Reader_April7_2022

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/ April 7, 2022

PEOPLE compiled by

Zach Hagadone

watching

“Quotes about April.” “Here cometh April again, and as far as I can see the world hath more fools in it than ever.” Charles Lamb Essayist

“A gush of bird-song, a patter of dew / A cloud, and a rainbow’s warning / Suddenly sunshine and perfect blue / An April day in the morning.” Harriet Prescott Spofford Novelist

“April is the cruelest month, breeding lilacs out of the dead land, mixing memory and desire, stirring dull roots with spring rain.” T.S. Eliot Poet and essayist

“Now the noisy winds are still / April’s coming up the hill / All the spring is in her train / Led by shining ranks of rain / Pit, pat, patter, clatter / Sudden sun and clatter patter / All things ready with a will / April’s coming up the hill!” Mary Mapes Dodge Children’s book writer, editor “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” George Orwell Novelist, essayist, journalist and critic

DEAR READERS, One silver lining to the past couple of years of wearing masks, regularly using hand sanitizer and keeping a bit of distance from your fellow humans is avoiding the normal head colds and flus we often get from time to time. Unfortunately, this week it finally caught up to me. I came down with a horrible case of the flu that laid me on my back. Maybe it was the fact that I hadn’t been sick with anything for two-and-a-half years, or perhaps it’s just me being a sissy, because I haven’t been laid out like this in years. Two separate COVID tests came out negative, so it was just the regular old flu, I guess. In other news, the Festival at Sandpoint continues to roll out their lineup announcements every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until they’ve all been announced. You can check out their Facebook page to see what performer will be announced next. So far, with KALEO, Pink Martini and The Beach Boys announced, it’s looking to be a great concert series. Hope you all have a great weekend!

– Ben Olson, publisher

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson, Bonner County Historical Society, Marcia Pilgeram Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Sen. Jim Woodward, Mayor Shelby Rognstad, Brom Glidden, Marcia Pilgeram, Sandy Compton Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $155 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 300 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover

We hope your spring days are filled with sun, fun and colorful tulips!

April 7, 2022 /

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NEWS

Sandpoint P&Z gives initial approval for Culver’s Crossing development Affordable housing project aims to deliver first phase of 13 homes by 2023

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The Culver’s Crossing affordable housing project cleared its first, though crucial, hurdle April 5, when members of the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to approve its preliminary development plan. Presented by Bonner Community Housing Association Executive Director Rob Hart, Culver’s Crossing is a planned unit development composed of 49 lots on four parcels, encompassing almost six acres owned by local resident Nancy Hadley. Hart described Culver’s Crossing to P&Z Commission members as “a collaboration of second-generation native Nancy Hadley and the Bonner Community Housing Association,” offering single-family and townhomes, as well as a three-unit multi-family dwelling, specifically geared toward middle income workers, the elderly and/or disabled — “those who have been shut out” of home ownership, he said, by the skyrocketing prices of real estate throughout the nation, but especially felt in low-wage North Idaho. “I don’t need to tell you that we have a housing crisis,” Hart said April 5. In an interview with the Reader on March 28, Hart said, “This will be the first time, as far as I know, that a private person is coming forward to present on affordable housing,” and stressed that Culver’s Crossing would not be available to investors or speculators. As he told the Reader, Hart reiterated to the P&Z Commission that, “if you’re an investor or speculator, don’t contact us.” Homes in Culver’s Crossing would be designed with a mix of styles, intended to replicate the aesthetic of traditional north Sandpoint, with mature trees, nonlinear streets, alley-loaded lots, a greenbelt and park space. Hart said the goal is to offer at least 60% of the homes under the 4 /

/ April 7, 2022

local housing authority. The first phase would include construction of 13 units, and already more than 100 people have applied. Rather than deed restricted, Culver’s Crossing homes would be income-based, geared toward residents who make between 60% and 120% of the area median income, which is pegged at about $60,000 per year. The housing program incentivizes buyers to hold onto their homes for at least four years. A buyer is free to sell their home in Culver’s Crossing at any time, but Hadley has the right of first refusal to buy back the home for its original sale price, plus appreciation for inflation, depending on how many years the buyer has been in the home. On the first day of the fifth year of occupancy, the homeowner “can do whatever they want,” Hart said. In the meantime, construction and labor costs will play a part in getting the homes built, and the longer the project sits on the drawing board the more expensive it will get. “We’d like to do as much as we can for the community, but this is a privately-funded project; this is not subsidized housing, so it’s very closely tied to how much it costs to build a home,” Hart said, urging the commission to approve the preliminary development plan and noting that rising income levels also push housing prices higher. Testimony was sparse at the hearing, though City Clerk Maree Peck said 40 city residents conveyed their support in writing, as well as 12 residents outside city limits. Brad Hanson, who resides in Sandpoint but spent 25 years as a home builder in Boundary County and 10 years on the P&Z Commission in Bonners Ferry, testified in person that, “I’ve seen a lot of proposals come down the pike for subdivisions and various housing developments, and I’ve seen a lot of attempts at these sort of things over the course of the

years. … I’m extremely impressed with what these folks have put forward.” Hanson referred to Culver’s Crossing as “a measured response.” “It’s approaching a very huge problem that I think is very acute,” he said, adding that the housing crunch is more severe in Bonner than it is in Boundary County. “I find it a fantastic proposal,” he added. Representing a number of neighboring property owners, resident Karen Bishop spoke against the proposal, citing worries about water drainage, deviations from the City Code requiring sidewalks, the lack of setbacks and the need for a traffic impact analysis before the final phase of construction. “This directly impacts my property and home,” she said. Carissa Lonzisero, of Sandpoint, also questioned language in the proposal that stipulated homes would only be offered to residents with jobs that benefit the community and are citizens in “good standing.”

She described that verbiage as a “slippery slope” “that could potentially lead to discrimination.” Hart responded that the “good-standing” language was an “error on our part,” and that has since been changed in accordance with requirements for fair housing. As for the drainage concerns, he said that will be addressed by the stormwater management plan, which will come later in the process. The deviations from City Code contained in the PUD request, he added, “are not unusual” and “typical and have been granted in the past.” Hart said North Boyer is poised to become an even more central arterial and housing hub than it already is, pointing to the University Place development on the east side of Boyer Avenue, and Culver’s Crossing is proposed to be a part of that growth. However, he said, “It is possible to build affordable housing and follow the rules,” and this project is intended to be a case in point of how to do it.

A proposed site plan for Culver’s Crossing courtesy James A. Sewell & Associates. Planning and Zoning Commissioners John Hastings, Amelia Boyd, Mose Dunkel, Slate Kamp and Luke Omodt voted to approve the preliminary development plan. Commissioner Forrest Schuck recused himself, due to a pre-existing business relationship with the applicant. The project will return to P&Z with its final development plan and approval of a preliminary plat before a recommendation to Sandpoint City Council. After that, the City Council will take action on the preliminary plat, then development and infrastructure construction can commence. Council would need to take action on the final plat, then building permits could be issued. Hart said the hope is to have that process completed in time to deliver the first phase of homes by 2023. Yet time is of the essence. “We’re running a very tight ship here,” Hart said.

NEWS

‘Cautiously optimistic’

COVID case counts and positivity rates point to endemic shift as Idaho approaches end of emergency declaration

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

Idaho is closing in on the end of its official coronavirus pandemic emergency status, as Gov. Brad Little announced in early March that the state would cease its emergency declaration on Friday, April 15. Little said the declaration was “an administrative function to recoup FEMA dollars for a variety of needs throughout Idaho,” but also noted that state health officials “have been closely examining the needs within Idaho’s health care system with an eye toward ending the public health emergency declaration as soon as possible.” Idaho remains on track to end the declaration, and the situation across the state — and country

— has been steadily moving toward something reminiscent of life before March 2020. Still, Panhandle Health District spokesperson Katherine Hoyer told the Sandpoint Reader on April 4 that local health officials continue to watch the virus closely. “We are all in a rush to get to ‘the end’ of this pandemic and move into some form of endemic phase,” Hoyer said. “I’m also eager to ‘return to normal,’ but we should be realistic about what that means. From what we know right now, COVID-19 will most likely not be eradicated in the U.S., so that means we will all need to live with it on some level for the foreseeable future. “The great news is that we have an effective vaccine and other non-pharmaceutical actions

that we can all take to prevent COVID,” she continued, “[like] hand washing, staying home when sick, covering our coughs and sneezes, etc.” In Idaho, 54% of the eligible population — or, those 5 years and older — have been fully vaccinated as of April 6, compared to 70% nationally. In Bonner County, that number is 41%. North Idaho has served as a hotbed for COVID-19 due to low vaccination rates, making it a focal point for crisis care activation. However, as of April 6, Bonner General Health reported that, just as it is statewide, COVID data is improving up north. “We continue to be at a relatively low and good spot in Bonner County,” said Erin Binnall, BGH spokesperson. “Testing has decreased significantly, and we

