CommUNITY Breakfast Saturday

Saturday’s 6th Annual Free CommUNITY Breakfast will benefit a community project.

Proceeds from the all-you-can-eat breakfast, which will be served from 7 to 10 a.m. Sept. 6 in the Boundary County Middle School cafeteria, will go toward the $20,000 development of the North Hill walking trail.

Everything for the breakfast will be donated. Boundary Trading Co. is giving about $1,000 worth of food, beverages, plates and utensils, said Marty Becker, co-president of Better Boundary County Coalition, which sponsors the breakfast.

“(We do it) just because we’re part of the community and we’re very happy to do it,” said Matt Morgan, manager for Boundary Trading Co.

Morgan’s grocery list includes 500 biscuits, 90 pounds of ham, 20 pounds of sausage, 100 dozen eggs and a lot more.

Badger Boosters will do all the cooking.

Although the breakfast is free, donations will be accepted.

“If you want to make a donation . . . nobody stands by the door or hits you up,” Becker said.

The coalition expects to make most of its money from a silent auction, which will be held during the breakfast. Among the more than 100 items donated are a night’s stay and spa visit at Kootenai River Inn; a night’s stay at Northside School Bed & Breakfast; gift certificates from Under the Sun, Feist Creek, Larson’s Department Store and Far North Outfitters; scenic flight from Northern Air at Boundary County Airport; an alignment from Les Schwab; and more.

Work on North Hill trail improvements is expected to be completed by next summer, Becker said.

“We talk about Bonners Ferry being the crown jewel of the Gem State,” he said. “How better to appreciate that then to view the crown from up above.”

The one-mile trail follows the former stretch of U.S. Highway 95 that was rerouted after the mudslide in 1998. Plans for improving the trail include benches and three receptacles for dog waste.

“”Pets are like having your own personal trainer, but they leave a lot of messes along the trail,” Becker said.

The project also calls for installing two to four covered picnic tables with concrete pads.

“They will be commercial quality picnic tables with canopies to keep out of the snow, rain and sun,” he said.

The hope is to make the trail accessible all year, added Greg Johnson, another breakfast organizer.

“What I really hope to do once we get some funds is try to find an Eagle Scout take it on as a project — that’s a goo community project.”

For information, call Linda Alt at 267-3254, Greg Johnson at 267-7629 or Becker at 267-4444.