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PEOPLE compiled by

Susan Drinkard

watching

“What’s the best thing that happened to you in 2020?”

“The best thing that happened to me in 2020 was the birth of my granddaughter, sweet little baby Wren.”

Sandy Bessler Bookkeeper Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

Since I began this journey as publisher in January, 2015, I’ve measured time in weekly installments. Every Thursday is distribution day. Fridays are editorial meetings. Mondays and Tuesdays are production days and Wednesdays are dreaded deadline days. Weekends are left for drinking and crying into my pillow. But Thursdays are the standard for passing time.

It was odd, then, when I noticed about a month ago that there were 53 Thursdays in 2020, which has never happened before in my tenure. I had to go back and count them on the calendar to make sure I wasn’t messing up our volume and issue numbers on the cover, which are sacred items of reference for newspaper weirdos like me.

That got me to thinking about that first issue back from the dead nearly six years ago and how hopeful and fresh I felt, ready to tackle those 52 editions a year. Six years. We’ve ebbed and flowed since that glorious return, but one thing has remained the same: our readers and advertisers have continued to support us, which we are forever grateful for.

Thank you for sharing another year of your lives with us. We hope you all find love, happiness, contentment and perhaps some fortune in 2021. Enjoy this unicorn of unicorns: the bonus 53rd edition of the Reader of 2020. Now let’s forget this year ever happened!

– Ben Olson, publisher

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Bill Mitchell (cover), Ben Olson, Susan Drinkard, Reno and Clay Hutchison, Bill Borders.

“My daughter had a baby girl.”

Jeff Davault Beer vendor Sandpoint

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Lorraine H. Marie, Sam Luikens, Jim Woodward, Sage Dixon, Brenden Bobby, Marcia Pilgeram.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $115 per year

“My walk with the Lord. I wanted to learn about His character through nature. He gave me special snapshots in nature that made me feel His presence.”

Elsie-Rae Davis R.N. Sandpoint

“I got to retire. I taught English at the middle school level, mostly with eighth-grade students, and worked as an assistant principal in Southern California.”

Tracy Threet Retired Athol “No one in my family got sick with COVID.” Lynn Snyder Retired Dover

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

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

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

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

Requirements: –No more than 300 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

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

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

About the Cover

This week’s cover is another hand-drawn piece of art from Sandpoint’s own Bill Mitchell. Check out his work: @billmitchellart.

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NEWS

Staying the course

LPOSD continues with current pandemic protocols as Idaho officials announce tentative vaccine queue

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff The Lake Pend Oreille School District Board of Trustees held a special meeting Dec. 29 to discuss possible changes to the district’s operating plan amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, ultimately deciding that teachers and staff should continue with in-person instruction and current safety practices when school comes back into session Jan. 4.

Under the district’s current Yellow operations plan, in-person instruction happens during a shortened school day for all grades, with protocols like masks, distancing and increased sanitation in place to help mitigate the spread of the virus. Online learning resources are available for all students, and those who choose to attend school entirely online are able to do so.

Board members lauded the flexibility of the plan currently in place.

“The infection rates in our schools are lower than the community’s,” said Trustee Gary Suppiger. “I think we could make the argument that we are actually protecting our students by keeping them in school. We’re the only school district I know of that requires masks. We have a stricter protocol than our surrounding school districts and I think it’s paid dividends for us.

“I applaud our administration for coming up with the plan that we approved, and I see no reason to change it,” he added.

The board acknowledged that the consequences of returning to in-person school after 4 /

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the long holiday break won’t be apparent until school is back in session for a few days, and trustees said they could revisit the plan at their Jan. 12 meeting if the district sees a dramatic increase in cases.

LPOSD Superintendent Tom Albertson put out a plea to “families who have traveled significantly outside of the area or had people come from outside of the area” to be extra cautious, “not just for yourselves, but for the other students and staff who are in our school district.”

“We really want to keep our schools open, and that is really a cooperation by all,” he said.

Bonner County remains in the red category for COVID-19 Risk Level, according to the Panhandle Health District.

PHD reported 1,955 cases of COVID-19 in Bonner County as of Dec. 30, with 583 of those currently active. The health district also reports that 14 people have died in the county due to the virus.

As for Idaho as a whole, Health and Welfare officials logged 1,340 new cases of the virus on Dec. 30, bringing the state’s total to 139,864 since tracking began in March.

IDHW also reports that 1,403 Idahoans have died of COVID-19.

Testing queue announced Another metric the state began tracking in recent weeks is the number of coronavirus vaccine doses that have been distributed. As of Dec. 30, that number had reached 13,686.

“The availability of the safe COVID-19 vaccine is a lifeline in our pandemic fight, and I know there are a lot of questions about vaccine distribution,” Gov. Brad Little stated in a press release Dec. 30 announcing that Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials will be holding weekly virtual press briefings about the vaccine moving forward. “My administration is committed to transparency and getting out the best information on the vaccine as effectively as possible.”

Officials shared a tentative timeline Dec. 29 detailing when certain groups could expect to access the vaccine.

Health care personnel and long-term care facility residents and staff are currently being prioritized, with essential workers and people 75 years of age or older next in line, likely sometime in February. People over 65 and anyone with highrisk medical conditions should be able to access the vaccine in April, and doses could be

available to the general public

by May, according to the most recent estimates.

All information about the vaccination queue and ongoing safety guidelines is available at coronavirus.idaho.gov.

“We want to make the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine available to as many people as possible as quickly as possible,” said IDHW Director Dave Jeppesen. “The best way to ensure that is to make sure Idahoans have the most up-to-date information we can provide so they know what to expect and when.”

The first virtual COVID-19 vaccine press briefing will take place Jan. 5. IDHW will share details, including times and how to participate, before each briefing.

Idaho Legislature to convene Jan. 11 Despite a request from House and Senate Democratic leadership to postpone the 2021 legislative session until April 5, Idaho GOP leadership announced that the session would move forward as planned, convening on Monday, Jan. 11.

The Idaho Falls Post Register reports that the Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities and 30 other groups sent a letter to legislative leadership

A close-up rendering of the novel coronavirus. Image courtesy CDC. and Little last week, with ICDD Director Christine Pisani stating that participating in the session “is a life-threatening activity for those people with developmental disabilities who need a COVID-19 safe atmosphere to have their voice heard during the public policy decision making process.”

In response to those concerns, House Republicans released a statement about precautions being taken at the Capitol to reduce the risk of infection. Among those listed precautions are social distancing in committee rooms, desk-mounted plexiglass shields, the availability of free masks and a requirement that all legislative staff wear masks when outside of their offices.

The statement did not address whether lawmakers or visiting members of the public will be required to wear masks, but, according to the Register, House Speaker Scott Bedke, R-Oakley, “has said he opposes mandating masks for lawmakers.” The building is exempt from Boise’s mask mandate, leaving the rules up to elected officials inside the Capitol.

NEWS

Home(cooked) for the holidays

LPOHS and food bank team up to distribute 150 cooked meals on Christmas Eve

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Thanks to a partnership between Lake Pend Oreille High School and the Bonner Community Food Bank, 150 hot holiday meals made it to the plates of people in need on Christmas Eve. Students, staff and eager volunteers worked to cook, package and deliver traditional turkey meals thanks to an idea that sparked between LPOHS art teacher Randy Wilhelm and Bonner Community Food Bank Executive Director Debbie Love while Wilhelm volunteered at the food bank around Thanksgiving.

The two were discussing the generous and well-attended Thanksgiving meal hosted by the Hoot Owl each year when Wilhelm mused that, “it would be nice to do something like that at Christmas.” Since the food bank began making home deliveries during the COVID-19 pandemic, Love had access to a list of people who could use a warm meal delivered straight to their homes.

With the help of LPOHS culinary arts teacher Rand Rosecrans, a handful of student chefs and dozens of local volunteers, that idea became reality on Christmas Eve. “It couldn’t have been pulled off without community support,” Wilhelm said, noting donations from Litehouse, Super 1 and Yoke’s.

On the volunteer side of things, Wilhelm said he had to turn away around 40 drivers because there simply weren’t enough meals to require that size of delivery fleet.

Of those who were needed to take the meals to their intended destinations, some went as far as Clark Fork, Naples and Athol to feed residents for the holiday.

“Dozens of people gave up their Christmas Eve to go deliver food — I think that’s pretty amazing,” Wilhelm said.

He said the bulk of the drivers were former LPOHS students.

“Some had their families in there with them, all super excited to be involved in an LPO project again,” he said. “That was really cool.”

Ashley Bolton, a 2005 LPOHS graduate, said she heard about the opportunity to volunteer

through social media and jumped at the chance.

“LPO is the coolest school in the entire world, and I couldn’t wait to help them because they have helped me so much in my life,” Bolton said. “I can’t repay the teachers and the staff and the whole school enough. I love the things that they do and I thought it was a wonderful idea.”

Her husband and their four children also came along for the deliveries, and were “super ecstat-

ic” to be involved, Bolton said.

“It was so much fun and it was just an honor to be able to help out,” she said.

That enthusiasm and willingness to help others is a characteristic of Sandpoint that continues to shine through the hardships of the pandemic, and something Love said she feels was on full display Christmas Eve. “I think it really reflects the heart of our amazing community and our team who did a phenom-

enal job in making it happen — especially during these challenging times,” she said. “For a year that has been difficult on so many levels, we felt that holiday spirit for sure.”

With the partnership between LPOHS, the food bank and community volunteers being such a success in 2020, Wilhelm said delivering Christmas Eve meals could likely become a new holiday tradition.

“We could probably double the

Left: Delivery driver Ashley Bolton and family display goodie bags given to all the volunteers on Christmas Eve. Right: Ty Wanner, left, and Brandon Wilder, right, helped cook the holiday meals. Photos by Randy Wilhelm. amount that we did next Christmas, as well,” he said.

To learn about how to support the Bonner Community Food Bank with donations or by volunteering, visit foodbank83864.com or call 208-263-3663.

Festival names Ali Baranski as new executive director

By Reader Staff The Festival at Sandpoint announced Ali Baranski as the new executive director of the nonprofit Dec. 24, making permanent her former position as interim executive director, in which she had served since November 2019.

As executive director, Baranski will work with the board to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic — which resulted in the complete cancelation of the iconic local event in 2020 — as well as look to the future.

