Over the last two weeks I have been to several wine tastings and met with the winemakers from some of our region’s best wineries. Last week I met Welcome Gordy Venneri, Owner/Winemaker of Walla Walla Vintners. Now, to be fair, we carry virtually every wine they make, so I wasn’t there to be sold. I was there to sample his wonderful wines and you should, too. See, in 1997 when I wrote my first book, Passion For Wine, I stated that Washington State was the best wine producing area in the world. I have to tell you, I was living in Orlando, and had never lived in the Pacific NW. Needless to say, I was fairly well laughed out of town. Since then I have been vindicated with Washington scoring more 90+ ratings and gold medals than any other region. Ha Ha! So, if Washington is the best wine sta... 09/25/2011

In the last seven years, I have interviewed hundreds of people on my radio shows showcasing Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, and North Idaho. With the total of folks being on the shows over 1,000 now, I guess you can say I know a bit about my community and have encountered all kinds and talked about most subjects. That being said, this movie touched me. I first met Luke Jiles when I was getting a new iPhone. Luke helped me and we talked about the short film he was making. He starred in the flick, but had a great cast of characters and supporting staff. Notably, the film was directed by Stephen Byrum: 16 years old and wise beyond his years. Stephen was the “You Are Here” Teen Video Challenge winner for 2011. The cast is all local, and they will be entering the film in the Sandpoint Film Festiva... 09/25/2011

Not long ago the thought filled my brain that I should invite Tina Friedman to my show: North Idaho Arts & Adventure. See, Tina had written and photographed the best big book on Sandpoint: Sandpoint: A Small Town with a Big Heart. The book has over 1,000 photos of our beautiful area, and over 100 stories about the area, our folk, and the like. Needless to say, it is a great book on its own merits and the pics are stellar. Tina is a gifted photographer, and the stories are topical and often touching. Still, that isn’t the only reason to buy this 264-page, coffee table book. See, she always intended it to benefit our community. To that end, sales of the book help several charities, including Angels Over Sandpoint, the Panhandle Animal Shelter, and the Bonner County Food Bank. I asked Tina... 09/24/2011

Erica Nizzoli appeared on my North Idaho Arts & Adventure radio show telling us about Pathways to Peace. This five week course teaches students to: Ground & Balance easily Learn to use your personal Guidance systems Practice true Forgiveness & Unconditional Love Improve Communications & Relationships Open your heart safely in ways you never thought possible I’ve known Erica ever from the days when I delivered Focaccia dough to Eichardt’s back in the day. Erica is a Certified Core Belief Restructuring (CBR) Practitioner. Many of the tenets of this program are ones I have experienced through thru the Life Skills NW programs, and clearly there are mental, spiritual, and health benefits. Classes begin September 27, 2011 Tuesday evenings 5:30 to 7pm Located at Pinnacle Health Center801 Pine ... 09/24/2011

I interviewed Tarah Neujahr, Marketing and Communications Director of Bonner General Hospital Tuesday on my radio show: North Idaho Business. Tarah was on the show to talk about the Bonner County Drug Drop-off Program. One in five teens nationwide experiment with drugs, often perscription that they get from relative's and friend's medicine cabinets. While often the drugs are consumed, just as often they are simply thrown away when the user discovers they don't get them high, or they have a bad experience. The program doesn't accept needles or liquids, but is anonymous and is a great benefit to our environment. Here is the downloadable information flyer: http://SandpointID.net/Rx-Drop-Off-Brochure.pdf   09/15/2011

Every year I put out North Idaho's only Fall Recreation Guide. With Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort (Top 25 Ski Resorts-Skiing Magazine) right above Sandpoint, and 148 square mile Lake Pend Oreille at our shores, summer and winter are our natural draws. However, last year, we had a beautiful and extended Autumn season. In fact, it was so wonderful, three national articles touted our region. This year portends to be the same. Point is, there is lots to do during Fall in North Idaho. Here is the link to the North Idaho Fall Recreation Guide. Here are some pics to entice you:   09/15/2011

I worked with Kyler in real estate for years. Currently he is the Board President of the Clark Fork – Pend Oreille Conservancy. Kyler was on my North Idaho Business show to talk about the upcoming Wild & Scenic Film festival on October 7th & 8th at the Panida Theater. Here is how the interview went: Tell me a little about the Clark Fork – Pend Oreille Conservancy: The Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy (CFPOC) is a land trust that works with the landowners and organizations in the Clark Fork River and Lake Pend Oreille watersheds to protect, maintain, and enhance natural resources and recreational values that contribute to our quality of life.  So what exactly is a Land Trust? What do you do?A land trust is a nonprofit organization that works with landowners to protect land and water r... 09/14/2011

