Reader july28 2016

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(wo)MAN

Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by

What is your favorite summertime activity in Sandpoint?

“Fishing at Jewel Lake or Dover Bay.” Ashley Hoch Retail/Goodwill Sandpoint

“My favorite summertime activity is swimming at City Beach. I have gone six times already. The water is not that cold to me.”

Renee Cunningham Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

One of our readers recently contacted our office in regardsto an unsettling scene at Dog Beach.

The picture to the right is how much garbage was collected at Dog Beach by Jon Nylund last week. As you can see, the pile is enormous. There should never be this much trash at any beach in Sandpoint.

I can’t stand when people litter. I’ll never understand why people think it’s OK to leave their trash behind. It’s one of the most selfish things to do. Not only are you ruining the pristine nature of our area by leaving your garbage behind, but you’re imposing upon others to clean up your mess. Either way, littering is a sign of a low, selfish, disgusting person who has no ability to clean up after themselves.

Here are some ways to help stop litter in our community: 1. Pick up one piece of litter every day. There are over 7,500 people who live in Sandpoint. If we all picked up a piece of litter a day, it would make a difference.

2. If you see someone litter, report it. Sometimes the only way to make someone learn is to hit them where it hurts; their pocketbook. First convictions for littering in public places carries a fine for $150.

3. Make sure your load is covered when transporting trash in a truck. We don’t often think about this, but it’s important.

4. Set an example; don’t litter. We live in paradise, let’s not forget that.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“Going to the various parks in Sandpoint with our two little girls.”

Nolan Harrold Unit coordinator/BGH Sagle

LIVE MUSIC

“I love gardening and flowers. It feels like we are living in a national park here in the summertime. I enjoy every minute.”

Sheila Peine RN Sagle

turday Friday & Sa Beer Hall N ight @ t he

BEN OLSON 7-9pm OTHER WHITE MEAT 7-10pm

BRIGHT MOMENTS w/ Maya Goldblum 7-10pm

“Swimming in the lake at Talache.”

Ashley Lynch 5th at Farmin-Stidwell Sandpoint

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

255-4351

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Contributing Artists: Mark Kubiak (cover), Nancy Foster Renk, Susan Drinkard, Jodi Rawson, Ben Olson, Alan Barber.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Scarlette Quille, Nick Gier, Nancy Foster Renk, Happy Hans, Jodi Rawson, Tim Henney, Brenden Bobby, Patricia White, Suzen Fiskin, Drake the Dog. Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

Subscription Price: $95 per year Advertising: Jodi Taylor jodi@sandpointreader.com Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

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

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

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

Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

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

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

About the Cover This week’s cover was drawn by Dover artist and sculptor Mark Kubiak, who had this to say about his creation: “The work was done with a drawing app on my iPad. The inspiration are the guys who waterski at 7 a.m. almost every morning out in front of our house. You can set your clock by them.” Thanks Mark!

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LETTERS In Response to Gier... In Defense of Gier...

A Profound Thanks...

Dear Editor, Just read through the Reader’s July 21 issue.

I noticed that Mr. Gier had mentioned my name in reference to the July 14 issue where I responded to his article he wrote in defense for Muslims. In this weeks’s issue, Mr. Gier stated his thanks to me for praising him on his rhetorical skills. I honestly do not understand what he is referring to or implying.

What I remember is Mr. Gier’s obvious use of verbal abuse at the same time he was condemning Mr. Trump for his. But for some reason Mr. Gier has turned that into praise.

There is no way for me to make sense of this.

In this recent July 21 issue, Mr. Gier does it again! In one paragraph, he accuses and condemns Mr Trump for calling someone a “pig,” and a “rapist” yet in the next paragraph he accuses and condemns Mr. Trump for being “clueless” and “ignorant!” I find this irrational, as it clearly shows it is OK for him to condemn Mr. Trump, but it is not OK for Mr. Trump to condemn others! This level of mentality clearly shows that a strong need to be right can block the conscious mind from examining itself!

While both Mr. Trump and Mr. Gier are guilty of verbal abuse, I do not support Mr. Gier’s need to defend Muslims and Christians—but I do appreciate Mr. Trump’s need to expose the globalists’ agenda and for showing a strong desire to exterminate the corruption that has consumed the criminal Democratic regime.

Dear Editor, I lost my wallet the other day.

It bummed me out.

I spent the next couple days retracing my steps, canceling credit cards, arranging to get a new driver’s license, bemoaning the loss of the cash, etc, etc.

My dark mood deepened during those days as I listened to excerpts of speeches from the Republican convention. The apocalyptic and hateful rhetoric, and the fascist agenda being lauded, furthered my descent into bummed-outness until it seemed there was no hope for the human race.

Yesterday, however, my faith in humankind and the goodness of man was restored. Someone found my wallet, Googled my name, found out where I worked and dropped my wallet off there. Credit cards, driver’s license and cash intact.

I don’t even know the name of the individual who found my wallet, as I wasn’t there when he dropped it off. However, if I ever do he’s going to get my profound personal thanks for not only returning my wallet, but also for renewing my faith in the people of the world.

Vickey Babayco Sandpoint 4 /

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Dear Editor, To Nick Gier: I read your response to Vickey Babayco’s letter, [July 21 issue] and all I can say is right on, brother. Excellent response. I’m thrilled that you met her silly letter head on. When I read her letter, I spent about ten minutes shaking my head in disgust and—well, I’d like to say “disbelief”, but, sadly, her attitude is all too believable.

Thank you, Nick, for your letter. And, thank you, Ben—yet again—for substantially upping the quality of your paper over the last 6 or so months.

(Sorry, my memory doesn’t take me back too much farther than that!).

Linda Robey Sandpoint

Crony Capitalism...

Dear Editor, The city and governor’s endorsement of Kochava is just another example of crony capitalism. It is not government’s role to endorse some businesses while ignoring others.

Why doesn’t every opening Idaho business have its mayor and governor cutting its ribbon. Either the government cuts every ribbon for every business or it cuts none. Personally I don’t think Kochava’s outfit here in Sandpoint is a positive one. From what I understand Kochava violates computer consumer’s privacy rights by selling their personal Internet records to marketing firms who in turn use that data to send consumers personalized spam. Big Brother-like if you ask me.

I think the whole town should picket the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday.

Jack Green Sandpoint

Kevin Nye Sandpoint

Why Did the Turtle Cross the Road?

Dear Editor, I do not have an answer for that, but every year I see turtles that have been hit by cars (five since this spring).

I personally have assisted several turtles in their highway crossing.

Animals in Stores...

The area where I notice them crossing is near the Idaho Club golf course and the Pack River Bridge on Hwy. 200 heading to Hope, Idaho.

I spoke to Susan Kiebert who used to be with the Idaho Transportation Department in the spring of 2015. I was hoping she could help me in the process for obtaining a sign that might make drivers aware that those rounded dark objects on the highway are turtles! She said she experienced the same sight of dead turtles on a Clark Fork River bridge crossing as well. She thought the idea of having a warning sign for drivers had merit.

She guided me to Ryan Hawkins and Stephanie Hale of the ITD. They were receptive to the idea and included Idaho Fish and Game in the process by having them research the need for such a sign.

After their research they agreed to work out a hinged sign that can be opened when it is turtle crossing season (spring, summer and fall) and closed during the winter.

I am happy to report that yesterday, July 20, the sign is up!

Thank you to all of the people that were involved with this project. It is my hope that with awareness of their presence people will be on the lookout and slow down for them.

Cynthia Mason Sandpoint

Dear Editor, I am concerned with both the number of restaurants and supermarkets allowing animals into their establishments, as well as the number of pet owners who think they can take their dog into said places. Along with your column The Straight Poop, people think that they can bring their pets anywhere.

This is not the case when it comes to establishments serving readyto-eat foods. Idaho Food Code states that live animals “...may not be allowed on the premises of a food establishment.” In an exception to this code, “SERVICE ANIMALS are allowed in areas not used for food preparation and that are usually open for customers such as dining and sales areas, that are CONTROLLED by the disabled employee or person, if a health or safety hazard will not result from the presence or activities of the service animal.”

This means that your pet is not allowed in a restaurant or supermarket unless it is a certified service animal. Service animals do not need cuddling, do not bother other patrons, do not beg, and certainly do not eat from the table.

My thoughts on The Straight Poop: There are hundreds of acres of prime dog walking areas just minutes from your favorite local eatery, so take FiFi over there before you go out to eat.

Tim French Sandpoint

Send your letters to letters@sandpointreader. com. They should be under 400 words and should not contain profanity or libelous statements.

PERSPECTIVES Making a vodka smoothie out of Lemons I had a mind altering experience recently.

I was getting some air out on the balcony at the Hive, looking at the bird’s-eye view of downtown Sandpoint while blissful rhythmic sound of reggae filled the air. The Wailers were 45 minutes into a kick ass show, and any description of how good they were/are, would not suffice.

Going to see a band that plays iconic music in your hometown provides a plethora of people-watching opportunities. With just a cursory glance I saw at least one of my grade school teachers, several of my own kid’s teachers, and variety of other familiar faces gyrating in the skunk-scented breeze. If you love music and the positive, palpable energy at a live show go see a Wailers concert—it will not disappoint.

Really good live reggae music creates energy that changes peoples’ state of mind.

I’m certain that more than a few people in the crowd had dipped into their secret stash of marijuana that they had been patiently saving for such a night, but to say that substances were the reason everyone seemed high is giving drugs too much credit.

The energy, the clarity of the lyrics or maybe a combination thereof can affect people in different ways. Familiar songs bring up memories and emotions for people, so you never really know what to expect.

Case in point; on the balcony that night, I had a single male friend approach me somewhat randomly to tell me that he has given up on women. At first I attributed this to the possibility of taking lyrics like “No woman, no cry,” a bit too seriously.

However, he continued to spill his guts, and somewhere in the verbal breakdown of his list of failed attempts at love, he paused to ask me if I have given up on marriage.

Well, that’s a loaded question. Why doesn’t anyone ever ask me this while I am sober or over the phone? Why do people who know for a fact that I have negative opinions about marriage always ask me this? I’m not secretly thinking that one day, I might get married. I haven’t been lying, or secretly pining for yet another husband. I’m done with it.

Despite the propaganda that we have been systematically fed since childhood, you can be a perfectly happy, fulfilled adult

without ever walking down an aisle. As a society, we would have greater happiness and stronger relationships if we viewed our dating practices like playing scratch lotto tickets. Example: I will go on this date, I have a chance on being rich in love for the rest of my life, but more than likely it will be a $1 winner or in this case “one night.”

Scratch away: You can’t win if you don’t play. Think about it.

