Sip & Screen
Saturday, October 24 9:00 am - 3:00 pm Self-care can be difficult to schedule. We’re opening Mammography for a Saturday to get extra appointments in, with drinks, treats, and enter to win a giveaway!
THIS FALL,
PUT YOUR HEALTH ON THE CALENDAR
Bonner General Health Diagnostic Imaging 520 N. Third Ave. Sandpoint, ID Mammography/Dexa (208) 265 - 3349 CT (208) 265 -1266 MRI (208) 265 - 1285
As schedules settle back into routine, it's the perfect time to catch up on the preventive care that helps keep you healthy. Annual mammograms and bone density (DEXA) scans play an important role in detecting concerns early, often before symptoms appear. Schedule your screening at Bonner General Health and take an important step toward your long-term health close to home.
Ask your provider if you’re due for a mammogram or DEXA scan.
2 / R / September 17, 2026
DEAR READERS,
The week in random review By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
The man behind the gorilla mask
If you’ve ever enjoyed Abbott and Costello or Gilligan’s Island — or really quite a lot of other media coming out of the 1930s-’60s — you may have noticed that there are a lot of gorillas. Like, a lot of gorillas. I’d noticed that, having grown up on The Three Stooges, but for some reason I’ve never questioned why gorilla suits were a Hollywood staple for something like three decades. Apparently, it’s largely thanks to a man named Carlos Cruz Gemora, a.k.a. Charles Gemora. The Filipino-American actor, makeup artist and stunt performer grew up in the Philippines, making repeated attempts to run away from home. After his family carted him off to a monastery, he stowed away on a ship headed to San Francisco and there, after a series of odd jobs, became an honorary member of the family of George Westmore, a Hollywood makeup artist. Gemora later followed that same passion to Hollywood, where he designed a gorilla suit for the 1925 film The Lost World, which sparked a lifelong obsession with ape costumes. He became L.A.’s go-to for all its gorilla needs — Gemora would design the suit, act in it, hoot around and even throw a few damsels over his shoulder on occasion. He refined his gorilla suits through consistent study at the San Diego Zoo, tweaking proportions and painstakingly laying hair to make his ape characters as perfect as possible. Though he largely went uncredited, Gemora likely appeared in more than 1,000 films as an ape. He did other things, too, like designing the Martians from the 1953 War of the Worlds; but, at the end of the day, he was really the man behind the gorilla mask.
The lion behind the… lion mask
Unlike old-timey gorillas, which were all, apparently, a small Filipino man, the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lion has pretty much always been a lion. In fact, Leo the Lion has been played by eight feline thespians since his debut in the 1924 picture He Who Gets Slapped — though MGM had been working with lions before then. Slats the lion, born to the Dublin Zoo in 1919, was the first to officially take on the role, and appeared on film from 1924 to 1928. After that, several lions took his place, including Numa; Jackie; Telly; Coffee; Tanner; George; and, finally, Leo (not including the modern CGI cat). Jackie is perhaps the most famous, being both the first MGM lion to roar and the one to appear before The Wizard of Oz. Taken from the Nubian Desert as a cub, he appeared in more than 100 films, including the Tarzan series, and had an even more storied life off screen. He survived two train wrecks, a sinking ship, an earthquake and an explosion, not to mention a plane crash that left him stranded with his pilot in the mountains of Arizona for about a week. After that, he was renamed “Leo the Lucky” and retired in style for the rest of his days.
Since fall officially begins on Tuesday, Sept. 22, this edition will be the last of the summer. We thought this week’s cover photo would make a good farewell-to-summer image. It features an original sculpture called “Vessel of Intention” by Sandpoint artist Dave Gonzo, who called it an “interactive community sculpture created to remind us that meaningful change often begins with a single thought, a shared hope or an intention planted in the heart.” Fellow artists that helped create the sculpture include Rebecca Hurlen Patano, Kathryn and Cass Larson, and Athol Ironworks, among others. Gonzo invites visitors to the sculpture to take a moment, breathe and reflect: “If you could plant one seed for change, what would it grow into?” To see more of Gonzo’s work, follow Infinity Artist Ironworks on Instagram.
– 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: Dave Gonzo (cover), Ben Olson, Zach Hagadone, Meg Turner, Soncirey Mitchell, Vicky Johnson, Jeremy Holzapfel, Joey Cottrell, Bill Borders Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Lauren Necochea, Becky Uranga, Marcia Pilgeram Submit Stories To: stories@sandpointreader.com Printed Weekly At: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID Subscription Price: $200 per year The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson and Keokee. 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 features a photo by Dave Gonzo of his sculpture “Vessel of Intention” before a rainbow. See more of Gonzo’s work at instagram.com/infinityartisticironworks
September 17, 2026 / R / 3
NEWS
Green Bay closed for day use By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Effective earlier this summer, the beach and surrounding area at Green Bay are indefinitely closed to day-use traffic in an effort to limit overcrowding at the popular recreation spot. The rocky beaches remain open to overnight campers with reservations, which can be secured online up to six months ahead of the desired date. Managed by the U.S. Forest Service, the campground shut down in 2024 for renovations, prompted by a massive influx of visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Green Bay has been a notorious party spot among locals for decades, but with more and more visiting families recreating there, the USFS decided to tone down its wilder side with safety improvements and a volunteer full-time host, according to Josh Jurgensen, a recreational staff officer for Idaho Panhandle National Forests, who spoke to the Reader in 2024. Funding from the Great American Outdoors Act paid for a new road, increased parking spaces and accessible paths to the park’s 16 sites, each with new pads, fire rings and picnic tables. The area opened again in May 2025 and, at the time, allowed all visitors; however, IPNF Public Affairs Officer Patrick Lair confirmed it was always the USFS’s intention to close the park to day users. “The campground was redesigned a couple years ago and it was intentional that there would no longer be day use at the beach, and that’s because there had been complaints about the crowds,” Lair told the Reader. “The campsites that are there now are directly on the beach and people are paying for that camping experience. The day use folks basically have to walk through people’s campsites to get to the beach, so a decision was made that the beach area 4 / R / September 17, 2026
was for the fee-[paying] camping customers.” The USFS has yet to release an official statement on the restrictions, but will work with the Reader going forward to publish additional information and clarify public use. In the meantime, would-be beachgoers have already been turned away by camp attendants in recent weeks, with multiple area residents reporting their experiences, both to the Reader and online. “We were told today by the campground host that, starting next week, people will no longer be able to come to Green Bay for day use unless they have an overnight camping reservation,” wrote Amanda Grace on Aug. 27 in the Facebook group “Sandpoint Local Forum.” “He was very adamant about it. Said they will be enforcing even boat traffic who pull up along the shoreline.” Hikers on Mineral Point Trail may still use the Green Bay parking lot; however, access to the beach is restricted to overnight campers. Bookings are $15 per night and operate on a six-month rolling basis, closing in late
Above: A view of Lake Pend Oreille from the beach at Green Bay, now closed to day use. Photo by Soncirey Mitchell Right: A beachfront campsite at Green Bay following the 2024 renovations. Photo courtesy of Patrick Lair September. Availability for 2027 will be announced online on Saturday, May 1. Visit bit.ly/GreenBayInfo for more information on the campground or to reserve a stay. Additional reporting by Ben Olson and Zach Hagadone.
Idaho officials report increase in traffic fatalities during ‘100 Deadliest Days’ of summer By Reader Staff With the summer winding down, the Idaho Idaho Office of Highway Safety released its annual tally of crashes on statewide roads, recorded during the so-called “100 Deadliest Days,” which span from Memorial Day to Labor Day. According to the most recent preliminary data from 2026, 90 people died in crashes throughout Idaho during the period when fatal crashes typically experience an increase — up from 88 in 2025. However, even when accounting for the high-season summer rise in fatality crash-
es, overall traffic deaths are so far lower this year than last, with 150 recorded fatalities year-to-date compared to 174 at the same point in 2025. Ada County, the state’s largest population center, with an estimated 557,000 people, recorded 13 fatality crashes during the 100 Deadliest Days. The next highest rate was in Bonneville County, located in eastern Idaho and with a population of nearly 123,000, with 10 crash deaths followed by Bonner County (population 54,400) coming in third with eight deadly crashes. The next highest was Canyon County with seven, fol-
lowed by Idaho and Kootenai counties, both with six fatalities. The top contributing causes of fatal crashes included lack of seat belt use; failure to maintain lane and/or crossing the centerline; alcohol or drug impairment; inattentive driving; excessive speed; and failure to obey a stop sign, signal or yield sign. “Every one of these deaths impact their families forever,” stated Idaho Highway Safety Manager Josephine Middleton. “We can save lives and prevent serious injuries by consistently choosing safety first: buckle up, stay focused, drive sober and slow down.
Our aim is to keep Idaho families intact.” The Office of Highway Safety’s efforts to reduce fatal and serious-injury crashes include statewide SHIFT Idaho safety campaigns to increase awareness of high-risk behaviors during the 100 Deadliest Days, expanding enforcement with local law enforcement, engaging with the community through outreach programs and safety resources, and infrastructure improvements designed to reduce crash severity and modernize the state’s roadways. Visit Shift-Idaho.org to learn more.
NEWS Sandpoint councilors approve code amendment banning large data centers By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff Members of the Sandpoint City Council voted 6-1 at their Sept. 16 meeting to approve an amendment to zoning code that would ban large, standalone data centers within the city’s industrial zone. However, data centers would be allowed so long as they are a component of another land use and no larger than 5,000 square feet. The vote, with Councilor Joel Aispuro dissenting, came after the council directed city staff in July to draft a definition of “data center” so that such uses could be banned within city limits by a future ordinance. City Planner Bill Dean returned to the Planning and Zoning Commission in August with language that described a data center as a “centralized physical facility that houses IT infrastructure — such as servers, storage systems and networking equipment — to process, store and distribute digital information.” The draft amendment further proposed a cap of 5,000 square feet.
