ARTS, HTERTAINMHT, BLUSTER AND SOME NEWS
JULY 2,, 2011 I
FREEi VOL. n ISSUE 30
Is there a rental crisis in Sandpoint?
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Ill Ill II
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Interviews with:
Big Head Todd & The Monsters Greensky Bluegrass
WANT TO INCREASE BUSINESS? THE READER PRINTS 5,000 COPIES EVERY WEEK, AND REACHES SANDPOINT, PONDERAY, BONNERS FERRY, PRIEST RIVER, NEWPORT, HOPE, CLARK FORK, SAGLE, BAYVIEW AND OUTLYING AREAS. AN CALL JODI BERGE AT (208)627-2586 TO GET A FREE QUOTE
OPEN 11:30 am
GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS
The Psounbality with Per FRESH FOOD LIVE MUSIC THE BEST NW BREWS
212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint
208.263.4005 SINCE 2004 (WITH A SLIGHT HICCUP) 2 /
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A SandPint Tradition Since 1994
(wo)MAN compiled by
Susan Drinkard
on the street
What advice do you have for summer visitors/vacationers in Sandpoint? “Have fun, be mindful and leave it better than you found it.” Audra Gabica Freelance Sandpoint
READER
DEAR READERS,
Here’s hoping you’re reading this in an air-conditioned room, or perhaps sitting by the lake with an icy beverage nearby. Temperatures should hover around the high 80s and low 90s through the weekend, peaking on Monday with a wig-melting 97 degree day forecasted. Yikes. Translated into North Idaho terms, 97 degrees is that magical temperature that elicits the old “Hot enough for ya?” comments from folks you run into doing errands and so forth. Don’t hold it against them, I never know what the hell to say to people in public either. This week’s issue features interviews with Todd Park Mohr of Big Head Todd & The Monsters and Greensky Bluegrass. Next week, we feature ZZ Top! Also, check in with our Facebook page to make sure you enter the contest for a free season pass. All you have to do is like and comment. We’ll announce the winner Friday morning. We’ll also be giving out individual concert tickets throughout the Festival, so stay tuned.
-Ben Olson, Publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Liz Zagorski (cover), Ben Olson, Susan Drinkard, Dave Vann Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, McCalee Cain, Nick Gier, Scarlette Quille, Brenden Bobby, Drake the Dog, Laurie Brown, A.C. Woolnough.
“Take it easy. Take it slowly. Be patient with the traffic. That goes for locals too.” Mike Bauer Lifelong learning coordinator at the library Sagle
“Bring a bicycle. Summers are hot here, so be prepared to play in the water. There is plenty of entertainment here day and night, and don’t miss the Festival at Sandpoint.”
Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.
HOURS: 3pm to close Mon. through Sat.
(208) 610-7359 David Walsh Eccentric guitarist 111 Cedar St. (lower level) SATURDAY, July 28 @ 8-10pm Brian Jacobs & Chris Lynch FRIDAY, July 27 @ 8-10pm
Johan Klotz Personal trainer Sandpoint
“Stop locals on the street to ask them what would be fun to do here. People in Sandpoint are the most helpful and nicest people I’ve ever met.” Laura McVaney Retired Sagle
Son of Brad’s
DANIEL MILLS6-8pm BRIAN JACOBS & CHRIS LYNCH
6:30-9:30pm
THE GROOVE BLACK
6:30-9:30pm
“We have a lot of local entrepreneurs here, and I think you might be pleasantly surprised at the quality of goods our little town puts out.” Rose Olson Food production manager Winter Ridge Sandpoint
Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover
This week’s cover features a drawing by Lin Zagorski to highlight the story on Sandpoint rentals by Cameron Rasmusson and McCalee Cain.
July 26, 2018 /
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NEWS
Local food truck threatened with lawsuit over name By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Owners of local food trailer The Twisted Kilt Black Iron Grill are contemplating changing their business name after receiving a legal threat from an international corporation. According to food trailer owner Aaron Seitz, his small operation, which specializes in gluten-free cornbread waffles, has received a cease-and-desist letter from Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery, a restaurant chain with more than 20 locations across the United States and Canada. In the letter, Tilted Kilt attorneys claim that Seitz’s food trailer is an infringement on Tilted Kilt’s trademark and an attack on its brand recognition. “Tilted Kilt does not currently have any locations in your immediate area, but Sandpoint is a tourist town that attracts people from all over, which may include places where Tilted Kilt restau-
rants are currently operating,” reads the letter. “Our client is therefore concerned that a consumer … will assume, mistakenly, that there is some association between Twisted Kilt and Tilted Kilt,” the letter later adds. The legal threat prompted outrage from Twisted Kilt’s customers when Seitz announced the potential name change on the business Facebook page. “That’s absolutely ridiculous!!!!” wrote Susan Chivers on the Facebook post. “A) how can they trademark the name of a garment that has been in use for hundreds of years and b) your name is NOTHING like theirs.” The post, which has been shared almost 70 times, is filled with dozens of similar comments and received almost 70 reactions — mostly “angry” reacts. “People that I’ve met from England or New Zealand — people that I’ve met along the way — are saying they don’t
understand how a corporation can trademark this,” Seitz said. According to Seitz, a part of him wants to take on Tilted Kilt in a David-versus-Goliath-style fight. However, he said that Tilted Kilt has issued cease-anddesist letters to numerous restaurants with “kilt” in the name. He said one business owner he contacted spent $30,000 fighting the franchise before ultimately changing his restaurant name, and he worries he simply doesn’t have the resources for a lengthy court battle. “I’m just a little guy, you know what I’m saying?” he said. “I make it from week to week and month to month as it is.” According to Seitz, the closest Tilted Kilt restaurant to Sandpoint is located almost 700 miles away in Alberta, Canada. The Tilted Kilt belongs to a genre of eateries that have inspired the moniker “breastaurant” — establishments better known for their scantily-clad female
Twisted Kilt serves up their good stuff at last year’s Renaissance Fair. Image from Facebook.
servers than their food. It’s a style of restaurant that has come under increased scrutiny in recent years for persistent problems of sexual harassment. The Huffington Post reports that in 2012, The Tilted Kilt was sued by 19 Chicago servers who claimed they were subjected to a “sexually hostile, offensive, humiliating and
degrading” workplace run by a “predator” of a manager. “There were requests for sex,” Mark Roth, the servers’ attorney, told CBS. “There were degrading comments that were made. Something that no woman should have to put up with anywhere, let alone by their manager in the workforce.”
City budget to be refined in workshop By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff An upcoming city of Sandpoint workshop will pave the way for the adoption of the next fiscal year’s budget. Set for the regular Sandpoint City Council Meeting at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 1, the workshop should identify final budget tweaks prior to its adoption, which should take place on Aug,. 15. The theme for the budget presentation is “a framework for the future.” “This is an exciting time to be in Sandpoint, and I am pleased to say that the FY 2019 budget is in line with the strategic plan and priorities as adopted by the Sandpoint City Council,” wrote Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton in a letter to council members. “This budget and the associated initiatives will provide our citizens, businesses 4 /
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and others with programs and services in a responsible and efficient manner. It also reflects our continued efforts to improve transparency and citizen engagement.” The budget is structured in line with the strategic plan recently adopted by council members, which identified five key goals: responsive government, resilient economy, sustainable environment, vibrant culture and livable community. The workshop will cover the various strategic priorities city officials wish to focus on in the coming year. Sixteen specific projects are identified in the strategic plan as priorities for the near future, including refining city codes, expanding citizen engagement, embracing performance management and continuous improvement, refreshing commissions and advisory group charters, optimizing storm water
management, optimizing fire protection, optimizing police services, strengthening financial forecasting, diversifying housing mix, considering the acquisition of the University of Idaho Boyer property, completing the renovation of Memorial Field and sports complexes, updating the city’s comprehensive plan, completing a watershed management master plan and developing master plans for downtown revitalization, the arts and infrastructure. Also covered in the workshop presentation is an overview of the various funds at the city’s disposal. The city maintains several distinct funds, and many are restricted in how they can be utilized. The local option tax, for example, was passed by voters to fund specific projects — namely the restoration of Memorial Field and other park projects — so by law, the revenues can only be
Photo by Ben Olson. used toward those efforts. Likewise, enterprise funds concern revenues and expenses the city manages in operating various services. For instance, the water fund is dedicated to the city’s water service for local homes and businesses. According to Stapleton, next year’s budget has been a long time in the making, and city staff have worked hard to prepare it for council consideration. “I want to extend my appreciation and thanks to our
leadership team members for their creativity and prudent administration and to all of our city employees who continue to provide excellent service and actively contribute to the development of a refined vision for how we better integrate our services, provide better outcomes for our citizens and make access to their city government and all of its programs and services easier and more accessible,” Stapleton wrote to council members.
NEWS
Temps to reach high 90s in Sandpoint by Ben Olson Reader Staff
The dog days of summer have arrived. A wave of higher temperatures will hit North Idaho this weekend, with Friday and Saturday’s forecast calling for high 80s, with Sunday’s high estimated to be 92 degrees Fahrenheit. The mercury will top out Monday, July 30, with a forecasted high of 97 degrees before relief comes mid-week as temperatures dip back into the lowto mid-80s the rest of the week. The forecast for nearby Spokane, Wash., is calling for even higher temperatures in the triple digits. In order to keep cool during heat waves, authorities recommend drinking more water than usual and limit direct exposure to the sun during midday, when the sun is hottest. Also, never leave children or pets in hot cars. The current Fire Danger Index for the Idaho Panhandle National Forest is currently rated at “high,” but with no precipitation scheduled in the forecast for the next two weeks, expect this rating to reach “very high” soon.
By Reader Staff
Idaho Department of Lands reported that there have been 76 fires on state protected lands this year, 60 of which were human caused. There is no restriction on campfires yet, but authorities stress to never leave a campfire
unattended, and when putting the fire out, drown, stir and repeat until the fire is dead out and cold to the touch. Remember, if it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave unattended.
Aubrey Lynn Cushman, 10 and her brother Nathan Allen Cushman, 8, from Grass Valley, Calif. jump into Lake Pend Oreille at the Sandpoint City Beach on Wednesday. Photo by Ben Olson.
