Reader_August6_2026

2 / R / August 6, 2026

DEAR READERS,

The week in random review

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff

branded from birth

When you grow up with an odd name as I did, you get used to people asking, “What does it mean?”

That’s not a question that the Sarahs and Ashleys of the world get, but their names have meaning, too.

Sarah, from the Hebrew sar, means “princess” or “noblewoman,” and Ashley, from the Old English words æsc and lēah, means “ash tree meadow.” Beautiful. But what happens when you research your name only to find an unflattering or downright damning meaning? Well, luckily for babies born nowadays — and likely thanks to the popularity of baby name websites — most of the names with the worst meanings have been phased out. The few that remain include Lola (“pain”), Calvin (“bald”), Mallory (“unlucky”), Portia (“pig”), Kennedy (“misshapen head” — yikes) and Brennan (“sorrow” or “teardrop”).

The Reader staff, both past and present, have had pretty good luck with our names. “Zach” means “God remembers” in Hebrew and “Hagadone” comes from the German for “hawthorn.” “Ben” is “son” in Hebrew — and Benjamin is “son of the right hand” — whereas “Olson,” as you might have guessed, is “Son of Olaf.” “Soncirey” comes from the language of the Lakota Sioux people, Lakȟótiyapi, meaning “morning star,” while “Mitchell” has roots in the British Isles and means “Who is like God?” As for our editors emeriti, we have Lyndsie (“island of linden trees”) Kiebert (“dear” or “pine tree”) Carey (“dark” or “beloved”), John (“graced by God”) Reuter (“highwayman” or “one who clears land”) and Cameron (“crooked nose”) Rasmusson (“son of Rasmus”). So, in translation, our masthead should look a little something like this:

Publisher: Son of the Right Hand of Olaf Editorial: God Remembers Hawthorn (Editor) Morning Star Who is Like God? (Senior Writer) Editors Emeriti: Island of Dear Beloved Linden Trees Crooked Nosed Son of Rasmus Highwayman Graced by God

anne means ‘grace’

“I read in a book once that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but I’ve never been able to believe it. I don’t believe a rose would be as nice if it was called a thistle or a skunk cabbage.”

— Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

It’s the final week of the Festival at Sandpoint’s 2026 summer concert series, with a fun lineup to take us to the finish line.

Special thanks, as always, to photographer Racheal Baker for her excellent concert photos. Check out a sampling of her work from Week 1 on this week’s Photos of the Week (see Page 16). We’ll also publish a page of her photos from Week 2 in the Thursday, Aug. 13 edition.

Also, thank you to Festival staff members and volunteers for working your tails off during these hot two weeks of summer, as well as all the food and drink vendors who keep our bellies full.

It takes a lot of people doing a lot of work to pull this off every year.

Pats on the back all around.

– Ben Olson, publisher

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

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Editorial: Zach Hagadone (Editor) zach@sandpointreader.com Soncirey Mitchell (Senior Writer) soncirey@sandpointreader.com Editors Emeriti: Lyndsie Kiebert-Carey Cameron Rasmusson John Reuter Advertising: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com Contributing Artists: Racheal Baker (cover), Ben Olson, Architects West, Bill Borders Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Megan Lekander Submit Stories To: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed Weekly At: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID

Photo by Racheal Baker

Subscription Price: $200 per year Website Designed By: Keokee The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson, Zach Hagadone and Soncirey Mitchell. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, bluster, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.

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

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

Letter to the Editor Policy: We welcome letters to the editor on all relevant topics. Please, no more than 200 words, no excessive profanity or libelous statements and no trolls. Please elevate the discussion and stay on topic.

Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinons expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publisher. Send to: letters@sandpointreader.com About the Cover: This week’s cover photo was taken at the Festival at Sandpoint by the very talented Racheal Baker.

See more of her work next week in the Reader!

August 6, 2026 / R / 3

NEWS

Sandpoint council votes to change paid parking policy Removes on-street kiosk use with option to extend parking stay by text or app

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Three weeks after pausing the downtown paid parking program that has roiled community opinion since its rollout on July 1, the Sandpoint City Council voted Aug. 4 to approve a motion 5-1 altering policies in an attempt to lessen frustration by users and business owners alike.

Councilor Kyle Schreiber made the motion, which directed staff to “discontinue use of the downtown street parking kiosks, remove the option to purchase additional curbside time via kiosk, but include the option to purchase additional time via text and app, and administer the downtown two-hour zone as a strict two-hour maximum zone unless additional time has been purchased via text or app through the city-authorized observation and enforcement methods.”

That means the kiosks installed in the two-hour, on-street parking zone in the downtown core will be physically removed and motorists parking beyond the two-hour limit would be subject to a $50 citation for overstaying their time. However, they would have the option to add time to their parking stay and avoid a ticket by texting a number indicated by to-be-installed signage or through the Park Smarter mobile app.

In addition, Schreiber’s successful motion instructed staff to move forward with a plan to offer free permits for city residents starting in 2027 — after the current $20 resident permits have lapsed at the end of the calendar year — and introduce a “hardship pass” for Bonner County residents.

Details of those new permits will be worked out at a future date.

Finally, the motion called for the reinstatement of the Sandpoint Parking Commit4 / R / August 6, 2026

tee to serve as an ongoing citizen advisory group on parking issues.

The motion does not affect paid parking at the city-owned lots, including City Beach, the downtown City Lot, Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail and other waterfront lots where kiosks are currently installed — those will continue to operate as they have since July 1, with hourly paid parking or longer-stay access through $20 city or $35 county resident passes.

Councilors Joel Aispuro, Pam Duquette, Schreiber, Joe Tate and Joshua Torrez voted in favor, with Council President Deb Ruehle in opposition.

“I just want to take you back to why we originally decided to go with a kiosk system, so people didn’t have to interface [with their phones], if people don’t have smartphones, if people only have flip phones — that was one of the complaints that we got — and that’s one of the reasons we went with the kiosk system,” said Ruehle.

Throughout the weeks of deliberation, Ruehle has maintained her willingness to “stick with what we originally decided” with the downtown twozone kiosks, “and get the data and see how that reflects.”

She has also pushed back at the upset expressed by Bonner County residents over the paid parking program, and opposed Schreiber’s idea of offering a “hardship pass.”

“I appreciate that the Bonner County residents use the City Beach. I appreciate the fact that many of their relatives built houses in the Sandpoint city limits and paid Sandpoint city taxes for many, many years,” she said.

“Nothing is free. Just because you had relatives here doesn’t allow you to take advantage of the city residents that live here and pay for that. We pay for the toilet paper. We pay the employees, we pay for the trash pickup. We do all those

things. And whether or not you’re frustrated, the reality is, I sit up here to represent the citizens of Sandpoint who elected me. …

“My suggestion to county residents would be to park your car elsewhere, ride your bike into town, and you don’t have to worry about it. But to take advantage of the city residents, I think, is unfair,” added Ruehle, who is facing a recall effort along with Mayor Jeremy Grimm over the parking program.

Tara Brady, who identified herself as a multi-generational Sandpoint local who lives in the county, testified earlier in the meeting that, “Growing up here, most of the people didn’t have much money.

Thankfully it didn’t cost much to live here, and we were able to enjoy all that was around us for free. Had there been fees to use the City Beach, I don’t think many people would have been able to utilize it.”

That said, she added that while Sandpoint’s demographics have changed over the years — “There are people moving here that have boats that cost more than people’s homes” — she reminded the council that the area still includes a large low-income population that struggles with living expenses both in the city limits and county.

“The original intent of the Lion’s [Club] members and the entire community who helped make the beach what it

is today was that the community had a free place that they could come together and enjoy their town,” Brady said. “To many of us, it feels like the heart of this town is being eaten up, sold and privatized. …

Just because we choose to live outside of city limits does not mean that this is not still our hometown. Our voices matter.

They should not be discredited. We love our hometown.

We just want to make sure that we can recognize it in a few years.”

Others who testified during the public comment portion of the meeting — including representatives of business owners — expressed their concerns that paid on-street kiosk parking had hurt merchants’ bottom line.

“Downtown on First and Cedar and Second, if we could just not do the meters there, I think that would really help our city and the pulse of the business owners,” said Stacey Mueller, who manages the Cedar Street Bridge.

Grimm countered that the vast majority of the oppositional comments he’d received on the paid parking program came from county, rather than city, residents and the latter by and large supported and thanked the mayor and council for their work.

“I think this parking plan, especially at the beach and the City Lot, makes perfect sense,” he said, adding that he liked Schreiber’s idea of re-

Sandpoint City Council. Photo by Ben Olson verting to a text or app option to extend two-hour parking using signage, rather than kiosks, and “fully support[ed] reimplementing the Parking Committee so we have a balanced group who can advise us on their thoughts on this subject.”

For his part, Torrez reported that he’d visited as many downtown businesses as possible the week before, and while “some were OK with it, some were basically concerned that it was scaring their customers away. What also came up was that the businesses had to educate their customers on how to utilize the service.”

“From my perspective, businesses need to be in business to make money, not educate people on how to work parking meters,” he added.

Following the passage of Schreiber’s motion regarding the paid parking program, the council voted unanimously to approve its updated parking ordinance, which clarified a number of sections to “provide authority for metered and paid parking areas, including kiosks, mobile payment and license plate-based parking sessions; remove outdated references to the Third Avenue City lot and Sand Creek lot as free 24-hour parking lots”; and otherwise align with the adopted parking management policy.

Watch the full meeting at the city of Sandpoint’s YouTube channel.

NEWS

City staff provides comments on new Averill resort hotel project

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff The new plans for Averill Hospitality’s resort hotel adjacent to City Beach are beginning to move through the process, with city staff providing its first round of comments on the initial proposal.

Whitefish, Mont.-based developer Averill filed documents in late July seeking a conditional use permit for a 52-room hotel using the existing Best Western Edgewater Resort building, but with a five-story wing on the south end of the property including 27 condominiums.

In addition to the condos, the new portion of the building at 56 Bridge St. would feature a reconstructed lobby on the ground floor, as well as indoor and outdoor food and beverage service, retail space, a pool and spa, and room for events on the lawn and terrace.

Described in city filings as a “redevelopment and modernization” of the current Edgewater, the new proposal is a substantial departure from what the company had pursued at the site for years. The original plan was to demolish the entire Edgewater building and reconstruct a nearly 300,000-squarefoot, $70 million multi-story mix of more than 120 condos and hotel rooms, along with a host of amenities from convention space to curated retail and more.

