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(wo)MAN compiled by
Susan Drinkard
on the street
‘What qualities do you look for in a candidate?’ “Someone who will use the money on repairing the roads on residential streets; Fir and Lincoln are especially bad. That should be the priority, not solar-powered trash cans and art sculptures.” Eric Whitworth Sandpoint
“Honesty, compassion for people who are vulnerable and an eagerness to work with all parts of the community.” Nancy Gerth, Ph.D. Book indexer Sagle
DEAR READERS,
We’ve been graced with some sunny days this past week, for which I am especially thankful. There’s nothing quite like a brisk, sunny fall day to lift your spirits. Speaking of spirits, if this current local election has been driving you to drink like it has me, might I suggest a fine rye whiskey to take the edge off? While we’re on the subject of elections, the Sandpoint Reader is teaming up with Sandpoint Online, KRFY 88.5 FM and Selkirk Association of Realtors to host a candidates’ forum Tuesday, Oct. 29 at the Sandpoint Community Hall. It’s free to attend, and candidates from the Sandpoint mayoral, Sandpoint City Council, Ponderay mayoral, Ponderay City Council and Lake Pend Oreille School District Trustee No. 4 races will attend, as well as representatives who will speak to both stances on the proposed permanent school levy vote and, finally, a speaker on the proposed Ponderay local option tax. The plan is to start with school board information, followed by Ponderay races and conclude with Sandpoint candidates no later than 8:30 p.m. Thanks for your participation.
-Ben Olson, Publisher
READER 111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208)265-9724
www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone zach@sandpointreader.com Lyndsie Kiebert lyndsie@sandpointreader.com Cameron Rasmusson (editor-at-large) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover), Bill Borders, Susan Drinkard, Tia Heftica. Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Cameron Rasmusson, Luke Malek, Marcia Pilgeram, Brenden Bobby, Ammi Midstokke. Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash. Subscription Price: $115 per year
“I look for a candidate who cares about the people.” Shinji Imoto Bible studier Bonners Ferry
“I look for integrity, someone who actually listens to the residents of this town instead of always following the path of least resistance. I also am interested in supporting a candidate who respects the history and neighborliness of Sandpoint, rather than trying to turn it into a ‘mini Spokane.’” Nikki Luttmann Interior designer Sandpoint
“I like the quality of pragmatism over ideology- because of how contentious politics are, I like someone who can work with a wide variety of people in the community and who avoids divisive national political ideologies that don’t serve at a local level.” Meghan Yeats Vacation rentals/gardener Sagle
Web Content: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho. We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community. The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in massive bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. Free to all, limit two copies per person.
Sandpoint Reader letter policy: The Sandpoint Reader welcomes letters to the editor on all topics. Requirements: –No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers. Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook. About the Cover
This week’s cover was designed by Ben Olson. If you’ve noticed a theme the past few issues, you’re not alone!
October 24, 2019 /
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NEWS
City response to county gun suit: By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The city of Sandpoint has submitted its response to a lawsuit filed by Bonner County over the prohibition of firearms at the Festival at Sandpoint. According to the 11-page document, delivered Oct. 15 to First District Court, the city through its recently retained legal representative Peter Erbland of Coeur d’Alenebased Lake City Law denies throughout “that it regulates the possession of firearms on City property leased to others, including the Festival grounds.” What’s more, the city argues that Bonner County lacks standing to make the allegations in its complaint and thus has no standing to seek a declaratory judgment or injunction against Sandpoint. The city is asking that the complaint be dismissed with prejudice and a judge award reasonable attorney’s fees and costs pursuant to Idaho Code, as well as any other relief identified by the court. The response comes a little less than a month after Bonner County filed its complaint on Sept. 18, represented by Davillier Law, with offices in New Orleans and Sandpoint. In its complaint, the county argued that by allowing the Festival at Sandpoint to ban weapons from its two-week summer concert series, the city violated state statute prohibiting municipalities from regulating firearms on public property. The Festival leases publicly-owned War Memorial Field to host the event, which has taken place annually for 37 years, leading Bonner County to claim that Sandpoint is granting a regulatory power to the Festival that it has no legal right to give. “Sandpoint’s direct regulation, and regulation by lease creates a cloud of uncertainty, and a chilling effect, with regard to the right to exercise Idaho rights, and the enforcement of Idaho law, under the Idaho Constitution and Idaho statutes on public property in Bonner County,” the county stated in its complaint. Again and again in its response, the city argued that it has no policy “written or unwritten, prohibiting the carrying of weapons on property leased from the City,” nor has it “granted any such regulatory power to any other entity, including the Festival.” Rather, the response stated, “Festival staff carried out Festival policy concerning firearms possession on Festival grounds during Festival sponsored events.” When asked to point to a specific Sandpoint city policy or code section establishing “direct regulation” of firearms on public property, Bonner County Commissioner Dan McDonald — who since August has taken 4 /
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the lead on championing the lawsuit — told the Sandpoint Reader in an email that, “The Festival is the lessee and because they are leasing public ground, are bound to the laws governing public ground. Because the City doesn’t have the ability or right to regulate firearms possession on public ground per IC 18-3302J, the city can’t convey or allow that right to be extended to the lessee.” The city’s response goes on to push back against allegations by the county that former Sandpoint City Attorney Will Harrington and a Sandpoint police officer “stood in a line,” “forming a human barrier physically blocking” two residents from entering the Festival. The residents in question were Second Amendment activists Scott
Herndon and Jeff Avery, who attempted to enter the Festival carrying firearms as a means to test the no-weapons policy. According to the city, “Mr. Herndon attempted to engage in a legal debate with the Festival gate security,” prompting security to call over an officer to address Herndon and Avery. Both parties agree Herndon and Avery were given the option of putting their firearms in their vehicles and returning to the Festival gate unarmed or be refunded for their tickets. As video footage of the exchange confirms, Harrington was on hand during the incident and did address Herndon and Avery, but the city denies any “human barri-
No policy banning guns, no standing for suit er” blocking the men from entering the field — nor is one readily apparent in a review of the footage. The city denies “any illegality on its part or on the part of Mr. William Harrington,” the response states. Referring to the request for dismissal and claim that the county has no standing, McDonald told the Reader, “clearly we disagree and we believe the facts will show we are correct.” “It wasn’t a surprise and if the roles were reversed we would have tried the same thing,” he said. Additional reporting by Lyndsie Kiebert.
Johnson Creek closed over winter for restoration project By Ben Olson Reader Staff The Johnson Creek Access Site in Clark Fork will be closed until approximately April 1, 2020 due to the Idaho Fish and Game’s Clark Fork Delta Restoration Project Phase 2 starting. The closure is necessary to provide the contractor a location to stage supplies and equipment, while protecting the public and contractor from unsafe conditions associated with an active construction site. “The big emphasis on the construction activities there are aimed at restoration of the Clark Fork Delta itself,” said Andy Dux of Idaho Fish and Game. “As a side benefit, we’re going to have the opportunity to upgrade the Johnson Creek Access site.” Dux said the boat ramp will be widened at Johnson Creek and the parking lot improved with regraveling. Banks will also be stabilized so the parking lot isn’t subject to further erosion if the Clark Fork River
reaches high flows. During the closure, the Clark Fork Driftyard Access Site will provide the nearest alternate access point for launching watercraft. This site is located on the north side of the Clark Fork Delta and will remain open until Feb. 1, 2020. A seasonal closure occurs during the spring thaw, but the site will be re-opened as soon as road conditions allow. Planning, design, and environmental documentation for the Clark Fork Delta Restoration Project began in 2014. The project was divided into three phases: construction of Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2015, Phase 2 of the project is now under way and full completion of all phases of the project is anticipated by December 2029. The primary goal of the Clark Fork Delta Restoration Project is to improve and restore
The “crawling stumps” of the Clark Fork Delta. Photo by Ben Olson. important riparian and wetland habitats being impacted as a result of the operational impacts of Albeni Falls Dam, as well as improving water quality by reducing erosion. To accomplish this goal, the project modifies existing land forms, creates additional land forms, adds erosion protection features, plants and seeds vegetation, and controls noxious weeds throughout the Clark Fork Delta.
French company officially acquires Quest Aircraft By Reader Staff Quest Aircraft is officially in the hands of French company Daher Group, as the European aircraft manufacturer announced Oct. 21 that it had finalized its acquisition of the Sandpoint firm. Daher is known for building TBM turboprops at its facility in Tarbes, France, and will now have assembly lines spanning continents, as Quest continues to build the Kodiak utility airplane in Sandpoint. According to Daher, the TBM is the world’s fastest single-engine turboprop-powered airplane, while the Kodiak is an all-terrain multimission aircraft used worldwide by
Kodiak assembly to remain in Sandpoint
air-taxi, recreational and leisure operators, businesses, pilot-owners and humanitarian organizations. “The integration of Kodiak into Daher’s aircraft family provides us with excellent commercial, industrial and geographical synergies,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of the Daher Airplane Business Unit. “In addition to its production capacity, the Sandpoint, Idaho facility becomes part of our direct sales and maintenance networks, enabling Daher to maintain its competitive edge in the turboprop aircraft sector.” By acquiring Quest, Daher becomes the “seventh-ranked general aviation airplane
manufacturer worldwide and strengthens its position as a leader of high-end single-engine turboprop aircraft,” according to a press release from the company. “Our acquisition of the Quest Aircraft Company is perfectly aligned with Daher’s strategy to intensify its business footprint in America,” said Daher CEO Didier Kayat. “In addition to adding the Kodiak to our aircraft portfolio, we have now gained a major competitive advantage for all of Daher’s aerospace business lines in North America.” Daher bought Quest from Setouchi Holdings, a Japanese firm that purchased the Sandpoint company in 2015.
NEWS
Jail time for Sagle burglar
Bonner County man gets five years for rash of summer-time thefts
By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Contributor Spencer James, a Bonner County man arrested in connection with a series of Sagle burglaries this summer, will face prison time following a plea deal. District Court Judge Barbara Buchanan sentenced James, 31, to five years in jail Oct. 22, with two years fixed and three years indeterminate. Buchanan said the sentence took into account James’ cooperation with prosecutors and his history of drug abuse and mental health issues. But it also acknowledged the months of planning that went into the crimes, the number of victims and the thousands of dollars in damages.
For Sagle homeowners, the sentence provided some closure in an ordeal that caused neighborhood-wide frustration and anxiety. But the prison term may be cold comfort for some residents hoping for a harsher sentence. So many of James’ victims showed up to make statements at the 9 a.m. hearing that Buchanan delayed the sentencing until 2 p.m., although only one — who requested to remain unnamed — ultimately ended up speaking that afternoon. “I forgave the person who did this, thinking there must have been some reason for it,” he said. “But since then, I have found he has been doing this over and over and over again. “I don’t think he’s trustworthy,” he added.
Columbia River System Operations alternatives released
Lakes Commission releases questionnaire to gather opinions on lake levels
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation and Bonneville Power Administration released several alternatives being considered for the Columbia River System Operations Update — a multi-year project for which the agencies are currently building an Environmental Impact Statement slated for release in February 2020. Of the four alternatives presented in the most recent CRSO project update, “Multiple-objective 4 measures” has been a cause for concern for the local Lakes Commission. Commission coordinator Molly McCahon said the portion of the alternative that would increase flows downstream might have a direct effect on water levels for Lake Pend Oreille and the Pend Oreille River. That portion of the alternative reads: “Augment flow — up to 2 million acrefeet — in drier years from Grand Coulee Dam and other upstream reservoirs to more frequently meet the downstream flow target at McNary Dam to benefit ESA-listed anadromous species.” Because the lake is drafted to full capacity at all times of the year besides summer, McCahon said the Lakes Commission is concerned that such a measure could mean dropping the lake level during peak recreation season.
The Lakes Commission is gathering data through a questionnaire “in order to ensure our community’s interests are fully represented during this evaluation,” McCahon wrote in an email. As a cooperating agency on the CRSO project, the Lakes Commission was invited to provide data regarding the alternatives, and the questionnaire is how the commission is collecting that information. Questions address whether the survey-taker owns lakefront property, has fixed or floating docks, what times of year they recreate on the water and how lower lake levels could affect them. McCahon said the Lakes Commission will leave the questionnaire open after submitting data to the agencies and continue to collect answers to use when ultimately pursuing a full economic impact study of lake levels. Access the questionnaire at surveymonkey.com/r/RHH873X. As for the EIS, agencies estimate a draft to be released in February 2020, after which the public will be welcome to comment for 45 days. Then, a final EIS should be released in June 2020 and records of decision from the three agencies shared on Sept. 30, 2020. U.S. Army Corps officials said they could not comment on the project until the draft EIS is released. Learn more about the alternatives and project updates by visiting crso.info.
A booking photo of Spencer James, courtesy of Bonner County Jail. According to attorneys, James’ drug use and mental health struggles contributed to his actions. The burglaries took place during a time when James was essentially homeless, having contact only with his drug dealer and occasionally his mother. James also expressed regret for his actions. He said he wanted to get a handle on his drug problem and reconnect with his daughter. Senior Deputy Prosecutor Dan Rodriguez recommended the five-year sentence in light of his cooperation with the state. Prosecutors struck the deal for three reasons: to close as many cases as possible,
return stolen property and recover the stolen firearms floating around in the community. Rodriguez believes James and perhaps one or two others are responsible for most, if not all, burglaries in the area. He also acknowledged homeowners’ desire for a stiff sentence while backing up the value of the plea agreement. “They are rightfully upset, rightfully want a pound of flesh on top of their property back and frankly, I don’t blame them,” Rodriguez said. Buchanan ultimately concurred with prosecutors’ recommendations. She acknowledged that James’ cooperation and comparatively limited criminal history spoke in his favor. The crimes themselves, however, were distinct in their planning, calculation and brazenness from the impulsive, drug-motivated thefts Buchanan has seen before. As an example, she said James disabled neighborhood utility infrastructure to shut down internet access, causing more than $10,000 in damage. “I think in this case a prison sentence is appropriate,” she said.
