Reader december1 2016

Solar Roadways demo to be replaced

RESIDENTS ORGANIZING TO STOP TIMBER SALE

delays twoÂ·way traffic switch

Locally-handmade Lake Pend Oreille Christmas tree ornaments

$12

Shop • E

(208) 584-1685 322 N. First Ave All is bright, all is new and aﬀordable too! Only at Santosha!

One FREE order of Queso Dip! with any appetizer or entree purchase

Gifts and fashion off the beaten track!

r u o t u o k Chec NEW

! U N E M

Must present coupon • Expires 12/15/16

314 N. Second Ave.

317 N. First Ave.

Come see Eve’s Leaves’ wonderful scarves, hats and gloves, like these soft, warm texting gloves...

Casual Women’s Clothing and Accessories for the Sandpoint, Idaho lifestyle

Just $15

326 N. First Ave. • (208) 263-0712

300 N. First Ave. (208) 602-0722

Holiday Reception Open House... come meet the artists! World renowned sculptor Steve Gevurtz will be here. An evening of good food, wine, great art and lively conversation!

10% off member art during reception Saturday, Dec. 3rd, 5 - 8 p.m.

Give the gift that keeps on giving! Monthly floral subscriptions start as low as $25/month. Order by December 20th and receive a free bonus bouquet! 211 CEDAR STREET • SANDPOINT

208.263.3024

The perfect gift idea for the bearded man (or lady) on your shopping list!

Youʼll find a fashion and gift extravaganza at Carousel Emporium 334 N. First Ave. Find us upstairs in the Cedar St. Bridge! 2 /

/ December 1, 2016

306 N. First Ave. (208) 263-2811

geh o g: d a e H e h T ctio n a 7+ f u n b t h at m u ti l i t y c ou r w a l let! o f i ts i n y

Give your friends or loved ones something truly special this Holiday Season

p • Eat • Play • Stay the day!

A Cedar St. Bistro & Coffee Shop

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Tasty Food and Great Coffee

Keep it local is season

Shop Smart! Shop Local!

Classic games for all ages. Distinctive gifts. Unique home and yard décor. 313 N. First Ave. • (208) 265-5060

Warm & Cozy

Modarri Car Building Set is the perfect gift for your little motor enthusiast or future engineer!

Filled to the brim with evergreens, pine cones, berries and blooms. Fresh Flowers are a wonderful holiday gift. See our selection in store or online.

$24.99

500+ new toys and tons of stocking stu ers just for you! 120 West Cedar St. • Sandpoint, ID www.PetalTalk.com 208.265.7900

334 North First Ave. in the Cedar Street Bridge

ille earrings

e Lake Pend Or

Only $230

324 N. First Ave. (208) 263-1116

Stay warm in Bella Terra fashions! Clothing, boots and accessories all at affordable prices!

•Intelligent insulation adapts to any activity for non-stop comfort and total versatility. •Packable - jacket stows neatly in its own chest pocket •UA MagZip

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*Through Jan. 5, 2017

201 A N. First Ave. 597-3868 December 1, 2016 /

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com

(wo)MAN compiled by

Susan Drinkard

on the street

What’s the strangest gift you’ve ever received?

“A facial reconstruction kit. It had a skull for practicing facial reconstruction.” Steve Hammond Retail Sandpoint

Contributing Artists: Terry Owens (cover), Ben Olson, Susan Drinkard, Austin Wellner, Jodi Rawson, John “Oly” Olson. Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Nick Gier, Jodi Rawson, Brenden Bobby, Jim Mitsui, Karen Seashore, Beth Weber, Amy Craven, Maureen Cooper, Jim Ramsey, Kevin Davis, Drake, Tim Henney. Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash. Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.

Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover This week’s cover was chosen as the winner from the submissions of ski pictures we received. Terry Owens took the photo and won a $25 gift certificate to Eichardt’s Pub. Thanks Terry! I hope the powder is as thick this year as it was when the photo was taken.

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/ December 1, 2016

“I got an ‘old package’ from my son—Miss Clairol, Preparation H, Ben Gay, and Oil of Olay. I said, ‘Seriously, dude?’” Corrie Hansen Oldtown “In the 1990s Coca Cola announced it was changing its recipe; someone gave me a carton of six-ounce Coca Cola because they thought it would be worth something someday. Then after an outcry from the public, Coca Cola brought its old recipe back, so the gift was worthless. Once I gave my mother a puffin. She didn’t actually get the puffin, but she received updates about where they tracked the bird and how many other puffins he had visited and how the puffin children were doing. My mom loved it!” Nancy Gerth 350.org organizer Sagle

“In 1950 when I was 16, I received a football from my mom. I thought she had made a mistake and that it was supposed to have been for my for one of my brothers. But she said, ‘No, I got it for you because you’re so interested in football. But I wasn’t interested in playing football; I was interested in watching football.’” Marie Klink Retired CNA Sandpoint

“Anything my mom sends me.” Arlene Spinosa Therapist Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

Who else can’t wait for Friday? That’s right, sports fans, Schweitzer Mountain Resort will open their gates for the first time of the 2016/17 winter season on Friday, Dec. 2. I, for one, will be up there on opening day (but I won’t dress like that guy on the bottom right). The good news is there seems to be no shortage of snow heading our way. Here are some reasons why I love winter in North Idaho: •Schweitzer! We have a fantastic mountain that hasn’t quite blown up to the rest of the world yet. I love getting lost on the backside and feeling like I own my little corner of winter paradise. •Beer stays cold on the porch. No need for a refridgerator! •Shoveling is great exercise, and it’s always nice to help people dig themselves out when they need a hand. •Movies look better and pizza tastes better after you’ve spent the day riding the mountain. There’s really nothing quite like the feeling of peeling off your layers, warming up by the fire and snuggling up for the night. •Sandpoint looks amazing with the holiday lights and a fresh fall of snow on the ground. Truly a gem of a place to live. Be safe, kick ass.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

LIVE MUSIC No Shave Movember Party Selkirk Fire Present the Fourth Annual Movember Party • Free Beer and Prizes! $15 at the door. Proceeds go to Local Cancer Centers

HAROLD’S IGA 7-10pm

SCOTIA ROAD 7-10pm

BREWERY & BEER HALL 220 Cedar St. 209-6700 FAMILY FRIENDLY BREWPUB 312 First Ave.

255-4351

Now booking holiday parties upstairs for up to 40 people

COMMENTARY Do you need a break...? Dear Editor, Do you know a family who has a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or some type of dementia or memory issue and are caring for them at home? Is the family caregiver finding it hard to both care for their loved one and also have a life outside of that? Please tell them about the DayBreak Center, an adult day program for people with cognitive impairment. We are a program provided by the Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. (“SASi”) and are located at 820 Main St. in Sandpoint. We are open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per hour, and there is financial aid available to help defer the cost. The DayBreak Center is an active social center where adults with cognitive issues can come for all or part of a day, engage in social activities like games and singing, enjoy a hot meal at lunch, and be a part of a community. It gives the family caregiver much needed free time to

Putting it Mildly

rest and replenish their energy, see friends, or do errands. We have an open door policy and invite you to come in and see what we are about, ask questions and meet the staff. We currently have openings and the first visit is free to see if DayBreak Center is the right fit. Please pass the word on so people who have a need will learn about this wonderful resource in our community. Anne Haynes DayBreak Center, Sandpoint

Give Love to Creations... Dear Editor, I am as wary as many of us to tone down the consumer impulses that strike during the holiday, but in spite of my wariness, I’d like to shine a light on a unique non-profit community gem called Creations located in the back of the Cedar Street Bridge. Many locals, especially families, associate Creations with its donation based, drop-in

by Austin Wellner

art and crafts area and indoor playground, both of which bustle with kids, parents and tourist year round. However, many Sandpoint folks may not be aware that Creations is actually a non-profit organization that touches the lives of many people regardless of age, income, life experience or politics. The profits from sales generated from Creations’ toy store and children’s clothing boutique support the community art and crafts area and playground, as well as fund an array of affordable art classes ranging from Crafting with Toddlers, Special Needs Art Instruction, Skills Based Painting Instruction for Children and Adults and more. Nobody is turned away from a class because of inability to pay. In recent years Creations has expanded its scope to include health and nutrition. Some of you may have seen the Creations Mobile serving affordable, nutritious smoothies and snacks at the Farmers Market or at events like the recent Tree Lighting Ceremony. Creations’ goal is to keep nutrition high and cost low. In addition to Creations’ focus on communi-

retroactive

ty art and nutrition programs it has partnered with Experience Works and the Department of Labor to utilize its retail store as a training ground for folks in the community who want to gain work experience in a supportive work environment. So, please, this holiday season if you are shopping for children’s gifts come by Creations’ non-profit toy store and clothing boutique and see for yourself the wonderful selection of educational games, cuddly toys, puzzles, jewelry and children’s clothing. The profits from all sales stay in the community and support all the programs and goals mentioned above. And if you are toning down those consumer impulses, come by anyway and spend some leisurely time making a gift or an ornament in Creations’ art and crafts studio. Either way, Creations welcomes you!! Thank you, Sharon Lewis and Kate Mansur Creation Volunteers, Sandpoint

by BO

church never was the same after jesus showed off his breakdancing skills. December 1, 2016 /

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PERSPECTIVES

Green California makes progress while petro state Texas falters By Nick Gier Reader Columnist From 2015 to 2016, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, California’s Gross Domestic Product rose 4.1 percent, while Texas dropped 1.4 percent—right at the edge of recession. Once again conservative economists have been proved wrong: High taxes in the U. S. and Europe do not kill economic growth. California has the most diverse economy in the nation with 14 out of 50 advanced industries making significant contributions to its solid growth. Texas, the 12th most diverse economy, has only five of those 50, and three of those are related to petroleum. Low prices here have hit the Texas hard, and Governor Greg Abbot is asking most state agencies to cut 4 percent from their budgets to meet revenue shortfalls.

