Reader october6 2016

READER October 6, 2016

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Vol. 13, Issue 40

The Aurra BBealis is ssong wii is one...

Graffiti mars Chinese cemetery wall in Hope

N.I.C. sued for violation after gang rape claim

Photos of the Week: Sept. 29 - Oct. 5

From top right, moving clockwise: Chelsea Stone of Spokane-based Vertical Elements Entertainment dazzles the crowd with an acrobatic aerial performance during the Fro Down event at Evans Brothers Coffee House on Friday night. Photo by Cameron Barnes.

Before being crowned as the first ever Ambassadog winner on Thursday evening, Rosie performs her special trick for judges Drake the Dog, Mayor Shelby Rognstad, Kate McAllister and Jeff Mclean. Photo by Cameron Barnes.

Mayor Shelby Rognstad watches intently as judge Nathan Slabaugh makes his winner decision during the Artistic Latte competition at Evans Brothers Coffee House on Friday Night.

Photo by Cameron Barnes A close up of the hypno flower. Photo by Julia Tietjen Carol Hanson, Dave Krampert, Jerry Hahn and Jake Thom pose for a shot at Sandpoint Post Office shortly after Jerry received his retirement packet for his 33 year service. When I spoke with Jerry on his retirement he told me, “The interaction with customers and relationships with employees has been very rewarding —they’re great folks”. Courtesy Photo.

Calling all photographers: Would you like one of your photos to be featured on our Photos of the Week page? Submit them to cb@sandpointreader.com.

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A change of direction Sandpoint’s downtown streets are set to change to two-way in November.

Here’s a detailed map to show you what to expect:

The Bonner County Board of Community Guardian

Lives change for the better because of our volunteers Please consider volunteering.

Make a difference in someone’s life.

(208) 255-3998

The volunteer Community Board of Guardian is provided to Bonner County adults who reside within the county as a last resort when no family or friends are available to step in and help. The board’s purpose is to protect people who are not capable of making decisions for themselves, such as nancial, health and other aspects of daily living.

The Board accepts referrals from the community and determines ability to assist.

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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: Howard Stoddard (cover), Ben Olson, Cameron Barnes, Daniel Cape, Sandy Compton, Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Cameron Barnes, Nick Gier, Sandy Compton, Brenden Bobby, Kevin Davis, Jim Ramsey, Suzen Fiskin, Drake the Dog. Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Cover This week’s cover features a stunning photograph taken by Howard Stoddard. Stoddard wrote: “The Aurora Borealis has been active this fall. I captured this in the early hours on Wednesday with a slow shutter speed and a trained eye.” Thanks for sending in the shot, Howard.

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(wo)MAN compiled by

Cameron Barnes

on the street

What are your thoughts on Solar Roadways?

“I think it’s an awesome idea if they can get the cost down. They should begin thinking about trying out the idea to light up crosswalks near schools.”

Anna Protsman Creations Sandpoint

I just did something impulsive. Do you ever feel like you need to get away?

Though I love my job bringing you the Reader every week, sometimes working 50-plus hours every week can take its toll. I need a vacation.

My girlfriend Cadie and I just booked tickets to fly into Southeast Asia in March and April. We’re planning to be gone for an entire month, trekking through Cambodia and Laos, up through northern Vietnam and down the coast.

I’ve been to Thailand before but never to these other countries. We’re excited, to say the least, but I’m also nervous leaving the Reader for that long. I imagine new parents feel the same way when they spend their first nights away from their children for the first time.

Why am I sharing this with you, dear readers? I think we’re going to be fine for my month away, but as a backup, I’d like to train someone to do my job.

Anyone interested, write me an email with your qualifications. InDesign and Photoshop are a must. It won’t pay much and the hours suck, but hey, that’s my life: ben@sandpointreader.com.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“It’s fantastic. I think it’s a blessing that we’ve got it right here in Sandpoint as a starting point for hopefully a lot of future things. It can create jobs, and it’s very exciting.”

David Wall Retired Sandpoint

“It’s really cool! I like the colors.”

Ellie Manning 1st Grader Sandpoint

LIVE MUSIC

“If they find a better way to secure the joints, I think it’s great. Even though it’s not reached its full potential, ... it’s still a great idea.”

Logan Meeker Millwright Sandpoint

“It’s about time we look at a new infrastructure, and everything about it is excellent. The only concern I might have is if it’s lit up all night, it might take away from our star view... but I imagine they’ve got everything pretty thought out.”

Robert Easton Retired Sandpoint

/ October 6, 2016

DEAR READERS,

turday Friday & Sa Beer Hall N ight @ t he First Fridays w/

DEVON WADE 7-10pm October Cornhole Classic

1pm

HOLLY McGARRY7-10pm Open Mic Night

7-10pm

w/ Doug Bond

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

255-4351

LETTERs to the editor...

Vote for Ken Meyers...

Dear Editor, After growing up on a wheat farm in western Montana, Ken Meyers went on to become an educator and administrator at Washington State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine.

His experience taught him that good things happen when you have a vision that improves people’s lives, and you move toward that goal by listening with respect and working together .

Ken’s vision for Idaho’s future is a state where our children and grandchildren can freely access, and enjoy public lands, while still benefitting from them economically (“Taking back” our federal lands is a bad idea).

He wants an Idaho that no longer needs a Constitutional Defense Fund that tries to defend unconstitutional laws and has not won a case in over 15 years—spending over $700,000 in attorney fees and plaintiff awards in 2015.

Idaho needs a healthy economy with a higher minimum wage and we need to keep our current businesses while attracting new ones.

And Ken wants an Idaho that does the right thing in closing the Medicaid gap, thereby providing health insurance for the working poor, and where we become serious about mental health issues.

We need an Idaho that recognizes the importance of education in improving our economy and pays teachers accordingly.

And where qualified students are financially able to receive advanced technical training or a college education. Let’s provide our children and grandchildren with the tools they need for the 21st century.

Vote for Ken Meyers.

Ken Thacker Sagle

Who Am I...?

Dear Editor, My name is Natasha Ferris. I am Adam Ferris’ biological sister.

I, too, am gay. Also trangender. I find this odd. Always have. However I love how none of these stories or articles mention one thing about me. Or who I was, or what part I

played in Adam’s life. I think that people forget that Adam and I have struggled since day one.

Yes, we may have a supportive family on my dad’s part. Adam did struggle alone. How do I know this? Because I do. I’ve struggled alone since the day I went to camp and my whole adopted family on my mother’s side straight told me that I am not their daughter, cousin, grandaughter, niece or aunt anymore. When I came out my mother disowned me for being homosexual.

And later, she did the same to my brother, Adam. As kids we were hurt and confused. My brother Adam suffered through anger seizures and ADHD and had to take heavy medications for it.

My dad did his best and when he remarried to my step-mom who had her own children.

This became even more of a struggle for Adam since he was considered the “runt” in the family. He was picked on a lot by the family, which made him crawl into his purgatory and learn to be by himself. That’s where he felt safe and free.

I may have not been there a lot as I got older. I just ran away. We never felt that we fit in. How could we? My dad loved his wife, and his wife loved her kids. It was like being put on the back burner.

Yeah, we may have had support, but did we have the love? Did we ever have that love a mother gives her child or father? I know it’s hard for me to sit here and read this stuff knowing the truth.

Where am I? Not with them.

Adam used to tell me me, “Tasha, you know I got the worst of it all.”

It would hurt me because I knew he was right. He moved back to our adopted mother’s for a reason.

But no, of course no one will mention these things. Or when I needed a place to go, and I asked my step brother, Don, and got denied, so I stayed homeless. I’ve stayed homeless now for a long time.

I had a wife, and she passed.

Not one of them supported me with her death except Adam, who was always worried about me, who always wanted to come live with me, who always wanted to be with me, talk to me. I was his world.

On his Facebook I’d get tags always about how much he missed his sister. Or how much he wanted to see his sister. Or even one time he was so hurt by my lack of at-

tention he even wrote mean things saying that I didn’t love him and that I am not there for him, that I was a liar and that I am just like our real mom. Now tell me that is not a sample of crying for help and attention. Some support.

Being the black sheep is not support. Why couldn’t my family help him get a car like they did for my step mother’s kids? Yup yup— this might make some people mad.

But the truth hurts. At least I can take responsibility for my s****. My guilt is on my heart. And I’m a f*****-up person. But I loved Adam.

He was mine.

Natasha Ferris Tijuana, Mexico

Lawsuit Shows Arrogant Attitude...

Dear Editor, Just before Christmas 2015, years of work and thousands of hours of individual effort by people from all walks of life in northwest Montana came to fruition when the Kootenai Forest Stakeholders made a landmark agreement about land use on the Kootenai National Forest. The spectrum of participants was stunning: timber executives, motorized use groups, fish and wildlife scientists, the U.S. Forest Service, local governments and wilderness advocates—including the group I work for—all took part. Organizations and individuals—some that have been past adversaries—got together, sat down at the table and worked out a deal.

No one got everything they wanted, but everyone got a lot of what they wanted. The motorized community got a number of roads opened for their use, and the non-motorized folks received a gift of 75 miles of trail declared non-motorized. Planned logging would create badly needed jobs, reduced forest fuel levels and habitat for big game. New chunks of wilderness were even agreed upon.

The stakeholders and the general public were rightly pleased with the outcome. In a reeling economy, harvest of 39 million board feet from the East Reservoir Project was good news for Lincoln County. But, the best news was that a

group of people who live and work on the Kootenai National Forest put their differences aside and came up with a plan that suited all who participated.

Not everyone participated. The Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies didn’t show up. In spite of a personal invitation to AWR exec Mike Garrity from then-Region One Forester Fay Krueger, AWR deigned to come to the table. Instead, they sat back, waited for the work to be done, and then sued to stop one of the critical components of the agreement, the East Reservoir Project.

The Project survived the first suit, filed in July, but AWR filed an appeal. On Sept. 13, two days before logging was to begin, the project was halted by 9th Circuit Judges Wardlaw and Callahan.

Whether there is merit to the Alliance’s lawsuit is not for me to say. I’m just a moderate wilderness-loving tree-hugger from western Montana whose dad was a logger and a miner and yet helped teach me about wild country and how important it is to the planet.

I’ve also learned to listen to what other people have to say about what’s important to them, and I believe that those who live closest to a place should have the most to say about what happens there.

As the appeal moves forward, Judges Wardlaw and Callahan might consider that AWR was invited to join its voice with the rest of the Kootenai Stakeholders, and ignored the invitation. This demonstrates to me and the Stakeholders—as well as the larger community of the West—an arrogant, self-righteousness, “I know what’s best for you” attitude that isn’t going to solve any problems facing the West today.

Sandy Compton Heron, Mont.

Program Coordinator, Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

Join the conversation. Submit letters to the editor to letters@sandpointreader.com. All letters under 400 words and lacking any libelous statements or profanity are printed.

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COMMENTARY

Gandhi, the Buddha and the limits of non-violence:

A tribute to the Mahatma on his 145th Birthday

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist “I felt I was in the presence of a noble soul, a true disciple of Lord Buddha, and a true believer in peace and harmony among all men.”

—The Dalai Lama “Gandhi is the greatest Indian since Gautama Buddha and the greatest man since Jesus Christ.”

—Unitarian minister J. H. Holmes I wish to celebrate Gandhi’s 145th Birthday (Oct. 2) by comparing his ethics of non-violence with the Buddha, whom Gandhi called the “greatest teacher of non-violence.”

When I began my research on Gandhi during my 1992 sabbatical to India, I fully expected that I would interpret his philosophy from a Hindu or Jain perspective. Gandhi claimed that he learned much from the pacifist Jain monks in his home state of Gujarat, but he eventually broke with them over their belief that the rule of non-violence was absolute.

