Featuring an extraordinary collection of one-of-a-kind Native American Art, Jewelry, and Artifacts
TED MILLER STUDIO CARVING SET
BY MASTER CARVER JESUS ARMENDARIZ
who apprenticed under the celebrated Cherokee artisan Ted Miller for 18 years. Handles are hand carved from naturally shed deer antlers. Blades are hand shaped, sharpened, and polished from 440C stainless steel.
Additional knife styles are available.
Built true . It’s what we do - creating a fusion of tradition and innovation, where time-honored techniques meet cutting-edge design to create homes that epitomize elegance and durability.
Worth every penny Accidents morph into food bank support
BEyond the blue Students gain their wings
35 years Pick your favorite cover and win!
cedar street bridge Forging a new path
cold weather adventure Dog sledding a bucket-list item
Schweitzer’s Ben Nachlas got this shot while buried in snow awaiting rescue. Abbey, with skier Steve Parsons, found him quickly.
From top, clockwise: Maisie is just one of five dogs at Schweitzer who are ready to rescue. Schweitzer photo. The smash burger is well-loved at the Bank. Courtesy photo. Ben Olson performs at the Hive. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft. Take a ride with the dogs in Coolin. Courtesy photo. Schweitzer’s market offers views galore. Photo by Loren Media Group.
1992.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Not to mention that things have changed in our town these past 35 years, but the world of publishing has transformed since the first issue of Sandpoint Magazine came out in November 1990.
With only $2,000 in seed money, my main asset to get the magazine and Keokee Publishing started was a Macintosh computer and the proficiency I’d gained with this new “desktop publishing” tool during a two-year foray as an editor in the Bay Area. In Keokee’s first years, even with the game-changing computer, we still used film cameras and did mechanical paste-ups the printer would use to make the printing plates. The World Wide Web was several years away.
Publishing now involves digital editions, mobile screens, social media, interactive platforms. But foremost, it still means the tangible thrill of paging open a freshly printed, paper-and-ink magazine.
Over these 35 years we’ve documented Sandpoint’s change from a timber town into a diverse place where our magnificent natural world and vibrant community are magnets for both new arrivals and the locals who have always cherished it here. And our goal with the magazine doesn’t distinguish between those groups. As I wrote in 1990 ... “this magazine is written for people who like it here. If we’re successful in what we do, Sandpoint Magazine will help you get more out of being in Sandpoint.”
That remains the mission. More changes to our town and to publishing—AI, anyone?—are coming. By helping people discover and appreciate the things that make Sandpoint wonderful, we hope everyone here will work to keep and protect those things. So dive into this Winter ‘26 edition. You’ll see that, 35 years on, there’s an awful lot to love here.
- CB
10 almanac 25 calendar
29 interview: Chelsea Kardokus Pimienta
49 history mystery: Memaloose island
Pictured in History: Cocolalla ice house
Publisher Chris Bessler
COO Jeff Lagges
Editor Trish Gannon
Events Editor Misty Grage
Advertising Director Clint Nicholson
Art Director Pamela Milless
Design Team Dan Seward
Digital Marketing Shelby Ambrose, Brandy Nicholson, Skye Konz, Joel VanBrocklin
Office Manager Susan Otis
IT Manager Ethan Roberts
Sales Mitchell Fullerton
REAL ESTATE / BUSINESS
more than a hobby Small farms offer land and a lifestyle
building for our future
But affordability still an issue 107 power in the mountain Construction company builds at Schweitzer 109 Schweitzer’s snow is cold
But the market is hot
113 The sky’s the limit Projects take town to new heights
EATS & DRINKS
126 As Wild as the Mountain Keeping Schweitzer’s alpine restaurants stocked 130 Hopes, Dreams and Hoagies Pivo Peaks Alehouse opens on First Avenue
serving sandpoint A Q&A with Chad Foust and Justin Dick
Sandpoint’s getting spicy A taste of India right downtown 135 It’s Quick Food but not Fast Food Marigold Bistro hits the one year mark
Contributors:
Sammy Berryman, Bonner County History Museum, Barry Campbell, Dig Chrismer, Tim Christie, Hannah Combs, Sandy Compton, Karen Cordesco, Kevin Davis, Susan Drinkard, Misty Grage, Cate Huisman, Lyndsie KiebertCarey, Jennifer Leo, Loren Media Group, Marianne Love, Ammi Midstokke, Ben Nachlas, Natalie Newman, Ben Olson, Amy Peterson, Brandon Puckett, Cameron Rasmusson, Noah Roark, Renee Sande, Mark Vogt, Pam Webb, Woods Wheatcroft, and Palmer Wisco
Sandpoint Magazine is published twice yearly, in May and November, by: Keokee Co. Publishing, Inc. 405 Church St., Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-263-3573 • www.keokee.com
Printed in USA by Century Publishing, Post Falls, Idaho.
Winter is a good time for viewing the area’s bald eagles. Look for them near water. This photo was taken at the south end of Lake Pend Oreille. Photo by Mark Vogt
Winter is prime time for viewing majestic raptors
“He watches from his mountain walls, And like a thunderbolt he falls.”
Tennyson describes well the majesty of eagles—but was he referring to bald or golden eagles? Both are found in our area and prime viewing time is between November and February.
Winter months with clear, cold days make it easier to spot eagles as they perch up in trees while they scan for a meal or fill the sky with their impressive 6– to 8–foot wingspan.
Everyone recognizes a bald eagle by its distinctive white head and tail, yet for a short time juvenile bald eagles are visually similar to golden eagles. The difference is all in the feet. While both sport brown mottled feathers, only the golden’s feathers extend all the way to their claws. The bald eagle’s feet are bare; their trademark white head only appears upon maturity.
There are several places to view eagles in the area, according to Courtney Tomlinson, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Forest Service. Tomlinson suggests City Beach, Fisherman Island, Hawkins Point, Priest Lake, along Lake Pend Oreille’s shoreline, and the Clark Fork game management area. Eagles have also been spotted on Wolf Lodge Bay, and at Round Lake and Farragut state parks. Occasionally one will be spotted perched in a tree when crossing the Long Bridge in Sandpoint. Dawn and dusk are considered the best times for spotting eagles.
The region attracts eagles due to an ideal habitat of protected land that allows eagles to raise their eaglets successfully. Currently the Forest Service monitors 30 nests in the area.
If you miss eagles in winter be sure to return in summer and take one of the Lake Pend Oreille cruises, which afford great opportunities to view them at a leisurely pace.
For more information, discover “Idaho’s top eagle watching spots” online at www.visitidaho.org, under “travel tips.”
–Pam Webb
When viewing eagles
• Maintain a respectful distance. Binoculars or viewing scopes are suggested
• It’s illegal to stop traffic for viewing
• Eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and there is a hefty fine for disturbing them
• Keep pets on a leash
• Drones must be at least 1,000 feet away from nests since eagles view them as a threat, which can lead to an attack or cause the eagle to abandon the nest
Flying over the south end of Lake Pend Oreille, this bald eagle shows his impressive wing span. Photo by Mark Vogt
A pair of eagles survey their surroundings from a branch overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. Photo by Brandon Puckett
Diving for Dollars GROUP PURSUES POOL PLAN AT PONDERAY’S FIELD OF DREAMS
In a place where outdoor beauty and recreation can’t get any better, Mike DiBenedetto sees an opportunity to add a different kind of fun to the mix.
“We have lovely outdoor recreation opportunities but we really don’t have the indoor facilities to enable this community to grow through a different kind of connection… a lot of people don’t want to be out in the cold of winter,” said DiBenedetto, founder and president of Ponderay Aquatic Center Endowment.
As the father of three past swim team athletes, DiBenedetto is familiar with the pool facilities available to the Sandpoint High School swim team, and he believes a new indoor site would help supplement the current, 42-year-old Litehouse YMCA.
After a discussion with the city of Ponderay regarding the Field of Dreams site, conducting a feasibility study, and talking to the community, the PACE team believes an indoor community pool could also become a multi-faceted community resource.
The pool could serve as a practice facility for rescue divers and lifeguards, and the building could act as a shelter-in-place for emergencies. Potentially, it could house an indoor ice rink, as well, which is not only wanted but which makes operating a pool energy efficient.
One thing DiBenedetto doesn’t want to do, however, is raise people’s taxes, and he pointed to the construction of an outdoor ice skating rink this last year.
“[North Idaho Ice] collected $250,000 through local fundraising and corporate donations to build the rink where 13,000 people skated last year,” said DiBenedetto. PACE is hoping fundraising for a pool could be equally successful.
NIICE board member Travis Taylor is supportive of PACE’s goals. “NIICE is solely focused on our own projects,” he said, “but we’re happy to consider any opportunities for collaboration with others that work to serve our communities.” He added, “We wish PACE much success.”
KayLeigh Miller stated the city of Ponderay recognizes the benefit of bringing opportunities for four-season recreation to the area, including an aquatic facility. “We are
hopeful that PACE is successful in raising the funds needed to bring this project to the community and to maintain it into the future,” said Miller, who serves as the city’s director of planning and zoning.
DiBenedetto notes that PACE is seeking volunteers, from board members and fundraisers to administrative help, engineers and others.
For those who might be interested in supporting the pool financially, an endowment fund has been established for that purpose.
Visit www.ponderayaquatics.org to learn more.
–Renee Sande
35 y ears ago, the Field of Dreams was still a dream in the making. In 1993 Floyd McGhee and Mike Read initiated work toward what was then called the McGhee Sports Complex. The city acquired the property in 2011 and the fields opened for play in 2024, just off McNearny Road.
Artist rendering of a possible indoor swimming center. Courtesy illustration
Kids get their hands on history with new museum programs
The Bonner County Historical Society Museum is all about connecting history to the community and is ramping up that effort by extending their Hands On History program.
“Our goal is to spark children’s curiosity about the land around them through hands-on activities,” shared Carlie Johanson, museum board-member-at-large and education team leader.
The museum is taking a focused approach to create more interactive playspaces within the museum, going beyond guided school tours. This is evident with the Hands On History programs offered the first Saturday of each month, which are free to the public. During the summer the museum opens up the cabin and the caboose, allowing children to learn about pioneer life through activities such as churning butter or making felt.
In winter the cabin and caboose close and activities are available inside the museum. “Children are already curious,” Johanson said, adding how hands-on activities such as grinding wheat combined with a storytelling session of “The Little Red Hen” shows the connection of how bread is made from scratch, emphasizing in a fun way how pioneers made their food.
Johanson applied her experiences working at the Henry Ford Museum to interject the idea of creating connected relevancy to the past when she began volunteering at the Bonner County museum in 2020. “Making the museum relevant to the
influx of newcomers, as well as to the long-time residents, can be achieved by creating an inviting place for children.”
And the museum is doing that.
The main floor of the museum provides a variety of experiences.
Children can climb around in a specially constructed “tree” or go “fishing” in a pond, or even try their hand at uncovering some archaeological finds in the dig room. Upstairs they can be dazzled by the canoe, artifacts and displayed animals. To further the hands-on approach, families can check out educational kits that have activities and objects to explore, which encourages visitors to take home a little bit of history after a day at the museum.
Learn more at www.bonnercountyhistory.org –Pam Webb
Emergency • Immediate Care • Orthopedics
Children are encouraged to get hands-on with local history. Courtesy photo
BEAR-ING GRIEF AND CREATING COMFORT OUT OF MEMORIES
Michelle Sebern of Sandpoint is helping people with their sadness after the death of a loved one. She does this by making memory bears out of a favorite shirt or dress worn by the departed family member or friend.
In the landscape of grief, there aren’t a lot of shortcuts. Processing grief is necessary for emotional and mental well-being. Holding a personalized bear gives comfort to the survivor who can cuddle with the bear and remember their loved one. “I see a lot of widows who are isolating. They sleep with the bear, hold it while watching TV. The bear is something tangible.”
Sebern, a skilled fabric artist, is also a certified death doula. She spends eight hours making each bear. So far, she has made 115 bears, and 20 are in the queue. She individualizes each bear, for example by sewing round glasses on a bear made from a professor’s shirt. One bear carries a locket containing ashes of the deceased.
The bears each feature needle-felted smiles and are extremely well-crafted. She has created bears from camouflage, flannel, old t-shirts, and even a wedding dress belonging to a local woman's late sister from the 1970s. It’s not just the sewing for Sebern. She also enjoys listening to the stories about the person who passed, an important part of grief processing.
Sebern, a retired Masters-level nurse who managed surgical
services at multiple hospitals including Bonner General Health, now teaches memorybear-making classes due to high demand.
She recently made memory bears for every child at the hospice kids’ camp. One child immediately recognized the fabric was from his father's shirt. Another named his bear “Dad.”
One terminal man had a bear made for his wife without her knowing. Sebern delivered the bear to the widow on Christmas.
“When a person sees their bear upon completion, they usually hug the bear first, and then they cry,” she said.
Learn more at www.thememorybearmaker.com –Susan Drinkard
Michelle Sebern with two of the memory-based bears she’s created. Photo by Susan Drinkard
Putting
the
Past Into View
Highway signs tell of ferries, fur traders, foreign workers and our fabulous long bridge
In an area steeped with history, Bonner County has had only two historical highway marker signs. Located on Highway 200, at mile marker 44.30, a worn sign informed the curious who stopped about Lake Pend Oreille and its formation after what’s been called by some the greatest geological event in the history of the world—the Missoula Floods. A second sign just under four miles east of the first, located in Hope, told of Kullyspell House, a trading post built by fur trapper and explorer David Thompson in 1809.
Those two signs, one refurbished and one replaced, are now being followed by two more. The first is a sign near Laclede that tells the story of Seneacquoteen, a location where the Kalispel ford of the Pend Oreille River became a primary crossing point for the area. A ferry operated out of Seneacquoteen from 1864 all the way up to 1957, and back when North Idaho was all considered Kootenai County, it even served as the seat of county government. The second new sign tells the story of our famous Long Bridge and its many iterations.
The Lake Pend Oreille sign first described is being replaced by one that provides information on the Chinese workers who helped to build the railroads, the prime drivers of settlement here. The Kullyspel House sign has been refurbished.
The new signs all include QR codes so that interested visitors can learn even more about the topics the signs cover, plus other places of interest and amenities near the location.
The project was headed by the Idaho Transportation Department, with partnership from the Idaho Historical Society in creating the verbiage for the signs, while the app the QR codes lead to was developed by Visit Idaho.
While these historic signs are being updated and added to across the state, District 1, which includes Bonner County, are the first to be completed. The new Long Bridge sign is located in Sagle at the pedestrian underpass on Highway 95 (milepost 472) while the Seneacquoteen sign is located at the end of Laclede Ferry Road (milepost 14.55) on Highway 2.
–Trish Gannon
Photos: New highway signs in Bonner County include Seneacquoteen (top), Kullyspel House, Long Bridges, and Chinese railroad workers. A former sign with information on Lake Pend Oreille (above right) was removed. Courtesy ITD
RESTORATION RETURNS PANIDA’S NORTH WALL TO 1927 GLORY
In a project that peeled back nearly a century of paint and plaster, the Panida Theater’s north interior wall has been lovingly restored to its 1927 splendor— though one quirky fixture didn’t survive the process.
For decades, observant audiences in the historic theater would spot a curious sight: a bedraggled bird painted beside a more regal twin in one of the wall panels near the stage. Locals dubbed it “the sick chicken,” and its odd presence became part of Panida lore.
This fall, craftsman Greg Marsters of Custom Plaster in Boise returned to Sandpoint—having earlier restored the theater’s ornate ceiling—to lead the wall’s conservation cleaning and repair.
“This building has a lot of original finish—a lot,” Marsters said. “It’s rare to see something this intact as it nears a hundred years.”
First in Fashion
Marsters’ goal was to bring the wall back to its “first campaign,” the highest level of its original decoration. That required a tough call: removing the “sick chicken,” which was painted by an apparently disgruntled worker during a shoddy wall repair sometime after the mid 1960s. Unfortunately, the plaster beneath the image had deteriorated beyond rescue.
“Greg was going to try to take it off in one piece” for possible display elsewhere, said Panida Board President Sean Behm. But the material crumbled and the painting was lost. “The sick chicken is in the hearts of everybody,” Behm said.
Marsters added with a quip, “We cured it.”
Before removal, the team carefully documented the offbeat artwork, creating a mylar stencil and photographic record. Panida supporters can even buy commemorative “sick chicken” hoodies, humorously stamped “Panida Theater: Sick shows since 1927.”
Funded by a $100,000 Idaho Heritage Trust grant, the north wall work marks another milestone in the Panida's Century Fund capital campaign to restore the historic building. “This theater is vital to downtown,” Behm said, adding the goal is “to really send this baby into the next 100 years.”
Learn more at www.panida.org.
- Zach Hagadone with Chris Bessler
The Panida’s “sick chicken” was lost during a recent refurbishment. Staff photo
Rooted in giving, growing in joy FESTIVAL OF TREES EXPANDS
The Festival of Trees, a holiday tradition that raises money for the community, is growing once again this year. Since the Community Resource EnVision Center took it over in 2023, the event has expanded into a weeklong celebration of generosity, holiday spirit and community partnerships.
The event began in 2000 as a fundraiser for Kinderhaven, which provided housing for children in crisis. When Kinderhaven closed in 2020 due to new state foster care laws, its board entrusted the tradition to CREC. The EnVision Center serves as a hub for those in need, connecting people to emergency housing, utilities, transportation, substance abuse support and more.
“The Kinderhaven board gifted us this tradition because they knew it would continue to thrive,” said Katie Begalke, CREC’s executive director. “We are honored to grow the Festival of Trees in a way that reflects the whole community.”
At its core, the Festival of Trees still features its elegant gala, where designer trees are auctioned to support CREC’s mission. But now in its 26th year, the event stretches across a week and includes a free Friends & Family Day at the Hive with crafts, cocoa, live performances, photos with Santa and a 4th grade gingerbread competition; the debut Christmas Jubilee Concert, showcasing the Bonners Ferry Community Orchestra in Sandpoint for the first time; and the Charity & Cheer Window Walk + Passport Program, where 12 nonprofits partner with downtown businesses to decorate trees. Passports ($20 and full of coupons) guide visitors through the displays and enter purchasers to win a featured tree at the Hive or a $500 downtown gift package. Profits go to the nonprofits involved.
With thousands expected to attend, the Festival of Trees continues to shine as
both a holiday highlight and a vital fundraiser, uniting families, businesses, nonprofits and visitors in the spirit of giving.
–Trish
Displays at the Festival of Trees attract hundreds of viewers each year. Courtesy photo
Gannon
From Ashes to Answers
PRIEST RIVER FOREST IS A LIVING LABORATORY
The ashes of the 1910 fires that swept through North Idaho were still settling in 1911 when the Priest River Experimental Forest was established as one of the first reserves of its kind. Located 13 miles northeast of Priest River, Idaho, it is a 6,383-acre parcel dedicated to forest research. The land, part of the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, was chosen for its broad representation of the species diversity of the northern Rocky Mountain forests. Since its inception PREF has supported important research on fire behavior, forestry practices, forest health and disease and hydrology. One of the more prominent structures that still exists from the legacy of forest research is the Gisborne Mountain Lookout. The current fire lookout tower was built in 1958 and replaced a previous lookout that was built in 1932. It sits at 5,500 feet and commands a sweeping view over the Pend Oreille River and Priest River valleys. It was named for Harry T. Gisborne, known as the father of forest fire research. “Gis” was a fire research scientist with the Rocky Mountain Research Station division of the U.S. Forest Service. He used PREF to conduct studies that focused on the start and spread of wildfires.
In 1911 Gisborne built a dam in Benton Creek to create a reservoir for the station’s water supply. Later, in 1939, the dam was converted to a gauging station to measure streamflow and has been recording data almost continuously since then. Gis developed other weather instrumentation tools that are still in use on site next to the office. It was an effort by Gisborne to understand the importance of environmental factors on fire.
More recently, PREF is maintained by a Forest Service employee, Jason Reinhardt, who keeps up the facility, conducts data collection, and hosts visiting scientists conducting their own forest research. These superintendent foresters also maintain two snow course sites, one high elevation site on Gisborne Ridge and a low elevation site at Benton Meadows, where they have been recording precipitation and snowpack data since 1936.
In the early 1990s, Bob Denner was the superintendent until he retired in 2015. In the 1920s Bob Marshall, of Wilderness Society and Bob Marshall Wilderness fame, took his first assignment as a forester living and working at PREF.
In this great tradition of forest stewardship, Priest Community Forest Connection gives back to the community through the annual Forest Expo. It teaches elementary school kids about forestry, fisheries, wildlife, local history, logging and fun stuff like tree and animal track identification conducted on the facilities at PREF.
Learn more at sptmag.com/pref
–Kevin Davis
Top: The office/laboratory building was built in 1936 by the Civilian Conservation Corps. The entire forest and its structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo by Jon Roanhaus. Above: A 1954 photo of the Gisborne Mountain fire lookout. Both photos used under Creative Commons.
Noteworthy
SAndpoint Showdown Premieres
The first ever Sandpoint Showdown took place this fall—think “Lost in the 50s” for motorcycles, riders and fans. Along with hundreds of gorgeous bikes, the day featured slow races, where the contest is for the rider to travel about 50 yards as slow as he or she can without putting a foot down. Don’t fret if you missed the rally this year, as an encore is expected next year. www.sandpointshowdown.com
Kaniksu land trust blooms
Kaniksu Land Trust announced the purchase of the Aster Garden Center at 924 W. Superior St. and the plan to expand it from a community garden center into a community space. The center will not only be a place where people can find plants that nurture pollinators and wildlife, but learn how they can rewild their own backyards, and connect with one another. A grand re-opening is set for April 16, 2026. www.kaniksu.org
CAROUSEL LIGHTS UP with generous donation
Ken Keeler, a volunteer with the Carousel of Smiles project, had a bright idea after learning it would take over 400 lightbulbs to light up the historic carousel under restoration. He wrote to General Electric to find out if there was a way to get a discount and, to his surprise, got a call back from the company, saying they wanted to donate the LED bulbs to the project because they liked it. The bulbs, which would cost over $1,000 to purchase, should last for 13,000 hours. www.thecarouselofsmiles.org. Keeler (on right) with Jeff Rosenkrans, stands before a carousel panel Rosenkrans restored that will be lit with the donated lights. Photo by Misty Grage
Scotchman’s GOATS GO PRIME TIME
The CBS “Sunday Morning” television show featured Scotchman Peak—along with its iconic mountain goats—in its end of program nature interlude in late July. The roughly 4-minute piece showcased a family of goats—including a months-old baby goat—as they enjoyed the rocky outcroppings and spectacular views the popular hiking destination is known for. If you missed it, you can watch it at sptmag.com/cbsgoats
NEW STORES COMING TO BONNER MALL?
Dave Black and Chris Bell of NAI Black are the new owners of the Bonner Mall, located at 300 Bonner Mall Way in Ponderay. The mall currently showcases anchor stores Yoke’s Fresh Market, Staples, Petco, the Dollar Tree and Harbor Freight, among other stores, along with the town’s only movie theater. In an article with the Spokane Journal of Business, the pair said negotiations are underway to bring new tenants to the mall. (Some fingers are crossed for a Michael’s-type craft store, among numerous other wishes.)
Sandpoint Super Drug gets an artistic facelift
Maria Larson is at it again. The renowned artist is back on the streets, this time creating a new vision for drivers through town on the side of Sandpoint Super Drug. Larson, long beloved for her paintings of the landscape and wildlife of the Pacific Northwest, is no stranger to mural art, having painted the side of All Seasons Garden Center back in 1999. For this project, she is depicting several icons of Sandpoint—the railroad, the mountains, the grain elevator, eagles, moose and more. Even the beloved Festival tent makes a return! You can learn more about Maria’s art at www.marialarsonart.com. Photo courtesy Sandpoint Super Drug
November
21 Opening day at Schweitzer, weather permitting. 208-263-9555. www. schweitzer.com
22 Kendal Mountain Film Fest at the Panida. 300 N. First Ave. 7 p.m. 208-2639191
22 POAC presents Missoula Children’s Theater. See next page.
22-23 Christmas Craft Fair at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.
22-30 K&K Thanksgiving Fishing Derby Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club’s annual fall fishing contest. Derby will not be held on Thanksgiving day. www.lpoic.org
26 7th annual free community meal at the Burger Dock, 116 N. First. 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
27 Sandpoint’s annual Turkey Trot sponsored by the Sandpoint Parks & Rec and YMCA.
28 Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival at Town Square in downtown Sandpoint. 28 Festival of Trees Charity & Cheer Window Walk. A sneak peak at beautifully decorated trees at the Hive, 207 N. First immediately following Santa’s arrival.
29 Festival of Trees Friends and Family Day at the Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free crafts and activities for kids, plus photos with Santa. www.crecidaho. com/festival-of-trees
29 The Shook Twins: Giving Thanks concert at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First. Doors open 6:30 p.m. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org
30 Christmas Jubilee Concert At the Hive in Sandpoint, 207 N. First, with the Bonners Ferry Orchestra. www.crecidaho. com
December
3 POAC presents the Nutcracker. See next page.
5–7 Christmas Craft Fair hosted by the Sandpoint Lions and the Girl Scouts at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.