Firearm training approved for county parole officers By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a new firearm use and training policy for the county’s Justice Services department. Justice Services Director Ron Stultz cited recent shootings involving local law enforcement as a partial inspiration for arming the county’s parole officers. “Those officers would have been less likely to survive those incidents if they couldn’t have fired back,” Stultz said. He said more than 50 percent
Draft decision issued on Boulder Creek Restoration Project
of the people on misdemeanor parole in Bonner County are either previous felons or their cases started out in district court as a felony and, due to plea deals, were dropped down to misdemeanors. “A lot of times we hear from people, ‘Well, you’re just dealing with misdemeanors.’ That’s not really the case. We’re dealing with some pretty nasty folks — violent cases, drug cases, sex offenses that have been pled down, ” Stultz said. “I want my officers to have that tool in their toolbox if they need to defend themselves while out in the field.” Stultz said Justice Services’
three adult parole officers and probation manager will begin to carry firearms once they complete the full training, hopefully before Sept. 31. Stultz said there are several other misdemeanor
Courtesy image. probation offices in the state and across the country that carry firearms, as well as the probation officers with the Idaho Department of Corrections.
Jeanne Higgins, Forest Supervisor for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, has issued a Draft Decision and Finding of No Significant Impact for the Boulder Creek Restoration Project located on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District. The objection period is open for 45 days. Objections will only be accepted from those who have previously submitted specific written comments regarding the project during the scoping and opportunity for comment periods. The BCRP is a vegetation management project designed to address hazardous fuels, forest health and resilience, wildlife habitat, watershed health, recreation and heritage site management concerns. The project area is located southwest of Highway 2, east of Naples, Idaho in Boundary County, and encompasses 40,612 acres which includes the Boulder Creek watershed. Treatments include approximately 7,400 acres of prescribed burning in natural fuels, and about 3,400 acres of commercial timber harvest in addition to ecosystem restoration improvements. Kevin Knauth, Bonners Ferry district ranger, recognizes the time and effort that stakeholders invested in the project planning efforts. “While collaboration requires additional work on everyone’s part, it results in a better project. I appreciate the community’s involvement in this project,” said District Ranger Knauth. The project was developed in collaboration with the Kootenai Valley Resource Initiative to complement other landscape restoration work in the Lower Kootenai River Valley. The KVRI collaborative consists of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho, Boundary County, City of Bonners Ferry, private citizens, landowners, Federal and State agencies, conservation/environmental advocacy groups and representatives of business and industry. For additional information or questions, please contact Doug Nishek, Project Team Leader, at dnishek@fs.fed.us, or 208-267-5561.
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COMMUNITY
BGH selects Mayo Medical Labs for its advanced laboratory testing needs By Reader Staff Bonner General Health selected Mayo Medical Laboratories as its primary reference laboratory. This selection gives Bonner General Health access to Mayo Clinic’s extensive menu of laboratory tests and clinical expertise. Through its worldwide network of more than 4,000 clients, Mayo Medical Laboratories enables hospitals, medical centers and health care organizations around the world to send tests to the laboratories of Mayo Clinic, which are some of the most sophisticated in the world. Bonner General Health’s access to Mayo Clinic’s extensive test menu enhances its ability to provide the highest quality laboratory testing for patients in Bonner County and surrounding communities.
Most laboratory testing will continue to be performed by the Bonner General Health laboratory with only the most specialized tests being sent to Mayo Clinic. Specimens taken at Bonner General Health are transported via air to Mayo Clinic, with test results often available the following day through a computer interface. Additionally, Mayo Clinic physicians and scientists in every specialty laboratory are available for consultation regarding test selection, utilization and methodologies, and results interpretation. “We are excited to partner with Mayo Medical Laboratories,” said Sheryl Rickard, Bonner General Health CEO. “Mayo Medical Laboratories provides high-quality laboratory services. Our partnership enhances the services that Bonner General Health
provides to the members of our community.” “With each hospital and laboratory we serve, we strive to provide the right test at the right time for each patient,” said William Morice, II, M.D., Ph.D., president of Mayo Medical Laboratories and chair of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic. “Working with Bonner General Health’s laboratory staff, we want to work together to provide the highest quality laboratory tests at an affordable price for the patients who need these tests.” For those in need of laboratory testing, specimens will continue to be collected at Bonner General Health’s laboratory, emergency department and outpatient clinics.
Huckleberry Color Fun Run & Walk at Schweitzer By Reader Staff
Schweitzer Mountain Resort is looking forward to the 4th Annual Huckleberry Color Fun Run & Walk on Aug. 5. “We love this event for so many reasons,” said marketing manager, Dig Chrismer. “Just watching everyone laugh as they get color bombed is such a fun twist on a trail run. This is a unique type of trail experience that is great for runners and non-runners alike.” The resort will offer a 5K and a 2.5K loop for runners and walkers of all ages. Both courses start at 10 a.m. in the village and pass through several color zones where runners are showered with a biodegradable color dyed cornstarch. Participants finish back in the village in time for the group color toss. Registration by Aug. 4 includes fun run entry, a commemorative T-shirt to show off all the accumulated color, sunglasses, a powder pack for the group color toss and a gourmet hot dog with huckleberry and veggie embellishments. Registration also includes a complimentary scenic foot passenger lift ticket valid for Aug. 5 only. “There’s such a good variety of 6 /
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Small group adult sailing instruction By Reader Staff Sandpoint Parks and Recreation and the Sandpoint Sailing Association bring you this one-of-a-kind personalized sailing instruction. The course will be two hours long. Our instructor will contact you before the week classes are held to discuss exact times and details. These classes will be taught on the Sandpoint Sailing Assn Capri 18 boat. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn more about the adventure of sailing. Meet at Windbag Marina at Fred’s Deck. Session Three registration deadline is Aug. 5; classes are Aug. 13–16 from 3 – 6 p.m.. Fees are $80/person To register, or for other activities offered by Parks and Recreation, visit our web catalog at www.sandpointidaho.gov/ parksrecreation or visit the office located at 1123 Lake St.
Children’s intro to taekwondo/karate and self defense By Reader Staff
hiking trails at Schweitzer and this event introduces some of our favorites to the community,” Chrismer said. “Trail running can seem daunting but when it’s paired with live music and vibrant color all around you, then it’s all about fun.” All of Schweitzer’s village activities and restaurants, including Sky House, will be open to the public from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. For more details on the zip line, horseback riding, mountain biking, climbing wall or to register for the Huckleberry Color Fun Run and Walk, visit www.schweitzer.com.
Photo courtesy SMR.
Sandpoint Taekwondo will be offering children age 5 - 14, an introductory taekwondo, karate, and self defense class beginning Aug. 7-16. The session fee is $51 ($2 city discount), and includes a uniform and two weeks of lessons on Tuesday and Thursday from 3:15 - 4 p.m. Each session will meet at Sandpoint Taekwondo, 218 Main St. Register by the Aug. 5 registration deadline. Each session will teach basic self-defense skills and highlight the importance of self-discipline and character building in a child friendly setting. Arrive 15 minutes early at first session to be fitted for a uniform. To register, or for other activities offered by Parks and Recreation, visit our web catalog at www.sandpointidaho. gov/parksrecreation or visit the office located at 1123 Lake St.
OPINION
Iran vs. North Korea: Obama got a better deal By Nick Gier Reader Columnist “Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile pledges are about as disposable as toilet paper.” —Harry Kazianis of Fox News I can’t decide which is more embarrassing for our country: Trump buddying up to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, or Trump praising Russia’s Putin for being “strong” and “powerful” in his denial of election meddling. A recent cartoon shows Kim and Putin sharing stories about how easy it is to fool our self-absorbed, easily flattered excuse for a president. Speaking after the Singapore Summit, Trump praised Kim for being “very smart,” and he was disappointed that the American people did not love him as much as North Koreans did their murderous dictator. John Feffer of the Institute for Policy Studies said that this “was an enormous propaganda gift to the North Korean leader.” Without an agreement on any definite steps towards North Korea’s denucleariza-
A Divided Nation... Dear Editor, Today, although living in a divided nation, I can remember a day when people respected both political parties and the people that supported them. While having voted for GOP candidates at the local, state and national level if I believed they were more qualified, I feel we should not forget those Democratic leaders of the past who brought us Social Security, Medicare, and the Civil Rights Act. Most people vote for the candidates who support the issues they believe in. I support the Bonner County Democrats’ guiding principles (recently adopted at the state level) which call for: -- Honest, accountable and transparent leadership; -- Recognizing that Idaho’s students are Idaho’s future and that the Idaho Legislature must fully and equally fund all Idaho public schools, provide debt-free higher education and support vocational and technical schools; --Working for a growing economy by providing a living wage and affordable housing, supporting flourishing small businesses, and assuring first class roads, bridges and transportation access. -- Keeping public lands public, working for policies that provide recreational and economic opportunities while also protecting this legacy for the future. -- Responsibility for our planet by reducing impacts of climate change and supporting renewable energy. --Affordable healthcare for all Idahoans, including expanding Medicaid to 62,000 Idahoans who are uninsured. (On the ballot this November.) --Belief in and working for personal freedoms and justice for all. -- Belief in and support for our Second Amend-
tion, Trump tweeted: “There is no longer a nuclear threat from North Korea.” As with most of Trump’s ill-advised pronouncements, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had to walk back one more give-away to the North Koreans. Without consulting anyone, Trump canceled the annual wargames in conjunction with the South Korean military, which he said were “provocative” (Kim’s own words) and too costly. On May 3, taking the South Korean government totally off guard, Trump ordered the Pentagon to prepare for a reduction in the 28,000 troops stationed in the country. Trump frequently calls Iran a nuclear threat, but thanks to Obama’s hard bargaining, the Iranians don’t currently have any nuclear warheads. The 2015 agreement required the Iranians to destroy centrifuges that produced Uranium-235, and 95 percent of its nuclear material has now been shipped to Russia. Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are on the ground to keep the Iranians honest, but they may soon be asked to leave. Trump’s decision to scrap Obama’s good deal will now allow the Iranians to make their first bombs. Trump’s
threat to go to war with them will only accelerate those efforts. For almost 10 years the IAEA was present in North Korea monitoring its sites. In 1992, North Korea signed the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons agreement, and in 1994 President Bill Clinton negotiated a deal with the North Koreans to stop the production of the bomb ingredient plutonium. Republicans had always criticized Clinton for being too soft, and President George W. Bush’s harder line led to North Korea asking the IAEA to leave in 2003. The result is that North Korea now may have as many as 65 nuclear weapons and it has the capacity to produce one more every week if it chooses to. The North Koreans have begun dismantling a launch site and they have ceased weapons and missile testing, but one U.S. official told NBC that “there’s no evidence that they are decreasing stockpiles, or that they have stopped their production. There is unequivocal evidence that they are trying to deceive the U.S.” John Bolton, Trump’s third national security advisor in 19 months, once believed
ment by supporting reducing gun violence. If you believe in any of these principles, you should seriously consider voting for Democratic candidates for local and state offices this November.
on Russian soldiers in Syria. •By all honest accounts he has strengthened NATO. Finally, what was Trump supposed to do in Helsinki? Confront Putin publicly on issues he has already denied on many occasions? That would simply have added fuel to the fire, and the press would have loved accusing Trump of not being diplomatic. Trump maintains he confronted Putin strongly in private, and I tend to believe him. It appears to me that he is taking the best course of action is to trying to develop a good working relationship while standing extremely firm on the important issues. (And this is the advice I have always given parents.)