To be honest, the Sandpoint market is still not where it should be given our discounted pricing currently. If you are looking for waterfront property at any of the bigger (or even smaller) more popular lakes anywhere in the country, chances are you will pay more than in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Still, that being said, my team and I are having a pretty good year. Last Monday we had an accepted offer on our third waterfront sale this season. We specialize in waterfront and water view properties in Sandpoint and this region of North Idaho. Two were on Lake Pend Oreille, and one was on the Pend Oreille River. This morning we had an accepted offer for a Baldy Mountain home that overlooks the Pend Oreille. This is $1,130,000 in accepted offers just this week. I have to admit, like many RE... 09/14/2011

For the 4th year in a row the Scootin' Sisters appeared on my show: North Idaho Business. They were talking about the 4th Annual Toys for Tots Ride. Held on September 17th, the ride starts at May’s Honda, in Sagle, ID. Registration: 9:00am Kickstands up: 10:00am There's going to be plenty of activities at this ride, and they will include live music, various raffles, live auction, 50/50 and much more.... The sisters, Chris and Alex, explained that a few years ago some gals were sitting in Eichardt’s, enjoying a brew after a bike ride together. They talked about getting together on a regular basis, and the waitress asked what they were called. Hmmm, a group name? They came up with Scootin’ Sisters, and soon were planning events and get togethers and bike rides. They got together with the ... 09/14/2011

Got up this morning to ride my bike, but then decided people should know what Sandpoint looks like even on a misty day. The forecast for the day is hot and bright, but this morning is cool and the town has low lying clouds shrouding the landscape. We are a community in the mountains after all, so we live in the clouds. Here are the pics: The Sandpoint Long Bridge Enterin Sandpoint Bottle Bay-Sagle Slough Fry Creek-Sagle Slough, often called Bottle Bay Fry Creek-Sagle Slough Fry Creek-Sagle Slough Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge 2 Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge. Crossing under the Long Bridge. Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge My friend Clyde who went through Life Skills NW with me a couple of times. He is now an assistant instructor. The Sandpo... 09/13/2011

FYI, the Sandpoint Visitor Guide won a Blue Ribbon for the second year in a row from Idaho Department of Commerce. You can read the article that was in the Bee way back in May here. Click the link for the downloadable PDF or click here to go to the online book on issuu. It is a quick and easy way to find out what to do in Sandpoint and our surrounding area.   09/12/2011

My last time in the World Trade Center was going to Windows on the World in 1997. I was in New York to sign my book deal with Hastings House. I decided to visit the Greatest Bar on Earth on the 106th (or was it the 107th) floor with my best friend and attorney, Roy Levine. Roy was there with me to go over the contracts for my book. I had visited the World Trade Center twice before, once to have dinner at Windows on the World. Being in NY because of my book Passion For Wine, it was a natural for me to go to the restaurant. Kevin Zraly had written one of my favorite small books on wine, the Windows on the World Complete Wine Course, and I wanted that to be one of my stops while in the city. We had been having quite the time in New York, and the night before we had gone to the Blue Note, ... 09/11/2011

It was a day to contemplate.  I said goodbye to my kids & 2 year-old grand daughter today as they went off on a 1 year junket to Japan.  It's a crazy life these days and a very tough goodbye.  No better time to get on my bike to ride ...and think.  As I get older, I understand life less & less...but cherish the moments more & more. The Long Bridge stretches nearly two miles across the Pend Oreille River as it enters Sandpoint city center.  (The jagged peaks way off in the distance (toward the left side) is the Selkirk Crest, one of the largest roadless areas in North America.) The bike path winds its way under the bridge with a view down the Pend Oreille River toward Priest River and, eventually, the Columbia River Basin. The Bike Path runs, literally, right along the Pend Oreille shore... 09/07/2011

