Reader April 19 2018

READER

Arts, entertainment, bluster and some news

April 19, 2018 |

FREE | vol. 15 issue 16

OPEN 11:30 am

GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS

The Psounbality with Per

Thursday Night Solo Series w/

WYATT WOOD

6-8pm

THE GROOVE BLACK 6:30-9:30pm

Food by Edelwagen Food Truck

FRESH FOOD LIVE MUSIC THE BEST NW BREWS

212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint

208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994

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HOLLY MCGARRY 6:30-9:30pm

Authentic wood-fired pizza We’re B-a-a-c-k!

4/20 here we come!

Mandala Pizza will be serving up their awesome wood fired pizza behind The 219 onn Friday, 4/200fromm7 pmmtill sold out!

YUM! 4/20, dude, fire it up!

Mention you saw this ad in the Reader and get $1.00 off your next pizza!

Thursday Ladies Night $1.00 off all drinks Unique selection of Excellent Wines Local Beers On Tap

Yummy Tapas Menu

Wine $ Cheese Sampling Wine & cheese sampling Saturdays 12-3 p.m.

Saturdays 12-3 p.m.

Open 5 p.m. - Closing Thurs. - Sat.

(wo)MAN compiled by

Susan Drinkard

DEAR READERS,

on the street

Given the ongoing creepy weather this spring, do you ever seriously consider moving somewhere else?

“My husband and I have lived here for 43 years total, but during that time we have moved to better weather three times – Tucson, Maui, and Florida – and returned to Sandpoint because there’s no place like home.”

Ellie Katz Care provider Sandpoint “No, I’m a native. If I did leave, it wouldn’t be because of the weather. I’ve had to leave in the past for work.”

Bob Morton Retired welder Ponderay

“Yes, I have thought about moving to South Carolina because my family moved there, but not because of the weather. I love the weather in North Idaho.”

Heather Navarro Med office clerk Bonners Ferry

“No, not really, because there’s bad weather around the world now.”

Mark Hansel Sandpoint

“I’ve been in San Diego for the past six weeks, and people have told me I brought the sun back with me. But I’ve had sunshine and 80-degree weather for 35 years, so I’m excited about living here now and experiencing weather changes.

It’s exhilarating for me.”

Donna Musacchi Retired software consultant Dover

•TRANSPORTATION: Secure funding to

improve safety and efficiency of our roads, bridges and airports.

•EDUCATION: Adequately fund education and integrate vocational education to meet work force needs.

•JOBS: Retain and expand our current resource jobs and promote jobs in emerging industries.

•NATURAL RESOURCES: Expand the multiple use of our forests and protect our precious waters.

•CONSTITUENT SERVICE: Listen to constituents and address the “things that matter” to them.

www.MikeBoeckForIdaho.com

Happy Earth Day on Sunday!

Hey, do us a favor and make sure you recycle this newspaper when you’re finished gleaning all the knowledge, bluster and nonsense from it. As a matter of policy, every Reader that doesn’t find a home in your hot little hands is returned to our office, stacked and sent off to the recycling center, where it will start its new life as a book, a magazine, a napkin or perhaps another Reader.

Also, we’ll have a story about this in next week’s issue, but I wanted to use my soap box for a moment to plug a special night.

Some very conscientious people decided to throw a “Reader Appreciation” show at Di Luna’s, with live music by local all-star trio Browne Salmon Truck. The show will be Saturday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m., with dinner reservations being taken starting at 6 p.m.

All proceeds (after paying the band) will go toward the Reader, so if you’re looking for a good way to support us and also listen to some great tunes, buy a ticket! Call (208) 263-0846 to secure your seat.

Hurry, it’ll sell out fast!

-Ben Olson, Publisher

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson, Atom & Mars, Joe Foster.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, George Wuerthner Nick Gier, Scarlette Quille, Jim Mitsui, Brenden Bobby, India Grasso Jasin, Amy Craven, Guy Lothian, Mike Wagoner, Tim Henney, Ammi Midstokke, Gabrielle Duebendorfer.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

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

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

Free to all, limit two copies per person.

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

Requirements: –No more than 400 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 is all about Earth Day. Do your home planet a favor and show it some love this week.

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NEWS

Army Corps: Flooding ‘almost certain’ this spring U.S. Army Corps of Engineers shares Albeni Falls operations, warns region about predicted flooding based on high snowpack

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials visited Sandpoint Wednesday to share updates on operations at Albeni Falls Dam, but mostly to share a simple message: be prepared.

There is currently above-average snowpack in the region, and when that snow finally sees some consistent warm days, Water Management Section civil engineer Logan Osgood-Zimmerman said the residents of North Idaho can look forward to flooding conditions like those they saw in 2011.

She said the difference this year is that while in 2011 the snowpack was widespread, this year it’s largely contained in the Upper Pend Oreille Basin. This

means the snow will likely take longer to melt and reach the lake, putting peak runoff in June rather than the normal time of late May. “We’re just keeping the lake as low as possible,” Osgood-Zimmerman said. While Albeni Falls Dam is typically at free flow this time of year, this year is different thanks to the immense high-elevation snowpack.

U.S. Army Corps spokesperson Scott Lawrence emphasized that the dam only manages 1 million acre feet (MAF) of the lake — roughly the top 11.5 feet of water. So when it comes to avoiding flood levels, the dam can only make a difference within a small margin. Unfortunately, Lawrence said, this year’s margin between no flooding and flooding is not so small.

Lake Pend Oreille’s average

inflow from April to July is 12 MAF. This year, the Corps predicts the lake will take on 16-19 MAF in that same time frame.

“We (will) have to go on free flow to pass whatever we can pass,” Lawrence said. “It’s challenging.”

Official lake measurements are taken at the Hope gauge because the area is affected very little by the weather or surrounding rivers, said Water Management Section Chief Kevin Shaffer. Max pool at the Hope gauge is 2,062.5 feet.

According to the Northwest River Forecast Center, the lake is 60-percent likely to exceed flood levels at the Hope gauge (over 2,063.5 feet), and 25-percent likely to exceed the flooding that happened in 2011 (2,064.29 feet). Shaffer said that because

City honors two employees

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Sandpoint officials honored two city employees last week for achieving significant career milestones.

After 10 weeks in the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy, Officer Zachary Fisher is a fully commissioned member of the Sandpoint Police Department. He graduated from the academy, located in Meridian, on March 30.

“We are excited to have Officer Fisher back and serving our community as a commissioned member of our police department,” said Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton.

Likewise, Sandpoint Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisor Devan Hull passed his Idaho Grade 4 Operator exam, earning the highest level of achievement in his professional certification.

The certification comes at a good time, as Sandpoint is required to staff a grade 4 operator at its plant. What’s more, city officials are currently contemplating the 4 /

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Vehicles navigate a flooded roadway. Photo courtesy Facebook.

those probabilities are based on the Hope gauge, residents downstream should be prepared for even higher chances of flooding due to high-water flow.

“I wouldn’t even say it’s a possibility — I’d say it’s almost certain we see flooding downstream,” he said.

Osgood-Zimmerman said flooding could likely begin in late May, but the lake will not reach its peak until early June.

However, she said, this all depends on the weather between now and then.

Those looking to purchase flood insurance through FEMA should do so as soon as possible, as the insurance doesn’t go into effect until 30 days post-purchase.

The high snowpack won’t only lead to more runoff, but also saturated soils and increased erosion. Lawrence said this summer

will likely be bad for driftwood in Lake Pend Oreille. If you encounter large debris while boating, report it to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office dispatch line at (208) 265-5525.

The Corps also shared news that the Clark Fork River Delta boom system is missing a few booms, so they’ve partnered with a contractor who will make repairs as soon as the Clark Fork River’s flow is down and the lake reaches an appropriate level for maintenance to be done.

Lawrence said a date for the repair’s completion is “really hard to nail down,” but he predicts late summer.

The Corps is holding an informational meeting about the flood predictions tonight — Thursday, April 19 — at the Kalispel Camas Center in Cusick, Wash. at 6 p.m.

Hanging flower baskets still available

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon, left, and Officer Zachary Fisher, right, celebrate after Fisher graduated from Peace Officer Standards and Training Academy. Courtesy photo.

future of its wastewater treatment plant and vital upgrades that will likely be necessary to meet regulatory standards.

“This level of certification requires both education and

proven experience in wastewater treatment and requires that the operator pass the grades 1, 2 and 3 exams before being eligible to sit for the grade 4 exam,” Stapleton said.

Small business owners, Sandpointians and flower lovers: There are still opportunities to sponsor hanging flower baskets for downtown Sandpoint.

Volunteer Ranel Hanson said of the 90 baskets ordered, over 60 have sold, leaving around 30 hanging baskets left to sponsor.

Those interested in sponsoring the flower baskets for $75 apiece should call Hanson at (208) 946-7703 or send a check to the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, 1202 N. Fifth Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864. Please write “Hanging Flower Baskets” on the memo line.

The hanging baskets traditionally were purchased by the

Business Improvement District, which was disbanded by the Sandpoint City Council last fall, leaving the flower baskets to be funded by individuals and business owners.

The hanging baskets are slated to be installed the week before Lost in the ‘50s, so ensure sponsorships before May 11.

NEWS

Author Patrick McManus dies at age 84

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Patrick McManus, a legendary humorist and author whose work was informed by his Sandpoint upbringing, died last Wednesday at the age of 84.

The Associated Press reports that McManus, who wrote monthly columns for Field & Stream and Outdoor Life, as well as dozens of humor books, mystery novels and one-man plays, died at a nursing home in Spokane following a period of failing health.

In addition to his writing, McManus taught at Eastern Washington University until 1983 and earned the Distinguished Faculty Award in 2013.

McManus based many of his beloved characters, like Rancid Crabtree, “Crazy Eddie” Muldoon, Strange the dog and

Retch Sweeney, on figures he encountered during his youth in the Inland Northwest. Similarly, McManus’ experiences in the natural splendor of Idaho’s forests and mountains made the outdoors a persistent theme in his work.

“It was possible to live a very satisfactory life at that time even though you were fairly poor,” McManus told Sandpoint Magazine in 1995. “That would not be the case today. Like everyone else, we had chickens and a cow and pigs. We raised our own food and went hunting and fishing. We got our water out of the creek with a bucket with a rope on it. Something has happened in our society, where in a sense almost everybody is poor now. I had a wonderful time as a child growing up. I was down by the creek all the time and had all this freedom, running around all these mountains. Vern and I took

off one time and wandered around those mountains for a week. That’s not a bad way to grow up.”

McManus’ wife Darlene, four daughters and multiple grandchildren survive the author. The family opted to hold a private funeral service.

By Reader Staff

Patrick McManus speaking at Eastern Washington University. Photo courtesy Wikipedia.

CIPP project to boost sewer performance Schweitzer closes out record year

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff A program scheduled to begin this year is expected to improve the performance of Sandpoint’s wastewater system.

City officials awarded Planned and Engineered Construction a contract Wednesday to install a cured-in-place-pipe, or CIPP, system. The upgrade is designed to reduce the amount of groundwater that infiltrates the wastewater system, which inhibits its effectiveness. According to Sandpoint Public Works Director Amanda Wilson, CIPP technology allows for trenchless installation, dramatically lessening the project cost and disruption to residential service or street traffic.

CIPP technology is essentially a jointless, seamless liner that is installed in existing pipelines, thereby rehabilitating the line without the need for an expensive replacement project. The city has utilized this method of

pipe rehabilitation since 2006.

“It’s like a pipe in a pipe,” Wilson told Sandpoint City Council members.

The contract was awarded to Planned and Engineered Construction, which came in with a low bid of $228,055. The project will involve 5,400 linear feet of both 8-inch and 10-inch CIPP lines being installed into the following street sections: Main and Cedar streets from Alder to Fifth; alley lines between Spruce and Larch on the west side of Division; Superior from Boyer to Euclid; Third from Superior to Idaho; Spruce from Boyer to Fourth; Superior from Euclid to Fourth and Cedar from Fifth to Second.

The project is expected to run from mid-May until July.

“Obviously (this won’t impact) the Lost in the ‘50s portion of time,” Wilson said.

Schweitzer Mountain Resort had their snowiest winter on record for the 2017/18 ski season, the resort said in a press release.

Schweitzer saw over 434 inches of snowfall throughout the season, wrapping up the winter with over 78 inches in the base and 152 inches at the summit.

“When the snow started to arrive back in November, we were hoping it was a sign of good things to come,” said Dig Chrismer, Schweitzer’s marketing manager. “I don’t think any of us quite expected to see as much snowfall as we did in the end. We were really fortunate to have such quality snow throughout the season.”

Because the ski season showed a sluggish start in many other areas of the country, Schwetizer set another record with 255,000 skier visits this year.

The season began on Nov. 8 and operated for 141 days, al-

Lightning Creek flood damage to be repaired

most two weeks longer than their average of 130 days per season.

With the mountain’s winter operations concluding on Sunday, Schweitzer will now begin the transition to their summer operations, which include scenic chairlift rides, lift-served mountain biking trails, hiking and village activities.

