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Ask about our Festival Special! Manicure and pedicure for only $40
We inject trees with fertilizer and insecticide to help rejuvenate the tree and kill off the larve and beetles inside.
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Over 100 artists!
(wo)MAN compiled by
Susan Drinkard
on the street
What’s your favorite part of the Bonner County Fair? “The showing of chickens and pigs. I’m showing a Durock Crossing pig and a Golden Laced Cochin chicken.” Elliot Kees Home schooler Sagle “I enjoy most of it. For 15 years I manned one of the church booths. I still like the Christian stuff and the Gideons. I also like to see the goats, geese, cows, horses, etc.” Karl Long Retired Naples
DEAR READERS,
Welcome to smoky, beautiful, busy Sandpoint in August. These are what they call the “dog days” of summer. I get that now — nothing makes you pant like a dog like 90-plus degree weather with a smoky film in the air. Hopefully, if the weather pundits are correct, we will be breathing a little easier by this time next week. Check out the news page for an update on air quality and the weather forecast. It’s Festival at Sandpoint week two this weekend, and if the second week goes anything like the first, we’re in for some great shows. I wasn’t able to attend Jake Owens because of a wedding, but Pink Martini and the B-52s were both incredible nights, and the Family Concert is always a great event for the kiddos and parents alike. Coming up this week, in case you are emerging from a cave, is The Head and the Heart, Iration and The Wailers, George Thorogood and the Destroyers and the grand finale featuring the Spokane Symphony Orchestra led by Maestro Gary Sheldon. I’d like to recognize my staff in this remaining space. Our advertising director Jodi Taylor joined our small, disfunctional family over a year ago — we are so happy to have her with us. I love Jodi’s energy and her passion for keeping the revenue coming in so we can keep bringing you the Reader week after week. Our latest addition to the Reader is staff writer Lyndsie Kiebert, a recent graduate of the University of Idaho. Lyndsie has what it takes to be a journalist. and we’re sure she’ll go far. I enjoy her can-do attitude and her ability to sniff out a story. Also, she’s North Idaho through and through. That goes a long way here at the Reader. Also, we were fortunate to have another intern on staff this summer, thanks to our friends at Keokee. McCalee Cain has added a youthful sense of fun to our office, while tackling a few stories a week for us. In September, when she returns to school, McCalee will serve as the editor-in-chief of the SHS Cedar Post. We hope to work with McCalee so we can publish more school-related content throughout the school year. Last but not least, editor Cameron Rasmusson has been with me since the beginning of this crazy adventure. His integrity and prowess with the written word is second to none. I couldn’t do it without him. It is my sincere hope that we generate more revenue, so I can pay these hard-working people what they deserve. Publishing is a tough business, but it is so worth it in the end. Thank you all for reading.
-Ben Olson, Publisher
“I like the pigs because they’re cute. I like the petting zoo. And I like the frozen yogurt.”
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Josie Cox Sandpoint Waldorf School Sandpoint
“We like the photography exhibit. We have historically entered our photos in the fair and gotten lots of blue ribbons.” Bob and Kay Deubel Retired Sandpoint
“I’m 16, but my favorite part is the bouncy house, and I like petting the pigs and horses.” Emma Riach 11th at SHS Sandpoint
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www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover), McCalee Cain, Lori Reid, William Greenway. Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, McCalee Cain, Nick Gier, Scarlette Quille, Jodi Rawson, Christian Rose, Brenden Bobby, Dianne Smith. Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash. Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover
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This week’s cover photo was taken at the Festival at Sandpoint by Ben Olson. The B-52s rocked the house last week!
A SandPint Tradition Since 1994 August 10, 2017 /
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COMMENTARY
North Korea and the full meaning of ‘I and Thou’ By Nick Gier Reader Columnist Suki Kim’s book “Without You, There is No Us” is one of the most moving accounts of another culture that I’ve read in a long time. During the summer and fall of 2011, Kim, born in Seoul and now a New York writer, taught English at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) in North Korea. As incredible as it may seem, PUST, where the sons of North Korea’s elite are schooled, is financed and staffed by Christian missionaries. They are forbidden to proselytize, but nonetheless believe that by “showing the love of Christ and being kind” to these future leaders, they would plant the seeds for their eventual conversion. As Kim explains: “North Korea was the evangelical Christian Holy Grail, the hardest place to crack in the whole world, and converting its people would guarantee the missionaries a spot in heaven.” Suki Kim mentions two meanings of “without you, there is no us.” The first is that Koreans cannot recover their true identity as a people without a peace treaty and the unification of their divided country. Over the years, some family visits have been allowed, but most Koreans do not know what happened to family mem-
bers after the war. North Korean officials make this process nearly impossible by removing people from their home towns. The ancient clan system, which provided social cohesion through large extended families, has been abolished. The most remarkable insight in Kim’s book is the realization that her students were not just robots. They joked around and teased each other, and they expressed genuine love for their teachers and parents. One day Kim asked her students to write a letter on any topic. Most of them wrote to their mothers, about how they missed them and how they kept their pictures nearby for consolation. One of their fondest memories was helping their mothers make kimchee. Kim found them to be ideal students: “They shouted out each answer together, hung on my every word, and demanded more homework. I had never been revered so absolutely.” Kim was convinced that their sincerity was not false, and they truly loved their dear “professor.” They cried when she left after their summer session together, and they desperately wanted her to come back in the fall. It is significant that, in the open topic letters she assigned, none of Kim’s students mentioned the late North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il. Miraculously, they were liberated for
just a brief moment. One of them wrote: “I am so glad at this chance to write down what is on my mind.” But then on December 17, 2011, the “Great Leader” died. The second meaning of “without you, there is no us” now captured their minds with full force. Years of brainwashing convinced them that without Kim Jong-Il, they could not be. These young men who missed their mothers and loved their teachers were now nothing but shadows, something very much like the wraiths of Hades. The next morning Kim was in the dining room eating her last breakfast on campus. Her students refused to sit with her or even meet her eyes, and they looked as if the “life had been sucked out of them. I no longer existed for them in this world without their Great Leader.” In stark contrast to the departure after summer session, this time there were no tears and no goodbyes. North Korea is one of the last hold-outs of the Cold War, an ideological battle between Western individualism and communist collectivism. Most people have found the latter not only economically destructive but also morally corrosive, and North Korea is the most dramatic example of the multiple failures of communism. We in the West have not fully examined the fundamental problems with our own
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. excessive focus on the individual, which has led, arguably, to many of our society’s ills. When pondering this issue, I always like to turn to the wisdom of Martin Buber for guidance. In his classic book I and Thou Buber writes: “There is no I as such but only the I of the basic word I-Thou. I require a Thou to become; becoming I, I say Thou.” For Buber, too many of us interact with others on an “I-It” basis. The truth in Buber’s profound statement is verified in the fact that our personal identities are just as much formed by others as they are by ourselves. So Buber offers the most fundamental meaning of “without you, there is no us.” The I-Thou relationship is the only place where authentic persons are found, but, every day, individualist and collectivist ideologies may rob people of their very souls. Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy and religion at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read the full version at www.sandpointreader.com under “Columns.”
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Left to Right: Candice Nelson, RP®, Senior Registered Associate; ® Tom Gibson, CPA, CWS , Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Emma Gibson, RP®, Associate Financial Advisor
Church to host Peace Market By McCalee Cain Reader Intern The First Presbyterian Church is slated to host a performance from an world relief youth choir for a special event focused on community engagement and education. The church has various projects in the works right now. They are creating a community peace garden in the adjacent yard, featuring a gazebo and labyrinth being built with help from the Rotary Club. They will additionally welcome the community in for a Peace Market on Saturday, Aug. 12. The concert will take place on Sunday, Aug. 13, after a sermon from Reverend Nancy Goodwin. Church Renewal Committee member Lynn Pietz explained that the event has been long in the making. “A member of the committee suggested the group, and it sounded wonderful,” Pietz said. “We’ve been in touch since early summer, or maybe even May.” Throughout the planning of the event, Pietz has connected with and coordinated with the choir. “We’ve reached out to the community, and there are going to be a variety of booths offering various things like crafts and antiques, to name a few,” she said. Proceeds from the Peace Market will help with the building of the Peace Garden. The African refugee youth choir will not only share music, but also some stories. The event serves to educate about the refugee experience, through the eyes of young people.
HUMOR
The Rise of a Queen One of the many creatures residing in my home is a cat. Her name is Maple. She is an orange ball of hell fury. She was about three or four weeks old when she was “rescued” by my daughter. Maple’s mother was killed in some sort of woodpile accident, leaving behind a litter of puffy orange adorable orphans. My daughter, who can not even keep a cactus alive, decided to rescue Maple. This rescue was a questionable endeavor, as my daughter snuck the living animal into our home in her shirt. Surprise?
