Ugandan Children Bring Message of Hope Through Song to Sandpoint Community

Nine months ago they lived in extreme poverty in Uganda. Their stories are of desperation, sadness, abuse and loneliness. Many of them are orphaned. Others have parents who are unable to care for them.

But today they have a voice; and those voices sing out a message of hope. The children are members of the Matsiko (which means hope in their native language) Children’s Choir, a choir of International Children’s Network. They were guests in Sandpoint for a week in early August and instantly made their way into the hearts of residents.

“It breaks my heart to have to say goodbye to them,” said Tamara Scrimsher, whose family sponsors a child and served as host family to two children during the visit.

Sandpoint was just one of many stops for the choir, which arrived in the United States in June. They will travel throughout the Midwest and western United States until March, sharing their stories and their voices.

According to Don Windham, founder and president of International Children’s Network, as late as last November these children lived in remote villages of Uganda. The fact that they are here is nothing short of a miracle, he said. Getting a passport for a child who is orphaned and for whom they cannot find a record of birth is next to impossible.

“It is difficult to even get citizenship,” said Windham.

Windham and Sandpoint resident Heather Pedersen, who traveled to Uganda in March to assist Windham, participated in several discussions with authorities, trying to procure the proper paperwork to allow the children to leave the country.

The obstacles were many, but Pedersen said she didn’t mind. “I am very grateful for the (country’s) protectiveness of the children,” she said.

Pedersen said she first became familiar with the Matsiko Children’s Choir when last year’s choir came to Sandpoint. They were short on host housing, so she opened up her home. Instead of having children stay there, she housed Windham, staff and other adults.

“We had a week together and I was able to learn more (about the program),” said Pedersen. Her background is in strategic planning, marketing and technical support – talents which she thought could benefit International Children’s Network.

While in Sandpoint this year, the children performed at the Festival at Sandpoint, at an evening fundraiser for Uganda and for nonprofit agencies in Sandpoint, and at area churches. Their energy was contagious and the community instantly welcomed the group.


At the evening fundraiser, slide shows and video showed the land from which the children came. In a country the size of Oregon, children wander the streets barefoot and dirty, in torn clothes, and their faces show no signs of hope.

Sponsorship of $30 a month gives the children hope that in the future they will be able to provide for their own family and will break the vicious cycle of poverty. Something unique to International Children’s Network, said Pedersen, is that sponsorship provides a child education all the way through university.

“We need to remember that ending poverty is not just about feeding them, it is about education,” said Pedersen.

Anna, a 10-year-old girl, captured the audience’s attention at the Festival at Sandpoint and at the fundraiser when she bounced on stage and urged the audience to be quiet and listen. But the audience heard nothing. Anna said that was her for many years; silent and without a voice.

“Now, I have a voice and speak for all the orphaned and at-risk children in the whole entire world,” she said.

She told the audience there are 600 million children worldwide just like her – orphaned or at risk. If they all joined hands they would circle the globe 18 times.

After hearing the stories and listening to the children’s voices people lined up to become sponsors.

For Pedersen, the most moving sight while in Uganda was that of the children praying.

“They are angels’ voices talking to God,” she said of the 10 minutes each evening that the children spent thanking and praising God.

There are now 5,000 children sponsored through International Children’s Network and each one has a special story. And they also have hope. Both Pedersen and Windham say the children have been lied to all of their lives and until now they have had difficulty placing trust in anyone. But that has changed.

“The reason they have hope is because they’ve seen it work,” said Windham.

Sandpoint Economy Doing Well In Spite of Economic Downturn

A recession? You could have fooled those in downtown Sandpoint during this past month. With activities such as artist tours, an arts & crafts fair, a fun run and of course the Festival at Sandpoint, the streets were backed up, the parking lots were full and the majority of those driving through the downtown corridor had out of state license plates.

It was a welcomed sight for what many feared would be a slow tourist season in this resort community.

Gloria Waterhouse, owner of the Inn at Sand Creek, said this year has been an exceptional year for her business. She credits that in part to the fact that couples, especially non-residents, are choosing Sandpoint as a beautiful setting for their weddings.

“A lot of people chose Sandpoint this summer for their destination weddings,” said Waterhouse who adds that the Inn’s suites have been at maximum capacity nearly every weekend. “Extended families and friends will book the entire property for the weekend.”

Waterhouse also owns the Sand Creek Grill which closed last year, but has been the sight of many wedding receptions and ceremonies this summer. As far as future plans for the Grill, Waterhouse said “Stay tuned.”

