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PEOPLE compiled by

Susan Drinkard

watching

“What makes you feel patriotic?”

“I am a patriot of the world, and to our country, but not necessarily to politicians.”

Alan Ball Retired ER doctor 30-year resident of Sandpoint

“Seeing people live the way they want to. In our country we have people from all races and walks of life, doing many different kinds of jobs from different economic backgrounds. People have opposing outlooks; yet, for the most part, we respect others’ choices.”

Elena Petrie Vet assistant Thompson Falls, Mont.

“I am a patriot and very old school.

I am a Vietnam veteran and a bornagain Christian. I worked at YMCAs all over the country. I studied American government, American history, civics, and I have studied other forms of government. I believe in one man/ one vote and the freedom to express your opinion. That’s why I am proud to be an American.”

Wayne Retired Selle Valley

“My freedom.”

Robyn Roberts Flowers from the Heart at Farmers Market Sandpoint

“The veterans who fought for our freedoms.”

Michelle Hall Priest River

DEAR READERS,

This weekend, we celebrate our 245th birthday as a nation. On Sunday, July 4, the Sandpoint Lions Club is back in action, hosting the annual Independence Day Parade, festivities at the Sandpoint City Beach and fireworks at dusk. I look forward to this fun community event and will post photos on our seldom-used Facebook page in case people can’t attend the parade.

Let’s hope the worst of this heat wave is behind us. Also, please use caution when recreating in our wilderness during these hot days. Keep your campfires small and drown them any time you leave them unattended. There is always an increase in human-started wildfires this time of year, so use your heads and keep our skies smoke-free this summer.

In the meantime, enjoy yourselves out there this holiday weekend. Happy birthday, America.

– Ben Olson, publisher

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

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

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Lorraine H. Marie, Devjeet Kaur, Brenden Bobby, Jen Jackson Quintano, Marcia Pilgeram.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $135 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

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

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

Free to all, limit two copies per person.

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

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

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

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

About the Cover

This week’s cover photo features the “Hooey Man,” aka Jerry Luther, who has been delighting Sandpoint’s residents with his ducks for decades.

Photo by Ben Olson.

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NEWS

County, followed by fire districts and Sandpoint, ban fireworks

By Lyndsie Kiebert and Ben Olson Reader Staff Discussion surrounding a resolution to ban the use of fireworks in Bonner County heading into the Independence Day weekend turned into a lengthy debate over legal authority June 29, with county commissioners ultimately voting to adopt the ban — despite it having an impact on only two small sections of Bonner County land.

Resolution 21-56 cites this year’s “severe fire threat” as reason to ban the use of fireworks on Bonner County land “during the current fire season,” which is left undefined. However, according to Deputy Prosecutor Scott Bauer, Idaho Code prevents the board from issuing such a ban in areas of the county which are incorporated or protected by a fire protection district. Rather than issue a blanket ban for the entire county, Bauer said at the commissioners’ June 29 business meeting that the board was only capable of prohibiting fireworks in those places unincorporated or outside of fire districts, and if cities or fire officials wanted to adopt a similar resolution on their own, they would be able to

do so before the holiday by calling emergency meetings.

According to Commissioner Dan McDonald, the areas covered by the county’s ban are “a small dot on the Sagle peninsula and a small dot just north of East Dufort.” A map attached to the resolution shows the majority of the county with a firework ban in place, but that is due mostly to the fact that fireworks are already not allowed on public lands.

“In reality, it’s mostly symbolic, as the sheriff was pushing this and he had two commissioners supporting him,” McDonald wrote in an email to the Reader, referencing the support Sheriff Daryl Wheeler received from commissioners Steve Bradshaw and Jeff Connolly. “It would have been a mistake to go against state statute and try to extend our authority outside of what we are allowed, and would have created potential financial liabilities for the county that we, as a practice, should be looking to avoid.”

“This symbolic ban does not impact previously planned aerial fireworks shows, and in reality, I’m betting all the fireworks that have been sold locally here and on the reservation will still be set off

regardless of what the fire districts or municipalities choose to do,” McDonald continued.

The unanimous vote to approve the “symbolic” resolution came after public comments from several officials urging a more comprehensive ban, with Wheeler recounting how quickly he’s seen things go from bad to worse with local fires in recent years.

“I’m really concerned for the safety of our community,” he said.

Sandpoint Mayber Shelby Rognstad spoke on behalf of the city, stating that he was concerned that, with such a short window before July 4, all of the city councils and fire district boards would not have time to meet and adopt their own resolutions.

“Pardon the pun, but I am concerned we are literally playing with fire here,” he said.

Dale Hopkins, interim fire chief for the Selkirk Fire District, urged a countywide ban in order to make enforcement more effective.

“I can’t drive down the road and tell you where the fire district boundaries are — the sheriff can’t, and the tourists sure can’t ... We don’t paint the lines on the property where these fire districts begin and end,” Hopkins said.

While county prohibition more ‘symbolic’ than effective, cities and fire districts must adopt their own resolutions

“It is important, if we’re going to make this worthwhile, that it’s done countywide by the county commissioners and not just piecemeal.”

Regardless of the various appeals, commissioners stuck with Bauer’s legal advice and issued the firework ban covering only unincorporated areas and those areas not under the protection of a fire district, leaving it up to individual cities and districts to adopt their own bans.

Sandpoint City Council took up the issue June 30 in a special joint meeting with the Sagle and Westside Fire Districts. Council members and the respective fire district boards discussed adopting a similar resolution to the one passed by Bonner County prohibiting aerial fireworks, or going a step further to ban all fireworks, including those referred to as “safe and sane,” such as sparklers and poppers.

Hopkins encouraged the council to adopt a ban due to the extreme heat and dry conditions affecting the region.

“This is a unique situation where we’ve had the sheriff come to the fire districts seeking support for a fireworks ban,” he said. “To me that should put a little bit of ur-

gency to the need when you have the sheriff wanting to do that.”

The council passed a motion prohibiting all fireworks — aerial as well as “safe and sane” within city limits, with one dissenting vote from council member John Darling, who preferred to prohibit only aerial fireworks. The ban will remain in effect for the duration of fire season.

The Sagle Fire District then passed a motion banning aerial fireworks within its jurisdiction, allowing “safe and sane” usage. The Westside Fire District followed with a motion to ban all fireworks within its district.

The council met in the newly remodeled chambers, but City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton told the Reader that the main building inside City Hall will be closed to the public effective July 1 as remodeling is slated to take place the following week. City departments will have representatives stationed in the alcove to handle public needs, with the exception of the building and planning department, which has been temporarily located at Sandpoint Community Hall. Construction is expected to last throughout the summer.

Hoodoo Valley rezone sent back to square one

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff An application for a zone change in the Hoodoo Valley has seen it all, from denial to approval to a full-on scrapping, as the board of Bonner County Commissioners voted June 24 to send the file back to the planning department and Bonner County Planning & Zoning Commission.

The application, put forth by property owner Daum Construction out of Hayden, requests to change the zoning on 160 acres from agricultural/forestry to rural residential, allowing five-acre parcels instead of the current 10-acre minimum.

While planning staff recommended denial earlier this year, with the P&Z commission follow4 /

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BOCC cites procedural errors in original staff reports

ing suit, the BOCC approved the file in April. The board then held a reconsideration hearing on June 24 following an appeal by those opposed to the project.

The reconsideration hearing ran more than two hours, with representatives for both the appellants and the applicant giving statements, as well as numerous community members opposed to the zone change taking to the microphone during the public comment period to express concerns about increased traffic on nearby Spirit Lake Cutoff Road, possible impacts from drilling several new wells in the area, and more.

At the core of the applenants’ case was the question of whether, in changing from an ag/forestry property to a rural residential one,

the land would qualify for fiveacre parcels. According to Norm Semanko, the attorney speaking on behalf of the concerned neighbors who brought the appeal, Daum’s property qualifies only to be split into 10-acre parcels.

“The underlying issue here isn’t whether … it’s rural residential or whether it’s ag/forestry,” he said.

“It’s whether it can go into five acre [parcels]. That’s the real issue. If you go to five acres, A, you have to be rural-residential, and B, you have to meet the criteria in the code.”

Semanko argued that using the fact that there are five-acre parcels nearby as a reason to allow them on the Daum property was not following county code.

“You don’t get to swoop kitty-corner and look at other lots,”

he continued. “That’s just not consistent with the code, and it’s not consistent with how the code was interpreted by staff … They only looked at the subject property, and that was the right thing to do.”

Commissioners opted to send the file back to the planning department and P&Z Board, citing discrepancies between the original staff report — which failed to route the Idaho Department of Fish & Game for comment — and the staff report presented at later hearings.

While the original staff report recommended denial of the file, the one presented to commissioners in April recommended approval.

Commissioner Dan McDonald called the original report “problematic,” and said it contained “mistakes and errors.”

“The new staff report is far more complete, actually does follow the comp plan and does follow the zoning laws,” said Commissioner Dan McDonald.

“However, we would be remiss to try to make a decision on this today with the conflict seen between the two [reports]. I don’t think it’s fair to the folks here, or to the applicant for that matter, to move forward with a decision right now because of the conflict.”

After brief deliberation and consultation with county counsel, the board voted unanimously to send the file back to square one.

“Moving it back to P&Z does kind of reset the clock,” said Deputy Prosecutor Bill Wilson, “to make sure that everybody’s on a level playing field procedurally.”

NEWS

Idaho National Guard pandemic mission ends PHD: ‘We truly could not have done this without their support’

By Reader Staff Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced June 24 that the Idaho National Guard’s COVID-19 Task Force would begin wrapping up operations over the coming weeks as the impacts of the pandemic continue to lessen in the state.

The governor’s office reported that the Guard’s task force has completed more than 70 unique mission assignments since its activation in March 2020, ranging from administrative and logistical support; COVID-19 testing and screening; administering vaccines; decontaminating long-term care facilities; and other support to Idaho’s health district offices, hospitals and other health care facilities, as well as partnering with Native American tribes.

In addition, Guard efforts have facilitated nearly 350,000 vaccines administered to Idaho citizens.

“The Idaho National Guard has played a critical role in saving lives and reducing the impact of COVID-19 on Idaho citizens. The Guard’s support was truly a game changer in the darkest months of our pandemic fight,” Little said in a media release. “As a result of the Guard’s efforts, and the efforts of all our frontline and health care workers, Idaho has remained one of the most open states throughout the global pandemic.”

Little authorized an initial activation of 50 Guard personnel last spring to immediately respond to requests for assistance from food banks throughout the state and provide storage and distribution of critical PPE across Idaho during the early days of the battle against COVID-19.

As the year went on, the governor increased that number to more than 300 personnel serving on the task force.

“This has been a great opportunity for the members of the Idaho National Guard to

give back to the communities throughout the state, who provide us with such a tremendous amount of support,” said Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, adjutant general of Idaho. “I’m extremely proud of the incredible efforts our soldiers and airmen put forth to ensure the health and safety of the citizens of Idaho.”

Health districts, health care facilities and other entities currently receiving support from the Idaho National Guard’s COVID-19 Task Force can expect to see a draw down of Guard personnel over the next two weeks, with support concluding on Friday, July 9.