Summer operations will start June 22, weather permitting, with four major summer events planned: 7B Sunday will kick off the season June 24, Northwest WineFEST will take place July 21-22, the Huckleberry Color Fun Run will be Aug. 5 and Fall Fest will span the four-day Labor Day Weekend from Aug. 31-Sept. 3.

The Western Federal Lands Highway Division is prepared to award the contract to repair the Lightning Creek flood damages in May. The repair work is expected to begin at the end of May, depending on weather and site conditions. The repairs are projected to be completed before the 2018 winter season.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests experienced a rain on snow event in December 2015, leading to flood damage in several drainages, including significant damage to Lightning Creek Road (FSR #419). The forest implemented a closure on Lightning Creek Road, between milepost 7.5 to the junction of FSR #275 at milepost 18, for public safety. The damages include the loss of four large concrete box culverts, three segments of road washouts and bridge damage. The bridge over Rattle Creek was destroyed, and the Wellington Bridge over Lightning Creek was damaged.

The estimated cost of repairs in the Lightning Creek drainage is approximately $1.74 million.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests requested Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads Program funding from the WFLHD in January 2016 following these events. During the spring and summer of 2016, WFLHD completed damage survey reports, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process was completed in February.

The Forest continues assessing any additional damages caused by heavy rains or run off this spring. The Lightning Creek Road closure will remain in effect until the repairs are completed. For more information, please contact the Sandpoint Ranger District at (208) 263-5111.

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COMMUNITY

Third annual Spring for Sandpoint:

Where local merchants and nonprofits join forces

Bouquets: Guest Submission: • I want to send an overdue Bouquet to two all-weather individuals who fair the elements every day to bring safety and semblance to our Sandpoint kids, and their drivers. To Julie, who stands guard at the crossing of Division and Spruce, halting traffic for anyone who needs to cross to Farmin-Stidwell during cold mornings, or wet afternoons. Thank you.

And to the brave traffic director who stands in the road directing cars at the middle school and high school intersection: wow! With your paddle of a stop sign, your whistle and your guiding hands, you get streams of cars to their destinations with unbelievable efficiency. Folks, if you’re ever out driving at around 7:50 a.m. during the school week, I recommend taking this guy’s route past the high school just to check out his mad skills. Thanks again, fearless ones. (Submitted by Maia Gaddass) •Congrats to Schweitzer for another great season! I had a blast up there this year and am looking forward to a stellar 2018/19 season.

Barbs • To anyone who may have left me a message on my mobile phone over the past two months, I sincerely apologize. For some reason, my phone stopped notifying me that I had messages on my voicemail, so they stacked up for some time. When my sister said my mailbox was full, I was mortified to hear I had a couple dozen unheard and unreturned messages waiting for me. Looking back, I guess I was curious that I had no voicemails for two months, but for someone who is always battling to stay on top of my various inboxes, I thought it was just a well-needed reprieve. So yeah, this week’s Barb goes to me. Whoops.

• Comments surfaced recently from six months ago that gubernatorial candidate Tommy Ahlquist promised to sign legislation allowing for the prosecution of women who have had abortions. Candidate Lt. Gov. Brad Little also offered tepid support for the proposed bill. What a backwards position to take. I have no problem with someone being pro-life — that’s their personal belief — but those who advocate for the criminal prosecution of women who have abortions are the lowest of the low, in my opinion. They both lost my vote.

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By Reader Staff Giving back in Sandpoint is as easy as finding the perfect new outfit or fabulous lamp for your home downtown. On Saturday, April 28, participating merchants will each team with a non-profit to bring you “Spring for Sandpoint.” This day of specials, prizes and activities is a great way to share the wealth in this close-knit community.

Representatives of sponsored non-profits will be on hand to answer your questions, show you how they serve our area, and tell you about volunteer opportunities. Sharon’s Hallmark, teamed with Carousel of Smiles, will have one of the wooden carousel horses on display.

Participating retailers will donate part of the day’s proceeds to their sponsored non-profit. For example, at Great Stuff,100 percent of chocolate proceeds for the

day will be donated to Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper. In addition to sales, drawings and in-store activities, Bella Terra Boutique will be showing off its new, expanded space where Pedro’s used to be.

Bring the kids to Northwest Handmade and Creations for hands-on, kid-friendly activities. A variety of product samplings and demonstrations, refreshments and prizes will be featured at different stores.

Most activities will take place from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., but instore sales will be available throughout the day. Catch the free kids’ movie showing at the Panida sponsored by Kinderhaven.

Pick up a passport at any participating retailer. Visit stores and get your passport stamped, no purchase necessary. Stamped passports can be turned in for drawings for gift-certificates and other prizes.

Local nonprofit organiza-

tions and local merchants are central to the cycle of service and support that makes Sandpoint an outstanding community. There are more than 300 non-profit organizations in Bonner County. They fill the gaps to provide important human services, promote the arts, entertainment and recreation, and safeguard the quality of our beautiful environment. All of the donations raised during “Spring for Sandpoint” stay here in North Idaho.

Purchases made at local retail stores also support our community by providing jobs and creating a vibrant, attractive downtown. Join your neighbors and “Spring for Sandpoint” on Saturday, April 28.

For additional information check posters around town, online calendars, the Sandpoint Reader and retailers’ Facebook pages or the Sandpoint Shopping District Facebook page.

Earth Day celebration planned

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Love your home planet?

Yeah, me too.

If you’d like to show some love back to this rock we call home, local nonprofit 350Sandpoint.org will be hosting an event on Sunday, April 22, the 48th annual Earth Day. The “North Idaho Earth Day Celebration and March,” will start at Farmin Park at 12 p.m. Organizers said the event will help “honor our precious planet and renew our commitment to environmental awareness.”

Community groups will be in attendance with tables highlighting their work, and there will be speakers from CANSS (Citizens Against the Newport Silicon Smelter) and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper.

Fun kid-friendly activities are also planned, including

a hands-on demonstration of birds’ feathers in an oil slick, face painting with endangered species themes, drum-making for the March’s drum beat and an Earth Day themed costume contest for children and adults.

All are welcome, and attendees are encouraged to bring signs for the march, which will encompass 10 blocks on sidewalks.

Those interested in attending should meet at Farmin Park at the corner of Third Ave. and Main St. in Sandpoint. For more information, check out the Sandpoint Annual Earth Day Festival Facebook page, or call Sparrow Ivy at (208) 627-9084.

Participating merchants and corresponding nonprofits Business in bold Nonprofit in normal font Alpine Shop Panhandle Alliance for Education (PAFE) Artworks Gallery Share the Love Art Scholarship Azalea Hospice Bella Terra Boutique Selkirk Volunteer Firefighter Fund Carousel Emporium Creations Cedar St. Bistro Kinderhaven Eve’s Leaves Bonner Community Food Bank Finan McDonald North Idaho CASA Great Stuff Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper Hippie Chic Life Choices Pregnancy Center LaChic Boutique NAMI Far North Larson’s Panhandle Special Needs Meadowbrook Special Olympics NW Handmade Sandpoint Acadamy of the Arts Outdoor Experience Caribou Recovery Project Pend d’ Oreille Winery Panhandle Animal Shelter Sharon’s Hallmark Carousel of Smiles Zero Point

Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education (SOLE)

This Land Is My Land, This Land is Your Land...

Dear Editor, All citizens share in the ownership of our national forests. I have been amazed that creation of less than 15,000 acres of wilderness near Scotchman Peaks has sparked so much interest. That is less than half of 1 percent of the total acreage on the vast 2.5 million-plus acres on the entire forest. Think of the benefits to our area if we could bottle this energy and put it towards full implementation of the forest plan for healthy forests and communities, jobs, increased wildlife habitat, improved water quality and fisheries, enhanced recreation including ATVs and snowmobiles, as well as air quality improvements to name a few. Vote yes in favor of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness and stay involved for full implementation of the forest plan.

Jerry Mason Sandpoint

An Outstanding Legislator...

Dear Editor, Heather Scott is by far the best candidate as our Representative for Legislative District 1A. For four years she has lived the mantra that “actions speak louder than words” and prizes honesty and loyalty to her electors above all else. Heather has always shown total commitment to our causes and issues.

Among Heather’s many fine attributes are: •Her refusal to be a pawn in the political game of go along to get along.

•She stands for traditional American values and a strong work ethic.

•She unequivocally supports the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Idaho.

•She supports the right to life and parents’ right to choose what is best for their children.

•She works tirelessly with her constituents and lawmakers to keep Idaho strong, vibrant and a place we can all be proud to call home.

•She provides citizens with timely newsletters on pending and recently-passed bills in the Idaho legislature.

•She remains forthright to her constituents and is the most accessible legislator I’ve ever seen.

•She has always remained true to her words and true to her beliefs.

Please join me in supporting Heather Scott by casting your vote for her on May 15.

Louis Perry Sandpoint

The Nail on the Head...

Dear Editor, In the Reader’s April 12 issue, contributor David Phillips responded to the Festival’s unfortunate decision to do away with the “number line” system.

David really hit the nail on the head with a well-reasoned and articulate column. I am in total agreement and decry the fact that the Festival is becoming too expensive for many in the local population. I am not cognizant of the Festival’s fiscal problems and goals, nor do I offer a solution. I am sure they are competent and working industriously. Nevertheless, such feedback from locals is hoped to be useful.

Richard Sevenich Sandpoint

Let’s Ensure the Enduring Value of Scotchmans...

Dear Editor, In carefully following the discussion on the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness designation, I have observed differences of opinion and also some confusion about the core facts. In my younger years, I had six different Forest Service (USFS) jobs, including working at Panhandle National Forests and in wilderness areas.

Here are some core facts: Scotchman Peaks is already managed as a roadless area due to its very rugged terrain. The proposed wilderness designation will only verify, in a more official manner, what is already the long-term management strategy for the area. The USFS manages the area now and would manage the future wilderness area too; hence no federal takeover will occur, as I have heard folks claim.

Currently, the area supports access to hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, trapping, berry picking and horse packing. Search and rescue access by motorized vehicle and helicopter would be permitted. State of Idaho support for healthy fish and wildlife populations and USFS management for fire, insects and disease are already in place for the roadless area and would not change under an official wilderness designation.

The Forest Service can and does fight fires in wilderness areas.

As a fifth-generation Idahoan, I was born in Sandpoint and my natal home is Clark Fork, where my grandparents and parents lived. As a young boy, I learned to fish and hike on Morris and Lightning creeks with my father, who also fished and hunted the area as a young man. It is an honor to speak on behalf of preserving this iconic area and to recommend, without reservation, support

for establishing the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness area.

Sites such as these are not just a valued local resource, but also represent a singular national heritage and patrimony. In the U.S., there is no other designation that so effectively says this area is unique and deserves to be singled out. It is a respected special place that would remain relatively undeveloped to support its natural, scenic, cultural and recreation values for generations to come.

Bill Harp Sandpoint

McDonald Kept Promises...

Dear Editor, I first met Dan McDonald at one of the Lost in the ‘50s car shows years ago, after my family moved here from Oregon. We share a reverence of classic cars and motorcycles, but also of limited government and responsibility to the taxpayers.

During his first term as commissioner, Dan has followed through on that shared principle: from cutting wasteful spending and necessitating efficiency, to reducing the size and scope of government. To date, Dan has saved taxpayers over $9 million without cutting any services, while fostering a culture of mutual respect both with county employees, and with the electorate, whom he rightfully regards as his employers. He’s truly walked his talk.

It’s unusual these days for an elected official to keep their campaign promises to their constituents.

Dan has done so. In spades. And he deserves re-election. Please consider giving him your vote on May 15.

Jason Giddings Sagle

Re: S.P.O.R.T...

Dear Editor, I always find something of entertainment value in the pages of the Reader, and the April 12 issue was no exception.

“President Ron Adamik” of the Safety-Peace Officers Retired to Sandpoint (S.P.O.R.T.) was this week’s source of amusement.

Course, this unofficial group is also known by its other name: “California Retired Association of Police.”

Now that Idaho and parts of three other states have become or have been taken over politically by the alt-rightists, the Redoubters and assorted other right-wing extremists, they have little to no fear from us native “floppy clown shoe wearing progressives.”

The F(au)X news source is their high priest whose words they don’t question as they tell it like it is. It’s

not the “fake” news from the likes of CBS/NBC/ABC or CNN, which run a truly balanced agenda. They are called “fake news” by Donald “sexual predator” Trump because he doesn’t like stories that portray him in a negative light, just like all wanna-be dictators.

You know that Ron’s group are on the public dole, what, with their police and possibly military pensions and the like from those nasty liberal taxpayers in their home state. What would they care that a quarter of the people in this area rely on the food bank? What do they care that education spending is ranked 47th of all the other states? What concern is it of theirs that income is 50th of all states? And it’s no matter that of all the red states in the country with the exception of Texas (and that only slightly) are net recipients of federal aid while all blue states are net donors of federal tax money and much more prosperous.

No, Ron and his group can rest easy that this formerly purple state will stay deep red.

Lawrence Fury (proud moderate Democrat and Sandpoint native) Sandpoint

Vote for Donna Gow...

Dear Editor, I am asking for your support and vote in the primary for Donna Gow, Bonner County assessor. For more than 30 years I was honored to serve Bonner County as the elected coroner.

During my tenure all of the elected county positions changed many times, so experience is important.