California took a huge hit during the Great Recession because of the collapse of the real estate market. Like in so many states, the legislators were required to balance the budget with large spending cuts. With voter approved tax increases California is now running a surplus and has restored education funding. At $67,458 Californians have the third highest mean income in the nation. Texas ranks 25th at $49, 927, and Idaho is 40th at $43,341. A critic would say that California has a much higher cost of living, but when that is factored in Texans still earn about $5,000 less per year. Furthermore, Texas has the largest number of workers (550,000) earning the minimum wage. In stark contrast, some California cities will require employers to pay up to $15 per hour by 2021. The critic persists: Texans should take home more pay because of lower taxes. Texans pay no income taxes, while Californians pay some of the highest in the nation. When all taxes are taken into account, the picture changes significantly. A full 60 percent of lower and middle income Texans pay taxes at a

higher rate than Californians in the same bracket, while Texans in the highest 40 percent pay far less. The top one percent pays 48 percent of California’s taxes. From 2009 to 2014 Texas led the country in job growth, creating 20 percent of all new jobs. Half way through 2015, however, California took the lead with 465,700 jobs in contrast to Texas’ 286,000. The Golden State has made up for all the jobs lost in the Great Recession, and has the sixth fastest job growth rate in the nation. With large immigrant populations both states struggle with high poverty rates and income inequality. Texas actually has a lower poverty rate, and California, even with its progressive income tax, has slightly more income inequality. A state official admitted that there are “two Californias: a wealthy coastal economy, in contrast to a struggling inland economy.” In 2014, according to Kids Count, California ranked 26th in the nation for child health, while Texas stood at 47th. The most alarmingly health statistic for Texas is its maternal death rate. In 2000 17.7 mothers out of

And the word of the year is... By Ben Olson Reader Staff When Dictionary.com picks a Word of the Year, they look for a term that embodies a major theme resonating deeply in the cultural consciousness over the past 12 months. This year, some of the most prominent news stories have centered around fear of the “other.” Fear is an adaptive part of human evolutionary history and often influences behaviors and perceptions on a subconscious level. However, this particular year saw fear rise to the surface of cultural discourse. Because interest in this overarching theme emerges so starkly for one specific word in our trending lookup data, xenophobia is Dictionary.com’s 2016 Word of the Year. The word xenophobia is 6 /

/ December 1, 2016

actually relatively new, and only entered English in the late 1800s. It finds its roots in two Greek words, xénos meaning “stranger, guest,” and phóbos meaning “fear, panic.” Dictionary.com defines xenophobia as “fear or hatred of foreigners, people from different cultures, or strangers.” It can also refer to fear or dislike of customs, dress and cultures of people with backgrounds different from our own. User interest in the term xenophobia began to spike in April 2015, when there was a massive surge in lookups that was larger than any of the peaks seen in 2016. This spike in lookups was connected to attacks on foreign workers and overall rising xe-

100,000 died, but that number climbed to 35.8 by 2014. In 2011 deep cuts were made in women’s health funds and 53 clinics were closed. Minority women were hit hard with black women making up 29 percent of the deaths. The Republican “War on Women” is real. In stark contrast is the decline of maternal deaths in California. They went down from 21.5 per 100,000 in 2003 to 15.1 in 2014. The key to this improvement was the expansion of clinics devoted to women’s health. European comparisons are illuminating and embarrassing. For 2014 Germany and the United Kingdom had 4.1 and 6.7 maternal deaths respectively. California has the greenest utilities and the most efficient energy use. Since 1975 per capita energy use in the Golden State has remained the same, but it has climbed 50 percent in the rest of the country. CERES of Boston ranked three California utilities as the greenest, and Massachusetts,

Oregon and Connecticut were not far behind. Governor Jerry Brown’s goal of bringing down green gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 is well within reach, so he now proposing that 40 percent below those levels be attained by 2030. California has set a goal of producing one third of its electricity by renewables by 2020, and by 2015 it had already reached 26 percent. Barring federal intervention by coal and oil-loving Republicans, California should reach its goal of 50 percent by 2030. Utilities across the country are firing their boilers with natural gas, and fewer and fewer coal fired plants are being built. The inevitability of cleaner and renewable energy gives new meaning to the phrase “the ash heap of history.” Nick Gier taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read the expanded version of this article at www.SandPointreader.com.

Xenophobia

nophobia in South Africa. While lookups for xenophobia in the U.S. also rose during that time, it was lookups from Dictionary. com’s worldwide users that made this particular surge so significant. The largest spike in Dictionary.com’s data for the term xenophobia this year occurred on June 24 with a 938 percent increase in lookups—that’s hundreds of users looking up the term each hour. This was the day after the UK voted to leave the European Union as the result of a much debated referendum, also known as Brexit. Another lookup trend that was influenced by the Brexit vote: user interest in the term hate crime soared in the month of July as newspapers covered an increase in

crimes motivated by prejudice in post-Brexit UK. In October, the British Home Office reported a 41 percent increase in hate crimes the month following the EU referendum. Soon after Brexit, the second largest surge in lookups this year for the term xenophobia leads us to the 2016 US presidential race. On June 29, President Obama gave a speech in which he expressed concern over the use of the term populism to describe Donald Trump’s political rhetoric. Obama insisted that this was not an example of populism, but of “nativism or xenophobia.” The biggest spike in lookups for the term populism occurred on June 30 as a result of Obama’s speech. While lookup data can tell

what Dictionary.com users are interested in, it doesn’t explain the reason for the interest. Perhaps some users of the popular vocabulary website were unfamiliar with the word xenophobia, while others might have looked it up to double check the spelling or pronunciation. Maybe users looked it up to affirm what they already knew about the meaning, or to share the definition with others. What we do know is that from global events to political rhetoric, xenophobia was a recurring subject of discourse in 2016. Despite being chosen as the 2016 Word of the Year, xenophobia is not to be celebrated. Rather it’s a word to reflect upon deeply in light of the events of the recent past.

PERSPECTIVES

Big Medicine’s LeRoy:

An interview with a ‘pure blooded Native American

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor For over a decade I have benefited from the healing waters of Hot Springs, Mont. The water flows hot from the source and full of minerals like magnesium, sulfur and even lithium. My arthritis disappears in the water, my skin tightens up and looks younger and I feel happy. After LeRoy Joseph O’Bennick passed away, however, I have opted for an epsom salt bath at home. LeRoy was the caretaker of one of the hot springs, the chief of Big Medicine. LeRoy came to collect the soak money and often sat beside the pool, to bullshit and smoke a cigarette. The laughter that he caused became part of the “Big Medicine” experience. He was ornery and hard to keep up with (not very popular locally), but a gentle bear in my opinion, married to his sweet wife, Rose, for 54 years. When LeRoy was recovering from his second stroke, I was humbled by his strength in spirit, despite his skeletal frame. He was a logging contractor most of his working life, 255 pounds with wide shoulders and an intimidating presence, but he weighed only 147 at the time of this interview, the same season of his passing. “I used to drink copious amounts, I mean I was a professional drinker,” LeRoy said during our interview in Dec. 2014. “I could drink a case of beer and a fifth of whiskey, but I quit it entirely.” He quit decades ago, shortly after three of his five children died in two different alcohol-related accidents. LeRoy wanted to talk about his Marine nephew who fought in the current, seemingly endless war in the Middle East. “He was doing his job, you know, everyone had a job

Big Medicine’s LeRoy Joseph O’Bennick. Photo by Jodi Rawson. killing Muslims,” said LeRoy. “If you didn’t kill the Muslim, he’d kill you. It was a ‘dog eat dog’ war. We had no business being there ... just like Korea, we had no business going there ... destroyed their whole towns with one bomb.” When I asked if he wanted to share his experience in the Phillippines as a U.S. Marine, he answered “not really, I was there though.” I wanted to know what shreds of his ancestry he had left, but like so many Natives, he was indoctrinated into a modern capitalist world, dominated by white man’s interests. To survive he learned to fit in. “Could I smoke?” he asks. “Of course!” he has never asked me this before. “Well the

nurses have been trying to get me to quit,” he explains. I tell him I am not his nurse and that we are in his house, but it was sweet of him to ask. He tells me he has smoked since he was 10 years old. “I am a Kootenai and my mom was a Kootenai ... my dad was Potawatomie from Kansas ... so we were pure blood Indians...” he paused and smoked before repeating, “we were pure.” LeRoy was born only a half a mile from the source of the Hot Springs and his humble home. “There’s a bunch of trees out there and I was born under the biggest one ... about a four foot wide pine tree,” he said. He said they had a little

shack in Camas (where he grew up with four siblings), but his mom walked to Hot Springs, “to get some food, so we wouldn’t starve and die. She got halfway home and dropped me on the ground, picked me up and took me home, you know, cleaned me up a bit, gave me a tit,” he laughs, “fed me some lunch.” “I had a rough time, I was an Indian, you know ... and us Indians did catch a rough time in this town. These white people were superior to us, you know.” Sadly, LeRoy was not taught his native language: “Whenever my aunts would gather with my mom, they’d talk their language, but whenever I or [my siblings] were present they’d go into the white man [lan-

guage]. They didn’t want us to take the beating they took to get their language out of ‘em. Indians got pretty well beaten by the faculty.” When I was about to cry, LeRoy characteristically made me laugh, as he always did and as I will always remember him. “Well the faculty was scared that we’d call ‘em ‘asshole’ in our language and they wouldn’t know what we were calling ‘em,” he said. LeRoy passed away in March 2015 at the age of 77. He was a respected elder of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, he was a former Marine and owned Big Medicine Hot Springs in Hot Springs, Mont. December 1, 2016 /

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NEWS Solar Roadways demonstration to be replaced By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

The second time looks to be the charm for the Sandpoint Solar Roadways demonstration. While its September debut was hampered by installation delays and malfunctioning panels, the demonstration is set to go live with full functionality and several structural improvements by the end of December. The process began two weeks ago, with Solar Roadways personnel removing the malfunctioning tiles. The new demonstration project will feature several enhancements. The base layer on which the Solar Roadways panels rest will be made of concrete, which will provide a more uniform and level surface compared to the original demonstration. “[In the old installation,] they had installed directly on sand, which is not what they had done in previous test installations,” Sandpoint City Planner Jennifer Stapleton said. “[In the past,] they had installed on concrete.” The intended functionality of the panels will also be intact. While manufacturing the panels for the original installation, the Solar Roadways crew suffered from a malfunctioning laminating machine that bakes all the electronic components together. As a result, the orginal installation’s solar generation and other features were disabled. The new panels will generate electricity and melt snow and ice in addition to the LED patterns and walkable surfaces of the original demonstration. The fully functioning demonstration will also allow the city to introduce some planned features. The webcam on Jeff Jones Town Square, currently offline until the new panels are installed, will be upgraded to feature real-time data on electricity generation. Meanwhile, the city will start benefiting from the solar energy generation, which will power the nearby bathrooms. The Solar Roadways demonstration project is primarily funded through a Gem State grant from the state of Idaho, as well as contributions from the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency and some match funding from the city.