6 Festival of Trees Gala & Live Auction “Starlit Soiree.” 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. at the Hive, 207 N. First Ave. Catered dinner. www.crecidaho.com/festival-of-trees
6-12 Kids ski free at Schweitzer with preregistration online. www.schweitzer. com
7 Christmas with the Gothard Sisters Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. Begins 7:30 p.m. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org 23–24 Ski with Santa at Schweitzer 208263-9555. www.schweitzer.com
31 New Years Eve tubing party, then celebration at Taps on Schweitzer. Live music, late night snacks, midnight
1 Polar Bear Plunge 11 a.m. at Sandpoint City Beach boat launch. Free and open to the public, food donations accepted for the Bonner Community Food Bank. 8–11 Insanity Fab Winter Challenge 2026. North Idaho Mud and Crawl offroad race, 4X4 and SXS welcome. Follow on Facebook.
9 Annual Backcountry Film Festival, hosted by SOLE, at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. 208-263-9191. www. panida.org
15 CHAFE 150 Registration begins. Annual bike rides through Montana and Idaho. www.chafe150.org
15 POAC presents “The Klondike” with Living Voices. See next page.
17–19 Banff Mountain Film Festival Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. Shows Fri. and Sat. at 7 p.m., and 6 p.m. on Sun. A different program is shown each night. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org
16-18 Night skiing at Schweitzer. 208263-9555. www.schweitzer.com
17 Northern Lights at Schweitzer Saturday night. Fireworks show and torchlight parade, festivities start at 6 p.m. 208-263-9555. www.schweitzer.com
February
13-15 Presidents’ Weekend Celebration with night skiing at Schweitzer. 208-263-9555. www. schweitzer.com
15 Coca Cola Let it Glow parade and fireworks show at Schweitzer. 208-2639555. www.schweitzer.com
13 Parade of Lights. The Parade of Lights will move through downtown Sandpoint at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, starting at the city parking lot.
13–22 Sandpoint Winter Carnival. Live music, festivals, and events for kids and adults all around the downtown; major happenings up on Schweitzer; sleigh and wagon rides at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, and more. www. sandpointwintercarnival.com
18 Heart Ball, sponsored by the Bonner General Health Foundation and held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. Get tickets at www.bonnergeneral.org
20 POAC presents Amy Posner. See next page.
28 PAFE Mega Alpine and Snowboard Demo Day at Schweitzer Resort. All proceeds benefit Panhandle Alliance for Education as part of Public Education Week. 208-263-9555. www.schweitzer.com
Sandpoint Online’s events calendar is updated weekly with the most current information
Heart Ball Fundraiser. Courtesy photo
Christmas craft fair. Courtesy photo
Fireworks at Schweitzer. Courtesy photo
March
1–3 Annual Gun ‘N Horn Show at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer. Admission is $5, kids 11 and under are free.
13 POAC presents Derina Harvey. See box this page.
26 Wild and Scenic Film Festival. Held at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org
27 Community Day at Schweitzer with discounted skiing. 208-263-9555. www. schweitzer.com
April
11-12 Sandpoint Home & Garden show at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer Rd. Sponsored by North Idaho Building Contractors Association.
11-12 Schpring Finale 2025. Classic Schweitzer celebration closes out the ski year, with a Cardboard Box Derby, Rotary fundraiser, costumes and prizes. www. schweitzer.com. 208-255-3081
17 POAC presents The Zaniac. See box this page.
25–May 3 Spring Fishing Derby. Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club holds its annual spring fishing derby on Lake Pend Oreille. There are many prizes to be won, and multiple categories and divisions. www. lpoic.org.
MaY
9 Sandpoint Farmers’ Market Opening Day. Shop for fresh produce and artisan goods twice weekly until mid-October in downtown Sandpoint’s Farmin Park. www. sandpointfarmersmarket.com.
15-16 Lost in the ’50s. Car show, parade, Live music and hot dance concerts. www. lostinthe50s.com
See complete, up-to-the-minute calendars at www.sandpointonline.com
Performing Arts Season
313 N. Second Ave. in Sandpoint www.artinsandpoint.org 208-263-6139
All shows at the Panida Theater unless noted
Nov 22 Alice in Wonderland
The Missoula Children’s Theater presents an original adaptation of the classic fairy tale, starring local youth. This is an ever-popular community theater event, casting a host of local children of all ages. Shows will be held at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Dec 3 The Nutcracker
POAC is thrilled to bring back this timeless holiday classic ballet that unites us all during the festive season. The talented dancers of Ballet Victoria will warm your heart with holiday cheer and feature local youth as well.
Jan 15 The Klondike POAExperience history with Living Voices, where dynamic solo performances and archival film merge to narrate the hunt for gold with one independent young woman who risks everything for the promise of wealth and a fresh start during the Klondike Gold Rush. Show at 7 p.m., doors at 6 p.m.
FeB 20 Amy Posner
Mesmerizing live show blends folk, roots, electronic and pop. A genre-fluid Los Angeles based musician known for mastering nearly any instrument, her performances feature everything from fierce blues guitar solos to complex banjo riffs. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the show at 7 p.m.
Mar 13 Derina Harvey Band
This will be THE St. Paddy’s Party of the year in Sandpoint at The Hive! With her vibrant personality, humor and powerful vocals, Derina Harvey leads this Celtic rock powerhouse, a multi-award winning group known for its engaging live shows. Get ready to holler! Doors open at 6 p.m. , show at 7 p.m.
Apr 17 The Zaniac
A MUST for the whole family! Alex Zerbe, aka the Zaniac, moves like a rubber band across the stage with a comedic onslaught of absurd ideas, odd skills and fantastic feats! You won’t want to miss this two-time Guiness World Record holder. Laughter is the best medicine and the doctor is in.Doors open 6 p.m. and the shows are at 7 p.m.
Gun and Horn Show. Courtesy photo
Lost in the ‘50s. Courtesy photo
Livin’ on
AN SHS GRAD TURNED A LOVE OF SCRAPBOOKING INTO A LIFE IN THE BIG CITY
by Marianne Love
Fresh out of Ball State University, Sandpoint High alum Chelsea Kardokus Pimienta went straight to TIME Magazine in 2013. Now, as digital design director, she designs the bimonthly magazine and oversees digital art created for the magazine’s website as well as for social media platforms.
Childhood experiences, self-determination and mentors propelled Chelsea toward one of America’s most iconic news publications.
When she wanted a TV for her bedroom, her parents told her she had to buy it, thinking that wouldn’t happen. Chelsea turned entrepreneur, selling glassbeaded bracelets she had crafted through the name Groovy Girl Designs.
“This is when I learned that nothing was going to stop her from her plans,” Chelsea’s mom Lori Lowery recalled. “I
helped her make a sandwich board to display her bracelets.”
After earning $200 at Sandpoint’s Fourth of July Parade, she continued selling at a Newport clothing store, earning enough to buy the TV.
Guided by her craft-oriented mom, Chelsea took on projects
like scrapbooking, Christmas ornaments and jewelry making.
“Her combinations were so beautiful,” Lori said. “She had an eye for designing bracelets that were really appealing.”
Serving as editor of the SHS Cedar Post led Chelsea to Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana, and three internships, including positions with the Staten Island Advance, the Wall Street Journal and the Chicago Tribune. While at the Tribune, she covered the 2012 London Olympics.
“To my knowledge, her Olympics graphics still hang in Ball State’s Art and Journalism building, inspiring young journalists and visual communicators,” said Tyson Bird, American City Business Journal’s editorial project manager. “Beyond her exceptional visual and creative talent, Chelsea’s kind and outgoing personality keeps her network strong and influential.”
Bird, a fellow Ball State graduate and a Cedar Post editor, first met Chelsea when she visited his class to help his journalism group resurrect the Sandpoint Middle School paper.
Now 35, Chelsea proudly calls herself a “TRUE Swiftie.” Not only has she and her mom attended Taylor Swift concerts, she also designed Time’s 2023 Person of the Year issue, featuring Swift.
Chelsea met her husband, Alberto Pimienta, a Washington DC anchor for Telemundo, at Ball State. The couple were married at the Dover Barn in 2019 and welcomed their daughter Isabella in 2022.
“She [Chelsea] sees life and the world as a kind, joyful place,
Chelsea with the artwork she commissioned for the feature on Taylor Swift as Time’s Person of the Year. Courtesy photo
full of people that are good and experiences that will fill your heart and mind,” Pimienta said. “Her creativity is boundless. It’s mind-bending to me how she sees a blank sheet and turns it into something beautiful day in and day out.”
Chelsea now works for Time in Washington, D.C., and owns a web design business, 23&9 Creative.
The couple live in Alexandria, Virginia where, as Alberto says, they work as a team, supporting each other and spending quality time together with Isabella to fill her life “with light and positivity.”
HOW DID YOU LAND YOUR FIRST CAREER JOB AT TIME?
I interned at the Wall Street Journal the summer before my college junior year. I worked with an amazing editor, Bryan Erickson, who had previously worked at Time as an art director. The next fall, when I was ready to graduate, he informed me that Time was looking for a freelance designer. He had given them my information. Next thing you know I was on a flight to NYC to interview. My boyfriend, now husband, had already graduated from Ball State and was living in Washington D.C., so I went to visit him afterward. The next day while walking around Macy’s (I was specifically in the Martha Stewart department which I think is serendipitous!) my phone beeped. I received an offer letter to start working three weeks after
graduating. I accepted!
WHAT ARE YOUR DIGITAL DESIGN DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES?
I oversee digital art created for Time’s website as well as our social media platforms. I work closely with our editors, photo editors and social media team, collaborating on how stories should be presented through art and design.
I’m also one of three art directors who design the magazine. We have our own sections that we work on every week (I work on the View and Time Off sections) as well as features and special packages.
WHAT EARLY CREATIVE OPPORTUNITIES LED YOU ON THIS JOURNEY?
When I was 5, my mom introduced me to scrapbooking and Martha Stewart. We’d watch Martha’s TV show and read the magazine, always finding new projects. Scrapbooking is a form of storytelling. That core passion morphed into what I do today, telling stories through art and design.
I always over “designed” my school work. Whether it was a PowerPoint presentation or just a paper, there was always some design element to it. When I joined Cedar Post, I really learned about publication design.
My junior year we attended a journalism conference in
Chelsea and Jennifer Prandato, another Sandpoint High School graduate who worked as an art director at Time, Inc. Courtesy photo
Sleep Like A Baby
Philadelphia. Ball State University was there critiquing papers. We signed up for a session, and I stayed after to talk to one of the professors, Brian Hayes. He told me about their journalism graphics program and that I could actually design a newspaper or magazine for a living. After arriving home, I told my mom I was going to Ball State, which we had never heard of. It was far away in Indiana. Once we visited, we knew that was where I was meant to be. Brian became one of my favorite professors. I ended up working for him at the conferences, critiquing high school papers. A full circle moment!
WHAT WERE YOUR COLLEGE/ INTERN EXPERIENCES?
The summer after freshman year I took an unpaid internship at the Staten Island Advance. I moved to Staten Island, New York without knowing a single person. Working the morning shift at a Starbucks and afternoon shift at the paper, I loved every single second. I designed some simple inside pages and shadowed several different designers, editors and reporters. It was my first real look into the journalism world.
The summer after sophomore year I returned to New York and landed an internship at the Wall Street Journal. Entering that building the first day, I think my heart almost burst from my chest. I rotated, working in many different sections. My favorite was Off Duty, the style and entertainment section.
The next summer I covered the 2012 Olympics in London through an immersiv,.e program at Ball State. One of my biggest mentors and favorite professors—Ryan Sparrow—created this program, taking journalism students to the Olympics and pairing them with a news outlet to create actual published work. Since the designers worked for the Chicago Tribune, I had a few big graphics published in the paper that summer. What a dream!
WHAT WAS IT LIKE COMING FROM SMALLTOWN SANDPOINT TO A CAREER WITH ONE OF AMERICA’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS PUBLICATIONS IN THE BIG APPLE?
I’m not sure what originally sparked the dream of wanting to live in New York City, but ever since I can remember, I wanted to live there. To me, New York was just pure magic. Since I had already been away from home through college and internships, I knew what to expect, but I never took a second for granted while living there.
My mom and I packed up my college house the day after graduation and drove to my new apartment. With no furniture yet, we unloaded what we brought, ordered Chinese takeout and ate it on the floor. In that moment I remember thinking “I actually made it.”
Happy Anniversary from Sandpoint Magazine, you’ve got 20 years on us.
Ron McIntire, owner of Super 1 Foods.
Chelsea and her mom, Lori Lowery, who happily accompanies her daughter to Taylor Swift concerts. Courtesy photo.
WHAT DO YOU DO DURING PRODUCTION OF EACH ISSUE?
Lee Hardin
Lee Hardin
VP of Mortgage Lending
VP of Mortgage Lending
With every new issue, each art director is assigned pages and stories. I always design the View (our opinion section), about six to seven pages, as well as Time Off (entertainment), also six to seven pages. Then we split up the features for that week’s issue, each designing at least one if not two. We talk with the editor and photo editor working on the stories to get an idea of what we’ll need and a draft of the story. Are we doing a photoshoot for it, or will we need to assign an illustration? Are there any good numbers or statistics to pull out for graphics?
I have lived in North Idaho since 2007.
I have lived in North Idaho since 2007.
I have been doing mortgages for 20 years and I still love it!
I have been doing mortgages for 20 years and I still love it!
My family means the world to me and I am forutnate enough to provide for them while helping other families with one of the biggest purcahses of their lives.
Once I know the elements and tone of the piece, I start to put a “gray patch” layout together. This means no photos or graphics added in yet—just places for them once they’re ready. Once the idea is approved by everyone, it gets checked into our system. Then it’s a waiting game. I wait for the writer to file the story, the photo editors to put in photos and any other art I may need on my end. Once all the real elements are on the page, I finesse the design and send it to the editors and copyeditors where it gets approved for print.
My strength is developing long-term relationships with my clients and with agents, and those relationships are the cornerstone of my business.
My family means the world to me and I am fortunate enough to provide for them while helping other families with one of the biggest purchases of their lives.
My strength is developing long-term relationships with my clients and with agents, and those relationships are the cornerstone of my business. and the newest
"Top service from start to finish, Lee Hardin, Robyn and the whole team were responsive to messages, kept us in the loop the whole time and were very professional and friendly throughout."
Contact Lee lee.hardin@rate.com (208) 946-0850
We have several special issues that run every year. Person of the Year, TIME100, Best Inventions, World’s Greatest Places—the list goes on! These have become something Time is known and trusted for producing year after year. As a designer, I find them so fun because we can depart from our normal Time style a bit and make them stand out.
WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE, MOST CHALLENGING PROJECT WITH TIME?
–Danielle B. 2020
In 2023 I designed the Taylor Swift Person of the Year issue. To say this was a dream come true would be an understatement! Still, it was the most challenging project I have ever worked on because it was something I was so passionate about. I’ve been listening to Taylor Swift since I was 16 in my bedroom at my Sandpoint home. I’ve been
to four tours, bought every album—a true Swiftie. Knowing that Taylor Swift herself would be holding my work in her hands was overwhelming so I couldn’t think too much about it.
My first instinct was overdesigning it. I considered every “design” aesthetic related to Taylor. Nothing felt right, so I decided to wait for photos. Once I saw them, I was very inspired. This wasn’t about the Eras tour or her albums—it was simply about the actual person. It needed to be pulled back (with a few Easter eggs hidden throughout), timeless and allowing her to shine through the design.
My favorite task was hiring an illustrator from London who creates portraits with “found things.” We put together a list of 50 to 60 “things” that she could use, relating somehow to the Taylor universe. She created the most incredible portrait. In true Taylor fashion, I hid as many Easter eggs as I could in it. After the issue was published, I watched tons of videos online with thousands and thousands of viewers dissecting every single aspect, trying to see if Taylor herself was trying to leave a message through this portrait— little did they all know it was just me!
TELL US ABOUT YOUR SIDE JOB,
23&9
CREATIVE.
I started 23&9 Creative my senior year of college as an Etsy shop, designing resumes. I kept it going for some extra cash after moving to NYC. It transformed into logo design and eventually website design. Today, I run a thriving website template shop as well as create custom websites for women-run businesses all over the world. I’ve worked with some incredible clients and am so grateful for everything this business has given me.
The name is very special. While starting the business, I called my mom and told her I needed a name that meant something but kind of in code. She said she’d think about it and call back. A few hours later, she calls back with “23&9 Creative.” I loved it, but what did it mean? All my life I’d dreamt of living in New York City and at this point didn’t know if
I’d be there or not when I graduated. She looked up the technical “city center” of the [Chelsea neighborhood in the city]. The cross streets were 23rd Street and 9th Avenue. Hence, 23&9 Creative—aka Chelsea Creative.
WHAT’S MOST REWARDING ABOUT YOUR CAREER?
You’d think it may be a certain project or award, but the people I’ve worked with are the most rewarding part of
my job. My colleagues at Time have become like family. I’ve worked with many of them since my first day and am so grateful for everything I’ve learned from them. Not a lot of people can say that about their bosses and co-workers, but I find that to be the most special part of my job every day. I love getting to tell stories in beautiful and unique ways, but the people with whom I do it are the real stars.
No matter what the winter weather brings, NLI’s dedicated linemen are on call 24 hours a day for our members’ power needs. With more than 2,800 miles of distribution line to cover, across a swath of Idaho, Montana and Washington, NLI’s linemen continue to maintain the co-op’s poles and lines. From replacing poles and stringing power lines--- NLI linemen take great pride in keeping the lights on for our members - as does everyone at NLI. That’s the power of local service.
NLI Linemen, Josh Sears & Brian Lanaville.
Photo by Jen Lanaville
Worth Every PENNY
ACCIDENTS MORPH INTO SUPPORT FOR FOOD BANK
by Dig Chrismer
When November arrives in North Idaho, most of us know that it’s time to be extra cautious on the roads. With shorter days, colder nights and deer on the move, there’s an increased chance of running into a buck or doe when you least expect it.
For most people, a deer collision is nothing but an unwelcome headache: car repairs, insurance claims and the unsettling feeling of having hit an animal. But for the Bonner Community Food Bank, your mangled headlight brings a bit of unexpected support through a creative campaign known as Deervember.
The idea started in 2018 when Northwest Autobody, a longtime, family owned business in Sandpoint, decided to turn
an unfortunate reality into something positive. “One of our employees had the idea that if people are already having to deal with deer collisions, maybe we could use that situation to help others,” explained Cory Donenfeld, co-owner of Northwest Autobody. “We decided we’d donate $50 from every deer collision repair in November to the Bonner Community Food Bank.”
The concept was simple but powerful. November happens to be peak season for animal-related accidents involving not just deer but moose, elk and others. And November is also one of the busiest months for the food bank, when shelves are stretched thin around Thanksgiving and families are feeling the pinch of holiday expenses.
“Sometimes people don’t realize just how far $50 can go,” said
Bonner Community Food Bank Director Debbie Love. “That’s about ten meals, or even two full Thanksgiving dinners for families in need. The ripple effect is huge.”
What began as a Northwest Autobody effort has grown each year. In 2023, Washington Trust Bank stepped up with a matching donation, doubling the impact of every contribution. Soon after, three more local businesses joined in: Jake’s Chimney Service, AGE Heating & Cooling and Energy Electric. Together, these partners amplified Deervember into a true, communitywide campaign.
“Every year it’s gotten a little bigger,” said Donenfeld. “It’s been amazing to see other businesses come alongside us. We want Deervember to be more than just a donation. It’s also an awareness campaign, reminding people to slow down and watch for wildlife this time of year.”
The Donenfeld family takes the effort personally. “It’s an honor to help this community,” added Donenfeld. “Northwest Autobody is a second-generation business, and now our third generation is starting to work with us too. This community has supported us for decades, so giving back feels natural.”
The food bank sees some of its greatest demand in November and December and while donations often surge around the holidays, so does the need. Families trying to prepare holiday meals or stretch paychecks in the colder months turn to the food bank more often than at any other time of year. “November is when we really feel it,” Love said. “Shelves that seemed full in October
can look bare by the middle of the month. Deervember comes at exactly the right time.”
Not only does the campaign raise critical funds, but it also sparks conversations about both food insecurity and safe driving during deer season. “Nobody is happy about hitting a deer,” Donenfeld acknowledged. “But if something good can come from it, like helping feed families, then at least there’s a silver lining.”
As Deervember gains momentum, the hope is that more businesses will take part, either by joining the donation drive or matching contributions. “We’d love to see this continue to grow,” said Donenfeld. “Every dollar matters, and when local businesses take the lead, it inspires the whole community.”
For Donenfeld and Northwest Autobody, the campaign isn’t about recognition, it’s about responsibility. “This is our home, these are our neighbors,” said Donenfeld. “We see firsthand how important the food bank is. If Deervember can make the season a little brighter for families, then it’s worth every penny.”
As some families in Bonner County gather for the holidays, many of them will do so with food made possible by Deervember’s donations. For those families, and for the food bank, the campaign is a reminder that even unfortunate run-ins with local wildlife can ripple outward into acts of kindness. “In the end, it’s about turning something negative into something positive,” Love said. “That’s the spirit of this community, and that’s what
From left, Eric Donenfeld, Cory Donenfeld, Debbie Love and food bank board member John Rinck. The Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center for the first time planted potatoes and donated 1,200 pounds from this year’s crop.
Roads and deer can become a heartbreaking combination.
Photo by Tim Christie
50 Years of Caring for Our Customers and Community
Northwest Auto Body celebrates our 50th anniversary in 2026. We know we couldn’t have made it this far without great employees and the legions of families and friends who have trusted us with repairing their vehicles.
The Golden Rule of treating others as you would want to be treated is part of our DNA from the first time someone calls us or stops by for an estimate until that customer is totally satisfied when he or she picks up their vehicle.
Our family-owned, local business has earned a reputation being the top collision repair business in North Idaho by hiring top-notch employees, equipping them with state-of-the-art equipment and doing everything possible to best serve everyone.
We want to thank all of our local partners, families, friends and you for making our 50 years in business a success in every way we can possibly measure it.
Please be on the lookout for our 50th anniversary party during Lost in the 50s.
With sincere appreciation, Mel, Cory and Eric Donenfeld and 33 local employees
Beyond THE BLUE
SHS is helping students gain their wings
by Pam Webb
While most teens focus on getting their driver’s license, there are a handful of Sandpoint High School students who are focused on getting their private pilot's license. An impressive goal in itself, what makes it more so is that these seven young women between the ages of 15 and 18 have earned, or are in the process of earning, their private pilot’s license and are defying aviation industry statistics since a mere four percent of commercial aviation is composed of women. Five of the seven students are now licensed pilots: Alex Davis, Noah Roark, Calie Bailey, Via Vachon and Josie Buoy, and it's just a matter of hours for Piper Roark and Kiana Klinginsmith.
Reactions vary when people learn about their aspirations, or ability to fly a plane. “Most people seem impressed that I can control a flying vehicle with just a couple fingers at a young age,” said Noah Roark. “Some people are fairly surprised and even a little shocked when I tell them.”
“They wonder how I could have the guts to fly an airplane, which is very understandable,” added Bailey.
From left to right: Kiana Klinginsmith, Calie Bailey, Noah Roark, Piper Roark, Alex David, and Via Vachon (Josie Buoy not pictured). Photo by Pam Webb
Before these young flyers made that solo flight into the wild blue yonder they all had to complete some crucial groundwork knowledge. One means of learning this essential information is the Career Pathway aerospace elective at Sandpoint High School. From there potential pilots then arrange for flight training through options such as those at the Bonner County airport. The love of flying and of planes was already present even before these students began their journey to earn their license for the sky. For the Roarke sisters, aviation is a family interest since their father, grandfather and aunt are all pilots. Piper and Noah were flying almost as soon as they could walk. “I was
about two when Dad took me up,” said Piper.
Kiana Klinginsmith also started young, going up in a plane at age 7. For Alex Davis it was the Discovery Flight (a free flight offered to qualifying students) in a Cessna when she was 16.
Committing to becoming a pilot takes a dedicated effort. One step is earning the pilot certificate, required for solo flight. Another major component is the pilot exam, which involves countless hours of studying since the 60-question, multiple choice test pulls from a bank of over 900 questions. The exam requires a passing score of 70 percent or better with students needing to prove their knowledge on topics such as weather,
Noah Roark manages a unique selfie.
navigation and flight training. A shared laugh rang around the table when it was agreed there would be fewer people driving if the driving test was as difficult as the pilot test.
Paying for flying lessons and other related costs is expensive and part-time jobs help as does financial support from families. “I work two part-time jobs to save up in between ratings. I also apply for as many scholarships as possible. My grandpa helped pay for some but the rest is funded with my own hard work and scholarships,” said Via Vachon.
And scholarships do make a difference. “I have had a huge amount of support through scholarships, particularly from the Pinky Brier Foundation. Without scholarships and family support I don't think I would have been able to do this,” said Davis.
