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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandpoint Foster Family Fights For Rights, Answers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to help:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sandpoint Charter School Expansion Due to Open In March

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The district voted unanimously,” said Millar.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bulldog Fans Span Generations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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



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

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

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

Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce to Move to Downtown Sandpoint

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“The two entities are separate but complementary to one another,” she said. Unlike the chamber, the visitors’ center operates at a deficit each year, forcing the chamber’s budget to cover the shortfall.

“We (provide financial support) because the visitor’s center helps us further our mission to support, develop and promote the business community of the greater Sandpoint area,” Little said.

Sandpoint Teen Center Provides After School Programs and an Opportunity to Serve the Community

In a world where teens struggle to fight off the temptations of peer pressure, there is one place in Sandpoint that has done all it can to provide a safe and secure environment where kids can go after school, interact with friends, and give back to the community.

The Sandpoint Teen Center is in its sixth year and for the first time has a paid part-time director, providing consistency for the kids who attend the center.

“We want to provide a place where they (teens) can socialize, but we still enforce respect,” said Sandpoint Teen Center board member Joan Avery. “And we need to respect them as much as we want them to respect us.”

Avery said fellow board member Dr. Gary Hopkins, an adjunct professor of public health at Loma Linda University, has performed research worldwide and his findings strongly confirm that teens have a much higher chance of avoiding drugs and alcohol not only if they have a caring adult in their lives, but also if they are given an opportunity to serve others.

Located just a few blocks from Sandpoint Middle School and Sandpoint High School, the center is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There is a full kitchen, foosball table, pingpong table, playing cards, board games, a Wii, and a place where kids can study.

“We are willing to provide whatever kids need,” said Avery.

Each Tuesday is community service day at the center. During the fall quarter director Andy L’Heureux took the kids to a nearby retirement community where they interacted with the residents.

“That has turned out to be a great thing,” L’Heureux said.

The teens are currently making decorations for the annual Kinderhaven Festival of Trees, a fundraiser whose profits go to the local group home for abused and neglected children. The students also plan to help with snow shoveling this winter and to work with the animal shelters.

From Dec. 11 through Dec. 17 the students will hold a gingerbread contest at Cedar Street Bridge in downtown Sandpoint. Open to the entire community, it will give the students another opportunity to be involved.

“One of the most important things is keeping the kids socializing with each other and the community,” L’Heureux said.

And the kids do love to socialize.

“It’s not necessarily quiet in here, but it’s fun and it’s manageable,” Avery said.

She said because kids come from different schools, they have formed some special friendships at the center, where staff does not allow use of cell phones or any other electronic device.

“It is building a community,” said board member Margareta Larson.

The staff and volunteers also invite members of the community to join the teens at the center and share their expertise.

“We bring people in to share skills with the kids because a child may connect with one of them and discover that’s what they want to do for a living,” said Avery.

Volunteers are critical and those who do it love the connection they make with the kids, even if they may be unsure at first.

“And the more volunteers we have the more kids we can reach,” said Avery.

“They (volunteers) need to understand that they don’t need to come every day. Maybe even start one to two times a month,” said Larson.

The mission statement says in part that they are committed to providing a safe, positive and enriching environment, but all agree that a safe place is what is more important than anything.

“They need a safe place where kids can come and know they’re not going to be bullied or offered drugs,” said Avery. “This is not a place for troubled kids.”

The volunteers and L’Heureux are enthusiastic about their work with the teens. They laugh as they share stories of different games and antics of the kids. They also are proud of the fact that the kids are giving back to the community of Sandpoint.

“Teens need to be shown how they can to contribute to and become a part of the community,” said Avery.

L’Heureux agrees. “We are building bridges between the generations.”

For more information

Contact the Sandpoint Teen Center at (208) 263-0221. The center is open Monday and Tuesday from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. It is on the corner of Pine and Division streets

November is National Alzheimer's Month

The disease is frightening. Its victims are mothers, fathers, spouses and grandparents who do not recognize the faces of those who have loved them for most of their lives. The disease is Alzheimer’s.

This week as many gather around the dinner table to give thanks for the blessings in their lives, there will be many residents in Bonner County expressing gratitude for the help of a nonprofit organization called DayBreak Center.

DayBreak opened in August 2008 and is an adult-day care center for people who suffer from dementia.

“Being a caregiver is a form of torture were it not for the love that has long prevailed,” said Paul, who is a caregiver of a current DayBreak client. “The long journey into the night is one of those painful experiences from which there is no escape. Understanding the experience is one of the things that can help ease the pain and make the trip more bearable.”

And helping caregivers and clients understand the journey is just one of the many services that DayBreak provides.

In addition to providing respite, staff at the center lead the clients in research-based therapeutic activities that help stimulate their memory, give the clients a chance to socialize, exercise and provide resources for the clients’ families.

According to DayBreak program coordinator Nancy Wood, a registered nurse with a bachelor of science degree, all clients are in the mid- to moderate stages of Alzheimer’s.

“The load (of caring for an Alzheimer patient) can never be lifted from those who care,” said Paul. “It is one of those burdens life brings that can’t be shared. There is simply no escape. And that is where respite comes into play.”

According to information gathered in a study conducted in early 2008 prior to opening DayBreak, there are approximately 400 known cases of Alzheimer’s in Bonner County. But according to information provided in DayBreak’s Business Plan, information from the Inland Northwest Alzheimer’s Association estimates that the number of those suffering from Alzheimer’s is in all probability closer to 900 – and that number is likely to increase significantly over the next several years.

Wood said it is estimated that by 2015, 20.9 percent of Bonner County’s population will be 65 or over.

November is National Alzheimer’s Month, and the staff at DayBreak is eager to share information on not only the disease but the resources available for those who suffer from Alzheimer’s and their caregivers.

Wood said there are more than 60 forms of dementia – one of which is Alzheimer’s – and more than 5 million Americans will be affected by Alzheimer’s alone this year.

Initially caregivers feel some guilt about dropping off their loved one, said Wood, but that guilt dissipates when the caregiver sees that their friend or relative enjoys DayBreak.

“It gives them (the caregiver) the energy to get through the rest of the day,” said Wood, who emphasizes that many caregivers rarely get a good night sleep since Alzheimer’s patients are prone to wandering.

One misconception is that Alzheimer’s is a disease which affects only memory, but the truth is that the disease is fatal. Wood said that as the disease increases there is nerve cell death in the brain. This leads to an Alzheimer patient losing basic physical functions such as walking and swallowing.