Project 7B to host free land use webinar By Reader Staff As Bonner County is experiencing a population growth boom, county government is embarking on an update of the county’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan. Bonner County’s Comp Plan was last updated in 2005. The plan is a state-mandated document that sets the vision for what the county will become as the population grows. The plan sets goals and objectives for the county to follow when it comes to land use and development. County land use codes must follow the Comp Plan. Ahead of this undertaking, Project 7B is sponsoring a Land Use Planning 101 webinar for Bonner County because the organization believes that public involvement is an important part of creating a plan that reflects the values and vision of the

community. The Zoom webinar is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 14 and is free and open to the public. The webinar will feature speakers on the topic of land use, including Leanne Bernstein, Planning and Zoning administrator for the city of Driggs, Idaho. Driggs recently updated its Land Use Plan, and is located in Teton County, which is also undergoing a plan update. The talk will cover the basics of what a comp plan is supposed to do, how planners can make sure they are following it, how land use designations are established and how all that relates to zoning. The presentations will be followed by a question and answer period. The webinar will be recorded and made available after April 14 on Project 7B’s website at

project7B.org. Graduate students in planning from the University of Utah assisted Project 7B with organizing the webinar. The students are involved with the Gateway and Natural Amenity Region Initiative, a collaboration between university faculty, government agencies, nonprofit organizations and local leaders working to assist communities in gateway and natural amenity regions throughout the West to prepare and respond to planning and development challenges. Funding from the Union Pacific Foundation also helped make this webinar possible. To register for the Land Use 101 webinar, go to bit. ly/3Dr4Y0U. For more information about local land use issues, check out the Bonner County Story Map at project7B.org.

have not had a COVID admission in the last three weeks.” The pandemic continues to affect BGH operations, though in more subtle ways than before. Currently, Binnall said masks are still required for all staff and patients while inside hospital facilities; COVID-specific rooms are still functional and available in the emergency department, medical unit and ICU; and only symptomatic patients who are being admitted are tested for the virus. Additionally, the BGH visitor politicy now allows for two support persons for non-COVID patients in a 24-hour period, and one for those with COVID. As for whether the panhandle should be prepared for further waves of the virus, especially in the face of the new BA.2 variant, BGH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Stacey Good said people should be ready for anything. “The past has shown us that we can never anticipate anything

with this virus given its unpredictable nature,” Good said. “However, we know that our positivity rate is very low now, and the BA.2 variant has not had any major effect on our region yet.” Hoyer said that while PHD “cannot predict the future,” the case count, positivity rate and hospitalization trends in the region “are reason to celebrate.” “[W]e remain cautiously optimistic,” Hoyer continued. “The BA.2 subvariant has become the dominant virus strain in Washington, but it has not caused a major uptick in cases yet, so that is also a great sign. We suspect that we will always have COVID-19 floating among the population, but the hope is that it remains at a baseline level and not the drastic surges we’ve dealt with over the past two years.” To view Idaho’s COVID-19 data, head to coronavirus.idaho. gov.

VA to outreach in Clark Fork By Reader Staff Bonner County Veterans Service Officer Bryan Hult will be at the Clark Fork Public Library (601 Main St. in Clark Fork) on Tuesday, April 12 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. to answer questions about current veteran’s benefits, assist with ongoing claims and initiate new claims for benefits for eligible

veterans and their dependents. Veterans will be seen by appointment only to ensure they are given quality time. Call 208-255-5291 no later than Friday, April 8 to schedule your appointment. If there are no appointments scheduled for the outreach, or if conditions prohibit travel, the outreach will be canceled. April 7, 2022 /

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NEWS

County declares Child Abuse Prevention Month Request comes on behalf of foster home Kinderhaven, which has helped more than 2,000 local children By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff Bonner County commissioners proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month during the board’s regular April 5 meeting. The proclamation, according to Deputy Clerk Claire May, is meant to symbolize Bonner County joining people nationwide in their effort to “raise awareness about child abuse and neglect prevention.” Recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month came at the request of Kinderhaven — a Sandpoint-based nonprofit that serves as a group foster home and emergency shelter for local children in need. Kinderhaven Executive Director Jennifer Plummer spoke on behalf of the organization at the commissioners’ meeting, noting that recent state and federal legislation has tried to “alter” the nonprofit’s operations “quite a bit.” “I’m very happy to say to you all today … that after some contract wrangling, which had to do with federal legislation — which really aimed to make Kinderhaven a two-week only shelter, which is not what we’re about — we have actually come to a point [where] children do not have time limits

Photo courtesy Kinderhaven. at Kinderhaven,” she said. Kinderhaven has been able to serve more than 2,000 children since its doors opened in 1996. The facility, which is the only one of its kind in North Idaho, is staffed 24 hours a day and capable of taking in children in crisis at any moment. “We want to make sure that the whole town [and] county is aware that Kinderhaven is as vital as ever, as necessary as ever,” Plummer said April 5. “There are so few foster homes in our area, and so we’re very happy and pleased that the county is making this proclamation.”

Sandpoint branch pickup scheduled for April 11-15 By Reader Staff

The city of Sandpoint has scheduled its annual city-wide branch pickup for Monday, April 11-Friday, April 15. All branches must be in place by Sunday, April 10 for pickup, as city crews will not come through a second time. Pickup guidelines: • Stack all brush and branches lengthwise in the street along the curb — do not place branches on lawns. No leaves or bagged leaves. • The maximum branch diameter is 6 /

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four inches and no longer than six feet. Larger branches or stumps will not be picked up. • Do not mix brush piles with other items such as leaves, grass clippings, building materials, timbers, or commercial contractor generated tree waste. Crews will not remove mixed piles. As a reminder, residents should prune branches that might overhang sidewalks to keep walkways clear and usable. Trees should also be trimmed a minimum of seven feet above the sidewalks and streets.

Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling: The Congressional proposal to hold on to Daylight Saving Time was tried in the early 1970s to help save fuel; in northern states dawn did not occur until 9 a.m. or later. Workers and school children did not like leaving home in the “pitch black” and, as veryserious.com reported, it was generally agreed that no one wanted to “endure another winter of this nonsense.” Scientific American reported that losing out on morning sun can have health consequences: Starting the day in darkness can increase risk of depression, obesity and even heart disease. The Atlantic proposed doing the opposite and making Standard Time permanent. A federal judge has ruled that Florida’s one-year-old election law is both unconstitutional and racially motivated. Due to a 20-year history of Florida hindering Black votes, Judge Mark Walker barred the state from making similar voting laws over the next decade, unless there is federal approval. The Get Foreign Money Out of U.S. Elections Act has been introduced to Congress. If it gets past pro-corporate Senators, it would close a campaign finance loophole allowing U.S. corporations “appreciably owned” by foreign investors to provide unlimited cash to American elections. But, foreign donors can now finance U.S. referendum campaigns, according to a recent 4-2 ruling by the Federal Elections Commission. The FEC said ballot initiatives are not “elections.” According to Republican Rep. Madison Cawthorn, fellow Republicans are engaging in cocaine and sex orgies. Cawthorn is encouraged to “name names or retract it.” In the past Cawthorn has said a car accident made him “less intelligent”; he has a history of making unfounded claims. Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, had regular meetings with Donald Trump during his presidency, Rolling Stone reported. She would bring lists of who Trump should hire and fire; a former

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

Administration official said the lists were “insane and unworkable.” Politico reported on comments from Russians fleeing their home country: Russians are gradually realizing they are ruled by a dictator. Also, those who believe Russian media propaganda are often poor, work hard all day, and just accept what’s on state TV… “it’s easier not to think.” Somalia in East Africa imports most of its wheat from Ukraine, but that supply is threatened with Russia’s invasion. Vice.com reported that Somalia is facing its fourth consecutive season of no rain, and 28 million people risk severe hunger. The drought has dried farmlands and killed livestock. The U.S. Labor Department reported 431,000 new jobs added last month, with unemployment falling from 3.8% in February to 3.6% in March. CNN says the U.S. is on track to recover from the pandemic recession eight years sooner than it did with the Great Recession. Blast from the past: In the 1200s Mongols conquered Ukraine. In the next century Lithuania and Poland took control, turning Ukrainian peasants into serfs. They rebelled with Cossack soldiers, and Ukraine was under Polish rule until the 1600s. By the mid-1700s Russia had control over almost all of Ukraine; Ukrainians remained serfs. In the 1920’s the Communists limited cultural and political activities in Ukraine, then in 1929 began to take control of peasants’ small farms. Resisting Ukrainians were sent to Siberia and Soviet Central Asia, which led to crop failures and starvation for those reliant on Ukrainian farm goods. When WWII ended, the Soviets took over parts of Ukraine that had been under Czechoslovakian and Polish control. Ukrainians continued to resist Soviet domination and efforts to limit their cultural freedoms. With a 92% “yes” vote for independence, Ukraine became its own country when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Why others have coveted Ukraine: Its agricultural sector thrives, and it has significant mineral resources.

NEWS

Local mother sees $1M settlement after Spokane Co. deputy kills her son Funds will be used to further the work of the Ethan Murray Fund, supporting mental health services and more By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff The case is closed between Spokane County and Sandpoint woman Justine Murray, who sued the county after a sheriff’s deputy shot and killed her 25-year-old son, Ethan, in May 2019. In a settlement finalized March 29, the county will pay $1 million to end the lawsuit. Murray said that learning of the settlement made her feel “so many things” — among those emotions, “relief that I don’t have to keep reliving the horrible details about Ethan’s last moments.” Ethan experienced mental illness, homelessness and addiction. While the sheriff’s deputy who killed him claimed that Ethan wielded a knife during the encounter in a wooded area of Spokane Valley, it was later determined that Ethan was unarmed. “There are really hard things I have learned over the last three years that play over in my head like an ongoing trauma, including how Ethan suffered for 15 minutes after he was shot five times,” Murray told the Reader. “He must have known he was dying. As his mother, there is no greater pain.” According to the Spokesman-Review, Murray, along with Ethan’s father, Mark Jentsch, filed the lawsuit in July, alleging the deputy “violated their son’s constitutional rights and the sheriff’s office provides inadequate training for dealing with mental health issues.” While the case reached a settlement, the county did not admit liability, the Spokesman reported. “I do believe that when a settlement does occur it does admit some form of accountability for wrongdoing, even though Spo-

kane County won’t admit that,” Murray said. Joseph Wallace, the deputy who killed Ethan, continues to work for the sheriff’s office and, according to the Spokesman, was promoted to detective. “As a mother, the only option for me was a civil suit,” Murray said, adding that “it would have been a different story” if Wallace had been wearing a body camera or a bystander had been filming on a cell phone. “There is no real justice for Ethan and won’t be until we have a better mental health system in place,” she added. “No amount of money can bring him back or fix what has happened.” Murray, who owns a shop in downtown Sandpoint, plans to channel the settlement money into an effort already working to create a better mental health care system in North Idaho: the Ethan Murray Fund, which she established in her son’s honor. The nonprofit has a mission to “offer financial support for mental health, homeless and addiction services in North Idaho.” The EMF board has been busy launching its first efforts to support services that already exist in the panhandle. In January, the group donated $20,000 to Bonner Homeless Transitions, which offers transitional housing and other programs to help people through the trials of homelessness. “Not only do they get housing for people, and stability,” Murray told the Reader in January, “but they also go beyond that and they help them get back into the community, back on their feet, with things like transportation, medical [help], parenting classes, nutrition classes.” Central to EMF’s operations has been recognizing and honoring Ethan’s love of the outdoors.

