looking at ourselves and our potential as a community.” But success is not assured or even likely simply because there is an inspirational movement, even one with such a powerful jumpstart. The strong international network of individuals and organizations helps toward increasing the chances of success, as do the blueprints and case histories that STI can use as reference points along the journey. With the success of the unleashing and resulting working groups, the Sandpoint project is off to a promising start. The 115 people that showed up the day after the unleashing, and the 11 working groups they formed to address resiliency issues are testament to the momentum and potential behind the movement here.

Synergy of the perfect storm, a final component Sandpoint’s history of incremental

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Sandpoint Transition Initiative working groups meet to discuss resiliency issues. (Photos by Suzan Fiskin and Scott Daily)

“They are to me, and the city staff, and city council a wonderful resource.” Director of Sandpoint Parks and Recreation, Kim Woodruff, agrees. A supporter of a new community garden project in the field near Dub’s Drive-in, Woodruff says: “It’s been an exciting group effort. There is something actually happening beyond the talk phase.” Although Woodruff calls himself a cog in the wheel of the city’s decision makers, he is a man of action who has proven in the past that he appreciates out-of-the-box thinkers, but equally he likes the doers. “If projects are well thought-out,” he

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movement toward a more sustainable community has helped STI to emerge as a unifying force to install buffers that can ease the shock of the volatile world outside of our region. Indeed, this very volatility serves as a constant reminder that the time for change, whether voluntary or otherwise, is upon us. Add to the grassroots foundation several other significant municipal elements, and what we have before us seems to be the recipe for a perfect storm that could propel Sandpoint toward a greener, more resilient future. A major component is support from local leaders. In addition to the Sandpoint City Council being open to new ways of thinking and doing business as demonstrated in recent work on the city’s Comprehensive Plan, the city also has a progressive mayor with a long history of community work in sustainability and social consciousness. Mayor Gretchen Hellar says that it is the collaborative model of STI that allows the doorways of ideas to be considered and implemented. Without involvement from the residents, city government would be hard pressed to do much beyond its most basic function of planning and zoning, parks and recreation, and providing public safety. In Hellar’s eyes, STI and its participants open the doors of possibility.

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Sandpoint in Transition says, “and if they move slowly, and each project proves itself effective and beneficial to the city and our residents, the decision makers will embrace future ideas.”

The Transition Model

Learn more at www.SandpointTransition Initiative.org and www.TransitionTowns.org.

Working toward a better Sandpoint

More sustainability groups In addition to the Sandpoint Transition Initiative (STI), the community has experienced a rush of new and exciting projects and working groups. Though not directly related to STI, they complement the mission of working together toward a healthier, more vibrant and abundant Sandpoint. Here are a few of the most promising: 3 Where can you buy locally raised yak tenderloin and sacks of organic Shiraz Tall Top beets? Or perhaps you are a grower and need an outlet to sell your burdock and cabbage, or just plain lettuce and tomatoes. The Six Rivers Market is an online cooperative that unites local producers and customers through an online directory, ordering process and food exchange location every Wednesday in the center of Sandpoint. All goods featured in the virtual store

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At its core, the Transition Model, upon which STI is based, is a response to the twin issues of climate change and peak oil. The Transition Network is an international organization set up to assist communities throughout the world in addressing these global issues at home. It uses the models of the first transition towns in Kinsale, Ireland and Totnes, United Kingdom, to build networks, share ideas and information, and provide a blueprint for similar efforts across the globe. Each initiative helps to transform and refine the model for the next new Transition Town. For many, personally addressing the issues of climate change and peak oil seems beyond their grasp. Yet Transition Model proves a person does not have to be versed in big issues to be

effective on the local level. One working group, for example, is researching a lawns-to-gardens program, an effort that can have a major impact on providing local food to local residents, while also reducing lawn-related pollutant runoff that ends up in the lake. STI incorporates all aspects of community vitality, resilience and abundance. Working groups have formed that address myriad elements of community, such as health, economy and food. The STI core group simply asks: What are your skills and your passion? Will you contribute? Whether a person’s interest or expertise is in supporting community art, education, natural resource or transportation projects, or more specifically creating a local currency, biofuels or other initiative, the message is relatively simple: If you have talent and expertise that support ideas to make Sandpoint a more sustainable place to live, come share what you have to offer.

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must be grown and produced exclusively from within a 250-mile radius of Sandpoint. Similar to a year-round farmers market and based upon the successful Oklahoma Food Cooperative model, Six Rivers Market is in its first year of operation and is showing signs that it could be here, connecting local people with local food, for years into the future. www.SixRiversMarket.com. Similarly, another group promotes local food but does it on a seasonal basis. The Sandpoint Farmers Market, in its 21st season, brings together fresh, locally grown produce, garden starts, annuals and perennials at Farmin Park every Wednesday and Saturday from May through mid-October.

3 Sandpoint Community Radio is a

dominant corporations that greatly influence information from mainstream media sources. SCR is committed to bringing high-quality, national programming such as Democracy Now! to our local airwaves, as well as the latest in cutting-edge indie music and news shows. Add in a healthy dose of shows produced right here in Sandpoint, and SCR will be a breath of fresh air on our local airwaves. Since there are no commercials, the station will be supported by local sponsors and members. Organizers say that the station could be on the air as early as this winter. www. SandpointCommunityRadio.com. 3 Interested in biodynamic agriculture? Want to find out what in the world it is? Join the Sandpoint

Biodynamic Working Group and bring the etheric

full power, FM radio project that will bring commercial-free radio to Sandpoint and its outskirts. Commercial free is important not just because broadcasts will be without pesky commercial breaks but also because listeners will have access to news, music and other programming that is not controlled by the ever-increasingly

forces at the center of BD down to earth for you. The workgroup formed in spring 2008 to combine the energies (pun intended) and experience of a handful of local individual BD practitioners to help spread the practice to our community. Biodynamics goes beyond organic gardening. It uses the other-worldly

recommendations made by Rudolph Steiner, an Austrian-born educator and philosopher, to address methods of using natural forces to enliven our gardening efforts. Practitioners swear by it. The workgroup meets to study related lectures in the winter, and to get their hands dirty making garden preps in the warm months. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re open, biodynamic agriculture introduces you to a whole other world of gardening. There are no membership fees. All you need to join the group is an interest in understanding this unique school of agriculture. On a related note, many practitioners feel that a biodynamic farm or garden is incomplete without beehives. The honeybee was highly regarded by Steiner, and Sandpoint has a working group that helps locals new to the world of apiculture get their hives up and running. To learn more about either, contact Lisa Shock at shockwaves@aceweb.com. â&#x20AC;&#x201C;Scott Daily

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800-282-6880 www.TSSIR.com

imply Incredible Sandpoint, Idaho

www.IdealDriveAtOdenBay.com ~Luxurious 12,000 SF residence on Lake Pend Oreille w/indoor pool, theatre, wine cellar, sports court & sauna! Landscaped 1.5 acres w/beach, boat lift, 110FF and guest house. $5,999,000

www.CastleCrestEstate.com ~Beautiful custom Castle with panoramic views of Lake Pend Oreille! Spacious 6300+sf floor plan with 2 master suites, theater room, wet bar, gourmet kitchen and more! $895,000

www.LupineRidge.com ~Stunning home on private 40 acres with views of mountains and Lake Pend Oreille. Miles of trails, adjacent 400-acre nature preserve, bountiful organic garden – simply luxurious! $1,850,000

www.Cape-Of-Art-Lakeside.com ~Luxurious home with 2.87 acres on Lake Pend Oreille in gated Cape of Art community with breathtaking views! Marina, tennis & 30+ acres of common area. Too much to list. $3,875,000

www.MeadowviewScenicRanch.com ~140 acres w/Pack River running through it, spacious log home, guest house, shop, barn, cabin & horse set-up! Mountain views, trail system, wildlife, meadows and privacy. $2,290,000

www.SandpointLuxuryCondos.com ~Seasons at Sandpoint RESALE. Resort-style penthouse w/2 master suites on Lk Pend Oreille! Private clubhouse, marina, day spa, gym, concierge services & in downtown Sandpoint. $895,000!

www.CloudsLedge.com ~Exceptional timber frame home designed by renowned architect Bill Klein, crafted w/500yr old Doug Firs. 4000+ SF of opulent finishes with stunning views of Lake Pend Oreille! $2,675,000

www.PeninsulaParadise.com ~Captivating views from this home on Lake Pend Oreille. Completely refurbished, with separate guest residence. Landscaped yard with wrap-around deck, dockside deck & boatlift! $1,695,000

www.DiamondTGuestRanchNorthIdaho.com ~Unique retreat near Clark Fork River, surrounded by FS mtns & pastures. Main home w/6 guest cabins, horse setup, barns, shop! 72+acs for $1,295,000 OR 134+acs for $1,695,000

www.MajesticLakeView.com ~Exceptionally built home on private and gated 20 acres near downtown, with panoramic views of Pend Oreille lake, river, and mountains. $1,795,000

www.PanoramaVistaEstate.com ~Private and tranquil 18+ acre estate boasting expansive views of Lake Pend Oreille w/5033 SF of finely appointed living space. $1,350,000

www.84CougarDrive.com ~Stunning hand crafted Caribou Creek log home on 8.4 manicured acres w/access to USFS & public lands! Unbelievable detail with too many amenities to list. $1,350,000

Cindy Bond Associate Broker, CRS, GRI

elping buyers and sellers see possibilities before they become obvious.

SandpointRealEstateOnline.com

208.255.7561 | Cindy.Bond@SothebysRealty.com | 200 Main | Sandpoint

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. -

t k ,

e & ,

800-282-6880 www.TSSIR.com

imply Incredible Sandpoint, Idaho

ore than a REALTOR®

ollowing a successful entrepreneurial career of starting and leading technology companies, Stan built a home on Lake Pend Oreille and relocated to Sandpoint, Idaho, in the mid 1990s. Having been a season-pass holder at Schweitzer Mountain for over twenty years, Stan was recruited to assist the resort with its growth and management, including a number of real estate development issues. This led him to earning an Idaho Broker’s License and the beginning of what has turned out to be a thriving second career. Stan’s fundamental philosophies that have produced an impressive number of delighted clients are: excellent listening proficiency; analytic creativity in formation of solutions to meet clients’ needs; and competence in communicating and negotiating an agreement fair and acceptable to all parties to the transaction. The result is Stan’s extremely high level of proven and demonstrable client satisfaction. Stan brings his professional experience, combined with his education (BA, MBA – Washington State University and Ph.D. – Gonzaga University) to every real estate transaction. Equally comfortable with buyers and sellers, you will find Stan a tremendous asset when searching for a member of your team to work efficiently and effectively to accomplish your real estate goals.

Huge views from every room, 21’ ceilings; sunrises & sunsets. 7800sf & 3000sf patio. 154 private lake front feet, 15000# boat lift + 2 slips. Fully furnished. Must experience to believe a home like this is available on the Pend Oreille. $3,625,000 MLS# 2083749

Spectacular new waterfront home! You’ll feel like you are stepping back in time when you enter this stunning classic Country French home. Unbeatable big Lake views to the south. Incredible quality throughout with NO “bling” missing. 5bd/6.5 ba and approx. 6300sf +100ff of waterfront on Lake Pend Oreille. $2,100,000 MLS# 2084853

10 min. from Sandpoint, 4700 sq.ft. 3BR/4BA main home + 2BR/2BA guest house + Boathouse with Apt. on 174 front feet on Lake Pend Oreille. 1.7 acres with Southern Exposure. A unique estate. $1,950,000 MLS# 2075626 www.secretcovesandpoint.com

Glengary Bay on Lake Pend Oreille. Sunrises & sunsets unrivaled. Quiet privacy in a 4BR/4BA European Chalet style home w/ detached guest-house/4-car garage. Gourmet kitchen w/6-burner Viking range. Wood, logs, amazing rock work both inside & out. Hydronic heat. Deep water moorage year round. Walk right into your private swimming beach. $1,390,000 MLS# 20900491

Cozy 2BR/2BA log home on Ellisport Bay in Hope. 100 front feet, bordering 1/2 mile of U.S Forest Service deep woods waterfront. Huge views. Trex decks and dock. $689,000 MLS# 2075831

Custom “Northwest-Style” lodge home, huge views of Lake Pend Oreille and mountains from every room. Close to Sandpoint, Schweitzer. High-end fixtures, finishes, appliances and furnished. Complete privacy – shared ownership of 25 acre PUD with only 4 other distant home sites. $929,000 MLS# 2080476

Stan Hatch, Associate Broker

Magnificent EaglePoint Construction 4BR/5.5BA 3180 sq.ft. home overlooking the South Fairways at The Idaho Club golf resort. Fabulous views of the mountains. Expansive great-room with 24’ fireplace, dining, and bar. Built in flat panel TV’s, high-end appliances. Stunning outdoor dining patio with built-in BBQ and wood burning fireplace. $1,999,000 MLS# 20900019

1 ACRE & 150 front feet +/- on Chuck’s Slough to fish & kayak on. Raised ceilings, open floor plan, fully landscaped, huge deck, dock, fire pit. Close to town, yet no through traffic. Wonderful feeling of privacy. Extra storage. $499,000 MLS# 2083572

BEAUTIFUL CUSTOM HOME on the 13th fairway of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Large open great room, hydronic heat, large custom kitchen with walk-in pantry. Large bonus/guest rm with two walk-in closets. $595,000 MLS # 2084560

Build at The Idaho Club, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course! Choose from your choice of lots on the course with territorial views or on Moose Mountain with fairway, lake and mountain views. Planned amenities include Marina, tennis courts, dining, swimming pool, spa and hiking trails. Call for additional information.

Moments off Lakeshore Drive, a 4BR/2.5BA, 2393 sq. ft., fully furnished turn-key home, including all house-wares. Lush landscaping provides a pristine full acre of quiet privacy. Created in the perfect location close to bike paths, deeded access to Lake Pend Oreille and Sandpoint Idaho, this is truly a wonderful place to call home. $599,000 MLS# 20805273

Your luxury & recreational property professional cell: 208. 290.7024 stan.hatch@sothebysrealty.com

© MMVII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Farm Bouffan, © Cezanne Museum/Superstock, Inc., used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated, Except Offices Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. Sandpoint office: 208-263-5101, 200 Main Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

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CHRIS

THE RIDGE AT SANDPOINT offers 6 to 22 acre parcels, each with magnificent views of Lake Pend Oreille, the city lights of Sandpoint and the surrounding mountain ranges. Less than 6 miles from downtown, yet you’ll feel SAFE and SECURE in your secluded retreat! #2081034-38 #2083041-44 $375K-$2.4M See www.TheRidgeAtSandpoint.com

“CABIN IN THE WOODS” at Dover Bay: hardwood floors, granite counters, cedar decks & siding, indoor/outdoor fireplaces, 9 miles of trails, beach, marina, and pool! #2080591-3 Call for current prices, or stop by the Dover Bay Sales office.

SHORE CLIFFS, 3509 BOTTLE BAY RD, OFFERS 240+ FEET OF PRIME LAKEFRONT AND OUTSTANDING VIEWS. Features 3000+ SF, 20' tall windows, 2000 SF of decks, a 700 SF dock, elevator, 3 bedrooms and 3 baths. #20900997 $1,995,900

10 PRISTINE ACRES LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM SANDPOINT. Natural pond, year round creek with engineered bridge, drainfield installed, homesite already cleared and waiting. Adjoining 40 acre parcel also available. #2081917 $175,000

AFFORDABLE CONDO JUST 2 BLOCKS FROM DOWNTOWN. No worries about lawn, snow removal or maintenance, wonderful buy for first-time home buyers. Covered parking, new appliances and carpet, W&D. Best deal in town! #20900011 $149,500

WESTSHORE’S STUNNING WATERFRONT HOMESITES 10 MINUTES WEST OF SANDPOINT on Hwy 2 with panoramic views. Swim, sail and sun from THIS point of view! Acreage from 1.75-2.17. #2082147, 2082152, 2082154. $300,000

GREAT OPPORTUNITY: TEN RESIDENTIAL LOTS ON DIVISION STREET, approximately 35,500 SF MOL. Could accommodate up to 14 residences with approved CUP. #2082775 $530,000

COMMERCIAL BUILDING, ZONED LIGHT INDUSTRIAL AND CONVENIENTLY LOCATED NEAR THE AIRPORT. Has 4 offices with central reception, storage and 3 garage bays. Large lot with paved parking lot and driveway. #20900148 $400,000

CHAMBERS NO TAG LINES, NO GIMMICKS, JUST RESULTS.

208.290.2500 Chris.Chambers@ SothebysRealty.com Downtown office: 200 Main Street Lakefront Office: 424 Sandpoint Ave. Seasons at Sandpoint Retreat Website: WonderfulSandpoint.com

www.TSSIR.com 800-282-6880

SEASONS AT SANDPOINT, DOWNTOWN’S SPECTACULAR WATERFRONT COMMUNITY, boasts such amenities as private marina, concierge services, upscale day spa, on-site fitness center, heated garages, private clubhouse, year round pool and more. Located on the lake next to the City Beach Park, Seasons offers dramatic lake views and spacious residences ranging from 1100+ SF one bedroom residences, 1400-1600 SF 3 bedrooms, and 2200+ SF penthouses. Flexible financing available. Visit www.WonderfulSandpoint.com for all details!

92 ACRES LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM SANDPOINT. Big views, level, fronts 3 county roads and has 2 year round creeks. Amazing development potential! Property can be sold as smaller parcels. #20900223 $1,605,000

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800-282-6880 www.TSSIR.com

imply Incredible Sandpoint, Idaho

METICULOUSLY REMODELED FARM HOUSE IN PARADISE VALLEY ON 19 ACRES. Wood floors, granite countertops, formal dining, propane fireplace, T&G ceilings, master suite downstairs, 2 bedrooms & bath upstairs. Cute guest cottage, 2 garages, 1 new 3-car with loft/den. Year-round creek, pond, artesian well, hot tub, large deck & beautifully landscaped. #2082203 $589,500.

BEAUTIFULLY REMODELED HOME IN HOPE WITH INCREDIBLE LAKE PEND OREILLE VIEWS. Completely remodeled in 2002. Open kitchen & dining, 2 family rooms, 4 bedroom & 2.5 baths, 2 fireplaces. Enclosed sun porch and decks for entertaining. Spacious master suite with jetted tub. Lovely Strong Creek adjoins the property. #2084330 $595,000.

20-ACRE ESTATE-SIZED Waterfront Property 555’ on the Pend Oreille River. Sheltered bay setting, gentle topography, gorgeous views. Preliminary plat approval for 5 parcels. Existing 3,500 SF home on 3.55 ac with dock, double boat slip, 40’x60’ shop. #2084906 $2,550,000

GORGEOUS LAKE PEND OREILLE AND MOUNTAIN VIEWS! One-half acre parcel with paid community sewer and water hookups, utilities to property line. Gently sloping terrain and ready for your new home. #2083612 $159,500

SPECIAL PEACE OF HEAVEN The Bighorn Lodge, Noxon, MT. Currently a B&B, or private retreat with 420’ of the Bull River, on 5 acres & adjoins National Forest. 5 guest rooms, owners quarters, 2-bedroom River House for guests. Fully furnished, commercial kitchen, huge deck & hot tub overlooking the valley & mountains. 30’x40’ finished shop + 26’x30’ carport. #2083907 $2,250,000

LAKE PEND OREILLE WATERFRONT CONDOMINIUMS at Holiday Shores in East Hope. Everything is included, right down to the kitchenware, linens, washer & dryer, fireplace, furnishings and central air conditioning. Enjoy the lake views from covered decks. 1-car garages, HOA $250, marina next door. #2083271 $365,000 and #2073979 $495,000 upper end unit with loft.

ENjOY WONDERFUL PANORAMIC LAKE PEND OREILLE VIEWS from this level one-acre parcel in East Hope. Overlooking Ellisport Bay, Hope Peninsula and the islands. Easy access with paid sewer hookup to Ellisport Sewer and water is available from East Hope City. Close to public lake access and 3 marinas, ready for your new home. #2084591 $199,900.

WATERFRONT PROPERTIES 131’ and 237’ adjoining level parcels on Lake Pend Oreille. Both have docks installed and gentle rocky beachfront, Oden Water hookups and are paid. Shared and paved driveway off county road into this nicely treed property. One has paid sewer hookup and one has septic on site. #2075397 $798,000 and #2075409 $1,613,000.

GREAT VIEWS Two separate parcels with stunning lake and city views from The Summit Ridge. Nice building sites, nicely treed, 1 acre and 3.86 acres. #20905888 $145,000 and #2095887 $250,000

Susan Moon

Brandon Moon

Id & Mt. REALTOR® ABR, CRS, GRI, RRS Cell 208.290.5037 susan@susanmoon.com

Idaho REALTOR® ABR, e-pro Cell 208.610.4685 www.susanmoon.com

brandonm@tssir.com

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800-282-6880 www.TSSIR.com

Significant Sale

imply Incredible Sandpoint, Idaho

Recently managed sale accredited by Sotheby’s International Realty as top Significant Sale worldwide for January 2009 and recognized as one of the largest residential sales in the Inland Northwest. Call to discuss my Extraordinary Marketing Plan for your property.

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Sharing the Privilege

Lake Pend Oreille access from 1.65 acres of lush grounds and gardens on the Hope Peninsula. High beam ceilings and large windows take full advantage of water views and the serene & beautiful elements of the home. 40x60 shop on separate services completes this package.

Cheri Hiatt

REALTOR® ID & WA

208.290.3719 208.265.6411

Schweitzer Luxury Real Estate

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Rick@SandpointResortRealty.com • 208.304.5665 • Sandpoint, ID © MMVII Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Farm Bouffan, © Cezanne Museum/Superstock, Inc., used with permission. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a licensed trademark to Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates, Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Office Is Independently Owned And Operated, Except Offices Owned And Operated By NRT Incorporated. Sandpoint office: 208-263-5101, 200 Main Street, Sandpoint, ID 83864.

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THE TOMLINSON SANDPOINT SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

Commitment

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e stand for professionalism and believe in continuous training in our effort to bring buyers and sellers together for their mutual benefit. We pledge to serve our clients’ goals ahead of our own profit or convenience.

RIME VISIBILITY ON HWY 200 E.

13,700+ square feet industrial building with ofﬁce suites and shop/warehouse. Asphalt parking, over 40 spaces, top quality construction. Additional 4,000+ square feet warehouse with triple net lease-all on 3.5 acres zoned industrial. Metal roof, ceiling/radiant, forced air. Irrigation system, landscaped, level, panoramic view, sprinklers. Call Mickie @ (208)290.5116 or visit www.TSSIR.com, MLS#2084060.

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e work as a team in this agency and will cooperate fully with other agencies. In the process, we will protect the interests of our clients and maintain the highest ethical standards.

inally, we commit our time and support to this wonderful community and our natural surroundings. The North Idaho lifestyle has nourished the lives of our families and supported our success as a business over the years. We are grateful for that every day.

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imply Incredible Sandpoint, Idaho

SunnYSIdeWaterfront.com lakefront lIVInG aS It WaS meant to Be. This wonderfully appointed 3 bedroom home sits on approximately 3 acres and 300 feet of waterfront. from your deck take in the incredible sunset vistas that serve as nature’s backdrop to life on lake pend oreille. call chris neu @ 208.290.1810

Spectacular Waterfront Home - 4 bed 3 ½ baths with stainless steel Viking appliances, 180 degree views from all 3 levels, less than 3 miles to town, 50 ff private waterfront, dock & boat lift mlS# 20900032 www.tourfactory.com/478290 $1,550,000. contact Jenny ellis at 208.597.4506

perfect famIlY retreat at The Idaho club. 5 bed/5.5 bath, fully furnished and ready to move in! $1,400,000; mlS # 20901031 www.tourfactory.com/500873 contact Jenny ellis at 208.597.4506

Great locatIon! This newer 3 bed/ 2 bath home is in the city limits of Sandpoint, near the airport and bike path. Beautifully upgraded. mlS# 20900611 listed at $240,000. Bonnie @ 208.946.7920

SoutH SandpoInt! Great South Sandpoint 2 bed/1 bath home. Within hiking distance of downtown, bike path, lake and festival. mlS# 20900699 listed at $212,500. Bonnie @ 208.946.7920

SelkIrk “caBIn In tHe WoodS” at dover Bay features t&G ceilings, granite counters, wrap-around cedar decks, indoor/ outdoor rock fireplaces and more! mlS# 2080592 $606,250. Bonnie @ 208.946.7920

comfort, prIVacY & proXImItY to amenities highlight this wonderful 3000 sq ft , 3 bed/2 bath home on 4.21 acres; with beautiful landscape, waterfall and pond to complement the setting. $495,000; mlS #20900776; for virtual tour go to www.tourfactory.com/493749 Yvonne palermo @ 208.610.5391 or mario palermo @ 208. 290.5292

BeautIful SoutH SandpoInt Home - 4 bed 2 ½ bath with office, 3232 sq ft, close to town, lake access 1 block. $449,000 mlS# 20900582 www.tourfactory.com/489084 Joanne @ 208.597.5290

BuIld Your dream Home! top lot in ravenwood, cul-de-sac location, 5 acres, great views, drilled well, $374,900 mlS# 20900571 www.tourfactory.com/489089 Joanne @ 208.597.5290

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S a il & Bik e Ad vent ur e

Fuel-free adventure

Five friends sail to Whiskey Rock, bike up Packsaddle and back, and live to tell the story

ast summer gasoline reached $4.79 per gallon and inspired us (OK, pissed us off enough) to round up some friends and get out of town without bankrolling Big Oil. Two summers before we had loaded up our mountain bikes with B.O.B. Trailers and ridden all the way around Lake Pend Oreille in four days (see “4 days, 5 friends on 2 fat tires around the lake,” Summer 2007 Sandpoint Magazine). A recent purchase of a used 26-foot Columbia sailboat, a small yacht in our eyes, got us thinking. We were broke, looking for adventure and jonesing for some fresh singletrack. Soon a plan was hatched. We would sail to a remote harbor, stay overnight and debark on mountain bikes in the morning. Our mission: to climb 6,405-foot Packsaddle Mountain high above the southeast side of the lake and

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Story by Ian Phalen Photos by Chris Guibert

return to the boat on the same day. After a night’s rest we would leisurely return to town, having depended primarily upon wind, solar and human power for our odyssey. Like many of our schemes, it sounded easy enough. Chris Guibert, Clark, David, Elise and I began our “low carbon footprint” trip on Aug. 31 by overloading our trusty B.O.B. Trailers and Annie, David’s dog, with camping, cycling and sailing gear. The motoring public gaped as we pedaled across town to our slip at Windbag Marina. Our worthy craft, codenamed S.S. Debauchery, welcomed the four bikes and accumulated gear with nary a whimper. One last run with the trailers was necessary to fill the coolers with navigation fluid. Then it was all aboard and we cast off before noon! Lake sailing can be very exciting or “gonna need a new drug” boring. Our voyage began with swimsuit weather as we SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Sail & B i ke A d ven t u r e

ar an ichm kR

After the thunderstorm, the crew of S.S. Debauchery sails past the Monarch Mountains on the first evening of their adventure.

lounged and took in the view, sort of like having some friends over to watch some tube but with a really big screen and floating couch. Conditions on Lake Pend Oreille can change frequently and often violently. Warm and friendly breezes delivered us to Trestle Creek just in time for a thunderstorm butt whipping. I looked over my shoulder at the looming darkness, grabbed another beer and pointed the boat at the Monarch Mountains. Within moments our sails snapped tight, filling with a force more menacing and unpredictable than the Synergy and 219 crowd at 2 a.m. Faced with a decision, I waffled. We had our largest headsail up for light winds and were now being caught up by a gale. We were literally in a big ol’ sling. A posse of huge storm waves rolled up like friends dragging us to the next party. As with any good fiesta night, S.S. Debauchery was along for the ride. We flew wing and wing, with our main swung out starboard and our jib to port. This proved a fast but unstable configuration. At one point the combination of shifting wind, waves and weight overcame my control of the tiller, resulting in a collapsed, then violently flapping jib. Called to duty, the crew sprang into action, and the sails filled again, pulling us gracefully around the point and into

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yce

S a il & Bik e Ad vent ur e

Elis

eA sh ley

the biggest part of the lake. As the sun sank behind Gold Mountain, the storm mellowed to a steady breeze that carried us through the gathering darkness toward Whiskey Rock. A cozy meal on board completed the gentle evening cruise. With no other craft in sight, we had the lake to ourselves. Our good fortune held as we pulled into an open dock space. Happy and ready for sleep, we tied up for the night. We brought the bikes out into the morning dew as the sun warmed our chilly bones. In stark contrast to our clean and quiet style, a neighboring cabin cruiser sat idling, fumes drifting across the water. Perhaps the rumbling V-8 comforted them or provided electricity for Jerry Springer, who knows? From our galley came hot tea and nourishment for the ambitious climb ahead. Elise â&#x20AC;&#x153;the wiseâ&#x20AC;? remained to defend the boat from shore attack as we boys cranked up and away from the lake into the hills, dog Annie in the lead. Like Sandpoint basement dwellers in a spring flood, we were seeking higher ground. Spinning along, my mind daydreamed and my disengaged body converted calories into 4,000 feet of vertical. The dirt road grew steeper and the temperature began dropping. By the time we reached the singletrack of Trail

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The author bikes ahead on Trail No. 76 with the Packsaddle summit in sight.

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5/4/09 1:11:35 PM

Sail & B i ke A d ven t u r e

Annie

the

From left, the author, Clark Richman and David “Fast Eddy” Parkins assess their situation as the trail along Minerva Ridge dissolves and they realize there’s no turning back.