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The cat wasn’t old enough to eat food, or use a litter box, or hide quietly in a 16-year-old’s shirt. In my initial rage, I had planned on making my daughter take Maple back, but then I made the mistake of holding her and looking into her motherless eyes. And then, as you may have guessed, Maple used her devil kitten magic to put a spell on me. Soon we were all her slaves, bottle feeding her, cleaning up tiny shits and punishing the dogs for even looking at her. Within two weeks, we would no longer need to scold the dogs for their clumsy curiosity and exuberance, as Maple quickly gained mind control over them. At the age of six weeks, Maple had the dogs trained to her specific requirements: both (a lab, and a Chihuahua) sat completely still as Maple psychotically groomed them, ate directly from their bowls and used their bodies as her personal chaise lounge. When we let the dogs out to use the facilities, she followed, did her business and forced them to play the lion game. This involves her hiding and waiting for them to pass by so she could viciously attack them. She plays this game with us as well. Typically Maple spends the hours from 1 a.m. to 4:45 a.m. hunting humans. She will do this until one of us suffering from puncture wounds and sleep deprivation finally allows her outdoors so she can begin her morning ritual of serial-killing mice and strategically placing them in front of every exit in the house, and usually at least one next to the driver-side door of my car. I know you are wondering why we don’t just shut our bedroom doors. Well, this tactic results in her knocking over every plant in our home, and if you EVEN consider leaving her outside for the evening, get ready for the desperate crying of a cat sitting outside of the win-
dow ALL NIGHT LONG. We are all Maple’s bitches. She may or may not allow you to pet her on any given day, and she will expect you to visit her food bowl every time you enter the home, whether or not there is already food in it. If you leave a ball of yarn in a basket, she will shred it and lay an intricate string death trap throughout the house. She will tear through baskets and ziplocks and knock over anything that may even house a single piece of string. She has no interest in traditional cat toys — the only distraction from total destruction and world domination is my boyfriend’s beard. The beard can hold her interest for up to two minutes at a time. It is her favorite comfort item. In an attempt to instill responsibility in my child, I had her take Maple to the vet for her shots. I did this to make sure my daughter kept her promise about being a responsible pet owner, and also because I am afraid of the consequences Maple would inflict on anyone responsible for her discomfort. I don’t know what kind of power this animal has, and I am not sure we have seen the full extent of her sorcery. What I do know is that my daughter came home with a subdued puff ball who rode to and from the vet’s office quietly in the front seat. The vet remarked that Maple was a remarkably well-behaved cat, and also extremely rare. Yes, apparently female orange barn cats are rare and exotic. Maple knew this all along, and being a rather young, orphaned ruler, she had to use unconventional methods and violence to secure her spot on the iron throne. The question that was left hanging in the air, was … …When do we get her fixed? Do you cut off the orange bloodline of such a rare and magnificent creature? Do you allow her to fulfill her destiny as the matriarch
of a pride of orange kittens? If she had kittens, would she kill them in order to maintain complete dominance? She may not be comfortable with the idea of an heir who would perhaps usurp her. Weeks passed, months passed, and then Maple started getting fat. Apparently sometime this spring, Maple found herself a lover and became pregnant. I have never met the father, or even seen him, so for all we know it could have been divine impregnation. Nevertheless, she was slower, nicer and spent more time eating than destroying. The recent heat coupled with the pregnancy was hard for Maple to handle. Her servants had to bring her a bowl of water so she didn’t have to get up from in front of the fan. Weeks of this and no kittens. We were beginning to think that Maple had just become depressed and obese and was faking the pregnancy to secure more food and preferential treatment. Then on Aug. 2 at 3:45 a.m., I felt a presence in the bed next to me, Maple was licking my face. For a moment I thought she was having one of her nightly human torture sessions, but there was no claws or teeth involved. I picked her up, took her to the “nest” we had made her for her impending litter and set her down. Ten minutes later she was incessantly licking my face. Of course, my bearded companion was oblivious to the obese she-cat molesting. I shook him: “Something’s wrong with Maple. She won’t stop licking me. Maybe she’s going to have kittens.” I once again attempted to move Maple, and this time she let out a sound like a demon being purged from a human soul. The bearded man woke, the dogs began howling. The decision to move her to the floor was made without her consent. It was there on the floor that Maple gave birth to four full orange blood kittens. She insisting that we stay with her for the entire three-hour process, which involved her lying on the bearded man while giving birth, cleaning up each kitten, returning to the beard and beginning the process again. This is truth, and it was magic. Maple now has her pride, all orange, all magnificent. What happens next is up to the queen. XOXO Scarlette Quille Hand of the Queen August 10, 2017 /
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COMMUNITY
Wildwood Grilling and Yoke’s partner for golden ticket giveaway Bouquets: •Almost every morning while I ride my bike to work, I notice the man who goes around every morning and waters the hanging flower baskets downtown. His name is Gary Circo and I appreciate the hard work he does to keep those flowers lush all summer long. According to Circo, he pumps about two gallons of water into each plant. Because there are over 100 baskets, it takes him about six hours every day to finish watering. Since the plants need water every day, Circo hasn’t taken a day off for the entire season. Now that the Sandpoint City Council has voted to dissolve the BID, this could be the last summer we get to enjoy the beautiful flower baskets. Thanks for all of your work, Gary! • Normally, I drag my feet when being invited to a wedding. In the case of last weekend, I saw how great a wedding can be. My old high school buddy, Natalie Ballard, married her sweetheart, Peter, on Saturday at Beyond Hope Marina. What a beautiful spot for a wedding. Kudos to Natalie and Peter, Beyond Hope Marina, Ivano’s Del Lago and all who made that day so special. Now back to being a curmudgeon.
By Reader Staff
Barbs: •You know what one of my biggest pet peeves is? When people don’t know how to tell the difference between news and opinion. We have these handy things called headers that go above the page. They read “NEWS” or “OPINION” or “COMMENTARY.” That’s your aid. Use it and stop writing me telling me that an op-ed piece was “biased.” Of course it was biased. All opinions are biased to the person who wrote them. Opinions are biased. News is a dissemination of information. If it doesn’t say “NEWS” above the article, it isn’t news. Still confused? Try reading a Ranger Rick Magazine, or a Dr. Seuss book.
Sandpoint Area Seniors, inc. (SASi) has a lot of fun happenings on the calendar. SASi will once again be cooking hot dogs and more at the POAC Arts and Crafts Fair at Sandpoint City Beach this weekend. The booth will be located in the food court and will sell plates for $5 on Saturday, Aug. 12 and Sunday Aug. 13 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Proceeds will help sustain the SASi meals program, both in-house and delivered, as well as the adult day care program at the DayBreak Center. Another way to support SASi is to purchase a raffle ticket for their annual “Stayca-
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By Reader Staff Wildwood Grilling and Yoke’s Fresh Market are collaborating to do a Golden Ticket Giveaway on Thursday, August 10. Wildwood Grilling, a local manufacturer of grilling planks and other wood smoking products, will be giving away two tickets to the George Thorogood concert at The Festival at Sandpoint. In the seafood section of the local Yoke’s Fresh Market in Ponderay, you can find a wooden display with grilling planks. On Thursday, Aug. 10, after 7 a.m. one of these two-packs of
planks will contain two tickets to the George Thorogood concert. One lucky shopper will get two tickets with their planks. Also, Wildwood Grilling will be serving their mouth-watering Cedar-planked peach dish served with fresh blueberries from Shingle Mill Blueberry Farm and Wildwood Amaretto & Alder ice cream from Panhandle Cone and Coffee. The dessert will be sold as a fundraiser for The Festival for one night only at the George Thorogood concert on Aug. 12 in the Evans Brothers Coffee booth. There are a limited number of peaches, so come get them while they last.
Artists’ Studio Tour is back
By Reader Staff
A painting called “Canoes for Rent” by Lori Moore.
Be sure and put Artist’s Studio Tour on your “Must See” to-do list this summer. The annual event goes from Friday-Sunday Aug. 11-13 and Friday-Sunday Aug. 18-20. Hours are 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. for both weekends.
This is a self-guided driving tour, free of charge, and features 29 Artists at 17 Art Studios. This year makes 14 years of fabulous art for sale. Brochures are available around town or visit our website, www.arttourdrive.org.
Senior Center happenings this week NAMI Far North monthly meeting tion” giveaway. Pend Oreille Shores has generously donated a seven-night stay in a one-bedroom condo unit for the raffle. The winner can redeem the condo during the months of October through May (excluding holidays). The offer is good through May 2018. Tickets are on sale now at SASi for $5 each, or five for $20. You can also pick up a raffle ticket at the hot dog booth during the Arts and Crafts Fair at the City Beach. The drawing for the “Staycation” raffle will be at the Avista Energy Fair at the Senior Center on Thursday, Sept. 28 at 5 p.m.
By Reader Staff Music is Medicine Music is Sanity The NAMI Far North (National Alliance on Mental Illness) regular monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the old Bonner General Health classroom, 520 N 3rd Ave, Sandpoint. Robert Gupta, a violinist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra will present, in a TED Talk, the story of Nathaniel Nayers, a brilliant, homeless, schizophrenic musician. Robert recounts his privilege of having given Nathaniel a violin
lesson while he was homeless and on skid row. Music was instrumental in getting Nathaniel off the streets. Music allows Nathaniel to take his thoughts and delusions and shape them into reality. Music is medicine. Music changes us. And for some music is sanity. This presentation will be interactive with time for discussion and further exploration. Following the presentation there will be a support group session for those with mental illness and another support session for those who love them. All are welcome to this free meeting. Call 208-597-2047 for further information.
OPINION
Classic liberalism: What your college professor didn’t teach you By Christian Rose Reader Contributor The American left is becoming increasingly insufferable. Eight years of Barack Obama’s stewardship of the fundamental progressive reshaping of our political landscape, cultural identity, and central-planning-style-economics have made the left soft. During the former president’s tenure, they knew he had it all handled. They thought it would last forever. So, it wasn’t necessary to keep tabs on government and politics. Instead, any focus on change was directed almost entirely at social justice. Anyone who pushed back was quickly labeled homophobic, bigoted, or racist. In the process the left forgot how to speak to the average working-class voter. They never took the time to teach young liberals how to win hearts and minds. They forgot how to debate. But most importantly, these past eight years proved that they never really understood the meaning of liberalism. You see, liberalism isn’t about social justice, or healthcare for all, or equal results for everyone. What’s currently taught by our ivy-league political science professors, or even philosophy professors in Idaho, might be called neo-liberalism, social liberalism or Obama liberalism. But, it’s certainly not classical liberalism. Classical liberalism can aptly be described as a political ideology that values the freedom of individuals — including the freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly, and markets — as well as limited government. But classical liberalism, unlike Obama’s liberalism, would also argue for a diminished state interference. Government’s very limited role should include protection of individual rights and to only provide services that cannot be provided by the free market, such as protection against foreign invaders as well as enforcement of private property rights, contract law and common law violations. Our “rights,” as they were imagined by our founders, are best known as “negative rights.” These negative rights require that we all abstain from interfering with the actions of others. “Rights,” as described by the modern left, are what is known as “positive rights.” Don’t be confused by the terminol-
ogy. Positive rights compel others, i.e. the state, to provide you a good or service. These rights empower the government over the individual. Positive rights almost always lead to tyranny. So when the modern left compares the United States negatively to Canada, for example, they most certainly are not describing classical liberalism. They’re describing Obama’s version of liberalism. In fact, it’s not really “liberal” at all. It’s statist. In “liberal” Canada, citizens do enjoy a wide range of government-provided services: single-payer healthcare, much lower college tuition and 50 weeks of paid maternity leave, for example. The government is compelled by law to provide these services, all at the expense of taxpayers. Agree with these policies or not, fine. But they are most certainly not classically liberal. Notwithstanding, over 52,000 Canadians sought non-emergency healthcare in foreign countries in 2014. They weren’t forced to do this because they’re freer, healthier and better educated. They did this because Canada’s healthcare system is over-burdened and inefficient.
Sure, if you have a life-threatening condition that requires immediate care, you’ll get treatment. Beyond that, you’re essentially on your own. Long wait times are main reason Canadian citizens seek healthcare outside the country. A 2014 study by the Commonwealth Fund, a private American health care reform and international health policy organization, found Canada had the second-worst overall ranking among the health care systems of 11 industrialized nations and ranked last in the wait-time category. Another report by The Fraser Institute suggests that, on average, a Canadian patient waits 9.8 weeks to receive medical treatment after seeing a specialist. Couple that with an average wait time of 8.5 weeks before they see the doctor that refers them to a specialist, and the wait time is more than four months. This doesn’t look “classically liberal” to me. It looks statist. If the Obama liberal wants to prioritize government-provided programs like health care, free- or low-cost college tuition and maternity leave, fine. We’re free to disagree. Just don’t call them
classical liberal ideals. These programs value the collective, rather than the individual. They prioritize positive rights and empower government over the negative rights of the individual. They lead to inefficiencies, waste, abuse, and always end in tyranny. Yes, the modern left has become increasingly insufferable. A constant drone of “Russia, Russia, Russia” is all we hear 24/7. Sure, the left is upset. But if it’s change they want, they must be willing to admit that they got the last eight years all wrong. Obama didn’t lead his followers to the promised land. He led them to historic state losses, over 1,000 seats nationwide, and finally to morally corrupt candidate, Hillary Clinton. Like it or not, the rest of America didn’t buy it. They didn’t buy Obama liberalism. If the left really wants to start winning again, it should stop listening to the establishment media and political class. Stop listening to left-wing professors that twist the real meaning of classical liberalism into something Adam Smith never intended. Embrace true classical liberalism. Or, get used to losing.
