Reader October5 2017

October 5, 2017 | FREE | Vol. 14 Issue 40

Sandpoint Center investor distances self from family financial misdeeds

Fall For Sandpoint pairs downtown retailers with area nonprofits

washington rejects longview coal terminal The Dustbowl Revival

POAC presents:

Radical reels kicks off one last year of films

OPEN 11:30 am

GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS

LIVE MUSIC First Fridays with

DEVON WADE

6:30-9:30pm

BROWNE SALMON TRUCK

Where the only thing better than our sushi is the view

The Psounbality with Per

6:30-9:30pm

Second Fridays with

RON GREENE

6:30-9:30pm

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

255-4351

FRESH FOOD LIVE MUSIC THE BEST NW BREWS

212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint

208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994

2 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

41 Lakeshore Drive (across the Long Bridge)

208.265.2001 ShogaSushi.com

Enjoy our Asian fusion cuisine while taking in the beautiful waterfront and spectacular sunset views

(wo)MAN compiled by

Susan Drinkard

on the street

Do you think it’s disrespectful for professional athletes to kneel during the national anthem, or is it a show of their First Amendment rights to protest?

“I believe in freedom of speech and the right to protest. I might see certain actions as disrespectful, but ultimately I believe in freedom of speech. The fact that they can express that right shows why America is a great place to live.”

Erin Weme Therapist Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

This has been another trying week for the nation. The mass shooting in Las Vegas was such a heart-wrenching tragedy. If there can ever be a silver lining in such a terrible act, it’s that the best of human nature usually follows the worst. Reading about all the heroic actions from survivors and first responders brought tears to my eyes.

As a responsible gun owner, it makes me sick that there are those who choose to take lives. I believe in the Second Amendment, but I also believe in moderation.

For those on the far right, giving an inch on gun control does not mean people will “take your guns away.” For those on the far left, just because someone owns a gun doesn’t mean they are “crazy gun nuts.” Somewhere between are most responsible gun owners like myself, who think extended magazines, silencers, bump stocks that allow automatic fire and assault rifles are not useful for a prudent gun owner. I approve of background checks. I approve of ensuring that those who have mental illness should not own firearms. I approve of a common sense way for those on both sides of the issue to talk freely, without emotional outbursts and hyperventilation.

Perhaps we can come up with some ideas that might be universally agreed upon.

If both sides give an inch – just one inch – we might just come to some common ground on this issue that is hurting our nation. My two cents.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

Explore Nature in Sandpoint Ponderay, ID (208) 263-1222

“I think it’s their right to protest against police brutality.”

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: William Greenway/HoverSight Photography, Ben Olson, Zach Hagadone, Cameron Barnes/Lighthawk, Sandy Compton, Marjolein Groot Nibbelink, Dan Eskelson, Tolley Media.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Nick Gier, Jodi Rawson, Scarlette Quille, Shelby Rognstad, Brenden Bobby, Bill Harp, Shannon Williamson, Drake

Kjetil Lund Ponderay

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

“I believe in peaceful protest, but some people are misinterpreting the motivation of the athletes as a sign of disrespecting the military.

Perhaps there is another way they could get their message across so veterans and active-duty military personnel, who have earned the right to be appreciated and supported, aren’t offended.”

•Free Breakfast •Free Wifi

“I think it’s disrespectful because they’re not honoring the people who fought and gave their lives for our country.”

Exceptional coffee in the heart of downtown Sandpoint!

Carson Lewis Junior at SHS Sandpoint

Marian Soderberg Junior at SHS Sagle

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

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

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

Free to all, limit two copies per person.

Cindy Rogers Wife, mother, peer support Kootenai

“I do think this was an expression of their opinion, and as a democracy we are supposed to listen to minority opinions. We may disagree, but we should not bash them. This is honestly one of the best ways they could have expressed this because people pay attention to big actions and to athletes. They are just standing against the immoralities of citizens in our country.”

Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

The Pioneer Square at 819 Hwy 2, Ste:102-B

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

Located on the Historic Cedar St. Bridge Sunday - Monday 7am - 5pm Tuesday - Saturday 7am - 9pm 208-265-4396 • www.cedarstbistro.com

This week’s cover was taken via aerial drone by William Greenway of HoverSight Photography. The photo was taken on Holly Berry Road.

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 3

COMMENTARY

Mahatma Gandhi: Charismatic saint of nonviolence

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist “It is too early to clothe me in sainthood.

I myself do not feel to be a saint in any shape or form.”

–M. K. Gandhi “Martin Luther King helps us to see that to be a saint is not to be morally perfect, but to be exemplary in love.”

–Jean Porter Mohandas K. Gandhi, better known as the Mahatma (“great soul”), would have been 148 years old on Oct. 2. I would like to take the occasion of his birthday to reflect on what it means to be a saint.

In response to the traditional view that the saint is morally perfect, philosopher Robert Adams counters that “saintliness is not perfectionism.” If we look at the lives of the saints, we will indeed find a few moral flaws. Even Jesus said that “no one is good but God alone” (Mark 10:18), and the Buddha begged his disciples not to deify him.

The achievements of both

Letters to the Editor Get Rid Of...

Dear Editor, In the interest of creating a utopian culture with equal outcomes for all, we must transition to a society where inequality, fear, bigotry and discrimination become relics of a less welcoming past: Tear down the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor. It is an obvious symbol of white privilege, bigotry and repression. Oh, the one at City Beach, too!

Oppressed athletes refusing to stand for our national anthem? The solution is obvious. Do away with the anthem. The flag, too. Furthermore, to be asked to stand in respect is clearly a violation of the First Amendment.

Letter grades (A,B,C,D,F) at all educational levels must be eliminated.

They serve only to damage the self-esteem of many scholars. And as you know, actual learning is overrated.

Remove all intellectual requirements for admission to college. And free tuition for all.

Cease immigration law enforce-

4 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

Gandhi and other saints appear to go far beyond the resources of their respective background and character. Like the prophets of old they were very unlikely and somewhat reluctant political and spiritual leaders. Many attributed their success to divine grace, and this presumably explains why they were able to exhibit great love and compassion while still remaining flawed human beings.

Susan Wolf, another philosopher who writes about saintliness, offers qualities such as “personal bearing, creativity, and sense of style” as necessary to the saintly life. These attributes could be summed up by the word “charisma,” so I propose that we should look for moral charisma in our saints.

The Chinese philosopher Mencius (372-289 BCE) wrote: “The desirable is called good. To have it in oneself is called true. To possess it fully in oneself is called beautiful, but to shine forth with this possession is called great.”

This is the Chinese equivalent of the charismatic Great Soul.

The Chinese sages are filled with “de,” which can be translated as “virtue,” “power” or “charisma.” It is the linguistic equiva-

McGivney observes: “The saints differ from us in their exuberance, the excess of our human talents.

Moderation is not their secret.”

The souls of saints are not morally perfect; rather, they are great in vitality, compassion and courage. Gandhi in particular had a broad vision of cultural, political, moral and spiritual possibilities. His commitment to recognizing the good in every religion and every person, his strong empathy for his enemies, and his ability to draw diverse people to his cause make him an outstanding charismatic saint.

“Ghandi the pimp” by Zach Hagadone.

The theory of the charismatic lent the Latin “virtus,” but it is saint allows us to canonize both significant that it is not gendered Gandhi and Martin Luther King in the way that “virtus” is as even though they both had moral manly power. Indeed, the Daoist weaknesses of a sexual nature. Just classic “Dao De Jing” favors the like Bill Clinton, King’s handlers feminine over the masculine. “De” procured women for him, and the is also intimately related to “qi,” FBI obtained tapes of the liaisons. the cosmic energy out of which Although Gandhi most likely everything arises and from which did not have sexual relations with all things get their vitality. any of the women he invited to The Pentecostals and their his bed, I argue that his sins are predecessors are criticized for greater because he, unlike King, too much “enthusiasm,” but they did not seek forgiveness for his are closest to Chinese “de” and sins. The goal in Gandhi’s sexual Ferdinand Galen’s view that experiments was to test his vow of “virtue is enthusiasm.” As Phyllis chastity, and Gandhi once declared

ment at our border. It is a text book example of racial discrimination.

God bless … whoops, wait a minute! We have to remove this word, ‘God’, from our vocabulary. Atheists have feelings too! … Bless America, and … bless our military.

A Guy Thing...

Steve Brixen Sandpoint

Common Sense Policing...

Dear Editor, In the September 28, 2017 edition of the Reader, Publisher Ben Olson laments the loss of the small town feel in Sandpoint because high rise condos might be built at the old Garden Restaurant site.

I lament the shootings which seem to becoming more frequent with the local law enforcement. I know all too well the difficulties they face. I am just expressing sorrow at the apparent loss of small town, common sense policing.

Rosanne Smith Moyie Springs

Dear Editor, Often, the terms we use keep from knowing what we’re talking about. For example: violence. We say gun violence, domestic violence, sexual violence, sectarian, racial, inner city or Middle Eastern violence, etc. or other words like “terrorism” or “genocide,” or “war.” Let’s cut the crap and call it what it all really is: male violence.

Since human beginnings, probably 99 percent of all our violence (and there is a lot) has been enacted, initiated, even orchestrated by guys. It’s a guy thing! Yes, women can be violent also, especially in defense of self and family, or if they’ve been really messed up by guys and/or certain male ideologies.

But violence does not seem to haunt the female psyche as it does the male psyche. Something is deeply wounded there needing healing.

Instead, we are fed constant images of violence in stories, films, even games and maybe real life,

warping us from childhood on and vast institutions work to keep it so.

War, systems of war and weapons of death are the world’s big money makers. Gun makers’ profits soar after every mass shooting. What kind of people are responsible?

