Reader october29 2015

READER October 29, 2015 /

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Vol. 12 issue 40

$8

I just wanted to take a moment to thank the entire Sandpoint community for all the goodwill, love, and kindness my kids and I have received since their father died tragically last month. We have been so blessed to have such amazing friends and neighbors and it’s been humbling to receive such an outpouring of support, both emotionally and financially. I’m not sure how we can ever thank everyone enough for being here for us in these difficult and challenging times.

There have been several moments during the last couple of weeks where I’ve found myself overwhelmed by the lessons this community is teaching my children. The innumerable times people have reached out to us and offered support, the countless hugs from friends, and the calls and texts just checking in on us… these are the most amazing examples of human kindness. Thank you, every one of you, for teaching “community” to my children.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you Sandpoint, for being our home.

On behalf of Jack, Ellen, Will, & Leah Dig Chrismer

DAN - (208)597-5339 2 /

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TIM - (208)304-7868

521 B, North 4th, Sandpoint (right behind Horizon Credit Union) / October 29, 2015

(wo)MAN

Susan Drinkard on the street compiled by

What are you dressing up as for Halloween?

“I am going to be Emily from the 2009 movie ‘Corpse Bride.’”

Joellie Heneise Sandpoint Charter School Kootenai

“A ninja because they have swords and look awesome, and I already have my costume.”

DEAR READERS,

Happy Halloween!

There sure is a lot going on this week. First and foremost, if you live in the city of Sandpoint, don’t forget to vote on November 3. As my father used to always say, “If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.” Of course, he also used to say, “It’s better to be pissed off than pissed on,” so take any of my father’s advice with a grain of salt. I always did.

The “Rocky Horror Show” hits the Panida main stage Oct. 29, 30 and 31, so don’t be shy, bring out those crazy outfits and get ready for a wild ride.

The Hive is offering two nights of Halloween fun, with an all-ages show on Oct. 30 with electronic duo Head to Head and Champagne Wolfgang and the Halloween Bash with New Orleans-based Dumpstaphunk.

One final note: count all the Halloween totems in this issue. The first one to report the correct number on our Facebook post Thursday wins a free $25 gift certificate to Eichardt’s Pub! Look everywhere, from the front cover to the back! Even advertisements will contain some. The photograph of cookies is not included. Good luck! Happy Halloween! Bwa-ha-ha-haaaa!

-Ben Olson, Publisher

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

www.sandpointreader.com Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus) Contributing Artists: Wolfman’s brother (cover), Ben Olson, David Oppenheimer.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Louie de Palma, Ray Miller, Chris Balboni, Marcia Pilgeram.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

Henry Larson Kindergarten Waldorf School

Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

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

“I will be in stripes as a jailbird, and he is the jailer.”

Web Content: Keokee

Serena and Jesse Helms CNA and Les Schwab Sandpoint

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

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

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

“Elsa, because my friend is going to be Elsa too.”

Kahlina Ridley First grader

it’s nice to meet you, neighbor “I am going as a prison convict, not a county jail inmate.”

Kristi Simpson Cashier Sagle

“In wine there is wisdom,

in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.

mug member monday!

All current beer club mug members get 2 draft pints for $5

-Benjamin Franklin

game special:

2lb Basket of Wings and a Pitcher of beer for $20

2 for $22 Tuesday Dinner Special Get an appetizer and 2 entrees for $22

Keep the Pint night - Weds. nov 14 from visiting 10 barrel brewery 6-8pm

Delicious food with great beer, free pint glasses and raffle prizes!

thursday night football

“I am going as a KitKat bar and my sister is going as a bag of of 2lb Basket of Wings and a Pitcher of beer for $20 Skittles and Jenna is going as a box of Nerds.”—Raigyn

hello neighbor day

Jenna Starnes, Raigyn and Lilli Marti, Northside School

”

saturday, nov. 7 from 3pm to close

new prices on menu, new beer club list, lots of fun!

124 South 2nd Ave. sandpoint, IDaho (208)597-7499

www.sandpointpub.com

nk u h e-p event

prlloweetno 9 p.m.

Ha

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ls ecia p s ine est & w e cont r e be um cost

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

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

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

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

About the Cover This week’s cover photo was taken by the Wo l f m a n ’ s brother, second cousin to Harvey the Rabbit. Happy Halloween!

October 29, 2015 /

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COMMENTARY Halloween: chaos with leathery wings

By Louie de Palma Reader Road Warrior

Halloween is rapidly descending upon the nation like a blood-sucking bat. Soon, it will wrap its menacing beastly wings around adult and child minds alike, sloppily extracting rational thought and leaving only our deepest desires for debauchery or sweets. Or sweet debauchery, or botched sweets … I’m not sure which will bewitch you.

Halloween, more than any other holiday, has a way of taking carefully crafted plans and casting them into oblivion as a sacrificial tribute, leaving us in chaos with feelings of being tricked.

Chaos is the nature of the beast on this eve. Although we claim its spasmodic quality isn’t welcome, we all know that’s what makes it so devil-dang fun.

We are conditioned subconsciously from a young age to endure extreme discomfort in the name of Halloween. We refuse to dress properly or practical-

Rebuttal to a rebuttal...

Dear Editor, Golly Ben, did I get under your skin? What surprised me most about your rebuttal to my Oct. 15 letter (“Expletive deleted…”) is how you took the low road and made it a personal attack of me.

You made it personal Ben, why?

Are you that insecure? In fact, the tenor of your rebuttal reminded me of the recent “robo call.”

Now you said you “enjoy (my) never-ending siege on small meaningless details.” I’m not quite sure what you mean by that as the only never-ending siege by me, that has been put in print, are my several letters to the area editors condemning the killings of Jeanette Riley and her unborn baby. Does that mean you consider the killings of Jeanette Riley and her unborn baby to be “small meaningless details?”

You go on to say that you explained to me in your office why you have a double standard for let4 /

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ly. Preparedness for warmth or comfort would surely ruin bulging fake batman biceps and make a ballerina outfit look lumpy and unattractive. A rain coat would be devastating to any kid who didn’t dream of being the Morton salt girl (but even that kid would realize this practical blend of fashion and function could only be pulled off much later down the road. In college, a Sexy Morton Salt Girl could attempt to accessorized everything with salt, accompanied by an umbrella-holding frat boyfriend as a muscle-bound slug).

As kids, we refused to admit we were cold, wet or incredibly annoyed by rank rubber masks we couldn’t see out of. We chaffed our lips raw because of moisture build up. We got dizzy from lack of oxygen, and we couldn’t hear to boot. But it is fun, dammit! We wore dumb masks and were cold every year because the chaos and the unpredictably made it a great time. Diligent conditioning is what makes Halloween the one magical holiday that can awaken this childlike stubbornness.

Parents find themselves questioning their sanity, following like zombies as their precious offspring run around in a sea of kids dressed frighteningly similar to each other. Even so, they’re having fun because their kids are having fun. Some will find themselves freezing at the end of the night, stumbling around in awkward shoes or hopping around quickly from one foot to the other so their tootsies don’t freeze. Others try to use their boa as a pillow or blanket.

Still others will stumble around searching for comfort and muttering about cheeseburgers.

Anglo people will question why they imitated Native Americans when they realize yoga pants are warmer than fake leathers and feathers. A substantial percentage will remember nothing.

Cabbies, on the other hand, will wonder if running over humans dressed as cats would be considered manslaughter or a sacrificial Halloween rite.

Regardless of the type, every single Halloween partier will have a corny-candy-eating grin on their face when they get in

my cab yelling about their good time. At least that’s how it was last year—the very first day I’d ever driven a taxi.

Halloween will mark one year to the day that I started driving cab in this town. And Bat Boy, let me tell you what a learning experience it was. People will say being thrown into the fire is the best way to learn.

Well, I don’t know anything about fighting fires, but I can say Halloween chaos is the best teacher I could ask for. I hit the ground running like a kid in a latex rubber mask who can’t get to each door fast enough. That night brought me more tricks and more treats than I could have experienced in six months. The chaos allowed me experience a wide variety of situations—good and bad—in such a short period it hastened the learning curve.

