Reader_December10_2015

(wo)MAN on the street

What’s your favorite local shop to buy holiday gifts?

“I like to give coffee cards from Kokanee Coffee. I get my sons and son-in-law tools from Home Depot so they don’t borrow mine. I buy my wife gifts from Sayers Jewelers in the Bonner Mall. I also like to give gifts from Pend d’Oreille Winery.”

Dan McDonald Roof consultant Sunnyside

“Zany Zebra. They have cute and unique gifts that you cannot find anywhere else.”

Bailey Potter Senior at SHS Ponderay

“I’m relatively new to town, so I’m still finding my way around. I really like that Northwest Handmade on First, and the sporting goods shop next to it [Outdoor Experience].”

Mike Tindall

Retired BBQ Restaurateur Sandpoint

“I like the Scandanavian Affair on First. I love their collection of Greek Mythology stuff and I really like their China.”

Emma Kolb

12th Grade (home school) Clark Fork

“Meadowbrook is great, and I really like all the thrift stores. Those are my two favorite places.”

Dina Kolb Homemaker Clark Fork

“Sharon’s Hallmark is always a nice place to shop. And I really like Northwest Handmade. Those are the two that come to mind right away. All the local restaurants are also great places for gift certificates. I like MickDuff’s.”

Tim Ross

Retired school teacher

DEAR READERS,

Next week, we’ll be starting a series of articles about people who volunteer for the community and often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. The idea sprung from a conversation I had with Petal Talk owner Nicole French (who is herself a dedicated volunteer and promoter of many different causes).

Nicole recommended a few people she thought deserved recognition for their civic efforts, so I hit the streets and tracked them down, setting up interviews and chatting about their varied work in the community.

After a handful of interviews, one common characteristic of these volunteers is that they are usually quick to take the focus off of themselves and tell me about others who “do more.” They were all slightly uneasy being singled out, feeling that it isn’t the work of one, but the work of many that impacts a community.

As we move further into this holiday season, take a moment to think about those people you know who give their time and effort for a good cause and may not get the recognition they deserve. If you’d like to nominate them for an article in the future, please email me at ben@sandpointreader.com.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

READER

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About the Cover

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COMMENTARY

Judgement calls and the men who love them

probably way too stoned to know about blood avocados. He made a call to make some cash repping some ‘cados. I get it. Been there, done that.

By Louie de Palma Reader Road Warrior

It’s pretty damn hard sometimes to know the right thing to do. If you’re presented with the option to buy a known conflict diamond, most people probably wouldn’t do it. We have Leonardo DiCaprio to thank for that.

On the flip side, most people continue to buy evil, violent, mushy green blood avocados on a shockingly common basis. Sixty-one percent of all ‘cados sold in the good U-S-of-A come from good ol’ M-e-x-of-ico. And 80 percent of those come from the Michoacán region, which is controlled by the Knights Templar drug cartel. These guys do a whole pit-load of killing, burning locals farms and extorting, all in the name of the good green avocado. This earns the drug cartel about $150 million a year. Yet we Americans continue to eat the pit out of these conflict fruits! We have Michael Phelps to thank for that after his Subway sponsorship years back. That’s when he told everyone it really stokes his hunger to freestyle his foot-long with avocados on it. Thanks Phelps, you pit head.

OK, it‘s not Phelps’ fault. He didn’t know. How could he? He’s

Refugees...

Dear Editor,

In regards to refugee resettlement, I too am a refugee, from California that is. And no, I’m not here to buy up your real estate and subdivide your pristine wilderness.

No, I came to escape the smog, traffic, fast pace indecent humanity that some of those humans call life. I wanted clean air and water, abundant outdoors recreation, and what I like to call my “slow life.” Peace, I’ve found it. I am forever grateful that survival is nothing I’ve ever sought refuge from. It is a shame to see the majority of this culture’s com-

Well, not exactly, but I make judgment calls in my job all the time that are sketchy as hell, and I have no idea how they are going to pan out. In this day and age, who can make a solid decision?

With all the super deep insightful political memes out there and everyone changing their profile pictures to support one cause or another, I can hardly figure out what to believe. It’s like I have to think for myself, and that, my friends, is where it gets tricky.

Next thing I know, I can’t figure out if I stand with Planned Parenthood or not. I mean, I do, but I also stand with unplanned parenthood. That’s totally fine, too. I don’t actually know many planned children. Shoot, I stand for super planned adopted parenthood. I stand with people who plan on never being parents at all. I stand with people who prefer cats. Actually, I hate cats, but if you accidentally get a cat, fine. But don’t raise it wrong. Then you’re a neglectful parent who raised a psycho latch-key cat that shoots some place up after getting hopped up on violent images and memes, and it’s your fault.

As you can see, it’s really difficult to make good judgment calls. Especially when dealing with others. Especially when they get

mon folk at the hands of war.

“War does not determine who is right—only who is left.”

-Bertrand Russell Casey Cooke Sandpoint

Refugees...

Dear Editor,

As a brown-skinned person of East Asian descent living in Bonner County, the recent proclamations by the sheriff and the county commissioners publicly voicing their opposition to welcoming any refugees is disturbing in no small degree. Given that the statements by these, our elected officials,

in your cab and you have to make split-second, Phelps-esque decisions without knowing a lot of situational background. That’s why I’m proposing a background check for every customer. I’m taking one from the old gun regulation concept here: If I can weed out the dangerous-to-themselves-or-others crowd with paperwork, I can go on giving rides and making decisions guilt-free. After all, they’ve been vetted, so any bad decision they make afterward is totally not my fault. I propose combining background checks for gun purchases with your average medical forms. It would go something like this (note this has been modified for my line of work—you’ll have to make your own for your job):

1)Are you are criminal? Yes or no?

2)Are you going to commit crimes? Yes or no?

3)Are you crazy, or have you ever been crazy, even if only for a little bit? Yes or no?

4)Do you have a history of drug or alcohol abuse? Did you combine this with unsafe fornication and/or violence without a safe word? Yes or no?

5)Have you ever been crazy while drunk or high, even if only for a little bit? Yes? No? Once, maybe twice? Or can’t you remember?

6)Do you have a history of violence, especially domestic? Yes or no?

have no legal weight in actually stopping any refugees from settling in Bonner County I have to ask what purpose they actually serve? It seems to me that, political grandstanding aside, they unfortunately serve as public affirmations in support of xenophobia and racism.

As a non-white person I am already subject to unnerving suspicion and scrutiny. Despite the seeming politeness of this county I have sadly become used to encountering a variety of subtle expressions of racism. These very public positions taken by the sheriff and the county commissioners make me that much more afraid of

7)Please disclose your medical history. Are you missing any limbs? Are you diagnosed with any form of anything? Please make special note of Alzheimer’s or bipolar disorder, heartbreak or insatiable anger.

8) Have you ever felt feelings? What are they right now? If the answer is never, please also mention this.

9) Are you a good person to yourself and others (keep in mind your overall impact on your town, country and environment, as well as your local and global contributions)? Answer in less than a minute—we don’t have all day here.

Countless times I wish I had this process to screen people from themselves and others. Then I might not have had to watch a tweaker lose his mind in my cab after he ripped his own twenty in half because he was too twitchy not to. This made him unable buy minutes on a burner phone, miss his next fix, sober up then somehow wind up at my door later, demanding my phone. Or I might not have had to drive a man with Alzheimer’s almost every day to a doctor to get treated for constipation. I could have deduced he was alone and losing his mind. Instead, after not hearing from him for a while, I inquired about him and learned he died alone. That one sticks with me. There was another time I delivered a case of beer to a man who then burned off his arm

living in this county because of what it might incite among others who have been waiting for such public and official validation to act on their paranoia and fears. Whether they intended it or not - the sheriff and the county commissioners are actively promulgating fear, prejudice, and discrimination. I am very disappointed since I expected a much greater degree of responsibility and maturity from our elected officials.

