River Journal July 2017

Because there’s more to life than bad news

A Newsmagazine Worth Wading Through

BEAUTIFUL

BEAR GRASS Photo by Mary Franzel

Just in time for Game of Thrones: Alex Broughton is in King’s Landing (Croatia). He says Tyrion is there too... just out of sight.

July, 2017 • FREE

All Seasons

FREESTYLE MOTO X SHOW

Garden & Floral

31831 Hwy 200 Sandpoint Open Daily Monday-Saturday 9 to 6 Closed Sunday 208.265.2944

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9TH

Trees, Shrubs & Perennials Fruit, evergreen, shade & ornamental!

BUY ONE, GET ONE HALF OFF!* Equal or lesser value. Use by Aug. 15. May not be used with other offers.

Kids 50-70cc Races Inflatable Horse Relay Pre Register

Flowering beauties, stately sentinels or flavorful fruits, we’ve got the tree you need!

Gates open at 5:00pm Show starts at 6:00pm

Bonner County Fairgrounds 4203 N Boyer Rd. Sandpoint, ID 83864

The Summer Activity Guide Now Available!

Summer activities for kids include:

IN THE WATER: Junior sailing (reg by Jul 12) ON THE COURTS: One week tennis lessons, through the summer. Taekwondo, karate and self-defense (reg by Jul 25) IN THE WOODS: Walk 7B, Walk with Jane and summer hiking for teens.

ON THE FIELD: Multi-sport camp, one week long, skill based games and scrimmages. (reg by July 17) Summer activities for adults include:

Ultimate Frisbee, Ladies’ golf, tennis, yoga at City Beach Stop by City Hall to pick up your copy of the guide, or browse through it online.

NEW THIS YEAR: REGISTER ONLINE! www.SandpointIdaho.gov 208-263-3613 • 1123 Lake St. in Sandpoint • Scholarships available

And always

Custom design and repairs by Karl & Jason Special Pricing on Monthly Birthstones

WE SET THE STANDARD

Sayer’s Jewelers Inside the Bonner Mall in Ponderay. Open 7 days a week.

208.263.0010

Bonner County Fair

View or download our weekly sale ad at

Super1Foods.net

SAVE MORE every week with our mobile app! just text

7:30 pm

August 11, 2017

to

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In Sandpoint at 624 Larch St.

208.255.2417

In Bonners Ferry at 6452 Main

208.267.4000

208-290-5947 Cord Wood Lake House in Bayview fully furnished, well insulated and truly unique and special. Custom designed, incredible views and just 100 steps down to the water. Two spots to dock, two-tiered deck, shed and shared well. $410,000 20171687 Private yet close to town. This 3 bedroom, 2 bath home sits on an acre of land with plenty of trees. 30x20 shop with 220 power and 24x24 attached garage. Many recent upgrades! Covered porch, deck & firepit for enjoying the setting. $322,000 20170520 Great lot, ready to build. One of the few remaining lots available in the Pools Shore area of Lake Cocolalla . Beautiful sunrise and lake views. Community Drain Field ready for you. Close to Sandpoint and all the town has to offer. Community access close by. Bring your plans and make this your North Idaho getaway home. $50,000 20172056 You finish, two story home with bonus room over garage in Dover’s desirable Canoe Cove. Plans and permits on file with the city.

Bring your builder to finish. Foundation in place. $199,000 20171932 Hidden Gem just 10 minutes from Sandpoint. 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths on over 36 acres. Unique, custom home.

Panoramic views, detached garage, shop, guest quarters. Greenhouse, perennial gardens, orchard. Haven for wildlife. This is why people move to North Idaho. Must see. $1,275,000 20171242

Call Carol Curtis Asso. Broker, GRI, Realtor

208-290-5947 Page

July 2017

A News Magazine Worth Wading Through ~just going with the flow~ P.O. Box 2656 Sandpoint, ID 83864 www.Facebook.com/RiverJournal (Webpage under redesign) 208.255.6957 • 208.266.1112 RiverJournalIdaho@gmail.com

STAFF Calm Center of Tranquility

Trish Gannon • trishgannon@gmail.com

Ministry of Truth & Propaganda

Jody Forest • reach him in the great beyond

Sales & Other Stuff

David Broughton• 208.290.6577 • davidcbroughton@gmail.com

“We are what we repeatedly do.

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle Proudly printed at Griffin Publishing in Spokane, Wash.

509.534.3625

Contents of the River Journal are copyright 2017. Reproduction of any material, including original artwork and advertising, is prohibited. The River Journal is published the first week of each month and is distributed in over 16 communities in Sanders County, Montana, and Bonner, Boundary and Kootenai counties in Idaho.

The River Journal is printed on 40 percent recycled paper with soy-based ink. We appreciate your efforts to recycle.

