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(wo)MAN

Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by

What is your favorite bar in North Idaho?

“The Cabinet Mountain because I grew up in Clark Fork and grew up in that bar.”

Tara Higgins Manager/The Cove Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

In this issue, we’ve dedicated a bit of space to the bar. Whether you drink or not, bars have traditionally been an altar of sorts for us hardy folks in North Idaho.

They are places for coffee and conversation in the morning, meeting places for after work ales and playgrounds at night. I wonder how many romances have begun (and ended) after a night of drinking downtown.

I spent a good amount of my 20s hanging out in bars, and now that I’m in a band, I find myself back in those familiar smoky corners again.

In order to do a proper bar issue, Cameron and I figured it was only natural for us to hit the bars for a pub crawl, taking diligent notes along the way of course. It began as a simple task and ended with the usual drunken results.

One thing we have to remember next time is not to do a pub crawl the night before we have to put the paper out. Deadline day is hard enough on us without having to battle with raging hangovers.

Hope you enjoy this issue... we enjoyed it until the wee last drop.

-Ben Olson, Publisher “The Nashville North in Stateline, Idaho, because it’s the only real honky tonk we have. It’s the newest, biggest and best. They get artists from Austin and Nashville and from all over.”

Libby Knott Stay-at-home mom Sandpoint

“I like Kootenai River Brewing Company in Bonners Ferry. I don’t think there’s enough Hefe(wizen) options around here though.”

Kristin Steinbrink Pharmacy Tech Sandpoint

Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover), Susan Drinkard, Dave Menke, Carol Wilburn, Daniel Cape, Marcia Pilgeram.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Louie de Palma, Shane Sater, Susan Drinkard, Chris Balboni, Marcia Pilgeram.

Subscription Price: $75 per year Advertising: Jen Landis jen@sandpointreader.com Clint Nicholson clint@keokee.com

Kaitlyn Murray Caregiver Sandpoint

“A & P (Bar and Grill) because we know everyone there and the DJs are good. I like their rum and Cokes and their 7 & 7.”

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

“The 219, because the staff is friendly and it’s a safe place. My boyfriend and I enjoy the karaoke on Tuesday nights.”

Anthony Heer V.I.P. Security Sagle

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

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

John Breckenridge Spiderman Sandpoint

“My favorite bar in North Idaho is Sweet Lou’s. They support animal rights. Actually, I don’t drink and have been clean and sober for three years, but we like to go there because the burgers are phenomenal.”

READER

LIVE MUSIC

Ev ery turday Friday & Sa summer

u gh N ight t hro Beer Hall e @ th Friday. September 18 @ 6pm

HAROLD’S IGA

Saturday. September 19 @ 6:30pm

JACOB CUMMINGS

Saturday. September 25 @ 6:30pm

JOSH HEDLUND

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

255-4351

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 500 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 designed by Ben Olson, who is curious if there are any hangover remedies that anyone might know of out there.

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COMMENTARY

Thinking outside the box

By Louie de Palma Reader Staff Thinking outside the box is generally perceived as something to strive for whenever confronted with a problem that lies within said box. The thing is, it often takes a triangle to decipher exactly where the parameters of the box lie.

My point is that sometimes it’s hard to tell if your original thought is inside a box at all. In the last week alone, I’ve been regaled by customers’ thoughts that have left me wondering what box I’ve been in, what box they’ve been in, what’s been inside and what’s out.

Let’s warm up to this thought exercise with one of our common scenarios: I’m driving a drunk man, who explains to me how he got his first DUI. Usually the stories are similar: a cut-and-dry case of the driver’s overconfidence, sprinkled with a bit of infraction skepticism and ending with blowing barely over the limit. We all know that story. This outsidethe-box-thinker, though, had a much different reason for driving that fateful day. This is what he slurred to me: “I wouldn’t have driven, except for the night before, I fell on my face trying to walk and scabbed it and my elbow all up.

I didn’t want to fall over again.

So I drove.”

This logic may seem shoddy at first. It did to me as well, and apparently the judge felt the same way. Upon further pondering, however, I found this abstract thinker’s thoughts to be nothing short of flawless.

Based on the evidence provided, walking led to injury, so he 4 /

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selected a different method of getting home. Driving is basically sitting—the opposite of walking—and therefore completely safe. This man is a revolutionary, inspiring thinker.

Now that we’ve had a dose of the normal stuff, let’s expand our minds further with ghosts.

I’ve lived my whole life under the impression that activity from the paranormal existed mainly due to some murder mystery leaving spirits disgruntled. Wrong. As a certain lady explained to me, heightened ghost activity is created when one smudges counter-clockwise rather than clockwise. It seems so obvious now.

For those of you who don’t know, smudging is the practice of burning dried bushes, a ritual racially appropriated by mostly Caucasian women from Native American culture and used to ward off primarily Caucasian spirits. I could not find any information on proper smudging technique, except to start from the farthest room and work your way out so a tricksy ghost doesn’t slip past you.

In light of this new evidence discovered by my dear passenger, we now know this is not only wrong but potentially dangerous. For centuries, white ladies have been improperly smudging by not going clockwise, and they have been summoning ghosts rather than banishing them. For all we know, ill-informed white ladies have been inviting evil spirits into our world for decades. It’s time we stop the madness . No longer should we allow dried

bushes to be sold willy-nilly at every health food store and farmers market. It’s dangerous.

One wrong rotation and boom: evil spirits! Sage and other hazardous ghost-summoning paraphernalia should require the same strict background checks as firearms. Alternatively, leave the ghost banishing to the native peoples that know what they are doing.

Lastly, I talked to a man who had an interesting spin on coyotes. He was from New Jersey, which apparently has a pesky and large coyote population that is not only difficult to manage but not native to the state.

Now, my older gentleman passenger on the surface seemed to be just that: an older gentleman passenger. However, he turned out to be quite the detective. He didn’t merely think, “Gee, sure are a lot of coyotes.” He wanted to know why. So Old Gentleman (we’ll call him OG), called Fish and Game and was like: “Hey, why are there so many coyotes in an unnatural environment?”

And they were like: “We didn’t put them here.”

So OG thought long and hard. He came to the conclusion that the car insurance companies had planted them there, knowing they would flourish and devastate the deer population. Why? Because hitting a coyote does a lot less damage to the many cars in New Jersey than hitting a deer. Fewer deer equals fewer

payouts for car collisions. Our man OG unearthed one howling conspiracy.

These are my favorite outside-the-box ideas from customers. I wish I had more time to divulge other outlandish notions from passengers such as blowing up forest fires with fighter jets and loose interpretation of groceries that seem to include lottery tickets. But alas, I must get back to driving and discussing theories on the road. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s got to do it. After all, if no one is reinventing the wheel, we might all be just dragging boxes.

We get what we pay for...

Dear Editor, Regarding Heather Scott and her Confederate flag, either she is very unaware of the meaning of that flag, or she is very racist.

Yes, she can claim that her actions are a freedom of speech issue. Obviously she is is ignorant of the fact that the Confederate flag is basically the same as the Nazi flag, and has the same basic meaning. But I shouldn’t be complaining. We elected her to continue the North Idaho legacy of racism. We get what we pay for.

Marty Stitsel Sandpoint

PERSPECTIVES In search of anurans

By Shane Sater Reader Contributor

Near the muddy fringe of a mountain lake, a Columbia spotted frog glides silently from its invisible hiding place on the bottom. It floats half-submerged, its long legs trailing behind. I stand motionless in the shallow water, watching it closely.

I’m a student field naturalist in my second year of independent study, learning about ecology and all the life around me. I’ve seen frogs and toads before, but I’ve never paid them much attention. My studies have broadened my awareness, and learning how to identify amphibians has spurred my curiosity. And so, I am stalking frogs, hoping to learn more.

There’s excitement and mystery for me in the search, not knowing what I will find. One native species, the northern leopard frog, has inexplicably disappeared. It’s unlikely that any still survive here, but I’m keeping my eyes open.

At the mountain lake, I find several Columbia spotted frogs and over 20 yearling western toads. This beginning inspires me, and I’m eager to continue searching.

Now, a week later, I’m wading barefoot up a lowland stream, following its meanders.

The sun is hot, but a strong gust of wind pushes against the alders and they rustle loudly, leaves flashing reflected sunlight. As I wade slowly through the cold, knee-deep water, three small brook trout swim rapidly upstream, then turn and dart by me. A small orange butterfly lands on the forget-me-not along the bank. I edge closer, raise my binoculars, and see bright orange wings, patterned sharply with black.