Justine Murray and her son Ethan, who was killed by a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy in May 2019. Courtesy photo. Murray and her partner, Matt Connery, completed a more than 800-mile hike of the Idaho Centennial Trail in 2021, earning $60,000 in pledges and donations to help EMF get off the ground. In the future, the board hopes to host an annual hike in Ethan’s memory. In addition, Murray said some of the funds will go toward “a documentary telling Ethan’s story.” The EMF board will also continue to talk with local community members and service providers to gather information

on “where the biggest need” exists in North Idaho’s mental wellness realm, Murray said. “What gaps can we fill?” she said. “Or do we choose to work toward a bigger project [or] goal?” One of those goals might be a 24-hour crisis center for those in need of a place to stay and receive help, or possibly a 24-hour mental health crisis response team that responds to mental health calls rather than the local police force. Murray said CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets),

one such team in Eugene, Ore., is one example she points to as a valuable alternative to current law enforcement mental health response protocols. CAHOOTS exists through a partnership with the city of Eugene, and has been providing initial contact and transport for people who are intoxicated, mentally ill or disoriented for nearly 30 years, according to the city’s website. “They dispatch a team that consists of a medic — nurse or EMT — and an experienced crisis worker,” Murray said. “The team provides immediate stabilization, assessment, advocacy and transportation to treatment.” Murray said the next EMF event is scheduled for Saturday, May 28 — Jackpot Barrel Racing at Rapid Lightning Arena, hosted by Teresa Gavin. The event is set to kick off at 10 a.m. with more details to come, and will serve as a fundraiser for the nonprofit, which, according to Murray, is only getting started. “I will keep fighting for all the families out there that have loved ones desperately trying to get help,” she said. “I receive emails, calls and messages on a weekly basis from people I have never met asking for help or resources for a loved one, or sharing their personal story, or wanting to help with our mission of the EMF. “It’s heartbreaking how many other Ethans are out there unable to get help,” she continued, “and it’s also tragic how the family members are treated trying to access care for their loved ones. Big changes need to come and I stand with these families until they do.” To learn more about the Ethan Murray Fund’s mission and upcoming events, visit ethanmurrayfund.org. April 7, 2022 /

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Arbor Day in Dover…

Bouquets: • Cheers to Schweitzer for another great season. This weekend will be the last days of skiing before we lock our winter away in a heart-shaped box and return to it in December. I had a blast and I hope all of you did, too. • Kudos to the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper and Idaho Conservation League for leading the annual Sand Creek Cleanup last weekend. I was unable to attend myself, but I saw the pouring rain that day and thanked all the volunteers who showed up with gloves, garbage bags and smiles to clean up our Sand Creek and City Beach area from litter before the water rises. ICL will take over the Clean-Up from here forward, so big thanks to LPOW for all the years keeping our shorelines clean. Barbs: • I played a show last weekend and had an awkward altercation with an audience member. He was wearing a “Let’s Go Brandon” hat and I mentioned at one point in jest that the guy was all right, even if he was wearing a terrible hat. That’s when he attempted to lead the bar in a chant of “Let’s Go Brandon.” The other patrons weren’t interested, so it all died down until the end of the show, when I was wrapping cords and the man returned to show me his shirt, which was equally asinine. I rolled my eyes and went about my business, but he continued to smirk and troll around in front of the stage, obviously enjoying the fact that he had pissed someone off. When I told him to beat it, his friend came up and said, in a foreboding tone, “You’re in the wrong bar, pal.” “Oh really? I’m in the wrong bar, huh?” I said back. “Who the hell are you to tell someone who was born and raised here that they’re in the ‘wrong bar?’” This is not the first time someone who isn’t from here and doesn’t live here has tried to attach some kind of ownership over the region’s political ideology. It’s annoying when it happens, because they are always so sure of themselves until you tell them you’re a born-and-raised local, then they sheepishly slink back to the fever swamp where they came from. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but there’s a time and a place to share it. 8 /

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Dear editor, City Hall applied for the 2022 Arbor Day Grant last month, and we were generously awarded $300. We look forward to using these funds to help landscape our new Post Office for the community. April 29, 2022: Mark the date. Mayor Eskridge signed the 2022 Arbor Day proclamation designating this day as Arbor Day in Dover and it states, “On this day Mayor Eskridge urges all citizens to celebrate Arbor Day and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands. He also urges citizens to plant and care for trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.” Stay tuned for updates and grand opening information on the new Post Office. Tiffany Camp Deputy clerk, city of Dover

‘Orwellian gobbledygook’... Dear editor, The Senate has approved legislation that would make Daylight Saving Time permanent in the U.S. beginning in 2023. The bill, called The Sunshine Protection Act, would mean Americans no longer need to change their clocks twice a year. Fine. Who wants to reset their clocks twice a year? But why not make Standard Time permanent when we go back to it in the fall? Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., said on the floor of the Senate, “let’s get this bill on President Biden’s desk and deliver more sunshine to Americans across the country.” Such Orwellian gobbledygook. All this Act does is shift everyone one time zone east, effectively relegating those of us in this part of Idaho to Mountain Standard Time year-round. But there’s nothing to prevent these busybodies — armed with good intentions of course — from enacting a new, enhanced Daylight Saving Time in the future, wherein we’re moved yet another time zone east in the summer

months. Insanity. The idea behind time zones is that our clocks indicate noon, or close to it, when the sun reaches its zenith, or solar noon. Solar noon occurs at different times at different locations within a time zone, of course, but varies at a stationary location as well. We’ll never get our clocks to match the sun, other than temporarily, but the last thing we should do is to intentionally increase the mismatch. In Sandpoint, for instance, solar noon varies be-

OPINION

tween 11:30 a.m. PST in November to 12 p.m. PST in February. If DST is enacted year-round, these times become 12:30 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. I prefer the former. To Sen. Murray and her fellow bureaucrats in Washington: Please stop trying to modify our behavior by messing with our clocks. Let schools and businesses decide their own hours. One size does not fit all. Dave Mundell Sandpoint

Troops to Ukraine… Dear editor, Enough is enough! The United Nations and NATO need to gather 200,000 troops with full vehicle support and move through Ukraine, pushing back or arresting all Russians troops until the country is free again. The world must help stop this genocide. James Richard Johnson Clark Fork

Solving problems that don’t exist By Sen. David Nelson, D-Moscow, and Tim Gresback Reader Contributors The latest Idaho legislative session has ended, thank goodness. Instead of rolling up their lawmaking sleeves to address the real dayto-day problems Idahoans wrestle with — such as sky-rocketing housing costs, unfair property taxes and crumbling infrastructure — the extreme, but powerful, right wing of the Legislature has been obsessed with trying to solve divisive social problems that don’t exist. First, let’s start with the misguided quest to dismantle our sound election laws. Sen. Mary Souza and Rep. Dorothy Moon, both running in the Republican primary for secretary of state, introduced competing and wholly unnecessary bills to make it tougher for citizens to vote. Idaho elections, however, are squeaky clean. The real motivation behind their efforts, besides electoral ambition, is not to protect election integrity but to discourage voting by erecting unnecessary, and likely illegal, hurdles to the process. By contrast, we welcome and encourage citizens to vote, and are not afraid of robust voter turnout. Voting should be easy, especially for our elderly and young people. Second, the far right is not content to act as fiscal watchdogs regarding spending on public education. Instead, their goal, led by the so-called Idaho Freedom Foundation, is to dismantle public education altogether. This year, they not only voted against funding optional, all-day kindergarten statewide, but expanding broadband internet connectivity.

Sen. David Nelson.

The radical right is very creative in advancing fictional boogeymen to eat up precious legislative energy and undermine public education. Just like the nonexistent fraudulent voter, the extremists falsely claim that our educators and university faculty are “indoctrinating” students. Sadly, fomenting this indoctrination fear provides fuel to the chainsaw that cuts public education budgets. Third, members of the House are attacking librarians. Benjamin Franklin was an early advocate for a robust American public library system. Public libraries, he correctly forecasted, allow lower-income citizens to educate themselves. Instead of championing the wonderful American success story of public libraries, the far right held the Legislature hostage, past the planned adjournment, to punish librarians. Their crime? The extremists contend librarians around the state are somehow providing pornography to our children. The claim is absurd, but unfortunately, the budget cut is real and misdirected. The actual money cut is for rural citizens to access telehealth services at rural libraries. Idahoans deserve actual leadership. This is why Democrats were

Tim Gresback.

focused on improving emergency medical services, incentivizing teachers to work in rural areas, funding workforce housing developments, enabling schools to be able to purchase electric school buses, providing property tax relief for in-home caregivers and more. Many critical budgets — like the Division of Medicaid, literacy funding for K-3 students and the Idaho Supreme Court — also only survived because every Democrat voted in favor, while a majority of Republicans were against. If voter fraud, indoctrination and librarian-distributed pornography were real problems, we would be first in line to propose commonsense solutions to address those. However, we can’t fix what isn’t broken — or is nonexistent. We will continue to address real challenges, not divisive and imaginary issues that rile up an extremist base to help win a primary. Sen. David Nelson is in his second term and is running for re-election in Idaho’s new District 6. Moscow attorney Tim Gresback is a candidate for the House of Representatives, Seat 6B.