Another skill gained from the aviation program is time management. “I made schedules for myself and prioritized some studies over others,” said Bailey. “I basically had to switch my priorities to school first, flying second and [then] family and friends,” added Vachon.
Having invested countless hours into the program these young aviators were quick to offer up words of advice for
those interested in obtaining their pilot’s license. Klinginsmith believes a person should understand the reason why they want their license and should set a goal, while Davis emphasized looking for scholarships early on. Noah added that a person needs “to study a lot.”
When the topic of goals came up, most of the group expressed interest in the coveted commercial airline pilot license.
“Flying is more than a hobby for me,” said Piper. “It’s a career goal. I want to make it my profession and carry on the family tradition.”
For other students there is the attraction to the adventurous side of flying. Vachon leans toward flying helicopters and Klinginsmith wants to give stunt planes a spin.
Combining post-secondary plans with flying is also part of the future for some of the students like Josie Buoy, already a licensed private pilot, who has been accepted into “Ascent” with Horizon Airlines, a fast track program to become an airline pilot.
It’s one day at a time for now, yet these young aviators are looking forward to a future spending time flying in that endless, challenging blue.
An end of day approach to the airport. Photo by Noah Roark
Big Solutions. Small firm.
We’re proud that Williams & Schiller CPAs & Consultants have become woven into the very fabric of Sandpoint in the 30 years since co-founder Brad Williams first began offering accounting services here. Co-founder Mark Schiller brings comprehensive wealth management expertise and, after years here, in 2019 opened our office in Fargo, North Dakota.
Our deep roots inspire the personal, attentive service that everyone at WS CPAs offers to our clients. Combined with expertise in tax planning and preparation, wealth management, business valuation and accounting services, we are the comprehensive solution business owners and high net worth individuals turn to.
Meet our staff. From left are Mikayla Cargile, CPA; Cheryl O’Boyle, CPA; Suzi Cochran, reception; Mark Schiller, CPA/ABV, CFP; Brad Williams, CPA, PFS; Kim Queen, office manager; Mariah Williams, MBA, CPA,CMA; and Maggie Hayes, accounting senior associate.
Planting seeds for a secure future
In the CPA and wealth management world, bigger doesn’t always mean better. For many successful families, retirees, and business owners in North Idaho, what matters most isn’t the size of the firm they work with — it’s the quality of the advice, the depth of expertise, and the strength of the relationship.
That’s exactly what Williams & Schiller delivers, with a full-service CPA firm and wealth management firm with offices in Sandpoint and Fargo, North Dakota.
“At the heart of it, we really are a boutique firm,” says cofounder Mark Schiller, CPA, CFP®. “But boutique doesn’t mean small in knowledge. Our exposure to complex client situations in both locations has given us an edge that’s especially valuable to our clients.”
Why ‘Boutique’ Works for Sandpoint
Sandpoint is home to entrepreneurs, retirees, and families who value lifestyle as much as financial success. Many bring sophisticated tax and planning needs — whether they’ve been part of the community for years or relocated here after careers elsewhere. What they don’t want is cookie-cutter advice and a corporate feel.
Williams & Schiller’s boutique approach means clients get highly tailored strategies, delivered with the kind of personal relationship larger institutions often struggle to provide.
“North Idaho is unique,” notes co-founder Brad Williams, CPA, PFS. “We serve clients who often own multiple properties, who have ties to other states or even other countries, and clients who are fifth generation locals. It’s become more of a melting pot in recent years. The tax, estate, and financial planning issues we see are quite complex for a community of our size. That’s where our experience matters.”
Multi-Office Benefits
Williams & Schiller has been in Sandpoint since 1995. They opened their Fargo, ND office in 2019. Having offices in different regions of the country came with some unanticipated benefits for both offices. “We see things in Sandpoint that we don’t see in Fargo, and vice-versa. The markets are somewhat different, and that is an advantage for firm knowledge that our clients benefit from,” added Schiller. “Fargo tends to have larger business clients with
a metro area of about 250,000, but is not as much of a relocation hub like Sandpoint has become. Sandpoint tends to see more new residents from the coast or other parts of the country. So, we’ve developed expertise in a variety of complex tax and planning areas due to the mixture of our client base, and that has been great for our longtime local clients, new clients and the knowledge of our team.”
Where They Deliver the Most Value
Williams & Schiller focuses on the areas where their expertise makes the greatest difference for clients in Sandpoint and beyond:
High-Net-Worth Families and Retirees
– Creating integrated tax, estate, and investment strategies to protect and grow wealth.
Business Owners – Business advisory services including tax and accounting. Guiding entrepreneurs through valuation enhancement, succession, and post-exit wealth planning.
Retirees Concerned About Taxes – Designing taxefficient income and estate strategies to help clients worry less and enjoy retirement more.
Expats and Part-Time Residents – Managing cross-border compliance and financial planning for clients with multi-state or international ties.
With a combined team of 15 professionals — including CPAs and planners with advanced professional designations — the firm offers the technical expertise of a larger firm while keeping the small town feel where relationships are at the center of everything they do.
More Than Numbers
For Williams & Schiller, being “boutique” isn’t a limitation, it’s the advantage. Clients get the best of both worlds: sophisticated planning knowledge, delivered with the personal, relationship-driven approach that fits Sandpoint.
“Boutique allows us to stay focused on what we do best,” says Schiller. “We bring a depth of experience that makes our Sandpoint business owner and individual clients feel confident, no matter how complex their situation.”
Williams & Schiller Wealth Management and Williams & Schiller CPAs – Sandpoint & Fargo Boutique solutions. Big results. Learn more at wswealthmanagementllc.com and wscpas.us
Spirits in the Sky
HIST RY Mystery
THE STORY BEHIND MEMALOOSE ISLAND
a history mystery with Hannah Combs
Driving along Highway 200 toward Hope provides majestic views of Lake Pend Oreille at any time of year, but amongst the crisp sparkle and shine of the white winter landscape, its islands stand out in beautiful contrast to their surroundings. Three of the islands, now named Warren, Pearl and Cottage, are familiar to most, but a fourth island hugs the midsection of the Hope Peninsula: Memaloose.
Adjacent to multi-million dollar properties and listed as private property, it seems unusual that there isn’t a summer house built on this quiet island. Why might that be, and how likely is that to change in the coming years?
The name reveals why. Memaloose is an Anglicized abbreviation of the Chinuk Wawa word míməlust-tənəs-íliʔi, meaning "for the dead + small place." An oral history annotation in the county historical society’s collection states, "Memaloose Island in Pend d'Oreille Lake was an Indian burial ground. Nina Owen [a pioneer settler on the peninsula] told of seeing canoes com-
ing from the Clark's Fork River carrying the dead who were put on platforms on this island."
Laying the dead to rest above ground (sky burials) was common practice for Salish tribes, particularly before Catholic influence. Idaho state code protects not only graves but also cairns, defined as "a heap of stones or other material piled up as a memorial or monument to the dead."
Hope's Memaloose Island is one of several burial sites in the Pacific Northwest. The most famous is in the Columbia River near The Dalles, notorious for looting, vandalism and appropriation by white settlers. The first European settlers to see the local island were likely David Thompson's party, who built Kullyspell House directly adjacent on the mainland around 1809.
As Hope and its population grew, the township was surveyed in 1897. A surveyor's note states that Memaloose Island was "withdrawn from settlement and entry and reserved as a burying place for the Indians" in August 1909. But barely a year later, in October 1910, "the above order is revoked and Mema-
Brought to you by the Bonner County Historical Society
Memaloose Island near Hope. Staff photo manipulated with AI
ground. Susie had a large collection in several quart jars."
The Knight family bought it in the early 1960s and resided there seasonally until selling in 2014. It has been in the hands of two different LLCs since, and is currently owned by Kokanee Island LLC. A 2021 Spokesman Review article quoted Afton Servas of the Kalispel Tribe saying tribal members maintained the burial sites until the 1930s, and that it is "important that those sites, regardless of who owns title to the land, continue to be protected and respected."
What protections exist? The American Indian Religious Freedom Act and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act protect sacred sites on federal lands, but state law typically supersedes these on private property. Idaho statute 27-502 prohibits willfully removing, mutilating
It’s believed that petroglyphs on Memaloose Island could be as much as 10,000 years old. Photo courtesy Bonner County History Museum
Where Families Gather
Old Friends Reconnect
Cedar Street Bridge is forging a new path
by Cameron Rasmusson
In the Cedar Street Bridge’s new era, the fostering of community is at the heart of every decision. And Stacey Mueller couldn’t be happier about it.
The building manager since ownership changed hands in early 2024, Mueller’s focus is on bringing people together to share meaningful experiences. Almost two years later, the seeds planted in those early days are bearing fruit as new businesses take up residence and new shoppers and families take advantage of its social offerings.
“There’s so much life here now,” Mueller said. “We live in a town fortunate enough to be gifted with community, and I wanted that to be reflected here. It’s wonderful to see that happen.”
She recalled one of the Bridge’s special events where she saw two men’s eyes light up upon seeing each other. “I haven’t seen you in ages!” said one to the other as they embraced. And that was a moment that Mueller saw the Bridge fulfilling its true purpose as a place for families to gather and old
Shoppers enjoy a summer day at the Cedar Street Bridge. Staff photo.
friends to reconnect. That was when she knew the Bridge was once again fulfilling its true purpose: building community.
“It’s a place where those kinds of Hallmark moments can happen,” she said.
The Bridge, a historic Sandpoint landmark, has certainly seen its ups and downs over its century-long history. Originally constructed in 19th-century Sandpoint—then a hard-bitten railroad and timber town described by 29-year-old Theodore Roosevelt as a rough-and-tumble, lawless place following an 1888 visit—the Cedar Street Bridge was rebuilt from a small footbridge to a more robust structure in 1906 and again upgraded to accommodate motor traffic in 1933. Its primary purpose was to connect the train depot across Sand Creek with the rest of the town.
The Bridge’s days as … well, a bridge came to an end in 1971 when it was condemned as unsafe. But visionary resident Scott Glickenhaus saw a second chapter for the historic structure as an indoor marketplace with architecture inspired by Italy’s
Ponte Vecchio. It is now one of only three marketplaces constructed atop a bridge operating in the world.
Given its unique nature and iconic look, the Cedar Street Bridge captures something elemental and essential about Sandpoint, similar to other historic buildings like the Panida Theater. That didn’t immunize the structure from tough times, though, and the Bridge has seen plenty over the years. Mueller said the most recent downturn coincided with the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the associated slump in retail traffic, a period that saw over a dozen businesses leave the marketplace in the following years.
All that changed in early 2024 when frequent Sandpoint visitor Joseph Worth became the Cedar Street Bridge’s new owner and appointed Mueller as its manager. From those earliest days, Mueller envisioned how to restore the Bridge as a place of community. And she knew she was on the right track when she saw the turnout for its grand reopening event in May 2024.
“People were parking blocks away just to be here,” she said. “They had tears in their eyes and were thanking us for saving the Bridge.”
It’s easy to see that vision in choices like the ample firstand second-floor seating around Paneah’s Bistro and Bodega, perfect for lingering in conversation over coffee or a meal. It’s apparent in the Creations Discovery Center, BUILD Lego Studio and Sandpoint Toys, which provide creative, brain-building activities for kids, teens, adults and families. The joy of community suffuses RetroPlay Arcade, where visitors can relive the fun of classic video games from the ’80s and ’90s. It bursts in every sweet bite supplied by Sugar Tooth, a homemade candy and chocolate shop. That’s just a slice of all the fun and memories that Cedar Street Bridge vendors have to offer, and that’s to say nothing of the special events and live music that the venue regularly hosts.
There’s much to anticipate, too. For example, Mueller loves the idea of a boat-in movie night where pilots anchor their boats around a floating movie screen. She’s given thought to establishing a museum, an appropriate touch given the structure’s historic character. And there are likewise candidates to fill the Bridge’s remaining vacancies—decisions Mueller approaches thoughtfully and with an eye toward a comprehensive experience.
“It’s exciting to imagine what could be possible,” Mueller said Sociologists and social critics have long bemoaned the disappearance of “third places” in the internet age, spaces other than the home or workplace where people relax, recreate and form bonds. Mueller sees the Cedar Street Bridge as a beacon against that encroaching darkness, bringing people together and out of their isolated, anonymous lifestyles.
“From the beginning, I’ve been very prayerful about how to approach this,” Mueller said. “I feel like God has guided me and given me the grace to see this through.”
The vibe at the Cedar Street Bridge is that of an upscale souk, or open market. Staff photo.
Cocolalla Ice House
Y“Split the ice apart, and break
the frozen heart”
Lyrics of “Frozen Heart” from the 2013 movie “Frozen” by Jennifer Lamont-Leo
ou see them sometimes in antique stores, those old wooden ice boxes repurposed as old-timey cabinets. Back in the day, before electric refrigerators, every kitchen had one. Muscular "ice men" delivered heavy blocks of ice door-to-door to keep food cold. But where did all that ice come from? A century ago, a lot of it came from right here at Cocolalla Lake.
It's hard to imagine now, but the south end of Cocolalla Lake was once home to a massive industrial operation. What locals called "the ice house" stretched 700 feet long and stood 20 feet tall—big enough to accommodate 10 railroad cars at once. The facility included bunkhouses, a cook house, an eating house, a blacksmith shop, a horse barn, and its own railroad spur and water tower.
Cocolalla Lake supplied ice to the Northern Pacific Railroad and customers as far away as Spokane. A January 1922 newspaper article proudly declared: "The big ice harvest is on at full blast at Cocolalla Lake, where the finest ice of recent years is being stored away that the passengers of the Northern Pacific may have pure ice water next summer as they journey across the Rockies and over the Cascades and that the fruit which goes from the northwestern points to the eastern markets may be kept from perishing at berry and fruit times next season."
The story began in 1904 when E. J. (Ed) Bower built the first large ice house, Diamond Ice and Fuel. After that building burned down, Bower rebuilt it as the Cocolalla Ice and Fuel Company. This operation became a major employer, hiring up to 100 men in summer and 300 in winter, along with 150 horses fitted with spiked shoes for traction on the ice.
The ice harvest ran from January through March. Teams of horses pulled scrapers across the lake to clear snow, helping the
water freeze into hard blue ice up to 35 inches thick. Workers marked and hand-sawed the ice into blocks weighing 150 to 200 pounds each, then hoisted them onto conveyor belts, packed them in sawdust, and loaded them into train cars or stored them for customers.
At its peak, this company—reportedly the largest ice operation west of the Mississippi—could load 3,500 tons of ice per day into boxcars (about 110 cars), plus store another 2,500 tons in the ice house.
But times were changing. By 1929, modern refrigeration had made large-scale ice harvesting obsolete, and the company closed its doors. The buildings were eventually torn down, leaving only two structures standing today: a small concrete storage building and the restored E. J. Bower home. Local lore claims that two boxcars still rest somewhere at the bottom of the lake.
Some families continued cutting their own ice long after the commercial operation ended. Edward Kalb shared his childhood memories with a fifth-grade class in 1982: "I was 9 or 10 years old when I started helping my dad cut ice blocks out of Cocolalla Lake. We used crosscut saws to make the blocks. The water underneath would push the blocks up, and we would hook tongs on them. The blocks were about one foot square and 18 to 20 inches thick. After we put the tongs on a block, we had to pull it up by hand onto the ice. We would pull the blocks of ice home on a sled. When we got it there, we unloaded the blocks into a building and covered the blocks with sawdust. This was how we kept our food cold."
Next time you're enjoying the peaceful beauty of the lake, take a moment to imagine it bustling with workers, horses and steam engines, back when dining-car passengers sipped water chilled with sparkling cubes of Cocolalla ice.
Photo courtesy Bonner County History Museum
A Cold Weather Adventure
BUCKET-LIST THRILLS, RESCUED DOGS AND HEARTWARMING STORIES ON EVERY SNOWY TRAIL
by Trish Gannon
I“t wasn’t my first choice as a job,” said Stephen Porter, telling about answering a want ad over 20 years ago that introduced him to guiding and dog mushing. But it grew on him, even though he eventually went on to run a successful catering business. Then COVID hit, and his thoughts turned once again to those previous days of working outdoors, and with dogs. So he moved to North Idaho from Colorado with his family and, last year, began offering sled dog tours of the Coolin area’s wild backcountry.
“We make people happy,” he said about his new venture. “We fulfill dreams. For a lot of people, riding with sled dogs is something they have on their bucket list.” Sledding, he said, offers people a chance for activity outdoors in the winter regardless of their athletic ability. “It’s fun for kids, but it’s fun for adults, too. And it’s just beautiful out there,” he added. “It’s so quiet. You can hear the dogs breathe, and the pad of their feet, and it’s really scenic.” The experience, which can last close to three-and-a-half hours when including the safety lectures and meet-and-greet with the dogs, offers plenty of photo and video opportunities to capture such a special time.
The tours include over 1,000 feet of elevation gain, and go both fast and slow, with a break in the middle for snacks and hot cocoa.
But there’s more than just an outdoor experience with
Priest Lake Husky Sled Tours, Porter said. “Our tours are very educational in addition to being very fun.” The company uses rescued Huskies, for the most part, “and with 40 dogs we have 40 stories to tell.” Participants learn all about the dogs’ individual stories, plus information on the breed and even on the history of sledding. And they get to know the dogs. “Our dogs are very sweet, very loving,” said Porter, who trains them himself. “They’re awesome animals.”
Husky dogs are often surrendered when owners realize they can’t meet the dog’s needs. “They need at least two hours of exercise every day,” he explained.
Like Sky, a female who works as a backup leader. “I rescued her in Dallas,” Porter said. “She was the first dog in the kennel, and she also helped me deal with the loss of a dog I’d had for 17 years. I rescued her out of an abuse situation there.” She used to be a house pet, he said, but she prefers to sleep in the kennel with the other dogs. Now about 6 years old, “She’s a clown, a comedienne. She’s funny and playful and a super hard worker. She loves to run.” Sky, he added with a laugh, is one of his top 40 favorites.
Breathtaking scenery, the quiet of the mountains, and the happy sounds of dogs who have found a forever home on the trail. It’s North Idaho in a way you haven’t seen it yet.
If sledding with dogs is on your bucket list, there’s no need to head to Alaska—you can check that off right here at home. Visit www.plhuskies.com to learn more.
Waterfront & Downtown
Tucked at the end of a quiet, paved road, this custom Northwest lodge-style home captures stunning 180-degree views and low-bank, crystal-clear waterfront on beautiful Oden Bay. Just minutes from Sandpoint, the level grounds flow seamlessly to the water’s edge. The main residence offers grand gathering areas, while two guest apartments and an art studio provide flexible living options. A rare lakefront retreat offering space to live beautifully, create, and unwind. $7,600,000
This beautifully maintained home sits on 5 serene acres with mature landscaping and end-of-road privacy. A covered porch welcomes you into a vaulted great room with a wood-burning fireplace and expansive windows overlooking the pastures. The chef’s kitchen, formal dining, 4 bedrooms, and 3.5 baths offer both space and comfort. Outside, enjoy covered decks, a large greenhouse, and peaceful surroundings. Additional 5-acre parcel available. $1,350,000.
This stunning Bottle Bay waterfront home has been fully remodeled inside and out, offering modern comfort in a spectacular private setting. The residence features 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, manicured grounds, and a lakeside beach leading to your own private dock. Adding to the appeal, a second building site with a pre-paid sewer connection is included—an exceptional opportunity on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille. $2,300,000.
Country retreat with year-round access on 10+ private acres backing to forest land, plus 60’ of deeded access to Kelso Lake. This well-maintained home offers a vaulted great room with river rock fireplace, expansive decks, and a bright kitchen with SS appliances and granite. The primary suite features dual walk-in closets and a private deck. Property highlights include multiple outbuildings—30’x40’ pole barn, greenhouse, chicken coop, fenced garden with raised beds and fruit trees—plus a seasonal pond that attracts abundant wildlife. $874,000.
Crafted with full scribe Swedish cope log construction, this timeless home offers 4 bedrooms, an office with private deck, and a top-floor playroom. The great room boasts soaring ceilings and a wall of windows overlooking the forest. Features include mahogany countertops, newer SS appliances, a MIL apartment, 3 living areas, 2 fireplaces, 3 decks, 2 shops, and gardens. Set on a private forested lot with a seasonal creek and pond, just minutes from downtown. $1,975,000
It s not enough to have the dream Live it.
Schweitzer
Perched on the slopes of Schweitzer Mountain, this ski-in/ski-out luxury chalet is a striking four-bedroom, five-bathroom alpine retreat designed by renowned Eerkes Architects offering the ultimate in mountain living. From carving first tracks to stargazing from the expansive deck or unwinding fireside with breathtaking views in every direction, this oneof-a-kind home captures the essence of high-altitude elegance. Additional models and price points available in Crystal View. Please contact agent for details. $6,500,000
This premier ski-in/ski-out enclave offers the area’s most sought-after homesites with sweeping views of Lake Pend Oreille, the Cabinet Mountains, Schweitzer Village, and the Selle Valley. Designed as Schweitzer’s premier custom home destination, Crystal View combines natural beauty with modern convenience—ski from your door, bike scenic trails, or walk to the Village for dining, shopping, and the new spa. This gated community offers ready-to-build estate lots with multiple opportunities starting from $750,000.
Brand-new, turn-key studio offering breathtaking lake and mountain views, ideally situated in Schweitzer Village with unmatched ski-in/ski-out access. This fully furnished, mountain-contemporary condo is outfitted with premium European appliances and efficient all-electric HVAC. Amenities include new hot tubs, private ski lockers, a fitness center, heated underground parking, and an owners’ lounge. Priced at $549,900.
Fully furnished, top-floor ski-in/ski-out condo blending luxury, comfort, and mountain charm. This spacious 4-bedroom retreat features soaring lofted ceilings, an open layout, and both formal and informal dining areas—perfect for après entertaining or cozy meals. Two primary suites offer privacy, while a main-level bedroom includes a generous loft. Recent high-end updates include new siding, roof, windows, garage doors, and a brand-new hot tub for relaxing after the slopes.
$1,800,000
Perched on the slopes, this custom 5-bedroom, 4.5-bath luxury mountain home offers true ski-in/ski-out with sweeping views of Lake Pend Oreille and Cabinet Mountains.. With lofty ceilings, panoramic windows, a flowing open design, a stylish lounge with wet bar, and a custom ski locker room, this retreat stands apart. After a day on the mountain, relax in the private hot tub, unwind in the sauna, or gather by the fire. $5,200,000.
Alison Murphy, Associate Broker, GRI, Realtor
WINTER GUIDE
Your guide to winter fun
by Cate Huisman
THE PAWS PATROL
When skiers are caught in an avalanche, it’s dogs to the rescue
Forget the vision of the St. Bernard with the cask of whiskey. If you find yourself caught in an avalanche in the mountains of N orth Idaho, you’re more likely to be greeted by the wet nose of a much smaller Labrador or border collie (or even a Weimaraner). And forget the alcohol—it will actually make your body lose heat. Your canine savior will instead deliver humans with shovels and first aid training.
Dogs with their keen sense of smell have long helped to find humans under snow. But in the past decade they have risen to new heights of professionalism in North Idaho. After Jeff Thompson arrived at Schweitzer with his certified avalanche dog Annie in 2015, he worked with three ski areas in the northern Rockies to form NRAC—the Northern Rockies Avalanche Canines. In addition to Schweitzer, NRAC members include Silver Mountain in Idaho and Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana.
NRAC has enabled dog handlers at all three areas to provide their dogs with consistent and challenging training and
experience. The group has defined three levels of certification that create a uniform set of qualifications.
• Candidate dogs are the recruits of the avalanche dog world. They work on basic obedience and socialization like other dogs, but they also learn how to ride chairlifts and snowmobiles, as well as on the shoulders of their skiing handlers.
• Operational dogs can quickly find a human buried in a typical avalanche search area. They are ready to work at their ski resort, but not yet ready to join a search team in a wider area.
Leigh Berclaw and Murphy celebrate passing the NRAC Backcountry Validation.
Photo by Tracy Tuttle
THEY’RE THE ‘NRAC’
Northern Rockies Avalanche Canines are the dogs who go to work after someone has been caught in an avalanche. “The dogs’ role is to help when good decisions weren’t made,” said handler Jeff Thompson. “Both have a role in avalanche safety.” Learn more at www.nrac.dog
• Backcountry dogs find multiple subjects in large avalanches, and they have the skills to travel in the backcountry. They are comfortable riding in helicopters, traversing complex mountain terrain outside of developed ski areas, and working with search teams.
The backcountry certification is particularly rigorous. Dogs and handlers must travel away from their home ski area to test for this certification. The test is set up entirely by patrollers from the destination ski area, in terrain unfamiliar to both the testing dog and its handler. They don’t even know how many people are buried.
Three of Schweitzer’s four active dogs—Abbey, Murphy, and Maisie—have received all three certifications. Reba, the baby of the group, has passed the requirements for the first two certifications and is set to pass the third this winter. “She’s amazing,” said her handler Thompson,
who said she has picked up a lot just by watching the other dogs.
