The question, of course, is rhetorical. Mainly because you don’t have to sign up, but also because you shouldn’t even be asking it in the first place.
You should be on your way here already.
Though a bit chilly, the weather is going to be lovely this weekend. Even as I type this, the sun is peeking through the fog as it’s lifting from our mountains, exposing red and yellow tree tips. Even Mother Nature wants you to celebrate with us.
Jeff Baker and Nancy Heim have been long-time helpers in the organization of an art festival in St. Maries. This year's event, the ST. Maries ARts, Music and Brews Festival, will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Aqua Park.
The St. Maries Council for the Arts presents one last community celebration before cold weather sets in.
The inaugural St. Maries Arts, Music and Brews Festival is Sunday, Sept. 29, at Aqua Park. The festival features art vendors, musical performances, food and brews. Art vendors include both local and regional artisans with handmade items ranging from jewelry, redneck wine glasses, children’s accessories, tie-dye creations, concrete yard art, wood work, handmade soaps, lotions and candles, stained glass, photography and pottery.
And the musical lineup is just as impressive, starting with a set from local graduate Ben Whipple, a young country/western songwriter from Harrison Flats. PJ Destiny and Bill Fletcher, two well known local musicians who have played music professionally for more than 30 years will follow. Next in the lineup is the Acuff Sherfey Duo, who comes from the Spokane area, followed by The Jam Band.
In addition to the art and music, there will be food and beverage vendors and a children’s art booth and a silent art auction.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We suggest you arrive early to, perhaps, check out some downtown shops and enjoy the scenery.
The St. Maries American Legion Post plans to dedicate the Benewah County Veterans’ Memorial in just a few weeks. But if you’ve been following this story, you know that this memorial has been months – and tens of thousands of contributed dollars – in the making.
More than $65,000 has been donated to the project since fundraising began last year.
Construction began in mid-May and is being completed at the memorial site at Woodlawn Cemetery in St. Maries. The dedication ceremony will be October 19.
Jeremy Buell and Randy Nold donated their time to construction of the Benewah County Veterans' Memorial, which is expected to be completed this month. A dedication ceremony has been set for Oct. 19.
The Veterans’ Memorial will include nine flag poles arranged on two levels. Upon each of the lower poles will fly a service flag, which will include one for the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine. The Idaho, United States and POW/MIA flags will fly on the upper level. The U.S. flag will be on a 30 foot pole. Each pole will have a bronze service emblem attached to it and be illuminated at night.
In addition to the poles, the memorial will include an arched wall that will embrace three separate memorial monuments: one for all veterans, a second for local Medal of Honor recipients and a third for fallen soldiers.
Sounds beautiful, no?
Perhaps even lovelier is the fact that the entire project has been funded and constructed by donated money and volunteer time.
The site is located at the north end of the Fourth Addition and can easily be seen from State 5.
Okay, so the post title is a bit of a stretch, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Figuratively, at least. Local libraries and the community outreach they provide are vital to large cities and small towns alike.
Maybe especially the small towns.
Take ours, for example. The St. Maries Public Library offers gobs of kid- and family-oriented events throughout the year, including its weekly mainstay, story hour. The hour-long activity is every Tuesday from 10 – 11 a.m. and includes a few stories read aloud, snacks and a craft or two. Kids love it and parents appreciate it.
Area children enjoyed the one-hour program "Music With Miriam" at the St. Maries Public Library July 25 as part of Family Fun Night. They included Resor Pugh, Nova Newton, Brock Barta, Gabe Bartlett, Kaityln Bartlett, Jack Barta, JoJane Barta, Ava Stancil and in the back Timothy and Joshua Wilson. Photo courtesy of the St. Maries Gazette Record.
Perfect for parents of young children looking to get out of the house for an hour or so. But what does this mean for out-of-towners looking to visit?
Everything.
Tyla Dittman, Alysse and Lily Craner, Bianca and Debra Dittman enjoy a meal on the lawn at the St. Maries Public Library. Photo courtesy of the St. Maries Gazette Record.
It’s weekly activities like these, coupled with the big events like Paul Bunyan Days or our charity drives like the Elks’ Christmas Baskets, that mold St. Maries into a well-rounded community.
People from around here tend to do big things – both near and far, young and old.
Olivia Kincheloe left last week for bible school in Geraldine, the southern island of New Zealand. Ms. Kincheloe will attend Capernwray New Zealand Bible School. She and 14 other students will stay at The Crossing.
Olivia Kincheloe left last week for Bible school in Geraldine, the southern island of New Zealand. She will finish the course in May 2014.
“I will be taking classes that teach about the Bible,” she said. “They also prepare us for Christian service and community outreach.”
She will attend the school until May 2014. She is the daughter of Kevin and Julie Kincheloe and graduated from Kootenai High School in 2013.
Paul Bunyan Days, celebrated annually over Labor Day Weekend, is by far one of the biggest and best small-town celebrations you’ll find anywhere, and we tried to tell you.
Gareth and Kara Abell goof around before the start of the 2013 Paul Bunyan Days parade Monday morning.