The Panhandle Health District and other health care providers across North Idaho have seen National Guard support throughout the COVID-19 response. With case counts shrinking and a decreased demand for the vaccine, PHD announced in a June 24 media release, it is time for these service men and women to head home.

“The Idaho National Guard’s support has been integral in ensuring an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic and aiding PHD in the reduc-

tion of the loss of life and the sustainment of our community’s health,” said PHD Health Services Administrator Don Duffy. “They have supported our COVID-19 response operations in the five northern counties in a variety of initiatives. We truly could not have done this without their support and we will miss having them as part of our team.”

A total of 74 National Guardsmen served the North Idaho community as a part of a larger, statewide COVID-19

response initiative.

“This was an all-volunteer team of Idahoans who raised their hand to help their neighbors in a time of need,” PHD officials shared.

Due to the decrease in demand and the reduction in available staffing, PHD will be closing the mass vaccine clinics at North Idaho College in Coeur d’Alene and Rathdrum and the University of Idaho Agriculture Center in Sandpoint effective Thursday, July 8. Anyone

The Idaho National Guard helps administer COVID-19 vaccines at the Bonner County Fairground in Feb. 2021. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert.

who would like to receive a COVID-19 vaccine can schedule an appointment at any of the PHD office locations in Hayden, Sandpoint, St. Maries, Bonners Ferry or Kellogg.

Those with questions about COVID-19 in North Idaho can call PHD’s hotline Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at 877-415-5225.

Little Pine fire completely contained IDL: ‘The best way to thank a firefighter is to be fire smart’

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Even as temperatures rivaled all-time highs in North Idaho, firefighters working on the Little Pine fire near Priest River achieved 100% containment on June 30, holding the burn to 190 acres within Idaho Endowment Timberland boundaries.

The fire, located seven miles north of Priest River in Pine Creek and one mile south of Blue Lake, was reported around 3 p.m. on June 22. The Idaho Department of Lands has taken lead on the incident, employing the department’s unmanned aerial system of infrared cameras to track the fire’s growth and gauge

mop up effort effectiveness.

“This technology has definitely helped us keep our fire crews safe and efficient during this unusually hot June by targeting efforts instead of just searching in the hopes of finding hot pockets,” said Incident Commander Mike McManus.

With the fire now completely contained, IDL will turn command back over to local fire officials early in the morning on July 1. Still, “internal pockets of fuels will continue to burn into the future and the public may see smoke in the area into the fall without substantial wetting rains,” IDL shared in a June 30 media release.

“The incident management team would like to thank the

public and the Bonner County Office of Emergency Management for their support throughout this incident,” IDL officials continued. “With what appears to be a long and arduous fire season, fire

Photo courtesy IDL. managers would like to stress that the best way to thank a firefighter is to be fire smart and prevent all unwanted human caused fires.”

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NEWS

Forest officials: ‘Know Before You Go’ this holiday weekend

By Reader Staff With the Fourth of July holiday approaching, public land managers across the Idaho Panhandle want to remind visitors that fireworks, and the possession of fireworks, are prohibited on federal public lands, regardless of weather conditions or holidays. Exploding targets and other pyrotechnic devices, such as Tannerite, are also prohibited on federal public lands in Idaho administered by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.

Drought conditions, unseasonably hot temperatures and high fire danger levels are affecting many parts of northern Idaho. The National Weather Service office in Spokane describes this week as “likely [to] be one of the most extreme and prolonged heat waves in the recorded history of the Inland Northwest [that] will make our region increasingly vulnerable to wildfires and intensify the impacts of our ongoing drought.”

Each year, fire officials see a spike in human-caused wildfires, particularly around the Fourth of July and Labor Day weekends, most often from unattended campfires, fireworks, dragging tow chains, driving on dry grass and improper disposal of hot ashes and BBQ coals. To date, in the five northern counties of the Idaho Panhandle, there have been 88 wildfires, 76 of which were human-caused. Please remember these fire prevention tips when visiting ALL public lands: Know before you go: Check online (IdahoFireInfo.com) or call about any fire restrictions or closures before venturing out.

Several areas around Idaho are in or entering fire restrictions, which limit the use of fire.

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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: As expected, even with a For the People Act re-crafted to appeal to Republicans, Republicans blocked it last week via filibuster. The blockage upholds Republicans’ vow to block all the president’s plans. The proposed Act included provisions for protecting the right to vote, ending partisan gerrymandering, limiting the influence of money on politics, and ethics rules for federal officeholders.

How to move past partisan gridlock: The Nation recently presented two ideas.

One is to transition to a parliamentary system, with no president. The U.S. is the longest-running presidential democracy, but, The Nation says, the vast majority Photo courtesy IPNF. of advanced democracies have converted to parliamentary systems that are “less fire is “dead out” and cold to the touch contentious and more productive.” before leaving your campsite or going to Under a parliamentary system there are bed. Keep your campfire small and use a multiple parties, which often form coalidesignated campfire ring when available tion governments through compromise. and permissible.

The Nation explains that in a government Leave the fireworks at home: Firewith two opposing parties, there is “zero works are prohibited on federal public incentive” to support the president, since lands. During closed fire season (May 10 there is a strong tendency to jockey for to October 20), it is illegal to throw away ultimate control by undermining the any lighted material, including firecrackers opposing party, negating a work-together or fireworks, on any forest or rangeland in scenario that benefits all citizens. the State of Idaho. (Idaho Code 38-117) Starting a wildfire by the use of fireworks is The other idea presented by The considered negligence, and the person who Nation: Secession by Blue States, who started the fire will be billed for the cost of currently pay more in federal taxes but get fighting the fire. (Idaho Code 38-107) less in return. The Rockefeller Institute of Don’t be the spark: Do not drive or Government, based on five years of stats, park on dry grass. Hot exhaust pipes or found that New York State taxpayers sent sparks can start a fire. $142.6 billion more to the federal governCheck your chains: When pulling a ment than they received back. New Jersey trailer, be sure safety chains and other metal received back 91% for every federal tax parts aren’t hanging from your vehicle as dollar they paid, and Connecticut had a these can drag and cause sparks. return of 89%. That was compared to Land management agencies are comMississippi which received $2.09 for mitted to a balanced fire program that will every tax dollar paid to the federal govreduce risks and realize benefits of fire at the right time and place. Prescribed fire and ernment, Kentucky’s return of $2.89 and fires for resource benefit are managed under South Carolina’s return of $1.71 for every tax dollar paid. Not only are federal tax very strict criteria, when both the science and resource availability align. Unfortunate- dollar returns lopsided, with blue states propping up red states, The Nation says ly, human-caused fires in populated areas the Senate’s filibuster rules, where 41 and the wildland-urban interface are most Senators can represent as little as 11% of commonly responsible for evacuations and property damage. This holiday weekend the population, can result in any bill, no and always, do your part to prevent humatter how popular, from failing to come man-caused starts. Don’t let your summer to a vote. go up in smoke.

CBS News: Health experts are contemSee more wildfire prevention and preplating the toxic mix of low vaccination paredness tips at: nifc.gov/fire-information/ rates in the U.S. and the COVID-19 Delta fire-prevention-education-mitigation. variant, which they say is 60% more con-

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

tagious than the Alpha variant discovered in the U.K. Predictions are that the Delta variant will spark a third wave of the COVID pandemic, primarily impacting the unvaccinated.

President Biden recently presented his five-point proposal for addressing gun violence. NPR reported that includes a zero-tolerance policy for gun sellers who violate federal laws; more support for local law enforcement to help with typical summer crime increases; investing in community violence intervention programs; broadening summer employment and services, especially for teens and young adults; and helping the formerly incarcerated to successfully re-enter their communities.

Causes of the climate-change driven Pacific Northwest heat dome (also in parts of Europe, Scandinavia and Russia): a broad ridge of high pressure that brings lots of sun and sinking air, compounded by a low thermal trough that blocks cooling sea breezes, according to the Washington Post.

Close to four million people quit their jobs in April, a report in The New York Times says. Those quitting come from all spectrums of the employment scene. They have a wide variety of reasons, including fear of contracting the COVID virus, child or elder care challenges, refusal to give up the flexibility of remote work, lack of respect from employers, an unwillingness to put up with inadequate wages, and job burn-out.

A House select committee will be created to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, Axios reported. It will consolidate several House investigations, and comes on the heels of Senate Republicans blocking a bi-partisan 9/11-style commission to do the investigation.

Blast from the past: The fallout from obstructionist politics in Congress: Historian Heather Cox Richardson points out that Congress’ job is to make laws, and the president’s job is to put them into action. But since the mid 20th century, the president’s office has seen an increase in power, often due to obstructionist tactics that prevent the office from moving forward with electoral promises.

That prompts a president to act instead by executive order, where there is the capability. It has also resulted at times in presidents sending out troops without a congressional declaration of war.

PERSPECTIVES

Bundles of joy

‘It’s all about the little things’

By Devjeet Kaur Reader Contributor Arms overflowing with freshly harvested herbs, my eyes scan the landscape of the garden for the perfect spot to do my work. I have a specific spot in mind — a shady area to protect the delicate plant matter and a full sunlit area to warm my bones.

There, before me, between the row of strawberries and beets, is that magical place where light and dark meet. Feeling pleased, I joyfully walk over and place the freshly scented lemon balm in the shade.

Sitting on my heels, where I feel the dry grass beneath me lightly scratching my shins, I realize this somehow no longer bothers me.

I take a deep breath and begin to feel my body loosen as the light of the sun falls on my skin.

I carefully begin to untangle and separate my harvest one stem at a time, choosing identical sizes to create small bundles. When the thickness feels just right, I tightly wrap the bundle with a rough piece of jute twine and tie a knot so that I can hang the herbs to dry.

After each bundle is complete, I examine them, acknowledging how beautiful they are. This makes my heart lightly flutter with delight. Nearly an hour goes by, with my focus on the bundles only noticing the little white butterflies whirling and twirling in the corner of my eye.

Then my practical mind says, “Wow it would be so much more efficient if I had a commercial dehydrator and I could just throw the plant in there.”

Just like that, in less than a second, I forgot how precious it was to spend all this time cultivating a relationship with lemon balm barefoot in the sun with the bees buzzing in my ears.

This got me wondering, “How often do we miss out on the beauty of being human in order to save time or to be more productive?”

What is the true cost of efficiency? What is the real trade off?

In this modern world, we have technologies and innovations that make life more productive. We are now able to do way more than our ancestors did in a shorter period of time. There are machines that wash our dishes, clean our clothes and dry them, chop our veggies and even write our letters. So many ingenious ways to liberate us from mundane tasks, to make our lives easier and perhaps better. Yet, I wonder, are we truly happier?

I often think back on the Indigenous people of this land, fetching their water, hunting for food, foraging medicine, making clothing out of hides and building their shelters. Although this requires much skill,

time, work and effort, I imagine that these people were so deeply connected at a level many of us cannot even fathom.

I often envision the women washing their clothing in the lake and how many sunrises, seasons and cycles they witnessed.

They were woven into the very fabric of the land, and it would be unthinkable to see themselves as separate from anything in their environment. This way of life was definitely not easy, but is “easy” really what makes one feel happy, connected, alive and purposeful?

Don’t get me wrong, there are no absolutes. I value these technologies because I acknowledge that we live in a high-demand world and they give many an opportunity to have more time for their loved ones, hobbies and interests.