“Deaths attributed to Alzheimer have increased over 47 percent from 2000 to 2006, compared with decreases of 11 percent due to heart disease,” said Wood who adds that more than 70 percent of people with Alzheimer’s live at home.

Carol has cared for her husband for several years and has found DayBreak a welcome relief not just for her but also her husband.

“DayBreak makes it possible for me to take a much needed break from care giving and my husband enjoys being there.”


DayBreak will hold an open house Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. The event will include entertainment and refreshments. Donations to DayBreak can be mailed to 830 Kootenai Cut-Off Road, Ponderay, ID 83852. The center is open Tuesday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and care is $7.50 per hour. For more information, call(208) 265-8127 or the Senior Center at (208) 263-6860.

Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary With New Church Building

Good things come to those who wait. Just ask the people of Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel in Clark Fork.

For the past seven years the congregation has held its Sunday worship services in Hope Elementary School, with Pastor Scott Douglas working out of a 700-square-foot space the remainder of the week.

“I would have to leave when (church) groups needed to use the space,” Douglas said.

But now Douglas does not have to leave his office when members of his congregation hold meetings or classes.

On Sept. 20 Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel celebrated its 10th anniversary in a big way. The congregation held the first service in its new 11,000-square-foot church, which sits on five acres in Clark Fork right off Highway 200. The church has a bookstore, an education wing, a large sanctuary with a state-of-the-art sound system, an office and fellowship hall.

The sanctuary holds approximately 300 people – about two-thirds the population of Clark Fork.

“There’ve been up to 210 to 220 people in here on a Sunday,” Douglas said.

About four years ago, the members of Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel began to consider building a new church. Frustrated when they were not able to locate anything that met their needs and budget, they were ready to give up. “It was almost as if God said he’s going to let us try it on our own. We were ready to give up and then someone said they had 5 acres they would donate,” said Douglas, adding that the donor wishes to remain anonymous.

Because the land sits 5 feet below the flood plain, acquiring permits took about a year and a half, Douglas said.

In anticipation of purchasing land, the congregation had saved more than $300,000.

“Don’t ask me how we did that. It was a God thing,” Douglas said. The congregation used the money for a down payment on the new building.

The church’s mortgage is about $470,000 – but not for long. A man who recently died willed his Clark Fork vacation home to the church. The church will own the home – valued at approximately $1 million – free and clear by next year. When the home is sold, the church will pay off the mortgage and have money left over.

“We’ll be able to make good use of that money and fund our overseas mission programs and also help our local community,” Douglas said.

Those overseas missions are many. The Clark Fork church owns an orphanage in Siberia, which is set to open soon and will be home to 30 children. Douglas said the church hopes to reach the nation by reaching the kids through the orphanage.

“Kids are prone to faith,” he said. “Kids believe things that don’t make sense. Our job is to teach them why it does make sense.”

The church also recently purchased a building in Siberia that it will use as a rural pastor training center.

“We will train Russians and equip them for the ministry,” Douglas said.

The church also sponsors missions in Peru and Mexico.

It is faith that has led Douglas to where he is today. He worked as a grocery store manager in Phoenix until 1999. Knowing he was called to serve God, Douglas and his wife, Valerie, planned to attend Bible college in California. They moved to Clark Fork in 1999 after spending time with relatives in Heron, Mont., knowing they had found their home. Douglas canceled his Bible college plans and started Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel.

“It’s been on-the-job training ever since,” Douglas said.

He and Valerie have three grown children, ages 35, 32 and 31. About five years ago they also adopted three siblings who are now 5, 6 and 7.

One of the congregation’s next goals is to open a Christian school in the new building, for kindergarten through sixth grade, by next September.

“Everything is such a blessing,” Douglas said. “There is no limit to what God can do with anyone and in any place.”


More information
Contact Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel at (208) 266-1911 or go to www.calvarychapelclarkfork.org

November 15th Marks the Beginning of National Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week

His name was Tim. He died a few months ago from injuries suffered in an auto accident. He was not a well-known community member nor was he a successful business person. But he also is not forgotten. A longtime member of the Sandpoint community, Tim was homeless and suffered from mental illness. He spent nights at homes of acquaintances and often sought shelter under the Dover Bridge.

On Tuesday, there will be a candlelight vigil to celebrate Tim’s life and to remember other homeless people who have lost their lives.

The vigil is one of many events taking place locally this week, National Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week. Sponsored by Transitions in Progress, these events are an opportunity to inform Sandpoint residents about the homeless in the community and let residents know what they can do to help.

“We will have an event almost every day of the week,” said Craig Koester, president of the board of directors for Transitions in Progress, formerly known as Bonner County Homeless Task Force.

Because the homeless are not visible on downtown streets like those in large cities, there is a misconception that homelessness is not an issue here. But the truth is the homeless population is growing considerably and Transitions in Progress is doing all it can to help not only the homeless but also those who are victims of domestic violence.

Transitions in Progress has several properties around Bonner County that house families, women and their children escaping abusive situations, and women who are single and in transition.

Harmony House is the only fully staffed 24-hour shelter in the county for victims of abuse.

“This is important because these things (abuse) do not happen 8 to 5,” said Koester. “To stay (in an abusive relationship) is not an option. We give people a path that provides hope.”

Cherie Peak is the director at Harmony House. She said that they also provide the only state-approved battered treatment program in Bonner or Boundary counties.

“We also provide support groups as well as outreach and education in the community,” said Peak.

Although there has been a decrease in the number of women seeking shelter over the past couple of years, Peak said that is beginning to change.

“The numbers are starting to rise again, and I suspect it has to do with the economic downturn,” said Peak. “The economy has always been a trigger (for violence).”

But homelessness and abuse are not independent of one another.

“Between thirty to forty percent of people we consider homeless are direct victims of domestic violence,” said Koester, emphasizing that abuse does not always mean physical abuse.

“Abuse takes many forms,” said Koester. “Emotional, financial and psychological.”

A longtime advocate for the homeless, Koester devotes much of his time to Transitions in Progress which, due to lack of funds, is currently without an executive director.

“We have three program managers who operate independently and report to the board,” said Koester, who is writing a new business plan for Transitions. “My biggest job is outreach and awareness and asking for support in any way possible.”

Another Transitions in Progress properties is Blue Haven. Located in Sandpoint, it provides transitional housing for up to nine families. Blue Haven director Tamie Martinsen said she has seen higher socioeconomic classes coming to apply for help.

“We have had professionals contacting us this year – people who have never found themselves in this situation and who don’t even know how to apply for food stamps,” Martinsen said.

She said there are currently seven families on the waiting list.

“We are always full,” Martinsen said.

When Transitions does not have room, Martinsen said she often refers people to Coeur d’Alene or Spokane.