Defense in Ramey killing granted time for psych eval Plea entry scheduled for Nov. 25
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff District Court Judge Barbara A. Buchanan approved an arraignment continuance request Oct. 21 for Judith Carpenter, the Coeur d’Alene woman accused of killing Shirley Ramey at Ramey’s home in Hope in April 2017. Defense attorney Robyn McPherson told the judge that Carpenter would not be entering a plea at the Oct. 21 arraignment, but the defense would instead request a continuance of about a month so that her client could undergo a psychological evaluation. Buchanan approved the request and the plea entry is now scheduled for Monday, Nov. 25 at 9 a.m. at the Bonner County Courthouse. Carpenter has been in custody since August, when Bonner County detectives and ATF authorities were able to match bullet
Judith Carpenter’s booking photo for Bonner County Jail. Courtesy BCSO. casings at the Ramey home to casings from Carpenter’s 9-millimeter handgun, confiscated in a road rage incident in Libby, Mont., the same day Ramey was killed. Also found in Carpenter’s vehicle during the road rage incident was a Savage Model 99 rifle, later determined to belong to Ramey’s husband Daryl. Daryl noticed the gun missing after his wife’s death. October 24, 2019 /
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NEWS
Sandpoint to kick off comp plan update process with community meeting
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff It has been 10 years since the city of Sandpoint adopted its current comprehensive plan. Now, as required by state law, local officials are gearing up to update the document, which established a “roadmap” for the city’s growth 20 years into the future. Residents, as well as business and property owners, are invited to take part in a kickoff event for the comp plan process Thursday, Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the community room of the Sandpoint Library, 1407 Cedar St. As city officials stated in an announcement, “The comprehensive plan process is an opportunity to imagine Sandpoint’s future — its neighborhoods, business corridors, education, economy, connectivity, open spaces and all that makes our community a great place to live, work and play.” Specifically, the comp plan steers the location and nature of future development — including everything from residential to industrial, manufacturing and airport, public facilities and open spaces. The parks and recreation and multimodal transportation master planning efforts already under way at City Hall feed into the comp plan, ideally creating “conditions that support a vibrant economy and help ensure the infrastructure is in place to accommodate growth,” city 6 /
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An aerial view of Sandpoint, looking west down Pend Oreille River. Courtesy City of Sandpoint. officials stated. According to the city’s comp plan website (sandpointidaho.gov/imagine), the plan is also intended to ensure that development decisions are made with consideration for “a broader vision by the community” and provide predictability for property owners, businesses and residents. The kickoff event will begin with an opportunity for attendees to meet representatives from Logan Simpson, an Arizona-based planning consultancy firm that the city hired in September to guide the comp plan project. Members of city staff will also be on hand for an overview of the plan update process. The presentation will include timelines for the process and attendees will be asked to use their cell phones to answer questions gauging areas of interest related to the update. Following the Oct. 24 kickoff event will be an airport technical meeting on Thursday, Oct. 25 and an Airport Board meeting/comp plan kick-off Monday, Oct. 28. That same week, city officials intend to launch the first of two online questionnaires. The full comp plan update is expected to be adopted by September 2020. For more information visit sandpointidaho.gov/imagine or call 208-255-1738.
Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond
East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling: Not since 1877: that’s how long it’s been since bison roamed wild in what is today Badlands National Park in South Dakota. Recently four bison were let loose there — the result of a collaboration between the World Wildlife Federation and the National Park Foundation. Based on research indicating better cognitive abilities in Alzheimer’s patients who use coconut oil, the National Institute of Health undertook a clinical trial to determine if the oil really can aid brain function. Medical Dr. Mary Newport used coconut oil 10 years ago to help with her husband’s rapid-onset Alzheimer’s. She then wrote the book Alzheimer’s Disease: What if There Was a Cure? Refugee quota cut: the Trump administration has cut the quota for refugees allowed into the United States from 30,000 last year to 18,000 this year. In 2017, up to 110,000 refugees were allowed to settle in the U.S., Time magazine reports. A recent World Nuclear Industry Status Report says alternative energy is now less expensive than nuclear power: solar costs dropped 88%, wind power costs dropped 69% and nuclear power costs have risen 23%. The report explored whether nuclear power is essential for a power system free of carbon. Since 1990, Mother Jones reports, the top 1% of earners in the U.S. have seen their net worth increase more than 4% each year above inflation. The upper-middle class has seen its net worth rise about 2% per year while the bottom 50% of earners have seen their net worth decline — making the Great Recession of 2008 a mere “blip” in the financial history of the nation’s richest people. A study in Neuropsychologia explores whether functional impairment to the brain’s prefrontal cortex might be linked to religious fundamentalism, where there is diminished cognitive flexibility and openness. Led by Northwestern University, researchers found that damage to the prefrontal cortex and resulting impairment of cognitive flexibility meant affected study subjects were less likely than those without impair-
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist
ment to be able to easily transition between thinking about different concepts, hold multiple thoughts at once and alter their beliefs based on new information or evidence. In a recent 10-1 vote, the San Antonio City Council approved a climate action plan that aims for net zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to the San Antonio Express-News. All-time low: 10.5% of the country’s workforce was unionized in 2018, according to CBS News. This year there has been a swelling of union members going on strike, fueled in part by company prosperity that’s not trickling down to employees, Time magazine reported. Friday, Oct. 25 is Free Time Day, the day nonprofit labor advocacy group Working Washington has identified when the average salaried worker has already put in a year’s worth of full-time hours and starts working — effectively — for free. In pursuit of political transparency, California legislators have signed into law two Disclose Acts. One requires political text messages to list the candidate’s name, office sought and the top campaign funder. The other applies to signature gatherers and requires the top three biggest petition funders to be listed. 2020 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders has laid out a plan for avoiding further corporate disruption of the media in the Columbia Journalism Review. The plan includes an immediate moratorium on federal approval of mergers by major media companies. While claiming to support political action to fend off climate change, Google has made large contributions to D.C. climate deniers, The Guardian reports. Blast from the past: From the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 9, Clause 8: “No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.” Article II restricts the president from receiving “any other Emolument” with the exception of a fixed salary from federal or state governments.
PERSPECTIVES
Local elections matter: Vote Nov. 5 By Luke Malek Special to the Reader As sure as you see the jack-o-lanterns appear on porches around your neighborhood, fall is in the air, and with it comes Election Day. While much of the nation is focused on the 2020 presidential contest, voters should not lose sight of what’s at stake closer to home this election season. North Idaho communities have the chance on Nov. 5 to determine our future, choosing leaders to help us navigate important issues like economic development, housing, sewage and snow management, transportation and zoning. The nuts-and-bolts issues of city and county government are decidedly less glamorous than Medicare for All or building the wall, but I believe America’s true greatness lies in democracy at the local level. Growing up, my parents modeled for me the importance of voting in every election, not just in presidential years. I remember going with my mom to the Odd Fellows Hall in Post Falls, standing in what felt like a very long line for a third-grader, waiting for our chance to enter the booth. My parents often spoke about why voting matters, and my siblings and I got the impression that voting wasn’t a choice, it was your obligation as an American. As a politics major in college in the early 2000s, I realized that my view was sadly idealistic. Many Americans — including Idahoans — shirk their responsibility to vote, especially in non-presidential elections. I was shocked that in a community like Coeur d’Alene, of about 50,000 people only a couple thousand citizens take the time to cast ballots. A small minority of voters often decide crucial local elections that shape our kids’ education, the quality of our libraries, how we access health insurance and the future of our public lands. I narrowly won my first re-election campaign to the Idaho Legislature by around 100 votes. That’s why, when people tell me their votes don’t matter, I strongly beg to differ. Your vote actually matters more in local elections than national ones, though I believe all of us ought to vote in every election, off-year, school bond or presidential. There’s no sitting out when it comes to preserving our democracy. Local elections are where America’s system shines brightest because big money and special interests don’t drive the outcome. Local candidates, including those we see running for city council positions in Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint right now, are single moms and small business owners, renters and homeowners. Rarely do local candidates
have the budget to purchase an expensive campaign strategy. They are real people who campaign the old-fashioned way, talking to neighbors and attending community events. But democracy is only as strong as the level of participation it draws. The great observer of the fledgling United States of America, Alexis de Tocqueville, wrote: “Nothing is more wonderful than the art of being free, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom.” Nothing is more telling of how we value freedom than how we exercise it on Election Day, and the data on how Americans vote is frankly depressing. According to the nonpartisan election reform nonprofit Fairvote, low turnout is most pronounced in primary elections, offyear elections for state legislators and local elections. A 2013 study of 340 mayoral elections in 144 U.S. cities found that voter turnout in those cities averaged under 26 percent. In many cities, mayors have been elected with single-digit turnout. During Idaho’s last odd-year election, the state population was just over 1.7 million. That translated into under 800,000 registered voters, but in some counties, as few as 17% of those registered voters actually cast a ballot. One reason for hope is that young people, including those often scapegoated Millennials, are voting more often in off-year elections than those who preceded us. Voters who identify as part of Gen Z, Millennial or Gen X demographics voted in higher numbers in the 2018 midterms than any other group. According to Pew research, Millennials and Gen X combined cast 21.9 million more votes in 2018 than in 2014. In the same period, the number of eligible voters who were Millennials and Gen Xers grew by 2.5 million, in part because the number of people who became U.S. citizens exceeded the number of people who passed away. Anecdotally, I’m heartened to see more young Idahoans getting involving on locally appointed boards and commissions. From planning and zoning to historic preservation, the local fair or a library board, I’m always surprised how often these important, policy-shaping bodies have vacancies. Not only is serving on a board or commission a great chance to learn how local government works, but it is a perfect training ground for future city council or mayoral candidates who want to get a taste of policy-making. Whether you choose to participate in what makes America — and Idaho — great by volunteering your time on a board or commission, running for local office or simply casting a ballot and reminding your friends and family to do the same, don’t stand on the sidelines this Nov. 5. Early
Luke Malek. Courtesy photo. voting is on now through the Friday before Election Day, and voters can locate their polling place in Kootenai County at kcgov. us/301/Absentee-Voting or in Bonner County at bonnercountyid.gov/elections. North Idaho is counting on you to participate and use your freedom for the greater good of our local communities. Luke Malek is a founding attorney at Smith + Malek, PLLC and a former Idaho legislator. He and his wife, Tara Malek, split their time between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint.
