Your Own Private River Park
Tucked away in the patriotic city of Star, Idaho, River Park Estates rests along a half-mile stretch of riverfront property. World-class homes, modern architecture, and sophisticated design invite you in, while stunning lake views and activities are no longer reserved for the weekend.
Relaxation awaits.
Dear Readers,
When I was a child, I watched "Unsolved Mysteries" religiously. At first, it was because it was in the lineup of shows my elderly babysitter enjoyed on the evenings my sisters and I spent with her. Before long, I was a diehard fan. My favorites were the plots with an element of the paranormal—the truly unexplainable. Anybody could comprehend a murder, but a poltergeist in a comedy venue? Sign me up.
Imagine my delight when I read that a white bison had been born in Yellowstone National Park in early June. (Corresponding with "Unsolved Mysteries" Season 8, Episode 7.) This calf’s birth is rare, widely celebrated in Native American communities who view it as sacred, and amongst others who simply appreciate the calf’s uniqueness. But, and here’s the catch—it hasn’t been seen since.
Of course, this is easily explainable if you lack imagination. A host of predators call the park home. There’s difficult terrain to contend with too, and miles of off-road acreage in which a white bison could simply disappear. Perhaps it just doesn’t want to be seen.
Editor in Chief HEATHER HAMILTON-POST
I’m heading to Yellowstone a week after writing this with just one item on my bucket list: find the white bison calf. In a summer full of adventure, I remain optimistic that I can do it—albeit from familyfriendly hiking trails and also, the comfort of my vehicle.
This optimism is the most crucial part of any summer bucket list, a concept we’re thoroughly immersing ourselves in for this issue of IdaHome. Go on the road with a Caldwell bull rider, who talks about his love for the sport that can kill you. Jump in the car and hit a few state parks within driving distance of Boise, head up north to explore some of the state’s best hot springs, drive in a Wandervan with our publisher, or travel to nearby Silver City, a historic town that was once a robust community of miners.
We’ve got a great story about Sisters on the Fly, an organization of women seeking freedom through travel, adventure, and friendship. For all the thrill seekers, read about some Idaho ziplines providing non-stop exhilaration all summer long. Looking for something truly wild? Did you know Idaho has baby kangaroos? Babby Farms raises them by hand, waking for nighttime feedings and carrying them in the same slings we moms use for our babies.
If you’re feeling indoorsy, plan to attend the Alturas Institute’s “Conversations with Exceptional Women,” this August, exploring democracy and women’s rights. This excellent feature offers a peek into the wealth of wisdom offered by participating, powerhouse female trailblazers.
You can also check out a different kind of book club that circumvents the trickier parts of more conventional clubs. Readers choose their own book, gather together to sit in silence and read—a gold star adventure for any introvert.
Finally, Constitutional Conversations looks at the Constitution as a bucket list with a timely discussion of this document as a blueprint for our country and goals we must always strive for.
Onward to Adventure!
publisher
KAREN DAY karen@idahorem.com
editor
HEATHER HAMILTON-
POST
heather@idahorem.com
art and design
JASON JACOBSEN jsngrafix@gmail.com
KALEY WRIGHT design@idahorem.com
director of operations
MARIELLE WESTPHAL admin@idahorem.com
staff photographer
KAREN DAY
cover photograph
ADOBE AI
social media
APRIL NEALE april@idahorem.com
director of sales and marketing
MONA WARCHOL mona@idahorem.com
Magazine, LLC P.O. Box 116 Boise, Idaho 83701 208.481.0693
The opinions expressed by the authors and contributors to IdaHome Magazine are not necessarily those of the editor and publisher.
ON THE COVER
Idaho offers a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, with its stunning landscapes of rugged mountains, pristine rivers, and vast forests. Adventure awaits those who seek it by dreaming and daring to go beyond boundaries. Likewise, the white buffalo is as much myth as it is a rarity. In various Native American cultures, this animal symbolizes hope, peace, and spirituality—its birth a miraculous and highly revered occurrence, an omen of good fortune and significant spiritual events. Our cover this issue is dedicated to the miracle of the recent birth of a white buffalo, combining myth, art, and technology with the use of AI to illustrate the power of dreams come true.
CONTRIBUTORS
Chelsea Chambers is a graduate of Boise State University and has been working in media and communications for nearly a decade. She specializes in public relations, print and digital media, and social media management but dabbles in a variety of other areas. Chelsea serves as the Public Information Specialist and Interpretive Coordinator for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and runs a freelance business doing everything from copyediting to consulting.
David Gray Adler is President of The Alturas Institute, a non-profit organization created to advance American Democracy by promoting the Constitution, civic education, gender equality and equal protection of the law. A recipient of teaching, writing and civic awards, Adler has lectured nationally and internationally, and published widely, on the Constitution, presidential power and the Bill of Rights. He is the author of six books.
Karen Day is a photographer and the fearless captain of our fleet of pages and mighty crew. A list of her creative passions and true job description risks making her appear insane, rather than insanely talented. Her habit of climbing onto the ledge of possibility offers us continuous adventures and little sleep. All aboard!
Tim Atwell is a lifelong Idahoan who enjoys writing about the fastgrowing food and drink scene in Boise. He works full time as a tech writer, but you can find him on nights and weekends exploring Boise and the surrounding area. He has contributed to publications including IdaHome, Edible Idaho, and The Blue Review. Outside of writing, he loves to barbecue, roast coffee, and try new recipes.
Jodie Nicotra is a freelance writer based out of Moscow, Idaho. She writes for a number of different magazines, including Boise State Magazine, Whitman Magazine, and Central Washington U’s Crimson & Black.
April Neale is a current member of the Critics Choice Awards, Television Critics Association, Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Neale has read original work on NPR and DeLaune Michel's hosted "Spoken Interludes," NPR Marketplace, MSN, Boise Weekly, Idaho Press, Idaho Capital Sun, Yahoo, AOL, MSN Canada, and is also a KTVB Channel 7 "Idaho Today" contributor.
Drew Dodson, a Donnelly resident, is a newspaper reporter for the McCall Star-News, a try-hard ice hockey goalie for the local beer league, and a die-hard backcountry skier. He weaves tales on and off the ice, aspiring only to live life to the fullest and embrace happiness as it comes.
Juliana Rennó Bounds is a journalist turned chocolatier turned technical writer and editor (classically trained in all of three!). She is originally from Brazil and finds stories and food perfect ways to share her culture and passions. Though retired from chocolate making, Juliana still loves to cook — and eat! She enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids, watching movies, and going on adventures.
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RAGS TO RICHES, BROKEN BONES AND STITCHES
Bull riders risk it all for love of the game
BY DREW DODSON
Sitting atop 1,800 pounds of pure muscle and pent-up rage, Brady Portenier nods, a gate swings open, and his mind suddenly runs blank. For the next eight-plus seconds—Portenier hopes—a battle of man versus beast ensues, and everything is on the line.
“To tell you the truth, bull riding’s the best way to clear a guy’s mind,” Portenier said. “Your brain kind of shuts off and you just start doing what it takes to get there.”
