When a letter first arrived with a gold seal, Malarie Laffoon was a bit skeptical. It looked like spam mail. But when she opened it, it revealed a delightful surprise: Brady, her 8-year-old son, had been nominated and invited to attend a prestigious STEM program in Seattle this summer. In order to be nominated, his grades had to be high and he had to demonstrate an extreme amount of maturity, both attributes Laffoon recognized. But still, a week at a camp in Seattle? “I’m thi

It’s no secret that Northwest people are typically outdoor people. Our cities and towns are set in and around nature, and our woods, trails, and the backcountry is often just a short drive from our front door. After fall sports season and hunting season come to a close, outdoor enthusiasts start doing the “pray for snow” dance. While some of the population could go without snow, a large section also sees a cold winter without snow as a worthless winter. Skis and snowboards ge

The offices and hallways behind the exhibit hall at the Museum of North Idaho are a crowded network. Boxes line the floors. Clear workspace is at a premium. Rarely can two people stand shoulder-to-shoulder in the same area. “Right here I filled this box because I don’t have shelves to put them on,” said Dorothy Dahlgren, the museum’s director, referring to a collection of un-filed photos. “The table has to be up against the shelves there because it’s so small in here.” The mu

When in high school or college, it’s pretty easy to join a competitive team. There are all kinds of clubs and sports at competitive and intramural levels, and without a full-time job or family, you’ve generally got a lot more time for practices and competitions. As we get older it can become more difficult to find a way to scratch that competitive itch in a team environment, as there just aren’t as many opportunities due to our many daily obligations and responsibilities. For

Sean Bonner is quick to call himself a nerd, and during his 15 years living in North Idaho, he has come to realize that he is not alone. Through the Coeur d’Alene branch of the Innovation Collective, he and other self-avowed nerds have a place to come together and work toward the organization’s mission, which is to create “a global entrepreneurship movement in smaller towns,” nodding to the uniqueness of each town and the skills of each member. Charles Buck is the associate v

Darlene Richardson stood from her seat next to the window, lifted her phone and took another picture of the Spokane River. Then she sat, two chairs from her son Bert, and smiled. A cruise down the Spokane River was on her bucket list, she said, and One More Time made it happen, “before I got too sick.” “I haven’t found too many people willing to go the extra mile,” Darlene said. “I didn’t even know they existed.” Darlene, 77, and Bert took their three-hour cruise in mid-July,

There’s nothing like spending a warm summer day in North Idaho outdoors. And what better way to unwind and spend time with family and friends than at one of the many summer concert series the area has to offer. Over the years, outdoor concerts continue to grow, and the community is loving it. You will find people of all ages enjoying the sounds of local musicians on nearly any given day. Thanks to the support of generous area sponsors, these concerts are abundant, adding just

In one sense, Tabitha Kraack’s daily commute to work is less than one minute. As the executive director of the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation, the trail right outside her door is, in a way, her office. “I’m very lucky to have the trail right next to my house,” Kraack said. “I see it every day.” Hired in December, Kraack is relatively fresh on the job. But it’s a role she said she’s wanted for a while—she applied for it when it last opened three years ago—and she’s ea

You never know when the snow will actually stop falling in this part of the country, but for skiers and riders, sadly, the season must eventually come to an end. While there should still be plenty of great days here in March, it’s never too early to start planning the inevitable meltdown. Diehards are prepping their spring-condition skis and boards—the ones you don’t mind getting dinged by a suddenly exposed rock or fallen tree limb. While conditions might tend to deteriorate

While some people like to plan out their vacations all in advance, others just kind of go with the flow. You can do a bit of research online into places to stay and eat and fun things to do in a new area, but often the best information comes from speaking with someone local. Many thousands of visitors swing through Coeur d’Alene each year, and whether it’s for a few hours or a few weeks, a lot head to the Visitors Center for information on what to do in and around Coeur d’Ale

At his desk at the Museum of North Idaho, Robert Singletary shuffles loose papers into stacks, clearing a bit of space. This time of year, the museum in Downtown Coeur d’Alene is only open by appointment, but that doesn’t mean the 84-year-old is slowing down or short on work. “The museum is closed, but this is the real stuff. It’s the part of the ship that doesn’t show,” he said. “It’s a different kind of busy.” On an adjacent table sits a four-inch stack of copies of the Coe

Looking forward, successful convergence of information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) will be a driving force behind business-growth initiatives. Through the integration of these two disciplines, companies can utilize real data to drive efficiencies and productivity that will accelerate product-to-market times and boost demand while reducing costs and risks. It also creates opportunities for economic growth that strengthen communities. While operational techn

Idaho Independent Bank (IIB) is a name well known to North Idaho. Many pass by the branches in Hayden and Coeur d’Alene every day on their way to work or school. The name is also well known to those in the southern portion of the state, with multiple locations around the greater Boise area. IIB is celebrating its 25th anniversary this October, and though the bank has become a household name, not everyone knows that the business grew outward across the state from right here in

In just a few short years, the Inland Northwest Food Network (INWFN) has come to be one of the most impactful nutrition educational organizations in the region with hundreds of educational and outreach events in the name of connecting the public with the farmers who grow their food. In 2014, Teri McKenzie saw the need to not only educate the area on cooking from scratch, gardening and basic cooking skills, but also a desire to connect with the farming community as well. The p

“I think music in itself is healing. It's an explosive expression of humanity. It's something we are all touched by. No matter what culture we're from, everyone loves music.” ~ Billy Joel Music. It has a way of energizing and bringing people together. And there is perhaps no better venue to share that experience than the Festival at Sandpoint, which for nearly four decades has brought people together from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Now in its 36th year, The Fe

One of the guilty pleasures of attending the state, county or regional fair is gorging one’s self on all the deliciously sinful fair food. Deep fried everything, sugar-blasted batter and just about anything on a stick, all treats we allow ourselves during the annual evening out. These foods are highly processed and usually concocted in a stand, trailer or truck, and although delicious, one wouldn’t want to subsist on these foods on a regular basis. The stigma that food prepar

Marilyn Parent is a woman who has done most everything she has ever wanted. And if there’s something she’s interested in and hasn’t done yet, she’s willing to try. She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is an artist. She is a watercolorist who has turned her passion into a highly successful career. She has started an online business. And she is a charming, kind lady with a cheery outlook. Perhaps what is most admirable about her, though, is that she wasn’t al

Since he was a young boy growing up in Sandpoint, music has been a big part of Devon Wade’s life. Now, at the age of 41, his passion for music is taking him to places he never imagined. Devon’s dad was a drummer in a band, so it was natural that was the first instrument Devon played. But he longed to play guitar, so he saved his money, and at the age of 14, purchased his first guitar. “My dad wasn’t too happy, but it was my money so there was not much he could say,” says Devo

The Northwest is a region full of fresh flavors. Due to the varying climate and landscape, we are able to produce and harvest a vast assortment of vegetables, grains and herbs. The sunny, temperate climate and mineral-rich soils across Central Washington help grow some of the most incredible wine grapes found anywhere in the world. Fresh fish, oysters, clams and shrimp are pulled from the coasts of Oregon and Washington and often find their way onto one’s dinner plate in less

In the City of Coeur d’Alene, citizens and commerce alike are blessed to be part of a thriving, vibrant art community. One doesn’t need to travel far to experience a lively art event or witness an intriguing public art sculpture lining the streets of this amazing city by the lake. Numerous individuals—too many to count—can be thanked for promoting and building the arts and cultural community. ​ Four local artists are highlighted, both for their contributions to the visual lan