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/ December 1, 2016

Schweitzer’s “Sky House” summit lodge to open By Ben Olson Reader Staff The top of the world is about to get a little more comfortable. Schweitzer Mountain Resort will open the much-anticipated Sky House summit lodge on Friday, Dec. 16. Skiers and snowboarders that visit this winter season will enjoy the added amenities this two-story lodge provides, including a restaurant and full-service bar called The Nest and the Red Hawk café. Situated at the peak of Schweitzer Mountain, the Sky House will be open year-round featuring stunning 360-degree views of the Selkirk Mountains, Lake Pend Oreille and the entire resort. “We are thrilled to open the Sky House for the 2016-2017 season,” said Tom Chasse, president and CEO of Schweitzer Mountain Resort. “We know the lodge will become a destination attraction during the summer and winter seasons, providing another reason for outdoor enthusiasts to add Schweitzer to their ‘must visit’ lists. We are still a hidden gem for many—by adding fresh and worthwhile amenities like the Sky House, we are confident Schweitzer will be on the radar of skiing enthusiasts and those who are searching for the per-

Construction is nearing completion at the Sky House on Schweitzer’s summit. Courtesy photo.

fect, family-friendly getaway.” The 9,000-square-foot lodge was designed by Sandpoint-based architect Tim Boden and engineered by Dave Thompson. Idagon Homes, a Sandpoint-based construction company, has managed the project since breaking ground in July 2015. The main floor will host The Nest restaurant and full-service bar along with the Red Hawk café, offering indoor and outdoor seating for up to 180 people. The Nest will feature fare from Sandpoint-based purveyors such as coffee from Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters, wine from Pend d’Oreille Winery and beer from MickDuff’s Brewing Company. The Nest’s menu is comprised of small plate options

like tantalizing sausage sliders, roasted curried cauliflower and raclette potatoes, among other mountain favorites such as New England clam chowder and roasted chicken wings. Schweitzer is proud of the extensive culinary background that Peter Tobin, head chef of the Sky House, will bring to the resort. “Pete is a certified executive chef from The Culinary Institute of America and is a certified culinary educator,” said Chasse. “He’s worked with a variety of organizations including the Seattle Seahawks and previously served as an educator at the Inland Northwest Culinary Academy. Pete is as passionate about Schweitzer as he is about the culinary arts and we are

excited to have him at the Sky House.” The ground floor of the building will become the new home for Ski Patrol dispatch and provide much-needed restrooms on the summit. The building will also offer options for accommodating private events, large meetings, retreats, summer festivals and an enhanced venue for mountaintop weddings. The Sky House is scheduled to be open to the public on Dec. 17 and will be open daily from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Those interested in group business availability and rates at Sky House can contact the group sales team at 208263-9555 ext. 2820 or by email at groups@schweitzer.com.

Fiber internet goes live at City Hall Schweitzer season begins Friday By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff The city of Sandpoint enjoyed a major speed upgrade this week with the launch of its new fiber internet connection. Upgrading city internet speeds from 10 megabit-per-second downloads to a full gigabit per second, the new internet service is a massive boost for the same cost the city paid for its previous contract, according to Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton. Provided by FatBeam, one of four ISPs to put forward proposals, the city internet contract will hopefully pave the way for cheaper and faster consumer and business internet service, Stapleton said. Faster internet will allow city employees to work more efficient-

ly, but it also could reduce expenses by running necessary programs through cloud computing, which minimizes the need to purchase powerful and expensive hardware. The public will enjoy benefits from the new internet setup as well. Residents should enjoy faster mapping for the city’s geographic information system, a feature long requested by Realtors. They’ll also see improved streaming of city council meetings and faster wifi access at City Hall, as well as planned public wifi for Jeff Jones Town Square. Meanwhile, city workers will be able to deploy more webcams in strategic locations within city limits. “If we want to feature something in town online, this [internet service] would give us the ability to do it,” Stapleton said.

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Powder hounds, rejoice: Schweitzer Mountain Resort slopes are open for business starting this Friday. Schweitzer Marketing Manager Dig Chrismer is excited for the start of a strong early season, which she said benefits from some solid late-autumn snowfall. “Thanks to some perfect temps for snowmaking partnered with a great base of natural snowfall, we are ready to get this season started,” said Chrismer in a press release. The fun starts Friday with Musical Chairs and Basin Express Quad opening from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and adult full-

day lift tickets running $45. Schweitzer officials plan to expand the next day by adding in the Lakeview Triple with adult lift tickets at $55. “The forecast looks good for additional snowfall in the coming weeks, making it possible to add more lifts and terrain as we can,” said Chrismer. “All in all, with the long range La Nina forecast, the opening of the Sky House at the summit and the approaching Christmas holidays, there’s so much to be excited about at Schweitzer right now. We’re really looking forward to an amazing 2016/17 season.”

NEWS

Residents organizing to stop timber sale

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff A group of North Idaho residents is rallying to prevent a timber sale in the Sunnyside Peninsula proposed for early 2017. According to an Idaho Fish and Game letter sent out to homeowners in the area, the timber harvest is planned as a land management tool with proceeds from the sale funding regional conservation projects. However, opponents say the harvest will diminish Sunnyside’s woodland vitality. “We are losing cedars on more marginal habitat throughout the Panhandle. But this old grove is in a unique position to last many, many generations. We have the opportunity to preserve it,” said Ali Hakala, organizer of Friends of Sunnyside Cedars. According to Idaho Fish and Game Panhandle Regional Supervisor Chip Corsi, the Sunnyside Timber Harvest is the most effective means to manage woodlands in the Sunnyside region due to its landlocked nature, proximity to rural development and lack of public access. He also said that the Sunnyside parcel is common Panhandle habitat, and there’s no evidence or rare or unique species in the area. In a letter to nearby homeowners, he said that the harvest would be conducted with attentive oversight by state biologists and woodland ecology experts. “With any forest management activity

Ali Hakala stands by an old growth cedar in the Sunnyside area marked for Timber Harvest. Courtesy photo. there are both positive and negative impacts to wildlife and vegetation,” Corsi wrote in the letter. “The conservation benefits that IDFG can provide elsewhere outweigh any possible short-term negative impacts of this sale.” Hakala disagrees and said she has spoken with a variety of experts who support her assessment. She said the sale stands to impact wildlife habitat, the health of remaining trees, fire risk, the likelihood of storm blowdown and sedimentation levels. She is also not satisfied with the data IFG has been able to provide her regarding the amount of similar forestland under its control and believes the project has not been properly analyzed. “This stand possesses the ideal conditions for longevity, and is stable enough to last at least another 200-300 years, benefiting a variety of species dependent on mature cedar forests,” Hakala said. A community resident and landowner, Hakala learned of the timber sale when she noticed state workers marking trees near her home. She formed the Friends of Sunnyside Cedars in response to the planned harvest, later testifying at a Nov. 16 Idaho Fish and Game Commission meeting. The group is active on Facebook and plans to continue resisting the timber sale.

KRFY plans week of local Christmas cheer By Reader Staff

Sandpoint’s nonprofit community radio station, serving Bonner and Boundary counties, is spooling up a series of special programming for an end-of-year holiday outreach to members and potential members. Next Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 6-8, the station’s popular Morning Show that airs at 8 a.m. each day will feature a variety of speakers from different nonprofit groups and underwriters to tell why they support community radio for North Idaho. Those Morning Shows will be followed by live DJs manning the micro-

City delays two-way traffic switch

phones up until 5 p.m. each day, with occasional in-station visits from other community members. “It’s our end-of-year member drive and giving appeal, and we hope to bring in as many voices as possible from among our supporters and listeners,” said Suzy Prez, station manger. “So listen to hear your friends and neighbors – and we invite any listener or supporter to stop by and give a live shout out, too! Let’s make this like an audible Christmas card for our town.” The station address is at 323 N. First Avenue, or check its website at www. KRFY.org.

The long road in the city’s effort to reclaim its downtown streets recently got a little longer. Sandpoint city officials announced this week that the roadwork on Fifth Avenue to divert U.S. 2 traffic from downtown streets will wrap up this spring instead of the original end-of-November deadline. According to Sandpoint Public Works Director Ryan Luttmann, the delay brings several public safety and communication benefits without any significant downsides. “Working together [with the contractor and Idaho Transportation Department], we threw out whether there would be additional costs to delaying the project, and there weren’t really any identified,” Luttmann said. The Fifth Avenue roadwork will provide the necessary infrastructure to enact the planned transition to two-way traffic on most downtown streets. However, according to Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad and Planning Director Jennifer Stapleton, rushing to complete the work before winter presented several difficulties. Prominent among them were communication challenges, Stapleton said. Given the variety of people coming in and out of town, there was no feasible plan to reach yearlong residents, outof-town visitors and seasonal residents before the November deadline. “Now we have more time to answer what a two-way downtown will look like,” Luttmann said. “Another thing it gives us more time to do is plan out operations, like snow removal, from the downtown area.” The two-way switch combined with the imminent snowfall was also a public safety risk, Rognstad said. With road lines soon to be covered by packed

snow, city officials worried that motorists would end up driving the wrong way. “[Public safety officials] were concerned that without enough time for the transition, it might pose a public safety threat,” Rognstad said. Finally, the delay will solve practical problems like the weather-related difficulty of painting road lines. Roadwork is set to resume at the beginning of April and is expected to conclude by the end of April before the 2017 Lost in the ‘50s. The delay means that city officials and downtown business owners will have wait a little longer before Sandpoint regains control of ITD-managed highway routes along Pine Street and First Avenue. City control of those streets is a necessary step to enact a suite of infrastructure, utility and beautification improvements throughout downtown Sandpoint. These include better stormwater management, improved pedestrian and bike access, increased parking and the planned Farmin Landing, which will enhance the Sand Creek areas behind the Panida Theater and visible from the byway. “That is essentially the front porch for downtown,” Rognstad said. “To make that area visually attractive and inviting and represent the best of what Sandpoint has to offer, I think, is a real opportunity for us.” Public outreach and workshopping for downtown enhancements will begin in early 2017. Century West Engineering will oversee phase one of the reversion project. “One of our most significant priorities in selecting Century West was their reputation for public involvement,” Stapleton said. December 1, 2016 /

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A magical Christmas event for children of all ages