Laughing Matter
By Bill Borders
October 24, 2019 /
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Remembering a legend…
Bouquets: • Election season is always a zoo, especially for the staff of a newspaper. Here’s a Bouquet to all of you level-headed, honest, respectful and civil few who refuse to lose your head during this time of year. Somehow our humanity gets lost in all the back-biting and lying that takes place around elections. Let’s try to be better about that, folks. • Wow, we just got a $100 donation from a reader named Amy Phillips. Thanks so much for your support and kind words, Amy. Barbs: You know what I find quite telling? Sometimes we get some noise from readers accusing the Reader of publishing stories that are not factual, but every time you ask them to specifically tell you what is not factual so we can correct or retract the statement, they either refuse or claim we “don’t want to hear it.” Let it be known, dear readers from here to the mountaintops: If we have anything that is factually incorrect in our pages, whether it be a news story or an opinion editorial, we always want to hear about it. That means citing a specific passage or quote, not just saying an opinion article was “incorrect” because you don’t agree with it, or a news story was “false” because it didn’t mention a point you thought was important but that the reporter either didn’t have room to include or deemed unworthy to the story. Unlike many professions, we can be sued for willingly publishing false information. It’s something we as journalists take very seriously. Complaining to a newspaper without citing examples is like yelling at clouds: It might solve your need to yell at something, but there’s very little that ever comes of it except a sore throat. And angry clouds. 8 /
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Dear editor, Sandpoint has lost a legend. Many are unaware of the esteemed and influential Leata Judd, to their misfortune. She graced our community with humility, nobility and dignity. Lake Pend Oreille High School is particularly saddened by her passing. She shared her artistic talent with the art class students each and every day and contributed her clay pieces to the fundraising endeavors of the school. Leata walked daily to the school, weather permitting, and up the staircase to participate in the art class. She befriended all and spoke kindly, positively and benevolently of all. Leata contributed more than her artistic talent. She left a legacy of love, laughter and selflessness that no one can rival. Leata’s absence leaves a hole in our hearts. We are grateful and enriched by your coming into our lives, Leata. We will miss you! Condolences to the family. Sandy Lange Sandpoint
Kate McAlister for City Council... Dear editor, You won’t find a candidate for Sandpoint City Council that is more qualified than Kate McAlister. Kate knows Sandpoint and the challenges facing our town. She is president/CEO of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce. Kate is on the leadership team of Angels over Sandpoint (president), International Selkirk Loop Board of Directors (USA board chair) and the Forrest Bird Charter School (secretary-board of directors). Kate has had leadership roles for the Panida Theater, Kaniksu Health Services and Sandpoint Airport Planning. Kate has the energy, understanding, interpersonal skills and judgement to be a valuable member of the Sandpoint City Council team. She can help prepare Sandpoint for the next decade. A vote for Kate is a vote for a better Sandpoint. Ken Meyers Sandpoint
Reelect Rognstad... Dear editor, There is only one candidate for Sandpoint mayor in the Nov. 5 election who has the proven experience and dedication to lead this unique community in the future. Running for reelection, Shelby Rognstad has shown he can manage a $39 million budget requiring close to 100 employees. Rognstad helped bring high-speed affordable internet to the region, created a downtown beautification program
and reduced business license fees and improved services for small businesses. He completed reconstruction of War Memorial Field grandstands under budget, and supported Sandpoint’s pesticide-free management program for aquatic invasive species — which serves as a model for the state of Idaho. Under his oversight, all public works projects in 2018 were completed on time and under budget. He has brought transparency to the office, launching the OpenGov platform and regular gatherings with citizens. And he has seen significant growth in local technology-related industries including aerospace, biomedical and information technology. He believes in inclusivity, safety and affordability, preservation of our environment and encouragement of art and recreational activities — along with a vibrant business community. For the future, Rognstad believes that quality of life is the foundation of Sandpoint’s success and that “the natural environment is our number one asset and it should be protected at all costs. Living in the city must be safe and affordable, offering a variety of housing and transportation options.” For Sandpoint’s future and to preserve the values we cherish, re-elect Shelby Rognstad as mayor on Nov. 5 Jim Ramsey Sandpoint
Stable school funding is a necessity, not a luxury... Dear editor, As a member of the Clark Fork community, I am committed to the education of the children in both the Hope and Clark Fork communities. My commitment means that I am going to vote FOR the continuation of property tax dollars to ensure these students continue to attend schools in our neighborhoods for years to come. The measure, before the voters on Nov. 5, if passed will support our schools on a continuous basis. It will not be an increase on our current levy that was passed in March 2019. It merely allows schools to continue, without interruption, stable funding when the current levy ends. By providing stable funding, our communities do not have to worry whether or not a supplemental levy will pass, resulting in a 35% funding cut to the operation of our schools. Please remember that 35% supports academic and athletic extracurricular activities; curriculum and materials; technology (staff, hardware and software); class size (electives and rural schools); and one-third of all district staff. Stable school funding is a necessity, not a luxury. Vote FOR the Lake Pend Oreille School District’s proposal for stable school funding. This is not
an increase, just a continuation. Margaret Wiggin Clark Fork
Deafening silence… Dear editor, Every time, the day after an important November election, I hear it. The endless excuses, the shoulder shrug — “it won’t make any difference.” “My vote doesn’t count.” We have a disease, no, more of a decay in Bonner County. Voter apathy. Complaining after the fact is like talking about the weather. You can’t change the outcome of either. When I called on voters last year at this time the overwhelming comment was, “I don’t get into town often.” Absentee ballots are sent to any voter who would like one. Every year, go and request your ballot in January. Make your voice heard on all the important issues of the day! Rick Johnson Sandpoint
Children are our future… Dear editor, We always hear that children are our future. I believe that and so I will be voting “yes” on the Levy on Nov. 5. Please join me. Vote “yes” on the levy on Nov. 5. Dan Logan Sandpoint
Let’s pay it forward to our kids… Dear editor, It seems to me that a very logical approach to partial long-term funding is on the ballot this November. What I like about the proposal is that it is not an additional levy but rather a continuation of the exact one we are paying for right now. No doubling of levy — that ‘s really important to remember. School funding would be wonderful if the state stood up and did their proper share. But that’s a real case of “don’t hold your breath,” in my opinion. Let’s pay it forward and do for our kids and grandkids what our parents and grandparents did for us. Vote “yes” for the levy on Nov. 5. Carrie Logan Sandpoint
Security and peace are found within. Wake up!… Dear editor, The deception we find all around us that is causing unrest on a daily
basis are for those who profit. Why are we not openly informed on all changes being made here so that we have a chance to do something about it? In my opinion Sandpoint is now being run by big money and developers and also by some in office. If you care for what you had, do some work and be enlightened about those who are responsible for changing this lovely town called Sandpoint — or lose it. Evie Leucht Sandpoint
Guinan prioritizes local residents and businesses... Dear editor, Have you visited Sandpoint lately? The streets are torn up again, the traffic is a California-esque nightmare and shopping is nearly impossible thanks to the near-constant road destruction. And now the incumbent mayor — who calls for “inclusion” but labels anyone who disagrees with him “extremist” — and one of his challengers are pummeling one another, making a mockery of the city council, divisive behavior that does nothing to bring area residents together. It’s time for a return to sanity. Jacque Guinan is running for city council, and offers voters a fresh voice on your city council. She’ll practice fiscal responsibility, prioritize the needs of local citizens and local businesses, and be considerate of residents’ voices regardless of where we live or how we think. We all deserve a Sandpoint that actually is inclusive and welcome to everyone. I urge you to give Jacque your vote on Nov. 5. Lisa Keseloff Sandpoint
Mea culpa on cancer treatment... Dear editor, I stated in my letter to the editor of Oct. 3 that conventional treatment of stage IV cancer doesn’t prolong overall survival. That was incorrect. A review article in the July 2014 issue of Chemotherapy for Advanced Cancers shows evidence that that chemotherapy generally provides on average five months overall survival increase in most cancers. I apologize for that misstatement. Gabrielle Duebendorfer Sandpoint
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Don’t split the vote... Dear editor, We have an interesting race coming up for the position of Sandpoint mayor. Two candidates have many years of combined experience serving our city in several capacities and one who does not. The two well-qualified candidates may split the vote and we may end up with the candidate who has far less to offer. I recommend that we band together around the candidate who has proven himself as councilman and mayor. I have decided to cast my vote for Mayor Shelby Rognstad. Mayor Shelby Rognstad has served our city since 2007 and has a vision for Sandpoint that starts with quality of life, affordability, includes growing the local economy, and insists upon accessible and transparent government. His work creating the Watershed Crest Trail is the very definition of leadership. He worked for years with many stakeholders and created a legacy biking and hiking scenic loop trail for the citizens of Sandpoint to enjoy for generations to come. He rallied community law enforcement and community leaders to drive a white nationalist out of town. He is a leader in the state, having served on the board for Idaho Association of Cities and works across jurisdictions to help solve difficult issues like housing and affordability. These are a few of his many outstanding accomplishments. Go to electshelby.com for the full list. Please help keep Sandpoint the Idaho gem that it is. Band together around Mayor Shelby Rognstad by voting for him on Nov. 5. Linda Larson Sandpoint
Sandra Deutchman Sandpoint
Rognstad has earned a second term... Dear Editor, There have not been many that have shown the honesty, integrity and transparency that Shelby Rognstad has demonstrated during his term as mayor of Sandpoint. Mayor Shelby Rognstad has earned a second term. He has proven himself to be a competent leader who serves the best interests of all residents. He listens well to all parties and when it’s time to make a hard decision, he keeps everyone in mind. A great example of this was his vote to support the new design of War Memorial Field Park. Mayor Rognstad spent four years engaging all stakeholders. He started off supporting a grass field, as did most Festival supporters. But after doing extensive research, listening to experts and hearing the needs of the student sports teams, he made a decision that he thought would benefit the most people. He chose a field design that will increase use by as much as 500%, will reduce the use of harmful herbicides and fertilizers, will reduce water use and can still provide a comfortable environment for Festival goers. He made the right decision. Being mayor is a hard position that requires making decisions that some of us will disagree with. We should not let this divide us. We cannot afford to have a mayor who sympathizes with extremists and who will cater only to a small group of residents. I trust Mayor Rognstad to work for all of us and for the better interests of the community. We should unite and re-elect him for a second term.
Stand behind Dyno… Dear editor, My name is Sam Calhoun. I’m the executive director of Arts Northwest, a regional nonprofit organization that supports the performing arts. I am aware of Dyno’s situation with the Festival at Sandpoint and feel that it’s important that I offer my perspective on the matter in the hopes that the community of Sandpoint recognizes what they’ve lost and what the performing arts community at large misses due to her absence. Dyno has been involved on the ANW board for 10 years and as president for four years, navigating our organization through a very rough time. Dyno was highly instrumental in restoring the organization to a healthy, productive and valuable resource for communities across the Northwest, Alaska, and Hawaii. She’s considered an expert in
her field on a national level and I find it hard to imagine that the Festival at Sandpoint is better off without her and her incredible staff. When I first heard about Dyno’s termination I was surprised, considering her Festival record. The decision to fire a long-term, proven director is at best unjust. Dyno is one of the most distinguished, exceptional, positive human beings I’ve ever encountered. She is recognized personally and professionally as a force of goodness amongst those that know her. I hope the community of Sandpoint will stand behind Dyno, express their support for her and help to restore her and her staff. Without them, the Festival may be no more. What a tremendous loss for the community of Sandpoint. Sam Calhoun Port Angeles, Wash.
Mary Catherine Role Sandpoint
What’s best for Sandpoint...
Shannon for mayor...
Dear editor, We have two experienced and very well qualified candidates running for mayor. Both have been instrumental in guiding our city through many difficult and challenging decisions. We now have Shelby Rognstad, who is completing his four-year term as mayor and Shannon Williamson, who is completing the first two years of her four-year term as a member of the Sandpoint City Council. We need the continuity, experience and knowledge of both Shelby and Shannon to continue guiding the completion of numerous capital projects and planning initiative now under way. If there are conflicts between council members and the mayor, let them be addressed now through conflict resolution and open conversation with one another. This needs to be done now to prevent us from being forced to split our votes choosing one over the other. Let the candidates reach out to one another now. Remind Shannon’s supporters that she will continue to be a strong voice on the City Council for two more years. We need to retain both Shelby and Shannon in their present positions to have what’s best for Sandpoint. We need them both. We should not have to risk letting the third, very inexperienced candidate win the election when our city needs stability, continuity and experienced guidance.
Dear editor, I plan to vote for Shannon Williamson for mayor on Nov. 5. I have worked with Shannon on the Sandpoint City Council for the last 6 years and admire her leadership as our city council president. She was the guiding force throughout our strategic planning process and kept us focused on what is best for our constituents. Shannon knows how to communicate effectively with her fellow council members and city staff, an important trait in the mayor, and one that needs improvement. She does her research and asks important questions before making decisions. She’s a collaborator and doesn’t take credit for other peoples’ accomplishments. Shannon is not easily distracted and stays focused on achieving the best outcomes for the citizens of Sandpoint. The city will have a lot of heavy lifting to do over the next four years and I’m 100% confident that with Shannon as our mayor, the city will be able to deliver on what our planning, outreach and research have indicated our citizens desire. Bill Aitken Sandpoint
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Mad about Science:
Brought to you by:
Cutting-edge energy By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Readers with a keen eye may call me out and say: ”Brenden! You’ve already written about energy! I know what joules are, I know how much energy is in a bolt of lightning. You’re getting lazy!” Wrong. I’ve always been lazy, but that’s beside the point. I’m actually going to talk about some cutting-edge energy concepts that could impact you within the next decade — or even right now. You’ve heard me talk about fusion energy in several articles, and there’s a big reason for that. As far as we can tell, the sun will produce more energy than 10,000 civilizations could ever use before it reaches the final stages of its life cycle. Can you imagine what we could do with even a sliver of that? As development into artificial intelligence and quantum computing brings us closer to previously unsolvable problems, human beings are racing toward an energy future we thought was science fiction as recently as 20 years ago. Let’s take a look at how evolving energy affects your daily life. Wireless charging is a concept many of us are already using in our homes. Have you ever had to replace your entire phone after the delicate charging pins eroded or came loose from plugging in a charger a few hundred times? Wireless charging pads work on select devices that have a built-in receiver. These pads feature a transmitter that converts electricity into an electromagnetic field (EMF), while your phone has a receiver that converts the EMF back into 10 /
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an alternating current or direct current (AC/DC, like the band), which charges the battery of your phone. A lot of energy is lost this way, but it can also save you from having to buy a new phone every year. You see this happen often with radio-frequency identification tags (RFID), and those fancy keycards at hotels that unlock your door without having to swipe or insert anything. Another type of wireless charging is when you have a device such as a specialized laser or a device that utilizes microwaves pointed at a receiver, beaming energy remotely to power that device in a similar fashion. This is a pretty cutting-edge application so I don’t have a lot of examples for this, but a microwave-powered helicopter took flight briefly during World War II, without the aid of a combustion engine. One of the most cutting-edge applications of energy generation is actually one of the oldest forms on the planet. Plants have been utilizing photosynthesis, using photons from the sun to split CO2 into carbon and oxygen molecules, for at least a billion years. Scientists have been experimenting with extremely efficient artificial photosynthesis, claiming some experiments have been up to 10 times more efficient at creating and storing energy than plants. Unfortunately, it’s not without its drawbacks. Most artificial photosynthesis devices use hydrogen as a catalyst, which will bond with oxygen to create water and damage the device. Plants also have the ability to reconfigure carbon atoms into building blocks for growth, while artificial devices lack that so far. However, as
fossil fuel costs are going up, the costs for creating and using these devices are going down. Another form of cutting-edge energy generation may not be as flashy as fusion or as sexy as artificial photosynthesis, but has some really cool side-effects and applications. Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) facilities allow warm surface seawater to flow into a low-pressure chamber, where it boils to create steam. This steam cranks a turbine to create electrical energy and is then vented into a condenser pipe running alongside cold, nutrient-rich seawater pulled in from the deep ocean. The steam condenses back into desalinated water, which can be used to harvest hydrogen or be made into potable drinking water. It doesn’t create nearly as much energy as other methods — a large OTEC power plant can only sustain about 100 homes — but the nutrients it brings to the surface can be repurposed to feed fisheries or algae that are also used for energy production. Given the right circumstances, a generating station like this could be used to power and hydrate an early settlement on an icy ocean moon like Europa, should humans ever colonize it. It’s also worth mentioning that nuclear reactors are still developing. Nuclear reactors have been categorized into generations, where Generation I reactors, built in the 1950s and ’60s, have been decommissioned. Most Generation II reactors are either currently powering portions of the U.S. grid or are shutting down. Generation III reactors are starting to pop up now, with a fourth generation on the way. Generation IV reactors
are expected to be 100 times as efficient as current reactors, with some even designed to reuse their radioactive waste, ideally making nuclear energy a form of sustainable, renewable energy. Energy production is a vast and complicated subject. Rather
than argue about it on Facebook, go ask your local librarian about the pages and pages of math I conveniently omitted from this article. They’ll shake their fist at the sky, curse my name, but diligently help you to find everything you need.
Random Corner ic Don’t know much about atom • A Japanese man named Tsutomu Yamaguchi survived both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings during World War II. In total, 70 people are believed to have survived both blasts, but Yamaguchi is the only one recognized by the Japanese government. • Shigeki Tanaka, a survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, went on to win the Boston Marathon in 1951. • The city of Kokura was the original target of Fat Man — the codenamed atomic bomb detonated over Nagasaki. • 10% of U.S. electricity is made from dismantled atomic bombs. • In 1962, the U.S. detonated a hydrogen bomb in space that was 100 times more powerful than Hiroshima. • Atomic bomb tests were a major tourist attraction in Las Vegas during the 1950s. • During the Cold War, the U.S. seriously considered dropping an atomic bomb on the moon to
bombs? We can help!
demonstrate its military superiority. • The atomic bomb explosion at Hiroshima was generated by matter weighing no more than a paperclip. • There are eight countries that have claimed to have successfully detonated nuclear weapons: the U.S., Russia, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. • There’s a nuclear bomb lost somewhere off the coast of Savannah, Ga., after a mid-air collision involving U.S. Air Force planes near Tybee Island. • The Trinity Site atomic bomb museum in New Mexico — where the first A-bomb was detonated — is only open 12 hours per year. • Barack Obama was the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, 71 years after the bombing. • The largest nuclear bomb ever detonated, the Tsar Bomba, was 1,400 times more powerful than Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined.