As I move on, the bank becomes a gentle, muddy slope, speckled with deer tracks and bordered by blooming forgetme-not and buttercup. The sunbathed mud is warm to my toes as I stoop, looking for fainter tracks. Suddenly, there’s a brownish blur as a small frog leaps into the water an arm’s length away, swims in a rapid zigzag along the bottom and disappears. I wade quietly to where I think it’s hiding, watching intently. Something moves in the shadow of a half-buried branch—an inch-long caddisfly larva, waving black appendages from its pebble case. The frog has eluded me, but now I’m on the lookout.

A few yards upstream, I step carefully over a fallen alder. As I straddle it, another frog leaps into the water from the sunny

A Yellow-Rumped Warbler. Photo by Dave Menke, USFWS

bank ahead and vanishes in the ripples. I judge that one impossible to find, and sit down in the shade. Ahead, the water talks constantly in a riffle, its voice blending with that of the wind. A male yellow-rumped warbler, in his bright breeding plumage of black, white, and yellow, lands near me on the alder. He flits from perch to perch, and I wonder if he’ll drink from the stream. Instead he flies on, low over the dense grasses bordering the creek.

I continue upstream, carefully feeling the slippery cobbles of the riffle, almost invisible under the whitish froth of sun-painted wavelets. Redosier dogwood hangs low over the stream here in dappled shade, its green fruits swelling where a month ago white flower clusters were. Ducking under a large spiderweb, I see a solid mass ahead, spanning the narrow stream—a beaver dam!

When I was last here, two years ago, the dam was not.

Eager to explore the changes, I climb up on the dam, which is over four feet high and 25 feet long. Pollen is floating in the water behind it, forming parallel ridges like strata of rocks. A pale yellow butterfly appears and lands on a grass stem. Three cedar waxwings fly rapidly past, flashing yellow tailtips. Looking in the direction they went, I see a channel leading off through the deep silt of the pond. The slow water should make it easy to follow frogs, right? Just as I step across a beaver-dropped alder, a frog leaps from the muddy bank and swims upstream into a tangle of grasses along the shore, leaving nothing but a cloud of suspended murk behind it. I sit on the alder, hoping it will re-emerge.

By the time I glimpse a dragonfly patrolling low over the mudflat ahead of me, I’m getting impatient. I decide to wait a bit longer and contemplate the

fallen but living tree I’m perched on. Its upper branches, resting on a muddy hummock, are sprouting new growth. Unexpectedly, I detect the shape of a frog, sitting patiently on the mud nearby. I’m barely far enough away to focus my binoculars on its mud-colored back, speckled with irregular black splotches.

It’s a Columbia spotted frog, and I’m grateful to see it. It must be very aware of me, but it sits completely still. I contemplate trying to catch it for a closer look, but decide to leave it undisturbed.

I continue along the pond’s edge, skirting the deep midstream water. There’s no sign of a beaver lodge—are they denning in the bank? I respectfully pass a tangle of stinging nettle, mingled with the dense grasses. Beyond it is a vigorous patch of cow parsnip, its cauliflower-sized white flower umbels towering above huge, rhubarb-like leaves. So far, I’ve inadvertently startled two more frogs, which have disappeared with ease. Now I scare another, which swims into the shadow of an alder and floats there, well camouflaged among dead leaves held in an eddy. With binoculars, I confirm it’s another spotted frog.

I look around me for several minutes, enjoying the peacefulness of this place. When I glance back at the water’s edge, the frog has departed silently, slipping back into the vast, hid-

den world of the pond.

Dinner is calling. Following my tracks back downstream, I ponder the water’s murky bluebrown depths, wondering at all the life surrounding me. At times I feel intimidated by so much that is unknown. Mostly, though, I am awed and inspired by the beauty, complexity and mystery of the natural world.

The frogs, the waxwings, and the alders offer me infinite, endless teachings, if only I choose to slow down and listen.

Shane Sater. Photo by Carol Wilburn.

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NEWS

2015 fire season biggest since 1926

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Though the 2015 fire season is hardly over, the cool weather and precipitation of late has given us reason to breathe a little easier. The smoky skies are now a thing of the past. Fire danger ratings in the “extreme” category have been downgraded to lower levels. Soon, there will be nothing left but a blanket of snow to put the seal on this taxing season.

It’s hard to give comprehensive statistics on fires that have burned in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, says Jason Kirchner, public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service. There are still active fires burning, and most of the costs have not been computed yet.

To date, there have been 302 fires reported in 2015 in the Idaho Panhandle NF. Of those 302 fires, only 16 were human-caused. The rest were either caused by lightning or other forces of nature.

“We had a really good year when it comes to human caused fires,” said Kirchner. “The public has to be commended.

They understood the danger and they kept that number low. It was a combination of us pushing hard to get the fire prevention messages out there, as well as folks like yourselves in the media pushing the message. It really took this partnership between us as an agency and the media to get the word out.”

The total acreage burned within the Idaho Panhandle NF was around 53,000 acres, which doesn’t include the Tower

New Panida board elected With a restored roof and a newly elected board, the Panida Theater is moving toward 2016 with fresh wind in the sails.

Local residents approved a roster of seven new board members Tuesday night, including Todd Coumbe, Daniel Deshon, Julie Berreth, Rachel Cox, Patricia Gessaman, Barbara Perusse and Nancy Renk. The new board members bring a variety of skills and specialties to the table, from finances and accounting to theater production to marketing.

The meeting also provided a forum for the historic theater’s annual update. According to Panida director Patricia Walker, the theater is on much stronger financial footing than it was a year ago. However, there are still plenty of challenges to overcome in maintaining the Panida’s status as the cultural anchor of downtown Sandpoint. To boost revenue, theater officials are working hard to enhance fundraising opportunities and increase the number of days the theater operates beyond Friday and Saturday nights. [CR] 6 /

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Fire as it had started on the Colville NF and later spread to Idaho Panhandle NF. Including the Tower Fire, the acreage total is approximately 79,000 acres.

When asked which fire presented the most challenges, Kirchner said it was all of them combined.

“There’s not one fire that stands out,” he said. “What was so taxing and complicated was at one point we had 125 individual fires burning throughout all of North Idaho simultaneously. If we had the same acreage burning with just one fire, it would’ve been no problem, but having to respond to all those fires taxed resources.”

According to Kirchner, there was a point this summer throughout the west when every single firefighter that was available was fighting fire.

“We reached a point where there was nobody else to call,” he said. “We brought in firefighters from Australia, Canada, parts of Europe. They came from all over the world.”

At its peak, there were over 27,000 firefighters engaged in firefighting throughout the west.

“It’s tough to pin down how many of them worked on our [Idaho Panhandle NF] fires,” said Kirchner. “You’re constantly switching personnel. It’s like trying to count a swarm of bees.”

With all the personnel working on the ground in hazardous conditions, Kirchner was pleased to report there were no casualties.

“We had minor injuries,” he said. “Bee stings, twisted ankles, minor burns. We were very lucky this year. Our folks did a

great job in putting safety in the forefront.”

With the hot, dry season urging caution from the beginning, Kirchner said that not a single fire was left to burn for ecological reasons, which is common practice when the conditions are right.

“There were times with multiple fires going on where it was located, but wasn’t a high priority because others were threatening homes or watersheds,” said Kirchner.

“We have quite a bit of fire in the backcountry, and many don’t have firefighters on them. The threat that they pose isn’t worth the risk of a firefighter’s life.”

Kirchner points out that though the end is near, there are still fires burning and

the public should keep informed at www. fs.usda.gov/ipnf when planning outings in National Forest land.

“People need to be aware of their surroundings,” he said. “We’re posting signs in hazardous areas, and there are still closures listed.”

How does the 2015 season compare to bad fire seasons of the past?

“I can give you a stat I was told by the Idaho Department of Lands,” said Kirchner. “The last time we had this level of fire activity in Idaho was 1926. Even in 1967, with the Sundance Fire and all the others that year, it still didn’t compare to the widespread fire activity this year.”

Sandpoint announces closed city administrator hiring process

Cabinet Mountain Bar and Grill burns down

Second rail bridge put on hold

Despite calls for an open process from residents like Bonner County Daily Bee publisher Jim McKiernan, the city of Sandpoint announced this week it was running a closed hiring operation for the controversial new city administrator position.

According to Sandpoint City Clerk Maree Peck, the city won’t seek local input from residents or field candidates in public forums. Instead, it will exercise its rights to hire new staff through an internal process.

We’ll be taking a closer look at the city administrator hiring process in next week’s issue of the Reader, so stay tuned. [CR]

A crew of hotshots from Montana mop up at Cape Horn Fire in July. Photo by Ben Olson.

Here’s a sad bit of news to include in our bar issue: Cabinet Mountain Bar and Grill in Clark Fork is no more after being engulfed by flames this week.