When I closely examined Gandhi’s doctrine of non-violence, I was compelled to interpret him in Buddhist terms.

Given the two major schools of Buddhism—the Theravada of Southeast Asia and the Mahayana of Tibet, China, and Japan—Gandhi comes to the ideals of the latter.

In the Theravada Buddhist laypeople gain merit making offerings to monks and their monasteries, but in the Mayahana exceptional laypeople earn so much merit that they can bestowed it on others as grace.

They are Bodhisattvas—“beings of enlightenment”—who lead all begins to salvation.

Gandhi actually allowed many exceptions to his vow of non-violence, based on very realistic and pragmatic 6 /

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considerations. Throughout October 1928, Gandhi carried on a lively debate with various respondents in his journal Young India. Gandhi defended his decision to euthanize an incurable calf, and even went on to list the conditions for human euthanasia. He also thought that tigers, snakes and rabid dogs might have to be killed if they threaten human life. Both Hindus and Jain were scandalized by these thoughts.

If a man who runs amuck and threatens to kill others, Gandhi insists that he must be killed; furthermore, the killer should “be regarded a benevolent man.” Gandhi once told a Jain friend that non-violence was not absolute and that one should always be “capable of sacrificing nonviolence for the sake of truth.”

Once a group of men appealed to Gandhi because their village had been looted by bandits, and their wives had been raped. They said that they had followed his doctrine of non-violence, but they now despaired about why it did not work.

Gandhi condemned the men as cowards, because in this case the virtue of courage preempted the virtue of non-violence. Passive resistance in the face of great danger is sometimes not the right action, and “protective force,” an apt phrase from Marshall Rosenberg, may be necessary. Early in his career Gandhi supported the British in the Boer War and in World War I. In some Mahayana schools Bodhisattvas may kill persons who will, if not stopped, murder others in the future. These Buddhists defend such “preemptive strikes” with this reasoning: Many lives would be saved and the murderers would be saved from the horrors of hell (yes, many Buddhists believe

in hell). Unfortunately, Tibetan Buddhists used this argument to wage war against Buddhist sects they thought were heretical and therefore a danger to the future of Buddhism.

The vow of all Bodhisattvas is that, even though they have no karmic debt, they will stand at the door of Nirvana until all sentient beings have passed before them. The Bodhisattva also declares that “I, for the good of all creatures, would experience all pain and unhappiness in my own body,” a significant parallel to the passion of Christ.

Gandhi amazed his disciples and bedeviled his opponents by doing their penance for them.

He called it “self-suffering” for the sake of others and the “good of all.” He underwent many long fasts vowing not to eat until his disciples reached an acceptable level of spiritual development, or until Hindus and Muslims stopped fighting each other, or until the British gave Indians their independence.

Because of this, Indian writer Ramjee Singh called Gandhi “the Bodhisattva of the 20th century.” We should not, however, press this comparison too far. Not even his most ardent followers have claimed that Gandhi was sinless or had the redemptive powers of a savior. Gandhi most definitely did not claim to have taken away the sins of the world as Buddhist and Christians claim their saviors do.

Nick Gier taught philosophy and religion at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read excerpts from this book The Virtue of Non-Violence: From Gautama to Gandhi at webpages.uidaho.edu/ngier/VNV.htm.

Top: Mahatma Ghandi. Bottom: An image of the Buddha.

READER support an informed community

PERSPECTIVES

Bordering on Complete Sanity: Think before you spray

By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist Someone has written with black spray paint on a retaining wall beside the Highway 200 railroad overpass at the west end of Hope, “TRUMP! SAVE AMERICA! DEPORT ILLEGALS!!”

Besides being offensive and ugly, it is also highly ironic.

That wall holds up a Chinese cemetery that was begun during the construction of the Northern Pacific Railroad.

The stretch of railroad along the north edge of Lake Pend Oreille was built on the backs of immigrant Chinese, many of who were in this country “illegally,” without identification or permission of immigration authorities. They were, however, here at the encouragement of their employers.

The Chinese worked hard and worked for less than Irish and Italian immigrants who made up many of the crews of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern as they crossed the Rockies. They spoke a different language and brought their culture with them from across the Pacific. For these reasons and others, they were targets of attempts to deport them all.

Some were sent “home.” But, not all. Not near all. At the turn of the 20th century, both Sandpoint and Hope had Chinese colonies.

When I lived in Sandpoint as a high school kid, Lee Eng was our neighbor. He ran successful businesses in Sandpoint and raised a family here. He was, as I remember, a kind and quiet man who was a terrific gardener.

The summer I graduated from high school, I worked

with his nephew on the Forest Service, a tall young man who let us know that not all Chinese are short. His family was from northern China, he told us. He was one of the funniest people I ever met.

The Trump supporter who defaced the retaining wall at Hope is not funny, at least not intentionally. Nor did they do much for their cause. Some like-minded folks might cheer them on, but I doubt that they convinced anyone to switch candidates. In fact, the only accomplishment they might have achieved with their can of black spray paint—besides proving themselves somewhat suspect intellectually—was to cause me to write this.

I’m not sure if that’s for the best, but it’s a good chance for me to exercise my brain, which I doubt that the guy—or gal—with the spray paint was doing when they vandalized the retaining wall.

Excuse me, Mr. or Ms. Spray-Painter, but it’s ILLEGAL to deface public property, no matter how good you might think the cause is for which you are committing vandalism.

You should be more careful, or you—should Mr. Trump actually get elected, God forbid— might be DEPORTED. The interesting thing about policies that advocate deporting illegals is defining what an illegal is (“illegal,” by the way, is not yet a noun in the English language, but still an adjective.

Just so you know). It is those who do the deportation who will decide who need deporting. With Mr. Trump, it appears that the rules can change at the

The graffiti in question, sprayed on the retaining wall of the historic Chinese cemetery in Hope. Photo by Sandy Compton.

drop of a hat. The definition of “illegal,” the unauthorized noun, might change just as easily.

First, we deport folks who are here without checking in with immigration, a process, by the way, that could double the national debt. And, then maybe we deport all the other sorts of illegals that can be defined under the fuzzy rules of illegaldom. Folks guilty of vandalism with black spray paint could end up on a railcar bound for some other country. Which in itself is hilarious. What country is actually going to take our huddled masses?

So, Mr. or Ms. Vandalizer.

Think before you spray. That’s what I say.

Random Corner ration?

Don’t know much about immig

We can help!

• Anne Frank’s family was denied visas by the U.S because of strict immigration policies at the time.

• Illegal immigration from Mexico to the U.S. has decreased by 80 percent since 2000.

• As of 2014, the Obama administration had removed approximately 2.4 million immigrants, the highest number under any president.

•The following famous Americans immigrated to the United States (country immigrated from in parentheses): Albert Einstein (Germany), former Secretery of State Madeleine Albright (Czechoslovakia), naturalist John Muir (Scotland), Joseph Pulitzer (Hungary), NBA player Hakeem Olajuwon (Nigeria), Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter (Austria), singer/composer Irving Berlin (Russia), and Nobel laureate for Physics Subranhmanyan Chandrasekhar (India).

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NEWS

Sun rises on Solar Roadways demonstration

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Eyes all across the Inland Northwest—and the world— were fixed on Sandpoint last week for the first public debut of Solar Roadways.

Slowed by a number of unexpected setbacks, Solar Roadways officials finished installing the demonstration in Jeff Jones Town Square early Sunday morning. It was a quiet crossing of the finish line after the high publicity unveiling events Friday and Saturday. According to Sandpoint Mayor Shelby Rognstad, it was a long road to make Sandpoint the first Solar Roadways city, but city and business officials are excited the project is mostly complete.

“It really took a team to make this thing a reality,” he said.

Originally gunning for a complete unveiling Friday afternoon, Solar Roadways team members ran into problems with their laminating machine, which fuses protective elements with the sensitive electronics that generate solar energy and power the LEDs and heating elements. Consequently, city officials postponed the unveiling to Saturday afternoon. Once again, insufficient sand used to level the panels meant that only three were installed by the time a second crowd gathered.

The third time was the charm, however, and while several panels aren’t functional because of the laminating machine, Solar Roadways co-owner Scott Brusaw said they’ll be replaced with working technology as soon as it’s produced.

“It was really upsetting to not make the deadline,” co-owner Julie Brusaw said at a Friday press conference. “We were worried about how all the fans that support us would react … but people were so kind.”

The Brusaws also aim to replace the demonstration panels, currently the SR3 model, with new and improved products as they’re developed. Their intention is to ensure Sandpoint, as the Solar Roadways hometown, always showcases the latest and greatest examples of the tech8 /

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nology.

Television news and other out-of-town media traveled to Sandpoint for the installation, attending a press conference and capturing the public excitement.

It wasn’t long before national publications like Engadget had picked up the story.

For those watching from afar, the city installed a live-streaming webcam, which will eventually display information like energy generation in real time.

Quick check-ups on the stream more often than not show groups of people lingering around the demonstration or testing them out. View the stream for yourself at www.cityofsandpoint.com/visiting-sandpoint/solar-roadways.

While some residents believe the city’s support for Solar Roadways is inappropriate, Rognstad said the partnership will benefit Sandpoint in both the short and long terms. There are the immediate boons like the increased publicity and tourism the demonstration brings to town—and indeed, many folks traveled to Sandpoint for the unveiling ceremonies alone.

Then there is the hope that the company will flourish and grow, bringing new living wage jobs into the community.

“It would be tragic to see an innovative company like Solar Roadways up and leave to someplace like New York,” Rognstad said.

This is the first major milestone in public testing for Solar Roadways, which roared to viral fame several years ago with a crowdfunding campaign that captured the world’s attention.

Similar projects, designed to test the panels as walking and biking surfaces and power generators, are planned for Baltimore, Md., and along Route 66 in Missouri.

According to the Brusaws, extensive testing of Solar Roadways panels as driving surfaces begins next year. Traction tests have already confirmed the panels provide braking speeds comparable to asphalt, Brusaw said. Next come punishing stress simulations, which will put 15 years worth of heavy truck abuse on the panels in three months— an important factor in determin-

ing durability and cost-effectiveness.

Panel durability is key to the Brusaws’ ultimate goal, which is to make Solar Roadways a viable replacement for concrete and asphalt. They envision a design where malfunctioning panels can be replaced quickly and easily, rather than subjecting entire stretches of road to intensive repair. Alongside ease of maintenance are other benefits like programmable lights for messages or traffic lines, heating elements to remove snow and ice, discrete utility line storage and, of course, solar power generation. The Brusaws estimate that a complete national road system of Solar Roadways panels would satisfy America’s energy needs three times over.

“If we’re going to have real impact on climate change, which we believe is real and human-caused, we need this out in every country in all kinds of applications,” said Julie Brusaw.

Top: Aubrey Falconer, right, looks at a miniature version of the Solar Roadway panel at Saturday’s unveiling at Jeff Jones Town Square. Bottom: Scott Brusaw, left, unveils the first ever Solar Roadways public demonstration to a crowd of dozens. Photos by Cameron Barnes.

Lake level to drop near lowest level

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff The Lakes Commission announced this week that the Army Corps of Engineers will begin dropping the lake level for the winter.

In a draw-down process that began Wednesday, the ACOE, which is responsible for operating Albeni Falls Dam, will drop the lake level at an average rate of about two inches per day. The goal is to reach a 2053.5-foot

depth by Oct. 31, followed by 2052.8 feet by Nov. 4.

The lake draw down affects a variety of interest groups, from business owners who want a long summer recreation season to conservationists seeking ideal bull trout spawning conditions.

An agreement struck between the ACOE and the state of Idaho in 2014 mandates that the draw down not begin until the third weekend in September or Sept.

18, whichever is later.

