Reader August 3 2017

An interview with cindy wilson of

goose poop at city beach: the battle continues Wildfire update: new restrictions issued New to town? lake and trail guides inside Goodbye B.I.D. city dissolves Business Improvement District Tragedy: 11-year-old child drowns Reflection: a hippie on the Long Island Railroad Star grazing: The Sandpoint Eater talks Festival food!

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(wo)MAN compiled by

Susan Drinkard

on the street

The Festival at Sandpoint begins this week. Are you attending any of the concerts? What band or performer would you like to see in future years at the festival?

“I would have to buy tickets for seven kids, so it’s not financially feasible. It’s not really a family-friendly festival when you consider the costs. There are a lot of people who have big families in this area; I’m not the only one.”

Lorraine Bartholomew Mother/home school teacher Sagle

“Yes, I am going to Jake Owen and the B52s. I’d like to see Devil Makes Three — a folk band.”

Brenan Weme Insurance Agent Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

Welcome to the busiest time of the year here in Sandpoint. If you’re here from out of town, welcome. If you’re a local, please allow me to give you the secret “locals only” handshake. There. See you in September when it quiets down.

In the meantime, we have a 28-page issue chock full of good times.

There’s an interview with Cindy Wilson of the B-52s, several opinion pages weighing in on every issue from climate change to wilderness protection to President Trump’s proposed ban on transgender troops in the military, a full spread of news pages, a tour down Festival Food Street with Marcia Pilgeram, a local poetry page and our weekly events calendar with everything you need to know about upcoming shows and such.

I’d like to thank Dyno Wahl and all the Festival at Sandpoint staff and volunteers for putting together this annual high point in the community. So much work goes into putting this two-week Festival together, so if you see a volunteer, shake their hand.

Also, kudos to the construction crewmembers who have worked tirelessly to finish the grandstands in time for the Festival. Working in the summer heat is never easy. We appreciate your hard work!

We have been inundated with kind wishes and donations for the past two weeks from members of the community On a personal note, my girlfriend Cadie is renting a house that just sold, and the new owners are kicking her out after she’s lived there for over five years. Does anybody have a line on a good rental house that can get her by until we locate the right home to purchase? Ideally, we’re looking for a house with a yard and hardwood flooring. Cadie is a model tenant, has a good paying job and has treated her rental like it was her own since day one. If anyone has a lead on something, please send me a note at ben@sandpointreader.com.

I hope you all have a great musical week! Check our Facebook feed often, as we are always giving away tickets to worthy readers.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“I’m not going, but I’d love to see the B-52s this year.”

Vanessa Thiele Library Technician Sagle

LIVE MUSIC “Whether we go or not is yet to be seen. I would like for them to bring Willie Nelson back.”

Brandon Janisse Welder Fabricator Supervisor at Diedrich Sandpoint

Thursday Night Solo Series w/

SCOTT TAYLOR 6-8pm

BRIAN JACOBS & CHRIS LYNCH 2-5pm

Thursday Night Solo Series w/

MAYA GOLDBLUM 6-8pm

“I am attending the symphony.

The Festival donated tickets to The Bridge, and we are taking residents. I’d like to see Jon Bon Jovi or a Christian band such as Point of Grace.”

Leanna Murray Lifestyles Director at The Bridge Selle Valley

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

255-4351

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover design), Susan Drinkard, Lori Reid, Jane Fritz, Cort Gifford, Leslie Kiebert, BGH. Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, McCalee Cain, Tim Bearly, Tony Lewis, Carey Chisolm, Jane Fritz, Brenden Bobby, Tim Henney, Beth Weber, Tom Woodward, Jim Mitsui, Marcia Pilgeram.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

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

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

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

Free to all, limit two copies per person.

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

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

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

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

About the Cover

This week’s cover features a free stock photo of a Gretsch electric guitar to help kick off the Festival at Sandpoint! Have a great time at the concerts.

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COMMENTARY

Tragedy of the common sense

Capitalism versus Socialism: a false dilemma

By Tim Bearly Reader Contributor From a young age we are all inculcated with binary reasoning. An either-or form of logic which typically results in an excluded-middle (no in-between) paradigm, with only two alternatives: A or B. As children we establish a habit of black-and-white thinking when we observe the grown-ups around us — some liberal, some conservative (all dogmatic).

We soon realize that our parents are a bit averse to “why” questions, and prefer questions that can be answered with a definitive “yes” or “no.”

In school we are taught about the virtues of group cohesiveness — our team versus theirs — and we quickly learn how the world works: We learn to pick sides (Macs are better than PCs, but I digress). Consequently, now that we are older, the debate is no longer “Star Wars” versus “Star Trek,” but capitalism versus socialism.

Unfortunately, because of our proclivity to pick a side and cling to it like a koala on a tree, we are commonly forced into extreme positions. If a particular party wants too many regulations, then the opposing party may demand complete and utter deregulation (or perhaps abolishing regulatory agencies altogether). Likewise, If party B acts like racism doesn’t exists, party A will contend that everything is racist. Few have the courage to deviate from the consensus of the group with which they belong.

Our yearning for mental unity and our desire to belong further compound these contrasts.

If we scratch beneath the surface of the economic systems throughout the world, we will discover that there are no completely capitalist or completely socialist economies. Moreover, there is no such thing as a “free” market. The marketplace does not reside in some parallel universe separate from the government.

All economies are mixed economies: amalgamations of public and private sector industries (all with regulatory mechanisms of differing degrees). Sorry purists, this includes the United States.

Corporate bailouts are not a particularly good example of government intervention. Many refer to this as “socialism 4 /

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for the rich and capitalism for the rest of us.” But what about Medicare, Social Security, public schools, libraries and college grants? These are all socialist programs and institutions that even most conservatives approve of. Most people, however, do not think of these programs as socialistic.

In 2009, during the Obamacare debate, protesters were marching with signs that read, “Don’t steal from my Medicare to support socialized medicine,” and “Get your government hands off my Medicare.” Seemingly oblivious to the patent contradiction, many people hate socialism but love the socialist programs that they are on. But any government program that they don’t personally benefit from, well, “That’s socialism!” It’s kind of like a love/hate, fatal attraction situation.

“Social programs; if I can’t have you then no one can.” Indeed, people often oppose government spending unless the money is being spent on them.

Some individualists assert that by allowing everyone to pursue their own self-interest we will all be better off.

They claim that if we just get the government out of the way then businesses will produce even better products at even lower prices, and Adam Smith’s invisible hand will stabilize the market.

This belief, however, is not borne out by the facts. Without anti-trust laws mergers and acquisitions would result in less competition, and more monopolistic power and abuse. Consumers don’t have much purchasing power when they can only buy from one company. Likewise, companies aren’t incentivized to create better products when they know buyers have only one option. Planned obsolescence is a byproduct of to few (not too many) regulations.

The tragedy of the commons is basically a tragedy of self-interest. Left to our own devices most of us endeavor to drink from the glass, but never fill it.

Although this is a proclivity some would have you believe is exclusive to liberals (the takers), it is a phenomenon that is not exclusive to any group or party.

Corporations are not concerned with externalities (environmental devastation, rising cancer rates, etc), but only profit.

This too, is a tragedy of the commons.

Hence the need for a regulatory mechanism to diminish the harmful effects self-interest.

Corporations, unsurprisingly, do not want to be taxed and regulated. Therefore they spend a lot of money trying to propagandize people into believing that taxes and regulations are always bad (and that climate change is a hoax, nicotine is not addictive, lead is not really dangerous, etc). Consequently many people inadvertently vote and act against their own interests.

The private sector does not always offer a viable solution to issues like health care. And if Adam Smith’s invisible hand cannot be trusted to check your prostate, a public sector solution might be a better option. Moreover, when wealth becomes too concentrated in the hands of the few, a progressive tax system can be implemented to mitigate the inequality.

“Nonsense,” proclaims the reactionary, “taxation is theft.”

Perhaps he’ll be more receptive to the point if he hears it directly from his tricorne hat wearing champion. In 1785,

Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Another means of silently lessening the inequality of property is to exempt all from taxation below a certain point, and to tax the higher portions or property in geometrical progression as they rise.” Damn you, Jefferson! You commie bastard!

Another gentleman named Thomas from the same era, Thomas Paine, also argued that the wealthy should be taxed at a higher rate in order to help pay for the needs of the poor.

Unfortunately we’ve shifted so far to the right on economic issues that what was once considered left of center social democracy is now considered “theft.”

This is not a case for “soaking the rich.” Nor is it a case for or against the profit motive. It is merely a contention that not everything is binary. When we all hate taxes but love the commons, it’s not a question of capitalism versus socialism, but a question of how much socialism you want with your capitalism?

Because like it or not, we’re all capito-socialists now.

OPINION

Climate Change is a FACT

By Tony Lewis Reader Contributor

First of all, climate is ALWAYS changing. That is a FACT! Let’s review a couple of things about climate. There are many variables to it, including: 1) Temperature (mean, maximum and minimum on a long-term basis and their variability, for example spanning one-, 10- or 30-year periods).

2) Precipitation (sums of daily total, number of storm event totals and their frequency, intensity, duration, etc.).

3) Wind (average, peak and directional changes).

4) Evaporation (total amount, rate and seasonal changes).

These items above are a few of the important climate variables that need to be considered over an extended period of time. There is also the question of scale (local, regional or global). We all experience one of these variables, average temperature, as we go from our backyard to the city of Sandpoint to the state of Idaho to the entire United States and so on to a global extent. What a difference! Now consider the complexity of the effect of scale on all the rest of the variable.

As you can see, CLIMATE IS COM-

PLEX. For the sake of this discussion, let’s focus on global scale temperature trends during the historic period, or in other words the systematic period of collecting atmospheric information (acknowledging the fact that prior to the launching of weather satellites, weather/climate data collection focused on areas of human occupation and greatly under-represented the oceans, deserts, mountains, ice-covered land and water, areas of permafrost and other largely uninhabited surfaces of the earth). Coupled with this paucity of data, the standardization of measures (location, equipment and human inaccuracies) left a lot to be desired; however, this historic pre-satellite data is the most extensive data we have. Calibrated measuring equipment on board the plethora of weather satellites operated and shared by the international community now provides us with accurate, standardized atmospheric information on multiple scales and in a north, south and vertical direction. That is right — we now have access to information not only for the entire surface of the earth but also in the column above the surface.

Based on the historic, systematically collected weather data, the earth’s temperature is rising on global, regional and (sometimes) local scales. That is a

FACT! Of course, someone may select a small area or a small data set to refute this statement, but there are always outliers/anomalies in such a complex environment as our atmosphere and earth surface.

Burning fossil fuels releases CO2, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.

The increase in global temperature correlates closely with the increase in atmospheric CO2 since the Industrial Revolution. That is a FACT! We can choose to believe that global temperature is not increasing, just as we can choose to believe that the earth is not billions of years old, or that we never put a man on the moon, or that the earth does not revolve around the sun, but the facts are just not there to substantiate those beliefs.

Scientific data are generally collected for the purpose of advancing our knowledge and increasing our understanding. Such data and resulting scientific findings are usually vetted by a critical review process and made available to the scientific community as well as the general public. Such science based research has a much higher level of credibility than research conducted on the impact of cigarettes on our health by tobacco companies or research supported by fossil fuel based companies on the impact of

burning fossil fuels on air pollution and climate change. Quarterly profits are the driving force of that research and NOT the collective welfare of human-kind nor the holistic advancement of science.

Climate change is a FACT! Global temperature is rising faster than predicted, and the rise is correlated with an increase in greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, largely due to human activity.

If you question the validity of these FACTS based on criticism from the fossil fuel industry or politicians supported by their massive profits, then you must hold both sides to the same standards.

A snowflake in June or two days of below-average temperatures in Sandpoint do not negate the FACT that global warming is happening, and we better take preventative measures to slow the rate down and/or prepare for its effects, if not for us then for our children and grandchildren!

OPEN 11:30 am

GAME ROOM UPSTAIRS

Making the case for wilderness designation for the Scotchman Peaks

By Carey Chisolm Reader Contributor As a recent retiree who moved to North Idaho from the Midwest, I have been interested in the discussion about the wilderness designation of the Scotchman Peaks area. I have vacationed here consistently for over 20 years, and my wife’s family has roots in the area.

Her mother’s family grew up on Bull River and attended school in Noxon.

Her father’s family lived just outside of Clark Fork – her grandfather worked on the Cabinet Dam and her grandmother taught at Clark Fork High School. My father-in-law spent summers working for the USFS as trail and fire crew. Their stories about the Cabinets intrigued me from my first visit. My hikes in the area always have wonderful flora and fauna surprises.