According to the Spokesman-Review, the fire resulted in no injuries, but firefighters were unable to save the structure, located at East Fourth Avenue and Stephen Street, after arriving at around 4:30 a.m. Local authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire. Here’s hoping all involved are able to get the business back on its feet. [CR]

Food bank seeking winter coats According to Alice Wallace, director of the Bonner Community Food Center, the organization is seeking donations of winter coats or financial contributions to bolster this year’s Coats For Kids.

A program that helps kids in struggling local families stay warm throughout the winter, the Coats For Kids program relies on donations to make sure client demand is satisfied. To learn more, give the food bank a call at 263-3663. [CR]

Locals worried about an expansion of oil and coal train traffic can breath a sigh of relief on at least one count: BNSF Railway has backed off on its proposed second rail bridge across Lake Pend Oreille.

The Spokesman-Review reports the company, on second thought, is doing just fine with its existing rail network, thank you very much.

Saying existing freight traffic doesn’t justify the addition, company officials have put the plan on hold. That doesn’t mean the company won’t pick it up later; they’re just waiting for it to make financial sense, according to company spokesperson Gus Malonas.

“Eventually we will add another bridge,” he told the Spokesman-Review. “It’s all driven by the dollar. At this point we’re investing in other areas—choke points that are immediate.”

From the jump, the proposed second bridge was controversial among many locals, already perturbed by the volume of oil and coal traffic, its environmental impacts and the potential for a catastrophic explosion or spill. [CR]

The last chance for Memorial Field?

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

If you had to pick the most unpredictable factor to local elections this year, it’s almost certainly the proposed local option tax.

On the one hand, there’s no surer way to make some folks frown than mentioning the word “tax.” But on the other, this 1-percent tax on all sales in town is designed to fund the restoration of one of Sandpoint’s most beloved gathering places: the Memorial Field grandstands. Add into the mix that this is city officials’ second attempt to pass the tax—the first failed by only a couple hundred votes—and it’s anyone’s guess how Sandpoint will vote come Nov. 3.

What is a local option tax, anyway?

Well, according to Idaho law, cities of fewer than 10,000 residents have the option to levy this special category of taxation. It is designed especially for resort towns like Sandpoint, where infrastructure is strained by more visitors than usual. For instance, both Sandpoint and Ponderay already utilize a similar system taxing hotel room rentals—colloquially called a “bed tax”— to draw money from tourists. The idea is to give cities an additional source of revenue that can in turn fund projects to bring in more tourism.

The Memorial Field grandstands certainly fit that bill. A centerpiece of community events from high school football games to the Festival At Sandpoint to graduations, the grandstands have housed cheers and tears for nearly 70 years. However, according Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff, the city found out 10 years ago that the grandstands’ days were numbered.

Residents weigh the pros and cons of a local option tax

At the time, the city was able to do a patchwork $55,000 repair job that bought time. However, everyone knew it was a temporary fix—the grandstands required replacing eventually. In recent years, an annual inspection determines whether or not the stands are still fit for service.

Woodruff said every year, the degradation is markedly worse.

“Really, right now, we’re at a stop sign in the road,” he said. “We could go to the left, or we could turn toward the right.”

Public funding isn’t the first approach to repairing the grandstands. When the magnitude of the disrepair became apparent, local community members formed the Friends of Memorial Field to raise funds for new grandstands. The group staged public meetings to determine its design and features, and the city eventually approved a plan that struck a balance between affordability and aesthetic pleasure. It also included functional improvements like an expanded capacity of 1,500, a 67-percent increase from the existing grandstands.

“We now owe to our predecessors, our veterans, our student athletes and our fellow citizens to rebuild the stadium,” said Friends member Bill Berg, who supports the local option tax proposal. “I think of it as an honorable obligation.”

The Friends faced their share of challenges. According to group board member Tye Barlow, the Friends hoped to raise the $2.72 million cost of the new grandstands through a combination of individual donations, business contributions and a handful of major corporate sponsors. However, the most likely corporations to foot major portions of the cost—Litehouse and Panhandle State Bank, for instance—were

unable to follow through due to changing business circumstances. To make matters worse, leadership within the Friends went through several significant shifts as members moved away or stepped down.

“It’s really too bad we’re needing to go this [taxation] route,” Barlow said. “We really thought we could get the corporate donations for this.”

However, the Friends charted plenty of successes, too. A campaign selling bricks bearing donor messages raised $87,000 plus $61,280 in uncollected pledges, Berg said. In 2011, members contributed $85,921. Along with $80,000 from Lake Pend Oreille School District and $106,022 from the city of Sandpoint, the money funded the replacement of the Memorial Field lights, which had deteriorated into a dangerous situation.

With time running out for the grandstands, city officials decided to step in. In 2012, they coordinated with the city of Ponderay to propose a 0.5-percent sales tax for voter approval on each city’s November ballot. Per Idaho law, the measures required a 60-percent majority vote to pass. Both Sandpoint and Ponderay’s proposals failed, although the Sandpoint vote was extremely narrow. More than half of voters gave the tax their stamp of approval.

The local option tax is back this year as a 1-percent sales tax. According to the city’s data, it will raise an estimated $864,257 per year over its five-year lifespan. The first priority for the revenue use is the grandstands, followed by drainage and field surface replacement, then infrastructure repair, then general parks maintenance and infrastructure improvement.

The measure also supplies the cost of collecting and administering the tax. The

An artistic rendering of the proposed rehabilitation to the grandstands at Memorial Field. Courtesy of the City of Sandpoint.

cost to taxpayers is $0.10 for a $10 purchase, $1 for a $100 purchase and $10 for a $1,000 purchase.

For many residents, that seems like a pittance they’d happily give up for community grandstands expected to last between 50 and 100 years. However, Alice Wallace of the Bonner Community Food Center says not everyone is so fortunate.

Sandpoint families struggling to make ends meet or residents on fixed incomes will find yet another financial burden on their plate. This is especially true for taxes on groceries, which disproportionately impact the poor. She’s already heard many at the food bank worrying about the proposed tax, she said.

“I don’t think the tax should be on food,” she said.

“Many people are already coming to the food bank to relieve some of their food expenses,” she added.

However, the replacement of the Memorial Field grandstands likely hinges on the local option tax passing this year, Barlow said. As he campaigns for the field and taxpayer funding, he’s reminded of Jerry Kramer, a Sandpoint High School graduate who went on to a hugely successful 11year NFL career for the Green Bay Packers.

Kramer said that every time he prepared to step onto an NFL football field, he’d close his eyes and imagine himself back on the sidelines of Memorial Field. Those are the kind of dreams and memories Barlow wants to protect with restored grandstands and field improvements, and this tax may be the only way to do that, Barlow said.

“I think this is our last chance,” he added.

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Retreat offered for area nonprofits

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Bouquets: Submitted by the Lions Club: • I was driving around town today, Sept. 11, and all the flags waving in the breeze looked so nice. I wonder how many people in the Sandpoint area realize those flags are put out eight times a year by our Lions Club.

We have four flag routes with two members on each one who put the flags out early in the morning and take them in before dusk. The flags belong to the club but can be “rented” by anyone who wants to pay $40 a year. This week they were put out on Labor Day as well as Sept. 11, so it was double the work for our members. It’s one of our fundraisers to help pay club member expenses as well as buy new flags when needed, poles, holders and gas to put the flags out. Send an email to us here at sandpointlions@gmail or go to our website for contact information.

Barbs: •Last weekend, I went canoeing over by the Pack River Flats with my girlfriend. We pulled off the highway and parked, and were stunned at what we saw.

Somebody thought it would be fine to dump their washing machine and fax machine off right by the water’s edge. Also, upon closer examination, there appeared to be a VCR a few feet underwater. On what planet is this okay? What the hell is wrong with people? You know they take that stuff at the dump, right? Who do you think picks up the trash that you leave? And on the same note, it’s so disappointing when we go camping and find that someone has left a pile of garbage (usually dirty diapers, fast food bags and broken bottles) in the firepit. This is not a trash can, and neither is our lake. Get a clue, people. If you can’t keep your trash out of nature, then stay the hell in your house and watch it pile up. I’m tired of dealing with it.

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One of the biggest challenges of a nonprofit is to find a way to become sustainable. It’s an issue Bob Over knows all about.

Over, the director of the Nonprofit Leadership Certificate Program for the University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene campus, has been working to help these necessary organizations grow for over 40 years. He has hand-tailored a program called the Nonprofit Retreat that aims to help nonprofit professionals network and grow their skill sets.

“We have two goals for the event,” said Over. “One of course is to work on hardcore and personal skills. The other goal is to get people together to collaborate and get to know each other. There are a lot of strengths when collaboration happens. People can pool resources and funding. They are able to secure more funding because funders like to see nonprofits collaborate.”

