Reader_January23_2020

I Vol. 17 Issue 4

January 23, 2a2a I

Arts, entertainment, bluster anll some new:

SJHLNESS IN MUHON Photographer Woods W heatcroft hosts a slideshow of recent work at The Longshot

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PEOPLE compiled by

watching

Susan Drinkard If you could be a snow bird and go south for the winter, where would you go and for how long?

“I’d go to Hawaii and stay forever. Then there’s Florida, but there are a lot of sweetsmelling flowers and a large variety of birds in Hawaii.”

Cheryl Schenck Med tech Near Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

Welp, I’m back in the saddle after a month of sun in the Caribbean. I’m happy to report that I had a successful sailing voyage from Grenada to the Virgin Islands and have returned with a bit of a tan and a healthy taste for cheap rum. So it goes.

I was saddened to learn that Steve Lockwood, a friend of the Reader for many years, passed away in my absence. Zach Hagadone wrote a touching tribute to Steve on Page 22 – I encourage you all to read it and remember Steve’s impact on our community.

I am thankful to the wonderful Reader staff for keeping things running while I was off recharging my batteries. Thank you Zach, Lyndsie and Jodi for keeping the home fires burning, with a lot of help from Reader Editor Emeritus Cameron Rasmusson.

It may take me a few days to get back in the swing of things, but for now, I’ll gladly take the helm again and give these hard working souls a bit of respite.

-Ben Olson, publisher

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) cameron@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert (Staff Writer) cameron@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Woods Wheatcroft (cover), Zach Hagadone, Lyndsie Kiebert, Bill Borders, Jeff Thompson

“No, I wouldn’t want to be a snow bird. I love it here. I’ve been here 29 years and I enjoy the winters and the four seasons.”

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Lyndsie Kiebert, Ben Olson, Cameron Rasmusson, Lorraine H. Marie, Emily Erickson, James Richard Johnson, Brenden Bobby, Susan Drumheller, Scott Taylor

Brooke Sharp Feline caretaker Sandpoint

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: TPC Commercial Printing Lewiston, ID

“I have an extensive trail project in the mountains of Mexico I’ve been thinking about for some time. I’d like to be gone from Thanksgiving to New Year’s.”

Subscription Price: $115 per year

OPEN 11:30 am

GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS

Robert Zweifel Bodhisattva Sunnyside “I’d go to St. Petersburg, Florida and stay there the rest of my life. I liked St. Pete when I lived there with my first husband many years ago.”

Aleta Batke 92 year-old retired caretaker Blanchard and Sandpoint “To be completely honest, I would not want to be a snow bird. I like the four seasons in North Idaho and I like to embrace the parts of winter that people leave to get away from.

I think there is a warmth, a community spirit, unique among those of us who stay.”

Stephanie Offermann Receptionist Sandpoint

ith w b u The P ty! i l a n o Pers SUNDAY MUSIC SESSION WITH

TIM SNIDER January 26th, 7:00 PM

212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint

208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994

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

Woods Wheatcroft snapped our cover photo this week. Come check out his work at The Longshot Saturday, Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, though donations are welcome.

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NEWS

A new push against religious medical neglect

Faith healing opponents hope for progress in 2020

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Contributor

It’s been a long seven years for opponents of Idaho laws protecting so-called “faith healing” practitioners.

Since the Nixon administration, Idaho has offered some of the nation’s most sweeping protections for parents who turn to prayer and hoped-for divine intercession — not doctors — when their children are sick. Proponents pitch the laws as a protection of religious rights. But for the better part of a decade, a vocal opposition has grown in numbers and vigor on the argument that the legal shield is tantamount to child abuse. Over the past several weeks, they’ve mobilized in the hopes of finally getting the issue in front of the Idaho Legislature.

In mid-January, Bruce Wingate, founder of the advocacy group Protect Idaho Kids; Idaho Children’s Trust Fund Director Roger Sherman; and Boise Democratic Rep. John Gannon joined Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue, Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson, former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones and First Presbyterian Church Pastor Andrew Kukla at a Statehouse panel to argue that changing faith healing laws isn’t just a moral necessity — it’s also a legal one.

“From our standpoint, we agree that everyone should be able to believe whatever they want,” Wingate said. “The difference is [that] the actions you take because of those beliefs should not be used to harm others.”

Idaho’s faith healing protections date back to the late 1960s and early ’70s. Inspired by their Christian Science beliefs, senior Nixon administration officials H.R. Haldeman and John Ehrlichman — of Watergate fame — used their influence to introduce language protecting faith healing practices into federal regulations.

States had to adopt the language to qualify for federal funding.

The verbiage stated: “A parent or guardian legitimately practicing his religious beliefs who thereby 4 /

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does not provide specified medical treatment for a child, for that reason alone shall not be considered a negligent parent or guardian.”

Despite being removed in 1983, many states retained the faith healing provisions in their own laws for decades to come.

It’s an example of federal interference that would typically run contrary to Idaho’s libertarian spirit, according to Sherman.

“We usually don’t like that kind of thing around here,” he said.

What’s far worse, opponents argue, is that the laws have a direct impact on Idaho kids — especially those growing up within the Followers of Christ religious sect. Prominent in Canyon County, the Followers of Christ have strict beliefs restricting the use of modern medical care. Former member Linda Martin, for instance, witnessed the death of her newborn cousin from pneumonia.

“They believe that medicine is a temptation from Satan, and to give in is to give in to that temptation,” she told the Reader in 2016, when the issue was proposed for discussion in the Senate Health and Welfare Committee.

“They also believe to give in is for people of weak faith or no faith. People of the world are seen as tempted.”

While a full tally of deaths due to faith healing practices is under-reported and therefore hard to calculate, a survey of Followers of Christ graves reveals a disproportionate number of child interments. According to advocacy organization Children’s Healthcare Is A Legal Duty, 204 of the 592 graves in the largest cemetery, Peaceful Valley, belong to minor children — a figure 10 times the state average for minor child death and stillbirth. Likewise, a 2015 report from the Governor’s Task Force on Children at Risk identified two specific cases of children who died in 2012 from religiously motivated medical neglect.

Despite this, faith healing opponents’ efforts to secure a legislative committee hearing have

so far been fruitless. In 2016, it appeared that a bill sponsored by Gannon would receive a hearing in the Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee headed by Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls, but the hearing never materialized. “[Heider] was not a champion of this, and his constituencies are part of the faith groups that practice faith healing,” said Wingate.

At the recent Statehouse panel, Boise Police Chief Mike Masterson and Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue argued that the laws effectively set up a double standard — protecting one class of people in situations that would land anyone else in jail.

“The fact that we have [Masterson and Donahue] in this discussion this year, I think that says volumes,” Wingate said. “Their attitude is we should have equal laws for everyone.”

Former Idaho Chief Justice Jones backed the law enforcement officials’ legal assessment, calling the faith healing protections unconstitutional.

“We don’t have standing so we can’t take this to court, but if we did, we could get this thrown out for constitutional reasons,” said Wingate.

While it’s impossible to set odds on whether the Idaho Legislature will take action on faith

healing laws this year, Wingate and Sherman are encouraged by the momentum behind the movement. They said there’s more energy than ever behind the issue. What’s more, they have a new strategy for maximizing their chances of success.

First, they intend to temper their request. Rather than repealing the faith healing protections outright, the new proposal is to set up sideboards that can evaluate whether a child’s rights have been violated through the withholding of medical care. That alone would give law enforcement and prosecutors a legal angle in situations that otherwise tie their hands.

“By asking that some sideboards be placed on the exemption, there’s at least some way for law enforcement to protect the life of that child,” Sherman said.

A secondary strategy this year is submitting a bill to the Idaho Senate Judiciary Committee — not the Health and Welfare Committee. By approaching the issue from a legal standpoint, Wingate and Sherman believe they improve their odds of securing a hearing.

“There are hopeful signs, and we’ve been told we will get a hearing,” Wingate said. “But we’ve been told lots of things

Graphic courtesy Childusa.org before.”

This week could prove vital for the entire endeavor. According to Sherman, the aim is to submit a bill to the Senate Judiciary Committee by Friday, Jan. 24.

From there, the legislative wheels will begin turning to set a hearing date — or at least, that’s what advocates hope. The other essential step is persuading Republican lawmakers to champion the cause.

“With only seven senators in the Legislature who are Democrats, that’s not going to go very far without Republican sponsorship,” said Wingate.

Wingate and Sherman believe there’s no time to lose in taking action on faith healing protections. With neighboring Oregon among the latest states to take action to restrict legal protections for faith healing in its own religious exemptions, they worry that Followers of Christ members and other religious sects will see Idaho as an increasingly attractive place to live. That, according to faith healing opponents, has the potential to make an already bad situation worse.

“We don’t want Idaho to become a haven for that,” said Sherman.

NEWS

Derailment clean up continues on Kootenai River

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

Efforts to clean up the Kootenai River are ongoing after three locomotive engines and six rail cars jumped the track Jan. 1, with crews focused on removing one remaining engine from the water in the coming days.

“We are now positioning equipment, including ground hoists and bulldozers, to safely remove the remaining locomotive from the river,” BNSF spokesperson Courtney Wallace told the Reader Jan. 21. “Using air bags placed by a Portland-based dive team, the plan is to lift the locomotive and bring it across to the north shore of the river.”

Wallace said BNSF hopes to begin that process the weekend

of Saturday, Jan. 25.

“The river bottom will then be checked for debris and cleaned if found,” she said.

“The site will [then] be returned to its former condition.

The overall operation is expected to be completed in early February.”

Wallace said BNSF continues to “work closely with regulatory agencies to monitor the river and protect the surrounding environment.”

Though analysis of the derailment and its effects continues, Bonners Ferry City Engineer Mike Klaus said a main concern has been on monitoring sources of city drinking water.

Klaus said that Bonners Ferry has two surface water intakes that deliver water to its treatment plant: Myrtle

Dover seeking grant for trail connection

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

The city of Dover is seeking funding from the Idaho Department of Transportation for a project to connect the trail on Dover Bay Boulevard to the Sandpoint-Dover Community Trail along U.S. Highway 2.

