Here's what's happening in April

25-28 Cognitively-Based Compassion Training. Sravasti Abbey hosts a four-day course on Cognitively Based Compassion Training, CBCT®, a secular training developed at Emory University to enhance self-awareness and genuine connection with others. It combines ancient Tibetan methods for developing compassion with contemporary insights from neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and emotion science. CBCT is for people of any or no faith tradition. Accommodations are available at the Abbey; commuters are also welcomed. The course is offered on a donation basis. A $100 offering secures your place. This event will be held from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. daily at Sravasti Abbey, 692 Country Lane in Newport. See more or register here.

27 Monday Raspberry Pi Coder's Club. Join from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Lab of the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St.

28 Mobile Food Market. Show up between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive. Up to 250 families will be served (or while supplies last) No appointment or paperwork needed, just come by if you need a hand with some free food. 2-harvest.org.

28 Teen: Sandpoint Content Creators. Join from 3-4:30 p.m. in the Community Rooms at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. where you can learn the basics of filming, editing, releasing, and marketing every Tuesday.

28 Teen: Card Games. Bring your favorite card game to teach others how to play, or learn a new card game to show your friends. Meet at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. in the Teen Zone from 3-5 p.m.

28 Tuesday Coding Club. Join from 3:30 - 5 p.m. in the Lab of the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St.

28 BCHS Annual Membership Meeting. Join the Bonner County Historical Society at The Hive, 207 N First Ave. on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. for their Annual Membership Meeting and 2025 report. This public event features a special presentation by acclaimed Northwest author Jack Nisbet, who will share stories of natural history inspired by his latest work. Tickets for the presentation are as follows: Adults $15 for BCHS members and $18 for the general public. $5 for youth 18 and under (BCHS member youth are free); the business meeting remains free and open to all. Get your tickets here.

29 Blood Drive. Vitalant is hosting a blood drive in the Community Rooms of the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The goal is 30 donors. Registration is recommended at vitalant.org.

29 Clark Fork: Wednesday Crocheting With Friends. Join at the Clark Fork Library from noon to 1:30 p.m. where you can make new friends, learn new stitches, share patterns, and create items for hospice or those in need.

29 Friends of the Panida Quarterly Meeting. The FOP will hold their quarterly Board meeting at 1:00 p.m. at the Marigold Bistro in the Columbia Bank building, 414 Church St. FOP is an Idaho nonprofit created to raise funds for projects at the Panida Theater. Please join. All are welcome.

29 Business After Hours. Join from 5-7 p.m. to connect, collaborate, and grow. A networking event for professionals. Find more info at Sandpointchamber.org under the events tab. Last Wednesday of the month.

29 Clark Fork: Community Forum for Bonner County Legislative District 1 Races. The Bonner County Farm Bureau is hosting public community forums for the upcoming 2026 elections, providing a platform for candidates from all parties to engage with local voters. These sessions will feature candidates for both statewide legislative seats and essential Bonner County local offices, including County Commissioner, Clerk, Assessor, District Judge, and Coroner. These events are designed to foster transparency and help residents make informed decisions ahead of the primary and general elections. Join at the Clark Fork Community Center, 1001 N. Cedar St. at 6 p.m.

29 Registration Deadline: Choose Your Own Weaving Adventure with Jan Rust. This class is designed to give the students who have completed Jan’s Beginning Weaving Class an opportunity to create a wall hanging of their own design. Classes will be held on May 4, 11, and 18 from 1-4 p.m. $108. Register or learn more at artinsandpoint.org/jds-student.

30 Medicare 101. Join from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in the Community Rooms of the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. for an in-depth overview of Medicare presented by the Idaho Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA).

30 Thursday Virtual Reality. Check out the Lab at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. from 3-5 p.m. where you can take a 15-minute spot to experience virtual reality. A legal guardian must accompany kids under 10.

30 Clark Fork: Family Movie. Join at 3 p.m. at the Clark Fork Library for a free movie (Charlotte's Web) and popcorn.

30 Clark Fork: Community Forum for Bonner County Local Races. The Bonner County Farm Bureau is hosting public community forums for the upcoming 2026 elections, providing a platform for candidates from all parties to engage with local voters. These sessions will feature candidates for both statewide legislative seats and essential Bonner County local offices, including County Commissioner, Clerk, Assessor, District Judge, and Coroner. These events are designed to foster transparency and help residents make informed decisions ahead of the primary and general elections. For Bonner County local races, join at the Clark Fork Community Center, 1001 N. Cedar St. at 6 p.m.

And in May...

2 'Confidence in Boating' Training. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Lake Pend Oreille Flotilla will host this safety class from 9 to 11 a.m. at the U.S. Forestry Building, 1602 Ontario St. This training is focused on basic vessel control and emergency preparedness for boaters, passengers, families and older children. Cost is $7 per individual or $10 per family (up to four people). For information or to register, contact Beverly Hannibal at 509-951-9191 or [email protected]

2 Free First Saturday & Hands on History at the Museum. Visit the museum, 611 S. Ella Ave. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission is free the first Saturday or each month.

3 Sharing the Dharma Day. Join the Buddhist nuns and monks at Sravasti Abbey Buddhist monastery, 692 Country Lane in Newport, for Sharing the Dharma Day. It's a day-long event for newcomers and old friends to explore Buddha's teachings to develop peaceful hearts and minds. The day includes a guided meditation, a teaching on the topic of the day, vegetarian potluck, and a facilitated discussion. Topics come from the book, "Working With Anger," by Sravasti Abbey founder and abbess Ven. Thubten Chodron. No experience required. All are welcomed. 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. See more here or register here.

