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PEOPLE compiled by

Susan Drinkard

watching

“What is your favorite Sunday drive?”

“I’m new here, but my favorite drive so far has been my drive to work in Sandpoint on Bottle Bay Road. I have been able to watch the sunrise over the lake.”

Carli Daggett Barista Sagle

“My favorite drive is to Hope — on the boat.”

Rick Price Retired schoolteacher Sagle

DEAR READERS,

Here is our weekly offering, which is the 700th issue of the Reader since we first began in 2004. Barring a two-and-a-half year hiatus from 2012-2015 when the Reader went out of print, we have continued to bring you this glimpse of the arts, entertainment, news and bluster that encapsulates this town on a weekly basis.

In my nearly six years of publishing this newspaper – as well as the seven years I contributed to the first iteration of the Reader – I have learned a lot about myself and about this community. This community is diverse, supportive and eager to help those who are in need. It always has been, and I hope it always will be. While we are the recipient of lots of negative, critical feedback on a regular basis, the words of encouragement, monetary donations and kindness we receive far outweigh the bad. Thank you for that. Without this support, I probably would’ve hung up my publishing spurs long ago.

Finally, I’d like to wish my beautiful partner Cadie happy birthday today. I love that you’re in my life and I’m in yours – it just wouldn’t be the same without you.

–Ben Olson, publisher

READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson, Bill Borders, Susan Drinkard.

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Lorraine H. Marie, Shelby Rognstad, Brenden Bobby, PollyAnna, Jim Mitsui, Brenda Hammond, Beth Weber, Sandra Rasor, Margaret Ann Maricle, Marcia Pilgeram.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $115 per year

“I like a sail boat ride out of Hope to the Green Monarchs.”

Susan Saling Teacher Sandpoint

“I like the drive past Hope and Clark Fork into Montana, along the river.”

Tamara Larson Hairdresser Sandpoint

“Driving down Lakeshore Drive over the Long Bridge and following the Pend Oreille River.”

Julie Stevens Schoolteacher Sagle

Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community.

The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism.

Free to all, limit two copies per person.

Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics.

Requirements: –No more than 300 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers.

Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook.

About the Cover

This week’s cover features a cool cat if I ever saw one. This photo comes from our extensive stock photo library of funny cat pictures.

June 18, 2020 /

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NEWS

City planning another roundup and relocation of geese at City Beach

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

For the second year in a row, the city of Sandpoint is taking action to capture and relocate Canada geese from City Beach. This year, the permit through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service includes a roundup of about 200 mature birds and goslings, which will be transported to a piece of property owned by Fish Wildlife near the Chain Lakes, “about 90 miles away as the goose flies south,” said Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff.

The roundup and relocation, conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in coordination with Idaho Fish and Game, may take place as early as Wednesday, June 25, but city officials said that date remains tentative.

“At this point we can’t even commit to a specific date,” said Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton, but added that “it will be before the end of the month.”

Unlike last year, Woodruff said the 2020 permit is “just a relocation; there is no euthanization or otherwise disposal of any animals.”

In 2019, adult geese captured at the beach were banded. If those banded geese returned, they would be euthanized.

“The permit that they issued this year authorizes only the capture and relocation of the geese,” Stapleton said. “Those that have returned, those that may have been the young ones from last year [that were not banded] and any other potential that come in, they would be relocated.”

Goose removal at City Beach in 2019 sparked — and continues to spur — controversy, with some in the community arguing it separated goslings from their parents and represented an inhumane solution with euthanization.

Another argument has been that the relocation strategy simply didn’t work, as geese — many of them banded from the roundup — returned within a few months.

In a letter to Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad and Stapleton, and shared with the Reader, area writer, longtime journalist and vocal goose advocate Jane Fritz described the roundup and relocation as “a waste 4 /

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of money, has no reasonable future and could be remedied in other more humane ways.”

Woodruff told the Reader that while the geese did return to City Beach, they did so in dribs and drabs over the course of several months — following capture in late-June 2019, about 19 of the birds returned to the beach in the July, he said. In August about 30 returned over the month, in September the average was 25 and in October that rose to 121.

“I want to say that it was incredibly successful,” he said, adding that the relocation effort met its goal of limiting the number of birds — and their feces — at the beach during the busiest months of the year.

“We’ve been trying for years basically to pick up after the mess,” Woodruff said. “It’s really not the geese that we’re opposed to, it’s what they leave behind.”

Past efforts have included me-

chanical beach and grass cleaning, the deployment of decoy coyotes to scare off the birds and, since last year, so-called “hazing” of geese by a team of dogs whose owner operates under a contract with the city. Stapleton said the latter program, which relies on the dogs frightening geese off the grass and into the water, will continue in the summer and fall pending a contract that is in the process of being finalized.

Bringing even more dogs to City Beach is also under consideration by the city. An online survey at opentownhall.com/portals/287/ Issue_9060 asks participants to weigh in on whether they think it’s a good idea to alter the city’s ordinance to allow dogs in various parks, including on-leash at the beach “to help deter geese and minimize their impact.” The survey will remain open until 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30. As of

June 17, the survey had drawn nearly 400 responses — “It’s our most popular survey to date,” Stapleton said.

As for whether a slackened dog policy at the beach could help lessen the number of geese at the park, Stapleton said “it may.”

“I have frequently gotten questions and requests for the city to loosen its policy on dogs. On the

A family of Canada geese at Sandpoint City Beach. Photo by Jane Fritz. other side, we’ve also had people who feel strongly that the policy should be just as tight and even tighter,” she said. “While they may be a deterrent to the geese down there, they can also be a threat to the geese down there. Do we have a killing or a maiming of a goose? … Dogs are dogs.”

Mayor issues ‘Love Lives Here’ proclamation Council meeting June 17 draws fiery testimony on racism, intolerance

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Attendees to the June 17 meeting of the Sandpoint City Council exceeded capacity — restricted to no more than 20 people in Council Chambers to maintain COVID-19 social distancing — with many more gathered in the hallway and entrance at City Hall.

The meeting covered a lot of ground, from master planning to a presentation on policing from Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon to a new sidewalk cafe ordinance to downtown revitalization. Far and away, however, citizens turned out in numbers to participate in the public forum portions — specifically to comment on issues of racism and intolerance, as well as a proclamation adopted by Mayor Shelby Rognstad affirming that “the message of hate has no place in Sandpoint and all are welcome.”

The proclamation, brought on behalf of the Love Lives Here campaign, emphasized a public commitment to “upholding the civil and human rights of all citizens” while denouncing acts of racism, bigotry and xenophobia.

Reading from the proclamation, Rognstad said that the community’s public image, democratic government and economy are and have in the past been threatened by both local and out-of-area groups that sow messages of racial discord.

The mayor presented the proclamation to Rebecca Holland, a member of the N.Idaho Women’s leadership team and Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, as well as a vocal advocate for local progressive causes.

At the meeting, Holland unveiled a new campaign geared toward local businesses who wish to publicly express their support for Love Lives Here Sandpoint.

Described as a “kindness campaign” and set to launch Saturday, June 20, businesses that opt to sign a declaration of principles will be given a six-inch sticker to display at their front entry “as a sign of acceptance for all people regardless of race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, religion and more,” according to a news release from N.Idaho Women.

In addition, participating businesses will be given a guide on how to respond to and report

incidents of hate or harassment if they receive them.

“We know we can’t uproot problems unless we understand the extent of them,” Holland said.

Others also spoke in favor of the proclamation, applauding its intent and Rognstad for adopting it.

Several speakers testified that community division comes less from acts of racism than intolerance for differing opinions — especially against those on the conservative side of issues related to the Black Lives Matter movement and associated nationwide protests, as well as the presence of armed private citizens who have deployed themselves downtown claiming to provide protection for local businesses against the property damage seen in some cities amid protests against police brutality.

Sandpoint resident and business owner Anita Aurit, who also serves as vice president of Bonner County Republican Women Inc., told the council that “far too often” labels like racist, bigot or “Nazi” are “used to brand Christians, conservatives and many others with different opinions in this community.”

Aurit added, “intolerance is

wrong, hate is wrong, no matter where it comes from.”

Other testimony at the meeting challenged the notion that racism is a problem in Sandpoint sufficient to merit such a proclamation, much less the presence of a BLM movement or affiliated group.

Robert Rosendary, who traveled from out of the area to be at the meeting, and whose recent YouTube video “Robert Rosendary aka Donald Draper gives BLM Sandpoint a Lesson!” made the rounds on local Facebook forums, addressed the council, asking whether racially motivated violence occurs in Sandpoint.

“Does that happen here? Does that happen in Sandpoint? But you guys parade BLM in this divisive action,” he said, questioning why such a racially homogenous community would presume to address the notion of black lives.

“I’m that black life. Why are you speaking for me here?” he said.

“Why is there a Black Lives Matter here at all? … I’m like one of the five chocolate chips in the cookie here.”

Another speaker, Sandpoint resident Michelle Mandolf, said simply, “There is no racism here.”

NEWS

Idaho enters final stage of reopening plan

Daily statewide COVID-19 case counts on the rise

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Governor Brad Little gave the state the green light June 11 to enter Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds economic reopening plan.

Idaho just barely qualified to enter the fourth and final stage — which officially kicked off June 13 — as the statewide case count has been steadily rising in recent weeks.

“I want to stress something very important — we almost did not make it to Stage 4 this week,” Little said at the June 11 press conference. “Despite our incredible progress, there are still some in Idaho who are not practicing measures to keep themselves and others safe. Even if contracting COVID-19 is low on your personal concerns, I urge you to practice safe measures to protect others.”

Little said that community spread — transmission of the virus not tied to travel out of the area — has been confirmed in more than half of Idaho counties.

“This isn’t just a Boise and Treasure Valley issue,” he said. “Across the country, we’re seeing the virus move from cities into rural areas where health care access is limited.”

The Idaho Statesman reports that Idaho’s daily coronavirus caseload increased by more than 50% between Stage 2 and Stage 3 of the Idaho Rebounds plan, yet the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported a downward trend in all COVID-19 criteria leading up to Stage 4. This is due to the manner in which the department is tracking data. When the Idaho Rebounds plan was first released, IDHW said it would use a 14day moving average to track data that would determine Idaho’s eligibility to move into upcoming stages. Instead, the department has been using day-to-day case counts over a set 14-day period and applying a trend line to the graphed data. This is for the sake of simplicity, according to IDHW officials.

“The moving average is no longer being used because it was too complicated for many people trying to keep track, based on feedback we received,” IDHW spokesperson Niki Forbing-Orr told the Statesman.

“We really wanted it to be something the public can understand, so public health staff are using case counts for that metric.”

Idaho reported 92 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 on June 17, bringing the statewide total to 3,632 and 88 virus-related deaths to date.

Panhandle Health District reported three new cases of coronavirus in Bonner County on June 17, bringing the county’s total to 10

cases — five of which are active. PHD confirmed June 15 the first COVID-19 related death in the five northern counties: a man in his 70s from Kootenai County.

“This situation can be stressful and frightening and we realize all of you want to protect yourselves and your loved ones,” PHD officials wrote in a Facebook post June 17. “If you have questions, please ask and we will do our best to provide answers.

We are in this together.”

Those with questions or who believe they may be experiencing COVID-19 symptoms are encouraged to call PHD at 1-877-415-5225.

Gatherings of any size are allowed in Stage 4, and nightclubs and large venues — such as sports arenas — may now open with physical distancing measures in place.

Employers can resume regular staffing, but telework is encouraged whenever possible.

Also during Stage 4, visits to senior living facilities and other congregate facilities, like jails, can resume with strict rules in place to mitigate transmission.

