Reader_March9_2023

The week in random review

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

R.I.P. Phil Batt

Idaho lost one of its native sons March 4, when former Gov. Phil Batt passed away at the age of 96. Batt, an onion farmer who joined the U.S. Army and fought during WWII, was later elected to the Idaho House of Representatives where he served 18 years before serving as governor from 1995-1999. As a Republican, Batt would almost be unrecognizable by today’s party standards. Batt’s legacy is distinguished by a deep concern about human rights, pushing to form a state Human Rights Commission, which became more notable after North Idaho experienced an uptick in hate activity after white supremacist groups targeted the region during the 1980s and ’90s. Batt also supported laws guaranteeing a minimum wage for farm workers and covered Hispanic farm workers under Idaho’s workers compensation program — the latter position often putting him at odds with many in the powerful agricultural industry. Regarding Batt’s position on that matter, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke told the Idaho Statesman, “He was right, we were wrong.” When elected as governor in 1994, Batt became Idaho’s first Republican governor in 28 years, a tradition that has continued ever since. Batt’s most lasting legacy is perhaps a 1995 agreement he reached with the federal government over the planned removal of spent fuel and nuclear waste from Idaho National Laboratory, which sits atop an aquifer west of Idaho Falls that serves half the state’s population and millions of irrigated farmland. What was referred to as the Batt Agreement required spent fuel — with a few exceptions — to be removed by 2035. Though the deal has changed several times over the years, it largely is credited as preventing Idaho from becoming a high-level nuclear waste dump.

origins of a hangover

We all know what causes a hangover, but do you know where the word actually comes from? As an armchair etymologist, I’m always fascinated by the origins of words. A popular meme in recent years claimed that the term “hangover” was derived from Victorian England when the lowest-priced accommodation was to sling oneself over a taut rope and sleep with head bent over to your feet. The meme claimed it was a popular place for drunken sailors to sleep one off, even trying to pass off a funny scene from The Great Train Robbery as “proof.” A professor of historical linguistics, however, described to the website Snopes that the claim was “nonsense.” Mirriam-Webster first documented the term in 1894, referring to someone or something that remained or simply survived, but was later altered to refer to the effects of overconsumption of alcohol or drugs.

quotable

“Society is produced by our wants and government by our wickedness.”

— Thomas Paine, political activist, philosopher and founding father

READER DEAR READERS,

I hope you’re all enjoying the late winter we’ve been blessed with. Schweitzer has been excellent, so don’t delay getting a few more turns in before the end of the season.

I’d like to invite you all to attend an open town hall meeting on Monday, March 20 from 5-7 p.m. at the Sandpoint Library community meeting room B.The Reader is hosting this town hall to give the public a chance to discuss and hear information about the Couplet plan that has been in the news in recent weeks. We’ve invited some former city staff members to give a presentation on their experience with the Curve plan which Sandpoint City Council rejected over a decade ago, as well as detailed discussions of how the Couplet would affect Sandpoint. We’ll also distribute surveys to those in attendance so our voices will be heard.

After the town hall, the Reader will compile all the information gathered and present it to the Sandpoint City Council at their next available meeting in an attempt to make sure our elected leaders have every opportunity to hear feedback from the public before making any permanent decisions.

–Ben Olson, publisher

111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 946-4368

www.sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com

Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey (News Editor) lyndsie@sandpointreader.com

Cameron Rasmusson (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)

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Contributing Artists: William Preuss (cover), Ben Olson, Kally Thurman, Cynthia Mason, Jon Hagadone, Denise Zembryki, Stuart Berg Concert Photography, Bill Borders, Jen Heller

Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Sen. James Ruchti, Sen. Melissa Wintrow, Mike Wagoner, Marcia Pilgeram, Sandy Compton, Clark Corbin, Jen Heller

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About the Cover

This week’s cover photo is by William Preuss of his granddaughter Faye and Molly the dog playing in freshly fallen snow.

also hears range of ideas, discussion about public involvement and transparency

BoCo commissioners vote to move forward with fairgrounds boundary line adjustment Board

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

It was another week of procedural sparring and high-tension discussion at the regular business meeting March 7 of the Bonner County Board of Commissioners — again hovering around issues of public comment; civil litigation; training for county boards, commissions and committees; and general notions of transparency and how county meetings should be run.

Things got off to an oppositional start with the order of the agenda, which included an action item late in the meeting on whether to contract with Sewell and Associates to conduct work related to adjusting the boundary line at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

The work, which is not to exceed $25,000 in grant dollars, centers on the permitting and construction of an RV campground facility at the property, which requires a full platting of the fairgrounds and a section of property to the south, which Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler opposed because he said it would carve off space into which his office might one day expand.

It’s a long-running controversy, with Wheeler telling commissioners that he had hoped “the land deals would end” after the county voided a lease in March 2022 with a nonprofit group that had proposed to construct an $8 million indoor ice arena on property that he has maintained rightfully belongs to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

Commissioners voided the lease after an opinion from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office in February 2022 that the agreement had been too vaguely stated on the board’s agenda, and thus violated Idaho Open Meeting Law.

What’s more, Wheeler said, “Not one of us was invited to the table to discuss this land deal,” which he said came up at a January meeting of the Fair Board. The

section located on the southwest of the fairgrounds, “In reality … [is] resting on the sheriff’s complex property,” he added before urging the commissioners to “immediately change course.”

At the outset of the March 7 meeting, Commissioner Asia Williams challenged the inclusion of the fairgrounds boundary item on the agenda, arguing that discussion on the topic was “premature” and hadn’t been appropriately agendized.

Commissioner Luke Omodt voted to second Williams’ motion to remove the item, then voted against it. Board Chairman Steve Bradshaw also voted “no,” while Williams chose to abstain.

Concerns surrounding the Bonner County Fairgrounds emerged repeatedly throughout the threehour meeting.

Resident Kristina L. Nicholas Anderson testified about the need to fill vacancies on the Fair Board, which has been in a state of reorganization since the death by apparent suicide of late-Fair Director Darcey Smith on Oct. 31, 2022. She challenged that, “Doing your job would be helpful,” in appointing new board members — and that such appointments need not be conducted in executive session, so as to ensure that the public is part of the discussion.

Moving those appointments, and other human resources matters, into public view was a consistent point of discussion at the meeting, while Bradshaw and Omodt numerous times stated that such issues involving personnel are addressed in executive session specifically to protect personal details.

Meanwhile, Omodt said there are three active Fair Board mem=bers currently in compliance, and the “emergency” is to bring that number up to a quorum, which commissioners would address in executive session.

Williams reported that there has been a significant amount of interest among residents wishing

to serve on the Fair Board, but there has so far been little to no communication between the county and those prospective board members.

Resident Monica Gunter also testified, opposing the RV campground in order to retain the necessary room for the sheriff’s complex to grow in the future.

“I cannot imagine taking away [the] sheriff’s property … this county is growing, it’s going to get worse, we’re going to need more jail,” she said, adding that the fairgrounds has less need of campground space than the county has need of expanded sheriff’s office services.

Emotions ran especially high as resident Dan Rose claimed that his right to speak had been abridged by Bradshaw deciding to close public comment after three residents had been allowed to testify. Commissioners have been limiting comment to four testimonials, and Rose argued that he had been the fourth witness on the sign-up sheet.

“Sit down or leave,” Bradshaw told him, later adding, “That’s my decision as chairman,” to limit testimony.

“You are acting in a way that you are not obligated to do. I have

a right to speak,” Rose said, going on to call for a non-binding advisory question on the May ballot related to the grant being used to pay for the fairgrounds boundary line adjustment.

Transparency and public involvement again came up later at the March 7 meeting, when Williams broached concerns about human resources being addressed only into executive session, stating that the county is creating “an unhappy workplace.”

“You do not attract people to work in dysfunction,” she said before inviting resident Spencer Hutchings — who serves as treasurer of the Bonner County Republican Central Committee — to give a presentation on the idea of hosting a regular town hall at which citizens would be invited to ask questions of commissioners.

Hutchings proposed that commissioners’ business meetings are just that — intended to address county business, not necessarily to hear from the public in a back-and-forth dialogue. To serve that need, Hutchings envisioned hosting such a gathering once a month or bi-monthly at a neutral space, such as the fairgrounds, on a Saturday or after work hours on a Friday. Attendees would come

to the door, present some proof of their county residency and engage in a free-form, recorded discussion at which — while remaining civil — “people should be able to vent,” Hutchings said.

“If it takes all day, it takes all day,” he added, going on to state, “We should get the opportunity to say something. … You guys don’t want to engage with us.”

Williams pointed to town halls conducted by Wheeler in the past, which have resulted in citizens feeling informed and heard. She moved to establish a town hall meeting with the full board of commissioners, which Omodt seconded.

Bradshaw, however, questioned the cost, which he said could run to upwards of $1,000 per hour just to have staff and facilities in place.

“Which one of y’all are willing to contribute to this?” he said.

“We pay for this government,” Hutchings responded. “You guys manage to pay for lawsuits that

< see BOCC, Page 5 >

Bonner County Commisioners Luke Omodt, left; Asia Williams, center; and Steve Bradshaw, right. Courtesy photo.

Sandpoint council to host info workshop on Hwy. 2 ‘Couplet’ concept March 15

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

City Hall will again address the potential redevelopment of a portion of U.S. Highway 2 as it moves east and west through Sandpoint, this time in an informational workshop scheduled for the regular Wednesday, March 15 meeting of the City Council. The meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. and will take place in the Sandpoint City Council chambers (1123 Lake St.).

Members of the council voted Feb. 15 to undertake the workshop, which Sandpoint City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton said would be intended to inform councilors of the bigger picture surrounding the concept for “the Couplet,” or “East-West Connection,” as it is sometimes called.

“These concepts were all developed together. What is happening on one section of roadway is affecting others,” she said at the Feb. 15 meeting, adding later, “I think the workshop will help you understand how all these things are layered on.”

The concept includes widening U.S. 2 to a five-lane signalized intersection replacing the current crossing at Boyer. In addition, the city envisioned creating a point of access off U.S. 2 to South Boyer Avenue in order to provide a north-south connec-

tion across the highway. However, that route would run directly through the property currently home to Dub’s Drive-in.

Councilors on Feb. 1 approved the purchase of the Dub’s property for $380,000, which it will lease back to current owners Marty and Jeralyn Mire, who plan to retire, then sublease the property to new owners who will operate the business at its current location until such time as the

city needs to use the property.

According to the design, Pine Street would remain two-way from U.S. 2 to Fifth Avenue, with a signal placed at Pine and Fifth. Northbound traffic would travel on Fifth, which would be converted to one-way. Southbound traffic accessing U.S. 2 would need to exit the intersection at Fifth and Cedar and take a new two-lane, one-way route — one half of the “Couplet” — travel-

you get into all the time.”