In its second year, the re-

treat focuses on a combination of keynote speakers and classes, followed by extra-curricular activities including yoga, boat rides, massage therapy and dance lessons.

“Last year was our first year,” said Over. “We did it down at City Beach ... it was really successful. This year Cassandra at Forty-One South is giving us the restaurant the entire day and the tent at the Lodge.”

Two keynote speakers for the day—Randy Russell and Terry Bacon—both bring experiential knowledge to running a successful nonprofit. Classes offered cover everything from handling donations to legal issues to volunteerism.

The retreat is not just a chance to learn about how to improve nonprofits, but a chance to mingle with likeminded individuals during fun activities off campus.

“I’ve got a fleet of boats coming over that I recruited,” said Over. “We’re going to take people out for boat rides, to make sure everyone knows

each other.”

For those who aren’t into a boat ride, there will be yoga instructors on hand, massage therapists, tile painting with Creations, or people can just hang out on the patio and watch the sunset.

“After that,” said Over.

“We’ll gather and do a reception in the main area of Forty-One South. We’ve got live music and some great hors d’oeuvres.”

For Over, the retreat is a chance to showcase a passion he’s had for 40 years. The program is hand-tailored by Over, who originally put it together for Fort Lewis College in Durango. When he first came on board at University of Idaho three years ago, the dean said he wanted to try the program.

“I gained pertinent knowledge and a confidence in myself and the ability to sustain my organization with efficiency and longevity as an important and necessary community nonprofit organization,” said Becky James, Program coordinator for Boundary County Youth and

Domestic Violence Programs.

“This is a community affair,” said Over. “All kinds of people come together; partners and leaders. Everybody at the retreat volunteers their time for this. All the speakers, the yoga instructors, the boat people, nobody is charging anything.”

The retreat is sponsored in part by University of Idaho, Equinox, Northwest Community Foundation, Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, Forty-One South and the Lodge at Sandpoint.

“This is a one of a kind event,” said Over. “It’s the only one of its kind in Idaho.”

The Nonprofit Retreat takes place at 8 a.m. on Friday, Sept.

18. The cost of the retreat is $115 per person, and groups of three or more from the same organization get a discounted rate of $90 each. For more information, call 208-667-2588 or visit uidaho.edu/cda/nonprofitretreat.

Draft Horse show back for 39th year

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

No doubt about it: Draft horses tend to make an impression. It’s impossible to appreciate how massive the animals are until you’re standing only a few feet away from one.

But don’t take my word for it. You can see for yourself when the Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule International Show rolls into town next week. The event kicks off Thursday, Sept. 24 and runs until Sept. 27 at Bonner County Fairgrounds.

The stars of the show aren’t just an impressive sight.

They also are well-trained in a variety of disciplines, from log-skidding to team hitches.

The events require precise coordination between horse and mule teams, as well as effective driving and guidance from their drivers. Judges keep a sharp eye for exacting details among competitors, ranking them and

declaring winners for the year.

The intense competitions are no doubt what makes the Draft Horse and Mule Show a popular event that draws visitors aplenty into the region.

Event organizers have seen attendees from all across the United States, as well as Canada and even some A pair of draft horses at 2014’s show. Photo courtesy of Idaho State Draft Horse and Mule Show.

European countries.

Similar to events like Priest River Timber Days, the Draft weren’t just talents to show off passes for every day of events Horse and Mule Show reflects at local fairs or special events. cost $30 for adults and students Bonner County’s past as an They were essential abilities and $25 for seniors, or you can agricultural and logging hub needed to scratch out a living in buy daily general admission tickets for $10. Seniors can also in addition to providing a fun, North Idaho.

Drop by the show to gain a take advantage of a two-for-thefamily-friendly event for visitors and locals alike. For county new appreciation for both horse price-of-one special on Friday. residents of eras gone by, skills trainers past and present. Ac- To learn more, visit www.idalike plowing and log-skidding cording to the website, season hodrafthorseshow.com.

The Reader

Pub Crawl

By Ben Olson and Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

There is an art to pub crawling. At least, it starts out that way. Many stops later, the art becomes a drunken quest, except no one knows why or what for. Let me start over. We went on a pub crawl Tuesday night around the many fine bars in downtown Sandpoint for our bar issue. Why Tuesday night? Because we forgot to do it last weekend and Wednesday night is deadline, and we have pushed this bar issue off far too long. So, it came down to Tuesday, arguably one of the quieter drinking nights in Sandpoint. There were just three of us: myself, Cameron and his girlfriend, Cameron (yes, really. I’ll refer to her as “Camo” to avoid any confusion). What we lacked in numbers we made up for in spirit. No one got arrested. There were no bar fights (though Cameron was challenged to one at Roxy’s).

It was a fairly successful evening, except for me leaving my camera behind at the 219 like an idiot. Drinking with your friends is an American institution. If it -Ben Olson, Publisher isn’t in the Constitution, it should be. We’re happy to present to you our findings from our night of bar hopping.

Idaho Pour Authority Beer lovers take note: There’s no place in town better than Idaho Pour Authority when it comes to selection. Hundreds of options await in bottles from American and international breweries alike, along with a generous selection of brews on tap. If variety is the spice of life, Idaho Pour Authority turns the flavor up to 11.

IPA has only been around for a few years, but in that time, it’s become a favorite hangout for locals. That’s probably because of the comfortable furnishings, the owners’ support of regional nonprofits and, of course, the endless options. Also keep an eye out for regular live music; as far as I’m concerned, a pint and some good tunes are life’s ultimate chocolate-and-peanut-butter combination. [CR]

Eichardt’s Pub

Eichardt’s is like the bar from “Cheers,” except instead of Bostoners there are North Idaho hippies and outdoorsy men and women of all ages.

The beer selection at Eichardt’s tends toward microbrews. Let’s put it this way, you wouldn’t go to Eichardt’s to drink Budweiser.

The food is second to none.

Seriously some of the best grub in town. I only have two words for you: garlic fries.

Owned and operated by Jeff Nizzoli for 21 years, Eichardt’s is well known for being relaxed,

easygoing, unpretentious and downright homey. When you walk in the door, you are immediately confronted with two decades worth of memories adorning the walls and ceiling.

This is probably the location of the largest Pez dispensor collection in North Idaho. And I feel as if every item on the wall has a story attached.

As if to prove my point, Nizzoli points out a police badge hanging from the wall and begins to tell a hilarious story about two cops from Australia who were traveling through Sandpoint and got stuck in Eichardt’s for a short time.

“They were on the way to the Police and Fireman’s Olympics in Canada,” said Nizzoli. “They spent some time here, loved it, then, on the way back through after the Olympics, they asked if they could bartend.”

The cops—whose names were Stick and Stinger—ended up tending bar on dollar beer night.

“They were both pretty big guys,” said Nizzoli. “The women loved them. The male population of the bar went down that week, but we had a lot of women in here.”

At the end of their stint of tending bar, after winning the trust of the locals and fending off multiple offers not usually made to police officers, the pair stunned everyone by announcing they were cops in Australia.

“Everyone was like, shit,” said Nizzoli.

Before the pair left, they do-

The homey bar at Eichardt’s Pub. Below: the police badge in its place of honor on the wall. Photo by Ben Olson.

nated a police badge and a rugby jersey to hang on the wall.

The badge hangs by the tap handles in a place of honor and the jersey hangs from the ceiling.

“They came back, actually,” said Nizzoli. “It was four or five years later. They had their wives with them this time. It was a whole different experience.” [BO]

MickDuff’s Beer Hall Sandpoint loves its local artisans, and few have been embraced more than Mickey and Duffy Mahoney. Their wide selection of locally-produced microbrews has helped put Sandpoint on the map for beer

lovers. From the smooth, rich taste of the Knot Tree Porter to the hoppy wallop of the NOHO or Stromhammer IPAs, the wide variety of beer styles should be enough to quench any thirst.

MickDuff’s is best known for its First Avenue pub, which features a restaurant and special events like the popular trivia night. But if you’re not feeling peckish, you’d be better off hitting the business’ newish beer hall on Cedar Street. This location has, outside of weekend nights, an easy-going vibe, and you’re welcome to hang out with board games, your own food or some of the location’s complimentary popcorn. [CR]

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Dollar Beers!

