4th of July

 Have an amazing

4th of July!

Hope you enjoy story of the Star Spangled Banner as most have never heard it, 

and two musical renditions of the Star Spangled Banner, 

which will reminds us all why this nation is so amazing.

(scroll down)!

Rock out to this amazing rock n roll version of the Star Spangle Banner.

>

Lake Tahoe Capsize

Sole survivors in Lake Tahoe boating disaster had one thing in common,,,

Coast Guard warns of unpredictable weather after weekend tragedy claims lives of birthday celebrant and seven others

A joyous family celebration turned into a harrowing tragedy over the weekend when a boat capsized during a sudden storm on Lake Tahoe, leaving eight people dead and two others hospitalized. 

The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the group had gathered for a 71st birthday celebration for Paula Bozinovich.

The department identified the deceased as Bozinovich, 71, and her husband, Terry Pickles, 73, both of Redwood City, California; their son, Joshua Antony Pickles, 37, a San Francisco resident and DoorDash executive; and Peter Bayes, 72, of Lincoln, California, a close family relative. 

Also killed were four family friends: Timothy O’Leary, 71, of Auburn, California; Theresa Giullari, 66, and James Guck, 69, both of Honeoye, New York; and Stephen Lindsay, 63, of Springwater, New York.

"These individuals were part of a closely connected family group enjoying a birthday gathering on the lake," the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office said in a June 24 statement. "We extend our deepest heartfelt condolences to the families of those who were lost and all those who have been affected by this tragic event."

The party had set out in a 27-foot gold Chris-Craft powerboat near D.L. Bliss State Park on Saturday, June 21, the department said. Initially greeted by clear skies and calm waters, the group’s outing took a deadly turn when a powerful storm swept across the lake. 

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, winds reached 30 knots with swells as high as eight feet. The boat capsized just before 3 p.m., tossing all ten occupants into the frigid waters of Lake Tahoe.

Two unidentified individuals survived the accident. Both were wearing life jackets when they were rescued and transported to a local hospital, the department said. 

"The most common mistake boaters make is not being aware of the forecasted weather," BM1 Justin Smith, executive petty officer of Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe, said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "Life jackets being worn continue to be the primary survivability factor." 

Emergency response teams from multiple jurisdictions, including North Tahoe Fire, California State Parks, Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, and the United States Coast Guard, mounted a massive search-and-rescue operation. 

In the wake of the tragedy, officials reiterated the importance of weather awareness, life jacket use and float plans. 

"Weather in the Tahoe Basin can be unpredictable and change quickly," warned Smith. "Mariners should be hesitant to operate in conditions where wind advisories or small craft advisories have been issued."

Six bodies were recovered on the day of the incident. The remaining two were found in the days that followed, with the final recovery made on Monday afternoon.

"The success of the search and recovery operations would not have been nearly as efficient without the assistance of our partner agencies," the sheriff’s office said. 

The recovery operations also required advanced divers and specialized teams such as the Wilderness Finder Search Dog Teams, the department said.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, DoorDash mourned the loss of Joshua Pickles, calling him "a cherished colleague and beloved friend whose energy and compassion will be deeply missed."

"No words can express the pain and anguish we feel knowing their lives were lost during what was meant to be a joyful time on the lake," Josh Pickles’ wife, Jordan Sugar-Carlsgaard, said in the statement Tuesday to the Associated Press. "Our hearts go out to those who tragically lost their lives and the two survivors of this unexpected and deadly storm on Lake Tahoe."

Josh Pickles’ wife had stayed at home taking care of their seven-month-old daughter, Sam Singer, a family spokesperson, told the outlet. The couple, who married in 2023, both worked at tech companies in San Francisco. Josh worked at DoorDash, and Jordan at Airbnb, Singer said.

By Sarah Rumpf-Whitten Fox News

Lake Coeur d'Alene Boat Fire

Marine deputies and fire crews responded to a boat fire near Higgins Point on Lake Coeur d'Alene on Saturday morning, with all people evacuated safely and no injuries reported.

According to the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office (KCSO), the incident occurred around 11 a.m. Saturday, prompting a response from KCSO Marine Deputies and local fire crews. All people aboard the vessel were able to get off the boat before emergency responders arrived.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, sheriff's officials said.