Surrounded by so much natural beauty, it is easy to become desensitized to how special and wonderful this area is. Having grown up or lived in Virginia, Texas and Indiana, the opportunity to enjoy a wilderness area where you can be the only person around for miles is a rarity to be treasured — not only now for ourselves, but for our children and the generations to follow.

It is perhaps easy to become complacent and take for granted the special opportunities afforded through wilderness designation – the unique flora, fauna and geology just as it was centuries ago.

Yes, wilderness designation creates trade-offs and will limit some recreational activities involving motorized equipment and but it’s important to remember that neither of those things are happening right now in the Scotchman Peaks.

This is federally owned land (ALL of us own it— and have responsibility for

it) and already designated as roadless.

Moreover, there are many of us who would relish the opportunity to have one of the few wilderness designated areas in many miles, and the only one in northern Idaho.

Since it’s inclusion in the Roadless Area Review and Evaluation studies in the 1970s and subsequent Idaho Panhandle Nation Forest management plans recommending it for wilderness protection, the next logical step in the process for the Scotchman’s is Wilderness designation via Sen. Jim Risch’s bill that he introduced last Congress. Let’s keep this treasure as pristine as possible for those who follow us on our time on Earth.

Hopefully, it can be as inspirational to those who climb these peaks in 2075 as for those who do so now! I ask that Sen. Risch reintroduce his legislation this year so northern Idaho can finally get its small slice of wilderness.

The Psounbality with Per FRESH FOOD LIVE MUSIC THE BEST NW BREWS

212 Cedar Street Downtown Sandpoint

208.263.4005 A SandPint Tradition Since 1994 August 3, 2017 /

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COMMUNITY

Seattle teen activists to talk climate change Bouquets: •After six attempts to ram through the Obamacare repeal, the GOP has finally struck out with the so-called “skinny repeal” going down in flames after three GOP senators voted against it. I am thankful that at least three senators aren’t spineless toads.

Way to go, McCain, Murkowski and Collins. Country before party, always.

Barbs: •When President Trump announced via his vile Twitter feed last week that he would not be allowing people who identify as transgender to serve in the military, he took a step too far. Trump had no problem waving a rainbow flag and promising to look out for LGBTQ rights on the campaign trail, but, as with just about every one of his campaign promises, we now see that he cares not. Here’s my opinion: If you are willing and able to serve your country’s military, there should be no restrictions preventing you from doing so based on gender, race, sex, sexual orientation or political persuasion. Shame on the president.

By McCalee Cain Reader Intern The adage “If I can’t dance, it’s not my revolution” from 19th century activist Emma Goldman rings true today: For Aji Piper, 17, music was a natural gateway into climate advocacy.

“My activism really kicked off once I got my ukulele,” Piper said.

“Music is something I’d definitely like to take farther with my life, and it’s a very important part of my activist life. I mean, when (my brother and I) started, we were actually singing before speaking.”

Aji is one of three young men from Seattle coming to Sandpoint to discuss their experience as climate activists. He is joined by his brother Adonis Williams, 12, and Gabe Mandell, 15. Piper is a is a plaintiff in the groundbreaking federal lawsuit filed by 21 youths on the grounds that the government has taken aggregate actions that unjustly subject future generations to the consequences of climate change.

The trial is scheduled to begin in U.S. district court in Eugene, Ore., this February.

Piper, Williams and Mandell are also involved in a similar suit against the state of Washington, originating from the state’s denial of a petition seeking rules regulating carbon dioxide emissions as prescribed by the newest and most advanced climate data.

They are supported by Our Children’s Trust, a nonprofit dedicated to securing young people’s legal right to a stable climate.

“I’ve always had a deep care for people and the environment, so activism was a no brainer,” Mandell said. He has been involved in activism since fifth grade.

As young people, the boys face a unique array of challenges, some even stemming from fellow advocates. The trio agreed that people often disregard their activism because of their age.

“I feel like as someone young, I’m not treated with the most seriousness and respect as people older than me,” Mandell said. “When people actually listen and start to hear what we’re saying, that’s the most fun part.”

Williams said that many adults, especially government officials, accuse him of being merely a “pup-

The activist teens, from left to right: Adonis Williams, Gabe Mandell and Aji Piper.

Courtesy photo. pet” for other people’s agendas because he is young.

“It’s a general disregard for my opinion or dismissal of my knowledge, simply because I’m younger than them, and they think they’re wiser than I am,” Piper said. “It’s something that I deal with even in communities of fellow activists.”

The boys don’t let that get them down. Through persistence, they have earned national regard in the activist community regardless of their age.

“When you show people that

Kalispel Tribe to embark on traditional canoe ride

By Jane Fritz Reader Contributor

Last summer, at Summer Solstice, members of The Upper Columbia Plateau Tribes, which includes the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, joined by their Canadian relations, paddled newly constructed dugout canoes — fashioned from ancient cedar trees donated by one of the tribes on the Northwest Coast — from their respective reservations to a traditional tribal landing and gathering site along the Columbia River at Kettle Falls, Wash The tribes hadn’t canoed and gathered there in 86 years.

This recent journey resurrected a tradition that had once been essential to the way of life of these Interior tribes. The Coeur 6 /

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d’Alene Tribal paddlers came the farthest, traveling for 10 days to get to Kettle Falls, once the second-most important salmon fishery in the Pacific Northwest.

This essential source of salmon as food for thousands of people was inundated and destroyed by the building of Grand Coulee Dam. It altered the lives of tribal peoples of the region forever. Hundreds of Native people and others waited onshore for the eight large, dugout canoes and smaller sturgeon-nose canoes to arrive.

Spiritual leaders spoke about the primary reason for the journey: to demonstrate the need to bring the salmon back to the Upper Columbia River region. Elders shared stories of the past and their ancestors stories of the salmon being in this part of the river.

Canoes landing. Photo by Jane Fritz.

This Thursday, the Upper Columbia Tribes will paddle again, this time invited by the Kalispel Tribe. They will begin at their aboriginal village site at Sandpoint City Beach — qp qepe, Salish for “place of sand.” They will paddle for three days and 51 miles to their reservation across

the Pend Oreille River from Usk, Wash., in time for their 42nd annual powwow celebration. The Coeur d’Alene, Kootenai, Sinixt or Lakes, Spokane and Colville Confederated Tribal paddlers are expected to join the Kalispel paddlers. They have invited nonnative paddlers as well, to

you really deserve their attention, it makes a bigger impact, I think,” Mandell said.

Per the invitation of local climate protection groups, the three activists will visit the Gardenia Center on Aug 12 at 12-1 p.m. for a musical performance and Q&A session. One topic of discussion will be the potential of a chapter of the international nonprofit Plant for the Planet geared towards offsetting CO2 emissions by planting trees being created in Sandpoint.

come along for a little ways or the entire journey.

The reason for this paddle is “Remember the Water.”

Living downriver from Lake Pend Oreille, they want to draw attention to the vital need to care for our lake and rivers, as water is life. I plan to be in my cedar canoe, built 41 years ago by my brother, along with two friends as we share in this special and history-making sojourn with our Native friends.

If you have a kayak or canoe and would like to take part in some or all of the event, or would like to support the tribes with your attendance, come to Sandpoint City Beach at 9 a.m. to see them off on their trip.

Also, follow the Kalispel Tribe Facebook page for updates.

OPINION

Weighing In:

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Last week, while GOP senators were scrambling to find enough votes to pass a repeal for the Affordable Care Act (a fight they ultimately lost), President Trump fired off a series of tweets which seemed to come out of nowhere.

“After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow Transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military,” Trump wrote. “Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail. Thank you.”

The tweet would ultimately reverse a 2016 ruling by former Defense Secretary Ashton Carter that lifted the ban on transgender people serving openly.

We have made big strides toward cementing freedoms for all in the United States, but this seems like yet another step backward from the Trump administration.

I say let them serve. If they are willing and able, let them serve.

I spoke with a few folks I know in the community who have served in the military to get their reactions to the tweet. Here are their responses, presented as their own candid views: Bill Collier, USMC Cpt. Bill Collier, served as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam War. He has written three books about his experiences, one of which is soon to be released.

Stay tuned.

When I joined the Marines, I did not vow to be loyal to the United States, I did not vow to support the president. I did not vow to support my commanding general. I swore to uphold and protect the CONSTITUTION of the United States. My attitude

What do those who have served in the military think of Trump’s proposed ban on transgender individuals serving in the military?

has not changed.

I attend about three meetings every month in Sandpoint at which we recite the pledge to the flag of the United States. Every time I choke on the last few words, “...with liberty and justice for all.” Daily I am reminded that we are still a long way from that ideal.

I really DO NOT CARE what other people want to do with their partners or who their partners might be, desire or like.

That is none of my business.

I have never seen “straight” people making love in the office or the cockpit. Nor have I never seen “others” making love in any public places. Whatever someone desires to do with a partner in privacy is not my business.

We are all citizens of this great country and are guaranteed our right to pursue happiness by our great CONSTITUTION. This is called freedom for all. ALL. Barney Ballard, USAF Barney Ballard, USAF, flew as a Forward Air Controller during the Vietnam War. He is an advocate for aviation and education in Sandpoint.

Given the difficulty of serving in the military at a time when many of our armed forces have been deployed four or five times to regions of continuous war, it is ironic that our president would exclude from the services those wishing to serve their country, specifically transgender people.

Citing the burden of “... tremendous medical costs,” I would ask the man who never gave service to our country if the expenses to care for veterans with multiple combat deployments or exposure to Agent Orange and radioactive ingredients has been computed into his tweet.

Blusterers and bloviators, such as Trump, are of a political base of “chickenhawks” who advocate aggressive use of our military but know nothing of the really horrible consequences of war. The greatest irony is that he

never experienced the life changes war entails. For he, who has been given so much, has always been a “taker” and has grabbed whatever he pleased. His attitude has always been that others should do the “grunt” work while he takes that to which he is entitled. To exclude a transgender person who wants to serve is not an example of leadership given his specious reasoning, but is purely a political pitch to a bigoted audience.

Staff Sgt. Luke Omodt, Idaho Army National Guard Luke Omodt serves as a Staff Sgt. in the Idaho Army National Guard and has been deployed four times; twice to the Balkans (1998, 1999) and twice to Iraq (2004, 2010). His views are spoken as a private citizen.

I have served with LGB soldiers. I have not experienced any issues serving with LGB soldiers. As for transgender, I’m not aware of any I’ve served with. I may have, I don’t know.

Once you put the uniform on, what matters is, can you do the job and follow the directions of those appointed over you? So I don’t really care, personally.

The transgender policy has not yet been fully enacted...

As a North Idaho guy, I am more conservative than some.

Speaking for myself, as a private citizen, openly-serving transgenders don’t really fit the definition of the word uniform. I’m in no way alleging that a transgender soldier is incapable. They may be. I just don’t know how well that would work out. I know I’m serving with LGB and look, no one cares. It’s not our business.

There has been no official guidance yet about the president’s tweets, but there has been a transgender policy in place (from the Obama Administration in 2016). We’ve received training on it. I would suggest you look at it. ...

If that policy is enacted it is going to create just as many prob-

lems as it solves, at a minimum ... a transgender soldier who has gone through the (new policies) process but not physically transitioned can choose their facilities, and everyone else must accept this ... That can be a challenge for some service members, especially if they haven’t gone through the transition. If your assigned gender is female, you utilize the female latrines, female showers and those female servicemembers do not get a chance to express any reservation. ... No one has seen it done, though.

The U.S. Military is an institution that is one of the most discriminatory possible. If you’re a diabetic, you can’t serve. Old people can’t serve. As a high school teacher watching young men and women try to get into the armed services, there are a slough of conditions that do not provide you with the opportunity to serve. It’s up to the president, whether it be Obama or Trump, to set forth that policy. So I’d tell you, unless we want to be open- minded and let everybody serve — to let 80-year old men and women serve in infantry conditions and do those tasks — I’m very comfortable with those tweets. In my experience, I think that I’d prefer it that we remain true to our purpose, to protect and defend the United States. At the same time, I’ll also tell you if the president says we serve with transgender soldiers, that’s what we do. We raise our right hand and protect the Constitution. It’s not my call.

Then-candidate Donald Trump posed holding a rainbow flag with “LGBTs for Trump” written on it at campaign rally at the University of Northern Colorado on Oct. 30, 2016

Ed Karasek, USMC Ed Karasek fought in the Vietnam War and was wounded in battle near Hoi An. He currently lives in Sandpoint.

I was in the Marine Corps from ‘66 to ‘69, and during that time LGBTQ wasn’t even an issue. I’m sure I must have served with some gay people, but back then they hid such things, so I did not know of any of them at the time.

I think the relevant issue here is Trump lying to the LGBTQ community about how he would “protect them” while claiming Hillary wouldn’t, and even more relevant is the military’s experience in following Ash Carter’s order to integrate them. There have been no reported problems of any kind and no claims that they haven’t carried their own weight, so to say.

