Reader april16 2015

the e e f cof e u s s i

it’s nice to meet you, neighbor

$10 Lunch special mon-fri 11-4

124 South 2nd Ave. sandpoint, IDaho (208)597-7499

www.sandpointpub.com 2 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

(wo)MAN

Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by

What is your morning coffee ritual?

“I have to do a pour over.

Then we open the blinds in the living room to look out at Gold Hill. I like Evans Brothers with half and half.”

Carol Kovalchuk Artist Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

This issue we dedicate to that savory brew many of you can’t seem to live without. No, not beer... coffee.

There are a lot of great coffee houses in Sandpoint, each with their own unique atmosphere and style. As of old, they are places of social interaction, community involvement and personal reflection. The relaunch of the Reader, in fact, took place at a table by the window at Monarch Mountain Coffee.

On other fronts, we’ve received a lot of great Flash Fiction submissions over the past few weeks. Due to an unusually large and important feature by Zach Hagadone next week, we are going to extend the deadline for entries and feature our fiction issue in a couple of weeks. So, if you’ve succumbed to procrastination, you have a little more time to get those stories in. Remember, 500 words or less and you must include the word “typewriter” somewhere in your story. And don’t forget to keep those pet photos coming!

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“It’s easy. I open up (at Joel’s) around 6:30 a.m. and make myself an espresso or drip coffee and I’m still drinking coffee at 3 p.m. I usually drink about 3 16-ounce cups a day with a little creamer. That’s it.”

Verna Gabel Retired Head Start Principal Sandpoint

Samantha Leberman Full-time student/CNA Sandpoint

Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) Contributing Artists: Jeff Dunwoody (cover), Daniel Cape, Susan Drinkard, Ben Olson Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Louie de Palma, Sandy Compton, Zach Hagadone, Rick Evans, Jennifer Passaro, Marcia Pilgeram, Ben Olson, Ben Prez

Advertising: Jen Landis jen@sandpointreader.com Renee Tibbetts calmtigermedia@gmail.com Clint Nicholson clint@keokee.com Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

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

Thank you

Readers,

for voting us •Best Bar and •Best Restaurant in Sandpoint!

Visit our 2 downtown locations!

BREWERY & BEER HALL 220 Cedar St. 209-6700 FAMILY FRIENDLY BREWPUB 312 First Ave.

“I have an espresso machine so I make my own. I just drink one cup.”

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Subscription Price: $75 per year

Liliana Ski instructor; retail Sandpoint

“I just get up at 4:30 a.m. and turn my Keurig on.”

www.sandpointreader.com

Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

“Coffee is the first thing I do. I always sit by the window in a rocking chair with my coffee and a pastry and I look at the bald eagles nesting by the lake. I drink two cups of black coffee, French roast. Or I go to Evans Brothers to treat myself.”

Fred Darnell Retired General Contractor Sandpoint

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

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

Joel Aispuro Manager of Joel’s Sandpoint

“My wife and I get up between 7 and 7:30 and make Evans Brothers coffee. We drink two cups apiece and we sit and visit and plan our day.

Then I read the Daily Bee and then check USA Today on my ipod.”

READER

255-4351

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

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

Requirements: –No more than 500 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

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

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

About the Cover This week’s cover by Jeff Dunwoody.

Painted in acrylic on canvas last summer, Jeff gave the four separate pieces signifying the different stages of the coffee bean to Evan’s Brothers Coffee Roasters where it currently hangs.

Nice work, Jeff!

April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 3

COMMENTARY

-Outlaws of North IdahoBy Louie de Palma For SPR There’s a town out west at the edge of a deep vast lake. It’s surrounded by such mountainous peaks and green-forested glory that it makes Montana’s big sky slogan seem like it’s bragging about vast open boredom and Washington’s evergreen mantra sound like a cheap attempt at selling Pine Sol. This stupendous town is Sandpoint, Idaho, so close to the Canadian border the bacon eaten there could almost be round.

Not quite jammed but more or less pickled into this area is a population of inhabitants diverse enough to match its complex terrain. We have right wing good ol’ boys, new age hippies, survivalists (which seem to be a hybrid of the previous groups), ski bums, isolationists, family building re-locaters, a handful of young people and religious extremists. Recently, I’ve discovered while driving cab in the region that there exists yet another pickle group that’s been hiding undiscovered in the jar: outlaws.

These outlaws have escaped recognition thanks to Sandpoint’s accepting character— that, and their ability to stay off the radar unless you’re looking.

To the untrained eye, these community members appear to be no more than unfortunate people with mental health issues, cognitive impairments, varying degrees of a dementia and addiction problems. This is their cover (but also reality). After driving them for months—since apparently no real outlaw can 4 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

drive—my perspective changed as I got to know them and their habits. These people are in Idaho for much of the same reason the rest of us are: to keep their heads down, live how they want and mostly be left alone. These folks are choosing to avoid treatment, institutionalization and strict social structure. They could seek help in a place with more social services, but many actually move here carving out their own private Idaho by being outlier outlaws.

It makes sense that you may have never noticed them before.

Why would you? Outlaws refuse to work a standard job, but instead deal in bartering. They don’t bank, except to receive government stipends or cash personalized checks. They forage for mushrooms, berries and firewood as ways of survival.

Outlaws don’t live in places that require background checks and are never anywhere in public at the time most people are. They are your 2 a.m. grocery store shoppers and early morning bar crowd. For years they have gone under the radar.

The American outlaw was thought to have disappeared like individually-sold licorice into the days of the old west.

But this taxi driver is here to say they’re alive and well, and I’ll tell you how to spot one.

I must warn you that once you’ve acquired the ability to spot an outlaw, you may wish that you never had. You’ll start seeing them everywhere. It could come to haunt you for the rest of your days, like realizing how much you hear “Jack & Diane” by John Mellencamp in the background

everywhere you go. It may have you questioning reality like some sort of twisted “Groundhog Day” or “Truman Show” syndrome.

But if you must know, here’s what to look for.

1) Clothing: Most outlaws wear only one outfit every day. They don a personal uniform that speaks on some character-defining level to them, much like a cartoon character or a superhero/supervillian. Cowboy hats and dusters are still very popular with the modern-day outlaw. However, most cowboys are not outlaws and most outlaws are not cowboys. Just keep an eye out for utilitarian-style clothing: camo, Carhartts or bib overalls in various mismatchings. You can never be over-geared as an outlaw, for an outlaw never knows where they will end up or how long they’ll be there. For women, all the previous clothing still applies with the addition of a gypsy-like style and trinkets upon trinkets. These people’s trinkets have trinkets.

2)Locations: The second best way to spot an outlaw is to stay alert in the following locations.

Motels: Motels are a jackpot.

The smaller the better typically, but any of them are sure to have a few living there, preferably ones that deal in cash and require no plastic on file. Outlaws seem to prosper in hotel life due to their close proximity next to other outlaws. This allows them to freely barter and provides them with amenities that they can ditch anytime with no

remorse. Even better, most of them don’t require background checks to stay for months on end. From my experience, most people that reside in a motel for months are either outlaws or seasonal workers—people to be wary of on vacation but also the people who will give you a good rundown of the continental breakfast.

Shanty shack communities: These are popular for outlaws existing down less populated back road areas out of town.

Take a Sunday drive and you will see outlaw camps thrown together from yurts, RVs, trailers and anything else you could live in. They’re usually surrounded by various old cars and scrap metal, which may seem like junk to the untrained eye but is in fact valuable steel that can be sold to scrap yards. It’s a common misconception that the old broken cars in people’s yards are there to one day be fixed. They are in fact a sort of backwoods savings account, a hidden-in-plain-sight yard of liquidatable steel just waiting to be cashed in if they could only somehow move it.

Pawn shops: These provide fast, easy money for a wayward pioneer. They often specialize in the sale and purchase of antiques and other oddities that can fetch a good price to the right buyer. It takes a trained eye to learn what is crap and what is valuable, and outlaws are pros at this after years of practice.

They can scan any garage sale, thrift store or unattended yard for valuable collectibles that can fetch an outlaw fortune in the right circles.

Clinics: Visiting clinics is a regular pass time for outlaws.

The more an outlaw goes to a clinic, the more social currency they gain, providing them with conversational tender to improve networking in their fringe community. This is because discussing one’s ailments is a common pastime and can lead to remedy trading.

3) Demeanor: If you find yourself talking to an odd stranger unusually interested in your hobbies and passions and asking all about your life, they are an outlaw trying to sell you something.

I made this mistake by telling one about how I like old bicycles. A week later, I got conned into buying a single broken Red Flyer wagon wheel for $10.