It is not just the hospitality industry that has been successful this summer in Sandpoint. Retail sales, although slower, are still better than expected.
Pend d’Oreille Winery in downtown Sandpoint is a favorite stop for many tourists. Owner Steve Meyer said that while this year’s sale of merchandise has slowed, wine sales stayed steady or had a modest increase.

While Meyer says that the beauty of Sandpoint as well as the arts community and outstanding restaurants will always attract tourists to this area, he credits the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce with continuing to market Sandpoint as a tourist destination.

“The Tourism Committee of the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce has done a great job of pulling together the major players in the tourism business which has really helped to maintain the Sandpoint brand as a sure bet for limited tourism dollars,” said Meyer.

Ray Smith, owner of Athlete’s Choice in downtown Sandpoint, said that while his business has slowed down from last summer’s pace, the tourists and locals have continued to visit his downtown store.

"The majority (of the tourists) are from Canada,” said Smith. “We have a great customer base from there who visit us every year.”

Smith said the opening of a Big 5 in Sandpoint does not seem to have affected business at his sporting goods store.

“We have not had to lay off any employees for this summer,” said Smith. “Our profits started dipping due to the economy before Big 5 moved in, and we carry a lot of different things than Big 5 so we are not really in direct competition with them.”

Grant Merwin, owner of Merwin’s Hardware, knows what it is like to have a big box store threaten one’s livelihood. A few years ago Home Depot opened in nearby Ponderay, but Merwin said Sandpoint residents have remained loyal to the locally owned store. So when the economy started taking a downturn, Merwin said he was surprised to hear rumors circulating that his store was closing its doors.

“That is totally false,” said Merwin. “We are alive and well and moving in a positive direction.”

While Merwin did have to lay off one of his employees, he said what has been about a 20 percent decrease in sales this year, in part due to the lack of construction in the area and the economic status of the entire country, has proven to be a lesson in business and a reinforcement of the faith he has in his customers.

“We cut our inventory down so instead of carrying 12 of a certain item, we now may carry 6 of that item,” said Merwin. “We are running a lot more efficient now.”

Merwin added that his loyal customers have been the reason for the store’s years of success, and they have continued to support him even during challenging economic times.

“What drives our business is the local residents,” said Merwin who adds that he is grateful for their continued patronage. “People are very patient when we tell them we have to order an item that we normally would have carried. They are very willing to wait a couple of days.”

Merwin adds that what could also fuel the belief that the economy is weak is the tendency for businesses to keep raising the bar.

“If we had the numbers we have today ten years ago, we would have been jumping for joy,” said Merwin. “But as the numbers increase so do our expectations. Maybe we are setting the bar too high.”

Merwin said that his store has definitely seen a trend in the positive direction over the last several months and it is one he believes will continue.

So for now, local business owners are pleased that the economic climate has not affected this community as badly as it has other areas in the country; and if tourism continues and people continue to discover Sandpoint, the entire local economy will continue to do well.
“Sandpoint is still one of the most beautiful places around,” said Waterhouse. “A lot of people are still making this their vacation destination.”

Battles Over Treatment of Milfoil in Lake Pend Oreille Leaves Residents Seeking for Alternative Solutions

August in Sandpoint. There are few settings more ideal for a summer vacation.

The weather is warm and the lake temperature is just right for swimming, skiing, wakeboarding and tubing. But what appears to be picture perfect is not always so. Again this year, residents and visitors are confused about the safety of swimming in Lake Pend Oreille during the month of August.

The culprit? The chemical application used in late summer to treat Eurasian milfoil – an underwater plant that begins to grow in early spring and inhibits the growth of other plants that are beneficial to the ecology of lakes and rivers.

Terry McNabb, the owner and manager of AquaTechnex, the company Bonner County’s Public Works Department has contracted to treat the milfoil, assures residents that the chemicals used are safe.

“The EPA has studied these products extensively. When EPA issues a label or license to sell and apply an aquatic herbicide, the research they have performed specifically looks at the issue (of safety for swimmers),” said McNabb. “The U.S. EPA spends about 10 years researching aquatic herbicides prior to allowing them for application to water. They have to meet much stricter criteria than most other products.”

The milfoil plant was discovered in the United States in the early 1900s and can now be found in rivers and lakes throughout North America. According to the Department of Ecology, milfoil is easily spread among bodies of water on boats, trailers and fishing poles.

As it grows, milfoil forms dense vegetation on the surface of the water, depriving the water of oxygen and trapping sediments.

In late summer the milfoil plants become brittle, breaking apart and spreading, making August the ideal month to apply treatments.

