Facebook Philanthropy

Kibbee Walton, owner of Artisan Portrait, held an inspired promotion this week. On Monday he offered a couple of hours of studio time and free fun headshots for Facebook profiles. Over 80 people showed up. Everyone was asked to bring items for the Post Falls Food Bank and they certainly did just that. The majority of the attendees were teens, I dare say I might have been the oldest face photographed, and their generosity was encouraging. Here's a high five for Kibbee, proving that even a small business can make a big difference in the community.
Pictured are Kibbee and Melissa Williams with some of over 400 items donated for the food bank and my Facebook photo by Kibbee, inset.

Be careful out there

Just after 5 p.m. tonight an accident at the intersection of Highway 41 and Poleline Avenue sent one person to the hospital.

POW/MIA Bracelets Honor Families

Remembering the 1,729 missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War ... 39 years after bracelets debut. Coeur d'Alene Press story HERE.

This week's Main Street

Main Street print column from Coeur d'Alene Press HERE.

Birthday of the Corps

Members of the Pappy Boyington Detachment of the Marine Corps League celebrated the 234th birthday of the Corps at their annual ball at the Coeur d'Alene Resort on November 10.

Following the traditional cutting of the birthday cake by saber, the oldest and youngest Marine present are served first. This year's honorees were Mike Bernardino, 87 and Justin Peck, 26.

Soap Box / Fort Hood Shootings

Last Thursday the shooting of Americans on the Fort Hood Army base in Killeen, Texas shocked the country. In the 1990s our daughter, Melani spent several years active duty Army, serving two years in Stuttgart, Germany and the remainder at Fort Hood. At the base she met and married her husband, Rick, also active duty Army, and in 1998 our grandson, Jared was born in Killeen. I talked with Melani over the weekend at home in Vancouver, WA and she was as angry as many of our current and former military families are that warning signs on the shooter were overlooked. And saddened that here in America where soliders should have a sense of security they faced an armed murderer in a place where they were unarmed.
I find no small amount of irony that I still have to remove my shoes and walk through a metal detector to board a plane ... God forbid fingernail clippers or more than 3 ozs of deodorant make it through security. Yet Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, an American solider, a man with published sympathies to terrorists and questionable mental health walked onto the largest US military base in the country with two non-military issue handguns and massacred soldiers and civilians. Unbelievable.

Clay for Christmas!

The Clay Arts Guild of North Idaho, Inc. (CAGNI) will host the sixth annual Mud & Spirits Pottery Show, Friday, November 20, noon to 7 p.m. and Saturday, November 21, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Coeur d’Alene KROC Center located at 1765 W. Golf Course Road.
A variety of functional and sculptural pottery will be featured by over 20 Inland Northwest potters. Admission is free and live music will be provided by local musicians. CAGNI is a nonprofit communication network for clay artists and supporters, promoting clay art and education in the community.

*this is a great place to start your holiday shopping while supporting local artists. There are all sizes, shapes and prices to these pieces of art. Make those on your list very happy come Christmas morning.

Festival of Trees

For the sixth year I'm tickled to have been invited back to emcee the North Idaho Eye Institute-sponsored Senior Social on the Saturday morning of Kootenai Health's Festival of Trees weekend. It's always a sell-out event for the lovely brunch and incredible entertainment. I so enjoy seeing our community's senior citizens and their families, surrounded by the magic of Christmas. Hope to see you there! Read about the volunteer team who makes the Festival of Trees happen HERE. Call for tickets to the Senior Social and all of the November 27-30 Festival of Trees events: 666-2345 or 666-8733 (TREE)

Distinguished Veteran of the Year

My good friend Dusty Rhoads was honored on Saturday in a ceremony at Hayden City Hall for his lifetime of service, not only in the military but in the community.
Read more from the Press HERE.

Bundled Boys

Brett and Janna Heiner's boys, Jonathan and Jesse were bundled up for blustery weather to watch the annual Veterans Day Parade in Hayden on Saturday morning.

