Reviews & Comments
Sandpoint, ID
re: -
12/25/2008A comment from the author: Originally in the article I wrote that Glen Harvey rented Swans Landing to his nephew, based on the chef relating this incorrect info in a conversation I had with him. The chef was the instructor for our local culinary program, of which I was a part. In a conversation I had with Glen Harvey on December 24th, 2008, he asked me why I had written an article "about me," and really believed I had done very wrong to mention him in the article. The original article stated my belief that during that time, the lessee of Swans had done much to ruin the reputation of the restaurant, and that the rents were high. I based this on conversations I had with two of the owners, as well as a conversation I had with Glen Harvey four years ago, when he was quoting me how much he was asking for in lease payments at that time. During my Christmas Eve conversation with Mr. Harvey, I asked if he had read the article. He admitted he hadn't at that time. I stand by what I have written, am willing to prove my sources, and will admit that what I was told was that the owner was married to Mr. Harvey's neice. I retract the familial affiliation. Merry Christmas.
Sandpoint, ID
Ten Hospitals within 100 Miles, Idaho 8th Healthie -
12/22/2008Sandpoint has its own hospital - Bonner General -with 48 beds, and the healthcare industry has seen several new clinics open, with many new doctors and health offerings in the last five years. This year, Idaho was named the nation's 8th healthiest state, and people walk and hike, bike ride and ski, swim and race, and are generally doing healthy things more than not. Within 100 miles are ten hospitals, and just 45 miles south of Sandpoint is the Kootenai Medical Center, a very good, much larger hospital with all the services a good facility enjoys. A bit farther, in Spokane, are some world-class hospitals, including Deaconess and Sacred Heart.
Sandpoint, ID
Sandpoint Learnin'-Readin', Ritin', and Rithmatic -
12/22/2008We are so proud of our high school, and I often ask people where in the nation do we still fund virtually every art and activity, all the way down to the Men's Glee Club. Our schools are rated in the middle of the pack, with a 6 out of 10 in Great Schools website and others. Many people locally do not think our schools are up to the task, and home-schooling here is as prevalent as any place. However, coming from Louisiana and Florida, I find the schools amazing. Certainly the children here are so much nicer, more polite, and seemingly better educated than in California, where my wife and I worked for three years. Education cannot be viewed only from the perspective of the quality of schools. When the kids coming out of the area are hard working, ethical, humble and polite, I have to think something is working right. Last year Dennis Pence, one of the founders of Coldwater Creek, pledged to donate matching funds with the state to build our first University of Idaho campus in Sandpoint. When the stock lost 90% of its value, those plans went on the back burner. However, this idea has taken seed, and I suspect we will have a university extension campus within ten years. Overall, education in Sandpoint is generally good, as are the schools.
Sandpoint, ID
Sandpoint and the North Idaho Economy -
12/22/2008I host the radio show North Idaho Business. In that capacity I am often asked the questions, “Is it a good time to start a business in the area?” As a Realtor for Windermere Real Estate/Resort Lifestyles, I am asked the similar question, “Is it a good time to buy a home here?” There is often the codicil, “…or should I wait ‘til the fall/winter/summer/spring?” In fact, last May 14, 2007, on a forum hosted by CityData.com, a couple asked that very question. Looking back, was it a good decision to wait until the fall to buy? Here is the easy answer: prices are now lower on many properties. Also, if you overpaid in May of 2007, then you would be upside down now. There are other considerations. Did you plan on selling in under one year? Two? Five? Truth is, the real answer is if you don’t find the ‘right’ property and you overpaid, then you would need several years to absolutely know the answer. However, last year in the month of May, there were some seriously good bargains available. I should know. I bought a bank repo on 10 acres in Priest River. We gutted the home, fixed it pretty, and just closed on it at a profit. Big profit? No. Worth it? You betcha. If you are going to open a business or buy a home in North Idaho, the time is always ‘now!’ Why? Because, if you run your business well, do so with the bottom line always the constant goal, and treat your customers with kindness, professionalism, and offer a good product, then the chances of success are good. If you buy a home today with a good negotiated price, then even if it suffers some depreciation next year, over the course of two, three, or five years, you will see increases in value. This is historically accurate. However, it is more important to understand the dynamics of Sandpoint, Schweitzer Mountain, and Lake Pend Oreille. Anecdotal evidence of a good economy in Sandpoint is strong. While many new offices and buildings are coming on the market, the number of empty buildings and storefronts is historically low. Many developers and business owners are banking on continued growth. On Fifth Avenue several new buildings are being constructed, and similar projects are nearing completion on Highway 2/Pine. The businesses that were built last year are thriving, such as the new North Idaho Animal Hospital and Starbucks in Ponderay. Slate’s new digs are impressive, and a telephone interview Steve Coffman confirmed that this will be the restaurant front to a new hotel. Certainly the decision to build by Panhandle State Bank and Mountain West were based on a stronger economy, but the addition of their buildings created jobs as well as beautiful new structures gracing the Sandpoint skyline. Following the national trend, some local businesses have seen a decline in profits. Coldwater Creek’s stock price has tumbled from a high near $30 to around $6. Part of Coldwater’s strategy in recent years has been the addition of hundreds of brick and mortar stores to supplement its online and catalog sales. A comparison of the first quarter of 2007 to this year showed a 9.4 percent decline in sales. Yet after passing the milestone of a billion dollars in sales in 2006, this is not the worst news of the day. Nationally, retailers are having one of the worst years of the decade, and several national stores are filing for bankruptcy protection. Other companies such as Encoder, Thorne Research, and Unicep Packaging are continuing with business as usual, though with slower sales and numbers than recent years. Some local companies are increasing their presence both in national sales, and local employment, such as Litehouse Foods. Paul Schaller’s Quest Aircraft is hiring new employees and has plans for robust sales in the coming months. The multi-million dollar Sand Creek Byway project has begun, and soon scores of new hires with high-paying jobs will add to the local economy. Don’t think that every area adjacent to the vibrant communities of Sandpoint or Coeur d’Alene will appreciate similarly. This just cannot happen. Bonners Ferry, Naples, Priest River, Newport, and other communities just are not doing as well as Sandpoint or Coeur d’Alene. The old axiom of location, location, location, applies, even if your location is near the ‘in’ place. One only has to take a few minute walk in downtown Priest River to see many, many buildings with ‘For Rent’ signs, and closed businesses are the norm. The news is also not good for two of our best employment opportunities. JD Lumber and other mills have closed their doors. The lumber industry, which enjoyed resurgence during the housing boom of recent years is now suffering one of its greatest downturns. While Idaho created different industries over the last several years to buffer the decline of lumber, states more dependent on the lumber industry, such as Oregon, are in real trouble. The lack of building has also affected higher-paying jobs in the construction industry. Thus far, there have still been jobs available, but without some recovery, those jobs may be in danger. Still, our unemployment rate is low compared to the rest of the nation. With the national rate approaching 7 percent, Idaho’s 5.8 percent is impressive, and among the lowest in the nation. Still, it is at a 15-year high. Bonner County matches the national figure with unemployment November at 6.9 percent. According to the Idaho Department of Labor, Coeur d’Alene area has a similar rate of unemployed, while Boundary County to the north is in the double digits. This has to be compared to historical unemployment rates. In the past, the unemployed in North Idaho often was in double figures. Reviewing the unemployment rate for Bonner County since 1990, this figure is the absolute norm at the beginning of winter. So, while we have enjoyed unprecedented job growth over the last few years, what we are experiencing now is normal for our area. Certainly, compared to the nation and our past, our current figures are good. Looking at the jobs available in the Sunday newspapers confirms that there are jobs available, though we still lag behind the rest of the U.S. in rate of pay. As of the beginning of 2008, bankruptcy filings in North Idaho are again on the rise following historic drops in 2006. According to Filings in the Northern Division of the U.S. Courts, District of Idaho nearly doubled to 414 cases last year, up from 219 cases the prior year. The Northern Division handles cases from Kootenai, Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, and Shoshone counties. In 2006, filings in the division had dropped 87 percent, down from more than 1,600 cases, following enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention & Consumer Protection Act, which took effect October 17, 2005. The new law created additional requirements which had to be met by debtors before they could become eligible for protection from creditors. While the figure is almost double the previous