Jim Ramsey Sandpoint
Develop a Working Relationship... Dear Editor, As a child psychiatrist, I always encouraged parents to be respectful to their teens, and never denigrate them in public, regardless of the provocation. At the same time, the parents should have high expectations, firm limits, and allow consequences to fall. This is similar to Teddy Roosevelt’s, message with the Great White Fleet, “talk nice but mean business.” Trump has been excoriated for following this very policy. Talking nice to Putin but meaning business and far more meaningfully than any other president: •Effective and powerful offensive weapons have been provided to the Ukrainians to help them defend themselves against Russian aggression. •Trump expelled 60 Russian intelligence officers from the United States following the poisoning in England. •Trump closed the Russian consulate in Seattle. President Trump shuttered the Russian consulate in San Francisco along with and smaller annexes in Washington and New York. •More than 100 Russian individuals and companies have been sanctioned for a variety of reasons. •He has strengthened our military •He is pushing Germany to dial back their dependence on Russian gas, depriving of billions. •Under Trump Americans were allowed to fire
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that North Korea should be bombed into submission, but now he believes that under Trump’s leadership “major steps toward denuclearization could be taken in a year.” None of the experts believe this, and most estimate that, assuming Kim will even cooperate, it would take ten years for North Korea to denuclearize. William Perry, Bill Clinton’s defense secretary who negotiated the 1994 agreement, states that “these steps will be complex, will take many months, if not years, and will require intrusive verification procedures.” Meetings after the Singapore Summit have not gone very well, to say the least. After announcing that progress had been made in his first meeting with North Korean officials, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo finally admitted it actually “went as badly as it could have gone.” Kim visited a potato farm rather than meeting with Pompeo, and he canceled a meeting about returning the remains of soldiers who died in the Korean War. At a recent meeting with Republican leaders in Nevada, Trump said that “thousands of parents” had begged him to do something about this, and Trump said that the remains of 200 soldiers had already been returned. Pompeo, once again in rescue mode, admitted that “we have not yet physically received them.” Iraq War veteran Will Fischer is outraged: “It’s beyond the pale to lie about remains of fallen service persons already being returned, when they, in fact, haven’t been. Remains like these aren’t some prize, where you can make up some big fish stories.” Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read the full version at www.nickgier.com/ KoreaTrump.pdf. He can be reached at ngier006@gmail.com.
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Clyde’s Towing is happy to introduce our newest truck! July 26, 2018 /
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COMMUNITY
Sam Owen Fire District to host annual pancake breakfast By Reader Staff Bouquets: • This week’s bouquet goes out to Mel Dick, owner of the 219 Lounge. Mel embodies what it means to be a community leader in many ways. Every morning when I ride my bike past the back of the 219 on my way to the Reader office, I see Mel out on the sidewalk cleaning up litter, sweeping the stoops of neighboring businesses, greeting passersby. Bars generate debris, naturally, but it’s really cool that Mel takes such ownership over cleaning it up. Not only does he employ a local staff at the bar, but the 219’s expansive live music schedule is a great source of revenue for local bands, my fledgling band included. Outside of his business, Mel is active in the Sandpoint Rotary and passionate about fundraising events such as the Chafe 150 bicycle ride, which has donated over $100,000 to our school district to better meet the needs for students within the autism spectrum. Thanks for what you do, Mel. It has been noticed. (Got someone you want to recognize with a bouquet? Don’t be shy, send the info to ben@sandpointreader.com) Barbs • Two parking-related issues to discuss here: First, one of our readers pointed out that the parking signs do not post times or dates, only how many hours you can park there and a snow removal part at the bottom. There is no way, technically, for anyone to know if parking enforcement ends at 5 p.m. or 6 p.m., if weekends are free, or if it’s just Sunday. Technically, it seems unfair to receive a ticket if parking on a weekend, since no posted words explain hours/days. Second, a couple of new brackets were painted around town denoting parking spaces that are too small for 99 percent of the vehicles out there. It should be marked “super compact” or “motorcycle” only, because full size vehicles park there and cause the spaces behind them to stagger at odd intervals. It confuses people (including yours truly). See the east side of Second at the corner of Cedar. 8 /
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The Sam Owen Fire District will be hosting its 14th annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, July 28, so take a break and forget about cooking. Instead, go over to the Sam Owen Fire Station #1 for a breakfast that will start your day off right. A scenic drive along Highway 200 will take you to the Sam Owen Fire Station #1, located at the junction of Peninsula Road and Highway 200 in Hope. A steaming hot breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, juice and coffee or tea breakfast, all for only $5, will be served from 7:30-11 a.m. After breakfast take time to tour the station, meet the firefighters and our co-fire chiefs, Stu Eigler and Tim Scofield. You’ll have the opportunity to sit in the trucks, meet Smokey the firedog and try on the equipment. It’s surprising how heavy it is. There will be free handouts for
the children and the first 50 children will receive fire chief hats. This is the major community event and only fundraiser for the Sam Owen Fire District. The monies raised are used for supplies for the fire house, including
uniforms, communication devices, and important firefighting equipment. Over 60 volunteers, plus the firefighters and fire chief spend untold hours to collect donations, cook the meal and serve you a delicious breakfast.
Future firefighters learn the ropes at the 2017 pancake breakfast. Courtesy photo. For more information about this event call 208-264-5745.
BGH nurse receives honor SAFL hosts free camp
By Reader Staff
Bonner General Health received the “Qualis Award of Excellence in Healthcare Quality” award on April 19 for its Antibiotic Stewardship Program. Following the award, Bonner General Health was selected to present at the Association for Professionals in Infection Prevention’s (APIC) annual national conference held in Minneapolis, Minn., in June. APIC’s Annual Conference is the premier forum for infection prevention and epidemiology professionals to learn about the latest research, science and real-world solutions to challenging infection prevention issues. Kathy Trosin, RN and infection prevention and quality specialist at Bonner General Health, presented, “Developing a Regional Collaborative Approach to Antimicrobial Stewardship” with Amy Ward from Kootenai Health and Connie Sue Clum from Boundary Commu-
nity Hospital. Objectives of this three-part presentation were to offer tools and resources for implementing a successful Antimicrobial Stewardship Program and featured the story of how Bonner General Health created their program with the collaborative efforts of the hospital team as well as their regional partners. The CDC recommends that Antibiotic Stewardship Programs be implemented in all hospitals. Bonner General Health successfully implemented its Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in 2015, as one of only 26 percent of critical access hospitals in the nation. Bonner General Health’s Antimicrobial Stewardship Program co-chairs are Sara Couch, registered pharmacist and stewardship pharmacist leader; Mauria Prince, pharmacy director; Connie Malone, microbiologist/ lab manager; Kathy Trosin RN, infection prevention and quality specialist, and Dr. Vincent Huntsberger, physician champion.
By Reader Staff Sandpoint Affordable Football League invites students to attend a free camp this weekend. The camp is the perfect option for students interested in football or cheerleading. It includes a free T-shirt for campers, features special guests and is 100-percent free for all students
in third through eighth grade. The camp takes place at Great Northern Field 6-8 p.m. Friday, July 27, and 5-7 p.m. Saturday, July 28. There will be a barbecue with music, an auction and great food from 7-9 p.m. Saturday, July 28. Students can register for camp at www. sandpointfootball.org.
Crazy Days brings deals aplenty By Reader Staff It’s a big deal! Now that we’re cruising through summer (the Festival is next week already!), it’s time for downtown Sandpoint’s biggest bargain shopping event during the Crazy Days sidewalk sales all day Saturday, July 28. This is a very crazy day, because there are deals to be hand all ‘round — but the best
deals always go fast, so get there early. Plus, the Panida at 300 N. First Ave. holds its annual Play It Again sale featuring CDs, DVDs and more — with proceeds benefiting the historic theater’s college scholarship fund. With the nearby Sandpoint Farmers Market at Farmin Park going on, as well, it’s going to be a big day downtown. Bring the family and score on those downtown bargains.
HUMOR
The Season of Acceptance It’s summer. Go with it. Summer is the season of acceptance. One must just accept their current situation as it is, because you are just too busy laying on a floaty sipping a cocktail to do anything about it. Forget about ridiculous things like cooking, cleaning, organizing or self-improvement. Save those grand notions for some other season — it’s too hot for that shit now. Diet? Pshhh … if you have a gut in the middle of July, it’s time to accept it. Love it, cover it in oil, tan it, let it roll on out over your shorts and own it. You’ve made it through half the summer together, no use in trying to hide it now. Summer is not the time to be cleaning the house or bathing the kids or cooking gourmet meals. Every free moment should be spent on the lake, sleeping under the stars and soaking in the sun’s precious rays. Every crevice of your body should be sunkissed and full of sand, and if it isn’t you aren’t getting the message. There is time for working out, home improvement, groomed children and cooking in the seasons to come. When it’s cold outside, you have all the time in the world for regret, and self-loathing summer is time for loving the weather and yourself. I don’t understand people who take time out of summer for things like folding laundry or yard work. Our days in the sun are numbered in North Idaho, and every single weekend there is some sort of celebration on the schedule: barbecues, weddings, concerts. Am I really going to take my Saturday and organize my house and do chores when I could be at a bachelorette party sipping on a
penis straw on a giant flamingo floaty? No, I chose to love myself. No regrets, just acceptance. No one needs to see the inside of your house in the summer — all entertainment and visiting should be done outdoors. I honestly don’t think people in North Idaho should be required to work full time in the summer. Can you imagine how productive your workplace would be if your employer gave you at least a three day weekend every weekend for the month of July? I bet there would be fewer people calling in sick on Fridays and Mondays. I mean seriously, what the hell are people eating on Thursday nights that renders them incapacitated for Friday? I have noticed a huge amount of sickness on Fridays, and that’s OK. Why? Because maybe they are sick — sick of being inside staring out the windows wishing that they were neck deep in a cool pool of fresh water. Let me tell you there is no over-the-counter cure or shot for that type of sickness. So you can call in with the “food poisoning” excuse if you want to, but your co-workers know the truth, and everyone just needs to get with the season and accept it. Personally I know that the universe has been telling me to take time off for summer. A couple of days ago, I woke up to my cat crunching the bones of a bird on the end of the bed. After barrel- rolling off the side of my bed, I spent 15 minutes half-naked in the front yard, deciding whether it was worth it to take the day off, or face the massacre in my room. Lucky for me, there was a pile of unfolded laundry in my living room, along with my car keys. I opened all the windows, semi-dressed myself and prayed no one would rob my house while I went to work. I accepted that my cat is an elite murderer, and hope-
fully she would get rid of the carcass by the time I got home. No less than two minutes into my commute I was stuck at the train tracks for 15 minutes, only to move on down the road and spend 45 minutes in road construction. I should have called in sick, with whatever Friday flu everyone else is getting. I was clearly being given all the signs that going to work was a terrible idea, but it was a Tuesday, so I didn’t know if the excuse would be valid. Instead I arrived at work almost an hour late dressed as a batshit crazy vagrant. This is what happens when you don’t accept the messages that the universe is telling you. Learn to go with the lazy flow of the water this summer and just accept it. Let your inner hippie take over the driver’s seat, be the one crazy person dancing alone to the live music, show off those tan lines, take a nude dip in the lake under a full moon… I heard there is a full moon Friday… Who’s with me? Take a deep breath, and jump right in, Summer doesn’t last forever.