Back to the Wailers concert and my single buddy. I don’t like to spew all that out at people having a good time. I was enjoying a Wailers-, dancing- and vodka-induced trance. Marriage talk is a slippery slope to the buzz kill zone. However, he is my friend and deserves some sort of empathy, because for him the music must have taken him on a different journey. Instead of an anti-marriage diatribe, I gave him a canned answer that I use on the marriage pushers in my life.

“You know I’m not good at marriage.

That is not a trip I’m willing to take ever again.”

This answer did nothing to deter him from releasing the burden he was carrying. He needed to tell the tale of the crazy women he had dated and curse the heavens because the crazy ones are the only ones he is attracted too. Why? Crazy is only type there is, I answered.

It might sound derogatory, but at that very moment I watched a gray-haired set of ladies pass a hand-rolled “cigarette” back and forth. The wise bearded man standing next to me broke his previously silent take on the situation and took a moment to share some knowledge with us. The silent bearded one said to our friend, “You just gotta find someone who is the same kind of crazy as you, that’s it.”

Simplistic? Yes. True? Yes. Did it help?

Yes. Our single man had an the answer he needed, and he was off to join the sea of crazy on the dance floor. Accepting that all people are crazy in one way or another opens many new dating doors. To swear off crazy would be essentially like taking a vow of celibacy.

Emancipate yourself, Scarlette Quille

Lack of Public Input Concerning...

Dear Editor, Our county commissioners are proposing a significant change in the regulations for subdividing land in Bonner County from “Ag 20 to Ag 5.” This may sound good in theory, allowing people with larger tracks of land to sell some of it and make a little extra money, but what’s the big hurry?

I would venture to guess that because Mr. Sudick lost in the primary he’s pushing through his agenda of less government regulations before he leaves office.

What will Bonner County look like cut into parcels 5 acres or less—more people, roads, traffic, accidents, noise, pollution, construction, wells, septic systems and emergency services? All of this “more” will result in less farmland, trees, wildlife, ground water and serenity.

The P& Z has been left out of the process and there will be only one public hearing in the middle of the day in Sandpoint on Thursday, Aug. 4, at 1:00 pm.

This will exclude many people from their right to due process because they can’t get off work.

If the commissioners really wanted to hear from the public, they would have multiple meetings in different locations during daytime and evening hours in order to accommodate the most people; instead they are minimizing public input. This style of government reflects authoritarianism rather than democracy.

Gail Bolin Sagle

Political Leanings...

Dear Editor, I [feel] the need to get something off my chest and give my opinion as to your informative neighborhood paper.

I moved to this beautiful area of Idaho a little over a year ago and feel lucky to live in the Sandpoint area but am so surprised of just how left this paper leans week after week. In fact, I got a good laugh at Jim Ramsey’s article of how this state has turned so conservative right. Really?

I hear so many of your contributors write from a position of guilt and/or emotion instead of a position of common sense, and I think it’s a reflection of what’s also happened in this wonderful country. Now, that’s just my opinion.

I think it’s sad that so many people have become so “politically correct” that if I don’t like President Obama’s policies, or if I think that the “Black Lives Matter”movement is divisive, I’m a racist. If I don’t agree with a person with male genitalia going into a bathroom with my daughter, I’m a homophobe. If I don’t want to see “illegal” immigration or unvetted refugees coming to this country, I’m anti-immigration, and the list goes on.

I ‘m a former Marine, former police officer and former sub-contractor for the U.S.M.S. I’m not a Democrat or a Republican. I’m a conservative, and if a gay, black, female Democrat was running for President, and I thought she was the right choice for this country, I’d vote for her, not on emotion or because I’m feeling guilty, but on common sense because I do love this country.

Cliff Kattner Sandpoint Cliff, Thank you for writing. Let me set something straight: the Reader is a newspaper written by and for the community in which it is located. I don’t tell our readers what to write when contrib uting an opinion or commentary piece.

I never solicit a certain opinion from our readers. If you think the paper leans one direction or another, by all means, write your own article and submit it.

Your argument about the Reader leaning left holds as much water as someone who complains about politics but doesn’t vote. If you’d like to see something different, take action and send me some thing from your point of view. Otherwise, welcome to Sandpoint. I’m sure you’ll find that this is a diverse community with many, many viewpoints.

-Ben Olson, Publisher July 28, 2016 /

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OPINION

Fact checking Trump’s convention speech: There he goes again!

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist

“At this convention there will be no lies.”

“Facts are stupid things.”

—Ronald Reagan mangling John Adams’ “Facts are stubborn things”

Trump’s acceptance speech at the GOP convention was filled with lies and misrepresentations. Yes, it is true that “43 million Americans are on food stamps,” but the number rose because of the Great Recession not because of Obama.

Obama’s economic recovery has brought the number down since 2014, and 13 out of the top 20 states receiving food stamps are red states.

Trump’s repeated claim that “58 percent of African American youth are not employed” is false. The actual figure of 31 percent last month, which is down from a high of 49 percent in 2009. The general unemployment rate reached a peak of 10 percent in October 2009 and was only 4.9 percent last month.

Trump misrepresents when he states that “America has lost nearly one-third of its manufacturing jobs since 1997, following the enactment of disastrous trade deals supported by Bill and Hillary Clinton.” Trump

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forgot to mention the enthusiastic support from Republicans on these negotiations.

Trump also neglected to acknowledge that since 2010 almost one million new manufacturing jobs have been added under Obama. Furthermore, as the Chicago Tribune explains: “It is simplistic to pin blame for the decline in manufacturing jobs on trade agreements.

Increased efficiency and technological advancement have also played a major role.”

Trump’s claim that Obama has cut back on crime prevention is false. The 2009 stimulus contained billions of dollars in grants to cities and states. Nation-wide homicides have been steadily declining: from 5.6 per 100,000 in 2001 to 4.5 in 2014.

Even in the 50 cities where rates have risen, they are still half the number of 1991 at the end of the Reagan-Bush era.

Trump’s figure on the number of police killings—up “by almost 50 percent compared to this point last year”—is false

—Donald Trump speaking at the GOP Convention

“Lying is second nature to Trump.”

—Tony Schwartz, ghostwriter (not co-author) of “The Art of the Deal”

and fear-mongering. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the increase is to 67 deaths from 62 during the same period in 2015. The Associated Press states that “overall, police are statistically safer on America’s streets now than at any time in recent decades. For example, the 109 law enforcement fatalities in 2013 were the lowest since 1956.”

Trump distorts the facts when he says “two million more Latinos are in poverty today than when President Obama took his oath of office less than eight years ago.” The Associated Press responds: “The Hispanic population has risen since Obama while the poverty rate has fallen. The Pew Research Center found that 23.5 percent of the country’s 55.3 million Latinos live in poverty, compared with 24.7 percent in 2010.”

Fear-mongering and false is Trump’s claim that “Iran is on the path to [nuclear] weapons.”

In fact, quite the opposite is the case. Their nuclear program is shut down and will be under regular inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Scientists at Iranwatch.org report that “Iran has begun implementing centrifuge restrictions, dismantling 4,112 IR-1 centrifuges and 160 IR2m centrifuges from Natanz and 258 IR-1 centrifuges from Fordow as of November 15, 2015.” Iran cannot enrich uranium and then make a bomb without these very complex instruments.

Those who are intellectually honest will not repeat an error once it has been corrected, but Trump does not care about such moral scruples. Once again the claim that “America is one of the highest-taxed nations in the world” is false.

In terms of tax burden we stand at the fourth lowest among 34 developed countries. Our corporate tax rate is high, but thanks to high-paid tax attorneys many firms pay little or no

taxes. According to David Cay Johnston, there is very good evidence that Trump has not paid taxes for decades.

In conclusion it’s time to update Politifact’s Truth-OMeter where Trump is racking up a record number of Pantson-Fire. He is now at 36, far surpassing Mitt Romney’s 19 during the 2012 election (Obama had 9). Clinton has added just one Pants-on-Fire for a total of 4.

Clinton’s percentage of true, mostly true and half-true statements is slowly rising and stands now at 72 percent.

Trump’s percentage in these categories is a mere 29 percent.

Tony Schwartz, ghostwriter of “The Art of the Deal,” puts in bluntly: “Lying is second nature to Trump.”

Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read all of his columns on the 2016 election at www.NickGier.com/ Election2016.pdf.

NEWS Kochava ceremony brings in a crowd City rolls out parking reform

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff There’s no clearer sign of a booming business than the need for a bigger workplace.

Kochava employees and administrators demonstrated that fact Monday by attracting Idaho politicians and international business leaders to Sandpoint for a ribbon-cutting at its new headquarters. Gov. C.L. ”Butch” Otter joined Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint and Mayor Shelby Rognstad to celebrate the occasion. Representatives of Amazon, AOL, Disney, Google, Hilton, Priceline, and Turner Broadcast, all companies that use Kochava for analytics services on their mobile advertising, also turned out for the occasion.

“The new Kochava headquarters represents Kochava’s commitment to the revitalization of downtown Sandpoint,” Rognstad said at the ceremony.

According to Otter, he’s been watching the company’s growth with interest. He said it’s given him bragging rights when he meets with other governors at annual conferences, and it’s contributed to Sandpoint’s growing reputation across the country.

“When a company like Kochava decides to plant its roots here in Sandpoint, other companies will follow,” he said.

Kochava executives, including CEO Charles Manning, met with Otter and his staff for lunch prior to the ceremony.

The meal was an opportunity to discuss the business, as well as various initiatives the state is working to introduce.

“It was a real pleasure to host the governor,” Manning said. “It demonstrates the importance of our region in Idaho and the impact we’re making with our growth.”

The ceremony was also an opportunity to showcase Kochava’s future for some its

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Charles Manning, right, gives Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter a tour of the new Kochava facility in Sandpoint last Monday. Photo by Alan Barber.

biggest clients. Kochava rolled out the red carpet to introduce them to Sandpoint’s charms.

“The select clients that were in town during the event were thrilled to be part of the ribbon-cutting,” Manning said.

“They are the reason we exist, and we were excited to have them join us.”

The new headquarters will provide the growing company space to stretch its legs. Manning anticipates that Kochava will employ 100 people by the end of year, with an additional 20 positions not far behind.

There’s still much work to be done before Kochava completes its move from its existing location in the Columbia Bank building. Company executives plan to complete the move to the building’s second floor, which was given priority as phase one of the project, around the end of August. Phase two, encompassing the lower floor, will begin later this year.

“Having a personal space for the business will be a great upside to the new building,” Manning said. “While Columbia has been a great partner over the last year, we found that if we wanted to grow, our team was

going to be disjointed throughout the building. Our new office offers us the ability to be together with a designed environment that fits our culture.”

It was no easy task to turn the 201 Church St. building into a proper home for a growing tech company. Thanks to dozens of local contract workers, however, the new headquarters is nearly ready for service.