FEATURE

The night of November 16: North Idaho College sued for Title IX violation after gang rape claim

By George Prentice For Boise Weekly The party was off campus, at a home rented by a group of North Idaho College students.

The weather was getting cold in mid-November, but a young woman, then a 17-year-old freshman, thought the house was a short walk from the community college west of downtown Coeur d’Alene.

The young woman, now a Boise resident, admits to having too much to drink at the Nov. 16, 2013 party—so drunk she blacked out. One thing she does remember, though, is coming-to in a bathroom where she said she was gang raped by three male students.

Three years later, she’s still struggling to come to terms with what happened. Making matters worse, she said, NIC officials did nothing did help her and instead “revictimized” her by scrutinizing her every move for months—all the while never investigating her assault.

“Try to imagine being onedge every minute of every day. That was my life. There were times where I thought I would kill myself,” she said.

“I never even thought of a second year at college because I thought I would kill myself as a freshman.”

Through her attorney Rebecca Rainey, of Boise law office Fisher Rainey Hudson, the young woman filed a lawsuit Sept. 22 against NIC alleging the college violated federal Title IX requirements when officials “ignored the situation entirely”; “refused to investigate or take corrective action”; and conducted “willful, knowing and intentional discrimination,” according to the suit.

“Even if that school catches wind of a Title IX flag—even confidentially—they’re required to follow up. And there is no evidence of any investigation into this incident,” Rainey said. “Title

The alleged rape took place off campus at North Idaho College on Nov. 16, 2013. Photo by Zach Hagadone.

IX is designed to protect a student’s educational opportunities.

If a student is suffering because of sexual violence, you better believe that it will impact that student’s educational opportunities in a million different ways.””

The young woman said she tried to share her story “with nearly every media outlet in Idaho, but nobody would listen.”

When she first contacted Boise Weekly in June, she said “this would be my final effort.”

Per her request, BW waited for the young woman’s complaint to be filed in federal court before publishing her story. To protect her identity, we refer to her as “R.” Nov. 16, 2013 R remembers the optimism of her first year at NIC in the fall of 2013. She had hoped to be a lawyer someday and thought the publicly funded community college—which offers classes to more than 6,000 students in the picturesque north Idaho resort

town—would be a good first step on her path to law school.

“I was hoping to do so much more with my life,” she said.

That all changed on the night of Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013. She said a few hours after she was assaulted, she texted a friend.

“My body hurts,” she wrote.

The recipient of the text— which went on to include some graphic descriptions of the particulars of the assault—was not only a friend of R’s, but an NIC resident assistant in her dorm. The text prompted the RA to arrange a face-to-face conversation with R and, soon after, the situation was reported to NIC Resident Life Director Paula Czirr.

The day after the incident, R walked to downtown Coeur d’Alene where she received treatment and underwent several tests at an urgent care clinic. By Nov. 18, 2013, two days after the alleged rape, records confirm that the assault had been reported to Vice President of Student Services Graydon Stanley and

NIC Counseling Specialist Deborah Ferguson.

Instead of launching an investigation into the alleged assault, emails sent to and from NIC officials indicate they were puzzled over how to proceed with the case.

“I’m not sure what we can do with this information,” Czirr wrote to Stanley and Ferguson on Nov. 18, 2013. “Is this something we need to contact the mother about? Do we just let the therapist help her work through it? I would appreciate some guidance on how to proceed. Her behaviors have escalated, to say the least.”

Instead of addressing the report that she had been raped, the focus on R’s own behaviors intensified. Her behaviors were, by her own admission, “spiraling.” Heavy drinking, drug abuse, emotional breakdowns at parties—R fell apart after her assault.

“I think the first time I took another drink was on Dec. 7, [2013],” R said. “I had gone to a

party, had too much and people told me that I was crying a lot.”

A note in NIC’s security logs for the night of Dec. 7, 2013 indicated R’s roommate made a point of contacting an RA, saying R “was crying about what happened on [Nov.] 16th.”

Another entry in NIC security logs for the night of Dec. 14, 2013 included notes, again from an RA, that R “was talking about suicide,” adding, “What happened in November on the 16th is really getting to her still.”

Regardless of the mounting concerns over R’s mental health, the 2013 fall semester ended and students headed home for the holidays with no indication that NIC had launched a Title IX investigation into her reported assault. When R returned to campus in January 2014 she was summoned to a formal meeting regarding her behavior.

“My assault was never mentioned in that meeting,” she said,

< see RAPE, page 11 > October 6, 2016 /

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Bouquets: •I really have to give props to you loyal readers out there whose compliments and positive energy keep us vital every week. Last week, we received a very nice card from a couple who, in short, said, “Don’t let the bastards get you down.”

They included a sizable donation to the Reader. I don’t want to call them out in public to embarrass them, but S and G, thanks for the support and kind words. It really means a lot to know that we are reaching you, one reader at a time.

Barbs: •Recently, I received a call from a rather ornery local whom I enjoy listening to from time to time. He brought up his distaste for people complaining about Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during our national anthem. I’ve been meaning to address this issue and am glad my cantankerous pal brought it up.

Here’s my take on Kaepernick’s protest: It’s just as American as saluting the flag or watching a Fourth of July parade. You see, the thing I love the most about our country is that we can protest against it without fear of being tossed in jail or stoned by the masses.

Do I think it’s right to kneel during the Star-Spangled Banner. No, I’ll stand with my hand on my heart because that’s what I believe. That doesn’t mean that his protesting against America’s racial intolerance is wrong. He has every right to protest, just like you have every right not to protest. I say this in no way disrespecting those who serve our country. My father served for 20 years, and I am proud of his combat in the Korean War. More than anything, I hope Kaepernick’s protest will elevate the conversation of race in America. Maybe someday, we will truly be equal. That day has not come yet.

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Book explores man-nature connection

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff For author and scientist Ken Fischman, the modern world hasn’t diminished the call of the wild. On the contrary, it has only grown louder for him as others become more detached from their natural roots.

Fischman focused that call into a recent collection of essays exploring man’s relationship with nature.

Entitled “Sleeping With Wolves,” the book seeks to find a complementary way of living with nature through stories that are in turns funny, informative, profound and poignant.

As one might expect from the title, “Sleeping With Wolves” uses the wild canines as a muse for the book’s naturalist themes. The creative choice in apropos in the wake of several high-profile controversies in wolf management.

Critics call the animal a predatory menace, while conservationists argue they must be protected and preserved.

The relationship between man and wolf surfaces time and again throughout the book.

In the second chapter, “The Tracks at Chauvet Cave,” Fischman recalls spotting wolf tracks intermingled with those of a prehistoric child near the cave paintings captured by the Werner Herzog documentary, “The Cave of Forgotten Dreams.” The discovery raises an intriguing question: Were the wolf and child companions or adversaries?

“Chauvet Cave is a marvel indeed, opening to us not only a window onto the consider-

Ken Fischman. Courtesy photo.

able artistic abilities of Paleolithic man, but also into his inner life, and perhaps in the case of the child and wolf, into his connections with the natural world,” writes Fischman.

Born in Brooklyn, Fischman has long felt a kinship with nature, and it’s influenced the development of his career. After earning a Ph.D. in genetics, he contributed to research projects at Columbia University.

While advancing the cause of science, he also found time to found the Columbia University Kayak Club and serve as vice president of New York Rivers United.

To learn more about Fischman and his work, be sure to attend a reading and book signing of “Sleeping With Wolves.”

The gathering will take place 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Sandpoint library.

Infini Gallery releases October events

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

With the change in weather, it’s time to delve into the great indoors and tap into our creative side.

Infini Gallery at 214 Cedar St. has announced their October events, kicking off the month with an opening reception on Friday, Oct. 7, from 6-8 p.m. October will be the “mystery month,” which means no artists will be announced until the night of the opening.

The Sandpoint gallery owned

by Kris Dills will also be featuring a healthy dose of classes. Sundays from 1-3 p.m. feature watercolor painting with Karen Robinson.

It’s for beginner, intermediate and advanced students. Cost: $25 plus a small material fee.

Figure/life drawing classes will take place Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m. Alison Barrows-Young will instruct amateur and experienced artists to observe and draw the form, light, shape and line of the human body. Cost: $25 plus materials and model fee.

Every Wednesday from 6-8 p.m., renowned sculptor Steve Gevurtz will host “Sculpting the

Human Torso in Clay.” This is a six-week class that began Sept.

28. Cost: $280 plus $20/night for model/studio fee.

Thursday nights from 6-8 p.m. feature “Progressive Acrylic Painting” hosted by Kris Dills.

Beginner through advanced level students will learn the use of different mediums, textures and applications of acrylic paint on canvas. Cost: $25 includes materials, instruction and use of all studio tools and equipment.

Friday’s classes feature open wine and canvas painting with various local art instructors from 6-8 p.m. $35 includes everything you need except wine.

Saturdays from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. and 12:30-1:30 p.m. will feature kids painting/sculpture classes for ages 6-16. These are one hour classes for beginners and advanced students. Cost: $20, includes materials.

Interested in submitting work for the next opening reception?

Contact the gallery at www. infinigallery.com to submit one outspoken piece in the November Political Exhibition.

Kootenai Elementary School celebrates fall with a carnival fundraiser

By Reader Staff

On Thursday, Oct. 6, the playground at Kootenai Elementary will transform into a festive carnival that’s fun for children of all ages. The fundraiser, run by the Kootenai Parent-Teacher Association, has become a family-friendly tradition for the entire community and beyond.

Fall Fest, as the event is known, centers on a number of themed booths offering prizes, as well as several bounce houses.

The day also features delicious food donated by Sweet Lou’s in Ponderay. Staff from Home Depot will offer a fun building activity for the kids, while the Northside Fire crew will host a meet-and-greet. Beyond the fun games and activities, the event features several raffle prizes donated by local businesses,

including a brand new youth bicycle and pumpkins donated

by Hickey Farms.

“This event really celebrates families,” said Kootenai Principal Kelli Knowles. “The kids look forward to it every year—and it provides a fun, safe alternative to traditional door-to-door salesbased fundraisers.”

Fall Fest is open to all families, and tickets are available at the gate before and during the event. Tickets for games and activities start at $.25 each, and wrist bands for endless bouncing are $10 at the door. Please come, celebrate and help support education in our community!

For more information, call Nikki Luttmann at (208) 9461585 or Kootenai Elementary at (208) 255-4076.

< RAPE con’t from page 9 > referring to Jan. 27, 2014, when R sat in front of Czirr, Stanley, Ferguson and NIC Director of Student Development Alex Harris, who also serves as the college’s Title IX coordinator.

“They all decided that it would be best to come up with a contract that I would not drink while living at the resident hall,” she said.

That’s when NIC officials put a document in front of R, reading that she was not to consume drugs or alcohol and if she had any suicidal ideation, that she would contact a staff person immediately.

“That contract made me feel like my drinking was their only concern,” said R. “There was no mention of the assault ever being related to my drinking problem.”

R’s roommate—who requested not to be named for privacy reasons—said she became increasingly concerned for R’s physical and mental wellbeing.

“I think NIC handled it very poorly. Instead of being supported, she was scrutinized. She was being victimized again,” the roommate said. “And when the resident assistants ever talked about her, they never wanted to talk about what happened on Nov. 16. ...

“To be honest, sometimes I was afraid of what I might find when I returned to our room,” she said. “Yes, I was afraid of her committing suicide.”

‘Retraumatization’ NIC was intent on monitoring R’s comings and goings, making detailed notes in security logs to the exact time of day or night that R would walk in or out of her dormitory.

“Saw [R] leaving the building at 10 p.m.” wrote one RA on March 17, 2014. “[R] had her bag checked around 9:30,” wrote another RA on April 21, 2014.

Dozens of NIC security notes, obtained by R following a records request, detailed her movements for months in the spring semester of 2014, each logging the exact time and even the doors that she would walk in or out of the building.

