SUMMER 2013
the
CABINET the
CABINET
VOL. 3, NO. 1
– ISAAC ALSOP The Cabin is a non-profit literary organization that strives to inspire a love of reading, writing and discourse throughout Idaho. Idaho Writing Camps nurture the imagination and awaken the senses through creative adventures in the art of writing.
Cover photograph: Starhead, Copperfoto Cover design: Jocelyn Robertson
GREEN SCENE 3 URBAN BEAT 15 CULTURE CLUB 19 ZOO VIEW 27
LOG CABIN PERIODICALS
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF
IDAHO WRITING CAMPS
THE CABIN
VOL.3, NO. 1 SUMMER 2013
the
CONTENTS
FEATURES 3 10 14 15 19 25 27 33 35
DEPARTMENTS GREEN SCENE
Softening the mass of concrete and asphalt
WATER FEATURES
Stuck between a squid and a Subaru
BIKE CITY
I could go anywhere
URBAN BEAT
Keep Boise weird
CULTURE CLUB
Imagine a place where people can go...
CRIMINAL ELEMENT
From The Cabin Acknowledgements Contents • 1 Teaching Writers • 1 CABINET PUBLICATION SPONSOR - Boise Weekly COVER PHOTO Starhead by Copperfoto MAGAZINE DESIGN Jocelyn Robertson
A new investigation
ZOO VIEW
Some things you can’t find in pet stores
OTHER WORLD
Not fit for human habitation
IMAGINATION STATION
Taking you to a new place, every time
THE CABIN 801 S. Capitol Blvd. Boise, ID 83702
(208) 331-8000 thecabinidaho.org virtualcabinidaho.com
STUDENT WRITERS & ARTISTS A Alsop, Isaac • 20 B Betz, Madison • 15 Block, Alison • 23 Block, Camille • 19 Britschgi, Andras • 29 C Clark, Michelle • 14 D DeVol, Claire • 9 E Edmonds, Emily • 9 Ellis, Jade • 36 F Fahnstrom, Mimi • 13 Foltz-Ahlrichs, Rosie • 40 G Gass, Mackenzie • 24 Gipson, Samantha • 28 Gisler, Philip • 15 Gude, Holden • 32 H Holloway, Challis • 14 Hurty, Claire • 14
J Jensen, Tate • 17 Jordan, Byron • 11
P Pape, Josie • 22 Price, Ian • 13
K Kraska, Luci • 5 Krause, Madeline • 33
Q Quisel, Jaelyn • 4
L Lanza, Alessandra • 7 LeBoeuf, Brieanna • 6 Lee, Dahsong • 3 Linguist, Annika • 25 Luke, Regan • 38 Lusby, Elijah • 33 M Mata, Joel • 21 McAfee, Cloesha • 31 Millard, Miya • 30 Millward, Ethan • 18 Mokwa, Leah • 37 Moone, Abby • 10 Mower, Tenaya • 24 Mullens, Camden • 5 Murphy, Sara • 12 O O’Brien, Liam • 10 O’Gara, Aiden • 16
R Rhuman, Jason • 32 Rice, Sydnie • 30 Running, Mary • 35 S Salter, Sierra • 27 Seguin, Marselus • 39 Seidl, Olivia • 39 Selander, Allyson • 6 Shalz, Marisa • 5 T Taylor, Charlie • 34 Thompson, Rose • 23 U Uriarte, Melia • 31 V Vandervelden, Lauren • 25 Vickery, Kirsten • 26 W Wachtell, Bryce • 21 Wiley, Rachel • 9
TEACHING WRITERS GUISELA BAHRUTH is a writer of fiction, poetry and prose. She has been working with young writers for more than fifteen years. One of her favorite projects has been to work with street children in Guatemala, showing them how to use literacy to find their voices. NATE GREEN grew up in Hailey, Idaho, before completing a degree in journalism from the University of Montana and a master’s degree in literature from Boise State University. He has worked as a reporter at newspapers in Wyoming and Idaho. He teaches high school English Language Arts at an American school in La Ceiba, Honduras. In his free time he likes to hike, snowboard, and read books outside. 1
“Inspiring a love of reading, writing and discourse.” ADRIAN KEIN grew up in Elko, NV and Missoula, MT. He has authored several chapbooks and collections of poetry, most recently, The Caress is a Letter of Instruction. He teaches poetry at Boise State and is a writer-in-residence with The Cabin’s Writers in the Schools program. He likes to speak French, ride his bicycle and make dinner for his wife, the painter, Kelly Packer. ALAN MINSKOFF directs the journalism program at the College of Idaho. Minskoff edited Boise Magazine and was the editorial director of Boise Journal and ArtIdaho magazines. He has taught for Idaho Writing Camps and Writers in the Schools in residencies in Caldwell, Horseshoe Bend and Idaho City. He is the author of Idaho Wine Country (Caxton Press, 2010) a collaboration with photographer Paul Hosefros. BILL PETTITT is a fiction writer and filmmaker from Phoenix, Arizona. He currently teaches creative writing, composition and the Art of Film at the College of Western Idaho. His work has appeared in Zoetrope All-Story Extra and The Robert Olen Butler Prize Anthology. RUTH SALTER has enjoyed teaching summer workshops at The Cabin since 2010. She teaches creative writing, composition, and literature at Boise State and is a board member of Big Tree Arts, a local performance poetry organization. Her poems and essays have appeared in several periodicals and anthologies, including Boise Weekly, Chiron Review, Calyx, Nerve Cowboy, and The Healing Art of Writing, and her work has been nominated twice for a Pushcart Prize. Her latest project is facilitating a writing workshop for local veterans. A seventh generation Idahoan,KERRI WEBSTER is the author of two collections of poetry, Grand & Arsenal (University of Iowa, 2012), and We Do Not Eat Our Hearts Alone (University of Georgia, 2005). Recipient of awards from the Whiting Foundation, the Idaho Commission on the Arts, and the Poetry Society of America, she teaches at BSU, CWI, and for The Cabin as a Writer in the Schools. CHRISTIAN WINN is a fiction writer, poet, journalist, and Boise State creative writing professor. He holds an MFA from Boise State, and a Bachelor of Arts from Seattle Pacific. His fiction has appeared in the Chicago Tribune’s Printers Row, McSweeney’s, Hayden’s Ferry Review, Gulf Coast, Santa Monica Review, Chattahoochee Review, Greensboro Review and others. He has won the annual Gulf Coast fiction award, and his work has been nominated for a Pushcart Award, a National Magazine Award, and Best American Mystery Stories. 2
THE LEAF AND THE TREE Dahsong Lee Grade 7, Boise
The leaf and the tree were very good friends. Yet when fall came the leaf knew his time had come to an end. When the leaves turned yellow, orange and red the leaf had no choice but to do so with them, but when the others fell and perished on the ground he couldn’t die so. He hung on. The leaf clung to the branch, defying fate. Then the tree bellowed with anger and shook himself. The leaf lost his grip and in his dying moments called the tree, “Traitor.” The tree said back, “Nature.” Then the leaf died unhappily ever after.
