Reader july9 2015

fire season has come early

Favorite Waterfront dining spots

Battle of the Thai Restaurants

Behind the scenes at area restaurants

Dining on the cheap

Local produce and much more

READER

July 9, 2015 / free / Vol. 12 issue 25

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(wo)MAN

Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by

What is your favorite dish at a local restaurant?

“I like the Asian Chicken Salad at the Hydra.”

FIDDLIN’ RED Music Store

Instruments Repairs Lessons

Ginger Cooke Mitchell’s girlfriend Sandpoint 111 Church St., Spt, ID (208)946-6733 WWW.FIDDLINREDSIMPSON.COM

DEAR READERS,

It’s been a pretty heavy week.

The wildfire in Cape Horn is still burning, with 300 fire personnel working around the clock to contain it. To date, eight structures have been lost, six of which were homes. Our hearts go out to the residents of Bayview during this ordeal. Kudos to those who do the dirty work to save our homes and property.

Also, the Reader would like to express condolences to the family of Laura Bry, who passed away earlier this week. She was a wonderful woman and a great asset to this community.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“Chicken tacos at Joel’s. I go there more often than not.”

Ariele Larson Till operator at Papa Murphy’s Sandpoint

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) Contributing Artists: Kari Greer (cover), Ben Olson, Gail Lyster, Jen Jackson Quintano, Dion Nizzi, Susan Drinkard, Zoran Orlic.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Trapper Dickson, Tim Henney, Jen Jackson Quintano, Dion Nizzi, Susan Drinkard, Marcia Pilgeram, Scout Seley.

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

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

“The Pecan Crusted Chicken Salad at Trinity at City Beach.”

Kurt Forget Alpha Dog Black Dog Cycle Works Sandpoint

Web Content: Keokee

“I like the vegetarian burgers at Sweet Lou’s. Their fish and chips are really good too.”

LIVE MUSIC

Jan Hammersley Homemaker Clark Fork

Lunch 11 - 3 Dinner 5 - 9 “I like the New York steak at the Hydra Steakhouse.”

Mike Sutton Retired Idaho State Patrol Formerly of Sandpoint and Priest River, now living in southern Idaho but comes up to stay at family cabin “We like the red curry at the Thai Nigiri restaurant on First.”

Gayle Hanset Retired Educator Sandpoint

HAPPY HOUR! Mon-Sat 3-5pm

$1 off beer, wine & appetizer menu!

2 for 1 Huckleberry Mimosas!

Mon-Fri 3-6pm

109 Cedar Street (In the Historic Farmin Building) Downtown Sandpoint

(208) BAX-TERS

Ev ery turday Friday & Sa summer

u gh N ight t hro Beer Hall @ the Fri. July 10 @ 6:30 p.m.

SCOTIA ROAD

Sat. July 11 @ 12:30 p.m.

OWEN & McCOY

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

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

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

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

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

Requirements: –No more than 500 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

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

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

About the Cover This week we’re featuring another photograph by Idaho fire photographer Kari Greer. The photograph was taken outside of Ketchum, Idaho on a night burn. To see more of Kari’s amazing photography, go to her website: www.kariphotos.com.

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COMMENTARY

By Trapper Dickson, PhD Reader Contributor If you think carbon emissions are the only thing to worry about when it comes to fossil fuels, think again. From extraction to consumption, these dirty energy sources make our world a little more dangerous every day.

We pollute our environment to unknowable degrees when we mine fossil fuels; we put our lives at risk by transporting these substances through our communities (remember Lac-Megantic); even though much of this energy is consumed in China, air knows no boundaries, and we all pay the consequences via global climate change. We are what we eat, drink and breath. Thus, we are polluting ourselves as we pollute our environment.

And rest assured, we will pay the true cost of this with our quality of life and through our health care systems.

The topics of pollution and environmental destruction from fossil fuel industries (including fracking) have been well-documented yet rigorously debated as to the overall affect to climate change and human health.

I constantly wonder though, what is the debate? If we take fossil fuels from the ground and put them into the atmosphere (understanding that they become greenhouse gases) it’s not a debate; we are contributing to climate change and the related human health issues. I also wonder why this subtle self-destruction is acceptable.

One only needs to research a coal mine or fracking site to learn about the sorts of pollution and destruction incurred by mining fossil fuels. One also only needs an elementary understanding of hydrology and other environmental sciences to comprehend that pollution knows no boundaries; polluting waterways upstream from drinking water sources condemn those who consume it

down-river. Same is the case for burning coal in China, emitting CO2 into the atmosphere for the whole planet to deal with. Furthermore, coal dust blowing off uncovered coal trains has the potential to foul our air and water. Train derailments (which is a matter of when, not if, they occur) could dump coal or oil directly into our drinking sources, onto environmentally sensitive areas, or directly into populated areas. These points bring into light the health and safety dangers of our fossil fuel industry and transport methods.

Because of humanity’s incessant fossil fuel burning, climate change has become maybe the biggest issue of our time and time to come. What’s scary is how quick and drastic climate change has been while many of Earth’s buffering systems are still in place (i.e. the planets air-conditioner, Antarctica). However, as the planets’ ice continues to melt, we continue to lose our buffering capacity to greenhouse gases. What’s even more scary are the positive feedbacks of climate change. For example, as warming occurs the permafrost sectors of the planet are thawing, emitting more noxious gases (i.e. methane) with even greater climate change impacts. Also, let’s not forget all the millions of tons of carbon sequestered in our forests, which will be released into the atmosphere as warm-dry conditions persist resulting in severe wildfires. These feedbacks will ensure even more, drastic climate change.

Of note, NASA and NOAA have independently confirmed that the last six months have been the warmest ever recorded (18802015). What this means for conventional food production, overall ocean health or the expansion of infectious diseases, one can only wait and see.

I’m not naïve, and I realize that we can’t quit fossil fuels cold turkey. This needs to be a phase-out process, but the process needs

Photo by Ben Olson.

Protesting Fossil Fuels and Coal-Oil Trains

to be on steroids in order for us to stave off the most detrimental consequences of greenhouse gasses (i.e. severe fresh-water shortages, ocean degradation, crop failures and the expansion of infectious diseases).

This process starts with us—you and me.

No matter if you’re a Democrat, Republican, American, Canadian, Chinese or Russian, we’re all in this together, and we must take it upon ourselves to be the change. After all, it’s obvious that the worlds’ governments (most anyway) are not going to lead the way to curb fossil fuels. We must kill the market for fossil fuels and invest in research and development of renewable energy sources.

This can be achieved by consuming less, being “sustainably conscious,” and purchasing goods produced by renewable energy sources (vote with your dollar). The more we do this, the more of a sustainable market we will create. This will result in a positive feedback.

We don’t need more development for fossil fuel industries. No new pipelines or rail lines need to be constructed. We don’t need to be drilling for oil in the Arctic. And we damn well don’t need to go to war to take

Laura Bry leaves a strong legacy

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

It’s with heavy hearts we report that well-known community member Laura Bry passed away suddenly this weekend at her home. She was 53 years old.

Over her two decades of residence in the county, Bry established herself as an active and enthusiastic volunteer for a number of organizations, including the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, Community Assistance League, Boy Scouts of America and many more. Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce president Kate McAlister worked with her on many community events.

“Laura never cared about what political party you were from,” McAlister said. “She cared about you as a human being. She cared about your rights.”

Bry was also a leading member of the local Democratic Party and on several occasions ran for legislative office as a party 4 /

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candidate. Fellow candidates Andrew Sorg and Jessica Chilcott got to know her well over elections. “[Laura] never backed down from what she saw as the injustices in our community and was always there to help,” Sorg said.

“When we both ran for State Legislature, I quickly realized how connected Laura was to every part of North Idaho; not just our community in Sandpoint.”

“Laura was passionate about this community and spent her time here working to make it a better place for everyone—a place we could all be proud to call home,” said Chilcott.

Just hours before she passed away, Laura wrote a Facebook post reflecting on her life in Sandpoint. This quote from that post probably sums up her feelings better than we could: “I came here to raise a son in a small town that had copious natural beauty and recreation. I have had opportunities to

leave, to make more money, to live in a more progressive community. I stay here because of my original reasons and because I live with the most good-hearted, generous people I have ever known.”

foreign supplies. What we need is to take action, to wean ourselves from fossil fuels and invest in sustainable solutions.

No doubt, phasing out fossil fuels and implementing renewable energy sources will be costly, and many sacrifices need to be made. But the alternative—business as usual—is far more costly to our way of life and health care systems across the globe.

Please, let’s make an environmentally conscious constitution to ourselves, for ourselves, for family, community, country and humanity. Take action and phase-out fossil fuels now.

LETTERS

Climate change real...

Dear editor, Shelley B. from Sandpoint states in her letter to the editor that “it always seems interesting to me that there is so much argument not only on that subject but many others among scientists.” The subject she is referring to is from an article “The Threat of a Warmer Tomorrow” which talks about human-caused climate change.

Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities. In addition, most of the leading scientific organizations worldwide have issued public statements endorsing this position.

Please go to climate.nasa.gov to access a partial list of these organizations, along with links to their published statements and a selection of related resources. Climate scientists are overwhelmingly in agreement that human-caused climate change is here and needs to be addressed now.

Laura Phillips Sandpoint

PERSPECTIVES The Great Pretender And we don’t mean the Platters’ 1956 hit tune

By Tim Henney Reader Humor Columnist

Determination, perseverance, preparation? Nonsense. Knowledge, ambition, experience? A myth. A firm handshake, a shine on your shoes and a smile? Baloney.