Guy people. We males commit the violence, think about it and feed it in our culture. I believe getting real about this can help. There’s no help if we don’t.

Greg Flint Sandpoint

The Flag...

Dear Editor, Puerto Rico has never had a star on our flag, despite fighting for it, and despite fighting in our military and dying. By law they are “natural born citizens” but have never been able to vote. I wonder what they think of this whole flag controversy.

Over the weekend our president was more concerned with the patriotism of the NFL than Puerto Rico. In the face of tragedy he criticized Puerto Rico’s leadership, infrastructure

that he would sleep with a thousand women if that is what it took to reach spiritual purity.

The Buddha and Christ are clearly our foremost ancient practitioners of nonviolence. Christ’s message that we are to love even those who hate us is essentially the message of the Buddha. Both knew very well that hate figuratively burns a hole in the heart.

Both were Great Souls whose virtue shines down through the ages.

Equally remarkable, particularly because we know their personal histories and weaknesses so well, are the lives of Gandhi, King and Mother Theresa. Taking the ancient saints of nonviolence or our more recent charismatic saints as our models, let us all try to develop the virtue of nonviolence until it becomes as natural as taking a breath.

Nick Gier taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Email him at ngier006@ gmail.com. Excerpts from his book The Virtue of Non-Violence: From Gautama to Gandhi can be found at webpages.uidaho.edu/ ngier/vnv.htm. Read “Was Gandhi a Tantric?” at webpages.uidaho. edu/ngier/GandhiTantric.htm. and debt.

Pete Seeger wrote in his song “The Torn Flag” from the flag’s perspective:

“Do you think you could change me just a bit?

Betsy Ross did her best, but she made a few mistakes.

My blue is good, the color of the sky.

The stars are good for ideals, oh, so high.

Seven stripes of red are strong to meet all danger; But those white stripes: they, they need some changing.

I need also some stripes of deep, rich brown, And some of tan and black, then all around A border of God’s gracious green would look good there.

Maybe you should slant the stripes, then I’d not be so square.”

The first time I saw a flag burning was on the news as a child. Iraq was upset by the U.S. invasion and the loss of civilian lives. I empathized with them, but I still joined the military because I hoped to be a “good guy” on the inside.

Jodi Rawson Sandpoint

HUMOR

I’m still here...

First, I’d like to address the rumor that this column is not running any more; obviously, that is a rumor, as you are reading the column.

I’ve written this column for over 10 years, and occasionally I need a break.

Try not to take it personally. It’s me, not you. I apologize for any confusion that my short absence may have caused for my awesome editors at the Reader and my dedicated fans. As abrupt as it was, the break was necessary, as I tend to have a difficult time writing a humorous column when I am feeling out of sorts.

The end of summer always brings up feelings of regret. Regret about spending too much time focusing on things I couldn’t change like birthdays, the ridiculous political climate and not enough time skinny dipping. It was time for me to go on a spiritual journey, and prepare myself because as much as I’d like to ignore it...

Winter is coming.

As spiritual journeys go, mine was fairly text book. I experienced significant loss, which lead to grief and finally a spiritual awakening. There comes a time when you have to stop crying over the things you can’t change and focusing on the present. For me, this was in early September when I had to pull myself together in order to attend a Guns N’ Roses concert at the Gorge with my family.

This once in a life time experience was a Christmas gift from my brother and despite my personal sadness, I needed to pull my shit together and at least go through the motions of having fun for the sake of my mother who considered this event to be a deeply religious experience.

It was at the Gorge while “You Could Be Mine” was blasting through the smoke-filled sky, when I experienced a shift in my attitude. Maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the music, or maybe it was being engulfed by the legal marijuana-scented amphitheater. I do not know. What I do know, is that I was able to come to the conclusion that if Axl Rose can get his shit together and make up with his band, and his bandmates could find it in their hearts to forgive him, I too had a chance at being forgiven. Perhaps I would be able to make beautiful music again. Not literal music (my singing voice is similar to a screeching ferret, and my instrumental skills are even worse). This gave me hope, and I was able to make a call, and mend a fence, and return to the experience in progress with hope and the ability to focus on the present.

I spent the rest of the concert surrounded by family and friends singing at the top of our lungs, until we had no voice left. Seriously, the concert was three-plus hours long. I may still have vocal dam-

age a month later. My circumstances had changed for the better. I was healing and not walking through the campgrounds singing “Patience” alone. I have no judgment for those whose experience went that direction. Everyone’s spiritual path is different.

My time at Guns N’ Roses, gave me a new focus. I was able to go in a sweatlodge shortly after, and now feel like I am ready to face the winter head-on, with a better, healthier attitude. However, I still have some amends to make with y’all.

First, I’d like to apologize personally to my number-one fan, the man who works at the liquor store. I haven’t been in there in a couple of weeks, and I don’t want him to feel abandoned. I promise that if I decide to quit writing this column I will give my fans, especially him, appropriate closure. It’s the right thing to do when you have shared as much together as we have.

On a side note, the liquor store in Ponderay has the best customer service in town. I always feel happy after going in there, and it’s not just because I have a full bottle of booze (though that is always a bonus). The staff is amazing, fast and courteous. I have personally watched them get several lost tourists headed back to Sandpoint with clear, concise directions and awesome recommendations. This is a

task that is difficult to do with a smile, and a line of thirsty people standing in line, eagerly tapping their feet. Personally, I am in no rush to leave the store, as my number-one fan works there, and I value his opinions on my latest columns. It’s always nice to hear that people enjoy your work, and I am grateful for his kind words.

I’d also like to thank the individuals who send fan mail to the Reader for me.

I save every hand-written letter I receive.

The last letter was particularly kind, as it included an offer for me to bring my cats over for a play date to this individual’s home and maybe start a cat army or something like that. I appreciate the kind offer, but the kittens have all found amazing homes, and Maple isn’t the type of cat who likes to share anything, especially the spotlight. I love receiving mail, and I am always honored whenever I receive a handwritten letter.

Lastly, I’d like to thank the Reader, for bearing with me for my month of selfdiscovery, and being open to publishing a column that is a bit racy for our small town. Thank you.

XOXO, Scarlette Quille Editor’s Note: We love you, Scarlette!

Defining achievement and success is easy.

Mapping out your family’s goals and staying on track to reach them takes determination, planning and a team you trust.

The Gibson Wealth Strategy Group can partner with you on your path to success at many different stages: from wealth accumulation through retirement, and into legacy planning. We would love the chance to become part of your team.

805 Pine Street | Sandpoint | (208) 263-2010

Left to Right: Candice Nelson, RP®, Senior Registered Associate; ® Tom Gibson, CPA, CWS , Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor; Emma Gibson, RP®, Associate Financial Advisor

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 5

COMMUNITY

The Sandpoint faces of the CDA Symphony

Bouquets: •Here’s a bouquet for the lovely ladies at 7B Women, the crew at MickDuff’s Beer Hall and all the volunteers and participants in the second Boobs n’ Beer Fun Run and Oktoberfest event last weekend. Such a fun event, and what a great cause with tens of thousands of dollars being raised for two local nonprofits — Community Cancer Services and Celebrate Life, both very worthy causes.

Looking forward to next year already.

Barbs: •The traffic light on Church and Fifth needs some work. The weighting system is off because motorists (and bicyclists) have to wait an inordinate amount of time for the light to turn green on Church when there is no traffic for minutes on Fifth. I’ve noticed the impatience in several ways – I saw one driver grow tired of waiting for the light to turn green and run the red light. Another was two cars back and simply wanted to turn right on red, but the car in front of him was stuck behind the red light, so this second car pulled onto the sidewalk and attempted to turn. City officials, let’s figure this out before winter!

•One more traffic-related barb. Has anyone else noticed that those traveling south on Fifth Avenue have no signage explaining how to get out of town? We’ve received a handful of comments about this at Reader HQ, and sure enough, when pedaling home the other day, I realized that if you didn’t know you had to turn left on Church to get to Fourth and then Pine, you’d have no idea you were heading to Coeur d’Alene.

Let’s put up a sign, help these wayward tourists find their way home safe.

6 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer The Coeur d’Alene Symphony is starting its 36th season this weekend with the kickoff of this year’s theme: Voyage of Discovery.

The theme stems from the symphony’s search for a new conductor. After weeding through 60 applicants from all over the world, the job is down to five contenders, each of which will conduct a concert during the 2017-2018 season. Each conductor candidate will direct a classical symphony, a soloist concerto and a piece of their own choice.

The conductor for the first performance of the season, held Oct. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army Kroc Center, is current Washington State University Music Director Dahn Pham. He will be conducting the Beethoven Fifth Symphony and Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 2 with award winning soloist Yesong Sophie Lee on a night deemed “Discover Europe.” True to the season’s theme, each concert’s title touches on “discovery” in some way.

These conducting performances will then be judged in order to choose a new permanent conductor for the symphony.

“A selection committee, the symphony itself, audience feedback and the symphony board of directors will determine the final choice,” said member of the CDA Symphony board of directors and violinist Beth Weber. “This will be a really exciting season to participate in as a musician or as a member of the audience.”

A host of Sandpoint talent performs with the CDA Symphony, including Weber, Mika Hood, Rachel Gordon, Rich Beber and Sam Minker.

Tickets to any of the symphony’s upcoming performances can be purchased online at www. cdasymphony.org under the “Get Tickets” tab.