Even as all businesses open and Idaho appears to return to a sort of pre-coronavirus normalcy, the Idaho Rebounds plan recommends certain preventative measures remain in place for the foreseeable future.

Idahoans are still asked to practice social distancing of at least six feet from people who live outside their household, and the governor’s office suggests citizens “wear protective face coverings in public, to the extent possible.” Frequent surface sanitation, good hygiene and staying home when sick are other recommendations that will remain in place moving forward.

As Idaho enters the final stage of the Idaho Rebounds plan and COVID-19 cases continue to pile up around the state, many are asking what’s next. Marissa Morrison, the governor’s press secretary, told the Sandpoint Reader that Little will “continue to hold regular press conferences to update Idahoans on the status of COVID-19 in Idaho following the end date of Stage 4 of Idaho Rebounds.”

The end date for Stage 4 is currently Friday, June 26, but is subject to change based on statewide coronavirus criteria.

In the event of a major spike in infection rates moving forward, Morrison said another round of “Stay Healthy” guidelines or a new stay-at-home order won’t come from the governor’s office. She said Little has stated that “if restrictions need to be placed due to a COVID-19 outbreak in the future, they will be considered on a local level instead of statewide as we saw in March.”

Sandpoint organizations receive COVID-19 recovery grants

By Reader Staff Innovia Foundation announced 165 grants totaling $746,012 from the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds for North Idaho and eastern Washington — including five to Sandpoint-based organizations.

The second round of grants from the Response and Recovery Funds, announced June 16, is directed to nonprofit and grassroots organizations, as well as tribal entities, schools and other government agencies, that are on the front lines of the COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

Grant awards focused on child care and youth, food assistance needs, support for immigrant and refugee communities, mental health resources and small business support.

Sandpoint recipients included the Angels Over Sandpoint, which received $2,000 to put toward its program offering financial support to community members in need for necessities such as rent, utilities and food.

Bonner Homeless Transitions received $4,000 to pay for grocery cards for clients and supplies of non-perishable food.

Innovia also granted IdaHope Families a sum of $4,000 to support financial needs of families affected by unemployment, domestic violence, substance abuse, homelessness, mental illness and medical crises.

NAMI Far North received $5,000 to help pay for phone service for mental health clinicians who staff the North Idaho Crisis Services and increase advertising regarding mental health services available in the community.

Finally, Panhandle Alliance for Education was awarded $4,000 to support professional development for educators in partnership with the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

The COVID-19 Response and Recovery Funds are hosted at Innovia Foundation in partnership with Equinox Foundation and Avista Foundation in North Idaho and Empire Health Foundation and Spokane County United Way in eastern Washington.

“Equinox Foundation is proud to be part of this collaborative effort,” said Equinox Foundation Board President Julie Meyer.

“The partners and funders involved recognize that we can have greater impact by working together and are committed to assisting the most marginalized and vulnerable members of our community who are adversely affected by this outbreak.”

Added Innovia Foundation CEO Shelly O’Quinn: “As our region enters into the recovery phase, we are reminded of the strength of community and collaboration as we collectively make these grants thoughtfully and strategically with over 100 regional volunteers and trusted voices.”

Grants from the COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Funds are administered in partnership with regional community advisory groups consisting of residents and leaders from health, business, education and human services. Funds available for eastern Washington and North Idaho have surpassed $2.7 million.

For more info, visit innovia.org/ COVID19.

City to host trio of workshops on sidewalk conditions

By Reader Staff The city of Sandpoint is hosting a workshop Thursday, June 18, addressing sidewalks as part of its Multimodal Transportation Master Plan.

According to the city, “The pedestrian network in Sandpoint is vital to the multimodal transportation system,” and the purpose of the workshop is to evaluate “existing conditions in the network and prioritiz[e] locations (routes, segments and intersections) that are in need of improvement to better serve the community.

Three sessions of the workshop will be offered in an effort to respect social distancing, and participants will be limited to 20 per session. Each session will be divided into small groups of five people and one city staff member. A city consultant will lead the groups through the process

of evaluating existing sidewalk conditions, determining primary and secondary networks, pinpointing where improvements are needed and looking at how to prioritize the work.

Participants are asked to RSVP by selecting the time that works best for them via an online poll at bit.ly/3d9qvMU. All residents are encouraged to attend and if more attendees are interested than the three sessions can accommodate, staff will schedule another workshop.

“If you care about sidewalks, we care about your input,” the city stated in a news release, adding that feedback gathered at workshops “will directly influence the master plan, project priorities and assist the city in future considerations of sidewalk maintenance.”

The two-hour workshop will take place at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 1123 Lake St. June 18, 2020 /

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NEWS

City of Sandpoint seeking artists for Silver Box Project

By Reader Staff The city of Sandpoint has put out a call to artists in the search for this year’s sculptures for the Silver Box Project.

The first sculptures in this annually rotating art-on-loan program were installed last fall on the permanent stainless steel bases, or “silver boxes,” in three downtown Sandpoint locations.

Three sculptures will once again be selected by jury process for an approximate one-year loan.

Each artist can submit up to three sculptures prior to the Thursday, June 25 deadline. Selected artwork/artists will receive a $1,000 honorarium for temporary display of their work. The project is open to all artists residing in the United States, though preference may be given to local and regional artists.

The application, selection criteria and other information can be found at sandpointidaho.gov/2020SilverBoxes.

The three sculptures currently in place include one by George Rickert, of Sandpoint, titled “Angry Bird,”

described by Sandpoint Arts Commission Chair Elle Susnis as whimsical and colorful in nature. That piece is featured at the Silver Box location on the corner of Fourth Avenue and Church Street.

Another sculpture, featured at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Oak Street is titled “Okeefe.” The artist is Patrick Sullivan, of Pine Valley, Utah, the piece is described by Susnis as a carrera marble with a fluid form. The third piece is a hand-welded, laser-cut aluminum diamond plate heart sculpture at Fourth Avenue and Oak Street. It is titled “Low-Poly Open Heart (RIDE),” by Matthew Duffy, of Washington, D.C. These three sculptures are currently for sale. If you are interested in purchasing one of the pieces, please call Aaron Qualls, Sandpoint Planning and Community Development director, at 208-255-1738.

The Silver Box Project was approved by the Sandpoint City Council in 2018 with the intent of giving selected artists an opportunity to display their work in Sandpoint’s downtown core.

Lakes Commission to meet on June 25

By Reader Staff The Lakes Commission will host its next meeting Thursday, June 25 at the Priest River Events Center, with options to either attend in person with social distancing measures in place or to access the meeting through a Zoom webinar.

The meeting, slated for 10 a.m.-1 p.m., will feature regional updates on all things affecting the local watershed.

This includes an update on the outlet dam and thorofare construction at Priest Lake from Bonner County Road and Bridge Director Steve Klatt; an introduction to the Priest Lake limnology study from an Idaho Fish and Game representative; a presentation on wastewater irrigation near Priest Lake

by Jan Boll and Galen Kornowske of Washington State University; an update on upstream water quality from Kate 6 /

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Wilson of the Flathead Basin Commission; current information on Idaho’s aquatic invasive species from the Idaho Department of Agriculture; updates on various U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects, including boom replacements in the Clark Fork Driftyard and current Albeni Falls Dam operations; and a presentation on the Lake Pend Oreille and Clark Fork fishery from Matt Corsi of Idaho Fish and Game.

There will be time set aside for public comments and questions at the end of the meeting.

The Priest River Events Center is located at 5399 US-2 in Priest River.

Those wishing to attend the meeting virtually must register for the webinar ahead of time. To obtain the necessary Zoom link, contact Lakes Commission Executive Director Molly McCahon at lakescommission@gmail.com.

Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact.

A recent sampling: When protesters tried to topple a conquistador statue in Albuquerque, N.M., a member of an observing militia group opened fire. The June 15 event began with a peaceful protest, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The statue commemorated a Spaniard who killed more than 800 native people after a 1598 clash; the conquistador’s retaliation included chopping off one foot of all native men over age 25 and consigning them to 20 years of servitude. Calling the shooting “outrageous,” the town’s mayor said the statue would be removed for public safety.

Six militia members were arrested; the shooting victim was hospitalized.

Corporations that moved offshore to avoid U.S. taxes are nonetheless eligible for federally-backed loans in the first pandemic relief package, Americans for Tax Fairness reported. Operating offshore allows corporations to pay half of the U.S. tax rate.

Unprecedented: President Donald Trump threatened to sue and demanded CNN retract polling that showed him losing to Joe Biden, despite other polls with similar findings. CNN’s response: “[W]e have received legal threats from political leaders in the past; they have typically come from countries like Venezuela or other regimes where there is little or no respect for a free and independent media … your allegations and demands are rejected in their entirety.”

Close to shutting down, a Florida café was saved when an anonymous donor supplied $40,000 for staying open and making sandwiches for the hospital across the street, Mother Jones reported.

There is a correlation between racist tweets and U.S. hate crimes. Researchers looked at the impact of 532 million tweets on 100 U.S. cities: areas with more targeted and discriminatory speech had a higher number of hate crimes, according to a New York University study.

Trump last week accused the 75-yearold Buffalo man who was injured by police during a police brutality protest of faking his injury, which put him in the hospital after police shoved him to the ground and his head struck concrete.

Several prominent media outlets pointed out that the “fake injury” idea came from a former Russian propaganda network reporter who shares conspiracy theories with One America News. Some OAN em-

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

ployees have disagreed with the story that the injury was faked, telling Forbes that OAN’s coverage of conspiracy theories “is damaging to our careers.”

While not condoning looting, Atlanta-based author and film director Kimberly Latrice Jones, in a recent video that went viral, offered her opinion on looters at protests: they think they’ll never have a legitimate opportunity to get what’s behind the glass they break. The bigger question, she says, is why people are that poor? She likened their situation to playing Monopoly, without money or the ability to own property.

The U.S. death count from COVID-19 was 116,701 on June 16, according to The New York Times, up from 113,491 on June 9, according to worldometer.com. On June 1 it was 106,562.

A Chicago University study of current economics points out that recent positive news on the economy puts us at risk for distraction and complacency. And that can cause a state of denial by those thinking the U.S. economy is already recovering from recent COVID-19-related job losses. A significant part of the recovery has been due to federal support, but the economy still faces after-shocks triggered by lack of demand, still-large unemployment numbers, shrunken tax revenue, declines in sales and everyday influences, like inability to pay rent. Neil Irwin, senior economics correspondent for The New York Times, has pointed out that the early years of the Great Depression were also marked by denial, with President Herbert Hoover faulting other countries for the economy, deciding businesses and local governments would fix the dilemma while claiming the federal government could do nothing to intervene.

He later shifted and created 700,000 federal jobs, but it was too little too late with 7 million unemployed.

Blast from the past: With the U.S. economy in shambles four years into the Great Depression, in 1933, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s message of “Three R’s” — relief (immediate help for the unemployed and destitute), recovery (plans to rebuild the economy through federal initiatives) and reforms (to make sure another Great Depression never again occurred) — won him three terms in office. His New Deal achievements included starting up Social Security, unemployment benefits, the Civilian Conservation Corps, the 40-hour work week and labor protections that ended child labor.

