Reader May 25 24, 2017

It’s a great time to be on two wheels

Sandpoint • Ponderay •Hope • Clark Fork • Sagle • Bonners Ferry • Priest River • Newport

READER May 25, 2017 | FREE | Vol. 14 Issue 21

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Sandpoint Property Management provides:

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Are you happy with the line-up this year for the Festival at Sandpoint?

“I’m happy Jake Owen is coming. He is honestly my favorite country singer. I never thought they would get someone as famous or as popular as he is.”

Bree Young Med technician Sandpoint

DEAR READERS,

The Reader family is growing. This week marks the return of University of Idaho graduate Lyndsie Kiebert as a full-fledged staff writer. Kiebert received a bachelor’s degree in professional writing with a minor in journalism and will lend her talents to the Reader as a staff writer through the summer. We’re hoping to convince her to stick around and join us full time after that.

How will an extra staff writer improve the Reader? To start with, our news coverage has doubled. We will now be able to cover more stories that affect the county and outlying areas. We will also be able to feature more long form and investigative pieces. Kiebert will also help stay on top of the social media pages.

Watch for a marked improvement in local coverage in the coming weeks.

Kiebert’s writing talent is just one of the many reasons we want her around at the Reader; she’s also a great person, she’s a lot of fun to hang out with in the news room, and she truly cares about the sacred tenets of journalism. We’re honored to have her join our dysfunctional family.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

“I think it’s bitchin’. I think it was created with younger people in mind.

It has a lot of spice.”

Taylor Skinner Phlebotomist Sandpoint

Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Advertising: Jodi Taylor Jodi@sandpointreader.com

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“Not really. I feel like there should be bands for different generations on different nights. The Festival concerts are too expensive for most of the locals. For a family of three, it would cost $225 for some of the concerts this year, and that’s not affordable.”

Calvin Howell Handyman Sandpoint

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Mike Comola, Christian Rose, Brenda Hammond, Bill Harp, Brenden Bobby, Davey Breakey, Jodi Rawson, Tamara Cornwall, Marcia Pilgeram, Ed Ohlweiler.

Reid Barr Owner, Route 66 Auto body Sandpoint

“I think it’s a good slate of performers. I won’t go to any of the concerts. I will be busy picking up after people, so I’ll get to hear some of the music.”

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

Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover manipulation), Jodi Rawson, Susan Drinkard, Mary Haley.

“I’m pretty happy with it. The B-52s concert is affordable, and they’re good. If my wife had more time off, we would go to the Wailers.”

Dannielle Cave Social worker Sandpoint

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About the Cover

This week’s cover is actually a vintage cycling poster I found on one of my favorite free stock sites.

Part of the fun of being a designer is being able to repurpose these vintage folders into Reader covers.

Hope you enjoy!

May 25, 2017 /

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COMMENTARY

My view on Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

By Mike Comola Reader Contributor Scotchman Peaks, wild and remote, looms high above Clark Fork, Idaho and the Clark Fork of the Columbia River. Home to a small population of America’s remaining grizzly bears, this area contains the westernmost concentration in our lower 48 states. In fact, wildlife of a great many other species abound, including but a few years ago, sightings of Mountain Caribou - and an occasional moose or more.

A beautiful, unique area from most anyone’s perspective, but today as in years past, it continues struggling to retain its fastness and isolation in the face of modern pressures, both social and political. These struggles are certainly not new to Scotchman Peaks, perhaps just changed somewhat in nature. One thing that remains unchanged however, is the polit-

Letters to the Editor Labrador and Health Care...

Dear Editor, Raul Labrador drew national attention when he said “Nobody dies because they don’t have access to health care coverage” — a Time Magazine quote of the week.

But another questionable quote came from Idaho’s other Congressional representative, Mike Simpson, who, while defending the GOP Housepassed health care bill, proclaimed he wouldn’t have voted for it if he believed it would become law.

The bill, that faces an uncertain future in the Senate, was drafted without any input from the medical community – including the American Medical Assn., the American Nurses Assn., and the American Academy of Pediatrics. They have denounced the Republican plan as an attack on the poor and the elderly, threatening 24 million Americans with losing their health care coverage.

Opponents are concerned about billions in cuts to Medicaid, in order to provide tax cuts to wealthy 4 /

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ical complexity of Scotchman’s straddling two states, Idaho and Montana.

Nearly 49 years ago, recognizing the high impact commercial commodity production would have on wildlife, many in northern Idaho, eastern Washington and northwestern Montana began the process of attempting to preserve Scotchman Peaks with the best tool available to the public: U.S. Congressional Wilderness classification.

In the intervening half-century, battles have been fought: any number of U.S. Forest Service decisions have come and gone.

Mining Company interests have been met—and resolved. Potential timber production has finally been realized as marginal at best. Nine U.S. presidents have served in office. As well, any numbers of U.S. Congressmen have come and gone from office in these three states. Throughout it all, due to local citizen involvement, the fastness of these wild lands above the Clark Fork River remains intact.

The public has done about everything they can to present to the Congressional delegations of Idaho and Montana a still wild roadless area whose addition would be a jewel in our nation’s wilderness system. But the public cannot make this happen —only our U.S. representatives and senators can add Scotchman Peaks to our Wilderness system for future generations of Americans. It is time for them to do so.

While no two people agree on much of anything, the years have tended to flesh out legitimate concern versus self-interest. No, this author does not expect Scotchman’s legislation to be without dissent, but the majority of your constituents will support and thank you. I further suspect names of those representatives and senators, who take up Scotchman’s gauntlet through to the president’s signature, will certainly live on with those of Frank Church and Lee Metcalf.

In closing, your ultimate

Americans. It would allow insurers to charge sharply- higher premiums to older Americans and people with pre-existing conditions—putting health insurance costs out of reach for many families. (Obamacare makes sure it isn’t just sick people who purchase policies. It offers subsidies to low-and middle-income people to purchase care.)

“It really comes down to a moral choice,” says Betsy Querna Cliff, a Spokane native and doctoral student in health economics at the University of Michigan, in a guest opinion.

“Are we going to help support those who bear the burdens of medical conditions or are we going to tell them they’re on their own?”

When the Senate takes up the health care bill we can only hope our lawmakers (moderate Republicans joining Democrats) make the moral choice and keep the many good parts of Obamacare, while making further improvements.

Jesus Fish...

Jim Ramsey Sandpoint

Dear Editor, The origin of the Jesus fish is of the “occult” and/or pagan (astrology and sacred geometry) and goes back many centuries before the birth of the myth known as Jesus.

(For more about this watch the film “Zeitgeist” or read the book: “The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold” by Acharya S.) The birth of the Jesus myth was the dawning of the Age of Pisces and we have been in the Piscean Age for about 2,000 years now.

What this means is, at the vernal equinox, the sun has been in the astrological sign of Pisces during this period.

Jesus was born at the end of the Age of Aries and within a dozen years of his birth began the Piscean Age. So Jesus is referred to as the lamb because he was born in the Age of Aries (the Ram) and the fisher of men because his ministry began at the dawn of the Piscean age.

What does the astrological star

Scotchman Peak as viewed from the air. Photo by Ben Olson. boundary is everything. The exact roadless extent is now well known both in Idaho and Montana, and many throughout the region endorse that boundary as necessary. Reduction for the sake of compromise is risky for several reasons, one being that an Idaho Wilderness designation must of necessity, not compromise a meaningful eventual Montana boundary.

Mr. Comola was privileged to have lived and worked in Northwest Montana for several years. He was involved in determining the actual Scotchman Peaks roadless boundary after RARE I (Roadless Area Review and Evalutation) and has worked with a great many others throughout the intervening years in the protection of the wild character of Scotchmans.

configuration of Pisces represent? It is two fish.

The origin of the astrological symbol for Pisces is the vesica piscis.

Ichthys a symbol used by early Christians, more popularly known as the fish symbol is the almond shape created by the construction of a Vesica Pisces.

The Vesica Pisces is one of the most important geometrical images of ancient and modern times and is defined as a symbol made from two circles of the same radius, intersecting in such a way that the center of each circle lies on the circumference of the other. The name literally means the bladder of the fish in Latin.

In earlier times, this glyph was associated with the Goddess Venus, and represented female genitalia.

Early depictions of Jesus show him as an infant within the vesica which represented the womb of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Pythagoras (ca. 570 to ca. 490 BCE) considered the vesica piscis to be a holy figure. The mathematical ratio of its width to its height is

the square root of three, and was believed by him to be 265:153. This ratio is an approximation of the square root of 3 which was thought of as a holy number and called the measure of the fish.

The number 153 appears in the Gospel of John (21:11) as the number of fish Jesus caused to be caught in a miraculous catch of fish.

Lee Santa Sandpoint

Got something to say? Write a letter to the editor at letters@sandpointreader.com. Under 400 words, and please elevate the discussion.

POINT / COUNTERPOINT

The rise of hate crimes - a plot by the left, or evidence of racist groups?

The ghost of Richard Butler Civil discourse the best way to combat differing views in the age of Trump

By Brenda Hammond Reader Contributor

By Christian Rose Reader Contributor

Recently, some Sandpoint residents woke up on a Sunday morning to find racist fliers had been dropped in their driveways. I’m skeptical they were left by actual racists. It doesn’t feel particularly cathartic to admit that, but I think I have good reason to wonder.

Over the past few weeks two high-profile “hate crimes” have been proven to be manufactured by left-wing activists intent on manufacturing a false narrative that racists are becoming emboldened due to Donald Trump’s election win. It’s a sick thing to construct a hate crime hoax for any reason. But these types of tactics are proving a potent weapon for activists desperate to prove the president and his supporters are racist, and by extension delegitimize him as he attempts to implement his agenda.

Since November there have been 42 documented cases of false hate crimes.

There were 51 total false reports in all of 2016; 21 in November, right after the election. In 2015, the monthly average was just slightly over 1.5.

One of the most high-profile false hate crimes was reported by a church organist in Bean Blossom, Ind. George Stang claimed that when he arrived at work early last November he found someone had spray painted swastikas, the words “Heil Trump” and a gay slur on the side of St. David’s Episcopal Church. The national media swarmed and reported breathlessly. They were quick to link the act a result of the racist right’s new found “proponent” in the White House.

It was all too perfect, being right after the election when emotions were still high. But it was a fraud. Stang admitted recently to the police in Brown County that he’d made the whole thing up. He had actually spray painted the racist effigies on the church. The national media has been silent.

If only this were a one-off. Sadly no.

Last week the Star Tribune in Minnesota reported that St. Olaf College President, David Anderson admitted that a student had left a racist note on the windshield of black student’s car as an apparent “strategy to draw attention to concerns about the campus climate.”

The student body felt threatened. But it too was 100-percent false. Again the national media failed to follow-up.

I find no pleasure in this, but I could on and on. It’s nauseating, especially in the context of North Idaho’s past. Those of us old enough to remember Ruby Ridge, Richard Butler and the parade of shaved heads every year in Coeur d’Alene can attest we’ve come a long way. There’s no place in our community for this type of duplicity.