CDA Symphony begins new season this weekend

From left to right: Mika Hood is an instructor at Sandpoint’s Bella Note Music studio, and is principal cellist in CDA Symphony and will be soloist in the Bloch Schelomo for the December concert. Beth Weber, long time private Suzuki instructor in Sandpoint, plays violin in CDA Symphony and is a member of the board of directors. Rachel Gordon, part owner of Bella Note Music studio, has a Master’s in flute performance and is principal flutist in CDA Symphony. Rich Beber retired music instructor is bassoonist in CDA Symphony. Sam Minker instructor at Sandpoint Music Conservatory plays cello in CDA Symphony. Courtesy photo.

THE READER SIGHTED IN LONDON

Jim and Debbie Lusk take a moment to show some Reader love in front of Buckingham Palace in London, England. Jim and Debbie are the parents of frequent Reader contributor Jodi Rawson. Photo by Dan Whicker.

COMMENTARY

Lunch with the Ma yor: An open invitation to the public

sible to Sandpoint citizens, improve the quality and quantity of dialogue on issues important to Sandpoint, to dispel myth and misinformation and to empower citizens to have a greater impact on the health and well being of our community.

By Shelby Rognstad Reader Contributor This is the first of four weekly articles during the month of October describing my goals and priorities for the city of Sandpoint.

This series is in preparation for a new “Lunch With The Mayor” informal meeting to be held on the last Thursday of the month beginning Oct. 26, from 12-1 p.m. at the Cedar Street Bistro in the Cedar Street Bridge.

As your mayor, my goals are to engage the public to address community concerns, improve the local economy, sustain the quality of life and keep

Retroactive

Part 1

Priority #1: Engage the public to address community concerns.

Sandpoint affordable.

In this four part series I will address these goals one at a time. My intention through this initiative is to be acces-

This past Sunday a tragic event occurred in Las Vegas that was truly heartbreaking. My condolences go out to family members and friends who lost loved ones and to everyone who was impacted by this horrific incident. Such an act reminds us of human fragility.

Let this unfortunate event remind us of our humanity and our capacity to come together in support of one another to overcome all obstacles. That is why I am reaching out to you now, because I

understand that the challenges we face together will only make this wonderful community stronger. The purpose of “Lunch With The Mayor” is to strengthen communications, increase transparency and invite robust civic engagement at a time when it’s needed the most.

You can also find this series of weekly addresses at: city of Sandpoint website (http://www.cityofsandpoint. com/your-government/mayor).

Lastly, it is approaching my midterm as your mayor. I welcome you to reach out to me and let me know how I am doing. If you can find the time to email me, I’d love to hear your thoughts: mayor@sandpointidaho.gov.

Thank you and I hope to see you at “Lunch With The Mayor” the last Thursday of the month!

By BO

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 7

NEWS

Sandpoint Center investor distances self from family financial misdeeds

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

In the wake of Sandpoint Equities’ purchase of the Sandpoint Center from Columbia Bank, a California businessman is grappling with family history.

Hooshang Namvar, who goes by Sean Namvar, is the manager of Sandpoint Equities, the new owner of the Sandpoint Center following an Aug. 11 sale facilitated by Charthouse Group Holdings Ltd. The largest building in Sandpoint, the Sandpoint Center houses several businesses — including Columbia Bank’s Sandpoint branch — and is a longtime meeting place for local nonprofits.

Following the sale, local residents, some of them angry about Sandpoint Equities’ new policy charging local nonprofits for the use of the community meeting room, raised questions about Namvar’s family background, specifically his connection to his brother, Ezri Namvar.

Labeled by media outlets as “the Bernie Madoff of Beverly Hills,” Ezri Namvar was found guilty in 2011 of defrauding four investors of about $20 million. However, according to the Los Angeles Business Review, that sum is “just a fraction of the hundreds of millions of dollars he is believed to have bilked out of investors who poured money into his $2.5 billion real estate portfolio before it collapsed in the 2008 market crash.” Ezri Namvar was sentenced later that year to serve seven years in federal prison.

A lawsuit, filed in 2011 by Chapter 11 Trustee Bradley Sharp, sought to spread responsibility to Ezri Namvar’s brothers, including Sean, Mousa, Homayoun (also known as Tony) and Ramin Namvar.

However, Sean Namvar insists that his business dealings have 8 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

been honest and are completely separate from those of his brothers.

“Just because I was named in a lawsuit doesn’t mean that the allegations have any merit,” he said.

The lawsuit alleged that the Namvar brothers used investor money to fund everything from personal business ventures to non-business expenses like Ramin Namvar’s $200,000 wedding party. This was allegedly done by funneling money from investment firm Namco Capital Group to limited liability companies held in family members’ names, with Namco sometimes paid back with interest if a project turned a profit.

“One thing was certain: If (an investment project) was unsuccessful, Namco took the loss,” the lawsuit reads. “In this way, Namco funds were systematically diverted and managed for the benefit of family members, at the expense of Namco’s creditors.”

“Ezri and Tony were officers of Namco,” court documents later state. “It is beyond question that their mishandling of funds invested in Namco breached Ezri’s and Tony’s fiduciary duties, and that the other Namvar Brothers knowingly and intentionally encouraged, assisted, participated in and enabled these breaches of fiduciary duty.”

On July 22, 2016, U.S. District Judge Beverly Reid O’Connell issued a judgment in favor of Namco Liquidating Trust.

However, Sean Namvar was not among the brothers required to pay restitution. Instead, O’Connell ordered that Tony Namvar pay $971,684.12 and Ramin Namvar pay $390,844.26.

According to Sean Namvar, it’s standard practice to name as many defendants as possible in lawsuits seeking to recoup losses for creditors.

The Sandpoint Center in the former Panhandle State Bank building. Photo by Ben Olson.

“They do a blanket lawsuit to loot the estate,” he said Namvar believes the strongest evidence in his defense is that banks and businesses are willing to work with him. He said his troubled family history reliably comes up in the course of brokering a transaction, and the deal with Columbia Bank was no exception.

However, business associates eventually become comfortable with his credit and his good faith.

“In fact, I am approved and working with over 20 banks that have given me lines of credit,” he said.

He also said his business dealings are not simply about making money — they also fuel his philanthropic activities and personal passions. According to Namvar, that includes the Sandpoint Center. He was impressed by the Sandpoint community and the building

itself upon inspecting it, and he aspires to improve it.

“The community of Sandpoint is very important to us, and we want to make sure they’re happy,” he said.

“We want to make sure they’re satisfied. We want to make sure the Sandpoint Center is run in a superb way.”

As for the controversy over charging nonprofits meeting room fees, Namvar hopes to work with organizations moving forward.

However, he believes charging nonprofits a fee for meeting room use is reasonable given their impact on cleaning and maintenance costs.

“When we looked at the financials, (we saw that) nonprofits constantly come, and they don’t pay anything,” he said. “They should at least have to pay something for the overhead.”

SPD determines school threat to be false

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

Parents of students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District received an automated phone message and email from Superintendent Shawn Woodward Wednesday morning letting them know rumors of a threat at the high school and middle school were determined false.

Many parents took to social media after getting texts and calls from their kids, and rumors swirled online until the call and email went out at 9:30 a.m.

“Administration and local law enforcement have investigated all reports with no credible threats found,” Woodward said.

Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon released a statement around the same time that said the SPD had been able to determine the threat had no merit and was not true.

“We would encourage everyone to continue to report any suspicious behavior and activities,” Coon said.

NEWS

Washington State rejects proposal for Longview coal terminal

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Yet another proposed West Coast coal export terminal has hit a roadblock.

The Longview Terminal, a coal export site proposed by Millennium Bulk Terminals to be constructed near Longview, Wash., was denied a Washington State Department of Ecology water quality permit last week. It’s the latest setback for the last remaining terminal in a slew of proposed export sites that surfaced in 2010 and 2011.

According to a Washington Department of Ecology press release, the water quality permit was denied out of concern the terminal would cause “significant and unavoidable harm to nine environmental areas: air quality, vehicle traffic, vessel traffic, rail capacity, rail safety, noise pollution, social and community resources, cultural resources and tribal resources.”

“After extensive study and deliberation, I am denying Millennium’s proposed coal export project,” said Ecology Director Maia Bellon. “There are simply too many unavoidable and negative environmental impacts for the project to move forward.”

Concerns about the project include the need to fill 24 acres of wetlands, dredge 41.5 acres of the Columbia riverbed and

The proposed site for Millennium’s coal refinery in Longview, Washington. (Credit: E. Smith)

install 537 pilings in the river for a trestle and docks. If built, the terminal would move 44 million metric tons of coal each year, which would be piled eight stories high and 50 football fields wide at the site.

The Longview terminal proposal received pushback from local conservation organizations like Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper primarily for its influence on local railway traffic. LPOW director Shannon Williamson is concerned that funneling additional coal trains

through Sandpoint increases the likelihood of a derailment into local rivers or lakes, possibly damaging local water quality.

According to Washington Department of Ecology, the terminal would have added 16 1.3-mile-long trains to existing rail traffic.

Millennium spokesperson Wendy Hutchinson told KGW News that it will appeal the decision. The company has already invested $15 million into the permitting process and $25 million into tearing down an

aluminum plant constructed on the terminal’s intended site.

Longview is just one coal terminal proposed over the last half-decade for construction in Washington, Oregon and California, although it is the last still under active consideration. Similar projects were planned for Bellingham, Gray’s Harbor, the Port of St. Helens, the Port of Morrow, Coos Bay and Oakland.

Idaho officials react to Las Vegas shooting

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Idaho politicians were quick to offer condolences on Monday following the Las Vegas mass shooting, offering their support for the neighboring state of Nevada.

Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, shared his thoughts in a press release on the Sunday evening shooting that left 59 dead and more than 500 wounded.

“Today is a sad day for all

Americans,” he said. “Vicki and I are praying for the victims of this horrible event and for their families. As usual, our first responders reacted in their typical heroic fashion.”

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, shared similar thoughts through social media.

