Stites Receives MoneySaver Grant
The City of Stites has been notified that the Stites Action Team application for a MoneySaver Community Appreciation grant was approved and funded!! The Action Team requested funding for two pedestal grill bar-b-ques for Stites City Park. The addition of two pedestal grills adjacent to the picnic area will greatly enhance use and enjoyment of the Park.
Find more articles in the attached June 2009 Stites News
CITY OF STITES SPRING CLEANUP WEEK
APRIL 27 thru May 4
The City of Stites Cleanup Week has been set for April 27th thru May 4th. Simmons Sanitation has placed a large roll-off container on Bridge Street for public convenience. (A BIG THANK YOU to Simmons Sanitation for their support.)
No pesticides, paints or batteries can be placed in the large bin – those items must go to the transfer station at Kamiah. All boards and limbs must be cut to 4’ lengths.
If assistance is needed with large objects, please contact Stites City Hall at 926-7121 or Simmons Sanitation at 935-2617.
Find more articles in the attached Stites News .
Letter of Support for MoneySaver Grant
MoneySaver Community Appreciation Grant for Stites, Idaho
Stites Action Team Report
Action Team members composed and submitted an application for a 2009 Money$aver Community Appreciation Grant. The request, if approved, would pay for two bar-b-que pedestal grills for the City Park.
The application and letter of support are attached.
City of Stites Economic Stimulus Funding Request
Stites Action Team members and city clerk Karen Braun composed and submitted a request for funding as part of Idaho’s Economic Stimulus Funding program. The entire request is attached.
Highlights of the request are:
March 4, 2009
Wayne Hammon
State of Idaho
Division of Financial Management Administrator
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720
RE: City of Stites Water Tank Cover Project
Economic Stimulus Funding Request
To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you for the opportunity to respond to Executive Order No. 2009-06. The City of Stites requests that the Governor of the State of Idaho, together with other appropriate State officials, approve assistance for a community water tank cover replacement project. Investment in this “shovel-ready” project will preserve and create jobs, and promote economic health and recovery for residents of the small, rural community of Stites, Idaho
The City of Stites understands it is to submit information as follows correlating with item number seven (#7) in Executive Order No. 2009-06 to the above-referenced project.
The project consists of a single component, which is the replacement of one (1) municipal water tank cover. Currently, the community has two (2) water tank reservoirs which store the City’s water supply. The roof cover of one of the tanks consists of wood framing with cedar shingles. The existing wood shake roof exhibits signs of wear and requires constant maintenance to ensure the safety of the water supply.
The City of Stites is a small, rural community located on S.H. 13 in Idaho County. Many residents of the City and County are economically challenged.
Stites has a population of 230 (2006).
There are 106 households and eight businesses within the City.
The low to moderate income (LMI) level in 2006 was 72% of Stites residents.
The average wage was $28,195 in Idaho County for 2006.
Per capita income in 2006 was $23,753 for Idaho County residents, which is 79% of the State level and only 65% of U.S per capita income.
Stites has a poverty rate of 17.8% according to the 2000 U.S Census.
The 2000 unemployment rate in Stites was 17.5%. Moreover, almost one-quarter (21.5%) of Stites residents, age 16-64, had a work disability. Idaho County had 10.2% unemployment in 2000 and 11.8% in December 2008.
During the current decade, households and businesses within the community have been greatly impacted by costs of necessary utility infrastructure projects. The City completed a mandated wastewater project in 2007. The project was partially financed by an electorate-approved loan in the amount of $275,000.00 at 4.125% interest, and 30 year term beginning in 2005. The current indebtedness of the loan principle in $259,984.54. Moreover, the City had to recently complete an imminent threat emergency project to replace a windstorm-damaged cover on one of two City water system tanks. The cover on the second water system tank requires constant repair and maintenance to prevent unwanted contaminants from settling into the City’s water source. This wood frame, shingled tank cover should be replaced with an aluminum geodesic dome cover, but there are no funds for the project.
The City has had to enact multiple increases in monthly base rates for utility services in order to maintain fiscal balance. The monthly rate for City wastewater service increased 167% in 2002 to repay the aforementioned loan. The water system minimum usage monthly rate increased 200% in 2006 to bring revenues equal to system expenses. An additional increase of 47% was mandated in 2007 to provide for increased maintenance and repair expenses of the water tanks and system infrastructure. The City can not assume increased debt for needed upgrades to the water system without causing additional financial hardship to residents and businesses.