For instance, I learned you don’t let your mother serve chili out of a crock pot in Dixie cups.

One: You need the seat on a busy night. Two: It’s messy. Three: If you see chili in the car, it’s not always chili. Four: Always have sick bucket on board.

ters to the editor and columnists/ feature writers regarding obscenities. I don’t recall that conversation, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt as it is possible that I wasn’t listening. However, I welcome your admission of a double standard. At least we now know when an f-bomb is not an f-bomb.

This means that the two true stories I had submitted “Barefoot Larry and the Boiling Pot of Beans” and “Shootout at not so Lucky’s House” will not have to have the obscenities edited out.

My suspicion is the writing will not meet those arbitrary standards the Reader pulls out of the hat when it suits. I hereby challenge the Reader to print one of my two stories mentioned above and then ask your readers whether or not it was worth printing. Let your readers be the judge.

Another issue Ben Olson used to attack me in his rebuttal was: “We do, however, have a policy of publishing every reader’s letter to the editor, no matter how annoying

or trolling they might be. (I sure hope you’re referring to me.) You have obviously been aware of this policy, with your constant attack on anyone and everything that either doesn’t meet your approval or doesn’t listen to jazz.” WOW! You seem to be confused Ben. The conversations we had in the Reader office and those emails we exchanged were not letters to the editor. (by the way, am I no longer welcome in the Reader’s office?)

As for Olson’s jazz comment, I suspect that is a reference to a statement I made in my article about jazz which ran in the Aug. 27 issue of the Reader, where I said: “(jazz) is not for the lazy, timid and/or musically challenged.” That happens to be the truth.

Intelligence is a gift; ignorance is a choice. Sorry about your choice man… I feel for you.

Now I am the first to admit that I am not a very good writer, but writing should not be just about the techniques of Shakespeare and Hemingway but much more so

about the truth. Citing the quality of writing can be used as a tool for censorship.

Writing technique is one thing, content is something else. I would much rather read a document that is poorly written but has useful or interesting content, than one that is written with superior technique but whose content is drivel.

Near the end of Olson’s rebuttal he wrote: “Instead of nitpicking every pedantic little detail about everything, why not increase your understanding of logic and critical thinking and put together a well thought out piece of journalism.”

OUCH! So Ben, give me your suggestions for how that should be done.

I would really like your examples of how you think one increases logic and critical thinking.

Lee Santa Sandpoint *yawn* [Ben Olson]

I also learned that sequins and boa feathers are terribly made and designed to spread like dandelions.

First and foremost, though, it taught me how to ride the chaos of taxi driving and to how to wrastle out its rewards. Nothing is ever planned in the cab world, and the lines of what’s a trick and a treat become blurred. Not every payment is rewarding, and not every reward is payment.

Every door is different and every road leading up to it was built its own way.

I’ve gained something from every person I have ever driven in this town. It’s the chaos and the variables that keep it interesting and make it come alive for me. If we could all live like a child on a Halloween for more than just one day, skipping in the cold, wearing whatever we want and refusing to acknowledge discomfort for the joy of what lies behind the next door—that’s what life is all about. Ride that chaos, all ya’ll Pecos Bills. Or ride it with me.

Thanks for a wonderful year, Sandpoint.

Impending lawsuit...

Dear Editor, I must inform you of my impending suit against the Reader.

My eyeballs strained so hard trying to read the map of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, (Oct. 8 issue) that they got hernias! Seriously though, for those “older” people that read the Reader, a blown up map would have helped us see the trail. Thanks everyone. Hi Cameron.

Jim Corcoran Sagle Jim, Yeah, that map was a bit small.

We wanted to print one larger, but there wasn’t a high enough resolution available. You’re welcome to check out this link to see a blown up version of the map: http://www. pnt.org/maps/. Hope that helps us avoid an ocular lawsuit! Thanks for reading. [Ben Olson].

PERSPECTIVES

Football brings together the community

By Ray Miller Reader Contributor “If all you do as a coach is to teach the boys to play football, you’ll be a miserable failure.” -Coach Cotton Barlow It’s a chilly October night in 1962. In Wisconsin, Sandpoint High and U of I alumnus Jerry Kramer is preparing with his Green Bay Packers teammates for a coming game. In Sandpoint, Norm Bauer, owner of KSPT Radio is “high above Memorial Field” getting ready to broadcast the game between Sandpoint Bulldogs and arch rival Coeur d’ Alene.

The stands on both sides are overflowing. Former players who are now local businessmen, employers, community leaders and service club members are exchanging stories. At the south end of the field there is a small, white wooden shed that is for equipment storage.

On game night it serves as the home team’s locker-room.

There, legendary coach Cotton Barlow is inspiring his team for the night’s game. In the days before State Championship

A choice in candidates...

Dear Editor, Four years ago, Mo Dunkel ran for mayor of Sandpoint. He lost the election, but not his opportunity to participate in city government. He has NOT participated.

He has NOT joined a city committee (choices include: Planning and Zoning, Arts, Parks and Rec, Pedestrian and Bicycle, Tree, and Historical). He has attended perhaps two City Council meetings, of about 350 since that election.

Shelby Rognstad is running for mayor of Sandpoint. Since the previous mayoral election, he has continued on City Council and was elected president by his fellow councilors. He has been deeply involved, spending many hundreds of hours involved in most aspects of City government.

Because it runs smoothly, we tend to take police and fire protection for granted, use safe drinking water and flush toilets, use roadways

playoff, the success of the season was measured by how we competed against the Vikings.

This season Sandpoint will go 7 and 2 which included beating Cd’A 39-7, a game that will be talked about for years. It was a successful season.

As I’m sitting here writing this on my 70th birthday, I am reflecting back over the years I have been involved in Sandpoint football. I now work with the children and grandchildren of former players, many that have gone on to rewarding and enriched careers.

We have sent our graduates to Harvard, Brown, MIT, Stanford, West Point, Annapolis and Air Force Academy to name a few. Many chose to follow a path into teaching and coaching, influencing hundreds of other young men with the values they learned here.

While football may be a silly game, it provides a venue to turn boys into young men who go on to become productive and honorable members of society and most importantly, good parents. They develop traits such as teamwork, putting the team above your-

self because winning takes 11 people working together as one. Competition not only with others but with oneself, did I do better today than I did yesterday?

The four years pass by so quickly that they are gone before anyone notices. Most will never snap up a chinstrap again. However, the memories will last forever and many will find ways to stay involved.

Financial assistance, volunteerism, helping with game, anything to remain a part of this program. This is what makes Sandpoint a special town, a football town. When a game is on, the town turns out to watch and cheer the boys whose turn it is to carry on the tradition.

Few other places provide long-time locals a chance to get together, visit and reminisce of days gone by.

Besides, what more beautiful spot could you find to spend a Friday night?

with all their signs and markings, and enjoy our well-kept parks.

Who do you think would do a better job running this complex service organization?

vative, forward thinking is much needed in a mayor.

All SPBAC meetings, like council meetings, welcome the public to participate. There’s total “transparency”, but the opposition has made negative accusations in this regard, as well as unkind questioning of Shelby’s integrity.

Undeniably, Shelby is strongly committed to our community.

Let’s move forward, not backward. Elect the candidate with a positive, optimistic approach to “keep Sandpoint vibrant” Shelby for Mayor.

Steve Lockwood Sandpoint

Shelby the best candidate...

Dear Editor, For three years, I’ve been serving on Sandpoint’s Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee with other citizens and Councilman Shelby Rognstad. This experience has shown me that Shelby would be a terrific mayor. He’s thoughtful and considerate, while realistic about improvements on our safety recommendations.

Shelby’s vision to create the 25-mile recreational Watershed Crest Trail was brilliant. In addition to locals getting an awesome trail to enjoy, it’ll certainly draw tourists and become an economic benefit here. This type of inno-

Ray Miller is an assistant football coach for Sandpoint High School and is a former Mayor of Sandpoint.

Rebecca Holland Sandpoint

The grandstands at Memorial Field.