AquaTechnex, whose work is funded by a grant from the Idaho Department of Agriculture, began its work in Lake Pend Oreille on Aug. 10, and McNabb said the project will stretch across approximately 70 miles of shoreline. The first chemical applied is a granular herbicide that is placed on a pellet and has a timed release over a period of 24 hours. According to AquaTechnex, its only prohibition is for human consumption or for irrigation of certain plants – otherwise it is perfectly safe. The company then follows up with another herbicide application.

“Both of the products approved by the U.S. EPA for this project have been cleared to be used without the imposition of a swimming restriction,” said McNabb, who added that his company posts notices along the shorelines 48 hours prior to application to advise people of the project.

Some have reservations
In spite of reassurances, some residents aren’t buying it.

Sagle resident Suzan Fiskin moved here from Seattle 2 ½ years ago in part because of the beauty of the area. She has attended meetings, questioned the company that is administering the chemical treatments and says she is appalled at the lack of research into alternative environmentally friendly ways to treat the milfoil. Furthermore, she says, she has yet to be convinced that there is a problem.

“The most precious commodity we have and the one that is in highest demand is fresh water,” said Fiskin. “And to not even consider nontoxic and noninvasive alternatives before poisoning our pristine lake is unconscionable. I never saw that it (chemical-free alternatives) was ever on the table.”

Fiskin says she knows people who live on the river who have not even received notice of when this will be done.

“They have done nothing to inform people who will be most affected by this,” said Fiskin.

She also said that she knows people who have suffered from rashes, nausea and illnesses, due, she says, to the chemicals treating the milfoil.

Requests for delays
Some residents have requested that AquaTechnex wait until at least the end of the summer, specifically after Labor Day, to begin the treatments. But AquaTechnex says timing is critical to the effectiveness of the treatment and must be done during the month of August when the plant is at a specific stage of growth.

McNabb said a nonchemical alternative such as harvesting can be effective but is extremely expensive and takes a great deal of time.

“The real issue in this system is these other technologies are well beyond the budget, because of the area that needs to be targeted and because of the objective of reducing the population dramatically. Bottom barriers, for example, cost about $1 per square foot and there are 43,560 square feet per acre,” said McNabb.

But Scott Rief, owner of Rief Diving in Sandpoint, disagrees. Rief says he uses two different methods to rid an area of milfoil – dredging and bottom barriers. To assist in the dredging Rief said he uses a large pump that moves 500 gallons of water per minute. Since milfoil typically does not grow in deep water, the diver is assisted by someone on the barge to help keep on track.

The barrier method is performed by placing a 10-by-10-foot square, made out of PVC and road fabric and weighted down by sand, over the infested area. The barrier deprives the milfoil of sunlight and kills it.

According to Rief the barrier method is the preferred method, as there is less room for human error. Either method, however, is chemical free.

Rief attempted to place bids when the treatment started a few years ago but says he was met with much opposition from state officials and was not able to obtain the required permits until the bidding deadline had passed.

Rief said he also had extensive support from local people willing to help out financially just to prevent chemicals from being dumped into the lake.

“I thought it was great,” said Rief. “I had a lot of private people willing to pay out of their pocket to help the lake and their waterfront.”

In 2006 Bonner County became eligible to receive funding from the state Department of Agriculture for the treatment of milfoil and that year AquaTechnex won the bid and targeted approximately 4,000 acres of the plant. A different firm won the bid in 2007 and 2008, but AquaTechnex has returned this year to apply the treatments.

McNabb said that in 2004 the surveys performed determined the plant covered an area of approximately 6,700 acres in the Pend Oreille lake and river system. Today he says that number is under 1,000 acres, showing that the treatments are highly effective.

Long-term solutions urged
Fiskin said she would like to see a committee formed that would look into a long-term solution instead of what she says is short-term thinking. She would also like a full investigation into the cumulative effect of the chemicals. “But I don’t see that the natural alternatives even have an opportunity unless it is self-funding,” she said. “It is all about the money.”

Jennifer Ekstrom, the executive director for Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper, said she believes the conditions in Lake Pend Oreille and the river this year seem conducive to divers dredging the lake as opposed to using any chemical treatments.

“When it comes to protecting our magnificent lake that we all enjoy, I would like to take a conservative approach,” Ekstrom said.

Sandpoint Mourns the Loss of Hazel Hall

Two weeks before her death, 96-year-old Hazel Hall had lunch with her friends at the home of Jim and Mary Walter. There, she laughed and celebrated in the hot summer sun. It was the last time the close-knit group was together and a memory that those who survive Hall will hold closely in their hearts.

