Kendrick and Juliaetta, ID

Congrats to Judy of Cascade, she’s our weekly winner!  Thanks to all the new bloggers who’ve signed up.  If you’re part of the steering committee, hopefully these questions will help you work on the final report that is due June 30. Please let us know if you have any questions about the blog or the report.There is a Blogging Handbook available on our Horizons website at http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/horizons/coaches.htm at the very top of the page… Thanks to MJ for writing this beginner’s guide! Also, for those communities that may be looking for a little more training, please contact MJ at merijoz@uidaho.edu / 208-885-8949 to see how she can help you.Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, June 3 by midnight and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles… I will be at a conference May 27-30 so this will give you a whole extra week…NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.Reflective Questions:

•  Of all the things you have done during the last 18 months in the Horizons program, of what are you most proud? 

Scavenger Hunt Question:·         Which Idaho Horizons community is working with the University of Idaho to help with their vision to “rebuild a community center to assist local families fight back against the ravages of poverty. They are looking to the future when they will have a center that provides central business offices for the city, a town library and public computers with Internet accessibility, expanded recreational facilities for youth and adults, a hall for future leadership and life skills training.”The winner will receive a copy of the book: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People will Follow You by John C. Maxwell.

Congrats to Andrea of Grangeville, she’s our weekly winner!

Thank you all for the interesting responses about your community and what makes it ‘unique’ to you compared to other rural communities in Idaho.

I grew up in a small farming community in Idaho near the Utah border and I still think about it every day, the views and colors and smells and intense farm work we did (pulling rye, driving around and around in a tractor for 12 hours a day, herding cattle, etc) helped shape my life and world view. It’s that sense of place that helps define who we are and how we relate to the world around us.

I hope you’re all getting comfortable and familiar with the blogging process. Mary, MJ and I thank you for all the time and hard work you’ve devoted to this part of Horizons and know it’s just a small part of what you are all doing in your communities.

Please let MJ (merijoz@uidaho.edu) or me (dgray@uidaho.edu) know if we can help you with any questions you might have about blogging.

A ‘how to blog’ handbook is now available on our Horizons website at http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/horizons/coaches.htm at the very top of the page…

Reflective Questions:

As we near the ‘end’ of this phase of Horizons, take a moment to look back on the past 18 months to answer these questions.

Has your community sought any additional resources outside of Horizons for your projects? 

How has your community partnered with communities and/or organizations beyond Horizons?

Scavenger Hunt Question:  Which Horizons community has an organization sponsoring a ‘Volcano Breakfast’ and what IS a Volcano Breakfast?

This week’s winner will receive a copy of:

One Nation, Underprivileged: Why American Poverty Affects Us All / Mark Robert Rank

Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by May 20 (midnight) and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles…

NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.

 Sky/star gazing is a fun, family thing to do. Now that the weather is warming up, be sure to check out the nighttime sky before retiring in the evening. You may be delighted in what you see.

May is the perfect time to see the planet Mercury in the evening sky. All you need to do is look west-northwest through binoculars about an hour after sunset, you’ll see a lovely tapestry of the Pleiades (a cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus), Mercury, and the V-shaped Hyades cluster with the orange star Aldebaran woven low above the horizon.

On Tuesday night, May 6, the 1.5-day old crescent Moon will sit a couple of degrees above and slightly to Mercury’s right.

During the first three weeks of May, this reddish planet is easy to see with the naked eye, beginning the month brilliant, then gradually fading. However, its setting time improves to just under two hours after the Sun on the 14th, when the planet reaches greatest elongation, 22-degrees almost directly above the Sun’s setting point, and is visible – albeit briefly – in a completely dark sky.

There will be plenty of action this Saturday as Kendrick has it’s monthly sale featuring everything from plants, lawn art,  antiques, secondhand items, breakfast and lunch as well as clothing and collectibles from That Place, Aunie’s Antieks, The What Not Shop, Kendrick Grange Sale, Culpeppers,  and The Lighthouse Cornerstone Bakery. Our local Kendrick Juliaetta Farmers Market will start at 8am in the Kendrick Park.  Three local fundraisers will be happening on that same morning!  The Juliaetta Library will be holding a rummage sale from 8am-2pm.  Pug Marks CSI will be serving breakfast at the Kendrick Park and the JK Firefighter’s will be holding a Mother’s Day carwash by the Kendrick Firehall.  See everyone there early!   

