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PEOPLE compiled by

Ben Olson

watching

Quotes about winter “A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water.”

Carl Reiner Actor, author, screenwriter, director, comedian

DEAR READERS,

It’s beginning to look a lot like winter out there. The sidewalks are bustling with shoppers, the restaurants are filled with cheerful faces — this truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Don’t forget to support our small businesses while shopping for the holidays this year. Every little bit helps. Buy local when you can.

I’m off next week for a bit of rest and relaxation, but the Reader is in good hands with my capable staff. If you need to reach me for any reason, I might be checking email, but don’t count on it. It’s best to ask Zach or Lyndsie if anything is urgent.

Hope you all have a great weekend.

– Ben Olson, publisher

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson, James Johnson, Bill Borders

“A wet autumn morning, a garbage truck clattering down the street. The first snowfall of the season, blossom sized flakes falling languidly and melting on the ground, a premature snow fall delicate as lace, rapidly melting.”

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Emily Erickson, Sen. Melissa Wintrow, Brenden Bobby

Joyce Carol Oates Writer

Subscription Price: $155 per year

“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, ‘go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.’”

Lewis Carroll Writer

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet Poet “I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape—the loneliness of it, the dead feeling of winter.

Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn’t show.”

Andrew Wyeth Realist painter

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID

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

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

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

Free to all, limit two copies per person.

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

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

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

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

About the Cover

We hope you all have an unbearably good week owlt there. Forrest, don’t even try it.

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NEWS

‘A very complicated site’

P&Z recommends approval of 13-unit multi-family development at Main and Lincoln, with conditions

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Sandpoint Planning and Zoning commissioners voted 4-2 to recommend approval of a 13-unit multi-family residential development Dec. 7, but not before hearing opposition from West Sandpoint neighbors and themselves puzzling over how best to address the “very complicated site,” as Senior Planner Tess Cooper described it.

Owners William and Kathy Friedmann — both 20-year residents and local entrepreneurs — went before P&Z with architect Matthew Kerr, of SOK Design Studio, to request a conditional use permit to build the project on four lots platted in an awkward “L” shape between Main Street and Lincoln Avenue.

Cooper said the difficulty stems from a re-platting in 2004 that resulted in one parcel on Lincoln, one parcel on Main and two trapped in the middle with no frontage on a public right of way.

To make those parcels buildable, a private driveway would need to be constructed, effectively connecting Lincoln and Main through the center of the “L.” Doing so would open the way for construction of three separate buildings — two with four dwelling units each abutting the northern property line and one with five, larger units along the eastern boundary.

All the units would be rentals; rise to two-stories; range between 1,300 and 1,800 square feet, with three bedrooms and two baths; as well as feature covered parking.

“I think we’re all aware of the housing pressure that Sandpoint is under right now,” Kerr told commissioners, underscoring that the reason for the CUP application is to build more than the seven units allowed without a special permit.

The density is intended “to keep these units affordable,” he added.

Kathy Friedmann said the goal is to keep rental prices between 25% and 30% below market, 4 /

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which is routinely $2,000 or more per month even for smaller units.

Friedmann added that as an employer, she sees on a daily basis that, “There’s a really severe need for people in Sandpoint to be able to access housing right now. … My goal is to create housing that people can afford — not just what the market rate is.”

Public testimony ran entirely in opposition, with resident Taylor Bradish speaking at length against the project, which he said “does not meet the Comprehensive Plan in any way you look at it. … It’s a great place for four single-family dwellings.”

Bradish ticked off a number of examples of what he called “misleading” information contained in the staff report, including the private driveway that he said will effectively function as a street, making the parcel a double frontage lot, which is prohibited unless specific conditions require an exception.

“This is being called a private street with city services,” he said.

“Let’s not get into that kind of situation when we say something is a private street but offer public services. … A physical design constraint is not an excuse to call a street not a street.”

Bradish also questioned the density of the development when more than half of it is within Context Area-2 of the Comp Plan Land Use Map, which is the city’s lowest-density designation, and was skeptical of claims of “affordability,” noting that to really ensure the units are accessible to local wage earners they should be deed restricted at the appropriate

A conceptual drawing of the proposed development. Courtesy SOK Design Studio. level of income.

Two other residents who showed up to testify volunteered to donate their three minutes to Bradish so that he might continue, further criticizing language in the staff report that identifies certain boundary line areas as “sidelots” when he argued they should be called “backlots,” which would trigger 15-foot setbacks in order to ease the impact on surrounding properties — especially in cases when building heights exceed neighboring residences.

In the maps shown at the Dec. 7 meeting, the middle and eastern buildings are separated from neighboring property lines by a five-foot setback, consistent with a “sidelot” designation.

“This is not harmonious; not one bit,” Bradish said, citing CUP requirements that new construction be “harmonious and appropriate with the existing or intended character of the general vicinity.”

Leanna Nixon, whose home is located directly north of the proposed middle block of rental units, said the project would border 50% of her property line and — combined with a proposed five-foot setback for the two-story structure

— would provide no room for privacy landscaping.

“The development infringes on our rights as property owners,” she said. “We feel like our privacy is going to be completely demolished by this. …

“We understand that the city needs more housing to support our workers, but not at the cost of ignoring or misinterpreting City Code,” she added.

Stan Pardee lives just to the south of the proposed development, and agreed “there is no way this is harmonious,” adding that without a larger setback or other height mitigation, he’s worried the second story will look right over his backyard fence.

“It feels like this is being rammed into the middle of the neighborhood,” he said.

Others testified about their concerns over increased traffic and noise, as well as stresses on already limited parking and potential negative effects on surrounding property values.

Interim City Planner Daren Fluke addressed some of those concerns, stating that regardless of the context areas on the parcel, it is designated entirely

as multi-family, under which the project is appropriate with a conditional use permit.

The setbacks — and definitions of sidelot versus backlot — proved to be a trickier concept to address, as Fluke admitted strict setbacks are “problematic” because of the shape of the property.

Deciding which is the front, back or side of an “L” laid on its side also proved to be difficult for commissioners to grapple with.

“It’s a thorny question because we need the housing and I appreciate the developers’ desire to build it; I’m frustrated with zoning problems left over from the past,” said Commissioner Cate Huisman. “I don’t see this project as fitting in with the scale of the neighborhood and to call what is a rear setback a side setback, it’s technically correct but does not accurately reflect reality.”

After much discussion, commissioners settled on a recommended condition that would keep in place the five-foot setbacks, but in those cases require a further 10-foot step back for the second story — meaning that while the apartment buildings may be only five feet from neighboring boundary lines, their second stories would be 15 feet from adjacent properties.

“I’m afraid that may be the best we can do,” Huisman said.

Ultimately, Commissioners Mose Dunkle, Slate Kamp, Forrest Schuck and Huisman voted in favor of recommending approval with conditions, while Vice Chair John Hastings and Tom Riggs voted “no.” Riggs, for his part, said he would have approved the project as it was presented. Commission Chairman Jason Welker recused himself, citing personal relationships with some of the project opponents.

NEWS

Sheriff levels open meeting law violation against BOCC over ice rink Commissioner McDonald: Claim is an ‘act of desperation’

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff The rift between Bonner County commissioners and Sheriff Daryl Wheeler over a lease agreement for an ice rink to be built next to the Bonner County Fairgrounds continues to widen, as Wheeler emailed a complaint Dec. 6 to Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall alleging that the commissioners violated open meeting law in noticing the ice rink item on business meeting agendas.

Wheeler’s email, on which several county officials and members of the media were copied, argued that the commissioners inadequately advertised the action on hand at their Oct. 26 meeting, during which they voted to lease four acres of county land to Sandpoint Community Center Corporation, which has plans to build a Sandpoint Ice Arena for community use.

“There was no good faith effort in the notice that the property up for discussion was the property located directly behind the Sheriff’s Complex, where the old Idaho National Guard Readiness Center was located,” Wheeler wrote.

“That fact alone would have stimulated items of discussion amongst the other county elected officials, to include me as the elected sheriff.”

Wheeler, who lambasted the commissioners on Facebook in early November, also alleged that the county inadequately noticed a Fair Board meeting about the ice arena back in March, and asked that Marshall “find this meeting was improperly noticed and declare that the MOU and contract is void.”

Marshall told the Reader on Dec. 6 that he was “looking at

the issue.”

“Normally, alleged open meeting violations by boards of commissioners are investigated by the attorney general’s office,” he continued, “so I will be in contact with the AG as well for assistance.”

Commissioner Dan McDonald told the Reader that he found Wheeler’s claim “lacking any real foundation under the law.”

McDonald also noted that he was “confused” as to why the sheriff would send his complaint to the prosecutor’s office when open meeting law violations are investigated by the AG. “The prosecutor’s office created, reviewed and approved the MOU, and it was clearly properly advertised,” McDonald said.

“It appears the sheriff’s claim is without merit and screams of an act of desperation to me.”

McDonald said that Wheeler has been made aware of the state statutes that allowed for

the MOU between the county and the Sandpoint Community Center Corporation, which the commissioner added will “provide much needed revenue to offset taxpayer support” in the form of financial benefit to the fairgrounds. “[T]o me, it’s baffling why he believes he should object to something like this that will

benefit the county residents and taxpayers,” McDonald said.

“We’ve made it clear that this land was never set aside for a justice facility, and that there is a far better location for a potential justice facility to be built in the distant future.”

McDonald said the ice rink lease “also doesn’t impact our plans for future jail expansion,

A conceptual drawing of the Sandpoint Ice Arena. Courtesy photo. should we ever need it.”

“So again, with all that, I’m not sure why the sheriff continues to tilt at windmills,” he said.