Authentic wood-fired pizza Mandala will be at the following locations:
Thursday, JULY 26 @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 5 - 8 p.m. Saturday, JULY 28 @ Sandpoint Farmers’ Market
9 a.m. - 1 p.m
Saturday, JULY 28 @ Laughing Dog Brewery 4 - 6 p.m. Thursday, AUGUST 2 - Sunday AUGUST 5 @ Festival at Sandpoint Thursday, AUGUST 9 - Sunday AUGUST 12 @ Festival at Sandpoint
Scarlette Quille
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Mad about Science: By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
horse transportation
Horses are some of our oldest animal companions. The quadrupedal ungulates of many a young girl’s birthday party dreams are the reason humans were able to achieve vast farming operations and explode in population. Basically, we rode horses right into the agricultural revolution. Because of their close relationship to humans, horses have gone where we’ve gone, much like cockroaches, rats and mice, though let’s be honest: you’re way more likely to lovingly pet a big ol’ friendly horse than a cockroach or a rat. Around here, it’s not unusual to find yourself behind a horse trailer. At first, you’ll find it endearing to see this big, beautiful animal out for a ride on an Idaho road. Then the horse does its business and you get to smell it for the next 16 miles. In actuality, horse travel throughout history hasn’t differed much from this. First, you put a horse in a box, then you move the box and the horse to the destination. Some of the oldest and most unique horse movement happened around 1500 BC when the Persians and the Greeks were warring with each other on apocalyptic scales. Seas divided them, yet they needed cavalry to dominate land battles. So how would they transport their horses? On a boat, obviously! Between 1500 BC and 1900 AD, little changed in the way of aquatic horse transportation. The basics were as follows: Tire the horse out before the voyage. This might seem dangerous, 10 /
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but it’s the only way you’re going to have an animal calm enough to avoid hurting itself. Handlers would usually withhold food and water before and during the start of the voyage to keep the horse weak as well, because stress caused by inactive hunger is less detrimental than the horse going on a rampage and breaking a leg. Ships transporting horses were specially designed to be floating stables. They didn’t just stuff them into crates or load them with the cargo, they had their own lodgings on ships. Anyone familiar with history will realize horses were treated better than humans for the 400-plus years of African slavery in America, a truly sobering and depressing thought. People used giant slings and cranes to load tired horses onto the ships. The most difficult part of any sea voyage for a horse was the middle. Ships, especially old sailing ships, are uncomfortable for humans but a nightmare for our equine friends. Horses require a gallon of fresh water per 100 pounds of weight per day in order to be healthy. That means a single horse would require about 12 gallons of fresh water per day, which would weigh about 100 pounds. During the colonial times, a fast trip was about 33 days, which means one horse would need 3,300 pounds of water to stay healthy. Multiply that by however many horses you have, and your boat is going to sink. During sea
voyages, horses were given pretty strict rations to keep their energy levels low. Slings were sometimes provided for the horse if it wanted to lay down, though it was bad for the horse to stay in a sling for the whole voyage. Handlers would often massage the horse’s legs as well to improve circulation, since there wasn’t very much room to walk around in a ship. Fresh air wasn’t an option considering they were housed below deck where urine and waste particles likely mixed with brine and soaked into the wood. Respiratory issues were a major concern. I’ve read conflicting information about the mortality rate of horses during sea travel, some sources said extremely high while others said extremely low. I’d imagine they were handled the same way as an expensive engine is now, and if you were willing to spend the massive amount of money required just to transport the thing, you were going to spend even more to make sure it was still alive once you landed. If it did die, though… I’ve read that could be the origin of the British naval term “salted horse”. Salted horse is basically any form of meat that sat in a barrel of salt across long sea voyages. While you might be thinking about delicious jerky, it was probably more like gnawing on a petrified stump. A dead horse, no matter how tough, would look like veal to a crew of hungry sailors.
Is that all? Neigh! I have more wild ways we’ve transported horses in recent years. Enter: Air Horse One, a special 727 jet that rigs to special ramps that connect to horse trailers that ferries race horses around the country. It’s fast and comfortable for the horses, keeping them well rested between races. I wonder what their in-flight movie is. Horses driven by… other horses! During the 1800s, race horses were treated like royalty
and given their own special carriage that was towed by as many as four other horses. This has the same premise as the horse jet, the race horse didn’t risk injury or fatigue while traveling this way. For some reason, some people found this practice uncouth and barbaric, but were totally OK with horses on ships. The next time you’re stuck behind a horse trailer, just roll your windows up and thank your lucky stars it’s not 1500 B.C.
Random Corner ?
Don’t know much about babies
We can help!
• A human baby has over 60 more bones than an adult. • From birth to toilet training, a baby goes through an average of 8,000 diaper changes. • Newborn babies can only see in black and white for a few months. • Breastfeeding a baby may reduce by 22 percent a woman’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, a study says. • As late as 1985, doctors believed babies didn’t feel pain and conducted surgeries with no anesthesia. • A baby was born in 2005 with a conjoined head that had no body. The head could blink and smile. • Baby cages hanging out the window were used in America in the 1920s. •A baby is born on its predicted due date just 4% of the time. • A baby’s brain can use up to 50 percent of the total glucose supply, which may help explain why babies need so much sleep. • Kissing a baby on the ear can make it go deaf because of a condition known as “cochlear ear-kiss injury.” • Breast-fed babies defecate more than bottle-fed babies because breast milk is a laxative. • Hurricane Katrina caused an 85 percent reduction in the amount of babies named Katrina.
FEATURE
Is there a rental crisis in Sandpoint? By Cameron Rasmusson and McCalee Cain Reader Staff and Intern
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rowing pains are inevitable, but some hurt more than others. For Sandpoint, housing has been a persistent source of pressure as growing businesses attract new families into the area. It’s a problem with no easy answer. Numerous factors influence housing availability, and depending on one’s circumstances require different types of housing. Perhaps no group presently faces a more challenging market than those looking for affordable rentals. And it’s a market that grows thinner as more property owners choose to sell their homes to retirees or utilize them for short-term and vacation rentals. “(The market) is super competitive,” said Evan Metz, a local renter. “We would check Sandpoint Online, Craigslist, the newspapers, Facebook. We had a whole circuit of probably six different places we would check, and we had a schedule to check them three times a day. And there were hundreds of other people doing the exact same thing.” This is not a problem exclusive to Sandpoint. According to Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton, cities across the region and particularly tourist communities are struggling to maintain sufficiently diverse housing. Sandpoint Planning and Economic Development Director Aaron Qualls said that the “missing middle,” a shortage of multi-unit or clustered housing configurations typically occupied by workforce members and young families, is a problem not just locally but nationwide.
NOT
Image courtesy of Liz Zagorski Photo illustration by Ben Olson. “There’s not a lot of inventory,” said Ned Brandenberger, president of Sandpoint Property Rentals. “The rental market is very tight, and therefore it’s tough to find a rental. It’s especially tough for people that may have had some trouble with their credit in the past, or some problems making payments on rent. Those are the kind of people that are hurt the worst.” The problem ultimately boils down to a simple economic principle: too much demand and not enough supply. According to census data, Sandpoint grew by 5 percent between 2016 and 2017, an astonishing jump from its historically typical growth of 1 percent annually. That makes Sandpoint the seventh-fastest-growing “micropolitan” area – a population base of fewer than 50,000 people – in
the country. “From a renter’s perspective, it’s very difficult to find housing (right now),” said Maddie Gill, a Realtor and landlord. “It’s almost becoming a retirement community, with more home ownership and higher rates. The lack of housing is kind of pushing people out of town.” The simple solution to a supply problem is to increase production, but that’s easier said than done. According to Stapleton, developers have recently been more conservative regionally about the projects they’re willing to undertake. What’s more, the building industry is suffering from a dearth of workers. Following the 2008 recession, Stapleton said there was a mass exodus out of the building industry, and it has yet to recover. “Right now it’s that perfect
tsunami (of bad circumstances),” Stapleton said. Homeowners opting to use their properties for short-term or vacation rentals is another factor that reduces housing availability for long-term residents. Indeed, it’s one the city has worked to get a handle on for years, particularly when it comes to ensuring that shortterm rentals pay the requisite taxes. According to Qualls, a new set of vacation rental policies may help address the situation. Under the new system, regulations on shortterm rentals shift depending on whether or not the property is occupied by the homeowner. “It’s actually a fairly innovative system,” Qualls said. “I think we’re leading in the state in this regard.” Short-term rentals where the owner doesn’t occupy the property are managed by
permits, which are capped to a maximum of 35 per residential zoning type. This helps ensure that taxes are collected and alleviates some of the neighborhood tensions that can result from a constant turnover of residents. In the near future, the Sandpoint council members will also consider ramping up the city’s ability to enforce shortterm rental laws on individuals who attempt to circumvent the system. According to Qualls, this has become a problem in many cities over the past several years, and there are now services that can detect when properties are being rented illegally. The city is considering the same service used by Bonner County, which uses a variety of technologies to pinpoint scofflaws. “They can tell you who is operating a vacation rental and where it is, as well as provide reports with evidence like screen shots,” Qualls said. Of course, while the city can work on initiatives to increase housing availability and affordability, there’s another side to that coin: wages. And that aspect of the dynamic is much more in the hands of the private sector. Ultimately, Stapleton said this is an issue to be resolved not by the city alone, but by collaboration with other regional municipalities. For an issue with so many moving parts, it will take teamwork to identify effective practices and programs. “At the end of the day there isn’t a simple solution,” she said. “This is one of the most multi-faceted issues out there.”