Donna has the experience, 27 years of training, in the assessor’s office.

Donna has a working knowledge of the assessor’s office, and it is time for her to assume a larger role in county government. Donna and George have lived in, worked in and raised their two sons in Bonner County. Donna knows what works and what does not. She knows it is a waste of the taxpayer dollar to plow the same barren field again and again.

We, as voting taxpayers, do not need to pick up the expense of training a new administrator looking for a job.

Donna has a working relationship with the existing staff and will continue to offer training, create a user friendly atmosphere and avoid staff turnover.

You have the opportunity to elect a person with experience who wants to put her training to work for you, the property owners of Bonner County!

Please join me in voting for Donna Gow for Bonner County assessor on May 15.

Dale G. Coffelt Former Bonner County Coroner Sandpoint

Vote Kunzeman...

Dear Editor, Experienced leader. Problem-solver.

Listener.

That’s what I look for in local elected officials, and that’s what I’ve found in Carol Kunzeman. Carol will make a first-rate county commissioner. In Ponderay, she served on the city council and then two terms as mayor. In addition to responsible daily management, her record of accomplishment includes helping to get SPOT buses on the road, assisting in the creation of the Pend Oreille Bay Trail and fostering the “Field of Dreams” vision for Ponderay.

Carol has also worked in the corporate world and, as owner-operator of small businesses, understands the challenges of private sector employment and leadership.

She is a collaborator who knows how to get things done, not with ideological bombast, but by respectfully listening to her constituents and building coalitions. She has an old-fashioned notion of public service over partisanship that is particularly suited to county government at this fractious time.

She has my vote on May 15, and I hope she has yours.

Mindy Cameron Sagle

Scott Endorsement Shocking...

Dear Editor, I’m somewhat shell shocked having read Ron Adamik’s, president of Safety-Peace Officers Retired To Sandpoint (SPORTS), endorsement for Heather Scott.

He touts her sponsorship and success of school safety legislation in HB565. Digesting his endorsement-ending diatribe: “We need Rep. Scott in elected office to neutralize the big floppy clown shoe-wearing progressives and RINOS who would turn us into mindless sheep at the beck and call of the far alt-left progressive Pelosicrats in the great state of Idaho.”

A question for Heather Scott comes to mind. Is this the mentality you want in someone who will be protecting our schools with firearms??

Mr. Adamik refers to HB565 as “a good guy with a gun.” Perhaps, in his case, “ a maniac with a gun” is more appropriate.

John Loback Sandpoint

Got something to say? Write a letter to the editor at letters@sandpointreader.com. Under 400 words, and please elevate the discussion.

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OPINION

Beware the collaboration trap

By George Wuerthner Reader Contributor

Many of the environmental/conservation groups in the West are participants in various collaboratives.

Groups participating in collaboratives include the Western Environmental Law Council, Northwest Conservation, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Montana Wilderness Association, Oregon Wild, Wyoming Outdoor Council, The Lands Council, The Wilderness Society, the Nature Conservancy and sometimes local Sierra Club chapters, among others.

Despite the participation of conservation organizations, most collaborative members are made up of people who generally believe in exploiting natural landscapes for human benefit. As a generalization, overwhelmingly collaborative memberships consist of people who represent the resource extraction industry or their sympathizers like rural county commissioners, ORV enthusiasts and so forth. Often agency personal like district rangers, foresters and

others are also in attendance.

As a generalization, the participating environmental organizations have been captured by those who want greater access and greater resource exploitation.

When environmental groups participate in these collaborations, they provide “green cover” and legitimize the destruction of natural landscapes, wildlands and wildlife habitat. Afraid to alienate the other collaborative members, they no longer highlight the cumulative impacts of resource extraction or even in many cases, no longer oppose illegal proposals.

This is the collaborative trap. You spend your time and money trying to convince people who generally believe natural resources (I dislike that term but will use for now) are there for human consumption and enjoyment.

Within this paradigm, the intrinsic value of wildlands has no place.

There are many structural problems with collaboratives that defines the scope of questions, the science that can be reviewed, who gets to play the dominant role in these

discussions and by default who has the time and money to attend countless meetings that go for years.

Many people participating in collaboratives have a financial interest in the outcome. If you are a timber company or even a forester with the Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management, or a rural county commissioner you see logging as a good economic stimulant or directly affecting your employment. Certainly, without logging, there would be no reason for foresters, timber companies and so forth, so that biases most collaboratives from the start.

Many of the conservation representatives on collaboratives suffer from the Stockholm Syndrome where they come to identify more with the alleged grievances held by rural communities than identifying with promoting the ecological values of the land and wildlife they presumably represent.

Perhaps the most insidious aspect of collaboratives there is always the assertion of “win-win” where “everyone” gets something. But the “everyone” usually does not include the wildlife, forest ecosystems

and wildlands. In the end, the “winners” are the collaborative membership not the public and most importantly the land and its diversity of life.

This gets to the central part of the problem. All these groups involved in collaboratives are spending huge amounts of staff time and money attending meetings with people who, with few exceptions, have diametrically opposed views on the value wilderness and wildlands. Is this really a productive use of time?

The trap of collaboratives is that it saps organizational time and money. It’s designed to silence oppositional groups and make them spend their limited time in meetings with people who hold diametrically opposed values instead of advancing the wildlands agenda with the public.

George Wuerthner is an ecologist who has published 38 books including “North Idaho Lake County,” “Protecting the Wild: Parks and Wilderness Foundation for Conservation” and “Wildfire: A Century of Failed Forest Policy.”

Private school voucher students are doing poorly

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist A 2017 study in the District of Columbia about the effects of private school vouchers has further confirmed the results of recent studies in Indiana, Louisiana and Ohio. By and large, the performance of voucher students on standardized tests who transferred to private schools has declined.

Three studies since 2015 were much more rigorous than previous ones, some of which showed modest improvement or no net gain positive or negative. The samples were not randomized nor were the results compared to public school students.

Overall, most of the research methods were found to be flawed.

When Vice President Mike Pence was governor of Indiana, he extended the state’s voucher program, which now costs $153 million and serves 35,000 students. Researchers found that among these students there was no improvement in reading, and in mathematics there were “significant losses in achievement.” Private voucher students with disabilities did especially poorly.

In Louisiana many vouchers are assigned by lottery, which has given researchers the advantage of a randomized sample. This is key to successful statistical studies. The most recent result was that 8 /

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“the scores of the lottery winners dropped precipitously in their first year of attending private school, compared to the performance of the lottery losers [still in public schools].”

Reading scores for Louisiana’s voucher students also declined, but the most dramatic change was in math: the average lottery loser remained in the 50th percentile, while the winners dropped to 26th in a single year. After three years the math scores did rebound to the 34th percentile.

Harvard education professor Martin West states that the negative effects in Louisiana were “as large as any I’ve seen in the literature, not just compared with other voucher studies, but in the history of American education research.”

A previous Louisiana study with a small sample size showed a drop in math performance for two years, but then a return to the level of public school test results. The 2015 study increased the number of students and the low scores continued after three years.

This result is obviously the one to honor.

Critics might respond by saying that this research is being done by “liberal” professors. However, a study done on Ohio students by the conservative, pro-voucher Thomas B. Fordham Institute was released in June 2016. The conclusion was consistent with other research: “Students who use vouchers to attend private schools

have fared worse academically compared to their closely matched peers attending public schools.” Once again, results were worse in math.

The voucher program in the District of Columbia was the first program to use federal funds ($60 million to date), and its lottery basis allowed for randomized data collection. Researchers from the Department of Education found that math scores for voucher students were significantly lower than lottery losers who stayed in the public schools. Reading scores were also lower for voucher students from kindergarten to fifth grade.

The Republican response to this study was to ban randomize data collection by the Department of Education and to mandate a return to the less rigorous methods of previous studies that showed modest progress among voucher students. The good news, however, is that this same bipartisan budget bill did not include $1 billion in federal funds for vouchers that President Trump had requested.

Voucher proponents contend that parental satisfaction and graduation rates are better measures than standardized tests. This is curiously ironic because these same people used the latter to argue that test scores proved that public schools were failing.

Although flawed and overused, standardized tests are the only objective measure of

student success.

Parental satisfaction is an especially weak criterion of assessing quality of education. Some conservative Christian parents might be pleased to learn that their children’s textbooks teach that “the Jews plotted to kill Jesus,” that evolution is an atheistic invention, or that climate change is a hoax.

These unregulated religious schools are not what free marketeer Milton Friedman had in mind when he started the school choice movement in 1955. Friedman required that vouchers were to be used for “approved educational services” at schools that “met certain minimum standards.” The only standard for many of these schools is the Bible.

Under intense pressure to improve test scores, our public schools have reached the point where their performance is the same as or sometimes better than private school achievement. This fact, plus the negative results of using taxpayer money for private schools tuition, proves that the parental choice movement no longer has a leg to stand on.

Nick Gier of Moscow is President of the Idaho Federation of Teachers, AFT/AFLCIO. He taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. He can be reached at ngier006@gmail.com.

ELECTION

What you need to know about the May 15 primary election

By Michael Rosedale Bonner County Clerk Reader Contributor

The following contests will be on the May 15 ballot: Bonner County: Coroner, Treasurer, Assessor, Clerk, Commissioners for District 1 & 3 and Precinct Committeemen.

Idaho State: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, State Controller, State Treasurer, Attorney General, Superintendent of Public Instruction, State Senator for both District 1 and District 7, all Legislative District Representatives and Judicial positions for retention.

Federal: United States Representative in Congress 1st District.

Idaho’s primary is primarily for the party to choose a candidate for each seat to represent them in the general election this November. The state of Idaho recognizes four parties; the Constitution, Democratic, Libertarian and Republican parties. If you do not choose any of those four, then you default into “Unaffiliated”.

The only parties with races in the upcoming primary election are the Democratic and Republican parties, so there will be no Constitution or Libertarian candidates on the primary election ballot this year. This leaves a choice of three ballot types for the voter: Democrat, Republican and Non-Partisan.

The Democratic Party has an open primary election, so the voters of any affiliation may choose the Democratic ballot.

The Republican Party has a closed primary election, which means only voters who have affiliated with the Republican Party may vote on their ballot. An Unaffiliated voter may affiliate as Republican and vote on the Republican ballot up to and including election day. The Non-Partisan ballot has only the non-candidate question and the Judge retention questions.

All county voters vote for each commissioner in their party, regardless of which district you live in. All voters will have the Scotchman Peaks advisory question.

Only approved write-in candidates who have declared their candidacy as a write-in candidate by the statutory deadline to our elections office are counted.

All other write-in names will be ignored.

We ask that you do not write in non-qualified names on the ballot, because it makes extra work for the ballot counters, and lengthens an already-long night.

In-person absentee voting will be Monday, April 23, through Friday, May 11. Office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. It will be held in our Elections Office, located in the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 Highway 2, Suite 124 (on the first floor). The last day to pre-register for the May 15 election is April 20.

BY THE NUMBERS

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

$1.6 million

The Elections Office will be publicly testing its ballot counting equipment on Thursday, April 26, at 3 p.m. in the Bonner County Administration Building first floor conference room.

We have had some precinct changes this year. Every voter who was affected was sent a letter stating what their change was. There were a number of precinct border adjustments, and the polling place for the Baldy precinct has been changed to the VFW at 1325 Pine Street in Sandpoint. Otherwise, Election Day voting will be at your usual polling place.

Idaho allows election day registration.

If you are not yet registered to vote, you may still register and vote at your polling place on election day. Bring your photo identification and proof of residence to register. If you have any questions, please call the Bonner County Elections Office at 255-3631 or contact us via e-mail – elections@bonnercountyid.gov.

Polls will be open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15.

The amount of money paid to a former Playboy model who became pregnant during an affair with deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee Elliott Broidy. The deal was arranged in the final months of 2017 by President Trump’s personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen. Broidy has resigned from his position at the RNC.

1972

The year the Equal Rights Amendment was introduced in Congress. Almost 50 years later, it’s still not in the Constitution because at least two more states still need to ratify it. The proposed amendment is designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex.

3 states

What California would be divided into if voters approve a proposed ballot measure. Supporters say they have collected enough signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

2013

The year that there was the last commercial jet accident on U.S. soil that resulted in any passenger fatalities — until this week, when a woman died on a Southwest Airlines flight after the engine exploded. Debris broke out a window and nearly sucked her from the cabin. Other passengers stepped in and pulled her back into the cabin, but she unfortunately passed away.

24,395

The number of people that are registered to vote in Bonner County, as of April. Of that number, 13,258 are registered Republican, 8,539 are registered as Unaffiliated, 2,235 are registered Democrat, 208 are registered Libertarian and 155 are registered Constitution.

92

The age of former first lady Barbara Bush when she passed away this week.

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FEATURE

22 years Idaho’s longest serving female state senator Shawn Keough reflects on more than two decades representing North Idaho

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

B

oth relief and poignancy define Shawn Keough’s final year as District 1 Idaho state senator.

Relief comes at the thought that she isn’t facing a bruising primary election this year and will no longer be bound by an often-grueling political process. But she looks back with fondness at the accomplishments achieved and constituents helped over the past two decades. With so many memories behind her, it is inevitable that her decision to retire from the Idaho Legislature would by shaded by sadness.