P&Z commissioners voted unanimously in August to deny the draft, arguing that the definition remained too vague while worrying that the size limit was “arbitrary,” referring the matter back to council. About a dozen city and county residents testified during the Sept. 16 public hearing before council, with all but one speaking against the allowance of large-scale data centers in the city based on concerns over water and energy consumption, noise
and pollution. “It is really important that we get ahead of it,” said Councilor Kyle Schreiber. “As a lot of people know, once somebody pulls a building permit, they’re grandfathered into the existing ordinance at the time. So, while I think the Planning and Zoning Commission had some relevant concerns about it [the amendment], I do think it’s important to get this on the books as quickly as possible, and then address those concerns.”
Sandpoint City Council meets at City Hall. Photo by Ben Olson Councilor Pam Duquette, who initially fronted the idea of specifically addressing data center limitations in the industrial zone, underscored that the “community appears to be behind it.” “Right now … anybody can bring a permit to do any type of data center without any regulations, any parameters, because that’s what our code says right now,” she said. “That’s what I tried to change
and what I still want to change. I want to change that to say: ‘The large standalone data centers are not allowed in this industrial area.’” Council President Deb Ruehle also voted in favor of the amendment — echoing Duquette’s and Schreiber’s sense of urgency to at least put in place some form of data center regulation — but added that she was “pretty adamant that we revisit this in far more detail when we review that full industrial code.” The industrial zoning updates are part of an overall effort to revisit Sandpoint’s land use codes, and are expected to be addressed in the coming year. Aispuro argued that the amendment remained unclear even after refinement, and sought another six months for staff to formulate further direction for the council before making a decision. “I’m not saying there’s no legitimate fears, but I think we’re going to miss a lot of opportunities here that could benefit the community,” he said.
City officials confirm Parking Committee members By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff A little more than three weeks after announcing the reestablishment of the Sandpoint Parking Committee, the City Council voted unanimously Sept. 16 to confirm five nominees to serve on the advisory body. Mayor Jeremy Grimm selected Brynn Williams-Woodruff and Scott Wilburn to serve one-year terms, expiring Aug. 31, 2027; Erin Riseborough and Luke Omodt for two-year terms, expiring Aug. 31, 2028; and Bob Clark for a three year-term, expiring Aug. 31, 2029. “Each of these individuals brings unique qualities, perspectives and expertise that I believe will be valuable to the work of the Parking Committee and
will benefit our community,” Grimm wrote in his appointment memo to the council. When announced on Sept. 1, the committee was described as a “relatively shortterm” group that would be “charged with reviewing the facts; considering the experiences of residents, businesses, employees and visitors; and providing recommendations to the mayor and City Council.” At the Sept. 16 meeting, Grimm said the committee will meet every other week on Fridays, starting Sept. 25 at 7:30 a.m. in Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.). The meetings will last about an hour or hour and a half, with 10 minutes for public comment at the end. The reinstated committee comes after a tumultuous rollout for the city’s paid parking
program, which drew vigorous and outspoken opposition — particularly related to the kiosks in the downtown twohour zone, which the council voted in August to remove. Williams-Woodruff is a mechanical engineer and self-described “parking enthusiast,” who was born and raised in Sandpoint and wrote in her application materials, “I have watched the public discussions on parking with concern and occasional amusement and believe I can provide a rational and objective viewpoint on the topic.” Wilburn is a longtime downtown business owner who has served on numerous committees, as well as business and government organizations. “I have witnessed the reactions of my customers in the downtown area to the
various changes in city policy over the course of my business ownership, and have a pretty good feel for how both locals and tourists respond to parking enforcement and policy,” he wrote. Riseborough is a senior strategist and business change manager, who wrote that she brings, “Deep experience in leading large organizations through transformational change” with “an objective eye to data, understanding of human behavior and [an] empathetic approach.” Omodt is an area educator who formerly served as a Bonner County commissioner and on the Sandpoint Planning and Zoning Commission. “I am deeply committed to public service,” he wrote. “If the residents of the city of Sandpoint want to improve
our infrastructure, funding vehicles and mechanisms must be found. As a lifetime Bonner County resident, I hope to bring perspective, hope, change and optimism to the committee as the city works through these difficult issues.” Clark is a fisheries scientist and consultant with decades of experience, and has served on a number of commissions from the national to local level — including as a Bonner County zoning commissioner and member of the Natural Resource Committee. “I have extensive experience working on contentious issues in front of a public forum. I also have had a career in reviewing technical documents and making informed decisions from the documents and relevant public testimony,” he wrote. September 17, 2026 / R / 5
NEWS
Workshop presented on proposed downtown zone changes
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff About 30 downtown business owners, operators and interested citizens gathered Sept. 15 with Sandpoint city officials for an update regarding an ongoing zoning code update — specifically in the historic downtown core. Speaking to attendees at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, City Planner Bill Dean said members of citizen committees and the Planning and Zoning Commission have been working on code revisions for the past 14 months, and are nearing the point when a finished ordinance can be proposed. “This is an assignment given to me on Day 1, when I arrived here, and I take it very seriously,” he said. “I want to get it right for you.” Current planning efforts related to downtown zoning stem from the Sandpoint Comprehensive Plan, which was adopted in 2024 and identifies several goals, including “strengthening economic vitality, reinforcing community character, enhancing placemaking, supporting historic preservation, improving walkability and guiding urban form.” City planners have been working with P&Z and the Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation Commission to craft new commercial zoning regulations that simultaneously work to preserve the historic nature of downtown while encouraging what Dean described as a more “true mixed-use core” that includes expanded residential. “What City Council has said is, ‘Look, we’re afraid that we’re going to experience change as a community, and some of that change might not fit with the things we’ve collectively agreed on 6 / R / September 17, 2026
Participants gather at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint for a workshop hosted by the city of Sandpoint on Sept. 15. Photo by Zach Hagadone are special about this place. We’d like to have some better tools in the toolbox to preserve it,” Dean said. “Well, that’s where zoning comes into play.” Attendees at the workshop asked a number of questions, including regarding height restrictions, which Dean said are proposed at a cap of 40 feet within the downtown historic district overlay. In addition, workshop participants wondered if historic preservation requirements would apply to interior building design elements, to which Dean responded, “This is about exterior modifications, to keep the exteriors looking the way they do.” “[P]art of what these rules establish are a baseline standard that awnings, windows and exterior modifications are going to go through in a review process, so that our grandkids and our great-grandkids can expect to see the same type of environment that you see today,” he added. “It doesn’t mean you can’t do exterior modifications — it just means that you go through a review process.” The proposed downtown commercial zoning code changes will again be presented at an open house from 12:30-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6 at the Sandpoint Community Hall (204 First. Ave.), followed by their first public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20 before the P&Z Commission in City Hall Council Chambers (1123 Lake St.). At that point, planning commissioners will make a recommendation to the City Council, which is expected to hand down a final decision in December.
Bits ’n’ Pieces From east, west and beyond
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has been urged to cancel House recesses due to AI warnings, Axios reported. Bipartisan voices (ranging from former-Trump strategist Steve Bannon and progressive Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders) say “urgent action” is needed after cautions from numerous AI leaders and insiders, who have warned that AI could develop the ability to kill off humanity in the next decade. Johnson canceled votes in the chamber on Sept. 16 that were planned for the next day, cutting the work week short and sending members home until after the November midterm elections. Several bills regulating AI have been presented. Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, said “cutting-edge AI technology is less regulated than the average food truck.” An Anthropic researcher who resigned due to AI safety concerns said his former company and rival Open AI are “gambling with our lives,” and neither is “acting responsibly.” Anthropic leaders recently said they blocked the misuse of AI, after an entity was trying to create biological weapons. Anthropic also uncovered users in Houthi-held Yemen attempting to create advanced weapons with AI. They were only discovered after they asked AI why their guided rocket test failed. Trump has dismissed AI warnings as a “hoax.” Speaker Johnson said AI developers don’t need Congress to slow them down. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump said AI guardrails can be accomplished by a “STRONG AND SMART (High IQ!) President.” If Democrats prevail in November’s elections, they have plans for an “accountability agenda” for Trump, his administration and his family, The Washington Post reported. That would include examining the rapid expansion of wealth for Trump and his family, targeting political enemies and moves such as the IRS “settlement” that shields Trump’s family and their businesses from IRS audits. The Republican Party’s recent pre-midterm convention outlined their accomplishments regarding the economy, health care and jobs. The Associated Press fact-checked claims at the event. Vice President JD Vance said his party created 1 million new jobs — the AP reported it was actually 807,000. While an increase from 2025, the AP reported that Republicans’ job creation was well below that of President Joe Biden’s administration, which added an average of 329,000 jobs per month, compared to Trump’s 92,000 jobs. The AP also noted that high interest rates,
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
Trump’s immigration crackdown and Baby Boomer retirements have contributed to lower job growth. Trump told rally-goers that more than $20 trillion had been invested in the U.S. by foreign entities, though the AP reported that Trump has no evidence to back that; rather, the White House website put the figure at $11.2 trillion, and appears to include investments made during the Biden administration. Regarding health care costs, Vance claimed Republicans “took on big pharma” and lowered drug costs. But drug pricing experts said price drops can also be linked to Biden allowing Medicare to negotiate with pharma companies, along with competition from generic and bio-similar products now on the market. Reiterating his favorite theme at the rally, Trump claimed he’d won election three times, even though, the AP wrote, Biden had 306 electoral votes to Trump’s 232, and 7 million more popular votes than Trump. Newsweek reported that Trump asked convention attendees to raise their right hand and repeat, “I pledge to the greatest president in the history of the United States, that loves us so much that he can’t even breathe. That I will go out with my family, my friends. I’ll do it anyway — I don’t care if I’m registered or not — I’m going to try and cheat like hell like they do. There’s never been bigger cheaters, they don’t care. I am gonna go out and I’m going to get my friends, my family, and we are going to vote on Nov. 3 or we are going to vote before that!” Enthusiastic applause followed. A second federal judge ordered a freeze on Trump’s mail-in ballot order. Then, on Sept. 14, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 to reject Trump’s restrictions on mail-in voting, numerous media reported. Trump has promised $5,000 checks to all voters if Republicans win the midterms, which commentators in various media argued is an “impeachable bribe” and would bite $1.2 trillion out of the federal budget. NPR reported that while ballot seizures by law enforcement seemed impossible in the past, judges and officials are now prepping for that possibility. Meanwhile, NPR and other media also reported that Homeland Security officers may have illegally accessed state voter data, according to a whistleblower. Blast from the past: Sixty-three years ago this month, four Black girls were killed by a bomb planted by three KKK members at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.