No. 76, I was wearing all the warm layers I had brought. Huge, juicy huckleberries overhung the trail and teased us worse than underage bikinis at City Beach. Adrift in berry paradise we lost track of time as we gorged ourselves. Each time I thought I had hit the berry jackpot, another would appear and force me to stop and feed like a grizzly bear waking from his winter’s nap. David asked if I was bleeding. “Nope, just smashed berry juice,” I answered. As we approached the lofty summit of Packsaddle Mountain, our attention was diverted from yummy purple treats to the incoming weather. I don’t mean a pleasant summer shower, oh no. Blizzard warning! A sinister cloud swept across the lake from the Seven Sisters and our much-antici46

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pated view dissolved into a late summer snowstorm. Lacking any warm clothing or body fat, Clark suffered. Against better judgment, the group ditched our wheels and hoofed it up to the larger of two boulder piles barely visible in the swirling white confection. Boy Scout mentality drove us to blindly summit just to make a point. I do not recommend bike shoes for scrambling over rocks even in dry weather. Our Jedi knight training helped us to crawl over the icy, black monsters and avoid falling into toothy pits. Clark outpaced the rest of us and reached the peak first but quickly retreated to a small cave to perform his frozen Taliban impression. Somehow our hypothermic limbs stiffly delivered us to the highest point we could locate in the whiteout. “Yeah, this is great. Shouldn’t we get going?” There are times in our lives that stand out in memory. Decisions are made, opportunities seized or missed, and paths less traveled are chosen … oops! Maps indicated a trail, No. 229, to our left stepping down the ridge in countSUMMER 2009

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less switchbacks to a dirt road leading directly back to the boat. In 20/20 hindsight this was the sensible choice, but Chris and I are not the most sensible group leaders. A second trail, No. 84, appeared to follow Minerva Ridge and drop to the same place. Craving adventure and greedy for more singletrack, we convinced Clark and David to take the longer ridge trail. Adventure we found as the trail steadily dissolved under hundreds of downed trees and new understory. When the trail vanished completely, we had descended too far to go back. Our plan was to return to Elise and the sailboat by dark, but the rapidly sinking sun told us

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Sail & B i ke A d ven t u r e

vid

kin s

The author leads David Parkins to the summit of Packsaddle as temperatures drop and a late-summer snowstorm develops.

we were not going to make it. Chris made use of our mobile technology and left Elise a message: “Don’t worry, we are late but OK and will make it eventually.” Annie’s unwavering confidence in us helped to keep our panic at bay. Riding the bikes became impossible as we stumbled through the woods hunting for old sawn logs and other signs of the ill-maintained trail. Our map showed an intersection coming up and a likely way off the ridge through an old clear-cut. We found the intersection all right, or at least where it should have been. Phantom signs nailed to trees bore the trail numbers, but all traces of a path through the forest were gone. The most recent dates carved into the bark were three decades old. With no choice and the sun already set, we bushwhacked down the hill hoping to emerge into the clear-cut. This might have been the first time in my life I really wanted to see evidence of heavy logging. Just as hope was dwindling, we fought our way through thick brush and stumbled onto an old but passable road. The group’s spirits rose as we descended the many switchbacks in twilight. Chris and I were pretty comfortable floating through the darkness and arrived at Forest Road No. 278 a bit before Clark and David. Unlike the rest of us driven by habit to pack “returnhome insurance,” Cavalier Guibert had

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no headlamp. Concerned for Elise and anxious about the next few miles in the dark, Chris took off. Soon enough the boys appeared with Annie in tow. I sank into a merciful stupor for the last leg of our day trip-turned-epic-survival scenario. The road to Whiskey Rock seemed to go on forever, but at least it was familiar. Annieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pace had slowed considerably, and we were all exhausted and famished, but we eventually made it. Back at the dock Elise had been joined by friends and fellow yachties Tim and Nicole. They warmed us with hot toddies and tales of the high seas. The previous dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s windstorm had given them some excitement, as well. We sheepishly described our day and revived with food and warm clothes. Compared with the first two days the third proved tame indeed. Between the weather extremes and the elusive trail, there had been tons of excitement. The fuel for this trip was food we consumed, and all agreed that traveling without petrol is a gas. We had plenty of time to reflect on the fine line between a well-planned outing and an outdoor ordeal as we casually sailed back to town, yet another harebrained adventure completed. What next?

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w w w . Ta y l o r I n s u r a n c e S a n d p o i n t . c o m SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Mountain Biking Drops, descents and downright nuttiness

Hordes of outdoor enthusiasts prefer

fat tires

rom the moment in the 1970s that some long-haired Californian first added fat tires to an old cruiser and careened down the hills of Marin County, divergent paths have led to extremes of mountain biking. On the adrenaline-inducing end, body-armor-wearing downhillers ride monstrously heavy bikes over drops like Schweitzerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Altar Boy that make their mothers wish they had insisted their kids play golf instead. At another extreme, cross-country racers with quads of steel relish trips with lung-challenging, 2,000-foot climbs and elbowchallenging, rock-infested descents, and a particular sort likes to see how far they can go in a 24-hour period without sleeping. In their midst are the hordes of outdoor enthusiasts who find they just enjoy riding ever lighter, ever more high-tech, fully suspended bicycles.

By Cate Huisman

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Mountain Biking

“Suspension” to a mountain biker means that the bike absorbs some of the shocks of travel, just as the suspension on a car makes the ride smoother for its occupants. But mountain bikers aren’t necessarily looking for a smoother ride – although some of the more mature ones may be said to appreciate it. They like the suspension because it enables them to take on rockier, rootier, droppier climbs. Such bikes have front forks that travel (or telescope) to absorb shock anywhere from 2 or 3 inches (for the simpler trail bicycles) to 8 inches or more (for the gnarliest of downhill junkies). “Full suspension” bikes also have a shock absorber in the back, under or behind the seat. At the heart-stopping, drop end of the rider spectrum is Sandpoint native daughter Emma Millar, age 20, who rides a custom-made pink Ellsworth bike with a front fork that absorbs a lot. Although she also competes in cross-country mountain bike events and road races, Millar was sidelined by a knee injury last year and so focused on downhill events last fall, when she took the Collegiate Downhill National Championship. Equally gnarly is local Charles Mortensen, age 48, who particularly excels at 24-hour races. Mortensen completed 13 laps of the 24-hour Round the Clock mountain bike race in Spokane last year – that’s 195 miles in 24 hours – and he did it on a single-speed bike. If your only experience of biking is the three-speed you rode to school when you were a kid, it’s hard to appreciate the magnitude of this accomplishment. It’s useful to know that most mountain bikes have 15 to 24 speeds (kind of like a log truck), and the low gears make it much easier to go up hills. Mortensen likes the single-speed “mostly because of the simplicity. It’s a different challenge. You don’t have any gears to worry about; it’s tougher on the climbs, but you get to rest a bit on the descent.”

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He rode a geared bike in last summer’s 24 Hours for Hank road event, in which he did 15 laps of the 19-mile route, or 285 miles. And he started on a geared bike in the 24-hour world championships in Canada last year, “but I had to shift to single-speed because there was so much mud – it was just pouring rain the whole time – that my gears quit working.” Mortensen admits that the 24-hour endeavors “are a little bit nutty.” Most people, in fact, compete on teams in 24-hour races; they ride every third or fourth or fifth lap, sleeping while their teammates do the laps in between. Millar is the other notable exception; she wowed the local cycling world by riding 13 laps solo in the Round the Clock race when she was just 18. For the rest of us who aren’t remotely like Millar or Mortensen but who like to ride a pretty good mountain bike on moderately challenging singletrack, options for trips abound in SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

PHOTO BY DOUG MARSHALL / EL PHOTO GRANDE

Charles Mortensen fords Upper Priest River at American Falls.

5/4/09 1:12:11 PM

and around Sandpoint. (To a mountain biker, “singletrack” means what most of us think of as “trail,” that is, a 1- to 3-foot-wide dirt path, as opposed to an old dirt road, however overgrown, that is wider and therefore easier to ride.) The closest opportunity is right at the western edge of town, where the Pend Oreille Pedalers bicycle club continues to build and maintain trails and to conserve access to once-wild land that has been rapidly filling with oversize homes. Thanks in large part to their members’ efforts, this network of trails on Syringa Heights provides numerous after-work ride options. Just northwest of town, Schweitzer Mountain Resort has built a new trail for mountain bikers that descends 2,000 vertical feet over 7 miles from the top of the Great Escape quad chairlift. Designed by mountain bike trail specialists Nat and Rachael Lopes, Beargrass Cruiser (as the new trail was named via a contest among Schweitzer’s winter staff) includes several practice areas where cyclists can work on skills at varying levels of difficulty. For the price of a summer lift ticket, riders can descend this track several times in a day and work on harder challenges and obstacles with each descent. From there, downhillers can graduate to the steeper drops that were used when Schweitzer hosted the National Off-Road Bicycling Association (NORBA) nationals a few years ago, including the infamous Altar Boy drop that your mom doesn’t want to know about. Cross-country cyclists can move on to the cross-country ski trails, which

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PHOTO COURTESY OF EMMA MILLAR

Mountain Biking

Clockwise from above, middle: Emma Millar picks up her bike from mechanic Larry Baggett at the grand prix start of the 2008 24-hour race in Spokane, powers on the third lap of the same race (Cate Huisman photos), and trains for more desperate downhill competition. Charles Mortensen trains on his bike and rides in his pick-up, both custom-painted. (Doug Marshall photos)

provide a variety of levels of difficulty depending in part on what rocks and roots have eroded out from under the melting snows. Almost as close but much easier to ride are the routes circumnavigating Round Lake and Gamlin Lake (each a short drive or longer road ride away) and the system of trails at Dover Bay, a resort community where paths wind through the open spaces and public waterfront. More difficult close-by favorites include the cluster of routes on Gold Hill across the Long Bridge; the objective with Trail No. 3 is to get around all 20-plus switchbacks without letting a foot leave a pedal. If you’re willing to drive a little and you’re not afraid to get mildly lost, Farragut State Park, 25 miles to the south, has miles of singletrack meandering through the abandoned remains of a World War II naval base. Farragut is more fun if you don’t try to follow a preplanned route too carefully; the tangled network of trails has led to the center part of the park being called “the vortex.” If you just keep pedaling, you’ll get back to your car eventually.

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Mountain Biking Rides for beginner to hard-core PHOTO BY Chris Guibert

Not gnarly yet: For a first off-road ride, the broad flat trail around Round Lake will give you an easy introduction to having your tires on dirt. At the far side of the lake, avoid the route that stays close to the water (it’s rife with rocks and roots) and continue to the old road beyond. You’ll get a shot of sunlight here before turning back into the woods to continue around the lake. On this side there is some singletrack and a couple of boardwalks for you to ride or walk depending on what you’re ready for. Head south on U.S. Highway 95 for 8 miles to a right turn at Dufort Road. After 2 miles, you will see Round Lake State Park on your left ($5 per car day use fee). Follow the park road down to a parking area at a boat ramp; the trail starts to the right of the ramp. Jeff Schissler defies gravity on the Horse Barn Trail.

A bit longer drive will take you to another set of trails at Priest Lake. The lake’s location offers some opportunities for significant climbs for those who are up for it, although there are also more level routes following the lakeshore. Favorite trips run north to and around Upper Priest Lake, where no motorized travel is allowed on land or water, making for a particularly peaceful pedaling experience. The only problem with mountain biking in a town like Sandpoint is that winter comes, and it can stay late in the mountains. Biking over the sharp crystals of sloppy, melting snow tends to make for bloody crashes, and riding trails too early in muddy meltwater leads to erosion and destruction of the tread. Better to do a few more spinning workouts at the gym while mumbling words like those of Emma Millar. Verging on impatience with detailed questions from a reporter about her favorite events, she responded simply, “I just want to ride my bike.” May it be that way with you.

Getting gnarlier:

The Mineral Point trail leads around its eponymous point and down to Lake Pend Oreille from a trailhead above Garfield Bay. It starts on a wheelchair-accessible nature trail, so watch at first for folks whose wheels are side by side instead of fore-and-aft. Then head down and west on mostly smooth singletrack with a few rocks and drops that you probably won’t ride until you’re a little gnarlier. The views are amazing; one of the major challenges of this ride is keeping your eyes on the trail. You’ll finish at Green Bay campground, a great spot for a swim or a drop off the rope swing before riding back up. Trailhead: Head south on U.S. Highway 95 for 6 miles to Sagle Road. Turn left and drive 7 miles to a right fork for Garfield Bay. Follow the sign to Mineral Point and turn right on Road No. 532; then branch off after 3 miles on Road No. 532a for another half mile to the trailhead.

Gnarlier than dirt: Local big epic rider Charles Mortensen says the Long Canyon – Parker Ridge loop “is definitely the granddaddy of the big epic rides in North Idaho.” The first half involves a 19-mile pedal up Long Canyon Creek and 54 switchbacks to gain the ridge. Then, after hike-a-biking halfway back along the crest and around the exposed shoulder of Parker Peak, hold on for what may be the longest downhill ride in Idaho – 7-plus miles and nearly 5,000 vertical feet back to the valley floor. The farther you drop, the steeper it gets, and the trail is “kinda loose at the bottom,” Mortensen mentions casually. Trailhead: Head north on U.S. Highway 95 for about 45 miles through Bonners Ferry to a left turn on Idaho State Highway 1 towards Copeland. About a mile past this junction, turn left and continue about 3.5 miles across the Kootenai River and valley to the Westside Road at the foot of the Selkirks. Follow this road northwest to a trailhead about three-quarters mile north of where the road crosses Long Canyon Creek. –Cate Huisman

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5/4/09 1:12:18 PM

Biking Lifestyle

By Cate Huisman

andpoint bicycle mechanic extraordinaire Larry Baggett arrives at his shop on a snowy February morning on a bike that’s set up for snow, with full fenders and bumpier-than-average tires, which a close inspection reveals are actually studded. And he’s not alone. A few blocks away, Waldorf School teacher Thomas Jenkins is wheeling his way to work from his home on First Avenue, and special education teacher Ben Wimmer is heading in on the Dover bike path to his job at Farmin Stidwell School. Wimmer has studded tires too, but Jenkins eschews them for his short commute, instead opting for a single, annual fall to help him remember how to ride on snow: “It’s my November-December ritual; I have to go around a slippery corner once and fall down as a reminder.” Although biking might not be the year-round, all-around way to get around for the rest of us that it is for these die-hards, we do find Sandpoint an easy place to get around on two wheels. In fact, Sandpoint’s Bicycle Committee is in the process of applying to join Coeur d’Alene and the Wood River Valley (home of the Sun Valley ski resort) as one of three areas in Idaho named Bicycle Friendly Communities by the League of American Bicyclists. Geographically, the town is a natural for the designation: It’s flat, so commuters and students and errand runners needn’t haul heavy loads uphill or arrive at an appointment soaked with sweat, and recreational cyclists can take advantage of relaxing, waterfront rides free of hills. For those seeking more of a workout on wheels, there are many paved roads with little traffic for long road rides, and mountain trails of varying difficulty are available for mountain bikers right at the edge of town. The paved path Wimmer traverses, as well as the enormously popular path across the Long Bridge and south to Sagle, are the result of years of work by North Idaho Bikeways, one of the first groups in town to address the needs of cyclists and pedestrians in an area with ever-growing auto traffic. These paths enable cyclists of all abilities to get into town from the south and west along major highways unencumbered by the presence of motorized traffic. Going north and east is a bit harder, but determined cyclists can follow a paved path along Boyer Avenue as far north as the University of Idaho Extension Station,

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where they must drop down to Sand Creek, cross the oddly named Popsicle Bridge, and head up to U.S. Highway 95. Here a certain amount of mojo and motivation are necessary to get across the traffic to the commercial delights of Ponderay. This is the route that another perennial commuter, Sandpoint High School science teacher Woody Aunan, pedals 15 miles round-trip daily from his home in the Selle Valley. “I loathe being hermetically sealed in an auto,” says Aunan, who has cycled regularly since high school. Aunan dealt with winter snows by riding a homemade tricycle for a while, but found its weight and resistance overwhelming. So he switched to a bulldog of a bike aptly called a Surly Pugsly; it has wide, soft tires that absorb the slings and arrows of winter commuting. Winter or summer, habitual riders have varying reasons for using two wheels instead of four. Some are introspective: Aunan mentions that his route provides “ample time to reflect,” and Wimmer talks about “getting the cobwebs out” before work each day. Others are ideological: Aunan abhors “using fossil fuels without good reason,” and Jenkins says simply that he uses a bike

PHOTO BY MARSHA LUTZ

Life on two wheels

SUMMER 2009

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Biking Lifestyle

Three road rides to get your legs pumping

PHOTO BY MARSHA LUTZ

With the kids: If you’re new in town, get the family enthusiastic about cycling by taking the easy, trafficfree bike path out to Dover Bay. Pedal for three, wide, flat miles alongside U.S. Highway 2, continuing straight past a park bench and under the bridge where the road crosses over the railroad tracks. Where the path curves left, cross Railroad Avenue and find it again on the other side, paralleling Mill Street to the river through Dover Bay Opposite page: Bike mechanic Steve York pedals on First Avenue past Outdoor Experience’s sign that prowaterfront community. The Dover Bay motes riding. This page: With bike paths through and around town, Sandpoint lends itself to a biking lifestyle. Café is a great place for a sandwich or salad on the deck overlooking the river “to save the earth.” before you pedal home.

PHOTO BY WOODS WHEATCROFT

Fitness is a big one too: Wimmer made the commitment to year-round pedaling after his sons were born. “With young kids, it’s harder to get exercise,” he says. “So I decided I’m going to build in some exercise, save myself some money and relax a little on the way home.” Relaxing, for Wimmer, means having fun on the climbs and drops of the mountain bike trails above the Dover path as he returns from work. For others out for a workout instead of a commute, the Pend Oreille Pedalers bicycle club holds rides every Monday evening in summer, usually traversing 20 to 30 miles and lasting an hour to an hour and a half. Posts on their Web site provide updates on local road conditions, and ride coordinator Jim Doudna suggests that road riding is becoming more popular each summer. Whether you’re riding to get a workout or to get around, the bottom line is this: Biking is just plain fun. It’s fine that it lessens pollution, saves money, helps you stay healthy, reduces traffic congestion, and spares you the necessity of finding a place to park. But the wind in your face, the freedom to duck down an alley or bike path, and for some, the opportunity to fly off a drop or jump a rock, are way more fun than a machine-induced workout in a gym or that hermetically sealed travel experience Aunan describes. Biking can also be way more comfortable than many may remember it. While draping yourself over dropped handlebars is still an option for those who want to train hard and ride fast, many are instead sitting happily erect on “comfort bikes.” Brian Anderson of Sandpoint Sports says, “Last summer our top selling bike was a comfort hybrid bike; it’s a bike that’s built around just being comfortable … it’s easier on the back, neck and wrists.” Bikes like this tend to congregate at the Sandpoint Farmers Market at Farmin Park on weekends, and they’re seen departing with carrots and bread and flowers sticking out of traditional wicker baskets hanging off the front handlebars (or less aesthetically pleasing but equally functional milk crates attached to rear racks with bungee cords). Cycling in town, however, is not for the timid. Riders must share the street with cars, which can be intimidating, and though riding the alleys is a reasonable alternative much of the time, some riding in the street is usually necessary. Fortunately,

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More of a workout: Ride south across the Pedestrian Long Bridge and turn left on Bottle Bay Road, about a half mile after you leave the bridge. Follow this road around Contest Point and to the head of Bottle Bay; then continue for another mile or more to Sagle Road. Here you turn right to come back to U.S. Highway 95 through a small pass between Gold Hill and Grouse Mountain (700-foot climb). Total distance for the loop is about 25 miles, and you’ll have close-up views of the lake followed by a pastoral pedal through farmland back to the highway. Longer and scenic: At the south end of the Long Bridge, take a right on Lakeshore Drive and ride about 8 miles to where the pavement ends. Continue off the pavement – on a good, hard-packed sealed dirt road – for a couple of miles to a junction with Dufort Road. Turn right here for a scenic ride along the south shore of the Pend Oreille River; then cross back to the north shore on the bridge at the small, historic town of Priest River. From here you can ride back into town along the wide shoulder of U.S. Highway 2. Total distance is about 50 miles. –Cate Huisman SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Biking Lifestyle

the Sandpoint Bicycle Committee is at work on this too, trying to find ways to make getting around town safer and easier for cyclists. Striping to indicate bicycle routes will be painted along the entire lengths of Boyer and Division

avenues this summer, and the committee is also working with the municipalities of Kootenai and Ponderay to connect to them with safe bicycle routes. If you’re recreating instead of commuting, there are several pleasant rides

What to do on two wheels

Biking events, group activities fill the summer

Sandpoint is going biking in a big way, with races, events, and venues for road riders, mountain bikers, commuters, downhillers, freeriders – anyone on two wheels. We even have a week devoted to biking, Sandpoint Bike Week, May 30 to June 6, organized by Pend Oreille Pedalers and North Idaho Bikeways. It kicks off the summer Saturday, May 30 with a bike swap, followed by poker rides for both mountain and road bikers the next day. Wednesday, June 3 is set aside as Ride to Work/School Day. Friday night, see the Sandpoint Bicycle Film Festival at the Panida Theater for free. At week’s end on June 6, tackle the Rails to Resort Hillclimb or join in the celebration of National Trails Day, which will include coffee and information booths in the Pend d’Oreille Winery’s courtyard followed by group rides and a trail work party. This annual week of bike-themed activity is sponsored by Outdoor Experience, Sandpoint Sports and Sports Plus. Look up www. SandpointBikeWeek.com or call 265-7979 to learn more. Adventure Sports Week begins June 5 at Farragut State Park at the south end of the lake. New this year, it includes bike races called the Crux and the Crucible, and you have to guess that they’re going to be fairly challenging. See www.AdventureSportsWeek.com. Thus warmed up, you’ll be ready the following weekend, June 13, for the CHaFE 150, which raises money for early childhood education. Organized by Panhandle Alliance for Education, “Cycle Hard for Education” is a 150-mile road ride that goes along the north end of the lake, north through Montana’s Bull River Valley and back down the Purcell Trench to Sandpoint. For those who aren’t quite yet in shape for a trip of such length, there’s a 1/2CHaFE option of 75 miles. Go to www.chafe150.org to register. Between weekend events, you can join members of the Pend Oreille Pedalers all summer for their midweek road or mountain rides, and this should put you in good shape for their annual campout, to be held this year the weekend of July 11-12 at Beaver Creek Campground at the northwest corner of Priest Lake. Then you’ll be ready to participate in two sets of four timed rides, during the annual

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SUMMER 2009

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Biking Lifestyle

along the lakeshore and river (see story, page 55). Doudna also recommends the roads of the Selle Valley north of town as having light traffic and minimal bumps that make for good road riding. And when those kinds of rides

begin to sound too flat and easy, you’ll want to relax the way Woody Aunan does. During the school year he limits his biking to his commute, but “in the summer I like to ride up Schweitzer to keep fit.”

Sisna Mountain Bike Series (www.asisna.com/mountainbike.asp) on Wednesdays in July at Farragut State Park and the Twilight series on Wednesdays in August at Schweitzer (www.schweitzer.com). Both allow cyclists to start at any time over a two-hour period in the early evening. You can participate as an individual or as part of a team, and you can ride any one or all four in each series. An assortment of prizes, surprises, barbecues and post-race celebrations enlivens both series. With all these events to keep you training all summer, you should be ready for the Round the Lake Ride on Aug. 22. This route traverses 60 miles of pavement and 40 miles of dirt roads, including what organizer Brian Anderson of Sandpoint Sports calls “a brutal climb” in the middle. This ascent to the crest of the Green Monarchs rises more vertical feet over less horizontal distance than the Schweitzer hillclimb you did at the start of the season, so it’s a good thing you have all summer to prepare. Find out more at www. sandpointsports.net. One other recurring activity that all the cool . cyclists do is volunteer. You can help by staffing support stations at races or information booths at events, or by mapping and tracking routes you ride for the Sandpoint Bicycle Advisory Committee or the Bonner County Trails Advisory Committee. And a few shifts of trail work with the Pend Oreille Pedalers is essential – a couple of hours swinging a hazel hoe at one of their work parties on a summer evening will give you the upper body workout you need to balance out the 3 e1 un massive quads your cycling summer has given you. J es –By Cate Huisman com

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F Ha

SUMMER 2009

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‘a place to build a H ouse on’

David Thompson Bicentennial

David Thompson, Kullyspel House

and the Indian Meadows tribal encampment on Lake Pend Oreille In the fall of 1809, North West Company fur agent and surveyor David Thompson established a trading post on the Hope Peninsula, marking the first documented business operation between tribes and traders in what is now the state of Idaho. This year, the Thompson Bicentennial is commemorated in Bonner County, recognizing his arrival at Lake Pend Oreille 200 years ago.

By Jack Nisbet

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Public Record Office, Kew, England

avid Thompson was an Englishborn fur agent, surveyor and cartographer who worked across the breadth of the North American continent between 1784 and 1846. Over the course of his long career, he left behind more than 100 densely written field and survey journals, watercolors of Western mountains, extensive letters concerning his duties with the International Boundary Survey in all five of the Great Lakes, and an unpublished autobiography full of wide-ranging adventures and good humor. He also drew numerous exquisitely rendered maps, including five large visions of the continent that stretch from Hudson Bay and Lake Superior west to the Pacific. As scholars bring these documents to light – a newly annotated three-volume edition of Thompson’s autobiography and letters will appear this fall – the man and his work are becoming much better known in both Canada and the United States. Some of David Thompson’s most interesting and significant exploits occurred during the five years he spent in what fur companies called the Columbia District, between 1807 and 1812. As an employee of the North West Company, he was charged with establishing a viable circle of trade along the middle and upper Columbia River and its major eastern tributaries; in order to accomplish this, he and his crew had to make first contact and create working relationships with a number of Plateau culture tribes. As the fur traders made their way through

“Map of North America from 84º West,” David Thompson’s 1820 map prospectus, shows Lake Pend Oreille, center, as Kullyspel Lake.

the territory we now call southeastern British Columbia, western Montana, eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle, the trails and waterways they traveled all seemed to converge at Lake Pend Oreille.

Coming in on the lake

Thompson waited a long time to get to the lake. He probably first heard about the promising beaver lands west of the Rocky Mountains in 1787 when, as a boy of 17, he wintered with a small group of traders in a Pikani Blackfeet encampment near modern Calgary, Alberta. Kootenai people who occupied the upper reaches of the Columbia and Kootenai drainages made regular buffalo hunts on the prairies at that time, often joined by Salish-speaking kinsmen that included Flathead SUMMER 2009

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Kullyspel House and the Indian Meadows tribal Encampment

“Looking for a Portage, McGillivray’s River” [Kootenai River]

Henry James Warre 1845

We had no alternative, we carried [the canoe and goods] 2 miles, the 1st mile among broken rocks shivered to sharp, small pieces…each man had two pairs of shoes on his feet, but they were soon cut to pieces. –David Thompson journal, portaging the Kootenai River, May 1808

(Bitterroot Salish), Kalispel, Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and other Plateau tribes. The Blackfeet smoked, gambled, raided horses and sometimes fought with these visiting hunters, creating a wealth of stories that stretched back and forth over the Continental Divide. In the fall of 1800, David Thompson learned more about our region when he spoke with Blackfeet leaders about extending his company’s trade across the mountains. The elders complained that such a move would only serve to arm the “Flat Heads,” a traditional Blackfeet rival, and further warned the trader to beware of Flathead ambushes in the foothills. That same fall, a band of Kootenais crossed the Rockies with pelts to trade. After bartering with them at the North West Company’s Rocky Mountain House post on the Saskatchewan River, Thompson dispatched two of his FrenchCanadian voyageurs back with the Kootenais to scout the Columbia drainage for future business prospects. According to tribal oral histories, these two voyageurs traveled extensively through the region, and may well have spent time around Lake Pend Oreille. It was the spring of 1807 before Thompson himself pushed across the divide with a crew to establish his Kootanae House post at the source lakes of the Columbia River. He brought over 19 people in all, including his half-Cree wife Charlotte Small and their three young children. Although Charlotte did not accompany Thompson on his further explorations of the Columbia District, other voyageur families did come along, and men such as Joseph Beaulieu, Michel Boulard and Augustine Boisverd ended up marrying Kootenai and Salish women and settling down in the region. Thompson never worked alone, and he always sent men ahead to establish contact with new tribes he wanted to meet. The mixed-blood free hunter and scout Jaco Finlay, who worked with Thompson intermittently for years, provided invaluable assistance in such relationships. As soon as Thompson established his first post near the town of Invermere, British Columbia, he began sending gifts of tobacco south to the Flathead and related tribes, calling on them to bring their furs in to trade. When some men and women of a Lower Kootenai band who had a village near modern Bonners Ferry came to visit in mid-September, Thompson noted that “these People hunt on the Lands adjoining the Ear Pendant Indians.” He never explained the derivation of the term Ear Pendant, but French was the everyday language he used with his voyageurs, and it no doubt represented his own translation of their term Pend d’Oreille. In his later journals Thompson would variously refer to these people as Ear Pendants, Ear Bobs, Pend Oreilles, Kullyspel and Saleesh. Today they are divided

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between the Kalispel Reservation in eastern Washington and the Flathead Reservation of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in western Montana – home to three tribes, the Bitterroot Salish, Upper Pend d’Oreille and the Kootenai. Thompson never quite straightened out the difference between the interrelated family bands that make up the Bitterroot Salish, Kalispel/Pend d’Oreille and Spokane tribes, but he did recognize that they spoke a common Salish language. He also understood that they formed a powerful political entity in opposition to the Blackfeet, and that the lands they occupied could provide a potentially rich source of beaver pelts. He tried to follow the Kootenai River to meet them in late fall 1807 and again in spring 1808, but was deterred first by the oncoming winter, then by heavy spring runoff. North West Company business kept him bouncing back to the prairies for the following year, but by August 1809 he had laid out a plan that would carry him south from the lower Kootenai through to the “Ear Pendant” world. Traveling from Rocky Mountain House across the trail now called Howse Pass in early August 1809, Thompson and his men made their way down to the Columbia River near modern Golden, British Columbia. There they quickly pieced together a canoe from birch bark carried across the divide, then paddled upstream on SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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David Thompson Bicentennial

Gustavus Sohon 1853 “Woman of Good Sense, Kalispel“ WASHINGTON STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Building Kullyspel House

At a point somewhere between the Sunnyside Peninsula and the Pack River Delta, the furmen were met by several canoes, which took on part of the trade goods in order to relieve the horses. The party continued east the next day along the lakeshore to the vicinity east of the modern town of Hope, Idaho, where they encountered an encampment of Flathead, Kalispel/Pend Oreille, Kootenai and Coeur d’Alene families. As with the Pend Oreille, Thompson used his own English translation of the French to call the Coeur d’Alenes “Pointed Hearts.” Thompson wrote: They all smoked ... say 54 Flat Heads, 23 Pointed Hearts & 4 Kootanaes - in all abt 80 men. They then made us a handsome present of dried Salmon & other Fish with Berries & a Chevruil [mule deer].

the Columbia and passed Kootanae House without a pause – that post had served its purpose, and now Thompson intended to implement his original plan of locating in the Pend Oreille country. The fur brigade crossed the Canal Flats portage and put into the Kootenai River on Aug. 20. Nine days later they reached the vicinity of Bonners Ferry, where a trail Thompson called “The Great Road of the Flat Heads,” led south. Over a year earlier, Thompson had dispatched a voyageur named Joseph Beaulieu to live with the Lower Kootenais, and now he sent Beaulieu south to find the Flatheads, or Salish peoples. A week later, Beaulieu returned with 16 tribal men and two dozen horses to transport the North West Company goods south. Thompson’s strategy of traveling during the dry days of late summer paid off as his party easily forded brook after brook that “would have been much wider in high water.” Although they had to cut small trees from the sides of the trail to make way for the packhorses, Thompson judged it a “good Road.” On Sept. 8, they followed the trail down Boyer Slough to the north shore of Lake Pend Oreille, first viewing the lake somewhere near Kootenai Point. Heading east from there, they soon bagged four geese, three ducks and a sandhill crane for dinner. 60

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NATIONAL ARCHIVES

Thompson relied heavily on the plant knowledge and manufacturing skills of tribal women.