And he gives credit to Annie, the dog who arrived with him and who was featured in this magazine in 2021. Annie has retired, but she continues to live with him and Reba. “Annie has trained Reba as much as I have,” he said.
All three of Silver Mountain’s dogs are also fully certified. So are two of Whitefish’s dogs, while the third, like Reba, will continue to complete certification this winter.
Several breeds make good avalanche dogs. Whitefish’s dogs are border collies, and Schweitzer’s are Labradors. Two of Silver Mountain’s dogs are lab mixes. The third, Loki, is a Weimaraner, which is unusual among avalanche canines. Loki started out in other search-and-rescue environments and has cross-trained to join the avalanche team at Silver.
NRAC members (human and canine)
The dogs Annie and Abbey wait to hear what ski patroller Steve Parsons has to say.
Photo courtesy Schweitzer
Some of the working dogs pose for the camera on a chairlift. Schweitzer photo
Support Your Local Avalanche Dog
The nonprofit organization that supports each mountain’s ski patrol also supports its dogs. The best way to make sure your local avalanche dogs have the training, equipment, and veterinary support they need is to check their social media accounts: Schweitzer: www.instagram.com/ schweitzer.avydogs/ Silver Mountain: www.instagram. com/silver_mountain_avy_dogs/ Whitefish: www.instagram.com/ whitefishavydogs/
IPAC GIVES AVALANCHE PREDICTIONS
Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center was formed to give backcountry travelers in the northern Panhandle a resource to help them avoid avalanches. “IPAC gives people information to make good decisions,” said Thompson. Learn more about them at www.idahopanhandleavalanche.org
meet at least twice each winter season. The first meeting is in November at the annual Northern Rockies Snow and Avalanche Workshop, a training session for avalanche professionals that is held every year at Whitefish. The second, called Dog Days, is usually held in March and rotates among the three resorts. This gives the dogs an opportunity to work with the varying sights, sounds, terrain and people of a ski area different from their home area. “Anything that’s unfamiliar is useful to extend their training and experience,” said Thompson.
“We want our dogs to be available not just to ski areas.” he continued. He
hopes that sheriff’s offices and other search and rescue organizations will become more aware of NRAC and the work these dogs can do. Sheriff’s personnel may not know how to travel safely in the backcountry in winter, Thompson points out, and NRAC dogs and their handlers can help.
Winter backcountry travelers do their best to stay out of avalanches— and the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center can help with that (see box above). But if they make the wrong call, Annie and her colleagues might give them a second chance.
Schweitzer’s Canine Rescue Pals
Annie, now retired from active duty, is Schweitzer’s avalanche dog emeritus. She is a yellow lab with fabulous social skills, making her an effective ambassador for avalanche awareness.
Abbey, another yellow lab, is Schweitzer’s senior active avalanche dog. She gets to go flying in the summer with her handler Steve Parsons, who works as a pilot in the off season.
Murphy, also a yellow lab, lives with handler Leigh Bercaw, owner of Blue Finger Farms. She has been at Schweitzer six years and spends her summers on the farm.
Maisie is a black lab who lives with patroller Galen May. Galen is a river guide in summer; when she’s rowing the gear boat, Maisie, who loves water, gets to come along.
Reba, a black lab, is Schweitzer’s newest and youngest avalanche dog. She has already completed her first two certifications and is ready for her third. She lives with handler Jeff Thompson and mentor Annie.
Photo by Woods Wheatcroft
Winter Activity Guide
There’s fun to be had when the snow flies ... inside and out
OUTDOORS
Skiing and Snowboarding
In case you didn’t notice, Schweitzer, just eleven miles from downtown Sandpoint, is our premier ski and board destination; read the following pages for a complete rundown! But to sample other areas, there are other resorts within an easy drive from Sandpoint.
Silver Mountain Resort (www.silvermt. com) is in Kellogg, 83 miles southeast of Sandpoint. Silver offers seven lifts (including a gondola that transports guests to the base area) accessing 1,600+ acres, 73 named trails, a terrain park and Kellogg and Wardner Peaks. Silver’s vertical drop is 2,200 feet. Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area at the Idaho/Montana border on I-90 is another 20 miles east of Silver. Family-friendly Lookout has one double, two triples and two quads; a terrain park, 56 trails, many glades, 1,023 skiable acres and 1,650 feet vertical. (www.skilookout.com).
Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park is 72 miles southwest of Sandpoint (www. mtspokane.com). It boasts seven lifts, 52 runs and a terrain park on 1,704 acres, with a vertical drop of 2,000 feet. They offer night skiing on weekends.
49° North is 72 miles northwest of Sandpoint outside of Cusick, Washington; it has 2,325 acres, with 1,871 feet of vertical, 88 marked trails, seven lifts, three basins, and two peaks and two terrain parks (www. ski49n.com).
Turner Mountain Ski Area is a community-owned gem near Libby, Montana, 84 miles from Sandpoint. It has a single, mile-long double riblet serving 20 runs (90 percent expert or upper intermediate), with a 2,110 foot vertical drop. Turner is open Fri-
day through Sunday regularly, but the entire mountain can be rented for a private party on other days. (www.skiturner.com).
Canadian Skiing and Riding Sandpoint’s perch atop Idaho means many British Columbia ski resorts are within easy driving range. Kimberley Alpine Resort (2.5 hours driving time) offers 1,800 acres of terrain with 2,465 feet of vertical and five lifts serving 68 named runs and 12 more in the Glades area. (www.skikimberley.com). About the same driving distance is Whitewater Mountain Resort, near Sandpoint’s sister city of Nelson and less than a 3-hour drive away, with 1,300 acres of patrolled skiing and 2,014 feet of vertical; five lifts access 97 runs. (www.skiwhitewater.com).
Fernie Alpine Resort, 3 hours’ drive, has a big 3,550 feet of vertical over its 2,500 acres, with 145 runs reached from 10 lifts. (www. skifernie.com). Panorama Mountain Resort (4 hours out) goes even bigger vertically, with a whopping 4,265 feet of drop and 2,975 patrolled acres girded by 135 named trails accessed from 10 lifts and two snowcat shuttles. And 5 hours’ drive north is Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, with 3,314 feet of vertical spread over 3,486 acres and 128 runs served by five lifts. (www.kickinghorseresort. com). Skiers and boarders heading to these resorts will pass through Canadian customs at either Porthill or Eastport, so be sure to bring a passport, REAL ID or Star Card for the border crossing.
Backcountry Skiing and Boarding
Schweitzer Backcountry Adventures offers guided cat skiing, with its 12-passenger PistonBully snowcat affording access to 4,350 acres of untouched powder runs in its west bowl. The resort also offers sidecountry
gates at a few points in the boundary rope for properly equipped skiers and boarders (think: avalanche transceivers, shovels, probes ... and experience). Most of the sidecountry lies west of the area boundary, although Big Blue on the north is a popular destination. Selkirk Powder, which had the cat skiing service at Schweitzer for 21 years, now offers cat and backcountry touring on its permitted 6,250 acres north of Schweitzer (www.selkirkpowder.com). For those who eschew guides, nearly unlimited options for backcountry touring exist on federal and state public lands surrounding Sandpoint. Contact Sandpoint Ranger District or Bonners Ferry Ranger District (www.fs.usda.gov/ ipnf). Avalanche hazards are very real for any backcountry ventures; be sure to check the latest forecast from the Idaho Panhandle
Photo by Doug Marshall
Avalanche Center, at 866-489-8664 or at www.idahopanhandleavalanche.org.
Cross-country Skiing
Sandpoint Nordic Club provides information on groomed trails at www.sandpointnordic.com. Among other choices, the club maintains 7k of beginner-to-intermediate trails at Pine Street Woods (choose Recre-
ation from the top tab at www.kaniksu.org) west of Sandpoint, with rentals available. Schweitzer offers 32k of trails groomed daily for both track and skate skiing. Western Pleasure Guest Ranch (www.westernpleasureranch.com), located northeast of Sandpoint, has 10k of trails; and Idaho state parks at Round Lake, Farragut and Priest Lake all have maintained trails. Right in town, the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail (www.pobtrail. org), just beyond the Seasons at Sandpoint near City Beach, offers a flat, ungroomed 5K out-and-back lakeside option. Unplowed Forest Service roads offer uncrowded options if you don’t mind breaking trail.
Snowshoeing
Depending on your condition level, snowshoeing can be an entry-level snow sport or a mega-test of fitness. Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness offers a series of volunteer-led winter hikes in the Cabinet Mountains east of Sandpoint. They range from a relatively benign trek along unplowed Lightning Creek Road to a 4,000-foot vertical ascent of Star Peak, with a variety in between. www.scotchmanpeaks.org . Trails at Pine Street Woods and the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail are also suitable for snowshoeing in winter, while Round Lake State Park offers beautiful snowshoeing around the lake.
Dog Sledding and Sleigh Rides
A unique adventure for young and old alike, Priest Lake Husky Sled Tours offers roughly 2-hour dog sled tours on 8- to 12mile routes along Priest Lake; click to www. plhuskies.com. Western Pleasure Guest Ranch offers sleigh rides in a rural setting for groups and couples (www.westernpleasureranch.com).
Snowmobiling
There are myriad riding possibilities in the Selkirk and Cabinet ranges, with many unplowed roads and big open spaces. For local intel, contact Sandpoint Winter Riders (www.idahosnow.org) or Priest Lake Trails
& Snowmobile Club (www.priestlake.org).
A Forest Service parking lot five miles up Trestle Creek Road (14 miles east of Sandpoint on Idaho 200) provides access to the Trestle/Lightning Creek loop and numerous side roads. Pay attention to signs about parking restrictions, as snow plows need to access the roads as well. East and west of Priest Lake there are hundreds of miles of designated snow-mobile routes on public lands in the Selkirk Mountains, with many access sites. Get info at www.fs.usda.gov or www.parksandrecreation.idaho.gov. Possibly more feasible for many are guided snowmobile tours; try Schweitzer Backcountry Adventures at (www.schweitzer.com) or Selkirk Powder Company (www.selkirkpowder.com).
Winter camping
Three Idaho state parks within close range of Sandpoint offer winter camping and RV spaces; they are Farragut, at the far end of Lake Pend Oreille near Bayview; Round Lake, on Dufort Road, nine miles south on U.S. 95; and Priest Lake, at the north end of the lake. Priest Lake and Farragut have cabins for rent. www.parksandrecreation. idaho.gov.
Walking
Sandpoint offers miles of cleared flat paths for winter walking. They include the
Schweitzer photo
Pedestrian Long Bridge alongside Highway 95 over Lake Pend Oreille; the path along Sand Creek; a path at Travers Park on West Pine Street; City Beach downtown; Sandpoint-Dover Community Trail along Highway 2 West; and Lakeview Park, around the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society Arboretum. Wear your Yak-tracks.
Wildlife Experiences
Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, 30 miles north near Bonners Ferry, has more than 2,700 acres with abundant wildlife and migratory birds. There’s a terrific auto tour route amid the ponds, hiking trails and wildlife blinds (www.fws.gov/kootenai).
Other wildlife-spotting opportunities include McArthur Lake Wildlife Management Area, 18 miles north of Sandpoint on Hwy 95. The Pend Oreille WMA, administered by Idaho Fish and Game, has 25 units arrayed around Lake Pend Oreille, including Trout Creek, Pack River Delta, Gold Creek, Sunnyside, Morton Slough and the Clark Fork Delta. All are open to the public for hiking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and fishing, plus some great bird watching (sptmag.com/powma).
The WaterLife Discovery Center on Lakeshore Drive offers interpretive trails and selfguided tours, and an interpretive area on the Pend Oreille River (sptmag.com/waterlife).
Fishing
There’s great ice fishing on Lake Pend Oreille at the north end of the Long Bridge in front of Condo del Sol, and in some of the bays along the south side of the Pend Oreille River. Ice fishing is also popular on smaller lakes: Cocolalla, Mirror, Gamlin, Shepherd, Round, Antelope and Priest. Lake Pend Oreille’s deeper waters rarely freeze, but even in midwinter, charter fishing boats pursue trophy rainbow trout. Fly fishermen work over the lower Clark Fork River in all seasons.
Ice Skating
For just the second season, The Pond rink in Ponderay will be open; it’s at Kootenai Cutoff and Hwy 200. The anticipated season runs November through February, weather permitting. Rental skates are available (www. skatethepond.com). It’s typically a small window to skate open waters, but when conditions are right ice skaters flock to Third Avenue Pier or Sandpoint City Beach, where pick-up hockey games can happen. Other potential skating areas when conditions permit are McArthur Lake, 22 miles north of Sandpoint on Highway 95, or on Chuck’s Slough on Pine Street at the western Sandpoint city limit. Skating open water is at your own risk so tread carefully—ice should be at least 4 inches thick for safe use.
Sledding
This year will mark the third winter that Pine Street Hill, operated by Kaniksu Land Trust, will be open to the public. Located about a mile west of town on Pine Street, this was a traditional winter playground for Sandpoint dating back to the 1930s. www. kaniksu.org. At Sandpoint’s Travers Park, large earth berms have been created to allow for safe kiddy sledding as snow permits. Schweitzer offers Hermit’s Hollow Tubing Center, including night tubing over the
Lennon Waner is all smiles at The Pond. Courtesy photo
Christmas holidays and during night skiing on Friday and Saturday nights through the first weekend in March.
THE GREAT INDOORS
Art Galleries: A heralded arts town, Sandpoint has numerous galleries and artists’ studios. Take a walking tour dowtown; on First Avenue check out ArtWorks and Hen’s Tooth Studio, then venture to Lisa V. Fine Art Studio at 109 Main St. and the lovely exhibit hall of the Pend Oreille Arts Council at 313 N. Second Ave. (www.artinsandpoint. org). The Chris Kraisler Gallery is located at 517 N. Fourth. There are many satellite gallery locations that host revolving art exhibits year-round. At Schweitzer, the Artists’ Studio in the White Pine Lodge features local artists.
Museum: Enjoy many fine displays depicting old-time Bonner County at the Bonner County History Museum. It’s open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with free admission on the first Saturday of the month year-round, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Located in Lakeview Park, 611 S. Ella (www. bonnercountyhistory.org).
Movies: Sandpoint Cinemas is a six-plex theater inside the Bonner Mall on Highway 95, featuring new releases weekly (www. sandpointcinemas.com). The historic Panida Theater downtown at 300 N. First shows foreign and independent films, plus film festivals (www.panida.org).
Athletic Clubs: Greater Sandpoint abounds with fitness gyms, the most comprehensive of which is Litehouse YMCA, 1905 W. Pine St., with a 25-meter indoor pool, courts, a weight room, group classes, and a sauna and spa. Open daily, with facilities reserved for vulnerable populations from 10 a.m. until
noon on Wednesdays and Fridays (www. ymcainw.org). The James E. Russell Sports Center at Travers Park, 2016 Pine St., is open for pickleball and tennis. Get info on the recreation pages at www.sandpointidaho.gov. For the kids: Indoor activities are superb and affordable for kids 12 and under at Ponder Play, 1314 Wright Way (ponderplaynw. com). There’s a variety of play structures as well as targeted play hours for different age groups. On the Cedar Street Bridge, Creations offers a community play area and art studio with a lot of fun activities (www. creationsforkids.org).
Shopping: Retailers offer unique goods in the Sandpoint Shopping District, encompassing the Cedar Street Bridge marketplace and a variety of shops downtown (www.downtownsandpoint.com and www.sandpointdowntownshopping.com). Antiques abound at Foster’s Crossing on Fifth between Cedar and Oak streets (208-263-5911); and MarketPlace Antiques & Gifts, open daily, at Fifth and Church (208263-4444).
Spas: In town, get pampered at Wildflower Day Spa (www.thewildflowerdayspa.com) where outstanding views of Lake Pend Oreille complement an array of spa treatments. At Schweitzer check out Cambium Spa in the village (www.schweitzer.com/ things-to-do/spa).
Nightlife: Live music and more is available at The Hive, in the heart of downtown on First Avenue. It’s an intimate venue with a state-of-the-art sound system for concerts and events (www.livefromthehive.com).
With live music, theatrical performances and more is the Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., located in the beautifully restored, historic former Catholic church (www.heartwoodsandpoint.com). The Music Conservatory of Sandpoint hosts classical music events year-round in a performance space dubbed the Little Carnegie Concert Hall. (www.sandpointconservatory.com). Finally, the historic Panida Theater has music, films, live plays, dance and more year-round in the historic vaudeville-era theater and adjacent Little Theater (www.panida.org).
New at Schweitzer New at Schweitzer
As always, there are new offerings at Schweitzer for the new season.
Up on the mountain top, a Summit Sunrise Breakfast will be offered on select Saturdays and Sundays starting in January. Guests will load the lift early for a sumptious breakfast at the Sky House. After breakfast, skiers and riders will be able to start their day from the summit as the lifts open.
At the other end of the day, Schweitzer is again offering Sky House Snowcat Dinners for select full moon dates in 2026. It includes a multi-course dinner paired with fine wines; afterwards, diners will enjoy a snowcat escort down the mountain. All the Sky House special events have limited spots, so reserve early.
Another new offering this year is Schweitzer Reserve, a product that provides preferred parking in the Lakeview lot as well as an upgrade to season passes with priority line access to the Basin Express, Great Escape and Stella chairlifts. In a nice touch, each pass purchase includes a 5 percent donation to the Kaniksu Land Trust.
The Schweitzer Ski and Ride School has expanded offerings this year, with a new Weekend Freestyle Camp. Weekend afternoons January into March, skiers and boarders can amp up their freestyle and big mountain freeride skills. “This is the bridge to Schweitzer Alpine Racing School and Snowboard Northwest competition teams,” said Ryan Hernandez, Schweitzer’s ski and ride school director.
New but old is the return of day-long group lessons for kids aged 6 to 12, with lunch included.
A new twist on the Mountain Xplorers program is the inclusion of snowboarders and all ability levels. With a Mountain Xplorer pass, a skier or boarder can join any group lesson, at any level on any weekend day or holiday period. Yes, space must be reserved in advance.
In other “just for kids” news, 7th and 8th graders who log 10 hours of reading before Thanksgiving can claim a free, single-day lift ticket, thanks to a partnership with Numerica Credit Union and the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Parents will be glad to hear that Kids Ski Free week is also returning December 6-12. Kids age 17 and under can obtain a free lift ticket online in advance. More information at 833-854-7669.
- Sandy Compton
Visitors enjoy POAC’s art. Courtesy photo
Dwayne Parsons plays at Pend d’Oreille Winery. Courtesy photo
JER Center pickleball. Courtesy photo
HOW THE LAKE BROUGHT HIM TO THE MOUNTAIN
by Sandy Compton
At some point, Ryan Hernandez asked himself, “What’s it gonna be? Business and pre-law or a Bachelor’s degree in Ski Business and Resort Management?” Which do you suppose you would choose?
At age 30, Hernandez is in his second season as ski and ride school director at Schweitzer. He replaced Jay Barringer at the end of the 2024/25 season, moving from Big Sky in Montana, where he was manager of the school in the Spanish Peaks area of the resort. He was looking for a place that was a bit more laid back. With a lake. Big Sky doesn’t have a lake. His first day of snowboarding at Schweitzer was in March of 2024, a day when the locally famous “powder” reminded him of his time at Kirkwood near Lake Tahoe, where he began instructing at age 19, working his way up to supervisor before he left for Big Sky in 2021. While he was at Kirkwood, he got his degree at Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village. Hernandez snowboards and skis, with a preference for the board. “I grew up in northeast Tennessee, where there’s lots of skiing, you know.” He laughed. “My dad grew up in upstate New York, though, so I learned to ski at Beech Mountain up on the Blue Ridge in North Carolina. I was
seven. A lot of my friends were boarders, so when I was 16, and could drive myself to the mountain, I learned to board.”
As he looks forward to his second season at Schweitzer, he says he’s glad to be working for an Alterra resort. “The other big ski resort company (we’ll just call them ‘Brand X’) buys an area and immediately changes everything.”
When Alterra acquires, however, he sees they try to leave the resort’s unique culture in place. “The stuff in front of the guest doesn’t change. In Schweitzer’s case, I think (Schweitzer President and COO) Tom Chasse has a lot to do with that, as well.”
Hernandez has about 100 folks working for him, including 90 to 95 instructors, mostly part time. “Twenty-five to 30 work full time.” On top of a big selection of seasoned professionals, Junior instructors are also in the mix. “The youngest last year was 15. Junior instructors can move up to full instructor after 24 hours of training, shadowing two full classes and taking an exam.”
Hernandez, who has been an instructor examiner for the American Association of Snowboard Instructors for four years, also teaches skiing. “Chris Thompson (long-time Schweitzer ski instructor) has been a great mentor on the ski side.”
He doesn’t get to teach as often as he
might like, but “when I’m short an instructor, I get to go out.”
Hernandez found his job at Schweitzer by cold-calling resorts when he decided he wanted to work somewhere not quite so—uh, “upscale.” With a lake, remember. It was a toss-up between Whitefish Mountain and Schweitzer, but after visiting both, he picked Sandpoint. He and his partner moved here in 2024.
He also managed a golf course at Big Sky, and found a spot at the Idaho Club this past summer. This year, he is running Action Water Sports while he waits for the white stuff to return, which puts him close to the lake.
Ryan Hernandez. Courtesy photo
Schweitzer photo
ARRGH, MATEY WELCOME ABOARD!
Lifties bring piratical fun to the Schweitzer experience
by Sandy Compton
One might think, looking at the Schweitzer liftie’s black and white flag, with its skull and crossed rake and shovel, that “Mayhem” is the liftie motto. And maybe it is once they get off work (lifties have been known to party hearty), but on the job, they’re all about order — getting the next guy, gal or group aboard the lift and safely on their way up the mountain. The shovel and rake “Jolly Roger” symbolize s the tools used to keep the loading ramps in good shape (as well as build snow dragons, other imaginative pieces of snow art, and the occasional igloo or snow cave).
Ashley Billingsley has led the not-somotley crew for six seasons, and is going into her seventh. She started as a “lift attendant” (that’s what the job description says) 13 years ago and worked her way to lift operations manager. She loves her job.
“I ‘inherited’ the ‘pirate crew,’” she said. “Chris Currie introduced the concept years ago as a step toward creating an industry standard for lift operators. He took it with him to Mount Hood Meadows, where it works, and now on to Keystone. He wanted to give his people something to strive for. Levels of advancement include operator, captain and rover.”
The average liftie length of employment is three to five years. “But we have some ‘lifers’ as well,” Ashley notes. “We have a ton who are pushing 10 to 15 years.”
Ashley started on Musical Chairs, the learning slope lift, which was a centerpole double, since replaced a couple of
times, and now the Creekside Express detachable quad. The last center-pole on Schweitzer is Chair Four (Sunnyside), a sort of dinosaur in the world of six-packs, quads and triples. “I love Chair Four,” she said. “Center pole chairs are why I wanted to be a liftie. Bumping chairs, having a good time, hanging outside, staying in shape.”
Though there’s no “bumping” to be done on a detachable quad, she still thinks loading the learning slope lift is one of
the hardest jobs. “Keeping kids in line and making sure all is safe for everybody for hours in a situation where some folks don’t know how to ride very well is hard work.”
The “GET SUMM” program is part of Schweitzer liftie culture: Greet, Engage, and Thank the guest as Superior Uplift Mountain Masters. “It’s a fun job when you help your guests have fun,” Ashley said. “We also have dress-up days, the Rookie Liftie of the Year award, treats for crew meetings, and mutual support on days when you have to stay out in weather that sucks. We know we can get through this together.”
Ashley learned to ski at the now
defunct Marshall Mountain near Missoula. When she decided she wanted to snowboard, she broke a wrist on her first day. Still, the snowboard won her heart. “I can go anywhere on the mountain on my board. On skis, I’m a blue square groomer.”
The most physical job for Schweitzer lifties is loading either of the two triples, the Lakeside or the Colburn. This involves catching the chair after it comes around the lower bullwheel, swinging it back and then letting it gently pick up riders waiting for it. Gently.
The triples are fast loads, but Chair Four—a local’s favorite which runs on busy weekends—is possibly the trickiest. Skiers have to shuffle out, turn 90 degrees to their right and look back—to the inside.
A sign at the lift shack says it all, and that sign also sums up liftie culture. Be yourself. Be safe while being a little on the gnarly side. Be alert to what’s happening around you. Help your guests have fun.
Liftie Cyan Fronie at the schpring finale. Schweitzer photo
The Schweitzer experience is more than just lapping your favorite lift on a powder day, although we get a lot of those too. Some days on the slopes are spent soaking in the views when the fog lifts, meeting friends for a few turns on the backside, or heading out to explore a new zone with Schweitzer Backcountry Adventures. The experiences that fill your cup are what the mountain is made for. Schweitzer is a place for the moments that matter - all days, all ways.
explore more
Schweitzer Backcountry Adventures invites powder hounds to explore 4,350 acres of backcountry terrain with guided cat skiing and snowmobile tours. From half-day excursions to full-day adventures, and family friendly options, go beyond the boundary and discover the untouched beauty of North Idaho.
