Spring 08 Steelhead season closes

We said Goodbye to the steelhead season last week. Friends celebrated the closing day with a great catch at a deep hole in Clearwater River near Orofino, pictured above. The 17 pounder was grilled and shared by friends as a fond farewell to spring fishing and a hello to solar powered summer's arrival.

It took till June 22 this year for the sun to make its final decision to stay awhile and shine on the LC Valley as Summer Solstice greeted us. It has been a wet and cool spring this year, which benefited the reservoirs, the animals and vegetation in the area.

The rivers are again buzzing on weekends with jet skis, touring boats, fishing boats, and even an occasional kayak can be seen as the water beckons us to go outside and play! Recreation is King in the LC Valley!

Super Wallmart is coming to LC Valley

Community stability and growth potential is inherent in Wallmart choosing areas to bring in Superstores. We have been told their studies of areas are among the most exhaustive demographic studies done. If only the residents of the LC Valley were aware of the fabulous potential we have here... and that we take for granted! Wallmart sure does!

A Super store is being built on the Washington side of the Snake River and the established store is at the top of 21st St in Lewiston. Unless they close the Lewiston store, we will actually have two Wallmart's in our valley.

The Clarkston riverfront area is presently home of several businesses including the new Bank of Whitman and has been the home of Costco since the early '90's. Adjacent to it the new ReMax office is due to open mid June, and it also offers over 6,000 feet of retail/office space for lease. Rooster's Landing restaurant is in process of building a new facility we hope will be open for business this summer. It appears that BiRight is also going to open a new store in Clarkston. Is it possible Clarkston will grow as the new commercial hub of the valley?

Lewiston Clarkston Salutes Spring

Spring is 3 weeks late this year! The dogwoods are blooming at their peak performance today. It is also the day we have our pool opened and usually take a leisurely hot tub and a quick dip to welcome the swimming/boating/summer season. It's not going to happen today!

May 12 and there is still snow in the higher altitudes around the LC Valley. My oldest son actually spent Saturday, May 10 skiing! No- not water skiing! Snow skiing! Our friends in McCall, Idaho still have a foot of snow waiting to melt in their yard.

Good news-- the fishing is great, and the watershed will have replenished. Bring on summer!

Helpful Credit Score Tips

I love it when my lender sends me quick, easy tips to pass along. Bobbi Hoene,Branch Manager National City Mortgage in Lewiston wants all of us to improve our credit scores. Six easy tips include:

1. Only allow your Credit score to be pulled if necessary.

2. To RAISE your credit while paying revolving debt, pay down the balances closest to your maximum limits first. That decreases the red flag of being overextended.

3. Ask Account holders to raise your limits if you do not have the funds to pay down balances. Then do not use the extra credit.

4. Transfer some of the debt around. from one credit card to another with a smaller balance if you can't get your account limit raised.

5. DO NOT open any new accounts. Keep your goal in mind and do without what you cannot pay cash for.

6. DO NOT ever miss a payment or send in a late payment.

So many of us have taken the Credit Scores for granted. They are becoming more critical every day and we must strive to keep them high! Reach for the top...800 and above!

Valley Housing Supply/Prices in Balance

According to Mary Jane Kneisly, Broker and CoOwner of Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Associates in the LC Valley, “Our prices have been stable. We’re fortunate here. We haven’t had that runaway market like the big cities have.” This quote is taken from the cover story of Lewiston Morning Tribune’s Business Profile April 15, 2008.

She also suggests that our area homes are not overpriced, and that “A buyer isn’t going to be able to lowball a seller”, as the local MLS statistics show that our houses sell for 97% of list price on average.

According to several lenders in the area who publish daily rate sheets, our rates are the best ever, as low as 5.5% on a 15 year loans. Most of the activity that keeps our local market moving is from local folks that either need more acreage or outdoor space, more square footage, or a different distance to schools, medical, or shopping.

With low rates most people can buy more house for their buck, so why not move on up the property ladder?

LC Valley named #2 Best City in the US

Outdoor Life magazine sites Lewiston, ID as #2 Best City in the nation for quality of outdoor recreation, outdoor sports, hunting and fishing and overall quality of life.