THE RIVER JOURNAL • July 2017 •

6. AFFORDABLE HOUSING. Community gathers to search for solutions. TRISH GANNON 7. GETTING OUT (OR INTO) SANDPOINT. Road improvements downtown will require paying attention this summer. CAROL CURTIS 7. CAN’T WE GET ALONG? International conflict resolution specialist makes presentation to community. TRISH GANNON 8. LOCAL NEWS. Cell phones in Wash. state, sailing film, pancake breakfast and final River Journal.

TRISH GANNON

10. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. Mike meets the new neighbors. MIKE TURNLUND - A BIRD IN HAND 11. IS PARKINSON’S AN AUTO-IMMUNE DISEASE? In one day, A.C. looks at the evidence. A.C. WOOLNOUGH - ALL SHOOK UP 12. IDAHO POLITICAL NEWS. Supreme Court hears veto arguments, repealing Obamacare, Indivisible banned from Sandpoint parade. GIL BEYER-HERE IN THE MIDDLE 14. SOMETHING WITTY THIS WAY COMES. A perfect storm ends midway. SCOTT CLAWSON - ACRES N’ PAINS

Cover photo: BEAUTIFUL BEARGRASS. Mary Franzel, goat ambassador extraordinaire on Scotchmans Peak, came upon what’s called a “mass bloom” of beargrass this June. These events happen every five to ten years. Despite the name, bears do not eat bear grass, though they do use the leaves as a nesting material. Mary shares that the Lewis & Clark expedition was the first to use the name bear grass, which was the common name for a similar-looking plant, yucca. Bear grass can grow up to 5 feet in height in ideal conditions, and is found in the higher elevations of Bonner County. Bear Grass (Xerophyllum tenax) is part of the corn lily family and is resistant to fire. It can be a good support for pulling yourself up the side of a steep hill.

Our Thanks to these fine businesses where you can pick up a copy of the River Journal: Athol Dairy Depot Holiday Shores Safeway Athol Conoco Burger Express Clark Fork Bonners Visitor Center Westmond Sandpoint City Hall Hay’s Chevron Noxon Westmond Store Sandpoint Super Drug Monarch Market Big Sky Pantry Sagle Gas n’ Go Clark Fork Beverage Aitken’s Quik Stop Sagle Conoco Super 1 Foods Samuels Noxon Mercantile Sandpoint Ponderay Samuels Service Station Trout Creek Waterfront Conoco The Hoot Owl Cafe Elmira Trout Creek Local Store The Panida Theater Babe’s One Stop Elmira Store Thompson Falls Vanderford’s Books Co-Op Country Store Naples Harvest Foods Eichardt’s The Bonner Mall Naples Gen. Store Plains DiLuna’s Cafe Schweitzer Conoco Bonners Ferry Conoco/Town Pump Columbia Bank Hope Super One Foods The Printery July 2017

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THE CHALLENGE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING Community leaders come together to seek solutions to a growing problem For the first quarter of 2017, the median price of a home sold in Bonner County was $245,950*. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income in the county is $42,171.

There is a disparity between those two numbers. Following the general recommendation of most lenders, your home should cost no more than four times your income. Therefore, a family earning a median salary here cannot afford to purchase the median-priced home.

(Your purchase power varies depending on your credit, debt burden, and amount saved for a down payment.)

Those numbers are also not good for renters.

A landlord who finances that median priced home would have to charge over $1,400 a month in rent just to cover the up-front costs of mortgage, property tax and interest. And that doesn’t include income tax or property maintenance.

This is why Bonner County has a dilemma in affordable housing, a problem the Bonner Community Housing Agency is working to tackle.

Chris Bassett is the executive director of BCHA, and in June he pulled together a summit of those in the community with an interest in solving that problem. The goal was to understand the issues involved, and brainstorm solutions.

The housing agency is already

FOR RENT

working to address the problem by providing assistance to under-powered buyers. BCHA can provide up to $40,000 in a no-interest, no payment second loan for qualified buyers to be used toward a down payment, closing costs, and other buyer expenses. The second loan is repaid when the house is sold. BCHA also provides support and education for how would-be buyers can bring their credit score up to a point where they qualify for a bank loan, and in understanding how to budget. But the agency faces a huge problem in fully addressing the issue: a lack of available housing. BCHA can help those looking to purchase a home costing $219,000 or less—well below the median sales price today.

“We’re always looking for homes that can be sold to our applicants,” Basset

said. There just aren’t many of those on the market.

BCHA ideally looks for homes under $200,000, due to the cost of repairs needed to make homes lendable.

Although potential solutions to the issue of affordable housing are not littering the ground, one bright point is the wide variety of people in the community that showed up for the forum, willing to work toward finding the answers.

“It’s clear our community is concerned about making our community livable for a wide variety of people,” said Basset. Two of three county commissioners, the mayor of Sandpoint, members of area city departments, large employers and small business owners, service providers, the Chamber of Commerce... “it’s not typical (in other communities) to find so many different groups willing to work on solutions.”