For census purposes, Thompson usually calculated six or seven family members for each adult male, so this gathering would have numbered around 500 people in all – exactly the sort of large mixed tribal encampment that called for a trade house. Early the next morning, accompanied by two Flathead men, Thompson explored the Hope Peninsula to look for a place to build. From this day on he called both the lake and his new post after the Kullyspel (now Kalispel), presumably because his guides and translators belonged to that tribe. Word of the fur company’s arrival on the lake spread quickly, and the newcomers had barely set up their tents before family bands began arriving with furs to trade. Sixteen canoes of Coeur d’Alenes paddled up to the peninsula and offered to perform a dance. Fifteen “strange Indians from the west,” who may have belonged

A Brook, which we followed is 15 Yds. wide, deep and easy Current, crossed to a Rill of Water which we followed down … to the Lake … then met Canoes who embarked about 20 pieces of Lumber and Goods. We held on 4 or 5 Miles & Put up at 2:30 p.m., the wind blowing too hard for the Canoes to hold on. –David Thompson journal, arriving at Lake Pend Oreille, Sept. 8, 1809 Above: James Madison Alden 1860 “Kalispelm Lake.” Right: Masseslow’s canoe 1905, Manning Collection, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. The canoes that Thompson saw the Kalispel people paddling had a specific sturgeon-nosed design.

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Kullyspel House and the Indian Meadows tribal Encampment This photo taken by the Boundary Commission at Sinyakwatin in 1860, shows an American camp on the south side of Pend Oreille River with a Kalispel canoe and tule-mat tepee in the foreground – the same styles that Thompson would have seen.

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Below:“Indian Fishing Station on the Kalispel Lake and River” In 1845, a British Army officer painted a watercolor sketch of a Kalispel village near Cusick, Washington, very close to a place where David Thompson met Kalispel people in the fall of 1809.

The oldest Man according to custom made a Speech & a Present of 2 Cakes of Root Bread, abt. 12 lbs of Roots & 2 ½ of dried Salmon, with boiled Beaver Meat. –David Thompson journal, September 1809

Henry James Warre 1845

THE BONNER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY COLLECTION

to the San Poil and Okanagan tribes, appeared. Two “Green Wood” (Nez Perce) men brought beaver, muskrat and bear pelts in exchange for manufactured goods. Thompson gave a demonstration of the way that he wanted different types of skins to be prepared, then encouraged the visitors to hunt beaver and bring in their furs to trade “by the time the Snow whitens the Ground.” While Thompson parleyed, his crew began their routine search for birch to make tool handles and pegs, then felled trees for a warehouse, always the first building to go up. The men were experienced in what is known as the “post-onsill” method of construction, and they had the tools to do the job: large and small axes, two handsaws, a crosscut saw, and a “whip-pit” saw for felling and shaping trees. They also used an adze and a variety of files and knives to shape the timbers, different-sized augers for boring mortise holes, and a hammer for pounding joints together. The men sank post holes in the gravelly earth, squared logs for corner and doorframe posts, and whittled “needles” (tenons) to secure these uprights to the horizontal sills. The uprights were grooved to receive members that had been notched and squared to stack up for the walls. The spaces between these “piece on piece” logs was chinked with mud exactly like a rougher, American-style log cabin. At Kootanae House, the crew had used pine bark for roofing, but since the season was not right for peeling the bark cleanly, here they split out rough planks of cedar instead. Thompson, always picky about small details, groused about the lack of good clay to mix with grass for sealing the cracks between the planks, which would make for a leaky roof. He did allow his clerk Finan McDonald to hang the door. In the months to come, McDonald would take a Kalispel woman he called Peggy as his “country wife” and establish long-term relationships with Kalispel and Flathead families. In time the couple had at least five children, and McDonald played an important role in the Columbia District fur trade until his retirement two decades later. While the fur traders erected the three buildings that would make up the post, local tribal members provided deer meat, dried fish and many fresh and dried berries to keep them going. People from the encampment also supplied essential goods from local materials that they knew far better than the newcomers. When Thompson decided he needed a dugout canoe for fishing, his voyageurs cut down a large “red fir” but quickly discovered that the wood was too heavy and hard to

work. Rather than waste time with that dugout, Thompson instead bartered for one of the Kalispel tribe’s light, sturgeon-nosed canoes, sheathed with the bark of a western white pine. During this period Thompson traded for well over a hundred beaver pelts and gave 15 of them back for a fine horse. He carved out a horse collar and worked on a magazine for the men’s powder supply. Thunderstorms raged over the lake as bands of Flathead and Coeur d’Alene people came and went. Jaco Finlay arrived from the Kootenai country with his wife and several children, and Kootenai hunters whom Thompson had known from the source lakes of the Columbia brought in game.

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David Thompson

Keen on catching fish to supplement his crew’s diet, Thompson carved cedar floats and strung out his fish nets of cotton twine. Over the next several days, he carefully monitored their placement and relative success in an extended fishing experiment. Familiar with the fishing dynamics of prairie lakes in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Thompson was not pleased with the number of suckers and occasional bull trout that came up in his nets, but like any dedicated fisherman, he never quit trying to catch more. One of the things he quickly learned was that when it came to repairing his nets, nothing beat twine spun from the Indian hemp plants that grew right in the area. When he hired the wife of one of his Kalispel envoys to provide such twine, she hand-twisted 420 feet in a single afternoon. Thompson, who did not give out compliments easily, pronounced the product “very strong.”

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Between 1807 and 1812 west of the Continental Divide, David Thompson and his crew of North West Company voyageurs built four substantial trade houses and numerous “hangards,” a term Thompson used to refer to temporary rendezvous spots or trade encampments where goods had to be cached. The main posts were Kootanae House near Invermere, British Columbia (established in summer 1807); Kullyspel House near Hope, Idaho (September 1809); Saleesh House near Thompson Falls, Montana (November 1809); and Spokane House near Spokane, Washington (summer 1810). None of Thompson’s establishments lasted for more than a few seasons on their original sites; all except Kullyspel House were eventually moved, rebuilt and expanded. Although a local historian with a shovel established the outline of Kootanae House before World War I, none of the other three sites have ever been systematically explored. In the summer of 2005, a team of Parks Canada archaeologists revisited the Kootanae House location, using both measured trenches and ground-penetration radar to reveal many new aspects of Thompson’s two winters at Lake Windermere. The exact location of any of the other three major posts remains a subject of debate. But while neither Thompson’s maps nor his writings contain more than a general area for Kullyspel House, a remarkable visit by a fur trade descendant and a Kalispel tribal man did provide a starting point for any serious search.

As the mixed-blood son of Hudson’s Bay Company trader Angus McDonald, Montana resident Duncan McDonald often acted as a bridge between the tribal and white communities during the early years of white settlement in our area. Thus it made sense when the Pend Oreille Pioneer Society, searching for clues about the actual site of the Kullyspel House fur trade post, asked Duncan for help with oral history. Duncan consulted with Alex Kai Too, an aged Kalispel who lived near Arlee, Mont., and was the brother of a former Kalispel chief identified as “Merchelle.” McDonald brought Kai Too to the Hope Peninsula in July 1923. Although Kai Too was blind at the time, he knew the area well. According to a story that appeared in the Sunday Missoulian that September: “Folding his hand like a bear paw, old Alex said: ‘Go to Memaloose Island – to a point on mainland – big rock – bear paw – just behind on level ground – you find chimneys.’ ” McDonald, Sam Owen and other local residents followed the directions, using the island to line up their bearings on the mainland, and found two piles of rocks; “the larger one evidently a double chimney which was constructed of fat stones carried there by no agency other than human hands.” McDonald and Kai Too’s visit offers one step toward what could be an illuminating investigation of how the first white visitors interacted with the multitribal encampment at Indian Meadows. Were the rock piles Kai Too pointed at really part of the original Kullyspel House? What was the layout of the

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Kullyspel House and the Indian Meadows tribal Encampment

Exploring Up and Down the River

By the third week of September in 1809, North West Company voyageurs had moved all their trade goods into the new Kullyspel House warehouse and were starting to construct an upper floor. David Thompson, however, was far from ready to settle in for the fall. Tribal elders had informed him that the Columbia River lay not too far downstream, and he wanted to go “on discovery” before winter arrived – if what he called the “Saleesh River” proved navigable, he might be able to establish a new route across the Rockies that would avoid the troublesome Blackfeet. Setting his clerk Finan McDonald in charge of the nascent post, the agent engaged a Kalispel teenager to lead him and Joseph Beaulieu downstream. Traveling on horseback, the Kalispel lad followed a trail along the north side

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Found on private property on Hope Peninsula, the currently accepted site of Kullyspel House contains rock piles that are presumably the remains of the building’s chimneys. Jim Parsons Sr. inspects an inscribed tree at the site on Hope Peninsula, circa 1948. It reads “Kullyspell House Duncan McDonald.”

buildings? How much business was transacted at the location? Could an American party, as some historians have suggested, have preceded Thompson to the Indian Meadows encampment and built their own hangard? Local archaeologist Bob Betts points out these questions are a long way from being answered. “There has never been a professional archaeological investigation at the currently accepted location of Kullyspel House site,” he said. “At the moment, there is not even a National Register site report on file with the state of Idaho specifically written for Kullyspel House.” Betts’ hope is that a growing public

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awareness of the importance of Thompson’s work, combined with the non-intrusive archaeological techniques successfully employed at the Kootanae House site in 2005, might lead to the kind of scientific probe that would not only solve some basic questions about the site, but also expand the story of contact for historians, tribal members and the entire community of Pend Oreille residents. Betts will be giving a talk on the search for the location of Kullyspel House at the Thompson Symposium on June 25. See story, page 64. –Jack Nisbet SUMMER 2009

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David Thompson Bicentennial Remembering Indian Meadows

Dr. J.B. Lieberg, Francis Gilbert Collection, Bonner County Historical Society

Coming June 24-27: Kalispel encampment marks bicentennial

This June 24-27, Idaho’s David Thompson Bicentennial Committee and the Kalispel Tribe will recognize the arrival of David Thompson at Lake Pend Oreille with a variety of events. An all-day teacher’s workshop on Thursday at Hope’s Litehouse Restaurant features fur trade re-enactors, classroom lesson plans, tribal perspective from Kalispel elder Francis Cullooyah, and an evening canoe paddle for all. Friday’s symposium at the restaurant includes a lesson in celestial navigation with period instruments, as well as presentations that will probe the archaeological search for both the Kullyspel House site and the ancient Salish Road to the Buffalo trail. The symposium concludes with an afternoon panel of distinguished tribal elders discussing the impact of the coming of the fur trade on Salish culture. After that panel, people who have preregistered will move upstream to the Diamond T Ranch on the Clark Fork River to join Kalispel hosts for a re-creation of the diverse tribal encampment that lured the fur traders to the Salish country in the first place. Look up www.davidthompson200.org or call 263-2344 for more information or to register. The site of Thompson’s Kullyspel House lies just west of the delta where the Clark Fork River spills into Lake Pend Oreille, and there an area of lush meadows had long served as a communal gathering place. Undated bear paw petroglyphs pecked into rock outcrops nearby reach far back into unrecorded history, and after the establishment of Kullyspel House many aspects of the gathering continued on unchanged. Each August, while the area’s early white settlers harvested potatoes and hay in the meadows, Salish and Kootenai bands pitched tepees and erected drying racks on their traditional family spots. They played the stick game, raced horses and danced with whomever wanted to join in. Everyone knew the place from present-day Denton Slough east beyond the drift yard at the Clark Fork Delta as Indian Meadows until 1955, when the backup of Albeni Falls Dam drowned the fertile lakeside bottomlands. Alice Ignace, a Kalispel elder who passed away in 2007, grew up on the Kalispel Reservation near Cusick, Washington, almost 80 miles downstream from Indian Meadows. As a young girl in the 1930s, she traveled with her family by horseback and wagon to

camp at the meadows for several weeks in late summer. “My grandmother, she would sure be happy to get to that place,” Ignace said, “because there were always lots of good things out there.” Her father pitched their tepee and set up drying racks with five or six other Kalispel families. They would visit with friends and relatives from the Flathead Reservation, and people from several other tribes would be there, too. While the men went out hunting and fishing, Ignace’s grandmother picked berries and dug wapato (arrowhead or duck potato). The berries were dried and then stored in baskets or Mason jars that were wrapped in cloth for the bumpy ride home. Deer meat was sliced and placed on the racks to dry, and the hides were stretched for scraping off the fat. Hundreds of whitefish were split and arranged to dry as well. “A good hunter always has three racks,” Ignace remembered her grandmother saying. “One for meat, one for hides, and one for the fish.” Her grandmother gathered great piles of bulrushes (tules) to sew together into mats, which were used for everything from kneeling pads to place mats to tepee covers. She also cut great numbers of the red stems of Indian hemp. “She would strip all the leaves off each plant, just like that,” said Ignace, flinging her hands out like falling leaves. “Then she’d tie them up in a bundle and take them back to Cusick,” down the Pend Oreille River. At home, her grandmother stored the hemp on a rack above the woodstove until it was dry, then soaked the stems and pounded them gently with a stone to remove the pith and separate the fibers. She twisted and braided the hemp into line that was flexible, stout and extremely durable. If her grandmother needed an extra strong cord, she braided a strand of sinew in with the hemp fibers. “She kept making more and more, winding it all up until she had something that looked like a ball of wool yarn,” Ignace said. The cord was used to attach fish lures, mend nets and sew tules into rain-resistant mats. Sometimes Ignace’s grandmother would walk out into the woods to strip long pieces of bark from a cedar tree and then weave it into a basket, tying off the top with Indian hemp. “It was what she used for anything that needed to be tied,” she said. “That hemp was important to have around. And the plants my grandmother liked best grew at Indian Meadows.” –Jack Nisbet

Indian Meadows, 1898

We all arrived at the Saleesh River; here we were met by fifty four Saleesh Indians; Twenty Three Skeetshoo; and four Kootanane Indians, in all eighty men, and their families; they made us an acceptable present of dried Salmon and other Fish, with Berries. –David Thompson, “Travels,” iii.215 SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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of the lake that skirted the wide Pack River delta, then cut across an isthmus (Sunnyside Peninsula) and a sandy point (today’s Sandpoint) to the outlet of the Pend Oreille near Dover. Salish vocabulary written by Thompson On the second morning, the party continued “on a jog trot all the way” through the glowing fall colors and large, well-spaced coniferous trees. The river was wide and smooth, with plenty of grass along the shore for the horses. By late afternoon they had reached Albeni Falls, where Thompson reconnoitered for a canoe portage and then went fishing in the deep pools below the falls. He caught nothing, but Beaulieu managed to shoot three mergansers for their supper. At a Kalispel village on the site of modern Cusick, Thompson borrowed another canoe and tested the fast waters of the Pend Oreille River downstream towards Box Canyon. As soon as he confirmed what tribal headmen had already told him – that rapids and waterfalls would prevent the Pend Oreille from forming a viable trade route to the Columbia – he and Beaulieu returned to Kullyspel House. There Thompson was pleased to find that McDonald and his men had completed the warehouse and cut all the timber for a dwelling house. He wrote: Mr. McDonald had traded abt 2 Packs of good Furrs in my Absence, mostly from the Pointed Hearts (Coeur d’Alenes), of whom there are abt 44 Men, several Women and Children here. They have abt 110 Horses, & have traded 3 of them with us.

The Coeur d’Alenes had been waiting for Thompson’s return to “exhibit a Dance,” but the weather was cold and blustery, and after two days they decided to decamp. Thompson spent three more rainy days at the post, resetting some of the fishing nets and helping the men put up the first four layers of hewn logs on the dwelling house. Then, “notwithstanding the very bad weather,” he began preparing for another journey – a North West Company brigade was bringing trade goods from eastern Canada, and the time was fast approaching for their projected arrival on the Kootenai River. Taking an opportunity to explore along the way, Thompson and Beaulieu set off eastward on Oct. 11 with a guide and a hunter, along the ancient “Saleesh Road to the Buffalo.” The party traveled up the Saleesh (Clark Fork) River for five days, then embarked on a long counterclockwise loop that cut north across Camas Prairie (toward today’s Hot Springs, Montana), up the Little Bitterroot River to a chain of lakes now bearing Thompson’s name, and along the Wolf Creek drainage to the lower Fisher River. On Oct. 20, near the junction of the Fisher and the Kootenai, they caught up with the canoe brigade. During the next week, Thompson led the combined party across the Kootenai Falls portage, met horses sent by McDonald at Bonners Ferry, repacked the goods and re-embarked on the Great Road of the Flatheads, which he was now calling the Lake Indian Portage. Despite some nasty weather, the caravan made excellent time on the widened trail and soon completed the surveyor’s long circle of reconnaissance. Thompson wrote: Oct 30. A day of much Snow, but mostly calm … arrived at the House all well, thank Heaven, but much of the Goods very wet, as well as all our own baggage.

Thompson was back at Kullyspel House, but still not settled in. The Indian Meadows encampment was by now completely dispersed, and to follow his trading partners he had to transport his entire operation upstream on the Clark Fork, nearer to Salish, Kalispel and Kootenai wintering grounds. By the end of the first week in November, his voyageurs were banging away on Saleesh House near Thompson Falls, Montana, and Kullyspel House had been relegated to a way station – a warehouse for furs and trade goods along the Great Road to the Buffalo. As far as fur trade journals indicate, the post was never permanently manned by an agent, and after half a dozen years of existence slowly faded back into the woods of the Hope Peninsula.

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Informative articles on Sandpoint and the surrounding area. For home delivery call (208) 263-9534 BONNER COUNTY

DAILY BEE

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David Thompson Bicentennial Local man replicates Thompson plank canoe Obsessive craftsman ends long-time engineering debate

history. Controversy exists among boat builders about how the cedar-plank canoe was engineered, said Jack Nisbet, a Thompson expert and historian. The biggest question is, Did the thin planks overlap like the European boats often called “clinker built” or were they flush, put edge to edge and sewed together with spruce-root cords? Brusstar doesn’t understand the debate. If you follow Thompson’s instructions, it’s clear that the planks are flush, he says. This puts the integrity on the cedar planks and less strain on the spruce lashing. Nisbet attributes some confusion to Thompson later using the term “clinker built” to describe his plank canoes. “There is no guesswork,” Brusstar said, somewhat defiantly. “None. David Thompson clearly tells you what to do. And when you do it, you have a boat sitting there. The Thompson historians aren’t boat builders.” Brusstar is a boat builder, from a long line of boatwrights going back to the American Revolution. He’s also a basket maker, trained by an Alaskan Eskimo. It’s this blend of knowledge and his rebellious ingenuity that makes it possible for him to understand Thompson’s methodology. For 15 years, Nisbet encouraged boat experts to replicate the plank canoe – to build it using the journals and resolve the debate about Thompson’s canoe that redefined travel on Western rivers. Yet, nobody took on the challenge. Nobody but Brusstar. “Only an extremely focused person would try to figure out what was going on,” said Nisbet, who has no boat building skills. “The journals are so densely detailed.” The other boatwrights Nisbet tried to persuade to build a replica were trained solely in European methods. They never viewed the canoe with a tribal perspective, Nisbet said. “Being European-trained is a terrible thing when dealing with these wilderness guides,” Nisbet said. “They don’t do it by the book. They had to figure it out on their own. That’s why Brusstar is

PHOTOS BY ANN FERGUSON/BONNER COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

On Gold Mountain lives a man not quite of this century. Not quite a hermit, not quite a mountain man but definitely not embraced by modern society. Yet this is what made Bill Brusstar, 68, successful in his challenge of recreating and building and finally extinguishing the mystery of explorer David Thompson’s cedar-plank canoe. The 25-foot boat – graceful, light and with the false appearance of simplicity – is a key part of the Thompson exhibit on display this summer at the Bonner County Historical Museum. Brusstar, with his obsessive personality, couldn’t stop with the canoe so he painted a mural of Thompson and a crew member contemplating how to finish the final planks. There’s also an oil painting of what the canoe might have looked like as the crew pulled it up the Columbia River toward Kootanae House in the spring of 1811. Then there are the handmade tools, such as the crooked knife and froe, crucial to splitting the cedar planks. The canoe, which is only partially complete because Thompson’s daybooks get scarce on detail, is the only replica in existence of the first cedar-plank boat Thompson made at Boat Encampment, a portage in the Canadian Rocky Mountains where the Columbia River makes a hairpin turn and flows south into the United States. “I see this as a pretty big deal because Thompson basically developed this new kind of boat,” said Ann Ferguson, curator of the Bonner County Historical Museum. The first canoe leaked fiercely. Thompson kept improving the design and made new plank canoes at each portage, including Saleesh House near Thompson Falls, Mont. Brusstar used the same materials, cedar and spruce roots, and the same primitive tools – fire, water, an axe and a crooked knife – as Thompson did 200 years ago when he needed a bigger boat to carry more than 2,000 pounds of supplies and furs to his trading posts. To him, the boat was just part of the job. To Brusstar it was a challenge and perhaps a chance to clarify

Bill Brusstar used Thompson’s journals to build a cedar plank canoe, now on display at the Bonner County Historical Museum.

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so perfect.” “I love trying to make something useable and functional out of the woods,” said Brusstar, who dug and pulled up miles of root for the project. Scars in lodgepole pines provided the sap that he boiled over a fire and mixed with lard to seal the seams. After splitting a cedar log into thin boards, Brusstar cured the wood by soaking it and then shaping it over a fire with molds and steam. “When building a boat you know exactly what is going on,” Brusstar said. “The same problems I ran into he ran into. That’s why I say it’s like channeling the guy. It really opens up a window of history to me.” Brusstar spent years studying about 40 pages of Thompson’s journals, full of 200-year-old English, complicated calculations and boat jargon. These pages provide a recipe for the canoe, which Thompson improvised because birch bark was too thin and inferior west of the Rockies. Cedar was plentiful, causing Thompson to combine his European boat-making skills with his ability to make canoes in the tribal tradition of the Kootenai and Kalispel. The detailed descriptions stop as Thompson gets near putting the final planks on the bottom of the canoe. Brusstar stopped construction in the same spot. “The planks start taking on a strange shape,” Brusstar said with a heavy sigh. “I have a feeling he was cutting and fitting and doing a lot of shaping to get them to fit. The journal gets sketchy.” Both Ferguson and Nisbet want Brusstar to complete the canoe. Brusstar is conflicted. He wants an exact reproduction, yet it isn’t exact and never will be because the wood and roots are different than in 1811. That’s a reality of the changing environment and the impacts of logging and civilization. “These guys did this all their lives and they knew what they were doing,” Brusstar said. “I don’t know what I’m doing, but I do have a vague idea.” –Erica F. Curless

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5/7/09 4:04:01 PM

Hiking wi th an ar t is t

Hiking the sou†hern Selkirks wi†h an ar†ist Story and art by

itting patiently by the pool below Arches National Park one summer afternoon, I watched the sun cross the overhead sky. Waiting for the shadows to lengthen and the light to turn orange-red, I refused to look up at the rock arches above us until the falling evening sun transformed them from pale, washed-out vampires to deeply colorful, rich and alive monuments of earth. Finally, I assured my husband that it was time. He was stunned by the difference as we entered the park, now changed from not terribly impressive to alive and memorable. We basked in the warmth of the evening sun’s glow, indigo shadows popping the natural arches out at us. This was the beginning of his believing that light can make all the difference. Light is only one consideration in enhancing your moments with nature. Choosing when and where to enjoy your favorite outdoor spots can turn your experiences into memorable and beautiful ones as well. As an artist, I would like to be your figurative guide for some favorite hikes in the southern Selkirks – offering perspectives and ways to memorialize your day. Never expect to have a golden moment in the outdoors at midday in summer or on a white sky day. Faces get washed out and trees are paler green in the harsh sun, when there are fewer reflections and fewer – or no – shadows. And often, little or no wildlife accompany you. The sun beats down on the earth directly overhead and eliminates the element that creates 3-D, which is depth, or shadows. Shadows create inspiring contrast, enhance the views and add

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Julie Hutslar

much needed depth to beautiful mountain scapes. When the sun is at an angle to the Earth, it casts longer shadows, but directly above (midday in summer) the shadows are sadly below your feet. So first commandment: Choose morning or evening as best times to recreate in nature during summer. Let’s look at a short, but rather vertical hike up to Harrison Lake. One hike I Julie Hutslar, husband Ed Hunt and am sure is particularly memoMoki the dog rable to my husband is the one when we started out so early in the morning that there was still dew, and getting to the trailhead almost froze us out! But once we arrived at the top, the pristine mountain lake was still steaming with morning fog, and the drama of the place, with the gargoyletopped Harrison Peak overlooking the lake, was like a setting of a photo shoot for National Geographic. This trail is excellent for photo opportunities all the way up. Walking through the dense forest for the first little section, you don’t realize how quickly you are climbing and that you begin to hug a ridge. Make sure you stop at several of the opening spots along the trail that afford a spectacular view of Beehive just to the west. With the sun casting shadows, you can see all the lines and ridges in the rock formation that gives Beehive its name. Watch for Chimney Rock as well going up and down. With one side of the chimney in shadow and one in light, the perspective brings it closer, making it more vivid. Choose your hikes or picnic spots for inspiring views as SUMMER 2009

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Hik in g w it h a n ar t ist

The author’s watercolor paintings demonstrate how light, shadows and clouds enhance a hiking experience. Opposite page: “Magical Valley” shows the Seven Sisters, including Chimney Rock, Beehive, Roman Nose and Harrison Peak; and inset, “Mountain Lupine and Shadows on Bird Seed.” This page: inset, “Pack River Valley with Sunrise Colors”; and “Sun Through Dreamy Clouds.”

well as timing of the light. To hike for hours and not reach an expansive view can be less than satisfying. A huge mountain or valley view brings a sense of awe and openness to your hungry spirit. Even though my husband greatly prefers level hikes, he knows if I am in charge of making the selection, we’re going up! Reason two, awe-inspiring views feed the soul. Roman Nose is one of the highest spots in the southern Selkirks. Driving a good way up the mountain, you can’t see anything until you take the loop trail above the lake. There are several different views, not just the magnificent long view to the south and all the valley and Lake Pend Oreille beyond. Some of the views are looking north, or west into the center of the mountain range. If you want to create a moment you will cherish, hike in with a bottle of wine and some cheese and watch the sun set from one of these viewing spots. Feel the romance overwhelm you! Many times on my birthday, when my husband asks what I want to do, we end up sitting on a ridge somewhere soaking in the soft, pink alpine glow of a snowy mountain top, watching the sun set with some baba ghanoush. Also, don’t underestimate robust clouds as they catch more color than a clear sky. Continue with me to Fault Lake. Bring your backpack with lunch and snacks as it is about 13 miles round-trip. We’re leaving early (remember the morning light requirement?), but the purpose is walking it all off. This long and fairly strenuous hike provides just the right amount of exercise and distractions to let all the thoughts of the week fall away. After the first two miles, you have

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Hiking wi th an ar t is t

Plodding, pondering, your mind wandering, as soon as you come into contact with this gift, you suddenly become present. stopped the constant voice in your head, the recounting of things you need to do and other mundane conversations with people that never happen. By mile three, you round a bend that offers an exquisite view – one of the Selkirks’ insides that rivals the Andes! Plodding, pondering, your mind wandering, as soon as you come into contact with this gift, you suddenly become present. It’s as if God were standing there waiting for you, greeting you; it is that stunning and beautiful! Make sure it contains the requisite shadows. Stop at Gunsight Creek, shortly after spotting the “Andes,” and soak your feet. Find a flat rock in this smooth creek, great for splaying out on hot days. After mile five, you really have lost all thought that you have a day job. And if you do think about it, you wonder why, when this experience exists and rejuvenates you so. At the top, you now have it all, a gorgeous and expansive view, shadows and light, a clear mountain lake and now a clear, peaceful mind. Hike for consciousness, to bring clarity, put things into perspective and allow the calming vibration of nature to soothe you. Lastly, consider choosing where you want to take in your vista and enjoy your lunch. Judging from the wellworn tracks, most hikers stop at the end of the trail. But spend a few more minutes to walk around the lake or your vista ridgeline to find a perfect location. After all, you deserve a perfect spot, having hiked against gravity for so many miles. Enjoy it, enhance it, feel it, bask in it, soak up the view as if it were a remedy. It is. The artist creator within is being greatly rejuvenated.

Trailhead directions To reach Fault Lake Trail No. 59, drive 13 miles north of Sandpoint on Highway 95, turn west on Upper Pack River Road No. 231. Travel just over 12 miles to the junction of Road 293 and turn left. Follow 293 straight ahead past the switchback for 1.2 miles to the trailhead. Trail length is 6.5 miles one-way. To reach Harrison 70

Lake Trail No. 217, follow

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Top: “Mountains in Dramatic Sunset Light” Inset: “Harrison Lake Shadows”

Road No. 231 for 20.5 miles from Highway 95, the last 6.5 of which are extremely rough. The trailhead is at the end of the road. Trail length is 2.3 miles one-way. High-clearance vehicles are recommended for reaching both Fault Lake and Harrison Lake trailheads.

