July 27, 2023

The week in random review

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

quotable

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”

— Plato

a quick and dirty history of live music

When we attend live concerts, we reach deep back into our roots, since listening to live music is one of the oldest art forms. Archaeologists have speculated that ancient humans’ first “music” was likely just an imitation of animal and nature sounds using voices and “instruments” like sticks, rocks and other items found lying around. The oldest known musical instrument in the world is the Divje Babe flute, or “Neanderthal flute,” which was found in a cave in Slovenia and thought to date back at least 50,000 years. The flute was carved from the femur of a cave bear then pierced with holes. Fast forward a few millennia, and historians say music started to become an important part of culture during the period from the eighth century B.C.E. to the sixth century C.E. in ancient Rome and Greece. Music accompanied marriages, funerals and other religious ceremonies, along with its use within theater. During the Middle Ages (4761453 C.E.), religion was a major conduit for the expansion of music, as churches became early music venues with the use of instruments like the organ to accompany services. Beginning in 1600, the Baroque period saw composers like Bach, Handel and Vivaldi playing compositions for grand ballrooms. The first public concert that required admission was orchestrated by the English violinist John Banister. Opera became popular during the 1700s, facilitating the construction of enormous music halls to make space for the orchestral ensemble. The invention of the microphone in 1870 converted sound to an audio signal, ushering in a new era giving permanence to live music. Jazz began to grow in popularity starting about 1895, and the blues followed suit in the early 1900s — both genres opening up a love for dancing in bars across the U.S. Audio speakers were introduced in the 1910s, enabling live concerts to reach a larger audience, as well as amplify instruments like electric guitars. Rock ’n’ roll was born in the 1950s, and the “conventional” concert as we know it today followed, with advanced ticketing, security measures and even hygiene standards. Today, with events like our beloved Festival at Sandpoint, live music remains one of the most popular forms of entertainment, bringing people together for the love of music.

An update to the sandpoint motto

After musing about Sandpoint’s motto (or lack thereof) a few weeks ago, several of our readers reached out to contribute their own. Mark Heisel suggested, “Sandpoint: A Lovely Oasis on the Road to Hope.” Tom Ruthenberg suggested, “Sandpoint: The point of many returns.” River Burdick’s motto was, “Sandpoint: We Used to Care About Trees.” One reader, who wished to remain anonymous, offered, “Beautiful Country Ruined By Ugly People.” Finally, Steve Sanchez pulled out an old standard we used to say in high school, “Sandpoint: Arrive on Vacation, Leave on Probation.”

DEAR READERS,

Welcome to the 40th season of the Festival at Sandpoint! This beloved live concert series has been a part of Sandpoint history since 1983, when it began as a three-day offering of classical and orchestral music.

Since then, the Festival has grown to become a vital piece of our economy, as well as a cultural institution in Sandpoint. While some changes will be noted this season (see Page 4), the Festival remains a tradition in Sandpoint beloved by all.

Speaking of change, it is with some sadness that I announce the departure of our longtime News Editor Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey. Lyndsie has been an important voice in our community, whether covering the county news or any number of other topics for the Sandpoint Reader. Now, with the recent birth of her baby, Liam, she will focus on a new chapter in her life, which Zach and I support 100%.

We both couldn’t resist writing praise for this dutiful reporter, which you can read on Pages 12-13, as well as Lyndsie’s own farewell “Back of the Book” on Page 22. For now, she’ll be forever enshrined as an emeritus editor on our masthead.

Thank you, Lyndsie.

– Ben Olson, publisher

111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 946-4368

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Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com

Soncirey Mitchell (Staff Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (emeritus)

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Contributing Artists: Racheal Baker (cover), Ben Olson, USFS, Lyndsie Keibert-Carey, Bill Borders, Dylan Langille, Douglas Koster, Axel Imagery

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About the Cover

This week’s cover photo was taken by Racheal Baker, whose coverage of the Festival at Sandpoint is borderline legendary at this point.

July 27, 2023 / R / 3

A farewell to the Festival tent

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

Last year’s concertgoers didn’t know it at the time, but they’d just attended the final show under the Festival at Sandpoint’s iconic white tent. This year marks the Festival’s 40th anniversary, and the end of 40 years with the tent that has become emblematic not just of the nonprofit arts organization’s brand, but of summertime in Sandpoint.

Since the Festival’s founding, two twin tents have sheltered stagehands and music legends alike from all manner of weather. The first tent, purchased in 1984, stood as a memorial to the Festival’s founder Winifred “Fred” Kubiak. It returned every year in her honor until 2001, when the holes grew too large to ignore. In a onenight fundraiser beneath the fraying seams of the first tent, the Festival raised $40,000 to purchase a replacement.

With the second tent nearing 22 years old this year, the Fes-

tival was once again researching a replacement — only to discover that technology had passed them by. As a tensile tent, the structure’s cables were meant to pull away from one another, creating the stress that suspended the canopy and giving the tent its iconic shape. However, if one cable were to snap, the entire structure would come crashing down on Festival workers, fans and performers. For this reason, tensile tents have been deemed unsafe for concert venues.

The Festival and the city of Sandpoint — from which the organization leases War Memorial Field each year for the concert series — adhere to strict safety procedures. This is the first year that the tent has not passed their annual safety inspections. Though the Festival had anticipated replacing the tent in the future, the immediate need for a new design came as an unwanted surprise — admittedly, some industry members had recommended against buying the second tent

in 2001, according to Festival Director Ali Baranski.

The city was unaware until July 25 that the old tent had been decommissioned, according to Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton. The Festival kicks off its summer 2023 series on Thursday, July 27.

“Especially on our 40th anniversary, unexpectedly having to retire the tent was somewhat heartbreaking,” Baranski told the Reader. “[T]hat it is such a big connection to the community, such an emblem, makes it that much more bittersweet.

“The community has such an ownership of this event,” she added, emphasizing how concertgoers will feel this as a personal loss. The first time Baranski saw the tent was life changing.

“I traveled here, on a whim, with a guy that I’d just met, to see the 2010 Michael Franti concert,” Baranski said.

That “guy” would later become her husband of 10 years. The Festival’s tent was the backdrop for their first

date, and that concert was, in her words, “a catalyst for me relocating here.”

For locals and tourists alike, the tent is inextricably tied to joyful memories and major life events.

The Festival’s tent holds a special place in the hearts of locals, and many have worked diligently over the years to ensure it remained standing. The original tent specifications played heavily in negotiations between the Festival and the city when War Memorial Field was being resurfaced with artificial turf. The tent’s cables — which were originally secured in the ground — could no longer be attached to the field without damaging the new turf.

Former-Sandpoint City Engineer Dan Tadic explained to the Reader that specialized helical piers were hidden beneath removable sections of turf to accommodate the tent’s exact specifications. These retrofits cost the city around $150,000, according to Stapleton.

To many, that was a small

price to pay to keep the Festival’s distinctive skyline.

Festival and city officials worked to ensure the Festival was able to maintain its lease, but they knew no solution would be perfect. Even with the special modifications, engineers had to position large cement blocks among the crowd for additional cables to support smaller load areas.

Without the same tent model, the anchor points in Memorial Field no longer serve a purpose. Until the turf needs to be resurfaced, some 15 years from now, the last vestiges of the big white tent will be left buried beneath its replacement.

“There had never been a conversation about not incorporating that original tent,” Stapleton told the Reader.

The tent’s presence at Memorial Field for the next 40 years was taken for granted

The replacement stage ready for the 2023 Festival series at War Memorial Field. Photo by Ben Olson.

After 40 years at War Memorial Field, Sandpoint’s most iconic canopy is being retired

< FESTIVAL, con’t from Page 4 > until it was gone.

Both city and Festival officials expressed their regret that the piece of local history must be put to rest, but emphasized that safety is the utmost priority. With the Festival’s initial safety inspection complete, city and building officials, police and the fire chiefs will conduct a final survey to ensure everything is ready for opening day.

Despite the loss, the Festival maintains that there’s a silver lining. The original tent’s shape had an impractically low roof that limited the technology that bands could use during their performances.

Specifically, specialized lighting and video projections had to be modified or left out altogether to fit the snug space. The Festival’s newly rented stage is an APEX 4240 — the “Gold Standard” for pop-up

concert venues, according to Baranski. The APEX’s bulk can easily accommodate bands’ personalized special effects so that concertgoers can see the show as it was meant to be seen.

Longtime festivalgoers will mourn the passing of the tent at this year’s concert, and so in honor of its history, banners depicting its silhouette have been hung from the new stage to serve as, in Baranski’s words, “A reminder for those who know, for those who understand the history.”

The presence of the canopy will be felt moving forward, with the Festival making tentative plans to include its shape in future branding. Baranski emphasized that they’re “not just throwing it in the garbage.” Part of the tent will be preserved for the Festival’s historical records, and officials are discussing potential ways to distribute pieces of the canopy

throughout the community. The preliminary suggestions include giving the fabric to local artists, and even asking future poster designers to use the tent as a canvas.

The Festival’s 2023 poster

may share a less literal connection, but it does serendipitously depict a canopy of trees emulating the tent’s shape, rather than the structure itself. Though the design was finalized before the tent was de-

clared unsafe, the poster serves a parting gift to the beloved figure: gone but not forgotten.

The iconic white tent at the Festival at Sandpoint was replaced this season due to safety concerns. Photo by Douglas Koster.

Officials ask public to be diligent to prevent wildfire starts

Majority of fires statewide caused by humans

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:

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved an over-the-counter birth control pill in a unanimous vote, according to NBC. It’s expected to be available in 2024. The pill uses the hormone progestin, has a 50-year safety record in the U.S. and is 93% effective in preventing unintended pregnancies.

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

according to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Other components include changing how benefits are calculated (which the committee says would disproportionately affect women), and using “means testing benefits” that could cut retirement benefits for those with incomes as low as $40,000 a year.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Officials continue to monitor wildfires burning in the region, with some showing increased fire activity due to high winds and low humidity.

“We just moved into ‘very high’ fire danger yesterday,” Idaho Department of Lands Fire Warden Brian Hicks told the Reader. “The mountains have been on ‘very high’ for several weeks, but now it’s including the valleys.”

Hicks said IDL is not issuing burn permits at this time except for crop residual burns in Boundary County. Campfires are still permitted in rings.

“They need to make sure their campfires are cold to the touch when they leave,” Hicks said. “Stir them and mix with water when they leave.”

A red flag warning July 24 called for high winds, which Hicks said had minimal effect on the handful of fires in our region.

“There was some scattered isolated lightning with that event, so we’re monitoring the locations of the strikes,” Hicks said.

There are currently three wildfires burning within an hour of Sandpoint: the Consalus Fire near Coolin, the Bee Top Fire five miles up Lighting Creek Road and the Beauty Creek Fire northeast of Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The 475-acre Consalus Fire is currently listed at 40% containment, with 205 total personnel working the fire. High winds on July 24 caused some increases of fire activity in pockets of unburned fuels within the perimeter of the fire. Further containment was achieved on the northern edge of the fire and fire crews are utilizing sprinkler systems to cool the edges while working to mop up remaining hotspots in the Consalus Creek area.

The last update for the lightning-caused Bee Top Fire on July 24 indicated 30% containment, with a total size of 45 acres listed. While it had been listed at 88% contained, that number dropped to 30% as a result of spot fires that flared up July 19 in extremely steep terrain.

The 13-acre Beauty Creek Fire was reported July 21 burning in heavy timber northeast of Lake Coeur d’Alene. Due to cooler temperatures and a tested fireline, fire officials are confident in calling the fire 100% contained, with firefighters starting mop-up, working from the perimeter toward the interior. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by federal law enforcement.