year, it is still in the lower tier of states. Idaho’s most vibrant city, Boise in Ada County, has had meager increases in quality of job life with a 0.4% increase in job numbers, and a 0.5% increase in the average weekly wage. There the technology boom has long been the envy of other cities, yet with the recent closing of HP operations, and Micron on the verge of bankruptcy, the outlook is not as gleaming as even 2007. Another area that Idaho shows strength in is foreclosures. According to the National Delinquency Survey by the Mortgage Bankers Association only nine other states have a lower rate of foreclosure than Idaho. This may be bad news for the intrepid investor looking to pick up property a bargain prices, but it speaks to our economy. A higher percentage of Idahoans are making their payments than 80 percent of the rest of the nation. If home appreciation and sales are the benchmark for judging how our economy is doing, then we are in a slowdown. Many pundits believed that 2005 or even 2006 were our best years ever for home sales. While 2005 was impressive with over $303,000,000 in hom
Sandpoint, ID
Art in North Idaho -
12/22/2008Art in Sandpoint and North Idaho The 1970s brought hippies and environmentalism as well as arts and more theater to the Sandpoint area. This spelled the downfall of the lumber industry. Jim Brown, of the Pack River Lumber Company, wisely diversified his business and, as one of the original founders of Schweitzer Mountain, bought out the rest of the shareholders to make Schweitzer a privately owned venture. To this very day one can still see the occasional psychedelic bus or love bug traversing county roads. Now the hippies are augmented by the winter ski bum, and the warm weather off-road cyclists. Around this time the Hope Peninsula became an art colony. Edward and Nancy Reddin Kienholz moved there from Los Angeles in 1973. The Peninsula also had a cluster of buildings owned by the Max Factor family, and the Kienholz’s drew upon the beauty of the area as inspiration. A close friend and principal benefactor to Kienholz was Klaus Groenke, also a former resident of the Hope Peninsula. Groenke is one of the richest German real estate developers and is the managing director and part owner of Trigon Holding GmbH, a Berlin based international real estate company. He is also reported to be a leading share holder in Coca Cola Company, and a regional board member of the Deutsche Bank Berlin/Brandenberg. It is reported that the reason that the Hope Peninsula has a paved road it that he had it done so his guests would not have to drive on a dirt road out to his estate. Half his estate was sold in 2005, however, formerly Mr. Groenke's land boasted a series of triangulated satellite dishes, extensive antennae arrays, and curious metal "art." These giant sculptures dotted his property, many of which were originally purchased for millions of dollars, and some could be seen by Lake Pend Oreille boaters. A few were the "Tableaux" that Kienholz was famous for. One of the most famous features is the Plexiglas-encased full section of the Berlin Wall, graffiti and all, easily seen right in front of the front gate. The Hope Peninsula is also the home of the Ruen property: a 194 acre jewel that the family cannot agree on what to do with. It also has Sam Owen Park and is a nature preserve, with hundreds of friendly, tame deer that tourists love to interact with, and many other protected animals such as dozens and dozens of wild turkeys. Local art gallery owner, Jim Quinn of the Timberstand writes in his blog: “Throughout the years art colonies have developed by region because they give skilled but lessor known artists the opportunity to work side by side with more accomplished painters. One of the earliest and better known colonies is The New Hope Colony. They were associated with the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the concept of painting en plein air. Many members of this group, Daniel Garber, Fern Coppage, Walter Emerson and many others are very collectible in today's market especially since they followed in the footsteps of artist Edward Willis Redfield who influenced an entire generation. Some other well known colonies are - Woodstock, New York, The Hoosiers, Colonies of the South, Southern Women Artists, etc... In today's world art colonies continue to develop in places like Jackson Hole, WY, Sun Valley, Idaho, Sandpoint, Idaho and many other places known for their natural beauty.” Today with the Artist Studio Tour, many galleries, and hundreds of artists, the county has become a true artist’s haven. The Pend Oreille Arts Council was formed in 1978 and with it, summer theater was born. The Panida Theater closed its doors until it was saved by a community fund-raiser and reopened in 1985. A bridge was constructed across Sand Creek and housed the public market. It is now home to Coldwater Creek’s flagship store. The 1980s brought more local flair to the area as the Farmer’s Market was founded and the Festival at Sandpoint began welcoming top name musicians to the area at its wonderful setting on the shores of