Action plans developed at the summit focused on assisting employers with finding housing, land use and zoning issues, searching out rental and home ownership opportunities, providing assistance to landlords, and addressing transitional housing needs. A follow up meeting is planned in six months.

-Trish Gannon * Presented at the summit by Jim Haynes, Realm Partners

HOW THE BONNER COMMUNITY HOUSING AGENCY CAN HELP RIGHT NOW SELLERS: Older properties in need of repair can be difficult to sell. If you own such a home and want to sell, contact BCHA about the potential of your home becoming a part of the program.

LANDLORDS: Landlords can apply to join a federal rental assistance program. In return for providing lowincome rentals, the program pays the landlord the difference between fair market rental values and the amount charged to low-income renters.

BUYERS: If you have a two-year work history, a credit score of at least 630, and a debt-to-income ratio less than 43 percent, you can qualify for purchase assistance up to $40,000 in a no-interest, no-payment second loan. Income limits based on size of household apply.

BONNERHOUSING.ORG • 208.263.5720 Page

July 2017

Peace Garden Grows in Sandpoint Community, shared, safe, tranquil, sanctuary, contemplative, peaceful, labyrinth—these words describe an initiative being undertaken by First Presbyterian Church to change the use of its yard at 417 N. Fourth Street in Sandpoint into a Peace Garden for everyone to enjoy.

The time had come to remove some older playground equipment and do something new and creative. The church embraced the idea of creating a space that the community could also utilize. FPC envisions people sitting on the grass for a picnic; reading a book in the shade on the bench; resting in the gazebo that will be built; walking around the labyrinth (that is going to be incorporated), or spending a contemplative moment at the Peace Pole.

The goal is to involve the community in the process of constructing the space, and to communicate there is a new place in town that will allow one to relax and reflect. It creates a partnership, both in the creation and use of the space, to transform the area into an outdoor

sanctuary of spiritual welcome to all, regardless of their faith or beliefs.

The project has slowly begun. The yard was surveyed by Lance Miller.

The existing memorial garden area, dedicated to Jane Haynes, has been moved forward toward the street for better visibility, and a thank you goes to Florascape Nursery for some new plants.

A little library stand has been built

by Lyn Anderson and will be installed near the sidewalk with free books. The overall peace garden plan and labyrinth path has been designed by Karen Oleson of SiteLine Design. A patio where a BBQ can be placed, and food can be served, has taken shape. The Sandpoint Rotary will build a gazebo in the middle of the yard.

Many people at FPC have helped with each step—Pastor Andy and Shawna Kennaly, Sue and Don Helander, Jill and Dan Murphy, Anna Bates, Tim Cochran, Cynthia Dalsing, Chuck and Mary Bauer, Bart Casey, Mary Sturgis, Marilyn Robertson, Judy Labrie, the Pietsch Family and others. More work parties will be scheduled so all are welcome to contribute time and talents

to the process.

A fundraiser for the Peace Garden is going to held this August; the date is forthcoming. The event will be a Peace Market where a 10 x 10 ft space can be rented for $10; add a table if needed for $10, and the area will be set up so anyone can sell their wares and have some time to visit and get to know each other. Food and beverages will be available. The hours will be from 8:30 am to 1 pm. The point of contact for more information is Judy at 208-290-3119 or registration@fpcsandpoint.org to reserve a space and/or volunteer to help out.

This fundraiser/community mixer is an opportunity for FPC to get to know its neighbors and larger community partners. The goal of the Peace Market is to simply sell excess stuff, simplify lives, down-size, recycle and reuse, but most importantly, spend some enjoyable time together. And anyone interested in advancing the Peace Garden project is welcome to inquire, attend the market or buy a table.

by Carol Curtis

CAN’T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG? FREE community presentation on resolving conflict with Ken Cloke, July 13 Long known as a bastion of neighborliness, even North Idaho, it seems, is affected by contentious times. National discourse—if judged by television news—is little more than a shouting match, and local issues—from school levies to wilderness designation and even the development of a county map—now routinely draw crowds of angry people to protest action by our government. In various local forums, residents now seem just as likely to run into a jerk as they are to a friendly neighbor. Learning to resolve conflict in a healthy way will be a priority for moving forward.

In North Idaho, we have just the man to point us in the right direction.

Ken Cloke, of Hope, is internationally recognized for his work in conflict resolution. For over a decade he has applied his extensive legal background to mediation and conflict resolution, establishing both the Center for Conflict

July 2017

Resolution, based in Santa Monica, Calif., and the international organization Mediators Beyond Borders.

Cloke’s work ranges from individual conflicts to disputes between countries, and he says the same set of skills are needed in any type of dispute resolution.

In a free presentation to the local community on July 13, he will expand on how our local people can get along to get things done.

Sponsored by Sandpoint Magazine and KRFY local radio, the presentation will take place in the Columbia Bank community room (next to the Tango Cafe) beginning at 5:30 on Wednesday, July 13.

Refreshments will be provided, and all interested are invited to attend.