Sincerely, Stephen Augustine Sandpoint

in an oven because he passed out drunk. I didn’t know until after the delivery. Luckily he only drinks beer now after the arm incident.

People make bad judgment calls daily. If a blood diamond is on sale, people are going to buy it. If a product makes enough money, Phelps is going to sell it. I don’t know if a lack of paperwork or planning is really the issue here. Any problem boils down to bad judgment calls and variables. Any success comes down to variables and judgment calls. That’s the nature of people—like a cab, you never know what you’re going to get day-to-day. But I like it that way. You can try to plan parenthood, but where’s the fun in that? Most kids I know came from spontaneity.

That’s not to say there shouldn’t be options. You can try to paperwork criminals and the insane out of getting guns. Why not, let’s try it. Human existence is weird, and its getting weirder by the meme.

I don’t know how to make people not make bad decisions. I do know that in my cab, I’ve got a concealed permit and a center console full of condoms for customers available upon request. By the way, they were kindly donated by Planned Parenthood, which I stand with. I’ll be painting my face pink to show solidarity.

Just remember, if you bring an avocado in my cab, it’s gonna get ugly.

Dear Editor, I am going south for the winter and will have to try and explain our governor and others’ attitude about letting the needy come here. Why do I live here? The wonderful people here who come out to help anyone in need.

Thanks, Leata Judd Sandpoint

The refugee question:

By Ken Meyers Reader Contributor

Two events are on a collision course. One is the refugee crisis produced by the horrific war in Syria. Second are the actions of a terrorist organization, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). What is the best response to these events and the fear of a terrorist attack?

The Syrian war has produced 4.3 million refugees. Half are children. They are fleeing because of violence, collapse of essential services and parents’ concerns for safety of their children. What do you do with 4.3 million people? No one area or region can be expected to handle this many people. This is not a regional problem but a world problem. It is America’s core belief to help. The Statue of Liberty, a gift from France, is dedicated to acceptance of refugees, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” Since 2011, the United States has admitted 1,500 Syrian refugees. President Obama announced 10,000 more Syrians would be allowed to enter next year.

ISIS, a brutal terrorist organization, has committed horrific acts of violence. The images of what they have done are hard to erase from your mind. The United States, along with 60 other countries, is dedicated to fight ISIS until it is destroyed. ISIS uses violence to induce terror, or an intense, sharp fear. On Nov. 13, ISIS killed 130 people in France. Last week, an assault weapon terrorist attack in San Bernardino left 14 dead. These attacks provoke images of past terrorist attacks, such as those in Boston and New York. These attacks are upsetting and induce fear.

Fear is one of our most powerful basic emotions. It often overwhelms rational thought. As Justice Brandeis wrote: “Men feared witches and burnt women.” There is fear that terrorists will slip into America, along with the Syrian refugees, and that a terrorist attack could happen here. Idaho’s governor and recently, the Bonner County Commissioners, with our Sheriff’s support, decided to oppose Syrian refugee resettlement. This appears to be a decision made out of fear and anger rather than one guided by reason. When decisions on Syrian resettlement

are guided by fear rather than rational thought, terrorists win and we lose. When terrorists win, the chance of more terrorist activities increases and we are less safe.

It is highly improbable that the Syrian refugees admitted into America are going to perform acts of terror. They are mostly children and old men and women. They have gone through an 18to 24-month rigorous vetting process. Only about 10 percent of U.N.-referred Syrian refugees have been admitted to the U.S. The terrorists that participated in recent acts are not Syrian refugees.

America is a country of immigrants, many of them refugees from wars and religious persecution. We have made mistakes in the past. We interned Japanese American families during World War II. The sons of these families fought with honor against Germany. That stain on our history was driven by unreasonable fear and must not be repeated.

There is no legally justifiable basis for our elected officials to pass a resolution to halt refugee resettlement. If the reactionary commissioner decision to oppose refugee resettlement is to send a message, it is a message with serious consequences. It is one of hate and intolerance. It re-enforces the lingering negative image that North Idaho acquired when the Aryan Nation was present. What the commissioners did could have serious economic ramifications. It will harm the tourist industry and impact newly developing industries’ ability to attract a skilled workforce. Opposing Syrian resettlement will not make Bonner County safer. It does not make us a better place. It does make us seem unwelcoming and narrow-minded.

By Dan McDonald Reader Contributor

Should we continue allowing them into the U.S., or stop the program altogether?

This subject is surrounded by emotions on both sides, so let’s deal with some facts first. According the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) there are approximately 59.5 million refugees in the world today including those from Syria. This begs the question, why are we focused only on Syrian refugees?

The directors of our top security agencies including the FBI, etc. recently testified that there is no way to properly vet refugees from Syria as there is no database or anyone in Syria who can provide information about these people or their past behavior. And let’s keep in mind, the recent terror attack in San Bernardino involved a Pakistani woman who was vetted by the State Department. We now we know she lied on her application. This raises the question, if the State Department felt they properly vetted her only now to find out they hadn’t, do we feel comfortable with the Syria vetting process?

Now let’s consider that these folks come from an area with a completely different culture, language and lack of religious diversity that we have here in the U.S. They are not well-educated and are low-skilled. From a cost standpoint we need to consider the logistics of transporting people across the Atlantic to the U.S. Now couple that with the cost to house, cloth and feed them here in the U.S. where costs are considerably higher than in the region they are from.

According to the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, the average cost to care for each refugee here is about $13,000 a year per person and $51,000 per household per year. These numbers don’t reflect transportation to this country or the additional burden on local hospitals, Medicaid, schools, etc. as most have only 10.5 years of education and will be using welfare services.

The U.N., however, reports they can care for refugees in countries neighboring Syria for about $1,057 per year. So for what it costs to care for each refugee here, we could care for 12 refugees in neighboring countries that share their customs, language and religion. Having the refugees stay in that general region would also allow them to return home

once it is safe. We recently sent $80 million dollars to the Saudis for refugee relief, and while they have taken some guest workers from Syria, they still have large refugee camps with air conditioned tents that sit empty.

Now let’s revisit security issues. It’s been confirmed two members of the Paris terror team were able to get fake documents and come in with the refugees. ISIS has claimed they will infiltrate the refugee ranks in an effort to sneak their members into western countries. We know we can’t properly vet these refugees, and if only 1 percent of the 10,000 coming here were ISIS-affiliated or agreed with their tactics, that’s 100 potential terrorist to add to those already here. Keep in mind, the 500 people killed or wounded in Paris were a result of only nine terrorists with two of them being women.

My question to those who still want to bring them here instead of care for them over there: What will your letter look like to the surviving family members should we fail to stop ISIS members from coming in with this group?

At the end of the day, 10,000 is a drop in the bucket, and this appears to be more about political cover for this administration for its failed foreign policy than actually trying to do some good.

Sandpoint’s Gary Payton shares his thoughts on the Paris climate conference

By Sandy Compton Reader Contributor

Sandpoint resident—and planetary citizen—Gary Payton is in Paris attending COP21, the conference on global warming. On Tuesday, with the help of Idaho Conservation League (ICL), he addressed 60 people in Sandpoint’s Columbia Bank auditorium. Speaking via Skype, Payton gave a report on the goals and progress of the conference, concluding with a call to action for neighbors in Bonner County.

The conference focuses primarily on stopping the temperature of the world from rising to a disastrous level. Over the past half-century, the planet’s average temperature has risen 1.8° F (.85° C); mostly due to increased atmospheric greenhouse gasses resulting from burning carbon-based fuels. The largest source is generation of electricity, coal-fueled plants being a large contributor.

Payton, who served 24 years as an Air Force officer, had a second career working globally with the World Mission of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). As a retiree, he works with ICL and Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper on the issues of coal and oil trains. He traveled to Paris as a representative of PCUSA, and more locally, ICL

“Nothing in my life,” Payton said Tuesday, “is as important or as large as this event I’m attending now.”