Why I’m tired of my president whining and badmouthing America By Ben Olson Reader Staff Right off the bat, I’ll say that I have never been a fan of Donald Trump. I never watched his TV show, I never stayed at his hotels. What’s more, I never took anything he said seriously after his relentless efforts to prove that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya. He wasn’t. It’s not Trump’s politics. I can handle political ideologies from all over the map, no matter how dastardly they appear. I believe a mixture of political leanings is essential to a healthy democracy. No, what I truly loathe about our president is the way he plays the victim, whines and continually lies and badmouths our great nation. Whether he’s telling 45,000 impressionable Boy Scouts that their government is a “cesspool” or “sewer” and egging them on to boo former President Obama,
or telling Golf Magazine that the White House is a “dump,” this is by far the most self-victimized, loathsome person to sit in the Oval Office. Trump whines relentlessly. He whines that the media doesn’t treat him fairly. He whines that the Russia investigation is a “witch hunt” and that “no other president has been treated this unfairly.” While two-thirds of the country is waking up to the fact that Trump is not going to change, the other 33 percent of people that support him without fail don’t view him as a whiner, but as yet another of their own kind — hiding behind a banner of white privilege, anti-elite elitism and a longing for “better days.” The whining needs to stop. So does the lying. The public trust in our government should not be eroded by one man with a score to settle. We are facing some difficult times ahead. We need a president who we can trust. Trump isn’t that man. For someone who professes such love
for the United States, President Trump sure spends a lot of time and energy attacking the very institutions that make America great in the first place. Without a free and independent press, we wouldn’t have the democracy that we do today. But, in Trump’s (and Steve Bannon’s) eyes, the press is the “enemy of the American people.” Here are some words of advice for our president: Stop tweeting vitriol. Stop disparaging women. Stop demanding unflagging loyalty from your staff — demand excellence. Stop with the personal attacks on those who don’t support your narrow world view. Stop eroding human rights. Stop claiming climate change doesn’t exist; it does. Stop gaslighting the American people. Your day of reckoning will come. Whether it be after one or two terms, or after a messy impeachment, history will not be kind to the likes of Donald J. Trump. The best thing he can do at this point is shut his mouth and let the oxygen back into the room. I love this country, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit idly for three more years of Trump badmouthing it. August 10, 2017 /
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The Inoculant
By Lori Reid
Neighborhood Watch program gaining steam By Ben Olson Reader Staff
‘The Inoculant’ comic sponsored by: The
law firm of Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliott Macdonald.
Letters to the Editor In Response to Linda Larson’s letter... Linda, I believe I can see why you may value public education. I would hope you could persuade me on this issue, and I have a few questions that if answered, would be sufficient; I’ll address these concerns in chronological order according to your remarks in the July 27 issue. You claim the U.S. education system is not broken. How would you argue this to someone who declares that it is? How exactly is it superior to education systems around the world as you claim? What does it even mean to be “superior” in your mind? I ask because many others may have a very different view of what it means to be educated than what the government schools provide and an explanation of your claims would be appreciated. You cite many statistics about how Idaho schools are ranked 13th in reading, etc. but I’m confused as to why we should care about these, or even what they mean. I don’t believe you explained what metrics were used to determine this and why it is valuable to us at all. Also, if I may inquire to a more fundamental issue, what does it 8 /
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mean to be educated in the first place to you? Do you think government schools accomplish this goal? I’d love to hear your thoughts in general on what an educated person looks like. Further, what is your basis exactly for claiming we have a right to education? I look forward to your reply. In fact, if anyone who supports government schooling can answer any of these questions I’d appreciate it, because I absolutely do not support government schools and would close every last one if I had a magic button as of now. Opening school to the free market would be an infinitely superior way to educate the youth and would save a ton of money for everyone. I would lastly point out that I think the over-hundred-year-old Prussian model government schools employ does not educate kids at all but merely programs them to be intellectually complacent and to be cogs in a machine that no longer even exists. I am an ex-private school teacher and am familiar enough with the system that you can go into as much detail as necessary. Thanks, Mike Smith Sandpoint
Purists Need Not Apply... Dear Editor, Good article on Aug. 3 by Tim Bearly, “Tragedy of the common
When it comes to crime, we traditionally rely on law enforcement’s reactive response after a crime has been committed. With the “Community Force” neighborhood watch program, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is utilizing proactive response to emphasize crime prevention. In other words, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Under the guidance of Sheriff Daryl Wheeler, the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office has instituted a series of watch programs in the past two years, including Neighborhood Watch, Business Watch and Community Watch. The programs emphasize citizens being the “eyes on the ground” in neighborhoods instead of relying solely on law enforcement. According to Neighborhood Watch Volunteer Jim Corcoran, sense.” Capitalism v. socialism. He accurately pointed out that we have been both for a long time. It’s a matter of what socialism you want (Social Security and Medicare) and what capitalism you want (returns on your investments). Purists need not apply. Lawrence Blakey Sandpoint
Reader is Voice of N. Idaho... Dear Ben and Cameron, I hope you realize how fantastic parts of the paper have become. The Aug. 3 issue contains two very fine examples of literature with Beth Weber’s poem and Tom Woodward’s prose. This page excels and approaches New Yorker-style quality, but actually goes beyond in establishing the uniqueness of the Reader as a voice of North Idaho and its direct way of espousing an idea. Beth Weber is approaching a moment of epiphany for others who recognize the excellence she represents. Way to go Ben, Cameron and crew. Barney Ballard Sandpoint
the program is vital. “My wife and I were blockwatch captains in Seattle for 15 years,” said Corcoran. “We got robbed in Seattle. They broke into the house when we were gone and stole $1,500 worth of video equipment. I said, ‘I don’t want to put up with this anymore. Let’s get together and start our own block watch.’ We never had any robberies after that.” Corcoran is one of nine volunteers made up of retired public safety officers and concerned citizens. The other volunteers, who serve as watch captains, are Jerry and Mary Gore, Bob Proctor, Craig Nelson, David Watkins, Jay Dudley, Ray Schlaht and Rick Cox. The program is always eager to add more volunteers who would like to help prevent crime in their neighborhoods. Those interested should contact Sheryl Kins at the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office. Once passing a se-
curity check, volunteers will be able to organize watch programs in their own neighborhoods. Corcoran also emphasized the important tools available for those wanting to know information about crime in their neighborhoods. The website www.crimereports.com is a tool to help citizens get crime incident data in near real time. The program has close to 30 groups that encompasses over 500 people across the county, Corcoran said. “It’s easy for me to sell this program because I believe it in my heart,” said Corcoran. “It’s also a great way to get to know your neighbors. I’m not a Facebooker. I want to know the guy across the street. I’m much more into one-on-one relationships with neighbors.” Contact the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office at (208) 2654378 for more information.
ICF offers behavioral health grant in Bonner and Boundary counties By Reader Staff The North Idaho Action Fund in the Idaho Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications for projects working to improve the accessibility and quality of behavioral health programs in Bonner and Boundary counties. Grants of $5,000 to $30,000 are available. These programs include, but are not limited to: •Psychiatric or psychotherapy treatment •Substance abuse treatment •Suicide prevention and education •Group or individual thera-
py or counseling •Inpatient or outpatient treatment •Ancillary programs designed to support those in behavioral health treatment such as transportation, housing assistance, food security, child care, etc. ICF is accepting applications until September 30. For guidelines or to apply, please visit www.idcomfdn.org/ DA_Grants or contact ICF Development/Donor Relations Officer Charlie Miller at cmiller@idcomfdn.org or (208) 699-4249.
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The Festival at Sandpoint ES R U T C I P N I
It was a banner first week at the Festival at Sandpoint. Here are some photos. See you this week!
Starting top right and moving clockwise: An aerial photo of the Festival grounds taken via drone by William Greenway; The B-52s proved they still have it; Pink Martini’s Thursday opener was magical; members of the Green Team stand by to help sort trash for Festival-goers; an original piece of headwear by a man in the crowd; Jake Owen put on a show full of energy and passion on Saturday night. All photos by Ben Olson except the drone shot (William Greenway) and Jake Owen (Lyndsie Kiebert). August 10, 2017 /
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NEWS
Long Bridge Swim canceled due to safety concerns
By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff For more than two decades, the Long Bridge Swim has gone off without a hitch. But this year, Mother Nature had other plans. Organizers of the fundraiser decided to cancel it Saturday — the first time in its 23-year history — after intense winds created waves that left experienced kayakers struggling to stay upright. According to Long Bridge Swim Director Jim Zuberbuhler, the team determined that the risk of an accident was too high. “Even (as we made) that decision in front of 700 people, it was not hard, because it was the right thing to do,” Zuberbuhler said. According to Zuberbuhler, the team was aware that conditions could become dangerous. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration contacted them prior to the event and warned them of predicted high winds and choppy waters that morning. Planners decided to take a wait-and-see approach, preparing for the swim as usual but not ruling out the possibility of cancellation. “Our inkling (that there could be a problem) started early, so of course, we were not surprised,” Zuberbuhler said. The day of the swim began much like any other year, with 711 swimmers gathering Saturday morning for a pre-event safety presentation. “We indicated to people it was entirely likely we would have a cancellation or delay because of strong wind conditions,” Zuberbuhler said. Even as Zuberbuhler and other organizers were prepping participants for the swim, the 90-person-strong safety kayak team was testing the Lake Pend Oreille waters. While battling white-capped waves several feet in height, many of the paddlers flipped or were nearly overturned by the waves. Given the experience of the kayak crew, it was evident that the lake was 10 /
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unfit for swimmers, Zuberbuhler said. “Some of these people have been with us for 15 or 20 years, so these are very competent kayakers,” he added. According to kayak crew coordinator Courtney Sanborn, the kayakers began the day testing the waters and watch- Kayaker Craig Brenden’s T-shirt proved apropos after he braved the ing for lake for the Long Bridge Swim. Photo by Courtney Sanborn conditions to improve. Instead, conditions worsened as man, who travels every year the morning progressed. Kayfor the swim and consistently akers said the waves were huge ranks among the top swimmers, and gusting in from all direcmentioned to Zuberbuhler that tions. he would have canceled the “The waves were easily swim if it was his call. Another three-foot tall, some up to four elderly woman said the safety feet,” said lead kayaker Steve kayaks made it possible for her Neff. “I was genuinely conto participate in the Long Bridge cerned for my people.” Swim. A separate crew of jet skiers “All the data we had suggesttackled the waves to assist ed that too many people would imperiled paddlers. Sanborn be put at risk,” Zuberbuhler said. said the jet ski volunteers were With this year’s swim caninvaluable in helping kayakers celed, planning turns to next to safety, going so far as to tow year’s event. As always, event several to shore. volunteers are focused on the “It very quickly went from a Long Bridge Swim’s purpose: seeing-if-we-could-have-a-swim to raise money for child swimevent to a deploying-a-kayming lessons. The goal is to ak-rescue event,” Sanborn said. ensure that all children receive With the safety team unable swimming lessons by third to deploy, Zuberbuhler made the grade. Under the circumstances, call to cancel the event. Zuberbuhler said the majority of “Of course, some people participants understood that an were disappointed, but I was organization devoted to swimvery impressed with how supming safety should practice what portive our swimmers were and it preaches. how our support team just turned “That has truly been so on a dime,” he said. satisfying for me in my role,” he Many participants backed added. “It just elevates our comZuberbuhler’s decision. One mitment to this enterprise.”