I remember hearing a story of my grandmother being really grateful for her washer and dryer as she raised 12 children. I cannot deny how valuable these things are to the world in which we live.

Having spent five years without running water in my home, I am grateful every single day I now have on-demand running water coming out of the tap. It’s even hot — what a luxury!

Nevertheless, I may not have so much reverence for water had I not had to carry it for a few years or I may not have the same intimate relationship with plants had I not spent hours processing them.

The question still remains, “What is the true cost of efficiency?”

Perhaps it’s not about choosing one way or the other, but finding balance and simply going the extra mile to connect with our humanness in ways that specifically bring joy. So handwrite your loved ones a letter instead of an email, because you love picking out stationary and cursive writing.

Dry your clothing on the line on a warm spring day instead of using the dryer, because the scent of air dried linens brings nostalgia of a time when things were simpler. Use that old wood stove instead of the electric heater, because the sound of the crackling and popping wood soothes your soul.

Paint your friends’ birthday cards instead of purchasing them from Hallmark, because the sight of the paintbrush gliding over a blank sheet of paper inspires beauty within.

Maybe even wash those dishes by hand instead of throwing them in the dishwasher, because the sensation of warm water falling over your hands feels so calming.

Whatever it is that makes you feel connected to life, take that little extra time and your soul will flourish. It’s all about the little things.

In all my 25 years as a North Idaho resident, I have never attended a Sandpoint Independence Day celebration.

This sounds blasphemous, right? It is nonetheless true, because while the townies lined their sidewalks and swam their City Beach, I was far too preoccupied with Bonner County’s best kept secret: The Clark Fork Old Fashioned 4th of July Celebration.

That’s the official name. Colloquially, the day is known by its segments — the parade, foot races, Booster BBQ, airplane drop, turtle races, watermelon-eating contest, and sawing competition all happen each year, following the same unspoken schedule as dependable as Clark Fork’s old noon whistle used to be.

I’ve done it all, to varying enjoyment and success. I’ve both biked and ridden along in the parade, as well as watched from the sidelines, grasping at candy and koozies and every other goodie the familiar faces would throw my way. I’ve forced my sisters to join me in the foot races, squeezing their hands and pulling them along in pursuit of a shiney new silver or gold dollar. Here’s to all the grass stains, inflicted by and upon me, in front of hundreds of foot race onlookers.

I am of the firm belief that nothing tastes as good as a hot dog and an icy cold can of Coke at 10 a.m., directly following the parade, courtesy of the Clark Fork Booster Club. I’ve gathered windblown dollar bills and tickets for free ice cream from the airplane’s coveted midday drop onto the ball field, and gently stroked the shell of a turtle about to go head-to-head

against the reptilian racers of my cousins and classmates. My favorite part of the day for many years was the watermelon-eating contest. A cold slab of melon, cut in front of you and placed into your small hands, was a trophy in itself; the art of shaving the flesh off with your teeth and thrusting the empty rind into the air, victorious and unbelievably sticky, was childhood euphoria.

The sawing competition has long been synonymous with my family, as my dad has (very humbly, despite my bragging) collected trophy after trophy and played a key role in making sure there are logs to saw and cold beer aplenty for the competitors. More important than the winning, of course, is “getting people involved,” he says, because that means the scent of fresh-cut wood and chorus of roaring saws will grace the ball field forever.

I’ve been happy my whole life to be an avid cheerleader during this part of our festivities, aside from a momentary lapse in judgment when my fiancé and I competed in the crosscut competition a few years ago. It did not go well, and he has since joined forces with my much-more-muscley little sister.

No matter where I am, or what time of year it is, I can put myself in a Clark Fork Independence Day. The sights and smells are easy enough to recall, but it is the complete feeling of being home that I want to keep on hand forever.

No matter where you celebrate July 4 this year, I hope you feel at home, and you know that the Clark Fork Old Fashioned 4th of July is far superior to any other celebration on earth.

Top: The author with her sisters and cousins in matching shirts Auntie Kay made for them when they rode their bikes through the 2002 parade in Clark Fork. Bottom. The author and her fiance Alex competing in the Jack & Jill crosscut competition in 2018. Courtesy photos.

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Past time for rainbow crosswalks downtown...

Bouquets: • I want to thank all of you who wrote me regarding my “Dear Readers” diatribe in the June 24 Reader.

I received so many emails from our readers, most sharing their points of view for how they, too, feel as if they are being pushed out because of the rapid changes happening in Sandpoint. I want you all to know that I hear you and I can empathize with your concerns. We’re all a bit concerned right now.

One point that I think needs clarification is the definition of a “local.” I’m no ruling authority on what makes a local in Sandpoint. Some say it means you were born here, others say it means you spent your formative years here. I see it this way: I’ve known people who moved here a year ago who exemplify what it means to be a “local” more than others who have lived here over a decade. Being local doesn’t necessarily mean you were born somewhere, it means you are “of that place.” You care about the community. You contribute to the community. You see yourself as a steward, protecting our small town way of life with your words, your actions and your decisions. Being local isn’t about geography, it’s about how you see your role in a community and how you give back to it.

I encourage you all to start thinking about ways you can help our town preserve its local character in the face of all this rampant growth. Get involved with city council meetings, with Bonner County planning decisions and environmental issues that affect our lake and forests. Write letters to the editor, demand that your elected leaders communicate with the media and listen to your concerns. We rely on tourists in many ways, but this whole idea that everything we are as a town is about the tourists is not accurate. Long term decisions for our city should not be made with just tourists in mind. They come and go, but we live here full time. This is our town. We’re happy to share it, because we’re proud of it, but we’re also a little tired of watching it cater only to those who don’t live here. It’s time for change.

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Dear editor, I fully support and agree with the letter you published by Kenny Fearer on June 24 [“Brighten Sandpoint with rainbow crosswalks…”].

It is far past time for Sandpoint to have rainbow crosswalks on First Avenue. In fact, I propose the city take up the banner and paint the crosswalks at the intersection by the Panida Theater rainbow.

Sandpoint, as long as I have lived here, has been an open, accepting and eclectic center of diversity in North Idaho. Yes we all have our differences but that has never affected us before. What changed, I don’t know. But that love and diversity has always been here.

Whatever happened, we all need to seriously work on bringing the community back to center, so to speak. Be it sitting down over a cup of coffee, a glass of beer — whatever it takes. Because whatever your beliefs, at the end of the day, we all pretty much want the same thing: a good job, good schools for our children and a safe place to call home.

We’re way more alike than different.

Let’s work on those things.

Jeff Bohnhof Sandpoint

Pushed out…

Dear editor, I just want to say “amen!” to your June 24 “Dear Readers” [by Reader Publisher Ben Olson].

I have lived here nearly 30 years and hate what is happening.

The town I came from was ruined this same way, which is how I ended up here. I like it here as much as I liked my hometown, when it was a nice place to grow up and live. However, after a while, outside money made it impossible for ordinary folks who didn’t inherit property to stay there. Now it’s happened here and I presently have no place to live because I’m a local with a local income. I honestly don’t know what I’m going to do!

Robin Jelinek Sandpoint

Feeling a sense of loss for Sandpoint…

Dear editor, When I read your “Dear Readers” [by Reader Publisher Ben Olson, June 24, 2021], I was pretty much speechless. I have appreciated

your voice many times recently, putting words to what I feel.

I’m not a local. I’ve lived here 45 years and consider myself fortunate to have been coming to this lake since I was 8 years old. I do love it and have loved the people and place for a very long time. It is so sad, and so hard, to see it slipping away.

Becoming something unrecognizable. The sense of loss, sometimes, is almost overwhelming.

I am a person who loves words, and the ability of words to articulate what I feel, believe or hold dear.

I’m astonished that anyone would tell you to ease up on newcomers. I’m so glad you didn’t. I’m so glad you spoke your mind. I’m so glad you edited out the anger and left the wisdom.

My father told me 30 years ago that the reason we did OK when we arrived here was because we assimilated. We didn’t bring our life from somewhere else in a big moving van and plop it in the middle of Bonner County, expecting everyone to accommodate us and make here like where we came from, only cheaper and prettier.

We didn’t expect the people who were here first to think we were somehow better. We knew the people who were here first were the smart ones. They had been here, often for generations, living and dying and loving the beautiful wild place they were fortunate enough to live in.

So, thank you, Ben, for using your words and articulating what I feel and have not been able to say.

Thank you for using your platform to speak for us. God knows few are.

Sincerely, Liz Tollbom Sandpoint

‘Not-So-Polite Ben’…

Dear editor, Dear “Polite Ben,” you are nice but I prefer “Not-So-Polite Ben” [“Dear Readers, June 24, 2021].

Thanks for telling it like it is.

River Burdick Sandpoint

Speaking the truth…

Dear editor, I just wanted to let Ben know that his publisher’s insert in today’s paper [“Dear Readers,” June 24, 2021] is put so eloquently and right on. The consciousness of this town is being affected by those who are arriving without the understand-

ing that we are all connected and nature is part of who we are. The very beauty that draws us all here is being destroyed because newbies want everything to be convenient, safe, tidy and just like where they came from, even if it is house No. 2. I shudder every time I hear a chainsaw going off in town. “Let’s take out another 50- to 70-yearold tree because it threatens us or because it is in the way of our new complex.”

I am just thrilled you share the truth.

Darlene Dibble Sandpoint

Why not roundabouts...?

Dear Editor, Seems the reasonable solutions to the increase of traffic and safety issues on Highway 95 would be roundabouts at the Sagle intersection and the south end of the Long Bridge. I wonder if this option has been considered and if not, why, as they certainly slow down traffic and would seem to work well, especially at the south end of the long bridge, where backed up traffic from a signal light would be extremely dangerous.

Jo Reitan Sandpoint

PERSPECTIVES

A sentiment oft expressed by my friends is, “If my husband and I had to work together, we would kill each other.”

Generally, there is a sense of awe surrounding the fact that Tyler and I have copiloted a business for a decade, and the plane has not yet erupted in flames.

The fact is, we work well together. We are at our best when we are a team. I find that our need to problem-solve at work often helps to indirectly untangle problems at home. If we can safely remove a 100-foot-tall ponderosa surrounded by structures, we can certainly figure out conflicting parenting strategies. It’s all a matter of perspective.

There’s also the fact that we appreciate what the other brings to the jobsite.

Though Tyler never puts the toilet seat down, he nearly always puts his trees down exactly where they should go.

He is fearless in his tangle of ropes and saws 75 feet above the ground. His mental acuity is impeccable when it comes to planning a tricky tree’s demise, even if he might never remember where his wallet or phone is. In working with my husband, I get to see the whole of him. I get to see the best of him. We are not left solely with the post-workday dregs of one another.

The hardest time for me in our relationship was the two-years stretch I stayed home with our daughter when she was small. Though I cherished my time in getting to know every detail of our beloved baby—and what a gift to have the ability to do so—I harbored a lot of resentment toward my husband. I was suffering from a serious case of FOMO (I want to weary my body in the trees, too!), and I had never pictured myself becoming the happy housewife. Ever. For all the physical, mental, and emotional strength I had cultivated over the years, meal planning and surface cleaning didn’t feel like an apt outcome. I felt content as a mother but unchallenged and confined as a human being.

Jen Jackson Quintano.

