Reader_Issue_December31_FULL

(wo)MAN on the street

compiled by

Ben Olson

at Idaho Pour Authority

Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?

“I think my most important resolution is to take more personal down time. I feel like I spread myself too thin this year.”

Laura Woodard H.S. Spanish Teacher Spokane, WA

“I don’t. I feel they are overrated. You shouldn’t wait until the new year to do something. If you want to do something, just do it.”

Tim Prummer Colorado Athletic Club Denver, CO (originally Spt.)

“To graduate college while having the most fun possible.”

Jon Bradley Student, U of I Public Relations Moscow, ID (originally Spt.)

“I know I’m going to graduate college, so mine is to start a new crazy chapter of my life, no matter where it may be.”

Jenny Van Ooyen

Student, St. Lawrence College Canton, NY (originally Spt.)

“To run in a marathon.”

Have you done anything like that before?

“I’ve run the equivalent of a half marathon.”

Sarah Coluccio Student, Seattle Univ. Seattle, WA (originally Spt.)

“I’ve never made a new year’s resolution. I think they’re kinda pointless. Most people never even stick to them.”

Chris Woodard

Student, Midwestern Spokane, WA & Glendale, AZ

DEAR READERS,

This has been the quickest year of my life. Running this newspaper has proven to be a worthwhile, yet daunting job. I can only hope that we’re giving you what you want in a publication.

I’m always interested to hear from you, our readers, how we’re doing. Is there something in particular you’d like to see us do differently? What are your favorite parts of the Reader? Do you have any ideas for how we can improve? Please let me know at ben@sandpointreader.com anytime.

2016 will see the Reader improve in many areas. We’re working on hiring another advertising salesperson, as well as an additional writer/designer to ease the workload and make this a better publication in every way.

My main goals for 2016 are to keep producing this paper with the highest quality possible, and to keep having fun doing it. After all, what good is a job if you’re not having fun while doing it?

Thanks for making this a banner year for Cameron and me. Happy reading!

-Ben Olson, Publisher

READER

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

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Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com

Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)

Contributing Artists: Ben Olson (cover), Tamarack Aerospace, Angels Over Sandpoint, William G. Rosch.

Contributing Writers: Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Nick Gier, Scarlette Quille, Suzen Fiskin, Chris Balboni, Drake.

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

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Web Content: Keokee

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

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

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

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

Requirements: –No more than 500 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers.

Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com

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About the Cover

This week’s cover designed by Ben Olson, who remembers drinking champagne while also chewing tobacco once. Let’s just say that’s not a good combination.

COMMENTARY

The Genocide of the Hazaras: Descendants of Genghis Khan fight for survival in Afghanistan and Pakistan

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist

“All Shias are liable to be killed. We will rid Pakistan of [this] impure people.

Pakistan means land of the pure, and the Shia have no right to live here.”

—The Chief of Lashkar-eJhangvi in Pakistan

Since the beginning of this year in Afghanistan, 73 Shia Muslims from the Hazara community have been kidnapped by Sunni militants. Earlier this month seven of them were beheaded, and on Nov. 10 their coffins were carried down a street in Kabul.

For the first time thousands of Sunnis joined grieving Hazaras in a protest against the current government, which has done nothing to protect the Hazaras from attack. Since 1993 more than 8,000 have been killed in Afghanistan.

Over the past 10 years, there have been 183 attacks on Harazas in Pakistan. Seeking refuge primarily in Iran and Pakistan, tens of thousands of Hazaras fled Afghanistan at the end of the 19th century after Amir Abdur Rahman’s armies reduced their population by 60 percent.

In Quetta, Pakistan, about

An appeal to reason redux...

Dear Editor,

Most proposed gun control laws would not address the concerns in the Deutchmans’ letter of last week. State and federal background checks of firearms purchasers are done by licensed gun dealers, but we should require checks of private purchasers and better address the missing mental/ criminal records not currently available to such checks.

“Assault-type weapons” is such an all-encompassing term as to be useless and irrelevant. DOJ statistics show “assault-type weapons” comprise less than 1 percent of criminal assaults in the U.S. every year. Many definitions address only

2,000 Hazaras have died, 4,000 have been injured, and 200,000 have attempted to flee the country. In February of 2013, the Asian Human Rights Commission issued a report declaring that a religiously motivated genocide against the Hazaras was being carried out. A second genocide of the Hazaras is now underway.