The City of Stites requests $52,000.00 of federal funding under the Act.
Let’s Grow Our Own Veggies!!
The current economic situation is a good reason to start your own vegetable garden. Other reasons for having a home garden are:
Home grown vegetables are healthier for you
Gardening provides exercise out-of-doors
You can combine vegetable plants with flowers in your yard
You can plant containers on your porch, patio, or balcony
Perhaps a neighbor or friend without time or ability would let you garden their yard in exchange for some produce
JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AT A COMMUNITY GARDEN MEETING
WHEN: THURSDAY, APRIL 9, 2009, AT 6:30 P.M.
WHERE: STITES CHURCH OF GOD
TO TALK ABOUT -
Encouraging residents to grow their own vegetables
The pros and cons of a Stites community vegetable garden
Having a contest for the largest veggies?
The difference between hybrid and heirloom seeds
Read more articles in the attached April 2009 Stites News
Stites Public Hearing On Completion of the Water Reservoir Project
WHEN: MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009, AT 3:00 P.M.
WHERE: STITES CITY HALL
Installation of the new water reservoir cover has been completed. A Public Hearing is being held Monday, March 16, to complete the project. Progressive Engineering will be on hand to present the final report and answer questions about the project.
Stites Action Team Report
A request was received from the Kooskia Youth and Recreation Organization (KYRO) for financial support of their baseball program benefiting our area youth. Action Team committee members recommended a $250.00 Gold Sponsorship be donated to KYRO from the Stites Action Team funds. The Council approved the recommendation.
Find more articles in the attached March 2009 Stites News
Read the attached Stites News for February!!
Highlights in this month’s issue include:
Personal Enrichment Workshops
“Attention Dog Owners”
Installation of the new water reservoir cover has started
“Help Our Area Youth Stay Active”
Stites Business News
Help shape the future look of Stites!
Earlier this year, participants in the Stites Horizons program discussed the need for entrance signs at the north and south gateways to Stites, and for a pedestrian interpretive kiosk to replace the City bulletin board on Main Street. Stites is situated on the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway – All American Road, and funding for these projects was included in a grant request to the State Scenic Byway program. The funding for the entrance signs and kiosk has been approved!! Ree Brannon, the new Byway coordinator, will bring everyone up-to-date on the grant requirements, concepts, and planning process for the project at the January meeting of the City Council. Plan now to attend the January 12 City Council meeting to learn about the projects, and provide your ideas and input.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTING CONTEST WINNERS!!
Winners of this year’s citywide lighting contest are Randy and Amber Massey (first place), Vern Hazelbaker and Gudron Larson (second place), and Vi Coons (third place). Thanks to everyone who decorated their house or business for the Holiday Season!!
STITES BUSINESS NEWS
The Chatterbox has announced new winter hours. They are Tuesday-Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday.
The City council meeting will be Monday, January 12, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 926-7121.
Stites Entrance Signs & Interpretive Kiosk Funded!!
Earlier this year, participants in the Stites Horizons program discussed the need for entrance signs at the north and south gateways to Stites, and for a pedestrian interpretive kiosk to replace the City bulletin board on Main Street. Stites is situated on the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway – All American Road, and funding for these projects was included in a grant request to the State Scenic Byway program. The Stites Community Action Team has been informed that funding for the entrance signs and kiosk has been approved!! Ree Brannon, the new Byway coordinator, is scheduled to bring everyone up-to-date on the grant requirements, recent changes, projects and planning for the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway at the January meeting of the City Council.
Read more articles about Stites in the attached copy of Stites News December 2008
Stites Horizons – Moving Forward
On October 13th, Horizons Steering Committee members presented various options to the City Council for continuing the momentum of the Horizons program. The Council approved a three member citizen oversight committee to continue project implementation and oversee budget requests. Committee members are Gerry Cathey, Ruth Mohr, and Councilor Patty Moody. The City has received the final payment of grant funds from the Horizons program, and now has $10,000 to use for economic development and reduction of poverty. We also need a new name for the program and committee. Please contact a committee member with your ideas for naming this new program, and your ideas for projects.
Read the attached November 2008 edition of Stites News to learn about “CORPS OF ENGINEERS EVALUATE CONDITION OF STITES LEVEE” and other Stites news.
