The count of Eagles on Lake CdA so far is lower this year than the peak of 254 for 2010. This article appeared in the CdA Press on December 12, 2011: Eagles have landed Just a few years ago I posted this article about the Eagles of North Idaho: Eagles of North Idaho - Awe inspiring, and a reminder of our National Heritage This video from 2007 really displays them well: http://youtu.be/66ZdyDuFlZs   http://youtu.be/71I24uNajAA   Eagle perched along Lake Coeur d'Alene Eagle hunting Kokoanee Eagle as seen from Pend Oreille Bay Trail Eagle as seen from Pend Oreille Bay Trail Eagle in flight over Lake Pend Oreille Lake Pend Oreille Eagle Realtors Gary Lirette & Judy Delucchi, Sandpoint, Idaho 12/12/2011

Last week Marcy Timblin, Manager for the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association appeared on my radio show: North Idaho Business. Marcy was on the show to talk about two things: What’s happening in Sandpoint for the month of December and the new movement called Genuine Sandpoint. Marcy Timblin, Downtown Manager for the DSBA Downtown hosts Santa Claus, special events This holiday season, the jolly old gent otherwise known as Santa Claus will be making visits every week until Christmas at "The North Pole" on the Cedar Street Bridge. All children are invited to bring their adults and visit with Santa; there will be an opportunity for professional photos, too. Here's Santa's visitation schedule: Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday , 11 a.m.-3 p.m., until ChristmaPlus, every day Dec. 19-24 ,... 12/08/2011

According to the Selkirk MLS, our market has a total of 2,677 various properties (condos, land, homes, timeshares) on the market. Average Days on Market: 305 Total Price: $799,187,649 Closed Sales January 1, 2011 – December 8, 2011: $190,495,221 Total List Price: $206,855,029 That is 970 sales with an average Days on Market of 166. These sales represent 92% of asking price. There are an additional 125 properties Pending, representing another $29,736,360 in sales. While historically this is roughly 100-200 below our averages during better years, it is significant considering that for 2010 we sold 940 for $200,536,119 in total sales, and in 2009 802 for a total of $181,738,748 for a year-to-year increase of 9.5%.  By end of year, we should have also increased our percentages, showing a s... 12/08/2011

Skiing Schweitzer Mountain today gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "It's Lonely On Top".  I had to take a few iphone shots of the "crowds"...or lack thereof.  No lift lines and, usually, nobody even within sight on the lifts.  By the way, the skiing is phenominal...no rocks, still soft snow in the trees and no danger of getting wiped out by an errant skier/boarder coming up from behind.  (Do you see any humans?  Hopefully there's one in the lift tower.) (That's Lake Pend Oreille off on the horizon)     12/07/2011

Apex Syrah Was $24.68 and the New Great Lower Price! $9.98 This great buy is one of our best values this year. This special buy in allows you to try one of the Great Syrahs from Washington State for a price we’ve never seen before. Salute! Apex Cellars was launched in 1988 and has grown to be one of Washington's most respected wineries. Apex and Apex Ascent cover the spectrum from reserve-caliber, vineyard-designate wines to wines that be can beenjoyed everyday. Over the years, Apex Cellars has become known as a winery youcan trust - a producer of consistently outstanding wine that can be served andenjoyed with confidence. Color is rich purple, almost opaque.  Headyaromas of granite, smoky bacon and earthy black fruits with slight blackpepper.  Palate is soft and generous with lush tann... 10/05/2011

Efeste Big Papa Old Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2008   93 points and a Cellar Selection in the Wine Enthusiast, the 2007 scored 94 points and 95 in the Wine Spectator.   An immense wine, inky purple, packed with black and purple fruits, laced with smoke and espresso, and finished with fine-grained, substantial tannins. This Cab lives up to its name––it’s a Big Muthah as well as Papa, and should be cellared for optimal expression.   Few wines get these kinds of scores and you won’t find this wine for this price anywhere but Yoke’s.   I am very proud of our wine shop. Stop by and see me soon.       09/29/2011

Sunday, September 24th, marked the conclusion of the iconic 3rd Annual WACANID Ride...a 340 mile (550 kilometer) 5-day ride winding through and around the Selkirk Mountain range of the Inland Northwest (North Idaho, Eastern Washington & Western Canada).  The tour meanders along the scenic rivers and lakes of Sandpoint and North Idaho and on to the INTERNATIONAL SELKIRK LOOP, recognized as one of the "Top 10 Scenic Destinations in the Northern Rockies" named by the U.S. Department of Transportation, one of five "Best of the Roads" named by Rand McNally 2009, and the "West's Best Scenic Drive" by Sunset Magazine. By the way, the International Scenic Loop is North America's ONLY multi-national scenic loop!  Nearly the entire loop follows rivers and lakeshores from Sandpoint, Idaho (pop 8,... 09/28/2011