So what is the problem?

Mostly it would seem Trump. He claimed to have discussed this “with my Generals” but to date no general has stepped forward to corroborate this apparent lie.

It appears this is an attempt to keep the cultural wars going and to rile up Trump’s Evangelical right-wing support.

Congress should step in and block him, and if they don’t, I believe the courts will. And should!

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‘Pushing the Limits’ series offered for climate discussion

By Reader Staff The East Bonner County Library is teaming up with the National Weather Service, Spokane to host a free reading, viewing and discussion series for adults titled “Pushing the Limits.” The series brings together feature film quality videos, scientists and anyone who are interested in exploring accessible strategies for adapting to extreme weather events and building long-term resiliency.

The Sandpoint Library is one of 50 public libraries hosting the series made possible by a grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The “Pushing the Limits” program will provide free books and discussion materials

Utilities Rate Hike...

Dear Editor, Electricity and natural gas are great things, but we’re using less of it and the utilities are feeling some pain.

The utilities (including our Avista) said, “Heck, let’s just raise the basic monthly charge (14% in the latest rate increase filing) for the privilege of having a meter.”

The problem is it’s really biased against low income customers and they can’t deal with it by turning down the thermostat.

Also, obviously, it also does nothing to encourage energy conservation.

High income wealthy customers get the exact same $0.75 per month increase on their nice little McMansions. They probably won’t notice it - they’re probably laughing.

It’s fairly easy to call Avista out on this. Send a comment to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission. Go to: http://www.puc.idaho.gov/ forms/casecomment.aspx The case number is 17-02-G. They (IPUC) are very interested in public comment. Thanks!

Bill Stuble Dover, ID

Fact Checking...

Dear Editor,

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to participants. Members of the group will read three books and attend sessions in on Aug. 5, Sept. 9, October 7 and Nov. 4.

“We hope people with different views on climate change will be able to talk openly about this sensitive subject,” a press release for the discussion series read.

Once the discussions begin in August, they will be led by community members. The librarians and meteorologists will simply act as moderators.

The program also provides National Weather Service professionals from Spokane to help moderate the discussions and answer questions. Robin Fox from the National Weather Service in Spokane will lead the series.

After monitoring the weather in the Inland Northwest for

two decades, Fox has gained insight on local weather patterns and its impacts.

It’s important to be prepared for whatever Mother Nature brings our way.

The first program launching the series will be held August 5, 2017 at Monarch Mountain Coffee, 208 N. 4th Ave. in Sandpoint. The program’s goal is to provide a relaxed, non-judgmental environment to discuss how climate change affects our community.

The enclosed materials provide additional details about the series. We encourage you to participate in this national program at our library. For more information and to register, please contact Mike Bauer at 208-265-2665 or mike@ ebonnelibrary.org.

We’ve had some presidents before who stretched the truth but none like the current occupant who has transformed lying into an art form.

Just after his inauguration he wrongly claimed the audience exceeded that of any recent presidential inauguration (Obama’s in 2009 far exceeded it.)

Close to six months in office, his claim that he had signed more bills (42) than “any president ever” was completely wrong. Among recent presidents, he’s behind Jimmy Carter (70 bills signed), George H.W. Bush (55) and Bill Clinton (50).

According to the Washington Post’s Fact Checker, in his first 100 days he averaged 4.9 false or misleading claims a day – making him “the most fact-challenged politician that the Fact Checker has ever encountered.”

After six months, the president’s tally is 836 false or misleading statements – or 4.6 a day. His most repeated claim, made 44 times, is that the Affordable Health Care Act is dying and “essentially dead.” But according to the Congressional Budget Office, the Obamacare exchanges are not imploding and are expected to remain stable for the foreseeable future.

Some 30 times he has claimed arranging business investments and job announcements that were previously announced. Trump recently claimed that “in one sentence” he got the Chinese president to allow U.S. beef to be sold in China (It happened because the Obama administration had already arranged the beef deal last September).

In his previous life, he could get away with these exaggerations. But as “Pinocchio in Chief” he will find closer attention to the facts will be required in dealing with complex issues facing our country.

Jim Ramsey Sandpoint

Use Critical Thinking...

Dear Editor, I have never seen so many words used to say so much nothing, as in Christian Rose’s article “Debating climate change in a post-logical era.”

(Where was the debate?)

Mr. Rose offered no explanation as to why there are rising ocean levels, warming temperatures, shrinking glaciers, disappearing polar ice, etc.

There was nothing constructive at all in his article, all he did was complain and play the blame game.

It also appeared that Mr. Rose

The Inoculant

By Lori Reid

‘The Inoculant’ comic sponsored by: The

law firm of Elsaesser Jarzabek Anderson Elliott Macdonald. tried to portray himself as some sorta Latin scholar. Or was he just trying to show us that he is educated?

While in college in the ‘70s I took a “Communications Studies” class.

The instructor compared a Federal tax form (overflowing with Latin/ legalese) with Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (who used virtually none).

The federal form was incomprehensible; Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address explodes with clarity.

Mr. Rose, don’t try to impress us… try exercising some clarity.

So Christian, you wrote: “Climate alarmists are guilty of using most of them (false facts), and sometimes skeptics are as well.” I suspect this is your attempt to appear “fair and balanced.” Am I right?

Then you invoke the “flat earth” theory as evidence of how wrong people can be. I ask you Christian, where do you stand on evolution? I suspect you are a creationist. If so, that says a lot about your credibility.

I have a suggestion for you Mr. Rose; exercise some critical thought before writing your next article.

Lee Santa Sandpoint

Friends of Library announce special sale

By Ben Olson Reader Staff The Sandpoint Friends of the Library (FOL) are holding a book sale on August 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library. The August sale will be an even bigger bargain than usual with all books priced at only $1 per bag.

Because the Library Transformation is rolling along, space is at a premium and FOL needs to clear out the storage room. There will be an excellent selection of titles in all genres.

The FOL have been culling their stock, so the Free Cart is overflowing with great selections also. Grab a bag of books and find some shade!

Why use Sandpoint Property Management to manage and lease your property?

List your property with us and get results that beneďŹ t you!

Sandpoint Property Management provides:

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NEWS

City dissolves business improvement district

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff The Sandpoint Business Improvement District is no more.

Council members decided Wednesday to dissolve the district, which collected fees from downtown businesses, and release members from payment obligations. It closes the book on a program with an increasingly troubled management situation over the past few years. “(This) puts the onus on businesses to either reestablish the BID or go without,” said Councilman Bob Camp.

Council members faced one of two options when determining the fate of the BID: They could either end it altogether or maintain its boundaries but bring its payments down to zero. Ultimately, members chose to end the program altogether, since many who complained about the BID said

the boundaries felt arbitrary, benefiting some businesses more than others.

It’s a decision that likely will not be celebrated across the board. Councilwoman Deb Ruehle voted against the measure, saying she’d been approached by many business owners who wanted to keep the BID. “I feel like they deserve at least one vote in their direction,” she said.

The decision is the culmination of a lengthy public engagement process to establish a consensus on the BID. It began last year with a survey managed

by Boise State University students that invited feedback from business owners. This summer, Roger Woodworth of Mindset Matters continued the process with a series of workshops.

Overall, participation among business owners was low and

produced mixed opinions.

The BID was established as a fund that all district members paid into for mutually beneficial programs like special downtown events, Christmas decorations, summertime flower baskets and promotional efforts.

However, it eventually attracted committed critics who felt the district fees were an onerous burden that produced minimal value for them.

Initially, the BID was managed under the authority of the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association. In 2013, it was restructured to operate as an independent branch of the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce guided by a board of representatives from a variety of business types— for instance, retail shops and restaurants.

Last year, BID manager Kim Queen resigned, throwing the program’s future into question.

RAISE THE ROOF

Idaho insurance rates to increase sharply Festival announces free shuttle service

By Cameron Rasmusson According to Cameron, Reader Staff

Health care plans through the Idaho exchange program are slated for substantial rate hikes starting next year.

On average, rates will go up 38 percent, with SelectHealth of Idaho seeking the sharpest spike at 44 percent and Montana Health Cooperative proposing the lowest at 25 percent. Meanwhile, rates for silver plans on the Idaho health exchange, the most popular plans for their mid-tier coverage, will increase on average 50 percent. The highest individual increase comes form PacificSource Health Plans, which listed a silver plan increase of 81 percent.

“I am deeply disappointed and frustrated to share these rates,” said Idaho Department of Insurance Director Dean Cameron in a press release. “I understand how difficult it will be for Idahoans to afford reasonable coverage, especially those without a subsidy.”

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uncertainty from the federal government is the cause of the rate spikes. In particular, President Donald Trump’s overtures toward slashing cost-sharing reduction payments have contributed to the uncertainty.

Congressional inaction on an Obamacare replacement plan has also exacerbated the situation, with insurance companies unsure how much cost they will ultimately bear.

Cameron asks Congress to address three key issues at the root of the rate increases: fund or repeal the cost-sharing reduction mechanism, fund high-risk reinsurance pools and allow true consumer choice of plans either on or off the exchange.

“The proposed rate increases demonstrate the need for changes to the federal law. Idaho’s congressional delegation has been responsive and responsible, but we must help them deliver the message to their colleagues,” said Cameron.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

SPOT (Selkirks-Pend Oreille Transit) and the Lake Pend Oreille School District have partnered with The Festival at Sandpoint to provide convenient, free parking and transportation to and from the Festival venue for the 2017 the Festival season.

SPOT buses will run continuously Thursdays-Saturdays during the Festival from Sandpoint High School Parking Lot to the Festival’s front gate at Memorial Field from 4 p.m – 11:30 p.m. Coolers and chairs are welcome on the buses.

“We are thankful to SPOT and LPOSD for providing this service free of charge for the convenience of festival fans and the less impact we have on the residential neighborhood surrounding the venue, the better,” said Dyno Wahl, the Festival at Sandpoint executive director.

“We invite you to park, shuttle and fuhgeddabouit!”

A Festival at Sandpoint crew member backs away from the peak of the iconic Festival tent shortly after the crew raised the roof. Photo by Ben Olson.

Child drowns in Pend Oreille River

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer

An 11-year-old boy died Tuesday in a drowning incident at the Morton Slough boat launch on the Pend Oreille River.

A 911 call around 4 p.m. stated that the boy’s mother could not locate either of her children, the other boy being 17, in the water. A press release from the Bonner County Sheriff’s Department stated that the boys were “inexperienced swimmers” who removed their life vests thinking the water was shallow and slow enough to swim without them.

When the 17-year-old began to struggle in the water, his mother attempted to help him but couldn’t, so she swam to shore for help. It was then that the younger boy tried to help, but struggled to

stay afloat as well.

People in the area heard the mother calling for help and managed to retrieve the 17-year-old from the water. He regained a pulse and was flown to Kootenai Medical Center. Members of the Bonner County Dive Team found the 11-year-old in over six feet of water, and after attempting life-saving measures, he was announced dead on the scene.

“It was a very unfortunate set of circumstances,” said Bonner Country Undersheriff Ror Lakewold. “A life preserver perhaps could have mitigated the situation, but they thought they were in shallow water. They just found a deeper section while playing in the water.”

Lakewold said the 17-year-old swimmer is in critical condition.

NEWS

City Beach goose poop battle continues

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer It’s no secret that while City Beach is a beautiful and popular location in Sandpoint, it is plagued by a certain foe.

This foe would be the geese — and more specifically, their poop.

Reviews of City Beach online rave about the ample parking space, gorgeous views and sandy shorelines. The biggest complaint? Goose droppings.

“The only bad thing I can say is that the grass areas are full of bird poop! A blanket is a must!” says one review from last summer.

“One word of warning, watch your step on the grass. Tons of goose poop,” reads another.

While the increasing goose population is still a problem at City Beach, the city is using a number of tactics to combat the feces issue. Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Director Kim Woodruff said the city is currently using two pieces of equipment — one for the sand, and one for the grass — to rake up the excrement. The current schedule for the two rakes is Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings before people tend to use the beach, Woodruff said.

The city has also budgeted $4,000 this summer to pay local man Randy Curless to use his specially trained border collies to herd the geese away from the beach.

While most of the concern regarding the goose poop has to do with keeping the beach aesthetically pleasant, Woodruff

said public health concerns are a secondary issue. He said it would take a lot of goose excrement to make public safety a real problem.

“I think if there is extreme concentration, that could be a concern,” Woodruff said.

He said the city has “never had a confirmed report of any water-related issue” caused by the goose poop. Rake equipment will continue to be used on their regular schedule as well as when needed for high concentration issues, and Curless and his dogs will continue to patrol the beach.

Curless has no set schedule, because if he did, the geese would get used to the dogs and be more difficult to move, Woodruff said.