There was also the fact that I wasn’t getting to see the best of my husband. I saw him only in the morning rush—helping to find wallet, phone, and keys—and in his evening fatigue that left me feeling envious. I knew nothing of his day’s accomplishments and exploits. I didn’t get to see his magic.

I often tell people that becoming a parent is what turned me into a feminist.

Before motherhood, I didn’t much feel othered as a woman. I enjoyed the same opportunities as the men around me.

There wasn’t a visible divide between me and the opposite sex. With the baby, though, I suddenly felt worlds apart from my husband. Not much in his life seemingly changed, whereas everything in mine had turned upside down. This was certainly another source of resentment.

While Tyler remained an arborist, I became the Input/Output Coordinator for Baby Quintano Enterprises. My needs were subsumed by my daughter’s.

Though I had never loved a being more than I loved her, I was bored, stagnating, unable to pursue those things that brought

me fulfillment. My girl had become my world, but I yearned to instead experience a world that I could bring to her.

After depressing stints at the park wherein I struggled to find commonality with the other stay-at-home moms, I would creep on my partner as the baby napped in the backseat. I’d drive by jobsites and shoot eye-daggers at the employees who had taken my place. I felt like my position had been usurped, and I could never come back. I did this, and I was also unwilling to hand over care of my child to anyone else. I wanted it all— both career and at-home intimacy. It was a mind-eff, for sure.

I also experienced a shift in my relationship with money. Since I wasn’t actively making it, I felt guilty in spending it. I felt powerless. I believed that I no longer had ownership over anything material in my world. I suddenly understood why many women stay in bad relationships. It’s an issue of powerlessness.

If you leave, what’s yours to take with you besides the children? What have you invested in, besides the children? What will carry you through? Besides your beautiful children?

The gendered divide Tyler and I experienced mostly arose from ignorance.

Don’t laugh, but we seriously thought that we would continue working together and just take the baby to work. Babies sleep a lot, right? So we would just put the wee one in a bassinet in a forested safety zone and let her cries alert us to her needs. Breastfeeding breaks would be the equivalent of coffee breaks. Right. This obviously didn’t happen.

Instead, by default, I became the female caretaker (because, boobs), and Tyler became the male worker (because, climbing skills). We didn’t talk about it. It just made sense. In retrospect, I wouldn’t change it, but I would mentally prepare myself for it. So much of the difficulty arose from the unexpectedness of the changes.

To my friends who claim homicide would result from working with their spouses, I can report the opposite. It was not working together that put the greatest strain on our relationship. It is sharing ground on the jobsite as partners and equals and marveling at my husband’s unique skill set that fills my marriage cup most.

Jen Jackson Quintano writes and runs an arborist business with her husband in Sandpoint. Find their website at sandcreektreeservice.com. See more of Quintano’s writing at jenjacksonquintano.com.

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Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

the food of the american revolution

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Today, America’s Independence Day on July 4 is celebrated by a number of traditions hearkening back to the country’s founding and the war that helped push America into its independence.

The fireworks we see at night are more than a simple celebration, but a reminder of the sights and sounds of the early revolutionaries. Thunderous booms evoke the crash of cannon fire, the whistling of bottle rockets replicating the shriek of nearmiss projectiles, and the billowing smoke of fountains bring us straight to the front lines, where black powder muskets and cannons spewed smoke thick enough to cover the entire battlefield in a fog of death.

On this yearly celebration, we also gorge ourselves on a feast of barbecued meats, grilled corn and copious amounts of cheap beer. This part of the celebration is hardly reminiscent of what the actual revolutionaries endured throughout, and even after the war.

At the time of the American Revolution, heavy rationing was in place to ensure the colonies would be able to not only endure the war, but survive to build a country in the wake of it. Most soldiers were afforded a daily ration of a pound of meat — often pork or beef and salted to the extreme for the sake of preservation — some hardtack in lieu of bread, and a handful of peas or beans. These rations grew smaller as the war continued on, especially throughout the winter of 1777-1778, which stretched on for over six months and ruined an entire year of 10 /

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crop-growing.

During the depths of this winter, a desperate form of food was concocted by the revolutionaries. Dubbed firecake, it was a bland mixture of flour and water cooked over a fire. If you want a modern equivalent of firecake, it’s fairly easy to acquire. Simply hit up your local grocery store, find some unfrosted toaster pastries — the dry, boxed kind, not the flaky, fluffy frozen strudels — and scrape out any of the jelly filling, then char over an open flame.

Now you’re eating like a patriot!

American food during the Revolutionary War was essentially dog food when you compare it to what the British troops had access to at the time — or at least, what the British troops should have had access to. The British Empire was the largest empire the world has ever seen, with control of huge swaths of land throughout the Caribbean, most of North America, a great deal of Africa as well as India and a number of footholds throughout eastern Asia, including the major hub of Hong Kong. Additionally, there were even some forces throughout revolutionary America that remained loyal to the crown, and would offer up their homes and farms to the British army.

Such an expansive reach over every corner of the world meant that the empire had access to a great quantity and variety of different food types, as well as morale-boosting alcohol — the most popular of which was rum, imported from the Caribbean, India and Africa.

However, due to the remoteness of the conflict, as well as a seemingly perpetual state of war with France, the British Empire’s

logistical handling of the American Revolution was shoddy at best. This poor planning forced British soldiers into conditions identical to that of the American revolutionaries, but with the disadvantage of being an occupying force on foreign soil.

If you crave historical accuracy in your Fourth of July celebrations, one particular food was pivotal for American victory in the war. Curiously, it is also a beloved condiment still used in the United Kingdom, though it has fallen greatly out of favor in mainstream American cuisine.

Vinegar played a very important part in the American Revolution, particularly for the revolutionaries. While the British army relied on vast, seemingly unending supplies of rum from the Caribbean, American marksmen utilized the antimicrobial effects of vinegar to sterilize their water without boiling it, as well as using it as a tangy condiment to spice their foods.

America would fall out of love with the flavor of vinegar, particularly as it gained sugar-heavy states like Florida. Vast sugar plantations would forever change the way Americans ate, largely for the worse. In more recent years, the vast quantity of sugar production has shifted to producing high fructose corn syrup, which comes from sweetcorn farmed throughout the American midwest.

However, if you want some authentic 1776 taste with your pound of smoked pork, ditch the sugary soda and grab a bottle of malt vinegar — if it’s a bit much, don’t worry: ketchup is produced from vinegar and delivers a sweetness and a tanginess that is unique to America’s favorite red condiment.

An example of firecake, a staple of the American Revolution diet.

Courtesy photo.

If you want to go a step further, you could always try some firecake or hard-tack, but you’re really just better off going with a classic light and fluffy bun.

Gluten-free for me, please!

This year, while you watch the splash of colors across the sky, hear the screeching cacophony of bottle rockets whizzing by your face and chew on some grilled meat or veggies of your choice, try to imagine what it must have

been like over two centuries ago: the British march towards you, muskets loaded and primed, the thunder of cannon fire in the near-distance. You reach for your field rations, perhaps your last meal before a chunk of metal the size of your thumb may rip through your body.

Crunchy, chewy, and salty: just the way grand-dad used to make it.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner ts?

Don’t know much about drough • A “drought” is an extended period of deficient rainfall relative to the statistical multiyear average for a region. But because of the various ways it is measured, an objective drought definition has yet to be produced upon which everyone can agree.

• The four types of drought are: meteorological (lack of precipitation), agricultural (lack of moisture in the soil where crops grow), hydrological (low levels of water in lakes and reservoirs) and socioeconomic (water shortages in drinking and running water).

• Only .003% of water on Earth is freshwater available for human consumption.

• In the United States, droughts are most likely to occur in the Midwest and South.

• Nationwide losses from the U.S. drought of 1988 exceeded $40 billion — more than the losses caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the Mississippi

We can help!

River floods of 1993 and the San Francisco earthquake in 1989.

• In the Horn of Africa, the 1984-1985 drought led to a famine that killed 750,000 people.

• The U.S. West has experienced less rain during the past 50 years, as well as increases in the severity and length of droughts. This has been especially of concern in the Southwest.

• As the climate heats up, droughts are expected to become more frequent and severe in some locations.

• Trees are a key weapon in the fight against drought. As they extend their roots beneath the soil, they help break up the dry and compacted soil, creating tiny pockets of air between soil particles. Any rain that falls on this soil seeps deep into the ground and gets retained in the air pockets, helping to remoisturize the soil.

PERSPECTIVES

A few (last) thoughts...

By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist We are all pretty much sick of politics, I think. At least I am, but I have been for quite some time, since Y2K, in fact. The shenanigans of those who govern us, from county commissioners to senators, are as entertaining as they are disturbing. Altruism is not a common trait in the halls of government, while self-service and acrimony are.

There is good news, though. Q-Anon is fading. Its prophecies have proved false and its proselytizing for belief in the “deep state” is quickly waning. It’s hard to hold up an idea that has shown itself unbelievable in so many ways, though some continue to cling to the Cabal theory. It’s easier, evidently, to stay in denial than to change a mind. The continued presence of Trump flags and the ever-so-subtle “F**k Biden” banners are evidence of that.

My “favorite,” if I had to have one, would be the one that says, “Don’t blame me, I voted for Trump.” The sentiment is confusing and conflicted, as is Trump himself. Under the premise of the statement, there is really nothing for which to blame that person — unless they voted for Trump in 2016. Which they probably did.

There’s another flag that confuses me as well, the Gadsden Flag; that is, the yellow one with the rattlesnake and the “Don’t Tread On Me” slogan. Its original intent as a symbol of the American Revolution was actually inspired in part by Benjamin Franklin’s thought that it would be suitable to answer England’s policy of sending convicts to the colonies by sending rattlesnakes to England, and particularly to the homes and gardens of those who made the rules. It has now come to represent the alt-right in many cases, just beyond halfway toward the top on the right side of the circle representing the spectrum of political thought.

I learned about the circle in Mr. Anderson’s government class long, long ago. It begins at the bottom with centrism, neither too far left or right. When I was in Mr. Anderson’s classroom, the low point of the circle was an appropriate place for centrism, for the great weight of Americans were moderates. Republican or Democrat, they were still moderates.

Republican or Democrat, they still got together and played pinochle on Saturday nights and knew how to civilly discuss just about everything except sex education and religion. To the left of that bottom point is liberalism and to the right is conservatism. The portion of the circle representing moderate thinking is about 40%, 20% on each side of that bottom point. Then,

the ideas represented begin to deviate far enough from center to be thought by some to be unconventional or slightly strange.

That occupies another 20% of the circle, 10% on each side. Then, we get to the really interesting stuff.

There are many much more complicated representations of the political spectrum out there, but the diagram I found that most resembles Mr. Anderson’s example has “Lunatic Fringe” at the top. Soviet- and Chinese-style communism is just to the left and Hitleresque fascism on the right.

In both cases, the methods of rule include suspension of rights of many; destruction of millions of innocents; and extreme cruelty, blind obedience and rampant paranoia within the ranks of leadership.

On the way to those totalitarian ideals, sides of the circle are tracked from the moderate lower-middle-point, to “radical” on the left; “reactionary” on the right. In their truest form, radicals and reactionaries are noisy, prone to violence, incorrigibly convinced of the virtue of their cause and nearly indistinguishable, except for their loathing of each other. The left and right merge at anarchy,

About politics (at least for a while)

the state reached temporarily on Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C. — a great example of the doings of the lunatic fringe.