Learn more about the Sandpoint Community Center Corporation and proposed Sandpoint Ice Arena at sandpointice.org.

As Idaho virus data trends down, things are looking up PHD to offer several Sandpoint COVID-19 vaccine clinics in December, January

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff Pertinent data in the effort to track the novel coronavirus in Idaho continues to trend in a hopeful direction.

The Idaho Capital Sun reported Dec. 7 that “key numbers” are indicating that the latest surge is on the downward slope. Those key numbers include “hospitalizations, new admissions, intensive care demands and even the COVID-19 surge’s draw on North Idaho hospital capacity.”

While the panhandle remains operating under crisis standards of care — as dictated

by Idaho Health and Welfare — Bonner General Health shared with the Reader last month that Sandpoint’s hospital is actually not currently rationing care under those standards. However, BGH shared that this could change depending on community demand.

Health officials across the Gem State are urging those seeking vaccination against the virus to do so as soon as possible, and those due for a

booster also seek out a physician or pharmacy offering their desired brand of shot. Those who received their initial series of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines are eligible for a booster after six months, and those who received the single Johnson & Johnson dose can seek a booster after two months.

Panhandle Health District is offering COVID-19 vaccinations in Sandpoint on several dates in December and January, all at the Forrest M. Bird

Charter School, located at 614 S. Madison Ave. Clinics are separated by vaccine brand. Visit panhandlehealthdistrict. org/covid-19/vaccine to schedule an appointment, or call 877-415-5225 for assistance.

Those interested in a COVID-19 vaccine can also visit vaccines.gov to find a provider near them. For the latest on COVID-19 in Idaho, view the state’s data dashboard at coronavirus.idaho.gov.

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NEWS

Whiskey Jack short plats to see appeal hearing BoCo commissioners will reconsider the files Dec. 9

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff Bonner County commissioners will hear an appeal Thursday, Dec. 9 regarding two short plat applications in the Whiskey Jack area of Kootenai, where developer Tricore Investments, LLC, hopes to create Whiskey Jack Estates — a subdivision raising concerns about accessibility, safety and water availability among area residents.

Both short plat applications, filed in June, request splitting two pieces of the property into 10 lots each. According to records obtained by citizen group Project 7B, the short plat applications come after the developer successfully applied for a minor land division at Whiskey Jack Estates, creating four lots. Now, two of those four lots — Lot 1 being 4.24 acres and Lot 2 being 5.26 acres — are the ones being split into 10 lots each with the short plat applications.

Meanwhile, Project 7B claims that records show the developer’s intent to do the same with the two remaining lots.

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An aerial view of the proposed location of the Whiskey Jack Estates subdivision, with the blue outline indicating a parcel where the developer hopes to create 10 lots. The parcel directly to the right is also up for consideration to be split into 10 lots. Image from Bonner County Planning staff report.

hearing. However, due to an appeal filed Oct. 28, citizens will have the chance to sound off about the proposed 10-lot divisions before the Bonner County commissioners on Dec. 9 “I am asking for an appeal of these short plats so the public will have the opportunity to voice their concerns,” the appeal, filed by Whiskey Jack Circle residents Charles and Margaret Johnson, states. “The present road access to this subdivision is not wide enough for increased traffic and emergency vehicles.”

The Johnsons list several concerns in their appeal, including the failing Boyer Slough bridge; lack of proper drainage; the already stressed Oden Bay Water system, which serves the Whiskey Jack area; and the fact that there is “only one exit out of this area, over railroad tracks, for both Ponder Point, Whiskey Jack Road, connecting side roads and Whiskey Jack Circle.”

“There is a need for a second exit,” according to the appeal.

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: Scientists’ impressions of the omicron coronavirus variant: It’s the “weirdest creature,” according to The Washington Post. “It had an unruly swarm of mutations,” many of which were known to be “problematic,” such as rendering antibodies unable to neutralize the virus. Other worrisome COVID-19 variants were made extinct by the delta variant. It’s yet to be determined if omicron can out-compete delta.

There were just 700 influenza deaths in the U.S. during the 2020-’21 flu season, Scientific American reported. By comparison, there were 22,000 flu deaths the previous year and 34,000 deaths the flu season before that. Last year’s low rate is linked to masking, social distancing and hand-washing.

Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are up at least 30% compared to five weeks ago, according to USA Today’s analysis of Johns Hopkins data. The increase is being blamed on lack of vaccinations and misinformation: Experts initially said at least 85% immunization is needed for herd immunity, but the CDC says at this point only 60% are fully vaccinated.

Typically 1% to 2% of the population “vigorously” opposes vaccinations, so there was no expectation that the topic would be politicized with a deliberate spread of misinformation. With just 5% of low-income countries vaccinated, those nations offer a bigger playground for the virus to mutate as well as potentially create variants resistant to current vaccines.

The internal Trump resistance movement first reached public attention with a 2018 New York Times op-ed, by Anonymous, who was later revealed to be Miles Taylor, chief of staff to Trump’s Homeland Security secretary. Speaking to Salon recently, Taylor said he was told by many fellow Republicans that they could not engage in resistance because of their fear of attack for doing so. Taylor said he frequently heard, “Look, I’ve got kids and this is too crazy right now.”

One reason more funds are being requested for the Pentagon: While the Pentagon has been quietly working on the numerous challenges climate change poses to the military (see All Hell Breaking Loose: The Pentagon’s Perspective on Climate Change, by Michael T. Klare), there have already been undeniable financial demands due to climate change.

According to CNN, use of the National Guard to fight wildfires has increased

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

10-fold from five years ago, hurricane damages to military bases cost $8 billion from 2018 to 2020 and there are 1,400 military facilities worldwide that the Pentagon wants assessed to determine if they need reinforcement that would help them endure climate events.

An Alabama woman acquitted of shoplifting received $2.1 million in damages.

She had done self-check-out, which was complicated by the scanner freezing.

After acquittal she received a letter from a law firm demanding a $200 settlement payment — more than the cost of the groceries she bought.

WKRG reported that such letters are routinely sent, and the corporate store the woman shopped at has collected millions of dollars over just two years using the tactic. The woman sued, stating that the defendants “have engaged in a pattern and practice of falsely accusing innocent Alabama citizens of shoplifting and … attempting to collect money from the innocently accused.” She won.

President Joe Biden’s 110-country Summit for Democracy has a goal of “preventing and countering corruption” to demonstrate democracy at its best.

Agenda items include money laundering and tax evasion.

The Washington Post suggested that Biden focus more on the U.S., where the Republican Party is seeking to corrupt the election process, limit ballot access and “winks” at violence. The comment came on the heels of a Fox News interview with Trump, during which he seemed to admit to obstruction of justice when acknowledging he dismissed FBI Director James Comey to prevent his own removal from office.

Blast from the past: President Ronald Reagan took to the radio in 1987 to talk about the hazards of not raising the debt ceiling.

He said: “Congress consistently brings the government to the edge of default before facing its responsibility. This brinkmanship threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits. Interest rates would skyrocket, instability would occur in financial markets, and the federal deficit would soar [if the debt ceiling were not lifted]. The United States has a special responsibility to itself and the world to meet its obligations.”

During Reagan’s eight years in office he raised the debt ceiling 18 times. The debt ceiling has been raised 74 times between early 1962 and May of 2011.

PERSPECTIVES

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

Trespassing

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

“I thought runners were supposed to be good people,” the stranger spat, posturing while snapping photos of our license plates.

I was recently issued a ticket for trespassing on a private road at the mouth of a large swath of public land. The public area we were trying to access is thick with evergreens, rocky climbs and expansive views, all patched together with old service and logging roads — the kind of terrain that pulled me to Idaho in the first place.

A few friends and I were trail running, with one member of our group securing what they thought was a loose “go ahead” to pass through the small section of private road barricading the state of Idaho-owned area.

As trail running is an inherently wild sport — with the adventure of finding a new path, a new perspective or a new route to a familiar place as baked into it as the running itself — we didn’t stop to assess the strength of the permission we thought we were granted.

This wild, remote and off-the-beaten-path pursuit is fundamentally Idaho, with as much as 70% of the state covered in different varieties of public land. In North Idaho, the public-green on our maps is nearly undisturbed, save for strips of private ownership stymying reasonable access in many areas — making secret or

Emily Erickson. little-used public recreation areas precious nuggets of wisdom shared between friends and trusted peers.

We began our climb passing what we were told was an out-of-season event center, switch-backing 16 miles up and around the wild, beautiful terrain. We spotted moose, deer and grouse, and enjoyed more broad lake views that we could count before finishing back at our cars. Where the private landowner was waiting for us.

“Is there anything we can do to make this right?” my friend asked.

“You’ll be hearing from the cops,” he answered.

Several days later, we were informed he was asking for us to be issued the maximum punishment within the boundary of trespassing code. We were cited a simple fine as first-time offenders.

Owning private land is sacred to many of us, and trespassing can certainly be experienced as an act of blatant disrespect. This man was reacting to what he felt was an egre-

gious violation of his personal property, and I own my role in stirring up those feelings.

But I can’t ignore that he assumed the worst intentions in us and that our attempts to explain; our assurances that it wouldn’t happen again; and our offers to correct, make amends or otherwise ameliorate the situation only encouraged him to further dig in his heels — to widen the perceived moral gap between him and us, the malicious wrongdoers.

So I have to ask, where does this “assuming the worst” mentality come from? When did our knee-jerk reactions toward our neighbors become so saturated in fear and anger?