Roman Nose Lakes Trail No. 165 is accessed from County Road No. 2 in Naples. Follow it for 6 miles to Road No. 13 and follow signs switchbacking up to Roman Nose via Roads 402, 1007 and 2667. SUMMER 2009

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208 263-7924 . www.perceptions-in-art.com

5/7/09 4:33:01 PM

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Road names bear lasting legacies for historic families Photos and story by Ben Olson

Roads connect people with their town. People connect a town to its history.

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along with the city engineer, to name the streets – or rather, to give names to what would later become streets. Most of the land was still undeveloped timber at this time. Farmin originally designated the north/south streets to be “avenues” named First through Seventh. East/ west streets would be named for trees indigenous to the region: Pine, Oak, Cedar, Alder, Poplar, Fir and Larch. Church was the only exception. Main Street was named as such because it ran between the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern depots. It wasn’t until Ike Boyer moved to the Sandpoint area from Montana and bought a homestead that street names started to take their founders’ surnames. Boyer chided Farmin for his modesty in not giving his family name to any of the streets in the Farmin addition. Boyer requested permission from SUMMER 2009

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herefore, it goes without saying that roads named after the people who helped found their respective areas are some of the most lasting pieces of history we can ask for. They, these roads named for people, remain a direct link from the past, when our small mountain town was nothing but wild timber, to the present and undetermined future of Sandpoint. The tradition of naming roads after people began in the homesteading days. In 1892, Mr. and Mrs. L.D. Farmin and their son, Earl, homesteaded 160 acres in what is now downtown Sandpoint. The homestead was bounded by Boyer Avenue on the west, Larch Street on the north, the Northern Pacific Railroad on the east and Pine Street on the south. When it came time to name the streets, the Farmins invited a group of prominent citizens to their home,

Bill Lutzke says he “had nothing to do” with naming a road after himself. At 97, he is a lifelong Bonner County resident.

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Road names

remembered, too, by Lavina Avenue. Incidentally, Southmayd School, which was renamed Washington School in 1915, was named for the same man. The tradition has continued throughout the years, though some street name origins have never been substantiated. Dufort Road is claimed to be named after Delfus Dufort, who operated a railroad siding south of town. Colburn Culver is probably named after the Culver family who owned several businesses in early Sandpoint. Humbird Drive is named after John H. Humbird, of the Humbird Lumber Co., which helped establish Sandpoint as a timber boom town. Two local men, both still living on their respective roads, shed light on what it means to have left such a legacy in Bonner County.

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Spades Road

“That’s the bad thing about this; you can buy four or five hundred acres of land, and you can pay taxes on it every year, and you can clear it and use it, but you can’t take it with you. When you go, you gotta leave it behind.” –Pascal Spade Farmin to change the name of Seventh Avenue to Boyer. Farmin agreed, and Boyer gallantly named the next avenue Ella, in honor of Farmin’s wife. Boyer felt that other pioneers should SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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be remembered too, so he named three of the streets in his addition for the daughters of homesteader John R. Law: Ruth, Olive and Florence. The wife of early settler J.B. Southmayd is

Spades Road shoots off south from Lakeshore Drive and is named for Pascal Spade, who purchased 160 acres of land here in 1934. Ninety-three years old, dressed in overalls and a flannel shirt, Spade originally bought the land for the timber, and to settle and raise a family. “I was in Kootenai first, about seven or eight years,” he said. “I started to look around and looked over here (Spades Road), and there was nobody else up here on this flat. Wasn’t a thing here: no roads, no electricity, no wells, no nothing. My road come in from the highway originally. I put it in myself. “The current one came later, off of Old Fish Hatchery Road, which is called Lakeshore Drive now. I built that one, too.” Spade was 18 when he first settled in the Sandpoint area. “I’ve been all over the United States, and I figured on staying here,” he said. “It wasn’t as pretty then as it is now. It was ugly

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Road names

“Downtown was different back then. The businesses were different. When I was a kid, we had two theaters here. The stores were smaller and more practical. Even the grocery stores were small, and everyone specialized in one kind of merchandise instead of these chain stores.”

Dufort Road is reportedly named after a man who operated a railroad siding south of town.

–Bill Lutzke growth cedar. Some were quite tall, having been cut off of springboards to get away from the swell at the bottom, or they were cut when there was high snowfall.” Spade has been a logger all his life. Last year, at age 92, he cut down three

trees from his yard; “I was afraid of fire,” he said. “They were getting close to the house.” Last fall, Spade broke his rib. “Fell off a ladder picking cherries. Or trying to pick cherries, I suppose,” he said, chuckling, “I wish I wasn’t hurting now

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with all the stumps. I remember when I first come across the hill from Clark Fork, looking down the valley, and there were all these big black stumps everywhere. “I cleared a lot of land in my time, blown a lot of stumps, mostly old-

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… I’ve been cleaning up this place, getting ready for it to go to somebody else. That’s the bad thing about this; you can buy four or five hundred acres of land, and you can pay taxes on it every year, and you can clear it and use it, but you can’t take it with you. When you go, you gotta leave it behind. And you’ll never know whether the ones who have it after you will take good care of it.” The Spade family has always been quite large; Spade’s great-grandpa had nine children (all boys), his grandpa 16 kids, and his father 16, as well. Spade has eight children and 20 grandchildren, many of whom he has given several acres of land to so that they would be able to build houses and raise families of their own. Now, 75 years after Spade first began clearing his land, there are more than 100 families estimated to live on Spades Road and its spur roads. When asked what his plans are for the future, he expressed a desire to travel more. “I’ve been all over the U.S., and I still figure on doing some more goin’.”

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Bill Lutzke, 97, never intended for his road to carry his name. “I had nothing to do with it,” he said. “I accused my family of naming it, but I found out later the city did it because I was the only home out there then.” Lutzke Road is located in Ponderay, next to the Elks Golf Club. Lutzke has lived there since 1974, but he was born and raised in Bonner County.

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“I was born at a homestead in Westmond in 1912,” he said. “I’ve never lived anywhere else. I’ve never wanted to live anywhere else, either.” Lutzke’s parents homesteaded 160 acres, and later moved to Cocolalla before finally moving into Sandpoint. “We lived on Fifth and Church,” Lutzke said. “My three older sisters taught me my reading, writing and arithmetic before I even started school.” In 1930, at 18 years of age, Lutzke started his first business in Sandpoint. “I bought a confectionary store, which was near the alley by the Panida Theater. “Around that time, a whole group of buildings along First Avenue were burned out from a big fire,” he said. “The land was cheap after that, so I took a 10-year lease on that corner (Main and First). The lease ran out and I bought another parcel along First Avenue, this one a modern brick building. It’s still there. I used to own most of those buildings along Gunning’s Alley.” Lutzke, ever the entrepreneur, later bought a 10,000-acre tract of land near Samuels with three others and helped found that area. He opened another business on First Avenue called Eagle Café and Recreation, which featured a restaurant, beer parlor, pool room and card room. “We always had cards going back then,” he said. “In the ’70s, my wife convinced me to find an easier way to make a living than cards, so we opened a Western Auto Parts franchise.”

When Experience Matters

When asked what legacy his named road will leave, Lutzke said: “It’s nice to have it named after me, but I’d rather be remembered for my contributions to downtown. I built the Pastime building and several others along Gunning’s Alley. I’m real proud of those buildings. They’re all still there. “Now, I have no place to go downtown anymore,” he said. “Downtown was different back then. The businesses were different. When I was a kid, we had two theaters here. The stores were smaller and more practical. Even the grocery stores were small, and everyone specialized in one kind of merchandise instead of these chain stores. “There were none of these housing developments like there are now,” he said. “It was all single-family homes back then. Families. That’s the way it should be. “Lately, it seems like the middle class is dying out of Sandpoint.” With the advent of large housing developments and gated communities, the naming of roads in Sandpoint has shifted. Instead of names that honor residents and founders, road names now tend to invoke an emotion or a salesmanship of the land. As time marches on and our town becomes more and more unrecognizable, history and legacy is still kept strong by those familiar names we see on green road signs around Bonner County. They remain a direct link to the roots, sealing those important names to be looked on by generations to come. On Lake Pend Oreille

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Change in Sandpoint

Fewer families, less funds Social changes challenge educational system

By Carrie Scozzaro

ducation is more journey than destination, a job never completed, and that may be the only thing about education that will never change. Kids change. Communities change. Laws change. What hasn’t changed are the challenges faced by educators as far back as 1886 when Sandpoint’s first recorded school session was taught (according to a 1951 Sandpoint News-Bulletin). Back then the rugged, burgeoning community of Sandpoint faced funding issues, enrollment changes and conflicting priorities for who, how, what and where school should be taught. Fast forward 100-plus years. Many issues still prevail, added to which is the three-way tug-of-war between local, state and federal entities. What does that mean for Sandpoint’s communities in general and the educational landscape in particular? And why should we even care about education in Sandpoint, especially public education?

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from the impact of a large, successfully run school district – staff and students live, shop, work and spend in the area – to attracting prospective home buyers. Statewide, public schools comprise more than 95 percent of overall pre-kindergarten through 12th grade enrollment, according to the Idaho State Department of Education. Last year, LPOSD reported a $37 million budget. The district is the largest public employer in Bonner County with more than 500 employees serving about 3,850 students, making it the 19th SUMMER 2009

largest district in Idaho. With 2009 graduation rates at 85 percent, LPOSD high schools provide a ready workforce. About 5.5 percent of those graduates attend North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene. Locally, NIC’s Ponderay Center is serving an increasing number of students, both recent high school graduates and other adults, with overall enrollment up 59.4 percent since moving to the Bonner Mall in 2006. Although people do care about public education, its shortcomings and struggles must be acknowledged. In Sandpoint, throughout Idaho and across the nation, public education is beset with challenges.

Enrollment

Statewide, nearly half of all districts report declining or flat enrollment (Idaho State Department of Education). Although Bonner County’s population growth from 1997 to 2007 increased 17 percent (Idaho SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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First, it is the “cornerstone of our democracy,” according to Dick Cvitanich, superintendent of Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD). Or, as the former United Nations SecretaryGeneral Kofi Annan said: “Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development … the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.” Second, good public education makes good economic sense, ranging

Sandpoint’s first school, built in 1894, is shown with its distinctive bell tower on the right side of First Avenue in this 1902 photograph. Many of the challenges educators face today existed even then. (The Bonner County Historical Society Collection)

5/3/09 2:55:28 PM

PHOTO BY DAVID GUNTER

Change in Sandpoint

Lake Pend Oreille Schools Superintendent Dick Cvitanich: “We’re in an enviable position compared to most school districts in the state of Idaho.”

Department of Labor) – 6 percent more than the national average – school enrollment is down. This may be due to a number of factors. Escalating housing prices force families to either rent, move farther away or leave altogether, while a shift from higher-paying jobs to service industries exacerbates the problem. Further, with a lack of viable jobs, young people may not remain in the area post-graduation nor return after completing college or other postsecondary training; thus, when they’re raising their own families, they’re doing it elsewhere. Because enrollment drives public school funding, the impact of rapidly rising housing costs and the changing demographic of residents can profoundly affect education. The median price of a home in Bonner County was $250,000 w w w. s a n d p o i n t o n l i n e . c o m

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in 2008 versus $146,000 in 2002. “I think we’ve been slow to react to the demand for affordable housing, and it does affect our ability to attract teachers as well as people who want to work, live and raise children in our small town,” said Alan Millar, principal of Sandpoint Charter School and a Bonner Community Housing Agency board member. The projected population figures for 2010 predict that the youngest generation, age 15 and under, is shrinking, while the age segments of 45 to 64 and 65 and over are seeing the most growth. The generations in between, ages 15 to 44, remain relatively flat. With fewer families and working-class residents, and more retirees and “amenity migrants” populating Bonner County, the school-age population is guaranteed to continue declining. “A challenge unique to Sandpoint and other resort communities,” said Mindy Cameron, LPOSD School Board trustee since 2004, “is the growing gap between haves and have-nots.” She notes that “Sandpoint has an uphill road to get the necessary votes (to pass levies) because many residents are retirees who have little direct interest in funding schools.” Cvitanich added, “I am concerned about the affordability of homes for young families. As the housing costs have gone up, it’s become more difficult for families to move into our community. With the price of homes, it does seem to have become more of a community for those with the means.” The perception that levies raise taxes

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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3 11 S . Di v i s i o n • S a n d p o i n t

SUMMER 2009

5/3/09 2:55:30 PM

Change in Sandpoint LPOSD Enrollment

Fall enrollment – Idaho Department of Education

School Year

Total **

Pre-K Hdcpd

Kindergarten

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

11th

12th

2007-2008

4,028

245

256

282

267

272

280

350

317

338

334

331

375

330

2003-2004

4,076

234

249

287

275

286

392

372

377

411

319

308

1999-2000

4,147

204

259

271

321

319

310

342

318

349

399

357

360

313

(although the most recent levy did not) is what Cvitanich sees as a greater factor in who votes yes or no. “I do not,” he said, “think this is related to income level.”

Funding

supplemental levy for $10.95 million. “I get up every day thinking I am the luckiest person in the world to be able to do a job I love in a community that cares about their children,” said Cvitanich. “We’re in an enviable position compared

to most school districts in the state of Idaho in that our board and community continue to have great opportunities during this economic downturn.” Unfortunately, decreased enrollment, when combined with increased

There’s also the perception (sometimes warranted) that if districts managed their money better, levies would not be needed. In 1999, for example, the failure to pass levies contributed to a contentious split of Bonner County School District into West Bonner County and LPOSD. Yet public education increasingly relies on voterapproved levies, especially since 2007 state legislation removed property taxes as a source of stable funding for education. Levy money bridges the gap for healthcare benefits, equitable teacher salaries, transportation, technology upgrades, extracurricular programs, utilities, even classroom supplies. To help bridge the gap, organizations like Panhandle Alliance for Education (PAFE) have galvanized businesses and citizens alike. Cofounded by Cameron and Bill Berg in 2001, PAFE has since awarded $608,000 in district grants. Similar efforts by Citizens for Better Schools helped swing voters toward approving in February a critical, two-year w w w. s a n d p o i n t o n l i n e . c o m

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SUMMER 2009

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

5/3/09 2:55:32 PM

Change in Sandpoint

–Sen. Shawn Keough

as throughout the nation. For fiscal year 2010, that’s forcing significant cuts, including legislation that allows districts to declare a fiscal emergency and freeze/cut employee pay. Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, who serves on the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee, said, “Idaho is using the federal stimulus money and our so-called rainy day money in this school year to make sure that K-12 schools will finish the school year without cuts.” Those same funds will be used in the 2009-10 school year, and the small amount left after that is earmarked for 2011. “This three-year action has been taken to cushion K-12 in this historic economic downturn and anticipates that for much of Idaho this recession will last well into 2010 and

very possibly 2011,” Keough added.

Alternatives Like a sparrow in the storm, Sandpoint Charter School is nonetheless forging ahead with plans to build a high school to initially accommodate grades 9 and 10, the construction of which will be funded through loans. Two hours longer than the current middle school day, the new high school program will still “emphasize small class sizes, an advocacy/mentor program for each student and a rigorous, projectbased academics and behavioral standard,” said Principal Millar. Often mistaken for a private school – they require uniforms and tend towards cooperative, project-based instruction

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expenses – food, gas, supplies, labor, even snow removal – and decreased revenues will still necessitate cuts (on top of 60 positions lost in the last three years), as well as scaling back programs. The Upper Quartile Program, for example, has been reduced from seven teachers to four, and elementary counseling will cease to exist. Against national averages, Idaho ranks 47th in per pupil spending, 6th highest in class sizes and 41st lowest in teacher pay. This last fact forces most Idaho districts to get creative when attracting and retaining teachers, especially when neighboring states – and other professions requiring comparable education and experience – pay significantly more. Since salary usually accounts for close to 80 percent of district expenses, what the district receives from the state is critical. The state itself gets federal dollars with lots of strings attached, assorted monies like lottery and tobacco, and revenues, which have declined in Idaho

“Our greatest challenges will be to continue to do more with less in this current economic climate, be willing to do more for ourselves (pass levies), be individually involved ... and have a system which can be flexible and meet the educational needs of our students.”

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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SUMMER 2009

5/3/09 2:55:33 PM

Change in Sandpoint – charter schools are actually publicly funded, semi-autonomous and governed by a separate board. Opened in 2001 with enrollment that continues to increase, Sandpoint Charter receives state funding, limited federal dollars and some grants; it does not have access to levies but partners with LPOSD to pay for busing and dual enrollment. Public reaction to charter schools is mixed. In a recent Coeur d’Alene Press editorial, former Superintendent of Instruction Marilyn Howard says they slice “the monetary pie even thinner.” Her successor, Tom Luna, disagrees and would like to see current limits on new charter schools removed, a sentiment recently echoed by President Barack Obama. Charters include virtual academies, which are the fastest-growing public schools in Idaho and nationwide. This segment of education is a $50 million business expanding 30 percent annually, according to the International Association for K-12 Online Learning

(iNACOL). As of 2007, there were 173 virtual charter schools spread throughout 18 states serving more than 90,000 students, with 44 states overall having or developing online programs. Locally, said Millar, his research showed 289 addresses in Bonner and Boundary counties for a single virtual academy for 9th and 10th grade students. Such academies may make homeschooling increasingly attractive, further drawing down public school enrollment. Clearly, families want choices. “We’ve got to get away from the notion that one size fits all,” said Millar. That philosophy also permeates Lake Pend Oreille Alternative High School, an LPOSD facility that serves about 130 students, grades 7-12, considered to be “at-risk” of not completing their education. One of the challenges the alternative school faces is misconceptions, said teacher Randy Wilhelm. “We are not a school of ‘bad kids,’ ” he said, but rather “some of the brightest and nicest

students in the district. If anything, our students have had more obstacles and barriers to overcome at a young age than a lot of adults encounter in a lifetime.” Those obstacles include nontraditional learning styles, especially kinesthetic learners; addiction issues; physical, emotional or sexual abuse; excessive absences and/or lost credits; and teenage pregnancy. And, with teenage pregnancy, domestic violence and other issues affecting student learning on the rise, LPOSD – as with other districts – may need to expand its alternative school as an increasing number of kids suffer the peripheral issues affecting their parents. Others, including those old enough to work or beyond compulsory education requirements, may opt to drop out altogether in order to support the family and/or themselves. Similar to charter schools, alternative schools affect attendance and, ultimately, overall district funding at “mainstream schools” because they are funded using different formulas than, say, Sandpoint

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Change in Sandpoint High School. A greater impact, however, is caused by private schools and, to a lesser extent, homeschooling. Homeschooling has deep roots in Idaho, which historically supports vouchers as recently as March 2009 when U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, voted to extend a controversial, publicly funded voucher program. While some public school advocates denounce homeschooling, it occupies only a small segment of the population. More important is that they have the legal right to “dual-

enroll” in any LPOSD program, including extracurricular, something Cvitanich said he welcomes although their inclusion is likely underfunded. Formed by parents, educators and, in some instances, religious organizations, private schools have advantages and disadvantages depending on which side of the desk you’re sitting. While they don’t receive state funding, neither are they required to provide such things as special education services, busing or meals. Tuition is supplemented by community

grants, fund-raising and volunteers. At Sandpoint Waldorf School, for example, pre-school starts at $1,600 per school term (two days/week) to $4,650 per term for grades 2 through 8, and parents participate to help lower costs.

Future Interestingly, in a downward economy, more parents may send their children to public school, which may alleviate enrollment decline. Yet, if that hap-

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Change in Sandpoint pens, LPOSD may find itself scrambling to handle the influx, having based their budget and staffing on existing numbers. Unfortunately, public school funding throughout Idaho is in jeopardy with the governor, state superintendent of instruction and legislators grappling with the trickle-down effect of the economic woes. Sen. Keough said, “This year, with 50,000 Idahoans out of work, with an unemployment fund going broke, with having to cut $451 million out of the

state budget and with K-12 taking almost half of our general fund budget, we have had no choice but to cut all budgets.” Compared to other state agencies cut at an average of 12 percent, public education was cut around 7 percent. She added, “While these cuts will be difficult for some districts, Idaho schools are in better shape than schools in Washington, Oregon and California, where cuts are in the double digits and thousands of teachers are losing their jobs.” As of press time, the Idaho

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Legislature and governor had not yet formally agreed on the proposed cuts. One thing is for sure. Come September, kids will return to school from Sagle to Sandpoint, from Clark Fork to Kootenai. While students will be welcomed with open arms, teachers may be paid less, classes may be more crowded and some programs may just not be there, yet Cvitanich remains optimistic. “Our teachers accomplish more with less than any place I have ever worked,” he said.

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R _ eal Estate E Sandpoint’s

mountain town market A bright spot in the national picture

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Sandpoint is a place to live, not a place to flip.

And that is the primary reason the real estate market here will endure over the long-term. We’re experiencing a downturn, but Chris Thornberg, founding principal for Los Angeles-based Beacon Economics, speculates that the dip in mountain states such as Montana and Idaho will be shallower and shorter than what most major markets and better-known resort towns are seeing right now. The recent bankruptcies of Tamarack Resort in Idaho and The Yellowstone Club in Montana have highlighted the fragility of resort real estate. Although prices peaked in 2005 and 2006, Sandpoint didn’t have a hungry, speculative feeding frenzy like the aforementioned resorts, and therefore will prove to be more stable, according to Howard Trott, managing director of Schweitzer Mountain Real Estate. People want to live here. Sandpoint has natural amenities – the stunning lake, a charming town, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and a 2,900-acre ski resort. This translates well for lifestyle refugees who have always dreamed of living here. Everyone is always looking for the “next place.” On the national picture, prices have decreased since mid-2006 on average 25 percent in many major cities, and even up to 40 percent in Phoenix, Miami and Las Vegas. In the Western region overall, the median home price started dropping in 2007, 3 percent from 2006, and another 19 percent from 2007 to 2008. In Bonner County, the median residential price was still increasing between 2006 and 2007 (6 percent). It fell just 6 percent between 2007 and 2008, according to statistics compiled by the Selkirk Association of SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Realtors Multiple Listing Service. Telluride, Colo., measures its real estate sales through its Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) that funds most of the city budget and capital improvements. In 2008, they suffered a reduction in the RETT of 75 to 95 percent and had to implement a recession budget.

PHOTO BY WOODS WHEATCROFT

By Lisa Gerber

Not a flash in the pan Sandpoint won’t see such catastrophic failures, according to Trott. For one, the local ski resort is not leveraged with debt, but most importantly the Sandpoint area didn’t see the speculation as happened at Tamarack. Speculation artificially increases the prices. When the bubble bursts, and real estate sales come to a halt, the ownership usually lacks the cash flow without revenue from the lot sales to operate the ski side of the resort. Thornberg explained the situation at the New West Conference for Real Estate Development in the Northern Rockies last fall in Missoula, Mont. He called equity markets the drama queen of the financial world: They overreact to everything. Housing prices are falling not because of the recession, but because the prices were too high to begin with, and now they are being corrected, he said. The national market was being glutted with new construction, and investors were snapping homes up with easy credit and historically low interest rates. And now they are overleveraged and can no longer afford them. The market is being flooded with shortsells, which builders can’t compete with. Why buy a custom home at full retail when you can get a bargain from a bank foreclosure? Until distressed inventory is absorbed back into the market, builders and the housing sector will struggle. SUMMER 2009

5/4/09 1:19:05 PM

PHOTO BY CHRIS GUIBERT

General market

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SUMMER 2009

Opposite: Dover Bay caters to an active, waterfront lifestyle. Above left: Many “amenity migrants” seek waterfront homes. Top and right: The Idaho Club capitalizes on both waterfront and golf.

prices in the $250,000 to $350,000 range are holding well. Previous buyers in his Maplewood community in South Sandpoint have refinanced, and homes have appraised well compared to the purchase price of a year or two ago.

Master-planned communities The luxury market continues to be sluggish; however, developers in that segment are cautiously optimistic. Sandpoint offers a choice of waterfront, golf course and skiin/ski-out real estate. Major construction projects are stalled all over the country, leaving eyesores in the center of communities. Meanwhile, Sandpoint luxury developments continue to progress, albeit more slowly than hoped for and with their fair share of obstacles. Last year, The Idaho Club lost its preferred builder to bankruptcy, leaving 10 homes uncompleted. Then the iconic clubhouse was lost to fire in December. Sales have slowed. Still, as of early 2009, the gated community has five homes on Moose Mountain under construction, three homes completed and 18 custom design projects on the table. The Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course, which opened on Labor Day Weekend 2008, is getting rave reviews and will have its first full season in 2009. Brad Arnold, director of sales at The Idaho Club, sees that the buyers who are buying now are savvy. They have been hurt by the market, their portfolios are down, but they see the Sandpoint market as one that will hold its value over time. When the preferred builder, Sullivan Homes, Inc., ceased doing business in September 2008, Idaho Club found itself caught off guard, “but not entirely surprised,” said Arnold. SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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According to Thornberg, single-family home construction in Idaho was down 37 percent from August 2007 to August 2008. Multifamily construction is down 70 percent for the same time frame. In 2008, total volume of residential sales in Bonner and Boundary counties fell 43 percent. The segments that are down are second-home buyers and investment buyers. According to Dan McLaughlin, president of the Selkirk Association of Realtors, the market is picking up in the lower price range of $100,000 to $250,000. At the end of 2008 and beginning of 2009, residential sales in that price range accounted for 85 to 95 percent of all sales. In comparison, during the peak of 2005-06, there were no residential sales under $200,000. From Jan. 1 to April 24, 2009, there were 118 transactions for a total sales volume of $36.4 million, whereas the same period last year saw 150 transactions totaling $41.8 million, a reduction of 21.3 and 12.9 percent, respectively. McLaughlin predicts the lower-price-range homes will fare even better in 2009, with the lowest mortgage rates in 50 years, a large inventory and tax incentives such as the firsttime home buyer’s $8,000 tax credit, part of the economic stimulus package that passed in February (qualifying home purchases must be made in 2009 before Dec. 1). The price adjustments are making homes more affordable. David Eacret, from Real Estate Economics in Sandpoint, says Sandpoint has grown 1.5 percent faster than the national average. Bonner County has more economic diversity with a good base of manufacturing, and homegrown industries from the lifestyle refugees will create jobs and attract more yearround residents. Semi-retirees come for our natural resources. Communities such as Maplewood Village in South Sandpoint and Timberline toward the base of the Schweitzer Mountain Road are catering to these year-round residents and semi-retirees shopping in the $200,000 to $350,000 price range. In the middle price range, Bill Drayton, a real estate agent at Century 21 RiverStone, observes that home

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Real Estate

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At press time, four of the 10 uncompleted homes have been resolved, meaning they will be completed and inhabited by the original buyers. Arnold continues to work with lenders, attorneys and buyers to resolve the final six. The tragic loss of the clubhouse to fire meant the loss of many happy memories. The cause of the fire will likely never be determined and arson is not suspected, Arnold added. They plan to replace the clubhouse with one of similar style with natural materials such as timber framing, stone and log accents. A timeframe is yet to be determined as insurance issues are being worked out.

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PHOTO BY DAVID MARX

On the waterfront at Seasons at Sandpoint, admittedly sales aren’t as developer BVG, Inc., would like, but they continue at a steady and slow pace. The demand was enough to break ground on phase 3 in November 2008. Their most luxurious product to date, its eight 4,000-square-foot townhomes are listed at $2.1 million. One of the eight has already sold with one pending as of press time. The project will start framing in April and “dusty shoe” previews will be conducted at that time. Scheduled completion date is the first quarter of 2010. Sales have been steady at Dover Bay, another waterfront community just west of town. Prices start at $145,000 for homesites or $198,500 for Parkside Bungalows, where four new homes are being finished. At the top of the price scale, listed at $1.2 million, are a prime waterfront homesite and a condominium. Dover Bay still has some units available in its Marina Town neighborhood and one home left in phase 1 of The Cottages in Dover Meadows. A number of custom homes are being built, and a new condominium building in Bayside South is under way. In 2008, Schweitzer Mountain removed the high-end Trappers Creek homesites from the market. They returned to the planning table to modify their product in response to the changing economy and lifestyle choices of potential buyers. Outside the clubhouse, decks lead to a lakeside pool and marina at The Seasons at Sandpoint.

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Real Estate Although still in the planning stage, Trott hopes to introduce their fractional ownership homes this summer. This achieves a few things. It is more efficient, allowing maximum use of the homes, bringing more heads to the beds and creating a more lively resort. “People don’t want to be consumptive in this day and age,” said Trott. Units will be a more economical 1,800 square feet. Families want less maintenance. They want to spend time in the mountains, not working in the yard. For that reason, they anticipate dense clusters and more common outdoor space. Finally, Trott anticipates the design to be a sustainable one with a rustic, mountain contemporary look. There will be plenty of outdoors living area, making it a year-round home. With its proximity to the resort village, owners can park their car upon arrival and walk everywhere. Pricing, schedule and details are not yet available.

Back to basics The largest common denominator in buyers to the area is the desire to simplify. Young couples, families, semi-retirees and retirees all want to live the life they’ve always imagined – taking walks in the woods, dips in the lake, a ski run with the kids. They want to be a part of a real community. Overall, there has been a general uptick in traffic with people getting

back out and shopping. They see the market softening and are waiting for the right moment to make the move. At Schweitzer and in Sandpoint, real estate buyers are making lifestyle choices. It’s not just about the financial return anymore. Buyers are coming from all over the country, but the primary market is the Northwest, more specifically western Washington. There aren’t any destination ski resorts in Washington state. The golf course and waterfront properties are attracting those from hotter climates who are seeking a more moderate summer climate. Bob and Sandy Coler owned a second home in Tahoe and decided to sell. They prefer the home they have since purchased at The Idaho Club. “It’s tough to beat the raw, natural beauty of Lake Tahoe; however, it’s not real recreational-user friendly and can get very crowded and congested,” wrote Bob via e-mail. “Lake Pend Oreille is … very pretty, and can be freely enjoyed by water sports enthusiasts. Although the snow skiing choices are (more) limited in Sandpoint, you spend your time skiing rather than waiting in ticket and lift lines.” Forget about global crises, statistics and the media coverage, and Sandpoint remains what it is and why many choose to visit and live here. It is a beautiful and peaceful place that provides a fulfilling lifestyle and a lasting legacy for families. These factors won’t fluctuate like the stock market, housing costs and government policy.