Portenier, a Caldwell native, is among an elite group of cowboys who earn a living riding bucking bulls in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The organization sanctions rodeos all over the country, including the Snake River Stampede and the Caldwell Night Rodeo.
It’s late June, and Portenier is piled into a Sprinter van with fellow professional bull riders Roscoe Jarboe and Kase Hitt. The trio has been on the road for over a month now, driving from state to state, rodeo to rodeo, all in pursuit of another bite at the apple they so deeply crave.
“There’s nothing very comparable to bull riding as far as adrenaline,” Portenier said. “Not very many people in the world get to feel that feeling.”
That feeling has kept Portenier coming back to the tune of more than 800 bull rides since his career began in 2013, including some 300 rides that have gone the distance at eight seconds.
The sport of bull riding itself is simple. Cowboys must ride a bucking bull for eight seconds to earn a qualifying ride. Rides are scored on a 100-point scale by four judges who are former bull riders. Up to 50 points are awarded for both the cowboy’s style and control, as well as the bull’s ferocity. Scores in the 80s are good. Scores in the 90s are great. A perfect score has only been achieved once, by bull riding legend Wade Leslie in 1991. Each ride begins the same for Portenier. He firmly grabs a rope handle tied around the bull’s torso and steadies himself on the bull in a tight, gated pen. Then, when he halfway doesn’t expect it himself, he nods for the gate to swing open. Before he knows it, he’s holding on for dear life as the beast beneath him violently thrashes, kicks, and spins.
Bull rider Dalton Petersen, 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF SNAKE RIVER STAMPEDE
“There’s nothing very comparable to bull riding as far as adrenaline. Not very many people in the world get to feel that feeling.”
“I kind of try and trick myself because it forces me to go into reaction mode instead of trying to anticipate what I’m doing next,” he said.
By year’s end, Portenier and his fellow traveling cowboys hope to ride bulls in at least 100 rodeos across the west. If they are lucky, their seasons won’t end until after a trip to Las Vegas on Dec. 5 for the National Rodeo Finals, an honor reserved for only the top 15 bull riders in the world. The only way to climb the
rankings is to win rodeos and rack up as much prize money as possible, which means days off can be few and far between.
“If you don’t want to be on the road, being a rodeo cowboy might not be for you,” Portenier said. “Right now is the time where we’re really getting after it. We’ll have a rodeo every day for the next couple months.”
Portenier, Hitt, and Jarboe travel together to split the cost of fuel to get from rodeo to rodeo. Bunk beds installed in the van allow one cowboy to drive while the others catch up on sleep or study bull riding film between rodeos. It is neither an easy nor a particularly glamorous life, but that’s just fine by most rodeo cowboys.
“You’ve gotta love it,” said Hitt, an 18-year-old from Ardmore, Oklahoma, in his second season as a professional bull rider. “No one’s gonna do this unless you love it.”
Earning a living as a rodeo cowboy is a tricky proposition at best. Cowboys front travel expenses from rodeo to rodeo and are not guaranteed anything for their efforts. It’s either perform well enough to earn prize money, or don’t get paid.
A good season can net $70,000 or more. Earnings can swell north of $150,000 during a great season. But a losing streak and a few strokes of bad luck, on the other hand, and cowboys have only unpaid bills to show for their labors.
“You can’t be scared to bet on yourself in this game,” Hitt said. “I’ve spent my last dollar to get to a rodeo, pay my fees, and win the whole thing.”
Above & right: Brady Portnier PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRADY PORTNIER & SNAKE RIVER STAMPEDE
PHOTO BY KAREN DAY
A gamble, as it turns out, describes bull riding in every sense.
Mandatory safety equipment, like protective vests and helmets, have reduced bull riding accidents over the last 25 years, but it is still known as the most dangerous eight seconds in sports for a reason. Injuries remain common, and survival is not certain.
“It’s not a question of if you’re gonna get injured—it’s when and how bad,” Portenier said. “I think we’ve all accepted that long before we took rodeo serious.”
Last year, a lacerated spleen at the Lewiston Roundup derailed what had been a promising rookie season for Hitt, who finished ranked 38th in the world with just over $52,000 in earnings.
“The bull kinda shook me loose, and I come off on the left side and landed on my elbow,” Hitt recalled. “The tip of my elbow went in between my ribs and lacerated my spleen. I couldn’t catch my breath for about 20 minutes. It was just like someone punched me in the gut.”
Broken bones, concussions, and missing teeth round out Portenier’s list of bull riding injuries. He doesn’t relish the injuries, nor the scars he has picked up along the way, but he is quick to point out that they are part of the sport.
“The danger aspect is always gonna be there—it’s a bull ride,” Portenier said. “But that’s also what makes it fun.”
“The danger aspect is always gonna be there—it’s a bull ride. But that’s also what makes it fun.”
While aware of the danger inherent to riding bucking bulls, Portenier refuses to let it consume him. Like most cowboys, he is buoyed by a calm, fearless confidence. He is not cocky, nor boastful. He has a healthy respect for the bulls he makes his living riding.
The best cowboys in the world only ride the full eight seconds about 50% of the time. Yet, Portenier will strut into one rodeo after another with failure not so much as crossing his mind. His belief in himself is unflappable, as if he’s never known the feeling of being unceremoniously tossed from the back of a bucking bull.
“I pride myself on being that kind of guy, you know,” Portenier said. “I knew a lot of kids growing up that were just as capable, or maybe had more talent than myself, but I really take care of the mental side and I think that’s how I got here.”
Hitt has a similar confidence about him—not because he is young and brash, but because, like Portenier, he knows it’s as essential to the job as cowboy boots and chaps.
“As soon as I put my helmet on, I feel like I’m going to war,” he said. “It’s only me and the bull, and only one of us can come out on top, and it’s going to be me.”
That brand of unrelenting, almost foolish confidence is not just part of the act for professional bull riders like Hitt and Portenier. It’s their way of life.
Each time bucked off a bull, they say, is just another chance to get better, another chance to prove themselves, and a microcosm of one of life’s broadest lessons.
“That’s what’s cool about being a bull rider—you test yourself daily, and you realize you can do things that maybe you didn’t think you were capable of before,” Portenier said. “We’re just very lucky and blessed to get to play the game.”
In a sport as physical as rodeo, injury is just part of the gig.
PHOTOS BY KAREN DAY
Reclaiming the Girl Inside
Sisters On The Fly find freedom in the outdoors
BY APRIL NEALE
There was a time—if you are female and reading this—when life was carefree, fun, and never self-conscious about superficial woes we tend to accumulate as grown women. One day, you are with your girls on thrilling adventures; the next, it’s a blur of boyfriends, marriages, and kids. Life just happens. Sisters On The Fly, a women’s group of 20,000 members strong and growing, is a subversive delight. This beacon of adventure and freedom is where women “go back to the future” and reclaim that feeling we all had in girlhood, rediscovering life’s thrilling escapades
thanks to sisters Rebecca “Becky” Clarke and Maurrie Sussman.