HUMOR
Pass me the pumpkin spice Pumpkin spice has become the flavor to rule all fall flavors — but why?
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff I take pride in my coffee order: a 12-ounce dark roast drip, hot, no room. There’s a simplicity and subtle badassery to drinking your coffee black, but in reality, it’s because caffeine must be running through my veins in order for me to contribute to society. My coffee order is within budget, gets the caffeinating job done and, in the interest of full junkie honesty, the flavor makes all the happy little neurons in my brain shudder with satisfaction. But when fall rolls around, I get an itch. It’s payday, I’m walking right past the Starbucks kiosk to pick up groceries and the craving hits me: I need a pumpkin spice latte, and I need it now. Five minutes and $6.50 later, thanks to my alternative milk choice, the warmth of orangish-brown goodness is radiating through my fingers. I take a sip and… I’m disappointed. Again. How many years has it been now? Likely since I opened my own bank account and could drive myself into town. I don’t know what I’m expecting when I order my annual pumpkin coffee. The phenomenal flavor of a cold, firm pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving? The full kaleidoscope of fall leaves to burst before my eyes, filling me with seasonal joy? Do I expect contentedness to wash over me like an autumn breeze as I’m wrapped in flannel and humming along to acoustic tunes? None of these things happen, but some studies suggest that stellar marketing combined with deeply ingrained nostalgia might be the recipe for Americans buying into so many pumpkin spice recipes. Starbucks introduced the pumpkin spice latte — known alternatively as the PSL, especially among those who wear Uggs — in 2003. Since then, the flavor has come to grace food products from Oreos to hummus to alcoholic beverages. Though a large orange gourd is regularly seen on the packaging, pumpkin spice oftentimes doesn’t include an ounce of pumpkin. Rather, these recipes revolve around the trio of signature fall spices: cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Combine them, slap a catchy name on them and voilá: You have an industry worth $600 million in 2018 — increased from $500 million in 2015, according to Forbes. Pumpkin spice dominates other holiday flavors like peppermint mocha and apple cider, perhaps thanks simply to flavor superiority or — according to Scientific American
— because those spices, along with imagery of pumpkins, are “rooted in the ethos of fall.” Though I’m not sure I’d argue pumpkin spice connects the consumer more closely to agrarian American history like Scientific American does, there’s something to be said for the lasting relationships made between what we eat throughout our lives and what time of year those flavors and scents made their impressions. Whether pumpkin spice harks back to grandma’s pumpkin pie fresh out of the oven or family trips to the pumpkin patch, it seems nostalgia might be the strongest ingredient at play here. The pumpkin spice complex is so powerful, in fact, that one study confirms I’m not alone in seasonal affection: researchers at NPD Group found that 72% of PSL purchasers buy only one per year. Only 8% of consumers buy three or more of the lattes over a single season, meaning a majority of sales are connected directly to the limited-time offer and our desire to hold the changing of the seasons in a wax-lined paper cup. The flavor of my annual PSL may never measure up to my expectations, but it sounds like that’s the key to pumpkin spice’s success — to keep people coming back, searching for that warm fall feeling in the form of flavored coffee, Jell-O and Cheerios. It’s pretty obvious that we’re losing the battle here, but as far as dietary battles go, there are worse to lose. I’m back to my regular coffee order for now, but next fall will likely see another $6.50 missing from my bank account and another PSL cup sitting empty, victorious in my cup holder.
A ghoulish foam apparition haunts this Pumpkin Spice Latte. Photo by Toa Heftiba from Unsplash.
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HALLOWEEN
Ghosts, ghouls and goodies Check out this handful of local Halloween happenings
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff
There’s no better way to enjoy this spooky season than to dress up, hit the streets and gorge yourself on candy. Luckily, opportunities to celebrate Halloween abound in Sandpoint and beyond starting this weekend. Walking Dead Party @ A&Ps Bar and Grill 222 N. First Ave. Thursday, Oct. 24 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Dead Guy Ale sponsors this ghoulish get-together, where attendees have the chance to win best Walking Dead costume and try several food and drink specials. No cover. Halloween Parties No. 1, 2 and 3 @ A&Ps Bar and Grill 222 N. First Ave. Friday-Sunday, Oct. 25-27 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Good things come in threes, including A&Ps Halloween parties. The first, on Friday, Oct. 25, features a singles costume contest. The second, on Saturday, Oct. 26, will be host to a couples costume contest. Party No. 3, on Sunday, Oct. 27, welcomes all costumes. Each night features prizes for best costume and food and drink specials. DJ Skwish handles the tunes 9 p.m.-close. No cover.
The Dog Who Saved Halloween @ the Panida Theater 300 N. First Ave. Saturday, Oct. 26 3 p.m. Kinderhaven presents The Dog Who Saved Halloween, a free, PG-rated movie for the entire family to enjoy. In it, dog Zeus encounters a haunted house and some spooky characters both two and four-legged. A costume contest will be held before the movie, and attendees will receive free popcorn. Haunted Hope Carnival @ Davis Grocery 620 Wellington Place, Hope Saturday, Oct. 26 4-8 p.m. Enjoy Halloween games, pumpkin decorating, face painting, prizes and candy at the second annual Haunted Hope. All activities are free and family friendly. The event will also feature a bake sale fundraiser for a local child battling cancer. Boo Bash Costume Ball @ Sandpoint Community Hall 204 S. First Ave. Saturday, Oct. 26 7-10 p.m. Take part in a Merengue dance lesson 7-8 p.m. then enjoy dancing, refreshments, door prizes and a costume contest.
Entry fee of $6 for USA Dance members, $9 for non-members and $5 teens. Halloween Costume Bash @ Eichardt’s Pub 212 Cedar St. Saturday, Oct. 26 8-11 p.m. Be whoever you want to be, but be there for Halloween shenanigans at Eichardt’s, including live music from Spokane band Fat Lady. Trick-or-Treat @ Sandpoint City Hall 1123 Lake St. Thursday, Oct. 31 3:30-4:30 p.m. Kick off this year’s trick-or-treating by stopping by the spooktacularly decorated Sandpoint City Council chambers for candy and the chance to see the Parks and Recreation Acro-Dance Show Troupe perform a routine to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Trick-or-Treat @ the Bonner County History Museum 611 S. Ella Ave. Thursday, Oct. 31 4-7 p.m. See the museum dressed to the nines in creepy fashion by dropping in to trick-or-treat, then head over to the Sandpoint Lions Club Lion’s Den for warm beverages and even more treats. Admission to both
the museum and Lion’s Den is free. 19th Annual Harvest Party @ Clark Fork High School 121 E. 4th Avenue, Clark Fork Thursday, Oct. 31 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hosted by the Cabinet Mountain Calvary Chapel, this long-running harvest party fea-
Don’t have too much fun on Halloween, it’s not good for your guts. Courtesy photo. tures myriad games meant as a safe alternative to wandering around on the cold streets trickor-treating. Every child leaves the event with a lunch sack full of candy.
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Pints for Polio 5pm @ Matchwood Join Rotary Sandpoin ness, funds and sup Matchwood will don beer and wine sales t
Hickey Farms Pumpkin Patch DJ Skwish 2-5:30pm @ 674 Hickey Rd. 9pm @ A&P’s B Pumpkins, crafts, food and The Dog drink, and fun for the kiddos 3pm @ Th The Zombie Nest (Oct. 25-26) Kinderhav 5-8pm @North of Hoot Owl this PG fil LPOSD haunted house Haunted Hop 4-8pm @ Dav
Live Music w/ Ron Kieper Jazz Trio 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ The Liabilities 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge Old school R&B and classic rock! Live Music w/ BareGrass 5-8p, @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Progressive Americana done right
f r i d a y
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Dollar Beers! Trivia Takeover Live 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Good until the keg’s dry Create a team with friends or play solo Bonner Co. Fire Chief’s Assoc. Presentation of EMS Findings 6pm @ Bonner Co. Admin building. (downstairs) The Bonner County Fire Chief’s Association will present their EMS findings to the public. Open to the public
Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Brian plays all your favorite songs
85th Anniversary party for 219 Lounge 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge Join classic rock group Down South Band and celebrate 85 years at the Niner! Live Music w/ Right Front Burner 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall DJ Exodus 9pm @ A&P’s Bar and Grill Funk, disco, rock and groovy tunes Southside Community Harvest Festival Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 9am-4pm @ Southside Community Church 5-8p, @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Originals, indie covers and soul Live music, local vendors selling food, crafts and art Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Piano Sunday w/ Dwayne Parsons 3-5pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Jazz and freestyle sounds Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge Join DJ Webrix for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen Wind Down Wednesday 5-8pm @ 219 Lounge With live music by blues man Truck Mills and guest musician John Firshi Dollar Beers! 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry
Id. Writers’ League festival 9am-3pm @ Sandpoint Library Interactive writers’ workshops and locally-published author showcase
Lifetree Cafe 2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s topic: “Zombies” Trivia Night 7pm @ MickDuff’s Show off that big, beautiful brain of yours Magic Wednesday 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Enjoy close-up magic shows by Star Alexander right at your table
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Outdoor Exp 6pm @ Outdo A chill, threetional beverag
Djembe class 5:45-7:30pm @ Musi Conservatory of Sand Join Ali Thomas for djembe (drum) class
Fundraiser for True North T the Eureka Center 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live music by Marty Perron a Bond. Silent auction items and raf Complimentary appetizers will be
Halloween Parties!
Various See page 13 for a full round up of Halloween events hap
ful
Oct. 24-31, 2019
Polio tchwood Brewing Co. y Sandpoint in raising awares and support to end polio. d will donate a portion of all ine sales to help end polio.
Ballot Measure Open House 5-7pm @ Ponderay Events Center Come learn about the Field of Dreams and lakeshore access, the recreation access projects to be funded by the city’s proposed o1% local oiption tax on the Nov. 5 election ballot. City officials on hand to answer questions Walking Dead Party • @ A&P’s Bar and Grill Prizes for best Walking Dead costume. Sponsored by Dead Guy Ale
kwish @ A&P’s Bar and Grill
The Dog Who Saved Halloween film 3pm @ The Panida Theater Kinderhaven presents a FREE showing of this PG film. Costume contest precedes film nted Hope Carnival m @ Davis Grocery (Hope) Rerooted Book Signing ge 1-3pm @ Vanderford’s Sandpoint author Jackie Henrind and on will be signing copies of her book Rerooted from 1-3pm From Lucca With Love launch 11am-1pm @ Ivano’s Ristorante Join local author Pam Lippi as she launches her next book, fts and art From Lucca with Love Hickey Farms Pumpkin Patch 10am-5:30pm @ 674 Hickey Rd. Pumpkins, crafts, food and drink, and fun for the kiddos (Sat & Sun)
door Experience Monday Night Run @ Outdoor Experience hill, three-mile(ish) group run with opal beverages to follow
ss m @ Music ry of Sandpoint homas for this m) class North Treks and
Authority Perron and Doug ms and raffle prizes. ers will be served
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
Sandpoint Teen Center Open House 4:30-6:30pm @ Sandpoint Teen Center The community is invited to check out the Sandpoint Teen Center at 221 S. Division Ave. Indoors Farmers’ Market • 9am-1pm @ The Bonner Mall Sandpoint Farmers’ Market brings it indoors for seasonal produce, arts and crafts and more! Karaoke Kevin Brown Concert 8-close @ Tervan 7:30pm @ Di Luna’s Cafe BGH costume party & movie Join Kevin Brown for this album 2:30pm @ Panida Theater release concert with celebrated Free showing of “The Dog Who Rocky Mountain bluegrass playSaved Halloween” and a costume ers sitting in. $12/ad, $15/day of party presented by Kinderhaven Boo Bash Costume Ball • 7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Prizes for best costumes. There will be a merengue dance lesson from 7-8pm, followed by dancing, refreshments, door prizes, etc. Idaho Conservation League - Tree Planting Event 10am-3pm @ BSCWMA Smith Creek Picnic Area Join ICL, Idaho F&G and Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Inititiative to plant 5,000 trees. sherber@idahoconservation.org
Monday Night Football Party with KPND and host Bob Witte 5:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Every Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Candidates’ Forum 5:30-8:30pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall The Reader, SandpointOnline, KRFY 88.5 and Selkirk Association of Realtors host a candidates’ forum with candidates invited from the following races: Sandpoint Mayor, Sandpoint City Council, Ponderay City Council, Ponderay Mayor and Lake Pend Oreille School District. Pop-Up Open Mic 6pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Sandpoint Literary Collective hosts an opportunity to showcase local and guest literary talent, particularly Halloween-themed poems and stories. Writers of all stripes are invited. Admission is free For more information, call 208-255-4410
events happening around the region.
Nov. 3 Flamenco Pacifico concert @ The Heartwood Center Nov. 3 Follies Auditions @ Sandpoint Charter School Nov. 3 Follies Auditions @ Sandpoint Charter School
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CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE Election day Nov. 5, 2019 Sandpoint City Council • Sandpoint Mayor As we do every year, the Reader is offering a candidate questionnaire to help better inform you about the candidates. This week, we focus on Sandpoint City Council and Sandpoint mayor. Next week, Ponderay and Lake Pend Oreille School District.
