Fraud Awareness Week - Senior Fraud Presentation

The Idaho Department of Insurance is spearheading Fraud Awareness Week, August 18-22, 2008. After Governor Otter signs a proclamation declaring Fraud Awareness Week earlier in the month, free meetings will be held throughout the state during the event week. The threefold objective is to:

• Promote anti-fraud education,
• Raise awareness about the impact of fraud and white-collar crime on society, and
• Encourage Idahoans to report fraud to the appropriate authorities.

Learn how fraud might affect you and your family and how you can protect yourself from it. Idaho fraud expert Lori Huwson will share her knowledge on Wednesday, August 20th, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the Lake City Senior Center, 1916 N Lakewood Dr, Coeur d’Alene.
Please make plans to attend this important and informative meeting!
Visit the Department of Insurance website for information about classes in other locations, www.doi.idaho.gov.

"The Great Demand: China and Today's Investor"

The Coeur d’Alene office of Waddell & Reed is hosting an entertaining and educational workshop titled ‘The Great Demand: China and Today’s Investor’. Attendees will learn what China’s economy is predicted to look like after the Olympics and how to take advantage of it. This workshop is being made available at no cost. There are three times; Tue July 29 6-8:30p. in CdA, Thur July 31 6-8:30p in Spokane, and Sat Aug 2 10:12p in CdA. A light meal, delectable dessert and refreshments will be served. Please call 888-704-3877 to RSVP and receive location information.

"Shred Event" on August 1st

Horizon Credit Union invites you to join us for our annual Open House and “Shred Event” Friday, August 1, 2008 from 11am - 3pm. Please visit us for a chance to shred your old documents along with a barbeque, fantastic giveaways, onsite music and more! Located at 123 W. Hanley Ave, Coeur d’Alene, ID (Southeast Corner of the Silver Lake Mall).

Silverwood's "Aftershock" Opens

With much anticipation from the public, Silverwood Theme Park's newest roller coaster opened yesterday, sending crowds on the ride of their lives. "Aftershock" is a thrilling 1 minute, 32 second ride that takes riders forward, backward and everything in between. With rave reviews coming from first day visitors, the ride is sure to draw in thousands of roller coaster enthusiasts.

To read more about Silverwood's newest ride, check out the article in today's Coeur d'Alene Press.

Pita Pit ranks in “The Future 50” Listing

Pita Pit Inc. has earned a first ever ranking on the “The Future 50” list in the July 2008 issue of Restaurant Business as one of the fastest growing restaurant chains in the nation. Restaurant Business also stressed that Pita Pit is well positioned in the current economy to continue growing, saying “… you just can’t keep a good concept down …”

According to Restaurant Business and a Technomic, Inc. estimate, Pita Pit Inc. system wide sales in 2007 grew by over 18% compared to 2006.

“It’s exciting to see that we are recognized once again for our quality growth as one of the leading quick casual franchises in the United States”, said CEO Jack Riggs. “Our healthy food concept is becoming increasingly popular, and our company mantra of ‘good franchisees in good locations’ is creating a remarkably fertile environment for individual success.”

Pita Pit Inc. opened 37 new restaurants in 2007, an increase from 26 new store openings in the previous calendar year. There are currently 168 Pita Pit locations in 37 states, with another 50+ stores in development.

To view the entire listing, visit www.monkeydish.com.
To view the Pita Pit website, visit www.pitapitusa.com.

Circling Raven Golf Course Receives National Praise

The Golfer's World blog from USA Today recently featured Circling Raven Golf Course in a full-length article, highlighting points from a reporter's visit to Coeur d'Alene this summer. The article also mentions the exceptional hospitality of the Coeur d'Alene Resort. Below is a small piece of the article:

"Where the Circling Raven course excels is value: You would be hard pressed to find more golf for the dollar anywhere in the USA. You can often play the course in season for $65, and greens fees are always less than $100, and you are getting better golf than several courses I could pinpoint on Golf or Golf Digest’s Top 100 list, and better golf than many courses charging two, three or even four times as much. Between the standout Circling Raven course and its value, and the bargain priced luxury and service of Coeur d’Alene Resort and its fine golf course, a golf visit to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho is a no brainer."


To read the full article, click HERE.

Coeur d'Alene: 3rd Best City to do Business

In a recent study done by Inc.com and Newgeography.com, Coeur d'Alene ranked number three in the nation for "The Best Cities to do Business." The 2008 rankings show a dramatic change since 2004, depicting the change of momentum in the U.S. and where business is thriving. The study notes that the rankings show both short-term and long-term growth, where jobs are being created, and prime locations for starting or expanding a business. Coeur d'Alene ranked 3rd behind Midland, TX and St. George, UT.

To see the complete list click HERE.

How to Retire in Comfort and Safety

Waddell and Reed offer a retirement seminar on June 25th, How to Retire in Comfort and Safety. A seminar for people who are retired, thinking about retirement, or starting to worry about whether you'll have enough money to retire. Are you wondering if you can make your retirement savings last? Concerned about inflation reducing your purchasing power? Worried about the stock market's violent swings? Then be sure to attend this valuable seminar and address all your questions. 7:00 p.m. at 509 W. Hanley Ave. in Coeur d'Alene. Complimentary seating for RSVP guests or $20 at the door. RSVP at 765-1600. Beverages, chocolate and dessert will be served.

Sponsorship Opportunities for “Smart Women, Smart Money” Conference

Idaho Women’s Financial Conf., Inc. has many sponsorship opportunities for the 2^nd annual “Smart Women, Smart Money” financial conference on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2008. Idaho Women’s Financial Conf, Inc is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free financial education to Idaho Women through annual “Smart Women, Smart Money” conferences.

“Smart Women, Smart Money” is an all-day conference that will be held at the Coeur d’Alene Inn. It is a day packed with information on personal finances taught by top national and local speakers. The conference is free to attendees and paid for with sponsor donations. Without sponsor support, this conference would not exist. Women from all ages and backgrounds have been empowered and encouraged from past conferences held in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and Eastern Idaho. They leave comments such as, “Thank you so much for an awesome conference that will help me and my family get out of debt and start saving. Thank you!”

Sponsor benefits in Coeur d’Alene include speaking opportunities, exhibit tables, networking with over 300 women, recognition in pre-conference marketing, and others. Businesses or individuals who are interested in financially supporting “Smart Women, Smart Money” should contact Liza Carberry at 208.332.2997 or info@smartwomensmartmoney.com for more information.

Golder Associates Announces Staff Changes

In a recent Press Release, Golder Associates announced additions to their staff:

Tim Martin, PE is a Principal for Golder Associates and is on temporary assignment in Ghana, Africa at a new gold mine for Newmont Gold. He will be performing a geotechnical investigation for new access roads, rock spoil piles, and small earth dams related to surface water management.

Chris Sneider, PE is the acting manager, while Tim Martin is on assignment in Africa, for the Golder offices in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint. Golder Associates is a global earth engineering and environmental consulting company, specializing in siting, permitting, environmental compliance and remediation services as well as geotechnical and water resource engineering disciplines. Golder has 6,000 employees in over 130 offices worldwide.

John Monks, PG, LHG was recently hired as a Senior Project Hydrogeologist in the new Golder office in Sandpoint, ID. Mr. Monks is a Licensed Hydrogeologist in Washington and a Registered Professional Geologist in Idaho.