Double Take

I did a double-take when I spotted Elvis inside Hot Rod Cafe this afternoon. Looks like he was surprised to see me, too. :)

Hilde Kellogg Park

Today was one of those singularly delightful moments in honoring someone who's made such an incredible difference in her community through half a century of volunteerism and service. Anyone who enjoys living in Post Falls today owes a debt of gratitude to former State Representative Hilde Kellogg. For her to be recognized by having a community park dedicated in her name is a fitting tribute.
Pictured with Ms. Kellogg are the Post Falls Park and Recreation Commission, Jackie McAvoy, Rick Noordam, Tami Martinez, Ryan Zane and Jim Hail. To see highlights of the ceremony click HERE. Coeur d'Alene Press feature story HERE.

Seniors Rule!

Parents of Post Falls High School's Class of 2010 have been working hard to fund the Graduation Party including the annual live/silent auction on Saturday, November 7 from 6 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Admission is free and there's a spaghetti dinner for $5 per person or $20 / family. There are lots of great silent and live auction items and putting together baskets recently were parents Annette Durbin, Paula Taylor, Roxanna Donelan, Toni Price, Marcee Johnston, Tammi Dawson, Dawn Clark, Rhonda Newton and Ed Hoy.
If you notice Toni's two shiners and swollen nose (wearing pink) ... it was a casualty of the senior parents' fundraising partnership with the Lions Haunted House. Acting as a guide through the house last week, Toni ran into a wall in the pitch black and broke her nose. Way to take one for the kids, Toni! :)

Free Photos for Food Bank Fundraiser

Facebookers click HERE.
Your favorite ONE of the 5 images is free. Additional images will 'cost' a donation of one food item per image so bring your food items to the event!
Each donated food item for the Post Falls Food Bank will also earn you a raffle ticket for some fabulous gift certificates from The Buckle, ITunes, Starbucks, and Artisan Portrait. Bring extra food, get more raffle tickets, 773-9712 Artisian Portrait

Stripes of Hope

Briana is a beautiful young girl from Post Falls who has been diagnosed with Osteosarcoma. She has already undergone three surgeries and is currently undergoing chemotherapy four days a week. She will endure another surgery this month and 33 weeks of chemotherapy as part of her treatment. This is unfortunately her second cancer in her ten short years. She underwent 42 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiation at the age of two due to extremely aggressive Alveolar Rhabdomyosarcoma.
7 PM Saturday November 7 at the Coeur d' Alene Eagles Ballroom.
music, food & drinks, raffles, and auctions to support Briana in her fight against cancer. Tickets are $20 advance purchase or $25 at the door. Tickets available at the Coeur d'Alene Eagles or call 818-7083. stripesofhope.org

Election Day

Information on municipal candidates in Kootenai County HERE. To find your polling place click HERE.

Soap Box - Elections

“Don’t take it personal.” I recall more than one well-meaning person saying those words to me in 2001 after I was roundly trounced in my bid to become mayor of Post Falls. I had to laugh. Nothing is more personal than putting your name on a ballot, walking through the neighborhoods knocking on doors and asking complete strangers to vote for you. The candidate forums bring on nerves and insecurities that haven’t surfaced since junior high school. And then there’s asking friends and supporters to write a check to finance the campaign. Running for elected office on the local level is not for the faint of heart. Six years later I had dusted myself off and ran successfully for an open city council seat. Now ending my second year of a four-year term, I’m older, wiser and far more empathetic to those who toss their hat and their heart in the public ring.
When the votes are tallied Tuesday night there will be candidates in our communities who fell short in their quest for elected office. I offer my sincere appreciation to them all for their willingness to be part of the process and to be catalysts for ongoing dialogue on the issues that are important to us all. While congratulating the winners is a pleasant given, thanking their opponents should be an equal priority. We’re all better for their participation.

Kansas City Tie-Breaker

Forget about Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings playing in Green Bay yesterday, the big action on the football field is tonight at Lake City High School when Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene and Lewiston face off for a shot at the state playoffs. Details from the PRESS HERE.

Building Business

The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce's new visitor center and administrative office building is taking shape on 4th Avenue, just off of Spokane Street and south of I-90. Slated to open before the tourists begin arriving in 2010, construction crews have taken advantage of the recent good weather to get the walls up on two stories. Photos of the progress from the ground up HERE.