Such weary bromides and homilies are for naive dimwits and also-rans. I learned early on that the road to advancement and power is paved not with goal-setting and steady accomplishment. Not loaded briefcases and working weekends. Not arriving early and leaving late.

No indeed. Deceptiveness and deviousness are what get one to the top. The secret to success is razzle dazzle. Flimflam. The ol’ bamboozle.

Or, as Jacob, a chef at Sandpoint’s Thai Nigiri restaurant curiously proclaimed, “You don’t sell the steak, you sell the sizzle.” (Curious, because Jacob is a sushi chef).

I learned certain hard truths as a young man. Truths that molded my character and provided the leadership skills and flair to achieve unparalleled greatness—wait, that may be stretching it. How about: leadership skills and flair to fake a reasonably agreeable corporate career. Two such early, fraudulent experiences were especially useful: The first occurred while fighting the Korean War in the early 1950s as a military newspaper editor in Albany, Ga. My draftdodging USAF buddies and I started attending the Byne Memorial Baptist Church.

That’s where the cutest Georgia belles hung out. We organized a church softball team and won the city night league. I played first base.

Our third baseman, George Snyder, from Massachusetts, had played some semi-pro.

He threw the ball so hard that several times

it knocked me down. I was better at choir.

During World War II, as noted in a previous Reader, I attended a summer camp in California’s San Bernardino Mountains. It wasn’t a music camp, but it was a singing camp. Some years later I was on staff there for several summers. So I learned a lot of songs. The camp was not church-related, but co-owner “Mother” Preston was a zealous Baptist. In compiling the camp songbook, she had swung a big stick. For a secular camp the song book bulged with church songs. “In The Garden.” “He Lives Today.” “Climbing Jacob’s Ladder.” And a passel of others.

Leap ahead to 1953. Because there were hot Georgia belles in the Baptist church choir, we softball jocks became vocalists.

It didn’t take long for the choir director and other church movers and shakers to recognize a committed Christian lad when they heard one. Having learned all the religious pop hits during Camp O-ongo summers, I belted them out with the gusto of a Billy Graham clone. However, I had joined the choir not out of religious fervor but because a leggy blonde named Peggy sang in it. (I dated a number of lovely Dixieland girls while fighting the Korean War in Georgia.

Regrettably, none of them even vaguely resembled Ole Miss University activist Sandra Bullock in the film, “The Blind Side”).

Byne Memorial Baptist Church was nothing if not organized. Young adults like us who attended there were automatically BYU members. BYU had nothing to do with the Mormon-owned university in Utah known for quarterbacks and Mitt Romney.

The initials stood for Baptist Youth Union.

Unknown to the church hierarchy, I knew precious little about The Good Book. I thought a psalm was spelled palm and was a tree. Or a tony California desert town with the last name of Springs. But thanks to Camp O-ongo I bellowed out those Baptist songs like a budding tent revivalist. Within days of my arrival in the choir I was elected president of the BYU. Power! Prestige! Peggy the leggy blonde!

Sizzle over substance. The old flimflam. Musical snake oil.

Another mandate to lead as a result of deception and trickery occurred a couple or so years later, in college in California. Because I had edited a weekly Air Force newspaper in Georgia I was named managing editor of the school paper my first week on campus.

An advisory board invited me to be editor in chief, but the professor in charge—a suspicious, phony, no-account weirdo, incompetent oaf and loser who thought he smelled a rat—asked me to define a split infinitive. I couldn’t, and someone else got the top job.

Borrowing my mom’s new blue Oldsmobile Rocket 88, colleagues and I sped from SoCal up through the San Joaquin Valley to Sacramento. We sped on a narrow, two-lane highway, eventually to evolve as multi-lane Interstate 5, thanks to President Eisenhower.

Our target was the annual convention of the California Intercollegiate Press Association.

I hadn’t a clue what that was. Upon arrival we found that members of a Young Democrats club from another university had rigged the upcoming vote for association president.

Their candidate was unopposed. The moderator was pleading over the loudspeaker

Following the announcement of the SASi parking lot project last month, a number of community members voiced their concerns that the tree should stay, including artist and Sandpoint Tree Committee member Gail Lyster.

“We still need to raise $7,000 to $10,000,” said Ellen Weissman, executive director for SASi. “Since it was mainly from Gail’s urging us to save the tree, she and [fellow artists] came up with this idea of painting the tree and donating the paintings back to the center.”

The paintings will be auctioned off at a ribbon cutting in the fall, with the money going directly to the project.

Saving the tree has truly been a community effort, with people chipping in from all over town.

“Surveyor Lance Miller read the article in the Reader and got inspired,” said Drinkard.

“He came over and did a complete survey of the whole property there for free.”

In addition to Miller’s contribution, over $1,000 has so far been raised by various community members, including a generous contribution by Eileen and Larry Atkinson for $500.

“Now we just need a civil engineer to step up and donate his or her time,” said Drinkard.

“I’m personally glad the tree is staying,” said Weissman. “I understand the pros and cons, and I’ve tried to be real neutral with it, but it’s been a challenging experience. In this case, this elder tree is a heritage tree. It’s old, and the people that we serve are older people, so it sort of fits to keep it.”

“This whole project has made me so much more aware of the trees we have in this community,” continued Weissman.

According to Drinkard, the experience has also taught him a few things.

“What’s good about this is ... I’ve talked with the tree committee about revisiting the idea of establishing heritage tree policies with the city,” he said. “And also, what we’re going to do here is talk to the museum and historians like Nancy Renk, to see what they can tell us about this area on Main Street where the tree sits, and possibly do a plaque, a historical marker, so people can come by and see how the tree is a sentinel of history.”

Though the plans are calling for the tree to remain in place, SASi still needs to raise money to pay for the additional costs to keep it. If you are interested in donating toward the fund, please call 208-263-6860.

for additional nominations. A fellow Long Beach journalist asked if he could put forth my name as a token candidate. A mild protest as a matter of principal. With a furtive glance at my crutches, I agreed.

As luck would have it, I had recently busted my knee—not fighting overseas, but skiing at Lake Arrowhead. Naturally, my friend introduced me as a Korean War veteran, which I sort of was. And when I hobbled painfully down the aisle on crutches, which I actually needed in order to walk, hopeful murmurs rose throughout the packed auditorium. Apparently enjoying the sudden acclaim and celebrity, I failed to mention to the newly excited assemblage that I had served my country not in North Korea, but away down south in Dixie. And in Dixieland I took my stand not with a tank but a typewriter. In nearly three years as a fighting man I never held a gun. My apologies, NRA. In a secret ballot the student voters patriotically elected me president of the California Intercollegiate Press Association! Fraud at its finest. But we won. I mean, it’s not how you play the game, but that you win it.

When the victorious Long Beach contingent headed for the elevator, the Young Democrats slammed the door in our faces. Several held fingers in the air in tribute to me—their battle-hardened, heroic new president. You know, as in “We’re number one!” Except, thanks to razzle dazzle, flimflam and the ol’ bamboozle, they weren’t.

Senior Center: The tree stays

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The fate of the 140-year-old ponderosa pine in the Sandpoint Senior Center parking lot has been sealed: It will stay.

After some number crunching and numerous redesigns of the parking lot plan, board member Stephen Drinkard at Sandpoint Area Seniors, Inc. (SASi) has announced the tree will continue to occupy its current position .

“Through the immense help of [arborist] Bill Freidmann,” said Drinkard, “we determined the tree has about 25 to 30 years of life left in it, and with careful pruning, we can ease the tree through the construction process.”

Drinkard and Freidmann recently dug up a portion of the tree’s roots and found that they were not as close to the surface of asphalt as originally thought.

The redesigned plans account for a 3,000 sq. ft. section of area around the ponderosa to be covered with permeable pavers that would allow the roots to breathe and not press up in search for oxygen. The remaining 12,000 sq. ft. will be covered with asphalt.

“Granny At The Tree” painting by Gail Lyster.

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NEWS

Community holds strong in Cape Horn fire

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff There’s nothing like a crisis to show the true nature of a community, and the Cape Horn Fire is no exception.

When the blaze first broke out Sunday, confusion and uncertainty reigned among the nearby Bayview community and the neighborhoods scattered around the southern tip of Lake Pend Oreille. When some residents received pre-evacuation notices, that agitation only increased.

Even as residents wondered about the danger, they banded together as a community to face it head on. Donated items, shelters for displaced animals and opened homes were the order of the day for both residents and the emergency workers who flooded the area. Families, like that of Shirley and Richard Hansen, relied on one another during the crisis.

“It’s actually brought us a lot closer together as a family,” Shirley Hansen said.

As of Wednesday evening, fire information spokesperson Jason Kirchner said crews were making great strides in curbing the fire.

On Tuesday, the blaze was zero-percent contained across about 2,000 acres. By Wednesday night, 322 personnel, eight engines, two air tankers, four helicopters, one fire boat, two sheriff boats, three dozers and two water tenders improved numbers to 40-percent containment across 1,155 acres by Wednesday.

While those are encouraging signs, it doesn’t change the damage already sustained.

According to Kirchner, eight structures have been lost, including six homes on the eastern half of Cape Horn, and as of Wednesday, 287 structures are still threatened in Bayview.

According to Hansen, whose family owns

the Bitter End Marina, her son’s property was very nearly included among the losses.

“We’re not in danger, but our son’s house was just barely saved,” she said. “I think it came within feet [of his property].”

