Reader_Oct13_2022

The week in random review

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

What I learned about geography this week

We’ve all been brought up to know there are seven con tinents on Earth: Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. According to a 2021 report by the BBC — and reshared on social media Oct. 10, 2022 — there is actually an eighth continent: “Zealandia,” or Te Riu-a-Māui, in Māori, which measures 1.89 million square miles east of Australia, and is almost as big as its more well known neighbor. However, 94% of Zea landia is under about 6,500 feet of water, with only New Zealand, New Caledonia and the Australian terri tories Howe Island and Ball’s Pyramid peeking above the waves. Best estimates are that Zealandia broke away from the Gondwana supercontinent beginning around 105 million years ago, being stretched to a crust depth of only 12.4 miles and sinking, due to forces still unknown. “This is an example of how something very obvious can take a while to uncover,” said one geologist who took part in “discovering” Zealandia.

Oct. 13

Turns out this day is pretty significant for the United States. On this day in 1775 the Continental Congress estab lished the Continental Navy, which would become the U.S. Navy. Also on this day, in 1792, builders laid the cornerstone for the U.S. Executive Mansion, which came to be known as the White House in 1818. The day is also a big deal for Mexico, which publicly proclaimed its Declaration of Inde pendence on Oct. 13, 1821 (though it was signed and ratified on Sept. 28 of that year). It’s also the day that France adopted the constitution of its Fourth Republic in 1946. In sports, the Boston Red Sox beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in Game 8 of the first modern World Series in 1903.

“I could conquer the whole of them with fifty men, and govern them as I pleased.” — Christopher Columbus, in a letter to Spanish King Ferdinand dated Sunday, Oct. 14, 1492, relating his thoughts on the Indigenous peoples of the Bahamas.

This week’s TV Guide for 7-year-old existentialists

Me to 7-year-old daughter: “What’s something you would like to watch?”

Daughter: “Nothing I want to learn about.”

Me: “There’s nothing you’re curious about?”

Daughter: “Not really, except the meaning of life.”

Me: “I bet there’s a documentary about that.”

Daughter: “Yeah, but they’re just going to jabber on and on about it. That’s all documentaries are. People jabbering on and on.”

DEAR READERS,

I snuck out of town this week to visit the Tetons. I’m always impressed with our staff when one of us needs a week or two off. It’s very important for us to cultivate a work environment in which our weekly duties don’t get in the way of squeezing as much joy out of life as possible. As the old saying goes, nobody lies on their death bed thinking, “Gee, I wish I spent more time at work.”

I recently read an article written by a palliative care nurse named James Pickering, who shared the top sentiments his terminal patients shared in their last days. He said the top five patients’ regrets were: 1. “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”; 2. “I wish I hadn’t worked so hard”; 3. “I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings”; 4. “I wish I had stayed in touch with my old friends”; and 5. “I wish that I had let myself be happier.” Pickering claimed No. 2 was the most common regret for male patients.

Don’t let these be your death-bed regrets. Here’s wishing you all a little touch of happiness this week.

–Ben Olson, publisher

READER

111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 946-4368 www.sandpointreader.com

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

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Contributing Artists: Mark Perigen, Jake Hagadone, Ben Olson, Otto Kitsinger, Chris Bessler

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About the Cover

This week’s cover features the iconic Panida Theater, located at 300 N.First Ave. in downtown Sand point. Read about the theater’s new Century Fund campaign on Page 4.

Panida launches Century Fund campaign

Theater’s annual meeting to be held Oct. 20

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

Leaders of the historic, com munity-owned Panida Theater are preparing to launch an am bitious fundraising campaign, dubbed the Panida Century Fund, which aims to raise $1.9 million ahead of the theater’s 100th birthday in November 2027.

The funds are intended for badly needed capital improve ments, Panida officials said, and each of the five years leading up to the Panida’s centennial features a different fundraising goal. In the first phase — set to conclude in December 2022 — the theater hopes to raise $273,000.

“Like anything 100 years old, whether it be a person or a building, it needs love and attention and there is wear that needs to be addressed,” said Panida Board Chair Jim Healey, not ing that the roof of the main theater is currently leaking and would be replaced under the first phase of the Century Fund plan.

“We’re heading into the winter months,” he added. “The roof is a matter of concern that needs to be addressed right now.”

Beyond the most dire needs, the Panida could see a wide spectrum of improvements made possible by the funding campaign.

“The Panida over the de cades has served well as a ven ue for a movie-going experi ence, but is woefully lacking in infrastructure needed in a mod ern performing ‘theatre,’” said Board Fundraising Chair Foster Cline. “The lobby is small and crowded. The restrooms are cramped. The backstage area is inadequate. The acoustics need to be upgraded. The beauti ful aged plaster is in need of replacement. More comfortable and updated seating is needed.”

To kickstart the Panida Century Fund campaign, local internet company Ting has pledged a $200,000 match to all donations of up to $5,000. Ting Marketing Manager Kari Saccomanno — a lifetime local — called the Panida “an anchor for local connection,” and said Ting strives to support the “people and programs that make our cities so special.”

“In fact, my first date was at the Panida, so it holds even more special memories for me,” Sacco manno told the Reader “I’m lucky to be a part of a company that values community as much as I do.” Also providing a boost is a new endowment fund through the Innovia Foundation, which will establish a consistent revenue stream for the theater.

“A gift to the endowment fund is essentially a never-end ing gift,” Panida Managing Di rector Veronica Knowlton told

the Reader

Apart from the Century Fund plan, the Panida board also recently adopted a new five-year strategic plan meant to guide the nonprofit’s steps leading into the next century.

“Our in tended hopes for the Panida Theater are reflected in this strategic plan, which will be our roadmap head ing toward the Panida centen nial celebra tion,” Knowl ton said. “In establishing these specific objectives, we are united in our under standing of what is both possible and achievable as we work together.”

In the spirit of working together, the theater has also initiated a Panida Advisory Council made up of about 30 members from various backgrounds who will provide input as the campaign gains steam.

All members of the pub lic are invited to the theater’s annual membership meeting, slated for Thursday, Oct. 20 at 6 p.m. Theater officials will hold board elections and Knowlton will provide opera

tions updates.

The 2021 membership meeting included the re-light ing of the Panida’s iconic First Avenue marquee, as well as a brief mention of a possible cap ital campaign. The campaign is now a reality, and the 2022 meeting will serve as an oppor tunity for people to learn more about future improvement plans through the Century Fund.

“All this is going to be costly

but essential as our commu nity-owned theater evolves to meet the needs of a thriving live professional theater,” Cline said.

Learn more at panida.org, or call 208-263-9191.

Above: From left to right, Panida Board Fundraising Chair Foster Cline, Panida Managing Director Veronica Knowlton and Panida Board Chair Jim Healey. Photo by Chris Bessler. Inset: A poster advertising the first-ever Panida show in 1927. Courtesy photo.

Justices ask pointed questions of attorneys about abortion laws at Idaho Supreme Court hearing

By Kelcie Moseley-Morris Idaho Capital Sun

Attorneys for Planned Par enthood and the state of Idaho argued over the fundamental right to have an abortion at the Idaho Supreme Court on Oct. 6 in a case considering the consti tutionality of three Idaho abor tion laws, including a near-total abortion ban that has been in effect for six weeks.

Planned Parenthood and one of its abortion providers, Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, filed three separate challenges with the Idaho Supreme Court, beginning with the civil enforcement bill — also known as the heart beat bill — in April. Two other challenges were filed in in June and July, after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and return the ability to regulate abortion to the states.

Alan Schoenfeld, the attorney for Planned Parenthood, who argued before justices on Oct. 6, said Idaho courts throughout history have held that there is a fundamental right to privacy and to make familial decisions. Schoenfeld said those rights are included in Article I of the Idaho Constitution, which specifies certain inalienable rights such as enjoying and defending life and liberty, pursuing happiness and securing safety.

“The absence of a specific constitutional provision dealing with right to privacy does not compel the conclusion that no such right exists,” Schoenfeld said.

He added that a pregnancy is 40 weeks long at full term and can have a profound effect on a person’s physical and men tal health during and after the pregnancy, and another child can affect other children in a family. Schoenfeld said the right

to choose whether to see that pregnancy through is implicit in the Idaho Constitution.

Justice Robyn Brody asked Schoenfeld why the court should determine a question of con stitutionality when lawmakers throughout Idaho history have banned the procedure, extending back to the time of the state’s founding. Schoenfeld said an Idaho court has never ruled on the constitutionality argument with respect to abortion until now and said the trigger law does not qualify as a reasonable regulation under state law.

“What we’re dealing with here isn’t a regulation, it’s a ban,” he said.

Deputy Attorney General Me gan Larrondo argued there is no fundamental right to abortion in the Idaho Constitution, and said the ban is part of the state’s com pelling interest to protect life.

Justice Colleen Zahn asked Larrondo how the abortion ban can stand alongside Idaho’s faith healing laws if the argument is that it protects life. Idaho has a faith-healing exemption in statute that protects parents from prosecution if they deny life-saving care to their children on religious grounds, according to previous Idaho Capital Sun reporting.

“Faith healing laws are differ ent because they’re not intended to take a life,” Larrondo said.

“This is targeted at a procedure.”

Idaho Legislature’s attorney says justices are not legislators

Justice John Stegner asked Larrondo whether the fetus’ life takes precedence over the pregnant person’s health since health is not mentioned in Idaho’s abortion ban law. Larrondo said the statute is focused on life rather than health, echoing what Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, said during meetings at the Idaho Leg islature about the law in 2020.

“So you’re saying we don’t care about the woman’s health,” Stegner said.

“We care about the woman’s health, but we care about the life of the fetus as well,” Larrondo responded.

Attorney Monte Stewart split time with Larrondo to represent leaders of the Idaho Legislature, Senate Pro Tem Chuck Winder, R-Boise, and Speaker of the House Scott Bedke, R-Oakley. Stewart told the justices if they do anything but uphold the laws as they are, it will be a breach of the separation of powers and said some of the oral arguments from justices sounded like a legislative committee.

“I just think if you say there’s a fundamental right [to abor tion], you will hereafter become legislators on this issue,” Stewart said.

Justices asked Schoenfeld if there was a different law that could be crafted that would be acceptable, such as a ban on abortions after 15 weeks or 20 weeks, or if it should be at the point the fetus is viable, which is about 24 weeks. Stewart said viability is “not a great line” to use, and any line drawn will not be for the judiciary to decide.

“The Legislature is in charge of drawing those lines, acknowl edging they’re not perfect,” Stewart said. “Those laws will change, that’s the very nature of the democratic process.”

Justice Moeller questions reasonable basis for breadth of civil enforcement law

Justice Gregory Moeller asked Stewart about the civil enforcement law, which is mod eled after a similar law in Texas that allows civil lawsuits against

medical professionals who per form abortions after fetal cardiac activity is detected, which is typically around six weeks of pregnancy. The law awards no less than $20,000 to the mother, father, grandparents, siblings, aunt or uncle of the fetus or embryo in a successful lawsuit. It includes exceptions for rape, incest or a medical emergency that would cause death or create serious risk of substantial harm to the patient, but legislators and attorneys have acknowledged nothing in the statute prevents the family members of a rapist from filing lawsuits.