PERSPECTIVES

Legislative update: By Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle Reader Contributor The 2022 legislative session adjourned for the year on March 31. Accomplishments of the session are an indicator of Idaho’s strong economy and the significant population growth we are seeing. With the tax revenues available, we made record investments in transportation and education, funded much-needed improvements for public safety and the Idaho State Police, cut the income tax rate, provided tax relief by returning taxpayer money to Idaho taxpayers, and were still able to put money in the rainy-day savings accounts. I am cautious in assuming we will see ever-increasing tax revenues at the state level. We certainly have a growing population that is contributing to state economic growth, but I believe we also are still seeing the effects of federal dollars flowing into the state. These federal funds cannot continue at the current rate. The national debt as compared to gross domestic product is at a level only previously seen after World War I and World War II. In line with this cautious approach, all

efforts were made in the budgeting process to match ongoing commitments with ongoing tax revenue. One-time revenue will be used for one-time projects. As an example, federal funds for sewer and water improvements are not being put in the base budget of a Sen. Jim Woodward. state agency. Instead, those one-time funds will go out primarily to municipalities and rural water and sewer districts for capital improvement projects necessary for safety and continued function. Spending the money on capital improvement projects ensures a long-term return. A renewed commitment to our public schools was made this legislative session with more than $300 million in new ongoing general fund dollars provided. This is a 12.5% increase in the K-12 schools’ budget, necessary for retention and recruiting in the current inflationary environment as well as to keep up with student population growth. Nearly one-third of the increase was to bring school employee health benefit fund-

Mayor’s Roundtable: By Mayor Shelby Rognstad Reader Contributor

sound dynamics so citizens can see and hear better in the room. The Memorial Field project reached completion in 2021. There have been a lot of Having seen the community’s changes at City Hall over the priorities implemented at the past year. Most notably, the new facility for a full season has city completed a remodel of the been rewarding. The new field administration offices. Since met its promise of increased the city’s 2018 strategic plan, a play extended throughout the top priority of City Council has year. The improved parking been to implement the “one-stopand boat launch saw heavy use Mayor Shelby Rognstad. through the summer and the shop” customer service experience called for in the plan. Now when cusFestival at Sandpoint was a great success. tomers come to City Hall to pay a utility bill, New bathrooms, a kayak boat launch, apply for a building permit or special event, new landscaping all contribute to a better there is no confusion about where to go and experience for city residents and visitors at there is always someone at the front desk to Memorial Field. help you. The improvements were primarily The city has continued to make progress funded with a combination of CARES Act, on its master planning initiative, completing ARPA and general fund dollars. The city its capital improvement plans and is in the also received a clean third-party audit, which process of updating its Strategic Plan. Other focused testing on ARPA funds, ensuring the significant tasks underway include the Utility city’s responsible use of those federal dollars. Rate Study, the Comprehensive Land Use The feedback from the public has been Plan update, an updated parking study for 100% positive for these improvements. The downtown, a Land Use Study and a recreation remodeled Council Chambers have also been plan for the Little Sand Creek Watershed. well received and have enabled better public All of these efforts require significant participation with improved technology and staff time and resources. I’m incredibly

2022 Legislature struck a balance between today’s obligations, investments in the future ing on par with state employees. In addition, the previously approved teacher career ladder pay scale increases were made. Additional funding was also provided for K-3 literacy programs, which schools may use to provide optional all-day kindergarten. The state funding increases for our K-12 schools are a benefit to the local property taxpayer. School budgets are funded by a combination of federal, state and local property tax dollars. As more state funds are provided, the contribution from property taxes can be reduced. Another benefit to our rural areas is the transportation funding authorized this year, including $200 million now available for bridges on our local road systems throughout Idaho. Bonner and Boundary counties have fared well in the past through the competitive grant application process that will be used again to distribute these funds. I expect we will see several projects in our area to upgrade small bridges that are worn out. In addition to the $200 million for bridges, there is another $200 million for highway maintenance that will go to the Idaho Transportation Department and to local road systems in a 60/40 split. This means our cities and counties will get their share of $80 million of new maintenance funds.

The Idaho income tax rate is now 6%, down from 6.5% last year, and down from 7.4% just over five years ago. In addition to the rate reduction, tax rebate checks are going out now. The amount you will receive is 12% of what you paid in 2020, or a minimum of $75. The grocery tax credit was increased from $100 per person to $120. A family of four can now annually purchase $8,000 of groceries without tax. I believe that the financial decisions described above, as well as the policy choices in the new laws, reflect our Idaho values. We strive to find a balanced approach between today’s obligations, investments in our future, positioning ourselves for potential economic distress and a respect for the hard-earned taxpayers’ dollars. We value our freedoms and our independence. I don’t know of another state that is doing as well as Idaho or that I would rather live in. The challenge is to keep what we have. Jim Woodward is a second-term Republican senator from Sagle. He serves on the Joint Finance-Appropriations and Education committees, and as vice chair of the Transportation Committee. Reach him at 208-9467963 or jwoodward@senate.idaho.gov.

Sandpoint State of the City 2022 proud of our team, which has demonstrated professionalism and resilience to stay focused on our strategic priorities while managing day-to-day operations and the unexpected challenges that have arisen with COVID and other unforeseen circumstances. We’ve hired four leadership positions over the past year that are great additions to our team. Amy Tweeten is the new city planner, Gavin Gilcrease is our fire chief. Maeve Nevins-Lavtar is our new Parks Planning and Development manager, and Greg Lanning is our new director of utilities. These good people are great additions to our leadership team and I know they will continue to serve our city well. We have seen unprecedented growth over the past year, some of it built and some of it in process. This has our infrastructure and development teams working extra hard to meet the demand. Another indication of the level of growth and the city’s commitment to support arts and culture is the number of special event permits that we have received already this year. The number of event applications is up three to four times what it has been in the past. This is a positive reflection on the city’s investment over recent years to improve parks and public spaces to enhance

Sandpoint’s arts and culture. Lastly, in March the city received the largest private donation that has ever been granted to a city in the state of Idaho. James and Ginny Russel graciously donated $7.5 million to the city of Sandpoint for the construction of an enclosed athletic courts facility to be constructed at Traver’s Park. This facility is in alignment with the vision of the recently completed Parks and Recreation Master Plan and demonstrates the power of a community driven master plan to marshal resources and bring together community partners to achieve a common vision. Also this month the city received a donation of two bronze statues donated by Ann Hargis and Denny Liggitt for the Gateway Plaza, also at Traver’s Park. These statues are collectively valued at $300,000. These exceptional gifts collectively are also a demonstration of the professionalism and effectiveness of city staff who have consistently delivered the high level of performance and integrity necessary to build the public trust that could attract such a donation. We are incredibly fortunate to have such quality people working for the city of Sandpoint. April 7, 2022 /

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Mad about Science:

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preserving and restoring documents By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Anyone who has watched the Nicholas Cage adventure epic, National Treasure, has witnessed how not to preserve a historical document. In the film, Cage’s character steals the Declaration of Independence from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. to prevent a treasure-hunting adversary from doing the same. In the process, he manages to repeatedly roll and unroll the document, as well as coating it in acidic lemon juice and even blasting it with a hair dryer to coax out hidden messages scrawled in invisible ink on the back of the map. It’s worth noting that there aren’t any hidden messages scrawled in invisible ink on the back of the Declaration of Independence. No matter what Aunt Karen may have shared with you on Facebook, it’s just not true. The preservation of historical documents is a tradition as old as our ability to write down our thoughts. The libraries of antiquity, such as the colossal Library of Alexandria, had scholars who dedicated their lives to the preservation and replication of important documents. Skilled as they were, the scholars of the Library of Alexandria could not preserve their documents through two catastrophic fires. Thanks, Caesar… The best method for preserving historical documents has always been to replicate them. After all, the knowledge contained within the document is far more valuable than the paper itself. In some respects, this is a philosophy that still rings true 10 /