In late April, R fired off an angry email to Czirr and her staff of RAs, venting her frustration.

“Here’s what really makes me mad. You’d rather have some

Photo by Ben Olson. college rapists in the dorm than an ‘alcoholic’ that has been victimized by them,” she wrote on April 21, 2014. “Did anyone ever question why I was getting high every day or why I was coming back drunk and crying?

No, you didn’t.”

R wrote that she was particularly angered that it was she, rather than her attackers, who suffered consequences for destructive behavior.

“Now look at me. I’m going to AA and considered an alcoholic. Nobody stood up for me,” she wrote.

Three years later, the trauma is still fresh.

“I’m not sure how best to describe my life as it is now. It’s...” she said, pausing in thought.

“It’s surreal. You see, I’m sitting here with you now... or I may be sitting at work... or I may be sitting with friends... but my head is somewhere else. I feel out of place. I just don’t have a lot to offer when people have conversations, especially about fun things.”

Reliving the details of her attack in court will also present emotional risks.

“My role as a legal counsel to someone who goes through something like this is to help them manage that retraumatization,” said Rainey. “I can’t prevent it, because it will definitely happen. And it will happen no matter how someone chooses to respond. If they remain totally quiet about it, they’ll remain retraumatized. If they speak out, they’re retraumatized. It’s a horrible thing for anyone to

go through, no matter how they choose to deal with it. Yes, there’s a very high certainty of retraumatization.”

U.S. Court Case No. 1:16cv-430 In July 2014, R decided to directly contact the college’s Title IX coordinator, Alex Harris.

“Do I qualify for a Title IX complaint?” she wrote to Harris, who, on July 28, 2014, responded: “Gender/Sex based incidents fall under Title IX regulations.

As Title IX officer for NIC, it is my job to investigate and remedy these situations when notified of them. So when you say ‘do you qualify for a complaint?’ I don’t really understand that.”

“I’m appalled by that comment,” said Rebecca Rainey, R’s attorney. “And I look forward to speaking with him regarding that statement. Here’s a student: confused, looking for answers. And that’s the response she receives regarding Title IX? He says he ‘doesn’t really understand’?”

Harris forwarded a copy of his response to R to his boss, NIC VP of Student Services Graydon Stanley, who wrote back: “Good response. Could put you in line for a little merit increase!”

Looking back at the email she received from Harris in July 2014, R said, “At the time, I didn’t know that a Title IX complaint would be detrimental to the college’s reputation. I was simply asking a question, and it seems that they had kind of manipulated me into not learning

more about it or even considering my complaint.”

NIC officials declined to comment to Boise Weekly on R’s case, other than to refer to the college’s policies and procedures regarding Title IX—the very rules NIC is accused of ignoring.

“All college employees must, in the exercise of reasonable care, promptly report information they have about actual or suspected discrimination, harassment, or misconduct to the Title IX coordinator, a Title IX investigator, or other appropriate employee of the college such as the director of Human Resources or the vice president of Student Services,” NIC’s policy reads.

“Employees who fail to report this information in a prompt manner may be subject to disciplinary action.”

According to a spokeswoman at the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C., there have not been “any previous or current investigations” at NIC related to Title IX. Meanwhile, R dropped out of NIC. Today, she says it’s too difficult to walk onto any college campus. When people ask, “Where do you go to school?” or “What’s your major?” she said it stirs up too many emotions.

“The truth is, it’s taken me this long to find my voice in this,” she said.

In her lawsuit—case No. 1:16-cv-430—R is seeking a jury trial in federal court.

“Why a jury trial? This is an important conversation that our community—our nation—has to have. That’s why jury trials

exist in our nation,” said Rainey.

“This is a conversation that we need to have about a culture that exists, not just on college campuses, but throughout the nation.

And when you look at the rape culture that has existed for years, it has been accepted because people have found the conversation to be too difficult to have.

They pretend it doesn’t happen and that’s unacceptable. Yes, it’s a very difficult conversation.

And this is a particularly difficult lawsuit to pursue for someone brave enough to pursue it.”

NIC officials will be required to have that “difficult conversation” if R’s case ends up in a courtroom but, for now, the official statement is: “The College cannot comment on pending litigation.”

Regardless of whether the case goes to trial, it is possible NIC’s Title IX practices could be reviewed. Though investigators at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights have not been informed of the allegations against NIC, agency spokeswoman Dorie Nolt said, “The Office of Civil Rights also has the ability to open a compliance review in cases where a complaint has not been filed.

There’s a growing awareness across the country that sexual violence is a problem and filing a complaint with OCR is a way to seek justice for survivors.”

Nolt went on to share some staggering statistics on current reports of sexual violence on American college campuses.

“The department currently has 277 sexual violence cases under investigation at 214 postsecondary institutions,” she said.

The data indicate a sharp increase in nationwide postsecondary education sexual violence complaints, jumping from 11 in 2010 to 165 in 2015. More than 160 were already filed by the end of September 2016.

“I don’t know if what happened to me happened to anyone else at NIC,” R said. “I was just one student; but the way the administration handled my case has altered my life dramatically. The college shouldn’t look at their students as problems. They made me feel like such a problem to everyone. ... I don’t think that’s how a college administration should see its students under any circumstance.”

This story was originally published in the Boise Weekly.

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More than a store, a Super store!

cold her t a e w HarvestFest is coming!

Saturday, Oct. 15th 9am - 3pm

Celebrate harvest with our annual HarvestFest, featuring extended hours and live music all day long. Our vendors pull out all the stops for winter storage crops, holiday holid crafts, and more!

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be prepared!

We have the best price in town on stove pipe and stove pipe accessories!

Saturday, October 8th 9 am to 4 pm

A day for independent local writers and their readers READER

•Presentations by local indie authors about writing, marketing and more •Digital gathering and global panel presentations

1st annual

Scarecrow contest

First 3 weekends in October!

•Networking, author readings and book signings •Publishers' Panel •Poetry and live music Visit www.ebonnerlibrary.org for the full schedule of panels, performances and readings

Friday - 3:30 p.m. to dusk Sat. & Sun. - 10:30 a.m. to dusk

Hickey Farms 674 Hickey Road

Benefiting American Heritage Wildlife Foundation

Information & Inspiration More info: 263-6930 • 1407 Cedar St., Sandpoint October 6, 2016 /

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event t h u r s d a y f r i d a y

s a t u r d a y 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

Buy tickets in advance: •Burger Express •Alpine Shop •Eichardt’s Pub •Outdoor Experience

mountain-fever.com 14 /

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t h u r s d a y

6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Dollar Beers!

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

Learn the Waltz w/ Diane Peters 7 & 8pm @ Sandpoint West Athletic Club Level 1 class begins at 7pm, level 2 begins at 8pm. 263-6633

Adult Public Eurythmy Class 5:30pm @ Sandpoint Waldorf School $5 entry. Drop-ins welcome every Thursday

Live Music w/ Wayne Worthen 5:30-8:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Wayne writes and plays folk, folk rock, Celtic, blues, ragtime, bluegrass, classical and soft jazz Live Music w/ Marty Perron & Doug Bond 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority A great guitar/mandolin duo Live Music w/ Daniel Mills 5:30-8:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery An expert fingerstyle guitarist, single/songwriter

Live Music w/ Holly McGarry 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Soulful folk singer worth her weight in gold Indie Author Day 9am @ Sandpoint Library First annual event for indie authors and their readers. See ad in today’s paper for more info Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Local produce, meats and cheeses. Fine crafts and baked goods. Live music by Ben Olson.

Rally Obed 1pm @ Pen Dogs must class is $10 mation, cal

Banff Radical Reels Tour 7:30pm @ the Panida Theater It’s that time of year again! Check out 1 ferent skiing, biking, climbing and pad films in 2016’s Radical Reels tour. Ti available at Eichardt’s, the Alpine Shop door Experience and Burger Express in S point; and Zip’s Drive-In in Bonners Fe

Plein Air Paintout 8am-6pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Participants will be provided with a 4” vas and asked to create the best, mos postcard possible. Painting will be dawn to dusk. Register with Kally at 2

“Share Your Love of Quilts” Show 9am-4:30pm @ Boundary County Fairg A non-judged quilt show open to the $3. 267-7041 for more info

Soiree Orientale • 7pm @ Pearl Thea A belly dancing performance in Bonne

by Northwest Belly Dance Co. Mu Sandpoint Chess Club Game Night at the Niner Kno 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee 9pm @ 219 Lounge sing Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome spon Learn the East Coa Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7 & 8pm @ Sandpoi 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Level 1 class begins Classic Karaoke 7-10pm @ Ol’ Red’s Pub Karaoke Night at the Niner 10pm @ 219 Lounge

Open Mic Night 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Hosted by Doug Bond. Come one, come all! A great setting to listen to and play the music that moves you

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park Come for the locally grown proLawn Management 6-8pm @ Ponderay Events Center duce, stay for the live music Bonner County Gardeners Association hosts a class on Lawn Management, presented by Jack Zimmer, who will provide info on prepping ground for a new lawn, different varieties of grass seed, and how to feed and manage the turf on your property for maximum appeal and usefulness. $10. Pre-register at bcgardners.org Dollar Beers!

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

The Conversation 6-8pm @ Ivano’s R Have you ever tho the radio? Suzy P FM will be speak point station’s bac tion to independ radio programming

Learn the Waltz w/ Diane Peters 7 & 8pm @ Sandpoint West Athletic Club Level 1 class begins at 7pm, level 2 Hospice of N begins at 8pm. 263-6633 4-7pm @ Pen

Adult Public Eurythmy Class 5:30pm @ Sandpoint Waldorf School $5 entry. Drop-ins welcome every Thursday

10% of all pro be donated to

ful

October 6 - 13, 2016

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

Reader recommended

ally Obedience Dog Training pm @ Pend Oreille Pet Lodge (895 Kootenai Cut-Off Rd.) ogs must be current on veterinarian-administered vaccines. Drop-in ass is $10 per session or 4 for $35. Class starts at 1 p.m. For more inforation, call Glenna at 208-610-2171. Held every Thursday in October

r heck out 11 difg and paddling s tour. Tickets pine Shop, Outxpress in Sandonners Ferry

Scareywood at Silverwood 7pm-1am @ Silverwood Live Music w/ Ron Keiper Trio 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Ron Keiper’s jazz trio is just the thing for a drink after a long week of work. Do it!

The Drawing Group 2pm @ Sandpoint Library All are welcome to come and draw with other artists of various proficiency levels

Live Music w/ Devon Wade 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Boot stampin’ good times with Sandpoint’s country star Coffee with the Candidate 10:30am-12:30pm @ Evans Brothers Coffee House Meet James Piotrowski, candidate for US Congress Idaho, District 1.

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs Cornhole Classic 1pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Winery 5:30-7:30pm @ Register at noon, first toss at 1 p.m. Three regulawith a 4” x 6” can- Idaho Pour Authority tion courts are set up for tossers to compete in a doubest, most beautiful Music + beer = good times ble-elimination tournament. $10 buy-in per team; all will be done from registration fees will be paid out as cash prizes and Scareywood at Silverwood Kally at 264-5696 MickDuff’s will match the pot up to $100 in gift cards 7pm-1am @ Silverwood “Thom Pain: Based on nothing by Will Eno” ” Show 7:30pm @ Evans Brothers Coffee House Harvest Dinner unty Fairgrounds He’s just like you, except worse. He is trying 4pm @ Oden Community Hall en to the public.

Join us for the annual Harvest Dinner. to save his life and your life (in that order). In Bring a potluck dish to share with ev- his quest for salvation, he’ll stop at nothing, be earl Theater eryone. There will be a silent auction, distracted by nothing, except maybe a piece of lint, or the woman in the second row. A free in Bonners Ferry as well as baked goods for sale performance (or pay what you can) o.