By Reader Staff

Bouquets: •The faculty at Sandpoint Waldorf School are some of the nicest, most talented instructors I’ve ever met. They truly provide a wonderful environment for their students, and probably don’t get enough pats on the back. One way to help them out is to attend their annual Christmas Faire (see the story to the right). The proceeds help future generations of children to live up to their ambitions. • I was wondering you could grace your fine editorial with a Bouquet for Sandpoint Kiwanis turning 90. I don’t think their motto “Serving the Youth of Bonner County” really paints an accurate picture of what they all do for kids in Bonner County. Whether its providing backpacks and coats for needy kids, giving out scholarships, or letting youth learn about the outdoors at Camp Stidwell, Kiwanis has always helped without wanting or needing praise. -Submitted by Nate Rench. Barbs: •You know what really chaps my hide? When people try to tell you where you can and can’t park on a public street. I had a neighbor once who used to come out and yell at me whenever I parked my truck in front of their house (which was across the street). Often they waited until I hadn’t moved my truck for the weekend (which was quite often, since I don’t drive my vehicle very often, but ride my bike) and reported it as “abandoned.” I had it towed twice, and all the other times I had to get my razor blade out and remove that impossible yellow sticker they paste on your window. While I see this mostly in residential areas, it happens downtown also. Here’s the deal everyone: public parking is for the public. Anyone can park there, as long as they follow the rules. As much as you love that shady spot by your kitchen window, sometimes it will be taken by another vehicle. Such is life. Get over it and find something else to get excited about. 10 /

/ December 1, 2016

Ask around and you’ll hear that many Sandpoint families cherish the Sandpoint Waldorf School’s Christmas Faire and Children’s Festival among the many celebrations leading up to Christmas. The joy and magic of the Waldorf Faire is truly heartwarming. If you haven’t experienced this yet, now is your chance! On Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., you will find a school transformed by the magic of Christmas. Among the fun activities scheduled throughout the day: Puppet Shows: The puppet show, “The Cobweb Christmas,” promises to be absolutely magical — fully staged across the front of a classroom, draped in gem-colored silks, and performed by gifted teachers using handmade scenery and marionettes. The show will play three times throughout the day: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. Crystal Cave: Children are invited to enter the cave’s secret passage into a twinkling world of wonder and leave with a sparkling reminder of the season’s magic. Craft-Making Room: There will be face painting and

craft-making available for kids and adults to do together or on their own, including dipping beeswax candles by hand. Kids-Only Store: There will be a store stocked with donated items where the children may buy gifts for their family members with just a dollar or two per gift. Arts and Crafts Fair: On our lower level, you’ll find over 20 local artisan and craft vendor booths. A juried show with quality gifts and treasures just in time for your holiday shopping. Food: There will be delicious homemade soups, quiches, Caesar salad and rolls for lunch; homemade cinnamon rolls for brunch, roasted chestnuts and a gourmet dessert café featuring cookies, cakes, pies, Evans Brothers coffee and tea to purchase for very reasonable prices. There will be plenty of tables and chairs to sit and visit as you eat. Hot Chai Hut: Warm, spicy homemade Chai served in a little getaway location. Transport yourself for a moment of relaxation in an exotic locale. Parents-Only Silent Auction: We’ve gathered gently

used toys and treasures that we’re sure parents would love to give as gifts to their little ones this Christmas. If you are a parent or an adult, stop in to bid on these one-of-a-kind items. Bidding closes at 3:30 p.m. Sandpoint Waldorf School’s Christmas Faire and Children’s Festival is open and free to all! Tickets, which are sold for $1 a piece, are available for the puppet shows and craft-making. Plan to spend the whole day. There is so much to do and see!

The Sandpoint Waldorf School’s 25th Annual Christmas Faire and Children’s Festival will take place on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Sandpoint Waldorf School. The building is located at 2007 Sandpoint West Drive, Sandpoint, ID 83864 (next to the Sandpoint West Athletic Club). The phone number is (208) 265-2683 or visit www. SandpointWaldorf.org for more information.

Professor Hooey (aka Hooeyman) makes come-back By Reader Staff It was 40 years ago in the Sandpoint Community Hall where Jerry Luther stepped into the center of the room and stood on a wooden milk box to pitch his first Hooey to a small crowd. Wearing a large overcoat with inside pockets lined with Hooey Sticks he said “gather around folks, I have here something that will delight and amaze you.” Thus began a pitch artist career that delighted thousands, in the streets and cafes, at craft shows and on many television appearances. Near his time of retirement he became know as “Professor Hooey” a graduate of Hooey U and curator of the Hooey Museum—an expert

in the scientific knowledge of what makes the pioneer toy and mystical device work. In July 1983, along with wife Becky and son Travis, Luther operated a celebrated cart on the Cedar Street Bridge. Professor Hooey (aka The Honeyman) formerly retired and turned over the Hooey Stick business and pitchman responsibilities to Travis. Luther then focused on the creation and development of a new character known to many as the “Sandpoint Duck Man.” Professor Hooey will be making a special appearance at the Sandpoint Waldorf School Christmas Faire on Dec.3, 2016 starting a 10 a.m.

Jerry Luther as “Professor Hooey” in this courtesy photo. The Faire will feature hand-crafted gifts created by local artisans, delicious homemade food and desserts, live music and entertainment, a

puppet show and much more! Sandpoint Waldorf School is located at 2007 Sandpoint West Dr.

Gifts for the weird people in your life It’s that time of year again. Gift-giving (insert groans and angry shouts). You all know that person. They either have it all, or are so damn picky about what they like, buying a gift for them is an annual ritual of frustration. Well, have no fear, dear readers, because here are a handful of oddball gifts that will please the weird people in your life.

Unicorn Meat

Fantasy and mythology literature across the ages have characterized unicorns as wise, noble and majestic creatures—all fine qualities that ignore the real question: How do they taste? If you’ve ever wanted to try the flavor of perfect innocence and holy magic, Radiant Farms has got you covered with its popular canned unicorn meat. Packaged in a handsome tin, this brand of unicorn meat may disappoint those looking for a hearty repast. The only thing inside is a stuffed, dismembered unicorn plush toy. But the tin itself is quite a convincing piece of work, and

The beard craze is here in force, and it seems just about every man is hopping on the

bandwagon. But how many are taking the responsibility of mustache maintenance seri-

ously? Tragically few, in my estimation. Unfortunately, all it takes is a trip to the pub and a long drink of beer to reveal the foamy, drippy, droopy consequences of such feckless behavior. It’s a sad, senseless outcome easily prevented by the Moguard, which fits onto any pint glass and ensures your perfectly groomed cookie duster remains spry and dry throughout the night. [CR]

Joke pacifiers

set amid your usual pantry fare of vegetables and tuna, it will almost certainly provoke a few double takes. [CR]

Dave Grohl prayer candle Nothing puts me in a meditative mood like 1990s alternative rock icons, so why not put that to good use? One enterprising Etsy user thought the same thing, which is why the Saint Dave Grohl prayer candle exists. This gift is perfect for the loved ones in your life who wish to strengthen their spiritual connections through the bearded muse Dave Grohl, famed Nirvana and Foo Fighters rocker and all-around good guy. This artisanal candle is eight inches tall and features an image of Dave Grohl in sacred garb. If grunge isn’t your style, don’t worry: The same Etsy store features a host of celebrities that might fit the bill. Tupac, Jay-Z, Liza Minnelli, Arnold Schwarzenegger and even Ralphie from “A Christmas Story” are just a few of the choices at hand. [CR]

Moguard mustache guard

It’s fun to mess with babies. You can draw on them, paint weird eyebrows on them, cheat them at cards, whatever. They don’t know what’s going on. They’re not forming memories, and you don’t have to worry about their self-esteem yet, so why not get a little revenge for all those dirty diapers? Particularly mean parents will enjoy the variety of joke pacifiers that are available across the internet. These pacifiers will strip your child of all dignity, but look at it this way: Babies are expensive, loud and keep you up at all hours of the night. It’s time they pulled their weight by providing a little entertainment now and then. [CR]

Buy Local... It helps

The Book of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks Working at a newspaper, we are often exposed to various grammatical shortcomings from our large stable of writers. While we still wonder why people still double space after every sentence (it’s not necessary anymore, ever since the demise of the typewriter), one thing that truly baffles us is the unnecessary use of quotation marks. Hooray, finally a book compiled with hilarious photos of signs where writers thought a little extra clarification was needed to drive home their “point.” You can pick “it” up for around $12. “The Book of ‘Unnecessary’ Quotation Marks” is by Bethany Keeley. [BO] December 1, 2016 /

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For more information or to schedule a visit call 208-597-0483 or 208-263-8699 / December 1, 2016

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www.SandpointCountryClub.com December 1, 2016 /

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event t h u r s d a y f r i d a y

s a t u r d a y s u n d a y m o n d a y t u e s d a y w e d n e s d a y t h u r s d a y

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2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood • 9pm @ The Hive The Hive, 207 N. First Ave., has been waiting a long time for Chris to bring the Brotherhood to Sandpoint, and the patience has paid off. In support of their new album, “Any Way You Love, We Know How You Feel,” The Brotherhood will swing through Sandpoint spreading their love - and WE know how they feel - and it’s GOOD! Presented by KPND and Low Country Boil Productions; doors open at 8 p.m. and the show starts at 9 p.m. General admission tickets are $20 in advance Live Music w/ BareGrass 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Good ol’ bluegrass from a trio of Sandpoint badasses Live Music w/ Devon Wade 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Celebrate First Fridays with country artist Devon Wade

Live Music w/ Mobius Riff 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Music w/ Powell Brothers 5:30-8:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery These brothers play covers and originals on various string instruments, of which they build themselves

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Soulful music from a singer/songwriter Last Night of Smoking at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge Come on down and light up one last cigarette inside the 219.Live music by Still Tipsy and the Hangovers Live Music w/ Scotia Road 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Newport band with a great sound

No Shav 6:30pm @ Selkirk F Annual Beer an door. P Cancer C

Infini Decembe 5-8pm @ Infini Two establishe will feature this Kaemmer and S man. There will gift certificate a and open to the

Breakfast w/ Santa 8-10am @ Spt. Comm. Hall Seatings available at 8, 9 and 10 a.m. Tickets $10, with proceeds benefitting Sandpoint Teen Center

ArtWo Holida 5-8pm An eve conver Free First Saturday at the Museum: Crafting, Cocoa, and Cookies 10am-4pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum Join us for a day of Crafting, Cocoa and celebrate the holidays at the museum! W holiday treats, supplies to craft ornaments, and holiday cards, plus great deals on gifts store. Plus admission will be free, generous Jack & Colleen Filipowski and Dave & M

Winter Showcase Dance Recital 6:30pm @ Panida Theater Come warm up with dancers as they show off their hot new steps. $12/adults, $8/under 13 Sandpoint Chess Club Game Night at the Niner 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome 9pm @ 219 Lounge Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Karaoke Night at the Niner 10pm @ 219 Lounge First day ever of non-smoking at the 219. It’s a brave new world! First Tuesday Music Night 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Parade of Trees (Dec. 5-8) 8am-5pm @ BGH (daily) Art On The Go With Jules 4-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Join Julie Ellis for a few fun hours creating art from recycled materials