Which brings me to wonder about that yellow flag. It may be time to rethink it as a symbol of freedom. Rattlesnakes aren’t inherently cruel, but they are extremely paranoid. The least provocation gets them ready to kill — comes of having no legs, I guess.

They also don’t hear well, lacking ears, as do most snakes. They track by vision and heat sensing. In many senses, they are not very free, except to be rattlesnakes.

Then there is the color. Yellow is a warning color, but it is also associated with cowardice. So, before you get a Gadsden flag, you may wish to consider what you are saying when you fly it.

The symbol of freedom that I prefer is Old Glory. Though it sometimes feels like the conservatives have tried to co-opt it, it belongs to all who live in this country.

According to custom and tradition, red symbolizes hardiness and valor; white, purity and innocence; and blue, vigilance, perseverance and justice. Hooray for the red, white and blue!

As a nation, we have not always lived up to those colors, but many times, we have. And we still have opportunities each day to do so, as well as honor our charters in the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. It is the moderates, the centrists, who have done the best job of that, and that is still where our best hope lies.

As we approach the 245th birthday of the United States, we remain united. I’m flying our flag, and I urge the rest of you moderates to do so as well.

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FEATURE

Vigilante studios moves to Sandpoint

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor Even as a toddler Zeke Rawson had a keen understanding and passion for gears and moving parts. Around 8 years old he was designing Lego creations that could move like the buckets of tractors or walk like spiders. It was often assumed that he was getting a great deal of help from his parents, but we had no concept of how Zeke’s brain worked or how he came up with his designs. He graduated to working with 3-D software a few years ago and has taught himself through internet tutorials and hundreds of hours of trial and error.

With each new creation, Zeke’s dad and I would say, “wow” and “amazing” in our awe and lack of better words. Zeke was completely alone and autonomous in this modern passion of his and I worried that he might lose momentum without an inspiring community.

It was no surprise that the Sandpoint Reader would be the one to help me find this community. In Cameron Rasmusson’s article “Turning Dreams into Reality” (Nov. 19, 2020) I was introduced to Bonners Ferry-based Vigilante Studios and Daniel Seward. Much of the article was beyond my understanding, but I was sure that my son would understand and relate, so I reached out to Seward that week.

Seward is a locally grown artist who studied and worked all over the country. He studied 3-D arts in San Francisco and even at the Think Tank Training Center in Vancouver, British Columbia.

He worked in Silicon Valley and was offered a faculty position at Butte College, based on his experience and portfolio rather than a Master’s degree. For seven years Seward promoted artists and created a community in California (in a similar way that the Reader does) through a full-color magazine called The Voice.

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I drove as far north as Bonners and suddenly I was going there once or twice a week. Finally, someone could speak my son’s language and it was worth the trip. Now, however, that trip will be a lot shorter, as Vigilante Studios is moving into a new location across from Sandpoint high school on 1333 Superior St. (above Upside Kombucha), which is not only larger and lighter than the Bonners space, but located in an optimal location for all of our local students.

Beyond all the services offered, there is this inspiring ambience (aided by Serward’s amiability and his sweet dog) that just feels right.

While my son worked on the incredible equipment that Seward expertly built to keep up with rendering 3-D images, I was given a great deal of patient assistance in beginner graphic arts. Seward helped me polish up a sloppy painting into a graphic worthy of a T-shirt, which is now worn by my family and friends.

During the weeks that I worked on this dream of mine, Seward worked on custom graphics, illustrations and creating a sleek logo for Bonners Ferry. His quality and efficiency amazed me — I was in the presence of a “real” artist.

“I grew up mostly in the woods in North Idaho and my imagination was the tool that carried me into all other things,” Seward said. “Naturally I came back to my old stomping grounds.”

Seward has created complex animations and spent countless hours on his whimsical and intriguing characters for his dream video game. Tragically, a chunk of Seward’s art portfolio was burned in the Paradise Fire last summer, but Seward doesn’t mourn the past. His imagination is fully intact and brimming with future visions.

Seward’s skills as an artist and computer programmer inspire the most experienced students and collaborators, but he is

also a humble, lifelong student — the best sort of teacher.

Michael Marchetti, Seward’s local childhood friend, also collaborates in teaching and completing custom projects through Vigilante Studios. Currently, Vigilante Studios is exclusive to clients and a handful of dedi-

cated students, like my son, but they may open their doors to workshops again soon.

Any student hoping to keep up with the latest 2-D or 3-D art software can be aided through Vigilante Studios and any project, from web design to creating a unique 3-D model, can be cus-

The new Vigilante Studios space in Sandpoint. Courtesy photo.

tom created with their expanding team of artists.

For artists like Zeke, Vigilante Studios is akin to home.

COMMUNITY

Lost Horse Press offers poetry workshop

By Reader Staff

Lost Horse Press and the Sandpoint Library are teaming up to offer a Poetry Workshop featuring poets Mark Neely and Thomas Mitchell on Thursday, July 8 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library (1407 Cedar Street).

Titled “Find Your Voice,” the workshop will explore techniques and methods for developing your poetic voice, including themes such as Inside/Outside, establishing perspective in the poem, thinking in images, New York School poetry and poems of praise and celebration.

Mark Neely is the winner of the 2020 Idaho Prize for his manuscript Ticker and the author of Beasts of the Hill and Dirty Bomb, both from Oberlin College Press. His awards include an NEA Poetry Fellowship, an Indiana Individual Artist grant, FIELD Poetry Prize and the Concrete Wolf Chapbook prize for Four of a Kind. He is a professor of English at Ball State University and a senior editor

at River Teeth: a Journal of Nonfiction Narrative.

Thomas Mitchell is the author of Where We Arrive and two previous books of poetry, The Way Summer Ends and Caribou. He studied at CSU Sacramento with Dennis Schmitz, where he received his Masters. He earned an MFA from the University of Montana, where he worked with Richard Hugo and Madeline De Frees. His poems have appeared in many journals, including The New England Review, New Letters, Miramar, and Valparaiso Poetry Review.

The poetry workshop is free, but donations to help offset the poets’ honorariums are welcome and suggested. Registration for the workshop is required. The instructors have readings and instructions for participants that will be distributed when registration is complete. To register or for additional information, email losthorsepress@mindspring.com or call 208-2554410.

Second annual Sandpoint Local Artists Showcase on July 3

By Reader Staff Matchwood Brewing and Evans Brothers will host the second annual Sandpoint Local Artists Showcase on July 3 at the Granary Arts District between the two businesses. The event will start at 2 p.m. and will feature local bands and soloists.

At the time of this writing, the local music sensation duo Bridges Home, with Tammy and Dave Gunter, will feature, as well as the Festival at Sandpoint Music Scholarship Winner Max Reed on violin.

The theme of the event is Artists Supporting Artists. Proceeds from the event, including silent auction, raffle tickets for a beautiful quilt (which can be viewed hanging inside Matchwood), as well as a percentage of Matchwood and Evans Brothers proceeds will benefit Music Bridges Borders.

Music Bridges Borders is a local nonprofit music and cultural enrichment program which brings foreign students to Sandpoint and Spokane. These students mentor, teach and play music with local youth, as well as share their skills with talented performances.

The international students later join their peers at Spokane Youth Symphony’s “Sensa-

tional Summer Music Camp” at Whitworth University, sharing a whole new dynamic with the Spokane organization’s youth and program. This would have been the 3rd Annual event, but last year’s event had to be canceled due to coronavirus concerns.

Come to the Granary Arts District and enjoy a specialty brew or an Evans Brothers coffee and a meal, and relax with some great music.

Live Music Lineup Sydnie Knepper Solo singer, 2-3 p.m.

Max Reed

Violinist and Festival Scholarship winner, 3-4:30 p.m.

Groove Black

Popular local group, 4:30-5:30 p.m.

Bridges Home

Sandpoint duo, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Of Men and Pigeons

Local young musician group, 6:30-8 p.m.

John Firshi

Local guitarist/soloist, 8-9:30 p.m.

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OUTDOORS

Getting back in the swim of things The Long Bridge Swim has been a beloved Sandpoint activity for 25 years

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

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When thinking of iconic Sandpoint events, a few familiar names come to mind: The Festival at Sandpoint, Lost in the ‘50s and the Long Bridge Swim, which will return on Aug. 7 after a year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Founded in 1995 by Eric Ridgeway, a local swimming enthusiast who wanted to establish a positive community event, the annual trek across the span of water beside the Long Bridge has grown from just 68 participants the first year to well over 700 swimmers of all ages and abilities.

“We have such an exceptional and amazing community here in Sandpoint,” Ridgeway told the Reader. “People are willing to step up and volunteer to support events and causes that make this community so much bigger than just the sum of its parts.”

After founding the swim, Ridgeway saw through the first couple of years that it was growing beyond a simple event into something that needed much more planning and a huge army of volunteers to ensure it went off in a safe manner.

“My fondest memories from being the founder of the event and the director for the first 19 years are two things,” Ridgeway said.

“Working with the wonderful and cheerful volunteers who make it all possible, and the sense of accomplishment from the swimmers who are not the greatest swimmers — they have never been on a swim team and were so nervous that they may not be able to make it — but they persevered and they felt encouraged along the way by the awesome kayakers and all the fans walking along the bridge cheering for them.”

Nine years ago, Jim Zuberbuhler took over as director of the Long Bridge Swim after serving as assistant director for five years before that, giving Ridgeway a much-needed break after nearly 20 years of directing the event.

Zuberbuhler credits his department chairs and volunteer staff for making the event memorable each and every year, except last year, when the event was canceled due to the pandemic.

“We have a very committed group of people who run their areas,” Zuberbuhler told the Reader. “They are so committed, so passionate about this. … We have no ego conflicts, no personality clashes. Everybody’s committed to the entire enterprise.”

When asked what made the event so iconic for Sandpoint, Zuberbuhler said there were a couple things going for them.

“Well, it’s the Long Bridge,” he said.

“So many people have had that Long Bridge experience we all talk about — people who have moved to Sandpoint come across that bridge and feel something special. Plus, with open water swims, people typically can’t spectate. The swimmers go out and around buoys. In this case, people can walk along and watch their spouse or dad or daughter or friend and that’s really special. I think that’s a huge part of it.”

Zuberbuhler said another neat thing about the event is that it’s not just open to hardcore swimmers, but anyone who wants to try it.

“Of the 700 to 750 swimmers who compete every year, a couple hundred are competitive,” Zuberbuhler said. “Then you have 300-400 people who have done it before and they’re back for the second, fifth or 20th time. Very often families do it together. It’s become sort of an institution for them. We have a family from Barcelona who have come to compete for 10 years.

Then we have about 100 people each year who really don’t know if they can swim across the lake.”

Zuberbuhler said it’s this group — the newbies and novice swimmers — who often feel the biggest sense of accomplishment in completing the event.

“We have such a sophisticated safety mechanism with over 150 volunteers dedicated to safety,” Zuberbuhler said. “We have sea kayakers, a sheriff’s dive team, a jetski team and other boats out there. We have a medical tent on the beach, an ambulance ready to go, an entire communications staff and deputies on the road. It’s a complicated thing we’re running, but that really makes people feel safe and supported.”