OPINION

Mayor’s Roundtable: Liberty and justice for all

By Mayor Shelby Rognstad Reader Contributor

currently reviewing these recommendations. I will bring all of these demands I’ve been thinking a lot and public requests about police, protesters and to City Council for armed vigilantes. About 300 consideration in the peaceful protestors marched coming weeks. through downtown June 6 The city has in solidarity with the Black committed to a Lives Matter movement. community driven The following week I, policing model along with city councilors, that has positively received a letter of demands transformed its from the BLM Sandpoint Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad. relationship with the protesters. public while improving The request was for elected officials service delivery and response capacity. to: 1. make statements in support of In 2018, the city created a Community racial justice and the goals of the BLM Resource Officer Division that addressmovement; 2. require and fund annual anti-racism training for all police and city es civil matters without dispatching an armed officer. This has improved comstaff members; 3. require police receive additional and regular de-escalation train- munity relations, service delivery and reduced cost to the taxpayer. SPD’s level ing; and 4. create a community oversight of community engagement, including board for the city police department, in volunteerism, among our officers is line with what is recommended by Camremarkable and is essential to building paign Zero. relationships and communication with I would like to address these demands citizens, which results in greater trust and one at a time: reduces likelihood of abuse. This is what 1. In 2001, the city passed a non-disreally sets SPD apart from other departcrimination ordinance stating that Sandpoint values human rights. That statement ments around the country, and for this we should support and celebrate our trained was reaffirmed in 2016. However, this is officers. a message that needs regular affirmation In stark contrast, we are witnessing a with new electeds and new events. I read rise in vigilantism. Let me be clear about the “Love Lives Here” proclamation at my terms: “vigilante” is defined as, “a the June 18 meeting of the City Council, affirming our commitment to “uphold and member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in protect the civil and human rights of all individuals regardless of their race, creed, their community without legal authority.”

There is a difference between responsible religion, ethnicity, gender, sexual oriengun ownership and vigilantism. While the tation, gender identity, national origin or immigration status.”

2. While anti-racism training for police and city staff has never been provided, it could be helpful to improve non-discriminatory policing practices and create a more inclusive culture.

3. A community oversight board could also be helpful to ensure greater police accountability.

4. SPD receives de-escalation and mental health response training, which is invaluable and will continue to be an important part of police training protocol.

There have also been numerous public requests to bring our police protocols into accordance with the Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which has specific recommendations to reduce the potential for excessive use of force. We are

vast majority of Idahoans are responsible gun owners, the group of 50 who occupied downtown Sandpoint on June 4 were there, by definition, as vigilantes.

Perhaps none of these vigilantes had police training, de-escalation techniques or mental health disorders. None were accountable to voters, elected officials or a qualified, legal chain of command like a police chief. They were not publicly sworn to a code of conduct to uphold the law and protect the public welfare, nor did they have law enforcement authority.

These are a few important distinctions between your highly qualified police force and, well, anybody with an assault rifle.

Vigilantes are different from militia.

Militia are, by definition, sanctioned and called into service by the governor under Title 46 of Idaho Code. Governor Brad Little has not called into service any militia in North Idaho, therefore, the armed vigilantes you see on the street are not sanctioned militia.

It may seem like the protesters, the police and the vigilantes are at odds with each other. However, there are values that they share: they all care about their community and the law, and want to live in a lawful society. This includes public safety, liberty and justice. Let us remember that we all love our community and want a safe, lawful, just place to call home.

Please join me for the Mayor’s Roundtable to discuss all this and more this Friday, June 19, at 3 p.m. on Zoom: bit.ly/37CoCaB You can also watch on Facebook Live through my page, Mayor Shelby Rognstad.

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Stop the slander, intimidation and threats…

Bouquets: • Since the coronavirus pandemic began here in North Idaho, we have received so many donations from our readers to help support this newspaper during tough times.

Thank you so much for your thoughtful notes, your encouragement and your generous donations. In the past, I have always tried to respond with a handwritten letter to donations that come via snail mail, but the volume of donations received has made that a difficult task. Rest assured, I am thankful and continually humbled by how many of you out there care enough to donate to the Reader.

Thank you so much.

GUEST SUBMISSION: • I thank everyone for their generosity of donating during my Aspen Wellspring office moving sale. We collected a total of $1,036 for Bonner Homeless Transitions in memory of Tamie Martinson. If you are moved to add to the donation please do so at donorbox.org/donate-to-bonner-homeless-transitions.

— Gabrielle Deubendorfer.

Barbs: • If you’re one of those who shames people for wearing a face mask in public, I have one question for you: Why? I hear from our readers all the time, and one repeated complaint is that they feel it is unproductive when others — sometimes even elected officials — make them feel foolish for wearing a mask. Can we just respect everyone’s wishes and not make this a political battle line? With community spread in Bonner County, and a marked increase in cases both in this county and the rest of the state, we’re not out of the woods yet.

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Dear editor, As a mother with adult children in the local BLM, I am willing to forgive the lethal intimidation and threat of violence to our local chapter of the Black Lives Matter movement, which is made up of local children and young adults; and I will forgive the endangerment to our citizens and the loitering around businesses, as this peaceful group exercised their First Amendment right this past week.

I am willing to overlook that perhaps these militants chose not to verify their rumors with a legitimate agency such as the FBI or the police chief — let alone directly from the protesters themselves — and dramatically acted on these rumors out of fear.

However, we have now heard from the local BLM group directly. They openly reject the vigilantes. They are locals. And they are mostly young adults and children.

The continual implication that our local Black Lives Matter group is “ANTIFA” needs to stop. These statements are slander, and it’s the slander of our kids. Like it or not, we have a BLM here — it’s not going away, and we need to rally around them and uphold their First Amendment right by stopping the slandering (implying they’re ANTIFA), stopping the intimidation and stopping the threats.

Most locals really don’t care if there are those who want to walk around with their assault rifles to shop around town. Need an assault rifle to go buy some art at Northwest Handmade? Have at it. Want to have your AR with you to eat dinner at Beet and Basil? Go ahead. As long as the owners are OK with it.

But If you’re here, please be a patron of our businesses, but don’t patronize our local BLM and their First Amendment right.

Sandi Nicholson Sandpoint

Blanket labelling hurts everyone...

Dear editor, I admire and support the young BLM protestors in Sandpoint. As a mother of three sons, it breaks my heart to imagine one of them being treated like George Floyd. Fortunately, they are all white. Two open carry and one was protecting local businesses. That puts me in an awkward position!

Though threats of Antifa rioters were based on social media misinformation, I hear genuine concern for the safety for our community from my son. Having grown up in Germany, where guns are not allowed, it has been a long journey for me to respect responsible gun owners who feel strongly about the Second Amendment — a concept I still don’t understand, but honor.

However, harassment of young peaceful protestors by camo-clad men with semi-automatic rifles and using racial slurs crosses the line for me. So does blanket labeling of open gun carriers as “gun toting idiots who are trying to bully us all into submission” — part of a fascist movement similar to Nazi Germany.

White supremacy presence in our community, however repulsive, doesn’t mean that we label everyone who open carries an irresponsible vigilante.

As an American citizen of four years, I understand and honor the history and current importance of the First, Second,

but also the 14th. Racial injustice is not metered out by bad individuals or events. According to Dr. Robin DiAngelo, racism is a systemic discrimination by one group that doesn’t perceive itself as a “race” — sanctioned by legal authority and institutional control.

As white people, we all perpetuate racism whether we split ourselves into good/tolerant progressives and bad vigilantes/racists or good patriots and bad antifas/communists.

I commend police Chief Coon for holding a community meeting to address these deeper roots and would hope that Sherriff Wheeler will do the same.

Gabrielle Duebendorfer Sandpoint

Armed patrols deter tourists more than geese at the beach...

Dear editor, I don’t believe that having people on the streets of our town brandishing assault rifles is what we need, especially during these fearful times.

The last thing it makes me feel is protected. It definitely does not send a reassuring message to people to come downtown. I am definitely curtailing my trips to town. If you want tourist money, this seems like a much bigger deterrent than geese at the beach.

River Burdick Sandpoint

To BoCo commissioners: Represent moderate voters, too...

Dear Bonner Co. Commissioners, I understand that you have the right, as private citizens, to express your personal opinion on social media sites.

As a registered voter in Bonner County and, therefore, a constituent of yours, I want to express my dissatisfaction in the lack of representation I feel moderate voters have in Bonner County. You have to know, as elected officials, that you are a public figure and what you post personally is reflected on you as a politician.

It is irresponsible to incite conservative activist militias through social media channels instead of going through proper legal channels if you feel our town or county have a credible threat against them. It makes the public lose faith in our competent law enforcement agencies if you do not rely on them as first responders to these perceived threats.

Please consider my concerns in your future actions and public statements. Kind regards, Erica Witte Sandpoint

Beach belongs to the geese, too...

Dear Mayor Rognstad, Please, this is so wrong! To kill beings for the sake of others’ pleasures is wrong! Who are we to take the lives of those who have chosen the lakeside

as their home, that they would share with us. The beach is as much theirs as it is ours. We’ve lived with them, and they with us, thus far.

Who are you and who are we to take the lives of animals who were here before any of us, and actually live on our beach while we merely visit it.

Killing is barbaric — and all lives count.

Karen Bowers Sandpoint

‘Just say no’ to City Beach changes…

Dear editor, What is the harm in allowing leashed dogs walking the shoreline sidewalk in front of the motel? They’ll make the geese scatter, maybe in time to be a permanent deterrent.

City Council lauded the “swap” of Cox’s parking lot next to the railroad tracks for city-owned lakefront property. A $2 million good deal for taxpayers.

Giving away lakefront property to accommodate boat trailers for people that are spending their day on the lake.

How about a thought for our children?

Ask them what they would enjoy at the beach on the land that we already own.

A stage and event center in the center of City Beach. Fencing would have to stay up day and night during a scheduled event. Green space and the lake view gone — for what? A concert held at night.

Tax dollars spent to build and maintain housing for a 100-year-old carousel at City Beach, with only a few good months of weather to attract its use. The second location next to Cedar Street Bridge never gets a mention.

Please, people, this is our only free, family lakefront access park.

Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.

Just say “no.” Contact Sandpoint Parks and Recreation at 208-263-3613.

Patsy Barnes Sandpoint

‘Division’ by ‘divisive sourpusses’...

Dear editor, In a time when unity is needed more than ever, hundreds of people in our community have come together — following the cancellation of the Fourth of July festivities on COVID grounds — to provide donations, volunteerism and the organization of the celebration of our country’s independence.

So I was extremely disappointed, though hardly surprised, to see that the Reader has taken this non-partisan, community event and attempted to politicize it. Its article regarding the event [News, “What’s happening with the Fourth of July,” June 4, 2020] looks to me like the Reader attempting to question the event’s legitimacy and, more disturbingly, trying to derail it.

Our wonderful community saved the Independence Day celebration, and for a local news outlet to try and take that commendable effort and attempt to mold it into something it’s not — and try and create division where none exists — is appalling. So I ask the

Reader staff to take a big step back, do some self-reflection and start doing what everyone of all persuasions around the area have already done: unite in celebration of the most important day in our country’s history. Otherwise, you all just look like divisive sourpusses.

Jodi Giddings Sagle

‘Appalled’ at ‘divisive’ article…

Dear editor, I’m appalled that the Reader wrote such a divisive article about Sandpoint’s Independence Day parade and decided to make it a political issue, which it is not.

This is a community event for everyone and to have it portrayed as anything but seems purposely harmful to the event and is a slap in the face to the good people in this community who have come together to make sure Sandpoint has a day for us all to enjoy and celebrate the Independence of our amazing country.

Sandra Rutherford Sandpoint

Article caused ‘division’…

Dear editor, I am disappointed and angered that your publication would approach the community funded and run Independence Day celebration and use it to cause division.

When it was announced that there would be no parade this year, Ron Korn took the initiative and time to see if our community could still have a parade.

Not only did the donations come in from businesses and individuals to cover the costs of the parade but generous people continued to give and there will now be a family style celebration in the park and fireworks.