A Sandpoint resident since 2013, Baranski has served on The Festival Board of Directors since May 2018 and was instrumental in helping guide the nonprofit following a tumultuous 2019 season — which saw the departure of her predecessor following a drunk driving arrest, a costly weather-related concert cancellation and a rancorous lawsuit between Bonner County and the city of Sandpoint over The Festival’s no-weapons policy, which plaintiffs argued was

illegal because it covered an event occurring on publicly owned War Memorial Field.

In 2020, Baranski led The Festival through the conclusion of the county lawsuit, which a judge dismissed in favor of the city in September, and the profound challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. What’s more, Festival organizers had to confront the logistical realities of a complete makeover of its longtime venue at Memorial Field, as the city undertook a sweeping project to rebuild portions of the field infrastructure and replace its grass surface with artificial turf — a move that itself made for headlines and frequently heated public debates.

“We are extremely excited to have Ali step into the role of executive director,” stated Festival Board President Bob Witte in a news release announcing Baranski’s hiring. “The last year has presented a number of challenges to The Festival. However, during this time we have focused our energy on evolving, adapting and

reevaluating every aspect of our organization. We enter 2021 with a newfound sense of optimism and excitement for what the future holds and there is no person better equipped to help move our organization forward than Ali.” Baranski’s hiring comes as the foundation looks to write the next chapter in its nearly 40-year history.

The board in December completed a long-term strategic planning process that was guided by an independent third party to align the organization’s mission with the needs and desires of the community.

Beyond its two-week concert series each August, The Festival also exposes as many as 1,000 local youths to no-cost music education opportunities year round through its Fifth Grade Music Outreach Program, Youth Strings Orchestra, Instrument Assistance Program, Scholarship Program and music camps.

“I am honored and excited to have the opportunity to lead The Festival at Sandpoint,” Baranski stated. “The organization has such

a rich history and meaning to this community and to me personally. I look forward to being a part of the effort to bring the organization to the next level, making a positive impact in our community and helping to cultivate a love of music in youth across our community.

“Our planning and booking for our 2021 Festival are already well underway,” she added. “In working with industry and medical experts, we have put considerations and plans in place to hold the 2021 Festival at Sandpoint with safety and potential limited-capacity measures in mind.”

Supporting Baranski in the day-to-day operations of The Festival, the board also brought Hailey Cecie into the organization, serving as office manager.

“We are beyond excited to gather again this summer for a fantastic season,” Baranski stated.

For more information, visit festivalatsandpoint.com.

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NEWS

STCU gifts $15k to Memorial Community Center in Hope

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff When the Memorial Community Center applied for a grant through the Spokane Teachers Credit Union to cover the cost of new flooring in early spring 2020, there was no way of knowing the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic would have on the year ahead.

Once the shutdowns began and reality sunk in, MCC Chairperson Dawn Brinker said the board didn’t hold out much hope for the flooring grant.

“We thought, ‘Oh, we’re probably not going to get it because there’s greater needs probably,’” Brinker said, “and at the time they couldn’t give us the grant, so we thought it was all over.”

That is, until STCU representatives requested a video conference earlier this month to “talk about the grant,” Brinker said. During that meeting, STCU surprised MCC board members with a Christmas gift of $15,000.

“We were quite surprised and ecstatic about it,” Brinker said.

In a recorded version of the conference

that Brinker shared with the Reader, the excitement is apparent in both Brinker and MCC board member and grant writer Delores Matthews as STCU officials share the happy news and display the oversized check.

“You don’t know what that means to us,” Matthews says in the video.

Brinker said the funds will go toward new flooring on the first floor of the community center. She said she suspects the current flooring is original, from when the building was erected in the 1980s.

The Memorial Community Center is home to the Hope Preschool, and also serves as a gathering place for clubs, exercise classes and AA meetings. The facility can also be rented for events, and is known for its Christmas Giving and scholarship programs.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic creating uncertainty for many nonprofits, Brinker said people have remained enthusiastic about supporting Hope’s community center.

“We’ve been working to keep everybody engaged … and the community has responded really generously, and we’ve just been really happy about that,” she said.

County requests funds for large LED stop signs

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Bonner County commissioners have approved a grant application from the Road and Bridge Department requesting funds from the Local Highway Technical Assistance Council to pay for new and improved LED stop signs throughout the county.

Road and Bridge Staff Engineer Matt Mulder presented the application before the commissioners Dec. 15, sharing that improved signage at local intersections would likely reduce frequent accidents.

“Looking at the cached data over the past five years, we see a pattern of accidents where people failed to obey stop signs, resulting in a couple fatalities and a lot of serious injuries throughout the county,” Mulder said, “especially at our higher-speed intersections with arterials and state highways.”

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radar capabilities, would be paid for with $815,000 from LHTAC’s Local Highway Safety Improvement Program.

“These would be radar controlled and solar powered, so they would start flashing as the car approaches, and [it flashes] faster and faster if it doesn’t see that car slowing down at the stop sign,” Mulder said.

The new stop signs would be larger than the signs currently in use, increasing from 36 inches across to 48 inches. Mulder said the grant would also cover the cost of advance warning signs that read “stop sign ahead” at all intersections in the county that don’t yet have them, as well as the cost for a contractor to install all the new signs.

“These have been proven to [create] a pretty good reduction in accidents at stop signs,” he said.

If awarded the grant, Bonner County would be on the hook to pay a 7.34% match of about $60,000. The LHTAC funds for this particular project are for use during the 2023 fiscal year.

Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact.

A recent sampling: What’s in the $2.3 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021? The document, at nearly 6,000 pages, which many in media say members of Congress did not get a chance to read before voting on it, has $900 billion for stimulus relief and includes expansion of the Paycheck Protection Program, $15 billion for the entertainment industry, $20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loans, a $6.3 billion tax deduction for corporate meals (proposed by Republicans, to boost the restaurant industry), $25 billion for emergency rental assistance, $8 billion for COVID-19 vaccine distribution, $20 billion for COVID-19 testing, $20 billion for vaccines that would be given free to those unable to afford them, $82 billion for education, $10 billion for child care assistance, $45 billion for transportation, $7 billion to increase broadband, $26 billion for food assistance the agriculture industry, $1.4 billion for the U.S.-Mexico border wall and $2.5 billion for race car tracks.

The bill contains no funds set aside to aid state and local governments, no funds for hazard pay for essential workers and no stimulus checks for dependent adults.

The Washington Post notes that the 50 biggest U.S. companies all showed a profit since the pandemic began.

Meanwhile, the U.S. House passed $2,000 stimulus checks in a vote on Dec. 28. Republican Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he will “consider” it. Since the Senate is currently dominated by Republicans, the reality of a larger stimulus check remains unclear, despite the president urging its passage.

About deficits: According to The Atlantic, 10 years ago the annual deficit was $1.3 trillion; today it’s $3.1 trillion.

Under President Barack Obama the national debt was $9 trillion and under Trump it has ballooned to $21 trillion. This has prompted Republicans to initiate talks about austerity.

But, according to The Atlantic’s economics columnist, there is a “quiet revolution” happening regarding the understanding of deficits and debts, in that they may not be as scary as some think.

That’s not to say government overspending should be encouraged, “but,” writes Mark Zandi, chief economist and Moody’s Analytics, “we’re in a period where it’s important for governments to be expansive with fiscal policy. We’re not going into a death spiral with investors

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

jacking up interest rates because we’re spending more.”

To grapple with the current economy requires investing federal spending to get “more bang for the government’s buck,” and short-term that means proven stimulus funds for food assistance, unemployment payments, and aid to state and local governments. Longer-term investments that boost the economy include addressing childhood poverty and the racial-wealth gap, boosting high-quality public education, tackling the opioid crisis, repairing decrepit infrastructure, strengthening inadequate broadband networks, confronting high-carbon utilities and improving public transit.

Not on the list: tax breaks and tax writeoffs for business meals.

Testing of stored blood samples from December 2019 and January 2020 for COVID-19 antibodies, according to the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases, shows the virus was in the U.S. “earlier than previously recognized.” Critiques of the article include the explanation that the antibodies were from a seasonal coronavirus infection, and not from the COVID-19 coronavirus, Forbes.com stated.

To read the names of every American who is known to have died from COVID-19 or related causes in 2020, allowing one name per second, would take from 5 p.m. on a Tuesday to 10 a.m. the next Saturday.

But by then there would be 8,000 more deaths, pushing the reading time to noon, according to The Washington Post.

Among adults ages 25 to 44 there were 12,000 more deaths than normal in 2020, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. According to JAMA, COVID-19 is the driving force behind those extra deaths, and they exceeded opioid deaths in the same age range.

Greta Thunberg, TIME magazine’s youngest-ever Person of the Year for her championing of climate change solutions, on lessons from 2020: “It is possible to treat a crisis like a crisis … to put people’s health above economic interests … to listen to the science.”

One of the 2020 “words of the year” is “Blursday,” a term that indicates lacking the normal job structure due to COVID-19, the difficulty some have determining the day of the week.

Blast from the past: “There are decades where nothing happens; and there are weeks where decades happen.”

Attributed to Vladimir Lenin, 1870-1924, Russian revolutionary, politician and political theorist.

PERSPECTIVES

Coming out for the holidays

Sharing your truth can be hard, but it gets better from there — I did it twice.

By Sam Luikens Reader Contributor The holiday season is usually a time when many families gather together, some turning to the familiar and newly-minted traditions that offer comfort in the dark season. However it looks, there are likely candles, food — and hopefully — a sense of joyful reflection.

But for queer people, namely queer youth and especially high-school or college aged folks who might yet remain closeted but are ready to come out, extended time at home can be a source of anxiety. All that time spent with family might seem like just the right time to open up about a deeply personal part of one’s identity.

When one is ready to come out, they’ll likely refer to the script they’ve been writing and revising hundreds of times over.

The writer hopes for the best (love and acceptance); prepares

for the worst (rejection).

My life has changed substantially since my time in college.

Living near campus and physically attending classes, I wasn’t remotely concerned with the necessities of sidelining a global pandemic: wearing a mask, social distancing. I was busy taking the college experience for granted: attending lectures, mingling with peers, testing the limits of my fake ID. In 2020, students might be attending classes from their childhood bedrooms, adding yet another question mark to an already uncertain, possibly volatile, family affair. With nowhere to escape but a different room in the house, a friend’s couch or, in extreme cases, the streets, queer kids might prefer to remain in the closet for fear of being kicked out.

I was home in Sandpoint on holiday break when I came out to my family. I’d known I was gay for a while, though as a kid

I didn’t have the vocabulary to express it nor queer role models to look to — insular as my childhood was. The one openly gay person I knew in high school was berated by a culture of homophobia that stalked the hallways, classrooms and administration. Who would want that kind of life?

