Reader april7 2016

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(wo)MAN

Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by

How are you preparing for spring?

“Clean my house, but doesn’t everyone do that this time of the year?”

Samantha Landrum Supervisor Careywood

DEAR READERS,

We had a lot of fun feedback from last week’s cover. Special thanks goes out to artist Stephen Nelson, who didn’t mind in the least that we butchered his beautiful painting by putting King Kong climbing up the Granary building.

Also, in case you didn’t see it online, the first correct answer to the riddle came from Brom Glidden. The correct answer was that it wasn’t possible for the bellboy to have found a solution (I know, it’s frustrating, but it was our April Fool’s Day issue, so you had to expect something, right?).

I don’t have anything else to say, so here’s a photo of a goose that stuck his tongue out at me the other day. Cheers!

“I clean, weed and seed the lawn, and get the beds ready for planting tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and lots of flowers.”

-Ben Olson, Publisher

Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover), Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Nick Gier, Scarlette Quille, Joaquin Sapien, Drake the Dog, Don Otis

Web Content: Keokee

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“Make sure you buy lots of gas for your mower. I am going to learn how to mow the lawn this summer.”

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“I’m just relieved it’s here. I’m sorting through my old seeds, ordering new seeds and dreading digging up my large garden.”

“We buy chickens. We get them used to us by picking them up multiple times per day. They are egg-laying hens and pets. We also plant flowers.”

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

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READER

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The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned and operated by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

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

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

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

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

About the Cover This week’s cover photo taken by Ben Olson, who used to be the guy who stood on top of the quad at Schweitzer and took portraits of people.

It was the coolest way to earn a free pass ever, and I must say, I miss it.

Oh well, it’s still fun sitting at a desk all day and looking up at Schweitzer instead, right? Right?

Sigh.

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COMMENTARY Happy birthday Thomas Jefferson:

“Atheist and Leveler from Virginia”

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist As we celebrate Thomas Jefferson’s 273rd birthday next week, we need to be reminded about what a controversial figure he was. In the election of 1800 he was called “that atheist and leveler from Virginia.”

Alexander Hamilton was so committed to preventing “an atheist in religion and a fanatic in politics from getting possession of the helm of state” that he urged New York governor John Jay to block Jefferson’s election.

During the 1800 election campaign, rumors were spread that, if elected president, Jefferson would confiscate all the Bibles in the land and replace them with his own version, one in which all references to miracles and the Resur-

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rection were deleted. Jefferson was confident that the early Church had added supernatural events to his life and teachings.

Jefferson believed the propagation of religious dogma was the cause of much evil in the world, and he was convinced that reason alone could guide the moral life. In a 1787 letter Jefferson had this piece of advice for his nephew Peter Carr: “Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call to her tribunal every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of God.” Some conservatives have called on Jefferson’s authority to criticize the Obama administration. They promote the phrase “God-given” rights from our founders assuming that the reference is to the God of the Bible.

When Jefferson referred to “Laws of Nature and Nature’s God” in the Declaration of Independence, he was not referring to a deity who intervenes in history and hardens the hearts of world leaders. (So much for their rights and freedom!) Rights are inalienable only if they are guaranteed by the immutable laws found in human nature, immune from divine veto.

Jefferson was convinced that the English Common Law he studied in law school was by far the best reflection of this natural law. That would mean, for example, that Jefferson would have, if abortion had been an issue in his day, supported 18th century jurist William Blackstone’s position that the human fetus was not a person until the third trimester.

These conservatives use the phrase “God-given rights” to promote an American exceptionalism. The implication is that by having God on our side, we can defeat Europe’s “secular socialism” and continue the unfettered capitalism that has nearly destroyed the world’s economy.

I sometimes call myself a classical liberal. I define that position in terms of the motto of the French Revolution, which I revise as “liberty, equality, and community.” The American Revolution was far less violent than the French Revolution, primarily because our founders realized the importance of

the traditional values embedded in our diverse communities.

Jefferson was called a radical in politics and a “leveler” because of his sympathy for the French Revolution.

Dictionary.com defines “leveler” as “one who would remove social inequalities or distinctions; a socialist.”

Of course, Jefferson was no more a socialist than Obama is, but both of them are classical liberals because, while holding traditional values dear, they believed that equality was just as important as liberty.

Without equal opportunity and equality of rights, individual personal liberty will be fulfilled by some but denied to many. It used to be a fact that Americans could, by dint of their own efforts, move from the bottom of society to the very top. But now only 25 percent of Americans born in the lowest economic 20th percentile move out of the bottom. (In contrast 40 percent of Danes do.) Only 7 percent of Americans now make it from the bottom to the top 20th percentile.

One aspect of Jefferson’s views is actually way out of line with classical liberal philosophy, based as it is on international free markets. Jefferson’s ideal America was a nation of small farmers living virtuously on the fruits of their own labor. True Americans would avoid manufacturing, a market economy, and wage labor, which he thought was degrading to the human soul.

Jefferson disliked the Federalists partly because they “all lived in cities,” but Federalists such as Alexander Hamilton encouraged manufacturing, banking, and the wise management of debt. Had it not been for Hamilton’s successful plan to nationalize the Revolutionary War debt and build up the nation’s credit in the world economy, President Jefferson would not have been able to purchase the Louisiana Territory from France.

Republicans praises a man with an odd and anachronistic view of the American economy, so we should commend both Hamilton and Obama for realizing that government and private interests must always work together in truly successful human societies.

Nick Gier taught philosophy and religion at the University of Idaho for 31 years.

Paddlesports America

By Reader Staff

Join Sandpoint Parks and Recreation on Saturday, April 16, at the City Hall Council Chambers for an introductory course to meet the boater education needs for operating a paddle craft—specifically a canoe, kayak or paddleboard.

All skill levels are welcome.

The class takes place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., and will cover general information to make your paddle craft experience safer and more comfortable. Along with general maintenance and operation, there will be tips on how to be a more courteous paddle craft operator, as well as touching on the laws and regulations to which you must adhere.

The program is free, but space is limited. You must pre-register by Monday, April 11 to be part of the class. Please contact Parks and Recreation to register or for any additional questions. They can be reached at 208-263-3613, or at the office at 1123 Lake Street.

To learn about other Parks and Recreation activities, check out www. sandpointidaho.gov.

Comment period for Rock Creek Mine extended

By Ben Olson Reader Staff The Kootenai National Forest has granted an extension on the comment period for the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the Rock Creek Mine.

Those who would like to comment on the issue of the mine can now do so before Tuesday, April 19.

To get more information, go to www.

RockCreekAlliance.org.

Rock Creek Alliance will have information tables set up at the following venues: •Thurs. April 7 at Evans Brothers Coffee from 9 to 11 a.m.

•Weds. April 13 at Idaho Pour Authority from 4 to 7 p.m.

•Sat. April 16 at Winter Ridge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

PERSPECTIVES

The Gardetto Method It is difficult to assess a person’s true worth and motives.

There’s no telling if the person asking you out on a date or running for president is a decent human being.

They might be campaigning so hard for your vote or love they fail to present an accurate picture of what they are all about. A good candidate for love or the presidency should be willing to tell you more about themselves than pointing out all the negative qualities in their competition.

However, sometimes it’s not that easy. Maybe the candidate is very hot, making it impossible for you to pay attention to what they are saying. Maybe their hair is a horrific gravity defying comb-over, or their voice sounds suspiciously like Satan’s whisper, and these qualities alone have you so frozen in fear you can not function let alone make a sound decision.

Whatever the case may be, there is only one foolproof way to make a sound decision on the character of another human being. I like to call it the Gardetto Method.