The grant from the Transportation Alternatives Program would enable the city to construct a new bike/pedestrian path from the terminus of the Sandpoint-Dover trail under the U.S. 2 overpass to Loretta Lane, south on Fourth Street, then west on the old highway to Dover Bay Boulevard.

Another route could follow Old U.S. 2 to connect with the Dover Bay trail system.

According to an email sent by the city of Dover to potential supporters of the grant application, the project would fill a gap in U.S. Bike Route 10, a planned bike pathway following U.S. 2 from Anacortes, Wash. to St. Ignace, Mich.

The location of the trail extension runs through the core of Old Dover, including the future post office site, SPOT Bus stop, school

bus stop and Dover Joe & Roll coffee shop at the intersection of Old U.S. 2 and Fourth Street.

According to Dover city officials, “The location at which the project is being proposed has some of the highest traffic volumes of anywhere in the city. This separated pathway is needed to ensure the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists.”

What’s more, providing a dedicated bike/pedestrian route through town would fully connect Dover to Sandpoint — and that’s something Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail can get behind.

“The Friends of POB Trail will provide a letter of support, because while it’s on the other side of our larger multi-city community, it does lead to greater connectivity of all our communities,” Friends of POB Trail President Susan Drumheller told the Reader in an email.

“Won’t it be great when you can jump on a bike and safely ride all the way from Kootenai to Dover on dedicated bike paths or lanes? We are really close to that now, but could use some better connections in key places — such as the one that Dover is trying to create with this grant,” she added.

Creek and the Kootenai River.

He said that after the derailment, diesel was observed in the Kootenai River around the city’s water intake area, making that source unusable.

“If the city were to have turbidity problems with the Myrtle Creek source, the city would have struggled significantly to provide enough drinking water to its customers,” Klaus said.

Diesel fuel creates a sheen on the Kootenai River near a backup water intake for the city of Bonners Ferry.

Courtesy photo.

LEARNING BY DOING

Clark Fork Junior/Senior High School hosted its fourth annual Experiential Learning Showcase Jan. 17, where students of all ages shared what they learned during the fall semester in their experiential learning tracks with teachers and members of the community. “Tracks” constitute groups of students focused on a certain topic for the semester. Each Friday, students go on field trips or participate in hands-on learning activities based on that track.

Pictured above, clockwise: Brooke Kennedy and Emily Myers of the Healthy Living Track; Cole Sanroman and Owen Bailey of the Fishing Track; Kayla Swales and Lizzy Miller of the Arts and Culture Track; Wyatt Mintken presents his Outdoor Track project to CFHS teacher Dawn Schatz. Photos by Lyndsie Kiebert.

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NEWS

Your Health Idaho enrolls 89,000 Idahoans for 2020

By Reader Staff More than 89,000 Idahoans signed up for 2020 health insurance coverage through the state insurance exchange, Your Health Idaho, during open enrollment, which ended Dec. 16, 2019.

Enrollments are down approximately 14,000 from the same time last year — largely due to Medicaid expansion.

Exchange administrators expected and planned for the decline, though they had estimated as many as 18,000 individuals would move from the exchange to Medicaid under the newly expanded program.

Your Health Idaho Executive Director Pat Kelly said that although enrollments have declined, he is encouraged by the final figures and overall interest in Idaho’s marketplace.

“We always knew Medicaid expansion was a possibility, and that as a result, enrollments on the exchange would be impacted. We’ve planned for this change and do not expect to see any material adjustments to our long-term sustainability,” Kelly stated in a news release. “What we are most excit-

ed about at Your Health Idaho is the number of Idahoans who are new to the exchange. Many of these individuals and families now have comprehensive health insurance for this first time, and most are eligible for a tax credit and lower monthly premiums with Your Health Idaho.”

Of the 89,000 Idahoans enrolled for 2020, approximately 75% renewed their coverage from 2019 while new customers made up 25% of total enrollments.

With the open enrollment period past, Idahoans must experience a “qualifying life event,” such as having a baby or losing employer coverage, to be eligible for a special enrollment period. More information is available on the Your Health Idaho website at yourhealthidaho.org/special-enrollment.

Nominations sought for Women Honoring Women award

By Reader Staff Women Honoring Women, an organization committed to recognizing Bonner County women who have contributed to the betterment of the community through their service and leadership, is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Women of Wisdom Life Achievement Award.

Nominations will be accepted through Friday, Feb. 28, based on a number of criteria: • 65 years or older; • Vision/Collaboration: Possesses vision(s) and achieves goals through collaboration; • Love of Learning: Exhibits a love of life-long learning through study or experience; • Community: Shows a long-term commitment and positive impact to Bonner County; • Leadership: Demonstrates dedicated leadership; • Inspiration: Inspires others and sets an 6 /

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example for future generations of women; • Grace/Courage/Integrity: Faces life’s challenges with grace and courage and lives with dignity, integrity and honor.

Posthumous nominations are accepted.

The organization has honored 115 local women since 1999, and will host this year’s awards luncheon Saturday May 9, 11 a.m. at the Pend Oreille Events Center. Tickets must be reserved and paid for by Friday May 1. Cost is $30.00. Seating is limited.

To submit a nomination, write a letter including the nominator’s name, email, physical address and phone number, as well as a description of how the nominee meets each of the Women of Wisdom criteria Email nominations to womenhonoringwomen@gmail.com or mail to Women Honoring Women, 419 Upper Humbird Drive, Sandpoint, ID 83864. Entries must be postmarked by Feb. 28.

For more information, contact Women Honoring Women at its email address or via Facebook: Bonner County Women of Wisdom.

Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond

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

A recent sampling: Sociologists say physically attractive workers typically earn higher incomes than “average” looking workers, and women are pressured to bridge the “grooming gap” with careful selection of clothing and makeup. Those who don’t are paid less, In These Times reports. A 2017 study showed the average female worker wears $8 worth of makeup daily, requiring an average of 55 minutes for application.

Ranchers in 1970 earned 70 cents for every dollar consumers spent on beef.

Today they earn fewer than 40 cents, according to Mother Jones. Their profit margins have fallen 30% since 2016, while meat packers’ profits have risen 68%.

The Trump administration plans to eliminate environmental planning protections from projects subject to review, which would include most mines, pipelines, refineries and chemical plants, thus erasing 50 years of basic environmental rulemaking. The proposal also forbids planning for climate change. The New York Times reports that projects requiring environmental review would be exempt from addressing cumulative impacts.

In case your dog needs to know: Americans spent $75.38 billion on their pets in 2019, and 59% of pet owners said they planned to buy their pet a gift during the holidays, fortune.com reports.

Top leaders in Australia have been accused of indirectly feeding the nation’s devastating fires by ignoring numerous warnings from scientists about their continent’s climate emergency. In the G20 Brown to Green Report ranking of the world’s largest economies Australia ranked as one of the worst with regards to taking action to address climate change.

As reported to The Guardian, Australia’s emissions are increasing (U.S. greenhouse gas emissions dropped 2.1% in 2019), despite Australia having excellent solar and wind energy potential. Instead, Australian leaders have focused on building up the coal and gas industries — both drivers of climate change.

There are seven chemical food additives linked to cancer, but the Food and Drug Administration allows them to remain on the market, according to EarthJustice. The substances imitate mint, cinnamon, citrus and other flavors used

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

in consumables like beer, candy and ice cream. EarthJustice has sued the FDA to prohibit their use in foodstuffs.

What would Colonial tea partiers think? U.S. Corporations, aided by some elected officials, have been creating laws intended to deter protesters from showing up at sites the new laws regard as “critical infrastructure”: fossil fuel, chemical, electrical utility sites and even factory farms. Protesters can be charged with “criminal interference” for getting in the way of corporate profits, and can face federal charges (up to two years imprisonment), even if there is no violence or vandalism. NPR reports nine states have adopted such legislation, which has been promoted by the American Legislative Exchange Council. Four more states are exploring the idea. Initial critical infrastructure laws in the 1990s were meant to address vulnerabilities to basic transportation, cyber security concerns and power distribution. Critics say the new laws will result in violations of First Amendment rights, and point out that they target peaceful protests. Any organizations involved in such a protest can be fined up to $500,000. Advocates of the laws say they are “protecting” the protesters from harm.

Individuals afflicted with lyme disease will want to read the article Life With Lyme in September 2019 edition of The Atlantic magazine, written by Meg O’Rourke, editor of The Yale Review. She points out that fellow chronic sufferers fail to be helped when doctors dismiss their complaints, due in part to symptoms not always being the same.

Blast from the past: Ten years ago this week five of the nine the U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled in the Citizens United vs. FEC case that corporations and labor unions should be free to use their funds to engage in campaign communications. In a 90-page dissenting statement, Associate Justice John Paul Stevens wrote, “few outside the majority of this Court would have thought its [democracy’s] flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics,” and, “A democracy cannot function effectively when its constituent members believe laws are being bought and sold.” According to Public Citizen, 80% of people want Citizens United overturned, which is the plan put forward by the Democracy for All Amendment.

PERSPECTIVES

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

The women who shaped me

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

I’m always surprised by the emotions that whirl around the Women’s March, acquiring intricacies in passing through each attendee, speaker and canvasser, eventually settling right inside my chest.

This year was no different, with the little gym transforming from a middle-school sports arena into a collection of people shaped by their own experiences and perspectives, with unique reasons for being there.

In attendance were the gatekeepers — or the women directly responsible for organizing events, cultivating community, and championing women’s and human rights for decades. Also in the gym were the action-inspirers, or the people who create momentum in themselves and others from the sheer force of their will and strength of their convictions.

They manned booths, passed out petitions and expressed their identities by having their “boots on the ground.” Finally, there were the supporters, a collection of people who came to listen, learn and find camaraderie in a cause.

As for me, there were many reasons to attend the Women’s March. I joined the event out of a sense of duty; as an expression of kinship and shared beliefs; and, mostly, to celebrate the women in my life who have shaped me — all of whom fit like puzzle pieces into my personality.

The first piece of my puzzle is, of course, my mom, Sue.

Emily Erickson.

Her shaping of me extended beyond the influence inherent in motherhood, like encouraging my love of pickles, my preference of books over TV and my independent spirit through a self-inflicted bowl hair cut. In addition to the skills, mannerisms and tastes naturally passed from mother to daughter, I learned to crave genuine connection with other people.