“My perception is that we’re actually making some headway with the dogs, but I can’t quantify that,” Woodruff said.

In the three summers he’s been herding the geese, Curless said they have multiplied at a rapid rate. He said there were about 35 geese when he began patrolling the beach with his dogs, but the population has risen to nearly 150 as of this week.

“The tough thing about it is that the city has got a tight budget, so I come down from time to time and try to get them to move off, which we can, but it takes time,” Curless said. “I think (the city does) a real good job.”

He said that even if he and his dogs can get the geese herded, they tend to return to the beach areas by nightfall.

“There’s got to be some kind

of answer, because unless we can thin the geese down, in three or four years there will be so many geese the beach will almost be unusable,” he said. “There’s different ways of trying to thin them down. People talk about relocation, but if they can find their way from the south to Alaska, they’ll just come right back.”

Curless said he will continue to herd the geese through August, but often times by the end of the season they’re so smart that they know his vehicle and fly from the grass to the water when he arrives so it’s harder for the dogs to herd them.

“I don’t know what the answer is,” he said. “Sandpoint is really trying hard.”

Curless said he estimates each goose deposits three pounds of excrement per day, which means that with 150 geese inhabiting the beach daily, somewhere near 450 pounds of goose manure is dropped every day. While this is happening over a large area, Curless said the immensity of the situation is still noticeable.

Wildfire update: new restrictions

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer

The U.S. Forest Service announced Tuesday that all lands within the Coeur d’Alene Fire Restriction Area are under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. The Coeur d’Alene Fire Restriction Area includes “all state, federal and private forestland and rangeland in Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai, Shoshone and Latah Counties,” as well as public lands in Washington and Montana that are administered by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions are as follows: • One cannot build, maintain, attend or use a fire, campfire or stove fire unless they’re within a designated recreation site in a permanent fireplace made of concrete or metal, or on their own land, and only within an owner-provided structure.

• There’s no smoking allowed unless it’s within an enclosed vehicle, building or designated area, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is clear of flammable materials.

Firewood cutting is still permitted under Stage 1 Restrictions, as well as using fire fueled solely by liquid petroleum or liquid petroleum gas fuels, as long as those fires are clear of flammable materials.

The Trestle Peak Fire, the only fire still of concern in the Sandpoint Ranger District, was announced as 100 percent contained as of last week.

Trail No. 526 is the only closure still in the area.

The East Fork of Meadows Fire in the Bonners Ferry Ranger District, which was reported and put out July 27, is suspected to be human-caused as is under investigation.

The only fire still uncontained in the region is the North Fork Hughes Fire in the Priest Lake Ranger District.

The fire is over 300 acres. As of Wednesday, eight wildfire specialists were assessing the situation and making plans for effective fire containment. There are two trails closed in the area due to public safety concerns: Trails No. 312 and 512.

More closures may occur as the fire expands.

A ‘SEAMLESS’ MEMORIAL FIELD UPDATE

10-digit dialing now required in Idaho

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The days of seven-digit dialing in Idaho are a thing of the past as of Saturday.

The Idaho Public Utilities Commission announced that callers will now be required to dial all 10 digits for local calls within the state of Idaho. This means dialing the area code and the seven-digit telephone number to make a local call.

The change comes after a

new area code was announced for Idaho last year due to the fact that some areas of the state are expected to exhaust their supply of numbers within the 208 area code.

The 208 area code will be joined by the new Idaho area code 986.

Current telephone numbers with the 208 area code will not change, officials say, but the new code 986 will overlay the existing code instead of splitting the state into two divisions to assign new numbers.

Top: A construction crew member fills in the expansion joints (seams) to make a level walking surface in the newly constructed grandstands at Memorial Field. The bleachers have been cleaned of debris and pressure washed in anticipation of the Festival at Sandpoint the next two weeks. Left: A sneak peak at the new locker room located underneath the bleachers. Photo by Cort Gifford.

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Mad about Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist I’m not going to lie, my initial instruction with this article was to highlight the effects of climate change in our area. I got 500 words in before I felt disgusted.

Everyone has heard this. The doom, the gloom, the finger pointing. Enough, we’re all sick of it.

People are tired of being so dang depressed, being treated like idiots because their beliefs are different, of feeling guilty.

I’m going to talk about climate change, and I’m not going to shake a fear stick at you.

You’re not a bad person because you drive an SUV or because you use a plastic spork for lunch twice a week.

We’re going to look at this from a whole new perspective.

The largest, and most prevalent argument against trying to take action against climate change is that it will damage our economy.

I’m going to show you why that’s not true, and I’m going to use an example that may shock you.

Let’s imagine some gargantuan governmental money dump. We’re talking $15-plus billion dollars over four years. The only purpose for this, you are told, is national security and to beat the enemy.

In my opinion, only able to see this information, I would tell you this is a colossal waste of money and shouldn’t be considered. That money could be used for education, humanitarian efforts, or infrastructure.

It turns out the Space Race was actually a very important event and bolstered the United States economy in ways no one expected. Satellite TV, VOIP, the worldwide web, a massive influx of free and accessible knowledge around the world because we threw money at what was essentially a political whizzing contest.

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Brought to you by:

climate change

A new viewpoint

Our exploration of climate change is no different, and I’d like to show you some of the possibilities.

An atmospheric imbalance of CO2 is the primary cause of a changing climate. We need some in our atmosphere, but if we have too much or too little, things start going crazy and bad things happen. To tip the balance back in our favor, we need to take some of that CO2 and split it into carbon and breathable oxygen.

This is an area of study right now. We’ve figured out how to do this with ultraviolet lasers, a first step towards a low-energy solution.

There is virtually no limit to what you can do with carbon. Buildings, clothes, robots, alcohol, you name it. If we had a technology that could pull carbon from the air in a controllable manner, we would start seeing carbon retailers that can cater to any industry in bulk, while cleaning up our air and bolstering agriculture globally in the process.

Currently, we have small-scale technology in place showing promise when applied to coal factories. The CO2 burned off during manufacturing is vented into a machine that forces it underground to make pure carbon while O2 escapes. It’s expensive right now, but new tech always is at first.

A pair of pure-carbon sneakers have been built using this method paired with a 3D printer.

A big point of contention is solar energy. Workers are understandably perturbed at energy companies turning to wind and solar, which has a ripple effect of phasing out high-paying blue collar jobs.

If I’ve learned anything my life, it’s that things break down, and skilled people are always

needed to repair them or expand.

I believe some energy companies already do this, but it seems logical to me to give first crack at these new jobs to people from the fossil fuel industries, or even to subsidize training for these new positions and incentivize companies to move or adopt skilled labor rather than just lay them off and bombard them with blame for climate change.

Batteries are another important technology.

Solar doesn’t work at night, and wind stops working on a calm day. What are you going to do? You need to store energy to even this out. Batteries are the gateway to this.

Tesla is working to overcome this hurdle at their Gigafactory, and they’re not the only ones. Whoever makes the next great battery will become an energy giant.

Imagine a portable battery that could keep your laptop running at full for a day, or even a week. Imagine being able to drive 500 miles in an SUV run only on battery. What if a train could do that?

If the cost of operating a vehicle went down by half, how much do you think that would bring down the price of things at the store? Cost may go down, but value would go way up.

I believe talking about climate change isn’t an “either, or…” conversation. Arguing only gets us so far. We need to listen and share. Let’s change the direction of climate discussion, see how we can make a profitable and valuable future with technology while enriching our home.

I mean, if you can figure out a way to make money and make our planet flourish, why not do both?

If you’re ready to open the

discussion, Mike Bauer, the library’s lifelong learning and adult program coordinator, will be hosting a four-part program on climate change.

Pushing the Limits, a free four-part reading, viewing and discussion series, will begin Aug. 5 and will be hosted at Monarch Mountain Coffee from

1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

It’s a casual setting for an open-ended discussion showcasing the impacts of changing climate in our area and ways we can adapt and thrive in spite of it.

Looking for more info? Check it out on our website or come see us at the information desk.

Hope to see you there!

Random Corner uakes?

Don’t know much about earthq

We can help!

• The largest earthquake ever recorded was a magnitude 9.5 in Chile back in 1960.

• The 2011 earthquake near Japan increased the Earth’s rotation speed, shortening the day by 1.8 microseconds.

• There are about 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

• About 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean.

• Inca architecture was built to be earthquake resistant. Inca masonry is effective in withstanding even major tremors.

• An earthquake on Dec. 16, 1811 caused parts of the Mississippi River to flow backwards.

• Mount Everest shrank one inch (2.5 cm) due to the 2015 earthquake in Nepal.

• In 132 AD, a Chinese inventor built a seismograph which, at the moment of an earthquake, expelled a copper ball out of the mouth of a dragon and into the mouth of a frog.

• The world’s deadliest recorded earthquake occurred in 1556 in China, killing an estimated 830,000 people.

• Hawaii’s largest-ever earthquake occurred in 1868 and the aftershocks are still being observed.

• Earthquakes turn water into gold. Google it.

Get Festival Ready!

Ask about our Festival Special! Manicure and pedicure for only $40 Visit our new showroom at 315 S. Ella Ave.

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event t h u r s d a y

Authentic wood-fired pizza Mandala will be at the following locations: Friday, AUGUST 4 @ 219 Lounge for Aftival 7:30 p.m. ‘til late night Saturday, AUGUST 5 @ 219 Lounge for Aftival 7:30 p.m. ’til late night Saturday, AUGUST 12 @ City Beach POAC’s Arts and Crafts Fair: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sunday, AUGUST 13 @ City Beach POAC’s Arts and Crafts Fair: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mention you saw this ad in the Reader and get $1.00 off your next pizza!

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Festival at Sandpoint Kickoff: Pink Martini 7:30pm @ Memorial Field Get the two week-long party started in style, with Pink Martini. This 12-piece ensemble band originally from Portland has played their multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras throughout the world. Doors open at 6 p.m. 265-4554 for ticket info

Festival at Sandpoint: The B-52s 7:30pm @ Memorial Field Get ready to dance with the world famous party band The B-52s! With such memorable hits as “Love Shack,” “Roam,” and “Private Idaho,” this unique band with over 20 million albums sold will take you back to the good ol’ days. Doors open at 6 p.m. 265-4554 for ticket Festival at Sandpoint: Jake Owen 7:30pm @ Memorial Field Get ready to dance with the world famous party band The B-52s! With such memorable hits as “Love Shack,” “Roam,” and “Private Idaho,” this unique band with over 20 million albums sold will take you back to the good ol’ days. Doors open at 6 p.m. 265-4554 for ticket

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority A fun multi-instrumental duo

Dollar Beers!

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

Fit and Fall Proof Class 11am @ Cedar Hills Church Free class for seniors

f

Liv 9pm Ho Tom an lus one

Aftiva Live Music w/ Ben and Cadie 10pm @ 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority The H A fun multi-instrumental duo Live Music w/ The Riff Hangers KDTU 9pm @ 219 Lounge Live M An acoustic 5-piece bluegrass band 2-5pm Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ The Wine Bar at Cedar St. Bridge

Aftival: Jerry Joseph and the Jackmo 10pm @ The Hive Joseph is a prolific and accomplished writer, writing hits for Widespread Pan releasing 30 albums in his 30 plus year Joseph is also a relentless live performer ing over 150 shows a year across the glob tickets and info at www.livefromthehive

Live Music w/ These Two Guys 9pm @ 219 Lounge A dynamic duo straight from Phoenix, these two ta musicians bring classic covers that you don’t hear day mixed in with accomplished pickin’

Festival at Sandpoint: Family Concert “The Frog Prince” • 7:30pm @ Memorial Fiel A night for the whole famile with the Spokane Youth Orchestra conducted by Gary Sheldon Festival Community Orchestra. Instrument Petting Zoo and an Animal Petting Zoo help ro the always-popular family concert. Buy tickets at FestivalatSandpoint.com or call 208-26 Swing Street Big Band Concert • 6pm @ Lakeview Park Monday Night Blues Jam Bring your chair and a friend for this free show: 18-piece “Big 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub gives an incredible performance of your favorite big band num Bonner County Fair kick off Night Out Karaoke Aug. 8 to 12 @ Bonner County Fairgrounds 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge BonnerCountyFair.com. 208-263-8414 First Tuesday w/ Jake Robin 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub A monthly music event at the Pub 7B Stars - Charley Packard Memorial Concert • 6pm @ Memorial Field (Festival at Sand The Festival at Sandpoint presents the 7B Stars concert featuring a night of local talent at M Sandpoint legendary singer-songwriter Charley Packard who passed away this year. Gates o starts at 7 p.m. featuring a multi-generational line-up. Proceeds from this additional concert fund which was established in Charley’s name to perpetuate his lifelong mentorship of young Festival at Sandpoint: The Head and The Heart 7:30pm @ Memorial Field American indie folk band The Head and The Heart return to Sandpoint with a sound that’s influenced by Americana, country-rock and classic Beatlesque pop. The six-piece Seattle band reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums and Alternative Albums charts. Doors open at 6 p.m. 265-4554 for ticket