Fall Back

Set your clocks back one hour tonight when you go to bed. And while you're at it, don't forget to replace batteries in your smoke detectors!

Frightening Finale`

Halloween night is the last chance to experience the award-winning Post Falls Lions Haunted House. Open from 6 p.m. to midnight and guaranteed to scare your socks off. Post Falls High School senior Brock Sherman along with Chris Harris and Justin Hughes are just some of the spooky characters you'll see inside the house.

Big Monster

Dozens of cute costumed kids trick or treated a day early at Post Falls City Hall Friday afternoon. In the Community Development Department, Harmony Conley poses with a giant Frankenstein monster who awaited the trick or treaters.

Farewell to Frannie

In August I visited with Francis (Frannie) Wilhelm on the occassion of his 97th birthday. Joined by retired City Clerk, Chris Pappas, (also pictured) whom Frannie hired when he served as mayor of Post Falls from 1976 to 1980. It was a fun and festive visit with old friends. A few weeks after his birthday, Frannie became the oldest person to parasail over Lake Coeur d'Alene. He had an incredible and extraordinary life for nearly a century with most of those years spent in Post Falls. His granddaughter, Linda Wilhelm, followed in his footsteps and serves on the Post Falls City Council.

Main Street in Print

This week's Main Street column from the Coeur d'Alene Press HERE.

Team Work

Read why the Post Falls Trojans and Coeur d'Alene Vikings are all cheering on rivals, Lake City Timberwolves tonight in high school football action ... HERE. If Lake City beats Lewiston then all bets are off and the rivalry is back on big time!

Well-Deserved Award!

Marge Chadderdon was named Coeur d'Alene's Citizen of the Year at the Chamber's annual luncheon today. She's a businesswoman, philanthropist, patriot, volunteer and an elected Idaho State Representative. Not to mention the proud mother of Julie, Jan, Jodie and Doug and doting grandma to her exceptional grandchildren. This award couldn't have been more deserved. Congratulations Marge!

Mark your calendar ...

October 29, 2009 ... first measurable snowfall of the season! Email a photo from your neighborhood and I'll post it here.
This photo is from Cynthia Pischner-Raynor's Dalton Gardens garden this morning.

Soup Brigade

Kootenai County Assessor Mike McDowell and (clockwise) staffers Beckie Williams, Jack Christianson, Jan Lindquist and Eileen Hoffman as the annual Soup and Bread Contest wrapped up on Monday. Click on COMMENTS to see list of winners!

Strawberry Sunset

My friend Don Sausser captured another great sunset over Lake Coeur d'Alene from his 10th floor condo in downtown Coeur d'Alene.

Honoring Sgt. Avriett

The Coeur d'Alene Police Department will hold a Service Banner ceremony on Thursday, Oct. 29 to honor Coeur d'Alene Police Officer and USAF Tech Sgt. Shane Avriett, who is currently serving in Iraq. The public is invited, 4:30 p.m. at 3818 Schreiber Way.

Perfect Day for Soup

As the rain poured down and the cold winds blew on Monday, the Kootenai County Administration Building meeting rooms were a sea of crock pots filled with 43 homemade entries in the 9th Annual Soup and Bread Contest. Hosted by the Assessor's office, the popular event drew nearly 200 people who happily forked over five bucks each to sample the entries. My favorite, the Southwestern White Chicken Chili, is pictured here. But the best part of the event is that the proceeds are used by the Assessor's department to provide several holiday baskets to randomly-drawn recipients of the Circuit Breaker* program. Kudos to the great cooks from all of the county's departments who participated and to Mike McDowell's staff who make it all happen. *low-income taxpayers who are 65 and older, disabled or widowed.

Get Out! North Idaho

Patrick Jacobs has a great list of places to go for the Halloween holiday HERE.

Cast of Curse

High school students/actors in the Curse of Pirates Island haunted adventure at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds take a break from the action. Pictured (l-r) Michaela Allen and Zina Maek-Lakeland High School and Elizabeth Stadley, Cameron Crandall, Elizabeth Gleixner and Alyssa Kimm of Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy. The show runs through Halloween.