Didn’t get a chance to make it out here? That’s ok too. Just start planning your trip for next year, and in the meantime check out the pictures we just loaded onto the Paul Bunyan Days page.
Want more? We thought you might. The local paper, the St. Maries Gazette Record, has gobs of ‘em on their Facebook page as well.
See you next year!
As you can see in this picture, it was another successful year with The Paperhouse Back to School in 60 Seconds donation drive. It’s businesses like The Paperhouse , and those that donated to the back-to-school drive, that help make St. Maries great.
Thanks to area businesses, local charitable groups and individuals, the local office supply and book store was able to donate 55 kits to local schools. That meant 55 local children had new school supplies when classes began Tuesday. Without these donations they may have had to have gone without.
There’s no way this would have been possible without the annual donations from the local businesses, organizations and individuals listed below. Their continued generosity outshines year after year, proof that St. Maries is a wonderful community.
Kiwanis of St. Maries
Potlatch Corp.
St. Maries Auto
Fast Eddie’s
St. Maries Co-Op
Pendell Oil
St. Mary’s Catholic Ladies
St. Maries Realty
Bonnie Burrows
Premiere Financial Services
St. Joe Oil
Four Seasons Realty
Friends of the St. Maries Public Library
Felton’s Auto Sales
Lena Myers
The Pines Motel
Gabe & Jim’s Floors
Big Boys Toys
Morris & Wolff
Les Schwab
St. Joe Valley Credit Union
First American Title Company
State Farm Insurance Services
St. Maries River Railroad
Are you ready for the biggest small town celebration of all time? This weekend is packed with events including a rodeo, parades, music, dances, carnival rides, a quilt show, logging events and two big fireworks shows. It is also marks final celebration of the City of St. Maries centennial year.
Yes, Paul Bunyan Days in St. Maries is one of the highlights of the year for residents and visitors alike. Don’t miss out!
Friday, Aug. 30
Noon
– Community Booths and Blue Ox Tavern
5 p.m.
– Pet and Doll Parade Check-In at Grub Box parking lot
– Carnival Opens
5:30 p.m.
– Pet and Doll Parade from 7th Street and Main Avenue to 13th Street and Main Avenue.
6 p.m.
– Home Run Softball Derby at Milltown softball fields. $5 entry fee.
7 p.m.
– Rodeo Bull Riding at the fairgrounds.
– Karaoke on stage in the city park.
8 p.m. – 12 a.m.
– Four on the Floor at the Blue Ox.
Saturday, Aug. 31
8 a.m.
– Registration for the Karen Ebert Memorial 5K Fun Run/ Walk at St. Maries High School gym parking lot.
9 a.m.
– Fun Run/Walk begins
9:30 a.m.
– Junior Olympics Registration. Free and Fun for children 12 years and younger at the football field in city park.
10 a.m.
– Rodeo: open barrel racing at the fairgrounds
– Helicopter rides
– Blue Ox opens
– Junior Olympics begin
11 a.m.
– Register for water events at the city pool
All Day
– Carnival, food booths, Blue Ox, and shopping at city park
Noon
– Inland Northwest Antique Snowmobile show at the east end of the soccer field in city park
– Water events begin
– St. Maries Community Band & Choir on stage in the city park.
2 p.m.
– Civil War Reenactment Show (check at the information booth for current location)
– Rodeo. Open Team Roping at the fairgrounds.
– Inspirations School of Dance on stage in the city park
3 p.m.
– Kevin Gardner on stage at the city park
6 p.m.
– Weigh In for the Tug of War at city park football field
– Mainstream Square Dance at the Eagles Lodge
7 p.m.
– Tug of War at football field in city park
– Rodeo finals at the fairgrounds
– Doug Degone on stage in the city park.
8 p.m.
– Four on the Floor in the Blue Ox
9 p.m.
– Low Aerial Fireworks Rose’s Fireworks Show
– St. Joe Valley Car Club Dance at the Cormana Building in city park. Admission $5.
Sunday, Sept. 1
7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
– Community breakfast. At the Eagles Lodge on Main Avenue.
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
– Valley Piecemakers Quilt Show at the Heyburn Elementary School gym located at 1404 Main Avenue, just one block from city park.
10 a.m.
– Blue Ox opens
– Helicopter Rides
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
– Holey Board Game. Come play at the Blue Ox.
Noon
– Paul Bunyan Auction. At the football field in city park
– Registration for kids pool events. Ages 6-12. Parents must be present.
– Registration for logging events at the football field in the city park
Noon to 4 p.m.
– Spare Parts on stage in the city park.
1 p.m.
– Kids Pool Events
2 p.m.
– Civil War Reenactment Show at Mullan Trail Park by the fairgrounds
5 p.m.
– Billy’s Stelle Cadillac on stage in the city park
9 p.m.
– Fireworks Display on the soccer field at city park
Monday, Sept. 2
8 to 9:30 a.m.
– Register for the parade at Ken’s Body Shop
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
– Valley Piecemakers Quilt Show at the Heyburn Elementary School gym
10 a.m.
– Here Comes the Parade on Main Avenue
– Helicopter rides
Noon to Close
– Carnival, Booths, Blue Ox
– Registration for logging events at the softball field in the city park.