However, Averill ran into a series of roadblocks, ranging from parking requirements and development impact fees to community pushback and, ultimately, what company representative Ben McGrann characterized in mid-June as rising construction costs and difficulty with pulling together adequate investors.

The last time the company appeared before the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission was on June 16, when it requested — and received — its second one-year extension of the previous CUP. With this new filing, the entire process

begins anew and makes Averill subject to the higher development impact fees put in place by the city earlier this year.

“We are evaluating the city’s comments,” McGrann told the Reader on Aug. 5.

Meanwhile, the city’s comments on the company’s new plan represent one of the first steps in the development process, which will eventually result in consideration by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

“How soon the new CUP application will advance to the P&Z Commission for a hearing will depend on how responsive the Averill team is to the comments, as there are several revisions recommended for a resubmitted plan before staff are comfortable advancing it to the commission,” Sandpoint Planning and Development Director Jason Welker told the Reader.

Among numerous comments, staff stated that the overall project may better meet the Comprehensive Plan by relocating the condo tower to the northern end of the property to preserve views, and that the building as currently envisioned exceeds the city’s height standard.

“The maximum height shall not exceed 65 feet and the elevations show what appears to be an equipment room, or elevator tower, exceeding the max height,” staff wrote. “This is not permitted.”

Several other comments requested revisions related to public access, with the site plan omitting both the easements across Bridge and Dock streets and the existing sidewalk to City Beach on the southern edge of the property allowing the public to move through those areas.

“The site plan should identify a pedestrian easement dedicated to the city along the entire southern property line for the benefit of public access to and from City Beach from downtown,” staff wrote, adding that the easement should be for a 10-foot-wide multi-use path that would connect with the

path on Bridge Street, which will be a condition of approval on the project.

In addition, the plan does not show the striped pedestrian path on the west side of Dock Street, nor does it provide an easement dedicated to the city for pedestrian access and mobility on the northern side of the property.

Finally, staff asked that the plans be modified to reflect a widened sidewalk/trail on the eastern and northern frontage to a 12-foot-wide multi-use path allowing for bicycle and pedestrian travel between the City Beach and Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail.

Other comments focused on parking, which has long been a sticking point for the project. “Parking for this development proposal does not meet city standards,” staff wrote, referring to a table of calculations that show a total of 145 spaces are required based on the square footage of the various uses at the site.

However, the plan shows 97 on-site parking stalls, making for a deficit of 48 spaces.

“Please note that there are several methods identified in [Sandpoint City Code] to meet your parking demand: 1. provide the required parking per code on-site, which would likely require a structure; 2. prepare a parking demand analysis demonstrating actual demands; 3. provide parking within 300 feet for the residential uses; 4. shared parking reduction with another development within 1,000 feet; 5. in-lieu payments to the Parking Fund,” staff wrote.

Staff comments further stated that spaces in the parking lot in the current plan exceed city standards for width and depth but are one foot shorter than allowed. Meanwhile, dimensions for ADA spaces were not provided.

Finally, staff noted that the project narrative did not

A rendering of Averill Hospitality’s resort hotel adjacent to Sandpoint City Beach.

Courtesy image include the number of employees associated with the development, as required.

Find the full filing, as well as staff comments, at bit.ly/ NewAverillPlan.

Steve Johnson launches Dist. 1 Senate campaign

By Reader Staff Independent candidate Steve Johnson officially kicked off his campaign seeking the District 1 Idaho Senate seat, running against Republican nominee Scott Herndon on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.

A retired educator, farmer, rancher and local business owner, Johnson has lived on the family farm in Sagle since 1957. He announced the beginning of his November election bid to a crowd of supporters in Sandpoint on Aug. 4.

“We need representation in Boise that focuses on the issues that affect North Idaho families,” Johnson said. “I’m running for state Senate to give people in District 1 an opportunity to vote for someone who will fight for the things they care about. When I’m elected, I will bring real solutions that represent the values of North Idaho.”

Johnson’s platform includes affordability, protecting public lands and ensuring the government abides by the Consti-

tution — including the state’s mandate to fund public education, which is a burden he said is currently falling on local property taxpayers instead.

“That platform has resonated with local voters, including many Republicans who felt misled by the questionable tactics in the recent primary election,” campaign officials stated.

At the Aug. 4 campaign launch, Johnson said: “My opponent wants Idaho to become something that has never been; a place where a narrow ideology decides what your family, your doctor, your school and your business are allowed to do and not do. We don’t want that. We need to preserve and protect our Idaho values.

“I’m not running to fight a culture war,” he added. “I’m running to keep our home sustainable: the land, the lifestyle, the cost of living, the schools and the jobs. I’m running on real issues, not ideology.”

More information can be found at SteveJohnsonForSenate.com.

August 6, 2026 / R / 5

NEWS Upper Smith Fire 40% contained, while ‘significant progress’ made on Spokane fires

By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Crews working on the Upper Smith Fire, burning on 2,305 acres about 20 miles northwest of Bonners Ferry, have brought the blaze to 40% containment, as of Aug. 5.

Reported July 8 and caused by lightning, the fire remains most active in Long Canyon Creek, where it is moving southwest away from homes and other at-risk properties. There are 253 personnel working the incident, including six helicopters, five hand crews, nine engines and five water tenders.

Smoke, including possible smoke columns, will continue to be visible as unburned heavy fuels smolder and burn.

Officials stated that hot, dry conditions are forecast for Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8, along with slightly stronger winds blowing west/ southwest. Gusts up to 20 miles per hour in the afternoons will contribute to “elevated to near-critical fire weather conditions.” There is no rain expected in the area over the next several days.

No evacuation orders are in place, and further information is available at the Boundary County Sheriff’s webpage: boundarysheriff.org. A temporary flight restriction is in place over the Upper Smith Fire, including drones Smith Creek Road, the Long Canyon Trail and the Parker Ridge Trail remain closed, and the public is strongly encouraged to avoid the Smith Creek drainage area.

Get more info at fs.usda.gov/r01/ idahopanhandle/alerts.

The Spokane Complex Fires, including the Old Trails, Fairview and Autumn Lanes fires in Spokane and Stevens counties, Wash., continue to burn on 10,546 acres, triggering tens of thousands of evacuations and up to 700 structures reported destroyed or damaged.

Fire officials reported Aug. 5 that “significant progress” had been made since the first of the blazes was reported on Aug. 1, with the Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires now at 13% containment, the Fairview Fire at 5% containment and lines established around all three.

As of Aug. 5, information on possible deaths or injuries had not been 6 / R / August 6, 2026

released and the causes of all three fires are under investigation. However, 37-year-old Aaron Farinacci has been arrested and charged with first-degree arson, accused of “knowingly and maliciously” sparking the Old Trails Fire in west Spokane, which alone has burned at least 3,509 acres, according to media reports.

According to the Washington Department of Natural Resources, about 900 firefighters are working the Spokane Complex as of press time.

According to the latest official update on Aug. 5, crews are working aggressively to strengthen fire lines, mopping up and extinguishing heat pockets near homes and other structures. The 900-acre Autumn Lane Fire north of Spokane is currently the most active, though crews were able to complete and reinforce fire lines on Aug. 4. “Solid progress” was also made on the 981-acre Fairview Fire in east Spokane, officials stated, where containment was improved with secured fire lines.

Fire managers stressed that the entire incident area is under a temporary flight restriction, with Spokane County reporting that there were 26 reported incursions of drones on Aug. 2 alone, resulting in the grounding of firefighting aircraft. Officials reported Aug. 5 that, “Encouragingly, there were zero drone incursions over the past 24 hours, allowing aircraft to operate safely and without interruption during critical firefighting operations.”

Smoke from the Spokane Complex has blanketed large portions of the Inland Northwest, with air quality routinely registering in the “unhealthy” to “hazardous” categories in various places, including North Idaho.

Those conditions have improved somewhat in recent days, owing to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidity since Aug. 3. However, the forecast for the remainder of the week calls for temperatures in the mid- to upper-90s with lower humidity, making for increased fire danger and “another period of critical fire weather” later this week and into the weekend, officials stated.

To follow the Spokane Complex Fires or for more information, go to @ SpokaneAreaFires on Facebook, call 509-215-8236 or email 2026.oldtrails@ firenet.gov.

For information and updates on all area fires, go to inciweb.wildfire.gov.

Bits ’n’ Pieces

By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor

From east, west and beyond Washington state leaders have urged Trump to approve emergency wildfire resources as 12 fires have burned more than 200,000 acres in the state, including more than 700 buildings in Spokane, where 37-year-old Francis Farinacci has been arrested on a first-degree arson charge for causing the Old Trails Fire.

He made his first court appearance on Aug. 4, and is being held on bail of $1 million, according to NPR. Anthropic shared that its AI systems broke into computers at three outside organizations, The New York Times reported. An MIT professor told the Lever that AI is “less regulated than a sandwich,” adding that AI systems now have “goals of their own” since AI leaders “seek to replace humans.”

At least 12 states have been targeted by cyberattacks on their water systems, according to ABC News.

An opinion piece in The Times questioned the Trump administration returning 330,000 legal U.S. resident Haitians to Haiti. The administration told the U.S. Supreme Court that Haiti is stabilized enough for people to return, but the State Department has a Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Haiti, due to gang violence, kidnappings and broad instability. Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine has warned against deporting Ohio’s Haitians, saying it will cause the state to suffer a “$400 million loss.” Other states’ leaders said President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown threatens seniors who rely on Haitian caregivers.

According to Axios, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia still receives weapons from Iran, and is also building infrastructure for 30,000 more North Korean troops to fight against Ukraine.

Various media reported that Dr. Anthony Fauci invoked the Fifth Amendment and declined to testify in a recent Republican-led hearing about COVID-19.

Fauci, who helmed the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases throughout the global pandemic, said there was an “obvious obsession with calling for my prosecution.” He took the Fifth on his attorney’s advice.

When Trump was president during the onset of the pandemic, he awarded Fauci a presidential commendation for his “exceptional effort” on Operation Warp Speed. However, Trump soured on Fauci, who didn’t always agree with his statements regarding the virus — including that perhaps it could be killed by injecting disinfectants such as bleach into the human body.

At the recent hearing, Republicans mocked Fauci and called him a liar.

Historian and commentator Heather Cox Richardson noted that they did not introduce evidence of Fauci breaking any laws.