Moeller asked what the reasonable basis is for allowing a rapist’s family member to sue, especially when Idaho’s statutes relating to wrongful death civil suits do not allow extended fam ily members such as an aunt or uncle to file a similar claim.

Stewart said it’s reasonable because the loss of a poten tial niece or nephew would be particularly painful because abortion is an intentional act. He acknowledged a lawsuit could still be filed by a relative even if the family members had not been in touch for many years.

Idaho Planned Parenthood plaintiff says she looks forward to justices’decision

Gustafson, an abortion pro vider with Planned Parenthood who is a plaintiff in the cases, told the Idaho Capital Sun after the hearing that she was happy to hear some of the questions from justices and thought several of them seemed uncomfortable with the laws as written.

“Some of them just even spoke to that discomfort really openly,” Gustafson said. “I look forward to hearing what the justices have to say.”

Nate Poppino, spokesman for the Idaho Supreme Court, said the justices have a discussion following oral arguments, and will have an oral conference at a later date before issuing a written decision. There is no set date for a decision.

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

The Idaho Supreme Court Building in Boise. Photo by Otto Kitsinger.

NEWS 2022 Governor’s Awards in the Arts announced, including Sandpoint artists

By Reader Staff

Two Sandpoint artists are among the recipients of the 2022 Governor’s Awards in the Arts, announced Oct. 12, which recognize individuals and orga nizations across Idaho who have made significant contributions to the arts and cultural life of the state through cre ative accomplishments or distinguished service.

Local visual artists Stephen Schultz and his late-wife Romey Stuckart, who passed away in 2020, were both honored with the prestigious Excellence in the Arts award, which pays special atten tion to the quality and impact of artists’ works.

Other recipients of the Excellence in the Arts award included dancer/choreog rapher Lauren Edson and visual artists Stephanie Inman and JanyRae Seda, all of Boise.

Established by the Idaho Commis sion on the Arts in 1970, the Governor’s Awards in the Arts are given biennially

and selected by the Idaho governor and first lady.

The 2022 awards will be presented by Gov. Brad Little and First Lady Teresa Little at a public ceremony Monday, Nov. 23 at the Idaho State Museum in Boise.

Artists from around the state received awards in other categories, with most coming from the Boise area and other southern Idaho communities. The only other North Idaho recipients included:

University of Idaho Jazz Choir Direc tor Daniel Bukvich in Moscow, North Idaho College Theatre Director Joe Jaco by and music teacher Kristina Phillips, both of Coeur d’Alene, in the Support of Arts Education category; Coeur d’Alene Arts and Cultural Alliance Executive Director Ali Shute for Excellence in Arts Administration; and the Sorensen Mag net School of the Arts and Humanities in Coeur d’Alene for Innovation in the Arts

For more information visit arts. idaho.gov.

BoCo ‘Operation Green Light’ shows support for local veterans

By Reader Staff

Bonner County commissioners approved a proclamation Oct. 4 in ob servance of Operation Green Light for Veterans, a new national collaborative spearheaded by the National Association of Counties and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers.

Residents and businesses are encour aged to participate in Operation Green Light by changing one light bulb in their house to a green bulb. This can be an exterior light that neighbors and pass ersby see, or an interior light that spurs a conversation with friends and family.

“By shining a green light, we let our veterans know that they are seen, appre ciated and supported,” Bonner County Veterans Services stated in a news re lease. “Bonner County declares October through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2022,

a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform.”

While the event in Bonner County is occurring through Veterans Day, resi dents are encouraged to continue shining the light year-round.

“Operation Green Light is a simple way to express our collective appreciation for the public service of our veterans,” stated National Association of Counties President Denise Winfrey. “We encourage everyone to join us in displaying a green light for our veterans and to also reflect on how we, as a nation and at the county level, assist our military service personnel back into civilian life upon completion of their service to our country.”

Visit naco.org/operationgreenlight for more information and links to resources available to veterans, or contact Bonner County Veterans Services at 208-2555291 ext. 1.

Bits ’n’ Pieces

From east, west and beyond

East, west or beyond, sooner or later events elsewhere may have a local impact.

A recent sampling:

According to Credit Suisse research, the Inflation Reduction Act will shape the direction of the American economy, and beyond, and will leave the U.S. poised to “become the world’s leading energy provider.” An analysis in The Atlantic foresees a massive explosion of beneficial economic activity due to the IRA.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report on September jobs and wages showed 263,000 more jobs and a fall in unem ployment. Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich wrote that most media praised the figures, but he’s concerned: hourly earnings in the last year rose 5%, but prices rose 6.3%, casting doubt on the theory that ris ing wages are entirely at fault for inflation. According to Reich, officials at the Federal Reserve are fixated on what they regard as wage growth being a hindrance, rather than other forces pushing up prices, like corporate profits (CEO pay is now 399 times that of the average worker, according to the Economic Policy Institute).

Meanwhile, big corporations are using inflation as “cover” for raising prices and increasing profits, Reich stated.

Biden’s economic approach has been to activate a “demand side” rather than “supply side” approach. Historian Heather Cox Richardson points out that instead of moving money to the wealthy, de mand-side historically shrank the wealth gap between 1933-1981. The supply-side (“trickle down”) theory pursued after 1981 diverted more funds to wealthier people. So far, Richardson wrote, “no other president in our history has seen this level of job growth in his first two years in office.” The New York Times reported the job mar ket is cooling, but is still strong and there’s little sign of a recession in the data.

OPEC Plus plans to raise oil prices by cutting supplies. Top leaders of OPEC Plus, Russia and Saudi Arabia, have a “visceral hatred of both President Biden and democracy itself,” historian Thom Hartmann noted. Higher oil prices will fuel inflation, and likely be used to discredit democracy. Saudi Arabia’s energy minister said the action was taken because of signs of a downturn in the world economy, which could lead to a fall in oil prices. But the AP reported that the move will allow Russia to keep paying for its invasion of Ukraine. In response to Saudi Arabia’s OPEC role, the U.S. Senate chair of For

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Columnist

eign Relations wants to freeze cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including arms sales.

Two physicians writing in TIME mag azine said the CDC’s interval advisory for when to get COVID shots “is not optimal” for “robust fall- and winter-long pro tection.” Based on studies, they advise a six-month lag between either a previous booster or infection (for healthy adults), and the new updated vaccine that targets Omicron BA.4/BA.5 COVID strains. The lag time leads to a higher antibody response. Studies show a booster provides antibody protection for at least six months, and possi bly nine months

The Jan. 6 House Committee an nounced a possible final hearing on Thursday, Oct. 13. The previous date was canceled due to Hurricane Ian. The committee said there will be “significant” new information, including from film footage that the FBI was denied.

In the seditious conspiracy trial of Oath Keeper Elmer Stewart Rhodes regarding the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a former Oath Keeper stated that Rhodes claimed he was in contact with a Secret Service agent in the months leading up to the D.C. mayhem. The witness explained that the Oath Keepers amassed weapons for the event, Business Insider reported, thinking that former-President Donald Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act, and therefore the weapons-ready orga nization would be able to step in and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to then-President-elect Joe Biden.

While many voted against the Demo crats’ infrastructure plan, calling it “so cialist,” now a number of those Republi cans are requesting grants to fund projects in their states. Biden commented, “I was surprised to see so many socialists in the Republican caucus.”

Blast from the past: Sixty years ago this month, the U.S. was wrestling with the Cuban missile crisis — the planet’s closest call with a nuclear exchange. It could have killed tens of millions of people in the Americas as well as Russia and surround ing nations. Mayhem was averted when President John F. Kennedy came to a secret deal with Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev, wherein Kennedy offered face-saving for Russia via the removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey. Now Biden has referred to the Cuban crisis and says he wants to help Russian President Vladimir Putin find an “off-ramp” that dodges the nuclear devas tation to which Putin has hinted.

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

Notes from Norway: Same same, but different

citizens (like zero taxes on EV purchases and road and ferry toll exemptions).

There’s something unique about traveling in a place where things are similar enough to be familiar, but different enough to make you latch onto its discrep ancies with complete focus. It’s like that game of comparing photos, with two nearly identi cal images side by side, but in one image, the wall clock reads 2:30 and the other reads 4:15, or, upon further inspection, one chair being made from wood and the other, from plastic. Once you notice it, it’s all you can see — your brain can never edit out the discrepancy again.

In Norway, there are the obvious differences, like signs in Norsk, with punctuation and spelling reflecting the mouth-full, multisyllabic pronunciation of their compound-riddled language (like, “raspberry jam on muesli bread” as bringebærsyltetøy på müslibrød).

Then, there’s the abundance of tall, blond-haired, blue-eyed people, wrapped in waterproof coats or thick sweaters, depend ing on their clairvoyant-like reading of the impending weath er. My Norwegian features allow me to blend in, only betrayed by a jumbled mispronunciation or poor clothing choice.

Finally, there’s the ridiculous amount of natural beauty, with every small town the scene of a postcard, every drive like a sce nic byway, and every landscape with national park-level beauty and ruggedness.

Then, there are the subtler differences that, once noticed, add so much more to the feeling

of foreignness than an umlaut ever could.

My partner and I spent our first week at an Airbnb adjacent to a college neighborhood in Olso. We were a 15-minute walk from the downtown core, a two-minute walk to a bus line and the under ground train, and were connected to every corner of the city by an abundant web of walking and bicycle paths that we (and every body else) used liberally.

On a drizzly morning, we picked our way through cobble stones and cottages, passing dads pushing plastic-windowed prams, elderly women chatting under their umbrellas and teenagers jumping puddles in a dash to their morning classes. There wasn’t a single type of person not walking to their respective destination.

In a rush of awareness, we recognized the lack of car horns, revving engines and mechanical hums (all the usual sounds asso ciated with being in a city), and honed in on the near absence of cars — specifically gas-powered vehicles — on the roads. In an effort to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, Norway has invested heavily in green public transpor tation infrastructure and electric vehicle incentivization for its

Many parts of Oslo, specif ically areas around public and shopping centers, are desig nated car-free, increasing foot traffic, while also contributing to pedestrian safety and acces sibility. Through a combination of top-down choices made by politicians that people seem to actually hold in high regard, and the enabling of easy or economically-driven individual incentives, Oslo achieved the title of Europe’s “Green Capi tal” in 2019.

breadwinner or old age, individ uals receive between 60%-100% of their former wages, or the federal minimum wage — their philosophy being that when basic needs are met, the necessity of crime is diminished. These efforts, in combination with positive policing and rehabilita tion-focused incarceration, has led to plunging crime rates and even the closing of prisons across the country.

his view of being Norwegian.

“We weren’t always a rich country, and had to learn how to take care of one another to sur vive,” he explained. “Now, even though we are a wealthy country, we haven’t lost the feeling that we’re all in this together. We elect people who believe and act the same, and look out for future generations just as much as we look out for ourselves.”

And I’ll think I’ll take that bit of wisdom — and this muesli bread recipe — back with me.Emily Erickson.

