All over the country people are getting closer to their public libraries. Why isn’t our library closer to us? Here is some special commentary for OpenCdA:
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The City’s Pulse Newsletter

It takes guts to stand tall in front of an angry crowd; to be the target of frustrations and accusations.  New Superintendent of CdA Schools, Hazel Bauman, has done just that recently. Four times. She has not only survived these experiences, she may have kick-started one of the most positive chain reactions this community has ever witnessed.  At least I hope so. (more…)

NIC Community Relations VP Kent Propst is moving on. I’ve enjoyed chatting with Kent and discussing various aspects of NIC and Coeur d’Alene. I see him as a good man, but one who’s been put in a tight position recently with the Education Corridor.

I wish Kent the best with his new position.

Over the next several weeks, I’ll be scheduling a series of video interviews with candidates for state and local offices. The videos will be shown here on OpenCdA, and in the spirit of openness, I’m inviting you to submit some questions you’d like asked of those running for office.
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A gorgeous summer morning out on the new Prairie Trail.  The Kroc Center continues to go up–there’s a long way to go yet–and yesterday’s Press reported that a Ironwood Athletic Club will break ground next month on a new building down in Riverstone.

Any comments, questions, ideas?

The whole Stakeholder thing has popped up again.  This time in the report from the LCDC’s hired PR company.  So it again begs the question: Are YOU a Stakeholder?   What does that word mean, anyway?  Anyone want to try a definition?

Here’s what cartoonist Jimmy Barona depicted a while ago.  I think it’s worth another look.  (more…)

The City’s Pulse Newsletter
By Mary Souza, July 22, 2008

In last week’s column, I reported that the NIC Board of Trustees cut money from their number one strategic goal, Professional Technical Education. A response from the NIC Trustee Vice Chair, claimed my facts were wrong. She later admitted they were accurate but went on to make excuses for the Board’s decision.  (more…)

The fourth in the series of School District community meetings was early this morning.  Hazel did a terrific job of listening to the public and answering any and all questions, directly and in detail.

Any comments, questions or ideas?

Joy Seward, stalwart community volunteer, will finally go home from the hospital this coming weekend after more than 30 days in the hospital since she experienced life threatening heart problems at a CdA City Council meeting.  She has had complications and been re-hospitalized but is improving and will most hopefully be at her daughter’s wedding this weekend.  Please keep sending out those prayers!

This morning’s Press reveals the City’s revenues are down, waaay down.  “No new police officers, no new detectives, firefighters, no new dog park, and no one new to staff the new public library or cut the grass at the new $1 million Landings Park.”  Did the City not anticipate this downturn in the economy when they planned their spending priorities?  City Councilman Mike Kennedy said… (more…)