Addition, renovations coming to spruce up Benewah hospital
A five-story addition and renovations to the existing structure of Benewah Community Hospital will bring major changes to the St. Maries area.
The addition to the hospital at 229 S. Seventh St. will include departments of medical surgery, a family birth center, rural health clinic, a specialty clinic, physical therapy, administration and billing, the kitchen and cafe and the information technology department. Renovations will be to the emergency department, pharmacy, admitting and medical records, with the whole project about 75,000 square feet. New equipment will aid medical surgery, radiology, physical therapy, and the kitchen and waiting area. More parking spaces also will be added.
Originally built in 1957 with several additions over the years, the new building will be complete in February 2012 and renovations in November 2012. One old wing will be demolished. Brian Nall, chief executive officer, said the hospital now employs about 140 people and may expand to 150 with the addition.
“Anyone can click on our website (www.bchmed.org) to see the construction live via our webcam,” Nall said. “In the next few weeks the east wing will be demolished, and that should be fun to watch. At the peak of construction, 200 workers will be on the project.”
The Party’s Here (on Government Way)
Offering complete party supplies and decorations for every occasion, The Party’s Here store has opened in Suite C of the mini-mall at 7352 Government Way.
Balloon bouquets and special orders are additional options offered by owners Daria Brown and Diana Libey. Originally from Colfax and now from Rathdrum, Brown was educated at Whitworth University and has a background in business. Libey came from Spokane with an extensive background in the party store business.
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, 9:30 to 6 Tuesday through Friday and 10 to 3 on Saturday. Call (208) 635-5610.
Mumbly-Peg opens in Hayden
An eclectic inventory fills the new Mumbly-Peg store at 1985 W. Hayden Ave. With options of buy, sell or trade, the store offers new, used, antique and collectible knives and swords, sterling silver and gold jewelry, black-powder guns and leather and gift items.
Owners Sandi and Jim Wilson came to North Idaho from Winchester Bay, Ore. Originally a candle store, Mumbly-Peg is across from Grace Tree Service. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with a 10 percent off sale through Dec. 24. Call (208) 772-6008.
This week’s tidbits
• Two downtown Coeur d’Alene restaurants are closing. Although just opened in September, the Sherman Junction at 819 E. Sherman Ave. closed two weeks ago. The place opened in the 1950s as a Sambo’s Restaurant and was the Rustlers’ Roost before it moved to Hayden.
And after 18 years in business, the Takara Japanese Restaurant at 309 E. Lakeside Ave. will close Dec. 23.
• Another downtown business, Lori’s Needle Ark in the lower level at 123 E. Sherman Ave., will close Jan. 15. Owner Lori Elmore offers supplies for cross-stitch, needlepoint, hardanger and crewel, fibers, fabric and gadgets. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 to 5 Saturdays with a “closing business” sale. She has had the business 25 years and is closing for economic and health reasons. Built about 1900 as the open-air basement to a bank, this location is very interesting with its brick and stone work lining cavernous small rooms and levels. Call (208) 664-8587.