Congrats to Christine of Kooskia, she’s our weekly winner! Thank you to all who have recently signed up and started blogging.

Please let MJ or me know if we can help you with any questions you might have about blogging.

Reminder: MJ has created a ‘how to blog’ handbook that is now available on our Horizons website at http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/horizons/coaches.htm at the very top of the page… Thanks MJ!

Also, for those communities that may be looking for a little more training, please contact MJ at merijoz@uidaho.edu / 208-885-8949 to see how she can help you.

Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by May 6 by midnight and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles…
NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.

Reflective Questions:
What is something unique about your Horizons community that you’d like to share with the rest of the world? What makes your community different from the one right down the road? Is it a strength your community can capitalize on or a burden you have to bear? Or both? For example, Sun Valley has the beautiful landscape, ski resorts, etc. but the tourism industry has also left behind many local people who are now unable to afford to live in the town they work in…

Scavenger Hunt Question: This week the scavenger hunt is a simple assignment. Find an entry on one of the Horizons community blogs (or even your own blog) and leave a comment to the author. It’s fun to give and get feedback about things we’re doing and talking about.

This week’s winner will receive:
The working poor: invisible in America by David K. Shipler
And
Building Communities From the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets by John P. Kretzmann and John L. McKnight.

On April 17, Pug Marks CSI had a sidewalk sweep in Kendrick. There was a great turnout of youth and adults to work together from 3:30 - 5:15pm. Ann Taylor and Jenifer Curry kindly provided cookies as an afterschool snack to help give the sweepers energy. And it must have worked as evidenced by the pictures everyone was working hard.

Pug Marks Community Service Incorporated is open to all to join and there is NO COST to be a member. Most service projects are appropriate for children as young as 5. Although,children younger than 6th grade may only join as a part of a family membership, we welcome their participation. One is never too young to give themselves the gift of giving.

For more information about Pug Marks CSI check out our web site at www.freewebs.com/pugmarkscsi or email us at pugmarkscsi@gmail.com . We will be at the Academic Night on May 1 at JES. Come and talk to us!

The Kendrick Grange #413 would like to thank those who participated and attended the April 23 “Meet Your Sheriff” forum.

A huge thanks to our guests Wayne Rausch-Latah County Sheriff, William Thompson, Jr-Latah County Prosecuting Attorney and Nez Perce County Prosecutor Daniel Spickler without whom this event would not have been possible.

Another huge thanks to those residents of Kendrick, Lapwai, Juliaetta and the surrounding communities who attended, asked questions and made this event possible for the future.

A special thanks goes to those who helped to set up and greet our guests:  Chris Kowrach from Latah County Youth Advocacy Council; Josi McConnell-Soong wearing two hats, Latah County Youth Ambassador & Pug Marks, CSI; Laura McConnell wearing several hats from ACTION, Latah County Youth Advocacy Council and Pug Marks, CSI. 

Extra kudos to Alec Henson of Pug Marks, CSI whose attendance represented concerned community youth, Don Chrystal of Bridge Builders and Pug Marks, CSI whose attendance represented concerned community adults, Connie Reid representing concerned businesses and Dale Lisher from the Kendrick City Council who was the sole representation for concerned local Kendrick & Juliaetta community governments.   

We missed our many community members from our Horizon’s Action Committees, local organizations and concerned businesses, hopefully they may be able to attend next year.
 

Congrats to Mountain Mama of Kendrick/Juliaetta, she’s our weekly winner! Even though she took me to task for forgetting about those of you in remote areas with only dial-up internet access… she persevered after many grueling hours on the scavenger hunt! I will definitely keep in mind your technology limits in the future…

MJ has created a ‘how to blog’ handbook that is now available on our Horizons website at http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/horizons/coaches.htm at the very top of the page… Thanks MJ!

Also, for those communities that may be looking for a little more training, please contact MJ at merijoz@uidaho.edu / 208-885-8949 to see how she can help you.

Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, April 29 by midnight and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles…

NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.