Omodt moved to amend the motion, sending it to county attorney Bill Wilson to determine if such a town hall could be conducted in compliance with meeting laws and what infrastructure would be required, to which Bradshaw and Omodt voted “yes” and Williams voted “no.”

Omodt also addressed the issue of training for boards, commissions and committees, which he presented with material he gathered following a recent meeting of

the Idaho Association of Counties in Boise.

Specifically referring to the widespread interest in the Fair Board, Omodt said there are statutory limitations on how the county can interact with its sub-agencies and how those bodies must conduct themselves — much of that including compliance with record keeping, reporting from staff and chairpersons, accessibility requirements for meetings, and other legal mandates related to personnel matters and privacy.

Ensuring those rules are fol-

lowed is a matter of minimizing legal risk, which is especially critical as Bonner County is self-insured, rather than participating in the Idaho Counties Risk Management Program — which private attorney Ford Elsaesser, Prosecuting Attorney Lewis Marshall and County Clerk Mike Rosedale all said the county should rejoin during a discussion about receiving pro bono analysis and advice from Elsaesser about how much the county pays in fees to outside law firms in civil litigation.

(A motion to retain Elsaesser on

ing along the Sandpoint-Dover pathway to the envisioned intersection east of Boyer and Pine, where it would then join U.S. 2.

Opposition to the concept has come from a number of residents and former city officials, who liken it to “the Curve,” which was a similar project brought by the Idaho Transportation Department in 2011, but which the city rejected in 2013 based on impacts to surrounding businesses as well

an advisory basis died without a second.)

Finally, both the disposition of the fairgrounds and the county’s legal exposure rounded out the public portion of the meeting — before commissioners went into executive session — when Omodt moved and Bradshaw seconded to go forward with the boundary line adjustment by Sewell and Associates, paid for with $25,000 in grant monies.

Williams again opposed the agenda item, reiterating, “I hold that this is not appropriate to

as safety concerns.

The public will be invited to attend the workshop, and according to an email March 8 from Mayor Shelby Rognstad, contrary to previous statements, members of the community will be given the opportunity to ask questions.

discuss now,” because she said it hadn’t been properly noticed.

“This is exactly a re-do of what happened with the ice rink,” she said, adding later that she wouldn’t be surprised to see Wheeler “go straight to the AG” over the issue.

“If this moves forward because of a majority vote, it is clear that we are accepting risk, not mitigating risk,” she said.

The item was approved with “yes” votes from Bradshaw and Omodt.

< BOCC, con’t from Page 4 >

A map of the so-called “Couplet” outlining potential changes to the downtown streets. Courtesy city of Sandpoint.

Idaho Senate votes to repeal state ban on parading in public with firearms

Opponents say passing the bill would remove Idaho’s ban on private militias

By Clark Corbin Idaho Capital Sun

The Republican supermajority in the Idaho Senate passed a bill March 6 that repeals a state law banning groups of people from parading in public with firearms in any Idaho city or town.

Passing the bill would also remove Idaho’s prohibition on private militias, one Democratic senator who voted against the bill said.

But Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, said Senate Bill 1056 is necessary to support the freedoms expressed in the First and Second amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

“Freedom of assembly is a right that is not predicated on citizens’ agreement to refrain from carrying firearms,” said Foreman, the bill’s sponsor. “And the constitutional right to freedom of assembly applies to all citizens, regardless of with whom they may affiliate, the purpose of the affiliation or the title or name under which that affiliation exists.”

Idaho law already allows for the concealed carry and open carry of firearms.

If passed into law, Senate Bill 1056 does two things.

•It would repeal section 46-802 from state law. That’s the section that says no groups “shall associate themselves together as a military company or organization, or parade in public with firearms in any city or town of this state.”

•It would replace the repealed section of law with a new law prohibiting Idaho cities and towns from raising money to arm, equip or support any military organization other than the organized National Guard.

In his floor debate March 6, Sen. James Ruchti, D-Pocatello, evoked the 1999 parade led through Coeur d’Alene by white supremacists and Aryan Nations leader Richard Butler. The parade turned violent, and was covered at the time by the Spokesman-Review.

“This bill allows private militias, Aryan nations, white supremacists [or] Patriot Front to show up in your communities,” Ruchti said on the Senate floor. “They have the right to do it under this bill because we have taken away the prohibition against it.”

Sen. Ali Rabe, a Boise Democrat who is pregnant, said passing the bill makes Idaho less safe. Rabe told senators that she wants

to be able to bring her child to safely enjoy parades.

“I will not feel that safety should this pass because any armed group could participate in those parades, putting our children in danger,” Rabe said. “This is a real threat.”

Rabe said the word “parade” is so vague that passage of the bill could also lead to armed groups parading in front of libraries, school board meetings, hospitals or elected officials’ homes with firearms.

Several Republicans who supported the bill said the state shouldn’t write laws based on fear of what might happen if the law passes.

“In this state, we prosecute people for violations of the law, not for what they might do, not for what we think their intentions might be,” Foreman said. ”This is the United States. We have a Constitution. This is Idaho.”

Other Republicans agreed, saying the bill is about freedom.

“I‘d like to point out that this country was built on the fact of our militias and that this country takes great pride in the freedoms that citizens have and [those] opportunities,” Sen. Chris Trakel, R-Caldwell, said in his debate in favor of the bill.

“All this law does is open it up to deregulation from the government — allows individuals to carry in a parade,” Trakel added.” That’s it. That’s what this country was founded upon.”

After a 20-minute debate, the Idaho Senate voted 24-9 to pass the bill, with all seven Senate Democrats voting against it.

Having passed the Idaho Senate, Senate Bill 1056 heads next to the Idaho House of Representatives for consideration. Last year, the Idaho House comfortably passed a similar bill, House Bill 475, by a vote of 57-13. Last year’s bill passed the Idaho House but was never advanced in the Idaho Senate.

If the Idaho House passes this year’s bill, Senate Bill 1056, it would go to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration. Once a bill reaches Little’s desk, he may sign it into law, allow it to become law without his signature or veto it.

This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com.

Bits ’n’ Pieces

From east, west and beyond

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact. A recent sampling:

House Republicans are proposing a renewal of the 2017 tax cuts for the wealthy. Meanwhile, Americans for Tax Fairness reports that new estimates show renewal could add $3 trillion to the deficit. The top 0.1% of individuals with incomes more than $4.5 million would see an average tax cut of $175,000 in the first year. The half of taxpayers who make less than $75,000 annually would see a $329 cut per year. Those making less than $50,000 would get a tax cut of $200, or about about 50 cents a day.

As president of the conservative think tank The Center for Renewing America, Donald Trump’s former budget director, Russell Vought, has been working with Republicans on the debt ceiling. Vought’s 10-year budget proposal includes: $2 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, $600 billion in cuts to the Affordable Care Act, slashing funding for student loans, freezing military spending, $400 billion in cuts to food benefits, “hundreds of billions” in cuts to educational subsidies, and halving federal agencies like the State and Labor departments, The Washington Post reported. One goal: avoiding cuts to popularly supported Medicare and Social Security

During the Trump presidency, Vought oversaw the ballooning of the debt by $1 trillion in his first year, then $4 trillion in his second year (25% of U.S. debt was incurred under Trump). Under his current plan, Vought said workers will pour into the job market. Critics counter that he’s selling a conservative fantasy: a balanced budget without cutting “anything popular.” William Galston, with the Brookings Institution, said “as a purely rhetorical ploy, they may be able to get away with it. As a matter of arithmetic, it’s ridiculous.”

A Florida lawmaker introduced legislation in that state to “cancel” the Democratic Party, Newsweek reported. A spokesman for the Democratic Party stated that disenfranchising 5 million voters is unconstitutional, “unserious” and a “publicity stunt.”

Florida again: A Republican-sponsored bill would require bloggers who write about Florida’s elected officials to register with the state. Failure to do so would result in fines, CBS reported. Critics said SB 1316 does not align with the First Amendment.

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

Beginning in October, drug company Eli Lilly plans to cap out-of-pocket costs for two insulin drugs at $35 a month. The Inflation Reduction Act had already capped insulin copays at $35 a month for Medicare beneficiaries.

Close to 1 billion people are expected to be affected by sea level rise due to climate change, the U.N. general secretary has warned. The fallout: more competition for resources and creation of international laws to protect those rendered homeless. The UN Human Rights Committee has ruled it unlawful to return people to climate-threatened countries if it endangers their lives.

A federal labor judge ordered Starbucks to reinstate seven fired workers in Buffalo, N.Y., and to reopen a store after finding the company violated labor laws “hundreds of times,” CBS News reported.

An estimated 1,000 chemicals in processed foods have never been assessed for safety by the FDA, according to the Environmental Defense Fund. One, Prevagen, used in some protein drinks, is linked to “serious neurological and cardiovascular problems.” EDF wants Congress to clarify that new chemical additives need to go through a formal review process to determine if they are safe for consumption.

The Secret Service recently shared a 60-page report on mass shootings, with data drawn from 2016 to 2020: 96% of attackers were male, 57% were white, 72% had financial stress and 19% had unstable housing. Axios reported more than 100 U.S. mass shootings this year (64 days in).

According to the American Cancer Society, deaths from cancer have fallen 33% since 1991. Credit is attributed to prevention efforts, better cancer treatments, drops in smoking and more early detection.

Blast from the past: Robert Hebras, the last survivor of the 1944 massacre by Nazis in Oradour-sur-Glane, France, died recently at the age of 97. In 1944, at age 19, he and fellow townspeople were ordered to assemble by Nazi soldiers. The men were separated into barns, shot and the barns were burned. Women and children were put into a church; the Germans threw in grenades and burnt it, too. Hebras was hit by bullets, but managed to escape both the fires and German soldiers. It has not been confirmed why the town was singled out for this treatment. “What shocks me is that we do not realize that children and women lost their lives in excruciating pain,” Hebras has said.

Idaho legislative committee calls for new restrictions on absentee ballot request forms

By Clark Corbin Idaho Capital Sun

The Idaho Legislature’s House State Affairs Committee advanced a bill March 7 over the objections from the Secretary of State’s Office that would greatly restrict who can distribute absentee ballot request forms.

If House Bill 259 is passed into law, only a county clerk, election official, officer or employee of the state authorized by law would be able to distribute absentee ballot application forms. The bill specifically states that no nongovernmental entities shall not distribute absentee ballot applications unless they are specifically authorized by state or federal law.

That means that spouses, parents, other family members, nursing home staff members, roommates, neighbors, co-workers, voting advocacy groups, political parties and anyone else would be banned from distributing absentee ballot application forms.

Rep. Kevin Andrus, R-Lava Hot Springs, sponsored House Bill 259, saying he feels strongly that political campaigns should not be allowed to distribute absentee ballot applications.