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

“The 100-Year Old Man who Climbed out the W Disappeared” film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater Based on the internationally best-selling novel by Monarch Open Mic son, the unlikely story of a 100-year-old man wh 6pm - 9pm @ Monarch Mountain Coffee not too late to start over. For a century Allan Karls Hosted by Scott Reid, open to all. Held on world uncertain, and now he is on the loose again. the first and third Thursday of every month Live Music w/ Hillary Scott Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 5:30pm @ Di Luna’s 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante Nashville comes to Di Luna’s when Indie-Americana singer-songwriter Hilary Scott takes the stage. Scott, whose voice has been described as “absolutely extraordinary in its emotional greatness” writes songs that hit where it hurts so good: the hearts and minds of a steadily growing and extremely loyal fanbase. Tickets $10 advance, $12 day of show. Dinner served before the show Sandpoint Farmers Market 9am - 1pm @ Farmin Park

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Live Music w/ Bill 5:30pm @ Pend d’O Singer/songwriter to Live Music w/ Haro 6:30pm - 9:30pm @ Indie rockers with a inals and covers. T better they sound!

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 5:30pm - 7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Local singer/songwriter

Live Music w/ Bridges Home 5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery A folk and Celtic duo featuring Tami and Dave Gunter, with Paul on bass!

Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante What is the perfect pairing with some fine Italia Live Music w/ Jacob Cummings cuisine, a glass of red wine and a fine evening 6:30pm - 9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall You got it... Chris “I’m the Man” Lynch The solo singer and songwriter’s pop-rock flair will fill the room!

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Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

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Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s Finally, a place to showcase how much useless stuff you know. Finally, a purpose!

Bingo Night 6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall C’mon, you’re curious, right?

Live Music w/ Truck Mills 9pm - 12am @ 219 Lounge Blues from the master himself Karaoke Night 9pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge

Sandpoint Farmers Market 3pm - 5:30pm @ Farmin Park

Yappy Hour 4pm - 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Bring your furry friends for a Panhandle Animal Shelter benefit with live music “Infinitely Polar Bear” Film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater Mark Ruffalo is Cameron, a man who suffers from bipolar disorder

Scenic Half Presented by the Greater Sandpoint Chamb Commerce, this 7th annual event features a marathon, plus 10k and 5k fun runs. Regist ScenicHalf.com. 208-263-2161

Charley 7:30pm @ Come on only, Cha

Idaho Draft Horse and Mule International Sho The Northwest’s largest draft horse and mule expo, held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds IdahoDraftHorseShow.com. 208-691-4365

Live @ The Office w/ Josh Hedlund 6pm @ Sandpoint Reader Office (111 Cedar S Our office concerts are back after a summ Come down and see Josh Hedlund do what he

ful

September 17 - 24, 2015

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

d out the Window and Take Back Your Power: Investigating the ‘Smart’ Grid 6pm @ Sandpoint Library EHS Idaho hosts a showing of the award-winning documentary “Take Back Your novel by Jonas Jonas- Power: Investigating the ‘Smart’ Grid,” a revelatory film by Josh Del Sol. Find out d man who decides it’s what Big Brother is up to. Get smart about the grid. Free and open to the public llan Karlsson made the Homeschool Library Tour — 9am @ Sandpoint Library ose again. Rated R Attention homeschooling families! Take a guided tour of The Library and hear about this year’s homeschooling line-up with lots of cool visic w/ Bill Price tors and hands-on presentations. For more info, 263-6930 ext.1211 Pend d’Oreille Winery gwriter touring from Indiana Compassion for Animals Art Show - Sept. 18 - Oct. 16 c w/ Harold’s IGA The goal of this exhibition is to inspire, educate, bring joy, raise 9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall awareness and spread compassion for animals. Artists can submit ers with a great collection of origup to five pieces; a large portion of proceeds donated to three worcovers. The more you drink, the thy animal non-profits: the Panhandle Animal Shelter, Lifetime sound!

Friends Animal Sanctuary, and International Mercy for Animals Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 7pm @ La Rosa Club

rity

fine Italian e evening? h

Live Music w/ Devon Wade 9pm - 12am @ 219 Lounge Country music night at the Niner!

“Shaun the Sheep” Film 5:30 & 7:30pm @ Panida Theater When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. Rated PG

Live Music w/ Bill Price 5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Singer and songwriter touring from Indiana End of Summer Clark Fork Friends of the Library Used Book & Media Sale 10am - 4pm @ Clark Fork Library Always lots of great finds Live Music w/ Ken Labarbera 5pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

End of Summer Clark Fork Friends of the Library Used Book & Media Sale 10am - 4pm @ Clark Fork Library Always lots of great finds

nt Chamber of features a half ns. Register at

“The 100-Year Old Man who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared” film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater Based on the internationally best-selling novel by Jonas Jonasson, the unlikely story of a 100-year-old man who decides it’s not too late to start over. For a century Allan Karlsson made the world uncertain, and now he is on the loose again. Rated R

UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 24 - Josh Hedlund “Live @ The Office” at Reader office - 6pm Sept. 24-25 - Idaho Draft Horse and Mule International Show Sept. 26 - 100,000 Poets For Change @ Evans Brothers Coffee Charley Packard & Friends 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Come on down and see the one, the only, Charley Packard. He’s back, baby!

Reggae Night at the Niner 9pm - 12am @ 219 Lounge Featuring DJ Josh Adams

Kalispel Tour of Lake Pend Oreille 1pm @ Kramer Marina (Hope) Soldiers in Petticoats: The Struggles of Kalispel tribal member Anna (Bluff) Armstrong will be the guide on Lake the Suffragettes Pend Oreille aboard the Shawnodese.

6pm @ Panida Little Theater Cost is $35 per person A one-woman show by Tames Alan presentnd ed by the North Idaho Federated Republi1 Cedar St.) a summer break! can Women. $12 advance, $15 at the door Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub o what he does best

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LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FOR UPDATES September 17, 2015 /

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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.

-The gray oneThis is a kitten that was born to a cat I adopted this early spring, a gray and yellow cat with shocking green eyes found under a porch in Kootenai, who was much too young to have had kittens but had three nonetheless.

The mother cat, Zora, is my pet. This lovely blue-eyed baby named “The Gray One” now lives on Ali Hakala’s goat farm just down the road from Lost Horse Press. Although she’s not exactly my pet, she started out with me, and lives close enough to visit.

Christine Holbert Sandpoint Sat. September 18th

Hillary Scott in concert

Nashville comes to Di Luna’s!

201 Cedar St. dilunas.com

263-0846

Broadcasting in Sandpoint on 106.7 FM and in Digital HD 12 /

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featuring fresh local ingredients

Indie-Americana singer-songwriter Hilary Scott released her latest album, “Freight Train Love,” in November. Since its release, the album - which was recorded with Grammy-award-winning musicians in Los Angeles, has grabbed the attention of reviewers from Billboard, No Depression, Maverick, and many more. $10 adv. tickets / $12 day of show Show @ 7:30pm Doors open @ 5:30pm w/ dinner served before the show

PUB CRAWL, con’t from page 9

Connie’s

Early on, we decided to limit our pub crawl to bars that weren’t attached to restaurants, but Connie’s is the one exception, as the bar and restaurant are wholly separate entities it seems.

Featuring a recently redone interior and drinking patio that faces away from the busy Cedar Street, Connie’s is a great place for a bloody mary with breakfast, or a sunny perch to share some mixed drinks with your friends after work. They have live music out there sometimes, too. It’s a great spot to gravitate to after the Farmers’ Market which takes place right across the street.

Shannon Williams has tended bar at Connie’s for years and treats his clientele with respect and a sense of fun.

The crowd at Connie’s tends towards the younger set, but every night is different. Mostly it’s a bar where you can play some pool, smoke and drink on the patio, and prepare for the later stops on the tour (Connie’s isn’t a late-night bar. They’re usually wrapped up before midnight). [BO]

Tam O’Shanter The Tam O’Shanter (AKA Tervan, or simply the Tam) is the home of the absolute coldest beer in town. It’s also the oldest continuously operated business in Sandpoint (thanks to Camo for this factoid. It helps to have Museum personnel on bar crawls).

When you walk into the Tam, there are usually two or three locals at the bar who like to flip you some guff in a fun, grumpy kind of way. Known as a blue-collar bar for the working men and women of Sandpoint, I’ve always been fond of the humble nature of this place.

When we ordered up some frosty schooners, the bartendress Teddi asked if we wanted, “Small or large?”

My first inclination is always to go large, until I saw the size of a large, which looked like you could pour a whole sixpack into it. We elected to go small, as it was still early on our pub crawl.

Whilst drinking said schooners, Camo enlightens us with her favorite Tervan story, told by her father.

“When my dad first moved to Sandpoint in the early 80s, he decided to check out the bar scene,” said Camo. “He ended up here, and as he was opening the door an axe goes flying out the door.

They were having an axe throwing competition in the bar and using the door as a target.”