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Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry Live Music w/ Bright Moments 6-9pm @ Trinity at City Beach Jazz on the Trinity lawn
Yappy Hour 4-7pm @ Trinity at City Beach Bring your dog and enjoy a Panhandle Animal Shelter benefit with live music, beverages, and fun
Live Music w/ Daniel M of Son of Brad 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Be A CDA native playing a originals, with food by M la Pizza out back
Live Music w/ Mostly Harmless Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs and Chris Lynch 6-8pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Wine Bar 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Fun duo. Food by Edelwagen Food Truck Live Music w/ Jake Robin Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Acoustic rock sounds, pop charisma Live Music w/ BareGrass Movie in the Park: “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Dusk @ Lakeview Park (by the history museum) Americana/bluegrass aficionados Hosted by the Bonner Co. History Museum Live Music w/ Riff Hangers Crazy Days Live Music w/ Jake Robin 4-6pm @ Laughing Dog 6-8pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Wine Bar All day @ Downto Americana at its finest at Downtown mer Local singer songwriter Live Music w/ The Groove Black Laughing Dog Brewery. Food great sales durin 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall by Mandala Pizza sidewalk bargain Dynamic trio. Food by Twisted Kilt Live Music w/ Polly O’Keary Junior Ranger P Live Music w/ David Walsh and the Rhythm Method “What Bugs Me” 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 7:30pm @ Di Luna’s 3pm @ Round La Eclectic guitar player Excellent trio with influences Open to kids 6-1 Live Music w/ Kerry Leigh in zydeco, country, funk, jazz, we need insects. F 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery rockabilly, surf and rock and Yoga on Tap A harmonious voice and cool melodies roll. $15 / $18 (day of) 11am @ Laughing Live Music w/ Naughty Pine Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs One hour class tha 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge group having a be and Chris Lynch Richland-based reggae group includes your first 8-10pm @ Back Door Bar Bike Road Ride, BBQ and Icicle Brewing • 12-6pm @ S Sandpoint Chess Club Icicle brewery is here to bike from Sandpoint sports and 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee after! Free first beer for those that ride the Schweitzer hill r Meets every Sunday at 9am burger or Bratwurst and 3 icicle brewery tapped beers! Add Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Mended Hearts Support Group • 3:30-4 Practical support for heart patients and care
Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge Join DJ Pat for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen
L A
Hike with a Master Naturalist 9:30am @ Round Lake State Park The hike topic varies depending on the interest of the parti Wind Down Wednesday Wednesdays w/ Bennie Hootenanny Open M 5-8pm @ 219 Lounge 6:30-8:30pm @ City 5-7:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge With live music by blues Weekly music on Connie’s deck with If you have an instrum man Truck Mills and guest Bennie Baker. This week’s special guest: poem to read, or want musician John Firshi dlin’ Red and Desiree Nashville recording artist Jenai Davis Festival at Sandpoint: Big Head Todd & The Monsters 7:30pm @ Memorial Field With over 30 years of making music behind them, Big Head Todd & The Monsters have left a legacy of hits, including “Bittersweet,” “Resignation Superman,” and “Broken Hearted Savior” among others Gates open at 6 p.m., concert starts at 7:30 p.m. Buy tickets by calling (208) 265-4554
Adu 6pm Call
ful
/ Daniel Mills d kDuff’s Beer Hall playing a host of h food by Mandaack
July 26 - August 2, 2018
A weekly entertainment guide to keep you on your toes. To list your event free, please send an email to calendar@sandpointreader.com. Reader recommended
Live Music w/ BO/CA (Ben & Cadie from Harold’s IGA) 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge Indie folkmulti-instrumental duo
is Lynch Live Music w/ The Devon Wade Band 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge uck Country covers and originals Forest Insect and Disease Field Day 8am-5pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds rrestrial” Participants will get first-hand exposure to a wide range of organisms that impair the seum) growth of trees and forests in North Idaho m
Fox and Bones in Concert 7pm @ Panida Little Theater This duo is the modern-day Bonnie and Clyde, if Bonnie and Clyde had driven a Volvo and played folk-pop music. Based in Portland, Ore., these internationally touring sweethearts aren’t your average duo. Admission includes a free drink
Round Lake Evening Program: Wild Edibles 7:30pm @ Round Lake State Park Starts at the amphitheater; free and open to the public National Teen Library Lock-in & Nerf Battle 8pm @ Sandpoint Library Enjoy author chats, Minute to Win It games, Nerf battle, good tunes and more. Stay the night and have pancakes in the morning. Bring a Nerf gun and ammo, PJs, sleeping bag, and pillow. Pre-registration Live Music w/ David Walsh required by calling 208-263-6930 ext. 1245 or 8-10pm @ Back Door Bar e-mail morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org Eclectic guitarist from Spt.
Days @ Downtown Sandpoint wn merchants offer ales during this annual Live Band Dance k bargain event 7-10pm @ Ponderay Events Center Sandpoint Farmers’ Market Ranger Program: Cha Cha lesson taught from 7-8 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Bugs Me” p.m. by a professional instructor, Shop for locally grown produce, shop artisan Round Lake State Park followed by dance to a live band wares, eat some good food and enjoy live music kids 6-12. Learn why until 10 p.m. $10/adults, $5/teens by Jake Robin insects. Free! DogFest Walk ‘n’ Roll fundraiser Annual Pancake Breakfast Tap 10am-1pm @ Forrest Bird School 7:30-11am @ Sam Owen Fire Station #1 (Hope) Laughing Dog Brewery Grab a leash and your furry best bud After breakfast, enjoy a tour of the station and r class that ends with theand head down to a day of fun and let the kids’ imaginations become realities as aving a beer together. $12events to benefit Canine Compan- they sit in a fire truck and try on firefighter your first beer equipment. $5/person. (208) 264-5745 ions for Independence 2-6pm @ SKåL Tap Room Piano Sunday: Scott Kirby ports and BBQ at SKåL Tap Room 4-6pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery itzer hill ride July 14. $25 includes a Traditional American piano ineers! Add one more burger or Brat $5 cluding ragtime, blues and tango p • 3:30-4:30pm @ BGH classroom Aug. 3 s and caregivers (208) 265-7480 Amos Lee in Concert @ The Festival at Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant Sandpoint An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s topic: “What’s God Up To” Aug. 3 Anders Osborne in Magic Wednesday Concert @ Aftival at 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Mexican Restaurant The Hive of the participants. Free and open to all Enjoy close-up magic shows right at your Aug. 4 ny Open Mic Night table, with intrigue and amazing edu-tain- ZZ Top in Concert m @ City Beach Organics ment for all ages by resident magician and @ The Festival at an instrument to play, a song to sing, a all-around “fun guy” Star Alexander Sandpoint d, or want to hear live music, join FidAug. 4 nd Desiree for a Hootenanny. 265-9919 Sam Bush in Concert Adult Grief Support Group Dollar Beers! @ Aftival at The Hive 6pm @ Bonner General Health classroom 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Aug. 5 Call Lissa at (208) 265-1185 for more info Good until the keg’s dry Huckleberry Fun Run @ Schweitzer Thursday Night Solo Series w/ Steve Rush 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall
Over 50 beer and cider options fresh salads Sandwiches
pizza and more!
(208) 263-0966 Corner of First Ave. and Bridge Street Downtown Sandpoint
Summertime in 7B! Come see us for fresh made gelato daily!
Located on the Historic Cedar St. Bridge Sunday - Monday 7am - 5pm Tuesday - Saturday 7am - 9pm 208-265-4396 • www.cedarstbistro.com
A great escape from the crowds to enjoy a beautiful sunset dinner
Open for dinner Wednesday – Sunday
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The Straight Poop:
The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho
Ponderay Design Center By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist Where am I taking my humans today? Instead of barkin’ up a tree and chasing squirrels, I’ve gotta keep cool and do some errands at the same time. Here we go to a place... • that has been family- and dog-friendly since 1954, • there are many shop dogs here • fur babies are matched to pet family products (imagine that!) •one of our councilmen brings his dog here frequently. Paws up and a big bark out to The Ponderay Design Center Campus that includes Sandpoint Furniture, Selkirk Glass and Cabinet, Sandpoint Carpet One and the Clearance Center, located at 401 Bonner Mall Way in Ponderay. I met interior designer Nikki Luttmann at Carpet One when we were sniffing out new flooring for our abode. She graduated from Cal State Long Beach with a degree in design and textiles. Livin’ on the LA freeways wasn’t her kind of having fun, so she relocated here in 2002, and has been with the Design Center for eight years. Here you can find specific items for each member of the family, as individual comfort is a priority. The Mister and Missus were in search of a Drake-friendly floor — something that did not show my magical fibers. This request was no problem for Nikki. She shared with us that once upon a time she made a mistake of having a black lab with white carpet in her home, which turned out to be like a designer dalmatian! Guess who 14 /
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was in need of a pet-friendly vacuum? We matched samples of dog-friendly flooring to my color palette. How fun was that! Nikki helped us form our ideas into reality. Next came the Drake-friendly area rugs to match. They are warm, cozy and comfortable to lie on when the weather gets chilly. We got to take a few home samples for a test run. Trust me: Big-name flooring and furniture companies are all represented in our neck of the woods, and the mark up is not as much as in the big city. Nikki will also help you with paint, as she collaborates with the paint stores in town. This is such a one-stop shop local family place! Need a scrap of carpet for a cat tree? Vinyl for a chicken coop? Piece of rug for a dog house? Custom cut runners for your entry? Just ask Nikki: She’s got all kinds of ideas to turn your dreams into reality, as this place has been family and dog friendly for years. Original owners, Dale Jefferes, Mike Gunter and Dwight Sheffler have passed the baton to the next generation of owners, their children. Jamie Becker, a flooring department specialist, brings her shelter dog Sierra to work. And there is a shop service dog at Selkirk Glass and Cabinets. Once you’ve decided on your floor covering, check out the line of pawsibily offered by the best pet- and kid-friendly, cost-effective cleaning products of Better Life. There are no toxins in these bad boys. They are naturally derived and pH balanced, which makes them gentle on your skin and ideal for cleaning any surface or fabric. Sundays are meant for family, and the Center is closed. Mark your calendars now for their only Sunday soiree. This family Sun-
day Holiday early in December will be a festive one, complete with cookies, treats, cider, give aways, balloons and costumes. And did I mention it’s a paws up barkin’ good sale? You’ll experience pawsitive customer service every day. No matter if your project is residential, new construction, large or small, this pack is here to make your design dreams a reality. Furniture, mattresses, flooring, glass, cabinets, counter tops and a clearance center — everything for your house can be found on this campus.