Questions for Sandpoint City Council and Mayor candidates: 1. What inspired you to run for office? 2. In the midst of all the changes in downtown Sandpoint in regards to the master plan, how do you intend to help Sandpoint retain its character? 3. What are some concrete ways that master planning is going to benefit the average Sandpoint citizen? 4. What are the top three issues facing Sandpoint right now and how will you address them? 5. Is there a shortage of affordable housing in Sandpoint? If so, how will you increase the availability of affordable housing? *QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR MAYORAL CANDIDATES: *6. Diversity and inclusivity have been topics of concern and interest in Sandpoint for many years. How will you address these issues if elected as mayor? *7. How would you characterize relations between Bonner County and the city of Sandpoint? How will you, as mayor, work with the county commissioners? *8. For the incumbent, what have your biggest successes been in office? For the challengers, what would you do differently? 16 /
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Sandpoint City Council
Andy Groat Age: 44 Years of residence in county: Lived, worked and raised three daughters in Sandpoint since 2001. Education: A.A. from SCC, B.A. in recreation management from EWU. Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Four years Coca Cola account manager serving Sandpoint, Bonner, Boundary and Pend Oreille counties for 15 years. Currently with UPS 15 years, as well as the Union Shop Steward Teamsters Local 690. How can voters contact you?: groat83864@gmail.com --ANSWERS--
1. Curiosity — I’m interested in how all these moving parts work together to create community. Civic opportunity — It’s my turn to pay forward what has been paid into me and my family. Challenge — I want to become more engaged, informed and involved with my community and motivate my peers to do likewise.
2. I intend to help Sandpoint retain its character by showing up, being involved and giving continued support to local business and our community. It’s time for all of us to do more. — Engaging with our citizens. — Inform myself with policy and procedure. — Involve myself in leadership and decision making. We can all help support the character of
Sandpoint by continuing to shop, dine and recreate downtown and in it’s surrounding areas.
3. So as long as the Master Plan retains its original intent of Sustainability, Affordability, and Taking Care of what we have, the average citizen can share my view of Sandpoint. I get the privilege to live, work and recreate in a parklike city with my friends.
4. Affordable workforce housing — I’d like people to be able to live, work, purchase/rent a home and recreate all in the same small town, if they choose to. Adhering to the Master Comprehensive Plan — Make sure that we as a community are involved in our town’s growth. That our government is responsive to continued planning efforts. Being a good neighbor — Exchange ideas respectfully. 5. I do believe there is a shortage of affordable workforce housing. Originally, I had the opinion that it was a “jobs” issue and why aren’t we doing more to attract more employers. Fortunately, I had a good neighbor explain to me, “We have great employers currently here in Sandpoint, LPOSD, BGH, Kochava, Lighthouse, Quest, Ting, great retail and amazing restaurants. Many of those hard-working, dedicated employees have to commute because they cannot afford to live in Sandpoint.” What can I do about it? I don’t know yet, I am learning. One lesson that I am learning is to move from a place of opinion to a more solid space based on facts. Facts are going to help resolve our issues. I need more facts. I am getting more Engaged, becoming Informed and being Involved with my Community. I also ask you to the same.
Jacque Guinan Age: 54 Years of residence in county: 6 years Marital Status: Married Education: Postgraduate in nursing. Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Inventor of Card Cooler Graphics Cooling Fan for computers. Founded Cool Solutions, Inc. Personal assistant to president of Nutraceutical Corp. High-level finance position within Nucor Corp. Full business and financial background. How can voters contact you?: jacque4sandpoint.com, jacque4sandpoint (FB), jacque4sandpoint@gmail.com --ANSWERS--
1. I made the decision to run because I feel people want to know their best interests are being represented by elected officials. I have found the recent budget explosion and rising taxes alarming and above everything else I would like to see a fiscally responsible government in place that will appreciate the value of tourists while prioritizing the local citizen and business community ahead of the lure of tourists. 2. Sandpoint’s character, as in all communities, is mainly in its people. I have seen so many instances of a loving, caring community. It is one of the major draws people have to this town. Sandpoint’s charm is in its buildings, architecture, homes and streets. I believe we retain Sandpoint’s character by serving, protecting and building up its citizens. We retain Sand-
point’s charm with restoration of its buildings and landmarks without majorly changing their features. 3. First, I would like to say that the plans do look beautiful and many of the changes would bring things that our local community would certainly enjoy. I love the idea of more indoor recreation, ice skating and the carousel. That being said, I do have some concerns regarding the parks plan. With a business and financial background, my first question is always going to be: “How will this be paid for?” To my knowledge, there have been no cost estimates given to the public for these projects and no plan to pay for those costs. We need to be sure we have our priorities in order. First take care of vital infrastructure (such as sewage and parking issues) and proper city maintenance needs and then move onto these other projects as funds allow. 4. 1) The sewage system. I am deeply concerned with the fact that Sandpoint has 20 discharge violations this year, according to the most recent ICL report. This has been an ongoing problem for many years and progress to correct it has been minimal. I would like to see a more aggressive approach to resolve this issue so we can move on to other city projects knowing our water is safe. 2) Downtown parking. I have spoken with many people who express that they do not shop downtown because parking is difficult for them. I would like to look into various solutions for this. One option may be a multi-level parking structure. Kaniksu has already expressed an interest in renting 60 parking spaces which could help offset the costs over time. I would want to see designs to the structure that blended in with the surroundings as much as possible so that it
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would not be an eyesore, but rather, an enhancement to the area. We could also look into the possibility of bringing back the trolley, which would not only add convenience but charm to the downtown area. 3) I feel Sandpoint citizens and businesses have been getting lost in the pursuit of the big money of attracting the wealthy and luring in tourists. While tourism is a vital part of our economy, we have to be careful to be balanced. I would like to see Sandpoint get back to its roots of a small-town, business and residential family-friendly area to live and work. We need to structure our spending with the residents and local businesses being top priority. 5. Unfortunately, there is no blanket solution. Yes, a council can vote to relax some of the regulations and restructure the impact fees. Council can also vote to limit the number of vacation rentals permitted within city limits. Beyond that, I would want to look into and work with the rest of the council to find any other way to help the situation because I do personally feel it is a serious problem in our city.
Kate McAlister Age: 60 Years of residence in county: 27 years Marital Status: Married, four children, eight grandchildren Education: Corporate Social Responsibility education from Boston College, Buccaneer Scholar (life-long learner). Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: President/CEO Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce 10 years How can voters contact you?: Facebook: Kate for Sandpoint or kateforsandpoint@gmail.com --ANSWERS--
1. I love where I live and am inspired by those who serve our community on a daily basis, especially the unsung heroes: teachers, servers, nurses, those who work retail, foresters, landscapers, office workers, all the worker bees who don’t get much recognition
but continue every day so our community keeps going. Earlier this year, several local business owners approached me and asked me to consider running; they felt they needed someone to represent them and their employees in an official capacity. It is a natural extension of what I do every day at my job at the Chamber of Commerce. I am a solutions-driven person who likes being part of the process of change and helping everyone move forward. It is my time to step up and stand up for our community. 2. The character resides in our people and our culture, who we are at the core. Acceptance and problem solving together, keeping our eye on our common values of educating our children, caring for our beautiful environment, being an independent resilient community — solving our own problems, moving at our own pace. I will do what I can to keep us moving forward and not digressing. However, I am just one person, this will take all of us. As a community, we should never give up our own power and rely on one, or six, people to do all our thinking and work. 3. I am a proponent of planning in general. It is vitally important we have a plan for going forward and addressing possible future issues and growth. With no plan, or roadmap, how do we know where we are headed, or how much to budget for future projects? From what I have experienced, I feel the city has done a good job with communicating to our community what is happening in regards to planning. We’ve all been given a number of opportunities to voice our opinions and concerns. All of us will benefit as we look towards the future. Growth and change are a constant in our lives, be part of the process, add your voice. 4. I’m sure everyone has an opinion on the “top three” here’s mine: Affordable housing: I hope to collaborate with all participating groups regarding housing. There are, and have been, concerned citizens already working to begin solving this issue. I’ve heard from many different sources there are no long-term rentals, and if there are, they are very expensive and often restrictive. In addition, the price point for purchasing a starter home is well beyond local wages. We all need to work together to figure
this out. In the long run, it effects all of us. All voices matter: One of the things I hear on a frequent basis is “only the voices of the rich matter.” To me, this is very disheartening and a signal we have a disconnect somewhere. All of us are a part of the community. I understand what it is to feel disenfranchised and feeling like your voice doesn’t matter. It does matter. It matters because we all make up the fabric of our community, every unique one of us. I have always been a warrior for those who feel left out and unheard, and will continue to do so. I talk to a lot of people on a daily basis, I want to know what they are thinking and how best we can all work together and be heard, socio-economic status should not matter. In my opinion, inclusion means all of us who are already here as well as welcoming any new person who wants to join our culture and embrace our long held values of believing in education for our future, caring for our environment, problem-solving together, and mostly caring for and listening to one another. Let’s talk. Educational choices with better funding: This is the foundation for our future and generations to come. Supporting education is the key to growing our economy and qualifying the workforce for better-paying jobs. In seeking other opinions, I’ve received some really great input and hope to start working on some educational issues benefiting our community. We should be looking at how to create educational programs via NIC or Lewis-Clark, to fill the jobs we need here in our community and our region. 5. Yes. According to a 2019 ESRI study of Sandpoint, 46.5% of our community are renters (compared to 32.5% nationally. 37% are home owners). Why is it so cost prohibitive to get into a starter home? Is it overinflated home prices, or low wages? Or both? What are the barriers for developers in creating affordable housing? There are a lot of questions and as a community and region, we all need to have a seat at the table and figure out what will work for our community. I hope to collaborate with all participating groups regarding housing. There are, and have been, concerned citizens already working to begin solving this issue. I’ve
heard from many different sources there are no long-term rentals and if there are, they are very expensive and often restrictive. In addition, the price point for purchasing a starter home is well beyond the local wages. We all need to work together to figure this out. In the long-run, it effects all of us. This is also an important issue when thinking about attracting young people and families to the area to keep our economy growing. They are looking for economic opportunity, affordable housing and a great community to raise their family. It will take more than just myself to address this issue, but I am looking forward to being a part of it, and the ability to affect change.
Shannon Mitchell Age: 49 Years of residence in county: 17 years Marital Status: Single, two daughters (14 and 10). Education: B.A. English, Penn State University. AAS animal science, Bel Rea Institute. How can voters contact you?: shannon4sandpoint.com --ANSWERS--
1. I’ve been working for government for 10 years and it’s time I stepped off the sidelines and became involved in the decision-making processes of the community we live in. I’m a single mom raising two daughters and would like them to see me as a positive role model and also understand that their input is valued and can affect local change. 2. While important infrastructure updates are happening, care needs to be given to the history and (what should be) citizen-approved functionality of the city. The business need to be able to offer input as the infrastructure is changing around them, so as to avoid work slowdown or stoppages. 3. The analysis and proposals of a master plan, once evaluated and a path agreed upon, can help guide growth and development of our city and have a positive influence on jobs, infrastructure, community facilities and services.
4. 1) Parking and traffic flow, as well as snow removal and flooding. Growth is inevitable, so we need to plan for increased parking requirements, and I believe a parking garage could benefit downtown Sandpoint. I would want to talk to the city employees who are involved with plowing to receive their input and collaborate on a solution to make our current snow removal system more efficient. 2) Waste water treatment. I would like to pursue some grant solutions to help fund both the analysis of our current system, and the project of moving and maintaining the new system. We have to realize Sandpoint is growing and it’s more expensive to deal with a failed system than to plan ahead appropriately. 3) Government transparency and communication to the community. While I understand and appreciate the city currently posts information on its website, I feel that there needs to be improved communication with the citizens of Sandpoint, improved dissemination of information to the public and measured response times so the community has reasonable time to digest changes and respond and/ or participate. 5. We need to create an environment for more affordable housing by looking into possible grants. Also, since real estate prices are market driven, getting the sewer system upgraded would facilitate development which will serve to reduce housing costs via supply and demand.
Deb Reuhle
Age: 51 Years of residence in county: 15 years Marital Status: Two teenage boys, Slate and Klein Fragoso. Education: Master of physical therapy, Emory University. Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: 6 years on Sandpoint City Council. How can voters contact you?: At my city email or debruehleforcitycouncil@gmail.com or message on FB Deb Ruehle for Sandpoint City Council
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1. I wanted to be of service to my community. My concern for the walking and biking connectivity and safety in town was the basis for my initial involvement in local government on the planning commission six years ago. We’ve made steady progress during those years. With persistence, and the help of others, we finally got the sidewalk at Ontario and Ella installed this summer. There is now a complete walking/ biking connection for residents of Lincoln neighborhoods, the elderly at Luther Park, the North Shore residents and others, including Festival goers, to access the city’s new stadium. Children can now get to Washington Elementary School without having to walk/bike on the road. I also spoke out at the Oct. 2 council meeting during our Master Parks Plan presentation. The data demonstrates the city doing well with distances for our residents to access parks. However, if there is no connectivity to safely reach the parks we need to do better. As we promote ourselves as a walking town we need to keep pedestrians as the top priority in our Multimodal Transportation Master Plan. 2. The Parks, Recreation and Trails Master Plan is currently under way. It is my hope that we will see a significant number of Sandpoint residents continue to be involved in this effort. The master planning effort allows the citizens to decide what the city’s parks and trails will look like in 20 years. I would encourage everyone to get involved and take the time to listen to the presentations. You can also check out everything online at sandpointidaho.gov/Home/Components/News/News/2441/1417 or in the lobby at city hall. Please respond with your comments. In regards to retention of character, I would highlight the efforts that were made to help the new stadium fit into the character of our town. I spent time with neighborhood residents that felt the entry was out of character and too massive for the neighborhood. Because of these discussions the look of the entry was revised. The entry gates as you see them today represent the fruit of those discussions. Overall, I intend to continue to listen to the residents and allow them to guide me in the retention of the city’s character. Lastly, I believe it is important for Sandpoint and City Beach to retain a waterfront dining experience.
