No Lion, Fourth festival packed with fun
The Sandpoint area is going to have the best Third of July celebration ever this year.
That's right, July 3rd. Saturday.
The Sandpoint Lions Club has taken some heat on the decision to hold the annual parade, variety show and spectacular fireworks this Saturday instead of the traditional Fourth of July, which falls on Sunday.
Several business owners are peeved because they planned on having the parade march in front of their businesses on Sunday. A couple even planned dinners and property showings to coincide with the colorful ordnance exploding overhead.
Some area magazines and newspapers guessed wrong earlier this month and are inviting people here on the Fourth.
The Lions' decision to hold the local Independence Day celebration (not Fourth of July) on Saturday is based on history. Seven years ago, the same calendar anomaly occurred and the Lions held the celebration on Sunday, July 4.
"The results were less than satisfactory, crowds were sparse and the churches weren't happy with the competition with Sunday services," said Lions President Tim Coffelt.
It must be noted that the Seventh-day Adventists aren't happy this year with the choice, either.
Lion Art Long said the club debated the date change for a protracted time this year and finally settled the debate in April.
The staging area for the parade actually cut off access to some churches at about the same time church would usually start.
Several people have pointed out to the Lions that Monday is the actual federal legal holiday but the Lions weren't about to have the Fourth of July move to the Fifth of July because most people are traveling that day.
Lion President Coffelt stated, "Fortunately this only occurs once
every seven years. The Lions Club tries very diligently to resolve any
concerns of the community in the best interests of the majority of the
citizens of our community."
The Sandpoint Lions members include many veterans and retired military service personnel, and are keenly aware of the importance of a proper Independence Day
observance.
The Lions are also responsible for placing all of the US flags around the area on national holidays. The group has decided to fly the flags on Saturday instead of Sunday to "focus on the importance of the event."
That means the flags will be down on Sunday so Lions members can enjoy a quiet day of rest after putting on what will be the best parade and fireworks show this area has ever seen.
I'm not Lion.
See the preliminary schedule in this paper and a complete schedule later this week.
If you see Rachel Nordgaarden around, pat her on the back. She is organizing the Sandpoint High School Class of 1985 reunion. She has a whole year to plan and hear excuses from all of the locals who will promise to go…but won't.
Dennis and Joyce Envik have gone to the dogs by witnessing the joining of their two dogs Jack and Viva in matrimony. The canine couple tied the knot on Sunday, June 13 at the Envik home in Sagle and were surrounded by family and friends for the joyous occasion.
Jack felt that after months of puppy love it was time for a deeper commitment and decided to marry the …"female dog."
The above entry was given to me by Carol Winget. She also took this photo. If you are curious about what the original note she sent me said, don't hesitate to call her at 265-4554.
Congrats to the local triathletes who competed in the Ironman Triathlon in Coeur d'Alene.
Sandpoint High School teacher Jim Barton was slightly hobbled on Monday. You would be too, if you swam 2.5 miles, rode a bike 112 miles and ran a complete marathon.
The toughest part?
Surviving the swim and battling cramps on the bike, he said.
"It was like swimming in a washing machine," Barton recalled. "There were 1,800 people trying to swim next to each other." A cramp on the bike stage also slowed him.
Barton and Justin Smith were featured in a Bee story on Saturday.
Speaking of hobbled athletes. The Morning Buzz Hoopfest team of me, Chris Watkins, Roger Branscome and Jason Elliott went 0-3 in the media division of the biggest three-on-three basketball tournament in the country.
We lost to a team of muscle-bound KXLY interns, a taller Seattle P-I squad and a "thicker" Valley Herald team.
We weren't tall but at least we were slow.
How did your team do? Drop us a line at the paper and send us a photo or two.
What a great event! It was kind of like a county fair…with sweat.
It sure would be nice to get Sandpoint Slam up and running again.
Last week's online poll asked if you were planning to go to Silverwood this summer. 31 percent yes. 68 percent no. 180 people cast ballots.
This week's question: Do you believe in love at first sight?