H.E.L.P.: Bartender's Ball again breaks records

The Bartender's Ball was held at the Coeur d'Alene Eagles on March 7 to raise funds for the local nonprofit H.E.L.P., Help Every Little Paw. The popular event boasted the best bars and caterers in the hospitality and service industry in the Inland Northwest. Perfect weather resulted in a packed room! In an attempt to garner more chances to win a gift basket worth more than $500, guests were urged to bring pet food which will support local food banks. This brought in 874 pounds of food, breaking last year's total of 800 pounds. This fun event was definitely the place to be as this worthy cause raised almost $11,000! Again breaking last year's total of almost $10,000!

Eleven bars and five caterers competed with specialty drinks and appetizers for the coveted titles of People's Choice and Judge's Choice for 2015. Rookie entry Euphoria Frozen Desserts took 3rd Place in both Judge's and People's Choice for Best Appetizer. 2nd Place People's Choice went to Meltz and Judge's Choice went to 315 Martinis and Tapas at Greenbriar Inn. 1st place People's Choice went to 315 Martinis and Tapas at Greenbrier and Judge's Choice was awarded to Meltz.

Best Cocktail saw a tie for 3rd place for People's Choice in Whispers Lounge and Coeur d'Alene Casino while 3rd place for Judge's Choice was 315 Martinis and Tapas. 2nd place winners for People's Choice was Mulligans and Judge's Choice went to Bardenay. 1st place People's Choice award went to 315 Martinis and Tapas and Whispers took 1st for Judge's Choice.

315 Martinis and Tapas walked away with the Grand prize for total votes and received the coveted Shaker Award.

A big shout out to our other local STARS that participated including Beverly's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Crickets, Enoteca, Hogfish, MacKenzie River Pizza and Seasons of Coeur d'Alene.

Thank you to our generous sponsors, Pinnacle Vodka-Beam Suntory, Holly and Karen at Windermere Coeur d'Alene Realty, Ruby Frog Entertainment, CDC Photography, Coeur d'Alene Eagles No. 486, Lake City Pet Hospital, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc., You're Invited Designs, Atomic Threads and A to Z Rentals.

We encourage you to buy locally from these generous local businesses who donated silent auctions and live auction prizes; At Your Service Bartending School, Attorney Andrew Michael, Avon, Beauty and the Beast, Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn, Body by Scotty, Bordello Museum, Busy B Farms, Coeur d'Alene Pet Resort, The Coeur d'Alene Resort Spa, Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre, Spokane Chiefs, Coeur d'Alene Lake Cruises, Dale Miller Custom Wood Products, Dave Smith, Deni Photography, Everson's Jewelry, Kootenai Fairgrounds, Fleet Feet, Hagadone Marine, Holiday Inn Express on Seltice, Jan Jasberger Insurance, The Garden Girls, Jitterz, Post Falls Family Dental, Kootenai Dental, Mike Hansen, North Idaho Title, Northwest Pet Resort, Pampered Chef, Pawpular Companions, Peace in the Valley, Pioneer Title, Rod Burleson, Randy Henry Simulator Golf, RDI Heating and Cooling, ROW Adventures, Rusty Car Coffee, Silver Mountain Water Park, Silverwood, Socially Geared Pub Crawl, Leah Hansen, Title One, Toni and Guy, Trails Inn Kennel and Triple Play.

The event would not have been a success without the countless hours that our committee put in and each sub committee's volunteers. A special thank you to Holly and Karen Hansen, Amoorena Sijan, Nicole Barnes, Paul and Jeanette Laster, Jan and Gary McSweeny, Gene Delvecchio, Liz Montgomery, Anna and Shane Keller, Trista Myer and Daisy Mills, Mike Hansen and DJ/Auctioneer Montoya and so many others.

Help Every Little Paw is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and happiness of all pets. We achieve our goal to rescue those abandoned, stray or neglected, and to provide medical attention, spay and neuter program, socialization rehabilitation and food to those in need through raising necessary funds.

KAREN HANSEN

Help Every Little Paw

Outreach: An abundance of heartwarming responses

Ex-cell Property Management LLC and the Hayden family who lost their home due to a fire would like to thank our community. We reached out to the community for help to rebuild the life of the family in need. We received an abundance of responses to our outreach. It was heartwarming to know that so many people in our area came together to help a family in need.

Ex-cell Property Management and the family would like to thank all those who supported and donated, unfortunately we cannot name all those who donated, but we would like to name a few: Real Life Ministries, Java Coffee, The Eagles Club, Macys and North Town Insurance for their support. Again, a huge thank you to the community for everything you did to help this family in need.

CONNIE LOFTIS

Ex-cell Property Management

Coeur d'Alene