Sandpoint is a small town, full of people who know someone who knows us. The degrees of our separation are nearly non-existent, with our common thread as North Idahoans being made from a sturdier kind of twine. Aren’t we a place that still stops to ask the person with the car in the ditch if they’re OK? Aren’t we a community that calls the parents of the kid throwing the party before calling the police? Can’t we leave our laptops unguarded on coffee shop tables while we visit the restroom and trust our neighbors to drop our mis-delivered package on our front porch?

Living in a community is a choice to see and celebrate the best in our neighbors whenever possible, to forego isolation for the comforts of camaraderie, and to squelch the fear of and leeriness toward our neighbors

by continually searching for the aspects of ourselves that we all share.

I’ll be treading more carefully on my adventures from now on, double- and triple-checking my permission before trying a new “barely there” trail or parking at an unmarked trailhead. But I’m also bolstered, having newfound resolve not to jump to conclusions, to ask more questions before settling

on someone’s character and restore the “benefit of the doubt” mentality that makes living in a close-knit community so worthwhile.

Emily Erickson is a writer and business owner with an affinity for black coffee and playing in the mountains. Connect with her online at www. bigbluehat.studio.

Retroactive

By BO

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‘Rattle can rascals’...

Bouquets: • A Bouquet goes to our county and city snowplow drivers. As we get closer to the official start of winter, the snow is starting to fall in earnest, and with it the roads are becoming slick and icy. These drivers have a thankless job, rising early in the morning to make sure we can drive safely to work. Next time you look outside and see the snow falling from inside your warm, comfortable house, remember that somewhere in the county a snowplow driver is already hard at work.

We appreciate you.

Barbs: • If you think institutional racism doesn’t exist in this country, you’re either ignorant or part of the problem. A prime example is with a recent tweet by Lisa Leisy, who served as Power County chair for Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s gubernatorial campaign. Leisy tweeted Dec. 6 — then deleted — that she doesn’t support a Hershey’s chocolate commercial featuring a Black family. The news was first reported

by Boise State Public Radio.

“I don’t support the new and improved #Hersheys #christmas black only commercial,” Leisy tweeted. “Classic #commercial and they ruined it,” followed by three puke emojis.

The commercial, which actually aired a year ago before Christmas 2020, featured animated Hershey’s Kisses ringing bells to the tune of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” then a young girl’s hand appears, taking one of the candies to put on a cookie she made with her father. Several Twitter users called Leisy’s tweet racist, with one replying “Adorable,” which Leisy replied “Good for you. I no longer can watch much current tv cause black only supporting. Racist commercial if only supports blacks only.”

It is unclear whether Leisy is still McGeachin’s Power County campaign chair, but if this is any indication of the type of person McGeachin surrounds herself with, I’d say we’re in for a load of trouble if she is elected governor.

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Dear editor, As I took my monthly visit into town recently to stock up on winter reading, this old man was astonished at the splattering of graffiti now adorning our small town. I’ve lived in Bonner County since 1957 and it suddenly feels like one is entering the dirty streets of Los Angeles or Seattle. Several businesses downtown were hit with black paint, the bypass bridge and the old JCPenney at the Bonner Mall, up so high it’s like a pack of maniacal monkeys have swarmed our town and left their waste behind. And under the train bridge leading to City Beach is a deplorable contest of racist hate speech and pornographic doodles.

This isn’t art, it’s pure trash.

None of these paintings has even the slightest bit of artistic merit or prudent message, other than saying, “Enjoy the decline,” or, “There goes the neighborhood.”

I have written before about the “broken windows” theory, and all this graffiti will in short order beget yet more graffiti if it’s not dealt with swiftly and severely.

If you see one of these rattle can rascals decorating a public or private space, I urge you to fight back by spraying them with bright orange marking paint so they get a taste of their own medicine. Or even better, administer a Singapore spanking.

Am I the only one who wants to defend our spaces and kick diversity to the curb?

George Mooney Sagle

Editor’s note: George Mooney’s point, while well taken, doesn’t require “kick[ing] diversity to the curb.” Diversity is very much welcome in Sandpoint and in no way dependent on an opinion either in favor or against graffiti, which is frankly a bizarre connection to make. Also, we think it’s silly to suggest (even in jest) that street art should trigger a “Singapore spanking” — which we assume refers to U.S. citizen Michael Fay, who was beaten with a cane in public by Singapore officials in 1994 for a vandalism spree in the south Asian country.

Oh Danny Boy...

Dear editor, Dann Hall, son of world famous photographer Ross Hall, has died.

He was a dear friend of 40 plus years. It was an honor to know him.

Some 40 years ago a friend

invited me to attend a showing of a river trip photographed by Dann. I had previously witnessed a movie documentary of this same trip. I initially thought, “Hey, the movie was decent,” but I figured just a photo showing would never be as interesting. However, I went anyway. I was new in town and it was a way to meet people.

I entered the room and at one end there was a screen set up and in one corner of the screen there was a good-sized circle filled in reddish orange. The friend introduced me to Dann and I asked him, “What’s with the orange circle?”

He looked me in the eye and quietly said, “Be quiet, sit down, observe.”

I obeyed.

To my astonishment that circle became an integral part of the presentation. It was always in just the right place in almost every shot. At times it disappeared. I became mesmerized.

Dann’s photo presentation was far superior to the movie version.

There were moments I actually felt as though I was living the experience in real time. I felt I had witnessed genius that night and made that known to Dann. He quietly thanked me and we became forever friends that night.

The pipes have called and another cherished friend has answered. I miss ye, Danny Boy. I’ll make a run down Schweitzer for you.

William R. Oimet Sandpoint

Extended legislative session: a waste of time and money…

Dear editor, Twenty-eight bills based on disinformation and untenable views of government made it to Idaho House committees for consideration in November.

Nine were killed outright in committee. Several were passed in the House and made it to the Senate, where all but one of these ill-advised bills were killed.

We can avoid distractions from work that needs to be done — and the costs of extended sessions — by electing people who are honest with us, and who don’t break the law and have to be investigated.

Voters are tired of an ineffective legislature. Register to vote in next year’s primary elections for the Idaho Legislature, and other elections that affect our daily lives: from local growth and public education to infrastructure and climate change.

Nancy Gerth Sagle

GOP acts like a ‘death cult’…

Dear Editor, The hypocrisy of the Republican Party is head spinning. They talk about the sanctity of life, but their actions are those of a death cult. I don’t understand the acceptance of violent threats from sitting Congress people toward some of their colleagues. They are not joking; they are, in fact, provoking some of their followers to kill people for simply having an opposing point of view.

Moreover, the party leadership turns a blind eye to such behavior. They oppose abortion while denying women health care and safe pregnancies.

They don’t want to provide services to people who can’t pay cash for it — witness their decades-long attempt to overturn the Affordable Care Act, and their efforts to shut down women’s health clinics.

Meanwhile, they talk animatedly about their Second Amendment rights as though it is OK to shoot people simply for disagreeing with their cruel agenda.

They are now not only using dog whistles to promote their mean-spiritedness, but are completely embracing outright hatred toward their fellow citizens who are not white or Christian. They fight measures that could save thousands of lives through vaccination and proven safety methods with regard to public health and COVID, specifically. They deny the danger of climate change and the threat to all of us now and in the future while they slavishly encourage fossil fuel corporations to continue to pollute. They claim that children are vitally important to them, but oppose legislation that would assist with child care, education, housing and a livable income for families.

I’m a Republican in order to vote for primary candidates who are not extremists and sadistic, selfish people. I want candidates who are interested in the well being of their constituents, and who repudiate cruel and violent acts. These are rare in today’s Republican Party.

Ann Warwick Sandpoint

Apologize for rudeness, not for opinions…

Dear editor, In response to Pierre Bordenave’s opinion piece, “How Did We Get Here?” in the Dec. 2 issue of the Reader: Yes. If you were rude, in person, to someone about their private medical decisions, the kind

thing to do is to apologize to them.

Also, if someone was rude to your beautiful wife at the store because of her private medical decisions, the kind thing for them to do is to apologize to her.

As for the issues discussed in your article: No. You are not obligated to apologize for your opinions, and people with opposing opinions are not obligated to apologize to you.

With love, Betsy Canfield Sandpoint

In defense of the BoCo Republican Central Committee…

Dear editor, The Bonner County Republican Central Committee (BCRCC) is not the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), as Steve Johnson might be inferring [Letters, “BoCo commissioners and local GOP don’t respect P&Z…,” Dec. 2, 2021].

The BCRCC did endorse each sitting commissioner over the Democrat candidate, but only Commissioner Bradshaw received a contested May primary election endorsement.

Further, to say the BCRCC does not respect the Bonner County Comprehensive Plan is patently false.

The BCRCC in 2021 passed a unanimous resolution supporting both the P&Z Commission and the Hoodoo Valley residents in opposition to the BOCC’s desire for five-acre subdivisions. In the fall of 2020, a BCRCC member and associated person, “Save Selle Valley,” appealed the BOCC and the puppet P&Z Department’s violation of the Comprehensive Plan and Title 12 requirements.

Other BCRCC precinct committeemen and associates were members of Comprehensive Plan sub-groups, seeking responsible growth.

The BCRCC holds its elected Republican Party officials accountable, as we have already acted against the sitting state senator and donated to the Gov. McGeachin campaign over Shelby Rognstad and Commissioner Bradshaw.

Through the May primary election the BCRCC will be active in assessing its party elected and challenger candidates. The BCRCC’s recent election slate received better than an 80% acceptance.

Johnson is entitled to his twotime losing Democrat commissioner campaign opinions, but he is not free to alter BCRCC facts of respecting and supporting the Comprehensive Plan. The First Amendment comes with responsibility.

