Marte Cliff

The May Day Sale is a little late this year... But it's still happening!

Several years ago, when I was active in the Priest River Chamber of Commerce, a few of us got together and started a new tradition in town: The May Day Sale. That first year, it actually happened on May 1.

It all started when the owner of the local hardware store wanted a creative way to clear out winter merchandise and make way for Summer, but it grew far beyond a few local businesses offering their wares on tables outdoors.

We spread the word and soon residents all over town were signing up to be on the map - which was published in the local newspaper. Then some businesses offered parking lot space for citizens who live outside of town.

The Priest River Times newspaper cooperated with plenty of advance stories, and before long the local motel was filled for the Friday night before the sale. Friends and relatives from out of town were flocking here to take advantage of a huge bargain-hunting opportunity.

What stands out most about that day is that it marked Priest River's very first traffic jam!

Now the May Day Sale has become an annual event, held the first Saturday in May, and it just keeps growing.This Saturday these quiet streets and parking lots will once again be crawling with bargain hunters.

This year, shoppers can begin their day with a breakfast at the VFW Hall - with proceeds going to help the Wounded Warriors. Can you think of a better reason to go out for breakfast?

Then, throughout the day, hungry shoppers will find vendors serving hot dogs, popcorn, and more in various locations. And of course, the local restaurants will be doing a brisk trade. Shopping is hungry work, you know!

As my husband keeps pointing out, we don't need any more "stuff," but I'll definitely be at the library early, to take advantage of their quarterly "Bag of Books for $2" sale. Last time I came home with 43 books for $6.

And just maybe we'll have to check out some of the other sales as well. You never know what you'll find at a yard sale!

On May 17, the residents of Priest River, Idaho will be asked to vote on a Bond and Levy to support the West Bonner Library District, which covers Priest River and Blanchard, Idaho.

If this passes, the current Priest River library will get a 5,400 s.f. addition - adding more room for books and videos, expansion of the computer area, and more space for community functions.

This fell short of passing in the last election, but just barely. So those of us who support the library are hoping for a better turn-out and better response this time.

Here in Priest River passage will amount to a tax increase of about $2.41 per month per household - less than the cost of a movie rental, which patrons will be able to get for free if the election is successful. Right now, we can borrow movies, but the selection is pretty small.

More and more people are using the library.

Library workers tell me that usage has gone up dramatically since the current economic crisis - in fact, 2010 usage was up 41% from 2009.

Years ago, a visit to the local library meant checking out a book to take home and read for entertainment.

There were a few reference books for research, but very little space to sit down and use them. Over the years, that has changed, and now more research is done on line, so you still won't find library tables scattered around. Of course, that could be due to space limitations, as it was in the old library.

But meanwhile, every time I go in I see the 12 computer stations in use - sometimes with people waiting their turn. Many are students, but many are adults. Some come to pay bills, send an e-mail, or just look around. But Library volunteers tell me they are often called upon to show patrons how to do job searches, and how to find information on writing resumes'.

In a small town with an historically poor economy, not everyone has a computer at home. Using one for free at the library is the next best thing.

And then there are the activities. From story hours for the kids to crafts for both children and adults, to evening presentations from authors, the library seems to be humming all the time. And we hope it will hum even more in the future. In addition to more computers, one of the services that will be added if the levy passes is test proctoring for distance learners. Right now, distance learners have at least an hour's drive to find proctoring services.

But back to the books, which is the reason why I'm a frequent visitor. The West Bonner County Library District has joined the Washington Idaho Network of Libraries - which means we can request books from other libraries all over Washington and Idaho. All we have to do is go on line, find the book we want, and it will be delivered to our Priest River library for our reading pleasure.

I hope we will all "Pay it forward" by approving the expansion of our library - so our young people can continue learning about the joys to be found in books.

About a dozen years ago I was operating a real estate agency in our small town of Priest River, Idaho and I was bothered by the fact that the 4th of July celebration I remembered from childhood had somehow fallen by the wayside.

So I went to a Chamber of Commerce meeting and suggested that it might be time to bring it back. They said "Sure, go ahead and do it."

OK then - was anyone going to help? Heck no!

So I started out on my own to find out where to buy the fireworks, who could legally fire them off, etc. A fireman could do it, but none were willing. Finally I found a company who does nothing but fireworks displays and they did have one crew left who could do our event. It would cost at minimum $2,500.

I should have just worked at getting one more closing and paying for the thing myself. But no - I started trying to collect funds from the community. And I was terrible at it! I felt like I was asking for money for myself rather than for the community... and I'm not good at "gimmie." I don't even like to remind clients of a past due invoice for services rendered.

Lucky for me, I made the acquaintance of two young women who had the time, the desire, and the nerve to go get the money. They raised $3,500 and we were able to make the show just a little bit bigger.

Meanwhile, I was writing news articles and telling people to come to the event. And everyone I met said they hadn't read the articles, and didn't know it was going to happen. I was afraid the only ones there would be me and the two ladies!

Finally the big night arrived and I was running around crazy, coordinating with the shooters, the musicians, the firemen, the ambulance people, and the man who would turn the lights off at the appropriate time. I saw people drifting into the park, but the crowd didn't seem very big.