Over 25 years ago, a big fish story sparked an idea for Maurrie and Becky that had been planted by their adventurous mother, Mazie. “Both our parents were very encouraging of us to do things. Our dad was a Marine fighter pilot, often away. And our mom, her sister, Martha, and her two daughters—we used to do a lot together because all the fathers were traveling,” shared Maurrie. “We lived in Portland then and had amazing times together. We spent the whole summer moving to the beach at our grandparents’ home in Lincoln City.”
Sisters on the Fly founders Maurrie Sussman and Becky Clarke.
At their aunt’s cabin, the girls enjoyed the freedom of summertime—jumping on the sofa, hiking, camping, fishing, and spending time on the beach beside a bonfire or cookout.
“We had the perfect growing up— helped by the fact that the dads weren’t there to disrupt it. We loved our dads, but they’re different than moms,” Maurrie said. These cherished memories of their PNW childhood adventures laid the foundation for this membership group, encouraging women to embrace various activities and camaraderie.
Years later, Sisters On The Fly was born on a fishing trip with Maurrie’s son Austin, who was serving as their outfitter. “He was complaining because we’d catch a fish, and then we’d want to stop and look at the buffalo and all the fun things on the river. He would say, ‘Well, you haven’t caught all the fish. And we said we don’t want to be a boy catching every fish in the river. We want to enjoy each fish, kiss it, and put it back in the water,” laughed Maurrie. They started inviting girlfriends, and then decided to name the group after its origin story and their relationship. Maurrie described the pair as “service brats who never met a stranger” and said their girlfriends were always to travel with them. The group simply made sense.
1943 Franklin, magnificent now, but it took a few years. A ranch manager lived in the trailer, and he built a shrine inside it. So, how could I get rid of that? It has Hispanic flair. My first trailer, Lucy, is the yellow trailer. I will never get rid of her. You go thrifting and find whatever your theme is. I’m a cowgirl, so everything I do is Western. And Becky’s is a little more sophisticated in decor than I am, and all of her trailers are all done beautifully. One member did hers in leather—inside the ceiling and everything. You paint the outside. It reflects you; you don’t stay in your trailer; you sleep in it. That’s it,” said Maurrie.
For all of them, Maurrie emphasized, taking the old trailers and going on all these trips is really about freedom.
Beyond the fishing connection, there is so much more to this women’s group, including their most recognizable feature— eye-popping restored campers shaken out of every corner of the USA, refurbished to
Out of the many thousands of members, some are married and have kids, some are divorced, and some are widowed.
“We could go the back roads, do all this stuff, and the men, dogs, and kids weren’t invited—that was a big deal. We aim to get you out where you don’t have to care for anybody. And if anybody needs care, we’ll take care of you. We cook together, and any idea is good for an event. Climb a tree, balloon rides, dancing lessons, sage bundle making, whitewater rafting, jump out of an airplane, we want to share all experiences,”Maurrie explained. “The thing is that there’s no ‘no’s.’ We don’t believe in ‘you can’t.’ You can do anything you want to do.”
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAURRIE SUSSMAN
PHOTO BY KAREN DAY
ENTRANCE TO ALL 30 FOR ONLY
I D A H O S T A T E P A R K S
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North Idaho State Parks
Coeur d’Alene Parkway
Coeur d’Alene’s Old Mission
Dworshak
Farragut
Hells Gate
Heyburn
Mary Minerva McCroskey
Mowry
Priest Lake
Round Lake
Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes
Winchester Lake
South/East Idaho State Parks
Ashton-Tetonia Trail
Bear Lake
Bruneau Dunes
Castle Rocks
City of Rocks
Eagle Island
Lake Cascade
Lucky Peak/Units
Harriman
Henrys Lake
Idaho City Trails System
Ponderosa
Thousand Springs/Units
Lake Walcott
Land of The Yankee Fork/Challis
Hot Springs
Massacre Rocks
Three Island Crossing
Summer Adventure A
SOUTHERN IDAHO STATE PARK ROAD TRIP
BY CHELSEA CHAMBERS
It’s a mid-summer day. The subtle chill of the morning air has quickly disappeared, and the promise of August heat settles over my coffee, the ice cubes already beginning to melt. My phone lights up from the table beside me with a text from a friend that just says, “Road trip?” followed by a series of car and sunshine emojis. That sounds like a perfect way to spend the day! I respond, “Let’s go find some water! Camp?” Tent emoji, splash emoji, heart.
After making impressively fast work at packing my bags and grabbing everything salty and crunchy in my cabinet, I head out the door, my friend already waiting in the driveway. She honks twice and turns up the music. It’s time to leave Boise behind for a little while and see what we could see in the southern Idaho sunshine.
We hit I-84 towards Mountain Home with an early plan in mind: ascending the Bruneau Sand Dunes before 10 a.m. The sand gets pretty hot in the summer afternoons, and there are sandboards with our names on them.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
BRUNEAU DUNES STATE PARK
Towering more than 470 feet in the air, Bruneau Dunes State Park is home to the tallest single-structure sand dune in the U.S. and two of the largest public telescopes in Idaho. Bruneau was also recently designated as an official Dark Sky Park by the International Dark Sky Association. This designation will prevent future development from encroaching on the park and will help to protect the stunning night sky.
After a challenging hike up the small dune, we have a few snacks by the pond and stop by the visitor center to refill our water bottles. The front desk staff tells us that Three Island Crossing State Park was just 40 minutes down the highway and a must-stop on our road trip.
THREE ISLAND CROSSING STATE PARK
Three Island Crossing, located in Glenns Ferry, was an important stop on the Oregon Trail where emigrants would brave the raging Snake River or be forced to travel more than 80 miles to the next crossing point.
We explore the park’s education center for a while and spend some time bird watching by the river before packing up and heading to our next destination: Thousand Springs State Park. We want to see the falls at Ritter Island, one of the six units of Thousand Springs.
PHOTO BY KEVIN FOSSEN/COURTESY OF IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
PHOTO OURTESY OF IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
PHOTO OURTESY OF IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
PHOTO BY ERIK RYAN/COURTESY OF IDAHO DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
THOUSAND SPRINGS STATE PARK – RITTER ISLAND UNIT
Just 39 miles from Three Island Crossing is the Ritter Island unit of Thousand Springs in Hagerman. Ritter Island’s impressive history showcases the tale of Minnie Miller and her prize-winning Guernsey cows.
We explore Miller’s old barn and farmlands and are inspired by her entrepreneurship and dedication. Amid the backdrop of breathtaking views and waterfalls bursting from the rocks, we have a late lunch next to the crystal blue spring water and watch two river otters play under the bridge. A belted kingfisher plunges into the water and returns unsuccessfully. We wish him well and carry on to our destination of the day: Lake Walcott State Park, where we have a campsite and look forward to taking our inflatable kayaks onto the lake.
LAKE WALCOTT STATE PARK
Just over an hour outside Ritter Island is Lake Walcott State Park, located in Rupert on the Minidoka National Wildlife Refuge. This grassy park is nestled along the shorelines of the beautiful Lake Walcott and is a birdwatcher’s paradise. Reports have shown more than 230 different species of birds spotted in this area.