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3. Master planning allows a venue for citizens to get involved directly. It allows them a voice in where they would like their tax dollars to be spent within the Parks/Rec and Open Space Department. It is their vision for the amenities and improvements they would like to see over the next 20 years as our city grows and changes. What are the
possible benefits? Here are a few: improved and more usable playing surfaces for our athletes, improved parking at sports fields, restrooms next to boat launch at War Memorial Field, improved boat launch at City Beach, a space designed for the carousel. I would again encourage everyone to look at the design boardssandpointidaho.gov/ Home/Components/ News/News/2441/1417 If there is something missing that you would like to see, please let us know. Your input is crucial! You are what makes Sandpoint what it is and what it can be. 4. Housing: See Question No. 5 Food Insecurity: Food insecurity, the inability to access sufficient, affordable, nutritious food, is a large problem in our community. We have many amazing citizens and organizations in this town that are trying to bridge the gap. We need to continue to encourage the companies that are here to stay and improve wages, while encouraging new companies to invest and make a home in our area. Communication with the County Commissioners: It is important to keep in mind that we all have more in common than separates us. We as a city and county have to live under the same “roof.” Just like a family, we are not always going to agree, but we are tied together. We need to sit down to do the hard work of getting to know one another. We need to experience the people and not the perceptions, bridge the gap by working on issues that are not flashpoints, building more consensus. I have been a liaison for the city on the Trail Mix Committee for over four years. I have worked side by side with our former County Commissioner Cary Kelley who chaired this committee and subsequently with Chair Steve Klatt who is now working in the County Roads Department. I will keep the city involved with the Bonner Regional Team, which is a collaborative effort to increase cooperation and communication with other cities and the county. The county is not officially engaged, though County Commissioner Jeff Connolly has been attending. I will be sure that the city has a presence at BCATT (Bonner County Area Transportation Team), The Trail Mix Committee and other venues where the commissioners are present so city officials have every an opportunity to share information and engage in problem solving with them. It is important to keep engaging our county residence in our master planning efforts and these advisory teams. Sandpoint is the county seat and we need to embrace this. Many county residents own businesses within the city and our counties most populated High School is within the city limits all of which means a significant number of residents converge here. We need to keep the rural residents of our region involved on a personal basis to make sure everyone feels
welcome in Sandpoint. 5. There is a shortage of housing period, but especially in affordable housing. If you compare the data from across the country for towns similar to ours, it becomes evident that it is our median income that is the crux issue. We need to find creative ways to get our community more integrated into our school system through training and technical programs; with the goal of creating a more skilled workforce capable of filling higher paying jobs. For every dollar we spend on economic development we need to spend two on affordable housing. We must continue to look for creative solutions within the planning department with the goal to build more housing within Sandpoint. For example, we have changed the Accessory Dwelling Unit standards. This opens up options for more housing density while preserving the essential character of Sandpoint. We can also partner with other close by communities to help solve this problem.
Sandpoint Mayor
Ken Lawrence Age: 78 Years of residence in county: 22 years Marital Status: Married, four children, 12 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren. Education: Bachelor of Arts. Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Retired business owner and retired pastor. How can voters contact you?: ken4sandpointmayor@gmail.com --ANSWERS-1. Running for mayor of Sandpoint has been a consideration of mine for several years because of my love for this town and its people. My family and I have lived here for 22 years, and I want to keep Sandpoint the vibrant community that it is by being a leader who unites our diverse opinions with well-reasoned policies based on input from residents and the council. 2. We are without a doubt a growing city, especially since Sandpoint was ranked the best place to retire in Idaho in early 2015. Sandpoint’s charm draws people here because of our beautiful lake, its parks, historic buildings, “walkability” and interesting downtown area, to name just a few of the character aspects I value. Equally important are infrastructure issues, and there are many of them listed in the master plan that I look forward to addressing. It all requires a careful balancing
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act and common-sense, fiscal astuteness, augmented by citizen input and drawing on the expertise of our department heads. 3. Talking with residents, the shortage of affordable housing in the city is an often mentioned concern, and master planning will help in that regard. More and better residential sidewalks, bike lanes that don’t impair traffic and general walkability of Sandpoint are also desirable features that can be addressed through master planning. Builders and developers will benefit from the city’s plan to examine land use, fees and permit codes. There are many more aspects that will be favorably impacted by a well thought out master plan that keeps in mind the quality of life in our town. 4. I consider affordable housing to be one of the top issues. Without it, how will we attract businesses and employees? As indicated above, the council, with citizen input, has the ability to make this happen. Secondly, traffic. As anyone who lives here has noticed, our traffic and parking problem has increased tremendously, and it is unimaginable what it would be like without the Byway that helps to take a lot of traffic off our streets. The complaint I hear a lot is that we’re nearing the traffic situation in Coeur d’Alene. Because trains often block major city roads, I believe working with BNSF for quick construction of the second railroad bridge is important, and long-range plans should include having over- or underpasses for certain train crossing locations. Third, economic opportunity. We need to focus on attracting all kinds of businesses and make it possible for them to thrive. Tourism-related businesses are of course a given, considering the beauty of our area. However, it should not be the primary focus. We also need to stay away from “picking winners and losers” by giving some businesses generous financial and other perks, putting others at a disadvantage. Fees and regulations need to be reduced to make it as convenient as possible for businesses to get off the ground and make a decent living. Disastrous experiments like the BID (Business Improvement District) that took money from downtown businesses for non-essential “improvements” are an example of what is not business-friendly and was in fact a divisive issue. 5. As indicated above, I consider affordable housing to be one of the top issues in Sandpoint, and builders and developers need to be able to conduct their business with minimum obstacles while remaining within existing ordinances and master plan directives. This includes both apartments and individual homes. *6. I have never seen our citizens more agitated and alienated than during the recent past when proclamations, resolutions and proposals were on the City Council’s agenda that essentially painted Sandpoint’s citizens as racist, Nazis, KKK and xeno-
phobes if they didn’t follow the diversity and inclusivity ideas outlined. One unhinged individual distributing flyers and making annoying phone calls, who has long since disappeared, does not constitute a racist community by any stretch of the imagination. I believe that the continued effort by the mayor to convince us that Sandpoint has a problem in this regard is a solution in search of a cause. *7. I look forward to working with the county commissioners or any other government agency, or individuals, for that matter. I am a listener and evaluate issues carefully before deciding. I know there is currently some tension because of the Memorial Field issue relating to guns at the Festival, however, courts will decide the outcome of that issue. The county’s recent effort to serve as a failsafe in the event the Festival organizers are unable to continue may serve as an example of how county and city can work together to solve an issue to the benefit of both. *8. My experience in running a local business for 20 years and leading an area church has given me a pragmatic approach to deal with every-day issues that require common-sense solutions and prepared me to work with people of widely diverse backgrounds. I welcome being connected to citizens. As a mayor, I intend to always have a finger on the pulse of the community. After all, the mayor is the leader they elected to have their best interests in mind. That includes practicing fiscal responsibility at all times and putting essential expenditures ahead of nice-to-have projects. It means an ongoing effort to keep taxes and fees as low as possible and look for ways to reduce the budget, not increase it every year. It means keeping regulations to a minimum to avoid stifling the economy and our way of life. Ultimately, it is all about our way of life, and making Sandpoint the best possible place to live.
--ANSWERS-1. This city is in the midst of its most robust master planning effort in history. It’s important that we maintain experienced leadership and get it right. Sandpoint is challenged with difficult issues arising from explosive growth. It is also challenged by a polarized political environment. Sandpoint needs leadership that can rally the community around shared values, stand strong in support of those values, and lead the city into a future of greater affordability and opportunity. A vote for me keeps my opponent in office as council president, and keeps me in office as mayor, providing the continuity of city governance that is most needed right now. 2. Right now we need to get the downtown revitalization completed as soon as possible, get the streets opened back up and support our local businesses. Our local businesses downtown are part of the heartbeat of Sandpoint, as are the historic buildings and landmarks which give our community its character. Looking forward, the Arts and Culture Master Plan process will inform the Comprehensive Plan with regards to the built environment and will identify elements of historical and cultural value. This will be a community driven process that will provide code recommendations to promote develop-
ment that preserves the historical character that defines Sandpoint. 3. Master planning will ensure that citizen tax dollars are spent in the most efficient way possible for delivery of all public services. Citizens benefit from increased playability on our athletic fields and courts, increased opportunities for events in public spaces, better access to the water, better connectivity and multimodal access, increased and improved arts and culture opportunities, and more affordable development and housing. All of this results in a stronger, more diversified economy, from which we all benefit. Planning for our future now is the key to ensuring affordability, and sustainability for our children and our grandchildren. These plans also increase the city’s ability to attract grant, state and federal funding for projects that directly benefit our residents. 4. The county is suing the city over the Festival lease. The city has filed for dismissal and will fight this frivolous lawsuit. The Festival is one of the most significant contributors to cultural and economic vitality of Sandpoint. I’m looking at alternative funding sources to support the Festival. Downtown street construction must be completed as soon as possible. This is a huge burden to downtown business. I have directed staff to hold the contractor’s feet to
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Shelby Rognstad Age: 45 Years of residence in county: 20 years Marital Status: Married, two kids, 7 and 10 Education: B.A. general studies, University of Idaho Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Rognstad Enterprises, owner, property management; Common Knowledge Bookstore and Cafe, owner, 2005-2015; The Hive, co-owner, 2013-2014. How can voters contact you?: electshelby.com mayor@sandpointidaho.gov October 24, 2019 /
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< con’t from previous page > the fire so that the project is completed in a timely fashion. Last Wednesday [Oct. 17] was a difficult decision when I, with three council members, approved the Memorial Field design to include artificial turf. As a lifelong supporter of grass over turf, I was converted when I realized that all of the Festival needs could be met with cork, the environmental impact was a wash and the overall use time nearly tripled. This was the most fiscally responsible choice that best served all user needs. 5. The comprehensive Plan Revision currently under way addresses the affordable housing issue. Accessory dwelling units, greater density and smaller lot sizes through the 2009 Comp Plan were successful changes creating affordable housing in Sandpoint. There are other innovative approaches, like a community land trust and employer subsidized housing that can offer housing options below market and have been successful in other communities. I have initiated discussions with potential partners to consider these novel approaches. I have also initiated discussions with county commissioners and other mayors in the region to address urban growth, bring more housing inventory onto the market and reduce housing cost. *6. I have partnered with the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force to convene regional and state leaders to address this issue. I have often been the lone voice among City Council, calling attention to the need to stand for our values of human dignity, kindness and acceptance. I have stood up and defended these values in City Hall and in the community. I have brought forward an inclusion initiative to support equality in the workplace and offer a resource for local employers if they so choose to participate in the effort. Sandpoint needs a mayor who has the courage to stand up for the least privileged among us, whether that is socio-economic, race, gender or ability, and I will continue to fight hard for diversity, inclusion and equity. My opponent had a chance to support the initiative and she chose not to. *7. My approach has been to be proactive, identify common goals and collaborate to achieve shared success. I’ve worked with the county on Bonner County Trails Plan, the BC Area Transportation Team, and the
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Bonner Regional Team to address growth issues. I am the candidate with the most experience working across political and ideological boundaries to build relationships in the county and state. This is important now more than ever as the city is being sued by the county and the future of the Festival is at stake. I am passionate about the success of the Festival and I have the experience and track record to engage our constituents and advocate on behalf of the Festival. *8. The Strategic Plan 2018-2020 was the first in Sandpoint’s history and it was a game changer because it identified common priorities and goals for the council, mayor and leadership team. This results in more effective government and greater efficiency of cost and service. Sandpoint government is more responsive than ever before. With new tools like Engage Sandpoint, OpenGov, OpenTownHall and more robust public engagement, it is easier than ever to be informed and participate in government. The new community resource officer division also represents government ready to respond to public needs.
Shannon Williamson Years of residence in county: 8 years as a resident. I’ve visited the area regularly since 2003. Marital Status: Single mom of two (ages 12 and 9 years old) Education: Ph.D. in marine science; B.S. in Marine Biology Recent or pertinent employment or professional qualifications: Nonprofit executive director. How can voters contact you?: www.shannonforsandpoint.com --ANSWERS-1. I was inspired to run for office in 2013 by my two kids. I’ve chosen to raise them in Sandpoint and I remain committed to making Sandpoint a great place for families and everyone that wants to live here. I’m now running for mayor because we’ve made promises to our citizens that we need
to deliver on over the next 4 years. I’m a methodical and pragmatic leader that will get the job done. 2. The city worked hard to collect feedback from all stakeholders with respect to the two major phases of the downtown streets revitalization so our residents, visitors and business owners had a say in the design aspects of the project. I believe that listening to what the public values and implementing their vision helps to preserve Sandpoint’s character. 3. Example 1: The inflow and infiltration (I&I) mitigation plan will help the city identify where groundwater is entering our sewer system and how we can address this chronic problem. Reducing I&I will allow us to build a smaller capacity wastewater treatment facility, which will directly benefit our rate-payers. Example 2: The multimodal masterplan will engage our citizens in the important conversation of sidewalk connectivity and help the city identify the best path forward to improve walkability in a way that is equitable to taxpayers. 4. In my opinion, the top three issues include affordability, growth and the potential loss of our resort city status due to an arbitrary population threshold. I address affordability in a subsequent question. The city continues to experience significant growth and development pressures. Our master planning efforts will help ensure we have a unified community vision that will define how we grow and respond as a community to these pressures. I will advocate to retain our resort city status, which allows us to offset the cost of service demands caused by tourism, by continuing to work with our two state representatives and senator to achieve the changes necessary to protect our status at the state level. 5. Affordable housing is an issue that our elected officials have no choice but to tackle. It’s our responsibility to our citizens. We’ve had many conversations about how to address this issue over the years. From making changes to how we limit short-term vs. long-term rentals to performing a new housing assessment, it’s a priority. A workshop with local developers helped us identify areas where the city could make changes that may help alleviate our affordable housing stock shortage. We need to continue the conversation locally, learn lessons from
success stories regionally, and act. *6. I would imagine that most would agree that diversity and inclusivity are important hallmarks of a healthy community. However, I don’t think it’s the city’s role to legislate kindness with taxpayer dollars. If elected mayor, I would support efforts to improve diversity and inclusivity by organizations and individuals in the community. I would also acknowledge and communicate that Sandpoint is made up of people that go above and beyond to help their fellow citizens in need daily and that’s part of what makes Sandpoint such a great place to live. *7. I would say that the day-to-day working relationship between staff at the city and county is OK, but the larger relationship between the entities has not been positive. If elected mayor, I would like to establish a committee made up of a subset of elected officials from the city and county that meets face to face monthly to address concerns and have frank conversations about the issues that impact our constituents. I would also like to establish a committee that is made up of all the elected officials that meets quarterly at a time when the public can attend so that we can gather feedback directly from our constituents and address them in a collaborative manner. *8. If elected mayor, I will work in close coordination with the city council members to achieve the goals we have outlined over the next four years. I will meet with each council member monthly to hear feedback, address concerns and brainstorm ideas. I will foster a collaborative environment across the city and give credit to the teams and individuals that help us serve our citizens every day. I will show up during critical times for the city including budget hearings and adopting the budget. Editor’s Note: This week, we featured answers from Sandpoint City Council and Sandpoint Mayoral races. Next week, we’ll publish answers from Ponderay City Council and Ponderay mayoral candidates, as well as Lake Pend Oreille School District Trustee #4 race. We’ll also publish a ballot explainer in next week’s issue outlining what will be on the ballot, including a question for Lake Pend Oreille School District to establish a permanent school levy.