I love my job. Great wines and in an area known for producing the best wines in the world. I moved here to do what I love. This is a big part of it. Yoke's Ponderay is meeting its sales goals as the top seller of wine in the region, and I just had an accepted offer for my third waterfront home since October. The Caterina 2008 Viognier is an outstanding wine that is only one of two locally produced wines that made the Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of the Year. It was vinified by winemaker Mike Scott and is the perfect, sophisticated end-of-summer wine. Beautifully concentrated and textural, this Viognier mixes melon, white peach, nectarine and lemon fruit with pleasing minerality. There is none of the burn or bitterness that so often affects Washington Viogniers. This is a really refresh... 09/07/2011

As promised, here are the bullet points from my interview with Kate McAllister of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. She's my second fav Irish gurl, and the notes are about what's going on in Sandpoint. These notes are raw, and I asked Kate for them, so don't be critical. She works smart and hard and we are so, so lucky to have her on our side. Here they are: Radio Show   1.        Things at the Chamber going well: a.        Staff Great b.        New board members and strategic planning c.        Leadership Program                                                                    i.       Alumni assn Justin Dick                                                                  ii.       Great new class  for 2011-2012 including the Mayor of Ponderay Carol Kunzeman d.        Healt... 09/06/2011

I was interviewed by Ralph Bartholdt from the Idaho Outdoor Journal this week about waterfalls in North Idaho. I have the most viewed page about our local falls, and he wanted to know more. The issue is upcoming, and will apparently be free and around town in Sandpoint as well as other Idaho communities. He asked for some pics, so I took the opportunity to hike the Upper and Lower Snow Falls, and then, since the Roman Nose Lakes are just up the road, I hiked to the top. Here are the pics: Lower Snow Falls, North Idaho Lower Snow Falls, North Idaho Upper Snow Falls, North Idaho Upper Snow Falls, North Idaho Kayaking Roman Nose Lake, North Idaho Roman Nose Lake, North Idaho Family picking huckleberries on the trail above Roman Nose Lake, North Idaho Windswept tree above Roman Nose Lake Ga... 09/06/2011

My realty team partner, Judy Delucchi, and I met the children of our current (and 2nd group) of clients from Texas Saturday. We met at Trinity at City Beach, formerly the Beach House. The Spud Cup was just beginning on the lake. Took a couple of candids. It was a glorious day. Here are the pics: 09/06/2011

After hosting the Speak Up North Idaho radio show today, I met with my realty partner, Judy Delucchi, up on Schweitzer Mountain, named in the Top 25 Ski Resorts by Skiing Magazine. Judy was on the mountain to preview listings for clients from Texas who are now sending their children to experience the area. I have to admit, we have been very busy this summer and our closings and offers on the table prove it. Schweitzer Village is being prepped for this weekend's Fall Fest. Pretty cool. I went up the mountain to ride the ski lift to the top and hike from peak to peak. It is soul-southing for me, as I am all alone normally, and a great hike with spectacular views. Here are the pics: Schweitzer Mountain summer Gary Lirette at the top of Schweitzer Mountain The Clock Tower in Schweitzer Vill... 09/02/2011

I sat in today and hosted Speak Up North Idaho for Barbara Carpenter on the North Idaho Talk Radio Network. First up was Kate McCallister, head of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. Kate began by telling us about the Sandpoint Scenic Half Marathon coming up September 17th from 2-6:30pm. The deadline for early bird entry is Friday and the course runs from City Beach, across the Long Bridge and into Sagle. Kate McAllister and Paula Marcinko We talked about Sandpoint being named in the Rand McNally poll as the Most Beautiful Small Town in America the entire show. We both marveled at the influx of wonderful Canadians, mostly from the province of Alberta, spending their hard-earned Loonies and being generally a welcome addition to our summer tourist scene. I will post the notes from ... 09/01/2011

First up on my show was Jupiter Jane. Jupiter Jane is a mobile eatery in a converted school bus put together by Laura Calvert Peitz and Maria Corsini and friends. I first got to know Laura when she owned the Coit House many years ago. More recently, she was the owner of Dish Home Cooking. I managed the restaurant for them, and after closing Laura was looking for her next venture. Jupiter Jane has some of the same menu ideas Dish had: gourmet vegan, gluten-free, and fresh foods. We talked about how Joel’s got started: Sandpoint’s most popular lunch Mexican restaurant. Joel would go around town in a van selling his burritos, etc. Then he was in one of the lunch shacks that used to be on Fourth, finally making enough to build a brick and mortar location that is packed daily. Jupiter Jane h... 09/01/2011