We arrive at Lake Walcott in the late afternoon, surprised to find that we had traveled less than three hours from Boise but had seen so much. We’d climbed massive dunes, learned about Idaho history, ate lunch near a waterfall, and kayaked while bird-watching. We grab our kayaks and hit the lake with our binoculars to see what birds we can find. We plan to grill up some burgers for dinner and watch the sun set on a perfect, sunny August day. Who knows, maybe tomorrow we’ll stop by Castle Rocks State Park before we head home. Afterall, it’s only another hour down the highway.
Camping Conversion Therapy
A Wandervan Adventure
STORY AND
BY KAREN DAY
Summer is for kids and the kids in us. School’s out and flip flops are on as often as possible. And if you, like myself, remain infatuated with the mystique of Idaho’s mountainous playgrounds, camping calls to you as soon as the roads thaw. That doesn’t mean that I immediately pack up the tent and hot dogs, because sleeping in the wild yonder has taught me a few things. Namely, children outgrow sleeping bags and roasting marshmallows, even if we do not. Despite this knowledge, I
decided to accept the personal challenge of driving and parallel parking a Wandervan Sprinter with my collegebound son, who was clearly troubled by the possible lack of phone reception and sharing a closed space with his mom for three days. Into the wild we went—on posh wheels.
Headed north, Gold Fork Hot Springs was our first stop, just 90 minutes from Boise. Our house on wheels afforded a private changing room, a cold drink from the refrigerator (which runs for
hours, generated by the battery), and a quick snack before a warm plunge. Phone reception was spotty, but my young man was otherwise entertained by the hot water and prospect of getting better reception in McCall. The van was more comfortable and easier to drive on the bumpy dirt road than my son’s 20-yearold pickup. I particularly liked sitting so much higher than most drivers and took care to give them a conciliatory nod from above when passing. So yes, Wandervans offer plenty of horsepower.
PHOTOS
McCall. Grocery shopping in this tourist mecca on Payette Lake required parking talent amidst crowds. I particularly appreciated the luxury of no leaking ice chest for cereal milk and hot dogs. On to Ponderosa State Park and the happy masses in tents.
Admittedly, I have never understood the concept of dragging an RV as big as my home into the woods. An avid backpacker, I now admit to passing judgment upon those with generators whirring and tvs blasting in the campground. However, our sprinter van, albeit more like a single dorm room on wheels, was sentenced to park among these behemoths. Ironically, we saw fewer people and found far more peace than the nearby woods filled with exultant children—maybe because our neighbors were on their couch with a cold beer, watching the NBA playoffs. Alone, yet surrounded, I too had cold beer! And a porta-potty. We
cooked ramen on the provided, portable Coleman stove, roasted hotdogs and marshmallows over a crackling fire, accompanied only by ground squirrels demanding fast food and one habituated doe we named Betty. Under quiet stars, AirPods in ears, we watched the Mavericks get trounced with five-bar cell reception. Then we charged our phones next to my queen bed all night. My son slept on the ground. No matter the separate sleeping bags, he would choose a root canal without anesthesia rather than sleep in the same bed.
Wandervans can be rented in four sizes. We chose the medium, which was plenty tall for my 6’1” boy to stand in. The largest vans come with double-tiered queen beds. The rental package provides 125 miles per day and efficient gas mileage, equaling many roads to comfortably burn in 48 hours. We stopped for lakeside
photos, Instagram posting, and hot coffee from our rolling kitchen. My son stared at his phone, doggedly, then frowning. I kept my eyes on the road, the sky, the mountains—and smiled. Ahh, welcome to the end of reception.
The road turned to dust 20 miles north of Payette Lake, winding past spring snowpack. 35 miles north of McCall, we lowered into a valley at pink dusk. Deer grazed belly-deep in grass across from what appeared as a postcard from 1867. Log cabins surrounded steam rising from Burgdorf’s hot spring pool. Our Wandervan found plenty of space to park and offered the only modern refrigerator and stove for those who dared mac & cheese on the road less traveled. We were warm. Night fell cold. Stars turned on by the billions. My son jumped out, hustling toward a toasty soak. His phone sat in the dark on the front seat.
TURNING UP THE HEAT with these Highway Hot Springs
SOAK UP SUMMER IN SCENIC IDAHO
BY JODIE NICOTRA
Hot springs aficionados in Idaho have plenty of choices when it comes to mineral-rich thermal waters. Thanks to its geology, the Gem State has 130 soakable hot springs, the most of any US state.
Burgdorf Hot Springs
PHOTO BY KAREN DAY
While most hot springs lie in the center and south of the state, the northeast part of the state offers an especially scenic cluster of natural hot springs: Weir Creek, Jerry Johnson, and Stanley. Their proximity to Montana makes them a nice jumping off point for a visit to Missoula, Glacier, Yellowstone, or other summer adventures.
All three hot springs lie along Highway 12, the Northwest Passage Scenic Byway, which winds along the Lochsa Wild and Scenic River.
Located within 10 miles of each other and an easy drive from Missoula, Weir and Jerry Johnson are among the most frequented hot springs in the area.
“They’re incredibly popular. Both Weir and Jerry Johnson get a ton of visitation every year,” said Sacha Wells, an interpretive ranger at nearby Lolo Pass Visitor Center.
Parking for the first stop along Highway 12, Weir Creek Hot Springs can be found at MP 142.1. Visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the bathroom located at the trailhead, as the pools themselves lack facilities.
The pools can be accessed via a .7 mile hike on a moderately steep trail. While the footing is fine in the summer, crampons are recommended for winter visits, as the trail can be icy and treacherous. In fact, emergency personnel no longer serve the area owing to the difficulty of access during winter months.
Weir Creek has two pools. The main pool, with a solid rock bottom, seats about 8-10 people. The smaller pool, up the hillside from the main pool, seats one or two.
“There’s an intimacy about the main pool, and I like the way it sits up above the river,” said Roger Lynn, a former Idaho resident visiting from Boulder, Colorado. “Last time I was here, a friend and I sat in the upper pool for a couple of hours. It was snowing and felt very secluded and private. I have very fond memories of that experience.”
About 10 miles up the highway from Weir Creek lies Jerry Johnson Hot Springs. Visitors can park in the lot between mile markers 151 and 152 and walk across the highway and the pack bridge to the Warm Springs Trailhead. It’s about a mile-long walk to get to the pools.
Jerry Johnson consists of three different pools. Two sit away from the river, and are available for soaking year round. The third series of pools is waterfall-fed and sits almost down in the river. As such, it’s typically submerged until late summer.
The Idaho Batholith, 15,400 square miles of mountains created over millions of years by colliding tectonic plates, created an abundance of Idaho hot springs.
Weir Creek Hot Springs.
Left:
PHOTO COURTESY OF PAIGE ARMSTRONG
Below: Jerry Johnson Hot Springs. PHOTO BY ROGER LYNN
“I feel like I’m tucked into a warm bath in the middle of the river, and I like being able to hop from one micro-pool to the next,” said Mike Niemeyer from Oakland, California, who was visiting with a local friend.