Chad Cadnum, Bayview resident for more than two decades, was among the first to spot the fire on Sunday. As an individual with firefighting experience, he set out on his ATV to do early recon work. He was able to share that information, as well as his extensive knowledge of the area, with the initial leadership team.

“Considering the [holiday weekend], we had a premonition this might happen, so we were prepared,” he said.

By Sunday afternoon, authorities issued evacuation notices to all homes within highthreat areas. According to Kirchner, it’s impossible to say exactly how many complied with evacuation, but he knew the orders impacted around 600 people. The Hansen family was among the population who had to make a painful decision: leave home to guarantee safety, or risk the danger and hold down the fort. Some of the family fled, while others held their ground.

Resident Mike Peck and his family were similarly on edge, waiting for official word on whether to stay or go.

“We were ready to go within 15 minutes after we heard, but since then, it’s been a lot of waiting and watching and not sleeping,” he said.

Those who did evacuate were understandably anxious for news of their properties.

They received answers at a Bayview community meeting on Tuesday, where emergency crew leaders promised to escort homeowners in small groups to their properties starting Wednesday morning. At the meeting, Greg Juvan, operation section chief for the North-

Riley remebered at memorial

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

One year ago Wednesday, Jeanetta Riley was killed by Sandpoint police officers when they were called to deal with a disturbance at Bonner General Health.

Her death is still fresh in the minds of many residents, some of whom turned out yesterday to remember her at a memorial near the site of her death. For event speakers like Eric Ridgway, the circumstances behind her passing are too important for the community to forget. Rather than deepen divisions between public servants and private citizens, Ridgway sees the incident as a catalyst for change.

“I’m not wanting to condemn those officers or the police department or law enforcement in general, but I am a huge proponent of changing the way we do things,” he said.

About three dozen turned out for the memorial, which followed up a similar event held after the shooting last year. Co-organizer Dan Mimmack distributed flowers and invited attendees to share their thoughts on the incident. He credited co-organizer Jodi 6 /

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Rawson for spearheading the drive to ensure another memorial happened this year.

“I am one with this woman,” Rawson said. “This could have been me. It could have been you.”

For Ridgway and Mimmack, procedure was partly to blame Riley’s death. They saw the responding officers’ actions as a projection of their training. Rather than attempt to calm down the woman, who suffered from mental illness and substance abuse issues, they relied on deadly force.

“Police handled this the way they were trained to handle this but without considering the nuances of mental illlness,” Ridgway said.

Mimmack believes that the city hasn’t been idle since the day of the shooting. He is confident that elected figures and law enforcement have discussed how to keep this from happening again.

“Like a lot of things in this town, fatalities bring change,” he said. “It’s just a shame someone has to die for that change to happen.”

A crowd of over 300 people gathered Tuesday night at Bayview Community Center. Photo by Ben Olson.

One of the many welcoming signs in Bayview left for firefighters. Photo by Ben Olson. ern Rockies Incident Management Team, promised to get them settled back in as soon as possible.

“We’re going to go slow and steady, make deliberate choices and move toward a common goal, which is to bring you all home,” he said.

Even as containment efforts progress, officials warned residents to take all due precautions, including the removal of fire fuels in a perimeter around their properties. According to Juvan, the reminder is timelier than ever.

He hasn’t seen a fire this bad in 20 years, and there’s still a lot of summer yet to come.

“We’re a month and a half ahead of our normal schedule, so this is far from over,” he said.

If there’s a silver lining, residents say it’s the outpouring of good will. The meeting brought the entire community together, revealing a populace that was nervous yet full of good humor. They cracked jokes even as residents anxiously inquired about reopening businesses or serving as proxies for out-oftown neighbors, and they were quick to applaud the efforts of emergency crews.

“Just take a look around you,” Cadnum said, gesturing to the crowds at the community meeting. “Everyone is here for a reason.”

Ponderay PD still seeking Lions Club raffle winners bank robbery suspect announced Ponderay police are investigating a bank

robbery resulting in an undisclosed amount of cash stolen from Horizon Credit Union.

Security camera photos reveal a male suspect in his 20s, between 5’6” and 5’8” with a stocky build, dirty blond hair, scruffy facial hair and a full sleeve tattoo on both arms. He was wearing cargo-style shorts, a short sleeve shirt and an aqua green baseball cap with a dark colored bill with stickers.

The Ponderay Police said a possible vehicle description is a newer Ford pickup, white or cream in color, with out-of-state plates. There is possibly a yellow or orange border on the license plates.

This is the second Ponderay bank robbery of the year. Another incident happened in March at Mountain West Bank, with the suspect fleeing empty-handed.

Anyone with information should call the Ponderay Police Department at 208-2654251 or Bonner Dispatch at 208-265-5525.

[CR]

I know of four people who are celebrating a little extra after the Fourth of July weekend.

The Sandpoint Lions Club has announced the winners of its annual raffle.

Doreen Balch won the grand prize John Deer Gator purchased by the Lions at a reduced price from Papé Machinery.

Mary McPherson won the second prize: a $2,000 shopping spree in Bonner County.

Tim Pulford won the third prize: two season passes to Schweitzer Mountain Resort for the 2015-2016 season, one of which was donated by Schweitzer.

Alan Barrett won the fourth prize: $1,000 cold, hard cash.

Congratulations everyone! And special thanks to the Lions for making our holiday weekend shine. [BO]

FEATURE

Fire seasoN at Our doOrsTep

By Jen Jackson Quintano Reader Contributor

Editor’s note: This piece by Jen Jackson Quintano was turned into the Reader two weeks ago. We didn’t have room in the last issue to run it. We find it very prescient in light of recent news of the several fires that have broken out in the region.

That June, while we were away in Colorado on wildland fire assignments, it rained five inches in Sandpoint. We returned home one evening, late in the month, riding in on the final breath of a departing storm. Fog cloaked a placid sea of oxeye daisies, and we sailed across it with windows down, the cool, moist air a balm on our skin. Reentry was magic, a welcome refuge after weeks in Colorado’s damning and desiccating heat.

As we wound our way through pockets of mist on the final stretch home, we felt fortunate to live in a place that would not soon succumb to what we had just seen. It’s been over a century since North Idaho burned big. Thank goodness for our snowy winters and rainy Junes.

Thank goodness for damp and summer dew, shaded carpets of moss and ferns.

Fast-forward several years. We’ve not had a snowy winter, nor a rainy June.

The ferns are stunted in a stifling shade.

On our property, the oxeye daisies wilt under clouds of dust that the logging trucks kick up as they barrel down the road. This feels like it could be the year.

We recall our past experiences on fires elsewhere, and we are worried.

However, we seem to be alone in our fears. Aside from Ben Olson’s June 11 article in this publication, no one is talking much about fire season. Are we overreacting? Perhaps we are too sensitive to a threat that has been reality in our work elsewhere. Yet, with an insufferable heat wave upon us—and the specter of Fourth of July fireworks looming—I don’t think worry is unwarranted. Forget barbecues and swimming; this weekend, we are creating more defensible space on the wooded acreage around our wooden home. God bless the American-made Stihl chainsaw.

Our anxieties are rooted in experience, in memory. My husband has been involved in fire for over a decade, and though I am still new to the wildland world, I’ve seen enough to inform my fears. My first fire assignment was that

June in Colorado. My first fire was Black Forest, the most devastating conflagration in state history, consuming nearly 500 homes, 14,000 acres and two residents. It was not a burn on some distant peak, making for hazy days and stunning sunsets, threatening only trees and those homes at the furthest reaches of the road.

This fire ripped through the heart of a community. It began in the ponderosa stand that lent the neighborhood its name and charm, swallowing homes whole as it spread from there.

One of our tasks was to mop up after the fire had run its course. We walked through forests of blackened pine that segued into people’s backyards, looking for errant tendrils of smoke signifying a pocket of embers beneath the ash. At times, it felt like we were in an apocalyptic wilderness, while other moments found us intimately entrenched in the living space of strangers.

In fires like this, where the wild meets the urban, flames lay people’s personal lives bare. With residents evacuated, we were free to wander from yard to yard. We dug up smoldering roots as we observed lives on hold: the umbrella over the patio table to shade a picnic (airborne embers having seared small holes in the nylon), water bowls full for pets now absent (an ashy film covering the contents), children’s toys strewn about (some still functional, some not), marijuana plants hidden among tomatoes (one engine crew did a remarkable job of saving the structure and the then-illicit garden, even watering the plants). We fed frightened chickens and avoided territorial peacocks. We made inferences about residents based on their belongings and were often proved right when we met them upon their return home. The family growing weed fed us killer fish tacos.

As we exceed 100 degrees today (with

an RH dipping below 20 for all you fire geeks out there), I find myself surveying our tiny kingdom: the garden guarded by a totem pole scored at the Colburn dump, the sign declaring this to be Tyjenistan (the sovereign nation of Ty and Jen), prayer flags and laundry hanging amongst the cedars, a ten-foot-high deck adorned with beehives, the unfinished log-cabin that aspires to be a primo poultry penthouse…if only we could ever finish it. In this way, we stake claim to our land, with constructs of personality and whimsy. In this way, we create a sense of home.

If an engine crew must make the turn down our drive, what will they think of us? Will they treat our property and home with care? Will they deem it defensible and worth their time? Strange to think that the fate of our sanctuary could be left up to young men (because that’s largely the firefighting demographic)

See FIRE, page 8

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imagemakerphotoandvideo.com The author and her husband pose amidst the aftermath of the Black Forest Fire in Colorado. Photo by author.