“Her mantra was ‘attitude and gratitude,’ ” said friend Sue Brooks. “She thanked God every day for her family and friends and health. She was a woman of deep faith.”

Hall was preceded in death by her husband, Ross Hall, in 1990. He was a nationally known photographer, and together they ran the Ross Hall Studio in Sandpoint, which at one time employed nearly 100 people.

Hall proudly shared that she ran the couple’s studio on her own while Ross was stationed at Farragut during the war.

“I was the only photographer in the county for a while,” said Hall in May.

Hall did much to contribute to the community she called home since 1932. Raising three children, Hall was an important part of their activities, including Campfire and Scouting. She also worked with several community organizations, including a civic club that helped build trails and plant flowers; assisted in the Little Theater; and was an instrumental part in the start-up of what is now Pend Oreille Arts Council.

Recognizing her contributions to the community, the mayor of Sandpoint declared Hazel Hall Day on her 95th birthday last year.

As part of that celebration, people donated time and money to create something memorable in Hall’s honor. After a year of planning, a Children’s Garden, located at Bonner General Hospital’s Healing Garden, was dedicated in May of this year.

Although healthy and engaging up until the end, Hall had said she was ready to begin the next phase of her journey.

“She told me in May that she would be ready (to die) in August, after all her grandkids were here for a visit in July,” said Hall’s friend Barb Perusse, who shared Hall’s birthday.

Barbara Merritt said Hall told her at the luncheon that she had seen her late husband’s face a lot lately.

“Maybe that is a sign,” Hall told Merritt.

As her friends gathered last weekend and reminisced, they all had special memories.

“I love the way she always pounded her fist on the table if she wanted to make a point,” said Jim Walter.

When she greeted her friends she would put her hands on their face and look caringly into their eyes. “It was as if she was trying to memorize your face,” said Sherri O’Brien.

“Hazel always had a clever limerick for every occasion,” said Sue Brooks. “Often she made one up right on the spot.”

Brooks and her friend Marsha Ogilvie took turns making sure that Hall always had fresh flowers.

“Every time one of us went to her place with the flowers she always lit up with delight and clapped her hands together and said ‘Oh boy! How did you know? I was just about to throw the old ones out.’ And then she would giggle,” said Brooks. “It was the same thing every time. We loved it.”

Many in Sandpoint are mourning her loss and celebrating her incredible life. They say they were privileged to know such a wonderful woman.

“If we are lucky, someone comes along and touches our heart forever,” said Brooks. “I will treasure every moment I had with her and I am incredibly blessed that she was my friend.”

Sandpoint High School's Cindy Smith Voted Idaho Dance Team Coach of the Year

Cindy Smith doesn’t fool around when it comes to coaching the Sandpoint High School dance team.

She sets her expectations high and the young women whom she instructs always rise to the occasion. It is because of those expectations and hard work that the dance team from this small North Idaho community consistently places near the top in state competitions.

Earlier this summer Smith, who is starting her seventh year at Sandpoint High School, was voted 2009 Idaho Dance Team Coach of the Year by the Idaho State Dance and Cheer Association. It was an honor that Smith says was totally unexpected, but one that Jennifer Prandato says was highly deserved.

Prandato is one of the co-captains of this year’s dance team and is entering her senior year at Sandpoint. She has danced under Smith’s instruction for six years and praises Smith not only for the lessons in dance but the lessons in life she has taught her.

“She teaches us dance second and teaches us how to live our lives first,” said Prandato.

Smith, whose team practices year round, introduces each new year by holding a team meeting. She provides the team members with a handout outlining her expectations both in and out of the dance team setting. And she tells the kids they have only one chance and this is it. If they are caught drinking, smoking or violating any of her other rules, they are dismissed from the team.

“I tell them if they are choosing to represent their team and their school, they need to make the choice ahead of time (to act appropriately),” said Smith, adding that by letting them know upfront what is expected, the students can and do meet those expectations.

“She tells us to never allow ourselves to be seen in a different light than how we want to be seen,” said Prandato, who said that her fellow students respect the fact that dance team members do not participate in any behavior that would risk their position on the team.

“Peer pressure is tough for any high school student,” said Smith, who adds that she is proud of the life choices her dancers have made over the years.

Smith has extensive experience – she coached high school dance in California from 1982 to 1995; she was a dancer at Disneyland for seven years in the 1980s; she was a dancer for the NBA’s Los Angeles Clippers; she taught high school and college classes; owned a dance studio in Wisconsin; and was the head instructor and regional dance program director for United Spirit Association.