NEWS Career technical education trains the next generation of skilled workers
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Top: Medical training mannequins await students in the CTEC nursing assistant and sports medicine programs. Above: More than 60 people attended the CTEC grand opening. Photos by Soncirey Mitchell
Community members flooded Sandpoint High School Sept. 15 to celebrate the grand opening of Lake Pend Oreille School District’s new Career and Technical Education Center, located in the school’s expanded south wing. The extensive classroom space gives all North Idaho high schoolers — regardless of enrollment in the district — the opportunity to learn real-world skills and earn accreditations that prepare them to enter the workforce directly out of high school. “We want the students to know that when you start with CTE, and you start with a pathway in CTE, you can do anything,” said Superintendent Becky Meyer at the opening ceremony. “You graduate with real-world, industry skills, and we wanted them to feel valued. We wanted them to know they’re important.” The building expands access to education in business, natural resource management, medicine, construction, architecture, information technology, hospitality, automotive repair and more, realizing a vision that began in the early ’90s with former-Director for Bonner County Schools Byron Lewis. Meyer and LPOSD staff spent countless hours attempting to secure funding, writing grant requests for $7 million, $5 million and $4.7 million, before finally securing an Idaho Career Ready Students grant for $3.5 million. With the help of Idaho Forest Group, which donated the majority of
the lumber for the structure, as well as donations of funds and equipment from Panhandle Alliance for Education, Litehouse Foods, Sandpoint Rotary, Sandpoint Kiwanis and Gription Tire Pros, the district was able to build and outfit CTEC for the start of the 2026-’27 school year. “My high school CTE experience gave me confidence to help me discover what I was capable of, and it helped put me on a path of lifelong learning,” said CTE Director Alex Gray, who also teaches computer network support classes. “That’s what excites me most about CTEC and what we’ve created for students. This building gives students a place to discover their own paths, and we have amazing people who make that possible.” Classes are currently available in all programs besides automotive repair and culinary arts and hospitality, which will begin in the spring of 2027. The district is still outfitting the culinary arts classroom with a professional teaching kitchen, commercial-grade equipment and necessary supplies, and is looking for donations from area businesses and community members. Litehouse will match all donations up to $500,000 and, with a $250,000 grant from PAFE, the district is three-quarters of the way toward its goal. To donate or learn more, visit ctec. lposd.org/support-culinary-arts-hospitality. September 17, 2026 / R / 7
Inflation hits retired folks especially hard…
Bouquets: • Bouquets all around to those who built boats for the annual Sand Creek Regatta race held on Sept. 12. Also, thanks to all the spectators who came out to cheer us on. Finally, special thanks are owed to Blair, our Australian tourist who allowed us to sacrifice him in the creek to help usher in a good winter. Let’s hope the snow gods paid attention this year. • Another round of Bouquets goes out to the Angels Over Sandpoint for hosting a great charity golf tournament at The Idaho Club on Sept. 12. I always enjoy playing in this scramble and, even more, I love how it supports the worthy local causes that the Angels facilitate. Also, congratulations to Peter McDaniel, who scored a hole-in-one during the tournament. Great job, Peter! Barbs: • A video of Dist. 1 Republican state Senate candidate Scott Herndon recently resurfaced from a few years ago, in which he said, “Frankly, if the Constitution of the United States or the state of Idaho says it’s OK to have an abortion, then we should burn the Constitution and reform our government and start over.” Seriously? This is the Republican candidate for state senator for Dist. 1? The same guy who has opined at length about his devotion to the Constitution in the past? The video was posted by users Benje and Michele Graves in 2023 under the title “Let’s Address Blaine Conzatti and Family Policy Alliance of Idaho,” in case anyone wants to look it up themselves. Eventually, Idaho voters have to stop just voting for the letter “R” on a ballot, and start casting their votes for candidates who aren’t literally willing to “burn” the Constitution based on their own beliefs. 8 / R / September 17, 2026
Dear editor, As usual, your articles are spot on, including “Bleakonomics” [Junk Drawer, Aug. 20, 2026], but it left out retired citizens, who are a big part of the U.S. and particularly North Idaho. Most of us old folks are on fixed incomes and subject to cost of living increases by the U.S. government. Inflation continues its upward trend daily, but our monthly checks don’t keep up with it. One can say the same thing if they are employed and their next raise comes around — if they get a raise at all. We came to Bonner County to visit friends in 1977, bought our property in 1980 and moved here full-time in 1984. As you know, this place has changed — some good, some bad — but that can be said about most of our country. With COVID and the major move of our country’s citizens from the cities to rural areas like North Idaho, it changed our daily lives and inflation has really hit us here. When working class folks are hit by inflation, it hurts retired folks even harder. Keep up writing and publishing a very good newspaper. The Reader adds a much-needed view and coverage of our area, the U.S. and the world. Mark Todd Samuels
‘Potholes’... Dear editor, There really isn’t a Republican way or a Democratic way to fill a pothole. People just want the pothole fixed. Want better schools for all our kids? Public lands for recreation with family and friends? Less global warming and clean water? Health care? How about you pay less taxes and the wealthiest in Idaho pay more? Too many elected officials support partisan legislation dictated by party. Too many think, “I’m right, you’re wrong.” Not: “How can I listen to all our voters and work out a better life for far more Idahoans? Regardless of funders — regardless of what’s best for me?” Time to call in the independents: They still have a chance to resist
By BO
“We have great canines, but we’re not going to disqualify them.”
the partisanship paralysis and bribery from out-of-state funders. They are people who can still see solutions for our urgent time. The common-sense path to good government is a vote for independents: not for irresponsible partiers. Listen for independent compromisers: Steve Johnson for state senator District 1, John Stegner for governor, Todd Achilles for U.S. senator, Kathryn Larson for House Rep. 1B — and moderates where there are no independent candidates on the ballot. Nancy Gerth Sagle
Let’s see if Russ Fulcher wants to speak to Idahoans at Oct. 17 debate… Dear editor, Kaylee Peterson is running for the District 1 U.S. House seat against two opponents: Russ Fulcher and Sarah Zabel. In Gil Beyers’ Sept. 3 Reader article “Politics Versus Civics,” he talks about allowing candidates to let voters know their platforms at a public forum — i.e., a debate. Oct. 17 is the tentative date for such an online debate. Kaylee invited Russ and Sarah to participate. Beyers states: “The Idaho District 1 incumbent, Russ Fulcher, is so dismissive of his constituents he won’t even bother to debate his opponents in public forum.” When I contacted Kaylee’s campaign to see if Fulcher had answered the invitation, I was informed that Russ’s response was that he would be in touch if he was interested. And Sarah? Yes, she’ll debate because she wants the recognition. Russ has refused to debate Kaylee every time she has run for the Dist. 1 House seat. He believes folks will vote for him because of the “R” behind his name. We have just over a month to see if Fulcher wants to show his constituents what he believes in doing for Idaho voters. To see what Kaylee believes in, look at her site: kayleeforcongress.com. David Stroud Sagle
‘There is no such thing as a preborn citizen’… Dear editor, According to federal and international law, a human egg cell, zygote, embryo or fetus is not recognized as a citizen. Citizenship is a relation-
ship between an individual and the state, established through being born in a country, to citizen parents or through a legal process. Citizenship is most commonly tied to birth. The deceptive rhetoric of referring to “preborn” as citizens is a factually incorrect attempt to convince voters that abortion choices are killing U.S. citizens. Any stage of pregnancy development in this country is not a citizen because the U.S. Constitution grants no rights of citizenship before birth. Pregnant women citizens of the U.S. are entitled to their citizenship rights under the Constitution, including their own liberty and pursuit of happiness. The “pro-life” movement intends to deprive these citizens of their rights. Individuals, governments and religions should not be telling any woman what she can do with her body and whatever is in it, be that a kidney, liver, lung or pregnancy. These attempts to suppress the liberty of pregnant citizens to exercise their judgement for their own body is a blatant attempt to deprive women of their constitutionally guaranteed, citizens’ rights of life and liberty. Kam Majer Sandpoint
Opt for independent options on the ballot… Dear editor, Important elections are nearing. One of the most important to me is the election for state senator of District 1. We have Scott Herndon, who won the GOP primary. It was a surprise. If you look back at the results you will discover a low voter turnout. That is what got him in. If, and that’s a big “if,” our voters would have turned out en masse he would have been defeated. People become complacent. They stayed home and “whoa,” Herndon pulled it off. Now what? We have Steven Johnson, who has stepped in to challenge him. Johnson is not a newcomer. He almost upset Herndon the year that he won the November election. He had 9,000 write-in votes. This year he is on the ballot. He is a lifelong North Idaho resident. He was born on the family farm in Cocolalla, where he still lives. He’s a farmer, builder, small business owner and retired teacher. He will help to
— FBI Director Kash Patel at a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing Sept. 15, defending a new policy at the bureau that does not immediately disqualify potential hires who have participated “on either side of” bestiality. Patel said the FBI will not criminalize “victims” of bestiality because “they were forced to do so.”