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Real Estate

Sandpoint 2.0: More efficient, urban City’s new comprehensive plan charts bold future

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By Cate Huisman

Sandpoint City Council conducted several public meetings to gather input from citizens, who voted with “sticky dots” to identify their visions for a future Sandpoint. Consultant Studio Cascade, Inc. incorporated those ideas with the most dots into the draft comprehensive plan.

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hat requires dozens of meetings; a committee, a consultant and a council; a lot of give and take; and numerous sticky dots? Anyone who has been following local news for the last two and a half years will easily guess it’s the Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan. Although the city has had a comprehensive plan since 1977, the brief plan written 30 years ago was never meant to address the kinds of issues facing Sandpoint now, such as increasing motorized traffic and sprawl. So in fall 2006, a steering committee was formed and given the task of identifying a consultant to shepherd the community through a comprehensive planning process. This group selected Studio Cascade, a planning and design firm based in Spokane, to conduct several public meetings at which citizens were asked to identify their visions for a future Sandpoint. This is where the sticky dots came in – participants were each issued a limited number of colored dots to “vote” on various options by sticking their dots on maps and charts. Studio Cascade incorporated the ideas with the most dots into the plan they drafted. Next, the city council conducted dozens of meetings to review the plan in detail and listen to public concerns. “It took a while to make a plan that all could live with,” said Mayor Gretchen Hellar, noting that council members all gave “a little bit here, a little bit there” to produce the final document adopted early this year. The unanimous vote of acceptance was important: “The council really felt that if it was going to be a true comprehensive plan from which every regulation and zoning ordinance flows, we had to have unanimity.” “The new plan is a pretty radical departure from our previous comp plan,” said city Planning Director Jeremy Grimm. “It has given us a clear direction that will lead us away from a sprawling type of development pattern with large, single-family lots to a more efficient, more urban pattern.” One focus is on the downtown core; the plan calls for more residents in this area and anticipates that they will help support retail services there. In residential areas outside the downtown, the plan allows for smaller minimum lot sizes and a greater variety of housing. With these two changes, much of Sandpoint’s expected population growth can be absorbed within current city limits. The higher density will allow more residents to walk or bike to work or school or for recreation, reducing auto traffic congestion, and lessening the need for parking lots where parks, schools or businesses might be better uses of land. At the same time, by concentrating development, the plan will preserve open space adjacent to the city. Much of that open space, of course, is beyond the city limits, and the surrounding county has its own recently updated comprehensive plan. The most important aspect of Bonner County’s plan, according to county Planning Director Clare Marley, is to preserve natural resources and a rural atmosphere. The 5-acre lots required in the county’s previous plan, written in 1978, contributed to sprawl. Its new plan, like the city’s, allows for smaller lots in urban areas and larger ones in more remote locales with fewer services and roads. The two plans overlap in addressing the ACI, or area of city impact, which comprises land having potential to be served by city services and be annexed by the city. The city and county already have a working agreement for the ACI, and the

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process of updating it will begin this summer. Visitors and residents alike are likely to notice one of the first changes that has been implemented to reflect Sandpoint’s new plan: They can sit down and eat inside at a favorite restaurant. Previous zoning requirements for the commercial center required all new businesses to provide parking for their customers, or pay the city a hefty fee in lieu of providing some of the required spaces. The effect was that small entrepreneurs were discouraged from setting up shop downtown, and successful ones were discouraged from expanding. That’s why dedicated diners at a popular but tiny Mexican eatery called Joel’s often wolfed down their burritos and quesadillas huddled in the rain and cold at temporary tables outside. Owner Joel Aispuro had no space to add park-

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The higher density in the city’s new comp plan encourages more people to walk or bike to work, school or for recreation, reducing traffic and minimizing land consumed by parking lots.

ing and no money for the in-lieu fees. Now that he’s freed of the parking requirement, Aispuro can enclose and heat his often crowded dining area. It’s important to understand that the new plan provides overall goals and a vision for the future. In itself, it will not end current uses of land or buildings; rather it will guide future development. To this end, new zoning regulations must be written and implemented, of which the parking regulations described above are one example. Mayor Hellar also hopes some change will result from exemplary city leadership. One goal of the new plan is to avoid polluting our prized lake: The mayor points out that a significant source of pollution is runoff from fertilizers and herbicides, and a significant source of such runoff is city parks. She envisions the city landscaping parks in a way that requires less fertilizer and less water, saves money, and encourages citizens to do the same. “If people see it’s less polluting and also costs less, why wouldn’t they go along?” she asked. “It’s a lot easier to lead by example than it is to make regulations.” The Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan may be downloaded as a pdf at www. CityofSandpoint.com.

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Real Estate

Life anew for Selle Grange Mother-daughter team transforms historic building

Story and photos by Erica F. Curless

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side of Schweitzer Mountain. Neighbors, including Realtor Jeff Bond, are thrilled that the grange is living on as a gathering place, retaining its special charm in the valley. The building in recent years was used as a church and then almost became a house. “I’ve been to meetings there for years,” said Bond, who lived in the Selle Valley for 25 years before recently moving to Hope. “It’s always been used for events and potlucks.” Bond, the owner and broker of Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s International Realty, said it’s good when buildings with historic value, especially with architectural interest, are preserved and given new life. The Old Power House in downtown Sandpoint and the renovation of the old Sandpoint High School are other examSUMMER 2009

Susan Weathers, left, and Allyson Knapp preserved Selle Grange as a public venue, renovating it into an elegant events center.

ples of historic renovations, he said. Now with a new kitchen, bathrooms and plaster walls, 13-foot-high ceilings and crown molding, the old Selle Grange is ready to entertain in style. “Ours isn’t a Davenport,” said Knapp, a Coeur d’Alene native who now lives in Newman Lake, Wash. “We’re more like a loveseat. That’s our SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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llyson Knapp saw a fairytale and crystal chandeliers when she first stepped into the gutted old building where local loggers danced and farmers talked politics and played pinochle. All her mother and business partner Susan Weathers saw was dirt and disaster – not a dreamy place for romance and weddings. Even the real estate agent questioned the possible grandeur of a stripped-to-the-studs hall. That was until the field trip to Spokane’s legendary Davenport Hotel and the Marie Antoinette Ballroom. Then it clicked, beginning the transformation of Selle Grange No. 313 into Enchanted Events: an elegant, yet affordable, venue for weddings, anniversaries and other special occasions north of Sandpoint off U.S. Highway 95 in the valley nestled beneath the Colburn

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joke.” The outside remains unchanged, a simple wood building along Selle Road just across the railroad tracks. Nobody would guess the elegance welcoming guests inside. “I wanted the drama,” Knapp said, describing the style as a simplified version of the Davenport ballroom and its French neoclassical design. That drama took buckets of sweat and a year of cleaning, including removing a truck load of grain sweepings left over from when farmers used the back building for storage. Then came the remodeling, a family job that left Weathers with a broken leg from falling off a ladder. She kept working, although relegated to sitting atop scaffolding to hand-hang hundreds of glass teardrops on the centerpiece lighting. Two glass chandeliers dangle above a wooden inlaid dance floor bordered by green and gold carpet. A wall-sized mirror in the back of the room opens up the space, and large rectangular windows let in warm light and views of the mountains and pastures. The dream is in the details: round tables with white linens, gold Chiavari ballroom chairs, fine china and linen napkins. The bathrooms are stocked with cotton hand towels, no paper here. French doors open to the “Enchanted Forest” – a grove of towering pines and landscaping perfect for an outdoor ceremony. Jason Saylor and Karin Heady of Coeur d’Alene are one of the first couples to marry in the newly renovated grange hall, in a June 13 ceremony. Flexibility – and the fact that Enchanted Events staff does all the setup and cleanup – is a key benefit for the venue, the couple said. “We love lots of things about it,” Saylor said. “It looks at the back side of Schweitzer. We love the history and the fact that farmers and loggers danced here for the last 100 years.” The hall was built in 1927 next door to the mercantile as a place for loggers to dance. It became Selle Grange in

1932. A cardboard box filled with the grange’s history came with the building. Knapp and Weathers haven’t had time to review most of the papers, but they plan to use the information to help get the building on the National Register of Historical Places. “Organized June 14, 1932 by Bro. L.E. Kegley,” reads one typed and yellowing memo. Another describes the Grange’s 40th birthday potluck with turkey, ham and birthday cake along with 80 guests. “A reading about the Grange and musical numbers by Becky Meserve, Tommy Murray and Mrs. Frances Poelstra were enjoyed.” Granges were once the heart of agricultural and rural communities, not just providing a social outlet but also outlets for education, economic development and legislation. Rural granges in Idaho and across the country have struggled to survive as agriculture has declined. The Selle Grange ended about 1989 as interest faded. Today about 3,600 granges in 37 states remain, and the National Grange lobbies for rural America issues such as rural communication, health care and alternative energy sources, according to the National Grange Web site. The remodel and birth of Enchanted Events is a labor of love for the motherdaughter team who bought the grange in 2008 after a seven-year search of northern Idaho and eastern Washington for the perfect building and setting. The grange caught Knapp’s attention when, as a real estate appraiser, she was scanning the MLS and noticed the 2,000-square-foot, gutted building. To her, it was a clean slate for her vision. Knapp coaxed her mother to partner in the project, knowing she needs a project when she eventually retires as the Coeur d’Alene city clerk. “Every girl dreams of having a fairytale wedding but not every bride can afford it,” Knapp said. For more information go to www.enchanted eventssandpoint.com or call 208-699-3333 or 208-255-2426.

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Elegant Lakefront Retreat

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Castle-like home an architectural masterpiece

Story by Beth Hawkins Photos by Marie-Dominique Verdier

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Real Estate

Clockwise from left: The “Sky Lounge,” in the home’s tallest cone, is where homeowner Jaclin Smith retreats to during storms. The elk chandelier is so large it had to be built inside the room. The master bedroom’s curved wall of windows offers a sweeping view of Lake Pend Oreille. An elevator in the circular basement garage connects the home’s four floors.

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ingly drawn from nature’s own palette, making the enormous home blend into the surrounding landscape with a certain grace. Smith notes that even the eagles seem to appreciate the home’s curved architecture and natural elements, soaring in close and then gliding round the cylindrical shapes with smoothness and ease. Just inside the front double doors is perhaps the home’s singularly most dramatic feature. A grand library-inthe-round is situated within a dome in the open foyer, its every curved wall filled with handcrafted, built-in, wood bookcases that soar from floor to ceiling, with more bookcases encompassing the library’s open second floor, accessed by its own “private” staircase. Smith says this is one of her favorite rooms of the house, where her desk is centered amongst the hundreds of books. The spacious home’s interior is a pleasing blend of sophistication and elegance, yet is warm and inviting with wood accents and natural tones. SUMMER 2009

Smith is quick to credit the interior’s beauty with its cohesive feel to Gregory Carmichael, an interior designer from Seattle. The tasteful furnishings were custom ordered in a range of materials marrying leather with tapestry, and silk with wool. The great room’s area rug was custom made in Tibet, and its hidden, motorized drapery system was designed by an engineer from the Quest aircraft company in Sandpoint. A carved sandstone mantel fireplace divides the great room and dining room, its massive size offset by its uniform off-white color. Curved walls of windows in many of the rooms – the great room, the master bedroom and the dining area, in particular – allow sweeping views of the lake. In fact, every room in the entire home has at least one curved wall with the exception of the master bedroom closet. Smith said she had the wall squared off at the end so as not to interfere with the display of her extensive shoe collection. SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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lthough most Sandpoint residents don’t live in luxury homes – make it luxury mansions – on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, homeowner Jaclin Smith says that walking through the doors of her elegant 12,500-square-foot retreat is just like the experience of driving across the Long Bridge into Sandpoint. “I walk in here, and it just opens up,” Smith says of the exceptional lake views from nearly every room of her stunning new home. “It’s like how you feel when you drive across the Long Bridge. And I never tire of that.” Smith’s home – dubbed “Chateau de Jaclin” by her closest friends – is an architectural masterpiece. Situated on a peninsula-shaped swath of land that’s been in her family for decades, the home is made up of a series of nine “cones,” lending it a castle-like appearance. And yet the exterior’s understated tones – from the plastered walls and dry-stack stone, to the Brazilian slate and patinated copper roofs – are seem-

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The gourmet kitchen features distressed alder cabinets and granite countertops, and is divided into two sections – one part fronts the great room, and the other half of the kitchen curves around behind a wall. Smith says the design allows her to have caterers work “behind the scenes” when she’s throwing a party, and yet it still gives her an open kitchen accessed from the great room. More cues for Smith’s penchant for entertaining can be found in a perfectly appointed butler’s pantry and an elegant dining room. An elevator connects the home’s four floors, from the circular basement garage, which accommodates up to 12 cars, to the very top “Sky Lounge” – a room situated in one of the cones with breathtaking views in nearly every direction. Its 30-foot-high ceiling is adorned with an elk chandelier so large, it had to be constructed inside the room because it wouldn’t fit through the doorway. It’s to this tallest room that Smith makes her escape when there’s a storm – she likes to watch the lightning play across the lake and hear the rain pouring down on the copper roof. Another open living area is the spacious and bright daylight basement, where Smith’s five grandchildren stay when they come to visit (it’s been deemed “The Orphanage” by Smith’s 14-year-old grandson after he observed

Shown in the foyer, Jaclin Smith says she enjoyed the ups and downs of her home’s construction.

five airbeds lined up one after another). There is also a decked-out theater room (also in-the-round) complete with purple silk drapes, a 7-foot viewing screen, high-tech movie equipment and satellite system, and posh leather seating for eight. Smith’s love of travel is exemplified with a stop at the mezzanine – a round balcony area that looks down into the great room and the entryway. On display are her treasures from worldly explorations – a King Tut replica that she discovered in Cairo (“I missed the bus, but the shop owner was happy to give me a ride back to the hotel”), and a wooden Pinocchio puppet handcrafted by a woodcarver in Italy. Smith acquired these valuable collectibles at hefty prices, for sure, but not without some dickering. Her spendthrift side also came out during the building of her home. Smith recalls that as costs soared to three times the original budget – and were continuing to head ever upwards – she trimmed “several million” from the escalating price tag. With Smith’s background in construction – she builds and operates assisted living facilities throughout the West – she can easily rattle off a long list of numbers and facts about

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the work involved to build her home: 7,500 yards of granite were excavated, 900 yards of concrete and 260 tons of structural steel were used, and 9 tons of marble from China adorn the home’s interior. The entire process took just over five years – with six months spent in the design phase with local architect Jon Sayler, 44 months of actual construction, and another year spent with a decorator “to fill it up.” With such an enormous amount of time devoted to the project, most people might be happy to see it finally come to an end. But Smith actually reveled in the ups and downs of her home’s creation. “I thoroughly enjoyed the construction process,” she says. Sayler praises Smith’s endurance level throughout the entire process, saying that it takes a special kind of person to get through a project so big and complex. “I don’t think anybody else could have done it,” Sayler said. Smith moved to northern Idaho with her family in 1952 – on Jan. 4, to be exact. Coming from California and arriving in snowy Sandpoint, they thought they had “died and gone to heaven,” Smith said. Her parents built a home on the very site, which she considered renovating but ultimately decided to tear down. Her northern Idaho roots are definitely apparent, because perhaps the most surprising element when approaching Smith’s home along the short, private drive is the lack of a gate or a fence to keep onlookers away. “I don’t like gates and fences, I don’t like walls,” said Smith. “I don’t want to come here and pull up the drawbridge.” And during the summertime, Smith says there are hundreds of curious boaters who will cruise by at a slow “gawking” speed, or even stop and drop anchor to take in the sight of her magnificent home. And yet even the owner of one of the region’s most spectacular lake homes is not above this popular pastime. “I love getting in my boat and looking at other people’s houses,” she says, smiling.

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Marketwatch: Falling prices, interest rates attract first-time buyers

residential units sold, which was 118 versus Bonner and Boundary counties are expe150 in the period from Jan. 1 to April 24. riencing a strong buyer’s market in which Other indicators show that median sold Realtors are “cautiously optimistic” that acprice fell from $215,000 to $197,700, tivity in 2009 will be close to 2008, say Dan and volume was down from $41.8 million to McLaughlin, Selkirk Association of Realtors $36.4 million in the same period. Properties president, and Chad Dietz, president of the were also taking longer to sell, reflected Multiple Listing Service (MLS) covering the in an average days on the market of 137 two northern counties. versus 124. Prices have adjusted – both listing and Most sales are coming from properties sold prices – while sold volume in 2008 was priced under $200,000. More first-time down by about one-third from 2007. “That homeowners – especially locals buying tells me we’re going to see a continued rural housing – are taking advantage of decrease in price,” said Dietz, an agent with low interest rates and Federal Housing Century 21 in Bonners Ferry. He added that Administration programs, according prices haven’t decreased in Bonner County to McLaughlin, broker at Century 21 as much as they have in Boundary County. Life, Disability, Individual, Group Health Another incentive for qualified Almost all indicators for Selkirk MLS in and now Home and RiverStone. Auto too! first-time home buyers is the $8,000 tax residential sales were down in 2008 when in enacted makingby economic stimulus legislacredit compared to 2007: Sold listings fell toSpecializing 605 your life easier tion. Homes must be purchased in 2009 from 936; median sold prices dropped from $248,500 to $220,000; and total sold volume before Dec. 1. SCOTT ALBERTSON, AGENT went from $306.69 million to $176.94 million. Yet another trend in buyers’ favor is sellTYE BARLOW, AGENT 2009 started out a bit behind 2008 in ers paying 50 percent or more of closing Old Power House Building 120 E. Lake Street, Suite 203 Sandpoint, ID 83864

and pre-paid costs – another result of the buyer’s market. “Buyers are chomping at the bit but are waiting to see the economy give them a glimpse of hope before they buy,” McLaughlin said. Dietz agreed, saying: “There are people willing and able to buy. They’re just nervous. There are still a lot of buyers coming to the area; they’re just not ready to pull the trigger yet.” Both agents say that fewer second-home buyers are materializing, while investors leery of the stock market are turning to real estate, although they appear to be waiting to see the market bottom out. Investors targeting foreclosures see less opportunity here, however, as this area is less impacted by foreclosures than other more urban areas. Overall prices are falling and inventory is high, while interest rates are at historic lows. “If you have money and want to buy, it’s a good time to buy,” said McLaughlin. –Billie Jean Plaster

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Real Estate BONNER/BOUNDARY REAL ESTATE TRENDS Residential Sandpoint

YTD 2008

YTD 2009

2008 2009 YTD

Residential Priest River

YTD 2008

YTD 2009

2008 2009 YTD

Residential Bonners Ferry

YTD 2008

YTD 2009

2008 2009 YTD

Sold Listings

-29.7%

Sold Listings

-38.9%

Sold Listings

13.0%

Volume Sold Listings

28,178,402

18,521,400

-34.3%

Volume Sold Listings

3,979,750

1,528,200

-61.6%

Volume Sold Listings

4,388,690

5,085,565

15.9%

Median Price

272,000

227,500

-16.4%

Median Price

$136,500

$117,000

-14.3%

Median Price

159,000

180,500

13.5%

Average Sale Price

$309,652

$289,396

-6.5%

Average Sale Price

$221,097

$138,927

-37.2%

Average Sale Price

$190,812

$195,598

2.5%

Average Days on Market

118

161

36.4%

Average Days on Market

103

131

27.2%

Average Days on Market

137

129

-5.8%

Vacant Land Sandpoint

YTD 2008

YTD 2009

2008 2009 YTD

Vacant Land Priest River

YTD 2008

YTD 2009

2008 2009 YTD

Vacant Land Bonners Ferry

YTD 2008

YTD 2009

2008 2009 YTD

Sold Listings

-54.8%

Sold Listings

-50.0%

Sold Listings

9.1%

Volume Sold Listings

14,056,700

1,599,000

-88.6%

Volume Sold Listings

704,000

536,000

-23.9%

Volume Sold Listings

1,275,000

640,900

-49.7%

Median Price

$131,500

$55,000

-58.2%

Median Price

$78,000

$110,500

41.7%

Median Price

97,500

41,200

-57.7%

Average Sale Price

$334,683

$84,157

-74.9%

Average Sale Price

$88,000

$134,000

52.3%

Average Sale Price

$115,909

$53,408

-53.9%

Average Days on Market

145

48.0%

Average Days on Market

103

229

122.3%

Average Days on Market

169

119

-29.6%

Based on information from the Selkirk MLS for the period of 1/1/08 - 4/24/08 and 1/1/09 - 4/24/09 Information deemed reliable but not guarenteed.

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Michael White, Realtor

BS Forest Resources & Ecosystem Management For land, Ranches, and Homes with Acreage

Harry Weerheim Sales Associate, R E S O R T

R E A LT Y

You will get more knowledge skills and service 208.290.8599 • www.NorthwestLandman.com

690 ACRES - borders the Clark Fork River & National Forest with paved county road access. The views are spectacular in all directions, but from Castle Rock you can see all the way to Lake Pend Oreille & Schweitzer ski mtn. Property consists of about 1/3 good, productive pasture lands & about 2/3 forest land. Power & phone on site, plus a little year-round creek. Easy to subdivide. $3,500,000

240 ACRES Of fORESTED LAND With beautiful lake, mountain and valley views. Four contiguous parcels (two 80acre and two 40-acre) borders USFS on multiple sides. $799,500

Residential & Resort Specialist Captain & EMT, Schweitzer Mtn VFD Experienced Home Builder 208-610-6577

640 ACRES of some of the most productive land in North America! 240 acres of Palouse farm fields, 400 ac of prime timber land with a big year-around creek, awesome views, and wildlife galore. It even has an old farm house, well, electric, phone, new rocked road and paved access! This is the perfect property for farming and ranching, survival, family or corporate retreat. Bring Offers! Asking $1,700,000

LARGE UNDER GROUND CEMENT HOUSE ON 130 acres bordered by two big creeks & timber company land! Features include well, electric plus solar and generator backups, two good log cabins, shop & greenhouse too. New interior road system & county maintained road access just off the pavement. Awesome views. Priced as vacant land, only $649,500!

90 ACRES on Deep Creek w/ alternative energy cabin, Borders state land, good productive pasture land, beautiful forest and great views. 20 minutes to Sandpoint Bring offers! Asking $495,500

20 ACRES iN HAyDEN, iD. Quaint & beautiful horse property with good home, big barn, productive hay fields, pasture, views, good county maintained road, close to shopping, dining, lake, etc... $425,000

20 ACRES with nice cedar sided home, wired for conventional, solar and generator electric. One mile off paved county road, on newly rocked private road with secondary access road too. Big barn, good views, private but easy drive to town. Asking $299,500

17 ACRES w/ SAND CREEk fRONTAGE beaver pond, nice forest, usable land, power & phone,and small cottage. Less than 10 ml to Sandpoint, 1 mile off paved co. rd, 3 parcels sold together for $125,500

2008 fRAME BUiLT construction just minutes to downtown Sandpoint. This home features beautiful wood work, vaulted ceilings and great views. Nearly a half acre lot is biggest in subdivision and access is all on paved roads. Large two car attached garage $244,500

40 ACRES with gorgeous lake views, county road frontage, less than one mile to Clark Fork, ID power and phone are in the road, property is flat on bottom and up on top for excellent building sites. Unparalleled views of Lake Pend Oreille, River, valley & mountains. $249,500

21 ACRES ON LOST LAkE! Great views, power & phone, two building pads w/ roughed-in roads, mostly paved roads on the 10 mile drive to town. Area of nice homes. Great price at $275,000

21AC W/ BiG ViEWS Of THE LAkE, Great views of Lake Pend Oreille, Lost Lake, surrounding Mountains and valley below. Easy drive to Sandpoint, mostly on paved roads. On the edge of Selle Valley, in an area of very nice homes. Firm at $189,500

8 ACRES w/ 800’ Of WATERfRONT, where the Pack River meets the lake. adjacent to Idaho Club! Boatable into Lake Pend Oreille. Great road access, building pad in, perc tested and gorgeous views of river, lake, mountains & wildlife. $995,000

WHY LIST WITH MICHAEL?

Consistently ranked top 10% in sales. Your listing advertised in The Real Estate Book, Homes & Land, Coeur d’ Alene Mag., Sandpoint Mag, Inland Northwest Real Estate Guide, Farm & Ranch Mag and more... Member of Cd’A and Selkirk MLS, doubles your exposure.

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Natives and Newcomers

Natives and Newcomers By Dianna Winget Photos by Marie-Dominique Verdier This ongoing feature explores contrasts between newcomers to our area and those who have been here their entire lives. This time we chose an elementary school teacher and a recent retiree for the newcomers, a native who you’ve likely heard on the radio, as well as a native who’s been here long enough to remember when Sandpoint had a streetcar. Enjoy their widely differing perspectives.

If you plan on living in Sandpoint, you need to realize we have four seasons and you need to be able to prepare yourselves clothing-wise to be able to enjoy it. If you’re coming from a warm, sunny climate and you don’t have inclement weather and you’re going to sit in the house from November until April, it isn’t gonna work. You need to do something, whether it’s skiing, or snowshoeing or ice fishing.

Natives

Have you ever considered living anywhere else?

– Amy and Lea – two grandsons, and has worked at Alpine Motors since 1990. In his spare time Blacky, age 56, enjoys fly fishing and skiing. He wistfully recalls purchasing his first Schweitzer season pass for $32.

nod nt

What’s your favorite local business?

My favorite local business is all the local businesses in Sandpoint. I just think it’s really important to give the businesses here a chance before you leave town, especially in this economy. What’s the greatest challenge facing Sandpoint?

Duane “Blacky” Black A true native, Blacky still lives on the same lot in town to which he was brought home from Bonner General. His father worked for Idaho Fish and Game, so Blacky fondly recalls the menagerie of wild animals he was raised with, including bears, foxes, bobcats, Canadian lynx, skunks and raccoons. He started working on Schweitzer ski patrol in 1972 and remained an active part of it for 35 years. He has two daughters

Any advice for someone considering a move here?

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Traffic! Thank God they’re putting in the bypass. I would’ve supported any bypass, although I think it should be four lanes instead of three. I think eventually we’ll need a second bridge across the river. The second challenge would be affordable housing. With the resort and the lake and all the money that’s come in here, for most of us here now, the area is pretty inaccessible.

SUMMER 2009

Francis McNall

Very few Bonner County residents have experienced as much local history as Francis McNall who, at SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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If I did that I’d end up going to Montana. I’ve had a season fishing license in Montana since 1977. That’s where I spend most of my free time actually.

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Natives and Newcomers

age 4, arrived here by train along with his mother and sister on June 7, 1922. His father met them at the Great Northern train depot in Samuels with two horses hitched to a wagon. Francis, 90, and his wife, Beverly, have been married for 61 years, raised seven children, and still live on the original family homestead in Samuels. A rancher and retired elementary school teacher, Francis had so many great memories to share, we decided to forgo a couple questions to allow him a bit more space. What’s your favorite local business?

What do you think is the greatest challenge facing our area?

The greatest challenge is being worked on right now. The bypass will get a lot of traffic out of downtown Sandpoint, especially the truck traffic. When I was hauling cattle down First Avenue in the 1940s, I knew then that there had to be a better way. Can you share a few memories of Sandpoint in the early days?

One observation that day after first arriving here was the freshly graded dirt road between the Great Northern and Spokane International (SI) railroad. About one-half mile was graded and then east of the SI, it was just a logging road … no green trees, they were all dead. It had been logged and burned

and seeded to grass for pasture. Don’t let anyone tell you ‘Don’t cut a tree, it’ll be gone forever.’ Sure, that particular tree may be gone, but two more will spring up to take its place. I have seen the area change from dead snags and stumps to a beautiful green forest of trees – and I’m older than any of them. In 1931, Walter Thomas came to Grouse Creek School to establish 4-H clubs. My sister Lois and I were charter members of the Grouse Creek Calf Club. In 1935 I was asked to be the leader, and I was for 19 years. Our children were all involved as members and leaders and now the grandchildren and great-grandchildren are involved. After World War II, there was a shortage of teachers so I got a job teaching in elementary school on a provisional certificate. After seven years of night school and summer school, I got my standard certificate. I taught at Northside for 23 years from 1957 to 1980.

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My favorite local business is Wood’s Meat Processing. Our daughter Louise and son-in-law Steve own and operate it, and several family members work there. Another longtime business is Co-op. My dad was a charter member

when it started about 1934. We’ve been loyal customers there for about 75 years.

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Natives and Newcomers

Newcomers

What’s your favorite local business?

We love getting breakfast tacos from Joel’s. The food is great, and the place is about as down home and laid-back as you can get! One of my other favorite places is MickDuff’s. What is the greatest challenge facing Sandpoint?

It seems to me that the current economy has hit Sandpoint especially

hard. This wasn’t an easy place to make a good living to begin with. Compared to where we lived in Texas, salaries here are lower and home prices are much higher, even with the current downward trend. What would you change?

I wouldn’t change a thing. This little town is friendly, there’s always something going on, and there is unlimited access to beauty and outdoor activities all around us.

Joanie Hamelmann

What brought you to Sandpoint?

We were so anxious to move to this part of the country that we had actually taken two long driving trips to check out all of the major towns in Montana and Idaho. Our No. 1 choice was Coeur d’Alene, but that was only because Sandpoint seemed unattainable. My husband, Karl, had been pursuing a job with Quest Aircraft for many months. They offered him a job last spring, and we moved up in the summer.

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exclusively at

www.FloorShowSandpoint.com

208.263.5198 SUMMER 2009

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Raised in Montana, Joanie spent a year in Uruguay, South America, where she learned to speak Spanish. After returning to Montana and getting a double major in elementary education, she decided to move to Texas for a short time where there was a need for bilingual teachers. But the “short time” turned into 18 years, and she spent the last 15 wondering how she would ever get back to the Northwest. Joanie, 43, and her husband, Karl, now lease a home in Sandpoint with plans to buy a home out of town soon. The couple has twin daughters attending Sandpoint High School, and Joanie teaches at Farmin Stidwell Elementary.

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Natives and Newcomers Do your future plans involve Sandpoint?