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COMMUNITY
‘We sell fun’: The 219 Lounge turns 85 By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The 219 Lounge has been many things to many people. It has also been many bars. Opened in October 1934 on Pine Street as the Old Bohemia Club, it soon moved to its current location, replacing a hardware store at 219 N. First Ave. After only about a year selling liquor in the immediate post-Prohibition era, the Old Bohemia burned down. But it was quickly rebuilt and christened The Diamond, which it remained until sometime in the 1950s when it adopted the now-familiar 219 moniker. “In the ’60s it was a Vegas-type lounge. In the ’70s it became kind of a cowboy place,” said Mel Dick, who with his wife Claudia purchased the bar in 2005. “When
we took it over it was still that theme, it had one beer on tap and that was Pabst Blue Ribbon. It really didn’t serve what I would consider to be midshelf or top-shelf hard liquor, it was pretty much a dive bar.” So it remained until a complete renovation and overhaul in 2013. Gone were the low ceilings. Gone were the battered Naugahyde booths. Gone was the so-called “Smut Corner,” the never-ending jukebox and — most importantimportant ly — the thick clouds of cigarette smoke that hung over the place like an especially heavy beer head. As the 219 Lounge approaches its 85thanniversary on Saturday, Oct. 26, the venerable watering hole is securely in the midst of its latest of many reiterations. No longer a cowboy-inflected den of debauchery, “now we’re more of what I would call a true lounge,” Dick said, pointing to the wide variety of high-shelf liquors — very likely the best selection of whiskies in the area — and 19 taps featuring rotating craft beers.
Today the Niner, as it’s affectionately known, is a hotspot for craft cocktails more than boilermakers and, on top of that, it also hosts the most consistently varied — and consistently consistent — live entertainment schedules in town. The 85th anniversary features Spokane-based Down South from 9 p.m.-midnight, which has made its name by running the genre gamut from classic and Southern rock to Texas blues to Americana and everything in between. “We sell fun, we’re a live entertainment venue, a late-night entertainment venue. People go out because they want to have fun, they want to listen to good music, they want to see a good comedy show, but you’ve got to give them a reason to come out,” said Dick. And come out to the bar they have — from the Prohibition days to the era of the Vegas lounge to the cowboy dive and, now, the reborn 219, generations of Sandpointians and visitors alike have raised a glass both on and to that address. “I always say, it’s not our bar. It’s our customers’ bar,” said Dick. “It’s a place where you may have had your first drink legally; a place where you may have met your significant other; you may have had a chance to listen to some great music. When you’re in business that long, it’s almost like you’re a caretaker there.”
Try more than 30 varieties of apples at UI Sandpoint Organic Ag. Center By Reader Staff
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More than 30 varieties of apples and fresh pressed cider will be available for tasting from 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 26 during a free program at the University of Idaho’s Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center. The open house will feature apple varieties old and new from around the world, said Kyle Nagy, center superintendent and orchard operations manager. The event will take place in the center’s main building at 10881 N. Boyer Road in Sandpoint — not to be confused with the UI Research and Extension Center property on Boyer, which the university approved for sale to a private developer this past summer. The orchard hosts 68 apple varieties, / October 24, 2019
Consum some of them centuries old. Consumers can find apples and cider from the center on store shelves in Yoke’s Fresh Market and Winter Ridge Natural Foods. The orchard was established by Sandpoint businessman Dennis Pence 10 years ago to promote organic agriculture and local foods. In 2018, the U of I College of Agricultural and Life Sciences acquired the 66-acre property. The college uses the center for research and practical education programs sought by small farmers and others interested in organic agriculture. The center hosted a heritage orchard conference in May that drew participants from Idaho, Washington, Montana and Oregon. A similar event is planned for 2020.
STAGE & SCREEN
Write behind the mic
Sandpoint Literary Collective open mic comes to the winery
By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Sandpoint has long been home to lively community open mics, the most recent of which is the Pop-Up Open Mic Series organized by the Sandpoint Literary Collective. “SLC started the Pop-Up Open Mic in response to so many open mics closing,” said Lost Horse Press Publisher Christine Holbert, making specific note of the Five Minutes of Fame open mic, which ran for 20 years. The last Five Minutes of Fame took place at Foster’s Crossing in April 2018. SLC held its first open mic in August 2018. The SLC open mic happens every two or three months, this month coming to the Pend d’Oreille Winery on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. The event is free to attend, but wine and food will be available for purchase. Attendees are encouraged to share Halloween-themed poems and stories. In true “pop-up” fashion, Holbert said the open mic is meant to be mobile.
“We are happy to pop up in locations other than Pend d’Oreille Winery,” she said, noting that while the winery is the event’s “home,” SLC has hosted pop-up open mics elsewhere. “We just need to be invited.” For SLC Pop-Up Open Mic Series frequenter Desiree Aguirre, the benefits of attending the events are two-fold. “I am drawn to these events because I love hearing local artists read their prose and poetry or perform original songs,” she said. “Plus, it gives me an opportunity to do the same with new material.” Aguirre is a local writer and musician known to read original poems and perform on the banjo, guitar or ukulele at the pop-up events. She said she’s seen the power of open mics in how they’ve helped her daughter — who began attending such events at age 12 — develop “confidence and poise.” “I believe that any venue that supports local artists is good for the community. It brings us together in a situation where there is mutual respect and consideration,”
Aguirre said. “It is a live event for the community where people can share their experience, strength and hope with each other. Beats the heck out of watching television.” Those with questions about the SLC Pop-Up Open Mic Series — or who want to
Christine Holbert performs at a previous PopUp Open Mic night at Pend d’Oreille Winery. Photo by Dan Earle. host one of the events — can reach Holbert at 208-255-4410 or losthorsepress@mindspring.com.
The Death of Dick Long: By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff All right, who wants to get weird? It is the week before Halloween, after all. The Panida Theater is screening one of those movies that lives somewhere between drama and comedy — a quirky noholds-barred indie film called The Death of Dick Long. Brought to you by Dan Kwan, one of the inventive weirdos who made Swiss Army
A quirky dramady just right for Halloween
Man, and A24 studio, which has released such cult favorites as Lady Bird, The Witch, The Lobster, Ex Machina and others, Dick Long is a film about Dick. And Dick is dead. He died last night after band practice and his bandmates, Zeke and Earl (played by Michael Abbot, Jr. and Andre Hyland), don’t want anyone finding out how. Set in small-town Alabama and filled with strange humor and unexpected turns, Dick Long has racked up some generous reviews of late, including a 76% on the Tomatometer from the notoriously picky rottentomatoes.com. “You can feel your brain melting away as you watch it, and that’s not always a bad sensation,” wrote New York Magazine/Vulture film critic Bilge Ebiri. Indeed, the film deliberately takes the viewer on an off-road excursion, filling its world with actors who play the poor-dumbredneck schtick just right. For fans of studio A24’s previous work, Dick Long will certainly be right up your alley to count down the days until All Hallow’s Eve. It’s rated-R for pervasive language, disturbing sexual material and brief drug use (sounds about right for a small town in Alabama). The Death of Dick Long plays at the Pani-
da Theater from Thursday, Oct. 24-Sunday, Oct. 26 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and again Monday, Oct. 27 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available on panida.org or at the box office: $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $6 for students. To view the trailer, simply type in The Death of Dick Long on YouTube and take a deep breath. However, some recommend going into the film completely fresh, without having any preconceived notions. You do you, readers.
A still from The Death of Dick Long. Courtesy A24. The Death of Dick Long (R) Thursday, Oct. 24-Sunday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 27 at 3:30 p.m.; $8 adult, $7 seniors, $6 students. The Panida Theater, 300 N. First Ave., 208263-9191, panida.org. See the trailer on YouTube.com. October 24, 2019 /
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FOOD
The Sandpoint Eater
Meeting Martha
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist Recently, I took a weekend trip to southern California to host a dinner for clients. My eldest daughter Ryanne joined me, and it was a rare getaway for my oldest daughter. I assured her that once my Saturday evening commitments were completed, Sunday was all hers. And though I consider myself to be a very skilled driver, I acquiesced and agreed to her request (demand) that she would own the driver’s seat of our rental car. Even though my bag didn’t arrive at LAX, and despite an unplanned emergency shopping expedition to the Newport Beach Macy’s (with an Alaska clothing voucher in hand), we still made it to our hotel in relatively good spirits, with time remaining to gussy up and assemble gift bags of Idaho-huckleberry lagniappes. Then, right on schedule (with a bit of help from our friend GPS), we arrived punctually to our Dana Point dining destination. It was a fun evening, filled with rare steaks, lively conversations, plenty of wine and an impromptu invitation for Ryanne and me to join one of the dinner guests for Sunday brunch the following morning. I accepted without hesitation and seconds later remembered my “Sunday is yours” promise to Ryanne. Generally, she’s a good sport, and I was relieved when she gave a nod of approval. The next morning, we sat deck-side at a beautiful oceanfront restaurant in San Clemente, watching surfers of all ages waiting for the perfect wave. Over a basket of warm muffins and seafood omelets, our host, Blanca, told us about her mother, Martha, a 90-year-old immigrant who still works at the Mexican food shop and bakery she founded in the San Gabriel Valley, along with her husband, Guillermo, 24 /
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nearly 50 years ago. I’m forever curious about cultures and cuisines and was hungry to learn more about La Moderna Bakery. As we lingered over coffee, I pressed Blanca for every detail about her mother and her famous tamales. Blanca comes from a long line of tamale makers and relayed a story from her own mother’s childhood in Guadalajara, where Martha had watched as her mother boiled cauldrons of corn over an open fire to prepare the masa for their tamales. We bid a fond farewell to Blanca and headed towards our rental car for Ryanne’s promised day of sunshine and road tripping on Coastal Highway 101. We settled into the car and Ryanne loaded the address for Crystal Cove into our fancy navigational system. I was busy with my phone when she asked me, “What are you looking at?” She knows me well, and no
doubt knew what was coming next. “Well, I just wondered if we would be anywhere near Martha’s bakery today?” I asked. We hiked along the rocky outcroppings, then dipped our toes in the surf of Crystal Cove before Ryanne, herself a curious sociologist, suggested that once we’d driven the 101 to Long Beach we could head east for a tamale fix. Using her superlative driving skills and me — trying my best to give fair warning for upcoming exits — we navigated three crazy California freeways, including dodging a spilled load of largesized Fisher Price plastic toys. Google Maps led us off the freeway into a predominantly Hispanic area of Whittier, where we located La Moderna in a small strip mall filled with other Mexican vendors. I knew we were in the right place because I instantly recognized Martha from her
photo, broom and hose in hand, scrubbing down the entrance. We introduced ourselves and It seems they may have been waiting for us. Besides Martha (a remarkably beautiful and young-looking 90-year-old), we were greeted by three more generations of the family and loaded up a bag of tamales: red pork, red beef and green cheese, along with beans, spicy sauce and carnitas. Armed with our bag of food, we drove to our upscale hotel in Marina del Rey, checked in, spread our feast on a small table near our balcony, sipped beer and watched the sunset against the Pacific Ocean while eating the greatest carnitas I have ever put to my lips. The tamales were loaded with spicy filling and creamy masa, and it turned out we didn’t need the in-room refrigerator for morning leftovers (we did, however, need a long walk after polishing off the entire feast).
Besides the savory foods at La Moderna Bakery, there were display cases filled with sweet breads and bolillos, and a line of patrons choosing their favorites. Apparently at Christmas time, starting at 5 a.m., customers are lined up around the block to collect their pre-ordered tamales. I can only imagine that in preparation for Día de Muertos (“Day of the Dead”), which is celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, the same customers will be lined up for sweet treats to celebrate the dead. One of my favorite Mexican sweet breads is pan de los muerto (“bread of the dead”). A round loaf adorned with pieces of dough to resemble bones, it’s prepared and served the last few days of October through the first of November. It’s a great family project to assemble and bake to honor the dead, not to mention a super delicious treat for the living.
Pan de los muerto (a.k.a. ‘bread of the dead’) Makes two medium (or one very large) loaves. Turn leftover bread into delicious French toast!
INGREDIENTS: • 6 ounces soft butter • 3⁄4 cup granulated sugar • 3 tsp whole anise seed • 1 tsp salt • 5 1⁄2 to 6 cups unbleached flour • 4 large eggs + 1 egg yolk, at room temperature (reserve the extra white for glazing) • 1 1⁄4 cups warm water • 3 tbs freshly grated orange zest • 2 packets instant dry yeast Glaze: Mix 3 tbs fresh orange juice and 1/3 cup sugar with the leftover egg white, set aside.
DIRECTIONS: In the bowl of a stand mixer, proof the yeast in 1⁄2 cup of warm water, then add 1⁄2 cup of flour, butter, sugar, anise seed and salt. Using a dough hook, mix the ingredients until they are well mixed. In a separate small bowl, whisk together eggs, remaining water and orange zest, and add to mixer bowl along with another 1/2 cup of the flour. Mix until combined. Add the remaining flour 1 cup at a time, mixing between additions, until a soft dough forms. Knead in mixer for another minute until just pliable but not sticky. Turn dough into a lightly greased large bowl, cover it with a damp dish towel and let rise in a warm area for 1 hour or so (until doubled in size). For two loaves, separate the dough in half, then split off about 1/4 of the dough for each loaf and use to make bone shapes to drape across the loaf. Shape the rest of the dough into a flat-bottomed semi-sphere. With a damp finger, moisten and place the bone shapes on the top of the loaf
and press gently so they adhere. Let the dough rise for an additional hour. Bake the loaf in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven for about 45 minutes (35 minutes for smaller loaves). With a pastry brush, glaze the bread during
the last 10 minutes of baking. Watch the bone pieces — you may need to cover with foil so they don’t over-brown, especially after glazing. Cut pan de los muerto into wedges and serve at room temperature.