As coach and mentor to the young women, Smith puts in long hours, meeting with the team every day during the school year from 7 to 7:45 a.m. and sometimes after school and on weekends when working on special routines.

Smith also spends time writing grants to bring in master teachers from around the country that will help further the girls’ ability.

“She will fly in choreographers and instructors,” said Prandato. “We learn a lot.”

Smith credits Panhandle Alliance for Education, a local education foundation, for making those options available.

“They are truly a blessing,” she said. “They have allowed me to bring in amazing talent from around the country to get what they (the girls) cannot here.”

While Prandato said she prefers Smith’s coaching style above all others, it is helpful to have the exposure to other coaches for when she and her teammates go onto college and are exposed to different coaching techniques.

Having other coaches talk to the girls about the options they have if they choose to pursue dance beyond college has been very helpful.

“There are so many ways to use dance,” said Prandato, citing teaching, coaching and commercial dancing. “She helps us see what is available after high school, into college and beyond.”

Smith said she could not be the coach she is today if it weren’t for the girls. While the school requires a minimum grade-point average of 2.0, Smith requires her students to carry a minimum 2.5 GPA. But even that goal is one the girls have far exceeded.

“They have amazing GPAs,” said Smith, citing 3.6 as last year’s team’s cumulative GPA. “They have an incredible future ahead of them.”

She says the dance team is like a family and her goal is to have her students succeed and make the right life choices. So far she said she has not been disappointed.

“These girls are classy and have great integrity,” said Smith “They are hard-working girls who want to make a difference. They really make my job easy.”

Architect Restores his Family's Legacy

In 1923 Brian Runberg’s grandmother, Vivienne Beardmore McAlexander, celebrated her 18th birthday at the grand opening of the Beardmore Block in downtown Priest River. The building was owned by Vivienne’s father and Runberg’s great-grandfather, Charles Beardmore, who the previous year had commissioned prominent architects Whitehouse and Price to build the structure for Beardmore’s timber and mining businesses.

According to Runberg, soon after Beardmore became Bonner County’s largest employer and the building an important piece of Priest River’s history.

“My grandmother sold the building in 1972,” said Runberg. Then in 2006, Runberg, a Seattle-based architect and a graduate of the University of Idaho, found out the building was for sale again. He arranged a visit.

“I was absolutely horrified at the condition it was in,” he said. Water damage and vandalism had taken a toll over the years. “I knew something had to be done quickly, otherwise it would be under the wrecking ball.”

Determined to rebuild that which his great-grandfather worked so hard to create, Runberg decided to buy the building and began renovating it.

“I remember running around in it (the Beardmore Block) when I was little,” said Runberg, 44, who had not been inside in nearly 30 years, until the 2006 purchase.

He said his great-grandfather built the Beardmore Block because he believed in the future of North Idaho – a sentiment echoed by Runberg.

“I’m preserving and restoring it for those very same reasons,” he said. “The building was his (Charles Beardmore’s) final legacy, so it is very important to me.”

Now, nearly 90 years after the Beardmore Block first opened, Runberg has been honored for his work in the renovation. In early July, he attended the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco, where he was presented with the Grand Award for Adaptive Re-use. The conference acknowledges architectural and construction excellence throughout the Western United States.

“The (Beardmore Block) project serves as an important precedent for the region that historic buildings can be preserved in an appropriate way,” said Runberg, who relied on his personal memories as well as the many stories his grandmother shared with him to help maintain much of the integrity of the building.

The Beardmore Block is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of only five buildings on the Register nationally that also hold LEED Gold certification.

To qualify for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification, nearly everything coming out of the building during remodeling must be recycled, Runberg said. In the case of the Beardmore Block, more than 95 percent of the original structural material has remained in the building. Also, more than 50 percent of the nonstructural material, including most of the wood, was used in the renovation.

Judges at the conference noted that the renovation of the Beardmore Block was a great example of how preservation of existing features can be integrated with sustainable design strategies.

Runberg said the building was torn down to the studs. The roof was rebuilt to drain to a reservoir in the basement, which in turn provides for all of the tenants’ nondrinkable water needs. Also, in a climate like North Idaho’s, efficient heating is important. Runberg installed new insulation that dramatically increased the thermal efficiency of the 86-year-old building and also used energy-efficient light fixtures. Renewable energy from photovoltaic cells also contributes to the use of green technology.

“As a result,” said Runberg, “the Beardmore Block is 40 to 50 percent more efficient than a new building built today with current energy standards.”

Additional strategies Runberg implemented to maintain much of the original materials were to reconstruct the original window frames to hold thermal glass and to reconstruct original plumbing fixtures to reduce water use.