Only outlaws lead a conversation by asking what you collect.

I’m sure our town isn’t the only pickle jar with a few odd pickles. But I’d like to think it’s the best one, because even the weirdest pickle can hang out.

Even a cucumber that doesn’t want to get in the jar is welcome. I guess what I’m saying is, better social services for outlaws would be great, but it’s nice to know that if my life ever takes a downturn, I won’t have to check into an institution or enter forced retirement in Florida or Utah. I can just become an outlaw in my own private Idaho.

“When freedom is outlawed only outlaws will be free.”

-Tom Robbins

PERSPECTIVES

Bordering on Complete Sanity: Sandy’s (completely sane) thoughts on religion

By Sandy Compton For SPR

Monday morning, after Easter.

When Mssrs. Rasmusson and Olson told me that the April 2 issue was going to be about religion, I chose to wait until this week. I have theories about God and Jesus and stuff that I would hate to get confused with all those facts. Theories are theories, after all. These may not even be theories. They may be thoughts. Or suppositions.

Or wishful thinking. When it comes to having thoughts about God and Jesus and stuff, any combination of these might be present.

My third theory is that dying on the cross was not the hardest thing Jesus ever did. I think it was stuffing his spirit back into a somewhat moldered body and walking around in it for forty days and nights before he ascended. We may wish to move our point of worship from Jesus on the cross to the empty tomb,

LETTERS

Illustration by Daniel Cape where he reassumed mortality.

Not sure how Jesus would feel about being worshiped, either.

Just a stray thought. Not a theory—yet. Something about Jesus out walking with Mary Magdalene while some great Mystery resides in the void of the tomb.

My second theory is that although Jesus came back to prove his point, it was also because he had forgotten to tell Peter something very important; so important in fact, that Jesus ended up telling him three times: “Feed my sheep.”

It was at this point that Jesus also asked Peter if he loved him three times, which sort of got Peter’s goat, but maybe Jesus was needling him for the threetimes-before-the-cock-crows thing on Good Friday morning.

Though I still wonder what was so great about that day.

What’s also important about “Feed my sheep” is what Jesus didn’t say. He didn’t say, “Be

a sheep.” He said, “Feed my sheep.” Three times.

My first theory is that the most important thing Jesus said was to the lawyer who asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” Lawyer jokes aside, Jesus didn’t hesitate, but he did go way off the Tablets to answer, creating new number one and two commandments (paraphrasing here): “First, you shall love God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind.

Second, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Not saying that bearing false witness and coveting have become OK, but they now seems to be numbers 11 and 12.

Many words and phrases have lost nuance between here and Aramaic, but this is totally unambiguous. And if you wish to nitpick about who the neighbors are, view a photo of Planet Earth taken from space. It’s a small, small world (hopefully

that song won’t be stuck in your head for the rest of the day).

Also, Jesus made it clear who the neighbors are in the parable of the Good Samaritan.

I sometimes visualize Christianity as two large, ornate, golden, bejeweled, well-polished and oft-admired bookends; the miracle of the immaculate conception on one side and the miracle of the resurrection on the other. In between resides a slim, brown

volume; a story of a child born of a human mother—raised in a community of faith, given a sense of mission, possessed of incredible courage—who took on the establishment, ostensibly lost, but still changed the world.

Whether he has saved it or not, remains to be seen. But, if we pay attention to his greatest commandments, what he told Peter three times, and a few other important things he said, my theory is that we have a chance.

Road station.

After reading the excellent piece in the Sandpoint Reader this week on recycling, I brought to their attention our “rumor” and they followed up to verify that our disposal company really is sending our recyclables to the Spokane facility.

Thanks Reader!

full house. The numbers added up to parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents.

Hand-me-downs were a thing of the day. Everything was reusable. We raised a big garden, animals for production, and table fare. We had no refrigerator, so canning and dehydration were a common fall event.

Baking and dairy processing were all done from scratch.

Going green is nothing new to me. Environment issues have always been a natural part of my life.

At a very young age, I knew it was wrong to dump garbage and old auto bodies into the nearest creek. Now years later when I became manager of the Sagle Senior Thrift Store, I brought these beliefs and ideas into the workings of the establishment. It wasn’t long until my fellow volunteers helped work out a program where we had a very small amount of garbage to go to the land fill.

We washed, mended, ironed,

glued, nailed and displayed for resale these items for a while, then passed them on to other entities. It was a starting point to protect and preserve our natural resources. It was a daily challenge to see what our little corner of the world could do to bring a change to the economy, community and environment.

Under “new management,” this is no longer being done.

Pick-ups full of usable items that the community donated are being hauled off to the landfill.

Besides the customers and their needs no longer being considered, this is a terrible shock to the environment. This to me is just as disturbing as being fired from a volunteer job, because four board members found they couldn’t have full control over this old woman.

One of the board members that fired me put out a request for volunteers to work at the store. However, I don’t think he meant me, because they wrote that their reason for firing me

was that “it was time to relieve me of heavy responsibilities.”

One of the board members that is working at the store now is about three weeks younger than I am. Another board member said that I couldn’t apply for another volunteer job because I was “too old.” He also said they were just trying to take care of my health. Maybe I don’t know what they mean by “take care of,” because this certainly isn’t doing anything good for my mental well-being or my physical health.

We gave the best we had and got kicked in the teeth for it, but we gave the best we had anyway.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Hebrews 10:24

Chris Swartz Sandpoint

Dear Editor,

Being a local resident appreciating the pristine beauty of our area, I have been for recycling for years to help combat the “throw away” mentality.

Neighborhood rumor had it that our local disposal pickups were not really recycled but all thrown into the same landfill.

Consequently, we would personally separate our recyclables and cart them to the Dufort

Chris, Thanks for your interest in the Reader and for your recycling efforts. When I called Robin Freedman at Waste Management and posed your concern to her, she assured me that without a doubt, when you put the material into your blue recycling bin, it will end up at the sorting facility in Spokane.[BO]

Dear Editor,

I grew up knowing a thing or two about sustainable living.

I was one of five siblings. But this wasn’t all that made up a

Frankie Roberson Sagle

April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 5

NEWS

Investment group purchases Coldwater Creek property

By Cameron Rasmusson For SPR Following Coldwater Creek bankruptcy last year, the corporation’s expansive headquarters felt like a graveyard.

Months later, the 21-acre campus had a beating pulse once again, with Litehouse setting up operations in a portion of the office space. And last week, a group of local business owners promisedto revitalize 220,000 additional square feet of campus, a building that includes recreational facilities, gym, conference rooms and offices.

The deal was organized by Lewis Patrick of Patrick Properties and has its origins nearly a year ago, when the property originally went out to bid following Coldwater Creek’s bankruptcy announcement. According to Patrick, there were relatively few bids for the property. After all, not every business needed property as large as the Coldwater Creek buildings. Given the limited market, Patrick was able to figure out which interested parties had been placing bids.

“I contacted them and suggested we put together a group,” Patrick said.

The result was L3M, a group of four investors with Patrick Properties serving

BRIEFS Council approves new trail

Good news for trail fans in North Idaho: city council members approved an agreement Wednesday with Pend Oreille Pedalers to develop and maintain a new trail in the Little Sand Creek Watershed.

The agreement will see the local bicycle group develop and maintain a trail in the watershed, from which Sandpoint receives the majority of its water supply.

An area noted for its pristine beauty, the trail will likely become a new favorite for hikers and bicyclists in the area.

Previous discussions over the trail highlighted the need to protect the watershed, considering its importance as a water source. Councilman Shelby 6 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

as the manager and marketer of the property. While Patrick said there was some risk to purchasing property of that scale near a town of 8,000 people, the potential is nevertheless unlimited.

For instance, the conference rooms and auditorium are great fits for event rentals or professional workshops.

Meanwhile, the office space can be parceled off depending on the client’s demands.

“The possibilities are endless,” Patrick said.

Laughing Dog Brewing is in talks to acquire around 20,000 square feet of space to expand its brewing operations.

For brewery owner Fred Colby, the deal will bring his career full circle, considering he left Coldwater Creek years ago to pursue his dream of professional brewing.

“It makes a lot of sense for us to look [at this property],” Colby said. “It will let us expand without having to build a new building.”

Patrick is also courting companies from out of town, particularly from the San Francisco Bay area. While he can’t go in to too many details, he’s in talks with one company that could require 500-plus seats. Considering Sandpoint lost more than 300 jobs from the Cold-

Rognstad, who proposed the project, said the trail would be built to standard specifically tuned to protecting ecology.