improve the daily lives of Idaho families. Get out and vote. You have multiple options — use them. Ernie and Helen Schoeffel Priest River
Kathryn Larson has the right ideas for Dist. 1B House… Dear editor, I am writing to provide a character reference for Kathryn Larson, who is running for Idaho House Seat 1B in the upcoming November election opposing Cornel Rasor. I have known Kathryn as a community member and support her position on our state tax cuts. Idaho has cut taxes for the wealthiest, giving the top 1% of earners an average of $5,358 in income tax reductions, yet the average-earning family only saw $127 in relief. Funds were diverted from future transportation projects and firefighting costs. Our local hospitals and schools are making deep cuts to barely operate. Scott Herndon supports eliminating property tax, which benefits second homeowners out of state while people who live here will make up the difference. Kathryn Larson is strongly committed to serving Idaho families. I have observed her public service and integrity. Join me in supporting her leadership, vision and dedication. Andrea Berliner Sandpoint
A ‘yes’ on Prop. 1 is a pro-life vote… Dear editor, I’m pro-life and that is why I’m voting “yes” on Prop. 1 to restore limited abortions to Idaho. The draconian, cruel and anti-life abortion law in Idaho has increased abortion overall and made having a baby in this state very dangerous. If decreasing abortion is po-life, then this Idaho law is anti-life because there has been a 5% increase in abortion in the U.S. since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, especially in states near Idaho. Pregnant women used to know we cared and could help them find other options. Now they know we see them as villains, too stupid to make medical choices. Pregnant women risk death and disability because OB-GYN doctors have fled. Forty-three percent of OB-GYN doctors have left Idaho. In North Idaho, many women travel 100 miles to get care. Idaho lawmakers call that a minor inconvenience, but a woman can die in less than 10
< see LTE, Page 9 >
PERSPECTIVES
Idaho’s data center debate raises questions about lobbying and tax breaks By Lauren Necochea Reader Contributor Idaho deserves leaders who study the bills instead of simply deferring to the lobbyists pushing them. The debate over data centers shows why that matters. The 2020 legislative session was my first as a state representative, and I was lobbied hard to support a valuable sales tax exemption for data centers. The pitch was slick. One lobbyist told me data centers would jump-start our tech industry and create new economic activity. Another warned that, without the exemption, data centers simply would not come. I wanted another perspective. I reached out to an industry expert who was not being paid by the corporations that stood to benefit. He described data centers as the “supply closet” of the tech world, not engines of innovation that would bring new businesses to Idaho. I also looked at what these facilities
< LTE, con’t from Page 8 > minutes if her placenta separates. How is this callous disregard of her life and health pro-life? We can restore women’s health care and a compassionate pro-life voice that helps women choose life. Vote “yes” on Prop. 1 and restore safety to doctors and women while decreasing abortions. Mary Haley Sandpoint
Panida update… Dear editor, The Panida Board has identified four crucial goals: • Rebuild a collaborative team with effective communication. • Mend previously damaged community relationships. • Adjust resource management and event scheduling to eliminate unsustainable financial scenarios. • Create an organizational structure that meets the theater’s needs without overwhelming key staff members. The Panida team is dedicated to addressing these key issues and ensuring that the theater moves into the next 100 years with enhanced stability and strong community collaboration. Amy Flint, Panida Board chair Sandpoint
Lauren Necochea. File photo require — particularly land, water and electricity — and what Idaho would receive in return. Data centers are largely buildings filled with servers, with relatively few permanent employees compared with their footprint and investment. There may be places in Idaho where data centers make sense, but I concluded there was no compelling reason for the state to give them a tax advantage over other businesses
‘Step up or shut up’… Dear editor, Sounds like it’s about time for one of you [Reader Publisher Ben Olson and Editor-in-Chief Zach Hagadone] to run for City Council or mayor. Elections are coming up. There’s been plenty of disgruntled opinions and barbs being published. More than likely a pretty easy win for a well informed grumpy citizen like you all. Help me understand the distinction between what is being published here and what is being written on Facebook. I’ll make it very clear: run, win, lead and make the difference you think needs to be made. In my opinion, your written words are not making the difference your actions might.
already operating here. I voted “no.” Most lawmakers went the other way. The bill passed and Gov. Brad Little signed it into law. As it stands today, while you pay sales tax on essentials like food, medicine and diapers, qualifying data centers receive that exemption. Those projects are now arriving at a scale few people imagined then. Meta has built a major facility outside Kuna. Another company received approval for a nearby 620-acre project. Neighboring farmers are now challenging it before the Idaho Supreme Court. In Pocatello, strong public opposition blocked another proposed data center, at least temporarily. Efforts to rein in the tax break for billion-dollar data center companies have failed. Nationally, Republican politicians are also rushing to defend the industry. President Donald Trump has said communities that reject data centers will end up “backwards and poor.” This is the risk when lawmakers de-
pend too heavily on lobbyists instead of feeling accountable to the people they represent. It is especially pronounced in the Idaho Statehouse, where Republicans hold 86% of the seats. Look at who funds their campaigns. Many Republican candidates rely heavily on contributions from corporations, industry groups and other special interests with business before the Legislature. Democratic candidates draw most of their support from individual Idahoans investing in the future of their state. However you feel about data centers, ask yourself this: When you cast your vote in November, who should your leaders feel accountable to? Interests with deep pockets hoping to get richer, or the people of Idaho?
interpretations of scripture and again waving graphic images in front of people. Herndon is so out of touch that in a past YouTube video, he said, “If the Constitution of the United States or the State of Idaho says it’s OK to have an abortion, then we should burn the Constitution.” Do we really want this man who is willing to burn our Constitution to represent us? Luckily, we have a more reasonable, logical and sane option. Vote for Steve Johnson, a man who would never burn our Constitution, for state Senate on Nov. 3.
Got something to say? Write a letter to the editor. We accept letters up to 200 words that are free from libelous statements and excessive profanity. Please elevate the conversation. Trolls will be fed to the wolves. Send submissions to: letters@sandpointreader.com
Leah Opitz Sandpoint
Lauren Necochea is chair of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former District 19 legislator. Necochea spent a decade leading nonprofit programs dedicated to research and advocacy in tax policy, health care and children’s issues.
* Starting with the Oct. 1 edition, letters to the editor will be limited to 150 words per submission to ensure we can accommodate as many letters as possible prior to the general election.
Andy Groat Sandpoint
‘Remembering Scott Herndon’... Dear editor, With the election coming up, I’d like to remind folks about Scott Herndon and his sordid history in our region. Most of us in Sandpoint remember him as the guy who harassed children on their way to school by waving graphic images of dismembered fetuses in their faces (without parental consent, mind you); or as the guy who got thrown out of a church; and as the man who paraded around the Farmers’ Market with a megaphone, spewing twisted
September 17, 2026 / R / 9
Mad about Science: By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist Human beings are often regarded as the pinnacle of evolution when it comes to life on Earth. As a species, we are capable of modifying our environment at scales never before seen outside of major ecological disasters including chain volcanic eruptions and asteroid strikes. Sometimes this is for the better; but, collectively, it has proven to be for the worse in the past few years. That being said, there are myriad critters on Earth that can make short work of human beings. Adding insult to injury, many of these creatures can effortlessly end us accidentally while totally lacking the capability to eat us. Jellyfish are among those creatures. Imagine a jellyfish for a moment: You probably envision a translucent, tentacled thing that looks like a plastic bag floating through the ocean. This is actually just one stage of the creature’s life, called the “medusa phase.” Jellyfish begin their lives as larvae, which tend to look more like amoebas or cells than insect larvae. This phase is spent searching for a suitable surface to which to bond and enter the polyp phase, during which the jellyfish creates a polyp that can look a bit like a sea anemone that remains stuck to a surface for days, months or even years. During the polyp phase, jellyfish can reproduce asexually to create more larvae that will become more polyps. Sometimes, these polyps will transform into the medusa phase, allowing them to swim freely through water to hunt prey and reproduce sexually with other jellyfish. 10 / R / September 17, 2026
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jellyfish
These creatures are extremely strange and utterly unique on the planet. They are also one of the oldest forms of life, first appearing on Earth at least 500 million years ago. Perhaps the strangest feature of jellyfish is that they do not think or possess consciousness in a way that most life on Earth does. They lack brains and instead possess nervous nets rigged to their various organs that allow them to respond to external stimuli such as light, touch, temperature and chemical reactions. Despite lacking brains, some jellyfish do possess the ability to learn from mistakes and adapt to optimize movement and hunting. Trying to understand exactly how this works when they literally lack a brain is a difficult prospect for humans. Jellyfish simply do not experience existence in the way that we do, yet they are still alive and extremely effective at what they do. Jellyfish are generally apex predators in their environment. In marine areas that have been overfished and the jellies’ natural food source has been virtually depleted by humans, it becomes nearly impossible for fish populations to return to levels preceding the overfishing due to the jellies’ prolific ability to hunt. They can be predated by certain species of fish such as tuna. Some human cultures, particularly in parts of Southeast Asia, consider specific species of jellyfish to be a delicacy once dried. These marine creatures have another adaptation that humans would find repellant. The mouth and the anus are the same opening. Food that is captured is fed into the gastric digestion chamber while waste is expelled from
the same orifice. This opening is on the underside of a jelly’s bell, usually hidden by a swarm of venomous stinger-lined tentacles. The method of venom delivery utilized by jellyfish is an interesting adaptation. Each tentacle can contain up to thousands of specialized cnidocytes, which are specialized cells that contain what is essentially a coiled harpoon designed to deliver cytotoxic venom into prey. The cnidocytes are activated by a mix of external stimuli, including touch and a chemical interaction of amino acids and sugars, which cause the cell to rupture, rapidly depressurize and trigger the harpoon-like cores to launch out and impale the cells of whatever has had the misfortune of finding its way into the jelly’s tentacles. In the case of the Australian box jellyfish, also known as the sea wasp, these toxins have evolved to attack the cells of the heart to cause heart failure in humans in up to five minutes. While humans aren’t the Australian box jellyfish’s primary food source, it works even more effectively on fish and crustaceans. Some fish have a symbiotic relationship with jellyfish. Mangrove jacks have developed an immunity to box jellyfish toxins and will actively hide within the jelly’s tentacles to evade predators. The upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea, relies on fish that hide within its tentacles to excrete waste into its mouth as a source of nutrients. Though not technically a jellyfish, the Portuguese man o’ war resembles other jellyfish at first glance. These creatures are siphonophores, which are a collection of different cnidarians coexisting
as what is effectively a single animal. However, these parts can detach and live on their own without having to exist as a part of the Portuguese man o’ war. Trying to comprehend this as a human is somewhat mind-boggling — it would be like if your eyeballs could just detach and go live on their own completely independent of the rest of your body. It wouldn’t be “Mad About Science” if we didn’t talk about gross stuff, and as you
are probably expecting, we’re going to talk about pee. Peeing on jellyfish stings doesn’t really alleviate the sting, at least not in any way outside of offering a placebo effect. Ammonia doesn’t have any chemical reaction with stings, especially in the case of the lethal Australian box jellyfish. Vinegar is capable of counteracting the toxins of jellyfish, but proper medical care is still required after severe stings. Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner Don’t know much about bald
eagles?