“I’m definitely going to miss being at the decision table,” Keough said. “I’ll miss being a reasonable and common-sense voice for our district.”

It’s been a busy last year for Keough as she’s attempted to tie up as many loose ends as possible. She was pleased to lend her efforts toward adding an additional $100 million into the education budget this year, a nod toward fulfilling the state constitution-mandated obligation to adequately funding education.

“We’re continuing our commitment that we would plug the hole in our K-12 budget and also continuing the commitment to improve teacher salaries to retain and recruit good teachers,” Keough said.

Likewise, Keough and Reps. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, and Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, were able to make headway on a longstanding Priest Lake breakwater problem. With the breakwater connecting Priest Lake and Upper Priest Lake degraded to the point that powerboats could no longer pass through, the legislators 10 /

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were able to assist in securing a series of projects that will address that and other waterway issues.

On the other hand, she was disappointed that she wasn’t able to successfully argue against an abortion complications reporting bill, telling the Spokesman-Review she viewed it as an invasion of women’s privacy without any practical pro-life benefit. And as an opponent of the state grocery sales tax, which she sees as an undue burden on the poorest Idahoans, she regrets that the Legislature wasn’t able to successfully organize a repeal this year.

“It was bittersweet knowing that it would be my last session and that there were things I wanted to accomplish for our district in particular,” she said. “It was my last chance to do that.”

Those letdowns aside, it’s a satisfying end to what will be a 22-year career in public service by the end of the year, making Keough the longest-serving female senator in Idaho history. It’s a venerable record rooted in the humble origins of Keough’s 1996 election to the Idaho Senate.

“I ran the first time because I believe you can’t complain without being willing to jump in and work for a solution,” Keough said. “I thought our area needed effective representation on our communities’ concerns, especially in the areas of funding for public schools and roads.”

Since then, Keough has accomplished much of what she set out to do two decades ago. When she first ran for office, Sandpoint’s higher education opportunities were limited, and Keough helped expand

the presence of North Idaho College and Lewis-Clark State College in town. She assisted in cutting red tape she felt held back business and industry in the state. And she was instrumental in key North Idaho transportation projects like the Dover Bridge and Sand Creek Bypass.

“It’s been rewarding to be able to be a positive voice for common sense in our Legislature and be able to secure funding for a backlog of transportation projects,” she said.

There are many reasons why Keough chose to make this her final year in the Idaho Senate. For one thing, she’s balanced her public service with her work as executive director of Associated Logging Contractors, a position she has held for 18 years. She intends to continue her work for the organization with renewed focus now that the need to campaign and serve isn’t a factor.

Another influential element is the sharpened rancor in modern politics compared to her start in the 1990s. When considering her options for the future, the thought of undergoing another primary election weighed heavily on Keough. In past party primaries, the state senator faced angry townhall attendees, mean-spirited internet comments and perpetual accusations of being a RINO, or a Republican In Name Only.

“I think going into my public service, certainly there were and remain divisive issues, but civility was and remains important,” Keough said. “You need to have the ability to agree to disagree agreeably and have respect for divergent viewpoints.”

Keough said a similar ideological in-

Sen. Shawn Keough looking forward to a fruitful retirement from the Idaho State Senate.

Photo by Marie-Dominique Verdier

tractability has made its way into the Idaho Legislature over the years.

“I won’t miss the growing divisiveness from a very small segment of legislators who are more interested in bomb throwing,” she said.

“If you want to be successful (in the Legislature), it’s all about building relationships that are productive,” Keough added. “... You don’t get those things done by throwing bombs and calling names.”

Keough and her husband plan to take a much-needed vacation this June. In the meantime, as she reflects on her last legislative session, she is thankful for the friends, family and voters who have supported her along the way.

“I’m especially appreciative of my husband and family for always being there and standing behind me,” she said.

If Keough has one wish for the future of Idaho, it’s to see renewed civic engagement from its citizens. She calls on residents to inform themselves on the issues, make their voices heard in the public process and, most importantly, vote.

“I’ve been honored to have the confidence of a majority of voters,” Keough said. “I encourage everyone to exercise their right to vote. There are so many people who do not participate, and there’s a cost to not participating.”

ELECTION COVERAGE Bonner County Commissioner District 1

Profile of Bruce Hollett

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Editor’s Note: Bruce Hollett is running as a Republican for Bonner County Commissioner, District 1.

Reader: Tell me a little about your history in North Idaho.

Bruce Hollett: I was born here, in Coeur d’Alene actually, raised on the same property where I live now on Dufort Road. I went through all of my school through high school in Priest River. After high school, I worked at a lumber mill for four years, then got involved with EMS with the Priest River volunteer ambulance service.

Then I got into driving trucks after I left lumber. My ex-wife and I moved to West Virginia when Coldwater Creek moved, and while I was there, I worked for a local ambulance service and became a paramedic. My current wife and I and our kids moved back six years ago.

SR: What inspired you to run for office?

BH: I just thought it would be fun.

No, really, inevitably changes are going to happen. However, I think there has been, in the last 15 years, changes going in the wrong direction. I think we need to get back to our hometown roots. We need to build and support our local communities. I see a lack of support from our local governments — not just county, but the cities as well.

Our local governments don’t support the people like we should.

SR: Can you be more specific?

How would you do some things differently?

BH: This isn’t necessarily government-wise, but with the timber industry disappearing, I don’t see where there’s been any kind of push to get another industry in here to take its place. As a matter of fact, I have found out since moving back here, there have been some that wanted to come here, industry wise, and local governments basically just shunned them off. I’ll use Buck Knives for that example. They wanted to go to Priest River, and between Priest River city and our county, I don’t know what they were needing to do — some kind of upgrade, to the water I think it was — but why did we let that get away?

Now they got 200 employees sitting in Post Falls, plus the tourism they got going through there that we could’ve had up here. There’s no way to stop the growth, but some of the growth

I’ve seen is a little disturbing ... so many farms are being subdivided and sold off into lots.

SR: If you were to pick three issues you feel strongest about, what would they be and why?

BH: The biggest one, and this comes from part of my background, is I don’t see our local public safety personnel getting support that they need – sheriff’s deputies, EMS, fire department, volunteer and paid. Some of them are just being supported. Others, like law enforcement, we need to be paying them to keep them. We train them for two years and they leave for better pay. I don’t blame them for that, but what do we need to do to prevent that turnover that’s actually costing us money? Another issue is our roads, our rural roads especially. There needs to be some upgrading on our road systems. And the maintenance of those roads. I’d have to see numbers, and see what the cost effective would be. If we paved more, my thought is, the lack of maintenance on dirt roads would pay for that. The biggest issue is jobs. We need industry jobs of some sort. And manufacturing. We need something here that, as our kids are growing up, they can have careers and stay home, they don’t have to go somewhere else to go find supportive work.

SR: Let’s go through a few local issues and see where you stand on them. Let’s start with the proposed silicon smelter in Newport.

BH: My first thought is, it’s in Washington, that’s Pend Oreille County. As much as we want to hoot, holler and whine, they’re the ones doing the permits, not us. They can tell us to go pound sand if they want to. I do think it would be a good boost in the arm, maybe not just for Sandpoint, but Ponderay and Bonner County. I don’t know enough yet about the process to know if it’s worth diving into. From what little I do understand, I think it’s not the devil that people are trying to make it out (to be). I don’t see the pollution that some people are trying to put out there, mainly because of oversight that comes with that. The EPA has pretty strict guidelines.

Washington DEQ is way stricter. I also think people, when they hear smelter, they think of Silver Valley and the pollution that went on there 50 years ago. I don’t see that happening in this day and age.

SR: How about the proposed wilderness designation for Scotchman Peaks?

BH: Being that our area is historically timber, I fall on: We take care of our land. I don’t see the need for the federal government to tell us it’s off limits for us to take care of it.

Historically, the people of our area have taken good care of our own land.

I’m not in favor of having that be a wilderness.

SR: How about the Natural Resource Plan?

BH: I don’t know much about that. If it’s what I’m thinking it is, there was a big to-do where a lot of people in county thought the city of Sandpoint was overstepping on natural resource issues. Again, I fall back on our people and our area take care of our own stuff. We don’t need federal and state government stepping in and telling us how to take care of it. We don’t go through and destroy our lands and waters and do the best we can with what we have.

SR: What about the proposed second rail bridge over Lake Pend Oreille?

BH: I say build the bridge. ... A lot of our citizens don’t like waiting at train crossings for a half hour at a time. That bridge would eliminate a lot of that bottlenecking. Is another bridge going to create more risk for derailments? No. We already have the trains going through, but right now they are stopping and waiting at each side. What some people don’t realize is the tracks running through our area is the main east west of the northern part of the United States. And it’s the main north south for Union Pacific coming out of Canada. It’s a crossroads and as long as economy grows, freight has to move. If it’s not on trains, they gotta have more trucks.

They were deeded that access across the lake before Idaho was a state.

SR: Bonner County has taken a little bit of criticism this past year regarding decisions to the planning and zoning department. Do you think it’s important to have a strong P&Z department with building regulations in place, or should there be less regulation?

BH: A combination of both, I guess. To me, if you own your property, you should be able to do just about whatever you want. If you want to build a barn on your place, build a barn. Does there need to be some regulation? Yes, there does. To what extent, I think we’ve gone overboard.

We’ve gone back to being too overboard from what I think we should be.

The permitting process has gotten godawful expensive.

I need to do more research, but I know here recently, Kootenai County did away with a lot of theirs. I think we should look at what they did and follow suit.

SR: Conservation easement issues have popped up in the news this year. There was Clagstone Meadows, Schweitzer, the Pine St. Woods. Where do you stand on land easements? Is it a private property issue, or do we have a say in what they do with their land?

BH: Those easements, to my understanding, aren’t cut and dry. Every different one they have their own guidelines for what they set up. I’ve seen some where it could still be used.

That’s up to that property owner. It’s their personal property. If Schweitzer wants to make a conservation easement, it’s their land and their business.

If they lose business over it, okay. It’s their call. I know some bigger ranches around the area also have some easements, and it’s the same thing. They still farm it, raise their cows on it. But future generations of their family can not subdivide it and sell it.

SR: Is there anything you’d like to add that we haven’t covered?

BH: I think that in this day and age, as much as I like Sandpoint, we have a lot of folks who, when they think Bonner County, they think Sandpoint. We have a lot of other areas: Clark Fork, Hope, Blanchard, Careywood, Priest Lake, Priest River. These areas really don’t get represented as much as they should. … One of my downfalls is, through the campaign season, we’re going to be hot and heavy on the forums. There are several that I can’t make it to, because I work full time, versus other folks that are running for office. I work to support the family, to keep things going. Another thing, our 4H program and fair desperately needs support and help from our commissioners. We’ve had too many years of the commissioners with the mindset of, “That needs to make money,” and they’re trying to make too much money from the backs of our 4H families, which are typically

the poorer families in the county. As a school board member, I’ve been trying to pull an FFA program for the county. We’ve got to get our fair built back up so our kids have something to do. They don’t just learn agriculture, they learn everything from survival to welding to mechanics and electronics.

Right now, the way things have been going, it’s gotten so low, so far down, people don’t want to go. It needs (to be) supported. I don’t know about money thrown into it, but it needs support. We had some commissioners some years ago that tried to completely do away with it. Not the current group — it was a couple years back.

But that’s unacceptable.

Bruce Hollett AT A GLANCE

AGE: 43 BIRTHPLACE AND RESIDENCE: I currently reside on Sandy Ridge Rd. off of Dufort Rd. in Sagle.

GOVERNMENT SERVICE: Trustee on West Bonner Co. School Board and 25 years of working as an EMS. PROFESSION: My fulltime job is with Interstate Asphalt doing construction. During the winter months I work as a paramedic for Shoshone County.

EDUCATION: High school in Priest River, class of 1993. West Virginia University for my paramedics license.

FAMILY: Wife (Lisa), who is an R.N. at the hospital. Two kids — one goes to Panhandle Special Needs on Boyer, the other goes to the House of the Lord School in Oldtown.

FUN FACT: We have horses, sheep, chickens and we keep our farm going between working. My grandparents bought where we live now in 1960. It was already a working farm.

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Mad about Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist This week’s subject is courtesy of Bonners Ferry Bob. Thanks, Bob! The dentist: It’s the place no one wants to go, but everyone has to. Our mouths are fleshy, skinless portals of bacteria where food is torn to pieces to be feasted upon by an ocean of microorganisms. It makes sense that this part of the body would have a specialized doctor, but what you may not know is that dentistry is one of our oldest forms of medicine, dating back to at least 7000 BC. We’ve found human remains with evidence of drilled teeth, likely to relieve swelling or to drain fluids. Gross!

When you’re sitting in the chair, you don’t really have a good view of what’s going on.

All you hear are drills and other gizmos while you’re hopefully numbed up. We’re here to find out just what the doctor is doing in your taco-delivery hole!