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

Reader recommended

Live Music w/ Holus Bolus 9pm @ 219 Lounge Holus Bolus is one person - multi-instrumentalist Tom Boylan. Outfitted with a small drum-kit and an acoustic guitar with some foot pedals, Holus Bolus builds songs one layer at a time, coalescing into one sound that’s acoustic-psychedelic groove-rock

“Remember the Water” 9am @ Sandpoint City Beach Join the Kalispel tribe as they depart on a three-day traditional canoe trip to the Kalispel Reservation Live Music w/ Scott Taylor 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Scott is back with Thursday Solo Series

Aftival: Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe Kalispel Tribe’s 42nd Annual Powwow (Aug. 4-6) 10pm @ The Hive @ Kalispel Reservation Grounds (Usk, WA) The Hive’s Aftival concert series kicks off with Contact the Idaho Mythweaver for more information KDTU, one of the funkiest bands playing live today. Bonner County PRCA Rodeo (Aug. 4-5) 7pm@ Bonner County Fairgrounds Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs & Chris Lynch Great family fun -- don’t miss it! $12 and $6 (youth) d 2-5pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Live Music w/ The Cole Show Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Infini Gallery 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante t. Bridge

e Jackmormons

Live Music w/ The Cole Show omplished song- 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante pread Panic and plus year career. Long Bridge Swim performer, play- @ Dog Beach ss the globe. Get 265-2615 to register omthehive.com DJ Jedi 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

ese two talented don’t hear every

orial Field y Sheldon and the oo help round out ll 208-265-4554 Park piece “Big Band” band numbers

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 6-9pm @ Trinity at City Beach Museum’s Free Featuring guest Maya Goldblum First Saturday 8am-12pm @ Bonner Sandpoint Farmers’ Market Co. History Museum 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Fresh produce, garden starts as Everyone is invited well as live music and fun for all! to enjoy the museum free of charge! SponCedar St. Bridge Public Market sored this month by 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge the Co-Op Country Come enjoy indoor shopping on Store the bridge spanning Sand Creek Located on the Historic Cedar St. Bridge

Game Night at the Niner Sandpoint Chess Club 9pm @ 219 Lounge 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Schweitzer Huckleberry Color Fun Run and Walk All are welcome 10am @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort Courses include 5K and 2.5K loops for runners and walkers of all ages. Both courses pass through several color zones where runners are showered with a biodegradable color-dyed cornstarch; participants finish back in the village in time for the group color toss “The Heart and Science of Quantum Happiness.”

10am @ The Gardenia Center A presentation by Suzen Fiskin

al at Sandpoint tent) alent at Memorial Field as a tribute to ar. Gates open at 6 p.m., and the show al concert will benefit the scholarship p of young musicians. Tickets are $20

Come enjoy mimosas, breakfast and the view.

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3pm-5:30pm @ Farmin Park The afternoon market on Wednesdays for all your produce needs!

Dollar Beers!

Live Music w/ Maya Goldblum originals w/ 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Bright Moments Jazz Good until the keg’s dry 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall World traveling Sandpoint native is back in town

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Aug. 11

Iration and The Wailers @ The Festival at Sandpoint

Aug. 12

George Thorogood and the Destroyers @ The Festival at Sandpoint

Aug. 13

Festival Grand Finale “Nordic Nights

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Listen in Sandpoint to KPND @ 106.7 in HD

COMMUNITY

Recognizing community spirit:

Healing Garden bench dedicated to longtime volunteer and founder Linda Plaster

By Ben Olson Reader Staff A special dedication will take place at The Healing Garden adjacent to Bonner General Health on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. A beautiful stone bench will be dedicated to Linda Plaster, who, along with a dedicated team of volunteers, helped make The Healing Garden a reality in 2003. Along with her work at The Healing Garden, Plaster was the manager at The Company Store for many years, worked as a wedding decorator and a barista. She passed away in June 2016.

“Along with working countless hours in the garden planting, weeding and watering, Linda was also the Garden’s fundraiser and along with several other volunteers, raised enough money to pay for the garden initially and then to fund the maintenance and upkeep of the garden for the last 13 years,” said Sheryl Rickard, CEO of Bonner General Health.

Inset: Linda Plaster. Courtesy photo. Top: The stone bench dedicated to her memory. Photo by BGH. A band of volunteers continue Linda’s passion by making The Healing Garden a place of natural beauty, as well as giving a place for people find comfort in the Chapel, and honor and remember loved ones they have lost.

“This bench is a fitting tribute to a woman who truly made a difference in the lives of those of us who had the good fortune to call her a friend,” said Rickard. “Linda’s passion, kindness and beautiful spirit will live within all of us forever. The bench is a fitting tribute to a remarkable woman who will be forever missed but never forgotten.”

If you would like to donate to The Healing Garden, checks can be made out to Bonner General Health with “The Healing Garden” in the memo line and mailed to: Bonner General Health, 520 N. Third Ave., Sandpoint, ID 83864. To volunteer in The Healing Garden, call Mary Ann at (208) 610-9630.

We inject trees with fertilizer and insecticide to help rejuvenate the tree and kill off the larve and beetles inside.

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A Faux-y 90th birthday

By Tim Henney Reader Contributor Sandpoint is known globally for its annual Festival at Sandpoint, for Lost in the ‘50s, for bike races, hiking trails, wooden boat shows, skiing, art walks, the Statue of Liberty, the Panida Theater, the Long Bridge, our library, memorable music and

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literature (like the Reader), camaraderie, really good beer halls and restaurants, and our gorgeous downtown. And a lot of other great stuff, too. For instance: birthday parties.

Recently Howard Faux celebrated his 90th. On hand were a couple hundred of his pals. Entertainment included a contest to choose the most attractive, charming, admired, unforgettable, lovable and “most likely to succeed” guests at the party. The six shown here entered the aggressive, dogeat-dog competition as a team, and won, despite being accused of meeting secretly with Russians prior to the election.

Left to right: Pearl Faux (Howard’s granddaughter), Ruby Jiles (Howard’s great granddaughter); Jacquelynn Henney (who is really six-foot-ten but stooped so as not to dominate the photo); Sarah Faux (Howard’s daughter); Tim Henney and Eric Daarstad, neither of whom were invited but saw all the cars, smelled a party, so barged in.

North Idaho trail favorites

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer

Be it the lake, the mountains or the nightlife, Sandpoint has a lot to offer.

Here are a few of our favorite outdoor spots. Next week, we’ll talk about our favorite restaurants and bars in the area

Exploring the lake

By McCalee Cain Reader Intern Lake Pend Oreille is incredibly big, and not just in size. Sandpoint natives that have long left the area return to its glittering, expansive waters with a nearly spiritual magnetic attraction. Many visitors are charmed by its beauty to the point of eventually becoming locals themselves. A natural gem of the inland northwest, Lake Pend Oreille is an essential cornerstone of community life, and for an authentic experience of Sandpoint, an exploration of the lake is an absolute must.

Almost any local will tell you: No Sandpoint summer is complete without a lake cruise. In need of a vessel? Boats can be rented through businesses such as Sandpoint Boat and RV Rentals, Sandpoint Boats, and Water Craft Rentals.

Hit the water early in the morning for a chance to beat the seasonal lake traffic, and watch the weather to be safe. On the lake, cruise around the area for some splendid views of the North Idaho mountain scenery from a brand new perspective. You can even make an evening of your boat outing and pull up to a beach for a shorefront night of camping, at such locations as Evans Landing, Maiden Rock, or Long Beach at the Green Monarchs.

If your boat is fit, be sure to try your hand at water skiing, wakeboarding or tubing (tubes shaped like hot dogs are ideal). Short on skis, life jackets, or any other lake sport gear? Rentals are available from an abundance of local shops,

such as Action Water Sports and Sandpoint Watersports.

After a long day in the sun and surf, grabbing dinner at one of the eateries along the Lake Pend Oreille shoreline is practically essential. If you’re in the Hope area, options abound: for authentic Italian cuisine with a lakeside twist, refreshing huckleberry beverages and live music on the lawn every Sunday, check out Ivano’s del Lago at the Beyond Hope Resort. The outdoor deck dining area provides the perfect venue to watch the sun set across the water, one-of-a-kind Idaho cocktail in hand. If you’re seeking some more traditional lakeside fare, consider Chop Steak and Seafood, located at the Holiday Shores Resort just down the way from the Hope Marina. Chop’s menu is sure to satisfy all fans of surf-and-turf-style eats, plus its outdoor dining area situated directly over the water is sure to impress.

If you’re on the other side of the lake towards Dover, look no further than Dish at Dover Bay, a longtime local favorite in waterfront dining. With a menu featuring American favorites as well as some Thai-influenced cuisine, Dish is a go-to spot for Sandpoint natives and visitors alike. Finally, if you’re docking at the Sandpoint Marina, check out a brand new restaurant to the area: Beet and Basil at the Creek offers unique and exotic eats, described by them as “international street food”. With outdoor seating close to the marina, Beet and Basil is only a hop, skip and a jump from your boat, and offers a fresh take on the Sandpoint waterfront dining scene.

I won’t pretend to know the “best” hikes in and around Sandpoint, but I will say I was the Grand Champion for Bonner County in the 4-H hiking project for several years, so I’m basically an expert.

Sense the sarcasm? I’m still not qualified to say I know all the best local treks, but I can say I love spending days on our area’s trails and I’ve been enough places in my 21 years to feel like sharing a few slices of dusty, woodsy North Idaho heaven.

Keeping it close to Sandpoint Gold Hill I love this hike for its well-maintained trail and panoramic destination view. Also known as Forest Service Trail No. 3, the Gold Hill trail is easily accessible eight miles down Bottle Bay Road just south of Sandpoint. With ample parking space and a wide trail, this hike has room for many people, which is good, because it’s a popular one. The Long Bridge might be long, but from the top of Gold Hill, the entire bridge is just a fraction of the view.

Mickinnick Trail This hike is a workout, but due to its proximity to town and great view, it’s worthwhile. The Mickinnick Trail is known for its wildflowers and views stretching from the Long Bridge to the Cabinet Mountains.

Though it climbs more than 2,000 feet in just over three miles, the trail’s proximity to Sandpoint’s breweries and various ice cream selections make it possible to survive.

To reach the trailhead, head north of Boyer Avenue, turn left of Baldy Mountain Road, turn right on Great Northern Road and then left on Woodland Drive where the trail is just up the road on the left.

For those willing to explore Harrison Lake There are a lot of gorgeous mountain lakes in the area, and among one of the most popular and accessible is Harrison Lake. The great thing about this hike is that there is always a view — from the trail, hikers can see the Pack River drainage as well as awesome views of the Selkirk Mountains. At the top, there are plenty of places to sit beside the lake and relax, as well as a bear-proof storage container for campers.

Take highway 95 north from Sandpoint 13 miles to Pack River Road, then turn left

The author at Packsaddle Mountain. Photo by Leslie Kiebert.

onto road 231 and go 20 miles to reach the trailhead.

The Trestle Creek lakes About 15 miles east of Sandpoint is a right turn named Trestle Creek Road, and it’s home to several mountain lakes with trails of varying difficulty. Moose Lake is an easy, 3-mile-round trip hike with very little elevation gain. The Lake Darling trail is a little more difficult, but still accessible for children, and is only slightly longer than the Moose Lake hike. The Lake Estelle trail is a more moderate trek, and the Gem Lake trail has more steep inclines, but is still not a real butt-kicker. Each of these trails and lakes have their own charm — some might even have a trove of huckleberries, but you didn’t hear that from me — and every trail is clearly marked from the main road and well maintained.

Packsaddle Mountain It pains me a little to share my favorite spot with so many people, but I can’t seem to help myself. In spring when the snow is almost entirely melted from the Green Monarchs, there remains a snowy peak near the righthand side. It isn’t part of the lake-bordering Monarchs, but is instead Packsaddle — the perfect place for a panoramic view of the lake and several surrounding mountain ranges. To reach the trailhead, head to Clark Fork and turn right on Stephen Street right after the Cenex gas station. Drive straight over the railroad tracks and over the river, then take an immediate right onto Johnson Creek Road No. 278. At the first fork, continue left on the main road. At the second fork, keep straight on road No. 1066. At the four-way intersection, turn right, and then don’t take any more turns off that road. Soon you’ll reach trail No. 76 — aka Packsaddle Mountain Trail — and will thus embark on a grueling but worthwhile jaunt to this humble newspaper reporter’s favorite place in the world.

