Sandpoint Magazine | Winter 2025

Chalets @ Schweitzer Mountain, MLS #24-5504

#24-5501

I MAKE PEOPLE MONEY IN REAL ESTATE

I’m a real estate professional who combines my keen understanding of the housing market and my extensive experience as an investor and developer with the determination, focus and energy it takes to succeed.

What I love about my job is getting my clients to think differently.

For Buyers, that means helping them see what a house can be. You can’t always buy the finished product. Sometimes you need to create it.

For Sellers, return on investment is what it’s all about, whether that takes a big change, like renovations, or a small change, like paint and staging. It’s presenting a property at its best.

I try to translate vision into reality, helping my buyers to buy smart and my sellers to sell prepared. And best of all seeing every client get a return on their investment.

What if your realtor was more than just another order taker, simply checking off boxes?

You’d have a solid relationship with a trusted advisor.

What if your realtor had a background in investing, development and construction –on top of detailed knowledge of the housing market?

You’d steer away from the lemons, make a savvy investment and see the possibilities where no one else could.

What if your realtor had 20+ years as a full time, local agent?

You’d have that experience working for you, like your own personal secret weapon.

WHAT IF I WAS YOUR REALTOR?

YOUR DREA M BUILT TRUE

DSS Construction is rebranding as Smithwright - the high mark for custom home building in North Idaho. Just as shipwrights honed their skills in the rugged environments of coastal regions, Smithwright’s expertise was forged in the mountains and forests of North Idaho, where the demands of the terrain cultivated a culture of excellence in construction. Creating a fusion of tradition and innovation, where time-honored techniques meet cutting-edge design to create homes that epitomize elegance and durability.

Thousands

Local

PSNI

New

Winter

of

BRADFORD BENOIT.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE

After a lovely summer like the one just past, the short days of winter here take some adjusting. We lose 20 minutes and more of daylight each week; by the time we hit the Winter Solstice on December 21, the sun is above the horizon for little more than eight hours.

I’m here to point out two distinct pleasures of these dark days. First, for folks like me who aren’t exactly early risers: It’s a lot easier to capture the magic of the sunrise when it’s coming at the reasonable hour of 7:30 a.m. as opposed to 4:40 a.m. in high summer.

The bigger pleasure is the night sky. The stars, planets, and moon in winter can be glorious—to say nothing of the displays of the aurora borealis. And this winter may be something special. Every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic field reaches what’s called the solar maximum, with a high number of solar flares. NOAA says we’re just entering the peak of the current solar cycle, expected to last through 2025, and it is likely to bring more frequent displays of northern lights.

We got a good taste of that in summer with some fabulous displays. Turn to our photo essay on page 75 for some beautiful night sights. And this winter, come nighttime: Look up!

There’s more than night sky beauty going on. Check the Winter Guide insert for an array of outdoor activities, plus our stories on Schweitzer, Pine Street Woods, and more. Our town is bustling with arts, entertainment, and events, and local culture is vibrant. Indoors and out, it’s going to be a terrific winter.

- CB

Real Estate/Business

Eats

Publisher Chris Bessler

COO Jeff Lagges

Editor Trish Gannon

Events Editor Misty Grage

Eats & Drinks Editor Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

Advertising Director Clint Nicholson

Art Director Pamela Milless

Design Team Robin Levy, Dan Seward

Digital Marketing Brandy Nicholson, Erica Larson, Shelby Ambrose, Skye Konz

Office Manager Susan Otis

IT Manager Ethan Roberts

Sales Mitchell Fullerton

Distribution Panhandle Special Needs, Inc.

Contributors:

Thomas Bango, Cameron Barnes, Sammy Berryman, Barry Campbell, Dig Chrismer, Hannah Combs, Sandy Compton, Kevin Davis, Susan Drinkard, Susan Drumheller, Misty Grage, Cole Golphenee, Zach Hagadone, Jim Howe, Cate Huisman, Patty Hutchens, Jenny Leo, Ann Marie Lindbloom, Doug Marshall, Jimmy Matlosz, Jim Mellen, Soncirey Mitchell, Don Otis, Selkirk Pedersen, Amy Peterson, Brandon Puckett, Cameron Rasmusson, Chris Renfer, Laura Roady, Renee Sande, Selkirk Fire and Rescue, Elle Susnis, Marie Dominique Verdier, Mark Vogt, Pam Webb, Todd Wendle, Woods Wheatcroft, Brad Wilder, and Karren Williams

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.

©2025 by Keokee Co. Publishing Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Subscriptions: $14 per year, payable in advance. Subscribe at www. SandpointMagazine.com.

Kent AndersonKelly Armstrong Paul BaumanHeather BouseSteve Carlson

Bobby G

Nathan HesterCindy Hunter

Dave Wilson

Shari Keelin

Jeff Woodall

Jenna Miller

Ciara Normandeau

Randy & Darla

Jean Tillotson

Bob Lesniewski

Karin Willroth

Those

CORVIDS

BIRDS

PHOTO BY MARK VOGT.

Have you ever seen a bird drag a road-killed squirrel out of the way of an approaching vehicle?

Most birds fly away when a vehicle approaches but local birder Rich Del Carlo witnessed that exact scenario when a raven was trying to feast a little longer without being hit.

The antics of the Common Ravens and their cousin, the American Crow, amuse us year-round since they don’t migrate south. You might be familiar with other members of the Corvid family that can also be noisy or mischievous: Blue Jay, Steller’s Jay, Canada (Gray) Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker and Black-billed Magpie.

Sometimes crows and ravens mingle but ravens tend to be more rural and nest in forests, while crows typically nest in trees in town, said Del Carlo, who has organized the Sandpoint Christmas Bird Count for over 20 years. Both are opportunistic feeders, meaning they eat whatever is easy— from roadkill to dump offerings to eggs and nestlings, he said. They typically won’t visit bird feeders but they may help themselves to fruit trees and pet food.

“They are serious nest predators,” stated Del Carlo. “A raven’s favorite food is goose and duck eggs. They will also eat the babies, which does some damage to the local bird population.”

Over his lifetime of birding, Del Carlo has noticed an increase in the local crow and raven population. In 2004, Christmas Bird Count volunteers tallied 19 crows and 34 ravens in the Sandpoint count area and in 2021, volunteers tallied 227 crows and 95 ravens, according to the Audubon Christmas Bird Count records.

If a large, jet-black bird happens to be raiding your open garbage can, snatching pet food left outside, or feasting on road-killed squirrel, telling whether it’s a crow or a raven can be difficult at first glance.

Two main differences are size and vocalization. Ravens are larger, about the size of a red-tailed hawk, while crows are pigeon-sized. Del Carlo differentiates their vocalizations by listening for the raven’s deep, long-drawn-out croak or the crow’s caw-caw-caw.

Their flight behavior is different too. In the summer, ravens can be seen soaring on rising thermals, becoming specks in the blue sky.

“Ravens take great joy in flying; they are quite aerobatic,” said Del Carlo. “They fly together and sometimes have synchronized flying. They are adept at flying in strong winds but you don’t see that much with crows.”

Both, however, are quite intelligent, and numerous studies have shown that the birds routinely use tools, and remember the faces of people they like—along with those they don’t.

The next time you see a large, black bird at a transfer station, city park, or on the street eating roadkill, see if you can tell whether it’s a crow or raven. And if you have time, watch these extremely opportunistic Corvids and their mischievous antics—they’ll certainly be watching you.

–Laura Roady

Effort to Return Rural Rail Travel PLANS INCLUDE A STOP IN SANDPOINT

When I was young, my family took the North Coast Hiawatha passenger train from Bozeman, Montana to visit family in both Bismarck, North Dakota and Spokane.

My brother, John, recalls meeting a kid his age on the train. “Up to that point, the only black people I ever saw were on TV. He let me touch his hair and we became fast friends and spent most of our time in the Vista Dome.”

The passenger route was discontinued in 1979 and such pivotal social encounters came to an end for us and others in southern Montana when it was replaced by the Empire Builder, Amtrak’s storied east-to-west railroad route, to the north.

But the North Coast Hiawatha is being resurrected—with a stop in Sandpoint—and now is ranked the number one longdistance new passenger route priority by the Federal Railroad Administration.

The Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority was formally established in 2020 to bring back the 2,300-mile route that will knit together both rural and more populated communities from Chicago to Seattle—or Portland.

The BSPRA, an arm of the Montana state government, recently landed a $500,000 federal grant to conduct preliminary planning for the route, now officially in the FRA’s “project development pipeline,” according to BSPRA Chairman Dave Strohmaier, a Missoula county commissioner.

“This will make a big difference in people’s lives,” Strohmaier said. Whether it’s people who need to travel during winter to get to medical or business appointments in Spokane, Billings, or Minneapolis, or a community looking to draw more tourists,

the benefits are many.

“It’s a less stressful way of traveling,” Strohmaier said. “Part of the joy of traveling is the experience of traveling itself… There’s no particular joy in savoring the experience of being crammed in an airplane.”

For Sandpoint, which boasts the only passenger rail stop in Idaho, it will increase the availability of destinations to the east and provide more times to catch a ride. One of the planning goals is to offer more than one train per day, each direction, for more scheduling options.

The launch is seven to 10 years out—with many hurdles to overcome, including a shortage of passenger coaches. But the coalition behind the effort is large and varied.

Tribal nations along the route are among the biggest proponents, Strohmaier said, even though construction of railroads in the West hastened the near extinction of bison and the genocide of tribal nations. Now, rail transportation can bring more freedom.

Because Hiawatha was a fictional Native American character, among the first orders of business is to change the name of the route to one less offensive to tribes and more connected geographically to the region. The change also will reduce confusion with the Hiawatha Rail-to-Trail over Lookout Pass.

The route’s new placeholder name is Big Sky North Coast Corridor, Strohmaier said, but stay tuned for a rebranding campaign that will solicit other suggested names from people who live along the route.

Learn more at www.bigskyrail.org.

TOP: THE EMPIRE BUILDER ARRIVES AT THE SANDPOINT STATION. STAFF PHOTO. ABOVE: THE MAP SHOWS THE PROPOSED ROUTE THROUGH MONTANA AND ON TO SEATTLE.

Seattle

Spokane

Sandpoint

Helena

Billings

Bozeman

St. Regis

Missoula

PHOTO BY MARIE DOMINIQUE-VERDIER

Preservation Recognized Belwood 301 is presented the Orchid Award

In August, the Belwood 301 building, owned by Sandpoint residents Steve and Julie Meyer, was the recipient of Preservation Idaho’s esteemed Orchid Award. Since its inception over 50 years ago, Preservation Idaho has worked diligently to assist in the preservation of unique buildings in the Gem State, recognizing both commercial and residential projects that have made a significant contribution by tastefully restoring or remodeling historic buildings.

Located at 301 Cedar St. downtown, the structure has housed a variety of businesses, each leaving its unique mark on the structure. From a mercantile to a pool hall and cigar shop, to the St. James Hotel, Belwood’s Furniture, and most recently the Pend d’Oreille Winery and Fat Pig restaurant, the building’s history is a testament to its resilience. It has seen three distinct additions to the original structure, each adding to its unique character.

The Meyers purchased the building in 2013 and worked hard to restore it to its original beauty. When removing exterior paint and restoring the brick, a sign from decades ago was revealed that now adds character to the exterior of the building. Repurposed floor joists were used for trim and handrails. To set the standard for development in downtown Sandpoint, they considered how the renovated building would integrate with the rest of the community.

The remodel was a labor of love for Julie Meyer, who remembers with great fondness her own childhood encounters with the building. “It’s an honor to be recognized,” she said, “but it’s even more important that such a recognition exists, that our community values these old buildings and the work to keep them.”

Former mayor Carrie Logan was one of those nominating the Belwood 301 for this year’s award.

“For several years I had thought about nominating the building because of the beautiful job they did to preserve the integrity by carefully repurposing materials and reimagining the spaces,” said Logan. “In a time when several of our other lovely buildings have suffered exterior painting and refacing with period inappropriate materials, it was refreshing to see the brick not only retained but returned to its original state.”

Meyer said of the restoration, “I’d love to do it again if I found the right building. There’s a lot of life in these old buildings, a lot of stories.”

–Patty Hutchens

$5-$20

TRANSFORMATIVE SOUNDS WITH FAR EASTERN THERAPY

At first glance it’s their beauty that strikes you: seven colorful crystal bowls of different sizes sit in a semicircle on the floor. Wearing comfortable loose clothing, attendees lie on yoga mats while Amanda Bailey explains how sound bowls have been used in different cultures since ancient times as a form of healing and relaxation. Then she picks up a mallet and starts to “play” the bowls. The vibrations are deeply penetrating.

After visiting Bonner County five times, Bailey moved to Sandpoint last year from eastern Tennessee. She is a self-taught sound bowl practitioner who describes her personal experience with sound bowls in Sedona, Arizona as “transformative and life changing.” She wanted to share this healing technique with others, so she earned a certification.

Each bowl’s frequency is aligned with one of the body’s seven chakras, she explained, and the sounds help to heal a chakra where one might be holding stress or tension. “The bowls have a frequency that our cells respond to. Some people see visuals, some experience deep healing, some go into a meditative state or experience intuitive insights.”

Bailey works with couples on bonding issues and holds sessions for individuals and groups. She works with businesses to help with team building through sound. In October she opened her business, The Luna Alchemy Co., at 210 Triangle Drive in Ponderay, Suite F.

Learn more on Facebook or Instagram @LunaAlchemy.

First in Fashion

—Susan Drinkard

AMANDA BAILEY OFFERS A HEALING EXPERIENCE WITH SOUND AT HER NEW STUDIO IN PONDERAY. PHOTO BY MISTY GRAGE

A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE FOR VINTAGE SEWING MACHINES

Last summer, my trusty Singer Featherweight sewing machine balked at the proposition of mending a pair of pants. I was stunned. It had reliably carried me through more than 50 years of repairing household items, creating outdoor gear, and fixing all the clothing in my mending basket that my kids didn’t outgrow first.

Fearing that a trip to Spokane or even further afield might be necessary to restore its functionality, I was delighted to discover instead I needed venture no farther than Ponderay to see the Featherweight Doctor, where Darlene Girton buys, sells, and refurbishes these machines, along with teaching both in-person and online classes, and hosting an annual Quilt Camp.

Girton asked me when I had last had my machine serviced. I was somewhat embarrassed to have to say, “Uh… never?” but Girton wasn’t surprised it had lasted so long without intervention. The Singer Sewing Machine Company started making Featherweight machines in the 1930s, she explained, “for middle income homes, originally for clothing construction and mending. They were made to last forever.”

Singer discontinued the little machines in 1969, but they were rediscovered in the 1990s, this time by quilters. Their size makes them perfect for taking to quilting bees. Girton, who has taught quilting for 20 years, calls this “the Featherweight renaissance.”

Girton has had Featherweights shipped to her from all over the country, and she works on over 100 machines per year. Most, like mine, just need basic maintenance. But she has found that even machines that have survived house fires can be resurrected.

I asked Girton to do a complete servicing on my machine. Even for the remarkable Featherweight, it seems like a little TLC every half century is a good idea.

Learn more at www.featherweightdoctor.com

We’re here to help you

–Cate Huisman

DARLENE GIRTON WITH A SINGER FEATHERWEIGHT, A MACHINE THAT CAN “LAST FOREVER.” PHOTO BY MISTY GRAGE

International Selkirk Loop Celebrates Quarter Century

NORTH AMERICA’S ONLY INTERNATIONAL SCENIC LOOP DRAWS VISITORS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE

For the last 25 years, tourists and locals have traveled the International Selkirk Loop, taking in the immense beauty of the Inland Northwest. Sandpoint is a gateway for the 280-mile scenic drive that wends its way through North Idaho, Washington, and southern British Columbia.

Born in 1999 as the brainchild of Jan Griffitts, who had worked on a similar project in Wenatchee, Washington, and Jim Jeffers, then executive director of the Pend Oreille County EDC, the loop idea was embraced by Chambers of Commerce in cities on both sides of the border.

“Whenever I go to a new area, I get maps and start to explore,” said Griffitts. “When I did that here, I discovered this abundance of natural beauty.” She knew the drive would appeal to others, too, while also bringing economic benefit to the communities along the route.

The loop has more than just breathtaking scenery. Year-

round activities are abundant, including biking, hiking, water sports, arts and culture, and shopping.

Griffitts finds it difficult to pick a “favorite” place along the loop, though Kootenay Lake ranks high. “I’ll never forget taking the ferry across my first time in Canada,” she said. “It was gorgeous.” She was also impressed with the “warmth and friendliness” of the Canadians.

Stephanie Sims has been ISL’s executive director since 2012. She said the loop now draws 20- 25,000 visitors each year and “they come from all over North America,” as well as abroad, including Germany, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, and France.

She likes to point out one of the loop’s unique features: It’s the only designated National Scenic Byway that crosses an international border. “We are the only one!” she said.

See more, and request a free copy of the loop’s 80-page travel guide, at www.selkirkloop.org

–Patty Hutchens

ABOVE: THE VIEW FROM THE FERRY WHILE CROSSING KOOTENAY LAKE; BELOW FROM LEFT: THE LOOP TAKES YOU ON A JOURNEY OF SCENIC BEAUTY; JAN GRIFFITTS POINTS TO A FAVORITE SPOT ALONG THE LOOP; SIGNAGE POINTS THE WAY. STAFF PHOTOS.

GRAINS AND GRATITUDE: A MICRO BAKERY WITH HEART

GRATITUDE, PATIENCE, LOVE, AND RESPECT ARE WHAT MAYER AND LUKENBILL SAY ARE THE MAIN INGREDIENTS OF THEIR HOMEMADE BREAD. COURTESY PHOTO.

While the world sleeps, an oven on a Clark Fork back road preheats. Loaves are shaped and scored in a practiced rhythm, completing the life cycle from flour bin to cooling rack. Dough, risen well before the sun, develops a crust.

While the world sleeps, Chad Lukenbill and Jess Mayer rise early and stay up late to bring the labor of love that is Tender Earth Baking to the homes and bellies of North Idaho.

The couple took to baking in their own ways before joining forces. While Mayer loved baking since childhood, she got serious about taking workshops in 2018. Lukenbill came to baking through pastry and culinary school after serving 21 years in the Navy.

“We knew we wanted to create something that pulled together our mutual love of the art and science of baking, our desire to get involved in our community, and an opportunity to use the amazing ingredients found in our backyard,” Mayer said.

Tender Earth Baking provides loaves of artisan sourdough bread and other baked goodies year-round through both the Sandpoint Farmers’ Market and partnerships with local farmers who offer CSA shares through the winter months.

Mayer and Lukenbill said gratitude, patience, love, and respect are key tenets of their business philosophy.

“From the grains and the processes used to grow them; to the constant dedication to feeding our starter; and the dark, early mornings to offer our community the freshest bread and pastries possible, Tender Earth is dedicated to the craft,” Mayer said. Even while the world sleeps.

For the most up-to-date information on when and where Tender Earth Baking is making their bread available, find them on Facebook.

–Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

We are located right downtown and have plenty of parking right in front of our store. Our knowledgeable, friendly and helpful sta is standing by, ready to help you. It's what makes us di erent — we take the time to help our customers personally.

GARDENIA CENTER 2.0 BUILDING HAS NEW LIFE, PURPOSE

The Gardenia Center, Sandpoint’s former metaphysical spiritual center, located across from the post office at 400 Church St., has new local owners, new renters, and a new look.

Heather and Bruce Pedersen of Sandpoint, owners of Talus Rock Retreat, bought the building in late spring. “Purchasing the Gardenia Center was a huge leap of faith in order to scramble and close in the five days that the property had fallen out of contract. We feel at great peace to have found wonderful tenants to carry on the beloved Sandpoint icon,” Heather Pedersen said, adding they did not want Sandpoint to lose another historic building.

Husband and wife team Bizzie Gold and Gordon McKay, here since 2021 from Scottsdale, Arizona, lease the building as a central location from which they manage many businesses. One—Home Base—is a functional movement and cycling center. Downstairs is available for the community to rent as a workspace, as a drop-in by the day, or longer.

Another business is Break Method, an emotional rewiring program receiving much positive attention from mental health practitioners and academicians.

The building, updated with paint, neon, chandeliers, and velvet couches, has elegant hardwood floors and state-of-the-art audio equipment for events such as weddings and family reunions.

“We did mold mitigation, remodeled the kitchen, and Gordon painted the entire exterior,” Bizzie said, adding the building’s structural integrity has not been altered.

“I believe this dynamic couple will infuse new energy into the legacy of the Gardenia Center. Home Base seems to be a perfect fit and will further strengthen this valued community asset. It’s Gardenia 2.0!” Pedersen said.