The small, quaint bar that is the oldest in town is worth checking out if you haven’t been inside yet... just keep an eye out for flying axes. [BO]

Roxy’s By most accounts the local bar with the most interior square footage, Roxy’s definitely gives a hopeless inebriate room to stretch his or her legs. But that’s not all to admire about the Pine Street bar. A healthy collection of devoted regulars mean this could be the place where everybody knows your name after just a few visits.

Thanks to a wealth of entertainment options, Roxy’s also gives you plenty of options for fun and games with your new friends. There’s the time-tested combination of booze and a game of pool, for one thing, and enthusiasts consider the tables to be among the best in town as far as quality goes. For my money, though, there’s nothing like a few beers and a game of shuffleboard—in which case, Roxy’s has got you covered there, too. [CR]

A & P Bar and Grill Many people thought it was lights out for A&P Bar and Grill in 2014, when an accidental fire ravaged the local establishment’s historic downtown building. But never underestimate the power of a can-do spirit and a little elbow grease.

A&P is back and, dare we say, better than ever.

The bar seems to be a favorite of Sandpoint’s younger set, particularly the weekend partiers.

What’s more, A&P features one of Sandpoint’s latest-open kitchens, a surefire advantage for a town weak on late-night grub options. A bite into one of the

The Tervan has some of the best wall art in town. And damn cold beers. Photo by Ben Olson.

bar’s hamburgers after one too many whiskeys may be just the thing to find your second wind.

More than anything, though, the classy-yet-rustic interior and nods to the building’s venerable past (including its previous life as a brothel) are sure to make for a wild Friday night. [CR]

219 Lounge The Five Star Dive Bar is where everyone usually ends up at the end of the night. I’ve had a lot of good times at the 219.

I’ve also been kicked out of there three times (once at eleven o’clock in the morning on New Years’ Day... that’s a story for another time, though).

Featuring a recent redesign that cleaned up the interior and established an outdoor patio with a stage and outdoor bar, the Niner has held onto its position as one of the top bars in

Sandpoint for a long time.

It’s the type of place that accepts everyone as they are.

Though it looks quite a bit cleaner nowadays, there is still a little bit of rough around the edges, which I’m a fan of when it comes to dive bars.

The best new addition, in my opinion, is the patio out back and the inclusion of live music every week. In fact, almost every night has something going on; Tuesdays are karaoke night, Wednesdays are reggae night, Thursday through Sunday features live music outside in the summertime and in the pool room when the cool weather returns.

By this stage of the night, our pub crawling trio was looking a little haggard. We’d switched from beer to whiskey a few bars back and it was starting to show.

You can still smoke in the 219, which means you will smoke,

Is the whiskey shot half full or half empty? I can’t remember. Photo by Ben Olson.

even if you don’t smoke cigarettes.

We harassed the bartenders Josh and Racheal for juicy stories and fun anecdotes, but all of the notes from this part of the evening are indecipherable. So be it.

One of my favorite places to hang out in Sandpoint is in the corner booth at the Niner. You can cram a dozen people into the booth and hold court all night.

Before sneaking out of the bar around 1 a.m., I’d apparently left the Reader camera behind, which might’ve been stolen if we didn’t live in such a small town. By the morning, I’d already received a message from Racheal that it was safe. I didn’t even have to do the walk of shame to pick it up as my buddy Josh Hedlund grabbed it for me. Don’t you just love small towns?

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Living on the Cheap How to drink without sinking your pocketbook in North Idaho

By Susan Drinkard Reader Columnist Whether or not “happy hours” at area bars bring actual happiness is a question I’ll leave to the reader. But, if you are a happy hour imbiber, feel fortunate. Not every state allows reduced priced drinks during a given period, according to the Traffic Resource Center for Judges; in fact, 12 states don’t allow happy hours at all and even more have placed restrictions on them, citing reasons related to driving impairment, (though stats show that the bans have made no calculable difference in the number of car crashes with alcohol as a factor).

Idaho is okay with happy hours.

You probably know where to go in Sandpoint for drink specials, but how about tickling that adventurous part of yourself with a night or two at some of the less genteel bars in our region? You know there’s a part of you that has always wanted to take a look-see inside the Tervan.

Here are some tips for bar ventures out of town (and just because my last name is Drinkard, don’t think I am an expert on these drinking matters).

Take the 23-mile fall color drive to view the “folk art to fine art” at the Artisan Gal-

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lery in downtown Priest River.

(Check business hours first due to business hour changes in the fall: 208-304-4656). Walk a block in this thickly surreal area to Popeye’s for an inexpensive drink in a clean and comfortable environment.

You cannot beat the prices at Popeye’s Lounge on Thursday nights when from 4-8 p.m. there is an all-you-can-eat taco bar for $5 and Bud drafts are $1. Kids are welcome to eat during these four hours in the now smokefree sports bar. Bud, PBR and Coors Light are always $2.50 a pint and other tap beers—Blue Moon, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island IPA, Shock Top, and Sam Adams Summer Ale—are always $3.

On Monday nights during football season, $5 will buy you a chili dog and a beer from 4-8 p.m., said Brook Ramsey, bartender. Another barkeep at Popeye’s said a patron from Montana told her that she and her three friends drank all evening and the bill was $34, far less than their usual tab.

Julie Pieper and Rob Troxler own a fixture in Priest River, King’s Bar and Grill on the highway. They don’t have happy hour specials on drinks, but their rib-eye $14.95 steak dinners are popular. If you are brave you might try some of the more unusual $5 appetizers—deep-fried pickle spears,

deep-fried spicy green beans or chicken gizzards.

Aptly named, Northwood’s Tavern is 20 miles north of Sandpoint in Naples on Deep Creek Loop. Owner Laurie Doering says the building is a hole-in-the-wall, but the backyard is pretty and a very popular meeting place for friends and neighbors in the good-weather months.

Northwood’s Tavern has two beers on tap—Goose Island IPA and Pabst Blue Ribbon, the former is a deal at $3 and the latter is $2.50 a pint. No happy hours here; the beer is always inexpensive. Don’t bother to go unless you try one of the unusual pizzas Laurie makes—German sauerkraut pizza served with sweet/hot mustard; barbecued chicken pizza; or spinach and artichoke with jalapeno-infused bacon. “We sell a ton of them ‘to go,’” she said.

Though plans for a big move are in the works, The Hideaway in the Bonner Mall notably hosts three happy hours—12-1 p.m., 4-6 p.m. and 10-11 p.m. Beer on tap is dirt cheap at $2.25 a pint— if your memory does not serve you well, a pint is 16 ounces, or two cups—and well drinks are $3 during these hours, according to Miss Lee, Hideaway manager, and Mary B., bartender.

Smoking is permissible at The Hideaway and the bar has six “smoke-eater” devices in the ceiling. A cute patio out back provides privacy and comfort.

A pool table, darts, and free popcorn are also available, Miss Lee said.

With your designated driver in tow, call it a sociological experience and go somewhere new, where the drinks are cheap and where self-conscious cool décor doesn’t exist.

The patio at The Hideaway at the Bonner Mall.

King’s has a long history in Priest River. You can get fried gizzards as an appetizer, if your heart desires.

Popeye’s bar in Priest River..

STAGE & SCREEN

Fall movie preview

By Chris Balboni Reader Contributor Oh, September. That awkward month where it’s too late for the massive popcorn flicks of summer but still too early for the obligatory Oscar contenders. Usually, anyways. This month has already seen the release of the excellent biopic “Straight Outta Compton,” skin-crawling thriller “The Gift,” and hopefully Johnny Depp’s first praiseworthy leading role in half a decade (“Black Mass,” opening Friday). These films aside, as well as the highly and deservedly anticipated next installments of James Bond and “Star Wars,” there are no shortage of things to look forward to in theaters this fall. Here are a few to keep an eye out for.

“Beasts of No Nation” (October 16) “Beasts of No Nation” follows a young boy in civil war-torn West Africa as he is forced to become a soldier after losing his family. The subject of child soldiers in Africa is a heavy, complicated one that has rarely been tackled head-on in western cinema, and with director and screenwriter Cary Funkanaga at the helm, “Beasts of No Nation” should be nothing short of poignant. This is Funkanaga’s first cinematic effort since directing the brilliant, terrifying first season of “True Detective” for HBO, and his gritty view of reality lends itself perfectly to this subject matter.

