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212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint
208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994
(wo)MAN compiled by
Susan Drinkard
on the street
In honor of this week’s 40th annual ArtWalk event, here are some quotes by famous artists:
“Every artist was first an amateur.” Ralph Waldo Emerson Essayist, lecturer, and poet
DEAR READERS,
It’s ArtWalk in Sandpoint! The opening receptions will take place between 5:30 and 8 p.m. on Friday, June 16 at 42 different locations around Sandpoint. Do your hard working local artists a favor and check out their creations. There are some excellent pieces. For the third consecutive year, the Reader office will be one of the ArtWalk locations. We’re always happy to support this annual event. If you can’t make the opening ceremony Friday, have no fear; the pieces will hang in place until September. Also, Sunday is a special day for a special person in my life. What many of you don’t know is, my girlfriend, Cadie, is the reason I’m living back in Sandpoint, the reason I started the Reader and the reason I get up every morning. Cadie, I love you and I wish you a happy birthday! She’s going to hate me for this. -Ben Olson, Publisher
Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com
Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash. Subscription Price: $95 per year Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Ansel Adams Fine Art Photographer
LIVE MUSIC Bikes & Beers Benefit
5:30-7:30pm
Third Fridays w/
DEVON WADE 7-10pm Yoga & Beer at the Brewery
HAROLD’S IGA
10-11am
7-10pm
Bob Ross TV host and painter
Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com
Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com
“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”
“We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents”
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com
Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Nick Gier, Jim Mitsui, Brenden Bobby, Art Pilch, Brenda Hammond, Jeanette Schandelmeier, Beth Weber, Jim Ramsey, Dianne Smith, Drake.
Maya Angelou poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist
Georgia O’Keeffe Painter
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724
Contributing Artists: Maria J. Trujillo (cover), Ben Olson, Cort Gifford, Jim Ramsey, Donna Brundage.
“Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall in love with the music of Coltrane, the music of Aretha Franklin, or the music of Chopin find some beautiful art and admire it, and realize that that was created by human beings just like you, no more human, no less.”
“To create one’s own world in any of the arts takes courage.”
READER
BREWERY & BEER HALL 220 Cedar St. 209-6700 FAMILY FRIENDLY BREWPUB 312 First Ave.
255-4351
Authentic wood-fired pizza Mandala will be at the following locations:
Friday, JUNE 16 @ The Granary Lot 5 p.m. ’til late night Friday, JUNE 23 @ 219 Lounge 8:30 p.m. ‘til late night Sunday, JUNE 25 @ Schweitzer 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Mention you saw this ad in the Reader and get $1.00 off your next pizza!
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: 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 is a close-up photograph of a larger painting by Maria J. Trujillo, who will be showing her work at the Red Chair Studio on Fifth Ave. for ArtWalk (next to Misty Mountain). The piece is called “great escape-freedom.” June 15, 2017 /
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COMMENTARY
The Europeans pay more than their fair share By Nick Gier Reader Columnist
One would expect that in anticipation of meeting with the heads of NATO’s 29 nations, our so-called president would at least learn some basic facts about this nearly 70-year-old alliance. Instead, an ignorant and boorish Trump stunned these leaders with a lie about how most NATO countries are financial dead beats. He claimed that “many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years.” With regard to NATO’s finances these nations don’t owe anything. In 2006, under pressure from the U.S., NATO countries promised that they would increase their defense budgets to 2 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). After the end of the Cold War in 1989, many of them had cashed in the peace dividend and diverted funds to social programs. The Great Recession of 2008— largely caused by Anglo-American bankers, politicians and economists—caused havoc with budgets
Letters to the Editor Paris Climate Accord... Dear Editor, We all have litmus tests that obviate the need for much research or study. One of those tests that has NEVER let me down is—when Donald Trump, Dan McDonald and Steve Brixen agree on something, I KNOW they’re wrong and jump on the other side without a second thought. That was the case last week regarding the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord. Some of the misinformation spouted by Trump during his announcement speech was reiterated by both Brixen and McDonald. Recall that Dan vehemently opposed the Clagstone Conservation easement for reasons passing understanding. For the sake of Bonner County I hope his ideology won’t get in the way of pragmatic decision making. Bob Wynhausen Albany, Oregon 4 /
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around the world, and by 2016, only five NATO nations had met the 2 percent goal. Contrary to Trump’s claim, it is not U.S. taxpayers who will pay for these extra weapons; rather, it is the citizens of 24 NATO nations themselves. After the United Nations outlawed “wars of aggression,” the U.S. War Department was renamed the Defense Department in 1947. Presumably, the idea was that the soft power of diplomacy and development aid would replace the hard power of armed intervention. The U.S. spends a paltry .17 percent of its GDP on foreign aid, and the Trump Administration has plans to reduce that amount by gutting the State Department’s budget. A specific target may be the Officer of Religion and Global Affairs. There are unfilled positions in programs tasked with curbing anti-Semitism and preventing radicalization in the Muslim world. The 28-member European Union, which, with some exceptions overlaps NATO, budgets an average .47 percent of GDP to
foreign aid. Sweden, which is in the EU but not in NATO, allocates 1.4 percent and Norway is next highest at 1.05 percent. Sweden has also taken in a record number of refugees. With a population of 9.8 million, the compassionate Swedes accepted 150,273 asylum seekers from May 2015 to April 2016. This number is 1.5 percent of Sweden’s population. During that same period the U.S. accepted 150,875 asylum seekers, and we would have to accept 4.7 million to match the Swedes. From the beginning of the Iraq War in 2003 to 2014, we received only 115,000 Iraqi refugees, while Sweden admitted 78,000, 40 percent Assyrian Christians. Under Saddam Hussein these Christians were safe and respected (his foreign minister was a Christian), but now their numbers have dropped from 1.4 million in 2003 to 275,000 today. Bush’s invasion incited a civil war between Sunnis and Shia, and both sides were radicalized as a result. Should Sweden send Bush, Cheney, et al. a bill for giving sanctuary to these
good folks? In absolute numbers Germany has accepted the most refugees: 890,000 in 2015 alone (1 percent of its population). The total number of Syrian refugees in Germany at the end of 2016 was 567,000. As with all German refugees, these Syrians commit crimes at same rate as citizens, and only nine have been arrested for suspected terrorist activities. The Defense Department has done something right: It is seriously preparing for climate change. In a report (July 29, 2015), which will be difficult for Trump to refute or dismiss (although he will try), the authors conclude that “global climate change will aggravate problems such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership and weak political institutions that threaten stability in a number of countries.” In his speech at NATO headquarters Trump refused to reaffirm our nation’s commitment to Article 5 of the NATO treaty. This provision requires NATO to come to the aid of any member country
that has been attacked. Presumably, Trump will not make this commitment until all member nations “pay up.” In a recent meeting with Romania’s president (a NATO member) Trump did reaffirm Article 5, but he then immediately referred to countries that still owed money. This is one of the most brazen, irresponsible and outrageous examples of Trump’s “America First” policy. This refusal gives comfort to Vladimir Putin, who would very much like a weaker NATO, and it puts fear in the hearts of those living in the small NATO countries of Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, right on Russia’s door step. The title of an editorial in the Kremlin-supported “RT” news outlet says it all: “In Europe, Donald Trump is Making Russia Great Again.”
Thanks Sen. Risch...
collaborated to put together the visual presentation which only showed one side to this controversial issue. The most eye-opening piece of the entire event for me were the statements made by Karen, Sen. Crapo’s aide from Coeur d’Alene. Karen made it clear that my concerns with the washed-out roads near the proposed wilderness don’t matter and were planned that way a long time ago when Sen. Risch was Gov. Risch. She stated that Gov. Risch worked with the Clinton Administration to prep this area for wilderness and there is nothing I could do to change that. Hmm… I thought Bush was President in 2006?
wilderness proposal bill for Scotchman Peaks. His staff was there to listen to constituents’ questions, disseminate information and hear expressions of support for the proposed wilderness bill. There were good displays that addressed the concerns that I heard people at the Clark Fork meeting bring up. I was able to speak to each staff member and express my support of the wilderness bill. It was refreshing to have an opportunity to be heard personally and not just through an opinion letter.
ing took place at that time. The preferred site is an underutilized stretch of Lakeview Park behind Memorial Field between the boat launch and the water treatment facility. The group has handed out fliers in the adjacent neighborhood, also with overwhelmingly positive response. Ultimately the group needs a commitment from the city, designating the site before they can move forward with grant writing or fundraising efforts. They hope to work with Kaniksu Land Trust to obtain 501c3 status making donations tax deductible. Phase one would be focused primarily on fencing and access to drinking water. An off-leash dog park would be a much-needed addition to Sandpoint’s public spaces. It would provide opportunity for dog owners to exercise their canines in a legal and socially enjoyable environment. We need this folks! Please support the effort by coming to the City Council meeting next Wednesday, June 21, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. Also check out their Facebook page “Friends of Sandpoint Dog Park”. Your dogs will thank you!
Dear Editor: Many thanks to the staff of Sen. Jim Risch for holding the open house at Hope Elementary School regarding the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness proposal. I am a strong supporter of this proposal coming to fruition for the betterment of all citizens of Bonner County and North Idaho. Additionally, I call upon Senator Risch to re-introduce this bill during the next legislative session. Dave Hussey Sandpoint
Disappointment... Dear Editor, I would like to express my disappointment with aspects of the proposed Scotchman Peaks wilderness open house held at the Hope Elementary School on Wednesday. On the upside Sen. Risch’s staff was approachable and eager to receive feedback from constituents. On the downside it appeared the Friends of the Scotchmans Peak Wilderness, along with the Forest Service and Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce had
Grace Bauer Bonner County resident
Thanks for Meeting... Dear Editor, I attended the Scotchman Peaks Open House on June 6. I want to thank the staff from Sen. Jim Risch’s office for being in attendance as well as Forest Service personnel. As you may know the Senator is considering re-introducing a
Cynthia Mason Sandpoint
Thanks for Meeting... Dear Editor, “Friends of Sandpoint Dog Park” have been meeting for several months to formulate a proposal to the City and the Parks Department to create an off-leash dog park in Sandpoint. The group was given the opportunity to present the proposal initially to city council in workshop format at the June 7 council meeting. Overall, the response to was very positive. No voting or decision-mak-
Nick Gier of Moscow taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read the long version at www.sandpointreader.com.