July 9, 2015 /

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Sandpoint Reader website up and running

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Bouquets: •When I’d heard Laura Bry passed away this week, it took the wind out of me for a moment. She was such a neat lady, so strong with her convictions, so honest and forthright with her ideals. A very beautiful bouquet goes to her, for making this area a better place. Rest in peace, Laura. You will be missed.

•Special gratitude goes out to all of the firefighters and emergency responders that have mobilized to fight the Cape Horn fire this week. The high temperatures and increased wind have made the wildfire very tricky to deal with, and we at the Reader appreciate their efforts to contain it.

Barbs: Submitted by Anonymous: •My spouse and I have been finding broken glass at City Beach whenever we stroll through the shallow water. Yesterday, during an extended stroll, we found quite a bit. The pieces are very sharp and pointy, (so most likely recent) and we can’t understand why we don’t see adults and children with blood dripping off their feet. Maybe the beach angels are protecting everyone’s feet from it. When we inquired with the lifeguards how broken glass might end up in the water, they replied “after hours partiers.” So maybe the after hours partiers at City Beach should switch to cans or plastic?

•Whether or not we learn the Cape Horn fire was fireworks-related, I think it was a terrible mistake to allow fireworks to be set off this year. On hot, dry, windy years like this, it’s best to leave them to the professionals and save your bottle rockets for next year. A little bang and pop is not worth losing lives and homes to wildfire. Let’s learn from this.

Got a bouquet or barb you’d like to offer? Write me at ben@ sandpointreader.com with “BB” in the subject line.

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/ July 9, 2015

It’s official... the Sandpoint Reader has taken a flying leap into the digital age.

Since our resurrection in January, we’ve been developing a new website that will allow media junkies of all stripes to have free, unlimited access to all the arts, culture, politics and news that this great region has to offer. Hold onto your mouse pad, the site has now gone live.

Designed by Keokee—our partners in crime—the new site features a sleek, easy to navigate look, daily content, a community calendar fully integrated with SandpointOnline, a classifieds section, Sandpoint in Pictures and much more.

Does this change the way you read the Reader? Not if you don’t want it to. Our print edition will always come out every Thursday, rain or shine, and will still be available at over 200 locations around Bonner and Boundary Counties. Also, you can still view the flip page e-edi-

tion free anytime on the website.

What the site now offers is expanded content. Cameron and I, in addition to our numerous duties as stewards of the Reader, will now spend a little extra time each day culling together stories that matter from the web and bringing them to you.

You can also access the site on your mobile device without the frustration that other news

sites offer.

Did I mention it’s free? As in, it costs nothing. As in, why would you pay for your news, when you can get it for free?

At the Reader, we believe in giving you what you want, how you want it. And we also believe in giving it to you for free.

We pay the bills because we have some great advertisers that believe in us. These advertisers

make it so you, the reader, don’t have to pay for your content, so do us a favor, give them some of your business, why don’t you?

You can access the site by pointing your browser to: www.sandpointreader.com Give it a test drive, let us know what you think. And thanks for reading the Reader.

FIRE, (con’t) from Page 7 whom we will never meet. Or maybe the flames will decide.

The fire world is a juxtaposition of playing god and then supplicant to an immense force only slightly within our control.

I look out the window, and I am convinced of the worth of this patch of land, convinced that Tyjenistan will not yet be vanquished. Our elder statesmen —the hundred-year-old hemlocks circling us—will prevail. However, I’m also reminded that, in the face of fire, our five acres isn’t distinct from the dense, dog-hair forest surrounding us. We are not special. We are not safe. In the face of fire, we are a dot on a map, an assignment, footnote to a tactic, a source of conversation amongst crewmembers. In the face of fire, Tyjenistan’s future walks a tightrope in the tug-o-war between fate and firefighters.

This, the summer of 2015, bears many similarities to 1910, the year of the Big Burn. In two days that summer, three million acres in North Idaho, Washington and Montana were destroyed. The region experienced

an exceptionally dry spring and summer then, with fires already popping up in April of that year.

The same is true for us this year.

The tipping point in 1910 was a wind event that caused numerous manageable spot fires to merge into one enormous conflagration. Winds were in excess of 70 mph. We experienced two such windstorms last summer.

Perhaps I am crying wolf.

Rains may rescue us. There may not be any carelessness with fireworks, guns or burn piles.

Wind may not come. Yet, when I think of how many of us here have pinned an existence to the floor of an overgrown forest, I can’t help but think of the 500 homes erased from the map in Black Forest, Colorado. Each home was large in the hearts of its owners but insignificant in the wind and flames.

This summer, my husband will head out for fires without me; our 7-month-old daughter requires my attention at home.

We do not know where he will be called or when, but our 3,000-gallon water tender will

Flames race up a hillside surrounded by homes on the High Park Fire. Photo by the author. go with him when he leaves. I feel vulnerable facing a fire season without our trusty truck and all its trappings. I feel vulnerable being the one who waits for

the fire story to play out rather than being a player in its unfolding. I feel vulnerable thinking that this fire season may hit very close to home.

The Sandpoint Eater Waterfront dining via Sea Squirrel

The beautiful view from Shoga Sushi. Courtesy photo.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Food Columnist We’ve got some noteworthy waterfront eateries and watering holes around these parts.You can arrive at most by car or bike, but there’s nothing like arriving by boat, even if your old Sea Swirl has assumed the dubious title of Sea Squirrel and your departure requires that everyone is seated and secure—except the guy in charge of executing the notoriously difficult maneuver known as “shove off and hop on”— while the captain courageously attempts to start the boat. If all goes as planned, the boat is halfway launched when (by some miracle) it starts, and we lurch off in a cloud of exhaust. It’s best if all the passengers have had a few cocktails to deal with the humiliation of traveling by Sea Squirrel—and the captain has a full belly to steel his nerves.

Set your own sail for summer dining alfresco by lake, river or creek waterfront and go enjoy these local favorites! Check out their respective websites for additional fun in the sun information regarding reservations, operating hours, live music and happy hours.

Bottle Bay Bar and Grill

Who hasn’t “tubed” their way to Bottle Bay for a burger?

It’s a lively little marina nestled in a small, protected bay where campers and boaters alike line up for a frosty mug of beer and the best darn burger around, topped with bacon, cheddar and Major Grey’s chut-

ney. Their fish tacos also deserve an honorable mention and pair up nicely with a signature Huckleberry Daiquiri. Show up for lunch or dinner and enjoy the fun of laidback outdoor dining.

Shoga

Right across the Long Bridge, the sister-restaurant to 41 South provides a magnificent setting to unwind and enjoy sushi, sashimi, and nigari, combined with a perfect sunset to wrap up your day.

And speaking of sisters, my favorite sibling servers, Kalika and Jenni, are quick to serve a chilled cocktail or a warm sake and happy to recommend the evening specials (unless like me, you already have personal favorites, such as the Volcano or Tarantula Rolls).

Dish at Dover Bay

There’s not a bad seat on the deck, and if your boat is a still a dream (or is in the proverbial shop), peddle on down the bike trail to Dover where you can sit back, enjoy a libation, and take in the fabulous river view setting.

Some great signature cocktails (and an outstanding wine list) await you, and waterfront or otherwise, their grilled prawns with sweet chili glaze entrée is worth the trip alone. Open all summer for lunch or dinner. Family reunion or wedding reception? Talk about a party: their new event tent can seat 80 guests!

The dining area at Bottle Bay Bar and Grill. Courtesy photo.

Trinity at City Beach

On the shores of City Beach, this picturesque gathering spot shouts “summer is here!” It’s hard to beat the drinks with a view and an expansive seasonal menu that includes fresh seafood and lots of local ingredients. My summer favorite is the classic grilled Caesar salad followed by the cedar-planked salmon. Justin and his seasoned summer crew deliver a great experience with fantastic food. You’ll want to make this hopping lakeside locale a destination for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Sweet Lou’s in Hope

With seating on the deck or the lawn, Sweet Lou’s offers plenty of options for lunch or dinner.

People rave about their beef, but I rarely make it past their appetizer menu: salt and pepper chicken wings, calamari and an icy cold beer make a great meal.Though, with this heat, the Mahi salad with a tasty mango/pineapple salsa is a cool alternative.Sweet Lou’s has one of the best kids’ menus around and is bound to be a hit for families given that it’s named after the owners’ young son. Their tableside s’mores are a nice bribe for keeping pint-sized diners behaving while you enjoy dinner.

The dining deck at Trinity at City Beach. Courtesy photo. lunch, and it’s a longtime local favorite (especially with both my daughters. In fact, it’s Casey’s go-to spot for all things vegetarian and delicious). We’re a family of traditionalists, and my favorite is still the classic ¼ dark chicken with Caesar. Besides beer and Ivano’s del Lago. Courtesy photo. wine, they have a fun selection of bottled soda beverages.

Floating Restaurant

Completely rebuilt, with many new menu offerings for lunch or dinner, this popular spot is a true “on the water” experience. Besides all the regional cuisine featuring fresh seafood, local beef and homemade breads, chef/ owner Elissa Robbins is famous for her Sunday brunch specialties that include an outstanding selection of eggs Benedict, including classic, Florentine and crab cake.

Pair up brunch with a Bloody Mary and a few friends for a lazy Sunday get-together.