STITES CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL CITY PARK PROJECTS
More than 45 area residents attended a picnic in Stites City Park to celebrate the completion of the city’s new basketball court and playground equipment projects. The event also provided an opportunity to honor everyone who contributed to the success of this worthy project. THANK YOU to all of the volunteers, area residents, local businesses, Idaho County, the cities of Stites and Kooskia, and to all of you who generously contributed funding for the projects.
Read more articles about Stites in the attached copy of Stites News October 2008
Stites, Idaho Horizons ICF Grant Application
The Northwest Area Foundation’s (NWAF) mission is to help communities reduce poverty. To support this mission, the foundation is working with the Idaho Community Foundation to grant $8500 awards for Idaho Horizons communities that completed the NWAF Phase II Horizons program requirements. This grant award MUST be used to support the Horizons community’s work toward reducing poverty as identified in community action plans that were submitted to the NWAF in January 2008. Attached is the Idaho Community foundation grant applicatioin submitted by the Stites, Idaho Horizons community.
September 2008 Stites News Community Newsletter
Attched is the September 2008 Stites News community newsletter. Highlights include an update on the City park project of a youth playground area, and an article about the Idaho Sportsman Lodge, a new business in Stites.
August 2008 Stites News Community Newsletter
Attached is the August 2008 Stites News community newsletter. Stites News is mailed each month with the City utility bills. Highlights inlude the final concept of the Stites Community Center, and a call for action to assist with a City park project.
Stites Community Center PPT 06-18-08
The Stites Horizons Actions Teams hosted on Monday, June 16, 2008, the third in a series of four Stites Community Building Meetings. Hanna Persson, University of Idaho Bioregional Planning and Community Design, presented to area residents the final draft concept of a Stites Community Center. Assisted by Rula Awaad-Rafferty, University of Idaho Architechture & Interior Design, Ms. Persson will incorporate suggestions from the June 16 discussion into the final design to be presented on Monday, July 21.
Attached is the June 16 PowerPoint presentation in .pdf format
Attached is the Stites News July 2008 mailed with the City utility bills. Please print and help distribute a copy to anyone you know who does not receive a utility bill.
Remind friends and neighbors in Stites to prepare for their yard sale on Saturday, July 12, during the Stites Days City-Wide Yard Sale!!
Donations for the Stites Days auction can be left at City Hall, 9 am - 2:30 pm Tuesday through Thursday - or brought to the auction trailer in City Park before 10 am on Saturday, July 12.
Stites Days 2008 Parade Entry Form
Join the fun on Saturday, July 12, during Stites Days 2008. Enter our Main Street Parade with your float, classic car, horse drawn buggy, or marching kazoo band! Parade line-up for judging is at 9:00 a.m. on Clearwater Street (next to the South Fork River dike). The parade starts at 10:00 a.m. sharp! Click on the attached Stites Days 2008 parade entry form, or contact Jim Kirchoff, 208-926-0811, or Rey Mireles, 208-926-4563 for more information.
Bring the family to Stites, Idaho on Saturday, July 12, for a fun-filled day of activities. The day starts with the 2nd Annual Ryan Johnson Memorial Run at 7:30 am. Drive your classic car and join the Grand Parade on Main Street at 10:00 am. The kid’s will enjoy winning prizes at the Kid’s Games in City Park, while Mom walks the Quilt Show at Stites Baptist Church. All the family can find great treasures at the Live Auction at 11:30 am, and City-wide yard sales. Buy a Stites Days t-shirt at Stites Grocery or The Chatterbox! Historical photos of Stites will be on display in City Hall. Vendor booths, bar-b-que and beverages will be in the City Park. Stick around in the late afternoon and evening for live music and a Jam Session. Join friends and neighbors on Sunday, July 13, at 10:00 am for a Community Church Service and potluck in City Park. “Gateway to the Gold Fields” is the theme of this year’s Stites Days Celebration. Make plans now to join us in Stites, Idaho on July 12 and 13.
Developing a Culture of Success In Your Business or Organization
Ten sessions beginning on Saturday, June 28, 8:00 - 9:00 p.m., at the Idaho Sportsman’s Lodge, East Street, Stites. RSVP by June 27 to gotchatter@yahoo.com. For more information contact Shilo Hall, 208-926-7190 or 926-0110
E-Commerce and Web Site Development
Monday, June 30, Location to be announced. For more information or to RSVP for the workshop, contact Josh Bradley, 208-926-0110 or email josh@bigcashcreator.com.
