Reader may19 2016

20 FREE / Vol. 13 Issue May 19, 2016 /

th - 22nd , 2016 19 May

Low snowpack and warm temps could indicate another severe fire season

Big wins in primary for Keough, Connolly, McDonald, Wheeler, Howlett

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(wo)MAN

Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by

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Do you have any special plans for Lost in the ‘50s weekend?

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“I plan to ride my bike into town with my family and go to a barbecue and then watch the parade.”

Cecilia Cecil Peer Support Specialist Kootenai

“I’m going to be doing homework, especially poetry for English class.”

111 Church St., Spt, ID (208)946-6733 WWW.FIDDLINREDSIMPSON.COM

Welcome to Lost in the ‘50s weekend, readers. If you’re new to town, welcome to our crazy weekend of fun.

Check page 17 for a full listing of Lost in the ‘50s events, and also our events calendar in the center spread, which is the go-to guide to what’s happening in Sandpoint.

Be safe out there, everyone, and remember to assign a designated driver when you go out on the town. There are always elevated DUI patrols out on these big weekends, so do us all a favor and have a blast but stay safe.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

Nathaniel Varelman Seventh grade Bonners Ferry

“We have a baseball tournament in Missoula, so we will miss it this year, sorry to say.”

Sandra Sherrill Substitute teacher Sandpoint

Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Contributing Artists: Kip Folker (cover), Ben Olson, Nancy Cerra, Chuck Smith Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Nick Gier, Scarlette Quille, Jim Healey, Tim Henney, Lynn Bridges, Rev. Bob Evans, Eric Anderson, Suzen Fiskin, Rebecca Holland, Drake the Dog

Subscription Price: $95 per year Advertising: Dion Nizzi dion@sandpointreader.com Clint Nicholson clint@keokee.com Web Content: Keokee

“We’re going to tour downtown with the kids and look at the cars.

My son is a car aficionado. He likes shiny stuff. We’re also going to check out the Fairgrounds. He loves when they shoot out flames.”

Kristina Owens Administrative manager Sandpoint

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

Gigi Belcastro Housewife Sandpoint

“To enjoy the parade on Friday night and to view the vehicles on Saturday with friends and family.”

www.sandpointreader.com

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

“I’m going to A&P Bar and Grill.”

Bryan Dillon Sandpoint

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About the Cover This week’s cover photograph by Kip Folker, a long time photographer who loves living in Sandpoint and loves old cars. Kip won a $50 gift certificate to MickDuff’s for his winning submission. Nice job, Kip!

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COMMENTARY Does Hillary Clinton deserve her negative approval ratings?

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist Andy Sabin, who lives in Long Island’s wealthy Hamptons, has made quite a name for himself with his sign “Hillary for Prison 2016”; and, on at least three occasions, Donald Trump has been seen holding a sign “HILLARY FOR PRISONdent.” Trump has now turned his bombast from “Lyin’ Ted” to “Crooked Hillary,” but of course a person must be charged, tried and convicted before going to jail.

Legal experts in a National Law Journal article (3/9/16) have concluded that Clinton’s private emails broke no laws.

Neil Koslowe, an expert on the Federal Records Act, wrote that “there’s no blanket prohibition on any federal employee from using a personal email account to conduct government business.” So far there is no indication that Clinton destroyed any documents or mishandled classified materials, which of course would be crimes.

Some right-wing Internet sites claim that Romanian hacker Marcel Lazar (known

Kudos to Reader...

Dear Editor, I just want to take the time to congratulate everyone on the success of the Reader. So very glad it is expanding and that it is succeeding in a world where corporate news seems to rule the day.

It is a rare thing for a community to have a paper such as this that offers up so much support for local community events and issues. This great little paper truly celebrates the best of what Sandpoint has to offer.

Thanks so much for all of your hard work. I am humbly grateful for your support.

Patrice Webb Sandpoint 4 /

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as “Guccifer” on the web) breached Clinton’s server and passed the contents on to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Clinton campaign has declared these claims “baseless,” and the FBI has stated that there is no evidence that Clinton’s server has been hacked.

It is truly a sad moment in our political history when the presumptive Democrat and Republican nominees have the highest-ever negative approval ratings. In a CBS/New York Times poll Trump was viewed unfavorably by 57 percent, while Clinton’s number was 52 percent. Any reasonable person would have to admit that Trump deserves his negatives, but I submit that Clinton definitely does not.

Jonathan Swift’s famous remark “falsehood flies, and the truth comes limping after it” certainly applies to Clinton. With regard to her emails investigators at Media Matters have corrected six lies about the issue, and with regard to Benghazi, they have debunked 10 myths (http://mediamatters. org/research/2015/10/21/).

Regrettably, these falsehoods

are still flying high.

At the fact-checking site Politifact.org, Clinton has actually improved her truth-telling, while Trump is setting records for “Pants on Fire” that most likely will never be broken.

Of the 195 statements checked Clinton scores 72 percent true, mostly true, and half true with 2 percent (3 falsehoods) labeled Pants on Fire.

For 98 statements checked Bernie Sanders has 69 percent in the truth categories, no Pants on Fire, but Clinton leads him in unqualified truths by 23 to 14 percent. In this category Trump has a record low of two percent.

Politifact has investigated 141 Trump pronouncements and found 76 percent to be false, mostly false, or Pants on Fire. Trump’s outrageous lies now total 26, seven more than Romney at the end of the 2012 campaign. Obama had nine.

Writing for The Guardian (3/28/16), Jill Abramson, former executive editor of The New York Times, says that “I am not a favorite in Hillaryland” after covering “her business dealings, her fundraising, her foundation,

and her marriage” for over 25 years. Nevertheless, she concludes that she is “fundamentally honest and trustworthy.”

Abramson states that “it was colossally stupid to take those hefty speaking fees, but not corrupt. There are no instances I know of where Clinton was doing the bidding of a donor or benefactor.”

Abramson believes that as a woman, Clinton—as with many other women leaders—is being held to a standard of purity not applied to her male counterparts. When Clinton changes positions, as all politicians do, only she is viewed as dishonest.

In his New York Times column “Is Hillary Clinton Dishonest?” (4/23/16), Nicholas Kristof concludes that she “is relatively honest—by politician standards.” Kristof admits that Clinton is “calculating—all politicians are—but she more than some. She has adjusted her positions on trade and the minimum wage to scrounge for votes, just as Sanders adjusted his position on guns.”

Say whatever you like about Clinton’s character and per-

sonality, but there is no question in my mind that she is the most qualified of any of the presidential candidates. The GOP has chosen the least qualified.

I would also argue that Clinton is the most qualified of any woman leader in modern history. Since 1960 there have been 61 women who have been either prime ministers or presidents of their countries, and it high time for the U. S. to catch up with the rest of the world by electing its first woman president.

In her 11 hours of testimony before the House’s Select Committee on Benghazi, in which the Republicans made fools of themselves, Clinton was firm and unflappable.

Whether it is the GOP House or Vladimir Putin she will be strong and competent.

Patrice, Thank you so much for your kind letter. It’s letters like this that keep us in good humor and moving forward—especially after that behemoth 28-page issue we put out last week that damn near killed us.

We’re so grateful to the community for their words of encouragement and for their support. We’ll try to keep bringing you compelling content every week.

-Ben Olson, publisher

almost as if there is a race to see who can spread the most disinformation.

What Mr. Temple forgot in all of his discourse is that the P&Z Commission is appointed by the commissioners, works for the commissioners and is an advisory board to the commissioners. Steve alleges that the P&Z Commission is removed from future code changes.

Not true! There is no loss of transparency, loss of public input (hearings) nor exclusion of the P&Z Commission from the process. What Mr. Temple is up in the air about is that the P&Z Commission can no longer block the commissioners from making a decision on an ordinance by refusing to make a recommendation. They

attempted to do that with the passing of 12-262 even after they received advice of our civil counsel.

Title 12-214, as it was written, stated that the commissioners couldn’t pass an ordinance unless they received a recommendation from the P&Z Commission. That violated state statute because it gave the P&Z Commission de-facto ordinance approval authority it didn’t possess. The commissioners changed Title 12-262 to streamline the appeals process for land owners and make it cheaper to appeal. The rest of Steve’s rambling allegations don’t bear comment.

The same goes for Carol Jenkins’ misinformation about the commissioners violating

the revised code to make the changes. By the way, Carol, I have never demanded that anyone break the law, never!

The public has benefited from recent code changes in that paternalism has been diminshed and personal responsibility has been restored. That increases property owner rights.

County inaccuracies...

Dear Editor, There is a recent onslaught of letters from Steve Temple and Carol Jenkins concerning Planning and Zoning. It’s

Nick Gier taught philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read his columns on the 2016 election at www.NickGier.com/Election2016.pdf.

Todd Sudick Bonner County Commissioner Sandpoint

PERSPECTIVES If you are new to the area If you are new to the area, you may wonder why in mid-May the sky is blue, the scenery is breathtaking and yet the warm breeze smells of gasoline, burned rubber and bad decisions. It’s Lost in the ‘50s, friends. If you are a native here you intrinsically understand it marks the end of the cold grey monotonous season and transitions indigenous Sandpoint people into the lake-worshipping season.

This is probably confusing for foreigners. What does a parade of classic cars and binge drinking have to do with Sandpoint or May or mountain climate? Why the ‘50s? Why? I would urge those who don’t understand to stop trying. As a species we have done research on other pagan festivals, and although we have a cursory knowledge of what happened at these events— do we really understand?

In order to maintain sanity

Potty crisis in a teapot...

Dear Sandpoint, Sometimes our deepest feelings can be stirred in ways that can leave us all but blind.

Thanks to Scarlette for settling the dust so we may see a little more clearly.

As the father of two beautiful daughters, I take seriously Ted Cruz’s challenge of bathroom safety. Bamboo splints driven under the fingernails seriously. I am easily upset when it comes to the safety of mine.

But will any law really add any kind of safety? Will not basic laws against exposure and assault cover transgressions?

Better law will make better behavior?

I don’t really think it is safe for men in women’s clothing to use the men’s restroom. I thank God I do not have the peculiar struggles of Bruce/Katelynn Jenner. I wish her no harm. She needs to be able

amidst the constant streaming of sugary ‘50s music and people in costume, one must keep in mind that there are certain truths in life: there is no right or wrong way to celebrate. Celebration is culturally diverse. Typically when a people of any nation overcome a great obstacle, it is time to celebrate. As a people, the community of Sandpoint made it through winter and we will celebrate this accomplishment by emerging pale and fragile from our dwellings shedding our winter coats in an act of gratitude.

We must give thanks and celebrate the seasonal change that comes with freedom of traveling regardless of snowplow status. As a community we have spent months trekking through snow while our nipples slice through padded coverings. It is now time to mow the lawn in an ill-fitting bikini.

Every winter ends. AMEN. Hallelujah.

I understand, though, that not everyone who lives here has the instinct of the natives. For this reason I have compiled some

guidelines for the inexperienced Lost in the ‘50s participant. Take note, enjoy.