With all the safety staff, new swimmers can easily find a kayak or boat to grab onto if they need a breather or need to be extricated from the water.

Swimmers participate in a past Long Bridge Swim. Courtesy photo.

“I want the same number of swim caps to finish that start, always,” Zuberbuhler said.

Also important to note are the swimmers overcoming disabilities to compete in the swim.

“We had a woman who did it a number of years with MS, and she wanted us to unceremoniously dump her off the dock from her wheelchair — at her insistence — so she could swim the event,” he said.

“We’ve had a couple of parapalegics, deaf and blind swimmers, a couple of morbidly obese people, which is really great. … Also, Chuck Nolton is coming back to swim this year. He’s 92 and two years ago, at 90, he trained for a year to knock some time off his swim. He has the body of a fit 70-year-old and he’s 92.”

Ridgeway said one year, three different women completed the swim while they were all eight months pregnant.

Registration for the Long Bridge Swim is currently open online, with online registration ending Friday, Aug. 6. There will be no same-day registration for the event on Aug. 7. To register for the event, visit longbridgeswim.org. Registration costs $55 per swimmer, with proceeds helping to fund the event, as well as swimming instruction classes that have been used to teach more than 1,000 kids per year how to swim.

“I just love this event and the good energy that it brings out in everyone,” Ridgeway said. “We don’t, as a society, have to focus on what divides us. That is focusing on the fear, and does not enhance our lives. Instead we can focus on what connects and unites us, and we will always be stronger by uniting together and finding common ground, not on focusing on finding flaws in others.”

OUTDOORS

Among them

Playing in the backcountry means understanding — and respecting — local wildlife

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff A camper shot and killed a bull moose in self-defense at a Harrison Lake campsite on June 22, according to a media statement from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

Harrison Lake, located north of Sandpoint, boasts a popular hiking trail and several backcountry campsites. The moose reportedly charged the camper and his dog, tearing apart their campsite.

“The camper hid behind a tree, but the moose did not stop charging,” IDFG reported. “The camper then discharged a firearm at the moose in self-defense from close range.”

The moose succumbed to its injuries, and its body was left at the lake. The Forest Service has closed the trail at this time to keep hikers from coming in contact with bears or other predators feeding on the carcass.

While these kinds of aggressive — and deadly — encounters are not incredibly common, IDFG said certain measures can be taken to avoid a conflict reaching such heights. For one, IDFG said the Harrison Lake incident is a “good reminder to carry bear spray when hiking or backcountry camping.”

“Bear spray isn’t just for bears and can also be used as a highly effective tool against other mammals if an unsafe wildlife encounter occurs,” officials stated. “Be prepared when recreating outdoors and know how to use bear spray if necessary.”

Just like bears or other predators, moose can become agitated when they feel threatened. Signs that a moose is about to charge include ears being pinned back, hackles raised and a lowered head.

Dogs are seen as especially threatening to moose. According to IDFG, “the safest approach is to keep dogs on leash when recreating in moose country.”

Matt Haag, a senior conservation officer with IDFG in North Idaho, told the Reader that “most times” he responds to an aggressive animal incident, “it involves a dog.”

“Whether it’s a moose or a bear, every [aggressive encounter] that I’ve been involved in, it’s been a dog involved in it,” Haag said. “They just attract wildlife. If the dog is up ahead on the trail, next thing you know, there’s a bear or a moose and it’s chasing that dog right back to you.”

Haag said the number of annual encounters such as the one at Harrison Lake has remained steady over the 15 years that he’s been patrolling the Idaho Panhandle. However, with the influx of new residents and outof-state visitors over the past couple of years, he said it is possible that we could see these

things happen more and more often.

“I see a huge increase in people just being in the woods, no matter what it is — sight-seeing or mushroom picking or whatever,” he said.

When asked what advice he had for anyone spending time in the woods this summer, Haag said he wanted people to remember “that there’s other people doing other things and be respectful of them.”

“Respect the land,” he continued. “I see more and more trash and total disregard — hatchet marks on trees — it’s just stupid stuff. It doesn’t serve any purpose other than to destroy something.”

And it’s not just fellow humans we’re sharing the trails with — it’s our hooved and hairy neighbors as well. According to IDFG officials, avoiding encounters is as simple as letting the animals know you’re coming.

“When hiking, make noise to announce your presence so you do not surprise a moose, or any wildlife that can be dangerous. Do not hike or trail run with headphones or earbuds,” IDFG officials shared in a media release following the Harrison

The bull moose that was killed was captured in this photo a week before the incident. Photo by Matt Wright / Facebook.

Lake encounter. “Most wildlife will give out some kind of warning sounds prior to an attack or aggression. Wearing headphones or earbuds eliminates your extremely valuable sense of hearing.”

Haag said making noise is an easy, mindful way to keep space between yourself and wildlife, and odds are that the animal has no interest in meeting you face to face.

“Just make noise, talk, cough, clap your hands once in a while so that things can hear you,” Haag said. “It’s the surprise encounters with bears that usually end up in a bluff charge or an attack. If they know you’re there, they will remove themselves from the situation.”

Those with questions about avoiding animal encounters, or who are wondering when the Harrison Lake trail will reopen, can contact the Sandpoint Ranger District office at 208-263-5111.

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HOLIDAY

Happy birthday, America.

Love, North Idaho.

A list of some of the area’s upcoming Fourth of July weekend festivities

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff The people of Bonner County know how to celebrate independence. Here is a sampling of some of the panhandle’s Fourth of July parties in 2021.

Sandpoint The Sandpoint Lions Club will retake the helm of the Sandpoint’s annual Fourth of July celebration in 2021, which kicks off with the Children’s Parade at 9 a.m. and Grand Parade at 10 a.m. Each procession will begin at Fifth Avenue and Church Street, then head down to First Avenue and up Cedar Street. This year’s grand marshal is not a single person, but instead a tribute to essential workers from the past pandemic-stricken year.

The party will then transition to City Beach, where the Lions will pass out free ice cream starting at 1 p.m. The annual fireworks display is scheduled for after dusk, also at City Beach.

Bayview Bayview does the holiday weekend in style, launching the Bayview Chamber of Commerce’s Bayview Daze on Friday, July 2 with the Red, White and Blue Pancake Breakfast at the Bayview Community Center (20298 E. Perimeter Road) from 8-10 a.m. There will be a suggested donation at the door for this all-you-can-eat event.

Saturday, July 3 will kick off with a parade.

Floats will be lined up by 9 a.m. at the corner of 3rd Street and Highway 54. The parade will make its way through downtown at 11 a.m., and the rest of the day will feature vendors and various activities around town. A fireworks display will start around 10 p.m.

Clark Fork Clark Fork is the little town with a big heart for this holiday, boasting an annual “Old Fashioned 4th of July” full of events for people of all ages. The morning starts with the 5K Freedom Fun Run, starting at the Filling Station Youth Center (108 First Avenue) at 7 a.m. Participants are welcome to run or walk, and proceeds go to support scholarships for local students. Parade lineup begins at 8:40 a.m. on Stephen Street, and the procession will head west on High-

way 200 at 9:30 a.m., turning right on Main and ending in the Clark Fork High School (502 N. Main) parking lot. In the school’s yard, the CFHS Booster Club will serve up BBQ lunches and attendees will have the chance to participate in foot races for all ages. Festivities then move to the Veterans’ Memorial Park — also known as the ball field on Ninth Avenue — for turtle races, watermelon eating contests and more. The afternoon culminates with a series of chainsaw and crosscut contests around 3 p.m., and there’s a fireworks display after dark.

The Sandpoint Lions Club Grand Parade makes its way down Church St. in Sandpoint in 2019.

Photo by Ben Olson.

Laclede Laclede’s Independence Day celebration begins at 8 a.m. on July 4 with the town’s Famous Pancake Breakfast at the Laclede Community Center (24 Moore Loop Road).

The event features blueberry pancakes with Riley Creek Farm blueberries, and lasts until 10 a.m. There’s a suggested $6 donation per attendee, and kids 5 years old and under eat free. Next, anyone and everyone is invited to participate in the town’s parade, with line-up slated for 12:30 p.m. at the Laclede Community Center. The parade begins at 1 p.m., and goes down Riley Creek Road through the Riley Creek Recreation Area and back.

Hope The Hope fireworks display is launched from a barge in Ellisport Bay on Lake Pend Oreille. Find a piece of shoreline as the sun sets on July 4 and wait for the magic to begin.

Priest Lake Elkins Resort on Priest Lake, located at 404 Elkins Road in Nordman, will host a fireworks display after dusk on the Fourth of July.

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events July 1-8, 2021

THURSDAY, July 1

Open Mic Night at the Longshot 6:30pm @ The Longshot Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Alex & Maya 7-9pm @ The Back Door

FriDAY, July 2

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery First Friday Night Lawn Party and Live Music w/ The Overdubs 5pm-late @ The Longshot Live music w/ the Overdubs (Justin Landis and Ryan Townsend) from 8-10pm. Late night dancing w/ DJ Marvin Gardens

Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Live Music w/ Baker Thomas Packwood 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live Music w/ Miah Kohal Band 8pm-midnight @ A&P’s Beer garden, outside party and giveaways

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

SATURDAY, July 3 Live Music w/ Baker Thomas Packwood 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Electric Electric 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Outdoor Concert w/ Crooked Tooth 8-10pm @ The Longshot Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 8-10pm @ The Back Door Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 10am-1pm @ Farmin Park Produce, arts, crafts and more. Live music

by Folk Remedy Live Music w/ Nights of Neon 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

BCGA Garden Tour @ Various Locations Tour locations: 604 Superior St.; 215 Pacific; 1105 Birch St.; 1900 Pine St.; 401 S. Euclid’ 513 N. Division; 1422 Walnut St. Sandpoint Local Artist Showcase 2pm @ Granary Arts District Head down to the Granary (by Evan’s Brothers and Matchwood Brewing) for a day of live music, with proceeds benefiting Music Bridges Borders. For a full listing of the lineup, see Page 11.

SunDAY, July 4

th Four y p p Ha ly! of Ju

For a list of Independence Day activities, please see story on Page 15 monDAY, July 5

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

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

tuesDAY, July 6 wednesDAY, July 7 Live Music w/ LoGee 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park Produce, arts, crafts and more. Live music

by Ian Gaddie

Benny on the Deck - Live Music 5-7:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge patio Weekly live music with Benny Baker.

This week’s guest: BTP

Live Music w/ Benjamin Raider 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

ThursDAY, July 8 Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 18 /

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COMMUNITY

Hope community center to host tailgate sale

By Reader Staff At the annual Tailgate Sale in Hope, efficiency is king. Rather than local people hosting yard sales all around town, this annual Memorial Community Center event provides a space — the community center’s parking lot — to allow people to sell their wares from the backs of their cars, making the sale a true one-stop-shop.

This year, the Tailgate Sale is Saturday, July 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Come and hunt for treasures,” said MCC Chair Dawn Brinker. “One person’s discard is another person’s treasure.”

It costs $15 to reserve a spot for your own personal tailgate storefront, and $5 to rent a table from MCC if you need one.

Brinker said there are “very few spots” still available. Still, there will be plenty of shopping to be done, and the local Whispering Pines 4-H Club will be serving up BBQ lunches as a fundraiser. MCC will also be selling raffle tickets.