A wind-ruddied, middle-aged man on a shared hike explained

Retroactive

BO

Another such epiphany occurred on our late-night walk back from the far side of the city after a Vålerenga Fotball match. We wound through neighborhood after neighborhood of warmly-lit streets, attractive apartment com plexes, manicured parks and his toric townhouses. At a red light, we turned to see a woman sprint ing toward us, arms flailing and holding a 500 NOK bill in her hand (equivalent to a U.S. $50 bill). Du droppet dette! (“You dropped this!”), she exclaimed.

At the same time as offering her our thanks, we realized we had walked three city miles without encountering a single alley, park or person that made us feel even the slightest bit unsafe. Instead, we had someone run three blocks to return our dropped cash.

With one of the lowest crime rates in the world, Norway attri butes its safety to its well-devel oped public welfare system — the entire population having equal access to economic resources, uni versal health care and free higher education (regardless of nationali ty), and basic welfare services.

In the event of sickness, un employment, disability, loss of a

Bouquets:

•Hickey Farms is a great place to bring the family. My band played there a couple of weeks ago and we remarked how awesome it is being out there on the farm. Go for the pumpkins, but stay for the live mu sic, the excellent food, the fun kids’ activities and more. They’re open every weekend from 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. until the end of October, but also Wednesdays and Fridays from 2-5:30 p.m. for those who don’t want all the crowds.

Barbs:

• This year, there has been a disappointing trend evident in Idaho. Several candidates, from small races all the way up to the gubernatorial race, have declined to participate in debates where their constituents can ask questions and hear their stances on issues that matter to them. When Gov. Brad Little announced he wouldn’t participate in any debates with his primary opponents last spring, his campaign manager released a wishy-washy statement, noting that, “Brad Little is hands-down the most accessible governor in Idaho history.” Uh, I think we might have a difference of opinion on what the word “accessible” means, because ducking a debate ain’t it. This marks the first time in more than 30 years when an incumbent Idaho governor refused to sit for a debate when running for reelection. We’re noticing it local ly, too. The Reader normally hosts a candidates’ forum before primary and general elections, but the only race that could be dscribed as “con tested” is for the District 1 Senate seat, featuring Republican nominee Scott Herndon and independent write-in candidate Steve Johnson. We thought it would be helpful to host a town hall or debate, rather than a forum, with just Herndon and Johnson. When asked, Johnson agreed to participate, but after sev eral unanswered emails, Herndon finally responded that he declines participation. I don’t care what side of the aisle you sit on, if you don’t care enough to share your views with constituents at public forums and debates, you have no business running for office.

Dear editor,

Remember to write in Steve Johnson and fill in the bubble in front of his name for state senator, Legislative District 1 on your ballot for Nov. 8! You will write in his name under Scott Herndon. Steve stepped up to run as a write-in after voters unfortunately did not choose Jim Woodward in the primary. Like Jim, Steve will represent all of his constituents. He will listen to all and carefully consider any ideas and legislation proposed and how it affects the citizens of Bonner and Boundary counties, as well as all of Idaho’s citizens.

Steve has been in Bonner Coun ty for a lifetime, dedicated himself as both a teacher and principal in our schools as well as worked the land. He knows our county and cares deeply about it and all the citizens. Steve will work to keep our rural lifestyle as well as support the tourism that North Idaho depends on.

We are blessed to have someone step up to Herndon, who has only his narrow agenda. Write in Steve Johnson for District 1 Senate and fill in the bubble in front of his name on your ballot. Your vote counts!

With deep respect for democracy,

Ann Giantvalley Sandpoint

in to help with pulling this off and members and guests generously bid on silent auction items provid ed by bridge aficionados and local merchants.

Returning to face-to-face playing after more than two years away from the tables has been welcomed. It’s “rebuilding” time for bridge clubs everywhere. Thanks Don and Gayle and friends for all of your efforts to make duplicate bridge available in our little corner of the world. Sincerely, Helen Newton Sandpoint

Why I’m writing in Steve Johnson for Dist. 1 Senate…

Dear Editor,

I’m writing in Steve Johnson for Idaho Senate District 1 because he is the pro-life candidate. Pro-life means all life. Scott Herndon is very clear he feels the death of the mother is a completely acceptable outcome of pregnancy, even when the baby will die anyway. In Hern don’s opinion two deaths are better than one.

I’m writing in Steve Johnson because he believes in educational choice. That is, he believes that we should have a robust public educational system. We are dead last in students going on after high school for any type of training. The Freedom Caucus, of which Herndon is a member, has clearly stated they don’t believe in any public education option.

I’m writing in Steve Johnson because his commitment is to Idaho and will listen to everyone in his district. Scott Herndon got on the ballot by taking massive amounts of out of state money and lying about Jim Woodward. In my favorite book, the Bible, God puts lying about oth ers in his top-10 “don’t do” list.

medical decisions, legalized drugs, prisoners released, rising crime, and escalating costs and taxes while needed services collapse. Once beau tiful cities devolve into expanding homeless camps and gang havens as businesses and taxpayers flee.

Fearful characterizations of Scott Herndon are wrong. I find him to be intelligent, reasonable, ethical, and committed to our community. The most extreme thing about him is that he’s a devout family man trying to live his values. Yes, that includes a strong stand for life and the Second Amendment. So what? We’re not electing a dictator, he understands the value of pluralism, and is ready to try and restrain the escalating destruction of our society.

Voting is a chess move you make for the future you want. If killing the unborn, corrupting children, undermining parents, ignoring citi zens, squandering taxpayer money and damaging our future is what you value, go ahead, vote against him. But if you care about your freedom and quality of life for our community and children, Herndon deserves your support and vote in November.

Dr. Rick Kirschner Sagle

Dear editor,

Our Nov. 8 ballots will contain SJR102, an amendment to the Idaho Constitution. With SJR102, the Legislature will be able to convene itself in emergency sessions without the governor’s call. Currently the Legislature meets once a year for its regular session, which typically lasts three months. It then adjourns and cannot reconvene until the following year unless the governor calls it back into special sessions.

At the height of the COVID pan demic, the governor refused to call the Legislature into special session. The governor then changed the May 2020 election laws by executive proclamation, ordered businesses and churches to close and decided how to spend billions of dollars in federal funds without consulting the Legislature — the only body with the authority to change laws and appropriate money.

The Legislature passed SJR102 in response. Voter approval will enable the Legislature to call itself into a special session if 60% of the House and Senate request a special session.

Dear editor,

Every Democrat in the Legisla ture opposed the change, while 94% of Republicans supported SJR102, which will make Idaho like 36 other states. Idaho is only one of 14 states where the Legislature cannot convene without the governor’s call. Please vote yes on SJR102.

Mat Macdonald

Sandpoint’s certified bridge unit membership is miniscule in compar ison with cities such as Atlanta, San Diego and St. Louis. However, we are not small in our determination to contribute toward the elimination of this disease, which eventually impacts all of us in one way or another.

Don Hanset, one of our club directors, and his wife Gayle, de serve recognition for spearheading and organizing this event locally. Of course, other members pitch

Join me in writing in Steve Johnson and protect Idaho’s integ rity.

Sincerely,

Mary Haley Sandpoint Dear editor,

When left-leaning candidates get political power, Oregon, Washington, New York and California show us the result: Growing race hatred and gender dysphoria, sexual corrup tion of kids, parents excluded from

As citizens of Idaho, we have a responsibility to elect representa tives who will reflect our real values in law-making. That means we have to do our research and understand what candidates really stand for. When I did my research, I found that Scott Herndon is the best Sen ate candidate to represent freedom, small government and local control of local resources. As a small business owner and farmer, Scott understands how big government is always trying to take more control from local people. He will fight against big government expansion. He also knows how to stop big gov ernment corruption by making laws that give the power back to the local citizens, the parents of our children, and all the people who work hard and pay their taxes. Please do your own research and you’ll probably find out what I did: Scott Herndon is the only real choice to stand up for North Idaho.

Thanks, Jennifer Cramer Sagle

Dear editor,

Vice chairman, Bonner County Republican Central Committee Sandpoint Dear editor, On June 21, Sandpoint placed 38th among hundreds of clubs across the nation in raising funds for Alzheimer’s research through the American Contract Bridge League’s tenth annual Longest Day of the Year event. Over the decade, U.S. bridge clubs have raised more than $8 million.

Regarding Ben Olson’s “Dumb of the Week” [Oct. 6, 2022], my thought is, what is most perilous to this country is our division. There was a time, not long ago, when the issue of a wave of over 5 million people from who knows where, with no plans and no background checks coming across the southern border deliberately avoiding staffed border crossings, would catch the attention of every legislator no matter his liberal or conservative leanings (or location in the far north like, Mr. Olson), and something meaningful would be done.

No matter what Mr. Olson

Steve Johnson has ‘stepped up’ for Dist. 1 Senate…

Vote Scott Herndon for Dist. 1 Senate to protect our future…

‘Herndon will represent N. ID values in Senate’...

Divisive rhetoric is counterproductive…

SJR102 will empower Legislature to call itself into session…

Bridge clubs contribute to eliminating Alzheimer’s…

thinks, DeSantis (and Abbott) brought national attention to this exceptionally serious issue our national leadership is actively ignoring. I would not normally endorse these actions either, but we are living in a different time where there is no end to the arguing and no appetite for solving the nation’s problems.

Mr. Olson used the following lan guage: “dumb, ugly, human garbage, fringe, comical, laughingstock, tone deaf, callous, bigot,” and a strong obscenity. A less off-putting article offering legitimate criticism of the stunt, which it admittedly was, and more importantly a solution, is what’s needed, not more counterpro ductive rhetoric as divisive as the rhetoric being derided.

Bruce L Ehni, M.D. Sagle

Coyote crossing…

Dear editor,

Shock of the day: On Oct. 1, I was walking down Cedar Ridge Road near Pine Street Woods. Two small deer crossed the road. No big deal. Then a big tan-colored coyote. I briefly thought it was a wolf. Then a small white dog pops out of the bushes on the heels of the coyote. Both ran down the road for a ways and went in the direction of the deer.

Phone battery was dead, other wise I would have video proof. This was early afternoon, before drinking any wine.

Condolences to anyone who is missing a small white dog.

Bill Stuble Dover

Dear editor,

During the primary campaign, candidate Scott Herndon demon strated viciousness and untruthful ness in his attacks on the incum bent senator. A lengthy text from him that blocked my reply made it clear he didn’t want to hear from me; his mind was set. Such absolut ism and extremism are evident in his agenda: he would reject funding for Medicaid, public education, Meals on Wheels, highway and road improvements and veterans’ ser vices, among others. He believes a woman has no right to choose under any scenario. He wants to sell our public lands into private hands.

We voters have a choice.

Steve Johnson supports access to public lands and preserving the quality of our rural lifestyle. His 42 years in public education will serve us well as the new state law ushers in funding for public education. His top priority is to double the homeowners’ property tax exemp tion to $250,000 to keep pace with increasing home prices.

I cherish my freedoms, including recreating on public lands, casting my ballot, making my own medical decisions, and having choices such as where to worship and what to read. To that end, I support Steve Johnson, the write-in candidate for Idaho state senator, District 1.