Reflective Questions:
• Looking back, what is one (or more) skill or leadership trait you have developed from participating in Horizons (maybe from Study Circles or LeadershipPlenty or from the hands on work going on in your communities right now)? How has participation in the program changed you? What about your community? Are there specific examples of things happening in your community that wouldn’t have happened without Horizons?
• Bonus reflective question: How has the blogging experienced affected you? (please edit any inappropriate language, hahaha trust me, I feel your pain!!)

Scavenger Hunt Question:
• Which of the Idaho Horizons community blogs has information about April being Child Abuse Awareness month? This website also provides information about Youth Suicide Prevention.

The winner will receive:

Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World: Building Your Resources for a Better Life by Philip E. DeVol
And

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High by Kerry Patterson, et al

I would like the folks coming up with the scavenger hunt items to get a grip on what it is like out here away from the U of I and high speed computer service!!!

I am in hour 5 of my search. I am not, I repeat,  NOT giving up (period) .

The hunt has so far only served to remind me of how unresponsive our U of I folks have been to the requests for help in such things as making our blog more friendly. I remember asking how to get a “counter” at the top of the right hand column so as to keep the site visit count in sight. No one even bothered to tell me tough luck, you can’t do that in Idaho. I also wanted one of the nifty calendars just below with the ability to highlight days with special community events. NO SUCH LUCK.

Thanks for very little to those of you at the U of I when it comes to blogging help.  Why do I continue to do this? I think the blog can be a great tool, but it could be so! much better than it is if anyone besides those in the trenches gave a bleepity bleep bleep!

And, again, I dare you to do any of this on dial-up.

(Added note: There is no department updating our computers either. I am lucky to have my nieces old computer that came without working sound, but it does have powerpoint, which was a huge step up from the old computer that the lightning fried along with my new phone 2 summers ago.)

Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, April 22 by midnight and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles…

NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.

Reflective Questions:

• What’s next in Horizons for your community? Are your Action Teams planning activities in the next 2 months? How do those activities relate to the 3 legs of Horizons: Poverty reduction, Leadership Development and Community Mobilization?

Scavenger Hunt Question:

• Let’s broaden our scavenger hunt world a little… Of the other Horizons states, which one has interesting information about using Chicken Tractors to help maintain community gardens? Check out the link section of the Idaho Horizons Blog that lists the blog addresses for Montana, NorthDakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa Horizons. Feel free to explore and be inspired by other community groups just like yours!

This week’s winner will receive a copy of each of the following books:
The Working Poor: Invisible in America by David K. Shipler

Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World: Building Your Resources for a Better Life by Philip E. DeVol

Thursday, April 17, will find Pug Marks CSI (Community Service Incorporated) members sweeping sidewalks in downtown Kendrick. Anyone wishing to help needs to meet at the Kendrick City Park by 3:30pm. Brooms and assignments, along with an after-school snack, will be handed out to participants. We plan to sweep until 5:15pm. Hopefully, we will complete the entire length of sidewalk from one end of town to the other. If we are not successful, we will be back at some later date. We don’t want anyone to feel left out.  : )

After the sweep, there will be dinner for all the volunteers at the Senior Center starting at 5:30pm. The volunteers are welcome to stay for the special presentation (starting at 6:00pm) by Mauri Knott, a totally dynamic person! To learn more about this presentation please see the article below titled “Hear Ye, Hear Ye, …”

(A bonus to coming to the Kendrick Sidewalk Sweep or the special Live Newsletter - you can wish Josi “Happy Birthday” as she will be 17 on the 17th of April.)

Last month, on March 24, Pug Marks CSI swept sidewalks in downtown Juliaetta. Next month, on May 17, we will be cleaning the highway between Juliaetta and Kendrick. Everyone wishing to help needs to meet at Brocke’s by 9:00am. If you want to help with the highway cleanup, you may contact us at pugmarkscsi@gmail.com or ”Leave Us A Message” on the web site.  There will be sign up sheets at JES, KHS, and the Juliaetta Library starting May 1.

Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, April 15 by midnight and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles…

NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.

Reflective Questions:

• What words of wisdom would you give to a community just starting a program like Horizons?
• Words of warning?
• What kind of changes in their community and its leadership might they expect?
• What kind of changes in themselves might they expect?

Scavenger Hunt Question:

• Which community’s chamber of commerce recently met with high school youth to work together to involve more youth in the community?