DO: 1. Take Friday afternoon off work. Pretend you are going to be in the parade or doing a fundraiser, even if you are not. Everyone else in town is, and the excuse is 80 percent foolproof. Use the extra time to decide on an outfit. You can dress in the ‘50s era or not—this isn’t a requirement. Some people just feel more comfortable being “naughty” while in costume. Make sure your shoes are comfy and you bring cash.

2. Purchase your favorite alcoholic beverage. Try to cleverly disguise it so you can walk around in public consuming it.

3. Get a ride to the downtown area three hours before the parade. You will not be able to drive after you drink, and there will be nowhere to park for the next three days. Also, no matter how early you arrive, you still may not find a place to sit. Don’t complain about it, just continue to drink your “soda.”

4. Walk around down town,

drink, dance, spend money, buy raffle tickets.

5. If you make it to the bars after the three-hour-long parade, you will see things that you can never un-see: such as your fourth-grade teacher making out with the bouncer at the 219. You keep your mouth shut, never to speak of these things again. Remember you were the one who just moments ago made love in the backseat of your car during a parade, while “Rockin’ Robin” played faintly in the distance. This kind of freedom is enjoyed by all because what happens at Lost in the ‘50s stays there.

6. Call a cab, or get a designated driver. Don’t be the dick who ruins a magnificent community tradition.

to go where she will feel safe. Regardless of the pronoun, Matthew Shephard was unable to do that simple task.

One thing of value Dick Cheney taught me is that we all have something odd somewhere in the closet. I just can’t figure out how creating exclusionary classes for these people can ever make us a stronger nation.

My child would be fortunate to have an English teacher of Oscar Wilde quality. In time of war, a commander with a record of decisive victories like Alexander the Great is the one I want for my child. Getting the best for our children may require us to overlook our differences.

Girls or boys, I watch my kids. Everybody needs to behave themselves in our necessary little rooms. Behave so the good Lord can answer my oft-repeated prayer that I never be required to use deadly force of arms.

If I catch you, as a clear and

present danger, God have mercy on your soul. I rest secure in the belief it will be impossible to find 12 willing to convict me of anything in that context.

Whoever the LGBT are remains beyond me. I have it from psychologists that the LGBT are not the ones seeking to prey upon our children or anyone. What made Ted Bundy so successfully deadly was his engagingly helpful normalcy and good looks. The only time I have seen Donald Trump being presidential was when he said it was best to “leave it the way it is,” and that, “People go, they use the bathroom that they feel is appropriate. There has been so little trouble.”

With all those successful buildings, do you think Donald knows something about peacefully secure plumbing?

If I catch you, as a clear and present danger, God have mercy on your soul. I rest secure in the

belief it will be impossible to find 12 willing to convict me of anything in that context.

DON’T: 1. Assume that anyone will take a debit or credit card.

2. Expect that anyone will be able to hear or remember a word that you said for the entire evening.

3. TOUCH THE CARS. Se-

Michael Poe Sandpoint

Inexperience not good...

Dear Editor, Those angry citizens who favor “outsiders,” such as Donald Trump, and think political experience is a negative are wrong. Electing inexperienced candidates, such as Tea Party and other “no compromise at any cost” people is why Congress can’t get anything done.

Our best presidents and elected representatives are those with political experience, who have conducted themselves with openness, moderation and the willingness to compromise.

Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, John Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton

riously, the paint jobs alone cost more than your life. Also the people who paid for the cars, likely paid with the blood of a sacrificed virgin or something of that nature, and they will protect the smudgefree veneer of the vehicle with similar tactics.

4. Go around looking for things that are gluten free or vegan. And don’t mention things like “carbon footprint.” This is a festival set in a time frame that specifically forbids such nonsensical modern notions. You can’t drive around squealing the tires on your ‘66 Malibu Super Sport while tipping a cup of kale juice up to your lips. It’s not right. It’s not even American.

5. Bring your kids to any event that occurs after dark. If this is a chance that you are willing to take, remember that Mrs. Webster, their third-grade teacher, may be doing the forbidden dance with an unnamed male in the middle of town square. Some children aren’t ready for this kind of knowledge.

6. Wear your judging pants.

You know what kind of shananigans you were getting into when you decided to drive your car downtown in to a sea of drunk people and muscle cars. Stay home if the coordinating behaviors offend you.

Have fun. Get lost, enjoy the best parts of being American. If the car’s a rockin, keep on walkin!

Scarlette Quille

were politicians with the experience and skill needed to lead our country. (Eisenhower was an exception—but he did lead the greatest military coalition ever assembled to victory over Nazi Germany).

Would you want an untrained doctor, accountant, chef or plumber to serve you? Having served as governor, congressional representative, major city mayor or a federal cabinet member would certainly better qualify a candidate to make critical decisions in the atomic age than making real estate deals and closing failed casinos.

Let’s forget the hyperbole, personal attacks and boastful showmanship of Mister Trump and elect a president with the skill, empathy and experience needed for the job.

Jim Ramsey Sandpoint May 19, 2016 /

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NEWS

Low snowpack could lead to severe fire season

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Here we go again.

Record setting temperatures and snowpack levels that are half that of the normal average could possibly contribute to another elevated fire season in North Idaho.

“As far as a normal season, we’re a little behind with respect to our snowpack,” said Kevin Davis, hydrologist for Sandpoint Ranger District. “Up here in the Northern Panhandle, and the Spokane and Clearwater basin to the south … snowpack is about half of what it normally is this time of year.”

The Northern Panhandle Basin, which includes drainages from the Kootenai, Clark Fork and Pend Oreille watersheds, is about 45 percent of normal. The Spokane River basin, which includes watersheds from the Coeur d’Alene River is at 43 percent while the Clearwater Basin farther south is slightly better at 55 percent.

According to meteorologist John Livingstone with the Spokane Weather Forecast Office, it wasn’t a lack of snow that contributed to the snowpack reducing, but a hot, dry April.

“The snowpack at its peak in North Idaho and the Spokane Basin did make it up to 100%, and a little more in some places,” said Livingstone. “We normally see the peak around the first of April, then it starts melting off. This year, we had a very warm April and we saw the snowpack coming off a lot earlier.”

“Since April was so warm and we didn’t have our typical couple of feet of snowfall that comes in April, we were losing snow the whole month,” said Davis. “It was actually a record amount of snow that was lost in April.”

New data released from NASA put April’s land and sea temperatures at 1.1 degrees Celsius warmer than average April temperatures between 1951 to 1980, which NASA uses as a reference point to study climate change.

In fact, April marks the seventh month in a row to rise by at least 1 degree Celsius above the 1951-80 reference averages.

According to Livingstone, April’s temperature was 7.7 degrees [Fahrenheit] above average for the region: “I see two days when the temperatures were below average. From the 17th to the 22nd, each day was ten degrees or more above average, and the 20th 6 /

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and 21st were 20 degrees or more above average.”

The Sandpoint Ranger District uses 30-year average periods to ascertain trends in climate change in the region. The current period they use extends from 1981 to 2011. The 30-year average periods change every ten years.

According to Davis, if you take into account several key factors, the snowpack level might actually be lower than originally estimated.

“In the period before this one, 1971-2001, that was a period of cooler, wetter weather,” he said. “It had about 15 percent more precipitation and snowpack, which means if you’re looking at 45 percent of the normal snowpack, maybe we’re actually at 30 percent of what we normally would experience.”

Another factor is where the actual snow collection sites are situated on the mountain: “Because of the early snowmelt period starting in March and the hot weather in April, there’s no snow on south and west aspects. I think you could decrease the snow percentage to account for that, too.”

Though the snowpack levels are lower than desired, they still pale in comparison to last year’s totals.

“We are ahead of last year,” said Davis. “Last year, the Bear Mountain SNOTELL showed 15 percent [of normal]. So we’re doing better.”

Last year’s fire season proved to be one of the worst in the Inland Northwest’s history. Over 800,000 acres burned in Idaho, and Washington saw over 1.1 million acres burned.

The National Interagency Fire Center issued their National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for May through August.

While Southern California, the Great Basin, the Desert Southwest, Hawaii and Alaska are all listed as “above average” for threat of wildfire, the Northwest is predicted to have an average fire season with the risk of large fires not expected until June and large, costly fires more likely in July and August.

According to the Insurance Information Institute, the state with the largest percentage of households at high or extreme risk from wildfires is Idaho. Colorado and California are second and third, respectively.

For Livingstone, the most important factors that contribute to a severe fire year are the weather that occurs during the fire season and

how cool and wet the spring is.

“You can have dry conditions and susceptible fuels, but if you don’t have the starts, you’re not going to get it,” he said. “But if you have a cool, wet spring, because you start out with a greener situation as you get toward the middle of July, the chances of getting a large fire going is less. Last summer we were in the worst-case

scenario when we had that nasty heat spell at the end of June that just made things worse.”

Davis agrees that June is an important month: “Our last chance for moisture is June. If that doesn’t happen, I think the stage is set. If it continues warm and dry through June, I’m thinking there’s a possibility of a fire season similar to last year.”

Compromise clears Memorial Field design

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

A rendition of how the gate pillars would look. Photo by Rob Harrison.

Compromise proved the key to a disagreement over the Memorial Field gateway design, which the Sandpoint City Council authorized for a construction bid Wednesday.

Council members decided that the grandstand reconstruction and new gateway to the field would remain a single project and go out to bid at the same time. However, they acknowledged citizen concerns that the design closed out the community with changes to materials and wall lengths.

After being introduced to the public in an open house last week, the Memorial Field project left some residents uneasy. They were particularly concerned with a 10-foot wall made out of solid materials that they felt blocked the community from views of the field and lake. With only a week before the council was set to put the project out to bid, they felt the project was moving along too quickly.

“We think it’s OK for the grandstands to go out to bid, but we’d like to slow down on the gateway,” said Rob Harrison, who lives near the field.

However, Sandpoint Parks and Recreation director Kim Woodruff warned at the meeting that

separating the two elements would drive up project costs and throw off the schedule.

“I think it’s really important to keep this as one project,” he told council members.

Bill Berg, a leading member of the Friends of Memorial Field fundraising group, echoed Woodruff’s concerns. He said that while many design ideas have had to be sacrificed along the way, one thing that has stayed consistent in the nearly decade-long process was the unified design of grandstands and gateway.

“We pushed for both from the beginning,” he said, later adding, “The Friends see this as a whole project.”

After some discussion, Woodruff, the design team and council members arrived at a compromise: The 10-foot wall would be replaced with see-through material like mesh or chain-link.

One section of solid wall, needed to protect sensitive electrical equipment, will remain. However, council members restricted it to the minimum required length.

Lukewarm turnout for primary election

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Lukewarm turnout characterized the 2016 Bonner County primary elections, setting the stage for general election in November.

In state elections, District 1 Sen. Shawn Keough and District 7 Rep. Paul Shepherd bested challengers for the party nomination.