The sheriff's office used the incident as an opportunity to remind boaters about the importance of water safety and preparedness.

"It is a good reminder that you need a fire extinguisher on your boat," KCSO stated.

No additional details about the number of occupants, the type of vessel involved, or the extent of damage were immediately available.

NOTE: Fire likely cause from fumes in the bilge and the blower was not turned on or not turned on long enough, and no fire extinguisher on board.

Memorial Day

SEE MEMORIAL SERVICES Times below for the Coeur d'Alene and Hayden Idaho area. Contact your local military group(s) for events in your area.

 

I thought it was only fitting I supply you with this article about honoring those that have fallen in war to keep us free. See Article Below!

And I personally would like to thank those who USA military family members have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free, not just in this country but also for the world. There is no greater love than to give your life for another!

May we all remember their sacrifices today and forever. Let us visit their graves, support gold star families, and help lift where we stand, in our communities. Let us always stand, put our hands over our hearts, and take off our hats for the national anthem. And let us remember to defend the US Constitution at all costs via voting for those who know and uphold it, and by getting involved in our local communities. To truly honor the fallen is to uphold that which they fought and died for.

And to add to this, today is to specifically remember our fallen US military members and no one else! Memorial Day Monday is more than just another holiday. See Memorial events at the end of this page to enhance our remembrance. Also watch a USA military movie to remember the fallen, such as the Band of Brothers, Pearl Harbor, Midway, etc. Make a comment below related to your favorite war movies and memories of the fallen.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Skipper Miles Moore

MEMORIAL ARTICLE by the Navy SEAL who killed Usama bin Laden

Don't wish me a happy Memorial Day

Don’t wish me a happy Memorial Day. There is nothing happy about the loss of the brave men and women of our armed forces who died in combat defending America. Memorial Day is not a celebration.

Memorial Day is a time for reflection, pause, remembrance and thanksgiving for patriots who gave up their own lives to protect the lives and freedom of us all – including the freedom of generations long gone and generations yet unborn. We owe the fallen a debt so enormous that it can never be repaid.

Memorial Day is a time to honor the lives of those who would rather die than take a knee when our national anthem is played. But they will fight and die for the rights of those who kneel.

This holiday is a time to think of young lives cut short, of wives and husbands turned into widows and widowers, of children growing up without a father or mother, of parents burying their children.

Memorial Day is a time to think of might have beens that never were. Of brave Americans who put their country before themselves. Without these heroes, America would not be America.

Unfortunately, for many Americans this solemn holiday might as well be called Summer Day – marking the unofficial start of the season of barbecues, days at the beach, time spent on baseball fields and golf courses, hiking and enjoying the great the outdoors. All those things are great – we all appreciate them and they are some of the best things in life.

But Memorial Day is not Summer Day. Nor was the holiday created as a way to promote sales of cars, furniture or clothes.

Another Memorial Day brings with it a whole lot more than the start of summer. Since last Memorial Day, grass is now growing above the final resting places of many young men and women whose lives were taken too soon while defending our country in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other far-off places many Americans have rarely heard of.

When Army Sgt. La David Johnson, Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Sgt. 1st Class Jeremiah Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright were killed last October in an ISIS ambush in Niger, many Americans asked: We have troops in Niger? These unknown soldiers lost their lives protecting you – every one of you reading these words.   

Think about this: Millions of high-school seniors are walking across auditorium stages this season, receiving their diplomas. Most will go on to college or jobs, but some will choose a career of military service, joining the second generation of American warriors fighting in the Global War on Terror – a war that began with the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that took the lives of almost 3,000 people in our homeland.

Most of these new recruits – who were not even born or who were just infants when the 9/11 attacks took place – will make it home just fine. But some will not. I pray that I am wrong, but the sad truth is that the number of American war dead on Memorial Day in 2019 will be higher than it is on this Memorial Day.  

On Memorial Day, I salute my brothers and sisters-in-arms who have served beside me in War on Terror. My heart especially goes out to the families of those who did not return home. In fact, I think about all those who served and those who have given their lives fighting for America from our county’s earliest days in the Revolutionary War. They all have my gratitude.

