Annual wine tasting goes tropical

This year's Clearwater Valley Hospital Auxiliary and Foundation Wine and Beer Tasting set for Friday, April 15, will be sporting a tropical theme.

Hawaiian breads, pineapples, kiwi fruit, smoked salmon, tropical punch and fun fondues will be matched with a special array of wines and beers.

"Flowered shirts, hula skirts and bright colors are not necessary, but if someone wants to wear something like that we'd certainly think it was fun!" said Jo Moore, Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics Foundation executive director. "We've had a great time picking out decorations to transform the Little Flower Room into a tropical paradise."

Janet Burnham is leading a team of tropical decorators and Darlene Mathis, LPN, is lining up the goodies.

Proceeds from this year's fundraiser will be used to send area children who have been diagnosed with juvenile diabetes to a week long summer diabetes camp in Coeur d'Alene.

"This camp will make a huge difference in the lives of these kids," said Hal Joseph, RPA-C. "I ignored my disease when I was that age which was a terrible thing. I'm hoping these kids will learn enough not to do the same thing."

Joseph is a Certified Diabetes Educator at CVHC. He will make a brief presentation about the camp at the event.

Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased at the door, from auxiliary members or at the hospital. The ticket entitles ticket buyers to five tastes of wine or beer. Non-alcoholic punch and coffee will also be available.

"We have kept the ticket price the same for many, many years because our first goal is to have people join us in celebrating the community's support of our hospital and clinic," said Moore. "We wouldn't have high quality health care locally if it weren't for such a supportive community."

Photo: Planners for this year's CVHC Foundation Wine Tasting on April 15 are busy gathering leis and giant flowers for this year's Tropical theme. Shown from left are: back, Darlene Mathis, Glenna Mastrud, Janet Burnham, Kathy Dougherty; front, Freddi Engblom, Jeanette Gorman, Mary Ann Smith. (photo courtesy Jeanette Gorman)