However, District 7 Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll and District 7 Rep. Shannon McMillan lost to challengers Carl Crabtree and Priscilla Giddings. County elections saw Jeff Connolly and Dan McDonald win bids for the Bonner County Board of Commissioners, while Daryl Wheeler defeated Terry Ford in the primary election for the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

At 33 percent turnout, voters weren’t exactly rushing to the polls. According to county election officials, that’s not unusual for primary elections of local and state candidates, which aren’t riding the increased draw of a presidential election.

Still, the day was not without controversy. County resident Betsy Canfield reported being turned away from the polling place at Northside Fire Station after being told she couldn’t change her affiliation to Republican. According to Bonner County Clerk Michael Rosedale,volunteers at the polling place were indeed unaware that unaffiliated voters can vote on a Republican ballot, and he set them straight before the big voter turnout at 5 p.m. However, Canfield and others were concerned that unaffiliated voters were turned away for half the day.

As for vote totals, Keough defeated challenger Glenn Rohrer 4,140 to 3,291. Crabtree beat Nuxoll 2,504 to 2,383, while Giddings bested McMillan 2,848 to 1,798.

On the Democratic side of the race, Stephen Howlett is leading Bob Vickaryous 408 to 390 after Bonner and Boundary County reported.

County elections saw Connolly beat Sudick 3,268 to 2,361, while McDonald won with 3,466 against Rich’s 2,020. Wheeler won the sheriff’s contest with 3,547 votes against Ford’s 2,443.

All votes are considered unofficial until canvassing is completed on May 23.

FEATURE

Let my people go

A history of how bathrooms have been at the forefront of civil rights and discrimination through the ages

By Jim Healey Reader Contributor

On their 1963 “In the Wind” album the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary recorded “Tell It on the Mountain” with its “Let my people go” refrain, referring to the Civil Rights movement of the early 1960s. Now, 53 years later that refrain takes on an added meaning. Letting people “go”—that is, the use of public bathrooms by transgender people—has become a hot topic.

President Obama, the National Basketball Association, NASCAR, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Bruce Springsteen, Blue Man Group, Pearl Jam, Ringo Starr, PayPal, and Deutsche Bank all have weighed in with a response to the passage of North Carolina’s House Bill 2 (HB2), a law which some have called “the most dangerous piece of anti-LGBT legislation in the country.”

Obama believes the law should be overturned while performers such as Springsteen have cancelled concerts in the state. PayPal and Deutsche Bank have put expansions on hold in North Carolina that would have created hundreds of jobs.

Martin R. Castro, chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, says that

HB2 “perverts the meaning of religious liberty and perpetuates homophobia, transphobia, marginalizes the transgender and gay community and has no place in our society.”

Legal, political, and cultural issues provide the subtext to North Carolina’s HB2: local rule (Charlotte’s ordinance) vs. state rule (North Carolina’s HB2); minority rights (LGBT community) vs. conservative religious groups; Republicans vs. Democrats; rural values vs. urban values; and female gender vs. male gender. And the bathroom has become the focus for all of these groups to express their ideas, fears, and concerns.

While researching this topic, I came across such phrases as “urinary segregation,” “excreting opportunities” and “potty parity.” I also learned much about the history of the toilet and the rise of gender-segregated public bathrooms in America (basically a late 19th century concept). Over the years I have taken for granted which gender-segregated bathroom to enter. I looked for the stick figure with pants or for the words “Gents,” “Stallions,” “Hombres,” or “Pointers.”

In “Why abolish the laws of urinary segrations?” Mary Anne Case writes that

“public toilets are among the very few sex-segregated spaces remaining in our culture and the laws that govern them are among the very few in the United States still to be sex-respecting, meaning that they still distinguish on their face between males and females.”

But not all public bathrooms, even in Sandpoint, are gender-segregated. Starbucks on First Avenue, Monarch Mountain and the portable potties at the Festival at Sandpoint are just a few venues where unisex bathroom facilities are offered. Of course, the largest unisex bathroom facility in the world is the great outdoors. Just ask any hiker or backpacker!

Back Story In early March 2015 the Charlotte City Council held a public meeting to vote on an ordinance long under consideration. According to Ely Portillo and Mark Price, two reporters for the Charlotte Observer, the ordinance was “a nondiscrimination proposal that would have added sexual orientation and gender identity to protected categories.” After long hours of discussion and debate, the council voted the measure

Illustration by Allison Wier. down 6-5.

The part of the ordinance that drew the most attention and heated discussion dealt with the use of some gender-segregated facilities in the community.

The existing ordinance stated that it is “unlawful to deny a person, because of sex, the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages or accommodations of a restaurant, hotel or motel.” Then followed a list of facilities to which this ordinance did not apply: “restrooms, shower rooms, bathhouses and similar facilities which are in their nature distinctly private.” Before the March 2015 vote took place, some council members removed this section from the ordinance, thus opening the door for transgender individuals to use the bathroom of his/ her gender identification.

Flash forward to February 2016 when the ordinance came up once again for consideration. What had changed was the makeup of the Charlotte City Council.

Two new at-large members were elected in November 2015, and both supported

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BATHROOM, con’t from page 7 the previously voted-down ordinance.

The new ordinance in appropriate places not only included the phrases “sexual orientation” and “gender identity,” but also “gender expression.” And the entire section covering bathrooms had been crossed out, thereby permitting transgender people to use the bathroom corresponding to the gender with which they identified. The council approved the changes in the ordinance by a 7-4 vote.

On March 23 the North Carolina General Assembly called its members back to Raleigh for a one-day special session to vote on HB2 (or more commonly known as the “Charlotte bathroom bill”). HB2 would overrule Charlotte’s ordinance banning discrimination against LGBT people and would also deny local and county agencies from expanding existing “statewide definition of classes of people who are protected against discrimination: race, religion, color, national origin, handicap or biological sex as designated on a person’s birth certificate. Sexual orientation—people who are gay—was never explicitly protected under state law,” according to the Charlotte Observer.

HB2 was passed by both the House and Senate in North Carolina’s General Assembly and was immediately signed into law the same evening by Governor

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Pat McCrory, a Republican. David Graham of The Atlantic observed that the voting had gone nearly along party lines: “In the House every Republican and 11 Democrats backed the bill. In the Senate, Democrats walked out when a vote was called [saying they had not been allowed to participate in the process], resulting in a 32-0 passage by Republicans. The 11 House Democrats who voted for HB2 came from rural areas in North Carolina.

Legislated Discrimination The United States has a history of enacting laws that discriminate against minorities. For example, the notorious Jim Crow laws enforcing racial segregation in the Southern United States were passed in the 19th century and remained in force until the mid-1960s. Besides job, marriage, education, transportation, and housing discrimination, these laws also covered the use of restaurants, drinking fountains and bathrooms.

Those opposed to transgender people using the bathroom of their sexual identity assert family values, religious freedom and the pushing of a far-left agenda as the basis for their opposition. North Carolina House Speaker Tom Moore, who called for the assembly’s special session, described Charlotte’s ordinance as “the crown jewel of their far-left agenda.”

Reporters for the Charlotte Observer noted that “conservative religious groups within North Carolina are taking some credit for getting HB2 passed into law, and pro-LGBT rights advocates note there is financial support from national groups with similar interests.”

Another line of reasoning for opposing Charlotte’s anti-discrimination ordinance was that sexual predators would get access to ladies bathrooms and prey on women and children. Sheila Cavanaugh in “Unisex Toilets and the Sex-Elimination Linkage” notes that “those opposing trans inclusive human rights legislation in Canada and US will often equate trans people with sexual predators and rapists desperate to get access to the ladies room.” Even though there is no data to support this claim— that a transgender person has attacked a cisgendered (non-trans) woman or child in a bathroom—the claim serves to fan the embers of fear and anxiety among some people. Facts go down the drain when fear becomes the basis for a belief.

As Rev. Irene Monroe in “Bathroom Laws Policing Our Genitals” observes, this is nothing more than “amped-up fear-mongering.”

According to Benjamin Phillips in the article “Christian Activist Group Calls for Boycott of Target,” the American Family Association (AFA) recently called for a boycott of the retail chain

Target after “the company announced it will support its customers and employees by allowing them to use restrooms consistent with their gender identity.”

AFA president Tim Wildmon stated that “corporate America must stop bullying people who disagree with the radical left agenda ... Target’s harmful policy poses a danger to women and children.” The phrase “danger to women and children” is just left hanging in the air with no explanation of the possible dangers that might be faced by patrons of ladies restrooms. And what about men and children in their restrooms? Wouldn’t they face similar dangers as well?

Where Do We “Go” From Here?

Since everyone usually “goes” every day, bathroom usage is a topic on which everyone is an expert and has an opinion. Couple a topic that is considered private and gender-segregated with such an emotionally charged phrase as “the rights of the LGBT community,” and one has a situation where lines are drawn. In “What the Bible says (and doesn’t say) about trans people” Ellel Cruz notes that “transgender identities can be threatening to many Christians because they are foreign. As with most things, we prefer binaries and traditions that don’t make us question our longstanding beliefs.” Many of us are threatened by what we don’t know or understand. Few of us know first-hand a transgender person, even though we might be standing behind one in the line at Walmart or sitting next to one at the bar in Eichardt’s. And now “they” want to use our bathrooms, a sacred, private space where one can be with one’s own. LGBT people confuse us. They have already made us redefine what marriage is and are now asking us to reconsider who uses which bathroom.

Wasn’t life much simpler and better when there were women and men, and the institutions, jobs, socially defined roles and behaviors, and sex-segregated

bathrooms that depended upon this duality functioned just fine?

Possibly there is a positive outcome to this discussion besides granting trans people the same rights and privileges that everyone else in the United States supposedly enjoys. With same-sex marriage becoming the law of the land in 2015, such traditionally defined concepts of family, child rearing, relationship roles and commitment between two people have come under scrutiny. And now trans people are redefining the use of gender-segregated bathrooms.

According to Syrus Marcus Ware in a 2011 Fuse magazine review of Sheila Cavanagh’s “Queering Bathrooms,” gender-segregated facilities “essentially work to order some people into existence and render others incoherent.”

Ware then suggests that instead of focusing on the user of the bathroom “we need to change the way bathrooms are constructed and the way public toilets are understood. In short, bathrooms themselves need to be reconsidered and reimagined.”

Reconsidering and reimagining bathrooms do not address the real issue in this debate: Trans people deserve the same rights we all enjoy, and passing bathroom bills only serves to alienate and marginalize them even more. We need to stop being mean to people who are different from us. My bottom line is that when I have to “go,” I don’t care who is standing at the next urinal. It could be Queen Elizabeth, Pope Francis or Caitlyn Jenner. And I certainly don’t care who is in the stall!

The greatest gift you can give

Nurse Manager Michelle Sebern receives award for helping BGH oversee its first organ donation

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff There’s nothing quite so nerve-wracking as tackling a new challenge. Likewise, a first-time success is a uniquely exhilarating feeling.

Bonner General Health staff experienced both in overseeing the hospital’s first organ donation. The milestone is a significant one for the hospital, so much so that nurse manager Michelle Sebern, who helped set up the procedure, received a LifeSavers Award from LifeCenter Northwest, which arranges organ donations and transplants.