In order to use the Gardetto Method, one has to first be familiar with Gardetto’s. Gardetto’s, in short, are a salty packaged “chip-like” snack consisting of pretzels, petrified mini bread sticks, petrified mini breadsticks rolled in sesame seeds and delicious, dark, savory rye chips.

Unfortunately, the ratio of each component of the Gardetto mix is opposite of what one would desire or expect. The more bland and flavorless items make up 75 percent of the bag, the delicious items make up less than 20 percent and the remaining 5 percent are nearly unidentifiable crumbs. After consuming the snack, you are left wanting more rye chips and typically discarding the sesame logs.

I am sure that America’s landfills are chock full of the discarded sesame logs

of yesteryear. If you have consumed Gardetto’s, you know exactly what I am talking about. If you have not, you are likely a person who treats your body to things like gluten-free vegetarian organic kale chips which look exactly like goose shit, but cost about 300 times as much. Gluten-free vegan, you will have to imagine what edible snacks taste like.

Back to the method.

If you find yourself wanting to know what a person’s true character is, share a bag of Gardetto’s with them. Everything you have ever wanted to know about a person can be ascertained in how they split the Gardetto pot.

Do they immediately divide the bag in half? Do they count each item meticulously and then split them accordingly?

Do they reach their hand right in the bag and greedily inhale all the rye chips before you even get a chance at one? Do they reach into the bag and attempt to be fair but leave you one and a half rye chips, the crumbs and the petrified logs?

Now ask yourself: How do you share your Gardetto’s?

Hopefully, you can look yourself in the mirror and answer with honesty. If you are a rye chip hoarder, or justify your rye chip consumption by saying things like, “I technically paid more,” or “I deserve the rye chips more than my companion does,” maybe you need to take a long look at your life choices.

If you would rather just give the other person all the delicious rye chips and avoid an argument or awkward interaction, you are passive and probably the type of person who refuses to say what they want to do on a Friday night. You are annoying, and the first step to fixing this is advocate for your equal share of the Gardetto mix. The Gardetto Method is also an effective tool for self-reflection.

Now that you have split the bag of Gardetto’s with the person in question, how do you feel? Hungry? Satisfied?

Cheated? Greedy? Disgusted? Own that feeling. If you make a partnership with the person you split the bag with, this is the feeling that will consume you 75 percent of the time.

How does this relate to presidential elections? I can’t just split the bag with Donald Trump, after all. In cases where the object of your concern is not someone who you could casually split a snack food item with, you will have to make an educated guess on their sharing habits based on what you know about them.

Example: Donald Trump: I feel he would be the kind of person who already has several bags of the rye chips in the same area as he keeps his bags of extra money and misguided hatred. He would likely be opposed to sharing food with a commoner, but when push came to shove, I think he would divide the bag according to who paid more for it. May not be kind, but it is logical.

Hillary Clinton: I think that Hillary would count every crumb and piece in the bag, painstakingly organizing and assessing them by weight and calorie content, so that the distribution was based on her factual assessment rather

than by deliciousness. She would take it upon herself to distribute the snack commodity, even if you were the person who paid for them.

Bernie Sanders: He would make it rain with Gardetto’s. He would literally fly around in a hot air balloon distributing the Gardetto’s to everyone throughout the land. He would acquire mass quantities of Gardetto’s because people would be willing to donate them to his cause. Come on, who doesn’t want to experience Gardetto rain?

That is my understanding of our presidential candidates based on the Gardetto Method.

Feel free to make your own assessments.

I hope you find the one that you would give your last rye chip to.

Truly, Madly, Deeply, Scarlette Quille

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NEWS Gov. Otter vetoes ‘Bible-in-schools’ bill

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Despite support from a majority of the Idaho House and Senate, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter vetoed a bill authorizing teachers to use the Bible in public schools.

Citing concerns over constitutionality and the risk of lawsuits, Otter shut down Senate Bill 1342 after a lengthy and highly publicized debate in the Legislature. He backed his decision with support from Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, who also expressed concerns over the bill’s legal soundness.

“I have deep respect and appreciation for the Bible as a religious doctrine as well as a piece of historic literature,” Otter wrote in his veto message. “However, allowing S1342 to become law is in direct contravention to the Idaho

Constitution, and it could result in a loss of funding and costly litigation for Idaho public schools.”

The veto was a blow to North Idaho legislators who supported the legislation. District 7 Sen. Sheryll Nuxoll, RCottonwood, who introduced the bill to the Senate Education Committee in February, said the decision circumvented the will of the Legislature.

“Those of us who realize the value of Christian history in American society are disappointed Governor Otter vetoed SB 1342,” Nuxoll said.

“This bill validated appropriate use of the Bible as a reference in public schools. Although 81 percent of Idaho’s legislators supported the bill, and a resolution affirming its content passed the GOP convention with a near unanimous vote, Governor Otter chose to say ‘no’ anyway.”.

Mueller passes away

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Former county commissioner Bud Mueller died on March 18. He was 80 years old.

An energetic personality in local politcs, Mueller’s political tenure is most remembered for the axing of the building department in 1997. He is just as well remembered for his activities outside the office.

David Keyes, former publisher of the Bonner County Daily Bee, shared some of his memories of Mueller on Facebook, one of which we’ve included below: “Mueller was the mastermind behind the ‘Save a Tree, Cancel the Bee’ bumper sticker campaign that started before I arrived on the scene. These bumper stickers were everywhere for a time, and Mueller took great pride in letting me know exactly how many were out there. When he made his 6 /

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Nuxoll also said that instead of protecting Idaho, the veto undermined an underpinning of its culture.

“A prosperous civilization needs a foundation,” she said. “People with last names like Washington, Adams and Madison blatantly identified the Bible as that reference point. They feared not having it would result in corruption and misuse of taxpayer funds. Are they right?”

Likewise, District 1 Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, thought Otter’s concerns were unwarranted, especially considering the bill had been amended to include the words “all religious texts.”

“I am disappointed in the governor’s decision, although not too surprised,” he said.

“S1342 was thoroughly vetted by both the House and the Senate, and passed each body overwhelmingly. Often good legislation is avoided because

last push for public office, I decided to have a little fun and to match his bumper sticker campaign. I had a bumper sticker made that said: ‘He’s a dud, cancel Bud.’” “He was a colorful character in Bonner County politics and will be missed,” Keyes concluded.

Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter. File photo.

of what might happen, and the will of the people, through their representatives, is thereby ignored.”

“The Bible, in particular, is indispensable to correctly understanding the foundations of Western government and law,” he continued. “I will continue to advocate the merits of this bill in the future.”

Nuxoll introduced the bill to the Senate Education Commit-

tee in February as a measure to ensure teachers felt comfortable using the Bible as a classroom reference. While Idaho and federal law already permits the study of religious texts in appropriate contexts, Nuxoll said in committee that many teachers felt pressure to avoid its use.

“A lot of teachers are scared to use the Bible,” she told committee members.

Shooting suspect KRFY Morning Show expands with election coverage extradited to Democratic candidates Stephen

By Reader Staff Howlett and Bob Vickaryous.

Idaho The three following

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Bud Mueller.

Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood. File photo.

Kyle Odom, the alleged shooter of Coeur d’Alene pastor Tim Remington, will return to Idaho to stand trial.

According to KXLY, District of Columbia Superior Court Chief Judge Lee Satterfield ruled Wednesday that Odom should be tried on attempted murder charges in Idaho.

Odom is held in Washington, D.C., where he fled after allegedly shooting Remington several times last month. He was arrested after being found throwing flash drives and other items over the White House fence.