“That is hard because people don’t want to leave their communities,” she said.

The Trestle Creek Friendship Center, which is located on a five-acre property, offers several three-bedroom, two-bath homes for families and a four-bedroom home for single women.

The facilities operated by Transitions in Progress house approximately 60 to 70 people, more than half of them children. “If they weren’t at our facility they would be homeless,” Koester said.

“Our goal is to keep families together.”

Koester and the staff at Transitions in Progress hope that this week’s events will enlighten the community about the needs of the homeless and victims of abuse in Bonner County.

“We need to give people a chance, give people direction and give them hope, and then they are able to go out and become productive members of society,” said Koester

Sandpoint Events For Homeless and Hunger Awareness Week

Monday

Priest River Community Meal, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Priest River Senior Center; co-sponsored with Priest River Ministries.

Tuesday

Discussion with public officials: Planning and zoning, mayor, City Council, police, sheriff, county supervisors, 5:30 to 7:45 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Fourth and Alder, Sandpoint.
Candlelight vigil in remembrance of Tim Fury and other homeless people who have died. This event will feature the drum and pipe corps; 8 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, Fourth and Alder, Sandpoint.

Wednesday

Community Feast, noon to 5 p.m., Sandpoint Gardenia Center.

Saturday

Transitional Housing Open House, 1 to 3 p.m., Trestle Creek Supportive Housing, 71 Freeman Lane, Hope.
For more information about services provided by Transitions in Progress, or to offer help, call (208) 265-2952

Sandpoint Community Comes Together to Support the Panida Theater

The Panida Theater is a treasured landmark in downtown Sandpoint. It opened in 1927 and was named for its location – the Panhandle of Idaho.

In the early years it served as a vaudeville and movie house, but while the types of performances may have changed over the years, one thing has remained – talented performers still take the stage.

But operating the community-owned theater isn’t easy. It takes money and commitment. After years of neglect, Sandpoint residents came together in the 1980s to save the theater, which boasts beautiful architecture.

The community efforts paid off, and the Panida is now on the National Register of Historic Places. Year after year, a community effort of donations, grants and volunteers keep the Panida alive and well.

Late last year, Sandpoint’s Community Assistance League awarded the Panida a grant of $600 that was used to purchase chandeliers for the Little Theater. The Fenton Family Fund of the Idaho Community Foundation also contributed $20,000 to the theater. According to Karen Bowers, executive director of the Panida, that money was designated to improve the Little Theater space and for general operating expenses.

According to those involved with the Panida, grants chairwoman Phyllis Goodwin played an instrumental role in the Panida’s receipt of several grants over the last year.

Others who contributed greatly over the last year include:
The Idaho Commission on the Arts, which awarded an entry track grant of $4,942 for general operating expenses as well as an ARRA/Act Stimulus grant for employees in the amount of $8,807.

Mountain West Bank, which presented a donation of $5,000 from its Community Giving Fund.
The Equinox Foundation, formerly Fenton Family Foundation, which contributed $500 for general operating expenses and to support the ongoing restoration work of the Panida.
The Laura Moore Cunningham Foundation, which awarded $10,000.
The Idaho Heritage Trust, which announced a grant of $5,000 for a historical-finishes study to restore the interior walls of the Panida, and The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which announced a grant of $4,000.

The Florence Wasmer Fund for Arts & Culture with the Inland Northwest Community Foundation, which awarded the theater a grant of $1,600 to purchase new stage sound equipment.

Bowers said the theater has three other employees: a technical director, an executive assistant and a maintenance person. The theater has an annual budget of approximately $160,000, but there are always ongoing projects.

Bowers said one upcoming goals is to complete the refurbishing of the chairs.

“That is at least a $40,000 project,” she said.

The ceiling may also be in need of repair. However, until professionals can look at it and assess what needs to be done Bowers is unsure of the extent of that project.

“We’ve got a lot of things down the line,” said Bowers, including joining the Little Theater with the main theater.

Bowers said all future projects are directed at restoring the theater to its original splendor, and the community has been instrumental in making that happen.

“The Panida extends its gratitude to all the foundations and organizations who have given so generously in the last year to help maintain and preserve the community’s beloved historic theater,” said Erik Daarstad, a member of the Panida’s board of trustees.

Sandpoint Residents Vote in Favor of Water Bond

For a city that sits on one of the largest lakes in North America, no one would ever suspect there is a problem with adequate water supply. But looks are deceiving. The reality is that there is a problem in the city of Sandpoint – and it has the potential to be a 5-million-gallon-a-day problem.

Last Tuesday, Sandpoint residents approved the issuance of a bond to expand the Lake Pend Oreille Water Treatment Facility, which currently has a capacity of 3.5 million gallons per day.
“Our peak days in late summer are over 5 million gallons per day,” said Kody Van Dyk, Sandpoint’s Public Works Director. “We have been fortunate that the Little Sand Creek snow pack has been good the past two years because that source has been enough to supplement the lake plant source.”

City officials have forecasted that if growth continues in Sandpoint as it has over the last several years, the demand for water will exceed the supply by approximately 5 million gallons each day.
Prior to a community forum on Oct. 28 which featured the candidates for city council, Van Dyk addressed the crowd about the bond. There was much talk about the bond and how conservation may be a better alternative.

But the discussion did not stop there. Each candidate was given an opportunity to speak about his or her position regarding the proposed bond.

City Councilman Michael Boge spoke to the crowd and said he was against the bond and that he has not watered his lawn in the 15 years he has lived in Sandpoint. Conservation during the two summer months when water usage is at its peak is what he proposed as a more sensible solution.
Helen Newton, who ran as an incumbent but lost in last week’s election, stated that as an elected official she should not disclose her position. “My vote is as private as yours,” she told the crowd.

But on Tuesday, the voters did not keep their voices or opinions private. They voted 763 to 367 in favor of the water bond.

According to the city, the cost of the expansion will be approximately $17 million. However, the city will receive a $5.1 million grant from USDA Rural Development, stimulus money that would not be available to the city in the future if the bond had failed.

Many initially opposed the bond because of the projected $17 million cost. However, when you break it down Van Dyk said the cost to each household will be as little as 20 cents per day or $6 per month.

The improvements that will take place do not just include expansion of the existing plant; it also includes replacing the existing sand filters with membrane technology which provides a physical barrier between the water and existing pathogens, viruses and pharmaceuticals.

“The membrane technology is a consistent, positive barrier between whatever is in the lake water and the consumers,” said Van Dyk. “The current system is good and provides great water. The problem is that the lake plant’s current technology is incapable of consistently filtering out all contaminants.”