It would be a fair point to insist that a rise of hate crime hoaxes in other parts of the country isn’t necessarily proof that Sandpoint’s recent issues are false. But it’s apparent to me that there isn’t a real desire to find out who actually dropped the fliers. In fact, shortly after the incident occurred, I offered $1,000 to anyone who provided authorities information that led the arrest and conviction of those responsible. I forwarded that reward offer to the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force via Facebook and asked that they share it with their followers. To this day, they haven’t responded to my offer, or even bothered to share the post. Since then, I’ve raised the reward to $5,000.

Still nothing.

It would be disappointing to find that the fliers left around Sandpoint were planted by left-wing activists, not by actual racists. But it would be even more discouraging to find out we still have an actual organized racist group living in Bonner County. Either way, sadly, someone has tarnished our community, and it’s high time we got to the truth.

Many people have approached the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force (BCHRTF), wondering about the meaning and ramifications of the racist/ antisemitic flyers that have been thrown on Sandpoint lawns and porches, as well as the hateful and slanderous flyers about our mayor that have been received through the mail. The flyers claim to have their origin with the most currently popular national neo-Nazi website.

If one puts these actions in perspective, it is evident that they are certainly in line with the kinds of words and actions that have become common around the country. The Southern Poverty Law Center reported 1372 “bias incidents” between the day after the election and February 7. These incidents included both physical and verbal harassment as well as vandalism and graffiti using derogatory and extremist symbols.

Unfortunately, 244 of the above incidents occurred in K-12 schools. A survey of 10,000 school-teachers revealed that 80 percent of them had indeed witnessed incidents as described above as well as heightened anxiety and fear, especially among students in marginalized groups.

On May 5, the Salish School of Spokane was broken into by vandals who wrote anti-Indian graffiti throughout the building. Graffiti was found previously at the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center and individuals have had threatening messages painted on their homes.

The BCHRTF has not been contacted regarding any such incidents in our area, with the exception of several that occurred in the schools. However, the Task Force has been made acutely aware of the concern and fear being experienced by marginalized groups in Bonner County. It is also evident that the national trend toward just plain “mean” speech exists here as well.

This has sparked, in our community,

a yearning for “civil discourse,” a way to speak respectfully with those who hold views different than your own. There has been a good deal of discussion regarding this, not just at meetings sponsored by the TF, but in other local groups as well.

It seems that we are becoming aware that using labels and stereotypes to define others robs us of the opportunity to get to know them as individuals. There’s a good chance most of us actually share a good deal of common ground.

A number of people have contacted the BCHRTF to talk about ways to make public statements about support for human rights. They have expressed that divisive, intimidating and derogatory speech is not welcome in our community.

Many people deplored the ugly messages on the flyers that were distributed, stating-- “This is not what Sandpoint is about. We are better than this!” As a result, the TF has printed window signs and bumper-stickers that state, “7B Supports Human Rights.” They are available through the TF, and soon will be available at select local businesses.

Membership in the TF has increased, and the impetus for ACTION has grown much stronger. Our citizens are not willing to sit back and let this beautiful and generous community be stained by hateful words and ideas that are counter to the City’s stand on human rights. Don’t forget that Sandpoint was the first city in Idaho to prohibit using gender identity or sexual orientation as the basis of discrimination in housing, employment and the use of public accommodations. This was done in 2012, and 12 other cities have followed suit.

The BCHRTF concludes that attempts—like racist flyers—to make us turn against each other will only strengthen our determination to stand together—and to stand strong!

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CAL sponsors Paws for a Cause dog walk

By Reader Staff Bouquets: •The kindness in this community is overwhelming at times. Last week, we received not one surprise donation, but two. First, a Sagle man walked into our office and wrote a check for $250 to help support our efforts. I won’t name him to respect his privacy, but J.C., we appreciate the support. The very next day, I opened an anonymous letter with $100 cash inside. Thank you so much, mysterious stranger, for the donation and your kind note. You guys rock. Way to support an informed community.

•Congratulations to Idaho Pour Authority on their fourth anniversary this weekend. This establishment, thanks to Jon Hagadone, is an example of a small business that cares. With their dedication to nonprofit fundraisers, their support of local musicians and their overall fun and knowledge of the evolving craft beer industry, IPA has cemented its place in Sandpoint for years to come. Cheers!

Barbs: •Boy, I didn’t realize what a can of worms I opened up last week with my grammar Barb.

I’ll give myself a Barb this week for being such a preening grammar stickler. In truth, I would never want anyone to not write because they don’t have perfect grammar. The written word is ever-evolving. Fifty years ago, you wouldn’t think of typing anything without using a double space. We value and appreciate all of your submissions, readers, double-spaced or not. It’s just that... well... if you could help us out a little and single space, that would save us some time. Also, for those of you who like to hand-write letters to the editor, please don’t. Either type them or email them. Apparently there are a lot of doctors in Sandpoint.

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It’s time for you and your canine best friend to hit the trail.

The Community Assistance League (CAL) sponsors its fifth annual Paws for a Cause dog walk on Saturday, June 3, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Dover. Entry fee for the walk is by donation.

This year there will be prizes for finding tiny hidden Dalmations along the path. There will also be a raffles and a silent auction with gift certificates and baskets of dog-related items. Each dog will receive a colorful kerchief and treats for taking part in the walk.

All proceeds will benefit our local Community Cancer Services.

Appropriately, the Paws for a Cause Dog Walk will take place on the Balto Dog Loop in Dover. It is a 35-minute brisk walk through the park, over bridges, through a wooded area and back along the main entry to Dover Bay. Taking a more leisurely walk, one can enjoy reading plaques displaying information about the wildlife and scenery, including cattail, moose, osprey and Canada geese. Balto Dog Loop derives its name from a the Siberian husky sled dog who was instrumental in saving lives in Nome, Alaska during a diphtheria outbreak in 1925. There is a sign at the entrance to the walking trail dedicating it to all the loyal and courageous dogs in many of our lives. Along the walk, the dogs will have an opportunity to stop at “Watering Holes,” where walkers will see the names of the local businesses that have contributed to sponsor the hole. This event would not be possible without the generosity of our sponsors.

If you have questions or would like to sponsor a “Watering Hole” please contact Sherry Ennis at 208-290-6004.

Global CBD opens Idaho’s first hemp CBD location

By Reader Staff Last week, Global CBD opened the first Idaho-based wholesale and online retailing company of agricultural hemp cannabidiol (CBD) products without tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The shop is located at 205 N. 1st Ave. in Sandpoint.

Co-owners Joel Bordeaux and Kelsey Kilmartin have been researching CBD products for over two years. All of Global CBD’s products—including tinctures, drinks, vapor and lotions—are made with 99 percent pure CBD with no THC. The products are derived from stalks and stems of agricultural hemp from Europe and are legal in Idaho because they don’t contain THC. “Our customers share that they experience many of the benefits known in cannabis CBD products,” the pair wrote in a press release. “Feeling of less stress and anxiety, better sleep, less pain and many other

conditions.

Products range from $30 for vapor, $45 for tinctures and $130 for Pure Relief Ultra Nano.

Global CBD has also released a pet line of products varying from $48-$100.

Contact Global CBD for more information: GlobalCBD. com, 855.733.7223, or drop by their location at 205 N. 1st Ave. in Sandpoint.

Memorial Day...

Dear Editor, As we approach the Memorial Day weekend we must bear in mind that it is not just another holiday weekend. It is a somber occasion.

We should remember all those that made sacrifices. It is a time when we should pause in our daily routine to pay homage to all the men and women that have given so much so that we may be free.

We should also think about all the men and women that gave some of themselves in defense of this nation.

The living and the whole, should give thanks to those that are not.

When we see someone handing out For-Get-Me-Nots on the last Monday in May we should think about all those that gave so much for others.

But it is not just this day that we should remember. We must always give thanks when we can throughout the year.

Here’s a for instance of what we can do to remember. The DAV van that provides transportation for veterans to the VA Hospital in Spokane needs drivers. If you are in good health and can spare some time you could provide a real service to some that needs it. If you’re thinking about volunteering give Lewis Beebe a call at (208) 266-1105.

Gil Beyer Sandpoint

High-flying donation helps high school students

Many thanks to local aviator Chuck Chehock who generously donated his bi-plane to North Idaho High School Aerospace Program. In the 1940s, Chuck lived on a farm in Iowa and learned to fly as a teenager. He hopes his gift will inspire area young people to develop the life-long love of aviation he’s enjoyed. The North Idaho High School Aerospace program helps local students prepare for careers in the aerospace industry by providing “hands-on” aviation mechanic and flight training opportunities. You can learn more about NIHSAP at www.highschoolaerospace. org. From left to right: Amber Phillips, Glen Smith, Joshua Kramer, Lilly Falconer, Eleanor Falconer, Daniel Spencer, Ron Korn, Alex Liddiard, Chuck Chehock, Barney Ballard. Photo and caption by Mary Haley.

TECH

Random Digital Madness

Regional technology news and commentary

Privacy and Security in the Digital Age

By Bill Harp Reader Columnist

When you use the internet, your entire life’s history and digital habits go on sale, and there is little you can do about it. Begin to understand the significance of this problem by assuming that everything you do on the web is collectible and perhaps stored away for the rest of your lifetime. It can be collated, aggregated and analyzed if required and, in many cases, is already being used to target you with things like focused ads. We should all wake up to the fact that all internet activity can usually be traced to a specific user on a specific machine, and that is you.

I am old school in that I believe in the original literal intent of the Constitution of the United States, especially when it comes to the Bill of Rights. I believe the Constitution was clearly written so regular folks like us could understand it and therefore prevent the government from destroying our inalienable rights. Unfortunately, agencies, lawyers, bureaucrats of all sorts and, yes, even judges continue to muddy that intent with opaque and complex policies, regulations and case laws that regular people can’t understand. Reflect on the tax code for example. Let’s consider the fourth amendment: “The right of the people to be secure

in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or describ affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Although not trained in legal issues, I interpret this to mean that the right to privacy and security should apply to all your papers, and that would include your digital resources and activities. In today however, practice today, many rights to security do not extend to your personal information and digital resources. I have no doubt that the founding fathers, if teleported to the modern age, would heart heartily agree that, when they said papers, that includes digital “papers” too. This would be your digital documents, browser history, on-line activities, financial and medical information, phone calls, messages, photos, e-mail, data on all your devices, etc. These items should be private and personal and therefore constitutionally protected. Of course, if an agency needs to investigate a criminal activity, it can go to a judge and swear probable cause and get a warrant. As far as my read of the Constitution is concerned, that is the only provision for the government to search your person or things as provided to the legal system. Oh, but we have unfortunately strayed so far from this clearly worded mandate.

Of course, many folks are oblivious to these facts and help the tracking process by posting whatever strikes their fancy on their favorite social media pages. For example, posted vacation pictures advertise that your house may be vacant and unguarded. If you have any doubt about how easy it is to get your detailed personal information, just go to one of the web sites that barter personal data for coin, such as https://www.intelius.com, and purchase the complete report for yourself.