Many of us have given money and time to this event and I for one am looking forward to a family style celebration. How the Reader can see this citizen-funded event as anything but positive and a way to bring our community together is baffling and disappointing. Perhaps instead of creating division, the Reader should donate to this event to show their support of an event that was created for all of the community.

Anita Aurit Sandpoint Editor’s note: To the above letters

by Jodi Giddings, Sandra Rutherford and Anita Aurit — all vocal conservative commentators on various local Facebook forums and active in local conservative politics — the Reader’s reporting on the “Save Independence Day Sandpoint” effort did nothing that you allege. We simply recognized who the organizers were — both vocal partisan political commentators and organizers — asked a question about any political intentions with the event, which was deemed “valid” by the organizer with whom we spoke; printed the responses; and asked the opinions of a representative from the longtime previous organizers. I see more “division” and “divisive” intent in these eerily similar letters than I do in the original reporting.

PERSPECTIVES

In the reign of cats

By PollyAnna Reader Columnist In desperate times — or daily times — I’m not above binge-watching a solid stream of cat videos.

Has anyone figured out just why cat videos are so appealing? I haven’t got it pinned yet, but there’s something to do with felines’ fierce struggle for constant dignity that makes us want to poke them and tease them and watch them get catapulted through the air.

Cats have always entertained me — possibly because my parents hate them with a low-simmering passion. Their disdain, of course, means that every cat they come across instantly falls in love with them and follows them around, and tries to sit in my dad’s lap or rubs itself around my mom’s ankles.

When I was about 11, my parents caved and let us get our first cat.

“Outside! Outdoors only!” was the refrain.

So, of course, Wild Thing became an expert at sneaking into the house at any given opportunity. Soon my mom’s shriek of “Aaarrrgghhhh! Come get your cat!” could be heard regularly coming from all corners of the house.

Maybe Wild Thing would be sitting on the deep freeze in the dark pantry, so that his retinas flashed brightly at her from the dark as she opened the door. Maybe he’d be sprawled across the countertop — splayed over the damp, freshly washed and chopped head of cabbage that she’d just prepped

for supper. Maybe he’d be crouching under the ledge outside, where we kept his food bowl, waiting for a sparrow to land on his leftovers so that he could enjoy (from his perspective) a “real” meal.

Somehow, he always managed to ruffle my mom exactly wrong.

My current cat, Rory, has tried to win her over with his full range of flirtations, but it’s a lost cause. He’s a chipper little guy, heading toward pudgy but still climbing trees after his squirrel buddies with gusto.

Rory lives with the desperate hope that if he’s good enough, he’ll grow up to be a dog someday. He’s not beyond walking into any of the houses or businesses in our neighborhood for a quick “hello.” Fortunately, my neighbors tolerate his invasions with laughter, for the most part — though I began to worry that he would disappear, especially after the time he hopped out of a parked RV up the block to greet me.

When he was young, he developed a stressful (for me) habit of walking up to strange dogs for a friendly nose-sniff greeting. Even now, some days he shows up at my workplace and sits outside the door to walk me home. There are evenings where we cannot walk the dog without locking Rory in the bedroom first, or he’ll waltz right across Fifth Avenue with us for a stroll to Eichardt’s.

Rory’s newest trick? Bust-

“Try to rub my belly. I dare you!” ing excitedly through the dog door with a stick in his mouth.

It started this winter as the snow melted, with him bringing home bits of straw or gloriously large maple leaves to pat around and shove under the throw rugs. Now, his expertise in prey selection has taken him to the advanced level of twigs.

In fact, best we can tell, he has abandoned all living prey for the love of the stick, and meows proudly as he places one on the floor and looks up for affirmation.

The dog, who’s not allowed to bring her own sticks in the house, watches our oohing and ahhing with confusion — then, as soon as our backs are turned, she jealousy-eats his newest prized possession.

Honestly, living with bits of stick underfoot is so much better than bird feathers or bits of mouse. We might be the only family in Sandpoint that mulches inside our house instead of outside. But my friends love Rory’s “Twig of the Day” photo feed.

And hey, we all need to do what we can to keep the peace

around here. Even if that means allowing a cat to pretend he’s a dog.

PolyAnna lives, writes and loves from Sandpoint, where

she recently caught Rory covertly dealing catnip to his neighborhood buddies from the herb garden in her front yard.

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Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

cyanobacteria

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Most of the time, bacteria are impossible to spot with the naked eye. While you may be able to visually identify an infection in a cut on your finger, you’re actually observing the effects of your body reacting to the bacteria’s presence, not the bacteria itself.

Cyanobacteria are very unique in that respect. Some colonies grow large enough for you to handle, some reaching the size of a grape. This may not sound like a big deal, but seeing bacterial colonies grow to this size is a pretty impressive feat.

Even more impressive is the fact that we all owe our ability to survive to these freaky little microbes. More on that later.

What are cyanobacteria, you might be wondering? They are a type of bacteria that utilizes photosynthesis to produce energy, just like the cells of a plant. Unique to certain types of cyanobacteria is their ability to turn dinitrogen, or two linked nitrogen atoms, into two individual nitrogen atoms. Nitrogen is important to plants because of the role it plays in producing chlorophyll, the green pigment present in plant leaves that forms the basis for a plant’s ability to capture and utilize sunlight.

Cyanobacteria have a long and dramatic history on Earth, and like the hobbits of the Fellowship of the Ring, they once proved that even the smallest things can have the biggest impact in the world. Around 2.4 billion years ago, something called the Great Oxidation Event occurred. This was one of the first major extinction events on 10 /

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the planet, when oxygen levels sharply rose and wiped out most life on Earth.

The Great Oxidation Event triggered a number of unique happenings in early Earth history. The increase in oxygen bonded with iron atoms in the oceans and made them sink, creating huge bands of sedimentary iron that would later be pushed closer to the surface by geological phenomena like the movement of plate tectonics and volcanism.

The excess oxygen also bonded with methane in the atmosphere, helping reduce the greenhouse effect planet-wide and causing a chain reaction of global cooling that led to a number of ice ages.

Finally, the increase in oxygen poisoned just about every other form of unicellular life on Earth — this sounds terrible, but it paved the way for the evolution of plants, and eventually other multicellular life, humanity included.

So how is cyanobacteria relevant to you? There are a number of cool modern features of these ancient cells.

Cyanobacteria’s ability to make usable nitrogen for plants is hugely beneficial for agriculture — from the large-scale farmer to the home gardener.

Some of the most exciting applications for cyanobacteria come from their ability to produce renewable energy. Paired with some other chemicals to promote electrical pathways and conductivity, colonies of cyanobacteria can be linked to electrodes that capture some of the energy produced during photosynthesis.

The environmental impact of this sort of algal farming is considerably lower than traditional methods like burning coal, where we are effectively aero-

solizing carbon, which we then struggle to pull back out of the atmosphere.

When perfected, this could potentially be an even more cost-effective method of renewable energy production than traditional solar voltaic panels, as cyanobacteria are organic and will actively replace dead cells, whereas traditional solar panels require costly repair and replacement over time.

Cyanobacteria can also be used alongside fossil fuels to produce ethanol, which is used in many forms of fuel, from unleaded gasoline to jet fuel.

Some strains of cyanobacteria produce ethanol as a byproduct of photosynthesis, which will evaporate when exposed to sunlight throughout the day.

If contained, the ethanol will condense along the edges of the container as the air cools later in the day, and then roll down into ethanol collectors.

We currently use corn to produce ethanol, which requires at least 26 pounds of corn per gallon of ethanol — not counting the amount of fuel used to harvest, shuck and mill corn, then distill it into ethanol.

I think I’d just let the unicellular bodies do all of the heavy lifting while I enjoy some popcorn, but that’s just my humble opinion.

You may even be eating cyanobacteria in your diet right now.

Blue spirulina is a common sight in health food stores, and it’s hard to miss. True to its name, blue spirulina gives an otherworldly blue hue to any liquid to which it is bound. It has a sharp, sea-like flavor and is a good source of potassium and protein with less sugar than a banana. I can tell you from personal experience it

makes for a very tasty and unique addition to kombucha, if fermented tea is your thing.

If you’re curious about cyanobacteria and the algae that may power our future, here’s some good news: the library is open again and full of books that have been waiting to be read.

There are still a number of restrictions due to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, some of which

are altered hours.

The library is currently open Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, with special hours available for seniors, pregnant mothers-to-be and others that are vulnerable to the virus. Check out their website for detailed hours.

Now I might finally be able to update the two terabytes of game updates I’ve been putting off since this whole thing started...

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner ?

Don’t know much about horses • The highest race horse speed ever recorded was 43.97 mph.

• The smallest horse in the world is 17 inches tall and weighs 57 pounds.

• Horses can sleep standing.

• The Roman Emperor Gaius Caligula made his horse a senator.

• An individual horse has a peak power output of 14.9 horsepower.

• In the UK, all horses, ponies and donkeys must have a horse passport.

• The practice of eating horseflesh is called hippophagy.

• Dogs have 13 blood types, horses have eight, cows have nine while Humans only have four.

• The horse head used in the movie The Godfather was real.

• More than 8 million horses died in World War I. Of those who survived, most were sent to Belgian butchers, being regarded as unfit for any other purpose.

We can help!

• Horses cannot throw up.

• Animals, including pigs, horses and even insects, could be tried and convicted of crimes for several centuries across many parts of Europe.

• Traffic in central London moves at the same speed as horsedrawn carriages a century ago.

• The modern British Army has more horses than tanks.

• In 1923, a jockey suffered a fatal heart attack but his horse finished and won the race, making him the first and only jockey to win a race after death.

• In the early years of the 20th century, horses were causing so much pollution with their poop that cars were seen as the “green” alternative.

• Darwin suggested the appendix may have been used for digesting leaves. This theory is supported by koala and horse appendixes, which do just that.

Library reopens with limited hours, services

By Reader Staff The East Bonner County Library District’s Sandpoint and Clark Fork locations are now open to the public with limited hours of operation. As of June 15, following the opening of Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds reopening plan, both branch libraries are now welcoming patrons into their buildings.

The Sandpoint branch is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 to 10 a.m. reserved for senior citizens and vulnerable patrons, and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. for the general public; Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

The Clark Fork Library is open Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. -6 p.m.; Fridays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Materials may be returned on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at both branches, allowing materials to be quarantined before processing and recirculating them to other patrons.

Both branches are fully staffed on Tuesdays and Thursdays for taking phone calls, emails, and fulfilling curbside materials pick-up and computer reservations.

Appointments for curbside pick-up remain available Monday through Saturday.

To schedule an appointment online, go to holds.youcanbook.me or call 208-263-6930.

The Bookmobile is now operating on a regular weekly schedule that is posted at ebonnerlibrary.org and available from a handout at the Sandpoint Library.

“Our goal is to keep everyone safe and healthy, gradually resuming services with caution,” said Library Director Ann Nichols.

Patrons older than 2 years of age are required to wear face coverings upon entering, maintain six feet of distance from others and use sanitizer prior to computer use.

Patrons are asked to bring their own face covering, but if you do not have one, the library will provide one. As an alternative, patrons are encouraged to take advantage of the contactless curbside pick-up service.

Some services, such as the use of meeting rooms, Teen Lounge, VR Room and public events are currently suspended.

For the full scope of services and hours of operation, visit the “Updates” feature on the East Bonner County Library website, ebonnerlibrary.org, or call the information desk at 208-263-6930, extension 1209.