“This license agreement guarantees this trail will be built to those high standards,” he said.[CR]

Earth Day events lined up Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22, to be exact), and with it comes a few opportunities to show appreciation for Mother Earth.

On Earth Day itself, Sandpoint Vegetarians is hosting a screening of “Cowspiracy.” A documentary that covers the high cost and environmental damage associated with industrial agriculture and the meat industry, the movie will be shown 6 p.m. in the Rude Girls Room of Sandpoint Library. The event

water Creek bankruptcy, a move like that would go a long way to patching the economic hole left by its closure.

Equally intriguing are the possibilities for the facility’s athletic and recreational center, which includes basketball and racquetball courts, a gym, a dance studio, a sauna, locker rooms and more.

Patrick said Sandpoint Area Recreation and Community, a group seeking to establish a community center in the Sandpoint area, is mulling the possibilities the property offers.

Either way, Patrick is excited about the possibilities the acquisition raises for

is free and open to the public.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25, the community gathers at City Beach for the annual flowering rush pull. This community weed pulling helps get City Beach back in fighting shape for another summer beach season.

The event coincides with Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper’s annual Sand Creek Clean-Up, also starting 10 a.m. Saturday, April 25 at City Beach.

Finally, fishing fans will be sure to see a lot of spectacular imagery at the Fly Fishing Film Tour this year. The event takes place April 24 and 25 starting 7 p.m. at the Panida Theater. [CR]

Lewis Patrick, right, gives a tour of the former Coldwater Creek facility purchased recently by an investment group. the community. He said L3M is made up of individuals who want to see Sandpoint flourish, and he believes the former Coldwater Creek campus could play a key role in that outcome.

“We’re a very diverse group, but we’re also cohesive and very community-focused,” he said.

For leasing details or more information, call (208) 627-8060.

Laughing Dog Brewing expands distribution

It seems out-of-towners are acquiring a taste for Sandpoint beer. Laughing Dog Brewing announced this week it secured distribution deals expanding their beer into Montana and Utah. The new deals boost the brewery’s already impressive reach, which includes the Eastern Seaboard, the Pacific Northwest and even Canada. Congratulations to Laughing Dog, and cheers to its fans in Sandpoint, across the nation and beyond. [CR]

Poetry workshop schedule updated Due to the delightfully overwhelming number of interested writers, Jim Mitsui’s writing workshop is no longer accepting drop-ins.

You can get on the wait list for the next five-week session beginning May 19th or sign up for the third session beginning mid June.

Please email Jim at jim3wells@aol.com or call (623)512-3605.

Ospreys settling in Sandpoint

Bird lovers take notice: The ospreys are nesting at Memorial Field. The town’s most popular bunch of winged celebrities are busy putting together a nest made from all sorts of materials. All you need is an Internet connection to keep tabs on our feathered friends—check them out at www.sandpointospreys. com [CR]

Highlights from the 2015 Idaho Legislature

By Zach Hagadone For SPR When the Idaho Legislature adjourned sine die in the wee hours of April 11, Sen. Shawn Keough was sent home with the flag that flew over the Senate chambers during the 2015 session. It was an honor bestowed on the District 1 legislator not only for her 19 years in office, but for her independent-minded leadership and the distinction of being the longest-serving female lawmaker in the Senate.

“Thank you Pro Tem [Brent Hill]! Thank you to the people in District One and thank you to my family,” Keough wrote on Facebook.

Keough wasn’t the one grabbing headlines this session, however. That distinction went to Cottonwood Republican Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, who continued her now-years-long pattern of making statements and taking stances that land Idaho in the national—and international—news. State politics watchers may remember Nuxoll’s first brush with notoriety when in 2013 she compared the Affordable Care Act to the Holocaust.

“The insurance companies are creating their own tombs,” she wrote in a mass email and Twitter post. “Much like the Jews boarding the trains to concentration camps, private insurers are used by the feds to put the system in place because the federal government has no way to set up the exchange.”

This year, Nuxoll first made waves when she joined Sens. Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, and Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, in protesting the invocation given March 3 by Hindu cleric Rajan Zed. They waited in the hall, standing against what Nuxoll called a “false faith with false gods.”

More than a dozen faith leaders from around the West, including Nevada Episcopal Bishop Dan Edwards, California and Nevada Jewish leader Rabbi ElizaBeth Beyer and Vicar General of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno Father Charles Durante, called on Nuxoll and her cohorts to apologize, but she doubled down, saying that Hindus practice a “great amount of infanticide and abortion.”

“I’m not going to apologize,” she said.

Nuxoll again brought fame— or shame, depending on who you ask—to herself and the state in the last days of the legislative session with her testimony before the House Judiciary and Rules Committee on April, 10, when she told her colleagues that a vote in favor of Senate Bill 1067 could open the way for the application of Sharia law in Idaho. Despite an official opinion from Attorney General Lawrence Wasden saying those fears were “unfounded,” committee members voted by a one vote margin to kill the bill, which would have brought Idaho into compliance with federal rules regarding the tracking and enforcement of child support payments.

The Sharia connection came through a labyrinthine line of reasoning connecting the federal regulations to the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act and Uniform Interstate Family Support Act, the latter which includes agreements with the Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support and Family Maintenance, whose members include Muslim-majority countries like Bosnia and Albania.

Though no country involved in the convention is governed by Sharia law, Nuxoll and others, including Coeur d’Alene Republican Sen. Bob Nonini and Dalton Gardens Republican Rep. Vito Barbieri (of “vagina pills” fame— more on that later), thought that was enough to reason to let the measure die in committee.

The result was that Idaho lost $16 million in federal funding for child support programs and risks losing more than $30 million for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program.

Outrage over the vote drove yet another wedge through the already fractured Idaho GOP, which has been engaged in an often-bitter leadership struggle since the right-wing Tea Party-fueled electoral sweep of 2008. Most recently, Post Falls Republican Rep. Luke Malek—a former Kootenai County deputy prosecuting attorney— pushed back against the vote.

“Scuttling SB 1067 without debate was heavy-handed oppor-

tunistic theatrics at the expense of single-parents and children, the most vulnerable among us,” Malek wrote in a statement. “I do not support the erratic behavior that will lead to the dismantling of our child support system, nor the implication that this mockery of a legal analysis in any way represents our Republican caucus.”

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter weighed into the fracas on April 13.

“I am concerned that some members of the House Judiciary and Rules Committee put Idaho’s child support system at serious risk by killing Senate Bill 1067 in the waning hours of the 2015 legislative session,” Otter said in a written statement. “We are analyzing the impacts of the committee’s actions and what they mean for the 400,000 people who depend on Idaho’s system.”

Keough, on her Facebook page, noted that, “It is sounding like the only fix at the moment is for the Governor to call a special legislative session.” No word yet on whether that will happen.

Hinduism and Sharia law weren’t the only issues to dominate the 2015 Legislature. For about a week in February the words “vagina pills” echoed in the corridors of power.

Vito Barbieri made international news when he asked a Boise doctor—testifying against a bill to place additional limitations on the administration of an abortion-inducing drug—whether a gynecological exam could be performed by a woman swallowing a pill containing a camera.

“When you swallow a pill, it would not end up in the vagina,” said a straight-faced Dr. Julie Madsen as onlookers in the chamber snickered.

“Fascinating,” Barbieri responded. “That makes sense.”

The exchange went viral on the Internet, prompting Barbieri to tell Boise news outlets that his question was “rhetorical” and intended to prove his point that administering the drug should be done only through an in-person doctor visit.

Despite worldwide derision, the bill passed on a party-line vote.

Illustration by Daniel Cape Another legislative highlight came in the form of electronic “historical horse racing,” which lawmakers voted in early April to ban by overturning a 2013 law that led to the installation of hundreds of the gambling machines in Post Falls as well as the Les Bois race track in the Boise area. “[T]hey sound like slot machines and they act like slot machines, too,” said Rexburg Republican Sen. Brent Hill in February, referring to state law prohibiting gambling machines.

Otter vetoed the bill on April 6, leading to an attempt by the Senate to override the governor, which failed by five votes. According to a report from the Spokesman-Review, Otter received more than $92,000 in campaign contributions from lobbyists representing the Post Falls and Boise area tracks.

When they weren’t concerning themselves with religion, abortion and gambling, lawmakers found time to address some more fundamental issues facing the state: education and transportation.

On the education front, Otter signed into law a bill that will raise teacher salaries by $125 million over the next five years. The socalled “career ladder” will boost the minimum teacher pay 2.9 percent from $31,750 to $32,700 by 2016. Following that, salaries will increase to a maximum of $50,000 a year, depending on experience.