He reported that Monday, Nov. 30, 150 presidents and prime ministers from around the globe met, the largest gathering of world leaders in history. Then, negotiators from 195 nations began working on details of an agreement to limit the temperature rise to less than 2° C (3.6° F).

“There is now an alternative on the table,” Payton said, “to make that goal 1.5° C.”

By mid-week, negotiators had reduced the draft agreement from 48 pages to 29. The final agreement will be finished by Friday, Dec. 11, or Saturday

at the latest.

When asked how COP21 differed from conferences in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997 and Copenhagen in 2009—neither of which was effective—Payton responded, “The biggest difference is momentum.

Increased evidence of warming and acceleration of weather abnormalities has changed this conference’s environment.”

“This is a ‘now’ issue,” Payton said. “A young Scot, part of a group who bicycled from their home to the conference, said it best: ‘We caused it. We’re threatened by it. We need to fix it.’ It’s a global issue. It’s a local issue. And one key is individual action.”

Payton concluded by calling the audience to speak to their Congressional delegation about two important issues that will be voted on as early as this week. He asked individuals to speak out against dismantling the 40-year-old ban on exportation of crude oil from the U.S., and to speak up for funding the Green Climate Fund, which is the U.S.’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, and thereby, global warming.

He also invited people to become involved in Sandpoint350, the local branch of 350.org, and to join ICL and Waterkeeper in speaking out against the rise in coal and oil train traffic through Sandpoint that would be precipitated through the building of coal and additional oil terminals on the west coast.

Contact your Senators and Representative at www.senate. gov or www.house.gov. Learn about the Paris conference and the challenge of global warming at www.350.org. Check out local issues and opportunities for action at www.idahoconservation.org or www.lakependoreillewaterkeeper.org

Conflict sparks between mill and home owners

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Local business growth is usually a good thing, but not everyone is happy with Alpine Cedar sawmill’s planned expansion.

Home and business owners in the Shingle Mill Road area are clashing over the mill’s business plans, which most contentiously would expand hours of operation to between 6 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. The expansion would also add several buildings onto business property. With discord heating up over the issue, county commissioners plan to visit the business site for themselves within the next several weeks. Afterward, they will determine whether or not to allow the expansion.

The disagreement has prompted community members to draw battle lines, with strong support for both sides. Opponents say the noise, lighting, traffic, pollutants and other factors continuing into late hours will hurt quality of life and reduce property values.

Furthermore, they say the the relaxing of the business’ conditional use permit, which the Bonner County Planning and Zoning Commission approved in August, escalates operations to an intolerable level.

“The sawmill activity in the last year or so has crossed a threshold where mill operations are adversely affecting the rural quality of life and peace of mind,” said Robert Betts in his oral testimony.

Expansion supporters argue the negative impacts of the

expansion will be minimal. They say the mill has always taken pains to not only meet but improve upon their operational limitations and be a good community presence. Because of their inability to run at least two shifts, however, they have been forced to turn down major national contracts.

“More importantly, it’s limiting our ability to create high-paying jobs,” said Katie Bradish in her testimony.

Idaho second in nation for volunteerism

Apparently we have a lot of love to give here in the Gem State. In a report issued Tuesday by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Idaho ranked second in the nation for the number of citizens who volunteer.

The annual report cited that 35.8 percent of Idaho residents performed some kind of unpaid volunteer activity in 2014,

generating a total of 51 million hours of service worth approximately $1.2 billion. More than half of the volunteers also donated $25 or more to charity. The national average for volunteerism is 25.3 percent.

Utah placed first, with 46 percent of their citizens volunteering in 2014. [BO]

FEATURE

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Far more often than not, range master Cliff Lanning is happy to see people with a gun in their hands.

The individuals he helps at the city of Sandpoint’s gun range usually represent gun owners at their best: responsible, mindful and disciplined. What’s more, gun ownership adds to their quality of life. They hunt for enjoyment and to reduce their food bills. They participate in sports shooting and target practice. They even enjoy family bonding through hunting trips or events like “take your daughter to the range” day. Introduced three years ago, Lanning said the event now brings more than 100 people together to shoot some .22 rounds.

“[People at the range] are pretty respectful,” Lanning said. “They know if they’re kicked out, they won’t be allowed to come back.”

Following the San Bernardino shooting that killed 14 people last week, gun control is once again the subject of national conversation. What these debates often fail to address, however, are the cultural differences between urban and rural populations over guns. It’s a factor that hinges on one question: Is a gun a tool for recreation and hunting or a weapon?

The answer for some locals is likely, “A little of both.” But there’s no question that perceptions of firearms differ between urban and rural populations.

According to FBI statistics, Idaho ranks eighth in the nation for highest rates of gun ownership, with 56.8 percent of households owning at least one gun. With so many guns in the state, police officers inevitably see their share of them. Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon and Ponderay Police Chief Mike Hutter say their officers aren’t surprised, for instance, when they pull a vehicle over and spot a rifle or a shotgun in the back. It’s certainly not the cause for alarm it might be in New York City or Los Angeles.

“I think it’s something every officer we hire understands comes with the territory,” Coon said.

Despite the proliferation of guns, Coon and Hutter said local gun violence is rare. While they didn’t have exact numbers, they figured it averaged to one incident or so per year, usually cases of drug-related violence. For comparison, the Spokane Regional Health District recorded 2,971 deaths from gun violence from 2007 to 2011 in the city of 210,000. On average, there were more deaths from firearms in Spokane County than deaths from motor vehicle crashes during those years.

However, small towns may not be entirely immune from gun-related deaths. According to a 2010 Reuters article, studies indicate gun-related

accidents and suicides in rural areas line almost exactly with gun-related homicides in cities: about four deaths per 100,0000 children and teens.

Gallup polls compiled by USA Today in 2013 show that rural Americans are twice as likely to own guns and, critically, six times as likely to hunt. This has a marked impact on cultural views toward firearms in rural areas. Youth in small towns are more likely to undergo hunter safety training or other gun safety classes. That familiarity means rural residents tend to be more comfortable with guns.

This invariably leads to different perspectives in the wake of mass shootings like the San Bernardino massacre. For instance, some news coverage characterized the 2,000 9-mm handgun rounds and 2,500 .223-caliber rounds found in the shooters’ residence as “an arsenal.” Lanning disagrees with that assessment.

“Most of the guys I know have that in their houses all the time,” he said.

These cultural differences are rarely acknowledged in the national gun control debate, but they’re not entirely ignored. For example, some liberals have criticized presidential candidate Bernie Sanders on his gun control voting record. It was a big enough issue to become a key moment in the first Democratic presidential candidate debate.

“I come from a rural state,” Sanders argued. “And the views on gun control are different in rural states than they are in urban states whether we like it or not.”

Small town views on guns and gun control may be distinct from those in the city, but

Is gun culture different in rural versus urban areas?

they aren’t ubiquitous. Over the past several years, local gun owners have divided over existing gun control measures like Idaho’s concealed carry permit requirements. Idaho law requires permit holders to demonstrate familiarity with guns through classes or other training. Hard-line conservatives, including Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, favor allowing Idahoans to carry concealed weapons without a permit. That’s a proposal that gives Lanning pause.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily right, because you’ll get a whole lot of people who have no idea what they’re doing with a gun,” he said.

The debate over gun control won’t end any time soon. But local hunting and sportsman traditions aren’t going anywhere, either. If any solution exists to the problem of gun violence in America, it will likely need to address the difference in rural and urban attitudes. That’s a rift politicians will find difficult to bridge, as President Barack Obama acknowledged in a 2013 speech.

“Sometimes we’re so divided between rural and urban, and folks whose hunting is part of their lives and folks whose only experience with guns is street crime,” he said. “And the two sides just talk past one another.”