Van Dyk said the plan is for the first phase of the upgrade and reconstruction to increase the capacity of the plant system to 10 million gallons per day and to size pumps and pipes for an eventual capacity of 17 million gallons per day.

If the bond had not passed, the City Council was prepared to discuss the possibility of still approving the expansion and financing it through rate hikes that could have cost residents as much as $16 per month. Van Dyk echoed that sentiment stating that if the bond were to fail, the city would still have needed to upgrade the existing facilities to replace worn-out components, replace inefficient motors and insulate the buildings.

Growth has been consistent in Sandpoint and if voters had cast their ballots against the water bond, they still would have ended up paying more whether it was through financing improvements through rate hikes or a bond in the future when construction costs would have been higher and the grant money would not have been available. Growth is inevitable. Planning for the future in the most economical way is the responsible way to address the growth. The community of Sandpoint should be commended for doing its research and voting to expand and improve its existing facility.

Winners of the three four-year city council seats were Marsha Ogilvie, Jamie Davis and Justin Schuck. Incumbent by appointment, John O’Hara, lost by four votes and incumbents Michael Boge and Helen Newton also were defeated. John Reuter ran uncontested for a two-year seat on Sandpoint’s City Council.

Sandpoint Brothers Are Well Grounded Nationally Ranked Snowboarders

Ask brothers Kix and Dash Kamp about their life, and they will tell you they are just a couple of kids who have fun at what they do. But dig a little deeper and you will find that the secret to their success lies in the combination of hard work, perseverance and positive attitudes.

Their names are unique. Kix, 12, was named after country music star Kix Brooks. Dash, 17, was named after the small community in which he was born – Dash Point, Wash.

The brothers are avid snowboarders and compete through the United States of America Snowboard Association, attending competitions throughout the western U.S. and Canada. Their names can be found in national rankings. Dash is ranked 17th in the nation in slope style open class and Kix is 26th.

Kix said the greatest moment thus far in competing was when he placed third in the country at age 9.

Although fun, it doesn’t come easy.

“It is definitely a never ending ladder. You have to set your goals and work up from there,” said Dash. But more than anything, he said, “Kix and I are really in this to have fun and do it for as long as we can.”

To help accommodate their lifestyle, the boys have been home schooled most of their lives and say they prefer that to the traditional school setting.

“It’s a great program and easier because sometimes the noise in the classroom can be distracting,” said Kix.

“We start at 8 and are usually done by 11:30, eat lunch and are out on the mountain from 12 until closing,” said Dash, who with a smile adds “but if it’s a really good powder day we will go right out to the mountain and do our school work that night.”

It is a schedule that has served them well. The two are excellent students with grade-point averages around 3.50.

For the past six years the boys have lived at Schweitzer Mountain Resort with their mother, Paula Kamp. Their dad, Slate Kamp, also lives in the community and although their parents are divorced the boys say they have both been there for them and supported them all the way.

“We all come together as a team,” said Dash.

Each of the boys is sponsored by a variety of international and local companies. Among them are Oakley, Litehouse, Batwaves, DC Shoes and Union Bindings.

“And, of course, mom and dad,” adds Dash.

Sponsorships help cover most of their equipment cost, which includes four snowboards for Kix and five for Dash.

“It is very cool to be sponsored and to have people want us to promote their product,” said Dash. “Our sponsors are also very proud that we keep a high GPA. They like well-rounded kids representing their product.”

The boys have grown up on Schweitzer Mountain. Kix started skiing at age 3 and boarding when he was 6. Dash began skiing at 2 and boarding at 4. Although they both enjoy skiing and boarding, when it comes to competing they strictly board. Dash has been competing since he was 11 and Kix since age 8.

In the summer months they travel to Mount Hood, Ore. for at least two weeks to keep their skills sharp.

They support and encourage one another, with Dash often giving tips to his younger sibling. The boys don’t get nervous when it comes to competition and say that it helps make them stronger.

“I like everything about snowboarding and competition,” said Kix. “You may not always agree with the judge but you just have to move forward.”

His older brother agrees. “The competition part is what makes snowboarding a renowned sport,” said Dash. “The judging builds character.”

Up until last season the boys had a full time coach who also lived with the family at Schweitzer. They both say they cannot imagine growing up anywhere else.

“It’s an awesome place to live,” said Dash. “It is so peaceful.”

“It’s like Red Bull,” said Kix with a smile. “You can’t get enough of it!”

As for the future, the boys would both like to go as far as they can with snowboarding and build it into a career.

“I want to do my best and go pro,” said Kix, who has played soccer in the past and also now plays lacrosse and football. In addition to snowboarding, Dash plays on the Sandpoint High School tennis team.

Dash is entering his last year of high school and is looking into colleges in Colorado where he will continue to compete. “I want to get a degree in business and come out with my own snowboard line one day,” Dash said.

Of his days on the mountain, Dash said he has some great memories, and heavy snow days were some of the most memorable.

“Waking up to realize it has just snowed 2 ½ feet, the Internet is down so you cannot do online school that day and the public schools are closed and all my friends are coming up to the mountain is the best,” he said.

Something else that makes the brothers cool kids is not just the snowboarding, but what they choose to do with it. They are both members of Boarders for Christ, a group of young Christians who enjoy sharing their passion for boarding and their values in life.

“Boarders for Christ is about snowboarders going out and showing the personality of a Christian,” said Kix. “If people ask for help we will help them.”

When asked who has influenced them the most in their years of snowboarding and competition, the boys both agree. It has been their mother.

“There is really no way we can ever thank her for all she does for us,” said Dash. “She is definitely one of the biggest heroes in my life.”

Refuse To Be a Victim Class November 7th

In March, the CEO of Intermountain Community Bank, Curt Hecker, held town hall meetings informing the community of the corporation’s new program, Powered by Community.

The goal of the program is to create a relationship among businesses, nonprofit organizations, residents and area resources in an effort to bring economic growth to the communities where ICB conducts business. Months later, ICB has made good on its promise and provided many resources to help stimulate the local economy.

In partnership with Idaho Small Business Center, Panhandle State Bank in Sandpoint, a subsidiary of ICB, has hosted a series of workshops free of charge to area residents.

“These are usually $29 (per person) for the workshop, but Panhandle State Bank is underwriting them so they are free,” said Kim Diercks, a commercial loan officer with the bank as well as the community development officer at the Sandpoint branch.

The classes are aimed at helping business owners and residents survive and thrive in a struggling economy. They cover topics such as starting one’s own business, marketing, managing business finances and developing goals.