Lexie de Fremery Sandpoint

like Meals on Wheels.

Steve Johnson has a plan to reduce property taxes so we are not taxed out of our homes. Herndon’s consumption tax hits elderly Idaho ans the hardest.

Please join me in casting your write-in vote for Steve Johnson because he cares about seniors. Re quest an absentee ballot at VoteIda ho.gov, vote early, or vote in person on November 8. Write in Steve Johnson and fill in the box next to his name.

Lee Christensen Sandpoint

‘No exceptions’…

Dear editor,

Imagine you are a young Idahoan who has been raped by an uncle and are now pregnant. Your life is changed forever by what has been called “a fate worse than death.” But there is a law making abortion murder, and the penalty in Idaho is death or life in prison. I can’t see what difference there is between your situation and that of an enslaved woman in pre-Civil War Virginia.

Scott Herndon wants to see this happen. He proposed this plank in the Idaho Republican Par ty platform this summer:

“We affirm that abortion is murder from the moment of fertiliza tion. All children should be protected regardless of the circumstances of conception, including persons conceived in rape and incest”

No exceptions.

Dear editor,

Dear editor,

To me the choice for Legislative District 1 state senator is so simple! If you support public education, support keeping public lands wild and free, support human rights for all (including a woman’s right to choose) and support common sense gun laws, then please choose to support Steve Johnson for Legisla tive District 1 state senator. On the ballot where you see Scott Herndon (who does not support any of these issues), write in Steve Johnson! And don’t forget to fill in the little bubble.

Pam Duquette Sandpoint

Many senior citizens are facing money challenges. Our property taxes have gone up and groceries are costing more. Having Meals on Wheels or having lunch at the Senior Center is a lifeline for many of us.

If Scott Herndon is elected senator, many seniors are going to suffer. You see, Herndon wants a consumption tax: a high tax on what we buy and it affects those with a fixed income the most.

In addition, Herndon says we should reject all federal money — money that makes up 70% of the Idaho Commission on Aging.

Herndon’s write-in opponent, Steve Johnson, understands the diffi cult circumstances that many of us find ourselves in. Steve Johnson will fight for funding for the important programs administered by the ICA

This is wrong. It’s extreme. It is cruel. Justice comes through wisdom, and exceptions are recognition of that.

You can write-in Steve Johnson to serve as our District 1 senator (instead of Herndon) on the Nov. 8 ballot. To register to vote, call 208255-3631 for info. You can protect the lives of young Idahoans.

God loves Steve John son, too. God doesn’t care about who wins, though I do believe God loves democracy and the freedom we have to vote.

Nancy Gerth Sagle

‘A simple choice’: Write in Steve Johnson for Dist. 1 Senate…

Write in Steve Johnson for Dist. 1 Senate to protect seniors…

‘Steve Johnson: voters’ choice’...

Science: Mad about

crater lake

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

There are some things in life that just have to be expe rienced. Pictures on the inter net can’t properly convey the indescribable majesty of some natural places. Crater Lake is one of those places.

I had researched tidbits of Crater Lake for book reports in school while I learned about Pacific Northwest history — humdrum factoids that may or may not be useful in a future trivia night at a bar somewhere. None of these things really stuck with me. Almost two hours south of our hotel, I was beginning to question whether or not my wife and I had made the right decision in coming to this national park — it was so remote, our ears must have popped three times just getting to the park gate, and we still had a couple of miles of hiking ahead of us.

All doubt was instantly dis pelled the moment we crested the ridge and looked upon one of the most incredible sights in the entire country. Suspended in a massive bowl of shattered rock was a deep sapphire blue lake with a mountain in the middle of it. I can’t convey how awe-inspiring this sight is, it’s something you just have to experience. Those who know, know.

Crater Lake is a volcanic lake nestled in the remnants of Mount Mazama in south-cen tral Oregon. It’s also the deepest lake in America with a maximum depth of 1,949 feet. That’s a full 800 feet deeper

than our lake at summer peak.

The depth of the lake is striking when you’re standing on the rim and looking down. It’s a very steep drop from the rim to the water, and an even steeper drop from the edge of the water to the bottom of the lake — yet curiously, a tiny little mountain within the mountain juts from the western side of the lake. That’s Wizard Island, the cinder cone that formed at the heart of the crater after Mount Mazama’s cata clysmic eruption around 7,000 years ago.

A cinder cone is what you think of when you imagine a volcano. It’s the large coneshaped structure that is formed by gradual release of smaller rock and lava flow, usually with a smaller caldera at the top. This is just the very top of a volcano’s actual structure, but we’ll save the anatomy of a volcano for another article.

The important thing to know is that Wizard Island is one of two major cinder cones lo cated within Crater Lake, and the only one visible above the surface of the water. The other is the Merriam Cone, which peaks just below the water’s surface near the northern edge of the lake.

You’re probably more inter ested in the event that created Crater Lake than the lake itself, and that’s fair. The eruption that created the lake was a monumental event. Mount Mazama’s peak was suspect ed to have reached at least 12,000 feet in elevation before the eruption. Double that of the lake’s current elevation of 6,178 feet. Don’t forget that the

you

actual crater dips down nearly another 2,000 feet. The erup tion displaced between 12 and 14 square miles of rock.

It’s likely that the eruption wasn’t just a massive explo sion flinging miles of stone for miles. As the Earth’s mantle heated the gasses and molten rock in the magma chamber beneath the mountain, it caused them to expand. With nowhere to go, this increased pressure — like pinching the bottom of a zit. There was only one direction for all of this material to go, and that was up to the surface. The pressure caused a blast that sent ash and pumice skyward at twice the speed of sound as the magma chamber violently evacuated its con tents. These poisonous gasses spilled out and almost instantly killed all life within 30 miles of the volcano.

This eruption likely looked very similar to the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 — at first. It likely took a little over a week for the magma cham ber to completely empty, and that’s when something awe some happened. In the course of about three hours, a series of rippling cracks formed in a circular pattern all around the base of Mount Mazama, vir tually tracing the shape of the empty magma chamber below. Then, the 12,000 foot mountain collapsed in on itself to fill the vacant chamber below and cre ated a 4,000-foot-deep crater.

Crater Lake is one of the only lakes in the world that isn’t filled by tributaries, making it some of the purest and cleanest water anywhere in the world. Given the

volume of water in the lake, it’s projected by the Nation al Parks Service that it must have taken 460 years of melt ing snow to fill Crater Lake. If you watch the water from the ridge, the water is a pure sapphire blue, and something you have to see to believe.

Crater Lake is also a great place to stargaze, as there is almost zero light pollution in the area. Though I wouldn’t

recommend it this time of year due to the cold temperatures, it’s a great place for an aspiring astronomer to take a camping trip for some truly legendary sights of the Milky Way.

My visit here was one of the most incredible journeys I’ve ever experienced, and some thing that everyone should experience in their lifetime.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner

Don’t know much about brushing your teeth? We can help!

•It’s not good to brush your teeth immediately af ter eating. Tooth enamel weakens when you consume acidic foods like meat, pas ta and fish, which is why dentists recommend waiting at least 30 min utes before brushing after a meal. This is enough time for your tooth enamel to harden again, preventing it from being damaged.

•Before the modern tooth brush, there were various ways peo ple kept their teeth clean. Ancient Chinese and Egyptians would chew on bark or sticks with frayed ends, feathers, fish bones and porcupine quills. North Africans would chew on sticks called miswak from the Salvadora persica tree (aka, “the toothbrush tree”). Europeans would clean their teeth with rags rolled in salt or soot.

•It wasn’t until 1780 when Englishman William Addis invented the modern toothbrush while he was imprisoned after starting a riot. Ad dis made a brush by putting holes in a cow bone and inserted pig bristles. After he was released from prison,

he immediately built a company to mass-produce his invention.

•Before the creation of modern toothpaste, pharmacists mixed and sold tooth creams and powders. Early tooth powders were made of abrasive substances, like talc or crushed seashells mixed with essen tial oils thought to fight germs.

•Hard-bristled toothbrushes are actually harmful to your teeth and gums. They can make gums bleed and damage tooth enam el. Dentists usually recommend soft-bristled toothbrushes because they remove plaque from teeth and gums in a gentle way and actually reach areas of the mouth that hard-bristled brushes can’t.

•Whitening toothpastes can also be damaging to your teeth. They contain more abrasive ingredi ents than regular toothpaste, which can make teeth appear slightly whit er, but the extra abrasiveness leads to thinner enamel, making your teeth sensitive and even darker in appearance.

Crater Lake. Courtesy photo.

A few days ago, my husband and I pulled up to a job site to assess the work to be done. Tyler emerged from the vehicle first and introduced himself to the waiting client. After replying to an email on my phone, I followed him out of the vehicle.

“You must be the wife,” said our client in greeting.

“Among many other things,” I responded, perhaps a little snip pily.

The wife?

Who still says that?

At the dentist several weeks ago, the dental hygienist and I made conversation in that awk ward way that is particular to such spaces. She asked what the rest of my day held. I told her I planned to bid on jobs.

“Wow, your husband trusts you to give quotes? That’s cool.”

Trusts me?

We sold our old chipper recent ly, and I was the one to greet the prospective buyer when he arrived on our property. After introduc tions, I mentioned idly, “I’m going to miss this chipper.”

“Your husband lets you use the equipment?”

Lets me?

All of these conversations — in such a short span of time, no less — leave me feeling slightly off-kilter, as if a voice has piped up in the background announcing my arrival in the Twilight Zone. As if I’ve time traveled to the 1950s, where husbands reign supreme as heads of nuclear families. Except, no, it’s really the 2020s, replete with repeated reminders that we’re still making assumptions about men and their defining role in women’s lives.

Old habits die hard.

In college, I did a survey of women’s magazine ads over the years. I saw everything from depictions of husbands spanking

wives for not buying the right coffee, a simple guide for mea suring one’s wife for the appro priate ironing board, and multiple admonishments for women to clean the house more vigorously so as to stay fit and trim for their husbands. (Who knew Windex offered a workout regimen?)

One showed a man dragging his smiling wife — in her un derwear — by the hair. One told women their body odor was to blame if their husbands strayed. One read, “Your guy: Your No. 1 reason for Midol,” going on to exhort women to stop being such a pain in the ass when they’ve got cramps. It’s not fun for your guy, after all.

These depictions may now seem startling, but we haven’t quite abandoned the assumptions that underpin them (primarily that men are in control and women are meant to please them). Now that I’m tuned in, I see them every where. Including within myself.

For years, I did not believe that I was at all vital to our business. For years, I tried to augment my worth by doing more — house cleaning, accounting, child care — to prove that what I lacked as a business partner, I made up for elsewhere. For years, I felt like this was Tyler’s business, and I was along for the ride.

For years, I was like, Thanks for trusting the wife with the

equipment. For years, I was like, I hope my existence pleases you.

So, when all of these com ments arose recently, they weren’t new to me. They were more like the Ghosts of Self-Doubt’s NotSo-Distant-Past. I bristled at those words because the only conscious ness they’re allowed to arise from is mine.

We’ve all grown up enmeshed in the unseen filaments of male primacy. It’s so ubiquitous — both surrounding and permeating us — we don’t even know it’s there.