We can help!
• The bald eagle is the only eagle species found solely in North America. The Latin name (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) translates to “white-headed sea eagle.” • With a white-feathered head in striking contrast to its brown body, bald eagles aren’t actually bald. The name was likely first used by early British-North American settlers in the late 16th century, referring to the Middle English definition of the word “balde,” which means “white-headed.” • The Second Continental Congress declared the bald eagle as the national symbol of the U.S. in 1782, but it wasn’t officially designated as the national bird until Dec. 24, 2024 by former-President Joe Biden. • Though they have a reputation as mighty hunters, bald eagles are actually opportunists that will often steal prey instead of hunting their own. They frequently hound ospreys and other hunting birds for their catches mid-flight, forcing the other bird to drop their prey only
for it to be claimed by the eagle. Bald eagles also scavenge for food scraps at landfills. • In the mid-1900s, bald eagle populations crashed because of hunting, habitat loss and pesticide ingestion. Only around 400 nesting pairs remained in the continental U.S. by 1976. The species began to comeback after the pesticide DDT was banned in 1972. As of 2021, there were an estimated 316,000 bald eagles in the country — one of the greatest conservation success stories in America. • Bald eagles live up to 25 years in the wild and 50 years in captivity. • For decades, film and television producers have gotten the bald eagle call wrong on the screen. Often, when an eagle is filmed in a particular scene, filmmakers will dub in the call of a red-tailed hawk, whose piercing screech sounds more ominous and intimidating than the light chirping of bald eagles.
PERSPECTIVES I’m a Catholic, pro-life OB-GYN, here’s how Idaho’s abortion ban has affected my patients By Becky Uranga Reader Contributor I’ve been an OB-GYN serving Idaho families for more than 15 years. I love this job and the journeys I get to walk alongside my patients — the dearly wanted pregnancies, the hard diagnoses, the families I’ve known for a decade or more. I write this for them. For the past four years, Idahoans have lived under an extreme abortion ban, one with no exceptions for health of the mother or in cases of a doomed pregnancy. And I want to tell you plainly what that has meant for the patients I care for and love. I have watched insurance companies deny payment for miscarriage treatment because, in medical terms, that treatment is classified as an abortion. I have sent patients — mid-pregnancy, frightened, after receiving the devastating diagnosis that their fetus has a heartbeat but no brain — by plane to Salt Lake City because, under Idaho law, I could do nothing for them. I have had patients tell me they’re considering leaving the state because they don’t feel safe growing their family here anymore. I have taken on new patients who had a 25-year relationship with their doctor, my beloved colleague, who left Idaho because she could no longer practice here under these cruel conditions. This is the reality of Idaho’s extreme abortion ban. Idaho’s ban removes the doctor’s ability to act on their own medical judgment, and it removes the patient’s ability to trust that their doctor still can. We have the opportunity to restore Idaho’s law to what worked well for nearly 50 years. I’m supporting Proposition 1, to restore that standard of care to how it was before the current ban took effect — back when doctors like me regularly counseled families through difficult decisions, heartbreaking visits, and the thousands of things that can and do complicate a pregnancy, instead of letting politicians and politics infiltrate our exam rooms. As a practicing Catholic, I am wholeheartedly pro-life. I strive to fulfill my vocation in a way that respects both my faith and medical training. This current ban, with its disregard for the health of the mother and the sanctity of the patient-doctor relationship, does neither. I believe voting yes on Prop. 1 will reduce wait times to see all Idaho doctors, for any health concerns you and your family may have. It also means physicians like me can go back to providing the best health care for our patients without the risk of felony criminalization hanging over our heads. If we can unite as Idahoans to pass
Becky Uranga. Courtesy photo Prop. 1, I won’t have to send more patients to Utah for the care they need. It will mean that my daughter — and your daughters — feel that someday they can build a life and family here in her home state, safely getting the care they need to do so. And most of all, passing Prop. 1 will restore the sacred space between doctors and our patients, allowing us to honor your beliefs and your medical privacy in the exam room without any external pressures from politicians. I am staying in Idaho regardless. I love my patients too much to leave. But I am asking Idaho voters to give me, and every doctor like me, the grace and ability to actually take care of my patients again. Join me in voting “yes” on Prop. 1 on Nov. 3. Dr. Becky Uranga is a mother and Idaho OB-GYN practicing in Ada and Canyon counties.
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COMMUNITY
The most local of days By Ben Olson Reader Staff It was a banner day at the Sandcreek Regatta on Sept. 12. The sun was shining, most of the handmade boats floated and a new winner was crowned. The festivities began with the annual tourist sacrifice. A visitor from Australia named Blair offered himself up to the lake gods so that North Idaho may experience a good winter. Event organizer Jon Knepper and I grabbed him by the arms and legs, swung him around and tossed him ingloriously into Sand Creek as a boisterous crowd of locals cheered him on. This year’s event saw a total of six boats enter, though one sank immediately after entering the water, so only five competed for glory. As reigning champions, the Reader’s USS Hate Mail VI crew gave it their all, but were no match for Woods Wheatcroft’s handmade paddleboard dubbed Stay Little, which won the race handily. Wheatcroft led by such a large margin, he even took breaks while the rest of the field attempted to catch up. The Hate Mail VI passed the finish line in second place, followed by new entrant Justin Landis’ styrofoam boat — The Layer Cake — in third place. In a surprise to everyone, Knepper’s craft — which resembled some kind of sci-fi praying mantis — actually crossed the finish line, making it the first time his boat has finished the race in seven years. Coming in last was KRFY’s Dead Air, made from hot tub covers and coolers and paddled by the radio’s staff and volunteers, who spent more time lobbing water and splashing the other boats than paddling. Sunshine Goldmine’s Matt Kinney had a solo craft — S.S. MacBethanny — ready to race, but it didn’t make the starting line after taking on water. Awards were handed out and the party moved to the 219 Lounge, as Wheatcroft graciously allowed the rest of the competitors to drink from the coveted trophy. It was the most local of days in Sandpoint and we appreciate everyone for coming out to cheer on the field. We had several new entrants this year and hope to keep adding to it every year. Mark your calendars for the week after Labor Day, 2027. In the meantime, keep on paddlin’ on.
Various photos of the Sandcreek Regatta, including the awards ceremony, the tourist sacrifice and boat crews. Most photos taken by Meg Turner, with additional submissions by Vicky Johnson and Jeremy Holzapfel.
September 17, 2026 / R / 13
COMMUNITY
Join the ‘Friendship Revolution’ as a memory care volunteer By Reader Staff The Sandpoint Friendship Station — a branch of Sandpoint United Methodist Church’s Respite for All Ministry — is seeking new volunteers to support community members with memory loss and dementia. The group will host a volunteer training session, teaching new recruits about the program’s socialization activities, along with a complimentary lunch from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 21 at 711 Main St. “We are creating a community where trained, dedicated and heartfelt volunteers serve as intentional, loving companions to join with our friends
with memory loss and dementia,” stated organizers. “Participants are remembered and embraced for the treasure of who they are. We provide a nurturing and engaging environment in which we connect with our innate joy of being.” Volunteers set up and participate in social events such as live music, games, arts and crafts, pet therapy, community projects and cognitive exercises. The weekly Wednesday sessions support community members with dementia, while giving their regular caregivers time to rest and recuperate. To attend, RSVP to sandpointfriendshipstation@gmail.com. To learn more about the group’s mission, visit sandpointfriendshipstation.com.
Artists in the Garden celebrates local artisans By Reader Staff The Create Arts Center is once again hosting Artists in the Garden, a pop-up art show featuring a wide range of local artists on Sunday, Sept. 20 from noon to 3 p.m. Attendees can enjoy more than 10 booths with various art styles and media, all set up outside in the center’s garden (900
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Fourth St., in Newport, Wash.). The afternoon will include light refreshments and the opportunity to chat with local artists, all while enjoying live country music with Newport local Greg Vaughn. All artwork will be available for purchase and will include everything from small, functional pottery to handsewn purses, paintings, blown glass, live moss artwork and more. To learn more, visit createarts.org.
COMMUNITY Native Plant Society announces kickoff to 2026-’27 public programs By Reader Staff Wrapping up a busy summer in the Native Plant Arboretum, members of the Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society will hold the first of their 2026-’27 public programs on Saturday, Sept. 19, with a presentation from Phillip Cernera featuring the Tar Creek Apprenticeship Program. A trained fisheries biologist, Cernera will introduce attendees to the hands-on experience offered by the TCAP, which is designed to reconnect tribal youth to natural resources and the cultural practices derived from them.
Cernera’s background includes more than 45 years as an environmental advocate for native tribes. As the managing director of the Lake Management Department for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, he worked to reaffirm the tribe’s ownership of the lake, brought a natural resource damage lawsuit against mining companies in the Silver Valley and litigated tribal water rights. After leaving that role with the tribe, Cernera moved to Costa Rica while working as a private contractor for the seven tribes affected by the tri-state mining district of Tar Creek, an Oklahoma mining super-
fund site. More recently, he returned to North Idaho where he is developing and teaching the one-month TCAP curriculum for tribal youth 17-21 years of age, offering them a pathway to working in natural resources restoration. Cernera’s presentation will begin at 10 a.m. in the Sandpoint Community Hall (204 S. First Ave.). Coffee, tea and treats will be served starting at 9:30 a.m. KNPS programs are free, open to the public and are co-sponsored by Sandpoint Parks and Recreation with support from the East Bonner County Library District.