Margie Corcoran Sagle
HUMOR
TRAFFIC I remember living in a big city. My morning commute was eight miles, and it took no less 30 minutes on a good day. At 5 p.m. it took around 45 minutes. It was maddening. I’m sure it would have been faster to bike or something, but I had three toddlers to pack around, so my options were limited. Good thing I moved up north to wide open roads and far less traffic. Here in the rural part of the state I have a morning commute of 33 miles, and it takes about 38 minutes, give or take a few. Scratch that: You all know I’m completely full of shit. I have no idea how long it will take me to get to work on any given day. In the winter, if the roads are closed and I am snowed into my driveway, it could take three hours to drive 33 miles. In the spring, if there is a mudslide or flooding, it can and has taken two hours to get to work including parking outside of my workplace and then walking into work on the “high” ground. On any given day, you must pad your departure and arrival times to any important engagement with at least 15 minutes, just in case you are: 1. Stopped by a train multiple times in one trip. 2. Involved in some way in road kill situation, as a victim, a witness or a first aid responder. 3. An over-filled farm truck full of
animals or feed has tipped over on the road. 4. Someone has stopped traffic to save a turtle or some other animal on a suicide mission. 5. An absurd traffic detour has materialized overnight that takes drivers through a road that was last used by a horse-drawn carriage. On each side of said detour there will be an angry weather-worn construction flagger overdoing their job. Likely they will choose you as the car that shall not pass. 6. An influx of lost tourists are going down one-way streets during ski season and sun season. 7. You are forced to spend the majority of your drive behind a plow, tractor or some other slow-moving construction-type vehicle. Oh, but wait … the ante has been upped this summer. The tourists aren’t the only ones lost. In a cruel karmic turn of events Sandpoint’s overlords have changed all the one-way streets into two-way streets. This has created nothing short of chaos for all of the locals who have been driving through downtown Sandpoint in one direction for a lifetime. This insane roadway switch-up comes on the coattails of the installation of a “roundabout” which I’m sure works in Europe or wherever roundabouts originate from. The concept probably works well in places where there are cute little cars and
people driving on the wrong side of the road. I am guessing that the inventor of the roundabout, and possibly those who decide to implement them in our area, have never experienced being sandwiched in a tiny one-way circular road by two Litehouse semis. Let’s talk about this a little more, just to be sure we are all on the same page. On any given day a Sandpoint driver knows that the quarter-mile stretch between the Super 1 roundabout and the airport is nothing short of an elite Japanese game show obstacle course. The obstacle course starts on Boyer Avenue, where you will be driving your civilian automobile through a circular death trap called a roundabout. Don’t let the bricks and flowers in the center fool you. Your fellow contestants will be riding in three-ton trucks hauling liquid blue cheese making a series of hairpin turns. All drivers will be expected to avoid taking out children on bikes and people walking exotic dogs. After you make it through the circular death trap, you will head north through mass quantities of teenagers crossing the street erratically either attempting to reign you in for a car wash, or fleeing the Alternative High School. Next you will hit the first set of train tracks and possibly be stuck there for 20 minutes while the cars in front of you whip U-turns and scream profanity as they attempt to access an alternative route. Once you make it over
those tracks and their giant pot hole alignment-wrecking doom, you will hit the second set of tracks, experience a longer wait time, the addition of three to four UPS trucks, more people on bicycles, a sharp corner of semi traffic turning into your roadway. At this point the remainder of the pissed off people in front of you will reach epic speeds using the first set of tracks as a ramp to race the railroad guard rail that will be falling slowly blocking the second set of tracks. You will pass this set of tracks, and head up a small hill where deer and the occasional moose are likely to jump into the roadway at any given time. This course can take anywhere from two hours to two minutes on any given day. Also, there is always construction on the final stretch of the road. This is because road construction on Boyer Avenue can only be completed between the during high traffic times in the heat of summer, every summer, for the rest of eternity. So while you big city folk may think you know what traffic issues are, truly you know nothing. Come talk to me about how annoying traffic lights are after you wait through two trains, take a three-mile detour and then finish your commute by scraping deer guts off your bumper. Expect the unexpected. Scarlette
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805 Pine Street | Sandpoint | (208) 263-2010
Left to Right: Candice Nelson, RP®, Senior Registered Associate; Tom Gibson, CPA, CWS®, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Emma Gibson, RP®, Associate Financial Advisor
June 15, 2017 /
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COMMUNITY
Library kicks off Summer Reading Program By Reader Staff
Bouquets: •Suzy Miller deserves a bouquet for her kindness and generosity to the many school groups, and children in other organizations, who have toured her farm for the last 25 years. Offering an opportunity for children to experience sheep, lambs, goats, alpacas, and chickens for the first time is priceless. Thank you Suzy! -Submitted by Cynthia Mason •As ArtWalk comes around for another year, I feel compelled to give a bouquet to a local supporter of the arts: Carol Deaner. Carol has been a past president and vice president of visual arts of the Pend Oreille Arts Council and past chairman of the Sandpoint Arts Commission, among many titles. If it has anything to do with art or community, Carol has probably had her hand in it. We are appreciative of your work, Carol! •Wow, another awesome donation just came in from a reader in Sagle. Thank you so much, C.M.! We are so thankful to our readers who donate to the Reader. In fact, we’ve been getting so many donations lately, we’re instituting a Patreon account, which serves as a sort of crowd-funding service to accept donations from our readers who choose to give. We’re still ironing out the details, but the page is up now if anyone is interested in donating. Patreon.com Barbs: •During Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, Sessions repeatedly refused to answer questions that involved conversations he had with President Trump. This seems to be the new norm, with Trump surrogates willfully bypassing telling the truth by claiming it “wasn’t appropriate” to speak on certain subjects. This stonewalling trend seems to be getting worse as the Russian meddling probe digs deeper into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. 6 /
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When kids stop reading during summer vacation, the summer slide happens. No, this isn’t a toy found at the playground. The summer slide is the loss of academic skills and knowledge that takes place over the course of summer vacation. When children take a three-month vacation from reading, it may take up to three months after the start of the school year for them to regain the reading skills they had at the end of the previous school year. That’s why the library organizes a huge summer reading program every year. Preschoolers through teens can participate for prizes and special events. This year’s theme, “Build A Better World,” encourages kids to create and build with tactile workshops and themed programs. Although
Disappointment... Dear Editor, Hello! I’m the old man who refused to take the right of way while riding a bicycle even though you stopped and motioned me on. Yes, I realize you were just trying to be nice and helpful. Do you realize that by stopping, you interrupted the flow of traffic on a through street, stopping the traffic behind you? Do you realize that you can get a ticket for unnecessary stopping and holding up traffic? Do you realize that if I had complied with your telling me to cross in front of you, and someone came up beside you and hit me, that the person who would be held responsible would be you? By law, bicyclists must follow the rules of the road. How can you tell if the bicyclist has to follow the rules for vehicles or if he must follow the rules for pedestrians? It is very simple. If the bicyclist is sitting on the bicycle, whether moving or stopped, the person must follow the rules for vehicles; if the bicyclist is off the bicycle and walking beside the bicycle, the person is a pedestrian. If you wish to read these laws yourself, Google Idaho Statute 49-720, or check out the Driver’s License Manual regarding bicycles. I have been a driver’s license examiner since 1967; first in Washington, and now for the past 19 years
themselves and for us.” There are no minimums on the number of books required to participate in Summer Reading, but research shows that reading as few as six books over the summer can keep kids off the summer slide. Some kids love to read and other kids just haven’t learned to love reading yet. The Library’s Summer Reading challenge is perfect either way. For more information, visit our website or call Morgan or Suzanne, Teen and Children’s Services Librarians for the East Bonner County Library District at (208) 263-6930.
it is a national initiative, the theme is perfectly timed for the Sandpoint Library since we will be starting a big building project of our own this summer! All summer long, kids of all ages can record their time spent reading to cash in on prizes, from t-shirts and water bottles to books and SWAC swimming passes. Special prize drawings will be held at each of the summer reading events as well. Both branches of the East Bonner County Library District are participating. Kids and teens can get an age-appropriate reading log, the full schedule of summer events and all the details they need at the library or online at www.eBonnerLibrary.org. Youth reading logs are due by Monday, Aug. 21, and teen logs are due by Aug. 15 so that they can be tabulated to enter participants
into the grand prize drawings to be announced at the Summer Reading Finale parties in Sandpoint and Clark Fork. The Build A Better World theme is established by the Collaborative Summer Library Program as part of their annual nationwide campaign. This year’s Summer Reading Champion is Newbery Medalist, poet, educator, and New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander. “Serving as Summer Reading Champion gives me the opportunity to reach more teachers, more librarians and more parents, and share what I feel is one of the secrets to the success of the future: the mind of an adult begins with the imagination of a child,” Alexander said. “Books open up doors of possibility and potential and purpose—and allow children to imagine a better world for
in Idaho. During all that time, I have never witnessed the disregard for the rules of the road like I have in Sandpoint. It seems to get worse as time goes on. We may not necessarily agree with all the rules, but they are there for a reason, and that reason is to keep all of us safe. Just imagine driving through Sandpoint, seeing bicyclists stop as required, seeing pedestrians crossing at crosswalks and seeing drivers turn into proper lanes, stopping at stop signs, etc. Imagine law enforcement doing the same thing and also issuing citations to those individuals who do not follow the rules of the road. Imagine how much safer we would all be. And that is why I will not take the right of way when it is not mine to take.
Injectors Car Club BBQ at SASi
Robert Ashbrook Sandpoint
Robert, Thanks for your informative letter. As an avid bicyclist, I find myself in this same situation also. Next week, we will be featuring a “user’s guide” for people confused about the new traffic configuration in Sandpoint. As part of this article, we’ll also go over some bicycling “rules of the road.” Thanks for bringing it to our attention. -Ben Olson, publisher
By Reader Staff Come celebrate summer at the annual Injectors Car Club fundraiser on Father’s Day weekend. The Club is hosting a BBQ at the Sandpoint Senior Center parking lot on Saturday, June 17 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Just $5 per plate will get you a hamburger or hot dog and lots of side dishes and dessert. Sodas and other drinks will be available for $1. Classic cars will be on display! Fun and
Visit www.eBonnerLibrary. org for details about “Your Library Transformation,” the Sandpoint Library’s remodel and expansion project.
yum for the whole family while you support our local seniors! The Senior Center will also be accepting donations for their mid-July estate sale from 1-4 p.m. the same day. In other news, the DayBreak Center has announced they will now be open Mondays to accommodate the influx of patrons. The DayBreak Center is an adult respite care center located adjacent to the Sandpoint Senior Center. For information, call (208) 263-6860.
NEWS
Residents mobilize for dog park By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
For its quickly growing reputation as a dog-friendly town, Sandpoint still doesn’t have a park where residents can gather and exercise their pets. Now a group is working with the city to change that. A new advocacy organization, Friends of Sandpoint Dog Park, is working to mobilize supporters in the effort to establish a local park where dogs can run, socialize and play. Group members Ericka Mattsson and Margie Corcoran encourage dog park supporters to attend the next city council meeting—Wednesday, June 2, at 5:30 p.m.—to demonstrate strong public support for the effort. “I just want to see a ton of people—(a turnout that shows) overwhelming support and that this is something people want to see,” said Mattsson. The Friends of Sandpoint Dog Park have their eyes set on converting a portion of Lakeview Park located near the lake and Memorial Field into a friendly haven for dog owners. The logistics of such a transition are relatively simple: It would require perimeter fencing, which the Friends intend to fundraise, and a commitment from pet owners to clean up after their dogs. “That’s especially important: Dog owners are responsible for picking up after their pets,” said Mattsson. “We as dog owners are responsible for keeping the park neat and clean.” It’s also a very personal issue for many local residents. Despite having a big yard for her puppy to enjoy, Mattsson said that she often sees him moping around outdoors looking bored and lonely. “I just thought if he had a friend he would have so much more to do,” Mattsson said. Corcoran, meanwhile, doesn’t even own a dog, although she said she intends to eventually. She simply sees a dog park as an important community feature that has been missing for too long. She believes it is the next logical step for a town where many local busi-
nesses welcome canine visitors. “Being from Seattle and there being so many dog parks there, I just think it’s a necessity,” said Corcoran. According to Mattsson, the project has picked up momentum quickly over the past few months. Discussions about creating a formal advocacy group began in the late winter and early spring. The first major bout of public outreach occurred, appropriately enough, at the K9 Keg Pull of this year’s Winter Carnival, where group members passed out fliers. They also told council members at a workshop last week they reached out to the neighborhoods surrounding Lakeview Park, informing them of the potential project. Last week, the city of Sandpoint got involved, inviting project organizers to attend a workshop with council members and Mayor Shelby Rognstad. In under an hour, the workshop attendees were able to discuss logistics, fencing, trails and other pertinent details. “I think they realize that a dog park is beneficial to everyone in the community,” said Mattsson. “I felt they were open to listening to us and open to the idea,” added Corcoran. The next step is for the council to authorize Lakeview Park’s conversion into a dog park. That’s why the Friends of Sandpoint Dog Park are asking supporters to attend Wednesday’s council meeting in a show of support. The organization will also be working toward securing grant funding that will cover the costs of fencing. Should that fall through, Mattsson and Corcoran said the group intends to launch a fundraising campaign. For the Friends of Sandpoint Dog Park, it’s work toward a worthwhile cause. “There seems to be something for everyone (in Sandpoint), and now this is the little gem that we’re looking for: a place for dogs,” said Mattsson. Like the Friends of Sandpoint Dog Park on Facebook for regular updates.