Dining With 15 different dining locations, there’s plenty to choose from when it comes to cuisine. Ski or ride to four different onmountain locations, or simply stroll into one of 11 options near the Village. Enjoy a grab-n-go breakfast at Mojo Coyote Cafe, a high-energy après at Taps, and an upscale meal at Crow’s Bench, all within walking distance from the slopes.
Lodging Wake up with a view you won’t forget! With easy access to the lifts and all the creature comforts, Schweitzer’s lodging offerings are some of the best in the area. Take advantage of awesome amenities like the rooftop hot tub, modern co-working space, family game room, and more. There’s no dreamier place to stay and play this winter.
Cambium Spa offers cuttingedge therapies and restorative treatments for all. Enjoy weekly yoga classes, drop-in sauna or sound lounge sessions, or a full day recovery complete with facials and massage. Built in 2023, Cambium is the ultimate place to rev up, reboot, and tune in at the mountain.
explore more
Schweitzer offers a wide variety of activities and events to keep you entertained including full moon snowshoe tours, Nordic skiing, tubing, live music, fireworks, and more. Whether you are here for a day or a week, stop by the Activity Center, located in the lower level of Humbird, and let our staff help you make the most of your stay.
When the snow melts, the mountain turns into a summer playground with hiking, biking, zip lining, scenic chairlift rides for lunch at the summit, and more. Explore over 40 miles of trails and one of the region’s longest single track mountain bike rides with 4000’ of vertical from top to bottom.
300’’Average Annual Snowfall
2,900 Skiable Acres
10 Lifts 92 Named Runs
6,400’ Summit Elevation
2,400’ Vertical Drop
2.1 miles Longest Trail
4 Terrain Parks
32 km of Nordic Trails
2 Tubing Lanes
15 Dining Options
1963 Schweitzer First Opened
Starlight Race Series packs some fast fun into February
by Ben Olson
If you happen to spot a Teletubbie, a gang of medieval knights and a dragon racing down the mountain together on skis, you’re not hallucinating—it’s just a Friday night in February at Schweitzer and the Starlight Race Series is on.
The annual themed ski race has been around longer than many of its current participants. Since the mid 1990s, skiers, snowboarders and telemarkers of all ages meet Friday nights in February to race un-
der the lights—often dressed in hilarious costumes. Throughout the month, teams compete to earn points until the season finale where winners are named and teams play bar games for glory, dressing in full costumes according to revolving themes. Last season’s was, “Knights Who Say Ski,” which gave a nod to fantasy and medieval times.
The series has undergone a refreshment under the leadership of Austin Laiche, who serves as the events manager at Schweitzer.
“This series started as an idea to get people to come up for night skiing back in the ’90s,” Laiche said. “It’s always been a themed, multi-night event that really serves the locals.”
Laiche said each season sees anywhere from 20 to 30 teams of five people; any given Friday night could see upwards of 150 people in costumes barreling down the mountain and mingling in Taps for beers afterward.
“Back in the day, the racing side of it was a little more serious,” Laiche said.
Megan Reimers, Tracy Tuttle and Tyga Villelli skied as the Iron Edged Maidens. Schweitzer photo
“People were really gunning for times and being competitive. Now, it’s become a little more casual on the race side but stronger on the community side.”
The local connection was what drew husband and wife Gavin and Mary Klein to the series. It was a chance for both of them to socialize with other skiers and expand their friend group. This season will be Mary’s third year, while Gavin is returning for his second season.
“We really enjoy the sense of community,” Gavin said. “It’s great to hang with all your friends from in town or that work up there. Austin does a great job putting it all together and bringing games into Taps. Drinking games on a Friday night? What could go wrong?”
Gavin put together a team last season called the Teletubbie Templars where each member raced on telemark skis and, of course, wore full Teletubbie costumes on the season finale.
Because the competition is handicapped based on age, as well as snowboarders and tele-markers receiving an extra incentive, people of all ages participate.
“If you can find an 80-year-old female snowboarder who is a world class athlete, you’re almost guaranteed to win,” Laiche said.
Mary first got into the Starlight Race Series when a coworker asked her to join an all-female team. She quickly fell in love with the event not just for the socialization and fun, but also because it was an
easy on-ramp for those who might not have ever raced or competed on skis before.
“There’s really no pressure,” she said. “You only take the top two scores of five, so everyone is there to hang out and socialize. Nobody’s overly competitive, but we try.”
Mary said she’s actively recruiting more of her friends to start teams of their own.
“It’s so laid back,” she said. “The most important thing is to have fun. It’s fun to race the course, and you don’t have to go too fast. The course isn’t particularly challenging, either—it’s just down Midway.”
It’s not just locals who sign up—Schweitzer employees are encouraged to join the fun, too. For Laiche, that works out great since many employees finish work right around the start of the race.
“At a lot of other events, Schweitzer employees are putting on the parties, so we don’t get to participate that often,” Laiche said. “Also, there’s that generational aspect. It’s pretty cool to see a 25-year-old snowboarder hanging out with a 73-yearold snowboarder. There’s not too many of those kinds of events in town.”
The Starlight Race Series is always open to new teams joining. Visit www.schweitzer.com to register online and don’t forget to check Schweitzer’s social media channels for updates.
There’s really no pressure, you only take the top two scores of five, so everyone is there to hang out and socialize. Nobody’s overly competitive, but we try “
The Enchanted Edges and Powder Paladins. Schweitzer photo
A SANDPOINT ORIGINAL
TV SHOW ENTERTAINED AUDIENCES
FOR DECADES—AND STILL DOES
by Barry Campbell
Thirty years before YouTube and GoPros brought ski filming to the masses, a Sandpoint-based, homegrown cable TV show captured the spirit of mountain life with equal parts humor, history and powder turns. That show was “Ski Flakes,” and its creator, Terry Cooper, became an unlikely pioneer of regional ski media whose work connected Schweitzer Mountain to Sandpoint and the wider northwest ski community.
Cooper, a South Carolina native and Vietnam veteran, first came to North Idaho in the early 1980s after years of wandering by motorcycle, bicycle and tele skis. Like so many others, he was instantly smitten. In 1992, leveraging a bulky camcorder and a knack for storytelling, he launched “Ski Flakes” with a simple approach: to capture the real stories of skiers, snowboarders and mountain culture.
“It was reality TV before reality TV,” Cooper recalled. Each episode was a mix of ski footage, bar parties, quirky interviews and history segments. The production quality was rough by today’s standards—three-deck editing systems, turntables for music,
by Terry
and VHS tapes driven or shipped to cable stations in Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, Spokane and Cranbrook. But the authenticity was undeniable. Locals and visitors tuned in religiously, and soon the show was drawing upwards of 100,000 viewers across the region.
In the early years, Cooper traded ski passes for help, assembling a rotating crew of journalists, skiers and storytellers. Together, they churned out 60-minute episodes that aired throughout the 13-week ski season on a loop that might play 10 times or more a day, every day. Improvisation was key: one day it might be a foggy parking lot interview turned comedy skit, the next, a deep dive into Schweitzer’s early history. “We never scripted anything,” Cooper said.
While Schweitzer was home base, “Ski Flakes” roamed widely. It filmed at Red Mountain, Whitewater, Fernie, Panorama and beyond—a circuit Cooper dubbed the Borderline Tour, years before it became known as the Powder Highway.
Along the way, the show interviewed pioneers like Red Mountain legend Booty Griffiths and featured Olympians like Nancy Greene, Susie Luby and the Mahre brothers; TV personality Ben Stein; and countless local legends. But the real stars were the everyday skiers and boarders whose passion, grit and silliness gave the show its heart and lasting value. Cooper’s archive contains about 7,000 hours of footage, only 230 of which ever aired.
For Cooper, the payoff was never financial. “Ski Flakes” barely supported itself through ad sales, but it opened doors that a self-described “ski bum with no money” could never have imagined. He and his friends went heli-skiing, cat-skiing and backcountry touring with some of the best guides in the world.
He met and filmed ski pioneers, rock stars at the Festival at Sandpoint, and even traveled internationally, filming for wealthy clients who discovered him through the show. “I called it the American Express camera,” he laughed. “Carte blanche. I’d show up with a big camera and suddenly doors opened everywhere.”
While filming ended in 2010, reruns and retrospective episodes kept “Ski Flakes” alive. It aired on local cable until 2025, and episodes still do laps at Pucci’s Pub. For many here, growing up meant seeing friends and family on “Ski Flakes”—a cultural
Terry Cooper on the other side of the camera. Courtesy photo
Photo
Cooper
touchstone that connected town to mountain and skier to skier.
Sandpoint real estate agent Alex Wohllaib grew up skiing Schweitzer and appeared in several “Ski Flakes” episodes. “It was always fun and cool to turn it on and see people you recognized, and you’d see Terry out there filming and just doing his thing. He was—and is—a real part of Schweitzer,” he said.
Now semi-retired from real estate, Cooper is too busy ripping tele-skiing and single-track mountain bike lines to revisit the “Ski Flakes” vault, but concedes that a documentary or online archive would be a fun and worthy project. “People like history,” he said. “And what we captured can’t be replaced. It was a different era. It was community. And it was real.”
In an age where ski edits are churned out instantly on smartphones, “Ski Flakes” reminds us of a time when telling these stories took drive, creativity and late nights in the editing room. More importantly, it serves as a reminder of “the good old days” and a mountain town finding its vibe, one VHS tape at a time.
Check out some show highlights here: sptmag.com/skiflakesvideo
y ears ago, the first issue of Sandpoint Magazine also featured a story on a movie maker. Warren Miller had that year included Schweitzer footage in his annual ski film. The king of action ski movies said he’d like people to remember him “as the guy that got them up on the hill or out on the water.” And that influence continues today, as Warren Miller’s ski films are a staple at the Panida Theater every winter.
By the Numbers
• 230: Episodes produced (13 per season for 10 years)
• 7,000: Hours of raw footage shot
• 100,000+: Peak weekly viewers
Notable Guests
• Olympians Nancy Greene, Susie Luby, the Mahre brothers
• TV personality Ben Stein
• Schweitzer pioneers Jim Toomey, Bud Moon, Jack Fowler
• Countless locals who gave the show its heart
Taynton Bowl
To learn more, visit: PanoramaResort.com/Sandpoint26
Panorama, British Columbia
Humor and goofiness balanced the steep-and-deep skiing shots in each “Ski Flakes” episode. Courtesy photo
PLAYFULNESS, COMMUNITY AND WINTRY CHARM COME TOGETHER IN SANDPOINT NORDIC CLUB
by Sammy Berryman
It was about 18 years ago a group of people first came together to form the Sandpoint Nordic Club. “Ned Brandenberger was the main driving force to organize a more official Nordic ski club in Sandpoint and Jared and Coral France were in from the start,” said Renee Nigon, current president of SNC.
The club was officially established as a 501(c)3 in 2011. A few years later in 2012/13 volunteers began developing and grooming beginner-friendly Nordic ski trails. From its humble beginnings, the club has grown into a thriving community dedicated to promoting cross-country skiing, and grooming a lot of trails along the way. In the summer of 2023, board members decided it was time to sit down and revise their mission, vision and values.
“During that discussion, we reflected on SNC as an organization—where are we in the present moment, what are our strengths, what areas can we improve, and where do we see SNC in the future?” Nigon said.
The through thread of their conversation was community. Over the last decade, the club has developed and grown into doing more than creating and grooming trails. They offer various levels of classic and skate lessons, a program with over 80 participants (Youth Ski Club) ranging from those just learning to ski to kids ready to learn how to race, and a school program that’s free
to all local schools—the last year of which, they were able to get over 900 students out on skis in Pine Street Woods.
They also bring community together through events such as Winter Welcome, held in November at the beginning of the season, and host community ski potlucks based out of the Outdoor Recreation Center at Pine Street Woods.
Sandpoint Nordic Club promotes the sport. Schweitzer photo
Nordic and skate skiing works for all skill levels. Schweitzer photo
While reflecting on who they serve, the club discussed if their mission, vision and values around branding and communications truly welcomed all.
“We’ve been talking about the club and our branding for the last couple of years and have been trying to find something that better represents our community,” said Rose Olson, board member and co-vice president of SNC. “We’ve been trying to find visual branding that better represents our broad community that’s still playful and fun.”
Their membership base is quite diverse in terms of age given they promote a lifelong sport. There are kids as young as 5 and all the way up to octogenarians—it’s truly a club that spans generations.
“We are a place for anyone first exploring Nordic skiing, coming back to Nordic skiing, or the experienced skier,” Nigon said.
Sandpoint local Emily Erikson was hired for the re-brand project through her company, Big Blue Hat Studio. Erikson, a wearer of many hats, was a perfect fit for the job. She’s a graphic designer, writer, columnist for the Reader, and a Youth Ski League coach for the Nordic club.
“I spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to have an organization like theirs in our community,” said Erikson. “They’re one of a few pillars that actively contribute to making life better for people who live and visit here, and bring people together through the love of something.”
Working in tandem with the club, the goal was to create something that reflects the fun, approachable and communityforward spirit of Nordic skiing in the Sandpoint area. Something that will attempt to connect youth programs, seasoned skiers, recreational participants and volunteers alike.
“Capturing all of that in a single design was a tall order,” said Erikson. “But reflecting the feelings of being part of something so special made the basics clear: the logo needed to convey what Sandpoint Nordic culture offers anyone who engages with it—playfulness, community and wintry charm.”
The unveiling of their new logo occurred at the annual Winter Welcome.
Learn more at www.sandpointnordic.com
When you’re here for the deep powder and epic runs at Schweitzer – don’t miss the wow! of downtown Sandpoint. Just 20 minutes down the mountain, Sandpoint is host to a vibrant entertainment scene, more than 40 excellent restaurants and taverns, and a host of eclectic shops, galleries and sumptuous spas throughout the downtown. Make your visit a complete experience. We’ll see you in Sandpoint!
epic trails
The snow doesn’t slow us down! Enjoy the abundant fat bike, nordic, & snowshoe trails at Pine Street Woods, Schweitzer, & more.
Music & More
The arts and entertainment scene here is simply amazing. Any given week find live music bustin’ out all ‘round town, plus major events all winter.
Wine & dine
The excellent restaurants, breweries, cafes, and taverns in Sandpoint offer something for everyone. Come hungry, leave happy!
step, hour, day at a time
Riding from Mexico to Canada, local discovers grit, faith and the true meaning of home
Crossing in front of the Grand Tetons. Photo by Natalie Newman
by Amy Peterson
When Sandpoint native Patricia Petrina finally crossed into Canada this September, she carried with her the dust of deserts, the chill of mountain storms and the steady companionship of her mustangs and her dog, Piglet. What began six months earlier in Mexico as a childhood dream (to make a horseback journey from Mexico to Canada) had become a journey of grit, faith and discovery that would ultimately lead her home. “I always wanted a Hobbit-like tale with my horses,” Petrina said. “After nursing school, I realized I needed something bigger than myself—something that gave me hope.”
Mustangs filled the bill. At first, mustangs were simply affordable, but Petrina quickly realized they were more than that—they embodied the spirit of the West. “Mustangs don’t fit into neat programs. They’re strong-willed and independent. Each one taught me something different, and I had to rise to meet them,” she said.
Preparation for the ride took four years. Petrina mapped her route, trained her horses, learned to shoe them and even freeze-dried seven months of food. “The planning of my trip was to give myself something to look forward to in my first year of nursing during COVID,” she said. Mentally, she leaned on prayer. “I asked God to bless this trip—and to give me the wisdom to stop if it wasn’t his plan.”
Her greatest hope and fear were one and the same: keeping her animals safe. “It was my choice to do this—they had no say. Every single day I felt the weight of being responsible for their lives.”
Days began at dawn with coffee, feeding Piglet, packing nearly 200 pounds of gear and saddling the horses. Then came 12 to 30 miles of riding through deserts,
Crossing from Idaho into Wyoming.
Photo by Palmer Wisco
alpine passes and mountain forests. Evenings were spent hauling water, setting up camp, and preparing to do it all again the next morning.
The journey was not without peril. In Arizona, her herd escaped from camp in the dark. Petrina ran the trails alone, calling for them in silence until she heard the jingle of bells. “I knew if I caught two, the others would follow. That was my nightmare come true—but I survived it,” she recalled.
Even amid exhaustion and fear, there were breathtaking moments. She watched meteor showers from a meadow, cowboy camped in the Grand Canyon and marveled at elk moving gracefully through basins. “There were times I’d laugh or cry because it was just so overwhelming,” she said.
There were moments she wanted to quit. But perspective, prayer and determination carried her forward. “I’d ask myself, am I really going to let this little thing stop me? And the answer was always no,” she said.
Her mustangs mirrored that resilience. “They never quit—not once. If they could keep going, I had no excuse not to.”
For Petrina, the journey’s end wasn’t the Canadian border—it was coming home to Sandpoint. Raised in the area, she credits her community with fostering her adventurous spirit. “I didn’t have family nearby, but God placed people in my life who taught me horsemanship, ranching and a love of the outdoors. The people of Sandpoint gave me my values and my courage.”
She missed the small comforts of home—her circle of friends, Second Avenue Pizza, Jitterz granitas, Copper Moose breakfast burritos—but returning felt right. “It didn’t feel finished until I came home to Sandpoint,” she said. Now back in town, Petrina hopes her story encourages others, especially young people, to chase their dreams. “Don’t let people tell you what you’re capable of. The only way to know is to try,” she said.
In the end, it wasn’t about the miles or even the finish line. “This journey taught me that God is faithful. True grit is just not giving up. One step, one hour, one day at a time—that’s how you get there. That’s how you find home,” she said.
Check out more images and videos from her journey on Instagram at “on_a_wild_mustang.”
Top: Patricia on her final day home, giving her horses a drink at Pack River Bridge before heading to Sandpoint.Photo by Amy Peterson
Middle: Patricia meets a cheering group at the south end of the Long Bridge—almost home! Photo by Amy Peterson
Below: The horses and Piglet the dog all appreciate cooling off in the water. Photo by Natalie Newman
Above: Climbing into the Four Peaks Wilderness above Lake Roosevelt, Arizona. Photo by Karen Cordasco
AND THE BEAT GOES ON
Photo by Woods Wheatcroft
“NOTHING CURES A BAD DAY AT WORK LIKE PLAYING A LIVE SHOW”
by Pam Webb
There is something for everyone when it comes to the local music scene. From familiar faces to newcomers and venues aplenty, Sandpoint has a wealth of tuneful talent to experience.
Known for his jazz-flavored tunes, Peter Lucht is one of those familiar faces around town as he has played with close to 15 different ensembles in a variety of styles in his 40-plus years of playing locally. Peter is no stranger to Sandpoint’s annual Festival and has often appeared at the Panida Theater. Although mainly known for being a keyboard artist he was first violin in the Oak Park and River Forest Symphony Orchestra and with the Concordia Kapella choir in Orchestra Hall in Chicago. He has even been known to whip out a few tunes on the accordion.
Most people associate Peter with local gigs yet he has put in some tour mileage in past years, traveling up to Alaska and down to Texas. “Now I only occasionally go to Coeur d' Alene or Calgary.” Currently, Peter is in another ensemble that plays mostly jazz standards. “I joined founder Arthur Goldblum (Bright Moments) whom I've known for nearly 30 years, about 10 years ago.”
Another longtime local musician is Beth Pederson, formerly of Wild Roses with Cinde Borup. Though Wild Roses hasn’t performed since 1998, the year Cinde died, the duo made sev-
LIVE MUSIC
eral CDs and sang together for 28 years. Today Beth occasionally performs jazz tunes with Bruce Bishop and is working on her own music. Like Peter Lucht, Beth has contributed much to the local music scene and fans can (and do) still order her CDs.
Relatively new to the local music scene is the cover band the Hot Cheetos. Comprised of Koby and Lori Padilla with Kyle and Kendall Yake, the foursome plays something for everyone and have about 100 songs in their repertoire. “We’ve got oldies and songs from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s,” said Koby. The group plays for special occasions and has made the rounds of the usual Sandpoint venues. For now the Hot Cheetos are keeping it local but are thinking of going a bit further, maybe playing in Coeur d’Alene. As for the band’s main goal? “Breaking even, enjoying one another’s company and celebrating with people.” Wondering about the band’s name? That involves a late night snack and getting Cheeto dust in Koby’s eye.
Harold’s IGA is a combination of indie rock, indie folk and Pacific Northwest,” said Ben Olson, one of the original band members. The band’s name is a nod to the long defunct Sandpoint grocery store. The band began in 2011 and although the group has changed up a couple of times, the core members consist of Olson, Cadie Archer and Josh Vitalie.
“As much as I’d love for music to be our main squeeze, it remains a side piece for us. It’s a great way to blow off some steam and make a few extra bucks. Nothing cures a bad day at work like playing a live show,” Ben added. The band can be found playing around town and, having opened for Sublime with Rome at the 2018 Festival at Sandpoint, they followed up at last summer’s Festival Community Night.
Like most local musicians, John Firshi plays music because of his love for it and he hosts the Monday Night Blues Jam at Eichardt’s. “I tend to gravitate towards musical styles that provide an open platform for improvisation,” he said. John didn’t get serious about music until his 20s and he figures he’s been playing and performing for 25 years, with 10 years in Sandpoint.
His advice for those who also love music is to get past any self-doubt and to share their music with others. John plays as a solo act but has also joined up with Jared Johnston, John Edwards and Mick Taylor to form Headwaters, and has other music projects going as well. “I’m always trying to make music more of the main gig and work more of a side gig,” added John. Headwaters is looking to branch out beyond the local scene, having played at Pig Out in the Park in Spokane.
Indie folk musicians Justin Landis and Joshua Hedlund form Little Wolf and have played numerous local venues. According to Justin they are looking for a specific audience. “Our music and performances have a very personal, intimate vibe which is not well-suited to venues and events where the band is providing a background of ambience,” he said, “so we leave those gigs to bands and artists that thrive in those areas.”
The Shook Twins, Katelyn and Laurie, are a Sandpoint homegrown success story. They started singing together in fifth grade choir and continued to make music a part of their
Justin Landis, Ben Olson and Katelyn Shook gather ‘round Josh Hedlund at a recent show at the Hive. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft
Hunter Jones performs at the Hive. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft
The Hot Cheetos are relatively new to the local music scene. Courtesy photo
John Firshi plays to the crowd.
Courtesy photo
lives. Their distinctive harmonies have earned them accolades and a fan base. “We are satisfied with the modest career we’ve built,” said Laurie.
It was during their senior high choir performance at the Panida that Laurie first added beatbox to their singing style. “It was 2004 when we had our first gig over in Blacksburg, Virginia, where we were living for a semester,” she said. They took the leap to become full-time touring musicians in 2007 and focused on their music. Then, inevitably, change came. The sisterly duo arrived at a crossroads when Katelyn planned for a family. She returned to Sandpoint and is a part-time event coordinator for the Panida Theater, while Laurie plays in other music groups and focuses on her side project, Sideboob, a ’90s pop cover band.
“Putting on shows or playing is still our main gig! It’s what we love most,” enthused Laurie.
If you were at the 1974 Spokane World’s Fair you might have seen Dennis Coats playing in the bluegrass band featured there for five months. If you didn't catch him there then probably you’ve heard him play somewhere in Sandpoint since he’s been around for at least 40 years playing solo or dropping in with other musicians. Originally from Los Angeles, Dennis did studio work around Hollywood, and even performed on a John Denver television special before heading up to North Idaho.
“People expect to hear one of three tunes for the banjo before a player gets accepted,” mused Dennis. “The theme from “Deliverance” being one of them.” These days Dennis mainly plays private parties and his many albums are available on his website: www.denniscoats.com
These are just a few of the musical talents that can be heard around Sandpoint. Check out the Sandpoint Online calendar to find performances of your favorite or new-toyou performers or browse through online sources such as YouTube and Spotify to sample the sounds of these local musicians.
Peter Lucht is a long-time keyboardist who’s been a go-to for all sorts of musical productions in addition to his own performances. Courtesy photo
The Shook Twins, Laurie and Katelyn, have taken their locally-bred music all around the U.S. Courtesy photo
Dennis Coats has been ‘pickin’ and grinnin’ in Sandpoint for decades. Courtesy photo
Joshua Hedlund enjoying the laughs and fellowship of the local music community. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft
For music, Beth Pederson has been Sandpoint’s sweetheart for decades.