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Author pens horror compilation If the Walls Could Only Talk... the nicotine-stained cedar walls of the Hideaway Lounge would have an abundance of stories to tell.

For 30 plus years it was the best local hang out for so many folks.

It was hidden away but everyone knew where it was. It was a place to meet your iends or make new ones. It was the perfect definition of a “neighborhood bar.” It was a place to feel at home because it wasn’t just a cocktail lounge, it was home.

Everyone felt safe, appreciated and cared for every day or night.

It was in the last 5 plus years where the Hideaway was living up to its full potential. New owners brought in new management and over a short period of time a fabulous staff was hired. A pool table was added along with a dart board and golf machine. ma Two pool teams were formed and immediately were at the top of the league. There were many benefits held for local charity groups and individuals in need.

Benefit Bingo was a hit and benefited many local charities and the ma food bank box outside the ont doors (requested by the bar) was filled at many events held for the community. There was live music, dancing on a portable dance floor and a karaoke once a week, along with an never ending supply of ee popcorn! And last but definitely not least a beautiful home-spun patio was built in the back parking lot (You never really felt you were in the parking lot).

It was rolled up every winter and re-built every spring. We knew e the summer was coming when the patio went up!

On June 30, 2017 the Hideaway closed its doors for good. It will be missed tremendously. The staff went on to another venue in Ponderay – The Silo Bar. But there will never be another Hideaway Lounge.

Farewell…

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The Pioneer Square at 819 Hwy 2, Ste:102-B

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Specializing in Large Trees and Quality Work STC.

•Planting •Pruning •Hazard Tree Removal

Everything about the world looks a little different when you’re a horror writer.

Even a day at the beach with the family can inspire ideas as the pebbles that children play with begin to look like human teeth. For T.J. Tranchell, any moment of any day can become a source of inspiration under the right mindset.

Of course, Tranchell’s affinity for the macabre runs a little deeper than most.

“There are people who say they are lifelong fans of horror because they first experienced it when they were 11 or 12,” he said. “Well, I was born on Halloween.”

The horror author is fresh off the publication of his latest book, a compilation of horror-themed short stories, poems, essays and articles entitled “Asleep in the Nightmare Room.” Inspiration for the book and its eye-catching title hit when Tranchell and his wife, Sandpoint native Savannah Tranchell, spent a night at his father-inlaw’s house.

“We spent a night in the guest room (decorated) with the most horrific things you can imagine,” he said. “That sort of generated the title.”

The compilation came together gradually, as Tranchell found more and more pieces of work that fit within its patchwork of themes and tones. Those familiar with his work were quick to recommend additions to the compilation, and the project expanded from there.

“I strung all the short stories together, and it wasn’t long enough,” Tranchell said.

“Then I added movie reviews. Then someone said, ‘Well, you wrote some poems, so why not put some poems in there?’”

T.J. Tranchell, the author of “Asleep in the Nightmare Room.” Courtesy photos.

According to Tranchell, the book is a stepping stone toward his next novel, which he hopes to publish next year. He is concurrently pursuing two different projects. One, a serial killer novel, is more developed. But he’s more excited about the second, a book about Mormon exorcists that has deep ties to his background and upbringing. “(It’s) probably the scariest thing I’ve written,” he said.

It’s been a long road for Tranchell as he’s worked on establishing a presence within the Northwest horror community.

But his frequent appearances as a panelist and interviewer of fan-favorite horror actors and filmmakers at conventions like the Seattle-based Crypticon has helped build a readership.

“I not only get to be the person that people sometimes listen to, but I sometimes get to talk to the people that they paid to see,” he said.

Tranchell’s love of horror might be instilled from birth, but it’s also a passion that renews itself on a regular basis. That motivates Tranchell as he pushes forward into the world of internet-age publishing.

It’s an environment where distinguishing oneself can be difficult, but it’s also brimming with creative control and self-determination.

“The good news is where I’m at in terms of the publishing industry, I’m more able to make things happen on my own,” Tranchell said. “I have more control over my destiny.”

Look for Tranchell’s books on Amazon.

LITERATURE

the guest in our car

by Tom Woodward

This open Window

Vol. 2 No.14

poetry and prose by local writers edited by Jim mitsui

on mcarthur lake

by Beth Weber

Windless days in May like this, when water is sky and you are soaring with kayak paddles for wings and haloed by an image of your own likeness you listen.

Surrounding you in sedges and rushes, invisible loons pretend to be Mohicans whistling cunning signals enough to leave you uncertain of anything.

You glide beyond a golden patch of tules and glimpse on distant shore a flock of fifty tundra swans. Then approach silent as a ghost and notice their bodies too broad for swans. Some nearby farmer must feel proud of his gaggle of pure white Emdens.

From closer still the bills hang way too long.

Emdens develop to American white pelicans fluttering their pouches.

No matter how stealthy your motion, they agitate in their elegant way, then fly low over your boat with methodical wingbeats snowy, velvet, dignified with an ebony band of flight feathers. Their winging sound an audience of fifty English gentlemen applauding politely with gloved hands. And when you gasp and wag your head it’s because, faithful to childhood cartoons, the pelicans are all wearing spectacles.

Almost every Sunday in the summertime the old man would gather us up to go out and collect rocks. Not just any rocks but the right kind. Mostly they had to be flat. He would sculpt them into wonderful and lasting works of art, like a hearth or a chimney or a long, sleek retaining wall. He would load us into the old Country Squire and drive on over to his favorite roadside rock quarry The car was always packed with a passel of kids. It was no wonder, dad sired eight of us. But it appeared there was always room for an errant neighbor or perhaps a cousin from the upstate. We would go hurtling down the highway to a cacophony of hoots and hollers and rowdy , slapstick comedy unfettered by the absence of seatbelts.

It was a free for all on wheels and dad remained largely unperturbed by it all as if he were the lone occupant.

One such Sunday found us in the deep heat of a summer dog day. The hot air was glaring off the bright sandy long island soil and blinding the eyes just to look at it. The kind of day that put water puddles on the highway only to have them evaporate when you got close enough. All the windows were down and the bunch of us were raising as much hell as the heat would allow when the car pulled off onto the hot sandy soil and came to a stop. In an instant a Black gentleman wearing a pork pie hat and grinning broadly was standing alongside the car. He had on a pair of black stove-pipe pants hitched high and held up by a pair of suspenders. On his feet were a pair of black Florsheim shoes polished to

a shine and contrasting sharply to his bright white socks.

We were nonplussed. Dad told us to make room and let the gentleman in.

He was a tall man and his knees came up high when he sat down. He took his hat off and spoke quietly telling dad where he was heading. Dad told him we were going right by there, but we hardly ever went through that part of town. The car remained hushed as we bounced along the undulating roadway on a pair of worn-out shocks. Our guest in the car was sitting very tall; he had his hat in his hand and he was slowly revolving it with his fingertips. He was just sitting real straight with his chin square to the world as if he was meditating about this ride. His presence had a calming effect on us kids, the likes of which we had not experienced before.

All about him the world was changing. You could see it nightly on the T.V. with spectacular images of police dogs and water cannons in the South. It was hard to take measure of our town in the North pertaining to race relations, there were so few people of color.

Diversity was the fat kid on the baseball team. We were mesmerized by our guest and wanted to know more of his world. The world he inhabited was much different from our own even though we were essentially denizens of the same town. Just what was it like for a Black man in America living in the waning days of Jim Crow? Did he have faith in a better future and perhaps more importantly where had his past taken him?

Our guest seemed unfazed by the

world about him. Presently he began to hum; it percolated in the back of his throat from a faraway place and resonated with the blowing wind and our long youthful hair flowing out the window. In time the humming stopped and he gently closed his eyes and just sat long and straight and tall with his fingers twirling that pork pie hat around & around with no other movement, only the stillness of the moment and dad at the steering wheel.

In time we came to that other part of town and he gently directed dad to his road. He slowly got out and stood in that hot sand with his floppy Florsheim shoes and stove- pipe pants hitched high. He flowed like a mountain stream down the little dirt track he lived on. Walking tall, the pork pie hat becoming smaller on his head, and he moved further on until our departure was complete and he was gone.

It was hard to gauge what exactly my father was thinking that day when he picked up the Black gentleman alongside the road. In that period of time the civil rights movement was the zeitgeist of the day. Perhaps he was teaching us to be tolerant of one another, or more likely dad was just giving another human being a lift down the road on a hot summer afternoon.

—Tom Woodward Originally from North Carolina, Tom moved to the Sandpoint area in 1987. He lives off the grid and enjoys commuting on his bike, tending his fruit gardens, and paddling his kayak in the Pack River.

Send poems to: jim3wells@aol.com Tom Woodward’s prose memoir about a car ride with his father gives me an opportunity to remind you that this column is not just for poetry. I want to say again that just about everyone should write some memoirs — stories from the past that jump out of your memory because they’re interesting, entertaining, and insightful. It will also leave a legacy, a little history of your life experiences. One thought that I had was that Tom’s father figured out a way to get the carload of kids to quiet down, while at the same time delivering a civil rights message.

Some of you undoubtedly recognized Beth Weber’s

poem. It’s unusual to publish the same poem twice but you didn’t realize that I deprived you of some of the impact of the original — which I managed to screw up by omitting a key line which contained my favorite image in the whole poem. The image of 50 English gentlemen was great, but the actual sound effect of them applauding “…with gloved hands…” communicated so wonderfully the muted sounds of the pelicans’ flapping wings as they flew directly over the kayak was perfect. My apologies to Beth.

-Jim Mitsui August 3, 2017 /

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COMMENTARY

A hippie on the Long Island Railroad Summer of ‘67

By Tim Henney Reader Contributor

The following is an unabridged journal of a conversation with my visiting kid brother, the late Christopher Clark Lewis, commuting on the Long Island Railroad from downtown NYC to Lloyd Harbor, Long Island in late August, 1967.

Kit is 21. He wears his blond hair longer than those in tweedy suits, like me, who commute daily from Cold Spring Harbor, NY to and from Manhattan on the Long Island Railroad. Two hours doorto-door, one-way, if everything works. Ample time for the New York Times and the WSJ. Kit’s hair is not shaggy like students riding the railroad from suburban Long Island homes out to the Stony Brook campus of the State University. A Californian like me, Kit graduated in June from Bard College, a small, funky, extra-left liberal arts campus hard by the Hudson, two hours north of NYC. He majored in English literature and drama — knowledge to enrich his life culturally, but not economically.

When he returned to Long Beach, Calif., after graduation, our parents (same mom, different dads) gave him a new British roadster. He has been driving to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Las Vegas, Baja, often with a girlfriend. He says he feels like the hero in the 1963 book “The Graduate,” now in production as a film with Dustin Hoffman and sexy Katherine Ross. According to The Times, which has already written raves about the movie and especially its director, Mike Nichols, Dustin speeds up and down California’s Highway One in an Alfa Romeo. I vividly remember that vibe. In my case, the lusty, top-down, coastal cruising summer of ‘56. Same romantic road.

Kit has hitchhiked through Europe, living in hostels with fellow wanderers. He is more comfortable with citizens of less developed countries. He contends they laugh and love more than Americans. Kit believes the Ugly American stereotype — crude, greedy, loud, overfed, boring, unlearned. He does not accept the Establishment belief that most people in less “advanced” countries would happily swap their 22 /

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cultures and standards for ours, given the chance. Kit is working on a paper he hopes will convince his draft board that he is philosophically unfit to be drafted. Like Arlo Guthrie in his new hit tune, “Alice’s Restaurant,” Kit does not understand why the U.S. is losing thousands of American lives defending the world, solo, against North Vietnamese guerilla fighters in Asian jungles. He doesn’t buy the popular domino theory that if the South Vietnamese lose, the world’s non-commie nations will topple, one after the other, and then our goose is cooked. China and Russia win, after all.

Of course, Kit is a mere 21.

What does he know? But I am 36 and don’t buy it either -- even if I do carry a briefcase, smoke a pipe, pay a big mortgage and sail a little boat.

The way I reacted to my own draftboard’s threat in 1951 was to enlist in the Air Force so I wouldn’t become cannon fodder in Korea. Most of those I knew in the military and in college did the same. Turner Air Force Base in Albany, Ga., where I edited the base newspaper, was populated by air national guard units from Mississippi and New Jersey. Most members had temporarily quit college, as I had, and joined the guard to dodge the draft. So who is most deserving of scorn — Kit, who doesn’t want to die fighting commies in Nam because he thinks it’s just about politics and rich guys getting richer selling guns and tanks and planes and battleships?

Or was it my fellow collegians in the early ‘50s, most of whom would have quickly joined up to fight in 1941 as our dads did. But we now felt less obligated to die fighting rural commies in Korea in support of unconvincing, intangible explanations by non-combatant, bomb-happy Henry Kissinger and his ilk, precious few of whom ever served in uniform.