There have been 141 fires reported statewide, which is 176% of the 20-year average. Of the 141 fires reported, 68 have been listed as human-caused, 33 started naturally and 40 of undetermined cause.

Within the Pend Oreille Fire District, IDL has kept tabs on 30 fires in North Idaho from the northern border of Boundary County south to Granite Lake.

Hicks urged property owners to check on burn piles they might have burned in spring to avoid having them rekindle and start a fire.

“These piles that they lit in March, April, May, they’re coming back to life,” Hicks said. “This is just a friendly reminder to folks that they can be on the hook for those suppression charges if we do have to go out and suppress those fires.”

Hicks said burning slash piles is much better in the late fall because the snow load over winter will make it very unlikely those piles come back to life.

The weather outlook for the coming week is trending hot and dry, and Hicks said he expects further restrictions as it gets hotter and drier.

A year ago, a majority of U.S. Supreme Court justices ended 50 years of constitutional rights to an abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade. A 1972 Gallup poll showed 64% of Americans agreed that abortion decisions belonged to a woman and her doctor. A recent USA Today poll found 80% of Americans oppose a nationwide ban on abortion.

Russia has disengaged from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed safe export of Ukrainian grain and other food. According to Christian nonprofit Bread for the World, 340 million people already face acute hunger and malnutrition, and this will deepen the crisis.

The U.S. Justice Department informed former-President Donald Trump last week that he is the target of a criminal investigation regarding the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection, with another indictment accusing him of conspiracy to overthrow the government being likely, according to The Week

A new media start-up, Messenger, promises “impartial and objective news.” Media critic Joshua Benton followed the Messenger’s money trail: All known investors are major Republican donors.

Recent reporting by ProPublica found that insurance agency doctors reviewing claims at one large provider — where one doctor alone in one month handled 60,000 claims — spent an average of 1.2 seconds on each claim. A former doctor with the company said that by using algorithms, 50 claims could be processed in 10 seconds. A former executive with the company said from a “cost perspective” it makes sense: “Why not just deny them all and see which ones come back on appeal?”

Raising Social Security’s retirement age to 70 is in congressional Republicans’ proposed Cassidy-King Plan. To address a projected Social Security shortfall without asking the wealthy for a fair share chip-in, Cassidy-King proposes borrowing $1.5 trillion to invest in Wall Street,

A “Super El Nino” could occur with the next El Nino cycle. There’s a 66% chance it could raise global temps past the 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit threshold warned of by the Paris Climate Agreement, according to the World Meteorological Organization. The Week reported that we saw the end in March of a particularly long La Nina, which normally is cooling, but did not cool this last time. One of the issues influencing El and La Ninas: The planet’s oceans have absorbed more than 90% of warmth generated by fossil fuels, resulting in the North Atlantic having record-high temperatures. The Pacific Ocean is also warning, with powerful hurricanes and cyclones an expected outcome. Dartmouth researchers calculate that each past El Nino has cost an average of $3.4 trillion to the global economy, which includes destruction of crops, and hindrances to services and flow of goods.

Meanwhile, a proposal from MAGA Republicans in Congress would reduce funding for the Environmental Protection Agency to its lowest level in 30 years. The League of Conservation Voters likens that to “burning down the firehouse.”

Why the growing number of suicide bereavement camps? TIME reported that suicide rates grew 37% between 2000 and 2021. More than 450,000 U.S. children lose a parent to suicide by age 18. Along with mixing with others who know their unique grief, the camps serve a preventive role: They can help survivors, who often can’t afford counseling, “so they don’t get to the same [suicide] place.”

The former wife of Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, has new plans to give away $250 million to nonprofit organizations, according to ABC News. Scott, who is worth $36 billion, has so far donated more than $14 billion to 1,600 nonprofits.

Blast from the past: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” — Maya Angelou (1928-2014), poet, activist.

An aerial view of the Consalus Fire near Coolin.

Photo by USFS

BoCo commissioners spar over fairgrounds rezone

Commissioner Williams asks why BOCC continues its support after city P&Z recommends denial

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

The first hour or so of the regular business meeting of the Bonner County commissioners July 25 proceeded without incident.

The Road and Bridge Department earned plaudits for reopening Dufort Road after a catastrophic culvert collapse rendered the route impassable for weeks, then commissioners approved a $46 final payment that will mark the beginning of work on the Rapid Lightning Bridge after the federal government waived the requirement for local matching funds on the design phase.

“[T]he best deal we ever got on a bridge,” Commission Chair Steve Bradshaw said.

Commissioners then agreed to hold a workshop at a yet-tobe-determined date on whether to contract with a third-party vendor to create a database of non-compliant vacation rental properties in the county, followed by news that Bonner County will revamp its website for $8,000, with work performed by current site host and designer EvoGov, representing a $20,000 discount.

When the meeting progressed to the issue of the Bonner County Fairgrounds and a proposed RV park at the site, the tenor of the discussion changed.

Commissioner Asia Williams led off by stating that the county has paid about $8,000 to Sewell and Associates since the board voted 2-1 in March to proceed with a boundary line adjustment that would clear the way for a full platting of the fairgrounds and a section of the property to the south, where Commissioners Steve Bradshaw and Luke Omodt have supported development of an RV park.

However, Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler has long maintained that the southern part of the property, which abuts the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office facility, is intended for the future expansion of a justice complex. Williams has consistently also

opposed the RV park proposal.

The issue has generated months of heated debate — with current Fair Board members indicating they do not support the proposed RV park — and in late June the denial of a grant extension of $473,000 from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation citing “unresolved items,” including the lack of a completed bid for the work, indeterminate local funding, no construction contract and the resulting uncertainty over whether the project could be delivered within a year.

Meanwhile, Sewell and Associates, representing the BOCC, went before the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission on July 18, seeking to rezone about 2.5 acres on two parcels of fairgrounds property in order to move forward with RV park construction.

Sandpoint P&Z commissioners voted to recommend denial of the larger rezone, which would have changed 2.2 acres of fairgrounds property from mixed-use residential to rural residential, but recommended approval of moving .3 acres from rural residential to mixed-use residential.

Wheeler testified in opposition, stating that the rezone application before the city was “illegally usurping the authority of the Bonner County Fair Board” and the city shouldn’t be an “accessory.”

Omodt, who stated that he was speaking as a commissioner, not the applicant, countered that “the board of commissioners is in support of this rezone project because we believe it will best serve the county moving forward.”

P&Z commissioners expressed concerns that the rezone on the larger parcel didn’t fit with the city’s Comprehensive Plan, that it may have unintended consequences — including housing — should the county someday no longer own the property, and that the Fair Board should be consulted as well.

“There is no time rush on this at all,” said P&Z Chair John Hastings before moving to recommend the Sandpoint City Council deny the rezone on the 2.2-acre parcel. “If we were to deny this rezone,

they can always reapply.”

Citing the Sandpoint P&Z Commission’s recommendation of denial, Williams said at the July 25 BOCC meeting that it was “clearly not” necessary to rezone the property to proceed with the RV park, and would “actually devalue our land.”

Given all that, Williams brought a motion that the county not move forward with another grant application until — or unless — the Fair Board proposes its own plan. That motion died lacking a second from Omodt.

Williams then brought another motion to drop the rezone application. Omodt seconded in order to open debate.

Williams reiterated that the county continues to pay Sewell and Associates for work at the fairgrounds — saying that Bonner County currently owes the company $1,400 — and added later, “Why are we going to continue to push an application to rezone this land when it is costing us money right now for a plan that might not come to fruition?”

Omodt pointed out that the Sandpoint P&Z Commission — on which he served for one year prior to his election as a county

commissioner — has no regulatory authority, and only advises the City Council through its recommendations. Furthermore, the notion that housing may one day be developed on the 2.2-acre parcel has “never been a conversation, nor am I aware that there will ever be a conversation about putting housing on that plot of land.”

He added: “As for value, the value is in what that property can do for Bonner County. As of right now, with regards to this zone change — which has only gone before the P&Z Commission — is that it’s done nothing. …

“The rezone is what gives Bonner County residents the greatest opportunity to enjoy those blessings and opportunities we have,” he said.

The discussion deteriorated as Williams repeatedly asked Omodt to explain why the county continues to pay Sewell and Associates, with Omodt responding, “I have stated my position multiple times throughout the past six months and my position has not changed. … It’s in the best long-term interest of Bonner County.”

“You’re talking but you’re not answering the question,” Williams responded after Omodt called for

the question in order to close the discussion.

Williams pointed out that both Bradshaw and Omodt had supported using Robert’s Rules of Order to manage parliamentary procedure during meetings, and under those rules, she was entitled to “full and fair deliberation on the topic,” and therefore it was inappropriate to end debate by calling the question.

Bradshaw then called for a roll call vote — which again would have ended discussion — prompting Williams to repeat her argument that Robert’s Rules of Order required that her voice as the minority position on the board be heard.

“Is he not answering the question or do you just not like the answer, because I heard the answer,” Bradshaw said, then called for an abrupt recess, closing the agenda and moving the board into executive session.

Williams protested, telling Bradshaw he couldn’t go into executive session under the rules, to which he responded: “I just did.”

Bonner County Commissioners Luke Omodt, left; Asia Williams, center; and Steve Bradshaw, far right. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey.

Bouquets: GUEST SUBMISSION:

• “I’d like to give a big shoutout to Suzanne Davis, Joyce Jowdy and others from the East Bonner County Library for bringing Sean Gaskell and the African kora concert to the library recently. The music was a rare treat featuring a 22-stringed African harp with a calabash gourd for a sound chamber. Sean told stories of his training in Gambia, the origin of the music and the instrument, the meaning behind the songs and even engaged all of the kids in a sing-along. If you’ve never heard the kora, perhaps the best adjective is ‘heavenly.’”

— By Ed Ohlweiler

• Here’s a Bouquet to Shane at Grizzly Auto Glass in Sandpoint. I had a strip of rubber coming loose from my windshield and flapping around, so I stopped by and Shane applied some glue while we had a chat about boats and travel. He sent me on my way without charging me anything and I left thinking, “This guy really likes his job.” It’s refreshing to see real customer service still alive and well. Thanks Shane!

• If you haven’t yet caught one of the free Sandpoint Summer Music Series concerts at Farmin Park yet, what are you waiting for? Last week, “indie cabaret” band Bon Bon Vivant played a stellar show and there were hundreds of music lovers hanging out on the lawn, dancing to the tunes, snacking on Mandala Pizza and Opa! Greek food, and sipping Eichardt’s beers or 7B Origins Lemonade. Thanks to Robb Talbott at Mattox Farm Productions and all the sponsors for making these free shows happen. The next show is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 10, with the B-Side Players.

Barbs:

• It’s too hot for Barbs right now. Next week, friends.

Dear editor,

Just want to give a big thumbs up to Jen Jackson Quintano for her recent article “Idaho: Love it or leave it?” [Perspectives, July 13, 2023]. Perfectly said! Thank you!

B. Mack Sagle

Dear editor, Several readers have expressed their “opinion” on these pages concerning climate change. While it would take well beyond the word limit to refute the climate change deniers, I would point out some facts, or strong possibilities.

The deniers always put a political spin on those who recognize that the climate is changing radically and suddenly due to the intervention of humans over the last century. We’re all socialists or communists who want nothing but globalization to take control of our country and put it into international hands.

Why, what’s in it for us?