Dan Rose Samuels

OPINION

An open letter to Scott Yenor: We aren’t going anywhere

By Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise Reader Contributor Dear Mr. Yenor, Words matter…

Your recent divisive words mattered, but in a way you may not have expected — they actually united the very group of “medicated, meddlesome, and quarrelsome” women you hoped to segregate and diminish. People across Idaho are raising their voices on social media to celebrate women for the very achievements you condemn, from being a first-generation college student to a medical doctor or civil engineer.

These successes were championed, not criticized as you would’ve liked. You yearn to return to the dark ages, but it’s clear the clock will not be turned back. Thankfully, that dystopian worldview is fading, and thousands of people will ensure we keep moving forward; I’m one of them.

Higher education changed my life, and allowed me to look beyond my once-limited perspective. I’ve seen it do the same for so many students while working at different universities, including Boise State, where I was hired as the first fulltime Women’s Center director and taught gender studies classes. And I know you have also seen the liberating effect of education, especially for women, which is why you’re so fearful.

As women become the majority of college graduates, pursue fields previously dominated by men, like medicine or engineering, and fight for equal pay, the patriarchal ideals you hold dear are being challenged, resulting in a loss of power and control.

This is why you’ve aligned yourself with radical conservative activists — like extremist special interest groups, the lieutenant governor’s task force, and choice GOP legislators — trying to dismantle public education and deny women and other marginalized groups

opportunities to succeed. These attitudes materialized in a vote to block funding for childcare and pre-K because it would enable women to “come out of the home,” a prime example of institutionalized sexism based on fear of what you perceive you will lose.

There is no reason to fear an equitable society when there is so much to gain, allowing everyone to fulfill their god-given right to pursue happiness and live the life they have chosen. People who experience social advantages are being asked right now to recognize the benefits society affords them based solely on their race and sex. Although success isn’t guaranteed, these immutable traits — like being white and male — don’t work against them. Women and people from historically marginalized groups have not always been valued by society in that way, and must work harder to gain access to those same rights and opportunities. This can be uncomfortable to reconcile, but this pales in comparison to discrimination.

Your words are insidious and dangerous, but there are enough educated, community-minded, and caring Idahoans who see through your misaligned tactics.

The next step is to elect them.

In the meantime, Mr. Yenor, I invite you to take off your blinders and join us as we create a world in which everyone is free to pursue their dreams, care for themselves and their families, and live a fulfilling life without fear of being locked into a one-size-fits-all role predetermined by whomever is in power.

A world where transgender people can express their true selves without fear of

harm and exclusion from sports or public spaces; where Black parents don’t have to experience the pain of teaching their kids how to respond to authorities or combat racism; where women can walk freely at night without using their keys as makeshift brass knuckles; and where universities don’t lose funding for trying to create a safe and inclusive environment.

Words matter. I hope you listen to mine, and the many Idahoans condemning yours.

Sen. Melissa Wintrow, who represents District 19, is serving her first term in the Idaho Senate after three terms in the House. She sits on the Health and Welfare, Judiciary and Rules, and Transportation committees. Wintrow previously taught gender studies courses at Boise State University, where she helped establish the Women’s Center, now the Gender Equity Center. She’s also worked at Portland State University (Oregon), Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan, the University of Georgia and Miami University (Ohio).

Sen. Melissa Wintrow. File photo.

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Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

garbage science

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist It’s not much of a secret that 21st century humans have a garbage problem. We generate huge amounts of waste — a problem that’s compounded by our pursuit of increasing efficiency.

A new toy comes out and the old one joins its packaging in the trash bin, never to be seen again.

Unfortunately for us, there is no [destroyObject] function in the real world. Due to the law of conservation of mass, matter cannot be created or destroyed; it simply changes shape. This means that every time an item lands in the waste bin, it has to travel somewhere.

Fortunately for us, we can utilize the law of conservation of mass to our benefit. The item might take up space, but it’s not going anywhere. Why not use it a little bit longer and learn something from it?

Soda bottle transportation Two-liter soda bottles are the definition of modern human wastefulness. Wooden buckets, clay carafes and corked glass bottles performed this job for millennia before plastic bottles started floating around our oceans. Fortunately for us, they’re designed to be aerodynamic and perfectly suited to move with a little help.

There are countless ways to build an efficient bottle rocket, and a number of ways you can fuel them to achieve lift. The most basic design is to take an empty bottle, flip it upside down and stuff a bike pump with an airtight seal in the spout. Pump that bad boy to maximum, and let the sudden release of air pressure carry the bottle skyward.

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If you’re really feeling adventurous, see what additions to your rocket could make it more efficient. Add fins, a nose cone or different fuel types like baking soda and vinegar — really make it your own. Just be sure to wear safety goggles when handling projectiles, and use common sense: Do this in a lonely section of the park, not in the middle of your neighborhood where it could hit a house or a car.

Plastic bottles can also be used to make race cars instead of rockets. See what other objects destined for the trash bin might make for effective axles and wheels. You can power your garbage racer the same way you power your rocket.

Just be sure to never use flammable liquids to power your vehicle. The plastic is not designed to withstand those kinds of forces.

Vertical garden greenhouse Have you ever wanted your own greenhouse, only to be smacked in the face by the absurd cost of glass, wood and contractor fees? Those $2 bottles of soda or $9 bottles of wine your family tosses in the trash every week are ready-made greenhouses that were built for verticality.

Fill the bottom fifth of the bottle with small rocks, then pour some garden soil over top until about a quarter of the bottle is filled. Sprinkle your seeds in and then add water. You can seal the top to create a terrarium, or simply put the cap back on so you can water as necessary.

You can use a length of twine or burlap garden rope to hang these from a frame or porch railing to create a layered vertical greenhouse garden. Wrap the twine around the spout of the bottle, or create a more secure

do this with your balloon full of methane. In fact, you may want to plug your nose when you break down this experiment, as it’s bound to stink.

If you’re using vegetable scraps, you can compost them and put them into your garden.

If you decide to use something fatty like meat to produce more methane, you will want to keep the bottle sealed once you’ve thrown it away. Your nostrils will thank you for it.

Stay curious, 7B.

fisherman’s style netting around the bottom.

While you might not be able to grow a prize-winning pumpkin in one of these, you might be surprised at the number of vegetables you can produce with this method. Experiment with different levels of dirt, try jabbing some holes through the base to let water escape, or even see if you can figure out how to construct a condensation catcher inside of the bottle to create a self-watering device.

our environment.

Methane isn’t all bad news.

It can actually be burned as a fuel source to power things like factories or even heat a home.

When methane is burned, it produces carbon dioxide and water as waste products, while also producing heat energy that can then be transferred to water tanks that pump into a coil that radiates the heat, which is then blown through the house’s ductwork to warm the air.

You definitely don’t want to

Biofuel and heat This experiment has some practical applications but requires more specialized technology to be really useful. However, it’s an interesting way to watch the entire decomposition process from start to finish, and also record the amount of waste it generates.

If you have bits left over from dinner that you couldn’t eat, cram them into a bottle and seal the top with a balloon. Be sure to tie the base of the balloon to the spout of the bottle.

Let nature take its course and you should see the balloon begin to inflate over a period of days as the leftovers begin to rot.

Additionally, you might notice the bottle begin to heat up.

The bacteria inside are breaking down and composting the materials, and they’re generating methane gas as waste. Methane, as you might know, is at least 28 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

See how much the balloon inflates and use a measuring tape to see how much area the gas has taken up. Now try to imagine 7.9 billion people doing this, and the amount of gas produced becomes startling. This experiment is a good way to quantify food waste and the unseen effects it has on

Random Corner ages?

Don’t know much about saus • Sausages are called many different names around the globe.

The merguez sausage comes from northern Africa. It’s a long, thin sausage typically made from beef, lamb or a mixture of the two and spices like paprika, sumac, harissa and cayenne pepper. Boerewors are from South Africa, which contains game animals ground more coarsely than average and mixed with coriander and vinegar, then shaped into long spiral. Finally, the kamaboko from Japan is technically called a sausage, but it’s made from a fish paste that has been cured and ground, shaped into a half-moon and left to dry.

• Sausages have been around for at least 5,000 years. The first sausages recorded in written records came from Mesopotamia, which is the current day location of Kuwait, Iraq and parts of Saudi Arabia. The Sumerians recorded the making of sausages all the way back in 3100 B.C.E. • Sausages were created as a way for ancient cultures to preserve meat. The earliest method to preserve meat was to cure it in a large

We can help!

container of salt. This perserved the meat so it wouldn’t rot if stored properly. When the Sumerians figured out how to stuff all the excess meat into some intestines and salt it, they realized it could last even longer, making it tastier, too.

• A Cumberland sausage ring is a long sausage that is coiled into a ring instead of cut into links. They can often be quite large. The world record is held by a pig farmer named Gary McClure from Broughton-in-Furness in the Cumbria region of the United Kingdom. McClure’s ring ended up having a diameter of almost 10 feet and weighed 300 pounds, nearly doubling the previous record.

• Sausages have played a key role in Australian politics. They’re called “snags” in Australia, and a sausage “sizzle” involves a stall being set up to buy freshly barbecued sausage on a piece of white bread for only a couple bucks. The term “Democracy Sausage” was the word of the year in Australia in 2016, which refers to Aussie pols often linking fundraising events to sausage sizzles.

To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Top Right: The Ponderay Rotary Club recently supplied 400 jars of peanut butter and nearly a ton of fresh honeycrisp apples to the Bonner Community Food Bank. The members also assisted the Food Bank to create a production line for preparing 650 bags ready to give out to its customers on Thanksgiving. From left to right: Yogi Vasquez, Food Bank Executive Director Debbie Love, Paige Remington, Jacey Lawson, Cole Walkenhorst, Nanci Jenkins, Kari Saccomanno, Tiffany Goodvin and Bar Carver. Courtesy photo.