According to Jeremy Grimm, Kochava director of publisher development, Sayler/Owens/Kerr designed the renovation, Jerry Cox at Winterhawk Construction was the general contractor, Tork Electric handled electrical engineering and wiring, Wills Plumbing installed plumbing, Nick Rust at Clean Lines Tile did the tile, In and Out Painting threw a new coat on the exterior, Lou’s Welding provided metal fabrication, Selkirk Glass and Cabinets decked out the interior with glass and doors and James A. Sewell and Associates provided structural engineering. Later, Intermax will run a line of fiber to the building that should cover Kochava’s bandwidth-intensive needs.

Sandpoint PD receives award The Sandpoint Police Department is getting a little credit for going the extra mile.

The city announced this week that local police will receive the 2016 Tom McTevia Memorial Award. An honor given to organizations that demonstrate a commitment to helping people with disabilities, the award ceremony will take place 12 p.m., July 29, at City Beach. The ceremony is part of a picnic that will run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and include free food, prizes, live music, face painting, wheelchair basketball and more.

Local police earned the honor for their efforts in helping legally blind veteran Bill Yeager secure a seeing-eye dog. Yeager was approved to receive a guide dog earlier this year. However, because other loose dogs in the neighborhood had a tendency to rush the pair, the dog needed to be returned.

In response, local police launched an education campaign to make neighbors aware of the situation. They also conducted additional patrols in the area and initiated a proactive animal control campaign across the city. Thanks to their efforts, Yeager will receive a guide dog this fall. [CR]

Downtown parking is about to get a lot more flexible.

Starting Aug. 1, three parking lots—the ITD parking lot west of Fifth Avenue, the downtown city parking lot on Third Avenue between Church and Oak streets and the Sand Creek parking lot—will feature free 24-hour parking.

The changes are the first phase of a parking plan approved by the Sandpoint City Council on July 6 designed to free up parking space for shoppers while providing more options for downtown employees.

“I think this addresses a lot of the concerns we heard from the public,” Mayor Shelby Rognstad told council members at the July 6 meeting.

The city also launched a 60-day amnesty period on Wednesday for individuals with outstanding parking tickets.

Those who settle their accounts within the time period will receive a 50-percent reduction to their late fees. Otherwise, vehicle owners with six or more parking tickets older than 45 days risk having their car booted and impounded beginning in October.

In September, the parking reform roll-out continues with the addition of 15-minute loading zones and several threeand four-hour parking zones throughout the downtown core.

Those with parking permits will also be entitled to expanded 24-hour parking throughout the downtown.

Turn to page 11 to see a 2016 parking map, which highlights the various zones and changes to parking policies July 28, 2016 /

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Bouquets: •If you read my “Dear Readers” this week, I’ve again tackled the ongoing problem of litter in Sandpoint. While there is an inordinate amount of dipshits who keep dumping their trash on the lakeshore, roadways and pristine hiking trails and campspots, there are also a few individuals who work hard to keep our community litter free.

You’ll notice these benevolent few emerging at hiking trailheads with stinky bottles and cans clutched in their hands.

You’ll see them on the lakeshore picking up six pack rings and soiled plastic bags. You’ll see them carting your bags of dog poop away from the Bay Trail.

They never do it to solicate a thank you. They do it because if we didn’t have them, this place would be disgusting. So, if you are one of those beautiful few who pick up others’ litter, thank you. It really means a lot to this newspaper publisher and lover of nature. If you’re not one of those who pick up litter, it’s never too late to start. Start with one piece a day. For those of you who litter—there is a warm place in hell waiting for you.

Barbs: •These “Bernie or Bust” people are quite frustrating to deal with. I get it, Bernie Sanders was a great candidate for a lot of people. I liked a lot of his platforms and thought he would’ve made an interesting candidate.

But the fact of the matter is, Hillary Clinton has earned the party nomination. It is going to be a Clinton-versus-Trump race in November. Those angry Sanders supporters who boo and refuse to acknowledge Clinton as the chosen candidate are unable to see the forest for the trees in this case. Is it better to withhold a vote for Clinton out of protest for Sanders and allow Trump the presidency?

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A brief history of farmers’ markets in Sandpoint It goes back a lot longer than you’d think

By Nancy Foster Renk Reader Contributor

It was a warm spring morning, the first Saturday in May, and I heard the marimba music several blocks away.

The joyful sounds drew me to Farmin Park where I found the grass and surrounding streets filled with vendors selling early veggies, cut flowers and loads of bedding plants.

There were crowds of people there for the first day of the Farmers’ Market at Sandpoint, buying food, visiting with friends, and dancing to the music, all celebrating the start of our glorious North Idaho spring and summer.

The market is going strong now, growing steadily from its small start in 1988 when just a handful of vendors gathered to sell garden produce.

It was the brainchild of Lois Wythe, a master gardener who somehow knew that our area was ready for this type of venture. She printed flyers announcing a meeting and was surprised by the large crowd that showed up. Additional meetings followed to fine tune the plan, establish rules, and set the opening date for May 14, 1988, in Farmin Park. The location has remained the same but the market has expanded with booths filling the park and overflowing into and across Oak Street. It has become a vibrant part of the community, and I’m sure that Lois would be immensely pleased.

I’ve enjoyed the Farmers’ Market for 28 years now and always assumed it was a

modern idea, a way to connect small-scale farmers with people who wanted tomatoes so fresh that they still held the warmth of the summer sun. I was surprised, while researching a different topic, to find references to another farmers’ market, and I knew that someday I would have to find out more.

It turns out that the first Farmers’ Market took place just over 100 years ago, on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving in 1915. Members of the Sandpoint Commercial Club had suggested the market idea as a way to encourage agriculture in the surrounding region.

Sandpoint was a lumber town then, but huge tracts of land had been clearcut and were being sold as “stump ranches.” Farmers were gradually improving this land and

needed to find markets for their products. In turn, local merchants understood that any money earned by the farmers would be spent at stores in town so they supported the idea of this market.

The first farmers’ market opened in late 1915 in a vacant store on the first floor of the St. James Hotel.

The Pend d’Oreille Winery now fills the same space with a tasting room and gift shop.

Since it was late November, the Commercial Club got permission to use a vacant store on the corner of Cedar and Third. The weather did not bode well. A foot of wet snow fell overnight and gray clouds on market day delivered a steady drizzle of rain.

When the first customers came

around 10 a.m., there were no farmers in sight. Things picked up soon, however, when C.E. Davis arrived with cabbages, carrots and nearly 160 pounds of dressed pork from his farm near Ponderay. Customers eagerly bought most of his pork within the next few hours.

A second farmer failed to sell any of his live piglets, but the other two vendors did well with their celery and cabbage,

see MARKET, page 9

The first farmers’ market in Sandpoint opened in 1915 in a vacant store on the first floor of the St. James Hotel. The Pend d’Oreille winery now occupies that space. Photo by Nancy Foster Renk.

MARKET, con’t from page 8 sauerkraut, canned vegetables, crisp doughnuts, mincemeat, butter and dressed chickens and geese.

Despite the small showing, Mr. Davis was enthusiastic about the market, which he had been trying to establish for months. The local newspaper reported favorably that “this small beginning would seem to show that if the farmers will take hold of the idea the townspeople will get in and help by patronizing the market.”

The market location changed in December when Kerr & Nead Grocery offered to let the farmers use the vacant store adjacent to the grocery in the Krebs Building, on the corner of Pine and Second. Farmers continued to come once a week into December 1915, increasing to every day just before Christmas. Mr. Davis encouraged vendors to standardize their produce, making sure that everything was clean, sorted, graded and displayed attractively. He believed that the market experiment had been “a very successful beginning.”

The farmers’ market then apparently went dormant for nearly three years until the idea was revived, this time with both state and local backing.

Charles Waggoner came to Sandpoint in early September 1918 to encourage local farmers to participate in a new market. He had been organizing similar ventures around North Idaho as part of his work with the state bureau of farm markets. While here, Waggoner met with members of the Sandpoint City Council to get their backing for a new farmers’ market. City officials were quick to back the proposition and agreed to lease the vacant lot between Cedar and Main Streets, just east of the Spokane International tracks, where La Quinta Inn stands today.

Less than two week later, the Sandpoint farmers’ market opened on a Saturday morning with great success. Mrs. Emma Weaver had 25 varieties of fruits and vegetables for sale, garnering her first prize – a $3.50 pair of shoes from J.A. Foster & Co. Joe Sitko won the

second prize for his fourteen different kinds of fresh produce. The market, which was open every Wednesday and Saturday morning, continued to draw both buyers and sellers.

Farmers sold seventeen loads of produce one morning in October, despite the cold and rainy weather.

The market gained stability through active participation and encouragement from city officials, the Bonner County Farm Bureau and the state.

The city council passed special ordinances to regulate the market and began looking into securing a permanent location.

Edgar Ludwick, the county farm agent, pushed for regulations, not only to ensure a clean market area but also to limit the number of sellers so that the supply of perishable produce did not exceed the demand.

Cold weather drove the market indoors by January 1919.

Growers once again were back in a vacant store in the Krebs building on the corner of Second and Pine, next to the Economy Grocery. This was only a temporary solution, however, because others were working to build a row of booths on the vacant city lot where this market began. The 24×62 foot structure, located on Cedar Street just west of today’s Tam O’Shanter (better known as the Tervan), had eight stalls.

The two that were designated for selling meat had a concrete floor and were screened.

Farmers wanting to sell at the market paid rent on market days to offset the construction costs incurred by the city.

The public market stalls were located on Cedar where LaQuinta Inn stands today.

This new market place opened by early September 1919 with all of the sellers decked out in white aprons.

Prices were standardized, with maximum charges established by a committee from the Bonner County Farm Bureau. Other regulations stipulated that any food products that needed to be wrapped had to use clean wrapping paper, all part of an effort to maintain sanitation levels.

I do not know just how long this farmers’ market lasted. It continued at least into 1921 since the building

Top: Another location of the farmers’ market in Sandpoint was the Krebs Building, which once housed Kerr & Nead Grocery as well as the Economy Grocery.

Middle: The public market stalls were located on Cedar where LaQuinta Inn stands today.

Bottom: Detail of Sanborn Fire Map (August 1921, p. 13) showing Public Market on Cedar Street.

Photos by Nancy Foster Renk.

is clearly labeled “Public Market” on the 1921 Sanborn fire map. The building was still there in 1948 but used for plumbing and tire sales.

La Quinta Inn rises tall above the former market site, just a block away from Farmin Park which fills every Wednesday afternoon and

Saturday morning with garden produce, crafts, music and a friendly crowd of people from May to October. I’ll see you there soon!