This week’s winner will get to choose ONE of the following books:

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People Will Follow You by John Maxwell

Or

Leadership for the Common Good: Tackling Public Problems in a Shared-Power World by Barbara Crosby and John Bryson

There will be an Ebay how-to workshop at the Juliaetta Library on Tuesday, April 29, from 7-8:30 pm. There will be a sign up sheet at the library and at both of the Juliaetta and Kendrick PO’s. The postal service and eBay are giving each person who attends the workshop a coupon good for three free listings on eBay. We would like to have at least 10 people registered for this workshop. Those of you who have your own laptops, please bring them along for the hands-on part of the class.

Bring along those boxtops and plastic shopping bags that you’ve been saving and drop them off here to benefit the PTO!

Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, April 8 by midnight and be entered in the drawing for a fabulous prize.

Reflective Questions: What does the phrase ‘living in poverty’ mean to you? How has your definition of ‘poverty’ changed in the past year? Does your community think differently about poverty now? How can you tell?

Vintagerose-Living in poverty is a phrase that covers so many areas and issues that it is hard to pin down.  There are many areas hard hit by monetary poverty because of economic situations such as travel issues, lack of job openings, shutdowns and the like.  Then there are other areas such as social poverty-which is a lack of resources that are readily available to all area residents; moral poverty-which is when people become so frustrated or jaded that they just say to heck with it all; educational poverty-this poverty is harder to see up front, it has to be seen from a distance to recognize it as all residential areas have schools available, but are all area schools living up to what they should be?  You can educate a child in the 4-r’s and still leave them lacking, this where the heart and soul of educators come into question-are they there for a paycheck or are they there to educate to the best of their ability and earn a paycheck?  Then there is what I like to call poverty of the soul-this is poverty at it’s meanest, it goes beyond monetary poverty, moral poverty and the like, this poverty is when a person or people can do something to help others but choose instead to become resentful and petty in manner to those in need and look above and beyond them.  As these have been my definitions of poverty for quite a few years, I would say that my definition of poverty hasn’t changed much.  If anything, I am still in a bit of shock as there seem to be people who I fear aren’t working to reduce poverty per se, but seem to be promoting themselves.  Luckily in the process many poverty issues have been recognized and acted upon thanks to the dedicated core of volunteers who make things happen in the KJ7Ridges Community, without them we would be all the poorer.    

Scavenger Hunt Question: Which community (in partnership with ComBAT (Community Based Access to Technology)) will be having a FREE concert on April 23, 2008?

Sorry, I’m never any good at the scavenger hunt part of this and if I post the answer now, I would only be copying those who posted before me.

This week’s winner will get to choose ONE of the following books:

One Nation, Underprivileged, Why American Poverty Affects Us All / Mark Robert Rank

or

Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community / Robert D. Putnam.

Here are some pictures from the Youth Summit. The article will follow soon.

Josi and Vivian

Katie and Niki visiting with their new friends.

Mrs. Spencer and Lisa helping decorate eggs.

Austin working hard decorating eggs.

Here it is folks! The last dying breath of our trusty (ancient) gym. Take a look!

Do you remember when…. 

Back when there was a floor and you could do this?

I do believe it!  But where does this arrow lead to?

This is some of the best talent we have here in Kendrick-Juliaetta!

Dylan and Dakoda

video - Morgan

Reflective Questions: What does the phrase ‘living in poverty’ mean to you? How has your definition of ‘poverty’ changed in the past year? Does your community think differently about poverty now? How can you tell?  (yes, there are several questions but they’re just trying to get your creativity going) 

pineappleprincess - The phrase “living in poverty” means nothing more to me than what it did 10 years ago. I am living in poverty and so if you need any more information on how it is, just ask me! Although we live in financial poverty my family has always known that we are richer than most all of the world. But despite our poverty, we have family and friends who we care about, and who care about us, so we are rich beyond belief in the areas that really matter. My definition of poverty has changed in the way that poverty is more than just monetary, it is also social. Most of the community, to be blunt about it, don’t give a soaring rodents backside about poverty still. They aren’t in it, so they don’t think it is there, or if it is, it is that own person’s fault and they don’t deserve help. But some of the community, the STP’s (Same Ten People), care and they have worked really hard in this Horizons program.  

mountainmama:  My definition  of poverty has been changed by the Horizons program, at least in making it more tangible. Despite the fact that our life is often difficult to deal with financially, as a couple my husband and I decided long, long ago that our luxury item would be me available at all times to our children, other family members and our community (in that order). It has never been easy, but it has always been rewarding beyond our wildest dreams. Although as a family we often referred to how rich we were compared to others because we had each other, a strong extended family and connections to the community, we never considered the opposite way was a type of poverty. Now it seems so clear.