this week n i the
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Shooting at GOP baseball field in Virginia WASHINGTION - A gunman opened fire Wednesday in Alexandria, Va., during the early morning practice for a Republican charity baseball game. The alleged gunman, James Hodgkinson, 66, of Belleville, Ill. was shot and killed by the Capitol police force, according to President Trump. Before the alleged shooter was taken out, he had shot and seriously wounded Rep. Steve Scalise, who remains in critical condition according to MedStar Washington Hospital Center. At least six people including Scalise were hospitalized, including a congressional staffer and members of the Capitol police force. Social media showed that Hodgkinson was a small business owner in Illinois who defined himself publicly by his firm support of Bernie Sanders, as well as his hatred of conservatives and Trump. He is also reported to have once volunteered for the Sanders campaign.
Sessions testifies before intelligence committee WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions testified Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Sessions refuted rumors that he had had a private meeting with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. and repeatedly refused to answer questions attempting to shed light on private conversations with President Donald Trump. At times, Sessions faced heated questions from Senators who accused him of “stonewalling” by not fully answering questions. A particularly heated exchange occurred when Sen. Ron Weyden, D-Ore., asked Sessions about a claim from ex-FBI Director James Comey that some issues with the attorney general’s recusal from the Russia probe were “problematic.” “There are none, Senator Weyden, there are none,” said Sessions. “I can tell you that with absolute certainty. This is a secret innuendo being leaked out there about me, and I don’t appreciate it.”
RLD
Revised travel ban suffers new legal setback
WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court ruled Monday that President Trump exceeded the authority Congress granted him in making national security judgments on immigration without adequate justification. The ruling is the second from a federal appeals court. It is the latest in a string of defeats for the administration’s efforts to limit travel from several predominantly Muslim countries, CNN reported Monday. “The order does not offer a sufficient justification to suspend the entry of more than 180 million people on the basis of nationality,” the Ninth Circuit’s opinion said. “National security is not a ‘talismanic incantation’ that, once invoked, can support any and all exercise of executive power.” The ruling also cited Trump’s recent tweets in its case against the ban: “Indeed, the President recently confirmed his assessment that it is the ‘countries’ that are inherently dangerous, rather than the 180 million individual nationals of those countries who are barred from entry under the President’s ‘travel ban.’” The Ninth Circuit cited one of Trump’s tweets from June 5, 2017, in the ruling: “That’s right, we need a TRAVEL BAN for certain DANGEROUS countries, not some politically correct term that won’t help us protect our people!”
Puerto Rico votes to become America’s 51st state PUERTO RICO - Ricard Rosselló, the governor of Puerto Rico, has announced he will visit Washington in the next phase of his campaign to turn the island into the 51st state of the United States. The vast majority of votes cast in a Sunday vote were for Puerto Rico to join the U.S., but the 38-year-old governor faces an up-hill challenge for statehood. Though Rosselló had the backing of 97 percent of voters in the Sunday election, only 23 percent of the island’s 2.3 million registered voters participated, mainly due to several
boycotts staged by opposition parties. The Caribbean island was initially presented to Washington as a prize at the end of the Spanish-American war of 1898. In 1917, Puerto Ricans were granted U.S. citizenship, but they continue to exist inside a political purgatory in which they can elect their own local government and governor but can’t vote in federal elections.
Gianforte sentenced to community service for ‘body-slamming’ reporter MONTANA - Montana Republican Congressman-elect Greg Gianforte was sentenced 40 hours of community service, a $385 fine and 20 hours of anger management sessions after pleading guilty Monday to assaulting reporter Ben Jacobs the day before his election, The Guardian reported. After judge Rick West repeatedly asked Gianforte whether he believed he caused injury to Jacobs, Gianforte said he did. Jacobs recounted the violent encounter in court: “I asked Mr. Gianforte a question in the same manner I have asked questions of hundreds of politicians: congressmen, senators and even the man who is now our president. Mr. Gianforte’s response was to slam me to the floor and start punching me. He injured by elbow, broke my glasses and thrust me into a national spotlight I did not seek or desire.”
Rolling Stone settles rape story lawsuit
VIRGINIA - Rolling Stone magazine and Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at the University of Virginia have settled a lawsuit for $1.65 million over the now-debunked story about a 2014 gang rape on campus, the Daily Beast reported. The settlement ends a lengthy legal dispute that began when “A Rape on Campus” was published in Rolling Stone. In the feature, a woman identified as “Jackie” claimed she was gang raped at a fraternity house, but Jackie’s allegations fell through after other news outlets and local detectives found no evidence backing up her claims. The story was officially retracted in 2015. June 15, 2017 /
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NEWS
ID Supreme Court battle over grocery tax begins By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Arguments begin this week in an Idaho Supreme Court case over the state’s grocery tax, the outcome of which will resonate both statewide and locally. Scheduled for 11:10 a.m. Thursday, Rep. Ron Nate, R-Rexburg, and Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Denney will square off over the legality of the governor veto that killed the state’s grocery tax repeal. Should Nate, who leads the charge in a lawsuit backed by 30 Idaho lawmakers, prevail in court, it will overturn a nearly-40-year-old precedent on laws governing veto procedure and shift the balance of state government power in favor of the Legislature. It will also raise questions about the future of Sandpoint’s local option tax, which funds the Memorial Field reconstruction and derives around a third of its revenue from grocery sales. The grocery tax repeal began as an Idaho House measure to curb the state’s income tax. It was later amended by the Senate to refocus tax relief toward a repeal of the state’s 6-percent grocery tax. It’s a measure supported by legislators across the political spectrum given the tax’s disproportionate impact on low- or fixed-income individuals. All District 1 legislators—Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard; Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay; and Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint—support the grocery tax repeal. Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter disagreed with the Legislature’s assessment. In April, he vetoed the repeal, claiming it would cost the state $80 million in revenue. His decision was influenced by Utah’s experiment with a grocery tax repeal, which he said resulted in unforeseen financial problems. “Everyone benefits from some kind of government service,” he wrote in his veto message. “Everyone eats. The income derived from a tax on groceries helps to even out the more dramatic ups and downs in our state revenue stream so that government avoids disruptive and dysfunctional shortfalls and funding holdbacks needed to balance the budget.” It wasn’t long before Nate’s coalition of 30 legislators, including Scott and Dixon, filed suit, claiming Otter’s veto 8 /
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A shopper navigates the dairy section inside Sandpoint’s Safeway grocery store. Photo by Ben Olson. arrived after a 10-day deadline from the adjournment of the Legislature. Otter, meanwhile, is relying on a 1978 Idaho Supreme Court precedent, Cenarrusa v. Andrus. In that case, the court ruled that the deadline countdown starts from the moment the bill hits the governor’s desk. According to the Spokesman-Review, the court reasoned that the Legislature could avoid a veto by simply not delivering a bill within the 10-day requirement. “In essence that’s the question: When does the clock start ticking?” said Keough. “It’s a different court now, so (the outcome) is really anyone’s guess,” she added. All three District 1 legislators maintain their support for the grocery tax repeal. However, they have different expectations for the outcome of the Idaho Supreme Court’s decision. “I would expect the Supreme Court to uphold the Idaho State Constitution and not allow the veto,” said Scott. As for Dixon, he is confident that the Idaho Constitution is on their side. However, he isn’t as so sure the court will rule in their favor. He envisions several possible outcomes for the case. “If the ruling were to be based purely
on a reading of the Idaho Constitution, I would expect a verdict supporting the plaintiffs,” he said. “However, politics plays a role in even the judicial branch, and, due to some prior circumstances, I will not be surprised if the ruling goes against the plaintiffs. Another possible outcome is for the Court to rule in favor of the Secretary of State, but give direction that, going forward, the interpretation of the law will be strictly held to the wording of the Constitution.” Sandpoint city officials are watching the case closely, as a victory for Nate could mean the repeal of the grocery tax. That spells trouble for the city’s local option tax, which is tied to the state sales tax and receives around a third of its revenue from grocery sales. Passed in November 2015, the local option tax is an additional 1-percent charge on all retail purchases made within the city of Sandpoint. The tax was presented by the city as the last realistic funding source for the aging Memorial Field grandstands, which had hitherto relied on patchwork repairs to keep it in service for sporting events, high school graduation and the Festival at Sandpoint. Since its passage and first year of operation, city officials said the local
option tax was generating more revenue than expected and could eventually fund additional parks projects. Scott and Dixon believe the value of removing a regressive tax on a basic human necessity like food is worth the inconvenience to the city. Given the local option tax’s better-than-expected revenue, Dixon is certain there are alternative funding avenues to explore. “I am confident the city can complete Memorial Field without grocery tax revenue if they are truly committed to the project,” he said. Likewise, Keough sees a possible path toward resolving the city’s problem. She said city officials contacted her during the 2017 legislative session about their concerns with the bill. However, by the time she fully understood the issue, the bill was already on its way to the House. Nevertheless, if the court rules in favor of the legislators, the repeal is set to be phased in. Keough said it’s likely the city’s local option tax can be grandfathered in through subsequent legislation. “Because the bill doesn’t go into effect right away, in either case, there’s still time,” she said.
NEWS
SHS Class of 2017 graduates in style
Graduating seniors from Sandpoint High School’s class of 2017 gather before the ceremony on Friday evening. The grads were the first graduating class to use the new Memorial Field grandstands. Photo by Cort Gifford.
NAMI Far North monthly meeting scheduled By Reader Staff
The NAMI Far North (National Alliance on Mental Illness) regular monthly meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 21, at 5:30 p.m. in the old Bonner General Health classroom, 520 N 3rd Ave, Sandpoint. Jeffery Sparr, Co-Founder of PeaceLove, will be featured to highlight NAMI Far North’s Art Walk display at La Chic Boutique in downtown Sandpoint. Art provides a unique approach to crucial conversations about mental health in today’s society. Jeffery Sparr
advocates using peace, love, and art to help individuals dealing with mental illness. Art gives one a sense control over life, a way to express feelings, and a message of hope and acceptance. Following the presentation there will be a support group session for those with mental illness and another support session for those who love them. All are welcome to this free meeting. Call 208597-2047 for further information.