219 Lounge
221 N. First Avenue
Live music every week
1908 Saloon
219 N. First Avenue
Occasional music plus karaoke
Barrel
Wine
Baxters
Frequent
Connie’s
Kick up Your Heels
Contra dancing - Dances are held monthly on the second Friday of the month at Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S First Ave., from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Dances are free but a donation is suggested. 208-263-6751
Walk the Line Dancing Events hosts line dancing lessons almost every Thursday at the Hive, 207 N. First Ave. Lessons are held at 6:30 p.m. and end around 8:30 p.m. followed by open dancing. Cost is $10 at the door and only those 21 and older can participate. 208-920-9039
Swing dancing takes place the first Sunday of every month at Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave. from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. In addition, there are West Coast swing and hustle classes on Thursday afternoons at the Yellow Room at 102 Euclid (on the second floor) from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Class fees are based on a sliding scale. 208-738-3864
Sptmag.com/localevents
Live Music in Sandpoint
Heartwood
Concerts,
Matchwood
Occasional
MickDuff’s
Music
Pivo
New
Tervan
Thursday
Concert
Roxy’s
Sports
Smokesmith
American roots music weekly
Schweitzer
Weekend music at Taps plus special events in the village
Courtesy photo
Sandpoint’s Radio Heads
for local deejays, it’s more than just music
by Sandy Compton
There are two sides to the radio world, public and commercial. Sandpoint’s KRFY is a public radio station. Blue Sky Broadcasting’s several stations are Sandpoint’s commercial radio.
Public or commercial, radio personalities—the people you hear when you tune into a station—share a common trait: creativity.
Suzy Prez, station manager at 88.5 KRFY for a dozen years before her recent retirement, elaborated. “When people host radio, there’s something compelling about sharing a love for music that sparks creativity.” She noted that for the station’s 15 volunteer deejays to craft their programs, prep time and air time are about equal.
At Blue Sky, which has six stations including 95.3 KPND, 106.7 Max and Rock 103, manager Dylan Benefield counts 14 professional deejays. In today’s radio, playlists can be computer generated by genre with the deejays guiding selections and providing insights and commentary.
Radio Royalty
Gail Fendley, aka “Velma, Queen of Fun,” began on air at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado (KDUR), when she hosted a morning show. “It was carts and vinyl, then,” she said. “Carts” were cartridges containing ads and public service announcements. Programming was more hands-on and complicated.
Fendley started working here with Blue Sky, helping long-time deejay Ray Allen do Schweitzer ski parties. When Michael Boge gave up his KPND Sunday afternoon show to host the Sunday Brunch, Fendley stepped in. “Everybody loved Sunday [radio]. Jojo Baker, Brother Music, Michael, me. We had our own flavors.”
Eventually, Fendley hosted the Sunday Brunch. When KRFY went on the air, she created “Hump Day Café, serving it up hot and eclectic” Wednesday nights from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. She loads songs from KRFY’s massive collection (140,000 songs and growing) into a “Velma” file, which she cues up after two hours of prep time. “I write down ideas about current stuff during the week. I strive for a balance of R&B, funk, bluegrass. The message is in the music.” Her first two hours are live, with commentary from the Queen of Fun, while the last is automated.
A Double Beat
For John and Joanne Royhans, KRFY is a family affair. John hosts “Jazz Above Sandpoint” on Sunday nights at 8 p.m.. His show is replayed on Tuesday at 9 p.m. His love of jazz started while listening to his uncle Steven Baker’s music. Baker played for the U.S. Army Jazz Band in the 1940s.
“I go to the studio early and spend a couple of hours looking for music. I always have a theme. ‘Pop goes jazz,’ for instance. Some of my favorites are Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and Diana Krall.”
Joanne, a retired doctor, has a show based on the medical designation of the month (February is National Heart Month) which airs live at 8 a.m. on the first Monday of the month, and
Above: Gail Fendley has been Sandpoint’s Queen of Fun for 30odd years and hosted Sunday Brunch on KPND. She now brings her vibe to KRFY with the Hump Day Cafe. Photo by Misty Grage
Below: John and Joanne Royhans provide a double whammy to KRFY local radio with John’s love of jazz on Sunday and Tuesday, and Joanne’s medical expertise on the first and third Mondays each month. Photo by Sandy Compton
John & Joanne Gail
is rebroadcast on the third Monday.
“I intersperse lighter stuff with more serious subjects. I’m planing a show about Alzheimer’s and caregiving. I’ve also done shows about the health benefits of yoga and being outdoors.”
The Rocker
Just Plain Bob, aka Robert Hawn, began his radio “career” at KNRY in Pacific Grove, California, playing old-time rock and roll. He continues on Saturday nights on KRFY, playing the ’50s at 5 and the ’60s at 6.
“I go in Saturday morning and get the play list ready. I try not to play any songs I’ve played in the last few months. I also take requests. If I get many, the play list goes by the wayside. I might get 10 requests in an hour.”
The Pros
Pat Murphy and Marie McCallister work for Blue Sky Broadcasting. Marie is program director at KPND, and also schedules music for KPND, K-102 and Studio B.
Pat Marie Bob
McCallister graduated from West Valley in Spokane, and then attended the Ron Bailie School of Broadcasting. (She confesses she never met Ron Bailie, but she taught briefly for the school in Spokane and Seattle.) Since then, she’s been around a bit.
“You have to be a nomad when you’re in radio,” she said. Seattle, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Spokane. Now, she’s settled down a bit. She’s worked for Blue Sky for 12 years, where she hosts from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays on KPND and the Beatles Hour at 6 a.m. Sundays.
She likes live radio. “It’s a challenge to figure out how to say the same thing a different way every day. I do a lot of show prep; keeping up with pop culture. I really like interacting with the people who call in.”
Murphy has been with Blue Sky for 20 years. He was the all-night guy on KPND, but moved to MAX 106.7 a year ago, where he hosts the All-Request Lunch Break from noon to 1 p.m. and the drive-time show from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. (“We’re gonna get you home, one song at a time.”)
“I’ve always been fascinated with radio. I was 12 when I saw “WKRP in Cincinnati.” I knew what I wanted to do. Doctor Johnny Fever was my idol.”
Using the aforementioned software, he programs other Blue Sky stations. “It’s relatively easy. One station takes a half hour for 24 hours of music, leaving time for fun calendar stuff like national cheeseburger day and interesting trivia.”
Murphy had an eclectic career before channeling “Johnny Fever.” He worked for the World Wrestling Federation (yes, he met Hulk Hogan), and as a tech writer for the Pharmaceutical Corporate Research Organization. After moving to Idaho, before he went to work for Blue Sky, he hosted karaoke six nights a week from Bonners Ferry to Coeur d’ Alene.
Despite their disparate approaches and their commitment to radio, for all these on-air personalities it’s about more than the music: it’s all about sharing the music.
Above: “Just Plain Bob” Hawn brings rock and roll to KRFY on Saturday nights. Staff photo
Below: Pat Murphy has racked up 20 years with Blue Sky Broadcasting. Photo by Misty Grage
Bottom: Marie McCallister (with Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top) directs programs, schedules music and deejays for Blue Sky Broadcasting. Courtesy photo
CONDUCTING LIFE Together
REINERS REACH 33 YEARS WITH PEND OREILLE CHORALE AND CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
by Renee Sande
them,” said Mark.
In talking to Mark and Caren Reiner, they’re not what you would expect.
Leading the Pend Oreille Chorale and Chamber Orchestra now for 33 years, their kind and down-toearth demeanor are far from the often-Hollywood portrayals of egotistical maestros and authoritarian choir directors.
“They’re wonderful people and their contribution to the musical community is huge,” said Jo Brewster, who has performed with the Reiners since POCO began.
“I enjoy them so much, and I enjoy singing, so I put the two together.”
Many members have been with the group since they started in 1992 as the North Idaho Chorale and Chamber Orchestra. However, it wasn’t long before they switched to the more location-specific name when “someone got a bee in their bonnet, started their own group and took some members with
“But they didn’t last long and we’re still going strong,” he laughed.
POCO performs two free concerts every year, the first in the second week of June and the second in the second week of December. Both are held at the First Lutheran Church on Olive Avenue in Sandpoint.
With Mark directing the chamber orchestra and Caren at the helm of the choir, they perform a wide repertoire of songs and musical pieces, including choral pieces such as Mozart’s lively motet, "Jubilate Deo," based on Psalms 100, well-known spirituals like “Hold On!” and John Rutter’s serene choral anthem, "A Gaelic Blessing." POCO’s chamber works include a mix of Baroque, classical and modern compositions, as well as original compositions by Mark himself. They also play Handel’s “Messiah,” a crowd favorite, every five years; 2027 will be its next appearance.
The Pend Oreille Chorale and Chamber Orchestra, under director Mark Reiner. Courtesy photo
Mark and Caren bring such joy and musical culture to the community out of the love of their hearts. I have such admiration for them both “
“Guaranteed, every time we sing together, we know, ‘Okay we’re going to do one of Mark’s pieces and it’s going to be challenging and beautiful and we’ll have to work at it,’” said Delia Trenbath, who has sung in the choir with her husband since 2019.
Starting at a young age, both Mark and Caren knew their life would always involve music.
“My mother was a pianist and a teacher so she taught me from 4 years old until I was 18 and went away to college,” said Caren.
“I knew I was going to be in piano and was fortunate enough to have two concert pianists as teachers.” Caren also plays the cello in the orchestra.
Even though Mark’s family wasn’t particularly musical it was his natural go-to, playing trumpet, French horn and the flute.
“I was always into music. For me it was the easiest path to follow; it’s uplifting,” said Mark.
After meeting in orchestra while in junior college in Bakersfield, California, Mark and Caren went on to pursue their undergrad degrees in music at California universities; Caren at the USC campus at University Park in Los Angeles and Mark at the University of California Davis campus, near Sacramento.
It was at UC Davis that Mark received both his bachelor and master of arts degrees, under the tutelage of composer greats Carl Heinz Stockhausen and John Cage.
Caren, on the other hand, had to chase her idols around a bit, from USC to San Francisco State, where she ended up receiving her Bachelor of Music in piano, before heading to Sacramento State to obtain her master’s in piano performance.
Degrees in hand, Mark and Caren moved to the California community of Weed in 1972, a small town on the north end of Mount Shasta, as Mark had secured jobs as band and choir director at the high school and adjunct professor at the College of the Siskiyous. Caren assisted Mark with the band and choir frequently and taught piano lessons throughout the community.
After 20 years of living at 5,000 feet elevation on Mount Shasta— snowmobiling to work in the winter, now with two young kids in tow—“God intervened” when their home was crushed under the enormous weight of the snow.
“We decided it was time for a change,” said Mark.
The Reiners moved to Sandpoint in 1992 and started POCO soon after.
“If you like listening to music and want to partake in it, sometimes you have to do it yourself,” said Mark.
Now with some of their 25 members—aged 29 to 84 years old— driving from Coeur d’Alene, Bonners Ferry and Clark Fork, the Reiners are grateful.
“We are humbled by the time our members put on the road, especially in the winter, to be a part of our musical community.”
And obviously their members and the community-at-large, as well, are grateful to the Reiners.
“Mark and Caren bring such joy and musical culture to the community out of the love of their hearts. I have such admiration for them both,” said Trenbath.
POCO is looking for string players and singers. Call Mark Reiner at 208-946-9306 if interested.
Mark and Caren Reiner have pulled a community orchestra together since the early 1990s. Courtesy photo
It’s More than a Hobby
SMALL FARM BUYERS GET LAND AND A LIFESTYLE
by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
There are cat people, and there are dog people. Jeanne Warwick is a cow person.
Standing in her pasture in the northern reaches of the Selle Valley, Warwick called to those cows, and they came running.
For Warwick, there’s no shortage of excitement in her life as a local teacher, mom to two teenage boys and passionate farmer. Whether it’s a mama duck aggressively defending her only spring duckling, or a slew of bottle baby calves to feed, she’s got her hands full—and she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“There is always something going on at our farm,” Warwick said. “It is so fun.”
Warwick and her family live on 40 acres off the north side of Samuels Road, where they raise cows, pigs, chickens, ducks and keep a family garden. The
property was a Christmas tree farm in the 1950s and ’60s, and the fruits of those labors are left behind in the form of fluffy, towering blue spruce trees. The property also features a pond and expansive pasture land.
The Warwicks occupy a grey area in the traditional understanding of the farming lifestyle: they don’t quite own and operate a ranch, but their operation doesn’t fall exactly within the bounds of the “hobby farm” label, either.
Warwick said it’s about making the land work for your desired farming goals.
“You don’t need a ton of land to raise your own food,” she said. “You don’t need 500 acres to have a cow.”
Warwick knows all about that, having been raised
Jeanne Warwick enjoys the hobby farm lifestyle because she considers herself a “cow person.”
Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
on a 500-acre family farm in Wisconsin. Her husband’s work brought her young family to North Idaho in 2011. Despite living on a mountainside in Hope for several years, the Warwicks knew a more farm-friendly space was the ultimate goal. They bought the Selle Valley property in 2016, built their home and outbuildings, and had animals at the 2018 Bonner County Fair.
Many more North Idaho families have opted for farm life in recent years. According to Realtor Jeff Hurst, who works with Tomlinson Sotheby’s International Realty, “there is an element of independence or self-sustainability that usually is attractive” when it comes to these properties.
Whether a symptom of post-pandemic life or socioeconomic trends, Hurst said ranch-style properties in North Idaho appear to be “an area of interest to those looking to ‘move the needle’ in terms of where they live and other lifestyle choices.
“As far as interest increase or decrease [in demand]—I would say that it relates to availability,” Hurst added. “There are many parcels of land that would fit in the category, [but they] just don't come up for sale very often. If there were more folks willing to sell their ‘hobby farm’ lands, I would say there would be significant interest from buyers.”
For Bill and Marianne Love, the choice to purchase their 20 Selle Valley acres in 2006 was rooted in a desire to get out of
Bill and Marianne Love’s criteria for a home place included room for their horses. Photo by Marianne Love
their former neighborhood on Great Northern Road, which was seeing airport-related development. Now the pair—Marianne a lifelong horsewoman and Bill a retired forester—get to exercise their respective passions with nearly equal parts pasture and timberland.
“It’s the greatest lifestyle you could ever ask for,” Marianne said, emphasizing the lessons in hard work and appreciation for nature that can be gained through farming. “When you lived it as a child, you can’t imagine any other way of life.”
Unlike the Warwicks, who built their home and outbuildings to suit their needs, the Loves needed only to add some fencing when they arrived on Center Valley Road, though over the years Bill has managed the forest well enough that it now provides for all their winter wood-heating needs.
In Kathy Hellman’s case, modest original garden plots have been lovingly expanded during her nearly 30 years on her west Sandpoint property. Hellman and her husband moved from Lake Tahoe to Sandpoint in 1997—a journey that brought her to a hobby farming lifestyle fueled by a love of gardening and an eager, community-driven clientele.
Despite working full time off the farm, Hellman also operates Pine Street Farm to Table from her 16 acres. She manages to run a farm stand, greenhouse, and the occasional farm-to-table
event with just an acre of carefully cultivated farmland.
“Through all the years and changes, my love for gardening and growing remains at the heart of everything we do,” Hellman said. “Each season brings renewed excitement and a sense of gratitude for the opportunity to nurture the land, share its abundance and build community.”
Of course, an inclination toward the hobby-farming lifestyle might not always be so ingrained. According to Hurst, many people moving to the Panhandle may initially be attracted to the area’s broader recreational and aesthetic appeals, then opt to purchase land where farming—on any scale—is possible.
“So if you have some acreage and can have an orchard or some animals as well—that is a bonus,” Hurst said.
As for Warwick, she is living her dream: baby cows and meat steers in the barn, heifers in the pasture and never a dull moment on her family’s 40.
“If I can inspire one person to get cows and raise their own meat, I will be so happy,” she said.
Hellman specializes in food and flowers. Courtesy photo
Entering the garden at the heart of Pine Street Farm to Table. Courtesy photo
Part of Kathy Hellman’s hobby farm life is the occasional farm-to-table event. Courtesy photo
BUILDING for Our Future
NEW HOMES ARE BEING BUILT, BUT AFFORDABILITY GOALS ARE STILL OUT OF REACH FOR MANY
by Renee Sande
While people are discovering this corner of Idaho more and more these days for its outdoor recreation, breathtaking scenery and cozy, small-town vibe, local agencies are working to ensure the development it brings finds a balance for the sake of those who live and work here.
“It’s great that we have all these homes coming in, but it doesn’t solve the affordable housing problem, it doesn’t solve the workforce housing problem. It’s only higher income, vacation, retirement—that’s the people who can afford those,” said Chrystle Horvath, executive director of Bonner County Housing Agency. BCHA offers creative programs to provide affordable housing based on a buyer’s income.
“And there’s easily a two-year waitlist to get into any sort of low-end apartment.”
While the number of building permits issued in 2025 for Sandpoint and Bonner County is slightly lower compared to 2024, new construction has continued at a steady clip. Six hundred units will be going in next year, but for the most part, they’re all market, Horvath said. The average three-bedroom home in Sandpoint is over $550,000.
“I’m booked into 2027,” said John Dana, owner of Dana Construction, adding that his high-end clientele is only beginning to discover the town. He compared the trend to Lake Tahoe in
the 1960s or Vail in the 1980s and ’90s. “I’ve been here for the last 35 years, so I’ve seen a lot of change.”
Dana said that the affordability factor for those with a lower budget has not only been affected by the rising cost of materials and high interest rates, but a shortage of labor, as well.
“Projects are taking longer to complete than 10 years ago. A house that takes me 14 months to build now, back in 2010 would’ve taken me 12 months, and that’s simply due to fewer hands to do the job.”
Horvath said another factor is finding affordable land.
“It’s become considerably more expensive to build in the past four years,” said Horvath. “At $100k for a quarter-acre lot, that’s not going to produce affordable housing. If we can get to $30/$40k, then we can give the seller a donation receipt and make it worth it for them.”
BCHA works with other area agencies such as Kaniksu Land Trust and Community Land Trust, as well as local donors to offset this cost and bring affordable housing to the area. Recent projects include the Village at River View, a land trust project in Priest River consisting of six three-bed, two-bath homes, and the six-unit workforce housing project on North Boyer in Sandpoint, in partnership with local longtime resident Nancy Hadley.
Will Mitchell, an associate real estate broker with Evergreen
Culver’s Crossing is an area development located off Boyer Avenue that’s geared for affordability. Staff photos
Realty since 2021, agrees that the new construction has only pushed up the prices of the normal residential market.
“I don’t think there’s a good balance for affordable housing.”
We have to get on the same page as to what’s affordable. But I’m hopeful because it’s a topic that’s being discussed
However, he does point to local lenders who are offering creative financing solutions, such as Idaho Finance and Housing Association, which provides multiple funding sources for developers and financial assistance for homebuyers, including down payment and closing cost assistance. They also recently administered the Idaho Workforce Housing Fund.
While Mitchell sees these tools as helpful, he’s not sure what the big picture will look like in five or ten years.
“I’m not sure, it’s hard to see. Since our economy and market are heavily dependent on tourism, it’s hard to see an immediate slow-down.”
Horvath is hopeful but says there’s an unrealistic idea of what is actually affordable.
“We have to get on the same page regarding what’s affordable. But I’m hopeful because it’s a topic that’s being discussed.”
Many homes at Culver’s Crossing are ready for occupancy. Staff photo
Units are available for sale in Priest River. Staff photo
For M2 Construction there is ‘Power in the Mountain’
Thirty years ago Craig Mearns moved to Sandpoint based on his parents' observation that the “snow only falls straight down in light fluffy flakes and there are no mosquitoes in the summer.”
Realizing this might have been a slight embellishment, Craig and his wife Audra nevertheless joined Craig’s parents and began life in Sandpoint.
Craig reflects how there were few jobs available to newcomers in 1995. His father, Harrison, formed M2 Construction and together they focused on building homes on Schweitzer. “We bought our first lot in 1997 from the Brown family and built our first house on Schweitzer Mountain.”
Not only does M2 Construction focus on mountain homes, they specialize in spec homes, which are built upon the speculation that the finished product will meet some buyer’s needs.
Craig and Audra (his designer) have found a niche in building spec homes even though Craig understands building them is a bit of a gamble. “Spec building is similar to gold mining, digging a hole and hoping something of value comes out in the end.”
M2 Construction has struck gold in the sense that the company has established a reputation for notable homes, having built over 50 homes and condos. He has learned quite a bit since his first build. “The first house we built in 1997, we lived in the basement of the first floor as the other two stories were for the next year's season. This basement had heat but no running water or sewer yet and skiers would ski right over the capped founda-
tion. They were pretty surprised when we would pop out of what we called the igloo.”
For those interested in building in the Schweitzer area Craig has this advice, “If one does not have an affinity for dealing with snow and all its challenges, the mountains are not for you.” He also notes that bureaucracy can be challenging as well as allowing time for planning and engineering.
As for hiring a builder, he said, “Find a builder that has either built multiple projects on the mountain or has the capacity to handle the environment. Builders who don’t have a good local subcontract base and local employees will have challenges getting to the mountain and producing a quality product.”
M2’s focus remains at Schweitzer, yet the question comes up: “Why?” After all, building on a mountain slope has its challenges. Craig’s answer? “There is power in the mountain.”
–Pam Webb
Drywall Patch
Advanced Drywall Concepts provides a wide range of drywall services from small drywall repairs to complete remodels, and commercial & residential jobs. Whatever your drywall needs are, we can help you improve and complete any project.
Craig Mearns loves climbing as a hobby. Courtesy photo
At Schweitzer, the snow is cold but mountain real estate is HOT
by Samantha Berryman
Schweitzer Mountain, part of the rugged Selkirk Mountain Range, is a beacon of the Sandpoint area. It overlooks Lake Pend Oreille to the southeast and, on a clear day, you can see the Bitterroot and Cabinet mountain ranges.
Those looking to buy property on the mountain gain access to year-round adventure, alpine serenity and breathtaking views right outside their door. The mountain boasts 2,900 skiable acres and 92 trails plus open bowl skiing. For nordic skiers, it offers 20 miles maintained daily. In the summertime, gear grinding enthusiasts can tap into 40 miles of mountain bike trails on both downhill and cross-country terrain.
The mountain’s history dates back over a century. According to legend, a Swiss hermit once sought refuge at the base of a mountain near Sandpoint. Though little was known about him, locals began calling the mountain "Schweitzer"—a nod to the German word for “Swiss man.”
Schweitzer officially became the seventeenth destination owned by Alterra Mountain Company in 2023, 60 years after Schweitzer’s first chairlift opened to the public on December 4, 1963. Over the past few decades, prices for land, condos and homes on the mountain have contin-
ued to increase.
According to Alison Murphy, associate broker for Northwest Realty Group, 59 units sold for a total sales volume of $21 million in 2019. At the height of the market in 2021, 29 units sold for total sales volume of $25 million. “We sold half the amount of units in 2021 but essentially the prices doubled,” Murphy said.
Last year, in 2024, the total amount of sales on Schweitzer teetered on the low side—just 20 units for $22 million—but this year, the number of sales are on the rise again. “This year [as of September 5], we’re at 21 units sold for a volume of $28 million and we’re heading into the busiest time of year,” Murphy said.
Individual sales in 2024 and 2025 ranged between $350,000 for something such as a small, older condo, to the record-setting price of a $3.4 million freestanding home, sold by Murphy herself. “We keep breaking these boundaries quickly so it seems like now, every year, we’re breaking the boundary.”
If you’ve been up to visit within the last year, you’ll have noticed there’s a lot of construction going on. Murphy, a lifelong resident and avid skier, said she’s never seen anything like it. And we’re not just talking quaint
two-bedroom condos, we’re talking massive homes, which lead her to believe there’s a lot of optimism for the market in the coming years.
Kent Anderson, Realtor for Coldwell Banker Resort Reality, agrees. “The pricing has increased, especially since Alterra bought it,” Anderson said. “Schweitzer has become a national phenomenon. People are coming from everywhere so it’s really jacking the prices up.” He added, “There are a lot of nice ski-in and ski-out lots on the mountain that are starting at $750,000 for a quarter or half-acre lot and are on the upside of $1 million.”
It’s estimated that roughly 10 percent of people who own property on the mountain are full-time residents. For those people, and visitors of course, there are coffee shops and a few restaurants open year ’round. Incredible hiking and mountain biking trails are also available to explore during the summer and shoulder seasons.
“If you’re choosing to live up there full time, make sure it’s the right lifestyle for you,” Anderson said.
For those curious about investing in the alpine dream of mountain living, Anderson notes it’s a good idea to make sure you understand any homeowners’ association that might be in place. Most developments on Schweitzer have an HOA to help preserve property value. If you’re thinking of buying a lot, keep in mind that the infrastructure for building could cost as much
as your home—especially on some of the ski-in/ski-out locations. Murphy’s advice? “Have pre-approval because there are a couple properties that won’t finance conventionally, such as the White Pine Lodge, Selkirk Lodge and Five Needles.” She added, “Schweitzer is just a little different. There are some buildings that you can’t go into and just get a normal loan so it’s really important to understand your financing choices.”
