In brief: Comment invited on Hagadone plan

The public may comment Thursday on Coeur d’Alene businessman Duane Hagadone’s proposal for a new commercial dock outside his Casco Bay home where he can dock two large cruise boats that transport visitors to the property for charity events.

Hagadone also is asking Idaho Department of Lands for a commercial permit to build a floating landing for his helicopter and expand an existing swimming dock along the same Lake Coeur d’Alene shoreline.

The 6 p.m. hearing is at the Idaho Department of Lands office in Coeur d’Alene, 3780 Industrial Ave. South.

The request notes that Hagadone is planning to build a new house at Casco Bay, where he already has a historic log home surrounded by his lavish private flower gardens.

Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson is negotiating with Hagadone and several contractors to buy and move the large cabin. Watson said the house could be barged in two pieces to his Cougar Bay property.

“The configuration of the new (Hagadone) home blocks the beach access from the paved road and all provisions for the events must now come by water,” the application reads.

Hagadone currently uses the cruise boats to bring guests to the garden home for charitable events such as this summer’s fundraiser for the Kootenai Humane Society where guests paid $125 per person to attend.

The application states that as the garden has grown, so has attendance at these events.

The cruise boats also provide restroom facilities for the groups of up to 600 people during events.

For more information on the applications, contact the Department of Lands Coeur d’Alene office at 769-1577.

Library newsletter on Web site

The latest edition of PageTurner – the newsletter of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library – is now available online at the library’s Web site and can be accessed at: www.cdalibrary. org/News/PageTurner.pdf.

Patrons are encouraged to forward this link to anyone interested in what’s happening at the library. Anyone who wishes to have their e-mail address added to the PageTurner distribution list can send an e-mail to David Townsend, Library communications coordinator. People on the list also receive regular updates about library events and services.

If you are interested in helping out at the Friends bookstore, Second Story Books, contact Friends president Judy Edwards, judyedwards2004@ yahoo.com. Donations of gently used books, audio books, DVDS, videotapes and music CDS for the bookstore and for possible inclusion in the library collection are being accepted. For large donations, more than two boxes, please contact Townsend before bringing the items to the library.

Holiday concert today at NIC

Families are encouraged to attend this year’s annual holiday concert at North Idaho College today and Sunday, which will include the traditional holiday songs and the sing-along that brings the crowd to its feet each year.

“Sounds of Christmas” will feature several holiday-themed pieces by the NIC Wind Symphony led by Terry Jones. The band will perform “Fanfare and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” arranged by Chip Davis of Mannheim Steamroller, Greg Sanders’ “Coventry Variant” carol arranged to express the feelings of advent, the Warren Barker arrangement of “An Irving Berlin Christmas” and the classic Christmas song “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson.

Christmas concert at St. Pius

The Northwest Sacred Music Chorale’s Christmas Concert, “Come Home to the Sounds and Spirit of Christmas,” will feature a wide variety of favorites performed by the Chorale, Ensemble, and special guest artists Leslie Stratton Norris, Dr. Paul Grove, Cynthia Marlette, Max Mendez and the Sweet Adelines.

The concert is scheduled for Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. at St. Pius Catholic Church, 625 Hayfield Ave., in Coeur d’Alene.

Tickets are $10 for adults, and $8 for seniors (55 and over) and students. Group rates are available. They may be purchased in Coeur d’Alene at First Presbyterian Church, Great Harvest Bread Co., Northwest Academy of Music and in Spokane at Hoffman Music.

For further information, call J.J. Dion at 262-1980.

NIC art students have pottery sale

Those searching for last-minute gift ideas for friends and family on their Christmas lists are encouraged to attend the NIC Art Students Pottery Sale from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday in the Boswell Hall Corner Gallery.

Students in NIC ceramics classes created a large selection of items available for purchase, including various functional and decorative pottery created by students in Ceramics I and Ceramics II classes during fall semester.

Admission is free, and the sale is open to the public.

A percentage of each sale goes to the NIC Ceramics Department. Past proceeds have benefited scholarships and a new display case for the Boswell Hall lobby.

Fund-raiser today at Grace Bible

Grace Bible Church of Coeur d’Alene will hold the Silent Auction and Family Fun Fair fundraiser today.

The event will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 152 W. Prairie Ave. (between Highway 95 and Government Way), and is expected to raise money for the church’s outreach team going to Belize Central America in January.

“This is an easy way for people to get some nice deals on great stuff just in time for Christmas,” said Jim Miller, assistant pastor at Grace Bible Church. “So come have fun while supporting a worthy cause!”

Activities at the event will include the silent auction where you can place your bid on quality new or gently used products and gift certificates. All winning bids will be announced between 1:30 and 2 p.m.

The Family Fun Fair features yummy food to feed your family with all proceeds going to support the outreach team. Plus, games and prizes like, face painting, target booths, sponge toss, fishing, David and Goliath game, pillow fight, darts, ping pong bounce and free games.

For additional information or to donate an item to the auction, contact Jim Miller at 772-2717 or e-mail him at gbcjim@verizon.net.

Container ship skipper speaking

Capt. John Finney, skipper of the 856-foot container ship Sealand Motivator, will speak on his life at sea during a presentation titled “Yes Virginia, There Will Be Pirates at Sea” at 7 p.m. Tuesday in NIC’s Molstead Library.

Finney’s container ship owned by Maersk Lines is capable of handling between 2,500 and 3,000 truck-sized freight containers. His route takes him between the East Coast to Houston and across the western Atlantic Ocean to northern European ports.

During his presentation, Finney will talk about contending with weather, equipment breakdowns and other challenges he faces at sea.

Finney grew up in Hayden and graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point on Long Island, N.Y., in 1978. He worked his way up through the ranks, receiving his captain’s ticket in the 1990s. He recently received his fourth National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association Award for providing marine weather observations at sea and is the only certified marine surveyor in the state of Idaho.

The presentation is sponsored by NIC’s Molstead Library as part of its ongoing series of programs on local and regional history.

– From staff reports