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GREEN
scene
BOISE GOES GREEN WITH ART Jaelyn Quisel Grade 6, Boise
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onstellations on the sidewalk, metal striations showing the growing pattern of a plant, and a giant model of plankton. These are all new pieces of art being installed around downtown Boise. “I do have a special feeling for Boise from growing up here,” said Karen Bubb, the Public Arts Manager who oversees the installation of these new art pieces. “When I was growing up in Boise, there was no art and it was king of boring. It’s exciting to install artwork in Boise as an adult.” Each piece of artwork is connected to staying green. The constellation piece shows that city lights and air pollution make it difficult to see the stars. The sculpture that shows a plant’s growing pattern is tied to helping the earth. The model of plankton represents how something tiny in the ocean can affect us humans. The pieces will be placed around the downtown area in September. “I can’t wait until they’re actually installed,” said
ON ASSIGNMENT
Bubb excitedly. The Heliotrope is the name of the sculpture that resembles the growing plant. The entire piece is made of metal and separate strands show plant fibers. At the base, plants such as ivy and flowers will intertwine with the Heliotrope. Another artist will place discs in the sidewalk in the shape of constellations from the night sky. If you’re not paying attention, you could walk right past the artwork without noticing a thing. Another new masterpiece will be a giant twenty foot long sculpture of plankton. Like the Heliotrope, the plankton statue will be made of metal. An anonymous source said, “Boisians like and deserve a greener place to be,” and all of these pieces will help.
“...lots of plants and trees will be grown to soften the mass of concrete and asphalt.”4
A GREENER PLACE? Marisa Shalz Grade 6, Boise
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any people are wondering what is happening with the construction on 8th Street. Well, here’s the answer. In June of 2013, construction workers started building a more eco-friendly downtown. They started installing art pieces, bigger bike paths and even a green roof. The “Bioswale” was the biggest proposal for this eco-friendly environment. This new drainage system will be part of the new environment. Drains will be cut into the curb and covered with metal grates so the rain can fall through before it sinks into the ground and pollutes the earth. In addition, lots of plants and trees will be planted to soften the mass of concrete and asphalt. Though some of these ideas are not yet funded, they will all hopefully be in place in the next five years, making Boise a happier and better place.
GRAY SADNESS, GARDEN CITY Camden Mullens Grade 6, Boise
GREEN ROOFS Luci Kraska Grade 6, Boise
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n the year 2013, the Boise downtown area started a project to help the city keep cool and stay cool. One way the city is cooling down is by having green roofs. A green roof is like having a garden on your roof. A green roof is part of a big 8th Street plan to help the environment. Some of the other little plans are the living wall, the Bioswale, and more. Boisians deserve this greener community. We will have shade, and the green roofs will increase the air 5
quality. If having your own green roof is too time consuming or costly, you can help the environment in different ways, too, like taking your bike to work or school. Even, if you don’t have a flat roof, you can still have a green roof. In Norðragøta, Faroe Islands, they have mats of grass on the roofs. The grass on the roofs keeps the house cool. Green roofs are a good new addition to the “Greening the Grove” concept plan.
“Greening the Grove.” 8TH STREET GOES GREEN Allyson Selander Grade 5, Boise
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ave you noticed all the noisy construction along 8th Street? Well it’s all part of a huge plan called “Greening the Grove.” It all started when an amazing group of artists had an idea and a woman named Karen Bubb sent a proposal to the mayor to completely transform downtown 8th Street. As I said earlier, this transformation is called “Greening the Grove.” A part of the process will include putting in “interactive green art.” Carefully selected artists such as Maber Conger plan to put
fun entertainment pieces in a peaceful area of 8th Street known as “The Grove.” The energy needed will come from sources such as solar, wind, and water. I recently interviewed Karen Bubb, the Public Arts Manager for this project. She explained that one of the art pieces will be pavers made of recycled glass that will glow when you step on them and whirligigs that will power street lamps and nearby interactive art. This concept, “Greening the Grove” will help create a sense of place. Karen Bubb said, “the artists found their inspirations from
TREE BIRDS Brieanna LeBoeuf Grade 5, Boise 6
plankton, stars, and plants.” An artist named Dwayne Carver got his inspiration for the Heliotrope from a plant stem. A plant stem grows straight up and then twists near the top. His art piece will do the same. Bubb said the inspiration for all the artists focused on earth, air, and water. Karen Bubb grew up in Boise, then left for fifteen years, and came back in 1997. She has many special feelings for downtown Boise.“I am very proud to be a part of this.” She also said that, “you need to address every possible problem while installing and planning the interactive art.” For example, people could slip on one of the glowing sidewalk pads. She hopes that the art will be installed in September. Interviewing her was a great experience. I am so excited to see it when it is put up!