She spoke for many when she said, “My biggest regret is that I don’t own more property up there. The appreciation potential is amazing, so if I had advice to give to anybody it would be ‘do it now.’ This cap is not coming back; we are just at the brink of what Alterra is going to bring to this mountain.”
y ears ago Sandpoint Magazine listed a 2 bedroom, 1 bath remodeled condo at Schweitzer for sale for $43,000
This page: Schweitzer properties, like these listed by Alison Murphy, offer views out of every window. Photo by Loren Media Group
Previous page: As this property for sale on Schweitzer shows, be prepared for snow. Photo by Loren Media Group
Jimy Black
Realtor®
208.255.6207
jimy@purewestid.com
Curating Exceptional Living in North Idaho
Rooted in North Idaho, Humble & Black Real Estate Group is built on trust, expertise, and a shared commitment to exceptional client service. Led by lifelong friends and business partners Jake Humble and Jimy Black, the team brings over 35 years of combined experience in real estate appraisal, development, and sales. Their deep understanding of the market, strategic approach, and strong client relationships have earned them a reputation for professionalism and results.
Together, the Humble & Black Real Estate Group offers a powerful blend of local knowledge, proven experience, and world-class marketing—supported by the trusted reputation of PureWest Real Estate and the global reach of Christie’s International Real Estate.
Whether buying or selling, clients can expect unmatched communication, market expertise, and dedication every step of the way.
Experience the difference of working with a team that knows North Idaho—and how to help you make it home.
jake@purewestid.com
We are proud to welcome North Idaho native, Keanon Naumann, to the team! Keanon is known as a superconnector with a true talent for building relationships and creating seamless client experiences. With deep roots in the North Idaho community and a background defined by detail, organization, and service, Keanon brings a personal touch to every transaction. He thrives on connecting people—not just to properties, but to the lifestyle and opportunities that make this region so special. Clients appreciate his transparent communication, market knowledge, and hands-on approach that ensures no detail goes overlooked.
Interested in a professional opinion on your home’s value or next steps in your buying process?
MEET Keanon Naumann
The Sky’s the Limit?
NEW PROJECTS TAKE TOWN TO NEW HEIGHTS... LITERALLY
by Cameron Rasmusson
As the old sitcom theme song goes, Sandpoint could be moving on up.
But do residents really want that deluxe apartment in the sky?
For decades, building height has been a controversial aspect of Sandpoint city planning. The Sandpoint Planning and Community Development Department is caught between two dueling priorities: expanding the town’s residential and industrial capacity on the one hand while maintaining its small-town character on the other. It’s an exercise in needle threading, and it’s one Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm understands all too well.
A former Sandpoint city planner himself, Grimm’s tenure in the department got off to an energetic start in the late 2000s during the public engagement process for a proposed parking garage to accompany the Sandpoint Center. A building that originally housed Panhandle State Bank (which later became Columbia Bank, then Umpqua Bank, and is now reverting to Columbia Bank again), the Sandpoint Center itself was something of an anomaly, with its 60-foot height well in excess of the typical 35- to 45-foot building height. While the Sandpoint Center was ultimately built, its accompanying proposed parking garage on Fifth and Pine was not, with the process being a trial by fire for Grimm, then the newly hired Sandpoint planning director.
“My recollection was I had to work pretty creatively through the code at that time to try to reduce the required parking for that building,” Grimm said.
Parking requirements long bedevilled Sandpoint developments, expanding their overall footprint and saddling developers who couldn’t offer parking with the option of fees paid in lieu of parking being provided. Former Sandpoint Reader journalist and city councilman John Reuter detailed the drive to reform parking requirements in a 2017 article for the magazine Strong Towns.
“We eliminated minimum parking requirements in downtown Sandpoint entirely,” Reuter wrote. “Everywhere else in the city—for both commercial and
The Sandpoint Center kicked off a new era in tall buildings. Staff photo
Construction is now underway on
residential uses—we greatly reduced them. And, finally, we set parking maximums to prevent even larger empty lots from damaging our community’s economy and quality of life.”
Flexible parking requirements are all well and good. But it doesn’t answer the question: How can Sandpoint grow, particularly in an environment where insufficient housing is making the town unaffordable for a growing swath of income levels?
You can grow outward, but that comes with its own problems. Boxed in by the Pend Oreille lake and river to the south and east, Sandpoint is limited in the directions it can expand. It creates sprawl. And perhaps most prohibitively, it requires an expansion of city services and infrastructure that is difficult to economically justify without sufficient population density.
“Once you get to about six-to-one units an acre, there is enough tax revenue to sustain and pay for the services and infrastructure needed,” Grimm said. “And that's some of the densities that we see in south Sandpoint.”
Building upward isn’t exactly a silver-bullet solution either. That’s due in part to the several hundred feet of clay that Sandpoint sits upon, which requires tall buildings to utilize extensive foundational support systems. And then there’s the fact that many residents simply prefer to live in a small, tightly knit community. For the city government, that requires the careful balancing of differing interests.
“We do have to consider how we both accommodate commercial space, residential space in a fairly, you know, confined space of the downtown. And often that means looking at what you can do to go higher,” Grimm said.
In 2010, Sandpoint changed city code to do just that, allowing for building heights up to 65 feet. And while developments to that height are rare, several projects now underway are taking advantage of that allowance.
According to Grimm, a proposed development near Powderhound Pizza in downtown Sandpoint is likely to utilize the full 65 feet. So will Church Street’s apartment buildings with commercial space—two proposed buildings with 88 total studio or one-bedroom apartments.
“They have said that these will be some of the most affordable housing units in town,” Grimm said.
That’s good news for Sandpoint’s lack of affordable housing, which limits the ready availability of potential employees for downtown businesses. But once again, the specter of parking haunts the process—this time in the opposite direction. With the apartments bringing a likely 100-plus new residents down-
town and no plans for vehicle parking, some residents worry about available parking for downtown diners and shoppers.
“The developer did not propose any off-street parking for the project and our review determined that none was required, so our position was that it was code compliant,” said Planning Department Director Jason Welker.
Nevertheless, the city is working with the developer on some transportation accommodations, particularly for bicycles. While unrequired by city code, developers agreed to convert two residential units into indoor bicycle storage. That still leaves the car-owning residents to consider, but city officials believe sufficient parking spaces exist to accommodate them, particularly when they themselves will boost downtown businesses.
“I get why people are nervous about [the apartments] not having their own parking,” Grimm said. “But here’s the way I look at it: what this project really does is put heartbeats downtown 24/7.”
Then there’s the Sandpoint Lakeside Resort proposed to replace the Best Western Edgewater Resort at City Beach. Described by Grimm as the most significant economic development in the town’s history, the resort is envisioned as a development consisting of 99 rooms and 31 independently owned units, as well as an event space with a 300-person capacity. Following a one-year extension of the project’s conditional use permit, that development is on track to submit plans and a building permit application by early 2026. Early conceptual drawings project a building five stories high.
All are positioned to be developments that will fundamentally change the look and feel of Sandpoint. But change is inevitable, and from Grimm’s perspective, if a town isn’t growing, then to some degree, it’s dying.
“At the end of the day, I think when people look at all the complexity and the elements that we're facing as a community, I think we're doing a pretty good job,” he said.
y ears ago, the tallest buildings (not counting grain elevators) in downtown Sandpoint were three stories high and included Gunning’s Alley (now called Farmin’s Landing), built in 1973, and the Belwood Building, built in 1907, with the second and third stories added in 1908. The tallest building ever downtown—the Farmin School at Second and Main—was torn down in 1971.
Left: The old Farmin School used to be one of the tallest buildings in town. The bell tower was removed in the late ’40s and moved to War Memorial Field; the building was demolished in 1971 and replaced with what is now U.S. Bank. Photo courtesy Bonner County History Museum
Right:
what will become two, four-story apartment buildings on Church Street. Staff photo
A BUYER’S MARKET IS DAWNING
As summer’s real estate market slipped into fall, buyers began to see a welcome change—a transition into a buyer’s market, with list prices for property seeing adjustments downward. “If you took a poll right now, I think a lot of agents would agree that having a ready, willing and able buyer right now feels like having a bit of an upper hand in negotiations,” said Brian Jacobs, president of the Selkirk Association of Realtors.
“Sellers are reducing list prices regularly and, in some instances, considerably, to be competitive. In the previous boom times, sellers could be picky about the buyers’ offers they would consider. Now, the buyer is the one with the ability to be picky.”
There are still some places with less negotiation room on price, however, like waterfront, where the lack of availability keeps the seller in the catbird seat. “But what we’re seeing is that buyers are just not as willing to overpay for certain locations anymore,” Jacobs said.
One benefit for buyers is that homes in several large subdivisions are now coming on the market, easing the tough inventory crunch in middle-of-the-market properties. That easing is expected to continue in the near future, as more homes become
available. With increased inventory, prices tend to lower.
One thing that may not change any time soon is interest rates. “When prices (throughout the economy) rise, and buyers have less to spend on a mortgage, interest rates stay higher (to combat inflation),” said Jacobs. Because higher interest rates mean higher monthly payments on a loan, “That also contributes to prices trending downward, in order to match the market’s purchasing power.”
In a transitional market, Jacobs said it’s important for buyers to find a real estate agent they can trust. “Take the time to talk to multiple agents, to get a sense for who is the best fit for you and your situation,” he advised. “Listen to and take any advice they give you. As a Realtor myself, my role is to make sure buyers know information they might be otherwise unaware of, and to advocate for them and their situation.”
While buyers may be finding it easier to find their piece of paradise in North Idaho, don’t expect prices to come down too much. Idaho is still one of the hottest property markets in the nation. “There’s still a lot of people who want to live here,” said Jacobs.
–Trish Gannon
Bonner county market trends
Sales data based on information from the Selkirk MLS for the periods indicated. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Statistics are based on the period April 2025-September 2025 unless otherwise stated.
Single family homes sold by month
Total Value Single Family Homes Sold Bonner County
Average Median Price Single Family Bonner County
Median Price Single Family Homes Bonner County
Natives Newcomers &
Bonner County is statistically a safe place to reside.
In fact, it ranks in the 87th percentile for safety compared to all the counties in the country.
Sandpoint locals may forget how safe it is to live here, but for newcomer Anne Bassing, formerly of Seattle, it is one reason she enjoys her new home in Bonner County. She and husband Mike Jerome recently moved to a bungalow in Dover to enjoy the area’s recreational opportunities and safe environment.
Newcomer Eduardo Inojosa may not have to worry about his safety anywhere in the world because he is the North American champion of Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art based on grappling, ground fighting and submission holds. He is highly skilled in this combat sport, a fourth-degree black belt. He trains all the time when he isn’t teaching or representing North Idaho in JiuJitsu competitions around the country.
Native Nicole Black lives a charmed life in Sandpoint, or she
makes it look that way. She has wonderful memories about the Sandpoint of her youth and recalls the days when she would ride bikes with a pack of friends, pockets stuffed with quarters.
“We would head straight to the Pastime Café and order a heaping mound of French fries big enough to feed the whole crew with plenty left over. No one had cell phones then, so we would stop at the pay phone every couple of hours and call home. It was simple, carefree and full of the kind of freedom that makes childhood unforgettable.”
Native Derrick Hagstrom was employed for nearly two decades as a Sandpoint police officer. He believes Sandpoint is a safe community because “you see the people you police in the community” and the officers and Sandpoint’s leaders have created a culture that generates pride. He uses his empathetic skills in his new role as campus security officer for the Lake Pend Oreille School District.
story and photos by Susan Drinkard
Anne Bassing Newcomer
Newcomer Anne Bassing was raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She attended college at Utah State University in Logan, Utah, graduating with a Bachelor of fine arts degree before moving to Washington state to work five seasons for the U.S. Forest Service. Utilizing her university studies in commercial arts, she worked for Nordstrom for 17 years. Coldwater Creek retained her for freelance graphic design projects, resulting in her occasional visits to Sandpoint. During that time, she met Joyce and Marc DeLaVergne of Sagle, who needed crew on their sailboat. She had experience racing sailboats in Seattle, and they became good friends.
Seattle seemed to undergo changes that made living there more untenable—social problems, crime, traffic congestion.
“We came over here on vacation and he [her husband, Mike Jerome] discovered Sandpoint with me. The area reminds him of Vermont, his home state. After several kayak trips to Brown’s Inlet in Dover, we saw the bungalows, reached out to the builder, and now we live here," she said.
What about Sandpoint has surprised you?
Despite being a small town, there are plenty of opportunities to learn. I'm taking ukulele and golf lessons, and we explore the lake by boat. The quality of life is great.
Being in Sandpoint has relaxed me in a way I’ve never felt before. There are no traffic jams. It feels safe and I don’t have my guard up. I don’t feel afraid.
What is it about Sandpoint that you find challenging?
I miss the Seattle Art Museum, Jazz Alley and dinner clubs, but I've come to appreciate Sandpoint's Arts and Crafts Fair for its quality. I am grateful for finding politically likeminded friends in my book club.
Eduardo Inojosa Newcomer
Eduardo Inojosa, 38, brings extensive Jiu-Jitsu expertise from Brazil to Sandpoint. As the North American Jiu-Jitsu champion, he serves as the lead coach at North Idaho Jiu Jitsu, where he teaches both foundational skills and advanced techniques across three child and four adult classes.
Inojosa has resided in Sandpoint with his wife and children for two years. This is a major change for them, as they are from Manaus, Brazil—the largest city in the state of Amazonas with a population of over two million.
Not only is he teaching full time, but he is also representing North Idaho in Jiu-Jitsu competitions around the country.
Inojosa, who is learning English, spoke for this interview with his interpreter, Isolda Hartmann, who speaks fluent Portuguese. He met her fortuitously in Sandpoint. He seems to attract good fortune, finding himself at the right place at the right time. Consider how he found Sandpoint: While instructing Jiu-Jitsu classes in Brazil, Inojosa was invited by a tourist from Sandpoint to visit North Idaho. Subsequently, during his participation in a competition in Miami, Chris Kalinowski, the visitor from Sandpoint, sponsored Inojosa’s travel expenses for a two-week stay in Sandpoint.
“I didn’t have any expectations, but when I saw it for the first time, I knew it was an incredible place,” he said, with the help of his interpreter.
His expertise and qualifications as a fourth-degree black belt champion have brought him to North Idaho Jiu-Jitsu where he leads the adult Gi program and competition classes and is the coach of the advanced kids program.
He met his interpreter through their mutual nurse prac-
titioner, and she is assisting him with English tutoring. “He attracts people. He’s made many friends and takes advantage of each minute he is here,” Hartmann said.
He and his wife, Luana, and their boys, Gabriel, 8, and Lucca, 5, attend New Life Church on Boyer Avenue and enjoy fishing, spending time together at City Beach, and in the winter, Eduardo enjoys snowboarding.
What has surprised you about Sandpoint?
How welcoming the people are, and that makes it different from other places. I have lived in Denmark and competed in Dubai. The people here are friendly, and you can easily feel connected to others. Sandpoint has good vibes.
In Manaus we watched American movies and saw the beauty of the four seasons. ‘Does that truly exist?’ we would ask ourselves. We enjoy each season here and what it has to offer. In Manaus there are two seasons—wet and dry. What is it about Sandpoint that you find challenging?
Sandpoint is isolated, located far from large cities. The nearest airport requires a one-and-a-half-hour drive, which is necessary for travel to competitions.
nicole Black Native
Artist, athlete, mother, wife and yoga teacher Nicole Black, 44, spent her early years living on her grandparents’ farm on Dufort Road. Many locals remember Sally and Ken Eyer, who welcomed people from diverse metaphysical traditions to “The Farm," a spiritual retreat center on property spanning 26 acres. It included horses, chickens and a meeting hall that was blessed by Tibetan monks.
“I was there,” said Black, who fondly recalls her early childhood on the property. Her father had passed away and she lived there with her mother, her aunt and uncle, and her grandparents.
“I spent whole days on the mountain behind the house, building forts with moss for carpet. I dragged rough rocks from the woods to balance on logs as little countertops. I
learned which roots and berries I could eat. The smell of hot pine needles in the sun still takes me right back. By dusk, I would start down the hill, and that is when I would hear my grandma’s voice calling me in for dinner. That was my cue to run home, hands scratched, pockets full, and heart wide open from another day of freedom in the woods.”
She now lives with her husband, Jimy, a real estate appraiser, and their son, Vaughn, on land bordering Pine Street Woods. Who were your favorite teachers growing up?
We moved into Sandpoint (from Dufort) in second grade. Mrs. Lassen, my third-grade teacher, was my first favorite. In fifth grade, it was Mr. Hillen who encouraged me. It was in high school that I met the teacher who would change everything for me—Dan Shook. Over time, he grew into a mentor and eventually a father figure, guiding me for 16 years as his only apprentice. He taught me to become a master ceramic artist, encouraged my painting, and helped me understand my creative, right-brain self. To this day, I still call him ‘Pa,’ because his lessons shaped not only my art, but the way I live my life. What are the best and worst changes you’ve seen in Sandpoint over the years?
One of the best changes is Pine Street finally being twoway all the way through. It makes getting around so much easier. And while I do miss the dirt parking lot and that big rope swing in the cottonwood trees next to Bridge Street at City Beach, I am grateful for the bypass. It helps keep at least some of the traffic out of downtown, and that feels like a gift.
If I had to pick one thing, the worst change is watching the older generation slowly slip away. Some of the most cherished personalities who shaped this place are no longer with us. The other change is the loss of open space. As kids, we could wander through fields and forests all day long, never worrying about property lines. That freedom shaped my childhood, and it is something I miss for the kids growing up now. Still, I cannot help but love this town. The changes remind me to be grateful for the people and places that are still here.
Derrick hagstrom Native
Native Derrick Hagstrom is known for his integrity. You might call him one of the good guys. He worked 18 years as a law enforcement officer in Sandpoint and currently serves as the campus security officer at four schools. In this role, he aims to ensure safety and build strong relationships with students. With encouragement from Cody Alford of Sagle, he also established a side business called Good Guys Home Services. The company hires teachers, first responders and other public servants seeking a supplemental income to provide window washing, gutter cleaning, lawn maintenance and holiday light installation services.
Born at Bonner General and raised in Clark Fork by his parents, Donna and David Higgins, the 44-year-old is a graduate of Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colorado.
He met Michelle, his wife of 23 years, in college. They have a 20-year-old son, and a daughter and son who are both teenagers. For four years he coached basketball for Sandpoint Future, a volunteer-based club serving fourth to eighth grade students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District. He enjoys outdoor activities such as fishing and hunting deer, elk and grouse.
Who were your favorite teachers growing up?
Robert “Bob” Gaw, who was a retired police chief, worked as a substitute teacher at Clark Fork High School, and he influenced my decision to go into law enforcement, and to give back to my community. Business teacher Brian Powell was also my basketball coach. He was an example of discipline and achievement, and he built relationships with kids. And Mark Rocha, who would open the gym at the Filling Station, a Christian youth center in Clark Fork, where there were pretty girls, good food and basketball. What more could a 15-year-old want?
What are the best and worst changes you’ve seen in Sandpoint over the years?
With expansion and growth come opportunities for people to seize. I have a business because of that growth. In addition, we have amenities we wouldn’t otherwise have—beautiful parks and good places to eat.
The challenges include adjusting to the saturation of people—in traffic, at the swimming pool and seeing 15 cars at your favorite hiking trail.
AS WILD AS THE MOUNTAIN ITSELF
Feeding the summit crowd takes some heavy lifting
by Renée Sande
When skiers clip out of their bindings and step into the Nest at Sky House on Schweitzer’s summit, they see comfort in the steaming bowls of ramen, fried jalapeño rings and craft beers on tap. What most don’t realize is that the journey their lunch took to get there is sometimes as wild as the mountain itself.
At 6,400 feet, fresh food doesn’t simply roll up on a delivery truck—it climbs by chairlift, crawls behind snowcats and sometimes waits out the weather in Sandpoint until the mountain decides it’s safe to travel.
“It can sometimes be a collaboration with other chefs on the mountain, like, ‘Hey, you got any parsley I can borrow?’” said Dave Gerszewski, chef at the Nest, and at the Red Hawk Cafe, the quick-service side of the restaurant.
“There’s always weather or mechanical malfunctions, the lift breaks down, all that plays into the highly strategic summit concept of operating a restaurant up there. If we get shorted ingredients or run out of something we can’t just go into town and pick it up.”
However, when it’s time to pick up food and supplies, Gerszewski and some of his crew head to the warehouse in the ski village where it’s been stored since delivery that day or earlier in the week. They load up what they need—with the help of warehouse workers—onto the snowcat, which is then driven up the mountain to Sky House two to three times per week.
“There are times when we need to get supplies up the hill before we open, so we’re on the snowcat by 6:30 a.m. in order to get it back to the warehouse by 8 a.m.”
“Dave gets all the help. I don’t get any, it’s just my crew and me,” laughed Bridgette Kohal, manager of the Outback Inn, which sits at the bottom of Stella, the 6-person, high-speed lift. “We’re the forgotten stepchild on the backside.”
Getting its name from being on the backside of the hill, the Outback (with
The Sky House restaurant. Schweitzer photo
The tasty burger at the Outback takes some logistics to get into skiers’ hands. Schweitzer photo
Skiers enjoy the relaxed ambiance of the Outback. Schweitzer photo
Bridgette Kohal, manager at the Outback. Schweitzer photo
“The Ole Lady on the hill in Hope has been woken up and is ready to work and serve you”
• Brunch every Sunday 10am to 1pm
• Family environment, feels like home
• Oldest & Newest restaurant in Hope
• Best sunsets on Lake Pend Oreille
126 W Main St, Hope (208) 264-5952
Located in the Historic Hotel Hope
Top: Located just below the Stella chairlift above the No Joke and Revenge runs, the Rowdy Grouse yurt provides a stop for skiers to sip a brew and have a snack while taking in splendid views. Schweitzer photo
Bottom: At the Outback Inn, you often discover there are more skiers on the mountain than you actually saw. Schweitzer photo
no less than 300 skis adorning the walls), while 2,000 feet lower in elevation than the village, is a challenging trek just the same, especially since Kohal—with only the help of her staff—has to load up supplies every single day, then drive the snowcat herself to the restaurant.
“I’ve been on the mountain for 36 years now and when I got the promotion to the Outback, I actually thought it was a demotion,” Kohal said jokingly. “At the time I had to drive an old ski ambulance—it wasn’t even a snowcat—but I’m still here, the old ambulance and two snowcats later.”
Kohal said the key to her job is a sense of humor and learning to roll with what you have. “If it works out, great, if not, we can work around it.”
Since Kohal has been at the restaurant her staff has doubled, and sales have gone from $1k being a good day to now $10k to $12k on the weekends.
“It’s a lot and I couldn’t do it without my dedicated team,” said Kohal, who has a few long-timers of 10 to 17 years and others who have been on for more than three years. “It’s very challenging but the people there make it fun. I always look forward to coming back but then I also look forward to being done for the season,” she laughed.
Gerzewski agrees. “I have an amazing crew. One of my favorite things is heading up on the lift with the crew, all socked in … but then we get to the top and see Sky House sitting entirely above the clouds, sun shining, blue skies, you can see all of creation and I think, ‘Wow, this is one of the best days.’”
Hopes, Dreams and Hoagies
Pivo Peaks Alehouse has 24 taps and a love for community
by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
Locals have taken note of the hustle and bustle coming out of the historic building at 119 N. First Ave. since springtime. That summer of hustle is paying off as newcomers Sara and Joey Bowden opened Pivo Peaks Alehouse this fall, marking the end of a restoration journey meant to celebrate the history of one of what’s now believed to be downtown Sandpoint’s oldest commercial building while introducing a new haunt where folks can grab a cold pint.
“Our focus is on excellent customer service and creating a warm and welcoming environment for everyone who walks through our door,” Sara said. “We aim to take care of our locals—people Joey and I have enjoyed many craft beverages with over the last few years.”
“Sharing that sense of community is really important to me,” Joey added, noting the couple’s commitment to
community goes to the core of every effort so far, including the Bowdens’ choice to hire only local contractors to restore their space, originally built in 1900–1901.
Aside from the 24 taps on rotation at Pivo Peaks, the alehouse is also slinging hot and messy hoagie sandwiches. This was a winning combo when the Bowdens operated a food truck in Bend, Oregon.
“We had a random little spot with four picnic tables and only four taps, but people still showed up to hang out, eat a good sandwich or enjoy a tasty beer,” Sara said.
The Bowdens dreamt of creating a brick and mortar version of their business, but came out of the pandemic realizing that they wanted to do it somewhere other than Bend. Thanks to a cousin connection, the Bowdens discovered Sandpoint.
“Meeting the people and seeing the community cemented our decision to move here to pursue our dream,”
Sara said.
The dream is now live, and the pair are eager to meet more locals and show off their legendary sub sauce recipe.
“I
Sara said.
Pivo Peaks Alehouse is open seven days a week, with extended hours for NFL football. Follow them on social media.
Above: The summer was full of construction work to get the interior of the new pub ready. Courtesy photo
At left: Joey and Sara Bowden in front of their First Avenue location. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey
A Q&A with restauranteurs Chad Foust and Justin
Dick
Restaurants come and restaurants go, but our local area has been blessed with several that have what it takes to stick around. Two of those are Sweet Lou’s and 113 Main, in Ponderay and Sandpoint, respectively. Sweet Lou’s now has three restaurants, in Ponderay, Athol and Coeur d’Alene, while 113 Main is a partner restaurant with Jalapenos and with Trinity at City Beach, which recently closed as the Edgewater is slated to be torn down. Owners (and chefs) Chad Foust and Justin Dick share their thoughts on how they make it work.