You will faint, guaranteed, after spending the special price of $39.95 for your background report! And this information does not even include your computer usage, browsing, purchasing and download history. That is a different vendor.

So, want to do something about it?

Well, it is basically too late, and the law works against you in oh-so many ways.

You would think that our elected representatives would go out of their way to protect our collective privacy, no? For the most part the exact opposite is true. Powerful corporate entities and big money have ensured that protection will not happen.

Recent Washington and FCC regulation on net neutrality and rights to digital privacy continue to erode the few rights that you currently have. Why is there not a massive, public uproar? Too much money is on the table. Your constitutional right to privacy vs. lobbyists’ big money? You lose … especially when it comes to digital privacy.

These issues are complex and often the technical implications difficult to understand. Lobbyist who understand the nuances and significance of privacy issues ensure that their position gets prime consideration over the important public interests.

One of the few tools at your disposal is to encrypt your digital properties. Good encryption will keep your data safe from prying eyes on your local or cloud storage.

Strong, well-managed encryption keeps us safe, secure and private. Without it there would be serious digital chaos, so those uninformed comments that you may hear from politicians and agencies about eliminating encryption for the public are just plain ignorant. However, proper global encryption for your digital resources and activities is rather complex and technically challenging.

The good news is, there are some things you can do. You can purchase a VPN service like the paid service F-Secure Freedome to hide your IP address so third parties such as your ISP can’t re-create or sell your entire browsing history to the highest bidder. Again, you must have a little tech savvy to make this work for you. If you sign on to your computer and have a Gmail, Yahoo or Microsoft e-mail or many other “free” mail services accounts active you are basically toast. A wise man, Andrew Lewis, once said, “If you are not paying for it, you’re not the customer; you’re the product being sold.”

Email was never designed with privacy in mind. To send truly private email, you must use applications such as WhatsApp Messenger or public-private key encryption such as PGP (Pretty Good Privacy). But PGP requires that senders and receivers each share their public key with

each other and know how to encrypt and decrypt messages. Here is a good Wikipedia background article on the subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pretty_Good_Privacy WhatsApp make encryption somewhat easier to use, but you must use the WhatsApp application.

You should know that SSL (secure socket layer) is the protocol that web sites use to encrypt your session with the site.

So, if you see an https:// with an “s”, you have an encrypted session with the site and third parties can’t see what you are doing in the session. You should also see a secure notice with a little lock icon on your address search bar where you type in the URL. This is typically how you manage financial, medical and other sensitive transactions on the web. Using SSL, third parties may know what sites you visit but not what you are doing on the sites. Don’t conduct any sensitive sessions (medical, financial or otherwise) on a web site that does not have SSL engaged. With respect to email security, don’t click on any link or download any attachment in an e-mail if you are not absolutely sure of its source.

This is a big invitation for trouble.

You may say that you have nothing to hide; your life is an open book. Your naivety is showing. You will get a whiff of why your privacy is important the moment an embarrassing targeted ad with video comes on screen while you are looking at the internet with your grandchild at your side. These ads can follow you around from device to device too. If you take a moment to reflect on how they do that, you will recognize how pervasive the monitoring and the subtlety of the technical means such as cookies and global logins for tracking your behavior. As you can imagine, this is a complex subject with many angles, but I have use my space up.

If you want to explore these issues, a great place to start is at National Public Radio’s All Tech Considered, Privacy and Security podcasts at: http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/125106005/privacy-security/ If you want to be technically proactive to secure your privacy, then you might read: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/03/online-security-measures-digital-privacy-guide Good luck; we all need it!

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NEWS

Changing lanes: traffic reverts to two-way on Fifth Ave.

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Writer The long-awaited switchover to two-way traffic begins today, Thursday, on Fifth Avenue.

After numerous weather-related delays, first from the fall to the spring and then from early May to late May, Sandpoint residents will get their first taste of two-way traffic when Idaho Transportation Department oversees the switch on Fifth Avenue between 7 and 8 a.m. The city is mobilizing to help with the transition, and City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton cautions residents to remember to look both ways when approaching a Fifth Avenue intersection.

“This reversion to two-way has been managed by ITD, and the city has been in contact with ITD for dates and times for reversion so officers can be on site … to monitor how this is going and help ensure people know that traffic patterns have changed,” Stapleton said.

Following the Fifth Avenue switch-over, the ITD contractors will focus on a controlled roll-out of two-way transitions throughout the rest of downtown. The next on the agenda is Pine Street, which will be converted to two-way traffic running east and west. Crews will then divert all through and truck traffic from northbound First Avenue to westbound Pine Street to northbound Fifth Avenue while striping, signage and signal work takes place from First and Pine to Fifth and Cedar. Following that work, Church Street will be converted to two-way traffic east and west between First and Fifth avenues, with through traffic diverted one to two blocks at a time. Finally, the northeast corner, including the intersection of Fifth and Pine, will take 8 /

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place, returning Pine to oneway traffic between Fifth and Fourth.

It’s the first step in a long-awaited change for both residents, the city and Idaho Transportation Department.

Due to the combined influences of weather and a desire to not rush the transition, the original goal of switching to two-way was delayed from last fall to this spring. When work was set to return this spring, the weather refused to cooperate.

“We were looking forward to a nice spring, and of course, when spring rolled around, it wasn’t looking so well,” said project manager Jeff Spohn.

While the goal was to have the changes complete before Lost in the ‘50s, the constant rain made that untenable. The street re-striping, which requires consistently dry conditions, was particularly reliant on stable weather. According to Spohn, the contract crews focused on tasks that could be handled regardless of rain until May 22, when sunny weather became more frequent.

“That’s when we told the contractors, we’ve got to get this thing done,” Spohn said.

For Spohn, the experience of working on the two-way traffic switch-over feels like

City workers paint new crosswalk stripes and traffic lanes at the intersection between Fifth Ave. and Cedar St. on Monday. Traffic will revert to two-way on Fifth Ave. on Thursday morning. Photo by Ben Olson. coming full circle. He was the lead inspector on the Fifth Avenue project in 2001 that widened the street and introduced other changes. He’s excited that the end to this latest phase of street work is drawing near.

“This will be a relief to get it wrapped up,” he said.

Once the transition to twoway traffic is complete, the city of Sandpoint will regain control over its downtown streets.

It’s a necessary step before the city can begin its downtown revitalization plans, which

include improved aesthetics, amenities and infrastructure throughout the downtown core.

The first phase of this project, focusing on sewer main replacement, amenities and infrastructure, was recently put on hold by the city due to contract bids coming in well above expectations.

The transition to two-way traffic is the final step needed to redirect highway traffic entirely out of downtown Sandpoint, a process begun with the completion of the Sand Creek

Byway in 2012. Following that project, ITD officials proposed an extension for U.S. 2 called “the Curve,” which the Sandpoint City Council rejected due to concerns over its size and safety for bike and foot traffic.

The two-way traffic transition for downtown Sandpoint proved an acceptable compromise for both the city and ITD. It is a $2.1 million project with Earthworks Northwest serving as the contractor.

‘No Spray’ deadline approaching Montana Congress candidate accused of assaulting reporter

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer

Bonner County residents interested in participating in the Noxious Weed Control No Spray Program must visit the Bonner County Public Works office by Wednesday, May 31, to sign up. They’ll be issued official signs to be posted at each end of their property and in clear sight of the road.

The county will not recognize homemade “no spray” signs.

If the noxious weeds in these

official “no spray” areas are not treated with alternative practices before July 15, the county is allowed to use their own methods to irradiate those weeds.

Official “no spray” signs must be renewed each year.

However, not all roads are sprayed every year, so contact the Bonner County Noxious Weed Control department at 255-5681 for more details regarding your specific area.

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Montana GOP House candidate Greg Gianforte is taking heat for allegedly assaulting a reporter the night before the state’s special election.

The Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs claimed Wednesday night that Gianforte body-slammed him and broke his glasses after Jacobs asked for a comment on the American Health Care Act’s CBO score. Jacobs later posted audio

supporting his version of the story.

Fox News reporters who witnessed the incident said Gianforte grabbed Jacobs’ neck with both hands, slammed him into the ground and began punching him.

The Gianforte campaign placed blame on Jacobs, claiming he was a “liberal journalist” who was badgering the candidate.

Montanans go to the polls today in a special election many see as a bellwether for Congressional election outcomes in 2018.

NEWS

Scotchman Peaks open house scheduled

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Writer Staffers of U.S. Sen. Jim Risch have planned another community meeting for residents to share their thoughts on the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness.

The open house will provide Risch’s office with important constituent input while answering questions for residents about what wilderness designation means for the Idaho Scotchman region.

The open house is scheduled in the lead-up to Risch’s decision on when or if to reintroduce a Scotchman Peaks bill, which would categorize the Idaho region as wilderness if passed and signed into law. It is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, at Hope Elementary School, 255 Hope School Rd. The open house follows a January meeting in Clark Fork that drew a majority of opponents to the proposal.

Some attendees of the meeting said that Clark Fork residents had been ignored in the discussions leading up to Risch introducing the Scotchman Peaks wilderness bill in December. The Clark Fork City Council later echoed those complaints when members wrote a letter to Risch opposing the wilderness proposal.

In a January interview, Risch responded to those complaints, saying that residents would have plenty of time to contribute input into the proposal.

“I’m hearing through the grapevine that some people are saying, ‘We’ve been left out of the process,’” Risch said at his office in Washington, D.C. “There has been no process. We’re at the beginning of the process.”

“They’re going to have the opportunity to get their two cents in,” he later added.

In the same interview, Risch said he introduced the bill largely because of its support from several key stakeholders, including the timber industry, elected officials, businesses, newspapers and sportsmen. Among those who have endorsed the proposal are the Bonner County Board of Commissioners and the Idaho

Festival extends deadline for Charley Packard Memorial Scholarship

By Reader Staff The Festival at Sandpoint is extending the application deadline for the first ever Charley Packard Memorial Songwriting Scholarship.

The new deadline is Friday, June 30.

This dedicated scholarship is open to all Bonner County 2017 high school graduatScotchman Peak as seen from the air. Photo by Ben Olson. ing seniors. Criteria is not based on need, nor grades, but solely on the creation and Forest Group. because support seemed to have performance of an original song.

“Nothing’s been decided yet,” reached critical mass from a large The written application, which Risch said. “I only introduced this cross-section of people.” includes the lyrics for an original song, is due June 30 and will be followed by a private, live audition which will be scheduled in the month of July.

The winner will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship as well as an invitation to perform the original song at a Festival at Sandpoint concert honoring Charley Packard on Wednesday, Aug. 9.

Applications are currently available at all Bonner County public high schools including Sandpoint High School, Forrest Bird Charter School, Lake Pend Oreille High School, Priest River Lamana High and Clark Fork High School. Private and home schooled students are also encouraged to apply. The application can also be found online at www.festivalatsandpoint.com and at The Festival Office at 525 Pine Street in downtown Sandpoint.