But there are other issues to be addressed – issues that concern all residents not just business owners. Diercks said that while security is always an issue in the banking industry, there are a lot of common-sense practices people can do in everyday life but do not always think about. Personal safety, she said, is an issue that is becoming more important with difficult economic times.

“With this economy people are going to be more desperate,” said Diercks.

Next Saturday, Nov. 7, Panhandle State Bank in conjunction with the Sandpoint Police Department will offer the Refuse to be a Victim class free of charge.

Sgt. Dave Giffin of the Sandpoint Police Department is one of only two people in North Idaho, Eastern Washington and Montana who is certified to teach the class.

Several years ago, Giffin put in a great deal of time trying to get Neighborhood Block Watch programs started in Sandpoint. Unfortunately, he said, it was with little success. People were more interested in learning how to protect themselves without relying upon their neighbors.

Giffin attended a one week class to become a certified instructor for Refuse to be a Victim.

Next week’s four-hour class will cover topics such as the psychology of criminal predators, mental preparedness, home security, physical security, automobile security, technical security (including identity theft and cyberfraud), self-defense training and personal protection devices.

The class on Nov. 7 is limited to 30 people, but Diercks said if demand exists they will sponsor a second workshop.

To register
If you would like to register for the Nov. 7 Refuse to be a Victim class or learn more about the seminars put on by the Powered by Community program, log on to www.poweredbycommunity.com. If you would like to learn more about Refuse to be a Victim, contact Sgt. Dave Giffin at the Sandpoint Police Department,(208) 265-1482

Learn More About the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail Saturday November 7th

Hiking, biking, rollerblading, walking and running. You see it all in Sandpoint.

The city and other small towns which border Lake Pend Oreille are filled with residents who seek every opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the beautiful setting they call home. And very soon they will have more options to choose from when heading outdoors.

Through a cooperative effort by the cities of Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai as well as Bonner County and the Department of Environmental Quality, a $650,000 Federal Brownfields Assessment grant was awarded to help clean up and develop an area along the northwest shore of Lake Pend Oreille.

Brownfields are real property which, due to the presence of or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminant, make the redevelopment of that property more complicated. Grants are awarded to help clean up and reinvest in these properties thereby protecting the environment.

A Brownfields Assessment grant is used to inventory, characterize and assess contaminated sites, to plan for cleanup and redevelopment, and to involve the community in that process.

The grant received by these communities will be used to plan a new trail – The Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail – which will run along the lakeshore side of Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway’s tracks connecting the cities of Sandpoint, Ponderay and Kootenai.

According to the information provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the coalition’s efforts will focus on a 2-mile stretch of the Lake Pend Oreille shoreline. Contamination exists in this area due to the rapid expansion of natural resource extraction industries beginning in the late 1800s.

Also cited as a cause of contamination are activities which included smelting and refining, lumber mill operations, and illegal dumping. Assessment of brownfields is expected to provide information about contamination and help expedite redevelopment along the shoreline corridor.

On Saturday, landscape architects from Idaho and Montana will come together to assist the communities in designing the trail which will run along the northwest shore of Lake Pend Oreille.

The event, the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail Charrette, will involve a day of architects working together to produce architectural renderings of the project. The idea is to then work from that particular plan in further design and planning discussions.

The design workshop will investigate options for the trail, including trailheads, linkages to existing trails and paths, education and interpretive opportunities, and trail location and design considerations.

“This is a great opportunity to roll up our sleeves with expert designers and explore how to maximize the possibilities of this trail corridor so that that it can be the pride and joy of residents throughout Bonner County,” said Erik Brubaker, Ponderay’s city planner.

At the end of the day there will be an open house at the Sandpoint Business and Events Center which will give the community an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the ideas and architectural renderings that result from the workshop.

“We’d like to encourage folks to attend to get engaged in this project and help us evaluate some of the possibilities,” said Steve Gill, DEQ Brownfields specialist

A community open house is scheduled Saturday from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sandpoint Business and Events Center to discuss Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail charrette. The public community will have an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the ideas and architectural renderings that result from the workshop

The Holiday Season Means Busy Time for Area Fundraisers

The holiday season is approaching and soon the calendar will be filling up with parties and events to celebrate the season. But in Sandpoint the holidays mean much more than office parties.

It is a time when the community comes together to answer the appeal of several area nonprofit groups who desperately need financial help – whether it is to help the homeless through a cold and snowy winter, keep the shelves stocked at the local food banks, or assist the group home for abused and neglected children fund its ever increasing needs.

One of the holiday events, Holly Eve, is a favorite among residents. Its founder, Marilyn Sabella, first hosted Holly Eve 29 years ago – when she raised $1,500 – and hasn’t missed a year since. Over the years, countless nonprofit organizations have benefited from the Holly Eve Foundation. Sabella says last year was a milestone for the event.

“We broke the million dollar mark last year,” said Sabella, who attributes the success of the event to the extreme generosity of the people of Sandpoint. “I do not think this event could happen in very many communities. But in Sandpoint so many individuals and businesses come together to make it work.”

Due to its popularity, the event outgrew its previous venue and will be held at the Sandpoint Events Center for the second year. Proceeds will be donated to the Festival at Sandpoint, the Panida Theater, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Community Cancer Services and Bonner Community Hospice.

Sabella said the board of directors for Holly Eve Foundation typically funds programs that have difficulty obtaining funding from other sources.

“All of our board members have had personal experience with these organizations,” said Sabella.

This year’s event will take place on Nov. 21 and tickets are $25. There will be food from 18 area restaurants, champagne, live and silent auctions as well as entertainment and a fashion show. Tickets go on sale Monday and are available at Eve’s Leaves, the Festival at Sandpoint office and the downtown branch of Panhandle State Bank.

Another popular seasonal event is Kinderhaven’s Festival of Trees. Kinderhaven, a privately funded group home for abused and neglected children, held its first Festival in 2000. The staff and board of directors were thrilled when they raised just over $6,000. As the community learned more about the mission of Kinderhaven, the event rapidly grew in popularity and now typically makes around $150,000.

“We have made a name for ourselves in the community,” said board member Jacinda Bokowy. “It is too bad that a place like Kinderhaven has to exist, but that is the reality. There are children who are not safe in their own homes.”

Kinderhaven’s annual budget varies between $216,000 to $240,000, depending upon the number of children living in the home. During the past year Kinderhaven cared for an average of eight children each month.

According to Phyllis Horvath, Kinderhaven’s executive director, one of the biggest expenses is liability and worker’s compensation insurance which runs around $18,000.