The U.S. Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as the nation’s intelligence director in a 51-47 vote, with Democrats objecting to Clayton repeatedly refusing to say former-President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, and Clayton’s heavy redactions of the Epstein files in a seeming effort to protect individuals who may be implicated in crimes, various media reported.

Capital One reported that it closed Trump Organization accounts over money-laundering concerns.

U.S. District Attorney for Washington, D.C. Jeanine Pirro moved to dismiss the criminal case against a former Olympic canoeist, stating in court filings that it was “flawed installation,” not vandalism, that caused damage to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, various media reported. The Department of the Interior filing was faulted for “providing less than fulsome information at the outset of this case.” Trump had emphatically blamed “vandals and Radical Left Scum that hate our country” for pool problems, such as peeling paint and algae growth.

Trump has announced another D.C.-area renovation project, with $22.5 billion going to work on the Dulles International Airport. CNN reported that the move comes amid polling that shows 58% of Americans are “dissatisfied or angry” about the president’s building spree in the capital city.

Blast from the past: Sixty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library.

As president, Truman had fought for equitable health care for all, and Johnson said “people of the United States love and voted for Harry Truman, not because he gave them hell [a reference to Truman’s quote: “I never did give them hell. I just told the truth, and they thought it was hell”] — but because he gave them hope.” Johnson called Truman a man of vision for helping others, and said Medicare and Medicaid — which right-wing interests objected to — would allow Americans the healing miracle of modern medicine without crushing their life savings.

But in 2025, Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill cut $911 billion from Medicare over 10 years, which will begin to take effect later this year.

NEWS

Library expansion construction to begin August 10

By Reader Staff The Sandpoint branch of the East Bonner County Library District will begin construction on a facilities expansion project Monday, Aug. 10, with safety barriers and temporary parking corrals to be erected around the building site on the northwest corner of the building.

A portion of the parking lot near the Library Garden will also be enclosed for construction staging and equipment.

The 4,667-square-foot, two-level expansion carries a price tag of $2.5 million and was funded through donations and local sales tax revenue.

Once completed around March 2027, the library will include more meeting spaces, study rooms and behind-thescenes workspace improvements, according to library

staff. In addition, the project will result in a cafe featuring a coffee bar leased to a local business or entrepreneur, open during library hours.

In the meantime, on-site parking at the library will be slightly reduced, with additional parking available on Oak Street and the North Summit Church parking lot on Division Avenue.

Although the library does not currently anticipate requiring public closures during construction, certain activities may create noisy conditions or require limited closures of spaces adjacent to the construction.

Physical signage will be posted as needed, but for the timeliest updates, follow the library’s Facebook or Instagram, or check the “Expansion” page at bit.ly/SandpointLibrary.

A rendering of the expansion project at the Sandpoint branch of the East Bonner County Library District. Image courtesy of Architects West

ITD crews building new turn lane at U.S. 95-E. Dufort Road

By Reader Staff Motorists traveling on U.S. 95 through the Sagle area are warned of delays, with the Idaho Transportation Department working to build a new northbound right-turn lane at the intersection with Dufort Road.

The project began Aug. 3 and is intended to be the first phase in the future installation of a traffic signal to improve safety for drivers making the turn onto East Dufort Road while keeping traffic flowing on the highway.

According to ITD, the turn lane construction period will last through mid-August, with large equipment and trucks entering and exiting the roadway near the intersection.

“Short delays are possible, and drivers are encouraged to slow down, stay alert and use extra caution while traveling through the work zone,” officials stated.

Right turns from northbound U.S. 95 onto Dufort Road will remain open during construction.

Work on the new traffic signal is expected to begin early next year, with an operational date of sometime in the late-spring or early summer of 2027.

“We know this is a project the community has been asking about for years,” stated ITD District Engineer Ryan Hawkins. “Before installing a traffic signal, we needed to make sure it was the right solution based on engineering standards and changing traffic conditions. Our recent studies show that it is, and we’re excited to begin the first phase of making this improvement a reality.”

The intersection was not initially part of the current seven-year Idaho Transportation Investment Program, but an engineering evaluation showed that it qualified for the work and allowed ITD to access additional funding.

According to the department, community feedback also served to underscore the need and desire for improvements at the intersection.

“While no single improvement can eliminate every crash, the traffic signal is expected to improve safety by creating more controlled opportunities for drivers entering, crossing and turning onto and off of U.S. 95,” ITD stated.

Long-term plans for the U.S. 95 corridor between Dufort and Lakeshore Drive continue to include a full interchange at Dufort Road as the ultimate vision for the area, using on- and off-ramps to separate highway traffic from crossing traffic, which would require eventual removal of the traffic signal. However, that large-scale project is still many years away.

Details about the entire long-term corridor plan can be found at itd.idaho.gov/ project under “US-95 Dufort to Lakeshore Drive.”

Additional information about the traffic signal project, including future construction updates, will be shared as the project progresses.

Commissioners elect Audra Savage to final Fair Board seat

By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff The Bonner County Board of Commissioners voted Aug. 4 to elect area homesteader Audra Savage to the Fair Board, following the resignation of Quentin Ducken earlier this year.

Savage will complete the remainder of Ducken’s four-year term, serving on the board until May 6, 2028.

Savage’s appointment marks the end of a monthslong process to fill three Fair Board vacancies left by resignations, including that of Staci McBrayer, who left to take on the role of fair manager. Commissioners Brian Domke and Ron Korn conducted each interview in various public meetings, previously selecting Sarah Mitchell and Zach Spohn as new board members.

“I just want to also thank everyone else who applied and interviewed,” said Domke at the Aug. 4 meeting. “There are a lot of really passionate people who contribute a lot of their time for the fair, even if it’s informally, and that is very much appreciated.”

In her July 28 interview, Savage said that the fair “embodies” who she is through her commitment to homesteading and a

rural lifestyle. In her free time, Savage gardens and preserves food and has dedicated the past 30 years to raising and homeschooling her five children.

“I am a prepper, you know, or whatever you want to say.

I just think that we need to be able to take care of ourselves and grow our own food and raise our own animals, and I think the fair shows that to people, especially in the 4-H program,” said Savage.

“It gives the kids the ability to learn business and grow an animal to sell and to save money, and it teaches them how ... much it costs, really, to have the kind of lifestyle,” she added.

Aside from her background with the fair and 4-H, the commissioners selected Savage for her experience with social media marketing and her current enrollment in accounting classes, with Domke adding that “fiscal aptitude, accountability, responsibility are something that we continue to talk about as being highly important.”

The commissioners voted 2-0 to elect Savage. Commissioner Asia Williams, who did not participate in the Fair Board interviews due to scheduling conflicts, abstained from the vote.

August 6, 2026 / R / 7

‘A curmudgeon in training’…

Bouquets: • I was saddened to learn of the passing of former-Bonner County Commissioner Cary Kelly. I always had a lot of respect for him, and after reading his obituary, I realize why.

Kelly attended Stanford University and then grad school at University of Stockholm. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the infantry for 14 months of combat operations in Vietnam. After that tour, Kelly was sent back to Asia as an F-4 Phantom pilot and later a KC-130, which he flew for the next 25 years. In addition to his time as one of our more levelheaded commissioners, Kelly supervised the Bonner County Marine Division, was elected as a LPOSD trustee, served on the Better Together Animal Alliance Board and was active with Rotary. Altogether, Kelly was involved in public service for more than 60 years. We at the Reader thank him for serving his country and community for his entire adult life.

GUEST SUBMISSION: • “Bouquets all around to Racheal Baker for taking that stunning photo of me at last year’s Community Night concert [Reader cover July 30, 2026] and to the editorial staff for choosing that particular photo to represent their coverage of the Festival at Sandpoint 2026. I consider myself ‘almost famous’ now. “‘Almost famous’ for exhibiting pure joy and appreciation for our local music scene. And ‘almost famous’ for defying Festival ‘rules’ by standing/ dancing in the low-seat area.

Elation will not be sidelined.”

— By Sheryn Olson * No relation to the publisher Barbs: • The fact that the recall effort against Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm and Council President Deb Reuhle is being led by someone who doesn’t even live in Sandpoint city limits is just about par for the course in this silly, silly world.

8 / R / August 6, 2026

Dear editor, In a few short weeks, I will have completed 70 orbits around the sun, which means I will soon be a bona fide and certified curmudgeon. In preparation for this awesome responsibility, I feel that I need to get some practice.

So let me begin with whining about the underage, untrained, unlicensed, uninsured and unhelmeted teenagers racing about town on e-bicycles, which are, ostensibly, electric motorcycles.

Some of these vehicles have pedals, but they only are used for footrests, the riders being too unambitious to get any exercise.

As a retired volunteer ski patroller, I have seen what happens when you combine teenage hormones with speed and immovable objects; it is not pretty and is often life changing. Parents are being derelict in their duty to protect their children. Why have they succumbed to this plight and not cut the cord? In closing, I sign myself as a curmudgeon in training (CIT).

Daniel J. Haley Sandpoint

‘Bitter’…

Dear editor, So a couple of readers think that Reader Editor Zach Hagadone should cool his jets and be more mellow [“Junk Drawer,” July 30, 2026]. Nope, crank it up and spew out some serious bitterness. The Grifter-in-Chief has pulled all the stops in enriching himself, alienating our long-term allies, starting another war without end, unleashing his ICE goons and watching the country burn.

Have at it, Zach!

Ted Wert Sandpoint

What’s the point of the recall over parking?…

Dear editor, Who is behind the recall of the mayor? I haven’t met anyone who lives in Sandpoint supporting it? In fact, according to The Sandpoint Reader, the woman filing it has a Sandpoint address but lives elsewhere.

The cost of parking for a year is $20 for city residents and $35 for county residents. It helps the city maintain and improve the infrastructure. As it is now, all that cost and weight falls on city residents even though they are only a fraction of the people using it. The time limits and parking restrictions for most of the town are the same, but now

they will be enforced. There is still plenty of free parking, so just drop your kids and stuff off at the beach and walk a little.

Yes, the kiosk is a little confusing, but come on, a recall? The recall is going to cost the taxpayers of Sandpoint money. It feels like hurting Sandpoint and making someone else pay for non-city resident’s fun is the whole point.

Mary Haley Sandpoint

Development isn’t compatible with neighborhood feel…

Dear editor, It is disappointing to see that the Sandpoint City Council approved the Ridley Village Court development without making the developer adhere to the Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan with a 25-foot setback and 10 or fewer units for MDR [medium-density residential], which would have been compatible with the neighboring Maplewood Village development.