Andrus’ bill goes further, though. It prohibits everyone — not just political campaigns — from distributing absentee ballot applications unless they are a county clerk, election official, or an officer or employee of the state specifically authorized to distribute the absentee ballot application forms.

Secretary of State’s Office opposes new restrictions on absentee ballot applications

All three people who testified during a public hearing on the bill March 7 at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise were opposed to the bill.

Jason Lehosit, deputy policy director for the Idaho Secretary

of State’s Office, said Idaho’s existing system already succeeds at balancing access and security.

“This legislation gives more control to government and adds unneeded red tape and regulation to a process which has already been working,” Lehosit told legislators.

If the bill is passed into law, Lehosit worried it would block family members from giving another family member an absentee ballot request form, churches would be blocked from passing out absentee ballot request forms and military officials would not be allowed to pass out the request forms to service members.

Lehosit also expressed concern the bill adds an extra step to request an absentee ballot and could overwhelm the county clerks offices across the state. For the 2022 general election, 129,210 absentee ballots were cast in Idaho, about 21% of the 599,493 total ballots cast.

“We have 44 county clerks with limited staff, [and] we have over a million voters in the state of Idaho,” Lehosit told legislators. “That is a lot of absentee requests to be putting out there.”

After Lehosit told legislators the Secretary of State’s Office has a very good system in place that has worked for decades, House State Affairs Committee Chairman Brent Crane, R-Nampa, called Lehosit out and said the Secretary of State’s Office is not on the same

page as his committee.

“I think that is where there is a disconnect between the Secretary of State’s Office and this committee,” Crane told Lehosit. “You guys feel like there is a good process with regards to absentee [voting]. We don’t. We feel like that there needs to be a lot more security around it.”

Crane said absentee voting creates risk for fraud, and the state shouldn’t wait until there is a problem with voter fraud to try to prevent it.

Kendal Shaber also testified in opposition to the bill, saying she has passed out thousands of absentee ballot requests as a member of the League of Women Voters.

Shaber said having other groups pass out absentee ballot request forms can make a huge difference for county elections offices that are strapped for staff, time and resources.

Shaber told legislators that representatives from the League of Women Voters — a nonpartisan organization that works to protect and expand voting rights — frequently visit retirement communities and nursing homes to distribute absentee ballot request forms to Idahoans who cannot drive to a polling place, have low vision, have mobility issues or have Parkinson’s Disease but still have a fundamental right to vote.

“It is difficult for people in these circumstances anyway, and

then to make it harder by playing hide and seek with the absentee ballot application just doesn’t make any sense,” Shaber told legislators.

Kathy Dawes, of Moscow, also testified in opposition to the bill, saying she helps distribute the absentee ballot request forms to students at the University of Idaho.

In the end, the House State Affairs Committee voted to send House Bill 259 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Reps. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa; Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens; and John Gannon, D-Boise, voted against advancing the bill.

House Bill 259 could reach the floor of the Idaho House of Representatives for a vote later this week or next. If the Idaho House passes the bill, it would be sent to the Idaho Senate for consideration. If it passes both the Idaho House and Idaho Senate, House Bill 259 would go to Gov. Brad Little’s desk for final consideration.

Multiple bills in the Idaho Legislature would change voting or elections procedures

The absentee ballot request form bill is one of several bills Republican legislators are pushing this year to make changes to voting procedures or consolidate elections.

House Bill 205 would eliminate the use of absentee ballots

for convenience and restrict the use of absentee ballots only to voters who are serving in the military; serving a religious mission out of the country; occupying a second home; having to work or attend university; or who are sick, disabled or hospitalized.

House Bill 124 would remove student IDs as an acceptable form of identification for voting in Idaho.

House Bill 137 would eliminate the option for voters to sign an affidavit form to verify their identity if they don’t have ID with them.

Senate Joint Resolution 101 is a proposed amendment to the Idaho Constitution that would increase the threshold to qualify a ballot initiative or referendum for an election.

House Bill 58 would get rid of the March and August election dates that local school districts use for bond and levy elections and push those nonpartisan elections to either the March primary election or November general election.

House Bill 138 would move Idaho’s presidential primary election back from March until May.

This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com.

The Reader invites public to a town hall on ‘the Couplet’

By Reader Staff

The Reader is hosting an open town hall to discuss “the Couplet” concept for widening and reorienting U.S. Highway 2, which has made the news in recent weeks.

The event is scheduled for Monday, March 20, from 5-7 p.m. at the East Bonner County

Library Meeting Room B, and will be an informal opportunity for city residents to see enlarged maps and discuss details of the plan, offer their opinions, ask questions of former city staff members who were directly involved in the similar “Curve” plan more than a decade ago and share any insights.

Invitations have been ex-

tended to members of Sandpoint city staff and elected officials, and all Sandpoint and Bonner County residents are welcome to come hear information about the Couplet and share their insights and opinions.

The meeting will hopefully be shared via Zoom so attendees can participate remotely if unable to be there in person.

Check next week’s Reader for a Zoom link.

The Reader will also distribute surveys at the town hall to poll those in attendance on their support or opposition to the Couplet concept.

After the meeting, the Reader will compile the information gathered from the public and make it available to city leaders.

If new bill in Idaho passes, only county clerks and state elections officials could distribute forms

Bouquets:

•Here’s a big Bouquet for all the volunteers, performers and crew who make The Follies a success every year. Thanks to the Angels Over Sandpoint and all of those who contribute, tens of thousands of dollars are funnelled right back into our community, helping those who need it most. Great job everyone!

Barbs:

• Idaho Republicans are at it again at the Statehouse. This time they passed Senate Bill 1056, which would repeal a state law banning groups of people from parading in public with firearms in any Idaho city or town. The passage of the bill would also remove Idaho’s prohibition on private militias, opponents argue. The fact that this law even existed is curious, since I can think of at least a dozen times I’ve seen people marching with weapons on full display in parades and protests. I’ve never heard of anyone being arrested for this violation in Sandpoint, but that’s nothing new — there are several instances, such as someone pulled over for drunk driving while carrying a weapon, or leaving a gun unattended in a public place — where no action was taken by law enforcement. It’s yet another law that extremists choose not to follow because they believe they’re always on the right side of the law — even when they aren’t. The bill will likely pass both chambers and Gov. Brad Little will surely sign it into law, making Idaho less safe in the process. And just to avoid the usual nonsense emails: yes I own multiple firearms and 100% support the Second Amendment, but I also support regulations like universal background checks and common sense gun control that will keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t own them.

‘Driving to distraction’…

Dear editor,

The Idaho Senate rejected the education voucher bill Feb. 28, which attempted to fund religious schools (among other things), cutting into funds for public education. Our Sen. Herndon voted for it. The House Education Committee stopped a similar bill. Our Rep. Sauter voted to stop it.

It makes a big difference who we elect from District 1 to the Legislature.

The bills rolled at least two of our Founding Fathers over in their graves: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, both fanatical supporters of freedom of religion, fanatically opposed funding religious institutions with government money. Money changing hands either way between government and religion leads to corruption of both institutions.

President Madison vetoed a bill to give support to a religious charity, because it “exceeds the rightful authority, to which Governments are limited by the essential distinction between Civil and Religious functions, and because it gave to “religious Societies as such, a legal agency in carrying into effect a public and civil duty” (support of the poor, and education).

The voucher bill supporters tried to distract from how the bill proposed to corrupt the separation of church and state. The opposition in the House and Senate were not distracted.

Nancy Gerth Sagle

Public

Dear editor, Project 7B is a local organization that encourages responsible land use planning and robust citizen involvement in decisions that shape our community’s future. We are concerned that the proposed expansion to Highway 2 (from two lanes to four and five lanes) flies in the face of the adopted Comprehensive Plan and did not involve the public.

To quote from the Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan: Plan Vision 3-3 Streets and Transportation:

“Sandpoint is a town that values multimodal transportation. The community’s transportation investments and decisions give full consideration to improving the pedestrian experience, and elects to grow in ways that support the ability to shop, recreate, travel and commute on foot. Sandpoint residents envision bike paths, good sidewalks, safe lighting, street trees, canopies and awnings in down-

town areas, benches, well-marked crosswalks, slower-paced, efficient traffic and walkable neighborhoods throughout the city.”

The proposed highway expansion undermines this and other similar goals. A high-traffic highway is a river through a town, generally with few, if any, safe crossings. It divides and prevents residents from walking or cycling to work, school, shopping and healthy recreation. Transportation decisions should implement, not undermine the Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

How did citizens participate? They completed an online survey that did not mention widening Highway 2 or any other roadway. Because this was a “2040 Project” it was fuzzy and kept in the background. Previous public debates on “the Curve,” a similar plan a decade ago, were heated, protracted and covered all aspects of livability and economic vitality.

Interestingly, the Federal Highway Administration is promoting alternatives to wider highways. Before the City Council takes any action, Project 7B encourages both a series of public workshops with robust public involvement and engaging professionals who have experience in alternatives to widening highways. Thank you for considering our concerns.

Judy York, secretary, on behalf of the Project 7B Board Sandpoint

er attorneys would do court work at $175 per hour. Wentz then upgraded his office from a modest space in Gunning’s Alley to a top-floor suite in the Columbia Bank building.

Next round for Wentz to peddle his influence was a $2,000 donation in August 2022 and $1,000 in April 2022 to Steve Bradshaw’s campaign. Three months later, Bradshaw voted to update the Davillier contract, giving Wentz $500 per hour, claiming it was “a deeply discounted rate in furtherance of our civic commitment.”

Now with our new board, Wentz appears to be meddling once again with a proposed educational program for county board members with a requested 31 hours for its initial design phase and 20 hours for “deployment” for each board group. Cha-ching.

No. 1, it’s time to void Davillier’s contract for Wentz’s influence peddling; No. 2, time to call out McDonald and Bradshaw for not recusing themselves; No. 3, time for Prosecuting Attorney Louis Marshall to do his job regarding Nos. 1 and 2.

Rebecca Holland Sandpoint

Dear editor,

dangerous precedent, please write a letter or email the Bonner County Planning Department. Refer to this as File AM0002-21.

The addresses are as follows: Bonner County Planning Department, 1500 Hwy 2 Sandpoint,ID 83864. Email: planning @bonnercountyid.gov.

Calls can also be made to 208 265-1458. These must be received by March 14, 2023.

Most importantly, attend the meeting of the Bonner County Planning Commissioners at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21 at the Bonner County Administration Building, 1500 Highway 2, in Sandpoint.

Roger Sparling Bonner County

It’s not ‘woke,’ it’s the golden rule…

Dear editor,

What is being “woke”? Nikki Haley calls it a more deadly virus than COVID (1.2 million Americans dead). A local said it was entitlement. I work with the public, entitlement isn’t new.