Ivano’s del Lago

Jim Lippi and staff have the perfect place for convivial beachside dining. The food is fantastic, but you should find a friend to share a full pound of the bucket of “peel and eat” shrimp because otherwise you won’t have room for the braised baby back ribs. Whether you’re there for lunch or dinner, their beach is perfect for a quick dip before you leave. Now, here’s my dirty little secret; if you’re camping at Sam Owen, you can sneak away from the gang for a cocktail and maybe even a quick bite that isn’t cooked over a smoky camp fire.

Here’s to an epic summer. Sit back and soak up some sun then watch it set with a cocktail or two and a meal at water’s edge. Whether I’m solo, with friends or have a few of the adorables tagging along, chances are you’ll catch me at one or more of these spots. If you’re a brave soul, maybe you can even hitch a ride on the one-andonly Sea Squirrel.

Spuds Waterfront Grill

New owners Kelli West and Peter McDaniel have expanded their hours and offerings and now you can dine dockside for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

What they haven’t changed is the recipe for their coveted Caesar salad dressing. The charming deck that overlooks the boardwalk and the marina is a perfect place for a pleasant

Spuds dining deck. Courtesy photo.

July 9, 2015 /

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event t h u r s d a y

Panhandle Animal Shelter Presentation 12:30pm @ Clark Fork Library Contact Suzanne 263-6930 ext. 1211 for more info

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Albeni Falls Presentation Series: Wildlife Detectives 3:30pm - 4:15pm @ Sandpoint Library

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/ July 9, 2015

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Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Live Music w/ Jake Robin 9pm - 12am @ 219 Lounge Acoustic medley on the patio

Superhero Disguises 1:30pm @ Clark Fork Library

Live Music w/ Marty Perron & Doug Bond 5pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ Britchy 5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Missoula’s acoustic Americana duo features fine pickin’ and timeless songwriting by Richie Reinholdt and Britt Arneson

Sandpoint Farmers Market 9am - 1pm @ Farmin Park Live music with Bridges Home

12

sandpoint’s premier

Sandpoint SummerFest 3pm @ Eurka Center (near Garfield Bay) Good music, family friendly vibes, great food

by Eichardt’s and arts and crafts for everyone.

Go to www.eureka-institute.org for more info

f

Sandpoint SummerFest All Day @ Eurka Center (near Garfield Bay) Good music, family friendly vibes, great food

by Eichardt’s and arts and crafts for everyone.

Live Music w/ Spumoni Blues Go to www.eureka-institute.org for more info 7pm @ La Rosa Club Live Music w/ Polly O’Keary and The Rhythm Metho Rails to Resort Race 8pm @ Di Luna’s 11am @ Red Barn Lot Award-winning and world-touring bass player, vocalis A bike race from the Red Barn Lot to the and songwriter Polly O’Keary is back in the Northwes Schweitzer Main Lot. Open to riders of with a brand new band. Dinner starts at 5:30pm, ticket all skill levels who like a challenge are $10 in advance, $12 day of the show The Selkirk Antler Expo Antique a Summer Sounds 9am - 4pm @ Hickey Farms (674 Hickey Rd.) 10am - 3pm 4pm - 6pm @ Park Place Stage All are invited to bring favorite sheds and Come see Featuring music w/ Folk Remedy show featu racks for everyone to admire

13

Sunday Music on the Lawn - 4pm - 8pm @ Del Lago Resort Featuring the music of Bright Moments Jazz. Free and open to everyone! Come sit by the lake and relax with good food and drink

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

14

Sip and Shop Fundraiser 4pm - 9pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 10% of all proceeds from the Tasting Room, Gift Shop and Bistro Rouge will be donated to the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper

15

Bingo Night 6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall KPND Pint Night 8pm @ 219 Lounge Beer, prizes, good times, good tunes Live Music w/ David Walsh 5pm - 8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

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Jacey’s Race SHS hosts com ners and walk kids. Event be cancer or life-

Karaoke Night 9pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge

Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s

Sandpoint Farmers Market 3pm - 5:30pm @ Farmin Park Live music with Truck Mills

Panida F 4pm - 8pm Come on Theater. L

“Keep the Pint Night” - 6pm at Neighborhood P First 48 customers get to keep their pint glass. Spo

Festival at Sandpoint Art Unveiling 4pm - 7pm @ Dover Bay The Festival at Sandpoint holds their annual fine art poster unveiling at Dover Bay with live music. Free and open to the public

Evidence of the After Life Show 6:30pm - 8pm @ Inquire Within (516 Bonnie communicates with loved on crossed over, only $10, or private read

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jaz 6:30pm - 9pm @ Neighborhood Pub

ful

Robin unge e patio

Library

July 9 - 16, 2015

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

Reader recommended

Sandpoint Summer Bookfest and Prose Slam 5:30pm - 7:30pm @ Bernd Building Visit and hear from many of the community’s authors. This first-ever community event is free and open to the public, and offers the chance to visit with more than a dozen authors from the Sandpoint area

Live Music w/ KOSH 7pm - 9pm @ Neighborhood Pub Awesome electric guitar riffer.

Come for the wings and beer, stay for the shredding guitar!

oug Bond Sandpoint Contra Dance Field Day Fridays 9am (MST) @ Ross Creek Cedars parking lot 7pm - 10pm @ Spt. Community Hall Enjoy live music with Out of the Wood, with danc- A class on Old Growth Ecology led by Brian es called by Emily Faulkner. All dances are taught Baxter, sponsored by Friends of Scothman Peaks and called, and beginners and singles are welcome SHS Class of 1985 Reunion feaLive Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall writ6pm @ Trinity at City Beach neson “Red Hot Patriot” play Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 7:30pm @ Panida Little Theater 7pm @ La Rosa Club Come see the kick-ass wit of Molly Ivins. Starring Miriam d Bay) Robinson, and produced by Lyric Stage Company. Must see! reat food Live Music w/ Frank Moore Free First Saturday at the Museum everyone.

5:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 10am - 2pm @ Bonner County History Museum ore info Come and enjoy free admission at the Bonner County History Museum. This hm Method month’s Free Saturday is generously sponsored by Hay’s Chevron in Clark Fork SHS Class of 1985 Reunion - Dinner er, vocalist 2nd Annual Sandpoint Beerfest 6pm @ DISH at Dover Bay Northwest 12pm - 4pm @ Lawn outside of Trinity pm, tickets Followed by DJ and dance music perEnjoy live music featuring Doug Bond and Marty formed by classmate Hilber Blair Perron, plus there will be local and regional craft Antique and Classic Boat Show beers and ciders on tap. Ages 21 and older only 0am - 3pm @ Sandpoint Marina and Boardwalk Come see the 13th annual Parade of Boats and boat King of the Cornhole Tournament 1pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall how featuring over 50 classic and antique boats Rain or shine, inside the brewery or outside. RegisSandpoint SummerFest tration starts at noon. $10 per team All Day @ Eurka Center ey’s Race (near Garfield Bay) SHS Class of 1985 Reunion - Ice Cream Social S hosts competitive 5k race for run11am - 1pm @ Sandpoint City Beach and walkers, and 1k fun run for Live Music w/ David Walsh . Event benefits local children with 5pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority cer or life-threatening illnesses

! e m i t r e m m u s Hot fun in the 317 North 1st Avenue • Open 7 days • 208-263-2178

Great Sandpoint Flatwater Regatta 10am @ Bridge St. Bridge Sandpoint Rotary hosts canoe, kayak and paddleboard “fun run” in Sand Creek

Panida Fundraiser 4pm - 8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Come on down and have a few beers to help support the Panida Theater. Live music by Doug Bond and Marty Perron

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“Red Hot Patriot” play 7:30pm @ Panida Little Theater

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Five Minutes of Fame 6:30pm @ Cafe Bodega Writers, musicians, listeners, all are welcome to attend. Come at 6 p.m. for dinner! Held on the third Wednesday of every month

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Join us on

UPCOMING EVENTS July 18 - Schweitzer Mountain Trail Run July 24-26 - The Garden of Artistry Invitational Fine Art Show

July 25 - Crazy Days July 25 - Sam Owen Fire Department Pancake Feed

July 9, 2015 /

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/ July 9, 2015

The Quest for the Perfect Burger

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Cheeseburgers are one of my (many) guilty pleasures. Recently, I started my own quest to find the good, the better and the best burgers in the area. Here are my savory results: Serv-a-Burger—Classic, big American burgers with lots of options. Costeffective and good fries, too.

Trinity at City Beach—The TCB Burger here is one of my favorite items in town. It comes with gorgonzola cheese and carmelized onions, with honey chipotle mayo and a soft pretzel bun.

‘Nuff said, eat it already.

Joe’s Philly Cheesesteaks—Don’t let the name fool you, this place is actually a burger joint disguising itself as a Philly cheesesteak house. Excellent, moist patty and perfectly melted cheese.

Baxters on Cedar—The most humble item on their fantastic menu, the Baxter’s burger is big, tall and delicious, and comes with some of the best fries in Sandpoint.

Di Luna’s—It’s called “The Best Burger in Town” on the menu for good reason.

It’s damn good. It’s a full 1/3-pound patty with two whole strips of bacon. Try it with sweet potato fries.

Eichardt’s Pub—OK, I’m biased because I’ve always loved their food, but seriously, the burgers are to die for. You get a choice of beef, elk, chicken, veggie or tofu, and there are something like seven different burgers to choose from. My favorite will always and forever be the cajun, which comes blackened and smothered with crumbled blue cheese. Get the world famous garlic fries on the side to make the perfect meal. Don’t forget your breath mint.

Dub’s Drive-In—Home of the “Big D” which I think stands for “delicious.”