Absolutely. We love the small-town, down-to-earth, friendly atmosphere here. I love being able to ride my bike for just a few minutes and find myself surrounded by forest with no one else in sight. We feel unbelievably blessed to get to live here now.

Carol Pettibon

Carol and her husband, Bob, are natives of Kansas and Missouri and both graduated from Missouri colleges. Bob’s work as a construction engineer for the Morrison-Knudsen Company and Washington Group International resulted in “resident tourist” status in more than a dozen locations. Home base had been Boise for over 30 years until moving to Sandpoint in 2008. The couple has been working for a number of months to finish their house with a view of the lake. Carol, age 70, hopes to have things under control

by fall so she has more time for volunteer work and traveling. What brought you to Sandpoint?

Our daughter Beth is a U of I alum and met and married a Sandpoint native upon graduation. As her family grew to four children, we visited as often as possible and decided to move north when we retired. What’s your favorite local business?

The local business community is a breath of fresh air compared to more populated areas. The small shops such as the Litehouse Bleu Cheese Factory Store and the Floor Show are staffed with talented people who really care and offer a superior product. This same attitude is apparent at Life Care of Sandpoint and at Yoke’s. What do you think is the greatest challenge facing Sandpoint?

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Maintaining the balance between preserving the quality of the waterways that “make” the area, keeping the forestry industry productive and adopting development-friendly regulation.

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What would you change?

My wish list for change would include paving and better maintenance of Sunnyside Road. With the upgrade of the Hawkins Point boat launch, this road has become a major access road to (the lake). A winter exercise facility for seniors would also be a great addition – and I would outlaw 75-year winters! SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Eats

EATS & DRINKS

& Drinks

Summer salads A tour of Sandpoint’s edible greenery By Carrie Scozzaro

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It’s not just for sub sandwiches. Mr. Sub (602 N. Fifth, 263-3491) puts a fine selection of salads on its menu: chef salad with turkey and roast beef, seafood salad, spicy chicken or garden salad. If you would rather have your salad on a bun, get salad fixings in the vegetarian sub or atop any of their 6-inch or 12-inch subs, available for pick-up or delivery. For something really different, try the yum talay at Bangkok Cuisine (202 N. Second, 265-4149). It’s got mussels, calamari, shrimp and scallops in a zesty, lime-juice-and-chili dressing. SUMMER 2009

Mixed greens topped with pan-seared ahi tuna is one of the specialty salads at Di Luna’s Cafe.

The Thai salad includes crunchy lettuce, tomatoes, bean sprouts, cucumber, onion and tofu in a tangy peanut dressing. And the last stop on our salad tour is the insalata, which is Italian for salad, at Ivano’s Ristorante (First and Pine, 263-0211). Try the di Mare – fettuccine pasta atop mixed greens with a feta cheese vinaigrette, asparagus, artichoke hearts and juicy, charbroiled prawns. SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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PHOTO BY Sean Haynes

f your idea of salad is slabs of iceberg lettuce slathered with dressing, it’s time to venture into the vegetable-based bonanza of local salads. Merriam-Webster defines a salad as “raw greens (as lettuce) often combined with other vegetables and toppings and served especially with dressing”; or “small pieces of food (as pasta, meat, fruit, or vegetables) usually mixed with a dressing (as mayonnaise) or set in gelatin.” Based on those definitions, there’s a lot of exploring to do. At Di Luna’s (207 Cedar St., 2630846), vegetables are the guest of honor, served in breakfast and lunch dishes. Their specialty salads include the pan-seared ahi tuna over mixed greens and the steak and Gorgonzola cheese with cucumber, tomato and red onion. Some salads are also available in their “Fresh to Your Freezer” menu, including homemade coleslaw, potato salad, gourmet greens and Caesar salad in pint, quart, half gallon or gallon. Perfect for an impromptu picnic! The chef salad at Blue Moon Café (124 S. Second, 265-9553) is plenty to share, overflowing with local Wood’s Meats smoked ham, turkey and other deli meats atop a bounty of veggies and lettuce. The chicken fajita salad has a Southwestern spice for that perfect blend of hot and cold. For even more spicy south-of-theborder fare, Jalapeno’s (314 N. Second, 263-2995) fills a crispy tortilla with fresh greens, tomatoes, onions, avocado, refried beans, rice, shredded cheese and your choice of chicken or beef. Ranch dressing from local favorite, Litehouse Foods, tops off this hearty salad entrée.

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PHOTO BY Carrie Scozzaro

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We can probably thank television shows for both inspiring and distorting our views about chefs. Julia Child warbled her way into the hearts of Americans while demystifying French cooking. Rachael Ray, while not technically a chef, makes it look easy, while shows like “Hell’s Kitchen” and “Iron Chef” have made cooking seem sexy and glamorous. Both the chefs we interviewed for this new feature laughed off the idea that cooking is anything but hard work, even as they confided their passion for cooking. Whereas Peter Mico exudes a quiet confidence befitting his 35-plus year career, Gabe Cruz is growing into fatherhood and out of a tumultuous period of “cook-as-rock star” made worse, he says, by drinking. Spuds Rotisserie

& Grill is a reflection of Mico’s vast experience of cooking and operations, a blend of art and science and his desire to provide healthful, homecooked foods that balance flavor and nutrition. While Cruz has no desire to run his own restaurant, at Dish he draws from his background that combines California cuisine, Southern and Southwestern flavors. Although they arrived by different paths, each embodies the best a chef can be. And since chefs are often known for their eclectic pairing of flavors, we thought we would offer our own eclectic pairing for a behindthe-scenes look at two chefs serving Sandpoint: Peter Mico of Spuds and Gabe Cruz of Dish Home Cooking. –C.S.

Peter Mico

Gabe Cruz

Background

In college worked his way up through Victoria Station restaurants, eventually opening them throughout the country; then director of food operations, including for Northstar, which brought him to Idaho. Started a short-lived, potato-based franchise, then Spuds in 1995. Plans to remodel, talking to more organic farms, always experimenting with the menu.

As a teenager he worked in a Mexican restaurant, eventually attending culinary school in Napa Valley. Came to Idaho to open Beyond Hope Resort, then Café Trinity for four years, followed by Schweitzer’s Chimney Rock. Currently running Dish’s kitchen, which just began serving dinners.

Food idols

Alice Waters of famed Chez Panisse of Berkeley, Calif., and Cindy Paulson and Jacques Pepin, famed French chef who Cindy Paulson, a Napa Valley chef wrote “La Technique” and “My Life in the Kitchen”

Best part of job

Developing and “cultivating the culture of passion” for cooking, especially with his cooks Sandrine Bouriquet, Justin Anthony and Brock Whalin. Ever the teacher, he brings out a box full of little packages of carefully labeled ingredients, inviting me to experience the unique flavors of one salt versus another. He loves the art and science of it all.

Watching people’s expressions when they see, then smell, then taste the dishes he prepares. He says he’s feeling really grateful lately for being able to do what he loves. Worst part? Having a dish sent back!

Favorite thing to eat

Good soup. Fresh fish with a light topping.

Double-double In-N-Out burger. Then he describes how, back when he was drinking, his favorite meal was breakfast of steak tartar, crispy fries and a shot of Bourbon at a bistro in Yountville, Calif.

Three staple ingredients in their kitchen

Sambal, a Southeastern Asian condiment of chilies and sugar, sometimes combined with vinegar and vegetables to make a relish. Homemade chicken stock, Ancho chilies.

Chilies, tortillas, some sort of alcohol to cook with (he laughs at the irony of this last item)

Would like to try cooking

A particular chili pepper in Mexican mole. He especially likes the history and culture of ingredients and recipes.

Baking (although he doesn’t have a television, he admits to watching “Ace of Cakes”)

Place they would visit just for cuisine

Oaxaca, Mexico; Provence, France; Tuscany, Italy; Szechwan, China … and then he pauses, mentally composing a much longer list

Thailand, India (he had already been to France and Italy), maybe off the grid in Mexico to just live and learn like Rick Bayless in “One Plate at a Time”

What they do when not cooking

Teaches yoga, travels a lot to teach and attend conferences. Spends time with kids, 4-year-old daughter and 6-month-old Much of our conversation loops back to yoga, to this sense son, although he admits to being a workaholic, recently coming off a 24-day stint. “Do it right” is his work ethic. of balance Mico exudes.

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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PHOTO BY Athena Henderson

Eats

& Drinks

Serving Sandpoint Chef Q&A with Peter Mico and Gabe Cruz

SUMMER 2009

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Cedar St., 263-4005), a buck will buy you a beer on Thursdays. Nearby at Pend d’Oreille Winery (220 Cedar St., 265-8545), Friday means complimentary hors d’oeuvres, $5 glasses of featured wines and “ambience music” from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Enjoying a glass Meet the gang at of wine at Pend Slates (477326 Highway d’Oreille Winery 95 N., Ponderay, 2631381) any day of the week for drink specials from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. There’s $1 off well-drinks, domestic and import beers and $2 off select appetizers like the sampler platter with the signature bourbon wings. Every hour is happy hour at A & P’s Bar & Grill (222 N. First, 263-2313) where the beer is always cold and the burgers are five ounces of juicy goodness. –C.S. PHOTO BY CHRIS GUIBERT

ally ingrained concept that celebrates the end of the traditional workday, usually from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Using the “Field of Dreams” philosophy that “if you build it, they will come,” many places offer specials catering to the happy hour crowd. The Book Club meets on Mondays at Stage Right Cellars (302 N. First, 265-8116) when wine by the glass is just $5. On Tuesdays enjoy open mic night, beer specials and snack plates. At MickDuff’s (312 N. First, 255-4351), happy hour starts early. From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, sample the handcrafted beers for just $2.50 a pint. Select appetizers are just $4, like spicy hummus and pita chips or jalapeno artichoke dip. Up the street at Eichardt’s (212

& Drinks

Happy hour is a cultur-

Eats

What’s happ’nin’ for happy hour

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Couple keeps their plates full “I grew up knowing good food and hard work,” says

Claudia Dick, who with husband Mel, owns four unique local establishments. Of her background, Claudia said she “had a small specialty dessert business featuring cheesecakes.” Mel’s background, she explained, grew out of his career – he recently retired from Coldwater Creek as vice president and chief financial officer. “He’s been able to travel the world and enjoy some of the best (food),” said Claudia, adding demurely, “He kind of got thrown into it, too.” Restaurants, she explains, were her passion, “but everyone said it was a crazy idea.” Crazy indeed, like a fox! Even during the best economy, restaurants have a high failure rate. The challenges? “Staying afloat … creating innovative menu ideas at competitive prices, finding and retaining great employees,” said Claudia. Emphasizing service and Southern-inspired food, the Dicks opened Café Trinity in 2004, two years after settling permanently in northern Idaho, which they had been visiting since the late ’90s when their daughter and son began attending school here. In 2005, they acquired the venerable 219 Lounge, which this October celebrates 75 years. Their mascot, Gus the Wonder Dog, will team up with nearby Laughing Dog Brewing’s lovable Labrador, Ben, to create an anniversary beer. The following year, they opened Trinity at Willow Bay on Pend Oreille River, with seasonal outdoor dining. And in 2007 they partnered with Oishii Sushi in the space adjacent to Café

PHOTO BY PAM LARSON

& Drinks Eats

Restaurateur profile

Trinity, which their son, Justin – Mel and Claudia Dick, shown at newest venture 41 South, have following in the family business made restaurants their passion. – will be relocating to the Best Western Edgewater Resort to become Trinity at City Beach. As they dissolved the Oishii parternship, they opened their latest endeavor, 41 South, adjacent to the luxurious Lodge at Sandpoint at the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Highway 95. It offers fine dining with lake views and an eclectic, upscale menu. Claudia laughs a bit as she admits to being “a little crazy, maybe a glutton for punishment. “ But, she said, “The upside is that our children have both moved to Sandpoint to help with the businesses. And it’s also a great way to get to know people in the community and develop long-term relationships with our customers.” –C.S.

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MickDuff’s has the feel of a place that’s been in Sandpoint a

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long time, a testimony to brothers Mickey and Duffy Mahoney, who three years ago quit their jobs for restaurateuring. Duffy, 29, and Mickey, 30, have created a place with broad-based appeal for anyone who wants a good, reasonably priced meal and well-crafted beer in a low-key, upbeat environment. Pretty impressive for two fellows who never ran their own business. Mickey, formerly working in prosthetics (fake limbs), was homebrewing beer and worked a bit at Seattle’s Scuttlebutt Brewery. Encouraged by Duffy – who has a business background – the Mahoneys wrote a business plan, got a loan and spent nine months remodeling the First Avenue location that opened in 2006. Last year, brewmaster Mickey produced 250 barrels (a barrel is two kegs, at 15.5 gallons per keg), mostly IPAs with hops from Yakima, Wash., malt from Canada and recipes they come up with on their own. They don’t filter their beers, so flavors are more robust. All leftover materials go to a local farmer for feed. In the kitchen Duffy ensures the frying oil is trans-fat free and SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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the beef is 100 percent natural hormone free. “It’s just the right way to do business,” says Duffy. Besides a half dozen or more ales on tap, they also make root beer and have one beer carbonated via nitrogen (versus carbon dioxide), which makes it smoother. Names are often wittily supplied by patrons, thus the Lake Paddler, Tipsy Toe Head, Knot Tree and Stubbed Toe (V8 juice and blonde ale). What’s next for this dynamic duo? More beer, said Mickey, who admits that sometimes he can’t believe it’s Duffy, left, and Mickey Mahoney his job to brew beer. –C.S.

PHOTO BY Carrie Scozzaro

Youthful brothers craft beer, good food at MickDuff’s

SUMMER 2009

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Lively. Local. Lake.

& Drinks

PHOTO BY Sean Haynes

seafood. steaks. libations. The new Trinity. Look out onto Lake Pend Oreille and enjoy a seasonal menu of fresh seafood and local ingredients anchored by the Trinity classic dishes.

ou can spell it any number of ways, yet all barbecue is about slow-cooking meat to bring out its full flavors. It’s classic American cuisine with subtle variations from region to region and a versatile food served many ways throughout Sandpoint. Over at Jimmy’s Bar-B-Q (481 N. Third Ave., 265-5227), for example, it’s Kansas City-style barbecue: seasoned and smoked meat, sauce on the side, and a piece of white bread for mopping up the juices. Meals are measured by the pound, as in the Big Jimmy: a half pound each of pulled pork and beef brisket served with a quarterrack of baby back ribs, hot link and side (such as baked beans or coleslaw). Second Avenue Pizza (215 S. Second, 263-9321) gets its barbecue sauce from a local fellow who makes it just for their barbecue pizza, which is not on the regular menu but they’ll be happy to make it for you special. Barbecue with a European flair can be found in several of the panini sandwiches at Cedar St. Bridge Café (334 N. First, 265-4396). Try the applewood smoked pork panini with locally made barbecue sauce, Swiss cheese, tomato and red onion on flavorful ciabatta bread. And for a variety of Southerninspired cooking from three restaurants owned by the same local family, check out the seasonally changing menus at Trinity at Willow Bay (520 Willow Bay Road, Priest River), 41 South (41 Lakeshore Dr. at Highway 95, Sagle, 265-2000) or Trinity at City Beach (56 Bridge St., 255-7558). –C.S.

Outside deck with lake and mountain views Live music and drink specials in the lounge Open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner sandpoint | 58 Bridge street at City BeaCh | 208.255.7558

tonIght. dInneR and a sunset?

Lunch and dinner in the summer sunday Brunch

Restaurateur claudia dick welcomes you to 4 1 south, a casually elegant neighborhood establishment. dine inside the warm lodge-style bistro by the river rock fireplace, or outside on the waterfront terrace. celebrate special occasions in the private dining room or have us cater your event. ReseRvatIons Recommended

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Innovating the classics

208.265.2000 41 Lakeshore drive, sagLe...south end of the Long Bridge

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Eats

Cueing up the grill

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What’s a pasty? Find out at the Pie Hut (502 Church St.). It’s where sweet and savory live comfortably together in this favorite local gourmet café. Fresh for summer, Café Bodega (inside Foster’s Crossing, at Oak and Fifth) has mixed berry and iced teas, as well as organic espresso, perfect hot or iced.

Fine Italian dining serving Sandpoint for over 23 years Lunch served Mon-Fri 10:30-2:30 Dinner served 7 nights a week starting at 4:30 Enjoy outdoor dining on Ivano’s patio

{

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A Martini and Wine Bar Open Wednesday - Saturday Corner of First and Pine

208-263-0211

Slates

Slates is the Place

www.slatesprimetime.com

• Prime Rib Special Friday & Saturday • Happy Hour 4-7 pm daily

208-263-1381

477272 Hwy 95 N • Ponderay, ID 114

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catered events and private parties. Perky Mama & Vinnie’s (521 Cedar St.) embodies the vibe of the traditional coffee house with a small selection of gourmet sandwiches and soups, assorted coffee, tea and wine, and a performance space.

• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 7 days a week

PRIME TIME Two Blocks North of Wal-Mart on Hwy 95

Above: BJ Tietjen, left, and daughter Babs, added pasta to the menu at their new Babs’ Pizzeria location. Below: Perky Mama and Vinnie’s is an allnew coffee house with good vibes.

• Serving the best hometown meals

ATES

H wy 95

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www.IvanosSandpoint.com

It’s a trio of trading spaces beginning with the reopening of Connie’s Cafe (323 Cedar St.) adjacent to La Quinta Inn under Dave Libby, formerly of the Beach House at Best Western Edgewater. Having opened 41 South (Lakeshore Drive and Highway 95), Mel and Claudia Dick are turning over Café Trinity to their son Justin, who will relocate Trinity into the Beach House (56 Bridge St.) to become Trinity at City Beach (see story, page 112). Finally, Oishii Sushi is on a roll, literally, moving from 116 N. First to another location on First Avenue, the historic Pastime Building, complete with bright, new colors. Another trio of news: Three Glasses (200 N. First) wine bar has reopened on weekends for excellent wine, beer, and live music and dancing while upstairs at The Loading Dock, enjoy excellent wood-fired pizza plus lots of from-scratch salads, sandwiches and baked goods. Next door is Holly’s Place serving coffee and homemade pastries in a comfy space that feels like a living room. Food from The Loading Dock is served at all venues. Wily Widgeon Café has flown the coop from Hope and landed at the Elks (30196 Highway 200, Ponderay), formerly Hooties, while Sand Creek Grill (105 S. First) and its wine bar, Dulce, is currently only open for

PHOTO BY Carrie Scozzaro

News and events foodies need to know

PHOTO BY Sean Haynes

& Drinks Eats

The Local Dish

SUMMER 2009

5/4/09 1:23:51 PM

Eats

Cyber restaurant guide What’s cooking around town? Find the right food to hit the spot online in

Check out more live music at Hope Market Café (620 Wellington Pl., Hope), like local folk and contemporary Celtic duo, Bridges Home. Speaking of dynamic duos, the mother-daughter team of BJ and Babs Tietjen is celebrating the reopening and relocation of Babs’ Pizzeria (Highway 2 and Division). They’ve added pasta to their menu, which features New Yorkstyle pizza by the slice or by the pie for dine-in or take out. In the same WestPointe Plaza location as Babs’ Pizzeria are two other new restaurants. Adding to its Highway 95 location is a new Subway. And for “gourmet home cooking,” try Dish Home Cooking, which is now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with inside seating, a drive-through and carry-out. (see story, page 110). And for dessert, key lime bars are a light, fresh summer treat, baked fresh daily at Pine Street Bakery (710 Pine St.) with fresh butter and cream. Remember that summer means the reopening of several seasonal res-

taurants, including Beyond Hope Restaurant (1267 Peninsula Rd., Hope) and The Floating Restaurant (Highway 200, Hope), both of which feature chef/owner Elissa Robbins. Summer also means lake cruises (www. lakependoreillecruises.com) catered by Pend Oreille Pasta and Wine (476534 Highway 95, Ponderay), providing gourmet dinners for parties large and small and fresh pasta daily. Don’t forget gelato for dessert or maybe an iced coffee drink at Cedar Street Bridge Café, also serving sandwiches and homemade soup. And if you’re in a rush, zip into Zip’s (1302 Highway 2), serving up huckleberry shakes just in time for summer. Wish them a happy one-year anniversary while you’re there! Speaking of anniversaries, how about 25 years this past Valentine’s Day for Ivano’s Ristorante (First and Pine)? That’s amore. –C.S.

& Drinks

SandpointOnline.com’s database-driven restaurant and nightclubs guide at www. SandpointDiningGuide.com. There you’ll find every local establishment – more than 100 restaurants, nightclubs and taverns. The guide is searchable by a tasty menu of criteria: type of cuisine, typical cost and amenities such as live music, kids menu, meeting room, waterfront dining, etc. Give it a click.

IN HOPE

• Enjoy spectacular views and that special 'lake experience' from the floating decks or dining room • Feast on regional fare featuring fresh seafood, aged beef and local, fresh ingredients • Relax with a full bar & outstanding wine list on the cocktail deck • Accessed easily by boat or car • Join us April through October for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch

at Hope Marine Services Hwy 200 E. Hope, Idaho

208.264.5311

www.hopefloatingrestaurant.com

Beyond

Hope

Restaurant

The deck-side view at Beyond Hope Restaurant

Great Food, Friendly Service, Fantastic Sunsets!

-Seasonal Lakeside DiningReservations Recommended

PHOTO BY CHRIS GUIBERT

-Catered Beachside Events -On the Hope Peninsula1267 Peninsula Rd. Hope, Idaho

208 264-5221

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SUMMER 2009

Approved

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-New Marina-

Easy boat access, plenty of parking

115

5/4/09 1:23:54 PM

A & P’s Bar & Grill 1 Babs’ Pizzeria 2 Bangkok Cuisine Thai Restaurant 3 Beyond Hope Restaurant 4 Blue Moon Café 5 Café Bodega 6 Cedar St. Bridge Café 7 Coldwater Creek Wine Bar 8 Connie’s Café Baldy 9 Di Luna’s Cafe 0 Dish Home Cooking - Dover Bay Café = Eichardt’s q Enoteca La Stanza at Ivano’s w Floating Restaurant e 41 South r Holiday Shores Café t Hope Market Café y Ivano’s Ristoranté & Caffé u Jalapeño’s Mexican Restaurant i Jimmy’s Bar-B-Q o Jorge’s Jetty Bar & Grill p Laughing Dog Brewing [

Schweitzer Cut-off Rd

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Free Parking

Fourth Ave.

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City Hall

Fourth Ave.

Fifth Ave.

Church

Boyer

Division

Oak

Cedar

First Ave.

Cedar

116

Map not to scale!

Visitor Center

Main

To Dover = Priest River

4 etyp

Bonner Mall

[continues below]

Pine

Kootenai Cut-off Rd

Second Ave.

To Schweitzer

To Hope Clark Fork

To Bonners Ferry

Second Ave.

Eats

& Drinks

Downtown Sandpoint Dining Map

Pie Hut g Pine Street Bakery h Schweitzer Mountain Resort j Second Avenue Pizza k Slates Prime Time Grill and Sports Bar l Spuds Rotisserie & Grill ;

Stage Right Cellars ' Three Glasses z Trinity at City Beach x Trinity @ Willow Bay c 219 Lounge v Zip’s Drive-in b

SUMMER 2009

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Eats

Babs’ Pizzeria

Bangkok Cuisine Thai

Beyond Hope Restaurant

Blue Moon Café

DINING GUIDE Beyond Hope Restaurant 4

A & P’s Bar & Grill 1 222 N. First Ave. A traditional tavern located downtown on Sand Creek. Serving “the best burgers in town” and pub fare. Enjoy “Taco Tuesday” every week. Pool and dart leagues run every week throughout the year. Enjoy the friendly atmosphere, food and drink. Located on First Avenue in downtown Sandpoint. 263-2313.

Babs’ Pizzeria 2

1319 Highway 2, Suite C. In its new location at WestPointe Plaza, Babs’ Pizzeria bakes New York-style pizza in an open kitchen with dough hand-made fresh daily and four sauces to choose from. Babs and her mom, BJ, use family recipes handed down from Sicilian grandparents, including Great Grandma Frascella’s top-secret meatball recipe starring in the Parmesan Hero and spaghetti. Try Babs’ signature appetizer, Raspberry Chipotle Wings, or sample the Stromboli, a pizza pocket of sorts. Open daily at 11 a.m.; some outdoor seating available. 265-7992.

Bangkok Cuisine Thai Restaurant 3

124 S. Second Ave. The Blue Moon Café offers a great dining atmosphere: a deck, large windows and cozy comfortable seating. Our menus and specials combine the best of your favorites and also something new and different, including many vegetarian choices. All the ingredients and cooking methods present guests with the freshest of meals. Homemade soups are Blue Moon’s specialty and show off their multicultural backgrounds and interests. Open seven days a week for breakfast and lunch. Also available for evening parties upon request. 265-9953.

Café Bodega 6

On Fifth Avenue between Cedar and Oak at Foster’s Crossing Antique and Gift Market. Revitalize yourself at Café Bodega, Sandpoint’s Bohemian eatery (with wireless Internet access) featuring an assortment of international sandwiches, homemade soups, all-organic espresso bar, whole leaf tea and Italian artisan gelato. Come every third Wednesday of the month for Five Minutes of Fame, an open mic for performers of all kinds. Café available for catered evening events. 263-5911.

= number on Dining Map (p 116)

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Blue Moon Café

SUMMER 2009

Cedar St. Bridge Café

On the Cedar Street Bridge. Family and friends love to gather at this Europeanstyle café, located in the heart of downtown Sandpoint inside the renowned Cedar Street Bridge. Experience exceptional coffee and tea drinks, premium crafted gelato, delectable cakes and pastries, fine chocolates, and tasty panini sandwiches all in a unique and warm setting. 265-4396.

Coldwater Creek Wine Bar 8

311 N. First Ave. The wine bar at Coldwater Creek offers many types of wine available by the glass. Although they carry wines from all over the world, the emphasis is on Northwest wines. Enjoy a glass of wine with any of their delicious appetizers. 255-1293. See ad, back cover.

Connie’s Café

323 Cedar St. Historic hospitality! Connie’s Café, the landmark Sandpoint restaurant, reopened its doors after a comprehensive remodel. New owners Dave and Penny Libbey are proud to lovingly restore this northern Idaho icon to its former glory. Their approach is to maintain Connie’s legacy of a 1950s coffee shop with breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings that are of the highest quality while highlighting the quirky nature of this longstanding eatery. 255-2227.

Di Luna’s Cafe

207 Cedar St. Di Luna’s is an American bistro café offering hand-cut steaks, homemade soups and vegetarian cuisine. Open for breakfast and lunch, Wednesday through Sunday, serving breakfast all day. Specializing in theme catering menus, Di Luna’s catering staff works with customers to take the hassle out of special events, SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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202 N. Second Ave. Enjoy authentic Thai food in a welcoming atmosphere. All of Bangkok’s dishes, including a wide variety of vegetarian, are cooked to order using the freshest ingredients with no added MSG. Bangkok offers a fine selection of wine and beer as well as Thai tea and coffee. All desserts are made on-site. Takeout also available. Open for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Closed Sundays. 265-4149.

1267 Peninsula Rd., Hope. Located 16 miles east of Sandpoint on Highway 200’s scenic byway. Inside, enjoy fireside dining and a rustic lounge. Or indulge in cocktails and appetizers on the expansive lawn. Dine deck-side with panoramic lake views and spectacular sunsets. First-rate cuisine, fine wine and friendly service are Beyond Hope’s signature. Reservations recommended. www.BeyondHopeResort.com. 264-5221.

& Drinks

A & P’s Bar & Grill

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Cedar St. Bridge Café

Café Bodega

so they can enjoy the experience along with guests. At Di Luna’s they love good music, so they host dinner concerts and bring in the best acoustic musicians from around the country. www.DiLunas.com. 263-0846.

Best Burgers In Town

Connie’s Café

Dish Home CookingDivision and Highway 2. Sandpoint’s newest restaurant venture is already finding something magical. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with awardwinning chef Gabe Cruz behind the fire. Dine in, carryout or drive-through makes Dish convenient for all. Catering also available. Private parties welcome and don’t miss “Bingo Night.” www.SandpointDish. com. 265-6100.

Dover Bay Café

At Dover Bay Marina, Dover. Waterfront dining, breakfast, lunch and summer dinners. Serving appetizers, burgers, and sandwiches. Boat-side dining Wednesday through Sunday. See ads on pages 8, 19 and 90. 263-5493 DoverBayBungalows.com

Eichardt’s

Di Luna’s Café

Restaurant index by type of cuisine Locate alphabetically in listings Bakeries, coffee & desserts Pine Street Bakery Cafés, delis & fast food Blue Moon Café Café Bodega Cedar St. Bridge Café Connie’s Café Dover Bay Café Holiday Shores Café Hope Market Café Mr. Sub Perky Mama & Vinnie’s Pine Street Bakery Schweitzer–Mojo Coyote Zip’s Drive-in Eclectic or fine dining 41 South Beyond Hope Restaurant Schweitzer–Chimney Rock Di Luna’s Café Dish Home Cooking Floating Restaurant Spuds Rotisserie & Grill Trinity at City Beach Trinity at Willow Bay

Pub-style A & P’s Bar & Grill Eichardt’s Pub & Grill MickDuff’s Brewing Co. Slates Prime Time Grill & Sports Bar Regional/ethnic Babs’ Pizzeria Bangkok Cuisine Ivano’s Ristoranté Jalapeño’s Jimmy’s Bar-B-Q Jorge’s Jetty Bar & Grill Loading Dock Pend Oreille Pasta Pie Hut Second Avenue Pizza Wine Bars & Lounges Coldwater Creek Wine Bar Enoteca La Stanza Laughing Dog Brewing Pend Oreille Winery Stage Right Cellars Three Glasses 219 Lounge

for everyone – more than a dozen beers on tap, good wines including oak cask local red wines, and regional touring live music. Upstairs you’ll find a game room with a pool table, darts and shuffleboard.

It’s always fIner at the 219er! A long-time traditional watering hole

Sandpoint’s Best Thai Food

Full bar

e b r At i

75 l

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212 Cedar St. A comfortable pub and grill, Eichardt’s is located downtown in a charming, historic building. This relaxing pub mixes casual dining with seriously good food. There’s something

A Slice of New YoRk New locatioN NOW OPEN

YeArS

219 First Avenue Sandpoint | 208.263.9934 118

Dish Home Cooking

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208.265.7992

corNer of HwY 2 & DivisioN

• Peanut sauces • Curry • Stir frys and soups • Wine and beer • Vegetarian choices • Now Catering

Eat in or take out

208-265-4149 • 202 N. 2nd Ave.