Schweitzer Hill Climb honors memory of local cyclist Joe Claxton By Reader Staff It has been just over a year since local cycling enthusiast Joe Claxton passed away after a diagnosis of Stage 4 esophageal cancer, but friends, family and fellow bikers are honoring his memory with the Schweitzer Hill Climb, set for Saturday, Sept. 19. Cost to participate is $40 for either the road or dirt course, with riders departing from the base of the mountain at 10 a.m. and ending at the Schweitzer village. The paved route follows Schweitzer Mountain Road over 8.65 miles and 2,551 feet of elevation. The dirt route leaves the
road at the Lower Basin trailhead, then follows the Shedwater, Cedar Dreams, Yew Can Do It and Ursa Major trails to the roundabout, later connecting with the Upper Basin trail to Telemark Road near the Schweitzer Mountain Road junction. The route then re-enters Schweitzer Mountain Road to the village, covering an overall distance of 7.69 miles and climbing 2,620 feet. Claxton started his cycling journey in 2003, embarking on his first 50-mile ride in 2006. Upon retirement in 2015, he and his wife settled in Hauser, Idaho, and Claxton joined a Spokane cycling group where he rode as many 100-mile rides as possible.
Later moving to Bonners Ferry in 2021, Claxton joined the Saturday morning road ride group with the Pend Oreille Pedalers, and the ride up Schweitzer Mountain was one Claxton took many times as a training exercise. Even after his cancer diagnosis in 2023 — and despite chemotherapy and radiation treatments — Claxton continued to ride, including on his final cycling trip, which took him to Bali and Singapore. For more information on the Schweitzer Hill Climb, in memory of Joe Claxton, go to the Panhandle Gravel Facebook page. More signup info is available at runsignup.com.
Human Rights Task Force hosts panel on Christian Nationalism By Reader Staff The Bonner County Human Rights Task Force will hold a panel discussion on Christian nationalism and politics on Saturday, Sept. 19, focusing on the question, “Should the state have a Biblical worldview?” The informational session will be held from 2-4:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church (417 N. Fourth Ave., in Sandpoint). The afternoon features three expert speakers: Brian Seguin, Sarah Bader and Kate Bitz. Seguin, the public services librarian at Gonzaga University, will discuss legal and historical perspectives, examining the constitutional principles of the separation of church and state and how it protects individual and religious freedom. Bader, co-producer of the podcast Sons of
Patriarchy, will speak from personal experience about the ramifications of the ongoing “intrusion” of religious views into state and national laws. Finally, Bitz, a senior organizer at the nonprofit advocacy organization and think tank Western States Center, will discuss area activism and resistance. She will also examine the impact of state laws and local ordinances on public school curriculums. Following the panel, speakers will take audience questions submitted via index cards before moving to the Fellowship Hall for refreshments. There, participants will have the opportunity to chat with speakers and ask additional questions at their individual booths. Visit bchrtf.org to learn more info.
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COMMUNITY
Dogsmile Adventures brings back Sail-a-Palooza for a second year of celebration and fundraising By Reader Staff Dogsmile Adventures, a Sandpoint-based nonprofit dedicated to providing therapeutic sailing experiences, announced the return of its fundraising celebration dubbed “Saila-Palooza.” The event will take place from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Matchwood Brewing Company (513 Oak St., in Sandpoint). The evening promises a mix of live music, games, storytelling, silent auctions and community spirit — all to raise funds that support Dogsmile Adventures’ mission of changing lives through the healing power of sailing. Admission is free, with opportunities throughout the evening to give back, including raffles, paddle raises and VIP table reservations. Live music will be provided by local indie rock band Harold’s IGA, and silent auctions will feature unique local items and sailing experiences, with big-ticket items available for in-person
or online bidding. Sail-a-Palooza is a family-friendly event, which will feature games for kids. There will also be no-host food and drinks available, with a portion of proceeds donated to Dogsmile Adventures. Eight exclusive VIP tables for six are available for $500 each, which includes complimentary drinks, a dedicated server and prime stage seating. Contact hello@dogsmileadventures.org to reserve a spot. “Last year’s Sail-a-Palooza was such an incredible night; we knew we had to do it again,” stated Jon Totten, founder of Dogsmile Adventures. “This event is a chance to celebrate the impact of our sailing programs, the people who make these adventures possible, and the community that continues to support our mission. We’re thrilled to bring everyone back together for another unforgettable evening, and we’re so grateful to Matchwood Brewing and to everyone who continues to help us make this vision a reality.” All ages are welcome, and attend-
ees are encouraged to wear Dogsmile gear if they have it. As the event will span indoor and outdoor spaces, guests are advised to bring a light jacket for the evening. Learn more about Dogsmile Adventures at dogsmileadventures.org.
Dogsmile Adventures founder Jon Totten shows members of the community the sailing life on Lake Pend Oreille. Courtesy photos
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www.skywalkertreecare.com 16 / R / September 17, 2026
COMMUNITY
BTAA welcomes new veterinarian By Reader Staff Local animal shelter and community nonprofit Better Together Animal Alliance will welcome veterinarian Talitha Neher to its team on Monday, Oct. 5, further supporting the organization’s mission to keep pets and families together by providing affordable animal necessities and medical services. “We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Neher to the BTAA team,” stated BTAA President and CEO Mandy Evans. “Her experience in animal shelter medicine, combined with her clinical and surgical expertise, plus her interest in behavioral medicine, will strengthen our ability to provide the veterinary care our shelter animals and community pets need.” Born and raised in Sandpoint, Neher earned her doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Wisconsin in 2004. Her partnership with BTAA further expands the nonprofit’s community-based approach to animal welfare. The orga-
nization serves more than 8,000 animals each year through programs including low-cost spay and neuter services, Trap-Neuter-Return for community cats, the pet support hotline and the door-to-door Pets for Life program, which serves pets from under-resourced neighborhoods. All programs are funded through private donations, grants, fees and proceeds from the nonprofit’s volunteer-led thrift store. “The community makes this work possible,” stated Evans. “Veterinary care is one of the most important tools we have to keep pets healthy, address challenges before they become crises and give animals the best possible chance at a good outcome. Adding Dr. Neher to our team strengthens our ability to do that work.”
Dr. Talitha Neher. Courtesy photo For more information, visit bettertogetheranimalalliance.org or call 208-265-7297.
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events
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com THURSDAY, september 17
Paint & Sip w/ Holly Walker 5:30-7:30pm @ Barrel 33 Open Irish jam night 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Tapped In w/ host Davey Mullen (BioBeat) 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
FriDAY, september 18
Live Music w/ John Pitcher 8-11pm @ 219 Lounge Film: The Majestic 7pm @ Panida Theater Live Music w/ On-Call Cowboys 5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ
Live Music w/ John Daffron 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Mobius Riff 6-9pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ Kenny James Miller Band 5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ Live Music w/ John Daffron 6pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live Music w/ Eel Sallad 9pm-midnight @ 219 Lounge Live Music w/ Nobody Famous 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ The Van Stone Band 6-9pm @ The Blue Heron Cafe Live jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar
SATURDAY, september 19
Potluck/Live Music w/ Ltl Wlf 6pm @ Idaho Pour Authority Josh Hedlund and Justin Landis. Potluck at 6pm, music starts at 7pm. Please RSVP with a dish of your choice
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi 7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub Outdoor Experience group run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience 3-5 miles, all levels welcome Live trivia w/ Toshi 7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration 5pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall With live music by The ElektroKelts and Papa B’s Fried Chicken food truck Hope Oktoberfest 5-8pm @ Hope Memorial Community Ctr. With live music by Hogwire
SunDAY, september 20
Artists in the Garden 12-3pm @ Create Garden (Newport, Wash.) Regional artists will have items for sale. Refreshments, conversations, live music by Greg Vaughn
monDAY, september 21
Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest fundraiser 5:30-9pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Live DJ, raffle and silent auction to help raise funds for upcoming film fest. sandpointidahofilmfest.org Trivia night 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Money empowerment workshop: Feminine Side of Money 5:30-7:30pm @ Embody Yoga, Dance & Wellness A donation-based workshop exploring your relationship with money. Open to all
Wild open mic night 5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority tuesDAY, september 22 In honor of National Public Lands Live Music w/ Rich and Jenny Karaoke Day, presented by Friends of 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery 9pm @ Roxy’s Lounge Scotchman Peaks Wilderness
Beginner Argentine tango class 7pm @ Embody Center, 823 Main St. No partner needed. $15 Benny on the Deck weekly patio concert 5:30-8:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge
wednesDAY, september 23
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park Local produce, live music and more Live piano w/ Jennifer Stoehner 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Chamber After Hours: Festival at Sandpoint 5-7pm @ Festival at Sandpoint office Join the Festival for door prizes, complimentary drinks/snacks and learn what the FAS does the other 50 weeks of the year
ThursDAY, september 24
End of the Line: A Tribute to the Allman Brothers • 7pm @ Panida Theater A top-tier tribute to the Allman Brothers, with a sound that matches the iconic power of the original band. Panida.org for tickets 18 / R / September 17, 2026
Lake Life anniversary party/open house 4-7pm @ Lake Life Wellness Center Stop by 200 Main St. to explore Lake Life Wellness Center. Free mini-yoga classes, free chair massage, clinic tours, refreshments, prizes and more Karaoke 6-9pm @ Eagles, 1511 John Hudon Ln. 21+ Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park Local produce, live music and more Live Music w/ Jenny and Rich 6-8pm @ Baxters on Cedar
Alexa Wildish, Hannah Delynn in concert 7pm @ Panida Little Theater Square dancing lessons Indie folk singer-songwriters of Col2-5pm @ Sandpoint Community Hall orado and Nashville stop by as part Hosted by HooDoo Valley Hoedownof their The Hum + The Howl Tour ers and Sandpoint Parks and Rec. 2026. Tickets at panida.org Sail-a-Palooza: Dogsmile Adventures fundraiser • 5-8pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co. Live music w/ Harold’s IGA, games, storytelling, silent auctions and community spirit raising funds for Dogsmile Adventures to change lives through the healing power of sailing. Free to attend, plenty of ways to give back
Live Music w/ Fiddlin’ Red Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee 1-4pm @ Barrel 33 Weekly BCA pool tournament Live Music w/ Blue Krawdads 3-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority 12pm @ Roxy’s Lounge
Lake Pend Oreille Toastmasters 5:45-7pm @ Sandpoint Library Group meets every Tuesday
Weekly BCA pool tournament 6pm @ Roxy’s Lounge
Luca Stricagnoli in concert 8pm @ The Hive POAC’s Performing Arts Series kicks off with guitar virtuoso Luca Stricagnoli in this special concert. Artinsandpoint.org for tickets and more info
Live Music w/ Carli Osika 5pm @ Connie’s Lounge Live jazz w/ Bright Moments 6-8pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante Live Music w/ Mike and Sadie 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery Live Music w/ Ian Newbill 6-9pm @ Barrel 33 Live Music w/ Devon Wade 8pm @ Roxy’s Lounge
September 17 - 24, 2026
Open bluegrass jam night 5:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge Weekly BCA pool tournament 6pm @ Roxy’s Lounge
STAGE & SCREEN
Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest hosts fundraising party By Reader Staff To celebrate the upcoming Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest in late October, the group will host a fundraising party on Monday, Sept. 21 from 5:30-9 p.m. at Matchwood Brewing (513 Oak St., in Sandpoint). The event will bring together filmmakers, supporters, community
members and film lovers to help build momentum for the festival and support its continued growth. There will be live music by DJ AnT_ EyE, a silent auction, raffles and merch available for purchase. During the event, SIFF will screen the short documentary film When Dishwashers Were Kings about ski bum culture in Telluride, Colo. The organization will also unveil the
Screening at the Panida, The Majestic is a nostalgic drama starring Jim Carrey By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff While Jim Carrey is far and away best known for his signature rubber-faced comedy roles, his first major foray into drama came with the 2001 film The Majestic. Carrey performs the lead as Peter Appleton, a screenwriter being blacklisted as a suspected communist during McCarthy-era Hollywood. Facing political persecution, Appleton’s starlet girlfriend gives him the boot at the same time as his studio contract is canceled. His response is to get drunk and take a winding California coastal drive that results in a car wreck that leaves him with amnesia. Waking up befuddled on the beach, he’s rescued by a passerby who takes him to a nearby small town where Harry Trimble (Martin Landau) becomes convinced that Appleton is actually his son, who went missing in World War II. Lacking any memory or evidence to the contrary, Appleton goes along with Trimble’s belief and begins to make a place for himself in the community — going on to help with the revitalization of the local theater (the titular Majes-
official handcrafted and hand-printed film festival poster, and viewers will get the chance to watch the trailer for the festival before it is published elsewhere. “We are continuing to gain sponsorships and actively seeking out more funding partners to make this an incredible community event in October of 2026,” organizers wrote in an event announcement. “More details about the party, festival lineup, awards and screening schedule will be shared soon.” Film submissions officially closed at the end of July. The festival team has reviewed and notified all selected films
Various posters for films selected to screen at the inaugural Sandpoint Idaho Film Fest in late October. Courtesy images for the festival in October, and a panel of five judges is currently reviewing nominated films to decide which ones will win for each award category. For more information on submissions, sponsorships or festival updates, visit sandpointidahofilmfest.org.