Music For Change - Tom Neilson In Concert • 7:30pm @ Di Luna’s Cafe Known as “The Jon Stewart of folk music,” Neilson is an award-winning singer and songwriter. Tom Neilson as part of the Music For Change event sponsored by 350Sandpoint.org and Wild Idaho Rising Tide. 263-0846 East Coast Swing w/ Diane Peters @ Sandpoint West Athletic Club ass begins at 7pm, level 2 begins at 8pm. 263-6633

l! A great moves you

Sandpoint Cyclocross and Team Autism 24/7 fundraiser 5-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority with Bale Breaker Brewing Company beer on tap from 5-8 p.m.

Raffle prizes, live music and complimentary appetizers

versation: With Suzy Prez Ivano’s Ristorante u ever thought about being on ? Suzy Prez from KRFY 88.5 be speaking about our Sandtion’s background and dedicaindependent, commercial-free gramming

Live Music w/ Jeffrey Martin and Little Wolf 7pm @ Loaf and Ladle A great night of music, featuring Portland-based folkster Jeffrey Martin and Sandpoint’s own Josh Hedlund and Justin Landis with Little Wolf. $10 at the door

pice of North Idaho Sip & Shop pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery % of all proceeds for the evening will onated to Hospice of North Idaho

Moon Pie and The Milky Way 7pm @ Sandpoint Library Family-friendly star-gazing fun with Sandy Nichols at the Sandpoint Library. Use a telescope to explore the solar system and galaxy and enjoy a moon pie snack

Oct. 15 HarvestFest @ Farmin Park Oct. 15 Queen B. Drag Halloween @ Eagles Lodge Oct. 15 Blaze and Kelly @ the Panida Little Theater Oct. 20 Perla Batalla’s House of Cohen @ Panida Theater

October 6, 2016 /

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

Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.

enter

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

-dozerDozer is my name. I’ve been described as goofy, which means I enjoy life.

Spending time with me will put you in a good mood. I’m not always so friendly with other dogs, but love cats!

Dozer is available for adoption at Panhandle Animal Shelter. He is a 4 year old terrier/American Staffordshire mix.

Interested in bringing Dozer home to join your family? Go to the PAS website (pasidaho.org) and click on the “Adopt Today” tab on the home page to search for animals. PAS is open 12 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Tuesday - Sunday. 208265-7297.

Panhandle Animal Shelter Ponderay

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In Norse mythology, Valhalla is a majestic, ornate hall located in Asgard, ruled over by the god Odin. Half of those who die in combat travel to Valhalla, led by Valkyries. Once in the fabled hall, the dead join the masses of those who have died in glorious combat.

I could not think of a more fitting name for Valhalla Provincial Park just outside of Nelson, British Columbia. Well, except for the whole dying part.

Living in a paradise like Sandpoint, we are usually targeted by out-of-towners for weekend getaways. But with such a high bar set, where do we Sandpointians go when we desire to get out of town? One favorite haunt is Nelson, just three hours north.

Our sister city, Nelson, resembles Sandpoint, but with a college and a little more cultural diversity and face piercings.

My girlfriend, Cadie, and I recently spent a three-day weekend in B.C. We spent one night in Nelson drinking expensive beer, then set out for a backpacking trip to Valhalla Provincial Park the next day. Little did we know we were going to be entering one of the most stunning expanses of the B.C. Selkirk Mountains.

At over 124,000 acres, the Valhalla is a treasure trove of outdoors opportunities. There are dozens of mountain lakes and cathedrals of mountains that seem to get better the further you travel into the heart of the park.

The scenery reminds me of a smaller version of Yosemite, complete with waterfalls, iconic granite domes and breathtaking skylines.

We elected to try the hike to Gwillam Lakes, which was advertised as the best bang for the buck to get you into the high ground quickly. To get to the trailhead, take BC-3A / BC-6 west of Nelson and follow it north to the Slocan Valley area. The drive is quite a haul—almost two hours of paved and unpaved roads culminating in a Jeep trail the last two miles that requires Subaru or above clearance. Don’t take your Honda Civic up here unless you like walking back to the States.

At the trailhead, there were lengths of chicken wire handy for people to protect their undercarriages from meddlesome porcupines, who have been known to nibble right through brake lines and tires. Nothing like coming back from a great hike and dying in a fiery crash over the hillside because your brake lines failed.

From the trailhead, we began our upward ascent toward Gwillim Lakes. The guidebook classified the trail as “easy.”

I’d like to meet these guidebook authors.

They probably resemble the Valkyries that lead fallen warriors to the halls of Valhalla. Not only did these trails go straight up from step one, there were a few talus slopes with medium boulders and a few ragged inclines that were not for the faint of heart.

From trailhead to our campsite—about six kilometers—the trail climbed an astonishing 3,800 vertical feet. That’s damn near three quarters of a mile straight up. I’d call the trail “moderate” at best. Wear a sweat band.

The first point of interest, after a tough hike up a talus slope is Drinnon Lake, about an hour into the hike. You can rest here and even camp, but the scenery gets much better.

Up and away from Drinnon Lake, we climbed Drinnon Pass with stunning views all around. At the top of the pass, we settled into a pleasant meadow with a dozen tent pads dotted along an unmarked lake we later found to be called Wicca Lake. There was a common kitchen area with a picnic table, grey water washing station and food storage box.

Though there were a handful of cars at the trailhead, we had the entire place to ourselves.

Instead of hiking further to our destination, Gwillam Lakes, we decided this was as good a place as any. We set up our tent, pumped some water and ate our backpacker meals as the afternoon turned golden. The elevation was the same as Schweitzer’s summit, so once the sun went behind the mountains, the temperature dropped off suddenly.

A variety of wildlife exists within the park, including grizzly and black bears, mountain goats, mule and whitetail deer, cougar, golden eagles and alpine ptarmigans. While we didn’t see much hiking in, after dark, we heard a lot of activity outside our tent. By a lot I mean a LOT of activity.

I like to think I’m a pretty tough guy when it comes to sleeping outdoors, but some of those footsteps we heard sounded pretty big. I mean REALLY big. That and I have an unorthodox fear of grizzly bears.

Maybe it’s because I watched that movie “Grizzly Man” one too many time.

Our food was stored safely in the bear box 100 yards away, but I still came awake at every bump in the night, yelling “HEY BEAR!” and cringing when something stomped off into the dark Valhalla night.

The worst part was that I couldn’t see anything, which allowed my imagination to run wild.

The next morning, I awoke glad to not be inside the stomach of a grizzly bear. We opened the tent and were greeted with drizzling rain. The peaks around us were covered

< con’t on next page >

the valhalla British Columbia’s premier backpacker’s paradise is just three hours away

< con’t from previous page > in a heavy dusting of fresh snow. A few degrees less, our tent would’ve been covered. Because we had our sights set on a soak at Ainsworths Hot Springs before driving home, we decided to forgo the final leg of the hike into Gwillam Lake and headed out. Sometimes it’s nice to save something for next time.

Once down the mountain, we stopped at the first gas station we saw to wash up and drink water that didn’t have to be filtered from the lake. The clerk asked if we had any trouble with bears, saying that they have been “bad lately.”

Later, passing through Nelson for lunch, I read in the newspaper that over 2,500 bear conflicts had been reported in the region over the past month. The article stated bears had been interacting with humans at an increased rate because they had endured a sparse summer and were fattening up for winter hibernation. Gulp.

“I’m glad we didn’t read that article before we headed up there,” said Cadie.

As the photos prove, the Valhalla is truly a gem of the Canadian Selkirks. We spent one night there, but I imagine you could spend weeks among the picturesque spires and cathedral rocks.

Just don’t forget your bear spray.

Top: The view of the majestic Selkirk Mountains in Valhalla Provincial Park, as seen from our campsite at Wicca Lake.

Bottom right: The chicken wire around vehicles protects hikers from porcupines nibbling away the rubber on your tires, brake lines and coolant hoses.

Middle: Cadie Archer hikes up the granite and talus slope leading to Drinnon Lake. All photos by Ben Olson.

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Moose Creek When a motto is more than just a saying Warming Hut Dedication Ceremony

By Kevin Davis, USFS Reader Contributor

By Reader Staff The Sandpoint Ranger District, in partnership with the National Forest Foundation, is inviting members of the public to attend the Moose Creek Warming Hut Dedication Ceremony at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8.

Carpooling from the Trestle Creek Snowmobile Parking Area to the dedication ceremony is encouraged. Those interested in carpooling should plan on meeting at the snowmobile parking lot between 1:30-2 p.m. To get the snowmobile parking area, from Sandpoint, take Hwy 200 east 14 miles to Trestle Creek Road 275, turn left onto Forest Service Road 275, and drive four miles to the snowmobile parking lot, located on both sides of the road.

Sandpoint Ranger District is celebrating the completion of this beautiful and well-constructed facility; designed and constructed with generous contributions from the National Forest Foundation, Idaho Forest Group, University of ldaho, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and the Winter Riders Snowmobile Club.

The National Forest Foundation helped catalyze the partnership along with support from the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation and the Idaho Panhandle Resource Advisory Committee.

The warming hut is located in the upper Lightning Creek drainage on Moose Creek Road. The hut is open for the public to use as a safe haven during a storm, a gathering place to meet friends or a base camp for search and rescue if needed.

“The warming hut is a testament to what can be achieved through partnerships,” said Karen DiBari, National Forest Foundation Director. “It is exciting that so many people and organizations contributed to making it a reality. The hut will be a resource to families recreating on their backyard national forest lands for years to come.”

The structure was built with Idaho wood products, and is a project of the National Forest Foundation’s Treasured Landscapes, Unforgettable Experiences partnership with the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Other work completed with this partnership includes new access to the Beetop-Roundtop Trail, native plant surveys, weed monitoring and treatments, culvert repair, and in-stream restoration of Lightning Creek.

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You may have heard the Forest Service motto: “Caring for the land and serving people.”

As a Forest Service employee at the Sandpoint Ranger District, I use this motto as a check and balance for my work on a weekly basis. It helps me keep this perspective: Is this an important project for the resource, and is it of value for the public? With regards to my job and main resource, water, I am continually concerned about maintaining water quality for domestic use, recreation, a properly functioning watershed and a healthy fishery.

Water itself is probably the most important natural resource we have.

Although it is largely self-regulating, human actions do pose a risk on the quality, supply and distribution of water.

In the National Forest, we use water in many ways. Some people have domestic water-use permits for their homes.

Irrigation of farm lands is a huge use of water, particularly in southern Idaho.

Idaho is a renowned state for rafting and boating with famous rivers and streams emanating from National Forest lands.

Good fishing is dependant upon good water quality, and good water quality comes from responsible land management. When the summer weather is hot, water in the form of a cool river or lake is always a valuable commodity.

The common thread between all these different uses is that those using the water all need it to be there, when they want it, and in sufficient quantities. This basic necessity is the overall mission of the Forest Service toward all resources on the National Forest; to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people.

To do this, the Forest Service not only has to serve the needs of the people but also serve the needs of forests, wildlife, and fish. This is a difficult balancing act with the pendulum often swinging radically from one side to the other. The vision is that the Forest Service can help states and communities wisely use the forests to promote rural economic development and a quality rural environment.

One place in North Idaho where the pendulum keeps swinging is Lightning Creek. Back in the day the pendulum swung heavily toward resource extraction and road building. A watershed study in 1989 found that these roads lead to increased mass failure which had a negative impact on the stream channel.

In 2000, the Sandpoint Ranger District set out a plan to address watershed issues.

Another watershed study in 2004 helped to lay out a restoration plan. Under the

Char Falls is one of the many beautiful destinations to be found up Lightning Creek. Photo by Kevin Davis.