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WASH. CLAMPS DOWN ON CELL PHONE USE If you’re headed across the border to the west, be prepared for a new rule about using your cell phone while driving: DON’T. Washington has recently passed a law banning cell phone use by drivers.

This includes: no use while driving, stopped in traffic, or at a stop light, and the law applies to phones, tablets, laptops, games, or other hand-held electronic devices.

This new law does not apply if a driver is contacting emergency services.

Drivers can use hand-held devices

when they are pulled over out of the flow of traffic.

Hands-free use, such as through Bluetooth, they say, is allowed as is a single touch to start a function.

In addition, drivers in Washington can now get a $100 ticket for other types of distractions such as grooming, smoking, eating, or reading if the activity interferes with safe driving and you are pulled over for another traffic offense.

Transit and emergency vehicle drivers are exempt from this law, while

drivers of commercial vehicles must follow federal laws. Two-way radio, citizens band radio, and amateur radio equipment are not included in the law.

Your first ticket will cost at least $136.

Get a ticket again within five years, and the cost goes up to $235. In addition, all violations will be shared with insurance companies.

So if you’re going into Washington state, make sure that cell phone is turned off, or put it where you can’t reach it.

SENSE THE WIND: SAILING FILM In regattas across the U.S. and communities, as far as New Zealand as in outreach and beginning distribution. abroad, visually impaired sailors learn at home in Idaho.

The film was given a Humanitarian not to fear what they cannot see. They On Friday, July 7, at 7:00 pm, a Award at the Socially Relevant Film sail by feel: sensing the breeze on a filmmaker screening will be held at the Festival NY, was recently brought cheek or tension in the tiller, listening to Panida Theater of Sense the Wind: Blind to Tokyo, played many festivals and the pattern of waves hitting the hull and sailors race across open water. The continues to show globally. sails luffing in the wind. Sighted guides hour-long documentary, sponsored by Watch the film at the Panida Theater, describe the racecourse and give tactical the Sandpoint Sailing Association, will 300 N 1st Ave in Sandpoint Friday, July race advice. On the water disability is no be followed by a Q&A with NY based 7. Admission is $5 minimum, and all longer a focus.

Producer/Director Christine Knowlton. ages are welcome.

The film Sense the Wind tells of the Six years in the making, Sense the Photo by Barb Perusse journey undertaken by four blind sailors Wind is making its way around the globe — Nancy, Inky, Philip and Matt — as they train and compete at the Blind Nationals and press toward Japan’s Blind Sailing World Championships. It follows the evolution of these individuals over several years as they advance as sailors, through life’s turns — medical challenges, marriage, retirement and the vicissitudes of their sport, still new and evolving. Over time they help shape the future of blind sailing.

The film provides a rich narrative content for viewers whether sighted, blind, vision impaired, disabled or for anyone in search of an inspiring story.

It subtly challenges one to consider what is possible and to re-examine what disability means. A variety of international advisory partners and diverse community organizations are interested in screening the film. They include disability and adaptive sports programs, libraries and educational institutions, and of course, sailing Page

July 2017

AUGUST TO BE LAST RIVER JOURNAL With a little bit of sadness, and a lot of relief, it is time to bid farewell to the River Journal. August will be the last issue we publish.

For almost 24 years, since December of 1993, we have been publishing a newspaper, and then a magazine, “worth wading through” for the people who live in this beautiful watershed we all share. For the last 16 of those years, it’s been my baby alone, with the help of some of the finest writers around. And I am tired. We are tired.

It has been a great privilege for all these years to bring you the news—good and bad but mostly good—of the place we call home.

For me, it has been a particular privilege

and joy to share stories of Clark Fork, what I believe to be one of the finest communities to be found anywhere in the world.

Thank you to all of you who have picked up this magazine to read, who have kept it on your coffee tables, next to the toilet, or on the counter in your business to freely share.

Thank you to the people and businesses who have advertised on our pages. And thank you to all who have, at one time or another, put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) to share your thoughts on this world around us.

At right: The first issue of the River Journal printed in December, 1993

SAM OWEN FIRE HOSTS PANCAKE BREAKFAST The Sam Owen Fire District will host its 13th annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, July 22 at the Sam Owen Fire Station #1. A scenic drive along Highway 200 will get you there, at the junction of Peninsula Road and Highway 200 in Hope.

A steaming hot breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, juice and coffee or tea breakfast will be served from 7:30 am to 11:00 am, only $5 for adults and $2.50 for kids under 12.

After breakfast take time to tour the station, meet the firefighters and new Fire Chief Jeff Wilkins, and congratulate outgoing Fire Chief of 15 years, Bob Wathen, on his upcoming retirement. You’ll have the opportunity to sit in the trucks, meet Phineas, the firedog and try on the equipment. It’s surprising how heavy it is. There will be free handouts for the children and the first 50 children will receive fire chief hats.