Feeling the heat? Relief could be in sight
A map of the current smoke in the western US. Courtesy of the EPA. By Ben Olson Reader Staff With temperatures lingering in the 90s for the past ten days and smoke from wildfires in British Columbia and Montana throwing a haze in the sky, August 2017 has shown echoes of the smoky summer of 2015. But, if forecasters predict correctly, relief could be in sight. “The pattern is changing a bit,” said meteorologist Randy Mann. “Temperatures will be cooling down as the high weakens later this weekend and into next week.” Mann said the cooler temperatures might also produce showers and thunderstorms, especially in the mountains where it is tinder dry. “With a change in the wind direction, this should help push out a lot of the smoke,” said Mann. A strong high pressure ridge over the West has helped circulate in smoke from the fires in Canada and Montana, Mann said, causing the air quality level to rise to “unhealthy category” near 100. Air quality of 150 or above is considered unhealthy for all people while 100 to 149 is considered risky for people with
respiratory problems. “Sandpoint was in the mid90s for air quality on Tuesday,” said Mann. “People with some respiratory issues are advised to stay inside until levels improve.” While the air quality index is not great, it hasn’t reached levels high enough to warrant canceling sports practices, Sandpoint High School Athletic Director Kris Knowles said. “We rely on a website called AirNow.gov,” said Knowles. “If the air quality index is 151 or above, that puts us into the dangerous realm. If we’re below that, according to the state standard, we’re still safe to be outside.” The last time the air quality was measured at “unhealthy” levels was in August 2015 when Knowles had to cancel a handful of practices: “That year was the worst I’d had to deal with in seven years.” While Knowles recognized the air quality index was below dangerous levels, he said they always err on the side of caution. “If there’s a family that is not comfortable, we say no problem, they don’t have to practice,” said Knowles. “We always do what is best for the kids and for the families.”
NEWS
Wildfire fight Authorities urge swimming safety following accidents continues
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer A number of drownings and near-drownings have plagued the Sandpoint area this summer. Police Chief Corey Coon said that while the last few years weren’t too bad for water-related incidents, this summer seems to mark a “peak year.” “It ebbs and flows like everything,” Coon said. Last week, 17-year-old Isaac Grasser passed away three days after a tragic Aug. 1 drowning accident in Pend Oreille River that claimed the life of his 11-year-old brother, Michael Grasser. Sandpoint City Beach has also seen two near-drowning incidents so far this summer, and Coon said he couldn’t remember that last time that happened. It was two near-drownings too many, he said. “I know for us in the city, that’s rare,” he said, adding that contributing factors to every incident are different, making it hard to pin down why there’s a spike in water-related incidents this summer. “Why? That’s a million-dollar question.” Regardless of causes for each incident — weather conditions, inability to swim, etc. — Long Bridge Swim Director Jim Zuberbuhler said safe swimming starts with knowing your skill
level and evaluating water conditions. The Long Bridge Swim funds a swim lesson program with the goal that every local child learn how to swim before third grade. This year, Zuberbuhler said the program helped over 1,000 children, including 30 with special needs. “It’s hard to do something about (preventing drownings) in an acute way,” he said. “It’s really about the long-term program that we have in place, and that will yield results over time.” Beyond skill level, Zuberbuhler said a swimmer should evaluate the water they’re about to jump in. With the cancellation of last weekend’s Long Bridge Swim due to poor conditions comes a good lesson for everyone, he said. “Even though we had 711 registered swimmers, the right thing to do was call the event because we could not put people at risk,” he said. “And that’s a great metaphor for the choice an individual should make. Look at the conditions and make an informed choice.” Something swimmers should also remember is that if a fellow swimmer is struggling, extending a hand or tossing them a flotation device is often more effective than jumping in. “The best first response is to
extend something to help that person, whether it’s a towel, your hand, a pole or a paddle, or even link people up,” he said. “It’s a tall order to rescue a person who is panicking regardless of how big they are.” Aside from the swim lesson initiative, Zuberbuhler said the Long Bridge Swim underwrites the training required of lifeguards at City Beach. It’s a long and grueling process to become a lifeguard for the city, said Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff. Before even applying for the job, applicants must have a Red Cross lifeguarding certification, and then once hired, they go through more than 40 hours of additional training through the United States Lifesaving Association. Woodruff said City Beach is the only location in the Inland Northwest with USLA trained lifeguards. This summer’s lifeguards will be honored at an upcoming city meeting for successfully saving the two citizens who nearly drowned at the beach this season, Woodruff said. “We are always looking for recruits for our guard program,” he said, adding applicants must be 16 or older. “It’s a great seasonal job, but it’s a very responsible and adult job.”
SANDPOINT ROTARY AND CHAFE 150 PRESENT CHECK FOR $50K
CHAFE 150 volunteers and Sandpoint Rotary present a check to the Lake Pend Oreille School District for $50,000 at the Rotary Club meeting on Wednesday. Photo by Cameron Rasmusson.
With six lifeguards on the beach at all times, Woodruff said there are plenty of eyes on both the north and south ends of City Beach. He said that even with so many highly trained lifeguards present, it’s important that people take the time to learn to swim. “Water safety is so important, no matter how old you are,” he said. “There’s is no age limit. You’re never too old.” Support the Grasser family by donating at www.gofundme. com/grasserboys.
Hanna Flats meeting scheduled By Ben Olson Reader Staff The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is seeking public comment on the Hanna Flats GNA project located on the Priest Lake Ranger District. The public comments will be accepted through Sept. 2. The Hanna Flats project is a vegetation management project designed to address forest health, hazardous fuels, recreation trails and a number of other resource needs on approximately 2,839 acres within the 6,800-acre project area. This project uses authorities from the Good Neighbor Authority in the 2014 Farm Bill to work with the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) to use personnel and resources to increase the pace and scale of forest restoration on National Forest System Lands. Local landowners, environmental groups, timber industry representatives and recreational interests are participating in the development of the project. Contact project team leader David Cobb at dcobb@fs.fed.us or call (208) 443-6854 with any questions about this project.
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer
The Trestle Peak fire in the Sandpoint Ranger District has been dubbed 100 percent contained, according to InciWeb. Trails 55 and 526 are still closed for public safety as fire officials look for hazardous trees. Trestle Creek Road will be graded next week from the snowmobile parking lot to the Trestle Peak Divide due to the increase in fire-related traffic. The North Fork Hughes Fire in the Priest Lake Ranger District is over 1,000 acres. Several trails are closed in area, including National Forest System Trails 535, 315 and 317, plus the existing 512 trail closure from the 312 junction north to Little Snowy Top. Several small fires have occurred in the Idaho Panhandle in the past week, said Forest Service Fire Information Officer Kary Maddox. However, she said these fires rarely make it onto InciWeb because they are often quickly contained. “As long as it’s small and short in duration and they contain it quickly, (small fires) don’t make InciWeb, but residents should know that fires are still starting,” Maddox said. “Fire danger is out there, even if we don’t have very many large fires at the moment.” Maddox said these local fires are not the ones causing smoky skies over Sandpoint. Instead, fires in Washington and British Columbia are the ones contributing to the smoke we’re seeing locally. “Most fires in the Panhandle are so small that we don’t even see the smoke,” Maddox said. One of those Washington fires is the Noisy Creek Fire, located east of Sullivan Lake in northern Pend Oreille County on the Colville National Forest. The Noisy Creek Fire is over 3,500 acres, and as of Wednesday was only 30 percent contained. Maddox said the dense timber fueling the fire contributes to thicker smoke in the surrounding region. August 10, 2017 /
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Mad about Science: By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist It’s the talk of the town. Even if you’re not an avid umbraphile, the eclipse has undoubtedly come up in a casual conversation more than once in the past month. And why shouldn’t it? We don’t get to see these very often! There are two type of eclipses: solar and lunar. When the moon passes between the sun and Earth, casting a shadow on Earth, this is a solar eclipse. When Earth passes between the Sun and the moon, and Earth’s shadow is cast completely over the moon, this is called a lunar eclipse. When the sun passes between Earth and the moon, this is called a fiery apocalypse of death and carnage. (By the way, the sun’s diameter is over three times the distance between Earth and the moon. Also, the sun is really hot. Also, if that were to ever happen, the sun’s gravity would tear the two bodies into stony confetti well before it baked the planet like a delicious potato.) The moon has an inclined orbit, which means eclipses are pretty rare. Ones like this one that swing across over half the continental United States are even rarer. The last time the U.S. saw a total solar eclipse was in 1918. Most eclipses have totality somewhere, but it’s exceedingly rare to see totality sweep across the continental United States like this. Here in Sandpoint, we won’t get a view of totality, but we’ll get to see a partial eclipse. We’ll get to experience about 88-percent occultation (meaning the moon will be blocking about 88 percent of the sun from our view), which should give us a pretty wild experience. Day turning to night, dogs losing it, Aztec sacrifices and the like (let’s hold off on that last one, Sandpoint). The eclipse will occur on Monday, Aug. 21. It will begin at 9:14 a.m. and reach its maximum occultation at 10:28 a.m., which means you’ll want to be looking east. Then again, if you’re having trouble finding the sun, I’m not sure 12 /
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Brought to you by:
eclipse!
what to tell you. Now, the sun is a giant hydrogen fusion factory that’s spewing out photons and ultraviolet radiation like a stellar firehose, so staring at it is generally a pretty bad idea. Even while it’s partially covered, staring at the eclipse can permanently damage the retina of your eyes. I know being told not to do something just makes you want to do it more, so we’ve got a failsafe. Eclipse glasses! We at the library are giving these out for as long as we have them. They make viewing the eclipse safe so that the eclipse isn’t the last thing you ever see. We only have a limited supply, so we can only give out one per person that visits the information desk. If you want to get some for your Aunt Sally, you’ll have to drag her in here, or we won’t be able to help! We’re not the only place giving these away. A quick google search of “free eclipse glasses” from any reputable website (as in, one that doesn’t ask for any personal information!) should yield some results in the event we run out before the eclipse. If you plan on traveling, be prepared for some insane traffic. People are coming in from all over the world to view the eclipse, so be patient, be responsible, and be careful! Be sure to plan well for any scenario you might encounter. Even basic things like being able to use the restroom could be difficult, depending on where you go (no pun intended). According to the various cities, towns and parks along the path of totality, the demand for portable toilets has been “astronomical” (ha, get it? Because it’s an astrological event). Be sure to bring water with you wherever you go, because finding some among the throngs of viewers could be even more difficult than relieving yourself of it. I wouldn’t doubt that any number of people are plotting viewing parties from some pretty prime real estate the day of
Random Corner r eclipse?