This freak of nature burger is dripping good and leaves a satisfying mess on your tray when you’re finished. You can’t go wrong with a shake and a plate of french fries on the side. I like Dub’s because it never changes. It has no reason to.

MickDuff’s Brewery—Good burgers are even better with good beer, which MickDuff’s brews right here in Sandpoint.

They have a variety of meat to choose from, including a 1/3 pound Kobe beef patty, and a black bean patty and grilled portebello cap for those that don’t eat meat. Then they have a bevy of choices for styles, including everything from classic cheeseburgers to Greekburgers with feta and tzatziki, to the Tikiburger with ham, pineapple and pepper jack cheese.

Do yourself a favor and try every stop on the MickDuff’s burger tour. You’ll find one that speaks to you, I promise.

La Rosa Club—This is one of the coolest spots in town to hang out and sink your teeth into something different by way of burgers. The Lamb Burger is a delightful departure away from the classic cheeseburger. It comes with a great big lamb patty with feta cheese, tzatziki sauce, spinach, and a brioche bun, not to mention La Rosa’s scrumptious pickles.

I’m often speechless while eating this awesome spectacle of burgerdome.

Elmira’s Cafe—OK, if you haven’t had a burger and a shake at Elmira’s yet, you’re seriously missing out. It’s worth the drive, trust me. Not only is it bigger than a baby’s head, it tastes like it was made

by God himself. Order a chocolate shake on the side and you won’t want to do anything productive for the next hour.

Blue Heron Cafe—A good burger at a gas station? Yeah, you snobs, it’s entirely possible. It’s my favorite place to stop after hiking up Pack River. The best part is they use Woods Meats. It’s pretty awesome to know that your meat came from just a few miles away.

Neighborhood Pub—There are some unorthodox things going on at this gas-

tropub, namely the Dick Butkis burger, which comes with (and I’m serious) peanut butter, bacon, pickle and onion. And it’s actually pretty damn good. The Chuck Norris burger, however, takes the cake, er, bun. It has two burger patties, bacon, cappicola, pepperoni, pepperjack cheese, and veggies. Ol’ Chuck would be proud. Also, you can get a burger, a beer and some fries for lunch every day for $10. That’s amore.

Hydra Steakhouse—Though I miss the salad bar, the burgers are still worth coming back. They are classic downhome American style, with patties that are thick as a fat man’s thumb and soft, flaky buns that make for a good grip.

Zips Drive-In—The newest member to our burger family. If you haven’t tried their tartar sauce, it’s pretty dang good. A good cheap burger option.

it’s nice to meet you, neighbor

$10 Lunch special mon-fri 11-4

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Battle of the

Thai Restaurants Ten years ago, there was only one. Today, there are four. Now, the Sandpoint Thai restuarants battle for dominance in a no-holds-barred grudge match to see who will be crowned champion.

Okay, so maybe not. I suppose I watched a few too many Jean Claude Van Damme movies when I was a kid.

But seriously, we have a lot of great Thai food in Sandpoint. I thought it would be fun to throw them in the ring together.

We’ll start with the original:

Bangkok Cuisine In the beginning... there was Bangkok Cuisine. With a convenient location on Second Avenue and a funky, retro atmosphere, Bangkok is where we all started to eat Thai food in Sandpoint.

When you walk in, you are greeted by photos of the King and Queen of Thailand, a fish tank, and old-school booths that promote good posture.

The lunch specials are great because they include the salad with yummy peanut dressing and are fairly affordable.

The chicken satay and silver bags will always be my go to items.

I have noticed the quality of the food has fallen off a bit as of late, but I may have just gone in on a bad night.

Overall, they get extra points for being here first, and for my many years of eating the Sam Ross entree.

GRADE - B 14 /

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/ July 9, 2015

Secret Thai

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Ohn’s Thai Plates

Located in the alley by the back door of Eichardt’s Pub, this place really seemed like a secret when it first appeared.

My judge of a good Thai restaurant always starts with the Pad Thai noodle dish.

Secret Thai’s Pad Thai is priced under $10 and has a great flavor. I like to ask for a side of Sriracha sauce with mine. Also, ask for extra vegetables.

The Fried Rice with Mixed Vegetables is also fantastic, and feeds plenty.

The curries are all good, and the fresh rolls have a great minty flavor and excellent dipping sauce. I’m not a shrimp lover, so if you want yours without shrimp just ask for the vegetarian option.

The one downfall of Secret Thai is dining in.

It’s a great spot to order your food to go, because the small, industrial atmosphere often doesn’t lend itself to fine dining.

But I’m no snob when it comes to stuff like that, so it won’t affect my final grade.

Overall, Secret Thai is very well received in town, and opererated by a great family, and they get bonus points because they’re so close to our office!

Last summer, a new contender for Thai food came rolling into town.

Ohn’s Thai Plates, located in the food courts just across the street from Farmin Park, set up shop and has consistently nailed just about everything they do.

I very quickly ordered my litmus test Pad Thai dish and found it had a great home-made quality to it that other restaurants haven’t captured.

The dish was enormous, and smiling Ohn is just about the friendliest restaurateur you can find (we recently had a back-and-forth argument about my $1.50 tip - her saying it was too much, me having to literally throw it through the window and shut it).

The best part? It’s only $6.50! Seriously, you will not get better Pad Thai for this price anywhere in the area.

Both curries are also fantastic, and priced even better at $5.50 a plate.

The banana crepe is only $2.50 and makes a fabulous dessert.

Overall, Ohn’s at the food court is well worth the modest price they charge.

GRADE - A-

GRADE - A

Thai Nigiri A late contender to the match, Thai Nigiri opened just last year in the old Pastime building on First Avenue.

To start with, the atmosphere is sleek in a North Idaho way, which is to say that it isn’t pretentious in any way, but has a modern feel that works.

The air conditioning is a welcome blast of cool air on these hot days, and more often than not, the servers are personable and honest about their favorites (I like when I ask a server if he/she likes a certain dish and they honestly say it isn’t their favorite, but point out one that is).

Now, to the food. It’s good. It’s really good.

It’s actually better than I expected it to be. The Pad Thai, my go to, was a good portion, and has some great flavors swirling around in it.

The Drunken Noodles

has become one of my favorite dishes in town.

Order it with extra vegetables, and you’ll get a medly of everything from bok choy to baby corn with the classic wide noodles just oozing in flavorful sauce.

The curries come in huge portions and are done with a nod to authentic dishes, but, as I’ve noticed on a lot of their dishes, there is a fusion of new styles to every dish that always surprises you.

I have only begun to explore the menu, so I can’t speak for most of the other entrees, but I can only imagine they are as good or better than my boring go to favorites.

The price of entrees is up there. Not high, but not cheap, either. I feel you pay for what you get at Thai Nigiri and am happy to shell out a few extra bucks to walk away feeling good about my meal.

The fact that they also have a great sushi menu shouldn’t affect my overall rating, but I would be

remiss if I didn’t mention that there are several rolls that hit me right in the sweet spot.

What I like to do is order a smorgasbord of Thai dishes, a roll or two, and some appetizers and pick from each like a decadant king. I suggest you do the same.

GRADE - A+ Final thoughts: I am pleased that there are so many options to soothe your need for Thai food in Sandpoint.

Don’t take my word as gospel, though, go out and try them all for yourselves.

And that concludes the Battle of the Thai Restaurants. See you next time.

Behind the scenes in the Sandpoint restaurant scene

By Dion Nizzi Reader Contributor

Like the lake that helps identify Sandpoint and its surroundings, our restaurants here are primarily calm and laid back, an almost zen-like dining experience. Pleasant background music, a relaxed atmosphere, easy lighting and a seemingly casual service pace usually mark the mood.

We sit. We order a spirit or two. We peruse the menu and decide what we’re gonna have and then we pass that information on to a usually reserved member of the wait staff who thanks us and then turns towards the back end. The mysterious deep of the restaurant. The kitchen.

It’s usually then that, like the lake, what you see on the calm becomes what you don’t see in the deep.

Just like the under surface of the lake, there is also a frenetic flurry of activity in the back end of restaurants. A place where schools of chefs dart through the kitchen, hustling dishwashers keep up the pace and anxious kitchen managers lead the symphony as servers pick up their orders and break the surface time and time again, delivering those meals to tables while switching right back to the tranquility of the dining area.

Stefhanie Royer, executive chef at Pend d’Orielle Winery, runs a tight crew. She has been in the business “off and on damn near 15 years” and has a kitchen staff that runs anywhere between four and six on any given night.

“We have to be working under pressure

on a consistent basis,” she said. “It has to be on a high level. Ticket time, heat and adrenaline all have to be kept under control for us to work well together. All of us know how to keep each others back.”

“I like to have a lot of communication between back-of-house and front-of-house,” continued the recent Sandpoint Sampler award winner. “I’d have to say this is one of the easiest places I’ve worked at, when it comes to that. We’ll go out and have beers together and hang out on days off together to unwind. It keeps us all connected. We work well on adrenaline, but it’s an adrenaline of joy.”

It’s that kind of teamwork that holds a kitchen together. A symbiotic relationship with the front end servers just enhances the experience, even though at different times, it might get a little strained.

“The energy here is pretty neutral,” said La Rosa Chef Dustin Reichold. Dustin started in the business at 13 years old and has been cooking for 18 years. At La Rosa, he occupies a small kitchen, shared with other cooks, two on the hot side and one on the salad station. “It gets crowded, I mean, tickets start flyin’, bodies start moving. You just have to watch out for one another. It’s kind of like a dance.”