Natural climate change does not take such a short time to occur. Their illustration of a single, small, local fire incident has no validity. A speculation on my part, but could those who deny climate change have stock in the fossil fuel industry, thus an economic reason for their stance?

These are facts: Insurance companies are no longer writing policies for Florida, Louisiana, Arizona or California because of the huge climate related disaster losses.

Will Texas, New Mexico, Nevada and other states be next? The fires in Canada have no equal and the planet is the warmest it’s ever been in recorded human history.

Finally, I thought a 50-year-old movie of fiction was just that, fiction.

“It’s after midnight and it’s still 90 out there.” — Charlton Heston, Soylent Green.

Fact: Parts of Southwest have not fallen below 90 degrees for two weeks, day or night.

Lawrence Fury Sandpoint

Dear editor, We should all be concerned about the current situation at the West Bonner County School District office. Last week, three district office staff went on FMLA (Family Medical Leave Act). This action resulted in the deactivation of their

key cards and access to the building restricted.

These three ladies were highly trusted and vetted professionals. A week prior to the office staff going on leave, Mr. Durst announced he had found a temporary employee to help with gathering info for the forensic audit.

“I need someone in there that will do what I say,” he said.

Brandy Paradee was a name that many recognized. Brandy is a political activist and proudly represents the group Stop Idaho RINOs. Brandy Paradee has been shaming parents from WBCSD and has been spreading false information about our school district on social media sites for months leading up to today.

Something just doesn’t smell right.

The abrupt leave of the three employees leaves only Brandy Paradee and Mr. Durst alone in the district office with access to all confidential files and records. All of these events coincidently take place right before the audit. Now something stinks!

Anyone who has been paying attention to the WBCSD circus should be cautious to believe what the clowns are saying, as it seems to fit together rather perfectly. Can you smell it?

Tracy Naccarato Priest River

‘Did Mr. Durst fire all district office staff?’…

Dear editor,

Unfortunately it’s true. He has now also hired the wife of Dave Reilly (of the Idaho Tribune), who is not from our district. Now, the only three people in the district office do not have background checks. Mrs. Reilly has not been board approved, either. Mr. Durst made us aware that he is continuing the hiring process last night at the negotiations meeting [July 18]. When asked if he was including a hiring committee of the principals or staff, he said “no.” He wasn’t opposed to having a hiring committee in the future but he didn’t want to wait. He has interviews today [July 19].

The scary thing about it now is that three people in the district office have shared their opinions that they are against public education, are not from the district, don’t have completed background checks, and have access to all the financial and personnel documents right before we start a forensic audit. Smells fishy, doesn’t it?

Did I forget to mention the board

chair and vice chair are up for recall?

• 85% of the votes that put Keith Rutledge in his seat signed the petition to recall him, • 75% of the votes that put Susan Brown in her seat signed the petition to recall her.

This has been verified by the county clerk. But I respect your right to verify from whatever source you feel is legitimate. I just hope this ship gets on the right track before it sinks. I truly believe that’s what they want to happen. Look at their actions and not the words they say, because it’s what you want to hear.

Paul Turco Priest River

Dear editor,

Many of us have been too trusting of the system, or perhaps too unengaged to vote in the last several years. While we were distracted, our school board was taken over by wolves in sheeps’ clothing — by extremists that seek to dismantle public education in Idaho, starting with our school district.

The recall of trustees Rutledge and Brown is the action of a community that has been awakened to the dangers of being unengaged. We are a committed and strong group of parents, educators and community members who refuse to give up and let the wolves in our midst destroy our schools.

Recall elections are a democratic mechanism through which citizens can voice their concerns and hold elected officials accountable. It is the process by which we can return control of our schools to the community which they serve and stop Rutledge and Brown from doing irreparable harm.

Please support our children, educators and community by voting in favor of the recall on Aug. 29.

Bruce Hollett Priest River

Sandpoint

Dear editor,

In last week’s Perspective column, K.L. Huntley asked, “Where will the children play?” as she lamented the prohibitive costs of a YMCA membership and a Schweitzer pass and the planned indoor rec. center at Travers Park. As a parent of a child myself, I can say

that Sandpoint today has more places for children to play than it ever has before, with free access to outdoor spaces that were recently behind barbed wire, under threat from rich housing developers or under a blanket of snow for months every winter.

Just one mile up Pine Street from Travers Park lies the 480-acre Syringa public trail system, which has quadrupled in size since 2019. This winter the Pine Street sled hill will once again echo with the laughter of Sandpoint’s youth. In Travers Park itself, those trees around which kids ride their bikes are not, in fact, slated for removal. Instead, the local bike club is revamping this half-acre site, installing high-end skills features this fall and bringing the first public bike skills course to Sandpoint.

And the playground is not going away; rather, it is being rebuilt with over half a million dollars of grant funds to include all new inclusive play structures, a splash pad, a flowing river and over a dozen new mature shade trees. And yes, even the new indoor sports complex will be available for the public to use at little or no cost, opening Travers Park to our kids year-round.

Sandpoint today has more places where our children can play for free than ever before, and with the improvements coming to Travers Park, the future looks even brighter for free year-round recreation for Sandpoint kids.

Jason Welker Sandpoint

Editor’s note: Jason Welker is a member of the Sandpoint City Council and executive director of local biking organization Pend Oreille Pedalers.

‘Where will the grandparents play?’…

Dear editor,

Per K.L. Huntley’s piece, “Where will the Children Play” [Perspectives, July 20, 2023], she makes it sound like there is only one playground in Sandpoint for children. As a grandparent there are many options available:

• City Beach;

• Memorial Field/park;

• The playground at the Bonner County Fairgrounds;

• And a few at elementary schools.

Also, Travers Park playground is being moved and improved. True, kids will have to wait one to two years before the new playground is built; but,

‘Perfectly said’… No denying…

‘Something stinks’…

is rich in places for kids to play…

‘Wolves in sheeps’ clothing’…

Appreciating North Idaho’s great lakes

By Jennifer Ekstrom Reader Contributor

North Idaho is blessed with so many big, beautiful lakes that we may at times forget to appreciate all they provide us. But with the month of July being “Lakes Appreciation Month,” it is a perfect time to reflect on all they give: delightful recreation, aesthetic beauty, drinking water, fire safety, fish to catch, irrigation for gardens and crops, water for all our needs, places for children to play and a place to dump our sewage.

Yes, you read that last one right. After all the life-giving and soul-nourishing benefits we receive from our lakes, we give them back the ultimate gift in return: our waste. While this practice may seem appalling, it’s actually common. And if the waste discharge is appropriately treated before release, our lakes can remain swimmable, fishable and drinkable for all.

Unfortunately, most of our sewage treatment plants and many private septic systems are old, overburdened and not functioning properly. When the discharge from these systems is combined with other pollution sources and the right — or wrong — temperatures, we see negative impacts like toxic algae, invasive weeds, slimy

< LTE, con’t from Page 8 >

it will also include a new splash park and current, updated equipment.

The question might also be rephrased: “Where will the grandparents play tennis and pickle in the winter time?” and, not only those two sports but basketball and other court sports. K.L. Huntley failed to bring out those points. Maybe an editor should have pointed out a few of those facts. Travers Park will also include a needed 21st-century skate park and bike park for teens, etc.

As a grandparent and taxpayer, I fully support the much-needed improvements to Travers Park. And not overlooking the substantial gift to “all” the citizens of Sandpoint regardless of wealth or income.

Thank you,

Bill Preuss Sandpoint

rocks, bad smells and gross-looking pools that no one would want to (or should) jump in.

Take Boyer Slough for example, where waste from the Kootenai Ponderay Sewer District is discharged before passing through the Whiskey Jack community and then flowing into Kootenai Bay on Lake Pend Oreille.

Boyer Slough is one of 15 locations where the Idaho Conservation League monitors water quality. Our volunteer water stewards collect water samples that are then analyzed at a laboratory. We test the water for pollution that feeds algae and weeds, like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can come from sewage as well as other sources like soil disturbance, fertilizers and soaps.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has developed a pollution clean-up plan for the area of Lake Pend Oreille that is near the shoreline and most susceptible to pollution. The plan, called the nearshore total maximum daily load (TMDL), has a goal for phosphorus concentration to be nine micrograms per liter or less, so that the lake can continue to provide us with opportunities for use and enjoyment.

Unfortunately, in May of this year, we found the total phosphorus concentration to be 2,930

‘Individual sovereignty’…

Dear editor,

When the conservative majority Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade it was followed almost immediately by GOP-controlled states implementing draconian anti-abortion laws, thus denying women sovereignty over their own bodies.

Meanwhile, those same GOP-controlled states passed legislation that denied medical treatment to much of the LBGTQ+ community. More denial of individual sovereignty.

Meanwhile nationally, in the GOP-controlled House, the members of the Freedom Caucus have inserted “poison pills” in the defense budget to stop the military from paying travel expenses for medical treatment that might involve getting an abortion. More personal sovereignty lost.

micrograms per liter in Boyer Slough. While those numbers fall considerably later in the summer when the sewage treatment plant begins to apply the waste to land and trees rather than discharging it into the water, they still typically reach upward of hundreds of micrograms per liter — consistently well above the nine-microgram-per-liter target that would ensure we can enjoy and utilize the water.

Despite the egregious pollution issues already occurring in this waterbody, Kootenai Ponderay Sewer District continues to allow new apartments, homes and businesses to connect to their facility. ICL is asking the district to stop adding new hook-ups until Boyer Slough meets water quality targets.

Along with working on shortterm solutions, ICL is invested in this clean-up effort for the long run. We are participating in a Kootenai Bay Watershed Advisory Group, which aims to clean up this highly polluted area of Lake Pend Oreille. The group, which was convened by the IDEQ, also includes a representative of the sewer district. We are hopeful that together, we can write a new plan that restores this waterway to a swimmable, fishable, drinkable condition — especially as new challenges lie ahead.

Then the court said “no” to student loan forgiveness. This results in thousands being mired in debt for decades just for getting an education.

Next came overturning the Affirmative Action guidelines. This leads to it being harder for minorities to enter many colleges and universities.

The above leads me to believe that the entire GOP leadership, nationwide, has now managed to alienate a significant number of women, minorities, medical professionals, librarians, teachers, family and friends of those in the LBGTQ+ community, and many serving in our military.

It amazes me that the “Grand Old Party,” which frequently and loudly touts “freedom,” spends so much time and energy denying freedoms to so many Americans just

Our lakes in North Idaho give us so much. And whether you live on the lake or not, you impact its health — storm drains still carry the run-off from your property directly into the lake. So, in honor of Lakes Appreciation Month, let’s all give back to these precious resources by following the tips below:

• Avoid disturbing the soil near the shoreline. In Bonner County there is a minimum 40-foot setback required where buildings are not allowed and retaining native vegetation is recommended.

• Don’t over-fertilize your lawn and garden. If you use fertilizer, choose a phosphorus-free variety. Phosphorus is fuel for algae and aquatic weeds and can make them grow out of control — making our water unsafe.

• Keep leaves and other yard debris away from the shoreline and storm drains.

• Don’t let oils, chemicals, dirt and other pollutants spill into the water or storm drains.

• Observe no wake zones. Be aware that waves from boats can agitate sediment on the shoreline, pulling phosphorus into the water.

• Do what you can to divert stormwater so the ground soaks it up before it runs into the lake.

• If you have a septic system,

to maintain and enhance its control over the American people.

All of this without even mentioning voting rights. That’s another attack on individual sovereignty. Appears that the only “freedoms” that the GOP’s leadership is in favor of is its own.

