Idaho Voices

The aphids caught a lot of gardeners off guard this year. Fool me once, shame on the bug – fool me twice, shame on me. As we head into the hot, dry part of the summer, get ready for our annual spider mite attack. Spider mites are not a true spider, though they are related. The reference to “spider” comes from the eight legs adult mites have. Two types of spotted spider mites are the most common of four mites in the Northwest. They are tiny, only about one-fiftieth of an inch long when mature. That’s smaller than a poppy seed. You are likely to see their damage before you see them.

For 07-12-2009

BOISE – It might seem odd that during these tight times, the state Department of Education is announcing eight new staffers for a new division to oversee all statewide, federally mandated student testing and the GEAR UP program, a program to help low-income students work toward college. But what’s being added at the department is being cut from the Office of the State Board of Education, so it’s a wash. It’s part of Gov. Butch Otter’s initiative to remove everyday management of K-12 schools from the state board office, and send it back to the department, which is headed by the elected state superintendent of schools.

After traveling 1,500 miles in three days with a rescued pit bull named Loren, travel writer Michelle Sathe wouldn’t be blamed if she phoned in her first impression of Coeur d’Alene. The Santa Clarita Valley Signal writer resisted temptation and checked into the Bennett Bay Inn instead. She snoozed. Then, she gushed. “Gorgeous” was one of the adjectives she used to describe Coeur d’Alene. After stopping at Java on Sherman for a bagel with lox and cream cheese, a massive blueberry scone and an Arnold Palmer, Sathe took a 37-mile drive. She writes: “The drive was amazing, offering a view of the incredible bridge that perched above the lake, as well as some dazzling waterfront properties and the many boats docked alongside them. Mountains and water – there is no better combo for beauty and harmony, in my opinion.” ’Ere she left Coeur d’Alene en route to continue her seven-week sabbatical at Mukilteo, Wash., 335 miles away, Sathe dubbed the Lake City “the top town in the United States to live.” No surprises here. You can read about her travels with Loren at www.dogsdaybook.com. Good naked?

As the morning of theFourth of July dawned, there was much trepidation regarding the potential turnout for Bayview’s celebration. This year, unlike others when Bayview picks the Saturday closest to the Fourth for Bayview Daze, this year the Fourth fell on Saturday. This meant competition from several surrounding venues, all with parades and some with fireworks as well.

Today Charley Packard (Originals) – 6 p.m., Spuds Grill, 102 N. First, Sandpoint, 265-4311

Kootenai Bridge Academy, an alternative high school, is occupying the former Precision Fitness Solutions building at 606 River Ave., Coeur d’Alene. The 4,000-square-foot facility originally was the YMCA; the outdoor swimming pool was filled in long ago to become a parking lot. This new public charter school is advertising for students who would attend free as juniors or seniors ages 16-20 and earn a regular high school diploma starting Sept. 8. The curriculum comprises computer-based instruction, elective work-study and volunteer programs. Students work at their own pace and complete one class at a time in flexible three-hour increments for three to four weeks at the school. KBA is in addition to the existing Bridge Academy on Best Avenue and CdA Charter Academy off Kathleen Avenue.

Hurricane season officially started June 1, and it has been pretty quiet so far both in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. For the month of June, there were no tropical storms in the Atlantic. In the Eastern Pacific, hurricane Andres, with maximum winds of 75 mph, affected the southwestern coast of Mexico during the last week of June. One fatality was associated with that storm. For the same reason I enjoy reading my horoscope every once in a while, I also find it interesting to check out the latest seasonal hurricane forecasts. I say “forecasts” in the plural since there are often multiple forecasts put out by different people or agencies. While I have the utmost respect for my fellow meteorologists who specialize in tropical weather and associated storms, I really wonder about the usefulness of seasonal hurricane forecasts. What good is it to try to predict how many hurricanes will form in one season, when it’s more important to know whether or not they will make landfall and where? Gerry Bell, Ph.D, and lead seasonal hurricane forecaster for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Climate Prediction Center did make a good point: “Prepare for each and every season regardless of the seasonal outlook. Even a near- or below-normal season can produce land-falling hurricanes, and it only takes one land-falling storm to make it a bad season.”

For the past three years, Sandpoint High School Principal Becky Kiebert has received a few gifts from seniors during graduation ceremonies, but they were not gifts of gratitude. Some students handed her condoms. Last year it was Hawaiian leis. This year’s pranks included an attempted kiss on the lips by a student who was acting on a dare. “It was totally inappropriate,” said Kiebert. A police investigation led to a charge of unwanted touching against the student.

“Quick! Grab it before your teacher sees it!” I whispered to the little girl. She was glaring teary-eyed in shock and sadness at her just-dropped chocolate ice cream cone on the sidewalk, which seemed to be looking up at her like it would hop back up into her hand on its own free will if it could. She was among a group of about 20 hyperactive preschool-age Art Camp kids and two very frantic Art Camp teachers still all dressed up in their Kiddie Parade outfits. They’d decided to besiege an already busy Roger’s Ice Cream moments before my arrival. The little girl gave me a quick wide-eyed glance and went for it, rescuing her rapidly melting treat in the nick of time.

The second annual yard sale at Lake City Playhouse will be Saturday starting at 9 a.m. Please take items you would like to donate to the playhouse, 1320 E Garden Ave., Coeur d’Alene, by Friday, or call (208) 819-8213, for pick up.

Filings from May 29-June11 Chapter 7 (liquidation petitions)

Kootenai County Richard Lynch, Coeur d’Alene, commercial, garage, valued at $27,014.

For 07-05-2009

This week Falls Christian Assembly – Sunday school for all ages, 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning worship service at 10:45 a.m. “Crocodile Dock,” new Summer family program for all ages, on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.; Wednesday adult Bible study, Ignite Youth Group and Kids Action Club, all meet at 7 p.m. at the church at 1687 E. Horsehaven Ave. 773-4722.

It used to be if you lived in Sandpoint and were looking to attend concerts put on by top musicians, you had to travel to Spokane or wait for the summer to attend the Festival at Sandpoint. But thanks to Tyler Stonehocker and his production company Stonehouse Entertainment, that is no longer the case. Over the last several months Stonehouse Entertainment has brought several concerts to downtown Sandpoint and has done its best to keep ticket prices affordable.