Don’t know much about a sola
We can help!
• In case you were thinking about relocating: Earth is the only place in the solar system where that happens.
the eclipse, too. Just ask around! I hear whispers that Schweitzer Mountain will be hosting a viewing event the day of the eclipse. If you don’t plan on traveling but want to prepare for the eclipse, there will be a program on the solar eclipse and other astronomical wonders with Jim Pletsch at Travers Park, Aug. 12, from 1-3 p.m. The next total solar eclipse to pass through the United States will be primarily restricted to the East Coast on April 8, 2024. After that, the west side won’t get another one until Aug. 12, 2045. So don’t sleep in! Don’t miss the chance to witness something you can tell your kids about in 20 years! Stay safe, and try not to sacrifice anything other than a pack of hot dogs to Quetzalcoatl.
• Jupiter can have a triple eclipse, in which three moons cast shadows on the planet simultaneously. The event is easily visible through a backyard telescope. • The longest total solar eclipse of the century occurred on July 22 over India, Nepal, Bhutan and China. It peaked over the Pacific Ocean, but even there the darkness lasted a mere 6 minutes and 29 seconds. • The moon’s shadow zooms across Earth’s surface at up to 5,000 miles per hour. • Canadian astronomer and renowned eclipse chaser J. W. Campbell traveled the world for 50 years trying to see 12 different eclipses. He ran into overcast skies every time. • Just before full eclipse, dazzling “Baily’s beads” appear where sunlight shines through valleys on the moon. The last bead creates the impression of a diamond ring in the sky. • The beautiful symmetry of a total solar eclipse happens because—by pure chance—the sun is 400 times larger than the moon but is also 400 times farther from Earth, making the two bodies appear the exact same size in the sky. • Tidal friction, which causes that lengthening of the day, is also making the moon drift away. In about 600 million years it will appear too small to cover the sun, and there will be no more total solar eclipses. • The Chinese word for solar eclipse is shih, meaning “to eat.” In ancient China people traditionally beat drums and banged on pots to scare off the “heavenly dog” believed to be devouring the sun. • On Aug. 21, 2017, everyone on the night side of the world can see a lunar eclipse, where the moon slips into Earth’s shadow.
Tattitude
A local philosophy on the tattoo “epidemic” By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor Last summer I was approached by a stranger while swimming. “Could I ask you about your tattoos?” he asked. He was from Canada, and he said that tattoos were like an “epidemic” in the States, but not in Canada. He was kind, with only a hint of judgment. “Did those hurt?” he asked, pointing to my chest. “Less so then you might suppose,” I answered. “Since I tattooed them myself, I could anticipate the pain.” I watched his face go slack in surprise. My husband bought all the tattoo equipment for us to “tattoodle” (as I call it) a few years ago. I have only put in over a hundred hours into this art form, the most difficult medium I have explored. “Tattooing is one of the coolest jobs you can have, but it is also incredibly grueling and incredibly technical to learn ... especially as everything evolves and the equipment becomes more complicated,” said local master Jon Bates. Bates blows me away in his ability to do gray work (portraiture, realistic trees and animals) which I hope to do. He has been an artist “as long as I can remember. My grandfather always has been, so I always drew and painted with him as a kid.” Bates picked up the tattoo machine 12 years ago, as he says, “by accident.” “I was cleaning a tattoo shop and ended up doing an apprenticeship,” he added. He has invested 10,000 hours since then, and works in the heart of Sandpoint on Main Street from his Bleeding Hearts shop since February 2012. This modern Sandpoint artist is also a kind soul, inspiring trust, investing his own bleeding heart into each masterpiece. Surprisingly, those enduring the pain involved with Bates’ artwork appear to be relaxed. One woman told me while Bates worked on her of a breakdown she had, existing in that space between life and death. “I ended up in a mental institu-
Jon Bates puts his master touch at his shop Bleeding Hearts in Sandpoint. Photo by Jodi Rawson. tion actually ... then the padded room because I was doing so horribly terrible,” she said. “All they gave me was my iPod, and I listened to this one song, ‘Ghost That We Knew,’ over and over again.” The fresh black script on her left forearm read, “The ghost that we knew will flicker from view and will live a long life.” As Bates packed red ink into the surrounding roses, she shared the inspiring tale behind this tattoo. “It just means, you know, things that happened in my past, anything kind of shitty that happened ... those are ghosts, but they will flicker from view, and I am gonna live a long life.” “Great story, huh?” remarked Bates, while hovered over the nearly finished roses. His voice was gentle, and I strained to hear it over the buzz of the tattoo machine. Often I will see a stunning local tattoo and learn it is yet another Bates masterpiece. Most of his clients have similar stories about their tattoos they are eager to share. “The fascination with tattoos, to me, is pretty simple,” Bates said. “It’s just an external expression of people’s inner
beliefs.” His extensive portfolio includes traditional old-school, portraiture, color realism, cartoon caricatures, any type of black and gray work, tribal and “water-color style with negative space. “I love doing stuff like this,” Bates added. “It is so much fun.” I do receive judgment for my tattoos, but to me, it is skin deep. Judge me for my skin and you might as well judge me for my thrift store clothing. When I receive judgment for my outer appearance, I sense it, and it helps me weed out people I may not have time for in this life. Maybe part of this great epidemic of modern art is something called “tattitude.” Think of it like this: If you like the look of me, great! And if you don’t, ha! Whatever the reasons for this “epidemic” of tattoos, the result is an influx of permanent, moving skin art. Some tattoos are beautiful, some are botched and even offensive. Either way, they are a boisterous presence in our culture. And if you are open, you might spot the work of a master, a beautiful piece of art moving in your presence.
Angels Over Sandpoint gearing up for school The Angels Over Sandpoint are preparing for their 15th annual Back to School event providing back packs and school supplies to children in Bonner county. Many parents cannot afford to purchase all of the necessary school supplies each year, especially when they have more than one child in the home. Over 2,000 students in Bonner County participate in the Free and Reduced Lunch program; these are the students we aim to help. The Angels’ goal is for at least 1,000 children to participate and receive school supplies and backpacks this year. This will require approximately $30,000. Community support is vital in reaching this goal. This program is operated by volunteers, and 100 percent of the donations go directly to bringing supplies to students in Bonner County. The Angels work with Community Action Partnership to register families to participate in this critical program. Letters were sent to local businesses and individuals requesting donations for the Angel’s Back to School Program. Community members who wish to donate are urged to make their contributions right away since supplies must be purchased soon to prepare for distribution at the end of August. Angels Over Sandpoint is a nonprofit charitable service organization. Donations are tax-deductible, and those who donate will receive a receipt for tax purposes. Please send your check to Angels Over Sandpoint BTS, P.O. Box 2369, Sandpoint, ID 83864. Families interested in receiving school supplies need to contact the Community Action Partnership office at 208-255-2910 to register by Thursday, Aug. 17. If you know of any families who struggle to provide school supplies for their children, please encourage them to call 208-255-2910 to register.
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event Authentic wood-fired pizza Mandala will be at the following locations: Saturday, AUGUST 12 @ City Beach POAC’s Arts and Crafts Fair: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, AUGUST 13 @ City Beach POAC’s Arts and Crafts Fair: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, AUGUST 17 @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 6 - 10 p.m. Friday, AUGUST 18 @ 219 Lounge 8:30 p.m. ‘til late night Saturday, AUGUST 19 @ 219 Lounge 6 p.m. ’til late night
Mention you saw this ad in the Reader and get $1.00 off your next pizza!
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Festival at Sandpoint: The Head and The Heart 7:30pm @ Memorial Field American indie folk band The Head and The Heart return to Sandpoint with a sound that’s influenced by Americana, country-rock and classic Beatlesque pop. The six-piece Seattle band reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts. Doors open at 6 p.m. 265-4554 for ticket
Festival at Sandpoint: Iration and The Wailers 7:30pm @ Memorial Field Iration is a deep-rooted indie band whose reggae influences are fused with elements of pop and rock to create a smooth original sound. Double billed with The Wailers, formed by the remaining members of Bob Marley & The Wailers after Marley died in 1981. Get ready to groove! This is a dance concert
Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s d Live Music w/ Maya Bright Moments Jazz 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s B World traveling Sandp
Aftival: Beats Antique 10pm @ The Hive Beats Antique is a U.S.-based experimental world fusion and electronic music group that is making their debut performance at The Hive. Their live shows mix samples and heavy percussives with Tribal Fusion dance and performance art
Festival at Sandpoint: George Thorogood and the Destroyers Arts & Crafts Fair (Aug. 1 7:30pm @ Memorial Field 9am-4pm @ Spt. City Beach Get ready to get bad to the bone. Thorogood’s high energy Artist booths, food vendor boogie blues will make it hard to keep in your seat! entertainment, and a youth a that draws an annual crowd o Aftival: The New Mastersounds 5,000! This is a great we 10pm @ The Hive This year’s Aftival closer is making their third appearance and event that benefits both loc their first Aftival appearance. The New Mastersounds are a ists and Pend Oreille Arts Co British four-piece jazz fusion and funk band from Leeds, En- Bring the whole family gland that are guaranteed to get you on the dance floor. $20/25 Live Music w/ Truck Mills Band Live Music w/ Truck Mills 9pm @ 219 Lounge 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Listen to Truck’s four-piece band Truck is one of the best guitarists on the back patio at the Niner playing in Sandpoint today Festival at Sandpoint: Spokane Symphony Orchestra “Grand Finale” 7:30pm @ Memorial Field Maestro Gary Sheldon conducts the Nordic Nights Grand Finale featuring soloist Tien H off the concert. Arrive early for Taste of the Stars complimentary wine tasting at 4:30 p.m. Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Night Out Karaoke Memory Cafe 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge 2-3:30pm @ Kokanee Coffee Interaction, and fellowship for persons diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other related dementia Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3pm-5:30pm @ Farmin Park The afternoon market on Wednesdays for all your produce needs!
Night Out Karaoke 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge
Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz (with Maya) 4-7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Jazz ensemble
Live Music w/ Bright M 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Grab a brew and listen to jazz in the area with Brig
Idaho Trail Association 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Auth Idaho Trail Association P Sawtooth Brewery. Enjoy fle prizes and complimen
PFLAG Sandpoint monthly 6pm @ The Gardenia Center This month Chris Herron, will cussion about his up coming p sented at the Heartwood Cent Join us for an evening of discu
ful
August 10 - 17, 2017
s! ardt’s Pub he keg’s dry w/ Maya Goldblum originals w/ ments Jazz ckDuff’s Beer Hall ing Sandpoint native is back in town
ased exnd elecmaking at The samples h Tribal nce art
A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com. Reader recommended
Live Music w/ The Devon Wade Band 9pm @ 219 Lounge Get your dancing boots ready, it’s a night of rip roaring country Live Music w/ Chris O’Murchu’ 6-8pm @ The Wine Bar at Cedar Street Bistro Jazz-Latin-Blues on the Cedar St. Bridge!