“As our nation mourns and remembers the lives lost in Las Vegas, we gather in solidarity to uplift those left to heal and those left to grieve,” he said. “I commend the selfless actions of

first responders and everyday citizens who rushed to save, protect and care for their fellow man. Instances like this heinous crime seek to destroy our sense of security and aim to divide.

May we unite in the fight against evil with an ever-vigilant drive toward peace.

Rep. Raul Labrador, R-1st District, reached out on Twitter to share his condolences.

“Becca & I are praying for the victims in #LasVegas & their families. Vegas is a strong, resil-

ient community that will overcome any tragedy,” he wrote.

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter also shared his thoughts via social media.

“Idahoans join with our Nevada neighbors and all Americans in praying for the victims of last night’s terrible shooting in Las Vegas,” he said.

Eat, Drink and Be Local with Litehouse

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Litehouse Foods might be homegrown, but the company’s wide influence and popularity is undeniable.

But Litehouse is getting back to its roots to bring locals a contest catered to being just that: local.

Eat, Drink and Be Local is a chance for people to dine at 23 local restaurants that use Litehouse products and then log those visits on a stamp card for a chance to win a sizable prize. Once participants collect 15 stamps, they can enter into a drawing for a $3,000 Visa gift card. Or, they can keep going and visit all restaurants (equaling a “blackout” on the stamp card) and be entered to win $5,000.

All participating restaurants carry Litehouse products, and if they have an asterisk next to their name on the contest’s official website — www.litehouselocal.com — they mention Litehouse on their menu. At these locations, participants can pick up two stamps.

Those interested can pick up a stamp card at the Downtown Litehouse Cheese Store, or at one of the participating restaurants. To read the contest’s official rules and see a complete list of places to dine, visit www. litehouselocal.com.

Foodservice Assistant Brand Manager Krystle Turnbull said stamp cards have already been distributed to Litehouse employees, so 300 people and their families are already potentially playing.

“I think (Eat, Drink and Be Local) gets people excited to experience different restaurants that they might not normally visit,” she said. “I’ve already heard stories of people really having fun.”

Litehouse’s Eat, Drink and Be Local contest will run through Nov. 30.

“It’s a great way to support our local restaurants,” Turnbull said. “And potentially win $3,000 or $5,000!”

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 9

Mad Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist In recent weeks, you’ve probably seen headlines about the spacecraft, Cassini, and its fateful dive into the Saturnian surface. It was a harrowing tale filled with all the elements that our best stories have: travel to unknown locals, anticipation, discovery, drama all culminating in a tearful, inspiring goodbye.

So, what did Cassini teach us about Saturn?

A whole lot!

Saturn is a gas giant, named after the Roman god of agriculture. It’s the second largest planet in our solar system, but holds the title of having the biggest ring systems of any planet in our backyard. (All four gas giants have rings, but Saturn blings them out.)

Saturn’s atmosphere isn’t nearly as pretty as Jupiter. It’s a dingy yellow color from the ammonia crystals swirling around in it, but don’t let that put you off. Saturn still has a lot of cool features.

One example: Hurricane Irma’s winds managed to hit a blistering 185 mph sustained.

Saturn, in the meanwhile, has winds that can get up to 1,118.5 mph.

In case you were curious, the speed of sound on Earth is 767 mph. If winds moved that fast on Earth, it’d just be a massive shockwave rippling across the surface of the planet and likely searing everything in its wake.

Did I mention that Saturn is at least nine times larger than Earth? Earth can actually fit wholly inside of the hexagonal storm system at its north pole.

Imagine that: The entire planet consumed by a giant storm at 10 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

saturn

the same time.

On Earth, we think we’re pretty cool because of our moon, but Saturn puts us to shame.

Saturn has not one, not two, not even 10, but 62 known moons, including one that’s larger than Mercury and also holds the title of only moon in the solar system with a substantial atmosphere: Titan.

Titan is a crazy world with all sorts of weird, zany things going on with it including an atmosphere that’s mostly nitrogen and lakes made of methane (the gas that makes all most outwardly bodily functions stink). There’s a lot to cover on Titan, so it will get its own article down the road.

We’re talking about Saturn, here!

It’s impossible to talk about Saturn without talking about its rings.

From a distance, as virtually all of our pictures are, Saturn’s rings look like a perfectly smooth disk. Kind of like a DVD. This is an optical illusion, as we’ve found when the Cassini craft obtained shots from inside the rings themselves.

We discovered that moonlets traveling through and around the rings could cause some pretty unexpected results. Moonlets trapped inside, but still spinning, create small gaps and rings of their own. Think of the propeller on the front of a plane, moving the air around it.

Others traveling through the rings could carve a path through them like a plow truck through the snow.

We don’t know how many particles make up Saturn’s

rings because the particles that make them up range anywhere from a micrometer (1/40th the width of a single strand of hair) to a meter (3.2 feet). It’d be like trying to count how many marbles the Earth is made out of while standing on the moon, and the marbles are all different sizes and moving.

The matter within the rings is very dynamic and always moving, being drawn together by gravity and momentum and pulled away or broken apart by others while still being contained by the pull of Saturn’s gravity. We think most of this matter is water, ice and rock from early in the solar system’s life: five-billion-year-old time capsules.

Being a gas giant, storms are kind of Saturn’s schtick.

We’ve already talked about Saturn’s insane wind speeds, but we haven’t talked about some other cool aspects of Saturn’s storms.

We mentioned the hexagonal storm at Saturn’s north pole.

This isn’t one of those cases where “it kinda sorta looks like it could be that shape if you squint, stand on your head and pound four shots of tequila.”

It’s seriously a perfect hexagon.

Saturn will also occasionally create something called a Great White Spot, which is a storm large enough to be viewed with telescopes from Earth.

We’ve observed stormwalls 40 miles tall. A 747 cruises at 6.25 miles.

We’ve found a storm called the Dragon Storm that not only looks awesome, but creates an immense amount of radio emissions from Saturn.

Photo by NASA.

Brought to you by:

about

Beneath the clouds, deep into the heart of Saturn, we believe the gravity may be sufficient enough to liquefy hydrogen at one level, and crush it into a metallic substance even further down. This is pretty amazing because it’s not something we’ve reliably been able to replicate on Earth. The existence of metallic hydrogen was theorized in 1935, but no scientific claims of its creation

popped up until the early 2000s.

Even as recently as January of this year, the claims of its creation are being questioned.

The amount of force required to create metallic hydrogen is so huge, I can’t even compare it to anything.

You are literally using enough force to turn a gas into a metal.

That’s hardcore.

Random Corners? andednes

Don’t know much about left-h

We can help!

•10 percent of the world’s population is left-handed.

•40 percent of schizophrenics are left-handed, despite being only 10 percent of the world’s population.

•Famous left-handed people include Napoleon Bonaparte, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Albert Einstein, Sir Isaac Newton, Bill Gates, Barack Obama and Jimi Hendrix.

• Every August 13th is celebrated “Left-Handers Day” since 1996.

• Right-handed people tend to chew food on the right side while left-handed tend to chew on the left side.

• More than 2,500 left-handed people are killed every year by using equipment meant for right-handed people.

• There are more left-handed people with IQs over 140 than right-handed people, a study found.

• Left-handed soldiers prepare and throw grenades upside down because of how the safety pin is placed.

• Left-handed people process things faster than righties while playing computer games or sports.

• Kangaroos are almost always left-handed.

• A study found that right-handed individuals have better oral hygiene and the lower incidence of cavities because of their better manual dexterity and brush efficiency.

OPINION

On the Lake: Coal train derailment - The more you know A column about lake issues by the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper

effective. It’s unfortunate that private citizens, or The story of the coal even regulatory train derailment near Heragencies in some on, Mont., has evolved instances, don’t quite a bit since Aug. 13 have a say in the when the incident first matter when it occurred. At 11 p.m., comes to a train a Montana Rail Link derailment, even (MRL) coal train derailed if the derailed Shannon Williamson. cargo presents a and dumped 30 car loads of coal along the banks and into real fire danger. the Clark Fork River.

That brings me to the current I flew over the site of the status of the cleanup. I’ve had derailment on Sept. 12 thanks eyes on the scene and it does to LightHawk, a nonprofit that appear that coal is being removed connects volunteer pilots with from the banks, which is fantasNGOs to document environmental tic! MRL has communicated that and conservation issues. While *all* coal will be removed from the tracks were clear and open to the banks and the river. However, train traffic, the rest of the mess their “scope of work” document remained virtually untouched. A provided to FWS simply says few days later, the coal covering that the coal in the river *may* the banks of the river began to be removed. So which one is it? smolder – all by itself – twice.

We’ll see…

We are very fortunate that SanIs unburned coal hazardous to dy Compton and Marjolein Groot water quality? I’ve heard pasNibbelink witnessed the smolsionate arguments on both sides. dering coal firsthand and alerted There are numerous peer-reauthorities. Thankfully, MRL viewed scientific articles docpersonnel were able to extinguish umenting the negative impacts the hot spots before the situation to water quality from unburned got out of control. coal. FWS seems concerned Finally, on Sept. 18, five with unburned coal in the water weeks after the initial incident, a since they started monitoring for real effort was made by MRL to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons clean up the mess. Was it because (PAHs) with passive samplers on of the fire hazard? Maybe – that Sept. 12. The samplers will rewould make sense. Was it because main in place until Oct. 10. PAHs MRL was “waiting on the approare organic compounds found in priate permits to initiate cleanup” coal that can be harmful to bull as suggested by the Fish and trout and other aquatic species. So Wildlife Service (FWS)? I doubt there’s that. it. I’ve never heard of such a While we’ve watched the thing. So you don’t need a permit cleanup response to this unfortuto spill, but you DO need one to nate incident unfold, news about clean it up? *eye roll* the fate of the largest proposed The bottom line is really quite coal export terminal in North simple – if you make a mess, America recently broke. The clean it up. In a timely manner.