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Conquer the Outdoors Again Office Located in the Ponderay Walmart Vision Center Call and make an appointment today: 208.255.5513

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COMMUNITY

Sandpoint Rotary announces 2020 scholarships

By Reader Staff The COVID-19 pandemic could not dampen the optimism and enthusiasm of local high school seniors planning for the future, as they applied for scholarships to continue their studies this fall. The Rotary Club of Sandpoint awarded scholarships to 13 area students who demonstrated achievement in scholarship and leadership, and, most of all, exemplified the club’s motto of “service above self.”

The local service club is made up of nearly 100 members from all areas of business dedicated to improving the community and the world. One aspect of this goal is to support students who are intent on the same purpose: making this world a better place through individual and collective efforts.

Funds for local scholarships are raised in part through proceeds from annual events for the Sandpoint Rotary Charitable Trust, including an annual Mystery Gala, golf tournament and CHAFE 150 bike ride. Although the club canceled or postponed some of its benefit events due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Rotary is still awarding the scholarships as planned and wishes to congratulate and celebrate the following students for their accomplishments and future plans: Charlie Abbott, Clark Fork High School, will attend North Idaho College for itsHVAC program and looks forward to a career in that field.

Tyler Almeida, Sandpoint High School, will attend Montana Tech as a pre-apprentice lineman, with a goal to travel the country working as an electrical lineman.

Brie Dillon, Sandpoint High School, will attend Whitworth University, majoring in civil engineering, and plans to use her degree to build accessible water supplies in developing countries.

Isabel Edwards, Sandpoint High School, will attend Boise State University, where she will pursue a nursing degree to become a labor and delivery nurse.

Abigail Hendricks, Sandpoint High School, will attend University of Memphis, pursuing a degree in public relations, with a goal to be a PR manager at a large company with a career that includes travel.

Taylor James, Sandpoint High School, will attend University of Idaho, majoring in political science/international studies, followed by law school, with a goal to become an environmental lawyer to help preserve natural resources.

Ellie Kiebert, Clark Fork High School, will attend Spokane Falls Community

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Abigail Hendricks.

Isabel Edwards.

College, where she will major in natural resource management while playing volleyball for the SFCC Sasquatch. After two years, she will transfer to University of Idaho to pursue a degree in natural resource conservation and hopes to become an outdoor educator in a national park.

Emilia Lynch, Sandpoint High School, will attend Boise State University, majoring in psychology en route to a career as an occupational therapist so she can continue to serve those around her in her own unique way.

Shelby Mohler, Sandpoint High School, will attend Williston State College in North Dakota to earn a nursing degree with a goal to become a labor and delivery nurse.

Sage Saccomanno, Sandpoint High School, will attend Bard College in Annandale-on-the-Hudson, New York, majoring in environmental studies and political science, with a goal to become an environmental lawyer. She also has political aspirations to serve in public office to make a positive difference.

Mikayla Schoening, Sandpoint High School, will attend Idaho State University to earn a degree in dental hygiene, with an ultimate goal of becoming a pediatric dentist who travels to developing countries

Brie Dillon.

Jake Shur.

Ellie Kiebert.

Charles Abbott.

Jenny Slaveck.

Shelby Mohler.

Mikayla Schoening.

Taylor James.

to perform surgeries and promote dental hygiene.

Jake Shur, Sandpoint High School, will attend Montana State University, majoring in mechanical engineering while also participating in MSU’s ROTC program. He aspires to a career that is both enjoyable and challenging.

Jenny Slaveck, Sandpoint High School, will attend Colby College in Waterville, Maine, to study economics followed by business school. She plans to create her own nonprofit for children who have lost a parent to cancer, with global reach, yet based here in Sandpoint “to help

Emilia Lynch.

Sage Saccomanno.

Tyler Almeida.

give back to the community that has given me so much.”

The Rotary Club of Sandpoint salutes these fine young members of our community as they head out into the world to make a positive difference. In light of canceled fundraising events, the club also invites those who wish to support Rotary’s local scholarships and educational programs to send tax deductible donations to Sandpoint Rotary Charitable Trust, PO Box 1666, Sandpoint, ID 83864. For more information on getting involved in Rotary activities and events contact Club President Mel Dick at 208-610-5578.

COMMUNITY

Volunteers needed for N. Idaho trail projects

By Reader Staff The nonprofit organization Idaho Trails Association is looking for hikers who are interested in helping on oneday, weekend and week-long projects throughout the summer to maintain trails in North Idaho.

No experience is needed to participate and hikers of all levels are encouraged to participate. All tools and training will be provided at the start of each trip. Many ITA volunteers describe their experience as empowering and a great way to meet other outdoor enthusiasts.

ITA has projects planned all over the state and 14 scheduled in the North Idaho region for summer 2020.

East Fork Boulder Creek: Sunday, June 20 East of Bonners Ferry, this one-day trip starts near a historic “ghost town,” travels through beautiful forestland and ends near the alpine, rocky summit of Middle Mountain. Work will include

brushing, water diversion and some tread work.

Long Canyon: Monday-Saturday, July 6-11 This will be a six-day backpacking trail project in the wildest canyon in North Idaho. Hike in about six miles over Pyramid pass and work the upper end of this remote and scenic trail. Participants will camp right by the creek and do tread work, brushing and drainage improvement alongside a Forest Service trail crew.

Blacktail Lake (Women’s Only Weekend): Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 22-23 On this WOW Weekend, there will be brushing, drainage and tread work on the three-mile trail to beautiful Blacktail Lake.

To sign up for these projects and see the rest of ITA’s North Idaho schedule, visit idahotrailsassociation.org/upcoming-projects.

Wildflowers & Wings class explores area blooms and birds

By Reader Staff

Spring has (mostly) sprung, which means both flora and fauna are out in force. It’s an especially timely opportunity to get out and view the seasonal wildflower bloom and early summer tailend migration of birds through the region, which sponsor Libby Hotel Base Camp is offering with an outdoor educational program titled “Wildflowers & Wings” in Libby, Mont.

The program, which is slated for Saturday, June 27, will take a socially-distanced group on a road tour and a few short walks into private land locations.

Participants will meet at Riverfront Park in Libby, Mont., at 9 a.m. (Mountain Standard Time) on the southwest side of the Kootenai River — accessed on the left before you cross the Highway 37 bridge heading north.

Attendees will visit a few different habitat types to field study a variety of wildflowers and observe birds of prey,

waterfowl, woodpeckers, shorebirds and songbirds.

Four-wheel drive vehicles and full gas tanks are recommended. Organizers ask that participants — who will be limited to 10 — bring water, lunch, binoculars, spotting scopes, bird field guide, hand lens, wildflower field guide, cameras and a sense of humor.

Libby Hostel Base Camp may have accommodations if needed. The program instructor has more than 40 years experience in forestry and wildlife, and 20 years teaching outdoor education programs. Estimated wrap up time is 3:30 p.m. (MST).

Quoting iconic conservationist John Muir — “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul” — program organizers stated that, “in these troubled times, [we] feel it is important to go ahead and offer this combination class.”

For more information and to register email Brian Baxter at b_baxter53@yahoo. com or call 406-291-2154.

paid advertisement

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LITERATURE

On womanhood

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved Harry Potter book series, is under fire for what some are calling transphobic views.

“If sex isn’t real, there’s no same-sex attraction,” Rowling tweeted on June 6. “If sex isn’t real, the lived reality of women globally is erased. I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn’t hate to speak the truth.”

This is not Rowling’s first bout of problematic discourse surrounding transgender identities. In December 2019, Rowling voiced her support for an Englishwoman, Maya Forstater, who “was accused of using ‘offensive and exclusionary’ language in tweets opposing government proposals … to allow people to self-identify as the opposite sex,” according to The Guardian. Forstater lost her job as a result of her comments.

While many refer to Rowling as a TERF — trans-exclusionary radical feminist — she refers to herself as “gender critical,” and sees TERF as a slur.

At their core, TERF or gender critical views question the validity of considering trans women as the same as cisgendered women — a.k.a. people who are gendered as women at birth — for fear that it will

tarnish the hard-fought single-sex spaces and rights meant to protect women.

Rowling’s recent tweets prompted a renewed outcry from people who see her views as transphobic. In response, Rowling on June 10 tweeted a link to an essay on her website titled “J.K. Rowling Writes about Her Reasons for Speaking out on Sex and Gender Issues.” The link, which did not allow replies, was accompanied by a simple description: “TERF wars.”

In the lengthy manifesto, Rowling details the harassment and threats she has received from trans activists in response to her views, explores the legitimacy of gender dysphoria and argues that it is wrong that modern trans activism requires women to “accept and admit that there is no material difference between trans women and themselves.”

The first problem I see with Rowling’s rhetoric is her constant assertions that she cares for trans women, while at the same time perpetuating the “us vs. them” mentality between cis and trans women. Just the June 10 tweet prefacing her essay with the tagline “TERF wars” speaks volumes: Rowling sees this issue as a battleground, and is treating it as such with how she chooses to steer the conversation.

Her essay was also fraught with ill-humored bitterness, including the line: “Speaking as a biological woman, a lot of people in positions of power really need to grow a pair (which is doubtless literally

Why J.K. Rowling’s stance on transgender identities is causing a stir

possible, according to the kind of people who argue that clownfish prove humans aren’t a dimorphic species).”

Equating having “a pair” with being brave or assertive is incredibly anti-feminist langauge. The irony made me choke on my coffee.

Diction beefs aside, a major part of Rowling’s argument — that bestowing acknowledgements of womanhood on trans people will threaten safe, single-sex spaces — has been debunked time and time again. Her example of bathrooms becoming unsafe is a common argument meant to cast a pall of fear over the trans community, when 2018 research from the UCLA School of Law showed that there is no link between trans-inclusive amenities and threats to public safety.

If a man wants to attack me in the women’s restroom, I believe we live in a society where he simply will — without “disguising” himself as a trans woman.

That is the sad reality, and the argument that allowing trans people to use the bathroom of their choice will lead to crimes against women is baseless and only creates more division.

I am not going to delegitimize Rowling’s experiences of sexual and domestic abuse that she shared in her essay. This is horrible, and too common an experience among women. It does make me sad that her trauma has caused her to question how accepting trans women will create

further hurt when, in reality, trans women are among the most abused populations.

By delegitimizing trans womens’ identities, this abuse will only persist.

The conversation has only begun.

Beyond the shouts of “TERF bitch!” and anti-trans sentiments running rampant online, a real discussion must be had that takes into account the legitimate concerns that lay under the digital surface.

However, I can’t understand how anyone who claims to be a trans ally can argue against full acceptance of a person’s preferred gender. I sympathize with the countless transgender people I see expressing their dismay on Twitter that the woman who brought us Harry Potter — a timeless story of conquering oppression and sharing unconditional love — could take such a seemingly transphobic stance.

Emma Watson, the actress who played heroine Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films, said it best in a series of tweets June 10: “Trans people are who they say they are and deserve to live their lives without being constantly questioned or told they aren’t who they say they are ... I want my trans followers to know that I and so many other people around the world see you, respect you and love you for who you are.”

Lost Horse Press receives Ukrainian Book Institute grant

By Reader Staff Sandpoint publishing house Lost Horse Press has qualified for a grant through the Ukrainian Book Institute to continue focusing on publishing dual-language books.

The funds, distributed as part of the Ukrainian Book Institute’s “Translate Ukraine” program, will go toward Lost Horse Press’ ongoing Contemporary Ukranian Poetry Series, which consists of dual-language poetry books in both Ukrainian and English.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you to Bohdana Neborak and the Ukrainian Book Institute,” said Lost Horse Press Publisher Christine Holbert. “We are proud to work with you to bring 14 /

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contemporary Ukrainian poetry to the English-speaking world.”