We think we are strong, but in war any of us can be turned into just a memory in an instant. And war seems to have been the universal experience of just about every society on the planet at one time or another, for as long as there have been human societies.

How do we stop the wars resulting in such tragic waste of lives? How do we stop the number of American war dead and war dead in other nations from growing? I wish I knew the answer. But battle lines are being drawn and redrawn, and wars and terrorist attacks just keep going on and on. Weapons are getting bigger. Bombs are becoming smarter and more lives are being lost every day all over the world, leading to more death, more anger and more war.

Some are so loyal to their cause that they strap bombs on their bodies or fly passenger jets into buildings. They conduct beheadings. They set prisoners on fire. How do we find common ground with them? Do we even try to find common ground, or do we finally take the gloves off and start landing punches intended to take our enemy out for good?

I’ve been on over 400 Army combat missions and have seen more war than most Americans. More than I care to remember, but cannot forget. There is never a shortage of war. War spreads faster than fire and like fire it leaves destruction in its wake.

It hurts my heart as an American every time I see another service member’s body being brought home draped in an American flag. But it hurts my heart as a human being with every act of war we are all unleashing against each other around the world.

This Memorial Day, I urge all Americans to remember all the fallen sailors, soldiers, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard members who have so bravely served our country, as well as their families.

And I urge all Americans to join me in the hope and prayer that somehow, someday people around the world will focus more on our similarities than our differences and that we will move closer to a time when war is just a memory – part of our past but not our future.

Robert O'Neill is a Fox News contributor and ex-Navy SEAL best known as “the man who killed Usama bin Laden.” O'Neill joined the Navy in 1996 and deployed as a SEAL more than a dozen times, participating in more than 400 combat missions across four different theaters of war.

Hello everyone! I hope you all will find a Memorial Day ceremony in your area and go to it to honor our fallen Heroes. I know I will as I have family that have served and one son who is serving now in the Navy. We need to make this day more than a day to buy things and barbecue, etc. It should be a day of reverence.

Here below are two events in my area that honor our fallen Heroes.

Plus after noted events is an amazing article by the Navy Seal who killed Usama bin Laden. A very inspiring article by an American hero who teaches how to truly observe Memorial Day.

MONDAY/MEMORIAL DAY

Kootenai County Memorial Day events:

• 9 a.m. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 889 Memorial Day ceremony — McEuen Park, 420 E. Front St., Coeur d'Alene

• 9:30 a.m. Hayden Veterans Commission and U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc. wreath laying on Hayden Lake — Honeysuckle Beach, 2369 E. Honeysuckle Ave., Hayden

• 11 a.m. Marine Corps League Detachment 966 Memorial Day ceremony — Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens, 7315 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene

• 11 a.m. American Legion Post 143 Memorial Day ceremony — Evergreen Cemetery, 2834 N. Spokane St., Post Falls

• 11 a.m. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 889 Memorial Day ceremony — Forest Cemetery, 1001 N. Government Way, Coeur d'Alene

• 11 a.m. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3603 Memorial Day ceremony — Pleasant View Cemetery, 1298 S. Goldfinch Road, Post Falls

• 11 a.m. Hayden Veterans Commission Memorial Day ceremony — McIntire Family Park, 8930 N. Government Way, Hayden

• Noon, American Legion Post 154 and the city of Rathdrum Memorial Day ceremony — Pinegrove Cemetery, 6693 W. Highway 53, Rathdrum

• Noon, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1473 Memorial Day ceremony — Greenwood Cemetery, 400 10th Ave., Spirit Lake

Small Craft advisor article about the Malbec18

 