Community radio 88.5 KRFY is expanding its “KRFY Morning Show” current affairs program from twice to three times weekly—and starting with a bang, as it launches a series with candidates in the primary election races.

KRFY has now added Wednesdays to its Tuesday and Thursday Morning Show lineup; air time is 8 a.m. each day.

This coming week the Morning Show kicks off interviews on the new Wednesday shows with candidates in local contested primary election races. On April 13, the Morning Show will host Republican Bonner County Commission District 3 candidates Dan McDonald and Lewis Rich. On April 20 the show brings in the District 1 State Representative

Wednesday Morning Shows up to the May 17 Election Day will invite in candidates for Bonner County Commission District 2; Bonner County Sheriff; and District 1 State Senate.

Listeners are invited to submit questions for candidates to answer on-air, at the www.

KRFY.org website.

Ongoing, the three weekly Morning Shows will continue with a rich mix of subjects, covering arts, events, lifestyle, nonprofit groups, environment and recreation, local government, public policy and more.

Tune in to 88.5 FM at 8 a.m., or go hear the podcasts of each program posted on the www.KRFY.org website each afternoon following the live broadcasts.

FEATURE

Trial and Error:

Report says prosecutors rarely pay price for mistakes and misconduct

by Joaquin Sapien For ProPublica Used by permission The Innocence Project released a report Tuesday alleging that prosecutors across the country are almost never punished when they withhold evidence or commit other forms of misconduct that land innocent people in prison.

The Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal group that represents people seeking exonerations, examined records in Arizona, California, Texas, New York and Pennsylvania, and interviewed a wide assortment of defense lawyers, prosecutors and legal experts.

In each state, researchers examined court rulings from 2004 through 2008 in which judges found that prosecutors had committed violations such as mischaracterizing evidence or suborning perjury. All told, the researchers discovered 660 findings of prosecutorial error or misconduct. In the overwhelming majority of cases, 527, judges upheld the convictions, finding that the prosecutorial lapse did not impact the fairness of the defendant’s original trial. In 133 cases, convictions were thrown out.

Only one prosecutor was disciplined by any oversight authorities, the report asserts.

The report was issued on the anniversary of a controversial Supreme Court ruling for those trying to achieve justice in the wake of wrongful convictions.

In a 5–4 decision in the case known as Connick v. Thompson, the court tossed out a $14-million dollar award by a Louisiana jury to John Thompson, a New Orleans man who served 18 years in prison for a murder and robbery he did not commit.

The majority ruled that while the trial prosecutors had withheld critical evidence of Thompson’s likely innocence—blood samples from

the crime scene—the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s office could not be found civilly liable for what the justices essentially determined was the mistake of a handful of employees. The decision hinged on a critical finding: that the District Attorney’s office, and the legal profession in general, provides sufficient training and oversight for all prosecutors.

The Innocence Project study echoes a 2013 ProPublica examination focused on New York City prosecutors. In 2013, ProPublica used a similar methodology to analyze more than a decade’s worth of state and federal court rulings. We found more than two dozen instances in which judges explicitly concluded that city prosecutors had committed harmful misconduct.

Several of the wrongfully convicted people in these cases successfully sued New York City. In recent years, New

York City and state have doled out tens of million dollars in settlements stemming from such lawsuits. Former Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes was voted out of office, in part because of wrongful convictions gained through misconduct on the part of his prosecutors or police detectives working with them.

But only one New York City prosecutor, ProPublica’s analysis found, was formally disciplined: Claude Stuart, a former low-level Queens Assistant District Attorney, lost his license. He was involved in three separate conviction reversals.

Just as we found in New York, the Innocence Project’s report found that appellate judges and others almost never report findings of misconduct to state panels and bar associations that are authorized to investigate them.

“In the handful of situa-

tions where an investigation is launched,” the report found, “The committees generally failed to properly discipline the prosecutor who committed the misconduct.”

The report concludes with several recommendations on how to improve accountability for prosecutors. It suggests, among other things, that judges ought to mandatorily report all findings of misconduct or error and that state legislatures pass laws requiring prosecutors to turn over all law enforcement material well before trial.

But perhaps most powerful is the report’s introduction, a 2011 letter to then-Attorney General Eric Holder and two national prosecutor associations. It was written in response to the Connick ruling and signed by 19 people whose wrongful convictions were secured in part by prosecutorial misconduct.

“We, the undersigned and

our families, have suffered profound harm at the hands of careless, overzealous and unethical prosecutors,” the letter said. “Now that the wrongfully convicted have virtually no meaningful access to the courts to hold prosecutors liable for their misdeeds, we demand to know what you intend to do to put a check on the otherwise unchecked and enormous power that prosecutors wield over the justice system.”

According to the Innocence Project, the Justice Department never responded to the letter.

If you have experience with or information about prosecutorial misconduct, email Joaquin.Sapien@propublica.org.

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Mad about Science: Barbs: •I can’t let this go un-barbed.

Idaho Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay, joins the growing list of Idaho legislators who continue to embarass this great state with their grandstanding ideals and statements that cater only to the far right.

Dixon recently made headlines involving the recently vetoed Senate Bill 1342, which states that the use of religious texts—specifically the Bible— is permitted for reference purposes in schools.

Idaho’s Attorney General Lawrence Wasden warned that the bill “may raise a religious preference issue” and is unconstitutional, which is likely why Gov. Otter vetoed it. One lawmaker estimated the potential cost of legal fees to contest the unconstitutional bill would likely reach $400,000.

Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, was one of two Republicans that voted against the bill. He warned lawmakers that the bill was “patently unconstitutional” and that he was casting his “vote against needlessly wasting taxpayer dollars” to defend potential lawsuits.

In answer to legal concerns, Dixon chose to consult the voice in his head for justification: “The little Supreme Court in my head says this is OK,” he told the House.

The big Supreme Court would disagree. The Idaho Consitution has a strict prohibition on religion in the classroom: “No books, papers, tracts or documents of a political, sectarian or denominational character shall be used.”

Word to the wise, voters, Dixon is up for reelection this year. You put him in office. You can remove him, too. It’s time to vote in candidates who represent all of Idaho, not just a small minority of Tea Partiers who continue to run roughshod over our state.

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By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

Brought to you by:

It’s spring, and for many of us, this means blooming flowers, the soothing cacophony of birdsong and the long overdue arrival of warm weather, sunshine and the garden. For a very specific breed of us, this means something else. The peep of baby chicks! Tiny yellow, black and red harbingers of eggs to come. The chicken once held an indomitable grip on almost every human family for thousands of years, before our local grocery store chains replaced all of the work of rearing a living, breathing animal with convenience and cash value.

The domestic chicken, almost forgotten by the public, made a powerful comeback in the mid 2000s. This resurgence brought with it a rebranding of the chicken and a change to the communities that maintained and grew them.

These birds and the people who raised them became valuable parts of their respective communities.

Free eggs, fresh from the butt of my little squawking neighbor?

Heck yeah!

Where did all of this interest come from? Why did a staple part of our diet disappear, only to come back that much stronger?

To put it simply, chickens are awesome, magnificent creatures.

Mix a little bit of social responsibility in the face of a changing climate and a growing desire to house unique, easily manageable pets you can show off, and you have the perfect equation for a great new member of the family.

Once you get past the first glance, you’ll find even more reasons as to why this simple bird is so awesome. Most people recognize, now, that birds are direct descendents of the few dinosaurs that managed to survive cataclysmic extinction 65 million years ago. If you could link a chicken’s lineage to a dinosaur, what would your first guess be? Probably Compsognathus, or Compy for short: those goofy little dinosaurs that made a meal of some guy’s face in the Jurassic Park movies. They were real dinosaurs that lived about 150 million years ago. However, the domestic chicken has a much clos-

er, much more surprising ancestor.