Then, just before it was time for the show to start, I went out to the parking lot to get something from the car. I was headed back when the first shot went into the air, and so was a little boy of about 8.

I'll never forget that moment, because that little boy made all my work worthwhile.

He threw his arms in the air and shouted to the sky "Happy Birthday America!"

I still get misty when I think of him. And I still wish I knew who he was so I could tell him what that impulsive action on his part meant to me.

And as for the attendance...

When the show was over and the park lights came back on, I was amazed. The park was FULL. And then I looked across the river and saw car lights coming on ... the huge parking lot at the sawmill was full and both sides of the road were lined with cars.

My little town really did care about "Happy Birthday America!"

While I handed over the reins to the project a few years ago, it is still going on... and I fully intend to drive to town on Sunday night to watch the show.

Who should buy a rural home in Priest River, Idaho? Anyone who loves mountains, wildlife, clean air, and sparkling streams.

Priest River, Idaho began life as a logging town, and it has remained so throughout the years. Residents cling stubbornly to their logging heritage, and recreation is almost entirely centered around the great outdoors.

As the logging industry wanes, the town has become a haven for tele-commuters, artists, and retirees who seek quiet and solitude. The majority of newcomers arrive looking not for a home within the Priest River City limits, but for a rural home within a few miles of Priest River. They want privacy. Most choose a home with acreage that gives a buffer between residents and their neighbors.

The town offers basic shopping opportunities - a grocery store, hardware store, drug store, and of course a liquor store! You can also find a limited supply of "gifty" items, furniture, and two businesses who will be happy to install new carpet in the home you purchase.

Unless you're a "thrift shopper" you won't find clothing to buy in Priest River. If you are, you'll be in heaven, as the town boasts four establishments selling used clothing.

Shopping centers, entertainment, and hospitals are a mere hour's drive away in Spokane, Washington or Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Priest River does have a medical and dental clinic, and a small hospital is located just 6 miles away in Newport, Washington.

Main street died out several years ago, but is now coming back to life, with old buildings being remodeled for new purposes. Along with others being renovated, the Historic Beardmore Building is finding new life. It was purchased by a grand-son of the original owner, who has been remodeling it into office suites and retail spaces. Residents were treated to a sneak preview last fall, during Priest River's first (hopefully) Annual Octoberfest.

Main street is also home to the Priest River Branch of the West Bonner County Library. This is a busy spot, with computer stations filled most days, and residents enjoying the ongoing activities for children and adults alike. Andrew Carnegie would be proud to see how this small community makes use of the opportunity he so believed in.

Residents tend to watch out for each other - as evidenced by the number of active volunteers at both the food bank and the Monday Soup Kitchen, held at the Priest River Senior Center. Here is where anyone can walk in and get a good meal of soup, sandwiches, salads, and deserts - and pay whatever they can, if they can. The food is provided and served by volunteers from local churches, service groups such as the Rotary, and even local businesses. Two of the town's three banks take their turn at hosting this event.

If you're yearning for a taste of yesterday - small town life the way it was - then you should definitely consider purchasing a home in Priest River, Idaho.

You see the hype on TV all the time. I even see it and I seldom watch TV. I've grown to like the guy who sings his little ditties about how life would be better if he had only gotten his free credit report earlier.

I thought the idea was a bit silly - until I did the research and found out WHY we should all be keeping a close watch on our credit reports. And why the free reports you can get annually from the credit bureaus are not good enough.

The first, and perhaps most important reason, is to know immediately if your identity has been stolen. Your credit report offers tell-tale signs. For instance, an incorrect address.This could merely be a data entry error, or it could be a sign that an identity thief is at work. By gaining access to your accounts and making a change of address, your thief can use your credit for a very long time without you knowing - because the bills won't come to you.

You might not find out until you attempt to borrow and find out that your credit has been destroyed.

The second sign is credit inquiries from companies you have not contacted. "Soft" inquiries won't show up - those are the routine checks done by credit card companies before they send you offers.

Another is, of course, accounts in your name that you know nothing about.

When you routinely check your credit report, or sign up for a monitoring service, you can take immediate steps to halt a thief in his or her tracks.

The second important reason, and the reason why the free reports from the credit bureaus aren't good enough, is that you need to know your FICO scores. Those reports don't include the scores.

If something has happened to lower them, it takes time to fix the problem. You don't want to wait until you need to use your credit to address the issue.

Use of your credit by an identity thief will lower your scores, but so will data entry errors, reporting mistakes, and the way you use your credit.

For instance, if you have 3 credit cards, each with a $5,000 credit line, and you have a $4,500 balance on one while the others show a zero balance, your score will be lower than if that balance was spread between the three cards. It makes no sense, but that's how it is.

Of course you want your buyers to come in with the highest scores possible, so urge them to get their report before they ever find the house they want to purchase. Then counsel them on ways to improve those scores. They'll love you when their interest rate is lower as a result!

For articles and advice on raising your credit scores and protecting your identity, please visit the site I built as a result of my recent resarch: www.allcreditscoresnow.com. I'm adding more articles weekly, so check back often.

Here's to lower interest rates!