This is the major community event and only fundraiser for the Sam Owen Fire District. The monies raised are used for supplies for the fire house, including uniforms, communication devices, and

important firefighting equipment. Over 60 volunteers, plus the firefighters and fire chief spend untold hours to collect donations, cook the meal and serve you a delicious breakfast. 2017 marks our 15th anniversary and we invite you to join us and celebrate. For more information about this event call 208-264-5354.

The Sam Owen Fire District is committed to providing the highest level of fire protection and emergency services to all its residents, businesses and visitors. The District’s volunteer staff, made up of local residents of various ages and backgrounds, has been trained and equipped for both structure

July 2017

and wildlands fire fighting, including past medics from the Navy, past wildland firefighters, pilots, and CPAs—they all donate their time and expertise.

They train three times a month to hone their skills and keep up on the most current methods. The volunteers have either completed or are completing the nationally recognized Essentials 1 training course for fire personnel. In addition, a number of the volunteers are qualified EMTs and others have completed training in first aid, life support, rescue and extrication.

With several fully equipped fire fighting and rescue trucks, the District is able to respond to any fire or emergency situation. The rescue vehicle has the latest in extrication, land and water rescue equipment. The four-wheel drive wildlands vehicle can reach our most remote areas, and many of the volunteers have completed intensive training in wildlands fire fighting.

To learn more about the Sam Owen Fire District and its services, or volunteer opportunities, contact Sam Owen Fire Chief Bob Wathen at 2645745.

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M

oving means new neighbors.

This is true for human neighbors as well as animal ones. And this spring I acquired new neighbors when I moved from Sandpoint to the morerural area of Sagle. While the distance I moved was short, about ten miles as the crow flies, the change in neighbors was great. What I lost in human neighbors, I gained in feathered ones.

Being a bird nerd, one of first things I wondered about when I moved onto the new property was what bird species I would be encountering. It was early spring when I moved; there was still snow on the ground, and none of the summer resident species had yet arrived. I was pleasantly surprised this past month that one of my new summer neighbors is a family of Black-headed grosbeaks. Yay! I never encountered these in my backyard in Sandpoint.

Important note on names: “grosbeak” is not a family, nor a genus. Grosbeak does not come from a taxonomy—it is a description. It simply means “big beak.” There are a handful of wonderful grosbeaks in our area—Pine grosbeak, Evening grosbeak, Black-headed grosbeak, perhaps a few others—and they may not even be closely related. But they all have comparatively oversized beaks. Early ornithologists naturally assumed that these superficially similar birds must all be related, hence grosbeak was a taxon.

This didn’t stand the test of time.

The Black-headed grosbeak is a beautiful bird, simply one of the prettiest birds in our area. When you encounter your first one, it will get your attention.

It will stand out.

As with many other songbirds (passerines), the male Black-headed grosbeak is the prettiest representative of the species. He’s all orange, black, and white: orange body all around,

A Bird in Hand

Do you love birds, and want to know more? Check out Mike’s bird photos, online at birdsidaho. blogspot.com.

Page 10

Black-Headed Grosbeak: My newest, coolest neighbor

black wings with large white bars and spotting, a black tail, and a distinctive black head. The female’s coloration is similar to the males, but more demure in intensity. The female also sports a prominent eyebrow stripe, similar to a female Red-wing blackbird. Juvenile Black-headed grosbeaks look like their mother, except with the addition of streaking on the breast.

Oh, and those wing bars (the tail too!). My goodness! A male in flight is a sight to behold. If you’ve never seen a Black-headed grosbeak in the field, a male in flight will turn your head. A real “wow” moment. Interestingly, it takes males two years to get their adult plumage.

I did not get Black-headed grosbeaks to visit my backyard in Sandpoint. Why not? Because they’re not normally a “city” bird. They prefer a lot of trees, ideally a mixed forest. This probably reflects the fact that in the summer they eat a lot of insects and feed their babies insects. The more and different types of trees perhaps reflects the greater number of insects and other small crawly things available to be consumed.

They also eat a great variety of plant products, such as seeds and berries, but bugs predominate in the summer. Of note is the fact that in the bird’s winter habitat (Mexico) they are one of the few birds able to eat the Monarch butterfly, which is toxic to most animals. They are probably the primary predator of the Monarch.

I attract the Black-headed grosbeak to my outdoor feeding platform with whole (not shelled) sunflower seeds.

With those large beaks, they can easily handle them and they seem to enjoy them. They most often appear in the morning.

My experience with Black-headed grosbeaks is that they seem to be upper canopy birds, meaning they like to nest and forage in the upper branches of the neighborhood trees. In other words, they’re way up there and hard to see.

Thus the essential role of a platform

feeder (in my world) to get them down to earth and viewable. Your experiences might be different, but this is what works for me.

If you don’t see ‘em, you’ll hear ‘em.

The male’s song very much resembles that of a robin. In fact, if you’re casual in your bird identification by song, you’ll assume that beautiful and robust singing emanating from the top of that Grand fir is a robin. It’s not.