What year did you open your first restaurant, and which one was it?
Chad Foust: The first Sweet Lou's was located in Hope at Holiday Shores Marina. We opened in April of 2011.
Justin Dick: I opened Trinity at City Beach in 2009.
What's your favorite part of owning a restaurant?
CF: Just about everything. I love cooking, bartending (when Rachael will let me), working with our serving and bussing staff and of course catching up with our guests. Being in business since 2011, we have met a lot of people and they are all memorable in one way or another.
JD: I love super busy meal services where the front of house, back of house and bar are firing on all cylinders and our customers are happy.
What trait has served you best in managing restaurants?
CF: I’m a good problem solver. Be it equipment failure, an employee issue or a guest complaint, I need to be quick on my feet to get it resolved.
JD: Radical acceptance—accepting reality for what it is, without resisting or judging it. You can only control so much, you just have to deal with what you can’t control.
As related to your restaurants, what are you most proud of?
CF: I am proud that we are able to employ over 170 people year round and are able to offer health benefits to them. Ten years ago, health insurance in the restaurant industry was only
for the big corporations. We worked hard to make it available and affordable for our staff to have.
JD: The relationships with our customers and staff; watching them grow older and wiser, starting and raising families, community activeness. I feel like many of them are an extension of my own family from the time we’ve spent together.
5. What advice do you have for someone who dreams of owning a restaurant?
CF: RUN! In all seriousness, this is a hard business and it is not for everyone. You work 60+ hours a week and what you are doing every day is usually not what you had planned. From washing dishes, to cooking or running to the warehouse for product, you have to be ready to pivot at all times.
JD: Be present and able to do what you ask of your staff. Absent owners don’t last long.
What's the hardest part of owning a restaurant?
CF: Being at three places at once. Thank goodness we have a strong management team.
JD: The seasonality of Sandpoint. Huge, but short summer business with weather-dependent shoulder seasons.
What, based on your experience, is Bonner County's favorite food?
CF: A good burger or fish and chips.
JD: Hamburger or pasta. Amazingly, Chilean Sea Bass for our customers.
Chad Foust is the co-owner of Sweet Lou’s. Courtesy photo
Justin Dick owns 113 Main, and is a co-owner of Jalapenos in Sandpoint. Courtesy photo
INDIAN FOOD PLEASES THE PALATE AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS
Sandpoint Gets Spicy!
story and photos by Susan Drinkard
If you have a craving for Indian food, you’re in luck with three Indian restaurants within two blocks of each other in downtown Sandpoint.
Which Indian restaurant was here first? Utara Brewing Company, now Utara Pub on Pine Street, has served Indian and Indian-inspired dishes for seven years. The Utara brewery and taproom just moved to 2617 N. Boyer, said Christina Stecher, co-owner with husband David Kosiba. Meanwhile, the dining area at the Pine Street location has had a remodel; a dining room sits over the lube-changing business of yore.
Utara means “north” in Sanskrit which is very fitting for its North Idaho location. The restaurant features one-third traditional Indian food, one-third pub food and one-third Indian-inspired cuisine.
Stecher says the most popular items on the menu include the 10-inch naan pizza with tikka masala curry, fontina cheese and turmeric yogurt with cilantro.
The beers served at the Boyer taproom are deeply connected to the area's history and stories. There’s the Maiden Rock IPA named after a local landmark; the Drive Slow or Die Fast, named after a sign posted years ago by a driveway near Clark Fork; and the Up the Yaak, a name that plays homage to a remote part of Montana not far from Sandpoint.
Keeping the prices affordable is important to the owners. “We keep our prices so everyone can afford to come here,” Stecher said.
Hours are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday through Thursday, and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Tandoori Grill, located at 202 N. Second, offers an Indian dining experience complete with Indian music. The restaurant is owned by Lakhbir Dhaliwal, originally from the state of Punjab in northern India. He resided in California with his wife and children before moving north.
Dhaliwal and his partners run three Tandoori Grill restaurants—one in downtown Sandpoint, one in downtown Coeur d’Alene and one in Athol,
Christina Stecher with the selection of taps at Utara, which has expanded its Indian offerings.
Lakhbir Dhaliwal offers an authentic Indian experience at Tandoori Grill.
along with a food truck in Hayden. He said the restaurant in Sandpoint is the most successful “and the people are very nice.” His wife runs two Indian restaurants in California.
Dhaliwal and his partners use the Athol site as a base where he prepares all the sauces with Indian spices which include cardamon, cumin, black pepper and Indian red peppers.
There’s something for everyone at Tandoori; the menu itself is a14-page work of art with a photo of each option. Popular entrees, according to Dhaliwal, include the butter chicken, boneless chicken thighs cooked in a tomato-based spicy gravy and served with rice.
The food is cooked in a traditional Indian clay oven, called a tandoor, which reaches high temperatures quickly, locking in moisture. It cooks the food from all sides, producing a charred finish.
The restaurant is open seven days a week: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Saturday and noon to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.
The Mango Tree is relatively new to Sandpoint. Located in the former location of Ivano’s and the Blue Room at 102 First Avenue, the Indian kitchen and tap house has a cozy fireplace and a warm, green-hued interior.
The restaurant is one of seven Mango Tree restaurants; one is in Lewiston; one in Coeur d’Alene; four in Spokane; and now
one in Sandpoint.
Traditional Indian cuisine includes tikka masala, fresh tomatoes and spices in a rich curry sauce with a choice of chicken, beef, fish, pork, or an Indian cheese or tempura tofu.
According to a restaurant spokesperson, grilled dishes are a customer favorite. The mixed grill entrée, featuring beef kabob, lamb chop, bone-in chicken, fish and chicken malai, is especially popular. Eleven kinds of naan bread are available.
Favorite appetizers include the platter of samosas, veggie pakora and fish pakora. Pakoras are spiced, chickpea-flour fritters that are deep-fried. A samosa is a fried or baked pastry with a savory filling.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
IT’S QUICK FOOD, BUT NOT FAST FOOD
Marigold Bistro celebrates a full year in business
by Trish Gannon
It was a year in November since Cassandra Cayson opened Marigold Bistro at the Sandpoint Center (formerly the location of Tango Cafe) and she couldn’t be happier to be back in the business of serving up good food to happy people. “I’m just loving it,” she said.
For 11 years Cayson was the owner/operator of the popular Forty-One South, which closed with little warning after a new building owner decided they wanted the space. “There was definitely a grieving period, and I needed some time after losing the business so quickly. Marigold is certainly a new direction for me and I’m excited to see where it leads.”
Marigold Bistro is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., serving up breakfast and lunch to an ever-growing clientele. Spilling out into the expansive, three-story atrium area of the building, located at 414 Church St., plus a large area that can be closed off for private groups and events, the cafe offers a variety of cooked breakfasts and fresh pastries for the morning crowd, plus a large variety of salads and entrees for lunch. There’s even beer or wine for those who want it, with mimosas available for those special brunches.
Cayson can also open the building in the evenings and weekends for special events, and provides extensive catering
Cassandra Cayson is loving the new experience at Marigold Bistro. Staff photo
services for off-site celebrations.
“I love working with a small team around me,” Cayson said, noting that Ian Dillon, the sous chef from Forty-One South, along with the earlier restaurant’s baker, Kalika Grass, have joined her at Marigold Bistro.
“Our goal here is to make people feel very welcomed, even though the atmosphere is very casual. It’s quick food,” she explained, “but it’s not fast food.”
In a town that boasts several great places to eat, Cayson said she’s received a lot of support from other restaurant owners in the area. “I don’t know if it’s something that only happens here, but there’s a lot of camaraderie among the restaurants in town. We all support one another, whether it’s supplying something that’s needed quickly, or just in supporting each other’s success.”
Looking forward, Cayson is hoping to see the catering and event portion of the business continue to grow. She’s working on seasonal menus for the bistro, and likes to experiment with all types of food.
While running a restaurant can be demanding, she notes, “I’m still so thankful to have this opportunity. Having a job you look forward to going to—that’s just great.”
And that appreciation flows outward toward both guests and visitors. “We just want people to enjoy their visit here,” Cayson said.
Diners at Marigold Bistro often spread out into the atrium at the Sandpoint Center. Staff photo
The local
DISH
with Trish Gannon
Schweitzer has lots to offer foodies this season, starting with a Summit Sunrise Breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays beginning in January at the Sky House. Guests will load the lift early for an intimate breakfast with a themed, pre-fixe menu, and an optional, add-on mimosa bar.
Following breakfast, skiers and riders will start their day from the summit as lifts open to the public. Only limited spaces are available and breakfast reservations must be booked online in advance—and do not include a lift ticket. Breakfast is an add-on for holders of season passes or day lift tickets.
Also on the mountain, Sky House Snowcat dinners will return, with diners experiencing the magic of the full moon. Tickets feature a multi-course, fine dining experience paired with exceptional wines. It all starts with a champagne check-in at the Clock Tower before the scenic chairlift ride to Sky House. Diners will enjoy a snowcat escort down the mountain after dinner.
Also, the mountain’s Rowdy Grouse will feature new hot dogs, and madeto-order sandwiches and fresh-baked pastries from the in-house pastry chef are available at Mojo Coyote Cafe
For more information, or to book reservations, visit www.schweitzer.com
Connie’s Cafe (323 Cedar St.) is now serving up (as of Nov. 15) family-style dinners. Dinner for four is just $40, or add two more family members for another $20. Family-style dinners are available Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for dine-in patrons only. On the menu are family favorites like chicken and chips (chicken tenderloins served
with French fries or tator tots), spaghetti and meatballs, Mediterranean pasta with grilled chicken, fettuccine alfredo and macaroni and cheese. All pastas come with a basket of warm garlic bread. You'll also get a choice of green salad, Caesar salad or steamed fresh vegetables, a drink (soda, tea or coffee) and can finish off with an ice cream sundae. It's all at Connie's Cafe, along with good people, good drinks and good food.
Over at Sweet Lou’s, (477272 Hwy. 95 North, plus locations in Athol and Coeur d’Alene) childhood has morphed into adulthood with their new NFL menu that includes peanut butter and jelly wings—no joke! These are bone-in wings tossed in an Asian inspired peanut butter sauce with huckleberry spiced jam drizzled over the top. No dip is needed, but lots of wet wipes are recommended. Also on the menu is a sticky ribs bucket for those times when you want a little of everything but don't want to over commit. House-smoked baby back ribs are tossed in a sweet chili sauce and served in a bucket with fries and coleslaw. YUM.
For authentic German food, check out Little Munich (870 Kootenai Cut-Off Rd. by the Better Together Animal Shelter). Operated by Petra Irene, who hails from Munich, the food truck offers authentic Bavarian-style goodies like schnitzel, brats, homemade Lebkuchen and flammkuchen, a German pizza that’s thin, crispy and loaded with flavor.
The Hydra Steakhouse, a Sandpoint restaurant with an intriguing interior, opened in 1975 at 115 Lake St. In August, it was filmed for a feature on "America's Best Restaurants Roadshow," which airs on YouTube. Look for the premiere date on social media, or visit the show’s
website at www.americasbestrestaurants.com/rests/idaho/thehydra-steakhouse
What the heck is Dubai chocolate? Think of a peanut butter cup but instead of peanut butter, the chocolate is stuffed with pistachios (plus some tahini and some shredded phyllo pastry). It's also generally sold in bar form, not 'cup' form. Created in 2021, it became a trendy snack for social media influencers. It's probably the color of the filling—a vibrant green—that's made it an internet sensation rather than the taste, but if you love pistachio, and love chocolate, this might be a new treat for you! You can find it locally at Flavors of Phoenicia, a Lebanese restaurant located on Highway 95 in Ponderay in the shops across the
Above: Connie’s family dinners, like spaghetti and meatballs, come with a bucketload of garlic bread.
highway from North 40.
After a long hiatus, the Elmira Store is open once again. Open seven days a week, this is a family-owned grocery store and ice cream shop that’s also now featuring Stacy’s Burgers. Located on Highway 95 in Elmira, the store is getting a warm welcome back from area residents and those traveling between Sandpoint and Bonners Ferry.
Want to try something new? Roxy’s in downtown Sandpoint now has eight televisions for watching sports, plus they’ve added darts and pinball for an evening’s fun, complementing their Diamond pool tables. Check out this long-time but recently remodeled night spot!
Left: The Sky House at Schweitzer will tempt your sweet tooth with caramel bread pudding.
Middle: Sweet Lou’s new NFL menu features a bucket of smoked baby back ribs, or their PB&J wings (for real!).
DINING GUIDE in & around Sandpoint
COFFEE & CAFES
EVANS BROTHERS COFFEE, ROASTERY & CAFE
524 Church St. Roasted onsite. Handcrafted seasonal drink menu. Local pastries, burritos, breakfast sandies and more. Voted USA Today’s 3rd Best Independent Coffee Shop in the country. Open 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 208-265-5553 www evansbrotherscoffee com
MOJO COYOTE CAFE
10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. Enjoy a fresh Evans Brothers espresso, lotus or matcha latte and treat your sweet tooth to a warm scone. Freshbaked pastries, breakfast burritos, and lunch specials. 208-255-3037 www.schweitzer.com
CABINET MOUNTAIN COFFEE
10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. The closest coffee to the lifts is Cabinet Mountain. Stop into the Lakeview Lodge and there you'll find a great selection of quick bites and snacks, perfect for nibbling on the go. In the summer, enjoy refreshing beverages and cocktails while exploring the mountain. www.schweitzer.com
DELICATESSENS & MARKETS
MILLER’S COUNTRY STORE & DELI
1326 Baldy Mtn. Rd. Wholesome goodness with a selection of fine deli meats and cheeses, bulk food items, pie fillings, fresh-baked pies, breads and pastries—plus soup and sandwiches, takehome dinners and more. Now serving breakfast sandwiches. Open Monday-Friday. 208-263-9446 www.millerscountrystoresandpoint.com
WINTER RIDGE NATURAL FOODS
703 Lake St. An independently owned natural foods grocery store specializing in local produce, meat, dairy, beverages, goods and more. Open daily and featuring an in-house deli, from scratch bakery, juice and espresso bar, and full hot bar with indoor seating. Since 1997. 208-2658135 www.winterridgefoods.com
GOURMANDIE
10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. A specialty foods market located in the White Pine Lodge at Schweitzer, focusing on artisanal items from around the world while highlighting the culinary craftsmanship of the Northwest. Gourmandie features farmstead cheese, cured meats and salads as well as a unique selection of beer and wine. Look for a rotating selection of freshly made soups, charcuterie boards and shareables. www schweitzer com
ECLECTIC/FINE DINING
113 MAIN
113 Main St. Cozy, historic, downtown corner location offers delicious scratch cooking, a full beer and wine bar plus premium handcrafted cocktails and mixed drinks. Offering lunch and dinner daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 208-946-5309 www.113mainsandpoint.com
B’S BEACON
126 W. Main St. in Hope. The beautiful Hotel Hope is alive and well thanks to B’s Beacon, a full bar and restaurant inside the building’s ground floor. B’s offers carefully crafted and curated food and beverages served up by lifetime locals Brianna and Antone Changala. Come for the sunset, stay for the good company. 208-264-5952
THE BANK BARROOM & EATERY
105 S. First Ave. Located on the bank of Sand Creek in historic downtown Sandpoint, The Bank is a refined-yet-approachable restaurant and craft cocktail bar. It offers inspired familystyle dining with bold flavors and the highest quality ingredients. The space combines classic charm and outdoor dining over the marina, making it a standout destination for both casual dinner and special occasions. 208-948-2952 www.thebanksandpoint.com
THE CLUBHOUSE AT THE IDAHO CLUB
151 Clubhouse Way. The perfect fusion of fine dining and authentic Idaho hospitality, the Clubhouse Restaurant offers an eclectic, fresh menu made all the better by impeccable service. New
bar menu. Wed-Sat, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. 208-265-2345 www.idahoclubhospitality.com
CONNIE’S CAFE
323 Cedar St. Welcoming atmosphere in the heart of downtown Sandpoint, Connie’s Cafe is all about good people, good drinks and good food. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a lounge with a full bar hosts many local musicians. Now with family-style dinners. Open daily. www conniescafe com
CROW’S BENCH
10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. Located in the Humbird Hotel, Crow's Bench serves a selection of après cocktails and elevated eats in a cozy, central setting. Reservations recommended. www.schweitzer.com
THE FAT PIG
301 Cedar St. Suite 102. Enjoy an extensive draft beer selection in a warm pub environment with a rotating wine list. Classic pub fare and vegetarian menu. Now open for lunch Thurs-
306 Pine St. Neopolitan and Detroit-style pizza baked in a genuine wood-fired Acunto oven, plus fresh pastas. Patio seating, beer, wine, canned cocktails, appetizers and seasonal salads. Gluten-free and vegan options available. Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday–Monday. 208252-9433. www.forgeartisanpizza.com
JALAPENOS RESTAURANT
314 N. Second Ave. Jalapeños Mexican Restaurant in downtown Sandpoint offers fantastic Mexican favorites in a fun and lively atmosphere. A full bar, deck dining and party room make Jalapeños a must-visit. Friday-Tuesday 11 a.m.-8 p.m. 208-263-2995 www sandpointjalapenos com
heart of Sandpoint within the Sandpoint Center. A local favorite specializing in fresh ingredients, a welcoming atmosphere, friendly service and memorable meals. Open weekdays from 7 am to 3 pm, available after hours and weekends for private events, as well as offsite catering services. 208-263-9514 www.marigoldbistro7b.com
POWDER HOUND PIZZA
201 E. Superior St. AND on Schweitzer Mountain! Legendary pizza and a wide selection of greens, appetizers and sandwiches. Beer, wine, outdoor patio. Streaming favorite sports all season long. 208-255-0685 (town) 208-255-5645 (mtn) 208-255-0685 (town) 208-255-5645 (mtn) www.powderhoundpizza.com
SECOND AVENUE PIZZA
215 S. Second Ave. Piled-high specialty pizzas, calzones, salads and sandwiches. Gluten-free choices. Beer and wine. Take-and-bake pizzas available. 208-263-9321 www.secondavenuepizza.com
SKY HOUSE
10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. Experience a lunch outing unlike any other at the summit of Schweitzer. Soak in the panoramic views while enjoying a chef-inspired menu with locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients. 208-263-9555 www.schweitzer.com
SMOKESMITH BAR-B-QUE
102 S. Boyer Ave. Serving up bold, live-fire, craft bar-b-que with cold draft beer and cider on tap, canned cocktails and crushable wine. Kick back on the big outdoor deck or lawn and catch live music every weekend. Dine in, hang out or grab it to go. Located conveniently on US-2 along the bike path. 208-920-0517
www smokesmithidaho com
SUNSHINE ON CEDAR
www.instagram.com/sunshine on cedar
SWEET LOU’S
477272 U.S. Highway 95 in Ponderay. Terrific traditional and regional fare. Family-friendly restaurant with full bar. Now with special NFL menu. Two more locations in Coeur d’Alene and Athol. Open daily. 208-263-1381 www.sweetlous.com
PUB STYLE
CHIMNEY ROCK GRILL
10000 Schweitzer Rd. At the heart of Schweitzer village. Homey ambiance and log cabin feel. Meatloaf, burgers, salads, unique appetizers and more. 208-255-3071
MARIGOLD BISTRO
414 Church Street, located in the charming
Open Monday through Saturday 7-8 (Lounge open until 10) Sunday 7-3
323 Cedar St | Sandpoint, ID 38364 | 208-255-8791 info@conniescafe.com
334 N. First Ave. Located on the second floor of Sandpoint’s iconic Cedar Street Bridge, Sunshine on Cedar brings the warmth of the islands to North Idaho with traditional Hawaiian eats, as well as a selection of wine, beer and canned cocktails. Come enjoy a plate with a side of aloha spirit. 208-597-7055
EICHARDT’S PUB & GRILL
212 Cedar St. Relaxing pub and grill mixes casual dining with seriously good food. Completely family friendly. More than a dozen beers on tap, good wines and live music. Upstairs game room with fireplace. 208-263-4005 www.eichardtspub.com
MICKDUFF’S BREWING CO. BREWPUB
419 Second Ave. Enjoy craft ales in the iconic restored old federal building downtown. Traditional and updated pub fare. Open daily. 208255-4351 www.mickduffs.com
TAVERNS, BREWS, AND WINERIES
BARREL 33
100 N. First Ave. Local wine, beer, cider tastings and a curated food menu in a historic, waterside setting. Open daily from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (SunThurs) and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. (Fri-Sat). Dog and kid friendly with a tiki bar, cowgirl taco Tuesday, live music and summer events. Follow @barrel33sandpoint on social media. 208-920-6258 www.barrel33.com
MICKDUFF’S BREWING CO. BEER HALL & BREWERY
220 Cedar St. Tasting room boasts 16 taps, local art, free popcorn and weekly entertainment. Beer Hall is bring-your-own-food friendly. All ages welcome. Open daily. 208-209-6700 www.mickduffs.com
The Forge Pizza
PIVO PEAKS ALEHOUSE
119 N. First Ave. Sandpoint's newest destination for a wide variety of craft beer, cider and seltzer. Twenty-four rotating taps from around the town, region and world. Serving hot and messy hoagie sandwiches with house made sauces and other fare. Located in a freshly restored historic building from the early 1900s right across from City Beach. www.pivopeaks.com
ROXY’S LOUNGE
215 Pine St. This iconic Sandpoint bar and lounge is back to the name that first graced it in 1981, but almost every other part of the business is new and improved. Come for the drinks, stay for the Diamond pool tables, darts and pinball. Eight TVs for sports! 208-946-5376 www roxyslounge com
UTARA BREWING COMPANY
214 Pine St. Utara is an award-winning craft brewery featuring beer made on site in a smallbatch, seven-barrel system, as well as fast-casual traditional Indian, Indian-inspired and pub cuisine. Family friendly with ample outdoor seating that is dog friendly. 208-627-5070 www utaraidaho com
Miller’s Country Store
Alpine Motors is your GMC truck dealer. New and used sales and leasing. Full service, parts and body shop.
Sandpoint Super Drug The Center for Functional Nutrition offers a full line of clinical nutrition products including Klaire, Thorne, Pure, Ortho Molecular, and Apex. 604 N. 5th Ave. Sandpoint (208) 263-1408 www.sandpointsuperdrug.com
Finding my Winter Sport
by Ammi Midstokke
There are few things as socially humiliating in this town as admitting you don’t have a winter sport. I have been faking it by investing significant capital in gear. Nothing legitimizes a hobby more than having the latest technology—not even skill. In fact, you can drive around with ski racks on your car from November until April, and people will make a number of flattering assumptions about you.
Let them. It is safer. Because if you were to say you don’t ski, or snowboard, or full moon snowshoe up Scotchman Peak, or look forward to Sand Creek freezing over for ice skating, if you were to admit that your cross country skis (acquired via peer pressure at the annual ski swap where the only dress code is “Gore-Tex”) have never been waxed or even worn, if you said that winter is primarily appreciated for its contributions to your sweater collection and eggnog, you may be forced to give up your residency.
those T-bars.
I have white-knuckled and chill-blained myself through every type of snow. I have taken lessons from pros, read that stupid free-heel book and the other one too, and watched all the videos. I have disappointed my Norwegian ancestors so thoroughly, they’ve taken to suggesting I’m a Swede.
I skirt around expectant inquiry by claiming to train for races. I put my bike on a trainer in the garage. If it’s too cold, I run on a treadmill that lets me pretend I’m in Costa Rica. I wear Smartwool and Patagonia as a disguise, so I can still get morning coffee without public shame.
by
I don’t know how they achieve this overwhelming impression of a town full of winter sport enthusiasts, but I think they bus in trust-fund-ski-bums. But when the line at Evans Brothers gets too long, there are those of us who just passively recede from society, retreating back into the book clubs and knitting groups where we belong.
If you’re like me, you have tried it all. Probably twice. Every time I’ve failed at enjoying a winter sport, someone (usually, a man) ensures me I have simply not had the right teacher, conditions or gear, and they convince me to let them try. I have yardsailed down the front side of Schweitzer like a limp carcass, while an echoing voice yelled behind me, “You’re doooing greeeaaaat!”
I have telemarked my knees raw and swollen, concussed myself in a flat field of Nordic tracks, and fat-biked myself to frostbite. I have entertained masses of tourists and locals with my slapstick dismounts from chairlifts. Don’t even get me started on
Then I immerse myself in the winter sports I really love: learning how to make good scones, watching snowflakes fall in slowmotion, extreme knitting, perusing gardening catalogs, making steaming pots of stew, reading novels, shoveling and going to bed by 7:30.
Unconvinced it is hopeless, I still strap on my skis and scoot around the fields occasionally. One may even see me flailing down a slope, or reliving childhood trauma memories on the Pine Street Sled Hill. I’ll gladly wander the snowy woods or layer up and run on a crisp day in search of nature and Vitamin D. But sometimes I think my real winter sport is simply surviving it.