Most of world’s Hazaras live in Afghanistan (7 million), Iran (2 million), and Pakistan (1.5 million). As Shia Muslims, one would expect that the Hazaras in Shia Iran would be treated humanely. Many Iranians, however, persecute them as “barbari,” a Persian word carrying memories of ancient Mongol invaders. With their distinctive Mongolian features they are easily identified by those who wish to harm them.

The Hazaras claim to have descended from Mongol troops, who were left behind in present-day Afghanistan as the Mongols retreated from their failed invasion of India at the end of the 13th century. Over the centuries Tajiks and Arabic Sayeds joined the original Mongols through intermarriage.

Although some scholars initially disputed the Mongol descent theory, linguistic, blood type and genetic evidence is strong. The Mongol army was

cosmetic features—almost all hunting rifles are much more deadly. Magazine capacity limits are easily circumvented with a little practice.

The U.S. does indeed have a violence problem, but it’s not a gun problem. Violence is multi-caused, including income inequality, racism, lack of pre/ post natal child care, lack of health care, education and employment opportunities for our poorest citizens. Religious and cultural ideologies of cults— Christianity included—cause much mayhem and violence. U.S. war “defense” dollars would be much better spent on truly universal, worldwide health and education, as well as saving the lives of our soldiers.

The Donald Trumps and

organized on the basis of ten, and “Hazara” is Persian for the Mongol word for 1,000. The Hazara blood types are also distinct from Afghans, Tajiks and Uzbeks.

Genetic research has proved the Mongol connection in spades. Today Genghis Khan’s genes are carried by about 16 million men, eight percent of Asia males. Incredibly enough, two-thirds of Hazara males carry Genghis Khan’s Y-chromosome. This is significantly more than the men now living either in the Republic of Mongolia or China’s Inner Mongolia.

Discrimination against the Hazaras continued even after the Afghan Constitution of 1931. There was religious freedom for all citizens except the Shias. Hindus, Sikhs and Christians could celebrate their holy days, but Shia holidays were banned.

In pre-Taliban Afghanistan the worst atrocity against the Hazaras occurred in February of 1993, when over 1,000 were killed by direct orders of President Rabbani. With the rise of the Taliban the Hazaras were part of the Northern Alliance supported by the U. S. In May 1997 Hazaras joined Uzbeks in executing 2,000 Taliban prisoners. In August 1998 the Tal-

left/right wingers expose the darker beliefs of too many of our citizens.

People don’t need guns to suppress others’ freedoms, or impose their own ideology. My guns, including “assault-types,” have never threatened anyone. A gun once saved my life, and I hope that need never again arises. Most gun control laws would have let me be killed.

Chris Mielke

USMC

Sagle

1974-8

SASi needs your help...

Dear Editor,

Thank you for your weekly publication. I so enjoy all the articles, photos, etc.

I would like you to publish

iban retaliated by killing 2,000 Hazaras in Mazar-I Sharif.

When the Taliban attacked and gained control over the Bamiyan Valley in September 1998, 500 Hazaras were liquidated. There, in 2001, the Taliban destroyed the world’s largest standing Buddhas, which the Hazaras had always viewed as their ancestral protectors.

The Hazaras pride themselves in emphasizing education, and even though many opportunities are blocked to them, they have achieved remarkable results. An Hazara student, Mohammad Qasim, was the highest scorer in the 2015 Kankor Examination. He scored 354 out of possible 360 marks from among 219,145 students.

It is important that the plight of these brave and resourceful people should be more widely known, and the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan

should do much more to protect their rights and stop the brutal attacks on their persons.

The conflicts between the Sunnis and the Shias offer an instructive parallel to the long history of interfaith violence between Protestants and Catholics, the most recent in Northern Ireland.

The U. S. invasion of Iraq allowed the majority Shias there to work out decades of resentment because of the Sunni minority rule initiated by the British. Sadly, Sunni militants led by ISIS and Al Qaeda are now fighting back with a vengeance.

Nick Gier of Moscow taught religion and philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. This column is drawn from his keynote address at the Mongol American Association meeting on November 8, 2014.

this letter asking for funds for the Senior Center. The Center is a 501(c) non-profit corporation and if anyone has not already tapped out on their contributions for the year, we could sure use some help.

When I read this morning that Toys for Tots raised $50,000-plus this year, I am reminded of the generosity of this community. The Senior Center feeds between 20,000 and 25,000 meals per year between the meals served at the Center and the delivered meals. Right now, we are in desperate need of funds to get us through the end of January.