the Pend Oreille River. Supporting the arts is an effort we feel is well worth the time and moneys invested to help our community flower into the art destination we believe our areas deserves. It shows off our region as a true artist colony, brings in tourist dollars, and with the internet, allows our artists to make a living in an area that for decades suffered from low wages and high unemployment. Art lifts the soul to a higher level, creates critical thinking, and makes us better citizens. Over the last years I have covered some controversial subjects on my radio show: North Idaho Arts and Adventure. We have discussed the need for art in our schools, we have discussed what is and is not considered art, which was a subjective proposition at best. Now we are exploring how Sandpoint and Bonner County can move forward and pave the way for the future which could lead our area to become a major tourist art destination. If we think about a couple of art communities, it becomes clear how supporting the arts on a local level can lead to community-wide prosperity. Take for instance Carmel and Monterey, California. These were sleepy little fishing villages with nice views and smelly piers. To get an idea of what it was like one only has to read Steinbeck’s Cannery Row. That tome was published in 1945. Have things changed there? Not too much in the way of industry or tourism sixty or so years ago. How about Sausalito? While San Francisco a few miles south boomed, Sausalito was again a slow-moving hamlet that had beautiful scenery. Last time I went to the Sausalito Art Festival it cost $20 to enter. There was a time when it was free. What would the city of Sandpoint do with $1,000,000 if we had 50,000 visitors to an art festival that had a $20 ticket price? One of our favorites is the Winter Park Art Festival. Been going on for 45 years, and attracts over 350,000 each year. Could we feasibly attract 20,000 or 30,000 visitors over a two or three day period? These other small towns attract many times that. These areas became artists’ havens, and the artists showed the world the wonder of their adopted homes. The areas became famous, their economies boomed, and while they did not grow stupendously, they prospered greatly. We are very much like these towns in the early years of their art movements. Artists here are fantastically great and we are at a crossroads. We can either get behind this idea and create another great art enclave, or not. I don’t like to think what North Idaho would be like without our natural beauty and majesty. What would we be like without art? Upcoming Art Events December: Coeur d'Alene - Art Walk The Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance has organized a monthly Art Walk, that takes place from 5-8 pm the 2nd Friday monthly, April through December. Enjoy an evening of exceptional art, fine dining and friends in downtown 208-664-3194 www.artsincda.org January 17-18: Dover Bay, IDaho - Midwinter Art Fest 11am -5pm daily: With art from dozens of North Idaho Artists, this is our area's biggest winter art event. Featured at one of North Idaho's coolest waterfront communities, the Midwinter Art Fest is the biggest weekend deal during the Sandpoint Winter Carnival. Events, fun for the whole family, meet the aritsts, enjoy free beverages, refreshments, and treats, and see one of North Idaho's most beautiful resort communities. To learn more, visit www.MidwinterArtFest.com or call Gary 208-610-1384 or send an e-mail to garyplirette@nctv.com January 15-18: Sandpoint Winter Carnival ArtTrek - 5-8 pm, at locations around downtown Sandpoint Wander blissfully amid downtown's wine bars, galleries and shops in this self-guided art trek, showcasing the work of many local and regional artists. Special showings, hors d'oeuvres, live music and more at many locations. Self-guided map will be available at the Chamber and Downtown Sandpoint Business Association offices and many shops. See Festival at Sandpoint poster artist Janene Grende at the Coldwater Creek Wine Bar
Sandpoint, ID
A place where many never lock their doors -
12/22/2008While stats show Sandpoint has typical crime compared to other small towns, many people here do not lock their doors. Murder is next to unheard of, and we don't have as much of a drug problem as neighboring communities. In fact, right across the border in Washington is a much larger meth issue than we have. Personally, I have never seen a tweaker in Sandpoint. Maybe I just don't know how to recognize them. When I mentioned to some folks that when I owned Walker Donuts, the hookers would stop by around 3am, they did not believe that we even had prostitution in Sandpoint. In fact, when a couple of women and a man booked a room at a local hotel, and tried to solicit on Craig's List, before they even got their first John, the authorities set up a sting and arrested the trio. Certainly we have burglaries, and other violent crimes. It just doesn't feel like it. In fact, were it not for the statistics that disprove the feeling, I would swear we had virtually no crime at all. But we do. Maybe we should lock our doors.