The measure was initially opposed by the Idaho teachers’ union, as well as hundreds of educators who turned out to testify against it. However, after a series of revisions, a new version sailed through the House and Senate with the backing of the union.

Meanwhile, the K-12 education budget was increased more than $101 million to a total of $1.48 billion, including funding for the career ladder as well as classroom technology, professional development and a one-time infusion of

cash to schools that use Schoolnet—the online “instructional management system” that crashed and burned this year amid a scathing report that showed the state has “sunk” more than $60 million into the program. Intended to give teachers tools to track student development, the system was mismanaged to the point of being useless—with much of the blame landing on former Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna.

That wasn’t the only education disaster tied to the Luna era this year, with a vote in the Legislature to shut off the Idaho Education Network. IEN provided broadband Internet service to schools since 2009; but, as it turned out, the $60 million contract to provide those services was illegal.

Amid the controversy surrounding the dismantling of the system, Department of Administration Director Teresa Luna—the sister of Tom Luna—stepped down from her position, effective at the end of the 2015 legislative session. Meanwhile, a stopgap funding measure of $3.6 million was passed to support broadband for the time being.

Finally, in a case of too little too late, the Legislature signed off for the year by passing a $127 million transportation bill that isn’t even half of what the state needs to maintain its infrastructure as-is. The measure includes $94 million raised through registration fees and gas taxes, but, as Idaho Transportation Director Brian Ness told legislators in February, $262 million is needed to “preserve the system in the condition it’s in.” Ultimately, according to a 2010 legislative task force, Idaho’s transportation system is underfunded by a whopping $543 million each year.

With that bill passed, lawmakers hit the road—potholes and all.

April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 7

Local coffee houses offer a flavor for everyone

By Cameron Rasmusson For SPR

Coffee shop baristas and managers hold a special space in a person’s life. For those lost souls reliant on a caffeinated jump-start to the day, the barista is often the first person they see outside the home.

Over time, he or she takes a special place in a customer’s life, especially when they get to know their regulars’ lives and preferred orders.

It’s a dynamic more than familiar to Monarch Mountain Coffee manager Claire Chirsty. She’s seen her fair share of customers shamble through the doors in the a.m. hours, desperate for their steaming lifeline. She’s learned to moderate her own energy level to match theirs, making it easier for them to ease into the day.

“We call that time of day the zombie hour,” she said.

That relationship is why a person’s favorite coffee shop is often a sort of second home. It’s no wonder, then, that people become extremely attached to their preferred cafe.

Over at Monarch Mountain Coffee, Christy and owner Sherrie Wilson have taken the idea of a home-away-fromhome and run with it. They’ve broadened the shop’s identity to serve as an alternate setting for just about any time of the day, whether it be reading the news and drinking coffee in the morning, working throughout the day or relaxing with a drink in the evening.

“We’ve really become a place where friends gather,” said Wilson.

To that end, they’ve expanded their hours of operation—including a 6 a.m.

Sunday opening—and now stock beer and wine. Of course, the coffee is still the same as ever, roasted in-house with an air roaster somewhat similar to a popcorn popper.

The shop has also expanded its appeal to the creative community. Thursday open mic nights showcasing poetry, singer-songwriters and cover performances have become a popular destination for artists to share new or developing works. It’s just one of several changes implemented recently that excite Christy.

“A lot has changed here over the past couple years, so if you haven’t stopped by in a while, give us a try,” she said.

A few blocks away, Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters continues to enjoy a business expansion begun several years ago.

Coffee roastery owners Rick and Randy Evans have their sights set on increasingly diverse markets as they expand distribution throughout the Idaho and Washington. Evans Brothers Coffee is available as far out as Seattle or Boise.

“We felt we had a niche to fill in the 8 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

Inland Northwest,” said Rick Evans.

Wider distribution doesn’t mean the company has lost focus on Sandpoint.

The local shop is a high priority for Evans Brothers, a community gathering place for major events, art installations and one-onone conversations alike.

“The idea from the beginning was to build a space that can build community,” Evans said.

Common Knowledge provides a unique ambiance for its cafe environment, and it complements its atmosphere with equally unique drinks. According to shop co-owner Shelby Rognstad, they were the first to introduce specialty items like coconut milk lattes, which continue to be popular choices. Common Knowledge also features new art installations about twice a month, showcasing a variety of styles and mediums.

“We try to keep things eclectic and interesting,” Rognstad said.

Likewise, Kokanee Coffee also maintains the friendly relationship between local coffee culture and the artistic community. In fact, it’s own in-house metalworking studio, Kokanee Ironworks, helps imbue the shop with a one-of-a-kind showcase. It’s almost as much a signature as the shop’s coffee, which is roasted inhouse.

Panhandle Cone and Coffee, meanwhile, puts a sweet spin on the coffee scene with the inclusion of delicious ice creams.

While an order of coffee is always nice, there’s nothing quite like pairing it with an order of homemade ice cream made from natural ingredients.

Given the number of cafes and coffee shops in town, there’s surprisingly little overlap when it comes to atmosphere and offerings. But what undoubtedly keeps customers returning is the service from community members who know your name and your preferences.

“You do get to know [your customers],” Christy said. “You begin to care about their lives.”

Top left: Claire Christy (left) and owner Sherrie Wilson (right) at Monarch Mountain Coffee. Top right: Roaster Daniel Gunter checks the latest batch of roasted coffee beans at Evans Brothers.

Below, from top to bottom: Kokanee Coffee’s artistic counter attracts another customer; Jason, the owner of Panhandle Cone and Coffee, is all smiles for the morning rush; Common Knowledge, a mellow sanctuary that smells of good books, fresh coffee and zesty cooking is a local haunt that is always a pleasure to visit.

For the love of coffee

By Rick Evans For SPR We love the coffee business. That’s partly because we appreciate quality coffee, but perhaps more importantly, coffee is the perfect vehicle for pursuing what really matters to us.

We get to build meaningful connections with farmers, producers and importers, with our wholesale and direct customers and with peers in a remarkably supportive and cooperative industry. For example, we spent several days in El Salvador last year with our good friends, Miguel and Guillermo Menendez and family, along with a team of roasters from Back Porch Coffee in Bend, Ore. We toured farms and cupped 40-plus select micro-lots of coffee, sharing meals in the Menendez home afterward.

There is always a sense of cooperation with other roasters along a visit like this; in fact we like to send each other samples of similar roasts to compare notes.

We then went to Costa Rica, where we traveled with our regional importer, Piero.

We spent several days getting to know the farmers that he works with, forging enduring connections. We were invited into their homes to dine, and we saw firsthand the impact we can have just by paying a fair price for their top-quality coffee. At the small mountaintop farm of Don Pepe, we were greeted enthusiastically by the grandfather, father and son team that had recently partnered with Café Imports. Instead of selling through the regional drop centers, they now receive a large quality premium by selling their coffee through roasters like us. We get to see the direct impact on their lives through these cooperative efforts.

The coffee fruit makes a fascinating beverage, so we are always learning and refining our craft. Traveling to origin sites makes it abundantly clear that there are a near-infinite number of variables that impact the final cup. We do our very best to

Randy Evans picking ripe coffee berries with a local picker at a Costa Rican coffee farm. represent these hard-working producers by making their coffee shine in every roast.

That means constantly tasting and evaluating everything that we produce.

My brother Randy gets particularly excited when he is able to create “aha moments” around coffee. “I never knew coffee could taste like this,” is music to his ears. A quality roast can open doors to understanding and appreciating what really takes place throughout the chain.

This is why we love hosting neighborhood tastings and other events and why we hire baristas that are really passionate about what we do. To us, “coffee is not just coffee” — a motto we love sharing.

Our process starts with sourcing the best quality coffees we can find. We work closely with importers and directly with some farmers. We taste and compare notes on the early arrivals from each crop, and we purchase a balanced offering of coffees on a seasonal basis to ensure freshness.

When possible, we love traveling to select specific lots of coffee on a firsthand basis.

Once we have the coffee, our roasting team creates a roast profile for each bean. Every coffee responds differently to heat and airflow, so we make adjustments with the goal of bringing out the best flavor notes in each. Finally we strive to prepare our coffee scientifically, always weighing and timing each cup. We spend time tweaking our blends, with final cup quality being the determining factor.

Another aspect we love about our business is creating community, whether that be fundraising, showcasing regional artists, hosting events or creating an ideal gathering place for customers. We appreciate being able to provide a space for our customers to bring their guests, to create their own connections and take time to enjoy one another over a great cup of coffee.