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The Malbec 18 Sailboat Fun To Sail owner Miles Moore Keeps Production Going MAY 19   READ IN APP   Many of us have lamented that their are so few small production sailboats on the market these days. Thirty years ago there was a fleet of niche fiberglass trailersailers being built across the country—these days you can probably count the manufacturers on one hand. One of the more exciting production sailboats to launch in recent years was the Malbec 18—a sleek modern cruiser that seemed to hit the sweet spot in terms of balancing trailerabilty, performance and cruising accommodations. When we reviewed it back in 2019 we wrote: Although the Malbec is new and plenty modern, in some ways her design is a throwback to the classic trailersailers of the 70s and 80s—a good all-round boat focused on family fun. For whatever reason, maybe the aforementioned used-boat saturation, of the few small-boat manufacturers who remain, most have focused on niche boats with very specific virtues or character. The Malbec 18 aims more for the center, where a good-sailing and stable boat with nice accommodations, shallow-draft beachability, and a fair price tag, ought to be extremely well-received. The Argentinean-designed Malbec was brought to the United States and refined by Ken Lange, former owner of International Marine (West Wight Potters), but ownership of the design and production has been taken over by longtime sailing instructor and boat dealer, Miles Moore from funtosail.com. “I knew Ken wanted to retire and I felt because I own and teach on a Malbec and really love the boat that it was a good fit to take over,” Miles told us. “It was a bit scary to take over in this economy, but I’ve seen too many great small sailboats vanish from the market and I didn’tt want that to happen to the Malbec18.” We asked him what specifically he admire about the design. “To me the boat is a cross between Potters, Compacs, and Montgomerys. All boats I love, but I found the Malbec employed all the great characteristics of those boats with the added benefit of better sailing performance with a great balance between cockpit and cabin size. Plus, it’s a nice simple boat and easy to maintain and super simple and quick to rig.” As for price and delivery schedule, Miles wrote: “The boat’s sailaway price is $45,000. That includes the sails with roller-furling jib (a new standard feature), boarding ladder, motor mount, all hardware, and mast raising system. Options are available. We typically say it takes 12 weeks to get a boat if we don’t have one in stock, even though it can take less. We tend to build a boat when we get the order. “For me it’s the perfect balanced trailerable sportboat and no way was I willing to see it vanishing from the market.” To read more on the Malbec click here •SCA• Note from FunToSAIL.com ... Please subscribe to this online publication and support small boat sailing!

May 2025 Priest Lake Update

May 13, 2025

As of this announcement date, peak runoff has not occurred, though it is approaching.  The lake will peak soon after.  The goal will be to have the lake to at least 3.0 feet by Friday, May 23rd.  Weather and precipitation will influence the level the lake peaks at as well as the time it reaches peak.  Once peak lake level has occurred, the lake level will be stabilized through gate operations.

As you’re likely aware, the type-of-year designation determines whether the lake level will be stabilized at 3.0 feet (for wet years) or between 3.0 to 3.5 feet (for dry years), in accordance with Idaho Code 70-507.  We’ve reviewed information from several agencies to make the type-of-year determination.

The National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) forecast issued in early May shows below average values of streamflow volume are expected for the Priest River basin.

In accordance, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a Seasonal Outlook for temperature and precipitation that predicts hotter and drier-than-normal conditions for North Idaho in the May through July timeframe.

The US Drought Monitor reports current conditions are abnormally dry for the Idaho panhandle.

Furthermore, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reports soil moistures of 10% or less in the Idaho Panhandle, suggesting drought conditions.

These predictions all point to a “dry” type of year, and therefore, operations are planned to hold the lake level between 3.0 and 3.5 feet during the recreation season.  Specifically, IDWR plans to hold the lake at 3.38 feet early in the recreation season.  Once flow in the Priest River drops to 200 cfs (likely in July or August), the lake level will be allowed to drop gradually from its current level to 3.0 feet through September 30th to augment the river flow.

Additional updates will be released in the May-June time frame, and any revisions to the plan will be announced then.

For questions contact Michelle Richman, IDWR Northern Regional Manager, northerninfo@idwr.idaho.gov or (208) 762-2800.

Mountain Meadows Lake, Pend Oreille County, Washington

Mountain Meadows Lake
This lake is located about 12 miles from Newport, in Pend Oreille County, WA. Fishing on this lake is done from the bank off of the county owned Deeter Road (see white arrow in map below). We want to make it clear this lake is totally privately owned shoreline other that the one spot indicated in the map below. DO NOT access private land and obey all county/state and private landowner signs. Deeter Road which is a dead-end road that is on the east side of the lake, along the shore is county owned and allows public access unless otherwise posted by the county. This road connects to Baker Rd, which is a private road and does not allow access and is typically gated (if gate is open, do not enter). Making the effort to accessing this lake makes no sense when there are so many beautiful public lakes in the area.