The Contemporary Ukranian Poetry Series currently boasts five Lost Horse Press publications, including Pray To The Empty Wells by Iryna Shuvalova;

Smokes by Yuri Izdryk; Songs For A Dead Rooster by Yuri Andrukhovych; A Field of Foundlings by Iryna Starovoyt; and A New Orthography by Serhiy Zhadan.

From left to right: A Field of Foundlings by Iryna Starovoyt; A New Orthography by Serhiy Zhadan; Songs for a Dead Rooster by Yuri Andrukhovych; Smokes by Yurk Izdryk and Pray to the Empty Wells by Iryna Shuvalova. Courtesy images.

LITERATURE

This open Window Vol. 4 No.6 poetry and prose by local writers

edited by Jim mitsui

east of taurus

Orion stands at the end of my road,

waits knee-deep in trees, his belt shining above the woods.

I drive toward him round the bends, where he is hidden then appears, still waiting — until I come to a clearing, look out over the river — see him running across the sky.

— Brenda Hammond Brenda is the chair of the Bonner County Human Rights Commission. Here, she impresses us with her optimism during this unusual time. And, of course, you can observe Orion in Sandpoint, New Mexico or Minnesota, where she’s originally from. What a great closing image.

power of the garden (after pablo neruda) I require a garden because it enlightens me: I don’t know if I become versed in beauty or hope, if it’s a single flower or the immensity of life or only its persistent cycles or its flamboyant connection to worms and birds.

The fact is, that until I fall asleep, I am, in some appealing way, enthused by this herbal church.

It’s not just leaves wilting as if some nervous world were confessing signs of its measured demise; no, from fragments, I rebuild the day, from a bit of mineral, a stalagmite, from a hand trowel, a kind of goddess.

What it reveals to me, I treasure. It’s aroma, endless cycles, moisture, soil.

It seems a tiny thing for an old woman to attend here with her own passion.

Nevertheless, the garden’s rhythm that arises and sinks to oblivion, the dance of green stems and bees, the gradual rooting and fruiting, the soft unfolding of the bud the squandering of color with its flowers the hushed power here, certain as the worth of nuggets in ore, refill my inner world (which knows how to nurture ornery sorrow, and collect oblivion).

They alter my life abruptly. They absorb me in their tranquility. planted would be too precise

once i buried iris bulbs

a description suggesting thought and planning I buried and forgot them.

Obliging only themselves, for at that time I had no interest, the Iris grew tall flowers velvety and lush rich maroons, royal purples.

Occasionally I would glimpse ribbons of color while washing dishes my gaze daydreaming out the window see them swaying among the tall field grasses.

They were stoic and elegant in the very far corner of a never mowed rarely accessed back yard.

Swing set, sandbox, toys all the action was in the front yard of that little house.

Twenty-two years later a different house no swing set no sandbox I’ve planned and planted and each year upon spring’s arrival I watch each flower bed.

Yearning to recreate blooms as magical as the irises I had hardly noticed when I was too busy growing children to think about flowers.

— Sandra Rasor

— Beth Weber

One of the effects of our recent stay-at-home status are things like our gardens, both as a practical matter as well as keeping busy. Beth, who possesses multiple talents from music to kayaking, can also tell you what kind of bird or plant it is.

Send poems to: jim3wells@aol.com

tinkling ivories and rattling blades “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” was Uncle Fred’s favorite song. He used to ask Mother to play it whenever the families got together.

I can see Uncle Fred’s bald head nodding in time as Mother tore up the piano with rattling, ragtime music. Her long fingers, which could span 11 notes, would dance all over the keyboard. As a child, I yearned to do that.

She’d pound the keys and trill the high notes, until Uncle Fred would shout, “Play it sister.” Mother would laugh. Oh, how she would laugh.

Then my aunt Eula started to dance and snap her fingers.

Mother would throw her head back and play even harder.

It was a tinkling, tin-penny kind of sound, fast and convoluted, like a dog chasing a rabbit. Up and down the keyboard, her hands flew over, under, around, but never stopping. The chase was on. When Uncle Fred could see that Mother was tiring, he’d roar, “Keep going sister. Keep going.”

Goaded by my uncle she would sprint toward the finish, her fingers as powerful as pistons but light as dandelion fluff. Just when I thought I would faint from the frenzy, she’d gather up what energy she had left, now residing in her toes, shoot it up to the tips of her fingers, and slam out the last seven chords of that ragtime band and glissando the old 88

up and back. Uncle Fred would holler; the Tate and Michael families would laugh. Mother, breathless and slumped over the ivories, shook with laughter and relief. I looked around the room to see if anything had broken and vowed to play like that someday.

Mother, who followed the notes of life with precision and dignity, let it rip with ragtime.

Just as she played with abandon, Mother wasn’t afraid to tackle hard, physical work or sweaty, dirty jobs. I remember the vitality with which she did yard work. She cut the grass with a push mower, a wooden handled contraption that looked like half an egg beater. Its handle had turned dark with age, sweat and dirt, but Mother didn’t care, for her fingernails were piano-player short, her hands strong and calloused. She didn’t have to worry about ruining her manicure, for she’d never had one, probably couldn’t even spell it.

She’d cut wide swaths of green up and down, back and forth across the rectangles of lawn flanking our front porch.

Grass, green and rich smelling, would fly like leaves in a dust storm.

Mother would be covered with pinpricks of errant grass mixing with her stubbly-haired legs. She looked like she was

wearing Scotch tweed pants. Sweat covered her body; beads of perspiration collected on her upper lip; half circles of sweat stained her blouse as rivers of water ran down her chest. Her nails were dirty from pulling weeds. Finally, breathless and slumped over on the front steps, her mowing the lawn was not a dignified moment for this proper first-grade teacher and Sunday school superintendent.

Sometimes when I’m doing yard work getting sweaty and dirty, I remember the gusto with which Mother labored, and I sensed some of her pleasure in whacking and trimming, letting the waters of honest toil pour over her. I feel also the joy she experienced in letting herself go playing ragtime music. What an inspiration she was to a 10-year-old. Dignity and self-abandon, though polar opposites, are words I use to describe Mother, teacher and churchwoman, who could tickle the ivories and make an old lawn mower sing.

— Margaret Ann Maricle Margaret Ann has lived in Sandpoint for six years. A first-timer to this column, she taught English at Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, Calif. Here she takes us back to her childhood and memories of her mother’s work ethic, her variety of interests and pastimes, like playing ragtime.

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events June 18-25, 2020

THURSDAY, JUNE 18 FriDAY, JUNE 19

Live Music w/ Benny Baker 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Baker performs a span of genres in his guitar and rock style

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 8-10pm @ The Back Door Sandpoint musician playing a new take on the blues

Live Music w/ BareGrass 6-9pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. A progressive Americana trio on mandolin, guitar and stand up bass

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ City parking lot (by Joel’s) Enter on the north side of the lot Live Music w/ Pamela Benton 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery CDA musician on violin and guitar

Live Music w/ Bright Moments 8-10pm @ The Back Door Jazz from Sandpoint legends

Live Music w/ Jackson Roltgen 6-9pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Deep grooving blues, Americana and some folk and pop Live Music w/ Larry Hirshberg Second Anniversary Party at Utara 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 12-8pm @ Utara Brewing Co. Missoula-based playing “psychedelic folk” BBQ and 4 types of Maiden Rock IPA!

SunDAY, JUNE 21

Piano Sunday w/ Peter Lucht 3-5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Jazz and blues on the grand piano

Father’s Day Afternoon Show 1-2pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. With Muffy Nye and the Love Bombers featuring a local family performance by Muffy and her kids. Free and open to all

COMMUNITY

Angels Over Sandpoint awards scholarships

By Reader Staff

The Angels Over Sandpoint has awarded its Community Service Scholarship to two Bonner County graduating students, honoring them for their contributions to the community through service to individuals or groups, establishing new and innovative programs to better the community, or other acts of kindness on their own initiative.

According to the nonprofit organization, recipients are selected not only for community service as a member of a group, “but the individual initiative to assist a person who needs help or comfort. Both of our recipients this year fit the individual criteria.”

This year’s honorees are Lily Bombino, of Priest River High School, “for her compassionate outreach to help a disabled

veteran and for her kindness to an elderly neighbor over the years.”

Makenna Caven, of Sandpoint High School, received her award “for not only assisting at the Angels Over Sandpoint’s back-to-school program, but for her empathy and kindness in helping fellow students who were not as fortunate as herself.”

According to the Angels, “Both students exemplify what it is to be a good citizen in the community. The entire class of 2020 makes us proud of the young people living here.”

The Angels Over Sandpoint is a 501(c)3 organization and funds its scholarship through donations and community-supported events.

For more information or to donate, go to angelsoversandpoint.org or find the Angels on Facebook.

the vision of panelized, realized

Father’s Day Hard Rock Potluck Picnic 3-6pm @ Farmin Park Featuring CobraJet and Jacob Vanknowe Music. Bring a chair or blanket and grub

monDAY, JUNE 22 Lifetree Cafe 2pm @ Jalapeño’s Restaurant Filmed interview with William Paul Young, author of best-selling book The Shack

Monday Night Blues Jam 6-9pm @ Eichardt’s Pub A Sandpoint tradition going back 25 years, hosted by Truck Mills

tuesDAY, JUNE 23 wednesDAY, JUNE 24

Live Music w/ John Firshi 6-9pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Experimental loops on the guitar and songs that take you back to simpler times

ThursDAY, JUNE 25 Idaho Conservation League Wild Idaho! Web Series 5:30pm @ register at idahoconservation.org/wildlife The ICL annual conference features part 2 of their 4-part webinar: “Salmon and Steelhead.” Special guest Steven Hawley, writer of the 2019 documentary Damned to Extinction! Free to join virtually - follow instructions above

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sustainable • adaptable • sensible

(208) 264-6700

mehomes.net

Dan McMahon—General Contractor • dan@mebldg.com

HISTORY

The one who Shook up City Beach

By Hannah Combs and Chris Corpus Special to the Reader

Young Vernon Shook didn’t let anything stand in the way of his ambitions to become an engineer or doctor — not even the Great Depression.

Upon graduating from Sandpoint High School, he took on dozens of jobs to raise money for college. One was a short stint as a lifeguard at the Natatorium (indoor pool) in Wenatchee, Wash. The next summer, in 1932, he came back to his childhood swimming hole and had a vision that would change Sandpoint forever.

Up to that point in time, locals waded in the shallows around City Beach after the spring floods, cleared out driftwood and danced around submerged logs that had escaped during log drives. Drownings occurred at the south end of the sandy area where the river started because of the swift current. The most notable was the young daughter of a local tribal chief. Some say that was the beginning of the end of the annual summer Salish gatherings.

Shook’s vision for City Beach included a safe swimming area, lifeguard training, swimming lessons for children and a picnic area for all residents to enjoy. His exuberance also included a 12-foot tower so lifeguards could see all the swimmers, and — of course — take a periodic high dive into the deep waters.

The city leaders were hoping to entice tourism based on car travel, so they jumped at Shook’s proposal. It helped that he was willing to do all of the work and be paid a pittance; but Shook had a passion

for his town’s cool waters. He cobbled together monetary donations and marshaled volunteer labor to create the first city bathing beach.

After motorists learned of the new amenities, Sandpoint became known to have the best bathing beach in the Inland Northwest, complete with a fine bath house. It evolved from a seasonal gathering place for the Kalispel to a part of the Northern Pacific Railroad land grant, and it was eventually conveyed to the city of Sandpoint for the express use of a public park.