Interestingly enough, the above photo that I took from my daughter in laws parents home Easter 2005 is almost identical to the photo the magazine ran with the article.

Click here if you want to read the article in full, and you will get an outsiders opinion of why we choose to live here. It is an easy going life style, and every time we travel, we arrive home and heartily say" I love my home and the LC Valley!"

This last week our temperate valley has enjoyed highs near and over 60 degrees, our tulips and daffodils are at peak bloom and trees are greening. We are surrounded by snow and cold on the Palouse and even to the southern part of the state. Some friends are actually "stuck" in their motorhome in Nevada. The Snoqualmie pass has been closed and the roads are nasty to Boise. They called longing to return to our peaceful haven, albeit 5 days after their planned return.

The yearly Dogwood Festival and the Asotin County Fair will be held in 2 weeks- and that means the Valley will be in bloom with pink and white dogwood flowers and overflowing with folks coming to celebrate the most beautiful time of year in the Valley- our early spring! The jet boats will once again buzz along the river and the 20 miles of bike and walking paths will again be bustling with joggers and walkers enjoying our water front to the fullest.

Thank You Dene Thomas, LCSC President

Seven years ago our community was honored to have Dene Thomas begin her presidency at our Lewis Clark State College. In her tenure, she has overseen funding procurement and construction of the building of the new multi-million dollar LCSC Activity Center, which replaced the 30 year old Warrior Gym.

Dene was also consistent and persistent to spearhead the new dorms-residence building, Blake Hall, which was accomplished through outside the box funding rather than not happening because no state funding was available.

The most recent building project, a $16 millon dollar Nursing Building, has been approved by the State Legislature, and the official Groundbreaking Ceremony was held Friday, March 7, 2008.

Our local college community is thriving because of the tenacious strengths Dene Thomas has brought to her Presidency at LCSC. As a supporter of LCSC, having had both our sons and their wives graduate from LC, I want to publicly blog my thankfulness to Dene THomas!

Eclipse in full view from LC Valley

Now that was "brilliant"! The February 27th eclipse of the moon was totally visible from our home in Clarkston, Washington. We sat with binoculars as well as just bare eyes and took in the entire event.

The gigantic open sky here was the perfect backdrop for the eclipse. A smattering of clouds wafted their way across the moon at prime time, making it even more dramatic and mysterious. This being the land of the Nez Perce, I couldn't help but connect with folks down the ages who did not know what was happening. They had to be in awe of the shadow of the earth's gradual covering and cancelling the moon's silhouette. How? Why? Only the creator knows!

Will the sky be clear in 2010 for the next visible eclipse from my windows?

New Businesses headed for Quad Cities, LC Valley

Climate and quality of life are now being supplemented with new jobs to be the main draw of newcomers to the Lewiston, ID Clarkston,WA Valley. As we see more and more transplants seek refuge here from severe weather, hazardous geographical conditions, and just the rat race of city life, we see our Valley grow despite other areas seeing economic decline.

IHOP is readying to open near Wallmart on the brow of Thain Road. We are already enjoying the new Panda Express several blocks away. Seems we are always ready to absorb a new restaurant.

SEL Engineering in Pullman, Wa has announced another expansion. Approximately 300 new positions are to be opening up in the next year, meaning we will see a need for services for many new residents in the area. Some of the relocating folks will choose to live in the Lewiston Clarkston area, as the cost of housing is considerably less than Moscow and Pullman.

The ability to commute and carpool/vanpool has recently allowed for more flexibility in the choice of community to live in. The half hour commute goes quickly and actually is preferred by some.

'Snow Place like LC Valley- No Snow

Another reason I love living in the Lewiston Clarkston Valley is because I can see snow, drive a half an hour and play in snow, and not have to deal with snow in my busy life style.

This past week the entire surrounding area was inundated with feet of new snow and winds that blew it in white out sheets over the open praries and the Palouse. It has been decades since the University of Idaho and Washington State University have actually closed, and this past week the weather forced closing more than one day. Public schools were closed almost a whole week in some of the rural areas.

So, snow snow go away, and yes, robins and nesting birds.....please stay! Spring cannot be far away.