“It’s a great place to meet your neighbors and strike up some conversation,” Brinker said, noting that it’s also a way to support the local 4-H troupe. “It’s always a fun and popular community event.”

Find the Memorial Community Center in Hope at 415 Wellington Place. To reserve a tailgate spot, visit memorialcommunitycenter.com. Call MCC at 208-264-5481 for more information, or email mccinhope@ gmail.com.

FOL to host July book sale

By Reader Staff

It’s July, which brings us lots of red, white and blue, fireworks, good food and family fun. In the midst of all of this, The Friends of The Library (FOL) is hosting its monthly book sale.

Join them on Saturday, July 3 between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library (1407 Cedar Street). FOL knows that they’re asking you to interrupt your Independence Day weekend festivities, but they look forward to

seeing you.

Although there are no specials this month, it’s important to remember that the Friends’ regular prices, $0.50 for paperbacks and $1 for hard covers, are a real bargain. It is equally important to remember that the group’s dual mission is to support the library and to put books in the hands of the community at prices that make it easy for anyone to realize the incredible pleasure books bring.

Happy Fourth of July, from The Friends of The Library.

STAGE & SCREEN

Small towns, big problems

Check out this trio of international fantasy-drama series on Netflix

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff It’s hard to say when it happened, but Netflix seems in recent months (years, maybe?) to have become the most readily available source for American audiences to see any number of contemporary foreign-language films. I’m not complaining, though it has become increasingly difficult to queue up a movie to play in the background as I do the dishes or casually sit on the couch while scrolling through my phone. It could be my algorithm, but lately it seems like every show I’m interested in requires total attention to the subtitles — otherwise, I’m wandering around my house to the sounds of Icelandic, Portuguese or Norweigan coming from my TV. Recently that has manifested for me in three shows: Katla, Invisible City and Ragnarok, respectively.

In Katla, a tiny Icelandic town has been (mostly) evacuated by the eruption of the titular volcano. Ash covers the streets and houses and spatters the vehicles. The only people left in the community are a couple of haggard police officers, a handful of scientists monitoring the ongoing environmental disaster, a witchy hotelier and a crusty old man who serves as the mechanical fixer and seeming-keeper-of-secrets.

Things turn weird when people start showing up naked, confused and caked in volcanic mud after having wandered on foot from who-knows-where in the exclusion zone. Even weirder, some of these people are presumed or known to have already died while others seem to have bent space and time, appearing from the past — even as present-day versions of them still exist.

Wrapped in this bizarre, otherworldly phenomenon are many of the town’s deepest secrets, making for a compelling — if slowly developing — drama played out on the bleak wastes of the Icelandic hinterlands.

Invisible City, meanwhile, is set in a Brazilian fishing village whose industry and cultural ways are under threat from developers. In the title sequence, the audience is introduced to the notion that there are mythological entities living in the surrounding countryside — some of which serve as protectors of the natural world and, in the case of the Curupira, are willing to kill (in the latter’s case by fire) to do so.

It is strongly hinted in the first episode that the Cururpira has sparked a blaze outside the village that, in a tragic incident, results in the death of the protagonist’s wife as she rushes into the flames to rescue their daughter.

A promotional image for the show Invisible City. Courtesy photo.

Our hero is a member of the “Environmental Police” (which is apparently a thing) in Rio de Janeiro. Not only is he bereaved, but he soon gets drawn into the supernatural forces at work, beginning with the discovery of a dead, pink, freshwater dolphin.

The episodes are pretty rapid-fire, lacking a lot of specific exposition per installment, which almost requires that viewers settle in for at least a minor binge to figure out what’s going on.

Finally, Ragnarok is an inventive modern-day reimagining of the Norse concept of the end of the world and, of the three mentioned here, is far and away the best.

Set in a small town in Norway dominated by a single uber-wealthy family of industrialists, whose business activities are wreaking havoc on the local environment (see a trend here?), a hulking, academically challenged but kind-hearted teenage boy inexplicably discovers that he’s developing super strength and the ability to command lightning.

As public scrutiny of the big-wig family intensifies over their ecological crimes, our Thor-in-training comes to realize that a far, far older conflict lies beneath the turmoil enveloping the town. Semi-spoiler: The industrialists are actually the giants of Old Norse mythology bent on domination amid the end times. Meanwhile, other supernatural characters are revealed to be living among the mortals and, as the hour nears for the big showdown, they either help or hinder in the hero’s quest with loyalties tested on both sides.

In a world where the dominant representation of Norse mythology comes from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it’s refreshing to see a truer Norweigan interpretation of these iconic mythological characters.

Ragnarok is a good, strong Thor’s hammer throw apart from the MCU’s cartoonish depiction, which is like a refreshing breath of glacial air.

Stream Season 1 of Katla and Invisible City, and both current seasons of Ragnarok, on Netflix.

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater

So sorry, Sara Lee

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

So sorry, Sara Lee. There’s no lovin’ coming from my oven any time soon. There’s no love coming from my stovetop, either. Trying to stay cool in this unprecedented, triple-digit weather (in June!) is not for the faint of heart, and I can’t stand the heat, so I got the heck out of the kitchen.

Who’s got time to cook, anyhow? It’s a full-time job just trying to rotate and water my potted vegetable garden, keep the house cooled down and keep myself well hydrated. Though I must admit, hydration was not a problem last Saturday, when I participated as a competition judge (someone had to do it, right?), at MickDuffs’ inaugural Championship BBQ Competition. I was one of five judges, gathered ‘round a long table in their (nice and cool) beer production space, where we tasted some impressive entries while sipping plenty of palate-cleansing, cold beer (it was The Irish Redhead for me).

Each competitor presented us with a half of a fully jointed BBQ’d chicken and nine individual pork spare ribs. Our judging criteria were based on appearance, taste and tenderness.

It was hard work, but we were all in, tasting and scoring bites of BBQ that had been rubbed, brined, sauced and coaxed to perfection by the seven master grillers who were competing for the coveted prizes.

Outside, all kinds of big rigs and grilling apparatus filled the entire parking lot. The patio tables were filled with lively (and hungry) locals, and the air was filled with live music and 20 /

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wafting BBQ aromas. Amidst grooving to the music and the merriment, we judges turned in our final scores, which were carefully calculated and rechecked for good measure, before presenting the prizes.

Out amongst all the carefree people who were having such a good time, it was easy to forget we’d just spent a year in lock-up.

Later that evening, the sidewalks on Cedar Street were dotted with outdoor tables and chairs, filled with patrons relishing food, beverage and the musicians we’ve been missing for oh-so long. I saw (and hugged!) scores of friends and honestly, it felt so good and celebratory — just like old times! And then, it didn’t.

Two days later, it was as if I was passing through Hell’s

Kitchen, on my way to Dante’s Inferno. I still can’t begin to wrap my hot head around this heat anomaly. Can you?

Plenty of folks, in an attempt to “beat the heat,” headed straight to a favorite, air-conditioned restaurant. But before we could even get a menu in our hot little hands, Facebook was filling with posts from foodservice owners and workers, and friends, announcing modified menus, revised service protocol, and even closures. All the while, in my head, I can’t let go of Ella Fitzgerald’s tune, “It’s Too Darn Hot.” Yes. It is too darn hot, and there’s no reprieve. And nowhere as hot as a commercial kitchen.

While the guests in the front of the house enjoy cool air and

frosty libations, the back of the house is sweltering in a kitchen so hot that the indoor temperature can easily exceed the temperature outside. If you’ve ever worked in one of these kitchens, you’ll agree, they’re notorious heat traps — or worse.

I once suffered heat prostration in the galley of a railcar, and it’s nothing to take lightly. Often there’s no good remedy other than trying to generate some circulation and plenty of hydration (and countless, lingering trips to the walk-in cooler).

This year has been unimaginably cruel to our restaurant community. First COVID-19 closures, then closures due to staff shortages, and now they’re weathering yet another storm. They can’t seem to catch

Antipasto Pasta Salad

a break. So, if you decide to venture out for a meal, let me remind you that these folks are probably still working in hot and harsh conditions. The closures and reduced operating hours place even more of a burden on those who remain open. So, remember to be cool. Be patient and kind. Treat them well and tip them well.

If you decide to be brave and whip up a meal in your own kitchen (or a potluck dish for the weekend), this antipasto salad is perfect. It’s cold and crisp and travels well. If you can’t stand the idea of boiling a pot of water for pasta, substitute a couple of cans of drained cannellini beans.

Happy Fourth to you and yours. Be safe. Stay hydrated.

Serves a dozen of your best buddies. Perfect side with ribs or chicken, or as a main dish on a hot summer night. Lots of flavor, especially when made the night before. Omit the meat for a veggie version.

INGREDIENTS: • 1 lb spiral pasta, cooked according to directions • 1/2 cup homemade pesto (or store bought) • 1 cup olive oil • 8 oz Genoa salami, diced • 1/2 diced purple onion • 1/4 cup minced green onions • 1 cup green (or red, orange) peppers, diced • 13.75 oz can quartered artichoke hearts, roughly chopped • 1 cup whole grape or halved cherry tomatoes • 1/2 cup sliced kalamata olives • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese • 1/2 cup finely shredded basil leaves (often referred to as chiffonade) • 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts • 1 tsp flaked sea salt • 1 tsp coarse black pepper

DIRECTIONS: Boil pasta according to package directions.

Drain and rinse with cold water. Allow to completely cool to room temperature.

In a large salad bowl, mix pesto and olive oil, add pasta, toss well. Add all the remaining ingredients and toss to combine well. Adjust seasoning.

Chill for at least 4 hours before serving (overnight is better).

Add more olive oil if needed, and garnish with fresh basil leaves.

MUSIC Festival taps musician with Sandpoint ties for opening act Sam Tru, born and raised in Sandpoint, will open for Gladys Knight

By Ben Olson Reader Staff The main stage at the Festival at Sandpoint has hosted a who’s who of internationally acclaimed performers in its 38-year tenure. But, from time to time, the Festival is able to offer the stage to local musicians to open for headliners.

The Festival at Sandpoint recently announced two opening acts for the 2021 concert series, one with connections to the area.

Sandpoint native Sam Tru, née Trulock, will open for the rhythm and blues icon Gladys Knight on Thursday, Aug. 5.

Tru’s music is influenced by jazz, soul, pop and R&B, as well as her favorite childhood musicians Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday. Tru has recently been compared to singers such as Eva Cassidy, Amy Winehouse and Sara Barielles.

“She is a rare talent that can stop a room twice,” said Tru’s co-writer Jeff Baker. “Once when she walks on stage, and again when she opens her mouth.”

Blending sounds, breaking rules and crossing genres, Tru’s voice can be described as new and familiar at the same time. Her vocal talents have been showcased throughout the west at the PDX Jazz Festival, the Monterey Jazz “Next Genera-

tion Competition,” the KIN Summer Concert Series and in support of artists like Liz Vice, Miles Forte, Biddadat and more.

Tru’s debut album Cycle reached No. 1 on Amazon’s Top 100 New Releases and was played on over 200 radio stations across the world. Cycle made the nominating ballot for the 2021 Grammy Awards in multiple categories, including Album of the Year, Best New Artist and Song of the Year.

