Sandpoint has had a few names over the years. When early-19th century explorer David Thompson passed through the area in 1809, the community was known simply as a “frontier settlement.” Before white men arrived, the Kootenai Tribe called it Kamanquku, meaning, “sand all around.” In the rough-and-ready days of the late-19th century, it gained another nickname: “Hangtown.”
In 1884, an Austrian aristocrat and traveler to the region named W.A. Baillie-Grohman wrote that Sandpoint was a “... wretched hole, one of the ‘tough’ towns in the tough territory of Idaho, where shooting scrapes and ‘hanging bees’ were common events.”
Baillie-Grohman wrote of the day when the railroad pulled into town with pay for the workers, saying “... all the male population in the place ... were ‘filling up’ as fast as the six whiskey dens in the place could bring about that happy end... I knew Sandpoint — known also as Hangtown — could hold its own for depravity.”
Before he was president, Theodore Roosevelt noted the incredible lawlessness when he visited the region in the 1880s.
In the Oct. 24, 1913 edition of the Pend d’Oreille Review, Major Fred B. Reed shared memories of when he’d passed through Sandpoint working for the railroad.
“I was through here with the Northern Pacific construction gang in 1880 and Sandpoint doubtless was the toughest place in the United States,” Reed recounted. “Over at the end of your big bridge was ‘Hangtown’ and it was over there we had our necktie parties.”
When asked about the hangings that earned Sandpoint its nickname, Reed declined to speak further, but his associate “Mr. Beach” was happy to fill in the gaps.
As quoted from the 1913 edition of the Review: “Mr. Beach was authority for the statement that the major had told him that a total of six was strung up there at one lynching and that the major seemed to recollect the details very vividly.
“The major told the Commercial club of one adventure he had had in this country when he and another man were hunting a murderer and they broke into a room with their six-shooters to find two schoolma’ams inside. ‘The desperado was in the next room and we had some trouble in getting him,’ explained the major. ... The major was wounded three times in the ‘shooting days’ and if you don’t believe it he will let you feel a bullet that he carries in his leg to this day.”
In 1911, after the vigilante hangings were no longer so common, then-former President Roosevelt traveled to Idaho again and told Idaho Sen. William Borah, “I remember the town of old and it will really give me much pleasure to speak there and tell them of the difference I have seen in my time.”
DEAR READERS,
If you haven’t already, please consider voting for Sandpoint to receive a grant that would expand the Sandpoint Summer Music Series, a free outdoor music series presented by Mattox Farm Productions.
Mattox Farm and Pend Oreille Arts Council are applying for the national Levitt Grant, which would bring more free outdoor live music shows to Sandpoint.
For those who haven’t voted yet, it only takes a moment. Either text “SANDPOINT” to 877-409-5525, or login to vote.levitt.org.
Currently, Sandpoint is in the running to get the grant, so please get those votes in before the period ends at 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15. If POAC and Mattox Farm Productions get this grant, everybody wins.
Thanks for helping support the arts in Sandpoint.
– Ben Olson, publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com
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About the Cover:
This week’s cover photo features Miles Wheatcroft diving into the water with Travis “TMO” Morgan holding the canoe. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft.
Reconvening after continuing its Aug. 14 meeting, the Bonner County board of commissioners met Sept. 9 to discuss the preliminary plat for the proposed Deerfield Subdivision. After nearly three hours of debate, the board voted 2-1 to deny the application, citing a lack of information on the property’s floodplain.
The proposed development — owned by Deerfield, LLC, which is managed by Rick Howarth, who also serves on the Sandpoint City Council — would divide approximately 32.67 acres into 24 lots, all between one and three acres. The property overlaps with Syringa Creek, borders the city-owned property currently used by Baldfoot Disc Golf Course and falls under the suburban zoning designation.
In June, the Bonner County Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the preliminary plat, subject to standard conditions such as a stormwater runoff and an erosion control plan approved by a Bonner County engineer and the submission of a topographical map. Though developers have in the past received conditional approval and then gone on to satisfy those conditions before submitting the final plat, Commissioners Brian Domke and Ron Korn argued that developers should provide all possible information before preliminary approval.
At the Sept. 9 meeting, Bonner County Planner and Certified Floodplain Manager Jason Johnson said that the “updated information” that the commissioners had requested last meeting was
“extremely minor,” and that some changes — like the addition of a redundant topographical map — were the result of an “obsolete code.”
“[The developers] addressed five of the conditions, which is the maximum they could reasonably be expected to address at this point in the preliminary process,” said Johnson. “There’s no way that they could fulfill any of the other conditions that are on here.”
One such condition was a letter from the Federal Emergency Management Agency affirming or modifying the mapped floodplains on the property. The southern portions of the development — bisected by Syringa Creek, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife-designated wetland — cannot be developed. The wetlands do not count toward individual lot size, and all proposed building locations are 20-30 feet above the current mapped floodplain.
Domke identified possible drainage issues as one of his chief concerns for the properties, which will utilize individual septic systems. However, Panhandle Health District cannot accurately test whether the proposed systems will be effective until developers build the road and drainage systems, thereby altering the soil’s makeup.
The commissioners agreed Aug. 14 that the concern could be addressed after approval of the preliminary plat, but that the board could not give developers the green light without hearing from FEMA. The agency confirmed receipt of the developers’ application but had not made an official decision as of the Sept. 9 hearing.
“My question is: How can the board determine that the proposed subdivision is
safe from flooding without the base flood elevations having been confirmed?” asked Domke at the Sept. 9 meeting.
Domke and BOCC Chair Asia Williams both pointed to Bonner County Code 14501 as one reason for their objections, which states, “All subdivision proposals and other development proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage and determined to be reasonably safe from flooding.”
Johnson said that the language is “a term of art” from FEMA, but essentially stipulates that subdivisions must comply with all county code governing floodplains, which the Deerfield application does. He went on to argue that the “code is in error” and should not require that developers list floodplains on plats.
“Floodplains are not surveyable boundaries; they shouldn’t be shown on plats,” said Johnson, explaining that developers and
county officials have to go off of separate FEMA maps anyway. “Also, we don’t control the floodplain. The floodplain is federal, and it’s controlled by the federal government through FEMA.”
Korn, Johnson, Planning Director Jake Gabell and Deputy Prosecutor Bill Wilson agreed that the applicants had fulfilled all requirements stipulated in the code to have the preliminary plat approved. Further, Deerfield, LLC legal counsel Dan Rodriguez — who also serves as chief deputy prosecutor for Bonner County — echoed other county officials in warning that denying the application would likely result in litigation.
“Our position is this: we have complied with everything the code requires,” said Rodriguez, later adding, “The applicant is stuck between a rock and a hard place because they can’t make any of the changes they’d need to make in order to get final FEMA approval unless the preliminary plat is approved.”
Rodriguez further argued that denying the application would only cost the developers time and money, forcing them to wait until 2026 “to even see whether we can build on either of these pieces.”
When asked for additional comment, Howarth told the Reader that Rodriguez’s arguments are the “only comments that the applicant has at this time.”
After going through every section of the application, Domke made a motion to deny the preliminary plat. The motion passed with Korn dissenting. Williams called the denial a “roadblock” and said that the applicants could return when FEMA approves the floodplain map.
“We’ve said, ‘Yes,’ to most of this [the application],” said Williams. “There’s information that’s not there.”
For more information, visit bonnercountyid.gov/ FileS0001-25.
An aerial view of the proposed Deerfield Subdivision. Courtesy image
Save Our Schools town halls to focus on effects of public funding for private education
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
The statewide nonprofit organization Save Our Schools will bring a series of town halls to North Idaho, inviting attendees to learn “about the harms” of House Bill 93, which lawmakers passed in 2024 to provide public support for private school tuition.
“There’s definitely been confusion and questions raised since Idaho passed the Idaho parental choice tax credit, otherwise known as a school voucher bill,” stated Jan Bayer, superintendent of Boundary School District.
“As families head back to school, we want to provide an opportunity for community members to talk about how the bill will impact Idaho,” Bayer added. “Many people are interested in whether or not Idaho citizens believe in taxpayer subsidies for private schools, especially since there is little to no accountability for the funds at this point.”
Save Our Schools town halls will take place Thursday, Sept. 11 from 6:30-8 p.m. in the Sandpoint area at the Ponderay Events Center (401 Bonner Mall Way, in Ponderay), and Saturday, Sept. 13 from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Priest River at the West Bonner County Library District (118 Main St.) and from 4-5:30 p.m. at Post Falls High School (2832 Poleline Road).
The event will be moderated by educator and high school debate coach Marcy Curr and feature panelists Jan Bayer, Boundary County School District superintendent; education policy researcher Elizabeth Wargo; and Kim Keaton, of the Idaho Building Capacity Project
and former Sandpoint Middle School principal.
Save Our Schools is made up of “veteran public school champions dedicated to providing information, data and education to the people of Idaho about ESAs, vouchers and similar policies aimed at dismantling our neighborhood schools,” according to saveourschoolsidaho.com.
The town halls are intended to show voters how similar programs in other states “have drained public school budgets, led to rising property taxes and harmed student outcomes — especially for rural communities,” organizers stated.
Legislators approved H.B. 93 and Gov. Brad Little signed it into law in the face of widespread public opposition to the bill, which channels $50 million in taxpayer money to provide families of students in private or religious schools with tuition and other financial support.
Proponents claimed the law, which went into effect July 1, would provide more educational choice and freedom, while opponents argued that the Idaho Constitution prohibits the use of public dollars to support private education.
Dist. 1 Sen. Jim Woodward, R-Sagle, and Dist. 1A Rep. Mark Sauter, R-Sand-
point, opposed H.B. 93, while Dist. 1B Rep. Cornel Rasor voted in favor.
Shortly before Little signed the bill into law on Feb. 27, 73 public school superintendents wrote a letter to the governor telling him that they were “gravely concerned that privatizing education will, over time, erode the stability of our republic.”
They cited the Idaho Constitution’s injunction that the state provide for and support a system of “free, common, public schools” and pressed Little for a referendum to amend the Constitution, rather than signing H.B. 93. The Blaine Amendment to the Constitution explicitly bars the state from putting tax dollars toward religious schools.
“[W]e implore you to please keep your promise to Idaho taxpayers by vetoing House Bill 93 and demanding that the Legislature ensure fair, responsible, transparent and accountable use of public tax dollars,” the letter stated.
North Idaho superintendents, including Dr. Becky Meyer, of Lake Pend Oreille School District; Kim Spacek, of West Bonner County School District; and Bayer, of Boundary County School District, wrote in a separate letter in February that, “North Idaho takes pride in our public schools, our
communities and our ability to make decisions that reflect Idaho’s values — not the interests of out-of-state billionaires looking to reshape our education system. ...
