What a deal! What a deal!

I've got lots of nice reasons to post the illustration above.

It was designed by Kendall Stratton, daughter of Kari.

Kari was my student for three years; she's remained my friend ever since.

She works as senior director at the Coldwater Creek Catalog Co. photo studio.

Her dad Erik has won some Academy Awards for cinematography.

He's worked for National Geographic for years.

He's my friend and has been for years. He makes a mean margarita.

Kendall is a student in my sister's yearbook class.

My sister Barbara is a wonderful photographer, just like Kari and Erik.

My sister Barbara is Kendall's teacher, has been for three years, I believe.

I'm sure Kendall is a great photographer: just haven't seen any of her work, except her graphic skills above.

Kendall is planning to attend the Journalism Education Association National Convention next month in Portland, along with other Monticola yearbook staff members at Sandpoint High School.

They'll be going with the newspaper staff students.

My son Willie advises and teaches the newspaper and journalism students.

I think more than 20 students are planning to attend.

They need money.

So, instead of aforementioned spaghetti feed, which I believe was supposed to be today, Barbara (Miss Tibbs) and her nephew, Willie (Mr. Love) have come up with a variety of fundraisers, all set for one day.

That would be Saturday, March 27 at Sandpoint High School.

In addition to taking your family and/or your pets down there for a very reasonable portrait, you can buy things.

The students will have a parking lot aka garage sale.

They are also sponsoring a road-apple rally.

In this event, people purchase squares on a grid. The grid will be inside an enclosure. At an assigned time, two rather pretty horses belonging to my two sisters, will be led into the enclosure.

At no prescribed time other than when nature decides, one of those horses, maybe both, will leave deposits on the grid. Those are called "road apples," for any uninformed readers.

Which ever square on the grid shows the largest amount or most road apples (sometimes the consistency of road apples turns to mash), which ever square gets dirty and green determines the winner of a cash prize.

From what I've heard, it's a lot of return on your $10 ticket, a heckuva lot more than the banks give you for interest. I've heard $1,000 mentioned as the prize, but I know this whole project has been a work in progress, so I won't say for sure.

If all goes well, there will be a whole lot of cash left over for the kids to use on their trip to Portland. And, of course, a mess to clean up.

I know those tickets have gone out, and I'm pretty sure I was the first one to purchase several of them, but nobody's assigned me any squares yet.

Anyway, it should be a fun day for all involved----nice photos taken by talented kids (you get a CD with a large assortment), second-hand stuff of good quality for prices even lower than what you'll earn for your bank interest, and pretty horses dropping their apples on squares.

Doesn't get any better than that, and, of course, when it's all over, there will be a bunch of smiling kids and even happier parents who don't have to go find an arm and a leg to send their kids to the convention.

So, there you have it, the complete scoop on the journalism fundraiser. Except for one thing. To learn more about any of these projects, you can call the number on the flyer or call Miss Tibbs or Mr. Love at Sandpoint High School 208-263-3034.

If you simply want to donate, you can send a check to either staff member at Sandpoint High School, 410 South Division, Sandpoint, ID 83864. I know they'll appreciate it.

And, since I have so many neat connections with the people involved, I encourage you to help them out and to spread the word.

Thank you.