Great dinner raising money for Grad Night

Parents do a lot for their children.

First, there are the years when the child are totally dependent on Mom and Dad for food, water, clothing, a roof over their heads, an education, etc.

After the basics are covered, the act of parenting expands to include transportation, nagging about homework, purchases of hundreds of books, magazines, candybars and tins filled with popcorn and reminding children what they won't wear.

There's a group of parents at Sandpoint High School who have decided their last act of parenthood while their son or daughter is still within 24 hours of being a SHS student is to keep them safe on graduation night.

These parents are the few, the proud … the senior parents. They have been thrown together to organize the Grad Night party.

This Saturday, these parents and many more invite you to come out to the Bonner County Fairgrounds for an Ivano's catered dinner and auction to raise money for this year's Grad Night party.

The silent auction begins at 5 p.m., followed by Ivano's lasagna (or vegetarian dish) dinner at 6 p.m. and a live auction at 7 p.m.

Grad Night started in the mid-1970s and was held at Middle Earth from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The idea was to allow students into a bar but to keep them from drinking. I don't get the logic but it was nice of the Middle Earth folks to offer the venue.

Sometime in the 1990s, Grad Night turned into an all-nighter and was moved to the fairgrounds. It's a party and offers a "Mardi Gras" atmosphere with card games, dancing, ping pong and lots of food.

The senior parents need to raise $17,000 to make this party worth the seniors showing up.

Please consider attending the dinner and auction this Saturday. If you can't attend and would like to donate an auction item, contact Sandpoint High School or Sandpoint Middle School.

These kids are important and this is really the last time this community can recognize these students before they go off and do wonderful things.

My neighbor, Jeff Rokstad is a class act. Tragedy struck Rokstad Ford last week when a former employee and son of sales manager Scott Reynolds, died in his sleep at the too-young age of 19.

Chris Reynolds was a musician and collected friends.

Chris's funeral was Saturday morning at a Spokane Church. Because Jeff wanted to be there for his friend and knew that most of the employees at the dealership would want to pay their respects, he closed Rokstad Ford all day Saturday.

A person can buy a car or truck anywhere. You can't always find loyalty and class, though.

Don't open a letter from Betty Faletto. Her letter to the Bee concerning Mardi Gras was surrounded by confetti and other merriment. I'm still cleaning up electrastatic pieces of colorful confetti from my desk, carpet, shoes, etc.

What do you expect from someone who dresses up like a tree once a year?

Thanks, Betty, your community spirit is contagious.

Don't forget about Co-op Country Store's Spirit Days Celebration Saturday from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Co-op. Free pizza, pop, coffee and popcorn help punctuate the biggest party of the year at what is known as Ponderay's General Store.

The store will be filled with vendors to answer questions about animal health, livestock feed, agronomy or about anything else concerning your yard or garden.

Remember, you don't have to be a member or have a club card to shop Co-op Country Store. Say hi to Ray and Kathy on Saturday!

A Sandpoint Magazine with an interview of Viggo Mortenson included recently fetched $202 on eBay. Publisher Chris Bessler was so jazzed that his winter edition of his great magazine went for so much, he decided to get in on the action.

Another copy of the Winter Sandpoint Magazine is available on eBay — only this time any proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Panida. This edition of the Sandpoint Magazine is unique — it features and autograph and message from Mortenson.

The bidding ends Friday. Stay tuned …

The Bee's online poll last week asked is voters thought winter was over. Ninety-one votes were cast with 75 percent affirming the coldest season was over. This week's question: Did you go skiing at Schweitzer this year?

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