National Forest Management Act, the Forest Service follows Best Management Practices for soil and water conservation as well as Inland Native Fish Strategy guidelines and standards under all action alternatives to insure that project activities are carried out in a manner so as to protect soil, watershed and fish resources.

Lightning Creek is now listed designated critical habitat for bull trout and core habitat for grizzly bears, and this requires certain protective measures. Thus, the Forest Service reduced the level of timber harvest. No timber sales have occurred nor have any new roads been built in the Lightning Creek watershed since about 1995, and problem sections of road have steadily been addressed.

Still, confounding the problem with achieving a balanced, multiple-use approach are the infamous and frequent Lightning Creek floods that wash out roads, destroy bridges and make the road system temporarily unusable to the public.

One recent flood last December washed out several portions of the main road and rendered two bridges and

numerous stream crossings unnavigable.

The larger flood events reveal the weak points in the road infrastructure, and when roads, culverts and bridges fail, it has a negative impact on water quality and fish habitat while limiting your access to public lands.

The Sandpoint Ranger District is working with Western Federal Lands Highways Division, the agency that issues flood repair dollars. There are some limitations with available emergency road repair funding but we’re hopeful that the construction will be completed by the end of next summer. The long term goal is to achieve a road network that is not a negative impact on water quality, stream function and fisheries and still provides public access.

Kevin Davis is a hydrologic technician with the U.S. Forest Service. He works all over Bonner and Boundary County on National Forest land doing watershed related projects involving culvert replacement, road maintenance and fish habitat improvement.

Remembering Arnie:

By Jim Ramsey Reader Contributor

The day I flew Arnold Palmer’s jet

Arnold Palmer, who passed away recently, was an American icon and a golfing legend. But he was also an accessible person who had movie star charisma but also played golf amazingly well.

He also loved to fly, earning his pilot’s license at an early age, and later flew his own private or business jet aircraft.

I first met Arnie while working for United Airlines as a public relations manager in Atlanta.

Palmer had been retained to serve as a spokesman for the company and agreed to serve as a goodwill ambassador on United’s inaugural flight from Cleveland to Miami, with civic and business leaders and local news media included on the flight.

Palmer agreed, but wanted his private LearJet—which he flew himself at times, accompanied by his professional pilot—to be in Florida when he got there, to be used for future flights. But while Bill, his pilot, could take the LearJet down to Florida, he needed another pilot (a co-pilot) to accompany him.

At a planning session at United’s Chicago headquarters, it was suggested that since I had flown in the Air Force, I could fly down to Florida as co-pilot on Arnie’s plane (I had a commercial pilot’s license at the time).

“I’ll be glad to do it if Palmer and his pilot agree,” I offered hopefully.

Next, I was on my way to

Got Wood?

New York City to meet up with Arnold and his pilot. Palmer used his LearJet to fly to and from golf matches from his Palmer Enterprises offices in Manhattan. His jet was kept at the Teterborough, N.J. airport.

Early the next morning, Arnold’s plane was on the tarmac, fueled and ready to go when we climbed in. I sat in back and Arnold in the pilot’s seat next to his co-pilot. Arnold was flying the plane from New York to Cleveland. After takeoff, the LearJet climbed like a jet fighter, and in a very short time we were through the overcast weather and in bright sunshine and blue sky.

After Arnold set his course for Cleveland and turned on the autopilot, Bill went back to make some coffee and invited me up to the cockpit to sit next to Arnold.

“Bill says you were an Air Force pilot,” Arnold said.

“Yes,” I answered, rather meekly, “the F-86.”

“I would have loved to have flown that plane,” Palmer told me.

We arrived in Cleveland an hour and a half later and were greeted by falling snow.

Arnold flew the initial approach, but his pilot took over the controls on the final ILS (instrument landing system) approach and for touchdown. After a perfect landing they taxied over to the airline passenger terminal.

After dropping Arnie off with the waiting group at United’s terminal, Bill taxiied the jet over to the business aviation side of the airport for refueling.

Arnold Palmer posing in his jet, circa 1960s. Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.

We taxied out and took off with me in the co-pilot’s seat.

When we reached cruising altitude of 45,000 feet (Bizjets normally fly at higher altitudes than commercial airliners) Bill said, “Go ahead and take it.”

I began flying the plane. It was such a light touch on the controls compared to a prop plane, I thought. It reminded me of flying the T-33 and F-86.

“You’re doing fine,” Palmer’s pilot told me.

We made a smooth approach and landing at the Ft. Lauderdale airport, and even before we

stopped, a limousine was beside the plane on the tarmac waiting to whisk me to the hotel where Arnold and the group were meeting. Arnold was greeting and talking with each member of the Cleveland delegation. After lunch, Arnold pointed out several of the nearby golf courses where they could play, and then he was off to practice for the Doral Open, one of the major tournaments of the day.

Before leaving in the waiting limo, Arnold came over to talk with me, asking how the flight had gone and how I liked his

LearJet. I could hardly believe I was standing alone and talking with Arnold Palmer.

Note: A few years earlier, on June 18, 1960, the day my wife Pat and I were married in Denver, Palmer won the U.S. Open at Cherry Hills Country Club, just a few miles away, with one of his patented “Arnie charges.”

It was the greatest comeback in U.S. Open history, erasing a seven-stroke deficit during the final round.

The annual firewood raffle has begun at Lake Pend Oreille High School. The event is sponsored by the senior class, and the proceeds go toward senior activities.

Tickets are $5 each or five tickets for $20. Tickets can be purchased in the Lake Pend Oreille High School office or from any of the seniors. There are two chances to win a cord of wood and the drawing will be near the end of November depending on weather Your support is appreciated. Photo courtesy of LPO High School.

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A plentiful harvest:

-A word from our market vendors-

Farmers’ Market celebrates the year-ending HarvestFest

By Cameron Barnes Reader Staff

If you need to stock up on storage or canning veggies, now is your last chance to get the best goods for your Ball jars.

Marking the end of the Farmers’ Market season, this upcoming HarvestFest is sure to please, just as it has for the past 28 years. From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15, an excellent harvest comes home with dozens of vendors set to sell their goods. What’s more, several raffles will hook lucky winners up with gift baskets containing vendor goodies.

“I do think that our market is getting busier and busier, it was really well attended this year,” said Emily Levine of Red Wheelbarrow Produce.

“I have seen it increase steadily for the last eight years that I have been involved.”

It doesn’t take much time talking with locals and vendors of the Farmers’ Market to conclude that they truly love the community institution.

If the sun is shining, all the better.

But even when rain clouds gather, there’s no dampening attendee enthusiasm. All sorts of rain-stopping and blocking devices are on hand, and market fans are ready to stick it out no matter what.

During this week’s Farmers’ Market, market customer Belinda Nolte was especially enthusiastic.

“I just started coming to the Farmers Market in September, but wish I’d been coming all summer long,” she said. “For me it’s helping the local people and not only that, I’m getting great product. You can’t buy vegetables that taste this good in the store.”

For many, their livelihood depends on selling their goods, and for others, it’s what allows them to put delicious and affordable food on the table every night.

Brian Taylor, who runs the bed and breakfast at Talus Rock Retreat, has lived in Sandpoint for four years.

He tries to make it to the Farmers’ Market as often as he can.

“For me, I garden myself, so I place a really high value on local food and the life that this market breathes into our community,” he said.

As the season wraps up, there’s an outstanding elephant in the room: the 20 /

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abortion abolitionists who focused their protests for roughly a full month on the market this year.

“It was a challenge, good and bad,” said Levine. “It made everybody think about peaceful solutions and showed that the city was behind us to help find solutions.”

Despite this unpredictable element, which threatened to seriously hurt seasonal sales across the board, many vendors still came out better than ever.

“During that time of the protesting, my sales went down, and that was unfortunate, since the rest of the time, my sales had increased over last year,” said Levine. “There were times that the protesting was so loud you could hardly do business, but the fact that my customers stood their ground, took it and shopped anyways was a beautiful thing.”

This year saw Patti Fulton take over as market manager. Regarding the protesters, Fulton said: “There was a lot of vocalization, not only in the paper but on site, and everyone got very excited about it ... We were just steadfast that we were going to calmly turn this around with the community’s help and the forces that be.”

Reflecting on her first year, Fulton said, “It took a step forward in the vibration and quality of the market.” .

“The Farmers’ Market is very vital,” she added. “It’s like a heartbeat of Sandpoint, and it brings together a positive group. ... We are real happy with how the season turned out.”

If you’re not able to make the HarvestFest, be sure to check out HolidayFest, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 12, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Forrest M. Bird Charter School. This event will be a nice and toasty indoor selection. On hand will be several popular vendors you’ve grown to love throughout the regular season.

Already looking to mark your calendar for the beginning of next year’s Farmers’ Market? You can count on a great upcoming season when the event returns to Farmin Park on the first Saturday of May 2017.

For more information, check out the Sandpoint Farmers’ Market Facebook page or wwwsandpointfarmersmarket.com

Bill Lamson - Squash and craft gourds: Years at the Farmers Market: 15, if her memory serves “I had an abnormal number of under-performing crops. Weather? Disease? Inattentive farming? Space aliens? I can never fully understand the ways of nature; still, the scientist in me wants to know. Gardening for me is, and always has been, an ongoing experiment. In spite of my failures, the sales this year will be close to average.”

Tianna Valiani - Cultured Solutions Kombucha: Years at the Farmers Market: one “As a first-year member I found the Farmers’ Market to be very welcoming! The Sandpoint community is so loyal to the vendors and appreciates all of our products. It was so exciting to see the same faces each week. I really got to know the regulars and connect with them by sharing what we love.”

Ron Kilgore - muskrat hill farm: Years at the Farmers Market: six “Sales have been increasing every year since we started. Every year is different. This year we had to deal with the aftermath of a very mild winter with unusually warm temperatures very early in the spring followed by a return to colder weather. The mild winter meant no winter kill for a lot of pests. They survived and were hungry and ready to go when things warmed up. The hot-cold cycle also caused early bolting in a lot of our crops.”

Opening hearts and minds

By Suzen Fiskin Reader Columnist It probably isn’t a news flash that the middle class is floundering. Between 2007 and 2010, the Federal Reserve concludes that the median American family lost 39 percent of their net worth. On the other hand, the net worth of the wealthiest families increased.

Government policies aimed to benefit we the people helped fuel the explosion of a robust middle class from 1947 to 1979. We truly were the land of opportunity as our economy flourished.

Back in the 1950s a man (the wife was usually at home with the kids) making minimum wage could pay his family’s rent with one week’s paycheck. The balance of their expenses could be handled in the next week to 10 days, leaving 20-25 percent of money earned to become savings and disposable income. Our country was more prosperous than ever!

In 1980, trickle-down economics that favor the wealthy launched the long swing of the pendulum so dramatically to the other side that the richest 20 Americans now have as much as money as HALF the population! This top-heavy income inequality has also stymied our national economic growth and ability to create new, well-paying jobs. We do best when we’re all doing well.

Between huge tax cuts to the wealthy, the consolidation of corporate power, the Citizens United sanctioning for the rich to throw untold riches at legislators who do their bidding and the globalization of cheap labor, the middle class has been cut off at the pass.

Now for some good news!

The internet is the greatest leveler of the economic playing field we’ve ever seen. A savvy and creative entrepreneur can compete with big business in ways unheard of in the past.

Traditional fundraising for

We the People, Money and Power

a new business is a process of jumping through hoops and giving away control and big chunks of your company each step along the way. It’s kind of a catch 22 where you have to have your act together enough in ways that only an influx of cash can provide before investors or banks will consider you.

It is not a system that supports the brainiac entrepreneur with a world-changing concept.

Crowdfunding is one of the biggest game changers in new business creation. Forbes magazine defines crowdfunding as, “the practice of funding a project or venture by raising many small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the internet.” Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama funded much of their campaigns in a similar way using social media.