4 Registration Deadline: Mosaic Art with Cheryl Klein. In this 3-hour class, students create an original 9x6 mosaic on slate using the direct applicaton method. Class will be held on May 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. $36. Learn more or register here.

4 Registration Deadline: Creating a Copper Bracelet/Cuff with Dave Gonzo. In this class students will learn how to safely and properly use the oxyacetylene torch, the properties of copper, the difference of work hardened vs. annealed, annealing copper, measuring and layout, cutting shapes with the beverly shear, sanding and deburring, hammer texturing, basic fold forming and shaping into a bracelet/cuff. Each student will take home their piece of jewelry! Class will be held on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $54. Learn more or register here.

5 Sandpoint Senior Center Open House & Senior Resource Fair. Join for this open house and resource fair, kicking off the Live Give 7B fundraiser and tour the facility. Also meet with many community partners covering topics including hospice, assisted living, home health care, food programs, and so much more! 3-6 p.m. Sandpoint Senior Center, 820 Main St. sandpointareaseniors.org/.

5 Injectors Car Club Meeting. Join the injectors for their monthly meet up at Serv-A-Burger, 907 Fifth Ave. It all starts with a social hour and optional dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a brief meeting at 7 p.m. This gathering brings together car enthusiasts of every kind, from daily drivers to classics and customs. It's a relaxed evening of car talk, familiar faces, and good company, where the conversations last longer than the agenda. Look forward to this the first Tuesday of every month (March-Nov).

7 Priest River Watershed Group Presentations. Join at the Priest River Library for an informative evening regarding local water and wildlife. Starting at 4:30 p.m., the Idaho Department of Water Resources will present virtually on the 2025 and 2026 operations of the Outlet Dam, followed by a presentation from the Kalispel Tribe on cutthroat trout in the Lower Priest River. Each session includes a live Q&A, and those interested in local governance are welcome to arrive at 4:00 p.m. for the public Steering Committee meeting.

7 USACE Public Meeting. Join at the Sandpoint Center, 414 Church St. Inside, and next to the Marigold Bistro from 5-7 p.m.

7 Idaho Panhandle Public Lands Initiative. Meeting at the Boundary County Annex, 6566 Main St. in Bonners Ferry at 6 p.m.

8 Women in the Woods Field Day. Women interested in forest stewardship, land management, and connecting with others in the field are invited to the Women in the Woods Field Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Pine Street Woods, hosted by Kaniksu Land Trust. This hands-on outdoor event is designed for women landowners, professionals, and enthusiasts, offering a supportive space to learn and connect. Cost is $10 per person and includes lunch; space is limited, so early registration is encouraged at bit.ly/clearwater_events. For more information, contact Audra Cochran at [email protected]
 or 208-476-4434.

8 Lakes Commission Spring Meeting. Join from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Ponderay Event Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way. Public is welcome. Expect updates on the following: aquatic invasive species (including Snake River quagga mussels), federal reserved water rights claims in the Clark Fork/Pend Oreille and Priest basins, the Lake Pend Oreille economic impact study, hydrology research from the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute, and regional water supply forecasts and dam operations.

9 Planning Your Organic Garden. It is important to think through your garden project before you buy seeds or transplants. What should I plant? How much should I plant? and Where should I plant it? With a little careful planning and the right plant choices, your veggie garden can provide a bountiful harvest of all your favorites! This in-depth workshop will cover planting schedules, plant spacing, succession planting, crop rotation, creating a garden map, companion planting, and planting for beneficial insect habitat which are all a part of planning for a successful harvest. 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Greentree Naturals Certified Organic Farm, 2003 Rapid Lightning Rd. $40. Registration is required and can be done by emailing [email protected].

11 Volunteer Training for Sandpoint Friendship Station. Join for a four-hour volunteer training from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Sandpoint United Methodist Church, 711 Main St., where you can explore how to support the weekly respite program for caregivers. By offering the gifts of presence and fellowship to those living with dementia, you provide essential connection for our community; attendance is free, a complimentary lunch is included, and further details are available at sandpointfriendshipstation.com.

11 Registration Deadline: Introduction to Oil Painting with Laurie Carlson. You will learn how to use paint to create the effects that you want, how to create volume and perspective, and gain insight into the traditional art of oil painting. Classes will be held on May 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. $48. Learn more or register here.

13 Bonner County Amateur Radio Club (BCARC) Meeting. Anyone that has an interest in amateur radio is welcome. Meetings are on the second Wednesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the VFW Hall, 1325 Pine St. k7jep.org.

13 Registration Deadline: Garden Flower Art with Dave Gonzo. In this class students will learn shop safety, proper use/care of tools and processes/ techniques with demonstration. They will be using the Oxyacetylene torch and welding rod to create 3- dimensional art. The first half of the class will be practicing shaping metal with the torch as well as welding pieces together. In the second portion of the class students will create a sculpture that they will be able to take home. Class will be held on May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $72. Learn more or register here.

23 Fertilizing Your Garden Organically. Fertile soil is the first step in increasing yields. Cultural practices such as cover cropping, and composting will ensure balanced nutrition of your soil in the long run, and organic amendments will help your garden thrive. Learn about foliar feeding, which plants are heavy-feeders, and which ones are not, and how to take a soil sample. This workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Greentree Naturals Certified Organic Farm. $40. Registration is required and can be done by emailing [email protected].