Gun Safety Tips

Idaho residents are often more familiar with guns than some, but that’s no cause to forget some basic gun safety tips.

•Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon and Ponderay Police Chief Mike Hutter urge residents to record their firearm’s make, model and serial number. This is essential information for police if a gun is stolen.

“Without a serial number, it’s next to impossible to recover a stolen gun,” Hutter said.

•Keep your guns locked away, and if you have children, don’t tell them where the key is located. This is a common-sense practice to prevent accidental injury or death, but it’s also a matter of public safety. According to Coon, it reduces the likelihood of gun theft. That’s doubly important, since stolen firearms are more likely to be used in violent crime, Coon said.

•When handling a gun, remember the three basic rules of gun safety: Always keep the gun pointed in a safe direction, always keep your finger off the trigger until ready to fire and always leave a gun unloaded until you’re ready to use it.

•Make sure your guns are cleaned and maintained according to manufacturer specifications.

Bouquets:

•Have you ever seen the wall of envelopes holding tickets for sale at Eichardt’s Pub? It’s quite impressive. Over the years, Jeff Nizzoli has established his pub as the main ticket selling location for shows happening in and around Sandpoint. It takes a lot of work and organization to keep it all straight, and he never asks for anything in return. For that, we’d like to give Eichardt’s a bouquet. Eve’s Leaves is another go-to location in Sandpoint that always provides a ticket selling location to the public. Thanks!

Barbs:

•I’ve picked on him before in this column, but after Donald Trump’s latest remarks calling for all Muslims to be banned from entering the U.S., I think we’re dealing with something dangerous here. Let’s face it, folks, Trump is a modern day fascist. He is actually calling for the U.S. to profile someone based on their religion, and if that religion is not what he deems appropriate, they are not allowed into the country. Does anyone else see how utterly wrong and immoral this is? What happens to the millions of Muslim Americans who already live here and are just as American as you and me? Do we place them in concentration camps? Where do we go from here? The fact that Trump has a healthy lead in the GOP primaries is not only astounding, but indicative of where our country is right now and how misled we are.

I’ve heard people defending Trump, saying he “tells it like it is,” or that he “says the things we’re all thinking.” Sorry folks, but racism, bigotry, hatred and fascism is not what I’m thinking and not what I believe in. Check his facts and discover how wrong he is about just about everything that comes out of his mouth.

A fresh alternative

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

New market café Flourish to offer locally sourced ingredients

Let’s face it; it doesn’t get much better than eating a meal with ingredients that came from just around the corner. A new market café and bakery that recently opened in Sandpoint will give foodies an option to support local farmers in a tasty way.

Flourish, owned and operated by Vicki Reich and Marah Jacobs, has opened its doors at 301 Cedar Street. You can find it off of Third Avenue, behind the Pend d’Oreille Winery.

Reich and Jacobs have made it their mission to provide customers with locally sourced ingredients at an affordable price. Featuring a bakery, market and café, Flourish is the product of over a year of effort on the part of Reich and Jacobs.

“We met while working at Winter Ridge Natural Foods,” said Reich of Jacobs. “What we wanted was to grow the local food economy in town.”

According to Reich, selling local produce and other regionally sourced items is a bit of an art form. Sometimes there are surpluses during high production seasons. Other times, during the cold months, there are not enough options to offer. The goal of Flourish is to provide a steady outlet for local produce and goods so that it may be offered year round.

“We use as many local and regional ingredients as we can,” said Reich. “All the beverages we sell are made locally or regionally. We use local meats, eggs, cream, yogurt. The produce all comes from growers in the region.”

There are not a lot of growers in the area who operate indoor greenhouses to create a year-round supply of produce. Reich and Jacobs are hoping that Flourish will establish itself as an outlet for these growers to expand their production.

“We’re especially interested in greens,” said Reich. “If there are any people out there growing stuff right now, we’d love

to have them contact us.”

The menu is the brainchild of Jacobs, who has had a lot of experience working with vegan, gluten free and raw foods. Jacobs said it is always a fun challenge to come up with signature items that use fresh ingredients.

“It’s important to have a few menu items that are solid performers,” said Jacobs, who is especially proud of the grilled squash sandwich with fontina cheese. “When growing season starts again, we’ll be able to make whatever we want, but for the winter season we’ll be getting creative. In summer, we’ll be able to get summer berries and freeze them so we’ll have them available year round.”

One of the biggest complaints about organic, locally sourced food is the price, but Reich and Jacobs say there is a way to eat well and not suffer from sticker shock.

“It doesn’t have to be expensive,” said Jacobs, who said part of the reduction of costs includes the fact that she and Reich are working owners, as well as the fact that there is no wait staff.

The offerings at Flourish are as diverse as the customers coming in the front door. In

addition to a full menu of hot food, there are home baked breads, sprouted nuts and seeds, granola and kashi, an eclectic beverage cooler and a mouth-watering bakery.

“We have some really rad cookies,” said Reich.

As an official taster, I can attest that they are, in fact, really rad. The sea salt chocolate chunk cookie uses Theo chocolate from Seattle. You can taste the difference at first bite. Other favorites are the oatmeal raisin cookie and the teff cookie—which uses grain grown right here in Idaho.

Flourish has been getting great reviews online so far. One reviewer from Facebook wrote, “I’ve been here five times and it’s only been open for a week. Enough said.”

Go on down and check them out for yourself. Flourish is open Tuesday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The address is 301 Cedar Street, suite 105. Contact Flourish at 208-2635125.

Sip & Shop

4-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

1011 12 13 14 15 16 17

Fundraiser with 10% of proceeds benefiting the Festival at Sandpoint, along with the annual board meeting

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Community Day Fundraiser

Throwback Thursdays at the 219 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge

Featuring live music with Brian Jacobs and friends, $2 domestics and $3 crafts. Join in playing in this informal open mic

Live Music w/ the Beat Diggers 9pm - 12am @ A&P’s

All day @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort

All lift tickets at Schweitzer Mountain

Live Music w/ Devon Wade

5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Country music and red, red wine

Thursday Night

5pm @ Laughing

Rock 103 Thursday ball Party hosted featuring the at the Arizona

Resort are $10 on Community Day as a fundraiser for Community Cancer Services (CCS) and Bonner Partners in Care Clinic

Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes 7pm @ La Rosa Club

Live Music w/ the Electric Cole Show

7-9pm @ La Rosa Club

Great music in a relaxed settting

Live Music w/ Mike and Shanna 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Great folk rock duo

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 5:30-7:30pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Local singer/songwriter

Live Music w/ Chris Lynch

6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

The piano man!

Holiday Arts and Crafts Show

11am - 5pm @ Bonner Mall

Sandpoint Chess Club

Holiday Arts and Crafts Show

10am - 6pm @ Bonner Mall

Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show, featuring more than 25 vendors offering a wide variety of arts, crafts, and more. Free!

Santa at the Bonner Mall 10am - 3pm @ Bonner Mall

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am. All are welcome

Game Night at the 219 9pm @ 219 Lounge

Join Racheal for game night!

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

Trivia Night

7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s

Karaoke Night

9pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge

Bingo Night

6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Bingo, beer, popcorn, friendly bartenders, awesome pretzels. Seriously, what else do you need?

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Good until the keg’s dry

Monarch Open Mic 6-8pm @ Monarch Mountain Coffee

Hosted by Scott Reid. Held on the first and third Thursday of every month

Live 6pm

5-7pm

Santa will be making a special visit every weekend December until Christmas. Photos will be available

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Holiday Party 2pm - 7pm @ Outskirts Gallery (Hope)

Celebrate the holiday spirit with wine and beer, and stay for the good people. Pick out a piece art from out Plein Air artists to take home, give a gift, or just admire where it hangs

Pend Oreille Orchestra and Chorale Classical Concert

3pm @ St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Come see a free show of classical pieces sung by our very own Pend Oreille Orchestra and Chorale

Super Smash Bros Tournament 3:30pm @ Evans Brothers

For people of all skill levels and ages! Everyone is welcome, cost is $10 per event

Erik Daarstad’s book signing 4:30-6:30pm @ Keokee Offices (405 Church St.) Celebrate Academy-Award winning cinematographer Erik Daarstad’s new book “Through the Lens of History: The Life Journey of a Cinematographer.”