Bloody civil rights marches and Vietnam have split this nation like nothing since the Civil War (or, as they call it down in Dixie, The War Betweeen The States).

One hundred years ago. Then it was free versus slavery, north versus south, urban industrial versus rural ag. Now it’s over age 30 versus under age 30. It’s either

keep bombing the damn commies, or pursue peace, love, harmony and drugs. It’s either help black people climb out of the hole we put them in — or get to work, the way white folks did and do.

A few months ago I rejoined AT & T’s New York headquarters after testing the waters in Beverly Hills with another outfit. My Bell System betters immediately sent me to D.C. to organize and manage a 100 millionth telephone installation in the White House.

Then I was assigned to broadcast advertising in New York, my job today. We produce the “Bell Telephone Hour” on radio and TV, and make accompanying commercials. I fly to L.A. every so often, and usually visit Kit’s parents, and mine, in Long Beach. I am not a corporate bigshot. But because I represent the world’s biggest company I fly first class and stay at the Beverly Wilshire, the Bel Air, or the Beverly Hills Hotel on Sunset. I am not a businessman, but a journalist for business. A highly decent business. Not a polluter. Not Big Tobacco. Not Coca Cola, which chews through rusty bolts. Were I destined for fame, I’d much rather be known for scripting great Broadway musicals or editing The New Yorker than for heading a Forbes 500 corporation.

I have spent the summer since returning from D.C. riding the Long Island and working long hours downtown so I can meet formidable mortgage payments; maintain two wooded acres with a bridle path down to a private beach we share with neighbors on Cold Spring Harbor; afford to keep backyard horses; make payments on the sports car we bought in California; and belong to the Lloyd Neck Bath Club (tennis, swimming, sand, sailboats). On balance I am pleased with life. Kit, not so much. There is a gap separating us, but not the usual father/son generation gap.

More a decade-and-a-half brother gap. Less abrupt than that between Kit and his father, Hal, my stepdad, who is 65.

Hal is Long Beach’s leading jeweler. He chairs the downtown business association and the local hospital board. He is a lifelong member of one of the oldest, most exclusive country clubs in

the state -- as was his father, who founded the jewelry company.

Hal grew up properly, attended Stanford, and is a gentleman. He was reared in a formal home with a billiard room. After he wed our mom in 1938 he taught me how to play pool. At age nine, on a massive 1920’s Brunswick table inherited from my own grandparents, I could “run the table” in straight pool. Hal taught his three children and two stepchildren to swim at the venerable, private Pacific Coast Club on Ocean Boulevard, a Long Beach landmark. He calls us by nicknames: Fella, Buck, Susie, Pigeon, Scrubby. When our daughter Heidi, now 6, showed signs of showmanship at age two on a 1962 visit back to California, “Grandpa Hal” named her Talullah, for the inimitable Talullah Bankhead of 1940’s film fame. A solid Republican but not an oaffish one, he likes Dick Nixon. Even so, his children and stepchildren love him dearly.

Although certainly more supportive of civil rights struggles and Vietnam War protesters than his father’s generation, Kit has never fought a cop or trashed a store. He doesn’t spew obsenities or join riots. He’s not an acid head, although I’m sure he’s sampled the uppers and downers to which so many of today’s kids attribute mystical beauty. I never heard him rave about January’s human be-in at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park or NYC’s Central Park version last March with 10,000 howlng hippies and yippies.

Kit would come across to the average corporate personnel manager as a polite, pleasant fellow with a firm handshake but too wayward an attitude for the management trainee program. If the local bank president’s daughter brought Kit home for dinner, her father would frown. Kit would express no interest in the father’s business, the stock market, professional football, golf, or napalming the gooks in Nam. He’d probably play with the family dog instead. But Kit and his unkempt colleagues are what’s happening. Corporate America is not listening when Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Peter Paul and Mary, Janis Joplin and Simon and Garfinkel sing the times are a-changin’. Kit

and his peers — white, black, brown and yellow — are tuned in.

We should be too.

My kid half-brother and I found rapport on the long train ride home because we share enough current concerns. To wit: Although I wear a three piece suit and rep tie, I fall as short, I hope, of being a corporate cliche as Kit does of being a revolutionary. Rather than investing in the market and driving a Lincoln, Jackie and I spend on ponies, hay, oats and barn repairs. Our second car is a jeep. In disputes with industry over more nuclear power plants, clean air or protecting redwood groves, we are with the Sierra Club and Ralph Nader.

I’ve always voted Democrat. I’ve despised Dick Nixon since I was a USC freshman in 1950 and he was destroying the gracious Helen Gahagan Douglas, his liberal congressional opponent in his first run for office in California. He labeled her “the pink lady” and it stuck. Nixon has built his career on character assassination. How do we attract such nasty, devious misfits to lead our nation? I was a Bobby Kennedy guy, but he was shot. I’ll vote for Humphrey. Kit won’t vote. He says they’re all a bunch of crooks.

Kit can’t imagine commuting the way I do to earn a living. I’m not certain he can imagine even earning a living. I’d rather walk to work, too, but sailing a sunfish and catching seabass off our own beach is tough to turn down, if you can swing it. Kit doesn’t know what he wants in the years ahead. But then he’s only 21. I wrestle with similar musing, and I’m 36. Too many assassinations, too many wars, too many burning cities, too many raging young people, too much violence, mistrust and hate. Right now it’s comfortable in the corporate cocoon. I guess I’m lucky. Or irresponsible. We’ll see.

Christopher Clark “Kit” Lewis died of cancer several years ago in Toronto, where he lived. He left a wife and two young sons.

The author retired as director of public relations of the original AT & T in NYC in 1986 and lives in Sandpoint with his 1957 bride, Jacquelynn.

Stop in and see me at my new location at 113 Cedar Street Lee Hardin

VP of Mortgage Lending

lee.hardin@rate.com www.rate.com/leehardin NMLS ID: 707780 (208) 946-0850 113 Cedar Street • Sandpoint, ID 83864

aug 17 @ 7:30pm | Aug. 18 @ 5:30pm | Aug. 20 @ 3:30pm

“neither wolf nor dog”

Aug. 18-19, 24-26 @ 7pm little r Dessert & theatRE: “jingle” theate saturday Aug. 19 @ 6:30pm

THE TWO TRACKS WITH GUESTS MOUNTAIN MOONSHINE great music, captivating storytelling, seamless harmonies, and dancing all night

aug. 24 @ 7:30pm | aug. 25 @ 5:30 & 8:30pm aug. 27 @ 3:30pm

“The Hero” starring Sam elliot saturday aug. 26 @ 7pm

alaska’s mt. huntington tuesday, sept. 12 @ 7pm

“MAY IT LAST: A PORTRAIT OF THE AVETT BROTHERS” a film by judd apatow giving extraordinary access to hit group The Avett Brothers

friday, sept. 15 @ 8pm

the led zeppelin experience August 3, 2017 /

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater

Star Grazing: The Festival Foodie Edition Left: Cedar-planked peaches from Wildwood Grilling.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Food Columnist With food offerings as eclectic as the entertainment line-up, you’re going to find some great epicurean pleasures on Festival Street.

Not only is the food lineup impressive, so is the vetting that gets the “chosen few” one of the coveted vendor slots on Festival Street. Early in the spring, vendors must submit an eightpage application, and if selected, be prepared to pay a booth fee, attend mandatory vendor meeting, provide proof of insurance, receive health department training, purchase a food handler’s permit, adhere to a strict dress code and provide green, recycled paper products. Even with all these requirements, the Festival still receives twice as many applications as they have room to accommodate. To remedy this, and spread the love, the Festival rotates vendors amongst the mix of nonprofits and for-profits. If you don’t see your favorite vendor this year, chances are you’ll see them again next Festival.

Coordinating Festival Street in no easy feat, but thanks to Co-chairs Gary Peitz of Dish and Dave Vermeer (who operates the North Idaho Fish n’ Chips booth), it’s a well-oiled machine.

Besides looking after their own booths, these well-seasoned mentors, along with Carol Winget of the Festival, are always available to offer sound advice to new vendors and keep things humming on Festival Street.

Last year’s new kids on the (Festival) block, Wildwood Grilling, proved to be a great hit with the crowd, and this year, 24 /

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Center: Coconut Chicken Curry from Sandpoint Curry in a Hurry.

Right: A mouth-watering cheeseburger from Old Tin Can. though they don’t have their own booth, they’ll make a onenight cameo appearance at Evans Brothers Coffee. They’ll be grilling cedar-planked peaches, served up with Wildwood Amaretto & Alder ice cream from Panhandle Cone and Coffee, and topped with fresh blueberries from Shingle Mill Blueberry Farm. Don’t forget, it’s a one night performance only (George Thorogood on Aug. 12) and remember that their proceeds will be generously donated to the Festival at Sandpoint.

I’m not sure where Jimmy Buffet found his famous cheeseburger in paradise, but I do know you’ll find a burger worth singing about at the Old Tin Can booth, expertly grilled by Savanah and crew, and loaded with local produce. Another Festival newbie, but a welcome addition to the ‘hood, is Sandpoint’s Curry in a Hurry. Pete Hicks will be heating up some nice spice and preparing several of the dishes we’ve come to love, including my favorite, coconut chicken curry.

Whether you’ve got a hankering for Bruno’s Country Ribs from Klondyke (pair ‘em up on Aug. 5 with Jake Owen and a Jim Beam special from Conlan’s bar) or prefer an organic vegetarian choice, lovingly prepared by our friend Laura at Jupiter Jane, you’re guaranteed to find a meal pleasing to your palate and your pocketbook.

I’ve been waiting for tonight’s

performance, the return of my beloved Pink Martini. Festival bar manager Jenni Hewitt was quick to tell me that she’s providing a repeat performance, too — the return of the celebrated Pink Martini (the original signature drink of the Festival), in a light up glass. Besides martini’s, you can purchase wine by the bottle and champagne by the split.

Jenni’s enthusiasm is contagious, and it’s easy to see how she draws such a great lineup of volunteers. And wherever you end up looking for a cool one, I can guarantee that Jenni and her bevy of happy helpers will be pleased to serve you. Try the Lakeside Lounge, or, to avoid multiple trips to Conlan’s Bar purchase a ”bucket of beer.” Five brews for $25, that’s a good deal.

Looking for a more sophisticated beer experience? Brewfest is Aug. 10, preceding The Head and the Heart and $10 will fetch you microbrew samples and a commemorative pilsner glass.

Or, if wine is your pleasure, don’t forget “Taste of the Stars.”

Gates open at 4:30 p.m., Aug.13, followed by the grand finale, “Nordic Nights.”

Speaking of libations, it seems Dyno and crew have thought of everything, including an anomaly in the concert world: Bring your own bottle. Heck, you can even bring your own picnic. Whether you choose to spread an elaborate spread on a blanket under the stars, stretch

out in a lawn chair (bring yours or rent theirs), or try out the new grandstand, you’re going to have a good seat and a great time. If you’re thinking of a home-packed picnic, you might choose to bring one along for the Family Concert (Aug. 6) or the Charley Packard Memorial Concert (Aug. 9), as vendors will be limited on those two evenings.

No matter how you choose to enjoy the concert series, be thankful that Dyno Wahl and the Festival Board plan year around, providing us myriad choices to create our own Festival experience. Show your gratitude by purchasing Festival merchandise and supporting Festival Street vendors. And, besides the Lakeside Lounge, look for me at one (or all) of these booths: Angels and Forrest Bird Charter School Loaded Potatoes w/Butter, sour cream, chives, cheese, broccoli, bacon & chili Arlo’s Grilled Sausage & Peppers, Chicken Cacciatore Sandwich, Lasagna, Caesar Salad and Cannoli Babs Pizzeria Pizza, Meat or Vegetarian Stromboli, Pretzels (salt, nacho cheese or sweet), Greek or Strawberry Walnut Salad Eichardt’s Pub

Pulled Pork or Black Bean Tostada, Cocktail Shrimp, Chocolate dessert Dish at Dover Bay Buffalo Meat Loaf and Planked Salmon Edelwagen Korean Pork Kimchee, Huckleberry BBQ Pulled Pork, Brats, Chicken Burger, Asian Chicken Salad, Meat & Cheese Platter Jupiter Jane’s Organic Kale Salad, Slaw, Black Bean Bowl, Steak Chicken or Fish Tacos Klondyke Bruno Williams 1/2 Rack Baby Back Smoked Ribs, 1/2 Chicken, Coleslaw NI Fish n’ Chips Fish, prawns, chicken & chips, corn dog & chips, garlic or blue cheese fries Old Tin Can Classic Cheeseburger, Quinoa Veggie Burger, Bacon Burger, with Woods beef & local produce Sandpoint Curry in a Hurry Indian Curry, Tikka Masala, Coconut Chicken Curry, Tikka Masala, Spinach and Potato curry, Saag Aloo and Dal Evans Brothers Coffee Panida Theater Ice cream Sundaes

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert

An Interview with

READ

It took a couple months to devour all 500 pages of “Fourth of July Creek” by first-time novelist Smith Henderson, and every time I picked it up, I was swept away. The novel follows Pete Snow, a disheveled but well-meaning social worker in rural Montana, as he attempts to save children from dire situations while his own family life collapses. The characters are raw — backwoods accents perfectly written, benders in Missoula written in sick, beautiful whirlwinds.