The drill is a staple of dentistry. They come in a lot of varieties now, but they’re mostly mechanical and capable of making quick work of any challenge. We’ve found archaeological evidence that around 3300 BC, people used bow drills to drill into teeth. Yeah, the stickand-string to make fire. Luckily for us, drills have advanced considerably since then. Highspeed dental drills function by blasting compressed air through the handpiece and into the head of the device, which houses a tiny windmill that rotates the bit up to nearly 200,000 times per minute. This creates an 12 /

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dentistry

intense amount of heat from friction and requires water cooling to operate, one of the reasons they also add suction to drain the water that’s cooling the drill, the site, and also washing away debris.

Dentists also have lasers for use at their disposal. A laser is a beam of light focused into a single point, and it can get very hot. This has the added benefit of cauterizing tissue and helping stop infection from taking root.

One of the more dreaded tools in a dentist’s arsenal is the dental explorer, which you may know as the “sharp little sickle”. This tool is designed to comb along your teeth and catch on any cavities the dentist can’t see. A similar tool, with a blunted tip, is called a periodontal probe and is used to measure the health of the tissues surrounding the tooth (periodontium.)

To counteract most pain during dental treatment, dentists will apply anesthesia.

This comes in a lot of different forms. The most commonly used is a local anesthetic that is injected into your cheek or jaw. This anesthetic temporarily binds to the cells of your nerves in the area, blocking their function and ability to identify pain or anything else.

This differs from a narcotic, which may be taken by the patient if the pain is excruciating after the procedure. Narcotics, primarily opioid narcotics, bind to opioid receptors in the nervous system at multiple levels. This is one of the reasons they’re so addictive, especially when used by people that have no business using them. It goes

straight for your brain and spinal cord. Sometimes, a dentist may use a sedative — think laughing gas (nitrous oxide) or an injection. This is fairly rare, unless you’re undergoing an intense procedure.

Every couple of years, you need to have X-rays taken of your teeth. This is the same process used by doctors to peek inside of your body and see your bones. A specially designed camera fires a concentrated beam of electrons at your face, while a piece of film on the other side captures a silhouette of your teeth. This happens because your flesh isn’t dense enough to absorb the electrons and they pass on through to the film, while your teeth and bones absorb the electrons, leaving a void on the film.

Have you ever gotten a filling? If you’re like me, you’re wondering what they’re doing in your mouth, and probably went on a numb-faced Google rampage in the car afterward. It starts with a cavity. Your dentist will first clean the tooth, then drill and trim an area around the cavity and clear away any decay. Next, they’ll use a mild acid to etch the tooth where the filling is going to be placed.

This helps form a secure bond so you’ll be less likely to lose the filling later. Your dentist will apply a bonding agent (similar to glue) and then use that funny blue light on your mouth. This light triggers a chemical catalyst in the bonding agent that will harden (this is called “curing”) and grip to the etching at a microscopic level. They’ll add another layer, then the filling material before

polishing it to be flush with the rest of your tooth.

In the 1700s, dentistry was another game altogether. Some of the tools involved with Renaissance dentistry were repurposed torture devices.

The dental key was the precursor to today’s forceps, a little crank that would hook onto your tooth, turn to apply force against your jaw then rip it out.

Keep in mind, anesthetic and

sterilization weren’t a thing at this time, and the only thing to fill both roles and keep your mouth from getting horribly infected was copious amounts of alcohol.

So raise a beer for your dentist! You might need it if you’re allergic to anesthesia.

Got an idea for a Mad About Science? Email ben@ sandpointreader.com.

Random Corner More about dentistry!

•Famed western author, Zane Grey, was a dentist. He was born Pearl Zane Grey in Zanesville, Ohio, a city founded by his maternal great grandfather before the Revolutionary war.

•The electric chair was invented by Alfred P. Southwick, a dentist, after an inebriated dockworker was instantly killed by an electrical arc during a break-in at a local electrical company. His reason for breaking in? A pleasurable tingling sensation.

•Dentists talk to you when you can’t talk, because it makes you think about something other than what’s going on in your mouth. They keep aquariums in the reception area for the same reason.

•Dentists are one of the professions most plagued by back problems.

While you’re in an ergonomic reclining chair, they’re hunched over you and several other patients for hours at a time with no back support.

•The idea that everyone in the middle ages had their teeth rotting out is a myth. The diets of nobles were extremely sugary, which lead to most of the ruling class having rotted teeth, while the peasants that worked for them cleaned their own teeth with linen, charcoal, vinegar and herbs and ate virtually no sugar.

•Though dentistry is one of the oldest forms of medicine, it’s a fairly new type of doctor. 7,000 years ago, potters were the only ones with the tools to work on teeth. During the middle ages and Renaissance, barbers, blacksmiths and farriers were the only ones equipped to deal with dental problems.

•The amount of remains with tooth decay rose from 20 percent of the samples to 90 percent between 1200AD and 1900. The reason? Sugar became vastly more accessible by 1900.

FEATURE

Earth Day: Small ways to make a big impact

By Ben Olson Reader Staff When Earth Day rolls around, it should always serve as a reminder that there are easy ways to live more in balance with the environment. They don’t cost you any extra money, they don’t take away anyone’s life, liberty or pursuit of happiness. They are simply your gift to the planet we call home.

Here are a handful of tips to perhaps inspire you, if only for one day, to be greener.

Recycle When you recycle, you get a lot of return for the minimal effort it takes. By tossing that aluminum can into a separate can instead of with the regular trash, you are reducing energy consumption, preventing useful materials from wasting away in a landfill and supporting a healthy environment.

The EPA estimates that up to 75 percent of household trash is recyclable, yet we only recycle about 30 percent of it. Do your part to change this. Keep a milk crate or plastic tub next to the trash and think twice before tossing something in the trash. Junk mail, newspapers, cardboard, soup cans, glass and plastic bottles — these are just a few of

the items that should always go in the green bin.

If your workplace doesn’t recycle, ask permission to start a new bin. Waste Management now offers business recycling in Sandpoint. Call (208) 263-2432 for all the dirt.

Walk or ride to work For those of you who live and work in town, consider walking or riding your bike to work one day out of the week. Granted, this time of year can lead to humorous circumstances with the ever-changing weather. But you can’t call yourself a North Idahoan if you haven’t been caught in the random torrential downpour on a sunny day in April.

But seriously, if you leave the car at home one or more days a week, you save money on gas, you don’t have to worry about parking and you benefit with a little much-needed exercise.

The SPOT bus is also a great alternative. They’re in action seven days a week, and their routes cover Ponderay, Sandpoint to Dover. Check out there route maps and times at spotbus.org.

Reduce your food packaging

When you’re at the grocery store, the checkers will usually start bagging your items right away. They’re efficient and good at what they do, but it only takes a moment to say, “No bag, thanks,” if you’re only getting a few items. Or better yet, keep a reusable bag or backpack handy.

Plastic bags take upwards of 1,000 years to biodegrade. I always cringe when I see the ball of plastic bags under my sink grow larger. Take them to the grocery store and recycle them!

Or do like my mom and cut them into strips and weave them into a reusable bag. It’s freakishly cool.

Carry your own water flask.

All those single use cups tossed away add up after awhile. And speaking of water, it can’t hurt to turn off the faucet when you’re brushing – something my girlfriend gently reminds me of from time to time.

Also, if your various utility companies and monthly billers have a paperless option, go for it.

Be thrifty Underwear? Nope. But damn near everything else can be found at our local thrift stores. Not only are you saving money, but what you buy is being reused instead of tossed in the landfill. Plus, used goods come without any packaging. Double-plus good.

If it’s yellow, it’s mellow Yeah, I went there. Traveling in third world countries, you often see those signs hanging in the bathroom: “If it’s yellow, it’s mellow, if it’s brown, flush it down.” The idea is you don’t necessarily have to flush every time you go number one. Unless you’ve eaten asparagus.

A quarter of all the water used in the home comes from the toilet, which uses anywhere from one to five gallons of water per flush. With the permission of your significant other, perhaps you can live as they do in the islands and let it mellow? By no means

Top: Bottles awaiting their trip to the recycling center. Photo by Lacey Williams.

Bottom: Members of the Festival at Sandpoint’s Green Team, the dedicated group of volunteers who make sure the music festival is as green as can be.

Photo by Ben Olson. should you ever attempt this for number two. By no means.

I also had a friend who kept a brick in the back of his toilet. He said it reduced the water that filled the cistern every time. His head was also shaped a bit like a brick, so take that advice as you may.

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Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry

Adult Grief Support Group 6pm @ BGH classroom Are you experiencing grief due to a loss of a loved one?

Call Lissa at (208) 265-1185 for more information.

Live Music w/ Wyatt Wood 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall PNW talent headed for tour

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ Cedar St. Bistro Wine Bar Ballads, country, folk, contemporary Live Music w/ Muffy & the Riffhangers 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Acoustic Americana and bluegrass Live Music w/ Mike Wagoner 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band 8:30pm @ The Hive The fourth annual Season Bender show features the ultimate Michael Jackson Tribute Band!

Tickets are $10/advance $15/door

Live Music w/ Holly McGarry 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Sandpoint local and member of the band Honeysuckle making waves in Boston, McGarry is back in town and ready to share some moments with you all Live Music w/ Denis Zwang and Mike Johnson 6-8pm @ Cedar St. Bistro Wine Bar Jazz duo - woodwind and bass Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs & Chris Lynch 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Guitar and piano duo Live Music w/ Casey Ryan 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am

Girls Pint Out 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour A Cool chicks! Great beer Join Vicki at the big t evening of tasting a about seasonal spring b

Live Mu 8pm @ E Sandpoin Happy bi

Live Music 9pm @ 219 Funk, disco

Live Music w/ Devon Wade 9pm @ 219 Lounge Kick back and enjoy some Sandpoint country music Yoga on Tap 11am @ Laughing Dog Brewery One hour class that ends with the group having a beer together. $12 includes your first beer American Sign Language Course 11:30am @ Sandpoint Library Learn American Sign Language from certified instructor Susan Schaller Email: susan.schaller@gmail.com

Curry and More Cooking Class • 3pm @ Adventist Com Learn to make authentic, plant-based Asian meals that are delicious. Classes are free! To register call (208) 263-442

Missoula Children’s Theatre Audition MCT teaching artists Christine Heagney cast, no prep needed. Showtimes will be Children Performing for Children SFN Movie Night Night-Out Karaoke 6pm @ Panida Theater 7 @ Little Theater 9pm @ 219 Lounge Join DJ Pat for a night Catch a screening of Celebrate with over 100 local Music M ters! students, ages 7-18, as they perfo of singing, or just come “The Conversation.” the works of Tchaikovsky. $5/adults, Suggested $5 donation and under free to attend to drink and listen

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Wind Down Wednesday 5-8pm @ 219 Lounge With live music by blues man Truck Mills and guest Tito Huizar.

Kick back and wind down in style

Magic Wednesday Crafternoo 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Haiku Poe Magician Star Alexander performs 2pm @ Spt amazing “close-up” magic right at your All are wel table! Fun entertainment for all ages Poem-in-Your-Pocket Day Yappy Hour 11am-2pm @ Various locations 4-7pm @ Laughing Dog In honor of National Poetry Month, members of the Friends of Grab your furry friend a the Library will be out in the community distributing poems. to Laughing Dog for th Many local businesses will join in by handing out poems to their Animal Shelter’s famous customers. Read, smile, enjoy, and share some wonderful poetry! Live music, beverages, an

ful

April 19 - 26, 2018

ut aho Pour Authority Great beer! No dudes! the big table for an tasting and talking al spring beers!

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

Paint and Sip Party 6:30pm @ The Pottery Bug Welcome spring with Uncorked Paint Sandpoint by painting colorful spring flowers BYOB if you are 21 and over. To attend, RSVP with Gena online. Price includes all materials.

Shrek the Musical 7pm @ SHS Auditorium Everyone’s favorite ogre, in play form, presented

by Growing Dreams Productions Inc. and Sandpoint High School Mime & Masque. $12/adult, $10/kids 10 and under

Earth Day Dance Odyssey Live Music w/ The Groove Black 7-8:30pm @ Embody 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall A Sandpoint trio featuring Brandon Wat- 823 Main St. With Brietta Leader and Ali terson, Jason Stoddard and KC Carter Thomas on drums. All proLive Music w/ Holly McGarry ive Music w/ Right Front Burner 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall ceeds go to Kaniksu Land pm @ 219 Lounge Trust. Sliding Scale $5-500 She’s back! Must see show! unk, disco, rock and groove band Kaleidoscope Art Exhibit Reception 5:30-7pm @ POAC Gallery Mad Hatter Tea and Ball e See all of the hard work that POAC’s Kalei11:30am-1pm (Tea) and 6-10pm (Ball) doscope volunteers and students have accom@ Tango Cafe inside Columbia Bank A fundraiser for Community Cancer Services. plished this school year. Free!

Tickets online at www.communitycancerser- Extreme Plein Air Art Reception TBD @ Evans Bros. Coffee House vices.com or call the office (208) 255-2301 wery Friends of Scotchman Peaks Extreme Plein Air with the Spring Birding Fling artists will show their work from an extreme er. $12 in- 9am @ Sandpoint NIC building Join Brian Baxter for a birding class. All levels Plein Air outing. Free of birders are welcome. There will be a focus on Enhancing Relationships with Astrology Course raptors, waterfowl, tree-clinging birds, and pas- 11am-2pm @ Inquire Within (516 Oak St.) ary serines. Bring binoculars, bird book and lunch. Learn how to increase rapport and intimacy in all uage from of your significant relationships. $33. 255-7903. $49. Call 208-769-3214 for more info Schaller.