Charley Packard & Friends

7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Come on down and see the one, the only, the Charley Packard.

Thursday Night Football Party

5pm @ Laughing Dog Brewery

Rock 103 Thursday Night Football Party hosted by Tracy Bell featuring the Tampa Bay Bucaneers at the St. Louis Rams

Five 6:30pm Writers, readings, please

Throwback 7-11pm Featuring and Join night

Thursday Night Football Party

@ Laughing Dog Brewery

Rock 103 Thursday Night FootParty hosted by Tracy Bell featuring the Minnesota Vikings the Arizona Cardinals

December 10 - 17, 2015

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

Reader recommended

The Conversation “How to Create an Artist Community”

6-8pm @ Kyoto (Cedar St. Bridge)

Get out of the cold and come share your hot ideas on how Sandpoint’s community of artists could create a unique art community. Bring your ideas, articles about other art communities, and list on what we need to do as artists to support a financially vibrant community for business and ART. All artists from the Sandpoint area are invited to come to this FREE event Show, offering a Free!

Pend Oreille Orchestra and Chorale Classical Concert

7pm @ St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

Come see a free show of classical pieces sung by our very own Pend Oreille Orchestra and Chorale

Live Music w/ Chris Lynch

6pm - 9pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante

Live Music w/ Us Two 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

DJ Night at the 219 9pm @ 219 Lounge

Featuring DJ Josh Adams

Santa at the Bonner Mall

10am - 3pm @ Bonner Mall

Santa will be making a special visit every weekend in December until Christmas. Photos will be available every weekend in will be available

Holiday Party

(Hope)

wine and beer, out a piece of home, give as

King of the Cornhole Tournament

1pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Rain or shine, cash prizes, registration at noon, first toss at 1 p.m. $10/team buy-in. 100% of registration fees will go into the prize pot and MickDuff’s will match the pot up to $100 in Gift Cards

Holiday Arts and Crafts Show

10am - 6pm @ Bonner Mall

Church

The Little Black Dress Event

6:30-8:30pm @ Bernd Barrel

An event to benefit Bonner County Homeless Women

24 Hours for Hank Fundraiser

7pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Matchstick Productions will be showing “Fade to Winter” with proceeds benefiting 24 Hours for Hank. Doors at 7 p.m., movie starts at 7:30 p.m. 21+ with a $10 Door charge

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Songs you love to sing along to

Screening of “Reel Injun” film

12:30 & 2:30pm @ Sandpoint Library

ages! Evper event

Church St.) cinematograthe Lens Cinematographer.”

Annual Holiday Arts and Crafts Show, featuring more than 25 vendors offering a wide variety of arts, crafts, and more. Free!

“Reel Injun” follows the checkered history of Native Americans in Hollywood’s films with both keen insight and humor. It highlights hundreds of film clips spanning the silent film era to today, and features interviews with filmmakers and activists such as Clint Eastwood, Chris Eyre, Jim Jarmusch, John Trudell and Russell Means

Bonners Ferry Festival of Trees Gala Event

5pm @ Boundary County Fairgrounds

the 20th annual Festival of Trees Gala Event benefiting Boundary Community Hospital. Tickets $35. Call 208267-4851 to purchase, donate or volunteer

Art On The Go with Jules

4-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Join Julie Ellis for a few hours of recycled art crafting and make your own masterpiece from recycled products

Five Minutes of Fame and Annual Holiday Dessert Potluck 6:30pm @ Cafe Bodega

Writers, musicians, listeners ... all are welcome. Following the readings, there will be an Annual Holiday Dessert Potluck, so please bring a dessert to share!

Throwback Thursdays at the 219 7-11pm @ 219 Lounge

Featuring live music with Brian Jacobs and friends, $2 domestics and $3 crafts.

Join in playing in this informal open mic night setting every Thursday night

Dec. 18

David Raitt and the Baja Boogie Band @ Di Luna’s Cafe

Dec. 18

The Lil’ Smokies @ The Hive

Dec. 18

Toys for Tots registration period ends!

Dec. 19

Winter Prom at the 219 Lounge... big hair, cheap beer!

To submit your own pet photos, please send a photograph and a little bit of information about your special friend to ben@sandpointreader.com. Please put “PET PHOTOS” in the subject line.

-sunshine & rain-

Hi, my name is Sunshine, AKA “Goldie,” and this is my sister Rain. We are farm/ homestead puppies of Australian Shepard mix , who live on Hoodoo Mountain in Priest River. Someday we will herd sheep and other livestock, but for now we just play and take long hikes with our mom.

Mom adopted us from the Priest River Animal Shelter, where they say we were born under a bridge. When asked which one of us Mom wanted, she said, “Both, of course.” This made us very happy, but we have one more sister here in the area, and we would love to reconnect and maybe play for a while. So if the humans of our third sister read this, feel free to contact mom at theorganiccyclist@gmail. com. That would really make our holiday special!

Look for Sunshine and Rain around town as we move to Sandpoint for the winter. Evans Brothers coffee house and dog beach will be favorite hangouts. Happy Holidays!

Diana Black - Priest River

Current human rights issues

By Lynn Bridges Reader Contributor

Where does the Bonner County Human Rights Task Force (BCHRTF) go from here? With all the possible projects we can take on, how do we choose? One way we do this is to listen to our community. As mentioned in the previous article, BCHRTF surveyed the community last year. The results of this survey gave the Task Force their direction and focus for the coming year. You can access our website for complete survey results. The top area of concern for our community is to ensure that all of Idaho’s citizens are protected under the law against discrimination. Sandpoint was the first city in Idaho to add protected status for the LGBTQ community. Other cities have since followed suit. BCHRTF will continue its efforts to make this a reality on the state level through educating the public and supporting the addition of the words “sexual orientation and gender identification” as protected classes under the Idaho Human Rights Act. It is our goal that the legislature will choose to finally be courageous enough to get the amendment out of committee, where it has been stuck for nine years, for a vote to end discrimination of Idaho citizens.

The second highest priority of community members was in the

area of mental health. While there is disagreement in the community surrounding Jeanetta Riley’s death and human rights issues, there is agreement that it was a tragedy for our community. Ms. Riley’s death pinpointed the fact that Bonner County is severely lacking adequate mental health support for individuals and families in need.

As a task force, we are collaborating with NAMI Far North to increase awareness of the need for better services and have given financial support to help fund the beginning stages of a crisis line. This 24/7 line will be accessible to all community members who need support and mental health services in times of crisis. Additional support for this project can be directed to NAMI Far North.

Our community was recently assaulted with three very disturbing robo-calls that were racist, homophobic and offensive. BCHRTF contacted the US Attorney in Idaho, Ms. Wendy Olson, for legal counsel. While the calls do not meet the criteria to be a hate crime, they may have questionable aspects of filing false documents and are being investigated by law enforcement. Similarly, in August a round of robo-calls attacking Muslim immigrants relocating to Idaho have been traced to a group of former white supremacists. Community members who receive such calls are encouraged

Part three of a series highlighting Bonner County Human Rights Task Force

to contact local law enforcement to file a complaint. The Task Force continues to work for an inclusive Idaho, which does not discriminate against refugees fleeing war torn lands regardless of their country of origin or religion.