Bottom right: A stunning sunset captured on Dec. 1 by the dome in Clark Fork. Photo by James Johnson.

Bottom left: A Christmas tree twinkles in the freshly falling snow at Schweitzer in the village. Photo courtesy Schweitzer.

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OUTDOORS

Schweitzer open again after weather finally cooperates

By Ben Olson Reader Staff After a promising beginning to the 2021-’22 ski season, Schweitzer was forced to close last week after a warm spell erased all the gains Mother Nature and the snow machines made on this year’s snowpack. Now that the weather is finally resembling winter, and thanks to some fortunate snowfall, the mountain is open again with limited terrain.

“It was a full reset,” said Schweitzer Marketing Manager Dig Chrismer. “It was very strange to have been on my mountain bike last week and now back on skis.”

Chrismer said the lower temperatures helped Schweitzer make some snow to add to the roughly half a foot that fell early in the week.

“At this point, we are open for daily operations,” Chrismer told the Reader. “Right now the Basin Express lift is the only one open and Midway is the only run.”

Midweek day tickets are available for purchase on sight, while weekends are reserved for passholders and hotel lodging guests to help

Skiers navigate Midway on Schweitzer.

Courtesy photo. reduce overcrowding on the mountain because of the limited terrain available to ski.

“Keep an eye on the snow report,” said Chrismer. “The forecast for the next 10 days looks amazing, so as the weather changes we’ll be opening more lifts and terrain.”

Chrismer suggested the best way to reach the mountain is to use the bus from the Red Barn to the Village, which is free to use for everyone. Parking on top of the mountain will remain an issue as construction on the Humbird Hotel wraps up.

“Our goal is to get that top parking lot cleared out so we have more spaces available for hotel guests and parking permit holders,” Chrismer said. “The nice thing is the bus takes you right up to the main lot and drops you off right outside of Pucci’s Pub.” The forecast for the next 10 days calls for high probabilities of snow most days, and temperatures are expected to remain below freezing for the near future.

VA outreach canceled for Priest River

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

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Due to unforeseeable circumstances, Bonner County Veterans Services is canceling its visit to Priest River on Tuesday, Dec. 21. / December 9, 2021

The Veterans Services officer plans to be in Priest River the second week of January. In the meantime, if anyone needs to schedule an appointment at the Sandpoint office, please call 208-255-5291.

HOLIDAY

2021 Gift Guide

By Ben Olson Reader Staff I have one of the coolest girlfriends in the world. Instead of expensive bouquets of roses, she prefers hand-picked wildflowers. Instead of expensive restaurants, she’s more into a healthy dinner made at home with love.

When it comes to Christmas, anything handmade is preferable to something ordered online.

I think she’s a keeper.

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, it’s always a good thing to purchase your gifts at local businesses instead of box stores or online. The same goes for creating your own gifts for the loved ones in your life — our local retailers have all the supplies you need to make any of the following suggestions.

Art Everyone loves art. If you don’t, you’re a Philistine and a lump of coal would probably be a good gift for your stocking this year.

This year, consider drawing or painting an original piece of art for your special someone. Last year, I wrote out all the places I’ve traveled with Cadie, including some of our special inside jokes.

I then drew a collage of scenes incorporating these place names together, added some vivid colors and gave it to her with a gift certificate to Wildflower Spa at Seasons for a facial (note to all men: women always enjoy a facial, pedicure or manicure).

Another year, I found a photograph of the two of us I have always loved and traced the outlines of the photo onto a separate piece of paper. The photo was of our pairs of feet in the back of a pickup truck as we hitchhiked out to Hope for an adventure one day early in our relationship. With the tracing complete, I then shaded and contoured the drawing, giving the photograph a new breath of creativity.

You can use art supplies you have around the house or, if you need to stock up, Sandpoint Super Drug and Vanderford’s have a great selection of art supplies on hand year round.

Personalized crossword puzzles This one is a bit more of an intermediate gift, as it takes some time and effort to complete. For the past few years, Cadie and I have given each other personalized crossword puzzles around Christmastime. If you’ve never made a crossword puzzle from scratch, there are a few simple instructions to follow to make it happen.

First, get some grid-lined paper, preferably card stock or something thicker than copy paper. It’s best to use graphing paper with larger grids so the recipient has more room to write their letters inside the boxes — remember, you need to write numbers in the top left of some boxes to denote the answers on your clue guide.

Second, write down a list of words that your significant other could guess based on contextual clues. This is what makes your personalized crossword puzzle truly unique — only the person doing the puzzle will be able to make sense of the clues if you include enough inside jokes.

Third, pencil these words into the grid, starting with the longest words first and working back from there. When you begin, you should have about half the puzzle filled out with inside jokes and longer terms. Mash the words together as close as you can.

Fourth, fill in the rest of the puzzle.

This is the difficult part. Crossword puzzle makers — or cruciverbalists, which should be a crossword puzzle answer — are skilled at using particular words with vowels in the right places to make words fit easily together in a grid. It’s never easy, but with enough time and patience, you’ll get through it. Just remember how much you love your significant other when you’re stuck. It’s all worth it.

Whenever you have a blocked section, simply color in the grid around the words and keep going. It doesn’t have to be a symmetrical puzzle grid like the professionals make, just do your best.

Finally, number each grid box where a word starts across or down, then write the answers on a separate piece of paper with the corresponding numbers. After the puzzle is complete, write clues for each answer and present those clues with the finished puzzle and watch as your crossword-loving lover swoons with desire at your creativity.

Make your own Christmas gifts this year

Woodworking One of my dear friends and former Sandpoint Reader columnist Ted Bowers used his woodworking skills to produce beautiful hand-carved wooden spoons and stirring sticks. I doubt many of us can achieve the craftsmanship that Ted produced with his spoons, but even an ugly spoon is beautiful if made with love.

Every time I use one of Ted’s spoons in the kitchen I’m reminded of how wonderful of a person he was and how much I miss him.

To carve a wooden spoon, start with a rectangle of hardwood (Ted always liked cherry) that is cut to the size of the spoon you’d like to make. Draw an outline of the spoon on top and don’t worry about adding too much detail — the outline will only be used to create a blank. You can also draw a profile of the spoon on the side of the block, but it’s not necessary.

If you have a table saw, use it to trim down the block of wood roughly along the outline of your spoon blank. Save time by creating a few spoon blanks at once and you’ll have some in reserve if you screw up or want to create more gifts in the future.

If you have a scroll saw, use it to cut along the outline in detail. Try to cut as close to the outline as possible, since that’s less material to remove by hand later.

If you have a power sander, you can smooth out the blank’s edges this way to help save some hand sanding, but it’s not necessary if you don’t.

Get a good carving knife (a utility knife will work, but the blades are thin and often break, so don’t be afraid to shell out some bucks for a decent wood-carving knife if you plan to make more spoons in the future) and carve along the spoon handle. Take small strokes and remove small amounts of material, always making sure to carve away from yourself.

It will take several hours to get the blank detailed enough, so make sure you have a good podcast queued up on the computer.

With the spoon head, the convex back side is easier to start with than the concave front part, so remove materials along the backside to round it out, making a smooth transition from the back of the spoon to the handle.

For the concave front side, use a rounded sweep gouge or hook knife to remove material from the face. When you have removed enough material to form a small divot, make finer cuts and adjustments.

When your face has enough of a concave to suit your taste, sand away all the carving marks by hand, or with a small rotary tool. Finish with hand sanding, starting with 120 grit and working up to 220 until every nook and cranny of the spoon is smooth. You don’t want splinters in someone’s mouth, after all.

Finally, finish the spoon by applying a food-safe finish onto the sanded surface.

Mineral oil or beeswax is popular, but do your own research for the best fit. Tie a bow around it and prepare for smooches on Christmas morning.

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COMMUNITY

Why shop at small businesses this holiday season?

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The shopping season is in full swing, with downtown streets aglow with Christmas lights and shoppers swaddled in parkas and ear muffs.

The Sandpoint Shopping District will host its final special shopping night of the year Thursday, Dec. 23 with the “Are you Yeti for Christmas?” event.

“All the shops will be open until 7 p.m. for late-night shopping and we’re going to have a yeti wandering the streets this year,” said Sandpoint Shopping District spokesperson Deanna Harris.

Harris also said shopping in the downtown corridor this year has begun earlier than in the past — most likely because shoppers have expressed concern about inventory being limited due to pandemic supply chain issues.

“Everybody is in the shopping mode,” she said.

When it comes to holiday shopping, it’s important to support small businesses as much as possible instead of relying on box stores or online ordering. Here are several reasons why shopping small is a good thing:

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• Small businesses give back to the community. Businesses pay sales taxes to the city and county in which they are located, meaning that by supporting your local small businesses, you are also supporting public schools, parks, roads and sidewalks. A study by Civic Economics found that “on average, 48% of each purchase at local independent businesses is recirculated locally, compared to less than 14% of purchases at chain stores.”

• Small businesses employ the community. More than half of the jobs created in the United States since 1995 were created by small businesses. According to the Small Business Administration, since 1990, big businesses have eliminated 4 million jobs, while small businesses added 8 million jobs.

• Small businesses provide greater access to diverse products. While chain stores often carry the same product lines, small businesses offer unique products that are made on smaller scales, creating the potential for a truly unique gift this holiday season.

• It feels good to support your community. Let’s face it, buying a cup of coffee from Evans Brothers feels better than one from Starbucks. Buying from a small business feels like you’re supporting your

community, while shopping at a big box store feels like you’re lining the pockets of another multinational corporation.