Owing to their popularity, Weir Creek and Jerry Johnson are closed from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., and no overnight camping is permitted. Law enforcement frequently patrols the area, and violators will be issued a citation.
Getting to Stanley Hot Springs is more of a commitment. The 5-mile hike in from the Wilderness Gateway Campground to the springs includes a stream crossing that can be dangerous when water levels are high.
For many, though, the destination makes the trek worth it.
“The nice thing about Stanley is there are three different pools, which all vary in temperature. So you can sit where it’s as hot as you like,” Wells said.
Primitive camping is allowed around Stanley. Visitors can also camp at the Wilderness Gateway Campground at the start of the trail. As the trail isn’t always well-marked, visitors should study the map before they go.
Finally, if you’re headed north from the Treasure Valley, don’t forget about Burgdorf Hot Springs, which combines a certain rustic, eclectic charm with crystal clear water 32 miles north of McCall in the Payette National Forest. Available by reservation only, this hot springs is not accessible from December through April by car. Instead, travel by snowmobile!. It is slightly more developed, so enjoy amenities like changing rooms, snacks, and multiple pools.
If you plan to visit hot springs or any of Idaho’s wild places, be a good steward. Bring bags to pack out your own trash, and consider picking up litter that you find in the area. Stay on the trails and be gentle with foliage. Also be aware that moose and other animals often frequent the area, and should be treated with respect.
For more information on these or other Idaho hot springs and to plan your soaking getaway, check out the interactive map at Visit Idaho.
Above: Stanley Hot Springs. Though only 130 of Idaho’s hot springs are soakable, the state is home to 340. PHOTO BY HOLLY BLACKWELL
Below: Burgdorf is located 32 miles north of McCall, making the historic resort challenging to reach in the winter. PHOTO BY KAREN DAY
Below: Just 50 minutes north of Boise in Idaho City, The Springs cools to 88 degrees in summer. PHOTO BY KAREN DAY
BY TIM ATWELL
Two hours southwest of Boise lies an old abandoned mining town known as Silver City, or Silver, as the locals call it. Open to the public only in the summer months, it o ers a space to explore Idaho’s history and the rugged wilderness of Owyhee County.
“It’s gotten busier. It’s mainly campers, ATVs, mountain bike riders, and actually, also just people that are interested in the history,” said Jerri Nelson, who owns the Idaho Hotel in Silver City with her husband. “But mostly, it’s probably the ATVers that are frequenting Silver the most.”
Founded in 1864 after silver was discovered nearby, Silver City quickly became one of Idaho’s most prominent mining towns for gold and silver. Historical documents describe the original town as a tough place, lled with characters who would t right into an old western movie.
EXPLORE IDAHO HISTORY IN SILVER CITY
PHOTOS BY TIM ATWELL / HISTORICAL PHOTOS PUBLIC DOMAIN
“Idaho Territory had been opened up during the Civil War, and it was easy to stir up hot blood,” according to historian Julie Hyslop.
Another historian, Henry Maize, was more direct: “Society was exemplary, except some high gambling. If a man was
caught doing anything wrong we just killed him; that’s all.”
At its peak, Silver City was home to around 2,500 people and 75 businesses. Of those 75 businesses, there were a surprising number of brothels, bars, and gambling joints.
“Men toiled in the bowels of the earth all day drilling into hard rock with ‘hands tools and tobaccer juice,’ only to lose their hard-earned money over a gambling table,” wrote Mildretta Adams in Historic Silver City.
Despite its initial boom, the city soon fell into decline. By 1955, the Lewiston Daily Tribune reported:
“William J. ‘Willie’ Hawes, 79, is the mayor, councilman, police chief, reman, postman, dog catcher and general handyman of this southwestern Idaho mining town. He holds every public o ce in the community. He has to…because he is now the only permanent resident.”
Remnants from the old town remained intact, however. Original buildings and the cemetery provided a glimpse into a brief and fascinating era of Idaho’s history, and an e ort began to make the town hospitable to visitors once again.
In 1972, the Idaho Hotel was reopened for tourists. Marketed as a place to stay in a “Ghost Town,” the hotel naturally attracted those interested in the supernatural, including an anxious New York Times reporter in 1993 who experienced, “A sense of trespassing, as though one is disturbing a sacred site… One is left with the chilling thought that visitors might well be inviting the wrath of the gods were they to disturb any object.”
Claims of unearthly encounters seem largely exaggerated, though many people still head to the ghost town seeking paranormal experiences.
“Some people say the hotel is haunted. I said, I think it has to be a personal connection or something. I’ve just never felt anything,” Nelson said of her hotel.
“I tell everybody, well, if you see a ghost, I’m going to have to charge you extra. Actually, no, that’s entertainment.”
On weekdays, the town is quiet enough for peaceful re ection and a stroll among the old buildings. Saturdays and Sundays are a little louder as the streets of the ghost town ll with ATVs carrying weekend adventurers.
In a short memoir entitled Tales of Silver City, Alta Grete Chadwick made a tting observation: “Silver City is coming back to life not as a mining town but as a vacation spot. We see more people come in each summer. Some come in, make a loop of the town then drive out. I guess they were looking for bright lights and night life.”
MINESHAFT CHALLENGE COURSE –
Boise
Now that the snow has melted, Bogus Basin is switching gears to mountain biking, hiking, and its newest attraction, the Mineshaft Challenge Course. The course stands 55 feet high and features ropes, bridges, and ziplines.
“Your adventure finishes with either an auto belay drop zone or several ziplines,” said Susan Saad, Director of Community Relations at Bogus Basin. “This is the perfect activity for high-altitude adventure seekers.”
ZIPLINE & ROPES COURSE –
Horseshoe Bend
Beginning at the Cascade Raft River Center, this zipline and ropes course overlooks the Payette River. It takes groups through 17 ropes challenges, including seven ziplines.
“Our location literally alongside the North Fork of the Payette is unique because it is a tree-to-tree tour,” said owner Tren Long. “It’s not a telephone pole thing; the entire course is built up in the canopies, so it’s just a really pretty perspective and a really fun way to spend the afternoon.”
Fly High, Live Free IDAHO ZIPLINE ADVENTURES
BY TIM ATWELL
Idaho’s wilderness is breathtaking, especially when you’re zipping through the sky at roller coaster speed. This summer, get your adrenaline pumping with Idaho’s variety of zipline adventures, and enjoy a birds-eye view of the state’s stunning natural landscapes.
AWOL
Twin Falls - Snake River Canyon
In addition to a 25 mph zipline tour through the Snake River Canyon, AWOL adds to the experience by telling stories about the history and biology of the surrounding landscape.
“It’s an adventure that combines adrenaline and natural beauty, all while knowing you’re in safe hands,” said owner Krysta Melni.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOGUS BASIN
PHOTO COURTESY OF AWOL ADVENTURE SPORTS ZIPLINE
TAMARACK CANOPY ZIPLINE
TOUR – Donnelly
At 1,800 feet above the valley floor, Tamarack’s zipline offers a one-of-a-kind experience to explore the surrounding mountains and Lake Cascade. The course includes eight ziplines, two suspension bridges, and a panoramic perspective from a hundred-foot-high treehouse.