SUMMER 2009

5/4/09 1:24:02 PM

Eats

Enoteca La Stanza

41 South

Find out for yourself why Eichardt’s is continually picked as the locals’ favorite hangout. Open daily at 11:30 a.m. for smokeless dining seven days a week. 263-4005.

Floating Restaurant

41 Lakeshore Dr., Sagle. Casual, waterfront fine dining located at the south end of the Long Bridge in Sandpoint. A popular spot for locals, tourists and business travelers. A relaxed lodge setting and great service paired with innovative, classical cuisine make for one of North Idaho’s premier dining experiences. 41 South stocks a full bar, extensive wine list and has an outside patio overlooking the pristine waters of the Pend Oreille River. Hours vary by season. Sunday brunch. Private dining room. Reservations suggested. 265-2000.

Enoteca La Stanza at Ivano’s Ristorante w

102 S. First. Enoteca (full bar) La Stanza (the room). Sandpoint’s only specialty martini and wine bar, located in Ivano’s Ristorante. Serving exotic martinis such as the Fallen Angel, Mayan Temple, Flirtini and the Pear Sage Margarita, classic wines and a bar menu with all entrees under $9. Open Wednesday through Saturday at 4 p.m. 263-0211.

Holiday Shores Café

Floating Restaurant on Lake Pend Oreille e

Highway 200, East Hope at Hope Marine Services. Twenty minutes from Sandpoint, in beautiful East Hope. The lake’s only floating restaurant and lounge offers spectacular views from two decks or a cozy dining room. Regional fare, fresh seafood and local products fill the menu along with handmade breads, desserts, soups and sauces. A full bar and outstanding wine list complement your experience. Children’s menu too! Open Easter through October serving lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch. Accessible by boat or car. 264-5311.

41 South

Hope Martket Café

by organic vegetables, herbs and fruits from their own gardens. The stone oven pizza and hand-built burgers are legendary. Serving the Inland Northwest’s best wine selection, microbrews, tap beer, = number on Dining Map (p 116)

At Holiday Shores Marina, Hope. With many new improvements to the menu, Holiday Shores Café now offers casual, down-home cooking for breakfast and lunch. Stop in for a quick snack or a leisurely meal, or call ahead and order a meal to go. Enjoy your meal while looking over Holiday Shores Marina and beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. 264-5515.

Hope Market Café

620 Wellington Pl., Hope. Simply put, the Hope Market Café is all about flavor, where the food and drink are fresh, fun and truly fabulous. Emphasizing local and seasonal, the dinner menu is always changing and consistently excellent, utilizing natural meats and fish, complemented w w w. s a n d p o i n t o n l i n e . c o m

Serving Breakfast & Lunch Everyday 124 S. Second Ave.

(208) 265.9953

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& Drinks

Eichardt’s

SUMMER 2009

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& Drinks Eats

Jalapeño’s

Ivano’s

artisan cheeses, gourmet specialty foods and hedonistic desserts. Breakfast served weekends only. Outdoor seating and views of Lake Pend Oreille. 264-0506.

Ivano’s Ristoranté & Caffé

102 S. First. Serving the community

Di Lu n a ’s CAFE

American Bistro Dining & Catering For delivery call

208.263.0846

www.DiLunas.com 207 Cedar Street

proved AffordAble Gourmet dininG for the whole neiGhborhood! proved with changes stay in * drive thru * carry out nges; please provide another proof sign with yourbreakfast~lunch approval: ~dinner

the Corner of hwy 2 & division

ure

The Loading Dock

for more than 25 years, Ivano’s Italian dining accompanied by classic wines and gracious atmosphere add to the enjoyment of one of Sandpoint’s favorite restaurants. Pasta, fresh seafood, buffalo and beef, veal, chicken and vegetarian entrees round out the fare. Dinner served seven nights a week starting at 4:30 p.m. Lunch served Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. An excellent bakery featuring organic coffee, fresh pastries and a delistyle lunch offering, Monday-Friday. Off-site catering is available for weddings, family get-togethers and large gatherings. www. IvanosSandpoint.com. 263-0211.

Jalapeño’s Restaurant

314 N. Second. Authentic Mexican food in a fun and friendly environment serving traditional and unusual south-of-the-border specialties, plus even a few gringo dishes! This popular dining establishment also boasts a full cantina bar with traditional frosty margaritas that complement any dish. The banquet room seats up to 35 of your closest friends. And when the weather’s warm, Jalapeño’s invites guests to dine on the outside deck. Conveniently located in the historic Elks building in the heart of downtown Sandpoint. 263-2995.

Jimmy’s Bar-B-Q

418 N. Third, Suite C. New to Sandpoint, Jimmy’s features a large BBQ menu – from ribs to chicken! Enjoy 25-cent Datewings during every NFL football FINE WINES & ALES • GOURMET FOODS

HOPE MARKET ote: This color comp is produced by an in-house printer and is not e of the quality of the final printed piece. This proof may CAFE not accurately ~ Eichardt’s Serves up the Best of Northwest Microbrews, Food and Local Live Music ~ Full Lunch and Dinner Menu 16 Micros on Tap • Oak Cask Red Wines Upstairs Game Room Open Daily From 11:30 am

212 Cedar St. • Sandpoint • 263-4005

120

game. These tasty smoked wings are flash fried and tumbled in your choice of hot and spicy BBQ, original BBQ or classic hot wing sauce. Located in downtown Sandpoint behind Eichardt’s Pub and Grill in the old City Forum building. Look for the entrance facing Bonner General Hospital’s emergency room. Look up www.jimmysbbq.com. 265-JBBQ (5227).

Jorge’s Jetty Bar & Grill

At Holiday Shores Marina, Hope. Jorge O’Leary is unveiling a new menu for the Jetty Bar & Grill that is best described as a fusion of recipes from Spain, Cuba, Mexico and the Southwest. Jorge, drawing on his personal ethnic background and culinary experiences, partners with Judy Colegrove, who together did the Beach House Bar & Grill in Sandpoint and Jorge’s Cantina on Schweitzer Mountain. The Jetty will be open for lunch and dinner seven days a week with a full bar and casual fine dining on the lake. 264-5057.

Laughing Dog Brewing

[

55 Emerald Industrial Park Rd., Ponderay. Take a tour and taste handcrafted ales at Laughing Dog Brewing, open daily. Sample all the ales on tap and view the fifteen-barrel PUB brewing system. LaughingDogBrewing.com. 2639222. See ad, page 57.

The Loading Dock

]

First and Bridge. Facing Sand Creek

EPICUREAN CAFE • ARTISAN CHEESES

d proof releases Keokee Publishing, Inc. from any reponsibility for copy. Please read all copy and check this job carefully. Thank you participation in ensuring your product is the best we can make it.

he colors.

MickDuff’s Brewing Co.

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264-0506 Old Hwy. 200 • Hope

(next to the Hope Post Office)

PASTRIES • ESPRESSO BAR • LIVE MUSIC

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208-265-6100 • dishsandpoint.com

Jimmy’s Bar-B-Q

SUMMER 2009

5/4/09 1:24:10 PM

Eats

Pend Oreille Pasta & Wine

MickDuff’s Brewing Company

Mr. Sub

garden and life. Quality and elegance in our wines is the trademark of our vinting. POWine.com. 265-8545. See ad, page 62. = number on Dining Map (p 116)

Pend Oreille Pasta & Wine Market s

476534 Highway 95 (one block south of Wal-Mart). John and Valerie love to help their customers select from their outstanding selection of fine wines and artisan cheeses. Market food items include international wines at competitive prices, ravioli and olives, bulk olive oil and many gourmet grocery items. Fresh homemade pastas and sauces made on-site may be purchased as part of a complete dinner package including salad and fresh daily-baked artisan bread. Custom quality catering for large and small events. PendOreillePasta. com. 263-1352.

Pend Oreille Winery

602 N. Fifth Ave. Mr. Sub – where there is always a daily special. Mr. Sub

Pine Street Bakery

220 Cedar St., Locally produced, award-winning wines. Gifts for home,

sausages • ravioli • gourmet sandwiches fresh baked breads • cheeses • olives

312 N. First Ave. Come and enjoy MickDuff’s fine handcrafted ales in a family dining atmosphere. They offer a variety of top-of-the-line beers ranging from fruity blondes to a seasonal porter. MickDuff’s also brews a unique-style root beer for those young in age or at heart. The menu is packed full of flavor with traditional and updated pub fare. You will find toasted sandwiches, hearty soups, gourmet hamburgers and much more at this cozy brewpub located in downtown Sandpoint. MickDuffs.com. 255-4351.

is a family-owned-and-operated business providing a tradition of great service and quality foods for more than 20 years. Their delicious subs are made with fresh ingredients, the bread is baked at a local bakery, and the salami is specially made by Wood’s Meats. Enjoy local favorites like the turkey bacon sub, potato salad or great garden fresh salads. With 24-hour notice, the 3-foot and 6-foot party subs are party pleasers. Delivery until 2:30 p.m. on weekdays in the Sandpoint area. Credit and debit cards accepted. SubSlinger.com. 263-3491.

The Pie Hut

wine • beer • gift baskets • catering

with direct access to City Beach and the marina, The Loading Dock was awarded “best new business in Bonner County 2008.” The hand-tossed, wood-fired pizza is the best in the world, says actor Ben Stein. The Loading Dock boasts the largest selection of microbrews in Sandpoint, wine by the glass or bottle, and convenience items. Try the fresh innovative salads, sandwiches made to order or 10 different styles of hot dogs. For something sweet, sample baked goods made in-house daily, soft serve ice cream or huckleberry lemonade. Holly’s Coffee in The Loading Dock “Living Room” opens daily at 6 a.m. Open seven days a week at 11 a.m. 265-8080.

Perky Mama & Vinnie’s

International Wine Selection Artisan Cheeses & Breads Fresh Pasta Dinners To Go Gourmet Deli

www.pendoreillepasta.com 476534 Hwy 95 Sandpoint • 208.263.1352

Complete carry-out fresh pasta dinners

Local Su

SUBS - SALADS - DELIVERY AVAIL. 10-7 WEEKDAYS • 11-6 SATURDAYS DELIVERY WEEKDAYS UNTIL 2:30 PM

Great Mexican Food

263-3491

Awesome Atmosphere 314 N. Second Avenue Sandpoint, Idaho 83864 Phone: 208-263-2995

CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS ACCEPTED

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int’s Sandpo b Shop

602 NORTH 5TH

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& Drinks

Mr. Sub

SUMMER 2009

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Slates Prime Time

Second Avenue Pizza

Perky Mama & Vinnie’s

521 Cedar St. Come for open “micnite” hosted by the one and only Doug Bond every Friday from 7 p.m. till the cows come home. Be prepared for wine, fondue and fun! Meet a friend or bring a laptop and get online. Either way, guests are guaranteed to enjoy spectacular, organic, locally roasted coffee and fabulous baked goods during the day, or delectably delicious fondue coupled with the perfect wine at night. 263-0727.

Pie Hut

502 Church St. Sandpoint’s culinary treasure, the Pie Hut is a gourmet café where the locals like to eat. This charming little café offers exactly what you want: small-town life where quality still matters. Daily lunch specials include homemade

Stage Right Cellars

Spuds Rotisserie & Grill

soups, panini sandwiches (meat and vegetarian), chicken pot pies, Cornish beef pasties, assorted quiches and salads, with more than 30 hand-rolled fruit and cream pies, baked daily. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Phone ahead for pick-up. 265-2208.

Pine Street Bakery

710 Pine St. Specializing in European pastries, breads and cakes made using fresh butter and cream, farm eggs and fine chocolate. Enjoy a complete line of coffees, espresso drinks and Tazzina teas. Custom order birthday, specialty and wedding cakes; fine French pastries; and a complete line of tarts, cookies and bars. The bakers create more than 10 varieties of breads every day. Open Tuesday-Friday, 7 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Plenty of parking and outdoor seating. 263-9012.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort j

10000 Schweitzer Mountain Rd. Visit many choices of eating establishments in Schweitzer Village. Chimney Rock Grill, Sam’s Alley Pizza, Taps, Mojo Coyote Café, Cabinet Mountain Coffee, Alpenglow Deli & Ice Cream, Pucci’s Pub and St. Bernard Restaurant. Schweitzer.com. 263-9555. See ad, inside back cover.

The Pie Hut

502 Church Street • Sandpoint, ID • 208-265-2208

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215 S. Second Ave. Try the piled-high

710 Pine Street • Sandpoint

208.263.9012 SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Slates Prime Time Grill and Sports Bar l

477326 Highway 95 in Ponderay. Brand-new location two blocks north of Wal-Mart. Slates serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week, with mouthwatering Black Angus prime rib on Friday and Saturday nights, and some of the best burgers, salads and steaks in the area. Numerous big-screen TVs, plus a full bar and happy hour every day from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The kitchen is open late on Friday and Saturday nights and closes at 9 p.m. the remainder of the week. www. SlatesPrimeTime.com. 263-1381.

Spuds Rotisserie & Grill

;

102 N. First. Located on the beautiful Sand Creek waterfront, offering outdoor dining in downtown Sandpoint. For lunch,

Rice crusts & soy cheese now available

“Tastes as good as it looks!” Deirdre Hill Liz Evans

specialty pizzas at Second Avenue Pizza loaded with fresh ingredients on homemade dough, or one of the excellent calzones, specialty salads and sandwiches. Beer and wine also served. Rice crusts and soy cheese are now available for those who have specific dietary requirements. Take-and-bake pizzas also offered. For an out-of-this-world pizza experience, come to Second Avenue Pizza! Open Monday-Friday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Free delivery available. www.SecondAvenuePizza.com. 263-9321.

“Out of this W

orl

d”

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Great Soups v Sandwiches v Pies

Second Avenue Pizza k

Three Glasses

• Delivery • Sandwiches • Calzones • Specialty Salads • Homemade Dough • Beer/Wine • Take & Bakes

The Caroline

215 S. 2nd Ave.

263-9321

SUMMER 2009

5/4/09 1:24:19 PM

Eats

Trinity at City Beach

Stage Right Cellars '

302 N. First Ave., “Stage Right” of the Panida Theater. Carries a variety of fine wines and cigars, along with specialty beers. Get bottles to go or glasses of wine or beer in the comfy lounge. The walls are filled with local art for your viewing pleasure, and Stage Right offers free live music on weekends. Don’t miss Comedy Night, tasting events, art openings and much more. Open seven days a week! www.StageRightCellars.com. 265-8116.

First and Bridge. Tucked under The Loading Dock for that speak-easy feel (entrance faces First). Sandpoint’s newest, hottest, hippest music venue has an awesome sound system, stage and lighting on the large dance floor with live music Friday and Saturday nights. An extensive wine and beer selection and a new saketini menu awaits. Satisfy your appetite for wood-fired pizza or any of the other delicious fare from The Loading Dock. Three Glasses is also

58 Bridge St. The “new Café Trinity.” Enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner with the best view of Lake Pend Oreille. Deck seating. Outstanding menu featuring seafood, steaks, salads and appetizers. Full bar serving a great selection of wines, beers and cocktails featuring a daily happy hour. Open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Located at the Best Western Edgewater Resort adjacent to Sandpoint City Beach. 255-7558.

Trinity at Willow Bay

520 Willow Bay Rd., Priest River. Located 9.5 miles west of Highway 95. Drive or boat to the Pend Oreille River and dine on the deck or under the covered patio. Overlooking Willow Bay Marina serving a full menu of snacks, salads, sandwiches and dinner entrees along with beer, wine and cocktails. Open seasonally seven days a week from mid-June through Labor Day. Open Monday through Thursday 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 265-8854.

219 Lounge

Zip’s Drive-in

1301 Highway 2. This Northwest favorite serves up its signature burgers, grilled chicken, halibut ‘n’ fries and a variety of appetizing sides, such as tater gems and onion rings. Plus, summer is the time for one of Zip’s Drive-in’s milkshakes, sundaes or hurricanes. Try the huckleberry shakes made with berries from Priest Lake. Enjoy the casual atmosphere or outside patio and taste what’s made Zip’s famous for more than 50 years. Located on the west side of Sandpoint on the Dover Highway. 255-7600.

219 N. First Ave., downtown Sandpoint. Full service bar offering beer, wine and cocktails. A “locals” favorite proudly serving Sandpoint for 75 years. Enjoy a cold glass

www.StageRightCellars.com

CASUAL WATERFRONT DINING Spectacular sunsets. Outside on the dock. in the shade or in the sun.

WINE • BEER • CIGARS • LOCAL ART

Free Live Music every weekend Tasting Events Wine, Beer & Cigar Clubs Monthly Art Shows Private Parties

Serving

Huckleberry Milkshakes

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of “219er” beer brewed by local, awardwinning brewery Laughing Dog. Open seven days a week, 365 days a year from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Pool table and big screen TV. Stop in for a coffee, a drink, a game of pool and a good time. 263-5673.

SUMMER 2009

R e Sta u R a n t • cO ckt a ilS m a R in a • ga S • m O OR a ge 520 Willow Bay Road | Priest River Open mid-June to mid-September | 208.265.8854

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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208-265-8116

Zip’s Drive-in

available for private parties and catered events. Open Thursday through Sunday 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. 265-8080.

choose from the savory soup list, a loaded salad, one of the unique sandwich concoctions or the original Spuds potato. Dinner is a casual event, with table service, candles and outdoor dining. They feature specials like grilled steaks, marinated tritip, rotisserie chicken, fresh seafood and southwestern fare. Dine in or carry out. www.spudsonline.com. 265-4311.

Three Glasses

219 Lounge

& Drinks

Trinity at Willow Bay

Trinity at City Beach

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Meeting Rooms

Kitchen

Bar or Lounge

Restaurant

Pool on site

Spa or Sauna

No. of Units

Lodging w w w. s a n d p o i n t o n l i n e . c o m 124

Lodging Comments

Archer Vacation Condos (877) 982-2954 / drarchers@msn.com

Dover Bay Bungalows (208) 263-3083

Best Western Edgewater Resort (208) 263-3194 or (800) 635-2534

Church Street House B&B (208) 255-7094

Days Inn Ski Lodge (208) 263-1222 or (800) 543-8193

La Quinta Inn (208) 263-9581 or (800) 282-0660

Holiday Inn Express 208-255-4500 / Fax (208) 255-4502

Lodge at Sandpoint (208) 263-2211

Motel 6 (208) 263-5383, (800) 4-MOTEL6

Pend Oreille Shores Resort (208) 264-5828

Sandpoint Quality Inn (208) 263-2111 or (866) 519-7683

Sandpoint Vacation Getaways (208) 263-6000

Sandpoint Vacation Rentals (208) 263-7570 or (866) 263-7570

Selkirk Lodge (208) 265-0257 or (800) 831-8810

167

Sleep’s Cabins (208) 255-2122 or (866) 302-2122

Super 8 Motel (208) 263-2210

Vacationville (208) 255-7074 or (877) 255-7074

Waterhouse B&B (888) 329-1767

Western Pleasure Guest Ranch (208) 263-9066 White Pine Lodge (208) 265-0257 or (800) 831-8810

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bath waterfront condos on Lake Pend Oreille in Hope. Discount ski and golf tickets available. See ad, page 78. 10kVacationRentals.com/Sandpoint/index.htm

Waterfront bungalows at beautiful Dover Bay in Marina Village. Fully furnished with lake and mountain views. Fitness center, marina and hiking/biking trails. See ad, page 8. DoverBayBungalows.com

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. See ad, page 15. SandpointHotels.com. Beautifully restored arts and crafts classic, period furnishings, queen-sized beds, private baths, scrumptious breakfasts. Walk to shops, restaurants, beach. ChurchStreetHouse.com.

New accommodations featuring log furniture. Free high-speed Internet and continental breakfast. Silverwood and ski packages. Kids under 12 stay free. Walk to Bonner Mall shopping and dining.

Downtown location, high-speed Internet. Free breakfast, themed spa suites. Silverwood, ski and golf packages. Kids stay free. See ad, page 57. Hotels-West.com

The newest hotel in Sandpoint. 100 percent smoke free. Our Ponderay location is at the base of Schweitzer Mountain next to Slates Prime Time Bar & Grill, close to Wal-Mart. See ad, page 44.

Accommodations for weddings, retreats and banquets. Lakeside with swimming and docks. Views of lake and mountains for an unforgettable Idaho vacation. LodgeAtSandpoint.com

Free wireless Internet, free cable with HBO and ESPN, free 24-hour coffee in lobby, Jacuzzi suites, and hot tubs. Inner corridor rooms with all queen beds, next to Schweitzer. Motel6.com

Fully furnished condos and on-site athletic club on Lake Pend Oreille in Hope. Stay and play packages. See ad, page 48. POSResort.com

Indoor pool and hot tub. Close to downtown Sandpoint. 5th Avenue Restaurant and Mitzy’s Lounge on property. Kids stay and eat free. See ad, page 15. SandpointHotels.com

Unique vacation rentals available on Lake Pend Oreille and at Schweitzer Mountain. All of the amenities. Rentals for every budget and every lifestyle. See ad, page 12. SandpointVacationGetaways.com

75 luxury homes and condos in Sandpoint and on the lake. First-class properties at affordable rates. Plan your perfect vacation. Boat rentals, tee times. See ad, page 16. SandpointVacationRentals.com

Mountain accommodations, stay and play packages. Spectacular mountain and lake views. Outdoor heated pool and hot tubs. See ad, page 131. Schweitzer.com

On beautiful Lake Pend Oreille on Lakeshore Drive. Sleep’s Cabins consists of six log bungalows decorated with original furnishings and collectibles. See ad, page 18. SleepsCabins.com Free breakfast with waffles. 24-hour hot tub, free wireless Internet. Family suites. Schweitzer ski packages. At the base of Schweitzer Mountain, 2 miles from the lake. Super8.com

Luxury lakeside homes, cozy mountain cabins and lovely condominiums at the heart of Sandpoint. See ad, page 108. Vacationville.com

Deluxe spa suites with private hot tub on deck, jetted tub for two in bath. Gas fireplace, A/C, kitchenette, free wireless Internet. Sandpoint.org/Waterhouse

Private cabins sleep 2-8. Lodge rooms with private baths, rec room, horseback riding and meals available. See ad, page 48. WesternPleasureRanch.com

New accommodations, stay and play packages. Spectacular mountain and lake views. Outdoor hot tubs, access to heated pool. See ad, page 131. Schweitzer.com

SUMMER 2009

5/4/09 1:24:24 PM

Service Directory w w w. S a n d p o i n t O n l i n e . c o m Accommodations See the LODGING DIRECTORY on page 124

ARTS ORGANIZATION Pend Oreille Arts Council 120 E. Lake St., Ste. 215, 263-6139 – Presents the finest quality experiences in the arts for the people of northern Idaho. ArtinSandpoint.org

ART & PHOTO GALLERIES Artists’ Studio Tour 597-6934 – Explore a variety of open artists’ studios by taking this free, countryside, self-guided driving tour of North Idaho. Guide maps available. See ad, page 71. ArtTourDrive.org Hallans Gallery 323 N. 1st, 263-4704 – Since 1906. Celebrating the century in photos by Ross Hall and Dick Himes. See ad, page 71. RossHallCollection.com Perceptions in Watercolors 263-7924 – Depicting local and regional scenes available in Sandpoint, Priest River and Schweitzer. Member of the Artists’ Studio Tour. See ad, page 71. Perceptions-In-Art.com Skeleton Key Art Glass 1223 Unit B Michigan St., 2552429 – A working stained glass art studio, where you can get all of your supplies and tools, take classes and attend workshops. See ad, page 71.

ASSISTED LIVING The Bridge Assisted Living 1123 N. Division, 263-1524 – A total continuum of care on the campus of Life Care Center of Sandpoint. See ad, page 78.

AUTO / MOTORSPORTS

BANKS / FINANCIAL AmericanWest Bank 5th & Poplar, 255-1700 – Come visit our new financial center, one of 43 full-service financial centers throughout Washington and northern Idaho. See ad, page 35. AWBank.net Edward Jones 303 Pine, 255-7405, Scott Johnson or Rob Kincaid; 521 N.

Ace Septic Tank Service 263-5219 – “Where a Flush Beats a Full House.” Portable toilet rental, construction/all occasion, permanent or temporary. Septic tank pumping, residential and commercial. Acme Integrations 255-1110 – We provide custom home cinema, structured wiring, phone and network systems, audio, security systems, HVAC control systems, central vac, lighting control, and more. See ad, page 88. AcmeIntegration.us Bowers, Ted Construction 263-5447 – Specializing in remodels. Creative designs for custom finish work and cabinetry. Registered and insured. See ad, page 85. TedBowers.com CTA Architects 414 Church St., Sandpoint, 2655087 – Specializing in architecture, engineering, facility management, graphics design, interior design. IT/ communication, landscape planning and sustainable design. See ad, page 94. CtaGroup.com Dan Fogarty Custom Builder 263-5546 – A fully-insured, local builder with the experience and history you can rely on. In Sandpoint since 1981. See ad, page 84. DanBuilt.com Doty Concrete Company 610-8396 – Custom concrete work since 1985. Residential, commercial, foundations, driveways or custom stamped work. See ad, page 84. DSS Custom Homes 263-2853 – We are a familyowned business serving Sandpoint and northern Idaho since 1974. We build with honesty, pride, integrity and responsibility. See ad, page 72. DSSCustomHomes.com. Floor Show, The 880 Kootenai Cutoff Rd., 2635198 – Featuring Mohawk and Lauren floor coverings. We also have a great selection of carpet, tile, natural stone, hardwood, bamboo, vinyl, countertops and window fashions. See ad, page 107. FloorShowSandpoint.com Fogg Electric 597-1121 – Our team has 125 years in the electrical business. Commercial, industrial and residential. Licensed/bonded/insured. Serving all of North Idaho. Free estimates. See ad, page 84. Herndon Inc. Tile & Stone 246 Otts Rd., 610-2680 – Featuring the Kerdi waterproof shower system. Total bathroom remodels and more. See ad, page 84. ScottHerndonTile.com

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BOATS / DOCKS Alpine Shop 213 Church, 263-5157 and at Schweitzer, 255-1660 – Boat sales and service for all your lake boating needs. Water skis, water gear and Old Town canoes and kayaks. See ad, page 18. Northwest Docks & Water Works 263-4684 – New dock construction, dock rebuilds, mooring buoys, shoreline protection, amphibious pile driving, crane service. See ad, page 63. DirtnDocks.com

BOOKS Keokee Books 405 Church St., 263-3573 – Publishing fine nonfiction and guidebooks. Also offering publishing services to authors and groups that wish to self-publish. See ad, page 128. KeokeeBooks.com

BREWERies Columbia Brewery 1220 Erickson St., Creston B.C., 250-428-9344 – Brewers of the glacier fresh Kokanee Beer. Also visit the Kokanee Beer Gear Store. See ad for tour dates and times. See ad, page 67. KokaneeBeer.ca Laughing Dog Brewing 55 Emerald Industrial Park Rd., Ponderay, 263-9222 – A craft microbrewery that offers tours, taproom for tasting and a gift shop to browse through. See ad, page 57. LaughingDogBrewing.com.

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BUILDING / HOME

SUMMER 2009

Idaho Sash & Door 3895 N. Schreiber Way, Ste. 300, Coeur d’Alene, 765-8620 – Opening up a world of possibilities for your home with the creative craftsmanship of premium-grade, custom windows, doors and bronze hardware. See ad, page 100. IDSashAndDoor.com Laura Design Consulting P.O. Box 1056, Sagle, 208-5970006 – Knowledgeable, professional and friendly interior designer to assist in the custom creation of your home interior. See ad, page 84. LauraUDesigns.com Monarch Marble & Granite 4100 McGhee Rd., 263-5777 – Specializing in custom fabrication of solid-surface, natural stone. Custom kitchen countertops, vanities, showers, tub decks, fireplace surrounds, desks, decorative inlays and more. See ad, page 101. Panhandle Art Glass 514 Pine St., 263-1721 – Est. 1982. Studio specializing in stained, etched, beveled and fused glass: residential, commercial and liturgical. Artistic design and fabrication for projects of any size tailored to the needs of our clients. Panhandle Pump 500 Vermeer Dr., Ponderay, 2637867 – Serving the Idaho Panhandle with quality service and merchandise for over 25 years. The area’s leader in water purification and filtration plus complete water and sewer systems. Residential and commercial. Mon-Fri 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Sat 7 a.m.noon. PanhandlePump.com. Paint Bucket, The 714 Pine St., 263-5032 – Sandpoint’s complete paint and wallpaper store. Paint and sundries, wall coverings, and custom framing. See ad, page 78. Pella Windows & Doors 509-242-1111 – Pella windows are viewed to be the best. If you are looking for windows or doors, call Rob Gifford, sales representative for Pella. See ad, page 85. Pella.com Pend Oreille Mechanical 1207 Dover Hwy., 263-6163 – Service 24/7. Plumbing, cooling, heating, sheet metal, hydronic, refrigeration. See ad, page 100. POMechanical.com Pend Oreille Stone Sandpoint. 263-4571 – Full service masonry contractor serving both residential and commercial. See ad, page 52. PendOreilleStone.com Ponderay Garden Center 477703 Hwy. 95 N., Ponderay, 255-4200 – Just north of Wal-Mart. We offer a full line of landscaping supplies for your yard

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Alpine Motors Company Hwy. 95 N., 263-2118, 1-800430-5050 – Your Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, GMC truck dealer. New and used sales and leasing. Full service, parts and body shop. AlpineMotors.net Anderson’s Autobody 31466 Hwy. 200, Ponderay, 2636443 – Since 1989. We specialize in complete frame, body and paint repairs. Car rentals on-site, free pick up and delivery. See ad, page 92.