April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 9

event sandpoint’s premier

craft beer store

OVER 3OO BEERS IN STOCK PLUS 12 ROTATING TAPS

t h u r s d a y f r i d a y

s a t u r d a y

2O3 CEDAR STREET DOWNTOWN SANDPOINT, ID

2O8.597.7O96 | IDAHOPOURAUTHORITY.COM

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES

TICKETS $10

tickets available at ticketswest.com or locally at 7B Boardshop Eichardt's Pub and show day at the Hive

www.LiveFromTheHive.com 10 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

16

Live Music w/ Doug Bond & Marty Perron 5pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Pancho and Lefty bring you the hits

17 18

s u n d a y

19

m o n d a y

20

Live Music w/ Ron Keiper 5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Great jazz saxophonist

21

w e d n e s d a y

22 23

“Wild Canaries” Film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater A murder mystery with an indie screwball twist. Tickets $7

Old Galvi Warehouse Spring 2015 Antique Sale 10am - 3pm @ Old Galvi Warehouse Learn the Cha Cha! 7pm @ SWAC (but you don’t have to be a member) Call Diane at 610-1770 to sign up or for more information

O 6 A

C 7 G F

Third Friday @ MickDuff’s 5:30pm - 8:30pm @ MickDuff’s Be Third Fridays are a Canadian thing Canadians have the third Friday of t off work. Free and open to all, ag older. Live music by Devon Wade

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip The Mask You Live In 5:30pm - 7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 7pm @ Panida Theater Singer songwriter extraordinaire A film that follows boys and young men as they struggle to Greasy Fingers 5th Birthday Party stay true to themselves while ne2pm - 6pm @ Greasy Fingers Bikes N Repair Join your favorite bike shop for their 5th An- gotiating America’s narrow definiversary with free giveaways, good BBQ and nition of masculinity. Presented by the Sandpoint Men’s Group much more! Corner of Third and Pine Old Galvi Warehouse Spring 2015 Antique Sale 10am - 3pm @ Old Galvi Warehouse (by Evan’s Brothers Coffee Roasters) This stop is for you if you are looking for antiques and architectural elements for the home, cabin, castle, farm or garden. Always a fun cache of fresh finds!

t u e s d a y

t h u r s d a y

ALL SCHWEITZER EMPLOYEES AND SEASON PASS HOLDERS $15 FOR ALL OTHERS

Live Music w/ Tony Furtado 7:30pm @ Di Luna’s Tony Furtado is an indie record label’s dream artist. His own creative interpretation-hybrid of Americana and indie folk/rock is engaging and captivating. Tickets $15 adv / $18 day of show

Shak 8:30a In an the B hosts Kim a Blend 1pm Produ Creat Roug Wine

Moira Smiley and VOCO 7:30pm @ Panida Theater - cello,

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Weekly infusion of blues and rock from the Man

Karaoke Night 9pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s Just because you’re a know-it-all doesn’t mean you know it all

Spokane Poet 8pm @ The Ba A performance two rounds an ence chosen at Spokane at the

KRFY inter 8pm on KRF Tune in to l of this mont artist, Justin

Crafternoon Bingo Night 2pm - 3:30pm @ East Bonner County Library 6:30 @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall A whimsical windchime crafts class, held 2nd Get your beans ready, my friends and 4th Wednesdays of the month Justin Lantrip - “Live @ The Office” 6pm @ Sandpoint Reader Office Come see Sandpoint native Justin Lantrip in the most intimate of settings. It’s like a house show, in an office. Past shows have filled up fast, so make sure you stop by the Reader office and get your tickets early. $5 each until the room is full. Office address is 111 Cedar Stree Suite 9. Doors open at 5:30pm

B 7 G w s th

A Midsummer N 7pm @ Panida T See William Sha whole family. Pre dorf School’s eig

ful

April 16 - 23, 2015

A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com.

Reader recommended

Open Mic Night with Scott Reid 6pm - 9pm @ Monarch Mountain Coffee All are welcome, bring us your goods!

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 7pm @ SHS Auditorium Growing Dreams Productions presents the Ian Fleming musical. Tickets $12 adult / $10 12-under

“Wild Canaries” Film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater eer Hall A murder mystery with an indie g. Lots of screwball twist. Tickets $7 the month Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes ges 21 and 7pm @ La Rosa Club

ke the Sand Out am - Jeff Jones Town Square nticipation of Lost in the 50s, Business Improvement District this spring cleaning event. Call at 263-2161 for more info d Your Own Bistro - 5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery uction Facility (2625 N. Boyer) te your own very special Bistro ge with assistance from the PO ery crew. $45 includes fill

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 7pm @ SHS Auditorium Growing Dreams Productions presents the Ian Fleming musical. Growing Dreams is Sandpoint’s educationally-based youth performing arts production company dedicated to growing the dreams of young people. Don’t miss this great local performance! Tickets $12 adult / $10 12-under

Live Music w/ Owen & McCoy “Wild Canaries” Film 5:30 @ Pend Oreille Winery 1:30pm @ Panida Theater The acoustic duo, playing folk rock A murder mystery with an inand rock with talented vocals and gui- die screwball twist. Tickets $7 tar, are influenced by Neil Young and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Cat Stevens with their own originals 2pm @ SHS Auditorium Live Music w/ Zoso 7pm @ SHS Auditorium 9pm @ The Hive Tix $12 adult / $10 12-under Led Zepplin tribute band, leather pants and all. Miah Kohal Band Live Music w/ Bob Evans opening. $10 for Schweitzer Pass 7pm @ La Rosa Club Holders, $15 for general admission Great music by the Reverend

banjo, ukulele, accordion

try Slam Finals artlett, Spokane e poetry competition. Poets compete in nd are judged by members of the audit random. The top 4 poets will represent e National Poetry Slam. $5 at the door

Distinguished Young Women 2015 Finals 7pm @ Sandpoint Event Center Come support your Sandpoint DYW participants while they compete for college scholarships. Purchase tickets at the door

Upcoming Events April 23 - Justin Lantrip - “Live @ The Office” May 1 - Charley Packard Benefit Concert @ Panida

rview w/ Justin Lantrip FY 88.5 FM listen to a “live preview” th’s “Live @ The Office” n Lantrip

May 8 - The Wishing Boot Fund concert @ Panida

Country concert to benefit Tammy Davis

with music by Devon Wade

Boy Scouts Breakfast Fundraiser 7am @ Tango Cafe Guest speaker General Dale Stovall, the man who recovered Roger Locher from deep inside North Vietnam in 1972. No charge for he meal, but donations are happily accepted

Night’s Dream Theater akespeare’s comedy with the esented by the Sandpoint Walghth grade class. Tickets $5

Tech & Tidbits Thursday 6pm - 7pm @ Greasy Fingers Bikes n’ Repair Training for a Gran Fondo. The key to a successful and fun ride is being prepared! This FREE class held every third Thursday to help you get the most out of your biking experience. Open to the public!

May 14-17 - Lost in the ‘50s Weekend!

NIC Board of Trustees meeting 5pm @ Sandpoint Outreach Center All are welcome to attend this regular monthly meeting of the North Idaho College Board of Trustees

Find out why we’re a

A DOWNTOWN FAVORITE! Wake up with a delicious latte!

Indulging Artists Paint Night 6pm @ Cedar Street Bridge The group will be painting a tribute to Peter Max, a pop artist who designed the 1974 postage stamp commemorating the World Fair in Spokane. Join in for a memorable evening! Cost is $35 per person. Call 208-597-0626 to register.

located on the historic

CEDAR ST. BRIDGE in Sandpoint, Idaho

k

www.cedarstbistro.com April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 11

We’ve gotten a great response to our call for your pet photographs. Instead of putting them in just one issue, we’ve decided to feature one or two every issue as long as we have the space. To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Ezekiel, 8 years (left) holding “Ron Weasley,” Dinah, 10 years (center) holding “Gandalf,” and Enoch, 6 years (left) holding “Harry Potter.” In front is proud mom “Eliana.”

Goats have been in my life since I was six years old.

I had a friend named Roger that I used to butt heads with. Now my kids play similar games with our small herd and each year they often get to witness a birth or two.

At one time I wanted to have a business, but when I milked 10 goats twice a day and our herd totaled 35 goats, I worked hard for no money. Now we keep it simple.

I have two milking does and I plan to sell their four babies. Our buck is for breeding and thus milk, but he is a force. He loves to tear apart our car, literally ripping off the side mirrors and the back lights. While the milk, kefir and cheese have been a healing staple, goats are mostly our pets and friends.