It wasn’t uncommon for my mom to follow up the colloquial, “How are you?” with, “Are you sure about that?,” encouraging people to push past social niceties and open up honestly about the state of their lives.

She championed empathy and perspective, always considering people’s circumstances when confronted with their actions.

My mom was a connoisseur of “heart-to-heart” conversations, hugged people because she meant it and would always make time to listen.

I don’t know what I’d be without her.

The next piece of my puzzle, to which any little sister can relate, is my big sister. Britt, six years my elder, embodied everything I wanted to be — my

childhood being a blur of striving to keep up, but never quite being developed enough to do so. More profound than the age difference between Britt and me, however, was the fearlessness and untethered spirit that guided her; an attitude toward living by which I couldn’t help but be shaped.

Britt’s fearlessness was paired with my insatiable desire to keep up, resulting in regular confrontations with danger and boundary pushing. Yet, complementing the collection of scraped knees and stories we’d never tell mom, were the experiences from which I learned I was capable of so much more than I thought. Even today, Britt is a dis-regarder of convention, a pusher of limits (especially her own) and an example of how to live life fully, unhindered by fear. I don’t know who I’d be without her.

My next puzzle piece is a woman without a socially-recognized title, but to whom I owe more than I could ever put in words. Chrissy applied to be my caretaker just after my first birthday, a position she’d not only acquire, but hold on to well past her formal employment. From Chrissy, I learned the incredible impact of always showing up for people, even when they don’t ask you to.

Her showing up for me was both literal — attending every cross country meet, band concert, and weekend-long tournament — and also figurative, being a beacon of safety in the tumultuous environment that was adolescence, my parent’s divorce and a conflict-ridden upbringing.

Chrissy is a pillar of support, the pinnacle of steadiness and the embodiment of giving care.

I don’t know where I’d be without her.

The remaining pieces of my puzzle are ever growing, with my not-quite-a-sister Gwen demonstrating that “family” is not contingent on blood; Sara, that the best things in life are often ones you could never foresee; Mara, that laughter can

solve almost any problem; Cinda, that goofiness is a virtue; Sara, that adventure is everywhere; Katie, that dreams are for the taking; and Jamie, that caring for yourself is as important as caring for others.

I’m so grateful for the women in my life and the ones I haven’t met yet, all of whom inspire me, support me and will perpetually shape me.

Retroactive

By BO

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WEIRD NEWS

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

18,000-YEAR-OLD PUPPY FOUND FROZEN IN SIBERIA Possibly the oldest dog ever found was unearthed recently in Siberia.

The body was discovered in permafrost in Siberia but DNA tests fail to determine its ancestry.

According to researchers, the “amazingly well-preserved” puppy is estimated to be around 18,000 years old. Scientists have named it Dogor, a local word for friend.

The male dog’s nose, teeth and fur are in remarkable condition.

Researcher Love Dalén said the puppy feels like a “very recently dead animal.”

David Stanton, a researcher at the Centre for Palaeogenetics in Sweden, said it was “normally relatively easy” to tell the difference between a dog and a wolf.

“We have a lot of data from it already, and with that amount of data, you’d expect to tell if it was one or the other,” he told CNN. “The fact that we can’t might suggest that it’s from a population that was ancestral to both dogs and wolves,” Stanton added.

Dogor is suspected to be from a time when dogs became domesticated, leading Stanton to believe Dogor might be “halfway between” dogs and wolves.

Research published in the journal Nature Communications in 2017 suggests dog domestication appeared to have happened between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago.

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COMMUNITY

Parks and Rec round-up

By Reader Staff

Free Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society presentation Sandpoint Parks and Recreation and the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society bring you free monthly presentations at the Sandpoint Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.). The presentations cover a variety of natural resource-related topics ranging from wildflower identification, to forest tree management, to mushroom gathering and more.

Presentations take place from 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on the fourth Saturday of the month through June. Catch this month’s presentation on Saturday, Jan. 25.

No need to pre-register.

For more information about the Native Plant Society or upcoming KNPS programs, visit nativeplantsociety.org CPR/AED with optional First Aid

American Health and Safety Institute’s CPR/AED with optional First Aid is a general community course for persons with little or no medical training, who need CPR/AED and/or First Aid card for work OSHA requirements, school or personal knowledge.

The course meets American Heart Association guidelines.

All sessions held at City Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.).

Ages 16 and up are welcome, additionally ages 12-15 allowed if they hold a P&R Babysitting Certification or are concurrently registering with a guardian/adult.

A minimum of eight registered participants are needed to run the course.

The deadline for online registration is Thursday, Jan. 30 and the class is scheduled for Monday, Feb 3: CPR/AED from 4 to 6 p.m. and First Aid from 6 to 8 p.m. CPR/AED class fee is $35 with First Aid option for an additional $25.

Register online at sandpointidaho.gov/parksrecreation or visit the Parks and Rec. office at 1123 Lake St.

Portrait Drawing for ages 10 and up

Fundamentals in line, shape, contour, value, texture and canon of proportion will be explored.

The registration deadline is Friday, Jan. 31 with classes set for Tuesdays, Feb. 4-25 from 5:30-7 p.m. at Community Hall (204 S. First Ave). The cost is $43 per person ($5 in-city discount). A minimum of four students are needed to hold the class. Students who have previously had a basic drawing class may join.

Students will need to bring an 8”x10” or larger drawing pad, at least three pencils/charcoal of different grades and an eraser.

Little Dribblers basketball, grades 1-2

This clinic-style basketball program is designed to introduce first- and second-grade participants to the game of basketball and teach the basics of the game with an emphasis on dribbling and ball handling. Sandpoint youth sport jersey is required.

The Little Dribblers program takes place at Kootenai Elementary School on Wednesdays, Feb. 12, 19, 26 and March 4, 11, 18, 2019, from 2:30-4 p.m. for first-graders and 4-5:30 p.m. for second-graders. Fee is $23 ($5 discount for city of Sandpoint residents).

Volunteer coaches are needed. Coaches are supplied with a knowledgeable coordinator.

Register online at sandpointidaho.gov/parksrecreation or at Sandpoint Parks and Rec. Department, 1123 Lake St. For those needing a sports jersey, the cost is $14. Jerseys can be paid for online and picked up at the Parks and Rec. office.

For more information about any of these programs, visit Sandpoint Parks and Recreation at 1123 Lake St. or online at sandpointidaho.gov/parksrecreation.

Steve Lockwood: ‘One in a million’...

Dear editor, One of Sandpoint’s bona fide good guys died the other day. Gentleman and community leader Steve Lockwood will be mightily missed by his beloved wife and soulmate Molly O., his family, and colleagues from years as a Bell Telephone System standout in the Pacific Northwest. And no less so by a fraternity of buddies who meet mornings at the Tango Cafe downtown and came to know this honorable man well.

Steve was a conscientious and effective leader — not of the Tango fellowship, where equality reigns, but of people and worthy projects during a memorable corporate career and afterwards. The Tango “malcontents” continue to meet daily, but Steve has left an enormous emotional gap at the table. Ask Barney or Don or Lee or Jerry or Lou or Dan or Marty or Erik or Bob or Michael or Rex or Dick or Bruce or Foster. Or ask me.

I didn’t know Steve as long as many Sandpoint pals did, but I came to know him well. For one thing, we shared similarly lopsided senses of humor. And we bonded because we were once fellow members of the erstwhile Bell Telephone System. Back in our day — pre-Amazon, pre-Walmart, pre-Apple, pre-Silicon Valley — AT&T (parent of the Bell System companies) was the world’s biggest business. Because of managers like Steve, the Bell System was an honest, noble and hugely successful enterprise.

I spent many corporate years at its NYC headquarters, spending advertising and public relations dollars that Steve and his partners at Pacific Northwest Bell earned through their acumen and, in his case, extraordinary goodwill and grace.

He was the proverbial “one in a million.”

Maybe a billion.

In saluting the young RAF spitfire and hurricane fighter pilots who defended London during the 1940 Luftwaffe blitz, Winston Churchill said, “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” It’s no stretch to suggest that in these challenging times the civil, caring, responsible citizens of Sandpoint owe much to Steve Lockwood.

Tim H. Henney Sandpoint

Show us the money: 2A doesn’t supersede 1A...

Dear editor, Of all the things that the Bonner County Commissioners have done recently, the denial of information to the public on important matters is the most despicable. Hiding behind executive session rules to deny the public’s right to know how their tax monies are being spent is the height

of arrogance and hubris.

I’m talking about the Festival gun kerfuffle. This lawsuit should never have been filed. Making the county and city taxpayers pay for this totally baseless vanity suit without making the costs known is unconscionable. Since when does the decided minority dictate to the majority? Oh, wait, this is Bonner County and the gun rights people control everything. Personally I will never accept that the Second Amendment supersedes the First Amendment.

McDonald and his bullying cohorts think it is OK to ride roughshod over the majority. Well I’m sure that many others disagree. The Festival has done well for decades without armed ticket holders.

If McDonald’s goal is to kill The Festival (with the attendant loss of revenue) this looks like the way to do it — and cost the taxpayers along the way.

Gil Beyer Sandpoint

Costs of 5G outweigh benefits...

Dear editor, Technology can have great effects on life in general, but do we often take the time to ponder whether technology can have an effect that is possibly worse than the benefit? Can a technology’s impact be limited to its positive attributes?

5G implementation is this catch-22.

5G provides us with faster information and the connection to the Internet of Things (IoT), but the science and physics of microwave radiation constantly battering our biological cell structures is by many accounts, except the telecom industry, problematic.

For 5G small cells to be rolled out in optimum service potential by T-mobile, transmission nodes would need to be placed approximately every 200-300 feet (every telephone pole) between towers (ehtrust.org).

Perhaps we could just keep the wireless radiation in the “economic zones,” where it would provide the most benefit and allow residents who live in the countryside to be free of the environmental contamination, until we decide to enter into the “economic zones.” EMF radiation is cumulative!

This is certainly both an assault on all the environments — health, domestic and wild animals included — as well as a property rights issue. Watch this YouTube introduction to the 5G issue to start conversation of how, where and why we should allow this technological installation: https://youtu.be/HMczP0oInVk EHSidaho.org will be showing a movie at the Bonner County Public Library on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 1 p.m. If you find the topic intriguing and worthy of further research and discussion, please attend.