Idaho Conservation League year-end holiday party 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority ICL is hosting their annual holiday party! Complimentary appetizers and raffle prizes, plus more craft beer than you can shake a stick at Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry “Elf” film 6:30pm @ Panida Theater Will Ferrell’s holiday favorite will bust you up

Glo In it Sur set Bik Fing

Magic Wednesday 6-8pm @ Jalapéno’s Mexican Restau Resident magician Star Alexander am dinner table and in the bar with upmagical entertainment for all ages! Ev

Toast the Trail 4-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Come on out with fellow trail lovers to support your community’s stunning waterfront trail with this annual “Toast the Trail.” Enjoy great local beer and wine, bid on awesome silent auction items, and take care of some holiday shopping. Free and open to all

ful

December 1 - 8, 2016

A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com. Reader recommended

No Shave Movember Party Dollar Beers! 6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Selkirk Fire Present the Fourth Good until the keg’s dry Annual Movember Party. Free Beer and Prizes! $15 at the door. Proceeds go to Local Cancer Centers December Exhibition Opening Day at Schweitzer! @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort @ Infini Gallery established local artists It’s finally time to hit the mouneature this month: Gary tain! Let it snow!

mer and Sandra DeutchThere will even be a $35 ertificate awarded! Free pen to the public

Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Indie rock trio fueled by cheap beer and failed dreams

ArtWorks Gallery Holiday Reception Open House 0 5-8pm @ Artworks Gallery ds An evening of good food, wine, great art and lively r conversation. 10% off on all art in the entire gallery seum: Santa visits at Creations 11am-3pm @ Creations ry Museum Santa Claus visits CreCocoa and Cookies as we ations every Saturday in useum! We’ll have sweet December inside the Cedar rnaments, silly headbands St. Bridge. Free to all! als on gifts in the Museum Cedar St. Bridge , generously sponsored by Public Market Dave & Mary Daugharty 9am-1pm @ Cedar St. Bridge

Festival of Trees Family Night 4-6pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds View beautifully decorated trees, enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, plus a visit with Santa! Free admission. For ticket information about the Holiday Luncheon (Dec. 2), and Grand Gala (Dec. 3), call Jacinda at 208-610-2208. 12th Annual Backcountry Film Festival 7pm @ Panida Theater This community favorite event aims to inspire winter adventurers to seek the snow less traveled, while raising critical funds and bringing awareness to SOLE’s winter programs for our schools and local youth. $10/advance, $12/at door Live Music w/ Chris Lynch DJ Josh Adams 9pm @ 219 Lounge 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Christmas Concert w/ Del Parkinson 6pm @ Hope Memorial Community Center Parkinson is a professor of piano at BSU. There will be a discussion after the show. Families welcome Holiday Ball 7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall This Semi-Formal dance begins with a 1 hr. Night Club 2-Step lesson taught by local instructor Diane Peters. Following the lesson will be refreshments, demos, mixers, door prizes, and lots of dancing until 10 pm. Couples, Singles, and all levels of dancers are welcome! $9 for adults and $5 for teens Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Spt. Waldorf School Christmas Faire 10am-4pm @ Spt. Waldorf School Crafts, kids activities, live entertainment, puppet shows and more at this annual Christmas Faire

Fill the UPS Truck 12-4pm @ Yoke’s parking lot Local UPS employees will be accepting donations - new, unwrapped toys and cash - for Toys for Tots and the Bonner Community Food Bank

Global Fat Bike Day +1 • 10am @ Schweitzer Roundabout In it’s 5th year, Global Fat Bike Day is just like it sounds, a day to celebrate and ride fat bikes. FREE Surly and Salsa Fat Bike Demos 10-1pm. We will have several sizes (sorry no kids), and a short course set up on the groomed service road leaving from the roundabout. First come, first served. Group Fat Bike Rides leaving at 1:30pm. Maps will be provided. Need a fat bike for the group ride? Call Greasy Fingers ahead and reserve one of our rentals for $20 (available at 1:30pm after the demos).

an Restaurant xander amazes guests at the with up-close, interactive ll ages! Every Weds.

Dec. 9 Women’s Shopping Night @ Downtown Sandpoint

Dec. 9 Sandpoint Contra Dance @ Sandpoint Community Hall Dec. 12 Eugene Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ @ Panida Theater

December 1, 2016 /

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To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com. Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.

-daisy mae-

Available for adoption!

Daisy Mae is a Black and Tan and Plott Hound mix, who is very loyal and intelligent. She would make a great companion for someone who is energetic and likes hiking, running or just going on long walks. She needs room to roam around, like a big fenced yard. She loves kids and gets along great with other dogs. Daisy Mae is 4 years old.

Listen in Sandpoint to KPND @ 106.7 in HD

Daisy Mae is listed on Panhandle Animal Shelter’s re-homing website - home-home.org. There is no adoption nor re-homing fee. Take her home today!

$5 anoff 8-person lasagna $10 off a 20-person lasagna

Take home Ivano's for the holidays

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/ December 1, 2016

Gift certificates make great stocking stuffers! Check us out at www.IvanosRestaurant.com or on Must present coupon • One lasagna per coupon • Expires 1/15/17

THANK YOU TO OUR GIVING COMMUNITY 88.5 KRFY Panhandle Community Radio recently hosted its annual on-line auction and it was a big success. We want to thank everyone who participated and support this fundraising event. Many local businesses and individuals donated goods, gift certiﬁcates and unique items to the auction. ank you to everyone who bid and thank you to all who donated. We are very grateful to the following: 2nd Avenue Pizza Alpine Shop Baxter’s Restaurant Bella Terra Boutique Blue Creek Press Bonner Historic Society Bridges Home Carousel Emporium Charles Mortensen – Syringa Cyclery Charlie & Donna Parrish Colleen Piatt Curt & Bonnie Hagan Dave & Cinda Crow Dawnya Clarine Doug Jones Festival at Sandpoint Fiddlin’ Red Music Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Highlands North Day Spa Ivano’s Ristorante Jim Healey John Dibble

Julie Perchynski & Joy Orecchio Outdoor Experience Out Of e Blue Eyewear Pend Oreille Arts Council Pend Oreille Cruises Pend d’Oreille Winery Pine Street Bakery Pink House Jewelry Red Wheel Barrow Produce Sandpoint Property Management Sandpoint West Athletic Club Sam Linse Sharon’s Hallmark Sherrie Daily Skeyes the Limit Catering Soul Appeal Steven Lazar Sunshine Goldmine Susan Dalby Tim Martin Wild Salmon Co-op

December 1, 2016 /

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Mad about Science: By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist If you’re just now realizing that we’ve got a strange fascination with the creepy-crawly … I’d like to rock you like a hurricane! We love outlandish creepy critters stuffed full of venom and other things suited for delivering us swiftly from this mortal coil. We’re going to be talking about scorpions, today. Unless you have one in a terrarium, you aren’t going to see them around here. We just don’t have the type of habitat they, or their prey, thrive in. How will you do an article on scorpions? Aren’t all scorpions the same? No! We’re going to flash to the past real quick. We’re going back further than we have in almost all of our biological showcases, before. We’re going back 467 million years to look at some of the earliest scorpion fossils on record. That’s 402 million years before the Dwayne Johnson fell from the sky and brought an end to all dinosaurs. I bet they couldn’t smell what he was cooking (spoiler alert: It was Dinosaur Flesh). Eurypterid, a sea scorpion wasn’t exactly like scorpions we know today, but it is one of their earliest ancestors, perhaps also an early relative of crabs and other crustaceans. These sea scorpions could grow up to 8.5 feet. That’s longer than some smart cars. We think they may have been amphibious like horseshoe crabs, their closest living descendant, which means they could climb out of the water and onto land. We don’t really know what they ate, because, quite honestly, we don’t really know a whole lot about what 18 /

/ December 1, 2016

Brought to you by:

scorpions

was going on 467 million years ago. They were probably bottom-feeders like modern crabs, stuffing their faces with everything from carrion to algae to other creatures’ poo. Back to the present, scorpions have gotten a lot smaller. You probably think of those big black scorpions you find in pet stores—these are named “Emperor Scorpions.” They’re big and scary, but surprisingly not very venomous. Their pinch and their sting sure can hurt, though! People compare the Emperor Scorpion’s sting to be similar to a typical bee sting, though some people may be specifically allergic to them. Did you know that if you shine a blacklight on them, they will naturally illuminate with a cool cyan color? Almost all scorpions will. These are the most common type of scorpion to be kept as a pet at home, mostly because they’re so incredibly docile, easy to handle and rarely sting. All fairly important attributes for a nonlethal pet. In the world of Scorpions, bigger doesn’t always mean deadlier. It’s Bark Scorpion commonly believed that you need to worry about the venom from smaller scorpions much more than their larger cousins. Take for example the Bark Scorpion, found most often in the American Southwest. Most of our snowbirds are probably familiar with this little guy, as he’s most often found in Arizona. While it’s only about three inches long, it’s the most venomous scorpion in North America. Although it’s not typically fatal, it can knock you on your rear for up to three

days after a sting, which can cause muscle spasms, shaking and vomiting. If you’re afraid about stepping on one in the dark, carry a blacklight with you. They’ll light up like a Christmas tree. They are far from endangered, and considered to be hazardous, though you may want to think twice about smashing them with your feet, unless you like crippling pain. Lucky for us, antivenom is available for these little guys! Some scorpions don’t sting at all. Heck, some of them aren’t even called scorpions, though they’re more closely related to them than spiders. Enter: The Camel Spider. If you know any veterans from the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq, I’m sure they’d be glad to tell you some hilarious stories about these terrifying monstrosities. Look up “Camel Spider” on Google. Go ahead, I dare you. They get up to be about six inches, which is huge for an arachnid no matter how you slice it. They’re also very fast, able to move up to 10 mph. They’re a fleshy-beige color with massive dark mandibles and small dark eyes. These things are so terrifying that they may have made it into the Old Testament as a plague of “mice” that harassed the Philistines. Nooooo thank you! Luckily for us, they’re exclusively a desert species. The only way you’re going to find one stateside is if you have a weird collector friend, or if

Oh, wait, you didn’t mean the band Scorpion? This is awkward. someone you know happened to smuggle a bunch into the country, somehow. Even then, they aren’t going to survive in our weather for very long, even in the middle of summer. While we may shriek and scream at the sight of a large arachnid, most birds in our area are firing up their little bird-grills and tossing on an apron for a good ol’ fashioned summer barbecue. Speaking of scorpion barbecues, did you know that in parts Camel Spider. of East Asia and the Pacific Islands, scorpi-

ons are considered a delicacy? They impale them, clip the tip from the tail and offer them up as a crunchy snack. Contrary to what James Spader may have told us, scorpions don’t really taste like chicken. They’re described as being crunchy and bitter, which isn’t too surprising. Have a pet scorpion? You should get a picture and show the Reader! I’m sure Ben is collecting a small ark of pet animal photos, and the folks of Sandpoint are always eager to see fun and unique pets. It doesn’t get more unique than six legs and set of pincers! Trust me, I know a thing or two about unique pets.