Gil Beyer Sandpoint

In favor of the open primary…

Dear editor,

Every eligible Idaho voter should have the right to vote. The Idaho Open Primaries Initiative will hopefully be on the ballot in November 2024. Currently, there are plans to get enough signatures to get this important initiative on the ballot.

Unfortunately, there are individuals and groups who are threatened by this initiative. They want to stay

make sure it is operating correctly. Panhandle Health District recommends having systems inspected every three years.

• Call Kootenai Ponderay Sewer District at 208-263-0229 and ask them to suspend new hook-ups until water quality targets are met in Boyer Slough.

• Take action to prevent toxic algae, visit takeaction.idahoconservation.org/cHmYrdu.

It’s critical that we appreciate and protect our great lakes of North Idaho. Thank you for doing your part.

Jennifer Ekstrom is North Idaho Lakes Conservation associate at Idaho Conservation League.

in power and are claiming Idaho voters are not smart enough to vote in an open primary.

The open primary system has been successful in the states of Alaska and Maine, and I don’t believe those voters are any smarter than Idaho voters.

Why would anyone be against the right to vote? While it is true that many countries ruled by dictators do not allow people to vote, it is our constitutional right in Idaho to vote.

Please educate yourself about the open primary initiative and please join me in signing the petition to get this very important initiative on the ballot for November 2024.

Thank you,

Steve Johnson Sagle

ICL North Idaho Director Brad Smith collects water samples at Boyer Slough. Courtesy photo.

Science: Mad about

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

As baseball player Pete Rose once said: “It’s a round bat and a round ball, and you got to hit it square.”

An eclipse is a lot like baseball in this respect. It is the interaction of photons, traveling straight, interacting with a series of spheres and circles to create a rare and unique experience. Because of the complexity of so much interacting mathematics, I beg your forgiveness if some of the information in this article is slightly off.

However, the premise of an eclipse is fairly straightforward. It’s what happens when a celestial object is blocking the light of another celestial object from reaching the viewer. In most cases, we’re referring to solar and lunar eclipses, respectively — but this can occur in other star systems like our own.

A lunar eclipse is what happens when the moon passes through the shadow of the Earth, often giving the moon an eerie red hue and making it almost disappear in the night sky. You may be wondering how this differs from the cycles of the moon.

The moon orbits the Earth much slower than the rotation of the Earth. Additionally, the moon is tidally locked to Earth, which means that the same side always faces the surface of the planet regardless of its relative position. While the Earth is making a full rotation over the course of 24 hours, it takes the moon 27 days to orbit the Earth.

The moon’s phases are based on its position relative to the sun, and the direction from which light from the latter is

hitting the former. During a new moon, the sunlight is hitting the side of the moon we cannot see. During a full moon, sunlight is hitting the side that is facing us.

However, the moon’s orbit is not perfectly circular, or lunar eclipses would be an extremely common occurrence. The moon’s orbit is elliptical and also tilted by about five degrees, which leads to infrequent eclipses.

If your head is starting to spin, then I think you’ve begun to truly appreciate Mr. Rose’s baseball quote at the top of the page.

The math involved in eclipses is already confusing enough, but there’s still some more complexity involved. There are two terms worth mentioning here: penumbral and umbral eclipses. A penumbra is essentially a partial eclipse, in which some of the Earth’s shadow is being cast across the lunar surface, but light is still able to pass through in sufficient quantities so as not to fully obscure its features. An umbral eclipse, sometimes called a total eclipse, occurs when the bulk of the Earth’s shadow is cast over the surface of the moon, blocking light from nearly the entire surface.

Here’s the mindfreak: If you were standing on the surface of the moon during a total lunar eclipse and watching the Earth, you’d be viewing the sunrise and sunset simultaneously.

At this point, you’re certainly wondering why the light on the moon is red when it’s normally white. Red is the lowest visible wavelength of light in the color spectrum. As the light is passing through the densest amount of atmosphere on Earth, other wavelengths of light are either absorbed or reflected before reaching the surface of the moon, giving it that telltale red

glow. This is nothing ominous, it’s simply a rare and interesting interaction with light and our atmosphere.

A solar eclipse is what happens when the moon passes between the sun and the Earth, blocking the daylight from reaching Earth’s surface and transforming huge swaths of the planet’s surface into a chilling twilight.

The moon has virtually no atmosphere, so we do not experience a red glow during a solar eclipse — rather, we just experience the shadow of the moon.

Total solar eclipses are a bit of a rarity. The orbit of the moon, which we’ve already established is pretty funky, has to line up perfectly with the orbit of the Earth around the sun. Earth also has an elliptical orbit around its star, while also rotating at a whopping 1,037 miles per hour. Additionally, the Earth wobbles on its axis to allow either the Northern or Southern hemispheres to face the sun more prominently for a number of months, granting us our seasons. All of these factors have to line up perfectly in order for a solar eclipse to occur.

The next “annular” solar eclipse — when the moon will cover most, but not all of the sun — will occur over us on Oct. 14. The next total solar eclipse will occur for Mexico and much of the eastern United States on April 8, 2024. After that, we may not see another for at least a decade.

Would you like to learn more about eclipses from people that know considerably more about how the heavenly bodies move across the sky than I do? Stop by University of Idaho’s Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center on 10881 N. Boyer Road on

Saturday, June 29 from 6-8 p.m. Spacepoint will be hosting Dr. Matthew Bernards in a lecture and hands-on demonstration of a number of telescopes, including a model you can check out and take home from your local Library of Things.

This is a great opportunity

to meet up with other people interested in astronomy in our community, learn a bit more about eclipses from people that have devoted their careers to the field and testing out some sweet hardware. I hope you’ll join me there.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner

• The Festival at Sandpoint began as a three-day celebration of symphonic music taking place from Aug. 1-3, 1983. The inaugural year began with a family night and climaxed with a performance by the Spokane Symphony Orchestra.

• Early organizers spoke of the importance of introducing cultural concerts to Sandpoint, both to help expand the tourist base and noting a “slack timber industry,” as well as “entertainment limited to athletics.”

• The Festival introduced acts from other musical genres in 1989, including The Ray Brown Trio, Joe Scruggs, Carl Perkins and B.J. Thomas. However, the Festival continued with the symphonic format a few more years until 1992, when it began to resemble the Festival we know today. In 1992, notable acts included Emmylou Harris and Tony Bennett.

• A lot of big names have played under the big white tent over the years: B.B. King, Lyle Lovett, Johnny Cash, The Temptations,

Willie Nelson, Aaron Neville, The Beach Boys, The Doobie Brothers, John Prine, Peter Frampton, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Robert Earl Keen, Ziggy Marley, Blues Traveler, Michael Franti, Counting Crows, Steve Miller Band, The Avett Brothers, Wilco, The B-52’s, ZZ Top, Sublime with Rome and many more.

• According to its 2022 annual report, the Festival at Sandpoint has a direct economic impact of $3.8 million on Bonner County and generates more than $233,000 in Sandpoint, Bonner County and state of Idaho taxes. The Festival also creates about 37 full-time equivalent jobs throughout Sandpoint.

• With the introduction of artificial turf at War Memorial Field, the Festival now spends approximately $150,000 of its annual budget protecting the turf from damage, ushering in a long-term discussion for potentially moving the venue to a location with less overhead expenses in the future.

A solar eclipse.

A lunar eclipse.

Dirt-y Secrets Precious summer days

By Ranel Hanson Reader Columnist

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August”

— Jenny Han

There is certainly plenty of magic in each and every month, but these precious summer days always feel like the very best of times. Our gardens are at their peak and somehow weeding seems less important than, say, a dive into the lake, berry picking or a new zucchini recipe.

There are a few garden chores that need attention, though. Deadheading is an important one. Deadheading is the process of removing spent blooms so that new growth can send new flowers.

Also, if you have hanging baskets, they will benefit from a good trim now. Petunias, for example, need to have the old flowers cut off at the stem — don’t just pull off the dead flowers — in order to stay lush. This is true of most all of your annuals. Add some fertilizer and plenty of water, too, and those flowers will keep on blooming beautifully until first frost.

And, speaking of fertilizer, most plants need a dose right now. Trees, too. My favorite is fish emulsion for everything but pots and baskets. Not that it isn’t effective there; but, I don’t like the fishy smell to greet me as I walk out the door. Instead, I use a liquid or the granules on decks and baskets.

Composted manure is great for trees and landscape plantings. Just be sure to use organic products because pollinators are precious and poisons not only kill them but birds and fish, too. Of course, water for everything.

Let’s talk about milkweed. Milkweed is a beautiful perennial plant that bees and butterflies love — particularly monarch butterflies, who must lay their eggs on milkweed so that their caterpillars can dine on the leaves. Other butterflies use them as incubators, too.

Right now, milkweed plants are producing seed pods and I suggest we all collect those seeds (when they mature) and plant little milkweed patches everywhere we can. Maybe we can attract more monarchs and make Sandpoint a regular stop

on their migration to and from Mexico.

Last winter was hard on many plants. So hard that many shrubs and trees just couldn’t come back in the spring. Now is the time to think about helping those plants that survived make it through next winter. A stressed plant is more likely to give up when icy winds blow. Fertilizer, water and mulch are what is needed — especially for roses. If you see aphids, wash them off with your garden hose. A healthy plant is more resilient.

Another wonderful pastime that summer brings is live music. There’s nothing like it to soothe the soul and change your attitude. We are so fortunate to have so many talented and inspiring musicians right here among us.

I was reminded recently that a night out listening to good music is a cure for what ails you. And, we have plenty of great venues for those hard-working musicians to entertain us. Our wonderful music festival is right around the corner, but don’t wait. Head downtown to sip something cold and have your spirit lifted. Maybe even dance and sing along.

Before I end, I want to diverge from gardening for a moment and recognize Jen Jackson Quintano, who writes the “Lumberjill” column in the Reader. If you haven’t read her thoughtful column in the July 13 edition of the paper, you certainly should. I don’t know Jen, but I admire her writing and point of view every time I read her words.

This specific article concerns a phrase that is often bandied about in Sandpoint. That is, “if you don’t like Sandpoint values, then leave.” First of all, “Sandpoint values” are many and diverse and all are welcome — as long as we can respect each other. Second, like many of you I expect, I have entertained the thought of relocating to a kinder, more inclusive place. But, this is my town. And leaving would only allow those who want to limit our freedoms and discourse to inch further toward imposing their values upon the rest of us.

Those “values” have already caused women’s health care to not include obstetric care and many of our finest doctors to leave Sandpoint. So, stay here. Get involved in standing up to the folks who think it is “their way or the highway.” Contribute to the beautifully diverse culture that is our town. And vote.

By that I mean, vote out those who want to impose their values upon the rest of us. It is important.

Hanging flower baskets might benefit from a good trim this time of year. Courtesy photo.

Out of the trenches

A bittersweet goodbye to the one and only Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

I still remember when Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey joined our little family at the Reader. It was the summer of 2016 and I had received an email from a University of Idaho student asking about a summer internship we had advertised.

Shortly after, a confident young woman with a head full of fiery red hair waltzed into our offices to interview for the position and left an immediate impression on me as someone who has that special something it takes to do this job. As I remember telling my business partner, Chris Bessler, “She’s perfect.”

What began as a part-time internship blossomed into a job when Lyndsie returned home after graduating from U of I the following year. Ever since, we’ve all been lucky to read her byline on a variety of stories covering everything from weekly Bonner County commissioner meetings to her love for country living, elk hunting and cringey pop music. In an office dominated by two salty locals entering their 40s kicking and screaming, her perspective and influence was appreciated, if not necessary, for this newspaper.