Webster’s Dictionary defines woke as, “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”

Dear editor,

A review of Davillier Law’s history in Bonner County starts in August 2019, when commissioners signed a contract with George Wentz before suing the city of Sandpoint. This unnecessary drama wasted $300,000 of taxpayer money. Little was it known that Wentz had contributed $1,000 to Dan McDonald’s county commissioner campaign, as documented in his 2018 financial disclosure report. It also showed Susan Wentz, George’s wife, handled a $395 “in-kind contribution” at Ivano’s for the McDonald campaign. I’ve wondered if that dinner date was when Wentz suggested his firm could provide “outside legal services” for the county, should McDonald be elected.

Indeed, a contract was signed with Davillier Law stipulating Wentz would consult for $250 per hour (even without having a license to practice law in Idaho) and two young-

On Dec. 21, 2022, the Bonner County commissioners denied the Hammond request for rezoning at the corner of Vay and Dufort roads. The applicant refiled for this Rural 5 (residential five-acre minimum) to be rezoned to Neighborhood Commercial on 11.8 acres. This time, the filing is referred to as a Comprehensive Plan Map amendment. This filing, if approved, will allow residential lots of 1.01 acres or more plus any other commercial plans of 1.01 acres or more.

Wow! What a precedent setting decision!

If approved, any parcel five or more acres and zoned residential could be made into several 1.01acre residential lots within a Rural 5-zoned area. Scary Isn’t it? This does not even include several types of other businesses that would fall under this type of rezoning.

A few of the matters that will affect this area and any other Bonner County area in the future are: traffic on any other dangerous rural corner roads, sewage, water and the added tax dollars to increase infrastructure for county services

If you are opposed to approving this in the proposed area, or your area in the future, because of this

Ron DeSantis’ staff defined it as, “the belief there are systemic injustices in American society and the need to address them.”

Wow, what a reason to take over and destroy North Idaho College. Or ban African-American history at the college level.

So, who first taught wokeness? Jesus of Nazareth. The Koch brothers have spent millions on Super Bowl advertisements to try to spruce up Jesus’ reputation. One advertisement proclaimed that Jesus loves those you hate. True, but not the whole truth. In Luke 6:27, Jesus said, “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,” NIV translation.

I first learned about Wokeness in Sunday School, it was called the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” As a Christian, when a Black man is choked to death by police, I’m commanded to care. If a gay person is attacked and discriminated against, that is my concern. Treating others who are different as I want to be treated is not entitlement, it’s Christianity. I’d like to say I’m Woke, but God is not done with me yet.

Sincerely,

Mary Haley Sandpoint

workshops needed on Hwy. 2 ‘Couplet’

concept…

‘Influence peddling’ and Davillier Law…

‘Please allow us to stay rural’…

Fundamental rights under attack

‘Tyranny of the minority’ is the agenda of ID Legislature

By Sens. Melissa Wintrow and James Ruchti, D-Pocatello Reader Contributors

Our fundamental right to the initiative and referendum process is under attack again by the Idaho Legislature. This shouldn’t surprise anybody. Since Idahoans voted in 1912 to add to the Constitution their initiative and referendum rights, the Idaho Legislature has historically shown disdain for the process every time the voters use it successfully.

Between 1984 and 2021, for example, the Legislature made five attempts to take away the people’s rights to the initiative process or make it harder.

The current threshold of getting signatures from 6% of registered voters from 18 out of 35 districts is already hard enough. But in 2021, the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1110, a bill requiring signatures from 6% of registered voters in all 35 districts; that law was struck down by the Idaho Supreme Court as unconstitutional, because it gave a single district veto power over all the others and established an impossible standard to meet.

The court wrote the new law is, “not reasonable or workable” adding it “turns a perceived fear of the ‘tyranny of the majority’ into an actual ‘tyranny of the minority.’”

After that defeat, the Idaho GOP supermajority’s quest to end the initiative process appeared to be over.

And then Senate Joint Resolution 101 was born. SJR 101 proposes to enshrine the very standard from SB 1110 — the standard rejected wholesale by the Idaho Supreme Court — into the Constitution itself. The idea is the Idaho Supreme Court could not then criticize the standard, because the standard would be in the Constitution. But to pull off this plan, lawmakers have to convince voters to do it to themselves at the ballot box.

Considering the realities of SJR 101, the only honest question to put on the ballot would be, “Do the people of Idaho want to eliminate from the Constitution their initiative and referendum right?” The actual question will be much more confusing.

Those in support of the proposal claim it’s a step to “let the people decide,” but the people have already decided — repeatedly. This Legislature won’t take “no” for an answer out of fear that the voters, themselves, will take matters into their own hands as they have done in the past when faced with

an unresponsive Legislature.

What the supermajority is “letting” the people decide is to take away a fundamental right from themselves. What other fundamental rights would the Legislature take away from Idahoans using this scheme? One’s right to life, liberty, and property, to free speech, a free press, freedom of worship and assembly… ?

The fact is there is no problem to solve. In the last 20 years, only Medicaid expansion in 2018 and a rejection of the “Luna laws” in 2012 were adopted in the initiative process — a process that is clearly not outof-control.

The only problem this seems to solve is the problem of Idahoans having the power to use their constitutional rights.

In its current form, putting an initiative on the ballot is already very difficult, requiring thousands of hours from volunteers to collect the necessary signatures. Under the current system, we are not California

or Colorado where initiatives and referendums regularly populate lines on the ballot. No, Idaho has found a workable, balanced solution. Citizens have used their right judiciously — it hasn’t been abused.

Lawmakers should be working to protect the people’s fundamental rights, not find ways to degrade them. SJR 101 should be defeated for the good of Idaho and its citizens.

Sen. Melissa Wintrow is a second-term Democratic member of the Idaho Senate serving District 19, in Boise, on the Health and Welfare, Judiciary and Rules, and State Affairs committees. She is also the Senate minority leader, and served three terms in the Idaho House from 2014-2020. Sen. James Ruchti is a first-term Democratic lawmaker and assistant minority leader serving District 29 on the Commerce and Human Resources, Judiciary and Rules, and State Affairs committees.

Science: Mad about

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

Not everything in the world of science is doom, gloom, laser beams and explosions. Sometimes science can be approachable and exciting — all you need is a piece of paper.

It’s easy to believe that the paper airplane is a modern invention, designed by absent-minded students idly wasting time within the confines of their classrooms, but it turns out this couldn’t be further from the truth. Paper planes have a tremendous history that predates a vast number of other inventions including the flush toilet, the printing press, gunpowder and even the water wheel.

It’s likely that the first paper planes weren’t actually made from paper at all. Paper as we know it was first developed around 105 CE in China, but there exists a historical record of hand-built gliders existing in the area as far back as 500 BCE. It’s likely that many of these folded gliders were made with parchment, which is a very thin hide that has been used as paper for as long as humans have written things down.

Leonardo Da Vinci famously used paper in the design of his glider wings, which we hope went untested on human subjects. Many of the mock-ups and small prototypes he developed were made of paper to test airflow and lift. Da Vinci’s ornithopter was developed in 1487 and designed to emulate the wings of bats and birds. These wood and paper wings were intended to be strapped to someone’s back and arms, allowing them to flap to generate lift and fly — likely providing a stellar pectoral workout in the process. Unfortunately, humans are quite heavy and we would require a tremendous amount of strength and endurance to generate enough lift

to counteract our bulky forms.

A similar design to Da Vinci’s ornithopter is the contemporary wingsuit, though this is used for gliding rather than taking off like a bird. The wingsuit requires a subject to drop from an altitude and fall at an angle. Essentially, the whole basis of the wingsuit is that you’re falling, but the suit is generating enough lift so that you’re falling at an angle. Eventually, you’re going to hit the ground, so you’d better have a parachute to help slow your descent. It’s no mistake that this design very closely mirrors the webbing of a flying squirrel, as this creature was a direct inspiration for the design of the wingsuit.

Paper planes perfectly mirror the design philosophy of falling at an angle. They require an initial investment of energy — being thrown by you — to generate enough lift to glide. Real planes can glide for considerable distances, but they require a constant output of energy (fuel) to continue flying, which a paper plane cannot generate on its own.

While this might be one of the largest differences between your schoolhouse special and a commercial airliner, you can apply aerospace design philosophies to your paper plane in order to make it complete specific tasks. Ensuring that your folds are very uniform, crisp and as even as possible will help maintain your plane’s stability. Adding extra folds toward the front of the plane will make the plane more stable and travel farther, while keeping more weight towards the back and upturning the rear edges of the wings may coerce the plane to aerobrake or perform loops. You can also fold a wildly unbalanced plane and see if it turns or arcs in unexpected ways.

Not all paper gliders need to look like a plane. If you want to make a tumbler that spins and flips

as it glides towards the ground, model your structure after a maple seed with one heavy end and a sail on the back. If you want to make a quick and unconventional glider, start with a square piece of paper and fold corner to corner once and then fold the bottom eighth of an inch of the paper up twice and wrap or tape it together — it should look like the pope’s hat, but it’s actually a very agile glider. There are a few augmentations you can make to your paper plane to give it some more unique traits and allow it to perform specialized functions, though you’ll have to consider how the additional weight may alter its ability to fly, just like a real plane. You can add a propeller to your plane, but without an engine it won’t do very much. Luckily, you can create a lightweight engine using toothpicks, a straw, paper clips and some rubber bands with your propeller to create a basic torsion engine.

There are loads of videos online that can show you how to do this, and it works to create propeller planes as well as helicopters. Some of the first torsion engines were utilized by the Roman legions to create the onager, a catapult that would fling boulders at enemy fortifications. Torsion is a great cheat code for the game of physics, allowing you to store energy in an object to be exerted as tremendous force later. Imagine what it would take for two guys without torsion to fling a boulder a hundred yards — I’ve lifted a lot of heavy stuff, and I can safely say that I wouldn’t be able to throw a boulder over a house without exploiting physics in the process.

Are you looking for some fun new paper plane examples to bond with your grandkids or torment your teachers? The library has a whole host of books easily found in our catalog, but my personal

favorite is Paper Airplanes: Flight School Level 1, by Christopher Harbo. It’s a very easy-to-read and visual guide with basic mountain and valley folding techniques commonly seen in origami.

Very few of the designs here require a reverse fold or more tricky techniques, making it a great introduction to origami and paper planes. The Long Ranger and Dynamic Dart have been the favorites of the classes I’ve run for schools.

As one final tip, from one folder to another: if you’re struggling to get a precise fold, put a finger at the exact point you’re trying to fold. Once the fold is down, use your thumb to slide down the edge to give yourself a nice, sharp crease. Most importantly, remember that when it comes to origami, just like anything in life: failure and patience are currencies to purchase success.