Historian Nancy Foster Renk is the author of “Driving Past: Tours of Historical Sites in Bonner County, Idaho” and

“A Glorious Field for Sawmills: Humbird Lumber Company, 1900-1948.” When not busy gardening, she periodically writes articles on local history for her blog, northidahopastpresent.com.

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SPORTS and OUTDOORS Soccer clubs claim both Julyfest Championships

By Happy Hans Reader Contributor It was a good weekend for Sandpoint soccer clubs.

Both the Grey Monarch and Green Monarch Futball Clubs brought home the gold at the 44th Julyfest soccer tournament in Kimberley, BC, last weekend.

The young-buck Green Monarchs fell in the qualifying round but rebounded to easily win the B-league championship, while the old-bone, viking-spirit Grey Monarchs fought off numerous Cannucks and some eastern Europeans to claim gold.

Sandpoint’s Green Monarchs Futbol Club (GMFC) was established sometime near the turn of the recent century.

Many of the founders have aged into retirement, careers and family life, but a few oldbuck silver foxes have seasoned, transitioned and continue the club’s dominance in the masters division.

For the past few years, GMFC has fielded a 35-and-up masters team, default-named the Grey Green Monarchs. Due to the deep Sandpoint soccer tradition, the Greys’ roster grows deeper and stronger with each passing year.

“Adding a second team to the club has long been an objective,” said local physical therapist Hal Schmidt. “It benefits the club and community, and it also gives us old dogs a place to lay.”

Schmidt is fully recovered after a debilitating broken jaw due to a Canadian hockey check on the soccer field during Julyfest 2014.

Always looking for every strategic edge, the Greys recruited Julyfest tournament director and friend Simon Davidson.

“We didn’t have to play that card, but having the tourney director rostered assures us extra fair treatment,” said Sandpoint’s Casey McLaughlin.

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Here’s a quick encapsulation of the action last weekend.

Saturday Only capitalizing on one of their 18 shots, the Greys escaped with a tie against Calgary’s Blue Steele, who missed their own winning goal not once but twice in the final minutes, against a beleaguered and meager Monarch defense.

The Greys turned it around Saturday afternoon and found some precision in their passing and scoring, resulting in a 4-0 win against the Rangers Athletics who hail from somewhere far, far away. Keeper Alan Brinkmeyer posted the shutout for the Greys.

Sunday The Greys had never advanced beyond the semi-finals before. They faced their nemisis from Calgary—the Chinook Red Elephants.

In the opening tenth minute, after the whistle called play dead, a Calgary enforcer shoved and flat-backed a meekbut-wise Grey Monarch, resulting in the bruiser Elephant’s

By Reader Staff The Brush Lake Campground on the Bonners Ferry Ranger District is closing to allow for campground improvements Monday, August 1 through Aug. 12. The closure is for public health and safety during construction as the Forest Service, in partnership with the Idaho Youth Conservation Corps, replaces all the campground amenities—including picnic tables, fire-rings, tent pads—and installs sun shelters.

This project was made possible through funding approved by the Idaho Panhandle Resource Advisory Committee for the youth crew and a State of Idaho recreation grant to fund the upgrades. Recent road improvements were accomplished through a stewardship contract associated with the Brushy Mission II timber sale.

The Brush Lake boat ramp and fishing access will remain open, but the public is cautioned to be aware of the construction occurring in the area.

Campground improvements will conclude this fall with construction of parking spurs and installing a new vault toilet at the boat ramp. For questions on this project, please contact the Bonners Ferry Ranger District at (208)267-5561.

Grey Green Monarchs (left to right): Club president Adam Tajan, club namer Lawson Tate, Julyfest tournament director Simon Davidson. In background, newly signed Seb Sheldon. Young Monarchs developmental program: Rowan Wyatt , 8 and Vann Tate, 7. Photo courtesy of Happy Hans.

ejection and shifting the momentum from the Reds to the Greys. The Monarchs played a man up for the remainder of the game, advancing to the finals 1-0.

The win came with its casualties. Valuable Grey Monarch warhorse defender J.P. Huguenin cracked skulls and lacerated his forehead. He sat out the finals with numerous stitches.

In the finals, long time defending champion and perennial powerhouse White House Grill out of the greater Spokane area was upset by Sandpoint 2-1. With eastern European

Campground closed for repairs

ties, White House purportedly rosters enhanced ringers.

The Greys surprised all with fresh 35-year-old talent and collegiate veterans on waivers from the Montana Rapids Premier and Salt Lake City.

The Greys went up early. A White House striker from the former Soviet bloc then evened the match 1-1 midway though the first half. Ryan Billett, from the Kalispell area, had been struggling to find the net, but sealed the deal when it mattered most, tallying a late goal to secure the Grey Monarch’s first Julyfest masters division championship.

‘Kicking Ass’ Ranch party

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Looking for something fun to do this weekend? “Kicking Ass” Ranch in Montana is hosting a fun party with live bluegrass music, magic shows and a potluck BBQ. To get there, drive across the river when you reach Clark Fork and head toward the Montana state line. One mile into Montana, at Picadilly Lane, turn right and look for balloons and the sign that says “Kicking Ass” Ranch.

PARKING MAP 2016

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We offer gluten free pizzas!

Mon - Fri 11am - 10pm Sat - Sun 1:30pm - 10pm

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Youth Photography Seminar 12-5:30pm @ U of I extension office (fairgrounds) A free seminar for youth aged 12-18 with acclaimed photographer Monte Stiles. Includes photography workshop, a sack lunch, an afternoon of wildlife photography at Round Lake. Sponsored by the 7B Drug Free program. 208-699-0919 for info

Live Music w/ Ben Olson 7-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall A rare solo show by frontman of Harold’s IGA. Ben will be playing a smattering of B-sides that don’t make it into the normal rotation

f

Thro 7-11p Featu and f

Dolla 8pm

Bonner Homeless Transitions garage sale Live Music w/ Strangled Darlings 8am-1pm @ Methodist Church (Boyer & Cedar) 5:30-8:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Support Bonner Homeless Transitions and get This Portland based duo has been creatin some good gently used stuff! original tunes since 2009 and breaking th mold for what hipsters consider indie mus MCS Young Artists perform (FREE) Live Mu 2pm @ Panida Theater Live Music w/ Running With Scissors 5:30-7:3 Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6-9pm @ Trinity at City Beach Live Mu 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante 7:30pm @ Live Music w/ Ben and Cadie of Harold’s IGA ADA Celebra 5:30-8:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 10am - 2pm @ Ben and Cadie feature originals influenced by gypsy folk ballads, as well A free family as a unique list of covers that highlight a variety of different instruments ties Act, signe Sandpoint Farmers’ Market Crazy Days in Sandpoint turing live mu 9-1pm @ Farmin Park All day @ downtown Sandpoint disability reso Great local produce, fun arts Check out the deals downtown Live Music w/ The Incred and crafts, yummy food and for the annual Crazy Days sale Flying Dookie Bros live music by Brian Ernst Live Music w/ Brian Ernst 9pm @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ David Walsh 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Rock, folk and covers of a 6-9pm @ Trinity at City Beach Live Music w/ Biddadat Live Music w/ Bright Mo 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Bee 10pm @ Ol’ Red’s Pub Live Music w/ Chris Lynch Uptempo jazz tunes on the 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

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Game Night at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge Sunday at the Park 1-5pm @ Farmin Park

Live Music w/ Bruce Bishop and Drew 6-9pm @ Trinity at City Beach

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 11am-1pm @ Loaf and Ladle

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s

Karaoke Night 10pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery A soulful songwriter from Canada recently transplanted to Sandpoint

Learn to dance the Swing – 7pm @ SWAC Learn the Triple Time East Coast Swing fro Diane Peters. 610-1770 for info

Seniors Day 9am-12pm @ the Bonner Mall Walk the mall, listen to speakers, learn health tips, enter drawings, play bingo and enjoy free refreshments Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park Great local produce, fun arts and crafts, yummy food and live music

Festival at Sandpoint: Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers 6pm @ Memorial Field The grand kickoff to the 2016 Festival at Sandpoint, featuring Grammy award-winning artist Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers. Sandpoint-based Bridges Home will be opening. Come on down and plant yourself on the lawn for a night of great music. This is where it all begins

First Tu 7pm @ E A month ed by Ja vorite lo

Turnt Up W 8pm @ 219 L Featuring DJ

Winter Ridge Speaker S 6pm @ Winter Ridge Menopause as opportunit Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

ful

July 28 - August 4, 2016

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

Reader recommended

Throwback Thursdays at the 219 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge ‘Charades at Five’ Dinner Theater of Featuring live music with Brian Jacobs 6pm @ Panida Little Theater ing and friends Yappy Hour n’t Dollar Beers!

4-7pm @ Trinity at City Beach n 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub With music by Marty and Doug

l

Live Music w/ Ron Greene 6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery A soulful rock mix on the patio!

Live Music w/ Korby Lenker ings Fun Fridays at KNWR 8pm @ Di Luna’s Cafe Winery 10:30am @ KNWR (Bonners Ferry) en creating Indie pop performer Korby Lenker’s music Join the staff at Kootenai National Wildlife Refuge, reaking the will captivate you. Dinner served at 5:30 to learn how you can help pollinators, followed by indie music p.m. Tickets $12 adv, $15 day of show pollinator arts and crafts for kids of all ages! Free Live Music w/ Marty Perron and Doug Bond Live Music w/ Miah Kohal Band 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 9pm @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ the Beat Diggers Come enjoy some great tunes on the patio. Also the 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub night of the 1996 Sandpoint High School reunion A Celebration Picnic m - 2pm @ Sandpoint City Beach Building a Better Community seminar ee family event to celebrate the Americans with Disabili- 7:30-9am @ Ponderay Events Center Act, signed into law in 1990. Open to the public and fea- An interactive presentation with Monte Stiles as he ng live music, prizes and awards, wheelchair basketball, addresses the importance of health and resiliency in bility resource booths, face painting, and a free BBQ this great community. Sponsored by 7B Drug Free The Incredible Four shows at Summer Sounds Wampus Cat Marathon Bros 10am-6pm @ Park Place Stage 5:30am @ Sandpoint to Clark Fork nge A special Crazy Days installment of Summer Runners, walkers, Wampus Cats overs of all sorts Sounds featuring three live performances at the and old Cats, enjoy North Idaho Park Place Stage (by Arlo’s Ristorante). Bidadet at its best during the Wampus Cat Bright Moments at 10 a.m., Bridges Home at 12 p.m., Northern Ex- Marathon from Sandpoint city limDuff’s Beer Hall posure at 2 p.m.; Hoodoo Two at 4 p.m. Sponsored its to Clark Fork city limits. There nes on the patio

by Sandpoint B.I.D. and the Holly Eve Foundation is also a half marathon. 888-8578746 for more info Used Book Sale

@ SWAC Swing from

10am-2pm @ Bonner Mall Buy ‘em cheap, sell ‘em fast Bonner Homeless Transitions garage sale 8am-1pm @ Methodist Church (Boyer & Cedar) Support Bonner Homeless Transitions and get some good gently used stuff!