I’ve watched Lyndsie grow over the years not only as a journalist, but a person. She has rarely been timid in her job functions. I don’t think the Kieberts have that particular gene in their DNA. My computer screen is fully visible from Lyndsie’s desk and, for the past seven years, she hasn’t hesitated once in telling me when I’ve done something wrong, when I’ve crossed the line with a “Ret-

roactive” comic or if my graphic design left something to be desired.

That kind of honesty and fearlessness isn’t something you can teach — it comes from good upbringing and a good work ethic, as well as the strange determination that few have to practice this art we call journalism and publishing. To date, she has the unique distinction of being the only Reader reporter to have never received hate mail. That’s quite an achievement.

I sometimes compare us “outside cats” here at the Reader. We need the occasional bowl of food and water to sustain us — and maybe a scratch behind the ears from time to time — but for the most part we roam free from the usual workplace confines. We operate on our own together, if that makes sense — a band of loners who find strength together. Sure, we collaborate and bounce ideas off of one another but, ultimately, I value employees who can work autonomously, police their own productivity and get the job done however works best for them.

This sort of environment doesn’t work for everyone. Some need more guidance and structure to perform their duties, and I get that. But Lyndsie either came to us already with the “outside cat” mentality, or she quickly adopted it, because she has been a delight to work with.

Putting aside the awkward pandemic years when we all worked from our caves, the times spent in the office with Zach and Lyndsie remain some of my favorite memories here at the Reader There’s a certain gallows humor journalists employ to make sense of the issues

we have to cover on a weekly basis. The laughter we have shared will always warm my heart, because nobody quite “gets it” like someone you have spent time with in the trenches. It has been one of my greatest honors in life to stand shoulder to shoulder with Lyndsie as we create this weekly offering for our community.

Now, however, she is climbing out of the trenches. Last week, Lyndsie and her husband Alex welcomed young Liam to the world, and we’re so happy for and proud of them. Lyndsie is stepping away from the Reader to focus on raising her family and devoting more time to being an educator and coach, and I support her 100%, though we will miss the hell out of her.

Lyndsie’s last official submission as news editor will be this week’s “Back of the Book” essay on Page 22, and then she’s free from the weekly yolk.

To say I’m jealous is quite an understatement.

You will see new bylines in our pages in the coming weeks — which we’ll introduce in time — and we’ll carry on the best we know how, but I know I speak for the whole community when I say thank you to Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey for all of her words and insights, for her coverage of issues small and large; for her humor and beautiful turns of phrase; her news stories that were fair, accurate and absent of bias. She has worn the hat(s) well all these years and we are better informed because of it.

I could fill pages with accolades for Lyndsie, but I fear that’s just my way of

holding on. It’s time to let go of our colleague and our friend. I wish you nothing but the best on your new journey, Lyndsie. There will always be a place for you here at the Reader. Thank you, thank you.

Ben Olson is publisher of the Sandpoint Reader.

My ‘office sister’ On LKC

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

There is a page in my desk calendar that I’ve been dreading since there was still snow on the ground. Sometime back in the late-winter or early-spring, I wrote “Last LKC Deadline” on July 19, “Last LKC Edition” on July 20 and “Baby Kiebert-Carey” on July 26. I then buried that page and went about my business, still knowing it lurked beneath my keyboard.

That page has finally flipped to the top.

Sandpoint Reader News Editor Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey’s baby boy Liam came into this world on July 18, which made her last deadline and edition a week earlier than anticipated. Though immeasurably happy for Lyndsie and her husband, Alex, I will also be happy when this calendar page passes into memory.

To say that our three-legged stool at the Reader is tottering a little at this point would be an understatement. For those who pay close attention the paper or are directly familiar with how we operate in the newsroom, it is well known that Lyndsie has been our MVP for years — I once referred to her in a conversation with another editor in southern Idaho as our “not-so-secret weapon,” and meant it with all the conviction in my withered journalist’s heart.

Since I started in this business in 1999, I’ve been fortunate to work with some stellar reporters and editors. I also count among them some excellent mentors and, when I moved into the editor-in-chief position at Boise Weekly in 2013, got to become a mentor myself. The best part of my job at BW was in fact training up young reporters, and there is a deep bond of connection that forms between a reporter and their editor, which even a decade or more doesn’t diminish.

When I left BW in 2017 to pursue graduate school, I didn’t necessarily intend on returning to the newspaper world and therefore didn’t think I’d have another chance to work with any more young journalists. Of course I did in

2019, coming home to the Reader, where I met Lyndsie.

I don’t think I can rightfully call myself Lyndsie’s mentor, nor can I really call her a “young” reporter. For one thing, Lyndsie didn’t need a mentor when I showed up in the newsroom. She was already a finer reporter and more conscientious editor than any I’ve ever worked with. And, though she’s still in her mid-20s, Lyndsie is one of the oldest souls I’ve encountered — certainly more mature, balanced, self-possessed and generally capable than I have been able to achieve at just shy of 43 years old.

So with Lyndsie I defer to “colleague” and, most important, “friend” when I think of our relationship. It’s been even more than that. It’s something approaching “office sister.” With her I’ve enjoyed seamless collaboration on hundreds of stories big and small. We’ve been a sounding board for one another, checking biases, painstakingly outlining the structure and flow of coverage, divvying our resources and constantly commiserating.

We’ve had long, meandering conversations about everything from the events of our lives to our experiences growing up in different times and parts of the county. We’ve talked about school, family and writing and the various characters we’ve known, and constructed a constellation of inside jokes and references along the way. As a trio, Publisher Ben Olson, Lyndsie and I have frequently cracked each other up so hard in the newsroom that the people in our surrounding offices in the Farmin Building must have wondered whether we’d lost our minds.

It is safe to say that in my more than 20 years in newspapers, I’ve never had a more steadfast, loyal, giving and just plain good co-worker. I don’t know if she knows how rare that is, but I certainly do and have appreciated it in her from Day 1, when over the course of the first few hours I spent with her in the office I knew this was no ordinary “young journalist” — or human being.

I applaud her for her excellence on every front — I will miss everything about having her as a critical member of our clubhouse — and though the circumstances surrounding her departure from the paper are the most joyous they could be, I have to stress that members of the community have benefited as much from her as I have. Her coverage of everything from county government to arts and entertainment to her always-deeply affecting essays has been of enormous benefit to this place, which she loves so much and which loves her back.

Congrats, LKC, and thanks for being my office sister.

Zach Hagadone is editor-in-chief of the Sandpoint Reader.

Celebrating 100 years of the Beardmore Building and Rex Theater in Priest River

By Reader Staff

The Beardmore Building in Priest River is celebrating 100 years on Friday, July 28, featuring informative and entertaining events to benefit the Rex Theater.

The evening schedule begins with an open house 5-6 p.m., where attendees can learn about the Rex Theater restoration project, followed by an informal presentation 6:30-7 p.m. by Priest Lake Museum historian Kris Runberg Smith on “The Myth and Making of Nell Shipman.”

Shipman was a renowned silent film star and director whose 1923 movie The Grub-Stake featured numerous locations around Priest Lake. The presentation will discuss Shipman’s ties to the region, with a screening 7-8 p.m. showing clips of The Grub-Stake.

A donation toward restoring the Rex Theater will give participants access to a Beardmore wine tasting and commemorative glass, as well as rides on the 1914 Beardmore auto stage, from 5-8 p.m., with live music to follow from 8-10 p.m. featuring regional band the Meat Sweats.

The Beardmore Building opened 100 years ago on Main Street in Priest River, featuring the theater, a mercantile store, butcher shop and hardware store. Upstairs included a grand ballroom, apartments, a Diamond Match Company office along with businessman Charles Beardmore’s timber and mining offices.

Beardmore celebrated the opening of his business block with a party attended

by 400 well-wishers. Three days later, Shipman premiered The Grub-Stake to a capacity crowd at the then-newly opened Rex Theater.

“Come join this party a hundred years in the making,” organizers stated.

The event is supported by The Foun-

dation for the Rex Theater, the Beardmore Company and the Priest Lake Museum. To learn more about the Beardmore Building, visit beardmoreblock.com.

More information on the Rex Theater is available at rextheater.org.

Annual PORPA Sprints set for Priest River

By Reader Staff

The Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association is accepting event registrations to participate in the annual PORPA Sprints boat race, set to take place Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Priest River Recreation Area — a.k.a. “The Mudhole” — on U.S. Highway 2 east of Priest River.

PORPA is a club for rowing and other non-motorized water sports headquartered in Priest River, and its signature race is put on in partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and volunteers from the Spokane River Rowing Association. According to organizers, the 2023

PORPA Sprints includes paddling events for kayaks, canoes, stand-up paddleboards and rowing, and is open to all ages and skill levels with kids 17 and under registered for free.

Attendees are asked to register by Friday, Aug. 4 for scheduling purposes, but registration will also be available at 7 a.m. during check-in on the day of the race.

Teams will compete using three different kinds of non-motorized watercraft in a relay race, while the Kalispel Tribe will bring their traditional canoes and offer participants and spectators stories about the Priest River and other local waterways.

“This locally sponsored event is a

great way to get to know fellow rowers and paddlers while learning about local opportunities for non-motorized water recreation,” organizers stated.

For more info, visit PORPA.org or Facebook at POrowingpaddlingAssoc. Local support and sponsors welcome, and should contact secretary@PORPA.org.

Top right: A view of the Rex Theater in Priest River during its heyday.

Above: The inside of the Rex Theater before renovations. Courtesy photos.

Photo by Axel Imagery.

Local artists to present ‘Three Points of View’ at upcoming show

Susan Conway Kean, Devon Chapman and Gail Lyster will present work

By Reader Staff

For the past 15 years, three Sandpoint artists who are also great friends have been meeting once a week during the summer to paint “plein air” — that is, out in the elements. Now, Susan Conway Kean, Devon Chapman and Gail Lyster are inviting the public to attend “Three Points of View,” a showcase of their work at the Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters gallery (524 Church St., in Sandpoint).

The show will hang for eight weeks in August through September, with an artists’ reception scheduled from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 30.

“Sandpoint is a paradise of visual beauty, and the challenge each time is to settle

on just the perfect spot to spend hours painting what we see,” the trio wrote in a news release. “Many of our choices highlight historic, endangered and familiar sights in the area.”

The artists used different media such as watercolors and oils, and chose subjects that helped them focus on what makes every outdoor venue unique in their finished artwork.

Attend the opening reception July 30, or visit Evans Brothers anytime before the end of September to view the work.

Crazy Days sale back

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

Bargain-hunters take note: Crazy Days is back Saturday, July 29 with enough sales to make anyone a shopaholic. There will be deals on all types of goods, from clothes to knickknacks, available around town. Visit members of the Downtown Sandpoint Shopping District throughout the day to take advantage of the savings and support local vendors.

“It’s an annual tradition that we’re happy to keep going and there are great bargains for locals and tourists,” said the Shopping District Treasurer Deanna Harris.

Crazy Days was already a town favorite

when Harris moved to Sandpoint in 1967 — now it’s celebrating more than 60 years of sales with no sign of stopping.

More than 20 stores are slated to participate in the all-day bargains, and the sidewalks will be a feast for the eyes as vendors set up their outdoor displays.

Enjoy a Saturday spent browsing the storefronts, stop for a bite at any of downtown Sandpoint’s many restaurants — and, of course, go crazy. It’s never too early to stock up on anniversary, birthday, or Christmas presents.