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today, as digitization has become the primary form of document preservation. The speed and ease of digitization has allowed us to preserve all sorts of documents, and not just the most important ones like treaties and constitutions around the world. You can even access newspapers from the late 1800s through the digital library at ebonnerlibrary.org. You’re probably more interested in how organizations like the National Archives and the Smithsonian preserve physical documents, as opposed to their digital counterparts. An immense amount of science and technology go into keeping these documents intact for future generations, though much of it is simpler than you might expect. Document preservation is all about keeping things consistent and balanced in a way that all pieces of the document are the least likely to degrade. The greatest threats to paper are all too small for our eyes to see. Fungal spores are eager to feast on the organic compounds contained in paper, which would allow the mold to quickly reproduce and escalate the destruction of the document. Additionally, the presence of bacteria and fungi can draw insects, which will draw even larger pests like mice and rats that can destroy a document in mere seconds. Temperature and humidity are balanced to keep the structural integrity of the documents from altering. As temperature rises, the molecules that constitute a larger structure will vibrate and cause the structure to expand. As the temperature cools, the reverse will happen and the item will shrink. Repeated expansion and contraction will wreak havoc on the structure of a brittle doc-

ument. Additionally, increased humidity will both damage the item’s structure as well as foster the growth of mold, while too little will dry out the parchment and cause it to fall apart. The Declaration of Independence is stored in an enclosure filled with argon gas to keep conditions at a consistent 67 degrees Fahrenheit and 40% humidity. Finally, one of the greatest threats to aging paper is the very thing we need in order to see and appreciate it: light. When light strikes matter, it transfers some of its energy to create heat. This is particularly true of ultraviolet light, as you may notice when you leave an object laying out in the sun for extended periods of time, it will be warmer than something in the shadows and will eventually become very pale. The energy introduced to the surface of the item by light causes tiny chemical reactions to occur. Generally, these reactions are polymer chains breaking down. Certain polymer chain configurations present in pigments used in inks absorb certain wavelengths of light in the visible spectrum - so long as the polymer chains are intact. Once the light starts to break down these polymer chains, items will stop reflecting those wavelengths and just bounce back ambient white light. This is great for a crisp, white piece of copy paper, but devastating for ancient documents. The last bit of information I have might surprise you. You’d think that anyone handling these documents would be wearing gloves, right? Our hands are filthy conduits for microbes and grime that would then transfer onto the documents and do

irreparable harm. It only makes sense to wear gloves. It turns out that’s not the case. Archivists thoroughly clean their hands and handle documents barehanded. Gloves block our tactile senses and make it far more likely to damage the document accidentally in the process. White cotton gloves you see scientists and archivists using in the movies are some of the worst things to wear when handling ancient artifacts. The nature of

woven textiles leaves tiny gaps that catch on surfaces and make for prime real estate for bacteria, mold spores and grime to hide away. Even nitrile and latex gloves can trigger unwanted chemical reactions that we can’t see until the damage has been done. Stay curious, 7B. This topic was suggested by Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey. Thanks, Lyndsie!

Random Corner Don’t know much about golf? • Modern-day golf was invented in 1457 in Scotland. The game has been banned three times throughout history because the Scottish government believed it interfered with military training. • The first golf balls were made of feathers wrapped in leather. These balls flew much farther than those that came after. They were used until the mid-1800s, when ball designers transitioned to wood. • Before golf tees, players would shape mounds of sand and place the golf ball on top. Tees were finally popularized in the 1920s. • The term “birdie,” which denotes scoring one under par for a hole, was coined accidentally by Ab Smith, who hit a “bird of a shot” in 1889. • A “condor” is a term given to a hole-in-one on a par five. It is almost as rare as two hole-in-ones in a single game of golf (1 in 67 million).

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• According to its website, the La Jenny Resort in Aquitaine, France, is the only nude golf course in the world. • Greenland hosts the World Ice Golf Championships on a small island called Uummannaq. It’s not uncommon for snow blindness to become a serious problem during the round, and the greens are called “whites.” • More than 300 million golf balls are lost or discarded each year in the U.S. The average golfer goes through in excess of 100 golf balls per year. • The average professional golfer will hit about 500 golf balls — per day. This is not counting chipping and putting. • An average 190-pound golfer will burn about 431 calories per hour while playing golf (if they are walking, not riding in a cart). • Golf is one of two sports that has been played on the moon. The other sport is the javelin throw.

PERSPECTIVES

Sandpoint has changed And there is no person or reason to blame for housing? If they have no place to live, they move out of the area or stop working to gain access to housing again. It’s an unfortunate cycle, but the system is rigged against their ability to use it as intended (as a stepping stone out of poverty). Many entry-level employees move out of the area since our current economy doesn’t afford them a place to live, even if they have a full-time job as well as a part-time second job. The struggle to afford rent, utilities and food is growing more and more challenging.

By Brom Glidden Reader Contributor

Sandpoint is in a period of change and there isn’t anyone we can point the finger at. Life is complex and this situation is no different. There are many facets to this. I’m going to do my best to present a collection of connected concepts into a coherent observation. Here we go: COVID COVID has changed how businesses operate. They have played with the idea of people working from home in order to adapt to the recent pandemic. This isn’t a bad thing. Businesses evolve and, when COVID created challenges, they adapted. People normally work close to their homes so many of the workers stayed in metropolitan areas. Now they are able to work from home, they have options for selecting where they want to live. Also, living wages tend to be a bit higher in urban areas, but so is the cost of living so the system kind of balances itself out. Technology Back in the day before we had the internet, it was easier to keep Sandpoint a secret. Now, almost everyone walks around with a smartphone in their pocket. We live in an age when we can disseminate information quickly and share pictures. Sandpoint and the surrounding area is gorgeous. People can take pictures of the area and share them online. We aren’t a secret anymore and people admire the area just like we do. I can’t hold that against them. Banks We had a housing bubble back around 2006 due to banks engaging in predatory lending. That’s not what’s currently happening. They are able to offer loans at lower rates and I doubt this will go away. We aren’t facing another housing bubble, so we can’t depend on the bubble bursting and things going back to normal.

The corner of Pine St. and First Ave. in Sandpoint, circa 1910s. Photo courtesy Bonner County History Museum.

Non-natives Because the area we live in is amazing, people want to live here. That’s the American dream, right? Work hard and carve out a small piece of land for you and yours. Because there are people who make more money in urban areas and suddenly have the ability to travel, they have the right to make offers on local property. We can’t blame others for wanting to be in such a wonderful area, too. Local landlords/property owners If you’re struggling to make ends meet, or simply want to move away, you will obviously sell your property. It is seemingly common sense that you’ll accept the highest offer. You want what’s good for you and yours and so it makes sense to make money on what you own and worked hard for, too. When a few locals sold for high prices, that created ripple effects. That raised the perceived value of the surrounding area. As a natural result, property taxes increased, as well. Now landlords are forced to pass that increase along to their renters in order to effectively keep renting out their prop-

erties. They need to make an income and be able to pay all applicable fees, as well as generate more money in case the property needs repairs (an inevitability for all property owners). I don’t see the majority of landlords as being “greedy,” rather just attempting to adjust to the changing local climate. Local workers People are always going to prioritize their basic needs: food, water, shelter, clothing (a.k.a., their homeostasis). If they can’t get those needs met, they will move. Because the cost of housing has risen, it is hard for entry-level employees to find affordable housing. We have low-income and high-income options, but I don’t see hardly anything in the way of a transition once you leave the government-aided low-income housing options. I doubt the majority of people are lazy, which is often another thing I hear. I suspect that most of them are faced with the hard choice of limiting their work contributions in order to maintain low-income housing, which requires they not cross a certain income threshold. If they do, what are their options

Local employers Because it’s harder to find entry-level employees, employers have only one tool in the tool box: offer higher wages to attract workers. When they do this, they still need to make a profit on their goods, so the cost of paying workers more is ultimately passed on to the consumer, thus raising the cost of living. This is why raising the minimum wage doesn’t really work. Weather won’t save us People from outside of the area are largely unaffected by the cold. Many express the hopes that the cold winters will drive them away. The people moving here likely have enough money to have a second home in many instances, and are able to be the proverbial “snowbirds.” If you take a holistic view of the situation, we are in an irreversible period of change. I imagine that this is kind of what it must have felt like to be in the carriage building business around the time that automobiles were becoming more popular. I want to be wrong. Please let me know if there is anything I’m not seeing that can help us retain our local identity. I have a limited understanding and am by no means an expert. I am, however, a native who loves our town. I too struggle with change. I also recognize that there is only one constant in this world: change. Everything is always changing, whether we like it or not. April 7, 2022 /

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COMMUNITY

Rotary Club of Ponderay Centennial Named Peacebuilding Club By Reader Staff The Rotary Club of Ponderay Centennial recently earned the distinction of being named a Rotary Peacebuilder Club by the Rotary Action Group for Peace (RAGFP). “We are so very honored to be named a Peacebuilding Club and we hope to serve its mission well,” said Club President Kari Saccomanno. “It’s about creating grassroots energy and momentum for positive peace in our community and around the world.” Peacebuilder Clubs plan and implement community development and humanitarian service projects in the areas of war prevention, peacebuilding,

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peacekeeping and peacemaking, helping communities to convene, collaborate and unite for peace action. RAGFP serves as a platform for members to connect to a global network of peacebuilders, and is a large and growing community of Rotary Club members in more than 80 countries around the world. Rotary believes that every community around the globe has a role to play in advancing world understanding, tolerance, empathy, goodwill and peace. For more information, contact Ponderay Rotary at PonderayRotaryClub@ gmail.com or go to PonderayRotaryClub.com. Interested people are welcome to attend the club’s meetings at any time to learn more.

COMMUNITY

No eggs-aggeration Christ our Redeemer Lutheran Church to host hunt for 10,000 Easter eggs on April 10

By Reader Staff Easter egg hunts are a staple of childhood. Whether it’s a giant neighborhood hunt or backyard family event, boiled morsels or candy-filled plastic, kids are sure to remember the thrill of finding colorful goodies hidden in the grass. It’s a tradition that Sandpoint’s Christ our Redeemer Lutheran Church takes seriously, as evidenced by its annual “ultimate” 10,000 Easter Egg Hunt. The church, located at 1900 Pine St., will host its third annual hunt on Sunday, April 10. The event, which is free

Participants in the 2021 egg hunt at Christ our Redeemer Lutheran Church make a mad dash for some goodies. Courtesy photo. to all participants, begins promptly at 11 a.m. and usually lasts only a few minutes, so it is important to arrive early. The hunt will feature different agebased categories, and is open to toddlers all the way up to 12-year-olds. Kids should bring their own bag or basket for egg collection. Eggs — all 10,000 of them — will be of the plastic, candy-filled variety. According to organizers, “the event will happen rain, snow or shine.” Head to corsandpoint.org for more information, or call 208-263-7516.