Like Gahndi, I am committed to goats for life.

Jodi Rawson Sandpoint 12 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

The history of that fanciful little bean

By Ben Olson For SPR

Chances are, many of you read the Reader with a cup of coffee in your hand. Take a look into that dark, aromatic brew and you can see far back into history.

Empires have risen and fallen, fortunes made and lost, all to bring you that steaming cup.

The history of coffee involves the usual assortment of fact interspersed with legend.

Take the story of Kaldi, a 9th century Ethiopian goat-herder who, while grazing his flock, noticed that his flock had become energized after nibbling on some red berries of a certain bush.

Kaldi brought some berry bushes back to an abbot at his nearby monastery. The monks boiled the branches and soon had a steamy brew. They tasted it eagerly and found it disgusting.

Deciding it was the brew of the devil, the monks tossed the branches into the fire. Soon, a wonderful aroma enveloped them. The monks gathered the burnt branches and ground the roasted beans into hot water.

The world’s first cup of coffee was served. After drinking the brew, the monks found they were alert and energized, and were able to pray long into the night without fatigue.

Word spread east from Ethiopia to other monasteries. Coffee had begun the first leg of its world-

wide journey, eventually reaching every corner of the globe.

The story of Kaldi is most likely legend, but there is evidence that the coffee beans had begun to reach Yemen by the 15th century. The Arabs were the first to cultivate coffee, mostly using it in religious applications. The drink helped them to focus while studying.

By the 16th century, coffee began to find a place in the public, for social situations.

Coffee houses—called qahveh khaneh—popped up all over the Near East, and people frequented them for an assortment of social activities.

Though Arabia tried hard to guard its secret, European travelers to Mecca began telling tales of an unusual dark beverage.

By the 17th century, coffee had smuggled its way into Europe.

When coffee reached Venice in 1615, the local clergy condemned it, calling it the “bitter invention of Satan.” When Pope Clement VIII tasted the beverage himself, he liked it so much he gave it Papal approval.

Cities across England, Austria, Germany, Austria and Holland saw a birth of social activity and communication with every new coffee house. Intellectuals found the drink was a stimulant to not only thought, but conversation. By the mid17th century, it is said there were over 300 coffee houses in

London alone.

Coffee first came to the United States around the time of the Mayflower, when it was found in New Amsterdam, later called New York. Due to its British influences, tea was the favored drink in the New World, but that all changed in 1776 when the Boston Tea Party made it patriotic to drink coffee.

John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, on July 6, 1774, that he had asked his hostess if he could refresh himself with some tea. “No, sir,” he was told.

But they could provide coffee.

“Accordingly I have drank coffee every afternoon since, and have borne it very well,” Adams wrote. “Tea must be universally renounced. I must be weaned, and the sooner, the better.”

As the demand for coffee increased, the war for cultivation was on. After the Arabs failed to maintain their monopoly, the Dutch succeeded in obtaining some seedlings, and by the late 17th century had established a plantation on the island of Java (modern day Indonesia).

How cultivation trekked to the Americas is an interesting story in itself. The Dutch made a gift of a coffee plant to King Louis XIV of France, who then ordered the plant across the ocean to be planted on the island of Martinique. Over 18 million coffee trees were cultivated on the French island

over the next 50 years, creating the stock from which coffee trees throughout the Caribbean, South and Central America originated.

With the increase of coffee (and sugar) plantations, came the need for cheap labor, hence the institution of slavery. Between the 16th and 19th centuries, over a million slaves were brought from Africa to Cuba to be sold as slaves.

Today, coffee is the second-most-traded commodity on earth after oil. Brazil is responsible for 40% of the world’s coffee production, much of it bulk rate beans used for blending. Some have criticized Brazil for clear-cutting rainforests to increase production, giving countries like Vietnam a higher share in the world market (they currently produce 20 percent of the coffee beans in the world).

One thing is for sure: we sure like our coffee. In the U.S., we drink 400 million cups of coffee per day. With a Starbucks seemingly on every corner, it would seem the small coffee houses would fall behind, unable to keep up with the demands of an enormous industry. But, as with the wine and microbrew industries, the specialized markets and small coffee shops are flourishing nationwide.

They’re going to have to. A new coffee-drinker is born every second.

Latte Art: bringing creativitity to your cup

By Ben Olson For SPR Artists work with all sorts of different media these days.

Some are famous for painting with human blood, others use soap, or bubble gum as their medium of choice. What does barista Maggie McCallum choose? Why, lattes of course.

McCallum, who has worked at Cedar Street Bistro at the Cedar Street Bridge for three years, considers herself a “coffee person.”

“My first job was F.C. Weskills Coffee Shop, which used to be next to the Panida,” said McCallum. “They taught me about coffee, and also how to

do latte art.”

The latte is a simple, yet elegant drink. It consists of a double shot of espresso with steamed milk. The result is a frothy, light drink with creamy shades of beige and white forming in the cup.

It is the steamed milk, in fact, that creates the basis for latte art. When the milk is steamed, it forms tiny bubbles, which float along the top of the darker colored espresso, contrasting perfectly and allowing the latte artist to make designs.

“The smaller the bubbles, the better the design,” said McCallum. “If they are too big, they don’t form such a tight pattern.”

The key to good latte art

is working quickly. Using the pointed end of a food thermometer, McCallum quickly “paints” the steamed milk on the espresso canvas.

“Most of the art is based off of a rosetta design,” said McCallum. “I do a dragon, a moose, a pig... you can do anything.”

McCallum said she usually creates about a dozen pieces of latte art a day. Some customers are very grateful, while others just tuck right into their morning ritual without a moment’s thought to the great design greeting them.

“It’s a fun outlet,” she said.

“Though I don’t consider myself an artist. It’s a learned skill,

Fun Facts About Coffee

•Coffee is the second most traded commodity on earth. The first? Oil. •40 percent of the world’s coffee is produced in Brazil.

•Hawaii is the only state in the U.S. that commercially grows coffee (Kona coffee).

•Coffee is a fruit. The beans are actually the pits of a cherry-like berry that are grown on bushes.

•The world’s most expensive coffee is $600 a pound. This comes from the feces of a Sumatran wild cat—the Luwak—which is unable to digest coffee beans, so the beans are fermented in their stomach. When they are excreted, they produce a smooth, chocolately... coffee.

•In the U.S., 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every day.

•In the US, we drink 400 million cups of coffee per day.

•The average worker spends $20 a week on coffee, which is nearly $1,100 annually.

it’s not some kind of gift or anything.”

I beg to differ.

If you’d like to see more of McCallum’s latte art, check her out at Cedar Street Bistro at the Cedar Street Bridge.

Maggie McCallum puts the finishing touches on her latest latte masterpiece April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 13

LITERATURE April 20th - 26th, 2015 Spokane, Wash.

By Jennifer Passaro For SPR Tune your literary ears, Sandpoint. Poise your fork.

Empty your flask. And drive southwest. Or better yet, switch those last two commands. You will want to arrive soundly at Spokane’s 17th annual Get Lit! Festival.

The week-long event commences Monday at more than 20 different locations in Spokane. Stout with workshops, readings, lectures, poetry slams, panel discussions, and the infamous Thursday night pie and whiskey poetry hoopla, Get Lit! is a whirlwind of the Inland Northwest’s best writers and readers.

And it began in our own backyard.

Christine Holbert, Sandpoint resident and owner of Lost Horse Press, was a graduate publishing student at Eastern Washington University when she decided Spokane needed a literary festival.

Holbert approached her graduate adviser, the poet, Christopher Howell.

“He tried to dissuade me by telling me EWU wouldn’t pay for it. I’d have to raise all the funding, that it was a lot of 14 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

work—things that I wasn’t concerned about,” says Holbert.

“I had such a burning desire to have a literary festival in the area.”

Holbert finally convinced Howell to help her.

“He agreed to help me, and that’s where it all started,” Holbert says. “I wrote a winning grant, got the manager of the Bing [Crosby] to donate the theater, and invited writers to what was then a one-day festival.”

Holbert has a bright and limitless capacity to draw her community towards literary causes. As one journalist from the Spokesman-Review phrased it, back in the early days of Get Lit!, “Holbert is the straw that stirs the drink.”

Now under the direction of Melissa Huggins, the festival is pressing onward. Huggins

works all year with 12 interns from Eastern Washington University to prepare for the festival.

“We think outside of the box when it comes to events,” Huggins says. “There are lots of collaborations. It keeps the events fresh.”