North Idaho Earth Day Annual Sand Creek Cleanup il.com Celebration and March 10am-2pm @ Sandpoint City Beach All are welcome to join the annual clean- 3pm @ Farmin Park entist Community Center up event to celebrate Earth Day. Rain or All are welcome for this march to raise als that are simple and shine. Sponsored by City of Sandpoint awareness on local environmental is) 263-4421 sues. Bring signs, family fun activities and LPOW. Meet at boat launch Live Music w/ Bum Jungle 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Sandpoint’s newest trio.

Happy birthday Jeff!

Auditions • 3:30-5:30pm @ Farmin-Stidwell Elementary School Heagney and Ryan Jacob Pierce lead auditions for “Aladdin.” 50-60 kids will be es will be April 28 at 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. artinsandpoint.org/auditions/ hildren Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s topic: l Music Mat- The State of Public Education they perform $5/adults, 18 Childbirth Education Classes • 6pm @ BGH - Health Serv Bldg #101 Call (208) 265-7484 for more info

Crafternoon: Haiku Poetry Art pm @ Spt. Library All are welcome!

Successful Planting of Trees and Shrubs 6-8pm @ Ponderay Event Center With guest speaker John Hastings of All Seasons Thursday night solo series w/ Justin Lantrip 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall A soulful singer-songwriter from Sandpoint

hing Dog Brewery y friend and head over Trivia Takeover Live Dog for the Panhandle 5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery ’s famous Yappy Hour.

Teams are encouraged but not required. Free! verages, and tons of fun

April 27 The Wine Festival @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds April 27 The Wow Wows @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall April 28 Spring For Sandpoint @ Various Locations

Darwin Hurst

Certified Family Nurse Practitioner •Accepting New Patients •All Ages Welcome •Wellness Visits •Chronic Disease Care •Sports Physicals •Same Day Sick Appointments Available

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Elect Stephen F. Howlee Idaho State Representaave District 1 Seat B Stephen Supports: • Agriculture.

• Property Tax Reduccon.

• Economy that works for Idaho.

• Access to Healthcare.

• Invessng in Educaaon.

• Mullple use of Public Lands.

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Traditional Martial Arts & Self Defense as well as a fitness facility.

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in the Dover Bay Resort

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We inject trees with fertilizer and insecticide to help rejuvenate the tree and kill off the larve and beetles inside.

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SPRING SALE!

By Mike Wagoner Reader Contributor

% off 25-50 s s top ' n e m wo

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Happy Hour at Shoga!

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Thursday-Sunday 4:30-6pm

Beer & Hand Roll Special!

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208.265.2001 ShogaSushi.com

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Featuring Laughing Dog brews!

C02 Well, it appears that atmospheric carbon dioxide is kinda like booze – a little good whiskey is heaven, a lot of good whiskey is hell.

Plants need CO2 to make their food and in the process release oxygen. Traditionally there has been enough in the planet’s atmosphere to accomplish this, but lately it seems they’re being offered more than they need, and since CO2 is good at holding onto heat, we could be workin’ on one hell of a hangover.

Perhaps there would be a greater sense of urgency about the buildup of CO2 if we could somehow see or feel it. If it was like scary smoke or manifested itself on rocks like some kind of slime mold. But it’s invisible and has no smell.

There is a way to get an idea of what it’s like. Get three big glasses from your kitchen, dump a little baking soda (a couple tablespoons) into one of them, then pour in a good jigger of vinegar. The bubbles you’re seeing are CO2 gas. You can test for the presence of CO2 with a lit match because

the stuff won’t burn. Lower the flame into the glass. See, it goes out.

Now, take the first glass and slowly pour the “air” in it into a second glass. Pretend your pourin’ a beer and you don’t want it to foam too much, so hold the second glass at an angle. Don’t pour any of the vinegar and soda out. Set the second glass down, light another match and lower it into the first glass.

What happens? Now lower the match into the second glass. It goes out, huh? Now, pour the air from the second glass into the third one. Again, light a match and lower it down into the third glass. What happened?

Yup, CO2 gas doesn’t disperse too well, does it? Now when you read about a scientist sayin’ how CO2 hugs the planet surface and holds heat like a blanket, perhaps the statement may ring a little more true. I know it did for me.

If you’d like to see this demo done, on YouTube, call up “CO2 demonstration for President Trump.”

Yup, that’s me bein’ Mr. Wagoner.

OPINION

Vote ‘yes’ for Scotchman Peaks

By Jim Peterson Reader Contributor

When Bonner County voters go to the polls on May 15, one of the measures on their ballot is an advisory vote concerning U.S Sen. Jim Risch’s Scotchman Peaks Wilderness proposal.

Although I don’t live in Bonner County, many of my growing-up years were spent on my grandparent’s ranch in the Gold Creek drainage west of the area Sen. Risch has proposed for wilderness designation.

As congressionally-designated wilderness areas go, this is a small one – about 14,000 acres north of the Clark Fork River and east of Lightning Creek. I know the area well because I hiked and fished it when I was a boy.

I have publicly endorsed the Risch proposal for several reasons, not least the fact that it fits what I see in my mind’s eye when I think about suitable wilderness.

Its highest points offer spectacular views of Lake Pend Oreille, and it is easily reached by most anyone with a good pair of walking shoes and a day to devote to one of the prettiest spots in Bonner County.

When you go – and I hope you will – be sure to bring your camera. You’ll never get closer to mountain goats, there are scads of wildflowers and the views call to mind the late Ross Hall’s stunning photographs of Pend Oreille and its wooded surroundings, so pack a lunch and prepare yourself to be amazed.

Because I have been advocating for science-based, multiple-use forest management for 32 years, some are surprised by my support for Scotchman Peaks wilderness designation. I am because

the designation poses no threat to Bonner County’s timber-based economy, motorized recreation or mountain biking and no existing roads will be closed.

In my endorsement I am traveling in well-respected company.

Among the proposal’s supporters: The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, Trout Unlimited, the Idaho Wildlife Federation, the Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs and the Idaho Forest Group, our state’s largest lumber manufacturer and, of course, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, which has worked tirelessly to advance this proposal.

Sen. Risch’s proposal has its opponents. Some fret about federal overreach, but the Scotchman Peaks area is already part of the publicly-owned Idaho Panhandle National Forest and will remain so.

Others fear a wildfire start inside the proposed wilderness would spread to surrounding forests that provide timber for Bonner County sawmills. It could, but we fight wildfires wherever they occur, even inside designated wilderness.

This advisory vote is more than symbolic because Congress will want to know if Bonner County residents support the proposed designation. Sen. Risch has done his part by hosting numerous informational meetings, but if you still have questions, contact his office or peruse the beautiful Friends of Scotchman Peaks website. And for heaven’s sake, vote yes!

Family-to-Family

NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS

Education Program

Free education and support for families who have relatives with serious mental illness The NAMI Family-to-Family Education Program

The NAMI Family-to-Family course topics include: 1.

Family responses to the trauma of mental illness.

4.

The biology of the brain: emerging scientific dicoveries.

2.

Schizophrenia, major depression and mania: Diagnosis and dealing with critical periods.

5.

Problem solving workshops.

6.

Medication review.

9.

Depression and bipolar subtypes: panida disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD); borderline personality disorder; co-occurring brain and addictive disorders.

7.

Understanding the inner experience of having a mental illness.

10. Rehabilitation, services available.

Communication skills workshop.

12. Celebration and certification ceremony.

3.

8.

Self-care; relative group testimony

11. Advocacy: fighting stigma.

Jim Petersen is founder and president of the nonprofit Evergreen Foundation, publisher of Evergreen Magazine and creator of evergreenmagazine.com, the most popular forestry-related website in North America. He lives in Dalton Gardens, Idaho.

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HEALTH

IN FINE FETTLE

LITERATURE

Local Author Spotlight:

Deborah Elster’s new novel “Only From Heaven” explores love, loss and redemption

Is it better to eat or have the cake?

By Ammi Midstokke Reader Health Columnist

Thankfully, we now have the option of having prepared I never understood the ingredients sent saying, “You cannot have your to our doorstep in cake and eat it.” If your cake cute little baskets of is big enough, you can. And perfectly-portioned if you eat it slowly enough, meals so we don’t you can just bake another one actually have to think while you’re finishing that last for ourselves. As far piece. Eventually, you’ll be Ammi Midstokke with Freya the Brown Dog. as I’m concerned, tired of cake and neither want this is a far better into have nor eat any. Problem solved. vestment than saving for our children’s The etymology of the old proverb college funds. And while it does serve a dates back to the 1500s and is supposed- purpose and beats McDonald’s by far, it ly a way of explaining that some things is also woefully lacking. are mutually exclusive of each other. I The tragedy in all of these blessings am reminded of this in my life on a daily of convenience (at a cost) is that it all basis when I want the cake, but I also involves us thinking less about ourwant my pants to fit. Sometimes one is selves, spending less time on ourselves. more important than the other. I’m not We want the appearance and physical sure exactly what the compromise is, health of a well-cared-for body, but but I’m pretty sure it involves lycra and we don’t actually want to care well for something called “jeggings.” our bodies. Not surprisingly, this is not It is often that patients are sitting in limited to our kitchen habits. my office explaining their goals and deThe reality is if we want to have sired outcomes. This time of year, as wa- health and vitality in most aspects of ter-ski season and the feared bikini-clad our lives, from our mental and emotionbeach hours approach, the outcome is al well-being to our physical health and often related to how we appear while longevity, we must actively invest in the wearing the equivalent of a hair net changes necessary to achieve and mainaround our private parts. Aside from all tain them. Bodies are dynamic, their the cultural hoohah that has us defining needs are changing as our lives change our worth by our lack of visible cellulite, around them. What worked for us beI sympathize with the struggle. fore menopause, children, college, real What strikes me as surprising, howjobs, divorce, injury doesn’t necessarily ever, is our chronic unwillingness to work best for us now. change. We want the outcome: It would We don’t have to be drastic. Maybe be nice to weigh 10 pounds less or look we cook one meal from scratch each leaner or, in my case, not be confused week. Maybe we just pick a single with a bag of drowning kittens when thing that is inhibiting us from making I put a swimsuit on. But what do you a change or reaching that goal, and primean I can’t eat bagels? oritize it until we’re ready for the next Sometimes people are clear from step. The proverb remains true: We canthe moment I meet them: I want to not expect change without making it. be healthier, but don’t ask me to give We cannot continue with our old ways up wine, chocolate, coffee, or for the and have new outcomes. Sometimes love of God, make myself breakfast. that change is just accepting things the Or be responsible to buy groceries and way they are and being content. There’s cook them. (I keep thinking I need to a lot to be said for cake, after all. purchase a magic wand or something and just start waving it around at these Ammi Midstokke can be reached at appointments. I, too, could have my ammi@twobirdsnutrition.com. own private jet in no time.)

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By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Far too many people know what it’s like to become estranged from a family member.

It’s a subject local author Deborah Elster plumbs in her debut novel, “Only From Heaven.” Since its release, the book has earned praise from local residents and writers for its sensitivity and ultimately life-affirming exploration of love, loss, peace and redemption.

“If you like ‘The Shack,’ you will love ‘Only From Heaven,’” said Mary Haley, award-winning Sandpoint author of “The Great Potato Murder.” “Deborah A. Elster skillfully tells the story of a hard life that finds redemption in surprising places. This book is a great tonic for our present age.”

The book follows Reggie Thomas, a woman who finds herself on a journey of re-discovering her sister, Lizzie, after her untimely death. While working with her niece, Jennifer, and Lizzie’s ex, Frank, to settle the estate, the trio shares their memories of the enigmatic woman hoping to understand her strange behavior. Why did she push her family away?

And what is the significance of the Monarch butterfly and lady in white, two images that appear and reappear in Reggie’s quest for understanding?

“Only From Heaven” is the culmination of an exciting project for Elster, who has lived in Clark Fork for four years and worked as a physical therapist for 44 years. She has nurtured a

Author Deborah Elster and her book “Only From Heaven.” Courtesy photo. lifelong love of writing that she previously poured into numerous non-fiction articles. “Only From Heaven” fulfills a long-held ambition to explore the world of fiction.

Readers have a chance to meet the author for themselves at a book reading, discussion and signing to take place at Kokanee Coffee, 509 N Fifth Ave, Sandpoint, on Saturday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m.

“Only From Heaven” can also be purchased in Sandpoint book and gift stores, as well as on Amazon in book or e-book format. A signed copy can be purchased by emailing her at deborah. elster@gmail.com.

Main Street, Bonners Ferry

267-2622

STAGE & SCREEN

Public concert celebrates MCS Music Matters expansion

By Reader Staff

They say that it takes a village, and it’s true. And, when that village has a generous benefactor good things can happen even in the smallest rural communities. With thanks to a grant from LOR Foundation, Music Conservatory of Sandpoint expanded its Music Matters! program into Kootenai Elementary School, marking its fourth community location during the after school hours.