“I feel the award is really a recognition of this entire hospital,” said Sebern.

A highly technical process, organ harvesting requires careful planning and execution to ensure they stay viable and ready to work for another person. Even though the donor

is brain-dead, his or her body must be kept on life support to ensure the organs are healthy and functional upon removal.

It’s a process BGH officials in the past have outsourced to larger facilities.

When the hospital staff recently found themselves with an organ donor on their hands, they first checked with other regional hospitals and learned they were overburdened with cases. It was up to BGH staff to oversee the operation themselves. A natural rush of anxiety came along with that realization.

“I think there was a lot of fear factor up front,” said

Sebern. “The biggest fear was not that we wouldn’t be able to pull it off, but that we didn’t have enough resources.”

Sebern set to work coordinating the project, working Michelle Sebern. with multiple departments to outline responsibilities and ensure the operation went according to procedure. After the patient was admitted on a ventilator, the team connected their radiology technicians to Kootenai Health to complete testing required to declare brain death. From there, it was a step-by-step matter to make sure the operation went down by the book. “[Sebern] eased worries of teammates who were partic-

ipating in the process for the first time,” LifeCenter Northwest staffers said in a press release. “She modeled a positive attitude and a great spirit of compassion that was contagious to the rest of the staff.”

According to Sebern, the confidence that comes from a successful first-time procedure should be valuable in the years to come. Her gut feeling is that Coeur d’Alene and Spokane hospitals will be taxed to capacity more frequently as the medical needs of aging Baby Boomers increase.

Furthermore, the ability to handle organ donations here in Sandpoint could be good news for patients, too. She recalls one instance when a donor’s organs became unusable during transportation by helicopter to a larger hospital. The risk of organ corruption increases significantly once the braindead patient is moved from a carefully controlled hospital

room into a medical helicopter. Furthermore, cutting costly transportation out of the equation is good news for the eventual recipient of those organs. Sebern said the cost of transportation is shouldered by the organ recipient, and an emergency medical flight can cost many thousands of dollars.

The happiest outcome of the successful organ donation, Sebern said, is that it will ultimately save three lives. A big factor in that success is the fact that the patient was clearly identified as an organ donor.

Sebern urges everyone to consider becoming an organ donor and ensure the donor designation is printed on a driver’s license or ID card.

To become an organ donor, register online register.yesidaho.org or visit your local DMV office.

BioBlitz to catalogue wildlife at U of I campus

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff In modern society, it’s easy to forget the ecosystems that exist just outside your front door. Kaniksu Land Trust hopes to change that.

The organization, which works to preserve open spaces in northwest Idaho and northwest Montana, is co-hosting Sandpoint’s first BioBlitz, a national event that is striking a chord with environmentally rich communities. Sandpoint is certainly that, and Kaniksu Land Trust community outreach director Suzanne Tugman believes local BioBlitzers will come away from the event with a deeper appreciation of their environment.

“We see a need to invest in programs that are interesting and fun but also educate people in the wonder and beauty of where they live,” Tugman said.

BioBlitz is a game with a

specific goal: Participants must find and catalogue as many differing species as possible. But it’s also an academic exercise that gathers real data to better understand the regional ecosystem. During the BioBlitz, experienced scientists and naturalists guide teams of amateurs to scour the environment for birds, fish, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, flowering plants, lichens, moss and fungi.

According to Tugman, participating in the BioBlitz brings about unique insight into the worlds of life just outside your front door. After all, it’s a lot easier to connect with nature and appreciate the unique make-up of Sandpoint’s ecology when you know the flora and fauna surrounding you. That’s doubly true when residents appreciate how human influence has impacted wildlife over time.

“It brings the community together because it makes them realize we’re all in this togeth-

er,” Tugman said.

The BioBlitz also provides professional scientists with valuable information about potentially rare species or other insights into environmental changes over time. That’s especially valuable for the location of the Sandpoint event, the extension campus of co-host University of Idaho. Because the property has decades of data connected to it, scientists can better understand climate change or other fields of study that require long-term date collection.

While the citizen science elements of the BioBlitz require pre-registration, there will be plenty of activities for everyone. The events will take families into nature to explore their environment in detail.

“The BioBlitz connects people with Sandpoint,” said Tugman. “The scientists and volunteers will develop important information about the biodiversity within our community

and provide a scientific basis to track changes over time.”

The event begins at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 20, at the University of Idaho property on North Boyer. The blitz will conclude 24 hours later. Limited overnight camping accommodations will be available. Sign up by calling Kaniksu Land Trust at 263-9471 or emailing regan@kaniksu.org or suzanne@kaniksu.org A community dinner and bonfire with music by John

Citizen scientists catalogue various species.

Photo courtesy of American Littoral Society.

Hastings and storytelling by Graham McLaren will also take place Friday at the University of Idaho extension. The dinner begins at 5 p.m. at costs $10.

The music an will begin around 6:45 p.m. and end around 9:30 to 10 p.m.

To find a full schedule of events and learn more about activities, visit www.kaniksulandtrust.org.

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Summer Camp Directory part two Bouquets: •Last week’s Reader was the biggest one yet, featuring 28 pages of news, politics, humor, arts and entertainment. While that was an achievement for us, we’re going to keep rolling forward with 24 pages on a regular basis in order to avoid burning out completely. To bring you this much content every week, we have to work our asses off consistently, but it’s not just a couple of people that put the Reader together. It’s a community effort. I’d like to give my staff a big bouquet this week.

Cameron Rasmusson is a great editor, a great human being and handles this daily onslaught of work with grace. I appreciate the fact that I can rely on him always. The staff at Keokee has been a great asset for us since day one, and we couldn’t do this without them. My regular columnists continue to provide us with compelling content, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart. The advertisers that have supported us from the beginning are the lifeblood of this paper. If you can, please support them any way you can, because we couldn’t give you the Reader without them. And finally, a bouquet to you, dear readers, for your loyalty, your constant dirge of compliments and your encouragement. Thank you all for the support!

Barbs: •I live in an apartment building. After months of trying to get a recycling can put on our property, Waste Management finally told my landlord that apartment buildings were considered a “business” and therefore weren’t eligible for pickup recycling. What a crock.

Why is it so hard to recycle in this town? Why are people living in apartment buildings not allowed to recycle and those renting homes are? It makes no sense. Will someone please get to the bottom of this?

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Some issues back, we published an article with information about summer camp options in the region. We heard back from a lot of people that they appreciated the information, but we also heard from a lot of other camps that we weren’t able to fit into the space. This week, we’d like to offer Part Two to our summer camp directory. Enjoy folks!

Illustration by Nancy Cerra.

SWAC Summer Sandpoint Waldorf Annual Hospice Kids Grief Camp Adventure Camp School Camp

Dance Performance Camp

Sandpoint West Athletic Club will once again provide fun-filled days, loaded with activities to keep kids safe and happy. This camp is for 10-, 11- and 12-year-old kids.

This will be SWAC’s 17th year of affordable summer camp! Camp starts the week of June 20 and ends the week of Aug. 8; 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Space is limited; registration begins the first week of June at SWAC. The cost for the entire week is only $70. Scholarship assistance available.

Each week is centered on a different theme. Additional information provided at www. sandpointwest.com.

Special thanks for funding support from SWAC, Community Assistance League, Bonner County Juvenile Probation, and Sandpoint Parks & Recreation.

This dance troupe for kids is led by Brietta Leader. She will be teaching out of the studio at Embody (formerly Common Knowledge).

The dance camp goes from June 20-July 9, when the class will perform at SummerFest. It is for ages 5-13 years.

A $65 cost includes six classes and the performance (which isn’t mandatory, in case your dancer-to-be has stage fright).

There will also be a small fee to cover the cost of costumes.

The dance class focuses on jazz and expressive dance techniques. Every year there is a theme. It’s a high energy, entertaining and fun class.

For those interested in signing up, check out www.moondancermoves.com.

The Sandpoint Waldorf School is offering three weeks of summer camp for children entering grades two through eight: June 27-July 1, July 1115, and July 18-22. All dates will be from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Aftercare is available from 3-5 p.m. for an extra charge.

Come explore the fine and practical arts with us as we garden and cook, play music on a variety of instruments, and create beautiful objects out of pottery, wool, silk, and paper.

For more information contact the Sandpoint Waldorf School at 265-2683 or www. sandpointwaldorf.org.

This 15th annual camp provides a unique opportunity for children who have suffered a personal loss to spend some camp time in a safe and casual environment among others who may be experiencing a similar situation. It’s an opportunity to heal while participating in camp events and activities.

One-on-one counseling and other grief services will be available.

“Being around others who are experiencing the same loss goes a long way as a tool in the healing process,” camp coordinator Lissa Defrietas said. “It’s powerful, this camp. There is so much transformation that takes place between drop off and pick up here.”

There is no cost to the community for this camp. It’s funded in part by grants from Selkirk Realtors and the Community Assistance League.

Applications can be requested through Lissa at 265-1185.

Camp dates are Friday, June 17 and Sunday, June 19.

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PFLAG Meeting 6-7:30pm @ Gardenia Center The Sandpoint Chapter of PFLAG holds a monthly meeting every third Thursday of the month

Distinguished Student Concert 7pm @ Panida Theater The Music Conservatory hosts a Distinguished Student Concert featuring the school’s highest achievers and hardest workers

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Sandpoint-based singer/songwriter Live Music w/ Devon Wade 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Celebrate Third Fridays with Sandpoint’s favorite country artist

Dollar Beers!

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

f

Monarch Open Mic 6-8pm @ Monarch Mtn. C Free! All are welcome to

Vintage Car Parade 6pm @ Downtown Sandpoint This is it, the annual Vintage Car Parade, starting from SHS and winding through downtown.

Street Dance Jeff Jones Town Square following the parade The ever popular street dance, featuring everyone’s favorite deejay, Bashful Dan Young

‘50s S Sandpoint Farmers Market Bird Walk 7:30pm 9am - 1pm @ Farmin Park 9am @ Kootenai Wildlife Refuge Barn Shop for plant starts, locally grown pro- Friends of Kootenai National Wildlife Ref- Featur duce, browse vendor booths, and more. uge host a Bird Walk at the Refuge Educa- Chris M Live music with Doug and Marty tion Barn (287 Westside Rd, Bonners FerLive M Lost in the 1450s w/ the Alliance Band ry). Bring binoculars and ear hiking shoes 6:30-9: 3-8pm @ Evans Bros. Coffee and come dressed for the weather. Expect Indie ro a Live Medieval Rock Concert featuring to be out about 2 hours. Everyone, regardand cov the Alliance Band. There will be a bike less of birding expertise, is welcome L swap meet in the morning, a bike rodeo Car Show 7 at 3 p.m., and The Alliance performs 9:30am-3:45pm @ Downtown Sandpoint F from 4 to 7 p.m. $5 admission.