Washington State Department of My kids are (vaguely) familEcology denied a key water qualiar with this concept. They’ve ity permit for Millennium Bulk recently learned that if they don’t Terminals in Longview due to clean up their belongings in a the project’s inescapable negative timely manner, they end up in a impact on clean water. Absent a garbage bag. This is not a popular successful legal challenge to the consequence, but it’s amazingly decision, the proposal is dead.

By Shannon Williamson Reader Columnist

This means that Sandpoint won’t have another 16 coal trains rolling through town each day, lessening the threat of a coal train derailment closer to home. When I started working on the coal train issue in 2011, there were six coal export terminal proposals in

Washington and Oregon. Today, there are zero. So if anyone ever tells you that your voice doesn’t make a difference, they’re wrong.

Your voice joined with a hundred thousand others is pretty darn powerful.

Top: An aerial photo of the derailment taken on Aug. 12. Photo by Cameron Barnes / Lighthawk.

Bottom: Weeks after the derailment, coal is still seen smoldering on Sept.

16. Photo by Sandy Compton and Marjolein Groot Nibbelink.

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 11

event t h u r s d a y

Counter tops Firepits • Signs Monuments Custom Designs

f r i d a y

5

6

Locally owned Family operated s a t u r d a y

Naples - 208.267.1347 Sagle - 208.263.1844 igw@idahograniteworks.com

Palettes Uncorked

WITH RANDY WILHELM LIVE MUSIC BY DOUG BOND

Saturday. Oct. 7 207 Cedar St.

dilunas.com

5pm

$35 includes everything you need to create your masterpiece, including great music and a glass of wine.

Call Di Luna's to reserve your spot.

263-0846

New York Style Pizza • Wings • Pasta • Sandwiches

12 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

s u n d a y

m o n d a y t u e s d a y

w e d n e s d a y t h u r s d a y

7 8 9 10 11 12

KPND Thursday Night Football Party 5:30pm @ 219 Lounge KPND and Bob Witte host a Thursday Night Football party with prizes, restaurant giveLive Music w/ Ben & Cadie aways, and more! Bob will give away concert 7-9pm @ MickDuff’s tickets, football tickets, KPND new music Impromptu Beer Hall show samplers, beer mugs, gift certificates and more!

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry

Live Music w/ Devon Wade 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Celebrate First Fridays with Sandpoint country star Devon Wade. Burgers available from Old Tin Can out back Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Great jazz at a great pub

f

“An Inco 7:30pm @ There wil day at Ma discussion and the p TheNewp

American S Practice Live Music w/ The Somethings 9:30am @ Sp 9pm @ 219 Lounge Free and op A new duo in town featuring wanting to Chris Lynch and Megan Turner signing; some rience sugges

Pushing the Limits: Communit Live Music w/ The Incredible Flying Dookie Bros.

1pm @ Monarch Mountain Coffe 9pm @ 219 Lounge This is the second of three sessio It’s time to dance to this incredible Sandpoint rock volving discussion about how our group who will be playing a range of classic rock songs munities are adapting to fires, fl and other extreme weather e Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip caused by climate change. Pre-re 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority by calling 208-263-6930 A soulful singer/songwriter from Sandpoint Live Music w/ Browne Salmon Truck 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Vintage and contemporary blues, jazz, Latin and more! Great Sandpoint trio Game and Industry Night at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

ZomeTool Expo 1pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Let your creativity flow as you de build using Zometools. All children i 4 through 7 are welcome to attend

Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcom

KPND Monday Night Football Party • 5 KPND and Bob Witte host a Monday Nigh prizes, restaurant giveaways, and more!

“Screenagers” documentary 6pm @ Panida Theater A documentary presented by the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force that explores the relationship of adolescence to their screened-devices. Free and open to the public “Outdoor Idaho: Almost Canada” film 7pm @ Panida Theater highlights the terrain and activities in the northern section of the Idaho panhandle that borders Canada. Free admission Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry

Live Music w/ Caitlin Jemm 9pm @ 219 Lounge Don’t miss this rare opportun writers on tour throughout t medley of original folk, blueg

The Conversation: Art, Advocacy and City Plan 6-8pm @ Ivano’s Ristorante Learn about Art, Advocacy and City Planning Andy Meyer, an Arts Management Specialist. T free and open to the public.

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong in concert 8pm @ The Hive High-energy psychedelic funk, infectious electro-funk grooves, and an undeniable live energy and contagious smiles.

Tickets $12/advance, $15 at the door

Open Mic 5-8pm @ SKåL Musicians and

Sandpoint Far 3pm-5:30pm @

ful

October 5 - 12, 2017

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

“An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power” documentary film 7:30pm @ Newport Roxy Theater There will be a drawing to be conducted after the film on Saturday at Mama Sanchez’s Restaurant (Oldtown, ID). Included is a discussion on green house gases and how this relates to our lives and the proposed silicon smelter in our region. Contact: info@ TheNewportRoxy.com or call (509) 447-4125

merican Sign Language actice 0am @ Spt. Library e and open to anyone nting to practice silent ning; some signing expence suggested

Live Music w/ Ben and Cadie 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Ben and Cadie of Harold’s IGA are ready to drink beer and make noises with their fingers and mouths. Did I mention they like to drink beer, too?

Spooky Paint Night 6pm @ Pottery Bug Come paint “Nevermore” inspired from Edgar Allen Poe’s poem. BYOB for something to sip, and bring a friend for special price of $30 each Live Music w/ The Cole Show 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante A night of Tom Petty music 7-8pm @ 88.5 FM KRFY Radio Deejay Mike Misner will be taking us on a memorial walk through the life and music of Tom Petty

Palettes Uncorked 5pm @ Di Luna’s Cafe A sip and paint night hosted by Randy Wilhelm with live music by Doug Bond. $35 includes everyting you need to create your masterpiece, including great music and a glass of wine Museum’s Free First Saturday 10am-2pm @ Bonner County History Museum Everyone is invited to enjoy the museum free Live Music w/ Chris Lynch of charge! Sponsored by Richard Hanna 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante nity Hall 4-H Enrollment & Family Fun Night as you design and Computer Basics Class 6-8pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds (Ex. Hall) children in grades 8:15am @ Sandpoint Library Information about joining 4-H, games, a cake o attend Space is limited and preregistration is rewalk and an ice cream social. Free! quired. 208-263-6930

ommunity tain Coffee ree sessions int how our comto fires, floods weather events ge. Pre-register 0

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Fresh produce, garden starts, live music with Ben and Cadie Cedar St. Bridge Public Market 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Come enjoy indoor shopping on the bridge spanning Sand Creek

re welcome

Party • 5:30pm @ 219 Lounge nday Night Football party with d more!

Organic Seed Saving 1pm @ Sandpoint Library Bring food and seeds to share if you can

n Mic m @ SKåL Taproom cians and comedians welcome!

Fall Home Horticulture Series: Micro-Climates 6-8pm @ Ponderay Events Center With Sean Mitzel, hosted by The Bonner County Gardeners Association. $10

Oct. 13 The Dustbowl Geezer Forum tlin Jemma and Bart Budwig 2:30pm @ Columbia Bank Revival with opportunity to hear two very talented singer song- Free and open to the public Shakewell @ The oughout the Inland Northwest as they perform a Pan ida Theater olk, bluegrass and Americana songs with their band Oct. 13 City Planning Mother Goose and Preschool Storytimes 10:15 and 11am @ Creations at Cedar St. Bridge Sandpoint ConPlanning with Mother Goose Storytime begins at 10:15am for 0-3 years of tra Dance @ ecialist. This is age. Preschool Storytime starts at 11am for 2-5 year olds. Tem- Sandpoin t Comporarily moved to Creations because of construction at Library munity Hall

dpoint Farmers’ Market 5:30pm @ Farmin Park

Oct. 14 HarvestFest @ Farmin Park

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 13

TECH

Random Digital Madness

Regional technology news and commentary

Sock Puppets, Cyber-Warfare, Social Media and Intelligence: Why Should You Care?

By Bill Harp Reader Columnist Countless dangers lurk in the cyber landscape: Public opinion tampering through social media and forums is one of the least understood aspects.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, Tumblr, Google+ and LinkedIn have changed the world in just a few years. Just last year, who would have predicted that the highest authority of the United States would execute the responsibilities of his office with Twitter? Not me, and I would never have predicted Facebook would become the closest things to a collective cultural memory of the world.

Using social media, a wave of people now receive and analyze news and engage in heated discussions about anything and everything. Most news media have comment areas, and competition for your eyeballs and opinion is fierce. Even locally, Facebook, Daily Bee comments, letters to editors, and City-Data.com forums are daily informing, defining and shaping people’s thoughts and opinions.

Sock Puppets Perform in the Social-Media Theater

New on the scene are public opinion operatives that are paid by national governments to drive public opinion in a certain direction. Intelligence agencies have a slang word for these operatives: sock puppets. No one knows for sure how many state paid operatives are active in social media, but it is probably much larger than any estimate. Just one person can control hundreds or even thousands of sock puppet identities.

14 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

These puppets are social media identities made “real” with a fake profile, philosophy and history. They can be semi-automated or even fully automated by bots and are dedicated to spreading lies, innuendo, half-truths and false news, perhaps with some real truths mixed in.

All the large intelligence agencies have programs that manage and counter this trend. An example of Russian activity is a wide variety of cyber attacks that impacted the last U.S. election. Russia’s social media campaign strategy used surrogate puppets, and it is the least understood and perhaps the most successful of their activities.