Can you guess what it is?

You might be shocked to discover that it’s none other than the Tyrannosaurus Rex. No, I’m not kidding! Scientists discovered and analyzed a remarkably well preserved femur of everyone’s favorite Tyrant King in 2003 to discover genetic markers linked to chickens.

This means that sometime 68 million-or-so years ago, two T-rexes uncorked a bottle of wine, laid out in front of the fire, cranked up some Marvin Gaye and started the chain of events that, millions of years from then, would lead to the clucking little dirt-scratcher in the backyard we all know and love today. How remarkable it is, how far we’ve come. At the same time Foghorn Leghorn’s ancestors were the size of buildings and able to uproot trees with a swing of their tail, our ancestors skittered about the trees hiding berries and nuts a fifth the size of their bodies.

The avian antics continue!

Have you ever watched a chicken and thought it was really dumb?

Compared to you or me, they certainly are very dumb, but compared to most animals in the wild, including the Red Jungle Fowl they originate from, they’re actually quite intelligent. Chickens are problem solvers and rascals. They know how to get into trouble, and they know how to get out of it— or at least warn the other members of the flock to assure their friends and descendants don’t share their fate. They have even been trained to complete obstacle courses and walk on leashes just like a dog.

If this article has made you even the tiniest bit curious about chickens, we’d like to invite you to the Library’s program on raising backyard poultry and microfarming hosted by myself and Mike Bauer on Wednesday, March 30, at the Sandpoint Library.

Also, check out our display! For the month of March, we’ll have a homesteading display up for all your springtime needs!

Sandpoint Waldorf School announces Spring Auction

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Sandpoint Waldorf School has announced its annual Spring Auction, with the theme this year being “Phantom of the Opera.”

The Spring Auction is an annual fundraiser for the Sandpoint Waldorf School, and features both a silent and live auction, dinner and dancing.

The fundraiser will take place Saturday, April 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Sandpoint Events Center. Tickets are $40 if you purchase before April 10, or $50 if purchased

after. You can purchase tickets either at the school itself, or by calling 265-2683 or visiting the website www.sandpointwaldorf.org. Proceeds will directly benefit the school.

For the “Phantom of the Opera” theme, participants can dress in masquerade ball style.

Have fun!

Bingo... it’s such a drag

By Ben Olson Reader Staff It never fails. Just when you think the town of Sandpoint can’t offer any more by way of entertaining options of night life, an event like Drag Bingo comes along.

The event, Join Misty Boxx (left) and Corbin Thicke (right) at PFLAG’s Drag hosted by Bingo. Courtesy photo.

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) takes place Boxx and Corbin Thicke will Saturday, April 9, at the Eagles be dressed in drag and doing Lodge (1511 John Hudon their best to bring smiles to Lane). Expect the unexpected, participants faces. There will be and help Sandpoint’s chapter of lots of fun and prizes.

PFLAG raise some money.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Call The event is much like any Sandpoint PFLAG chapter at bingo night, except hosts Misty 718-2388 for more information.

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event Can you draw?

(better than this?)

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READER

BECAUSE YOU SHOULD NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER, STOP LEARNING.

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Free information and inspiration Books and so much more!

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

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

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8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Dollar Beers!

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

Throwback Thursdays at the 219 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge Featuring live music with Chris Lynch and friends, $2 domestics and $3 crafts. Join in playing in this informal open mic night setting every Thursday night

Live Music w/ The Powell Brothers 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery The brothers play covers and originals on various string instruments, of which they build themselves DJ night at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge Featuring DJ Josh Adams

f

‘Check Out My Ca 5:30-8:30pm @ Mic MickDuff’s is helpi “Check Out My Can will be available in c live music from The

Live Music w/ Monarch Mountain Band Live 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 5-7p This high energy bluegrass, newgrass, folk- Ben rock band has been performing at numerous IGA local and regional venues, halls, festivals, fun fairs, clubs (you name it) for close to 25 years love Live Music w/ Chris Lynch Live Mu 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante 7pm @ L

Live Music w/ John Firshi Big Birds with Brian Baxter 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 9am @ Heron Community Center Vocalist and flamenco guitar player Come search the lower Clark Fork and Bull River valleys for eagles, hawks, herons, Live Music w/ Devon Wade geese, mergansers, owls and other outsized 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge Sandpoint country music artist Dev-creatures of the sky. This class begins at Heron Wade always draws a big crowd,on Community Center with a outdoor class so get your boots on and head down session and then transitions to the field. Brian Baxter is an entertaining and informative Live Music w/ Chris Lynch teacher, and a day in the field with him will 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante garner many memorable moments. Dress apBeginner Quilting Class 9:30am-3pm @ First Lutheran Church propriately. Bring lunch, water, snacks, binoculars, camera, a sense of humor and your $10, call 263-7184 to register life list. Email b_baxter53@yahoo.com Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Contra D 7-10pm @ Contra d for all ag tion, feat regional

Schpring All day @ A season Big LeBR skimming ry Duck days, ther

Game Night at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge Come down and take part in game night wi

Learn to dance the Swing – 7pm @ SWAC Learn the Triple Time East Coast Swing from Diane Peters. 610-1770 for info

“Expose 9/11 Myths” Documentary 7pm @ the Panida Theater AE911Truth.org and Sandpoint911Truth.org are sponsoring a premiere screening of the new documentary, “Firefighters Architects & Engineers: Expose 9/11 Myths.” Featuring Erik Lawyer, former Seattle firefighter and founder of Firefighters for 9/11 Truth and Unity, and Richard Gage, AIA, founder of the 2,500 strong Architects and Engineers for 9/11 Truth, the film examines the controlled demolition of all three World Trade Center skyscrapers

Bonner Cou 4-7pm @ Pe A fundraise sion of educ proceeds wi home horicu Karaoke N 10pm - Mid

CHAFE 150 Happy Hour 5:30-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Devon Wade performs live music at this fundraiser and meet-and-greet by CHAFE 150. Th beer specials and prizes by Oscar Blues, hors d’oeuvres, raffles, and a chance to meet with th 150 team to learn more about the ride. CHAFE 150 supports local children on the Autism Sp ‘Our Animal Friends’ opening art reception 6-8pm @ Monarch Mountain Coffee An art exhibit by Tom Kramer and Robens Napolitan, sponsored by POAC Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Throwback Thursdays at the 219 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge Featuring live music with Brian Jacobs and Chris Lynch and drink specials

The C 6-8pm The C pher E amazin rich ou about t

ful

April 7 - 14, 2016

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

olkous als, ars

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 7pm @ La Rosa Club Contra Dance 7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall Contra dancing is community dancing for all ages, in the New England tradition, featuring live music with local and regional bands and lively callers

Schpring Finale All day @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort A season-ending festival including the Big LeBREWski beer festival, a pond skimming contest, the Ponderay Rotary Duck Derby, and much more! Both days, there will be live music in Taps

Ninkasi Tap Takeover 5-7pm @ Bernd Barrel Featuring tons of swag, as well as thirst quenching Ninkasi beer

for tee times

Reader recommended

ut My Cans’ release party pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall s is helping kick off Whiskey Barrel Cider’s new cans with this special ut My Cans” release Party. Both the Dam Hard Cider and Triple Play Cider ilable in cans, and one special keg will be on tap for attendees! Plus, enjoy from The Groove Black! Free and open to the public; ages 21+ only Live Music w/ Ben and Cadie 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Ben and Cadie from Harold’s IGA always have originals and fun covers to share. And they love beer, so it’s a win-win

208-627-4200

Monarch Open Mic with Scott Reid 6-8pm @ Monarch Mtn. Coffee All are welcome to attend!