Vote Shelby for mayor...

Dear Editor, In the past weeks, I’ve explained what we’ve accomplished in my eight years of public service. I’ve laid out my vision for keeping Sandpoint vibrant. But that doesn’t fully capture why I’m running for mayor. I’m running because I care deeply about this place. I want to see Sandpoint succeed. This community has given me so much that I want to give back.

I was born in Idaho, a fourth generation Idahoan. I graduated from University of Idaho and moved to Sandpoint in 1999 to start Common Knowledge Bookstore and Cafe. That’s how I got started in local politics. The café inspired many enlightening relationships and conversations among such a diverse group of people that shared one thing in common. They all care deeply about Sandpoint. The more I engaged in civic affairs, the more I was asked to take on responsibility.

I built my political platform serving food and drinks in the café. I listened to the stories, the problems, the dreams and the ideas of thousands of residents.

Through it all, I’ve learned that we need to preserve what makes Sandpoint special: our high quality of life and our strong sense of community. We need to balance growth with affordability. We need to protect our history, our tradition and our environment while embracing technology and innovation. We need to keep Sandpoint vibrant.

I learned so much listening to you all in my café and around town over the years. As your mayor, I’m going to keep listening. I will work to change the culture at City Hall so that citizens feel heard and engaged. I want people to feel as comfortable in City Hall as they were at the café.

Shelby Rognstad Sandpoint

Experience Counts...

Dear Editor, I am wondering why some people believe there are advantages to electing a person who has no experience working with city government. How can we know if they have any knowledge how government works and has the good judgment needed to handle the job? And how can we even judge their interests, if they have not been engaged in some capacity of service to the city?

Mose Dunkel states in his candidate profile (sandpointonline) that he has not attended any city council meetings or city committee meetings, nor has he held any public office.

City issues are various and complex. Experience counts!

Shelby Rongstad has knowledge and experience. He has proven his dedication to our city by serving our community on many committees, and as a City Council president. Shelby will be prepared from day one to be our mayor.

Experience counts! Vote Shelby Rongstad for mayor.

Sandra Deutchman Sandpoint

Vote yes for Memorial Field...

Dear Editor, Memorial Field/Barlow Stadium is truly a gem, a complex for athletic events and so many other uses such as the Festival and graduation. It’s probably unique in the Northwest for its setting and natural beauty.

Let’s truly look at the total complex that serves us so well and keep this “Diamond in the Rough” brightly shining for future generations.

Remember, Sandpoint residents, the burden is on our shoulders to pass this levy. Please vote, and vote YES on Nov. 3.

Jack Parker Sandpoint October 29, 2015 /

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NEWS

Robocaller identified... sort of

NAMI to start crisis hotline

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

If you’re in the midst of a mental health crisis after hours in Sandpoint, you don’t have many places to turn.

You could try the emergency room at the hospital, sure.

But that’s going to net you a huge bill, and chances are, you probably can’t afford it. Other than that, however, you don’t have many options For mental health nonprofit NAMI Far North officials, the lack of resources for the community’s most vulnerable residents is a troubling reality. In response, they’re launching North Idaho Crisis, a hotline staffed by licensed professionals able to talk locals through a crisis and, if need be, contact law enforcement for further assistance.

While hotline organizers are

starting out small as a part-time service, the idea is to establish the program as cost-effective and reliable. That will hopefully provide the foundation for a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week hotline, according to program director Catherine Perusse.

“You’ve got to start out small and prove your value,” Perusse said.

The NAMI team takes inspiration from similar hotlines in several small communities around the Northwest, including Hamilton, Mont. They say there’s a tried-and-true model for the North Idaho community to easily adopt.

“If Hamilton, with a population of 4,500, can have a mental illness crisis center, why can’t we?” said NAMI board member Ann Ferguson.

Perusse’s goal is to have the

hotline up and running by Jan. 1.

They’re currently seeking licensed professionals willing to work the hotline on an evening-by-evening basis, which is the project’s primary expense. Otherwise, costs are relatively low.

According to Ferguson, NAMI Far North officials have already secured support from several local organizations.

Among the strongest advocacy comes from the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force, which has offered to fund the hotline staffing costs for a month.

Residents have a chance to learn about the project in more detail at an upcoming community meeting. NAMI representatives invite the public to drop by Sandpoint Community Hall 12 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 4 to learn more.

CHAFE 150 gives $50k to LPOSD

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Biking enthusiasts love CHAFE 150 for the beautiful and enjoyable ride. Following a donation to Lake Pend Oreille School District, parents of autistic children have reason to love the bike race, too.

Sandpoint Rotary Club, the sponsoring organization for CHAFE 150, presented school officials with a $50,000 check Wednesday. The money will go toward the school district’s programs and professional development supporting students with autism.

“We’re absolutely trend-setters and on the cutting edge with services for these students,” said LPOSD Superintendent Shawn Woodward.

The district’s teaching model emphasizes improving the senses with which people on the autistic spectrum struggle. By working with autistic students early on, LPOSD staff 6 /

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By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff Authorities finally have a name connected to the robocall that disturbed many residents earlier this month: Dan Grost.

The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office received documents earlier this month declaring expenses for the group behind the call, Sandpoint United Against Shelby. Grost’s name is attached to the documents, but confusingly, the rest of the included information leads to dead ends.

One of the attached addresses is the location of Common Knowledge, Rognstad’s former business, while the other

belongs to The Hive. The phone number recorded is also associated with Common Knowledge.

As for the expenses, they run to the tune of $6,250.07, according to the documentation.

The name “Dan Grost” doesn’t carry much of an Internet footprint, and information is still slim. As Facebook user Kristina Bauer points out, the name could be an anagram for “Rognstad.”

What’s loud and clear is the angry reaction Sandpoint residents had to the call, which many described as racist and juvenile.

Both Rognstad and his opponent, Mose Dunkel, have condemned the call and say they had no part in it. [CR]

Don’t forget to vote Nov. 3 One of the best parts about complaining is when you feel you’ve somehow earned the right. That could possibly be the lamest reason to vote ever, but let’s face it, if it gets you to the polls, I’m for it.

Election day is Tuesday, Nov. 3 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

City of Sanpoint residents will be voting on their next

mayor, the three incumbent council candidates (who are running unopposed), as well as a one-percent sales tax increase to rebuild the Memorial Field bleachers.

If you need to know where your polling place is, check out www.cityofsandpoint.com.

[BO]

are able to dramatically improve students’ social skills and increase their employment opportunities after high school.

“Some of these students are considered very high-functioning,” Woodward said. “They just need a little push.”

Thanks to the CHAFE 150 event, they’ll get that push.

This was the most successful year yet for the bike race, meaning that the district’s school programs should have a long life span ahead.

Sandpoint Rotary Club, the sponsoring organization for CHAFE 150, presents a check for $50,000 to Lake Pend Oreille School District at the Sandpoint Rotary Club meeting Wednesday. Pictured from left to right: Shawn Woodward, Jane Huang, Paula Hall, Brad Williams, Joy Jensen, Mel Dick, Elana Westphal and Pierce Smith. Photo by Ben Olson.

FEATURE

The Roots of Poverty What perpetuates it, and how can we fix it?

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Editor’s note: This is the second article in a series on poverty in Bonner County. It was made possible in part by a grant from the Idaho Media Initiative of Boise State University. Learn more about IMI at http://sps.boisestate.edu/imi/ Have you ever had one of those days where new tasks and frustrations seem to pile atop one another? The second one problem is solved, three more rise to take its place like your own personal hydra.

For many living within poverty, that feeling is a daily reality.

Shirley Paulison of Community Action Partnership has seen this more times than she can count. A social worker who helps low-income families to secure financial assistance or build employment skills, Paulison understands all too well how the “tyranny of the moment”—the stress and panic that comes with managing crises—can hold her clients in a limbo. They’re so busy dealing with the problems of the now, they can’t devote energy to improving their future prospects.

“We found they were just too stressed out to put another thing on their schedule,” Paulison said.