That December, as my dad strapped our Christmas tree to the roof of the Subaru, I put the finishing touches on the coming out script kept on file in my head.

“I’m gay,” the words eventually tumbled out. What follows is hazy. Trauma has a way of blocking entire days, weeks or months from our memories just so we can function. Trauma can also imprint our memories with other moments that we can recall in perfect detail.

I awoke the next morning to opera music (Bocelli? Pavarotti?) blasting from the living room where my mother had been furiously cleaning house. She

was seated on a footstool, her sobs drowned out by the aria that shook the ornaments on the Christmas tree.

The rest of the break was a bitter blend of long awkward silences and tearful pleas. Being gay wasn’t an option. Presented with a choice either to “undo” what I’d “done,” or live a lonely and sad life, I cowered back into the closet.

I went back to school, where I lived unauthentically for a time. I told people I was “straight now.”

I displayed my insecurity in messy ways: public drunkenness, daring a stranger to fight me, using a gay slur to refer to a boy who apparently had a crush on me. These were the toxic responses of homophobia internalized.

After a few years of this, I eventually forgave myself; I started drafting Part 2 of my coming out script. This time the words came easier. I leaned into a few close friends who’d witnessed my struggle; had loved me even when I didn’t. They offered me another look at myself — through their eyes — to see that the real me is worth loving.

Living authentically isn’t a

switch to turn or a pill to pop. It takes honest and often painful work. But the reward is that you get to share that love, if you want to, with someone else who loves you because of who you are — not despite it.

Today I tend to a loving relationship of nearly eight years. We’ve biked from Canada to Mexico on the West Coast.

We’ve lived in four cities in almost as many years. Yet the work continues. It’s been very much worth it.

Telling the truth can be hard; living truthfully can be even harder. But with the right people to support you through however many drafts it takes to write your script, coming out can eventually be worth it. And if it’s over the holidays, who knows, it might even be the best gift you can give yourself.

Sam Luikens is a writer based in Seattle where he lives with his partner, Luke, and their daughter, Humbug, who is a cat. Sam graduated from Sandpoint High School in 2005 and looks forward to visiting his family when it is safe to do so.

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Asphalt fight is about county property values, rights and tranquility…

Bouquets: • There is a story in this week’s Reader about Lake Pend Oreille High School joining forces with the Bonner Community Food Bank to deliver meals on Christmas Eve on Page 5, but I just wanted to say how cool it was for all volunteers and drivers who took time out of their special day to deliver 150 meals all across the county. This is why we live here.

• The other day, I heard the Waste Management truck pull up and begin to empty the trash cans outside my building. As is often the case, trash bags were overflowing from the cans, and the piled snow also made it difficult for the truck to access the cans.

The driver exited the vehicle, straightened the cans, picked up some bags of trash that fell from the overflowing cans and continued on his way. Have you ever stopped and given thanks to those who provide services like removing the trash from our lives? This is a hard job made even more difficult with heavy snowfall. Give these workers a break and make it easier on them. Don’t overload trash cans, don’t pile bags next to the cans and shovel out a spot so the trucks can access the cans without the driver getting in and out of the vehicle. I’m appreciative of the WM workers and help do my part to make their important jobs a bit easier.

GUEST SUBMISSION: • A Bouquet to Ting, which picked up the tab at Evans Brothers for all health care workers on Dec. 23 in honor of Idaho’s “Health Care Worker Appreciation Month.” How thoughtful; what a nice mid-week surprise.

Thanks, Ting!

-Submitted by Cadie Archer.

Barbs: • Do me a favor? Be kind in 2021. We all have different opinions about a number of issues, but let’s all just try to embrace kindness again. Wishing you all a prosperous new year.

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Dear editor, We the people of Sagle continue to fight for all of Bonner County’s homeowners’ property value, their rights and their home tranquility over industrial equipment running outside of industrial zones.

Our lives will be disrupted when/if this new Mining Ordinance passes (AM0011-20 ) on Jan. 7, 2021. If it passes, rock crushing will no longer need a conditional use permit, asphalt plants will be allowed in rural, agriculture and forest zones, even if it drops your home prices, has an effect on your health, threatens your aquifer or if 100% of the people don’t want it.

If it passes, gravel pits will no longer be limited to expansion, so they can grow far and wide, with no regulations.

We have to ask why such changes? Could it be that Matt

Linscott, the son of the biggest gravel pit owner in Bonner County, is on the Planning Commission board, and the Linscotts are in litigation over their growth beyond what is legal, and the unlawful passing of an amendment (AM161-18) to put it asphalt plants in rural zones, on the Linscotts’ land?

Please take a look for yourself by going to the Planning Department web page under current projects, as it does a lot more than what I have shared as there are more than 90 gravel pits and one may be near you.

Please, if you want to keep asphalt plants in industrial zones, and want to help this battle, please write to the planning department: planning@bonnercountyid.gov.

Jonna Plante Homeowner and spokesperson for Citizens Against Linscott Interstate Asphalt Plant Sagle

COMMUNITY

When one door closes, another opens Bonner Media opens following the closure of Mountain Sky Signs and Graphics

By Reader Staff Local publisher Bonner Media recently announced its grand opening as Sandpoint’s downtown source for signs and decals following the closure of Mountain Sky Signs and Printing. The company offers indoor and outdoor signage of all kinds, including banners, yard signs, posters, vinyl decals, vehicle and boat graphics, as well as professional design and installation services. Bonner Media also dabbles in independent and irregular works of art and literature “with a kick,” as the company describes it, encouraging “everyone to lighten up and laugh a little at the world around them.”

Walk-in customers are welcome as well as business accounts, and former Mountain Sky signage customers have been transferred to Bonner Media.

Selkirk Press in Sandpoint will be servicing all other Mountain Sky printing and copying accounts.

Either company can be contacted for assistance regarding printing orders and digital files.

Bonner Media is owned and operated by Jen Meyer, who served as Mountain Sky’s graphic artist for the past three years and hopes to make the transition as easy as possible for longtime customers. Bonner Media was founded as a publishing firm in 2019, and the new shop is located on the ground floor in the Ravenwood office building at

Jen Meyer of Bonner Media.

Courtesy photo.

102 S. Fourth Ave., across from the old Mountain Sky building on Pine Street.

“After 32 years serving Sandpoint we’re all sad to see Mountain Sky go,” said Meyer. “Many of us are hurting and struggling from the events of this year and it’s up to us to keep supporting our local businesses and keep our small town alive. My goal is to continue to offer customers a level of skill and service they won’t find on the internet or at the chain stores. I’m the one handling each order from initial design to installation, so there’s no runaround or passing the buck, and most orders can be delivered in two to four days right here in Sandpoint.”

Bonner Media officially opens its doors Saturday, Jan. 2 and invites the public and all past Mountain Sky customers to stop by at their convenience to find out about the transition and receive a complimentary vinyl decal of their choice. Winter hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. or by appointment. The business can be reached at 208-9200459 (talk or text) or at bonnermedia7b@gmail.com. Visit bonner. media for more information.

PERSPECTIVES

2020 was one hell of a year; here are some good things that happened

By Ben Olson Reader Staff During “normal” times, the last page of the calendar usually brings wistful looks back at the year that has passed and hopeful views of the year ahead. Let’s face it, though: 2020 was not a normal year. A quick glance at the worst events reads more like a straightto-DVD apocalypse film script than reality: an ongoing pandemic that has killed more than 1.7 million people worldwide; nationwide protests kicked off by the police killing of George Floyd; unrest and polarization that resulted from lockdown orders; devastating bushfires in Australia; wildfires that destroyed communities, cost lives and caused weeks of hazardous air quality in the western U.S.; volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and a heightened hurricane season; and a presidential election that brought the U.S. to the brink of civil war, to name a few. There was even a plague of locusts reported in East Africa to round out the Bingo card.

But all that is behind us now as we embark bravely into 2021.

In the spirit of putting our best foot forward, it seems necessary to glance back at some events that happened in 2020 that showed humanity still has a beating heart.

Lightning-fast vaccine development After COVID-19 became a reality in the U.S., and despite a concerted effort to downplay the virus by some of the nation’s top leaders, scientists responded with unprecedented speed and a common goal to decode the virus, then discover and manufacture vaccines that can slow or prevent its spread.

The vaccines were developed with huge thanks to the thousands of people who volunteered to take experimental jabs — at some risk to themselves — so they could be adequately tested and approved.

Hopefully, midway through 2021, enough people will have been vaccinated to facilitate some semblance of life before COVID-19.

Virtual silver linings Thanks to COVID-19, many in-person services had to adapt by connecting people via Zoom or

FaceTime video chats. When life returns from the plague reality, there will likely be an explosion of person-to-person connectivity, but the advances made in telehealth, remote work and virtual gatherings will likely outlast the pandemic, creating another way for humans to be together from far apart.

Record voter turnout The 2020 presidential election saw a record number of Americans turn out to vote, embracing mail-in ballots and early voting to make this process more manageable during the pandemic. The more voters that participate in an election, the healthier a democracy is, despite the delusional efforts by President Donald Trump and his minions spreading the idea that there was massive voter fraud. There wasn’t.

Country before party After Trump’s unprecedented assault on the integrity of the electoral process, local and state election officials from both sides of the aisle showed courage and integrity by resisting Trump’s attack on our most important civic institution and standing by their work. This included many staunch Republicans who even said they voted for Trump, but stayed true to the law and principle — even in the face of violent threats directed toward them and their families.

This shows that there are still honorable elected officials who continue to place the country before their party affiliation.

Glass ceilings shattered With the election of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, Americans saw the first female vice president, the first Black vice president and the first Asian American vice president elected in the nation’s history.

Symbols of hate fading Mississippi replaced its state flag, which had formerly featured a Confederate battle flag. Congress voted to rename 10 Army installations that had previously honored Confederate generals.

NASA renamed its headquarters in D.C. after Mary W. Jackson, the agency’s first Black female engineer. Though facing tough resistance, Americans began to slowly reckon more honestly with their history. There is a long way yet to go, but any and all movement in the right direction is a win.

The environment Carbon dioxide emissions declined in 2020, in part because of a recession, but also because the cost of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind is declining.

The Biden administration has said it will rejoin the Paris Climate Accord and China has even pledged to

reach carbon neutrality by 2060, giving climate activists reason to hope that in the near future our world comes to terms with the reality of climate change in earnest.