DETOUR ROUTE TO SCHWEITZER
Summer operations are slated to begin at Schweitzer Mountain Resort next week, but construction and closures on Kootenai Cutoff Road have caused the above detours. The suggested route is to take Highway 95 north to W. Bronx Road, then drive south along North Boyer Ave. to Schweitzer Mountain Road. Map courtesy of Schweitzer.
Crapo calls for stronger Russia sanctions By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff
Citing several examples of international overreach, U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, introduced bipartisan legislation this week to strengthen sanctions against Russia. The proposed sanctions come in response to Russia’s aggression in Syria, its territorial seizure in Crimea and Ukraine and its meddling in international elections. Crapo, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, partnered with senators Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; and Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, in preparing the legislation. “Many of us, on both sides of the aisle, feel that the United States needs to be much stronger in its response (to Russia),” said Crapo. “Americans want to see the United
States stand firm in defense of our long-held values, which include respect for territorial integrity, human rights, and liberty.” An amendment to the underlying Iran sanctions bill, the proposal has four objectives: it escalates and expands the current sanctions against Russia; it creates new sanctions against Russia; it provides a mechanism for Congress to vote before lifting any sanctions on Russia; and it increases the Treasury Department’s ability to track illicit finance, including illicit flows linked to Russia. On the whole, it’s been a big week for Idaho senators’ visibility in national affairs. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, played a prominent role in several widely-watched Senate Intelligence Committee hearings, including those of former FBI Director Jim Comey and U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. June 15, 2017 /
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Mad about Science:
Brought to you by:
everyday curiosities
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
We live in a unique time. We hold gateways to civilization in our hands. You can access entire libraries of human knowledge with the tap of your finger. We can throw a building from one side of the country to another in a matter of hours without harming a soul. We can communicate with people in India with the touch of a button. We have seen tremendous technological advancement in our lifetimes alone. One of Arthur C. Clarke’s famous laws sums up what I’m trying to say: “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” Our lives are filled with more questions than answers, some more mundane than others, some we completely take for granted. In true Mad About Science flair, let’s point and giggle at a handful of curiosities in your everyday life you may have taken for granted, or things you may continue to wonder about from day to day. Hook and Loop Fasteners. Look, let’s not sugar coat it. You know it as “Velcro”. Those weird strips that somehow bond like glue until you’re ready to rip them apart with a horrible tearing noise. Those shoes that fit you right, but everyone makes fun of you for wearing. How do two strips of funky hair stick together so well? You can’t really see it without a microscope, but one strip is lined with tiny little nylon hooks, and the other is littered with countless nylon loops. The neat thing about this is that so many hooks grapple to so many loops at once that it can resist a pulling force by spreading the force across its entire area. The more area the Velcro covers, the more force it can resist. Since the whole system is plentiful and made out of durable nylon, it can be used and reused for a long, long time. Unfortunately, it’s going to 10 /
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hoard every bit of hair, dander, cloth, or anything else it can grapple its grubby little hooks to, and it becomes notoriously difficult to keep clean. NASA makes extensive use of this form of fastening system. Astronauts on the International Space Station slap everything to strips on the wall, otherwise it’ll float away and they’ll spend more time chasing their work than doing it. They even have strips on their meal plates and pants, so they can turn their own laps into a table. The refrigerator. We take this for granted so hard, the Wikipedia page for telling you how a refrigerator works is near the bottom of the second page when you Google it. It’s just a part of our routine, now. A big metal box that holds our leftovers. Before the fridge, you couldn’t just save your half-eaten burrito for later. You either finished it, or you wasted it. Have you ever wondered how it worked? It’s deceptively simple. Your refrigerator is sealed so large amounts of air can’t get into it until you open it up to scrounge. There’s a heat pump in there that pulls warm air out and keeps the inside at a nice, chilly temperature to slow down bacterial growth. That’s really it. Before the fridge, people relied on an ice house to store food. What’s an ice house? A place where they make delicious pizza! Well, now, anyway. In days gone by, people used to dig really deep holes and build a house around it. They’d store ice and snow from the winter in the giant hole, which would preserve the cold temperatures through spring and summer. People would come, get ice to preserve their own food for a while, then have to come back and get more when it melted. Refrigeration pretty much killed that market, and helped us not die of bacterial poisoning in the
process. Credit cards. Think about it: When you give a bank your paycheck, they take and keep your money, no questions asked. What you get in return is a note that says you can use X amount of the bank’s money. It’s basically an IOU. The most convenient way you can unlock that balance is with a plastic card that acts as a key for that lock. All of your information is stored through the bank (or credit provider/middleman between you, the vendor and the bank.), and when a vendor runs your number, your chip or your magnetic strip, they’re bouncing info across the planet and asking “hey, do they have enough on that IOU for this purchase?”, a computer is cross-checking to verify, then beaming an answer back in under a few seconds. Imagine trying to do that back in the 1800s. If you were rich enough to warrant doing something like that, you had a guy that would physically run to the bank for you, then come back with your money or information… several hours later. Credit changed economies forever. For better and worse. Radio. This one’s a doozy. Radio isn’t just what you listen to in your car, or some old thing your grandad reminisces about while you text your friends about how bored you are. Your phone depends on radio waves. Your TV remote depends on radio waves. Your internet connection depends on radio waves. Virtually every facet of our lives is built upon the foundation and dependency of radio waves, but we aren’t equipped, biologically, to see them, and therefore it’s very easy to take their importance for granted. This is an incredibly complicated subject, and one I definitely can’t cover in this little blurb. If you’re curious about how and why they work, head to the library and look around the 621 section in
An extreme close up of Velcro. Non-fiction. Or hitch a ride on a radio wave and Google it on your phone! Wi-Fi uses radio waves, but radio waves are a finite thing, there’s only so much space and if we keep making more devices, we’re going to hit a slowdown wall sooner or later. The optical spectrum may be the new cool tech replacing Wi-Fi within the next few years; they call it Li-Fi. Basically nodes are connected through your house and they flash a dim light repeatedly, really fast that’s too fast and too low for human eyes to really notice, but the light is able to transmit information to devices equipped to pick it up… As long as they’re in viewing range.
In 15 years, the pockets of your pants could be see-through so your phone can interact with these nodes. Weird, right? Wander around your house, be curious, take something apart (preferably only if it’s ceased working!). Life’s too short to pretend we know all the answers. Civilization figured out all of these items, and many more, in great detail, but how many of us consciously know how they work anymore? It’s a great age to be curious. There are a lot of fantastic inventions right under our noses, and you never know when it might pay off to know how to fix it once it breaks!
Random Corner ain?
Don’t know much about the br
We can help!
• In seasickness, the brain thinks that it is hallucinating from poison ingestion due to in-coordination between eyes and ear canals due to motion. As a defense mechanism, the brain tries to get the “poison” out of the body that makes us throw up. • The brain releases so much dopamine during orgasms that its brain scan resembles that of someone on heroin. • The hypnic jerk or the sudden twitching of the limbs that accompanies a falling sensation while falling asleep is caused by the brain’s misinterpretation of relaxed muscles as falling. The brain sends signals to arm and leg muscles in an attempt to contract them. • A study has found that our brain perceives people who annoy us as moving slower than they actually are. • Swear words are processed in a separate part of the brain from regular speech, and they actually reduce pain. • Fingers prune underwater not because of them absorbing the water or washing away the oil, but because of an evolutionary trait directed by brain to enhance the grip of your fingers underwater. • Your brain burns 20 percent of your daily calories, despite only being 2 percent of your body mass.
OPINION
Envisioning a clean energy future By Art Piltch Reader Contributor “You never change things by fighting existing reality. To change something, you build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” -Buckminster Fuller “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” -Henry Ford In 2009, Mark Jacobson, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, first described a plan for obtaining 100 percent of the world’s energy without relying on fossil fuels or nuclear energy. The plan included not just electricity, but all forms of energy used for heating, cooling, transportation and industry. Since then, this same group has published blueprints for 100-percent clean energy for 139 different countries, and all 50 U.S. states. These, as well as many studies by other groups, have concluded that there is way more solar and wind energy worldwide that can economically be developed than we will need, taking into account increases in global population and living standards. Wind and solar energy are also available all over the world, and are particularly abundant in many developing nations that need more energy. What’s more, there is a huge savings by eliminating all the energy required to extract or mine fossil fuel, refine and transport it. Also, in many cases, electricity can be used more efficiently than fossil fuels. For example, only 17 to 20 percent of the energy in gasoline is used to move a vehicle (the rest is wasted as heat), whereas 75
to 86 percent of the electricity delivered to an electric vehicle goes into motion. The main challenge is that the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine in a given location. For a reliable electricity supply, the amount available at any given moment must match the demand at that moment. There are several strategies that can be combined to address the issue of intermittency. Part of the solution is to balance intermittent solar and wind power with other steadier, clean energy sources such as hydroelectric, geothermal, wave power and biomass. We also need to enhance the capacity of our transmission grid so that geographically dispersed sources can back up one another. When the wind isn’t blowing in one area, it will be blowing somewhere else. The areas with the greatest renewable energy resources need to be connected to the population centers where demand is the greatest. For example, in the U.S., the enormous wind resources of the great plains could be used to power urban and industrial centers in the midwest, while solar energy from southwestern deserts could be transmitted to cities in that region. The majority of the U.S. population lives close to the ocean or great lakes, which have an enormous untapped potential for wind and wave power, while the geothermal energy resource of the western U.S. is also largely untapped. Taking advantage of these untapped resources requires an equally ambitious coordinated expansion of our electric power grid. Another important strategy for dealing with intermittency is to store the energy produced during times of surplus production. There are already instances
when favorable weather conditions have resulted in excess wind and solar generated electricity being wasted, while, at times of peak demand, we have been relying on fossil fuel backup. Local storage of surplus energy, in many cases, may be more efficient than transmitting electricity over long distances. The need for energy storage will increase as more fossil fuel is replaced by solar and wind. At present the most widely used method of energy storage for producing electricity is pumped hydroelectric storage. These are hydroelectric plants which use pump turbines that are capable of using the mechanical energy of flowing water to either generate electricity or to pump the water up from a lower reservoir to a higher reservoir. If there is surplus power on the grid, the pumped storage power station switches to pumping mode. If the demand for electricity in the grid rises, water is released from the upper reservoir causing the pump turbines to spin, which in turn drive the generators. Within seconds, electricity is generated and fed back into the electricity grid. Thus, they are able to react in the shortest possible time to grid frequency fluctuations. The facility at Northfield Mountain in Massachusetts, which has been operating for 45 years, features a five billion gallon reservoir on top of the mountain, and an area known as the “batcave,” tunneled into the mountain 750 feet below. It houses the pumps and lower reservoir. The facility was designed to go from zero to 1,168 megawatts (MW) in 10 minutes, and keep generating at that rate for eight hours. As an example of a novel application of pumped hydro storage, General Electric is building a
Part 1
facility in Germany that uses wind power to pump water up to a storage chamber located inside the 800-foottall wind turbine towers. When the wind stops, water flows downhill to generate hydroelectric power. A man-made lake in Crescent Dunes Solar Thermal plant with collector tower. the valley below collects water until For concentrating solar turbines pump the water back power plants that use heat up again. energy to produce electricity, Surplus electricity from it is much more economical photovoltaic panels and wind to store the heat than to use turbines can also be stored in batteries to store electricity. batteries. So far, this is a more These units use an array of expensive way to store large mirrors to focus sunlight from amounts of energy, but that a large area onto solar colleccould change. Elon Musk, the tors containing a heat transguy who will soon be offering fer fluid. The heat from this tourist travel to the moon and fluid is used to generate steam, selling real estate on Mars, has which is fed to a conventional just built the world’s largest turbine to produce electricity. factory of any kind in Nevada. The stored heat can be used to It will produce 35 gigawatt generate electricity at night and hours worth of lithium ion during cloudy periods. The rate batteries / year, with the goal can also be controlled to meet of bringing down the price of demand, rather than being subthese expensive items. The ject to fluctuations in sunlight. market for these is not just While some units use water Tesla cars. A massive gas leak and steam to collect and store in late 2015 and early 2016 thermal energy, a new method outside Los Angeles led to involving phase change bea fear of energy shortages throughout southern California. tween liquid and solid phases, using a mixture of molten Tesla built a 80 MWh battery salts, is more economical, in storage plant nearby in just that the volume of the storage three months. Thanks in part tanks is greatly reduced, and to California’s crisis, but also the need for high pressure improving economics and new tanks is eliminated. A 110 MW state policies, battery storage Crescent Dunes Concentrating technology is preparing for Solar Power Plant in Nevada, unprecedented growth in the featuring this technology, was United States, with a predicted completed in 2016, and is now 800-percent increase over the operational. next five years. There are also There is so much more to new technologies in the works, say about the coming green such as organic flow batteries, economy, but I’m running out which should eventually be much more economical than the of space. Please stay tuned for future articles in the Reader. current lithium ion batteries. June 15, 2017 /
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event t h u r s d a y f r i d a y
PollyANDO’Keary THE RYTHMN METHOD Doors @ 5:30pm Concert @ 7:30pm
s a t Polly OʼKeary is a six-time u Washington Blues Society Best r Female Vocalist, a four-time Best d Songwriter and has won Best a Album from Washington and y
263-0846 dilunas.com
s u n d a y
m o n d a y
w e d n e s d a y t h u r s d a y
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Inland Empire blues societies.