The two biggest and wellknown websites that offer crowdfunding opportunities are Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

A business or individual can present his or her proposition, usually via a compelling video, to a global general public and offer rewards for the people who donate or invest in their business. The film “Veronica Mars” got funded with over $5 million from supporters. Numerous video gaming and software companies get seed capital for their projects. And many high tech companies like 3D printer maker Printrbot get a leg up.

Crowdfunding is skyrocketing. In 2013, the industry raised $6.1 billion dollars globally; in 2014 that jumped to $16 billion.

In 2015 numbers more than doubled again to $34.4 billion.

This weekend, our own homegrown tech company,

Solar Roadways, launched their first public installation of solar road tiles in Jeff Jones Square.

This was made possible, in large measure, by the company’s 2014 Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign during which they raised a whopping $2.27 million dollars through small donations from 165 countries. There are only 195 countries in the world.

Talk about an idea whose time has come!

Pebble Time, a company that makes computer-ish watches, set the record for the most money raised by crowdfunding in the least amount of time. They brought in $1 million dollars in a breathtaking 49 minutes! All told, they raised over $20 million for their product launch.

Every dollar we spend supports the recipient of that money. Are we doing business with heartless international conglomerates or with our neighbors? We the people can regain more control over our lives by supporting local businesses.

When we do business with local vendors rather than big box stores, we empower ourselves and the people of our community. The Farmers’ Market is a great example of how we can easily support our own.

We the people can change the world with the power of the purse. Buying locally and exploring ways to invest our money with new and innovative businesses that defy the same ol’, same ol’ status quo are a wonderful way to start!

Suzen Fiskin is a Happiness Coach, multi-media marketing wiz, and inspirational speaker.

She’s also the author of the book, “Playboy Mansion Memoirs.” If you have any questions or comments, here’s how to find her – (208)572-0009 or suzenfiskin@yahoo.com

NIMSEF: Helping local kids get on the mountain

By Reader Staff

A group of kids take to the slopes last year. Photo courtesy of NIMSEF. People come from all over to enjoy North Idaho’s worldclass outdoor activities. At the top of that long list is Schweitzer Mountain Resort. While tourists and those involved in the local ski industry clearly understand the joy that snow sports offer, many in the shadow of the mountain have no idea.

A large percentage of the children growing up with Schweitzer in their backyard never experience the joy and freedom the slopes provide. These kids, whose families are the hard-working backbone of the community, rarely experience what many of us take for granted.

Skiing/snowboarding is simply too expensive for many North Idaho families. Many local children go to school and hear their classmates recalling the great weekend they had on the mountain, and they yearn to experience such a fun sport.

This was illustrated by a fourth grade student who was given a free day of skiing and lessons and wrote a heartbreaking thank you note saying: “Thank you for the best day of my life. I probably won’t see any of you ever again. So goodbye.”

North Idaho Mountain Sports Education Fund, Inc. (NIMSEF) was founded to give children like this more than just one day on the mountain. NIMSEF is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and governed by a volunteer board of directors who receive zero compensation. Their expenses are minimal, allowing the majority of donations to directly benefit the children they sponsor.

NIMSEF exists to provide all

the children of our community an opportunity to participate in skiing/snowboarding. The program not only teaches skiing/ snowboarding, but engages the children, allowing them to work for a portion of their tuition and participate in fundraising. We believe this not only provides the child with a lifelong activity, but it gives the child a sense of belonging, accomplishment and pride. All of this can help children do better in school, stay off drugs and develop a good work ethic.

Schweitzer has graciously agreed to work with NIMSEF and set up a program—at greatly reduced tuition—that will enroll scholarship students in an eightweek, all-day lessons program. All children aged 7-17 who qualify based on economic need and live in Bonner and Boundary counties can receive a season pass, bus pass and equipment rental and the lesson program via Schweitzer and NIMSEF. This all-day program takes place on either Saturday or Sunday, but the pass and equipment rental are valid all season.

Any donations you wish to give to this worthy cause are greatly appreciated and will help North Idaho children realize the dream of being a part of something special. If you have any questions or would like to get involved in the program as a corporate partner, please contact NIMSEF president Jeff Rouleau: nimsef@gmail.com Donations can be sent to: NIMSEF P.O. Box 170 Ponderay, ID 83852 October 6, 2016 /

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The Straight Poop:

The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist

Where am I taking my humans today?

I’ve never understood why the Missus won’t leave the house without the leash. I think she’s afraid of getting lost. But it’s OK. I kind of like showing her around. The holidays will be here before you know it, so I’m sniffing out a paws-up place that will help the Mister and Missus focus on their businesses and cope with the magical season ahead.

So here are some ruff sketch clues: 1. These guys have to rent U-Hauls to get things out of there during the holidays.

2. The folks who work there are massive multi-taskers, and they love their four-footed customers.

3. This place can raise the woof on your business.

4. They offer miles and miles (not airline) of tape and bubble wrap (pop pop!).

5. This business offers curb service.

Go fetch! Got it! Bring it to the UPS Store, owned by Joy and Brett Bachelor, located at 217 Cedar St. Jaime Meichtry and Mindy Berry, vibrant retail associates welcome us with their exuberant smiles. Jaime is celebarking her birthday today and is all decked out.

(Note to self—ask to borrow the accessories she is wearing for my Halloween costume).

Jaime is helping a customer send a package to Cheese Lane in Hamburg (Pennsylvania, that is). Did someone mention cheese? I’m waiting, waiting,

Advertise here and reach 4,500+ people for only

$60

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waiting for it, and all I see are yards and yards of bubble wrap and tape. Jaime, where did you hide my cheese?

The fun continues as these two greet incoming customers by name and fetch mail from their personal mailboxes before they even get to the counter. There are 415 mailboxes here and each comes a “real address.” Now that’s what I call barking personalized service right in town!

The UPS store has resources to create newsletters, letterhead, raffle tickets, training manuals (the Missus knows all about this one) and more. They even have a community bulletin board, notary and faxing services. Who has a fax machine nowadays? Wonder if they have the Reader paw print logo for my new world-renowned dog columnist business cards?

I especially like this place because they do the work which enables the Mister and Missus to have more time to take me on walks! And they offer complimentary packing tape for any package!

Now for the Wowza: The UPS Store offers the “Pack and ship guarantee.”

Jaime tells us that when she packs and ships items using materials from the UPS Store, they cover the cost of packing and shipping plus the value of items if they are lost or damaged. She wraps gifts like they were her own. Now I can finally spend a relaxing dog day afternoon knowing that my fragile holiday

Drake, center, pals around with Jaime Meichtry, left, and Mindy Berry, right, at the UPS Store in Sandpoint. gift that I’m sending to my BFF RoRo in Houston will arrive in one piece. It’s such fun watching Jaime find just the right box, wrap it with ribbons of bubble wrap, throw in peanuts, double and triple tape it and collect my paw print to sign. Get the money, honey, and we’re

FIDDLIN’ RED Crossword Solution Music Store

Instruments Repairs Lessons

111 Church St., Spt, ID (208)946-6733 WWW.FIDDLINREDSIMPSON.COM

off to the trail!

During the holidays it’s not uncommon for the team to pack and ship over 200 packages a day. With this massive volume, they rent U-Hauls to transport the precious cargo.

I asked the gals what were the most challenging things they packed and sent using the UPS pack and ship guarantee.

They said a 120-pound bronze statue and a four-point deer mount topped the list. Both packages arrived to their destinations safely. Bubble wrap costume, here I come!

UPS Rules: 1. Leave your doggie package outside.

2. Do not snack on the peanuts. Trust me on this one.

3. Bring your smile, good manners, and a treat for the gals!

STAGE & SCREEN

Free “Thom Pain” play at Evans Brothers

By Ben Olson and Brady Lorio Reader Staff and Contributor

We’ve all suffered in life. Some more notably (and loudly) than others.

How appropriate that acclaimed playwright Will Eno’s notable one-man play “Thom Pain (based on nothing)” has been brought to our hamlet here in North Idaho.

The show will take place on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Evans Brothers Coffee House. Though the show is free, any donations provided will feed a starving artist or two. The play contains mature content, so leave the kiddos at home.

Eno’s “Thom Pain (based on nothing)” debuted in 2004 and features a rambling monologue by a suffering protagonist who caroms between stories of bee stings, dead dogs and sordid experiences with women.

Ten years after its initial production, Lyn Gardner of the Guardian wrote, “It’s still one of the best monologues I’ve ever seen.”

The play stars Mason Clark and is directed and produced by Hunter Price of the Pop Up Theatre Co. Below, Price recently spoke with Bradly Lorio about the anticipated production: Why are you bringing this show to Sandpoint?

I am so excited to bring this amazing Will Eno script to Sandpoint. This is a play that my friend, Mason Clark, and I have created. This town is where I got my start as a theater artist. I was deeply involved in the SHS theater department as well as many shows around town. I learned so much in my time there. The reason I want to bring this play to Sandpoint is to pay back the community that gave me so much and nurtures artists so well.

What should people expect Saturday night?

A lot. Charcoal drawings. Lights.

Sound. An actor and a story. Words that use a vast expanse of the current lexicon (some strong language) … oh, also a little fear (in a healthy way). I think each person who sees the show has a very idiosyncratic experience. I don’t want to diminish that by prescribing what I think the audience should experience. You will feel what

you feel. Hopefully we made a space that allows you to expand and observe your worldview.

This is a very complex play. I have read very few plays that capture the human experience in its totality quite like this one. It has humor, deep sadness (sometimes at the same time), heartbreak, love, lust, loss, anguish, childhood, growing up, and the tremendous struggle that is being as the playwright, Will Eno so beautifully writes, “a feeling thing in a human body.” To give you an idea about the playwright, he is described as the Becket of the Jon Stewart era. That being said, this will probably be like no play you have ever seen. It’s a one-man show that covers a lot of ground. So come ready to get in contact with some strangeness.

just make art.

Check out the free show at Evans Brothers Coffee House on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

What do you hope to accomplish with this play?

Words are not the only way to tell a story. You don’t need a big budget to make a piece of art. You shouldn’t have to pay for culture. Strangeness is a fun, exciting, valuable thing to come into contact with. Also I hope to lead by example to all young artist out there to

Auditions held for ‘Christmas Carole’

Oct. 6 @ 7:30pm | 8th @ 3:30 & 7:30pm | 9th @ 3:30pm

“snowden”

Friday, Oct. 7 @ 7:30pm

Banff Radical Reels film festival

By Reader Staff It’s hard to believe, but winter is looming ahead. One highlight this holiday season should be a musical presentation of “The Christmas Carole: Based on Dickens’ Classic Tale” at the Panida Theater’s main stage.

The musical’s production are holding auditions for various parts to cast in the musical. The parts needed are for townspeople who can sing. There are also roles involving minor dancing.

Auditions will be held Wednesday, Oct. 12, from 6-8 p.m. at the Panida Little Theater. All vocal areas are needed for both males and females aged 16 and over.

For more information, email caroleauditions@mail.com. No preparation is needed to audition, but it is very helpful to email to set up a time. Drop-ins are also welcomed.

saturday, Oct. 15 @ 7:30pm

little theater

songwriter’s circle presents

blaze and kelly in the little theater thursday, Oct. 20

Perla Batalla's “House of Cohen” Oct. 28, 29 & 31 @ 7:30pm

monster movie madness!

little Come if you Dare! something different happening each night. h t eater $5 Treat ticket admission. costumes welcomed.

Oct. 28 & 29 @ 7:30pm

MURDER MYSTERY DINNER THEATRE

Did you ever wonder how there came to be a ghost in the balcony?