“Our schools serve every family, regardless of financial means,” the superintendents wrote. “But instead of strengthening our local public schools, H.B. 93 would divert critical resources away from them, putting our communities at risk.”
Both letters claimed H.B. 93 lacks accountability both for spending and with testing requirements for non-public schools.
Even Little had doubts about H.B. 93, telling reporters at an Idaho Press Club forum prior to signing the bill, “There’s not enough accountability in it.”
However, even President Donald Trump threw his support behind H.B. 93, writing Feb. 16 on Truth Social, “Congratulations to Governor Brad Little, and Idaho Legislators, who are fighting to bring School Choice to their beautiful State. $50 million Dollars to empower parents to provide the very best Education for their child — GREAT news for Idaho families. This Bill, which has my Complete and Total Support MUST PASS! [sic]”
In June — the last month
of the fiscal year — Little announced that state revenue projections were $141.5 million lower than expected, with critics immediately pointing to $453 million in tax cuts passed in the 2025 Legislature, as well as the $50 million refundable tax credit for private school tuition, as major reasons for the decline in revenue.
In reaction to the shortfall, Little told state agencies to prepare for 3% budget cuts — including colleges and universities — though exempted K-12 schools.
“As an educator, my priority has always been making sure every child has the opportunity to succeed,” stated Post Falls School District Superintendent Dena Naccarato.
“I respect a parent’s right to make the best choice for their family. And when taxpayer dollars are being redirected to private schools, we must also insist on fairness, accountability and transparency, which includes the same required testing and reporting,” Naccarato added. “Public schools open their doors to every child and answer to the community. Any program funded by the public should meet that same standard.”
For more information, visit saveourschoolsidaho.com.
From L to R: Marcy Curr (moderator); Jan Bayer, Elizabeth Wargo and Kim Keaton (panelists). Courtesy photos
New fires reported east of Lake Pend Oreille
State of Idaho seeking small businesses and nonprofit organizations impacted by the Sunset Fire for potential disaster assistance
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
A series of new fires broke out on the east side of Lake Pend Oreille after a thunder and lightning storm passed through the area.
The Green Rattle Complex includes several fires around the Green Monarch Mountains, which started from lightning strikes between Aug. 29 and Sept. 2.
The complex has burned a total of 367 acres across several sites, including Green Mountain, Rattle Mountain, Spruce and Spruce Ridge.
What fire managers are calling the Green Mountain fire was detected Aug. 29 and is burning in steep, cliffy terrain about three miles east of Kilroy Bay.
The Rattle Mountain, Spruce and Spruce Ridge fires are burning about 13 miles north/northeast of Clark Fork in remote wilderness characterized by steep, rugged terrain. While hand crews were preparing indirect containment lines, a new start called the Bear Mountain fire was discovered between the Rattle Mountain and Spruce fires.
“Thanks to swift helicopter bucket support and direct ground attack, firefighters successfully contained the Bear Mountain Fire to approximately .25 acres and began mop-up operations,” USFS stated in a news release.
Idaho Department of Lands sent an alert about the Sage Brush fire, which started on Sept. 8 and has burned approximately 47 acres northeast of Athol. The fire is burning in timber understory and grass on rocky terrain. About 100 personnel are onsite building machine and hand lines around the fire to stop it from advancing further. As of press time, the Sage Brush fire was listed at 65% contained and all evacuation orders have been lifted in preparation for the “mop-up” operations starting Thursday, Sept. 11.
The Lightning Creek fire, which was reported on July 30, is listed at 25% containment, having burned more than 2,500 acres about nine miles north of Clark Fork.
The Sunset fire, which started on Aug. 13 and has burned more 3,100
acres near Athol, has been listed as 100% contained and all evacuation notices have been rescinded.
As part of the effort to assess the aftermath of the Sunset fire, the state is gathering information from nonfarm small businesses and nonprofit organizations whose operations were disrupted by the fire, in order to see if they are eligible for disaster assistance through low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.
Bonner County is working with the Idaho Office of Emergency Management to evaluate the potential for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan Declaration through the SBA. If approved following a disaster declaration request by Gov. Brad Little, the program would make low-interest loans available to qualifying small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private nonprofits.
Officials stated that the loans are intended to help cover “ordinary and necessary financial obligations that cannot be met due to the disruption caused by the fire.”
To request the declaration, the state will need at least five or more qualifying EIDL worksheets from small businesses that have experienced economic losses — whether actual or estimated — due to the fire, and are encouraged to submit a worksheet even if they don’t intend to seek a loan.
Find the worksheet at ioem.idaho. gov/SBA. Forms can be downloaded and sent by email to jdick@imd.idaho. gov, by fax to 208-422-3044 or mailed to: ATTN: Jarod Dick, 4040 Guard St., Bldg. 600, Boise, ID 83705
The worksheet is not a loan application, and is intended only for businesses to report losses so a declaration request can be considered. Farms and ranches are not eligible for the SBA program.
Regarding the fire forecast, weather conditions are expected to include slightly cooler temperatures over the next week with chances of showers most days.
To sign up for free Nixle alerts on fires, accidents, road closures and other emergency situations, text your ZIP code to 888777.
Bits ’n’ Pieces
From east, west and beyond
The newest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report showed 13,000 fewer jobs and the addition of 22,000 jobs, instead of the expected 75,000. Layoffs exceeded job openings.
President Donald Trump last week authorized a military strike against a Venezuelan boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing 11 alleged drug traffickers.
Vice President JD Vance called it “the highest and best use of the military,” The Guardian reported. But experts say it was an extrajudicial killing in violation of international law. Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, chair of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, said Vance’s comment was “despicable” for glorifying “killing someone without a trial.”
Trump recently posted: “Chicago about to find out why it’s called the Department of WAR.” The comments concerned his plan to send troops to Chicago to fight “rampant crime,” although stats show serious crime there is down. The Intercept noted that the Chicago occupation could cost $1.6 million per day. Experts say it is illegal. The D.C. occupation cost $1 million a day, and the L.A. deployment cost $134 million, Mother Jones reported.
Many National Guard members serving in D.C. were called to fight a crime “emergency,” but were tasked with beautification jobs, hence the nickname National Guardeners. While Trump has claimed the city now has “no crime,” police data showed a homicide, six vehicle thefts, two assaults with a deadly weapon, four robberies and more than 30 thefts — on one Sunday alone.
Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s pedophile ring spoke publicly last week, despite fears of repercussions, The Guardian reported. They were supported by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., who said fewer than 1% of the so-called Epstein files have been released.
Massie said the Epstein report released thus far is so heavily redacted “as to be useless.” The survivors said they would compile their own Epstein “client list,” since it appears Trump is calling it a “hoax.” According to legal analyst Joyce Vance, “People who fight this hard to hide something have something to hide.”
Various media reported that Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed Trump was an FBI informant working to expose Epstein. He then
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
said he misspoke and actually meant that Trump was helping the FBI. It’s not known as of this writing if Trump cooperated with law enforcement about Epstein, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges.
A federal judge blocked Trump from revoking temporary legal status for Haitian and Venezuelan immigrants, NPR reported, while an appeals court ruled against Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act for rapidly deporting Venezuelan migrants, according to The New York Times. Another court declared it illegal for Trump to use the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to justify his tariffs, CNBC reported. Meanwhile, according to the BBC, a District Court judge ruled that it was illegal to use the U.S. Marines and National Guard in L.A.
The conservative Supreme Court majority has authorized ICE to use racial profiling in its immigration stops, which critics call racist, according to Los Angeles Times. Lower courts had ruled that federal agents were violating the Fourth Amendment and Justice Sonja Sotomayor objected to people being seized because of their looks, location, type of work and language spoken.
Hundreds of South Korean nationals were detained in the largest single-site U.S. immigration raid yet, as agents were looking for unlawful employees at a Hyundai manufacturing facility in Georgia, NBC News reported. The South Korean government has made plans to fly its people home, with early reports indicating scant evidence of wrongdoing
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said he banned all vaccine mandates based on “parents’ rights,” rather than science — or what Mother Jones called “vibes,” since there was no analysis to determine how many new cases there would be of hepatitis A, whooping cough and chickenpox prior to the decision. A Washington Post-KFF poll showed 80% of Florida parents agree with schools requiring vaccination for measles and polio, and Trump appeared skeptical of Florida’s decision, saying “some vaccines ... are so amazing,” Newsweek reported.
Blast from the past: “I sat with my anger long enough until she told me her real name was grief.” — C.S. Lewis, British author, famous for his children’s books, Chronicles of Narnia (1898-1963)
Council will delay collecting higher impact fees until Jan. 1
Public testimony centers on future of $100M Averill Hospitality hotel development
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Sandpoint’s development impact fees haven’t been updated since 2011, and that’s about to change — but not until Jan. 1, 2026, after City Council members voted 4-2 on Sept. 3 to delay their implementation in order to give staff time to perform the necessary administrative updates.
The fees are collected on new development to help defray costs associated with increased use of infrastructure such as streets, police, fire, parks and pathways, and are by state law supposed to be updated every five years to keep pace with growth and inflation.
The city approved a 35% across-the-board increase last year based on the 2011 fees, and the new fees will use that as a benchmark for increases in Fiscal Year 2026.
“[T]hat was basically to catch up on 13 years of no increases. So that reflected 13 years of inflation; which, if we’re being honest, it was probably greater than 35% with the inflation we had in 2021, 2022,” said Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker.
Debate over how and when to roll out the new fees has been ongoing over several council meetings, with an initial proposal to phase the rise over a number of years rejected in favor of a one-time increase. State law stipulates that impact fees go into effect 30 days from their adoption, which would have been Oct. 3 if the council hadn’t voted to amend the ordinance to an effective date of Jan. 1, 2026.
Meanwhile, Averill Hospitality has stated that under the recently adopted fee schedule,
it would need to pay $1.3 million, rather than $300,000 under the prior structure, making its $100 million resort hotel redevelopment adjacent to City Beach “unviable.”
Representing Averill, Ben McGrann asked the council on Sept. 3 to push back the fee hike to August 2026 in order to give the company time to secure its financing prior to obtaining a building permit.
“With the uncertainty of permit approval timeline from the city combined with the sudden fee increase creates a moving target that makes it impossible to finalize financing and keep the project viable,” he said. “At its core, this is about priorities. The city may gain a one-time impact fee of $1.3 million, which is a million dollars more than the current impact fee. But once this hotel opens and is operating, Sandpoint will collect $12 million to $17 million in occupancy tax revenue over seven years of operation. ...
“This is not about avoiding responsibility. It’s about striking a balance between short-term fees and long-term prosperity,” McGrann added.
Though the council and staff were clear to point out that their consideration of the fee timeline wasn’t predicated on a single project, members of the public who testified all keyed in on the Averill project as a critical component of the discussion.
Citing his 40-year background as a land use economist who has conducted economic benefit studies for companies such as Boeing, David Eacret said there’s a “quid pro quo” between developers and cities.