“Using green technology is the most appropriate approach, not only for new construction but also renovations,” said Runberg, who adds that it is also proving to be cost-effective. “When carefully planned and executed it does not take that much more cost or effort and the benefits will be for generations to come.”

He said the green technology is a pioneering approach for a new era. Nearly 90 years ago his great-grandfather sought a similar pioneering spirit to build the landmark.

Runberg said that while the award is an honor, what excites him most is the reopening of the Beardmore Block contributes to the rebirth of Priest River, where the economy has been hard hit by the decline of the timber industry.

The Beardmore Block is “the kingpin of the Priest River downtown historic core,” said Don Watts of the Idaho State Historic Preservation Office. “It’s a great example of early 20th-century architecture and design.”

The building has attracted tenants including a wine bar that occupies the first floor, an engineering firm, a financial consulting firm and a tax accountant. And for the first time in years, there are parking issues in downtown Priest River – a problem that puts a smile on the faces of many residents.

“It’s exactly what my grandparents would have wanted,” said Runberg.

August Brings Music & Arts to Sandpoint

Whether it is music or visual arts you enjoy, Sandpoint is the place to be the month of August. From the Festival at Sandpoint to the Artist’s Studio Tour to the annual Arts & Craft Fair at City Beach, there is definitely something for everyone to enjoy.

The Artist’s Studio Tour of North Idaho, which is celebrating its seventh year, is a two-weekend event featuring 30 of this area’s finest artists.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 14-16 and again Aug. 21-23, artists will open their studios for people to browse the creations of the artists who say they are inspired by the beauty of North Idaho.

“You will find working artists and artisans demonstrating their crafts,” said Joanne Heaviland, one of the artists who will have her photography on display. “You can peruse the offerings direct from the artist and connect the dots from inspiration to finished product.”

Some of this year’s featured artists include Susan Dalby, whose work in glass, jewelry and watercolor made her the chosen artist to create this year’s Festival at Sandpoint poster.

But the tour is not limited to certain mediums of art. Included in the tour are artists who work with metal sculpture, pottery, photography, jewelry, silk painting, woodwork and stained glass.

“It is a delightful experience filled with soulful inspiration, amazing creativity and often mini adventures just finding the studios,” said Heaviland. The studios are spread out from north of Sandpoint in Hope to Garfield Bay to the south.

For those who cannot make it to either of the tour weekends, Heaviland says that the studios are also open by appointment all summer long.

More information and a map to locate the studios can be found at www.arttourdrive.org.

Pend Oreille Arts Council’s annual Arts and Crafts Fair
On Saturday and next Sunday, Sandpoint’s City Beach will be full of not just those seeking relief from the heat, but also those wishing to view the unique creations of more than 100 artists and artisans from across the United States and Canada.

Sponsored by the Pend Oreille Arts Council, the Arts and Crafts Fair is in its 37th year. While it is the arts and crafts that attract people to the event, there also are live performances each hour, an area where youth can participate in hands-on activities, a variety of food vendors and several demonstrations by various artists.

According to Kim Queen, executive director for Pend Oreille Arts Council, it is the quality of the artwork that brings visitors back year after year.

“Everything is 100 percent handmade by the artist, and each artist is on hand to talk about the work,” said Queen. “You gain an understanding of the process it took to create it and get a feel for the person who made it.”

And it is no mistake that the fair always takes place at the same time as the Festival at Sandpoint.

“By hosting the Arts and Crafts Fair during that time, it enables patrons to truly enjoy a full arts experience in Sandpoint,” said Queen.

Organizers utilize volunteers in all aspects of the fair, and this year there will be approximately 90.

“We have artists apply (to be at the fair) from all over the western U.S. and Canada, but most of the artists represented are from Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon, and a few from California,” said Queen. “In previous years, we have seen vendors from as far away as Kentucky, Florida and even Maine.”

Queen said the most unique aspect of the fair is the wide variety of displays.

“We offer such a variety of mediums – jewelry, oil and watercolor paintings, fiber arts, metal, woodworking and glass – the list goes on,” said Queen. “Every year, you will see something very different than the year before.”

Festival at Sandpoint
On Thursday the sidewalk at Sandpoint’s War Memorial Field will once again be lined with people vying for the best seat for the opening night of the popular eight-day Festival at Sandpoint.

The music festival is a favorite among locals and people from all over the Northwest. Families, co-workers and friends spread out their blankets and enjoy a picnic prior to the show. Attendees can either bring in their own food and beverages or take advantage of what’s available from the many vendors on hand.