This lake's shoreline is heavily lined with lily pads and other aquatic plant life making fishing from the bank from the one spot along the county road difficult. Waterfowl make this lake their home. No hunting allowed. There are some reports that this lake is 20-30 deep, but there is no verification of this, all info we have found at its deepest in early spring is about 10 ft deep. Due to its shallow depth with warm water in the summer Alge build up is a given, plus its marsh conditions makes this lake home to a lot of mosquitos. Fishing: Limited info, Crappie and Bass. Not stocked by state fisheries. Directions/Maps: Visit google.com/maps type in Mountain Meadows Lake or GPS coordinates 48.196151, -117.225960

Attention... Obey ALL private and county/state signs!

ACCESSIBILITY: PARKING... Gravel, Dirt combo parking along road (park totally off paved road); PATHS/TRAILS... None; RESTROOMS/FACILITIES/SHADE… None. Some shade via trees; SENSORY... No sensory tactile markers for those with visual and other impairments. DOCKS/LAUNCHES/PLATFORMS… None. Launch off very small bank through grass and then lily pads (see white arrow on map below); DIRECT WATER ACCESS… No access for wheeled mobility devices; TRANSFER SYSTEMS... None; CAMPING... No; O.T.H.E.R… Oddities/Barriers: Deep grass, Lily pads; Terrain: Level to about 4% along lake; H2O/Water: Water normally murky. Water temperature in the summer can be around 60 to 70 degree. No drinking water available; Environmental Conditions: Varies; Resources: Food, drinks, and gas in in towns of Newport and Diamond Lake, WA.

The Lake is For Sale at this link... Click Here

Green line indicates private land. Yellow line is public county owned road. White arrow indicates only location where can fish at. One must obey all private, county, and state signs.

Red arrow indicates only location where one can fish at. One must obey all private, county, and state signs.

Please make comments below

WA360 team FunToSAIL.com

Skipper Miles Moore of FunToSAIL.com will be racing in the 2027 WA360 that take place June 26th. A race around the Puget Sound from Port Townsend WA, past Seattle, to the Canadian border, through or by the San Juan Islands, across the Strait of Juan De Fuca and back to Port Townsend. Approximately a 360-mile round trip adventure that does not allow gas or electric motors, only sail and/or muscle power.

We are posting about this race well in advance in the hopes of securing sponsors/donors, to help with the race and to acquire funding for our accessibility work and suicide prevention.

With this race will be the start of the FunToSAIL.com video and article series about small boat adventure sailing, types of safety and general gear used, Float Plans, etc.

Miles is dedicating this race to suicide prevention. As one who has delt with depression all his life, this effort to expand awareness of resources to help prevent suicide is particularly important to him. Click here for resources.

It's also his goal to stream some parts of this event so those with disAbilities and others following the race can ask him questions live and some of the racing directly from his boat. Miles has a special part of his heart reserved for those with disAbilities due to his own challenges and seeing others struggle but prevail in life. He has been doing accessible and therapeutic sailing for 30+ years. In addition, has been developing an Inland NW marine access guide so those with disAbilities can find access to the water. Click here!

Miles has taught sailing for 40+ years via his sailing school here at FunToSAIL. He is a Recreational Therapist and previously worked for the state of Idaho as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Before going to college, he worked in the fishing industry in Westport WA.

Click the donation button above if you would like to support FunToSAIL's efforts.

Make comments below

Bells Lake, Benewah County, Idaho USA

Bells Lake is between the St. Joe River and road NF-50, about 5 miles north of St. Maries, Idaho. Not really a good lake to go boating as there is no real way to get a boat into the lake. However the Idaho Fish & Game indicates fishing on this little lake that looks more like a pond. For fishing info visit this link... Fishing Bell Lake. Also a good place to bird watch.

ACCESSIBILITY: Difficult access... view lake from road. Could access lake over steep bank and then portage through marine vegetation. Certainly not accessible to wheeled mobility device.

Posted originally on 1/25/2019

Make a comment here...

SailGP Racing Live