Fourth, 263-0515, Dave Reseska; or 1305 Hwy. 2 W. Ste. B, 2630346, Jim Zuberbuhler – Since 1871, financial advisors. See ad, page 56. EdwardJones.com Horizon Credit Union 520 N. 5th, 263-7525 and 480 Bonner Mall Way, 2631371, 800-852-5316 – Serving Washington and northern Idaho for 60 years. Full-service financial institution. See ad, page 103. hzcu.org Jensen, Brian C., CPA 520 Cedar St., Ste. A, 263-5154 – Specializing in tax preparation, payroll and accounting services. Financial and tax planning. See ad, page 102. Panhandle State Bank 414 Church St., 263-0505 or 2653336 – Branches in Bonners Ferry, Ponderay and Priest River. Also bank in Post Falls, Rathdrum and Coeur d’Alene. See ads, pages 30 and 53. PanhandleBank.com Spokane Teachers Credit Union Hwy. 95 and Kootenai Cutoff Rd., 800-858-3750 – Offering e-statements, direct deposit, and online bill-pay. At the STCU Credit Union, you’re not just a member, but an owner as well. See ad, page 101. stcu.com

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Service Directory

Advertiser Index A Child’s Dream Come True

Herndon Inc. Tile & Stone

Priest Lake Golf Course

Acme Integrations

Hill’s Resort

Quality Inn Sandpoint

Aging Better In-Home Care

Holiday Inn Express

RE/MAX/Iron Horse Ranch

Home Sweet Home Consignment 63

ReStore Habitat For Humanity

Albertson / Barlow Insurance

102

Alpine Shop

Hope Marine Services

Revelstoke Homes

AmericanWest Bank

Horizon Credit Union

103

River Journal, The

Idaho Sash & Door

100

Sandpoint Building Supply

Ammara

108

Anderson, Dr. Steven DDS

International Selkirk Loop

Anderson’s Autobody

Jensen, Brian CPA

102

Archer Vacation Condos

Keokee Books

128

Artists’ Studio Tour

Sandpoint Business & Events Center

Sandpoint Construction

Koch, Dr. Paul E. O.D.

Sandpoint Farmers Market

Best Western Edgewater Resort 15

Lakedance Film Festival

SandpointOnline.com

Bitterroot Group

Lake Pend Oreille Cruises

Sandpoint Property Management 27

Bonner County Daily Bee

Lake to Mountain Massage

Sandpoint Sports

Bonner County Landscaping

LaQuinta Inn

Sandpoint Super Drug

Bonner Mall Association

Laughing Dog Brewing

Sandpoint Vacation Getaways

Bonner Physical Therapy

Laura Design Consulting

Sandpoint Vacation Rentals

Bridge Assisted Living, The

Local Pages, The

Sandpoint West Athletic Club

Sayler, Jon R. Architect

76 78

Cedar Street Bridge Public Market Century 21 RiverStone

84-85 81

Longevity Wellness

33 129

Center/Solstice

Schweitzer Cabin

Magic Hour Photo

Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Make Beer Make Wine

Seasons at Sandpoint

131

Coldwater Creek

132

Columbia Brewing

Maps & More

Selkirk Welding & Machinery

CO-OP Country Store, The

MeadowBrook Home & Gift

Selle Valley Construction 81, 84-85

CTA Architects

Monarch Marble & Granite

101

Dale Pyne Real Estate Investments

Evergreen Realty North Idaho Animal Hospital

Doty Concrete Company

North Idaho Spas

84-85 8

Northwest Handmade Northwest Properties/Cabela’s

DSS Custom Homes

Edward Jones

56 4 26

Farmers Insurance – Few and Far Clothing Company Flying Fish Company Fogg Electric, Inc.

Trophy Properties Pacific Far West Insurance

Spokane Teachers Credit Union 101

28 89 102

Paint Bucket, The

Panhandle State Bank

Panhandle State Bank 102 44

Finan McDonald Floor Show, The

Summit Insurance

Dave Neely Agency

Solstice Su Geé Skin Care

Family Health Center

27 106

Dreams In Beauty Day Spa

Evergreen Realty

Sleep’s Cabins

Northwest Docks & Waterworks 63

Dover Bay/Holiday Shores

Loan Center Pella Window & Doors Pend d’Oreille Winery

13 107 96 84-85

Pend Oreille Mechanical

22 45

Taylor Insurance

Ted Bowers Construction

84-85

Timber Frames by Collin Beggs

84-85

Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s

CLOTHING

Int’l Realty

2-3, 36-42

84-85

Vacationville

108

Waterfront Property Management 19

100

Western Pleasure Guest Ranch 48

Pend Oreille Stone

Coldwell Banker

Perceptions in Watercolors

Winter Ridge Natural

Petal Talk

Hallans Gallery

Ponderay Garden Center

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Resource Group Sunshine Goldmine

Pend Oreille Shores Resort

Fritz’s Fry Pan

126 S A N D P O I N T M A G A Z I N E

7 92

Skeleton Key Art Glass

Moore, Charesse Realtor

Dan Fogarty Custom Builder 84-85 Dover Bay

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84-85

White, Michael Realtor

Foods Market Zany Zebra

or business. Plants, shrubs, trees, pottery and a huge gift shop. See ad, page 77. ReStore Habitat for Humanity 1424 N. Boyer, 265-5313 – New and used building materials such as doors, windows, flooring, lumber, cabinets, countertops, plumbing and electrical supplies, lighting fixtures, tools, paint, appliances and furniture at 25-50 percent off retail. See ad, page 17. Revelstoke Homes 120 E. Lake St., 263-4442 – Your custom home builder and TrussTek distributor. Remodels, interior design, commercial, landscape design, salvage and demolition. See ad, page 34. RevelstokeCustomHomes.com Sandpoint Building Supply 477421 Hwy. 95 N., 263-5119 – Everything from lumber, siding, doors and cabinets, and all the way to the tools that help you get the job done. See ad, page 83. SandpointBuildingSupply.com Sandpoint Construction 208-304-3571 – With more than 25 years building custom homes and historic renovation, we are Sandpoint’s premier builder providing the highest quality at the most reasonable cost. See ad, page 97. SCI.bz Sayler, Jon R. Architect, AIA 534 Pine St., 265-9160 – Licensed, registered architect in Idaho, Washington, Montana and Arizona. Over 30 years experience. See ad, page 76. JonSayler.com Selle Valley Construction 401 Bonner Mall Way, Ste. 1, 263-1808 – We build quality custom built homes suited for the land we all love so much. See ads, pages 81, 85. SelleValleyConstruction. com Studio of Sustainable Design 100 Jana Ln., 263-3815 – Bruce Millard, Architect. Personal, environmentally sensitive and healthy design, incorporating natural, recycled and durable materials including straw bale. Full services. bemarchitect.com Timber Frames by Collin Beggs Sandpoint, 290-8120 – Handcrafted traditional timber frame homes. Wooden, draw-bored joinery. Handrived pegs. See ad, page 85. TimberFramesByCollinBeggs.com

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Coldwater Creek 311 N. First, 800-262-0040 or 263-2265 – In downtown Sandpoint, discover one of the most unique collections of women’s apparel and accessories. See ad, back cover. ColdwaterCreek.com Finan McDonald Clothing Co. 301 N. 1st Ave., 263-3622 – Unique selection of men’s and women’s outdoor and natural fiber clothing; woolens, fleece, cottons and silks. See ad, page 13. FinanMcDonald.com

SUMMER 2009

5/3/09 3:44:11 PM

Service Directory CRAFTS & TOYS A Child’s Dream Come True 1223 Michigan St., Ste. D, 2551664 – Wood toys, soft dolls, art supplies, baby gifts and games are just a few of the natural crafts and toys we have. See ad, page 71. AChildsDream.com

EVENTS FACILITIES Sandpoint Business & Events Center 515 Pine St., Ste. 102, 2637770 – The most convenient ceremony, reception and performance center located in downtown Sandpoint. See ad, page 13. SandpointEventsCenter.com

FARMERS MARKET Sandpoint Farmers Market Farmin Park, Sandpoint, 597-3355 – Open May to October, an open-air market full of fresh produce, garden starts, handcrafts, flowers, food and live music. Every Wednesday and Saturday. See ad, page 33. SandpointFarmersMarket.com

FARM / GARDEN The CO-OP Country Store 125 Tibbetts Lane, Ponderay, 2636820 – Farm, home, hardware. The CO-OP has just about everything for the farm and home. See ad, page 80. CoopCountryStore.com

FURNITURE

GIFTS/FLOWERS/JEWELRY Cedar Street Bridge Public Market First and Cedar, 290-5153 or 255-8270. Shops, restaurants, entertainers, special events and just a splash of nightlife. See ad, page 23. CedarStreetBridge.com Few and Far 113 N. First Ave., 265-0621 – A new addition to downtown Sandpoint, offering unique gifts and collectibles from local and global sources. Great gifts from local artists to around the world. See ad, page 44.

GRAPHIC ARTISTS Keokee Creative Group 405 Church St., 263-3573 – Complete graphics, design and editorial for any project. If you like Sandpoint Magazine, you’ll like what we can do for you. keokee.com

HEALTH CARE Aging Better In-Home Care 263-7889, 866-464-2344 – North Idaho’s most trusted provider of in-home care services for the elderly and disabled. Skilled nursing services, respite care, hospice care and housecleaning. See ad,

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page 17. Ammara . Medicine . Wellness . Spa 30410 Highway 200, Ponderay, 263-1345 – Medical health care for men and women. Dermatology, botox, restylane, massage, pedicure and manicure. Women’s health, family practice, internal medicine, medically managed weight loss. See ad, page 108. MyAmmara.com Anderson, Steven DDS 311 S. Division St., 263-7597 – When you visit our Sandpoint, Idaho, dental office, your smile is our top priority. Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve. See ad, page 80. SteveAndersondds.com Bonner Physical Therapy 1327 Superior St., 263-5731 – Providing cutting-edge technology and manual techniques to obtain the optimum result for pain control and recovery or resolving symptoms from diabetic neuropathy. See ad, page 32. Family Health Center 606 N. 3rd Ave., Ste. 101, 263-1435 – At Pinegrove Medical Center, our family practitioners specialize in caring for every member of the family. See ad, page 26. FHCSandpoint.com Sandpoint Super Drug 604 N. 5th, 263-1408 – Familyowned pharmacy serving Sandpoint for over 32 years. Four knowledgeable pharmacists on staff. See ad, page 32. Su Geé Skin Care 324 Florence St., 263-6205 – Extensive menu of exquisite facial and body treatments provided in a serene and relaxing environment. See ad, page 33. sugeeskincare@ yahoo.com Your RELAXATION DESTINATION 804 Airport Way, Ste. E., 597 4343 – Master herbalist offering herbs and natural healing principles. Stress relief and relaxation with reflexology. www. CureForTheCommonSpa.com

INSURANCE Albertson Barlow Insurance 120 E. Lake St., Ste. 203, 265-6406 – Specializing in life, disability, individual, group health, and now home and auto too. For over 15 years we’ve been assisting the Sandpoint community. See ad, page 102. Farmers Insurance – Dave Neely Agency 105 Pine St., Ste. 110, 263-3741 – Serving Sandpoint and the rest of North Idaho since 1997. We specialize in personal lines of insurance at competitive rates. See ad, page 102. North Idaho Insurance 102 Superior St., 263-2194 – A full-service, independent insurance

SUMMER 2009

agency serving northern Idaho since 1978. Business or personal risks: property, liability, workers comp, bonding, home, auto, life and health. NorthIdahoIns.com Pacific Far West Insurance 120 E. Lake St., Ste. 311, 263-1426 – Serving Sandpoint and northern Idaho for 24 years. Quotes on auto, home, business, life and group insurance. See ad, page 102. isu-haddock.com Summit Insurance Resource Group 1205 Hwy. 2, 265-9690 – The largest independent insurance agency in North Idaho, specializing in business, personal, life and health. See ad, page 22. Taylor Insurance Co., Inc. 1009 W. Superior St., 2634000 or 773-6441 in Post Falls – Insurance and financial services for all your personal and business needs. See ad, page 49. TaylorInsuranceSandpoint.com

INTERNET SERVICES SandpointOnline.com 263-3573 – Our town’s community Web site. Complete online services include Web site design, hosting and search engine optimization. See ad, page 129.

LANDSCAPING Bonner County Landscaping 263-9877 – Superior design, attention to detail and commitment to customer satisfaction. See ad, page 65. BonnerCountyLandscaping.com

MALL Bonner Mall 300 Bonner Mall Way, Ponderay. 263-4272 – For your one-stop shopping convenience, visit Bonner Mall and more than 30 retail shops. See ad, page 49. BonnerMall.com

MAPS Maps & More 109 Main St., 265-8883 – We carry a complete line of travel and recreational maps, wall maps, atlases and much more. See ad, page 47. GetGreatMaps.com

MARINAS Dover Bay Marina Marina District, Dover Bay. 2633083 – Waterfront bungalow rentals with gorgeous lake and mountain views. New Lake Club Fitness Center with swimming pool and hot tub. Drive up or boat in to dine or shop at Dover Bay Café and Market. See ad, page 19. DoverBayBungalows.com Holiday Shores/East Hope Marina 264-5515 – Full-service marina located 18 miles east of Sandpoint on Hwy 200 East in Hope, Idaho. See ad, page 90. Hope Marine Services 47392 Hwy. 200, Hope, 263-5105 – Your full-service, year-round stop. Boat sales, repair shop, accessories and boat charters. See ad,

SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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Edmundson Fine Woodworking 1965 Samuels Rd., 265-8730, toll-free 866-877-1882 – Custom, handcrafted furniture and cabinets built with attention to detail. Carefully selected hardwoods, hand-cut dovetail drawers, curved surfaces and inlay are just a few details. EFineWoodworking.com Home Sweet Home Consignment 300 Bonner Mall Way, Ponderay, 255-1818 and 101 Main St., Kootenai, 265-9898 – Unique variety of antiques, furniture, home decor, lighting and gifts. See ad, page 63. HomeSweetHomeConsignment. com Northwest Handmade 308 N. 1st, 255-1962, 877880-1962 – Featuring a variety of regional artists. Custom log furniture, wood carving, metal art, one-of-a-kind gifts. See ad, page 28. NorthwestHandmade.com

Fritz’s Frypan 329 N. 1st, 255-1863 – Downtown at First and Cedar, featuring a wide array of fine cookware such as Le Creuset, J.A. Henckel, Cuisinart and more. See ad, page 96. FritzsFrypan.com MeadowBrook Home & Gift 205 Cedar St., 255-2824 – We offer a timeless selection of unique and affordable gifts, home decor and furnishings. See ad, page 82. MeadowBrookHomeAndGift.com Petal Talk 120 Cedar St., 265-7900 – Fullservice floral and gift shop! Fresh flowers, bundled or custom designed. Special event and wedding services. Delivery available. See ad, page 62. SandpointFlowers.com Scandinavian Affär 319 N. 1st Ave., 263-7722 – The Scandinavian countries are represented in this specialty shop including their kitchen items, table tops, candles, electric candleholders, books, cards, rugs, pewter Vikings, mugs, Danish irons, tomtes, fjord design tableware. Sharon’s Hallmark 306 N. 1st Ave., 263-2811 – Special gifts for special people including Vera Bradley bags; Big Sky Carvers; Yankee, Tyler and BeanPod candles; souvenirs, balloon bouquets, Hallmark cards, books, gift wrap and stationery. Sunshine Goldmine 110 S. 1st, 263-6713 – Come discover the unique and distinctive. Serving Sandpoint for over 29 years, the No. 1 stop for handmade jewelry and gold. See ad, page 45. Your RELAXATION DESTINATION 804 Airport Way Ste J., 5974343 – Pure and organic products. Wonderfully scented soy candles; essential oils; natural skincare; unique art cards. All retail under $35. Gift certificates available; “Gifts to Go”- ready wrapped gift bags at $15, $25 and $45. Hours vary. Please call. www. CureForTheCommonSpa.com Zany Zebra 317 N. 1st, 263-2178 – We offer the latest fashion trends for all ages. Many accessories adorn our store, great prices, friendly and fun atmosphere. From A to Zebra. See ad, page 14.

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Service Directory page 47. HopeMarine.com Sandpoint Marina Located next to the Old Power House, 120 E. Lake St., 2633083 – Accessible to downtown Sandpoint. See ad, page 64. SandpointWaterfront.com

MARKETING Keokee Creative Group 405 Church St., 263-3573 – We help your ideas take shape. Keokee can set your company apart by developing effective advertising, public relations and marketing campaigns. Talent. Experience. Professionalism. Print, brochures, rack cards, logo development and Web sites. keokee.com

MASSAGE / SPA

MEDIA Bonner County Daily Bee 310 Church St., 263-9534 – Bonner County’s No. 1 daily newspaper. See ad, page 65. Bonner CountyDailyBee.com The Local Pages 888-249-6920 –The phone directory with the most. See ad, page 81. LocalPagesInc.com The River Journal 255-6957 – A monthly publication of the news and events of our area. Get in touch with Sandpoint by reading our community paper. See ad, page 52. RiverJournal.com

OPTOMETRY / OPTICAL Paul E. Koch, O.D. Located inside Wal-Mart, Hwy. 95 N, 255-5513 – Full-service optometry office. Same day fitting for most contact lens prescriptions. Treatment of minor eye infections. See ad, page 32.

PHOTOGRAPHY Simply Pure Art P.O. Box 571, Kootenai, ID 83840, 597-4541 – Photography for family or business. Portraits, photo illustration, wall prints, digital images, affordable prints available for order online. www.SimplyPureArt.com Magic Hour Photo Bonners Ferry, 267-5883 – Join

a four-day digital photo workshop and learn top photo skills from two professionals at their own secret, stunning locations in the Selkirk and Cabinet mountains. July 16-19 and Sept. 24-27. See ad, page 96.

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT Sandpoint Property Management 314 N. 3rd, 263-9233 – Since 1993, providing exceptional real estate management. Representing the Beardmore Building in Priest River. See ad, page 27. SandpointRentals.com

PUBLISHING / PRINTING Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc. 405 Church St., 263-3573 – We publish Sandpoint Magazine, plus fine books about our region. Offering complete design, editorial and publishing services for books and all other publications. KeokeePublishing.com

REAL ESTATE Century 21 RiverStone 316 N. 2nd Ave., 255-2244 – Nationally known, locally trusted. Sandpoint’s premier real estate firm. Any of our 48 professional agents can help you. See ad, page 29. www.c21sandpoint.com Coldwell Banker Resort Realty / Michael White 202 S. 1st, Sandpoint, 290-8599 or 263-6802 – B.S. in forestry and ecosystem management. Specializing in land, ranches and homes on acreage. See ad, page 104. NorthIdahoLandMan.com Dale Pyne Real Estate Investments 212 N. 1st Ave., 265-5577, 5971200 – Whether you are looking for a home in Sandpoint, waterfront, a mountain cabin or investment property, you have found the right place. See ad, page 93. DalePyne.com Evergreen Realty 321 N. 1st, 263-6370, 800-829-

6370 – For all your real estate needs in Idaho, Washington and Montana. Waterfront, Schweitzer and commercial properties. See ad, page 4. Evergreen-Realty.com or SchweitzerMountain.com. • Charesse Moore 255-6060, 888-228-6060 – Hard-working professional. Sandpoint’s top producing agent 2004 to 2008. See ad, page 27. Evergreen-Realty.com Northwest Outdoor Properties/ Cabela’s Trophy Properties 101 N. 1st, 263-9703 – Assisting any buyer or seller of farms, ranches, timberland, waterfront, acreage, hunting, fishing, recreational properties in an international marketplace. See ad, page 89. NorthwestOutdoorProperties.com RE/MAX/Iron Horse Ranch 509 N. 5th Ave., 255-7446 – New location on Fifth Avenue in Sandpoint. Representing Iron Horse Ranch, a 388-acre gated development that can now be purchased as a whole. See ad, page 24. IronHorseatSandpoint.com or AllSeasonsTeam.com Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby’s International Realty 200 Main St., 263-5101, 800282-6880 – No. 1 in sales and service, year after year! We’re the market leader for a reason. Offering top-notch service for residential, land, commercial land, waterfront properties. TSSIR.com. See ads, pages 2-3 and 36-42. • Cindy Bond • Mickie Caswell/Shelley Healy • Bonnie Chambers • Chris Chambers • Jenny Ellis • Rick Evans • Stan Hatch • Joanne Heaviland • Cheri Hiatt • Susan and Brandon Moon • Chris Neu

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Ammara . Medicine . Wellness . Spa 30410 Highway 200, Ponderay, 263-1345 – Medical health care for men and women. Dermatology, botox, restylane, massage, pedicure and manicure. Women’s health, family practice. See ad, page 108. MyAmmara.com Dreams in Beauty Day Spa, Peggy Richards 263-7270, 877-422-6240 – Offering massage: the rolf method, deep tissue, sports, Trager, Swedish, reflexology, pregnancy and more. See ad, page 32. DreamsInBeauty.com Lake to Mountain Massage 610-3591 – Therapeutic integrative massage with Suzanne Guibert, B.S. Exercise Physiology. See ad, page 32. Longevity Wellness Center/ Solstice 263-1800, Sandpoint or 2632862, Schweitzer – Oriental bodywork, movement therapy and therapeutic massage. Nationally certified AMTA member. Retail store at Schweitzer location. SolsticeWellBeing.com. See ad,

page 32. The Spa at Seasons 424 Sandpoint Ave., third floor, 888-263-5616 – Offering holistic, healing therapies and luxury skin care treatments, products and gifts. See ad, page 7. SeasonsAtSandpoint.com Your RELAXATION DESTINATION 804 Airport Way, Ste E., 597 4343 – Relaxation guaranteed with reflexology; relief and results with a unique back treat; face/neck massage. Affordable and effective. www.CureForTheCommonSpa.com

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Service Directory • Mario Palermo • Yvonne Palermo

RE DEVELOPMENTS Bitterroot Group South Fork Big Sky, MT, 888-7750006 – Architects, interior design, builders and timberwrights. See ad, page 75. BitterrootGroup.com Dover Bay 265-1597 – New waterfront community. Homesites, condominiums and cabins. Custom built homes. On the shores of beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. See ads, page 8 and 90. DoverBayIdaho.com Seasons at Sandpoint 313 N. 2nd, 255-4420 – Luxury waterfront condominiums and townhomes. Experience the best of both worlds – lakefront in the heart of downtown. See ad, page 7. SeasonsAtSandpoint.com

RECREATION / TO DO From the Heart Ranch – Alpacas 1635 Rapid Lightning Rd., 2652788 – Tour our ranch to see what life is like with alpacas! Shop for the wonderful alpaca fiber hats, scarves, sweaters, rugs, throws, and yarn. Open year-round, closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. FromTheHeartRanch.com International Selkirk Loop 267-0822, 888-823-2626 – 280-mile scenic drive encircling the wild Selkirk Mountains in northeast Washington, northern Idaho and southeast British Columbia. See ad, page 67. SelkirkLoop.org Lake Pend Oreille Cruises 255-5253 – Experience the breathtaking scenery of Lake Pend Oreille. Enjoy a public cruise, or charter a private cruise. See ad, page 53. LakePendOreilleCruises.com Priest Lake Golf Course Priest Lake, 208-443-2525 – Stunning 18-hole golf course with driving range, and putting green.

Spring and fall, twilight hours, play for $1 a hole. See ad, page 45. PriestLakeGolfCourse.com Sandpoint West Athletic Club 1905 Pine St., 263-6633 – Fullservice club with indoor pool, aerobics, racquetball and more. Daily rates, flexible/affordable memberships. See ad, page 56. SandpointWest.com TerraPen Geographics Maps & More, 109 Main St., 2658883 – We carry a complete line of travel and recreational maps, wall maps, atlases and much more. See ad, page 47. GetGreatMaps.com Wolf People On Hwy. 95 in Cocolalla, 263-1100 – Wolf People is a wolf education facility where you can see live wolves and learn all about them. WolfPeople.com

RESORTS Pend Oreille Shores Resort 47390 Hwy. 200, Hope, 264-5828. Fully furnished condos on Lake Pend Oreille. Full-service athletic club with indoor pool, racquetball. Boat moorage. See ad, page 48. POSResort.com Schweitzer Mountain Resort 11 miles from Sandpoint, 800-8318810, 263-9555 – Lodging packages, dining, hiking, biking, horseback riding, chairlift rides. See ad, inside back cover. Schweitzer.com

SPA sales North Idaho Spas Hwy. 200 and McGhee Rd., 265-5434 – Your local source for Sundance Spas and more. Stop by our showroom to see the exciting products we have to offer. See ad, page 106. NorthIdahoSpas.com

SPORTING EQUIPMENT Sandpoint Sports 476930 Hwy. 95, Ponderay, 265-6163 – Specialized bike sales – mountain, road, hybrid, cruisers and kids. Clothing and accessories, custom bike fitting, rentals, demos

and full-service repairs. See ad, page 56. SandpointSports.net

SPECIALTY FOODS Flying Fish Company 620 N. 5th, 255-5837 – The finest selection of fresh and frozen seafood in northern Idaho. Open Wednesdays and Fridays year-round. See ad, page 96. FlyingFishCo.com The Smoke House Hwy. 95 at south end of Long Bridge, 263-6312 – Smoked fish, meat, poultry, “world famous jerky.” Fine wines, imported beers and local products in our delicatessen. Winter Ridge Natural Foods Market 703 W. Lake St., 265-8135 – Organic produce, natural and organic meats, organic coffee and juice bar. Deli, bulk foods, supplements, homeopathic medicines and literature. See ad, page 32. WinterRidgeFoods.com

VACATION RENTALS Lakeshore Mtn. Management 264-5300, 888-708-3300 – From Lake Pend Oreille to Schweitzer, the perfect vacation rentals for everyone. Variety of accommodations for all seasons. NorthIdahoRentals.com Sandpoint Vacation Getaways 218 N. 1st, 263-6000 – Nightly, weekly, monthly and long-term rentals on Lake Pend Oreille. Premium vacation rentals and superior property management. See ad, page 12. SandpointVacationGetaways.com Sandpoint Vacation Rentals 606 S. Division, 263-7570 or 866-263-7570 – Variety of fully furnished accommodations in the Sandpoint area, at Schweitzer and on Lake Pend Oreille. See ad, page 16. SandpointVacationRentals.com Schweitzer Cabin Schweitzer Mountain Road, 208-610-6334 – Just ½ mile from Schweitzer Village. This

unforgettable ski cabin makes the perfect romantic getaway or family retreat in summer or winter. See ad, page 78. SchweitzerCabin.com Sleep’s Cabins Lakeshore Drive, 255-2122 – Six historic log and bungalow cabins decorated in original furnishings on beautiful Lake Pend Oreille. Sleeps 4-12. See ad, page 18. SleepsCabins.com Vacationville 109B N. 1st, 255-7074, 877255-7074 – Sandpoint’s oldest vacation rental company. Specializing in vacation rentals on the lake, the mountain and the city. See ad, page 108. Vacationville.com

VETERINARIAN North Idaho Animal Hospital 320 S. Ella Ave., 265-5700 – Safety, skill and compassion are the cornerstones of our practice. We strive to continually celebrate the human-animal bond. Grooming and boarding. See ad, page 77. IdahoVet.com

WINE Make Beer Make Wine 1411 N. 4th St., Coeur d’ Alene, 765-8576 – We make it easy for you to become an expert brewer or winemaker. Vin-on-premise or take home and do-it-yourself. All supplies and kits available. See ad, page 57. MakeWineMakeBeer.com Pend d’Oreille Winery 220 Cedar St., 265-8545 – Tastings, tours and retail sales of our award-winning wines. Expanded gift and wine shop. Open daily. Live music on weekends. See ad, page 62. POWine.com

WELDING/FABRICATION Selkirk Welding & Machinery 1200 Triangle Dr., Ponderay, 2631258 – Full service welding and fabrication. Sales, service, installation, load testing and generators. See ad, page 92.

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SANDPOINT MAGAZINE

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... there’s a lot goin’ on!

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Sandpoint of View

Life lesson: Live for the here and now

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By Scott Daily

PHOTO BY WOODS WHEATCROFT

hat is it about a rope suspended above water that draws our attention? The gift of an old cottonwood suspending the potential energy of a community’s youth and life from its branches. For some it is a tool – and for others just a symbol, a memory – of youth and the freedom that accompanies it. Perhaps it is the suggestion for us to grasp its cords and have the courage, the will and the trust to live again. I would have liked to ride that rope out over the water, feeling the pull of gravity strip from me all the stuff of life that needs stripped and then let go and just trust, emerging freer, lighter. I had eyed the rope swing at Sand Creek for years. When our daughters were born, our visits to the beach grew more frequent and longer. Instead of rushing from one thing to the next, we would make time to relax, reclining in the sand, watching the gulls hovering above, squawking in the wind. Crossing the bridge, their eyes as well as my own were always drawn to it. “Swing,” one would say, pointing. Then again, “Swing?” and I would tell her, “Later, when you’re older.” I am 40 now, far from old and perhaps farther from wise. Thinking about the rope swing that once was makes me feel old precisely because I never chose to just get on the damn thing and be swept away by it. Last year I went to the doctor because I had a pain in my leg that wouldn’t go away. It grew to the point that it prevented me from tossing my daughters in the air, from teaching the eldest to ride a bicycle. I was beginning to miss their laughter as well as my own. The doctor put my x-ray against the light and told me a moment later that I had a tumor in my pelvis. A tumor. There was such deep silence in that moment. What I thought about was my girls.

Gone now: Sand Creek rope swing, removed for bypass

They were then ages 3 and 7. I thought of them looking up at me, but of me not being there for them to see. I thought of them asking their mother why papa has gone away. I thought of all the things that I want to do with them but have put off because of work, duty and then eventually because of the pain. It has been a long road between then and now. Because I can, I am again carrying them up the stairs to bed at night. Because I can, I am tossing them into the air and catching them as they laugh and feel once more that their papa is again a strong papa. And I will run, and hike and carry them when they need to be carried, or even when they simply want to be. And for myself and only me, I will dive off of rocks into deep mountain pools at the base

of waterfalls. Baptized. And this time around I won’t miss my chance. I appreciate having nearly fallen, and having come back, my strength growing each day. I’ll never feel quite the same. Some of my bones are held together with screws and the joints will remain forever stiff before their time. But I will be stronger than I have ever been because of this gift. I’ll climb to the top of a mountain this summer and shout it, “Right here! Right now!” It is, after all, all that we’ve got. I wish I could have realized this gift long ago, and on some level I did but put off acting on it. So I have right here and right now to remember it. If only they had allowed the cottonwood to stand just a few months longer.

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