Stroll through downtown Sandpoint and check out J Live Music w/ Chris Lynch all the fabulous hot rods and classic cars. Awards t 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority ceremony will follow in front of Cedar St. Bridge e

Game Night at the Niner Aspirin Rally-Run — 9:30am @ Second Avenue Pizza The 5K Fun Run starts at 10 a.m., but make sure you arrive early 9pm @ 219 Lounge to register and for transportation. The Rally starts at 11:30 a.m. and also starts at Second Ave. Pizza. Work off those hangovers, folks!

Sunday in the Park - 1-5pm @ Farmin Park Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills This family friendly event features live music, 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub and other visual and performing arts

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Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s Karaoke Night 10pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge

Art on the Go with Jules 4-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Join Julie Ellis for a few fun hours creating art from recycled materials

Bingo Night 6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Bingo, beer, popcorn, friendly bartenders, a nice courtyard. Seriously, what else do you need?

3D Printing Workshop 5pm @ Sandpoint Libra Learn what 3D printers and how to design your able object. Preregister

Sandpoint Farmers Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park Shop for plant starts, locally grown produce, browse vendor booths, and more.

Live music with Scott Reid

Dollar Beers!

Yappy Hour 4-7pm @ Taylor and Sons Chevrolet 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live music, beverages and fun for Good until the keg’s dry you and your favorite pooch

Wran 5-6pm Meet o learn as a w flash-fi

Throwback Thursday 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge Featuring live music w and Chris Lynch and dr

t’s Pub eg’s dry

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May 19 - 26, 2016

n Mic rch Mtn. Coffee lcome to attend

arting

Hop Valley Tap Take-Over 4-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery A fun event to kick off Lost in the ‘50s. Join the winery and Hop Valley Brewery from or raffles, prizes, gifts and more

Live Music w/ Miah Kohal Band 9pm @ 219 Lounge The fun-loving group will play on the patio after the car parade

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

Reader recommended

Throwback Thursdays at the 219 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge Featuring live music with Brian & Chris Beginner Drawing Class - 3pm @ Spt. Library Adults and teens learn basic drawing techniques FREE Rock n’ Roll Heaven XII 7pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds An explosive night of energy and music that will rock you for days. See your favorites from rock n’ roll heaven; Elvis, Richie Valens, Jackie Wilson and more!

Live Music w/ Rusty Tracks 6-8pm @ Bernd Barrel

Live Music w/ Chris Lynch Live Music w/ Truck Mills 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante 6-8pm @ Bernd Barrel Live Music w/ Bob Evans Great blues music from the master 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub BioBlitz - May 21-21 @ U of I property (Boyer) ‘50s Show and Dance The primary goal of a BioBlitz is to get an overall count of 7:30pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds the plants, animals, fungi, and other organisms that live in a - Featuring music from the Flamingos and place. To get involved, call 263- 9471 - Chris Montez, with Rocky and the Rollers.

Live Music w/ Mike Wagoner Computer Class: Library Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA s Online Educational Resources 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall t 8:15am @ Sandpoint Library Indie rock trio with a lot of originals Learn about online resources available through the liand covers to entertain you brary’s website. Preregistration required 263-6930 Lost in the ‘50s Dance Live Music w/ Mike and Shanna 7:30pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds DJ Josh Adams 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Featuring Chubby Checker and 6pm @ 219 Lounge Folk rock duo eck out Johnny Tillotson, with Rocky and Live Music w/ Awards the Rollers. All the music you could Live Music w/ Devon Wade Möbius Riff Bridge ever want and more!

2-5pm @ 219 Lounge 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Country music on the patio during Bike Swap+ Lost in the ‘50s. Check it out! ve early 9am-2pm @ Eureka Institute building (513 Oak) 0 a.m. and Those used bikes and bike accessories that are taking up space can be converted to cash. s, folks!

Plus, you can sell/buy other outdoor equipment such as kayaks, backpacks, sleeping rmin Park bags, tents, etc. Check-in your used gear from 9-11 a.m. and a newer ride can be snapped ve music, poetry, up for a bargain at their sale from noon till 2 p.m. Pick up time is from 2:30-3:30 p.m. s Items under $10 will be considered donations. Hosted by Pend Oreille Pedalers

de eryone’s

Workshop for Adults oint Library D printers are used for sign your own 3D printeregister at 263-6930

Bonner County ARES/RACES Meeting 5:30pm @ Bonner Co. Admin. Building ARES is Amateur Radio Emergency Service; RACES is short for the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service. Come check out the group if you have your license. If you don’t, come see what we’re all about

Wrangling Words Writers’ Program 5-6pm @ Sandpoint Library Meet other writers, explore the craft and olearn how to develop your own path e. as a writer. Always includes a themed flash-fiction writing activity. FREE

Thursdays at the 219 9 Lounge e music with Brian Jacobs nch and drink specials

Crafternoon – Seed Paper 2pm @ Sandpoint Library Make your own plantable seed paper to take home and grow! A free hand-on learning workshop

Live Music w/ Liam Kyle Cahill 6-9pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Acoustic artist from Reno, NV with great energy and lyrical prowess

May 28-29 Priest Lake Spring Festival @ Coolin May 29 Colleen Raney and Hanz Araki Concert @ Di Luna’s Cafe June 4 Timberfest @ Bonner County Fairgrounds

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PERSPECTIVES ‘It was the best of times’ said Charles Dickens (But he didn’t know the 1950s)

By Tim Henney Reader Contributor

If one is about to salute a decade, as we are about to in Sandpoint, one could do no better than to celebrate the 1950s. My late mother, Harriet Helen Harriman Lewis of Carmel Valley, Calif., would disagree. Her nickname was Hattie. Born to privilege in 1907 down the coast in palm-studded “old” Long Beach, she wished she might have been a flapper forever.

In the 1950s, over bourbon old fashioneds in the leathery den of our family home in Long Beach, she would say she felt sorry for anyone who hadn’t grown up in the 1920s. This sentimental backward glance was inspired perhaps by jazz-age rock star Al Jolson, bellowing the ‘20s hit “Baby Face” on the living room stereo. Music of the 20s shared the phonograph with Crosby,The Andrews Sisters, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, The Kingston Trio and Nat King Cole in our 1950s home.

One might understand Hattie’s sorrow for those spawned after the 1920s if one considers the culture from which she came. A 1920s life far removed from millions of hungry Americans in urban and rural squalor. A world away from ignorant, cowardly, violent rednecks in white sheets happily hanging blacks in the South. Hattie grew up in a large, comfy, early California ocean-front manse nestled among avocado and citrus trees. (Long since turned into condos, this being booming Southern California).

She grew up before off-shore oil derricks decimated the pristine coast, fouled the water and killed surfing. Before developers built massive breakwaters, harbors and shopping malls on landfill. Long before freeways. Hattie fondly recalled when she and little sister Margie, briefly USC (University of Spoiled Children) sorority girls, danced the Charleston at the venerable Pacific Coast Club on Ocean Boulevard in Long Beach (Since demolished. Bigger bucks in condos). And at the Ambassador and Biltmore Hotel ballrooms in Los Angeles.

I’ve never eulogized the 1950s, my decade, the way Hattie did hers. But, like the much-read 1989 book, “Everything I Need To

Know I Learned In Kindergarten,” everything I know I learned in the festive ‘50s. I owned them. Along with Eisenhower. Brigitte Bardot. the Korean War. Senator Estes Kefauver. Dr. Jonas Salk and his polio vaccine. Harry Belafonte.

Adlai Stevenson. Marilyn Monroe. The Beats and Jack Kerouac’s “On The Road.” Willie Mays.

Elizabeth Taylor. The Weavers. Elvis. Sloan Wilson’s “The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit.”

The Mills Brothers. Senator Joe McCarthy. Frankie Laine.Young Marlon Brando in “On The Waterfront.” J.D. Salinger’s “A Catcher In The Rye.” Frisbees and hula hoops. Jazz vocalist Billy Eckstine. Tricky Dick Nixon. Fidel Castro and Che Cuevara. Singers Patti Page and Johnny Ray. James Dean in East of Eden. Scribe Walter Lippmann. The Four Freshmen. Buddy Holly. Russia’s invasion of Hungary and its surprise space satellite, Sputnik.

To say nothing of the Cold War with Communism. Integration at gunpoint of Little Rock’s Central High School. The migration of millions of African Americans from Dixie’s cotton fields to Chicago and other big northern cities. And Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, in which the 1954 Supreme Court declared state laws supporting separate public schools for white and black students to be unconstitutional.

A major early victory in the Civil Rights movement, the unanimous Topeka decision did not integrate America. But, as with countless 1950s actions and decisions, it paved the way for subsequent historic happenings.

One of which was my dropping out of USC. My mom had met my dad, a campus celebrity, there in 1928. The only thing I met there in 1950, following his sudden, early death, was confusion. More memorable was my heroic if undecorated service as a Korean War military newspaper editor in Georgia. In preparation the Air Force sent me to NYC for journalism training in the summer of 1951. Tromping around the city alone on weekends, my uniform and youth scored seats to original cast productions of “The King And I,” “Guys And Dolls,”

“Oklahoma,” “Call Me Madam” and other shows. I fell in love with Manhattan and vowed to live and work there someday. And did.

Years of toe-tapping to musical theater lay ahead, for the ‘50s were Brodway’s grandest era.

Upon returning to Georgia, I dated a school teacher named Coota. An older woman, maybe 22. On a black-and-white TV above the bar at the Continental Club (in the basement of a distinctly un-continental downtown Albany hotel) Coota and I watched Nixon deliver his pathetic but effective “Checkers” speech. About his daughters’ dog.

Ike was about to dump him as his running mate in the 1952 campaign against Adlai Stevenson.

Nixon begged and Ike relented.

On our first date Coota taught me a sassy song about a Persian Kitten “... perfumed and fair, went out to the backyard to get some air...a tomcat lean and lithe and long, dirty and ragged came along...”. My excited reaction to such lyrics was that Coota must be a hot chick. She wasn’t. At least not with me. But she could jitterbug like a Mexican jumping bean to “Glowworm” on the jukebox.

On weekend nights with buddies from the base I hung out at a piano-equipped steak house on the edge of town. We’d belt out oldies like “Put Your Arms Around Me Honey, Hold Me Tight.” Before long, half of Albany was dropping by to hear us boom out the old songs. On Miss America Day in 1953, Miss America Neva Jane Langley, from Georgia’s Wesleyan College, popped in to sing with us. I wouldn’t say our bawdy singing was an aphrodisiac, but she found us. Even played piano.

One day an airman friend who operated the base movie theater glanced furtively over his shoulder then beckoned for several trusted pals to step inside. He held a photo of an unknown young starlet, posing face down in her birthday suit. She was to become Marilyn Monroe. Inspired by that picture, Hugh Hefner borrowed $1,000 from his mother, bought the rights to the photo, and in 1953 launched Playboy. Hugh became a busy playboy himself.

All without taking off his bathrobe.

No doubt motivated by erudite Playboy essays, I dated Lucia, another older Dixie chick (24 when I was 22). Lucia flew to California to join me at my family’s home on a USAF leave. I was not the main attraction, Southern California was. Movie stars.