Courtesy photo tic), but his past isn’t far behind. The film wasn’t exactly a smash with critics, and lost $35 million at the box office, but its earnest, nostalgic tone and ensemble cast — especially Carrey’s atypically serious performance — resonated at least with iconic film reviewer Roger Ebert, who gave it three-and-a-half stars. The Panida Theater will present a screening of The Majestic on Friday, Sept. 18, with doors open at 6 p.m. and the film at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10.50 for adults and $7.50 for seniors and students, available at panida.org or the box office (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint).
September 17, 2026 / R / 19
FOOD
The Sandpoint Eater Apples and autumn By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist
Last week, my dear friend Mary and I took a leisurely walk in my neck of the woods. In the warm afternoon sun, we stopped to admire gardens yielding the last of their harvest and trees laden with fragrant fruit. We’ve walked these same roads and trails for years and, once upon a time, when we spotted an apple tree heavy with fruit, we didn’t just admire it — we gathered the goods. Walking past these trees, we reminded each other of the days when we would carry home bags of apples to be washed, peeled, cored and sliced. Some would become pie filling, carefully seasoned with lemon juice, cinnamon and a dash of nutmeg, then tucked away in freezer bags for winter baking. Others would simmer gently on the stove until they yielded applesauce. There was always another pie to make, another jar to fill, another meal for someone we loved. And, of course, there was the mess: apple peels everywhere, sticky counters, pots bubbling on the stove, and the kitchen fragrant with the smell of cinnamon and apples. The entire house smelled of fall. I loved it... most of the time. It was tedious work, but a labor of love in the truest sense, and I was feeding the people I loved. And perhaps that is the part I remember most. These days, neither Mary nor I have many mouths 20 / R / September 17, 2026
to feed, so we walked past those apple trees and left the fruit hanging. I do have an apple tree in my own yard — a crabapple. There was a time when I carefully harvested those little fruits, too. Crabapples are naturally high in pectin, and I used them mostly to make mint jelly. There was something magical about harvesting the little crabapples from my front yard, picking fresh mint from my backyard and simmering them into a sweet smelling, jewel-toned jelly. It’s been years since I’ve made a batch, and now I enjoy this lovely tree most in spring, when she puts on a spectacular display of blossoms. I am learning, slowly,
that I don’t need to turn every beautiful thing into something useful. Don’t get me wrong. I still love apples, especially this time of year, and we’re so lucky to live in a region that produces such wonderful varieties. Take your pick: Gala, Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Rome, Fuji, Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and the popular Cosmic Crisp, which was bred at Washington State University. There are more than 7,000 apple varieties grown around the world, with roughly 2,500 varieties in the U.S. alone. So that humble apple sitting in your fruit bowl is part of an extraordi-
narily large family. Nowadays, I’m content knowing I have peeled enough apples to last several lifetimes. Year after year, I did the work. I made the pies, filled the jars and turned the harvest into something to be shared. As I get older, I continue to learn important things — like it’s OK to admire the harvest and leave the apples hanging on the tree, enjoying the blossoms without making the jelly. We can appreciate something simply because it is beautiful, and still remember what it once meant to us. I can vividly remember my mother’s favorite apple recipe. It was a rich, moist chocolate chip apple
cake, and she made it often. Perched on a nearby stool, I watched in awe as she deftly worked the apples, leaving behind perfect long ribbons of red-tinged peel. I know her recipe by heart, which is a good thing; because, sadly, the pencil-written instructions, scrawled years ago on an old index card, are slowly fading. But my memory of this cake never will. Some recipes are worth keeping because they’re so delicious. Others are worth keeping for the fragrant memories. This one, for me, is both.
Apple, chocolate chip and pecan cake This cake is rich and moist, and loves to travel. It’s also delicious using half chocolate chips and half Trader Joe’s caramel chips. Yield 9”x13” cake.
INGREDIENTS:
DIRECTIONS:
• 3 cups peeled, diced apples • 2 cups all-purpose flour • 1½ tsp baking soda • ½ tsp salt • 1 cup granulated sugar • ½ cup packed light brown sugar • ¾ cup melted, cooled butter • 3 large eggs • 2 tsp vanilla • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips • 1 cup chopped pecans
Heat oven to 350° F. Grease a 9”x13” baking pan and line with parchment paper. Peel and dice/chop apples into small pieces (they don’t need to be uniform, just small). In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined. The batter will be fairly thick. Fold in the apples, chocolate chips and pecans. Don’t overmix. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the top with the additional chocolate chips and pecans. Bake for approximately 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Don’t
Topping mix: • ½ cup additional chocolate chips • ½ cup additional chopped pecans • A little coarse sugar
overbake. Cool for at least 20-30 minutes before cutting.
Wrapped well. Remaining cake will keep in refrigerator for several days.
MUSIC POAC kicks off Performing Arts Season with Luca Stricagnoli concert By Ben Olson Reader Staff The Pend Oreille Arts Council recently announced the lineup for its 2026 Performing Arts Season. The monthslong series kicks off with a special concert with acoustic rock innovator and fingerstyle guitar virtuoso Luca Stricagnoli from 7-9:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 at The Hive (207 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint). With his music videos exceeding 200 million views and a tour schedule that takes him to every corner of the globe, Stricagnoli is considered one of the most unique guitarists in the world. His creative style, which
led him to invent instruments like the reversed triple neck guitar and the reversed slide neck, both of which have contributed to the modern evolution of the acoustic guitar. Stricagnoli’s music has grabbed the attention of noteworthy bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and Walk Off The Earth. Starting his career at just 10 years old, Stricagnoli studied classical guitar and later attended the Conservatory, the most prestigious music school in Italy. Developing a unique fingerpicking style, he began winning competitions around the world. Today, Stricagnoli is known for his innovative
technique. Utilizing violin bows, multiple guitars at one, modified capos and unusual tunings, a Stricagnoli performance always leaves audiences stunned. Listen to and learn more
about Stricagnoli at lucastricagnoli.com. Check future editions of the Reader for a full lineup of POAC’s Performing Arts Season.
and delicate vocals. Her musical prowess earned her a spot on NBC’s 2023 season of The Voice, after which she dove into the world of covers, releasing the album After Love with songs by the likes of Cher and Keith Whitley, to name a few. Stream her music at alexawildish.com to see how she manages to make each song her own. Wildish will play her original body of work alongside Nashville’s Delynn, and vice versa, building on one another’s penchant for angelic harmonies. Delynn, with her self-professed love of “mythical stories and mystical lore”
Alexa Wildish. Courtesy photo brings a layer of fantastical storytelling to her music while ensuring that her lyrics remain deeply relatable and introspective. Her soft vocals are akin to the work of Phoebe Bridgers, with relatively fast backing from the many instruments she plays adding an interesting, alt-
Hannah Delynn. Courtesy photo folk flair to her original work. Hear her haunting discography on hannahdelynn.com. Don’t miss the chance to see two stars-in-the-making together in concert. Tickets for Saturday’s performance are $24.20 at the door or at panida.org.