An author I admire — a Black woman — writes about how her colleagues and readers all seem to understand the insidiousness of racism but not sexism. They want her to “prove” sexism’s existence, whereas racism is a given. Racism is largely visible, in all its overt ugliness, whereas the patriarchy is simply the air we breathe. Thus, to attack it is to be seen as tilting at windmills.

I recently used the word femi nist to describe myself in an essay. Tyler, my designated editor of first drafts, asked, “Are you sure you want to use that word? It’s kind of loaded.”

He is right. But, yes, I want to use that word, freighted though it may be with cultural assumptions and aversions. Feminism is a load ed word, but I know how to use it <bang, bang>.

Or I’m learning, anyway. As with any big idea that threatens to shake the foundations of the status quo — whether in one’s own awareness or in society at large — it takes a lifetime or two to wrap one’s head around it.

I desperately want to wrap my head around it, though, because I want that foundational work done for my daughter so she can spring board into even greater levels of critical thinking about gender roles and equality. I want her to inhabit

a world in which she isn’t a de facto laundress and lunch-maker (unless she wants to be). Where she doesn’t feel defined by her mate. Where no one allows her to act. She simply acts.

As several before me have said, feminism is the radical idea that women are human beings. All I want is for my daughter to be treated like an autonomous human being. Is that too much to ask? Does that make me a Femi-Nazi?

Or a “nasty woman”?

Tyler is right. Feminism is a loaded word. Though I’ve been comfortable being outspoken in this column in the past, this topic gives me pause. What if I come across as too strident? Overly sensitive? A wet blanket on all the fun we could otherwise be having in this space?

Why is it so uncomfortable to speak up for women’s agency and equality?

Probably because our gendered existence asks women to be nice. To not rock the boat. And smash ing the patriarchy is not so much rocking the boat as it is sinking it.

What I’m struck with in all my interactions as of late is the deeply ingrained notion that women exist and act within the container of men’s benign allowing. Our identities, our worth, our actions, are a matter of his letting, liking, trusting. Benign though it may be, it’s also bullshit. Because if we can be benignly allowed — to bid on jobs, to run the chipper or what have you — we can also be cruelly cut-off. One half of society becomes the gatekeeper for the other half’s autonomy.

Need me to prove it?

Exhibit A: The Idaho GOP’s official stance that abortion should not be allowed in instances of rape or incest. The woman didn’t choose her pregnancy, and now she can’t choose its outcome.

Exhibit B: The male Idaho lawmaker last year who said, “[A] ny bill that makes it easier or more convenient for mothers to come out of the home and let others raise their child, I don’t think that’s a good direction for us to be going.”

Exhibit C: The young Idaho legislative intern who accused her boss of rape and then became the subject of vicious harassment, intimidation and doxxing in an effort to silence her.

The gatekeepers are saying, Stay in the home. Bear children. And don’t speak out. Still. In 2022. They are saying this.

The interactions I’ve had lately have been minor and mostly amusing. These interactions are with people no different than you or me. They are good and kind people. People simply giving voice to age-old sentiments about women and what is expected of them. But crueler elements of male superiority are afoot.

So, ladies, here’s a proposi tion: Do something unexpected. Astonish a bystander with what the men in your life “allowed” or “trusted” you to do. And then inform that astonished witness that your actions sprang not from any Y chromosome in the room, but from your own goddamn, agency-loving, spirited and inspired self. Your first stop should be the voting booth. Move outward from there.

Let me know how the experi ment goes.

Jen Jackson Quintano writes and runs an arborist business with her husband in Sandpoint. Find their website at sandcreektreeser vice.com. See more of Quintano’s writing at jenjacksonquintano.com.

Jen “The Wife” Jackson Quintano.

Mayor’s Roundtable:

By Mayor Shelby Rognstad Reader Contributor

This week is a big one for the future of the Little Sand Creek Watershed. Recre ation in the watershed has been a long time coming.

Historically, the city has not been warm to the idea.

Historically, recreation and conservation haven’t been perceived as compati ble. In recent decades, however, sister communities like Whitefish, Mont.; Bend, Ore.; and many others have demonstrated that, indeed, recreation and water conservation can go hand in hand and even be mutually supportive, if done correctly.

When I approached the then-Public

New Little Sand Creek Watershed bike trail shows recreation and conservation can work together

Works director in 2012, he, like others at the city, didn’t feel comfortable with the idea that the water shed should be used for anything except water collection. However, in 2012 the city had just unveiled its new lake treatment plant that would provide all the water to support Sandpoint’s future growth. We now get half of our potable water from the lake and that proportion will continue to grow in the future.

It seemed unfathomable to me that the 5,000 acres taxpayers had pur chased between Sandpoint and Sch weitzer was off limits. So in 2013 I approached the Pend Oreille Pedalers and pitched the idea of a 20-plusmile “epic” trail along the crestline circumnavigating the watershed. At the time, the Pedalers had their plates full with other commitments, but with the change in the POP board that fall, there was a renewed commitment to trail building and POP was on board to make the Watershed Crest Trail (WCT) a reality.

By 2014 we drafted the first agree ment between the city and POP to build and manage the future WCT.

Construction of the WCT is a longterm project that has been intermittent ly underway since that time. The High Point and Solar Ecstasy trails have since been built as its first legs.

Part of the commitment to the project from the beginning included decommissioning the problematic portions of the original lower basin trail and rebuilding it to modern safety and environmental standards. Those improvements have been worked on over the past several years and culmi nated in a new multi-use, two-way trail section that just opened last weekend.

I had the privilege to join a few doz en Pedalers and a few city staff for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 8 that

officially opened the new Lower Basin Cross Country Trail. Now the lower basin network includes two sections for uphill and downhill.

It was built by more than 700 vol unteer hours of local riders. It’s a fun flowy trail with some light technical sections. There are nearly 100 signs for wayfinding and safety (including markers for public safety access and geo-location). The trail is built to the highest International Mountain Bicy cling Association standards, maximiz ing environmental care, safety, longev ity and excitement.

This trail exemplifies the strong partnership between the city and POP, as well as the many groups that have been dedicated to POP’s success in this endeavor, including Schweitzer, Sel kirk Recreation District, the Equinox Foundation, the National Park Service and Kaniksu Land Trust. It also exem plifies how, when done right, recreation and conservation can work together.

On Oct. 10 and Oct. 11, the Pedal ers, city staff, stakeholders, concerned citizens and other design experts met to begin to put the vision to paper for fu ture recreational use in the 8,000-acre watershed. This effort feels like a new beginning in a long process that will result in the development of a master plan for appropriate recreation in the watershed.

In partnership with Schweitzer, the Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Lands and the U.S. Forest Service, we have an incredible asset that will be an economic boon for our region and provide endless joy and communion with nature for generations of local families and visitors.

You can provide input on watershed recreation through this survey: open townhall.com/12276.

You can also provide input on operations planning for the James E. Russell Sports Center operations: open townhall.com/12275. And the city’s snow plan (through Saturday, Oct.15): opentownhall.com/12227.

Beware of smear tactics in midterm election

By Jo Len Everhart Reader Contributor

I am concerned over the smear tactics used in the last Republican Pri mary — and concerned that we might see a repeat in the upcoming Nov. 8 midterm election.

For instance, Jim Woodward has been our state senator to the Idaho Legislature from District 1 for the last two terms, doing an outstanding job representing Boundary County and part of Bonner County. But I was dismayed to see that such an excellent senator was defeated in the GOP pri mary in May by what I considered to be a smear campaign by his opponent.

I have known Jim Woodward for many years and closely followed his four years in the Senate in Boise — so I realized that the 18 or so slick cartoon-type postcards sent out by his opponent were untruths and gross exaggerations about Jim.

But I did not realize what an impact this propaganda was having until after the election, when Jim lost. Then I started talking to people and discovered that their almost-universal explanations of why they had voted against Jim ran something like this:

“I used to think Jim Woodward was a great guy... it seemed like he was doing a good job in Boise... but when we repeatedly saw the big list of things that his opponent accused Jim of doing and saying — well, even if only a few of these accusations are

true — I just couldn’t vote for Wood ward. I don’t know what happened to him... I never thought he would go downhill so fast.”

I was so sad because I knew they had been fooled by this propagan da. I would have been fooled too, it looked so believable — that is, if I had not known Jim and talked to him frequently about these issues which he was wrongly accused of. I finally understood the psychology behind this “big lie” tactic — why telling big lies is so much more effective in deceiving people, rather than using small white lies — when someone pointed out one paragraph from Adolf Hitler’s book, Mein Kampf , in which he describes very clearly why the “big lie” works so well:

“In the big lie there is always a cer tain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victim to the big lie more than the the small lie, since they themselves often tell small

lies in little matters, but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale false hoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation.”

In short, Hitler is saying that the big lie is so effective because most of us are too trusting and good-hearted to imagine anyone would tell such “colossal untruths.”

I think this technique is what knocked Woodward off the Repub lican slate during the recent primary election. Jim fought back against the smears, specifically mailing an extra-big postcard to voters, explain ing the falsehoods in all eight of the biggest fraudulent claims, but people were already deceived.

Will this smear tactic be used again in the upcoming midterm election? Be on guard if you get postcards with pictures of a candidate with a bal

loon-type “quote” of something you think he probably would never say. Or if the card resorts to belittling and name-calling, beware, and try to talk to the candidate personally or talk to someone who knows his actual posi tions on the topics in question.

So I hope you will join me in writ ing in the name Steve Johnson on the blank line (below the printed name) on the ballot for District 1 state sen ator and then filling in the little oval beside Steve’s name.

I have spoken in person with Steve Johnson (independent write-in), and am convinced he is the best candidate for this important Idaho Senate seat.

Jo Len Everhart is a 42-year resident of Boundary County and a registered Republican.

Rotary Club of Ponderay announces fall raffle

By Reader Staff

The Rotary Club of Ponderay is selling tickets for two raffle prizes this fall — the first prize being a dinner for six that can be served in the winner’s own home, provided they reside in the greater Sandpoint area, including Dover and Hope. The second prize is a Ninebot KickScooter E45 by Segway, donated by Sandpoint Marine and Motorsports in Ponderay.

Prizes include a custom dinner for six and Ninebot KickScooter by Tango Cafe owner Judy Colegrove, along with Gordon Holmes and longtime restaurateurs Carol and Barney Ballard. Together, the cooks have more than 125 years experience in the kitchen.

served over a shallow spill of fresh cream. All of the courses will be complemented with hand-selected wines from DRNK Wines of Sebastopol, Calif.

dumb of the week

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Featuring integrated molded technology and a metal frame, the KickScooter comes with a triple braking system and a 700-watt custom-made high performance motor that delivers a top speed of 18.6 miles per hour and can handle a 20% max slope.

The special dinner is to be designed

The four-person cooking crew will work with the prize recipient on the menu, accommodating special dietary needs. That said, Barney Ballard has a suggested menu that will be offered to the winner, includ ing a shrimp scampi appetizer, fresh green salad with a touch of saganaki and ciabatta toasted with Argentine chimichurri, a main course of baked fresh steelhead lightly encrusted with dried herbs and served with baby red new potatoes and fresh prosciut to-wrapped asparagus. The dessert sug gestion is Carol Ballard’s chocolate cake

“This private dinner for you and five of your friends or family is a once-in-a-life time experience,” according to the Rotary Club of Ponderay.

