COMMUNITY
Thunder’s Catch wins award Reader to host open town hall for its wild salmon chowder to discuss Couplet concept By Reader Staff
By Reader Staff The Reader is hosting an open town hall to discuss “the Couplet” concept for widening and reorienting U.S. Highway 2, which has made the news in recent weeks. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the East Bonner County Library Meeting Room B, and will be an informal opportunity for city residents to see enlarged maps and discuss details of the concept, offer their opinions and ask questions of former city staff members who were directly involved in the similar “Curve” plan more than a decade ago and share any insights Invitations have been extended to members of Sandpoint city staff and elected officials, and all Sandpoint and Bonner County residents are welcome to come hear information about the Couplet and share their insights and opinions. There will be a couple of short presentations by former city
staff members familiar with the issue, followed by an opportunity for those in the audience to speak and ask questions about the concept. The meeting will be shared via Zoom so attendees can participate remotely if unable to attend in person. The direct link is us06web. zoom.us/j/84705444802. The meeting ID is 847 0544 4802 and if joining via phone, call 386-347-5053. There will also be a clickable link posted to sandpointonline. com prior to the event. The Reader will distribute surveys at the town hall to poll those in attendance on their support or opposition to the Couplet concept. For those unable to attend, here is a link to an online version of the survey: bit.ly/CoupletSurvey or scan the QR code printed above. After the meeting, the Reader will compile the information gathered from the public and make it available to city leaders.
KNPS to host presentation on forestland collaboration By Reader Staff The Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society invites community members to attend a presentation Saturday, March 18 titled “Priest Community Forest Connection and Panhandle Forest Collaborative: Working In and For Our Forestlands.” Scheduled for 10 a.m. at the main branch of the East Bonner County Library (1407 Cedar St., in Sandpoint), the program will be presented by Liz Johnson-Gebhardt, who serves as executive director of the Priest Community Forest Connection and
co-chairperson of the Panhandle Forest Collaborative. Attendees can take in the presentation either in person or remotely via Zoom. Coffee, tea and treats will be available starting at 9:30 a.m. for those participating in person. The program is co-sponsored by East Bonner County Library District and Sandpoint Parks and Recreation, and is free and open to the public. For those wishing to view the program on Zoom, register in advance at bit. ly/3IKiTCi.
Sandpoint-based Thunder’s Catch took home the award for Best New Retail Product with its wild salmon chowder at Seafood Expo North America and Seafood Processing North America, the largest seafood trade event in North America held March 14 in Boston. Operated by Sandpoint’s own Taran White and Kara Berlin, Thunder’s Catch was among 1,141 exhibiting companies from 49 countries taking part in the event, with winners selected from a group of finalists during a live judging by a panel of seafood buyers and industry experts from the retail and food service industries. Finalists were previously selected through a screening of products partici-
pating in the Seafood Expo North America New Product Showcase. The New Product Showcase features seafood products, condiments and culinary dishes launched in the past year by exhibiting companies. The Seafood Excellence Awards recognize the leaders in the North American seafood market. The new products are judged based on several criteria, including uniqueness and appropriateness to the market, taste profile, market potential, convenience, nutritional value and originality.
A real chance at goodbye
BTAA launches humane euthanasia program thanks to anonymous donor
By Reader Staff It’s never easy to say goodbye to a family pet, be it due to old age or illness. It can be more challenging for families who may not have access to the resources needed to have their pet humanely euthanized by a veterinarian. Thanks to a special donor, Better Together Animal Alliance offers a program called Lovingly Letting Go, which provides humane euthanasia services for free and keeps people and pets together through the process. “I heard a story of a woman who needed to have her senior dog euthanized due to declining quality of life,” said the BTAA donor who started the Lovingly Letting Go fund (she asked to remain anonymous). Local artist Savannah Pitts poses by a section of her “She asked another shelter for help but was mural in BTAA’s Lovingly Letting Go room. Courtesy photo. told she would need to surrender the dog to the shelter for that to happen. I couldn’t the preciousness of life,” Green said. imagine having to make such a decision. “To have the opportunity to help someLuckily BTAA was able to provide the support she needed for her elderly dog. This one ease their emotional and financial stress by allowing the end-of-life decision for story called to me and I wanted to make their pet to be done with love and comsure everyone who is in need of end-of-life passion is what this program is about,” the care for their pet has access to it.” Lovingly Letting Go founder said. “If the Lovingly Letting Go exists to keep program can provide a comfortable environpeople and pets together until the end of a ment to keep owners and their pets together pet’s life, and BTAA’s animal care center during the final stage of life, it has fulfilled has a designated room for people and pets its purpose.” to say goodbye. When another longtime If you or someone you know may benBTAA supporter, Mike Green, heard about the room, he commissioned a mural by local efit from Lovingly Letting Go, or another one of BTAA’s community programs, conartist Savannah Pitts to make the space a tact the BTAA Helpline at 208-217-4453 or celebration of the human-animal bond. email helpline@btanimalalliance.org. Learn “My hope is that the mural will serve as more about BTAA or make a donation at a comforting and calming presence for pets bettertogetheranimalalliance.org. and their loved ones, as well as a tribute to
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