How do Sock Puppets Act?

Imagine that English-speaking persons in a variety of countries are paid by a government or pseudo-government agency to insert certain talking points into their social media accounts and online forum identities. For example, the message might be as simple as “Blame the Obama administration for vetting Michael Flynn’s security clearance.”

A popular operative’s comments and tweets bearing this message will be re-posted again and again.

After first denying the existence of Russian Facebook activities in the recent U.S. election campaign, Facebook later admitted that Russian operatives paid more than $100,000 for over 3,000 “politically divisive” ads. The Daily Beast also reported that these covert propaganda ads were likely seen by 23 to 70 million people. That happens to be a large percentage of the voting population.

And if you think that this manipulation of social media is an international issue with little relevance to local politics, then think again. The Daily Beast reported in September that Russian operatives under the Facebook name “Secured Borders” (with over 130,000 followers) rallied for an anti-immigrant

demonstration in Twin Falls, Idaho, of all places. Apparently only a handful of folks attended.

Because of re-tweet and re-send, one comment that resonates with a certain group could reach, with the speed of light, tens of thousands, even millions of readers. Multiply this effect by hundreds of sock puppets that a single operative might control, and you can appreciate how powerful this strategy could be in the hands of a clever operative. Then multiply this impact by hundreds or thousands of operatives, and you have a program that can actually push global public opinion in almost any direction. Of course, this is a numbers game, so the masters of the sock puppet owners have to carefully calculate the statistical probability of a successful operation and engage the appropriate amount of resources. Russia and China have extensive experience in this process and, we, the U.S., have been one of the test dummies.

Counter-Theater

A U.S. State Department agency, the Global Engagement Center (GEC), has a mission to counter the propaganda of foreign governments or their surrogates through the promotion of reasonable and honest journalism. In an open democratic environment where free speech is protected, it is difficult to defend against propaganda directly.

You can imagine the irony of the GEC countering propaganda with more artificial propaganda. On the home front, the best defense is support for local publications and professional media to ensure that local issues receive the appropriate and honest journalistic consideration. This is an important counterpoint to the unmoderated and wild discussions that can endlessly take place in the forums, discussion groups and social media that talk about local issues.

Does this Social Media Performance Affect Me?

If you read comments in the forums and mainstream news, look at news from social media, or interact on “alternative“ websites, absolutely, yes! Imagine that social media accounts are like the spam you receive in your email: some messages are full of intentions to deceive. I think that an operative with deception as the mission is fundamentally different from a person who has a strong opinion.

Again, you may say that this is not a problem in North Idaho. I beg to differ. Fake social media accounts and fictitious individuals do participate in regional venues. ISIS itself, or its collaborators, has even defaced official Idaho websites such as the Idaho State Treasurer Office. These cyber terrorists posted a pro-ISIS banner that, among other things, touted “I Love Islamic State” on the state website. Read the full article, “Hard Cyber,” in the July 6 Inlander that details regional hacks, intrusions and cyber-security issues, and will you recognize that Idaho is not exempt: https://issuu.com/theinlander/ docs/inlander_07-06-2017.

Final Curtain

We are all susceptible to the propaganda arm of paid operatives who insert themselves and their carefully crafted opinions into online forums and social media. As these ideas may be re-posted many times, it is often difficult to know the origin of a post.

And it is almost impossible to determine who is a real person expressing a strongly held opinion from a paid operative manning a small army of sock puppets. However, an awareness of how common this strategy has become for manipulating public opinion is the first step for building one’s online awareness.

READER

support an informed community

Want to support us?

Donate a buck a month!

Everything helps!

www.patreon.com/ sandpointreader

Love, The Reader Staff

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 15

COMMUNITY

ZomeTool Expo teaches kids STEM concepts

Fall For Sandpoint pairs downtown retailers with area nonprofits

By Reader Staff Suanne Ellis is passionate about education. When she discovered ZomeTools after meeting the company’s co-founder, Paul Hildebrandt, she immediately set out to spread the word about its potential as a STEAM education tool and manipulative toy.

Since her son, Kodiak, was a regular participant in Make It at the Library, The Library’s makerspace program, she suggested that it be introduced to the program.

“Now that Make It isn’t happening (due to the construction project), the ZomeTool Expo will give those kids another creative outlet,” Ellis said.

The Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Department and the East Bonner County Library District are joining forces with Suanne to bring the ZomeTool Expo to Sandpoint. A STEAM competition for some pretty amazing prizes will take place on Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Avenue. It runs from 1-3 p.m. for kids grades four through seven.

STEAM education involves interactive learning in science, technology, engineering, art, and math to prepare children for future careers in those fields. ZomeTools are widely used by educators as an engineering activity, particularly in demonstrating geometrical concepts. But, that doesn’t stop kids from having fun with them. Perhaps

16 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

Let’s go shopping!

Suanne Ellis poses with her son, Kodiak and a ZomeTool project he created. Courtesy photo. that is why the company won the 2013 Popular Science “Best of Toyfair.”

The library is providing all of the supplies needed, including prizes such as ZomeTool kits and the popular Nick and Tesla’s books. Local teachers will judge the finished projects with prizes awarded for the Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, Peoples’ Choice and Judges’ Choice.

“I just get excited about the phenomenal ways these can be used in education,” Suanne said.

No need to preregister – just show up. Questions can be directed to Morgan Gariepy, Young Adult Services Librarian, at (208) 263-6930 extension 1245 or morgan@ebonnerlibrary.org.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Want to support your local downtown retailers and area nonprofits at the same time? Grab your pocketbook and take a stroll downtown Saturday, Oct. 14, where the Sandpoint Shopping District has banded together with nonprofits for the annual Fall For Sandpoint event.

Over a dozen participating downtown retailers have chosen a regional nonprofit organization to pair with for a special day-long sale. The retailers will donate a portion of the day’s shopping proceeds to the sponsored nonprofit.

“Everyone is so busy over the summer,” said Deanna Harris, Sandpoint Shopping District member and owner of Sharon’s Hallmark. “When fall comes, it’s a nice chance to come back downtown and show some support for our retailers.”

Representatives for each nonprofit will also be on hand at their companion stores to answer any questions about how they serve the area. In addition to the sales, there will be a host of great activities for shoppers of all ages.

Those with kiddos can bring them to Creations in the Cedar St. Bridge for fun fall art activities. Other stores will feature product samples and refreshments. Count some goats and win a prize at Larson’s, or participate in a prize walk at Sharon’s Hallmark to win. Most activities take place between 11 a.m. And 3 p.m., but instore sales are good throughout the day.

Pick up a passport at any participating retailer. Shoppers will receive stamps at each store (no purchase required), and if they gather at least eight stamps, they’ll be entered into a drawing for three prizes totaling $400 in local gift certificates.

Shops along First Avenue in Sandpoint ready for the big Fall for Sandpoint sale next week.

Photo by Ben Olson.

Here is a list of participating retailers and their companion nonprofits:

Larson’s Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Great Stuff Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper Understory Coffee Panhandle Animal Shelter Zany Zebra Bonner/Boundary Co. CASA Alpine Shop Panhandle Alliance for Education Azalea’s Handpicked Style Bonner Partners in Care Clinic Cedar St. Bistro Bonner Gospel Mission Eve’s Leaves Bonner Community Food Bank Finan McDonald Selle Valley Carden School Meadowbrook Special Olympics Northwest Handmade Sandpoint Community Resource Center Outdoor Experience Rock Creek Alliance Santosha Life Choices Pregnancy Center Sharon’s Hallmark Panida Theater Zero Point Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Eduction La Chic Boutique NAMI Far North

OUTDOORS

Volunteer appreciation picnic planned for Friends of Scotchman Peaks

By Reader Staff Volunteering for trail work is one of the most rewarding experiences out there. Not only do you get to improve beautiful trails throughout the area, but your work will be appreciated for generations of people connecting with the outdoors.

The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness (FSPW) will host a party for all of their volunteers on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 4 p.m. MST (3 p.m. PST). The party will take place at FSPW program coordinator Sandy Compton’s property in Montana, near the edge of the proposed wilderness.

“The annual volunteer appreciation picnic and potluck is a rain or shine event,” said FSPW executive director Phil Hough, “We cook for all of the great folks who do so much for the cause — and buy the beer. Whether people put in time at any of the many events we’ve attended or sponsored in Idaho or Montana, planted white bark pine on Scotchman, hiked Trail #65 as a mountain goat ambassador, worked on trails or stuffed envelopes, they are welcome and encouraged to come enjoy the afternoon.”

The annual FSPW / Larson’s Good Clothing / Kaniksu Land Trust cooperative highway cleanup will also be held that day. Each of these entities have a stretch of Highway 200 they care for.

Beginning at Pack River and working their way east, the combined cleanup crew will “untrash” about five miles of highway, ending just west of Clark Fork, before carrying on to the picnic for their just desserts. Contact Jacob Styer at jacob@scotchmanpeaks.org to learn more.

On Oct. 14, outdoor education specialist Brian Baxter will lead a class entitled “Wetland Wanderings,” beginning at the Heron Community Center.

Brian’s extensive outdoor experience and fun teaching style makes this education series enjoyable as well as highly informative.

Further out on the FSPW horizon, first aid instructor Carol Jenkins will teach Wilderness and Remote First Aid at the Sandpoint Event Center on Oct. 20 and 21. FSPW will lead one last trail

work day on Pilik Ridge with students from the University of Montana on one of those days, as well. Goat Hop Ale returns to MickDuff’s Beer Hall on Oct. 26. In Libby, FSPW will sponsor a Nov. 9 presentation on safe winter travel and avalanche dynamics by snow expert Jon Jeresek at Simple Simon’s Pizza. On Nov. 15, FSPW and Idaho Conservation League team up to bring wildlife expert and advocate George Weurthner to the Coeur d’ Alene Eagles Club.