The Festival welcomes tax deductible contributions to the Charley Packard Memorial Scholarship Fund which was established by family and friends to memorialize singer songwriter Charley Ron Jenkins, left, and Foster Cline install Garden Earth Boxes at a special demonstration at the Sandpoint Packard and to perpetuate his lifelong Senior Center last week. The program was coordinated by the “Harvesting our Health” committee of the mentorship of young singer-songwritBonner County Coalition for Health through a grant obtained by Panhandle Health to improve food quality ers. Donations can be made online, at in our community. Community gardens have popped up at all local elementary schools and the Bonner the Festival Office or sent to FAS Attn: County Food Bank, and now they are featured at the Senior Center. Earth Box growing kits are self-con- Charley’s Scholarship Fund, PO Box tained and are a unique, easy way to grow food. For more information, stop by the Senior Center to check 695, Sandpoint, ID 83864. out the boxes along the south wall or call 263-6860. Photo by Ellen Weissman.

EARTH BOXES A HIT AT SENIOR CENTER

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Mad about Science:

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist If you’re reading this article in utter shock and disbelief that a nerd could like sports, I have a simple question: What rock have you been living under?!

The sports world is dominated by nerds! It’s kind of our thing.

But Brenden, all of the sportscasters are all hunky meatheads and ex-athletes with bravado and charisma!

Yeah, but do you think they crunched all those percentages and averages on their own?

In the world of sports, much like role-playing games, stats are very important. You can get a pretty good picture of a player’s skill based on his on-base percentage or seasonal hit average.

Along with this, baseball is an intense thinker’s game on several levels: It’s a silent duel between pitcher and batter, like two gunfighters at high noon sizing each other up. A single miscalculation, even by a fraction of an inch, will see one walk away a hero and one… not so much!

It’s a very tactical game. Hitting a ball hard won’t guarantee victory if you can’t put guys on base. Even the presence of a player on base can affect the pitcher’s ability to strike out batters reliably.

A fast runner on first base is like your pet cat: always watching, always waiting for that perfect time to ruin your day.

The physics of baseball are deceptively intense. It’s a game that’s easy to pick up but incredibly difficult to master.

Pete Rose once famously said: “It’s a round ball and a round bat and you got to hit it square.”

Go ahead, try it. Now you’ve also got nine guys trying to stop you from doing that.

Did I also mention that you have to outrun a ball that can fly towards you in upwards of 100 miles per hour?

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Brought to you by:

baseball

chucked a ball from the outfield to Home Plate at 103.1 mph.

Picture that: You’re trying to hurl a ball over 120 feet (I think he was closer to 160) and land it in an object smaller than a cantaloupe before another guy can sprint 90 feet.

Physics: baseball does it hard.

Let’s look at the pitcher. He’s what the entire game revolves around. If there is no pitcher, you have no ball to hit, no runs to score, no game to play. There’s a reason the pitcher gets so much attention in just about every game.

This is where the inertia begins.

The pitcher stands 60 feet and 6 inches from home plate, and as you know, it’s his job to hurl ball after ball toward the batter.

Let me stress how talented pitchers are to even appear reliably in a game.

They have to hurl a ball 60 plus feet and nail a moving target in a two foot zone.

Up to 120 times in a single night (sometimes many, many more).

Consistently.

This is definitely not one of those cases of “Any idiot could strike this guy out!”

To compound this, the pitcher needs to know the ins and outs of his opponent: his stance, where he likes to hit, what the range of his swing is, is that ball coming back at him at lethal speeds?

While they’re sizing up their opponent on the mound, they aren’t able to reliably communicate with anyone about their opponent’s weaknesses or strengths. They have to memorize them as they come up to bat.

Luckily, pitchers have a lot of tools at their disposal. Pitching isn’t just about pitching fast. A fast ball can turn into a long ball if you hit it right, and hitters train consistently to learn how to hit it right.

Fastballs can range from 95 to 105 mph, which will get a baseball

pulled over in Kootenai.

Breaking balls are pitches designed to very rapidly decelerate and drop into an arc, fooling a hitter into poorly timing a swing.

Sometimes they’ll call it a sinker, but basically it’s a slow pitch that gets slower by the time it reaches the plate. Some pitchers can specialize in a form of this pitch called a change-up, where it comes out fast then slows way down and changes direction.

Sound mystical? It’s about three primary factors: Grip. A pitcher’s grip alters the directional momentum of the ball, making it spin more or less to change direction or hold steady.

Power. None of this means anything if the pitcher has spaghetti arms and couldn’t toss a pebble eight feet if his life depended on it. A pitcher is like a surgeon that throws things, with the phalangeal dexterity of a pianist and the muscle of a professional fighter.

Air pressure. It’s an invisible force, but perhaps the most important of all. The ball isn’t alive, it’s simply following the path of least resistance. The fact that you can’t see the path of least resistance adds another layer of difficulty to an already difficult game.

Hitters have one distinct advantage over a pitcher. While the pitcher needs to stay out on his island for the half inning, a hitter can get his hacks in, then go tell everyone else on his team “He kept throwing X. If you swing Y, maybe we can score!”

Imagine playing a game of chess with someone.

Now imagine that you can’t see your own pieces, but your buddy, Tim, can tell you where they are once every three turns.

Your opponent is a series of nine different people that can see your pieces and their pieces, so each one can tell the next one what

tactics you’re using and what to do to counter you.

Now if all of this were moving at darn near 100 mph, you’d have tabletop baseball.

There are a ton of other factors here: I mean, I didn’t even get into the other players on the field.

Baseball is a team game, and even a pitcher that’s getting his glove fed to him can walk off the field at the end of the night with a W because everyone behind him has his back.

Anyone that’s ever played baseball, though, has to admit that the hardest job isn’t in front of the plate, but behind it.

Ever wonder why the catcher has more armor than a samurai?

For one thing, the catcher is having a ball chucked at his midsection and groin for hours at a time. Likewise, he’s really close to

the guy swinging a piece of lumber with enough force to turn a watermelon into a smoothie. And trust me, he gets hit sometimes.

Most importantly, have you ever seen when a guy is on third base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth?

That runner is going to be going full bore, with 90 feet of momentum and well over 200 pounds of muscle and bone behind him. That catcher can NOT move, he has to intercept this guy.

Trust me, you want a little padding between you and David Ortiz when Big Papi is coming your way. Catchers are hands down the toughest guys in baseball, I’ve got nothing but respect for them.

Now if only my M’s would get into a W-shaped groove.

Random Corner fun facts about baseball •In 1963, New York Mets’ player Jimmy Piersall celebrated his 100th career home run by running the bases in the correct order, but facing backwards.

• During World War II, the U.S. military designed a grenade to be the size and weight of a baseball, since “any young American man should be able to properly throw it.”

• Pitcher Jim Abbott was born without a right hand and had a 10-season baseball career, including throwing a no-hitter for the New York Yankees vs.

Cleveland in 1993.

• Bank robber John Dillinger was once a professional second baseman, although he never made it to the major leagues.

• Eddie Gaedel was the shortest man to ever play in a Major League Baseball game. He was 3 feet and 7 inches tall. St. Louis Browns owner Bill Veeck put him in the game as a stunt, saying, “He was, by golly, the best darn midget who ever played big-league ball. He was also the only one.”

• Every single MLB baseball is rubbed in Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud, a unique “very fine” mud only found in a secret location near Palmyra, New Jersey.

• Many major league baseball players, including Moises Alou, Jorge Posada, and Kerry Wood, have admitted that they pee on their own hands during baseball season to “toughen” their grip.

• Pitcher Dock Ellis says he threw his June 12, 1970, no-hitter while under the influence of LSD.

FEATURE

CHAFE 150 and Rotary celebrate 10 years

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff When Mel Dick feels the workload of helping organize CHAFE 150 bear down on him, he recalls a story that puts everything in perspective.

It was an encounter between Dr. Joy Jansen, director of special education at Lake Pend Oreille High School, and one of the students in Second Step, a program supported by CHAFE 150 that improves social and communication skills. When Jansen asked the student if he enjoyed the program, he said he did for one very simple reason: “It makes me a better person.”

For Dick, it’s an inspirational story of success, and it’s of a piece with the motivational force that drives CHAFE volunteers and participants, from the organizational committee to the individual riders. It’s a labor of love fueled by the desire to make students’ lives a little easier.

“That’s why we’re doing this,” said Dick. “It’s so you can say you made someone’s life better.”

A timed bike ride designed for hardcore enthusiasts and casual participants alike, CHAFE 150 celebrates its 10th anniversary at its June 17 ride this year. Over that time, the event has enjoyed remarkable growth, expanding from 70 riders in its first year to the more than 350 expected for this year.

It’s also quickly finding its place as a centerpiece summertime community event, with 86 local businesses and organizations lining up as sponsors and an after-the-ride party entertaining both riders and non-riders.

CHAFE riders cruise up Cedar St. during last year’s event. Photo courtesy Sandpoint Rotary.

“I think we’re starting to reach critical mass, where the ride is just becoming bigger and bigger,” said Elana Westphal, who handles public relations for the CHAFE organizational committee.

From the beginning, CHAFE 150 has been about providing support for education, primarily programs and services that help students with communication and socialization skills. That’s especially important for children on the autism spectrum. According to Westphal, the money that CHAFE raises for schools is good news for every student—the money that funds those programs frees up school resources for other services.

“That’s what’s kept me volunteering my time [to CHAFE]—the fact that all of the money is staying local, and it’s all going to help children in the school district on the autism spectrum,” Westphal said.

CHAFE 150 raises that money through several means. The primary

method is fundraising done by the riders themselves. Participants set up fundraising pages, and those who are able to reach the top tiers of financial support are eligible for prizes ranging from jerseys to high-quality racing bikes.

There’s also the after-ride event at City Beach near Trinity from around 2-8 p.m., where riders and non-riders alike can enjoy a beer and wine garden and other attractions that benefit the cause.

According to Dick, a goal for the next several years is turning the after-ride event into a major community event.

“That’s the next step of this ride: to engage the entire broader community,” Dick said. “How do we get 500 non-riders and non-sponsors to come down and celebrate the cause?”

For now, the focus remains on the ride itself. Divided into a 27-mile route, and 80-mile route and a 150-mile route, CHAFE is designed to be accessible for

inexperienced riders while still challenging the most hardcore racers. Those who wish it can tackle the 150-mile route and compete for the best times, while those seeking a slower pace can opt for the 27-mile route and enjoy the beauty of the North Idaho setting. For those reasons, CHAFE has acquired fans both local and far-flung. Visitors come in not only from neighboring states but also locations as distant as Vancouver or Italy—some of whom prove to be the event’s most successful fundraisers.

“Almost anyone can do that 30-mile ride,” said Westphal. “Our youngest-ever rider was 6 years old, and oldest ever was 84.”

There’s still plenty of time to sign up and experience the hype firsthand.

Simply go to www.chafe150.org and register online.

More than a store, a Super store!

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Dollar Beers!