Pandemic life led to more creativity in Americans Yeah, lockdowns suck, but the increased time at home did lead to some positive outcomes. People around the country busted out their sewing machines from the closet and sewed masks for people who needed them most. Home and garden sales boomed during the worst months of the pandemic, as more people got into gardening, canning and cooking from home. Restaurants revamped their business models to incorporate more take-out options, which will hopefully serve as a revenue boom for them even after the pandemic.

Americans rushed to adopt and foster pets from animal shelters.

Puzzles and board games became cool again — did anyone foresee a rush on chess boards? It wasn’t just home activities that boomed during the pandemic; sales of bikes, helmets and other outdoor accessories soared as people sought the great outdoors for socially distant activi-

ties outside the home.

The bottom line Looking back on 2020, it’s hard to come to the conclusion that we’re better off than we were at this time last year, but human history is filled with examples of people overcoming adversity to continue the pursuit of a better world. Sometimes we have to see the dark to seek the light. It’s my hope that despite the widespread division that runs rampant in our country right now, we will continue to move forward and truly embrace Abraham Lincoln’s hopeful words in his first inaugural address in 1861: “We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” Here’s hoping we all live by those words in 2021 and let these last 365 days fade away as we move forward to a brighter tomorrow.

2020: Another pleasant year

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor “Unprecedented” has never been used more and perhaps it will be the word of 2020. I don’t even remember hearing it or reading it before this year. How long can something be unprecedented before it’s just precedent?

Another redundant saying is “when things get back to normal,” but can’t we aim to be better than that? When “normal” equals Americans can’t afford health care while endless tax-paid wars profit billionaires, it doesn’t feel worth aspiring to.

What is “normal”? When I spent months as a teenager on an island that could be labeled “third world” or “impoverished” I felt

that life made far more sense.

It was shocking to go “back to normal” and live in a wasteful, distracted and greedy society.

When I was pregnant with my first child I wanted to move to that island and give my family a taste of a real life, but later I landed here in the foothills of the Cabinet Mountains. It was the next best thing.

My children were born at home, we had no TV or internet gadgets and they ran around barefoot catching chickens and baby goats — they were unschooled, but alert and wise like owls. It was normal for us to go to town only a couple of times a month. Maybe this practiced isolation is why 2020 feels as normal as any other year for me.

Every year there is an apoc-

alyptic terror in some part of the world. Consider the countless victims of bombing Hiroshima or the tsunami of 2004. 2020 wouldn’t be their worst year, nor would it be mine. My worst year may have been 2002 when I was drugged and raped by a fellow student firefighter with whom I lived, and then I began to slave incessantly at belittling work to keep from feeling suicidal.

2020 has been a bully to many people and I understand why TIME magazine would call it “The Worst Year Ever” on its recent cover, but this is as redundant as it is unprecedented. Even my child suffering from depression and plummeting grades says it’s dumb to blame a year.

People are terrified, isolated, im-

poverished, witnessing their dreams crumble and they are also losing loved ones — all of which are “normal” in any given year, for any given person. While I do not deny that masses of people may agree on 2020 being their worst year, we aren’t shining enough light on those who are breathing gratefully.

Besides the billionaires profiting from the losses of the great majority, there are countless who would agree that there is a lot to be grateful for in 2020. If happy humans are too rare to empathize with, pet your dog, listen to the birds or hug a tree. Meanwhile, most other species might agree that the year was quite pleasant as a result of humans slowing and quieting down.

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PERSPECTIVES

Legislative preview Property taxes, COVID-19 response and high-priority transportation improvements

By Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle Special to the Reader The New Year is nearly upon us, which brings with it another legislative session here in Idaho. The Legislature will convene on Monday, Jan. 11, starting with the governor’s State of the State address.

As usual, the address can be viewed on Idaho Public Television. What won’t be usual is the format for the event.

Typically, the governor, the Legislature and the Idaho Supreme Court are all present in the House chambers, elbow to elbow, with lots of greetings and handshaking. This year we will all be in the Idaho Capitol, but with some distancing.

The arrangement will be a first test

Sen. Jim Woodward. File photo. of our ability to provide public access for the necessarily public process of creating or modifying our laws. Testify-

ing in front of committees and meeting with legislators will be different this year, but still functional. The good news for those of us living long distances from the Capitol is that it is getting easier to participate in the legislative process without traveling to Boise.

Property taxes will again be a topic for the legislative session. Our current system of determining property taxes does not work well during economic upswings or downturns. Real property values change rapidly during these times, although typically not at the same rate in the different categories of real property (residential, commercial, timber, etc.). If values in one category increase faster than other categories, the fast-appreciating properties pick up more of the total tax burden.

In the past few years, residential values have risen at a rapid rate in Idaho.

The result is a shift of the property tax burden to residential properties. The homeowner’s exemption is the means of shifting back some of the burden from residential properties. I am hopeful we will make an adjustment to the current $100,000 maximum exemption, but I am not certain if there is agreement in the Legislature.

The COVID-19 pandemic response has been the subject of much scrutiny this year. Our emergency planning laws are in Title 46 of Idaho Code under the Disaster Preparedness Act. The laws regarding health and safety are in Title 39.

< see WOODWARD, page 11 >

Addressing COVID-19, guardianship laws and the electoral process

By Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay Special to the Reader With the advent of COVID-19 the standard thought process that most legislators use when preparing legislation was interrupted by the sudden realization that there were statutes and processes in place that were not serving the public well.

Across the nation, laws written during the Cold War and statutes that gave broad authority to unelected bodies were exposed as deficient to properly address a crisis such as COVID. Many legislators in Idaho began reviewing these deficiencies and crafting legislation to correct them as early as June of this year, and have continued to refine the language and communicate with their colleagues with the hope of introducing draft legislation early in the session.

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Rep. Sage Dixon. File photo. as leadership in both bodies. This has led to multiple pieces of legislation being drafted, which hopefully will go through a collaborative process.

Frequently, legislators throughout the state have similar ideas for legislation and, ideally, then collaborate on the language with the most capable person handling the legislation. While most of

the early energy will be going towards correcting the liabilities revealed by COVID, other legislation will undoubtedly be introduced that addresses more traditional topics such as taxes, transportation and education funding, and natural resources.

For the 2021 session, in addition to my responsibilities as a committee chairman, I have committed to being responsible for two issues: the first is codifying a program for families in crisis that would allow parents to select guardians for their children — and sometimes themselves — prior to the foster care system with the hope of avoiding the state system altogether.

The second deals with issues surrounding our electoral process. Inevitably, other ideas for legislation arise during a session, so I may be involved in other subjects; but, for now, I am only planning on those two.

With an unexpected windfall of tax revenue this year, there is plenty of discussion on how to best make use of the additional funds. Much of this revenue is due to increased tourism

during COVID, and the federal dollars received by businesses and individuals.

Of an approximate $600 million surplus, state economists are predicting an ongoing increase of $100 million annually. We also have an increasing balance contained in the Taxpayer Relief Fund that is derived from the internet sales tax.

The property tax issue still looms large, and there are multiple pieces of legislation that are prepared to indirectly deal with the increases being felt across the state.

Another often-spoken-of topic is removing the sales tax on groceries. The Taxpayer Relief Fund was started in order to offset the loss of revenue when we did remove this tax, but I have heard talk of the fund being used for other forms of relief. Removing the sales tax on groceries is still a topic important to many legislators, as is continuing to flatten our income tax rates, and I expect we will see legislation introduced

< see DIXON, page 11 >

< WOODWARD, con’t from page 10 > Most of these laws, which have been the basis for the pandemic response, were written in the 1970s and have not been tested under circumstances such as we have encountered this year. The Legislature will be reviewing and modifying these code sections. Hindsight is typically the clearest. I hope we are far enough down the road that decisions are for the improvement of policy instead of possibly being reactionary.

Looking at state finances, we are in great shape. Every year, we budget to have some amount of money left over at the end of the fiscal year. During the last session, we authorized $9.4 billion in spending, leaving $55 million as an ending balance. Currently, the projection for the ending balance has grown to $600 million.

The additional funds are primarily from one-time sources. For example, the federal government has provided additional Medicaid funding this year, which is approximately $200 million of

< DIXON, con’t from page 10 > related to both of those positions.

Transportation funding is becoming an increasingly difficult set of books to balance. With the advent of electric, hybrid and more fuel-efficient vehicles, the revenue realized through fuels taxes is insufficient to cover our existing maintenance needs — not to mention our demand for highway improvements due to the increasing population.

The public-private model is not an effective one for Idaho, and the per-mile tax is too intrusive for our state. Increasing the fuels tax is generally unpalatable in the Legislature, and may not cover our needs anyway, but something needs to change. There is a proposal that, if it passes, would directly support local jurisdictions, and others are working on a new model of spending the funds that would lower costs and speed up construction time on many smaller projects. These are good solutions, but not the total answer.

The one-time education funding holdback for fiscal year 2021 most likely will be restored in the 2022 budget, which will be introduced next session, with additional growth in funding expected, as we have done for the past six years. Additionally, Idaho

the $600 million balance.

Income tax and sales tax collections are also up this year. After the busy year we saw locally with the influx of folks from outside the area, it is easy to understand why those numbers are up. Because we believe much of the money is one-time revenue, the intent is to make one-time investments, in a thoughtful and balanced manner, not obligating the state to future expenditures.

Our transportation system is in need of improvements. I anticipate it will be at the top of the list.

As Idahoans, I also expect we may put more money away for a rainy day.

We do not have the funds set aside that we did prior to the 2008 recession, when considered as a percent of our annual budget. Finally, a portion of the extra funds will probably come back in the form of tax relief.

My focus will remain on the staples of state government. I continue to serve on the Joint Finance-Appropriations public schools have received more than $200 million in additional federal funds to date and are expected to receive another $195 million from a recently signed federal bill. On top of that, the Idaho Land Board has approved a 4.2% increase in fund distribution for public schools in 2022, which should total an increase close to $55 million.

The Legislature will continue to evaluate the public school funding formula in an effort to provide the most accurate and equitable funding possible. There is also a proposal regarding health insurance for public school employees that could change the funding landscape if it is successful.

I consider it an honor to be able to represent the people of District 1 in our state Legislature, and I encourage you to send any thoughts you have to sage@ sagedixon.com.