Random Corner ards? Don’t know much about beWe can help! • In the British Army, the only rank allowed to grow a beard is Pioneer Sergeant. • In 1957, Hans Steininger, the man having the longest recorded beard in early history, died after he tripped over his beard and broke his neck. • There is an Australian band called “The Beards,” and every single one of their 38 songs is about beards. • Dusty Hill and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top were once offered $1,000,000 to shave their beards for a Gillette ad, to which they both declined. • King Tutankhamen’s beard on the burial mask was accidentally knocked off by Egyptian museum workers, who glued it back on. The mistake was discovered months later. • During Operation Mongoose, the CIA, in an attempt to embarrass Fidel Castro, tried to place thallium salts in his shoes, which would have caused his beard, eyebrows, and pubic hair to fall out. • The longest female beard ever recorded was measured at nearly a foot long.

LITERATURE

This open Window

Vol. 1 No. 13

poetry and prose by local writers

edited by Jim mitsui

driving east on i-90, approaching drummond, by James Masao Mitsui

a road-sign points south, 27 miles to the town that inspired one of my favorite poems, Dick Hugo’s Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg. The heaven above the Rockies swirls with clouds that could’ve been painted by Constable and I understand why Montana’s Big Sky doesn’t always have to be blue. The Clark Fork snakes back & forth, causing more bridges than there must be in Seattle, wide rowboats resting in occasional grey pools, canvas fishermen fly-casting giant S’s like bull-whips. We are mortal, but I never thought I’d lose people like Hugo & Stafford so soon, although their teaching still drives my beliefs. Solo, I roadmap my way past Granite County’s giant wheels of alfalfa stacked like Haida longhouses, hillsides of black angus whipping dozens of tails against the flies. Just past Dillon, up on a butte to the left, overlooking I-15, the huge rusty buffalo I know is not real but looks like it is, has become my conscience--I still have poems to write and moving back to four seasons has become a goal. As I drive away from our future in the Northwest, heading back to Arizona, I figure it’s four years before catching up to my father and 15 to equal my mother, 86 when she died. Driving 10 hours a day alone gives a person a lot of room to think. The Continental Divide chips in with a metaphor: rivers don’t decide where they’re going, mountain ranges do. Life plays out like that---names and places; mistakes, good fortune and accepting that the flow of our lives follows the landscape that we travel. ---James Masao Mitsui 11 October 2011 Here’s another prompt; this one’s based on driving, traveling, like William Carlos Williams used to do while he was making house-calls as a family doctor in New Jersey. Go back to a memory of a trip and recall details: the landscape, what was going on in your life, the people you surrounded yourself with. Try to use specific concrete images: names of people, roads, towns, the car you were driving. Don’t end at a logical predictable place--make it be a surprise, a small epiphany.

walking town in november by Karen Seashore

Because of the moose pruning my neighbor’s apple tree I crossed the street to walk on the other side. Because I strolled on the north side of Lake Street My soles plonked on the cushioned carpet that horse chestnut trees lay down. Because I usually choose the smoother concrete on our side I’d only known the fragility of crispy, yellow maple leaves -Karen Seashore

Karen is a deckhand, bicyclist, gardener and yoga instructor who loves to write.

boys will be boys will be predators by Amy Craven

power cloaks them and sticks to them like honey like money women flock to them men talk with them wanting to attain to touch, to gain ignorance and malice play their hands and opportunity knocks hard they take what comes and stake a claim and maybe know corruption then their lives erupt and with each lie the festering begins over and over the lies must be covered or sometimes revealed to the others that encourage the culprits with backslaps banter from the lowest common denominator it makes no difference to them wife, sister, mother, friend a woman is for the taking

by Maureen Cooper

Whoops, I turn the corner and the old Dodge sloshes, I left it out in the rain last week; the passenger side now holds several inches of water from a leak I haven’t been able to find. I should retire this old buggy; it’s become too much like a politician. If you put in in park but don’t pull the brake it will shift itself into reverse and drive off with all your stuff. (So far I’ve been able to outrun it). It only tells the truth about how much gas it has if the tank is all the way full and you don’t really need to know anyhow. It kinda leans to the left – except when it’s leaning to the right. An unexpected discovery during a recent repair (of a refusal to shine light into dark places) has finally forced it to tell the truth about what gear it is really in. If you want to see the instrument panel at night you have to smack it alongside the dash to make it light up, sometimes you have to smack it twice, just to be sure (yep, a politician). Come to think of it, this aging Dakota is old enough to vote (and by some reports eligible, too) maybe I should let it run for office. I don’t know how to figure its “true” age, but I’ll wager it meets the age requirements (in truck years). To make it camera ready I’ll just splash some new color over the rust where the pigeon droppings from the mulberry tree over the driveway in Las Vegas ate off the paint. The engine still runs with a pleasing sound and the horn bleats feebly when you ask it to sing out on any question. It can sling mud with the best of them, too. The chip in the windshield caused by a rock thrown up when we were passed by a speeding buck on Gypsy Bay Road shows that this truck is “green” and into all that eco stuff. Come to think of it, it is green – mostly, except where it’s primer gray or rust colored – good platform there, doesn’t pollute much because it is on vacation all winter – it only gives heat when the temperature is above freezing, then it blows hot air – lots of it, just like – well you know…. It (almost) always starts and given clear direction and a firm hand it will take me in the direction I want to go, just like the leader of the people should do. Given the choices coming up it would be nice to have something to feel good about voting for. -Maureen Cooper 10/13/2016 Maureen lives in Sagle on Muskrat Lake. She is a sound healing apprentice and amateur musician. She moved to Idaho from Las Vegas 14 years ago because this area is like Minnesota, where she grew up.

just as the man using his gun has no way for recompense an advantage of brutality the karma of reality means nothing to him who’s stinking of it thinking of it constantly the power of fame, and honey and money -Amy Craven

vote for good ol d.d. pickup!!!

riding my bike down pine street by Beth Weber

So many dead squirrels scattered on the asphalt. October 2016

Amy Craven is a retired voice teacher who lives in Sandpoint with her husband, Rob Kincaid and Hazel, the amazing 14 year old labradog. She writes poetry and songs and is also a performer. She can honestly state that poetry has enriched her life dramatically.

No, it’s just their flattened tails. Somehow the cars ran over only the tails. All the squirrels must have escaped. Do squirrel tails grow back? On close examination (and here I feel a grand relief) They’re only pine cones smashed by the traffic. -Beth Weber

November 2016

Beth has just been accepted by the Coeur d’Alene Symphony as a violinist. Showing her versatility she has recently purchased a house to renovate here in Sandpoint. December 1, 2016 /

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Students soaring with aviation program By Jim Ramsey Reader Contributor

“There will be an extraordinary demand for airline pilots and technicians in the next decade.” – the Boeing Co. Students in the North Idaho High School Aerospace Program (NIHSAP) at Sandpoint High School are rebuilding an airplane in an airport hangar – currently installing the wings, getting the engine, propeller, flight controls and instrument panel installed and preparing it to be ready for flight next March. Led by program co-founder and former Air Force jet pilot training instructor Ken Larson, who teaches aerospace classes at SHS, his students are getting hands-on experience rebuilding a “kit” aircraft that literally needed to be reconstructed before it could pass FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) certification. The students, working in a hangar provided by Granite Aviation, took the old aircraft apart and have upgraded the fuselage, the tail, wing spars and ailerons, putting new rivets in the wing. They are also rebuilding the old engine, refurbishing the crankshaft and pistons, and will be installing a new Cessna propeller along with the flight controls and an instrument panel. The local EAA (Experimental Aircraft Assoc.), along with local aerospace firms, helped, by donating tools. Plans for the airframe and power plant came from Zenith Aircraft. Larson will be test flying the Zenith CH601XL-B Zodiak, a two-place “sport” aircraft, when it is ready. He hopes to complete the 40 hours of testing by the end of March. Some of these students, who work on weekends to rebuild the plane, will go on to take aerospace classes at North Idaho College or other schools and universities. With a local shortage of qualified aircraft mechanics and aerospace workers needed to support the growing aviation industry in this area, local organizations are providing badly needed support. A grant helped a young woman attend NIC’s aerospace mechanics program, and a student, who graduated from Sandpoint High School in June, was recently hired by Quest Aircraft. “Without the generous donations of time and skill by businesses, mechanics, engineers, flying enthusiasts and parents, the airplane building program would not be in existence,” said Barney Ballard, local businessman and former Air Force pilot. But “to make this program sustainable for the long term, we need help from industry and the community,” says 20 /

/ December 1, 2016

Larson, who describes the aircraft building program as “quite unique.” He is aware of only two other programs in the U.S. that have plane building projects. School Program Sandpoint High School’s aerospace program, now in its fourth year (the first year was at the Forest Bird Charter school ), offers two courses—a Survey of Aerospace and Aviation Careers, and Pilot Ground School. Led by Larson and Career Pathways instructor Nayla Morton, students in the Survey class learn about a broad spectrum of career paths, including air traffic controller and dispatcher, as well as pilot and mechanic. Bob Freiburger, who recently joined Quest Aircraft from Rockwell Collins, an international avionics firm, told students about aerospace engineering jobs. Field trips include visits to the North Idaho College’s Aerospace Center, Empire Aerospace, Quest Aircraft, Tamarack Aerospace Group, Timberline Helicopters, and the Spokane air traffic control center. A near-term goal is to offer an Introduction to Aircraft Maintenance Technology course and an Aviation Mechanics Summer Camp led by FAA-certified mechanics. Pilot Ground School covers training in the aeronautical knowledge areas required for the FAA Sport or Private Pilot examination. Topics include: aerodynamics, airplane systems, weather, FAA regulations, navigation principles, spin awareness and incident reporting requirements. In addition, Larson provides flight training at the Sandpoint Airport required for students pursuing a pilot’s license. Several of his former students are pursuing airline pilot jobs, including Sam Stocking who has been taking classes at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Mont. He is working towards an instructor’s license to build flying time required to fly for airlines. Larson sees a “very apparent change in his students becoming more confident and mature and better at teamwork as they take flight training. “And although based at Sandpoint H.S., participation in the aerospace program, including flight

training, is open to all high school-age students. Classes include students from Sandpoint Middle School, Northwest Academy and home schooled students, Larson says. As many as 40 students have gone through the local aerospace program, and several are enrolled in the aerospace program at North Idaho College. A senior student in the Aerospace Survey course, Joshua Kramer, has decided he wants to become an Air Force pilot, and hopes to

Aerospace students Caleb Watson, left, and Anne Watson, right, install replacement rivets into wing of Zenith Zodiac during plane-building project in Sandpoint airport hangar. enroll in AFROTC (Air Force Reserve Officers Training Course) at the University of Idaho, and possibly join the Air National Guard.