MY EGG Alessandra Lanza Grade 5, Boise
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n my egg there are three flat screen televisions and it’s always the perfect temperature. I have a queen sized bed and food. It always smells like popcorn, but that’s probably because I have a popcorn machine. There is a river flowing through the middle and a little bridge across it. Everybody says that everything outside is different. They say that monsters want to eat you, that there are really tall things all over the place and you can get lost easily. 7
They say that there is a queen bird; and, if you do anything wrong she will eat you up. Now that I’ve been living in the egg for 3,573 years, we have to break out. The unlimited food supply is not so unlimited. With old bricks laying around and our hands we slam at the walls.
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POCKET PARKS Claire DeVol Grade 5, Boise
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he city planners have made a lot of choices while planning “Greening the Grove.” One of the plans was a new pocket park. A pocket park is a small park filled with flowers and grass. The reason for pocket parks is to cool downtown Boise a little bit. By cooling downtown, a lot of the nearby shops will get more business. People won’t want to leave due to the heat. It will benefit both pedestrians and local shop owners. PROTECTING THE WORLD WITH ART Emily Edmonds Grade 5, Parma
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ave you seen the construction on 8th Street? Do you know what they’re doing? In September, 8th Street will be transformed. Art will be added like the Heliotrope, which will attract the attention of people and to make them think about the earth. Dwayne Carver is making the Heliotrope. It will be made of steel with live winding plants. Dwayne and the other artists were afraid at first that people would climb the Heliotrope, fall and then sue the city. So metal netting will be placed around the Heliotrope preventing climbing. Another art project included in the transformation will be a magnified microscopic plankton. The reason for the piece of art is to get people to think about the ocean as part of our lives and how we shouldn’t pollute. The Plankton was made by a couple, Margo and Dennis Proska. It’s very interesting look will get a lot of people to think. The Proskas’ piece will be the biggest art piece there. The last piece of art will be a star 9
map on the ground. The hope is that people will see that stars are beautiful and then think about how air pollution and light pollution can prevent us from seeing the stars. This map has created a problem. Part of the star map will be on private property and the people who own that property do not approve. So now they are dealing with the legal problems. Everything that will happen to 8th Street has been a dream for six to seven years, but now is about to come true! LIVING WALL Rachel Wiley Grade 6, Boise
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iving wall. What is that? It’s exactly what it sounds like. It’s a wall made up of living plants and one is going to be installed in September 2013 down on 8th Street. Some of the benefits to a living wall are that it’s easy to relocate, (a living wall can be installed anywhere!) and it helps to make a place more beautiful and green. As I walked down 8th Street, I decided to stop and interview some businesses. I asked, “Do you think you will get more business with the downtown’s green improvements?” The general response I received was “Yeah, maybe.” However, when I stopped to interview a man working at Cafe Capri, I got a different response. “It might. Boisians like and deserve a greener place to be around, so maybe.” I think that living walls will help with all sorts of things. They will help with beauty, oxygen, environment, and they will begin to create a safer lifestyle. The proposal for this project came from the CCDC and the Public Works Department thanks to Karen Bubb, our Public Arts Manager. Karen helped me come to a conclusion based upon facts.
WATERfeatures THE BOISE RIVER Abby Moone Grade 7, Boise
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oise City was originally founded because the river helped in logging. Since then, it has become famous for its many water activities; the most popular being rafting and tubing. Most people think that rafting is smooth, easy, and uneventful. In truth, many parts of the river are quite dangerous and exciting, with hazards such as overhanging trees, shallow rapids, underwater branches and sharp rocks. The river used to be much higher and much faster, but even then there were just tubes – no rafts or paddles. It is much more exhilarating, with more things left to chance. The Boise river itself is 102 miles long, but the strip that is rafted
is only six miles long. Jumping and swinging are also part of the attraction. With multiple ropes hanging from trees – put up by local water lovers – many rafters feel the urge to pull over, climb, swing, and let go, flying high and landing with a splash into the cool water. There are also several concrete blocks people jump off of, whether they’re rafters or not. And let’s not forget the bridges! People jump off of those all the time. Sometimes they wait until a rafter is right underneath them and then jump, splashing the unfortunates below. If you ever think about jumping, just be careful not to land on the rocks or in the shallows.
