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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Chamber building to house TMI Tours and Cruises

Nils Rosdahl Correspondent

The new Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce building at the west end of Sherman Avenue is gathering many positive comments.

It should.

It’s an attractive structure with its Northwest stone style of architects Rann Haight and Roy Marshall.

The building will include everything a Chamber of Commerce office should have – plenty of information for visitors and potential residents, professionals and businesses. It also will hold the offices of the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association, Lake City Development Corp. and the Coeur d’Alene Arts and Cultural Alliance.

A commercial occupant will be TMI Tours and Cruises, which will have 2,000 square feet on the lower level.

Owned by Rhonda Sand (of the French’s Cleaners Sand family), TMI is moving from Post Falls. It was founded in downtown Coeur d’Alene in 1994.

TMI specializes in trip design for the local community and nationwide high-end retail companies’ customer base and an international bank. In addition, it specializes in travel experiences in North Idaho and Western Montana.

TMI can be reached at 765-1111 or at info@tmitours.com.

“This was an amazing opportunity we could not pass up,” Sand said.

“The building will be Coeur d’Alene’s and North Idaho’s showplace. We are thrilled to be a part of it. The move also was made to be more convenient to our very-well-traveled clients, who are spending more time in the downtown area,” Sand said.

Active Electronics builds towers

After seven years of leasing about 1,000 square feet at 5250 E. Seltice Way, Active Electronics is building a 5,500-square-foot structure at 1111 N. Innovation Way off Interstate 90’s Pleasantview exit.

With 15 employees, the company builds cell phone towers in Idaho, Montana, Washington, Oregon and Wyoming. An office in Helena will be moved to the local building when it is completed in October.

Owners are Ron and Lake Davis.

LaMuse offers ‘inspiration’

With five artists combining for a theme of “inspiration,” LaMuse Gallery opens this weekend at 413 Sherman Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.

The creators include Cheryl Burchell with handmade jewelry, Joy Naccarato with stained and leaded glass, Spencer Erlandson with blown art glass and David Clemons with installation art such as bronze sculptures. The fifth will be a temporary guest artist.

The owners also plan to feature varied guest artists, Burchell said.

Hours will be from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Hours will be extended on Art Walk evenings.

Moosecamp Sports goes active

Selling and renting seasonal sports equipment and accessories and organizing sporting adventures, Moosecamp Sports is where Loulou’s Sport Shop formerly was at 215 W. Kathleen Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.

Moosecamp emphasizes bicycling, hiking, wakeboarding, water skiing, kayaking, canoeing, skiing, snowboarding and showshoeing.

Moosecamp also sells Epic sport boats.

Adventures require a minimum of six people and at least 72 hours’ notice.

Owners Toby Todd and Quayne Green, originally from Alaska and Montana respectively, met after coming to North Idaho about 10 years ago. They have 12 to 15 seasonal employees.

Phone Moosecamp at 667-6994 or check online at www.moosecampsports.com.

This week’s tidbits

“Kudos to the Coeur d’Alene Parks Department for its fantastic cleanups after the Ironman triathlon and the Fourth of July events.

“Sidewalks finally are being installed on Lincoln Way in front of Heritage Place (senior citizen housing) and between Fifth and Seventh streets on the north side of Best Avenue where Borah Elementary School kids use the crosswalk.

“Another plus are the streetcars to be used for public travel between downtown Coeur d’Alene and Riverstone. It’s great that these places can augment rather than detract from each other.