“I think that somehow you’re going to have to figure out how to grandfather the situation for [Aver-
ill’s] conditional use permit whereby that million dollars is not imputed on this project,” he added. “There has to be a way for this project to proceed and mitigate this front-end impact cost because you’re going to get a perpetual annuity forever in property taxes and resort city fees. ... This is a golden opportunity for this community.”
Arguing that the fees should be adopted without special consideration, Jayce Bordenave asked, “how many concessions [are] we are going to give to a hotel developer? I also pose the question: Are we a city council that is planning a community for the future, or are we rubber-stamping big development with little thought on how it impacts the community, infrastructure and city itself?”
Paul Vogel pointed to the city’s long history of leasing the waterfront at the Edgewater location going back to the 1960s for bargain prices — until trading it with Averill for the RV park site across Bridge Street.
“[T]he city has a long
history of accommodating development on this site and I think that should change. It is not a good look. Not at all,” he said, later adding, “It’s time to say ‘no.’ The impact fees exist for a reason.”
Finally, Vogel said, “If this is a $100 million project, $1 million is 1% — 1% — of their outlay. If they can’t afford that, let them sell off the property to someone who will pay the development fees.”
Councilors Justin Dick and Rick Howarth both advocated for considering a delay to August 2026 — or even further — given uncertainties in the market.
“I think it’s too much, too quickly right now, and I think it has the ability for some very drastic problems and a very slippery slope that we may incur coming down the pipeline in the next 10 to 20 years with these impact fees,” said Dick.
Noting that the fees haven’t been updated since 2011, Howarth said that he didn’t see “an urgency or a rush to go implement these impact fees.”
“I look at 15 years of no urgency to improve or to go
implement higher impact fees and now we’re trying to go rush into it and say it’s got to be Oct. 3,” Howarth said. “I think that’s a fictitious argument, and I would be very willing to go delay it to a 2026 time, TBD, by this council.”
Council President Deb Ruehle disagreed, countering that city taxpayers have “been subsidizing for 15 years people who are large developers that can build very large subdivisions or other developments, commercial developments.”
Councilors Joel Aispuro, Pam Duquette and Kyle Schreiber agreed that delaying until Jan. 1, 2026 would be reasonable, with Schreiber adding, “every minute that we postpone it longer is another minute that all these costs fall on the backs of our current residents and our taxpaying constituents.”
The motion from Ruehle, and seconded by Schreiber, passed with Dick and Howarth dissenting.
Sandpoint City Hall.
Photo by Soncirey Mitchell
Bouquets:
• A reader emailed me earlier this week to share a story that warmed my heart.
“I often drive by Melody Muffler and was saddened to see a for sale sign recently, thinking whoever purchased the building would for sure tear it down and build a condo that just didn’t fit in the neighborhood,” the reader wrote. Later that day, the reader stopped by Melody Muffler for “one last closer look” and talked to the man removing the business’ letters from the wall.
“I mentioned to them how sad it was to see the building sold and they said, ‘Not to worry about that’ because he was the new owner and was planning on keeping it the same. He was just in the process of cleaning the building, but has plans to reopen the business and keep it running as Melody Muffler.”
I love hearing stories like this. Every so often we’re reminded that a small town still exists underneath all this progress and growth. We’re wishing the new owner at Melody Muffler all the best. Thanks for keeping that cool building occupied with an actual service for the people.
Barbs:
• Right before press time, I saw breaking news that conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a speaking event in Utah. There is never any place for violence in politics. I didn’t agree with Kirk on any of his political positions, including his 2023 statement, “It’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment,” but nobody deserves to die because of their beliefs. We need to stop this cycle of violence in America before it’s too late. Yes, that absolutely means stronger regulations on guns, but also expanded mental health services and a hard turn from this divisive rhetoric that is tearing us apart.
Meeting on downtown paid parking ideas highlights opposition to meters
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Representatives of downtown businesses, as well as concerned citizens and business supporters, turned out Sept. 8 for an informational and question-and-answer session on downtown paid parking, hosted by the city of Sandpoint at Marigold Bistro in the Sandpoint Center.
Planning and Community Development Director Jason Welker offered a presentation on the current state of parking, showing that more than 90% of street parking along First Avenue between Pine and Cedar streets is occupied during the peak hours in the mid-summer season — the same for side streets between First and Second avenues — with between 40% and 51% of those vehicles filling the two-hour stalls for five or more hours.
Meanwhile, no more than 50% of the street parking spaces two blocks from First Avenue are occupied during mid-summer peak hours.
Welker told the Reader in an interview after the Sept. 8 meeting that there’s a common belief in Sandpoint that the city’s supply of parking spaces is constrained, but that’s not the case. Rather, it’s the downtown core on First and Second avenues that has the scarcity of open stalls.
“A lot of people think, ‘I can’t find a parking spot 50 feet from where I’m going, so we have a parking problem,’” he said.
As they’ve worked to craft a downtown parking management plan, city officials have argued that rather than a supply problem, Sandpoint’s parking issues have more to do with turnover on core streets, where one proposal has been to install metered parking to keep vehicles circulating
in and out of spaces. That element, in particular, riled business owners who feared meters would deter shoppers from coming downtown.
“It was not just the Shopping District — from Arlo’s on Second all the way to Grace and Joy to Connie’s on the very end and Vyve, Tomlinson’s — and they were like, ‘No we don’t like this,’” said Leilani Williams, who represents 40 merchants as the executive director of the Downtown Sandpoint Business Association.
She said between 60 and 75 people attended the Sept. 8 meeting, with a common sentiment: “Don’t shove this down our throat.”
Welker said the idea of “modest seasonal paid parking and dynamic parking in those [downtown] zones ... was not received well, you could say.”
Referencing a Sept. 9 article in the Bonner County Daily Bee with the headline “City nixes paid on-street parking plan,” Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm told the Reader that, “No decisions have been made, and that was the frustrating thing for me both in the Bee article and the sentiment in the meeting, where folks seemed to feel that we were shoving it down their throats and this was a done deal. ...
“Folks really felt like, and took the angle of, ‘Why are you doing this to us, why is this happening to us?’” he said, adding that the purpose of the meeting was to gather feedback on proposals.
“This is a dialogue on, ‘Is there a better way to allocate a scarce resource for the betterment of the business district?’” he said.
As for “nixing” the metered parking idea downtown, Grimm added, “How can something be nixed that hasn’t been implemented? ... There was nothing to be nixed.”
Williams told the Reader after the meeting that, “They were saying to us, ‘We’re just presenting it, we’re not doing it,’ but that’s not how it works — if we don’t fight it, they’ll do it.”
Williams also doubted the occupancy numbers cited in the city’s presentation, saying they were drawn from 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when visitors from surrounding states rushed to Sandpoint to avoid lockdowns and other public health restrictions. Today, she said, sales are back to pre-COVID levels though down 30% from 2022, and parking isn’t nearly as hard to find as it was then.
“I’m downtown at least every other day, and I can find a spot on First and Second every time — I might have to go around the block, but I can always find one,” she said.
After listening to the feedback on Sept. 8, both Grimm and Welker said that City Hall understood that downtown merchants would rather see more enforcement of the current parking rules, and expressed general approval for paid parking at city-owned properties like the parking lot between Oak and Church streets.
“I think the fact that 50% of the spaces [in the core] are occupied for more than five hours made people say, ‘Well, we need to give more tickets out,’” Grimm said.
Williams agreed.
“It’s gotten a lot better where the employees will park in those four-hour spaces because their shift is four or five hours ... and if they’re in those [two-hour] spots for five hours, they need to get a ticket,” she said.
“I personally would rather see more enforcement and give people an opportunity to know where to buy passes so they know where to park if they’re employees downtown,
and maybe not make it $40 a month but $40 a quarter,” Williams added.
According to Welker, the city handed out $90,000 in parking tickets in 2024 and $40,000 so far this year — a lower number, in part, because of lack of parking enforcement staff.
Following that, he added that city staff will be recommending to the City Council at its Wednesday, Sept. 17 that the parking management effort look for more efficient ways to implement the paid parking plan it already has with better enforcement of hourly limits and concentrate on identifying the technology needed for off-street paid parking.
“Narrowing our focus to paid parking on a handful of lots might allow a quicker rollout,” Welker said. However, according to Grimm, “It would be miraculous if by next summer we had paid parking at the downtown lot.”
Williams said the downtown business community is activated after the Sept. 8 meeting, and intends to be more vocal about how it feels the parking plan should evolve — which it will continue to do over the next year.
“They see it now. I feel like they’re going to be really more cohesive and stepping up quicker and with more knowledge than just me doing it,” she said, later adding, “For me, I have hope that these guys listened and they will put a kibosh on this, but I also know that when someone says, ‘We’ve done these reports,’ they’re already invested.”
That’s not the case, according to Grimm, who said, “This is going to be a thoughtful, slow process that’s going to be very open to feedback and comments and collaboration.”
By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist
I came across a post on the “Sandpoint Local Forum” Facebook page from a woman outraged that an emergency contraception pill had been placed in the public bathroom of a local restaurant. Alongside it were female condoms and a pamphlet on abortion. She was appalled that these items were “within reach of children.” Though she insisted she “didn’t want to spark a debate” and acknowledged that “not everyone shared her values about the sanctity of life,” she declared the restaurant had permanently lost her business over what she determined was an unforgivable ethical breach.
Of course, the comments section was full of people in the throes of debate. One man argued, “If something like this is left out in a public restroom within reach of kids, it’s easy to see how a child could mistake it for candy and swallow the pill. That’s a real safety concern, no matter your stance on the product itself.”
Others worried about being forced to discuss abortion with their children, while some debated whether a restaurant should be offering these resources at all.
The pill in question, Julie, is a one-dose emergency contraceptive containing levonorgestrel. It works by temporarily delaying ovulation and does not affect an existing pregnancy. For a
Emily Articulated
Call me a snowflake
Emily Erickson.
child, swallowing one by accident might cause a stomach ache — unpleasant, but not wholly dangerous. In other words, the imagined threat is far greater than the real one.
Which raises a larger question: What kinds of dangers do we collectively choose to get outraged about, and which ones do we tolerate? If you’re furious about what children might encounter in a bathroom, you should be just as furious about the proven dangers they face every day in schools, neighborhoods and public spaces. Right?
A 2025 report by KFF (formerly The Kaiser Family Foundation) noted that there have been 420 school shootings since 1999, with more than 390,000 students being exposed to gun violence at school. Firearms are now the No. 1 cause of death for children and teens in the United States — not car accidents, not illness, not “colorful boxes with pills” left in a restaurant bathroom. Parents across the country have to explain Active Shooter Drills to their kids,
just as others explain why assault rifles are allowed at parades and family-friendly events.
The “sanctity of life” doesn’t stop when a child is born, so why does outrage always seem to stop there?