Dec. 1 marks the beginning of the fourth season of FSPW Winter Tracks, a multi-module outdoor education series for youth, fourth grade through high school. Last year’s program engaged over 350 kids from nine schools in Libby, Troy, Thompson Falls, Trout Creek and Noxon, Mont.; Sandpoint and Sagle, Idaho; and Spokane, Wash.

As the new year begins, on Saturday, Jan. 13, FSPW will celebrate 13 years of “working for Wilderness” with a big party somewhere.

“The venue is undetermined as yet,” said Compton, “but if the program we are working on comes together — particularly the featured speaker — it will have to be a big room.”

If you wish to sign up for the Volun-

teer Appreciation Picnic or the Highway 200 cleanup — or learn about any upcoming FSPW events — visit www. scotchmanpeaks.org/stewardship/events You can also learn about FSPW events at www.facebook.com/ScotchmanPeaks.

SUNRISE OVER CAMP BAY

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness volunteers show off their custom cedar grilling planks (provided by Wildwood Grilling) at the 2016 volunteer appreciation party. Courtesy photo.

A broad and often deep selection of quality fiction in a post-truth time. And lots of other good books.

Main Street Downtown Bonners Ferry 267-2622

We buy used books

The sun rises over Camp Bay last week in this photograph taken by Dan Eskelson.

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 17

Understanding the Human Microbiome

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor

Supporting the arts in Sandpoint for 30 years

sales...................................

...................................

Mark Perigen Product Specialist

Mike Armbruster Product Specialist

Heidi Haas Product Specialist

Jennifer Krueger Product Specialist

service..................................

.................................

Scott Lies Service Advisor

John Roche Service Advisor

WWW.TSCHEVY.COM

LOCAL: 208.263.2138 TOLL FREE: 800.866.2138 476751 Highway 95, Ponderay 18 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

Back in biology class, in the late ‘90s, I learned that our bodies were made of cells containing tiny “brains” called nuclei, with 46 chromosomes. Every cell that made me, I learned, contained human DNA. A National Geographic I picked up nearly a decade ago threw out this teaching.

Scientists were beginning to research the “human microbiome,” the organisms that live within us that contain no human DNA. “We couldn’t do this 10 to 15 years ago, and that is why we were ignoring (gut microbes) — we couldn’t understand how many there were, and what they were doing down there,” said microbiologist Javier Ochoa-Reparaz of Eastern Washington University.

Estimates now suggest that only around 10 percent of the cells in our bodies are human. Ninety percent of the cells in our bodies our a complex community of bacteria, yeasts, and other mini organisms that are just being introduced to us. “... Scientists have begun thinking about them (our microbiome) as another organ. Indeed about three pounds of every person’s biomass is microbial; that is roughly the same weight as a human brain,” wrote Lydialyle Gibson in UTNE Reader in 2015.

It all reminds me of “Horton Hears a Who,” by the wise Dr. Suess. Humans have been trying to eliminate bacteria since they first witnessed them through a microscope.

“But today, doctors are talking about how the antibiotic era may already be ending. Antibiotics are powerful weapons to fight disease — but they are powerful weapons that lose their effectiveness the more they are used. Like the Borg from Star Wars, bacteria begins to adapt,” wrote Daniel Waters for the Inlander.

Over 23,000 people die annually from antibiotic resistance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The paradigm has to change. Because we’ve been killing things for a long time, and now we have a lot of new problems: multiple sclerosis, neurological disease, Alzheimer’s, autism, inflammatory bowel disease, anastomatic leaks,” said John Alverdy, a microbial ecologist at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory.

There has been experiments in “fecal transplants” that are showing promising results. Transplanting the feces of a healthy human microbiome through an enema is beginning testing. In one test subject, not

only did the the man’s health improve, but he began to grow hair where he had been balding. While this is exciting for some scientists and companies that hope to capitalize on fecal transplants, this type of research is disgusting to others, and companies are trying to hone in on the magic of feces in a “cleaner” way ... perhaps as powder in a pill?

It makes me wonder about the robust health of my chicken-crap-eating dogs. According to Jack Gilbert, who partners with Alverdy in studying microbial ecology, “a dog can exponentially increase the microbial diversity of a home — they bring the outside inside.”

Years ago I was studying bacteria through cheese and kefir making. I developed a goat chevre that was fool proof because I worked with the raw milk rather than against it. Instead of pasturizing it and adding a single bacteria, as many of the recipes suggest, I added the culture (cheese bacteria or kefir) to the milking pot itself and the process of multiplying the right bacteria happened immediately, without compromising the benefits of the raw milk.

When a baby enters the world raw, they “have elvolved to get their starter microbial culture, their ‘sourdough bread,’” as Gilbert calls it, from their mothers’ birth canals.

But that only happens if they’re delivered vaginally.” According to Cathryn Nagler, an immunologist that collaborates with Gilbert at the University of Chicago, “Cesarean section is a major environmental factor associated with allergic disease.”

Another environmental factor is the overuse of antibiotics, which I was on almost indefinitely during the months I trained in the National Guard. I was always ill and on drugs, it seemed, while I was training, ironically to be a medic. Since then I have developed food allergies.

Thankfully, I have been able to avoid antibiotics since 2003, and in my home I clean with products that do not genocide my microbiome. I have also consumed pounds of raw goat cheese and gallons of kefir in the last decade because I craved it, and it helped rebuild me. The North Idaho lakes and rivers that I have bathed in, rich in bacterial flora, and the black earth that squishes between my toes and fingers, feed me (and the tiny friends I host). I think my microbiome is happy because nowadays I feel healthy.

Science is only beginning to study our human microbiome. While we wait for understanding, it might be wise to be grateful.

Yeah, bacteria! We love you.

STAGE & SCREEN

The 2017 Banff Mountain Film Festival’s Radical Reels tour comes to Sandpoint next weekend for the last year

Still frames from some of the selected films playing at Radical Reels on Oct. 14. Courtesy photos.

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff For over a decade, the Banff Mountain Film Festival’s Radical Reels tour has been bringing Sandpoint a night of action-packed storytelling where the outdoors rule and crazy characters take on feats worthy only of a big screen.

But sad news for the action sports film junkies who look forward to Rad Reels each year: this year, the event’s 14th at the Panida Theater, will be its last.

“I’m like, ‘doggone it,’” said event organizer Michael Boge. “This is the final hurrah.”

Boge brought Radical Reels to Sandpoint as part of BMFF’s pilot program.

The event is meant to highlight adrenaline films, and the Panida was one of only six locations worldwide to host the show. This year’s show is Saturday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.

“What I like is that it’s not just head-banging items. There’s a story about it, like ‘this is how we got here,’” Boge said about the types of films that make it on the Radical Reels tour.

He said that in the interest of efficiency, BMFF is going to end Radical Reels,

and Boge expects that will mean the festival’s main tour will adopt the action components Rad Reels is known for.

“I love working with these guys because they’re obsessed with doing a good job,” Boge said of the BMFF crew. “They want really good shows.”

The 2017 Radical Reels tour features eight films from the U.S., Canada and France that tell the stories of climbers, free-fallers, bikers, kayakers and other limit-pushers exploring some of the most remote parts of the world.

Having been to shows across the region, Boge said Sandpoint never fails to be one of the more lively crowds when the Banff Mountain Film Festival and the Radical Reels tour visit.

“They like to have a great time — I’m always proud of that,” Boge said.

“This is one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life. It’s really opened my eyes.”

The doors open at 6 p.m. and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance (sold at the Alpine Shop, Eichardt’s, Outdoor Experience, Burger Express in Sandpoint and Burger Express in Bonners Ferry) and $19 at the door.

cult classic weekend!

Oct. 6 @ 7:30Pm: The big lebowski Oct. 7 @ 7:30pm: Ed Wood tuesday, oct. 10 @ 6:30pm

Sandpoint Waldorf School presents “Screenagers” a free documentary for teens and parents about internet addiction

wednesday, oct. 11 @ 7pm

“Outdoor idaho: almost canada” a documentary highlighting the terrain and activities in the panhandle friday, oct. 13 @ 7pm

poac hosts the dustbowl revival and shakewell americana soul vibes and funky soul - a must see night of live music! saturday, oct. 14 @ 7pm

Radical reels

the best high adrenaline films from the banff mountain film festival

little r theate

saturday, oct. 14 @ 7pm

indie author day

Saturday, oct. 21 @ 8pm

comedy with friends

a unique blend of storytelling, sketch comedy, and stand up comedy

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 19

Why use Sandpoint Property Management to manage and lease your property?

Sandpoint Property Management provides:

20 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

List your property with us and get results that beneďŹ t you!

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

Roots music for the soul

POAC invites roots band the Dustbowl Revival to rock the Panida next Friday night

READ

Tom Petty passed away on Monday from a cardiac arrest. In honor of this artist that touched a lot of lives, this week’s RLW is dedicated to him.

“Petty: The Biography” is a great peek behind the curtain at the artist, iconoclast and legend of Tom Petty. It was written by Warren Zanes, who toured with Petty offand-on through the years.

Rest in peace, Tom Petty.

19502017

LISTEN

Dustbowl Revival will be playing the Panida on Oct. 13. Photo courtesy of Talley Media.

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer When I first sampled the Dustbowl Revival’s newest album, a single thought came to mind: These guys would be incredible live.

The album, which is self-titled, is a full-bodied and hard-hitting 11-track labor of love created by a group of Los Angeles musicians that, to put it simply, sound like the life of the party. The booming horns and vocals full of attitude and intention had me imagining the energy in any venue Dustbowl might visit.

