Community Thanks

New record for the 8th Annual Bartender’s Ball and Help Every Little Paw!

The Bartender’s Ball held at the Plaza Shops on Sherman on March 7 was again a successful event and raised nearly $20,000 in funds for the local nonprofit H.E.L.P., Help Every Little Paw. The popular event boasted the best in the hospitality and service industry in the Inland Northwest. The pet food drive raised more than 825 pounds of food for local pets in need. This was a decrease from last year’s 1,250 pounds raised. This year the Post Falls Food Bank and St. Vincent de Paul benefited from the goods. Past events raised nearly 2,000 pounds so these much-needed donations are essential to the community in need.

Organizers Holly and Karen Hansen were delighted to announce the event was co-sponsored by Beam Suntory, Willamette Valley Bank and Pioneer Title to ensure nearly 100% of the funds raised goes to the mission statement of this nonprofit founded by the Hansen Family.

The area’s finest bars and caterers competed with specialty drinks and appetizers for the coveted title of Champion for 2020. H.E.L.P. appreciates each and every participant and hopes everyone will support these businesses throughout the year. This year’s participants were: 315 Martinis and Tapas, A & P Bar and Grill, Bardenay Distillery, Crickets Bar and Grill, Capone’s Pub and Grill, Honey Eatery and Social Club, Rusty’s Bar, Silver Corner Bar, Westwood Brewing Co. and newcomers for 2020 were Cosmic Cowboy Grill, Bees Knees Whiskey Bar, Belle’s Brunch House, Candle in the Woods, Old School Public House and Thai Bamboo.

The 2020 Award Winners were: Best Booth Design-Capone’s Pub and Grill, Judges’ Choice Food: 3rd place Cosmic Cowboy, 2nd place Candle in the Woods, 1st place 315 Tapas & Martinis. People’s Choice Food: 3rd place Candle in the Woods, 2nd place Belle’s Brunch House, 1st place 315 Tapas and Martinis. Judges’ Choice Cocktail: 3rd place 315 Tapas and Martinis, 2nd place Honey Eatery and Social Club, 1st place Silver Corner Bar. People’s Choice Cocktail: 3rd place Westwood Brewing Co, 2nd place Rusty’s Bar, 1st place Silver Corner Bar. Silver Corner Bar took home the coveted Shaker Award for 2020.

We encourage you to buy locally from these generous local businesses who donated Silent Auctions and Live Auction or other items: Ace Hardware, Angela Pet Photography Noses to Toes, Ardent Law Firm, Bargreens Ellingson — Spokane, (from Bling: Alisha Anderson, Donna Ogileglo, Katheryn Ohana, Michelle Engelbright and Tiffany Williamson) Caryl Herron, Stephanie Byrd, Coeur d’Alene Pet Resort, The Coeur d’Alene Resort, Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre, Cloud Nine Bridal, Custom Den, Dean and Loretta Opsal, Doc Holly Pet Vet, Elizabeth Anderson Sweet on You, French Cleaners, Fuki Japanese Steakhouse, Greenbriar Inn, Hagadone Marine Group, Holiday inn Express, Jan Jesberger Insurance, Kootenai Family Dental, Kroc Center, Labrador Store, Lokahi Dance Studio, Luba Wold Photography, Mike White Ford, Dale Miller Wood Products, Crime Scene Entertainment, One Way Signs, Pioneer Title, Pulse Production, Rich Dussell, Runge Furniture, Schedler Mack Insurance, Season’s Fresh Grill and Bar, Shaver Inspections, Silver Beach Resort, Silverwood Theme Park, Spokane Indians, Squeaky’s Window Tinting, STCU, Sweet and Frosted, Texas Roadhouse, Timberline Adventures, Toni Williams Massage, Toni and Guy Salon, Triple Play, Vickie Locken Moose Art and Walmart.

The event would not have been a success without the countless hours that our committee put in and each sub committee’s volunteers. A special thank you to Holly Hansen and Karen Hansen with Windermere / Coeur d’Alene Realty, Jenna Ahearn and Jacque Sergeant with Pioneer Title, Dean Opsal with Beam Suntory, Brandie Binfield with STCU, Andy Byrd and Forrest McLuskie with Willamette Valley Bank, Travis Bertram from Pulse Productions, Rod Reed from Two Reeds Production, Dawn Kelp with Coeur d’Alene Pet Resort, Amy Miles, DJ Montoya and DJ B-Ry from Ruby Frog Entertainment, Carrie Adamovich, Lynn Hammond, Britnee Davenport, Marvin Sears, Mike Wall, Steve Novotny, Maddus Hust, Mary Sachwitz, Isaac Loren, Lisha Johnson, Cassidy Noordam, Christina Petit, Tim Mcllroy, Wayne Hammond, Kylie Mcllroy, Christine Russell, Melonie Goodhue, Tyler Zeosch, Kristal Loudin, Jonathan Rider, Terry Moore, Vickie Locken and Rebecca Lazarus. Judges: Debbie Opsal, Tracy Dixon, Justin Shorzman, Jimmy Opsal and Mike McBride.

Help Every Little Paw is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and happiness of all pets. We achieve our goal to rescue those abandoned, stray or neglected, and to provide medical attention, spay and neuter program, socialization rehabilitation and food to those in need through raising necessary funds.