Raffle tickets are $50 each and the win ners for both the dinner and KickScooter will be drawn on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Tickets are limited. When the club sells 150 tick ets, the raffle will be sold out.

Get tickets from a Ponderay Rotary member or by visiting ponderayrotaryclub. com. Proceeds from the fall raffle benefit the club’s educational scholarships and community projects.

POAC unveils new display at Sandpoint Organic Ag. Center

By Reader Staff

The Pend Oreille Arts Council will host an open house for a new fabric art display at the Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center, 10881 N Boyer Ave., on Saturday, Oct. 15 from 1-4 p.m. POAC collaborated with the University of Idaho, the Bonner County Historical Soci ety and the Bosom Buddies Quilt Group for the autumn display.

A tribute to military veterans is in the Her itage Room on the second floor of the SOAC facility. Professor Sonya Meyer, with the Uni versity of Idaho, installed a display of vintage

military uniforms from the Farragut State Park Naval Facility. Local community members loaned memorabilia pieces from their (or their family’s) military service. Meyer provided an oatmeal cookie recipe that the Sandpoint Red Cross used during World War I. Visitors will be able to sam ple the cookies during the open house.

The Bosom Buddies Quilt Group and Jan Stolz have decorated both floors of SOAC with artfully made quilts. The Bosom Buddies create and donate quilts to Bonner County residents fighting breast cancer, and their donation quilts will be on

display along with autumn-themed quilts.

All are welcome to enjoy cookies and ap ple cider at the Oct. 15 open house. For more information on the exhibit and event, call the POAC office at 208-263-6139.

Panida to host new Science on Saturday educational talks

By Reader Staff

The Panida Theater is launching a new ed ucational series, Science on Saturday, kicking off Saturday, Oct. 15 with Mike Strickland presenting soil ecology.

Strickland’s reputation as an engaging presenter focusing on the interface between soil and microbial ecology means guests will leave with a better understanding of how it’s more than just fun to play in dirt.

Sponsored by Daher, Science on Saturday features four guest speakers from the Univer sity of Idaho and free admission. Presenters will cover a multitude of topics from soil ecology to watershed’s ecosystem with the target audience being middle to high school students.

“This program is a fun and dynamic way to engage Sandpoint’s youth while fulfilling our mission statement,” stated Panida Manag ing Director Veronica Knowlton. “I grew up attending Science on Saturdays in my home town, leading me to declare my first major in chemistry. I’m delighted at the opportunity to inspire Bonner Counties’ next generation of creative thinkers.’

Science on Saturday starts at 10 a.m. at the Panida Theater. Admission is free and seating is first come, first serve. For more information and the full speaking series, visit panida.org.

Most rational people understand there are particular times of the year when hurricanes form. Most storm systems, or tropical depressions, peter out in the At lantic Ocean, but others build into storms and finally hurricanes, with the potential to make landfall usually somewhere in the Caribbean islands or farther north in the southeastern part of the United States.

The expected “hurricane season” usually spans from June 1 to Nov. 30, although it is technically possible for hurricanes to form outside these dates.

Then there are some on the fringes who think there is something much more nefari ous going on.

A couple of failed 2020 Republican political candidates recently sounded off to their followers that they believe “weather machines operated by the Deep State” are to blame for Hurricane Ian, which has recently caused widespread devastation and killed more than 100 people in Florida and part of South Carolina.

“We understand the Deep State — they have weather manipulation technology,” said conservative pundit and losing California U.S. House candidate DeAnna Lorraine, on her “Shots Fired” web program. “They know how to manipulate and create big storms, hurricanes, tornadoes, climate change, etc. And these huge hurricanes always seem to target red states, red districts and always at a convenient time, typically right before an election, or in this case, possibly because Ron DeSantis has been stepping out of line a lot and challenging the Deep State.”

Lorraine then turned to Lauren Witzke, a Republican who lost her Senate race in 2020 in Delaware.

“I don’t know Lauren, the timing is defi nitely interesting,” Lorraine said. “Do you think this could be a weather manipulated hurricane?”

“Yeah, well we know the technology does exist, DeAnna,” said Witzke. “They’re literally trying to change people’s DNA through vaccination. Of course they would be willing to do something like this to target red states. I have no doubt.”

While these “commentators” have “no doubt” that weaponized hurricanes are tar geting conservatives “conveniently” before an election, these word-vomit statements have absolutely no basis in reality.

However, if the X-Men film franchise ever kicks another film out of the nest, I have a new mutant for them to add to the cast: “Deep State,” whose power is sending hurricanes to harm Republicans, but only right before an election.

Right: Sunflowers growing along the south side of the “Misty Mountain” building on Fifth Avenue have reached high into the sky this season. Photo by Mark Perigen.

Bottom left: Reader Editor Zach Hagadone sports a German cap and bier stein to celebrate his 42nd birthday. Photo by Jake Hagadone.

Bottom right: The Monday Night Blues Jam crew play at Farmin Park for the final Sandpoint Summer Music Series, a free concert series presented by Mattox Farm Productions. Photo by Ben Olson.

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

LITERATURE

How the World Got Better imagines a brighter future Book launch celebration planned Oct. 15 at Evans Bros. Coffee

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

Greg Flint wants to ask you a question. Better yet, he wants you to ask a question — not only of others but, perhaps most impor tantly, yourself: “How would you like this world to be?”

That question is the gist of his book, How the World Got Better, published this fall and set for a book launch celebration Saturday, Oct. 15 from 6-9 p.m. at Evans Brothers Cof fee Roasters, featuring music by Truck Mills and Ali Maverick Thomas.

Regular readers of letters to the editor in local newspapers may already be familiar with Flint’s big question, which he has expressed in the past as, “Here we all are, 8 billion people trying to survive global ‘civilization’ that’s killing our planet — a civilization much of which nobody likes. This certainly begs the question: What would we like?”

While Flint’s question has indeed spread, including to Spokane Public Radio, which recorded an author-read audiobook version, How the World Got Better casts it through the lens of a children’s book, opening in “the nottoo-distant future” as a young girl sits around the campfire with her great-grandparents. The elders then tell her the story of how humanity progressed beyond a long period of division, violence, corruption and environmental destruction to a state of human connection, fulfillment and shared purpose.

“You know how fishing line gets all tan gled up if you’re not careful? … Well, human affairs were like that,” the great-grandfather, “Goompa,” tells his great-granddaughter Lil’, whose name is short for “Little Story.”

“What could have been so simple and clear and good, we had tangled into a vast ugly knot, big as the world and impossibly tight,” Goompa continues. “Many heroic people tried to free this bit or that or even untangle the whole thing, but it seemed hope less… and then…”

Goompa goes on to explain to Lil’ how widespread dissatisfaction with the way of the world led to mass protests, but, “uniting against something wasn’t enough to cut the knot. Also, our thinking was still so full of us versus them, and that wouldn’t cut it, either. Really, us versus them thinking was the knot.”

That’s where the question came in: “How would we LIKE this world to be? We finally asked! We listened to each other, and what we heard cut through the knot like a magic sword.”

Goompa says people realized they have much more in common than not, and, “There are no ‘sides’ on a circle.”

Flint’s message is a deceptively simple one, which rests on the notion that, “What we believe, we can achieve. And we can only believe what we can first imagine.”

The longtime, well-known Sandpointian is an “artist, stonemason and working man,” as he describes himself in the book, and also an active participant in local African drumming. Flint’s daughter, Claire Flint Last, is a Eugene, Ore.-based artist and graphic designer for Luminare Press, which published How the World Got Better. Last also filled the book with her rich illustrations, drawing on a range of styles and textures — some expressing deep-hued, contemplative scenes; others with a splashy, energetic pastel flair; and still others in a loose, winsome pencil.

The writing is well paced and structured, not only for kids but for reading aloud by adults, and comes in at about 50 pages of illustrations and large font, making it a more than manageable bedtime story.

Books by nature are meant to be shared, but more so in Flint’s case, as he invites individuals to share the question — and their answers to it — by visiting facebook. com/onequestionfortheworld. There are also two flyers at the back of How the World Got Better, which can be cut out and shared with others to introduce them to the concept: “What if, right about now, every human soul were to answer one little question it seems we’ve never considered?”

Additional flyers may also be downloaded — and copies of the book purchased — from howtheworldgotbetter.com.

How the World Got Better by Greg Flint.

Voices in the Wilderness

By Rachel Torgeson Reader Contributor

When I was younger, my family would often go on camping trips, day hikes and road trips. There was a large prior ity placed on making sure we got to get outside and experience as much nature as we could. I have fond memories of sitting by the campfire and roasting ’mallows with my family, going on hikes with friends, watching the stars all night and shivering in my sleeping bag, terrified by the idea of wild animals roaming around my flimsy tent in the woods of Cle Elum, Wash.

All of these experiences throughout my childhood and the rest of my life thus far have left me with an insatiable desire to get out and explore more. I have a need I can feel in my heart to be out there as far as I can get, and to see things you can only see when you commit to truly spending time in the wilderness. Coming to little Trout Creek, Mont., I was not at all prepared for how deeply I would fall in love with the

rugged mountains and rolling horizons you can see from their peaks, or with the feeling of being truly alone with the woods, nothing in the moment connecting me to anything in the outside world except a radio. The wilderness out here in western Montana has a lot of similarities to the wilderness at home in western Washington, but it still feels completely its own thing.

At the beginning of this summer, I was genuinely terrified by the idea of going up these mountains alone, and now I long for the chance to come back and do it again before I’ve even left. There is one expe rience in particular that stands out in my memories of the wilderness here, and that is the memory of my first-ever backpack ing trip, to Wanless Lake.

Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, I woke up at 5 a.m., got dressed, put on my 60-ish-pound pack and left for the trailhead. I was hiking out a day later than the trail crew, so I would meet them at the campsite by the lake whenever I got there. This being my first time backpacking, I had no idea what to expect, nor really an accurate idea of

The call of the Montana backcountry

how far I had to go. I didn’t realize how much the heavier pack would slow me down — and hurt me to carry — which left me disappointed with how slow I was go ing. Because of this, any time I wanted to stop, I did my best to make myself go just a little bit farther and only allowed short breaks standing in the trail. If I sat, it was too hard to stand back up with the pack on, and nearly impossible to put the pack on standing up. Eventually, after four of the most demanding hours of my life, I made it to the wilderness boundary. I radioed the crew and headed down into the basin to meet them, excited to get to camp and take off my pack.

There were moments on the hike up when I genuinely questioned why I had volunteered to go on this trip — if it would be worth it. But, once I stopped and looked out at the rows of mountains surrounding me, when I sat by the lake quietly filtering water, when I woke up in my hammock watching the final stars disappear above the mountains until a squirrel decided to be my alarm clock, I knew that I would

do it all over again in a heartbeat, and that I would carry this experience with me through the rest of my life.