The Black-headed grosbeak’s song is faster and more intense than that of the robin. But once you get down the differences, you won’t confuse them. It is difficult to describe a bird song with words, let attempt to contrast two very similar ones. Find a good web site, e.g.

Cornell’s, and listen to the differences.

The Black-headed grosbeak is a western bird, in the summer ranging from southern British Columbia to New Mexico, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast. It’s east-coast equivalent is the Rose-breasted grosbeak. While the male Black-headed and the male Rose-breasted grosbeaks are quite dissimilar, the females are practically identical. This is probably one of the reasons why many taxonomists classify the two species as being conspecific, meaning that they’re really the same species. They interbreed where their ranges overlap in the central part of the continent. By the way, reliable birders (near the Montana/Idaho border) have shared with me their observations of seeing Rose-breasted grosbeaks at their bird feeders.

I love my new home in rural Sagle for a variety of reasons, but being a different habitat for bird species is an exciting one. And having the Blackheaded grosbeak as a new neighbor, at least for the summer, is a wonderful complement to the many flowers that are now in bloom in my backyard. Plus, they sing beautifully.

Get out there and meet your neighbors. I hope the grosbeaks introduce themselves. Happy birding!

by Mike Turnlund • mturnlund@gmail.com

July 2017

Is Parkinson’s an Autoimmune Disease?

F

by A.C. Woolnough • acwooly@gmail.com

ull disclosure: I am not a doctor, nurse, therapist or any type of medical professional.

I do, however, live with a chronic (it’s never going away) and progressive (it’s going to get worse) disease: Parkinson’s. What I am about to share comes from personal experience, medical research, media and other reference material. Any errors of fact or conclusion are mine.

In general, autoimmune diseases are those in which the body, for some known or unknown reason, attacks itself—destroying the body’s own tissue. Examples include Celiac disease, Sjogren’s disease, arthritis, Multiple Sclerosis and lupus. All together there are over a hundred such intrusions into our general well being. Some are relatively easy to treat like Celiac, which simply (?) requires a gluten free diet. Others are much more complex—attacking multiple tissues and systems—like MS. In layman’s terms, the mechanism for this is our normally beneficial killer T-cells (a key part of our immune system) which identify our own body tissue as a foreign invader and attack.

Until recently, scientists suspected, but could not prove, that Parkinson’s was one of these autoimmune diseases.

Unfortunately, they still can’t prove it, but they’re another step closer to an understanding of the mechanisms and causes of, and potentially better treatment for, this disease. That’s how science usually works—incremental steps leading to reproducible results that validate (or invalidate) a hypothesis.

In last month’s column, I introduced Dr. Sulzer of Columbia University.

In March, I had the privilege of participating in his autoimmune study for People with Parkinson’s—better known as PWP’s or Parkies. It is this study that provides evidence (not proof) that PD may be an autoimmune disease.

Scientific studies are generally published in a journal—available for peer review, criticism or validation.

Before attempting to explain the

results of this study, I thought it might be enlightening, and fun, to share the actual abstract of this study as published in Nature with Dr. Sulzer listed as lead author. Don’t be overwhelmed—it will all make sense in the following paragraphs.

“Genetic studies have shown the association of Parkinson’s disease with alleles of the major histocompatibility complex. Here we show that a defined

All Shook Up A.C. Woolnough is a member of PDF’s People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council set of peptides that are derived from alpha-synuclein, a protein aggregated in Parkinson’s disease, act as antigenic epitopes displayed by these alleles and drive helper and cytotoxic T cell responses in patients with Parkinson’s disease. These responses may explain the association of Parkinson’s disease with specific major histocompatibility complex alleles.“ Did you get all that? I’ve read it a few dozen times and I’m still confused.

Fortunately, other folks have explained it in terms that make sense and show how important this research is. Part of what makes science fascinating is how the various pieces come together as we learn more. Dr. Sulzer likens the process to completing a jigsaw puzzle—even if we don’t have the complete picture.

A few columns back, I wrote that researchers believe PD may start in the gut—a protein (alpha synuclein) begins to misfold and this is first observed in the gut. For some reason, these misfolded proteins in the brain may begin to clump and lead to brain cell death—the hallmark of Parkinson’s.

However, scientists don’t know exactly how and why that happens. In the gut, killer T-cells (remember them?) go after the clumps of misfolded protein and eliminate them—with no apparent harm to our body. Unfortunately, in the brain, these T-cells appear to kill the

July 2017

brain cells while attempting to eliminate the protein clumps.

The million dollar question is, “So what?” IF Parkinson’s is an autoimmune disease, the potential for development of new treatments is obvious. There are numerous immune system drugs in existence that may be re-purposed.

It may be possible to develop new therapies that prevent brain cell death— thus preventing Parkinson’s.

And that brings us full circle to why I believe research is so important and why I have participated in more than a dozen studies. If researchers develop an effective means to prevent brain cell death due to these misfolded proteins, we still have a major problem.

