Community Thanks October 10, 2010

CHURCH: Has major face-lift

If you have traveled past the historic church on Sixth and Lakeside lately you have probably noticed that First Presbyterian Church has had a major face-lift! This two-year process has involved many wonderful individuals and businesses that deserve a tremendous "thank you!"

In 2008 we began hosting a mission program called "Family Promise" in our church building. This mission involves housing homeless families for a week at a time, five times a year. After we began participating, we were informed by the fire department that our windows did not meet the standards to house people overnight. So our renovation project first started with the replacement of all our windows in our education building to comply with that standard.

Around the same time, our Director of Worship and Development, Cynthia Marlette, discovered that the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association was offering grant money for building facade improvement to buildings in the downtown corridor. We applied for, and were awarded, a grant which paid for 25 percent of expenditures totaling $80,000 or less. With the input of Architects West, it took two years to plan and carry through with the remodeling. I am grateful to the members of our church, the Elders of our church, and Pastor Bill Peterson for their foresight in pursuing this project.

As the project started I had the pleasure of working with Ed, Keith and Kathy in the City Planning Department. They were all eager to help us with the process of necessary permits and inspections.

We were thrilled with the workmanship we received from all our subcontractors: Rick Nowoj Masonry, Gary Henry Carpentry Services, Lake City Glass, Modern Glass, Brian Partenfelder & Justin Taylor (painters), CDA Paving, Craig Gordon owner of Coeur d'Alene Concrete Cutting, Tim Lowery owner of Specialty Mobile Mix, Gutter Guys and F.O.Berg.

I also offer sincere thanks to people within our church that assisted in every phase of the project: Jim Edinger, Jerry Lundquist, Kathy Peterson, Erica and Ron Waterman, and most of all Cynthia Marlette and Stacy Thompson.

The total spent on our facade improvement project was close to $100,000. The most remarkable part of this project is the fact that the balance of the cost, after the grant, was funded by money generously donated by the estates of deceased members Sandra Parr and Johnny Harrison. We're thankful for the foresight these people had to contribute to their church even after they were gone.

We hope that these exterior improvements will reflect the love that we as a church have for our community. First Presbyterian, established in 1888, has one of the longest histories in Coeur d'Alene of serving the people of this community. Our physical plant has changed over the years, but our message remains the same: we spread the love of God through word and deed.

RON KEEFER

Volunteer Project Manager

First Presbyterian Church

Coeur d'Alene

EVENT: Possible with businesses

On behalf of the residents of the city of Dalton Gardens, I would like to express our gratitude to all of the sponsors for the prize drawing held at our annual picnic on Sept 11, 2010. It was a wonderful event that would not have been possible without the generosity of our local businesses in Dalton Gardens, Hayden and Coeur d'Alene.

I wish to thank all of these local businesses for their wonderful donations: Applebee's Bar & Grill, Angelo's Ristorante, Bistro on Spruce, Caruso's Sandwich Co., CDA, Chili's, Coeur d'Alene Chocolates, Couture Salon, Glamour Hair Design, Great Harvest Bread, Co., Just Because Fashion & Gifts, Kootenai Coffee, Mackenzie River Pizza, Olive Garden, Outback Steak House, Paul's Country Store & Wine Grotto, Shimmer Salon, Sunflower Cottage & Villa Decor & Flowers and Terrazzo Coffee.

I urge all of our Dalton Gardens residents to patronize and support these wonderful sponsors and we wish all these businesses continued success and prosperity. A special thank you to: Jo and Trisha Braun, Micaela Dehlbom, and to Brendan Souvenir for their help and support during the prize drawing and to all of the wonderful volunteers that make our annual picnic such a wonderful community event. We encourage all of our residents to attend next year's picnic, meet your neighbors and get involved in our community!

Sincerely,

SUSAN SOUVENIR

City of Dalton Gardens Volunteer

EVENT: Was warm, welcome

Though firmly planted within the brisk fall season, the first "Farewell to Summer BBQ" for Family Promise of North Idaho was a warm and welcome success! Volunteers, supporters, staff and FPNI guest families tapped their toes to lively bluegrass tunes by Aaron and the Afterthoughts, while enjoying grilled burgers, hot dogs and corn-on-the-cob. Children 'milked' a cow, tossed horseshoes and ran through the generous crowd who helped to generate $3,656 in support of Family Promise of North Idaho!