The Festival at Sandpoint also announced special guest The Brother Brothers, who will open for Keb’ Mo’ & Band on Sunday, Aug. 1.

The Brother Brothers are the indie folk duo of Adam and David Moss, identical twins born in Illinois, but whose music was profoundly shaped by their indiscriminate rambling. The twin musicians are the kind of people who have a story about everything, and more so, one you might genuinely like to hear.

The duo pairs warm acoustics with a funky electric keyboard, with comparisons being made to Simon and Garfunkel, Willie Nelson and the Beach Boys. The Brother Brothers combine natural harmonies and soulful folk to create a sound that gives a nod to the ‘60s.

The duo’s 2019 single “Siren Song” has accumulated over 23 million streams on Spotify, helping to earn the group acclaim from

The only thing more American than apple pie is good ol’ rock ’n’ roll. From hard-charging electric dance tunes to encore-inducing ballads to hook-rich, uptempo anthems, Sandpoint-based Crooked Tooth has it all.

Playing both originals and covers, the band will bring its hometown rock sound to The Longshot, for a pre-Fourth of July bash, providing an apt soundtrack for the most American of holidays.

The self-described “purveyors of rock ’n’ roll salvation” will have listeners bobbing their heads, swinging their hips, clapping their hands and, by the end of the night, most likely waving their lighters in the air for just one more.

— Zach Hagadone Saturday, July 3; 8 p.m.; FREE. The Longshot, 102 S. Boyer, Ave., 208-, longshotsandpoint.com. Listen on YouTube, Apple Music or Spotify.

READ

Not many TV shows can claim as much fan intensity as the Adult Swim series Rick and Morty, which is an existentialists’ delight, following the chaotic-neutral adventures of its titular characters: alcoholic super scientist and “smartest man in the universe” Rick Sanchez and his hapless grandson Morty. There’s a lot of Rick in series co-creator Dan Harmon, whose artistic torment is masterfully captured in the 2018 GQ profile, “The Tortured Mind of Dan Harmon.” Find it on gq.com.

LISTEN

NPR, Billboard and Rolling Stone Country. They have accompanied bands such as I’m With Her, Big Thief, Lake Street Dive and Shakey Graves.

Tickets for all Festival at

Top: Sam Tru will open for Gladys Knight on Thursday, Aug. 5. Above: The Brother Brothers will open for Keb’ Mo’ & Band on Sunday, Aug. 1. Courtesy photos.

Sandpoint shows can be purchased online at festivalatsandpoint.com.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint Crooked Tooth, The Longshot, July 3

This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone

Tennis in Sandpoint, July7-10 As far as live bands in Sandpoint go, Tennis is nothing short of legendary. While group members Craig Baldwin, Brian Hibbard and Jeremy Kleinsmith no longer all live locally, they reunite a few times a year to keep the good times rolling in North Idaho.

Tennis will rock the patio at The Fat Pig on Wednesday, July 7 from 6-9 p.m. Those hoping to grab drinks and dinner while they enjoy the band’s offerings are highly recommended to make a reservation, as those patio tables fill up fast.

Tennis will bring the party again Friday night at the Beer Hall, where

the brewery area will be cleared to create a signature Tennis party dancefloor. Organizers said that there will be no cover, but they “will be monitoring capacity, so do not wait too late to dance!”

Finally, Tennis will play Sandpoint Beerfest at City Beach on Saturday, July 10 at 1 p.m., and then rock the Beer Hall again at 7 p.m. that night.

— Lyndsie Kiebert

Among the unexpected delights in Rick and Morty is its music. As our anti-heroes, their family members and secondary characters rip across time, space and everything in between, they’re almost always doing so to some bizarre tunes. Whether it’s “Moonmen” (vocals by Jemaine Clement, a la David Bowie), “Get Schwifty” and “Head Bent Over” (both weirdly catchy nonsense songs), “Let Me Out” (a poppy anthem to self-entrapment) or “Snake Jazz,” just a bunch of hisses and rattles emulating high-hat and brushes, it’s an absurdist soundtrack. Check it out on the Rick and Morty Spotify playlist.

WATCH

Here it is: Season 5 of Rick and Morty, which premiered on June 20 on Adult Swim. Co-created by Justin Roiland (who voices both Rick and Morty) and Dan Harmon, it may be one of the smashiest smash hits of any contemporary animated series outside The Simpsons (which did a crossover “couch gag” in 2015), South Park (also with intertextual references) and Family Guy, which is too stupid to warrant any reference whatsoever.

Watch Seasons 1-4 on HBO Max and catch new episodes every Sunday at adultswim.com.

July 7-10, various locations, find Tennis on Facebook for updates. Listen at reverbnation.com/tennisband.

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BACK OF THE BOOK

I was blind(ish), but now I see

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

From Northern Idaho News, July 7, 1908

YOUNG PEOPLE ATTEND PARTY AT GARFIELD BAY’S NEW HOTEL About fifty people from Sandpoint and thirty from Hope enjoyed a party at Garfield bay last Friday evening as guests of J.H. McNicholas and Ralph Nester of the Midas Galena Mining company. The launch Dimley and Steamer Multnomah took the party from here while the Mountain Belle conveyed the Hope young folks over.

The affair was simply a house warming of the new hotel building recently constructed by the people at the mining town and proved a complete success.

The party was given with the idea in mind to give the people an opportunity to see what was being done at the bay town as well as a general good time.

Champagne punch and other delicacies were served and various amusements helped to pass the time away pleasantly. All returned at an early hour on the morning of the Fourth.

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In his poem Shoelace, Charles Bukowski pointed out a mundane yet profound truth: “it’s not the large things that send a man to the madhouse … but a shoelace that snaps with no time left.” He goes on to list a “swarm of trivialities,” from license plates to taxes to “2 red lights in your rear view mirror and blood in your underwear.”

“With each broken shoelace out of one hundred broken shoelaces, one man, one woman, one thing enters a madhouse. So be careful when you bend over.”

I’ll add to that litany: losing your glasses in the lake.

I learned the painful reality of “Buke the Puke’s” wisdom one sunny Saturday afternoon two or so weeks ago, at the end of an impromptu sailing journey with Reader Publisher Ben Olson on the boat he coowns with my brother, Jake.

We’d been out for a few hours, trying to catch a lazy wind to thread Pearl and Cottage islands — failing, mostly, but enjoying it nonetheless. At a certain point we gave up and let the outboard do the work that nature wouldn’t, chugging happily back to the marina.

I cannot blame the gin-and-tonics, nor the beers, but my own thoughtlessness for what happened as we nudged the boat into its slip.

With Ben standing on the dock and me at the starboard cleat, he threw me a line to tie off. I caught it, but in the process of bending over to grab the rope, it snagged my eyeglasses — tucked, but not enough, into my breast pocket — and flipped them into the water.

It was one of those moments when a horrible thing happens almost before you knew it would. I saw the glasses in mid-air and, for the briefest of beats, thought, “Of course,” like I’d already seen this movie.

My glasses hit the water and sank

STR8TS Solution

straight into about 19 feet of pure murk.

I will blame the gin-and-tonics and beers for how well I took this minor tragedy. I tied off the line and laughed off the fact that I was now seriously visually impaired.

Ben offered to jump in and find them, but I waved him off.

“No worries. I didn’t like those glasses anyway,” I said.

I played it off all the way to the bar, where I lost a series of games in part because I suck at them but also because I couldn’t freakin’ see. I played it off when we had some burgers afterward, and played it off again when I came home blinking and squinting at my wife and kids and had to explain my Dumb Move.

This went on for 10 days and, no need to emphasize, the triviality of my missing glasses rocked my world with increasing intensity.

I shouldn’t be too dramatic about this — it’s not like my vision is that bad. I can function reasonably well without my specs.

I have “pretty good” astigmatism, according to the optometrist who I recently visited, and by that he meant “pretty bad,” and the glasses that I dunked in the drink are politely referred to as “progressives,” which I know to mean “trifocals.” I do need them to see with any clarity pretty much anything farther than a foot from my face. Fortunately, most of my life occurs about a foot from my face — at least for the past 15 months.

Over the course of my 10 sight-impaired days I was able to do my work — which consists almost entirely of the delicate work of reading — and even drive around… though maybe only because the streets of this town are permanently imprinted on my macula (which I was pleased to learn is in great shape, and even indicates that I’m still young!).

Beyond the general fuzziness of my vision, and the headaches it induced, what really bugged me was what felt like the loss of an appendage. My glasses, I realized, are like a comfort blanket for my face. I hated

for people to look at me. I felt exposed. People could stare right through to my blurry soul.

Enter: my brother.

I’m sorry if this offends, but if you have a brother, I must inform you that my brother, Jake Hagadone, is better than your brother.

He saw my suffering and, on one of his visits to the boat, he took it upon himself to conduct a series of four dives off the starboard side to find my glasses.

Fearing attack by boathouse-dwelling otters and fighting through the twilight of that pea-soup water, with waterproof headlamp in hand he found my glasses resting in a snarl of grimy driftwood 19 feet below the surface.

I did not ask him to do this — he just did it. Our dad dubbed this a feat of Jake Cousteau.

Long story short: Now I can see. And what I see is the best brother anyone could dare to wish for and no one — least of all me — deserves. I also see that, as Bukowski wrote, “be careful when you bend over.”

Crossword Solution

Sudoku Solution

If you ever drop your keys into a river of molten lava, let ‘em go, because, man, they’re gone.

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22

inimical

Woorf tdhe Week

By Bill Borders

/ih-NIM-i-kuhl/ [adjective] 1. unfriendly; hostile

“The man’s inimical glare caused several to cross the street to avoid him.”

Corrections: We seem to have gone another edition without any major typos or errors. Or everyone is so hot they can’t find the effort to lift their red pens. Either way, we’re celebrating with a bucket of icewater over our heads. Huzzah! — BO

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

Laughing Matter

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Scrimp 6. Behold, in old Rome 10. Whacks 14. House style 15. Diva’s solo 16. Dash 17. Lacquer ingredient 18. Obtains 19. Way in 20. Corridor 22. Dogfish 23. Enticed 24. Creek 25. Beige 29. Asserted 31. Metalworks 33. Very drunk (British slang) 37. Repleted 38. Characteristic of winter 39. Smiled contemptuously 41. Ductile 42. Paunch 44. Goulash 45. Bearing great weight 48. Alerts 50. Desire 51. Relating to frogs and toads 56. Principal 57. Chills and fever 58. Eagle’s nest 59. Small island

Solution on page 22 60. Small slender gull 61. A group of lions 62. Accomplishment 63. Tall woody plant 64. Alleviated

DOWN 1. Stair 2. A city in western Russia 3. Midmonth date 4. French for “Names” 5. Courtroom event 6. Thirstily 7. Embroidery yarn 8. Stronghold

9. Not difficult 10. In spite of everything 11. San Antonio fort 12. Terrace 13. Move stealthily 21. Protected 24. Start 25. F F F F 26. Metal money 27. Govern 28. Made without yeast 30. Tartarus 32. Type of hat 34. Send forth 35. An exchange

involving money 36. Killed 40. Widow 41. Terrestrial 43. Ripe 45. Damp 46. Delete 47. Spry 49. Anagram of “Space” 51. Insulation 52. Sister and wife of Zeus 53. Colored part of an eye 54. Orderly 55. Require July 1, 2021 /

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