Periodic improvements took place over the next few years, but in 1939, a major renovation took place thanks to financial assistance and labor through the Works Progress Administration. The entire beach area was dredged to fend off the impact of flooding. Submerged logs were removed, sand was bulldozed onto the beach to raise the land height, and houseboats were removed and demolished under guard of the sheriff. In addition to the bath house, a formal garden and arboretum were designed, as well as a broad promenade.

The 1948 flood decimated the park and its improvements, and prompted the building of Cabinet Gorge and Albeni Falls dams. The Sand Creek outflow was rerouted for the safety of beachgoers, and more dredging for an improved boat marina provided some of the fill needed to raise the land area even higher.

After Shook’s impassioned efforts to create the first public beach area, he credited the people of Sandpoint for providing much of the volunteer labor to make it what it is today. The Lions Club headed the main modern improvements — most notably the barbecue pavilion

and the club’s Fourth of July events centered on the beach.

Today, thank goodness, the lifeguards continue their fine work. As for Shook, he went on to have a long career in social work, and was assigned by the United Nations as chief of the Displaced Persons Program in Rome following World War II. Even off the beach, he was still helping struggling people find their way safely home.

Thanks to the Bonner County Historical Society for this story.

Top: An old map of Sandpoint City Beach.

Right: Vernon Shook was beach manager at Sandpoint City Beach in July 1932 when this photo was taken during a water safety program. Shook is kneeling at left of circle. Photos courtesy Bonner County History Museum.

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STAGE & SCREEN

Space farce

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Space isn’t exactly a void — though some research suggests that there are so-called “cosmic voids,” and our little galaxy happens to reside in the middle of one — but that hasn’t stopped human beings from throwing our wildest imaginings into it. Since the prehistory of the species, we’ve been looking into the sky and trying to figure out what’s up there. Regardless of what we think we see, it almost always has more to tell us about ourselves than anything else.

In our current, trying times it should perhaps come as no shock that our popular culture is gazing skyward to make-believe some knowledge (or entertainment, at least) in the unknown.

There are a ton of space-themed shows right now — HBO has Avenue 5, the screwball comedy about a bumbling “captain” aboard a space cruise ship lost

in, well, space; Amazon has The Expanse, a gritty detective drama set in a human-colonized solar system riven by factionalism and war; and Netflix has Space Force.

Of course, there are many more spacey offerings across the galaxy of streaming services, but Space Force is by far the most perplexing — and that includes The Bigfoot Alien Connection Revealed on Amazon Prime, which we caution is not nearly as cool as its title might suggest.

Space Force premiered on Netflix with Season 1 in late May. On paper, it has everything going for it. First, it was created by Greg Daniels, who has either been the brains behind or a key contributor to iconic shows including The Office, Parks and Recreation, The Simpsons, King of the Hill and Saturday Night live.

Second, Daniels partnered with his old Office warhorse Steve Carrell to create the series.

Netflix series Space Force would be funnier if there wasn’t a real U.S. Space Force

Steve Carrell. Say no more.

Third, Daniels and Carrell somehow roped John Malkovich into playing the other half of an odd couple opposite Carrell.

I mean, how much better could this get?

Fourth and finally, the entire premise is a send-up of the real-life United States Space Force, created by President Donald Trump in December 2019 and immediately so ludicrous that the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction” almost doesn’t touch it (the icing on the cake is that the emblem for the sixth branch of the U.S. Armed Services is clearly a rip-off of the symbol used by the United Federation of Planets in every iteration of Star Trek going back to the ’60s).

From the brilliant co-creators, iconic co-star and made-for-satire premise to the solid supporting cast — which includes Lisa Kudrow, the late-Fred Willard, Noah Emmerich, Patrick War-

burton and Jane Lynch — it is therefore a mystery of cosmic proportions why the show just isn’t as funny/biting/smart as it feels like it should be.

Writ large, the show is a workplace comedy that imagines a budget-bloated half-assed military-industrial complex headed by thwarted Gen. Mark Naird (Carrell) as his dumb military mission of “boots on the moon” by 2024 butts heads with the scientific interests of Dr. Adrian Mallory (Malkovich) and his coterie of super geniuses subalterned by Dr. Chan Kaifang (an understated Jimmy O. Yang). In the mix is yabbering “Space Force Social Media Director” F. Tony Scarapiducci (played by Ben “Jean-Ralphio” Schwartz, of Parks and Rec fame) and driven Captain Angela Ali (a humorless and too-earnest Tawny Newsome).

Again: All the elements are in place for this to be a brilliant satirical comedy on par with its

distinguished cousins, but episode after 30-ish-minute episode struggles to launch — working in sparkling moments of greatness, only to splash down with a thud. It’s not that it’s not entertaining. It is. Ripping through the 10-episode Season 1 arc is pretty effortless, especially if you just watch Malkovich explode with genteel rage and appreciate his impeccable coolnerd ensembles.

There’s just something tired and side-eyed about it — as if its subject matter, too rooted in true-life stupidity, overwhelms its comedic potential. Essentially, the fatuousness of a U.S. Space Force would be funnier if it didn’t actually exist.

If staring into the abyss of space tells us who we are, at this moment in time, it’s reflecting back a bunch of doofuses, and that’s not much to laugh about.

Bay Trail Fun Run canceled for 2020

By Reader Staff

After reviewing the state of Idaho’s guidance on holding large public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail announced June 12 that it is not practical to host the Bay Trail Fun Run this summer.

Normally, this annual community event occurs in early June. In March, the Friends group postponed the Fun Run until Sunday, Aug. 30. However, recent state guidance that calls for social distancing for participants and volunteers will be difficult to follow, given the nature of the event.

Uncertainty surrounding all large public events this summer has kept registration low and, what’s more, the economic hit delivered by the virus has led

some sponsors to withhold their support this year.

The Friends will be refunding registrations and will work with existing sponsors to return sponsorships or hold them for the event in 2021.

This year would have been the eighth annual Bay Trail Fun Run, a family-friendly 5K and 10K run and walk along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille and Sand Creek in Sandpoint.

Instead of a large group run/ walk, the Friends are encouraging trail users to gather friends and family to do their own run or walk along the trail between now and Sunday, Aug. 30, take a photo, and post it on Instagram or Facebook with the hashtag #baytrailfunrun2020.

Everyone who participates by recording their run or walk on social media with the hashtag

will be entered into a raffle for a free pair of Brooks running shoes, courtesy of Outdoor Experience. The drawing will take place on Aug. 30.

The Bay Trail Fun Run is known for its low-key vibe and great views of the lake and the surrounding mountains. The race starts and finishes at Sandpoint City Beach in front of Trinity Restaurant, the host of the event.

For the socially distant 2020 run/ walk, the Friends recommends starting and ending at City Beach, and going as far along the trail and back as you can.

The Bay Trail Fun Run is the signature fundraising event for the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, a Sandpoint nonprofit dedicated to working with the community to expand and enhance a lakeshore trail connecting the communities of Sand-

point, Ponderay and Kootenai.

Supporters can still contribute to efforts to expand and improve the Pend d’ Oreille Bay Trail by making a donation. To make a donation online, or for more information, visit pobtrail.

Young participants in a Pend d’ Oreille Bay Trail Fun Run in 2017. Photo by Chris Bessler.

org or find Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail on Facebook or Instagram.

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater Pick a pepper

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

It’s not easy to pick a favorite chile pepper, as there are literally a couple thousand to choose from, but I’ve learned from experience which ones work with my palate (and respiratory system).

On my recent 30 hours of driving to (and 30 hours from) Chicago, I had lots of time for mental menu planning. My son-in-law, John, is a “like it hot” sort of guy, so I knew I wanted to spice up a couple of meals from the large assortment of peppers available in the big city. I also had time to reminisce about a couple of huge, past pepper fails. Did I say HUGE? The first occurred when, as a novice pepper handler, I thought I could sweat peppers in the microwave. I am here (thankfully) to tell you that a microwave and hot peppers is never, ever a good idea. I can’t even remember what type of peppers I was prepping — probably just a household variety like a jalapeno — but the capsaicin in any pepper is highly intensified at high temperatures. Fortunately, they did not explode and force open the door (that was a completely different, garlic episode), but if I could have bottled the fumes that hit my face when I opened the microwave, I’d have my own pepper spray factory.

Thank goodness no one else was home that fateful day as I ran blindly through the house, groping my way to find the front door.

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My next chile encounter was in New Mexico. On a private train layover in Sante Fe, I headed to the fabulous farmer’s market there — basket in hand — to find some local, medium-spiced chiles for dinner the following night. It’s a colorful market, with lots of multi-generational and sun-weathered farmers selling an expansive array of exotic and interesting chile peppers spread on colorful native blankets. With recommendations from a couple of seasoned vendors, I bought the peppers best suited for a flavorful batch of colorful piri piri sauce that would complement a mixed grill of meats.

Back in the galley of the dining car, I poured out my peppers and began to remove

the stems and seeds. I never even made it to the chop phase before my eyes burned and my lungs prepared to explode.

There’s little ventilation in vintage rail cars but, once again, the pepper gods obliged and no one else was onboard. It took several trips to the vestibule for fresh air and lots of handwashing before I recovered and the residual chile oil was no longer lingering on my fingers (the sauce by the way, was delicious and the guests were no wiser to the previous day’s calamity).

Once I got to Chicago for my latest adventure, I placed an order with Whole Foods for lots of fresh produce and staples I would need for cooking in the coming weeks. Coming from the limited resources I

had experienced the past few weeks, I went kind of crazy, ordering myriad peppers, like finger peppers and Fresno peppers. I didn’t order any super-hot, small varieties, like Thai or ghost peppers, though once I started chopping, the old, familiar stinging eyes and respiratory distress hit me like bygone days in the train galley.

This time, however, I had an “Aha!” moment. It turns out that COVID-19 face masks and rubber gloves are a great remedy for capsaicin vapors. I’ve set aside a couple sets of masks and gloves for future pepper projects.

The smaller the pepper, it seems, the more pungent. So, beware when you’re handling the little guys: they pack a

powerful, peppered punch. But they’re really great for adding lots of heat to curries and soups and other fiery Asian-style dishes.

For peppers that are zesty and tasty but offer less heat, my favorites are poblanos and jalapenos. Charred poblanos are perfect for chiles rellenos or rajas (roasted strips of the peppers) and jalapenos are delicious pickled, or sliced and sautéd, then finished with sea salt. Both versions are a nice complement to most anything dished up on your plate, including this tasty chile rellenos recipe! Mask and gloves not required.

Chile Relleno Recipe

Serves four — recipe easily doubles. Cut cheese into sticks, rather than grating; it’s easier to stuff the peppers. Sometimes, I wrapped thin Spanish ham around the cheese before stuffing into peppers. It you want more kick, leave the seeds in the peppers Easy dish that travels well to the backyard for brunch.

INGREDIENTS: • 4 large poblano peppers • 4 Monterey Jack cheese sticks (1 ounce each) • One 10-oz. can green enchilada sauce • 4 large eggs • 1/2 cup grated cheddar • 1/2 cup half and half (whole milk will do) • 2 tbs all-purpose flour • 1/2 tsp baking powder

DIRECTIONS: Roast the poblanos over an open flame or under the broiler until charred all over, turning as necessary, about 8 minutes.

Put in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap to steam and loosen the skin, about 5 minutes.

When cooled, remove the stems and run under cold water to peel off the blackened outer skin and remove the seeds.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Put 1 piece Jack cheese in the center of each pepper. Pour half of enchilada sauce into an 8-inch square baking dish. Put the cheesefilled peppers on top of the enchilada sauce.

Separate eggs, beat whites between frothy and stiff. Set aside. Beat yolks until thick, whisk in the cheddar, milk, flour and baking powder. Fold in the whites. Gently pour the mixture over the peppers and sauce in the baking dish.