“That’s a significant cost that most people probably wouldn’t intuitively think about,” said Horvath.

But organizers of this year’s event said that despite a struggling economy, the support of the community remains.

“Even in these hard economic times for a lot of our local businesses, it’s amazing to me that all they have to hear is, ‘I’m working on an auction package for Kinderhaven’ and they ask ‘what can I do?’ ” said Bokowy. “It just proves that we’re doing something right at Kinderhaven. This community really comes together when the children need us.”

The festival begins on Dec 3 with a free family night from 4 to 7 p.m. when the community is invited to view the decorated trees, wreaths and gift baskets. On Friday, Dec 4 there will be a holiday luncheon. Dec. 5 will be the progressive gala which will feature two events in one – a silent auction with hors d’oeuvres and a no-host bar followed by dinner and the live auction of decorated trees. More information on how to get tickets to this event can be found at www.kinderhavensandpoint.com.

These are two of many fundraisers this community puts on during the next few months, and each year the same sentiment is echoed through this town: people are amazed at how much money can be raised in a town of just 8,000 people. But Sabella says these fundraisers are successful not due to a few people but because of many.

“People give what they can and when you put it all together it makes a big impact,” said Sabella

It is that spirit of giving that has earned Sandpoint the reputation of being more than a small town – it is the very definition of a community.

Sandpoint High School Students Plan for Model United Nations Trip

For the second year in a row, students from Sandpoint High School will travel to New York City in March to participate in a Model United Nations conference. The trip is the culmination of a yearlong course that focuses on international issues including trade, terrorism, poverty and the control of nuclear weapons.

Sandpoint High School teacher Debbie Smith said the 27 students who attended last year came away with not only awareness of international issues but also a significant improvement in public speaking skills.

“They and I really learned how powerful learning through simulation is,” said Smith. “After the conference they had to give class presentations describing their experience and what they learned, and it was amazing how intelligently and comfortably they spoke on the really complicated international issues they debated in their committees, including topics such as weaponization of space, land mines, HIV-AIDS and other illnesses that affect the world.”

The International Relations/Model United Nations class is categorized as a social studies course, incorporating history, geography, government and economics. Through the course the students learn about several international issues while developing skills in public speaking, negotiation and debate.

“They not only spoke about these issues but they also could eloquently discuss the proposed solutions that their committees came up with,” said Smith. “It really would impress any adult who does not realize the potential of high school students to really think.”

The conference is typically attended by students from all 50 states and around the globe. The students will debate on the floor of the United Nations and cover issues which they have researched throughout the year.

The students are assigned one or two countries at the beginning of the year and study world issues as they pertain to those countries. Last year the Sandpoint students were assigned Ethiopia and Djibouti.

“It was eye-opening for the students to see U.S. foreign policy through another country’s eyes,” said Smith.

The cost of this year’s trip is $1,200 per student, $300 of which is funded by a grant from Panhandle Alliance for Education. This year 17 of Smith’s 19 students will travel to New York for the conference.

The first fundraiser will be held Nov. 14 at the Panhandle State Bank’s atrium in downtown Sandpoint. The students, dressed in international costume, will serve hors d’oeuvres, and there will be music performed by different groups including the Sandpoint High Steel Drum Band.

In keeping with the theme, international-food appetizers will be served. There will also be wine, beer and juice available.

The event is not only a good opportunity for students to raise money, but it also offers them an opportunity to educate the community on what they are doing in class and how they will benefit from this trip.

According to Smith, the success of the Model United Nations program requires a significant amount of community support.

“The challenge of fundraising is ever-present and we really need community sponsors,” she said.

Information:

A fundraiser for Sandpoint High School Model U.N. class will be Nov. 14 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Panhandle State Bank in Sandpoint. Tickets are $25 and are available at Outdoor Experience, Eichardt’s Pub and Monarch Mountain Coffee or by contacting the school.

To donate funds to the class, send a check to Sandpoint High School, SHSMUN, Attn: Lyn, 410 S. Division, Sandpoint, ID 83864. Donations are tax deductible.

For inquiries about the program, contact Debbie Smith at(208) 263-3034 or e-mail debbie.smith@lposd.org. The students are also looking for items to be donated for a silent auction

Bonners Ferry Community Reaches Out to Businesses in a Time of Need

At a time when things were at an economic low for the auto industry, an unexpected setback struck Riverside Auto in Bonners Ferry. On Aug. 3, the community watched as the 6,500-square-foot building which housed the dealership’s sales department and accounting offices went up in flames. But the fire did not discourage the dealership owners.

“The next morning we were out digging through our stuff and setting up our sales department,” said Wendy Hawks, daughter of owners Bill and Linda Hiatt. While officials were never able to pinpoint the exact cause of the fire, it is believed to have been caused by an electrical cord in one of the offices.

The dealership, which sells Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge as well as used vehicles, was closed for half a day as community members stopped by offering condolences, bringing flowers and volunteering to help in any way possible. An accountant who also had an office in the building, said she experienced the same outpouring from the community, according to Bill Hiatt Jr., president of Riverside Auto.

Area businesses donated trailers to temporarily house the sales and accounting departments and the Chamber of Commerce sent pizzas.

According to the Hiatt family, rebuilding will take approximately 120 days.

“We are trying to hire as many local people as we can for the subcontracting,” said Linda Hiatt, explaining that their definition of local encompasses the area where much of their customer base comes from – Boundary and Bonner counties.

The mother-daughter team of Linda Hiatt and Hawks have offices temporarily set up in an RV – one that Linda and Bill typically take down south for part of the winter. This year, that will have to wait until construction of the new building is complete.

It’s a challenge to do the everyday work and meet with contractors to organize the rebuilding, but the staff of 24 is keeping a positive attitude.

When they designed the new building, Hiatt Jr. said they kept the needs of their customer in mind. They will have covered space outside for the delivery of new vehicles as well as a nice waiting area.

“It’s centered around the needs of our customers,” he said.

When the town was still recovering from the fire at Riverside Auto, another blaze shook it up on Aug. 27. TrussTek, a business operated by Bill Byler and his four sons, also went up in flames. The 41,000-square-foot building was a total loss. But like Riverside Auto, TrussTek was up and running in no time.

“We actually had at least part of a manufacturing line that was not in the building,” said Byler. “We were able to continue to build at a reduced level immediately.”

When the construction industry was booming, Byler said the company employed approximately 80 people.

“Of the business we did have (before the fire), we are operating at at least 50 to 75 percent.”

Because of the slow economy, Byler said they considered not rebuilding, but because of the community they knew they had to.

“That was the positive part of this whole thing,” said Byler. “The community came in and supported, encouraged and blessed us.”

