'Welcome to our home'
<p>Shannon Erwin and her daughter Ella, 16, spend time together in one of the many garden features of Duane and Lola Hagadone’s Casco Bay home Wednesday during the “Celebration in the Gardens,” a Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce fundraising event.</p>
<p> David Atkinson, of Coeur d’Alene, takes in the scenery from a stone feature during the chamber event.</p>
<p>Guests, arriving from a cruise boat, make their way up the beach to the Hagadone’s Lake Coeur d’Alene home.</p>
<p> Duane Hagadone, left, greets Joe Dunlap after guests arrive by cruise boat to the “Celebration in the Gardens” chamber event.</p>
<p> Bill Bozly performs acoustic numbers as attendees document the grounds.</p>
<p>J.J. Jaeger, general manager of the Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, welcomes guests to the chamber fundraiser prior to an auction.</p>
<p>Guests of the “Celebration in the Gardens” mingle under a feature of the Hagadone home.</p>
<p>A group of donors tour a balcony area of the Hagadone home prior to the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce event on Wednesday.</p>
<p> Duane Hagadone greets a group of VIP guest prior to a tour of his Casco Bay home.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE - As a former Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce president, Duane B. Hagadone knows firsthand the important role a chamber plays in a community.
"I was just this afternoon in my office looking at a plaque. I was president of the chamber 54 years ago, if you can believe it," Hagadone said Wednesday evening. "Without the Chamber, Coeur d'Alene would not be what it is today.
"Our Chamber is critical to the quality of life that we all enjoy."
Hagadone, who is the chairman of the Hagadone Corp., and his wife, Lola, welcomed numerous guests to their lakeside estate for the Celebration in the Gardens, a fundraising event for the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce.
"We sincerely appreciate all of you being here tonight," Chamber President Steve Wilson said to the crowd. "A vibrant chamber of commerce is an essential element to a vibrant community economy. Thank you all for making the Coeur d'Alene Chamber so vibrant."
Guests enjoyed a leisurely cruise in the warm summer sunshine on one of two Coeur d'Alene Lake Cruise boats that departed from the Boardwalk Marina, cruised around Lake Coeur d'Alene and finally took them to the spacious Hagadone home in Casco Bay. Hagadone greeted them as they stepped off the boat, shaking hands and cheerfully saying hello to familiar and new faces.
"Thanks for coming," he said. "Welcome to our home."
The Hagadones covered the evening's expenses, with all proceeds going to the Chamber, which is dealing with a monthly mortgage payment of $21,000 - about four times more than its previous rental fee. Seven years ago, the Chamber expanded into its present location at 105 N. First St., an iconic building which also houses the Coeur d'Alene Arts and Culture Alliance, the Downtown Association, the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation and the Coeur d'Alene Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The Chamber got more space in an ideal location, but it also inherited a hefty mortgage. Chamber board chairman J.J. Jaeger thanked the Hagadones for their support and willingness to host the event at their home, awarding Duane a plaque of appreciation and Lola a necklace.
"This setting is unbelievable; I don't know that there's a better setting in the world other than maybe the Coeur d'Alene Inn up on Appleway," joked Jaeger, who is the general manager of the inn.
"Our Chamber is so important to the community as you know it," he continued. "It helps to drive businesses, which in turn allows our community to do so many great things for so many great causes."
Celebration in the Gardens guests roamed the plush green lawns and wandered through the various pathways of the property of the Hagadone estate, admiring the many varieties of flowers, the waterfalls, the colorful koi fish and the breathtaking views of the lake. Select donors were given tours inside the home while others simply enjoyed the scenery.
"I've seen a lot of things in life; nothing's prettier than this," said Ralph Childers of Coeur d'Alene. "Just to pay $150 to sit here is OK. The best money I've ever spent."
Rob Chatters of Hayden and his wife, Jann, enjoyed the cool breeze inside the cruise boat cabin on the way to the Hagadone home. They bought tickets to support the Chamber because Rob's business partner is on the board of directors.
"The Chamber supports businesses in Coeur d'Alene and everything that goes on with businesses in Coeur d'Alene, trying to grow Coeur d'Alene and grow the businesses and keep a functioning business community," Rob said.
"I know that the Chamber does a lot of good things, and we support them," Jann said.
This was the Chatterses' first time as guests at the Hagadone estate.
"I've heard all about it - it will be interesting to see it," Rob said.
Friends Joani Hay-Smith of Spokane and Kelleye Heydon of Spokane Valley are managers at the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort and Hotel. They said they love working with the Chamber.
"We are huge supporters of the Coeur d'Alene Chamber," Hay-Smith said. "We love this city and we love the team at the Chamber and what they've done for our local community. They've been great supporters of us. We do a lot of partnering with them for events."
"And they're always great about helping us get the word out and driving new trips and visitors down our way, which is nice because we're not right in town," Heydon added.
The Celebration in the Gardens included gourmet appetizers and desserts, beverages, music, a raffle featuring prizes such as a hotel stay at The Coeur d'Alene Resort, Silverwood tickets, gift certificates to Bonzai Bistro, Mulligan's, the Tap House and more. Guests also bid on an auction for a Lawson Rock condo in Sandy Bay, Roatan, Honduras.
Info: www.cdachamber.com