Learn more at www.iamhome.studio

–Susan Drinkard

BIZZIE GOLD AND GORDON MCKAY IN THE FORMER GARDENIA CENTER’S MAIN ROOM FOR MOVEMENT AND EVENTS; PREVIOUSLY THE SITE FOR SUNDAY SERVICES. STAFF PHOTOS.

Noteworthy

Iconic Army Surplus destroyed in fire

Sandpoint lost a longtime local icon on the 4th of July holiday when the Army Navy Surplus burned down. The business (though not the building) was purchased by Cornel Rasor two years ago (he managed it for 41). Rasor, a former Bonner County commissioner and current candidate for the Idaho legislature (election results were not returned as of press time), said he is planning to rebuild. Photo by Selkirk Fire and Rescue.

Amber

laiche

Now it’s a field of Dreams Come True

The city of Ponderay unveiled the first phase of the Field of Dreams project, a complex of athletic fields off McNearny Road, with a party plus soccer this fall. There are four fully lit artificial turf sports fields, plus a portion of the restroom/concessions building has been completed. This 50-acre sports complex has been over 30 years in the making. Further construction is planned to continue next spring. Photo by Karren Williams.

Brings her dance skills to kids

Amber Laiche, SHS and UM graduate and former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and SHS dance team coach, has opened the Laiche Dance Center in Sandpoint. “My goal is to help any dancer reach their dreams, and I plan to offer a diversity of training to my students so they can achieve that,” she said in a press release. The center is open for those from 12 months to 18 years old. It’s located at 1411 North Division, Suite C. Laiche was the featured interviewee in the Summer 2022 Sandpoint Magazine. www.sptmag.com/intlaiche. Courtesy photo.

Kalispel elder Francis Cullooyah dies

Kalispel tribal elder Francis Cullooyah died in September of this year. The 80-year-old served as the Kalispel cultural program director, and was a familiar face to many in Sandpoint thanks to his work in sharing the tribe’s history in this region. He was featured on the cover of the Summer 1997 magazine for our story, “Land of the Kalispel.” www.sptmag.com/landkalispel

Stuart Nelson, Iditarod vet, passes

Dr. Stuart Nelson Jr., a Bonners Ferry resident, died in late September. Nelson was the longtime head veterinarian for the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and for over 30 years was a practicing vet at Bonner Animal Hospital with Dr. John Moody. He was the featured interviewee in the Winter 2015 Sandpoint Magazine. www.sptmag.com/intnelson

New leadership in the saddle for Pend Oreille Pedalers

Pend Oreille Pedalers, a nonprofit biking group that builds and maintains many local bike trails, hired Emily Strizich as their executive director this fall. Strizich has over 20 years experience in outdoor education, community organizing, and nonprofits under her belt, including her work as one of the cofounders of Reclaim Idaho. She previously worked as a pediatric occupational therapist in Sandpoint. Strizich replaces Jason Welker, now serving as the community planning and development director for the city of Sandpoint. Greg Williams, whose family built the first BMX track in the Idaho Panhandle almost 40 years ago, is also joining the team as strategic advisor. Courtesy photo.

USDA Serves up grant for incubator

The Pend Oreille Specialty Foods Incubator received a $32,000 USDA rural business development grant to upgrade equipment, plus provide internet and security improvements. The Bonner County Soil and Water Conservation District provided an additional $4,000 grant to the incubator to cover other critical needs. Courtesy photo.

Festival rewrites beverage policy

This fall, the Festival at Sandpoint announced that attendees will no longer be able to bring their own beverages onto the field due to insurance concerns. Those who plan to attend any of the concerts are encouraged to bring empty water bottles (32 ounces or less) with them, and free, refillable water stations will be available throughout the venue. Staff photo.

LOCAL • HELPFUL • TRUSTED

November

21 Opening day at Schweitzer, weather permitting. 208-263-9555. www.schweitzer.com

23 Carousel Fun Fair. Bring the kids to see the carousel’s restored ponies and more, 10 a.m to 4 p.m. at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. www.thecarouselofsmiles.org

30 Shook Twins “Giving Thanks” concert with guests Handmade Moments. At the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., at 7:30 p.m. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org

30 Festival of Trees: Friends and Family Day at the Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.crecidaho.com/festival-oftrees

December

7 Festival of Trees: Gala & Live Auction “Midnight Magic.” 5:30-10 p.m. at the Hive, 207 N. First Ave. Some say it’s the most glamorous holiday event of the season, hosted at a brand new location. Catered dinner by 113 Main. www.crecidaho.com/festival-of-trees

7 Christmas with the Gothard Sisters Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave.. Begins 7:30 p.m. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org

7-8 Sandpoint Lions Club Christmas Craft Fair 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave.

10 A Celtic Christmas with Everdream at the Panida Theater, 7:30 p.m. 208-2639191. www.panida.org

20-22 A Christmas Carol. Play presented by Lake Pend Oreille Repertory Theater at the Panida. Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m. & 7 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m. & 6 p.m. 208-2639191. www.panida.org

23–24 Ski with Santa at Schweitzer 208263-9555. www.schweitzer.com

31 New Years Eve. New Years Eve tubing party, then celebration at Taps on Schweitzer. Live music, late night snacks, midnight champagne toast. 208-2639555. www.schweitzer.com

January

1 Polar Bear Plunge. 11 a.m. at the Sandpoint City Beach boat launch. Free and open to the public, food donations accepted for the Bonner Community Food Bank.

9–12 Insanity Fab Winter Challenge 2025 North Idaho Mud and Crawl off-road race, 4X4 and SXS welcome. Follow on Facebook.

10 Annual Backcountry Film Festival, hosted by SOLE, at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. 208-263-9191. www. panida.org

17–19 Banff Mountain Film Festival. Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. Shows

Fri. and Sat. at 7:00 p.m., and 6:00 p.m. on Sun. A different program is shown each night. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org

18–20 MLK Weekend Night skiing and other festivities. Northern Lights at Schweitzer Friday night. Fireworks and torchlight parade, festivities start at 6 p.m. 208-263-9555. www.schweitzer.com

February

14-17 Presidents’ Weekend Celebration & Coca Cola Let it Glow parade and fireworks show at Schweitzer. 208-2639555. www.schweitzer.com

14 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.

14–23 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.

22 The Bonner General Health Foundation’s Heart Ball will be held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds. www.bonnergeneral.org.

March

1 PAFE Mega Alpine and Snowboard Demo Day at Schweitzer Resort. All proceeds

WINTER CARNIVAL KEG-PULL. PHOTO BY WOODS WHEATCROFT

BANFF FILM FESTIVAL. COURTESY PHOTO.

SCHWEITZER NIGHT RIDING. COURTESY PHOTO.

benefit Panhandle Alliance for Education. 208-263-9555. www.schweitzer.com

1–3 Annual Gun ‘N Horn Show at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer. Admission is $5, kids 11 and under are free. 7–9.The Follies. Signature fundraiser for the Angels Over Sandpoint is a hilarious variety show... not for the easily offended. www.angelsoversandpoint.org

TBA Wild and Scenic Film Festival. A curated collection of independent films about wild places and the people working to protect them. Held at the Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave. 208-263-9191. www.panida.org

April

5-6 Sandpoint Home & Garden show at the Bonner County Fairgrounds, 4203 N. Boyer Rd. An NIBCA event.

TBA Schweitzer 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

26-May 4 K&K Spring Fishing Derby. Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club holds their annual spring fishing derby on Lake Pend Oreille. Multiple categories and divisions. www.LPOIC.org.

TBA Schweitzer 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

May

3 3/4 Minus Cykeltur. Timed gravel grinder consisting of two different routes. Learn more at www.syringaclyclery.com

3 Sandpoint Farmers Market Opening Day. Shop Saturday for fresh produce and artisan goods from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and every Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. through mid October in downtown Sandpoint’s Farmin Park. www. SandpointFarmersMarket.com.

16–17 Lost in the ’50s. Lost in the ’50s. Car show, parade, and hot dance concerts. www.sandpoint.org/lostin50s

See complete, up-to-the-minute calendars at www.sandpointonline.com

Performing Arts Season

Pend Oreille Arts Council is located at 313 N. Second Ave., Suite B in Sandpoint. www.artinsandpoint.org 208-263-6139

Jan 31 Living Voices—The New American

Living Voices will take you back in time with a compelling narrative of a young Irish immigrant's voyage to a new land in the early 1900s. This show blends dynamic solo performances and archival film to show Bridgit's journey from the cramped quarters of steerage to the gates of Ellis Island and on into a bustling New York City. At the Panida Theater. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.

Feb 28 The Wardens Tales of the land come alive through haunting harmonies and captivating narratives from this Rocky-Mountain-based band comprised of a group of Canadian national park wardens, offering a deep dive into mountain culture. At the Panida Theater. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.

Mar 22 Missoula Children's Theater

This renowned theater group works with local children of all ages to present a classic, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." A magic mirror tells the Queen that her stepdaughter, Snow White, is fairer than she, and the mayhem ensues! Auditions will be held Mar. 17 at Forrest Bird Charter School from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Performance Mar. 22 at the Panida Theater. Doors at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., shows at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Apr 30 Collision of Rhythm

A dynamic duo featuring tap-dancing virtuoso Aaron Williams and beatbox-juggling keynote speaker Bronkar Lee, whose breakthrough moment was at a TEDx event. They have been wowing audiences nationwide ever since. The show blends rhythm, melody, and sheer entertainment, and has been likened to a fusion of Stomp, Blue Man Group, and Cirque de Soleil. At the Panida Theater. Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m.

Living Voices

The Wardens

Missoula Children’s Theater

Collision of Rhythm

Pend Oreille Arts Council

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Lakeshore

Farming Flowers, Treasure hunting and painted ponies

CAROUSEL JUST ONE PASSION AMONG MANY FOR RENO AND CLAY HUTCHISON

by Susan Drinkard

It’s been more than two decades since Clay and Reno Hutchison of Sandpoint rescued a 1920s Allan Herschell carousel abandoned in two trailers in a Kansas field, coincidentally near Hutchinson, Kansas in Reno County. The couple brought the 36 ponies to Sandpoint in 2016 along with a dream to see the restored carousel horses go up and down in Sandpoint—specifically at the Sandpoint City Beach.

Since then, they’ve had to shake off disappointments about where the carousel would be located. Finally the couple, weary of the years of going round and round about a location, rented the former Bizarre Bazaar at Church Street and Fifth Avenue,

with an option to buy, to house the three-pony-deep merry-goround complete with a rotating show of local artists’ work in the frames behind the ponies.

Years of artistic efforts by a dedicated team skilled in woodcrafts, designing, painting, and other talents—from Spokane, Bonners Ferry, and Sandpoint—so talented and dedicated that Clay and Reno well up with gratitude and awe in the telling, have resulted in a completed carousel. And now the Carousel of Smiles has moved to its permanent location in the Granary Arts District next to Marketplace Antiques and the Pie Hut, a building the couple estimate will cost some $2 million to turn into a permanent home.

AFTER A PARADE THROUGH SANDPOINT, THE RESTORED CAROUSEL PONIES ARE NOW STABLED AT THEIR ULTIMATE HOME IN THE GRANARY ARTS DISTRICT, IN THE BUILDING THAT FORMERLY HOUSED BIZARRE BAZAAR. COURTESY PHOTO. PREVIOUS PAGE: RENO AND CLAY HUTCHISON WITH A PAIR OF THE NEWLY RESTORED PONIES. PHOTO BY CAMERON BARNES

A fundraising event is set for November 22–23 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds where the ponies will be riding together as a herd after years apart, surrounded by a myriad of other nonprofits.

The couple have a way of generating dedication to the project. Clay said it’s because of Reno and Reno said it’s because of Clay and his background, and the Sandpoint community at large.

Carousels bring for many a feeling of nostalgia for childhood joy and innocence. Reno has a wide-eyed love for the ponies and said they even whisper things to her, and each has his or her own personality now that they’ve been revived.

So just who are these people set to make an impact on our local scene? Well, Clay organizes car races for a living. Reno is a nutritionist. And that’s just for starters.

How did you two meet?

Clay: We met up at Schweitzer in 1997. I was here doing some consulting on the mountain. I sent my two-year-old over to her to tell her she had a wonderful smile.

Reno: I looked at him and said, “Most people use their dogs for that.”

Clay: I tried to get her to meet me for drinks over at Taps, but she didn’t show up. Six months later I got a call from Bobbie Huguenin saying there’s a gal named Reno who wants your phone number.

Reno: I didn’t show the first time because I had three kids and three jobs at the time and I didn’t feel like I had much to offer him. I had to work some things out. We had a long engagement. My oldest son, who just turned 43, is officially older than I feel now. (She laughs.) Clay has two boys and I have two boys and a girl, so we had a blended family.

So how old are you?

Clay: I am eligible for Medicare now.

Reno: I’m 62.

How long have you lived here?

Reno: I moved here in 1981 from Montana, a little farming and ranching community, Whitehall. My father built and owned a large greenhouse operation; he mostly farmed flowers. You are literally on 24/7. You have a crop growing every season: poinsettias for Christmastime; mums for fall; bedding plants for spring. It was one of the largest greenhouse operations in the state of Montana. We also had acreage with cattle and horses.

Is That where you trace your love for horses?

Reno: I can’t remember when I didn’t love horses. My life was filled with carousel horses initially in Butte. When we moved to Whitehall my dad bought me a horse.

Did you have an idyllic childhood?

Reno: Yes, I think I had a very idyllic childhood, unlike many childhoods today. There were expectations. We had to work. We had to feed the livestock and work in the greenhouses after school. Having that kind of responsibility at a young age has helped mold me into who I am today. Many kids are missing that today. I am not afraid of hard work.

Clay: I grew up in New York City.

spend more time doing what So you can you love

DoorsFor PersonalAchievement

PSNI

My parents divorced when I was real young. My biological dad was a lawyer in Florida. My parents were fairly hands-off. I went to boarding school and took a year off between high school and college to travel around the world with my 35mm Nikon. That’s what started my pseudo-photography career.

What was your favorite place?

Clay: Probably Nepal. I went climbing and trekking in Nepal. I spent a decade doing freelance photography and freelance special effects in the film world. That took me around the world four times, mostly in Asia, the South Pacific, and the Middle East. In an odd sort of way that got me some credentials as a tourism consultant, which took me to Eastern Europe. At that point, I was doing project management… I don’t remember exactly how I fell into treasure hunting in Scotland, but I did that for three years. We were looking for a historic shipwreck.

Reno: See, you should just be interviewing him because he was doing all this fun stuff, and I was raising children. I had my first child at 19.

Clay: We were looking for King Charles I’s baggage ferry with all the

kingly goods.

Reno: King Charles I was on his coronation tour [in the 1600s]. He was out showing off. He had carriages of silver table place settings and his sterling silver chamber pot.

Clay: It is a very historical and fascinating period in Scottish history. I was managing that, and that is how I got to Schweitzer.

Did you find the ferry?

Clay: No, we never found the ferry, unfortunately. It has been buried under tons of mud at the bottom of the Firth of Forth (an estuary near Kincardine, Scotland) for hundreds and hundreds of years in a shipping port.

It gave me a lot of skills because I was dealing with the Crown, governmental entities, the press, Sothebys, and the Victoria and Albert Museum (in London). It was a very educational period. A lot of high-tech equipment. It plays into this project because we could generate press. After all, it was how we got a lot of support. We had a joint operation with Prince Andrew before he was disgraced, and the Royal Navy. It was herding a lot of cats.

One of the gentlemen who was a potential investor and who was promoting

CLAY AND RENO ARE RACE OFFICIALS AS WELL AS CAROUSEL BUILDERS. CLAY IS THE OVERALL MANAGER, WHILE RENO SERVES AS GRID MARSHALL. COURTESY PHOTO.

us was also promoting Schweitzer, oddly enough, and the family that owned Schweitzer, the Brown/Huguenin family, convinced the sisters (in that family) to take a vacation to Scotland. They would tell us about what they were doing here at Schweitzer, and being a longtime skier I came out for a visit and fell in love with the hometown nature of Sandpoint in 1995. Several years later I came out here to do some consulting with Schweitzer and ended up buying some property and developed properties up there and met Reno and bought more property and moved out here in 1997.

Reno: We worked on that project together. It’s called The Spires at Schweitzer. We did that until 2010.

So you both are skiers?

Reno: We are both skiers and divers, and we both love to travel.

Who cooks?

Reno: I cook. He grills.

You have done some interesting projects together.

Clay: So we do still have a project left over from the tourism consulting days. We might get back to it. It’s a medieval village outside of Prague, Rožmitál.

TWO FAMILIES BLENDED WITH THE HUTCHISON WEDDING: RENO’S CHILDREN ISAIAH, ZACHARY, AND LAURA AT BACK, AND CLAY’S BOYS, BYRON AND AVERY, IN FRONT OF THE COUPLE. COURTESY PHOTO.

Reno and Clay Hutchison

Reno: Insert Munch scream! It’s an old medieval village with a moat!

Clay: We (the group owning this project) did have it for sale in late 2018 to see what kind of offers we could receive. We elected not to sell it at that time. COVID hit the Czech Republic pretty hard with shutdowns, so it all went dormant. Now the desire is to generate the funds and restore it to repurpose it into an event and cultural center. It is close to Prague,

in a nice village situated in a park-like setting.

That is a lofty goal

Reno: There is a lot of support and help from the local town of Rožmitál. So, the “lofty” part is the money raise!

Clay: Coming back to the carousel project, it’s easy because you don’t look at it all at once. You look at it in pieces.

Reno: Clay is good at looking at the big picture and breaking it down into small

bites. I tend to look at the big picture and get overwhelmed. When we first unloaded this project and looked at the scope of it, I honestly was so overwhelmed that I didn’t know where to begin. I’m super thankful that Clay had the experience he did to say, “This is where we start.”

Clay: Like any project, you find good people to join in. We are fortunate. That’s what this project is about. It’s everybody who is involved. The enthusiasm to be involved exceeded our expectations.

Reno: I’m hoping we will be able to tap into more of those resources as we move from the restoration into the operations.

Reno, You have been quoted as saying this project is to give back to Sandpoint. How did Sandpoint support you in your early days here?

Reno: I was so young when I started my family. I felt supported, especially after I was moving through my divorce. It’s not always easy to live here. Sometimes even in the most difficult moments the community, and the people, held me up. That feeling of support… that love… I want to give back.

Will you share about the elevator?

Reno: I remember when my kids were small. We had everything, but we had nothing. We couldn’t afford to ski or do some of the activities that were available to families then. The kids would get cabin fever and so would I. I used to take them to Gunning’s Alley in the middle of winter to ride the elevator.

One of the things I see the carousel bringing to the community is something for families to do, especially during the winter and shoulder seasons, especially for families who don’t have the resources to ski.

Clay: I believe the carousel will be a nice public gathering spot.

Reno: It will be a place for families to come together and enjoy being together

and have the magic of a carousel to create memories. I would love to tie in with a place like Creations to have a table of carousel-related art projects. The carousel will bring a year-round activity to Sandpoint.

What I feel when I see carousels is tangible magic…There is so little magic in our world today. I think it’s important to bring magic back, and that’s what we hope to do with the Carousel of Smiles.

After nearly 20 years of working on this project, what will you do after the carousel is operational?

Clay: There are a few other carousels out there that need restoration. We have assembled a great team, and we might turn this merry band into a full-blown carousel restoration division.

Reno: Insert Munch scream!

Keep up with carousel happenings at www.thecarouselofsmiles.org

Quality street legal LED fog lights

WITH WORK ABLE TO RESUME AFTER A SHUTDOWN INITIATED BY THE COVID PANDEMIC, THE HUTCHISONS CAN NOW TURN THEIR ATTENTION BACK TO THE RESTORATION OF ROŽMITÁL, A MEDIEVAL VILLAGE IN PRAGUE. PHOTO BY JIŘÍ JIROUŠEK, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Reno and Clay Hutchison

A Stroke of TALENT

LOCAL HEATHER MEHRA-PEDERSEN PICKS UP A BRUSH AND PAINTS HER WAY TO ACCLAIM

by Pam Webb

Stockbroker, veterinary practice manager, interior designer, sign language interpreter, advocate for the underprivileged, landlord, innkeeper, diverse entrepreneur, writer—even one or two of those accomplishments would stand out on a vita. Now, add in award-winning artist.

Heather Mehra-Pedersen can claim all these accomplishments. Achieving degrees in marketing and fine arts from Lehigh University, she headed in the direction of her father’s advice to seek business opportunities over art; however, her mother, who graduated from the Philadelphia School of Art, influenced her to embrace her creative tendencies. MehraPedersen combined her parental advice, which has contributed to her success as a businesswoman and an artist.