The Peanuts Movie 6:30pm @ Panida Theater Who doesn’t love Charlie Brown!

SANDPOINT’S FIRST INDOOR GOLF FACILITY

Rock Creek Alliance Tabling Event 9-11am @ Evans Bros. Coffee Rock Creek Alliance will be on hand to answer questions and provide info about the Rock Creek Mine’s draft EIS for the public comment period that ends April 19

Sourdough Baking Workshop - 1-3:30pm @ Talus Rock Retreat Bake up a fabulous bread storm while delving into the history and benefits of the ancient art of sourdough baking with instructor Amanda Dilima. RSVP to info@sandpointretreat.com. $12 donation “The Revenant” film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater The Oscar-winning film featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass.

A must see!

•Great for rainy days!

•Bring the kids!

•Beer, sodas, snacks!

•Play over 90 famous courses!

•authentic playing experience!

The Conversation (featuring Erik Daarstad) 6-8pm @ Ivano’s Ristorante bs The Conversation is privileged to have writer/cinematographer Erik Daarstad speak about his fascinating book and his amazing film career. The Conversation is a free event to enrich our artist community by cultivating conversations on and about the creative processes in and around Sandpoint

•Full supply of tees, clubs, grips and more!

Summer hours: Mon-Sat

12pm - 6pm

(or available by appointment)

Sustainable Foods Celebration 10am - 2pm @ Sandpoint Library A free event space to share, learn, and come together around the theme of sustainable foods. Bring your own dish and utensils, plus a dish that includes some local, sustainably produced foods!

April 15 The Flying Mammals @ Pend d’Oreille Winery April 16 Shake the Sand Out “The Revenant” film @ Jeff Jones Town 7:30pm @ Panida Theater The Oscar-winning film featuring LeonarSquare. Townsfolk e night with Racheal do DiCaprio as Hugh Glass. A must see! gather to clean up @ SWAC The Peanuts Movie our beautiful corner wing from 3:30pm @ Panida Theater of the world Who doesn’t love Charlie Brown!

April 16 onner County Gardeners Association ‘Sip and Shop’ Ha rold’s IGA @ 7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery fundraiser for the BCGA, a nonprofit organization of gardeners with a mis- MickDuff’s Beer on of education, community service and camaraderie. 10% of the evening’s Hall. Do it! oceeds will benefit the BCGA to benefit programs such as school gardens, the April 16 me horiculture lecture series and various community beautification projects The Snack Brothers araoke Night Trivia Night with Flatpick Earl @ pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s Di Luna’s Cafe Rock Creek Alliance Tabling Event April 20 4-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority E 150. There will be Rock Creek Alliance will be on hand to answer ques- Five Minutes of eet with the CHAFE tions and provide info about the Rock Creek Mine’s draft Fame @ Cafe Bo dega EIS for the public comment period that ends April 19 Autism Spectrum

Also available for birthdays and private parties

75 McGhee Rd.

www.SandpointCountryClub.com

(across from Litehouse)

Wine and Cheese Invitational 4:30-6:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Hosted by the Bonner County Economic Development Corporation, to better carry out our mission to ensure economic opportunity in Sandpoint and surrounding communities

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Stop and smell the flowers!

d... n u o r a ’ n No foolZiebra is Zany ring! p S r o F y Read eed n U O Y d An p! u r a e g o t ers •Saucy Romp •Cool as a esses cucumber dr es •Sun hats •Sho rts •Jeans •Sho •SQUIRREL S! FEED ERg winter) (hey, it's been

a lon

208-263-2178

www.zanyzebrastore.com

In Sandpoint listen to KPND at 106.7 FM and HD

World Class Rock 12 /

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COMMUNITY

Profile on Autism: The Barth Family

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

For Lisa and David Barth, autism officially entered their lives 15 years ago. Their son, Jackson, was diagnosed at two years old. Since the diagnosis, the Barths have made it their mission to understand as much about autism as possible, both as a tool for teaching and relating to their son, as well as to aid the community in understand the fastest growing developmental disability.

Lisa and David said that once the diagnosis confirmed that Jackson was on the autism spectrum, they felt a mixture of relief, grief and conviction.

“With a diagnosis comes mixed emotions,” said Lisa.

“What it does in a very general way is provide a framework for which parents—as well as medical, educational and developmental specialists—can all begin from.”

“It defines the ballpark that you’re playing in,” explained David.

David said they knew something was different about Jackson from an early age.

“We had actually gone to a pediatrician and said the word autism, and initially that pediatrician said, ‘I don’t think so,’” he said. “Once we did get the diagnosis … now we knew what it was, and we said, ‘Let’s explore that and grow and learn.’ Ever since, we’ve been marching along.”

Jackson Barth is much like any other 17-year-old teenager.

He attends 10th grade at Sandpoint High School, where his favorite teacher is Miss Kristin.

He likes to hang out with friends and enjoys cooking burritos.

Jackson started at Washington Elementary School with his peers in the general education classroom, but switched to life skills classes in Sandpoint Middle and High Schools.

According to Lisa, it’s always beneficial for students with special needs to be in classrooms with their peers as long as they are capable of participation

in the curriculum.

“That’s the whole philosophy,” she said.

“In first and second grade, he was more closely aligned with his peers,” said David. “In fifth and sixth grade, it was less so, and it’s been more and more divergent since.”

Both Lisa and David have noticed that autism awareness has increased dramatically in recent years.

“I think the reason [autism awareness] has gotten so big is that it touches everybody,” said David. “It doesn’t care about ethnicity, race, religion, age or socio-economic status.”

David also said that we’ve gotten better at early diagnosis and knowing what the disorder is, although there are still mysteries that remain unexplained.

“It’s been a 17-year case study,” said Lisa. “We’re blessed because he’s verbal.”

“He’s very connected to us and to many people,” said David. “You can ask him questions and he’ll give you responses. Spending time with him, you can watch him light up or get agitated or frustrated with various things. We’ve seen this for 17 years, so we’re highly attuned to what those things are, but at the same time, when someone asks, ‘Why does he do that?’ my initial response was, ‘Don’t you think if I knew, we would have figured out by now?’ We just go with it. It’s been a huge lesson in acceptance, surrender and pleasure. We may as well enjoy it, and we do.”

As part of their commitment to understanding autism and spreading awareness to the community, both David serves on the board for the local nonprofit organization Team Autism 24/7, whose mission is to create community, to educate and to promote awareness and understanding of autism and its challenges and gifts. Lisa volunteers for the organization as a coordinator of programs and events.

“Team Autism does a lot of summer programs and training,” said Lisa. “We’re doing train-

The Barth family, from left to right: Jackson, Lisa and David. Photo by Ben Olson. ing with and for families and professionals.”

One area of training has to do with the understanding that some on the autistic spectrum prefer visual learning, as opposed to auditory or verbal learning.

“We do a lot of visual learning,” said David. “It’s the most concrete. We have a computer program that can have picture icons and words to schedule what happens next … If that’s in place, it’s easier and better for Jackson. I can really tell if we’re just running with a lot of auditory or verbal stuff. He can get it, but he can get full. Jackson has been the one who has taught us what he needs.”

For Jackson, life exists on a schedule. If the schedule is reinforced by visual pictures of what the action dictates, even better. An icon for “Brushing your teeth” will be accompanied by a picture of a toothbrush and a row of teeth.