Dan Rose Samuels

PERSPECTIVES

Covenants can be a good thing

By James Richard Johnson Reader Contributor When I consider the ecological advantages to trains versus trucks carrying freight across America, I do not find myself opposing a second railroad bridge across the lake near Sandpoint.

But, I believe building a new bridge in Bonner County and Sandpoint should be considered very much like when one buys a condominium: There will be certain covenants that must be agreed to for the good of fellow owners. Imagine each homeowner in Bonner County as being one of the condo owners.

I would suggest that some of the “covenants” that the railroad (Burlington Northern-Santa Fe) must agree to would include: 1. Whatever happens regarding accidents or pollution to the lake or river, in no way can the city or county ever

be sued or held liable, even if they vote to approve a new bridge. This includes passenger trains, as well.

2. The new bridge shall be close enough to the old bridge that in the event that railroad cars go off the track or into the lake, a special crane with engine can be quickly moved to the adjacent track to lift the railroad cars.

The crane should be parked on a siding permanently to be ready. Also, several barges with motors should be moored in close proximity to the bridges.

3. At several places under the bridges, there should be buoys and markers for boats, and sensor spotlights that would turn on in the dark to light up the boat routes.

4. Every rail car containing flammable or hazardous materials must have a marking on each side so responders to an incident will know instantly whether to move in or draw back, and what the risks are immediately.

5. For approval for the new bridge,

THE READER IN D.C.

there shall be no noise at certain crossings from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. at locations to be determined at public hearings.

6. The crossing on Highway 200 leading to the Bonner Mall shall not be closed.

I do not know if presently trains are limited to one mile or 100 cars in length. An article in The Wall Street Journal dated June 15, 2018 states, “freight trains are on track to stretch up to 3 miles long with 200 cars or more … and it is being powered, in part, by an unusual energy source: the activist investor. Apparently long trains save on fuel and crews, reducing the cost of rail transportation.”

I think that due to occasional mishaps, I would not be in favor of trains any longer than 100 cars being permitted in the collective condominium known as Bonner County, or going over the bridges.

I have stayed in a rental unit in a

A rendering of the proposed second rail bridge. Courtesy of BNSF. condo in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where, as per covenants, I had to sign an agreement that in addition to no loud noise after 10 p.m. and during any time of the day, “there shall be no loud screaming or crying.”

It didn’t say anything about loud laughing, which I always thought would make other people jealous because I might be having more fun than they were.

James Richard Johnson, a 28-year resident of Bonner County, is the author of a poetry collection titled Poems by Rushing Water… Smoothing Glass and Stone to Sand, available on amazon.com, as well as a fiction novel, It is the Fall.

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

Jim Healey sent us this shot in early January from his trip to Washington, D.C. During a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, he had his photo taken with the Reader in front of a portrait of the women of the Supreme Court. Thanks, Jim! January 23, 2019 /

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Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

night vision

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist The night is dark and full of terrors, so my wizard casts the Level 2 spell: Darkvision! But wait, how does it work?

In the case of my wizard, magic is a convenient excuse — but Darkvision is an actual ability that everyone may possess today, from someone with a simple security camera to a hardened soldier fighting on the front lines.

The most important thing to know before reading ahead in this article is that light is always present — we just can’t see all of it. Our eyes have evolved to capture an extremely narrow band of light on the electromagnetic spectrum, conveniently named the “visible spectrum.” Shorter wavelengths, just out of our vision, are things like ultraviolet (UV), or in more extreme cases, X-rays and gamma radiation.

Longer wavelengths we can’t see are things like infrared or radio waves.

While UV radiation is present at night, it’s not as abundant as infrared (IR) radiation. That’s because most infrared radiation comes from sources of heat, including our own bodies. That weird heat vision from Predator was like a basic version of what infrared imaging is — something that an interstellar apex predator would not have evolved with, or have augmented with considerably better technology to see its prey more clearly and not get fooled by wet mud.

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nology comes in two flavors: image enhancement and thermal imaging.

Image enhancement is a fairly straightforward and simple technology, in theory.

The device does what your eyes do, receives light — including UV and IR — then enhances it digitally to create an image that our eyes can detect. These images are colorless because of the low-light conditions, but we discern them in movies and TV as an ominous green color.

Human eyes decode information more effectively from colors. We’re better able to detect shapes, patterns and depth from looking at colors than static black-and-white images. As green is also at the center of our visible spectrum, it requires less work for our eyes and brains than something like violet or red. Plus, it looks awesome.

An important note on image enhancement: It is designed to be used in low-light situations, so using it in the daytime or having a flashlight shine into enhancement goggles is blinding. Some newer goggles are designed to mitigate this, but why are you going to use night-vision goggles during the day, anyway?

Many of the recent videos and movies you’ve seen through military goggles have likely been in blackand-white with high contrasts and sharp detail, where you can also see people’s shapes through walls right before an explosion renders the screen white. This is thermal imaging, and the technology is

A U.S. airman tests panoramic night-vision goggles. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons.

surprisingly simple.

These cameras are designed to pick up infrared radiation generated by passive heat in an area. In the case of humans, it’s the heat generated by our bodies, which is why particularly sensitive cameras can track peoples’ movements through walls.

Using thermal imaging, soldiers can employ infrared lasers on their weapons to help guide their shots in the dark.

These lasers are invisible to everyone who isn’t wearing goggles, allowing operatives to perform stealthy duties in the pitch dark with surgical precision.

There is one more type of night vision that I didn’t mention. If you’re thinking about breaking into some military research facility to get a glimpse at it, I can spare you the effort. Just head over to the Panhandle Animal Shelter and ask about the cats and dogs (and take one home while you’re there.)

Cats and dogs evolved as predatory animals. To achieve maximum efficiency as apex predators, they needed to be able to hunt at night when our soft and frail human ancestors were huddled together and sleeping. To be able to hunt at night, they needed a special adaptation to their eyes called the tapetum lucidum. The tapetum lucidum is effectively a mirror that reflects light outward from the eye in a focused beam to enhance the image that a cat or dog sees.

This is why if you shine a light into a cat’s or dog’s eyes at night, they appear to glow.

This is the tapetum reflecting the light back at you — and telling you to stop shining a light in your poor pet’s eyeballs.

Before you blame the tapetum lucidum for all of those terrible red-eye photos you took in the ’80s and ’90s, you should know that humans never evolved this special adaptation. As a bonus fact: The red eye effect in flash

photography occurs because the time between the flash and the picture being taken is too brief for the iris to contract the pupil and protect it from the surge of light, so that red you’re seeing is actually the blood-rich retina along the back of your eye.

Gross, right? I guess I’ll see you next week.

Random Corner uages?

Don’t know much about lang

We can help!

• Latin has about 800 obscene words. English clocks in around 20. Holy &$(#!

• The language of La Gomera, spoken off the coast of Spain, consists entirely of whistles.

• Worldwide, there are about 7,000 languages, 2,400 of which are in danger of going extinct.

Papua New Guinea has the most of any other country with 840 separate languages.

• Basque, a language spoken in the Pyrenees mountains, has no relation to any other known language.

• Many linguists believe that language originated around 100,000 BCE. • The English language contains the most words, with more than 250,000.

• The word “alphabet” is formed from the first two letters of the Greek alphabet — alpha and beta.

• Cambodian has the longest alphabet with 74 characters. The Papaun language of Rotokas has the smallest with only 11 letters in its alphabet.

• The Bible has been translated into more languages than any other book. Pinocchio is second.

• German is the most spoken language in Europe. German words can have three genders; masculine, feminine and neuter.

• The United States actually has no “official language.” Most people just assume it’s English.

• About 30% of English words came from French.

• Hawaiians have more than 200 different words for “rain.”

• Botswana has a language that is made up of five primary “click” sounds.

• People who speak Chinese use both sides of the brain; English only uses the left side.

• Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in the world followed by Spanish.

COMMUNITY

N.Idaho Women’s March: ‘Take Action!’

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff As many as 348 people gathered Jan. 18 for the 2020 N.Idaho Women’s March, which began with a rally at Sandpoint Middle School followed by a procession featuring signs and flags from the school to Matchwood Brewing Company.

Hosted in the SMS gym, 16 booths staffed by volunteers represented causes, organizations and campaigns ranging from the Bonner County Democrats and regional human rights organizations to citizen advocacy group Reclaim Idaho, Idahoans for a Fair Wage, climate change activist organization 350.0rg, Planned Parenthood, and anti-gun violence groups Moms and Students Demand Action.

Emceed by recently elected Sandpoint City Councilwoman and Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce President Kate McAlister, the theme of the event was “Take Action!,” referring to grassroots involvement in a host of social justice causes including women’s and human rights.

The gist of McAlister’s opening remarks centered on getting involved with local politics.

“We are moving forward, we are taking action, we are running for every local office that we can and we are winning,” she said.

“We must not become complacent,” McAlister added.

The first of three speakers, Reclaim Idaho Executive Director Rebecca Cleveland-Schroeder highlighted the organization’s campaign to secure a citizens’ ballot measure to raise the state corporate tax rate from its current 6.92% to the historic level of 8% and channel the

Speakers address education funding, Green New Deal and opposing white nationalism

difference into education funding.

Meanwhile, the proposal would increase the tax rate 3% on individuals making more than $250,000. Taken together, Reclaim Idaho’s “Invest in Idaho” proposal promises to funnel $170 million-$200 million each year to Idaho schools while not affecting the tax bills for 95% of Idahoans.

Calling it a “lifeline to Idaho schools on the brink,” Cleveland-Schroeder said the initiative is “one of the most business friendly pieces of legislation in a long time,” as it would “train a workforce for hire.”

Nancy Harris, a fourth-generation Idahoan and successful entrepreneur running for the United States Senate nomination to oppose incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Risch, spoke about the necessity of opposing entrenched corporate and political interests in order to pursue the so-called “Green New Deal,” which aims to simultaneously fight climate change and spur economic investment.

“I believe in the Green New Deal because I have four children,” Harris said, adding that fear for the future should embolden action.