Street rods. Beaches. Lucia and I drove leisurely back to Georgia in a shiny, hardly driven 1950 Oldsmobile. Ah, the sacrifices we warriors made for our fellow citizens.

In the summer of 1954 I held the greatest job I’ve ever had -- program director at Camp O-ongo, a private boys and girls summer camp near Lake Arrowhead in California. Three summers later, the instant I finished college, I left town. Much of the damage to SoCal (including to beloved Lake Arrowhead) had been done by then and I resented it. It’s “progress” if you prefer a paved environment, dreadful over-population and a culture crafted by creepy Trump-type developer/ entrepreneurs.

In June 1956, Jackie Pelton and I met at Cal-Berkeley. All summer we played the recording of Broadway’s new hit, My Fair Lady. A year later I jumped into my 1954 Brit Triumph TR2 roadster and hit the highway via Route 66 for NYC. Jackie stayed put. Degree in hand, she had taken a teaching job at Lake Arrowhead. During four college years she had no financial help, supported herself waitressing and was debt-free upon graduation.

Such a feat would be unimaginable today, even in California’s university system. The thrifty, nifty ‘50s.

Jackie Pelton and I wed on Block Island, R. I., in August 1957. We lived in the heart of Greenwich Village in a walkup brownstone apartment with fireplace and terrace straight out of the 1954 movie, “Rear Window.” $105 a month. To us

that was plenty. Today? Conservatively, $2500. Indianapolis was next. And then, as the ‘50s dissolved, a log cabin, a canoe and a 1957 Saab in the woods at Pines Lake, New Jersey, our first owned home. Like a chainsaw, the Saab required both gas and oil in the gas tank. We had a mortgage and a commute for me into downtown NYC by car, train and ferry boat. And a constant stream burbling through the cabin’s cellar which the realtor had forgotten to mention.

Earlier, as editor of the Western Electric factory newspaper in Indianapolis, where all the telephones in the U.S. were manufactured, I eagerly ran a story, with photos, about the yet-to-beannounced Princess phone. “It’s little, it’s lovely, it lights.” The dainty instrument was fresh off the assembly line and a top corporate secret. A massive, nationwide, zillion- dollar marketing campaign was planned for the Princess. Parent company AT&T was in charge.

And I had blown it. Important New York Hq. tycoons were, well, angry. All copies of that week’s newspaper were shredded. I almost was as well.

On the happier side, one day a bright young female graduate engineer joined Western Electric at the Indianapolis factory. Imagine that! A lady engineer! A first!

It was such heady corporate news that I ran the story and her picture, really big, on page one. That was late 1958. There was some bitching from old timer, white-shirted assembly line supervisors. But it was a start. If some things about our society seem much worse today, other things are obviously so much better.

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May 19th - 22nd, 2016 It’s that time of year again. Get out your poodle skirts and doowap records, ‘Lost in the ‘50s’ has returned to Sandpoint!

Here’s a quick rundown of all the events going on this weekend.

Thursday, May 19 Rock n’ Roll Heaven XII 7pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds An explosive night of energy and music that will rock you for days! Elvis, Richie Valens and Jackie Wilson are expected to appear. Doors open at 6 p.m., so come early to tailgate and get some great food and libations before the great music begins.

FRIday, May 20 Vintage Car Parade 6pm @ Downtown Sandpoint For participants, cars need to be at the Sandpoint High School parking lot by 5 p.m. All vintage and classic cars welcome. The parade route will wind through Sandpoint and culminate with...

Street Dance After the parade @ Downtown Sandpoint Co-sponsored by Blue Sky Broadcasting. The Street Dance will take place downtown between Second and Third Avenues on Main Street (next to the Jeff Jones Town Square).

Everyone’s favorite deejay Bashful Dan will be the king of the street rock again.

Show and Dance featuring The Flamingos and Chris Montez, with Rocky and the Rollers 7:30pm @ Bonner Co. Fairgrounds Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for this Friday night extravaganza, featuring the Flamingos and Chris Montez headlining, with Rocky and the Rollers rockin’ the house.

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saturday, May 21 Car Show 9:30am - 3:45pm @ Downtown Sandpoint Downtown Sandpoint will be bursting with hot rods and classics on First and Cedar, Main, Second and Third avenues. Always a fun event that draws people from far and wide.

The awards ceremony will follow the show at the corner of First and Cedar in front of the Cedar St. Bridge.

Chubby Checker and Johnny Tillotson, featuring Rocky and the Rollers 7:30pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds The king of the dance craze, Chubby Checker and Mr. poetry-in-motion Johnny Tillotson will be headlining this fun night of dancing.

sunday, May 22 Aspirin Rally-Run 5k run starts at 9:30am @ Second Ave. Pizza This 5K fun run starts from Second Avenue Pizza at 10 a.m., but you should show up early to register and to allow time for transportation to starting line. Co-sponsored by the Cardio-Junkies, our Sandpoint Running Club.

Car-Rally @ 11:30am @ Second Ave. Pizza A fun rally in the tradition of poker run. They encourage you to pre-enter so there are enough shirts and packets for everyone the day of the race.

For tickets and information, check in with Second Ave. Pizza.

215 South Second Ave. Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-265-LOST (5678) lost50s@sandpoint.net

‘City Clubs’ model a tool for healthy discussion

By Lynn Bridges Reader Contributor City clubs have been established in a number of communities with the goal of bringing together civic-minded people for thoughtful civil discourse.

These types of meetings have the potential to find nonpartisan solutions by way of in-depth talking and listening on different community issues.

You will find such clubs in Boise, Seattle and Cleveland to name a few. An easy Internet search will locate many more of the clubs.

The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force sees this model as a viable solution for our community to come together for conversations that may inspire and strengthen the

health of our community.

On Saturday, May 7. Bonner County Human Rights Task Force held a panel presentation at Sandpoint High School based on this model. This pilot project had four guest panelists; Dr. Majid Sharifi, associate professor at EWU in political science and international affairs, speaking on how terrorism has become Islamified; Ava Sharifi, a student in Spokane speaking on how current events impact her life; Judy Cross and Joe Kibbe, both members of the Interfaith Alliance in Boise, who addressed various aspects of refugee issues in Idaho.

Our own Brenda Hammond was moderator of the panel.

We opened the event with each panelist presenting their topic

By Rebecca Holland Reader Contributor

followed by a short break, which allowed the audience the opportunity to visit with the panelists and write down questions to be asked by Brenda.

There was also time at the end for open questions.

Given the positive response of both participants and pan-

Fear of the alien

By Rev. Bob Evans Reader Contributor

Terrorist ideology originates first and foremost from the frenzy created out of greed and the quest for power. Terrorism is the vile and evil child of fear and hate which in turn gives rise to inequity and injustice.

Religious traditions, because of the tremendous and creative power they hold over their various followers, are natural bedfellows for those who wish to pervert the power of the Holy for their own gain.

Every faith tradition has produced its own variation of terrorism. Those who use religious traditions as weapons turn the tradition’s visions of more perfect societies into laws of god that would allow those in power to take God’s kingdom by force. This can only be accomplished by implying through these traditions, that God actually prefers some people over others … that God is somehow prejudice.

The one whose teachings gave birth to the Christian traditions teaches us that God is “no respecter of persons.” The

Apostle Paul echoes this truth powerfully in his letter to the Romans. Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that no tradition, referred to by Jesus as mountains, holds the complete truth that can only be found by worshipping the Divine in Truth and Spirit, as some already are.

To think one is favored by God above others is a terrible temptation, and maybe we are all a little guilty of it at times.

There are extremists in all traditions that are as guilty as those in any other religious tradition when they consider themselves “favored,” or more “sacred” than any who do not think the same, or have the same vision of the Divine as they do. This is an absolute devilish and horrible temptation, to see one’s self as more sacred than the “other” in the heart of the Divine.

This idea, held by many, that some are favored by God, or Jesus, or any other prophet or vision of the Divine, arises from the innate fear of being wrong and of our “ceasing to exist.” It has been my experience in talking with many who count themselves faithful, that

Ride your bike to school, win a prize

many are dead sure of being right about their beliefs in God—because they are horrified of going to hell if they are wrong. They have been taught that they must not ever doubt their beliefs. Philosophically, this fear is called “existential angst.” All religious, philosophical and scientific thought is fueled primarily by this fear.

“Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” but only if we seek to dispel that fear through faith.

Religiously, for many, the symbol, “kingdom of God,” is presumed to be the antidote for our fear of death. What is this kingdom and how is it formed?

It is all too clear that most do not know what it is nor how it is established. Whatever it might be, they are all trying to take it by force. That is, they wish to enforce their vision of a perfect society on the world through war and unjust laws that legitimize their own views, all with claims that the laws of their culture are divine commands that justify the savage effort to enforce them.

Those who are speaking so destructively and fearfully

The May 4 Bike to School Day was successful. The numbers of riders at Washington Elementary was 120; Farmin-Stidwell, 117; Kootenai, 72; Northside, 55; Hope, 6; Sandpoint Middle School, 59; Sandpoint High School, 28.

Panelist Ava Sharifi, left, gives It’s encouraging the percenta high five to Ben Reich, Pres- age of students at Sandpoint’s ident Human Rights Club SHS, two elementary schools (Washright. Photo by Chuck Smith. inton and Farmin-Stidwell) was nearly 30 percent of their elists, the BCHRTF board will student body, which shows the explore additional community potential numbers of students events of this nature in the who could regularly be travelfuture. ing to school in a fun, healthy, environmentally sustainable manner.

To help develop this good habit, Sandpoint Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee (SPBAC) started an incentive about the beautiful and ancient program to encourage students Islamic tradition, or any tradito continue riding their bikes, tion other than their own, are longboards or kick-scooters to trying to pull us into their effort school. For each school day to secure a society surroundthat students ride during the ed by fences held in place by month of May, they will enter hate and fear. They, like their their name in a drawing for gift counterparts in the Mid-East, certificates donated by Acwhile refusing to help the alien tion Water Sports, Schweitzer in distress for their lives, are Mountain, Panida Theater and aiding and abetting, empowerHuckleberry Lanes. Washinging, promoting and recruiting ton Elementary, Farmin-Stidfor the very ideologies they are well and Sandpoint Middle opposed to.

School are currently participatAny who call themselves ing in this program. “believers” yet refuse to love Ride on! a neighbor as one’s self, which is the fundamental “law” of the kingdom of God, are psychologically and spiritually in harmony with those they treat as, “less than” them. To block our Muslim brothers and sisters, or anyone, from safe haven within our borders is to treat their lives as less sacred than their own. It is a forceful effort to steal the authority of From left to right: the Creator of All, who favors Farmin-Stidwell 4th no human being and no tradigrade students Josiah tion, and wishes only that we Henry, Bridger Andres worship in Truth and in Spirit and Evan Holt. Photo even as we love one another.

by ALL-STAR PHOTO. May 19, 2016 /

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Amateur radio: a fascinating Sandpoint hobby

By Eric Anderson Reader Contributor

Some of you may have heard of amateur radio, or its other, more common name, ham radio. There are a number of “hams” in the Sandpoint area that have joined together under the banner BCARC, which stands for Bonner County Amateur Radio Club.