Noon
– Kids events on main stage at city park for children 2 to 5 years old.
1 p.m.
– Logging events
2 p.m.
– Duck Races at the river
It’s time for some good, old fashioned fun at the Benewah County Fair.
More than 200 exhibitors, children and adults, will enter one or more projects in the 2013 Benewah County Fair this week. The fair opens today and continues through Sunday.
Expect to see a variety of projects including clothing, cooking, art, photography, quilting, sewing, archery, firearms, gardening, hobbies, crafts, canning and more.
The Third Annual Pie Contest is Saturday. Pies will be checked in from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with judging to start at 2 p.m.
New this year is the archery range. Times for the archery booth will be announced each day of the fair. Those who are younger than 18 will need to have a parent or guardian present to participate.
Cow Patty Bingo is exactly what it sounds, with the money benefiting Hope’s Haven Animal Shelter and the Benewah County 4-H. A cow will be released into a small gridded arena at 3 p.m. Saturday. The lucky purchased the square where the cow drops a patty could win up to $500. Tickets cost $10 and are available at the Red Barn Thrift Store on Main Avenue.
An open jackpot barrel race is planned for Friday night. Registration is at 6 p.m. with the event to start at 7 p.m. A mounted shooting demonstration by Tammy Lueck is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday with team roping to follow. Team penning will be featured Sunday, beginning at 10 a.m. For more information, contact Dave Moore at 568-0010 or Dan Moore at 568-1517.
The Junior Show and Sale will also return again this year. The show kicks off Thursday with swine fitting and showing and continues throughout the week with lambs, goats, poultry, dairy, beef, turkeys and rabbits.
The Junior Show Market Animal Sale starts at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Kiwanis Buyer’s Appreciation Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. Mrs. Malensky said the sale is always greatly supported.
Between the indoor exhibits, the Junior Show and Sale, and other activities there is something for everyone to enjoy.
It’s good, old fashion fun.
Although summer is waning, there is still a lot of fun to be packed into the weeks before the children head back to school.
This Saturday, Aug. 10, is the St. Maries Rotary’s Mid-Summer Family Fun Festival at St. Maries City Park. The St. Maries Centennial Committee will be serving up free pulled pork sandwiches, so grab a bite and plan to stay for the fun. There’s something for children and adults of all ages.
Next week is the Benewah County Fair. Set up begins Monday. The fair will be open to the public starting Thursday, Aug. 15 and run through Sunday, Aug. 18 at 3PM. Members of local 4-H Clubs and the community will show their best in several displays at the fairgrounds.
The Junior Show and Sale is Saturday Aug. 17 and kicks off with a complementary buyer’s breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Breakfast is followed by the sale where young showmen hope to get top dollar for their beef, sheep and pigs they raised as club projects.
The fair also includes the third annual pie contest and auction, team roping and barrel racing competitions in the horse arena. There will be entertainment at the gazebo throughout the week with performances by the Community Band and Face to Face.
The annual Kiwanis Community Breakfast has been served the Sunday morning of the Benewah County Fair for as nearly as long as there has been a Kiwanis Club in St. Maries. Don’t miss out on those delicious pancakes, ham and eggs under the pines at the fairgrounds where they’ll taste extra good.
And then there’s Labor Day weekend, billed as the biggest little celebration in all of northern Idaho! Events, food and craft vendors, and the beer gardens open at noon Aug. 30 and continue through Monday, Sept. 2 concluding with the parade and logging events. Sunday night’s fireworks are expected to be spectacular as always.
This year’s parade, slated for Monday morning, may be the grandest in many years as the members of the centennial committee work to create floats that depict each decade.
Yes, don’t give up on summer! There’s still a lot going on and a lot to do!!
There is a ton of fun to be found at St. Maries Rotary’s third annual Mid-Summer Family Fun Festival Saturday at St. Maries City Park.
A barbecue challenge, Kiss Lizzy (the Donkey) Contest, children’s events, games, crafts, activities for adults and teens, a mechanical bull, frog races, a watermelon eating contest and vendor booths are just a few of activities slated for the day.
The festival also includes a free picnic that will begin at 11 a.m. and is organized by the St. Maries Centennial Committee. You’ll want to save room for the watermelon eating contest which starts at 2 p.m.
The event is a fundraiser for the Rotary’s Strive Scholarship. The local group has awarded more than $20,000 to local students since its inception. Day bracelets for children and adults cost $13. Individual tickets will also be available.
There will be prize drawings every half hour and more than $1,000 in prizes will be distributed to those in attendance during the day’s events.
Grand prize drawings will be at 5:30 p.m. The adult winner will receive a chance to spend up to $200 in groceries at Archie’s IGA. The teen winner will receive two passes to Silverwood Theme Park and the children’s winner will receive a bicycle from Hughes Ace Hardware.
Vendors are still welcome to set up at the Mid-Summer Family Festival. Call Sandee Reedey at 818-3137 for more information.
More information about the day’s events is available by calling 245-2457 or 568-0742. Andy Doman can be reached at 245-9155 for more information about the barbecue challenge.