As of today, we do not have any way to tell who might get PD. We have no biomarker—no test or procedure to determine who might hear those chilling words, “You have PD.” In other words, we may have a solution without a means to identify who may benefit.

Again, we’re left with an incomplete puzzle.

I choose to be optimistic because more and more pieces of the puzzle are beginning to fit together. Soon, we may have the complete picture and an end to Parkinson’s.

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Idaho Political News

Supreme Court hears veto arguments, repealing Obamacare, Indivisible banned from Sandpoint parade

A

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s recently as June 15 the Idaho Supreme Court was still hearing arguments regarding the Governor’s veto of the grocery tax bill, a case brought by 30 legislators who argued he had passed the 10-day deadline the Idaho constitution allows in which the governor can veto a bill. This debate is no longer about the grocery tax. It has become a fight over the way we choose to look at the Constitution and the laws deriving from it.

On one side we have the Legislators saying that the Constitution should not be changed from its initial drafting, which states the governor has just 10 days from the time the legislature adjourns in which to veto a bill. The Governor and Secretary of State say

Here in the Middle

A retired Navy man, Gil Beyer has been active in local politics.

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the Constitution is a living document subject to interpretation as determined by the Court, as it was in Cenarusa v. Andrus in 1978. In that case, the Supreme Court stated that after the legislature is adjourned for the year, the Governor has 10 days from the time a bill arrives on his desk in which to veto.

Otter’s veto of the repeal of the grocery tax did not occur within 10 days of legislative adjournment, but did happen within 10 days of his receipt of the bill.

Legislators argue the wording of the Constitution is inviolate. The Legislators’ attorneys argued the precedent set in 1978 was wrong and that the original language of the Constitution is very clear.

The arguments from the Governor say the Constitution offers guidance and can be interpreted as situations evolve.

The Governor and Secretary of State say that the 1978 ruling on Cenarusa v.

Andrus was a correct interpretation and should be upheld. It is all a matter of perspective—even for me.

The Court heard from both sides. It will all come down to whether the Court

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July 2017

decides on a strict originalist view of the Constitution or if the Court accepts a newer interpretation.

I was originally in favor of the bill because a repeal of the grocery tax would be better for low income Idahoans. But that is no longer the question. Now, the way the arguments are being phrased, I believe that we need the Constitution to be a living document that changes with the times.

The grocery tax bill can be brought to the floor in the next session.

Moving on—by the time this is read Independence Day will have passed and I’m wondering what will happen during the parade in Sandpoint. We celebrate this event coming together as Americans, a time when we honor the simple fact we can overcome any obstacles when we work together.

This year one group—Indivisible Sandpoint—is prohibited from joining this celebration. Indivisible Sandpoint operates with the tagline: Working together to resist the Trump Agenda in Sandpoint, Idaho The group has been called out on social media as calling for a boycott of local businesses. Rachel Castor, a spokesperson for Indivisible, said that no such boycott had been called nor would it be called for from their group.

Regardless of your political views we should all be allowed to participate on the 4th of July. No one should be denied the right to march. After all, we allowed the GOP to march when they announced in 2010 that they would do everything they could to ensure that President Obama was a one term president. What is the difference in the goals of the two organizations? Both had strong feelings about a sitting president. Both wanted to change the status quo and both worked within the system to achieve that goal.

So why can one group be allowed to march and the other not? Have we become so polarized that differing opinions cannot be heard? Are we so divided that simply walking with a sign cannot be tolerated? It is high time that we came together to solve our many problems instead of saying, ‘it’s my way or the highway!’ It is time for reasonable people on both sides of an issue to talk about solutions we can agree on.

Because if we don’t the extremes—left and right—will do things that no one agrees with.

Speaking of things that no one likes, let’s talk about access to health care.

The U.S. House passed a bill no one was happy with, with the possible exception of Idaho representatives Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson and their ilk, both of whom voted in favor. It passed with a bare majority.

The Senate GOP leadership knew that the House bill was a non-starter.

So they crafted a bill they thought could get the 50 votes necessary. Fifty votes so that Vice President Pence could break the tie. Even Trump says both of these bills adversely affect ‘his base’ by cutting Medicaid. The funny thing about this cutting into the state’s Medicaid is that it hurts those very voters who I believe gave the GOP the presidency and the congress. So much for campaign promises. Go figure!

In Idaho—one of the reddest of the Red states—there is a gap in Medicaid coverage that will potentially mean 68,000 Idahoans will lose their coverage.

On a purely statistical analysis that means approximately 45,000 to 50,000 will be Republicans. Julie Rovner, Chief Washington Correspondent at Kaiser Health News, said during an interview with NPR, “... as one economist described it, they’ll face a choice between paying a premium they can’t

afford or paying a deductible they can’t afford.”

The GOP is so eager to finally get ‘Obama Care’ (actually, the Affordable Care Act) repealed they are willing to sacrifice many who voted for them.