“Trumbo” (November 6) When Dalton Trumbo, writer of the classic anti-war novel “Johnny Got His Gun,” was called upon by the House of Un-American Activities Committee to testify about his knowledge of communism during the Red Scare of the 1950s, he refused to give any information, ultimately leading to Hollywood shunning him and his work. The era of the Hollywood Blacklist was a dark, surreal chapter of history, and biopic/oddball comedy “Trumbo” will attempt to capture the absurdity and drama of the time through the story of Dalton Trumbo, played by Bryan Cranston (“Breaking Bad”). Cranston’s addictive screen presence and a supporting cast that includes Louis C.K., Helen Mirren, and John Goodman is enticing enough that director Jay Roach’s spotty track-record can almost be overlooked.

“The Walk” (October 9) “The Walk” covers the same ground as James Marsh’s incredible, Academy-Award winning documentary “Man on

Wire”: In 1974, French high-wire walker Philippe Petit walked between the Twin Towers in New York City, a feat that required obsessive planning and an uncomfortable amount of luck. It’s an unbelievable story; a caper filled with endless tension and a high-energy Frenchman at the center you can’t help but love. With Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Petit and Robert Zemeckis on a directorial upswing after 2012’s Oscar-nominated “Flight,” “The Walk” may wind up being the perfect companion piece to “Man On Wire,” one where you finally get to look straight down from Petit’s wire and truly appreciate how wonderfully out of his mind he was.

“Crimson Peak” (October 16) Set in the 19th century, “Crimson Peak” tells the story of a young girl (Mia Wasikowska) moving in with her new husband (Tom Hiddleston), only to find that the house is filled with dangerous, paranormal entities. A genre film to be sure, but with an R-rating and Guillermo Del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth,” “Pacific Rim”) at the helm, the possibilities for horror are endless. Stephen King has already praised the film, and Del Toro’s knack for creatively terrifying creatures combined with a cast that includes Tom Hiddleston and Jessica Chastain promises one of the best entries into the lineup of horror films slated for this fall.

“Bridge of Spies” (October 16) After a three year absence, Steven Spielberg returns to direct this historical drama about the 1960 incident where the Soviet Union shot down a U.S. spy plane over Soviet airspace, capturing pilot Gary Powers in the process. Focusing on lawyer James Donovan (Tom Hanks) and his efforts to get Powers released, “Bridge of Spies” delves into the politics of one of the most volatile eras of our government.

It’s an obvious contender come awards season, and the Coen Brothers’ assistance on the screenplay could make this stand out when combined with Spielberg’s unmatched directing skills.

“The Hateful Eight” (December 25) When “Hateful Eight’s” script leaked last year, Quentin Tarantino was so disappointed that he initially cancelled the film. A few months later he had a change of heart, and if the trailer is any indication, we should all be thankful. Set just after the Civil War, “Hateful Eight” tells the story of a bounty hunter taking his prisoner to

trial, only to be caught in a blizzard and forced to take shelter in a mountain-top cabin alongside six other bounty hunters, who may or may not be who they appear to be. Kurt Russell, Samuel L. Jackson, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Walton Goggins (of “Justified” fame) round out the incredible cast of what looks to be a clever homage to 1960s western television shows mixed with Taratino’s wildly entertaining dialogue and violence.

“Steve Jobs” (October 9) The death of Steve Jobs has already resulted in two feature length documentaries and a critically-panned biopic starring Ashton Kutcher, so you wouldn’t be remiss in feeling indifferent to yet another piece of media about the co-founder of Apple. This biopic, however, strives for much more than the shallow praise found in 2013’s “Jobs.” Adapted by Aaron Sorkin (“The Social Network,” “The Newsroom”) from the exhaustively researched and highly acclaimed biography by Walter Isaacson, “Steve Jobs” aims to show the life and character of Jobs with unflinching honesty. Michael Fassbender stars, which combined with Sorkin’s biting dialogue and director Danny Boyle’s (“127 Hours,” “Slumdog Millionaire”) sense of style, is enough to make even those of us who aren’t part of the Apple cult get excited.

his incredibly severe injuries, he trekked alone through 200 miles of wilderness to find help at the nearest settlement. “The Revenant” is based on Glass’s infamous tale, and despite an ambitious production using entirely real locations (including Kootenai Falls in Northwest Montana) and only natural lighting, it’s shaping up to be something quite special. The tone of the film looks to be one of bleak existentialism, with Leonardo DiCaprio’s emotional journey as Hugh Glass taking center stage with minimal dialogue all around. This is also writer/director Alejandro Iñárritu and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki’s follow-up to “Birdman,” which earned them Oscars in their respective fields earlier this year, so the buzz behind “The Revenant” is already growing. If you see one film this winter, make sure it’s this one.

“The Martian” (October 2) Based on the hugely successful self-published novel by computer programmer Andy Weir, “The Martian” was written as a completely scientifically accurate tale of how one astronaut could survive the perils of being stranded on Mars for years while waiting for rescue that may never come. This is far from the first time we’ve seen a movie about astronauts in danger on Mars, but with a charismatic Matt Damon leading the cast and Drew Goddard (“Lost,” “Cabin in the Woods”) handling the adaptation for the screen, the film is set to capture the novel’s use of dry wit and harsh reality. Top that off with Ridley Scott directing, and “The Martian” could be one of the best science fiction films of the year.

“The Revenant” (December 25) Working with a crew of fur trappers in 1823, Hugh Glass was viciously mauled by a grizzly bear in a surprise encounter.

When his partners decided his wounds were too severe to survive, Glass was left for dead. He eventually came to and despite

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater Rounding up fall

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Food Columnist Many signs are pointing to fall. The last of the gardens need harvested and preserved, the leaves are turning and the cool evenings remind us to grab a sweater before we head out the door. And the wildlife is getting, well, wilder. Just last week I received a social media warning from my neighbor, Meggie: There’s a moose in your back yard! Not just any moose, but a monster of a moose that needed none of my Irish embellishment. He was a huge, intimidating specimen of brown mass, a giant of a bull with enormous velvet covered antlers who decided Ponder Point would be a very special place to live.

Unfortunately for him, it was quickly determined he was too big and too bold to share the neighborhood with small children, pets or even boats, so he was swiftly and successfully tranquilized and relocated to an undisclosed, less urban area.

I hope he’s not anywhere near Scotchman Peak, which is experiencing its own rogue animal issues with wild goat encounters along the now closed trail.

Fall is the time that all these bad boys begin their rut, which makes all of them even more menacing.

I especially love the fall. It always reminds me of my former life on the ranch. Life in the country was busy, and we measured the seasons by hard work. It especially felt like fall was the hardest and most demanding season of all: repairing and storing all the haying equipment, riding miles and miles of fence line and repairing the holes before rounding up the cows and finally bringing them down from their summer 16 /

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pastures. Inside the house too, was a whole set of fall chores, like canning, preserving, and laying in the winter foodstuffs with one of my two major grocery runs for the year. There was also a lot of food to be prepared in the fall, as there were many extra mouths to feed. Not a day went by that I didn’t cook up tasty roasting pans full of food to haul up the mountain and share with the ranch hands and city friends who came to “help us” move the cows down to fall pastures. By midday the riders (and hardworking dogs) were chilly, tired and hungry and always happy to see me arrive with hot stew and biscuits, beef pot pie or chicken and dumplings and a still-warm dessert. The grand finale to this endeavor was the big roundup when the cows were finally herded to the home ranch. This event was second in importance

only to branding and was an occasion to prepare mountains of food in celebration. Over hot plates and cold beer, many tales were shared and spun about the maverick steer hiding in a coulee or the mean-eyed cow who charged a rider. Once the hay stacks were fenced, the cows had settled and the horses well rested, it was hunting season.

It hardly seemed fair that we couldn’t help ourselves to an elk or two, because despite our best fencing efforts, they ate many a ton of the expensive hay that was neatly stacked and waiting to provide our cows their winter nourishment. Montana Fish and Game did their best to drive off the large and hungry wapiti by arming night herders, who slept near the haystacks, with bells and whistles and lights. Their efforts did little to protect our precious hay and consequently, once (or maybe twice) when the

meat supply looked a little low, an eager ranch hand or my husband, took it upon themselves to re-supply our freezer. Unfortunately, without a hunting license tag affixed to the carcass, we were unable to take the ill-gotten game to be processed and were forced to butcher them ourselves. “We” was me and my adventurous and weathered 70-year-old mother’s helper, Jeannie. On one occasion, with two toddlers in tow, neither of us was up to the task of cutting and wrapping, so we rented a commercial grinder and began the arduous task of grinding the entire mighty beast.

Ryanne observes that I always begin this story with, “First, I scrubbed the tub.” (I think that’s a real important part of the story). Next, I covered the floor with lengths of brown craft paper and while Jeannie added dozens of beaten

eggs, a giant sack of oatmeal, half-bushel of chopped onions, a few number ten cans of tomato sauce and handfuls of savory spices, I mixed and stirred and coaxed the mass together. When we were finished, we had nearly one hundred neatly wrapped meatloaves in the freezer and nerves of steel (during the course of meatloaf making, we had unrelated visits from a state brand inspector plus a game warden).