Sage Dixon is a third-term Republican member of the Idaho House, representing District 1B. He is chairman of both the Business and Ethics committees, and serves on the Revenue and Taxation and Transportation and Defense committees. He can be reached at sage@sagedixon.com or, during the upcoming session of the Idaho Legislature, which convenes Monday, Jan. 11 in Boise, at sdixon@house.idaho.gov.

Committee and the Education Committee. New to me this year, I will be on the Transportation Committee as the vice-chair.

Thank you for the opportunity to represent the community at the state level. I look forward to hearing concerns and input on legislative actions.

The easiest way to track legislation is on the legislative website: legislature. idaho.gov.

Jim Woodward is a second-term Republican member of the Idaho Senate, representing District 1. He serves as vice-chairman of the Transportation Committee and on the Joint Finance-Appropriations and Education committees. He can be reached during the upcoming session of the Idaho Legislature, which convenes Monday, Jan. 11 in Boise, at jwoodward@senate. idaho.gov.

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard

DID NOT RESPOND

Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, seen here in 2015 posing with a Confederate battle flag in Priest River, did not respond to the Reader when asked if she would like to share her own legislative preview with constituents.

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Photo courtesy Pinterest.

Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

Camelids

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist When most people think of a camel, their mind drifts to the dromedary, a hulking beast of northern Africa with a trademark hump on its back and a legendary ability to store large amounts of water in a region of the world where water is exceedingly scarce. You may not realize that there are a number of other animals related to the proud dromedary that fall into the camelid family — some of which may be lounging about in your neighbor’s yard.

Before we explore some local camelids, let’s look back at the standard: the dromedary. While it’s true that the dromedary “stores water” in its hump, if you were to jab its hump with a needle, it would not spring a leak or pop like a water balloon — though you’d probably get bitten and feel really horrible for poking the poor animal with a needle. The dromedary actually stores fat in this hump, which its body breaks down into water and waste in a similar manner to how humans break down fat cells when exercising and fasting. The waste portion of the fat cells is broken down into carbon dioxide, which is exhaled during exercise — or travel, in the case of the dromedary.

Dromedaries are large animals, comparable in weight to a medium-sized female cow.

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camelids, is shy about confronting a potential annoyance or aggressor — and at their size, they could easily do some damage if they wanted to.

Lucky for us, they don’t often want to fight, and instead have a more telltale manner in which they deal with what those of us in the online gaming community refer to as “aggro,” or aggression. Like every player in a baseball dugout: they spit.

Though humans and camelids spit for similar reasons — as a show of dominance and to discipline through shame — the contents of camelid spit is markedly different from that of a human loogie.

Most human spit is just hoarded saliva, that is, water and bacteria from our mouths, with the occasional addition of mucus drawn from glands in our sinuses. Camelid spit comes in two distinct varieties: misting and regurgitation.

A camelid that is feeling only slightly annoyed, or trying to shoo away another camelid or human it sees as competition, will sometimes spritz its target with a bit of spit-mist, akin to an actor in a slapstick comedy taking a spit-take. The second form of spitting is a legitimate defense mechanism: it will regurgitate partially digested food and lob it with the accuracy of a trained marksman.

The camelid will flatten its ears against its head (a common sign of impending aggression among most ungulates — around here, it is a common and frightening sight from a moose) and begin to

gurgle. It will then draw a wad of unspeakably disgusting goo from one of its three stomach compartments and fire off a shot, which it can accurately land from up to 15 feet away.

If you’re unfortunate enough to be caught by a cud projectile from its third and deepest stomach compartment, you’re in for a very smelly and unfortunate surprise.

Looking forward to getting spit on without having to fly across the Atlantic? You’re in luck! It turns out there are a number of camelids throughout the farmland of Bonner County, though I wouldn’t recommend just barging up into farms to search for them. You can get a great view just driving along the road, like a normal, non-invasive bystander.

Alpacas are a bit of a hobby among agriculturists throughout the world. While an alpaca may not look much like the dromedaries of Africa, they are indeed related. Alpacas are much smaller than their African cousins, standing about three feet at the shoulder and rarely exceeding 200 pounds. They are also covered in a thick coat of soft, insulating fleece that, when properly tended to, puts sheep’s wool to shame.

This wool is the primary purpose of raising alpacas — aside from how darn cute they are. An alpaca is capable of producing between five and 10 pounds of fiber a year, which doesn’t sound like a lot until you realize it’s measured and sold by the ounce, and you can make plenty of socks out of 10 pounds of fiber. Addition-

ally, alpacas feel their safest in groups, requiring a herd of no fewer than three in order to feel comfortable and safe.

Thinking of pulling a Stardew Valley and giving up the city life to start your very own camel farm? You aren’t the first, so do yourself a favor: go check in with a librarian.

There is a staggering number of books on the subject at our local library covering this

topic in detail. Husbandry is a commitment, and not a task to be taken on a whim — especially when you consider the cost of purchasing, housing and maintaining these animals.

Some alpacas sell for as much as $50,000 each.

I think I’ll just save my pennies for a Tesla. At least it won’t spit at me.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner Eve? ar’s

Don’t know much about New Ye

• Baby New Year has been a symbol of the holiday since around 600 BCE, starting in ancient Greece when an infant was paraded in a basket in celebration of Dionysus, the god of fertility (and wine). The baby represents a rebirth that occurs at the start of each new year.

• Robert Burns took a Scottish folk ballad called “Old Long Syne” and put his own spin on it in 1788, which is the version we all know today as “Auld Lang Syne,” the phrase meaning “times long past.”

• Time balls were invented to help sailors. Long before it was used on New Year’s Eve, a ball on top of England’s Royal Observatory in Greenwich was dropped at 1 p.m. every day (starting in 1833) to help ship captains coordinate their navigation equipment. Similar balls were set up in coastal areas around the world.

• The annual tradition of gathering in Times Square for New Year’s Eve started as a party to celebrate the opening of the New York Times building in 1904. More than 200,000 people attended. There wasn’t a ball drop until 1907. Fireworks were previously used to welcome the new

We can help!

year, but they were banned because burning embers were falling on the crowd. A ball being lowered on a flagpole was a safer bet.

• The original Times Square ball was made from 700 pounds of iron and wood. It was later reduced to just 400 pounds of wrought iron before event organizers switched to an aluminum frame in 1955. The current 11,875-pound ball didn’t get its new look (and materials) until the millenium when Waterford partnered with Philips Lighting to create a shimmery LED display.

• Instead of a ball, Miami, Fla. rings in the new year with an orange.

The raising of Mr. Neon, the 35-foot, sunglass-clad metal fruit, has been a tradition for more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, in Key West, Fla., a drag queen has descended from a bar rooftop in a giant, red, high-heeled shoe every year since 1996.

• This year marks the eighth annual Idaho Potato Drop, during which a giant “GlowTato” polystyrene resin potato equipped with internal LED lights is lowered on New Year’s Eve in front of the Statehouse in Boise.

COMMUNITY Pine Street Woods Outdoor Recreation Center opening for ski and snowshoe rentals

By Reader Staff Ring in the new year with a ski on the new trails at Pine Street Woods. The forecast is calling for snow and the Outdoor Recreation Center will be open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 31 through Sunday, Jan. 3. These are special holiday hours. Normal operating hours will continue on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. throughout the winter.

Rentals will also be available from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for weekday early bird skiers.

Daily rentals during the week must be returned by noon.

Sandpoint Nordic Club offers daily, weekly and seasonal rentals for classic cross-country and skate skis as well as snowshoes.

Learn more about available programs and how you can become involved with all things Nordic. Organizers ask that visitors bring a mask to wear indoors. For more info, visit sandpointnordic.com.

Nordic skiers climbing the hill at Pine Street Woods. Photo courtesy KLT.

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FEATURE

The year in re- and preview Stories we got right, wrong and think will make big news going into 2021

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Yeesh. Where to begin? First of all, we’re quite aware that making predictions even in less tumultuous times is a fool’s practice.

Yet, undaunted, that’s what we did last year and we’re going to take another prognosticatory stab at it this year.

In the Jan. 2, 2020 edition of the Reader, we made a number of forecasts — some of which were correct, or close to it, and others that, looking back with 12 months of brutal hindsight, were just plain dumb.

We were absolutely correct when we wrote “big things will happen in the coming 12 months that will dictate radical course changes across the political, economic and cultural landscape in the United States, if not the world.” We didn’t know how right we were.

However, we were wrong about Disney buying Netflix — but correct in that the media giant would find a way to give people “all the Star Wars spinoffs, all the time.”

We got the World Series and Super Bowl winners wrong, the Best Picture and Grammy winners were way off, and we didn’t end 2020 in an all-out surveillance state — though we were correct in highlighting the widespread emergence of “deepfakes” in various media.

Thank the gods, Betty White is still with us.

We did better with politics, highlighting that President Donald Trump would not be indicted on the articles of impeachment adopted in December 2019. However, we cited some experts who felt Trump would hang onto the White House (nope) and that there would be a tie in the Electoral College between him and Joe Biden (double nope). We presciently suggested that Democrats would win in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though, and were correct that following the election, “lawsuits will explode like dandelions gone to seed.”

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great on the big national stuff, but with local issues — on which we’re going to focus this year — we were right that War Memorial Field would be completed on time but definitely wrong that The Festival at Sandpoint would “return for a 2020 season despite its chaotic 2019.”

We did indeed argue about Canada geese at City Beach in 2020, but no dirt has yet been turned on the new hotel to replace the Best Western Edgewater Resort.

We nailed it that the city would negotiate a land swap with SandIda at the beach and correctly called it that the county’s lawsuit against the city over The Festival’s no-weapons policy would end in the city’s favor.

Downtown street construction was completed “in time for Lost in the ’50s” but there was no Lost in the ’50s this year.

The microscopic elephant in the room, of course, was the COVID-19 pandemic, which has upended every aspect of life and livelihood since March 2020. We didn’t see that one coming, even though we started hearing about a strange virus in Wuhan, China as early as late-December 2019.

In the meantime, the chaos wrought by the novel coronavirus is nowhere near spent — prediction No. 1. Regardless, if 2020 has taught us anything, it’s to expect the unexpected.

The gun suit(s) Though a district judge sided with the city of Sandpoint in the case brought by Bonner County and Sheriff Daryl Wheeler arguing The Festival’s no-weapons ban at Memorial Field is unlawful — ruling that the plaintiffs had no standing to bring the suit in the first place — the county appealed the case to the Idaho Supreme Court.

We predict that the highest court in the state will agree with the lower court’s decision and rule that the county and Wheeler do indeed lack the necessary standing to sue.