The Confederate flag brings home the issue that some discrimination is covert. There are some who say flying the confederate flag is a right of citizens to free speech. While this may be true, do not ignore the meaning that the confederate flag carries with it. In 1861, Confederacy Vice President Alexander H. Stephens’ gave his “Cornerstone Speech,” in which he clearly stated his racist views and the responsibilities of a new government, … “its foundations are laid, its corner-stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man; that slavery, subordination to the superior race, is his natural and normal

condition.” In the late 1930s and ‘40s, the Klan utilized the flag as a symbol of white supremacy, a practice that it continues to this day. With the advent of Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, those who once again picked up the Confederate flag were opposed to integration and equal rights for all. The civil rights movement was further testimony to this tumultuous time, which saw an increased use of the Confederate flag. So there is a long history and precedents have clearly been set for the Confederate flag to represent white supremacy, racism and bigotry. We urge community members to be aware of the symbols they choose to use and understand the ramifications of using a symbol of hate and bigotry in the guise of individual rights.

BCHRTF’s responsibility is to affirm the American principles and ideals of the inviolable dignity

and worth of each human being.

The mission of the BCHRTF is to promote and secure mutual understanding and respect among all people. BCHRTF recognizes that it is the racial, social, and cultural diversity of our people that makes Bonner County a rich and worthwhile place to live.

We believe in our community and in the rights of all people to enjoy life free from hate, bigotry and discrimination. We encourage Bonner county citizens to stand strong with us in promoting Idaho and Bonner County as a place where all are welcome.

Lynn Bridges President, BCHRTF

Resources cited:

“Cornerstone Speech,” Alexander H. Stephens March 21, 1861 “Embattled Banner: The true history of the Confederate flag,” John M. Coski 7/9/2015

State Representative supports Syrian refugees with open letter

By Rep. Hy Kloc, Boise (D) Sandpoint Contributor

I was born in a Displaced Persons Camp in Essen, Germany, at the end of World War II. My father Sam, my mother Libby, and my brother Jack were Holocaust survivors. Most of our extended family were not so fortunate. Poland, our home for generations, was a bitter memory defiled by death and destruction. My parents, my brother, and I lived in that camp for three years awaiting permission to travel to America.

We were not alone. Tens of millions of people were displaced in the wake of the war. Those who couldn’t leave Europe faced food shortages, disease, and the prospect of having to rebuild their lives from nothing.

For us, like so many refugees, America was more than a place. It was the promise of a new life. My parents never forgot being on the deck of the ship that brought us to

America and seeing the Statue of Liberty for the first time. Nor did they ever forget their feelings of gratitude to this country that had offered them a home when they had none.

Today, the world faces a refugee crisis even greater than that seen after World War II. Families are fleeing unimaginable horrors, risking everything to reach the safety

of the European community. And every day that we delay in arriving at a solution to this humanitarian crisis, innocent lives are lost.

America must play a role. Yet in the aftermath of the Paris terrorist attacks, there are those who say we can’t afford to take a chance. We must halt the flow of refugees to the United States. Let other countries shoulder the burden. We are not willing to run the risk of even one terrorist setting foot on our soil.

Let us not forget that in 1939, fear of Nazi infiltrators prompted the United States to turn away the steamship St. Louis with almost 1,000 Jewish refugees on board. They were returned to Europe, where about a quarter of them perished in Nazi death camps. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, fear of saboteurs led to the interment of thousands of Japanese Americans, and yet many Japanese Americans served valiantly in our armed forces.

Today, we look upon both of these actions as casting a shadow of shame on our nation. And if we don’t learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them. Every day online, over the airways, and in the press, we are confronted with the plight of Syrian refugees. When I see these images, I am reminded of my family and the other families on board that ship that sailed into New York Harbor on a cold winter day more than six decades ago under the watchful eye of the Statue of Liberty.

America is a beacon of hope to the world. We must not allow fear to rule our judgment and make a mockery of everything we hold most dear.

What can you do? Refuse to be silent. Contact your state legislators, your congressmen, and our governor. Tell them that you support the promise that makes America great. And remind them of those cherished words inscribed

“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

LITERATURE ‘Through the Lens of History’

Cinematographer Erik Daarstad releases

a book of his life's journey behind the lens

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Erik Daarstad has spent his career telling other people’s stories. Now, he finally gets to share his own.

In his new book “Through the Lens of History,” the noted cinematographer and supporter of local arts reflects on the narratives he’s encountered throughout a 65-year career in film. But it’s also Daarstad’s own story, a chronicle of the experiences that shaped a man who would shape countless images over the years.

“For the past 60 years, I have always felt [a thrill] by seeing life unfold and stories told … by looking through that magic square,” Daarstad writes.

Over nearly 600 pages and dozens of photos, Daarstad details his life, starting with his 1935 birth in Norway. His first vivid memory, the Nazi occupation of Norway, sets an immediate tone with its attention to detail. The book then explores his passion for photography and film that led him to start work as a cinematographer in Los Angeles in 1954. It was the beginning of a career that would produce hundreds of documentaries, seven Oscar nominations and one Oscar win for the 1968 film “Why Man Creates.”

Daarstad’s work led to more than a few brushes with celebrity. The book recounts meetings with the likes of Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Robert Kennedy, Adlai Stevenson, Aaron Copeland, Jane Goodall, Paul Newman, John Wayne, Kim Novak and Natalie Wood.

In one amusing anecdote, he remembers meeting influential conservative politician Barry Goldwater for a news magazine show. While setting up the shot, Daarstad asked Goldwater to move to the left. “I only move to the right,” the senator replied with a wink and smile.

“Even though I disagreed with his politics, I could enjoy his sense of humor,” Daarstad remembers.

Joseph Campbell, the famed mythology theorist whose work influenced modern-day mythologies like “Star Wars,” is yet another fascinating

personality framed by Daarstad’s camera. While interviewing him for the documentary “Joseph Campbell: The Hero’s Journey,” Daarstad and the rest of the production team spent time with the scholar shortly before his death.

“He treated everyone as if they were the most important person in the world,” Daarstad writes.

If encounters with personalities like Goldwater and Campbell are intriguing, even more compelling is the momentous history that Daarstad experienced. Traveling everywhere from the obscure corners of America to Africa to Greenland, he obtained a unique perspective on the American Civil Rights Movement, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, the September 11 attacks and the Iraq War.

Daarstad’s work allowed him to see history and humanity from a unique angle. His work on the screen has enlightened audiences more more than half a century. In “Through the Lens of History,” Daarstad may have changed mediums, but his commitment to truth-telling remains the same.

Daarstad’s new book is produced

in association with Keokee Publishing, which is hosting a reception and book signing to celebrate the new release, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Keokee offices at 405 Church Street in downtown Sandpoint. Everyone is invited to come meet the author, get a signed copy and enjoy light refreshments.

Highlights of a 65-year career in film

“Anita” documentary film- 2013

“G-Dog” documentary film- 2012

“Sing China!” documentary film- 2009

“Fighting For Life” documentary film - 2008

“Butte, America: The Saga of a Hard Rock Mining Town” documentary film - 2008

“Frank Lloyd Wright and Japanese Art” documentary film - 1997

“Frank and Ollie” documentary film - 1995

National Geographic Specials:

“Mysteries of Mankind” - 1988

“This Britain: Heritage of the Seas” - 1975

“The Haunted West” - 1973

“Monkeys, Apes and Man” - 1971

”Steve Martin: A Wild and Crazy Guy” TV movie - 1978

”Roots: One Year Later” TV Documentary - 1978

“Why Man Creates” - Documentary short - 1968

STAGE & SCREEN

‘Reel Injun’ film discusses Natives’ role on the silver screen

By Melannie Wurm Reader Contributor

North Idaho, like much of the United States, is a place with two histories: 200 years of white exploration and settlement, with which most are familiar, and thousands of years of Native American culture, about which the vast majority of people know little.

This winter, the East Bonner County Library District is partnering with The Idaho Mythweaver in an effort to rectify this, to educate the people of Sandpoint on Native American history and culture.