My immediate response: “How good of a dancer are you?”

“Really good.”

And when things don’t go swimmingly, Dustin’s advice for any tight quartered kitchen crew is simple. “As long as it doesn’t get heated, you’re usually OK. As soon as it gets

Sous chef Jon Bouer (right); Jarrod Meaux (center); and Austin Johnson (left); busy themselves in the Pend d’Oreille Winery kitchen.

heated, your head’s out of the game.”

When all pistons are firing, it seems to be a breeze for these cooking crews.

When the breeze is strong, it’s great for everyone. The days pass quicker, the happiness quotient rises and everyone gets along.

It’s the slow times that every restaurant inevitably goes through that make the shifts longer.

Long time Sandpoint Chef Charles Chase has seen the breeze from both sides. After 22 years in the business, the last five with the Little Olive and its newest incarnation, The Neighborhood Pub, Chase talked about those

Sandpoint restaurants support buying local produce

By Scout Seley Reader Intern

Eat your greens: The dreaded words that your mother spewed out during your childhood may have seemed frightening back then. But now that you’re grown, they’re a reminder of something you should want to do. Why? Because local vendors at the Farmers’ Market have some of the most delicious, homegrown vegetables that are oh, so good for you.

Even better, these veggies are available not only at the Farmers’ Market but also at many local restaurants around town. Chefs have made the choice to support local farmers and nourish you with fresh, organic fruits and veggies.

Local Farmers’ Market vendor Brandon Huff from Muskrat Hill Farm says he likes to mostly keep his operation small-scale, selling at the market on Wednesdays and Saturdays. However, on occasion he sells produce to Gourmandie at Schweitzer as well as to Winter Ridge.

Around the grassy corner from Huff is Colleen Mooney from Solstice Farm. Her passion these days is in community-supported agriculture, a program where she sells large bags full of 10 to 15 different items of fresh produce for only $25 dollars a week.

On top of her regular sales, she also sells wholesale to Spuds, Trinity at City Beach and a few other odd places where she peddles cucumbers.

Emily LeVine of Red Wheelbarrow Produce sells kale to another satisfied customer.

One of the most popular wholesalers is Emily LeVine at Red Wheelbarrow Produce.

Her fresh produce is available at the Farmers’ Market, but she is also well-known for her wholesale. LeVine sells to Spuds, Bistro Rouge, Winter Ridge, Tango Cafe and 41 South, as well as to her biggest customer, Tierra Madre.

Spuds is a popular customer among the wholesale producer peddlers. Head chef Jessica Vouk loves to purchase sprouts for her sandwiches and greens for her salads from Red Wheelbarrow Produce. She also takes pride in purchasing other vegetables from Solstice Farm. Vouk’s kitchen has also benefitted from another non-produce seller,

Wayward Cheese Company, which provides Spuds its feta. Vouk said she tries to distribute the wealth and buy equally from many different local wholesale produce farmers.

She believes strongly in affirming the importance of community support. While Vouk’s menus can’t always list ingredient origins, she tries to advertise which farmers contributed to the meal for special menu items.

One famous local contributor to the consumption of fresh, organic produce is Winter Ridge Natural Foods Market. Produce manager, Danielle Patafro, has been working in produce for three years, and she expresses passion for both the local farmers that she buys from and their produce.

slow times.

“I like to hear that hum of the kitchen,” he said. “Now you’re on auto. You just know.

You get into a groove. When you’re slow, you actually have much more opportunity to make mistakes. Your goal, especially when it’s busy is to clear that wheel.”

The pace of the kitchen can be intense, and at times, snail-like slow, but it seems Sandpoint has many fine establishments with the same goal: great food, great service.

Luckily for us here in Sandpoint, more hit the mark than miss it.

Patafro supports a plethora of farmers such as Rugged Roots, from whom she gets “beautiful spinach” and spicy mix. Red Wheelbarrow sells purple kale, rainbow chard, and springmix. Other farmers sell more specialty items, such as Ronager’s Organics, which deals mostly in root vegetables, and Green Tree Naturals which is a certified organic farm and has unique items such as the Japanese Eggplant.

Patafro likes to support local farmers because it reduces the carbon footprint of transporting the goods. It also creates a relationship between farmer and produce manager. On top of both of those benefits, Patafro cherishes the fact that she is able to go out to the farm and see the farmers nourish their plants with healthy nutrients and love. Winter Ridge has a great produce section, and they also have a salad bar and deli that utilizes most of the same fresh produce.

Eating your greens is never fun when they come out of a can and taste like metallic grass soaked in water. Don’t sit at home despising your store bought cans of terror.

Go and try out a restaurant that offers nutritious, tasty vegetables, or head down to the Farmers’ Market and fill a bag with produce combinations for 25 bucks! There are many healthy alternatives that not only benefit you but also support our local farmers and community.

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Living on the Cheap Story and photos by Susan Drinkard Reader Columnist I love a deal. Who doesn’t?

What’s more, I hate wasting food, wasting time, wasting money and wasting resources probably more than anyone you have ever met. If anything is really a sin, it is wasting. The amount of garbage that leaves our house every week sickens me, and when I put something in the trash, I am often stricken with guilt because I probably could have figured out a way to reuse it if I had tried harder.

I make my own laundry soap because it’s way cheaper than the store-bought kind.

I have purchased most of the Christmas gifts I will give this year because of serious bargains I found at Larsons and Penneys.

I am embarrassed to say how many times each month—okay, week—that I peruse through the fence at the free pile at the area dumpsites. I tell Laura, a kind and friendly waste management adviser at the Upland Drive locale, that I am looking for prizes for my women’s group’s Bingo games and also for household stuff and clothing for needy people I know through my social work job. And I am. One of my hobbies is taking perfectly good clothing home, washing it and donating it to Love, Inc., or to the Panhandle Animal Shelter Thrift Store. Admittedly, I keep some of the irresistible treasures, such as the Katharine Hepburnish bobble-headed angel that always agrees with me when I tap her head. Then there’s the gorgeous (not) safety pin art candleholder that will make a sweet gag gift in my family’s hilarious annual gift exchange.

If there were an award for top garage sale attendee in the Sandpoint area, I’d be your gal, or at least tied with Syd. So when I asked Ben Olson at the Reader if he had room for a column on living on the cheap in Sandpoint, I was happy to hear his affirmative and enthusiastic reply. And what better place than the Reader for such a thing?

This week’s issue is devoted to food.

So this column is about eating on the cheap in Sandpoint, which is possible.

Really, it is.

As I go somewhat placidly through my mental noise and outside haste in our beautiful burg, I have found ways to stretch my food dollar that I am perhaps unwisely sharing here.

Here is my number one secret for eating nutritious food on the cheap. Don’t tell anyone. Just before payday, when I have about $17.50 left in my checking 16 /

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Tips and helpful hints for eating well within your budget

account, I go to the hospital cafeteria and buy carryout entrees in a biodegradable container they provide that I take home and creatively build a meal from in less than 10 minutes.

For example, my dad was staying overnight recently and knowing a meal without meat would elicit a “for crying out loud” exclamation of disappointment, I quickly bought pork chops at the hospital for him—$2.75—and a day-old delicious dessert for a mere $0.50. Then I went home and added some greenery and leftover rice.

“How did you do this?” he asked. “I didn’t smell any pork chops cooking.”

When I told him about the hospital food, he was so impressed. The apple does not fall far from the tree, and if it did, I would still pick it up.

Here is something I do that seems kind of like cheating, but if it hits your frugality soft spot, then you might try it. I get a small carry-out container at lunchtime when the hospital has its amazing array of veggies in the salad bar, and I fill my container with radishes, beets, cauliflower, sunflower seeds, mushrooms, green and black olives, and a token broccoli floret and pay less than $2. I go home and add this to a bag of organic spinach or lettuce and I have a big delicious salad. If I had purchased beets, cauliflower, mushrooms, green and black olives, radishes, etc. at the grocery store, it would have cost considerably more and most likely the cauliflower and mushrooms would soon look like my hands—covered in unsightly dark spots.

Last Friday, the cafeteria featured tortilla soup for $1.75. Add a side of rice for

$0.80 and you have a meal for $2.55.

The photo of the salad is one I bought in its entirety at the hospital cafeteria for $2.50. Sooooo delicious.

Okay, on to other food deals.

My work takes me to all the soup kitchens, and these will be featured in subsequent issues.

But for people who are scared of being seen there (even though everyone is welcome at all of them) there is food— good food—that can be had for under $5 at area restaurants.

I consulted Chris Bessler, who is a generous fellow to his friends and employees but who doesn’t like to spend over $5 for his lunch. He goes to Tango in the Columbia Bank for a good-sized spinach turnover or empanada for under $5. He also suggests Winter Ridge’s lunch buffet, which is sold by weight, so you can get several salads for $5 if you go with the lighter weight ones and choose with discipline. Honestly, I have never kept it under $5 at that tempting buffet.

Then there’s seemingly everyone’s favorite: Joel’s on Church Street. You can order a bean taco there for $2.05, and if you can handle the idea of a cow dying for you, then there’s the beef taco, or a chicken taco, each $2.05. For most people two tacos is filling. One of my favorites at Joel’s is the bean tostada, a filling and delectable repast for $3.25.

Here’s to eating and living on the cheap in Sandpoint.

BGH salad is not only affordable, but delicious.

John works at the BGH cafeteria at lunchtime.

Crossword Solution

One way to cut costs is fill up to go containers at salad bars instead of buying vegetables in bulk.