The original proposal requested a zero-foot setback and 14 units. In spite of 60 written and/or spoken comments made at the council and Planning and Zoning meetings against the zero-foot setback, the council approved the revised plan with a five-foot setback and 13 units (HDR [high-density residential]) creating 56 instead of 57 horses. Maplewood has 46 houses on a larger lot.

Despite overwhelming opposition (91 written and/or spoken comments) from Maplewood residents, the extension of River Rock Road will cause Maplewood to lose its close neighborhood feel. Maplewood will now have to deal with parking issues and an increase in traffic on Division Street from Ridley Village Court.

A city councilor indicated that one does not always have a choice as to what a neighbor decides to build on their property. Don’t let that dictate the decision when a self-contained development with 20foot setbacks would be compatible with the adjoining neighborhood.

Marilyn George Sandpoint

‘Donald Trump, pathological liar’…

Dear editor, • We won the war with Iran in the first hour.

• Never admits any mistakes.

• Blanche at DOJ so Trump can harvest the benefits of slush fund.

• Rewarding members of Jan. 6 riot with pardons, in some cases payouts.

• “I won the 2020 election.” Six

years later, still wasting taxpayer dollars trying to prove he won, sending 250 FBI agents to try and find anything that can help his claim.

• Manipulating stock market, saying things like, “We’re close to a deal with Iran, they really want a deal.” Said how many times?

• Claiming he’s stopping drug trafficking, then pardoning Honduran drug kingpin after he was found guilty under the Biden administration and sentenced to 45 years for the 400 pounds of cocaine he was caught with. How much did he pay for his “get out of jail free” card?

• Taken the Oath of Office twice, still doesn’t understand his responsibility to “preserve, protect and defend” the U.S. Constitution.

• Elected to make life better for all Americans, instead makes himself a billionaire.

Michael Harmelin Sandpoint

Vote for the alternatives in November…

Dear editor, Are you better off than two years ago? Grocery prices. Gas. Rent. Health insurance. Fertilizer.

Have your wages gone up? Is your social security guaranteed? No? This is what happens when big money rules the government. They take our taxes and give them to big businesses and the wealthy, and take away our services.

Then there are the dangerous roads. What if you were trying to race to CDA, 90 minutes from Bonners Ferry, and an accident shut down the highway in both directions? It happens all the time.

Jim Woodward and Mark Sauter were working on these issues.

Folks didn’t exercise their right to vote, and they lost their primaries.

Now we have three Idaho Freedom Foundation-funded candidates, Herndon, Rasor and Jane Sauter (no relation to Mark) in the “R” column for November.

Their platform includes eliminating property taxes, which fund public schools, road maintenance, veteran services, etc. More tax returns for the wealthy, less for public services.

We have excellent non-Republican alternatives: Steve Johnson vs.

Herndon, Kathryn Larson vs. Rasor and Karen Mathee vs. Jane Sauter.

We need representatives who will work on critical issues affecting our quality of life here in North Idaho.

Vote Nov. 3!

Kathleen Painter Bonners Ferry

Tell Rep. Fulcher: Idaho’s public lands should not be sold or transferred

By Rob Mason Reader Contributor Rep. Russ Fulcher recently sent Idahoans a survey seeking input on public lands management. Idahoans should pay close attention. The survey follows Fulcher’s suggestion late last year that transferring national public lands to state control may be imminent.

Such a transfer would deliver a major threat to our Idaho values and way of life.

It would saddle Idaho with an exploding state budget and create substantial pressure to raise taxes or sell our public land to cover those costs.

A recent Backcountry Hunters and Anglers analysis estimated that Idaho could face an $837.7 million financial burden under this scenario. Idaho is already struggling to pay the rising cost of fighting wildfires on state lands.

Taking responsibility for millions more acres would force taxpayers to choose between exploding our state budget or selling lands where we love to hunt, fish, hike and camp.

Our public lands belong to all Americans and must remain in public hands.

Idahoans should make clear in their survey comments to Fulcher that transferring national public lands to state or local control is not sound management — it is a path toward their eventual sale and a significant threat to our values and way of life as Idahoans.

Our congressional delegation should reject that path unequivocally. Let Fulcher know we need to keep public lands in public hands at: fulcher. house.gov/ProtectOurLands.

Rob Mason is the Idaho director of The Wilderness Society.

August 6, 2026 / R / 9

Mad about Science:

Brought to you by:

aluminum foil

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

It’s easy to take some of our most ubiquitous kitchen items for granted. They’re relatively inexpensive, always within arm’s reach and quick to replace with a quick trip to the grocery store.

Now try to imagine if you had to produce some of your favorite kitchen items at home. A crafty individual with a handful of bricks, some tongs and a sharpening stone could likely make knives and cutlery. But what would you wrap your food in?

Throughout much of human history, preservation of food was accomplished with salt and linen. Linen in particular was often coated in beeswax to create a better seal to keep air and moisture out of foodstuffs. When the beeswax became gross and the linen needed to be cleaned, individuals could simply melt the beeswax, wash the linen and reapply the wax as desired.

This was apparently tremendously inconvenient, because we started wrapping our food in metal with the invention of tin foil.

Tin foil and aluminum foil are not the same thing. We informally refer to metallic foils in America as “tinfoil”, but tin foil and aluminum foil are two different inventions filling the same role. That roll of metallic foil in your kitchen isn’t tin, it’s aluminum, and it has been for as long as virtually anyone reading this article has been alive.

Proper tin foil is a far older invention. We have evidence of tin foil being used as decoration as far back as the fifth century C.E. in China, and I know what you’re thinking — 10 / R / August 6, 2026

no, it wasn’t for a hat.

While tin and aluminum can both be used to construct a Faraday cage to block radio signals, doing so requires a great deal of precision. Gaps in the material render it virtually useless for that purpose, and if you’re trying to wear it to protect your brain, realize that the entire lower twothirds of your skull will remain exposed. Sorry, folks, radio waves can still pass through flesh and bone. If it couldn’t, Wi-Fi wouldn’t be very useful.

Luckily, despite what your aunt might tell you on Facebook, radio waves don’t possess the energy required to damage DNA unless you’re standing really close to a very powerful source point, which can cause burns. The government also can’t read your thoughts with radio waves — it just pulls the browsing data from your cellphone carrier to do that.

Tin foil in the kitchen first started appearing in the early 20th century. Being metal, tin foil was oven-safe and made cleaning up pans a breeze. Its malleable nature also allowed for it to cover and seal food to keep out pests and bacteria. This role was also well suited to plastic wrap, which was invented in 1933, moving in lockstep with household refrigeration, which became more widely available in 1927.

Aluminum foil as we know it replaced tin foil by 1910, with the operation of the first aluminum rolling plant in Emmishofen, Switzerland.

We’ve explored the process of refining aluminum in previous installments of “Mad About Science,” but here’s a brief overview of the process in order to put the opening statements of this article into perspective:

Bauxite ore is broken down in high-temperature caustic soda in something called the Bayer process. Aluminum doesn’t exist as a shiny metal in the natural world — it must be converted from bauxite into aluminum oxide using this process. Next, the aluminum oxide is dissolved in molten, electrified cryolite, allowing the pure aluminum to settle at the bottom and be tapped off to create ingots or rolls in what’s called the Hall-Héroult process. This is primarily why creating your own aluminum foil at home is virtually impossible.

This is an extreme simplification of the process, and if you’d like to see a more in-depth exploration of the process of how aluminum and aluminum foil is made, the Factora channel on YouTube has a fantastic visual breakdown of the entire process.

Finished aluminum ingots are run through multiple stages of hot and cold rolling to smash it into a desired thickness. This involves running a heated ingot through different stages of steel rollers that press down the malleable metal little by little, until it’s cooled to room temperature and smashed further.

Standard household aluminum foil has a thickness of 0.016 millimeters, while foil marketed as “heavy duty” is 0.024-mm thick. While this doesn’t sound like much, it’s a pretty noticeable difference once you use it in the kitchen.

Foil wrappers for things like fast food burgers are much weaker and prone to tearing than foil used on dishes of Thanksgiving leftovers.

Aluminum foil is also commonly used to clean silver and gold jewelry. It is highly conductive and has a high

surface area, which makes it great to use for electrolytic cleaning — a process of submerging aluminum foil and jewelry in water and a baking soda solution, then passing an electric current through it.

A chemical reaction with the sodium bicarbonate loosens contaminants and corrosion from the jewelry, while gas released from the process creates a scrubbing action.

Aluminum foil is generally recyclable. Recycling aluminum products uses 5% of the energy it requires to create new aluminum products from bauxite. This level of intensity is rarely seen in any other manufacturing process, especially when you consider that aluminum, unlike paper, can be effectively reused as many times as it’s recycled.

Stay curious, 7B.

Random Corner ? (part 2)

Don’t know much about music • Studies have shown that playing music helps make plants grow faster.

• “You Suffer” by English grindcore band Napalm Death has been recognized as the shortest song in the world, clocking in at just over one second.

• The longest officially released song in the world is “The Rise and Fall of Bossanova,” by Michael and Kelley Bostwich. It’s 13 hours, 23 minutes and 32 seconds long.

• The band Vegetable Orchestra plays instruments made from carrots, celery, peppers, squash, zucchini and other raw vegetables. Special microphones help amplify the sound and, after the performance, the band cooks all the leftovers into a soup served to the audience.

• International Strange Music Day falls on Aug. 24. The annual event encourages people to listen to unique and bizarre music to help expand our ears toward new sounds.

We can help!

• The most people to play the same piano simultaneously is 25, as recognized by Guinness World Records in 2023.

• At one point in its history, the micronation Monaco had more people in its orchestra than its army. It had 85 musicians and only 82 soldiers.

• “Karaoke” is a Japanese world that translates to “empty orchestra.”

• The most popular musical instrument in the world is the piano, followed by the guitar, violin, drums, flute, saxophone and trumpet.

• Paul McCartney is the only artist to have a No. 1 hit as a member of a quartet, trio, duo and solo artist.

• Frank Sinatra apparently hated his hit song “Strangers in the Night,” calling the song, “The worst fucking song I’ve ever heard.”

PERSPECTIVES

Legacy of a loon

By Megan Lekander Reader Contributor When Ben Lekander and Simeon Kubacz (aged 12) went on a family boat camping trip to Lee’s Point on Lake Pend Oreille, the last thing they expected was to discover an environmental catastrophe that very few people know about.

