Alternative school students, staff welcome new digs

The first day back at school after spring break for Contract Based Education wasn’t until Wednesday, but dozens of students showed up Monday for a pizza lunch and tours of their new school at Sprague Avenue and University Road.

The new space is 6,000 square feet bigger than the old building at 123 S. Bowdish Road. Art is taught in a classroom, not a converted closet. Each teacher has a small classroom, so classes no longer will be held by the front entrance as people walk by.

The school, known as CBE, is a co-op alternative school run by the West Valley School District in partnership with the Central Valley, East Valley and Freeman districts.

Principal Cleve Penberthy spoke to the gathered students Monday about their new school. To make sure his voice would carry far enough for everyone to hear, he climbed up on a desk to speak. “I’m breaking the rules already,” he said.

Penberthy called the new space, which bears no resemblance to the Rite Aid that used to be there, a place of “dignity and respect.”

“We’re opening up a very special place,” Penberthy said. “This was a sign of respect by the West Valley School District. I see this as an absolute new beginning for all of us.”

Student Ketra Devlin, 15, was excited about the new building. “I love it,” she said. “It’s so much bigger. We have windows in the classrooms now. There’s so much more parking.”

Student Ariel Mahoney, 17, knew what she liked best. “The bathrooms are huge,” she said.

Counselor Darrell Urlacher said it’s not just the students who are thrilled.

“This building is oozing with excitement, both the students and the staff,” Urlacher said. “We don’t have to teach history in the lobby anymore. It’s a much better learning environment.”

Like the students, Penberthy said he’s excited to come to school each day.

“Last night was like Christmas Eve for me,” Penberthy said. “I couldn’t sleep. The digital clock just kept moving, but very slowly.”

There were still stacks of boxes piled in corners and empty bookshelves in offices and classrooms throughout the building Monday, as everyone hurried to get ready for classes to begin. Penberthy had nothing but praise for the West Valley maintenance staff that handled the move.

“They did a remarkable job,” he said.

Taco Chick back in spotlight

For the second time in less than a year, a film crew for a national television show has traveled to Rathdrum to film Juanita Carmack and the Salsa Factory, home of Taco Chic Salsa.

Although Carmack, known locally as the Taco Chick, seems surprised to find herself once again in the national spotlight, the charismatic Harley-riding businesswoman is fast becoming one of North Idaho’s most recognizable entrepreneurs.

Carmack remembers friends scoffed at her decision to build her salsa factory in Rathdrum in 2005, warning her nobody would find her there. She says her response was, “I’m not worried. I’ll just bring the world to Rathdrum.”

Within three years Carmack was named one of the Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs for 2008 by Country Living magazine. The exposure began a roller-coaster ride that hasn’t yet ended – and that brought the world to her door.

Producers began calling within days of her return from Chicago, where she was honored by the magazine and shared her story of inspiration and perseverance with a crowd of more than 600 women entrepreneurs from across the nation.

First, New York producers from CNBC’s “The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch” called to set up a webcast interview. After a midnight run to Wal-Mart to buy a webcam and a mad scramble up and down Rathdrum’s Main Street looking for a phone with the required features just minutes before the interview, Carmack made the connection with the billionaire entrepreneurial guru who said the words she was waiting to hear, “Yes, Juanita, you do have the million-dollar package.”

Producers from NBC’s “Today” were next to call, about a year ago. Carmack was chosen to appear in their “Today’s Working Woman: Turning Dreams into Dough” series.

The “Today” crew filmed for hours, watching as Carmack made salsa in her home using the methods generations of women in her family have followed. Then the crew moved to the Salsa Factory, where she demonstrated how she makes it today, in her commercial kitchen.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Carmack received a call from an MSN producer asking if she would be interested in sharing her story along with a group of other baby boomers across the country.

The MSN film crew arrived in Rathdrum on April 1. Ignoring swirling snow and freezing temperatures, the Hollywood film crew followed Carmack for hours, filming her making salsa at the Salsa Factory with her son and daughter-in-law, helping customers, making deliveries in her familiar Taco Chic Salsa truck, and riding her Harley-Davidson.

The program is expected to air in mid-June as a “webisode” on msn.com.

Taco Chic Salsa can be found at the Salsa Factory in Rathdrum, in the salsa section of stores, and on the Internet at www.tacochicsalsa.com. Fresh Taco Chic Salsa can be found in the produce departments at Yoke’s, Rosauers, and Super 1 stores, and in the deli department at Idaho’s Super 1 stores.

Sayrs missing meetings

The often-empty chair of Liberty Lake City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Brian Sayrs drew attention at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

The council meets twice a month, and Sayrs has missed six meetings since his failed bid for Spokane County commissioner in November.

“We’re not getting feedback on why he’s not coming,” said council member Patrick Jenkins.

On Tuesday and March 17, neither the mayor nor any council members received a call from Sayrs explaining his absence. Several council members said they have called Sayrs to find out what the problem is, with no results.

“I don’t know why Brian is not here,” said Councilman David Crump.

Sayrs missed both meetings in January and one in February. His most recent meeting attended was March 3.

Sayrs did not return a message seeking comment.