•All well-behaved two- and four-footed family members are welcome. •No lifting a leg on the carpet, floor, furniture, etc. A King Charles spaniel who felt right at home has already tested it. •Leashes please.
Laughing Matter
House Rules—(not really)
Ponderay Design Center staff (from left to right): Alicia Holt, Michelle Fournier, Sarah Lunde, Tiffany Baldwin and Drake.
Check out their social media presence on Houzz, Facebook and Pinterest.
By Bill Borders
COMMUNITY
From farm, to table, to community NAMI Far North hosts farm-to-table dinner to support local mental health services
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff
NAMI Far North, the local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is taking a unique approach to fundraising, and chapter president Ellie Lizotte can’t wait to share it with others looking to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. “There are so many nonprofits in our community, and it’s wonderful, but we wanted to do something out of the ordinary,” Lizotte said. That’s when another member of NAMI Far North, Ann Wimberly, thought of providing a farm-to-table dining experience to raise money for local mental health services. With the help of Emily LeVine of Red Wheelbarrow Produce and Spokane Chef Peter Tobin, NAMI will host a farm-to-table dinner on August 25 at 5:30 p.m. The dinner will take place on LeVine’s farm in the Selle Valley. One program this fundraiser will support is North Idaho Crisis, which currently runs an after-hours crisis hotline staffed by licensed mental health professionals. North Idaho Crisis Director Catherine Perusse said the crisis hotline has been active, with several calls coming in from people in emotional crisis, and a couple of suicidal calls. “The whole goal is to get ahead of, ‘I’m ready to kill myself,’” she said, noting that so far, the crisis hotline has been successful at getting the hotline number out there so that people can seek help before suicide becomes a serious thought. Perusse said NAMI Far North and Bonner Partners in Care Clinic have been “like Mom and Dad” — supporting the crisis hotline by making referrals and finding funding. She noted the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force has also been a huge financial help. Still, Perusse said expansion — let alone a continued existence — looks bleak unless funding continues. For example, while there is a crisis center in Coeur d’Alene, she said she wants to provide a similar space in Sandpoint to save people in crisis from having to go so far to be in a safe place, all money-depending. Right now, Perusse is simply committed to the mission of making sure no one feels alone. “We’re here to provide support for anybody for any reason,” she said. The chance to perpetuate that support is what drives Lizotte to continue her work with NAMI Far North, and she said the farm-to-
table evening is another chance to continue the anti-stigma dialogue. “We need to replace the stigma around mental illness with hope,” she said. “I see how powerful it is when people share, and are open about it.” Seating at the dinner is limited, so purchase tickets early at Eventbrite (search “NAMI Far North - Farm to Table”). Tickets at $95 per person. Anyone with questions should email NamiFarNorth.FarmtoTable@ gmail.com. Learn more about the event and organization by finding NAMI Far North on Facebook, or visit www.namifarnorth.org. And buy raffle tickets at La Chic Boutique or Tango Cafe for a chance to win a cruiser bike and basket of picnic goodies. Tickets are $5 each or $20 for five, and a winner will be selected Aug. 25.
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EDUCATION
Sofia Kriz gears up for languageimmersion program in Beijing By McCalee Cain Reader Staff Heading off to college can be nerve-racking. For recent Sandpoint High grad Sofia Kriz, those jitters are compacted with the excitement of moving abroad. Kriz is set to attend the Pre-University Program at Beijing University this fall. The two-year long program is a language-immersive course for non-native Chinese speakers from all around the world, with math classes to keep students up on their skills as they approach college. “This program looked really interesting to me, especially because it’s all international students, so it wouldn’t be anyone who is fluent in Chinese. We’d all be learning together, and I thought that could be a really cool way to learn,” she said. Kriz will be surrounded by fellow Chinese learners outside of the classroom, as well: All of the international students share one dorm building. “It’s going to be really interesting. I’m very excited for that,” she said. Kriz began speaking Chinese as a child when her family lived in Singapore and she attended an international school, where it was taught as the primary language. “I think it’s a beautiful language, and it’s so amazing to be able to be able to communicate with another culture, especially since China is becoming such a huge (economic) force in the world,” she said. Kriz says she’s currently intermediately proficient in the language and hopes to become fluent during her time in Beijing. “(My parents) are so excited for me. My dad is definitely someone who wanted me to be interested in Chinese throughout my life, especially since his mom is Chinese,” she said. Her impressive plans for the fall came as no surprise to those that know her: Kriz
has excelled in the classroom since she was young. “I think the most important thing for me was that I started really early… and I just kept going on that path,” she said. “I really liked school, and I liked making my teachers happy, and that was what motivated me.” Sofia completed calculus as a freshman. By the time she was a junior, she realized she could finish up early with just a few more classes. “I never thought about graduating early until the year of, when I realized that I could have a whole year to do something if I just took a few more online classes,” she said. Finishing high school early was “bittersweet” for Kriz. “On one hand I’m really excited I got out of there but on the other hand, I also wish I had another year to be with friends and learn more about myself,” she said. Despite her exceptional academic talents, the path to Beijing University wasn’t without obstacles. “Beijing University wasn’t originally my first choice. My first choice was a different program where I would have lived with a host family, and it was major language intensive,” Kriz said. She applied both her sophomore and junior years, and was rejected twice. “(That) was a really big blow to my self esteem, so I was really nervous applying to Beijing University because I figured it would end up the same way, but ... it ended up turning out pretty great.” After completing a year in Beijing, Kriz has several options laid out: She may return to the United States to begin college, or stay at Beijing University. She has some ideas as to her professional aspirations, but nothing is set in stone. “I’d like to maybe, eventually go to
Proud graduate Sofia Kriz holds her high school diploma. courtesy photo. China and work in a foreign business department where I could communicate with both American and Chinese business operators.” She is also interested in a career as a financial journalist. “I think I’ve got a whole bunch of options, which I’m excited about,” she said. “I’m not very good at deciding things, so that’s a little nerve-racking to me, but I think I can go anywhere at this point, and that’s a really great feeling. I feel good about (the future).”
Delia Owens, co-author of “Cry of the Kalahari” presents her first novel, “Where the Crawdads Sing” at Bonners Books Downtown Bonners Ferry 6:30 pm, Friday, August 31st
Main Street, Bonners Ferry
267-2622
Energy Optimization / Footprint Reduction Residential - Commercial - Industrial
Design20FIRST.com
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COMMUNITY
Chamber honors Sanpdoint Rotary and Chafe 150 By Reader Staff
The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce would like to extend congratulations to the Rotary of Sandpoint as the July Business of the Month, and Committee Members of CHAFE 150 as Volunteers of the Month. The Chamber of Commerce July Business of the Month is the Rotary Club of Sandpoint. Across the globe, Rotary is committed to promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene, supporting education and growing local economies. The Sandpoint Rotary chapter has been a fixture in the community since 1966. This vibrant and dynamic club of 85 members meet weekly to discuss ways to positively impact lives, locally and worldwide. The club has donated over $100,000 to our community this year through scholarships,
grants, CHAFE 150 and the Library Gala. More specifically, Rotary donated funds to the district wide Book Trust, allowing students in kindergarten through third grade to order books of their choosing each month at no cost to the student. They donated $50,000 to the East Bonner County Library Transformation, specifically to the teen lounge and maker room – a gathering place for creativity, dialogue and mentorship. Additionally, they support the foreign exchange student program, the Peace Park playground project, the culinary program at Forrest Bird Charter School and medical equipment to international areas of need. The Rotary Club of Sandpoint also hosted a district conference this spring with 260 attendees from Canada, Washington and Idaho. With CHAFE 150 being one of the biggest fundraisers for The
SFN Movie Night screens ‘3 Women’
Pictured from left to right: Clif Warren, Mitzi Hawkins, Brad Williams, Angela Cochran and Tim Cochran. Courtesy photo. Rotary Club of Sandpoint, the committee, led by Brad Williams, Mel Dick and Elana Westphal, was honored by the Chamber as Volunteers of the Month. CHAFE 150 is a timed one-day 150, 80 or 30-mile bike ride presented by Sandpoint Rotary Club to support students with autism. This year was the 11th annual race and the
best Charity Ride in the Nation. Please join the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce in applauding the Sandpoint Rotary Club and CHAFE 150 committee as their Business and Volunteers of the Month. For more information on these organizations visit www.clubrunner.ca/sandpoint and www.chafe150.org.
thursday, july 26 @ 7pm
Fox & Bones in Concert - Reel Lounge saturday, july 28 @ 9am - 2pm
By Reader Staff Join Sandpoint Filmmakers Network this Tuesday night as the groups screens the Robert Altman classic, “3 Women.” The 1977 film carefully balances the humorous, chilling and surreal in telling the story of Pinky Rose (Sissy Spacek) and Millie Lammoreaux (Shelley Duvall). Rose idolizes the sophisticated Lammoreaux, but after she goes to live with her as a roommate, her hero worship evolves into something far darker. SFN Movie Night takes place 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 31, at the Little Panida
Little Theater
event raised more than $250,000. CHAFE 150 contributes the proceeds of the ride to the Lake Pend Oreille School District. This helps staff to better meet the needs of students within the autism spectrum, which currently impacts every one in 68 children. Bicycling Magazine recently chose the CHAFE 150 as the third
Crazy Days Music & Movie Sales Friday, August 10 @ 3:30pm
MCS Summer youth orchestra Friday, August 17 @ 7:30pm
a night of comedy with gabriel rutledge Friday, August 18 @ 6pm
Harris iii - Master Illusioninst & Storyteller Theater. It is free to attend, but a suggested $5 donation is recommended to help cover the cost of the theater rental. Beer and wine is offered for sale by the Panida Theater. Although a private event, it’s simple and free to join SFN: go to http://www.sandpointfilmmakers. net/join or sign up at the screening.