During the initial stages of Horizons the Stites Circle conversations identified the need for better communications in Stites and the surrounding area. Ruth Mohr has been writing and publishing a newsletter for Stites and the surrounding area announcing up coming events and meetings, election news and outcomes and “Stites Days” planning activities. In cooperation the City of Stites agreed to send the news letter free of charge in the monthly water bills. Stites Grocery and Hardware also distribute the news letter to patrons. Ruth has a lengthy list of email patrons that live beyond the city limits receiving newsletter updates on Stites as well. This has been a very successful way to reach most all members of the community and encourage participation in Horizons efforts to fight poverty in Stites. Ruth’s efforts are greatly appreciated.
Stites Horizons Presents an Exclusive Entrepreneurship & Small Business Training Seminar
“Building your Business Plan To Exceed your Goals”
Project Management Tools & Techniques
Presented By Tom Old of Alta Vista Consulting
If you currently own a small business, home based business or are thinking about starting one in the future you don’t want to miss this valuable seminar. On Tuesday, June 10th (6:00 pm) at the Stites Church of God meeting hall you will have the opportunity to not only learn how to create a vision for your business or projects future but also develop a working plan to guide your progress.
We will start with a working session to review the basic tools and techniques of Project Management to build your plan. We will provide a workbook for you to capture your ideas and objectives.
The second part of this training is designed to help you produce, refine and structure your plan. Tom Old will be available to work with you and your team in individual training sessions. Tom will meet with you and work on your plan — he is open all day on Tuesday thru Friday. This is a unique opportunity to build your business and community plans to reach your goal!
So who is Tom Old?
Tom Old is the owner of Alta Vista Consulting L.L.C, an Idaho company. This firm works with companies in business and project planning. Services range from direct project management to dedicated training programs.
Tom, in his business career, had a variety of leadership experience in Information Technology, Marketing, Customer
Support and Product Quality with Hewlett-Packard and Hughes Aircraft.
He has an MBA from the University of Arizona, with focused studies in Management Information and Operations. He also has a Bachelor of Science in Business Economics. Tom served in the U.S. Navy as a Mission Commander in P-3 Aircraft, along with assignments in operational and staff leadership roles.
An active and supportive member of the Boise community, Tom serves on the Board of Directors of the Treasure Valley United Way and the Ore-Ida Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he is the chairman of the Whitney United Methodist Church Board.
He is an active member of the Project Management Institute (PMI) and is a Project Management Professional (PMP)
American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) and a charter member of the Boise Microsoft Project Users Group (MPA). He is a faculty member at the University of Phoenix, in the MBA and Project Management. He serves as the area chair for the Project Management Certification Program at the Idaho Campus.
Married to Kathy with four grown children, they have lived in Boise for over 25 years. Tom enjoys fishing from his drift boat and photography in his free time – and looks forward to spending more time in the Kamiah area, as his family has recently purchased property in the area.
Why Do I Need To Attend This Program?
Project planning helps you move forward—to reach your goals.
Project Planning helps you create a competitive product.
Project planning helps you set priorities.
“Fail To plan, plan to fail!”
Don’t Miss It - Tuesday, June 10th at 6:00 pm - Stites Church of God Meeting Hall
If you have any questions please contact Josh Bradley at 926-0110. You can also contact Tom directly at toldboi@msn.com to set a time to meet on your project or select a time at the Tuesday training session.
* All costs for this training have been paid for by the Stites Horizon’s so there is no cost for attending this valuable seminar
WHAT IS YOUR PICTURE OF A COMMMUNITY CENTER IN STITES?
Join us on MONDAY, JUNE 16, 6:00 pm, at Stites Church of God on Main Street to listen, learn and express your ideas about revised concepts for a Community Center.
Hanna Persson, U of I Bioregional Planning & Community Design, will have revised conceptual presentations for discussion at the June 16 meeting. The changes suggested by attendees at the May 19 Community Meeting will be incorporated into the revised drawings. Plan now to attend this important meeting on June 16th.
Volunteers are needed to help with an activity on Stites Days, , July 12 and 13. Contact Rey Mireles, 926-4563, Josh Bradley, 926-0110, or Shilo Hall, 926-7190.