“Either we make great strides toward a future worth having or we sit paralyzed in fear while catastrophe falls upon us,” she said. “We are not people of fear. We are people of bold imagination and courage. We are Idaho women.”

Finally, Laura Tenneson of the Western States Center spoke on counteracting white supremacy, white nationalism and misogyny, which she said are all directly connected and very much alive in a post2016 election era where the number of hate groups has risen 30%.

“It’s not enough anymore in this day and age to not be racist; we need to be anti-racist,” she said.

All photos by Zach Hagadone.

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Live Music w/ Dustin Drennen 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 2-4:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Fire & S’mores 3-6pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Live Music w/ DJ Kevin 9pm @ A&Ps No cover

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Live Trivia 6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreil Free. Prizes given to wi

Live Music w/ Baker/Thomas/Packwood Live Music w/ Spring Tonic 6:30-9:30 @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 5:30-8:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Classic rock trio from Sandpoint Appalachia, rockin’ blues & bluegrass break Live Music w/ The Locals Live Music w/ J Bosley Band 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w Eclectic mix of country, rock and blues 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge 9pm @ A&Ps Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes Americana, drizzled with rock 3-5:30pm @ Davis Grocery in Hope

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Edgar Cayce Study Group 9-11am @ Gardenia Center Meets every Thursday

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry

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Intro to Sandpoint Threshold Choir 9:30am @ Sandpoint Library rm. B A presentation for singers who want to learn m about Threshold Choir’s mission of singing at bedside and our local Sandpoint chapter Live Music w/ Uh Oh and the Oh Wells 9pm @ 219 Lounge ‘60s rock meets indie pop Live Music w/ DIGaddie 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Sandpoint Chess Club All Day Brewer 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 2-4:40pm @ Kelly’s Cafe in Clark Fork 10am @ Matchw Meets every Sunday at 9am Open all day for Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Karaoke 8-close @ Tervan Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge Join DJ Webrix for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen

Trivia Night 7pm @ MickDuff’s Show off that big, beautiful brain of yours

Wind Down Wednesday 5-8pm @ 219 Lounge With live music by blues man Truck Mills and guest musician Andrew Browne Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry Open Mic Night 9pm-12am @ A&Ps

Lifetree Cafe 2pm @ Jalepeño’s An hour of conversation and stories.

This week’s topic: “Conspiracies”

Outdoor 6pm @ O A chill, thr beverages

Djembe class 5:45-7:30pm @ Music Conservatory of Sand Join Ali Thomas for this djembe (drum) class

Magic Wednesday 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Enjoy close-up magic shows by Star Alexander right at your table

Live Music w/ Dwayne Parsons 4-6pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Mike Wagoner 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Edgar Cayce Study Group 9-11am @ Gardenia Center Meets every Thursday

Live Music w/ Benny Baker 6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Gerry Mulligan All Star 6:30pm @ Panida Theate Jazz music of the late gre performed by the musicia with him. $18 adults $12

ful

Jan. 23-30, 2020

nd d’Oreille Winery iven to winning teams

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

Reader recommended

Live Music w/ Truck Mills 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Mike Wagoner & Utah John ing Co. 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery rass breakdowns Folk, Americana and rock

Music w/ DJ Shanner @ A&Ps

Live Music w/ Thom and Coley 7:30pm @ Di Luna’s Cafe Country duo

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 8-10pm @ The Back Door

Live Music w/ BareGrass & Lucas Brown 7pm @ Heartwood Center Sandpoint Winter Concert Series

ir

Sandpoint USA Dance Club Anniversary 7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall to learn more All levels of dancers are welcome. $6 for USA singing at the Dance members, $9 non-members, $5 for teens pter Live Music w/ Echo Elysium Wells 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Electric guitar, singer-songwriter Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 8-10pm @ The Back Door

y Brewery Brunch @ Matchwood Brewing Co. ll day for brunch!

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6th Annual Fatty Flurry Fest 10am @ Round Lake State Park Free Fat Bike Demo from 10am12pm. 18+ only. Group rides start @ 12:30pm. Fat bike rentals available, reservations required. 208-255-4496

Piano Sunday w/ Dwayne Parsons 4-6pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Local pianist and songwriter

Outdoor Experience Monday Night Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience A chill, three-mile(ish) group run with optional beverages to follow. Headlamps recommended

y of Sandpoint um) class

Karaoke 8-close @ Tervan

Mended Hearts Support Group 3:30-4:30 pm @ Bonner General classrooms Support group for cardiac patients

Conversations About Cancer 2pm @ Community Cancer Services Open group. Held every second and fourth Tuesday

Bike Movie Night 6pm @ Greasy Fingers Bikes N Repair Always free and always fun. Feel free to bring your own chair and snacks/beverages. 208-255-4496

n All Stars Concert da Theater he late great Gerry Mulligan e musicians who worked dults $12 seniors and youth

Live Music w/ Tim Snider 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

TrustVets Monthly Meetup 4:30-6pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Veteran’s receive $1 off beers

Chippendales Tribute Performance 8pm @ Mitzy’s Lounge

Jan. 30 Chippendales Tribute Performance @ Mitzy’s Lounge Jan. 31 Winter Whiteout Party @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Feb. 7 Student Art Show Reception @ POAC Gallery & Powerhouse

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FEATURE

To cross an ocean A pictoral essay on crossing the Atlantic Ocean

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

By Ben Olson Reader Staff In 25 days of bluewater ocean voyaging, one thing proved to be true: The experience of this Atlantic crossing was cemented in my mind as a worthwhile endeavor, mostly because of the crew that I shared it with.

Our captain, Chris White, proved to be a capable leader — an intriguing companion and a dear friend. He imparted his sailing knowledge with a trusting manner, sometimes thrusting us into situations where we had to learn on the fly, often with hilarious results. But he was always patient with our mistakes and happy to answer our constant questions.

His tales from a life of adventure on both terra firma and water entertained as well as instructed.

Most of all, he bore the heavy responsibility of seeing that the crew survived the voyage in one piece with grace. I know I’ll forever be in his debt for opening up this part of the world to me.

Gary Quinn turned out to be a crewmate anyone on an extended voyage would be pleased to share 14 /

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a voyage with. He attacked each task with humor and humility, and was a steadfast companion. Even when about 10 gallons of seawater spilled into his open hatch on a particularly rough day at sea, he hauled up his bedding to dry in the wind with a smile on his face about a yard wide and never complained once. He also proved to be a great engineer, devising ingenious ways to solve daily problems that arose at sea. I’m honored to call him a friend after our time together.

Cadie, my partner and companion, turned out to be an old salt eager to face each new day under the sun. Our relationship grew even stronger from our shared eagerness to attack this adventure one moment at a time. We learned bluewater sailing alongside one another, helping each other out when necessary and stealing private glances from across the deck from time to time, as if to say, “Can you f-ing believe where we are right now?” I look at her with pride for handling this epic adventure with ease.

From the first moments underway as we motored out of

Funchal, Madeira, to the bucking 22-foot swells a thousand miles from land, to the moment we first spotted the lights of Antigua 25 days after our voyage began, I will remember this adventure and the hearty souls I shared it with for the rest of my days.

To cross an ocean is to understand a few things about life that are often drowned out by the constant noise we face day to day.

To shut off that noise, unplug all your devices and rely on the wind, waves, stars and sun for nearly a month is like a spiritual enema.

Back home, after it’s all said and done, I still hear the creaking of the rigging and crack of the jib, the liquid sound of water off the hull, the roaring wind and the sound of dice rattling on the afterdeck table as we four shipmates became friends.

In my declining years, when I still have a few marbles left rolling around inside, I’ll feel comfort knowing that I can always look back at those days between the horizons when I crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the fair ship Tyga with Captain Chris White, Gary Quinn and Cadie Archer, my companions on the deep blue sea.

Page 14 – Top: A glorious pink sunrise midway across the Atlantic Ocean, as seen from the helm (the roof you see is the ceiling for the after deck). Bottom right: There are traditions that arise from ocean crossings.

Often, when crewmembers pass a halfway point, or the equator, they’ll celebrate in odd ways.

Our Captain Chris White came on deck as we passed our one-quarter mark wearing in a wild dress, fiery red wig and matching lipstick and demanded we call him “Kirsten.” Here’s “Kirsten” with the lovely Cadie Archer. We got extra rations of grog that eveing. Page 15 – Top: A particularly fiery sunset over calm waters in the South Atlantic as we wound closer to Antigua. Middle left: The radar screen, which is about the only thing you can see while standing watch at night. Squalls appear like runny eggs with red yolks - the red indicates rain and hgh wind, and each concentric circle represents 1 mile, so this particular storm was about a mile ahead of us and stretched about 3 miles by 4 miles wide. Middle right: Cadie Archer takes her turn at the helm with the jib flying.

Bottom: The wing-and-wing formation, with Ben Olson and Gary Quinn keeping an eye on the sails. This formation proved especially difficult because the wind was directly astern.

Each time the boat slipped a few degrees to port or starboard, it caused one or the other sails to luff a bit and, sometimes, slam across the deck in a forced tacking. There was something elegant about sailing wing-and-wing - enough so that I ended up getting a tattoo of the sailing formation on my arm to commemorate the voyage. Photos by Ben Olson.

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COMMUNITY

Winter Carnival 2020 dates announced

By Reader Staff

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce and area businesses have announced the dates for the 47th Annual Winter Carnival, set for Friday, Feb. 14-Sunday, Feb. 23.

Offering 10 days of family friendly events, live music and seasonal activities throughout Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mountain, the carnival kicks off with the Parade of Lights on Friday, Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m. in downtown Sandpoint.

The parade, sponsored by internet service provider Ting, offers businesses, organizations and individuals a chance to show off their local pride, creativity and playful side. Falling on Valentine’s Day, the parade theme is

“Love and Light.”

The chamber is seeking themed floats, groups, marching brigades, snow plows and tractors — if you can move it and decorate it with lights, it’s perfect for the parade. Participation is free, but registration is required. There are three categories in which honors will be awarded at the end of the parade: Best in Theme, Best Participation and Grand Champion.

The parade concludes at Jeff Jones Square Fountain at Third and Main Streets, where winners will be announced and the Parade After Party will commence.