One notable creative business venture is Talus Rock Retreat. With her veterinarian husband, Bruce Pedersen, she established Talus Rock, a Sandpoint gem that is two decades strong. An 18-acre resort, Talus Rock offers well-appointed guest rooms and is a venue suitable for couple getaways and weddings. Her creative talent is evident in the building design and eclectically-chic décor, which now includes her paintings.

Her mother, Barbara Pressler, one of the designers behind Sandpoint’s Healing Garden, encouraged 14-year-old Heather to try painting. While she found watercolor to be an unforgiving medium, Mehra-Pedersen found greater success with palette knives and oils, something she discovered after her children had grown and left home. “I was picking up a lost love,” she admitted, referring to going back to painting.

A friend provided a box of her father’s painting tools which included a palette knife, encouraging Mehra-Pedersen to “Go home and try it.” Inspired by the works of impressionist Leonid Afremov, she experimented with the palette knife, reveling in the ease and joy of freely expressing herself on the canvas. Her resulting first work is a captivating, warmly-lit scene of two lovers walking along a boulevard at night.

“I was just as surprised as everyone else,” she commented, reflecting back on her first attempt. From there Mehra-Pedersen continued to experiment, realizing that unlike painting with watercolors, she was now able to cover canvas in large swipes, allowing her to layer the paint to create texture, which suited her favorite topics of animals and landscapes.

Once she began to paint seriously, her walls began to rapidly fill with her art. Receiving requests for her paintings activated her business acumen as her art began to sell beyond supportive friends and family. In the few years since dedicating serious time to painting, she has created more than 50 canvases. Sometimes finding it difficult to let her paintings

go, she captures her original art onto prints and greeting cards, which have sold in the hundreds. So far some of her original paintings have sold for over $10,000. In 2024 she was named the winner of Coeur d’Alene’s Art on the Green poster contest— her first ever entry.

Mehra-Pedersen’s financial success has provided the ability to pursue her art endeavors, while supporting other heartfelt callings such as her compassion ministry, WellConnected. Even though painting is an undeniable passion, her heart is centered on supporting WellConnected (www.wellconnected.org), which she founded before pursuing painting. The organization focuses on raising money to provide wells for areas needing safe, reliable water. Traveling around the world, often with her children, she administers aid on a one-to-one basis, ranging from providing eyeglasses to providing medical clinics. She believes people can do much with a little, citing a story of an ant carrying a grain of sugar. “That ant reminded me I can do something, even if it's small.” Mehra-Pedersen encourages and inspires people to be the ant by doing what they can with whatever they have.

As a busy person her time is precious. Her choice of a palette knife allows her to express herself with spontaneity, to “get the idea out” when the creative urge strikes, evident in her works which radiate color and texture. Some of her paintings are reminiscent of Van Gogh’s deep, vibrant colors.

Having established herself locally, Mehra-Pedersen is working on reaching out to more art galleries and exhibitions, with an eye on placing her work in major art markets. Her initial attempts to break into the Sun Valley gallery venue were not successful and then a “divine moment” happened when she found herself invited to display her art at the Sun Valley Art Walk. She has since been asked to display her work at the World Cup ski races in Sun Valley in March 2025, and at Gräham Galleries downtown in time for the 2025 Audi FIS Ski World Cup. She anticipates a mid-November opening for her own gallery, which will be located in the Music Conservatory (the former Sandpoint City Hall at 110 Main St.).

Beyond marketing her painting more aggressively MehraPedersen hopes to further develop her style and create a themed series. Ultimately she wants to leave a legacy that inspires others, one that will make her family proud. She does indeed color her life with infectious joy.

Learn more at www.heatherscolors.com

AT LEFT FROM TOP: MEHRA-PEDERSEN WITH HER MOTHER, BARB PRESSLER, WHOM SHE CREDITS WITH HER ARTISTIC TALENT; THE VAN PAINTED TO CARRY MEHRA-PEDERSEN’S ARTWORK AROUND TO VARIOUS GALLERIES; MEHRA-PEDERSEN’S TRUE PASSION FINDS EXPRESSION IN WELLCONNECTED, WHICH WORKS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THOSE IN NEED WORLDWIDE. PREVIOUS PAGE: THE ARTIST AT WORK ON “FADE INTO YOU.” ALL PHOTOS BY SELKIRK PEDERSEN.

PHOTOS

Take it Inside

RACKET SPORTS FIND INDOOR HOME IN NEW FACILITY

by Patty Hutchens

When the winter snows fall this year, racket sport players can head indoors at the newly constructed James E. Russell Sports Center at Sandpoint’s Travers Park, slated to open Thanksgiving weekend. The facility offers pickleball and tennis players an opportunity to enjoy their sports year-round, along with a space for the community to gather for special events.

“There are four tennis courts and two pickleball courts overlaid atop each tennis court,” explained Jason Welker, the community planning and development director for Sandpoint. “There are also two pickleball courts between each tennis court, for a total of 14 pickleball courts.”

This facility, a testament to the community's dedication to sports, was made possible by a substantial donation from the family of the late James Russell. A 1951 graduate of Sandpoint High School, Russell was a sports enthusiast who regularly re-

turned to North Idaho, where he loved to fish and take advantage of the opportunities summer in Sandpoint offers. (See story at www.sptmag.com/russelldonation)

The approximately 40,000-square-foot facility also includes a community room that opens to an outdoor plaza. The room can accommodate up to 50 people seated, possibly more if guests are not seated.

An outdoor covered patio, connected by a glass overhead roll-top door, offers an additional 4,000 square feet (approximately), providing an opportunity to utilize both indoor and outdoor space.

The building’s location and the removal of trees at the park sparked protests last year. Welker pointed out everyone in the community can now help shape its future.

“We’ve already been approached by other groups interested in using the facility,” he said. “While tennis and pickleball are the primary intended uses, we envision a wide range of groups being able to utilize this facility for a variety of things.”

The city’s recreation department will also host a variety of

THE JAMES E. RUSSELL SPORTS CENTER IS ALMOST READY FOR ITS PLANNED NOVEMBER OPENING. RENDERING PROVIDED BY CITY OF SANDPOINT. INSET: PROGRESS AS WE WENT TO PRESS. STAFF PHOTO.

events, including a kids' movie night, non-school-day programming during teacher in-service days, and summer adventure camps at the sport center.

Residents can reserve use of the sports courts online up to a week in advance. Additionally, those with a more flexible schedule can show up at the beginning of a 90-minute play session offered daily in hopes of getting court time.

“Each day, there will be at least one, sometimes two, 90-minute ‘community court’ time slots where any Sandpoint resident may drop in and play tennis or pickleball for free,” said Welker, adding they need to register with the city and sign a waiver. Non-city residents can play a 90-minute session for a nominal fee of five dollars during the community court time slots.

For those who play regularly, there is an opportunity to sign up for a monthly membership fee, which is $40 for a Sandpoint resident or $45 for a non-resident. If paying for one year in advance, registrants will receive two months free.

The drop-in fee for the other 90-minute sessions each day is $16. “The benefit of joining is the drop-in fee for members (during the non-community court time hours) is only $5 per 90-minute session, instead of the $16 that non-members will pay,” said Welker.

Thirty lockers, where users can store their items securely while playing, were donated by Gonzaga University’s athletic department.

Facility Supervisor Katie Bradbury manages a staff of up to five part-time workers who assist in the facility's daily opening and closing and support maintenance. They also manage online reservations and member management.

“In addition to managing the facility, Katie will develop various city recreational programs to maximize the opportunities for the public to engage with the James E. Russell Sports Center,” said Welker.

The facility is part of other improvements at Travers Park that include a new play ground, expanded skate facilities, and a new bike skills course, along with improved playing fields and walking paths.

For memberships or to book court time, visit www.sptmag. com/russellcenter

A Short Move to Ensure a Long Future

PSNI’s cross-street relocation makes way for a major expansion

by Zach Hagadone

Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. marked the first of a multi-phase relocation and expansion in July, celebrating the grand opening of its thrift store, The Cottage, at 1407 N. Boyer Ave.

It was a big move, figuratively, but not so much literally. PSNI helped more than 200 special needs clients each year to learn the skills to more independently live, work, and play at 1424 N. Boyer Ave. since 1975. If those addresses look similar, it’s because they’re across the street from each other.

Though it may have been a short distance to move, this represents a significant step into a long-term future for the nonprofit— The Cottage is just the first part of what will become an entire complex of purpose-built facilities to ensure PSNI’s continued vitality.

“It is our intention to create a modern campus that will cater to our community's needs long into the future. This site will not only accommodate our current staff and enrollment of approximately 200 per year, but will also allow for future expansion to meet growing service demands,” PSNI Executive Director Trinity Nicholson, Board President Jim Dubuisson and Board Secretary Gary Deaner wrote in a joint statement.

PSNI leaders added that the new campus will be built to

provide “a much better learning environment than our current facility—more space, better lighting, better acoustics, improved bathrooms, etc. Based on forecasts of the growth of Bonner and Boundary counties and the increased needs for disability services we will need up to twice as much space as we have now.”

Moving across Boyer was necessary based on the city’s plans to extend Baldy Mountain Road to a new connection at U.S. 95—a route that runs right through the present facility. As a result, the city opted not to renew its lease with the private individual who rented the site to PSNI. That lease won’t expire until 2033, and it’s unclear when the Baldy Mountain Road extension project will come to fruition, but PSNI leaders weren’t going to wait around.

“It is not going to happen soon, but it is going to happen and we will need to be in our new location,” they wrote.

With The Cottage thrift store already relocated, the further phases of the relocation and expansion are in full swing, with a capital campaign to raise the necessary funds.

Already, PSNI has purchased the 2.4 acres on which The Cottage is located, and is doing the preliminary work on preparing the grounds and infrastructure work for the new campus.

“Also, and maybe most importantly, we are preparing the organization and increasing the staff to be capable of raising the kind of money we need to manage the development of the new campus,” the press release related.

Phase 2 will include construction and relocation of the organization’s core services and administration, while it continues to operate its work program and greenhouse at the old location.

“While it will essentially split us in two for a time, it will provide immediate relief to our life skills training and adult day ser vices, while allowing time to raise money for the next phases,” they wrote.

If all goes to plan, the next phase will be construction of the second campus component, including an expanded thrift store, a new greenhouse, and relocation of employment services.

The last phase involves customizing the spaces, as well as adding a training kitchen and cafeteria, and completing the landscap ing. Capping off the project, PSNI plans to establish an endowment fund as a promise to the community and its donors that the organization is committed to fulfilling its mission for decades to come.

If they had their way, PSNI leaders would like to see the whole project concluded by the end of 2025, but realizing it would be “difficult if not impossible” to accomplish such a heavy lift “in one fell swoop,” they are working to raise funds on a phase-by-phase basis.

To that end, they invite the community to get involved—noting a particular need for skilled individuals to join the board of directors and fundraising committee.

“It goes without saying that we also need donations and corporate sponsors to help us financially,” they wrote.

Though they described it as a “monumental effort,” PSNI leaders Nicholson, Dubuisson, and Deaner emphasized the bottom line: “The ability to move all of our services into a fully integrated campus will improve the lives of both our staff and our disabled clients.”

Learn more at www.panhandlespecialneeds.org

JIM DUBUISSON, TRINITY NICHOLSON, AND GARY DEANER ARE PIVOTAL PLAYERS IN THE PSNI EXPANSION PLANS. PHOTO COURTESY PSNI.

New Directors Ready for Library’s Future

OFFERINGS EXPAND FAR BEYOND BOOKS

by Pam Webb

Although Vanessa Velez was hired as the new library director this July, she is not new to the library. Starting as a library page in 2006, Velez began an online course in 2012, and completed her Master of Library and Information Science degree in 2015. Velez’s roles have run the gamut in library services: circulation and information desk; cataloger; collection development manager; plus a few roles in between. Last year she served as interim library director.

Eighteen years with the library has provided handy insights to help her form a vision for the library’s future.  “My first year here, staff would race each other to process each returned item, and our paging room was frequently spotless,” said Velez, reflecting on a period when the library was less used. “I believe the combination of the 2008 financial crisis and a district-wide mailer alerting our community to the various services and materials offered by the library reversed that trend.” The uptick in checkouts is evidenced by the frequent full return carts.

Among other changes, Velez notes the shift in media. “We have moved from VHS to DVDs and Blu-rays, from audio cassettes to CDs, and added new formats like Playaways and Wonderbooks. Digital book offerings have grown

VANESSA VELEZ WAS NAMED AS LIBRARY DIRECTOR THIS YEAR.

PHOTO BY PAM WEBB.

exponentially to reflect the trend in the publishing industry.”

To meet growing technology needs the library now provides 3D printing, virtual reality experiences, computer lab expansion, and The Library of Things, where patrons can check out a variety of items ranging from birding backpacks to telescopes.

In terms of the future Velez emphasized that the library will continue providing services and materials, adjusting for trends and community needs. “We are currently in the process of updating our strategic plan, so more details on specific strategic priorities will be delineated within the next few months.”

Predicting trends is difficult; however, Velez sees two important aspects of future direction: community-led programming and modular, rather than fixed, library spaces. She also recognizes the challenge of keeping up with changing technology. “As video streaming services edge out more traditional video services like network TV and physical films, we are finding it increasingly difficult to provide access for our patrons to currently popular movies and TV shows.”

Politics is also a concern. “Libraries are apolitical organizations, but over the past few years we have become one of the many targets in the crosshairs of the culture wars.”

Velez acknowledges these recent issues are somewhat daunting; however, she believes that libraries can meet these challenges. “I am certain that the creativity and drive towards service that are inherent in libraries will ensure that libraries remain relevant to their communities for decades, if not centuries, to come.”

Another recent director is Brendan Mooney, whose position

Allowing people to use the library as the free exchange of thought in the business community is going to be key for the next generation of libraries “

recently switched from IT manager to tech services director. Mooney’s background includes IT work for the U.S. Navy, for a marketing company, and owning his own small IT business. When first hired Mooney applied his skills to upgrade the network, saving the library district money, which benefited the overall community. “This has opened up opportunities for staff to work on many new and exciting projects,” he said. One such project is working to bring affordable broadband to the community. Another project is helping people find careers within the IT field.

Mooney sees libraries going beyond books in scope with the placement of maker space and podcast areas. “Allowing people to use the library as the free exchange of thought in the business community is going to be key for the next generation of libraries.”

Mooney is concerned with patron access to internet connectivity. “While we have some of the fastest internet in any public library throughout the state, we still have a lot of people that are underserved. We are exploring using our subsidized internet via the FCC’s “eRate” program, to expand access to the internet locally.”

With an eye on the future Mooney is busy with current projects that include installing a new inventory system, improving patron data security, building a long-range technology plan, and solidifying the STEM related jobs pathway program. “I am here for the long term and for the investment in the community.”

Visit the library virtually at www.ebonnerlibrary.org

BRENDAN MOONEY’S BACKGROUND IN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORTS HIS NEW POSITION AS TECH SERVICES DIRECTOR AT THE LIBRARY. PHOTO BY PAM WEBB.

VANESSA VELEZ: FOUR QUESTIONS

Why did you decide on library science for your career?

I love books and reading and learning, so libraries have always felt like a second home for me. I also deeply appreciate how public libraries "level the playing field" for people by providing open access to information and opportunities for personal and professional development at all stages of life.

What is your favorite format for reading?

I am happy to read either a physical book or an e-book on a dedicated e-reader like the Kindle Paperwhite. I love looking at physical books, but if I'm traveling or the book is big, I'd rather use the Kindle. Beyond books, what are your other favorite offerings at the library?

We have an incredible movie collection—it's one of the largest in the state (almost 30,000 items) and we currently circulate almost 200,000 videos on an annual basis. But I also have a soft spot for our Great Courses collection and our databases. What is one word that best describes the library? Community.

Share the Story

Book clubs enrich reading

Ask any reader and they’ll tell you that the next best thing after reading a book is sharing it with others. And many readers locally do so through the informal fun of a book club.

New to the area, or don’t have friends who share your taste in books? Consider joining a book club.

The Sandpoint library’s book club for adults meets from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month at the library, said Chrissy Daniels, who leads the monthly discussions.

Books are selected by Daniels with the group’s suggestions in mind. They read both fiction and non-fiction, and the books are loaned through other libraries, though some attendees buy their own copy.

The Murders and Mystery Book Club, unaffiliated with the library, meets the second Tuesday of each month in a member’s home and invites interested readers to join them. Contact Suzi Ocello through the online community, Nextdoor.

A teen book club meets the third Tuesday each month at the library with leader Bethany Williamson in the teen lounge off the lobby, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Want more options? Consider joining an online book club—actress Reese Witherspoon hosts a popular one—or investigate apps like Fable that host a variety of book clubs based on genre. Google “online book clubs” for more ideas.

–Susan Drinkard

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FILM STAR LANA TURNER (MIDDLE) WAS A NATIVE OF WALLACE, AND CAME TO FARRAGUT IN WWII TO PROMOTE WAR BONDS.

“Hiya, fellas!” “Hiya, fellas!”

North Idaho’s brush with the Taylor Swift of her day

by Jenny Leo

In June 1942, the Sandpoint “News-Bulletin” reported, “Scores of Sandpointers Friday motored to Farragut Naval Training Station at Bayview, on Pend d’Oreille lake, to see the blonde film star from Hollywood, who addressed the thousands of workers.”

The star was Lana Turner, whose name headlined theater marquees from coast to coast. She’d recently co-starred with Clark Gable in “Somewhere I’ll Find You,” Gable’s last picture before he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. Weary wartime audiences were enthralled.

“[Lana Turner’s] mission was to sell bonds and more bonds,” the article continued. “More than $80,000 in bonds was pledged by the workers and visitors during her brief visit to the base.”

Farragut was still under construction, not yet operational. So it was largely to construction workers, not navy personnel, that Lana addressed her remarks. Over 8,000 employees of the Walter Butler Contracting Company, rushing to ready the base for its September 1942 opening, had swelled the population seemingly overnight, significantly burdening the housing situation, waste disposal, health care, and schools, even as they boosted the local economy. Stores stayed open late two or three evenings a week to accommodate the workers.

The Coeur d’Alene Press gushed, “Idaho welcomed Lana Turner today with open arms as she returned to her native state on a patriotic pilgrimage to boost the sale of war bonds.

“’Hiya, fellows!’ she gleefully exclaimed when she was presented to 5,000 workmen at the Farragut Naval Training Station by W. L. Cooper, Coeur d’Alene chairman of the North

Idaho War Bond committee.

“Abruptly she paused and with an earnestness which left no doubt of her sincerity, she exclaimed. ‘It feels good to be back in Idaho, back in this picturesque country which I haven’t seen since I was a teeny, weeny girl.’”

Julia Jean Turner, nicknamed “Judy,” was born at Wallace’s Providence Hospital to Oklahoma transplants Virgil and Mildred Turner. “Lana” was a stage name later bestowed on her by studio executives.

When Turner was six the family moved to California, but not before she made her tap-dancing debut alongside her father on the stage of Wallace’s Liberty Theater.

Tragedy followed the move west. In San Francisco, Virgil was beaten to death in a gambling dispute, and Judy spent time in various foster homes. Eventually mother and daughter were reunited and the pair moved to Los Angeles where—legend has it—teenage Judy was “discovered” by a talent scout at a drugstore soda fountain near Hollywood High School. Her first movie established her as a “sweater girl,” an image she struggled to overcome her whole tempestuous life, which included five marriages and the murder of her boyfriend by her 15-year-old daughter (the case was ruled justifiable homicide).

But in the summer of 1942, Lana presented a happy face to the Farragut crowd. Following her speech, she attended a luncheon in the Butler mess hall before making other appearances in Coeur d’Alene and Wallace.

Younger readers might be saying “Lana who?” But longtime residents may still recall the day a star shone brightly over Farragut, wooing workers to buy war bonds.

WHERE TIME IS WHAT YO U MAKE O F I T.

First chair or last call? Maybe Both? Epic

Photo: Kari M edi g

PINE STREET WOODSExploring

COMPLEX OFFERS ALL SORTS OF WINTER FUN

by Sammy Berryman

After moving from the tropical north island of New Zealand to the winter laden lands of North Idaho, I’ve routinely been asked, “But why?” The puzzled look of the person in front of me always forces contemplation. I then answer, “because of the seasons,” followed by, “and Pine Street Woods.”

Surely I’m not the only one who feels an overwhelming love for the 180 acres of forest that sits 15 minutes from the center of town. It’s a place that allows hikers, bikers, nature enthusiasts, and skiers to frolic through the meadow and meander beneath pine, larch, and cedar trees.

