Linda Ball

Elementary education students from Cherie Major's University of Idaho class teamed with Post Falls Middle School seventh-graders for a lesson in economics and humanity on Sept. 6. Donna Pettoello's social studies classes and the college students created colorful bookmarks, which will be sold for $1 to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. The project was also an experiment to see which worked better – assembly-line work or individual effort. The students were given background on assembly lines, discussing Henry Ford and Eli Whitney. The educators were also teaching the students quality control and discussing issues regarding children working in sweatshops. Pettoello said that her students talked about how fortunate they are compared to other kids, especially in light of the disaster, with one even remarking "We're spoiled."

The Opera Plus Production of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" opens tonight and promises to be a memorable show. Written in 1816, "The Barber of Seville" is a comedy, starring a cast of bright young talent from across the United States. The story is about Count Almaviva, who has fallen in love with the beautiful commoner Rosina. Rosina lives under the watchful eye of her guardian, Don Bartolo, who also is in love with her. Figaro, the count's quick-witted former servant, has access to Bartolo's house, as he is his barber. Bartolo is joined by his accomplice, Don Basilio, in his endeavors to make Rosina his own. Hilarity ensues as they try to win Rosina's hand.

Winton Elementary School is 80 years old this year, and to celebrate, during the school's open house on Sept. 22, alumni were invited to attend along with the current students and their families. Bill Fout was born in 1923 and attended Winton from 1929-1934. He said they called him "Billy" in his youth. He met his wife, Margaret Fout, who attended Bryan Elementary, in high school at Coeur d'Alene High, and they were married in 1943.

If you come home one day from work or wake up to find your yard full of pink plastic flamingos, then you've been "flocked" by the Lake City High School varsity cheerleaders. Coaching assistant Lynne Richmond came up with the idea after hearing about other squads back East flocking folks to raise money. You pay the LCHS team $30, and they will flock whomever you choose to amuse or annoy. In turn, the flockee must flock someone else to get rid of the 12-20 lawn ornaments adorning their yard, unless of course they enjoy having them there.

The two fourth-grade classes at Bryan Elementary School are planning to go to Boise sometime after Christmas, while the Legislature is still in session. Fourth-grade curriculum includes Idaho history and government, and the trip is designed to complement their studies. Teachers Michelle Faucher-Sharples and Nicole Symons, along with librarian Jennifer Lavigne, plan to accompany the 60 Bryan students on their educational journey.

A computer- assisted teaching program named after a Greek philosopher appears to help some students improve their ISAT scores. The program, called Plato, is designed for students from kindergarten through college and covers the subjects of math, reading and language.

Numerica Credit Union's "Outstanding School Employee of the Month," program has been renamed the "First Class School Champion Award," and school officials are once again accepting nominations. Once a month, a committee chooses the best essay written by a student about a school employee, not necessarily their teacher, who has made an impact in their life. The winning employee is recognized at a surprise assembly at the school. The student who writes the winning essay is recognized as well.

Tucked away in a cottage on East Sherman Avenue is a small but colorful art gallery, appropriately called The Cottage Gallery. Art is displayed in a fenced-in courtyard in front when the weather permits, and a side deck holds more treasures, including folk-art painted furniture by local artist Gene Keevy. Adina Walsh, 60, opened the gallery Memorial Day weekend of 2004. Walsh was born and raised in Spokane and has lived in Coeur d'Alene four years. Not only is this her first art gallery, it is her first business venture. She purchased the cottage six months before the opening.

With the new school term only 5 1/2 weeks away, Big Brothers Big Sisters is in need of adult mentors for children. "We need an adult for every child," said Brusan Wells, development director for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Northwest. "For everyone that is matched, there's one waiting in line."

Kootenai County music lovers have four venues in Coeur d'Alene, Rathdrum and Hayden this summer to kick back at free concerts, thanks to Chris Guggemos and his Handshake Productions, host of the free summer concert series since 1992. And a new concert series started by a group of volunteers kicks off later this month in Post Falls' Q'emiln Park. Guggemos' shows are "G-rated," family-oriented events mostly featuring bands from Coeur d'Alene, Spokane and Sandpoint.

The 33 acres surrounding and including the popular Cherry Hill sledding hill is going through an exciting transformation. The city of Coeur d'Alene purchased the property in 1999, and soon it will be the home of an improved sledding hill, BMX bike racing track just north of the sledding area, six tennis courts, a full-size basketball court with baskets on each end, year-round unisex toilets with electricity and, eventually, the 9/11 Cherry Hill Memorial Park. There will be two entrances to the park, one off 15th Street, another off Hazel Street. A two-tier parking lot will accommodate up to 200 cars. The upper parking lot serves the BMX track.