He said two days after the fire approximately 100 people worked at their business from morning to evening to help clean up.

“The community offered us anything we needed,” said Byler.

Those at Riverside Auto said many in the community were concerned they would not rebuild.

“Especially with everything going on in the car industry,” said Hiatt Jr. But the idea not to rebuild did not enter their minds.

The Hiatt family says they are grateful to the community and were overwhelmed by generosity. “We would show up at a restaurant to eat and the owners would buy our meals,” said Hiatt Jr.

The kindness extended far beyond the borders of Bonners Ferry, as owners of their biggest competitors called to offer their support. “We heard from everyone,” said Hiatt Jr. “Greg Taylor (owner of Taylor-Parker Motor Co. in Sandpoint) even drove up here during the fire, just to make sure we were all OK.”

“That is the nice thing about living in a small community,” adds Linda Hiatt. “There are a lot of good people.”

The opening of the new building will give the family a chance to show their appreciation.

“We’ll have a big grand opening and make it something special to give back to the community,” said Hiatt Jr.

Harvest Ball Will Benefit Bonner County Food Bank

Asking for help is never easy. But as the cost of living continues to increase, many people – especially seniors – are finding themselves having to make choices no one should have to make. This is something Alice Wallace witnesses almost every day.

Wallace is director of Bonner County Food Bank in Sandpoint. Her mother, Florence Carter, started the food bank in 1980 and Alice took over in 1997, a time when the food bank served approximately 2,100 people each month.

“It’s been a steady increase for years,” said Wallace, who adds that in August they served 4,200 clients – more than 10 percent of the population in Bonner County. Yet, the food bank still has only three employees, the same number as in 1997.

Wallace has many stories of her clients. One story she shares is of an elderly couple who recently visited the food bank for the first time. They held onto each other as their eyes perused the shelves. Wallace said she recognized the couple from the day before, when they came into the bank but left without saying a word. But on this day Wallace invited them into her office, talking to them and listening to their story.

The couple was like many others – having to make a choice between purchasing much-needed medications, paying their rent or purchasing food to put on the table. For the last two weeks they had eaten only bologna and white bread. But after filling out their list of preferred foods, the couple left with healthy food and hearts full of gratitude.

Wallace said she has seen more and more seniors, who are not used to asking for help, find the courage to come into the food bank, and she is grateful that they do.

“They will get by without or try to figure something out. But today they are on a fixed income, prices are increasing and they need our help,” said Wallace, who estimates that the Bonner County Food Bank will distribute at least 500,000 pounds of food this year.

“These are people losing their homes or are unable to pay for medication. It is devastating to a family when they have to go through something like that,” said Wallace.

In addition to food, Wallace has a new-coats-for-kids program. She stretches the grant money she receives, and this year was able to purchase $6,000 to $7,000 worth of coats for $900.

“We have so many families who have never had a new coat, hats or mittens,” said Wallace.

The food bank also distributes Salvation Army gas vouchers to travel to medical appointments, prescription vouchers and vouchers for diapers and infant formula.

Wallace said the process is simple. People only need to show that they are residents of Bonner County and bring proof of income. The application process takes about 10 to 15 minutes.

The food bank has an annual budget of $145,000, and is always in need of funds. Its sole fundraiser, the Fall Harvest Ball, will be Saturday night. The event began last year when a group of local chefs wanted to give back to the community that has supported them.

The concept behind the event is to have local chefs cook for those in the community who are hungry.

Local realtor Patrick Werry has the role of recruiting and coordinating restaurants and chefs.

“I am so impressed with the restaurant owners and the chefs with their participation,” said Werry. “The idea was put in front of them and it is awesome to see the passion they have for this event.”

Some of the participating restaurants include 41 South with Chef Jeremy Heidel, Trinity at City Beach with Chef Edsol Sneva and Dish Home Cooking with Chef Lucas Mason. Also participating is Pine Street Bakery.

Each restaurant will feature a course of the five-course meal, and entertainment will be provided by Carl Rey & the Blues Gators.

Last year the group reached its goal of $10,000 and this year they hope to raise even more.

“All of the money goes right back into Bonner County,” said Wallace. The event will be at the Sandpoint Events Center from 6 to 10 p.m. The cost is $50 per person, and Wallace said there are many items for people to bid on, including a bicycle, float plane ride, approximately 50 gift certificates to area stores and restaurants and an autographed shirt from former NFL player Jake Plummer.

The event will also serve as the kick-off to the Easy to Care Program. People can sign up to have monthly donations of as little as $5 automatically withdrawn from their bank accounts.

“Almost everyone has been affected in one way or another with our economy,” said Werry. “A small amount can go a long way in someone else’s life.”


For tickets to the Fall Harvest Ball, Saturday from 6-10 p.m. at Sandpoint Events Center, call Karel Miller at (208) 946-6646 or contact the food bank at(208) 263-3663. Tickets are $50 per person

Resorts Keep Access Affordable for Locals

Until recently, many Sandpoint residents believed the paradise in which they live was a well-kept secret. But with local resorts such as the Idaho Club – a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course – and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort receiving national attention, the secret is getting out. And residents fear their year-round playground will soon become too expensive for many locals to afford.

When the Idaho Club first opened, many Sandpoint residents found the membership fee cost-prohibitive. There were grumblings among many that these resorts were becoming too expensive for those working and living in this area.

People spoke of possible solutions, among them giving discounts to local residents. This suggestion has been offered by the committee working on the Buy Local campaign in Sandpoint to businesses throughout Bonner County – spend money locally to reinvest in the community and keep friends and neighbors employed.

But Idaho Club owner Chuck Reeves said it was never the intent of the Idaho Club to be completely private. That is the reason that this summer it opened tee times to nonmembers and offered discounts to Bonner County residents.

“The business model for the Idaho Club has always contemplated outside, nonmember play on the course,” Reeves said. “As part of our real estate component, we have lodge homes that owners may place in a rental program with the club. Because of this, the golf course is not entirely private and probably never will be.”

Before 11 a.m. the course is open only to members of the Idaho Club, but from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. this summer Bonner County residents were charged $110 plus tax for a round of golf, as opposed to $125 that was charged to nonresidents. From 2 to 4 p.m. the rate went down to $65 for Bonner County residents while nonresidents paid $80. Since Labor Day, the twilight rate begins at 1 p.m.

“It’s really a good-neighbor policy,” said Idaho Club director Mike Deprez, adding that the new fee schedule was popular with Bonner County residents.

Schweitzer resort offers discounts
People are hoping that Schweitzer Mountain Resort follows the path paved by the Idaho Club.