The club meets once a month at various locations.

So exactly what is amateur radio? It is a hobby that attracts tens of thousands worldwide.

Different people are attracted for different reasons. Some enjoy the excitement of talking with people all over the world.

Some are attracted by the technical aspects — there are some very sophisticated radio transceivers available, as well as some very interesting antennas of wide-ranging designs.

Then there is moon bounce.

And satellite communications.

And worldwide nets, which combine radio and the internet. Or even local repeaters, where you can talk to people all over the area on a little hand-held radio - or even all over the world using a system called D*STAR. And then there are the very cool digital modes. These modes allow 20 to 40 channels of ongoing conversation in the same bandwidth as a single voice channel! A computer is connected to the radio transceiver, and text is received and transmitted via a keyboard and a set of macros that simplify the interactions between two stations. A few clicks on the macro buttons, and you are off and running.

Some like the creative aspect: designing your own radio set, or your own antenna, testing your creation, sharing it with others, building from scratch (a “maker”) or from kits. There are so many aspects to the hobby.

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service aspects. This includes ARES/RACES - two different organizations for handling emergency communications.

Ham radio operations have traditionally provided life-saving communications during emergencies, such as earthquakes, floods and other types of disasters, where normal communication channels are disrupted. These groups work directly with emergency government agencies to provide the required communications.

For example, during the recent earthquake emergency in Ecuador, the national organization, ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League) set aside certain frequencies in the 40- meter radio band for emergency communications related to that recovery effort.

Hams also help each other.

Putting up an antenna. Figuring out why things don’t work.

Getting help from around the world is not uncommon.

So what does it take to become a ham radio hobbyist?

It’s actually pretty easy. The club will help you get started and grow into the hobby.

Many people who are not at all technical will get the basic technician license. This allows them to use the higher frequency bands for voice and digital communications like the small, low-cost handheld transceivers or the lower bands with morse code (you do not have to learn or use code). The club offers classes for those who want to take the exam, and exams are offered locally, and cost is typically $5. Alternative online courses are also available that make the test easy to pass.

There are so many more aspects to the hobby. Field Day. Contests. And more. Check our website for more information: www.k7jep.org. We are here to help you get into an exciting hobby. Come join us!

A HAM rig. Photo courtesy of Eric Anderson.

Members of the Bonner County Amateur Radio Club. Photo courtesy of Eric Anderson.

Random Corner

more d n a s t n a , ants

ants n

By Ben Olso

I have a not-so-fun story to tell about ants. When I first moved to Los Angeles to seek fame and fortune, I moved into a tiny room of a dilapidated house in Eagle Rock. A couple weeks after moving in, it rained through the night. I woke up the next morning feeling something crawling all over my body. When my eyes focused,

I realized I was feeling thousands of ants crawling all over me. They were on the walls, inside my clothes. They were even in some places where you don’t really want to find insects (if you know what I mean).

When I ran down to get my then-landlord, he was quite calm about it. “Oh, this happens when it rains,” he said. “But don’t worry, it doesn’t rain much here.” He then proceeded to spray Raid all over my bed and clothes. The ants dropped in giant piles.

Looking over my room, now filled with piles and piles of ants, I vowed then and there that I was going to move. I also vowed to hate ants until the day I died.

STAGE & SCREEN Panida Playhouse introduces dinner theater

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff For a small town, Sandpoint is tough to beat in artistic and culinary talent.

Thanks to the Panida Theater, people can appreciate both in a event.

The Panida Playhouse is launching a series of film and theater events bringing together the best of Sandpoint catering with its most talented playwrights, actors and directors.

According to Panida executive director Patricia Walker, the series will take place the last Thursday and Tuesday of each month and rotate between a special live theater performance or cinema production. Hitting the Little Theater this month, the series kicks off with two one-act plays written by respected local playwright Teresa Pesce.

“There’s simply something special about live performance, and whether it’s date night or come-enjoy-theaterwith-your-friends night, it’s an experience like no other,” said Walker.

Like other dinner theater experiences, participants can expect a great meal followed by dessert and a performance or screening. What sets the new Panida series apart is its connection to Sandpoint’s one-of-a-kind local talent, and the first month of performances starts out strong with participation from some of the most dedicated members of the theater community.

Pesce, the founder of Sandpoint Onstage and a longtime theater proponent, is wellknown for her writing and direction on plays like her own “The Counselor” or Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.”

She returns with two original plays particularly suited for dinner theater, “Karma Comes Calling” and “Press Reset.” According to cast members and organizers, attendees are in for a memorable experience Walker describes as “‘The Twilight Zone’ meets ‘Friends.’”

“The plays are very strong, as good as Teresa’s best work, which means stellar,” said Michael Bigley, a director and actor who is helping organize the first round of dinner theater. “In very little time she makes you care deeply about these people while laughing almost constantly, and both plays finish where you least expect them to end up.”

Both plays are cast with much-loved local actors. “Karma Comes Calling” stars Eric Bond, Seneca Cummings, Mike Allen Clarke and Jeremiah Campbell, while “Press Reset” stars Skye Palmer and Eric Bond.

“The casts are both perfect, bringing a natural energy to the stage that makes these little stories breathe immediately,” said Bigley. “Any one of these actors has the chops to direct, and together they have really created some magnificent theater.”

Of course, expect some great food to

round out the experience. The menu is set for the first night and includes black and bleu fettuccini with blackened New York steak and roasted red peppers for a meat option or Chickpea Marsala for a vegetarian option.

Tickets for Panida Playhouse Dinner Theater are $35 and are available online at www.panida.org. Performances are 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, and Thursday, May 26, at the Panida Little Theater.

Space is limited and RSVPing is required, so buy your tickets today!

thursday may 19 @ 7pm

MCS: Advanced student recital may 20 @ 8:30pm / may 21 @ 5:30pm / may 22 @ 3:30pm

“a hologram for the king” starring oscar winner Tom hanks

little r h t eate

may 24 & 26 @ 6pm

Dinner theater - live theater Thursday, may 26 @ 7pm

SHS band spring performance May 28 @ 7:30pm / May 29 @ 3:30pm

“louder than bombs”

starring jesse eisenberg and gabriel byrne

Sunday, may 29 @ 6:30pm

Shakespeare Sunday Series

BBC “King Lear” with Ian Holm (1998) -- free admission!

hockney / sing street (ireland) just announced - gallagher’s final tour (september)

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The Straight Poop:

The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist Where am I taking my humans today?

I’m on a mission to sniff out dogfriendly businesses at the opening day of the Sandpoint Saturday Market in Farmin Park. Upon arrival I growled at the “welcome signage”— NO DOGS IN THE PARK. Since the Market is located in the city of Sandpoint park, here’s the straight poop regarding the city ordnance that is in effect: “Dogs, even on leash, are not permitted on interior pathways or grass (inside the park), but are permitted on the exterior perimeter as this space is a street right of way.” So watch where you step!

The market started in 1988 with about 10 vendors, all offering produce, plants and flowers from their own gardens. Today, there are over 100 vendors, filling the park with crafts, festive music, appetizing produce and floral displays.

The market runs from May to October, and is in the park on Wednesday (3-5:30 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m.-1 p.m.). Patti Fulton and Hali Clizer manage the market with enthusiasm. All of the vendors offer pure and local goods that come from the ground. This is a place where families, friends, locals, visitors, tourists and dogs can gather, shop, dance, sing and catch up on news and social happenings. Walk along me (and the Mister and Missus), as I sniff out some dog-friendly vendors.

Hey, there’s my BFF Packer, the official shop dog of Kitchen Essentials, with his dad, John Wayne Rodgers (retired guy turned starving artist). John spent over 30 years as a licensed general contractor, specializing in millwork. During his career he collected many different types of scrap wood. One day, he found a use for all that wood when a good friend asked if he could mend one of his favorite wooden kitchen utensils. John completed the request with much success. With the help of his wife, Sandy, he started making one of kind wooden spoons, ladles, spatulas, tongs, salad sets and containers. There’s always bowl of fresh water waiting for you. Bring a dog biscuit for Packer, and a cookie for John.

We’re walking, and now we’re snacking and chatting with Brittany Longden of Boomer’s Barley and Biscuits. Her business is centered on her two loves, beer and her dog, Boomer. When she lost her 17-year job with Coldwater Creek, she decided to jumpstart her dream of creating a business that she could control. Her goal was to make a healthy dog treat with no unnecessary fillers. She rented a commercial kitchen, sourced consistent grain from a local beer producer, boned up on all the rules, regs and testing to make tail-waggin’ healthy dog biscuits, and she mastered the fine art of making change! The only 21 /

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Drake poses with Hali Clizer, left, Assistant Manager and Patti Fulton, right, Market Manager. ingredients she uses are repurposed barley from MickDuff’s, unbleached flour, natural peanut butter and eggs. Can we get a pawsup for all of the professional tasters that made these biscuits possible? Yummo, my favorite treat!

Kim Spencer, owner of Staff of Life, was one of the market’s first vendors. She has been making products that are tested on husband, family and friends for 22 years, and was my first market friend. Her introductory product was Shampoochi, a four-on-the-floor shampoo for dogs. This popular product was discontinued. However, due to overwhelming requests, it will be coming back soon. All of the ingredients in her hand-crafted soaps, perfume and solid moisturizing products are family- and dog-friendly. ScatNat is a natural, oil-based insect repellant (not that yucky chemical stuff). The Missus put some on my bandana and tied it around my neck. It works on dogs and horses—pawfect! Kim also handspins fibers for “dreds” and yarn. She keeps weather facts in her market book, which dates back to 2009. The last two years, the opening day temperature was below 40 degrees. Today, it’s sunshine and 78 degrees—hot diggity dog!

And slobbery dog kisses to the market newcomer, owner Jennifer Hendricks of American Angel Studio. Jennifer and her husband have a shih tzu, Hope, and a pug, Angel. Guess who was the inspiration for the business name? We’re all getting together this week for lunch—I can’t wait to meet the “kids.” Jennifer uses copper, bronze and iron to create local nature jewelry. This is such a dog-friendly business, as sometimes Jennifer prefers dogs to humans! Ten percent of gross sales are given to the Wounded Warrior Project.

Look for the Reader paw print on these dog friendly businesses when you are strolling through the market. I’ll give you the straight poop out a few more over the next few months.

Market Dog Rules: 1. Leashes and good manners 2. Stay by your human’s side 3. Keep your head and tail away from produce, plants and other food products 4. Humans, please clean up doggie business

Opening hearts and minds change your language, change your life!

By Suzen Fiskin Reader Columnist As a speaker and success coach, I’ve done scads of presentations to audiences around the country over the last couple of decades. One of the most popular topics I speak on is “Pumping Up Your Powers of Persuasion.” Being an influential communicator is one of those key skills that can make a huge difference in how well we do in the world.

We are always communicating – either with someone else or in the privacy of our own brains. For some mysterious reason, schools don’t teach us how to share our thoughts and feelings well – or how to balance a checkbook for that matter! The words we choose have a big impact on the quality of our communications.

