'Novel Night' gala is Saturday

SANDPOINT — The Rotary Club of Sandpoint is hosting its third annual gala, "A Novel Night," on April 14 in the Columbia Bank Building atrium.

As it did last year, the Rotary Club is raising funds for the East Bonner County Library District's expansion of the Sandpoint library. Last year, the club raised $30,000 to sponsor the library's teen/maker room. This year, the goal is to raise $15,000 to outfit the room.

A live auction item at the event last year included two "Little Free Libraries," designed by the Sandpoint High School Interact Club. They worked with Luke Reed who did most of the fabrication work to assemble and build two libraries. The two libraries netted $1,500, which was split between the library and the Interact Club, as the Interact Club chose literacy as its annual project.

Two more "Little Free Libraries," designed and built by Luke Reed with assistance of four Interactors, will again be up for auction this year. The Interactors assembled one of the libraries and shingled the roofs of both. They also primed the interior and exteriors of the libraries so they are ready to be decorated by the luck bidders. This year's project is a trip to Nicaragua to help build a health center in August.

In addition, the Interact Club at Forrest Bird Charter School is building a "ski bench" — a bench built with old skis for the seat and back. Elwood Werry did the design and heavy work, and the Interactors did the final prep on the skis and attached them to the frame.

All are invited to attend the Rotary gala, and perhaps walk away with a "Little Free Library" or a "ski bench." Information and tickets are available online at novelnightgala.org.