Organizers say one reason the event is so popular is not only because of the exceptional music, but also because of the intimate setting. Overlooking the lake, watching the osprey fly across the evening sky and relaxing on blankets or chairs, it is as though one is in their own backyard.

Opening this year’s Festival on Thursday evening will be the 1970s bands Firefall and Poco. The bands were supposed to appear at last year’s event but mistakenly double-booked, so fans and organizers were thrilled when they agreed to perform as the opening act this season.

Other performers during the eight-day event include Blues Traveler with JJ Grey and Mofro, Friday; Boz Scaggs with the Subdudes, Saturday; a family concert, Green Eggs and Ham with the Spokane Youth Orchestra, next Sunday; Michele Shocked with special guest Jonatha Brooke, Aug. 13; Keller Williams and Donavon Frankenreiter, Aug. 14; country music star Clint Black with special guest Jypsi, Aug. 15; and the grand finale on Aug. 16 featuring the Spokane Symphony.

Festival at Sandpoint
Tickets are still available and range from $29.95 to $49.95 with the exception of the family concert which is $5 per person.

For more information or to purchase tickets go online to http://www.festivalat sandpoint.com/ or call (888) 265-4554.

Celebrate Life Fun Run / Walk August 8th

Six years ago, Sandpoint resident Jenny Meyer sat with her daughter, Grace, on Sandpoint’s Long Bridge cheering as people walked, ran, rolled and strolled their way from Sandpoint’s Dog Beach to the south end of the bridge and back.

The event was the first Celebrate Life Fun Run/Walk – a fundraiser started by Meyer’s sister, Julie Walkington, and her friend and co-worker January Tuinstra to help those like Meyer who were fighting cancer.

Meyer was able to witness three more years of the event before dying from breast cancer in June 2008. But the lives she touched have not forgotten the young mother with the beautiful smile who first found out she had cancer when she was pregnant with her daughter, now 8.

“Jenny and I both became pregnant within a month of each other,” said her close friend Stormy Peterson. “I remember one week we were absolutely elated talking about babies and baby names and then the following week discussing what her options were now that she knew she had been diagnosed with cancer and how it would affect little Grace. Grace was born in November in perfect health. Jenny made the right decision.”

Through the years Walkington, a nurse at Bonner General Hospital, knew she wanted to do something to not only help her sister, but also others who she saw on a daily basis fight cancer.

“January and I put our heads together and came up with the idea of Celebrate Life,” said Walkington. “Our goal has always been to reach out and help many different people in their diagnosis.”

Although Meyer never walked across the bridge, she was present every year to support those participating and spent many hours behind the scenes preparing for the event.

“Jenny always thought of everyone else first. I know that Celebrate Life meant a great deal to her,” said Peterson. “She was always so proud of her younger sister Julie for pulling this (event) together to help local cancer patients. Knowing that this foundation is helping other people live would be enough for Jenny.”

Meyer was an inspiration to many for the way she lived her life. Never without a smile no matter how badly she felt, Meyer’s initial goal was to live long enough to see her daughter go off to her first day of kindergarten. She met and exceeded that goal.

“When I think about Jenny, I can imagine her smile which inevitably puts a smile on my face. She appreciated her life while some of us may take it for granted,” said Peterson.

To keep her spirit and memory alive, many of Meyer’s friends and family continue to participate in Celebrate Life carrying on its mission – to offer assistance and enhance the lives of family, friends and neighbors affected by cancer.

“Celebrate Life is really about just that,” said Walkington. “Celebrate the day; celebrate your life, wherever you are on your life’s journey.”

Walkington said she and Tuinstra are determined to keep their word to Meyer. They will always keep the event simple. To them that means not turning it into a timed race, keeping it always family oriented and always making sure that anyone who wants to participate can – even if they are incapacitated.

Each year the proceeds from the event are put back into the community to support the needs faced by cancer patients including grocery, restaurant, gas and coffee vouchers, massages, floral arrangements, medical equipment, firewood, medicine and financial assistance.

The money that is raised is distributed to patients and their families through Bonner General Hospital’s out-patient clinic, Bonner Community Hospice and Kootenai Cancer Center at Bonner General Hospital and is all spent locally in the Sandpoint area.

“I always remember Jenny telling me that it was so special for someone who is going through cancer to be given a gift by one of the nurses with no strings attached,” said Walkington, adding that the group is able to fulfill unique and special requests.

“Since we first started in 2004 we have raised about $75,000,” she said. Peterson, who said she thinks about Meyer not only on the day of Celebrate Life, but also the other 364 days of the year, said she carries in her heart the lessons that her friend taught her.