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ART

Where everyone is an artist Joyce Dillon Studio offering classes in photography, sculpture, drawing and more in coming weeks

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

Everyone needs a creative outlet. For the Pend Oreille Arts Council — and more specifically, the nonprofit’s recently opened Joyce Dillon Studio — that outlet can be anything you want it to be, regardless of prior experience. One must simply be willing to learn. In that spirit, the studio — named for Joyce Dillon, who died in 2020 and left a portion of her estate to POAC — is offering no shortage of classes in the upcoming months, hoping to ignite North Idaho’s creativity in an affordable and accessible way. Jan Rust, who serves as the chair of the JDS committee, told the Reader that she feels compelled to volunteer her time to the studio because she believes “people

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are healthier, happier and more fulfilled when they are learning and creating.” “I think the art studio fills a need for community members to expand their skills, enjoy the creative process, meet other like-minded people and add some beauty to their lives,” Rust said. “I also believe that, because the classes are varied in time, length, medium, complexity and cost, the studio program can provide a positive experience for a broad cross section of the Sandpoint population.” That variation is on full display under the JDS class listings on the POAC website, with classes offered over the next few months in everything from acrylic painting to wildlife photography, fabric art to watercolor work, and figure drawing to print making. Some of these courses last for only one session, while others are offered as a series. Registration closes five days before each class is scheduled, with a required minimum of four participants signed up in order for the class to take place. Each course will see a maximum of 10 students. “Our intention was to keep prices to a minimum for students while providing a fair wage for instructors,” said POAC Arts Coordinator Claire Christy, noting that cost is often associated with the class’ length. “A one-time workshop — like dream catchers — will be around $30, and a 6-week course geared toward artists — like principles of design — will cost $180.” Christy said that instructors are paid hourly based on enrollment, so the more students they have, the more they get paid. “Student costs are kept to a minimum,”

Artists in the Joyce Dillon Studio show off their work. Courtesy photo. Christy added. “If we only meet the minimum of four students, POAC breaks even and the instructor is still paid.” To those debating whether or not an art class might be for them, Rust said it’s important to know that each class at the Joyce Dillon Studio is “designed to work for everyone.” “Classes are small in size and the instructors embrace the idea of teaching multiple levels in every class,” she added. “The teachers are all local artists who love what they do and they want everyone to enjoy a personalized creative experience. Beginners as well as practicing artists are encouraged to participate.” Those interested in taking art classes at the Joyce Dillon Studio should check POAC’s website often, organizers said, and sign up for their desired class as soon as possible. “We are adding new courses in a variety of subjects all of the time,” Christy said. “Many classes are designed for beginners, so don’t be discouraged if you have no art background.” The Joyce Dillon Studio is located above the POAC office at 110 Main St. in Sandpoint. To see a complete list of classes, head to POAC’s website at artinsandpoint.org and scroll down to the “art class registration” link. You can also reach the current class catalog by going straight to artinsandpoint.org/jds-student.

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events April 7-14, 2022

COMMUNITY

BGH recognizes volunteers

THURSDAY, april 7

Cornhole at MickDuff’s 6pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall $10 entry with a 6-game guarantee. All are welcome. Switchholio format means come as a solo or group and play with 4 random partners before being matched for the final double-elimination bracket

Annual conifer seedling pickup 7:30am-4:30pm @ Delay Farms bonnerswcd.org for more info April artist of the month: Nicole Black 4-6pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Black is a Sandpoint native with a longtime presence in the local arts community whose artistic talent is extensive. See the reception from 4-6 p.m.

FriDAY, april 8

Live Music w/ Scott Reid Trio 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery A fun selection of bluegrass and folk

Live Music w/ Oak St. Connection 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

SATURDAY, april 9

Live Music w/ Doug and Marty 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Mandolin guitar duo from Sandpoint Live Music w/ Other White Meat 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Live Music w/ The Timber Rattlers 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

BCRCC candidate forum 1-4pm @ Sandpoint Library Idaho Rep and Senator forum, hosted by BoCo Republican Central Committee

SunDAY, april 10

Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am Closing day at Schweitzer @ Schweitzer One last time to ski this season! Ukraine Peace Vigil 1-2pm @ Hwy 2 bike path Starting where Superior St. crosses Hwy 2. Every Sunday, rain or shine

Live Music w/ Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs 7-10pm @ 219 Lounge A relentlessly energetic bluegrass/Americana band combinging 4-part harmony with rock ‘n’ roll drive. End of ski season party - bring your pass to get a hot dog. 21+ The Ultimate 10,000 Easter EGGstravaganza 11am @ Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church Different categories for ages from toddler through 12-year-olds. Rain, snow or shine. Be sure to arrive early, because it starts at 11am sharp. Children are encouarged to bring their own baskets for egg collection

monDAY, april 11

Blind Beer Tasting at IPA 6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority A monthly event (ever second Monday) where patrons are offered the chance to try something new and challenge existing thoughts on beer. Litehouse YMCA Town Hall meeting 5:30-7:15pm @ Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1900 Pine St. Open to all in the community!

Group Run @ Outdoor Experience 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome, beer after

CDA Casino Resort Trip 8:30am-4:30pm @ Sandpoint Senior Ctr. The Sandpoint Senior Center is offering this CDA Casino bus trip. Call to reserve your spot on the bus: 208-263-6860 Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

wednesDAY, april 13

Live Music w/ Reese Warren 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

ThursDAY, april 14

Festival at Sandpoint’s Live From 525 w/ Thom and Coley and Sam Leyde 7:30pm @ Festival office (525 Pine St.) Thom and Coley are singer-songwriters who have made it big in the country world. Sam Leyde is a multiple IN-CMA award winner. Tickets $19.99 available at festivalatsandpoint.com (they sell out fast!) 16 /

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By Reader Staff Bonner General Health was pleased to present Jan Temple with the 2021 Volunteer of the Year award at its annual awards luncheon. This award is given to an outstanding, dedicated volunteer who is recognized by supervisors in the department where they volunteer. “Thank you, Jan, for all of your hard work, dedication and service to our hometown hospital,” BGH wrote in a statement.

Jan Temple, left, and Jan Morgenstern, right. Courtesy photos. BGH also awarded Jan Morgenstern with the Honorary Membership Award. Morgenstern has volunteered with BGH for 23 years. She was council member president from 2001-2003 and accumulated more than 2,100 hours of volunteering in various positions at BGH. “We thank Jan for all of her dedicated contributions to volunteering,” BGH wrote.

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MUSIC

Festival at Sandpoint announces first acts of the 2022 season KALEO, Pink Martini and The Beach Boys will all perform this year

By Ben Olson Reader Staff The release of the upcoming Festival at Sandpoint’s lineup is always a highly-anticipated time of the year. Music-lovers have a lot to be excited about for the 2022 season, as the Festival has announced three stellar acts to grace the stage under the iconic white tent. Icelandic rock band KALEO will take the stage Wednesday, Aug. 3 with a special added date. You read that correctly; there will be an extra bonus show this season. As the driving creative force behind KALEO, JJ Julius Son’s iconic voice has taken the world by storm, with his top single, “Way Down We Go,” receiving more than 500 million views on Spotify. Since the release of their gold-certified breakthrough album A/B in 2016, KALEO has taken their music around the world. The album spawned three hit singles: the Grammy-nominated “No Good,” the gold-selling “All the Pretty Girls” and the two-times platinum-certified “Way Down We Go,” which has been used in more than two dozen TV shows, from

Grey’s Anatomy to Riverdale. Known for their electrifying live performances, KALEO often sells out every venue they play, including big concerts like Coachella, Lollapalooza and Bonnaroo. Tickets will be $54.95 for general admission. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7:30 p.m. The next announced performer is no stranger to the Festival stage. Pink Martini will play at Memorial Field on Sunday, July 31, featuring lead singer China Forbes. Drawing inspiration from music all over the world, and crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop, Thomas Lauderdale founded Pink Martini in 1994 to provide more beautiful and inclusive musical soundtracks for political fundraisers for causes such as civil rights, affordable housing, the environment, libraries, public broadcasting, education and parks. Almost 30 years later, Pink Martini still tours the world, singing in 22 languages at opera hous-

The Festival at Sandpoint announced The Beach Boys, left, Pink Martini, center, and KALEO, right for the 2022 concert series. Courtesy photos. es, concert halls, film festivals, museums and fashion shows. In 2014, Pink Martini was inducted into both the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and the Oregon Music Hall of Fame. They performed the Festival at Sandpoint in 2012 and again in 2017. Tickets are $44.95 for general admission. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.. Last but certainly not least in this week’s announcements is the legendary surfer band The Beach Boys, who bring “Sixty Years of the Sounds of Summer” to the Festival stage Thursday, Aug. 4. With more than a half century of making music, the Beach Boys continue to ride the crest of a wave unequaled in America’s

musical history. Their iconic songs go hand-inhand with the California lifestyle, with such titles as “Surfin’”, “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “California Girls,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “Barbara Ann,” “Good Vibrations,” “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and so many more. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide and have received more than 33 RIAA Platinum and Gold record awards. They were also inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame and honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2001 Grammy Awards . The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love, who, along with longtime member Bruce Johnston,

musical director Scott Totten, Brian Eichenberger, Christian Love, Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher and Rachy Leago continue the legacy of this iconic band. This concert will not feature Brian Wilson, Al Jardine or David Marks. Tickets are $69.95 for general admission. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit festivalatsandpoint.com or email info@ festivalatsandpoint.com. The Festival at Sandpoint will continue to roll out announcements of performers every Monday, Wednesday and Friday until they have all been announced.