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

Pend Oreille Pedalers Ales For Trails fundraiser 4-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Raise funds for the Water Shed Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs Crest Trail with Boise Brewing 9pm @ 219 Lounge Beer on tap, live music, compliFolk, rock and soul mentary appetizers and raffle prizes

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SHS Band Concert 7pm @ Panida Theater SHS Jazz and Concer Band Spring Concert. $5 Live Music w/ Kevin D 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Be Thursday night solo ser

Live Music w/ BareGrass Live Music w/ Live Music w/ Harold’s IGA 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Ken Mayginnes 9pm @ 219 Lounge Bluegrass all stars with moxey 6-8pm @ The Cedar Indie rock trio w/ wide variety Live Music w/ Jake Robin Street Bistro Wine Bar 5:30-8:30pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Daniel Mills Acoustic rock and pop 7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Friday Night Music on the Bridge Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6-8pm @ The Wine Bar at Cedar St. Bistro 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Live Music w/ The Brandon Cole Show 6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Brandon Watterson and Cole McAvoy join forces for a fun duo at the Beer Hall Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society meeting 9:45am @ Sandpoint Community Hall Past president Rae Charlton will review the creation of the Native Plant Arboretum adjacent to the Bonner County Historical Museum and help celebrate 20 years of KNPS! Organic Seed Saving 1pm @ Sandpoint Library Come and discuss organic gardening and seed saving. Bring seeds if you can

Priest Lake Spring Festival (May 27-28) @ Coolin (Priest Lake) arts/crafts fair, pancake breakfasts, a quilt sho and bake sale, a parade on Saturday, plus foo Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am @ Farmin Park Head down to Farmin Park for fresh produ garden starts as well as live music and fun for Cedar St. Bridge Public Market 10am-2pm @ Cedar St. Bridge Come enjoy indoor shopping on the brid spanning Sand Creek Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Game Night at the Niner Sandpoint Chess Club 9pm @ 219 Lounge 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome

AHWF Volunteer @ American Herita We are the only non birds, and reptiles/a

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

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Water Quality Volunteer Program Orientation 5:30pm @ LPOW Office (100A Cedar St.) a volunteer orientation for those interested in joining the Water Quality Monitoring Program as a Citizen Scientist. No experience is necessary, just a passion for our local waterways and the means to get out on the lake and river with our water collection gear. 208-597-7188 or shannon@lakependoreillewaterkeeper.org

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

1

Dollar Beers!

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

Hiawatha Drum Circle!

Unite the Tribes!

6:30-8pm @ Memorial Community Center (Hope)

Corner Bookstore Grand Re-opening @ Corner Bookstore, 405 N. Fourth Ave. Stop and say hello to Jim and welcome him on re-opening the bookstore! The location is where the Liquor Store used to be on 4th Ave. Shoppers get 20% off on all books

Night O 9pm-12

Open Mic 5-8pm @ SKåL Tapro Musicians and come Open mic is held ever

Ice Age Floods Pres 5:30-7pm @ Sandpo A free presentation Overview of the M Ice Age Floods in Northwest” by Gary

ful

May 25 - June 1, 2017

oncert a Theater d Concert Concert. $5 / Kevin Dorin kDuff’s Beer Hall ht solo series

/ nes Cedar Wine Bar

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

“Awake, A Dream From Standing Rock” film 4-6pm @ Sandpoint Library This film follows the dramatic rise of the native-led peaceful resistance at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. Free!

3rd Annual Clark Fork Community Plant Swap 10am-5pm @ Clark Fork Library Bring your plants and starts to share and adopt some new ones. Talk gardening with fellow gardeners and learn about the Sandpoint Seed Library!

Insuring The North Idaho Way Of Life!

Yappy Hour 4-7pm @ Taylor & Sons Chevrolet Join Panhandle Animal Shelter for tail waggin’ good times at Taylor & Sons Chevrolet. There is live music, a fenced-in area for dogs to roam freely, and food and drink are available for purchase.

Admission is free (donations for PAS accepted).

Used Book Sale 10am-2pm @ Bonner Mall The public is welcome to bring books and sell them; there’s no cost and tables are provided.

Shoppers - this is a great chance to find books at a huge discount!

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 6-8pm @ The Cedar Street Bistro Wine Bar Acoustic guitar and wine, a great pairing

IPA Four-Year Anniversary Party Basic Computer Class 2-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority a quilt show Celebrate the fourth anniversary of Idaho Pour 8:15am @ Sandpoint Library , plus food Authority with live music from John Firshi Subjects rotate each week: Computer Basics, Infrom 2-4 p.m., and Brown Salmon Truck from ternet, Digital Library, Microsoft Word and Mi5-7 p.m. There will be several silent auction crosoft Publisher. Space is limited and preregesh produce, items and many raffle prizes, plus food served istration is required by calling (208) 263-6930 nd fun for all! all day. This will be a fundraiser for Lake Pend Finally Home! Homebuyer Education Class Oreille Waterkeeper. Show some love!

9am-2pm @ Bonner Community Housing Agency 3G Tour Learn how to navigate the home-buying process, 12:30pm @ Kramer Marina (Hope) the bridge This tour will take you to Glengarry Bay, Green find the right lender, avoid costly mistakes, get a Bay, across the lake to the Green Monarchs better interest rate, and more. 819 Highway 2, and end at the Islands of Hope. Optional lunch #204. Cost is $20; pre-registration is required at FinallyHomeIdaho.com available. $37. (208-255-5253 olunteer Orientation an Heritage Wildlife Foundation e only nonprofit in North Idaho that works to rehabilitate mammals, reptiles/amphibians. Call to volunteer or get more info at 266.1488 27-28)

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Night Out Karaoke 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

oods Presentation @ Sandpoint Library sentation titled “An of the Most Recent loods in the Pacific ” by Gary Ford

Magic Wednesday 6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Restaurant Magician Star Alexander amazes guests at the dinner table and in the bar with up-close, interactive magical entertainment for all ages!

June 4 Sweet Serenade Benefit Concert @ First Lutheran Ch urch SHS Choir Spring Fling Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs

KåL Taproom (Ponderay) and comedians welcome! held every Wednesday

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June 3 Free First SatDinosaurs! urd ay @ Bonner 2:30pm @ Sandpoint Library A dino dig, dino trivia and dino fossils for kids County History starting at 2:30 p.m. Free and open to all!

Museum

6pm @ Panida Theater Sandpoint High School’s final concert of the school year featuring four choirs and various soloists

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9pm @ 219 Lounge Folk, rock and soul Future City - presented by Friends of the Library 12pm @ Sandpoint Library SMS program where students design cities

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OUTDOORS

Bonner County Bicycles: celebrating four years on two wheels

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Four years ago, a few friends who shared a common love for bicycles quietly opened a bike shop in Sandpoint. Tucked behind the Horizon Credit Union between Fourth and Fifth avenues, Bonner County Bicycles (BCB) quickly became a popular spot for those looking for a new or used bike, as well as those seeking bike repairs.

Today, Dan Shook, Tim Piehl and Dave Reisenauer are enjoying the fruits of their labor as BCB has rapidly become one of the go-to bike shops in Sandpoint.

“We’re not in it for the money, we’re in it for the love,” said Piehl. “We love our community and try to do what’s right as much as possible.”

Shook said the shop’s business is evenly split between repairs and sales: “Initially, we were doing nothing but used bikes.”

Shook has done everything from sifting through junk piles to rummaging through the dump to find salvagable bikes that can be fixed up and sold to customers seeking lower priced transportation.

“We’re proud of the fact that a lot of the stuff we get was probably going to the dump,” said Shook. “We hate to see things wasted.”

In fact, the unofficial logo of BCB is “Don’t take your bike to the dump!” The owners encourage anyone out there who has an old bike that they don’t use to drop it off with BCB, where most of the time it just requires a minor tune up and overhaul to become a daily rider again.

“We’re in a disposable society right now,” said BCB mechanic Greg Rowuka. “It’s nice to be able to save these bikes from the dump.”

June is the busiest month for BCB, according to Shook, 14 /

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because that’s when most people haul their old bikes out of the garage and hit the road again.

It’s also when those seeking two-wheeled transportation are on the hunt for their next cruiser.

Plus, now that they carry Kona and Surely fat bikes, customers seeking brand new bicycles can also find what they need.

“It’s been a busy spring already,” said Shook. “Since March, we’ve sold 80 bikes.

Last summer, we sold upwards of 600 bikes.”

Indeed, if you take a stroll through BCB’s back room, there are hundreds of bikes of all shapes and sizes eager to find new homes. Because their overhead is so low, Shook said they are able to offer low prices for anything from vintage cruisers to gently-used mountain bikes that have been overhauled completely.

“Cruisers are hot right now, but old mountain bikes are our hottest seller,” said Shook. “We get them in and make them a lot more comfortable. We’ll put upright handle bars on them, new tires, new seats and they’re ready to go.”

Shook said if you are holding onto an old bike that no longer goes, they will pay a small amount for worthy new projects. BCB also offers a conversion deal for $125 to completely fix up your old bikes so that they feel brand new again.

“A lot of times people will say they need a new bike, but if they just bring their old one in, we’ll fix it up and it’ll cost a lot less than buying a new one,” said Shook. “It’s what we do.”

Bonner County Bicycles is located at 521 N. 4th Ave., just east of Horizon Credit Union and south of 7B Fitness. They are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Saturday, though hours sometimes vary on Saturday. (208) 597-5339.

Bonner County Bicycles co-owners Dave Reisenauer, left, Dan Shook, center, and Tim Piehl, right. Photo by Ben Olson.

Watch some Havoc this weekend

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Off road truck racing fans, start your engines. Next weekend, the Purcell Trench Ranch (PTR) north of Bonners Ferry is hosting their biggest event of the year; the Mountain Havoc North American Premier Off-Road Truck Championship. The three-day event will take place on June 2 – 4 and is set to be bigger than ever this year.

The off-road motorsport venue opened in 2014 and has established itself as a world-class meeting place for off-road enthusiasts from around the region. Jointly owned

by Mac Miltz, Ben Spinney and Grey Whittier, PTR features 90 acres of terrain that varies between Hill n’ Hole courses to side-by-side straight tracks.

The spectator only event draws professional drivers from eight states and even three provinces in Canada.

“This is the big one,” said Miltz. “It’s a true North American top professional truck event.”

Because this event features only professional drivers and their pit crews, Miltz said it’s a good weekend to bring the family up and enjoy close access to these unique machines.

“Spectators can interact with drivers and pit crews,” said Miltz.

“You get to physically touch the trucks and hang out in the pit. It’s very hands on to the public.”

Miltz said this year will be even bigger than last year thanks to a five-page spread in Peterson’s 4Wheel & Off-Road Magazine highlighting the course.

“They print out something like 250,000 copies every month,” said Miltz. “We’ll be seeing a lot of spectators both from the region and outside of the area.”

A production company will also be on hand throughout the weekend to shoot pilot episode footage for a possible television show focusing on the motorsport community.

There have been a few improvements to PTR in the last year. Miltz said most all of the tracks were revamped: “It’s nice for maintenance and to keep the drivers guessing.

Plus, we combined smaller jumps into one huge jump, which the crowd is going to love.”