2008 Royal City Syrah – Charles Smith Wines This ‘K Vintners’ Syrah scored 99 points in the Wine Advocate and the ’06 scored the unheard of, never awarded and coveted 100 points in the Spectator. It is a rare wine, and last year we were allocated just two bottles. Our rep must be growing, because this year we were allotted two cases. We are down to just four bottles left. They get just one ton of the syrah grapes grown for this wine to the acre. Every vintage seems to get better. Deeper than the ’06, more luxurious than the ’07. Layer upon layer upon layer. Earth, cool stone, tobacco, faint dark fruit, Asian five spice. Harmonic, complex, ethereal…a Yoke’s exclusive. Charles K. Smith is a unique character. Charles grew up just outside of Sacramento, California, in the foothills of the S... 09/27/2011

I recently had Kim Brown Queen on my show North Idaho Arts & Adventure. I’ve known Kim since she first came to town and we interviewed her right after she took over the reins at POAC. By all accounts, Kim has done an outstanding job, and while there are other groups and organizations that support the arts, without POAC, I doubt Sandpoint would be the art town many consider us to be. This was one of the first questions tackled by Kim. Q – POAC is a strong force in promoting the arts in our area. There are other groups here, too – are they competition? We don’t look at others that support the arts as competition…more like partners in supporting and promoting local art. In fact, we work with several of these groups to put on shows and events that educate and benefit our area. We welcome th... 09/26/2011

Over the last two weeks I have been to several wine tastings and met with the winemakers from some of our region’s best wineries. Last week I met Welcome Gordy Venneri, Owner/Winemaker of Walla Walla Vintners. Now, to be fair, we carry virtually every wine they make, so I wasn’t there to be sold. I was there to sample his wonderful wines and you should, too. See, in 1997 when I wrote my first book, Passion For Wine, I stated that Washington State was the best wine producing area in the world. I have to tell you, I was living in Orlando, and had never lived in the Pacific NW. Needless to say, I was fairly well laughed out of town. Since then I have been vindicated with Washington scoring more 90+ ratings and gold medals than any other region. Ha Ha! So, if Washington is the best wine sta... 09/25/2011

In the last seven years, I have interviewed hundreds of people on my radio shows showcasing Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry, and North Idaho. With the total of folks being on the shows over 1,000 now, I guess you can say I know a bit about my community and have encountered all kinds and talked about most subjects. That being said, this movie touched me. I first met Luke Jiles when I was getting a new iPhone. Luke helped me and we talked about the short film he was making. He starred in the flick, but had a great cast of characters and supporting staff. Notably, the film was directed by Stephen Byrum: 16 years old and wise beyond his years. Stephen was the “You Are Here” Teen Video Challenge winner for 2011. The cast is all local, and they will be entering the film in the Sandpoint Film Festiva... 09/25/2011

Not long ago the thought filled my brain that I should invite Tina Friedman to my show: North Idaho Arts & Adventure. See, Tina had written and photographed the best big book on Sandpoint: Sandpoint: A Small Town with a Big Heart. The book has over 1,000 photos of our beautiful area, and over 100 stories about the area, our folk, and the like. Needless to say, it is a great book on its own merits and the pics are stellar. Tina is a gifted photographer, and the stories are topical and often touching. Still, that isn’t the only reason to buy this 264-page, coffee table book. See, she always intended it to benefit our community. To that end, sales of the book help several charities, including Angels Over Sandpoint, the Panhandle Animal Shelter, and the Bonner County Food Bank. I asked Tina... 09/24/2011

Erica Nizzoli appeared on my North Idaho Arts & Adventure radio show telling us about Pathways to Peace. This five week course teaches students to: Ground & Balance easily Learn to use your personal Guidance systems Practice true Forgiveness & Unconditional Love Improve Communications & Relationships Open your heart safely in ways you never thought possible I’ve known Erica ever from the days when I delivered Focaccia dough to Eichardt’s back in the day. Erica is a Certified Core Belief Restructuring (CBR) Practitioner. Many of the tenets of this program are ones I have experienced through thru the Life Skills NW programs, and clearly there are mental, spiritual, and health benefits. Classes begin September 27, 2011 Tuesday evenings 5:30 to 7pm Located at Pinnacle Health Center801 Pine ... 09/24/2011