LAVA ZIPLINE ADVENTURES –
Lava Hot Springs
At Lava Hot Springs, the adventure begins with a ride in a big army truck to the zipline course, and it quickly escalates across a zipline course that runs through a scenic private canyon. The all-ages tour also includes a ropes course, geodesic dome, and climbing wall.
ZIP TIMBERLINE – Coeur d’ Alene
Northern Idaho’s biggest zipline adventure takes participants into the canopy around Lake Coeur d’Alene from the zipline property above Beauty Bay. Here, guests soar across seven ziplines, two sky bridges, and two autobelays, with plenty of opportunities for photo ops along the way.
SILVER STREAK – Wallace
When a zipline includes a “Big Daddy” section, you know it will be an adventure. Wallace’s aerial course spans more than 250 acres and offers sky-high thrills through the mountainous terrain. The tandem line provides a unique experience for folks soaring in pairs, explained owner Scott Haney. “Or zip in the prone position and fly like a superhero,” he added.
SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ZIPLINE –
Sandpoint
Schweitzer keeps the mountain escapades going all summer long with a 700-foot zipline near the resort’s village area. Like Silver Streak, Schweitzer offers double the fun with a tandem line. “The best part is you can do it with a friend or family member right by your side,” said Taylor Prather, Marketing Communications Manager.
HEISE HOT SPRINGS ZIP – Ririe
Covering 1.5 miles, Heise Zip takes guests off the beaten path by starting with an ATV ride to reach the course. Then, after enjoying the aerial views of the landscape, participants can keep the fun going with nearby pools, camping, and golf.
ZIP MCCALL – McCall
Those seeking extreme speed can find it at Zip McCall, one of the largest and fastest courses in the region. The course starts easy but then builds up to a grand finale that propels participants across more than eight football fields worth of open space.
“I think we have the longest and fastest ziplines in the lower 48, this side of the Mississippi. By the last zip, they’re 50 miles an hour, half a mile through the sky— it’s great,” said owner Steve Gustafson.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZIP TIMBERLINE
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZIP MCCALL
PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHWEITZER MOUNTAIN ZIPLINE
CONVERSATIONS with Exceptional Women
BY DAVID GRAY ADLER
Since “ e Bucket List,” starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, lit up the silver screen in 2007, the popularized notion of an inventory of wish lists and “to dos” before one kicks the theoretical bucket has taken hold. Americans have busied themselves in drawing up and chalking o their lists— practical, fanciful, and romantic. e possibilities are limited by imagination and, well, money, and often are creative, enviable, and endless. While fame, glory, and fortune are enduring bucket list items, for many, there is the desire to meet and converse with trailblazers and leaders. ose attending e Alturas Institute’s forthcoming conference, “Conversations with Exceptional Women,” held August 20-22 in Boise, will be checking o bucket list wishes. e chance to meet Elizabeth Prelogar, the brilliant and eloquent U.S. Solicitor General—born and raised in Boise—who brings great skill and learning to oral arguments before the Supreme Court. e opportunity to talk to Professor Joanne Freeman, the award-winning, e ervescent Yale historian and preeminent authority on Alexander Hamilton, whose articles and books on that Founding Father inspired Lin Manuel-Miranda to write and produce the Broadway play (coming to Boise this fall!) that brought immortality to “Hamilton.” To borrow from the third song in Act 1 of that marvelous play—“My Shot”—audience members, including women and men, like Hamilton, are not going to throw away their shot; rather, they are going to take their shot, engage in intimate conversations with conference speakers, contemplate what they expect from their futures and from America, and not surrender opportunities to ful ll their dreams.
e 13th edition of “Conversations with Exceptional Women” gathers under one roof, a galaxy of extraordinary women leaders from across the nation for stimulating and insightful conversations about “Defending Democracy and Women’s Rights.” ese leaders— award-winning writers, war correspondents, historians, lm directors, and producers, as well as national television commentators, journalists, publishers, and renowned attorneys and prosecutors—have bucket lists, too. Joanne Freeman ful lled a bucket list goal of becoming an expert on Hamilton, a pursuit that began by reading the 27-volume collection of his writings, acquiring extraordinary knowledge that she has shared on national television programs and with her students at Yale, eager readers, and audiences throughout the world. Just as she found her voice as a historian and public gure, she wants to help women “seeking their public voice.”
Karen Day, the award-winning war correspondent, documentarian, author, and (IdaHome!) publisher, has said that after watching the lm classic “National Velvet” when she was 10 years old, the only goal on her bucket list is “to acquire the lavender eyes of Elizabeth Taylor,” which she pursued by drinking “vast quantities of Welch’s Grape Juice.” After a long career in war zone reporting, and “turning both cheeks to the back and forth to life’s inevitable slaps of reality,” her goal now is to “suck the marrow from every moment and do as much good as you can along the way.”
Karen Day
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN DAY
Elizabeth Barchas Prelogar
PHOTO PUBLIC DOMAIN
Joanne Freeman
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOANNE FREEMAN
Or meet Karen Crouse, who, at 12 years old, wanted to become a sportswriter who traveled the world, covering the biggest events, including the Olympics and Wimbledon. She wanted to write at least one book and qualify for the U.S. Olympic swimming team, and as Meat Loaf sang, “Two out of three ain’t bad.” Crouse, a prize-winning New York Times Bestselling author, has covered every major sporting contest and, along the way, did more than anyone else to knock down the gates at the Augusta National Golf Club and the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St. Andrews that barred women from becoming members. Lindsey Blake, who secured in her capacity as lead prosecutor convictions in the sensational murder trials—held in Boise—of Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell for heinous crimes, including the gruesome murder of her two children, which captured national and international attention, has a bucket list that includes a life-long goal of recognition as a respected attorney who acts honestly, ethically, and with integrity, and a second career as a criminal pro ler. It’s safe to say that she has ful lled the rst goal.
Award-winning, New York Times Bestselling author and law professor Molly Guptill Manning, whose engrossing work, “When Books Went to War,” tells the heart-warming story of the nearly forgotten chapter of history of how the United States government and American publishers teamed up to provide 100 million copies of pocket-seized paperbacks to our soldiers in every theater of battle to combat boredom and alleviate anxiety between the terrors of war. Publication of the beloved Armed Services Editions transformed publishing, rescued classics from oblivion, and inspired millions of soldiers to attend college after World War II. A powerful opponent of book bans and censorship, one of Manning’s bucket list entries is to create a WWII Museum and Cultural Center.
Another New York Times Bestselling author, Anna Malaika Tubbs, long ago aimed to earn her PhD (done) and write a book. Her award-winning book, “ e ree Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation,” has wowed audiences around the world. She intends to continue writing, traveling, and speaking.