The boys were exploring the marsh using a drone when they came across a distressing sight, a juvenile loon was trapped in the seaweed, seemingly paralyzed and shaking.

The boys knew that seeing a loon at this time of year is extremely rare, so they waded into the reeds and used a knife to cut the bird free and carried it back to the camp, where they realized the loon had a deformed, bloody foot and couldn’t move. They fed him bass they had caught and wrapped him safely in a towel.

With the help of Ben’s dad and stepmom, they called

dumb of the week

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

It’s been another Dumb week to be alive. Let’s dive into the sucking void, shall we?

After months of President Donald Trump raging about “his” Reflecting Pool being damaged by “vandals,” the federal government stunned absolutely no one last week by moving to drop charges against multiple individuals in connection with alleged damage to the pool near the Lincoln Memorial.

Federal prosecutors moved to drop the vandalism case against former-Olympic athlete David Hearn on July 31, which was a sharp departure from their monthslong argument that Hearn was responsible for damage to the pool’s new $14 million lining.

multiple wildlife sanctuaries until they found someone who could rehabilitate the bird that they had named “Toonie the Loonie.”

They rushed by boat back to the mainland, where they met a conservationist who took the bird to get X-rays to see what was causing Toonie’s symptoms. It was discovered that Toonie had severe lead poisoning due to ingesting numerous lead sinkers, as well as a hook embedded in his foot, and he had to be humanely euthanized by a veterinarian.

They were shocked and heartbroken to discover how common using lead sinkers is and that there are no regulations in the state of Idaho preventing the poisoning of our environment with lead fishing equipment. Currently, only six states have laws restricting the use of lead, including: Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington.

Lead is particularly danger-

ous to loons because they often swallow lead weights mistaking them for small pebbles, which help them digest food.

Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death in loons, making up roughly 25%-49% of all loon mortalities.

Despite loons being protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, which prevents the hunting, harassment or harm of the species, it is seemingly ignored that they are being poisoned at such an alarming rate.

After the death of Toonie, the boys’ heartbreak soon turned into motivation to make a change that could impact the future of these beautiful birds. Ben and Simeon are writing politicians in Idaho to ask for regulations regarding lead usage in fishing, as well as to raise awareness of the risks of lead and where to buy safe lead-free alternatives such as Dave’s Tangle Free and Dr. Fish.

The boys feel strongly that

it is our responsibility as anglers to protect our beautiful state and the majestic animals with which we share this land.

This article was written by Megan Lekander, with the help of Ben Lekander and Simeon Kubacz.

Former-Fox News host and current-wine-guzzling buffoon Jeanine Pirro was summoned to Dear Leader’s office to explain why she “choked,” as Trump worded it.

As U.S. Attorney for D.C., Pirro lugged a box full of evidence to the White House on Aug. 3 to explain to the cranky leader of the free world that the Reflecting Pool damage was caused by a “botched installation,” not by vandals.

Trump took the news with humility and swiftly apologized for his numerous false accusations against American citizens, which could have led to them serving a decade in prison. Nah, I’m just kidding.

He did what he always does when confronted with facts: he whined, bitched, attacked and then doubled down on his lies.

“Frankly, I think she choked because the judge was really vicious,” Trump said. “Instead of going after the people that did it, the judge went after her and went after her department,

and I guess she choked.”

The fact that Pirro — who has had her head firmly lodged up Trump’s ass since she was paid to lie on Fox News — is declining to bring charges against these individuals is proof enough that Trump’s accusations were completely baseless.

It was the construction firm he hired that screwed up, not the people arrested for vandalism.

The whole story would be an embarrassing setback for Trump if he had the ability to feel shame or humility, but we’re talking about the guy who still claims the 2020 election was “rigged” even though six years have passed and even his own voting commissions have failed to turn up a shred of evidence supporting his lies.

Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy said of Pirro, “All I know is, you better not go before a federal judge and make allegations you can’t back up. ... They are very serious about it.”

“I think [Hearn is] going to

sue,” or file for compensation under the Federal Tort Claims Act, Kennedy said. “I mean, I would.”

Charges were also dropped against three other people accused of removing pieces of paint from the pool.

In April, Trump said he hand-picked the firm Atlantic Industrial Coatings to work on the Reflecting Pool, claiming he spoke with them on the phone after they worked on a golf course he owned.

But Trump suddenly came down with “presidential amnesia” on Aug. 3, claiming, “I didn’t know the contractor.”

Everything the man touches or talks about always turns into what no one wants to find floating in a pool.

(L-R) Ben Lekander and Simeon Kubacz. Courtesy photo

August 6, 2026 / R / 11

FEATURE

‘Simple but elevated’

Feeding the community at The Granary General Store

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Sam Podmajerski and Emily Peilleron want to feed the community. The co-owners of The Granary General Store opened their doors earlier this summer, adding another local business to the buzzing Granary Arts District.

Immediately upon walking into The Granary General Store, located at 518 Oak St. across from Matchwood Brewing Co., the small-town comfortable vibe is evident. Follow your nose to the wide counter filled with savory and sweet baked goods, meats, cheeses and picturesque loaves of bread. Staffed by a dozen smiling employees, going into the bakery and cafe feels familiar, as if it’s always been a part of Sandpoint.

Open every day except Wednesday from 7 a.m.-4 p.m., The Granary has carved a niche for itself in the arts district, both as a popular breakfast and lunch spot as well as a place to stock up before going out on the boat or on a picnic.

The co-owners first met at the Sandpoint Farmers’ Market, where Podmajerski had a booth selling her sourdough bread.

“I started making bread about 10-11 years ago,” Podmajerski told the Reader.

“I was feeding my first-born child solid food and looking at the ingredients; when you have a kid, it awakens a level of care. I’d go into a store and see there were 40 ingredients in a loaf of bread, so that really kicked it off for me.”

Podmajerski specialized in loaves that were simple, rustic and made with as few ingredients as possible. She had gained a robust following at the market, selling hundreds of loaves every week.

After a decade running a bakery in the Basque region of France, Peilleron found herself in Sandpoint raising her children and looking for a way to connect with the community.

The two eventually began offering quarterly Sandpoint Supper Club events at Evans Brothers Coffee — an after-hours potluck where they’d provide bread, cheese and wine.

“Everyone would pick a dish and we’d share and spend the evening together,” Peilleron told the Reader.

“There’s a real longing in this town to gather and be together,” Podmajerski added. “The greatest people bond around food.”

The Granary offers an eclectic 12 / R / August 6, 2026

menu that focuses on high quality ingredients taken up a notch, or “simple but elevated,” as Podmajerski and Peilleron put it.

Front and center are the mouth-watering breads, which are Podmajerski’s specialty. She creates everything from sourdough to focaccia, also offering gluten-free options from the freezer.

Mornings start with fresh quiches and a bakery counter filled with delightful items made 100% from scratch. Throughout the morning, the staff brings out housemade sandwiches on focaccia, baguettes and sourdough breads.

“They’re really easy to travel with, for people who want to grab-and-go for the boat or bike rides,” Peilleron said.

Along with baked goods and unique sandwiches, The Granary also offers a European-style charcuterie supply, with tinned and cured meats, cheeses, mustards, jams, unique butters and more. In the freezer are tuna salads, shredded carrot salads, frozen cinnamon rolls to take and bake, ice cream from Clark Fork’s Mountain Cloud Creamery and more.

“We also have a tinned fish focus,” said Peilleron. “It’s come a long way in the last 10 years. ... It pairs really well with sourdough and butter.”

Coffee is served using two different kinds of beans — both from Spokane roasters — and The Granary offers local Tea Treehouse for its hot and iced tea selections.

They also have a beer and wine

license, with canned craft cocktails, wine, beers and ciders available for inhouse or to-go purchases.

The Granary offers two signature plates on its menu: The Granary plate featuring cured meats, soft-boiled eggs and avocado, while the tuna plate includes housemade tuna salad with pickled onions. Another popular item is the high-protein burrito with ground beef from Wood’s Meats, eggs, cottage cheese and mozzarella.

As far as locations go, Podmajerski and Peilleron were over the moon to open their bakery within the Granary Arts District.

“I love the neighborhood and the arts district feeling,” Podmajerski said. “We love Matchwood and Evans Brothers as community spaces as well.”

Podmajerski and Peilleron worked diligently with their husbands and volunteers to transform the space from its former use as Syringa Cyclery into what it is today. One surprise ended up being an outdoor seating area offering shade and privacy from the street.

“Before we put it together, you couldn’t even tell there was a yard back there,” Peilleron said. “Now that it’s there, it’s actually pretty big.

You’re off the street and it feels nice and airy, too.”

The pair said they have only just

Top left: The Granary co-owners Emily Peilleron (left) and Sam Podmajerski. Photo by Ben Olson.

Top right: The back patio at The Granary. Photo

by Ben Olson. Inset pictures: Quiche, sandwiches and charcuterie plates. Courtesy photos

begun to showcase their ever-revolving menu items, with new additions set to launch throughout the year. They are planning on offering special events in the fall, including a return to their popular Sandpoint Supper Clubs.

For now, though, they continue to be thrilled to see their shared dream realized.

“None of this is possible without bakers and employees, without everything coming together and everyone working together,” Podmajerski said.

“We appreciate everyone who is working so hard to sustain this dream of ours.”

Visit thegranarygeneralstore.com to sign up for their mailing list and learn more.

‘This beautiful story needs to be remembered’

Clark Fork raises funds for statue honoring local heroes

By Reader Staff Inspired by a local story of compassion, community and resilience, acclaimed sculptor Austin Casson has begun construction of a 12-foot-tall statue titled “Clark Fork Heroes.” The sculpture, which will sit outside the town’s high school, is funded entirely by donations and will depict the 2024 rescue of Georgia Skye Tibbetts after she became lost in a snowstorm on Antelope Flats.

Tibbetts had been outside playing when her sled dog, Tundra, bolted into the woods. Her mother was caring for her four younger siblings, including a 2-month-old, and could not go after the dog, so Tibbetts went out on her own and eventually lost her way in the dense forest. By the time she found Tundra, a snowstorm had erased her tracks back to the house and night was falling, so Tibbetts began walking in what she thought was the right direction.

“I thought Tundra might help me find my way home, so we kept walk-

ing; but, looking back on it, I realize she just thought we were on a fun adventure together,” stated Tibbetts, speaking with fundraiser organizers.