I think the approximately 200 people who attended our visioning rally heard, and probably understood, the definition of poverty as being more than about money. That it also has to do with resources, knowledge/communication, and being able to feel valued and a part of the community. But, as for how many changed their way of behaving given that knowledge, I just don’t see a big change. I think those who already “got it” were given an avenue with which to really do something they already wanted to do, but didn’t have the resources (in great part human, partly financial) to do. So, the bringing together the community for that community conversation allowed the passionate ones to find each other. It has been the greatest pleasure to work with the other committed volunteers. I also think that there has been enough of a new understanding in some, that even though it is not their passion to help others, that when push comes to shove, we don’t have to push (or plead) quite so much for help now. They do have a better understanding about what we are trying to do. They just don’t live it daily like the crazy ones that don’t know how to say no.

Scavenger Hunt Question: Which community (in partnership with ComBAT (Community Based Access to Technology)) will be having a FREE concert on April 23, 2008?

pineappleprincess - The community that has partnered with ComBAT and is having a free concert on the 23 of April is the Coeur d’ Alene Reservation. The doors open at 6:00 pm and the concert starts at 7:00 pm.

mountainmama - The Couer d’Alene Reservation is having a free concert at the Couer d’Alene Casino. Kids (children) ages 10 and up are welcome with an adult. The part of the March 31 blog that contains this information, contains some other information that is much better. There is a music editing class being offered to a maximum of 20 people on April 26-27, 10am-6pm. How cool would it be to learn how to make your own music CD’s!?! (My sister’s and I could finally do our recording of campfire and car songs for our parents - we’d sure like to drive my dad nuts without even having to be there  ; )

Congratulations to Judi from UpRiver, winner of week 1!Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, April 1 (no jokes about April Fool’s day!) at midnight and be entered in the drawing for a fabulous prize.

 Reflective Question: How is your community thinking about/planning for sustainability after the end of the Horizons program on June 30? What will Horizons-related groups look like in your community in one year? Are you optimistic/worried? (relieved?)

vintagerose - Hmm, that was more like three reflective questions!  As far as projects with sustainability go, our community has several.  We have a printed newsletter and an online website/blog for communicating; we have an active community service group bridging the gap between children and older adults; we have a farmer’s market that will startup again in May; we also have an active economic development team that has been actively focusing on bringing in business.    I believe that in one year’s time these projects will blossom, expand and flourish.  I also am a bit relieved that after June we won’t have so much pressure on us!    I am optimistic and thankful, however, for the opportunities that Horizons opened up for me and our communities.

mountainmama - The people most involved in the Horizons program have been concerned about sustainability from the very beginning of the program. However nice having the funds to try to:

This week’s winner will receive BOTH of the following books: The Magic of Dialogue : Transforming Conflict into Cooperation by Daniel YankelovichPopulation: 485 –Meeting Your Neighbors One Siren at a Time by Michael Perry   

     1) The Search Is On!                      2)  The “Bunny”-Just Hangin’ Out               3)  The Hills Were Alive!

This reporter watched as the KJCDA Easter Egg Hunt got off to a rolling start!  The Juliaetta Elementary School grounds were overflowing with freshly distributed eggs and anxious children as the noon  whistle blew-and they were off!  These kids were not only dedicated to the sport, they were at top form as the eggs were plucked quickly, one by one, and piled into baskets.  I can’t wait to watch the action next year!    

4)  Anna & Connie Making It Happen!       5)  Checking The Goodies!           6)  The Prize Table-Busy!!

Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, March 25 at midnight and be entered in the drawing for a fabulous prize. This week’s prize—the weekly winner can choose from one of these book titles
Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path Toward Finding and Mobilizing a Community’s Assets - John P. Kretzmann

Teaching the Commons: Place, Pride, and the Renewal of Local Schooling - Paul Theobald

The Questions:

1.       A reflective question–What do you think of Horizons blogging? What do you like, what do you dislike? What can the UI Horizons Team do to help improve the blogging experience? 

mountainmama says: I think the Horizons blogging can be an excellent tool for our communities for keeping in touch with what is going on. We can let each other know what is coming up in the way of activities, and report on activities we have attended and in effect let others who were unable to attend experience it through our words and pictures (when available).

To improve our blogging experience, I think another course on blogging skills would be very helpful. I want to be able to do more with the blog spot than I am currently able to do. Some of the things I would like to do I know we were “taught” in our one day session in the beginning. But even very careful following of the directions for getting a video on our site has been met with nothing but failure. I would also like to put a picture at the top of our page that is actually of our area, or even better change it now and then to something that reflects us more accurately as some of the other Horizons communities are able to do in other states.

pineappleprincess says: I think that the Horizons bloging is very useful to the community. It makes it easier to check on what is going on in different groups. I think that it is fun to blog and I think it is a good thing to know how to do. I was wondering if there could be a Teen Blog, some how related to this blog site. I really like the idea of the youth in the school telling about workshops they went to, activities they paritcipated in, or everyday life at school on a blog.

I have tried muliple times to put a video on our blog site and have failed horribly. I have followed all of the directions that we recieved in our packet and it still doesn’t work.

2.       A scavenger hunt question (visit other community blogsites to find this answer) What is a PUG Mark and in which community would you find them?

mountainmama says: A pug mark, or pugmark, is what the tiger paw print is called and you could find them in the wild in Asia, but you would have to be pretty lucky, because there are only between 4,500 and 7,000 left in the wild. You might more easily find pug marks in a zoo. Schools with the mascot of Tiger can also account for sightings of pug marks.

In Kendrick, Juliaetta and the surrounding 7 ridges there is a new service group called Pug Marks. More officially it is Pug Marks Community Service Incorporated, or Pug Marks CSI. The work of the Bridge Builders Action Team which came out of our community’s Horizons program has made possible this new service club which makes possible opportunities for youth and adults to work side-by-side for the betterment of their community. Pug Marks CSI is definitely still in its infant stage, but Service Projects and Random Acts of Kindness are already happening!

pineappleprincess says: Well if you where walking through a Jungle and saw a Tiger paw print and you wanted to sound  oh so smart, you would say “Oh, look! A Pug Mark!”

Or in Kendrick/Juliaetta/7 ridges case, Pug Marks is a community service group. It is still in it’s baby stages, but it will be roaring soon.

Pugmarks, Feral Cat Solution, Scrapbooking, Ambulance Service, Pool Update, Two Degrees North, Spring Craft Fair-these are just a few of the topics you will find in the Spring Newsletter.  Just click on Newsletter at the right and be informed.

Fire Alarm News

The Juliaetta-Kendrick Firefighters Association will be holding their Annual Breakfast Fundraiser   

Sunday March 30th  7:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. at the Juliaetta Elementary School Cafeteria

Come on out and let us do the breakfast cooking for you and your family and help to support your local volunteer firefighters. Our Menu will include Spiral Baked Ham, Eggs, Pancakes, Sausage, Hash Browns, Hot Coffee and Orange Juice. You may purchase advance tickets at the First Bank of Pizza. Cost is $6.00 for adults and $5.00 for Children over 4. Kids under 4 are free and we have family pricing. There will also be a craft fair in the school gym from 9:00-3:00 p.m. sponsored by the Juliaetta Community Improvement Association. Come on out for a delicious breakfast cooked by your firefighters.

The blogroll is what the blogging world calls web links. If you click on a subject in the blogroll, you will be taken to another site, the one listed, or one dealing with the topic listed.

Check it out!  ”Weather Forecast” takes you to a Kendrick and Juliaetta weather site where you can get a forecast for tomorrow, or the next 10 days. “Map” is an interactive site with a map of our area. You can use different maps to investigate our area. For high school students and their parents the “KHS Counselor’s Web Site” is a good one to check out. We also have the direct link to Kendrick Juliaetta Arts Commision and the Latah Eagle.

Remember, our community blog is an information site.

You can find the latest information about what has happened, is happening, and is going to happen right here, AND you can check out other interesting sites when you stop by.