Call me a libtard, but there is nothing I wouldn’t do to address the No. 1 cause of harm to children in the U.S.
Call me a snowflake, but I’m angry that my family in Minnesota cried when sending my nephew to school the day after a shooting in Minneapolis — one that took place in a neighborhood just like theirs.
Call me woke, but I’m furious that my friend in Wisconsin, who homeschooled her kids up until this year for fear of guns, has to grapple with the fear and anxiety over her decision to put them in the public education system — forced to reconcile the parts of her that want her kids to have all the experiences she had with the reality that the places they go to have those experiences are dangerous.
If you care about protecting children, you should be advocating for laws proven to reduce gun violence: safe storage requirements, extreme risk protection orders and enhanced background checks — not voting for politicians who strip away those protections.
I don’t know the woman who posted on Facebook, or what her position is on gun laws. But I do know that in American politics, “pro-life”
too often seems to stop at the moment of birth. In states like Idaho, where abortion is tightly restricted, gun laws remain dangerously weak (Idaho boasts an “F” rating on safe gun legislation from the Giffords Law Center).
Those are the mental gymnastics at play for so many: condemning one perceived existential danger to children, while shrug-
ging off the leading cause of child death in this country. If you’re going to be “prolife,” you can’t back handspring over the lives that are already here.
Emily Erickson is a writer and business owner with an affinity for black coffee and playing in the mountains. Connect with her online at www.bigbluehat. studio.
By BO
Retroactive
Science: Mad about
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
Before diving into today’s topic, I’d like to offer a sincere apology for my unexpected absence last week. Unafraid of exploring poop humor at my own expense, I will publicly admit that I suffered a bout of salmonella and was left essentially debilitated for the course of about three days. To paraphrase Monty Python, don’t worry, I got better. (And in case you’re wondering, this week’s subject and my recent bout of illness are unrelated.)
Orange juice is a breakfast staple and a major source of vitamin C for many Americans. It has a sweet and tangy flavor that is immediately identifiable and is often paired with breakfast foods — but should it be?
A single glass of orange juice can contain 26 grams of sugar — comparable to a can of soda. Orange juice has a few more health benefits than soda, as it contains things like vitamin C and potassium, but the removal of fiber means your body doesn’t have to work as hard to absorb the sugar. This creates sharp blood sugar spikes, which isn’t something you want first thing in the morning. This can be offset by including fiber in the rest of your breakfast, such as whole-grain bread, waffles or pancakes, but it’s really just better to eat an orange than drink its juice.
All orange juice starts with the orange itself. Most commercially sold oranges in the U.S. are grown in California and Florida. Meanwhile, many oranges for juice are also imported from Mexico and Brazil.
Unlike many other fruit trees, oranges don’t like
orange juice
to freeze and need higher temperatures year-round to thrive. The consistent and high temperatures and water availability of those states make for an ideal environment for these citrus trees. Recently, however, Florida has lagged behind California in orange production due to a disease called citrus greening. This is a bacterial disease that is spread by Diaphorina citri, a sap-sucking insect from Asia that has invaded Florida orange plantations and wrought havoc on crops.
Combatting this invasive critter has proved challenging, with one of its only known predators being a parasitic wasp that can’t keep up with the sheer numbers in which D. citri reproduces. The tropical environments of Florida are likely more conducive to the lifecycle of D. citri than California, allowing the Golden State to gain an edge in Valencia orange production.
Most orange juice is produced by a mixture of two breeds of oranges: Valencia and Hamlin. Valencia oranges take between a year to 15 months to fully ripen for juice production, which can cause a delay in harvesting — something U.S. consumers are not keen on when it comes to a component of the breakfast ritual. Hamlin oranges take up to eight months to ripen, which can smooth the harvest curve and allow for more consistency at the cost of flavor.
It may surprise you to know that oranges picked for individual consumption and oranges picked for juicing aren’t harvested the same way. The piles of oranges you encounter at the grocery store are hand-picked — often by immigrant workers — and stored in a satchel the workers carry around their torso.
The quantity needed for juicing is much greater than those that end up on display at your local grocer, so orchardists apply a specialized harvester that drives over the trees. The trees pass through a gap in the middle of the harvester, where a series of metal arms rattle and vibrate to knock fruit and leaves from the limbs onto a sorting conveyor that feeds into a secondary vehicle driving alongside the harvester.
The harvester has the capability of collecting up to two tons of fruit per minute. The carrier vehicle will transfer its load to a semi trailer parked on the orchard. Larger orchards will often have multiple carrier vehicles swapping out between loading and unloading to maintain speed and efficiency so the harvester doesn’t have to stop collecting.
Each trailer can hold up to about 125,000 oranges and are parked in lots at the factory while they await processing. It’s common to see dozens of these trailers and millions of oranges awaiting their fate.
The oranges are machine washed with a water and alkaline solution and run through an automated brushing system to clean them ahead of sorting. Workers will individually sort through the flow of oranges to remove damaged or rotting oranges. The oranges are fed into a sorting machine that sorts each fruit by diameter ahead of the juicing machine. This allows precisely measured oranges to fit in just the right juicer without getting unwanted rind mixed into the juice.
Here is where the fun begins. The oranges are sorted into cups and sliced in half. Each half is then juiced by a cross-shaped head that spins, similar to a juicer you use at home. This guts the rind and
harvests the juice and pulp for delicious OJ.
Do you like pulpy orange juice? The factory doesn’t split pulpy and non-pulpy batches. Instead, it harvests the pulp from the start of the process then reintroduces it to nearly finished batches. In all likelihood, the pulp in your orange juice isn’t from the same oranges used to make the juice you’re drinking.
Wondering where the rinds go? They’re fed through an augur and ground up to become cattle feed. Before that happens, the oil from the
rinds is harvested and refined to be used in cosmetics, flood flavoring and soap.
The juice is pasteurized ahead of bottling. If your bottle says 100% orange juice, that means it was harvested, pasteurized and ended up on the grocery store shelf as-is. If it says “from concentrate,” then the bulk of the water content had been evaporated and water was reintroduced to frozen concentrate to create juice. This is less common in orange juice and more common in apple or cranberry juices.
Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner
• According to the American Kennel Club, the Labrador retriever has been on their top 10 most popular breeds for longer than any other breed of dog.
• Dogs’ noses have prints that, much like our fingerprints, are unique.
• Just under half of U.S. dogs sleep in their owners’ beds and about 70% of pet owners sign their dog’s name on holiday cards.
• Dogs’ sense of smell is legendary. Their noses have as many as 300 million receptors, while human noses have about 5 million. Dogs’ noses can also sense heat and thermal radiation, which is why blind and deaf dogs can still hunt.
• The bloodhound’s sense of smell is so accurate that the results of its tracking can be used as evidence in court.
• Perhaps the most famous German shepherd was Rin Tin Tin. He was rescued from a WWI battlefield by an American soldier named
Lee Duncan, who nicknamed him “Rinty” and trained him to work in silent films. Rin Tin Tin was a success at the box office, appearing in 27 films.
• The Australian shepherd breed isn’t actually from Australia; in fact, it’s an American breed. What’s more, the Labrador retriever is originally from Newfoundland.
• There are more than 78 million pet dogs in the United States — more than any other country. Hungary has the most dogs relative to human population, with 29.07%, compared to 22.46% in the U.S.
• Cheetahs are known as the fastest land animal, but greyhounds can beat them in a race. While cheetahs can reach speeds of up to 70 mph, they can only maintain that speed for about 30 seconds. Greyhounds can run 35 mph for about seven miles.
• Dogs can learn more than 100 words and gestures.
Children pay the price for cruel immigration policies
By Lauren Necochea Reader Contributor
At 1 a.m. on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend, 76 unaccompanied children were awakened without warning and loaded onto planes bound for Guatemala. No explanation. No due process. Just terrified kids taken in the dead of night.
Why the haste? Why the secrecy? Why inflict such trauma on children? By all appearances, the Trump regime wanted to carry out unlawful cruelty under the cover of darkness. They had similar plans for more than 600 other children, regardless of whether they had a safe home waiting on the other end. A late-night court ruling stopped this round of deportations, but the cruelty did not stop. Children are not just collateral damage. Increasingly, they are the target.
In Idaho, we believe in protecting children and keeping families together. Trump’s mass deportations and abuses of power betray those values. He is working to dismantle safeguards that keep schools, churches and hospitals off-limits to immigration raids.
Parents are being torn from their children over minor infractions, leaving kids behind with relatives or, in some cases, the foster system. Even children themselves are being pursued. The youngest people arrested in Idaho this year were a 6-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, both from Peru.
In Los Angeles, armed federal agents even cleared a public park
where children were playing. These betrayals leave lasting scars on families and communities. This is government overreach at its worst.
Idaho’s own leaders are cheering it on. Gov. Brad Little ordered the Idaho National Guard to assist ICE, using our state’s resources to rip parents from their kids and traumatize entire communities.
Meanwhile, Trump’s promise to focus on dangerous criminals has completely collapsed. ICE is not prioritizing violent offenders. It is targeting ordinary families to boost arrest numbers while real threats slip through the cracks.
We need an immigration system that is fair, humane and secure — one that keeps families together and protects children. That means providing a legal process for people to apply for status, not midnight raids carried out by masked men breaking windows and terrorizing neighborhoods. It means
restoring order through transparency and accountability, not chaos and fear.
Undocumented neighbors and coworkers are part of our everyday lives. They are members of our churches, they care for our kids and they help sustain our farms. I refuse to believe the people of this state want cruelty inflicted on children and families who are helping Idaho thrive.
Republican politicians have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Trump, cheering on policies that rip families apart and harm children. Idahoans must reject this agenda of fear and division by electing leaders who will protect children, keep families together and build a humane, orderly immigration system that reflects our values.
Lauren Necochea is chair of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former District 19 legislator. Necochea spent a decade leading nonprofit programs dedicated to research and advocacy in tax policy, health care and children’s issues.
Lauren Necochea. File photo
dumb of the week
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
A few of our readers reached out after reading “Dumb of the Week” in the Sept. 4 edition to point out my claim that President Donald Trump buried his ex-wife Ivana at his New Jersey golf course to take advantage of tax benefits was incorrect.
After further research, it’s evident that I did, in fact, err in my research. Everything about the burial was true except for the claim that The Trump Organization had attained nonprofit status for the property, which isn’t true. I conflated the fact that the Trump Family Trust had sought to designate a property in nearby Hackettstown, N.J., as a nonprofit cemetery company — not his Bedminster Golf Course, where Ivana Trump’s grave is located.
In the age of constant lies and grift coming from our president, it’s a fulltime job keeping track of it all. Unlike Trump, however, when I make a mistake I own up to it.
When searching for points to illustrate how little Trump cares for his constituents and the rule of law, I could’ve chosen any number of other examples.