The tyranny of the moment is just one of many reasons why poverty is such a difficult social problem to attack at the roots. Just as those below the poverty line find few options to improve their conditions while maintaining their day-to-day lives, social workers and economic experts lack any silver-bullet solution. Even so, hope is far from lost. Local educators and planners have some fresh ideas they hope will connect new generations of the working poor into a living wage.

Paulison and her colleagues at Community Action Partnership work on a daily basis with families and individuals seeking to break the cycle of generational poverty. For people with few resources and even less spare time, however, that’s a tall order. Beyond the tyranny of the moment that leaves people paralyzed in the present, Paulison said a counter-intuitive welfare system actually disincentivizes people to seek higher wages. Paulison recalled one

former client who begged her boss not to give her her a $1 raise—an increase of just $160 a month—because it would disqualify her for hundreds in welfare income.

“There needs to not be that cliff in front of [recipients],” said Paulison.

“When you make a little more money, you should lose that much a month in your benefits.”

The other problem is as much cultural as it is economic. Historically poor families instill different values in new generations than middle class families, Paulison said. Behaviors tend to emphasize in-the-moment survival and reliance on relationships over investment in the future. And just as most middle class individuals would feel uncomfortable at the dinner table of a billionaire, so too do some poor families experience class-based culture shock, often prompting them to stick with what they know.

“Everywhere you go, you’re hit with the hidden rules of the middle class,” Paulison said. “Workplaces have hidden middle class rules. Schools have them.

Even churches have them.”

Cultural differences also contribute to the problem of young Idahoans ending their education after high school, Paulison said. While some poor parents urge their children to pursue higher education, others don’t encourage it. And once again, the tyranny of the moment plays its role, demanding that individuals prioritize work and childcare over college classes.

“For the [working poor] that choose to try college, it’s very difficult because of that stress factor,” Paulison said.

Idaho’s dismal college attendance rates have been a problem for years, with the state ranking at the bottom of the nation in graduating high schoolers who go on to earn a college degree or professional certification.

“I think you have families that don’t understand the ‘why,’” said Karl Dye, director of industry and community relations at Idaho PTECH. “They’re struggling with the day-to-day—keeping the lights on and that sort of thing.”

“We’re starting to find in PTECH that most important way you can help someone get past high school is their support system,” he added.

Idaho PTECH is preparing students to transition directly into employment for companies like Quest Aircraft, pictured above with their 100th plane. Photo courtesy of Quest Aircraft.

Dye and PTECH Executive Director Alan Millar say they’re greeted with shock when they tell people that out of 10 Idaho students, eight will finish high school, four will go to college and only one will graduate college. What’s more, some degrees can’t guarantee immediate employment after graduation. For instance, the number one undergraduate degree turned out by Idaho colleges is in psychology, Millar said.

The problem, as Millar and Dye see it, is that Idaho high school students aren’t getting the information they need. They see four-year degree programs as their only option when a two-year or 18-month training scenario might make more sense.

The result is a workforce unequipped to handle the needs of employers.

“One of our theories is kids have incomplete info about what their choices are,” Millar said.

Idaho PTECH aims to address those problems at the source. The program revises the traditional K-12 education model with two additional grades.

These years are spent receiving handson training and classes in an industry of the student’s choosing. Program officials are essentially a middleman between education institutions and employers.

As students advance through the program, they regularly speak with advisers based out of Portland, Ore. These professionals help them transform vague aspirations into grounded goals. For Mil-

lar, this is one of PTECH’s most important innovations, a reflection of the idea that a solid support system can be the difference between success and failure.

“This remote coaching model is something every kid in Idaho could use,” he said. “The vast majority are not getting that kind of support.”

PTECH offers programs in aviation manufacturing, health care and technology, with a new program in retail management expected to launch soon. The idea is to get students the skills they need for a successful career straight out of the gate. More than 20 industry partners are already on board, and Dye is in talks with many more.

“No one has told us no,” Dye said.

“Their thinking is usually, ‘Help us understand what you need and let’s get more kids qualified for these jobs.’”

Millar and Dye agree that there’s no easy fix for poverty in North Idaho.

However, they believe a system that can more readily address the needs of both students and employers is a step in the right direction. If it works, the tyranny of the moment may not define the potential of a lifetime for many future Idaho workers.

In our next feature on poverty in North Idaho, we’ll profile some of the many local organizations that help make life manageable for people under the poverty line.

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Candidates address the issues at forum

Bouquets: •Community involvement always brings a smile to my face. I’m very thankful that we have as many people in Sandpoint who take part in local discussions, forums and participate in their city government any way they can. A bouquet to all of you out there who not only care about our town, but take steps to improve it.

•A bouquet to Charles Manning and JD Claridge for their appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank” last week. We’re wishing you guys the best!

Barbs: •This has been a hotly contested mayoral race, and I think both candidates have done a great job representing themselves and their views on the issues that impact our town.

What concerns me are the issues that are brought before the public eye that the candidates had nothing to do with.

The robocall, allegations of sign-stealing, and most recently, a complaint that candidate Shelby Rognstad hadn’t crossed his heart during the Pledge of Allegiance, but instead placed his hands behind his back.

The fact that this issue was brought up in the first place was extremely petty. The fact that it was reported by the-paper-youhave-to-pay-for as a “news” story was even more disheartening to me.

It reminds me of the American flag lapel pin stink after 9/11, when you weren’t considered patriotic unless you sported the lapel pin.

Love for your country is not judged based on how many pins you wear, or from nationalistic actions like placing your hand over your heart. Let’s stop forcing these buzzword issues to the forefront. I have no doubt that each candidate loves his country as much as his town, otherwise they wouldn’t have run for mayor.

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By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff A Sandpoint city candidate forum drew more than 100 people out Wednesday night to watch mayoral candidates Mose Dunkel and Shelby Rognstad square off on the issues.

Sponsored by Sandpoint Online and the Sandpoint Reader, the mayoral candidates fielded questions ranging from water and sewer rates to community involvement in politics to openness in city government. Attendees walked away impressed with the measured, considerate tone of both the forum and the candidates.

“I think both candidates were treated with a lot of respect and treated each other with a lot of respect,” said attendee Jeanne Cottrell.

Born and raised in the

Sandpoint area, Dunkel said his love for the town motivated his decision to run for mayor.

He pointed to his experience running the business and employees of Dunkel Logging and his volunteerism as qualifications. Transparency in city government and affordable utility rates were among his chief concerns.

“When I grew up here, poor people could get by,” Dunkel said. “... Those opportunities are becoming more and more limited.”

Rognstad emphasized his experience in city government as his primary credentials, which range from the Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee to the Planning and Zoning Commission to his years on City Council. He emphasized economic development within the town, tempered by

strong planning to keep the cost of living affordable.

“I’m running for mayor because I want to preserve [Sandpoint’s strong sense of community],” Rognstad said.

“I want to take it to the next level.”

Although running uncontested, City Council incumbents Bill Aitken, Deb Fragoso and Tom Eddy offered up their chief concerns too, highlighting the upcoming downtown streets reconfiguration, safety at major intersections, the new city administrator position and support for businesses among their priorities.

Serena Carlson

Ellen Weissman

John Sarchio

Rebecca Holland

“This was a good event.

What I liked about it was this was really well moderated.

For Chris to lay out from the beginning, there would be no talk about speeding tickets ... or other personal issues, made it a great use of my time.”

“I think it was great. I wish I’d been able to go to other forums. I love seeing this kind of engagement. Both of the candidates handled themselves very well.”

“I came here wanting to know the candidates better.

Both made statements that affected me. Shelby struck me as very well-informed. I thought Mo speaks to the heart of people. I think the mayor should preserve the character of Sandpoint as we move forward. With Mose in particular, I think that was addressed.”

“I thought the panel was very balanced. Personally I thought Shelby had the best answers. The notion of keeping things progressive and affordable—I think that’s really important. I believe Sandpoint needs to move strongly in that direction.”

Danielle Ettinger “I want people to vote. It’s hard. I grew up here and just moved back. Some things Mo said hit me right. We’re going through a humungous paradigm shift in Sandpoint now.