I interviewed Tarah Neujahr, Marketing and Communications Director of Bonner General Hospital Tuesday on my radio show: North Idaho Business. Tarah was on the show to talk about the Bonner County Drug Drop-off Program. One in five teens nationwide experiment with drugs, often perscription that they get from relative's and friend's medicine cabinets. While often the drugs are consumed, just as often they are simply thrown away when the user discovers they don't get them high, or they have a bad experience. The program doesn't accept needles or liquids, but is anonymous and is a great benefit to our environment. Here is the downloadable information flyer: http://SandpointID.net/Rx-Drop-Off-Brochure.pdf   09/15/2011

Every year I put out North Idaho's only Fall Recreation Guide. With Schweitzer Mountain Ski Resort (Top 25 Ski Resorts-Skiing Magazine) right above Sandpoint, and 148 square mile Lake Pend Oreille at our shores, summer and winter are our natural draws. However, last year, we had a beautiful and extended Autumn season. In fact, it was so wonderful, three national articles touted our region. This year portends to be the same. Point is, there is lots to do during Fall in North Idaho. Here is the link to the North Idaho Fall Recreation Guide. Here are some pics to entice you:   09/15/2011

I worked with Kyler in real estate for years. Currently he is the Board President of the Clark Fork – Pend Oreille Conservancy. Kyler was on my North Idaho Business show to talk about the upcoming Wild & Scenic Film festival on October 7th & 8th at the Panida Theater. Here is how the interview went: Tell me a little about the Clark Fork – Pend Oreille Conservancy: The Clark Fork-Pend Oreille Conservancy (CFPOC) is a land trust that works with the landowners and organizations in the Clark Fork River and Lake Pend Oreille watersheds to protect, maintain, and enhance natural resources and recreational values that contribute to our quality of life.  So what exactly is a Land Trust? What do you do?A land trust is a nonprofit organization that works with landowners to protect land and water r... 09/14/2011

To be honest, the Sandpoint market is still not where it should be given our discounted pricing currently. If you are looking for waterfront property at any of the bigger (or even smaller) more popular lakes anywhere in the country, chances are you will pay more than in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. Still, that being said, my team and I are having a pretty good year. Last Monday we had an accepted offer on our third waterfront sale this season. We specialize in waterfront and water view properties in Sandpoint and this region of North Idaho. Two were on Lake Pend Oreille, and one was on the Pend Oreille River. This morning we had an accepted offer for a Baldy Mountain home that overlooks the Pend Oreille. This is $1,130,000 in accepted offers just this week. I have to admit, like many RE... 09/14/2011

For the 4th year in a row the Scootin' Sisters appeared on my show: North Idaho Business. They were talking about the 4th Annual Toys for Tots Ride. Held on September 17th, the ride starts at May’s Honda, in Sagle, ID. Registration: 9:00am Kickstands up: 10:00am There's going to be plenty of activities at this ride, and they will include live music, various raffles, live auction, 50/50 and much more.... The sisters, Chris and Alex, explained that a few years ago some gals were sitting in Eichardt’s, enjoying a brew after a bike ride together. They talked about getting together on a regular basis, and the waitress asked what they were called. Hmmm, a group name? They came up with Scootin’ Sisters, and soon were planning events and get togethers and bike rides. They got together with the ... 09/14/2011

Got up this morning to ride my bike, but then decided people should know what Sandpoint looks like even on a misty day. The forecast for the day is hot and bright, but this morning is cool and the town has low lying clouds shrouding the landscape. We are a community in the mountains after all, so we live in the clouds. Here are the pics: The Sandpoint Long Bridge Enterin Sandpoint Bottle Bay-Sagle Slough Fry Creek-Sagle Slough, often called Bottle Bay Fry Creek-Sagle Slough Fry Creek-Sagle Slough Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge 2 Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge. Crossing under the Long Bridge. Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge Lake Pend Oreille near Long Bridge My friend Clyde who went through Life Skills NW with me a couple of times. He is now an assistant instructor. The Sandpo... 09/13/2011

FYI, the Sandpoint Visitor Guide won a Blue Ribbon for the second year in a row from Idaho Department of Commerce. You can read the article that was in the Bee way back in May here. Click the link for the downloadable PDF or click here to go to the online book on issuu. It is a quick and easy way to find out what to do in Sandpoint and our surrounding area.   09/12/2011