From the children of meth heads to the Montana loggers, I know the characters in “Fourth of July Creek” will stay with me.

LISTEN

The B-52s, from left to right: Kieth Strickland, Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson.

Courtesy photo.

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

If you were alive during the ‘80s or ‘90s, chances are you’ve shaken your money maker to The B-52s. From their early hits “Rock Lobster” and “Private Idaho” to the infectious singles “Love Shack” and “Roam,” The B-52s have left a funky mark on the world of music.

As part of our dedication to bring you closer to the headliners at the Festival at Sandpoint, we were able to have a phone conversation with Cindy Wilson, whose iconic style and vocal prowess helped launch the B-52s into international stardom. Wilson, along with her older brother Ricky (who passed away in 1985), Keith Strickland, Fred Schneider and Kate Pierson, were the original members of The B-52s.

Below is the full interview, lightly edited for space.

Ben Olson: So nice to talk

with you, Cindy.

Cindy Wilson: Nice to talk to you, too. I’m on the road now with my solo act, and we’re doing the second night of this leg of the tour. We’re in Gainsville, Fla. Last night’s show was fantastic. We had such a good time. And then we hook up with The B-52s and we’re looking forward to playing Idaho!

BO: There are a lot of people excited to have you guys up here. Have you ever played up this way before?

CW: We have played Idaho before but I forgot the exact place. It’s always fun to come back to Idaho, especially since we have a song called “Living in Your Own Private Idaho.”

BO: I’ve heard people saying, “Are they gonna play the song, or are they not?”

CW: Hell yeah we’re going to play that song! It’s gonna be fun!

BO: It’s one of my favorites of yours, actually. That one and “Rock Lobster” are the two that get me moving. You know, some early memories of watching MTV when they used to actually show music videos full time, are of rocking out in the living room with my sisters, listening to “Love Shack.” And I know I’m one of so many out there.... how does that feel that you have left this indelible impression on the world of music?

CW: Oh my god, that’s so great coming from you. I do appreciate it. I do realize that we are one of the lucky bands that have been able to stay around for 40 years and have left a mark.

Kind of a funny mark, but a mark. But you know, I truly love our music. From time to time I go back and listen to what we’ve done and our back catalog. I like the stranger songs.

BO: Me too.

CW: The ones people don’t

necessarily go to. Some of them have the best strange harmonies and melodies, but you know, they’re like your children, you can’t really pick a favorite. I can’t believe that we’ve been doing this for 40 years and celebrating coming up. It’s going to be a busy, busy year.

BO: Did you have any idea in the late ‘70s, early ‘80s, when you were just coming up, that this would last 40 years?

CW: No way, are you kidding? I was like 20 when we started, so I’m like OK, after 30 we’ll be old and we won’t do it anymore. No no no, 30 came and went and we keep going. And people relate to us.

It’s really fun to look out into the audience and seeing everybody having a good time.

BO: I always thought, especially with your early stuff, that The B-52s were way ahead of their time, as far as <see B-52s, page 26 >

No popular country artist name-drops Idaho as often as Jake Owen, and come Saturday, he’ll be serenading an Idaho crowd during the Festival at Sandpoint. To pre-game his show, I’ve been listening to his newest album, “American Love,” all week.

It’s no secret that the man has been through some personal struggles over the past couple years — namely, a divorce from his wife of three years — so it could be assumed his latest work is sad, or at the very least deeply introspective. “American Love” strays from those expectations with upbeat jams about love and traveling. Listen to “VW Van” — which teases a trip to Idaho — or recent radio hit “Good Company.”

WATCH

When the news broke that White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer resigned, a single thought came to my mind: “But what about Melissa McCarthy’s Spicy skits on Saturday Night Live?” Political alliances aside, it’s objectively true that the woman owned the role of Sean Spicer on SNL. The aggression, the question-dodging — while satirized — was still hilariously similar to a real press briefing during the Spicer era. To commemorate his time as press secretary, I encourage everyone to binge watch M c C a r t h y ’s Spicy skits, all available on YouTube.

August 3, 2017 /

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< B-52s, con’t from page 25 > style and the weird mix of rockabilly and art house dance.

CW: Yeah, it’s a little bit of everything, right? I think everybody brought their favorite kind of music to the band and it’s kind of rounded up the middle somehow. We had no rules. We were just being creative. I think the longevity is because we tried to be original. If you have a good live act, you’ll stay around.

BO: What were you inspired by when you grew up in Georgia?

CW: Yeah, I’m from Athens, Ga. Ricky, Keith Strickland and I hosted, Ricky was my big brother. He was a Beatlemaniac, and I got to listen to everything he was listening to. But when I got my allowance every week, I went and got my 45s I heard on the radio.

I know I’m dating myself. I was just listening to Nancy Sinatra on the ride here and I said, “I had that one on 45.”

But it was a little bit of radio and I got to listen to Ricky’s cool music. He was listening to Joni Mitchell, and Captain Beefheart. He was a self-taught guitarist and came up with his own style. And so he had amazing taste, and he was always the cool big brother.

BO: I read somewhere that your husband was actually his guitar tech.

CW: Yeah, my husband and I met the same night the B-52s started. It was a Valentine’s Day night, I’ll never forget it. It was the first show the B-52s had ever played in my career, and I met my future husband that night, too. I mean, the planets had to be aligned that night.

It was crazy. So my husband, we had it bad, we were so in love, and I was going to go off, the B-52s meteor started happening and so to be together, my husband and I, Ricky hired my husband to tune his guitars and that was we could stay together. It was an amazing experience for my husband and really helped Ricky out, too.

BO: I heard that Ricky used to change tunings like literally between songs.

CW: Oh my god. I wish he was here to tell you all what he did. He would tune some guitars differently. Some guitars he had to tune just right. Once they were completely right on, he would have to tweak and bend it until it was a little off. It was really amazing. Only Ricky, right?

BO: I feel like he was an innovator in that respect.

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CW: Very much so. If you go back and listen to all the stuff with Ricky on it, he was just so amazing. Like “Throw that Beat in the Garbage Can” and stuff.

I’m so proud of him. My kids are real proud that they have a really, really cool uncle. They never met him, but they know he was wonderful.

BO: Well, they have a pretty cool mom, too.

CW: Oh, thank you.

BO: Do you have any wild stories from the road that you could share with us?

CW: We didn’t have a groupies or anything like that. Or a druggie band, per se. But one time, we used to get punked out sometimes. We’d throw food fights in the dressing room. One time, we had some misadventures where it was a German promoter, one of the first times we came to Europe in the early days. Our set was only 45 minutes, and our promoter sold tickets all the way up until the end of the show.

And a lot of people came late. So there was a riot, and people came onstage and started throwing equipment around, and Kate and me ran downstairs and pulled off our wigs and put them in a bag and ran out the door.

BO: Wait, they stole your wigs?

CW: No, we took them off because nobody recognized us without them.

BO: That’s hilarious. You had some fantastic wigs, by the way. Do you still have a lot of those?

CW: Yeah, I’ve gotten back to wearing the traditional wig for the B-52s.

I’m having a lot of fun with it again, you know, all you have to do is pop that baby on and GO! I love it!

BO: Tell me a little about the side project, Cindy Wilson? How long has that been going on?

CW: We’ve actually have signed with a record label, Kill Rockstars record label. Tomorrow, actually. And it’s a fantastic label to be on. Everybody I’ve talked to about is has nothing but great things to say about them. They’re good to their artists, they’re going to help promote. So we’re thrilled about that. We’re doing tours and starting to build up our place. You have to start all over again, which is really fine by me. I like it that way.

BO: So you like the touring a lot?

CW: Yeah. It’s real, we’ve got everybody in the band, plus our equipment.

It’s so easy and involved. I love touring.

BO: In 2008, The B-52s put out another album, “Funplex” which I just listened to last week and was really impressed because it sounded so true to your original sound.

CW: We worked hard on that one.

We’re really proud of it. We spent a lot of time writing it.

BO: You love touring and everything, but what are some of your hobbies offstage and outside of music?

CW: My life has been very hectic.

I like to drive out in the country with my elderly uncle. It’s very chill, but I love that. I love spending time with him. And my kids. They’re growing up, they’re college aged. So we’ve gotten to spend some time together. I went to see my son’s band play in Athens, and he’s just hit a new high in music, and I love that. Working in the garden when we can. But usually, if I’m not touring, I’m getting ready for a tour. Buying clothes, dry cleaning, getting new wigs. There’s a lot going on with my other project too, so I’m quite busy.

BO: Yeah, you know, prepping for a tour for you probably involves prepping the style, what you’re going to wear...

CW: Yeah, all that. It’s all part of it.

There’s nobody else doing it like that.

BO: It’s something I’ve always loved about the band, it’s not just the music, it’s the whole package. The look, the attitude.

at the Festival at Sandpoint? Any idea what you’ll be playing?

Woot woot woot woot (she sings the opening line to “Private Idaho,” laughing). What else have we put in.

Oh, “Summer of Love,” which all the fans are just go crazy for. I don’t know if you remember that one, but it’s really pretty. And I love a crowd that wants to hear our old songs. Get ready to dance to “Private Idaho!”

The B-52s play the Festival at Sandpoint on Friday, Aug. 4. The gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts with opening band Biddidat at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call (208) 265-4554. Next week, we interview George Thorogood!

Crossword Solution

CW: Right, it’s so important to have fun. And you’ve gotta have the visuals. Every night we tried to go out there with that in mind. We’re sharing that with our fans, who are in on the joke, and also love the beat and love to dance. But also, they get to remember where they were when they hear songs that they like. It’s really joyous sometimes. You get to really connect with fans like that.

What do you have in store for us

I remember one day I was at Grandpa’s farm and I asked him about sex. He sort of smiled and said, “Maybe instead of telling you what sex is, why don’t we go out to the horse pasture and I’ll show you.” So we did, and there on the ground were my parents having sex.

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

CROSSWORD ACROSS

Artisan Jewelry Sale Friday, August 4 — 8:30-1:00 Saturday, August 5 — 8:30-1:00 1312 Westwood Lane

(1/2 mile west of Division on Hwy 2, Sandpoint)

Darlene Pfahl, Artisan — (208) 255-2243

Woorf tdhe Week

instantiate

/in-STAN-shee-eyt/

[verb] 1. to provide an instance of or concrete evidence in support of (a theory, concept, claim, or the like).

“Can you instantiate your paper with realtime data?”

Corrections: Aside from a small spelling error, we didn’t piss off anybody enough to send any bricks through the window this week. Huzzah! -BO

1. Stave 6. ___ du jour = Meal of the day 10. Shower 14. Greetings 15. Mentally irregular (slang) 16. Doing nothing 17. Relieves 18. Region 19. French for “Black” 20. Sleepiness 22. Alumnus 23. Type 24. Domesticated 26. Enlist 30. Grave marker 32. Eyelets 33. Athlete 62. Observed 37. A type of liquid food 63. Neuter 38. Howls 64. Abominable snowmen 39. Pipe 40. Discomfited DOWN 42. Solidifies 1. Outbuilding 43. Dog-___ 2. Rip 44. Rapscallion 3. As well 45. Sail supports 4. Took flight 47. A common cyst 5. Dinosaur bones 48. Charged particles 49. According to custom 6. Board 56. 62 in Roman numerals 7. Wisdom 8. Cards with 1 symbol 57. Bit of gossip 9. Kitchen appliances 58. Not dead 10. Master of ceremonies 59. Large luxurious car 60. Ceremonial splendor 11. Love intensely 12. Homeric epic 61. Varnish ingredient

Solution on page 22

13. Egghead 21. Sick 25. Altitude (abbrev.)

26. If not 27. Midday 28. Debauchee 29. Subjugation 30. Caught a glimpse of 31. Informed 33. Satisfy 34. Think (over) 35. Competent 36. Where a bird lives 38. Cruisers and destroyers 41. Big wine holder

42. First month 44. Animal doctor 45. Daring 46. Japanese cartoon art 47. Weak and ineffectual 48. Ailments 50. At the peak of 51. Chancel 52. Away from the wind 53. Enumerate 54. 57 in Roman numerals 55. Cravings

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105 S. 3RD AVE. SANDPOINT