Festival Live from 525 gets a little bit country Thom and Coley will play with Sam Leyde April 14

country songs, “Riding with Private Malone” and “Redneck Yacht Club. He has also penned three Texas Music No. 1 hits with “Beer Season,” “My Texas” and “The Get your boots on and prepare for an intimate evening with some Night is Young.” Shepherd has had more than 100 songs recorded by of the area’s best country music other artists, two Grammy-nomiartists with the Festival at Sandnated albums, and multiple top 10 point’s Live From 525 concert series. Sandpoint-based singer-song- hits nationwide and in Texas. He also has appeared in Parrot Heads, writers Thom and Coley will be a documentary featuring Jimmy joined by Sam Leyde for a night Buffett. of boot-scootin’ country music. McCabe is a Thom Shepherd platinum-selling Live From 525 and Coley McCabe songwriter who — playing as Thom With Thom and Coley and hails from West and Coley — always Sam Leyde; Thursday, April 14; Virginia. She doors at 5 p.m., music at 7:30 bring the fun with has performed p.m.; $19.99 GA. Festival at their performances. numerous times Sandpoint office; 525 Pine St., Shepherd is origifestivalatsandpoint.com. Listen on the Grand nally from St. Louis, at thomandcoley.com and Ole Opry stage. Mo., and is the samleydeband.com. While on RCA writer of two No. 1 By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Records, McCabe’s song “Grow Young With You,” was featured in the Natalie Portman/Ashley Judd film Where the Heart Is. McCabe’s writing credits include the award-winning group SheDaisy and legendary Loretta Lynn. She has also starred in the feature film Alabama Love Story. Joining Thom and Coley is Post Falls native Sam Leyde, a multiple IN-CMA award-winning singer-songwriter. Leyde is known for blending Americana, country and rock, and is the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Sam Leyde Band. Leyde just released the album Big Small Town in February 2022 with his band. He won the 2019 North Idaho’s Got Talent and the 2019 Spokane Songsmith Challenge and also auditioned for the TV show The Voice.

Live From 525 is an intimate 30-seat concert held at the Festival at Sandpoint’s office at 525 Pine St. in Sandpoint. There is a small bar with drinks and snacks available for purchase. No outside food or beverages will be allowed. No weapons or firearms will be allowed inside the venue. General admission tickets are $19.99, but members pay only $17.99. Visit

Thom and Coley, left, and Sam Leyde, above, will play the Festival at Sandpoint’s Live from 525 Thursday, April 14. Courtesy photos. festivalatsandpoint.com for a link to purchase tickets. Seats fill up quickly, so don’t delay. Interested in becoming a Festival Member? A minimum donation of $100 to the nonprofit will get all perks of member discounts. April 7, 2022 /

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater Goddess of the garden By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

Last weekend, the massive mound of crusty snow finally disappeared from my corner lot. The kids refer to it as Mount Mimi (thanks to a snowplow operator who piles the entire block’s worth of snow in my front yard every time he makes a pass down the street). So, with the promise of spring in the air, I cruised my soggy yard and was surprised to find several, bright-green young garlic plants shooting up from one of my raised beds. It was as though I had discovered a goddess in my garden. Despite last fall’s loud decree (no more vegetable gardening for me), it appears I’ll be eating my words, served with a side of garlic. I barely recall planting the small starts; there is but a faint memory of Ryanne telling me I was growing them all wrong, as they languished in the hot summer sun. After last summer’s dismal yield, I promised myself: no seeds or seedlings and no starts. I was not even going to purchase Red Wheelbarrow’s tall, handsome tomato plants. I planned to purchase all my garden goods at the summer markets. But finding those beautiful garlic plants in my yard (on my birthday!) had me swooning over all of the possibilities springing forth from the dirt. I love garlic, and lots of it, and I rarely cook without it, save for one particular friend with an allergy (or aversion) to it. Garlic’s been known for its health and healing qualities for centuries and remains a mythical wonder, curing various disorders that have affected us for centuries. Garlic was even fed to the 20 /

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enslaved Egyptians, giving them added stamina as they labored to build the great pyramids. Thousands of years later, garlic still holds its own as a popular recipe ingredient and favorite health enhancer. Almost everyone loves garlic, evidenced by festivals celebrated throughout the world. I can still recall my first garlic festival. I was on a threeday, private train layover in Oakland, Calif., and learned of a garlic festival in not-so-faraway Gilroy. When none of my railcar cohorts showed an ounce of interest in attending, I rented a car at Jack London Square and headed south solo. I knew I was headed in the right direction when, just a couple of miles north of Gilroy, the aroma of garlic permeated the roadside, welcoming me to the revered land of garlic. Touting

itself as the garlic capital of the U.S., its festival has been going strong since 1979. There’s nothing garlic-related you can’t find to buy (or eat) while you’re there. Besides the usual — garlic powder, paste, salt, garlic clove stuffed olives and pickled garlic — you’ll find beautifully braided garlic ropes, and you can even sample chocolate-coated cloves (no thanks). The one I attended had cooking demonstrations and even a garlic eating competition (no thanks). If you plan to attend a garlic festival, a road trip to Gilroy’s in order and you won’t be disappointed. The 2022 garlic festival is July 22-24 (gilroygarlicfestivalassociation.com). I’ve seen many techniques for peeling garlic and lots of implements you can try, too. But, from firsthand experience, I can warn

you never to soften a head of garlic in the microwave. I once put a head in the microwave for 30 seconds on a friend’s advice. Then I was supposed to wrap it tightly in Saran wrap and after a minute or so, the cloves would pop right out of the softened bulb, but I never got to that step. I must have set the timer for three minutes because we soon experienced a massive explosion of garlic. Massive. The force was so great that it blew the microwave door open, and the entire kitchen (including the ceiling) was covered in micro blobs of stinky, gooey garlic. I can also tell you from experience that there isn’t a candle scent in the world to mask the smell of stinky, burned garlic. I’ve given up on all the techniques touted by friends and the tools hyped on cooking shows.

Garlic shrimp INGREDIENTS: • 1 stick of butter (8 tbs) • 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined (leave tails on) • 1 tsp sea salt • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 6 cloves garlic, crushed and minced • 1/4 cup chicken stock • Juice of 1 large lemon • 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley • 1/4 cup white wine

DIRECTIONS: Melt 2 tbs butter in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add shrimp, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pink, about 2-3 minutes; remove shrimp and set aside, covered to keep warm. Add garlic to the skillet, stirring frequently, until just fragrant (not browned), about 1 minute. Stir in chicken stock and lemon juice. Bring to a low boil; reduce heat and simmer until reduced by half, about 1-2 minutes. Whisk in wine and remaining butter, a spoonful at a time, until melted and smooth. Stir in shrimp and gently toss to coat. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley leaves, if desired.

Instead, I prefer to use the side of a sharp butcher knife and crush the clove with a tremendous forceful whack, then finish removing any skin that remains and mince the skinless clove with the knife blade. I’m still not fond of peeling garlic when whole cloves are required for a recipe. The best technique I’ve found so far is turning the project over to an unsuspecting guest, who makes the fatal mistake of asking, “Can I help you with anything?” Garlic doesn’t take long to cook (or burn). It’s done when you begin to get a whiff of its fragrance. I can’t think of a savory dish that’s not better with a little sauted garlic, including shrimp, and after you try the recipe, no doubt you’ll agree.

These shrimp, swimming in fragrant garlicky-butter, can be served over pasta or poured into shallow serving bowls and served with lots of French bread to dunk into the butter. Enjoy with lots of white wine. Makes four servings

MUSIC

Gone to the (bird) dogs

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs to play end-of-ski-season party at the 219 Lounge on April 10

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff The room is dark, the pint glasses are cold and the music — it’s loud. Every manner of flannel, sneaker and party dress populate the dance floor, spinning and hopping up and down to the thrum of the bass strings. Voices catch the chorus bug and sing along. Open hands rise and fall with the melody, and glasses and cans reach for the sky with each hoot and holler. As it is played to the packed room, the music transcends genre and stereotype. It reaches to the core of its listener, and pulls forth an ability to live fully in that moment. This is the music of Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs — a five-piece string outfit hailing from Bozeman, Mont., which will bring this scene to life at the 219 Lounge on Sunday, April 10 in what is sure to be a sold-out 7 p.m. show. While there will be no ticket sales or cover charge, the Niner will hand out 94 wristbands starting on Friday, April 8 when the business opens at 11 a.m. The bar will give one wristband per person in an effort to “pack this place with people who really want to be here,” and seating will be limited, so arrive early to obtain accommodations if needed. This also serves as an end-of-ski-season bash, so bring in your Schweitzer season pass to get a free hot dog. The Reader last caught up with Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs in 2019, and in the time since, the group has seen every-

thing from the highs of growing more popular across the country to the lows of, well, every musician’s worst nightmare coming true: a pandemic. “We didn’t know when we were going to play next. It was like sitting in purgatory,” Matt Demarais, banjo player and vocalist, told the Reader. “When we lost our job it was like, not only are we not getting paid, but we love what we do,” he added. “We love traveling, and being on stage. It was like a part of you being taken away.” Though difficult, Demarais said the impact the pandemic had on live music “galvanized” Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs as a band. “It made us better, and made us pivot a little bit with what we wanted to sound like and what kind of band we wanted to be,” he said. “Prior to the pandemic, we were a party band … I think we have a little more perspective now.” The band’s latest album, Through the Smoke, recorded and released in 2021, puts that shift on full display. While live shows remain wildly high energy, full of thumping bass lines and soaring fiddle solos, Through the Smoke showcases refined lyricism and a band leaning into its identity as blue-collar, Western storytellers. Part of what makes the group’s stories compelling are the multiple voices telling them. Demarais said he, along with guitarists Lena “Laney” Schiffer and Josh Moore, serve as the “three-headed” vocalist “monster” of the group. Along with bassist Ethan Demarais and multi-instrumentalist Brian Kassay

This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone

READ

For only being 39 years old, Julia Ioffe has cut an outsized figure in the world of elite journalism — and especially as it pertains to Russia in the 21st century. Her C.V. is too long and prestigious for this space, but after all her many plum masthead postings, she’s now founding partner of puck.news and with a newsletter, Tomorrow Will Be Worse, on the site. Her Russia reporting has always been top notch; now it’s indispensable.