When I grew up here we still had logging as our main econo-

To read what some of the attendees of the forum thought about the night and the candidates’ responses to the issues, see below.

my. And then after our economy fell on a macro level, it was a big deal. People don’t want to be bored. We have a rich community here. We need to vote for someone and get behind them. We need to vote, period.

I see greatness in both of the candidates. There were no red flags that came up for me. They are both good candidates.”

Mose Dunkel

Shelby Rognstad

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Pre-Production Party free to all access pass holders or $15 Cafe Trinity — 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 7

Filmmakers Coffee free to all access pass holders or $15 CREATIONS on the Cedar St. Bridge — 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Sandpoint Film Festival VI Block ONE — 12 noon Block TWO — 3 p.m.

Block THREE — 6 p.m.

Films rated G, PG and PG13 in each block

Awards 8:30 p.m.

Animation 1st, 2nd, 3rd Documentary 1st, 2nd, 3rd Narrative 1st, 2nd, 3rd

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Thursday Night Football Party 5pm @ Laughing Dog Brewing Company Laughing Dog Brewing hosts the Rock 103 Thursday Night Football Party hosted by Tracy Bell - featuring the Miami Dolphins at the New England Patriots Dollar Beers!

“Meru” documentary film – 7pm @ Panida Little Theater 8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub A riveting documentary about elite climbers who attempt to reach the top of the 21,000’ peak of Shark’s Fin in India The Rocky Horror Show (playing Oct. 29. 30 + 31) 8pm @ Panida Theater Dammit Janet! Tickets $20 Live Music w/ Marty Perron & Doug Bond 5pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Live Music w/ Spumoni Blues 5pm - 8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Howl-O-Ween Party 2pm - 6pm @ Ponderay Pet Lodge 2nd annual Howl-O-Ween Party. Ca balls, obedience baseball, a Mutt Ru and under), and a Wiener Dog Race.

Costume and Best Dog/Owner Costu

Mo 9pm Get the sho from

The Rocky Horror Show (playing Oct. 29. 30 + 31) 8pm @ Panida Theater Dammit Janet! Tickets $20

31 1 2 3 4 5

Live Music w/ Truck Mills 5pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Blues from a local legend 2nd Annual Hive Halloween Bash and Costume Contest 9pm @ The Hive The 2nd Annual Hive Halloween Bash and Costume Contest with Dumpstaphunk! There will be awards for the funniest, scariest, and best couple/group. This event sold out last year and it’s expected to do so this year as well! Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show begins at 9 p.m. Ages 21 and older (IDs checked at the door). VIP booths available Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome Monday Night Football Sweet Lou’s on Highway 95 in Ponderay hosts the K-102 Monday Night Football Party and MickDuff’s Beer Hall hosts the KPND 106.7 Party

Trivia Night 7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s Karaoke Night 9pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge Seniors Day 9am - 12pm @ Bonner Mall

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

Used Book Sale 10am - 2pm @ Bonner Mall Buy or sell books at a great discount. Public welcome!

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

Jul’s Art On The Go 4pm - 7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Join Julie Ellis for a few hours of recycled art crafting.

Make you own masterpiece from recycled products

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

f

B @ 7

First Tuesday at Eichardt’s 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Monthly musical event hosted by Jake Robin Charley Packard & Friends 7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Good until the keg’s dry Monarch Open Mic 6pm - 9pm @ Monarch Mountain Coffee Hosted by Scott Reid. Come one, come all! Held on the first and third Thursday of every month

Thursday Night Football Party 5pm @ Laughing Dog Brewery Laughing Dog Brewing in Ponderay host the Rock 103 Thursday Night Football Party hosted by Tracy Bell - featuring the Cleve land Browns at the Cincinnati Bengals

ful

October 29 - November 5, 2015

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

The Rocky Horror Show (playing Oct. 29. 30 + 31) 8pm @ Panida Theater The hit cult-classic musical arrives at the Panida for its 40th anniversary celebration with live performances. This American Laboratory Theatre production features local talent and is directed by Jesús Quintero. General admission is $20, and students and seniors is $17. Tickets available in advance at Panida.org, or at the door on the night of the performance. AmericanLabTheatre.com. 208-534-1140

heater mpt to ia

t Lodge Party. Canine guests will enjoy bobbing for tennis a Mutt Run (non-Dachshunds who are 25 pounds Dog Race. There is a costume contest for Best Dog ner Costume Combo. Free and open to the public.

Monster Mash 20-and-Under Show 9pm @ the Hive Get in your best costume and come on down to the inaugural Monster Mash, the only under-age show of the year featuring live performances from Champagne Wolfgang and Head to Head

Lynch istorante

dis-

Truck Mills

ing.

Reader recommended

Haunted Firkin Friday 6pm - 10pm @ Laughing Dog Brewery All are invited to this fun Halloween costume party, with prizes for best costumes, both humans and K9s! There will be a surprise new beer in the Firkin Keg, with $3 a pint specials on the Firkin Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 7pm @ La Rosa Club Live Music w/ Chris Lynch 6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Trick-or-Treating at the Museum / Lions Club 4pm - 7pm @ BCHM / SPT Lions Club The Bonner County History Museum. 611 S. Ella in Lakeview Park, will once again pair with the Lions Club to present the 3rd annual Safe Trick-or-Treating at the Museum. Join us for an evening of haunted fun!

Free and open to all!

Trick-or-Treating at the Bonner Mall 4pm - 6pm @ Bonner Mall The Bonner Mall in Ponderay invites all children, ages 12 and under, to come out for mallwide trick-or-treating. Enter the costume contest at 6 p.m., with prizes for funniest, scariest, most original, and best overall. Treats, prizes, fun! Free and open to the public!

Live Music w/ Britchy 5pm - 8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Missoula’s acoustic Americana duo featuring fine pickin’ and timeless songwriting by Richie Reinholdt and Britt Arenson

Bodegas Faustino Spanish Wine Dinner @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 7-course Spanish family-style dinner

Robin

eray hosts tball Party the Clevengals

WHAT’S HAPPENING

UP NORTH

The Prospering Business Workshop

Free & Open to the Public

UPCOMING EVENTS Nov. 6 - “A Night to Remember” Benefit Nov. 7 - Farmers Market at Sandpoint Holiday Market Nov. 7 - Sandpoint Film Festival @ Panida Theater “He Called Me Malala” film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater After the Taliban tries to kill her for speaking out on behalf of girls’ education, Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai emerges as a leading advocate for children’s rights and the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. This is her story

J

oin this free collaborative workshop to share ideas about business prosperity, economic development, and quality of life.

November 5th, 2015

Bring your ideas and connect with business owners, community leaders, and other residents commited to improving economic opportunities in North Idaho.

Charles Manning

Continental breakfast and catered lunch provided!

Visit www.whatshappeningupnorth.org to RSVP and see all speakers.

7 am to 1:30 pm Sandpoint Technology Center

FEATURED SPEAKERS Founder & CEO, Kochava

Jeffrey Sayer

Director, Idaho Commerce

Dave Schuck

Director of Customer Service Quest Aircraft Other panelists and speakers from a dozen companies, agencies & organizations.

RSVP by November 1st, 2015 The event is free, but space is limited!

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To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com.

Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.

-rioThis is “Rio.” She’s our little Pomeranian!

Despite her unfortunate minuscule breed, she has the heart of a lion!

She’ll hike through 4 inches of snow blazing her own path, swim through our own patch of Syringa Creek at its highest level and ride on our four-wheeler in her front seat basket!

She makes walking through town a friendly adventure as she catches the attention of many people who just can’t resist her cuteness !

Dan and Molly Fogarty Sandpoint

Broadcasting in Sandpoint on 106.7 FM and in Digital HD 12 /

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Halloween activities

here are a few activities to do over the Halloween weekend. Have fun and be safe out there!

Scareywood at Silverwood Arguably one of the most frightening experiences to be had in North Idaho (aside from shopping at Walmart on payday), Scarywood at Silverwood Theme Park is still open on Oct. 29 and 30 (they are closed on Oct. 31).

