Here's what's happening in April

*Plein Air Painters of Idaho (PAPI) Virtual Show and Sale is available to view online, featuring a collection of plein air artwork from artists across the state, including Bonners Ferry participant Dan Parlane. The virtual gallery allows visitors to browse and purchase artwork from the comfort of home, with pieces available through June 30. Check it out here.

20 A Winter Solstice Art Affair: Luminosity & Libations. Join from 5-8 p.m. at Teascarlet  Bonners Ferry to sip, mingle, and soak in the festive glow to toast the returning sun. Join for wassail, charcuterie, music, and candles while the darkness takes its deepest bow of the year.

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

20-24 Sandpoint Citywide Branch Pickup. All residents must have branches ready by 7 a.m. on April 20 as crews will only pass through each block once. Branches must be stacked parallel to the curb on the edge of the street. Branches can be no longer that 6 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter. If other debris is mixed into the stacks, they may not be picked up.

21 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.

21 Teen: Book Club. Meeting on the third Tuesday every month you can meet in the Teen Zone of the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. from 3-5 p.m. This months title is "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman.

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

22 Wednesday Family Storytime. Join from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. in Karen's Kids Room. This program is geared to children ages 2-5 with their caregivers. Join at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. Storytimes end for the season on April 25.

22 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.

22 State of the Lake. Idaho Fish and Game will host the 2026 Lake Pend Oreille 'State of the Lake' Open House from 6-8 p.m. at the University of Idaho Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, 10881 N. Boyer Rd. Anglers and community members are invited to learn about fish populations, current conditions, and management efforts while speaking directly with fisheries staff in an informal setting. A recorded video will be available one week in advance, and attendees are encouraged to watch it beforehand and come with questions. No registration is required. See more here.

23 Retirement Mixer. Join at the Elks Lodge, 30196 ID-200 from 3-5 p.m. for the Community Resource EnVision Center's retirement mixer. Please RSVP by calling 208-920-1840, emailing [email protected], or fill out a form here.

23 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.

23 Clark Fork: Kids STEM. Join at 3 p.m. at the Clark Fork Library for a fun STEM adventure. This program is designed for elementary-aged children.

23 Build on Your Land 101 Event. Building on Your Land 101 seminars aim to provide participants with a comprehensive overview of the various aspects involved in the construction and building on your land industry. Whether you are a novice looking to grasp the basics or an enthusiast seeking a deeper knowledge, this seminar is designed to cater to all levels of interest. Event will be held at 405 N. Fourth Ave. from 5-6:30 p.m. Register here.

24 Friday Mother Goose Storytime. From 10:30-11 a.m. in Karen's Kids Room come and take part with your waddlers up to 36 months old. Join at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. Storytimes end for the season on April 25.

25 Sandpoint French Social Meetup. Join at Paneah's bistro, 334 N. First Ave. Unit 200 for an hour social to practice your French and help others with the language. 9:30 a.m.

25 Earth Day Celebration. Join at the Sandpoint Library Garden, 1407 Cedar St. from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a community celebration of planet Earth. This will start with an Earth Day storytime, followed by talks on composting & vermiculture, tree planting workshops, art, games, activities, and more.

25 Saturday Virtual Reality. Check out the Lab at the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. from 1-3 p.m. where you can take a 15-minute spot to experience virtual reality. A legal guardian must accompany kids under 10.

25 Meet & Greet + Teacher Appreciation Day. Join the Bonner County Democrats'  with celebrated, long-time teacher, and candidate for Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction, Dr. Becky Sundin Mitchell. The event will take place from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Marigold Bistro's Community Room, 414 Church St. All are welcome to attend and be part of the conversation! Hear why Becky is running for election in 2026, and ask questions on how she intends to make the future of public education in Idaho better for all. Learn more about Becky here.

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 $15 for BCHS members and $20 for the general public; the business meeting remains free and open to all. Ticket link coming soon.

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 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.

And in May...

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 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.

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 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].