To celebrate the expansion MCS will present over 80 musically-minded youth who will show off their newly-acquired skills at two performances at the Panida Theater. Nearly 500 LPOSD students will attend this capstone Children Performing for Children Concert including 140 peers from Kootenai Elementary, who will explore the life of Tchaikovsky and his music.

MCS Board President Kathi Samuels said that they expect record attendance.

This is a district-wide and community event. Students from Sagle, Washington, Hope, Northside and, of course, Kootenai Elementary will enjoy a 10 a.m. concert at the Panida on Tuesday, April 24. Then there will be an encore performance for the community at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m., and $5 tickets will be available at the door.

“We are excited to celebrate the

expansion of the program to two afternoons in Kootenai,” Samuels said. “In a rural community where transportation can be limited, we want to recognize LPOSD for welcoming more music in the schools during the after school hours, and their role in exposing more kids to music.”

This after-school initiative teaches children the basic principles of music theory while they develop their talent for playing an orchestral instrument or increase their singing skills with a children’s choir. This El Sistema registered program that started in 2014 has already served over 500 students in the Sandpoint area.

“Students may participate from anywhere in our region, whether public, private or homeschooled. We’ve even had kids drive in from Priest River to participate,” Samuels said.

“Music Matters! focuses on skill building and continuous (weekly) instruction, whether a student has previously held an instrument or participated in a vocal group or not,” Samuels said.

She also said that many students are able to participate because MCS has a free instrument loan program for students who don’t already have them.

And Samuels said that she and the instructors at MCS are looking forward to the continuation of Music Matters! with

Max Reed plays at the Panida Theater. Photo by Atom & Mars.

the MCS summer camp line up, which is now in its sixth year.

“More details will be coming soon about that too,” she said.

For more information about any of

the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint’s classes, you can go to their website at www.sandpointconservatory.org or call the office 208-265-4444.

Earth Day Film Festival in Newport

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The Newport Roxy is joining forces with the Kalispel Tribe of Indians and Responsible Growth NE Washington to host the Earth Day Film Festival Sunday, April 22.

The festival starts at 6 p.m. and will take place at the Newport Roxy Theater, 120 S. Washington, in Newport, Wash. Tickets will run $8.50 for adults, $5 for under 19, military, tribal mem-

bers and seniors.

Films slated to show are “Last Stand: The Vanishing Caribou Wilderness,” and “United by Water.”

There will also be a keynote speaker and door prizes April 19, 2018 /

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ART

Evans Brothers to host “Extreme Pleinair” artists’ reception

Watercolor painter Aaron Johnson plies his plein air skills atop Vertigo Ridge above Little Spar Lake in the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. (Photo by Joe Foster, dappstudios.com)

By Reader Staff On Friday, April 20, Evans Brothers’ Coffee in Sandpoint will be the venue for an artist’s reception featuring some of the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness “Extreme Pleinair” artists, including painters Ed Robinson of Sandpoint and Aaron Johnson of Moscow and photographers Joe Foster of Connecticut and Marjolein Groot Nibbelink of Sandpoint.

Each summer for the past nine years (with the exception of 2015, when fires kept hikers out of the Scotchmans), Friends of Scotchman Peaks led artists into the heart of the Scotchmans to paint them “from the inside out.” After the first such expedition, the hike became known as “The Extreme Pleinair.”

En plein air is a French term that simply means the act of painting outdoors. It came into vogue during the impressionism movement in France during the late 19th century, when painters like Renoir and 22 /

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Monet moved from the studio outside. The implication is that the artist must work quickly to catch the landscape in a certain light — a pleasurable challenge for some, maddening for others.

“Extreme” refers to the amount of effort the participants exert during the hike as well as the beauty they encounter while in the central wilderness.

Meet the artists (and the hike leader) on the 20th beginning at 5:30 p.m. Preview the art any time before then. It will be on the walls until May 10.

Don’t tarry. Some pieces are already sold! The show was hung in the gallery at Evans Brothers April 3.

No host bar and (of course) coffee galore will be on hand.

A portion of the coffee proceeds will be donated to FSPW. Light appetizers also provided.

Learn more at scotchmanpeaks.org/events

COMMUNITY

Show Sand Creek some TAKING THE CAUSE TO D.C. love this Earth Day

A group from Sandpoint traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend the March for Our Rights a few weeks ago. From left to right: Dan Barlett, Rhonda Tate, Sue Haynes, Ben Tate and Jacki Crossingham, a Sandpoint middle school teacher. Ben Tate shared a few words on the trip: “We were in tears for most of the rally, where not one speaker was over the age of 17. ... We all came back from D.C. cautiously optimistic after being around so many (500,000-800,000) like-minded people and with the realization that millions of young people will soon be voting. Getting them to vote is the key as historically only 18 percent of 18- to 21-year-olds vote. Courtesy photo.

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Though Earth Day brings to mind the daunting challenges our planet is currently facing, making an impact on the Earth — specifically in Sandpoint — is made possible this weekend by the Sand Creek Cleanup.

The event, held Sunday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., is co-sponsored by Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper and the city of Sandpoint. After meeting at the City Beach boat launch at 10 a.m., participants will collect litter, debris and micro-trash from City Beach and along the Sand Creek path. This event will happen rain or shine, and all cleanup supplies — as well as some refreshments — will be provided.

City of Sandpoint Parks and

The Simon family volunteers to collect litter, debris and micro-trash from City Beach as part of LPOW’s annual Sand Creek Cleanup. Courtesy photo.

Recreation Director Kim Woodruff said he has participated in the cleanup in the past, and said City Beach along with the Sand Creek Corridor are very visible and important waterways to keep clean.

“That area is one of the gems among our parks,” he said.

Woodruff said he and the city are thankful to LPOW for taking the lead on the Sand Creek Cleanup.

“It’s something anyone can do to make a difference,” he said.

“The more the merrier.”

Contact LPOW Executive Director, Shannon Williamson, at (208) 597-7188 or shannon@ lakependoreillewaterkeeper.org with questions.

READER

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KICKING BACK WITH THE READER IN COSTA RICA

Sandpoint locals Gloria Waterhouse, Steve Berenson and Peter Mico get caught up with the Reader in Mal Pais, Costa Rica. Courtesy photo.

Mixed bag ballroom classes

By Reader Staff Lace up those dancing shoes!

Experience ballroom dancing with a variety of couples dances.

Monthly class sessions are offered every first and third Thursday of the month from February through May. The location is at Sandpoint Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.) from 6-7 p.m. The fee is $10/month/person. A minimum of

four participants is needed to offer each monthly session.

Those present will vote on two or three dances to practice and/ or learn that evening. The on-site coordinator is available to suggest, demonstrate, and teach new and unique skills, or you can share your fun skills with the class in a variety of ballroom, Latin, and country-western dances. The hall has a large, beautiful hardwood

floor with lots of space to move.

Pre-register online by April 27 for the class starting May 3 at www.sandpointidaho.gov/ parksrecreation or come to our office at Sandpoint Parks and Rec, 1123 Lake St., or call 263-3613 for more information. For other activities offered by P&R visit our web site.

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MVMNT:Gym

HEALTH

guide to Sandpoint fitness

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Spring is the perfect time to get moving again. Not because you need to get swimsuit ready (you look great), but because nothing makes you feel better than emerging from winter hibernation and remembering that all your muscles work and wearing shorts is actually pretty liberating after six months of long underwear.

For this guide, we asked area gyms and studios to share some basic information, as well as something about their business that makes them unique. To learn more, contact them or go check them out.

Xhale Pilates Studio 225 Cedar St. (208) 755-2687 Hours: Hours vary, but usually 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday and Saturday mornings, depending on classes. Soon to begin yoga classes.

“Something unique about our studio is that we offer springboards for each participant in our mat classes,” said co-owner Corrina Barrett. “This is not a normal piece of equipment for a mat class and really ups the value for our participants and sets us apart from other studios.”

7B Fitness 606 N. 5th Ave. (208) 263-7174 Hours: 24-hour access for members Owner Jenny Mire emphasized that 7B Fitness is locally owned and operated and is a full 24-hour access gym. She said all classes are free to members, and they offer day and week passes.

Sandpoint Hot Yoga 1243 Michigan St. (208) 946-7646 Hours: 3-5 classes daily at different times starting at 6:30 a.m. with the last class at 6 p.m.

The schedule is posted at www. sandpointhotyoga.com.

“We specialize in various styles of hot yoga to promote detoxification, increased circulation and boost in metabolism, but

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Right: Jenny Mire, owner of 7B Fitness, works out at their gym in Sandpoint.

Courtesy photo.

Center: A class at Sandpoint Hot Yoga prepares for another session. Photo by Ben Olson.

Right: Ryan Egan, owner at MVMNT:Gym, striks a pose. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert. also have classes that are room temperature as well as gentle (restorative) yoga and Pilates,” said owner Kerri Kuntz. “We work with all ages (including offering kids yoga), levels and abilities, but specialize in beginner yoga. We have retail, changing rooms and shower facilities.”

Black Bear Training Center 114 S. Boyer Ave. (208) 946-4515 Hours: Monday and Wednesday 3:45-7:30 p.m. Saturday 10-11 a.m.

Co-owner and youth instructor Martin Tetachuk said the training center is a comprehensive martial arts studio that specializes in the striking aspect of Martial Arts.

“Self defense, safety of yourself and others, and being able to de-escalate dangerous situations are some of the many goals we focus on,” he said.

CrossFit Sandpoint 215 Olive Ave. (208) 610-2220 Hours: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Owner and head coach Kenny Markwardt said CrossFit Sandpoint is Sandpoint’s resource for functional strength and conditioning, as well as practical nutrition and lifestyle coaching.

Sandpoint Rock Gym 522 Church St. (208) 278-6199 Hours: Visitors should go to www.sandpointrockgym.com or the gym’s Facebook page (facebook.com/thesandpointrockgym)

for current hours for non-members as they change based on the season. Members are given access to the SRG via electronic key card.

The SRG is a non-profit and is run entirely by volunteers — from the board, to the route setters, to the high school students and others who open the SRG for open climb. “Drop in climbing rates are $5 a day with free use of shoes, allowing inexpensive access to giving climbing a try!” said board president Katie Cartier.

Sandpoint Zumba 225 Cedar St. (@ Xhale Pilates) (208) 290-2600 Classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m., Saturdays at 9 a.m.

“I’ve been teaching Zumba for over eight years now consistently and love the energy and community my classes bring each week!” said instructor Kathy Chambers.

“People think you need dance experience to attend, but that’s far from the truth. I have many ages, sizes and fitness levels attend my classes.”

MVMNT:Gym 101 S. Third Ave. 208-263-9999 Hours: By appointment Owner Ryan Egan said MVMNT specializes in “joint movement reconditioning.” Rather than focusing on exercise, Egan said he focuses on his clients’ limitations at the joint level, and then helping them through a process to reestablish lost joint function.

“What we find is most people that

are going to gyms and exercising are actually doing harm to their bodies, and that all relates back to having restriction at the joint level,” he said. “Everybody needs (joint reconditioning) — from 6- and 7-year-olds to 60-year-old adults, because what we need as human beings is more usable ranges of motion.” Most of MVMNT’s programs right now are custom, but they do offer some group classes. Call for details.

Natural Fitness 1103 Superior St. (208) 263-0676 Hours: Open 24 hours “Our attention to our members and facilities really set us apart,” said Sandpoint location owner Shawn Martin.

Zest Inspired Living and Hot Yoga 100 N. First Ave. (208) 290-3812 Classes: Private and semi-private yoga sessions by appointment. Stand-up paddle board yoga sessions by appointment. Stay up to date on workshops, special events and retreats by visiting www.zestinspiredliving.com.

Owner Jennings Waterhouse said Zest helps people “create an inspired life through yoga, nutrigenomics and lifestyle design.”

North Idaho Jiu Jitsu 114 S. Boyer Ave. (@ Black Bear Training Center) (208) 536-3921 Classes: Monday: Fundamen-

tals 6-7 p.m.

Tuesday and Thursday: Positional training 12-1 p.m. and all levels of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu 5:30-7 p.m.

Wednesday: Drilling 5:306:30 p.m.

Saturday: Open mat 9-11 a.m.

“Something unique about North Idaho Jiu Jitsu is the support people receive walking in the gym,” said owner Jon Brown. “You are surrounded by people that want to help you achieve what seems like the impossible, all while learning something useful and staying in shape. It can be very demanding but the art distracts you from just how much you are working out at the same time.”

Shree Yoga (208) 290-6000 Hours: Classes on Mondays and Tuesdays at a private location, call for details. There are also Shree classes at the North Idaho College extension building in Sandpoint.

Shree Yoga owner and instructor Francesca Agnello said she doesn’t just teach poses — she teaches her students to apply yoga to their everyday lives. “It’s about ‘how does yoga apply to me today?’ How can yoga help you while you wait in line at the bank?” she said, adding that in her classes sometimes yoga means rest, not necessarily intense practice.

“That’s yoga — you learn to honor yourself. It’s not just learning how to do downward facing dog, it’s ‘How do I apply these principles?

How do I see my world?’”