Sandpoint, ID
Not cheap, not expensive, but not quite just right -
12/22/2008Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort make our area a tourist town, so there are the right places to buy, and the ones to avoid. For instance, Safeway in downtown Sandpoint is generally higher in pricing than Yoke's, which is marginally more than the Walmart Super Store. Still, having lived in Florida, Louisiana, and California before moving to Sandpoint, we noted groceries to be roughly 10% higher. Certainly beef and fish costs more, and sales are not always as deeply discounted. This is more because of lack of competition, and the limited population. Gas prices follow Spokane and even Seattle rates, and they have the higher Washington taxes. South of Sandpoint, in Coeur d'Alene, gas prices can be 10% or more cheaper. Utilities are low compared to much of the nation, as are supplied in the Pacific Northwest by hydro generation, but with colder winters than many other areas, the cost during winter can be more than many are used to. Health care is reasonable, and this month Idaho was rated the 8th healthiest state. With miles of bike trails, and outdoor living a big part of life in Sandpoint and all of Idaho, this is a given. Major purchases like homes and cars are in the middle of national numbers, though home prices, like many other desirable resort areas, sky-rocketed over the last few years, and has only drawn back marginally over the last three. Sandpoint is a generally reasonable city to live in and you don't have to be rich to live here. Still, many look back just five years ago to reminisce about when homes had a median price of $126,500, and everything was more affordable.
Sandpoint, ID
Sandpoint, Idaho-Between Schweitzer Mountain Ski R -
11/29/2008As the host of two radio shows - North Idaho Business and North Idaho Arts and Adventure for many years - the perspective of interviewing hundreds of native Idahoans and transplants has given me a unique perspective. While certainly one can lament that this fantastic place has changed over the years, it is still a quaint, high quality of life small North Idaho town with a population under 10,000. Year after year the national media has awarded great accolades to Sandpoint: Best Small Town in the West, Top 10 Resort Towns, America's Dream Town, Top 10 Adventure Town. The NY Times, USA Today, Sunset Magazine, AOL Travel, National Geographic and many, many more all have touted this place as a dream town, undiscovered and hidden from the rest of the world. Right above the city of Sandpoint is Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort, and similarly, over the last few years, Schweitzer has also garnered national attention, being named for the first time in 2008 to Skiing Magazine's Top 25 Ski Resorts, and #3 for Tree Skiing. Lake Pend Oreille, gargantuan with its 111 miles of coastline sandwiches Sandpoint on one side, with Schweitzer on the other. Manufacturer and national businesses have made the area home, with companies such as Coldwater Creek, Litehouse Foods, Quest Aircraft, Encoder Products, Thorne Research, and many more finding great employees and a quality of life few other places can offer.
With growth has come growing pains, yet the essence of this part of the North Idaho Panhandle has remained. It is a great place to live, raise a family, and enjoy what nature offers. Festivals and events pepper each season, and the people are friendly to a fault. Certainly if one looks, we find issues that are troubling, such as the cost of living, traffic, and attitudes the newcomers bring that differ with the local populace. Many believe, however, that these are comparatively minor aberrations; our slice of North Idaho heaven is still better than most of the places any of us have been before.
Our economy is suffering much like the rest of the nation, yet we still have good unemployment figures, optimistic future job growth, and are tackling our issues with fervent community involvement.
We are so, so proud of our little community, and while we worry about growth, we are also proud, and welcome more than we turn away.
Sandpoint is truly what they say about us. Perhaps Cabin Life, Cabin Living said it best calling our community “the quintessential Western outdoor lover’s town.”