Aug. 23,24,25 @ 7pm | Aug. 26 @ 3pm
american operetta in revue Friday, Aug. 31 @ 7pm
Mattox Farms Productions Presents
Li'l Smokies in Concert July 26, 2018 /
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OUTDOORS
Gardening with Laurie:
Seed saving
By Laurie Brown Reader Columnist
thanks for making us the #1 Country station
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Some gardeners at some point want to save seeds from their favorite varieties, be they vegetables or ornamentals. There are several reasons for doing this: You can save money. Seeds get more expensive all the time; you can keep seed lines going, as some are getting hard to find in catalogs; and you can save from the plants that seem best adapted to your area. First, you always save the seeds from the best plant. If one of your tomatoes ripens earlier than the others of the same variety, save the seeds from that one. If one plant has larger flowers or a nicer color, save from that plant. Never save seed from a weak, diseased, or spindly plant unless you have no other choice, like when ALL the hollyhocks have rust. Second, save seed from open pollinated (heirloom) plants. Plants that are F1 hybrids will not produce seeds that grow true to type. It’s a myth that they revert to some primordial wild thing. You may get a perfectly good plant, but it won’t be exactly like the F1 plant. It may make smaller fruit or ripen more slowly, or not be as vigorous. It may lack disease resistance. It can be worth experimenting with seeds from F1 plants; for instance, when the producers of seed of the F1 tomato ‘Dona’ quit selling it, people started saving and breeding the seed, selecting every summer from the best, until they had a stable open pollinated ‘Dona’ tomato plant. It’s not exactly like the old F1, but it’s darn close! Third, plants in a mixed planting can cross pollinate. If you have several colors of zinnias growing together, bees can visit different colored flowers and swap pollen between them. This will affect what color plants grow from their seeds. To make sure this doesn’t happen, either isolate the plant or cover the blossoms with a paper bag or old nylon stocking as soon as it opens. You can uncover it after the flower loses its petals — it can’t exchange pollen by then — but make sure to tie something around its stem so you know which one
Maple seeds. Courtesy photo.
it was. (Note: Remember that melons and squash HAVE to be pollinated by a male flower! You can do this by taking the male flower and rubbing the stamen on the pistil of the female, and THEN covering the female flower) Fourth, after you have gathered the seed they must be dry before storage. Lay them out on paper towels for a day or two after separating them from their pods and removing debris. Store them in an airtight container, like a pill bottle. My favorite seed storage containers are the ones that blood glucose test strips come in — the tops have desiccant in them. If you know someone with diabetes, have them save those containers for you! Mark the containers clearly with variety and year, and put the containers in a cool, dry place after filling. If you’re into heirloom plants and saving seeds, there is a seed library at the East Bonner County Library on Division. You are free to take what seed you need, with the understanding that you will do your best to bring back more in fall after you harvest the seed. And it’s always nice if you can expand the library by adding a variety they don’t have already, say, a tomato you got the seeds for elsewhere.
HEALTH
SHAKE, RATTLE AND ROLL
A column about the trials and tribulations of Parkinson’s Disease
Never Say Never By A.C. Woolnough Reader Columnist
credible friends. While it was worth it at the end, I was determined never to repeat the experience. The bottom line was I decided, announced and carried through with Until I googled my decision to never repeat that the phrase never say adventure. My middle grandson, never, I had no idea Brandon, graduated last month. For that Justin Bieber Christmas and graduation, I gifted had a hit song and a him with my new REI backpack, movie with that title. solo tent, sleeping pad, water filter, I guess a 60s guy (in titanium cooking pot and more. A.C. Woolnough. my 60s and growing Even if I wanted to go on the hike up in the ‘60s) shouldn’t be expected to this summer, I had no gear. There was no be familiar with a teen heartthrob’s playway I was going to have another advenlist. I was blown away there were almost ture like that one: never! I felt smug and three billion results on Google — most of satisfied that I had made a good decision them related to Bieber. and, at the same time, ensured I could not Being an old English teacher — I’m go back on my decision. not sure if that means I was an English New Year’s came and went, and time teacher who is now old, or if it means I continued to pass. When I traveled to Mitaught about old English or both — I was ami, Washington D.C., and New York for thinking more along the lines of Charles the Parkinson’s Foundation last fall and Dickens in “The Pickwick Papers” where this spring, I told everyone I knew about it first appeared in 1837. my adventure and about my decision to The reason I googled that phrase was never do a similar hike. in hopes of finding something inspiraI suspect by now, everyone has figured tional to use in this column. Developing out I signed up to do it again. What a theme each month for Shake, Rattle and changed my mind? What has convinced Roll can be easy — or not. As deadline me to never say never? Friends from last time comes closer and closer, I start to summer continued to bug me about going scramble. For some reason this phrase again. Knowing that some people have (never say never) came to me as the title; time restraints, the organizers decided to that was the easy part. Now I must write have both a 32-mile hike and a 58-mile a few hundred words about never. For hike; people can choose to do one or the any students out there, if you have trouble other or both. Research is my passion and putting an essay together I have some PasstoPass raises funds for research raises disturbing news: It never gets easier, but awareness about PD. My hiking friends you’re in good company. said they would loan me any gear I might Many readers are familiar with my need if I participated. The only item I PasstoPass.org story from last summer. had to purchase was a new backpack — It was a 58-mile hike on the Pacific thanks, REI. One of our new neighbors Crest Trail to raise funds for Parkinson’s is an avid hiker and agreed to do some research. Aside from spending a small training hikes with me. Experience is fortune on new gear (I hadn’t backpacked what you get … right after you need it. I in almost 50 years), I simply wasn’t now have the experience, and if I knew prepared mentally or physically. Throw then what I know now, I might never in blisters, cramps, multiple hornet stings, have said never. mild dehydration and so forth, much of it Putting all of that aside, the biggest was a miserable experience. Ultimately, reason to do it again is Brandon (the I was glad I finished and made some ingrandson with all the cool new gear)
A.C. Woolnough enjoys a cool Rainier beer on last year’s 58-mile Pass to Pass hike on the Pacific Crest Trail to raise money for Parkinson’s research. Courtesy photo. expressed an interest in being a support hiker and doing the trip with me. Brandon has done some hiking on the PCT in California and is enlisting in the U.S. Navy this fall—following in the footsteps of a great-grandpa he never knew. How cool is it we can complete this adventure together? I remember hearing someone (probably my own old English teacher) say you should make your words soft and tender — you may have to eat them. I’ve been munching on the word never for a while. In closing, I’ll use another famous quote (from Winston Churchill) that uses never in a completely different context that is appropriate for the Parkinson’s community: “Never, never, never give up.” After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, A.C. is calling on his 37 years in K-12 education to became a “Parkinon’s Warrior”educating the public, advocating for a cure and participating in research. July 26, 2018 /
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MUSIC
An interview with
By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
F
or nearly two decades, the members of Greensky Bluegrass have created their own version of bluegrass music, mixing the acoustic stomp of a stringband with the rule-breaking spirit of rock and roll. As headlining artists of the Festival at Sandpoint, the band members shared their thoughts on their recent projects and their busy touring schedule. Sandpoint Reader: As you can imagine, bluegrass has a very strong fanbase here in the Inland Northwest. For bluegrass fans perhaps unfamiliar with your music, how would you describe your unique take on the genre? Anders Beck, dobro: Theoretically speaking, “Greensky” is the opposite of “Bluegrass.” The fact that both words are in our name sums up the idea of the band pretty well. We play bluegrass instruments, yet we try to infuse the music we play and write with something more. We all have lots of influences outside of bluegrass ... from rock and roll to jam bands to jazz to reggae to hip hop to classical to southwestern Norwegian death metal.
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... In addition to bluegrass, these other things are what made us who we are and helped create the kind of music we make. SR: Tell us a little about the band. How did you all get together and start playing? Paul Hoffman, mandolin/vocals: We grew from a pretty informal open-mic play-around-town kind of thing. Things got more serious. We traversed the country a bunch of times. A bunch. In vehicles that grew. Bigger every few years. Now we no longer drive ourselves. And we have a bunch of friends along for the ride to set up lights and make us sound nice. That helps. A lot. Thanks guys! We did it for one main reason — the most important — because we enjoy it. SR: How do you collaborate in writing music? Mike Devol, bass/vocals: While recording our albums, we have to make choices — choices that will be heard over and over when people listen to our album. Permanence. We have to take the energy and freedom we create live
and harness that into how we want a piece to be perceived in its most “official” rendition. So it makes us really observe how we create texturally and musically in the bigger picture. We take these reflections and choices and apply them to our approach onstage. While we remain open and adventurous in our live setting, we’re definitely learning what works best for us, how to communicate that clearly and consistently, and thus how to make the greatest impact in any given importance. Every musical experience we have together, awesomely satisfying OR difficult and disappointing (we’re human), makes us each understand our partners better. Always a lesson to be learned. SR: The more bluegrass musicians I talk to, the more I find some of their biggest inspirations aren’t bluegrass musicians at all. Is this true for you? And who are the biggest inspirations for the band, either in bluegrass or outside it? Anders Beck, dobro: On a day to day basis, I think that we mostly inspire each other musically. We’re on the road
playing shows almost 200 days out of the year, so to say that we are immersed in the music we play with each other would almost be an understatement. Beyond that, I think we all draw inspiration from the idea of getting our original music out there to fans. We are lucky enough to really believe in what we are doing and creating and want people to hear these songs. It’s an interesting thing to say that we draw inspiration from that, but it really is true! When fans get excited about our music and our songs, it is a truly powerful thing that keeps us creative! I don’t have a magic crystal ball nor am I a foremost authority on the subject, but I believe bluegrass music will, like many other genres, fluctuate in its popularity. It’s really interesting for me to watch the way the genre as a whole is evolving as younger musicians become the next round of trendsetters in bluegrass. The traditional side of the music will always be there, but it seems to me that the real musical growth is occurring with the bands that are breaking out of the bluegrass cage
and taking over the zoo. SR: It appears that you maintain quite the rigorous touring schedule. Does the band enjoy life on the road, or does that get a bit exhausting after a while? Mike Devol, bass/vocals: I’m just continually grateful that we get to continue to do what we do. Somehow Greensky has become something so much greater than the band itself, and I’m awed each time I see it. I continue to look up to all the guys in this scene that I’ve always looked up to, and it’s rewarding to know also that we’re inspiring and influencing the guys who are going to take this thing even further. Who knows what the year will bring in terms of life and music-making experience, and I think that’s what
< see GREENSKY page 22 >
MUSIC
An interview with
Todd Park Mohr With
This week’s RLW by Cameron Rasmusson
READ
If you’re looking for a hard sci-fi series that still manages to tell a great story through all the heady scientific concepts, look no further than “The Three-Body Problem” trilogy by Chinese author Liu Cixin. The less you know going into this series, the better, but suffice it to say it has a knack for setting up compelling mysteries and then delivering revelations that fully satisfy your curiosity.