First Tuesday at Eichardt’s 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub A monthly music event hosted by Jake Robin at your favorite local watering hole

Play it Again Panida 8am-2pm @ Panida Theater Shop the used record, video game and cd sale at the Panida during Crazy Days

Make It 3-5pm @ Sandpoint Library This program for teens/tweens includes Legos, robotics, needlework and other projects

Aug. 5 Railroad Earth @ rnt Up Wednesdays “Free State of Jones” film Fe stival at Sandm @ 219 Lounge 7:30pm @ Panida Theater aturing DJ Josh Adams po in t Starring Matthew McConaughey Aug. 5 Aftival presents Taylor Hicks @ the Speaker Series Throwback Thursdays Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin at the 219 6-9pm @ Trinity at City Beach Hi ve Ridge 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge Aug. 6 opportunity Featuring live music Open Mic with Scott Reid Emmylou Harris @ with Brian Jacobs and 6-8pm @ Monarch Mtn. Coffee Festival at Sanddt’s Pub Come one, come all! friends point

Since 1993, Sandpoint Property Management has provided property management services to a diverse range of clients. Our trained staff of professionals understands the local market and the highly specialized needs of our property owners and tenants. Our priority is in developing long-term successful relationships with our tenants and property owners, and providing them with exceptional real estate management services, including experienced 24/7 maintenance, fast application processing, electronic bill pay, thorough property inspections, detailed accounting, and aggressive marketing, With a reputation built on integrity and experience, Sandpoint Property Management has evolved into Bonner County’s County leading property management firm.

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Listen in Sandpoint to KPND @ 106.7 in HD July 28, 2016 /

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To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.

-tippy-

Jake’s Chimney Sweep & Mountain Stove now carries

Tippy is forbidden to get on our living room leather chairs.

When we turn in about 9 p.m. or so she climbs into a permitted lesser chair in the adjoining guest room and curls up for the night. After we are asleep she sneaks into the leather chair. About 6 a.m. she staggers back into the guest room and climbs into her designated chair. That’s where we find her every morning. Such a good dog! Recently, en route to the kitchen for cold fridge water about 2 a.m. I couldn’t resist finding the camera and taking this incriminating photo.

The flash didn’t even wake her up. She thinks she’s smarter than we are but we know what the hell’s going on.

Jacquelynn & Tim Henney

(208) 263-0582 • Mon - Fri 9am - 5pm 1225 Michigan St. Sandpoint www.JakesChimneySweep.com / www.MountainStove.com Sales • Installation • Sweep • Inspection • Masonry Repair 14 /

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COMMUNITY

Discover ‘Another World’

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor Brenton Watson was six when he began playing “Magic: The Gathering.” Today, after 23 years, the game is more popular than ever. There are over 20 million collectors and players of “Magic” cards and it is printed in 11 languages. There are over 15,000 unique cards with hundreds of new ones printed each year. The images on these cards are fine art, and some of them are absolutely stunning.

Watson is the co-owner of “Another World,” located at 417 Church St., and claims that “Magic” is his “bread and butter.” I can understand this.

My husband and my sons have a coffee table mounded with boxes of “Magic” cards, but they are thrilled to open a new pack.

Another World sells “Magic: the Gathering” booster packs, containing 15 cards, for $2.99 a pack (which undercuts Walmart by a buck). When the player creates their own unique “Magic” deck (around 60 cards) they can play in multiple scheduled tournaments or spontaneous pick-up games.

“Magic” is “a strategy-based card game built on mathematics—it teaches players to think with both creativity and logic simultaneously, to solve problems,” says co-owner Jeff Halligan.

Last year my husband checked out a room at the library for a maximum of an hour and half, inviting “Magic” players. At the end of their session, there were usually six to 10 guys laughing, trading cards, chatting about the last game—not at all ready retire, when their room was needed by a new group.

Around this time, Watson and his friends opened Another World (across from Dub’s at the time) and locals celebrated.

Their own circle of “Magic” players, combined with the Library “Magic” players, and

an influx of new players, resembled sardines in that little shop, but everyone was thrilled to have real Friday Night “Magic” in Sandpoint. Their new location is spacious, with plenty of tables, a bathroom and a kitchen. Presently, pizza delivery and coffee sustain these players, but Watson aims to open the kitchen to feed his friends.

“See Caleb here,” he explains, pointing to the person holding a stack of “Magic” cards he just won in the tournament.“He stomped me the first time I played him, but I respect him. I consider him a friend.”

The competition is thick, but the mood is light, and no one is sulking over a loss.

Some Saturdays are dedicated to the “pre-release” of a new set of Magic Cards. The last pre-release was for “Eldritch Moon,” at midnight, July 16. This is a “sealed-deck tournament,” meaning that you open the new set (six booster packs) and make your deck right then and there, before the first round. Twenty-eight guys were entered into this all night tournament, lasting until 6 a.m.

In order to have these events, Another World is sanctioned through the “Wizards Network” meaning no alcohol or drugs can be on the premises, lest they lose their license.

Watson is also a Dungeon Master (a story-teller), leading an ongoing quest for his fantasy-driven friends. “Dungeons and Dragons” is played on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and the occasional Saturday. “War Machine” is another popular game, played on Wednesdays, resembling a modern, more expansive, chess.

Another World specializes in tabletop games which are both old-school and timeless. There are five co-owner friends invested to fill the need for “community growth and interaction,” says Watson. If you want to

Top: Brenton Watson (in stripes) begins a Magic game, while new decks and fantasy art are created around him.

Right: Luke Belden (in black) boffering at Lakeview Park. Belden makes, sells and studies swords. Photos by Jodi Rawson.

play, learn or watch, loiterers are welcome!

Every tabletop gamer needs exercise, so on Tuesdays at 6 p.m., they meet at Lakeview Park for foam sword fighting.

Don’t let the picture scare you. These wizards are kind, welcoming and peaceful. If you need any help diving into one of these games, they are great teachers. Ask them about custom orders for games and fantasy paraphernalia, they get next-day shipping.

Enter “Another World” for challenge, friendship, and adventurous evenings, Monday through Saturday, from 3–11 p.m.

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This is the place Celebrating the small town lifestyle and the characters who make this the best place in the world

By Tim Henney Reader Contributor My 1957 bride and I twice lived in Geneseo, Ill., a prosperous farm town of 7,000 joyful souls in Henry County, “Hog Capital Of The World.” It might be the soybean and cornfield capital as well.

Deere & Company’s world headquarters is 20 minutes away, in Moline. A sprawling, exotic corporate home like no other. A massive Henry Moore sculpture rests beside the winding drive through 1,400 manicured acres of lawns and fishponds. I worked there. Not in the fishponds, in the building.

Geneseo is a Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover come alive. Weekly homemade ice cream socials in the park. Band concerts from a Victorian gazebo.

Families and friends. Fireflies in the summer evening air. We were there in the early ‘70s because of the John Deere job. Then from 1986 to 1995 following retirement from NYC’s corporate world.

Native Californians don’t often retire to humid midwestern burgs.

But we did.

Geneseo and Sandpoint are the same size, but that’s about it.

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galleries, a Panida-type forum, a music festival, a Lost In The Fifties, sushi bars, a winery, a dog culture, a university extension site, talented local bands and a farmers’ market (they didn’t need one; most residents were farmers). Still, in 1970 or thereabouts Esquire magazine named Geneseo “America’s Happiest Town.”

What made it so happy was a winning high school football team, The Green Machine, a pintsized Green Bay Packers.

Although not all them pitchfork swingin’, hog-sloppin’ farm boys were pint-sized. The Green Machine played to boisterous, jampacked grandstands on Friday nights under lights. If newcomers like us winced at the aroma of hog farms wafting over the field, we were told, “That’s money you’re smellin’.” Any able-bodied person who didn’t attend Friday night games was considered an un-American pinko pervert.

Citizens thought the head coach walked on water. Even evangelistics, of whom there were many, were sure of it.

It’s possible that Sandpoint, the city, would be considered insufficiently macho by Esquire, a man’s magazine. But if the editors hung out in the county awhile they’d be impressed.

Testosterone-burdened young losers in big pickups roar around Selle Valley’s dirt roads at twice the legal speed limit. Macho!

Some fling empty beer bottles out the window. Macho! Some have catchy signs in their rear windows. One says, “Cats: Nature’s Little Speed Bumps.” Macho!

These dimwits bring to mind a lyric from “Oklahoma!.” “Chicks and ducks and geese better scurry, when I take you out in the surrey...”. “Kids and deer and dogs better scurry, these yahoos will run over you in a hurry...”.

However, if Esquire should seek highly civilized qualities in

updating its happiest town award, then Mormon headman Brigham Young had it right. He peered down from his covered wagon at Utah’s Great Basin and declared, “This is the place.” So is Sandpoint. A recent week of engaging with enthusiastic happy locals who sell things, fix things, teach things and help us along life’s way was all it took. There was not a grumpster in the group.

Bracing for the future, Jacquelynn and I are buying a modest in-town house next door to our Sandpoint family. When our time arrives to disintegrate, we know our grandaughters, Adeline and Violet, now 11 and 6, will be thrilled to have us drool on them.

Better them than on some nursing home stranger. For the house down payment we sold stock.

Dee, at D.A.Davidson, she of the warm smile and quiet, comforting voice, made departing from one’s dividend-paying savings almost enjoyable.

Warren Buffett would not have needed to call upon Evergreen Home Loans for the balance, but we did. Amicable, energetic April of “Team Evergreen” demanded 47,000 signatures from us.

We wore our fingers to the nubs signing papers. But April made it almost a party with upbeat cheer and patience. Buying a house used to be easy. Not now.

Next morning we attended a graduation. A kindergarten graduation! No valedictory harangue about following one’s passion. No guest speaker’s personal tips for success. Granddaughter Violet’s Washington school teacher, Michelle McNelley, led her charges in songs instead. Her graduates wore butterfly outfits, the better to flutter off to first grade. Michelle’s affection for them, and for her work, was striking. Teachers like Michelle and husband Mike, at Northside, should be paid what NFL jocks, pompous CEOs, and their bonus-hoarding corporate sycophants earn. Teachers, not titans, mold young lives into contributive citizens. The economics of it are backwards.

Driving home we stopped by Perfection Tire to have a leaky tire repaired. When I was a lad

The Pep Boys—Manny, Moe and Jack—sold car parts nationwide. Perfection’s trio of Heath, Dan and Les are our Pep Boys.