There will be fire pits, a free hot chocolate bar generously donated by Hendricks Architecture, s’mores and music courtesy

of Pend d’Oreille Winery, and much more.

For a full calendar of Winter Carnival events and to download a parade registration form,

visit sandpointwintercarnival. com or call the chamber at 208-263-2161. The deadline to register for the parade is Friday, Feb. 7.

A determined pupper partakes in the 2019 Winter Carnival Keg Pull event. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert.

88.5FM KRFY named Chamber volunteer of the month

By Reader Staff

The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce recognized 88.5FM KRFY Panhandle Community Radio as the Volunteers of the Month for January.

KRFY began in 2006, as most great Sandpoint ideas do, with a small group of friends attempting to solve the world’s problems over a beer at Eichardt’s, which led to an application with the FCC for a license to broadcast in 2007. After years of community outreach, fundraising and planning, 88.5 KRFY went live on the air Jan.

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25, 2011.

Nine years later — almost to the day — the station is operated by a staff of two part-time employees and 20-plus volunteers.

Governed by a volunteer board of directors, the station provides an eclectic mix of programming, including nationally syndicated Democracy Now, local news, events and politics on the Morning Show.

From Sunday mornings featuring gospel to Thursday evening folk music, regional favorites, music through the decades, jazz, classical and the Hump Day Café, there’s something

for every listener.

Familiar voices from the Sandpoint community take time away from their careers and families to put their personal spin on a wide range of genres and present KRFY’s host of programs.

Panhandle Community Radio, broadcasting as 88.5 KRFY, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and is a commercial free, full-powered FM radio station, supported by community underwriters and donations.

The numerous volunteers who make KRFY possible

include: Jim Healey, Ricci Witte, Bernie Moser, Bob Aldrich, Bob Hawn, Chris Bessler, Don Childress, Gail Fendley, Howard Child, Jack Peterson, Jackie Henrion, Jennifer Lempke, JoAnn Rohyans, John Rohyans, Julie Kallemeyn, Mandy Place, Mike Bauer, Phil Hough, Suzy Prez, Julie Gagnon and Carrie Logan, as well as the Sandpoint High School Cedar Post newspaper crew led by Connor Bird with teacher Will Love coordinating.

Other volunteers include:

Chamber Office Manager and KRFY volunteer Ricci Witte (far right) presents her fellow 88.5FM KRFY associates with the Volunteer of the Month honor Jan. 9 at the General Membership Luncheon

Susie Jewel, Gael Swinford, Jean Gerth, Julie Perchynski, Charlie Parrish, Joni Meigs, Christine Kester, Kerry Kresge, Doug Jones and Joyce Childs.

For more info on the station and how you can get involved — as well as listen to live streaming of KRFY programming — visit krfy.org.

OUTDOORS

Winter is trail planning season

By Susan Drumheller Reader Contributor

If you like to skin out of Schweitzer’s bounds, chances are you’re familiar with “Solar Ecstasy,” a south-facing slope off Uleda Ridge that offers some steep turns with great views — and sweet corn snow in the spring.

Below the snow of this side-country haunt hibernates a project that’s awaiting the spring melt, the blooming of glacier lilies and beargrass, and later the din of a mini-excavator, turning over the dirt and rocks for the new Uleda Point Trail.

In the summer of 2020, it’s the fervent hope of the Pend Oreille Pedalers bike club to finish this high-country loop that will take mountain bikers, hikers, trail-runners and huckleberry pickers along four miles of heaven.

That’s why the Pend Oreille Pedalers is applying for a Mountain Bike License Plate Grant from the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to help fund the final phase of the Uleda Point Trail.

About 1.8 miles of the ridgetop snaking trail are complete, with about 2.4 miles to go to make a loop off the High Point Trail along Schweitzer’s south ridge.

Trail building is expensive work: the club hires a contractor to run the excavator; saw logs; and put in the rough trail, to be further shaped, buffed and finished by volunteers through club-organized work parties.

Funding for non-motorized trails is tough to come by. Most trail-building in the state is funded by license fees and gas tax, so it tends to benefit motorized trails.

The Mountain Bike License Plate fund is one of the few sources of public funding for non-motorized trails.

That’s just one priority of the club this coming summer. The Pedalers also plan to make improvements to the Lower Basin downhill trail below switchback No. 6. This trail starts at the Schweitzer roundabout and is a favorite of thrill-seeking downhill riders who often shuttle to ride the trail.

However, last summer parts of the trail took a beating during utility work

to serve the mountain village. The club took this as an opportunity to bring in International Mountain Bike Association trail building experts to help design a new, slightly longer and more swooping, downhill route and begin rebuilding it during a spring trail-building school.

Then IMBA-buffed members with a cadre of mountain biking enthusiasts can finish the job during the summer.

Meanwhile, at Pine Street Woods, as cross-country skiers, snowshoers and fatbikers finally enjoy the new Nordic and fatbike trails — thanks to the recent snowstorms, Sandpoint Nordic Club and POP — members of Kaniksu Land Trust’s recreation trails team is thinking about summertime users and their needs and desires.

Balancing out the challenging mountain trails that POP is developing, the Pine Street Woods trails are “gateway” trails for new riders or people who prefer access to the outdoors a little closer to home. KLT has plans to expand the “narrow” trail system in Pine Street Woods for mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners and other non-motorized uses, and is applying for a federal Recreation Trails Program grant to help fund that work.

Both the Recreation Trail Program grant and Mountain Bike License Fund grant are due at the end of January. To get involved or provide suggestions for those projects, contact the organizations via their websites: kaniksulandtrust.org or pendoreillepedalers.org.

Also, stay tuned for information about a March 2 kickoff meeting for the brownfields cleanup project at Black Rock at the end of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail. The gate at the end of the trail is meant to keep folks off private property along the shoreline and a sign there warns of heavy metals contamination on properties associated with a historic lead smelter — now long gone but the pollution remains.

Public involvement is required as part of the federal brownfields grant awarded to the city of Ponderay. Initial meetings will be educational in nature, though later the public will be asked to give input on cleanup and remediation options.

Volunteers participate in a sunny weather work party at the Uleda Point Trail on Schweitzer Mountain.

Photo by Jeff Thompson.

Watch this space for more information about trail projects and opportunities to get involved.

Susan Drumheller is president of the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail and secretary of Trail Mix, a loose-knit collaborative group of trail advocates, land managers, government agencies and other trail stakeholders.

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PERSPECTIVES The

Late Night Buddhist

Beer haters gonna hate

By Scott Taylor Reader Columnist

I was recently in Eichardt’s Pub (no big surprise there) on a Thursday night in January when they had scheduled a special event with Deschutes Brewery.

The plan was for Deschutes to have their Woody Wagon present — a rolling trailer taphouse shaped like a wooden beer keg — along with Deschutes beers featured on tap, and enjoy fun games and giveaways. But the plan was derailed when that morning an email was sent to Deschutes warning their employees to be prepared for a possible armed and “nasty” confrontation if they showed up. (The implication, so it seemed, because Eichardt’s advertised in and therefore supported the Reader.)

Out of concern for its employees’ safety, Deschutes elected to cancel its appearance. The celebration, however, went on as planned.

It was heartwarming to see people pouring into the pub — locals and visitors alike — laughing, smiling, eating and drinking. A local bakery brought goodies, the owner of the bottle shop across the street came over in support, even the mayor showed up.

Honestly, we probably wouldn’t have gone that night if it hadn’t been for the threat, but like many others there, we felt the need — no, the desire — to support our friends and local business and show those who try to use intimidation and threats of terrorism to gain a feeling of power that those tactics won’t work.

Blah, blah, blah, Scott. By now, others have surely written similar pieces of triumph and defiance commending everyone’s bravery and spirit. This column is supposed to be from a perspective of Buddhist philosophy, so enough with the chest thumping and pats on the back. Get on with it.

OK, here ya go: As we sat at the bar conversing with bartenders and fellow patrons, I found myself expounding on various creative 18 /

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ways to expose, humiliate and infuriate the person(s) responsible for making threats like these.

I theorized that people who do this kind of thing have lived, or are living, a life of desperation: always being the outsider — whether brought on by their own doing or forced upon them — feeling that they’ve been forgotten or marginalized by those whom they view as holding power over them; or threatened by others’ differing political or social views. Probably with a touch of mental instability thrown in, too.

One of my suggestions involved a group photo with everyone giving a one-fingered salute (totally un-Buddhist-like). Thankfully, Eich’s employees were much more positive and opted to ignore the threat and focus on having a good time. But a Buddhist perspective was offered — and not by me: If a person feels like that, then why not invite them in, accept them, and show them care and concern? Let them see that we’re all just human, just like them. Let them see that we all “belong” together.

Isn’t it better to make friends than enemies? Someone has to take the first step.

Well, I couldn’t argue with that. Just about every spiritual path encourages us to “love our enemies,” in some way or another. Better yet, let’s once again take a cue from an Avett Brothers song: “I Have No Enemies.” I dare you to listen to it and not cry. Choose happy!

STAGE & SCREEN

Laughing at tragedy

shaken when he learns that his mother is sheltering a Jewish girl. The discovHow do you make fun of one of the ery challenges his darkest chapters in world history? preconceived notions It’s a question comedy filmmakof racial superiority, ers have grappled with for decades.

World War II, the Third Reich and the ideological purity and unflagging loyalHolocaust still cast a long shadow 80 years later. And with homegrown fas- ty to the state.

The result, accist and nationalist movements more cording to critics, is visible than ever — the 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., a satire both sharp and sentimental in being the starkest recent example — tone — and worthy many say the subject is no laughing of acclaim. Jojo matter.

Rabbit is nominatTaika Waititi disagrees. The aced for six Oscars, claimed director is famous for his including Best irreverent and daring style in films Picture, Best Adaptlike What We Do in the Shadows, The ed Screenplay and Hunt For the Wilderpeople and Thor: a Best Supporting Ragnarok. His most recent film, Jojo Actress nod for Rabbit turns that style to the themes of Nazism, political indoctrination and the Scarlett Johnsson in the role of Jojo’s Holocaust. mother, Rosie.