Such as in January 2025, on his second day in office, when Trump pardoned Ross Ulbricht. Ulbricht operated the shady dark web marketplace Silk Road, which former-U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara described as, “the most sophisticated and extensive criminal marketplace on the internet,” where more than $200 million worth of illegal drugs were sold. Ulbricht was convicted in 2015 in New York in a narcotics and money-laundering conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison. Prosecutors also said Ulbricht solicited six murders-for-hire, including one against a former Silk Road employee. Trump championed his release as a victory for the “Libertarian Movement” and called his sentence “ridiculous.”
Or I could have pointed out that on his first day in office, Trump granted a pardon to every person charged or convicted for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, which he stoked with false claims that the election was “stolen” because he lost. These 1,500 insurrectionists broke windows and forcefully entered the Capitol, where they beat law enforcement officers with weapons ranging from hockey sticks to stolen riot shields.
Or I could’ve written about the changing narrative of Trump’s involvement with child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Before his second
term, Trump championed those calling for full transparency to release the so-called “Epstein files,” which purportedly showed who was implicated in underage sexual abuse.
Trump’s explanation of his relationship with Epstein keeps changing. He first said, “We fell out over a piece of property,” then changed to, “He stole girls from my spa,” until the inevitable position he usually takes, which is that it was all a “Democrat hoax,” before Speaker of the House Mike Johnson spoke to reporters and claimed that Trump was an “FBI informant” before “backing away” from the claim days later.
So, in other words, Johnson lied.
Now, after The Wall Street Journal released a copy of a lewd letter Trump reportedly sent to Epstein as part of a book given to the latter for his 50th birthday, it appears the pushback and denial from Trump and his minions has fallen flat on its face. This is the letter in which Trump drew the outline of a nude female figure and signed his name where the pubic area would be, ending with the cryptic line, “A pal is a wonderful thing. Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.”
Trump continues to call the letter “FAKE” and denies authoring it. Vice President JD Vance called the Journal’s story “complete and utter bullshit.”
“I never wrote a picture in my life,” Trump said at one point. “I don’t draw pictures.”
A simple Google search confirms this is false. Trump used to donate an autographed doodle every year to charity, usually of the New York City skyline or the Empire State Building with his signature scrawled along the bottom — the same signature written at the bottom of the letter to Epstein. Now, Trump’s media sycophants are busy trying to convince us the signatures aren’t similar, but several examples from the same time period show it to be a spot-on match.
The pressure on the Trump administration to release all the information on Epstein continues to mount. Trump and Vance both campaigned on the promise they would investigate Epstein and his associates, yet they continue to obfuscate with deflection and outright lies to cover up the growing truth about the president. Isn’t it interesting that every single Republican on the House Rules Committee voted to block the release of the Epstein Files in July?
Perhaps GOP stands for something other than Grand Old Party... like Guardians of Pedophilia?
Don’t miss Ponderay Neighbor Day
By Reader Staff
Friends of “the little city with the big future” will come together to celebrate the community Saturday, Sept. 13 with its annual Ponderay Neighbor Day. The free, carnival-like event runs from 1-6 p.m. at Harbison Field between the Hoot Owl Cafe (30784 ID-200, in Ponderay) and the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail.
Neighbor Day has something for everyone, whether they’re looking to kick back with a beverage or tire out the kids with a day of summer fun before the fall sets in. Free crafts, bounce houses, pony rides, face painting and a bungee trampoline offer hours of entertainment for the young and the young at heart, while a beer garden and plenty of shopping opportunities cater to a more mature audience.
The fair will feature local vendors,
food trucks and live music with One Street Over from 1:30-5:30 p.m.
The family band One Street Over is no stranger to the local music scene — or most artistic communities throughout the Pacific and Inland Northwest. Guitarist and father of the band, Michael Lewis, has more than 60 album credits; and, when he’s not producing, playing or composing original music, he’s out jamming with singer Bridgett Lewis and keyboardist Jordan Lewis. Together, they perform jazzy renditions of a wide variety of hits, including songs from Tracy Chapman and Dua Lipa.
Drop by Ponderay Neighbor Day to meet up with old friends or make new ones and enjoy the last warm days.
Visit cityofponderay.org/ponderay-neighbor-day/ for more information.
Let’s Vike It faire brings Old Norse fun and education to Oldtown
By Reader Staff
It’ll be a day of Old Norse celebration and education Saturday, Sept. 13 when Let’s Vike It comes to the Oldtown Rotary Park and Visitors Center (68 Old Diamond Mill Road, in Oldtown).
Organized by nonprofit Norse educational group Aasveig — the Old Norse word meaning “a sacred place” — the Let’s Vike It faire is free and family friendly, aiming to create an immersive day of historical Scandinavian fun.
“We wanted to do something fun for our community, with an educational slant that is entertaining, engaging, motivating and most of all, free,” stated faire founder and coordinator Kari Thompson. “We are creating history with this event because there are no Viking Age events locally.”
Activities kick off at 10:30 a.m., following a traditional Norse welcoming, and continue until 6 p.m. with crafting, archery, axe throwing and
more throughout the day.
“We have a couple of surprises also, but you have to come and see for yourself just what those are,” Thompson stated.
Meanwhile, the Aasveig group will teach kids how to make mini-shields that they can take with them, while real “Vikings” dressed in historical garb will be walking among the crowd for selfies.
The main stage will feature the sounds of Celtic and Norse tunes throughout the day and Spokane Vikings will share their Viking village and teach attendees how to play Hnefatafl — an ancient game like chess — while crafting for everyone during the day.
“A faire like this gives people the opportunity to have fun, learn things, participate in a community-rich experience and do it all in a wholesome, safe environment, geared for families,” Thompson stated.
For more info, contact Kari Thompson at letsvikeit@mail.com or visit letsvikeit. wixsite.com.
Voices in the Wilderness open mic planned for IPA on Sept. 27
By Reader Staff
As the summer starts to wind down, the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is planning a number of events through the rest of the warm season.
Volunteer trail work projects are scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 13 at Napoleon Gulch, followed by Saturday, Sept. on Goat Mountain and Saturday, Oct. 4 at Star Gulch.
In recognition of National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27, FSPW will host a Voices in the Wilderness open mic night at Idaho Pour Authority (203 Cedar St.) on Thursday, Sept. 25, where participants will share tales of the wild.
Begun in 2013, Voices in the Wilderness is a storytelling project aimed at highlighting the diverse people in the community who love wild places. All are invited to share their story, sing a song or slam a poem about an important, impactful or exciting moment they spent in the wild. Contributions can be funny, serious or poetic.
The event will feature raffle prizes and IPA has committed to donating a portion of beer sales on select taps to FSPW’s boots-on-the-ground programs.
Meanwhile, the Scotchman Peak Trail Ambassador program still has open spots through the beginning of October.
“Come see all the cute baby goats and get on top of Bonner County’s highest point,” FSPW organizers stated. “As a trail ambassador, you get to do a little extra good on your day hike.” Ambassadors are outfitted with maps, stickers, a T-shirt and a hat, and talk with fellow hikers about goat etiquette and safety while they trek on Scotchman Peak.
To learn more about FSPW volunteer opportunities, visit scotchmanpeaks.org/ you-can-help/volunteer.
Boundary County hosts second annual Artist Studio Tour
By Reader Staff
Step inside the creative spaces of Boundary County’s working artists during the second annual Artist Studio Tour.
Scheduled from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13-Sunday, Sept. 14, the self-guided experience was created by Hannah Sucsy of Teascarlet Fine Art and Tamara Wagner of Wood Thief Art. Participants can explore the studios where art is imagined, created and brought to life. Represented this year are fiber arts, acrylic and oil paintings, scroll saw art, tattoo and graffiti/spray
paint art, pastels, drawings, watercolors and more.
“This isn’t a craft fair,” wrote the organizers. “It’s a rare chance to witness the heart of the artistic process, ask questions and collect original work directly from the source. Bring your curiosity, your questions and your appreciation for the art that’s made right here in our community. Whether you’re a collector, a creative spirit, or just someone who loves beautiful things—you’ll find inspiration at every stop.”
Visit teascarlet.com for more information and a map of the tour.
FSPW volunteers using a crosscut saw to clear a trail. Photo by Rose Olson
Organizers Hannah Sucsy of Teascarlet Fine Art, left, and Tamara Wagner of Wood Thief Art, right. Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
FEATURE
From the first piece of steel to the last
Local man Frank Wakeley recounts helping to build the World Trade Center towers
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Frank Wakeley has a claim to fame that few — if any — can equal: the longtime local was there when the first piece of steel was installed in the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and, during cleanup after they were destroyed in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, he witnessed the last piece removed.
Wakeley grew up in New York and graduated from Bucknell University in 1968 with a degree in civil engineering.
“I started as an electrical engineer,” he told the Reader. “I built my own turntable in high school and thought that’s what I’d do, but after taking some electrical courses I realized, ‘I don’t quite get it 100%.’”
Wakeley shifted to civil engineering, which involved building roads, bridges, sewage treatment plants and other structures, including, as it turned out, skyscrapers.
“It meant I’d be working outdoors,” he said.
By the time Wakeley was hired to help construct the Twin Towers in New York City in 1968, the five-acre site had already been cleared and crews were digging to the bedrock.
“I got hired as an engineer in training by the project manager and I worked for the Port Authority,” he said. “They’re a bi-state agency — the only one in the country — in charge of bridges, tunnels, airports, bus terminals, that kind of thing. ... Somehow the Port Authority got to be the builders of the Trade Center, the owners of it, even.”
One of his main jobs was to schedule and organize the mountains of data for his bosses during construction.
“I was in charge of keeping track of where we were, what floor we were on, which building,” he said. “I got to the point where I’d give lectures to architectural students. I’d even give them tours. It was a pretty cool job.”
At the time, the World Trade Center was on track to be the tallest building in the world.
“Initially there were four or five design concepts, and I remember not liking the one they chose for the final design,” he said. “But after a while, it grew on you. It became a symbol. I started liking it when it was done. Such
an amazing thing to be involved with.”
Things really got exciting when the towers began their gradual rise.
“I was there in 1968, or maybe it was ’69 by then, when they put in the very first piece of steel for one of the towers,” he said. “That was the first rising of the Trade Center. As it turns out, I was also there in 2002 when the last piece of steel came out of the same hole. It was exposed again with a ramp up the side. Pretty amazing.”
ever. ... Frank is a terrific addition to the Boisterous Bistro Buffoons even if he is smarter than anyone else at the table except me,” Henney said.
Wakeley said once the floors began to rise, the pace quickened.
“They built three floors at a time and each tower had four cranes on it,” he said. “One crane would lift the other ones up to the next level.”
As the buildings rose, Wakeley’s commute to work grew longer — and higher.