Live Music w/ Marty Perron and Doug Bond 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Sandpoint Contra Dance 7pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall All dances called and taught to live music Challenge of Champions 7:30pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds Annual bull riding and barrel racing contest
r (Aug. 12-13) ty Beach d vendors, live a youth art area al crowd of over great weekend both local artle Arts Council. mily
Artists’ Studio Tour (Aug. 11-13, 18-20) 8pm @ Panida Little Theater A driving tour of working studios throughout North Idaho. 208-263-2161 ‘80s Dance Party at the Little Theater @ Various locations Come in costume or not to this ‘80s dance party hosted by Bashful Dan. $5
Yard and Craft Fair 9am-3pm @ The Cottage Shop for great items out on the lawn and inside The Cottage, plus enjoy a bake sale on the porch. Free, open to the public Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Fresh produce, garden starts as well as live music and fun for all! Cedar St. Bridge Public Market 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Come enjoy indoor shopping on the bridge spanning Sand Creek
st Tien Hsieh on piano. Fireworks cap 4:30 p.m.
Saving our Future - The “Kids vs Government” Lawsuits 12-1:30pm @ Gardenia Center Meet three of the 21 youth involved in Kids vs. Gov’t, the “trial of the millennium.” World famous plaintiffs, Aji Piper, Adonis Williams, and Gabe Mandell will share their stores in music and words. Youth event to follow Wings Over Sandpoint Fly-In @ Sandpoint Airport Regional pilots fly into Sandpoint Airport, or Dover Bay for seaplanes, during the 12th Annual Fly-In featuring a breakfast and aircraft display. 208-255-9954 Schweitzer Downhill Enduro Jam Schweitzer hosts a downhill bike event, with practice course open Aug. 12 and the race held Aug. 13 Game Night at the Niner Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee 9pm @ 219 Lounge Arts & Crafts Fair (Aug. 12-13) Meets every Sunday at 9am 9am-4pm @ Spt. City Beach
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“From the Ashes” documentary film 7pm @ Lake City Playhouse (CDA) An Idaho Conservation League Event. This film documents the complexities of the United States coal industry. Tickets $5. Info (208) 265-9565 sociation Pint Night Five Minutes of Fame Pour Authority 6:30pm @ Cafe Bodega ociation Pint Night features Writers, musicians, listeners ... all are welery. Enjoy live music, raf- come. This open mic takes place on the omplimentary appetizers! third Wednesday of every month
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Aug. 18-19 Scenic Relay Race @ Spokane to Sandpoint Aug. 18-19 “Secret Shame” play @ The Heartwood Center Aug. 18-19 monthly meeting “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” film a Center “Jingle” play @ 7:30pm @ Panida Theater erron, will be our guest, facilitating a dis- A new Native American feature film — The Pan ida Little coming play, “Secret Shame,” being pre- “Neither Wolf Nor Dog” — based on Th eat er ood Center, Aug 18, 19 and Aug 25, 26. the best selling novel by Kent Nerburn
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POAC’s Arts and Crafts Fair coming to the Beach
By McCalee Cain Reader Intern In the heat of a Sandpoint summer, community art attractions abound. Coordinated by the Pend Oreille Arts Council (POAC), the annual Arts and Crafts Fair coming up this weekend at the City Beach is a seasonal favorite. POAC Arts Administrator Hannah Combs explained that the Arts and Crafts Fair actually wasn’t always under POAC and used to be more of a community festival. “It featured events like a community square dance, a kissing booth, a threelegged bicycling race, and a man who split logs with his head,” Combs said. “Once POAC took the reins in 1978 and changed the name to the Arts and Crafts Fair, the focus was placed more on the artwork and performers.” The Arts and Crafts Fair is no overnight success: every year, eight months of planning and nearly 100 volunteers help to ensure a seamless event. All of the effort pays off, however, as the fair helps to benefit the year-round operations and programming of POAC. The group sponsors various arts education programs including the Kaleidoscope program that offers art classes in third- through fifth-grade classrooms in every Bonner County school, and the Ovations program, which affords students with op18 /
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Over 5,000 people visit POAC’s Arts and Crafts Fair every year. Courtesy photo. portunities to attend special performances and workshops with visiting performing artists. Both programs are completely free for students. “The Arts and Crafts Fair proceeds help ensure that all of these programs are made possible,” Combs said. Ronda Cutlip is a veteran vendor of fair and manager of Creations 4 You. Her booth offers a wide array of balsamic vinegars, olive oils, and other seasonings and sauces. “Even as a vendor, the Sandpoint fair it’s a very fun experience,” Cutlip said. “POAC brings in a nice variety of good artists, and work to have a wonderful layout that is beneficial for both the vendor and the public, They definitely do their best to put on a good event.” New this year, a free shuttle service will run to and from City Beach to ease crowding in the parking lot. The bus is slated to loop from Third and Oak by the city lot and Church and Fifth by the POAC vendor parking lot to the beach, making stops every 30 minutes.
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A broad and often deep selection of quality fiction in a post-truth time. And lots of other good books. Main Street Downtown Bonners Ferry 267-2622
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Peace Market
Saturday, August 12 @ First Presbyterian Church 9am - 1pm (on the lawn)
Choir Concert
Sunday, August 13 @ First Presbyterian Church 10:30am (on the lawn)
Community brunch following the concert all are welcome!
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Enjoy our Asian fusion cuisine while taking in the beautiful waterfront and spectacular sunset views
STAGE & SCREEN
Unknown Locals play ‘Secret Shame’ makes a half-dozen for Herron
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer
Infidelity, family troubles, suicide clubs and even weddings: Sandpoint theater company Unknown Locals likes to tackle some tough subjects with human touch. Their upcoming play, “Secret Shame,” is no different. Writer and company co-founder Chris Herron said the show is about two middle-aged women with families who have been carrying on a secret lesbian affair for years. The crux of the story? It looks like the women’s secret is about to come out. “It’s hopefully a comedy — but it’s only a comedy if people laugh,” he said. The other half of the Unknown Locals and Herron’s wife, Madeline Elliot, said that while Herron’s original works touch on hard topics, the plays are meant to make those topics digestible. “We’re going to tackle some deep subjects, but we’re going to make it funny and help people see things in a different way,” she said. Elliot said that while Herron is “the creative genius,” she is the mind behind the directing and computer-based side of production. Though the Unknown Locals is technically made up only of Herron and Elliot, they said they have a cast of friends who are regularly involved with putting on shows. “There are honorary members (of Unknown Locals) who we work with a lot,” Elliot said. “They’re all kind of like an extended family that we like to have involved in stuff because they’re wonderful.” Some of these honorary members will be featured in the upcoming show, including Kate McAlister, Dorothy Prophet, Eric Bond, Nicole Buratto, Jeremiah Campbell and Alex Cope. In the few years Elliot and Herron have been the Unknown Locals, they said there’s been a bit of a learning curve. “A lot of it has been learning as we go,” Elliot said. “You learn all the things you didn’t do (for a show) and then you make a list: posters, programs, P.R., paperwork, banking, insurance,
The cast of “Secret Shame” from left to right: Kate McAlister, Dorothy Prophet, Eric Bond, Nicole Burrato, Jeremiah Campbell and Alex Cope. Courtesy photo. permits…” “Stuff our creative brains don’t like thinking about,” Herron said with a laugh. But through learning together and getting to build the Unknown Locals as a business, Elliot said she and Herron have been fortunate. “We feel blessed in so many ways all the time,” Elliot said. “We found each other and we have a wonderful family and we get to do what we love and that’s more than most people can say.” Tickets for “Secret Shame” are available at Eve’s Leaves, or at the door. They are $14, or $12 for students and seniors. Elliot said she is hoping students make a strong showing for “Secret Shame.” “This show is really relevant in a lot of ways. I think Sandpoint is a town that can get behind it,” she said. “Even though it’s about middle-aged women, I think it’s a story everybody needs to hear, and I hope we can reach out to young people.” The show runs Aug. 18,19, 25 and 26 at the Heartwood Center. Doors open at 7 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.
aug 17 @ 7:30pm | Aug. 18 @ 5:30pm | Aug. 20 @ 3:30pm
“neither wolf nor dog”
Aug. 18-19, 24-26 @ 7pm little r Dessert & theatRE: “jingle” theate saturday Aug. 19 @ 6:30pm
THE TWO TRACKS WITH GUESTS MOUNTAIN MOONSHINE great music, captivating storytelling, seamless harmonies, and dancing all night
aug. 24 @ 7:30pm | aug. 25 @ 5:30 & 8:30pm aug. 27 @ 3:30pm
“The Hero” starring Sam elliot saturday aug. 26 @ 7pm
alaska’s mt. huntington tuesday, sept. 12 @ 7pm
“MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS” a film by judd apatow giving extraordinary access to hit group The Avett Brothers
friday, sept. 15 @ 8pm
the led zeppelin experience
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Living Life:
Gardening with Laurie:
Contrast in the garden
Back to School
By Dianne Smith Reader Columnist As August arrives and summer begins to wind down, it will soon be time to get ready for a new school year. Whether your summer was filled with fun activities and trips or complaints about being bored with nothing to do, children often have a hard time making the transition back to the structure and routine of school. As with any new or potentially scary situation — like starting school for the first time, entering a new grade or starting new school, children need time to adjust. Reminding them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and that it will become an everyday routine in no time is often helpful. Helping them conquer their fears teaches them a skill they will need in the adult world, and you are their cheerleader in teaching them that they can manage fearful situations. When your children are used to running around outside until dark each night or staying up late watching their favorite TV shows, changing to the early morning school rush can be a real shock to the system. To help with the transition, about two weeks before the first day of school, start their bedtime routine about 10 minutes earlier each night and wake them up 10 minutes earlier each morning, every day, until they are adjusted to the school schedule. Start conversations about starting school if your child is a brand new kindergartener. For those returning talk about what the next grade will be like. Go visit the school, and if possible, identify where their classroom 22 /
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will be and who their teacher is. The more information they have the less anxious they will be. Ask your children about their concerns and worries. The start of school is exciting but can also bring some anxiety, especially when it comes to the unknown. Take a few minutes to ask what they are most looking forward to during the school year, and what things may be worrying them. By giving them an opportunity to express their concerns, you can help them talk through any worries before school starts and clear up any issues that could lead to a bumpy start. Point out the positive aspects of school. They will see old friends and meet new ones. Refresh positive memories about previous years, when they may have returned home after the first day with high spirits because they had a good time. Talk about what the routine at home will be regarding homework, where they put their belongings when they come home and any afterschool activities or childcare. The more they know, the better they can plan and the easier it is for parents. Get to know new teachers. There will be open houses, back-to-school night and other opportunities at the beginning of the school year, but none will give you the chance to spend some quality time getting to know your children’s teachers. Try to find a few minutes before or after school to connect with the teachers or, send an introductory email.