Miltz said another new addition might bring memories to Sandpointians; the off-road track now features the original metal bleachers pulled from Memorial Field, where spectators can view three of the five courses.

Friday, June 2, from 12-11 p.m., spectators can meet the drivers, crew and see the fantastic array of trucks competing this year. The racing kicks off with side-by-side tire tow test racing.

Saturday, June 3, from 8 a.m.11 p.m., you can watch trucks catching major air in the Hill n’ Hole jump track, watch the fallout from the hard hitting rock course, check out the Havoc Hills Bouncer Climb and have a few brews while listening to Saturday night’s live music. Sunday, June 4, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., get ready for the Tuff Country Mountain Man Extreme Course and stick around for the awards presentation.

“We’re constantly growing with family values in mind,” said Miltz. “This is a professionally run venue, with tons of activities. Food vendors, live music, free camping, a beer/wine/booze garden. There will be industry vendors handing out free swag all weekend. It’s a great time to bring the family up and see these professional drivers do their thing.”

A weekend pass will cost you $30 and includes free camping. Kids aged 6-12 pay only $10 and under 5 is free. Day rates are available and no pets are allowed. Find out more at www.mountain-mafia.com.

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Reach Out and Read literacy program introduced

By Reader Staff

Getting books from the doctor will soon be a routine part of regular pediatric checkups at Kaniksu Health Services, as doctors and nurses welcome the Reach Out and Read program to the practice.

Kaniksu Health Services joins more than 5,000 program sites nationwide that are preparing America’s youngest children to succeed in school.

Doctors, nurse practitioners and other medical professionals incorporate Reach Out and Read’s evidence-based model into regular pediatric checkups, by advising parents about the importance of reading aloud and giving developmentally-appropriate books to children at each well-child visit. They are essentially providing families with “prescriptions to read.”

Reach Out and Read begins at the 6-month checkup and continues through age five, with a special emphasis on children growing up in low-income communities. Families served by Reach Out and Read read together more often, and their children enter kindergarten with larger vocabularies and stronger language skills, better prepared to achieve their potential.

All of our pediatric healthcare providers have been trained in the three-part Reach Out and Read model to promote early literacy and school readiness: In the exam room, doctors and nurses speak with parents about the importance of reading aloud to their young children every day, and offer age-appropriate tips and encouragement.

The pediatric primary care provider gives every child 6 months through 5 years old a new, developmentally-appropriate children’s book to take home and keep.

In the waiting room, displays, information, and books create a literacy-rich environment.

“Reach Out and Read is an efficient and effective concept,” said Reach Out and Read Acting Executive Director Brian Gallagher. “Our doctors and nurses know that the most important thing that parents can do to prepare their children to succeed in school and beyond is to read aloud to them every day. Encouraging parents to stimulate their children’s early language and brain development during regular pediatric checkups is a simple model that has a lasting, invaluable

Listen in Sandpoint to KPND @ 106.7 in HD 16 /

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impact on the life of a child.”

Reach Out and Read is a proven intervention that delivers results, and is supported by 15 independent, published research studies. During the preschool years, children served by Reach Out and Read score three to six months ahead of their non-Reach Out and Read peers on vocabulary tests.

These foundational language skills help start children on a path of success when they enter school.

“We know that research on early brain development shows that early experiences with books and strong family relationships directly impact brain development

and function,” said Kris Kuper, MD, CMO, “and we are excited to be a North Idaho location for the Reach Out and Read program.”

For more information about Reach Out and Read at Kaniksu Health Services Bonners Ferry, Ponderay, Priest River and Sandpoint Pediatric locations, or if you would like to donate funds, please contact Olivia Luther Morlen at (208) 263-7101.

‘Could I Join the Choir?’

By Jodi Rawson Reader Contributor

Locals perform spring concert

A few years ago I took a handful of private voice lessons from Karin Wedemeyer (founder/director of the Music Conservatory). It was one of the most challenging and rewarding breakthroughs in my adult life. I can sing! It is one of the most healing exercises that a person can engage in, and there is plenty of research to support that.

“Should I go to this concert?” I asked Karin. Singing lessons weren’t just a way for me to jump into classical music, but also a way for me to get out of my hermit comfort and find my voice again. I was referring to this notice on the bulletin board at the MCS in regards to a free concert put on by locals. Living out of town, I have to weigh the importance of events. The meaning of my question was: is this concert worth finding a respectable outfit, the money and pollution in gasoline I will burn to get there while battling social anxiety?

“Absolutely!” Karin insisted.

My daughter and I sat in the front... mesmerized. The harmony of voices lifted me. The passionate elder people performing were so inspirational that I was an immediate fan. Like many of the members, I wanted to the choir because I aimed to be closer to the music than the front row.

I approached Caren Reiner after the show. At that time I didn’t know what a genius she was and I wasn’t intimidated at all, I just approached her with passion and interest. “Could I join the choir?”

“Do you read music?” she asked. In shame I hung my head. I was raised a jock and was totally illiterate in reading music. “That is okay,” she interjected, “we have a guy that makes CDs, so you can learn by ear.”

This is where Alan Ball comes in. He is a retired emergency room physician from Bonner General, and prior to that he was an engineer in Alaska. He spends around 100 hours creating CDs for each upcoming performance, so that people like me can join the choir. He is a comical and light contrast to the Reiner’s intensity. We had a ski date this winter, shortly after he turned 80 years old, and it was

awesome.

Alan and his wife, Genie Ball, help orchestrate the Gardenia center. People like Mark Reiner, Eric Ridgeway, Suzanne Frisken and brilliant travelers speak on a rotating schedule, but Genie Ball is an every-week leader. She stands up front and leads the group in song while Alan accompanies her on the piano. Both of them have had choir in their lives since grade school. Genie is a strong Soprano and Alan often performs Bass solos.

Alan plays by ear and understands that people need the CDs for practice.

He takes the pieces that we are performing and overlays them with strong piano keys to emphasize each part. On the first day of a new choir season there are organized stacks of music to fill our black folders and boxes of custom CDs. Often the music presents Alan with the challenge of creating 8 different CDs...

“Soprano 1”, “Soprano 2”, “Alto 1”, etc.

So I joined the choir a couple years ago—the youngest member. The average age of the Pend Oreille Chorale is probably over 60. It feels peaceful, inclusive and warm. I am embraced by elders and community. Nobody is too weird (me), too old (Charlie Glock is 97) or too illiterate musically (me again) to be excluded from this family.

It represents a wide range of religious and political views on the spectrum harmonizing, uniting and creating beauty.

Our upcoming concerts feature some really fun and artistic pieces ranging from a piano duet and choir piece from Braham (mostly romantic and upbeat) to a beautifully written acappella written by Mark Reiner in 2014. Caren gives us the theory, the history, and the feeling behind each composition, and this understanding feeds our love and passion for the pieces.

I could write many articles on the orchestra, but my understanding of their dedication and mastery is too limited. Their performances are brilliant with dramatic dynamics (more “professional” perhaps than the passion of the choir) and I often close my eyes and let their music massage my mind.

The Reiners spearheaded the Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra in

Alan and Genie Ball. Photo by Jodi Rawson.

1994. They have gained a loyal fan base with two shows per year, but they have announced recently that they will only be doing the Spring concerts in the upcoming years, which upset all of us, but we are aware that everyone is aging and slowing down.

For an eclectic variety of songs that inspire love, come to our Spring Concert Thursday June 15 or Friday June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Lutheran Church on Olive. It will be another year before we perform again.

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HOMES For Sale

475 Campbell Point Road, Laclede

Don’t miss this opportunity to own a relaxing waterfront get-away for a fraction of the price as deeded tenants in common ownership 50/50 (or own 100% for $600,000)! This incredible home at the water's edge is 3962 sq feet and fully furnished with a permitted dock that also includes a covered boat lift. The home has lush expansive landscaped lawn that extends right up to the waterfront. 4 spacious bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, and 2 large living areas for great accommodations. Enjoy stunning mountain, sky, and water views from a covered and open deck. With the shared ownership, 50% ownership is included of a boat/trailer, riding lawn mower, snow blower,outdoor furniture, hot tub, and pool table. There is also a private community beach with boat launch.

MLS#20171345. $325,000.

259 Buck Run, Sagle

Tranquil waterfront home in a private setting with dock! Situated on almost ½ acre, this home features a multitude of windows that let in the natural light and provide stunning water views. Open floor plan and high ceilings with 3,300+ sq ft, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, spacious master bedroom with walk-in closet, family room and game room. The large open de with hot tub is perfect for entertaining or taking deck in the serene settings. Very clean and well maintained, this home is just waiting for you to take advantage of peaceful, waterfront living. Close to Sandpoint and Schweitzer Ski Resort.

MLS#20162802. $700,000.

208.818.3668

Brenda@BrendaBurk.com www.BrendaBurk.com

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COMMUNITY

Leaders create leaders:

Exploring Leadership Sandpoint

By Tamara Cornwall Reader Contributor The Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Sandpoint Program, started in 1993, exists to identify leaders in this area, and give them first-hand information from professionals active in the community. In 2007 Kate McAlister took over as President and CEO of the Chamber and began her work on a “different school of thought presented professionally in a friendly environment.”

Leadership students hear from judges, teachers, doctors, nonprofit organizations, and other community professionals, who help students understand the roles and responsibilities of citizen leaders in their professional capacities. In the discussion panels that follow, these professionals answers questions regarding their understanding of issues in the community and current efforts to identify and address these issue.

Class sizes are limited to no more than 20 participants, who identify their personal strengths early in the process. Once per month, future leaders participate in a day-long class covering a variety of topics.

Class time is allocated for board training which explores topics such as roles and responsibilities as board member, the chair person’s role as a servant leader, missions/ visions/values, board members as fundraisers and advisors, and making diversity meaningful. The overall goal being that graduates of the program can participate as effective board members if they choose to.

The program’s first year begins in September with a team-building day held at Schweitzer. During this initial class, students meet and greet their peers, and are provided a general overview of what they can expect from this program.

October’s class, “Cornerstones of Sandpoint,” has students tour the museum and downtown area. Speakers share knowledge about the industries such as timber and railroad, and founding families that played a crucial role in the development of the Greater Sandpoint Area. Geological and political history of the region are touched upon as well.

In November’s Education and Arts class students tour the Library, Forrest Bird Charter school, the Waldorf, School, and Sandpoint High School. Individuals who are committed to the lifelong pursuit of education within our community share their efforts and visions. With a visit to the Panida Theater students learn about the history of the building as well as productions in the works. Next door the Pend

Leadership Sandpoint’s class. Courtesy photo.

Oreille Arts Council houses sculpture, photography, canvases, and jewelry made by artists in the region.

With over 150 non-profit organizations in the Sandpoint Area, it is clear that service and activism are important to the civic culture of this community. During December’s Human and Community Service class nonprofits such as the Youth Center, the Food Bank, and the Panhandle Animal Shelter are invited to share the details of their cause and strategic plans for the future success of their organization. After hearing from the presenters, students pick an organization or several to assist. One requirement of the program directs the class to act as a sponsor, by organizing and facilitating a fundraiser for their chosen non-profit(s).

