Idaho Voices

Short on garden space or don’t have or want to spend a lot of time gardening? Container gardening may just be for you. You can even grow vegetables in large containers in whatever space you have. Use the largest pot you can. Containers 14 to 16 inches in diameter or larger are easier to keep watered in the hot summer weather than smaller ones. Vegetables often need large pots for their root systems. The pot should be made of plastic, high density resin, hard fired ceramic clay or lightweight Styrofoam. Terra cotta and fiber pots made of pressed paper, coco fiber or peat are porous and allow water to evaporate quickly. The popularity of container gardening has resulted in a broader selection of good looking pots at reasonable prices.

Today ALLY COLE/SOUND MACHINE (CHRISTIAN/POP) – 6 p.m., Silver Valley Worship Center, 307 Main St., Smelterville, 783-8902.

With the snow finally gone and the gardens in bloom, people in this area are tuning up their bikes and dusting off their hiking shoes to enjoy all the beauty that Sandpoint has to offer. And while many trails are already busy with bikers, Rollerbladers, joggers, walkers and hikers, there are many interested in developing even more trails to cater to the increasing number of people interested in getting out.

Some things about driver’s education have not changed since I first walked into my high school cafeteria over 40 years ago to join dozens of students eager to get their driver’s education endorsement. For you skeptics, yes, they had driver’s education way back then. As in years past, today’s classes are dedicated to preparing teens for the serious task of driving a motor vehicle. There are requirements for classroom hours, behind-the-wheel experience and observation time, and there are written and driving tests to pass.

I manned a local tourist information hut for a while, and people would ask me an odd question from time to time. “How much does it cost to ride that ferry boat up north a ways from here?” they’d inquire. “I can’t remember what it’s called. I saw it on the map.” “You mean Bonners Ferry?” I’d reply, knowingly. They’d nod their heads in recognition. “Actually, that’s just the name of the town. The ferries quit running about a hundred years ago. There’s just a bridge now.

’Tis the season, and we aren’t talking Christmas. For this year’s June brides, the planning should be mostly complete. But for ceremonies beyond (and maybe even the last-minute panics), two bridal businesses have blossomed here. Affordable Elegance Bridal moved a few weeks ago to 296 W. Sunset Ave. from 1928 N. Fourth St. Erika Bates, who bought the 5-year-old business last fall, specializes in affordable wedding gowns, formal wear and flower-girl dresses. Gowns under $500 can be ready in three to five weeks. They also have formal wedding gowns.

For 05-24-2009

Cancer doesn’t sleep, so that’s why Relay for Life events are overnight, often lasting 24 hours or longer. Friday night, Relay for Life teams will set up their colorful tents around the track at the Post Falls Greyhound Park and Event Center, as they have for many years, to raise money for cancer research, while bringing survivors, supporters and their families together to remember, and even celebrate.

This week “Your Forest Today-all is not as it seems, nor what you may have been told” - Featuring Von Helmuth today, 10:30 a.m. at Harding Family Center, 411 N. 15th St. Presented by the North Idaho Unitarian Universalist Church. (208) 765-0716.

The city of Hayden will dedicate the Veterans Memorial Plaza and rededicate the Pfc. Robert J. Gordon Veterans Memorial on Monday at 11 a.m. at City Hall, 8930 N. Government Way. An open house will follow the ceremonies, from noon to 2 p.m. The community will have an opportunity to meet the Gordon family.

Today “The Wizard of Oz” - Presented by 77 students ages 6-18 performing as members of the Christian Youth Theater-North Idaho. 3 p.m. Kroc Center, 1765 W. Golf Course Road, Coeur d’Alene. Matinee $6. (208) 667-6301. Repeats Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., $8/advance, $10 at the door.

A funny thing happened to Nic Casey on the eve of his 30th birthday. Seems he and his wife, Bekah, decided to test-drive a relatively new eatery in town – only to encounter The Waiter From Hell. The encounter started badly, with TWFH (a “college-age kid with a frat-boy attitude who makes up for his lack of charm and good looks with swagger”) making small talk about drinks while he tried to look down Bekah’s shirt. It smoothed out from there. For a while. The meal arrived faster than expected. And it was scrumptious. However, things went south again when TWFH offered a dessert menu and learned that Nic was about to celebrate a birthday. Which meant free dessert. Later, when the check arrived, Bekah was stunned to see the following chicken-scratched at the top: “Happy (Expletive Deleted) Birthday.” The Caseys asked for the manager. Who turned red when he saw the birthday greeting. And promised to fix problem. All of this is reported on Nic’s blog, Rants, Raves, & Random Thoughts, in a post appropriately titled: “Happy (expletive deleted) job-hunting.” Hosed

When Sandpoint resident Hazel Hall turned 95 last year, her friends in this tight-knit community wanted to honor her. So the mayor declared it Hazel Hall day and many gathered at City Hall to pay tribute to a woman who has won the hearts of many. “Hazel lights up a room when she walks into it,” said Hall’s friend Marsha Ogilvie. The wife of the late photographer Ross Hall, Hazel ran the couple’s studio while Ross was stationed at Farragut during the war.

The following events are planned Monday in Kootenai County: 9 a.m., ceremonies at Fourth Street bell in Veterans Park, hosted by VFW 889.

The Memorial Day weekend is often referred to as the “unofficial” start of the summer season. Climatologically speaking, temperatures toward the end of May are not particularly summerlike, with average highs around 70 degrees and average lows in the mid-40s. Though that might feel toasty on a windless day on land, it could still be perceived as cool over area lakes, if there is a bit of a wind. Taking a look at the Memorial Day weekends across the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene area over the last five years, temperatures have been anything but consistent. High temperatures have been as cold as the 50s in 2007, and as warm as the upper 70s in 2005, which was also the only completely dry holiday weekend out of the last five years.

Today BLUES JAM – 4 p.m., Linger Longer Lounge, 6262 W. Maine St., Spirit Lake, 623-2311.

Coeur d’Alene High School and Lake City High School music students were recently honored for their orchestral and melodic talents at the Idaho State Solo Competition earlier in May. Anthony LaFrinier of LCHS was named state tenor champion. This is the second year he has won the award. Jared Monaghan, also LCHS, was named state timpani champion.