SPIDER GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK Liam O’Brien Grade 5, Boise 10
Now there are several types of fishing in the Boise River, too, but the most popular and common is fly-fishing, although spear-fishing is becoming increasingly popular. The river has at least eight types of fish: small and large mouth bass, channel catfish, mountain whitefish, hatchery raised and wild rainbow trout, bull trout, and brown trout. The various types of fish are found in different places along the river. Snorkeling is also popular in some places along the river. The Boise River may have been the reason this city got started, but it’s now it’s a reason the city keeps going. PROFILE OF A KAYAKER Byron Jordan Grade 5, Boise
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ave you ever met a pro athlete? Well, I have. One day, when I was interviewing people at a coffee shop called Café d’Arte I met a pro kayaker named Galen Volckhausen. He looks tall, with curly blonde hair and a hat. He is eighteen. Galen has won many grand prix: the Whitewater Grand Prix, the Otter Grand Prix, and many others. He did great in all of them. When I asked him if he wanted to be in the Olympics, he said, “No! Because you don’t feel as alive.” Galen is very brave. He rides over GIANT waterfalls, and he jumps up small ones, flipping in the air. He was doing this even as a kid! He is very competitive and knows what he’s doing. So… go and find a pro athlete. I think you’ll be surprised by how much you’ll learn. 11
F.R.E.D. – (Freaking, Rabid, Enormous, Dixapod) Sara Murphy Grade 9, Boise
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he city was more chaotic than a hive of bees making honey for a queen. In all the chaos only the select few had seen, or lived to tell of seeing, Fred, the great flying squid. This majestic squid trolled the streets gobbling up the drunks and jokers between late twilight and sunrise. Fred never wanted to be seen by the humans. So, if someone was accidentally in the wrong place at the wrong time Fred would inhale them so word wouldn’t get out. I, though, am a fortunate being and have lived to tell the tale of Fred. As a marine biologist at N.O.A.A. I was blessed with knowledge to deflect the powerful squid tentacles. Let me tell you my story so you don’t think I am absolutely crazy and tried to intentionally catch a glimpse of Fred. At about 11 pm, I drove from my small cottage outside Newport to Portland. I was travelling so late because I was quite tardy in sending in my paperwork which would allow me to head out into the field later in the month. I was just east outside of downtown when I caught a glimpse of an ominous figure in a construction site. Pulling the car to a
“I was stuck, between a squid and a Subaru.” 12
screeching stop I dragged the worn-down stick shift into park. The site was pitch black, blacker than the point of a sharpie. I couldn’t see two inches in front of my face. The only light came from the rustic street lamps a half a mile down the road. But, then I saw it, from the corner of my eye. My mischievous and curious self then hopped the barbed-wire fence, something I hadn’t done since my rebellious teenage years, then, Fred appeared. It was larger than any other kraken I had observed. The squid pursued me back over the fence and cornered me between my car and the gate. I was stuck, between a squid and a Subaru. I then remembered the large monstrosity of a stuffed squid my boyfriend had given me as a present. I ran to my hatchback, popped it open and threw it at Fred. The tentacle mess engulfed the animal in its many arms and floated away. I drove away, back to Newport that night to write down all I had experienced. Believe me, or not, just wait for your own being to come face to face with Fred, if you ever travel to Portland. Beware. Be safe. Try your best not to be numbed up.
STUCK Ian Price Grade 9, Meridian
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THE NATATORIUM Mimi Fahnstrom Grade 7, Boise
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he Natatorium has been part of Boise’s history for more than a century. It is unforgettable. There are really two Natatoriums. Here is the story of the Nats then and now. In 1892, the first Nat was built. It was used in many ways. It had a hot water pool, a ballroom, and occasionally ladies would model swimsuits there. Kelly’s Hot Springs was the source of the hot water. During the winter, the pool was drained and a glass floor went over it for Christmas dances. In 1934 there was a horrible windstorm that eventually made the Nat collapse. Some people were in the pool during the storm and a pole came down, luckily it didn’t hit anyone. A roller coaster a block away collapsed as well. No lives were lost. It wasn’t until 1952 that a new Nat was built. This Nat has a pool and a hydrotube. It is popular during the summer, because it doesn’t use hot water. Both Natatoriums are very important to Boise’s history.
) ) BIKE city BOISE BICYCLE PROJECT PROFILES Challis Holloway Grade 5, Boise
Michelle Clark Grade 5, Boise
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he Boise Bicycle Project encourages people to ride by providing bikes, creating bike paths and teaching people how to fix bikes. A French man named Yann works there. He was inspired by his passion for biking. He likes to work there because he likes helping people. He got the passion for bikes from riding. “I started to ride and then figured out I could go anywhere,” he said. A friend brought him to Boise for a vacation and he fell in love with the city. He’s a tall, bearded man who’s funny and nice. So if you need help with your bike, go find Yann at the BBP.
Claire Hurty Grade 7, Boise
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BIKING IN BOISE
he Boise Bicycle Project near Ann Morrison Park is a place where workers teach others how to fix their bikes. When I was at the BBP, I interviewed a girl named Traci. I learned a lot about her, and these are the facts. Traci is forty-six. She loves to bike in the foothills, on the greenbelt, and in town. “I have been riding my bike for forty years,” she said. She moved to Boise two and a half years ago to be a wildlife educator. She used to live in Newport, Oregon, as a lighthouse keeper. Traci has whitish, yellowish hair, likes pirates, has a tattoo and wears glasses. Traci is a good example of a customer who likes bikes and the BBP.