“We’d take construction elevators up and then there would be staircases to get to the higher levels,” he said. “The last floor you had to climb a ladder. When you got to the top floor it was windy and you could feel the tower moving. I could walk over to the open window and look straight down. I learned not to be afraid of heights.”
While the towers rose, Wakeley often snapped pictures of a brick building across the street that he liked; where, by chance, future fellow-Sandpointian Tim Henney worked at the same time. Now the two sit together reminiscing with friends at Marigold Bistro.
“When I met Tim, we were talking about New York and it was just a coincidence we were there at the same time,” Wakeley said. “I lived in SoHo and he lived in the Village.”
“When Frank was leading VIP tours around the campus of the early under-construction original WTC, I was in a corner office of the AT&T headquarters building just across the street editing the Bell telephone magazine and watching and reporting on the daily progress of the job, including some dude leading tours of big shots around just below me,” Henney told the Reader.
“Equipping the original WTC with communications was our largest commercial — non-military — job
When the North Tower was finished in December 1970, it stood 1,368 feet tall, with a broadcast antenna on top that added 360 feet more. The South Tower, completed six months later, stood 1,362 feet tall. Each tower had 110 floors, and the entire WTC complex contained almost 10 million square feet of rentable office space.
Wakeley wasn’t around for the completion of the project, though.
“You had to work for a whole year without any time off, and then you were awarded with a week vacation,” he said. “They said, ‘But if you stay with us for five years, then you get two weeks vacation.’”
Wakeley said he would watch his peers racing out of work to catch a subway to Penn Station where they’d get a train to suburbia just to spend a little time with their family.
“They didn’t seem that happy, so I quit,” he said. “It was funny, I would have meetings with subcontractors and high-up people who said, ‘Who got to you? Who hired you from us?’ and I just said, ‘Nobody, I just quit.’”
Wakeley said he spoke with a girlfriend from college who lived in Ketchum. She told him he’d love it out there.
“I was a skier and I fell in love with it,” he said. “I sublet my loft in New York, went out to Ketchum, met a girl and fell in love with her. We went back in 1971 to New York and I
sold my place to move out West.” Fast forward three decades later in North Idaho, Wakeley remembers waking early to a ringing phone and someone on the other end telling him to turn on the TV. He watched in horror as the buildings he’d worked on for more than two years billowed ominous smoke into the air after two jetliners crashed, one into each tower. An hour later, the South Tower collapsed and, 40 minutes after that, the North Tower also fell. All the years of work, along with thousands of lives, were reduced to a pile of rubble in Lower Manhattan.
“I told my kids, we might have just witnessed 20,000 people die,” he said. “We didn’t know how many people got out, it happened so fast. It’s amazing that only 3,000 people died and so many of them were firemen. I have a lot of respect for that.”
Wakeley said he has argued with
Top left: Frank Wakeley’s business card from his time working as an engineer during construction of the World Trade Center towers. Above: Frank Wakeley today. Photo by Ben Olson
The science of smoke
How and why air pollution affects both man and machine
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Bonner County was able to avoid the summer haze for quite a while; but, recently, a cloud of smoke blowing in from eastern Washington and beyond has blanketed the area. Itchy eyes and sore throats are the least of our worries when it comes to smoke’s effects on our bodies, ecosystem and vital electronics.
The visible particles in smoke are soot, char and ash, which seem synonymous for most laypeople. Actually, soot is composed of carbon-rich, ultrafine particles, while char is partially combusted organic matter with many chemical byproducts. Ash is the mineral residue left over after everything else has burned.
Smoke’s chemical makeup depends on three main factors: what’s burning, how hot it is and how it’s put out. Off-gassing from fires, combined with smoke’s mixture of fine and ultrafine particles, can create hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, hydrofluoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid and phosphoric acid — especially in lower-temperature, smoldering blazes. Forest fires in particular often burn hot and so contain higher levels of pollutants like carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds.
Electronics
Whether basic or acidic, the compounds in smoke quickly corrode metal, glass and plastic, leaving tiny scratches or pits in the material. This
conspiracy theorists over the years who claim there is no way the towers could fall like that.
“Yes, there is a way and I can explain it to you,” he said. “It was total luck on Osama Bin Laden’s part. They didn’t expect it would collapse. Buildings have been hit by small airplanes in the past. The thing is, the power of the crash didn’t knock the building over, it was the fire that melted some of the less heavy-duty parts of the structure.”
is an aesthetic nuisance for things like car clear coats, but it’s far more severe when it infiltrates complex machines. Smoke can short-out or destroy circuit boards, create incorrect readings in sensitive medical equipment and even cause elevator mechanisms to break down. Smoke’s grit also gets between moving parts like car brakes, reducing stopping power, and clogs filters and cooling systems, causing computers, refrigerators and most other large electronics to overheat.
Plants
Biologists and ecologists agree that the effects of smoke on vegetation require far more study, and current findings are often contradictory. Studies on crops like corn and soybeans have shown smoke to have both positive and negative effects, due to its particles’ ability to reflect sunlight.
Reflecting sunlight into the atmosphere makes it harder for plants to photosynthesize and grow. The smoke’s volatile organic compounds can also mix with sunlight and nitrogen oxides to create ground-level ozone, which damages plant tissue during respiration.
According to an article in The Conversation, research conducted on ponderosa pines in Colorado found that, when exposed to smoke, the trees effectively “held their breath.” The pines stopped photosynthesizing, shutting down the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Researchers did not conclude whether this was because smoke residue clogged the trees’ pores or if the pores closed to keep out the smoke, though it’s likely a combination.
Wakeley said the exterior walls made up the structure of the towers and the very center was a core of steel and concrete.
“They attach these trusses from core to exterior walls with these small tubular platforms and poured four inches of concrete on top of them,” he said. “Those things are not made out of high-strength steel.”
He said when the fires grew so hot, a floor would collapse on top of the one below it, which was attached to the exterior walls. That caused the chain reaction that led to the buildings falling in place, not toppling over.
“It’s incalculable what the force was like,” he said.
Wakeley returned to the site in
However, smoke can scatter sunlight, allowing it to hit plants at different angles and therefore reach previously shaded leaves. This can actually increase photosynthesis and drought tolerance because it keeps plants cooler and reduces transpiration (water evaporation through the plant cells).
Animals (that’s us)
Many animals that die in wildfires perish not from the flames, but from asphyxiation. Research conducted by the University of Washington and published in 2022 confirmed that smoke’s harmful effects on humans are also reflected in wildlife. Terrestrial and aquatic animals exposed to smoke can develop “carbon monoxide poisoning, respiratory distress, neurological impairment, respiratory and cardiovascular disease, oxidative stress and immunosuppression.” Essentially, the pollutants in the smoke infiltrate both the lungs and the bloodstream, traveling into the heart, nervous system and beyond. The toxins also damage lung tissue, leading to low oxygen and high carbon dioxide levels in the blood, and these issues can
2002 after the majority of cleanup had been completed.
“Ken Jackson, he was a pilot and he got chosen to be Idaho’s representative on the flight across America one year after the Trade Center was crashed,” he said. “He invited me to be his navigator and we flew back East. It was a celebration of our skies opening now after a year of shutdown.”
It was during the trip in 2002 when Wakeley witnessed the final piece of steel removed from the crash site.
“It was pretty emotional to see that last piece of steel removed,” he said.
Looking back on 9/11, Wakeley
have lasting impacts on overall health. According to the National Wildlife Federation, young rhesus macaque monkeys exposed to smoke develop reduced lung capacity and weakened immune responses for years.
Stanford University professors researching the effects of wildfire smoke in 2025 said that it is “about 10 times as toxic as the regular air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels.” According to experts, there is no safe amount to breathe in — especially for children — and wildlife smoke inhalation actually accounts for about 500 deaths annually.
As of press time, the air quality index listed Sandpoint at “moderate,” with particles small enough to enter the bloodstream. Though it’s not as dangerous as it has been in recent weeks, remember to limit time spent outside and keep indoor spaces sealed with air purifiers running, if possible. Your lungs will thank you.
said it was a “big moment for America. When I was working there, it was Vietnam. I was a draft-dodging liberal hippie and I hated it. I protested in New York and got tear-gassed. We rented a bus to protest in D.C. when Kent State happened. That’s what it was like then.
Now I say to myself, ‘I have to do this again? I have to go protest?’ I’m still protesting. It’s a sad situation.”
< WTC, con’t from Page 14 >
A plume of smoke rising from the recent Sunset Fire.
Photo courtesy of the Idaho Department of Lands.
Sixth annual Sandcreek Regatta draws record number of DIY boats, spectators
By Reader Staff
The Sandcreek Regatta celebrated a successful sixth year Sept. 6, with a record five homemade watercraft racing on Sand Creek for bragging rights and the chance to test their DIY boat-building skills.
More than 120 people lined the banks of the creek to cheer on the crews — the biggest crowd yet — with the Reader’s dock-float longboat taking first place, returning the Sandcreek Cup to the window in its offices at 111 Cedar St. for the fourth time since the first race in 2019.
Captained by Reader Publisher Ben Olson, the winning crew consisted of Editor-in-Chief Zach Hagadone, Senior Writer Soncirey Mitchell, Cadie Archer and Taran White.
A hand-constructed twin-pontoon boat built and piloted by father-son duo Matt and Anderson Kinney took second place, and the plywood barge from Woods Wheatcroft, Justin Iverson, Josh “Boosh” Volkmann and Oliver Pratt came in third.
The craft built by Makaia Knepper and Jamie Dorhofer took home the award for “Most Recycled,” utilizing the wooden bedframe repurposed from a trailer she’s remodeling, along with five-gallon kegs and a cooler, while the boat built by her father Jon Knepper and Ty Noble — a raft using storage bins for floatation and with a bicycle-mounted paddle wheel — earned “Epic Fail” after turning back before reaching the Cedar Street Bridge but still crossing the finish line at the Bridge Street Bridge.
New this year was a ceremonial tourist “sacrifice” to kick off the race, with Libby, Mont. area resident Pete Leush volunteering for the honor of being pushed off the Reader’s boat and into Sand Creek. A longtime and avid visitor to Sandpoint, who said he loves the lake and events like the Festival, Leush was rewarded with applause, a one-of-a-kind T-shirt and gift certificates to local restaurants.
Organized by Jon and Amanda Knepper, the Sandcreek Regatta was inspired by the Businessmen’s Race, which saw local merchants racing against one another down the creek until the 1980s, when the tradition ended. It happens each year in the first or second week of September.
Photo by Sarah Mitchell
Bottom row of photos by Woods Wheatcroft
Top left: The plywood barge named “Chico’s Bail Bonds” piloted by Justin Iverson, Oliver Pratt, Josh “Boosh” Volkmann and Woods Wheatcroft. Photo by John Chellman.
Top right: “Epic Fail” winners Jon Knepper and Ty Noble paddle their way to another inglorious finish. Photo by John Chellman.