While I have catered events for hundreds of guests, I’ve never had an opportunity to make that quantity of meat loaf ever again. Still, I can’t bring myself to make only one, and I always make at least one extra one for the freezer. Should you ever feel the need to prepare a massive amount of meatloaf, this recipe is foolproof when multiplied as needed. But first, you scrub the tub.

coarse salt and, if you have some, a few fresh herb leaves.

*Bake other meatloaf frozen.

Savory Meatloaf *This recipe will yield two meatloaves, one to cook now and one to wrap, freeze and bake later.

INGREDIENTS: •3 lb. ground beef •1 lb. pork sausage •¾ cup oatmeal, pulverized in food processor •1 large onion finely chopped •2 tbs cooking oil •2 eggs beaten •15 oz can tomato sauce, reserve ¼ cup •1 tbs Dijon mustard •1 tbs Worcester sauce •1 tsp fresh oregano finely chopped (2 tsp if dried) •1 tsp salt •½ tsp coarse ground black pepper •4 strips bacon

INSTRUCTIONS: •Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit •Saute the chopped onion in oil and cook until limp. Set aside to cool.

Mix ground meats together, add oatmeal, eggs, tomato sauce and herbs and spices, mix well by hand.

Add onions and mix again. Divide equally and form into loaf shapes.

Place on foil-lined roasting pan, coat top with some of reserved tomato sauce, place bacon strips lengthwise, pat into meatloaf and tuck ends under loaf, coat bacon with last of tomato sauce (you can cook both of them, or freeze the second one for later). Sprinkle with a little

•Bake at 350° for an hour.

•I like to serve with rosemary roasted new potatoes.

•Unwrap and place on foiled lined roasting pan. Bake at 325° for two hours.

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

Live @ the Office returns after a summer break

By Ben Olson Reader Staff As the hot days of summer are now a thing of the past, we’ve decided to bring back the “Live @ the Office” concert series here at the Sandpoint Reader.

If you’re not familiar with the concept, it’s simple; once a month we host a local musician or band up to our humble offices in the historic Farmin Building, invite the public, and record the performance. It has all the intimacy of a house concert, but in a downtown office setting.

It’s a surefire way to hear your favorite local artists in a crystal clear setting, with fun interaction thrown into the mix.

Jesse Gunn with Pinky Haus Studios takes care of all the sound and recording. After each performance, Gunn mixes the recording into an album, which we sell at future “Live @ the Office” shows.

Also, KRFY 88.5 FM gets in on the action as a co-sponsor by taking the recordings and featuring them on the air at various local music shows.

Last season, we saw some great performances come through our office. Vance Bergeson, Cedar & Boyer, Josh Hedlund, Justin Lantrip, Honeysuckle featuring Holly McGarry, traveling folk singer John Craigie and Montana-based jazz trio Fresh Off the Vine.

After the John Craigie show during the crazy June heat wave, we decided to take a summer break. A small room on the second floor of an old building during a heat wave is not the most ideal place to cram 30 people together in the name of live music. As I stated above, however, the temperatures are more conducive to a comfortable atmosphere to listen to your favorite local performers.

We’re pleased to announce the return of the “Live @ the Office” concerts on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. Josh Hedlund will be the featured artist.

Hedlund’s songwriting ability has earned him a loyal fan

base in Sandpoint over the past decade. At times poignant and beautiful, at other times raw and emotional, Hedlund has a way with words and a honey-smooth voice capable of winning over the blackest of hearts.

Throughout his prolific career, Hedlund has penned over 500 original songs, each one dealing with his view of the world and the players in it. He wrestles with themes like religion, blighted love and loss of innocence, while switching gears to cover small town drunkenness and depravity.

Hedlund’s live album recorded in March in the Reader office will be for sale at the show for $5 each. I can’t stress enough the beauty of this collection of songs. If you haven’t heard it, please check it out as it’s worth 10 times what you’d pay for it.

“Live @ the Office” shows are $5 each, first come first serve. We have seating for about 30 people in the office, so seats fill up quickly. If you’d like to ensure your seat, they go on sale at the Reader office starting Monday morning.

We are open for all ages, with kids welcome to any of the shows as long as they can listen politely and not disturb the recording. Also, we ask that everyone attending please to turn their mobile phones onto “air-

READ

Since we’re talking about bars in this issue, how about the king of the barflies... Charles Bukowski.

I used to read a lot of Bukowski when I was younger. I was drawn to his grittiness, his proximity to the edge of sanity, and his complete disregard for the human race.

In “Factotum” we see him at his best/worst: in and out of bars, women and roominghouses, burning his bridges and keeping the poetry flowing.

It’s a prequel to “Post Office” which is my other favorite Bukowski novel, and totally worth reading.

LISTEN

Speaking of bars, one of the best bands to listen to whilst drinking is probably Flogging Molly.

They’re Irish, they’re punk, and their songs are usually about drinking, being drunk or wishing they were drunk.

Of their five albums released, my favorite is the 2002 “Drunken Lullabies” which captures the essence of what Celtic punk is all about.

Beware, if you drink whiskey, you’ll drink a lot of it while listening to Flogging Molly. If you don’t drink whiskey...

Josh Hedlund at this spring’s show. Photo by Ben Olson. well, you should probably start.

plane” mode so that the recording does not get disrupted.

Are you interested in playing at the “Live @ the Office” concert series? Give me a shout at ben@sandpointreader.com and

Crossword Solution

WATCH

please include a link to your music. As we are a small space There are a lot of films that take above a restaurant, we don’t place in bars. “Cocktail,” “Casafeature any drums or super loud blanca,” “Road House,” and “Baramplified music.

Fly” are all top contenders, but one of my favorite hails from the nostalgic 1990s... and it’s money, baby.

“Swingers” stars the inimitable comic team Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, who take Los Angeles (and Vegas) by storm, making Tiki lounges and zoot suits popular again.

The film’s writing is excellent, and several of the scenes make you want to pull out your hair (the montage of Favreau calling the same women over and over again all night still makes me cringe).

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w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

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

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

Looking east at the Sandpoint Marina and the railroad tracks. This shot was taken in mid-January by Ben Olson in 2006.

2006 Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

CROSSWORD ACROSS

The same view today. Aside from the change of seasons, the Sand Creek Byway is the new addition alongside the railroad tracks.

2015

Corrections: There may be a correction on the location of last week’s “Then & Now,” but I am still investigating the information. I’ll keep you posted [BO] I also have a couple reporting errors to correct. First, a sprinkler system at the Panida hasn’t been installed yet due to lack of funds, although a fire alarm has. Second—and this one really made me feel like a doofus—I mistakenly listed Tango Cafe, not La Rosa, as the location of the history museum fundraiser. I hope no one went to the wrong place on my account. [CR] 18 /

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1. Craves 6. Booty 10. Backside 14. Lit to a higher degree 15. Buckeye State 16. Taps 17. France’s longest river 18. Adriatic resort 19. Poems 20. Smaller than normal 22. Prong 23. A gesture of assent 24. “Yippee!”

26. Reddish brown 30. Attendance counter 32. Adage 33. Whorls 37. Mortgage 38. Disney mermaid 39. Blind (poker) 40. Clarify 42. A very short time 43. French for “Man” 44. Beat 45. Bird poop 47. Yes to a sailor 48. Water source 49. Sickening 56. Ancient Peruvian 57. Ailments 58. Leg bone 59. Bearing 60. Rational 61. Decree 62. Flippant

Solution on page 17 63. Warmth 64. Adjust again

DOWN 1. Humdinger 2. Atop 3. Skidded 4. Rubber wheel 5. Breastbone 6. Not fluid 7. Ace 8. Assistant 9. Friendliness 10. Pharmacist

11. Audio communications 12. Shorthand 13. Being 21. Drunkard 25. Anagram of “Ail” 26. Welt 27. Angle of a leafstalk 28. Place 29. Casual 30. Hotel offering 31. Tall woody plant 33. Study hard 34. Module 35. Carve in stone 36. Appear

38. Urge 41. Charged particle 42. Movie house 44. Type of whiskey 45. Wish granter 46. Canker sore 47. Something of value 48. Weakling 50. Wings 51. Forearm bone 52. It ebbs and flows 53. Nile bird 54. Agreeable 55. General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade

Probably one of the main problems with owning a robot is when you want him to go out in the snow to get the paper, he doesn’t want to go because it’s so cold, so you have to get out your whip and start whipping him, and the kids start crying, and oh why did I ever get this stupid robot?

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“In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria."

- Ben Franklin

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