Visiting Pine Street Woods in the winter feels especially whimsical. Perhaps it’s being able to see far through the trees thanks to snowy blanketed brush or hearing the whooshing of skis from someone on a nearby trail. Whatever it may be, one thing is for sure, you must experience it for yourself.

There are many ways to explore Pine Street Woods on a

refreshing winter day. You can nordic ski on the wide trails, snowshoe or fat tire bike on the narrow trails, or fly down (the finally open!) Sled Hill on a freshly waxed saucer. If any of these sound intriguing, there are a handful of events over the next few months that are worth noting.

For those curious about nordic skiing but unsure where to start, Claude Goldberg, executive director of the Sandpoint Nordic Club, recommends attending a clinic put on by the club.

“We offer adult clinics including Learn to Ski days for classic skiing, a family-focused program for first-timers on skis,” said Goldberg. “Additionally, we have skate and classic clinics that are for all levels of skier from beginner to advanced, to improve on current skill level.”

Want to explore the dozen or so trails on your own time? Grab a pair of snowshoes or skis from the Outdoor Recreation Center and hit the trails. The center, which is run by SNC, offers daily, weekly, and seasonal rentals and is open every Saturday and

AMPLE SIGNAGE HELPS USERS FIGURE OUT A PLAN FOR THEIR TIME AT PINE STREET WOODS. PHOTO BY BRADFORD BENOIT.

Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays on the wide trails are extra fun as you can bring your dog skiing with you from noon to 7 p.m.

On November 13, Sandpoint Nordic

Club opens registration for the 2024/25 Youth Ski League. The programs are split into three categories based on interest and ability and stretch over an eight week period starting January 6, 2025. From firsthand experience coaching some of Sandpoint’s most energetic kiddos, I can tell you it’s a hoot.

If you’ve been daydreaming of ways to get between the lower sled hill property to Pine Street Woods, you’re in luck. Kaniksu Land Trust has been working hard alongside the SNC to utilize the old logging roads to help achieve the 300-foot elevation gain.

“We hope to have this trail ready to be groomed by winter and if Mother Nature gives us a lot of the fun white stuff, you’ll have a new ski trail to explore,” said Katie Cox, the trust’s executive director.

Cox also happens to be the Little Steppers coach for Sandpoint Nordic Club.

“I love to explore with all the fun, exuberant, and full of life, six- and sevenyear-olds in our community.”

Even on days when she’s not wrangling Sandpoint’s up-and-coming, you can find Cox traversing the winding trails at Pine Street Woods.

“I feel especially lucky when I arrive right after a fresh groom and get to make the first fresh tracks,” she said.

It’s fair to say that the fat biking community also feels lucky on days when the narrow trails are groomed thanks to local bike club, Pend Oreille Pedalers. Fat biking is a great way to learn the trail system since you’re going roughly 30 percent slower than you would compared to summer mountain biking, plus there’s a cushion of snow to catch you if you fall (snow angels required before returning to your bike). If you’re interested in trying it out, Syringa Cyclery (518 Oak St.) has a fleet of fat tire bikes available for rent.

Getting a Christmas tree from PSW is one of my personal favorite holiday traditions. Starting November 29, all trees in the meadow are available for cutting. Want to make an afternoon out of it? Park at the Lower Greta’s parking lot and walk up to the meadow with all items needed to cut and tow the perfect tree back down the hill. Tree cutting is based on donation so don’t forget to tuck some cash in the green metal donation tube by the Welcome Shelter or donate at www. kaniksu.org.

“Sled Hill will be open as soon as the snow flies and we have enough depth to safely sled,” Cox said. When planning a trip to Sled Hill make sure you remember a few things: pack it in pack it out, the area is day use only, and pets are allowed but please leash them and pick up after them. Cox also mentioned the parking area is limited to 20 cars so consider carpooling if sledding with friends.

Activities and events such as full moon skis, potlucks, and clinics are constantly being added into the winter mix. The best way to stay on top of these are by visiting the websites for Sandpoint Nordic Club, Kaniksu Land Trust, and Pend Oreille Pedalers, and following them on Facebook and Instagram.

ABOVE: FAT BIKING ON PINE CONE. PSW OFFERS MANY TRAILS FOR WINTER FAT TIRE BIKING. BELOW: SNOWSHOEING THE NARROW TRAILS WITH DUDLEY. DOGS ARE WELCOME ON FRIDAYS AT PSW. PHOTOS BY SAMMY BERRYMAN.

The Hunt for the Bungalows AND OTHER HISTORIC SANDPOINT HOMES

by Heather Upton

In an era of rapid change, Sandpoint is witnessing a surge in innovative residential home designs that have sparked renewed interest in its historic architecture. This unique blend has led locals to affectionately label the historic homes as the "Sandpoint style." But what exactly defines the Sandpoint style?

To answer this question, the Sandpoint Arts, Culture, and Historic Preservation Commission embarked on a comprehensive study. They examined the historic residential surveys commissioned by the previous Historic Preservation Commission and conducted on-the-ground reconnaissance to identify the most prevalent vernacular style in the community. Their findings revealed the ‘winner’: the bungalow is at the heart of Sandpoint's residential heritage.

The bungalow, often regarded as the chameleon of housing styles, is characterized by its simple yet welcoming design. When constructed with quality materials, it gracefully transcends decades of change, remaining a timeless favorite for many. This style harmonizes with various architectural trends while maintaining its distinct identity.

Recognizing the bungalow's significance, the ACHP commission developed a bungalow edition in their “Pattern Book” series. This resource not only chronicles the history of the bungalow on a national level but also emphasizes its local importance. It outlines key attributes that contribute to the bungalow's unique character and provides practical tips for rehabilitation or new construction.

Education and advocacy are two of the most important tools the ACHP uses in their efforts of preservation. In addition to

the pattern book, the ACHP Commission’s current landmark recognition program is the “Sandpoint Historic Walking Tour” brochure. This guide features two self-guided routes highlighting significant commercial buildings and residential homes in the area. During late spring and early summer, local historic storytellers lead tours as part of the ACHP’s signature program. Currently, the ACHP is in the process of updating the brochure to ensure that no historic homes—especially those that have undergone sensitive rehabilitation—are overlooked, and to uncover new stories that deserve to be told.

To capture this rich history, the ACHP Commission has partnered with the Bonner County Museum to issue a call for information. This initiative aims to gather stories about Sandpoint’s residential history, preserving them for future generations. The collected information will enhance the Sandpoint Historic Walking Tour, which will be refreshed and released in the spring.

The ACHP and the Bonner County Museum invite the community to share their stories. You do not have to own the home—just ensure that it is at least 50 years of age. To contribute, visit the city of Sandpoint’s website at www.sandpointidaho.gov. Your contributions will help enrich our understanding of Sandpoint's architectural legacy and celebrate its vibrant history.

“Bungalow” pattern books and “Sandpoint Walking Tour” brochures are available at Sandpoint City Hall, Bonner County History Museum, and the Chamber of Commerce.

Heather Upton is Sandpoint’s arts, culture, and historic preservation planner.

THE SIMPLE BUNGALOW IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF THE “SANDPOINT STYLE” FOR RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE.

PHOTO COURTESY ELLE SUSNIS.

FILMMAKER JIMMY MATLOSZ, ON A SET ABOVE, AND INSET, HAS BEEN A DRIVING FORCE ON THE SANDPOINT FILM SCENE. PHOTO TOP BY ANN MARIE LINDBLOOM, AT LEFT BY THOMAS BANGO.

SANDPOINT Shooting at 24 frames per second

THE TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS OF LOCAL FILMMAKERS

by Cameron Rasmusson

There’s something about filmmaking that brings out the bootstrapping instinct.

It’s difficult enough to make a movie with the resources of a Hollywood studio. Completing the last edit of an independent production’s final cut? That’s in a league of its own. But anywhere the creative spark exists, there’s a will to achieve the incredible—and there’s no shortage of that in Sandpoint.

Sandpoint and film have gone hand-in-hand for a century. In three short years, the Panida Theater celebrates 100 years since its 1927 opening, the same year Alan Crosland’s “The Jazz Singer” introduced talkies, Fritz Lang’s “Metropolis” set a new sci-fi standard and Abel Gance’s “Napoleon” pioneered early widescreen and camera techniques. Filmmaking careerists from Academy award-winning cinematographer Erik Daarstad to actor/director Viggo Mortensen have called the Sandpoint area home. And the cinephile spirit is alive and well among many of its residents.

It’s a spirit that lives in the heart of Jimmy Matlosz, who has experienced both the sleepless, buzzing energy of the California film industry and the businesslike discipline of independent film production.

After gaining experience working in visual effects—including “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Honey, I Blew Up the Kid”—Matlosz went fully freelance as a camera technician, gaining experience in IMAX technology. He eventually advanced into cinematography and directing on commercials before moving to Sandpoint with his family in 2009.

Along the way, the dream of directing features burned in his heart. He created The Idaho Film Company to produce his screenplays, pursuing the enterprise by seeking investors, pitching his work, and utilizing state incentive laws.

“Film is an entrepreneurial activity—it’s no different from opening a bagel shop,” he said.

Matlosz is most actively developing a werewolf feature called “Burden of the Wolf,” a young adult/teen drama and coming-of-age story about teens investigating the death of a friend. The film not only takes full advantage of the Inland Northwest’s beautiful scenery—it also explores the sometimes-contentious and misunderstood relationship between regional human and wolf populations.

Aric Spence is another local filmmaker who takes inspiration from the local environment, not to mention his

Farmin-Stidwell 7th-grade photography class. He’s utilized the Sandpoint environment for several shorts like a “Blade Runner” fan piece, a mock 30-second Saab commercial, the David Lynchinspired short “The Labyrinth,” the Bozeman Film Festival-showcased surreal piece “Submerged,” and “Grain Elevator Experience”—a haunting portrayal of an iconic Sandpoint landmark. All his short films are available on his YouTube channel “Aric Spence.”

Spence launched Sandpoint Filmmakers Network in 2014 as a collaborative hub for local filmmakers. While he uses the group less often for communication these days, it resulted in a tight group of local creators excited to collaborate.

“I am excited about working with other artists,” Spence said. “I love creating emotionally stirring compositions of moving images and I am especially drawn to all the details that go into crafting compelling visual frames.”

One such artist is Sadie Sicilia. Spence and his fellow filmmakers completed the final cut of her music video featuring six locations and “one heavy piano,” at the end of September, with the video set to

premiere soon. For Spence, it’s an opportunity to showcase local talent regardless of expressive medium.

Local talent comes in all shapes and sizes, as Timothy Bangle discovered on his “The Fade” sci-fi series. An opportunity to explore ideas about social control, the movies feature a cast of young actors from local schools alongside well-known faces from local theater.

“It's quite something to cast youth, like Alora Weisz, who started our project when she was 12 years old,” he said. “I've gotten to see them all grow up and mature as people and as actors.”

Completing the two “Fade” movies was no small effort. The first challenge: scheduling. Shooting a film demands sacrifices from its entire cast. The second? Weather. From snow to rain to fog to humidity, the “Fade” crew battled it all. But it was worth the frustrations. The second film, “The Fade: Rebellion” premiered at the Panida in April. And now work begins to turn the movies into a five-episode series. For Bangle, it’s a wonderful opportunity to develop the creative voice of its relatively young cast.

Calli Moore is another young artist

who caught the filmmaking bug early. Excited by the idea of capturing the grace and natural beauty of the western farming and ranching lifestyle, she turned her hobby into a career in 2020 by founding Anvil Film Company, eventually shooting marketing and advertisement material for brands like Coors Banquet, Wrangler, BEX Sunglasses, and Outback Trading Company. But her passion project is “The Anvil Project,” a documentary about ranchers’ and farmers’ experiences across the U.S. Her plan is to film the movie in 2025 across farms in every state, then premiere it in 2026.

“I hope to use this project as an avenue to amplify all of those who are advocating for agricultural community,” Moore said. “Farmers and ranchers face so many challenges financially, environmentally, and politically, so it’s my hope that I can help bring more attention to those issues.”

But like so many local productions, it takes a community. Moore is running a GoFundMe at www.gofundme.com/theanvil-project to complete filming.

That’s just the beginning of Sandpoint’s recent filmmaking pedigree—who could forget the feature “Missouri Breaks: The Ballad of Missouri Bill” filmed at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch that premiered at the Panida in June, for instance?

As for the future, Matlosz shared that his crew has been collecting interviews for a documentary on the Panida itself, with a hopeful production date in 2027.

And with so many exciting projects in the works, it’s safe to say local residents and film lovers will be seeing each other at the movies for years to come.

AT LEFT: FILMMAKER ARIC SPENCE DIRECTING ON SET. COURTESY PHOTO. AT RIGHT, DIRECTOR TIMOTHY BANGLE WORKED WITH LOCAL TALENT ON “FADE.” COURTESY PHOTO.

TAKEN ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR DAUGHTER’S WEDDING, THIS PHOTO SHOWS DICK AND NELL HIMES IN THE FRONT OF THEIR 1910 ABBOTT-DETROIT. PHOTO DONATED TO THE BCHS COLLECTION BY HIMES’ GRANDSON, ENOCH PERKINS, JR.

HIST RY Mystery

Brought to you by the Bonner County Historical Society

The Other Lifetime of R.B. Himes

by Hannah Combs

Renowned photographer Ross Hall’s face shines up from many of his own photographs; it is obvious he was at the center of Sandpoint’s significant happenings for over 50 years. But what of Dick Himes, the man from whom Hall bought his famous photography studio in the 1930s?

Himes’ name is written in neat white letters at the bottom of his photographs taken during early Sandpoint’s first growth spurt. Panoramic photos taken from atop telephone poles or even the smokestack of the Power House suggest Himes was adventurous, or at least not afraid of heights. But the man himself never appears in early photos, and for years I assumed he, like many photographers, preferred to quietly stand behind the lens, observing the world without drawing attention to himself.

That is, until I stood in City Hall recently, absentmindedly scanning the portraits of Sandpoint’s former mayors, and

noticed a grainy copy of a photo of a balding man labeled “R.G. Himes 1915-1917.” Could the “R” stand for Richard? If so, what more might we learn about the enigmatic photographer’s personality and life in Sandpoint?

An obituary search swiftly confirmed the match, with headlines proclaiming “Death Calls Photographer” and “Was Former Mayor,” but the man remained a mystery. As figurehead of the community, perhaps Himes wasn’t as introverted as I suspected.

After losing three fingers in a mill accident as a young man, Himes switched paths and learned the art of photography. He moved his family from the Midwest to Idaho, settling in Sandpoint in 1906 and establishing himself as a successful businessman. Five years later, he ran for and won a seat on the city council. Skimming the minutes of city council meetings from this era, I began to realize just what a big voice Mr. Himes had.

“Nettling”... “tearing to fine shreds”... “shooting the mayor’s speech full of holes”... “throwing bombshells” into “otherwise amicable” meetings… Alderman Himes appeared to have robust lungs indeed, being called “belligerent” dozens of times while he served on council. Tensions peaked in 1913, when C.F. Ewing was elected mayor and a proper feud broke out. Himes nitpicked language in meeting minutes, sometimes holding up approval for over an hour. Ewing repeatedly refused to approve Himes’ requests

for funding for the 4th of July parade. Himes accused Ewing of holding secret meetings. Ewing commanded reporters to write up Himes’ antics and humiliate him in the paper. Their squabbles became so routine that in the mayor’s absence one week, it was remarked the council had a “surprisingly business-like session” with none of the “entertainment the audience had come to expect.”

Himes held the city police chief in especially low regard, and never spared a breath in pointing out his inefficiencies.

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He was particularly peeved that Chief Hurd spent slow afternoons on duty at the bowling alley. Ewing was quick to justify Hurd’s behavior, stating that he was one of the best bowlers in the state.

Despite his vociferous speeches, Himes often clarified he felt no personal malice for the individuals he criticized, but felt a strong sense of duty in picking at issues that were not, in his eyes, managed effectively. He didn’t shy from championing unpopular stances, but it did not hinder his own popularity, and in April of 1915, Himes was elected mayor. The announcement read, “He is by nature progressive and energetic, and no one doubts he will enter into the duties of his office heart and soul.”

Once Himes took office, the drama at City Hall seemed to quiet down. Perhaps his aldermen were afraid to stand up to him, or perhaps he impressed his collaborators with direct and effective leadership. During his one term in office, he proposed a downtown improvement district to repair the sidewalks, which were in very bad condition. He was also heavily involved in finding a new location for the city dumping ground, which was at the time off the side of the Cedar Street Bridge.

Himes’ most lauded accomplishment as mayor was paving Cedar, First, Main, and Second streets for the first time. Though the effort had been in the works for years, Himes may have had a personal passion for bringing the project across the finish line. He was an early local adopter of automobile driving and applied for the very first license plate in the state of Idaho—his 1915 Overland was even exhibited at the World’s Fair in San Francisco that year.

Himes died in 1931 from sepsis brought on by strep throat, perhaps the only thing that could silence the voice of one of Sandpoint’s boldest mayors. In the end, he was remembered fondly by friends, foes, and family. His grandson recalled of Himes, “He was a man of good humor, given to practical jokes to liven things up.”

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Furnished condo situated minutes from Schweitzer Village featuring an open concept living area with stunning panoramic views of Schweitzer. The living room has a rock gas fireplace, hardwood floors and tongue and groove ceilings throughout. The kitchen is updated with custom countertops, cabinets and stone and wood flooring. There’s also a bedroom nook with views to the resort, behind barn doors, offering an informal third bedroom area. Other bedrooms are spacious and offer en-suite bathrooms. Also, 2 car garage, 2 ski lockers and private hot tub. $995,000

Rarely available location! Upper Creekside at Schweitzer is just outside the main village area, with mountain views and ski-in, ski-out access. This second-floor condo is light and bright, with expansive windows looking out to the mountain and over the creek. You will find a comfortable layout all on one level. As you enter, there’s an open concept living area with a cozy wood burning stove and a mountain view balcony. There’s also a nice kitchen and dedicated dining area. Also offering private in condo laundry, two large lockers, a one car garage and a shared hot tub. $850,000

What’s not to love about the most affordable lot in The Spires? The Spires is the highest residential living on the mountain, offering a gated, ski-in, ski-out community with some of the nicest homes on the mountain. This .27 acre lot is sold with a paid water and sewer connection and a future home will have beautiful resort and mountain views. It also shares a paved drive into the future driveway area for your future home. This lot sits above a switchback on Tall Timber offering long range mountain views. $325,000

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This condo evokes that quintessential mountain vibe with a welcoming remodel including hand hewn logs overlooking a tranquil snowy landscape where the warm glow of the fireplace welcomes you into a haven of comfort and relaxation.This top floor, corner condo has two bedrooms and can sleep 7. There’s also a private laundry and a newly remodeled bathroom. Walking distance to lifts. $629,000

End of the road privacy and great ski access from this mountain view lot in The Spires at Schweitzer! This lot is sold with recent Geotech & building plans for a four bedroom home designed by SOK Design Studio. Additionally, these plans are already fully approved by The Spires Architectural Committee. This is a unique opportunity to leap several steps ahead in the building process! This lot overlooks the entire front side of the mountain with private gladed skiing home, or easy access on groomed ski trails. $500,000

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It’s time to tackle the THE HILL

THE COSTS FOR A DAY SKIING OR SNOWBOARDING ARE TOO MUCH FOR MANY FAMILIES. HERE ARE WAYS TO BRING COSTS DOWN

by Barry Campbell

Schweitzer had a big year in 2023. One of the Pacific Northwest’s biggest ski resorts not only celebrated 60 years of spinning chairlifts, but was also purchased by Alterra Mountain Company.

While the mountain can be bought and sold, locals and those who return to its slopes year after year—from all over the world—feel their own sense of ownership. And they commit large sums of money to pursue their passion on what is decidedly a mountain, but frequently called “The Hill.”

Yet the number of locals who never—or rarely—access Sch-

weitzer’s 92 runs sometimes seems at odds with how quickly the powder can get shredded on a bluebird powder day (at least compared to five or 15 years ago). Cost is a primary reason proffered for not partaking of Schweitzer’s winter offerings. Skiing and snowboarding are expensive? No kidding.

A 2023 “Outside” magazine article reported that the cost of an unplanned day of skiing (including transportation, parking, lift tickets, gear rental, and lunch) for a family of four ranged from $813 to $1,341 at resorts across the country. Closer to home, that cost (based on 2023–’24 prices) is significantly

cheaper: around $625 at Schweitzer, depending on one’s lunch choices. Surely that’s a bargain, but still, $625 for a day of fun in your backyard is a deal-breaker for many.

Fortunately, there are ways of reducing the cost of snow sliding, from working on the mountain, night skiing, and buying early season or multi-day passes, to brown bagging your meals, and being creative and strategic in purchasing equipment and apparel. Yet even employing some of these tactics, the sport remains out of reach for so many.