We did not have a fundraiser this fall as we were redoing the parking lot. This lack of funding has resulted in our immediate need.

If anyone can help, please send your donation (no amount too small) to Sandpoint Area Senior Center, 820 Main Street, Sandpoint 83864. Thank you for your great publication. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Loris Michael Sandpoint

Letter Publication Policy:

We are always interested in letters to the editor. Please make sure your letters are under 400 words and contain no profanity or libelous statements. Send letters to letters@sandpointreader.com.

PERSPECTIVES

Happy Freakin’ New Year

I am always behind. The fact that another year has passed by, and we are on the brink of starting a new year will not hit me until mid-February. This really works out great for me because just when people are tearing that beautiful list of resolutions into tiny flammable shreds, I am full of hope and promise. Plus, I try to avoid setting myself up for disappointment.

If I do resolve to do anything, it’s to not do what everyone else does. I am about 86 percent successful at this. Instead of lists, I think reflecting on the things we did that made us feel like shit and “resolving” not to do them again would make the world a happier place. A few Februaries ago, I gave myself permission to make my own choices. I resolved to quit trying to fix myself. If I was going to go through the rest of my life dropping F-bombs while sporting a muffin top, at least I would be free.

Since then, I’ve become a happier person. I have never read “Twilight.” I don’t have a Goldendoodle. The thought of eating kale anything pisses me off. I cuss a lot and it feels amazing. I drive slow. I shun structure. CrossFit and Paleo seems like a cult to me. And the most religious experience I have ever had was in a sweat lodge with a Native American shaman.

I am grateful that I get to have the sweat experience a

couple times a year, but I am not going to force it on anyone, nor am I going to post excessively about how enlightened I feel after one. Nothing turns me off more than assholes who constantly talk about how happy and spiritual they are while passive-aggressively attacking people who aren’t like them. I don’t care if other people eat organ ic and obsess over their Goldendoodle, but I’d rather eat fake food than be a fake person. That’s a choice I get to make, and weirdly, I am so much happier and skinnier than I was when I was drinking weird-ass shakes and running on a hamster wheel at the gym.

I make my own choices, including my dog breed selection: a Chihuahua. This dog breed is loyal, adorable, sneaky, courageous and vindictive. They’re a bit like your high school sweetheart. One moment this tiny lover is snuggling you and shower ing you with sweet angelic kisses while staring deep into your soul. The next moment they’re pissing in your shoes because they saw you look at that Great Dane walking down the sidewalk. In other words, the most successful owners of Chihuahuas should have some

experience with crazed lovers. Chihuahuas prefer the company of other Chihuahuas, and they like to party.

My seven-pound Chihuahua, Otto, has a Chihuahua cousin Pepe, a teacup weighing in at pounds.

life complete with consistency, rules, dietary restrictions and a selection of clothing larger than some people I know. Otto inevitably shares some of his delicious food stashes with Pepe, whose mother (my sister) always knows when he has consumed anything other than the vet-prescribed kibble.

These two always get into trouble when together. This is because Otto lives in the country and has a free range hippy lifestyle, whereas Pepe enjoys his city

This Christmas break, Pepe came over for a visit. Upon entering my home, he and Otto did the international Chihuahua hello dance and then scampered off to find something to get into. About five minutes later, they sauntered back into the room looking guilty. Pepe jumped into my sister’s lap, and Otto found Grandma. Within 30 seconds my sister squealed, “Pepe! What did you eat? OMIGOD, his breath smells like

She looked straight at me with a piercing glare. I said, “What are you talking about?” She continued to claim her dog had somehow managed to find a stash of marijuana in my house and consume it.

Pepe was not doing me any favors. He was just reclining in her lap with glazed-over eyes and a half-smile. I tried to defend myself. However, my role

as the free-spirited artist of the family makes me an easy target for something like a pot stash. I told her I definitely didn’t have any pot laying around at Chihuahua-level. In fact, there was no pot at all, and if there was, I likely would have smoked it prior to her and my mother coming over, as opposed to giving it to my dog so he could share it with his dog friends. Then I had to tell my mom I was joking and suggest maybe one of my teenagers was a pothead.

My 15-year-old catapulted off the couch, nearly putting her phone down in the process: “Are you kidding, Mom? I don’t do drugs.” She then ran around, sniffing and smelling every corner of our house, in order to clear herself of all blame. Finally, she found a lone leaf of a house plant, halfchewed on the floor. After my mother and sister sniffed and chewed the leaf and researched its potential for poisoning Chihuahuas, we were finally cleared of marijuana possession accusations.