LISTEN

on fiddle, mandolin and harmonica, Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs have created what Demarais calls an “alternative grass” sound. “We’re not trying to be a bluegrass band,” he said. “What we all love about bluegrass is the instrumentation — the flexibility of string instruments. You can play anywhere, and with the bluegrass genre, you can play rock music, you can play country music, you can play hip-hop.” Demarais has always seen himself as a rocker or metalhead rather than a bluegrass man. “I always loved the idea of having a banjo in a rock band,” he said. “Acoustic instruments playing rock music — I just thought

Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs will play the 219 Sunday, April 10. Courtesy photo. that was so cool.” When this reporter pointed out that Demarais could, in fact, say that he plays a banjo in a rock band as part of the genre-bending, rock-driven Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs, he laughed. “It’s true,” he said. Listen to Laney Lou and the Bird Dogs and find the band’s social media links at laneylouandthebirddogs.com. The 219 Lounge is located at 219 N. First Ave. in Sandpoint.

Oak Street Connection, MickDuff’s Beer Hall, April 8 There are some deep roots on Oak Street Connection. The twopiece consists of Chrystle Horvath and Sam Cornett, both Sandpoint High School graduates — class of 1998 and 2000, respectively — and alums of the choir program under the direction of longtime director Jon Brownell. That Horvath and Cornett have stellar chops is undeniable, as is their chemistry as a duo infusing covers of jazz, R&B, blues, rock, pop and rap with their own

well-practiced vocals and instrumentation via piano and guitar by Cornett. These are a couple of local kids done good and they sound damn good. — Zach Hagadone

The socalled “timber wars” were a defining feature of life in the Northwest from the late-1980s to the mid-2000s. It was an ugly period pitting environmentalists against the timber industry against the federal government, and neighbors against neighbors, in a toxic political climate that feels similar to the present. The brilliant Oregon Public Broadcasting podcast Timber Wars explains why those wars came to be waged and how we’re still fighting them, though sometimes on different fronts. Find it at npr.org.

WATCH

U.S. democracy came under its gravest threat in at least a generation on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob of insurrectionists tried — though failed — to overthrow or at least stall certification of the 2020 election. PBS Frontline on March 29 aired the 54-minute documentary “Plot to Steal the Election,” which connects a number of disturbing dots hitherto out of the media glare, but ultimately of the utmost importance. Stream it at pbs.org.

6:30-9:30 p.m., FREE, 21+. MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., 208-255-4351, mickduffs.com. Listen at reverbnation.com/oakstreetconnection. April 7, 2022 /

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BACK OF THE BOOK

From Pend d’Oreille Review, April 6, 1917

PEND D’OREILLE WHITEFISH DISAPPEARING FROM LAKE Though the Pend d’Oreille whitefish season will not close for two months yet, it is evident even now that this season will go on record as the poorest for some years. When asked as to the condition of business, Charles J. Rudine, one of the pioneer local buyers, said, “You may say the whitefish business is humbug. Stormy weather and increasing scarcity of fish has put this year’s business on the ‘hummer.’” Mr. Rudine explained that the scarcity of whitefish in Pend d’Oreille lake was due in part to the increasing number of char and large trout which are a menace to the whitefish; also to the increasing number of peanose in the lake. The peanose are small and harmless, and why they should cause the departure of the whitefish is not known; but the fact remains that whatever waters they invade the whitefish abandon. The fishermen and shippers are, however, endeavoring to make the best of the situation by building up a market for peanose. Large quantities in small sample lots are being sent out and it is hoped in time to create a demand for them. The Bonner Fish company who are large dealers have been unable to anywhere near fill their orders for whitefish this winter. They had made plans early in the season for reaching out after new trade, but were obliged to abandon them. Particularly unfortunate were all dealers and fishermen during the opening weeks of the lenten season, when they were literally flooded with orders which they were unable to fill, rough water at the time preventing the average catches. 22 /

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On spring and winter By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist Spring managed to surprise me this year. Again. I walked to the river and discovered fresh-grown catkins hanging from an errant Sitka alder that has taken root in the stream bank. I have no idea what that alder is doing there, for most of my experience with said plant has been traversing patches of it above 4,000 feet. Where it belongs. Each spring, I take a picture of the last of the snow where it has shed from the shop roof or the north side of the house. The latest date I can find in this series is May 9, 2011. We will beat that by at least a month this year. Winter was somewhat kind. There were no big snows after the one in early January. Rain? Yes. And a good dose of extra cold, as well. But rain and cold don’t pile up and cause worry about the strength of trusses. I didn’t have to shovel the shop this year. I skied a lot, though, the most since I learned to ski three-plus decades ago. It’s doubtful that I will ever exceed that, because I skied almost every day from January to mid-April in 1991. I was a bit younger then. And winter was more wintery. In spite of the volume I enjoyed, skiing was less than epic. There were a few really good days of fun in the trees, and some fine groomer days, but powder in its purest form didn’t often form. That takes cold and timely precipitation, which we suffered a lack of. Our base layer was well-laid — frozen to the slopes, in fact — but the overlay was often sludgy or bulletproof. This is not the fault of the ski area. Our

STR8TS Solution

climate is trending warmer. We may not believe that, or want to believe that, but the science says we are getting hotter by the decade. Since the year that I learned to ski, the average temperature of the planet has gone up about 1 degree Centigrade, or 2.2 degrees Fahrenheit. No big deal, you think. Well, let’s think again. If that trend continues — it’s pretty much a straight line average increase since 1960 — by 2100, the planet will be about 4 degrees C warmer, or almost 9 degrees F. That means every day. And that means less snow, which means less skiing, which means less fun for skiers. I’ll probably be well gone by then, but given that scenario, I would rather shovel the shop roof. There is a whole bunch of information and misinformation about global warming out there in internet land. Some of it is egregiously self-serving. Some of it is intentionally misleading. But a lot of it is valid and kinda scary. The question is what to believe and what to do about it. You will have to make up your own mind about the former, but there are some pretty good answers to the latter that make sense for the planet in other ways, as well. We might quit buying and driving 12 mile-per-gallon monster trucks. We wouldn’t have to pay so much for gasoline, while simultaneously reducing greenhouse gasses. We might ride our bikes or walk — yes, I said “walk” — to the store that’s four blocks away. We might quit cutting every tree in every new development (as seems to be done as a matter of course these days), and allow the planet’s lungs — we call them forests — to continue saving us from plane-

tary suffocation. We might learn to live with less of what we want and be happy that we have what we need. We might learn how the planet works to keep us all alive (I’m including cockroaches, coyotes, calliope fish and children), so we would be more thoughtful about what we do to the planet. Those are just a few suggestions. I myself would really like to be surprised by spring again — every year for the rest of my life. But that means there has to be a winter. Sandy Compton’s books can be found at Sandpoint bookstores, the Ledger office in Thompson Falls and online at bluecreekpress.com/books or (if you’re in a big hurry) amazon.com. His next live StoryTelling Company will be Sunday, April 24 at Eichardt’s Pub in Sandpoint

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solution Instead of putting a quarter under a kid’s pillow, how about a pine cone? That way, he learns that “wishing” isn’t going to save our national forests.

Solution on page 22

septentrion

Woorf tdhe Week

By Bill Borders

/sep-TEN-tree-on/

[noun] 1. the north.

“Look to the septentrion for a good view of Polaris.” Corrections: In our March 31 story “Kaniksu Land Trust secures agreement for Pine St. Sledding Hill,” we incorrectly stated that the Weisz family donated 160 acres to the Pine Street Woods. Rather, KLT purchased that land following a multi-year community fundraising effort. —LKC

Laughing Matter

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Formally surrender 5. Abounds 10. You (archaic) 14. Dwarf buffalo 15. Relative magnitudes 16. Back 17. Diner 19. Makes a mistake 20. An uncle 21. African language 22. Catkin 23. Makes unhappy 25. Fortuneteller’s card 27. Altitude (abbrev.) 28. Depict 31. Good-looker 34. A childhood disease 35. Knave 36. Burden 37. Stars on stage 38. Pow! 39. Black gunk 40. Ascended 41. Walk 42. Sudden emergence of the sun 44. Conceit 45. They make wool 46. Drool 50. Water lily 52. Consumer of food 54. Euro forerunner 55. Death notice 56. Portion

Solution on page 22 9. Drunkard 10. Quake 11. Unorthodox 12. Acquire deservedly 13. At one time (archaic) 18. Poplar tree DOWN 22. Circle fragments 24. Rostrum 1. Concerns 26. Vipers 2. Colonic 28. Comforter 3. Drugged 29. Curse 4. “Dig in!” 30. Jittery 5. Absentee 6. Deservedly receives 31. Camp beds 32. Two-toed sloth 7. French for “State” 33. Gate 8. An American 34. Spells incorrectly militiaman

58. South American weapon 59. Flora 60. Leer at 61. Observed 62. S S S S 63. P P P P

37. Calamitous 38. An indistinct shapeless form 40. Regrets 41. Ancient Greek marketplace 43. Himalayan kingdom 44. Chooses by voting 46. Rock 47. Ecru 48. French school 49. Graphic symbols 50. Tosses 51. Double-reed woodwind 53. “Oh my!” 56. Simian 57. Not bottom April 7, 2021 /

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