oise has a great bike culture for many reasons. We have many bike shops around town: Idaho Mountain Touring, George’s Cycles, Boise Bicycle Project, Ken’s Bicycle Warehouse, Performance Bicycle, Bob’s Bicycles, World Cycle, Eastside Cycles, and Joyride Cycles. These are just a few. We also have 100+ miles of singletrack trails in the foothills and a 24-mile long greenbelt trail along the Boise River. Close by, Bogus Basin also has many trails. Boise also just had a race called the Twilight Criterium on July 13, 2013. The race started at 3 o’clock PM. The winners of the race were Hilton Clarke, male, from Australia and Kimberley Wells, female, also from Australia. We have bike parades such as Tour de Fat and a whole week dedicated to bikes called Boise Bike Week. If you look around downtown or just in neighborhoods, you can see people young and old riding their bikes. Not only do Boise residents find it fun to ride bikes, it is also an easy way to get around town. Along with Boise’s bike culture, the city is also home for two time gold medalist Kristin Armstrong and many other elite cyclists. You may even see them around town. I like to think that for every bike there is one less car. 14
beat bea beat URBAN beat
beat
MIND Philip Gisler Grade 6 , Boise
BOISE’S FREAK ALLEY Madison Betz Grade 7, Boise
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hen you hear the name Freak Alley you might think of scary people or even an area that you might not want to go to. But what if it was filled with inspiring paintings and murals made by locals as well as people who have traveled far to make their mark? Freak Alley was founded eleven years ago in 2002. It can be compared to Seattle’s Great Gum Wall (a wall covered in chewed up gum). A man named Colby Akers, started Boise’s Freak Alley by painting in a doorway. A few years later, he got permission to expand. The artists who fill the alley’s walls come from all over to paint on them. More than eighty artists have worked on Freak Alley. The types of art that you find there range from airbrush paint to pieces of mirror. The walls are covered with murals, that some find disturbing, others moving. Freak Alley truly keeps Boise weird, as one mural has written on it, “Keep Boise weird.” Freak Alley is an amazing gallery of street art. 15
at beat
ON ASSIGNMENT
THE BOISE HOLE Aiden O’Gara Grade 8, Eagle
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ost skyscraper operations in the hearts of cities aren’t abandoned. That’s not the case with what’s come to be a defining landmark of Boise, Idaho. Locals have come to call it “The Boise Hole.” “The Hole” was initially going to be the tallest building in Idaho but during construction in 2003, the license to build was revoked due to lack of progress. This left a large pit filled with concrete and jagged rebar in the middle of Boise. This eyesore stayed fenced off for ten years and came to be a joke of sorts among Boise residents. In 2012 however, plans for a Zion’s Bank building were submitted, intended to finally fill The Boise Hole. The idea for the building was accepted, and thus far the Zion’s Bank building is under construction. The $80 million, 392,000 square foot building is to be completed in January of 2014. This soon-to-be 18-story building will accommodate over six companies including Holland & Hart LLP, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, CTA Architects Engineers, First American Title Company, Idaho Technology Council, and Zion’s Bank. The Zion’s Bank building is being constructed on the corner of Eighth and Main streets, and includes everything from rebar to concrete to foam. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a special, one-of-a-kind tour of the
building while it was in construction and got to witness firsthand the construction taking place and materials used. I even got to see roofless floors, beams and exposed wires. On my tour, I learned that up to 75% of the rebar originally found in the Boise pit was cleaned, inspected, and reused in the making of the Zion’s Bank building. I also learned about 130 people are on site during the work day, staffing the project. During the excavation of The Boise Hole before building began, the staff ran into an opium vault. It was about eleven feet wide, fifteen feet long, and about six and a half feet tall. Apparently, the discovery of these vaults during excavation in Boise is not uncommon. I was impressed as well to discover that there will be a shower located on every floor of the building. I received a paper after my tour that contained a few logistics about what’s been come to be called, “The Eighth & Main Project.” Some of these include that the building when completed will include 3,340,000 pounds of structural steel, be 323 feet tall at its highest point, and have more than sixteen miles of electrical conduit and seventy-two miles of electrical wire in core and shell. Overall, once January 2014 arives, Boise will be down one eyesore, and up one skyscraper that will house many businesses and make the city grow as a whole.
“Keep Boise weird.”
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beat MY MIND
Tate Jensen Grade 6, Meridian
BOISE, IDAHO HERO FEATURE Mackenzie Gass Grade 8, Meridian
The courageous acts done by both regular local people and those who have the occupation to save lives are heroes in Boise. An example, is attorney named Ryan Henson who saved a suicidal client. Emma Knight, a minor, called 911 when she found her father, Gordon Knight, with his arm caught in a clay mixer. Two firefighters, Jimmy Lindsay and Bart Carrico both pulled a freezing and drowning man from a canal. Boise police officer, Bill Thomas and his dog Diesel received an award for disarming an armed murder suspect in the back of a daycare. Shane Quartes helped save a baby’s life in an emergency and very rushed delivery. An injured Master Sergeant named Kevin Wallace, originating in Boise led his team out of harm’s way in an attack
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beat IT’S OURS
Ethan Millward Grade 7, Boise
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CULTURE club BOISE MUSEUMS Camille Block Grade 7, Eagle
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oise has many wonderful, educational museums. If you want to learn about Basque culture, plate tectonics, military objects, nature, or Idaho history, you are in luck because Boise has many museums that can teach you about all of those things. The Basque Museum was established in 1985. Today, it teaches people about the prominent Basque culture in Idaho. This museum also contains the only Basque preschool in Idaho. The Museum of Mining and Geology teaches people of all ages about rock types, rock cycles, fossils, and plate tectonics. This museum also has artifacts from mining days. The Idaho Military History Museum displays firearms, uniforms, tanks, military aircrafts, and many other military based objects. There is also a museum in Boise based on a group of people and the societal prejudices they have experienced, called the Idaho Black History Museum this museum is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1995. The Old State Penitentiary is also a great place to to learn. You can learn about ex-criminals, tour the historic jail, and spend time in a spooky, ghost story kind-of-place. The Old Idaho Penitentiary once had 13,000 prisoners
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before it closed in 1973. At that time, the Old Idaho Penitentiary was converted into a museum. The Idaho Botanical Garden used to be the Old Idaho Penitentiary’s farm and nursery. However, when the Old Idaho Penitentiary closed as a prison, the Botanical Garden changed it into a public garden. The Idaho Historical Museum is the official museum of Idaho’s history. The museum manages 250,000 artifacts that range from Native American beadwork to antique saddles. The Idaho Historical Museum was the state’s first museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. The Boise Art Museum is a non-profit organization that started in 1937. The citizens that came together to form the Boise Art Association created the Boise Art Museum. The Discovery Center of Idaho has over 160 hands-on exhibits. In addition, there is a special “feature” exhibit that changes periodically. The Morrison Knudsen Nature Center has a variety of different animals to explore. The Nature Center even has an underwater viewing area to see different species of fish. Where else in the world can you find museums about plate tectonics, Idaho history, Basque culture, underwater life, art, and flowers all in the same city?
