Movers & Shakers
Orchard Ridge announces new board members
Orchard Ridge on May 4 elected three new members to its board of directors at its 102nd annual meeting: Marc Wallace, Ann Farrar and Luke Russell.
Wallace is a retired trusts and estates attorney. He attained an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington, a law degree from Gonzaga Law School and a master’s in taxation from the University of Miami. He was an IRS estate tax attorney for Eastern Washington for six years. He and his family then moved to Coeur d’Alene, where he practiced law for 34 years.
While practicing law in Coeur d’Alene, Wallace served on the board of Youth for Christ, the Kootenai Health Board of Trustees and the Idaho Community Foundation Board of Trustees. He is on the board of directors of the North Idaho College Foundation and sits on its planned giving committee. He attends St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and serves on its endowment and investment committee. He is also a member of the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club and sits on its separate endowment and foundation board of directors.
Ann Farrar was born in Bonners Ferry and moved to Coeur d’Alene after graduation. She worked in the timber industry, then for Empire Airlines in Hayden. Her last 20-plus years were spent as corporate controller with Pyrotek Inc., a multinational corporation based in Spokane.
Farrar graduated from Lewis-Clark State College and is a certified management accountant. She received her master’s degree from Whitworth University. While working in Coeur d’Alene, she was involved in Sunrise Rotary, the Coeur d’Alene Chamber Education Committee, Leadership CDA, the Coeur d’Alene School District Long-Range Planning Committee and the Kootenai Business Education Partnership. She also serves on the Women Helping Women grant review committee in Spokane and supports CASA and other nonprofits in the region.
Russell and his wife have lived in North Idaho since 1995. He recently retired as vice president of external affairs with Hecla Mining Company and served in leadership roles with several industry trade associations. He currently serves on the board of Joshua 1:Nine, an international sports mission, and is a past Rotary president. Russell is active in his church, Real Life Ministries. He previously served on Orchard Ridge’s board of directors and is looking forward to serving again.
“We have a legacy of strong board members,” said Ann Johnson, Orchard Ridge’s executive director. “With the addition of these three community leaders to our board, I know we’ll accomplish great things together.”
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Natural Connections Academy launches new location, offers outdoor kindergarten
Natural Connections Academy is expanding its locations and offerings.
After one year of providing education outdoors, the nonprofit nature school has expanded to a new location in Coeur d’Alene and is now offering outdoor kindergarten to connect more children with nature.
The new office at 414 Coeur d’Alene Ave. Suite E will be a hub for their students to meet up before traveling to the Worley base and private and public lands for education. NCA has upgraded its Worley learning location with an outdoor learning pavilion and improved trails.
The school is now offering camps, afterschool programs, tutoring, nature walks and kindergarten outdoor school. NCA will open Aug. 14 for 2023-2024 kindergarten enrollment. The outdoor kindergarten will be limited to eight students and will provide 75% of the instruction outside from August to June.
The school serves Kootenai, Benewah and Spokane counties, with transportation available.
Prices and info: naturalconnectionsacademy.net/register
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