• Online shopping might be convenient, but it’s not supporting your community. Sure, it’s easy to click and shop, but have you considered how much it impacts the environment considering all the packaging and transportation it takes to send you an item?

Also, a 2014 study found that 77% of online consumers made a return at least once and 20% return items regularly, compounding the impacts.

Support a healthy community by shopping small this holiday season, even if it’s just for one person on your list. Every little bit helps keep our community strong and healthy.

The yeti has been spotted all over downtown for the Sandpoint Shopping District’s “Are You Yeti for Christmas?” event. He appears here pilfering a pizza from Pend d’Oreille Winery. Courtesy photo.

HOLIDAY Kinderhaven Tour of Trees has ample opportunities to give back for the holidays

By Reader Staff For the second year in a row, the Tour at Trees benefiting Kinderhaven will not take place at the Bonner County Fairgrounds; rather, the holiday tradition will be headquartered in downtown Sandpoint.

The organization is dedicated to supporting children in crisis by providing them with a safe, secure home, and offers a number of ways for community members to contribute to its mission. First is the Tour of Trees, presented by Litehouse and Lewis and Hawn Excellence in Dentistry, which runs through Saturday, Dec. 11.

Kicked off Dec. 8, 20 local businesses are hosting fully decorated Christmas trees, many of them featuring gifts. To participate in the Tour of Trees, pick up a map (sponsored by High Mark Heating and Cooling) at any of the 20 participating locations, register at kinderhavensandpoint.com and you’ll be eligible to bid in the Tour of Trees auction.

Meanwhile, the Kinderhaven Giving Tree is located at the Tour of Trees headquarters (113 Main St.), where participants

can stop by, take a tag or two from the tree, purchase the item(s) and deliver to Kinderhaven.

In addition, there is an online silent auction, sponsored by Finan McDonald, which has been active since Dec. 5 and will continue until Dec. 11, featuring baskets, wreaths and tabletop trees available for bid on the Kinderhaven website.

“This is your opportunity to do your Christmas shopping while supporting the kids at Kinderhaven,” the organization stated..

Register on the website and be sure to enter your mobile number to receive updates on bidding status.

For another chance to score some holiday gifts while contributing to the Kinderhaven cause, the Sip and Sleigh Raffle is active through Dec. 11, during which tickets may be purchased online or in person at 113 Main St. Tickets cost $25 each or five for $100. View the sleigh full of holiday cheer online or at the downtown headquarters.

Finally, Ting is sponsoring the Virtual Paddle Raise, which runs through Tuesday,

Dec. 14, giving community members the opportunity to make a financial donation of their choice to Kinderhaven. Find the link on the organization’s website.

New this year is the “Gnome Hunt” — a scavenger hunt open to both kids and kids-at-heart. To participate, either print out the worksheet at kinderhavensandpoint. ejoinme.org/gnomehunt or pick one up at

Courtesy photo.

113 Main St. Follow the instructions and bring your completed worksheet back to the Tour of Trees downtown location by Dec. 11 at 6 p.m. to be entered into a drawing for $50 to Creations. It’s easy to do: Simply write the tree number by the correct gnome.

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COMMUNITY

Thru-hike slideshow and silent auction Dec. 10

Event to benefit the Ethan Murray Fund

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

Justine Murray and Matt Connery will be sharing a recap of their 850-mile thru-hike of the Idaho Centennial Trail on Friday, Dec. 10 at a slideshow and silent auction event to benefit the Ethan Murray Fund, a Sandpoint nonprofit dedicated to raising funds for local mental health resources.

The event will take place at 5 p.m. at Tango Cafe (414 Church St. inside the Sandpoint Center). Murray and Connery will share a presentation about their hike of the ICT over the past summer and fall, which brought them the length of Idaho from the Nevada border to Priest Falls and encompassed about 775 miles of walking and 75 miles of rafting on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River.

Along with the presentation, the Dec. 10 event will also feature a silent auction, a Beet and Basil ramen bar, dessert and Evans Brothers coffee served by Tango Cafe.

The couple embarked on their ICT

journey in June in memory of Murray’s son, Ethan, who struggled with schizophrenia, addiction and homelessness, and was killed by a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy in May 2019. Pledges made toward the hike, as well as proceeds from the upcoming slideshow event, will further Murray’s vision of providing support in North Idaho for those struggling as Ethan did. Funds raised will benefit groups such as the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Far North) and Bonner Homeless Transitions.

Tickets are not required to attend the Ethan Murray Fund slideshow and silent auction event. Those wishing to watch the presentation via Zoom can contact Murray at ethanmurrayfund@gmail.com to request a viewing link.

Learn more about the Ethan Murray Fund and how to support the nonprofit’s mission to spread mental health awareness at ethanmurrayfund.org. Also find and follow Ethan Murray Fund on Facebook and Instagram.

Ting Internet kicks off annual giveback campaign ahead of the holidays

By Reader Staff Fiber internet provider Ting launched its annual “Ting Gives Back” holiday campaign Dec. 1 in all nine of its developed markets nationwide.

As part of the program, Ting teams have chosen seven food banks across the country — including the Bonner Community Food Bank in Sandpoint — and will donate $25 to local organizations for every new participating customer who signs up for Ting Internet before Jan. 15, 2022.

This marks the second year that Ting has run its “Ting Gives Back” holiday program, raising thousands of dollars worth of donations to date.

“Our team fundamentally believes in supporting our communities, combating digital divide and lowering barriers to vital resources,” stated Ting Head of Marketing Zuri Stanback in a media release. “Each of the organizations we’ve partnered with are 16 /

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improving the day-to-day life of residents across our country and we’re proud to support each and every one of them.”

In each participating market, Ting’s local marketing managers have selected food banks that offer vital support to residents within their community. In addition to the Bonner Community Food Bank, other recipients include food banks in California, Colorado, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.

“As we continue to grow our national footprint, we are committed to bringing programs like this to every area we operate within,” Stanback added.

To participate in the “Ting Gives Back” program, new customers in communities with Ting Internet can visit tinginternet.com/giving to sign up.

To learn more about the company, its community involvement or to sign-up for Ting’s fiber internet, go to tinginternet.com.

Justine Murray and Matt Connery hit the trail.

Courtesy photo.

COMMUNITY

A MOBILE MAKERSPACE

About 35 people showed up Dec. 6 to the Sandpoint library to check out the new “Think, Make, Create” mobile makerspace — one of 16 such “learning labs on wheels” that serve communities around the state with science, technology, engineering, art and math education.

“The TMC mobile lab allows us to take that mission to the remote corners of Bonner County … while also adding a new tool for students in the Sandpoint area,” stated Library STEM Coordinator Brenden Bobby, who also writes the “Mad About Science” column for the Reader.

Sandpoint’s mobile lab is owned by the Idaho Out-of-School Network and hosted by the library.

Courtesy photos. — Zach Hagadone

Idaho Parks and Rec. makes changes to snowmobile and off-highway vehicle sticker programs

By Reader Staff The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation has recently made adjustments to the way it sells snowmobile and off-highway vehicle stickers. The changes came as a result of House Bill 86, which was passed in the previous legislative session.

Changes include: • Two-year sticker options are now available; • Vehicle-specific information is no longer required. Minor statistical information is still collected in order to properly manage use;

• New fees have been implemented for snowmobile stickers: - Resident stickers are now $45.50 per year, - Non-resident stickers are now $59.50 per year, - Rental stickers are now $75.50.

Fee increases for snowmobile stickers include additional funds to support county grooming program operations, snowmobile use on Idaho Department of Lands property and avalanche safety efforts. Some of these funding uses are identified as surcharges on customer receipts — they are not additional

processing fees.

OHV and snowmobile permits may be purchased online at idahostateparks. reserveamerica.com, by phone at 1-888922-6743 or in person at any of the vendors found on the “Registration & Permits’’ page of the Idaho Parks and Rec. website: parksandrecreation.idaho.gov.

Courtesy photo.

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events December 9-16, 2021

THURSDAY, december 9

FriDAY, december 10 Live Music w/ Mike Wagoner Duo 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Classic rock tunes and familiar folk songs Annual Toy Drive at A&P’s 6:30-9:30pm @ A&P’s Bar and Grill Bring a new toy to donate. Live music w/ Miah Kohal Band, live and silent auction, prizes, raffles, drinks and fod specials, 21+

Pend Oreille Chorale and Community Orchestra free concert 7pm @ St. Joseph Catholic Church Everyone is invited to this free concert The Antidote — free movie 7pm @ Panida Theater Presented by 88.5 KRFY and Bonner Co. Human Rights Task Force, this free film is open for everyone

SATURDAY, december 11 Live Music w/ Jason Evans 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Passionate, complex soul-hop blend Hope Marketplace Co-Op 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Passionate, complex soul-hop blend

The Father — Global Cinema Cafe 7:30pm @ Panida Theater

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Book signing with local writers Dick Cvitanich and Mindy Cameron 11am-1pm @ Vanderford’s Books Two books, two local authors! Come by and meet Cvitanich and Cameron

SunDAY, december 12

Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Ponderay Outdoor Market 10am-3pm @ Evans Brothers Coffee Live m usic, food vendors and more!