They share a spirited camaraderie with their customers. But show biz threatens. Manager Heath is popping up on TV more often than Charlie Rose. Probably planning to hang out in Malibu with DiCaprio, Depp, Clooney and Pitt instead of in Ponderay with Les and Dan. But hold on. If you study those commercials you’ll spot Les and Dan, with canes, top hats and tap shoes, dancing the buck and wing in the background.

DiCaprio started out doing TV commercials. Ronald Reagan did too, but on radio. Who knows?

Like tires, computers also lose air. When mine does I call IT maven Colin, a transplanted Brit, at Limey Solutions. I want Colin to feel at home, so I put a Gilbert & Sullivan operetta on the phonograph. I’d turn on the tube to BBC but Colin doesn’t watch TV. It’s refreshing to know someone like that. Jacqelynn and I feel smug because we prefer PBS. But Colin and wife Mandy hoist the culture bar higher. In 1961, Federal Communications Commissioner Newton Minnow called commercial television “a vast wasteland.” Some of us think most of it still is.

As luck would have it, next day our kitchen sinks plugged up.

We called plumber Jesse Bennett and he rushed right out. Jesse is in partnership with his dad and proud to say so. He’s a terrific plumber and a pleasure to have around. Authentically cordial, he’s pleased with and optimistic about life at large. Better yet, he took a wild guess my 1957 bride and I were over 55 and offered a senior discount. With an appropriate “aw, shucks,” we agreed.

Later we were at the library.

It was Tuesday, and an estimated 10,000 miniature literary giants were engaged in Suzanne Davis’s preschool story program.

Suzanne’s daily multi-tasking duties swing like a pendulum between the library and a dozen or more other kiddie venues about town. She spreads the library’s good work and words to day care

centers, pre-schools, free lunch programs, and every public elementary school. To wherever teeny people congregate. Sometimes her admiring pipsqueaks stop her on the street to discuss literature.

Suzanne runs her programs with a twinkle in her eye and an ambassador’s zeal. Her diminutive clients flourish.

Early one morning the finches started bitching, the hummies started dive-bombing, the dogs started growling, and my bride’s horse brayed like a donkey. Joining the protest, the cats pooped in the strawberrries instead of the weeds. Away we dashed to the Co-Op for bird seed, horse, dog and cat food. The enormous bags were too heavy for me, so I ordered my bride to lug them to the car. As she struggled with the first sack, genial employee Mike snatched them up. Mike is no spring chicken, but he’s strong. As Mike loaded the car, very merry Mary, Co-Op cashier, rushed out with milk bones for the growling dogs she saw huddled in the driver’s seat of our car. We like Co-Op. The dogs do too.

Does big box store shopping sometimes leave you longing for a more personally fulfilling encounter? Where sales folks remember your name, as in the olden days?

Drop by Serendipity on First Street. If you smile, Angelina will hug you first and help you second.

A fine old tune reminds us that “... when you’re smiling, when you’re smiling, the whole world smiles with you...”. When you leave Serendipity you’ll be smiling and the whole world will be as well.

We’ll close this salute to the happiest town with orchids to the six gracious hostesses who admit patients to our hospital. Their efficient friendliness is soothing and, if needed, sympathetic. Collegial welcomers Savannah, Mendy, Holly, Kathy, Wanda and Sherry make starting a hospital visit almost fun. Even for a colonoscopy.

No, wait. Make that a flu shot.

Tim Henney is a Sandpoint writer and unofficial patron saint of the Reader. He celebrates his 85th birthday on Sunday, August 7. Many happy returns, Tim! -BO

Mad about Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Ew, gross! Of all the things to talk about, why do you always pick the most disgusting or most destructive topics, Brenden?

Because they’re awesome, and I’m basically an oversized little kid, duh.

Bacteria are everywhere.

Literally everywhere. We’ve even found the little twerps on the outside of the International Space Station somehow. You know, the side exposed to the frigid, unforgiving vacuum of space. When you were a kid, your mom referred to them as germs; actually, she referred to all microbial life as germs, including viruses, which aren’t bacteria at all. So what’s the difference?

Bacteria—Bacterium is the singular, which is rare because you never really deal with a single bacterium—are unicellular, meaning that each one is a single cell, and each one is generally devoted to a single task. A virus, meanwhile, is a microscopic infectious agent that reproduces exclusively within cells.

The common cold, for example, is caused by a virus and infects the cells in your respiratory tract (lungs, throat, sinuses, etc.).

It breeds within the cells, makes your body go haywire for a few days until it reaches critical mass, then uses your own body’s defenses as a means to spread to other hosts. All of the coughing and sneezing you do that infects the rest of your family is your body trying to expunge the virus in an attempt to return your body back to a state of normality.

Because the cold is caused by a virus, antibiotics will do nothing to it, as antibiotics are used for killing bacteria. If your doctor gives you antibiotics while you have a cold, this means one of two things. More than likely, you have a secondary infection caused by bacteria that slipped in while you have been sick—Think black ops mercenaries slipping in while the Army Rangers pave the way; or

Brought to you by:

Bacteria

the much less likely option B: Your doctor is an idiot.

Most doctors spend a lot of money to ensure that they’re not idiots, but it never hurts to ask why you’re being given an antibiotic, or any medication, really.

So how about some examples of bacteria? You know how we like to roll in Mad About Science, some lists are about to drop on my head.

You’re probably familiar with one notorious form of bacteria, one that has caused illness and death in a surprising number of people in recent years: E. coli.

This is short for Escherichia coli, and every time it starts to surface (usually from undercooked beef), the media has a field day and entire cities begin to succumb to the effects of hypochondria. E. coli is pretty serious business, but did you know that you already have it? And you have a lot of it. We’re talking millions and millions sitting inside of you right this second.

This is totally normal, unless you’re shooting out of both ends like a broken fire hydrant. Most strains of E. coli are completely harmless; it’s when our bodies come in contact with a strain it’s unfamiliar with and unable to control that we start succumbing to illness. When this happens, the bacteria multiply uncontrollably in your gut and throw the entire machine totally out of balance. Believe it or not, your gut plays host to over 40 million bacteria on a daily basis, keeping everything balanced and in check so that your digestive tract works like a German train station.

Another notorious bacteria that devours your sick leave is Salmonella. This is a prominent digestive factor in most birds, especially poultry. Salmonella lives in the gut of poultry and most reptiles and helps them digest their food. When they poop, some living and some dead Salmonella bacteria goes with it.

Unfortunately for us, during the butchering process, some of that bacteria ends up on the meat.

When the meat isn’t cooked at a high enough temperature to kill all of the bacteria, we eat it and give it a nice little pristine place to grow and reproduce, making us horribly sick for a few days.

The moral of the story here is always make sure your food is cooked. There’s a reason that Chicken Sashimi isn’t on a whole lot of menus.

These bacteria are relatively harmless compared to the next beast on this list. This one gained worldwide notoriety after causing one of the greatest and most fatal pandemics in all of human history. Its scientific name is Yersinia Pestis, but you know it best as the Black Death.

The Black Death happened between 1347 and 1353, and was pretty much the worst time ever.

It wiped out at least one-third of the population of Europe, and it wasn’t one of those “pass quietly in your sleep” kind of illnesses, oh no. Bubonic Plague is pretty nightmarish, complete with fever, muscle aches extreme headaches and gangrene. You know, the same thing you get when your blood stops flowing to an extremity.

The most interesting thing about this bacteria is how rapidly it changed entire societies.

Something so incredibly small that we can’t even see it managed to heavily alter the course of human history in ways even kings and emperors never could have dreamed of.

Even more interesting, and something most people don’t think about, is that people didn’t even know what caused the Black Death until almost 500 years after it devastated Europe.

Luckily for us, we live in a pretty wonderful time when it comes to medicine. Sanitation is considerably better than it was in the 1300s, and the ability to have a closed indoor plumbing system

makes personal hygiene much easier to maintain than it was back then.

If you remember from our fungi article, we’ve even created medicine that kills bacteria from Penicillium spores.

This proves to be a double-edged sword, however. The arms race between man and bacteria will never end, and bacteria will always try to develop ways to exist without being hindered by medicines. We’re seeing this happen now with the abuse of antibiotics and the sudden rapid spread of MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

Everyone knows what Staph is, basically miscellaneous infectious bacteria that cause inflammation and blood poisoning if left untreated. MRSA is that, except it’s resistant to our

antibiotics because we’ve used them so much.

Just like the velociraptors from “Jurassic Park,” this clever girl learned from her predecessors’ mistakes and is ready to attack you in the bushes or maybe open your doors.

I’m not saying we should stop using antibiotics altogether—I’m not a crazy person. But if you happen to have your antibiotics from a previous infection laying around and want to beat the cold, think twice before popping that pill. You might be inadvertently giving some nasty bacteria a learning opportunity.

Don’t forget to wash your hands!

Random Corner Bacteria to know You probably don’t want are anyway. these facts, but here they

•All of the bacteria in our body collectively weighs about 4 pounds.

•The average office desk has 400 times more bacteria than a toilet.

•There’re more bacteria in your mouth than there are people in the world.

•The “smell of rain” is caused by a bacteria called actinomycetes.

•Researchers found 1,458 new species of bacteria in belly buttons.

•Chocolate has an anti-bacterial effect on the mouth and protects against tooth decay.

•When two people kiss, they exchange between 10 million and 1 billion bacteria.

•Babies are born with no bacteria in their bodies.

•A newly-discovered species of rust-eating bacteria will have consumed the wreck of the Titanic within 20 years.

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Responsible huckleberry picking on Idaho’s National Forests

By Reader Staff Ready those fingers and prep the jugs: Huckleberry season is upon us.

The Idaho Panhandle National Forests is reminding huckleberry pickers that commercial picking of huckleberries is not permitted. Picking huckleberries with the intent to sell them is considered commercial gathering.

In order to provide plentiful opportunities for recreational huckleberry picking, the forest does not issue commercial permits. Minimum fines for commercial picking start at $250 and can increase based on the severity of the offense. Recreational huckleberry pickers are encouraged to pick only what they can consume so that others may enjoy the fun of picking and the delicious taste of our state fruit.

Methods for huckleberry gathering vary widely, but pickers are strongly encouraged to hand-pick their berries. This ensures that the bushes are not damaged and only ripe berries are harvested. We want our huckleberry bushes to remain healthy and productive for many years to come. Any methods that damage or destroy the bushes are illegal and may result in a fine for damaging natural resources.

Huckleberries are delicious favorites of both people and bears. Because bears love huckleberries and make them a major source of nourishment, huckleberry pickers should always carry bear spray and be bear-aware when picking.