Stay curious, 7B.

paper airplanes Random Corner

•About 250 million years ago, most life on Earth went extinct, and within the next 10 million years or so, dinosaurs began to evolve. The exact timing of when dinosaurs entered the scene isn’t known, but we know it was between 230-245 million years ago.

•Dinosaurs evolved from reptiles that were about the size of house cats. These small, agile reptiles known as dinosauromorpha rapidly increased and spread across the world. They were too small to reach the top of the food chain, but were fast enough to escape predators long enough to evolve into dinosaurs.

•All birds are descendants of dinosaurs. While all the non-avian dinosaurs went extinct, the avian varieties evolved over the millennia into birds.

•Dinosaurs weren’t classified until 1842, but in 1815, a geologist came across a peculiar skeleton unlike any previously recorded. He named it “Megalosaurus,” which is Greek for “great lizard.” Seven years later, another geologist and

his wife found a new iguana-like skeleton in Sussex, England, and named it “Iguanodon.” After more fossils turned up, Sir Richard Owen (who later founded London’s Natural History Museum) classified the fossils as belonging to the “dinosauria” family.

•Dinosaurs lived on every continent because at that time, the Earth’s continents were clustered together into one giant landmass called Pangaea. When Pangaea slowly drifted apart more than 165 million years ago, many dinosaur species were separated from one another.

•Most of the dinosaur fossils in the world are found in three places: the high-altitude badlands of China, Argentina and North America. While much of the world is covered in fossils, they’re easily unearthed in desert-like environments due to the lack of vegetation.

•The largest, most extensive and best preserved tyrannosaurus rex skeleton is nicknamed Sue, after American explorer Sue Hendrickson, who discovered it in 1990.

PERSPECTIVES

By Mike Wagoner Reader Contributor

Little tanks

You know something that might make a lot more people go with an electric car fairly soon? The batteries. I heard the other day that just the batteries in a standard-size electric car weigh as much as a Honda Civic… so who’s gonna win when one of those little tanks ram into a typical gas-powered rig? I don’t know, maybe it will help bein’ in a light car… it won’t argue as much and just move out of the way.

I’m all for decreasing the CO2 released into the air, but I’m wonderin’ where is all the electricity gonna come from to charge millions of cars every

day? There are times right now when the country’s electric grid is taxed to the max and when power is lost for days in some regions of the because of a storm or hack or somebody shootin’ a substation full of holes… how’s that gonna work out?

I’m thinkin’ hybrids are as far as things should go in the new direction, because it’s gonna come in handy to still be able to get around independently of what may be happening with the grid. It’s like, “Power’s out… oh wait, we can still make dinner on the wood stove.”

FBCS principal to retire after 21 years at school

By Reader Staff

After 21 years at Forrest M Bird Charter School, Principal Jennifer Greve has announced her retirement at the end of this school year.

“I have worked with youth for 30 years. It has been a great career and I love FBCS,” she said. “But it is time for me to try something new.”

Greve has been on the school’s staff from the first day it opened as Sandpoint Charter School in 2001. Originally the school secretary, she became a teacher and then a school administrator. Coworkers consider Greve to be instrumental in FBCS’s success.

Teacher Sarah Evans explained, “Jennifer has been one of the most caring principals I have ever worked for. She works hard to make all teachers and students feel seen as the individuals that they are.”

Special Education Director Kenda Rus-

sell became involved with the school as a parent. “Jennifer’s enthusiasm made me want to become a teacher. She will be sorely missed but we are happy for her in her retirement.”

Greve has mixed emotions about retirement but believes that it’s time to step aside for a new generation of educators. “The teachers at FBCS are an amazing team. They are ready to take on the leadership roles that will ensure the school’s success for the next 20 years.”

When asked about her immediate plans, Greve didn’t hesitate.

“I am looking forward to spending more time with my husband and being available for our college-bound daughter,” she said, adding, “I am going to explore my other interests in conflict resolution and leadership development and see where they take me.”

It’s open enrollment time for FBCS

By Reader Staff

Forrest M. Bird Charter School is now taking applications for the 2023-’24 school year. This year’s open enrollment window is scheduled to close on Thursday, March 23 at the end of the school day.

“This is such a great time at our school. It is wonderful to see who in the community is interested in our school,” stated longtime FBCS middle school teacher Todd Claunch. “And, after being here for over 20 years, we are starting to see former students bring

their kids to us. That is really cool.”

Maddie Herron, middle school office assistant, also stated that during this time families often stop by seeking a tour or just to ask some questions.

“Our buildings are rather secluded, so we encourage families to reach out if they need details to find us. I’m always excited to share our school with new people,” she said.

As a public charter school, FBCS takes any student who applies as long as there is availability in that grade level. If, however, there are more applicants than available

seats in a given grade, then every student who has applied goes into a lottery. The lottery is held on the last day of the enrollment period at the end of the day.

For more information, call FBCS middle school at 208-255-7771 or FBCS high school at 208-265-9737. Applications can be found at either building or online at forrestbirdcharterschool.org. Prospective students and their parents or guardians are also welcome to call to set up a tour.

Adoption fees waived at Better Together Animal Alliance

Community assistance needed to find homes for cats and dogs

By Reader Staff

Now is a perfect time for animal lovers to bring home a new furry friend. From Friday, March 10-Friday, March 24, Better Together Animal Alliance (BTAA) is waiving adoption fees on all adult pets to help them find homes faster.

While not everyone is in a position to adopt a pet right now, there are other ways to help and support these animals and find them homes during this time.

Visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org/ adopt and share some of the animal profiles to your social media accounts, or send them to friends or family members who are looking to adopt.

Consider becoming a foster home for animals in our community. When you register

as a foster through BTAA, all food, supplies and medical support are provided — you just provide the home and care. Visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org/foster to register.

Donate to BTAA. This could be a financial contribution or in the form of food or other supplies. Visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org/ways-to-give to see how you can support animals in our community and check out BTAA’s supply wish list.

Volunteer as a dog walker, cat room attendant or help with other duties around the animal care center. Visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org/volunteer to learn more and apply.

Learn more about adopting a pet at BTAA by calling the animal care center at 208-265-7297 ext. 100 or by visiting bettertogetheranimalalliance.org/adopt.

VA outreach scheduled for Clark Fork

By Reader Staff

On Tuesday, March 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bonner County Veterans Service Officer Bryan Hult will be at the Clark Fork Public Library to answer questions about current veteran’s benefits, assist with ongoing claims, and initiate new claims for benefits for eligible veterans and their dependents.

The Clark Fork Public Library is located at 601 Main St. Veterans will be seen by appointment only to ensure they are given quality time. Call 208-255-5291 no later than Friday, March 17 to schedule an appointment. If there are no appointments scheduled for this outreach, or if conditions prohibit travel, the outreach will be canceled.

Jennifer Greve (center) having fun with FBCS students. Courtesy photo.

Top: A mural highlighting the importance of a healthy salmon population, done in collaboration with the Umatilla, Nez Perce and other Native tribes, as well as teens, children and “us old ladies” at the Memorial Community Center in Hope. Photo sent by Kally Thurman.

Far right: A snow squall captured on March 2. “Within a few short minutes it blew across the lake and reached Hope,” said photographer Cynthia Mason. “Day turned to night as it became dark.”

Middle left: A quiet winter scene taken while skiing at Round Lake State Park after a fresh snowfall. Photograph by Denise Zembryki.

Bottom left: An interesting phenomenon captured on Feb. 25 after a big wind storm and cold snap blew through the region. “The ice chunks look to average about 3” in diameter and kinda look like fish scales,” wrote photographer Jon Hagadone.

To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Want to sponsor this page for $50? Please contact Kelsey Kizer at kelsey@sandpointreader. com for more info.

What I learned from taking an avalanche course

With the right people for company, digging and analyzing snow pits is super fun

By Jen Heller Reader Contributor

When a late spring snowstorm blew me into Sandpoint some 12 years ago, I thought I enjoyed being outdoors. But then, I began to encounter a whole new breed of people — the ones who like to ski… uphill.

At first, I kept a mental catalog of these backcountry individuals, watching them suspiciously for indications of “danger to the public” or small, twitchy insanities. They were far too eager to get up before daybreak in the midwinter dark. Overall, though, they seemed harmless, friendly, fun… one could even say happy. Slowly, my own mind betrayed me and began sneakily transferring those backcountry travelers onto my list of Actual Friends.

Then I made the worst mistake of all. I started dating a backcountry skier.

Fast forward 10 years and, this February, I found myself lolling in the snow on a sunny hillside just outside Schweitzer’s resort boundaries with some 20-odd strangers. We had all paid out some of our hard-earned dollars to take a Level 1 Avalanche course with the Friends of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center.

Let me start by saying that, among all the in-person courses and trainings I’ve taken since college, my Avy 1 course experience was definitely a high point. For one thing, the instructors — Jon, Gary

and their motley crew — couldn’t seem to stop smiling as they taught. This included the hour-long Zoom meeting on the day prior to our first excursion.

“Who grins through an entire Zoom meeting?” I wondered to myself in awe.

People who love their job, that’s who.

The Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center (IPAC) is actually run by the U.S. Forest Service, like many of the avalanche centers and forecasters across the country. This is because a huge proportion of backcountry recreation takes place on federally controlled lands. However, like the budget for many federally funded programs, IPAC’s source of dollars isn’t necessarily sufficient for what many folks might consider the needs of the area.

What are the needs? As our region continues to experience a huge influx of new residents, those residents — like me — are taking advantage of their surroundings to play. The number of snowmobilers, skiers, snowshoers and overall humans in our local mountains is growing. And with that increase comes the need for those humans to know how to exit the mountains alive.

That’s where the Friends of IPAC step in. Launched in 2011 by some local backcountry diehards, the nonprofit raises money to expand the avalanche forecasting and education opportunities in the entire Idaho panhandle.

This 2022-’23 season saw a dramatic increase in services offered. IPAC now

publishes three avalanche forecasts a week, and the friends offer a slew of new classes across multiple panhandle locations. Sessions include Backcountry 101 for skiers and snowboarders, fundamentals of avalanche rescues for snowmobilers, Avy 1 courses for all types of winter activities, refresher courses and even Wilderness First Aid for winter backcountry users.

It turns out, with the right people for company, digging and analyzing snow pits is super fun. I thoroughly enjoyed all the topics we covered in my class, from simulating rescues, to analyzing terrain and weather, to discussing human factors in avalanche risk. As a side bonus, running up and down hills in ski boots is the perfect excuse to consume half a backpack of yogurt pretzels, peanut butter cups and peppermint patties. You know, to stay warm. Or something.

In our fickle local weather, I can’t promise that you’ll be wearing sunscreen at your own Friends of IPAC course. But, for our multifaceted North Idaho life, I recommend being like a snowflake: strive to become well-rounded, and bond a bit while you’re at it.