Luca Stricagnoli. Courtesy photo
Ethereal indie folk singers headline at the Panida By Reader Staff As solo artists, up-andcoming indie folk singers Alexa Wildish and Hannah Delynn are mesmerizing. Together, they’re downright mystical. The singer-songwriters will bring the otherworldly harmonies of their Hum + Howl tour to Sandpoint on Saturday, Sept. 19 for a 7 p.m. concert at the Panida Little Theater (300 N. First Ave.). A guitarist, mandolinist and lifelong singer, Wildish released her self-titled debut EP in 2020, establishing her distinct Americana sound, which emphasizes storytelling
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint On-Call Cowboys, Smokesmith BBQ, Sept. 18 True to tradition and their chosen moniker, the On-Call Cowboys roam the range from their home base in Stevens County, Wash., to points throughout the region bringing their own brand of rockin’ outlaw country. Swinging through Sandpoint on Friday, Sept. 18 for a hoedown throwdown at Smokesmith BBQ, the rotating ensemble
of wandering sometime-buckaroos invites local audiences to join them for what they describe as a good ol’ time of “horsin’ around.” — Zach Hagadone 5:30-8:30 p.m., FREE. Smokesmith BBQ, 102 South Boyer Ave., 208-920-0517, smokesmithidaho. com. Get more info at facebook. com/oncallcowboys.
The Van Stone Band, Blue Heron Cafe, Sept. 19 After opening a live music venue in its backyard and patio a few years back, the Blue Heron Cafe continues to receive praise for the unique rural venue with a view of the Selkirk Mountains. The Blue Heron will host Spokane-based group The Van Stone Band, playing an eclectic set that blends psychedelic rock, roots and reggae. Led by Mason Van Stone, the group performs original music with
soulful lyrics as well as covers that everyone enjoys. From instrumental jams to deep-hitting songs about love and life, The Van Stone Band is a talented group of musicians who all seem to enjoy their time on stage. — Ben Olson 6-9 p.m., FREE. The Blue Heron Cafe backyard, 208-263-1146, 486260 U.S. 95, blueheronsamuels.com.
This week’s RLW by Soncirey Mitchell
READ
At the height of my obsession with Charlie Chaplin — yes, I had one of those and, no, I never bought the bowler hat — I read Tramp: The Life of Charlie Chaplin by Joyce Milton, which both deepened and complicated my love for the controversial figure. The insightful biography explores his ascension from slums to stardom and his fraught personal life, including his relationships with underage girls. At least he hated Nazis. Find it where you find books.
LISTEN
When I need calming, light music for slow Sundays doing chores or running errands, I find myself returning to the Celestial Aeon Project. Artist Matti Paalanen produces ethereal, fantasy-inspired instrumentals for tabletop role-playing games, studying or sleep, usually featuring flutes or harps in the forefront. Many songs include mellow versions of soundtracks from films, TV and video games. Listen on YouTube to add a bit of whimsy to everyday life.
WATCH
As part of my Halloween movie marathon (which obviously begins in September), I recently watched the 1992 horror comedy Death Becomes Her, starring Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis and Goldie Hawn. The cult classic has withstood the test of time and remains a charming and hilarious romp through marital issues and girlhood rivalries, with costuming that is just to die for, pun intended. Find it in all its campy glory at the Sandpoint library.
September 17, 2026 / R / 21
BACK OF THE BOOK
Origins of a misnomer By Ben Olson Reader Staff
From Northern Idaho News, September 17, 1909
BOGUS GOLD ON HIM Laden down with bogus twenty dollar gold pieces, an unknown stranger was taken into custody Wednesday night by City Policeman Kitchen and Deputy Sheriff Hutchinson. A total of $205 in bogus gold pieces was recovered and the career of a bad man cut short when the two officers took the man into custody after a sharp encounter. A telephone message was received at the city police headquarters Wednesday evening from Ponderay stating that a man had been there who was attempting to pass counterfeit gold pieces and that he had departed and was coming toward Sandpoint on the Northern Pacific track. Officer Kitchen and Deputy Sheriff Hutchinson set out to encounter the man and met a stranger coming to town at a point on the track near the Humbird company boarding house, Kitchen had an electric flashlight and when he flashed it on the fellow the stranger started to run and at the same time to pull a revolver. Kitchen was too near to him for the fellow to fire and the officer reached over from behind and got hold of his wrist. It was a narrow escape for Kitchen for the weapon when it was taken from the man was found to be an automatic with every chamber filled and there was no doubt from the action of the stranger that he meant to use it. Deputy Hutchinson put a quietus on him for a minute by striking him over the head with his revolver, after which the man was handcuffed and a search was made nearby with the result that two ten-dollar gold pieces and a five-dollar gold piece were found on the ground where the fellow had thrown them.
22 / R / September 17, 2026
I’ve written several times in these pages about the strange proclivity Sandpointians have of saying “Third Street Pier” instead of the actual name, “Third Avenue Pier.” Like using the grammatically accurate “northern Idaho” instead of the colloquially correct “North Idaho,” saying “Third Avenue Pier” is one of those indicators that shows how long someone has lived here. Thanks to the sleuthing of a couple of Reader readers, I might have uncovered the origin of this most local of misnomers. Joey Cottrell sent an old photo of a curious street sign marking “Third St.” instead of the now-correct “Ave.” “The city must have changed it quite a while back, but didn’t get this sign,” Cottrell wrote. Intrigued, I wrote to local historian Nancy Foster Renk, who sent a volley of useful information about the origins of Sandpoint street names. Foster-Renk referred to a Sandpoint News-Bulletin article from Sept. 22, 1949 that references a talk given to the Civic Club by one of the town founders, Nannie Wray Farmin. Mrs. Farmin said that Mr. Farmin “wished the streets running north and south to be designated ‘avenues,’ and to be numbered First to Seventh,” while the east-west streets were to be “given names of trees indigenous to the locality.” “That’s all fine and dandy until you look at the plat map of Sandpoint, done for Mr. Farmin in 1898,” wrote Foster-Renk. “Everything is labeled a street.”
Sure enough, on the 1898 plat map, all the numbered roads are labeled as “streets” instead of “avenues.” It also lists Sandpoint as a municipality of “Kootenai County,” since Bonner County wouldn’t be formed until 1907. To further complicate matters, the 1904 Sanborn fire map shows all north-south roads as “avenues,” but the names changed south of Pine Street, describing Third Avenue in south Sandpoint as “Golden Gate Avenue” and Second Avenue as “Pend Oreille Avenue.” These names apparently didn’t hold up. When an updated fire map came out five years later, the names “Golden Gate” and “Pend Oreille” avenues reverted to numbered avenues. So, it appears that Sandpoint called its numbered streets “avenues” for a short time around our town’s founding, and perhaps that name stuck when referring to the odd pier jutting into the river near the sewer outlet. “My guess is that the pier name is just easier to say as ‘Third Street’ instead of ‘Third Avenue,’ but that’s only a guess,” wrote Foster-Renk.
She also pointed out another humorous story from the June 1, 1943 edition of Northern Idaho News involving the strange habit of Sandpoint locals bathing next to raw sewage — specifically the old sewer pipe extending into the water not far from Third Street Pier. “The complete indifference of youth to the presence of danger is shown by the practice that has become common of bathing in the water off of the city septic tank,” the article stated. “This seems to be the favorite place for the youngsters to take their swim.” While this isn’t a smoking gun that solves the mystery of the misnamed pier, it sheds some light on the early days that might have led to our name usages in the present day. However, the fact that Sandpoint youngsters of the 1940s spent their hot summer days swimming amid sewage begs further questions. Special thanks to Joey Cottrell and local historian Nancy Foster-Renk for their input on this piece of local lore.
STR8TS Solution
Sudoku Solution
Crossword Solution
Top left: The original plat of Sandpoint from 1898, showing Third “Street” instead of Avenue. Image courtesy of Nancy Foster Renk. Top right: A photo of the current street sign at Larch St. and Third Ave., which reads “Third St.” Photo by Joey Cottrell.
By Bill Borders
CROSSWORD
Copyright www.mirroreyes.com
Laughing Matters
Solution on page 22
Solution on page 22
ACROSS
lagan /LAG-uhn/
Woorf tdhe Week
[noun] 1. anything sunk in the sea, but attached to a buoy or the like so that it may be recovered
“Sailors spotted a floating marker, signaling that lagan was hidden beneath the waves.”
Corrections: Nothing this week, party people. Too bad when I was a kid there wasn’t a guy in our class that everybody called the “Cricket Boy,” because I would have liked to stand up in class and tell everybody, “You can make fun of the Cricket Boy if you want to, but to me he’s just like everybody else.” Then everybody would leave the Cricket Boy alone, and I’d invite him over to spend the night at my house, but after about five minutes of that loud chirping I’d have to kick him out. Maybe later we could get up a petition to get the Cricket Family run out of town. Bye, Cricket Boy.
1. Indian dress 5. Documents 9. Your majesty 13. Distinctive flair 14. Conscious 16. Notion 17. Auspices 18. Transparent green gemstone 19. Foot digits 20. Trousers 22. With sadness 24. Soft greasy substances 26. Female demon 27. Torments 30. Circus 33. Stronghold 35. Glacial ice formation 37. Metric unit of area 38. Rigid 41. Weep 42. Pauses 45. Small carnivorous fishes 48. Pilings 51. Inheritance 52. Metal money 54. Sounds of reproof 55. Ulcerous 59. Thespian 62. Make well 63. Muse of poetry 65. Diva’s solo 66. One of the Great Lakes 67. Satan
Solution on page 22 68. Sodium chloride 69. Bend 70. Sow 71. Otherwise
DOWN 1. Exude 2. Seaweed 3. Jungle trees 4. Blink of an eye 5. Apply gently 6. Was indebted to 7. Christmas song 8. 1st American space station 9. Put
39. Little lie 40. Worry 43. Titillated 44. Blackthorn 46. Blue shade 47. Crank 49. Fatigued 50. Breathes noisily while sleeping 53. Debonair 55. Cook 56. Pertaining to flight 57. Type of fastener 58. Anagram of “ties” 60. Lubricates 61. Assess 64. Not new September 17, 2026 / R / 23
10. False god 11. Bobbin 12. Not difficult 15. Varnish resin 21. Arouse 23. Dried fruits 25. Notices 27. At a distance 28. Impales 29. Supersonic transport 31. Composed for an orchestra 32. Monetary units of Serbia 34. Small mouthful 36. Vesicle