Christine Walker, the prize-winning lm director and producer, has described a bucket list that, earlier in her life, included a career in the lm industry, the opportunity to make a lm, and creating her own company to nance lms. Done, done, and done. She added, more recently, teaching lm at the college level. Lo and behold, she begins a stint this fall as Visiting Professor of Film at the University of Utah, her alma mater which, ttingly, has bestowed its highest awards upon its famous pupil.
Dr. Caroline Heldman, an award-winning professor, author, internationally acclaimed champion of women’s rights, known for her work in big screen lms promoting gender equality, an opera singer, and lead singer in a heavy metal band—essentially three full lives by any measure—is in fast pursuit of an important bucket wish: to drive 200 mph on a racetrack. She has reached 193 mph on the Sears Speedway. Don’t bet against her, or any of the other speakers, who are speeding toward completion of their bucket lists.
Come meet them at “Conversations with Exceptional Women.” Ticket registration and information are available at alturasinstitute.com
Lindsey Blake
PHOTO COURTESY OF LINDSEY BLAKE
Anna Malaika Tubbs
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANNA MALAIKA TUBBS
Karen Crouse
PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN CROUSE
Dr. Caroline Heldman
PHOTO COURTESY OF DR. CAROLINE HELDMAN
Christine Walker
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTINE WALKER
Molly Guptill Manning
PHOTO COURTESY OF MOLLY GUPTILL MANNING
Defending Democracy and Women’s Rights
I
Wed. & Thu., Aug. 21 & 22
2-Day
Idaho’s Babby Farms KANGAROO ENCOUNTER
BY CHELSEA CHAMBERS
For many—probably most—of us living in Idaho, our kangaroo knowledge comes largely from shows on Animal Planet and stories from the other side of the world in down-under Australia, coupled with tales of spiders the size of dinner plates and more venomous snakes than you could shake a stick at. But beyond the fearsome predators that
skulk the land down under, away from basketball-sized bugs and terrifying critters of the night, there is a place right here in the Treasure Valley where kangaroos frolic joyously among our arid high desert climate: Babby Farms.
“We currently have eight red roos here at our site,” shared Babby Farms owner Cheryl Harris. “Roos have a special place in our hearts at Babby. ere’s the unique
factor of seeing a roo—most of our guests tell us that Babby’s is the rst time they’ve ever seen one in person. But if reared properly, they also provide a special level of interaction for our guests. AND CRIKEY! ey’re also just straight up fascinating! ere are so many captivating facts about kangaroos. Come pay us a visit, we’d love to share them with you,” she said with a smile.
Babby Farms is a non-pro t organization with a simple mission: to give children and adults with disabilities the opportunity to experience the joy of interacting with a wide range of animals. Studies abound touting the bene ts of animal interactions, with anxiety reduction, lowered cortisol, and decreased blood pressure levels to name a few.
“ e roos are hand-reared and hand-fed because it socializes them from an early age,” Harris explained. “By keeping them social, we can work with them closer and provide unique experiences for all our guests, but especially individuals with disabilities and visitors with other special requirements.”
It’s a full-time job to keep the kangaroos fed and tended, requiring collaborative e orts to be shared amongst all sta members. “However, the
zookeepers do most of the hard work.
ey work around the clock nursing and providing specialized care tailored to our baby roos’ needs,” she said.
As the kangaroos get older, they are weaned o bottled milk and begin a solid food diet, at which time they are ready to take treats and snacks from visitors. Many of their animal encounters allow farm guests to feed the animals directly, under sta supervision. is is de nitely one of the most popular excursions for Babby Farms visitors. e kangaroos primarily eat a special formula of kibble, combined with fruits and vegetables for a well-rounded diet. “Some will even try a banana!”
“Our baby roos are always very loving,” said Harris. “We raise them with the closeness of newborn babies. at bond is always very special and unique. ey are also funny and very observant. ey
are always surprising us with unique behaviors and quirks. And they certainly remember a face!”
Harris and her sta are grateful to be a part of such a profound and unique experience in southern Idaho. A visit to Babby Farms is guaranteed to be more than memorable. “It’s so wonderful to see a guest’s face light up when seeing a kangaroo for the rst time,” Harris exclaimed with pride. “It’s just so fantastic to be part of that joy!”
Alongside the kangaroos, Babby Farms is home to more than 100 di erent species of animals, including otters, servals, owls, sloths, and more. Ever heard of a binturong? What about a capuchin monkey? Have you seen a lemur leap in real life? ere’s so much to discover at Babby Farms! e 2024 season is well underway, so be sure to secure your ticket early!
Keep Quiet and Read On Book
clubs around the Treasure Valley share new way to gather, read
BY JULIANA RENNO BOUNDS
When a friend invited me to join the Boise Silent Book Club, I was bamboozled. I love a good book discussion, but in this one, there were no following the same story and almost no talking. Just a group of book lovers hanging out and…reading.
In my rst meeting last February, we gathered at a co ee shop, grabbed a drink, and took over a few tables among other patrons. We spent the rst half hour sharing the titles of books we read the month before, compiling an awesome list for a Facebook post.
“We nd we have so much in common during that rst thirty minutes,” said Kathy O’Connell, one of the founders of the Boise Silent Book Club along with her friend, Margit Curtright.
After sharing time, we just sat there, reading our own books in silence, enjoying each other’s company. “It’s like a library here; they are all reading,” we heard someone say. Curtright said she learned about a silent book club starting in San Francisco at a hotel lobby. It was an intriguing concept—a chance for introverts to do something social. She thought it would be a good idea to start one in Boise.
ere was no book club like that in town, she remembered. So Curtright decided to change that.
e two friends shared the rst event of the Boise SBC chapter on Facebook in January 2017. About ve or six people joined. Last May, 77 people requested to join the group, and today, there are 215 members total, though not everyone attends every meeting.
e two other chapters in the Treasure Valley are the Babe Read Boise (West End/Downtown/East End) and the Boise North End/Downtown
PHOTO COURTESY OF BOISE SILENT BOOK CLUB
PHOTO BY LUISA BRIMBLE
“What I love about it is that I can read what I want—there’s no assigned reading.”
e original Silent Book Club (a registered trademark!) has built a community of readers in more than one thousand chapters around the world.
e group’s idea is simple: members of a silent book club gather in cafes, bars, bookstores, libraries, and more, share their latest reads, and spend the rest of their time reading It’s the reader’s happy hour, with a BYOBook.
“What I love about it is that I can read what I want—there’s no assigned reading,” said Melody HItchner, a longtime member of the Boise SBC. “It’s great focused reading time and yet, there
is something stimulating about reading in the company of others.”
I also felt like reading together (but separately) was a great way to connect with other book lovers without feeling pressure and choosing our favorite book genres. e group was welcoming to all readers, all book formats (even audiobooks), ction, and non ction.
“Books don’t turn into homework,” said Curtright, who not only likes mysteries, but also enjoys general ction and American history. “And it’s nice to see what the things people are reading too.”
O’Connell also noted a few motherdaughter duos who have become regulars of the club, and the growing number of teens who are also joining— my 18-year-old daughter joined and loved the idea.