This year Get Lit! collides with Window Dressing, a storefront gallery program that fills vacant spaces around Spokane with art exhibits. As their website touts, they are “open whenever you happen to traipse by.”

Window Dressing will showcase two storefronts with art exhibits based on Spokane author Sharma Shields’ new release “The Sasquatch Hunter’s Almanac” and Benjamin Percy’s post apocalyptic thriller “The Deadlands.” Meet at 808 W. Main #251 at 8 p.m. on

Monday to hear the authors read inside the fantastically haunting exhibits. The event, like many at the festival, is free and open to the public.

Still fueled by grants, individual donors, and over 100 volunteers, Get Lit! is a largely free festival. The community support makes it accessible to readers and writers of all ages.

Teen poetry slams and young adult authors pack venues across the lilac city throughout the week.

Thursday night will boast the notorious Pie & Whiskey reading. $2 gets you a slice of pie, a shot of whiskey, and 13 talented authors reading poems about whiskey and pie. Better to arrive early: This 9 p.m. event at The Woman’s Club usually overflows. Bring everyone in your life that doesn’t like poet-

ry and get ready to make some converts.

Chapbooks of the night’s readings will be available for sale from Lost Horse Press.

For an unforgettable conversation between Walter Kirn, author of “Blood Will Out,” and Shawn Vestal, author of “Godforsaken Idaho,” stride over to the Commandery Room at Riverside Place on Friday April 24 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30.

This one will cost you $15.

But it’s worth $50. You will not be yawning once these two flex their storyteller’s arc.

Tune in next week for weekend highlights for Get Lit! Until then, read, write, and be merry.

A detailed schedule is available online at getlitfestival.org.

Questions: email getlit@ewu. edu or call (509)828-1498.

STAGE & SCREEN Chitty Chitty Bang Bang @ the SHS Auditorium April 16, 17 & 18, 2015

Top left: Tyler McNamee and Katya Kalphat-Fulford play Jeremy and Jemima Potts, with Ellis Gaddie playing their father Caratacus.

Middle: Izzy Brown as Truly Scrumptious. Top and bottom right: the Bamboo Dancers show off their unique talents. Bottom left: McNamee and Kalphat-Fulford in Chitty.

“Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” may be named after a car, but it’s the family at the center of the story that gives it heart.

Just so, the cast and crew behind Growing Dreams Productions’ latest musical provide the fun and energy behind the story of an eccentric family and their beloved, unusual car. Comprised of students over a wide age range, the play is at once a showcase of well-known student dramatists and the bright youngsters that will eventually replace them.

“It’s been really exciting to see the talent that is going to replace us after we leave for college,” said high schooler Solange Marcotte.

That inter-generational collaboration is one of the elements that makes Growing Dreams a unique presence in town. Last year, theater and education veterans Jeannie Hunter and Taryn Quayle launched the company’s debut production, “The Little Mermaid,” to great acclaim. The experience was a lesson in the value of planning and collaboration, Quayle said.

“We really learned where we needed more help,” she added.

As Growing Dreams’ second musical and fourth production, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” is the beneficiary of that experience.

More than ever, parents and community members rallied to furnish the play’s rich costumes, props and set design. Hunter handled the set design with the help of dozens of student volunteers. Sandpoint

Furniture loaned several pieces of furniture to fill out the sets. The collaboration even produced Chitty, the titular car, herself, an elaborate prop with as much personality as you’d expect.

Personality is also evident in the sense of family established among the cast members.

For Ellis Gaddie, the lead actor in the role of Caractacus Potts, the close ties between him and the rest of the actors in the Potts family extend beyond the stage. The extent to which he mentored the younger cast members really comes through in performances, Hunter said.

“It’s fun to watch that chemistry on stage,” she added.

The tightly knit quality of the production comes in handy when performing the play’s many high-energy songs and dances.

The opening weekend last week was proof enough of that, with audiences responding enthusiastically to the humor and practiced set pieces. For Gaddie, it was the best opening weekend he’s ever experienced.

“I know I’m going to remember this for a long time,” he said.

Catch “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” April 16, 17 and 18 at the Sandpoint High School auditorium. Performances begin at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $10 for kids age 12 and under. Buy tickets online at www.growingdreamsproductions.com or at the door.

April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 15

FOOD

By Marcia Pilgeram For SPR If butter had a fan club, I’d be the president. My loyalty has never wavered. Remember the health craze when people replaced delicious, natural and tasty butter with artificially-colored oleo? Not me. I never gave up on butter.

I feel like you can’t have too much butter. And, it’s true, I have a massive stockpile. My hoard has become legend. For a variety of reasons, anytime I fall below a 10-pound supply, I become anxious. I am happiest

The Sandpoint Eater Butter Up!

and feel most secure with about a 25-pound reserve.

I googled “fear of running out of butter,” and was real surprised to find it’s apparently not a common phobia.

At any given moment, you will find salted, unsalted, cultured, Amish and Irish (or other European butter) in my freezer. For the sake of completely accurate journalism, I inventoried my butter for this story. Currently chilling in my deep chest freezer in the garage, there are 26 pounds. In the freezer section of my side-by-side there’s an additional eight pounds and in my fridge another four pounds.

In my mind, I had calculated 40 pounds (I kind of have a knack for this stuff). Besides the aforementioned stock, you’ll find a pound or two of browned butter and at least one roll of savory compound butter.

In my house, there’s always a lot of butter banter (and batter) going on. And butter trivia.

Did you know that the sticks of butter in the eastern U.S. pound are a different shape that those in the west? It’s true, our four sticks per pound are shorter and wider. And as all of my grandchildren know, a newborn Panda bear is about the size of a stick of western U.S. butter.

These kids are well versed in all that’s butter. They know how to cut butter pats with a crinkle cutter, and during the holidays they all take turns shaking a chilled canning jar full of heavy cream until they hear the familiar plonk and they’re rewarded with the purest butter ever to slather on “just from the oven” dinner rolls.

Three winters ago, a serious butter shortage in Norway made the headlines. The scarcity caused soaring prices and

RECIPE: Asparagus Appetizers It’s that time of year again and our beloved friend, asparagus, has returned. Asparagus is one of the first crops of spring harvest and right now, there are some great prices in our local markets. Rich in B vitamins, vitamin C, calcium, and iron, it’s easy to prepare and delicious in soups or on its own, steamed and served with lemon brown butter or Hollandaise. Below is a quick and easy appetizer (or a side dish for breakfast, lunch or dinner).

INGREDIENTS: •Three bunches of asparagus, washed and stems snapped about 2 inches from the bottom.

• Eight ounce package of prosciutto.

• Sea Salt & freshly ground pepper.

•Olive oil.

•Aged balsamic vinegar.

-Preheat the broiler to high (with the rack 6 inches from the heating element) and assemble the ingredients.

16 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

-Divide the asparagus evenly onto two large baking trays and drizzle some olive oil over the spears and season with salt and pepper.

second tray.

-Plate the spears when they’re finished and drizzle on some aged balsamic vinegar.

-Cut each slice of prosciutto in half and wrap one strip around each asparagus spear.

*Vegetarian option: These are also great prepared without the prosciutto.

-Place a tray under the broiler for approx 5-8 minutes (gently shake the pan /spears at the halfway point) or until the prosciutto crisps up and the asparagus is tender. Repeat the process with the

For a pretty side veggie dish, leaving the prosciutto slice whole, I wrap it around three spears (triangle shaped), and cook as above and serve one or two per guest.

stores’ stocks of butter ran out within minutes of deliveries.

According to the Danish tabloid B.T., Norway was gripped by smør-panik (“butter panic”) as a result of the butter shortage (see, I really was on to something).

In fact, so serious was smør-panik, that butter was going for about $30 bucks a pound. My son-in-law Russ ran the numbers and concluded that with two fully-loaded suitcases of butter to broker, I could take an all-expenses-paid trip to Norway. It was a slick idea and mighty tempting, but I couldn’t risk depleting my private reserve before the holidays.

Because I am often baking for one fundraising event or another, I am obsessed with finding butter at a bargain to improve the bottom line. While I haven’t figured out if there’s an app that would alert me to great sales, I do have a couple of vigilant friends who provide me with up-to-the-minute breaking-deal reports. Sadly, these amazing deals are often limited to one or two pounds. Usually, I can butter up the sales clerks and get an extra pound or two— “It’s for charity,” I plead. If that doesn’t work, multiple trips through the checkout lines may ensue, as well as numerous trips to “price-matching” Walmart.

Mostly these are solo missions.