One of my favorite ways to wake up an audience about this is to do a demonstration. I find the tallest, burliest man there and invite him to join me in front of the room.

I’m not very big on the outside, and my guy of choice looks huge next to me.

So imagine my 5-foot, 3-inch self looking up at a 6-foot, 3-inch husky man; let’s call him Bob. I explain applied kinesiology/ muscle testing to him, which is a common alternative medicine method of using the body’s innate intelligence to see what’s good for us and what isn’t. I ask him to hold out his arm straight out to his side and to resist when I press down on it. I firmly push down on his arm; it’s like a steel rod and holds strong.

I then put a small packet of sugar in Bob’s giant hand and test him again. His arm collapses like a Raggedy Andy doll! I repeat this several times with the same results. A weak response like this means that what’s being tested isn’t good for us. News flash . . . sugar’s bad for us. Bummer!

Let’s get back to the power of words.

“I’m going to ask you to say two sentences, and I’ll muscle test you after each one . . . are you ready?” Bob nods his large, balding head.

“I’ll have that contract signed this afternoon.” He repeats the phrase, and I push down on his arm. He’s rock solid.

“Here’s the second one: I’ll TRY to have that contract signed this afternoon.”

Once again, he repeats the sentence, I apply pressure, and his arm goes limp like overcooked pasta. The look of shock on his face is priceless!

What’s going on here? As the wise ol’ soul Yoda said, “There is no try . . . only do or not do.” Just using the word “try” presupposes failure which literally weakens us. So any time you want to accomplish something, you might want to swap out the word “try” for “I’ll do it” or “I’ll give it a go.” It’s a really good one for the young ‘uns to learn as well.

Our language is a direct reflection of what’s going on in our unconscious minds.

We can shift our thinking on the inside by consciously choosing different words.

Here are some of my favorite language

upgrades: 1. If/When: The word “if” is really feeble. Consider these two phrases: “If I lose 20 pounds, I’ll take myself Paris,” or “When I lose 20 pounds, I’ll take myself to Paris.” Which one fires you up to hop online to check out ticket prices? “If” will most likely never happen; “when” is only a matter of time.

2. But/And: The word “but” negates everything in the sentence that precedes it.

“I love you, but . . .” is never a promising sign, while “I love you, and . . .” holds such possibilities!

3. This/That and Here/There: When we speak of “this” problem that’s “here,” we are smack dab in the middle of it, and it can be hard to find a way out. When we shift to “that” problem over “there” we stop identifying with our challenge, get distance from it, and gain more perspective.

4. Present Tense/Past Tense: This one goes along with #3. Putting our limitations in the past can give us a new outlook. Ex: “This glitch I have,” compared to “that glitch I had.” Our unconscious mind responds to tenses and will react to the idea that you HAD that glitch and will work to get beyond it.

5. Yet: This one is so simple, yet so effective. “I can’t play piano” becomes “I can’t play piano YET!” This one word opens up the door to all kinds of potential. We can use this for most limitations we place on ourselves that we haven’t shifted . . . YET! There you have it – half a dozen language upgrades that can change how we interact with the world on the outside as well as our private world within. Let me know when you give any of these a go!

Suzen Fiskin is a seasoned success coach, inspirational speaker, author, and marketing wiz. You can read her column in The Reader every two weeks. Be sure to wave when you see her in town or paddling her kayak. If you have questions and such, you can contact her: suzenfiskin@yahoo. com or call/text: (208)572-0009

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

Hold onto your tunics, it’s ‘Lost in the 1450s’

By Ben Olson Reader Staff Kings, queens, knaves and scoundrels alike, prepareth thyselves for a righteous show of epic proportions.

During the normal Lost in the ‘50s festivities this weekend, one corner of Sandpoint will take you back to a different ‘50s; one complete with dragon slayers, knights, sword fighting and epic rock music.

Head to the Granary parking lot outside of Evans Brothers for “Lost in the 1450s,” a day full of fun featuring a bike swap, bike rodeo and a theatrical performance by medieval rock band The Alliance.

Combining the elements of live theater, historical reenactment and progressive rock influenced by such bands as Kansas and Rush, The Alliance is the brainchild of frontman and songwriter, his majesty Jay Trocke.

I talked with Jay about the formation of the band, the positive message they promote, and just what in the heck we should expect this weekend.

BO: How did this whole thing start with the Alliance?

JT: We started in Japan. That’s when The Alliance formed. I was living in Japan and started writing material. Getting back to the states is where I thought, all the songs have that rennaisance type theatrical type mood to them. It morphed from there. When I was a kid, I always liked to pretend I was sword fighting or slaying a dragon. How could you not be thrilled with knights and horses and kings and queens and battering rams? I also like that we have a spiritual tone to it – it’s all positive and for all ages, from five to 85 … back in those days, no matter what your position, your word meant something. It was about courage, honor. It wasn’t just words, it was a way of life.

BO: You combine elements of story-telling, theater and music in your performance. How did that come about?

JT: It’s one thing to tell a story.

It’s another to be in a castle. We set our castle up, we all dress in

Medieval rock band The Alliance to play at Evans Brothers lot

READ

Growing up in North Idaho, I’m no stranger to extremists. I always thought it would make a great book, until I realized someone already had written it.

“Them: Adventures with Extremists,” by Jon Ronson is a rolicking true account of the journalist’s intimate experiences with everyone from Islamic fundamentalists to neo-Nazis, who all share the belief that a tiny, shadowy elite rule the world from a secret room.

Entertaining? You betcha.

LISTEN

The Alliance is (back row): Sir Seth Brookshire, Sir Josh Moore, Sir Mike Laffoon, Sir Bryan Lloyd. (front row) Her majesty Collen Trocke and his majesty Jay Trocke. Courtesy photo. period pieces. My wife plays the keyboard, she’s the queen. I’m the king. All of our players are knights from different areas. We mix it all up because we are the alliance.

Back in those days, there were alliances between countries. If you didn’t have an alliance with another country, you better watch out.

BO: And what about the live action and sword fighting going on during your music set?

JT: We’re hooked up with the North Idaho Boffering and LARPers, which is a group of people who get together with swords and light armor. [Boffering is weapon play with lightweight weapons to avoid injury, LARP stands for Live Action Role Play] They go out and boff and larf, create little battles. It’s an all-ages thing. I saw them out boffing and larfing and introduced myself and told them what we do, and they said it sounded great. It’s taking it to the next level.

BO: I’ve seen a lot of historical reenactment groups popping up in recent years. Why do you think it appeals to people more and more nowadays?

JT: I think it appeals to people because we live in a world of reality. Some people like to get into fantasy a little bit. When you were a kid, didn’t you like to role play a

little bit, to take a little out of the harsh reality?

BO: You guys all play in full dress, with armor, tunics, the whole nine yards. Is that tough playing with all that gear?

JT: It takes a little bit to get used to. When you’re in a castle and all the props are up there, you get used to it pretty quick. These costumes are fairly light. Mine’s probably the heaviest. When it comes to tunics, nothing fits too tight, so you get some room to breathe. It is tough to play with gauntlets, though. Now, we almost rely on the costume. We’re not in character yet until we get into the costumes.

BO: What should we expect on Saturday?

JT: In the morning there is a bike swap meet, then around 3 p.m. there’ll be a bike rodeo, going around cones and jumps. Like a BMX track.

Then at 4 p.m. we’re going to kick it off with music and our performance. If

Podcasts are a dime a dozen these days, but every once in a while a really good one comes out.

Longform is a weekly from the journalism curation site of the same name, which features in-depth conversations with non-fiction writers that go deeper than your average interview.

If you ever want to know a little the weather is nice, we’ll play outmore information behind some of side in the parking lot, but if it’s the biggest stories out there, this is rainy, we’ll be in the warehouse.

Either way, rain or shine we’ll be the poscast for you. playing. We research the dress and I’m a carpenter, so I build the backdrops and my wife paints them. Everything’s authentic, in context, in character. We are fantasy and we’re all about the positive message.

Be sure to check out The Alliance at the Evans Brothers parking lot. There will be a $5 cover, and the show will be for all ages. For more information about The Alliance, go to www. thealliancerockband.com or call 208-946-7948. Rock on!

Crossword Solution

WATCH

One of my favorite films by director Alexander Payne is “Sideways” featuring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church.

The film, based on the novel by Rex Pickett, is the perfect balance of humor and pathos as we follow a couple of buddies in their fourties on a wine tasting/bachelor party tour of the Santa Barbara County Wine Country.

Giamatti’s role as the struggling writer Miles Raymond is spot-on, and Haden Church’s portrayal as his philandering phillistine buddy from college Jack Cole is equally entertaining.

This film is great for wine aficionadoes, but also for those who seek the best in life... and sometimes watch it fall apart.

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w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

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

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

Looking east from the lot on the corner of Boyer Ave. and Larch St., once the home of the Louisiana-Pacific poleyard and sawmill. The low white building in the distance is the back side of the Quality Inn on Fifth Ave.

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

2008

ACROSS

The same view today. Super 1 grocery store now occupies the lot. The roundabout is directly behind me as I took the photograph.

2016

Woorf tdhe Week

obviate

/OB-vee-eyt/

[verb] 1. To anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures.

“To obviate the risk of serious injury, wear a helmet.”

Corrections: This was a dumb mistake. In our candidates questionnaire, we accidentally said the day for voting was May 11 when it was May 17. Sorry about that stupid mistake.

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1. Seraglio 6. Appear 10. Money 14. Spry 15. A single time 16. Savvy about 17. A sport involving a ball and a net 19. Chew 20. Excrements 21. Central 22. Egghead 23. Sysadmin 25. Two times thirty 26. Female sheep (plural) 30. Imitation 32. Baffle 35. Angered 66. Visual organs 39. Less difficult 67. Not now 40. Incumbency 68. Garbage 41. Competitor 43. A rudimentary inner toe DOWN 44. Conceive 1. Possess 46. Not difficult 2. All excited 47. Backsides 3. Anger 50. Russian currency 4. L L L L 53. A Freudian stage 5. Encounters 54. N N N N 6. Weep 55. Bay 7. Captivate 60. Swing around 8. Overshadow 61. Eviscerate 9. Blend 63. Faucets 10. Awareness or notice 64. Small island 11. Building addition 65. Portents

Solution on page 21 12. Begin 13. Informal greeting 18. Cheer 24. Gender 25. Scatter 26. Type of sword 27. Withdraw gradually 28. At one time (archaic) 29. Apathetic 31. Pot 33. Conducts 34. Sea eagle 36. Babylonian goddess of healing

37. Historical periods 38. Wet, as morning grass 42. Sully 43. Cotillion girl 45. Scuffle 47. Sew together loosely 48. To untwist 49. Brownish gray 51. Flee 52. Arm joint 54. Modify 56. Unwakable state 57. Is endebted to 58. Blow off steam 59. If not 62. Poetic dusk

Whenever you see a bunch of Italian guys talking Italian, just go up to them and start talking fake Italian. They may not understand you exactly, but at least everyone will get a nice warm “Italian” feeling.

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