January’s Health and Wellness class features health care professionals knowledgeable in both conventional and alternative education and practices. Bonner General Health, Hospice, Nutrition, and mental health are topics that are also discussed at length.

Presentations regarding law enforcement, local and state government, the judicial and criminal systems take place in February. Both elected and appointed officials such as the mayor, district judges, and a city prosecutor outline the responsibilities and challenges of their role in the community.

Students tour the Jail, Sheriff’s department, and Juvenile Detention Center.

The next three classes explore Economic Drivers, Sustainability, and Natural Resources and Tourism where students will explore real time and future community challenges and opportunities. The final class consists of a Planning Session for Next year’s program.

“Leadership is the most underutilized resource in business today,” said Kate McAlister. Our community benefits from leaders whom have gained wisdom, knowledge of the community network, the business ecosystem, and understanding of the communities needs along with

tools to deal with changes on the horizon.

Most importantly, as Kate McAlister often comments, “Leaders create leaders”. This concept illustrates how Sandpoint Leadership’s Program has potential to benefit others outside of our community.

Members of the community are encouraged to participate, nominate, and/or sponsor individuals for future classes. The application process begins in mid-July, with a deadline for priority enrollment of late August, after which applicants will continue to be accepted on a first come first serve basis until the class is full. Requirements for consideration involve submitting an online application and letter of recommendation. Participation involves a two-year commitment, first through the classes and community project, later through roles as organizers, facilitators, and mentors for the incoming class.

The cost of tuition for chamber members is $325 and $375 for non-chamber members, and due by September for the 2017 class. A $25 deposit is due with the submission of the application. The deposit is only refundable if you are not accepted into the program. Tuition covers two-year program costs for meals, transportation, books, materials, and administration fees.

For more information you can contact the Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce Monday through Friday during the hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. by phone at (208) 263-2161 or by emailing kate@sandpointchamber.com.

This year’s class of 2016 seeks to strengthen Leadership Sandpoint’s presence in the community by forming an alumni group. Alumni interested in being involved are asked to send information including their first and last name, the year they graduated from the program, the name of company or organization they are currently involved with, a phone number, and an email address to: ls.sandpoint@gmail.com.

Look for part two of this three-piece feature on Leadership Sandpoint in an upcoming issue of the Reader.

STAGE & SCREEN

The return of David Lynch and ‘Twin Peaks’

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Early in the first episode of “Twin Peaks: The Return,” a vehicle rumbles down a dusty backroad. Car headlights do little to ward off the oppressive night. Rock music, slowed to a demonic warble, plays on the soundtrack. When the car parks, it is actor Kyle MacLachlan who steps out, but he is a far cry from the good-hearted character, FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper, he played in the original show. This is an altogether darker figure, a creature native to the altogether darker “Twin Peaks” it inhabits.

Co-writer and director David Lynch is back from a decade-long hiatus to helm the 18-hour “Twin Peaks: The Return,” a project that brings with it the thematic obsessions and stylistic sensibilities he developed over his film career. Like those headlights bobbing in an ocean of black, Lynch’s vision is one of human decency struggling against a far more potent malevolence.

For those unfamiliar with Lynch’s career beyond the aggressively quirky first two seasons of “Twin Peaks,” the new series’ first four episodes will feel altogether foreign. They are replete with deep dives into Lynch’s signature surrealism, a style vastly magnified from its role in the original run.

On the other hand, Lynch devotees will be delighted. There are elements of his entire career, from “Eraserhead” to “Inland Empire,” embedded in the first four episodes, and piecing together that twisted puzzle may well prove one of the series’ greatest pleasures.

For all its unrepentant weirdness, “Twin Peaks: The Return” is still a conventional sequel to the original series, no doubt thanks to series co-writer and co-creator

Mark Frost. Picking up 25 years in the future, the evil spirit Bob roams the country as a doppelganger of FBI agent Dale Cooper, bringing death and havoc wherever he goes. Cooper, meanwhile, remains trapped in the extra-dimensional Black Lodge, the iconic, red-draped setting of “Twin Peaks’” most surreal moments. As the first few episodes re-establish the 25-years-older and not-necessarily-wiser characters, they also introduce a far more unsettling string of gruesome deaths taking place across the nation. Those deaths may well plant the seeds for the unifying narrative that drives the 18-episode plot forward.

And yes, there is a coherent plot to be found in the first four episodes of “The Return,” at least when compared to Lynch’s more abstract and inscrutable films like “Inland Empire.” For long-time fans of the show, there’s also a real pleasure in becoming reacquainted with the returning characters. The Horne brothers are still preoccupied with their increasingly eccentric business interests. Sheriff Deputy Tommy “Hawk” Hill remains level-headed and dependable, his investigations and tips from the Log Lady linking the Twin Peaks township to the over-arching plot. And sheriff’s office employees Lucy and Andy Brennen are as hilarious as ever—their scene with their son Wally will either leave viewers in stitches or completely baffled. As for Kyle MacLachlan, he is alternately the first four episodes’ most menacing and funny presence due to his multiple roles.

The returning characters provide a welcome dose of humor for what is, on the whole, a much darker show. Taking advantage of Showtime’s minimal content restrictions, it is at times shockingly violent and frequently very scary. An early scene involving a New York City college student

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tasked with watching a mysterious glass box is a stand-out, setting up a mystery that culminates in one of the most unsettling moments of television horror I’ve seen. It’s a scene that sends a single message in the sharpest, clearest language possible: Lynch Kyle MacLachlan returns as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper. Courtesy photo. hasn’t lost a single step in his 10-year absence. talking sack, or a character’s head suddenly It’s safe to say “Twin Peaks: The Reevaporates into smoke, or a man vomits up turn” isn’t for everyone. Not only is it best a revolting blob and is then replaced across to have already seen the first two seasons of dimensions by an entirely different person.

“Twin Peaks” and its prequel movie, “Fire It’s also the most fearless, experimental and Walk With Me,” it’s also helpful to be favisionary show on TV right now, and given miliar with the cinematic vocabulary Lynch the excellent field of competition, that’s has built throughout his film career. This is saying something. a series that asks you to hang with it when Welcome back, David Lynch. You’ve it introduces a tree crowned by a fleshy, been gone for too long.

Thursday, may 25 @ 7pm

shs spring band concert may 26 @ 5:30pm | May 27 @ 3:30 & 7:30pm may 28 @ 3:30pm | may 29 @ 3:30 & 7:30pm

“colossal”

Thursday, june 1 @ 6pm

shs spring fling choir concert june 2 @ 5:30pm | June 4 @ 1pm

“dancer”

saturday, june 3 @ 6:30pm

allegro dance spring recital June 4 @ 3:30pm (with Q&A)

“embrace”

Body image activist Taryn Brumfitt explores the global issue of body loathing

June 8 @ 7:30pm | June 9 @ 5:30pm June 10 @ 3:30 & 7:30pm

“the promise”

June 23 @ 5:30pm | June 24 @ 3:30 & 7:30pm

“i, daniel blake”

entry on June 23 is a donation to bonner county food bank

Woods Wheatcroft • 208.255.9412 • www.woodswheatcroft.com May 25, 2017 /

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater Dispatches from Disneyland

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Food Columnist Greetings from Disneyland.

After a hectic spring in my kitchen, I was happy to trade my whisk for a wand and a little pixie dust and some California sunshine. This is my first foray to Neverland with the youngest set in tow. I remember my first trip here, riding through miles and miles of orange groves in our oversized (and often over-heated) lilac tone Cadillac.

It seemed liked forever until we spotted the iconic Matterhorn, parked the car and rode the train to the entrance gate. My mother proudly announced to anyone who would listen that I was born the same year which Disneyland opened. I was always slightly annoyed and very disappointed that the magical birth year I shared with Disneyland provided no perks whatsoever.

Twenty some years later, with my own young children in tow, I again made the trip to this great fantasyland. The orange groves had disappeared, but there were still acres and acres of strawberries covering the ground on either side of the freeway as we made our way to the familiar entrance.

On and off over the next fifteen years, whenever I had a business trip to the area, I’d bring along a kid or two and we’d make a quick one-day outing through the Magic Kingdom.

Once, on a trip to Los Angeles to buy wholesale party supplies for a client, I brought along my daughters to purchase some items for Ryanne’s wedding. I envisioned a memorable day in elegant shops, hand selecting little take-away gifts 20 /

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for the reception. Instead, in her only “bride moment,” Ryanne wailed, “I don’t want to shop for my wedding. I don’t want a veil.

I want to go to Disneyland.” And so, we did.

Now some 50 odd years after my first trip, I find myself dusting off my mouse ears to help usher in the next generation— this time three of my grandchildren—to the park. With their parents busy planning which days we would lounge by the pool and which rides were worth the wait, I was free to plan our dining reservations and travel snacks. Ryanne tried to comment on the number of suitcases I had (more than their family of five), but I was quick to point out that

one of mine was filled entirely with travel nibbles for them. No Pilgeram family trip is complete without a jaunt to Costco to load up on snacks—I like a nice combination of savory (nuts and crackers) and sweets (including fruit snacks and chocolate covered anything), and of course a bottle of good vodka. Even in my casual snack world, presentation is everything. Though she rolled her eyes when I whipped out my Minnie Mouse snack containers on the airplane, Ryanne dared not complain because those preschoolers didn’t make a peep the entire flight.

As soon as we arrived, I could turn my attention to our club concierge and Disney-

land dining confirmations. My favorite place to eat is the Blue Bayou overlooking the Pirates of the Caribbean ride—it’s dark and cool with twinkling Delta fireflies. I am drawn there every time I visit the park. Since my first meal there about forty years ago, not much about the Blue Bayou has changed, and that’s the appeal. And I still can’t wait to savor their legendary Monte Cristo Sandwich, which has been on the menu since 1967. Reservations are hard to come by, so be sure to reserve up to 60 days in advance.

Disneyland is all grown up now (and so are the entrance fees) and the food seems to have become an even more important

revenue stream for the park. A line snaked out the door of the Candy Palace, where young and old alike waited to order a variety of Mickey Mouse caramel or chocolate dipped apples for fifteen bucks. Specialty restaurants that require reservations have sprung up in all the parks, along with food and culinary shops dedicated to making Disney themed food masterpieces.

Though I managed to raise my children without a Micky Mouse waffle iron, I don’t feel that the grandchildren will have a complete life without this apparatus.

And so, long after the bags are put away, we’ll keep making Disney magic (and Monte Cristo Sandwiches) in my kitchen.

Disneyland’s Blue Bayou Monte Cristo Sandwich Recipe Of all the delectable offerings served at the restaurant during the last four decades, Disneyland states the most popular item by far is the Blue Bayou Monte Cristo Sandwich. It was available on the original 1967 menu and is still available at lunch service today. The sandwich has been so popular over the years, with upwards of 200 of them served a day, that a card was printed up for guests who requested the recipe. Makes four sandwiches. Serve this French-like sandwich a light salad and a chilled white wine.