Horizons Meetings
• June 16: Stites Community Center revised site plan by Hanna Persson, U of I. 6:00 pm, Stites Church of God dining room
• July 21: Final presentation of Stites Community Center design
• The Horizons Steering Committee will meet in June. Watch for an upcoming announcement of the date, time and location
City of Stites News
• Bid notices for the city reservoir cover project have been placed in the Lewiston Tribune and Clearwater Progress. Bids will be accepted until 10 am, June 6. Contact City Hall for more information.
• Installation of playground equipment in the City Park is in progress.
• City wastewater flow and water system leakage have decreased significantly due to ongoing repairs and system upgrades by the City Maintenance Department. The City Council has asked Diane Sauer, Idaho Rural Water, to do a usage analysis/feasibility study. The study will include flow data and budget analysis.
The City council meeting will be Monday, June 9, 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 926-7121.
Congrats to Judy of Cascade, she’s our weekly winner! Thanks to all the new bloggers who’ve signed up. If you’re part of the steering committee, hopefully these questions will help you work on the final report that is due June 30. Please let us know if you have any questions about the blog or the report.There is a Blogging Handbook available on our Horizons website at http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/horizons/coaches.htm at the very top of the page… Thanks to MJ for writing this beginner’s guide! Also, for those communities that may be looking for a little more training, please contact MJ at merijoz@uidaho.edu / 208-885-8949 to see how she can help you.Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by Tuesday, June 3 by midnight and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles… I will be at a conference May 27-30 so this will give you a whole extra week…NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.Reflective Questions:
Scavenger Hunt Question:· Which Idaho Horizons community is working with the University of Idaho to help with their vision to “rebuild a community center to assist local families fight back against the ravages of poverty. They are looking to the future when they will have a center that provides central business offices for the city, a town library and public computers with Internet accessibility, expanded recreational facilities for youth and adults, a hall for future leadership and life skills training.”The winner will receive a copy of the book: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow Them and People will Follow You by John C. Maxwell.
Stites by all standards is a very small community with a high percentage of community members facing issues of poverty. Geographic isolation, limited land within city limits and closure of timber related industries have all contributed to a shrinking economy. But Stites residents are looking to rebuild a community center to assist local families fight back against the ravages of poverty. They are looking to the future when they will have a center that provides central business offices for the city, a town library and public computers with Internet accessibility, expanded recreational facilities for youth and adults, a hall for future leadership and life skills training.
With the help of conceptual drawings from the architectural department of the University of Idaho, Stites Residents are catching a vision of what it will be like to have a safe, inviting, environmentally friendly facility to accommodate the needs of a forward looking population determined to provide quality of life for Stites and the surrounding area.
Now more than ever people are using ride share to access goods and services and to share the high costs of travel. Within my extended family and friends we are calling each other to get shopping lists and doing shopping for one another in order to maximize our gas dollars. People challenged by fixed incomes are some of the best money managers in the nation, but the senior population is often isolated by lack of transportation and failing health. Is there someone in your community that would benefit by a friendly shopper or a ride share? What are some things you are doing to counteract the rising costs of goods and transportation?
I thought you might find this statistic interesting. It’s from the Center for Responsible Lending dated 2005. “In the past two decades, the U.S. cost of living has climbed 88 percent while incomes for the bottom 60% of households have risen only 5 to 15 percent. “ The original source is Isaac Shapiro, What new CBO Data Indicate About Long-term Income Distribution Trends, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Also: “Over a quarter of households in the US are asset-poor—lacking the net worth needed to survive for three months at the poverty line.” This one originally comes from Robert Haveman and Edward Wolff, Who are the Asset Poor? Level, Trends, and Composition. Institute for Research on Poverty Discussion. University of Wisconsin.
Plummer on the CDA Reservation commemorates the eruption of Mt. St. Hellens by hosting the Volcano Breakfast on May 17th this year. They will be serving a traditional country breakfast of sausage links, little smokies, biscuits and gravey, scrambled eggs and beverages. Sounds like a great event.
Congrats to Andrea of Grangeville, she’s our weekly winner!
Thank you all for the interesting responses about your community and what makes it ‘unique’ to you compared to other rural communities in Idaho.
I grew up in a small farming community in Idaho near the Utah border and I still think about it every day, the views and colors and smells and intense farm work we did (pulling rye, driving around and around in a tractor for 12 hours a day, herding cattle, etc) helped shape my life and world view. It’s that sense of place that helps define who we are and how we relate to the world around us.