MUSIC
Folk-grass album release concert Saturday Northwest singer-songwriter Kevin Brown’s fourth album titled “Heroes and Sparrows” By Ben Olson Reader Staff For the past 18 years, singer-songwriter Kevin Brown has hosted a bluegrass radio show on Spokane Public Radio called Front Porch Bluegrass. In those almost two decades, Brown has spent a considerable amount of time honoring what he refers to as the “classic sounds of the first and second generations of bluegrass.” He has also met and listened to more bluegrass musicians than could comfortably fit on any size front porch, which coincidentally is how he formed a quartet to produce his fourth album, Heroes and Sparrows. Brown will showcase the work from this studio album at a concert Saturday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. at Di Luna’s Cafe, 207 Cedar St. Brown, who lives in Chattaroy, Wash., said his work hosting the radio show, as well as his involvement with the Blue Waters Music Festival held in Medical Lake for the past 18 years, helped expose him to many new players — three of which joined him for his latest album. Ben Winship plays mandolin and also provided the recording studio, Eric Thorn contributed on
the bass and Natalie Rae Padilla provided the sounds of the fiddle to round out the quartet. Featuring 11 of Brown’s songs, Heroes and Sparrows captures snapshots of the extraordinary aspects of ordinary life, rounded with Brown’s poetic lyrics and warm, comforting voice. The concert at Di Luna’s is one of only three shows the configuration is playing in the region. “Two musicians are from Colorado and one lives down near Jackson Hole,” Brown said. “We recorded this album together and said, ‘We gotta figure out how to do some shows,’ so this is onetime-only for this configuration.” Brown said his style can be best described as “folk-grass,” which he says is dominated by his importance over thoughtful lyrics.
READ
The late-British author, essayist and raconteur Sir Kingsley Amis was, perhaps disingenuously, surprised that he was also known as ”one of the great drinkers, if not one of the great drunks, of our time.” The legendary bon vivant penned dozens of ruminations on the art, history and science of the spirited life. Three of his books on booze were released in 2008 under the collective title Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis, which reads like a one-on-one bender with the best possible drinking buddy.
LISTEN
“I slave over that kind of stuff,” he said. “I’m in my middle age, so I kind of think about things in life.” This will be the third time Brown has played Di Luna’s in Sandpoint. “It’s such a great space,” he said. “Both as a listener and a performer, we appreciate it being a listening room so much. … To have such an attentive audience in a quiet space like that, it’s just the perfect place to play.”
Kevin Brown will be joined by Ben Winship on mandolin, Eric Thorn on bass and Natalie Rae Padilla on fiddle. Courtesy photo.
Dinner will be served before the show at 6 p.m. and tickets will be $12 in advance or $15 the day of the show. Call 208-263-0846 for reservations. Listen to Kevin Brown on Spotify or Apple iTunes.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint The Liabilities, Oct. 25, 219 Lounge
This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone
Right Front Burner, Oct. 25, Mickduff’s Beer Hall
Though the late-1960s and early-’70s are most often musically identified with the psychedelia and counter-culture rock of the hippie era, that period also saw the fluorescence of the hard-driving, Southern-inflected electric blues movement. In the years between the mid-’70s and 1980s, iconic acts such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, Eric Clapton and George Thorogood further developed the style. Solidly within that tradition is Laclede-based three-piece, The Liabilities. Comprised of brothers Sheldon and Rob Packwood on bass and guitar, respectively, along with drummer Scott Howard, the band hits all the right notes — shredding and swaggering true to form. With a decades-long resume that includes Top-40 recordings and appearances on stages including the Grand Ol’ Opry, Texas Motor Speedway, Astrodome and Cowboy Stadium, The Liabilities are The Real Deal. — Zach Hagadone
Hailed as “arguably the funkiest trio you’ll see in the Inland Northwest,” Sandpoint band Right Front Burner is known to bring the grooviest of tunes to crowds of all ages. Using the versatility of the electric keyboard, groovy guitar and steady drums, RFB dabbles in funk and disco, producing memorable jams and satisfying remakes of popular tunes like Bruno Mars’ “24K Magic” and Christopher Cross’ “Ride Like the Wind.” RFB is a band that knows how to have fun, and that joy translates directly into the booty-shaking crowds they entertain. — Lyndsie Kiebert
9 p.m.-midnight, FREE, 21+. 219 Lounge, 219 N. First Ave., 208263-5673, 219.bar.
6:30-9:30 p.m., FREE, 21+. Mickduff’s Beer Hall, 220 Cedar St., 208-209-6700, mickduffs.com.
Ever since the 2019 Festival at Sandpoint, it’s noticeable how much people in town seem to love Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. Considered by many as the highlight of the season, the Rateliff sound is indeed catchy. To get more of it, we suggest for your next Pandora station Shakey Graves Radio. You’ll get Rateliff but also a host of other acts, including the stellar eponymous singer-songwriter and some other FAS alums like Devil Makes Three and Trampled by Turtles.
WATCH
It’s telling how numb to scandal we’ve become when the April 2016 “Panama Papers” data breach feels like ancient history. But the tax fraud and money laundering revealed by the leak of financials from legal firm Mossack Fonseca toppled one world leader and threatened to expose politicians, warlords, investment bankers and corporations. Reminding us of the human toll of corruption is Netflix’s dark-comedy dramatization The Laundromat, released in September and starring Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman and Antonio Banderas. Directed by Stephen Sod e r b e rg h , it’s as depressing as it is a romp to watch. October 24, 2019 /
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HEALTH
A grain of salt A health column... sort of Illness is not a weakness
From Northern Idaho News, Oct. 19, 1920
THREE MASKED MEN OVERPOWER FOURTEEN Three masked men went into Beardmore’s camp No. 3 on Pack river last Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock and held up the 14 men there in the room, where a few of them were engaged in a friendly game of cards. They succeeded in securing over $500 from the crowd and made their getaway. The men were dressed in coveralls and caps, with handkerchiefs tied over their faces. One of the men was taller and bigger than the others and the little hair on his head that could be seen under the cap and handkerchief was gray. They were tracked next morning to the S.I. railroad track, but there all trace was lost and it is thought they may have caught a freight train and thus made their escape. Sheriff Spoor was called early Monday morning and sent a couple of men to hunt for the desperadoes but they were unable to find any clue. A couple of cases were reported some time ago of holdups in lumber camps, in both of which men were playing cards when the holdup men entered. One of these was in a Dover Lumber company camp and the other in a Humbird camp, but the holdup men were not so successful in these cases. The Beardmore camp No. 3 is a new one and is located five miles from Samuels on Pack river, where the company expect to get out a lot of timber this winter and have it ready for the drive next spring. 26 /
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By Ammi Midstokke Reader Columnist Somehow, perhaps with the transition into the Industrial Revolution and hourly wages, Americans seem to have lost compassion for the unwell. Working hard for long hours each day and “never missing a day” have become a badge of honor. Things like paid sick leave or — gasp — paid maternity leave are nothing more than myths from Europe. I’ve lived in Europe. I can tell you these are not myths. The first time I went to the office sick, the HR manager came to look at my box of Tempos (the German version of Kleenex), glazed eyes and pathetic stare. “What are you doing here?” she asked. I thought I was super tough, martyring myself to make sure reports were filed. Reports are so important. My ego said that if I did not work, the whole capitalistic machine would come to a screeching halt, businesses would fail, the global economy would collapse. I wasn’t even that sick. I figured she was just being a socialist and explained that I would sterilize my hands and cough into my shirt if necessary to avoid the risk of losing the entire workforce to a mild case of ebola or dysentery. While she cared about the well-being of my colleagues because she did not want to see them suffer the same snot drowning, her special trip from the executive management wing came because she cared about me. And she thought I should, too. “Illness is not a weakness,” she said as she pointed toward my coat and bag, “but stubbornness is.” Not only was I sent home, but I was told not to return until the doctor specifically said it was appropriate and healthy for me to go back to work. The doctor said things I had never heard before about the importance of resting and “sleeping it off” so that I would not need antibiotics — and about how trying to work through illness was hard on our hearts and made us more susceptible to infection. There may have also been a rant in there about the workaholic nature of those nations with high antibiotic prescription
rates and their role in the development of superbugs. I was told in no uncertain terms that I would be in big trouble if he had to prescribe an antibiotic because I was not being a compliant patient. The next decade of care by him was very similar and every time I went in there sick, there was some kind of lecture about how I only had 100% to give and if I keep trying to find another 10% somewhere, it will come from my health. Most of my compliance came out of fear of those lectures. They’re really hard to comprehend when you have a fever. His favorite thing to do was threaten the hospital: “Frau Midstokke, it will be the Krankenhaus for you next!” He knew how much I hated the food there. That was when I learned that the world kept turning even if I napped for 48 hours and that my body could fight off a cold if I would just take a day off from the gym — or, lord save me from instant obesity and a life doomed to diabetes, an entire week. Getting sick was suddenly transformed from weeks of lingering coughs or self-induced pneumonia to a few days of sleeping in and eating chicken soup. When I moved back to the United States and called in sick for the first time, I heard the exasperated sigh on the other side of the line. Somehow, I had disappointed my colleagues by catching the stomach flu. I had a good mind to go to work and lick their coffee cups. Then we could join forces on the BRAT diet and enjoy how loose all our pants (and stool) were. The development of daytime cold medicines perpetuate this culture. Commercials tell us we can take some orange-flavored cough syrup, drink a quad-shot and our immune systems will miraculously battle off invaders while we still maintain focus and a rosy pallor. That is not how the immune system functions. It takes an inordinate amount of materials and energy to wage war in magnificent microscopic ways. You might not be able to see it happening, but the fatigue, running nose, cough, purging, etc. are proof of it.
Back in the U.S., it was hard for me to stay home at first but I began to feel ethically obliged. It seems we value the sick or injured less, and that is palpable in our bravado approach to bravely suffering through a 40-hour work week while being treated for strep throat. Try a different method this season. Help those macrophages and T-cells out and go back to bed. When your colleagues fall one-by-one this season as the plagues that haunt us begin to appear, encourage them to go home and recover. They will not be single-handedly responsible for a recession. Their jobs are not at risk. They are of no less value to us. In fact, they are of so much value, we really need them to take the time to get better. And we will pick up the slack gladly, because we want to hope they would do the same for us. Ammi Midstokke is a local nutritional therapy practitioner and author.
Crossword Solution
If you see an animal and you can’t tell if it’s a skunk or a cat, here’s a good saying to help: “Black and white, stinks all right, Tabby-colored, likes a fella.”
Idaho Writers’ League hosts inaugural festival The Idaho Writers’ League, Sandpoint Writers on the Lake Chapter and East Bonner County Library District will host the inaugural Local Authors’ Festival on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library. The free event is designed to bring published and amateur writers together to celebrate the craft. Avid readers and those who enjoy discovering local authors can meet and listen to readings from independent writers. The event includes interactive writers’ workshops, a locally published author showcase and readings. Anyone can participate in the seven-minute reading contest, in which audience members vote for their favorite. Prepared and impromptu submissions are welcome and encouraged.
Woorf tdhe Week
An introduction to the upcoming NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) initiative will be included. Library staff will discuss the basis of NaNoWriMo and share tips for achieving the goal of writing 50,000 words in the 30 days of November. The schedule of library-sponsored NaNoWriMo Writein’s will be available there. All ages and writers of various genres, platforms and skill levels are encouraged to join in. Drop in for a while or attend the entire day. For more information, contact Mike Bauer, Lifelong Learning coordinator at the Sandpoint Library: 208-265-2665 or mike@ebonnerlibrary.org.
Narcissist
/NAHR-suh-sist/
[noun] 1. a person who is overly self-involved, and often vain and selfish.
“When a Narcissist runs a country, look out, buddy.” Corrections: In the Sept. 5, 2019 issue, Jodi Rawson, one of our contributors, wrote an article about the experience she had after finding a wounded robin in her backyard. While Rawson showed love and care to the wild animal, eventually watching it fly free and healed, it is illegal to possess a wild animal. We apologize for not making this more clear within the article. When you find a wounded animal in the wild, the best practice is to call Idaho Fish and Game immediately. They’ll let you know the best steps to take next. -Ben Olson
CROSSWORD
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By Reader Staff
ACROSS 1. Not yours 5. Flooded 10. The bulk 14. Wildebeests 15. Hindu social division 16. Anagram of “Rave” 17. Freeing 19. Roman emperor 20. French for “Summer” 21. Sea 22. Broadcast 23. Hopelessness 25. Panache 27. Historic period 28. Exchanges 31. Couches 34. Ancient Athenian philosopher 35. Type of whiskey 36. Nights before 37. Weepy 38. Cajole 39. Hearing organ 40. Move very slightly 41. Chatty 42. Inert medications 44. Dawn goddess 45. Inexpensive 46. Esoteric spiritual knowledge 50. Assumed name 52. Stops 54. Before, poetically
Solution on page 26 55. Hireling 56. Front man 58. Cozy 59. Winged 60. Initial wager 61. To be, in old Rome 62. Brusque 63. Colors
DOWN 1. Leered 2. Come together 3. Yokels 4. South southeast 5. Sweet wattle 6. H2O
7. Largest continent 8. Ceramic ware 9. Female chicken 10. Lunatic 11. Subvert 12. Arid 13. Stepped 18. Lion sounds 22. Countertenor 24. Legumes 26. Large town 28. Drosses 29. Nestling hawk 30. Alluring 31. Dribble 32. Egg-shaped 33. Prolific or fruitful
34. A type of pervert 37. Brass instrument 38. To tax or access 40. Honey insects 41. Hangman’s knot 43. Alter 44. Main course 46. Surpluses 47. Little 48. Angry 49. Yields 50. Church alcove 51. Focusing glass 53. Food thickener 56. Not thin 57. Possessed
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201 NORTH 1st AVENUE SANDPOINT IDAHO 83864