The huckleberry was designated by the Idaho Legislature in 2000 as the official state fruit. Huckleberries freeze well and can provide a very healthy addition to your diet all year long. For more information about huckleberry picking on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests, please contact the Sandpoint Ranger District office at 263-5111 18 /

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Opening hearts and minds

By Suzen Fiskin Reader Columnist

The power of... the pause

Once upon a time, there lived a Boomer Babe in a perfectly picturesque town.

She was funny, she was kind, and for the very, very first time—life was easy.

No business to run, and nowhere to be—yet with all of this freedom, she still didn’t feel free.

How free could she be— feeling like she never belonged?

How free could she be—always sensing that something was wrong?

There was a hole in her soul that she tried filling with stuff, and filling with stuff and filling with stuff.

With toys galore, she kept wanting more, till the Universe said, “Enough!”

A lifequake of seismic proportions shook her down to her knees.

She cried and she cried as she tried to decide—to be or not to be.

When her broken heart began to crack, it let in a little light.

A ray of hope softened the

black into a psychic twilight.

From high atop a mountain peak, she had a major, “Aha!” A flash of inspiration so big, she dropped her jaw in awe.

She didn’t know how to be happy—she didn’t know how to be happy. She didn’t have a clue.

But what if she could learn it? What great things could she do?

What if being happy became the most important thing?

What if she only focused on what made her heart sing?

She manifested a magical mentor, who lived true to “happy on purpose.”

Who reached out her hand, and said, “Yes, you can! And the ripples will stretch out beyond us.”

Happiness, no matter what,

became her sole desire.

To raise her vibration in celebration and tune her frequency higher.

With spooks and classmates and one-on-one coaching, soon her friends saw she was quickly approaching A new way to be, a new way to see, rewiring her brain to be happy.

I’ve come here to share one of the keys that led to this transformation.

For taking the reins of our busy, fast brains, I offer this invitation.

When you find yourself at the fork in the road pondering this way or that, Check in with your body, how do you feel? Full of energy or just kinda flat?

Now stop and shop for the better feeling thought—our feelings are our guiding light.

Just stop and shop for the better feeling thought, then choose your heart’s delight.

Feel the power, feel the power, feel the power of . . . the pause.

Feel the power, feel the power, feel the power of . . . the pause.

Now raise your voice as you make your choice, feel the power of . . . the pause.

Suzen Fiskin is a marketing maven, life coach, and inspirational speaker. She’s also the author of the book, “Playboy Mansion Memoirs.” If you have any questions or comments, here’s how to find her – (208)572-0009 or suzenfiskin@ yahoo.com

7B Drug Free offers free seminars

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

7B Drug Free, a coalition for substance abuse and prevention, is offering a couple of free seminars to help spread their message of hope and inspiration.

A free Youth Photography Seminar led by acclaimed photographer Monte Stiles will be offered Thursday, July 28.

The seminar is for youth aged 12-18 years old. It includes a brief photography workshop, a sack lunch, an afternoon of pho-

tographing wildlife at Round Lake State Park and a photography contest. Kids should bring snacks, a water bottle, appropriate weather gear and a camera (camera phone is fine).

The seminar starts at 12 p.m. at the University of Idaho extension office, 4205 N. Boyer Ave., and ends at 5:30 p.m. Youth must be picked up at that time.

Space is limited. To reserve a spot, call Erika McCall at (208) 699-0919 or email Erika. mccall@lposd.org.

Friday, July 29, a free stakeholder seminar called “Com-

munity Health and Resiliency for Community Leaders” will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. at the Ponderay Events Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way. This interactive presentation will be led by nationally recognized motivational speaker Monte Stiles, who will address the importance of health and resiliency in the community.

There will be a light breakfast provided.

Stiles has inspired countless audiences in the U.S. and abroad through his multi-media presentations. By combin-

ing almost three decades of experience as a federal drug prosecutor with a passion for wildlife and outdoor photography, Stiles will provide valuable insights about everything that is wonderful about life—a world full of amazing people, beautiful landscapes, fascinating creatures and boundless opportunities. The end result is a powerful and unique message of hope, inspiration, community and resiliency.

Contact Erika McCall to reserve a seat—(208) 699-0919 or Erika.mccall@lposd.org.

STAGE & SCREEN

The Panida Theater: Where we are two years later?

By Patricia Walker Reader Contributor That first trip across the Long Bridge was all it took to fall in love with Sandpoint.

It was also easy to see, two years ago this month, that the Panida Theater was the heart of Sandpoint.

At that time, I was being hired to replace a director that had been on the job less than a year. This director had been hired to replace the stalwart, much-admired Karen Bowers, who had retired after 26 years. In many ways, Karen Bowers had become the heart of the Panida. Conversely, the director I replaced had made some changes that seemed to reverse the positive flow of community support that had been a necessary reality of the Panida since 1985.

After the many years of consistent successful fundraising for the Panida, his sixmonth experiment in reducing movies and productions and increasing expenses for a focus on rentals by businesses had created a void, where previously there was heart.

My early goals included revitalizing the heart and respecting the mission. My first forays in energizing our valuable venue and returning the intended mission included re-engaging community input, bringing important movies back to the Panida with increased showtimes, re-purposing the underutilized Little Theatre, expanding concessions and managing the newly added beer and wine license. This step involved improved and expanded relationships with movie distribution companies, exploring additional showtimes including matinees.

In addition to the Global Film Series, we brought in some classic movie showings, a youth series and expanded the variety of offerings, introduced a dinner theatre series, brought in high-speed internet to offer streaming of live shows of world class productions and added low-cost venue days/prices to nonprofits as a way to spur venue rentals on traditionally slow nights, all while keeping prices for services as low as we could in spite of the vendor costs having increased.

So, where are we two years later? Our calendar is busier than ever before in Panida history with a concentrated effort to offer more. Movie attendance has grown steadily back and increased from previous levels and popular demand has created additional showings of well-received movies.

Last week’s record attendance showed us there is still an audience during the summer, traditionally a time the Panida was not open much. Sunday matinees have become a standard. It is not new to the long history of the Panida that the movies pay for themselves but they don’t pay for all the expenses to operate the theater. It has always

taken a committed fundraising effort from the board of directors. At the end of our fiscal year last year they were short of our fundraising goal and still reeling from the loss of income from the theater being closed for the ceiling restoration project. This year they are even further away and they will be more than $24,000 short of their fiscal 2016 goal.

Increased revenue has helped us maintain but this loss has left us underfunded. Fundraisers (including the ice cream booth at the Festival) and memberships are a part of how that goal is traditionally met.

In 2015, Panida memberships, a voluntary annual donation from individuals, families, groups and businesses with some small tokens of reward, went up almost 250 percent over 2013 but fell again in 2016. We have recently had a board member take on the membership committee duties, to hopefully regain this effective source of badly needed funds and we hope this new attention will get the membership drive back on track.

This is an extreme hardship for the Panida. What is the most common thing I hear when I am out in the community? “We love the Panida.” Certainly, the community still does love the Panida—its offerings, the economic value to our downtown and the beauty it brings to all of us. When people aren’t aware their help is needed, they can’t help.

As a new fiscal year begins, new board members are being added and the new leadership will prepare a fresh approach to the fundraising needs of the Panida that’s required. Additional help is being sought to assist with valuable grant writing as well.

During a recent dance recital a small, contained fire inside the sound control box gave as the extra challenge of updating a very outdated sound system. Meanwhile, I know calls for fundraising are easy to overlook and have a danger of sounding too familiar. The Panida staff and board has continually given a great return on investment to granting organizations, donations and membership support and we continue to need your help.

As I celebrate my second year in Sandpoint I am extremely grateful for the kindness that has been shown. I don’t take lightly the responsibility of caring for your most precious gem. The staff who go above and beyond to continue its care are deeply valued. The marketing support the Panida receives is of tremendous worth. The volunteers willing to help with theater needs as well as those who serve on a working board

are one of our greatest assets. When people visit the theater for the first time they are always struck by its beauty and the fact the community has cared enough to preserve this rich piece of history.

The strength of the Panida reflects the strength of everyone who has donated time and money to its care and it creates a foundation for defining our sense of place. The Panida improves our community’s competitive edge for tourism dollars and for those companies trying to attract more of a workforce.

It is about more than art. It is about economics, stability, tourism and jobs.

As you are exposed to new, fresh, sincere requests to help continue to meet the needs of the Panida, please trust that every dollar will be respected and put to good use.

Where are we two years later? Yes, I had hoped that increasing revenue and lowering expenses would be enough to sustain monthly expenses, but I’ve learned your continued help is needed and necessary for us to remain vibrant. We are not where we wanted to be, but the future is bright.

I remain “passionately Panida” and very grateful to all of you.

little theater

july 28 @ 6pm

“Charades at 5” dinner theater

A fun comedy full of missed opportunities, misleads and misdeeds. must buy ticket early to book a seat for this dinner and play. $27; three dinner options. Must RSVP

july 29 & 30 @ 8:30pm

reader reels: “Swiss army man” disarmingly odd, well-acted and impossible to categorize Friday, july 29 @ 2pm

MCS YOUNG ARTIST SUMMER CONCERT FREE!

Saturday, july 30 @ all day!

crazy days - lp/dvd/misc. sale!

Saturday, july 30 @ 3:30pm

“ERNEST AND CELESTINE”

This fun animated adventure packs a lot of charm into a small story about the friendship between a bear and a mouse

Aug. 3 & 4 @ 7:30pm / aug. 5 @ 5:30pm Aug. 6 @ 8:30pm / aug. 7 @ 3:30pm

“free state of jones” starring matthew m conaughey c

Watch for more news on the Film Noir Series DEPARTMENT Q Trilogy!

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The Straight Poop:

The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist Where am I taking my humans today?

I’m sniffin’ out dog friendly offices, and my first stop is the office of The Festival at Sandpoint, 525 Pine St. The Missus needs to pick up the early bird passes. Everyone knows the Festival rule:“NO GUNS, DRUGS OR DOGS.” However, dogs at the Festival office are another case entirely.

There are pups in the parking lot to greet me, and I can’t wait to get out of the car. Doggie handshakes all around!

The Festival is celebrating its 34th year, and Dyno Wahl, executive director for the Festival at Sandpoint, tells us that this year’s line-up is awesome!

The first night kicks off with a brew-fest and fireworks, and she anticipates potential sell outs.

Inside the office there is water, treats and tricks for the fur babies. The dogma, according to Dyno, is “never let your children in their 20s get a dog. You will end up owning it.” So true, as Tamara Verby’s Sir George Michael III originally belonged to her daughter (over 20). When she left for law school, the Verbys adopted him. He performs spins and twirls for treats.