Middle left: Reader publisher Ben Olson “sacrifices” tourist Peter Leusch before the Regatta. Photo by Soncirey Mitchell.
Middle center: Matt and Anderson Kinney paddled their craft to a second-place finish. Photo by John Chellman.
Middle right: First-place finishing boat “H.M.S. Hatemail” with Cadie Archer, Zach Hagadone, Soncirey Mitchell, Ben Olson and Taran White. Photo by Sarah Mitchell.
Bottom left: Regatta organizers Jon and Amanda Knepper celebrate after another year of fun. Photo by John Chellman.
Bottom center left: Jamie Dorhofer and Makaia Knepper’s craft. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft.
To submit a photo for a future edition, please send to ben@sandpointreader.com.
Bottom center right: The first-place trophy duct taped onto the winning raft’s support vehicle. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft
Bottom right: Taran White, Soncirey Mitchell, Zach Hagadone, Cadie Archer and Ben Olson of the winning boat. Photo by Woods Wheatcroft.
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
Sandpoint Summer Music Series
6pm @ Farmin Park
Free outdoor concert with Seattle-based neo-funk duo Biddadat. Food/drinks
THURSDAY, September 11
POAC Artist Reception: Elle Summer and Holly Pennington
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Annual Plant Sale • 9am-3pm @ Ponderay Event Ctr.
Perennials, berries, house plants and more
Live Music w/ The Cole Show
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Picked Up Pieces
5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Kenny James Miller Band
5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Live Music w/ Truck Mills
6-9pm @ Barrel 33
Live Music w/ Chris Paradis
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Deep Roots: Sandpoint’s Original Songwriter Showcase
6pm @ The Hive
Original songs from your favorite musicians in Sandpoint (see Page 21)
Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs
6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar
Live Music w/ Bill Price
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Laffin Bones
5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Live Music w/ Marcus Stephans
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Music w/ DJ Crooze
9pm-1am @ Roxy’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Picked Up Pieces
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Fern Spores
1-4pm @ The Blue Heron (Samuels Store)
All-woman band from Olympia, Wash. at The Blue Heron’s new outdoor stage
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi
7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Pool tournament ($10 entry)
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Trivia with Toshi ($5/person) 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge Line Dancing Lessons
6:30pm @ The Hive
FriDAY, September 12
Jesse Quandt Band w/ The Project
7-11:30pm @ The Hive
Lively country music. $5 entry
Live Music w/ Brenden McCoy
6-8:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar
A fundraiser for the nonprofit org that changes lives through the power of sailing. Live music with Harold’s IGA, games, storytelling, auctions and more
Sandpoint Neighborhood Wellness Fest 10am-2pm @ 477542 US 95 (Ponderay)
9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge Reggae, funk, ska and more
Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz 6pm @ Arlo’s (outside, weather permitting)
SunDAY, September 14
Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Magic with Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalapeño’s
September 11 – 18, 2025
Fall Mushroom Class
4:30pm @ Sandpoint Library
Led by Idaho Master Naturalist Ed Buzbee. ebonnerlibrary.org for info
Live Music w/ Jacob Robin 8-11pm @ Tervan Tavern
Sip & Clip
5:30pm @ Grumpy Chicken Farm
$40 includes snacks, drinks and a large U-Pick bouquet from the field
Sandpoint Contra Dance
7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall
Community dancing in the New England tradition. Live music, lively caller. $5-10 donation at door
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Fresh foods and produce and more
Ponderay Neighbor Day 1-6pm @ Harbison Field (behind Hoot Owl) Annual family-friendly community carnival. Free activities. Open to everyone. cityofponderay.org for info
Let’s Vike It: A Viking Age Faire 10:30am-6pm @ Oldtown Rotary Park Historical reenactments, ax throwing, live music, crafting and more Boundary Co. Artist Studio Tour Self-guided tour of local studios teascarlet.com for more info
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill 6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon
Artist in the Garden
Noon -3pm @ Create Arts Center, Newport
Diverse regional artists fill our garden with their creations. Live music by Ben Kardos. Info: 509-447-9277
monDAY, September 15
Outdoor Experience Group Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience
tuesDAY, September 16
Little Live Radio Hour: Maya and Arthur Goldblum
7pm @ Panida Little Theater
Presented by KRFY and Festival at Sandpoint. Free to attend. Listen: 88.5FM
Family Hour and Live Music w/ John Firshi
5-7pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Good vibes at Matchwood. Pop-up event: Flowers from the Heart sale 4-7pm
Benny on the Deck: Feat. Ali Thompson 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Paint & Sip w/ Nicole Black
5:30-7:30pm @ Barrel 33
$45 includes instruction and supplies
Trivia Night 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Living Art: Craft a Mounted Staghorn Fern 5:30-7:30pm @ Verdant Plant Shop $25, materials and refreshments inc. Plant and mount sold separately. Register: bit.ly/45rmgcU
wednesDAY, September 17
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park
Live piano w/ Bob Beadling 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Aaron Foster ‘Mostly Jokes’ stand up comedy 7:30pm @ Panida Little Theater
ThursDAY, September 18
Trivia with Toshi ($5/person) 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live piano w/ David Speight 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
A Taste of Tango 6pm @ Barrel 33
$15/person, no partner needed. Learn the tango from instructor Muffy!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Bingo 6:30pm @ Tervan Tavern
Line Dancing Lessons 6:30pm @ The Hive
Maya and Arthur Goldblum to feature on Little Live Radio Hour
By Reader Staff
It will already be the third Tuesday of the month on Sept. 16, which means it’s time once more for the Little Live Radio Hour — the special live broadcast hosted by KRFY 88.5 FM Panhandle Community Radio and the Festival at Sandpoint.
Each installment is beamed to listeners either at 88.5 FM or streaming on krfy.org from the Panida Little Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint), with a live audience in attendance to hear performances from a variety of local musicians.
This week, special guests will be father-daughter duo Maya and Arthur Goldblum, the former whom local music lovers will know as Queen Bonobo and the latter as a longtime jazz player both on his own and with groups like Bright Moments.
Maya draws on her lifelong connection to music, blending jazz elements with folk and her own unique twist, offering a complex, multi-layered and one-of-a-kind sound. Arthur is an accomplished trumpeter who transitions with ease from jazz to world music to just about any other genre out there.
KRFY Associate Station Manager Jack Peterson hosts the show, chatting with musi-
cians between songs, providing an intimate listening experience.
Attending the live performance is free, with audience members asked to arrive by 6:45 p.m., in time for the 7 p.m. broadcast.
For more information, visit panida.org or krfy.org.
‘Mostly Jokes’ standup show brings dark comedy about mental health to the Panida
By Reader Staff
Comedian Aaron Foster has been around. From performances at The Comedy Store, The Ice House, Flappers, The Ha Ha and The Comedy Chateau in the L.A. area, to Laughs Unlimited in Sacramento and Reno-Tahoe Comedy (and more), he’s also a former host of HGTV’s FreeStyle — a gig he left for standup as a way to deal with depression and anxiety.
As it turned out, those darker emotions — the ones that most people don’t want to talk about, much less laugh about — were the perfect material for his comedy career, which has led him to his current show, “Mostly Jokes,” which he’s touring through the country ahead of taping his first special in November, with a stop Wednesday, Sept. 17 at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
Rooted in Foster’s ex-
periences growing up with a bipolar father and schizophrenic brother, “Mostly Jokes” looks head on, though with a subversive, wicked sense of humor, at what it’s like to live through survivor’s guilt and other mental health challenges. Plus there’s navigating mid-life, which can be a joke in itself. It’s no surprise that Foster identifies his main influences as the likes of Mike Birbiglia, Maria Bamford,
Gary Gulman, Marc Maron, Taylor Tomlinson and Neal Brennan.
Named “Best Solo Show” at the Tucson Fringe Festival in January, “Mostly Jokes” will come to the Panida main stage at 7:30 p.m. (doors open 30 minutes before the performance) and tickets are $16.50 (plus tax), available at the box office or panida.org.
Aaron Foster. Courtesy photo
Maya and Arthur Goldblum playing music together. Courtesy photo
BCGA plant sale signals end of summer
By Reader Staff
The Bonner County Gardeners Association will once again transform the Ponderay Events Center parking lot (48 Eastgate Drive) into a plant-lovers extravaganza with its annual fall plant sale.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, BCGA volunteers will sell perennials, berries, herbs and fall annuals to help fund the nonprofit’s educational outreach and community service projects.
BCGA members host classes and community workshops throughout
the year to teach home gardening, foraging and strategies to improve the health of the local ecosystem with native plants, fire safety measures and more. Trained members go on to help with community beautification projects and to teach sustainability and self-sufficiency to others.
The fall plant sale will include a wide selection of native plants that make for easy gardening, and experts will be on hand to answer any questions. Arrive early for the best selection. For more information, visit bcgardeners.org.
MUSIC
‘This isn’t background music’
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Deep Roots: Sandpoint’s Original Songwriter Showcase returns for 2nd year
Some of North Idaho’s favorite stars will take the stage Saturday, Sept. 13 for the second annual Deep Roots: Sandpoint’s Original Songwriter Showcase at the Hive (207 N. First Ave.). The 21+ concert begins at 7 p.m. and will feature familiar names in the Sandpoint music scene: Katelyn Shook, Josh Hedlund, Kevin Dorin, Hunter Jones, Ben Olson, Russ Sabin, Justin Landis and Sadie Sicilia.
“Mack Deibel and I put this event together initially to get Josh, Katelyn and Ben onstage at The Hive in an intimate setting,” said Dorin. “Those three are world-class songwriters in my opinion, and I’m grateful to be able to share the stage with them.”
Dorin, who co-founded the showcase, has a classic folk voice you might expect to hear on a well-worn, heirloom record. His passionate vibrato is the link that ties his music together as he experiments with different genres — sometimes leaning toward rock, other times folk. (Listen on kevindorin.com.)
“This is like a Sandpoint all-stars private concert that you’re all invited to,” said Deibel. “They’re picking their favorite songs — songs that may have great meaning to
them or the ones they’re most proud of — and you get to see them up close in a room that is truly created for music experiences, from the sound system to the nearly in-theround fully seated setup.”
Crowds around the nation recognize Katelyn Shook as one half of the beloved local duo Shook Twins. Whether she’s performing solo or in a group, her quirky folk music drives audiences onto the dance floor for an unforgettable experience every time. (Listen on shooktwins.com.)
Hedlund is another household name in Sandpoint, and anyone with any knowledge of the local music scene has been moved by his bittersweet songs. His original indie-folk somehow captures the feeling of North Idaho — from the mountains to the people. (Listen at joshhedlund.bandcamp.com.)
Coming off a recent Festival at Sandpoint performance, Reader Publisher Ben Olson, of Harold’s IGA and Blird, teaches his audience to expect the unexpected. One moment he’ll come out with a downtempo electronic, lo-fi beat with introspective lyrics and the next he’ll burst into an indie-folk rock comedy song. (Listen on Spotify and YouTube.)
