It’s the time of year when stores are filled with people shopping for the holiday season and children eagerly await their chance to tell Santa exactly what is on their wish list this year. But for many families, it is a stressful time as they lack the resources to provide much more than food and shelter for their families. Thanks to Toys for Tots, families in Kootenai County and around the country no longer have to deal with the stress of how to make their child’s Christmas m

Opened in June 2015 by Jenny McMeekan, Smart Start Learning Academy in Coeur d’Alene is dedicated to educating preschool children ages 3 through kindergarten. An alumna of Eastern Washington University, where she graduated with a reading endorsement (K-12), bachelor’s degree in education with an earth science minor, Jenny relocated to Coeur d’Alene where she worked as a public school teacher. She taught first grade at Skyway for four years and language arts and science to six

It is an event that keeps people coming back year after year. The Parade of Homes is put on by the North Idaho Building Contractors Association (NIBCA) and showcases the craftsmanship of the area’s top builders, architects, interior designers, landscapers, home automations specialists, kitchen and bath designers and building product suppliers. This year’s event spanned two weekends in September and drew people from all over to view the beautifully constructed homes and provid

Artists are influenced and find inspiration in many forms. For Jeff ‘Capasso’ Williams, a life spent traveling the world is the primary factor when he touches brush to canvas. Capasso left his small Illinois town and joined the U.S. Navy at just 17. For 24 years he traveled the globe experiencing different military bases, cultures and conflicts. “I was all over the Middle East, Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa—specifically Rwanda, a lot of Asia, the Philippines, Thailand,” recalls C

With winter on the horizon and the nights becoming increasingly colder, everyday struggles become that much more difficult for those facing hardship in our communities. Despite a surging economy, many are still facing difficult decisions like whether to buy food or pay a heating bill. Thankfully, North Idaho is filled with generous and caring people who want to look after those most in need, and you will find many of them at one of the area’s longest standing beacons of hope.

Reilley Chapman Lake City High School Lake City High School senior Reilley Chapman has played competitive volleyball since she was 10 years old and softball since she was 8. And it is not just in the athletic arena where she excels; she also holds a 4.1 GPA. Looking ahead to her future, Reilley said she has struggled with the decision of whether or not to play sports at the collegiate level. “I have offers to attend different schools to play volleyball but have decided to foc

When Peter Mico started to feel the physical effects of a long career in the restaurant industry, he knew he had to make a change. With back issues from long hours of standing on concrete floors and pain from his days as an athlete, Peter was facing surgery and the uncertainty of what the future would bring. One day, over 20 years ago, Peter came across an instructional yoga DVD while shopping and decided to give it a try. Over time, he noticed a significant increase in his f

One of the main reasons so many longtime residents of the Inland Northwest rave about their community is the generosity of their neighbors. People hold the door open for the next person and smile and say “hello” when walking down the street. We shovel our neighbors’ driveways and sidewalks come winter and support hundreds of nonprofits that help the most vulnerable in our communities. Across the region, thousands of people are employed by, volunteer or donate to organizations

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

It’s impossible not to overlook the growth and change that’s currently reshaping the Coeur d’Alene area. Large hotels are going up, new housing developments are going in and older buildings downtown are being renovated for new offices, businesses and restaurants. The Four Corners Project reshaped the landscape and feel of downtown and the waterfront as locals and visitors approach from Northwest Boulevard. When the project was approved, many in the community were thrilled. Th

Brooklyn Shell Coeur d’Alene High School A senior at Coeur d’Alene High school, Brooklyn Shell runs both cross country and track and has been on the varsity track team since her freshman year. “My events for track are mainly the 1600 and 3200, and occasionally the 800,” said Brooklyn, who joined cross country her sophomore year and has qualified for state in both track and cross country each year that she has participated. Although Brooklyn has been very successful at her cho

It’s back to school time. While for some students it can be an exciting time of reuniting with their friends, for others it can produce a great deal of anxiety. The reason? They have been victims of bullying in the past and returning to that environment can be scary and intimidating. For many in the older generation, we equate bullying with the mean kid on the playground who pushes others around. But for the younger generation, bullying takes on a whole new form. Social media

Gather nature enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers, history buffs or anyone seeking a day of beauty and exploration for a ride on The Route of the Hiawatha. Running along the old Milwaukee Railroad bed, this 15-mile journey has been called “the most scenic stretch of railroad in the country.” It’s always a great time to ride the Hiawatha, but 2018 is a particularly special year as June marked the celebration of its 20th anniversary! Visitors are welcomed seven days a week from la

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

Keith Boe is a busy man. Between his work in real estate, photography, managing a huge local social media group and hosting special event dinners with area chefs, it’s amazing he can find time to continually throw one of the biggest and most glamorous parties of the year. This October will mark the third year of the Epic North Idaho Life Masquerade Charity Ball. The idea first came to Keith when he discovered a real living castle on top of Schweitzer Mountain while working as

Owner and teacher at BarreU in Coeur d’Alene’s midtown, Jenny Wiglesworth offers 19 years of experience and is thrilled to be a part of the Coeur d’Alene fitness community. Nationally and internationally trained, she offers the knowledge from 19 years of a variety of class formats to bring her clients the best total-body workout. “BarreU is the exclusive, premier Barre studio in the Coeur d’Alene area,” says Jenny. “We not only pride ourselves in the strength and length that

Travis Jerome Lake City High School Football has been an integral part of Travis Jerome’s life. A senior on Lake City High School’s football team, Travis has played football since he was in second grade. This is his second year as a starter on the Timberwolves’ varsity team, and he also serves as team captain. But it is not just on the football field where Travis excels. He currently has a 3.9 GPA and has maintained that all throughout high school. His determination is someth

During the heyday of mining and timber production, North Idaho was at the forefront of emerging technologies in the industries that help power the world. Today the landscape is much different with many businesses becoming reliant on tourism in order to survive and expand. Walk into just about any hotel, café or restaurant and you’ll find a ‘Help Wanted’ sign for server, busser, front desk, housekeeping, bartender or barista. This is keeping unemployment in the area very low,

“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

Serving the community for two decades, 2018 marks the beginning of a new era for Creekside Construction, as twin brothers Dave and Derek Adams took over the company from their stepfather, Brent Baldwin, who retired earlier this year. They are looking forward to continuing building on the reputation set before them, as well as creating a new energy and vibe being a younger generation building contractor. “The transition has been smooth and as seamless as possible,” says Dave.