Reader seeking writers

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Do you enjoy suffering? Are you happy making little to no money? Do you know how to write a complete thought? You could be perfect for us! As many of you know, one of the reasons the Reader is so special is because we feature a wide variety of voices throughout the community. This is important, not only because Cameron and I can’t be everywhere at once, but because if it were just two of us writing the newspaper every week, you would probably all revolt and start lobbing bricks through our palatial downtown offices. We’re seeking some new blood to write a story for us from time to time. Ideally, we’re looking for someone who knows how to craft a story. Remember that whole “inverted pyramid” thing back in high school English class? That would be a good place to start. We’re also interested in having someone who can take assignments from time to time. We receive a large number of submissions throughout the year, and

that’s great, but it would be a great help to us to have someone interested in writing the occasional story for us. We’re most intersted in someone who can write about music, art, movies, local theater and community activities. This involves attending free shows, schmoozing with organizers and giving your opinions from time to time. Before you get too excited, you should know we don’t pay anything for writing. If you are an established journalist who wants to write for a paycheck, we applaud your efforts, but we can’t afford to pay per story. We’re more looking for someone who is interested in perfecting their craft, while also amassing a portfolio of published work. Many published writers have used the Reader as a launching pad, including yours truly. Interested parties should contact our editor Cameron Rasmusson at cameron@ sandpointreader.com. Be prepared to submit samples and tell us a little about yourself. A little personality goes a long way.

A column all about snow safety By Kevin Davis Reader Columnist Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of bi-monthly articles dealing with snow and avalanche safety in North Idaho. A revolving crew of writers within the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center will author the pieces. The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC) is gearing up for another busy winter as you read this article. IPAC’s new director, Jeff Thompson, hails from Colorado where he spent 20 years working in the ski industry. He’s excited to be here with his family, to be involved with IPAC, and also ski patrolling at Schweitzer Mountain. IPAC provides weekly avalanche advisories for the Selkirk and Cabinet Ranges and the St. Regis Basin and Coeur d’ Alene Divide along I-90. We also teach a lot of avalanche classes to snowgoers of all persuasions. Look for us on facebook and our website mentioned below. One thing you can look forward to, if you’re an addict for anything snow, is regular articles in the Reader on snow related topics. I wanted to kick off this season by telling everyone about the Doug Abromeit Avalanche Scholarship. This is a great opportunity for someone to attend a level one avalanche class sponsored through IPAC. Doug Abromeit was the founder of the National Avalanche Center (NAC). He is largely responsible for the vast network of avalanche centers across the western U.S. Doug also coordinated the avalanche control program that allowed the use of surplus military howitzers and ammunition for ski areas and highway passes. His occupation took him all over the U.S. to visit and work with different avalanche

The Abromeit Scholarship centers. He also traveled to other countries—Canada, Switzerland, India—to meet with colleagues, attend conferences and learn the trade from other practitioners. I first met Doug in 2004 when I traveled to Sun Valley for an NAC meeting. It was still early on in merging of all the avalanche centers. Doug had some connections with the ski area for a place to meet. The resort gave us a small office supply room to meet in, but Doug welcomed us graciously and set a tone of importance to our agenda amidst the cluttered confines. Even though I was in the company of some avalanche elites, Doug gave me a role in the group and made me feel accepted. Doug was the type of person you knew you could trust right from the first hand shake. Doug grew up in Sandpoint. He developed a love of the outdoors at the family cabin on the shores of the lake in Bottle Bay. When Schweitzer opened in 1963 Doug and his friends were some of the first skiers on the mountain. After he graduated from the University of Idaho he worked on a Blister Rust crew in Yellowstone and then as a firefighter. Doug was married to his wife Janet in 1974. Together, they went to Alaska’s North Slope as teachers. When they returned to the lower 48 they escorted 15 Inupiat kids for a visit to southern California. There was a stint with smoke-jumping while working with the Forest Service in McCall, Idaho. Then, following his true passion, Doug applied for and was hired on as Snow Ranger in Little Cottonwood Canyon outside Salt Lake City, Utah. This job set him on a course to later establish the National Avalanche Center. It was back in his home state of Idaho in Ketchum where he fulfilled his career

directing the NAC and working to keep military weapons and ammunition available for avalanche control programs. I think it was in 2011 when I went to Doug’s retirement party in Little Cottonwood Canyon, and I recall how excited he was to get back up to Sandpoint and explore some old haunts on skis. Doug died in 2013 before he and Janet could get back to Sandpoint, this time possibly for good. His family is still here as well as some of his long-time friends. IPAC dedicates the Doug Abromeit Avalanche Scholarship, now in its fourth year, to honoring his legacy of mentorship of youth, love of the mountains, community activism, and his significant contributions to public avalanche awareness. If you’re between the ages of 14 and 24, love to ski, board, snowmobile, climb, or snowshoe, this is an opportunity for you. If you’re a parent with kids that are getting into winter backcountry sports and you want them to get educated, this is for you. All you have to do is write an essay, shorter than this article, explaining why you should be selected to attend a Level 1 Avalanche Course and how you will use this education to promote avalanche awareness. For further information on deadlines and where to send, go to: Idahopanhandleavalanche.org. Just add this to your list of to do’s right after your wish list to Santa. Kevin Davis is a Hydrologic Technician with the US Forest Service and works all over Bonner and Boundary county on National Forest land doing watershed related projects involving culvert replacement, road maintenance, and fish habitat improvement.

This photo of Doug Abromeit was taken on the backside of Schweitzer. Photo by John “Oly” Olson.

Community to gather for Standing Rock By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff With the protests at Standing Rock heating up in the face of increasingly aggressive law enforcement action, locals are organizing to help the cause. A Standing Rock ally community event is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Gardenia Center, 400 Church St., in Sandpoint. Organized by Casey Calhoun, the event is a chance for residents to show their support for the protesters at the North and South Dakota Indian reservation. According to Calhoun, the event is a show of solidarity for the pipeline protest, which

centers on the pipeline’s risks to clean drinking water and its alleged violation of U.S.-Native American treaties. It’s also a salute to the more than 2,000 members of Veterans for Standing Rock, a group traveling to attend and protect the protest. In addition, Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper representatives will be on hand to educate attendees about protecting local waters like Lake Pend Oreille. Calhoun encourages all veterans, police officers, firefighters, EMS to dress in uniform for the occasion.

December 1, 2016 /

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This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

READ

Without fail, every time the cold weather moves in for the first time of the year, I find myself digging the dog-eared copy of “Misery” by Stephen King off the shelf. The novel follows the story of Paul Sheldon, a best-selling author whose “Misery” novels are the bane of his existance. His “number one fan” Annie Wilkes saves him from a deadly car accident and takes him captive in the snowy mountains of Colorado for a truly eerie novel that is far more grisly than the movie adaptation.

LISTEN

In anticipation to the ski season, I’ll revive the ongoing debate of whether it’s proper to listen to headphones while skiing/snowboarding. Personally, I’ve tried listening to music while on the mountain and really enjoyed it. It got so I was planning each run to coincide with a specific song, which had to be preloaded before getting off the chair. Then I forgot my iPod one day and realized how much I missed the natural sound of the mountain; the quiet, muffled screams of joy from fellow skiers, the tree branches slapping your helmet, the soft carve of turns in the powder. I’m in the camp of No Music now, because you just can’t beat the sounds of nature. Your thoughts?

WATCH

We all get amped for the start of the ski season in different ways. Sometimes I like to watch ‘80s ski movies that remind me of the good old neon days of skiing. I’m talking about such critical failures as “Aspen Extreme” and “Ski School.” Or “Cooper Mountain” starring a young and ridiculous Jim Carrey. Or perhaps “Better Off Dead” with John Cusack. The one that might hit closest to home is “Hot Dog... The Movie,” about an Idaho farm kid duking it out with a snooty European skier for the world championship (spoiler alert: he wins!). 22 /

/ December 1, 2016

The Straight Poop:

The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist Where am I taking my humans today? The last of the turkey leftovers have been consumed (sad sigh) and now I need to get serious about finding great gifts! Since my gig at the Reader pays big bucks, I’m hoping that this dog friendly business will offer me a good conversion rate as I barter with my bag of doggie treats. Wait for it, wait for it, surprises await for those who guess where I’m going. Here goes: •The namesake for this place was The Zoo •This is the most unique store in Sandpoint •Customers come here from all over the world •They have art you can play with •Tagua nuts live here •The black lab shop dog never needs to be walked •Got Gar Licity? •Sweet treats abound •This place is a duster’s delight! Go fetch! I got me some Great Stuff, located at 313 N. First Ave. Robin Campbell has owned the store since 2004, which was originally called The Zoo. When the first owners sold the Sandpoint store, the new management renamed it “Great Stuff” because folks would come into the store, look around and say, “Wow, what great stuff!” Robin bought the store a few years later. She did not want to

change the name, even though I suggested that she consider “Barkin’ Great Stuff.” She told me that our town boasts a tourist economy, however, she tries really hard to stock good value, unique, wonderful gifts with a broad range of prices that appeal to locals as well. In the early days, nobody brought dogs into the store. They were tied to the bench outside the store. As our town became more paw friendly, Robin would invite them into the store (if they brought in their human). I was so excited to finally meet the black lab shop dog. At first I thought that my BFF Belle was holiday shopping, until I took a sniff—you know the doggie handshake. The black lab was stuffed! As I tour the store, I am finding great (gift) stuff that will make you drool. Bring a tissue, no slobbering in here. The Missus loves to curl up by the fire with me and read. So how ‘bout a Peeramid Book Rest. This fabric goodie is designed to hold a book or an e-reader at a comfortable angle for reading. My kitty sister and I love to play those games on the Missus’ iPad, so this gizmo makes it easy for us. Wowza there’s a pocket on each side perfect for holding treats (or glasses) and a built in bookmark! The Mister’s grandson loves to play Brainiac games. Check out the travel friendly versions that fit neatly into a stocking or backpack.