A few things to remember about attending Scarywood: -No costumes are allowed, in order to ensure protection of the actors and guests.

-Children under 13 aren’t recommended to attend, but it’s the parent’s decision to allow it.

-Some of the rides and attractions will be open. Check the website for a list of which will be featured.

-Thursdays are always less attended than other days, so if you’re hoping to avoid the crowds, that’s your best bet.

-Dress warm! Bring someone to hold onto. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Trick-or-Treating at the Bonner Mall

Downtown Sandpoint Halloween

The Bonner Mall in Ponderay invites all children aged 12 and under to come out for mallwide trick-or-treating from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Halloween night.

There will be a costume contest at 6 p.m., with prizes for the funniest, scariest, most original and best overall.

There will be treats, prizes and fun. It’s all free and open to the public.

Join local businesses for a fun-filled, treat-o-riffic afternoon from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Sandpoint. End your journey at Creations in the Cedar St. Bridge for a ghoulishly good time!

There will be a DJ, glow sticks, candy, games and ten random giveaways for cool costumes. The night features a special appearance by Sandpoint Dance Team Captains at 5:30 p.m.

Lions Club and Bonner County History Museum The Sandpoint Lions Club will be hosting a Treat Night on Halloween night, Oct. 31, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Kids are encouraged to stop by the Sandpoint Lions Club at

607 S. Ella. Look for the big yellow caboose in Lakeview Park next to the Bonner County History Museum.

For savvy trick or treaters, this is a good two stops in one, as the Museum will also be handing out treats.

Annual Beta Sigma Phi Haunted Forest Looking to scare the crap out of yourself while benefitting a great program to help feed local children?

Check out the Annual Haunted Forest put on by Beta Sigma Phi. It takes place at the University of Idaho Research and Extension Center (2105 N. Boyer Ave.).

Admission is $10 per person, $20 for a family of 3-5, and $40 for a family of 6 or more. The admission price gets you through the maze unlimited times in

the same evening. All proceeds for this event will go to the Feed Our Kids program, which sends backpacks of food home with students over the weekend.

The Haunted Forest will be open Oct. 29 from 8-11 p.m., Oct. 30 from 8 p.m.-12 a.m., and Oct. 31 from 8 p.m.12 a.m. Dress warm and be prepared.

We hope everyone makes it out alive!

2nd Annual Hive Halloween Bash and Costume Contest The Hive will be hosting its Halloween Bash with New Orleans funk masters, Dumpstaphunk! This is a 21-andover event. Come prepared to dance.

There will be awards for funniest, scariest and best couple/group costumes.

This event sold out last year, so get your tickets while they’re still available!

Doors will open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. VIP booths are still available. Go to www.LiveFromTheHive.com to learn more.

The history of your favorite day to dress up

By Cameron Rasmusson and Ben Olson Reader Staff

Halloween, like many holidays we celebrate today, has evolved into an orgy of consumerism (see Easter Bunny, see Santa Claus, et. al).

Halloween got its start as the ancient Celtic holiday of Samhain. The Celts used the day to mark the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter, and also believed that this transition between the seasons was a bridge to the world of the dead. Over the millennia, the holiday transformed from a somber pagan ritual to a day of merriment, costumes, parades and sweet treats for children and adults.

Many modern holidays are influenced by Christian traditions, and Halloween is no exception. As the day before the Christian holy day of All

Saints’ Day or All Hallows’ Day and two days before All Souls’ Day, All Hallows’ Eve became associated with those observances. These included prayers and bell-ringing for souls in purgatory, and as “The World Review” from the University of Minnesota notes, “It was customary for criers dressed in black to parade the streets, ringing a bell of mournful sound and calling on all good Christians to remember the poor souls.” By the 15th century, the tradition of “souling,” or baking soul cakes for christened souls, came into vogue.

Some scholars point to this practice as a potential origin for trick-or-treating.

By the early 20th century, recognizable Halloween traditions began forming in the U.S. Costuming became a popular activity, with the first mass-produced outfits appearing in stores as early as the 1930s. Parades and other common holiday celebrations

followed by the middle of the century. Thanks to the innate fun of dressing up in costume combined with the sugary allure of candy (not to mention the stronger Halloween treats enjoyed at adult parties), the favorite fall holiday won’t be going away any time soon.

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STAGE & SCREEN

Our favorite horror movies in a refreshing take on the genre.

By Cameron Rasmusson and Chris Balboni For the Reader

Halloween is here, and with it come the horror movie classics any genre fan has seen time and time again. While “The Shining,” ‘The Exorcist,” “The Ring” and other staples are excellent, Reader contributor Chris Balboni and I have dug up some less appreciated horror gems.

Cameron’s Picks “Inland Empire” (2006): It’s debatable whether David Lynch qualifies as a horror director, but that doesn’t make the psychological surrealism of “Lost Highway” or “Mulholland Drive” any less disturbing. His most recent film, “Inland Empire,” is still the most terrifying piece of media I’ve experienced. It abandons a linear narrative in favor of a nightmarish dream logic that doesn’t let up for nearly three hours.

“Audition” (1999): It’s no secret that Asian filmmakers have created some of the best horror of the past two decades. “Pulse” is a meditation on loneliness and depression that just happens to feature ghosts. “A Tale of Two Sisters” is eerily beautiful and horrifying in equal measure.

But nothing matches the audacity of Takashi Miike’s “Audition,” which begins as a quiet romantic drama and ends someplace very different.

When a lonely windower stages an acting audition under false pretenses to meet women, he becomes enchanted with the introspective Asami. But who is she? And why is her apartment empty except for a telephone and a large burlap sack? A word of warning: Sensitive viewers might want to give this one a pass.

“Kill List” (2011): I dislike the way many horror filmmakers handle violence, especially those that peddle the so-called “torture porn” subgenre. “Kill List,” while a very violent film, is different. Rather than an end onto itself, the bloody moments are punctuation in a de14 /

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scent into madness that tightens with every turn. Of course, like “Audition,” viewer discretion is very much advised.

The movie follows two hitmen who accept a contract for three killings from a mysterious group of employers. Each assassination reveals yet more disturbing signs of a conspiracy, culminating in a twist you’ll realize was inevitable from the beginning.

“Don’t Look Now” (1973): Downright methodical compared to many horror films, “Don’t Look Now” nevertheless achieves a technical and thematic excellence that warrants it a place among the great movies of the ‘70s.

Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie star as a married couple who travel to Venice following the tragic death of their daughter. They soon meet an individual who claims to be clairvoyant and says their child is trying to contact them. What follows is both an unnerving and affecting examination of grief.

“The Innkeepers” (2011): Ti West has proven himself to be among the best young horror directors working today, emphasizing tension-building over buckets of blood. His early films “The House of the Devil” and “The Innkeep-

ers” are both extremely effective, so much so that choosing between them is difficult. But “The Innkeepers,” a movie about two young would-be ghost hunters working in a potentially haunted hotel, is more consistent and boasts a stronger ending. It also features a true rarity in the horror genre: likable characters.

Chris’ Picks “The Babadook” (2014): Single mother Amelia lives with her 6-year-old son, Samuel, a hyper-active handful who is more than she can take most days. One day Samuel brings her a mysterious pop-up book containing disturbing drawings and an eerie poem describing “The Babadook,” an entity that haunts anyone who is aware of it. After reading the book together, strange and inexplicable events begin happening to Samuel and Amelia.

“The Babadook” cleverly toes the line between psychological horror and a monster film, with Amelia and Samuel’s strained relationship lending the film a gritty sense of reality that makes the numerous, inventively creepy images all the more effective. At it’s core, “The Babadook” is a film about anxiety and the harsh reality of single parenthood, framed

“Antichrist” (2009): A couple loses their child in a terrible accident and, in order to cope, leave the city and head for their cabin deep in the forest. The forest scares the mother (Charlotte Gainsbourg), but the father (Willem Defoe) believes that by confronting their fears head-on they can move past their son’s death and save their relationship. However, as the days go by, the couple descends into their own isolated madness.

