Festival at Sandpoint hits it big on eBay

The Festival at Sandpoint has hit the big time on eBay … Two season ticket packages starting at $199 were posted on the online auction service last week.

In case you are wondering, season passes are a bargain at any price for this year's great program and the $109, $139 and $151.34 season packages sold out quicker than usual.

"A few of the individual concerts will sell out," warns Carol Winget. Ticket sales have been brisk for each act.

This is the first time the FAS has broken into the ranks of eBay but will probably not be the last. Festival merchandise would sell well online and autographed Festival posters (think Lou Rawls) would also be hot.

As for the person selling the passes, I'm sure $50 or so is coming back to the Festival as a donation?

Kudos to Brent Baker Construction and Head Start for a tremendous Summer Solstice golf tournament Saturday at Hidden Lakes. Even though we haven't heard how much money was raised, it had to be a bunch.

Baker is a great example of a successful business leader who recognizes the importance of giving something back while having fun.

The "Fred Meyer is coming" rumor refuses to die. I am told there is some interest in the Kmart building or just north of it. Home Depot should start moving dirt this week as soon as some of the water can be pumped off the property. Still looking at a January opening.

Speaking of Ponderay, mark Aug. 28 on your schedule and plan to attend the first ever Ponderay Days. There will be something for everyone. The date is easy to remember, it is also the last day of the Bonner County Fair, which will be held Aug. 25-28. The fair is going to be the best ever, according to fair manager Rhonda Livingstone. The fair book, which the Bee is assisting with, is chock-full of new activities and is coming out soon.

The Ponderay Community Development Corp. has been on fire since the group put Marcella Nelson on the payroll. "The power of the bun" has led to a jump in membership and activities.

She is a great sport and is a willing recipient of any short jokes sent her direction. Have a short joke? Call her at 255-2414 but keep it…uh, brief, she's a busy lady.

If you haven't paid your tax assessment this year, you are a day late and soon to be several dollars shorter. Our assessment was up dramatically from last year, yours? I'll bet the commissioners and the Board of Equalization will be very busy this year as property owners plead their cases.

Have you turned in your ballot for the Best of Bonner County yet? The deadline is Friday. We have topped the 600 ballot plateau for the first time it the promotion's four-year history.

The best category for next year has had a lot of interest. A few of the suggestions included: Favorite Byway Option, Friendliest Volunteer, Best Place to Volunteer, Best Convenience Store, Best Boot Moorage, Friendliest Postman or Postwoman, Favorite Secretary and 35 others.

We eliminated a dozen categories this year and added 20 in order to keep the ballot fresh. The tabulation continues and the anticipation builds as we prepare to present the Best of Bonner County awards in July.

More sure signs summer is here…Dub's Field comes alive with the cutest kids in America hitting a baseball from a rubber tee. If you haven't been to a tee ball game or a rookie Little League game for a few years, you owe it to yourself to do so. It's worth the price of admission (free!) and you are guaranteed at least one smile.

My smile comes when all action on the field comes to a screeching halt when a fire engine drives by or an airplane flies overhead.

Go Tigers!

If you haven't been to the Blue Moon Cafe, you should try it out. Located in the old Ivano's location, kitty corner from Hydra and across the street from Litehouse's Bleu Cheese Factory. It's fast become a popular spot for inexpensive and tasty lunches.

It was great to see Herb and Jean Offermann at Silverwood Friday night. They were hobnobbing with Gov. Kempthorne at the opening of the waterslide section of the theme park. Bill Justus, US Bank manager and his son Ryan attended the shindig, as did Kathie Sullivan of the Sandpoint Chamber and RJ White of the Sandpoint Downtown Business Association.

My son Austin and I rode the Timber Terror twice and hit the water park a few minutes before the governor showed up. While the governor spoke, Austin was more enthralled by the wave pool than the governor's speech.

One odd thing, I had one young Sandpoint girl ask me if I was the doctor who treated her for her concussions after a snowboard accident this winter at Schweitzer.

What a great place for people watching!

Last week's online poll question: "Should parents be held liable if their children don't wear helmets?" 94 votes. Yes, 47.9 percent. No, 52.1 percent.

This week's question: "Do you plan on going to Silverwood this summer?"

David Keyes is publisher of the Bee. His column runs Tuesdays,