Find out what their routine and expectations are regarding homework and how you might be able to support them in the classroom. Have your kids pack their backpacks before they go to sleep that night and pick out the clothes they would like to wear the first day of school so that the first morning is less stressful. Talk with them about what the morning routine will look like and what you expect. Talk with your children about bullies, peer pressure and being nice to others. If your child has been bullied in the past, this is a time to talk with them about how to handle bullies. Encourage them that if they see someone being bullied to reach out and be their friend and to let an adult know. Encourage them to make the right choices and be their own person and not just follow others. After each day talk with your children about what they learned and what was good about their day. Often it is all too easy to focus on the negative when really there is more good out there than bad. Use these conversations to listen to your child and find out about their thoughts and feelings and to reinforce developing good life habits that will help them in their journey into adulthood. Enjoy each moment because quickly they will be on their way into the adult world and you will wonder where the time went. Dianne Smith, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist with over 30 years experience. She has an office in Sandpoint and in Bonners Ferry and can be reached at dianne_smith_mft@yahoo.com.
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist Contrast is useful in any garden design. Contrast draws the eye. It’s dynamic. It grabs the attention, and brings certain areas into focus. It can be created using many ingredients: flowers, foliage, texture, color, value and hardscape. It’s the principle of sturdy rhododendrons vs. feathery grasses, rough pine bark vs. smooth hosta leaves, white flowers in deep, dark shade, or tiny sedums in front of and around large rocks. Contrast is why low, soft plants like thyme or anemones spilling over stepping stones, gravel, or concrete paths are so effective. The hardness of the path would be rigid and harsh with nothing soft by it. On one corner of my house, the pale pink flowers of the ‘Black Beauty’ elder create their own contrast with its dark purple, almost black foliage, but it’s fleeting. On either side of ‘Black Beauty,’ though, are two large shrubs that bloom with white flowers for long periods of time. ‘Limelight’ hydrangea has huge bloom clusters that start out greenish-white and stay white for some time before aging to antique pink, while ‘Darlow’s Enigma’ rose is just as tall as the elder and is covered in large clusters of small, single, white roses from early summer through fall. I’ve repeated this combination on the other corner of the house: a white ‘Bridal Veil’ astilbe lives in front of purple-leafed ‘Summer Wine’ nine-bark. For equal interest, but more colorful, contrast, think about the chartreuse yellow of the soft billows of lady’s
mantle blooms in front of fiercely upright dark purple bearded iris. That one uses not just contrast of colors, but of leaf form and structure of the plants. Even in an all-one-color garden, contrast can be had. Contrast can be the same color, but lighter and darker values of it. Think about the soft blue of a blue spruce with the dark, saturated blue of ‘Blue Jay’ delphiniums, or pale forgetme-nots with intense ‘Georgia Blue’ veronicas. If you have an all one color garden, take a picture of it, download it to your computer, and turn the saturation all the way down so you have a black and white photo. You can easily see what values of dark and light you have with color removed! Don’t think of just color; all season long contrast can be had via texture and shape: big, solid, hosta leaves with feathery plumes of astilbes; wispy grasses with heart-shaped brunnera leaves; or the natural cone shape of a dwarf Alberta spruce planted in with arching, sprawly, potentillas or ‘Bridal Wreath’ spirea. Think about how a woodland garden, which is usually all in shades of green, have a mix of textures: ferns, hostas, conifer trees, trilliums, and violets. This kind of design is very casual and more natural seeming than rows of annuals all the same height and color. Too much contrast can be hectic and not relaxing; there is nowhere for the eyes to rest. Use it like a seasoning; you don’t want to overwhelm a soup with too much salt or pepper, but moderate doses of it bring the soup to life.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Keep the dead flowers clipped off annuals to encourage them to keep blooming. If they are allowed to make seeds, they figure their job is done for the year!
MUSIC
This week’s RLW by Jen Heller
An interview with
By Ben Olson Reader Staff When the opening guitar riff rings out for “Bad to the Bone,” followed by a strong kickdrum snap at the Festival at Sandpoint on Saturday night, expect the crowd to lose it. Big time. After 16 studio albums — six of which went gold and two platinum — George Thorogood and the Destroyers have still got it. Over the course of 40 years, the boogie blues band hailed “The World’s Greatest Bar Band,” has amassed an unheard of amount of hits, including “Who Do You Love,” “I Drink Alone,” One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” “Move It On Over,” “Get a Haircut,” and, of course, the ultimate badass anthem, “Bad To The Bone.” With his longtime band The Destroyers, consisting of Jeff Simon, Bill Blough, Jim Suhler and Buddy Leach, George Thorogood remains one of the most influential performers in classic rock and blues today. We were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes on the phone with George, who, in his gruff and humorous way, talked about everything from Idaho potatoes to the greats that influenced his past. Read on, me hearties: George Thorogood: Ben from Idaho! Ben Olson: Hey George, how are you, sir? GT: Bad!
BO: I bet you are. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us.
GT: So what’s your moniker over there in Idaho? What do you put on the license plate?
BO: You know, it’s embarrassing. There are two Idahos, really. There’s a southern part, and there’s the north. We’re in the north, which is really more like Canada. The south part, they grow lots of potatoes down there, so, naturally, they put “Famous potatoes” on our license plates.
GT: Hey, I got it right. That’s your slogan? Famous potatoes. BO: Yeah, it’s embarrassing.
GT: Oh man, we gotta work on that.
BO: You’re from Delaware right. What’s your motto over there? GT: First state.
BO: I’d take that over the potatoes.
GT: Yeah, we gotta get your image going – Nevada’s the silver state, Texas is lone star state. Famous potatoes, huh?
BO: Yeah. You know, if you ever eat McDonald’s French fries, they probably come from Idaho. That’s probably where the whole famous thing comes in. GT: Oh man. I never heard of anything like that. So you’re the potato state.
BO: Well, not really. The north is all about lakes and rivers and mountains. Really more like western Montana – lots of wildlife, that kind of thing. GT: I’ll work on that for you.
BO: Please do! If you can come up with a better slogan, we would all love that here in North Idaho. So have you ever played a show our way before? GT: In Idaho, yeah? We
READ
Last year, an attorney named Anja Manuel wrote an exploration of modern India and China for our globally-challenged market, named (suitably) “This Brave New World.” Manuel’s bio is full of big names, but she’s kept her book simple to read and easy to process. The overall tone is optimistic but realistic. She pulls heavily from an in-depth political, economic and religious history of both states to show us where we are, how we got here, and where the U.S. should aim its foreign policies as we move forward. Read it!
played 50 states in 50 days, you know. BO: That’s right, the 50/50 tour, except you actually did 51 in 50 didn’t you?
GT: Yeah, we did a double header in Baltimore, then Washington, D.C.
LISTEN
BO: Are you still a road dog in many ways? Do you enjoy the tour life still?
GT: That depends on where I’m going. If I’m going to Idaho, I’ll get myself some potatoes. I’m not much of a potato eater. Lotta starch in those potatoes, you know. BO: I hear you. So you have a new album coming out, “Party of One.” GT: That’s me – party of one.
BO: I just listened to it and really loved it. It was a stripped-down sound I haven’t heard of yours yet. How did this all come about?
GT: Well, it was long overdue. You know, I started playing acoustic guitar before I put this band together and never got around to doing it. I’d been talking about it for years, and I didn’t think it was ever going to happen until I came into contact with Rounder Records. A few years ago they put out some reissues, and we discussed this particular project and they were still interested in it. So we went for it, but it took a couple years for us to put it together. It wasn’t really a slam dunk slap like people might think.
George Thorogood. Courtesy photo. BO: When you’ve got that spare kind of sound, you’ve gotta do it just right. I think you nailed it, you’ve got some great songs on there – everybody from Robert Johnson to Hank Williams to Dylan. Is this kind of like a tribute album of yours? GT: In a way. I think it’s more of an album of influences more than a tribute. The tribute album we did was “2120 South Michigan Ave.” which was a tribute to Chess Records. This one is more like “George Thorogood’s influences from when he first decided to become a musician.” These are the strongest people – Dylan, The Rolling Stones, John Lee Hooker, who I was really close to, Hank Williams. You know, all the big boys. I’m not unique in this way – other people have influenced me over the time. I was just trying to find a song by each one of them. It all kind of fell into place after awhile.
If I ever became disciplined enough to listen to podcasts on a regular basis, I think War College would be a go-to. The logic and emotions that fuel states of war fascinate me, and this podcast is unusually diverse in its coverage of the regions, topics and philosophies of war. My favorite episode aired two weeks ago, a really intriguing half-hour conversation called, “Here’s why China built that military base in Africa,” about a base that has suddenly materialized eight miles from the U.S.’s major HQ in the Gulf region.
WATCH
If life in the “Smokane” shadow is getting you down, try a Bollywood movie. I’ve watched dozens of them over the years, never understanding a single word spoken, and it never mattered – they were full of pretty people, crazy-talented singing and dancing, and predictable plot lines. That’s also why I never remember what any of the movies were titled afterwards! Bollywood is one area our library falls a bit short, but you can easily find a great selection just through the internet.
BO: Well, I really liked it. It just came out Aug. 4? GT: Correct.
< see THOROGOOD, page 24 >
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< THOROGOOD, con’t from page 23 > BO: So The Destroyers have been playing with you a long time. Was this new album a different experience doing it on your own.
GT: Yeah. Frightening (laughs). I got about halfway through the record and realized why I stopped playing acoustic and got a bass player and drummer.
BO: When did you get your start? Did you have another plan in the beginning?
GT: Not really. My plan was the same as everybody else’s. When we saw The Rolling Stones on shindig, that was it. Not unlike a lot of my contemporaries like Tom Petty and the Pretenders, and people like that. We were all hooked with the bug back in the ‘60s. We all wanted to do it. We all wanted our hair to look like Keith Richards’ (laughs). BO: You actually played with the Stones for a while, right?
GT: We did some shows with them, yeah.
BO: How was that experience? Or do you remember it all? GT: Well, what do you think? Of course I remember it.
BO: You have any stories from the road you want to share?
GT: Every day that we played, at least one member of The Rolling Stones would come out to see us play and shake our hands and tell us how much they enjoyed what we do and that they were big fans of ours and they thought we were really great. How’s that for a story?
BO: That’s really incredible. You left this great mark on music. Does it ever get old when people tell you how much your music has meant to them? GT: You would get tired of someone telling you that they love you? What’s the matter with you? What’s the matter with you?
BO: Well, I’ve never achieved that level with any of my music. I’m usually always ready to duck if someone throws something at us. GT: You never get tired of someone complimenting you on your work. BO: Have you seen rock and roll change in the years since you started playing?