THE MORE YOU DRAW Isaac Alsop Grade 8, Boise
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IDAHO SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Bryce Wachtell Grade 9, Boise
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“...a center for comedy, entertainment, knowledge, and theatre.”
he Idaho Shakespeare Festival (ISF) has been at the heart of entertainment in Boise since 1977. Since then, ISF has educated youth, informing them of theatre arts, as well as helped Boise’s theatrical community. Now run by Mark Hofflund, Managing Director, and Charles Fee, Artistic Director, it continues to thrive. These two people specifically have helped grow and develop the Idaho Shakespeare Festival tremendously. The Idaho Shakespeare Festival
performs a variety of plays including comedies, dramas, musicals and the works of Shakespeare. The very first play debuted by the festival was in the summer of 1977, A Midsummer’s Night Dream. In the first year, the festival was only large enough to produce one play per season. Today, each season includes four productions playing in reparatory, meaning at the same time, and one in September. All sets for ISF are made specifically for the plays. Linda Buchanan and Hugh Landwehr, the people in charge of
ON ASSIGNMENT
these sets, work hard to create beautiful props and backdrops for the actors and audience. Every aspect and piece of work that goes into the Shakespeare Festival’s production is a work of art. Phenomenal actors such as Jodi Dominick and Lynn Allison have been with the Shakespeare Festival for over six years and continue to put out amazing work that is enjoyed by every audience. Appearing in plays like The Mousetrap and Romeo and Juliet, they continue to stun audiences with their talent. The Shakespeare Festival has undoubtedly been enjoyed by many Boise citizens and still stands today as a center for comedy, entertainment, knowledge, and theatre. THE MORRISON CENTER Josie Pape Grade 7, Boise
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magine a place where people can go….music lovers, acting lovers, orchestra lovers, free performance lovers, or just people who love the thrill of watching the lights dim and the curtain sweep away to backstage. The Morrison Center was first opened in 1984 in memory of Harry Morrison. Harry had originally wanted the theater in Ann Morrison Park, in memory of his first wife, Ann. However, that didn’t happen because there wasn’t
enough community support. After Harry died, Velma Morrison, his second wife, and theater director Fred Norman revived his forgotten dream. Velma made a compromise with BSU to put the center on the campus, so students could have a better theater and music experience. Fred became the Executive Director of the center. The 2,037 seat theater is an amazing place where there are performances that suit all ages. It is recognized as a major place for arts and culture, with over 100 performances in a year. Currently, from 2013-2014, the center is presenting Broadway in Boise. It is putting on shows like Chicago, Memphis, The Addams Family, Hello Dolly, and best of all, Wicked. These shows will provide a rare opportunity for Boiseans to see Broadway shows live. This performing arts center is located alongside the Boise River, with a wide view of downtown Boise, parks, and the foothills. The ten-story building is sometimes seen from the top as the shape of Idaho. Velma Morrison died on June twentieth of this year at age ninetytwo. There were a number of memorial services for her, and there will be a free performance at the Morrison Center celebrating her life. There is a large painting of Velma in the lobby of the Morrison Center. Over the years, she helped many people and organizations and her fund is still helping people today. She even supported my school.
(opposite page) Joel Mata Grade 5, Boise
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BASQUE CULTURE: JAI ALAI Alison Block Grade 8, Eagle
The ball flies at the wall at 155 mph, bouncing back with a resounding “thud.” The opposing players dive to fling the ball back, but fall short of reaching the quickly moving object.
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ecognized as one of the “fastest ball game[s] in the world,” Jai Alai is the only ball game from Basque culture to be played professionally in the United States. In this game, players use narrow, curved, hand-woven baskets to fling a ball at the wall. The baskets can take twenty to twenty-five hours to weave by local artisans. At three-fourths of the size of a baseball, the ball is made up of handwound rubber, formed into a ball shape, and then covered with two layers of goatskin. These layers need to be replaced Rose Thompson Grade 7, Boise
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every twenty minutes of play due to the ball’s incredible speed. A Jai Alai game begins when a player “throws” the ball in between designated sections on a wall, using his/her basket. Then, a player from the opposing team catches the ball and “throws” it back at the wall. The player must catch the ball in mid-air or after one bounce to return it successfully. In addition, the players may not hold the ball for more than a certain time set by the judges. Blocking an opponent from catching the ball is prohibited. Jai Alai is greatly enjoyed by people across the country. It has played a major role in Basque and American culture, and continues to be a fun and exciting source of entertainment.