Flu Season

Beginning Monday, Kootenai Medical Center will expand its recently-tightened visitor policy to all patient care areas. The expanded policy is intended to help stop the spread of flu to patients. The change is expected to remain in effect during the heightened portion of the flu season.New patient protections:*Children under the age of 18 will not allowed to visit any patient care areas.*Adults with coughs, colds, fevers and other flu-like symptoms will not be allowed to visit patient care areas*Adult visitors must be immediate family members and must register at the nurse’s desk before entering a patient’s room.Guidelines on flu care can be found HERE.

Bus Parade

Big yellow busses head down Poleline Avenue in Post Falls at the end of the school day, dropping off their charges along the way. October 18-23 is National School Bus Driver Appreciation Week.

Let the Screams Begin!

The Post Falls Lions Haunted House opens Thursday, Oct. 22 and runs through Halloween. Nightmare on 4th Street is the grand daddy of local haunted houses, operated for nearly four decades by volunteers and benefitting local scholarships and sight and hearing programs.

Spare shovel?

My buddy Bob Driscoll, of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, is the best connected guy I know. He shares information with probably thousands of people in the community and I'm glad to be one of those people. This notice from Bob in the in-box yesterday caught my eye, "If you have an extra shovel, know about an extra shovel, have friends who have an extra shovel, please consider donating them to the homeless. For some, this will be a major source of income. What kind of shovel? I was told that if it looks like a shovel it's a shovel, whether for snow, trenching, coaling, or etc. etc."
All donations can be taken to Fresh Start at 1524 East Sherman, Coeur d'Alene. *photo of Bob from the Idaho National Guard "Boss Lift" this summer.

Main Street in Print

This week's print column from the Coeur d'Alene Press HERE.

Cat Walkers Wanted

No, this isn't a call to take Tabby for a stroll on a leash, it's the more glamorous kind of walking. The Kootenai Health Festival of Trees is coming up the end of next month and auditions for fashion show models, both men and women, over the age of 18 are on Sunday, November 1. Check the link HERE for details.

Back at the Ballot Box

Chris Pappas, retired City Clerk, was back in Post Falls City Hall Monday morning, overseeing the start of absentee balloting. City Administrator Eric Keck (pictured with Pappas) cast the second ballot, right behind Larry Carstensen. Election worker Ron Smith said he's enjoying his first time to work with the county for an election. For information on voting and the Nov. 3 municipal elections go your city's website: Post Falls, Coeur d'Alene, Hayden, or Rathdrum.

Not Forgotten

The shipment of Vietnam POW/MIA bracelets ordered by Main Street readers has arrived. If your check had a Coeur d'Alene or Hayden area address, your bracelet(s) is at the front counter of the Coeur d'Alene Press, 201 N. 2nd Street. Post Falls orders are at the reception desk at the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce, 510 E. 6th Ave.
To order a bracelet directly from the National League of POW-MIA Families the link is HERE.

Women in Red

Idaho's First Lady Lori Otter was a featured speaker at the Annual Women in Red Luncheon at the Coeur d'Alene Resort on Friday. Proceeds from the luncheon are used by the Kootenai County Republican Women for local tuition scholarships and US Constitution books for every high school senior in Kootenai County. Pictured (l-r) Pam Nilson, Julie Chadderdon, Lori Otter and Eve Knudtsen.

Scoop

NIC Sentinel reporter, Nick Dimico interviews Dr. Robert Ketchum at North Idaho College Workforce Training Center's 15th Anniversary open house this past week.

For the Kids!

Mark McWhorter, Pastor of Post Falls Church of the Nazarene, received the Lifetime Membership Award from the Boys & Girls Club for his commitment to the children and programs of the organization. His leadership and collaboration with the BGC of Kootenai County provides a safe and appropriate place to meet (the Post Falls Nazarene Church) while the BGC conducts their capital campaign to raise money for a new building. Mark, his board members and his congregation believe in the work of the club. Mark and his wife, Tina are pictured at the Boys and Girls Club's annual ball this past Saturday.