There’s no cost to participate in Crazy Days, so mark your calendars and get ready to dig into those sale racks.

Right: Devon Chapman, left; Susan Conway Kean, center; and Gail Lyster, right, will present “Three Points of View” at the Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters gallery on Sunday, July 30. Courtesy photo.

Education, empowerment and connection

E. BoCo Library welcomes Community Engagement Coordinator

Joyce Jowdy

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

There’s a new face at the East Bonner County Library, as Joyce Jowdy gets underway in her new role as coordinator for community engagement and adult programming for the district, which includes libraries in Sandpoint and Clark Fork.

“I’ve been a patron at this library for over 20 years, so I’ve always taken advantage of its programs and services,” Jowdy told the Reader, noting that her previous careers have included working as assistant director of a fair housing agency, providing interpretive services at state parks and for a state agency forestry program — as well as a short stint as a substitute teacher.

“One of the common themes has always been education and empowerment, trying to connect people to their own sense of discovery and experimenting and all sorts of those things,” she said. “When this position became available, it kind of brought all that together.”

Jowdy’s job at the library will be to identify, develop and implement programs and services that she described as “reach[ing] out to the community to find out what are our community members’ aspirations … and remove barriers around learning, discovery, curiosity and experience.”

She pointed to already existing offer-

ings like the “Library of Things” — where patrons can “check out” objects like musical instruments and give them a try — and the virtual reality room, which provides the chance to explore the technology and learn more about how it works.

“I’m only building on what others have done,” Jowdy said, adding that broadening the scope of what the library makes available to users is intended to bring in “segments of our community who maybe don’t see themselves as your typical library-goer, for whatever reason, and so we want to stay proactive and connected to the evolving needs of the community as a whole.”

One effort of particular interest to Jowdy is connecting with area businesses, finding out their challenges and identifying what service or program the library could implement to help them meet those challenges.

“Not just us putting on things, but really trying to tap into the great expertise we have in our community,” Jowdy said. “To me it’s all about sharing on both sides: sharing what you know and sharing what you want to know — not only businesses but organizations and individuals, too. I want to tap into all of it.”

That hasn’t always been easy, especially in recent years, as libraries found themselves at the center of various cultural controversies over issues such as how (or whether) to address materials and programs

that some claim are “harmful” to minors.

Jowdy said addressing patrons about those issues is best accomplished by learning “what is the concern that motivates them — what is their need, their interest, their benefit.”

“We all have common points of overlap. … I think our community doesn’t always recognize our commonalities; but, for me, it’s about reaching back and finding those common threads,” she added. “I don’t find it at all fruitful to go into where we don’t connect. There’s another way, and if we can experience and be a part of its creation, then I think we’re in a much better position to come together.”

The first large-scale program under Jowdy’s leadership will be the “Natural Connections” series, kicking off Saturday, Aug. 5, including four free presentations centered on themes of writing and movement, music and performance, health and wellness and others.

First up at 10 a.m. is local author Brietta Leader, who will draw from her new book Wild Core to introduce attendees to the “12 Key to Unlock Your Untamed Expression” through movement and journaling. She will also be available for a book signing following the presentation.

At noon, Ali Thomas will lead a drum circle on a variety of percussion instruments from around the world, open to anyone aged

8 and older, with no experience necessary.

At 1 p.m., Henry and Laura Clemmons — of Tendril Herbal Apothecary and Healing Center — will offer separate presentations. Henry, who works as a certified health coach and habit change specialist, will offer participants five tools to help transform their lives, while Laura — a clinical herbalist — will guide attendees through creating an herbal tincture that they will then take home.

Finally, at 3 p.m., instructor Drew Summey will lead a session of vinyasa flow yoga, using breath to connect between poses and postures. Participants are asked to bring their own yoga mat.

Natural Connections events are scheduled to take place each month, with the August and September offerings taking place in the Sandpoint Library Garden. For more information and updating schedules, visit ebonnerlibrary.org/naturalconnections.

Jowdy said the Natural Connections moniker is meant to be taken literally but also philosophically — “the connections within yourself and with others, types of community within the community, between yourself and the environment.”

“It’s a very broad and encompassing name, so that it lends itself to all kinds of programs,” she added. “We’re looking for other topics. I want to appeal to our whole service area.”

Sixty-six happy years in the harness — and still standing

In the tender photo (immediate right), taken in 1956 while camping on the Kern River below Mt. Whitney, Jackie Lee Pelton, 21, a senior at the University of California, is attempting to entice Tim Harriman Henney, 24, to wed.

She: “Oh, c’mon, this is The Frustrating Fifties, not The Swinging Sixties. Kern River, San Francisco, Carmel, Pacific Coast Highway, Lake Arrowhead... people are starting to talk.”

He: “Forget it. Marriage sucks: jobs, kids, suits, briefcases, mortgages, mothersin-law, taxes, dirty dishes, I Love Lucy, vacuuming, weeds, kids, insurance, Chevy suburbans instead of British roadsters, kids, crab grass, bank loans, years of bitching... and besides, we should make love, not war.”

She: “Hey, that’s a hippie slogan — and hippies haven’t even been invented yet! I’m going back up to Berkeley and get, um, reconnected... if you get my drift...”

He: “Whoa. Hold on. Let me revisit this. You like dogs, chickens and horses. I’ll get you a dog! A chicken! A horse!”

She: “No way! I’m leaving... on a jet plane...”

He: “Wait! I give up. To quote ol’ Hank Williams, ‘You Win Again.’”

In the tender photo (middle), reputedly taken last week on a boat off City Beach, Jacquelynn Henney is congratulating Tim on his decision to marry her on Aug.10, 66

years ago, on Block Island, R.I.

That they look today exactly as they did in 1956 they attribute to having created three perfect kids who are now perfect senior citizens; to those kids’ perfect wedded mates, who brought class and sophistication into the family; to a plethora of perfect friends and imperfect dogs; to decades of bellowing ancient pop, folk, cowpoke and Broadway music; and to swilling top-shelf hooch and thick-cut bacon with the fat

scissored off.

Note: If you believe the boat photo was taken last week off City Beach, then the Henneys have an island in the Caribbean they would like to sell you.

Note No. 2: In the (far right) photoJacquelynn, 88, and Tim, 92, disguised as old people (maybe on Halloween) on their Sandpoint patio, 2023.

— Words and images courtesy of Tim Henney

THURSDAY, july 27

Festival at Sandpoint: Opening Night w/ Brit Floyd • 7:30pm @ Memorial Field

The Festival at Sandpoint is back! Brit Floyd will play a fan favorite set of Pink Floyd songs, complete with stunning light show, iconic circular screen, lasers, inflatables and theatrics. Gates open at 6pm. Tickets $49.95 and are available at festivalatsandpoint.com.

FriDAY, July 28

Festival at Sandpoint: Gary Clark Jr. • 7:30pm @ Memorial Field

Grammy Award-winner Gary Clark Jr. has emerged as a 21st century rock ’n’ roll messiah, a blues virtuoso who blends reggae, punk, R&B, hip-hop and soul. Opener Brady Watt will start at 7:30pm. Gates open at 6pm. Tickets $54.95 and are available at festivalatsandpoint.com.

Live Music w/ Jason Perry Band

9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge

All the soul and funk your little hearts can handle. Killer Tacos food truck on site

Live Music w/ Weibe Jammin’

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Live Music w/ The Highlife Band

7pm @ Eichart’s Pub

Original reggae and world music that integrates influences from Jamaica, West Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil and beyond. FREE!

July 27 - August 3, 2023

Free Family Show: Kung Fu Panda 2 10am @ Sandpoint Cinemas Sandpointcinemas.com

Live Music w/ Doug Bond solo

6-9pm @ BlueRoom

Hikes, Bikes and Brews

12-3pm @ Schweitzer

Hike or bike your way to the Rowdy Grouse for an afternoon of sun, beer and fun ArtWalk Encore exhibit

5-7pm @ Little Carnegie Hall

COMMUNITY

The Hive named Business of the Month by Chamber

Live Jazz w/ Bright Moments

5:30-8pm @ Arlo’s

Live Music w/ Frytz Mor

Join MCS and POAC for an “ArtWalk Encore” exhibit featuring work by Susie Snider, Don Fisher and Lesley Gadsby. Wine served for donations to POAC

SATURDAY, July 29

Festival at Sandpoint: Train with Better Than Ezra

7:30pm @ Memorial Field

Multi-Grammy-winners Train and Better Than Ezra have produced amazing hit songs over the years that you’ll all recognize. Gates open at 6pm. Tickets are SOLD OUT for this show

Crazy Days

All day @ Downtown Sandpoint

Downtown merchants offer huge deals in this annual sidewalk sale sponsored by the Sandpoint Shopping District. Check it out!

Live Jazz w/ Ben Vogel

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Blues, rock, jazz and soul

Friends of the Panida yard sale

8am-1pm @ 814 Cedar St.

Proceeds will benefit the Friends of the Panida

Festival at Sandpoint: The String Cheese Incident

7:30pm @ Memorial Field

Live Music w/ Lance Cohen and the Carbuncles

7-9pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Newest venture of Mike & Shanna

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market

9am-1pm @ Farmin Park

Produce, crafts, food and more.

Live Music by BOCA

Idaho Old-Time Fiddlers Jam

3-5pm @ Sandpoint Senior Ctr. Free to attend

SunDAY, July 30

Spacepoint: Eclipse! The Ring of Fire

3-5pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Hillfolk Noir

9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge

Junkerdash perfection from the big city. Killer Tacos food truck on site

Live Music w/ Steve Neff and Dennis Zwang

6-9pm @ BlueRoom

Live Music w/ Jordan Pitts

1:30-4:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Steve Neff

By Reader Staff

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce has named downtown Sandpoint concert venue The Hive as its Business of the Month for July, noting that events space “is breathing vibrancy into downtown” and offering “affordable and high-quality entertainment in a premier setting.”

The Hive has undergone a handful of periods over the years when its doors were closed, but reopened under new ownership in the winter of 2022 with a Food Bank and Toys for Tots community event. Since then, the venue has been hosting consistent live music and other events, such as the year-round “Drink in History” talks in partnership with the Bonner County Historical Society.

One of America’s most significant independent bands, SCI has formed a loyal community over 20 years. Gates open at 6pm. Tickets $59.95 and are available at festivalatsandpoint.com

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee

Local Cottage Market

10am-6pm @ Farmin Park

Vendors selling artisan wares, leather works, pottery, etc.

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Free Family Show: DC League of Super-Pets

10am @ Sandpoint Cinemas

Sandpointcinemas.com. FREE to attend

Benny on the Deck

5:30-8pm @ Connie’s Lounge

6-9pm @ Sandpoint Organic Ag. Center Dr. Matthew Bernards, University of Idaho, will lead an exploration of the 2023 annular eclipse (or Ring of Fire) and total solar eclipse in 2024, with hands-on opportunities to use professional telescopes. Spacepoint.org

monDAY, July 31

Outdoor Experience Group Run

6pm @ Outdoor Experience

3-5 miles, all levels welcome

tuesDAY, august 1

6-9pm @ BlueRoom

Magic w/ Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s

And it’s not just Sandpoint locals who are enthused to have the biggest stage in town back in action — nearly a quarter of The Hive’s customers come from outside the Sandpoint area, attracting about 1,000 people to town, where they stay in hotels, dine in restaurants and spend money in local establishments, according to the chamber.