The film follows Johannes “Jojo” But not everyone is a fan. A vocal Betzler, a young boy immersed in minority of critics view Jojo Rabbit as a Nazi Germany’s Hitler Youth protonal misfire and a toothless satire. gram. His belief in the Nazi cause “With no bedrock of horror, and no is absolute — so much so that his comic insight into it, Jojo Rabbit is a fanaticism manifests as a buffoonish imaginary friend in the form of Adolf satire without purpose,” wrote Jake Cole for the website Little White Lies.

Hitler.

Disagreement over how best to Waititi himself plays the absurdist satirize the Third Reich has a long interpretation of the dictator, more out tradition — undercutting Nazism and of necessity than anything else. While seeking backing for the project, he soon Hitler through comedy predates the destruction of the Reich realized that if he wantitself. Charlie Chaplin ed a cartoonish, idiotic famously skewered Hitler in his movie, he Hitler in his 1940 would have to play the comedy The Great role himself.

Thursday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Dictator. But while “[The producers] Friday, Jan. 24, 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 25, 7:30 p.m.; that film uses obvious made a great point, and Sunday, Jan. 26, 3:30 p.m.; fictional analogues for which is that the way $8.72 adults, $7.67 seniors, Hitler and his minions, that character was $6.62 students, $5.46 children.

Mel Brooks went a step written, I think in the Panida Theater, 300 N. First hands of someone who’s Ave., 208-263-9191. Get tick- further by sending up ets at the door or panida.org. the Nazis themselves in overthinking it, it might his classic 1967 comeactually get twisted into, dy The Producers.

I guess, more of an authentic portrayal That movie centers on the fictional of Hitler,” Waititi told NPR. “That was Broadway play Springtime For Hitler, never the intention. The only way that which is intended by its producers to character works is if you play it for exactly what it is, which is a 10-year-old’s be an offensive, deliberate flop. By invoking Nazi iconography for comedic idea of an imaginary friend.” value, Brooks laid several ground rules: In the film, Jojo’s fanaticism is

Jojo Rabbit, comedy and the Holocaust

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Contributor

Artwork by Lawrence Lander

JoJo Rabbit (PG-13)

A still from JoJo Rabbit.

know what imagery is too raw for humor; Courtesy IMDb. avoid trivializing real, historic suffering; and always direct jokes at the villians — never the victims.

“There’s only one way to get even [with Hitler,]” Brooks told 60 Minutes in 2001. “You have to WHERE ACTIVISM GETS INSPIRED bring him down with ridicule.”

In her video essay “Mel Sponsored by Brooks, The Producers and the Ethics of Satire about Nazis,” cultural critic Lindsay Ellis argued that Brooks’ comedic philosophy is essential. Because totalitarianism is dependent upon an illusion of strength and superiority, an effective satire is equally dependent on dispelling that illusion through ridicule.

“This isn’t just Hitler for Hitler’s sake,” Ellis stated in the video. “This is heightened Presented by F R I E N D S O F theatricality that unmistakably SCOTCHMAN PEAKS showcases the absurdity of ethW I L D E R N E S S no-nationalism.”

Celebrating 15 Years with So does Jojo Rabbit deserve its critical praise and award nominations? Or does it fail Feb 1 • 6:30 doors in its aim to skewer its Nazi Heartwood Center targets? Decide for yourself $15 in advance • $20 at the door when the movie hits the Panida Theater this week. tickets @ Eichardt’s or scotchmanpeaks.org

10 Inspiring Films

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ART

‘Stillness in motion’

Photographer Woods Wheatcroft hosts a slideshow of recent work at The Longshot

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff In an image-saturated world, where more pictures are captured every two minutes than were made in the previous 150 years, local photographer Wood Wheatcroft remains committed to the power of his artform.

“I’m still tethered to the still image,” he said. “I still think photographs are about the moment.

You don’t look at any news or big publication — the images of the year are still just as powerful or more than the videos of the year. A photograph; it just is.”

With a career spanning more than 20 years, the U.C. Berkeley-educated artist has shot pictures for big corporate clients like Patagonia, Kavu and Kleen Kanteen. His work is also regularly featured in publications ranging from Outside Magazine to Sandpoint Magazine and the Reader.

A selection of those images and more — encompassing both his contract and personal work — will go display at a one-nightonly exhibition Saturday, Jan. 25 at The Longshot cafe. The show, set for 6:30 p.m., is organized as a slideshow accompanied by music — a format that Wheatcroft said straddles the line between photography and videography, inviting the viewer to contemplate the images while engaging in a freeform narrative. It’s an artistic decision that combines the “archaic form” of slideshows with the very modern way that most people experience images: scrolling on their smartphones.

“It’s storytelling in a way, because in certain moments in the slideshow I’ll do a sequence and you have to follow the sequence,” he said. “It’s a collection of moments that go with the music. …

“I think people see in snapshots.

They scroll on their phone and it’s one, one, one after another. It’s a fancier way of scrolling.”

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exhibitionism — “look at me in he were a human my van on the beach” — Wheatrock cairn (that one croft’s pieces are filled with dash ended up as piece of and vigor; joyfully celebrating the Patagonia markethuman form as it interacts with ing). Yet another is a stunning natural settings. Wheatdolphin captured at croft’s images are, quite simply, as the exact zenith of a fun-loving as they are beautifully vault from the water, composed and captured. Rather frozen in space with than invoking envy in the viewer, only the merest indithey are invitations to join in the cation of its point of adventuring life. departure. “‘Participatory’ is a fundamen“It feels like an tal word in my work — being a Outside Magazine participant in the landscape versus cover, kind of like just being a visitor or an observthe state of the er,” he said. world,” Wheatcroft That participation goes both said. “Hey we’re ways: both for the viewer and going to have one the artist. Wheatcroft makes it a dolphin here pretty point to collaborate fully with his soon.” subjects. When he shoots someone Showing this work is both a teetering off the stern of a canoe, chance for Wheatcroft to engage he has taken that photo while laywith viewers and to perform some ing on a surfboard next to the boat. outreach for what he hopes will When he directs a pair of people eventually turn into the opportunito leap in the air or launch from a ty to teach. rocky outcropping into the space “Most of my professors in colabove Lake Pend Oreille, he’s lege just bombarded us with imdoing so with the intention that the agery … so that you can see how viewer feels a sense of their own other people work but ultimately “stillness in motion.” you’re honing your own eye,” “There’s a stopping point in he said. “Now it’s ironic because every one of these shots, despite we’re just pounded with images. the fact that a lot of the subjects In seeing all of that imagery, do in the images are moving,” he you still know how to compose said, referring to a collection of one? If you compose one, is there images featured in a 2020 calenmeaning behind it? Teaching is a dar that will go on sale for $10 at goal of mine to bring to this town, the Longshot I just haven’t figshow. “I feel out yet.”

Woods Wheatcroft uredInitthe like that’s the meantime, strength of a Wheatcroft is just Photography photo.” excited to see how slideshow In his conattendees respond to Saturday, Jan. 27; 6:30 p.m.; ceptual work, the pieces on display FREE, suggested donation. which will be at The Longshot — The Longshot, 102 S. Boyer the thrust of the a space filled with Ave., longshotsandpoint. upcoming exhivibrant colors and com. For more on Woods bition, Wheatclean lines that aptly Wheatcroft Photography visit croft has worked woodswheatcroft.com. complement his own to present “more aesthetic. He looks head-scratchforward to prompting moments.” One image depicts ing more questions than answers a young girl seemingly floating with his work. in a blue cloud-dotted sky, anoth“If someone has to ask, ‘How er shows a man — fellow local did you do that?’” he said, flashing artist Jeff Dunwoody — perfectly a thumbs up, “that’s success for balanced on the crown of his head me. There doesn’t need to be an next to a mountain stream, as if answer to the image, but if you

can ask a question and I kind of ignites something in you... a photograph is designed to communicate, and the artist needs to put the energy into and put the elements together to communicate.”

A collection of images included in Woods Wheatcroft’s slideshow at The Longshot, all of which are featured in his 2020 calendar.

Photos by Woods Wheatcroft.

MUSIC

Uh oh, oh well, hell yeah

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert

READ

Seeing as being a dog owner

Spokane indie rockers Uh Oh and the Oh Wells set to play first ever Sandpoint show takes up about 80% of my identi-

different,” he said.

The result was 250 half-written songs on Bauscher’s comRaised on a heavy diet of puter. After recently teaming up G-rated Christian tunes, James with drummer Josiah Sherman to Bauscher knew there was narrow them down to 15, he said “something more out there.” His 12 tracks ultimately “just picked hunch was confirmed when in and finished themselves.” fifth grade he heard The Beatles The same essentially hapfor the first time. pened with the rest of his band, “I thought, ‘Oh my god. This Spokane-based Uh Oh and the is what music is supposed to Oh Wells. When Bauscher posted sound like,’” he said. on a Spokane musicians’ FaceInspired by that enlightenment book page seeking guitarists and to become a musician and drawn bassists, the band’s three remainto the musical movement to “cre- ing pieces — Zach Jordan, Alex ate a modern sound that carries Ortega and Sandpoint native influence from older times,” Marshall Piatt — signed on.

Bauscher said that while writing That was August 2019. By songs he often found himself October, Uh Oh and the Oh listening to Wells dropped a bands like self-titled album The Beatles, so complete in Rolling Stones its sound that it’s and Doors for shocking to find Saturday, Jan. 25; 9 p.m.-midinspiration. Not out the band only night; FREE. 219 Lounge, 219 to “copy and N. First Ave., 208-263-5673, just formed. What paste,” as he put 219.bar. Listen at facebook. that sound is, it, but to gather com/uhohandtheohwells. exactly, is harder guitar tones and to pin down. daring vocal In the band’s arrangements. own words, drawn from its Spo“I wanted to take the soul tify bio, Uh Oh and the Oh Wells behind it and make it something creates music that sounds like

ty nowadays, it makes sense that my mom gifted me the A Dog’s Purpose trilogy by W. Bruce Cameron for Christmas. I am working my way through the first book and, while the first-person dog narration is occasionally juvenile and a little trite, the wholesomeness ultimately wins out.

I have to know what happens to this dog.

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

Uh Oh and the Oh Wells

James Bousher of Uh Oh and the Oh Wells.

Courtesy photo.