However, a separate suit related to The Festival’s weapons ban, brought by individuals

Scott Herndon and Jeff Avery in conjunction with the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance and Washington-based Second Amendment Foundation, won’t see its first day in court until sometime in February, and we predict this lawsuit will gain much more traction than the county v. city action.

In that case, the judge will have to confront the central issue of the matter: whether a private entity has the power to regulate firearms on leased public property.

Meanwhile, if a stronger firearms preemption law comes out of the 2021 legislative session, it could mean The Festival needs to find a new venue regardless.

No matter what, hold onto your butts.

The smelter We said last year that the Newport smelter would disappear — well, not exactly. As Pend Oreille County officials progress through the overdue revision of their comprehensive plan, we predict that zoning changes favorable to the project, which its developers say is “on hold,” will bring it back to the forefront. Expect more action on this front in the coming months.

City Beach We’re going to see a lot of activity at the beach this year, with demolition of the Edgewater and construction of the new hotel, as well as huge alterations to the waterfront park itself. And, based on the enthusiasm shown by City Council members in December 2020, we predict the Carousel of Smiles will find its home there eventually.

Downtown business Considering that most health experts don’t forecast any semblance of pre-COVID-19 life to emerge until well into the fall of 2021, we’re going to see increas-

ingly adaptive ways of doing business with local retailers, restaurants and bars. We foresee more delivery options and more merchants setting up online shopping and ordering portals. Sadly, some won’t be able to withstand more than a year of disrupted operations, so we’ll see more closures than would be expected in typical times.

Real estate In August 2020 we asked local Realtor Raphael Barta to give us an outlook on the local housing market. We think his predictions for 2021 bear summarizing here, because we think he’s a smart guy.

More newcomers will stream into Sandpoint as a result of factors ranging from COVID-19 to remote work opportunities — very likely tipping Sandpoint over the 10,000 population mark and triggering loss of the Resort City Tax — and driving up the prices in an already razor-thin residential market.

Meanwhile, mortgage delinquencies will increase exponentially as a deep recession sets in sometime in the spring.

Given intown prices,

huge growth will occur in the county on five-acre parcels. Finally, surrounding communities will also feel the boom — and bust.

COVID unrest This will ramp up and become more disruptive, as anti-mask activists like Ammon Bundy and his People’s Rights group in southern Idaho mount protests against face covering requirements and other virus mitigation measures. At the same time, the release of the vaccine will bring out the anti-vaccination and vaccination skeptics with increasing vigor. We predict that we’ve only begun to see the political fallout of the past 10 months of life under COVID-19 restrictions.

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FEATURE

Bringing the herd together

The Carousel of Smiles restoration project eyes City Beach for eventual home

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

If there’s one word that encapsulates the Carousel of Smiles restoration project for Reno Hutchison, it’s “magic.” Reno and her husband Clay have brought the restoration of this one-ofa-kind vintage carousel to a fine gallop over the past few years, and they are now excited to bring the community project into the home stretch to help it find its permanent home in Sandpoint.

The Hutchisons gave a presentation Dec. 16 before the Sandpoint City Council, outlining where the project stands and highlighting the amazing work their volunteers have done to make this dream a reality. The Hutchisons asked council to include the carousel in the city parks and recreation master plan, which was approved, with two potential locations earmarked where the carousel might live: Sandpoint City Beach and the parking lot adjacent to the Sand Creek Trail on the west side of City Beach.

The story began almost 70 years ago when a traveling fair in Kansas shut down for the season and never reopened, leaving the 40-foot diameter 1920 Allen Herschell carousel to be packed away into two trailers and stored on a sheep farm.

The relic lay there forgotten from time until the Hutchisons purchased it in 2000, saving it from being broken up and sold off in pieces like so many of the few surviving Golden Age carousels.

After unpacking the trailers in 2016 and unveiling the historic carousel to Sandpoint for the first time, the Hutchisons realized this was going to be a project that would capture the interest and fancy of the entire community.

“The passion has been incredible for this project,” Clay told the Reader.

“We’ve probably had 200 people work with us in different capacities over the years.”

Some of the volunteers have helped with a single event, while others have been in it for the long haul, assisting 16 /

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with all the minute details to historically preserve this carousel for the ages.

Now, four years into the meticulous restoration process, the Hutchisons and their army of volunteers are starting to see some progress.

“We have 11 horses now in paint, and of those almost all of them are now ready to have the clear coat on them,” Reno said. “It’s a polyurethane coating that gives extra hardness and protection.”

On top of those, there are another six horses that have had all the wood restoration completed and are in the final stages of primer. With a total of 36 horses to restore, they are well on their way to bringing the herd together, so to speak.

“The wood restoration is quite a process,” Reno said. “We completely dismantle each horse. Every leg comes off, the head comes off. We get down to the original lamination.”

Along with local volunteers, the Hutchisons have relied on a variety of local businesses to assist in restoration.

Northwest Autobody painted the center pole, heads were painted by Route 66 Autobody and sandblasting was done

by Full Circle Powder Coating. Satisfaction Painting has also chipped in to help with their expertise.

“Just about any company we’ve asked to help has been willing to jump in and give their time and talent,” Reno said. “What I love so much is that people have been really interested in the behind-the-scenes work, as well.”

The artistry and high craftsmanship of that work has even drawn Idaho art officials to go so far as to suggest the carousel may represent the biggest public art project in the state — itself a potential draw for visitors and future events.

Meanwhile, the Hutchisons estimate they are about a third done with the full project, but liken it to a snowball gathering speed.

“The momentum is building,” Clay said. “It’s taken us four years to get a third of the way and will probably take two-and-a-half more years to reach the finish line.”

They estimate the restoration will be completed by 2023, with the aim to install the Carousel of Smiles in a permanent — and prominent — location in Sandpoint.

Of the two potential locations discussed at the Dec. 16 council meeting – the parking lot adjacent to the Sand Creek Trail just southeast of the Bridge Street Bridge and the Sandpoint City Beach – The Hutchisons prefer the

An artist’s rendition of how the Carousel of Smiles would look situated at the Sandpoint City Beach, with an ice skating rink in the foregound.

Courtesy image.

Beach.

“Personally, I don’t think [the Sand Creek Trail parking lot] location has the same potential to create the synergy and to have events down there as the City Beach, especially if there are plans to put a skating rink at the beach in the winter,” Reno said. “I think the carousel would feel removed from those events if it was on the other side of the bridge.

I think what can happen at the beach with the carousel would be so positive.

“That’s where I’ve dreamed about it being forever,” she added. “I think a lot of people feel that way, too. It’s a natural fit there.”

“Certainly the carousel would be a stand out at the beach,” Clay said.

“You’d see this beautiful building from the highway and it would help that area shine better. It will also relate to events that will be down there [at the beach].”

Council members lauded the Hutchisons for their work on the project, and expressed excitement in helping the carousel find its permanent home.

“This is such a beautiful story, and an amazing vision,” Council President Shannon Sherman said. “I’m excited for

< see CAROUSEL, page 17 >

< CAROUSEL, con’t from page 16 >

my family and all the families in Sandpoint to be able to experience this.”

Council member Deb Ruehle agreed: “I appreciate all the time and effort and reaching out on a national level that you put into this. I think it’ll bring beautiful things to Sandpoint.”

After four years of work on the project, Clay and Reno said they’ve learned a lot about both the carousel and the community.

“This town gets behind projects and supports projects like I’ve never seen anywhere else,” Reno said. “The volunteers, the businesses, the way this community has come together to support the project has absolutely amazed me. I don’t know how to articulate it any better than that.”

To say the community is interested by the Carousel of Smiles is an understatement. When the Hutchisons unpacked the carousel from the trailers in 2016, an estimated 500 people showed up to take their first look at the time capsule. When the carousel was fully assembled in 2018 for the first time, more than 1,000 people gathered to see it put together. The closer the restoration project gets to completion, the more excited the Hutchisons feel for the eventual ribbon cutting — hopefully in 2023.

When the restored carousel is finally unveiled in 2023, the Hutchisons expect to have the National Carousel Association on hand, with plans in the works to bring their national convention to Sandpoint that year, though COVID-19 has thrown a wrench in the scheduling.

“The head of NCA just a couple days ago — Pat Wentzell is president — he

reminded us to thoroughly document everything we’re doing because he said it’s very rare,” Clay said. “He said they don’t have very many opportunities to document original carousels like this.”

In the meantime, the Hutchisons and their volunteers are continuing the work, watching it all come together for the eventual date when their labor of love can be presented to the community for the ages.

“We said right off, the first time we did the unloading event, ‘If you love this carousel, the carousel will love you back,’” Clay said. “Some of our volun-

teers said they’d had a renewed purpose in life. It comes down to the smile on young kids’ faces and everything in between. We love to see that spark.”

“If you have to find one word for it, it’s ‘magic,’” Reno added. “It truly creates magic for people.”

To follow the restoration process, visit thecarouselofsmiles.org or visit their studio in Sandpoint at the Misty Mountain building on the west side of Fifth Avenue and Cedar Street.

Additional reporting by Zach Hagadone.

Top left: The four stages of reconstruction on a horse named Capt’n Jack, including wood restoration, primer and final paint.

Top right: Gabe Gabel and Mary Day begin painting the pinto horse. Gabe and Mary were just two of dozens of volunteers who are helping restore the Carousel of Smiles.

Bottom: A close-up view of Capt’n Jack’s head before and after reconstruction and painting.

All photos courtesy Reno and Clay Hutchison.

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events

Dec. 31, 2020 - Jan. 7, 2021

THURSDAY, december 31

New Year’s Eve!

New Year’s Eve Party 7:30-cl @ Back Door Bar / Baxter’s Two bands playing: Kevin Dorin from 7:30-9:30 p.m. and Chris Lynch and Friends from 10 p.m. to close. Also prizes from Deschutes Brewery

FriDAY, January 1 SATURDAY, January 2 Free First Saturday at the Museum 10am-2pm @ BoCo History Museum Enjoy free admission. This month sponsored by Richard Hanna

Live Music w/ Justin James 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Spokane-based singer playing fiddle, guitar, mandolin and other instruments

SunDAY, January 3

Piano Sunday w/ Annie Welle 3-5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Jazz classics and contemporary tunes

Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am

monDAY, January 4 Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Outdoor Experience Monday Night Group Run – All levels welcome 6pm @ Outdoor Experience

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s Restaurant “Dreams and Nightmares: The Science Behind the Stories of Your Mind.”

tuesDAY, January 5

Rhythmic Gymnastics/Props and Acrobatics Classes - Beginners 5:30pm @ Studio 1 Dance Academy Text to register by Jan. 4: Deanna Benton (406) 836-1115

wednesDAY, January 6

Rhythmic Gymnastics/Props and Acrobatics Classes - Intermediate 5:30pm @ Studio 1 Dance Academy Text to register by Jan. 4: Deanna Benton (406) 836-1115

ThursDAY, January 7

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COMMUNITY

Idaho’s First Day Hikes event goes virtual for 2021

By Reader Staff The nationwide First Day Hikes event, scheduled for Fri., Jan.1-Sun., Jan. 3, is being held virtually this year. Rather than ranger-led hikes across the state, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is encouraging everyone to participate in a self-guided hike and record their total miles walked.