And, if you didn’t recognize that last bit as a horrendous attempt at backcountry punning, sign up for a Friends course.

Ready for your first Friends of IPAC adventure?

•Check out idahopanhandleavalanche.org and navigate to the Education page. This season’s final courses were just completed, but get to know the offerings so you’ll be ready for next season’s sign-ups. Expect the 2023-’24 calendar release in late summer/early fall.

•Adventure gear is a bit more likely to be in stock now than during the height of COVID, but plan ahead. Whether you buy, rent or borrow, assemble and get to know your gear early.

•If you’re like me and you learn very slowly, it’s an excellent idea to study and practice before your chosen class. Check out an avalanche handbook from your local library. Go to a free beacon session at Schweitzer (every Sunday at 10 a.m.). Have a buddy take you on a safe mini-excursion in the weeks before your class.

Left. A couple of the author’s classmates charge down the practice slope to locate and rescue a group burial in an avalanche situation.

Right: A group lunch break on a sunny slopethe perfect time for casual chatting, sun-soaking and carb-loading.

Photos by Jen Heller.

CAMP GUIDE summer 2023

Compiled by Ben Olson Reader Staff

Schweitzer Summer Adventure Camp

Ages 6-10

Nine sessions: first week is June 1923, last week is Aug. 14-18

Hiking, crafts, swimming, village activities.

208-263-9555 ext. 2271 schweitzer.com

Camp costs $300 per child, per week and includes transportation from the bottom of the mountain. Each week will still have all the activities your campers have come to expect: jumping, climbing, riding the lift, hiking, swimming, as well as having a different theme for each week to keep it interesting and unique. Yes, camp is festive and exhausting and fun! Keep this in mind as you plan for your kids.

Children must be within the age range during their camp session, not by purchase date.

Camp registration is a little different this year. Each child will be entered into a lottery for one week of Schweitzer Adventure Camp. To sign up for the lottery, fill out your preferences then camp organizers will contact you in early May to confirm all campers and provide a registration code and instructions.

Twin Eagles Summer Camps

Ages 6 and up

Multiple camps over multiple weeks in various locations.

208-265-3685

twineagles.org

Week One: June 12-June 16

Wilderness Survival Day Camp, offered in Sandpoint and Coeur d’Alene, for kids ages 6-12

Week Two: June 19-June 23

Wilderness Crafts and Forest Foraging Day Camp in Sandpoint for ages 6-12

Wilderness Survival Day Camp in Spokane for ages 6-12

Week Three: June 26-June 30

Nature Ninjas Day Camp in Sandpoint for ages 6-12

Wilderness Survival Day Camp in Spokane for ages 6-12

Week Four: July 3-July 7

Nature Adventurers Day Camp in Sandpoint for ages 6-12

Nature Ninjas Day Camp in Spokane for ages 6-12

Week Five: July 10-July 14

Wilderness Crafts and Forest Foraging Day Camp in Coeur d’Alene for ages 6-12

Nature Adventurers Day Camp in Spokane for ages 6-12

Week Six: July 23-July 28

Overnight Camp for ages 10-13

Week Seven: July 31-Aug. 6

Overnight Camp for Teens (13 & up)

Week Eight: Aug. 14-Aug. 18

Wilderness Crafts and Forest Foraging Day Camp in Sandpoint for ages 6-12

Also offered is a MIT (Men-

tor-in-Training) leadership program for teens ages 15 and up that runs concurrent with most of the camps.

Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education (SOLE)

Ages 4-17

June-August

Outdoor science day camps, outdoor leadership day camps and outdoor leadership backcountry expeditions. 928-351-SOLE (7653) soleexperiences.org info@soleexperiences.org

During the summer months, 501(c)(3) experiential education nonprofit Selkirk Outdoor Leadership and Education utilizes local landscapes to help youths unplug and reconnect to develop a sense of belonging and affinity for nature. Summer programs have a thematic design so every

“SOLE Experience” is unique session to session, year to year. All camp sessions are led by credentialed staff and feature low instructor-to-student ratios, ensuring that participants’ needs are met.

Music Conservatory of Sandpoint 110 Main St., Sandpoint 208-265-4444

sandpointconservatory.org

Summer Academy 2023

Early Childhood Session — June 1929, 10-11 a.m.:

Little Mozarts — Tuesday and Thursday Instrument Carousel — Monday and Wednesday

Session 1 — July 10-21: Piano camp, marimba, ukulele, music theater

Looking for somewhere to send your kiddos this summer? Whether you’re looking for day camps, overnighters, music, theater or outdoor activities, we have a lot of great options in North Idaho. Here is our annual Summer Camp Guide highlighting some popular choices for summer camp.

< see CAMP, Page 16 >

< CAMP, Con’t from Page 15 >

Session 2 — July 31-Aug. 11: Youth orchestra, advanced orchestra, choir, guitar, instrument art

Guest orchestra conductor will be Shira Samuels-Shragg, assistant director of Piano Symphony Orchestra.

Music theory is taken each session regardless of the number of majors chosen.

Two majors per session: 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Single major per session: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. or 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (varies by major)

Tuition:

1 Major (half day in 1 session): $175

2 Majors (full day in 1 session): $225

3 Majors (1 full session + half day): $325

4 Majors (full day in 2 sessions): $400

Ask about sibling discounts. Register at sandpointconservatory.org.

Sandpoint Waldorf School camps

To register, visit sandpointwaldorf.org, and for questions call 208-265-2683.

Sun, Dirt and Bugs Day Camp

Ages 4-6 years

Eight weekly sessions from June 19Aug. 18

8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cost $250/week

Summer is meant to be spent outdoors. At SWS, your child will enjoy summer days of imaginative play under the guidance of our early childhood staff. Activities include nature walks, water play, cooking, gardening, crafts, storytelling, music and more. Come and see what fun in the sun lies ahead for your young one. Snack is provided. Students bring their

own lunch, sun protection and swim wear (for playing in the sprinklers). Enrollment is limited to 12 students. The youngest children need to be 4 years old by June 1 to be considered for enrollment.

Celebrating Cultures around the World

Ages 7-12

Four weekly sessions from July 10Aug. 4 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Cost: $250/week

Each day, campers will focus on a different culture through crafting, gardening, drama, playing games and stories. For lunch, children will prepare a traditional meal from the culture of the day, with food harvested from the school garden. The entire day will be spent outdoors, with time in the afternoon for water play and outings. The cultures and activities will vary from week to week, so children can enroll for just one week or multiple weeks. Bring snack, lunch provided. The youngest children need to be 7 years old by June 1 to be considered for enrollment.

Summer Strings Festival 2023

Tuesday, Aug. 1-Saturday, Aug. 5 suzukistringacademy.com info@suzukistringacademy.com

The third annual Suzuki Strings Festival four-day intensive highlights an orchestra with guest conductor Michele Jeglum, of Spokane. Violin, viola, cello and bass students are invited to participate. Attendees must be able to read music well and have played their instrument for at least two years.

Camp electives include chamber, fiddle

< see CAMP, Page 17 >

and improvisation. Students will receive coaching sessions with members of the Spokane Symphony and have the option to participate in adjudications, a master class and solo performances. Students will tie dye their camp shirts for two final performances on Friday and Saturday.

Cost for $199, which includes a camp shirt and materials. Early bird registration $180, deadline May 29.

Camp will take place in Sandpoint. To register and for more information email

info@suzukistringacademy.com or visit suzukistringacademy.com.

Lake Pend Oreille Repertory Theater Youth Summer Camp

July-August 2023

Monday-Friday, 1-4 p.m. lporepertory@gmail.com lporep.com

Students will take a deep dive into the art of theatrical production. Gaining

valuable experience in all aspects of a performance including, set, costumes, acting and backstage. Young thespians will be guided by experienced professionals to give them a real world sense of how a production is created with the goal of gaining confidence and performance at a local venue.

Tuition and location TBD. Scholarships will be available.

Photos on Pages 15-17 all come courtesy of SOLE from past summer camp experiences.

events

March 9-16, 2023

THURSDAY, march 9

Cribbage League • 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

This is an ongoing league with nightly prizes

Artist Reception: Lori Salisbury

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Oscar Shorts (March 9-12)

7pm @ Panida Theater

Animated films on Thursday, documentaries on Friday and live action Saturday

Tony Furtado dinner concert

6pm @ Di Luna’s Cafe

Celebrate their first concert in 3 years with Tony Furtado and his soulful singing. $75 includes dinner and show, which starts at 7:30 p.m.

Trivia Night

5-8pm @Paddler’s Alehouse

FriDAY, march 10

Live Music w/ Luke Yates & Christy Lee

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes

5-8pm @ Drift (in Hope)

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Live Music w/ Headwaters

6-8:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.

Live Music w/ Ian Newbill

Live Music w/ Matt Lome

4:30-7pm @ Barrel 33

Folk rock, originals and covers

Contra Dance

7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall

Folk dancing in the New England tradition. Live music, lively callers, singles/ couples/families welcome. $5 donation

SATURDAY, march 11

6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Country and classic rock

‘Evening in Vienna’ and guitar auction

5pm @ Sandpoint Events Center

Enjoy a live orchestra, dinner and silent auction. Plus, live auction for a 100+ year old Martin guitar! 208-265-4444

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Comedy Avalanche: Auggie Smith

8pm @ Panida Theater

Auggie Smith has been seen on Comedy Central and Last Comic Standing. $25

Sandpoint Chess Club

Artist Opening Reception: Robens Napolitan and Tom Kramer

1-4pm @ Monarch Mountain Coffee

Tom and Robens’ work will hang until April 29, but come to the opening reception to meet the artists and enjoy some light refreshments

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz

5-7:30pm @ Barrell 33

Live Music w/ Bethany Highley and Chet Akian

7-9pm @ Connie’s Lounge

SunDAY, march 12

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee

Meets every Sunday at 9am

Magic with Star Alexander (Sundays)

5-8pm @ Jalepeño’s

Up close magic shows right at the table

monDAY, march 13

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Group Run @ Outdoor Experience

6pm @ Outdoor Experience

3-5 miles, all levels welcome, beer after Sushi Rolling and Wine at the Winery

6-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Private sushi rolling class with the Sushi Sensei. By reservation only - 208-2658545. $100/person (lesson, class, supplies)

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s “Paul the Apostle”

Pool League • 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Every Monday night

wednesDAY, march 15

Live Piano w/ Annie Welle

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Professional jazz on the grand piano

NAMI Social Hour & Support Group

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Professional jazz on the grand piano

ThursDAY, march 16

Sip and Shop for SHS seniors

4-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

A percentage of proceeds will support SHS seniors’ Grad Night

Japanese Culture Workshop

4-6pm @ Sandpoint Library

Learn about Japanese culture with a tea ceremony, calligraphy, origami and more

Cribbage League • 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge

This is an ongoing league with nightly prizes Trivia Night 5-8pm @Paddler’s Alehouse

By Reader Staff

Break out your cummerbunds and corsages, because the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint will present a taste of high-style music at 5 p.m., Saturday, March 11 at the Sandpoint Events Center (102 S. Euclid Ave.).