Pend Oreille Chorale and Community Orchestra free concert 7pm @ St. Joseph Catholic Church Everyone is invited to this free concert The Father — Global Cinema Cafe 7:30pm @ Panida Theater

monDAY, december 13

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Music w/ Blind Beer Tasting 6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority This is a fun event to try new beers (this week, taste different stouts). Learn about beer and win prizes

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s “Wrongly Accused: A Rush to Judgment Destroys a Life,”

Altra Running Shoe Demo + Group Run at Outdoor Experience 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-ish miles, giveaways, and more!

tuesDAY, december 14 wednesDAY, december 15 Live Music w/ Mobius Riff 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Live Piano Music w/ Dwayne Parsons 3-5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Original songs on the keys

ThursDAY, december 16

LHG Herb Night 6:30pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center Join the Ladies Homestead Gathering to learn about bay leaf. Free for 16+ 18 /

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BCHS Holiday Open House 3:30-5pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum Enjoy wine and cider and browse children’s books by local authors and more

STAGE & SCREEN

Father act

Anthony Hopkins stars in Oscar-winning film, The Father, playing Dec. 11-12

ous father. Time is of the essence, too, as Anne is moving abroad and will no longer be able to make daily visits.

Those familiar with the ins and outs Based on his play by the same name, of literature might be familiar with the director Florian Zeller uses purposeconcept of the unreliable narrator — the fully disorienting storytelling and film character who tells the techniques to reflect story, but one that may world as Anthony is The Father (PG-13) the be swayed by personexperiencing it — without al interest or factors linear time, and full of Saturday, Dec. 11, outside of their control, confusion and fear. The 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. result is an “unbearably leaving the reader won12, 2:30 p.m; Sunday dering whether they’ve heartbreaking film,” acscreening features experienced the story in cording to The Guardian; its truest form. but, nonetheless, a film closed captioning.

In the case of AnthoAdults $8, youth and se- worthy of a 98% approval ny, the main character in niors $7. Panida Theater, rating on Rotten Tomatoes the 2020 film The Father, and countless rave reviews 300 N. First Ave., 208the lack of reliability can from top critics — includ263-9191, panida.org. ing an Oscar nomination be blamed on dementia.

The Father — set to for Best Picture. screen at the Panida Theater on Saturday The Father’s success comes partialDec. 11 and Sunday, Dec. 12 — tells the ly from stellar acting, particularly from story of a father and daughter as they deal Anthony Hopkins as, appropriately with the former’s loosening grip on reality. enough, Anthony — a role for which he As Anthony’s mind fades, his daughter, won a Best Actor Oscar, making him Anne, attempts to find yet another in-home the oldest-ever Academy Award winner caregiver for her increasingly cantankerin a competitive category. Reviews also

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

laud the emotional performance by Olivia Colman as Anne, who earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.

Despite a small cast and setting limited largely to Anthony’s London flat, The Father makes up for its lack of physical breadth with overwhelming depth.

Familial relationships, fear and grief are all prevalent in this film — in particular, the grief one must face while the person they love is still alive, though quickly

Let’s go to the movies

Anthony Hopkins in The Father. Courtesy photo. slipping beyond reach.

Tickets to see The Father at the Panida Theater can be purchased online at panida.org, or at the theater before the screening. The Panida Theater “strongly encourages all guests to wear a mask, regardless of vaccine status, while enjoying performances.” Doors open half an hour before each viewing.

Sandpoint Cinemas offering Christmas movies, private screenings in December

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff It’s been about a year since the Bonner Mall Cinemas entered a new chapter as Sandpoint Cinemas. All factors considered, things seem to be going well.

“We’ve pretty much gotten busier and busier since we took it over,” said owner and operator Eric Plummer. “At first it was right in the heart of the pandemic. There were some slow nights, for sure, but it’s picked up and it’s going now.

“People are coming to the movies and it’s been quite the ride,” he added.

Sandpoint Cinemas is currently showing six new releases, and gearing up to offer several Christmas movies: Elf, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Polar Express, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers and A Match Made at Christmas, which was filmed in Coeur d’Alene.

There are also private screenings available, where patrons can rent an entire theater for a private event.

“Those private screenings are great,

whether it’s for birthdays or just people who want the theater to themselves,” Plummer said, “or so they can control who is in [the theater] with them. It’s a cool option.”

Also happening throughout the holiday season is Sandpoint Cinemas’ collaboration with Fostering Idaho, a program dedicated to recruiting, training and supporting foster families in the region. Fostering Idaho currently has a Christmas tree set up at Sandpoint Cinemas, where people can remove a tag from the tree and return to the theater with the gift requested on that tag. Those requests come from local foster families, and Sandpoint Cinemas works with Fostering Idaho to fulfill those needs.

“We’re happy to partner with them,” Plummer said. “The need for foster homes is really prevalent in this area, and anything we can do to promote [Fostering Idaho] and help is easy, and it’s fun. It’s fun seeing people come in and grab the [tags] and bring the gifts in — stepping up and helping out their community.”

As for staying up-to-date on all other happenings at Sandpoint Cinemas, the

website — sandpointcinemas.com — is the best place to go.

“We keep it up to date. All the options are available on there,” Plummer said. “We also have what’s coming up in the weeks ahead, you can see trailers for everything we’re showing and, of course, the times and dates and specials that we do.”

One such special is happening now, as Sandpoint Cinemas offers free screenings of Elf in exchange for food bank donations.

Rather than buying a ticket to see the movie, patrons are asked to bring a canned food item.

“It’s a way to get families into the movies in the holiday season,” Plummer said.

Among the joys of running the theater is the opportunity to meet new people, he added, noting that, just like any other business, Sandpoint Cinemas has some dedicated regulars.

“You get to know people like that, and that’s one of the fun parts of doing this,” he said.

The theater’s first birthday since being christened Sandpoint Cinemas is a testament to the community, and a celebration of simply getting to go to the movies.

Sandpoint Cinemas will be hosting private screenings of Elf, as well as other Christmas movies, throughout the holiday season. Courtesy photo.

“That was the goal all along,” Plummer said.

Go to sandpointcinemas.com or find Sandpoint Cinemas on Facebook to learn more.

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MUSIC

The sounds of the season MCS introduces the North Idaho Philharmonia

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Conductor Jan Pellant has traveled a long way in his musical career to arrive in Sandpoint. Born in Prague, Czech Republic, and the son of professional musicians, Pellant has put together a new orchestra called the North Idaho Philharmonia, which will hold its inaugural concert Friday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater.

Pellant’s vision of the Philharmonia is to create a unique sound and showcase the cultural talents he’s seen come out of the community. Working in collaboration with both the Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene Music Conservatories, Pellant will also draw on other high-level performing arts institutions to invite local and international professionals, as well as young musicians, to participate. The Aside from regular concerts at the Philharmonia will aim for four to six per- Panida Theater, Pellant plans to take formances a season, including a chamber the North Idaho Philharmonia to other music festival in April and one opera in venues, including local churches and the the summer.

Little Carnegie Hall at the Music Conser“I can see there is a really great arts vatory of Sandpoint. community here,” Pellant told the Reader.

Pellant first envisioned the philharmo“There is great music, great interest. I think nia after meeting with MCS Executive having a professional orchestra performing Director Karin Wedemeyer and MCS’ head regularly here and elsewhere around the of the strings department, Marcy Hogan. region would contribute to promoting the “This idea of creating this orchestra performing arts of this sounded like it would be beautiful city.” something that could be imWhile a symphony portant to this community,” orchestra is usually charPellant said. acteristic of a larger size Each performance will and a chamber orchestra see the orchestral members smaller, philharmonias meeting for just a week don’t specify a particular before the show, rehearsing size, which gives the four times in a row before conductor the opportuni- Friday, Dec. 17; 7:30 showtime, then disbandty to make each perforp.m.; $25/adults, $15/ ing for a couple of months mance unique. students. Panida The- until the next performance.

Pellant said the Each show will be unique, ater, 300 N. First Ave., program for upcoming panida.org, sandpoint- with different members and shows will include all instruments. types of music, with clas- conservatory.org.

Pellant first received sical taking up 70-80% classical music training at of the program, while the Prague Music Conserjazz, folk, pop and other genres will fill vatory, where he learned that he wanted out the rest. to become a conductor — which he “We are open to any type of music achieved at the age of 16. He then studied that has good compositional technique,” in Brussels before moving to the U.S. to Pellant said. “That’s how the orchestra earn his masters at the Carnegie Mellon creates such a unique sound. The compos- University in Pittsburgh, followed by his ers are having to pay attention to all the doctorate in Lexington, Ken. ranges of the instruments.”

At just 37 years old, Pellant has al-

North Idaho Philharmonia inaugural concert

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North Idaho Philharmonia Conductor Jan Pellant.

Courtesy photo. ready conducted 37 professional orchestras in many countries around the world, notably the Czech National Symphony, the Prague Symphony Orchestra and the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.

He later served as music director of the Lexington Chamber Orchestra and the artistic director/conductor of the Coeur d’Alene Symphony before taking the role as music director/conductor of the North Idaho Philharmonia.

“I think music is, in my opinion, international speech,” Pellant said. “You don’t have to speak too much of a language because the music making is its own language.”

Pellant said he’s very excited to introduce the North Idaho Philharmonia at the Dec. 17 concert so he can highlight the magic that takes place when talented musicians work in sync with one another.

“Why should people come to a concert when they can listen to recordings at home?” Pellant asked. “Because they come to see the energy. The magic. To see musicians really play and feel moved by the music is wonderful. You are experiencing something that is unique.”

For any professional musicians interested in auditioning for the North Idaho Philharmonia, contact Marcy Hogan at 714-7971213 or Jan Pellant at 859-866-8472.

MUSIC

Sandpoint Songwriting Competition announces winners

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Judges announced the winners Dec. 6 in the annual Sandpoint Songwriting Competition, hosted by local musician Kevin Dorin. The competition drew dozens of submissions from local songwriters, with judges giving five song votes each and six points to give — their top choice received two points and the other four choices received one point each.

