West Bonner County Lines - June 10, 2026

Blanchard Library: A Community Treasure

Several members of the West Bonner County Friends of the Library visited Blanchard Library in April.

Blanchard Library has improved considerably thanks to the hard work and generosity of the West Bonner Friends of the Library. The library was able to purchase new bookshelves, paint the interior and exterior and update the landscaping. 

The FOL members agreed that the library feels warm and welcoming, FOL member Jane Hoover said. 

"It was wonderful to have a tour and witness community members enjoying their library," she added.

FOL is a volunteer group that provides support for the library and its special offerings.  FOL is a 503(c) organization that raises money by hosting an annual community auction every March at the event center with a beer and wine tasting. The group also raises money from proceeds from Main Street Books, a used bookstore located next to the Priest River Library that is open on Friday and Saturday mornings throughout the year. 

“We keep our prices low because we want everyone to have the opportunity to read,” FOL president Marie Prendergast said. 

Members encouraged the community to take time this summer to visit the Blanchard Library and Main Street Books. 

FOL welcomes new volunteers as well as donations. FOL meets the second Tuesday of the month at noon in the Priest River Library. The group can be found westbonnerlibrary.org/friends-of-the-library.

Priest Lake Library receives grant

The Priest Lake Community Education Foundation, Inc. is among a pair of local groups that received a 2026 Idaho Future Fund grant. Also receiving a grant was the Kaniksu Land Trust in Sandpoint.

Established by an anonymous couple in Blaine County, the Idaho Future Fund supports projects that help students learn, grow, and thrive from preschool through 12th grade.

The foundation received a $10,000 grant to provide free preschool and kindergarten readiness classes.

The grants were among $70,758 received for the North Region, which includes Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone and Benewah counties.

For nearly 40 years, the Idaho Community Foundation has helped Idahoans invest in the people, places, and causes they care about. Through ICF's statewide programs, including The Nonprofit Center and Idaho Gives, the foundation strengthen communities by growing philanthropy, elevating nonprofit impact, and connecting Idahoans to opportunities to give back. 

For more information, go online to idahocf.org or contact the foundation via email at [email protected].

'Vacation of a Lifetime' kicks off Friday

Pack your bags, grab your sunglasses, and prepare for an unforgettable journey as Northwoods Performing Arts presents its Spring Chorale production, “The Vacation of a Lifetime,” under the direction of Mark D. Caldwell.

Set for June 12-20, “Vacation” is presented by Circle Moon Theater. 

From crisscrossing the map to discovering breathtaking vistas and all the hilarious hijinks in between, The Vacation of a Lifetime promises an evening filled with music, laughter, and memories that become legends.

With a blend of tunes spanning years and styles, you never know what’ll happen when the passenger is in charge of the radio and the map. You can expect familiar favorites, unexpected turns, and plenty of fun along the way. 

Performances have been scheduled for Friday, June 12; Saturday, June 13; Tuesday, June 16; Thursday, June 18; Friday, June 19; and a matinee show on Saturday, June 20.

Dinner show tickets are $35 per person; show-only tickets are $14 per person; and senior and children’s tickets are $12 per person.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dining begins at 6:30 p.m., and the curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. June 20 For the matinee show, doors open at 2 p.m. with no meal service.

For tickets and reservations, go online to NorthwoodsPerformingArts.com, call 208-448-1294; or stop by Seeber’s Pharmacy, 336 S Washington Ave., in Newport, Washington.

Circle Moon Theater is located at 3645 Highway 211, 3 1/2 miles north of Highway 2.