Schweitzer and several other groups and individuals have

made improving access to skiing and riding a priority. Schweitzer’s Marketing Communications Manager, Taylor Prather, explained that the resort is fully committed to making skiing and snowboarding as accessible as possible, especially for youth. “I think from an accessibility standpoint, the great thing about Schweitzer is that we are the largest in both the state of Idaho and among our near neighbors in Washington, and we are very much still a business that’s grounded in our local community,” she said.

She added that the local ski community helps resort man-

MANY KIDS ARE INTRODUCED TO SCHWEITZER AT THE RESORT’S SKI SCHOOL PROGRAMS. PHOTO COURTESY SCHWEITZER.

agement stay focused on the core skiers who frequent the mountain. “The fact that families and kids, whether they're visiting or live here, have the opportunities to come up through various programs is pretty unique and pretty special. We have all of these incredible youth programs that we support throughout the winter, helping kids get outside and access an awesome place that’s right in their backyard,” she noted.

Schweitzer’s Funatics and Mountain Xplorer programs provide season passes and weekly instruction at a discounted package rate. “Those run throughout the season, and they really help foster this development and love of the sport. They’re a perfect activity for kids on weekends,” Prather said.

The resort also sells multi-pack lift tickets that can be purchased pre-season for the best pricing and buying a season pass, especially pre-season, usually pays off with about a dozen days on the slopes. “The analogy I always like to use is walking up to an airline ticket counter and buying a ticket that day to fly out,” Prather said. “Preplanning is the industry standard, and we try to do our best to get that message out because those are always going to be the best deals.”

Buying used or new gear off season and via annual ski swaps, including the Schweitzer Alpine Race School’s annual event, and one in Spokane, can deliver great gear well below retail costs. Also, season-long equipment rentals (like those available locally at the Alpine Shop) offer affordable options, especially for kids who outgrow their gear.

Additionally, Schweitzer offers a number of other programs and promotions designed to make getting on the hill more affordable:

• $20 Own the Night Twilight Lift Tickets (ski from 3 to 7 p.m. with $10 donated to local charitable partners)

• Afternoon lift tickets, a reduced rate for skiing noon to close, Sunday through Thursday

• Pre-purchasing online, and reloading RFID lift tickets also reduces the total cost

• The Ski Idaho Peak Passport program provides fifth and sixth graders with free lift tickets at Schweitzer and 16 other Idaho resorts for a nominal processing fee

• Partnerships with local school districts for midweek skiing programs

NIMSEF offers an assist for kids— and adaptive skiers as well

Operating with generous support from Schweitzer, the nonprofit North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Fund has evolved into a bit of a local institution. In 2010, long-time Schweitzer ski instructor Jeff Rouleau first conceived the idea of an organization focused on getting local kids onto the slopes because so many families he knew had two working par-

TOP: WITH YOUTH-FOCUSED PROGRAMS LIKE FUNATICS, MOUNTAIN XPLORERS, AND THE SKI IDAHO PEAK PASSPORT, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE NORTH IDAHO MOUNTAIN SPORTS EDUCATION FUND AND LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, SCHWEITZER REMAINS COMMITTED TO GROWING THE SPORT. MIDDLE: SCHWEITZER’S JUNIOR INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM GETS AREA YOUTH ON THE HILL AND EARNING THEIR PASSES (AND INCOME) WHILE LEARNING TO TEACH SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING; BOTTOM: TWILIGHT SKI TICKETS ARE AN INEXPENSIVE WAY TO ACCESS THE MOUNTAIN. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY SCHWEITZER.

ents but still couldn’t afford more than a day a year, and thus NIMSEF was born. Now, 15 years later, hundreds of scholarship skiers and snowboarders have benefited immensely from the efforts of Schweitzer, NIMSEF volunteers, and monetary donations from hundreds of individual and corporate donors.

NIMSEF has always required “some skin in the game” from its scholarship recipients (age 7 to 17) and acceptance is related to family income. Participants are required to sell raffle tickets for a Schweitzer season pass and are encouraged to earn money for the $50 fee ($100 for ages 16 to 17, and an increase of $50 per year for returning students) by raking leaves, babysitting, etc.

All scholarship students receive a full Schweitzer season pass and gear for the season, and students aged 7 to 14 are enrolled in Schweitzer’s Funatics program, which connects groups of similar age and ability who spend eight weeks together exploring the mountain with an instructor. NIMSEF has served as the impetus for several youth to transition into becoming junior and certified instructors, and for some to start their own successful businesses.

NIMSEF also works to support U.S. military veterans who don’t have the means to get out on Schweitzer’s slopes. On a case-by-case basis, the organization attempts to meet requests

for equipment rentals and lift tickets.

Additionally, the nonprofit works closely with Schweitzer to help get disabled skiers on the slopes. The adaptive program provides a full spectrum of adaptive skiing and boarding lessons along with one-on-one instruction with Professional Ski Instructors of America adaptive-certified instructors. Schweitzer also offers a complementary ticket for the disabled skier’s guide when necessary.

Jade Smith, Schweitzer’s resort service director, said that striving to provide access for all to the mountain is an ongoing priority. “I think as we further integrate into Alterra’s systems and processes, we're going to find more resources to help promote adaptive access to the mountain. It's something that we're looking forward to developing in the future,” he said.

All Schweitzer lift operators receive training for loading disabled skiers onto lifts, and the village area features heated sidewalks that help ease entry to the area. Additionally, last year the handicapped parking lot on the base area elevation nearly doubled.

In keeping with the commitment to supporting the disabled ski community, this year Schweitzer is also sponsoring six Special Olympics athletes from Boundary County. Three adaptive

FUNATICS IS JUST AS MUCH FUN AS IT SOUNDS LIKE. PHOTO COURTESY SCHWEITZER.

Our goal is doing what we can to help the entire community be able to experience the amazing mountain that’s in our backyard “

skiers and three snowboarders will receive six lessons throughout the season, which will qualify them to be eligible for the Special Olympics Winter Games.

Going forward

As the area’s demographics change and the financial pressures on local working families increase, Schweitzer and locals remain committed to building the ski and snowboard community and allowing those who face challenges to getting on the hill to overcome them. Having relocated to the area from a major Colorado ski resort, Prather has a unique perspective on Schweitzer and its relative affordability.

“Comparatively, apples to apples, it's really unique to have a worldclass resort that can still be affordable and accessible for a local family to just have an unplanned day at the mountain,” she said. While the hill is now part of a large corporation that owns some of the industry’s most notable names, staying grounded in grassroots support remains a priority, according to Smith.

Speaking from the perspective of working in multiple roles on the hill over the last 30 years, Rouleau said that while change is inevitable, it’s crucial for locals to stay engaged. “The financial challenges of living here have only gotten more difficult in the last few years and that’s not going to change,” he said. “Our goal is doing what we can to help the entire community be able to experience the amazing mountain that’s in our backyard.”

Working for a Ski Pass is a Time-Honored Tradition for Local Powderhounds

Ski bums have traditionally (or is it untraditionally?) figured out how to ski as much as possible by turning it into a job. A large percentage of Schweitzer employees work on the hill during the winter season in order to make the sport more affordable and accessible. Working in one of dozens of positions at the resort offers the benefit of a season pass and discounts on lessons and food and beverages at the resort, among other benefits.

Scott Comfort is one example. He and his wife have five kids and three of them attend a private school, so buying ski passes was not an easy budget pill to swallow. That’s why one of his sons works on the hill and why, when he saw an opening for a snow reporter position, it was a “no brainer” to apply.

“As I started to read the description, it sounded like it matched me to a T. I could wake up early and do it in the morning, but then still go to my regular job,” he explained. His entire family has benefited from his sharing ski conditions with skiers and boarders three days a week throughout the season.

“Obviously, it's expensive to live in Sandpoint. And then with three kids in private school, that was a pretty big chunk of money, so we were going to make some cuts somewhere, which was a little bit disappointing, but this was a great solution,” he said, adding that so many of his coworkers are there with the same motivation.

–Barry Campbell

SCOTT COMFORT IS ABLE TO TAKE HIS FAMILY SKIING THANKS TO WORK ON THE MOUNTAIN. COURTESY PHOTO.

BOUNTEOUS BACKCOUNTRY

The addition of cat skiing by Schweitzer plus new operations up north expands choices for powderhounds

by Sandy Compton

Winter 2024/25 provides new opportunities for powder hounds, particularly in the backcountry near Schweitzer. The resort recently acquired the Idaho Department of Lands lease formerly held by Selkirk Powder Company for cat skiing and snowmobile tours on 3,100 acres west and north of the resort boundary.

PHOTO BY DOUG MARSHALL

Rob Batchelder, mountain operations director at Schweitzer, noted that the resort now has two PistenBully 400 snow cats fitted with 12-passenger “boxes” to transport skiers to powder. “We refitted a cat we had with a box and bought a new machine, as well,” Batchelder said. “We should start taking reservations in November. We could have 95 or 100 days of cat skiing this year, depending on the weather.”

Meanwhile, Selkirk Powder acquired a new permit from IDL on about 6,500 acres north of Schweitzer’s, including terrain west of Mount Casey and north and west of Atlasta Peak. Selkirk’s permit allows access by snow cat, snowmobile, and helicopter. The area will be accessed from the Priest River side.

Both Schweitzer and Selkirk will offer guided snowmobile tours. Schweitzer will offer full and half-day tours.

PONY UP FOR A RIDE

Cat skiing, on the other hand, is an all-day affair, and cat skiing is pricey. A day of fresh tracks and rides to the top lists at $450 on the Selkirk website. According to Batchelder, a similar experience via Schweitzer Backcountry Adventures will cost around $600, with the advantage of starting the day early at the top of the mountain. “Guests will meet at the Activity Center in the early morning for introductions, safety training, and education,” Batchelder said, “then load the Great Escape” where they can ski straight from the top, with the cat awaiting them below. “Variables—weather, snow conditions, skier ability—can determine the outcome, said Batchelder, but one might expect eight to 12 runs and 7,500 to 12,000 feet of vertical. Lunches, snacks, and beverages will be provided.”

John Grolmus, who guided for Selkirk for the past several years, will guide for Schweitzer this year. “In general I would say our terrain is on par with other locations I have visited,” he said “but a bit shorter runs in general. One caveat is that all of our best skiing is in the trees, which not all skiers are comfortable with. My advice is to book a whole cat if possible and stack it with good skiers.”

SWEAT EQUITY SNOW FUN

Good backcountry equipment can be expensive, but the right setup can last for years, and there are many places to ski without buying a pass. A growing number of skiers are hiking upslope on alpine touring and telemark skis equipped with bindings that allow the heel to float free, along with skins— sticky-based synthetic strips emulating the skins of animals— attached to their skis so they can slide forward and then push

PHOTOS LEFT FROM TOP: VALERIE KATO, CHARLENE BELLES, AND LEESA STEFANO ON SCHWEITZER’S “REDNECK TRAVERSE.” PHOTO BY JIM MELLEN. SCHWEITZER WILL GET YOU TO THE BACKCOUNTRY IN STYLE ON THE REDCAT. SCHWEITZER PHOTO. TERRY MATTHEWS SERVES AS SHERPA FOR JIM MELLEN (CARRYING HIS PACK). ALISON BOGGS AND DAVID MARX, BRING UP THE REAR. THE DOG IS CHILO. PHOTO BY JIM MELLEN. NEXT PAGE TOP: “SNOW GHOSTS” ARE A FEATURE OF BACKCOUNTRY SKIING. PHOTO BY DOUG MARSHALL

“against the nap” for uphill traction.

For those who want to earn their turns through sweat equity, the ski area boundary at Schweitzer—and a growing number of other resorts—is somewhat permeable. To ski the open slopes and tantalizing glades on the other side of the rope delineating patrolled areas, there are good options for those who know what they’re doing. And they should know what they are doing.

The term “side country” has snuck into ski vernacular. It’s how some refer to unpatrolled areas accessible from lift-assisted ski operations like Schweitzer and other resorts. Jim Mellen, an inveterate back country rider, points out, “The term ‘side country’ shouldn’t be used, since it implies greater safety. It’s all backcountry.”

And backcountry skiing and boarding are inherently awesome and inherently dangerous.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Ski guide Grolmus and his wife Kim Loosemore—a long-time patroller at Schweitzer—know what you need to know to ski in the backcountry. And they have seen the results of not knowing. “The push to quit using the term ‘side country’ is warranted,” Grolmus said. “More people are being injured or killed after heading out unprepared into a perceived area of safety.”

Unpatrolled areas with no avalanche control and no immediate rescue personnel available, even close to a patrolled area, is to be treated as unpredictable. In avalanche situations, no matter how fast Search and Rescue can be deployed, they are often just looking for a body.

A rule for self-propelled back-country skiers who access the out-of-bounds from Schweitzer or any resort’s patrolled area is to use established gates in the resort boundary and let someone know they are using them. Schweitzer has six gate locations: near the eastern end of South Ridge where the boundary veers north; just south of the top of the Lakeview Triple; Stiles Saddle opposite the entrance to Stiles run, halfway from the top of Colburn Triple and Idyll Our T-Bar, and at the bottom and top of the T-bar. Ducking a rope—crossing a boundary where there is no gate, inbounds or out—can cost a day pass, a season pass, or a life.

Another rule of backcountry skiing anywhere is to carry and know how to use an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel. Beacons have dropped significantly in price and risen in efficiency and ease of use, especially over the past decade. For a device that will last a decade or more, they’re pretty affordable at around $250—you CAN spend a lot more—and they’re a most necessary piece of equipment. Without beacons, your friends can’t easily find you under a pile of snow, you can’t easily find them, and this can make the probe and shovel moot. (Many resorts offer beacon practice areas inbounds.)

Probes are lightweight aluminum or fiberglass poles that break down into about two-and-a-half foot sections connected by shock cords, much like a tent pole. They’re built for rapid assembly (a good probe almost deploys itself in just a few

seconds). They vary in length, and they are used to “probe” for a human under the snow, contact with which feels quite different than a rock or a stump. Once located, that shovel will come in right handy.

Scary and interesting fact: After 15 minutes under the snow, an avalanche victim’s chances of survival reduce to 90 percent. Half hour? Fifty percent. An hour? Twenty-three percent. Find fast. Dig fast.

There are other devices, including an avalanche airbag—a pricey inflatable vest—that might come in handy should the world of white break loose around you. But most important is knowledge of when and where that event might happen and how to avoid that time and place.

This isn’t a tutorial on avalanche awareness and avoidance, but you can get one from several sources, including Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (www.idahopanhandleavalanche. org), and be sure to read the avalanche story in the winter guide included in this magazine. IPAC also has real-time info for those who want to go backcountry in North Idaho, northeastern Washington and western Montana.

Sandpoint has a relatively large community of alpine touring and telemark skiers and split-boarders who enjoy riding out-of-bounds near Schweitzer as well as hiking into other, much more remote areas to seek undisturbed powder, solitude and the magic that only backcountry in the winter can provide.

Every backcountry skier, when asked about their favorite runs, came back with something like Susan Drumheller’s response: “I do love to ski the Schweitzer backcountry south, west, and north of the ski area, but that’s like asking a fisherman to share his favorite fishing hole!”

For the love of goats

Mother/daughter trio take on a ‘wooly’ business

by Renee Sande

When Red Falcon Ranch eventually landed at 249 Caprine Lane in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, after a long haul from Minnesota five years prior, the Abraham family saw it as a sign.

Their ranch consists primarily of 90-plus Angora goats; Caprine means “related to or resembling goats.” Now Caprine is the name under which they sell their cozy mohair socks, throws, and rugs.

“When we were deciding on a brand name, we kept coming back to Caprine. It was meant to be,” said Angela Abraham, founder of Caprine and co-owner of Red Falcon Ranch with husband Todd. The couple operate the ranch, along with their two grown daughters, Sarah and Rachel.

Known as the diamond fiber, mohair is incredibly soft (not itchy) and strong (one strand is stronger than a similarly sized strand of steel), which means it’s very durable, but also moisture wicking, fire resistant, hypoallergenic, and temperature regulating. It also tends not to attract or hold dirt and doesn’t pill like shorter fibers.

"It’s such a cool fiber, you can literally do everything with it. Some of James Bond’s suits are even made out of it,” said Rachel Abraham, ranch manager and social media persona, among many other titles. “The only thing mohair lacks is memory, so all Caprine socks and throws are a mohair-wool blend; the wool provides the bounce-back.”

One of the largest Angora goat farms in the Pacific Northwest, RFR operates on 100 percent love and respect for their animals and surroundings, which means giving more than they take from their land and looking to scientific data and their own research to ensure their goats are as healthy as possible, so that they produce the finest mohair possible.

It also means naming all 90-plus goats (and their 50 other animals, as well).

“Everyone has a name here. It’s really easy,” said Rachel. “I wish we could swap eyes or minds for a second, because everybody looks completely different to me.”

This probably wouldn’t be the case if the Abraham family raised their goats for meat, but they didn’t want to eat—or let anyone else eat—the animals they raise; they

BONNERS FERRY-BASED BUSINESS CAPRINE SELLS MOHAIR PRODUCTS CRAFTED FROM THE WOOL OF THE FAMILY’S ANGORA GOATS. INSET: AMONASRO CHECKS OUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER. PHOTOS BY JIM HOWE

wanted to add to their family. So they chose Angora goats which are raised strictly for their mohair, and which are also one of the friendliest, most docile breeds of goats.

“With their long hair and super chill nature, I like to call them the “stoners of the goat world,” laughed Rachel.

There’s Odin, Lazarus, Gwynnie and her mama, Jo, Lagertha, Anika and her mama, Spring Sun, Godiva, Ken and his sister Barbie, just to name a few; and then there’s Derek—5 month-old miracle-kid-goat-turned-Instagram-star, whose story of being stillborn then brought back to life, to not being able to walk, to now living a completely normal kid goat life, has received an amazing 1.3 million views, over 1,800 comments and 24.2 thousand shares in the four months since posting his story.

With compelling stories like Derek’s along with Rachel’s social media savvy, as well as Sarah’s photography and marketing and the farm tours that focus on providing a peaceful space for people, the Abrahams are slowly educating (and entertaining) viewers about their very humane, loving approach to raising Angora goats—a market that can unfortunately be very inhumane, like many other animal markets.

They even do the twice-a-year shearing right on the ranch— head shearer being one of Rachel’s other titles—in the goat’s own environment, to make the experience as stress-free as possible.

And like everything the Abrahams foster on RFR, these things have a way of eventually—beautifully—coming full circle.

When Angela heard in 2021 that she was receiving the grant to fund their sock and throw-making venture, it was just days after she’d learned she had breast cancer. Taking care of the goats every day, working on building the business for their socks and throws to be manufactured (in the USA), and weaving her 100 percent mohair rugs gave her the drive to survive. Today she is completely cancer free.

“Every day, no matter how sick I was, I got up, took care of my goats, and built Caprine. Giving in and giving up wasn’t an option. I dug in deep into a strength I didn’t know I had and trusted God to lead the way,” she said.

Caprine socks come in light (cable knit), medium, and heavyweight (Cabin sock) in ankle, crew, and knee-high length (available lengths vary depending on knit weight). The throws come in three natural colorways and all rugs are 100 percent mohair.

Learn more at www.redfalconranch.com or see what’s available to purchase at www.shopcaprine.com

PHOTOS FROM TOP: WOOL FROM THE FAMILY GOATS IS SPUN INTO A VARIETY OF PRODUCTS, FROM SOCKS TO THROWS. CAPRINE PHOTO. MOHAIR IS BOTH INCREDIBLY SOFT, AND INCREDIBLY STRONG. PHOTO BY JIM HOWE. THE WOOLY CRITTERS ARE UNFAZED BY SNOW. CAPRINE PHOTO.

It’s such a cool fiber, you can literally do everything with it. Some of James Bond’s suits are even made out of it “

ABOVE: SARAH, ANGELA, AND RACHEL RUN ONE OF THE LARGEST ANGORA GOAT FARMS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AT RIGHT: LUTSEN IS A “GENTLE BOY” AND “A FAVORITE OF ALL WHO MEET HIM,” SAID ANGELA. PHOTOS BY JIM HOWE.

BRANDON PUCKETT CAPTURED THIS VIEW OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS FROM A SPOT ABOVE THE LAKE.