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

READ

The Reader Interviews Festival artist

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

For more than a decade, Minnesota-based band Trampled By Turtles has been redefining the sound of bluegrass. Members Dave Simonett, Tim Saxhaug, Dave Carroll, Erik Berry and Ryan Young demonstrate exceptional musicianship, blazing their way through often-blisteringly fast acoustic songs with precision.

Young, Trampled’s fiddle player, took some time out of his day to talk with us about the band’s dedicated work ethic, diverse musical influences and, of course, their upcoming Festival At Sandpoint show with The Devil Makes Three, which takes place 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14.

First of all, thanks for taking the time to talk with us today.

Between Bonnaroo Music Festival and a bunch of other shows, it sounds like you’ve been busy lately.

Yeah, I’ve definitely been busy. We’re actually taking a little break—I’ve just been at home all day today mixing a record, so even when Trampled isn’t on tour I’m super busy with music.

I can imagine. Is this a new Trampled record you guys are working on?

No, I have my own recording studio, and I have a couple bands in there right now that are either recording or mixing. I was mixing a record today for a band called Kind Country.

And now you’re preparing for a series of shows with The Devil Makes Three, including the one here at the Festival. Can you tell me a little bit about how you work together as bands to put together shows, given your differences in style?

I think we have a lot of fan crossover. Their fans and our fans are often the same people. The music is kind of in the same ballpark: folky accoustic music, which

Photo by Zoran Orlic. if you’re in that sort of thing, you might be into both bands.

Is this your first time playing in North Idaho? I’ve seen you guys play a number of times in Missoula, but Sandpoint is a little more out of the way.

We’ve played in Idaho and northern Idaho before—a lot of smaller shows back in the day when we were traveling around as a band playing at roadhouses or wherever we could find a gig. So yeah, we’ve been there before, and it’s a beautiful part of the country.

Idaho, Montana, Colorado—that whole area is one of the places I love to travel to. Being from Minnesota where everything is flat— and I love Minnesota—but it’s really nice to see some elevation changes.

One thing I’ve noticed about Trampled By Turtles is how rigorous your touring schedule seems to be. Is that rough on the band at all, or is it something you all enjoy doing?

It’s just kind of a way of life for us. It’s what we’ve been doing for 11 years. We’ve actually given ourselves a nice little break coming up at the end of this year to the beginning of next year. We’re going to just ease off playing the shows a bit and reacquaint ourselves with our friends and loved ones. That should be nice. We haven’t really done that in almost ever.

Considering how fast many of your songs are, it’s pretty impressive how tightly the band hangs together. What was it like to build that kind of rapport among all the members?

It’s kind of a happy accident and not necessarily something we planned out that we’re able to play so well together. It’s something we’ve realized after playing so long together that we know each other really well and we can play off each other really well. Basically that just

comes with experience. If a band is going to be together for 11 years, it’s kind of bound to happen that you’re going to get pretty tight.

But I consider myself really lucky that I found these guys.

They’re probably the best listeners out of any band I’ve been a part of.

Everyone listens to each other really well and reacts to one another in the music. It’s almost like we’re thinking with one mind, and it’s a very cool thing to be a part of.

Could you tell me a little bit about how everyone got together to start playing music?

That was kind of an accident as well. This started out as a side project by our mandolin and guitar players. They were a little folk duo playing at coffee shops and whatever else. Our banjo player ended up coming to know them a little bit and asked if he could join in, so they became a trio. … Then that trio ended up playing a bunch of shows with another band … and they ended up stealing their bass player—he played in both bands until the other broke up. And I was the last to join as the fiddle player. At the time I met them, Trampled By Turtles had become their main band, and they opened up for a band I was in. …

Long story short, I eventually joined the band, and it became the five of us. It was kind of randomish. We didn’t grow up together, we just met each other by chance.

Bluegrass and traditional folk are obviously big part of your style, but are there any other bands, musicians or overall genres that really inspire your music?

Actually, just about everything else inspires us a lot more than bluegrass music or folk music.

That’s kind of what we sound like because the instruments we play are acoustic instruments, so we sound like a bluegrassy or folky group. And while we like that stuff, some of us hardly ever listen to

bluegrass. Everyone has their own influences, and it’s widely ranging, from punk rock to jazz to classic rock to Motown music. Everyone has their favorites, and there’s a lot of overlap, too. That’s kind of what makes us different from other acoustic bands. We don’t try to copy that bluegrass sound.

I’m sure you get a lot of questions about your name. Could you tell our readers how you came up with it?

It was kind of a brainstorm. It was before I was in the band, and [the other members] were still trying to figure out what to call themselves. So they each came with a page of brainstormed band names.

And Trampled By Turtles was the one nobody hated too much.

You’ve built up a lot of great songs since forming in the early 2000s, both originals and covers.

Are you working on anything new these days? Any chance we might get a preview of a new album?

We haven’t been working on any new original tunes, but we do have a lot of new covers that we learn all the time. We’re always putting new covers into our sets, so sometimes we’ll play a Bob Dylan tune or a Neil Young tune or a Pixies tune. The most recent thing is we learned a couple Grateful Dead tunes and we play those sometimes. So you might hear a new cover from us, but we make every set different, so I can’t really say for sure what songs we’re going to play.

Well, hopefully you get a little chance to relax and check out the lake while you’re here. Looking forward to seeing you guys at the Festival!

Catch Trampled by Turtles playing with The Devil Makes Three Friday, Aug. 14 at the Festival at Sandpoint. For ticket info, call (208) 265-4554.

“The Plague” by Albert Camus is a great example of existential literature at its best. Set in the Algerian city of Oran, the novel follows the city’s residents as they undergo a plague that wipes out most of the population.

The story is told through the eyes of Dr. Rieux, a practical man who treats the first patient of the plague, and also understands that he and the rest of the populace are powerless against it.

Camus left us with so few titles, but this one ranks just below “The Stranger” in my opinion.

LISTEN

Chad VanGaalen’s newest album “Shrink Dust” has been on regular rotation in the office for a couple weeks.

VanGaalen, from Calgary, Alberta, is one of those musicians who does things exactly how he wants to. His subject matter is strange and delightfully weird, his animations are unique, and every song feels like it could be a soundtrack for a poignant moment in your life.

WATCH

Will Ferrell is always entertaining to watch, even when he’s just standing there doing nothing.

Last weekend, I caught his latest comedy “Get Hard” where he stars as a millionaire framed for investment fraud and sentenced to 10 years in San Quentin.

Co-star Kevin Hart is hired to help him “get hard” so he’ll survive prison life.

The film was ridiculous at times, but there were some priceless moments, like a crazy scene involving Ferrell and a gay man in a stall at a restaurant bathbath room.

And yes, fans of flabby white man butt can catch Ferrell’s several times in this film.

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w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

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

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

A photo of the Fourth of July Parade in downtown Sandpoint, 1950. This photo was taken on First Avenue, looking southwest. I like looking at the people sitting in their windowsills, watching from a great vantage point. Note the awesome marching band uniform on the bottom left.

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

1950

ACROSS

The same view today. I didn’t have the luxury to line the shot up as well as I wanted because several people were bickering that I was blocking the action, but the photo is mostly accurate (the photographer in 1950 must’ve been sitting up on someone’s shoulders. I’ve yet to find anyone to allow me to sit on their shoulders).

2015

Corrections: In last week’s special Then & Now, I had erroneously used a photograph taken of the 1940s Sandpoint Fire Department crew without attributing Ross Hall as the photographer and obtaining permission from Dann Hall. As I am a photographer myself, I regret and apologize for the oversight.

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1. Front part of vessels 6. Large indefinite quantity 10. Ailments 14. Hearing-related 15. Dwarf buffalo 16. Tidy 17. Diacritical mark 18. “Phooey!”

19. Carryall 20. Tenacious 22. Not under 23. Pigeon-___ 24. Glue 26. Lacking intellectual acuity 30. In song, the loneliest number 31. Regret 32. Hodgepodge 33. On the left or right 35. Genus of heath 39. Invigorate 41. Experienced 43. Chip dip 44. A metric unit of weight 46. Where a bird lives 47. “___ the season to be jolly” 49. Former boxing champ 50. Sounds of disapproval 51. Coming 54. Speechless 56. Lascivious look 57. A diplomat of the highest rank 63. Hairdo 64. Exuviate 65. A river through Paris 66. List of options

Solution on page 16 9. An airplane “garage” 67. Type of sword 10. Unable to express 68. Betel palm yourself 69. Mining finds 11. Depart 70. Egghead 12. Optical maser 71. Alpine call 13. Cubic meter 21. Not tight 25. A song for 2 1. A Maori club 26. Accomplishes 2. Wreckage 27. Forearm bone 3. Paris airport 28. Foundry 4. Dry riverbed 29. Unruly 5. Mixture of rain and snow 34. Assessed 6. Exasperating 36. Angers 7. Unassisted 37. Keg 8. Maize 38. Picnic insects

DOWN

40. Conceited 42. Gives forth 45. Wanderer 48. Flower part 51. San Antonio fort 52. Put off 53. French science-fiction writer 55. An analytic literary composition 58. Brood 59. Relating to aircraft 60. Perished 61. A single time 62. Genuine

You might think that the favorite plant of the porcupine is the cactus, but it’s thinking like that that has almost ruined this country.

Introducing...

Sandpoint’s First Liquor Distillery Our No. 217 whiskey is an unaged corn whiskey, smooth drinking and packed full of corn flavor

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