The last day, hiking out, I wanted nothing more than to never be there again — not if it meant carrying that pack and hiking in those boots for what felt like an entire day. But, blisters aside, as we drove away from the trailhead back to the ranger station, I was sad, and I knew I would need to get back there someday. The feeling of being so surrounded by nature, completely isolated from the pressures of everyday life, is what I have been chasing since my childhood — and, to have found it here in Montana, is such a gift. I will not be able to stay away for long, no matter where else my life takes me.

Rachel Torgerson is this summer’s backcountry ranger for the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, from Bellingham, Wash. She is majoring in recreation management and leadership at WWU, and looking forward to visiting Montana again next year.

events

Autumn Ecology and Fall Birding class Saturday

Artist Reception: Melissa Cole • 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Mixed media paintings and mosaic sculptures inspired by a naturalist POV

Thursday Trivia Night

5-8pm @ Paddler’s Alehouse

Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Eclectic, experienced, lively jazz band

Hickey Farms Harvest Festival 2-5:30pm @ Hickey Farms

Live Music w/ Matt Mitchell Music Co & Little Wolf

7pm @ Heartwood Center Americana/Folk/Rock. Tickets at mattoxfarm.com

SATURDAY, october 15

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Live Music w/ Zach Simms

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Singer-songwriter

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market Harvest Fest 9am-2pm @ Farmin Park

Last market of the season! Live music by the Brendan Kelty Trio

KNPS Outreach to Children & Families 9:30am @ Sandpoint Library

Come learn how KNPS fulfills part of its mission “to educate youth and the general public about the value of our native flora and their habitats”

Sandpoint Chess Club

Boo Bash Ball dance

7-10pm @ Cocolalla Community Hall

Starts with 1-hour beginner Rumba lesson followed by dancing 8-10pm. Re freshments, costume contest. $9/person

Hickey Farms Harvest Festival 10am-5:30pm @ Hickey Farms Apple Fest 2022 noon-4pm @ downtown Sandpoint

Live Music w/ Aaron Crawford 7:30pm @ Heartwood Center Country blended with rock and grunge. Tickets at mattoxfarm.com

SunDAY, october 16

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am

Hickey Farms Harvest Festival 10am-5:30pm @ Hickey Farms

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Sunday Tabletop Game Day 12-8pm @ Paddler’s Alehouse Bring your own games or come to meet others

By Reader Staff

The days are getting shorter, the nights are cooler and the leaves are turning to vi brant colors. Fall is a time of change, when plants and animals start to prepare for the long winter months ahead — including raptors and other birds, who, through November, travel due to scarcity of food during the winter.

To learn more about birds, mammals and vegetation as they prepare for the com ing cold season, join a field day on “Au tumn Ecology and Fall Birding,” scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 15 in Libby, Mont.

The group meets at 9 a.m. (Mountain Time) in the Viking Room of the Venture Inn at 1015 U.S. Highway 2 in Libby, for a short introduction to autumn ecology, and then head out to the field to visit several different types of habitat sites.

Come prepared with full gas tanks, proper clothing, footwear, bird guide books, binoculars, cameras, water and

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalapeño’s Restaurant

“We all try to please others, to fit in. Why?”

monDAY, october 17 TUESDAY, october 18

Group Run @ Outdoor Experience

6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome, beer after

Meet & Greet w/ Idaho Senate write-in candidate Steve Johnson 6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Speed Dating for Book Lovers

10am-noon @ Sandpoint Library

october 19

Live Music w/ Sheldon Packwood 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Join the Friends of the Library for this fun social event. Share your favorite book, build a new list, and meet other “lovers.” Everyone is welcome, light refreshments will be served

Hickey Farms Harvest Festival 2-5:30pm @ Hickey Farms

SPIN Meeting

Courtesy photo.

lunch. Wrap up will be about 3 p.m. (MST). Participants must register to attend. For more info and to register, call 406-2912154 or email b_baxter53@yahoo.com.

This is an adult class for folks 18 and over. No pets. Instructors are college educated with decades of field experience.

Piano w/ Bob Beadling

5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Contemporary piano on grand piano

NAMI Far North Meeting 5:30pm @ VFW Hall 1325

Guest speaker Judge John T. Mitchell

ThursDAY, october

11:30am-12:30pm @ Community Resource Envision Center

CREC is inviting area veterans and service providers to discover practical resources and exciting new veteran programs. RSVP to katie@CRECidaho.com

The valence of surveillance

Screening at the Panida, German thriller The Lives of Others is a clandestine love quadrangle

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff

My wife and I visited the DDR museum in Berlin on our honeymoon in 2006 (as all love birds do). The Deut sche Demokratische Republik — a.k.a. “German Democratic Republic,” a.k.a. East Germany — was a Soviet-domi nated Eastern Bloc dictator state that existed from Oct. 7, 1949 until Oct. 3, 1990, lasting about a year after the fall of the Berlin Wall, which divided East from West Berlin, on Nov. 9, 1989. Under the DDR, citizens were exposed to constant surveillance by the Stasi, which was the East German secret police.

A big part of the DDR museum deals with that surveillance program, which included phone tapping, ingeniously and sometimes bizarrely hidden spy cameras, as well as stalking and stakeouts. Inside the museum is even an ar mored car, painted a dull blue-gray with little slit windows, that the Stasi would use to scoop up citizens and whisk them off to any number of undisclosed locations for questioning, imprisonment or worse.

far the East German authorities were willing to go to monitor and stamp out anti-Communist sentiment and enforce order on their side of the wall.

The same year my wife and I were poking through the DDR museum, German director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck premiered his film The Lives of Others, which focuses on the East German surveillance state.

Von Donnersmarck’s German-lan guage film, set in 1983, centers on the assignment of true-believing Stasi officer Gerd Wiesler (Ulrich Mühe) to keep an eye on internationally acclaimed playwright Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), whose loyalty to the Communist regime he has come to question.

The Lives of Others (R)

Having bugged Dreyman’s apartment, Wiesler embarks on his clandestine mon itoring of the artist’s life, which plays out with increasing intensity as the Stasi man gets to know his mark and actress-lover Christa-Maria Sieland (Mar tina Gedeck) with voyeuris tic intimacy.

Sunday, Oct. 16; 2:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., doors open 30 minutes before the show; $10 adults, $9 seniors and students, $5 Panida members. Panida Theater, 300 N.First Ave., 208-263-9191, Get tickets at the door or visit panida.org.

One of the most evocative exhibits (for me) in the museum was a floor-to-ceiling shelving system of little glass jars, sealed to contain smells from spaces inhabited or frequented by suspect individuals.

That’s just crazy, but illustrates how

Despite his rock-ribbed dedication to the DDR machine, Wiesler grows to sympathize with Dreyman and Sieland — going so far as to exert his influence to protect the couple — and triggering a crisis of conscience, which is a consistent theme in many depictions of those “just following orders” within totalitarian political structures.

Wiesler’s conundrum is further com

plicated when his boss, Anton Grubitz (Ulrich Tukur), reveals his own infatu ation with Sieland and directs Wiesler to manufacture some means to push Dreyman out of the picture.

It’s a quiet, yet evocative dra ma-thriller that teases out notions of duty, privacy and the twisted moral economy of covertly manipulating other people’s lives.

The Lives of Others made a big splash in 2006, earning an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film, Best Film at the European Film Awards, the ironically English-tortured title of Best Film Not in the English Language at the British Academy Film Awards, and was nom inated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Part of the Global Cinema Cafe Series (sponsored by Ting), the Panida Theater will screen The Lives of Others

twice on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 2:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with doors opening 30 minutes before the show.

Aside from the critical praise for the film, astute viewers gave The Lives of Others big ups for its authenticity — go ing so far as to use true-life equipment (however arcane), which the Stasi used to complete its sinister missions, many piec es of which were borrowed from the very same kinds of museums mentioned above.

What’s more, according to IMDb (where the film has an 8.4/10 rating), the props master actually endured two years in a Stasi cell, so came to the project with a well-earned eye for realism, which shows that this history is far from “history,” and underscores that we could all use a little of that perspective these days — especially when it comes to totalitarian impulses.

Courtesy photo.

FOOD & DRINK

Great American Beer Fest honors Matchwood’s Spruce Tip Pale Ale

By Reader Staff

Judges at the Great American Beer Festival tasted something they liked in Matchwood Brewing Company’s Spruce Tip Pale Ale, awarding the brew a bronze medal in the Herb and Spice Beer category at the 2022 event, hosted Oct. 6-8 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver.

Matchwood was one of only two Idaho breweries to earn awards at the festival — the largest commercial beer competition in the country — alongside Nampa-based Mother Earth Brewing Company, which earned a silver medal in the Imperial IPA category.

“It’s a pretty big honor and we feel very proud of our entire team,” Match wood owner Kenden Culp wrote in an email Oct. 8, announcing the win.

“The most exciting part of this particu lar beer being awarded is the community and team effort that goes into its creation each year,” he added. “From partnering with local farmers and property owners and handpicking the spruce tips with our son, to crafting, brewing and canning the beer with our head brewer, it’s one of our favorite beers to make each year. Maybe — just maybe — all the community love and effort was the tipping point.”

Matchwood has been brewing its Spruce Tip Pale Ale each year since opening its doors in the fall of 2018. It’s a specialty summer seasonal pale ale with a bright, crisp flavor carrying notes of citrus and, of course, its signature pine. It clocks in at 5.7% alcohol by volume and 81 IBUs, the latter being the measure of a

beer’s bitterness. There’s a limited supply of Spruce Tip Pale Ale in house at Match wood, and it’s also available at Winter Ridge and Yoke’s grocery stores.

The Great American Beer Festival featured 98 categories covering 177 beer styles, with winners chosen by 235 interna tional expert judges from among 9,904 entries — not counting 94 collaboration and 35 professional-amateur entries — submitted by 2,154 breweries from around the U.S.

“Each year the Great American Beer Festival showcases the best that Ameri can brewers have to offer,” stated GABF Competition Director Chris Williams. “With more than 9,900 entries, this year’s competition was the most competitive to date. Congratulations to all the winners who truly demonstrated why the U.S. is the best brewing nation in the world.”

Matchwood is a 10-barrel brewpub located at 513 Oak St. in Sandpoint’s Granary District, specializing in English, German and American ales and lagers created using European brewing tech niques along with unique hop blends and brewing technology.

“We take pride in offering high-quality handmade craft beers for every palette and aim to make our craft beers as approachable and welcoming as our space,” Matchwood stated in a news release on the award.

For more information about the Great American Beer Festival — including a list of all 2022 winners and photos — visit greatamericanbeerfestival.com. For more information on Matchwood Brewing Company, visit matchwoodbrewing.com.

A genuine good time

PNW’s Aaron Crawford to bring signature country-grunge blend to the Heartwood

By Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Reader Staff

When Heartwood Center manager and Mattox Farm Pro ductions founder Robb Talbott told the Reader that he would be striving to bring variety to the newly revamped venue after taking over operations in 2022, it would appear he wasn’t kidding.

Talbott has hit the ground running and won’t be slowing down this weekend as Mat tox Farm brings back-to-back concerts to the Heartwood — the second of which features Pacific Northwest artist Aaron Craw ford, who is defying musical stereotypes by blending country and grunge rock influences.