Every Sunday evening, the Barth family gets together and makes up the schedule for the upcoming week. The schedule details every minute action.

There was even an entry for my visit and interview.

To break from the schedule is never a good thing.

“For him, it’s very important,” said David. “You can imagine living in a world where you don’t really know what’s happening. The visual schedule is like a lifeline, an anchor.

When it’s cut adrift, it’s really challenging and distressing.”

“No surprises,” said Lisa.

“Jackson has a high need to know. He perseverates when we don’t have it scheduled.”

An example of perseveration would be in the 1988 film “Rain Man.” Dustin Hoffman plays an autistic man who is seemingly obsessed with watching Judge Wapner at 3 o’clock and buying a pair of underwear from a specific K-Mart on Oak Street.

“If we’re going to the Library and we walk up and see it’s closed, we’ll say, ‘Oh, we’ll just go tomorrow,’” said David.

“You and I can handle that.

That’s a major challenge for Jackson.”

As a result, Lisa and David have managed to map out every week both for themselves as

well as Jackson.

“We live by this schedule now,” said Lisa. “It’s actually really great for any family to use.”

Moving forward, the most difficult transition will likely take place when Jackson turns 18 this fall. For someone who requires adult supervision at all times, the question for the parents remains how to promote independence in their child while also guaranteeing he’ll receive the care he needs throughout the rest of his life.

“We’ll become his guardians when he turns 18,” said Lisa.

“Then the issue is navigating Jackson’s ability to live with increased independence while finding fulfilling work.”

One thing is for sure, however: Both Lisa and David feel nothing but love for their son.

“I’m the steward of an angel,” said Lisa.

We’ll continue this profile series on autism with another article in next week’s Reader.

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OUTDOORS

Best spring hikes

By Don Otis Reader Contributor

Ten years ago I remember driving to a trailhead out of Upper Pack River to see the newly placed “Beware of Grizzly Bear” signs.

I have never seen a grizzly, but I have seen their prints.

I know they are out there, somewhere. Standing at the trailhead that day did not deter me from hiking out alone but it did give me pause, as it should.

We are blessed to live in a wild place. As Gary Snyder writes in The Practice of the Wild: “Our place is part of what we are.” We are blessed with abundant water, snow-covered peaks, and trails that are lightly trodden.

For those who have hiked the Mt. Whitney Trail, the peaks along the Front Range in Colorado or even the Grand Canyon trails, you know it is not unusual to see as many as 500 people.

Our busiest trails are Mickinnick and Gold Hill, and neither is ever too crowed by comparison.

Our views are no less stellar and the challenges are comparable.

The bigger question for me is why there aren’t more North Idahoans out?

For those of us who hike and climb in all four seasons, I have compiled a list of accessible hikes and climbs in our area along with detail about each.

Scotchman Peak – 7,009’ Vertical gain: 3700’ Roundtrip mileage: 8.0 Directions: Drive to Clark Fork on Highway 200, turn left at the Chevron station (Main Street) and go past the school.

The road eventually winds right until it starts going uphill at Forest Road 276. This eventually turns into Road 2294A but has signage for Trail 65.

In the early season, expect the

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road to be muddy.

Comments: The monarch of the Idaho Cabinet Mountains is a climb everyone should take. It is a challenge, but it is worth the effort once you reach the ridgeline at 6,400 feet. You can’t miss the trail. Thanks to Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, the beginning trail includes easier switchbacks.

Be aware this trail is newly reopened after an unnecessary encounter with a mountain goat forced the closure. Bottom line: Do not feed the goats and do not get close to them.

Goat Mountain – 6,390’ Vertical gain: 4,000’ Round trip mileage: 7.0 Directions: Drive to Clark Fork on Highway 20. Turn left at the Chevron Station and follow Lightning Creek Road 419.

The trail head is about three miles (right after the “grizzly bear” sign) and marked only with a small sign, number 135 and a logo of two hikers. There is parking on the sides of the road.

Comments: This is not for the faint of heart. Expect a grinder until you reach the upper ridge. Once you reach the ridge that connects to the high point, the going is much easier, but that takes effort.

The view of the North Face of Scotchman is worth the climb.

Expect some deadfall on Goat Mountain and other high peaks early in the season.

Star Peak – 6,400’ Vertical gain: 4,100’ Roundtrip mileage: 10.0 Directions: Take Highway 200 and pass through Clark Fork heading toward Heron, Mont. At Montana mile marker 6 there is a wide turnout on the south side of the highway. You can park here or proceed up a dirt road for about 100 yards that is almost directly across the highway (if you go past Big

Don Otis and Cathy Schuller on Scotchman Peak in late February. Courtesy photo.

An early morning hike on Mickinnick. Courtesy photo.

Eddy Campground you have gone a quarter of a mile too far).

Comments: The views from Star Peak are of the Clark Fork River as you ascend. It’s not until you reach the boulder field about 300 feet below the top that you start to see views of the Cabinet Mountains open up. The old lookout at the top is a fun place to take photos and look out toward the higher peaks in the Cabinet Range to the east.

to the trailhead.

Comments: The best overall trail near Sandpoint. Well used and maintained. It is an easy trailhead with ample parking. The second bench is about halfway at 3,300 feet, but the views are terrific. From the top you can see Scotchman Peak and Sandpoint. The snow is hard-packed by now so cross-

ing the upper meadow is more muddy than slushy.

Honorable mention: Gold Hill Trail #3 – 4,042’ 7.0 miles and 1,500’ of vertical Links: www.HikeNorthIdaho.com www.scotchmanpeaks.org

Mickinnick Trail – 4,300’ Vertical gain: 2,150’ Roundtrip mileage: 7.0 Directions: Take Highway 95, turn left toward Schweitzer (near the Conoco) and head past the fairgrounds at the stop sign.

Proceed as if you are going to Schweitzer, but turn left before you go up the hill at Woodland Drive and go about half a mile From the lookout on Star Peak. Courtesy photo.

STAGE & SCREEN

‘The Revenant’ showing at the Panida

By Chris Balboni Reader Contributor

Before “The Revenant” launched this winter as a critical and box office success, the story of Hugh Glass already had a reputation in Hollywood: It was impossible to shoot.

The exact details of Glass’s experience as a fur-trapper in 1823 are subject to much debate, but the legend goes that while on an expedition with General William Ashley in South Dakota, Glass was brutally mauled by a grizzly bear. Fearing the worst and unable to haul a corpse from deep in the wilderness, Glass’s companions left him for dead and continued on their expedition. Despite his severe injuries, Glass came to, crawling and stumbling his way to safety alone on a 200 mile trek to Fort Kiowa.

A tale of isolation and wilderness survival might work well in a novel (Michael Punke penned the book upon which “The Revenant” is based) but it’s difficult at best to translate into cinematic form. “The Revenant” sat in production limbo for nearly a decade before the script found its way to screenwriter Mark Smith. Even after Alejandro Iñárritu signed on to direct in 2011, it took another three years for filming to begin.

Was it worth the wait? Unquestionably.

The world of “The Revenant” is as stark, hostile and bleak as it should be. Even as Glass puts distance between himself and his grave, getting ever closer to the men who left him behind, there’s rarely a moment of reprieve. That unrelenting atmosphere keeps you perfectly uncomfortable for the duration of the film, drawing you into Glass’ world as he fights his own mental and physical destruction. Leonardo DiCaprio’s performance as Glass is unnervingly convincing—not just as the victim of a bear attack (kudos to the

production team for creating cinema’s first believable mauling), but as a man who has lost all but the most primal human instincts of survival and revenge.