On Saturday, February 16, five Kendrick business owners joined with Kendrick Grange #413 in presenting our monthly sale!  It was a huge success bringing in outside buyers and browsers including repeat business!!

Those five businesses are Aunie’s Antieks, That Place, The WhatNot Shop, Kendrick Hardware and The Cornerstone Harvest Lighthouse Coffee Shop & Bakery. 

Our next monthly sale will take place on Saturday, March 15!  We look forward to adding to our growing roster of participating local businesses!  If you would like to participate, please contact Kendrick Grange #413 members at 208-289-5313 or email jana_townsend@yahoo.com.  We welcome you!  

Save your Campbell’s Soup and Box Top labels. The PTO is able to bring in money and supplies to help the school through these easy to save labels. The labels can be left at the Juliaetta Elementary School, Juliaetta Community Library, Phil’s Food City, or Honey Cut & Company. 

If it has been a while since you have saved the labels you need to know that it is not the fronts of the labels you save now, but it is the UPC codes that need to be saved from the soup labels.  

Please help support the Juliaetta Elementary School PTO in its efforts to help provide for the needs of the school.

Our blogging troubles today were undoubtably due to the fact that we were all on our blog at the same time. So… don’t dispair if you can only write in code. Try again later, and things should be better, with color and everything! Good luck to our new community bloggers. Thank you so much for training and your willingness to help out. If you have any questions, or if anyone reading this would like to blog, I am always willing to meet at the Juliaetta Library and help you out. Just leave a comment here. (To find out how to leave comment, check out the blog below titled “Using the Blog”.

It seems as if there has been some shoveling going on during this winter in front of Kendrick’s Methodist Church.  When it snows the sidewalk and entranceway are being cleared in the wee hours, (and not so wee hours!).  Who is this  mystery man, this Midnight Shoveler?  Caught on camera for our audience here he is revealed!

Remember, click on pictures to see them larger.  = )

Under “pages”, in the right hand column, find a quick way to check out what is happening in our community at Activity Quick Date/Time Check.  Also under “pages” information about the new community service group, Pug Marks, can be found.

Two of the most handy items recently added to “blogroll”, which are links to other sites, are Map and Weather Forecast. They are just what they sound like. At map find an interactive map, and at Weather Forecast find the forecast for today, tonight, tomorrow, the next 10 days, etc. They are both great sites to visit.

If you want to leave a comment on an article, just look for the small gray writing under the article. The last item you will see there is “no comments” or “1 comment“, something like that. Just click on the the “no comments” and you will be able to  leave a comment. It is through leaving a comment, or emailing the bloggers at www.kjand7r@gmail.com that you can give input on the blog, ask questions, and find out how to become a blogger. If you have a general question, just leave a “comment” on any article and someone will get back to you.

The most important things to know about the blog are:

1. It is a community resource, which means it is yours.
2. Anyone is welcome to share information on the blog.
3. It is your responsibility to help make it better, either by becoming a blogger or giving helpful suggestions to those already blogging.

Do you do handcrafts, have an artistic bent or just have too much stuff?  We are looking for people to rent tablespace or sell on consignment for our once a month sale.  We advertise in advance and bring in buyers and browsers from all over.  Our last sale was a huge success and we look forward to our February sale being even better!  For more information call 208-289-5313.

Donations are accepted for the Grange table sales also.  All proceeds directly benefit the Grange.    

Another added note: February 7, 2008 

Enough, already!

Added note: January 31, 2008

Okay!    So, *This* Isn’t Snow!

In case you in the valley haven’t been up on the ridges lately, thought you might like to see what it looks like.

The northern Idaho Horizons communities met at the Long House in Worley for The Idaho Horizons Summit: Bringing Communities and Partners Together. 

The communities of Bonners Ferry, Silver Valley, Coeur d’Alene Reservation, St. Maries, Up River (Fernwood, Clarkia, Emida), Bovill, Troy, Elk River, and Kendrick-Juliaetta presented progress reports during the summit.

(more…)

The Kindergarten and 1st Grade classes won the November and December Box Top and Campbell’s Soup Labels contest held at the Juliaetta Elementary School each month.  The students at JES brought in over 1400 labels in November and December bringing the total for the year to 4800.  The PTO has set a goal for 15,000 labels to be collected this school year so please “SAVE LABELS”.  The children in each class, along with their teachers Mrs. Tweit and Mrs. Brammer, will decide what reward they will be given for their great efforts in collecting so many labels. 