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT PAGE: COMET C/2023 A3, AKA TSUCHINSHAN–ATLAS, MADE AN APPEARANCE IN OCTOBER. PHOTO BY BRANDON PUCKETT. THIS YEAR, THE SKIES ABOVE US EXPLODED WITH COLOR IN UNFORGETTABLE AURORAL DISPLAYS. PHOTO BY BRADFORD BENOIT. A THREE-HOUR TIME LAPSE RESULTED IN THIS SKY PHOTO FROM THE SNYDER GUARD STATION NEAR MOYIE. PHOTO BY COLE GOLPHENEE CAMPFIRES UNDER THE STARS ARE A TREASURED NORTH IDAHO MEMORY. PHOTO BY COLE GOLPHENEE

“ Our most exciting PROJECT

Averill Hospitality’s plans for a 180-room hotel next to City Beach seen as a local economic game changer

by Zach Hagadone

The city of Sandpoint has envisioned a number of futures for City Beach and, while few of them have yet to come to fruition, they’ve all centered on a theme of turning the park and its surroundings into a year-round use area. Whitefish, Montana-based Averill Hospitality’s plans for a 180-room hotel and events space—complete with numerous food and beverage offerings—at the site of the current Edgewater Best Western on the eastern boundary of the beach is poised to be among the biggest ever developments for Sandpoint’s waterfront.

It’s a very exciting project,” said Averill Director of Development Justin Doll. “Sandpoint is an incredible community with Schweitzer and the lake so accessable. It’s really such a great location, and will have the ability to further activate City Beach with new amenities.”

Work is targeted to begin in 2025. Averill purchased the property in the spring of 2022 and the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning commissioners approved the development in June 2024, though talk of redevelopment at the location—including demolition of the Best Western—goes back at least to 2017.

Averill Hospitality’s other properties include the Lodge at Whitefish Lake; The Firebrand Hotel in Whitefish; Doubletree by Hilton Missoula-Edgewater;

PHOTOS: AT RIGHT, BROTHERS BRIAN AND CHRIS AVERILL, WHO LEAD THE COMPANY, HAVE LONG ENJOYED SANDPOINT AMENITIES. BELOW, A RENDERING OF WHAT THE NEW BUILDING WILL LOOK LIKE AS PEOPLE ENTER CITY BEACH. PREVIOUS PAGE: THE NOW APPROVED PLANS SHOW AN IMPRESSIVE STRUCTURE AS SEEN FROM CITY BEACH. COURTESY PHOTOS.

Plans Include:

• 180 guest rooms

• 14,262 sq. ft. event space

• 2 restaurants

• 240 parking spaces

• Gym

• Pool

• Curated retail spaces

outdoor food truck, art, and music venue Thirty Eight in downtown Whitefish; and the Boat Club, Firebrand, and Finn restaurants in Whitefish and Missoula, respectively.

All the while, the Averill family—which can count five generations in Montana—has long harbored an interest in expanding their company’s footprint to Sandpoint.

“This is one of our favorites. There’s so many similarities to Whitefish,” Doll said, citing the recreational opportunities provided by Lake Pend Oreille and Schweitzer—both of which initially attracted the Averills.

“They just love Sandpoint—they’ve vacationed there for years spending time on the lake and skiing. They’re passionate about the community and have fallen in love with the place,” Doll said. “It has always had their interest, and this opportunity became available.”

Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm is also enthusiastic about Averill’s presence in the City Beach area, saying he is “100 percent supportive of working to activate City Beach year-round for the benefit of the community.

“Highest priority in my mind is to ensure that Sandpoint parks and facilities serve Sandpoint residents first. I never want our residents to feel that our parks are being developed exclusively for non-residents, or to feel that these places are not for them,” Grimm added. “In speaking with Averill representatives, I was excited to learn that they echo these feelings and have approached their project through a lens that promotes public accessibility through and around the site.”

Calling it “one of the most significant investments in the history of Sandpoint,” Grimm specifically applauded the potential for expanded convention space, which could put the community in the running for attracting annual meetings and other large events for businesses and organizations from throughout the region.

“The opportunity for year-round gatherings at the proposed

hotel has the potential to stimulate and strengthen our downtown retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and more,” he said. “Through the onsite amenities and the hotel’s position as a destination, I believe that City Beach will become a more vibrant activity center, which will enhance the downtown experience for both residents and visitors.”

Doll also emphasized the employment opportunities presented by the development, which could create between 200 and 300 local jobs—depending on the season—and described Averill Hospitality’s program of on-the-job leadership training as a way to create well-paying career paths that keep residents in the community, which is an increasing challenge in resort towns throughout the country.

Speaking about the process of presenting the project to the planning and zoning commission, Doll said, “While speaking with local business owners, it really drove home how difficult the shoulder seasons can be. I also understand it’s becoming more and more difficult to find a career in a lot of ski towns, but it’s important to keep the people that make up the fabric of Sandpoint here.”

However, the hotel project could provide a way for locals to stay local and earn a good wage, all while bringing a muchneeded element of vitality to the beach area during the off season, further tying the waterfront to downtown Sandpoint and providing a boost to the economy as a whole.

“Sometimes we joke in Montana that the greatest export from Montana is college graduates,” Doll said, going on to add that when given the opportunity, “it feels like people who live in these towns are always pretty passionate about staying in them.

“It’s exciting to see the community excited about the amenities it’s going to bring, as well as jobs and driving other economic factors in town,” he said.

‘It’s

a Big Deal’

by Zach Hagadone

With median sale prices in Bonner County tipping into the half-million dollar range and more, even rental costs have risen to an unattainable level for many local families. Searching for a housing solution has been an ongoing challenge for local governments, employers, and residents alike, but the nonprofit Kaniksu Land Trust has embarked on what looks to a lot of stakeholders like a path to affordability that could pay dividends for years to come.

The Potlatch Loop Project broke ground in September 2024 with what will become six 1,500-square-foot, three bedroom/ two bath units of housing in Priest River—each built by Daum Construction and tailor-made for residents in the community of 1,800 who make a median household income of under $50,000 per year.

Funded by KLT, the project is made possible as a conservation land trust, with a 99-year renewable lease on the land. Potlatch Loop homes may be sold or passed on to family, provided that succeeding owners meet certain criteria, which include that they live in and earn at least 67 percent of their income within the Priest River zip code boundary.

Qualified buyers’ income must fall within 80 percent to 120 percent of the local average median household income, and family sizes need to match the size of the home. “For instance, a married couple with no children would not qualify for a threebedroom home,” KLT stipulated.

The organization started planning in partnership with LEAP Housing for a project marrying the conservation land trust model with affordable housing more than two years ago. Finally seeing dirt turned at the site in September was “simply incredible,” KLT Executive Director Katie Cox said.

Applications for the homes—which will be granted based on a lottery system—will be taken beginning in December 2024, with a goal of selecting new homeowners by March 1, 2025 and a move-in date around May 1, 2025.

“The fact that we will have our first homes available to our community in just under three years is incredible,” Cox said.

Priest River Mayor Jeff Connolly is equally enthusiastic and

hopes to see the model replicated throughout the county.

“For us it’s super; we just aren’t having anybody that’s building any kind of rentals or anything like that that’s on the low end of the market. This is good news and we’re excited,” he said.

Cox said the concept of using conservation land trusts to support affordable housing came from Europe and has been used in the U.S. for the past 40 years or more. There are about 400 such land trusts operating around the country today.

She said it’s a powerful model not just for building housing, “but building strong, tight communities.

“On my visits, these places always seemed to have people out and about, kids playing in the yard and residents who were proud of their homes,” she said. “Overall, the planning also typically involves the open community spaces, which I feel is an important part of a thriving neighborhood.”

That idea is also close to LEAP CEO Bart Cochran’s heart. Having grown up in Sandpoint, he believes “home ownership ought to be attainable for hard-working Idahoans who want a safe, stable, and affordable place to settle down and grow roots.

“I’m excited to see our partnership with KLT result in home ownership opportunities that are synced to local wages, built for local people, and remain perpetually affordable for buyer after buyer in our community,” he wrote in a statement ahead of the groundbreaking.

Connolly said that up to a few years ago, starter homes in Priest River could be found for under $100,000. Now, the median price has soared to more than $300,000.

“It makes it so competitive and so expensive—especially for the younger kids, newly married and maybe just starting a family—there’s just no way for all this stuff to equate to buying a starter home,” he said. “It’s really hurting the whole area.”

With the Potlatch Loop Project, however, there is the potential for creating a foundation of self-replicating affordability that will help keep Priest River locals in the area.

“It just shows the will and determination of our community to get things done when facing a challenge,” Cox said.

“I think that this is part of the answer,” Connolly said. “It’s a big deal. It’s a good starting point.”

CONSERVATION LAND TRUST MODEL AIMS TO DELIVER AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO PRIEST RIVER

KANIKSU LAND TRUST RIBBON CUTTING. COURTESY PHOTO

Plans and zoning are critical in GNARs like ours

by Cate Huisman

Whether we were born here or moved here, most of us stay here because we like this place. We can go hiking or biking or boating or skiing without a long drive—or any drive. Traffic is minimal, and we run into friends at the grocery store, the library, and the gas station. Wide-open fields and forests are just beyond the edge of town. We want our place to stay the way it is.

But it’s not going to.

Sandpoint and its surroundings are what is known in landuse lingo as a Gateway and Natural Amenity Region—a GNAR is the kind of place that has been attracting new residents like crazy since the pandemic and the advent of ability to work from home.

The best we can do with the growth is manage it. We can provide places for homes to be built, create options for all of us to get around, maintain public access to amenities, and try to prevent our town from sprawling out into the countryside.

How? With a comprehensive plan (“comp plan” by universal consensus)—a structured approach to envisioning our community 10 to 20 years in the future. Comp plans are required by state law for all Idaho communities.

Ours is just finishing two comp plans—one for the city of Sandpoint and one for the county. In both cases, an appointed commission of citizens has drafted a plan, and then elected local officials have considered it for adoption.

The Comp Plan Process

Sandpoint’s city council adopted its completed new comp plan last summer, after five years of sporadic public input interrupted by the COVID pandemic. To write it, the city’s planning and zoning commission worked with a consultant who provided language and examples from other comp plans for towns like ours around the country.

The new comp plan continues many aspects of the previous one, adopted in 2009. “If you read the two documents alongside one another, you would see those same themes being continued with updated figures, updated articulation, updated aspirations. It's an affirmation of the direction that the 2009 plan took us,” said Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm.

Bonner County has taken a different approach. Unhappy with the previous plan written by a consultant, the county’s planning commission has written the entire plan on their own. “I think we came up with a much better product than the consultants did,” said Chair Allan Songstad, noting that the new plan is less than half the length of the previous one.

The county process involved convening what it called “subarea groups” from around the county to gather input, starting several years ago. “We studied subarea plan reports extensively,” said Songstad, and incorporated their input.

Instead of adopting the whole plan at once, the Board of County Commissioners has adopted different components as the planning commission has completed them over the past two years. The final component—its land use designations and map—will not be completed until early in 2025.

Some Common Issues

Both plans address a wide variety of issues, from transportation to public utilities to economic development and use of natural resources. How will water and sewer services be provided to a growing population? What can be done to support growth of family-wage jobs? Where can new employers locate commercial and light industrial facilities? Where will we put everyone?

Housing is a major issue for GNARs like ours. “Beautiful places, as popularity grows, sometimes make themselves inaccessible to average citizens, and that is accelerating. And there is a national housing crisis on top of that,” said Bruce Meighan

of Logan Simpson, the consultant who worked with the city on its new plan. We who live here are all too aware of that, as our sons and daughters have had to move away because they couldn’t afford housing here, and as our favorite businesses and restaurants and medical services have closed or shortened hours because they can’t find workers, because the workers can’t afford to live here.

Sandpoint has taken several approaches to increasing available housing within established residential zones. These include smaller lot sizes, attached homes (duplexes, triplexes), and accessory dwelling units—which are smaller, second homes built on a lot with an existing home. Apartment buildings are necessary too, and Sandpoint’s plan aims to provide spaces for them while also protecting Sandpoint’s traditional, single-family neighborhoods.

The county’s comp plan calls for clustering housing near work places, and encourages “a variety of housing options including mobile home parks, tiny home communities, and recreational vehicle parks located in areas that are compatible with their density.”

But county residents value their wide-open spaces, and a theme that ran through all the subarea plans was a desire to preserve the county’s rural character. When the county’s planning commission proposed merging several previously distinct designations into one catch-all “Rural” designation, which had the potential to allow lot sizes as small as five acres in what they considered too many areas, citizens voiced their concerns. The plan was amended.

Traffic is another significant concern. Sandpoint residents have consistently indicated that they want better options for nonmotorized transportation. “One ability we have to address car congestion is just to encourage people who don't need a car to go where they're going to go some other way,” said Grimm. So the city’s plan includes a “pedestrian priority network map” and envisions rerouting truck traffic to make roads safer. The county’s transportation component is more focused on roads for vehicles, although it does say that bicycle and pedestrian paths should be considered in development proposals wherever possible.

Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) adopts completed plan 3/1/25

Unlike some other GNAR communities that are focused on tourism, Sandpoint has a mix of employment opportunities that the community values, and the city’s economic development chapter addresses these. Housing demand has created requests to rezone commercial or industrial property to be used for housing, and a priority for the new comp plan is holding the line on such zoning changes.

The county’s economic development component supports small cottage businesses in all areas and continues to designate land for larger-scale traditional uses, such as agriculture and particularly forestry. Like the old plan, the new one will designate areas where commercial and industrial uses are allowed without any special permitting process, but it specifies that these must not come at the expense of the county’s environmental quality and rural character.

Putting the Plans Into Effect

A comp plan doesn’t have the force of law. Once it is completed, zoning ordinances must be written to align with it.

With the city’s comp plan complete, “The establishment of a historic district and reassessing building design and height downtown is the number one priority” for such ordinances, said Grimm. This is no surprise, as residents have not always responded with enthusiasm to recent proposals for downtown development. Revisiting the rules for ADUs is also important, as citizens have indicated concerns over parking and compatible design.

Songstad hopes the county can finish its plan this winter. Then its planning commission will begin the process of writing ordinances to enforce its plan as well.

“It’s important that the community rally around its comp plan, and check in annually to look at actions to help further its vision along,” said Meighan. “The plan can’t sit on the shelf.”

So if you’re thinking of moving here, starting a business, buying a house, retiring to a quiet spot out in the county— don’t just look around you. Take a good look at the comp plan, as well.

Because, no matter how much we might wish it otherwise, things aren’t going to stay the same.

A BRIEF TIMELINE OF BOTH SANDPOINT AND BONNER COUNTY’S WORK ON THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLANS.

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ABOVE: STEVE GEIGER AND SABRINA WINEY OUTSIDE THE HOUSE. AT RIGHT: STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, THE GEIGER BARNDOMINIUM MAKES AN IMPRESSIVE STATEMENT. PHOTOS BY CAMERON BARNES.

Barndominiums, Shouses & Shomes

A unique blend of home comfort and functionality

by Renee Sande

It’s a barn! It’s a condo! It’s a barndominium!

You’ve seen them. Whether in your neighborhood, on your latest leisurely country drive or by watching the popular show, “Fixer Upper,” with Chip and Joanna Gaines, it’s obvious these multi-purpose homes are a fast-growing trend in home design.

Also known by the similar portmanteau of “shouse” or “shome”—same concept but implying the blend of a shop with a house/home—these homes, while originally set in rural areas, have become more and more popular in the last decade due to their affordability, versatility, and unique aesthetic appeal and are now springing up in suburban and even urban settings.

“[These homes] have grown in popularity due to better lending options, their lower cost of building, and the

CENTER: TOM AND VIVA WILEY. COURTESY PHOTO. CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: THE HOME’S EXPANSIVE ‘SHOP’ ALLOWS FOR EXTRA HEIGHT TO ACCOMMODATE RVS; DOWNSTAIRS IN THEIR SHOP AREA, THE WILEYS HAVE ALSO SET UP AN EXERCISE ROOM; THE LIVING AREA IS BRIGHT AND EXPANSIVE; THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE BARELY HINTS AT ITS DUAL PURPOSE. PHOTOS BY NORTH IDAHO EXPOSURE.

practical usefulness of having a place to live in and store your vehicles and equipment,” said Carol Curtis, an associate broker with Century 21 Riverstone.

“Currently, there are approximately 22 choices on the market in the greater North Idaho area.”

Tom and Viva Wiley had no idea they lived in one of these “trending” homes until Curtis asked them if they wanted to be featured in a story. The realtor listed the couple’s “shome” on the market in September.

“I guess we’re trendsetters,” laughed Viva. The couple started building their home in 2008.

“It was just supposed to be my shop,” said Tom, with Viva continuing his thought. “But we decided we’re getting close to retirement so why not build an apartment on the back?”

That “apartment” turned into 2,400 square feet of living space. The shop/recreational space is an additional 1,200 square feet. The couple love having the coziness of their living space—

which spans two floors—adjacent to their shop area on the ground floor, where they not only work on their hobbies but also entertain.

The cost-efficiency to build and long-term affordability are also things they love about their home.

While many of these homes are built using pre-fabricated metal or steel frames, reducing both the cost of materials and labor, the Wileys cut their costs even more by building a pole-and-beam structure. They then sided it with fiber cement siding and topped it with a metal roof—just one of the key elements that make these homes so practical.

“When it snows, the metal roof doesn’t allow for it to accumulate much, it just slides right off,” said Tom.

Another factor driving affordability is energy efficiency. Barndominiums often incorporate large windows for natural light or energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. Wood stoves and heated floors are also a great supplemental heating

element commonly incorporated into the design.

“The wood stove could heat the whole place if we needed it to,” said Tom.

Steve Geiger always wanted to build a barn on the corner of his property in Ponderay, Idaho—one that would check all the boxes and stand the test of time.

“I wanted something that would be there for the next 100 years and look like a neat, old historic barn,” said Geiger, longtime owner of In and Out Painting, and mayor of Ponderay.

To get that “historic” look, Geiger went with aged cedar siding and a Corten roof—made of weathering steel that quickly develops a beautiful patina.

He also wanted a space to put up guests, as well as serve as an Air BnB, a fun gathering space, with a pool table, shuffleboard, TVs and the like, plus accommodate a car lift and storage for their boats and other toys.

To get this space, Geiger used a gambrel truss construction—which has a double-sloped design—typical of barns.

“While it costs more, the truss gave us 1,800 square feet upstairs, with 9-foot ceilings, and 6,000 square feet downstairs, with over 16- foot ceilings in the middle bay.”

With a year left to finish the self-build, Geiger said community interest has been fun and that while he’s seen a handful of these “barndominiums” in his work as a painter, they are still few and far between.

“Many people drive by, stop, back up, take pictures, ask questions … they really love how it’s turned out.”

Like the Wileys, Geiger loves the uniqueness and versatility of the structure.

There’s just one thing the Wileys aren’t sure of when it comes to their “shome”: will the home inspector know what to look for?

“It’s going to be interesting…who knows, they may learn something,” said Tom.

MARKETWATCH: BUYERS ARE READY TO BUY

As winter’s cold begins to embrace the region once again, one thing remains steady in the local real estate market—an awful lot of people elsewhere want to move here. “There seems to be a consensus among agents that things are slow in writing contracts, but there are lots of buyers,” explained Fabiola Ferris, who serves as the president of the board for the Selkirk Association of Realtors. “Buyers are ready to make an offer once they see a home price at a number they want to buy it at.”

The message for would-be sellers, therefore, is to price your property right. “Sellers are seeing the low inventory and are hoping to capture a buyer, but if they price too high, they’ll be on the market longer than they would like,” said Ferris.

She also notes that seller disclosures “pay a huge role in a buyer’s perception of a home. If a seller forgets to disclose items, a buyer walking the property may be turned off when they see something they weren’t told about beforehand.” She said that buyers “need to read all paperwork provided by the seller in order to make an informed decision before buying.”

A new issue for both buyers and sellers is the recent change in how buyer’s agents are paid a commission, as banks and mortgage companies have not yet stepped up to allow those costs to be included in a typical mortgage. That’s having little

impact here, however, as selling agents are doing their due diligence in informing sellers about the issue, and ensuring those costs get covered.

“I think right now the most important position for both a buyer and a seller is to have a Realtor representing them,” Ferris said. “Over the decades, Realtors have made the process look easy to their clients. But it’s like a duck swimming in the lake. Above the water all we see is this graceful dance, while beneath there is a lot of hard work going on to make it look so simple.”

Buyers waiting on interest rates to drop before making a purchase may have to wait a little longer—the Fed’s recent cut in the interest rate charged to banks did not come with a corresponding drop in mortgage interest the banks are charging. But rates today are still lower than they were a year ago.

No matter what happens in the world around us the snow will continue to fall each winter on Schweitzer, and the sun will shine in the summer on Lake Pend Oreille, moose will walk the streets, and people from all around the country will come for a visit and discover that this is the place where they want to live. As Ferris said, “buyers will continue to buy, and sellers will continue to sell.”