Lars Von Trier’s “Antichrist” is not a film with monsters, ghosts, jump scares or any of the traditional tropes found in horror, yet you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more unsettling film. It is relentlessly bleak, with its surreal and nightmarish imagery turning what would be an otherwise peaceful forest into a living hell for the protagonists. This is top-notch filmmaking, with Defoe and Gainsbourg turning in some of their best performances, but it certainly not for the faint-hearted. Even if you can stomach the handful of incredibly graphic violent moments, the nihilistic, crushing atmosphere will likely leave you wanting a shower afterwards.

“Grave Encounters” (2011): A film crew shooting a reality show starring the most obnoxious ghost hunter this side of “Ghost Adventures” explore a decommissioned mental hospital and suddenly find themselves trapped.

“Grave Encounters” is very much a genre film, with a plot you’ve no doubt seen elsewhere and a deeply unlikable protagonist. You would, rightfully, expect to find it in a bargain bin. That being said, if you enjoy the found-footage style and have

see HORROR, page 15

HORROR, con’t from page 14 seen all of the more well-known entries the subgenre has to offer (“Blair Witch Project,” “Paranormal Activity,” “V/H/S,” “The Last Exorcism”), “Grave Encounters” is still worth a look. The crew depicted in the film is aware that their show is fake, which is a setup just clever enough to keep you interested until all the paranormal events begin happening. Once they do, a series of creatively terrifying scenes make “Grave Encounters” an unlikely pleasant surprise.

“Mothman Prophecies” (2002): Years after losing his wife to a terminal illness, columnist John Klein is driving through the night to cover a story when his car suddenly breaks down and he finds himself in a small town hundreds of miles off-course from his destination. As he goes about leaving, he learns that strange events have been happening to the locals over the past few weeks, with many seeing an enormous winged-figure with glowing red eyes.

This perks John’s interests as a writer,

and his investigation leads him down a rabbit hole of paranoia and grief.

“The Mothman Prophecies” was released 12 years ago to little fanfare, a reaction that had more to do with its lackluster promotion than anything else. It’s a fascinatingly bizarre story rooted in true events (how true is, of course, up for debate), with engaging performances from Richard Gere, Laura Linney and Will Patton. What really makes the film stand out and worth a look after all these years, though, is the atmosphere created by some truly unnerving cinematography and Mark Pellington’s spot-on direction.

The creature is made tangible by description and reactions more than any actual glimpses on the screen, and the resulting sense of unease is pervasive. You’re never entirely sure that the Mothman is real, but seeing the fear on the eyes of Point Pleasant’s citizens is frightening in itself.

My what large wings you have, Mothman.

Rocky Horror Show opens

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Looking for something crazy to do over the Halloween weekend?

Have a hankering to see a man in teenie tiny gold lame short shorts?

Like shouting at the performers on stage with hundreds of others in the audience. Well, have we got a performance for you.

American Laboratory Theatre’s wild production of “Rocky Horror Show” hits the Panida main stage Oct. 29, 30 and 31, bringing with it all the craziness you’d expect from the cult classic.

Directed by Jesús Quintero and starring local theater stars such as Jeremiah Bigley, Michael Clarke, Keely Gray, Eric Bond, Eddie McDonnell, Sky Palmer and Alex Cope, “Rocky Horror” is guaranteed to be an entertaining production. Check it out this weekend!

Thursday, OCT. 29 @ 7pm

“meru” documentary film

3 elite climbers struggle to reach the summit of mount meru a coveted peak in India. Playing at the little theater

OCT. 29, 30 & 31 @ 8pm

“Rocky Horror Show” American laboratory theater presents the cult classic

Saturday, Nov. 7 @ 12pm - 8pm

Sandpoint Film Festival Saturday, Nov. 14 @ 7pm

warren miller’s “Chasing shadows” the 66th snow sports film from Warren Miller Wednesday, Nov. 18 @ 8pm head for the hills and trout steak revival two great bluegrass / americana bands in one night!

Saturday, Nov. 21 @ 7:30pm

Sandpoint Reader fundraiser support your favorite alt-weekly with four great bands October 29, 2015 /

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FOOD

The Sandpoint Eater The Loving Oven

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Food Columnist I just finished shipping batches of Halloween cookies to family and like-family members near and far. These were really just a warm up, the prelude to Christmas cookies, and right now in my home you’ll already find cookies in various stages of production: frozen dough, frozen cookies waiting to be baked, baked cookies waiting for decorations. Finally, there will be dozens of them, all shapes and sizes, decorated and carefully wrapped, awaiting shipment to those I love.

Who doesn’t have a favorite cookie recipe? Sometimes, as I sift through my mother’s collection of frayed and worn index cards, I see her familiar handwriting that carefully detailed favorite recipes for ranger cookies (made with bacon grease), spice bars and peanut butter cookies. These cards always stir many childhood memories, and I can still hear her practical advice: “Children will always ask for two cookies, so make them small.” She was partially right, though with my kids (Ryanne, Zane and Casey), it was more like two for each hand.

I was only five when I attempted my first batch of chocolate chip cookies. Maneuvering the slick countertops by tiptoe, I found the coveted chocolate chips stashed in the back of a tall cupboard.

Immediately, I was inspired to create some little masterpieces of chocolatey goodness.

Lacking the wherewithal for dough making, I smashed soda crackers and added water until

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it was the right dough-like consistency, then stirred in the chocolate pieces, formed little balls, patted them into small disks and left them to air dry. I remember popping one after another into my mouth and thought them heavenly. I owe a debt of gratitude to my oldest sister, Patty—eight years older—who duly sampled and praised everything I made and lived to tell about it (I do question her babysitting skills, however).

I still love to make chocolate chip cookies and so does Ryanne. And in our fiercely competitive manner, each of us will continue to believe that we make the very best chocolate chip cookies on earth. A couple of years ago, we had a cook-off and just yesterday, I reminded Ryanne that she was a good sport when the majority awarded best-in-house to yours truly.

Casey and Zane both love Mexican wedding cookies and look forward to receiving treatfilled packages throughout the year. After baking and shipping more than 600 hundred of those powdered sugar-coated gems to Chicago for Casey’s wedding, I assumed she had hit her saturation point, but no, they still top her holiday-treat wish list. Ryanne’s forever favorite is rich and classic Scottish shortbread. They’re also a fundraiser favorite, so whenever I bake a batch for an event, I carefully choose a half dozen of the most perfect ones to send her way. The grandkids all love sugar cookies, oozing with icing and bedazzled with bright colored sprinkles.

Whenever they’re here, they love to help, and I line them up on sturdy chairs to watch the magic and add their individual, special touches. While

my own children accused me of scraping the bowl down to bare metal, I make sure there is plenty of dough left clinging to the bowl, the spatula and the beaters for these adorable helpers. Over the years, my family has eaten so much raw cookie dough that we are immune to imminent danger and therefore it is not necessary for us to heed the warnings about said consumption.

I am proud of each of my children and their stellar achievements, but the truth is, I might be most proud of the fact that each of them possesses their own Kitchen Aide mixer and knows how to use it. And now, as they’re all beginning to whip up their own traditions, I don’t see my own mixer taking much of a rest. For more than 35 years, it has hummed through hundreds of batches of cookies: for milestones

achieved, myriad life celebrations and an occasional and earnest peace offering.

Most cookies take their humble beginning from various combinations of flour, sugar and butter. From there, they transcend all boundaries as they are dropped, pressed, molded, rolled and iced into traditional family favorites.

Next time a tray of homemade cookies is delivered to your door or served at a gathering, remind yourself of the love that came from the oven.

With holiday cookie baking right around the corner, this is love from my oven: my go-to recipe for sugar cookies. It is a rich tasting dough, doesn’t expand much or lose its shape, and holds up well to handling and shipping. Now, go bake some of your own favorites.

My Favorite Sugar Cookies Preheat oven to 350F. Use a fresh, unopened bag of brown sugar for this recipe. If there are any lumps, sort them out and discard.