Emcee Tripp Rogers got things going - and put our hearts in the right place - by introducing Adam, whose family members are currently guests in the FPNI network. Bidding was lively during the wonderful auction, with baskets donated by the Kroc Center, Jill Peterson, Nosworthy's, Dawn Kimes, The Boathouse, Cedar Farms Bed & Breakfast, Inland Empire Gymnastics Association, Kootenai Cafe, Seltice Laundry & Dry-Cleaning, Community Presbyterian Church, Jan Leaf - Coldwell Banker-Schneidmiller Realty and Wordsmith Web Design.

Others ensuring the day was a wonderful success were: Jason Rook, Entourage Staffing & Promotions, Cheri Pery with Total Merchant Concepts, Christina Heater, Tina Denning and the Coeur d'Alene Eagles, Potlatch No. 1 Credit Union (food underwriters) with Kim Tiegen, Jackie Copeland, Jeff Tucker, Shane Griffiths and Sirach Lopez; Romer Brown, Gail and Rich Wallace, Steve Bell, Rory Burns, Drew Pittman, Jack Wardian, Bobby Olson, Steve Cuvala, Bill Smith, Mike Wood, Kate Zubaly, Trinity Lutheran Church, Jill Jurvelin, Earl Kendle, and Ralph Meyer and the Calvary Lutheran Church.

Perhaps most notably making certain that the event ran smoothly were the members of the FPNI Fundraising Committee: Serena Smith, Lauren Cuvala, Jill Jurvelin and Gayreth Walden. A special and HUGE note of appreciation to Panhandle State Bank's Trust Group and its Community Focus Trust for matching the funds generated at the barbecue through the "paddle raise" portion of the auction - upping the day's proceeds by $1,196.

Please let me offer my sincere appreciation to all who made this event such a great summer send-off and way to continue Family Promise's mission: To empower families facing the crisis of homelessness to become self-sufficient by providing temporary housing, along with resources for employment, education, child care and more permanent housing.

PR. KATE LePARD

president

Family Promise of North Idaho

SPORTS: Thrive with sponsors

The Post Falls Parks and Recreation Department would like to extend special thanks and appreciation for the dedicated businesses that sponsor the youth sports events provided by our department to the Post Falls community during the summer and fall seasons. We would like to thank the following sponsors.

Blue Dog RV, Capone's, Century Publishing, Flattop Roofing and Construction, Hagadone Directories, In Touch Physical Therapy, Jaeger and Curtis Orthodontics, Kootenai Animal Hospital, Legends Sports Photography, Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry, Mountain View Motor Sale, NEC Electrical Contractors, North Idaho Pet Emergency, Peach Orthodontics, Post Falls Dairy Queen, Post Falls Taco Bell, Phones Plus, Reality Design, River City Chiropractic, Scholes Family Dentistry, The UPS Store, Wood Doctor, A Growing Place, Air Comfort Heating and Cooling, Allstate Heikkila Insurance, Alpine Construction, Black Sheep Sporting Goods Store, C Link, Coeur d'Alene Pediatrics, Compton Street Quilting, Custom Building and Supply, Duncan's Pet Store, Elemental Research, Fourth Street Podiatry, IMCO Recycle, Kootenai Title, Lakeside Eyecare, Post Falls Les Schwab Tire, Lifeway Chapel, Morgan Cole, Northcon, Paul Bunyan, Post Falls Family Medicine, Saturday Night Inc., Stan Craft Boat, Tooth Acres 7-Day Dental Smiles, Water Colors Daycare, Baja, Classical Christian Academy, Fedora Pub & Grille, Inland Northwest Investments, Mainstream Electric, Murrin Photography, River City Media, Viking Construction and Who 'Dat Costume.

Again, thank you for your continued support of the Post Falls Parks and Recreation Departments youth sports programs.

JILL MCDOWELL

Recreation Coordinator/Post Falls Parks & Recreation Department

Post Falls