To become part of the Boise SBC, all you have to do is request to join the group on Facebook. e Boise SBC meets the rst Sunday of the month at Lucky Perk Co ee in Meridian from 1-2:30 p.m. To learn more about the other chapters in the Treasure Valley and about the Silent Book Club movement, visit silentbook.club.
PHOTO COURTESY OF BOISE SILENT BOOK CLUB
The Constitution as a Bucket List: “A Republic If You Can Keep It”
BY DAVID GRAY ADLER
While reflecting on the Declaration of Independence, Abraham Lincoln observed that America was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all people are created equal. As usual, Lincoln was right. Our founders fought a revolution to free themselves from England and the Old-World values that exalted monarchy and authority and obedience, preferring the New World doctrine of natural rights, freedom of conscience and dissent, and its fundamental principle of government based on the consent of the people. The American experiment in self-governance was embodied in the Constitution, as signaled by insertion of the majestic phrase in the Preamble— “We the People”—which calls forth the still radically democratic idea that the government of the United States exists to serve the people, not the regressive concept that the people serve the government.
The Constitution created by the citizenry in 1787 is a blueprint for the exercise of governmental power. As such, it is a bucket list, an aspiration, as the Framers of the Constitution understood it. Confinement of governing authority swam against the tides of history. Illimited power, not limited power, was the natural course. James Madison, Father of the Constitution, explained in Federalist No. 51 the great difficulties confronting the constitutional challenges facing the new republic.
of specific powers. In principle, precise grants of power informed everyone about the location of authority, empowering knowledgeable citizens to identify acts of usurpation. The separation of powers aimed to preserve the rough division of governmental power—legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent the concentration of power in the hands of a single person or department, which the
equipped to perform its duties. The First Amendment guaranteed freedom of speech, a tool for citizens to critique and criticize governmental policies and actions. Freedom of the press protected the Fourth Estate in its effort to shine a light on government and reveal failures, expose deceit and corruption and, generally, to hold government officials accountable.
The science of politics taught that those who held power were tempted to abuse it. For remedies, the Framers turned to the doctrines of enumeration of powers, separation of powers, and checks and balances. The enumeration of powers scheme, underappreciated as a key feature of American Constitutionalism, provided citizens with a road map to the exercise
founders regarded as the definition of tyranny. Checks and balances instilled officials with the necessary personal means and political ambitions to maintain constitutional equilibrium.
But maintenance of the Constitution could not rely solely on the “good” intentions of those who wielded power. American citizens had the duty, as well as the right, to check governmental errors, including aggrandizement and usurpation of power. Citizenship entailed responsibilities, and the citizenry was
At all events, a blueprint for constitutional government is not a self-executing machine, but a bucket list of wishes and “to dos.” It requires good men and women at the helm, which means that voters have responsibility to become informed and discerning voters, serious about the business of electing representatives who embody the virtues expected of leaders in a democracy. Voters must choose those who value limited government, respect institutions and the rule of law, forswear violence as a means of governance, promise to adhere to constitutional limitations and accept electoral outcomes. Citizens, moreover, must appreciate the virtues and values of compromise, and must insist that their representatives share that commitment.
The Constitution, consisting of 87 sentences, is not a lengthy bucket list, but the implementation of its provisions is critical to the future of our nation as we know it. The duty of citizens and officials alike was stated clearly and simply on September 17, 1787, when Benjamin Franklin, on the streets of Philadelphia, following the adjournment of the Constitutional Convention, was asked about the nature of the government that had just been created, whether it was a monarchy or a republic? Dr. Franklin replied, “A Republic, madam, if you can keep it.” This historic charge is America’s greatest bucket list goal.
ADOBE STOCK
FLATBREADS
Gluten-Free and KETO options available THE FARMHOUSE
Sliced Pancetta, Kale, Asparagus, Caramelized Balsamic Onion Jam, Goat Cheese, Shaved Parmesan
WOOD-FIRED FLAT IRON
Flat Iron Steak, Bleu Cheese, Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Arugula, Fresh Parm.
APPETIZERS
BALSAMIC-GLAZED CHICKEN WINGS
Pine Nut & Scallion Garnish, Creamy Gorgonzola
BAKED GOAT CHEESE
W/ FIRE-ROASTED TOMATOES
Served w/ Fresh Baked Focaccia (Gluten-free option)
FLASH-FRIED CALAMARI
Cocktail sauce, Dragoncello Aioli
SANDWICHES
CALABRIAN CHILE BURGER
Bacon Pepper Jam, Calabrian Chile, Pistachio Nut Butter, Gorgonzola, Arugula
ROSEMARY CHICKEN
Pesto, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts, Fontina Cheese, Gaston’s Ciabatta
SPICY ITALIAN
Cold Cut Cured Meats with Thinly Sliced Posciutto, Capicola, Spicy Calabrese, Sopressata on Gaston’s Ciabatta with Basil Pesto Mayo, Arugula and Fresh Tomato
SALADS
ITALIAN WEDGE
Baby Iceberg, Red Onion, Roma Tomatoes, Sweet & Spicy Bacon, Creamy Gorgonzola Dressing
CHICKEN ARUGULA BASIL
Spring Mix, Pine Nuts, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Red Onion, Celery, Fontina, Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette
CLASSIC CAESAR
Our Legendary Caesar Dressing, Chopped Romaine, Fresh Parmesan, Focaccia Croutons (Wood-Roasted Chicken additional)
ENTREES
BOLOGNESE
Traditional Meat Ragu, Basil, Asiago, Topped with our Signature Meatball MAC & CHEES
24-month Aged White Cheddar, Parmesan, Asiago, Romano, Fontina HOUSEMADE SAUSAGE LASAGNA
All-Natural Italian Sausage, Fennel, Marinara, Herbed Ricotta, Mozzarella, Toasted Focaccia RICOTTA GNOCCHI
House-Braised Beef Ragu, Chianti Broth, Shaved Garlic, Fresh Parmesan
MORE FINE PIE
Gluten-Free and KETO options available ALFREDO THE GRATE
Alfredo, Grated Parmesan, Chicken, Bacon, Artichoke Hearts, Roma Tomatoes, Chives CHOPPED VEGGIE
Zucchini, Squash, Asparagus, Portobello, Fire Roasted Tomatoes, Shredded Mozz, Goat Cheese CARAMELIZED ONION & FENNEL SAUSAGE
Roasted Kale, Mozzarella, Sautéed Portobello, Fontina, Parmesan, EVOO PEPPERONI, SAUSAGE & PORTOBELLO
All-Natural Italian Sausage, Cupped Pepperoni, Herbed Portobello, Fior di Latte CAPICOLA, ITALIAN SAUSAGE & SOPRESSA
Meat, Meat and some Meat… oh yeah, and Cheese! BBQ CHICKEN
Fontina, Bleu Cheese, Red Onion, Green Onion, Cilantro BIANCO MAGNIFICO
Chicken, Fior di Latte, Olive Oil, Garlic, Creminelli Prosciutto Crudo, Caramelized Onions, Balsamic Glaze
