FAITHFUL OBSERVATIONS

Editor’s note: This new feature by Hayden resident Bob Shillingstad will appear intermittently, spotlighting local people of faith, organizations and religious events.

B&B business blossomed, kids grew at Greenbriar Inn

COEUR d’ALENE — People sometimes ask me if this house was “in the family” and I say no, as we did not inherit it. However, it has certainly been our family home.

SCHOOL: Yes to IB, PYP, Props

I agree with much that Ben Rarick had to say about IB and the need to prepare all our students for a globally impacted future. As a parent of recent graduates of Coeur d’Alene High School and one daughter, the survivor of the original and rigorous IB program at CHS, I am relieved to say I have no more kids to maneuver through the local school system.

The Skinny on Weight Loss

The New Year celebration is usually followed by a sense of new beginnings and the chance to once again honestly appraise our lives and to change course in one area or another. Hence the proverbial "New Year's resolution" - the purposeful resolve to change.

LAND USE: Issue important to all

As one of the nearly 300 people who attended the Unified Land Use Code (ULUC) Public Workshop at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, I read with interest and want to add to Brent Regan’s letter about the ULUC to the Editor in the Sunday, July 1, issue of The Press.

Stay warm, dry on the ski slopes with alpaca

Heading for slopes and want to stay warm and look great? Alpaca Direct in Hayden has the answer with a large selection of alpaca sweaters to keep you warm while you are enjoying your time on the mountain. Our alpaca sweaters are lightweight, designed with the latest American styles and warmer than wool.

SENIORS: They have much to say

With the passing of our seniors, we are losing some real history of our country. Today’s young people know little of the conditions that existed in the country’s formative years. In one lifetime I have experienced living on a farm with no electricity, a windmill to pump water from a hand dug well, horses to pull the farm equipment and all of the cooking done on a Monarch wood stove, which also provided the only source of hot water.

CDA 2030: What can we see?

Like me, you may find yourself wrestling with a vision statement for your organization and perhaps preparing a strategic plan. Although we (secretly) recognize a futility in predicting the future, we seem never to tire in this uniquely human activity. In fact, when our planning effectively engages stakeholders and is driven by good data, it is remarkably useful and its predictions are more often correct than mere chance would suggest.

HAZEL: Vested and fully involved

Daily habits impact our spine and overall health

Poor posture has become a nationwide epidemic. Our daily habits can have a huge impact on our spine. With our increased time sitting, as well as frequent use of computers, phones and handheld devices, millions of people are experiencing neck pain, headaches and back pain beginning at a very young age. Poor posture goes beyond causing pain and discomfort and plays an important role in our overall health.

CORE: GOP eager to stunt education

It appears the Republican National Committee has convinced those with their head in the sand, that our level of primary/high school education is a-okay. They are apparently content with our youth graduating from high school, should they be so lucky, working at minimum wage jobs, then drawing government assistance and food bank supplies to support their families. Yes, I said government assistance.

CLIMATE: Geer got it right

A letter published in the Coeur d’Alene Press on Friday, Nov. 13 written by Geddie Fredy failed to represent correctly the facts about the Northwest Climate Conference held here at The Coeur d’Alene Resort a few weeks ago. It is important to correct the written record. In difference to what Mr. Freddie states, Mr. Geer’s speech actually did state that the warming trends we are now seeing in our area are man caused. I personally attended all three days of the climate conference. I took extensive and accurate notes, and spoke with Mr. Geer, a noted biologist, following his speech.

U.S.: Nation's image diminished

A Pew Research study of 2011, taken in seven Muslim nations, asked six questions relative to their thoughts regarding the moral character of the citizens of the United States. The following are averages of their combined views: 64 percent believed Americans to be selfish; 64 percent that we are greedy; 60 percent that we are immoral; 59 percent that we are violent; 59 percent that we are arrogant; 51 percent that we are fanatical. These figures make it very clear that al-Qaida should have no problem recruiting terrorists. All of these percentages have risen over the past two decades — why? We were once known world-wide as a caring, compassionate people. What changed? Perhaps we have become more amoral and our projected image has changed.

THANKS: Give it every day

With Christmas and Easter being religious in nature and grounded in a Judeo Christian heritage, which was the practice of our founders, non-belief and the commercial benefit have hijacked the original intent behind why we celebrate these very American holidays. We have replaced the historical birth, death and resurrection of Jesus with bunnies and an airborne team of reindeer hauling a fat man in a red suit, who also squeezes down chimneys. It is becoming the norm in our country to interpret our founders as we please, therefore, it is not difficult then to image a holiday like Independence Day morphing into something not intended — like those who want to give up our national autonomy to a one world order. All you have to do is quit teaching the history. It doesn’t take much for us to celebrate a day off work.

Not quite madness, but March is busy

One of my favorite quotes is from Harry S. Truman: “It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who takes credit.”

MERGER: Just say no

As a resident of the Great State of Idaho, an Avista Utilities user and Idaho taxpayer and U.S. Service Veteran from the Korean War period, serving in the U.S. Navy, I would like to voice my grave concern with the Avista sale to Canada’s HydroOne. Along with many other Idaho residents, we are opposed to this sale of our private utilities to a foreign government and believe that a sale to any foreign government should be opposed by our government. We lose total control once this happens and what if Canada’s HydroOne decides to re-sell to another foreign government sometime down the line? Then, where do we as utility users stand?

POLITICS: Party isn't the answer

Ignorance is not bliss! How an intelligent person can neglect to familiarize themselves with the issues prior to entering the voting booth is beyond me. The political environment of Idaho is not acceptable to the majority of us, yet we keep voting “party” because we’re spoon-fed what to think via television and radio.

Post Falls Chamber celebrating community leaders

Greatness is not what you have, but rather what you give. For nearly three decades, the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce has been coming together to celebrate community leaders who leave their unique mark along the way as our community grows and flourishes. We were thrilled to celebrate some deserving community businesses and leaders at the Community Recognition Gala presented by Numerica Credit Union.

College of Idaho cancels all remaining spring sports

A day after the Cascade Conference suspended athletic competition for a minimum of two weeks, the College of Idaho went a step further Friday, canceling all athletic events for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year.

Op-Ed: Lessons in failure

Recent events in Afghanistan have been heartbreaking.