Together, they will be presenting a film made from the viewpoint of indigenous peoples each weekend at the Sandpoint library. The second film in the series, “Reel Injun,” by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond, Catherine Bainbridge, and Jeremiah Hayes, will be featured this Saturday. It will be screened at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m., both followed with conversation and discussion lead by Mythweaver Director Jane Fritz. She spoke with me about her goals for the film series.

The Idaho Mythweaver is a nonprofit organization that has been educating cross-culturally for the past 26 years. Over that time, the group has done a great deal to expand our understanding of North Idaho’s indigenous peoples. They have brought speakers to public radio and performers to the Panida Theater.

For the last two years they organized events across the school district, bringing members of the Kalispel tribe to fourth grade classrooms. The students experience a cultural immersion in the tribal culture and their teachers receive a lesson plan designed by Fritz to help teach even more over time.

This spring, the Mythweavers will also host a boat tour of Lake Pend Oreille, again in conjunction with the Kalispel tribe. This will be an opportunity for locals to reimagine the lake not as their watersport playground, but as the traditional Kalispel homeland.

The East Bonner County Library District has often offered free film screenings to the public, from popular new releases to educational documentaries. Their primary purchaser of new material is a former Mythweaver board member and as a result, the library carries a large collection of films by Native American filmmakers.

A few months ago, the library approached Fritz about working together. She was excited and grateful.

“It’s a wonderful partnership,” she

says. “It is not often enough that people have the opportunity to learn about these important topics.”

The library film series will “use the arts and humanities to educate about the authentic and accurate portrayal of native people.”

It will allow viewers to connect with different perspectives and to experience a culture deeply and spiritually connected to the natural world. This week’s film, “Reel Injun,” focuses on the portrayal of indigenous people in Hollywood. It delves into the many ways that the film industry has misrepresented and stereotyped Native Americans.

From “the noble savage” to “the only good Indian is a dead Indian,” from John Wayne to Vietnam, “Reel Injun” examines 100 years of cinematic history with humor and insight. It is, Fritz says, the Mythweaver’s answer to Hollywood’s push for holiday movies.

Not all of the upcoming films, which will run through March, have yet been confirmed. However, future showings may include “Seasoned with Spirit,” a cooking show about family culture and traditional foods, and another film documenting the Native American boarding school experience. Whatever the Mythweavers ultimately choose to show, they will be providing the opportunity to learn about an important aspect of local history. Fritz cites the 10,000-year-old

Kalispel culture as one motivation for the project.

“It’s exciting to go into their language schools and to see teachers in their 20s giving the lessons,” said Fritz. “The language is experiencing a renaissance.”

Too often, we forget that this was the home of indigenous peoples long before the white man arrived.

“It’s time,” said Fritz, “to learn their story.” “Elf” The movie

Jack City in concert “die Hard” @ 5:30pm “die Hard II” @ 8pm Friday, Dec. 18 @ 7pm tuesday, Dec. 22 @ 7pm thursday, Dec. 31 @ 8pm Saturday, Jan. 9 @ 8pm Friday, Dec. 11 @ 7pm

Teton gravity double header

By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Staff

The Sandpoint Eater Sticky Situations

My first attempt at holiday candy making was nearly 50 years ago. I knew asking my mother’s permission to make some wonderful treats on the stovetop would result in a well-founded, “No!” So I discovered that feigning sickness while the rest of the family was away for the day would give me the freedom needed to spend entire days alone in the kitchen. My truancy became a habit, and once everyone left for work or school, I’d settle into our kitchen and pour through Mom’s double volume of Meta Given’s “Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking.” I treasured those worn green books (as I do to this day) and the possibilities the gorgeous colored pictures presented me. Especially appealing that day was the holiday divinity—little fluffy pillows of sweet white goodness—and how hard could it be, I wondered, to boil some sugar and water then pour it into whipped egg whites? The anticipation of sharing these little gems around the neighborhood was nearly too much.

Carefully, I measured the sugar and water and poured them into Mother’s shiny copper-bottomed Revere pan. Back then I was a somewhat impatient cook and believed high heat would get me to the next exciting step a bit quicker. I don’t recall how long I left the saucepan unattended, but somewhere between the softball and hardball stages of boiling sugar, I discovered blackball. The lid began rising from the pan, and an unstoppable mass of black sugar/soot erupted. Grabbing the pan, I headed outside and threw it to the ground. While the pan smoldered in the yard, I ran

back to the kitchen to survey the damage. Other than a few hard globules of burnt sugar here and there and a smoky black ring around the burner of the otherwise white and pristine appliance, I found little damage. Back outside, the pan was another story. Even with the adrenal rush triggered by fear of discovery and corporal punishment, I was no match for the lid and pan, firmly welded together by the sugary charcoal. With cooled pan in hand, I raced across the street to my pal Irene’s home and pleaded with her older sister to help me out. We managed to separate the pan and lid and Halina halfheartedly scrubbed off a layer or two before I left with my stained pan. Back home, I continued to scrub, but upon hearing some-

one come in the back door, I quickly hid the evidence. Finally, besieged with parental fear, I showed the pan to my older sister Linda and begged for her help. Moved not by sympathy for my plight but by the aftermath that would ensue upon our mother’s discovery of another kitchen disaster, Linda glared at me and she scrubbed the pan, nearly to its original sheen. How my mother could tell I’d been cooking was a mystery to me. But she knew. And that was the occasion that became too much for her as I was admonished and threatened with a lifetime ban from the stove. Years later she reflected, “I can’t believe you never burned our house down.” Frankly, I can’t either.

I once attended a week-

long course at the French Pastry School in Chicago. The session, Fine Chocolates and Belgium Classics, was taught by noted Belgium chocolatier, Chef Jean-Pierre Wybauw. Dressed in mandatory kitchen whites, from toque to toes, we learned the theory and specific gravities of syrups and sugars. With scientific precision and calibrated thermometers, we whisked and boiled our ingredients to meet the standards set forth by our instructor. At week’s end we showcased our masterpieces and awaited our critiques by the Master Chocolatier. My mother would have been real proud.

Somewhere between these two experiences I found my place and pace in the world of candy making. While I still gather a lot of inspiration thumbing through cookbooks, now I understand the fundamentals of the process, from pretty pictures to execution. During the holidays, the kitch-

en is my studio, and you’ll find no less than a dozen edible works in progress: pecans to roast, chocolate to temper, cookies to frost, cherries to dip and, very carefully, there is sugar to boil.

Grandson Will just reported to his preschool teacher, “Mimi is coming for Christmas and she makes yummy treats.” I’m sure you have your own yummy holiday treats, and I’ve included a couple of my recipes for you to try as well. If you’re daunted by tempering chocolate (the process of heating and cooling chocolate so it stays shiny looking), there are some great tutorials on YouTube. If you are still unsure of the process, you can cheat and thoroughly stir a couple drops of vegetable oil into the melted chocolate for your own shiny results.

Here’s to your holiday inspiration, precision, lots of sugar and love.

Classic Rocky Road Sweet and Spicy Pecans

This is a fabulous holiday candy, with only three ingredients, though you can be creative and add other nuts, dried fruits or coconut as your heart (and palate) desires.

INGREDIENTS:

•2 lbs. dark chocolate, chunks or chips

• 8 large marshmallows, hand torn into pieces (don’t cut them or you won’t have nice soft edges) *Winter Ridge carries excellent vegetarian marshmallows

• ½ cup coarsely chopped & toasted pecans

•If using chunks, chop the chocolate, melt in a double boiler and temper (or add a couple drops of vegetable oil and blend well).

Fast and easy to prepare and if you like them spicier, add more chili flakes. Be prepared to make several batches, they’ll disappear quickly to rave reviews.

INGREDIENTS:

•1 egg white, lightly beaten

•3 cups pecan halves

• ½ cup fine white sugar

• 1 teaspoon paprika

• ½ teaspoon chili pepper flakes

•1 teaspoon sea salt

PREPARATION: PREPARATION:

•Line a 4x8 bread pan (or similar size rectangular or square pan) with foil and smooth so there are no ridges.