To that end, IDPR has created a digital landing page at parksandrecreation.idaho. gov/virtual-first-day-hike, where participants can easily record the number of miles they hiked, walked or jogged.

“With cooler weather, it’s easy to forego that daily walk or weekend hike,” said IDPR Board Chairman Brian Beckley. “But it’s important to stay active and spend time outdoors. With extended days, this year’s virtual hike makes the event

even more accessible for all: hike, walk or jog anywhere, anytime.”

Last year, more than 580 recorded miles were hiked throughout the state and nearly 177,000 miles nationwide — all on a single day. IDPR has the goal of seeing Idaho’s mileage double, with the virtual event reaching 1,000 hiked miles.

“Your Idaho state parks have hundreds of miles of trails to explore. From sandy dunes to snow-capped mountains, there is a trail for every recreational interest,” said Susan Buxton, IDPR interim director.

For more information on the 2021 First Virtual Day Hike event and how to record participation, visit parksandrecreation.idaho.gov/virtual-first-day-hike.

Participants can also RSVP on the IDPR Facebook event listing at fb.me/e/1kwYe9ziV.

YMCA of the Inland Northwest hires new CFO

By Reader Staff The YMCA of the Inland Northwest recently announced it has hired Charles Wells as its new chief financial officer.

Wells replaces Alan Lesher, who is transitioning to the role of president and CEO. Wells brings financial, accounting, and internal audit knowledge from his experience in public accounting and private industry. Prior to joining the YMCA of the Inland Northwest, he was an audit manager at Anastasi, Moore & Martin.

He graduated from Gonzaga and Eastern Washington universities, majoring in finance and accounting, respectively.

Bringing a wide breadth of experience and passion for the area community, he is looking forward to being part of the YMCA family, the nonprofit stated.

Charles Wells. Courtesy photo.

STAGE & SCREEN

Sci-fi odyssey The Midnight Sky screening at the Panida George Clooney directs and stars in the post-apocalyptic film

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

nauts who left Earth to find a new habitable planet are headed home, he and Iris must travel to a powerful communication tower in order to inform the exploratory craft and its occupants they are coming home to a George Clooney is back in the game after a four-year movie hiatus to play Au- dead world and should turn back.

The storyline weaves together Loftgustine Lofthouse in The Midnight Sky, house and Iris’ journey across the Arctic a post-apocalyptic space film that also with the experience of those headed features Clooney in the director’s chair. home on the Aether mission, filling in the The silver fox of Hollywood took on exposition with interspersed flashbacks. a more grizzled look for his latest work, Felicity Jones plays Sully, as he plays a scientist in The Midnight Sky the pregnant communicathe Arctic at the end of tions expert on the Aether, the world in 2049. His (PG-13) with a supporting cast only company is Iris, an Thursday, Dec. 31, 3:30 p.m.; Friapparently mute girl left day, Jan. 1-Saturday, Jan. 2, 7:30 including Kyle Chandler, p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 3, 3:30 p.m.; Tiffany Boone and David behind when the station doors open 30 minutes before Oyelowo. was forced to evacuate the show; $9 adults, $6 for 18 Clooney’s mastery of after an unnamed disaster and under. Panida Theater, 300 his craft — and of what poisoned most of Earth N. First Ave., 208-263-9191, panida.org. makes a compelling film with radiation.

— is on vivid display The Midnight Sky’s major conflict is a race against time: When through both his acting and direction of The Midnight Sky. Remnants of sci-fi and Lofthouse discovers that a crew of astro-

apocalyptic films of decades gone by are clear inspirations for this creation, resulting in an ode to the past while marking a new era for these kinds of epic tales — an era where special effects artists are at the absolute top of their game and films first see the light on streaming platforms like Netflix.

Still, it’s hard to imagine that those who watch The Midnight Sky from a small laptop or phone screen will experience the film at its most powerful. Only the big screen — where so many sci-fi masterpieces first blew people’s minds — is where The Midnight Sky belongs,

Courtesy image from The Midnight Sky.

so catch it locally at the Panida Theater, Thursday, Dec. 31-Sunday, Jan. 3.

The Panida is observing social distancing policies with limited seating, so it is best to purchase tickets ahead of time at panida.org. Tickets are also available at the door.

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater The spiced life

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

Ever since my youngest, Casey, has had babies, my Christmas routine has been flying to Chicago, spending a week and then leaving Christmas morning on the earliest flight.

I’d arrive back to Spokane at about 10 a.m., and then hightail it to Moscow, in time to spend Christmas afternoon with my oldest, Ryanne, and her family.

Though there was nothing routine about this year, I was still determined to go — and not wild horses, nor javelinas, nor even well-intended friends could have held me back. I did not make nor take the decision lightly. I spent weeks conferring with medical professionals, reviewing protocols, and taking every precaution I could to be safe and keep others safe, as well.

I may have looked like I was preparing for a moonshot rather than a plane flight, and my kids had hilarious moments watching me model my protective gear. My first line of defense was a couple of cheap rain ponchos, one worn forward and the other worn backward, so I could cover my face when I boarded and deboarded each flight. Once off the flights, I discarded them and wore a fresh pair on every flight.

As soon as I arrived in Chicago, my super-sized Uber came, and again, clothed in my rain gear, I sat in the very back, with an empty row between the masked driver and me. I was well prepared to spend a week in quarantine making holiday favorites that included a traditional family favorite, a bûche 20 /

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de Noël (Yule log), as well as a Mexican feast for our Christmas Eve dinner.

My oversized and overweight suitcase was a proverbial “holiday on wheels.” It didn’t take long to fill the small Airbnb fridge with several pounds of still-frozen Idaho butter, two pounds of chocolate ganache and other favorite ingredients from home. My quarantine Airbnb was, as promised, spanking clean. So clean, so sparse, in fact, that I am reasonably sure the previous guest was most likely famous Japanese organizing consultant Marie Kondo.

The next morning, upon further inspection, I realized I faced many culinary challenges. The “well-stocked kitchen” was, I think, intended for grub-hubbing remote workers looking for a

change of scenery that included only Netflix and takeout. There were no cake pans, no rolling pin, no bread pans, mixers or beaters, or other favorite chef accessories. So, I did the best I could with what I had. I downsized the Christmas menu, ordered my own Uber Eats and binged on takeout (and Netflix).

I prepped everything for chili rellenos, though I wish I had thought ahead and located the smoke detectors before roasting poblano peppers on top of the gas burners — at 6 a.m. (in a multi-unit apartment building). I scrapped plans for the bûche de Noël and instead made a mock version with Rice Krispie treats compressed into log shapes. Then I watched some more Netflix and placed another order for the lunch special at Two Asians.

After a week of socially distanced walks with Casey, my much-anticipated COVID-19 test day arrived. Casey picked me up for the 25-minute car ride, and as we had preplanned, I sat in the rear right side, cloaked in my omnipresent plastic poncho and an N95 mask, with all four windows down. Cruising at 55 miles an hour on Lakeshore Drive was an experience we will long remember.

Though my Irishness does bring out a wee tendency to embellish, I have medical proof when I say I was nearly frozen. Once we entered the drive-through testing, they took my temperature. Not once, but twice to make sure the reading was accurate: 96 degrees. I wouldn’t say it was the onset of hypothermia, but another couple of miles could have been

my undoing.

We had my negative COVID-19 results within the hour and I finally was free to go to Casey’s home, where we celebrated with spicy Indian food and never-ending hugs.

I all but forgot my carefully planned meals. There was little time to spend in the kitchen.

Instead, the 7-month-old baby, Runa, needed to be bounced and bathed and endlessly admired. Her 2-year-old brother, Sam, had similar requirements.

And I was more than happy to oblige him, too.

Babies are the spice of life, but this tequila and jalapeno marinated shrimp appetizer can also add some nice kick to your life. They’re quick and easy to prepare, leaving you with lots of time for other fun endeavors.

Tequila and Jalapeno Marinated Shrimp If you like it extra spicy, leave the seeds in the jalapeno peppers. A great starter for a Mexican fiesta or served as a salad, spooned into half a ripe avocado. They also make a fun first course, served in a margarita glass (don’t forget to salt the rim).

INGREDIENTS: • 1 lb large (16-20) shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails intact • 1/2 lemon • Juice of 1 lime • 2 tbs good quality tequila • 1 tbs olive oil • 1/2 medium onion, chopped • 1/2 red pepper chopped • Handful of cilantro, washed and chopped fine • 2 jalapeno peppers, one chopped fine, and one sliced into thinly sliced rings • 1 clove garlic, crushed and minced • Salt and black pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: Bring a large pan of salted water to a boil, add half a lemon and shrimp. Bring to a boil, stir and cook until shrimp are opaque (about 5 minutes). Drain and rinse in cold water.

Mix all other ingredients in a large bowl, with tight-fitting lid. Add shrimp and toss well. Refrigerate for several hours or overnight, tossing a couple more times.

Garnish with lime wedges and cilantro sprigs.

MUSIC

The year’s missing music Here’s to what could have been in 2020

This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone

READ

Neil Gaiman is easily one of the finest living writers, and probably one of the best of both the 20th and 21st centuries. His oeuvre is so expansive he can’t really be classified in any one genre, or even medium. In an effort to wrap your arms around his body of work, pick up a copy of The Neil Gaiman Reader: Selected Fiction.

This beastly tome weighs in at 736 pages and includes 52 pieces dating from 1984 to 2018 — each one a mini-masterpiece.

LISTEN

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff It was a weird year for music.

