Hagadone’s skipper shows business sense

You may know that local hospitality mogul Duane Hagadone sold his 205-foot yacht, Lady Lola, and her shadow boat (which is now called Amevi Surprise). But did you know that Hagadone started a trend with the Lady Lola Shadow and that his former skipper, Stan Antrim, is now refurbishing vessels to serve as shadow boats for the richy rich? According to the latest issue of Boat USA International, Antrim is using the skills learned retrofitting the Lady Lola Shadow to find and refurbish boats that will serve as carriers for helicopters, speedboats and other toys for megayacht owners. Seems CdA bazillionaire Hagadone hit on something when he was scrounging around for a way to take his playthings with him on cruises. A 1981 vintage oil supply vessel, the erstwhile LL Shadow carried the chopper, a speedboat, a shuttle boat for up to 20 guests, and a three-man submarine among other things. Since leaving Hagadone’s employment, Antrim has rebuilt a second vessel, a 170-footer dubbed the Paladin Shadow, and has plans for a third. But no one has met his asking price, yet. For a cool $9.75 million, you could join the ranks of the rich and famous. Of course, you’d need a main megayacht, too.

A fine howdy-do?

It was difficult to get Grandpa and Grandma Berry to move from Marysville, Wash., to North Idaho to be near a daughter and their grandchildren. Both are in their 80s, and he suffers from a World War II wound. But they found a nice duplex in Hayden and were enjoying peace and goodwill on Earth until the mail arrived around Christmas Eve. Seems the new landlord sent a Christmas card with a note informing the couple that they’d have to move by spring so he could demolish their unit to make way for condos. The neighbors got the same message. In an e-mail to the S-R on Christmas Day, granddaughter Kim Hill wrote: “My family and I are flabbergasted at this demonstration of greediness mailed in a Christmas card. Is this not the prime example of the Dickens classic tale of Scrooge and the movie villain, the Grinch?” If so, here’s hoping the landlord undergoes the same heart transformation as the two heels-turned-heroes.

Insurance scam

Imagine Cis Gors’ surprise when she discovered her car insurance rates had gone up substantially because she’d met only 10 of 14 criteria on her – credit report. You read that right. Cis hasn’t had an accident in her 48 years of driving. Her husband has had one, 25 years ago. But her credit cards are only five years old. And her insurance company prefers that they be 12 years old. Never mind that the Gorses occasionally combine high-interest cards into lower-interest ones like the rest of us do. Or that a credit report should have nothing to do with insurance. The Gorses also got marked down because they were using 30 percent to 39 percent of their cards’ capacities, which is understandable because they have low card ceilings. Seems their situation is reasonable to everyone but the insurance industry, which spends as much time figuring out how to gouge their customers as it does trying to provide protection.

Smells like dinner

Did you hear the one about the Spokane woman who drove off in disgust after visiting Higgins Point/Lake Coeur d’Alene to see the annual gathering of eagles? She couldn’t believe how many stinky, dead fish had washed up on shore. The smell ruined her enjoyment. When S-R reporter Erica Curless heard about the odor problem, she called Idaho Fish and Game to check it out, realizing that the fish played a role in the eagles’ diet. On the line, the F&G receptionist chuckled. “That’s the whole point!” she said. “The kokanee die, which attracts the eagles.” Duh! Cue up “Circle of Life” for the newcomers.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “Slightly fatter, / slightly balder, / all his lang syne / slightly aulder” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“New Year’s Eve Assessment”) … “In the “Aiming to Please” Department, CdA’s new America’s Cheesecake Café has made taking care of business difficult by adding small TVs at eye level (for an NBA center, that is) above the men’s urinals. This, according to customer Jim Wilger … Sign of the Times (at Forget-Me-Not Gifts/CdA): “Credit extended to anyone over 85 when accompanied by a parent” … Personal Note: I’d like to thank the blurkers/commenters who helped make Huckleberries Online a success during its first full year in 2005 by clicking on the site 1,303,071 individual times … Chuck Tingstad registered the first sign of spring on Christmas morning when he spotted a coupla duffers on a green near his Spokane Valley home. E-mails Chuck: “Methinks somebody got a set of clubs for Christmas and just couldn’t wait to try them out.” Bingo.

Parting Shot

The accused in the Groene family murders, Joseph Edward Duncan III, has made two lists while hanging out at the Kootenai County slammer awaiting trial. His blog chronicling his descent into madness was listed among the “Worst Tech Moments 2005” by Kevin Poulsen of the San Francisco Independent Media Center. And he ranked No. 6 among Idaho’s “Top 25 Influencers” (or change agents), compiled by Randy Stapilus/Ridenbaugh Press. His mother must be so proud.