Crawford will play the Heartwood Center on Satur day, Oct. 15. Doors open at 7 p.m. and mu sic kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Coeur d’Alene-based singer-songwriter Jackson Roltgen will open the show.

Aaron Crawford live at the Heartwood Center

“Country music was some thing that I’d listen to on and off,” he told the Reader. “My grandpa listened to it. I listened to more grunge stuff — heavier stuff.”

Saturday, Oct. 15; 7:30 p.m., doors open 30 minutes before the show; $15 advance tickets, $20 at the door, $10 for youth. Heartwood Center, 615 Oak St., 208-263-8699, mattoxfarm.com.

Raised on church music and perpetually part of one band project or another, Crawford came into country music after college when he became one half of a touring duo.

Listen at crawfordaaronmusic.com.

When the country duo had to split, he launched into a solo career — going about a decade strong — that leaned more into his grunge roots.

“At first, with the duo record, I was along for the ride,” he said, “but with my solo records, it became more and more my influ ences blended with what I’d been

doing on the road.”

As Crawford grew as a solo artist, it seemed country was the right fit.

“Country music is something you can mature into,” he said, “because country is all about the lyrics — the story.”

The resulting sound brings to mind a blue-collar, rockabilly mu sic fan in a dive bar wearing boots and a Nirvana T-shirt. Flip through this hypothetical music fan’s burned CDs and you’ll see George Strait next to Pearl Jam. This kind of music isn’t about image — it’s about real, lived experiences.

“One way people have de scribed my music lately — and it’s something that makes me happy and that I continue to

Aaron Crawford will play the Heartwood Center on Saturday, Oct. 15. Courtesy photo.

strive for — is ‘genuine,’”Craw ford said. “You’re going to get what you’re getting with me.”

Crawford will be performing at the Heartwood Center with his full band, which takes pride in putting on a memorable show.

“I really want you to be like, ‘Man, I had a crappy week, but I got to come and sing my lungs out to this dude, and this song actually really resonated with me, and then he talked to me at the merch table afterward and I can’t wait to hang out with him again the next time he comes through,’” he said.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint

Matt Mitchell Music Co. album release party w/Little Wolf, Heartwood Center, Oct. 14

We have another night of music at the Heartwood Center in Sandpoint, with a Friday, Oct. 14 double-header featuring the Matt Mitchell Music Company — introducing the world to a brand-new album, Ramona — alongside beloved, longtime Sandpoint singer-songwriters Josh Hedlud and Justin Landis, a.k.a. Little Wolf.

Once a staple of the Spokane music scene, Mitchell hit the road in 2020, selling most of his belongings, renting out his home and moving into a bus, with which he travels throughout the

West spreading his lyrics-driven, soulful folk-rock sound, described as “high desert, psychedelic Americana.”

Hedlund and Landis, meanwhile, are a local favorite indie-folk duo featuring intricate melodies underpinning lyrics of especial complexity and feeling.

— Zach Hagadone

7 p.m.; $5 youth (5-17), $10 ad vance, $15 at the door. Heartwood Cen ter, 615 Oak St., 208-263-8699. Listen at mattmitchellmusicco.bandcamp.com.

Alcohol & Feelings, Idaho Pour Authority, Oct. 15

Don’t be confused if you can’t find much web presence for Alcohol & Feelings. As Karli Ingersoll, whose Spokane-based solo project is called Windoe, writes on Facebook, “To be clear, it’s not a band… it’s a show.”

Featuring the three-part harmonies of Spokane music scene heavy-hitters Ingersoll, Jenny Anne Mannan and Caroline Fowler, Alcohol & Feelings is a night of expertly arranged covers of artists ranging from classic country icon Dolly Parton to the modern folk and Americana sounds of Ray Lamontagne

and Secret Sisters.

Alcohol & Feelings is a regular Saturday night occurrence at Lucky You Lounge in the Big City, but this weekend Sandpoin tians will get to experience it for themselves with a listening show in the most appropriate of places to feel the feels.

— Zach Hagadone

6-8 p.m., $10 suggested dona tion, 21+. Idaho Pour Authority, 203 Cedar St., 208-597-7096, idahopourauthority.com

This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone

In this week’s “Junk Drawer” col umn (Page 3), I referred to a BBC ar ticle about the eighth continent, “Zea landia,” that researchers in recent years have identified under the waves east of Australia. There’s a lot more to the story, however, including centuries of history — from the ancient Romans to Dutch explorers in the 1600s to 2017, when scientists real ly got serious about finding this “lost” land mass. It’s all covered in the BBC Future article of Feb. 7, 2021, titled “The missing continent that took 375 years to find.” Find it at bbc.com.

LISTEN

Atlanta, Ga.-based The Constel lations has flown low in popular at tention despite its high-altitude name. Though described as “psychedelic soul-rock,” that doesn’t quite cut the mustard. There are definite bluesyhip-hop and rap influences through out the band’s sound, but with a sideeyed, world-weariness and anarchic edge (fitting, as it’s been on hiatus for years due to addiction). The band’s most popular track is “We’re Here To Save The Day,” which is a good representation, but dig deeper and you’ll find some gems. Stream on all the platforms, including You Tube.

WATCH

At a time when “uncomfortable” history is being actively challenged by the very people who need to feel uncomfortable about it, legendary documentarians Ken Burns and Lynn Novick have dropped a sneaker bomb shell on that kind of ahistorical (and dangerous) thinking with the threepart, six-hour PBS series The U.S. and the Holocaust, which premiered in mid-September. In it, Burns and Novick illustrate how the Holocaust was and is as much an American story as a “German,” “Jewish” or “Euro pean” one, particularly as it relates to the U.S.’s deeply conflicted attitude toward immigration. Stream it for free at pbs.org.

BACK OF THE BOOK

MURDER SUSPECTS ARE HELD HERE

As a result of a raid on a room over the Horseshoe bar last Sat urday morning, two men and one woman are confined in the coun ty jail awaiting a hearing on the charge of vagrancy, which may ultimately result in a much more serious one.

The officers were informed that the three people were occupying one room and consequently went to the room where the report was verified. One J.A. Delaney, with the woman Miss Margaret West, were occupying one bed, while on a couch in the same room was James Waters, a pal of the others. The three were arrested on the charge of vagrancy and taken to the county jail where it later developed that there was a possibility of them being implicated in the murder of a bartender near Butte on Sept. 23, when three men and a woman held up and robbed, after which they shot the victim in a road house near that place.

Prior to the killing of the bar tender at Butte, one of the men, who answers the description very closely, stated that he had been a United States deputy marshal at one time while the man arrested here also claims to have occupied that position some time ago.

The description of the woman tallies to a degree with that in the Butte case and there is strong rea son to believe that the parties are connected with the killing.

The date of their hearing was set for Oct. 18, at which time the case will come up before Judge O.J. Mandelin of the probate court.

By Sandy Compton Reader Columnist

I’m two miles from the pickup and 500 feet above where I left it parked when I find a snakeskin on a rock midstream in the East Fork. It is frail and silky, and I set it afloat toward the river, five miles downstream. Somewhere nearby, a snake is feeling shiny, smooth and clean.

Remains of an ancient road led me to a huge slab of water-scrubbed stone, slid down its surface into the creek and dis appeared completely. From there, I rockhopped upstream 200 yards through a green tunnel of Sitka alder, vine maple, devil’s club, cedar, nettles, purple asters, hemlock, hawthorn, thimbleberry and a zillion other plants I don’t know the names of.

It’s time to leave the creek, and I climb into a confusion of head-high devil’s club, prickly patches of hawthorn, shin-high alder boles and abandoned creek channels. Twenty-five relatively unpleasant minutes later, I step out into a rock slide that rises to the cliffs above the creek. I’m bleeding a little and sweating a lot. I clamber across tottering chunks of stone toward my next encounter with jungle, acknowledging that talus is also a name for the ankle bone; a fine example of irony in language.

My destination is beyond the scree and tangled flora. Atop the cliffs forming the east wall of the canyon is a small meadow nestled in a cirque. It’s been a while since I ventured there; too long.

There was a once-trail, a manway, really, but the wilderness has reclaimed it for the most part, more so than it has the old road. I am left to memory, imagination and the still small voice of Spirit to find my way.

I am alone, and glad to be so, but I’ve

STR8TS Solution

On shedding an old skin

accompanied a few other lucky souls through this canyon. It’s one of few approaches to Sawtooth, my favorite mountain; not an easy approach, but no approach is. Siblings, cousins, parents and grandparents have also crossed this slope, but me the most. My dad and his sons took turns hauling a sheepherd er’s stove on an old pack frame through this place. It came to reside in a primitive pros pector’s cabin hunkered in a patch of alder and subalpine fir at the edge of the meadow. Some used it, including me, but now it’s as flat as the cabin, which finally has given in to decades of winter.

I’m over-packed. My thighs complain to my calves and ankles about my excess. Working my way up through the cliffs be comes an exercise in patience and determi nation; like an hour on a Stairmaster with 40 pounds on my back.

As it has always, the meadow surpris es me when I walk in, as if I am not quite ready to get there. Or maybe it is that I have ceased to believe it exists, that I had a heart attack on that last lift and the rest of time will just be one cliff after another. But here it is, golden in the light of a lowering sun. I shed my pack, grateful to be in heaven instead of the other place.

The stillness is remarkable. That’s why I am here, for the silence. I have forgotten who I am, as we all tend to do when we are surrounded by the “real” world. The noise, the perpetual motion, the constant stimulus of modern living has sucked my brain dry. I’m here to visit with the Spirit. I haven’t come to ask any special favors but simply for refuge, where I can just be for a while; a place where I can hear myself think.

I am a mammal who stands erect, biped aling across the somewhat wrinkled surface of the Earth. Walking is not the single

Sudoku Solution

means of transportation available in our world, but it’s the only way to approach this place. It is a holy space — sanctuary.

I would call this place subtle, but not for the way it’s folded into the geology, which is glorious. It sneaks up on you because that’s all you can let it do. The whole of it is too much to take in all at once. You might try to “do” a place like this, hiking in and out as fast as you can — which isn’t very fast — but it’s better, I believe, to let the place “do” you. I take my time and time takes me.

It’s two days later, and I have fought my way back out of heaven. My old pickup grinds up the road I parked at the other end of two days ago. Soon, I will be on the highway, bound for home, a hot shower and a real bed. I may have a good film of backpacker grunge, but I feel shiny, smooth and clean.

Sandy Compton’s latest book is 34 Poems. It is available at Vanderford’s, amazon.com or by writing to books@ bluecreekpress.com.

Crossword Solution

I wouldn’t mind if ani mals ate my body after I’m dead. And before I’m dead, they could lick me.

be honest,

time,

almost just

By Bill Borders

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

covering

sunlight

coniferous trees

warning

deterioration

of hat

fiber

Snowman

time

arrival

into pieces

as a cake

as an example

back

in a

lair

powder

in history

food

to

are to

it

now know

dance music

gladly

event

manner

gift

tongues

senior clergyman

walkway

of “Seen”

finger

wear

hers

southeast