My daughter Ryanne came with me once, and my shop-

ping prowess was met with, “Mother, have you no shame?”

Not when it’s a mercy mission, child.

Recently, I came across an article about a 1,000-plus-yearold butter discovery in Ireland.

Seems that the cool and airless environment of a peat bog was the perfect place to store butter.

And, I have no doubt. These were my ancestors.

Now, go ahead and brown some butter. It’s fabulous on vegetables, it gives great depth to chocolate chip cookies, and it tastes divine slathered on rustic bread or tossed with al dente pasta. It will keep for several weeks, tightly covered, in the fridge. You can thank me later.

Take a pound of butter and begin melting over medium heat. Use a light colored pan, as you’ll want to keep an eye on the color.

Swirl the pan to make sure the solids don’t stick to the bottom of the pan. As the butter melts, it will begin to foam.

The color will progress from pale-yellow to golden-beige to, finally, a toast-like brown. Once you smell that nutty aroma, take the pan off the heat and transfer the browned butter into a heatproof bowl to cool so it quits cooking (don’t let it burn).

The milk solids will cook faster and you’ll see them settle on the bottom of the pan.

They’ll look like fine toast crumbs. Stir these solids in as the butter cools so they are incorporated into the butter. If you don’t want that many particles, you can also strain the butter through a fine meshed strainer or cheese cloth to remove the particles (I like the flavor they give, so I always incorporate them into the butter).

You’re welcome.

MUSIC A self made music man

See Justin Lantrip at this month’s “Live @ The Office” at the Sandpoint Reader office on Thursday, April 2 at 6pm. Tickets $5 first come first serve.

By Ben Prez For SPR

Justin Lantrip likes to figure things out on his own. He enjoys the flexibility that comes from sitting down with a collection of songs and settling into the gradual process of home recording. No deadlines. No expectations.

On the precipice of such a process, the singer/songwriter and Sandpoint native plans to introduce listeners to his first set of original material since 2013’s “Paper Bird” in the latest installment of the Reader’s “Live @ the Office” series (Thursday, April 23).

Just 12 years after he picked up a guitar for the first time, the prolific Lantrip now fully embraces the DIY approach as he prepares to record his fourth full length album.

“I feel like recording myself is the easiest and most creative way,” Lantrip said. “I really like that open-ended freedom.”

A self-described techie, Lantrip grew up around Macintosh computers and used that early introduction to experiment with technology and equipment as his love for home recording grew.

Lantrip is experimental in other ways besides the recording process.

Over the years spent developing a solo sound, he’s played around with looping pedals but has since ditched those effects in favor of retaining a musical purity and independence.

He shifts stylistically from one album to the next, and on his “Paper Bird” release, Lantrip’s chameleonic vocals inhabit a song differently from phrase to phrase. At one moment the sound is reminiscent of the honeyed soulful croon of Ray LaMontagne.

With the next vocal turn it’s easy to recall the low vocal melancholy of early Ryan Adams. Lantrip tries to maintain originality as his career matures while letting his musical tastes expand.

“You can’t force an influence or want your music to have a certain sound,” Lantrip said. “It’s about letting go and writing true and honest to who and what I am.”

Lantrip looks at his musical past as a natural progression. He says his

This week’s RLW by Billie Jean Gerke

READ

Sandpoint resident Alan Barber and his wife Heather Hellier are the former innkeepers of Church Street House B&B. They often take their aged chocolate lab Leica for walks around town.

Barber may look like a run-of-the-mill retired electrical engineer who had a long career at Hewlett-Packard, but looks can be deceiving. Barber is also the author of an award-winning book written about one of his ancestors: “David Kokernot: Rogue Soldier of the Texas Revolution.”

One reviewer wrote: “The story conveys as well as any book I know a sense of time and place—the formative years of Texas and the struggles and triumphs of its pioneering families.”

See more at www.kullyspel.com.

LISTEN

music changed from his early emulations and covers of his favorite artists to a slow discovery of how to apply more of an internal offering to his writing and melodies.

“Now rather than emulating, I’ve settled into a wide range of tastes and writing styles,” he said.

At one point, Lantrip’s musical adventuring took him to California and away from the comfort and freedom of his independent Sandpoint record-making process. Working with keyboardist and producer Roger Smith of Tower of Power, Lantrip found the experience both rewarding and difficult. Lantrip says he felt the process was too forced because of a two-week time crunch but liked how some of the songs evolved with the benefit of the ears of an experienced

Justin Lantrip working in his home studio.

Photo by Ben Olson. musician and producer.

On “Paper Bird,” Lantrip incorporated mandolin, guitar (acoustic and electric), bass (bowed and plucked), fiddle, drums, and female backup vocals.

Lantrip says he’d like to find a band and eventually tour but it’s been hard to find the right combination in Sandpoint.

For now, he’s content to continue doing what he loves: singing and playing his new group of songs in soulful acoustic fashion.

“Sometimes you write songs, and it’s hard to believe in them,” Lantrip said.

“Every time I’m on stage I’m trying to lose myself out there, and that’s easy to do when you believe in your songs.”

Crossword Solution

Tony Furtado’s forthcoming album “The Bell” is the focus of his fifth concert at Di Luna’s Café, April 16, and is an outstanding example of what happens when independent musicians strike out on their own. Furtado’s musicianship is impressive, and his new album does it justice. He calls it his most “personal, engaging and heartfelt album to date.”

If you haven’t seen Furtado perform in Di Luna’s “listening room,” try getting one of what few tickets are left by calling 208-263-0846. Then chip in for the CD at tonyfurtado.com.

WATCH

Documentaries rock, IMHO, and one of my favorites has to be the 2009 Ken Burns production of “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.” If you don’t fall in love with Yosemite, Yellowstone and Teddy Roosevelt when you watch it, well, let’s just say that wouldn’t be normal. Watch it and see if you don’t add “visiting all U.S. national parks” on your list of “Things to Do Before I Die.” Billie Jean Gerke, who edits Sandpoint Magazine, turned the tables on Publisher Ben Olson this week by turning this piece in late.

April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 17

w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

Each week, we feature a new photograph taken from the same vantage point as one taken long ago. See how we’ve changed, and how we’ve stayed the same.

Historical information provided and verified by Bonner County Museum staff and volunteers (special thanks to Olivia Morlean, Will Valentine, and Allen Robertson). If you have any scrapbooks or old photographs taken in Bonner County that you would like to see Then & Now’ed, please submit them to the Museum so they can digitize and return the photographs to you. The Museum is located at 611 S. Ella — (208) 263-2344.

c.1920s

The same corner today. ASAP Tax Service, Sole Sister, and Lonestar Mortgage now occupies the historic building.

2015

Corrections this week: None this week. Huzzah!

18 /

R

/ April 16, 2015

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

The Bonner Mean Company at First Ave. and Pine Street. The delivery truck parked at the corner is labeled “Bonner Meat Co.”

ACROSS 1. Teller of untruths 5. 9 9 9 9 10. Manacle 14. Initial wager 15. Wear away 16. Two-toed sloth 17. Computer symbol 18. Medical science of the elderly 20. Photo devices 22. Members of a governing board 23. Obtain 24. Marsh growth 25. Industrialist 32. Flip over 33. Female domestics 34. Hasten 37. A short musical composition 38. Clamor 39. Scent 40. Explosive 41. Protrusion 42. Fine thread 43. Unsullied 45. Roam 49. Not on 50. To that 53. A four-sided spinning top 57. A popular vote by the electorate 59. Fully developed 60. Dogfish 61. Leaf opening 62. Anagram of “Seek” 63. Dampens 64. Relating to tone 65. Views

DOWN 1. Nonclerical 2. Ancient Peruvian 3. “Smallest” particle 4. Reversing 5. Cancel 6. Angers 7. Neither ___ 8. Modify 9. Char 10. Expletive 11. Come together 12. Confronted 13. Blends 19. Changes in direction

21. Cleave 25. Broke 26. Atop 27. Dispatched 28. Young salmon 29. Type of antelope 30. Cheapskate 31. Citrus drink 34. Silence 35. Small island 36. Barely managed 38. Religious sister 39. Fails to detonate 41. Purchaser

Solution on page 17 42. Vitality 44. Usual 45. Chaff 46. Motif 47. Fit out again 48. Territories 51. Exam 52. Savvy about 53. Russian parliament 54. Water barrier 55. Type of sword 56. Not more 58. Put clothing on

Probably the saddest thing you’ll ever see is a mosquito sucking on a mummy. Forget it, little friend.

April 16, 2015 /

R

/ 19