And according to the band’s front man and founder, Zach Lupetin, I was onto something.

“It’s a unique full-music sensory experience because we are a roots orchestra,” he said, explaining that as an eight-piece band, a live experience with Dustbowl is certainly unique. “We create each show. It’s a new show each time we do it because we play with the audience, not to the audience.”

That lucky audience on Oct. 13 just so happens to be at Sandpoint’s Panida Theater, Dustbowl’s offthe-beaten-path stop during their tour of California. The Pend Oreille Arts Council has partnered with

Mattox Farm Productions to make the event happen. Lupetin said he has never been to Idaho personally, and Dustbowl has never graced the state with their unique sound, which is described as anywhere from American roots music to funk.

“We’ve always been a roots music group where we tie together elements of American folk and New Orleans funk, bluegrass and gospel,” he said. “We are the kind of band that focuses much more on writing great songs, telling stories and trying to move people with music. You have to let your audience decide what your genre is.”

Lupetin, who created the Dustbowl Revival with a Craigslist ad seeking like-minded music makers, said the band has been traveling the country non-stop for five years. He said part of the struggle of the modern music industry is that there are so many bands of all levels all on online and always sharing new music that sometimes it’s harder to get your stuff heard.

“Being able to share your expertise and your storytelling abilities is a gift and it’s a shame not to share that with a wider audience,” he said. “The only way to really do it, unless you write a hit song, is to get out and meet people and really

blow their minds.”

The whole mind-blowing bit isn’t just talk — Dustbowl has certainly been doing something right, seeing as the LA Weekly recognized them as the “best live band in LA” in 2013.

“That was a shocker, honestly.

The LA Weekly is notoriously hard to impress. LA in general is hard to impress,” he said. “You really have to stand out here. I think we were never content to play local bars and just sort of preserve folk music in some antique form. We wanted to make something new out of music we loved from the past.”

There’s something cool about getting to see LA’s best live band in little ol’ Sandpoint. Lupetin said the way Dustbowl tends to tailor

their shows to the venue’s specific energy means their Oct. 13 show will be unlike any show they’ve performed before. “(Our shows) can go in so many different directions, especially when we go to a new place,” Lupetin said. “We want to bring joy to people.”

The show starts at 7 p.m. and doors open a half hour before.

Tickets are available at the POAC office, Eve’s Leaves and at the door. Adult tickets are $20, POAC supporter tickets are $15 and students can attend for $10.

Missoula’s Shakewell will open the night with funk and soul, and the Dustbowl Revival will take the stage after.

One of the albums I listened to most in high school was Tom Petty’s 1994 “Wildflowers.”

From the first cut to the last, this album is full of feel-good songs that bring tears, smiles and everything between.

All it takes is the first song and I’m instantly transported back to a simpler time and place, when the biggest concerns were trying to get a girl to notice you, saving up for a first car and trying to convince your parents that it’s totally OK to stay out all night drinking with your friends.

WATCH

Another Tom Petty reference.

If you’ve ever watched 1997’s post-apocalyptic film “The Postman,” you’ll remember Tom Petty’s great cameo role as the mayor of “Bridge City.”

There’s a great line where Kevin Costner’s character seems to recognize Petty from his former life as a rock star. After Costner’s character reveals he’s “The Postman,” Petty says, “I heard of you, man. You’re famous.”

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 21

The Straight Poop:

The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

The Outskirts Hope Marketplace

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist

Where am I taking my humans today?

On this beautiful, sunny fall day, the wind is my hair, and we’re off for a drive.

Here are some artsy-fartsy clues: •Locals consider this place their living room where you can meet a neighbor, read a book, eat lunch, take a drawing lesson, pet a cat or spend time with your dog.

•The Tony-Award winning Broadway hit, “Venus in Fur,” performed by the American Laboratory Theater, was hosted there.

•The owner taught at The Monarch School for 12 years, has a degree in art, and was featured a few years ago in a “Ladies of the Day” article in the Reader!

I’m getting the Straight Poop on The Outskirts Hope Marketplace, located at 620 Wellington Pl., in Hope.

Under the roof of this bright yellow building, with an unobstructed view of Lake Pend Oreille, visitors experience contemporary Northwest art and workshops taught by resident artists, music performances, a gift shop, classroom, bookstore and a menu of fresh prepared items accompanied by selected wines, tea or lattes.

As we step onto the porch, owner Kally Thurman, the women with the welcoming heart, exclaims, “There’s my upholsterer—come on in!” (She’s talking about the Mister, as he has refurbished many a chair and sofa for her).

Hot diggity dog! I immediately spot a bowl of cat food and a feline that looks just like my kitty sister, Mika. Hang on to your tails, folks! The doggie handshake quickly reveals that this creature 22 /

R

/ October 5, 2017

is a boy, named Wilder.

Kally tells us: “He gets mail from fans in Canada, and we post the cards at the bottom of the glass entry door so he can enjoy them. He was abandoned as a very small kitten. One day I saw his striped tail disappearing around a corner and I thought he was a raccoon. Eventually he grew to be a cat. Whew! That was a relief. I gently fed him, got him fixed and slowly turned him into the 5-year-old love bug he is today.”

Wilder owns Kally; she doesn’t own him. He lives under the porch ‘cuz he wants to. She has given him away twice, and the last time it took him less than ninety minutes to return. And that’s the Wilder tail!

The pup-a-razzi are barking up a storm about the 35 artists that are represented here in the gallery. Landscapes dominate the collection, as this group focuses on plein-air painting. Kally tells us that the style was made into an art form by the French impressionists.

The artist leaves the four walls of the studio behind; paints and draws in the landscape. I’m borrowing the Mister’s French beret so I can attend Kally’s painting and drawing classes on Thursdays. However, I’m leaving the gold frame at home. Kally is not fond of this accessory. Formidable!

Hey Kally—what artists do you have lined up to ruff sketch our doggie portraits? I’ve got to nail down my holiday gift for the Mister and Missus before the snow flies.

Speaking of the holidays, I’m searching for a Chewy Vuitton toy for my BFF. Maybe I’ll find it in the gift shop here. Fur a price, one can find local artisan jewelry, vintage items, crafts and treasures. I did spot a Pawtier watch, which is telling me that it’s time for lunch!

Wilder joins me outside on the porch.

The sun warms our fur as we lie on the porch enjoying our water bowls and cookies. The Mister and Missus are

Top right: Kally Thurman takes a break with Drake at the Hope Marketplace.

Bottom Right: The Hope Marketplace sign greets newcomers and locals alike in Hope.

inside droolin’ over Kally’s homemade apple bread, quiche and lentil soup. The fresh offerings from CSA and Mountain Cloud Farms contribute to the fare. After lunch, some of the folks mosey out to the porch for the wine tasting ($10 fee — Fridays from 3-5 pm). Kally works with the purveyors and shares tasting notes with the group. They give me K-9 treats as they slowly enjoy two reds and two white wines that are accompanied by assorted cheese, fruits, vegetables, herb pie, chocolate and nuts. What a pawfect afternoon!

The second Sunday of each month features brunch and the singing duo of Beth Pederson and Bruce Bishop. Take me home, country roads to the place called the Outskirts Hope Marketplace!

Put your best paw forward and come for a visit. Winter hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 10-5. Far out!

Crossword Solution

Advice to vampires: why not “do your business” as a bat, not a human. Easier that way, and less pollution.

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Chocolate substitute 6. A ceremonial staff 10. Negatives 14. Small egg 15. Makes a mistake 16. French for “State” 17. Insubordinate 19. Sea eagle 20. Ring around the nipple 21. Utilize 22. Water barrier 23. Demolish 25. Fastener 26. Gush 30. Boil 32. Jungle fever A Full Service Spa offering Facials, Massages, Waxing, Tinting & Infra Red Packages and Gift Certificates available 35. Illustration 39. Public speaker Wildflower Day Spa is now offering NAIL SERVICES. 40. Ethically indifferent Our new line “Zoya” is a Big 10 Free Formula polish.

41. Hereditary Come relax in our new Gulfstream Massaging Pedicure Throne! 43. Grant (we do not offer acrylics) 44. Sell again 46. Leg joint 208.263.1103 47. Eyeglasses 50. Bog hemp 53. Listen 54. Old World vine 55. Fundamentals /kuh n-FAB-yuh-leyt/ 60. Gumbo 61. Pertaining to biology [verb] 63. Canis lupus of the 1. to converse informally; chat.

64. Data “Let’s meet at Evans Brothers to confabulate about the party.” 65. Swelling under the skin 66. Where a bird lives Corrections: Nothing to report this week. I attempted to take one of our call67. Adroit ers’ advice from last week’s correction box, but I’m afraid it’s still lodged 68. Adjust again

confabulate

Word Week

firmly up there. Oh well. -BO

Solution on page 21

DOWN 1. Daughter of Zeus and Demeter 2. Affirm 3. Country bumpkin 4. Margarine 5. Chimes 6. Japanese apricot 7. Fire 8. Smashed 9. Being 10. Embroidery 11. Courtyards 12. Americans 13. Precipitous 18. Flee 24. An Old Testament king

25. Champion 26. Dirty air 27. Trim 28. Dash 29. Boats and jetskis 31. Snare 33. Anagram of “Store” 34. Colored part of an eye 36. Weightlifters pump this 37. Central area of a church 38. Delight 42. Resembling deer

43. A high alpine meadow 45. Furlough 47. Demonstrated 48. A black tea 49. Noblemen 51. Nigerian tribesman 52. Keen 54. Footnote note 56. On the left or right 57. Frosts 58. Arrived 59. Thin strip 62. A parcel of land

October 5, 2017 /

R

/ 23