COMMUNITY
Sam Owen Fire District to host annual pancake breakfast By Reader Staff Bouquets: • This week’s bouquet goes out to Mel Dick, owner of the 219 Lounge. Mel embodies what it means to be a community leader in many ways. Every morning when I ride my bike past the back of the 219 on my way to the Reader office, I see Mel out on the sidewalk cleaning up litter, sweeping the stoops of neighboring businesses, greeting passersby. Bars generate debris, naturally, but it’s really cool that Mel takes such ownership over cleaning it up. Not only does he employ a local staff at the bar, but the 219’s expansive live music schedule is a great source of revenue for local bands, my fledgling band included. Outside of his business, Mel is active in the Sandpoint Rotary and passionate about fundraising events such as the Chafe 150 bicycle ride, which has donated over $100,000 to our school district to better meet the needs for students within the autism spectrum. Thanks for what you do, Mel. It has been noticed. (Got someone you want to recognize with a bouquet? Don’t be shy, send the info to ben@sandpointreader.com) Barbs • Two parking-related issues to discuss here: First, one of our readers pointed out that the parking signs do not post times or dates, only how many hours you can park there and a snow removal part at the bottom. There is no way, technically, for anyone to know if parking enforcement ends at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., if weekends are free, or if it’s just Sunday. Technically, it seems unfair to receive a ticket if parking on a weekend, since no posted words explain hours/days. Second, a couple of new brackets were painted around town denoting parking spaces that are too small for 99 percent of the vehicles out there. It should be marked “super compact” or “motorcycle” only, because full size vehicles park there and cause the spaces behind them to stagger at odd intervals. It confuses people (including yours truly). See the east side of Second at the corner of Cedar. 8 /
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/ July 26, 2018
The Sam Owen Fire District will be hosting its 14th annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, July 28, so take a break and forget about cooking. Instead, go over to the Sam Owen Fire Station #1 for a breakfast that will start your day off right. A scenic drive along Highway 200 will take you to the Sam Owen Fire Station #1, located at the junction of Peninsula Road and Highway 200 in Hope. A steaming hot breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, juice and coffee or tea breakfast, all for only $5, will be served from 7:30-11 a.m. After breakfast take time to tour the station, meet the firefighters and our co-fire chiefs, Stu Eigler and Tim Scofield. You’ll have the opportunity to sit in the trucks, meet Smokey the firedog and try on the equipment. It’s surprising how heavy it is. There will be free handouts for
the children and the first 50 children will receive fire chief hats. This is the major community event and only fundraiser for the Sam Owen Fire District. The monies raised are used for supplies for the fire house, including
uniforms, communication devices, and important firefighting equipment. Over 60 volunteers, plus the firefighters and fire chief spend untold hours to collect donations, cook the meal and serve you a delicious breakfast.
Future firefighters learn the ropes at the 2017 pancake breakfast. Courtesy photo. For more information about this event call 208-264-5745.
BGH nurse receives honor SAFL hosts free camp
By Reader Staff
Bonner General Health received the “Qualis Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality” award on April 19 for its Antibiotic Stewardship Program. Following the award, Bonner General Health was selected to present at the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention’s (APIC) annual national conference held in Minneapolis, Minn., in June. APIC’s Annual Conference is the premier forum for infection prevention and epidemiology professionals to learn about the latest research, science and real-world solutions to challenging infection prevention issues. Kathy Trosin, RN and infection prevention and quality specialist at Bonner General Health, presented, “Developing a Regional Collaborative Approach to Antimicrobial Stewardship” with Amy Ward from Kootenai Health and Connie Sue Clum from Boundary Commu-
nity Hospital. Objectives of this three-part presentation were to offer tools and resources for implementing a successful Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and featured the story of how Bonner General Health created their program with the collaborative efforts of the hospital team as well as their regional partners. The CDC recommends that Antibiotic Stewardship Programs be implemented in all hospitals. Bonner General Health successfully implemented its Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in 2015, as one of only 26 percent of critical access hospitals in the nation. Bonner General Health’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program co-chairs are Sara Couch, registered pharmacist and stewardship pharmacist leader; Mauria Prince, pharmacy director; Connie Malone, microbiologist/ lab manager; Kathy Trosin RN, infection prevention and quality specialist, and Dr. Vincent Huntsberger, physician champion.
By Reader Staff Sandpoint Affordable Football League invites students to attend a free camp this weekend. The camp is the perfect option for students interested in football or cheerleading. It includes a free T-shirt for campers, features special guests and is 100-percent free for all students
in third through eighth grade. The camp takes place at Great Northern Field 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 27, and 5-7 p.m. Saturday, July 28. There will be a barbecue with music, an auction and great food from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, July 28. Students can register for camp at www. sandpointfootball.org.
Crazy Days brings deals aplenty By Reader Staff It’s a big deal! Now that we’re cruising through summer (the Festival is next week already!), it’s time for downtown Sandpoint’s biggest bargain shopping event during the Crazy Days sidewalk sales all day Saturday, July 28. This is a very crazy day, because there are deals to be hand all ‘round — but the best
deals always go fast, so get there early. Plus, the Panida at 300 N. First Ave. holds its annual Play It Again sale featuring CDs, DVDs and more — with proceeds benefiting the historic theater’s college scholarship fund. With the nearby Sandpoint Farmers Market at Farmin Park going on, as well, it’s going to be a big day downtown. Bring the family and score on those downtown bargains.