I AM FINE Tenaya Mower Grade 9, Nampa
BOISE, IDAHO HERO FEATURE Mackenzie Gass Grade 8, Meridian
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he courageous acts done by both regular local people and those who have the occupation to save lives are heroes here in Boise. Examples of this are all around. There is an attorney named Ryan Henson who saved a suicidal client. Emma Knight, a minor, called 911 when she found her father, Gordon Knight, with his arm caught in a clay mixer. Two firefighters, Jimmy Lindsay and Bart Carrico both pulled a freezing and drowning man from a canal. Boise police officer, Bill Thomas and his dog Diesel received an award for disarming an armed murder suspect in the back of a daycare. Shane Quartes helped save a baby’s life in an emergency and very rushed delivery. An injured Master Sergeant named Kevin Wallace, originating in Boise led his team out of harm’s way in an attack in Afghanistan. Two police officers, Tom Fleming and Cory Bammert talked a suicidal woman off a ledge. Last but not least of these heroes is the Hill family of Boise. They saved lives by donating their teenage daughter’s organs after she was killed in a car accident. Boise wouldn’t be able to be the wonderful town that it is without its heroes. They are what make up the city of Boise, and what keeps it safe even when danger is least expected. 24
CRIMINAL element WHO WAS HARRY ORCHARD? Lauren Vandervelden Grade 8, Boise
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om Hogan? Harry Orchard? Albert E. Horsley? Who were they? The same person. But that’s not the point. The point is that he exploded Steunenberg, the former governor. He was first suspected when a man named Tom Hogan had apparently come to Caldwell to buy sheep, but really had done no such thing. It was then figured out that his name wasn’t Tom Hogan at all, but Harry Orchard, a miner. Evidence found in his hotel room made it, he was the murderer, and was arrested.
Later, Orchard told authorities that his name was really Albert E. Horsley. Orchard had been sent by officials of the Western Federation of Miners to kill the former governor. When he was caught, he was sentenced to be hanged, but his life was saved by the Commission of Pardons and Parole and his sentence was changed to a life in prison. The crime Orchard committed will be remembered forever. After his sentence of life in prison, he lived for forty-six years in the Idaho Penitentiary, dying in 1954.
CLAUDE DAVIS ESCAPE INVESTIGATION Annika Linguist Grade 8, Meridian
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laude Dallas, an infamous Idaho outlaw, was put in jail for killing two Idaho Fish and Game officers. In 1986, Dallas escaped by cutting two fences and vanishing into the desert. Investigators think his method of escape is a myth and a new investigation started in 2001. The new theory is that Claude Dallas outsmarted the jail guards and walked out the front door
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with a group of visitors. This supposedly happened shortly before 8 p.m. on March 30, 1986. Then the prison officials faked the fence-cutting to cover up the fact that they were outsmarted. Although the 2001 investigation was inconclusive and dropped in 2003, the Correction Director, Al Murphy, is still hopeful that one day they will find him.
“...he exploded Steunenberg, the former governor.”
EVIL Kirsten Vickery Grade 10, Boise
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Z OO view
OO
OO
BLACK AND BLUE FIRE UNIPEGASUS RECIPE Sierra Salter Grade 5, Kuna
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et a large gold cauldron, 1 1/2 pounds of a giant’s brain, eight eggs of a basilisk, 100,800,600 grains of sand, black pigeon feathers, a burning fire, a blue dragon’s scale, a large bowl and spoon. Put the cauldron on the fire and heat to 360 degrees. Get the bowl out and mix everything in it into a thick blue and black goo.Put goo into the caldron and let it sit for one minute. A unipegasus that is black will appear with blue fire as a tail and mane. Warning: The horse is not broken or tame. You can tame and find it though. 27
THE KOMODO EGG Samantha Gipson Grade 6, Caldwell
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“I blink viciously. I am free!”
am trapped in the egg of my mother. Inside it is dark, an endless empty universe where I float in silence. It smells of sulfur in this tomb. I see a horizon always, but as I move towards it, an invisible wall blocks me. Somewhere around, my brothers and sister float along as well. We fear escape may never come. I have heard my mother’s voice from beyond the tomb walls. She tells me about the great endlessness of the outside. She describes it in a faraway voice. It gives us hope that she may aid in our escape. Time passes and my body takes shape. Suddenly, the nothingness has filled with red warmth. I spy a shadow beyond the weakening walls. I spot my own fingers. The world is new. But it’s BORING! The walls seem to be closing in on me as some form of torture, but suddenly, there is an explosion. One of my legs bursts through the sky. Everything shatters. I blink viciously. I am free! I first see my mother’s muzzle and forked tongue. She sweeps me into her tail next to my brothers and sister. “Welcome to the world,” she whispers.
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CHEESE Andras Britschgi Grade 6, Boise
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PEREGRINE FALCON HOWL AND PHILIES: THE BIG ADVENTURE Miya Millard Grade 5, Boise
Chapter 1 nce, a little white stuffed eagle named Philies had a little boy named Howl as his owner. Howl both loved and hated Philies. One day, Howl threw Philies into the fire! Philies looked so real that he became real. When he was thrown into that fire, he became yellow, orange, and red. Philies flew straight out of that fire and landed on a wooden chair. When Philies flapped his wings, it sounded like a roaring fire. Howl stuttered, “Y-you are real!” Howl did not move. “Yes, I am. You helped me because you loved me enough to do that.” Philies said in a soft voice. Howl exclaimed, “You are crazy – what are you?!” “When I died in the fire, I turned into ash and was reborn as a phoenix,” Philies explained. “We have to find six other phoenixes. We need a first aid kit and food for you. I will be right back, OK?” said Philies. They only found five other phoenixes and rescued them. They are still looking for the sixth right now. One day, they will find her.