“She was still just a big puppy. She didn’t leave me and that did help me feel less alone and safe from the wild animals. She’s the best dog ever.”

Back home, her parents realized something was wrong and, after calling 911, began asking friends and neighbors and anyone on social media for help.

Within hours, 300 people — more than half the population of Clark Fork — were out searching for the missing girl.

Nearly seven hours later, Faithanne and Tim Hutto found Tibbetts wet and slightly hypothermic but alive, thanks in part to Tundra’s warmth.

Inspired by the story, Casson decided to create a sculpture capturing the likeness of Tibbetts and Tundra to commemorate how the community came together to support one another in a time of crisis.

“This beautiful story needs to be remembered,” stated Casson. “In a

world of daily negative sound bites, this is what I still believe our country is about. Clark Fork proved that community, family and neighbors matter.”

“It is my great honor to help share a visual image of what the folks here in Clark Fork accomplished that day,” he later added.

Casson works primarily in metal and stone, and his work has been shown in the Library of Congress and the British and Ukrainian embassies. It also remains on permanent display at the World Golf Hall of Fame and the California Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.

Clark Fork’s commemorative reinforced concrete monument will weigh in at around 5,000 pounds and include a plaque bearing the Huttos’ names, as well as space for the names of the community’s future heroes.

The sculpture will cost approximately $25,000, which will be funded entirely through public donations via GoFundMe. To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/ clark-fork-heroes.

A rendering of how sculptor Austin Casson’s finished work will look, as well as a photo of Georgia Skye Tibbets and her dog, Tundra (inset). Courtesy images

August 6, 2026 / R / 13

COMMUNITY

See the best in equestrian PORPA Sprints celebrates sports at the Sandpoint Rodeo non-motorized watercraft

By Reader Staff Cowboys, cowgirls and thrill-seekers are all invited to the annual Sandpoint Rodeo on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7-8 at the Bonner County Fairgrounds (4203 N. Boyer Road).

The action-packed weekend begins at 7:30 p.m. both nights and includes top equestrian athletes participating in delicate and daunting feats, all verified by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association.

“Join us for an action-packed event that showcases the skills and bravery of our talented rodeo athletes,” stated organizers. “Get ready

to witness heart-stopping bull rides, lightning-fast barrel racing and jaw-dropping roping skills.”

The weekend’s events will include highly competitive bareback riding, saddled bronco riding, bull riding, tie-down roping, steer wrestling, team roping and barrel racing. All in all, winners will walk away with $17,500 in prize money for their performances.

Admission is $26, and children under 2 years old get in for free. Visit sandpointbonnercountyrodeo.com to purchase tickets and read up on the rodeo’s entry policy, which prohibits large bags, hazardous materials and outside alcohol, among other things.

By Reader Staff Paddlers and water lovers should head down to the Mudhole — a.k.a. the Priest River Recreation Area off of Highway 2 — on Saturday, Aug. 8 for the Pend Oreille Rowing and Paddling Association Sprints. These all-ages races celebrate non-motorized watercraft, giving participants the opportunity to grab a paddle and test their athletic limits, or just enjoy a day out on the water.

The nonprofit PORPA promotes water safety and recreation in the Pend Oreille River Valley, partnering with the Long Bridge Swim to bring free swimming lessons to area children, among other community outreach activities. Hosted in conjunction with the Spokane River Rowing

IPA trivia night benefits local conservation efforts

By Reader Staff Put your local conservation knowledge to the test — or just listen and learn — with Conservation on Tap: Trivia and Pint Night with ICL at Idaho Pour Authority (203 Cedar St.).

The Idaho Conservation League will be on site Monday, Aug. 10 with prizes, merch, and educational and entertaining questions from 6-8 p.m.

The nonprofit is dedicated to the conservation of Idaho’s wilderness and

14 / R / August 6, 2026

Lions celebrate Christmas in wildlife, working to preserve the state’s August for clean air, water and other natural resources. IPA will donate $1 from Toys for Tots every draft beer sold during the event to support ICL’s conservation efforts, which include community outreach, educational programs, and work with the Idaho Legislature and other governmental and local bodies.

The 21+ event is free to all. Visit idahoconservation.org/events to learn more.

Association and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the annual PORPA Sprints are a safe, challenging opportunity to show off, practice or learn a new skill.

Participants can use kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, canoes, rafts and other oar-propelled equipment.

Setup begins at 7 a.m., after which athletes can begin checking in and attend the mandatory safety meeting at 7:45 a.m. Races are separated by length, age and experience, and will run every 30 minutes from 8-11:45 a.m. Participants will then gather for a 1 p.m. lunch and award ceremony, followed by free rowing lessons at 2:30 p.m.

View the complete schedule and register online for $25 at PORPA.org.

Children ages 18 and younger race for free.

By Reader Staff The Sandpoint Lions Club is looking ahead to December with its second annual Christmas in August Toys for Tots Charity Poker Run on Saturday, Aug. 8. The fundraiser combines poker, motorcycle riding and old-fashioned community fun beginning at 9 a.m. at the Lions’ clubhouse (609 S. Ella Ave.).

All hot rods are welcome to join in the morning poker run, where riders will travel from one stop to the next, picking up cards as they go until they have a full hand to play. Riders should arrive by 9 a.m. to sign in and pay their $25 participation fee, and the run officially begins at 10:30 a.m. Community members of all ages can also hang out at the clubhouse throughout the day for a silent auction, raffle, beer garden and $15 dinner.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Lions’ Toys for Tots drive, which ensures that families struggling financially during the holidays have something special to put under the Christmas tree.

Learn more about the program at sandpointlions.wixsite.com/website, or make dinner reservations for the event by calling 208-661-0428.

Free Estimates ISA Board Certified Master Arborist

208.610.4858

www.skywalkertreecare.com

COMMUNITY

Celebrating 54 years of the Sandpoint Arts and Crafts Fair

By Reader Staff The Pend Oreille Arts Council will take over downtown Sandpoint for its 54th annual Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Aug. 9, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fair will pack parts of North Second Avenue and Oak Street with 120 booths selling local accessories, artwork, hand-crafted goods and treats of all kinds.

“There’s something special about seeing downtown filled with artists, makers and neighbors enjoying the weekend together,” stated POAC Arts Coordinator Claire Lutz. “Whether you’re searching for a one-of-a-kind gift, adding something unique to your

Courtesy photo own home or simply spending the day exploring, the fair is a wonderful opportunity to support artists and experience the creativity that makes our community so vibrant.”

Visitors can browse a wide variety of paintings, photography, jewelry and home goods, as well as metalwork, woodwork and glass, ceramic and fiber arts, all made by area artisans.

Kids — and the young at heart — can also enjoy hands-on creative activities hosted by the Kaniksu Folk School, Sandpoint Ceramics and the Sandpoint Waldorf School.

Admission is free to all. Visit artinsandpoint.org or POAC’s Facebook page for more information.

August 6, 2026 / R / 15

Festival at Sandpoint edition

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

16 / R / August 6, 2026

All photos taken by Racheal Baker

COMMUNITY

Idaho Community Foundation grants $94K to BoCo arts, human rights organizations

By Reader Staff Local organizations focused on access to the arts and supporting human rights received $94,300 in grants from the Idaho Community Foundation, with awards drawn from the community-created Bonner County Fund for Arts Enhancement and Bonner County Endowment for Human Rights.

The Fund for Arts Enhancement targets philanthropy toward education, access and community connection.

The 2026 recipients, who were awarded a combined $75,000, include: the Arts Alliance, Carousel of Smiles, Festival at Sandpoint, Kaniksu Land Trust, Lake Pend Oreille School District, Memorial Community Center, Music Conservatory of Sandpoint and Pend Oreille Arts Council.

The Endowment Fund for Human Rights supports projects that “affirm

the dignity and worth of every person, promote community education around bias and prejudice, and celebrate racial, social and cultural diversity in Bonner County.”

A total of $19,300 was awarded through the fund, with recipients including: the Bonner Community Food Center, Bonner Partners in Care Clinic, Community Resource EnVision Center, Music Bridges Borders, NAMI Idaho-Far North, Pend Oreille Arts Council, Pro-Voice Project Foundation, Sandpoint Alliance For Equality, Sandpoint Youth Center and Wassmuth Center for Human Rights The grants are part of ICF’s statewide effort to celebrate its milestone of awarding $200 million in grants and scholarships to Idaho communities since 1988.

For more information about ICF grant opportunities, visit idahocf.org.

BONNER GENERAL IMMEDIATE CARE

From the lake to the trails, summer fun sometimes comes with unexpected bumps along the way. When minor injuries or illnesses happen, Bonner General Immediate Care is here with convenient, compassionate care close to home.

Sprains, minor fractures, cuts, burns, coughs, fevers, and more, we’re ready to help you get back to your summer.

Bonner General Immediate Care 520 N. 3rd Ave. Sandpoint, ID 83864 (208) 263-0649 www.bonnergeneral.org

Mon-Fri : 9am - 6 pm Sat & Sun: 10 am - 5pm No appointment necessary August 6, 2026 / R / 17

events

Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com THURSDAY, august 6

Festival at Sandpoint: Midland 7:30pm @ War Memorial Field Openers Camden Morris and Remy Garrison start at 7:30pm Live Music w/ Chris Paradis 5-7pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Sister Sadie in concert 7pm @ Panida Theater All-women Grammy-nominated powerhouse band based out of Nashville Open Irish jam (host: Seamus Divine) 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge

Live Music w/ Spool Effect 9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ Monarch Mountain Band 2-5pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ Angel Urrea 6-8:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Live Music w/ Carli Osaka 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ One Street Over 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar

Festival at Sandpoint: Switchfoot 7:30pm @ War Memorial Field With opener Ethan Burdick Live Music w/ Cast & Crew 5-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Live Music w/ Arie VanDenBerg 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Chris, Rachel and Kristi 5-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Live jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante Live Music w/ Brittany Jean 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Camden Morris 6-9pm @ Blue Heron Cafe Live Music w/ Aaron Golay & the Original Sin 9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge

tuesDAY, august 11

Live Music w/ Benny Baker 6-8pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall 18 / R / August 6, 2026

SATURDAY, august 8

Festival at Sandpoint: Rick Springfield 7:30pm @ War Memorial Field With The Buckley Storms

Live Music w/ Fiddlin’ Red, Angel Urrea 1-4pm, 6-9pm @ Barrel 33 Fiddlin’ Red at 1pm, Urrea at 6pm Live Music w/ Madrona Hollow 5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ PORPA Sprints See porpa.org or Page 14 for more info Live jazz w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar

SunDAY, august 9

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Live trivia w/ Toshi Trivia night 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge 6-8pm @ IPA

Live jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ The District

Live Music w/ CD Woodbury 5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ Live Music w/ John Daffron 6-9pm @ Barrel 33 Sandpoint Rodeo (Aug. 7-8) See bonnercountyfair.com/events for info

Festival at Sandpoint: Grand Finale — How to Train Your Dragon 2 in concert 7:30pm @ War Memorial Field Gates open at 5. Cheers! tasting event from 5-7pm

Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Magic with Star Alexander 5-8pm @ Jalapeño’s Live Music w/ Fiddlin’ Red 1-4pm @ Barrel 33

Live Music w/ Kip McMillan 2-5pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ Jennifer Stoehner 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Open mic/open jam 6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

FriDAY, august 7

August 6-13, 2026

Garudio opening 5:30-8:30pm @ 443 S. Fourth Ave. Woods Wheatcroft’s new studio, with drinks, nibbles, art and more Live Music w/ Liam McCoy and Friends 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Art exhibition opening and reception 5-8pm @ AM Gallery, 301 Cedar St. Photos by Chris Campbell, paintings

by Devon Chapman, jewelry and purses by Heather Upton Zesty contra dance 7-10pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall For experienced dancers. Live music, lively caller, no introductory dances Movies on the Mountain (free) 8:13pm @ Crow’s Bench (Schweitzer) Free outdoor screening of a mystery movie! Rated PG. Food/drinks available POAC Annual Arts and Crafts Fair 9am-5pm @ Downtown Sandpoint Artist booths, food vendors and more Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Produce, live music, artisan crafts, more Historic walking tours 11am @ Cedar Street Bridge $10/$5 for a 75-min. tour featuring a local historian sharing stories

Open mic night hosted by BioBeat 5pm @ Eichardt’s Pub POAC Annual Arts and Crafts Fair 9am-4pm @ Downtown Sandpoint

monDAY, august 10

Outdoor Experience group run Conservation on Tap: Trivia & Pint Night w/ ICL 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 3-5 miles, all levels welcome Join Idaho Conservation League for trivia, prizes and merch. Free admission, $1 of every East Coast swing lessons beer sold supports ICL. idahoconservation.org 7pm @ DreamWorks Studio

wednesDAY, august 12

Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park Produce, live music, artisan crafts, more Live piano w/ Peter Lucht 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

ThursDAY, august 13

Family Night, live music w/ John Firshi 5-7:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Benny on the Deck 5:30-8:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge Beginner Argentine tango class 7pm @ Embody Center, 823 Main St. No partner needed. $15

Live Music w/ Liam McCoy and Friends Sandpoint Summer Music Series: The Jauntee 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub 6pm @ Farmin Park A free, outdoor concert with Colorado band The Jauntee, presented by Mattox Farm Productions. Food trucks on site and drinks by Eichardt’s Pub

MUSIC

Sandpoint Summer Series continues with The Jauntee

By Reader Staff Three words will always be welcome in a small town like Sandpoint: “free outdoor music.”

For the third installment of the Sandpoint Summer Series, Colorado-based four-piece band The Jauntee will take the stage at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 13 at Farmin Park in downtown Sandpoint.

Originally hailing from Boston, The Jauntee now plays out of Colorado.

The band’s unique blend of jazz, funk, rock and psychedelic jams are perfect for the outdoor concert series presented by Mattox Farm Productions.

Popular on the festival circuit, The Jauntee has always enjoyed taking the stage and sharing their music with fans. Known for energetic live performances, The Jauntee’s first gig in Sandpoint was at the 219 Lounge in

2024, where they surely gained a few more followers.

Guitarist and vocalist Caton Sollenberger then told the Reader, “The Pacific Northwest vibe is right up our alley.”

The Jauntee released Anything on July 14, which is their first studio album in five years.

The free outdoor concert series — dubbed “Odd Nights Out,” as performances take place on odd days in August and September — is funded entirely by local sponsors. Sponsors include the Pend Oreille Arts Council, Sandpoint Hotel and Suites, Skyright Roofing and Washington Trust Bank. Event sponsors are the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce, Kester’s Kreations, KPND and North Root Architecture.

Critical partners include the Heartwood Center, the Novas of Evergreen Realty, Sandpoint Reader and Travis Harmon Construction.

Music Conservatory of Sandpoint second Summer Academy session begins

By Reader Staff The second session of the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint’s Summer Academy began Monday, Aug. 3. The two-week session will culminate in three performances Friday, Aug. 14; Tuesday, Aug. 18; and Wednesday, Aug. 19 at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave.).

Session 2 runs through Aug. 14, focusing on orchestra, musical theater and ensemble choir. After two weeks of in-depth study, the musical theater students will put on a production of Disney’s Aladdin on Aug. 14 from 4-6 p.m. The orchestra and choir students will then perform in the North Idaho Philharmonia’s performances of Carmi-

na Burana on Aug. 18-19 at 7 p.m. both nights.

“MCS has held its summer academy for over 15 years. Part of the excitement used to be Music without Borders, which is now MCS Global, when students from other countries came to join the orchestra,” stated MCS Artistic Director and Founder Karin Wedemeyer. “We look forward to continuing this next year with maestro Jan Pellant conducting. It is our goal to continue to expand the Summer Academy with master classes, live performances and more classes offered in beautiful and scenic Sandpoint.”

Visit sandpointconservatory.org and panida.org for more information.

August 6, 2026 / R / 19

MUSIC

Award-winning bluegrass band Sister Sadie plays Panida

Courtesy photo

By Reader Staff Grammy-nominated bluegrass band Sister Sadie will make the trip out West on Thursday, Aug. 6 for a show starting at 7 p.m. at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).

The Nashville-based powerhouse has earned innumerable accolades, including becoming the first and only all-female group to win the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Entertainer of the Year.

Comprised of banjo player Gena Britt, fiddler Deanie Richardson, guitarist Dani Flowers, mandolin player Rainey Miatke, bassist Katie Blomarz-Kimball, and guitarist and lead vocalist Jaelee Roberts, the group will be among the most recognized artists at this year’s IBMA World of Bluegrass and awards ceremony, having racked up 11 nominations in total. Of those, individual members earned six nominations, demonstrating each band

20 / R / August 6, 2026

member’s talent and drive.

“One of the best things about being in Sister Sadie is playing with people who are recognized as the best at what they do,” stated Flowers. “We’re a band first — we’re friends — but there are still moments on stage when you look over at Gena or Deanie or hear Jaelee hit a line, and you’re just as amazed as the audience is.”

“I hope young girls see us and realize how exciting it can be to make music with your friends,” added Flowers.

The Aug. 6 concert will be two hours of bluegrass in its purest form, performed by musicians at the top of their game. The band will draw from its four studio albums, playing hits that range from toe-tappin’ dance numbers to wistful, contemplative ballads.

Listen to their discography on sistersadieband.com to get a taste of what’s to come. Tickets are $33.75 at the door or at panida.org.

MUSIC

This week’s RLW by Soncirey Mitchell

The Festival at Sandpoint — Week 2 READ

By Reader Staff

It’s the final week of the Festival at Sandpoint’s summer concert series at War Memorial Field. Here’s a quick breakdown of what to expect: Thursday, Aug. 6 Midland with Camden Morris and Remy Garrison Grammy-nominated trio Midland knows how to work hard, but they also know what it means to be footloose and free. Inspired by the name of a Dwight Yoakam song, the Dripping Springs, Texas-born group captures classic country elegance through thick harmonies, steel guitars and a worn-in cool that has made their music a dive bar staple worldwide.

Opener Camden Morris is Nashville-based artist whose songwriting is rooted in the tradition of American road music. Raised in North Idaho and Southern California, Morris pulls from both worlds.

Also opening is rising R&B country artist Remy Garrison, who blends Southern storytelling with infectious hooks and a modern, fearless edge.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 7 Switchfoot with Ethan Burdick With more than 10 million copies sold of its 13 stu-

dio albums, Switchfoot has racked up a string of alternative radio hits. Their 2003 album The Beautiful Letdown went triple-platinum and won a Grammy for 2009’s Hello Hurricane. Playing a unique blend of emotionally intelligent and uplifting alternative rock, Switchfoot has earned a devoted and loyal fan base.

Opening for Switchfoot is Ethan Burdick, who was born in Vancouver, Wash., but has since moved to Nashville after being discovered via TikTok Live. With a pop-leaning direction, this singer-songwriter’s influences include Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 8 Rick Springfield with The Buckley Storms Over the past four decades, Rick Springfield has worn many hats as an entertainer and performer. As the creator of some of the most popular power-pop of the 1980s, this Grammy-winning singer, songwriter and musician has sold 25 millions albums worldwide. His hits include iconic songs such as “Jessie’s Girl,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “An Affair of the Heart” and “Human Touch.”

Springfield is also an accomplished actor who starred opposite Meryl Streep in the film Ricki and the Flash, as

well as playing the creepy Dr. Irving Pitlor in HBO’s True Detective.

Coeur d’Alene group The Buckley Storms will open for Springfield. Energetic and unpredictable, this four-piece plays contagious, high-energy rock with an indie flair.

Gates open at 6 p.m. and the music starts at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 9 Grand Finale: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Movie-in-Concert) Dreamworks’ How to Train Your Dragon 2 is one of those rare sequels that’s a worthy successor to the original. This special night features the film in HD with composer John Powell’s thrilling score performed live to picture by a full symphony orchestra.

The Festival at Sandpoint Orchestra features talented instrumentalists from across the region. Concert master and Sandpoint local Jason Moody had his solo debut with the Spokane Symphony at just 16 years old and is now

Photo by Racheal Baker an adjunct faculty member at Whitworth University and Edmonds Community College, where he teaches violin, viola and chamber music.

Conducting the performance is Morihiko Nakahara, who spent 16 years as resident conductor of the Spokane Symphony. He now serves as the music director of the South Carolina Philharmonic and director of orchestral studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Along with the film screening and live orchestral performance, there will be a beer and wine tasting event from 5-7 p.m., where guests can sample pours from across the Inland Northwest in their souvenir tasting cup.

The night also includes free face painting for kids and a fireworks display at the conclusion.

Purchase tickets and learn more at festivalatsandpoint.com.