INGREDIENTS:

DIRECTIONS:

1 egg 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 8 slices egg bread (challah works well), sliced 1/2-inch thick 8 thin slices ham 8 thin slices turkey 8 thin slices Swiss cheese 3 cups canola oil Confectioners sugar Blackberry preserves

Line a cookie sheet with paper towels; set aside. Whisk the egg and water together in a mixing bowl. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and whisk thoroughly for 2 to 3 minutes or until smooth, scraping sides of bowl. On one slice of bread, arrange 2 slices of ham, turkey, and cheese, covering the bread evenly.

Place another slice of bread on top and slice each sandwich in half diagonally.

Heat oil to between 365 degrees F and 375 degrees F in a 10-inch pan. Do not let the oil reach a higher temperature than this; if the oil starts to smoke, turn the heat down. Dip half of the sandwich into the batter, allowing excess to drain, and very carefully place into the oil. Repeat with the other sandwich half. Cook 3 minutes on each side, or until golden

brown. Place the cooked sandwich on the prepared cookie sheet in a warm oven until ready to serve. Repeat with the other three sandwiches.

Cook one at a time, and allow the oil to

reach the desired temperature between each. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar and serve with blackberry preserves on the side.

MUSIC

Junoon: The biggest band you’ve never heard of

By Ed Ohlweiler Reader Contributor

There are questions we will never know the answers to: Why is there suffering in the world, why does Hawaii have interstate highways, and what would chairs look like if our legs bent the other way? Just as puzzling is Junoon’s apparent lack of fame here in the United States.

After all, we’re talking about a band that sold over 30 million records, played at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, has been called “the U2 of Pakistan”, and wowed fans all over the globe. Their music has a strong moral conscience and they’ve played countless benefits for charities and relevant causes. Just as importantly, their music picks you up and takes you for an enjoyable musical ride on a magical carpet across Asia.

As fate would have it, the band had its foundations rooted in America. The founder, lead guitarist, and songwriter for the band, Salman Ahmed, moved from Lahore to New York when he was 11. At age 13, he was feeling the awkwardness of being nerdy, unpopular and Pakistani when a classmate insisted he buy an extra ticket he had to a concert that would change his life. [The friend would later play guitar for the heavy metal band Anthrax.]

Salman had to lie to his mother just to go, and he knew nothing of the words he read on the jumbotron: Led Zeppelin. But when those lasers hit Jimmy Page, adorned with the dragon pants and double-necked guitar, his life was indeed changed.

Ahmed worked as a busboy to save the $237 for a Les Paul copy guitar, locked himself in his room to play, worried his mother and later formed a

This week’s RLW by Lyndsie Kiebert

READ

I read “The Demon in the Freezer” by Richard Preston for a class in college where the professor said I should be prepared to be captivated and terrified. She was right.

This book, written in a narrative journalism style, explores the histories of smallpox and anthrax, as well as what the government is doing to defend against these biological weapons.

It’s straightforward but graphic, and utilizes the voices of real people to paint a horrifying picture of the potential of biological weaponry.

LISTEN

Junoon performing live. Visible from left to right are; Ali Azmat and Brian O’Connell. Commons photo. band—almost the stereotypical birth of a rock star. I say almost because there were obstacles that many musicians will hopefully never encounter. The least of which was his mother’s obsession with Salman becoming a doctor. In fact after he graduated from high school in 1981, they moved back to Pakistan where his parents knew there were no rock bands.

Salman would change that. But he also did become a doctor— placing him among the most over-educated of international rock stars.

More daunting were the death threats. During a Taliban raid on a talent show he was playing at, a rebel smashed his guitar, looked him in the eye, and said, “If you ever play this thing again I will shoot you down.” Ahmed would certainly not be blamed if he left music altogether—he was on his way to becoming a doctor and was being threatened by guys with machine guns. [Since 2008, 13 musicians, singers, and artists have been murdered in Paki-

stan.]

“I had to cave into the fear and give up my passion, or follow my heart,” Ahmed reported. “I chose to follow my heart ever since terrorists hijacked Islam and twisted so many things…suicide in the Koran is prohibited but they kill innocents, and the dreaded J-word, jihad, which actually means to lift yourself up and to lift up society, now conjures up the images of violence and extremism.”

Luckily for the rest of the world, Ahmed waged what he called “a rock ‘n’ roll jihad” and continued to play in clandestine bands around Lahore. In 1990 he left what was then the most successful band in Pakistani history— Vital Signs—to found one of the most successful bands in Asia—Junoon—along with Ali Azmat and Brian O’Connell.

The band continued Ahmad’s brand of “Sufi Rock”, often using lyrics from the Sufi poets themselves and including traditional instruments like the

tabla. They spread their message of peace and the dangers of extremism, even to the point of being banned in their home country. They played to thousands in Kashmir despite the death threats and the fact that Pakistan and India have fought three wars over the region.

After 9/11, Junoon deliberately launched a tour of the U.S. They were the first rock band ever invited to play at the United Nations.

It’s easy to ponder why Junoon isn’t a household name, but it’s just as easy to find some of their music, turn it on, and bliss out. Preferably not while driving—you may need to jump up and down.

Authors note: much of this was admittedly borrowed from Salman Ahmad’s The Moth podcast. For more information, check out the podcast or his autobiography, “Rock & Roll Jihad.”

My music habits change with the seasons, and summer ushers in a certain affinity for airy indie-pop.

Hazel English’s double EP “Just Give In/Never Going Home” dropped earlier this month, and it is everything I look for in a summertime record.

This EP is easy listening, and perfect for people already into Day Wave or Surf Rock Is Dead. My favorite tracks include “That Thing” and “Never Going Home.”

WATCH

“DamNation” is an advocacy documentary that explores attitudes toward the vast system of American hydroelectric dams, and the effects of these dams on people and fish. Everything from the narrative to the filming is incredible, and the subject matter is worth exploring, especially here in the PNW. I never hesitate to recommend “DamNation” to anyone looking for a thought-provoking film.

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A vision of assistance

Two Sandpoint residents share a mutual vision for helping low-income citizens

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff Writer Jack Fournier’s life changed in a single moment.

One second, he was riding in the car with his wife. The next, he awoke in a hospital bed to the news that a drunk driver hit them and took her life.

In the end, the driver spent six months in jail and never paid restitution. Fournier sold everything and started moving around, using his master’s degree to work as a child and family therapist across the West. He never got on top of financial matters and never planned a retirement fund.

Now, 30 years later, Fournier is barely scraping by.

“I was numb for 20 years. I didn’t know it at the time, but 20 years went by. I just didn’t ever (plan ahead). I just didn’t do it. I didn’t care,” he said.

“Thirty years older and now what? You finally become conscious of everything that’s going on and you look back and everything has changed.”

Despite becoming disabled following the car crash, he worked as long as he could. Fournier moved to Sandpoint four years ago after becoming familiar with the area while working for Child Protective Services in the early 2000s.

He currently lives on social security and uses Medicare to help with several medical issues, including diabetes.

Even if 70-year-old Fournier could secure and maintain a job, it would only hurt him. Within the current system, if Fournier makes any more money than he does now, he will lose his current benefits.

Bills, medical and otherwise, will pile.

To be blunt, Fournier said, he has no choice.

“The wheels don’t turn right,” he said of government assistance programs.

Kelli Martin, who moved to Sandpoint eight years ago, shares Fournier’s sentiment. Martin works in loss prevention and fraud investigation, and as a result, interacts often with low-income individuals attempting to steal or cheat the system. Martin said she also actively seeks community members who need what she calls a “hand up” — whether it be money, food or other amenities. It is in this fashion that she met Fournier and heard his story.

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At 19 years old, Martin found herself living on welfare with two babies. She said she’d wait to go to the store in the middle of the night so that fewer people would see her pay with the fake money the government issued at the time.

“I was so embarrassed. I just wanted to die,” she said. “But when I got in the car with the groceries I was like, ‘Oh, I can feed the kids.’ It was like a million dollars in my car.”

It was her experience finding a way out of that situation that Martin said helps her empathize with people like Fournier.

“When you see people that are really good people and they just need a hand up, that’s what I think a small community like this could create a model for,” she said.

This model is something Fournier and Martin are working together to bring to life. Though no plans are off the ground as of now, the duo has a clear image of a low-income tiny-home community based around educating people. Financial counseling, parenting and cooking classes, group dinners, shared childcare responsibilities and the creation of a greenhouse—among many more ideas—would be offered as a means to break the vicious cycle of relying on government assistance, Martin said, and create a pay-it-forward system where residents carry those lessons forward. Rent would be free for a year as long as residents partake in the counseling and community activities, and people of all ages—from families to the elderly—would be welcome given they make genuine attempts to become what Martin calls “successful citizens.”

Fournier and Martin’s dream of such a community in the Sandpoint area is a result of both their backgrounds, and they acknowledge that not everyone will understand the importance of such a community right away.

“Getting the story out is one thing.

People acting on it is another,” Martin said. “I don’t think unless you’ve lived it, you understand it.”

She said there is often an attitude surrounding low-income people where others think, “they’re lazy, they’re

Jack Fournier, left, and Kelli Martin, right, discuss ways to improve the lives of Sandpoint’s low income individuals.

Photo by Ben Olson.

losers, they’ve screwed up their own lives.” Still, she said, there’s often a reason people end up in their situations that they can’t control.

“I see so much ugliness in this world with my job, and I talk to people that no one wants to talk to because they’re dirty or whatever, but I see just beautiful humans, but something happened,” Martin said. “It was the way they were raised, or they were molested or something bad happens in their life that makes them turn.”

It’s a story Fournier knows well. He said he wants people who have been living in negative situations to try to think more positively, and the community he and Martin have in mind would be that positive place for low-income Sandpoint residents.

“I have a lot of faith in God that things will work. We want them to work at our time, but it’s not necessarily going to happen on our time,” he said. “I think this is just the start of something really positive happening. I think it will grow. I just have that much faith.”

More than anything, Fournier said, he wants people to know that it’s OK to ask for help.

“It’s very difficult for me at times to ask for help, but sometimes you have to, and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just your pride and your ego that gets in the way,” he said. “Don’t be embarrassed about asking for help — it takes strength. So that’s what I did with Kelli.

I asked.”

Crossword Solution

Consider the daffodil.

And while you’re doing that, I’ll be over here, looking through your stuff.

A whale of a mural

Top: Forrest Bird Charter School students work on a new addition to Sandpoint’s graffiti alley as part of their service learning project for teacher Holly Walker.

The students have already put 25 hours into the mural, shooting for an additional 15 hours to complete it. Special thanks to Carol Deaner for helping this along. Right: Sophomore Sloan Warner, the designer of the mural, is acting as spearhead to this project. Photos by Ben Olson.

CROSSWORD

By Charity Luthy

Have you checked out our website lately?

Check our site for real live updates on the Sandpoint Branch Remodel and Expansion Project!

Woorf tdhe Week

Luddite

/LUHD-ahyt/

[noun] 1. someone who is opposed or resistant to new technologies or technological change.

“Luddites aren’t very prolific on Facebook.”

Corrections: We didn’t screw up! Hooray! -BO

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