FSPW celebrates 12th anniversary

SANDPOINT — Jan. 14 marks the 12th anniversary of the formative meeting of Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. What started as a small gathering in one of the original Friends’ living rooms has expanded into a network of 6,863 “Friends” (as of Dec. 28), a number that continues to grow steadily each month.

“Our ‘Friends’ live all over the world,” FSPW program coordinator Sandy Compton said, “and they are an incredibly diverse group, both culturally and politically, as well as age-wise. The one thing they all have in common, though, is that they think the best use of the Scotchman Peaks is nationally designated Wilderness.”

The “real” FSPW anniversary coincides with Viggo Mortensen’s Jan. 13 and 14 fundraiser for KRFY Community Radio and Team Autism 24-7 at the Panida. “We’ve supported these two great causes as an organization for several years,” said FSPW Executive Director Phil Hough, “so we will have a staff night out at the Panida on Jan. 14. We hope all of our Friends will attend one of the two nights of ‘Captain Fantastic’ — and wear their FSPW hats and T-shirts as well.”

The anniversary celebration will be at the Panida Little Theater on Friday, Jan. 27, beginning at 6 p.m. This will be a winter break with a selection of wild movies, local music, a little dancing, some light appetizers and no-host beverages — plus an update on progress of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Act.

For more information on Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness events, visit scotchmanpeaks.org/events or scotchmanpeaks.org/hiking