t u e s d a y
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Live Music w/ John Firshi 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Complimentary appetizers will be served Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 9pm @ 219 Lounge Indie rock trio with wide selection of originals and covers to help your booty shake Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante
Fri. June 23rd
207 Cedar St.
Tickets $12 in advance or $15 day of the show
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Bikes & Beers Benefit with Idaho Walk Bike Alliance 5:30-7:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall $2.50 of every beer sold - plus proceeds from raffle items - will go to the IWBA. Representatives will be in town to discuss all the things happening to support bikers and walkers, as well as keeping them safe! Free
18 19 20 21 22
Live Music w/ David Walsh 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Come out to the patio and drink some beer to Ben and Cadie with special guest Ali Maverick Thomas on the drums! Live Music w/ Jake Robin 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Acoustic rock and pop Music by DJ Josh 9pm @ 219 Lounge
f
Architect & Building 3pm @ Sandpoint Library A Build A Better World Summer R gram for 2nd grade kids and older. M entine of Architect’s West Inc. will how he designed the library remodel sion, and then we’ll do an architectu
Live Music w/ Ron Kieper 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Kieper is a powerful, passionate saxophonist with 20 years of experience Live Music w/ Devon Wade 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Celebrate Third Fridays w/ country
Yoga & Beer at the Brewery 10-11am @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Join Danielle Spillman every Saturday for an hou long Vinyasa Flow yoga class outside on the law class fee of $12 which includes a beer (afterwards) a root beer for underage friends Injectors Car Club BBQ Fundraiser 11am-2pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center Parking Lot $5 per plate includes a hamburger or hot dog and lo of side dishes and dessert. Sodas and other drinks w be available for $1. Classic cars will be on display Live Music w/ Marty & Doug 6-8pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Wine Bar
Hard Rock Picnic at Farmin Park 3-7pm @ Farmin Park, Sandpoint A potluck BBQ on Father’s Day with Cobra Jet and High Treason Ammunition playing music. Grill provided - bring food Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Night Out Karaoke Bonner Community Housing Forum 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge 10am-3pm @ Tango Cafe (Columbia Bank) Information on the unique housing needs in 350Sandpoint.org Bonner County. 208-253-5720 to register, General Meeting includes lunch 5-7pm @ Spt. Library Five Minutes of Fame 6:30pm @ Cafe Bodega Writers, musicians, listeners... welcome all. Free and open to the public. Third Weds of month Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry
ArtWalk Evening @ tions in Sa Check out 16 in this all the inf about ArtW
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3pm @ Farmin Park The afternoon market on Wednesdays for all your produce needs!
Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall “One of the most original voices you may ever hear ... Kevin Dorin sounds like no one but Kevin Dorin”
Sandpoint Chess C 9am @ Evans Brot Meets every Sunda
Spud’s owner Pe 3-6pm @ Spud’s Spuds Waterfront 50, so we are ha Stop by and wish Kids Cooking C Learn simple coo grade aged kids. P
Hiawatha Drum C 6:30-8pm @ Memo A journey through t to bring your own d (208) 304-9300 or m
Live Music w/ Brian Jac 9pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
350Sandpoint.org General Meeting 11am-1pm @ Spt. Librar
ful
June 15 - 22, 2017
ummer Reading prond older. Marcus Valt Inc. will talk about y remodel and expanarchitecture project
Girls Pint Night Out 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Cool chicks! Great beer! No dudes! Join Vicki for an evening of beer tasting Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 9pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
ArtWalk opening receptions Evening @ 20 different locaions in Sandpoint Check out the feature on page 16 in this week’s Reader for all the information you need about ArtWalk!
for an houron the lawn. terwards) or
rking Lot dog and lots r drinks will n display
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
“Music of Love and Inspiration” Spring Concert 7pm @ First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive Ave. The Pend Oreille Chorale, String Orchestra and chamber groups present their free spring concerts of classical music Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Erik Daarstad Roast 7:30pm @ Panida Theater Join in the fun, and add your sentiments (or two cents!) to Erik Daarstad. $10 donation includes one glass of beer or wine, appetizers, cake and coffee, and a lighthearted evening with friends!
Holistic Fair 10am-5pm @ Inquire Within (516 Oak St.) Summer solstice is June 20! Palm and tarot readings, macronic energy healing, astrology and more! Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am @ Farmin Park Head down to Farmin Park for fresh produce, garden starts as well as live music and fun for all! Cedar St. Bridge Public Market 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Come enjoy indoor shopping on the bridge spanning Sand Creek Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante
nt Chess Club vans Brothers Coffee ery Sunday at 9am. All are welcome
Fit and Fall Proof Class 11am-12pm @ Cedar Hills Church A fitness class for seniors designed to improve flexibility, mobility, balance and strength. Free and open to all Clark Fork Crafternoon 12pm @ Clark Fork Library Enjoy free family fun during Crafternoon, making crafts to take home
Computer Class: Cyber Security 8:15am @ Sandpoint Library Learn how to keep yourself safe in the sometimes perilous world of the Internet. Space is limited and pre-registration is required - 263-6930 CHaFE 150 Gran Fondo Sponsored by Sandpoint Rotary, this annual benefit ride takes bicyclists on a 150-mile route through Idaho and Montana - or opt for the 1/2 CHaFE at 80 miles, or the 30-mile fun ride CHaFE After Ride Party! 3-6pm @ Trinity at City Beach $12 gets you a fabulous BBQ by Trinity with beer and wine. Support the cause!
Game Night at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge
Let’s Roast Erik Daarstad! academy Award winning cinematographer and all-around great human being Erik Daarstad has done a lot in nearly 60 years of working in film. It’s high time we roast him in style! this is a fun event open to all of erik’s friends and family, as well as anyone who wants to show support for the great work erik has done over the years, not only in film, but in supporting the arts in sandpoint.
Friday, June 16 6:30pm:
appetizers & no-host bar
7:30pm:
let the roast begin!
the panida theater free! (but donations are gladly accepted)
sponsored by sandpoint film festival
owner Peter McDaniel’s 50th Birthday Party Drumming @ Spud’s Waterfront Grill 10:30am @ Sandpoint Library Waterfront Grill owner Peter McDaniel is turning A kids drumming workshop at we are having a get together from to celebrate. the Library Preregistration reand wish him well! quired – 263-6930 ooking Camp (June 19-21) • 12:30pm @ Sandpoint Library imple cooking skills and make yummy food! Open to 4th-6th ged kids. Preregistration required – 263-6930
June 23 Polly O’Keary and the Rythmn Method @ Di Luna’s a Drum Circle! Unite the Tribes! Open Mic Night June 24-25 @ Memorial Community Center (Hope) 5-8pm @ SKåL Taproom Ch ili Cook-Off @ through the spirit world. Not a class! Try Community Day our own drum. For more info contact Jack 1-4pm @ Community Action Partnership Trinity at City -9300 or memorialcommunitycenter.com Learn tips to save money on utility bills Beach
Brian Jacobs Building Workshop with Home Depot 2pm @ Home Depot t’s Pub As part of the Build a Better World summer reading program, the org Sandpoint Library hosts a Building Workshop with Home Depot ng Open to all children, come in and learn how to use hammers and pt. Library nails to build a wood project you can take home! 263-6930
June 25 7B Sunday @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort
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Local politicians weigh in on climate change renewable energy in Idaho, dampening the job growth associated with those industries. It will impact Idaho’s transition into a lesser carbon economy. This, in turn, will enhance the negative impacts of climate change over time.
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
In response to President Trump announcing his intentions to pull out of the Paris Climate Accord, we have asked several of our elected officials in Sandpoint and the state of Idaho what they think of the development. Here are the results of a short email exchange with Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad and Idaho State Representative Heather Scott. We thank them both for taking the time to weigh in their opinions on this issue. SPR: What is your opinion about President Trump’s commitment to pulling the US out of the Paris Climate Accord? Mayor Shelby Rognstad: The Paris Climate Accord was a landmark agreement by all but two countries to commit to curbing carbon emissions and collaborate towards reducing the harmful impacts of climate change. Pulling out of the agreement demonstrates a tremendous lack of leadership from the president. It negatively impacts trust and faith in the U.S. from our allies, reduces our political leveraging capacity and creates instability in the market. This decision negatively impacts our economy as the demand for renewable energy continues to climb and other nations are poised to meet that demand with political support. Rep. Heather Scott: I believe this move by President Trump is a huge victory for the citizens, businesses and communities of Idaho and our nation. We need to ensure the livelihoods and
Mayor Shelby Rognstad.
Scott: It will ensure that local and regional vital industries like agriculture (i.e. seasonal grass burning), timber (i.e. slash pile reduction and timber harvesting), and power generation (i.e. coal, gas and co-generation) can continue to operate to improve the lives and communities within our state without onerous international regulations.
Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard.
stability of our communities at a state and national level which rarely, if ever, occurs when international laws overrule local needs. SPR: How does the move affect us here in North Idaho? Rognstad: We are all impacted by climate change. Locally, negative impacts can be seen with increase probability of droughts and associated wildfires that can be devastating to the state and local economy. We also are impacted by increased flooding. These have impacts on our citizens, infrastructure and state budget. As climate change plays out globally devastating impacts elsewhere impact the national and global economy. A hurricane in New York or New Orleans can be so devastating as to effect global markets, insurance markets and create a ripple effect that can be felt by everyone, even here in rural Idaho. The political and economic instability that U.S. withdrawal creates will have a trickle down effect that will hamper economic growth and vitality in Idaho. It will slow the transition into
SPR: Do you think the Accord has the potential to create more jobs in the green renewable energy sector, or do the imposing regulations cost the U.S. jobs in the long run? Scott: I have not studied the Accord in detail so I am not sure what language is included that would promote job creation. The Obama administration clearly planned to use it as a hammer to further hamper industry growth and ultimately curtail job creation. But leaving the Accord does not prevent American businesses from continuing to invest in new energy technologies with higher efficiency and lower emissions. The energy market is $6 trillion and projected to grow by a third by 2040, according to The Heritage Foundation,
a powerful incentive for businesses to pursue without the aid of taxpayer money, and a predictor of job creation. SPR: Do you believe in climate change? Why or why not? Rognstad: I don’t know of anyone who denies the existence of climate change. Initially conservative Republicans seemed to refute its existence. More recently, however, the evidence for it has become so overwhelming that the debate among republicans has changed from “Does climate change exist?” to “Is it primarily a result of human activity?” As even the vast majority of conservatives now seem to agree on climate change existence, it doesn’t make sense for us to ignore the problem when we are very capable of doing something about it. The Paris Accord was a significant step in this direction. It has support among 195 nations and overwhelming support in this nation. This is evermore clear as we see a growing list of mayors (over 250) and governors nationwide that have signed on to the agreement. Scott: My answer depends on your definition of climate change. Editor’s Note: After clarifying the definition of “climate change” in a new question as “Do you believe in human-caused climate change; that is to say, that human beings are contributing to an increased level of atmospheric carbon dioxide produced by the use of fossil fuels?” Rep. Scott did not comment further.
Listen in Sandpoint to KPND @ 106.7 in HD 14 /
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LITERATURE
This open Window
Vol. 2 No. 12
poetry and prose by local writers edited by Jim mitsui
Here’s a 10-line writing exercise. You’re given a word combination or a single word for each line which somehow connects to the next line, and so on. The length of each line can vary, but be thinking of ending each line with a “strong” word and not an article (a, an, the), a connective (and, but) or a preposition (in, at, to, by, etc.). As you work down the page don’t be afraid to make a “jump” to another idea or even subject. It doesn’t have to be entirely logical. Our minds and thoughts don’t work in complete sentence or proper paragraphs. Our stream-of-consciousness leaps from one idea to another, and sometimes back to what you were thinking a minute ago. Just try to make some sense, some logic, and maintain a sort of flow to your ending. Along the way, avoid using clichés or trite phrases. And try for a lot of active verbs, not passive (is, are / was, were). And once you establish the tense, maintain it, don’t switch from present to past and then back again. When you finish your 10 lines (or sentences) you can stop and use what you have as a base from which to work. Or you can add a new beginning, insert something along the way, or add a different ending. If a line absolutely doesn’t fit in, get rid of it. So you could end up with more than 10-lines, or less. What have left should make some sort of sense, be somewhat logical, and tell enough of a story that the reader can follow. It helps to end with some sort of surprise, a revelation, or a discovery. Remember, you’re not writing an essay where the conclusion is predictable or obvious. In other words don’t end with “The End.” Just stop, and trust that what you’ve come up with communicates something. Being a former English teacher I can’t help but remind to check your spelling, punctuation and sometimes your grammar and usage. On the other hand, some of us speak colloquially and say “ain’t” — that’s okay because it sounds natural and you’re not going to be graded. Here are your 10-lines and the start of a title: A 7B POEM (or STORY). Feel free to play around with this title by adding something more to it. Good luck! Feel free to submit it to Jim3wells@aol.com. 1. Beyond 6. Public 2. The Idaho of 7. Surreal 3. Discipline myself 8. The limits of sanity 4. Gone again 9. Soulward 5. Private lives 10. Ricochets
private evening at home after playing the winter concert
days of 1948
by Brenda Hammond The houses in our neighborhood were framed by identical strips of concrete. Thin sidewalks dividing each lawn wider strips on each side for the cars-This was Detroit. Each house, like a book stacked neatly on a shelf held its own stories. My story stood between the McMahons’s-where the quiet, smiling son went off to war-- and his parents entertained me the year I had rheumatic fever and stayed home from school. On the other side the granddaughter who came to visit and was hit by a car. Across the street the lady who made large plates of Polish pastries covered with powdered sugar, and the freckled boy who bragged that his parents picked him out-- ours had to take what they got. Our moms traded recipes, and we all showed up at the one house with television on Wednesday nights to watch the Lone Ranger. The house on the corner was quiet, with nurses in uniforms coming and going We knew the lady there was dying and we tiptoed past. Spring was splendid with forsythia, daffodils and pussywillow. Then came the lilacs, the hollyhocks the geraniums and roses. Trembling pools of petals by the curbs streets ringing with the sounds of children The stories in my house stashed like baseball cards sorted and bound by rubber bands Sad memories disappear like bruises replaced by full color illustrations. -Brenda Hammond Brenda is a member of the Board of the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force. She’s decided to work less in order to spend more time with her four grand-girls.
by Beth Weber
Ice maker rolls dice in the freezer. Thai basil scent drifts from beneath riverpowered grow lights. Cats don’t lift a whisker when the trains rail by but artwork nods on the walls. I ruffle up in curiosity at all those car doors slamming outside but it’s only branches pledging their snow loads to the roof. Someone down the highway is being rescued by sirens while I am calmed by pitch of the fresh split, stacked beside the wood stove. Sleepbreathing rumbles rough from the curled man on the couch. This is not exactly an ottoman, the velvet covered footrest on my reclining chair, but my feet cross at the ankles, toes keep wiggling for no reason, senseless as the dangle of power line tennis shoes. I ponder briefly the moment of mourning after the final concert when the sheet music is returned to its box and soloists have headed home. Now my notes are scribbled and eyelids want closure. I quit clicking my pen lay it beside my tablet on the barstool I use for an end table. Wake the man. Shut off the lights. We plod upstairs. It was a good day. I love you. Sweet dreams. -Beth Weber
Send poems to: jim3wells@aol.com
This has been a huge year for Beth, who lives in Cocolalla. She “made” the Coeur d’Alene Symphony, and was recently accepted by a Key West, Florida workshop which will be taught by Billy Collins, arguably the most popular contemporary poet in the U.S. Only 10 students from across the country were accepted for this honor.
frogs at midnight
by Jeanette Schandelmeier In spring when ponds thaw and creeks slow their furious
A cadence draws and listen. you in and resonates with your
rushing, frogs begin to sing their mating songs. In the black
own heartbeat. And you will find spring in dawn and dusk varied thrushes’
dark you can hear them if you step outside in the moonlight
calls, robin choruses in daylight and frog songs after midnight. A new year begins — vernal equinox. -Jeanette Schandelmeier
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ART
Sun’s out, art’s out
POACS’s 40th ArtWalk is bigger than ever before By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer When Pend Oreille Art Council’s arts administrator Hannah Combs prepared for her first ArtWalk last year, she knew it was a long-standing tradition. What she didn’t know was just how much Sandpoint looked forward to ArtWalk. “I was impressed and a little surprised last year, my first year, by the overwhelming support we receive for this event,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting the sheer number of people, and the people I’d never seen (at POAC events) before coming out for ArtWalk.” ArtWalk kicks off Friday, June 16, with receptions at every location housing artwork during the nearly three-month-long citywide art tour. Combs said every location will have food and drinks Friday night, and some will even have live music. Specific information about locations and artists can be found in the ArtWalk brochure, available all over town starting Thursday. “(The brochure is) a good source for people who are maybe visiting town, or maybe just haven’t done the ArtWalk before, and even for people who are coming back, because the vendors change every year, the artists change every year,” she said. Combs said ArtWalk usually averages around 25 vendors, and with 30 vendors last year, she said POAC felt like “that was a lot.” That is until this year, when 42 locations signed up to house over 100 artists. “We said, ‘Hey, it’s our 40th anniversary, so we’re going to try and get 40 venues to be a part of it,’” she said. “And we did — we got more than we were even hoping for.” Participants can pick up an ArtWalk passport at any participating location, and once they 16 /
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earn 10 stamps on their passport proving they’ve visited that many locations, they can turn it into the POAC office and be entered into a drawing for a season pass to POAC’s Performing Arts Series and other prizes. Combs said participants have all three months of ArtWalk to complete their passport. She said she loves that the event covers the entire town in artwork, and that the timing couldn’t be better. Summer brings an influx of people, and those people are getting to see an even further beautified version of Sandpoint. Combs said while this is well known as a recreational area, ArtWalk sheds light on the thriving arts community. “To be able to be the vehicle for really boosting that image and getting artwork plastering this entire town — that’s really exciting,” she said. Artist Maria Larson has participated in nearly a decade of ArtWalks, and said the receptions are always well attended. “I think people in general are hungry for art and this is just a really nice opportunity for enjoying that camaraderie and community,” Larson said. “It’s great when the arts bring people together like that.” Even though Larson has her art on display at Northwest Handmade Furniture year-round, she said ArtWalk is a unique time of year because there are more people out and about seeking exposure to artwork of all kinds. “People are genuinely looking at all the art. Even if they don’t like it, or if it’s not something they’re familiar with — they really look at it and I think that’s great,” Larson said. She said many of her friends only live in the area seasonally, and often their first encounter of the year is at ArtWalk. “When you create a venue
where (people) can see (art), they will come,” she said. “It’s the art that brings them down, and then the social gathering part really comes after.” Combs said she expects that hunger for art and community loyalty to ArtWalk will be on full display Friday night at the receptions around town. “People expect it, and they love it, and they’ll come out hopefully rain or shine,” she said. Here is a list of the locations to view art during POAC’s 40th annual ArtWalk: •Evans Brothers Coffee Roasters •Lisa Turner Photography •Misty Mountain Furniture •Red Chair Studio •Pend Oreille Winery •Infini Gallery •Eichardt’s Pub •Nieman’s Floral & Garden •Idaho Pour Authority •14X Bags •Year Round Co. •Sandpoint Reader •Baxter’s on Cedar •Understory Coffee •Petal Talk •Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeepers •Azalea •Hen’s Tooth Gallery •Hallans Gallery •Zany Zebra •Northwest Hademade •Pend Oreille Arts Council •Mountain Song •Cedar Glen Gallery/Jerry Ferrara Wildlife Photography •Galaxy Gallery •Music Conservatory of Sandpoint •Gionni’s •Lisa V. Art Studio •La Chic Boutique •Pedro’s •219 Lounge •Zero Point •ArtWorks Gallery •Santosha •Sandpoint Arts Commission: The Silver Box Project •Serendipity Unique Boutique •Toad Alley Picture Framing •Loaf & Ladle •Art Place Sandpoint •Monarch Mountain Coffee •Columbia Bank & Tango Cafe •Bizarre Bazaar
“Hiding with Hummingbirds” by Clancie Pleasants, done with acrylic paint. This painting is currently hanging at Monarch Mountain Coffee.
Detail from an oil painting by Barbara J. Cannon called “Blue Pan Pipes up the Daffodils” currently hanging at the POAC Gallery.