“Evening in Vienna” is a special night of dinner, dancing and a live orchestra. MCS will bring joyful themes and dances characteristic of the rich tradition of Viennese folk music to the festive event. The orchestra will play the sounds of the 19th century,

By Reader Staff

For your consideration, the Panida offers screening of short films that have been nominated for the annual Academy Awards. Back for its 18th year, the Oscar Shorts will screen Thursday, March 9-Sunday, March 12.

Categories range from live action, documentary and animation. Each short will be played twice (except for documentary films) and audience members can purchase tickets for just one category or buy a package to view all three.

The animation category features two showings: 7 p.m. on March 9 and 2:30 p.m. on March 12. The approximate runtime is 95 minutes for the films, including An Ostrich Told Me the World is Fake and I think I Believe It, The Flying Sailor, Ice

popular among various musical ensembles — mostly trios or quartets made up of instruments such as violin, clarinet, harp, guitar and double bass.

“We invite guests to sit back and enjoy a cultural extravaganza never before seen in our town,” MCS stated in a news release.

The evening will be catered by Trinity at City Beach and will include dinner, a waltz and music by the live orchestra. There will also be silent and live auctions and a paddle raise. Semi-formal attire is requested — top hats and ball gowns welcome.

MCS features ‘Evening in Vienna’ Panida to host Oscar Shorts

Merchants, The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and the Horse and My Year of Dicks, the latter a short film intended for adult audiences.

The documentary category will have one showing at 7 p.m. on March 10. With a runtime of 165 minutes, films will include How Do You Measure a Year?, The Elephant Whisperers, Stranger at the Gate, Haulout and The Martha Mitchell Effect.

Finally, the live action shorts will show twice, at 2:30 p.m. on March 11 and 6 p.m. on March 12. With a runtime of 110 minutes, this category includes films Ivalu, Night Ride, Le Pupille, The Red Suitcase

One special item up for auction is a 1922 00-18 Martin acoustic guitar with an appraised value of more than $12,000. The guitar is listed as mint condition for playability and excellent condition for structural soundness, needing no maintenance or repairs.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint. There are only a few seats remaining, so anyone interested in attending are asked to call or text Kathi Samuels at 208-946-6882.

BY THE NUMBERS

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

$10,000

The amount of money organizers and/ or promoters of live shows that feature “sexual conduct” can be sued for each violation of the proposed Idaho House Bill 265. Potential plaintiffs would have four years to file suit. The bill was presented by Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, and the Idaho Family Policy Center, a conservative Christian organization. The latter said they wrote the bill in response to drag shows held at Pride festivals in Coeur d’Alene and Boise last year.

129,210

and An Irish Goodbye.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for youth and seniors per category. Get a three-film punch card to watch all categories for $25. For more information, visit panida.org.

Stand-up comic Auggie Smith set to play the Panida

By Reader Staff

The Panida Theater is finishing its run of stand-up comedy with Phillip Kopczynski Presents Comedy Avalanche featuring Auggie Smith on Saturday, March 11.

Smith is no stranger to the stage, being a 30-year veteran of stages the world over. Born in Santa Rosa, Calif.; raised in Billings, Mont.; and now a resident of L.A., Smith has been a radio regular on the nationally syndicated Bob and Tom Show, seen on Comedy Central’s “Live at Gotham in 2006, appeared on Last Comic Standing in 2007 and even won accolades as the Club Comic of the Year at the Aspen Comedy Festival.

As if that’s not prestigious enough, Smith also won both the Seattle and San Francisco International Comedy Competitions in 2010 — the only comedian so far to do so, and joining such illustrious comic company as Mitch Hedberg, Dana Carvey and Sinbad, all of whom have won one or

the other of the competitions. (As Smith’s online bio points out, Robin Williams, Ellen Degeneres and Dane Cook all took second place in San Francisco).

For a taste of Smith’s high-energy delivery, check out the trailer to his Dry Bar Comedy show “Auggie Smith: Old Dad,” in which riffs “on the subjects of child leashes, poison control or wedding vows,” with the club promising that “Auggie will singe your eyebrows with red-hot truth.”

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at panida.org/event/ auggie-smith. The PG-13 show will begin at 8 p.m. with doors opening one hour prior.

The Panida is located at 300 N.First Ave. in downtown Sandpoint. An opener has yet to be scheduled.

The number of absentee ballots cast in the Idaho 2022 general election, representing 21% of the nearly 600,000 total ballots cast. If HB 259 is passed into law, only a county clerk, election official, officer or employee of the state authorized by law would be able to distribute absentee ballot application forms. Jason Lehosit, the deputy policy director for the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office, said Idaho’s existing system already succeeds at balancing access and security. “This legislation gives more control to government and adds unneeded red tape and regulation to a process which has already been working,” Lehosit told legislators.

68%

The percentage of American motorists who are nervous about the use of self-driving cars, an increase from the 55% who said the same last year. Only 23% of motorists said they trust self-driving vehicles, a decrease of 30%.

41.7

The number of feet of snow that has fallen since October at the University of California, Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Laboratory near Donner Pass — more than any snow year since 1970, and second only to the record of 66.7 feet in 1952. The state’s snowpack on Feb. 28 was 186% of normal to date.

Auggie Smith will perform at the Panida Theater Saturday, March 11. Courtesy photo.

A still frame from the animated short The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse. Courtesy photo.

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist

I just made a quick trip to Cork, to see a friend in failing health, and spent a couple of extra days in West Cork before heading back to Dublin for my flight home. During my time in Cork, I was only allowed time with my friend for an hour in the morning and another in early evening; so, when I wasn’t in the hospital, I was left with long quiet days to wander around the city on my own.

A favorite haunt of mine in Cork is the centuries-old English Market, off the South Mall. Normally I am with one friend or another who’s on a tight schedule, only making a quick stop for fresh fish or hand-cut beef steaks. But this time I was on my own to peruse every nook, cranny and stall of the 400-year-old structure. I was there every morning and lingered each afternoon until closing.

I watched multi-generational shopkeepers in sturdy aprons and tall Wellington’s hauling product back and forth, all day long, as they set up or tore down their stalls, every day except Sunday. Most stalls are devoted to only one product type, such as eggs, chicken, pork, beef, produce and, of course, fish and seafood arriving fresh every day. The fish and seafood always interests me the most, and the choices were endless: blue shell mussels from the sea-waters of Bantry Bay, velvet and brown crabs from Castletownbere, and wild Atlantic salmon from Ballycotton.

There’s a booth devoted entirely to artisan sausages,

The Sandpoint Eater Oh the Irish!

and another that offers only a selection of smoked fish. A sign on the smoked fish stall offers a New York Times quote, “Mr. Hederman smokes fish, which is a little like saying Steinway makes pianos.”

Moynihan’s Poultry has an endless variety of whole roasters or specialty cuts, cutlets and confits of duck, and more grades of (and the largest) eggs that I’ve laid eyes on.

There are stalls and stalls of staple selections, too, like jams, chutneys, spices, and myriad choices of legumes and rice. There are flower peddlers and endless choices of artisan chocolates. There’s a coffee stall or two, with sturdy stools and real cups, with a biscuit or two tucked in the saucer.

The only ready-to-eat foods are sandwiches, and the variety is staggering. I chose a toastie, with onion jam and three kinds of cheese.

Besides all the visuals at the market, I love overhearing the thick brogues and animated conversation between purveyors and market patrons. It’s easy to see (and hear) how deeply rooted this ancient market is in their lives as they discuss upcoming Catholic confirmations and First Holy Communions, and how one should properly season a lamb shoulder, all while peppering the conversation with bits of local politics.

While I love the lyrical country accents of Cork, I have a much easier time understanding their “city cousin” Irishmen

in Dublin, and it’s one of my favorite cities — large enough to host a wide array of arts and culture, but small enough to offer old Irish charm and quaint, traditional pubs.

It was fitting that I found myself in the heart of Ireland in March. Besides celebrating St. Patrick’s Day this month, it’s also Irish-American Heritage Month, celebrated by proclamation of our president and Congress to honor the achievements of Irish immigrants.

While I was there, Dublin was gearing up for the March madness that is St. Patrick’s Day. More than 30,000 visitors (mostly Americans), will descend upon the Emerald Isle. Right now the shops are working overtime, filling every inch

of space with merchandise for the wildly anticipated crowds.

Most locals agree that the dynamics of the holiday have changed drastically over the past decade. St. Patrick’s Day of yore was more of a religious holiday celebrated with mass, small local parades in the villages and a pint or two at the pub before heading home for the family meal.

I was surprised to learn that not a single one of my Irish friends will be serving corned beef and cabbage on St. Paddy’s Day! A leg of lamb and seafood topped their choices. Sounds good to me, and mussels will undoubtedly show up on my holiday table. I hope you might give them a place at your table, too. Sláinte!

Mussels in white wine and garlic

Be sure to buy live mussels. Cover loosely in refrigerator with a damp towel until ready to cook. Any open mussels that do not close when you tap on their shells are dead and need to be discarded. Serve with lots of crusty bread to soak up the juices. Serves 4.

INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:

•2 cups dry white wine

•4 shallots, finely chopped

•4 garlic cloves, finely chopped

•1 tsp sea salt

•4 pounds live mussels

•⅓ cup parsley, finely chopped

•½ cup of butter, cut into pieces

•Quartered lemon

Rinse and scrub mussels under cold running water. Remove beards and discard. Set in a strainer until ready to cook.

In a large stockpot set over medium heat, melt ½ of the butter, then add shallots, garlic, lemon quarters and salt. Simmer 5 minutes. Add mussels, shake pan, pour in wine, cover and increase the heat to high. Cook just until mussels are open, about 5-7 minutes. Don’t overcook.

Stir in parsley and remaining butter. Divide mussels into four serving bowls. Serve with bread and wine.

Cold mussels are also delicious, served with saffron aioli.

MUSIC

Panida to host rock legend Jim Messina

Tickets to go on sale March 10

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

When a summer concert with rock legend Graham Nash was announced recently, almost every seat in the house sold out within two hours. Get that credit card out because Too Far North Productions and Nightlife Network Northwest are again announcing a huge show on the Panida stage this May. Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee and founding member of the band credited with creating the genre of country rock, Jim Messina will play with his band to perform music from his days with Buffalo Springfield, Poco and Loggins & Messina. The iconic rocker will play at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 21 at the Panida Theater.