–Trish Gannon

Drywall Patch

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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 2024-September 2024 unless otherwise stated

Single family homes sold by month

Total Value Single Family Homes Sold Bonner County

Historical Median Sales Price for Bonner County, Homes & Land

No matter what the winter weather brings, NLI’s 28 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

NNatives & Newcomers

story and photos by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

orth Idaho has a long history of women getting stuff done, and the four incredible women gracious enough to share their stories below are no different.

Many words come to mind when considering these ladies: driven, kind, outdoorsy, thoughtful, dog-crazy. Above all, Rayna Longstreet, Soncirey Mitchell, Katie Bradbury, and Sierra Brambilla are community minded, doing their part as educators, communicators, and professionals to leave North Idaho better than they found it, either as children or as adults. May we all learn from them, and join them.

Rayna Longstreet, Native

Born in 1970 to “post-Vietnam hippy parents,” Longstreet became the North Idaho native she was always meant to be at the tender age of five. Coming of age between Hope and Clark Fork, she earned her education as an Idaho Vandal and moved back to Sandpoint, working with Steve Sodorff in the physical therapy field. She returned to school and gained a teaching certificate, and has now been teaching elementary physical education in the Lake Pend Oreille School District for 25 years.

When not teaching, Longstreet can almost certainly be found hiking with her dogs or officiating high school volleyball—a position she’s been serving in for three decades. She also previously officiated high school basketball, and was the first female basketball official to be selected to referee an Idaho state basketball tournament.

Q: How has spending the majority of your life in North Idaho shaped you as a person?

A: The people of the Hope and Clark Fork communities [made an impact]. Both were tight-knit communities while I was growing up. Everyone knew each other, and I felt supported, looked out for, and safe. I observed people in the community being involved with all kinds of events whether school related (a lot of them) or otherwise. Those people, too many to name, influenced my understanding of community.

Q: When you think of other locals who make North Idaho a great place to live, who do you think of and why?

A: People who see the big picture—taking care of our rural areas, our public lands, our traditions, and our towns. People who are

natives + Newcomers

open to new ideas to improve our communities but not changing it into something else. I worry about big money developers changing our communities in ways that price out the local and average families who want to live here.

Q: Are there any particular locations ‘round these parts that you hold near and dear?

A: Hiking into the mountain lakes in our area, no matter how many times, is always a glorious experience for me. Anywhere up Trestle and Lightning Creek and the Clark Fork River Delta are special spots.

Q: What is something you hope new folks to the area will strive to understand about North Idaho?

A: People move here for a reason. Usually it's the beauty, a slower life, recreational opportunities, family. Remember what you like about being here and try to contribute to that feeling and lifestyle.

Sierra Brambilla, Newcomer

Brambilla was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada—in her words, “a place with food so amazing, you almost forget you’re dying of heat stroke.

“While Vegas will always have a special place in my heart, North Idaho has been so wonderful, I haven’t looked back,” she said.

A teacher at Hope Elementary School, Brambilla said she is incredibly thankful for the job and the people she’s met

through her work there. When not shaping the minds of the next generation, she likes to read, hike, ride bikes, swim in the lake, and do it all with her family and dogs by her side.

Q: What is your impression of our community so far?

A: I love this community!

From the Fourth of July parade and fireworks, to the school fundraisers, and everything in between, I truly appreciate being part of this community. What I value the most about this area is the people who live here. We come from all walks of life, and we have different beliefs and ideas, but when we are out in public, everyone seems to put aside their differences and just be kind and courteous to each other.

Q: Do you have any particular locations/hangouts in North Idaho that have become special to you during your time here?

A: That is a tough question because there are so many “favorite” places! I love eating great food, and so among my favorite places are the Hoot Owl for breakfast, Burger Dock for lunch, and 113 Main for dinner. I also love going to the Clark Fork Pantry for the sandwiches and ice cream.

Q: What advice would you give someone who recently

moved to North Idaho?

A: First off, if you are new to living somewhere with snow (like I was) buy studded snow tires as soon as you can. If you have a two-wheel-drive car, sell it ASAP and buy an AWD or 4x4 before winter! That aside, don’t stay home. Connect. Go out and meet people, volunteer, join groups, and get involved! For me, church is the most important thing, so I joined a great church and that is a big part of my life. Whatever is best for you, just go out and connect with other people.

Q: How will you make a positive impact on our community?

A: As a teacher, my goal is to be the best educator I can be, so that my students can flourish throughout their lifetimes. I come from a long line of educators, and I believe that knowledge truly is the key to a bright future. Anyone can literally change their lives through the power of education. I will continue to do my best to be the kind of teacher your children deserve.

Soncirey Mitchell, Native

Mitchell’s first North Idaho home was the old Lakeside Inn on Sand Creek. Four months old in the year 2000 and recently transplanted from Seattle as her mother accepted a job with Coldwater Creek, Mitchell later took on her true form as a child of the woods: running around barefoot outside her childhood home, “building forts and looking for fairies, dragons, and gnomes.

“Growing up out in the boonies was amazing because I developed a close relationship with nature, which in turn fed my imagination,” she said.

That imagination would serve her well as she left home to study creative writing at Chapman University in Orange County, California, and later the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, after she realized “living in the city wasn’t for me.”

Despite the coronavirus pandemic being a bit of a damper on the college experience, Mitchell indulged her curiosity and, after graduation, launched her career in reporting with the “Sandpoint Reader.” In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening, painting, crocheting, sewing, woodworking, and “wandering the woods with my dogs”—back where it all began.

Q: How has spending the majority of your life in North Idaho shaped you as a person?

A: Living here has given me a sense of perspective that only comes from the presence of wide swaths of wilderness and the relative seclusion of our community. Living alongside wild ani-

mals—seeing elk, coyotes, bears, and cougars in my backyard—being able to take in the dark expanse of the night sky or travel 20 minutes and be completely alone in miles of forest changes you. I understand that I’m one part of a large ecosystem that I have a duty to care for. A lot of the time we tend to think of ourselves as separate from—or even the antithesis of—the natural world, but that’s a fallacy. I’m just as much a part of this landscape as the cedar trees, conks, and ferns, and I need to play my part in keeping our home healthy, clean and thriving just as they do.

Q: When you think of other locals who make North Idaho a great place to live, who do you think of and why?

A: The first person who comes to mind is my mom, Sarah Ellegood-Mitchell, who’s the strongest and most amazing woman I’ve ever known. She taught me to approach everyone and everything with love and an open and inquisitive mind because she sees that there is strength in a community of people with different backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs who value respect and kindness above all else.

Our community wouldn’t be the same without “Sandpoint Reader” Editor-inChief Zach Hagadone, who managed to become one of my favorite people in the world in a matter of months. Anyone who knows Zach—which I think includes the entire population of Sandpoint— knows he simply radiates kindness. He’s the kind of person who makes everyone he meets feel welcome, included, and appreciated with such ease that he doesn’t realize he’s doing it. I will always admire his endless desire to listen and learn and to turn around and share that knowledge with others. He inspires me to be better than the person I was yesterday.

The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force has been a stalwart presence in our community for my entire life. No matter what issues we face—no matter how many broken people attempt to sow hatred and divisiveness in our community—the BCHRTF serves as a beacon of hope and works toward a brighter, inclusive future.

Q: Are there any particular locations ‘round these parts that you hold near and dear?

A: Green Bay has always held a special place in my heart. As a kid, driving down the bumpy dirt road singing along to the radio was almost as fun as climbing the rocks jutting out into the lake before diving into a shoal of fish.

There are plenty of hidden spots along Lake Pend Oreille that I love for their serenity. In my favorite spots, which I’ll never share, the forest comes right up the shore, casting bits of shade over the water for the fish to hide in. They make me feel like I’m the last person on earth, and that I could stay there for eternity, hidden among the thimbleberry bushes.

Q: What is something you hope new folks to the area will strive to understand about North Idaho?

A: A bigoted minority from around the county has spent the last few years spreading a false narrative that North Idaho is a haven for racists, sexists, xenophobes, and homophobes. They are wrong. Hatred is not welcome in our community—we’ve proven that time and time again by rooting out men like Richard Butler who seek to develop a stronghold of ignorance and intolerance in our area. Everyone with an open heart and an open mind is welcome in North Idaho, but if you come here to abuse visitors or members of our community, you will find no friends here.

If you’re ready to commit to a community, to champion kindness and understanding, and to engage in respectful dialogue to make North Idaho a better place, then let me be the first to say, “welcome home.”

Katie Bradbury,Newcomer

In her own words, Bradbury’s journey to North Idaho was “a long, roundabout trip” spanning across the United States, but starting with her growing up and earning her first degree in eastern Washington. The following years found Katie in Seattle, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Texas, Colorado, and beyond.

“I believe between enjoying the work and enjoying the adventure that comes with traveling, I wanted to take in as many experiences as I could, and learn how to be better at my work and find more creative, more efficient, and fun ways of serving communities,” she said. Fast forward to April 2024, and Bradbury found herself taking up her current role as the recreation services superintendent for the city of Sandpoint, enjoying the four seasons our area has to offer while hiking and swimming with her dog.

Q: What is your impression of our community so far?

A: I feel as though I have been very fortunate to have gotten this position. It allows me so many great opportunities to really get a good impression of the community and their needs. The groups I have gotten to work with have all been very welcoming and incredibly patient with me while I navigate my role within the city. Outside of work everyone I’ve

met has been helpful and friendly.

Q: Do you have any particular locations/hangouts in North Idaho that have become special to you during your time here?

A: I don’t have any place in particular yet, although any place that has gotten me near the water has become a special place. It's peaceful and gives me a moment to reset and recharge and helps burn off the puppy energy my 4-year-old dog seems to have stored up.

Q: What advice would you give someone who recently moved to North Idaho?

A: I would say get to know your neighborhood and the people who live around you. Download a good hiking app, buy a pair of comfortable walking shoes, and don’t be afraid to go try out the local restaurants, sign up for recreation classes, or take in the festivals and community events around the area. This area has always been a hidden gem that is well worth exploring.

Q: How will you make a positive

impact on our community?

A: By getting to know my community better the longer I live here, understand what their needs are when it comes to recreation programs (sports, camps, leagues, enrichment), and make it all possible to the best of my ability (and budget). I had a great time putting together a movie in the park and I would love to do more of those next summer. There is something very rewarding and fun when you see a large group of neighbors and almost-neighbors come together in a lovely park for a movie.

Building Services

Alpine Eats

MOUNTAIN OFFERS PLENTY OF WAYS TO QUELL THE HUNGER

by Soncirey Mitchell

Schweitzer Mountain’s eateries are as memorable and diverse as its ski runs, ranging from comfortable cafes to world-class restaurants where the views are an integral part of every meal. Visitors can satisfy just about any craving—as long as they know where to look. See where and what to eat below to ensure a perfect winter vacation.

Cabinet Mountain Coffee

Nestled in a corner of Lakeview Lodge, this cozy spot is a mandatory first stop before hopping on the lifts. Choose from every warming drink imaginable to stave off the cold or grab a freshly-made breakfast burrito to go and be the first one on the powder.

Chimney Rock Grill

If the rotating selection of pastas doesn’t catch your eye, the experienced staff at Chimney Rock recommends their hearty pub fare—be it burgers, sandwiches, or wraps. While that’s cooking, diners can choose from an assortment of handselected local beers and regional wines.

Crow's Bench

Manager Brooke Pannell describes the Crow’s Bench as the “go-to après spot for unwinding after a day on the slopes,” and its lineup of specialty cocktails and gourmet dishes embodies that mix of luxury and relaxation. Warm your fingers with their signature Gingerbread Old Fashioned, made with rye whiskey, molasses, and toasty winter spices.

Gourmandie

A weekend getaway wouldn’t be complete without a visit to this specialty market—but don’t write it off as another grocery store. The talented hosts create works of art from area artisanal meats and cheese, pairing them with the perfect wine. In the words of Manager Brandee Caprio, “Don’t snowboard or ski? You can charcuterie board and wine about it here in Gourmandie.”

Lakeview Cafeteria

Parents know that Lakeview Cafeteria is the best spot for kid-friendly lunch favorites like crispy chicken tenders, but only a privileged few know breakfast is where this eatery truly shines. Satisfy sweet or salty cravings with the Loaded Potato Bowl doused in sausage gravy or the decadent Caramel Apple French Toast.

MOUNTAIN GOERS ENJOY A BITE AND A BREW AT CROW’S BENCH IN THE HUMBIRD HOTEL. SCHWEITZER PHOTO.

Mojo Coyote Cafe

Fans of fresh-baked goods should look no further than Mojo Coyote Cafe for fluffy and flakey delights like croissants, quiches, and sandwiches on specialty breads. Pair a meal or quick snack with a cup of local Evans Brothers coffee—especially the Schweitzer Mountain Blend, with notes of chocolate, almond butter, and fruit.

Powder Hound Pizza

There’s nothing more satisfying than slipping off your board or skis and diving into a hearty slice of pizza. All the classic flavors are up for grabs, but diners rave about the specialty pies. For the full PHP experience, try the meat-heavy Thor’s Hammer or the Spicy Thai topped with braised chicken and peanut sauce.

Pucci's Pub

Is there anything better than a plate piled high with nachos? At Pucci’s, tourists and locals agree that, yes, there is, and it’s tater tot nachos. Top these “totchos” with chicken, pulled pork, or straight, cheesy goodness and, if you can stand to share, pair them with other delicious pub fare.

The Sky House: Red Hawk Cafe and The Nest Bar & Restaurant

Floating at 6,400 feet, the Sky House lives up to its name with panoramic views of Idaho, Washington, Montana, and Canada. Two unique eateries take advan-

tage of the breathtaking scenery.

Red Hawk Cafe offers quick and casual dining, snacks, and drinks. Its signature Sierra Madre Hot Chocolate, made with Hornitos Añejo Tequila, cayenne-spiced chocolate, and smoked cinnamon, puts the heat back into wind-chilled noses.

On the other hand, dining at The Nest is the perfect excuse to spend a few hours on top of the world enjoying locally sourced, globally inspired food. Chef Dave Gerszewski recommends the Spanish paella featuring house-made chorizo and saffron rice.

“There's something truly special about serving incredible food and drinks while guests take in the stunning mountain views,” said Manager Ciara Normandeau.

Sam's Alley and Taps Bar

Sam’s Alley serves up traditional pizzas, salads, and sandwiches to please even the pickiest eaters. The hungry and adventurous should try Sam’s Sig—a double meat, double cheese sandwich with a spicy kick. Sam’s food is also available next door at Taps and pairs well with their full bar and rotating selection of regional beers on tap.

The Outback

This casual spot on the back of the mountain is a warm oasis at the bottom of more than a dozen black diamond runs (and plenty of blue squares for a more relaxed afternoon). Refuel with its famous BBQ—especially the smoked brisket—and admire the collection of historic skis that decorate the walls and ceiling.

The St. Bernard

This condo and restaurant combo is named after the owners’ beloved pup, Lucifer, who can be found snuggling up to lucky diners. Their delicious curry bowls and marinated tofus are almost as legendary as their Bernard burger, made with a special house BBQ aioli and topped with bacon.

BRUSH OFF YOUR POOL SKILLS AT TAPS. PHOTO COURTESY SCHWEITZER.

Cocoa the other mojo

by Pam Webb

For many, coffee is the go-to beverage during most of the year; however, cocoa often becomes the other mojo when winter settles in.

The Mayans are credited with the first chocolate drink, believing it promoted health and lifted one's mood. Agreed. There is something about the combination of a cold winter’s day and a hot cup of cocoa. Or did you mean hot chocolate? There is a difference. For one, cocoa as a drink is thinner. It consists of cocoa powder and sugar mixed with either water or milk, tending to be sweeter and lighter in taste. Think: Swiss Miss packets. Hot chocolate contains shaved chocolate or melted chocolate blended with hot water or milk. Not as sweet, and it can be decadently thick. Which is better? Choose cocoa if your sweet tooth is talking. Desiring a richer taste? Go for the hot chocolate, although one is not healthier than the other.

Since it is winter and a warm cup of chocolate sounds good, where to go locally? Suggested stops include City Beach Organics, Connie’s Cafe, Panhandle Cone and Coffee, and Miller’s

Country Store, along with Schweitzer’s various locations to grab a hot drink.

For the cocoa connoisseur, here are some suggestions:

Evans Brothers

Size/Price: 8 oz/$3.18 (kids)

Mix: Whole milk and Holy Kakow syrup

Has a rich but not overly sweet flavor, especially suited for kids. The adult choice is made from cocoa powder.

Bluebird Bakery

Size/Price: 8 oz/$4.00

Mix: House mix of Cacao Barry brand chips melted into a syrup and same brand powder

This mixture creates a deep, dark chocolate aftertaste which would complement the available baked goods quite well; sippable temperature.

Ponderay Starbucks

Size/Price: 12 oz/$3.69

Mix: Whole milk and cocoa powder

Served in a mug with a rosette swirl; creamy, not too sweet, hint of dark chocolate; perfect temp. Ask for Brittany

at the Ponderay location, who knows her cocoa mojo.

Homemade Hot Chocolate (author recipe)

Ingredients: 2 ounces of dark chocolate baking chips (53%); 12 ounces of oat milk

Directions: In a double boiler melt chips, then whisk in oat milk until smooth. Add a pinch or two of sugar if a sweeter taste is desired. Experiment with other types of chocolate and milk to make this recipe your very own.

THERE’S NOTHING QUITE LIKE A WARM MUG OF COCOA TO WARM THE HEART AND HANDS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. PHOTO BY AMY PETERSON.

Get to Know a Restaurant Pro: An interview with server Shelly Schimbeno

story

Those who frequent Sandpoint’s restaurants will be eager to tell you about their favorite dishes and drinks. The real die-hards can also name a favorite friendly face from their choice haunt.

A fan favorite of those who dine at The Fat Pig? Server, bartender and jack-of-all-trades: Shelly Schimbeno.

Schimbeno got her start waiting tables in the winter of 1981 at age 14 in Lake City, Minnesota. She continued to serve at lakeside establishments until she graduated college with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management, and, according to her: “While interviewing for my first ‘real’ job, I came to a realization that I was happy doing what I was doing.”

“I made good money and it gave me the freedom to explore,” she said, adding that she walked out of that interview and “never looked back.”

“Thinking about it now, I was so young, but made the best decision of my life,” she said.

Immediately after that decision, Schimbeno made another: she loaded up her dog and headed to Colorado, leading to decades of bartending, serving, hosting and kitchen managing between the Rockies in the winter and her family’s own summer seasonal restaurant back in Minnesota.

After Schimbeno’s family sold their restaurant in 2016, she and her husband moved to Sandpoint “sight unseen.” After a handful of seasons at Schweitzer’s Chimney Rock and Sky House, Schimbeno started working at the Fat Pig in 2018, just a few months after it opened, and has been a staple of the restaurant ever since.

“I predominantly serve and bartend but have one standing

Kiebert-Carey

kitchen shift per week, and can bounce around wherever the need be,” she said. “A new coworker of mine calls me a ‘hybrid.’”

Schimbeno said she understands that many people see serving as an “easy, entry-level job,” but said it can also be a rewarding career given the right care. Over the years, she said she’s also seen how the overabundance of tipping culture—for instance, online ordering platforms or places with only counter service requesting 20% tips—has diminished society’s understanding of what true service looks and feels like.

“I take pride in being very good at my job,” she said. “I give people old-school, proper service.”

Schimbeno said she has been fortunate to form connections with her customers during her time in North Idaho, although she admits that she isn’t a “get-to-know-you” server. Like a true professional, Schimbeno stays true to the components of consistent, polished table service: a friendly greeting; menu knowledge; wine service; anticipating needs; delivery of food to the right seat; clearing dishes when finished; separating checks; finalizing payment and thanking customers.

Beyond the folks who fill her tables, Schimbeno credits the enjoyment she’s found in her career to more than 40 years of colleagues—in her words, “coworkers and bosses who are and always will be my family.”

“I work at the best restaurant in town,” she said. “I owe that to the fact that the majority of my coworkers are professional like me. It makes a difference.”

Be served by Schimbeno and the whole Fat Pig team in Sandpoint’s historic Belwood Building, 301 Cedar Street. Go to www. sandpointfatpig.com for the most current hours.

and photo by Lyndsie

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SCOTCHMAN’S COFFEE HAS BEANS AVAILABLE BY THE BAG; THE SCOTCHMAN’S COFFEE CREW HARD AT WORK IN THE NEW SANDPOINT CAFE; JUST ONE OF THE PILED-HIGH BREAKFAST SANDWICHES AVAILABLE AT SCOTCHMAN’S COFFEE’S SANDPOINT LOCATION.