After they left, my daughter, and I just sat breathing that long sigh of relief that one has after surviving a holiday family visit. Otto walked into the corner under my plants, and came back in a much better head space.

Maybe we should all resolve to be more like our dogs.

Happy new year.

Scarlette Quille

Tamarack Aerospace winglet earns certification

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

The folks at Sandpoint company Tamarack Aerospace unwrapped a particularly great Christmas present last Wednesday with the certification of its winglet technology in Europe.

A moment long-awaited by Tamarack officials, the certification by the European Aviation Safety Administration will allow Tamarack to sell and install its innovative active winglet technology on any European-certified Cessna CitationJet 525 aircraft.

According to Tamarack Chief Operating Officer Brian Cox, reciprocity agreements between the EASA and the Federal Aviation Administration means their technology will likely also be certified for sale in the U.S. within three to six months.

That’s exciting news for a company that has worked toward certification for the past several years. It will allow Tamarack to start earning revenue and work toward a potential that has excited local economic development experts.

“We already have 18 orders on the books,” said Cox. “That’s really impressive considering we haven’t been actively selling and marketing these.”

Indeed, the certification should have immediate effects on Tamarack’s workforce. Cox said company officials plan to add three to five jobs in the production side of the company as well as three or four new positions in engineering.

More high-paying local jobs is always exciting, but Tamarack has more than just locals buzzing about the possibilities. Company officials believe their signature technology, the ATLAS active winglet, has the potential to transform the aviation industry.

Winglets are nothing new to airplanes. Traditional passive winglets reduce drag and improve the efficiency of airplane wings, which in turn reduces fuel use by a usual 3 to 4 percent. However, this in-

creases the bending load in the wing, which the ATLAS active winglet is able to minimize. The bottom line is that Tamarack’s technology can improve aircraft fuel efficiency by an unheard-of 10 to 15 percent, Cox said.

“The real reality for our product is what this can do for the future of aviation,” he added.

Considering the enormous costs of airplane fuel, 10- to 15-percent savings is an enticing prospect for any company or private owner. What’s more, widespread adoption of active winglets could save billions of pounds in greenhouse gas emissions.

“This really is green technology,” Cox said.

Follies planners seeking performers

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Planning is in full swing for the 2016 Follies, the raucous, irreverent and R-rated entertainment event and Angels Over Sandpoint fundraiser. For the coming show, planners hope to attract more residents to auditions and diversify the number of performers in each act.

“Last year we heard a few complaints about the fact that so many of our performers were in more than one act,” said Dorothy Prophet, one of the event organizers. “Unfortunately, that was the result of not having enough people

come to auditions.”

The Follies needs both people with ideas for original acts and performers to fill out existing acts. To audition, call (208) 2907685 and schedule a slot, which are available Jan. 8, 5-7 p.m.; Jan. 9, 3-5 p.m.; Jan. 22, 5-7 p.m. and Jan. 23, 3-5 p.m.

The Follies is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Angels Over Sandpoint, which does excellent nonprofit work all year ‘round. So show your community spirit—and your wild side—by participating in the craziest show of the year!

Mayor Logan’s last actions to include refugee resolution

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

A mayoral proclamation welcoming refugees to Sandpoint will be among Mayor Carrie Logan’s last actions in office.

According to Logan, the proclamation will occur at the beginning of the Jan. 6 council meeting. Afterward, councilman and mayor elect Shelby Rognstad will be sworn in as Sandpoint mayor, and the council will vote on a resolution similar in content to Logan’s proclamation.

The text of the resolution reinforces Sandpoint’s longstanding public commitment to human rights and non-discrimination. It then observes that fear and paranoia have risen since the terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, with some responses containing historically racist or xenophobic characteristics.

“...Terror is caused by people of varied ethnic, religious and political backgrounds,” the resolution reads. “...Thoughts of Nazi Germany, Japanese internment camps, McCarthyism, and the Ku Klux Klan come to mind.”

The resolution then concludes by reinforcing Sandpoint’s commitment to tolerance, non-discrimination and diversity and welcoming any properly-screened refugees into the city.

“...Although well-intentioned, discussions of banning groups of people due to their religion is counter to the Constitution and the historical practices of this country,” the resolution states.

According to Logan, the proclamation and resolution are, in part, a response to the anti-refugee resolution passed by Bonner County commissioners. While the proclamation is a simple mayoral action, the resolution will require a majority council vote to pass.