Steven Wayne won first place with his song “Mercurial Girl,” which earned six votes.

Wayne won a handmade JKS acoustic guitar by local luthier Joel Shoemaker, as well as a recording package by Dorin.

Second place went to Justin Lantrip for his song “The Only Enemy,” winning him a $100 gift certificate to Baxter’s and a recording package. Jeremy Espino won third place with his song “Carolina,” earning him a $50 gift certificate to MickDuff’s and a recording package.

Listen to all submitted songs, including the winners, at sandpointsongwritingcompetition.com.

“Thank you all for submitting your songs!” Dorin wrote after announcing the winners.

“If you made a new fan during this process or wrote a new song, you are all winning.”

The competition was

spearheaded by Dorin, with the intent to showcase local songwriting talent. It is sponsored by MickDuff’s Brewing Co., Baxters on Cedar, Mattox Farm Productions, Wilburn Custom Shop, the

Sandpoint Reader and Joel Shoemaker Guitars.

Stay tuned in 2022 for the announcement of the next Sandpoint Songwriting Competition.

This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone

READ

While it’s advisable in general to read High Country News, the magazine has done us all a special favor by compiling a list of “Books on the West we think you might like.” Just in time for holiday gift-giving, the listicle contains a few titles from our little corner of the region, including Idaho, by novelist Emily Ruskovich, who grew up in the Hoodoo Valley area, and The Cold Millions, by acclaimed Spokane author Jess Walter. Meanwhile, I’m putting Billionaire Wilderness on my wishlist. See the full list at hcrn.org.

LISTEN

As we progress ever closer to the close of 2021, the “best of” lists are already popping up. Among them, The New Times and Time magazine have compiled their top-10 podcasts of the year, and if you’re looking for something to listen to while you clean house or work out (both in service of putting things to rights during the holiday season), there’s something for everyone — from the rise and fall of the Chippendales (Welcome to your Fantasy) to an exploration of the history, politics and culture of Puerto Rico (La Brega). Find them all at nytimes.com and time.com.

WATCH

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint Jason Evans, Pend d’Oreille Winery, Dec. 11

Devon Wade, MickDuff’s Beer Hall, Dec. 10

The winery will welcome Spokane soul artist Jason Evans on Saturday, Dec. 11 for what is sure to be a laid-back night of polished, passionate music.

Evans specializes in a soulhop blend of styles, though he promises a “heavier bodied and more complex” sound than the average, everyday soul-hop artist.

Evans’ sets are “harmonious, with a rich taste,” according to the artist. Upon first listen, it becomes obvious that much of this richness comes from Evans’ voice,

There are a lot of shades to local independent country artist Devon Wade’s style — he can wax nostalgic about learning how to drive behind the wheel of a John Deere tractor back in those “simpler times” of working hard in the fields and playing hard at the Friday night bonfires of old. He can also croon balladic tunes about the love of a steadfast partner, then rock out to electrified anthems like “Carhartt Cowboy” and “Quicksand” — among his catchiest originals.

As Wade’s biography puts it, he has “a strong love for what country

which emanates a passion for the song that goes beyond the moment.

This soul artist isn’t just performing for the audience, but aiming for a more human-to-human connection.

Lucky for his listeners, Evans is good at what he does.

Sample his music at facebook.com/jasonevans.theartist.

— Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey 5-8 p.m.; FREE. 301 Cedar St.; 208-265-8545; powine. com.

music has always been, songs about real life and things that matter most in life.”

True that. Wade is the real deal, so pull on your boots and head to MickDuff’s Beer Hall for brews and bona fide country sounds.

— Zach Hagadone 6:30-9:30 p.m., 21+, FREE. MickDuff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., 208-209-6700, mickduffs.com. Listen at reverbnation.com/devonwade.

The new Korean-language Netflix horror-drama series Hellbound has been billed as making Squid Game look like Romper Room; and, while that may not be entirely accurate, the show is indeed as gory as it is provocative.

Melding ideas of religion, technology and post-post-modern life in South Korea, it’s in part a rumination on faith and (from its first few episodes, anyway) a literal, as well as figurative, detective story.

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BACK OF THE BOOK

My first gig From Northern Idaho News, Dec. 11, 1928

BROADCASTING FROM SANDPOINT Sandpoint is to have a broadcasting station in the near future, the second one in northern Idaho. Thursday C.E. Twiss and F.H. McCann received from the federal radio commission a permit for the construction of a 15-watt radio broadcasting station. The station will have the call letters KGKX and will be the largest station in northern Idaho, the only other one being at Kellogg and that being a 10-watt station, while Sandpoint station will be 15 watts.

Both the transmitting apparatus and the studios are to be located in Gardner’s Home Furnishings store, the studios on the ground floor and the transmitting apparatus on teh second floor. A majority of the equipment for the new station has already been received and the remainder is in transit.

The permit granted by the commission provides for the construction of a transmitter to broadcast on a frequency of 1420 kilocycles or a wavelength of 211.1 meters. Authorization of full daytime operation and also after sunset was given.

It is the plan of the promoters to have a formal opening of the new station about the first of the year and the present plans are to broadcast local news events, local market reports, local musical talent, phonograph records, local speakers and athletic contests.

Special events wil also be broadcast and the station will cooperate with the county agent’s office and the Sandpoint substation of the University of Idaho.

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By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

When I consider how far I’ve seen personal technology come in my short life, I am taken back to Easter 2007.

I’d just turned 11, and either for my birthday or Christmas — I can’t remember which — I’d received an iPod Shuffle as a gift. I recall the distinct feeling of my life having changed in the best way I could imagine, being a fifth-grader and all. I ditched my portable CD player and began taking my Shuffle everywhere.

The design was half of the appeal: a small 1.5x1-inch rectangle, not half an inch thick and just over half an ounce in weight.

It was shiny, chrome colored and adorned with what would become the classic, white, circular iPod button layout taking up its entire face. I wore it on my jacket pocket, thanks to the hinged clip feature on the back, and regularly hung my prized Apple headphones around my neck, ready for the moment to strike when a Snow Patrol song was absolutely necessary.

It was in this state I found myself on Easter 2007, milling around my grandparents’ kitchen while my younger cousins sifted through their egg hunt spoils. My dad called me over to where he was leaning on the counter, talking to a family friend, and asked me to show off my new gadget.

“That thing plays music?”

“Yeah,” I replied proudly, flipping the small, cold Shuffle around in my hand.

“Tell him how many songs it holds,” my dad prompted, beaming with the same disbelief he exhibited when I first opened the pristine plastic case.

“It holds 200 songs,” I said, prepared

STR8TS Solution

A life on the cusp of the data storage revolution

for the “no-way’s” and “you-gotta-beshittin’-me’s.”

I was sure, that day, that I found myself on the very precipice of technology.

In my hand, I held my first gigabyte: an $80 piece of magic, chock full of Avril Lavigne and Nickelback and Shakira.

In the nearly 15 years since, it is overwhelming to think about how far we’ve come. I went from a second generation iPod Shuffle to an 8GB iPod Nano and, by high school, to a 16GB iPod Touch — as close to a smartphone as I could get at the time.

With adulthood came my first iPhone: a basic iPhone 5, which served me well through college until, in my final semester, I dropped it — along with two hours of interview recordings for the university newspaper — in the toilet. This led to a panicked Verizon store visit, where I traded in for an iPhone 7. She stayed by my side until last month, when Black Friday prompted a change.

“Let’s just go see if there’s any good deals,” my husband said from the driver’s seat as I begrudgingly clutched my cracked, 5-year-old phone and tried to get my voicemails to load.

The phone consultant did not hide his surprise that my phone model — apparently notorious for antenna problems — was still kicking. Despite its age, I qualified for a hefty rebate and ultimately conceded. I left the store with an iPhone 13, feeling a little too big for my britches and still shocked by my new data storage capabilities.

“This thing has 256 gigs?” I nearly shouted when the phone store employee mentioned it in passing.

“Yeah,” he replied, as if that weren’t

worth celebrating.

I have big plans to download entire audiobooks and take hours-long videos of my dog. I also plan to hold my phone to my ear during calls for the first time in years, instead of being that person with her phone on speaker in the grocery store — “Hey honey, I’m at the store, need anything? By the way, you’re on speaker” — as if he didn’t already know, and as if he were planning to say something egregious in front of my grocery-shopping peers.

Point being, I often find myself wishing I could, in my 25-year-old form, visit a younger version of myself, and afflict shock and amazement in the form of gigabytes.

“This here, it’s my phone,” I would say. “It has 5,000 photos and 10,000 songs on it — and there’s still more room.”

“You gotta be shittin’ me,” I would surely reply.

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solution

I think one way police departments could make some money would be to hold a yard sale of murder weapons. Many people, for example, could probably use a cheap ice pick.

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22

epilogue

Woorf tdhe Week

By Bill Borders

/EP-uh-lawg/ [noun] 1. a concluding part added to a literary work, as a novel.

“The author finally revealed the punchline to the joke in her epilogue.”

Corrections: A reader informed us that Chad Catron, who posted a video to YouTube in November claiming Idaho is “grab[bing] your water rights” through the Clark Fork-Pend Oreille River Adjudication process, is not a Bonner County resident, as we described him [News, “ID Dept. of Water Resources: Water rights are not in danger in Clark Fork-Pend Oreille River Basin,” Dec. 1, 2021]. Rather, he has relocated to Boundary County.

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

Laughing Matter

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Solution on page 22 60. Monster 61. Lacquer ingredient 62. To be, in old Rome 63. A musical pause 64. Well-known

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