LISTEN
Big Head Todd and the Monsters at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Photo by Dave Vann. By Ben Olson Reader Staff
O
ver 30 years ago, a trio of high school friends in Colorado started messing around and playing music for fun. When Todd Park Mohr, Brian Nevin and Rob Squires — collectively known as Big Head Todd and the Monsters — started playing local clubs in Denver, Fort Collins and Boulder, a live following soon developed around the band. With a unique style merging rock and blues influences with a ‘90s alternative rock and jam band sound, Big Head Todd and the Monsters began seeing some success on the charts. Their 1993 album “Sister Sweetly” went platinum and gave the world one of the most beautiful songs to come out of the ‘90s, “Bittersweet.” More hit singles followed, and the band began their epic three-decade musical exploration of the world, touring relentlessly and sharing their musical gift with their dedicated fans. Todd Park Mohr took some time last week to have a chat with the Reader about their upcoming show kicking off the Festival at Sandpoint on Aug. 2.
READER: Hi Todd. Thanks so much for taking the time to chat. I read somewhere that you and Rob and Brian all went to high school together in Boulder. Can you tell me about the early days, were you friends before you started the band? TODD PARK MOHR: Uh, we actually, we went to high school in Littleton, later went to college in Boulder. But yeah, we met in high school. I met Brian through the jazz band. I played sax and he was the drummer. And he knew Rob, and we started playing around then, just like for high school fun. Just kind of developed from there. SR: Did you have ambitions to be anything else, or did you always want to get into a career in music? TPM: No, I had ambitions to teach, probably English, which is the only job I thought I could do. (laughs). I ended up getting sidetracked with music. SR: Well, you’re still kind of honoring that ambition. Songwriting is a very creative art. So you guys have been making music almost 30 years now, right?
TPM: Yeah, over that. I think it’s 32 now. SR: Is there one aspect of the industry that you’ve seen change the most over time? TPM: Well, obviously the delivery method has changed several times over. We started almost before CDs. So, now we’re definitely in a post-CD period. Obviously, along with that the major labels, their style about business kind of went away, for all practical purposes. So that’s been a huge difference also. SR: Does that give you more control over your music, you think? TPM: It doesn’t have so much to do with that, I think it as a business overall, there’s no middle, is what I like to say, anymore. Labels used to foster careers. Over many albums, and you don’t have that infrastructure anymore. So there’s a lot of smaller groups and not very many megagroups. And not very many in between. SR: Yeah, good point. You know, it’s kind of cool how you got to form your musical landscape in the ‘90s. I grew
up in the ‘90s, and your music was definitely a part of my own experiences, especially the “Sister Sweetly” and “Beautiful World” albums. Do you have a favorite era from your past work? TPM: (laughs). You know, I like “Riviera” a lot, that’s probably one of my favorite albums from our band. But I like “Sister Sweetly” and those early albums also. SR: You latest album, “New World Arisin’,” seemed to come back to the “Sister Sweetly” style, especially after your “Black Beehive” album which had a bluesier feel to it. Do you try to evolve within your sound, or are you experimenting to find new sounds? TPM: Yeah, both. We’re always trying to evolve and get better, but we’re also trying to find new territory to jump into. It’s not any fun to play the same thing. SR: Are you guys still touring full time? TPM: We do 100 shows a year. SR: Any fun ways to blow off steam when you’re off the road? TPM: (laughs) I have a
< see TODD page 22 >
I’m not sure there’s a vocalist I love more than Neko Case. Her voice is deep and expressive while somehow retaining a delicate beauty, and its virtues are immediately evident in her new album “Hell-On.” It doesn’t hurt that she’s also a member of my favorite pop band ever, The New Pornographers, or that she’s a complete badass. There’s a great YouTube video of her telling an audience, “I will go to jail — I don’t give a shit. … I will fight every single f***ing person in this room,” after someone disrespects her bandmate, Carl Newman.
WATCH
Director Yorgos Lanthimos is quickly establishing himself as one of the most distinctive directors working today with a style all his own. His dark, satirical comedy-drama “The Lobster” took me completely by surprise and became one of my favorite movies of 2015. A couple weeks ago, I saw his latest, the horror-thriller “The Killing of a Sacred Deer,” and the performance he draws out of young actor Barry Keoghan is one of the most strange and unsettling I’ve seen. July 26, 2018 /
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< TODD, con’t from page 21 > 19-month-old daughter and a 7-year-old stepson, so we have a lot of activity when we’re off the road. The other guys, they love to travel. READER: Are you based in Colorado? TPM: Yeah, Littleton.
From Sandpoint News Bulletin, Jan. 3, 1963
FOUR-CENT STAMP JOINS TWO AND THREE CENTERS IN LIMBO AS MAIL RATES RISE There are still a good many old-timers who can remember when the bright pink two-cent stamp was a respected item fully capable of carrying a first class letter from here to yonder. On Jan. 1 the familiar four-center joined its two-cent cousin in the realm of thingsthat-used-to-be. It now takes five cents to mail a first class letter. The four-cent stamp isn’t entirely passe, however, as it now costs four cents to mail a postcard and two four-centers will pay the new eightcent airmail rate. The only important change in the third class rates will be on parcels of less than 16 ounces where the rate goes up from 1.5 cents to two cents per ounce. PERMITS INCREASE Increase is also due for those using bulk mailing permits with the central $10 permit to now cost $20 to $30. Another percentage raise is coming annually for the next two years. Educational material goes up one-half cent to 9.5 cents for the first pound and at 5 cents for each pound thereafter. The wholesale rate applying to purchase of 50 or more stamped envelopes won’t be applicable after Jan. 1 until purchasers reach the 500 quantity. 22 /
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SR: I went to college in Fort Collins and was really taken in by the musical atmosphere of Colorado. I feel like it produces a lot of good work. Do you think you took something out of the place you grew up? TPM: Yeah, we didn’t grow up in a music scene. I think that was beneficial to us. I think we were kind of able to pick and choose and be ourselves, and I really love that about Colorado. Actually, right now, it’s an incredibly healthy music scene. There’s a lot of really small seedy bars that have live music. It’s really cool. SR: So we’re just a couple weeks away from your show at the Festival at Sandpoint, can you share a little of what to expect from your show. Old stuff? New stuff? TPM: Yeah, probably some of both. We love playing the songs that people want us
< GREENSKY, con’t from page 20 > keeps Greensky ticking in this often restless world of the touring musician: the people we meet, the scenes out the window of the bus, the crowds we play for, the spontaneous onstage pop-song teases. We have a lot of fun, and that’s what’s keeping us sane, and that’s what keeps us going from year to year. Come out and share in the revelry! SR: Tell us what the band is working on these days. Do you have any new songs or albums in the works? Mike Devol, bass/vocals: We’ve got some buns in the oven. Is that what that phrase means? SR: Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions. In closing,
to play, our hits and stuff, alongside of our new album. We’ve got a lot of music to choose from, and we always take requests, so our set can cover a lot of ground. SR: What’s next for the band? Any plans for a new album? TPM: We’re continuing to write and produce music. I think we’re looking for a different way to release it, maybe podcast or a channel concept. So look for something like that in November, we’re working on it now. SR: Cool. Well thanks so much for talking with us, Todd. On a personal note, I’ve really enjoyed your work, “Resignation Superman,” “Bittersweet,” those are two songs that take me back. I appreciate what you’ve done. TPM: Thanks, I’m glad. Thanks for your interest. We can’t wait to be there. Check out Big Head Todd & the Monsters online at any streaming site, and keep up with their tourdates on www.BigHeadTodd.com. To purchase tickets to their show Thursday, Aug. 2, call the Festival at Sandpoint office at (208) 265-4554 or at www.FestivalAtSandpoint.com. is there anything else you want to say to fans before you play here in Sandpoint? Anders Beck, dobro: Yes, we are just so phenomenally lucky to have fans that want to see us over and over again! Sometimes three nights in a row, sometimes more... it’s amazing. They believe in what we do and that improvisational moments matter. So much of what we do is based entirely on improvisation and the fact that our fans are with us, collectively peering over the edge of the cliff with us, it means the world to me and enables us to truly do what we do.
Crossword Solution
Greensky Bluegrass plays the Festival at Sandpoint Thursday, Aug. 9. To purchase tickets to their show, call the Festival at Sandpoint office at (208) 265-4554 or online at www.FestivalAtSandpoint.com.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I don’t pretend to even know what the questions are. Hey, where am I? Courtesy photo.
Copyright www.mirroreyes.com
CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Monster 5. French for “Storehouse” 10. Stem 14. Astringent 15. A giant with 100 eyes (Greek mythology) 16. Dwarf buffalo 17. Flip 19. Dirty air 20. Nigerian tribesman 21. Conceals 22. A yellowish brown color 23. Slavish 25. Exotic 27. One or more 28. Stouthearted 31. A stringed instrument 34. Pretend 35. A state of SW India 36. Curved molding 37. Aches 38. Sleeveless garment 39. By means of /FLUHB-duhb/ 40. Twisted 41. Factions [noun] 42. Belgian endive 1. pretentious nonsense or show; airs. of the 44. Tin “Oh, there’s Herbert, shlepping his flubdub to the dinner table again.” 45. Holdup 46. A musician who performs alone Corrections: Last week, we referred to Greensky Bluegrass as “Bluesky Blue50. Begin grass.” Apologies. Also, I dropped an “n” from the word “thunderstorm” in 52. Inclines my smelly article. What in the heck is a “thuderstorm?” Got me. -BO 54. Consumer Price Index 55. Greek letter
Word Week
flubdub
Solution on page 22 56. A line of reasoning 58. Weight loss plan 59. Habitual practice 60. Nameless 61. If not 62. An analytic literary composition 63. Not pretty
8. Throbbing 9. Eastern Standard Time 10. A type of nut 11. Not controlled or regulated 12. Search 13. Wise men 18. Rhinoceros 22. Pottery oven DOWN 24. Sheltered spot 1. Fertile area in a desert 26. Falls behind 28. A river through 2. Sphere Paris 3. Gossip 29. Thorny flower 4. An uncle 30. Makes lace 5. Without difficulty 31. Sheltered nook 6. Exchange 32. Auspices 7. Chills and fever
33. Leaching products 34. Impeccable 37. Not amateurs 38. Italian for “Wine” 40. Court order 41. Chip dip 43. Ventilate 44. Impart 46. Type of antelope 47. Cake frosting 48. Thread holder 49. Of very poor quality 50. On the left or right 51. Hard work 53. Historical periods 56. Fitting 57. Letter after sigma July 26, 2018 /
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