But Tom Chasse, CEO of Schweitzer Mountain Resort, said that while there are no plans to make such an offering exclusive to Bonner County residents, the resort offers special rates throughout the season and gives back to the community in many ways.

“If there is any rate decrease, why just limit it to Bonner County?” said Chasse, adding that to do so would limit the reach of its services and what it can do for the community of Sandpoint.

A Day for Heather is an annual event during which Schweitzer sells $10 lift tickets all day. This year the event is scheduled for Dec. 11, and all the proceeds generated that day are donated to a local nonprofit organization that benefits cancer patients.

“Imagine if we limited the rate for Day for Heather (to Bonner County residents),” said Chasse.

Schweitzer hosts other events throughout the year that benefit other local organizations, such as the Rotary.

In a further effort to give back to the community, Schweitzer opens the mountain on Friday and Saturday evenings from 3 to 7 beginning each January and sells lift tickets to local groups for $4. The groups then sell them to the public, with the profits going to help their organizations.

Chasse points out there is a large advantage to offering reduced rates beyond the borders of Bonner County.

“Our job in the winter time is to get people to the area who can take advantage of all that Sandpoint has to offer,” said Chasse.

While the Idaho Club and Schweitzer Mountain may take a different approach, both in their own way are giving back to the community, helping to stimulate the local economy and, most importantly, keeping Bonner County’s playgrounds affordable.

Walt Minnick to Speak at Annual Wild Idaho North! on October 3rd

On Saturday in Sandpoint, the Idaho Conservation League will host the 13th annual Wild Idaho North! to highlight energy issues as they relate to the future of North Idaho.

The event, Idaho and Energy: Common Cents Conservation, will feature presentations by U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, D-Idaho, Roger Valdez of Sightline Institute, a sustainability think tank in Seattle, and staff from the Idaho Conservation League. The day will be devoted to discussion on issues of conservation, renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Minnick will speak on energy issues and other topics, and Valdez will address energy efficiency and policy. Valdez is a research associate at Sightline Institute, a nonprofit research and communications center that concentrates on the Pacific Northwest.

Organizers of the event say that this year there will be a chance to learn on a more interactive basis. Attendees are invited to participate in an educational competition called the Pacific Northwest Futures Game.

The game was created by the University of Idaho and Innovative Leadership Australia, an economic development group, and explores the impact that decisions made by both public and private sectors have on the economy, environment and well-being of the community.

Participants are divided into teams and work together to address issues such as investing public funds and land use.

The challenge is to find the balance between being good stewards of the environment while also focusing on economic development.

Attendees who wish to participate in this specific event should arrive at 2 p.m.

Later in the event, there will be a happy hour with an open beer and wine bar and appetizers from area restaurants. There will also be items up for auction some of which will include a ski weekend at Schweitzer Mountain Resort and a raft trip.

All proceeds will benefit the Idaho Conservation League.



What: 13th annual Wild Idaho North!, Idaho and Energy: Common Cents Conservation

When: Saturday, 2 to 7 p.m.

Where: Sandpoint Business and Events Center

Cost: $45

Information: Register by contacting the Idaho Conservation League at www.idahoconservation.org or calling (208) 265-9565

NAMI Far North Hosts Fundriaser and Information Event September 26th

In Sandpoint, neighbors and friends are like family. It is part of what makes this town a true community. Those involved with a relatively new Sandpoint organization, NAMI Far North, hope the people of this town will embrace community members who struggle with day-to-day challenges.

NAMI Far North is the Sandpoint chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. On Saturday, the group will hold an event called Take a Seat at the Table – an ice cream social that will bring people together to raise money and awareness of diseases that have long been misunderstood and whose victims suffer in silence due to the stigma frequently associated with mental illnesses.

“This event is both a public-awareness and fundraising event,” said Ruth McKnight, founding vice president of NAMI Far North. “We’d like to inform people about our monthly meetings and support services. We want to start using information and education to dispel the misconceptions about mental illness and enlighten the bad ideas that have contributed to so much stigma and discrimination against people with mental illness.”

Take a Seat at the Table is aimed at community involvement.

“The metaphor of the table stresses the idea that at the family dinner table, everyone has needs – needs for nourishment, conversation, connectedness, affirmation, belonging,” McKnight said. “We all have needs, but we all also have something to contribute.”

In keeping with the theme, chairs, benches and stools decorated by local artists will be auctioned off in addition to a table from a Bonner’s Ferry furniture maker and several other items including gift certificates for restaurants, a weekend getaway and quilts.

According to those involved with NAMI, mental health care receives less attention and financial support than that given to other illnesses; and that is partially due to misconceptions.

“As I listen to people talk about mental illness, I detect a pervasive underlying misunderstanding about the neurobiological nature of brain disorders. People do not think of mental illnesses as diseases like any other, such as diabetes or cancer. They think of them as character flaws or lack of will power or as someone’s fault,” McKnight said. “Few people comprehend that mental illnesses can be chemical in nature, or related to malformation of the brain itself, or can be caused by injury or be triggered by trauma.”

Since it was formed by a group of five people in 2007, NAMI Far North has grown to over 40 members. In addition to supporting and sharing with those who suffer from mental illness, the group also lends support to family and friends of those with a mental illness.

The group meets the third Wednesday of every month – with the exception of December – at Bonner General Hospital. McKnight said it provides an important service that people may not otherwise receive.

Part of NAMI Far North’s mission of educating the public on mental illness includes an 11-week class in Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry called Family-to-Family. Taught by trained NAMI family members, the course provides information, insight, understanding and empowerment to family and friends of individuals with serious mental illness.

The proceeds raised at Saturday’s event will allow NAMI Far North to expand its mission in North Idaho, including the training of law enforcement.

“We are already spearheading the Crisis Intervention Team training in the five northernmost counties of Idaho, with 22 officers already certified as CIT experts equipped to handle psychiatric emergency and mental illness disturbance call-outs with better outcomes,” McKnight said. “We plan to train and certify another 24 officers in February in a second CIT Academy in Kootenai County in February 2010.”

If you go

Take a Seat at the Table
What: Ice cream social and silent and live auction. Live music, family friendly.

When: Saturday, 5 to 8 p.m.

Where: Panhandle State Bank atrium, 414 Church St., Sandpoint.

Cost: $10 per person or $25 for a four-person family. Tickets are available at Eve’s Leaves, Common Knowledge Bookstore and Tea Shop in Sandpoint, Bonners Books in Bonners Ferry and Outskirts Gallery in Hope.

On the Web: www.nami.org