GT: Who hasn’t? Rock and roll hasn’t
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changed, it stopped. It stopped years ago. It’s just still alive in name only. It’s like country music. That’s not country. It’s pop music with a cowboy hat. So, rock and roll as we knew it kind of faded out by 1970, ‘71, ‘72. Led Zeppelin, to me, and Jimi Hendrix, were the last word in rock and roll. The bulk of what you play on classic rock radio comes from about 1955 to 1985, doesn’t it? That’s 90 percent of the statement of rock music, so when you say what’s the state of it, I say, ‘There is none, it’s all classic rock now.’ Nothing new has emerged that has stirred the world the way “Stairway to Heaven” has or “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” or “Rock Me Baby.” Those are the big ones. Those are the ones you circle your format around, don’t you?
BO: Do you see another genre emerging that has the staying power of rock and roll? GT: No, I don’t think another Jimi Hendrix is going to come along, do you?
BO: I hope so, personally. I think we need it. GT: You do? I’m happy with the one we have. That’s why I appreciate the one we have.
BO: Sure, but I hope we have some more people emerge that have the same influence like a Jimi Hendrix had on music, you know? GT: It’s a tough act to follow. There’s only one Marlon Brando, right?
BO: So, what would you like to share with your fans in anticipation of the upcoming Festival at Sandpoint show? GT: Expect to see probably the greatest rock and roll experience in existence. Isn’t that what they come for? That’s the idea, isn’t it? I don’t think people buy tickets and say, ‘Hey, I really hope to see a crummy show.’
BO: Well, we’re looking forward to seeing you, George. Thanks so much for talking with us. GT: No problem. Remember, rock and roll never sleeps – it just passes out.
George Thorogood and the Destroyers play the Festival at Sandpoint at Memorial Field on Saturday, Aug. 12. For ticket information, call (208) 265-4554. To listen to Thorogood’s new solo album, “Party Of One,” check out his fan site at www.georgethorogood.com.
Sandpoint’s Snapchat debut:
Sandpoint grad Tyson Bird utilizes social media to put Sandpoint on Snapchat’s radar
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer Sandpoint is familiar with sending young people out into the world and then watching them do awesome things with their lives. More rare, however, is the young person who leaves Sandpoint, does awesome things and then finds a way to continue putting their unique touch on their hometown. Tyson Bird is one of these people. After graduating from Sandpoint High School in 2014, Bird attended Ball State and studied journalism graphics with a minor in entrepreneurial management. He currently lives in Austin, Texas, and works as a digital designer for Gatehouse Media. In his everyday work, he creates digital media packages to accompany news stories from newspapers across the country. But one of Bird’s most recent
endeavors can be seen exclusively in Sandpoint — on Snapchat. “All these cities have all these cool, artsy filters and Sandpoint doesn’t,” he said. “It’s always really bothered me when I visited.” Snapchat filters, for those unfamiliar with the app, are colorations, borders and other graphics that users can apply to their photos while using the app, designed to send timed photos and videos to fellow Snapchat users. When Bird looked into how to submit a geofilter only available in the Sandpoint area, he said he found the process simple. With Adobe Illustrator, he put his own spin on a typeface, added some simply drawn scenery and uploaded the file to Snapchat’s website in May. This month, Bird received an email that the filter had gone live and was available for use. On Aug. 2, he tweeted: “@ Idaho friends I designed a Sandpoint snap filter that’s supposed to
, 24 New friends Tim Henney 56. 19 and Jackie Pelton, 21 in
launch today please check it out (mostly downtown/beach only).” In its first day, the filter saw 1,500 uses. As of Tuesday, Bird said 2,500 individual users had applied the filter, and 104,100 people had seen the filter through Snapchats from friends. Bird was also asked to design the Snapchat filter for the Festival at Sandpoint, which will only last through the festival. As far as future work with the social media platform, Bird said he plans to help news outlets utilize Snapchat as a journalism tool in his work with Gatehouse Media. “I think it’s one of the most innovative social media platforms,” he said. “In the beginning people were like, ‘Oh, it’s only for sexting,’ and now the New York Times has a story that is animated and has sound. Snapchat is this really dynamic platform that people are trusting for news, and it’s so elegantly designed, which is appealing to me.”
Top: Sandpoint High School graduate Tyson Bird. Courtesy photo. Right: A photo of the iconic Cedar St. Bridge in Sandpoint, using Bird’s Snapchat filter. Photo by McCalee Cain.
These two photographs are of the same people. Left, new friends Jackie Lee Pelton, 21, and Tim Harriman Henney, 24, at Cal-Berkeley in the ancient summer of 1956. Right, the same couple in their Sandpoint backyard today. They were wed 60 years ago August 10. Defying science, they look exactly today as they did when they met 61 years ago. Suspecting that readers might not believe their eyes, the Henneys hired a Hollywood makeup artist to give them fake faces, fake sagging skin, fake old-person blemishes, etc. for this photograph. To salute six decades and one pre-nuptial year together, the Henneys had hoped to host a large celebration with Sandpoint friends. Sadly, no one wanted to attend. So they will party in Park City, Utah, later this month with family members. Jacquelynn and Tim reared their three kids in such dissimilar communities as Wall Street haven Ridgewood, New Jersey; Geneseo, Illinois -- famed for hogs, cornfields and fireflies; and several memorable layovers in between. Oldest son Tim B. lives in Park City, Utah, as does daughter Heidi Gatch. Son Justin is a Sandpoint teacher, counselor and soccer coach. He and wife Angela are parents of Adeline, 12, and Violet, 7. The family includes Park City son-in-law Peter Gatch, granddaughter Theodosia -- an author and poet in Minneapolis; And grandson Scott, recently graduated from University of Chicago Law School. Jackie and Tim spent much of 1956 zooming around California in a 1954 British Triumph TR-2 roadster with the top down. In 1957 Jackie left a teaching job at Lake Arrowhead in the SoCal mountains. Tim, having edited military and college newspapers, landed a PR job in NYC. They wed on Block Island, Rhode Island and rented an aged apartment with vine-covered terrace, fireplace and no kitchen in the heart of historic Greenwich Village. Asked to share their secret for a long and happy life together, Tim said, "It hasn't been perfect. I like to sing old songs, especially when I'm dusting. Sometimes when I sing she throws things at me. Books, lamps, whatever's handy." Asked why, he said, "I haven't a clue. The other morning I was singing one of my favorites, 'the old grey mare, she ain't what she used to be...' and she smacked me with a skillet. As for our great marriage, that's because I called the shots, took charge, laid down the law right from the git-go. None of this equal partner stuff. I say ' woman, throw another log on that damn fire' and she by God does it. You gotta show 'em who's boss." Invited to comment on that boastful analysis, Jacquelynn said, "It's bullshit."
Tim and Jackie Henney after 60 years of marriage in 2017. August 10, 2017 /
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50Remembering years later: the Sundance Fire By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Fifty years ago on Sept. 1, the Sundance Fire churned through the woodlands at an unprecedented rate, growing from 4,000 acres to almost 56,000 acres within 9 hours. Along with devastating the surrounding forests, there was also a tragic loss of two lives – a dozer operator and a fire control operator. A series of events are planned to share information about the blaze, as well as commemorate the lives of Luther P. Rodarte, 36, and Lee Collins, 50. The Society of American Foresters is hosting a public event on Saturday, Sept. 2 at the Pack River Bridge on Upper Pack River Road where the Sundance Fire burned most of its land. It was during the westerly push on Sept. 1, 1967, where the two firefighters lost their lives. The memorial will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Sandpoint Ranger District and Idaho Department of Lands will be working with them for this event. “There will also be a private memorial for the family at the Fault Lake trailhead,” said Erick Walker, district ranger for the Sandpoint Ranger District. “That trail is near the terminus where the two firefighters died. This will be the first time that the two families have met and engaged since 1967.” Also, the museums of Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake and Sandpoint are hosting several events and exhibits in commemoration of this devastating fire. The Boundary County Museum will host a presentation on the Sundance and Trapper Peak fires on Saturday, Aug. 26, from 2-4 p.m. The Bonner County History Museum will host their own presentation on the Sundance Fire on Saturday, Sept. 2. Priest Lake Elementary School’s presentation on the Trapper Peak and Sundance Fires on Wednesday, Aug. 23, from 7-8:30 p.m. at the school. To help clear the trail for the increased use due to the upcoming ceremony, the Sandpoint Ranger District has called on the help of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC), as well as the Idaho Conservation
Corps (ICC). “This summer, a lot of people are going to use the Fault Lake Trail because of the 50th anniversary, so the trail needed work,” said Mary Ann Hamilton, the trail coordinator for Sandpoint Ranger District. Hamilton said the work started with YCC, which is made up solely of local teenagers hired to clear brush and do trail work. This year, 18 YCC kids split their time between the Bonners Ferry, Priest Lake and Sandpoint Ranger Districts. The YCC program is especially close to Hamilton’s heart since it utilizes locals from Sandpoint, Priest Lake and Clark Fork. Also, Hamilton got her start in natural resources in 1978 as a YCC kid. “The local kids made great strides, but we realized we weren’t going to get it all,” said Hamilton. “So a fire crew stationed in Sandpoint went up for two days to help brush it out. Now ICC is here and they’re going to finish it off this week.” ICC is based out of Boise and are essentially a mobile, self-contained unit. “They’re pretty rugged,” said Hamilton. “They work all day and camp right on the trail, then get up and do it again.” Hamilton said each year the YCC is advertised with the high schools, and they are also online. “Think of it as a trails apprenticeship program,” said Hamilton. “They get to really learn what it’s like to be on a trail
Crossword Solution
Instead of burning a guy at the stake, what about burning him at the stilts? It probably lasts longer, plus it moves around. 26 /
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crew. If they stick with it, they do end up getting pretty good jobs. It’s a great segue, as well as a great way to work their way through college.” To find more information about how to join the ICC or YCC, and for any other information related to the upcoming memorials for the Sundance Fire, contact the Sandpoint Ranger District at 208-2635111. We will be publishing more in-depth content about the Sundance Fire in an upcoming issue of the Reader.
A crew of teenagers with Idaho Conservation Corps get ready to head up to Fault Lake Trail to clear brush and do trail work to prepare for the 50th anniversary of the Sundance Fire. Photo by Karen Bowers.
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SAVING OUR FUTURE! featuring
Adonis Williams, Gabe Mandell &Aji Piper World Renowned Climate Justice Ambassadors & Plaintiffs in Federal and Washington state lawsuits
Meet 3 of the youth involved in the "trial of the millennium" as they share their stories in music and words, and discuss the lawsuits on ensuring a sustainable, livable environment for them and future generations.
Saturday, 12 August 2017 · 12 - 1 :30 PM Gardenia Center · 400 Church Street · Sandpoint The program is free and all are invited, but please be aware that seating is limited. Arrive early! Youth activity to follow with Adonis, Gabe, and Aji. For additional info please visit www.350Sandpoint.org or email info@350Sandpoint.org. t OurChil...J
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