With the typical hype of major releases downplayed or altogether postponed amid the pandemic, 2020 took on an under-the-radar feel in the arena of new music. Highly anticipated albums seemed to flop — think Lady Gaga and The Killers — while others thrived. Taylor Swift whacked us all with two surprise albums — both beautifully understated and clean — while the most popular music in the land continued its slide into newage rap and fringe hits made famous by TikTok dances.

All-in-all, it was anyone’s year. With the internet as the most common location for a worldwide population mostly hunkered down at home, album releases emphasized digital access more than ever.

I’m not about to make any Grammy predictions, but I have a feeling that new artists — the rookies who gained exposure with new and improved digital outreach over the past year —

are likely to shine on music’s biggest night.

In past years, the music that has defined our lives has varied from songs that top the radio charts in the summer and the hidden gems we find in the “Made For You” section of our preferred streaming services.

The soundtracks to our seasons have also often been found on random weekends, as local and touring bands rock into the night at various downtown hotspots or during the encores at The Festival at Sandpoint.

Live music plays a major role in defining our years; yet, in 2020, live music had to take a back seat in the interest of protecting our community against the spread of COVID-19.

Musicians adapted, playing smaller gigs with social distancing guidelines in place and even hosting live shows online.

The artists did what they do best: they got creative.

Quite frankly, it sucked, and continues to suck. I miss live music. I miss losing myself in a song, packed into the Spokane Knitting Factory like sardines or seated at a table in Di Luna’s

Courtesy photo. next to my neighbors.

I am not a musician myself, miss. but I spend a lot of time enAnd, as always, share what joying the fruits you love. Broadof their labor. cast your support Lyndsie’s top five for bands — Music gives meaning to my albums of 2020: whether they be life, and I want local, regional or 1. Punisher the people who well known —

by Phoebe Bridgers make it to be on social media. able to come out 2. Asterisk the Universe Don’t keep your

by John Craigie on the other side favorite tunes of this pandemic 3. Petals for Armor all to yourself. unscathed by

by Hayley Williams Share the love. the unplanned Here’s to all 4. folklore / evermore downtime. the live music

by Taylor Swift So what can we missed in we do? If a band 5. And It’s Still Alright 2020, and to The

by Nathaniel Rateliff or musician you Festival lineup care about has that shall never music or merch — yet will Lyndsie’s top five be for sale online, be again. May songs of 2020: the coming year buy it. If a band is crowdfunding 1. “Dead Horse” bring smoothto raise money er waters for

by Hayley Williams for studio time, the artists we 2. “Plum” donate. Considhold dear, and

by Widowspeak er all the frosty let’s pray to the 3. “Starting Over” cold beers you heavens that

by Chris Stapleton didn’t buy while some amazing listening to live songwriting 4. “I Know The End”

by Phoebe Bridgers music in 2020, comes out of and put that this hellhole of a 5. “Hustlin’” money into the year. Amen.

by John Craigie musicians you

There are ASMRists and ASMRtists. The former make goofy sounds and gimmicky roleplays, while the latter elevate the act of relaxation to a true artform. The French Whisperer is among the finest examples of an ASMRtist, with his gentle basso and thick accent as he guides listeners through deeply researched and gently presented lectures on everything from the Theory of Relativity to proper wine drinking etiquette. Listening to his threehour YouTube video on Roman history is especially engaging — until you fall asleep, in a good way.

WATCH

South Korean filmmakers have a lock on contemporary horror.

Google “Korean horror movies” and you’ll find list after list of artistic, critically acclaimed and downright mind-shredding films from the country that gave us the 2019 Best Picture Parasite. Though not in the same league as Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar winner, Sweet Home, now streaming on Netflix is a moody, sometimes funny, frequently grotesque mish-mash of zombie apocalypse, Lovecraftian psychodrama and morality tale. For emphasis: Not for the squeamish.

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BACK OF THE BOOK

It’s not the years in your life…

It’s the life in your years

From Northern Idaho News, Dec. 28, 1915

DRY REGIME NEAR AT HAND Old John Barleycorn is on his last legs in Sandpoint, so far as the licenced saloon is concerned.

Three more days in this week and it will then be a severely punishable crime to sell liquor in the state of Idaho, or even for private individuals to have it in their possession for any purpose whatever without first securing permission as required by law.

The law is a drastic one and the county officials propose to enforce it strictly. The county commissioners have issued a notice of a $25 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any bootlegger, and County Attorney Ashery and Sheriff Remer have announced their intention of doing all in their power to prevent any traffic in liquor.

Despite the fact, however, that it is an offense to have liquor in one’s possession, the bottled goods on the shelves of the various saloons have disappeared as snow under the warm breath of the chinook, and the fact whispers loudly of the existence of many a cache made by the careful ones who wish to provide against the approaching drought.

Sandpoint won’t be entirely a dry town till some of this accumulated private reserve has been dissipated, but so far as any illegal sale of liquor is concerned, the indications are that it will be the dryest era the town has ever known.

Five saloons will go out of business Friday night and their proprietors will largely seek other lines. None have determined definitely what they will do.

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By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Because it’s Latin, the phrase annus horribilis sounds ancient, but it’s not. In scattered use beginning in the 1980s, it didn’t come to prominence until Queen Elizabeth II used it in her Christmas message of 1992, noting a disastrous fire at Windsor Castle and the divorces of two of her princeling sons.

It means “year or horrors” and is a play on the much older phrase annus mirabilis, meaning “year of wonders” from John Dryden’s poem of 1666 of the same name.

(And if you know anything about English history, 1666 was when most of London burned down and the Black Plague soon after swept the country.)

But you know what, 410 CE, when the Goths sacked Rome, was an annus horribilis; so was damn near every year in the 1300s, from Asia to Europe; and, for Indigenous peoples of the Americas, damn near every year from 1492 to present. We’ve had more anni horribles than not, to be frank (and for the Franks, theirs would have been 287-288 CE, when Caesar Maximian forced their mass surrender into the Roman Empire).

That’s to say nothing of 1861, 1914, 1929, 1939, 1941, 2001, 2008, 2016, etc., etc.

Regardless, there are many headlines today applying the moniker annus horribilis to 2020 and, for sure, it has been a doozy.

No need to recount the horribilis of this annus. We all know what happened. More interesting is the benchmarking process that seems hardwired into our brains, which even comes up with these ideas of “good years” and “bad years” in the first place.

“Years” don’t exist. We made them up. Same with “decades,” “centuries” and

STR8TS Solution

“millennia”; “eras,” “ages” and “epochs.”

There’s no such thing as “time” out there in the universe — at least not the diachronic, linear, lickety-split way we conceive of it.

Albert Einstein showed us that much.

No, this idea of years — “new” and “old” — is a complete fiction, rooted in the fact that we know we’re all going to die, sooner or later, and we have the great luxury of enough self awareness to notice the progressive decay of ourselves as we succumb to the entropy of the universe and are ripped apart into atoms, whence we came — a.k.a., “age.”

The abject, bowel-quaking horror that this evokes in almost every person is why we have these conventions of marking time — as well as existential philosophy — and it’s really one of the central things that makes us human. No other species, as far as we know, has yearbooks with which to look back on and mutter about how fat/ bald (or both) they’ve become. No doubt, I have furniture that will outlast me. I know this because I have been an avid collector of antiques for most of my 40 years. I also know this because the fact that stuff is more durable than human lives is why archeology is a thing.

As the great French historian Fernand Braudel wrote, “The obstinate presence of the past greedily and steadily swallows up the fragile lifetime of men.” By that, I think, he meant we all — or most of us, anway — get forgotten. We’re what Braudel called “stagnant history” — the history of how everyday people live and have lived their everyday lives for millennia — “all rural life, that is 80 to 90% of the world’s population, belongs to it for the most part.”

That’s us, friends.

But, no matter who (or when) we are, we establish elaborate and ever-evolv-

ing systems of figuring out where we are in space at any given “moment” — and those systems have evolved. The whole “A.D./B.C.” convention didn’t come into widespread use until the 800s. Long before that, time-keeping really formed one of the original sciences, and its history goes back at least to the Neolithic, when the first rude forms of calendar-making have been found.

I wager that even before then, “we” were looking up at the sky and trying to figure out why the stars move and seasons change with them, and what it means for “us.” Back then, I can assure you, we didn’t count the years in our lives, but the life in our years.

But “we” aren’t those people and, again as Braudel wrote, “Whether it favours him or not, the calendar is man’s master.”

Hence we persist in ringing in another “new year,” because we must — and because we don’t.

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solution Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22

matutinal

Woorf tdhe Week

By Bill Borders

/muh-TOOT-n-l/

[adjective] 1. pertaining to or occurring in the morning; early in the day.

“He was a matutinal writer, rising at dawn to begin anew.”

Corrections: Nothing this week, dear readers. Thanks for keeping us honest in 2020. Wishing you all a typo-free 2021. – BO

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

Laughing Matter

CROSSWORD ACROSS

1. Stigma 5. Immunizations 10. A short strap of leather 14. Worry 15. Remedies 16. Angle of a leafstalk 17. Make intelligible 19. Mentor 20. Ghost’s cry 21. Jagged 22. Coarse edible red seaweed 23. Shaped like a ring 25. Boast 27. Apprehend 28. Aromatic 31. Celebration 34. Sword 58. Drunkard 35. “The Matrix” hero 59. Embellisher 36. Hodgepodge (comic art) 37. Radar signals 60.

Curved molding 38. Beige 61. Palm starch 39. Clairvoyant’s gift 62. Untidy 40. Not lies 63. What we sleep on 41. Head of a city 42. Someone’s foot DOWN 44. Passenger vehicle 1. Aqualung 45. Purposes 2. Religious law 46. Illegitimate child 3. Malicious burning 50. Non-glossy photos 4. Record (abbrev.)

52. Tall East Indian 5. Dung beetle timber trees 6. The quality of 54. Twosome being funny 55. Leave out 7.

Spheres 56. A sport involving a 8. Cable ball and a net

Solution on page 22 9. South southeast 10. Panther 11. Jubilation 12. Knights 13. Swing around 1 8. Pass-the-baton race 22. Venician magstrate 24. “Do ___ others...”

26. Boys 28. Travels rapidly 29. Infamous Roman emperor 30. See the sights 31. He writes in verse 32. Along with 33. Retorting 34. Chalcanthite 37. French cheese

38. Where the sun rises 40. Sounds of disapproval 41. Untidy 43. Skin pattern 44. Bakeshop 46. Bundles 47. Maxim 48. Governed 49. Handouts 50. Cuts the lawn 51. Dogfish 53. North American deer (plural) 56. Vigor 57. Go up and down

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