Sandpoint: Scotchman’s Coffee Brings Their Goats to Town

LOCAL ROASTERY OPENS THIRD LOCATION IN WELL-LOVED SANDPOINT SPOT

story and photos by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

From Clark Fork to the bustling streets of Sandpoint, Scotchman’s Coffee has stepped out from beneath the shadow of its namesake mountain.

What started as a small roasting endeavor in the back room of a modest, rural shop has grown into a nationwide wholesale operation and three separate cafe locations—the newest of which is the high-profile former home of Kokanee Coffee at 509 N. Fifth Ave.

The Kokanee salmon has been replaced by Scotchman’s trademark goat, and the location marks an expansion of the roasting company’s signature style: a place of respite for everyone from the grizzled cowboy to the pickleballer to grab a latte and a sandwich.

When Scotchman’s Coffee owners Dustin Drennen and Robynne Gibaud first came to Idaho from Arizona in 2014, Kokanee Coffee served as their wifi-enabled base of operations while the pair searched for work and housing for their young family. Scotchman’s Coffee got its start in Clark Fork in 2019, then expanded to a cafe in Thompson Falls, Montana in 2023. Not even a year later, the opportunity to buy Kokanee presented itself.

“We both had a conviction it was something we should do,” Drennen said. “It seemed like a now-or-never moment. Fish or cut bait. Sink or swim. Conduct your business or vacate the outhouse! Here we are.”

Drennen and Gibaud’s unique humor and penchant for hard

work are evident across all aspects of Scotchman’s Coffee: the artwork and poetic writing on the bags of freshly roasted beans; the meticulously crafted seasonal drinks; and the ever-growing list of shops and grocery chains where the goat can be found on shelves across a dozen states.

When it comes to the Sandpoint location, Gibaud said she’s been having fun with the food side of things; wants to explore offering beer and wine in the future; and remains open to filling any broader needs.

“Late night study spot? Game nights? Book clubs? We want to facilitate a space where people want to be and feel comfortable to come and hang out with us,” she said. “In that way, it has never been about making money—always about the desire to provide a community space.”

According to Drennen, “hospitality is at the heart of it all.”

“Coffee is just one of those things that invites conversation and togetherness,” he said.

“I remember my mom making coffee after dinner. We’d clear the table, then sit and talk over coffee. We definitely have values we’d like to emphasize and communicate. We’re big fans of the West, of that rugged ethos. What comes to mind are: liberty, artistry, hard work, adventure, home and family. Right now we’re looking for ways to embody these ideas and tell stories of those who do.”

Learn more at www.scotchmanscoffee.com or find them on Facebook and Instagram.

Roxy’s Rises Again

ICONIC SANDPOINT BAR REOPENS UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

This fall, locals saw a familiar name return to downtown Sandpoint at 215 Pine Street—better known as the former, and now current, home of Roxy’s Lounge.

Opened on July 4, 1981 by Al Miles, Roxy’s went on a 38-year run before selling and becoming the Sand Bar for a handful of years. This September, new owner Christopher “Brody” Brodersen decided to turn back time, saying he wanted to “bring Roxy's back to the community and honor Al's legacy by doing so.”

After taking the reins, Brodersen and new Roxy’s manager Madalina Moreno spearheaded an “extensive remodel and deep clean” of the space, including fresh paint, new flooring, improved bar tops, and shiplap barnwood brought in for wall coverings.

Also new to Roxy’s will be four Diamond pool tables, several large televisions and an improved sound system.

“Being able to have a big dance floor in the wintertime will be great to host live bands,” Brodersen said.

Roxy’s will not feature a food menu for now, but instead be a place where patrons are welcome to bring in and enjoy outside fare.

“This may change in the future, but please feel free to bring in your favorite meal and enjoy your favorite sporting event on one of our seven large TV screens,” Brodersen said.

The new iteration of Roxy’s will be a non-smoking establishment. However, Brodersen said construction is underway on a large covered area for smoking out back.

To learn about the bar’s most current hours and special events, head to www.roxyslounge.com or find them on social media.

THE FOLKS BEHIND THE MAGIC AT ROXY’S LOUNGE, FROM LEFT: NEW OWNER BRODY BRODERSEN; ORIGINAL PROPRIETOR AL MILES; AND CURRENT MANAGER MADALINA MORENO. STAFF PHOTO.

MARIGOLD BISTRO’S CASSANDRA CAYSON (LEFT) AND TANGO CAFE’S JUDY COLEGROVE (RIGHT) HAVE WORKED CLOSELY DURING THE RESTAURANT’S TRANSITION. STAFF PHOTO.

Marigold Bistro picks up where Tango Cafe left off New Name, Same Standard

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

Where one story ends, another begins.

This rings particularly true for Tango Cafe, which officially made the transition to Marigold Bistro in November.

After 15 years of unwavering service to her loyal customers, Tango Cafe owner Judy Colegrove is off to her next adventure, having sold the business to restaurant industry veteran and former Forty-One South owner Cassandra Cayson, who will now operate the Sandpoint Center’s eatery as Marigold Bistro.

Truth be told, Colegrove said the “burn out” set in around 2020, but she procrastinated listing the cafe due to her concerns for her staff’s wellbeing should she sell, as well as her desire to find the right person to take the helm.

“I had promised several of our loyal customers that I would wait for the right person,” she said. “I had some interest but no one was nearly as qualified as Cassandra in the restaurant world.

“When she asked if I was still selling I was shocked,” Colegrove continued. “She is phenomenal and I am so excited that she's the one.”

Cayson is no newbie to the North Idaho dining scene, having owned and operated Forty-One South for more than a decade until 2021—only the most recent chapter in her 25 years in the industry. Though she’s been focused mostly on her event planning company, Events On Point, since closing her restaurant, Cayson said she’s kept her eye on eatery opportunities.

“I knew it had to really be the perfect fit if I was going to make the jump back into it again,” she said, “and that it also

needed to be something quite different than Forty-One South.”

Cayson sang Colegrove’s praises, with a particular admiration for the former owner’s “impeccable reputation for food quality and friendly service—both of which,” she said, “we intend to continue under Marigold Bistro.”

Cayson said the plan is to carry over most of Tango’s “delicious and well-executed menu,” while adding some of her own touches to the from-scratch line-up. In addition, Marigold will expand the potential for the business to do events and catering, making the conference room and atrium dining space available for private events on evenings and Saturdays.

What’s more, Cayson said that former Forty-One South sous chef Ian Dillon will be running the Marigold kitchen, and catering services will remain an option moving forward.

“I'm excited to be back in the restaurant world,” Cayson said, “greeting familiar faces and providing service to our community.”

As for Colegrove, her next chapter will be “something out of the kitchen,” but confirms she still loves cooking. She plans to travel, visit family, and spend more time outdoors. She said she’d like to thank the owners from whom she bought the cafe in 2009—Barney and Carol Ballard—for setting her up for success, as well as the past and present Tango Cafe staff, patrons, friends, and family who have supported her as a restaurant owner.

“It really is a special place,” she said, “and I’m excited to see Cassandra's new vision as Marigold Bistro.”

Marigold Bistro is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Learn more at www.marigoldbistro7b.com

The local

with Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

DISH

hile the weather cools down, kitchens across North Idaho’s stellar dining scene are heating up, ensuring that locals and wintertime visitors alike have plenty of eats and drinks to choose from as the snow flies.

In the heart of Sandpoint, 113 Main (113 Main St.) is back to plating delicacies pleasing to both the palette and the eyes after a summer of operating as Diamond Whiskey and Cocktail Bar, while the kitchen staff worked Trinity for one last summer before construction is set to begin on the City Beach property. This downtown haunt is proving itself a favorite among locals who love a handcrafted drink and colorful plate.

Just a few blocks over, Joel’s Mexican Restaurant (229 Church St.) has gone back to in-person dining after spending

the spring and summer months offering exclusively call-in and window ordering. Fuel up for backcountry exploration with a warm breakfast burrito, or cap an adventurous day with perfectly messy fish tacos.

Across Fifth Avenue in the Granary District, Evans Brothers Coffee (524 Church St.) continues making its mark on the national map, earning a third place finish in USA Today’s competition for Best Independent Coffee Shop. Patrons spent several weeks casting their votes online, proving that Rick and Randy Evans’ roastery and cafe business continues to impress, impact, and warm the mugs of coffee connoisseurs far and wide.

In other local coffee news news, Monarch Mountain Coffee (119 N. First Ave.) owners Sherrie and Leonard Wilson closed their cafe in October after 13 years, announcing an expansion

of their roasting endeavors. The Wilsons said their beans will be available locally soon, and updates in this new era will be shared at www.monarchmountaincoffee.com.

And on the topic of new eras, Savory Neighborhood Grill (120 S. First Ave.) is now a full service restaurant, leveling up its dining experience to pair with the establishment’s “chefinspired dishes.”

Over in Ponderay, Flavors of Phoenicia (477100 Hwy. 95N, Suite C) is new on the dining scene, offering authentic Leba-

nese cuisine. Regular social media updates have kept the community apprised of the restaurant’s progress, revealing ornate murals and colorful decorations making up a unique and lively dining space. Find Flavors of Phoenicia on Facebook to learn the latest as the business gets its start.

Just down the road, Sweet Lou’s (477272 Hwy. 95N) continues its dedication to stellar service and consistent deliciousness with an array of new menu items headed into winter, including a Greek salad and caprese chicken sandwich. Due to popular

FROM LEFT: THE CLUBHOUSE RESTAURANT’S BISON MEATLOAF, SERVED FIRESIDE; ONE OF THE MANY COLORFUL, FRESH SELECTIONS FROM 113 MAIN’S MENU; TAKE YOUR FARE TO GO FROM RED BARN BAKERY. COURTESY PHOTOS.

demand, Lou’s is also bringing back some fan favorites, including the poke tacos; huckleberry cobbler; and the beloved steak sandwich, new and improved with charbroiled top sirloin, melted blue cheese crumbles, sauteed mushrooms, and a garlic aioli spread on a toasted Tuscan roll.

In the spirit of winter adventure, Red

Barn Bakery (454 Woodland Dr.) is open for business 6 a.m.to 6 p.m. on Mondays, as well as Thursday-Saturday 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., and poised to please everyone from the sweet tooth to the famished winter explorer. The jam-packed menu includes baked goods like scones, bagels, pies, and cinnamon rolls; hearty breakfast fare like biscuits and gravy; as well as good eats like orange chicken egg rolls, lasagna, soup, and bread bowls. Don’t forget to pair your order with an organic coffee or homemade hot cocoa.

And finally, for those willing to venture a bit out of town for a quality dining experience, the Clubhouse Restaurant at the Idaho Club (151 Clubhouse Way) provides year-round dinner service Wednesday-Saturday, 4 to 8 p.m. A variety of protein and pasta options are available. Of particular note are the bison meatloaf, grilled flat iron steak, and penne alla puttanesca.

A COUPLE OF THE NEW DISHES AVAILABLE AT SWEET LOU’S THIS WINTER, INCLUDING THE CHICKEN CAPRESE SANDWICH (LEFT) AND THE GREEK SALAD (RIGHT). COURTESY PHOTOS.

2024/2025 EATS & DRINKS in Sandpoint

CABINET MOUNTAIN COFFEE

WINTER RIDGE NATURAL FOODS

EVANS BROTHERS COFFEE & 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, and four-time Good Food Award winner. By the cup or buy beans wholesale. Open 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 208-265-5553 www.evansbrotherscoffee.com

MOJO COYOTE CAFE AT SCHWEITZER

10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. Enjoy a fresh Evans Brothers espresso and treat your sweet tooth to a warm scone. Fresh-baked pastries, breakfast burritos, and lunch specials. Fine selection of beer and wine. 208-255-3037 www.schweitzer.com

10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. The closest coffee to the lifts is at the base of the 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. Grab a breakfast burrito, a hot cup of coffee, and get first chair! www.schweitzer.com

DELICATESSENS

703 Lake St. A natural foods grocery store with in-house deli, bakery, meat department, organic produce department, a juice and espresso bar, and hot food bar with indoor seating. Open daily. 208265-8135 www.winterridgefoods.com

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

1326 Baldy Mtn. Rd. Friendly neighborhood market with local artisan goods and housewares. 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, take-home dinners, and more. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Door Dash is available! 208-263-9446 www.millerscountrystoresandpoint. com

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

10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. Choose from a diverse selection of comfort food from delicious burgers, south-of-the-border items, hearty sandwiches, and scrumptious salads. Offering a full bar, local beers, and a hand-selected regional wine list. Open daily. 208-255-3071 www.schweitzer.com

THE CLUBHOUSE AT THE IDAHO CLUB

151 Clubhouse Way. The perfect fusion of fine dining and authentic Idaho hospitality. Eclectic, fresh menu made all the better by impeccable service. Open for dinner through the winter season Wednesday through Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m. 208-265-2345 www.idahoclubhospitality.com

113 MAIN

THE CLUBHOUSE AT IDAHO CLUB

EVANS BROTHERS COFFEE

CONNIE'S CAFE 10

323 Cedar St. Welcoming atmosphere in the heart of downtown Sandpoint, Connie’s Cafe is all about good people, good drinks, and good food. Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a lounge with a full bar hosts many local musicians. Open daily. 208-255-2227 www.conniescafe.com

10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. Located in the Humbird Hotel, Crow’s Bench serves a selection of apres cocktails and elevated eats in a cozy, central setting. Reservations recommended. Open Daily. 208-255-3051 www.schweitzer.com

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. 208-265-PORK (7675) www.sandpointfatpig.com

JALAPEÑOS RESTAURANT 13

314 N. Second Ave. Traditional and Americanized Mexican dishes in a family-friendly atmosphere. Full bar, gluten-free menu and quick to-go menu. Open Thursday through Tuesday. 208-263-2995 www.sandpointjalapenos.com

MARIGOLD BISTRO 14

414 Church St. in the Sandpoint Center. Formerly Tango Cafe. Serving breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday, featuring fresh ingredients and from-scratch cooking. A community gathering place for large and small events. Available for off-site catering. 208-263-9514 www.marigoldbistro7b.com

POWDER HOUND PIZZA 15

201 E. Superior St. and on Schweitzer Mountain. Legendary pizza with a wide selection of greens, appetizers, and sandwiches. Beer, wine, outdoor patio. Streaming favorite sports all season long. 208-255-0685 (town) 208255-5645 (mtn) www.powderhoundpizza.com

SECOND AVENUE PIZZA

215 S. Second Ave. Piled-high specialty pizzas, calzones, salads, and sandwiches. Gluten free choices. Domestic and microbrew beer and wine. Take-and-bake pizzas available. Authentic, unique pies. Delivery available. 208-263-9321 www.secondavenuepizza.com

SKY HOUSE AT SCHWEITZER SWEET LOU'S RESTAURANT

10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. Experience a lunch outing unlike any other at the summit of Schweitzer! A chefinspired menu from locally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients. 208-263-9555 www.schweitzer.com

477272 U.S. Highway 95 in Ponderay. Terrific traditional and regional fare. Family friendly restaurant with full bar. Two more locations in Coeur d’Alene and Athol. Open daily. 208263-1381 www.sweetlous.com

TAVERNS, BREWS, AND WINERIES

CLINK AND SIP

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 plus kids’ menu. Lots of room for large groups. Kegs and growlers to go. Open daily. 208255-4351 www.mickduffs.com

100 N. First Ave. Wine, beer, and cider tastings, plus a deliciously curated food menu in a historic building with waterside ambience. Open 11 a.m. Closes Sunday through Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 9 p.m. Keep up-to-date on events including live music by finding Barrel 33 on social media, or check the calendar on the restaurant’s website. 208-920-6258. www.barrel33sandpoint.com

MICKDUFF’S BREWING CO.BEER HALL & BREWERY

220 Cedar St. Tasting room boasts 16 taps with hand-crafted beer, local bar art, free popcorn, and weekly entertainment. Naturally North Ales = fresh beer, unfiltered, non-pasteurized, natural, and chemical free. Beer Hall is bring-your-own-food friendly. 21 years or older. Open daily. 208209-6700 www.mickduffs.com

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. 208-946-5376 www.roxyslounge.com

10000 Schweitzer Mtn. Rd. The mountain’s prime après spot with a full bar, 20 beers on tap, big screen TVs, pool tables, dance floor, and a stage—featuring live music and DJs throughout the winter season. Food is available from Sam’s Alley. www.schweitzer.com

POWDER HOUND PIZZA

BARREL 33

CROW’S BENCH

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MARKETPLACE

Alpine Motors Your GMC truck dealer. New and used sales and leasing. Full service, parts and body shop. Highway 95 N., Ponderay, 208-263-2118, 1-800-430-5050. www.alpinemotors.net

Sandpoint Community Resource Center provides an extensive website offering information about how to receive help in areas as diverse as healthcare, housing, utilities, and clothing, while also connecting those who want to help with groups in need of volunteers. There is even an option to register your organization’s need for volunteer support. Learn more about it at www.sandpointcommunityresource.com 208-920-1840.

Shop Sandpoint Go to www.shopsandpoint. com, for local web links to trusted services, merchants, artists, craftspeople, farmers and green building. Write your own reviews in the new SandpointBlog. Fun reading, recycling, and more!

Keokee A marketing communications firm providing web design, hosting, search engine optimization and marketing, graphic design, editorial, media consultation and more. 405 Church St., 208.263.3573. www.keokee.com. We publish Sandpoint Magazine and sandpointonline.com

Vanderford’s Books on Second Avenue

Sandpoint’s hometown bookstore since 1978, now at 321 N. Second Ave. Offering a wide selection of the latest books and novels. 208-263-2417 • www.bookshop.org/shop/ vanderfords

Get a current rate sheet on our website at www.sandpointmagazine.com or call

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 Avenue.

and talk

Just a Saturday

by Todd Wendle

It was winter, February, I think, 1982, and for winter hikers, things were different then. A person climbed mountain peaks, they did not summit them. This was before ice axes, crampons, ropes, carabineers, and headlamps. There were zero weeks of planning. We had our broke-in Sorrels, wool gaiters, ski poles, an old Jansport backpack, and snowshoes.

My Uncle Steve and I had been talking about another winter attempt to climb Scotchman off trail. Without success we had tried several times to climb the mountain towering above the small town of Clark Fork. This time we would try a route through Morris Creek, the east side of Goat Mountain, and then up along the crest to the top.

Two of our friends wanted to come along. We thought, “Why not?” and the date was set.

Saturday dawned overcast. One of the friends asked, "Are you guys sure we can do this?" With a slight shrug, we said, "Sure." In retrospect, we should have probably asked them if they'd done anything like this before. But we didn't.

We followed the creek up the canyon. Our goal slowly slid into view. There stood Scotchman Peak. We ran out of creek bottom and turned up the east side of Goat Mountain. About three quarters of the way up, we encountered a basin. There was a problem. A two-inch crack in the snow ran along the top edge of the basin. "Are you sure we should do this?" Now we were all asking. After a brief huddle, we decided to cross one at a time. This way we'd lose only one if it slid. That also left three of us for a rescue. And so we went.

Quietly, without incident, we made it. (Author's note: Were we naive? You bet. Would I turn around today? Most likely. But back then it was just a hike.)

As we crested the ridge, we looked up. Scotchman was within reach. With a burst of new energy we scrambled up the last pitch. We had made it!

As the whooping and hollering trailed off into the abyss, someone looked at their Timex. It was three in the afternoon! The winter day was fading. We were still at the top of a frozen rock with several thousand vertical feet of descent before reaching our pickup. The words "uh oh!" thundered in our heads. It was time to climb down.

In a blink, it was dark. Really dark! We descended Scotchman as blackness descended upon us. Our ski poles were more like white canes. Unable to see the ground, we had to tap first, then step to avoid falling into awaiting tree wells. We had not thought a whit about possibly coming down in the dark. We tapped and stumbled our way to the bottom. The Timex read seven o'clock. Exhaustion took hold. No one was talking, just concentrating on the next tap, then step.

We finally reached the truck at midnight. The sigh of relief was audible. But... we did it! In the dead of winter, we had stood at the peak of Scotchman!

It was, for us, just a Saturday in northern Idaho, where endless more Saturdays stretched ahead into the future.

Scotchman still stands, proud head frosty white in the winter, beckoning today’s generation to come discover the joy of a Saturday adventure.

ABOVE: SCOTCHMAN PEAK IS THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTY. PHOTO BY DON OTIS. INSET: THE AUTHOR, IN AN OLD PHOTO FROM ‘BACK IN THE DAY,’ MAKING A WINTER ASCENT THROUGH THE BACKCOUNTRY TO SCOTCHMAN PEAK. COURTESY PHOTO