I hope you’re all getting comfortable and familiar with the blogging process. Mary, MJ and I thank you for all the time and hard work you’ve devoted to this part of Horizons and know it’s just a small part of what you are all doing in your communities.
Please let MJ (merijoz@uidaho.edu) or me (dgray@uidaho.edu) know if we can help you with any questions you might have about blogging.
A ‘how to blog’ handbook is now available on our Horizons website at http://extension.ag.uidaho.edu/horizons/coaches.htm at the very top of the page…
Reflective Questions:
As we near the ‘end’ of this phase of Horizons, take a moment to look back on the past 18 months to answer these questions.
Has your community sought any additional resources outside of Horizons for your projects?
How has your community partnered with communities and/or organizations beyond Horizons?
Scavenger Hunt Question: Which Horizons community has an organization sponsoring a ‘Volcano Breakfast’ and what IS a Volcano Breakfast?
This week’s winner will receive a copy of:
One Nation, Underprivileged: Why American Poverty Affects Us All / Mark Robert Rank
Rules: Post your answers on your blogsite by May 20 (midnight) and be entered in the drawing for one of our book titles…
NOTE: Please enter your answers as either a comment to the original question OR as a brand new entry on your blog so that the answers are easy for people to find.
NWPSB Viewshed Workshop FlyerThe Northwest Passage Scenic Byway Advisory Team and North Central Idaho Travel Association hosted Community Marketing and Scenic Conservation Workshops in communities along Byway highways US 12 and SH 13. (See attached flyer.) The April 2008 workshops included computer-generated visual simulation of future land use scenarios by WGM Group, Missoula. WGM Group have extensive experience in development and conservation along highway and river corridors using context-sensitive design principles, scenic and conservation easements, visual simulation, 3D mapping, and other interactive tools to help citizens, property owners, developers, and elected officials plan for the future.
Stites area residents and business owners Josh Bradley, Rey Mireles, and Ruth Mohr were asked by the team of consultants about high priority community projects for Stites. The trio emphasized the need for streetscape improvements and a Community Center on Main Street. WGM utilized those suggestions for a visual concept of Stites.
The Kooskia/Stites workshop held on April 23 included illustrations of Stites’ Main Street design upgrades with a Community Center located on the current City Hall site. Following is the link to the visual simulation of the Stites concept http://picasaweb.google.com/WGMGroup/Renderings?authkey=7Y-71WHGqDk
The Byway project complements the University of Idaho project of a community center for Stites. The Scenic Conservation Workshop was a valuable sidebar to raise awareness of what is possible in Stites. Poster size copies of the visual simulations were given to the Stites Horizons attendees, and are on display at City Hall.
Questions about the presentation may bedirected to Mary Lorish Jahn, NW Passage Scenic Byway Coordinator, Jahn Studio Graphics, 208-983-9107; or Lorraine Hingston Roach, The Hingston Roach Group, 208-983-2175.
A community meeting of Stites area residents is scheduled for Monday, May 19, 6:00 to 8:30 pm, at the Stites Church of God dining room. A hosted dinner will be served from 5:00 - 5:45 p.m. The community meeting will provide a venue for area residents to learn about concepts for a community center in Stites, and plan for a successful Stites Days 2008.
Guest speaker Hanna Persson, from University of Idaho Bioregional Planning and Community Design, will present concepts and possible site solutions for a Stites Community Center. She will offer a couple of different options for how both, or either one, of the Main Street sites could be used for the community center and then give the community an opportunity to give feedback on these options.
This community meeting will enable area residents to contribute their ideas about the project concept.
Stites Days 2008 is scheduled for July 12 and 13. Group discussion at the meeting will center on activities and planning for this year’s event.
The meeting is hosted by the Stites Horizons “Building Our Community” Action Team, The Horizons program, sponsored by the Northwest Area Foundation, is about changes a rural community can make to move from waiting to leading, from decisions by a few to the participation of many, and from indifference to pride. Ultimately, it is about community leadership that can act to reverse a community’s economic and population decline and move toward prosperity and improved quality of life.
“Horizons provides a rare opportunity for rural communities to have a community-wide discussion and set their course for the future,” Mary Schmidt, Horizons project leader at Moscow for University of Idaho Extension.
For more information on the meeting or Horizons, please contact: Josh Bradleyl at 926-0110 or Rey Mireles at 926-4563.