“Jenny was that one person who you always wish you could be – grounded, honest and true to who she was. She taught me to be a good mother and to live in the moment because the moments don’t last long,” said Peterson. “This is a gift of knowledge that I will cherish forever.”

Celebrate Life Run/Walk
The event will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Dog Beach at the north end of the Long Bridge in Sandpoint, with registration and check in beginning at 8 a.m.

Registration forms can be downloaded at www.bonnergen.org and follow the links to Celebrate Life and they are also available at Sandpoint Furniture in Ponderay, Bonner General Hospital and Meyer’s SporTees in Bonner Mall.

Sandpoint Seaplane Service a Great Way to See Sandpoint

Driving north across the Long Bridge into Sandpoint there can be no dispute that this area is one of the most beautiful places in the entire country. In fact in 2001 USA Today called Sandpoint a Norman Rockwell-meets-Ansel Adams classic.

But just when you think it couldn’t get more scenic, imagine taking in the views of the mountains, lakes, rivers and trees from an aerial vantage point.

Sandpoint Seaplane Service, based out of the Dover Bay Resort Marina just west of here, opened in August 2008 and offers everything from tour flights, charter flights, to fly-in wilderness adventures.

Owners Stephen and Darene Ruff say that both residents and visitors enjoy taking in the scenery from an osprey’s view.

“It’s a treat to be able to take folks up and see them enjoy the incredible natural beauty of this area,” said Stephen Ruff. “I’ve flown over a lot of country, including Alaska, and there’s really no place quite like it – the peaks, lakes and rivers are gorgeous any time of year.”

With a variety of options, people can enjoy anywhere from a 20-minute tour to a customized extended tour.

The 20-minute tour takes in a 40-mile loop over the Pack River Delta, Ellisport Bay, the mouth of the Clark Fork River and returns along the Green Monarchs, and Garfield and Bottle Bay. Ruff says a one-hour tour often includes Upper Priest Lake and Montana’s Bull River.

While the clientele is fairly evenly split between tourists and local residents, Ruff said much of the tourist business is generated by local people.

The tours have provided vacation activities, family outings, a treat for those visiting on business trips, a way to scout hunting spots, a tool to be used when locating real estate, and also birthday and anniversary gifts.

“We have had a lot of people in marketing use (the service) for aerial photography,” said Ruff. “We have also had a few people who want to take photos of their own home.”

Sandpoint resident Debbie Heise recently treated her daughter, Mackenzie, and two of her friends to a scenic adventure for Mackenzie’s 15th birthday.

“I asked her what she wanted for her birthday and this is what she came up with,” said Heise. “I thought it was so cool.”

Heise said the flight was her first over the Sandpoint area and was truly an incredible experience.

“It was awesome,” said Heise. “You get such a different feel for what is here from literally a bird’s-eye view.”

Ruff, said Heise, is knowledgeable and treated the teenage girls to a flyover of each of their homes. Each passenger wears earphones equipped with a microphone so they can communicate over the noise of the engine.

One thing that surprised Heise was not only the number of homes she saw, but also how different the vegetation looked from an aerial view.

A noninstrument rated pilot, Ruff has more than 30 years of experience and 7,000 hours of flying time, which includes 12 years flying in the remote Arctic regions of Alaska.

“We made a living up there taking people to places no one else could get them to,” said Ruff.

The couple moved to Sandpoint six years ago. Since that time they have worked toward the goal of opening the flight service which operates summer and winter.

They take the floats off the plane in late fall and put the wheels on giving clients the same opportunity for scenic flights from the Sandpoint Airport during the winter months.

“It is a real treat to go into the back country and see the lakes and rivers,” said Ruff.

The plane used for Sandpoint Seaplane Service is a five-passenger Cessna 206 which, according to Ruff, has the right combination of power, stability and good visibility that makes it perfect for backcountry flying.

Ruff said that anyone interested in a flight should call him ahead of time to schedule.

“We always check the weather and the best time of day to go. This time of year it is better to go in the cooler part of day,” said Ruff. “There is a certain amount of preplanning that goes into every flight. It is important to us that people have an enjoyable time.”

And for those wanting to play a little hooky and take a little longer lunch hour, Ruff says he couldn’t be based out of a better place than the Dover Bay Resort Marina.

“Dover Bay is a great place to operate from, as the climb-out over the river is spectacular. And of course, it’s very convenient. You could eat at the Dover Bay Café and take in a flight over the lake, all during your lunch hour.”

For more information or to schedule a flight, call Stephen Ruff at (208) 290-3257 or log onto http://www.sandpoint.com/seaplane/.