COMMUNITY
In books we trust:
‘Village Green’ program helps get books to kids who otherwise can’t afford them
By Jim Ramsey Reader Contributor One day each month of the school year, Deb Davis’ second-grade students at Farmin Stidwell elementary school in Sandpoint have a big celebration when the books they have ordered through Book Trust arrive. Each of her 25 students, who otherwise couldn’t afford to purchase them, receive their own special books, using the $7 per month or more they are allotted each month under a locally-sponsored program called Village Green. They take these books home with them, read them with their parents and form a personal library with up to 30 books over a school year. “There is an amazing woman who is behind this wonderful program,” Ms. Davis said. This person is Karen Quill of Sagle, who, after setting up a similar program in Hawaii, has organized the nonprofit organization. In the last three years, starting with Washington elementary followed by Northside, Village Green has enabled first through third graders in all seven elementary schools in the Lake Pend Oreille School District—1,114 students in all—to choose their own books and take them home. LPOSD is the only school district in Idaho that has this program, said Quill, and in those three years it has proven to improve students’ reading scores and help prepare them for high school and after that college or jobs. Reading at an early age is a key ingredient, educators agree, in an effort to improve the percentage of local students going on to college and to address what a state education task force has labeled as “Idaho’s dismal college graduation rate.” “This is a huge way for us to impact our community and combat illiteracy,” Ms. Davis said. Kids tend to read books they choose, she adds, and they now have books to start a library at home. “The program has led from 50
percent to 100 percent of kids getting books every month,” she said. The program also helps provide more books for the classroom library. Each elementary school teacher also gets “points” for ordering books, allowing them to order more books or receive a gift card to order other classroom items. Deb Davis was able to use these points to order earphones for all her students’ iPads. Karen Quill’s local organization Village Green works in conjunction with Book Trust, a national organization headquartered in Denver, which this year will provide 1.2 million books to 50,000 school children in 19 states. Book Trust is a national literacy program designed to empower elementary–aged students to fall in love with reading and become life-long learners. Book Trust says it has seen a 30-percent increase in the number of students reading at grade level by year’s end. Nearly 60 percent of (Book Trust) teachers report BT positively affected students’ scores on standardized reading assessments vs. 25 percent of teachers whose students are involved in other reading programs. “Research shows,” the organization claims, “the number of books in a child’s home has the same impact on a child’s educational attainment as parental education levels.” While Book Trust pays the bill ($7 x 25 monthly for Deb Davis’ class), Quill wants people to know that local donations to Village Green, a local nonprofit, are used locally, and don’t go to a national organization. Money is raised from individuals and businesses, and also from grants from such local organizations as CAL and the Rotary Club. On Wednesday, June 21, Baxter’s Restaurant is hosting a Book Trust fundraiser for Village Green. There will also be a fundraiser golf tournament held at The Idaho Club on Sept. 2. “Book Trust relies on community support to run its programs and recognizes that some parents would also like
to be supporters of this program,” Quill said. Some parents are encouraging this program in their schools by making donations. Books are ordered through Scholastic Book Club, a publisher of children’s books, and the Scholastic Magazine. Teachers like Deb Davis can set up a computerized ordering system that automatically orders the books the students choose. Karen Quill’s program began with first graders in the 2014-15 school year, then in 2015-16 it included first and second grades. Now in its third year in the 2016-17 school year, third-grade students are included and the program will expand to include all kindergarten students starting in February 2017. For further information about Book Trust please, contact your child’s teacher or visit www.villagegreenproject.org.
Ms. Davis and her second grade students at Farmin Stidwell excitedly show off their own monthly Book Trust books. Front row from left to right: Toby Walker, Daniel Rodrigues, Ms. Davis, Back row: Jade Thompson, Hope Kelly, Jacob Alexander Photo by Jim Ramsey.
A broad and often deep selection of quality fiction in a post-truth time. And lots of other good books. Main Street Downtown Bonners Ferry 267-2622 30 years of improbability We buy used books
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Insuring The North Idaho Way Of Life!
PROFILES
Boise bound:
Jessica Chilcott might be leaving Bonner County, but now she’ll be “in the thick of it” in Boise
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer
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By day, she’s a therapist. By night, Jessica Chilcott is a politician, social activist and avid consumer of superhero television shows. And just like a superhero, Chilcott has a reputation for helping people. While her job in therapy often consists of one-on-one work with people, she said those interactions reflect policy on a higher level — hence her interest in politics. “The policy ties directly back to our direct practice. I think a lot of times we can lose sight of that. What’s happening in the halls of Congress today directly affects my ability to do my work tomorrow. What happens in the Idaho State Legislature affects the families that I work with,” she said. “So to me, it’s logical. You have to work on these larger issues because at the end of the day, there’s families who are being affected by them.” Chilcott is moving south to Boise to be close to family after spending just under a decade in North Idaho. During that time, she served on boards for both the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force and NAMI Far North, Inc. She also ran for the Idaho House of Representatives District 7 Seat A twice, and while she never occupied the office, she continued fighting for her platform of access to education and the well-being of every Idaho resident. “I really, really truly believe that the foundation of our society is that quality education,” she said. “Having access to a high-quality education, even for someone who chooses not to go on and pursue a four-year degree, will set you up for long-term life success.” Chilcott considers herself a lifetime learner, but understands that not everyone has the same affinity for formal education. But that’s OK, she said, because there are many informal ways to continue learning. Chilcott said what matters is the acknowledgment that Idaho has educational disparities across the state. A child in Lapwai does not have the same educational resources as a child in Sandpoint, Chilcott said.
While education was a major part of her platform and ongoing work to improve the state of Idaho, she said she is also working to make sure the state meets the needs of those with mental illnesses and physical disabilities — areas where she said she sees Idaho going backward as of late. In moving to Boise, Chilcott said she knows she’ll continue being a voice for those people. In fact, she said, many of her friends in Bonner County are excited she’ll be in Boise seeing as she’ll be “in the thick of it” — that is, closer to the Legislature. “I’m very fortunate in that I’ve never had an employer who didn’t support me working in policy,” she said. Jenny Brotherton-Manna, owner of North Idaho Community Mental Health, has worked closely with Chilcott and said she’s seen her selflessness firsthand in her therapy work. “She is helping people in times in their lives when they need help and empowerment,” Brotherton-Manna said. She said that Chilcott is known to do pro-bono work in the community, and that she often donates her time to visit Boise and speak up for people in Idaho who don’t have the resources to do it themselves. “She is the grassroots person who says ‘we’ve got these social issues, and they affect people’s lives,’” she said. Brotherton-Manna said Chilcott could often be spotted outside polling locations encouraging citizens to vote, no matter their political affiliation. She said Chilcott is one of the smartest people she’s ever met, and she uses her knowledge of social issues to educate others. “(Chilcott) is trying to make sure people really understand the issues,” she said. “She is helping people from where they are.” There will be a potluck send-off for Chilcott at North Idaho Community Mental Health on Saturday June 17 at 5 p.m. Brotherton-Manna said all are welcome, and need only bring a dish to share and a chair to sit in.
Top: Jessica Chilcott. Courtesy image. Bottom: Jessica Chilcott high fives Jeff Bohnhof at the candlelit vigil for the Pulse Nightclub shooting victims in June 2016. Photo by Donna Brundage.
STAGE & SCREEN
Roasting a film legend:
Panida Theater plans a roast for Academy Award-winning cinematographer Erik Daarstad
By Ben Olson Reader Staff If you look up Erik Daarstad on IMDB.com, you’ll find his first film credit is listed as a cinematographer for a war film called “Hell Squad” in 1958. So began Daarstad’s nearly 60-year career in film that has seen his hand in everything to TV movies to Academy Award-winning documentaries. Of course, you might never realize this upon first meeting Daarstad. The soft-spoken Sandpointian famous for his cardigan sweaters and ear-to-ear smile might fool you into thinking he isn’t a big deal. His easy manner and poignant way with words might lead you to believe he was just another kind older gentleman spending his retirement years in our community. The truth is, Erik Daarstad is kind of a big deal. As a way to recognize the octogenarian cinematographer for his lifetime achievements in film, as well as his unflagging support of the arts in Sandpoint, Sandpoint Film Festival and the Panida Theater are holding a roast in honor of the famous cardigan-wearing Norwegian. The Erik Daarstad Roast will be fun, light-hearted and inspiring to those who have had the pleasure to meet Daarstad. It will take place Friday, June 16, at 7 p.m. at the Panida Theater. Appetizers and a no-host bar will be offered in the Little Panida Theater starting at 6:30 p.m. “Erik is such an accomplished filmmaker and human being,” said Janice Jarzabek, the coordinator for Sandpoint Film Festival and personal friend of Daarstad’s. “I’ve learned so much from him about filmmaking. He’s a wonderful humanitarian.” Jarzabek said she and a group of Daarstad’s friends put together the roast to pay homage to the man in a fun way: “I could not have put this together without the help of Eric Ridgway and Donna Short,” she said. “This is a town party with no entry fee,” said Jarzabek. “It’s a free party for
all family and friends of Erik Daarstad with a lot of fun skits and a big group of the people who love Erik paying tribute to him.” Jarzabek said she treasures her experience with Daarstad while screening potential films to include in the annual Sandpoint Film Festival. “Erik is the eyes and ears of the Sandpoint Film Festival,” said Jarzabek. “We’re in our eighth year and since it’s free to enter the festival, we get a lot of submissions. This year, we’ve had more than 1,500 submissions already and we watch every single one of them. Erik’s critiques are always appreciated.” Daarstad has lived a storied career in film that spans an unbelievable seven decades. Mostly focusing on documentary filming, Daarstad has been credited as director of photography for scores of worthwhile projects. The 2013 documentary “Anita” was a profile of Anita Hill, the African-American lawyer who challenged Clarence Thomas’ nomination to the U.S. Supreme Court and thus exposed the problem of sexual harassment to the world. In 2012’s “G-Dog,” the documentary takes a look at the life and work of Father Greg Boyle, a gang reformer. The film has a 100-percent rating on RottenTomatoes.com. Other notable titles include 2008’s “Butte, America: The Saga of a Hard Rock Mining Town,” and his latest, “Liza, Liza Skies Are Grey.” Over the years, Daarstad has traveled the world and left a lasting mark on cinema. He was cinematographer for the 1968 animated short documentary film “Why Man Creates” which won an Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject. Jarzabek recounts a funny story Daarstad told her once involving a rhinoceros. “He was chased by a rhinoceros at one point in his filmmaking career,” she said. “He was running from the rhino and tripped over a cord. The rhino ended up tripping, too, and Erik didn’t get killed.” Daarstad culminated his experiences
in a memoir titled “Through the Lens of History: The Life Journey of a Cinematographer,” published by Keokee Books in 2015. “Erik Daarstad is truly one of the world’s great cinematographers,” wrote Terry Sanders, two-time Academy Award Winning Filmmaker/Director. “I’ve worked with Erik on more than 30 films and have always been impressed with, and grateful for, his many wonderful qualities. Children and dogs (maybe all animals) immediately love and trust him. Erik is a man of few words, and when he speaks, he is self-effacing and modest. After an incredibly good day of filming, where wonderful shots have been captured, Erik will often say, quietly, but with a twinkle, ‘Lucked out again.’” Whether you are a dear friend of Daarstad’s or merely appreciate his work and support of arts in Sandpoint, the roast will be a chance to share some laughs with one of our community’s most talented citizens. A $10 donation to the Panida Theater includes a glass of beer or wine, plus appetizers, cake and coffee. If you can’t afford to donate, come watch the roast anyway, as it is free and open to the public.