Reserved seating tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 10.Tickets will start at $39 and can be purchased online at panida. org. There are also a limited 30 VIP packages available with front orchestra seating and an after show “Conversation with Jim Messina.”

the band’s third and final album in 1967, Messina replaced bass player Bruce Palmer and toured with the band up until the completion of the album Last Time Around

After Buffalo Springfield disbanded in 1968, Messina and fellow band member Richie Furay formed the band Poco, whose debut album received a perfect rating from Rolling Stone, laying the blueprint for a new musical genre that would thereafter be known as country rock. Let’s put it this way: before there was the Eagles, there was Jim Messina.

In 1970, Messina opened up his living room to record for an up and coming young songwriter named Kenny Loggins. Because the songs Loggins presented leaned more toward folk, Messina sat in while recording to incorporate a more upbeat sound into the album.

Jim Messina in concert

Sunday, May 21; 7:30 p.m.; tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 10 at panida.org. Panida Theater, 301 N. First Ave., 208-263-9191. For more information about Jim Messina, visit jimmessina.com.

Messina began working with the legendary band Buffalo Springfield in 1966 as a recording engineer on their second album Buffalo Springfield Again. After producing

Messina led the way as producer, arranger, vocalist and guitarist, contributing to signature songs that eventually found their way onto the album Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ In. The accidental duo was born, and over the next few years a series of albums would follow in rapid order. Loggins & Messina released in 1972, followed by Full Sail a year later, both the double-live On Stage and Mother

Lode in 1974, So Fine in 1975 and Native Sons the following year. In 1977, Loggins & Messina produced the aptly named Finale, culminating one of the wildest rides to the top by this unlikely duo. When the dust had settled, Loggins & Messina had sold 16 million albums and became one of rock’s biggest live draws. After his split with Loggins, Messina recorded four critically acclaimed solo albums, later reuniting with Poco for another album in 1989 before reuniting with Loggins for a series of live shows in 2004 and 2009. In recent years, Messina has

released a couple of live albums that contain both video and audio from his musical body of work. Now, nearly half a century after first stepping into the studio with Stephen Stills, Neil Young and Richie Furay to engineer Buffalo Springfield Again, Messina is hitting the road with a band of acclaimed musicians to tour the country and play sold out shows, telling the stories and singing the songs that forever made him an iconic figure in music.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Headwaters, Matchwood Brewing, March 10 Way Down North, Eichardt’s Pub, March 11

Formerly known as BareGrass, local “multi-genre mountain music” outfit Headwaters packs a lot of artistic talent into its mix of acoustic guitar, upright bass, three-part harmony and drums.

John Edwards on the stand-up bass, Jared Johnston on guitar, Mick Taylor on drums and John Firshi on lead guitar lay down the bluegrass sound with a little mix of Grateful Dead and a hint of the blues. As Mattox Farm Produc-

tions founder Robb Talbott told the Reader before Headwaters’ show at the Heartwood Center last summer, “They are about as tight as you can get bluegrass without it sounding artificial.” True that — they really are the real deal.

— Zach Hagadone

6-8:30 p.m., FREE. Matchwood Brewing, 513 Oak St., 208-7182739, matchwoodbrewing.com.

Just over the border in northwest Montana, Tina Bertram and Cory Chopp reel out Americana originals and covers as the duo Way Down North. Now they’re making the short trek out west to bring their mix of instrumentation — with Chopp on mandolin, guitar and vocals and Bertram on banjo, keyboard and vocals — to get way down at Eichardt’s Pub for a Saturday, March 11 show. And just in case you needed an-

other recommendation, remember that Way Down North has opened for the likes of Railroad Earth, The Last Revel and no less than Shakey Graves. That’s what you call keeping good company.

— Zach Hagadone

7 p.m., FREE. Eichardt’s Pub, 212 Cedar St., 208-263-4005, eichardtspub.com. Listen at waydownnorth.band.

I watched the movie Room before reading the book by Emma Donoghue. I’m bummed I did, because even though the film was excellent, Donoghue’s book is a uniquely written novel about survival and the important bond a mother shares with her son. The story is told from a young boy’s perspective where he lives with Ma in Room, the 11-foot by 11foot space where they are both held captive. It’s a brutally honest book that will rock your emotions before uplifting your soul.

READ LISTEN

With the Panida Theater hosting rock legends like Graham Nash and Jim Messina (see left), it’s got me listening to some of my old favorites that have taken me miles down country roads over the years. One of my absolute favorite songs in the world is “Natural Beauty” from the seminal 1992 album Harvest Moon by Neil Young. The drop-D guitar and piercing harmonica are paired perfectly with Young’s high lonesome voice, culminating in one of the best songs you’ll ever listen to for more than 10 minutes.

WATCH

The Academy Awards will air Sunday, March 12, but I will not be watching. After last year’s spectacle featuring Will Smith brutally slapping Chris Rock in the face because of a joke about Smith’s wife, I have grown tired of the elite continually getting away with things you and I would likely go to jail for. It was an assault — there’s no other way to frame it. But, a short time later, Smith was given the highest award an actor can attain — all while the audience applauded as if nothing had just happened. If you want to see a great take, google “Jim Carrey talks about Oscar slap” and be prepared for raw truth that stings.

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

Jim Messina playing in 2022. Photo by Stuart Berg Concert Photography.

From Pend d’Oreille Review, March 10, 1911

MANY ARE AT SMOKER

The best attended smoker that was ever pulled off by the Sandpoint Commercial club occurred Wednesday evening when fully 125 business men of the city were on hand to smoke a few cigars, eat a sandwich and drink some coffee, partake of some of the Elsasser orchard apples and listen to good booster talk. The guest of honor was Dr. S.B. Nelson, representing the Spokane Chamber of Commerce, and the returing members of the legislature from Bonner, with the exception of Rep. Jones of Bonners Ferry, were there to “tell” of the session that just closed. The Sandpoint Concert orchestra played two or three pieces which added merit to the evening’s program.

After a brief business session, H.C. Olney took charge of the social session and called on B.S. Bennett to start the program with a detail of the growth and spirit of the city.

A.F. Douglas of Portland, was called on for a few words. Mr. Douglas stated that the Byllesby company, which he represented, had invested heavily in Sandpoint and surrounding territories with the expectation of present return but to be in shape for future development. He said the Sandpoint-Newport extension had cost the company $100,000 and it was now contemplating a connecting line to Dover and would build to any of the towns about here wehre a margin of profit within the next five years could be seen.

Reps. Sanborn and Farmin were called upon to tell of the legislative session, whcih they did following Rep. Sanborn’s “roast.”

BACK OF THE BOOK

By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist

I’ve cleaned this old joke up for “family viewing”: Opinions are like ears. Everyone has a couple. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines opinion as: “a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge.” That is not to say that some opinions aren’t based in fact or knowledge, but that not all opinions are.

I was once accused of having opinions, as if it was reprehensible. If that’s how the accuser felt, that’s their opinion, right? To their credit, their opinion was based on fact and knowledge. I do have opinions and they had knowledge of them. I believe their real point was that my opinions didn’t agree with theirs, which in our crazy world, is hardly uncommon.

I admit that my opinions are not all factor knowledge-based. Some are based on emotion, instinct or — worse yet — other people’s opinions. Humans believe what we want to believe, whether it matches the facts or not, and belief is a synonym of opinion So are judgment, thought, viewpoint and conviction. There are more, but, in my opinion, these illustrate the point.

I also admit that in the bewildering universe we live in, determining what are real facts — as opposed to myriad fake “facts” rolling around — can be daunting, time consuming and even impossible. For instance, it’s my opinion that no matter how many people might be convicted that they know what God looks like, who God favors, whose God is the best or the real God, where God is going to send them when they die, and what actions God deems worthy or unworthy, not one of those people can defend those opinions with real facts.

I can’t defend my opinion about God with real facts, either, but I have the thought that there is Something out there. I think it is also in here — imagine me pointing at my

About opinion

chest — and surrounding everything and everybody, filling the nothing we call “space,” and pervading all the something we call “matter.” I think of it as the life force, that it is sometimes helpful, and at worst, benign. But I can’t prove Something exists. Nor do I feel compelled to do so.

Don’t ask me what Something looks like, what it wants of us or how we can best appease it or appeal to it, because I have no clue. And, in my opinion, nobody else does either, as much as they might think they do.

Appeal as I might — and I confess that I have and will again — I am still unsure of what the results might be. Sometimes, I think I get answers, but Something only knows what the real answers are, or if there really are any. My opinion is that Something is fine with not being appeased or appealed to.

It is my further opinion that believing Something wants specific things from us personally is one of the greatest sources of not-so-great stuff in history. In the name of Krishna, God, Christ, Allah, Yahweh, Jehovah, Jove, Jupiter, the Great Spirit, Gitchi Manitou, Quetzalcoatl and many other names for Something, a huge amount of inhuman acts have been carried out. Arguments about which Something is best, right, real, most powerful and most sacred; and the proper methods by which Something is to be honored, worshiped, sacrificed to or even thought of has killed millions, approaching billions, not to mention tearing families, communities, countries and entire continents apart.

One example is the Salem witch trials, the 331st anniversary of which was recently not celebrated. This is ironic because the founders of Salem fled England to avoid religious persecution. A larger example is the forced replacement of indigenous belief with Judeo-Christian, Hindu and Islam dogma. This is ironic because all three faiths profess the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

The Holy Roman Empire was by no

Sudoku Solution STR8TS Solution

means holy, but mostly interested in how much real estate they could control. The Roman Catholic Inquisition is famous for torturing suspected non-believers and burning them at the stake whether they confessed or not (Not-so-fun fact: the Spanish Inquisition operated until 1834, 58 years after the American Revolution). Efforts are made by governments to quash religious belief of the “wrong” kind — or any kind — by similar means, and modern terrorism is often rooted in fanatical belief in unprovable deities.

What can we do about the human’s tendency to believe in something they can’t prove strongly enough to treat other humans in inhuman ways? I don’t know. But, if we are ever going to live peaceably on this planet, we need to figure that out.

If we stop fighting about religion, about what Something is and wants of us, that might be a first step to figuring out how to agree on many other issues. That’s my opinion.

Sandy Compton’s opinions are his own, but he’s not afraid to share them. Read more of his thoughts, beliefs and convictions at bluecreekpress.com/write-on.

Crossword Solution

Many people don’t realize that playing dead can help not only with bears, but also at important business meetings.

Solution on page 22

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

bowdlerize /BOHD-luh-rahyz/

Word Week of the

[verb]

1. to amend a written work by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.

“The recent attempt to bowdlerize Roald Dahl’s work was met with some resistence from his most fervant fans.”

Corrections: We’re in the clear (we hope).

CROSSWORD

Solution on page 22