INGREDIENTS:

•1 cup softened butter •1 cup light brown sugar •½ cup finely granulated white sugar •2 large eggs •2 tsp vanilla (or 1 tsp orange extract) •¾ teaspoon salt •¼ teaspoon baking powder •4 to 4 ½ cups white unbleached flour, sifted (lesser amount if chilling or freezing) •¼ cup heavy whipping cream

DIRECTIONS:

2 – 3 dozen delicious sugar cookies

•Cream the butter and both sugars together.

•Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix thoroughly.

•Add the salt and baking powder and continue mixing dough.

•Add half the flour, mix and add whipping cream.

•Add remainder of flour and mix just until smooth and not sticky (you may not need all of the flour, keep an eye on the consistency).

•Roll dough on floured surface to ¼” and cut into shapes.

•Once partially rolled (to about 1” thickness), you can also wrap in

parchment or wax paper and chill for up to 2 days, or freeze up to a month.

•Roll to ¼” thick and bake at 350ª F for about 7 minutes.

•Cool on wire rack and decorate. Or before decorating, store baked cookies in freezer, in air tight container, for up to 6 weeks.

MUSIC

Halloween at the Hive

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Who can forget the Hive’s Halloween Bash last year when Sir Mix-A-Lot packed the house to capacity? Who knew so many people in Sandpoint liked big butts?

For their next Halloween Bash coming this weekend, the Hive will offer a tried and tested follow up to last year’s big hit show: funk. And not just any funk. Dumpstaphunk.

“Last year, having Sir Mix-A-Lot was great but he only performed about an hour,” said Rob Smith, general manager for the Hive. “Dumpstaphunk performs a multi-hour show and they’re going to bring something special to this show.”

Smith said the New Orleans-based band will be featuring a five-piece horn section added to its already funktacular arrangement featuring Ivan Neville (the son of R&B superstar Aaron Neville).

Dumpstaphunk was voted New Orleans’ best funk band by Offbeat Magazine and Gambit Weekly in 2007, and has played some of the nation’s largest music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Voodoo Fest, 10,000 Lakes and High Sierra.

“They’re friends with [Hive owner] Jeff Grady and they love coming out here, love this venue,” said Smith.

“We’re aiming to have a dance party, and funk always brings it.”

The Halloween Bash is Saturday, Oct. 31 at the Hive in downtown Sandpoint. Doors will open at 8 p.m. and the show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 general admission, and $75 buys you a V.I.P. ticket.

“The V.I.P. booth is the best seat in the house,” said Smith. “You get to be surrounded by all your friends, and you can go down and dance any time you like.”

For those of you out there who haven’t hit that magical age of 21 when the world opens like a beersoaked oyster, the Hive has a special pre-Halloween Bash on Friday, Oct. 30 called the Monster Bash

Dumpstaphunk caught in the middle of funking it up. Photo by David Oppenheimer.

20-and-Under Show.

Featuring Jackson Hole-based band Head to Head and local duo Champagne Wolfgang, the Monster Mash is a chance for those under 21 to hang out in a safe, alcohol-free environment and dance to some good tunes.

“We want to have two or three concerts a year where families can come out and bring the kids,” said Smith. “It’s something we’re working towards.”

Head to Head is a duo of drummers who mix electronic percussive elements with acoustic sound, then add a full light show to the mix. Tickets are available for $10 each.

Both nights feature costume contests that award prizes for funniest, scariest and best group or couple costumes. For the underage show on Oct. 30, iTunes gift cards will be awarded to costume winners. For the Halloween Bash show on Oct. 31, tickets to the New Years Eve show featuring London Souls

Crossword Solution

and a Hive merchandise bag will be awarded to the winners.

Check out www.livefromthehive. com for more information about upcoming shows at the Hive.

LIVE MUSIC

Ev ery aturday Friday & SB e e r Hal l ight @ t he

N

FREE BINGO!

Every Wednesday at 6:30 pm Saturday. November 7 @ 3-10 pm

PRAY FOR SNOW PARTY w/ SPUMONI BLUES BREWERY & BEER HALL 220 Cedar St. 209-6700 FAMILY FRIENDLY BREWPUB 312 First Ave.

255-4351

This week’s RLW by Ben Olson

READ

In terms of pure horror, Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho” ranks up there at the top.

At times, “American Psycho” takes a great satirical stance on the mighty 1%, but at heart, the novel is a terrible trip into a dark mind.

Super yuppie Patrick Bateman leads a double life as a Wall Street specialist in mergers and acquisitions (or “murders and executions”), and a serial killer. He does just about every evil thing with such panache, you can’t help but laugh, until your stomach turns and you realize you just laughed at something disgustingly horrifying.

Read at your own risk.

LISTEN

There’s a reason Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” remains the best selling album of all time. It’s just that damn good.

I can still recall the goosebumps I’d always get when “Thriller” came on MTV when I was a kid (remember when they played videos?).

Jackson worked with the legendary Quincy Jones to make this, his sixth and best album. To this day, kids and adults alike spend their Halloweens listening to the song that gives goosebumps to the masses. You can check out the video on YouTube for a nostalgic throwback.

WATCH

It’s impossible to pick just one horror movie to recommend.

I’m tempted to say “The Shining” by Stanley Kubrick because it still scares the bajesus out of me everytime I watch it.

The film student in me wants to say “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”

by Robert Weine because it is arguably the first horror film ever made.

The humorist in me wants to say “Evil Dead 2” by Sam Raimi (and of course it’s sequel “Army of Darkness”).

And how can you discount Albert Hitchcock’s masterpiece “Psycho” for making a simple shower a place of horror for the entire world?

Best bet?

Watch ‘em all.

Happy Halloween.

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w o N & Then compiled by

Ben Olson

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

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

Looking north down First Avenue, from the intersection of First and Main Street.

The building on the corner was the Sandpoint Mercantile Co. Dept. Store.

The same view today. Finan McDonald now occupies the corner building.

2015

lycanthrope

Corrections: Cautiously, I’m saying we didn’t find anything glaringly wrong in the last edition, except for the use of “than” instead of “then.”

18 /

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ACROSS 1. Anaglyph 6. Plod along 10. To tax or access 14. Siren 15. Cultivate 16. Portent 17. French for “Queen” 18. Dogfish 19. Head of hair 20. A group of representatives 22. A coniferous tree 23. Foment 24. Basement 26. Mining finds 30. Beer 31. Night before 32. Agreement 33. Formally surrender 35. Set of principles 39. Detaches 41. Smallpox 43. It delivers babies?

44. Chair 46. Not closed 47. Historic period 49. Play a role 50. Following 51. Deadly 54. Wreckage 56. Chocolate cookie 57. Heaven-sent 63. Two-toed sloth 64. Norse god 65. Compacted 66. Animal companions 67. Dispatched

Solution on page 17 68. Consumer of food 69. Being 70. Labels 71. A loud sleeping sound

DOWN 1. Credit or playing 2. Away from the wind 3. Letters, etc.

4. Sea eagle 5. Alpha’s opposite 6. Without nationality 7. Not excessive 8. Hodgepodge

9. Peek 10. Culmination 11. Electronic letters 12. Ringworm cassia 13. Contemptuous look 21. By surprise 25. Always 26. Creative work 27. Deliver a tirade 28. Reflected sound 29. Warehouse 34. Laxatives 36. Expect and wish 37. Holly 38. Camber

40. Gumbo 42. Loft 45. Anagram of “Angrier” 48. Nigh 51. Jeweler’s glass 52. Anagram of “Sneer” 53. Nipples 55. Naked models 58. Notion 59. Low-fat 60. Savvy about 61. End ___ 62. Arid

/LAHY-kuhn-throhp/

[noun] 1. A werewolf or alien spirit in the physical form of a bloodthirsty wolf.

“The townsfolk confused the hippie for a lycanthrope and accidentally shot him with a silver bullet.”

Woorf tdhe Week

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

c. 1920

If I ever get burned beyond recognition, and you can’t decide if it’s me or not, just put my funny fisherman’s hat on my “head.” See, it’s me!

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