O
Chapter 2 “Now do you care more about phoenixes?” asked Philies. “Yes, I do. Philies, what is that?” Howl asked in a weird voice, pointing to a red dot in the sky. It was an injured phoenix, the sixth phoenix!
Sydnie Rice Grade 5, Meridian
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eep inside a peregrine falcon’s egg, a little person lays in the yolk. Their only company is a developing falcon. They want to see the outside world so badly and wish the falcon would break through. They think the real world would be bright and sharp, with lots of smells and feelings, not just numbing blackness. They have touched the chick several times and felt absentness. They wonder what will fill that emptiness. Over time, they stay closer to the chick and find themselves disappearing. They see brief flashes through the hatchling’s eyes. They realize that they will be the falcon. They will fill that emptiness. They feel a smile on their face and feel the mushy yolk on their hands and film over their eyes. They close them and realize that they have a new feeling in their new found wings and scaly legs. They arch their necks and lunge at the shell, eager to be free. Light, so bright, so intense. A small chirp escapes their throat. They see their nestmates just hatching, just getting used to the blinding light.
“Light, so bright, so intense.” 30
“Wolves can eat dogs, and find them WOLF HYBRID Cloesha McAfee Grade 8, Boise
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rguably, no other animal is as important as the wolf. They were gods in Norse mythologies. Wolves also nursed Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. Most importantly, the wolf was one of the first animals to be domesticated by man, a process still shrouded by mystery. Wolves have been our dearest friends and enemies and yet, we don’t know them. Rabid wolves are very dangerous. Wolves can eat dogs, and find them delicious. They also can weigh about 100
pounds. Male wolves are bigger than the females. Most wolves won’t bite unless they feel threatened. Wolves have thick coats of fur and tend to shed in the summer. Wolves are meat eaters; they also live in packs. They are the ancestors of dogs. Yet, in contrast to dogs wolves have shared a complex relationship with humans throughout history. A wolf hybrid is a husky and a wolf mix. They share in both personalities.
I HAVE ISSUES Melia Uriarte Grade 5, Meridian
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I used to hear voices coming from my toaster...But now I scream at kittens.
delicious.�
ON ASSIGNMENT
Holden Gude Grade 7, Boise
HYPERBOLE Jason Rhuman Grade 9, Eagle
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w
OTHER
d l or
ROCK ON Madeline Krause Grade 9, Boise
SPACE RANGER Elijah Lusby Grade 6, Boise
“
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Weee-ohhh weee-ohhh,” went the alarm. “Sam what happened? Are we hit?” “Yes,” Sam said, “We’re losing altitude.” “Make a jump to light speed,” the captain added. “And fast.” “Yes sir,” Private Sam said. The jump brought them to a planet called Mars. The computer terminal read “Not
THE EARTH’S CORE Charlie Taylor Grade 5, Boise
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he earth’s core is supercharged with power by accident. Pollution is breaking up our atmosphere. Jupiter has always been the meteorite magnet, and since it is breaking up, meteors start targeting Earth and people have to find places to live on other planets.
fit for human habitation.” “Make another jump to light speed.” “We can’t captain,” Sam said. “We don’t have enough fuel.” “Land there,” the captain said, pointing to Mars. “But captain,” Sam said. “We can’t-” The captain cut him off, “Land there.” When they landed the ship blew up and everybody died.
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Mary Running Grade 6, Garden City
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here once was a flower who was so beautiful she could be a star. She made every speck and made it look like nothing at all. And her Name was Vavoom.
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IMAGINATION station WHAT’S IN MY HEAD Jade Ellis Grade 5, Boise
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“...I can’t stop reading.”
THE BOOK AND THE BOOKMARK Leah Mokwa Grade 7, Boise
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nce upon a time there was a book and a bookmark. The bookmark did not like the book and book did not like the bookmark. The book said to the bookmark, “everyday you shove yourself into my pages and scratch them, sometimes ripping them.” The bookmark replied back. “Well, everyday you act like you’re so much better than me. Well, you’re not, so ha! “You can not talk to me like that. I’ll crush you.” Said the book. “Ha, ha, joke’s on you. I am already flat!” Yelled the bookmark. “Shhh, quiet.” The book said. “Somebody is coming.” “Oops, I forgot to mark my place in my book.” Said the little girl. Whoosh, the bookmark was slammed into the book which shut both of them up. 37
Regan Luke Grade 6, Middleton
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Marselus Seguin Grade 6, Boise
THE SOAPS Olivia Seidl Grade 7, Boise
Cathy argued with Terry Who ran away with Sherry Who had been engaged to Mack But he was boring old sack. So please change the channel! 39
ROSIE Rosie Foltz-Ahlrichs Grade 5, Boise
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SUMMER 2013
the
CABINET the
CABINET
VOL. 3, NO. 1
– ISAAC ALSOP The Cabin is a non-profit literary organization that strives to inspire a love of reading, writing and discourse throughout Idaho. Idaho Writing Camps nurture the imagination and awaken the senses through creative adventures in the art of writing.
Cover photograph: Starhead, Copperfoto Cover design: Jocelyn Robertson
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