“Hunter, Sadie, Justin and Russ are songwriters who have been on our radar as talented
songwriters and performers for quite some time,” said Deibel. “We have personal and/or professional relationships with them in some form because of their talent and our belief in just how special they all are. For them to join us is a huge boon for all those who come out to see the show because they’re all simply fabulous.”
Jones is best known as the frontman for the psychrock band the Wow Wows, whose high-energy shows have earned them a dedicated fanbase throughout the Inland Northwest. In contrast, Jones’ solo work can take on a slower, more melodic sound reminiscent of popular indie bands like Big Thief.
Audiences may recognize Sabin by his stage name, Devlin Jones, and from his many other artistic endeavors. Sabin’s music is a throwback in the best way, often leaning into the softer side of ’70s and ’90s rock. (Listen at devlinjones.com.)
Anyone who’s heard live music in Sandpoint — even if it’s not his main bands, Cedar and Boyer and Little Wolf — has heard Landis. Watch him take center stage and support the night’s other artists with his technical instrumentation.
Last but not least, Sicilia has been a staple of the area music scene since childhood, often performing alongside
her father, Mike Wagoner. Her bluesy voice brings a deep richness to folk music. (Listen on YouTube.)
“This isn’t background music; this is purposeful enjoyment of a collective group of amazing artists that are letting you into their souls and creative minds and processes that go into writing some of their favorite songs,” said Deibel. “You’ll hear stories. You’ll be blown away with Sandpoint’s magic once again.”
In addition to the Sept. 13 showcase, Dorin and Deibel intend to host three or four additional concerts highlighting different genres and artists.
“We would also like to do an event with all female songwriters,” said Dorin. “I’ve been in the music industry for over 20 years, and there are walls that still need to be broken down to provide opportunities and inspire more female artists to grow into their potential.”
Deep Roots tickets begin at $29 at livefromthehive.com. Ticket-holders will receive special access to live recordings of the songs to relive the night’s performances for years to come.
“I can flat out promise your readers that there is not a single event this weekend more worthy of your support, or from which you will garner more value,” said Dorin.
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
Jesse Quandt Band w/The Project, The Hive, Sept. 12 Fern Spores, Blue Heron Cafe, Sept. 14
Get ready to scoot your boots at The Hive for a Friday night throwdown of rocking country — mingled with some blues and soul sounds — when the Jesse Quandt Band joins forces with The Project.
Fronted by Justin Jurkovac on vocals and guitar, with Riley Weiler on bass, The Project complements Quandt’s sound with the hard-rock vibe of Mile Marker Down and
modern country verve of Last Call Band. Both groups based in the Spokane area, they bring high energy sure to fill the dance floor at Sandpoint’s small town big stage.
— Zach Hagadone
Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m.; $5; 21+. The Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 208-920-9039, livefromthehive.com. Listen at jessequandtmusic.com.
If you haven’t checked out the newest outdoor venue for live music in Bonner County, head out to the Blue Heron Cafe at the intersection of Pack River Road and U.S. Highway 95.
The Blue Heron will host the femme folk-rock band Fern Spores from Olympia, Wash., for a special show on Sunday, Sept. 14.
The band’s sound falls somewhere between Janis
This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone
READ
The book An Emancipation of the Mind: Radical Philosophy, the War over Slavery and the Refounding of America should be read by anyone who’s doing a lot of soul searching about what the U.S. stands for — or should stand for. It takes the familiar narrative of the pre- and post-Civil War era and reframes it as a progressive reordering that looked to European humanist philosophy to achieve its original promises of liberty. Find it where you find books.
LISTEN
Joplin, Alabama Shakes and Susan Tedeschi, with a lush sonic landscape, haunting harmonies and a mix of vintage psychedelic folk, garage rock and soulful Americana ballads.
— Ben Olson
1-4 p.m., FREE, all ages. Blue Heron Cafe outdoor stage and patio, 486260 U.S. 95, blueheronsamuels.com. Listen at fernspores.com.
Jazz is so often called a uniquely American art form that it’s easy to forget that it’s beloved around the world — and comes with its own geographical flavors, such as the distinctive funk-inflected work of Ethiopian-born, D.C.based Hailu Mergia. A worldclass keyboardist and accordionist, he’s been active since the 1970s and his 2018 studio album Lala Belu was described as “breathtaking” by Pitchfork. Listen on Bandcamp, YouTube and other streamers.
WATCH
Back in 2022, when I reviewed the HBO Max series Peacemaker, I described its eponymous character as “the Dunning Kruger hero.” Now he’s back for a second season, which premiered Aug. 21, returning John Cena as the titular not-so-superhero protagonist in a storyline that is so far much more heartfelt than its predecessor. Peacemaker is still a lethal doofus, but now he’s much more vulnerable and (dare I say it) “lovable.” New episodes Thursdays.
From Pend Oreille Review, September 12, 1913
TAKES RING; ARRESTED
Charged with having stolen a diamond ring valued at $250 [worth more than $8,000 in 2025 money] and owned by a woman of LaGrande, Oregon, having been caught with the goods, Herschel Courtway, a well known character about town, and one who has figured more or less in the local police court, was arrested last Saturday morning here. Monday afternoon he confessed the theft and surrendered the goods, returning to the Oregon city accompanied by Chief of Police J.H. McLachlin of that city.
Courtway was picked up by Chief Hurd of the local force and lodged in jail, being charged with the theft. He was kept in the city bastile till the arrival of the Oregon officer and upon his arrival here the two officers put Courtway through a course of sprouts which made his tell of his having taken the jewelry.
Courtway was taken to the home of his mother, Mrs. William McCrea, on West Main street where considerable argument took place before he finally decided to give the stone up. At first he denied that he had the article, but later he admitted he had hidden it. The mother then went into the yard and within a few minutes returned with the ring.
Courtway explained that while he was in LaGrande, Oregon, recently he had been employed by a woman there to assist in hanging some curtains in a room. While he was supposed to be doing the work he went through a dresser and found the ring, appropriating the stone before the woman paid him off and he left the house. Courtway will be tried for grand larceny and may be jailed for a term of one to 14 years.
BACK OF THE BOOK Breaks in memory
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
It was one of those mornings when you wake up way too early for some reason, and lay there thinking about things that you never have time to think about when everyone else is awake and there are too many things to do.
As seems to be my habit when this happens, I embarked on a kind of time travel, ruminating about how old I was when my parents are the age I am now (two weeks shy of 45), then calculating all kinds of other bizarre autobiographical-mathematical formulae: 30 years ago I was 15, which doesn’t seem that long ago; but, when I was 15, “30 years ago” was 1965, when my parents were 9. In 30 years I’ll be 75 and they’ll be 99.
That kind of thing.
I thought of another one: 40 years ago, when I was 5, I fell off a piece of playground equipment and broke my right arm. It was a terrible break that had to be set and reset, the doctor essentially breaking my arm over and over again just to get it back into line.
Because of the trauma of that experience, I can instantly reenter that kid’s world through the keyhole of the broken arm — the texture of the cast on his arm becomes a waypoint for remembering the long, golden strands of the carpet at his house and what was on TV while he lay on the couch recovering.
It’s as if the reality of a broken bone grounded everything else in memories that, even 40 years later, often feel as vivid as whatever happened 10 or even five years ago.
What does all this have to do with
STR8TS Solution
anything? I broke my toe the other day while jumping on a trampoline (stupid). Hobbling around in my house with a cane given to me by Reader Publisher Ben Olson from his grandfather’s collection — and unable to climb the stairs to the Reader office — it has made me more philosophical than normal.
I’ve been thinking about how the trauma of breakage influences memory. A lot of times, people say that they’ve “blocked out” some terrible or profound incident, but I find that moments of extremis or monumentality tend to stick out, rather than fade away. Ask folks of a certain age, and they can tell you where they were on the day of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination or the moon landing.
It’s the same for those who were around for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, whose 24th anniversary lands on the publication day for this week’s Reader. Of course, I remember where I was, and have written about it before — beginning with an article in this paper marking the fifth anniversary of the attacks.
9/11 was a traumatic breakage unlike any other ever experienced by the United States, and one from which we have not healed. It’s safe to say that we as a people we have followed the injunction, “Never forget,” at least in this instance, but it remains a raw fracture.
I also remember where I was during the bombing of Baghdad, when President George W. Bush declared “mission accomplished” even as the “mission” was more than a decade from being “accomplished,” when Saddam Hussein was hanged and Osama bin Laden shot by Navy SEALs.
I’ll always remember where I was on the night of Barack Obama’s elec-
Sudoku Solution
tion as the first Black president of the United States and, with equal and opposite emotion, the election of Donald Trump as the first openly fascist president of the United States.
The storming of the Capitol by Trumpian insurrectionists on Jan. 6, 2021 and Trump’s disastrous reelection in 2024 will live in my memory as moments of both terrible and profound traumatic breakage.
I’m sure that in 30 years — when I’m 75 and my parents are 99, and I’m laying in bed on some predawn day time traveling to when I was 45 — I’ll remember my broken toe, and with it will come rushing back all the breakages we’re suffering in our body politic today.
We might remember all these things, but we seem to have a hard time learning from them — breaking and rebreaking, never figuring out how to avoid these self-inflicted wounds. That said, you can be sure I’ll never forget that trampolines are meant for kids.
Crossword Solution
If a kid asks where the rain comes from, I think a cute thing to tell him is “God is crying.” And if he asks why God is crying, another cute thing to tell him is “Probably because of something you did.”
Laughing Matter
Solution on page 22
By Bill Borders
talisman /TAL-is-muhn/
[noun]
Week of the
1. a stone, ring, or other object, engraved with figures or characters supposed to possess occult powers and worn as an amulet or charm.
“They were also revered as talismans that warded off evil spirits.”
Corrections: Due to an error on the part of the editor, Nancy Britton’s letter to the editor “Balancing the budget from an unbalanced Legislature…” in the Sept. 4 paper included the wrong date for the Save Our Schools event. It takes place on Thursday, Sept. 11 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the Ponderay Events Center (401 Bonner Mall Way, in Ponderay). We apologize for the error, and for more info see Page 5. Also, see “Dumb of the Week” on Page 12, which addresses another error in more detail.
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Slice
6. In the center of 10. Shed 14. Evade
15. Anagram of “Tine”
16. Dwarf buffalo
17. Employ again
18. Ends a prayer
19. Transgressions
20. Predeterminative 22. Foot digits 23. Shad
Category
Declines 29. Not professional
Ruthlessness
Revered
Rug
Smooth
Furious
Soft leather 42. Cheese dish 44. Arid 45. Abscond
48. Funnel shapes 50. Jaunty rhythm 51. In a slow, laborious manner