Top: Director Terry Sanders, left, and cameraman Erik Daarstad, right, on location in Balad, Iraq while filming “Fighting For Life.” Courtesy image. Bottom: Erik Daarstad’s winning smile is always a great thing to see in Sandpoint. Courtesy image.
The Erik Daarstad Roast kicks off at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 16 at the Panida Theater. Appetizers and a no-host bar will be offered in the Little Panida Theater starting at 6:30 p.m. June 15, 2017 /
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Living Life:
What helps make a good marriage?
By Dianne Smith Reader Columnist “A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.” -Robert Quillen The secret to a good marriage is an interesting question, and if you did a survey, you would get hundreds of opinions, ideas and suggestions. What is important to one may not be important to the other. It is essential, however, to know what is on your partner’s list of important things in a relationship. If receiving flowers is not high on someone’s list, and you send flowers every week, you might be wasting your time, money and effort, or at the least, not getting the biggest bang for your buck, so to speak. There are some variables, however, that would probably be common to most. It might be the implementation or how that differs but I think most would agree on many. Most would agree that the marital bond of respect, trust and intimacy grows stronger and more resilient in the first two years of marriage and will need work to continue to grow. It is easy to get complacent and slip into patterns and routines. Instead of growing we become stagnant. It is important to develop a mutually agreed-on couple style for handling differences and conflicts. If a conflict cannot be immediately resolved and one person needs resolution, it is important to set a timeline to solve the problem. Most would say don’t go to bed without taking care of conflict. In a marriage, approximately 30 percent of problems are resolvable because both agree. Around 50 to 60 percent are modifiable with give and take, and people can come to an agreement despite different points of view. Finally, 10 to 20 percent need to be accepted because the other person’s needs and wants outweighs ours. Sometimes it is important to give 100 percent to the way the other person would like it, because that is how 20 /
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it will work best for the relationship. Being able to put someone else’s needs before your own is huge in making a relationship work, especially when you add children to the mix. Maintaining positive and realistic personal and marital expectations is important. If you married someone who is more on the nonsocial side don’t expect that you are going to “fix that” and make them social. They might socialize more because they love you, but they are probably never going to have being social as number one on their list of liked activities. The same goes for camping and many other activities. Use the guideline of a five-to-one positive-negative set of thoughts, feelings and behavior toward your spouse and marriage. If we are focused on the negative we see more negative. Look for ways to show your appreciation and to say thank you. Look for ways to show you care. Find out what is important to your partner and what is on their measuring stick of what makes a relationship work. Maybe it is something as simple as making sure the car is taken care of. Know that there will be ebbs and flows and ups and downs in a relationship. With work, however, the downs can be changed to an up. If you find yourself in a down pattern go back to showing the other person that you appreciate them. Showing appreciation shifts the pattern in a positive movement. When someone feels appreciated they are willing to do more and when they do more the other feels appreciated moving the relationship in an uphill spiral. Don’t get stuck on being right in a discussion and learn to listen. So often when we are having a conversation we are already thinking about our response as the other person is talking, so we are not really giving them our full attention. Learn to speak in “I” statements. “I feel ______ when you ________ and what I would like is_______” is a good format to follow. It takes away the blame of you.
Bringing shared meaning to your relationship increases the joy. It is important for each person to have their outside interests and friends, but it is also important to have shared interests and activities that you enjoy together. Alone time for just the couple is important to build memories and the relationship for years to come Good marriages take work and don’t always come easy but are so worth the effort. Any marriage that is struggling can change the course with a little bit of effort and work and time spent together. There are wonderful books and articles
on how to rebuild a marriage or how to make a marriage better. Before you walk away it is important to say that you gave your all to make it work so there are no regrets. This is even truer if there are children involved, because every child wants to have two parents in the home if at all possible. Dianne Smith, LMFT is a licensed therapist with over 30 years experience. She has an office in Sandpoint and in Bonners Ferry and can be reached at 951-440-0982.
Chili cook-offs set to heat up Sandpoint International Chili Society will host state and regional chili competitions at Trinity At City Beach
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer Anyone hankering for a carefully-crafted blend of beans, meat and competition should consider visiting Trinity at City Beach the weekend of June 2425. Between Saturday’s Mountain State Regional chili cook-off and Sunday’s Idaho State chili cook-off, there should be plenty of the stuff to go around. Sanctioned by the International Chili Society, these two cook-offs will ultimately send six chili chefs to the world championships. Categories of competition include red chili, chili verde and salsa, and prizes reach as high as $1,500 for first place in the red chili category. The man organizing the events, Doug Dishong, attended his first cook-off in 1978 with his father. Since then, compet-
itive chili has remained a big part of his life. Dishong said his son is now taking part in the competitions as well—even winning fifth place at the world competition last year. “I mean, there’s the combination of the meat and spices, but a lot of it is the camaraderie of the people,” Dishong said, adding he’s known many of his chili-cooking friends for more than three decades. “I’ve gained so many friends over the years.” Dishong said there will be live music from local artist John Kelley both days, and K102 Country will be there all day Sunday. He said everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the chili festivities. Those seeking more information about how to register as a competitor for either day of competition should visit chilicookoff.com.
This week’s RLW by Ben Olson
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want to show some love to your local free paper?
I never really got into William Faulkner, but one novel of his that spoke to me was his hard-boiled noir detective novel, “Sanctuary.” This pulp fiction is chock-full of interweaving plot lines and noir terminology as his protagonist gangster Popeye kidnaps and ruins a Southern debutante named Temple Drake. When it was published in 1931 it was very controversial, especially for his turning an innocent female victim into an arbiter of darkness.
We have been receiving a lot of donations lately from our loyal readers. So many, in fact, that we have launched a Patreon.com page as an online resource for people to donate a small mo monthly sum to the Reader to help us improve and move forward into the future. You can donate as little as $1 a month to help your free community paper.
LISTEN
Over 100 artists!
And trust me, we can always use the help.
Thanks, The READER staff
June 23 @ 5:30pm | June 24 @ 3:30 & 7:30pm
“i, daniel blake”
entry on June 23 is a donation to bonner county food bank
patreon.com/sandpointreader
FIDDLIN’ RED Music Store
Instruments Repairs Lessons
June 29 @ 7:30pm | June 30 @ 5:30pm july 1 @ 7:30pm | july 2 @ 3:30pm
“a quiet passion”
July 1 @ 3:30pm | June 2 @ 6:30pm
“The Goonies”
Come see this great family comedy classic
Friday, July 7 @ 7pm
“Sense the wind” documentary an uplifting documentary film about the sport of blind sailing saturday, July 8 @ 8pm
an evening with the cowboy junkies friday, July 14 @ 9pm
Paul thorn
saturday, July 15 @ 7:30pm
Fans of Sandpoint’s own Shook Twins might also be interested in their lead guitar player Niko Daoussis’ side project, CyberCamel. Niko is the guy everyone wants in their band. He can play anything that makes a sound, has a great can-do attitude, and is weird as a box of fish food. The result? Niko “Slice” Daossis: the gland, the sith, the legend. CyberCamel is billed as “the ultimate one man band” for good reason: He writes the music, plays every instrument imaginable and blends his unique blues/ electronic/dance beats into a great finished product. Check him out on Bandcamp. No really, do it!
WATCH
While I don’t often have a lot of spare time to watch the incredible amount of good television that has surfaced in the past decade, occasionally I stumble upon something that moves me. ABC’s “American Crime” anthology did a great job in its short three seasons of exploring the difficult issues of race, gender and social class. Focusing on a specific crime, the series extrapolates the many sides of an issue, painting a picture of not a cutand-dried crime, but an event that has many moving parts and conclusions. It’s streaming on Netflix now and I recommend the series highly.
“losing julia finch”
111 Church St., Spt, ID (208)946-6733 WWW.FIDDLINREDSIMPSON.COM
A mirthful meditation on the life of a writer from North Idaho
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The Straight Poop:
The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho
By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist
Drake About Town
Where am I taking my humans today? Well folks, summer is here, and the livin’ is easy! After a long winter, it’s time to step it up (the Missus has a goal of 10,000 steps per day), and check out over 40 dog friendly business in our neck of the woods. I have been writing this column for almost two years, and during this time I’ve meet so many cool dudes, been asked for my paw-tograph, and shared K-9 stories and fun facts about my favorite digs. Locals and tourists stop me on the street and ask me where their fur babies are welcome. So grab your leashes, lead your humans to these tail waggin’ businesses, relax and enjoy a cool one! Look for the Reader paw print in the window, put on your best manners, give slobbery dog kisses, and you might score a treat! Downtown Sandpoint •Cedar Street Bridge •The Sandpoint Saturday Market •Cedar Street Bistro Wine Bar •Boomer’s Barley &Biscuits •Carousel •American Angel Studio •Kyoto Sushi Bar •Kitchen Essentials •Staff of Life •Eve’s Leaves •Evans Brothers Coffee •Sunshine Goldmine Co. •Fresh Sunshine Flowers •The Alpine Shop (both locations) •Sharon’s Hallmark •Lisa V. Maus Studio •Great Stuff •Sandpoint Upholstery & Design •The UPS Store •219 Lounge •Idaho Pour Authority •Understory Coffee & Tea •The Reader •Larson’s Department Store •Hallans Gallery •South Fork Hardware •Mick Duff’s Beer Hall and Brewery •Taylor and Sons Chevrolet •Flying Fish Company
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•Petco •Small House Winery •North 40 •Panhandle Animal Shelter •Laughing Dog Brewery •Alpine Motors •Milltown Distillery Dog Friendly Offices: •Keller Williams Real Estate •The Festival at Sandpoint •KHQ Newsroom Doggie Deck Dining: (ask each for seating details) •Baxter’s •Dish at Dover Bay •Trinity at City Beach •Beyond Hope Resort •Pine Street Bakery •Schweitzer Mountain Resort: •Ivano’s Ristorante •Chimney Rock Grill •Bottle Bay Resort •Gourmandie •Pucci’s Pub
My nose knows there are more dog friendly businesses out there. If your business is dog friendly, raise your paw and send my buddy Ben Olson at the Reader an email. He will share it with me and I’ll run over and get The Straight Poop.
Drake and the Mister cruise around looking for dog-friendly businesses on a sunny day in Sanpdoint.
Crossword Solution
Hugs and slobbery dog kisses, Drake xxoo
I’d like to see a nature film where an eagle swoops down and pulls a fish out of a lake, and then maybe he’s flying along, low to the ground, and the fish pulls a worm out of the ground. Now that’s a documentary!
JUNE 24th 30% off
all wines all weekend long -cheers
CROSSWORD
By Charity Luthy
Third & Cedar | 208.265.8545 | POWine.com
We are a weekly pop–up take–out restaurant offering authentic Indian cuisine every Monday in Sandpoint, Idaho. •Open from 3-7 every Monday •Walk–in lunch special: 2 curries + rice, $8 order online at:
www.SandpointCurry.com 723B Pine Street • (Pine Street Alley) •Sandpoint, Idaho
conflagration
Woorf tdhe Week
/kon-fluh-grey-shuh n/
[noun] 1. a destructive fire, usually an extensive one. “Two years ago, a conflagration at Cape Horn kicked off the fire season.”
Corrections: Nothing to report. -BO
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