You are a guest and suspect!

save the date: golden era of hollywood Nov. 19 October 6, 2016 /

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This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

READ

I love true crime, and I love historical novels. I just finished reading a book that is both: “The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America,” by Erik Larson.

“White City” is the true tale of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and the cunning serial killer H. H. Holmes who used the fair to lure his victims to their deaths.

Holmes even designed and built a hotel primarily with murder in mind.

Though he only confessed to killing 27, his actual body count might’ve been closer to 200 people.

LISTEN

I’ve been trying to listen to more current music lately. It hasn’t been going very well, I admit, but there are a few albums and artists that leak through the firewall of douchery.

Car Seat Headrest is a band that started in Virginia, but is now based out of Seattle. They self-released 12 albums on Bandcamp between 2010 and 2013 before being picked up by Matador and releasing two more albums in 2015-16.

Their latest, “Teens of Denial,” shows their prowess as indie rockers who can release lo-fi pop with a high concept sound.

WATCH Michael Chabon is an author whose works I’ve admired over the years. When his book “Wonder Boys” was made into a film by the same name in 2000, I was excited to check it out.

The film, directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Michael Douglas, Robert Downey Jr. , Frances McDormand and Tobey Maguire didn’t impress in the box office, but the critics loved it.

“Wonder Boys” is set on a college campus, as Douglas’ character Grady slowly unravels while writing a novel that won’t end. Each actor portrays Chabon’s characters to a tee, making this film a pleasure to watch.

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MUSIC

Look out, it’s the Flying Mammals!

By Cameron Barnes Reader Staff

Hometown hero band Flying Mammals is certainly on the up-and-up with their soonto-be-released album “Vier.”

Meaning the number four in German, this album title marks the band’s fourth release. But it also commemorates the addition of Jeremy Birdsall, bringing the crew’s total to four mammal siblings.

Founded in 2010, the Flying Mammals have a comparable sound to “Imagine Dragons, Muse, The Killers, Incubus and the Red Hot Chili Peppers,” according to Reverbnation.com.

The original power trio— Aaron, Andy and James Birdsall—have showcased their talents across North America including venues such as the House Of Blues in Hollywood, The Knitting Factory in New York and festivals from Orlando to Anchorage.

“Sandpoint seemed to be the last family home we had growing up,” said lead vocalist Aaron Birdsall, who graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1999. With his eight siblings of widely varying ages, he also grew up in Seattle and Chicago as the family moved around over the years.

With Jeremy joining up, you could call it a reverse-Jonas Brother effect. According to Aaron that’s nothing out of the ordinary for his childhood.

“It was normal in our house that somebody was randomly sitting down and playing the piano, and it was normal for someone to jump on the bench next to them and start playing or singing along with whatever they were doing,” he said. “…

I didn’t know that was weird until I got into college.”

Throwing new talent into the mix will certainly make future live performances more dynamic for the band’s sound.

It will also help with instrument efficiency on stage.

“The addition of the fourth member is going to allow us to do a lot interesting things, live

especially,” said Aaron.

“At any given time, I could not have to play an instrument and just sing. Or we could have two members on drums and Andy could jump out and sing. ... So it lets us move around more and play more instruments. ... Jeremy plays some instruments that we don’t, like the sitar, banjo bass and Chapman Stick ... it just finally came down to the point that it was time.”

Maybe the most exciting development for the band is their partnership with Sylvia Massy, a big name in the music industry. She’s a world-renowned platinum producer and Grammy-winning engineer who has worked with the likes of Prince, Tool, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, The Black Crows and the Beastie Boys during her extensive career.

The Mammals had just released their third album when they received the email from Massy saying she really liked their stuff and wanted to work together. Over the past three years, 70 or so new songs will now be narrowed down to around 12 to 15 for an album.

Collaboration with Massy is set for November at the Caste Rohrsdorf in Dresden, Germany, which has become a Mecca for artists to record. Built in the 14th century, this castle has everything a person could want: a bar, hotel services, sprawling gardens and more. According to the Castle Rohrsdorf website, the property offers musicians and artists “a unique location in which to record, write, stay and create. With its exceptional historic location, this property will be uniquely

The Flying Mammals, from left to right: Andy Birdsall, James Birdsall and Aaron Birdsall. Courtesy photo. positioned as a experience destination for artists from across Europe and North America.”

It’s a musician’s dream recording studio containing everything from high end equipment to the nostalgic analogue gear everyone loves.

“It’s the most out of the blue, crazy awesome thing,” Aaron said of the recording opportunity. “It’s like telling a kid they get an extra birthday this year, and all their best friends are going to be there, and the one friend that died of

small pox is coming back to life and actually going to be at this party.”

The band has a crowd funding campaign on IndieGoGo.com where pre-release copies of “Vier” are available for purchase along with other limited edition items related to the album.

For more info on the Flying Mammals you can check them out at Facebook.com/FlyingMammals or visit their website, www.FlyingMammalsBand. com

Di Luna’s show to benefit climate change organizations

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Di Luna’s Café will host an event this weekend benefiting two local organizations committed to confronting the issue of climate change.

Folk singer Tom Neilson will play a special show on Sunday, Oct. 9, with proceeds benefiting Wild Idaho Rising Tide and Sandpoint 350.org.

The doors open for dinner at 5:30 p.m., and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Dinner will be served starting at 5:30 p.m.

Neilson is a satire and social commentary musician who has been hailed as “The Jon Stewart of Folk Music.”

He is the winner of the 2009 Kerrville Folk Festival and has received the award for IMA Song of the Year for 2011 and 2015. An avid spokesman and activist, Neilson often does residencies in high schools and colleges focused on musical theater, songwriting and social justice themes.

Suggested donation is $10 if purchased in advance, or $12 the day of the show.

w o N & Then es

ameron Barn

C compiled by

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

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

This is an old postcard looking north on First Avenue, taken south of Pine Street. To the lower left of frame was the Mint Saloon, the building behind held Bonner Meat Co., and the building on right was Pend d’Oreille Review Newspaper.

1915

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

CROSSWORD ACROSS

The same view today. On the left, in the old meat packing building, is the ASAP Tax Service. On the right, Sand Creek Inn building once housed La Rosa Club.

2016

Woorf tdhe Week

dabster

/DAB-ster/

[noun] 1. Slang. an expert.

“When it comes to pulling this newspaper together at the last minute, we are certainly dabsters here at the Reader.”

Corrections: Last week I accidentally listed the Farmers’ Market occurring on Friday. It was supposed to be Saturday. I also ran the same sudoku two weeks in a row. In the words of Homer Simpson: “D’oh!” -BO

1. Analogous 5. Expletive 10. Breezed through 14. Carryall 15. Come together 16. Fizzy drink 17. Agitated 19. Prompted 20. French for “Water” 21. Not earlier 22. Ringworm cassia 23. Spits 25. Legumes 27. How old you are 28. Lodgers 31. Knowledgeable 34. Somewhat 35. Not high 36. Not we 37. Be in a rush 38. South American weapon 39. Charged particle 40. Plank 41. Muscular 42. Pleasing visual images 44. Pull 45. Part of a stair 46. Bouquet 50. Advances (money) 52. Not cool 54. Put clothing on 55. Blind (poker) 56. Party pooper 58. Bit of gossip 59. Drink garnish

Solution on page 22 60. Desire 61. Musical finale 62. Type of cap 63. Ale

11. Attorney 12. Biblical garden 13. 20th-century art movement 18. Mournful poem DOWN 22. Indian dress 1. Pains 24. Not straight 2. Canoe 26. Not difficult 3. Put out 28. Covered with 4. Mesh protective barbs 5. Neuromuscular 29. Somersault blocking agent 30. Go to and fro 6. Pieces 31. Anagram of “Ties” 7. Type of cereal grass 32. Greeting at sea 8. The right side of a ship 33. Revered 9. Snake-like fish 34. Increase fourfold 10. Go up 37. Sharpen

38. Insects 40. Low in pitch 41. Belches 43. Movie house 44. Commode 46. A herb 47. Love intensely 48. A deep ravine 49. Go in 50. Nonclerical 51. Savvy about 53. French for “Black” 56. Weep 57. Tavern

I don’t advocate that children start smoking.

But for those kids who already do smoke, boy, it’s good, isn’t it?

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Meet Rosie,

Sandpoint’s first Ambassadog!

By Reader Staff

After a tough decision by the celebrity judges at last week’s Yappy Hour, Sandpoint has its official Ambassadog. She’s a blue heeler mix and former shelter dog named Rosie, owned by Lindsey Simler. The event was a fundraiser for Panhandle Animal Shelter co-sponsored by Visit Sandpoint, Idaho.

Mandy Evans, executive director of the Panhandle Animal Shelter, recently praised the Ambassadog contest and canine participants.

“All the dogs were fantastic and a wonderful representation of Sandpoint,” Evans said. “Our winner, Rosie, displayed all the essential qualities for an ambassador such as shaking hands, kissing babies and being an exceptional listener!”

Rosie was chosen as the culmination of a summer-long nominating contest in which 59 dogs were entered. As part of the contest people could “buy” votes for their favorites to improve their chances in the drawing to be a finalist and appear before a panel of judges. All told, the contest raised more than $2,400 for the shelter.

Kate McAlister, executive director of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, concurs on the success of the contest and the eventual winner: “It was so much fun. I loved the dogs and Rosie has definitely set the bar.”

Now that Rosie has been selected, her community “Ambassadog” work begins.

“First, we will arrange a photo shoot and get her lined up with a seamstress for an official Sandpoint Ambassadog vest,” said Evans.

Following will be meetings and events for her to attend.

“It should be a busy and fun year for our first Ambassadog,” said Evans.

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In the coveted role of Ambassadog, Rosie will help Visit Sandpoint represent the spirit of this beautiful town. The winner also landed a prize of a two-night getaway at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch plus a gift basket with certificates and goods from Trinity at City Beach, Ezy Dog, Winter Ridge Natural Foods Market, Pend d’Oreille Winery, Lake Pend Oreille Cruises and Keokee Books.

Rosie’s owner, Simler, is proud of her dog’s accomplishment: “This pooch is nothing short of a mighty dog,” Simler said. And the love comes full circle for Rosie, a rescue from the animal shelter. “I adopted her, she rescued me, and we have been inseparable ever since.”

View more about the contest and Rosie at www.SandpointAmbassadog.com.

A special pup: Lindsey Simler holds Rosie up to her adoring fans after the blue heeler mix was named Sandpoint’s first Ambassadog last week. Photo

by Chris Bessler.

READER support an informed community

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•4,500 copies printed weekly •250+ locations delivered, including: Sandpoint, Sagle, Ponderay, Priest River, Newport, Bonners Ferry, Hope and Clark Fork •100% locally owned and operated

Paid for by candidate Stephen F. Howlett, Treasurer

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Pre-game with Bob Witte and Chris Chatburn at 6:40pm

Elect Ken Meyers STATE SENATE District 7

In 2007, the United States experienced the Great Recession. Idaho’s economic recovery has been led by a Republican controlled Legislature. For Idahoans this has not worked well. Other states are economically recovering much faster and have made significantly more progress. If we are to get better faster we need a change in Boise.

I wish to live in an Idaho where our government is: more effective; (Idaho should not need a Constitutional Defense fund to defend unconstitutional laws passed by the Republican legislature); is responsive to the majority of its citizens who recognize the economic benefits of increasing the minimum wage and closing the Medicaid gap; funds education so our children, whether they live in an urban or rural setting, are properly educated for success; supports a strong economy that has a thriving middle class; has a natural resource policy that provides recreational and economic opportunities while protecting this legacy for future generations; is serious about mental health care; and believes that global warming is real and that man is a significant contributor.

If you share this vision for a better Idaho vote for Ken Meyers.

Paid for by the Vote Ken Meyers Campaign, Treasurer Ron Beitelspacher October 6, 2016 /

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