They so want a ‘win’ after seven years of trying they are willing to hurt tens of thousands of voters. It is a clear case of Party over Country.

I’m reminded of the McCarthy hearings of the early 1950s. Attorney Joseph N. Welch, subjected to questions from Senator ‘Tail Gunner Joe’ McCarthy about a younger lawyer not directly involved in the hearing stated, after repeatedly refusing to answer the question, “At long last, have you no sense of decency?” At which time the audience erupted in applause.

We should ask all of our elected representatives that same question.

One last note—the pro-Trump ‘Spirit of America’ rally at the Greyhound Park in Post Falls was up against Ironman and Hoopfest. It drew 200 people at its peak. Heather Scott, as reported in the Spokesman Review, said the number didn’t matter as it was close to the 3 percent who fought in the Revolutionary War. Most scholars believe around 30 percent of the populace fought in that war. It seems that Rep. Scott, like our President, just makes stuff up.

by Gil Beyer • 40vintage@gmail.com

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Page 13

( as maybe read by Rod Sterling ) The violence lasted but a split second; the pain and swelling, however, had some longevity attached to it. It was regretted immediately of course, but not nearly quick enough to prevent it from happening in the first place.

After 30 years of marital bliss, Mildred Spitz had had just about enough of her often retarded husband’s knee-jerk humor concerning her cooking and her politics, flatulently eloquent material he considered worthy of awards as well as rewards.

So she rewarded him this time with the flat side of her smallest cast iron pan, a six incher weighing in at a mere nine ounces. Having just sautéed some mushrooms, it was a might hot. It also had a nice high ring to it whenever struck with a wooden spoon. An “OW!” accompanied this particular ring tone along with the sudden appearance of a goose egg.

She’d been building herself a birthday pizza when a disparaging remark about our previous president (her all-time favorite) fell unchecked, as they often did, out of her husband’s mouth. It didn’t help him that he only stood 5 foot 2*, leaving his large, openly empty forehead in dangerous territory. A surprisingly pleasant high-pitched ringing in his ears replaced the punch line he was working up to before it could escape his lips and contaminate the atmosphere.

by Scott Clawson

It was Millie’s 50th birthday and simultaneously the first day of her 444th and very last monthly cycle tour of cramps, irritability, bloating, dancing hormones and inexplicable mood swings, though each would revisit on their own every once in a while for Auld Lang Syne and also for their nationally acclaimed economic benefits.

If this were a weather pattern, it would have been classified as ‘all the fixin’s for a perfect storm’.

Maynard, still on his feet, had done a complete “oneeighty” both physically and mentally and was now staring out the kitchen window at the ferns and wild daisies waving in the warm summer breezes. Rubbing his egg, he was torn between the notion of retrieving his lost punch line so he could finish his joke (which wasn’t currently as funny as it seemed a minute ago) and maybe answering the phone.

Mildred, wanting to put her hot skillet in the sink, had to give her husband yet a different kind of goose to clear him out of the way.

That’s how Maynard’s upper set of dentures ended up in a flowering African Violet sunning itself in the bay window and now sporting a crooked but quite toothy half-grin.

This did not go unnoticed by either spouse and prompted

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Page 14

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by two simultaneous giggle-snorts, the kitchen sink suddenly overflowed with laughter, chortling, hugs, kisses, tears and some madly passionate makin’ up.

Writer’s note: Here’s where I encountered a severe case of writer’s block (of all things)! Just when I was about to come up with some of this century’s most important marital and social insights to guide us through our current socio-political turmoil!

I can easily blame this on two things. The first would be that same red breasted nuthatch I was having so much fun with last issue (tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, etc.) accompanied by the even more disturbing sounds of my buddy Chris prying the ancient dry cedar siding from the exterior of my home. This, of course, sounds almost identical to a gaggle of guinea hens. If, for some reason, you can’t recall what one of those sounds like, it’s pretty distracting.

You can take my word for it. Which reminds me…

There’s a green button on my DVR remote that sets things back 10 seconds every time you push it. This is extremely handy.

It would be even handier if it worked for real life as well

and a lot easier than saying “What?” all the time.

I’ve also run across a surprising amount of other times a “backup button” could be of use. #1 – Changing what has just been said! #2 – Whenever there’s a dispute over what has just been said. #3 – Reaffirming instructions and/or directions. #4 – When you first see an ISP cruiser and you notice that you’re at the upper end of the “range of grace” allowed before getting one of their awards. #5 – Driving a finger instead of a nail. #6 – Catching fish! #7 – Wildlife encounters, including those with vehicles. #8 – Right after desert. #9 – and, of course, Making Up! * Fully extended.

Acres n Pains Scott Clawson ruminates on life somewhere in the backwoods of Careywood, and turns it all into humor.

And he’s even on Pinterest now!

(Facebook, too.)

AcresnPains@dishmail.net

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Page 15

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