Bake until the casserole is set in the center and golden brown all over, about 45 minutes.

Let rest for 5 minutes. Heat remaining sauce and pour peppers. Garnish with

fried jalapenos and chopped cilantro.

Serve warm.

MUSIC

Keepin’ time with Craigie

John Craigie’s new album, Asterisk the Universe, is as funky and fun as the artist himself

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff As I began writing down adjectives to describe John Craigie’s new album, Asterisk the Universe, I found myself jotting down words like “full,” “balanced” and “satisfying.” It sounded like I was describing a good breakfast.

Well, if Craigie’s latest release is a bowl of Cheerios, it’s the grooviest damn breakfast I’ve ever had.

Asterisk the Universe isn’t a direct foil for his most recent full-length album, Scarecrow, but the difference in overall tone is notable.

I first fell in love with Craigie’s sound thanks to Scarecrow, finding it the purest form of audible introspection I’d ever laid ears on. It became my personal soundtrack for the following year and a half, always a trusty companion when I needed a real tear-jerker in “Badlands Serenade” or a good story like on “Quick Quick Slow.”

With his 2020 album, the introspection is still present,

but the rhythm is unrelenting, and Craigie’s special brand of Americana singer-songwriter funk is capable of taking many forms. Asterisk the Universe hits both high and low emotional notes — never once letting up on its foot-tapping, shoulder-shimmying undertone. On lead track “Hustlin’,” it’s a subdued and staccato groove, but “Part Wolf” and “Climb Up” are overt, vintage get-down track capable of coaxing a head bob from a two-by-four.

Craigie even remade “Don’t Ask” for Asterisk the Universe, which first appeared on Scarecrow. The 2020 rendition is a piano-banging, tamborine-shaking jam with gorgeous backup vocals, breathing new life into a song that was already pretty great to begin with.

Of course, there’s the anticipation of seeing the new album translated into a signature Craigie live show. Though based in Portland, Ore., he’s a frequent, longtime Sandpoint visitor and known to put on performances that induce tears of both raw emotion and laughter. As the art-

ist goes from declaring his love for wearing women’s pants on upbeat “Don’t Deny” to selling his soul to the devil on mystical track “Vallecito,” his unmatched ability to shift from humor to something more somber shines on Asterisk the Universe.

The new 10-track album is

Live music returning to Eichardt’s

As Idahoans adjust to Stage 4 of the Idaho Rebounds COVID-19 reopening plan, a semblance of mid-pandemic normalcy comes with the return of live music to local venues.

Eichardt’s Pub has hosted acoustic artist Truck Mills on Mondays from 6-9 p.m. for the past three weeks or so, as well as folk-blues-rock acoustic jam master John Firshi on Wednesdays from 6-9 p.m. — albeit via live stream at first. Now owner Jeff Nizzoli said his venerable pub at 212 Cedar St. is ready to start showcasing more acts and move beyond soloists.

First up is Missoula, Mont.based Larry Hirshberg on Saturday, June 20 from 7-10 p.m.

Hirshberg has a lyrical sensibility that brings to mind the wry storytelling and impish oscillation between sentiment and satire of John Prine, but with an experimental twist. Sometimes described as “psychedelic folk,” Hirschberg’s oeuvre — spread across 17 albums and four decades — incorporates experimental rhythms as he rocks both acoustic and electric guitar.

Sample Hirshberg’s catalog, including his May 2020 release The Stars of David, on Bandcamp or learn more at larryhirshberg.com.

Mills will fill his Monday,

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It seems everywhere I look right now, someone is promoting a book about being more socially conscious. There is nothing wrong with that, but I am going to encourage our readers to pick up some fiction. Absolutely educate yourself with whatever nonfiction materials feel necessary, but don’t be afraid to read a chapter of absolute poppycock before bed. I’m three novels into the Outlander series right now, and it’s a nice break from the day-to-day grind.

LISTEN

Eine kleine Eich’s musik:

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert

June 22 slot with hand-picked accompaniment, while Firshi will perform in person during his usual 6-9 p.m. slot on Wednesday, June 24.

Ron Keiper Jazz Trio will take the stage from 7-10 p.m. on Friday, June 26.

As Eichardt’s swings into its first week of expanded music offerings, Nizzoli also said the kitchen will stay open until 10 p.m.

“We’re just getting back in gear,” he said.

“Bands are feeling ready to get back out there.”

John Craigie’s Asterisk the Universe. a gem — a perfect addition to Craigie’s catalog of powerful and refreshing folk songs that pluck at heartstrings and prompt violent bellylaughs.

Asterisk the Universe reminds me that in a music industry of carbon copies, Craigie is entirely himself, and for that the world is unbelievably fortunate.

Learn more, listen to samples and buy the album at johncraigiemusic.com/music.

Death Cab For Cutie’s 2003 album Transatlanticism encompasses the full range of emotions I’m feeling lately. For angst and frustration, we have the fast-tempo, guitar-heavy track “We Looked Like Giants.” For a good cry in the shower, we have the low-key title track. For the happier moments, we have “The Sound of Settling.” The older I get, it seems there’s a Death Cab song for everything.

WATCH

I did not see the original Bad Boys movies before recently watching Bad Boys For Life, the latest film starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as the titular “bad boy” Miami detectives.

I knew to expect crime, action and maybe a little humor. I did not anticipate laughing uncontrollably, enjoying the soundtrack and even audibly gasping at the plot twist.

Bad Boys For Life is well written, engaging and funny — though a little graphic for my taste.

June 18, 2020 /

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HUMOR

Losing at board games From The Pend Oreille Review, June 11, 1925

TOURIST PARK HAS LARGE SHARE OF VISITORS MANY ENJOY WIGTON HOSPITALITY AND SANDPOINT SCENERY The tourist park down on the lake front is always ready for company and especially in the evening when it gets along towards supper time.

Samuel Wigton, man in charge, puts on a nice fire and starts the kettle boiling, so to speak. Mr. Wigton then lights his pipe and waits for visitors and he is not often disappointed. Thursday night eleven cars spent the night there. Friday went one less and Saturday brought only eight. All were loud in their praises of the beautiful view the park commands and only an occasional grouch kicks about the accommodations.

One stormy night last week Mr. Wigton gave the campers the privilege of making their beds in the cook house owing to the rain. Sixteen parked in old-time western style and went on their way rejoicing next day that they had been given the best there was.

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/ June 18, 2020

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

It’s fun for the whole family… except me

It used to be that no one would play board games with me. Granted, the board games I wanted to play were the kinds that come with a half-inch-thick rule book and take at least a full day to play (at least if you’re doing it right). The biggest problem, of course, was that I almost always won.

Not to brag, but I have out Napoleon-ed Napoleon in Risk; taken the Crown of Command and slain the Dragon King more times than I can count in Talisman; won World War II as every combatant in Axis & Allies; deployed my Imperial Guard to destroy hordes of Tyranids, war parties of Orks and even bested a (modest) number of Eldar in Warhammer 40K. I Catan, I Ca-saw, I Ca-conquered.

Don’t even get me started on my Rockafellar-like prowess at Monopoly. I’m Admiral Halsey in Battleship, Sherlock Holmes in Guess Who? and Hippocrates with Operation. I could teach the Duke of Marlborough a thing or two about Stratego.

So it was with great personal satisfaction that my dear children have finally come of age to start playing some of these games.

Of course, we started easy with stuff like Snakes and Ladders, Mouse Trap and War. It became quickly apparent, however, that my kids needed something more. Though only 8 and 5, they wanted to start in on the Good Stuff. Lacking anyone to play with — my wife long ago swore off gaming with me, other than backgammon, which I refuse to play with her because she always wins — I jumped right in.

I now regret my eagerness.

Despite being in second grade, my son utterly dominated me in Catan the first time he played. The damn kid couldn’t even tie his shoes, and he took both “Longest Road” and “Biggest Army” within five turns. Only a few days ago my daughter — the 5-year-old — would have dominated both of us in Catan if I

STR8TS Solution

hadn’t decided it “was time for dinner” at 4:45 p.m. Incredibly, it took her 45 or so minutes to whoop my son and me at Monopoly during her first time at the board. Who manages to buy up an entire corner (and cover it with hotels) in under an hour? My daughter.

Even more galling: Both of them can somehow guess who I am in Guess Who? with upwards of five of my “faces” still standing.

Understandably pissed that I kept getting schooled by my kids, I tried to throw them into the deep end with Talisman. Again, my daughter fairly skipped through the Outer and Middle realms, then kicked down the Portal of Power and sucker punched the Dragon King.

This usually takes hours and hours. She did it in two. Tops. My son recently did the same. I almost flipped over the board — as I suddenly remembered my grandmother doing when I cajoled her into playing Talisman about 30 years ago.

In an effort to turn up the heat, I invited my son to a “friendly” game of Risk. Do not forget that he is 8 years old and in March finally learned how to ride a bike without training wheels. I’ll give you one guess what he did: locked down Australia, the entire east Asiatic coast and North America. I only bested him when he gave up on Africa, then suffered a massive pincer move from my forces in India and Siberia — the center held from Ural — which lost him China while cutting off his Australian stronghold and isolating his territories from Mongolia to Kamchatka.

It was a near thing, and I tried really hard not to smack the table like Khruschev and strut around the kitchen table like Mussolini.

I reigned it in when I saw that he was starting to tear up in frustration that his whole eastern flank had collapsed, and had to explain to him that “it’s only a game” and “most of it’s luck.”

He cheered up pretty quick when he sank my battleship after only eight rounds.

As for my daughter, I’m not playing Monopoly with her anymore.

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solution

Marta says the interesting thing about fly-fishing is that it’s two lives connected by a thin strand.

Come on, Marta. Grow up.

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22

Laughing Matter

skullduggery

Woorf tdhe Week

By Bill Borders

/skuhl-DUHG-uh-ree/

[noun] 1. dishonorable proceedings; mean dishonesty or trickery

“Facebook is a cesspool of misinformation and skullduggery.”

Corrections: No corrections to note this week. -BO

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Footnote note 5. Fabrics with long coarse nap 10. Crest 14. Adriatic resort 15. Lone-Star State 16. Rude person 17. Format a computer disk 19. Savvy about 20. In the past 21. Grin 22. Shoestrings 23. Complicated 25. Not here 27. Female chicken 28. In an even and stable manner 31. Fertile areas 58. Connects two points 34. Shown (archaic) 59. Defrost 35. Foot digit 60. Picnic insects 36. Colorful (Scottish) 61. At one time (archaic) 37. French for “After” 62. Viper 38. Plateau 63. Headquarters 39. Poetic dusk DOWN 40. Scrub 41. Indicates 1. Of a pelvic bone 42. Boating 2. A type of keno game 44. Faucet 3. Dialect 45. Batrachians 4. Point 46. Chooses 5. Flower part 50. Soft swishing sound 6. Spiral 52. Leers 7. Angle of a leafstalk 54. Furrow maker 8. A geographical 55. Many millennia dictionary 56. Aggravation

Solution on page 22 9. South southeast 10. On the train 11. Egotistical 12. Bit of dust 13. God of love 18. Small islands 22. Low-fat 24. Expresses relief 26. Chops 28. Gesture of indifference 29. Fail to win 30. Not nays 31. Comply with 32. District 33. Approves 34. Patronized

37. Corrosive 38. Brood 40. Sun 41. Light wood 43. Vespid wasp 44. Move unsteadily 46. Slash 47. Fine dinnerware 48. Sweetie 49. Feel 50. Welt 51. Inheritor 53. Electrical or crossword 56. Actress Lupino 57. Bar bill June 18, 2020 /

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