On Saturday, January 19, Kendrick Grange #413 in collaboration with Aunie’s Antieks, That Place and The WhatNot Shop were successful in drawing shoppers into town for our first monthly sale of the year.  It was a rousing success bringing in many more customers and browsers than anticipated!  All of the businesses and organizations involved benefited from the event as well as other local businesses as several shoppers stopped to eat lunch or have coffee while in town. 

This group plans to continue holding monthly sales. Any local business owners who wish to participate by joining in the fun while building their customer base are encouraged to call 208-289-5313 to get in on next month’s advertising.     

~ by Josi K. McConnell-Soong

When the Horizons program first came to the Kendrick/Juliaetta community I volunteered to be a facilitator for the Study Circles. To be a faclilitator I needed to go to a training on how to facilitate a group in a productive way. I was a co-facilitator for a group of both teens and adults. It was awesome seeing how the adults wanted to hear what the teens had to say… and vice versa. Also in this process I met Pat Eck, at the time he was our “coach”, he kept us on track, was positive and helped out when ever he could. He is a great man that youth to look up to. I know I have and will for a long time. He also introduced me to the LCYAC and Kendrick/Juliaetta’s ACTION GROUP, which I am now a member of.

(more…)

The communities of Juliaetta and Kendrick looked especially festive this holiday season with the many lights and displays placed throughout the area. It’s simply impossible not to get into the Christmas spirit driving through town or on our beautiful country roads with such wonderful sights to see!

(more…)

Do you remember the Visioning Rally? What we agreed we needed to work on? How we need to get all our arrows pointing the same direction?

Well, we want everyone who was there to know that there are people still working on this, and making progress. But, we could use more input. If you could find time in your busy schedule to come and check out what has been happening, those moving forward can tell you what we have accomplished, and where we are going from here. The place to do this is the Live News Letter. The following article gives more information.

*************************************************
There will be a “Live News Letter” meeting the third Thursday, January 17th, 6:00 P.M. at the Kendrick Senior Center. Bring some finger foods, to go with our refreshments.

Everyone is invited to join us in making our Kendrick-Juliaetta & 7 Ridges Community everything that it can be for the present and the future.

Action Committees will break out into individual workshop sessions and than come back together as a whole group to share their up to date progress on the KJCDA Horizons program.

We have four Team Groups working on designated poverty needs recognized during our Amazing Race Rally. Group I Communications, Group II Building Bridges, between young and old, Group III Leadership Development, Group IV Creative Economics. The progress these teams make will create an opportunity to be eligible for the $10,000 grant funds provided by Northwest Area Foundation.

There is the learning and capacity building funds made available by the University of Idaho, limited to the implementation of the NWAF Horizons Program that we have available. This helps with the expenses acquired putting our programs together. When there is a financial need for child care, mileage, training, work shops and other designated options they are available through this resource.

It is never too late to become involved with our local Horizons program, even if you cannot devote time for the full schedule of meetings, don’t hesitate to attend when you can your participation is important.

Updated documents on activities that have taken place can be found on our www.kendrick-juliaetta.org website. We also are asking for your involvement on our blog http://kendrickjuliaetta.communityblogs.us let us know what you like about our Kendrick-Juliaetta & 7 Ridges Community.

Contact person is Lillian Howerton 208 289-4567

TO SEE PHOTOS LARGER, JUST CLICK ON THEM.

WOW! It is just amazing how every Christmas program seems better than the last, and last years was great. It is a wonderful accomplishment that Mrs. Gertje is able to get all the students to give their very best!

Here are some photos from the program, some better than others. If you have any you would like added, send them to www.kjand7r@gmail.com

Merry Christmas!

Ray Shoulders and the other senior design students gave their final presentation at the University of Idaho. All Horizons community members were invited to attend. For those that came, it was a wonderful and full afternoon. Although only five of the Horizons communities were selected to receive the special input of senior design students on community center designs, the information shared was interesting to all. It is absolutely amazing what they are capable of doing. With a short window of opportunity to take on this project, the instructor and students did a terrific job.

For more information on this project, please see related article below.

photo: Josi McConnell-S