A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint Madrona Hollow, Smokesmith BBQ, Aug. 8 Brittany Jean, Pend d’Oreille Winery, August 8 Though based in Spokane, Madrona Hollow kicks out a sound with Texas and southern Louisiana roots thanks to the band’s powerhouse vocalist Amanda Moss, who also blends in rock, blues, country and even Broadway influences. Backed by Tom Vert on drums — whose grit and groove comes from metal, R&B, neo-soul and ’90s hip

hop — and laid-back bassist Justin Kropff, Madrona Hollow is the rock/blues/ Americana combo you’ve been looking for.

— Zach Hagadone 5:30-8:30 p.m., Smokesmith BBQ, 102 S. Boyer Ave. 208-9200517, smokesmithidaho.com.

Listen at madronahollow.com.

In a music scene dominated by rockin’ country — and there’s nothing wrong with that — Brittany Jean’s ’70s-style Americana folk is a breath of fresh air. Her original music reflects her artistic heroes, including Joan Baez, Gordon Lightfoot and Carole King, with its light, melodic tone and lyricism inspired by nature and everyday life. I don’t know how else to put it: Her soothing sound somehow

makes you long to be a child out exploring a garden for the first time. Prepare for Jean and her guitar to release a wave of nostalgia and contemplative quiet that will have you dreaming of summers past.

— Soncirey Mitchell

When I crave a specific kind of book, but nothing on my TBR fits the bill, I turn to quizzes like Penguin Random House’s “What Book Should I Read Next?”

It recently recommended The Memory Police, a work of dystopian speculative fiction by Yōko Ogawa. In it, an author must hide their editor from the memory police, a force that, by unknown means, erases both objects and the memories of them. Find it at the library (after I’m done).

LISTEN

I discovered English psychedelic rock band TTRRUUCES through the addicting hit “Bad Kids,” whose overall twee vibe belies a darker lyrical journey.

The song is part of the duo’s debut self-titled album, a rock opera following two fictional characters on their search for a new street drug (also called TTRRUUCES) to free them from their depressing realities.

Stream it anywhere, or watch the music videos on YouTube for an avant-garde, often David Lynch-esque experience.

WATCH

Shetland, which returned for its 10th season in 2025, is further proof that British crime dramas are a step above the rest.

Set on the Shetland Islands, the story initially follows Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez, recently returned to the area, on a series of challenging and gruesome cases. Based on the novels by Ann Cleeves, the series is slower paced than American crime dramas, digging deeper into each case and taking full advantage of the landscape’s beauty. Find it at the library.

5-8 p.m., FREE. Pend d’Oreille Winery, 301 Cedar St, 208-2658545, powine.com. Listen at bjeanmusic.com.

August 6, 2026 / R / 21

BACK OF THE BOOK

Cat person From Northern Idaho News, August 8, 1922

‘SANDPOINT OR BUST’ THIS FALL J.D. Collins, in charge of the construction of the Bottle Bay Sandpoint highway, was in the city Saturday night, and reports that work is progressing rapidly on the project. In starting on the job this spring, the crew began at the far end of the road and has progressed toward Sandpoint about five miles up to the present time. Four miles of the distance, or from the head of Bottle bay to Haley’s bay, has been completed and graveled, and members of the crew living on the peninsula travel over it by auto in going to and from their work.

Twenty or more men are employed on the job and the rock drilling is being done by means of a compressed air equipment.

Mr. Collins says it is a case of “Sandpoint or bust,” this fall and he doesn’t intend to bust.

He says there is a short stretch this side of where the crew is now working which will be the most difficult on the route, but there is no question that the road will be finished this fall and in condition for the peninsula ranchers to traverse it in coming to and from Sandpoint. Up to the present, this year’s work has all been accomplished with the $5,000 appropriated by the county, including the purchase of the compressor outfit, tools and sufficient powder and caps to finish the job. The road district commissioners therefore have the $10,000 raised by bonding, still untouched, with which to complete the job.

22 / R / August 6, 2026

Photo by Ben Olson

At one point in my life, if someone told me they were a “cat person” or a “dog person,” I would’ve rolled my eyes at them.

The idea of marrying your entire personality with the fact that you kept a cat or dog at home seemed, to me, ridiculous.

Dog people, in my mind, were sweaty, violently friendly and smelled of bagged poo they kept in their purses. Cat people were odd, misanthropic and ate eccentric dinners alone with errant twigs jutting from their hair.

Sure, we had dogs and cats when I was growing up and I loved them all dearly, but it was a child’s love. I felt the same way about baseball and Calvin and Hobbes comics.

It wasn’t until my 30s when I realized what it meant to truly love a pet. That’s when Nacho Gato walked into my life.

Nothing would ever be the same.

My first memories of this American shorthair were shooing her out of the backyard garden I shared with my partner Cadie. Later that winter, as the temperature dropped and snow blanketed the ground, we often saw her sitting on our recliner chair on the front porch.

With a white bib of downy fur under her chin and dramatic whiskers, Cadie and I fell hard for her.

She was warm and friendly, allowing us to pet her when coming and going from the porch, but we never thought to allow her inside. She was obviously well taken care of. But a month or two later, I came home and saw Cadie on the couch with a guilty look on her face and the cat on her lap.

“It was just so cold out there,” Cadie pleaded with me.

That’s how Nacho came to be “our”

cat — by adopting us. We learned later that she belonged to our neighbors, but had rebelled and left home after they had a baby. Ever since she started posting up on our porch, Nacho made it clear that we were her new handlers.

Her name reflects how she came to us, as in “Not yo’ cat.” We eventually allowed her to spend the night inside, but not in the bedroom. Then she was allowed in the bedroom, but not the bed.

Then she was sleeping on the bed and we’d have to jackknife around her if we wanted a good night’s sleep.

Little by little, this animal burrowed into our hearts. She’s filled with personality. She has about 20 different meows that all mean something different, from the purring greeting she gives when we let her in to the urgent meow when she has to do her business to the almost noiseless croak she makes when she’s content.

Somewhere along the way, I realized that this cat was part of our family, whether we asked for it or not. We feed and brush her, we buy her toys and expensive treats. It’s a firm house rule that when she occupies one of our laps, that means the other has to do all the tasks that need doing because we’d rather die than upset Nacho.

Dog owners have to put their friends in kennels or get someone to watch them when they leave town, but when we go sailing or backpacking for a few days, we just pour extra food in her dish and she takes care of herself.

Since moving into our new home last year, Nacho has really begun living her best life. She spends hours sprawled out in the backyard grass, belly exposed to the world and only stirring to eat the occasional mayfly.

Over the years, she’s earned numerous additional names, all with the Spanish theme of her first name. When she

skulked across the room like a raccoon, we called her “mapache.” When she croaked like a frog, we added “rana.”

Cadie began calling her “Maria” for some reason, and, as she’s getting on in years, she’s also known as “abuelita.”

When the world spins a little too fast for my liking, she’s always there to greet me when returning home from work, hopping onto my lap and nuzzling her face into my hands.

Sometimes, while enjoying my cat therapy on an especially rough day, I’m filled with dread at the thought of her not being there someday. We never learned how old she is, but suspect it’s somewhere around 13 or 14, which means someday we won’t hear her beautiful purring anymore, we won’t feel her nuzzle against our legs anymore, we won’t fall asleep with the rise and fall of her breath by our side.

I’m head over heels in love with that cat and I’d do anything for her.

I wouldn’t have it any other way, because the love I feel back from her is real. It means something. While dogs seem to love anyone with a treat in their hand, cats are more discerning. Instead of “puppy dog eyes” melting your heart, cats will look at you as if calculating how long it would take to eat you if push came to shove. Earning the love of a cat always seems like a higher hurdle. When I see her avoid the neighbor kids or shy away from our visiting friends, I know she’ll come out of hiding the moment they’re gone and be there for us to pet, to talk to, to sit with and to love.

After years of avoiding the label, my fate as a cat person is sealed and I’m not ashamed to admit it. She’s more than just a companion, she’s the best part of this world. May she always have a sunny patch of grass to occupy, in this world and the next.

STR8TS Solution

Sudoku Solution

Crossword Solution

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

By Bill Borders

CROSSWORD

Copyright www.mirroreyes.com

Laughing Matters

Solution on page 22

Solution on page 22

ACROSS

pelf /pelf/

Wortdhe of

[noun] 1. money, wealth, or ill-gotten gains

Week “The president claimed the enormous pelf he earned from cryptocurrency scams was totally normal.”

Corrections: We misspelled Mariela Rebelo’s last name in “Connect first with yourself,” in the July 30 edition. Apologies to Rebelo for the thoughtless mistake. —BO To me, truth is not some vague, foggy notion. Truth is real. And, at the same time, unreal. Fiction and fact and everything in between, plus some things I can’t remember, all rolled into one big “thing.” This is truth, to me.

1. Thin strip 5. Fire residues 10. Sounds of disapproval 14. Wife of Zeus 15. Vista 16. Mormon state 17. Ask an unreasonable price 19. Egyptian river 20. Evening (poetic) 21. Multitude 22. Twiddled one’s thumbs 23. Bondage 25. French for “Our” 27. East southeast 28. Teacher 31. Go-between 34. Not stale 35. Foot digit 36. Castle defense 37. Blood pump 38. Nap 39. Stomach muscles, for short 40. Charges 41. Enclosed 42. Until now 44. Prohibit 45. Sesame 46. Cuckoo 50. Cut short 52. Line of poetry 54. By way of 55. Percussion instrument 56. Badgering

Solution on page 22 58. Banquet 59. Martini garnish 60. Celtic language 61. Mats of grass 62. S S S 63. Y Y Y

DOWN 1. Footwear 2. Stage 3. Sporting venue 4. Driveway surface 5. On land 6. Alarming 7. A group of cattle 8. Results in

9. Observe 37. Warning device 10. Permafrost 38. Musty region 40. Penny 11. Spike heels 41. Walking sticks 12. Cabbage-like 43. Messenger vegetable to the gods 13. Outbuilding 44. Supervisors 18. Thorax 46. Courageous 22. Skin irritation 47. All 24. Opening 48. Washer cycle 26. Depose 49. Satisfies 28. Muse of poetry 50. Combines 29. Seep 51. Spirit 30. Marsh plant 53. Greek goddess 31. Asian nurse of discord 32. Mongolian desert 56. Furrow maker 33. Eastward 57. Kitten’s cry 34. Festivities August 6, 2026 / R / 23