Carol Winget’s black lab mix, Porter, belonged to her niece and nephew (both over 20). They moved away, and Carol adopted him. When he was a puppy, his tail got run over by a horse trailer, and it had to be amputated. So Carol asked Dyno if she could bring him to the office during his recovery. The rest is history.

Porter has been the official greeter for 12 years. “He pees like a wiz kid,” said Winget.

He also dresses up in Festival T-shirts, and sits at the counter with his reading glasses on. Festival pups—please take a bow-wow!

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DOG-FRIENDLY OFFICES groupies are India, Marcella Nelson’s four-pound Miniature Poodle; David Marx’s Australian Shepherd ,Shilo; Kathy and Chris Chambers’ Bella (a frequent visitor to Auntie Dyno’s office where she hides under the desk) and Bob Boyle’s Chico.

As Dyno puts it, “Chico is a “poi” which is Hawaiian for “dogs who we do not know what they are.”

OK at the office: 1. Drop the leash—Festival pups handshake outside (you know what we mean). After handshake, come inside for a cookie with Porter and Sir George III. 2. All K9 breeds that purchase a Festival pass, tickets, or make a donation get a treat.

No way at the office: 1. Lift a leg before entering—but not in the Community Garden.

2. Fur babies not allowed at the Festival.

Over on the next block I meet my BFF and neighbor, Grady (a Chocolate Lab) and his mom and dad, Tom and Julie Nolan. They are agents at Keller Williams Realty; located at 120 S. Second Ave. It’s a doggie play-day today with Grady, Badger, Kona and Jacket. Grady is lying on the tile by the front door. He is the official office greeter. The director of first impressions, Yvette, always has treats in her drawer.

The Keller Williams team of agents, who have been serving Sandpoint for seven years, are very respectful and always ask clients if they would like to bring their dogs with them. Lisa recently brought her retriever, Buffett, to a showing. The couple showed up to see the house and remarked, “If Buffett can be this happy here, so can our dog.”

House sold! Paws up, Lisa!

Grady tags along on showings

Top (left to right): Dyno Wahl, Porter, Tamara Verby, Sir George Michael III, Drake, Carol Winget. Right (left to right): Badger, Angela Henney, Talley (in her arms), Drake, Julie and Tom Nolan, Grady, Kona, Lisa Holder, Toby Atencio, and Jacket

with Tom and Julie. He sniffs out all the best properties, and he can find any water source. Toby Atencio’s Jacket is a versatile hunting dog and finds every trail on the property.

The real estate experience can be intimidating and sometimes stressful.

My fur buddies on the Keller Williams team have a way of lowering stress levels, helping folks become more comfortable, which aids the buying decision process.

It’s amazing what a few strokes on the head or a shake-a-paw can do!

Keller Williams’ seasoned Sandpoint senior agents specialize in residential, commercial, luxury, land, farms and waterfront properties. Realtor of the Year (2014), Julie Nolan and the Keller Williams team annually

participate in National Red Day events. They have given complimentary labor for a day to Panhandle Animal Shelter, the Senior Center, Kinderhaven, ReStore and the Healing Garden. The agents and their dogs consistently give back to their community, which has given so doggone much to them.

Keller Williams YES please: 1. Smile, breathe, relax and

enjoy the office.

2. Don’t worry, be happy.

3. Cold water and treats for fur babies.

4. Enjoy the cool entry tile with Grady.

5. Bring your camera!

Before entering: 1. Do your doggie business outside.

2. Leave your outside bark in the car.

MUSIC Live from the Hive

2016 Aftival lineup

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff The Festival at Sandpoint is just around the corner, and that means Sandpoint’s most expansive late-night concert series is right behind it.

The flagship series of the Hive, Aftival is the perfect fit for people who want to keep the party going after a Festival at Sandpoint show. Just when things are winding down at Memorial Field, a whole new show is gearing up at the Hive to take you well into the night.

The party kicks off Friday, Aug. 5, with a couple old Hive favorites. Jelly Bread and the 45th Street Brass Band bring high energy performances and genre-bending flavor to their music. Afterward, “American Idol” season five winner Taylor Hicks delivers his signature blend of rock, blues, soul and R&B. All the Friday performers are veterans of the Hive and no doubt looking forward to rocking Sandpoint crowds again.

Also returning to the Hive

is Saturday, Aug. 6, artist Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe. This veteran of jazz, funk and jam band outfits is coming back to Sandpoint a year and half later, fresh on the heels of a tour with the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger and company aren’t the only famous faces Denson has supported. In the past, he’s collaborated with Jack DeJohnette, Dave Holland, Slightly Stoopid, Blind Boys of Alabama, Blackalicious, Stanton Moore and Jon Foreman.

Rock ‘n’ roll and jam band extraordinaires The Revivalists hit Sandpoint for the very first time on Friday, Aug. 12. The New Orleans band brings a soulful flavor to an alternative rock foundation and are quickly building a reputation for terrific live performances.

Moon Taxi, an indie and progressive rock outfit from Nashville, has long been a fan of the Hive, with members praising Sandpoint audiences as energetic and friendly. The

Aftival mainstays are back for another year of post-Festival fun Saturday, Aug. 13.

For four years running, Aftival has been the late-night destination for both Sandpoint locals and visitors in town for the Festival. The brainchild of Hive owner Jeff Grady, Aftival launched in 2013 when the 207 North First Ave. building was first repurposed as a dance hall. The following year, Grady transformed the building into a premiere dancehall.

The multi-million dollar project included the replacement of the roof and foundation, the installation of a sophisticated HVAC system, the renovation of the bathrooms and the completion of a new street facade complete with a now-iconic sign and marquee.

The interior was outfitted with a new stage, sound system, show lights, VIP booths and bars, leaving plenty of space for concert-goers to get close to the band.

Reader Reels Reminder: See “Swiss Army Man”

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Don’t forget to check out “Swiss Army Man,” the third installment of the Reader Reels film series. The weekend showings take place Friday, July 29, and Saturday, July 30, at 8:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater.

The perfect fit for the Reader Reels series, which highlights independent films with off-beat or strange tones, “Swiss Army Man” stars Paul Dano as a man trapped on a island. He befriends a corpse played by Daniel Radcliffe, who proves surprisingly helpful in finding his way home and restoring his sense of human purpose.

Absurd and wholly unique, “Swiss Army Man” will, at the very least, make for a memorable experience. We hope to see you Friday or Saturday for a few laughs and drinks.

The doors for all Aftival shows open at 9 p.m. with performances set to begin at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, but true music lovers can show their ticket stub from the preceding Festival at Sandpoint show to receive a $5 discount. The shows are restricted to ages 21 and up. Tickets are available at livefromthehive.com or locally at Evans Brothers Coffee, 7B Boardshop, Eichardt’s and show days at The Hive. To reserve a VIP booth for reserved seating, cocktail service, access to VIP bathrooms and a balcony view, email VIP@ LiveFromTheHive.com.

Crossword Solution

This week’s RLW by Cameron Rasmusson

READ

If you’re having withdrawals now that the latest season of “Game of Thrones” is over, I sympathize. If you’re wondering whether George R.R. Martin will ever publish his forthcoming “The Winds of Winter,” I sympathize even more. In the meantime, why not take the edge off with “The First Law” series by Joe Abercrombie? The books are similar in tone to “A Song of Ice and Fire,” featuring intricate plotting, complex world-building and characters that blur the line between heroism and villainy.

LISTEN

Once summertime rolls around, I invariably find myself listening to more Belle and Sebastian. The Scottish indie pop band is frequently trotted out by critics as the poster child of twee preciousness, but for my money, their cheerful oddness is perfect for a hot July afternoon. While every one of their nine studio albums is a winner, 2006’s “The Life Pursuit” is my favorite.

WATCH

With so much extraordinary TV available today, it’s worth noting that HBO still leads the pack.

The premium cable network that launched television’s golden age with shows like “The Sopranos” and “Deadwood” has struck gold again with the limited series “The Night Of.” All heavy atmosphere and foreboding, the series follows Naz, a Pakastani Muslim accused of a vicious murder. Since the first episode premiered July 10, this layered mystery has kept me coming back every Sunday night.

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w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

Each week, we feature a new photograph taken from the same vantage point as one taken long ago. See how we’ve changed, and how we’ve stayed the same.

Historical information provided and verified by Bonner County Museum staff and volunteers. The Museum is located at 611 S. Ella — (208) 263-2344.

The Northern Pacific depot on Sandpoint, with Cedar St. Bridge in the foreground. The smoke you see is from a passing steam engine behind the boxcars to the left of the depot.

The same view today. The Cedar St. Bridge now blocks the view of the Northern Pacific depot, but it’s still there and celebrating 100 years of existence.

2016

Woorf tdhe Week

vox populi

/voks POP-yuh-lahy/

[noun] 1. The voice of the people; popular opinion.

“Polls are certainly useful devices for plumbing the depths of the vox populi.”

Corrections: Could it be? A week without a mistake? We didn’t hear or see of anything striking, so we’ll go ahead and celebrate with a beer or three. -BO 22 /

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/ July 28, 2016

CROSSWORD

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c. 1920

ACROSS 1. Accumulate 6. Wanes 10. Coffee dispensers 14. Ringworm cassia 15. Flippant 16. Person, place or thing 17. Floral leaf 18. Bright thought 19. Carpenter’s groove 20. Daughter of a step-parent 22. Therefore 23. Against 24. Girdle 26. Chick’s sound 30. Flee 31. In what way 32. Cap 64. An indefinite period 33. Former lovers 65. Nigerian monetary 35. Choice unit 39. Red wine 66. Behold, in old Rome 41. Business executive 67. 1 1 1 1 43. Body 68. To untwist 44. A period of discounted 69. Clairvoyant prices 70. Probabilities 46. Small city 71. Trades 47. Best seller 49. Calypso offshoot DOWN 50. If not 51. Domestic breed of rabbit 1. Vipers 54. Certain ball-and-socket 2. Encounter 3. Stake joints 4. Break 56. Storage cylinder 57. A type of semiconductor 5. Chip dip 6. Nosebleed 63. Chair

Solution on page 21 7. Time to go to sleep 8. Broth (Scottish) 9. Polysaccharide 10. Protect by insurance 11. Lion sounds 12. Prod 13. Snob 21. Arm of the sea 25. Klutz’s cry 26. Agreement 27. Reflected sound 28. Arab chieftain 29. A toy that fires pellets 34. Sleekness

36. False god 37. Kittens’ cries 38. Sea eagle 40. French for “Black” 42. Some tides 45. Disgraced 48. Skin pattern 51. Donkeys 52. Daughter of a sibling 53. Candied 55. Nasal passage 58. Peel 59. Rational 60. Cultivate 61. By mouth 62. Beams

There is one question that probably drives just about every vampire crazy: “Oh, do you know Dracula?”

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July 28, 2016 /

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