Crossword Solution

Robin Campbell poses with Drake and Belle, the stuffed shop black lab. The mini racer cars zoom fast on the wood floor. Fur babies love to chase them. Personally, my paws are going for the art that you can play with: balance toys, seascapes, steampunk switch plate covers, wind chimes, spirals and solar powered globes. The sand pictures will keep me focused for hours while I gnaw on my dent treats. Need to bring something for a holiday party? Mix 1/3 jar of Gar Licity with oil and cream cheese and spread on crackers. Barkin’ good! I’m saving the best for last: chocolate (I’m taking the Missus’ word on this). The “Sweet Treat Counter” is stocked by a family owned business that has been making chocolate for years. This quality candy has no wax or

FIDDLIN’ RED Music Store

Instruments Repairs Lessons

hydrogenated oils. Robin never gets tired of watching people’s faces when she gives them a sample. They can taste the difference! Great Stuff snowballs? These festive treats are made with pretzels and sweet yogurt. No throwing these in the store, please. Local addicts blend their personal sweet stash of raisins peanuts, cranberries, pecans cherry and butter coffee colored peanuts daily. Be sure to get some of the World’s Best Gummies for all your BFFs. Great chew toys! And now for the best part: Robin loves fur babies. Her two cats Bella and Lizzie fit her lifestyle. The selection of greeting cards features these two felines, courtesy of Robin’s photographer sister. Hey Robin, when can I pose for the Drake card? Great Stuff dog rules: 1. Tail control requested (bigger dogs) 2. Leashes or dog purses required 3. Good manners, please 4. OK to growl or bark at the black lab shop dog, but not at the customers By the way, I’m still looking for Arfsolut Vodka and Kennel One. Does anyone know a dog friendly business that stocks these?

111 Church St., Spt, ID (208)946-6733 WWW.FIDDLINREDSIMPSON.COM

Sandpoint. Shop Small… Shop GREAT!

STAGE & SCREEN

Nutcracker continues holiday tradition By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff “The Nutcracker” is a cherished Christmas production all over the world, and Sandpoint is no exception. For more than two decades, the Eugene Ballet Company has wowed local audiences with the athleticism and grace that only a professional “Nutcracker” production can bring. This year, locals can expect the same sophistication, the same attention to detail and the same sweeping emotion that has defined past productions. And local families can count on the same thrill of seeing their youngsters in the roles of mice, bonbons, angels and party attendees. “We always sell out, so we encourage people to get their tickets as soon as possible, especially the families of the young performers,” said Hannah Combs, director of the Pend Oreille Arts Council. A collaboration between the Oregon-based Eugene Ballet Company and POAC, “The Nutcracker” is a unique opportunity to see professional dancers performing a beloved ballet at the peak of their skills. The performance mixes company dancers performing key roles with local children in supporting choreography, which gives it both the polish of a professional production and the local fun of seeing a friend or family member on stage. Speaking of the stage, it’s one of the biggest challenges about bringing “The Nutcracker” to Sandpoint, Combs said. But it also yields some unexpected benefits. The Panida stage is smaller than is usual for a full ballet production, which requires the creative team to adjust choreography and be mindful of space issues. On the other hand, the smaller environment lends the ballet a warmth that you don’t typically see, Combs said. “I think it works really well, because you get a much more intimate show where the characters really pop off the stage,” she added. Another challenge is readying local children for a variety of ballet setpieces. From the Christmas party to the battle between the Mouse King and Nutcracker armies to a trip to the Land of Sweets ruled by the Sugarplum Fairy, “The Nutcracker” is well-suited as a child’s first live theater experience. Each year, the Eugene Ballet Company sends a representative to Sandpoint to find children up for the task. In September, local kids gather with the Eugene Ballet dancer, who evaluates their ability by leading them through a series of fun exercises. “He makes a decision that day on which kids will be in performance,” Combs said. Afterward, a local dance instructor works with the kids every year to make sure they’re prepared when the big day

rolls around. It’s a very involved process, but thanks to guidance this year by Becky Lucas of DanceWorks Studio, Sandpoint kids are up for the challenge. “They have a rehearsal once a week, so they’ve been hard at work all fall,” Combs said. As for the Eugene Ballet Company cast, several old favorites are returning along with a few new tweaks. Yuki Beppu returns in the lead role of Clara, the girl who befriends the titular Nutcracker. Meanwhile, Eugene Ballet veteran Cory Betts takes on the role of the villainous Mouse King for the first time, while newcomer Colton West plays the Nutcracker. “We might have a different flavor with two new actors in the fight between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King, one of the most intense scenes of the ballet,” said Combs. “The Nutcracker” is one of POAC’s most popular and reliable annual fundraisers, so attendees can take pride in the fact that their ticket is funding local arts programs and education. The organization will also have work from its Kaleidoscope Program, an all-volunteer effort to bring arts education to kids, on display at its office next door to the Panida Theater. Be sure to drop by and see some of the work POAC has spearheaded in 2016.

Eugene Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” will play at the Panida Theater on Monday, Dec. 12. Courtesy photo.

See “The Nutcracker” at the Panida Theater Monday, Dec. 12. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the ballet starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 for POAC members or $12 for kids under 18. They are available at the POAC Gallery, Eve’s Leaves, Winter Ridge, and Eichardt’s Pub or online at http://artinsandpoint.org. December 1, 2016 /

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SPORTS

Your Worst Nightmare: a soccer team for serious enthusiasts only By Tim Henney Reader Contributor

After Sports Illustrated, 60 Minutes and The New York Times featured lead stories about Sandpoint’s intimidating Your Worst Nightmare soccer team, the world champion U.S. women’s and world champion wannabe men’s national soccer teams, envious and thoroughly miffed, threw down the gauntlet. Led by women’s team captain Carli Lloyd, World Cup goalie Hope Solo and famed player Abby Wambach, the ladies, lacking funds to fly here, arrived in a dilapidated 1941 chartered Greyhound. The Men’s National Soccer team glided in on a gleaming team jet. Determined to show these 11- and 12-year old Sandpoint pipsqueaks a thing or two, the world-class superstars strutted onto the Farmin

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/ December 1, 2016

Stidwell school soccer field, intent on destruction. But then, whoa! One look at the formidable Your Worst Nightmare team, shown here at its skulking, threatening finest, and the illustrious national athletes hightailed it back to their bus and jets waving white flags. I mean, can you blame them? (The World Cup women’s team, despite a record of championships far superior to the men’s, receive salaries a fraction of those paid the men. Thus, the enterprising ladies all chipped in to buy gas for the bumpy bus ride back to Los Angeles). Discreet inquiries among a number of his fellow volunteer coaches disclosed that Coach Justin Henney’s record over four consecutive seasons, coaching different soccer teams each season, is 26 wins, one loss, and one tie. Watch your back, Pete Carroll. No, wait! Wrong sport.

Front row, from left to right: Milla, Rylee, Grace, Adeline, Savannah, Alannah. Back row, left to right: Ellie, Coach Justin Henney, Zada, Cody, Nate, Dominique. Courtesy photo.

w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

Each week, we feature a new photograph taken from the same vantage point as one taken long ago. See how we’ve changed, and how we’ve stayed the same. Historical information provided and verified by Bonner County Museum staff and volunteers. The Museum is located at 611 S. Ella — (208) 263-2344.

The Sandpoint Community Hall on South First Ave. It used to be the USO Headquarters in 1936. This photo was most likely taken during WWII

CROSSWORD

c. 1942

ACROSS

The same view today. The Sandpoint Community Hall remains a popular community gathering place, with forums, dances, troop meetings and various functions taking place within its historic logs.

2016

Wortdhe of

Week

pleonasm

/PLEE-uh-naz-uh m/

[noun] 1. The use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy, (i.e. “free gift” or “true fact”. “Any salty writer is repelled by pithy statements and pleonasms.”

Corrections: We usually hear about a mistake or misspelling, so we’re assuming that all is well in the land of corrections. -BO

1. Baroque composer 5. Loft 10. Vipers 14. Attraction 15. Small fluid-filled sac 16. Wicked 17. Alteration 19. Bright thought 20. Pen part 21. “Smallest particles” 22. Something to shoot for 23. File 25. Mobile phones 27. Autonomic nervous system 28. Honeymooner 31. Apple or orange 34. Burrowing mammals 35. Actress Lupino 60. Behold, in old Rome 36. Piecrust ingredient 61. Marries 37. Stream 62. It makes dough rise 38. Smudge 63. A doe or stag 39. Sphere 40. Prongs DOWN 41. Motif 1. Flavorless 42. Nonviolent 2. Sound 44. Court 3. Grouches 45. What we are called 4. Cool, once 46. Diplomacy 5. Wanes 50. Simpleton 6. Coach 52. Stimulate 7. Snip 54. Be unwell 8. Kind of triangle 55. Smog 9. Tin 56. Waistband 10. Zealously 58. Beers 11. A glancing blow 59. Extraterrestrial

Solution on page 22 12. Urgent request 13. Secure against leakage 18. Corrupt 22. Ailments 24. Told 26. Pitcher 28. Book of fiction 29. Biblical kingdom 30. A romantic meeting 31. Dud 32. Unusual 33. Make more city-like 34. Small 37. Abundant

38. Sneaker or pump 40. Office fill-in 41. Laser printer powder 43. Gentle stroke 44. European bison 46. Exhaust 47. Condiment 48. Subsequently 49. Church officer 50. Defrost 51. Welt 53. Dogfish 56. Islet 57. What we sleep on

Instead of a trap door, what about a trap window? The guy looks out it, and if he leans too far, he falls out. Wait. I guess that’s like a regular window. December 1, 2016 /

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Poac Presents

POAC PRESENTS:

Eugene Ballet’s ‘THE NUTCRACKER’ Monday, Dec. 12 | 7 p.m. The Panida Theater Experience the holiday spirit and a little magic with loved ones of all ages at Eugene Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” The Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier will ﬂy you away to the Snow Kingdom and the Land of the Sweets, but not before battling the no-so-scary Mouse King and his Pirate Henchmice. purchase tickets at the following locations: POAC Gallery, ArtinSandpoint.org, Eve's Leaves, Eichardt's, Winter Ridge, and Panida.org $25 for POAC supporters | $30 for adults | $12 for youth (18 and under)

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/ December 1, 2016

Supporting the arts in Sandpoint for 30 years

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