•Tear the marshmallows and set aside.

•Toss the chopped pecans in a heated fry pan and give it a few shakes, toast until they are fragrant. Don’t overcook! Cool.

•Cool the chocolate to about 85 degrees, add the marshmallows and pecans and fold just to coat them all nicely with chocolate. Pour into pan. Give it a couple gentle taps on the counter to settle and fill the corners.

•Cool away from lights. When firm (2-3 hours), carefully remove from pan, remove foil and wrap tightly with film wrap. When ready to serve or package, cut into squares with a sharp knife. Store in airtight container so the marshmallows stay soft.

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper

•In a small bowl beat the egg white until frothy. Add the sugar, paprika and chili flakes. Stir in the pecans, mixing until well moistened.

•Spread nuts on prepared pan, make sure they don’t touch. Sprinkle with the sea salt. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, stirring once or twice. Be careful not to overcook and burn the nuts! When cool, break apart, peel the paper away and store the nuts in a covered container.

MUSIC

Bluegrass band descends upon the Hive

By Dustin Hoffman Reader Contributor

Heard The Lil’ Smokies from Missoula, Montana? Yeah, they’re coming to town. Seriously, if you haven’t heard them, you should. The acoustic sextet will be playing The Hive on Friday, Dec. 18.

You could call The Lil’ Smokies a “progressive acoustic” outfit, or describe their music as “a unique blend of traditional bluegrass, newgrass, innumerable unique originals, sheer raw energy, and exquisite musicianship.” I hope those are fair descriptions. I’m quoting their website.

This bunch comes across as a genuine, hard-working, thickas-thieves group of guys, making the most of their talents. They’ve been shaping their sound for nearly seven years, building a solid fan-base in Missoula and gaining notoriety well beyond the borders of their home state. They crowdfunded their first album back in 2013. Just this year they won the Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition.

Jesse Brown, who carries violin and vocals for the Smokies, was kind enough to tell me a bit about their sound, their experience on the road, and what they are working on as a band.

You’ve been labeled bluegrass (and a variety of bluegrass derivatives), which is understandable. I’m sure that opens the door for some fans, but it might deter others. How do you deal with that? Do you feel like you still have a great deal of creative freedom as a band?

The label “bluegrass” over the last decade or so has started to cover a wide spectrum of acoustic music. Many of the bands and styles today are far from traditional bluegrass. We have found it necessary as acoustic musicians to express more than your 1,4,5 high and lonesome breakdowns. At the same time, I can say that playing in this band and entertaining a bar crowd would be nearly impossible without our bluegrass roots. Naturally, we draw certain people to our music and turn others away with our style, progressiveness, and tradi-

tionalism being all wrapped up into one show, but we will take whatever causalities are necessary to stay true to our calling in music.

In one interview you mention “rubbing elbows” with other bands. How has that experience helped you thrive? Has it influenced your music?

We have been fortunate enough to travel a mixed bag of cities, towns and festivals from here to San Francisco and everywhere in between. We have had the chance to meet many musicians and bands we would’ve never heard otherwise, who we now call friends. We might schedule some gigs with them, crash on their floor or sit in on stage with them for a song or two. One way or another, meeting and playing with new musicians is almost always an inspiration musically and personally to all of us. In addition, we have had the lucky experience of playing festivals and a few gigs in which we are in the same green room as musicians who are our heroes and inspire us in more ways than just music. I remember spending hours transcribing songs; or that one signature lick, then a decade later shaking the hand of that hero as they say, “Great set

guys,” or standing backstage at a festival watching someone you look up to play their own original music better than any CD could portray. Every one of these moments is an inspiration that makes you play music in a different way without even practicing. I know we will all reminisce on those interactions ‘till we are well past our years.

What are you working on now, the thing you’re most excited about?

Currently, we are spending some time catching up on home life, rest and new material after being gone for a bulk of summer and fall. We are most excited about continuing to work toward this new album. We feel as if it’s long overdue, but with as much time as we have spent touring it’s hard to find opportunities to bring everyone together to record. It’s not a quick and easy project, and we definitely want this album to be a step up from our previous

This week’s RLW by Ben

READ

I’m a big fan of vintage, hardboiled detective novels. One of the pioneers of this craft, along with Dashiell Hammet, was Raymond Chandler.

Chandler started writing fiction after losing his job during the Great Depression. His character Philip Marlowe has become the quintessential private eye.

Chandler mastered the use of terse dialogue that spoke volumes of the characters that populated his novels, of which “Farewell, My Lovely,” is my favorite.

material. I can say confidently that we have been proactive in regard to this album for the past year and a half and we are finally closing in on the finish line.

Is your interest piqued?

Good music speaks for itself. Go to thelilsomkies.com, listen to their songs, watch videos, read the blog, and connect via your favorite social media platform -the Smokies are on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can even purchase tickets for their show Friday, Dec. 18 at the Hive. You can also fund their music on Spotify and iTunes.

Sometimes you get the blues during winter (especially if you’re not a skier). One surefire cure for the Sandpoint winter blues is Lightnin’ Hopkins, a country blues performer that had a career that spanned five decades.

LISTEN WATCH

Hopkins had a way of putting things into perspective with his songwriting, his jumping guitar and his deep, sonorous voice. If you have an LP player, he’s best listened to on vinyl, with all the hisses and pops of the record needle.

I’ve always enjoyed New Zealand actor/comedian Jermaine Clement’s work.

He’s nailed it, yet again, in the new release “What We Do in the Shadows,” a mockumentary written, directed by and starring Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi

In “Shadows,” a group of four vampires share a flat in Wellington and share with the viewer the everyday occurences of the blood suckers. With humor that is dry and on point, Clement and crew have nailed it yet again. You can rent the film at Super 1 in Sandpoint, or search for it online.

Then & Now

compiled by Ben Olson

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

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

The Cycle Haus, on the west side of Fifth Avenue, just moments before city crews began demolition. According to Sandpoint Public Works Director Kody Van Dyk, the property is owned by the state of Idaho. “It was probably going to come down next year for ITD’s plans,” said Van Dyk. The area is slated under the downtown streets plan to be used as a gateway, which may include artwork, as well as bicycle parking.

Dec. 7, 2015

The same corner a day later. The crews made short work of the building, which was mostly composed of cinder blocks.

Dec. 8, 2015

Striking as with

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Trades 6. Puts down

Hairdo

Lengthways

Baking appliance

Component of urine

Bog hemp

Quash 19. Fit snugly into

Showman

Strikes

A sizeable hole

Picture

Orchards

Transparent

Work hard

Scaremongers

Sweeping story

Skedaddles

Ardor

Set up

Latin name for our planet

Tiny balls strung together

Fervent 45. A thin porridge

Actress Lupino

Sense

Overplaying

Ancient Peruvian

It comes from cows

Forbidden

Terror

Being

Any compound of oxygen

Catch a glimpse of

63. Accomplishment

Ascends

DOWN

Indian dress

Roomette

A green fabric

Affirm

Spies

Sanctioned

Apple or orange

12. Odd-numbered page 13. Trees of the genus Quercus

21. Female sib

25. An unskilled actor 26. Delight

27. Whacks

28. Death notice 29. Lexicon

30. Elegance 31. Strip of wood 33. Corrosive 34. Arid

35. Mountain pool

36. Thin strip

38. Raced on skis

Solution on page 17

41. Spelling contest

Farm vehicle 44. American Dental Association 45. Segments of DNA 46. Summary 47. Annoyed

48. A small highpitched flute

50. Workbench attachment

51. If not 52. Cab

53. Nile bird

54. Connecting point

55. “Comes and ____”

and

Corrections: Nothing to see here, folks. Move along.

Instead