Toast the Trail with the Friends of the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail

SANDPOINT - The Friends of the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail have a lot to celebrate.

Just a year into their three-year fundraising campaign to create a public trail along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille, the group is almost three quarters of the way to their goal.

"We are very excited about the overwhelming support we have received for this community project," said Jon Sayler, Board President of the Friends. "Thanks to donations from individuals, businesses and foundations, we have raised over $270,000 towards our $400,000 goal."

Join the Friends of the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail as they celebrate a year of successes at their second Sip 'n Shop Celebration and Benefit from 4:30-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3 at the Pend d'Oreille Winery in Sandpoint.

This event will include a recap of the year's fundraising and trail work, an update on the current status of the trail, the unveiling of a short film about the trail - with star appearances by many locals - as well as great wine, beer, silent auction items, unique holiday shopping and live music by Doug and Kim Bond.

Also, a wonderful line up of silent auction items will be up for bid. Items include a chair lift fresh off Schweitzer Mountain, two Season Passes to the Festival at Sandpoint and much, much more.

Successful fundraising is not all the Friends have to celebrate. Earlier this year the Sandpoint City Council agreed to purchase a critical section of shoreline trail. The deal was finalized this October when the city bought the second of four waterfront parcels that are part of a four-year acquisition agreement between the cities of Sandpoint and Ponderay and the properties' owners.

Now, according to the acquisition plan approved by both city councils, Ponderay has the option to buy the two remaining parcels. The third and fourth parcels are due to be purchased by October 2013 and 2014 respectively. The Friends of the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail agreed to raise the funds to purchase the fourth and final parcel for the city of Ponderay.

Learn more about these plans and how you can support the trail at the Sip 'n Shop on Monday. Admission is free and proceeds will benefit the nonprofit organization, the Friends of the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail and their efforts to purchase waterfront property in the trail corridor by 2014.

The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Pend d'Oreille Bay Trail and the Idaho Conservation League.

Information: www.pobtrail.org or 265-9565