“you took classic rock, modern indie pop and aspects of the psychedelic movement of the ’60s, threw it in a blender and plugged your headphones into it.” That’s an apt description.

The band’s debut self-titled album, available on Spotify, is a journey through genres both familiar and vaguely recognizable.

Lead track “Outta Luck” has a Black Keys groove and shows off Bauscher’s vocal range. “Brain Dead” has a confident rock sound so rarely found on freshman albums. By track 12, the headphones-in-a-blender analogy comes through with finesse.

As for the unique name behind that unique sound, Bauscher said it arose from a time in his life where he kept making “stupid decisions.”

“From those decisions, something good would happen,” he said. “It’s about taking something bad that’s happened, and [knowing that] something positive will come out of it, even if in the moment it seems like a crappy time. [Uh Oh and the Oh Wells] means accepting what life is going to throw at you.”

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint Lucas Brookbank Brown & BareGrass, Jan. 24, Heartwood Center

The Sandpoint Winter Series, presented by Mattox Farm Productions, returns to the Heartwood Center stage Friday, Jan. 25 with favorite local trio BareGrass and regional guitar sensation Lucas Brookbank Brown.

Comprised of John Edwards, Luke Levesque and Jared Johnston, BareGrass is known for high-energy shows and impressive vocal harmonies. Singer-songwriter Brown brings another dimension of Americana to the evening, accompanied by his four-piece string band.

The Sandpoint Winter Series is sponsored by Upside Kombucha, Joel Keefe Shoemaker Custom Guitars, Washington Trust Bank, Evans Brothers Coffee, Sandpoint Curry, 7B Grooves and the Heartwood Center.

— Lyndsie Kiebert Doors at 6 p.m., show at 7; $12 advance, $15 at the door, $8 youth. The Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., heartwoodsandpoint.com. Get advance tickets at Eichardt’s, Evans Brothers Coffee, 7B Grooves or online at mattoxfarm.com.

Spring Tonic, Jan. 24, Matchwood Brewing Co. Though it might be a stretch to think of spring amid the ice and slush covering Sandpoint city streets, local band Spring Tonic delivers exactly what its name implies: A welcome, toe-tapping tonic of springtime energy.

Playing a blend of Appalachia, rocking blues and bluegrass breakdowns, Spring Tonic includes Dan Howard on guitar, Mike Bush on banjo, Sam Lyman on mandolin and Cherie Lyman on bass.

Like any true foot-stomping, bluegrass infused group, every member of Spring Tonic shares in the vocals, creating harmonies guaranteed to put a spring in your step.

— Zach Hagadone 5:30-8:30 p.m., FREE. Matchwood Brewing Company, 513 Oak St., 208-718-2739 matchwoodbrewing.com.

LISTEN

Brooklyn-based band Covey is at it again, creating songs that sound both mournful and happy at the same time — my favorite kind of songs. Soft, echoing electric guitar and far-off drums combine with British frontman Tom Freeman’s piercing and gorgeous vocals to create a sound unlike anything I’ve heard. From Covey’s 2019 release Some Cats Live, Some Cats Die, I especially recommend the track “Cloudy Eyes.”

WATCH

I’ve now worked my way through the first five seasons of New Girl at least five times. First, with my sisters, the next couple times on my own as a college student and, finally, twice with my boyfriend. The show follows the lives of five friends living in a loft in L.A. through the 2010s, and is a feel-good mainstay of my TV-show-on-DVD rotation.

Borderline slapstick but consistently heartwarming, New Girl is worth a try for anyone with a dorky sense of humor.

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COMMUNITY

A model citizen Remembering Steve Lockwood (1939-2020)

From Pend Oreille Review, Dec. 6, 1929

MEN ESCAPE ICY DEATH IN RIVER A Graham truck carrying two unidentified men plunged off the south approach to the Laclede ferry early Sunday evening into 50 feet of water, according to information gathered in a telephone call to Laclede.

As the truck left the approach the men escaped through the open doors of the vehicle and swam to safety, making their way to a nearby farmhouse. It is said the men were from Newport and had been on the south side of the river until trying to cross at Laclede. Efforts are being made to raise the truck from the river bed today.

The ferry crossing at Lacldede has been the scene of two fatal accidents in the past six years. Dr. Jackson of Sandpoint and a nurse were drowned when their sedan plunged off the ferry and shortly afterwareds Sherman Bassett and Lillian Olson met their death when a touring car containing six persons went into the river at the same place.

In other news, a truck hauling lumber for Kootenai county from Bonners Ferry went through the flooring of the long wagon bridge Monday morning about 1 a.m. The break was reported to the sheriff and after repairing was done no action was taken although the driver was caused to appear before the board of county commissioners.

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By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Rare are the communities that are lucky enough to have a citizen like Steve Lockwood. He and his wife, Molly O’Reilly, seemed to be everywhere, always — involved to the hilt in all manner of issues, organizations, causes and campaigns.

Together, they were a dream team of civic engagement, ever-ready to lend a hand, offer their input, extend their financial support and share their collective wisdom.

So it was with deep shock and grief that we heard of Steve’s passing Jan. 16 at his and Molly’s wintertime Arizona residence.

Steve would have been 81 in February, but based on his zeal and vigor working on, thinking about and speaking for issues both big and small, you’d never guess he was in his eighth decade.

Like so many in the community who were fortunate enough to interact with him over the years, our first reaction to hearing the news at the Reader office was: “But we had so much more to learn from him.”

A North Idaho resident for 21 years, Steve enjoyed living in Bonner County along with his two adult sons and their families. All four of his grandkids were born here and graduated from Sandpoint High School.

Born and raised in Portland, Ore., Steve attended Reed College and AT&T technical and managerial schools. He enjoyed a long and successful career with the telecom company, working in human resources and as operations manager for Oregon.

That’s not how most people in Sandpoint knew him, though.

For us, Steve was a Lake Pend Oreille School Board member, a Sandpoint Planning and Zoning commissioner (also serving as chairman), Sandpoint City Council member and member of the Sandpoint Urban Renewal Agency. The last public office he sought was for a seat on the Bonner County Board of Commissioners in 2018, when he was 79.

He belonged to the Bonner County Historical Society, Idaho Walk Bike Alliance, Rock Creek Alliance, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Idaho Conservation League, Idaho Smart Growth, Native Plant Society, Pend Oreille Pedalers, Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, Panida Theater board

and NAMI Far North.

Even that impressive curriculum vitae doesn’t accurately reflect Steve’s contributions to the Sandpoint community.

As Sandpoint City Councilwoman and Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce President Kate McAlister said in a tribute to Steve at the recent N.Idaho Women’s March, “Steve was the best of us. …

He would have been in the front row.”

Beyond all the offices he held and the volunteer hours he donated, Steve’s real gift to his fellow citizens was his example. Through his energy, breadth of knowledge and experience, keen analytical sense and — most important — his humor, Steve showed us all what it really means to be a contributor to society: not a critic nor a snide commentator, not a gadfly nor a keyboard warrior, not a partisan ideologue nor a political grandstander.

Steve’s commitment to his adopted hometown was a living portrait of an engaged citizen; the kind of person so often alluded to as an ideal, but so infrequently met in real life.

Always constructive, always collaborative and always challenging others to meet him on the high road, we at the Reader will especially miss Steve’s occasional impromptu visits to the office, when he would drop by to share some interesting information about local goings on, pick our brains about something, or arrange for an upcoming letter to the editor or guest opinion.

Steve and Molly were among the first and most consistent supporters of the Reader, dating back to the old days when we were just a couple of 20-somethings with a few busted up desktop computers. Even then, he would stop in for a lively chat now again, and it both saddens and makes us glad to think back on the last time he came by, before the weather got bad, in early November for a spirited conversation about the city elections.

We’re grateful that that gets to be our final memory of him — his trademark smile lighting up as his legendary intellect went to work on “what it all means.”

As we mourn his absence from the fabric of this town, we also have faith that his passion rubbed off on more than a few people around here and that his example will spur others to take that high road to meaningfully engage with the people, places and issues that make this place as special as he worked to make it.

discover

cross country skiing

AT PINE STREET WOODS

Adult and youth ski & snowshoe rentals available at the Pine Street Woods Outdoor Recreation Center.

Go to sandpointnordic.com for rental hours.

See you on the trails!

Crossword Solution

Instead of a trap door, what about an area of the floor that just shoots up real quick and smashes the guy against the ceiling?

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horologium /hawr-uh-LOH-jee-uh m /

Woorf tdhe Week

[noun] 1. a timepiece, as a clock or sundial, or a building supporting or containing a timepiece.

“Big Ben in London is the world’s most famous horologium.”

Corrections: The last sailing photo essay was labeled “part 4” when it was actually part 3. The fourth and final piece is published in this week’s issue.

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

READER

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Delicacy 6. Umpires 10. Sailors 14. Russian currency 15. Ear-related 16. Modify 17. Circa 18. Skin disease 19. No 20. Calligraphy 22. Sketched 23. Louse-to-be 24. Not quite a teenager 26. Armed robbery 30. Inspire 32. Wall climbers 33. Hence 37. Scream 38. Districts 39. Curved molding 40. Antimonopoly 42. Reef material 43. Scruffs 44. Diner 45. Arouse 47. 2,000 pounds 48. List of options 49. Unwarranted 56. Kitty (poker) 57. Lady’s escort 58. Fine thread 59. Alert 60. Moving within 61. Follow as a result

Solution on page 22 62. Notch 63. Smell 64. Appears

DOWN 1. Snare 2. Country bumpkin 3. Black, in poetry 4. Astringent 5. Lockjaw 6. Cut of beef 7. Carve in stone 8. French for Finished or Done 9. Ceremonial staffs

10. Beginner 11. Revere 12. Mature 13. Goulash 21. Bite 25. Tiny 26. Hello 27. Baking appliance 28. A jaunty rhythm 29. A young offender 30. An ancient board game 31. Warmth 33. Not false 34. Monster 35. Back 36. Evasive

38. A type of musical chord 41. Letter after sigma 42. Wax lights 44. Many millennia 45. Prison-related 46. Foreword 47. Coach 48. Mouths 50. Cleave 51. Savvy about 52. Connects two points 53. Anagram of “Sees” 54. Skid row 55. Views

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