For all the well-deserved attention given to DiCaprio, Tom Hardy’s performance as John Fitzgerald is also noteworthy for its nuance (despite the somewhat heavy-handed frontiersman voice). You can’t help but feel the deep-seated fear that ultimately leads to his abandonment of Glass. Will Poulter’s impressive take on a young Jim Bridger is also worth mentioning, as is Domhnall Gleeson’s portrayal of Andrew Henry, the conflicted leader of the expedition.

The performances would all be for naught though, if it weren’t for Emmanuel Lubezki’s absolutely breathtaking cinematography. Few films in recent memory have captured such isolated beauty in any meaningful sense, but with Iñárritu’s direction, Lubezki goes above and beyond.

Gorgeously cold footage of the mountains and forest aside, the film is littered with shots that run upwards of five minutes before cutting, allowing you to be fully enveloped in scenes that were already intense. Only natural lighting and entirely real (mostly very remote) locations were used, including the Kootenai Falls just across the Montana border. It was a daunting task that put it over-budget and over-schedule, but those hardships made “The Revenant” the film that it is: An unflinching look at what it means to die, and then survive.

‘The Revenant’ will be playing at the Panida Theater April 8-9 at 7:30 p.m.

Leonardo DiCaprio playing Hugh Glass in the film “The Revenant.”

April 7 @ 6:30pm, April 9 @ 3:30pm

“Peanuts movie” film April 8 & 9 @ 7:30pm

“The revenant” film

Oscar winning film featuring Leonardo dicaprio

Tuesday, April 12 @ 7pm

“Exposing the 9/11 Myth” film April 15 & 16 @ 7:30pm, april 17 @ 3:30pm

“Hello my name is doris” film thursday, April 21 @ 7pm

Full Draw Film Fest Tour friday, April 22 @ 7:30pm

“Love Thy Nature” Earth day celebration film

friday, April 23 @ 7:30pm

“race” film

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The Straight Poop: Idaho h t r o N in s e s s e

National Beer Day

busin ly d n ie fr g o d r The quest fo friends: Please return the favor and make

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist

Where am I taking my humans today?

A guy’s gotta eat, and it’s not Fresh Friday.

So, I’m off to the Merrick Dog Food sale at Petco—where the pets go. Everyone who works there has pets, and they know my name. It’s a beautiful sunny day, all the better to see my favorite rest stop located in front of the Bonner Mall before entering the store.

As soon as the doors open, I give a quick nod to Christian, the store manager, and I’m off on my adventure! This place is a delight for my sniffing ability. Eau de treats, food, dogs, ferrets, birds, snakes, fish, cats, oh my! Petco is a great place for the entire family (two-footed and four-footed) shop for all pet essentials. Psssst, Petco is one of my “words,” right up there with sit, stay, wait, walk.

First stop: grooming and the spa!

Gretchen specializes in grooming the customers. She practices on her two Jack Russell Chihuahuas, Vinnie and Falcor. I’m suggesting to the Missus that she put me on a five- to six-week spa regimen. Why? Because a myriad of studies prove that pets have a way of not only making humans happier, but also enriching and prolonging their lives, decreasing blood pressure, regulating breathing, lowering stress levels, improving cholesterol, promoting exercise, improving mood and providing companionship. The release of oxytocin, the “cuddle hormone” connected with affection and bonding, is also important. So listen up, my human

your pets as healthy as they make you. Treat them to a grooming and spa treatment I was able to spend some time chatting with Christian, the store manager. He grew up in Idaho, then moved to Helena and is so glad to be back here. He has a 9-year-old Yorkie, Roxie, who loves to come to Petco to explore and find new treats.

Did you know that Petco is the largest retailer of natural dog food? Blue Buffalo is Petco’s best-selling brand. The Petco team actually goes to the factories, learns from the nutritional team and picks out the best of the best for us. The selections are natural: grain free, gluten free, holistic (all the good stuff!). Petco also has Dr. Foster and Smith’s online vet service (who knew?).

You (or your vet) can place your RX for any animal order in the store—called Extended Aisle—and voila, the RX is sent to you!

Pawfect!

Start now and get your costume ready for the Petco Halloween costume contest.

Last year’s winner was a blind dog dressed up as Batman. Petco has many partnerships with the Panhandle Animal Shelter: Spring a Pet and Tree of Hope, just to name a few.

Petco offers many in-store adoption events throughout the year, in addition to obedience training classes. Rebecca, the on-site trainer, says, “You can teach an old dog new tricks.” She offers is a discount for rescue dogs to attend—not ruff at all!

Everyone who works at Petco has fur babies. A big bark-out to Angel, who is mom to Dobbie, an 8-year-old labradoodle.

Rebecca has Shilo and Byron, Brett is dad

April dance classes offered

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Eager to get those two left feet of yours out on the dance floor? Dance guru Diane Peters has announced her lineup of dance instruction for April, and many of the styles will be just in time for Lost in the ‘50s next month.

The East Coast swing, in triple time, will be taught Monday evenings at 7 p.m. on April 4, 11, 18 and 25. The East Coast swing is a great swing to learn. It has lots of energy, fun turns and moves.

Peters’ class studied this in March, but if you missed those classes, you are still welcome to attend.

The cha-cha, level two will also be taught Monday evenings at 8 p.m. This is an intermediate level of cha-cha requiring at least one series of beginning cha-cha.

The waltz instruction will take place Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. on April 7, 16 /

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14, 21 and 28. The waltz is a beautiful, graceful dance that is easy to learn. You will learn the basics, plus how to move easily around the dance floor. This is a must for weddings.

The West Coast swing will also be taught Thursday evenings at 8 p.m.

This dance is danced in a slot, usually to slower swing music, allowing lots of creativity and style once the basics are mastered.

All dance instruction classes will be held at Sandpoint West Athletic Club.

You don’t have to be a SWAC member to attend, but members do receive discounts.

For questions about dance classes, or to pre-register, call Diane Peters at 6101770 or SWAC at 263-6633.

Thursday, April 7 is National Beer Day. Enjoy a cold one, folks.

Store manager Christian, with Drake. to Squeakers and Kristen parents Dexter.

Woof woof! So, let’s all go to Petco, where the pets go!

Petco Rules:

Crossword Solution

1. Leashes please.

2. If you go to the spa, bring the paper copy of your rabies shots from your vet.

3. Leashed cats, lizards, snakes, and birds are ok.

4. No bobcats.

5. Try out all of the treats—you’ll find something new and yummy!

6. Be patient. Sit, smile, and bark only one time. If you’re good, you’ll get a treat after your human has paid the bill.

Random Corner Random corners of the Internet

Let’s face it: The Internet is weird. Here are a few of the weirder shades of weird while visiting your favorite time-killing void. eelslap.com

pointerpointer.com

Ever wanted to slap a man in the face with an eel? You have?

Me too! Now you can fulfill your strange dreams with this simple website that has one and only one feature: slapping a man in the face with an eel.

Adding to the incredible list of useless (but entertaining) sites on the Mothership, this site locates where your mouse pointer is on the screen and generates a random image of people pointing exactly at it. Some of the images actually make you go hmm.

This is a fun site that allows you to dabble in Cubism by allowing you to easily build figures and faces inspired

by Picasso. I spent way too much time here.

heyyeyaaeyaaaeyaeyaa.com

picassohead.com

Hailed as “The epicenter of the known Internet,” this site is... well... I’m just going to let it be a surprise for you. Hope you’re a fan of bad ‘90s music.

So long, Wang Shack

This week’s RLW by Jen Heller

READ

Karen Armstrong is one of the world’s most-admired scholars on religion, and her most recent book caps decades of expert work.

“Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence” attempts to answer one of the world’s biggest questions­—but Armstrong’s crisp, balanced sentences don’t heave the blame on monks and zealots. Instead, she carries the reader through regions as varied as ancient China, Puritan America, and the modern Middle East in search of what makes us tick and sets us off. It’s stunning and brilliant, and should be required reading in all our schools.

LISTEN

A handful of revelers enjoy a foggy day at the Wang Shack. Photo by Ben Olson.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

What is this fascination we have with the rundown items in our life? I once cried actual tears when a ratty, near-disintegrated flannel shirt I’d owned for five years too long finally ripped into shreds and had to be thrown away.

So it goes for the Wang Shack atop Schweitzer Mountain. The unassuming, sweaty and downright claustrophobic drinking hole has remained one of the favorite places for skiers far and wide to rest their legs and drink a can of cheap beer on top of the world.

Recently, you may have noticed several posters that announce “Save the Wang.” There’s a Facebook page with almost 300 followers dedicated to preventing the iconic shack from being town down. Tweeters and Instagrammers can also snap photos under the hashtag #savethewang to show their love.

With Schweitzer’s plans to complete construction of the soon-to-be-renamed Summit Lodge this summer, the question remains: what will happen to the dirty little shack that won the hearts and guts of so many winter enthusiasts?

“We know how strong of an emotional attachment our Schweitzer fans have for the Wang Shack,” said Dig Chrismer, director of marketing at Schweitzer.

“Honestly, it’s a couple of shacks duct taped and glued and pinned together very precariously. We’re not even sure it would survive any moving or relocating.”

Chrismer said the Wang Shack will be around through the summer as construc-

tion finishes on the Summit Lodge. Then the Wang will “probably be no more.”

Save your tears, Wangers. Sure, we all have fun memories of the smallest drinking hole in North Idaho, but how long was this little shack really going to remain in place? A strong gust of wind could probably take it down. Also, as Chrismer points out, “when the building is finished on the summit, there will actually be bathrooms.”

In commemoration of the last season the Wang Shack will be operational, I asked a few Wangers for their memories and stories. The responses poured in like cheap beer down a shot luge.

For Rick Price, the Wang Shack served him once even when they were closed.

“One year, Steve York and I skinned up to the Wang Shack in late May or early June,” said Price. “We found a couple of PBRs that had just melted out of a snow bank right next to the Wang Shack. Manna from heaven!”

Shawn Taylor, who has kept a place on Schweitzer for more than a decade, says the shack wasn’t just great because it stayed sunny up there late into the day, but it was also an altar in which to celebrate a way of life.

“It encompassed that whole ski bum vibe,” he said. “It’s that idea of ‘Wherever we show up will be fun, we don’t need much.’ Cold beer, good friends, that’s all we ever really needed.”

The Wang Shack, also known as Jimmy Wang’s, actually started as a ski demo shack over 15 years ago.

“Kirk Johnson, our rental and repair manager, started working in the Wang

Shack his first year,” said Chrismer. “Then, it was just demo skis and a couple of cases of beer.”

Tim French said, “There’s nothing better than being on top of the mountain and having a beer while talking with your friends about getting nipple deep powder.”

French remembers a couple years back when he and some friends participated in a video posted to YouTube featuring the viral song called “Harlem Shake’ where people get wild and dance like crazy.

“We crammed like 30 people in the Wang Shack,” said French. “They were dancing, wearing costumes. It was great.”

To check out the video, type “Harlem Shake Wang Shack” into YouTube.

Eager to take a few more turns and hoist one more beer at the Wang Shack? Schweitzer’s Schpring Finale is going on April 9-10, with all sorts of fun events, including a Ponderay Rotary Duck Derby, a scavenger hunt, games and activities in the village, and the Big LeBREWski beer festival featuring over 20 varieties of beer. There will also be live music at Taps both days by The Rub. Still sad to see the Wang Shack go? Chrismer points out that it isn’t just the ratty old building that people love.

“A lot of us who love hanging out at the Wang feel it’s a throwback to a time when skiing was super simple,” said Chrismer. “Just hanging out with your friends. They’re clinging to that connection because they want that free-spirit, old-school feeling of being back in the day. Those feelings aren’t going away. Schweitzer isn’t going to turn into a place like Vail. We’re Schweitzer. We love our mountain, we love our skiers and riders, and we love sitting around and having a good time in the sun. That will never go away.”

So long, Wang Shack. And thanks to Schweitzer for another great season.

To balance out winter’s lingering dark thoughts, I’m stuck on springy songs for my sunlit evening jogs.

My favorite workout CD is “Go,” a solo album released in 2010 by Jonsi (who’s best known as the highpitched vocalist for Sigur Ros).

The quick rhythms are perfectly cadenced for feet on a muddy sidewalk. The poetic lyrics are rarely in pure English, so they aren’t distracting. Just push play, insert earbuds, and follow the darting swallows home.

WATCH

We are lucky to have such a kick-ass library in town. The other day, I was startled to find a copy of Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love on the documentary shelves.

Fifteen years ago, Senegalese superstar N’Dour allowed a camera crew follow him at home and abroad as he warily navigated the post-9/11 world.

It’s fascinating to watch N’Dour juggle his musical career and his Sufi faith into a new musical project—with very unexpected results.

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w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

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

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

Arbie’s Station at Cedar St. Fifth Ave. in Sandpoint during 1940-42. The station was owned by Arbie Fredstrom and was the first Chevron station in Sandpoint.

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

c.1940

ACROSS

The same view today. Now called Paul’s Chevron, the station still carries the Chevron brand, though a few things have changed. The railroad tracks in the foreground of the above photograph were removed to make way for widening Fifth Ave.

2016

Wortdhe

Week

tessellate

/TES-uh-leyt/

[verb] 1. To form of small squares or blocks, as floors or pavement; form or arrange in a checkered or mosaic pattern.

“Billy tessellated his crackers on the plate, then ate them one by one.”

of

Corrections: Boy, you love checking here to see how we botched up, don’t you?

Well, look somewhere else, bub, we had no mistakes (that we know of) to report from the last issue. Have no fear, we’ll probably screw up in this issue. -BO 18 /

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/ April 7, 2016

1. Entry permits 6. Anthracite 10. Taxis 14. Without company 15. Chocolate cookie 16. Emanation 17. A board with wheels 19. Goad 20. Inuit 21. Foot digit 22. Train track 23. Flies alone 25. Mountainous 26. Laboratories 30. Arousing 32. Asserted 35. Rational 39. Required 40. Completely 41. Demesnes 43. Mollify 44. Burrow 46. Resorts 47. Caused by streptococci 50. Make improvements 53. Not now 54. A spider spins this 55. Showy 60. Thorny flower 61. Illogical 63. Angers 64. Lock openers 65. Sacred hymn 66. Picnic insects

Solution on page 17 67. False god 68. Trades

DOWN 1. Flower holder 2. Varieties 3. Saturate 4. Against 5. Appears 6. Loving murmur 7. Public speaker 8. Spray can 9. Prospector’s find 10. Impulsive 11. Hearing-related 12. Grill 13. In an unfortunate way

18. Ghost’s cry 24. Directed 25. _____ and lows 26. Alley 27. Beers 28. Decay from over ripening 29. Solemnity 31. Drags 33. Outfit 34. Biblical garden 36. Applaud 37. Aquatic plant 38. Caustics 42. Smiled contemptuously

43. Beer 45. Fertilized egg 47. Stripes 48. Prickle 49. Adjust again 51. Excluding 52. Drops 54. A collaborative website 56. Schnozzola 57. A Freudian stage 58. Gangly 59. Shade trees 62. American Sign Language

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