Wine, dine and raise the roof

COEUR d'ALENE - More wine than ever.

More auction items.

More great food, too.

There's a good reason for the excitement over the 26th annual Hospice of North Idaho Wine Taste at the Hayden Lake Country Club. There's an explanation why all 300 tickets are nearly gone.

"We've had a really good turnout this year because of the excitement over the Hospice House," said Amanda Miller, director of Community Development for Hospice of North Idaho.

Proceeds from Saturday night's event will go toward the $3.2 million project on Prairie Avenue. About $500,000 still needs to be raised, with a completion date of this spring or summer.

Miller said it should be a spectacular evening, with plenty of auction items and specialty foods and wines.

"The wine taste is probably going to be the best we've ever had," she said.

The evening's focus, though will be on the Hospice House.

Hospice House will be the state's first inpatient hospice facility, and will help the terminally ill whose care cannot be managed in their home.

The 14-bed project will offer "a homelike setting that encourages loved ones, families, children, and pets to visit."

There will be a prayer room, gardens, patios, kitchen and family room.

To date, Hospice of North Idaho has served more than 13,000 families.

Cost to attend is $100 per person. For reservations, call 772-7994 or go to www.hospicewine taste.org