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Ed Ohlweiler

A conversation with Holly McGarry

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The first time I met Holly McGarry was over a decade ago, when I was managing a bar in Sandpoint called the Downtown Crossing. We had a strong live music scene at the Crossing then, with great traveling bands playing every week. I would often see a quiet teenager hanging around on the sidewalk peering inside the open doors and watching everything. She watched the bands set up, listened to them play, watched them break down and load their rigs.

Sometimes I would talk to her while cleaning tables or trying to avoid the banal conversations of drunks inside. I learned that her name was Holly McGarry, and she interested in playing music.

The reason she watched from the sidewalk was because she was still a good five years away from going inside, but more importantly, she was taking everything in, learning what sounded good, what didn’t fly, and perhaps filling the well that would eventually lead to her own music career.

Some time later, someone told me that she had an amazing voice, so we booked her for a solo show.

At 16 years old, McGarry poured out more soul through her smoky, honeyed voice that I’d heard in years. It’s one of those instances when you realize that someone is doing exactly what they should be doing in life – and that they’re going to succeed.

Flash forward to today and McGarry is well on her way. After graduating from the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, McGarry joined forces with Chris Bloniarz and Ben Burns to form the indie folk band Honeysuckle, and they’ve been seeing some success lately.

Since McGarry is returning to her hometown of Sandpoint this weekend for a quick hello and a show, I thought I’d fire a few questions over to her. Here’s our brief interview.

Sandpoint Reader: You’re headed back for a stint in Sandpoint. How long are you back, and where are you playing when you’re home?

Holly McGarry: I’ll be back in Sandpoint from the 19th to the 26th. You can hear me on KRFY at 4 p.m. on the 20th, and (I’ll be playing live from) 6:30-9:30 p.m. on the 21st at MickDuff’s Beer Hall.

SR: Honeysuckle has been slowly making a name for itself back east. Tell me about some of the successes you’ve been having recently.

HM: It’s been a great year for the band. One of the biggest milestones for us was starting to work with a booking agent. Now that we’re with Crossover Touring, they’re keeping us on the road full time which I think is exactly what we need to be doing. We also have a lot more festivals on the calendar including Mountain Jam in Victor, N.Y., where we’ll be sharing the bill with artists like The Decemberists, Jack Johnson, Father John Misty and John Craigie. Though it can be a controversial topic in the music scene we’ve also had some success with streaming sites like Spotify. Though that could be an article in itself, it’s been very nice to be playing shows in states we’ve never been to and have people come out because they had heard us online.

SR: Are you on tour now?

Where are you currently?

HM: I’m writing this from a Marriot in Richmond, Virg., after a relaxing 11-hour drive. Ha ha.

We just toured our way down to Tallahassee, Fla., for Word of South music and literature festival where we got to see Blind Pilot and some

Holly McGarry. Courtesy photo.

other great nationally-touring acts.

We also played several other quirky house shows and clubs along the way. This tour marked our first times playing in West Virginia, Georgia and Florida – 27 states under our belts so far this year!

SR: Any plans for a new album in the works?

HM: I’ve started writing a handful of songs for a new record.

We’re starting to make some demos and work on arrangements. We should hopefully begin recording in earnest this fall. I’ll probably play a handful of new songs while I’m in town.

east coast. In this band instead of their usual folkie instruments Ben plays the drums and Chris plays organ/keyboards. It can create some scheduling problems, but I think they enjoy getting to play around with another genre. Quinn also has some very interesting musical friends including Buddy Guy who he has toured with since age eight.

SR: Anything else you’d like to share with us?

SR: Your bandmates are either in Europe, or were over there recently, right?

HM: Can’t think of anything at the moment. Unfortunately I’m not sure when the band or I will be in town next (fingers crossed for Thanksgiving maybe). Just hoping to see as many friends while I’m home as possible since it’s hard to know when I’ll make it back next.

HM: They played nine shows across Germany, the Netherlands and London last month with young guitar prodigy Quinn Sullivan as part of the “Rock n’ the Blues Tour.” While I’m in town they’ll be touring again with Quinn along the

Catch Holly McGarry at her live show at MickDuff’s Beer Hall on Saturday, April 21 from 6:309:30 p.m. To listen to Honeysuckle’s music, stream them on Spotify, or check out www.honeysuckleband.com.

Michael Jackson tribute band to play The Hive

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Tribute bands are a phenomenon all their own, giving fans the opportunity to hear their favorite artists perform long after they’ve passed onto that big stage in the sky.

For 14 years, there has been one preeminent Michael Jackson tribute band – the only tribute band to predate Jackson’s passing – and they’re headed to Sandpoint.

Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience, have

ignited crowds on every continent. Featuring a talented group of dancers, singers and musicians, Who’s Bad takes pains to honor and celebrate the life and music of Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, with every song.

READ

At he age of 29, Eckert Tolle experienced a dramatic inner transformation that changed his life profoundly.

This epiphany is the basis for his teachings aimed at helping humankind transcend the trappings of the mind and ego to discover a higher consciousness within.

In “The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment,” Tolle adeptly puts into simple words ideas that in the past seemed indescribable, words that can flower any spiritual path.

LISTEN

Good news! If you lack an undying loyalty to the advertising industry, you can now access a plethora of commercial-free radio channels, thanks to the internet.

Sure, there may be the occasional underwriting or pledge, but the broad spectrum of public and community stations is a breath of fresh, non-corporate air. May I recommend Normal, Illinois’ own Acousticity? If you enjoy uninterrupted celtic, folk and bluegrass, you’ll want to give this a listen...

WATCH

Werner Hertzog is renown for his intriguing documentaries, like “Happy People: A Year in the Tiaga.” It chronicles the tenuous lives of Siberians eking out an existence while trapping sable.

But what I wanted to point out is the “B-side”: in the bonus features, there’s a hidden gem of a feature-length film part of the crew made entitled “Chasing Spring in West Siberia.” They follow the awakening of flora and fauna from south to north in this vastly remote area, an example of what is now being referred to as “earth porn.”

Who’s Bad will play The Hive Friday, April 20. The doors open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. This is a 21 and up show.

Photo by Love Imagery.

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NUTRITION

Weight-loss challenge: The difficulty of changing habits From Sandpoint News Bulletin, Dec. 19, 1963

SCHWEITZER FULFILLS ALL EXPECTATIONS AS SEASON GETS STARTED With about 40 inches of snow at the ski lodge, including nine inches of new snow, ski conditions in Schweitzer Basin are ideal, Sam Wormington, project manager, said today.

“The weather is perfect,” he said. “It is warmer here than in town and we’ve had very little wind.”

Wormington says the opening days of the bid new ski area’s operation have been very gratifying as to patronage.

“And the skiers have been uniformly enthusiastic about Schweitzer,” he adds.

There have been as many as 400 skiers on the slopes at one time. Spokane and other neighboring communities have furnished many skiers. One highly pleased skier was a 73-year-old man from Kimberly who made seven or eight trips up the lift.

“The best thing about the operation thus far,” says Womington, “is the splendid response of Bonner county people. We had a great many school kids up here Saturday and we’re getting many, many housewives and business people.”

This basic local enthusiam for skiing is the vital factor in putting over the project, the manager declares.

“All in all, we’re off to a wonderful start,” says Wormington, “and at this point Schweitzer looks better to me than it ever did before.”

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By Gabrielle Duebendorfer, ND Reader Contributor You probably know what is healthy and harmful for you. You probably have set your best intention and have resistance prevail. It’s like a strong underlying current that seemingly cannot be rerouted.

The weight-loss industry benefits from that deep current of resistance with ever-new products, diets and promises. Let’s consider the possibility if we were to listen to the resistance itself and learn from it.

The return of softly falling snow the other day beckoned me to go for an energetic ski, even though the first crocuses really had me oriented towards spring.

I was OK until the skis started getting clogged with wet snow — here went my energetic ski venture! Frustration building, I realized it just was making me feel worse, so I decided to snowshoe. This considerable slowing down began to open me towards the beauty of the falling snowflakes, the wind blowing through the trees releasing snow clouds, the softness of the white blanket. Once on top of the mountain I got rid of the snow and sailed downhill — resistance acknowledged (surrender), worked with (snowshoe), understood (wet snow), and when appropriate (going downhill), removed.

Physiologically this resistance to weight-loss can be caused by several factors. Unless they are understood and addressed, regardless of intention or willpower, resistance to healthy changes will continue to take over. One major factor is environmental toxins, which are primarily stored in fat to keep them out of harm’s way. We live in an increasingly toxic world, and some individuals have a genetic propensity for poor detoxification, which becomes a problem when there are too many toxins combined with excessive stress, which further inhibits detoxification. Unless the toxin load is accurately assessed and elimination encouraged, weight will not come off as the body experiences the toxic load as stress, which leads to more fat deposition.

Hormonal imbalances often cause weight gain, especially during menopause. When reproductive hormones go haywire, the thyroid first compensates, but eventually wears out, causing fatigue and weight gain, which usually is treated

with thyroid hormone. The whole hormonal system, including the pituitary and hypothalamus has to be evaluated and addressed properly. The adrenal glands, however, play the biggest role in the weight-loss saga. When sleep, stress and blood sugar is off, the body craves sugar to balance out the adrenals.

Have you noticed that you reach for sweets when you are more stressed? Setting the strongest intention for dietary or exercise changes in that case would be just as useless as setting intention for a smooth ski when circumstances just don’t allow it.

Disproportionate amounts of processed foods in the Standard American Diet (SAD) and stress have put a continual drain on our adrenals. Bad fats, high amounts of simple sugars, lack of fiber and vegetables, and high starch diets have contributed to ever increasing inflammation.

Chronic stress is contributing to higher cortisol levels, which further increase inflammation. This is a double whammy, because both of these factors play into a viscous cycle of continual fat storage.

High cortisol causes more sugar to get converted into abdominal fat, which causes even more inflammation, fatigue, pain and insomnia – one big viscous cycle.

So you would think that low carb diets would be the answer? A colleague of mine, Dr. Christian Anderson, in his book ‘The Adrenal Reset Diet,” actually discovered that this pituitary/hypothalamus/adrenal axis often gets thrown out of whack with long-term low-carb diets, especially when combined with above factors. He recommends low-carb, high-protein breakfasts to maintain the natural cortisol high in the morning, and higher-carb, moderate-protein diets in the evening, which fosters lower cortisol to prepare the body for the night.

Ultimately this will reset this axis again.

His experiments showed reduced weight and more balanced cortisol rhythms by

simply following that regime – of course a more healthy diet than the SAD diet is the basic foundation. This is important, because exercise, sleep hygiene, supplements, detox, hormonal therapy were not changed. When those changes are added the benefits are even greater.

So does intention play no role at all in weight loss you might ask? I think intention is hugely important with keeping one’s focus on the resistance to healthy change itself, as it can be the messenger to discovering how to best rebalance. For that, we need enough quiet time to simply be or have plain fun, like taking grandkids to learn skiing.

Please come to the free talk at Winter Ridge on Wednesday, April 10, from 6-7:15 p.m. to learn more about this exciting topic.

Dr. Gabrielle Duebendorfer has practiced as a licensed naturopathic physician and certified iRest Yoga Nidra instructor in Sandpoint for 20 years.

Crossword Solution

If you were a pirate, you know what would be the one thing that would really make you mad? Treasure chests with no handles. How the hell are you supposed to carry it?!

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Seraglio 6. Wagers 10. Fur 14. A kind of macaw 15. Reflected sound 16. Dogfish 17. A belligerent little mongrel dog 18. German for “Madam” 19. Poetic foot 20. Equivalent 22. Bites 23. Man’s best friend 24. Corridors 26. Associate 30. Poplar tree 32. Mistake 33. Prophetesses 37. Disable 38. Avowed 39. Bristle 40. Sledding 42. Exclamation expressive of regret 43. Standards 44. Grass cutting tool 45. Garden tool /OB-jer-geyt/ 47. Eastern Standard Time [verb] 48. Soil 1. to reproach or denounce vehemently; upbraid of the 49. Finch-like bird harshly; berate sharply.

56. Decorative case “Dan objurgated the politician after their lies were made public.” 57. Broad valley Corrections: In last week’s “By the Numbers” column, I wrote that Led Zeppelin 58. Lofty nest made “$500 billion” off of “Stairway to Heaven,” which was a mistake. They actu59. Gambling game

Word Week

objurgate

ally made $500 million on the song. Apologies for the mistake. -BO

Solution on page 22 60. Not odd 61. Rock 62. Biblical garden 63. A musical pause 64. Dispatches

DOWN 1. Dagger handle 2. District 3. Shower 4. At one time (archaic) 5. Bullfighter 6. Confuse 7. Beige 8. Part of a comparison 9. Not northern

10. In a non-hurting manner 11. Electronic letters 12. Hobbles 13. Checks 21. Unruly crowd 25. Beer 26. Skirt lines 27. By mouth 28. French cheese 29. Designation 30. Eras 31. Large mass of ice 33. Breaststroke 34. Chair 35. Carve in stone 36. Rice beer

38. More conniving 41. Deity 42. She plays roles 44. South southeast 45. Located 46. Wrinkled fruit 47. What’s happening 48. Apollo astronaut Slayton 50. Overhang 51. Beers 52. 8 bits of data 53. Weightlifters pump this 54. Peel 55. D D D D April 19, 2018 /

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