Full Moon Bike Ride and fundraiser for CCS • 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Gather at Eichardt’s at 8pm to help support Community Cancer Services, then join the Full Moon Bike Ride at 9pm. If you haven’t been, what are you waiting for?

wednesDAY, august 2

ThursDAY, august 3

Festival at Sandpoint: Family Show with Michael Franti & Friends • 12pm @ Memorial Field Gates open at 11am. Tickets $14.95 and are available at festivalatsandpoint.com

Festival at Sandpoint: Michael Franti & Spearhead with SOJA • 7:15pm @ Memorial Field Gates open at 11am. Tickets are SOLD OUT for this show

“The Hive survives with great care from the community. We need our community to come out and support when they are able. Free shows or buying tickets all show us you want us to continue bringing entertainment to downtown Sandpoint,” stated Hive General Manager Mack Diebel. “Soon, we will be moving forward with a sponsorship program to help further our ability to add value to our music scene and give businesses an opportunity to invest in a place that brings the community together.”

The Hive also supported the Sandpoint Songwriting competition, created an artist development plan, and is working on programs and platforms for artists to get stage and professional production experience.

Find The Hive at 207 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint, and online — with information about upcoming shows and ticketing — at livefromthehive.com.

Hive GM Mack Diebel receives the July Business of the Month award from Chamber President Kate McAlister. Courtesy photo.

The Festival at Sandpoint: Dos and Don’ts

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

Anticipation is rising with the temperature as locals and tourists prepare for the 40th annual Festival at Sandpoint. Once again, crowds will pour into War Memorial Field for eight nights of music, food and fun. Whether it’s your first or 40th year attending, here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your experience.

Tickets

Tickets are selling fast, and Train, Michael Franti & Spearhead and REO Speedwagon are already sold out. Be mindful of resellers marking up prices or selling fake tickets; tickets are only available through the Festival office (525 Pine St.) and online through etix. com. As seating is always firstcome, first-served for general admission, festival-goers should plan to arrive early to save their spot in line. Designated seating is reserved in the grandstands for wheelchair users. Check in at the front gate at

least 20 minutes before gates open to receive your accommodations.

Chairs, coolers and drinks — oh my!

Chairs are available to rent in-venue; for those looking to save $5, you’re welcome to bring your own low-back chair. To ensure everyone has a proper view of the stage, higher-back chairs are only allowed behind the blanket seating area. Hard-sided coolers, rolling coolers and wagons are no longer permitted this year. Soft-sided coolers are still allowed, and concertgoers of legal drinking age may bring their own alcohol, but wine bottles and growlers are the only glass permitted inside.

Lining up

The Memorial Field box office opens one hour before the gates each festival day. Check your tickets for individual starting times. The Festival asks that those arriving early line up anytime after 6 a.m. on the day of the event. Lines will be long, so

be sure that you’re waiting in the right place; general admission, early entry and patron tickets each have a separate entrance.

Food and vendors

There are 11 Festival food and drink vendors — plus a full-service bar — located inside the venue. As these are cashless events, only credit and debit cards will be accepted. Bring a picnic from home — without glass or knives — or sample the offerings available throughout the concert grounds.

Now, we dance

The Festival makes a distinction between “standard” and “seated” shows. During a standard show, a dance area will be roped off directly in front of the stage. It’s the perfect opportunity to let loose and have a good time. Seated shows may have dancing space available to the sides of the stage, but, otherwise, concertgoers should remain seated. Be respectful of your fellow concertgoers and dance in your seat when the mood strikes.

The don’ts

All concertgoers are required to pass through a security checkpoint to enter the venue. For the first time this year, attendees will be unable to re-enter the venue once they leave. Pat down your pockets and make sure you grabbed your purse before you go inside. Clear bags are encouraged, but not required, to expedite the security search. No weapons, including guns, ammunition, pepper spray, mace, etc. are allowed inside the venue — without exception.

Drugs and drug paraphernalia, as well as flammable materials such as explosives, fireworks and flares, are also all prohibited.

Cigarettes and e-cigarettes are only allowed in the designated smoking area.

No pets will be allowed inside — reach out to the Festival office at 208-265-4554 for more details about bringing your service animal. Personal mobility devices for ADA guests are allowed, but otherwise personal vehicles like bikes, skates, scooters and skateboards, etc., must be left outside the venue.

For more information about the Festival at Sandpoint’s guidelines, visit festivalatsandpoint.com or call the office at 208-265-4554.

July-August Parks and Rec. programming

By Reader Staff

Sandpoint Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces will be offering the following programming in late-July and August:

• Adult ladies golf. Session 2 of the clinic with local golf pro Mike Deprez will take place Monday, July 31-Monday, Aug. 7. Participants meet at the Elks Golf Course 30196 ID-200, in Ponderay. Register for by Thursday, July 27. Fee $45 ($5 non-resident fee).

• City of Sandpoint historic walking tours. The city of Sandpoint’s Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission, in collaboration with the Bonner County History Museum and Lake Pend Oreille Repertory Theatre, hosts “A Walk Through History ” — a series of free walking tours Friday, July 28; Saturday, Aug. 5; and Friday, Aug. 25, through Sandpoint’s historic downtown. Tours will be offered on the last Friday of the month and occasional Saturdays through September. Meet at 10 a.m. in front of the Panida Theater (300 N. First

Ave.). Tours are roughly one hour. Pre-register with Sandpoint Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces. Pop-ins are also welcomed.

• CPR/AED with optional first aid. For ages 16 and older or ages 12-15 with an adult guardian. American Health and Safety Institute class for those who need CPR/ AED and or first aid card for work, OSHA requirements, school or personal knowledge. Register by Thursday, Aug. 3 for the Monday, Aug. 7 class. Located at Sandpoint City Hall Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.), class meets 4-6 p.m. for CPR/AED and 6-8 p.m. for first aid. Fee: $35 CPR/AED, with additional $25 first aid option.

• Adult pickleball. Registration is open for both beginning and intermediate pickleball for ages 18+. All classes will be held 9 a.m.-noon on Saturdays at the Lakeview Park pickleball courts. All equipment will be provided. Participants need to bring their court shoes, water, sunglasses, a hat and layers for cool weather. Each session is $25/person ($5 non-resident fee). Register by Thursday, Aug. 10 for Session 3 inter-

mediate pickleball on Saturday, Aug. 12. Register by Thursday, Aug. 24 for Session 4 beginners on Saturday, Aug. 26.

• Introduction to skateboarding. Beginners and intermediates, ages 7 and older. Participants will learn skate park skateboarding basics, including etiquette. Skateboard and helmet required. Knee, elbow pads and wrist guards recommended. Class meets at the Concrete Lake skate park (2100 Pine St., in Sandpoint) on Sundays, Aug. 13 and 20, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Register by Wednesday, Aug. 9. Fee: $35 ($3 non-resident fee).

• Basic keelboat sailing. Ages 16 and older. Graduates will be able to responsibly skipper and crew a 20’-27’ sloop-rigged keelboat in light to moderate wind and sea conditions. Attendees will acquire knowledge of basic sailing terminology, parts and functions, helm commands, basic sail trim, points of sail, buoyage, seamanship, and safety including basic navigation rules to avoid collisions and hazards. Register by Thursday, Aug. 10 for Session 3: Mon-

day-Thursday, Aug. 14-17. Class meets at the Sandpoint Windbag Marina (Fred’s Deck) from 10 a.m.-noon. Fee: $65 ($4 non-resident fee).

• Game night with the Lions Club. A FREE family game night at Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.) on Friday, Aug. 18. Event runs every third Friday of the month, through December, from 6-8 p.m. Both card games and board games will be available, or bring your own to share.

Sandpoint Parks and Rec. also acts as a clearinghouse to connect the public with other recreational opportunities in the community. Visit the online activity catalog to view listings. Outside organizations and individuals wishing to list their activities are encouraged to contact the department with their program information at recreation@sandpointidaho.gov.

Register for any Parks and Rec. program at secure.rec1.com/ID/city-of-sandpoint/catalog, visit the office at City Hall (1123 Lake St.) or call 208-263-3613.

Photo by Racheal Baker.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

The summer population explosion is giving me angst. Leaving my home in Ponder Point requires a left-hand turn onto Highway 200. It’s nearly impossible to maneuver that move early in the morning, and the five o’clock traffic is just as bad (I never thought I would be “talking traffic” as part of my daily dialogue).

Besides the highway and town traffic, our Ponder Point community currently has a lot of new homes in construction mode, with many service vehicles who pay no mind whatsoever to the 25-mile-per-hour speed limit (plenty of homeowners are guilty, too). Raising my fist and shouting has little effect, and I have threatened to resort to radar and paintball guns to help protect all my pint-sized friends out here.

I’ve lived in my sweet little house for more than 20 years; but, sometimes, I think about moving. It’s not an uncommon conversation among my age group when we gather and commiserate over a glass of wine at our favorite new watering hole, 113 Main (formerly Truby’s). And then, as I head home, sometimes I even go so far as to put relocation plans together. Last week was one of those times. There’s talk of a vast new subdivision across the highway (on Providence), which only adds to my traffic anxiety.

Last Saturday, I did venture across the road and made my way to the Farmers’ Market, which felt good. For all the new, unfamiliar faces crowding

The Sandpoint Eater A big batch of love

Farmin Park, there were plenty of familiar ones, too. Friends to chat with and hug while standing in Mountain Cloud Farms’ long line to hand pick a few heirloom tomatoes.

I visited with my good friend Robin at Flowers from the Heart. No vendor is more aptly named, I thought, as I watched her thrust small bouquets of sweet peas into the hands of delighted youngsters. While there, I had the good fortune to see her “mystery man” in action, too. Every week he shows up and shells out money to pay for a large bouquet.

Robin bequeaths the fragrant blossoms to someone who needs their day brightened. I rarely leave there empty-handed either (and occasionally

reciprocate with something from my oven).

Later, I walked the Bay Trail with a friend who works at the East Bonner County Library. She encouraged me to go pick some free vegetables from their community garden, and I’m glad I didn’t because the following day, 20-plus-year neighbors on either side of me came bearing an abundance of bounty from their prolific gardens. There were no duplications, so between their generous offerings of cucumbers, onions, peppers, parsley, basil and my purchase of ripe, juicy market tomatoes, I had all the makings for a big batch of gazpacho.

It’s a perfect cool-me-down meal that requires no cooking.

Who needs heat in the kitchen right now?

I gleaned my gazpacho recipe from my friend, Sam, who lives in Sevilla, Spain, and I’ll see him again in September while I’m finalizing the details for a ladies’ group that I’m escorting to Spain next May. Gazpacho is one of the recipes we’ll try our hand making at a cooking class in Barcelona.

Spanish cuisine is a favorite of mine, and Spain is a perfect destination for gourmets — Iberian ham, paella, and spicy croquettes are all popular dishes. And don’t forget the tapas/ small plates (we can thank renowned Chef, humanitarian and World Central Kitchen founder José Andrés for the popularity of those little bites

Garden gazpacho

here in America).

And, closer to home, I thank my neighbors who generously share their garden bounty for my gastronomic creations. I am grateful to be so deeply rooted in this neighborhood where we look out for each other.

As I whipped up my recent batch of gazpacho to share, I paused to reflect on my good fortune. It softens my heart to know there is still more good than bad in this place I now call home (and probably always will).

Here’s to good neighbors, with big hearts (and good gardens). Maybe you can gather the goods from your neighborhood and whip up a big batch, too. Un abrazo.

There are many recipes for gazpacho and this is my favorite. If you use substitutions for varied flavor, remember that Worcestershire sauce is not vegetarian friendly (it contains anchovies). You can also leave chunkier, if so desired. You can also substitute good quality vodka for half the juice for a great cocktail/starter course. Yield 8 cups.

INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:

• 3 pounds ripe heirloom tomatoes, cored, seeded, and coarsely chopped

• 1 cucumber, peeled, halved, seeded, and coarsely chopped

• 1 red, bell pepper

• 1 chili pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped

• ½ sweet onion, coarsely chopped

• 2 garlic cloves, minced

• ½ cup chopped fresh basil (no stems)

• ¼ cup parsley (no stems)

• 2 cups vegetable juice

• ¼ cup red wine

• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tsp sea salt

• 1 tsp freshly ground (coarse) black pepper

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• 2 tsp fresh lemon juice

• Toasted croutons and fresh basil leaves for garnish

If you have time, prep the above vegetable ingredients into a large bowl and chill overnight.

Combine half of the tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, hot pepper, onion, garlic, parsley and basil in a food processor or Magic Bullet. Process until finely chopped.

Transfer mixture back into a large bowl. Repeat with remaining half of tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, hot pepper, onion, garlic, parsley and basil.

Whisk in vegetable juice, vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon zest and lemon juice. Add salt to taste and pepper. Cover and chill so flavors blend.

Serve in chilled bowls and garnish with crisp croutons and fresh basil leaves.

Cover and store leftovers in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Do not freeze.

MUSIC

Festival lineup — Week 1

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

The Festival at Sandpoint gates open Thursday, July 27 for the 40th annual summer concert series, showcasing new faces and old favorites over eight exciting nights. Missing this year: the iconic white tent (for more on that, see Page 4), but the show will most definitely go on. Below are the acts for the opening week. Tickets are available at festivalatsandpoint.com.

Thursday, July 27

Brit Floyd

Regarded as one of the most successful tribute bands of all time, Brit Floyd is on tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Since forming in 2011, Brit Floyd has captivated audiences around the world with their theatrics and faithful renditions of Pink Floyd’s repertoire. Damian Darlington — musical director, guitarist and vocalist — has played more than 2,500 Pink Floyd-inspired concerts, according to the Festival’s recent press release. Brit Floyd’s performance promises an authentic experience with the same “wow” factor as Pink Floyd’s final tour in 1994.

This will be a seated show, meaning the area in front of the stage is general admission shortchair and blanket seating only, and dancing areas can be found to the left and right sides of the

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stage. General admission tickets are $49.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.

Friday, July 28

Gary Clark Jr. w/ Brady Watt

Four-time Grammy-winner Gary Clark Jr. can’t be defined by a single genre — or three or four. This master of blues, rock and soul has taken the stage in front of live crowds, TV audiences and a sitting president. His most recent album, This Land, reached No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 and is celebrated for its socially conscious themes, exploring the national political climate and his experiences as a Black man in the U.S.

This will be a standard show, meaning the area in front of the stage is standing-room only. Tickets are $54.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 29

Train w/Better Than Ezra

With familiar titles like “Play that Song” and “Drops of Jupiter,” it’s no surprise that this threetime Grammy-winning band has garnered a following far beyond their loyal hometown fans. Train has sold more than 10 million

albums, with 14 songs on Billboard’s Hot 100 list — including the most-downloaded single of 2010, “Hey, Soul Sister.” With nearly three decades of hits under their belt, this concert promises to blend early 2000s nostalgia with new songs from their latest album, AM Gold.

This will be a standard show. General admission tickets are SOLD OUT. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 30

The String Cheese Incident

The String Cheese Incident (SCI) became a pioneer of the music industry in the ’90s with their unprecedented use of the internet. SCI was among the first bands to publish information online, going so far as to start their own ticketing, merchandising and

Many of you have probably seen the Longmire series, starring Robert Taylor as the gruff eponymous sheriff of a Wyoming county and Lou Diamond Phillips. But if you haven’t read any of Craig Johnson’s numerous Longmire novels, on which the series was based, you’re missing out. Johnson writes in an easy manner, giving the tried-and-true Western mystery format a new breath of freshness. There are 18 in the series, with a 19th set to release in September.

LISTEN

travel companies to give fans easier access to their music. Come for the innovative performance style, stay for the humanitarianism. With philanthropic ideals at its core, SCI advocates for eco-friendly tours and has helped to support nonprofits like Conscious Alliance and HeadCount.

This is a standard show. General admission is $59.95 before taxes and fees. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music begins at 7 p.m.

See festivalatsandpoint.com for full biographical information about each artist. Check the Aug. 3 edition of the Reader for a recap of Festival — Week 2 performers.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Suzuki Family Concert, Farmin Park, July 27 Ben Vogel, Pend d’Oreille Winery, July 29

The community is invited to a summer Thursday evening picnic featuring the talents of local Suzuki String Academy students.

Hosted by the families of the academy, attendees are encouraged to bring a dish to share, something to relax on and prepare for a family-style concert in the open air at Farmin Park in downtown Sandpoint. Students will arrive with their instruments at 5 p.m., with the music starting at 5:45 p.m. and continuing until 8 p.m.

The Suzuki Method dates to

the post-World War II era and takes its name from Shinichi Suzuki, who believed in “Talent Education,” which includes students beginning their study at a young age with their parents playing an active, integral role. It’s a family-centered system, perfect for a family concert.

— Zach Hagadone

Arrival at 5 p.m., music at 5:45 p.m.; FREE. Farmin Park Third Avenue and Main Street in Sandpoint, suzukistringacademy.com.

Inland Northwest songwriter/ performer Ben Vogel prefers to experience music the old-fashioned way: playing rock, blues, jazz and soul while entertaining bar crowds and backyard party-goers, all while earning college degrees in classical music.

Vogel has a pleasant, almost Ben Folds-esque voice that merges well with the jumping tunes he churns out, making soft rock cool again. To put it another way: There’s an old feel to his new music.

Vogel wrote, recorded and produced his second album Revealed in 2022, forming a rock band called Zoramena in the process, but his solo work features the variety of songs and genres he explores in a home studio.

— Ben Olson

5-8 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St., 208-2658545, powine.com. Listen at benvogelmusic.com.

I’ve got my Spotify playlists running at peak performance, with a mix of low-Earth-orbit songs that don’t distract me from my daily work, but also keep me rolling. One mix I return to again and again is called “Moody Mix” and has a lot of B-side artists playing everything from Radiohead to Phoebe Bridgers. It’s a public playlist and anyone can listen. Perfect for a sunny workday when you have to sit watching all the people having fun out of your office window.

WATCH

The first movie I ever saw in the theater was Uncle Buck, starring John Candy. I was 8 years old and still remember the magic and wonder I felt walking across the sticky floors of Sandpoint Cinema 4 West, which was located at the corner of Fourth Avenue and Main Street next to the old laundromat (before Harold’s IGA and the rest of the buildings were torn down). I’ve loved movies ever since, but like a lot of other people, stopped going to the theater as much during the pandemic. We have two excellent theaters in Sandpoint: the Panida and Sandpoint Cinemas at the Bonner Mall. When’s the last time you treat ed yourself to a night out at the movies?

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

The String Cheese Incident will play Sunday, July 30 at the Festival at Sandpoint. Photo by Dylan Langille.

From Northern Idaho News, July 24, 1923

MERCURY CLIMBS TO 104; MAKES NEW RECORD

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Bonner county sent the government thermometer at the experiment farm north of town up to 104 degrees on Friday, July 20.

The record for this section, since the records were started in 1911, was 99 degrees, reached some years ago. Twice since the record-breaker of last week has the old mark been closely approached. It was 98 degrees above on Sunday and again yesterday. Today autumn began to set in — it was only 94 above.

The precipitation so far this month is also in excess of normal, it is said by Superintendent J.H. Christ of the experiment farm, a trace more than one inch having fallen.

The breaking of the temperature record this summer recalls the breaking of the low mark last winter, with 25 below, but lends no solace to the present situation.

The warmth and rains of summer, however, have meant much to agriculture in Bonner county this year and bumper yields of everything are in sight. The urban population of the county, however, is spending much of its time seeking mixed drinks with ice in them or hunting water sites where the swimming is just right. The docks here are daily crowded with scores of bathers and with the lowering of the lake and the corresponding “raising” of the beach, Sandpoint people are beginning to seek the refreshing coolness of the water front to escape the torrid heat of paved streets and sweltering dwellings.

On motherhood

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

This missive has made it into the pages of the Reader against all odds from a world so far removed from reality that time and space lack any meaning.

That world? First-time motherhood.

My husband Alex and I welcomed our son, Liam, on July 18. Born with the help of three incredible midwives at the Sandpoint Birthing Center, all 22 inches of our nearly nine-pound baby boy arrived without incident — notwithstanding the 24-hour labor that coaxed him into the world.

It’s true what many women say about labor being forgettable by design. Just a week removed from the experience and it is mostly a blur of abstract pain, peppered with walks around the block and along Sand Creek; uncomfortable car rides to the Serv-a-Burger drive-thru and Cedar Street Chevron; an evening visit to City Beach to stand with my feet in the water and manifest the kind of relaxation that allows babies and gravity to join forces; plus plenty of inside jokes and moments of serious doubt with Alex by my side the entire time.

We met Liam just before noon on Day 2 at the birth center, and his arrival affirmed what I’d known for many months — he was a boy (a hunch, but a strong one) and he had limbs for days (something that my tight and lopsided belly had already confirmed).

His wrinkly feet stretched beyond the sling as the midwife weighed him and, a few hours later, we were home. He met the pets; stared wide-eyed in blind, newborn awe at the chickens; and Alex gave him a tour of our garden. Suddenly the pumpkins we’d planted with our baby in mind — “They’ll be 3 months old for Halloween!” — belonged to someone. Liam’s pumpkins. Liam’s crib. Liam’s mama.

That’s me now, I guess. I’m still wrapping my head — and my sleep schedule — around it all.

It was always the plan to step away from my work at the Reader when the baby came. It was a decision I didn’t make lightly, and one that has seen unwavering support from Ben and Zach. They were kind and accommodating about my wishes to keep my pregnancy out of the pages of our paper. They sought my replacement without revealing my special secret, and I will always be thankful for that.

This job requires us to give up so much of our personal lives, whether against our will in the form of hours or because we fill the pages with what we know best: our own experiences. This experience was one I wanted to keep close, until now.

My time as news editor might be wrapped, but I’m certain you’ll still be seeing my byline in the Reader from time to time. I plan to keep writing, but having typed this particular article on both my computer and phone over the course of five days between the demanding and sweet work of being Liam’s mama, I can confirm that it’s time for me to shift gears.

It has meant everything to me to have this job and work with these people. Liam will be raised knowing the importance of supporting an informed community. Thank you for reading the Reader

Sudoku Solution STR8TS Solution

Crossword Solution

Probably one of the worst things about being a genie in a magic lamp is a little thing called “lamp stench.”

Welcome to the world, Liam.

Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey.

Laughing Matter

Solution on page 22

By Bill Borders

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. This day

6. Stair 10. Nonsense

14. Liquid bodily waste

15. French for “Head”

supine /soo-PAHYN/ [adjective]

1. lying on the back, face or front upward.

“After finishing an enormous sandwich, she lay supine on the floor to catch her breath.”

65. Majestic

Baking appliance

Solution on page 22

1. Big brass

2. Minerals

3. Excavates

4. Dwarf buffalo

5. Abominable snowmen

6. Gambit

7. Adolescent

8. French for “State”

9. Individual

10. Self-control

11. Sea

12. Will 13. It comes from bees

Solution on page 22

36. Found on rotary phones

37. Writing fluids

38. Curved molding