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

The stories that captivated us in 2015

By Ben Olson and Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Ben’s top stories of 2015

Wildfire in North Idaho

It’s hard to imagine a forest fire when we’re knee deep in fresh powder and dealing with sub-freezing temperatures, but the summer’s fire season was one for the record books.

2015 was a busy year for us here at the Reader. In two more issues, we’ll have been back in publication for a full year. How did it pass so quickly?

As is customary this time of year, we’ve decided to take a look back over the past 12 months at some of the biggest stories and issues that have affected us. Enjoy!

With over 50,000 acres burned and more than 300 fires reported in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest, 2015’s fire season was called the worst since 1926 by the Idaho Department of Lands. At one point during the season, over 125 individual fires were burning simultaneously across North Idaho, taxing manpower and resources to the limit.

“If we had the same acreage burning with just one fire, it would’ve been no problem,” said Jason Kirchner, public affairs officer for the U.S. Forest Service. “But having to respond to all those fires taxed resources.

At its peak, the season saw over 27,000 firefighters mobilized in the panhandle.

“We reached a point where there was nobody else to call,” said Kirchner. “We brought in firefighters from Australia, Canada, parts of Europe. They came from all over the world.”

The extreme fire season was due mainly to a dry, warm winter that left little snowpack in the mountains, followed immediately by a dry spring. By June, the forests were tinder dry, and the fire danger rating was listed at “Extreme” from Aug. 5 to Sept. 2, an unprecedented streak.

Mass shootings increasing

Looking back, it’s hard not to think that 2015 was dominated by violence. Though there is a running debate as to what exactly constitutes a “mass shooting,” it’s generally agreed upon that the events showed a marked increase during 2015.

A study published by the Harvard Injury Control Research Center showed that mass shootings were on the rise, as opposed to instances of domestic and gang violence.

“Those [shootings] look like they’re ‘contagious’ much more than the intimate partner violence ones,” said Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s David Hemenway in a

Washington Post article.

In the Harvard-Northeastern study, mass shootings are defined as those in which four or more people are killed. The FBI, on the other hand, defines them as when three or more are killed, excluding the shooter.

A crowd sourced data site, Shooting Tracker, recently made waves when they claimed there were over 350 mass shootings that had occurred in 2015 alone. Shooting Tracker defines any incident in which four or more people are shot as a mass shooting, regardless of whether they were injured or killed. However, some critics have pointed to numerous entries that invalidate the claim, such as non-lethal incidents involving kids using air rifles.

Perception of the Police

2015 saw a change in the perception of police officers across the U.S., mainly due to the increase in the amount of negative interactions caught on body cameras, dash cams and cellphone video.

We’ve all seen the videos. Some of the most notable incidents seem to begin with a benign traffic stop or police

contact that escalates quickly.

In April, North Charleston police officer Michael Slager stopped Walter Scott for a non-functioning brake light. Slager ended up shooting the unarmed Scott in the back as he ran away. Slager is currently being held without bail for the charge of murder.

In July, a man was killed by a University of Cincinnati police officer in what was called an “entirely preventable” shooting.

Chicago continues to see turmoil over the fallout of videos released of the Laquan McDonald shooting last year. Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke shot teenager McDonald 16 times as he moved away from police in the middle of the road holding a knife.

We’re no strangers to police shootings here in North Idaho, either. The shooting of troubled pregnant woman Jeanetta Riley last year brought the issue to our front doors. Though the officers involved in the shooting were cleared of any wrongdoing, the body camera video of the incident continues to haunt this small town.

Whether police shootings of unarmed suspects is increasing or not is hard to tell, but the ubiquitous presence of cameras brings the incidents to the eyes of the world.

As the New York Times noted, however,

Bouquets:

•I’ve heard a few people complain about snowplow drivers over the past week. I’d actually like to give them a bouquet for helping us keep the roads clear during the last week of snow storms. They have a very tough job, and have to be ready to roll whenever the weather strikes, whether it’s Christmas morning or otherwise. Not only that, but the city plows must deal with cars that never move, hundreds of hidden driveways and all other sorts of obstacles. Thanks for doing your best at keeping our roads clear.

•A bouquet to all of you who have sent me submissions for the new series, “Volunteer Spotlight.” I’ve received so many wonderful submissions from a variety of people who wanted to give someone a shout out for their hard work. Do you know someone who is a volunteer and may not get the recognition they deserve? Let me know at ben@ sandpointreader.com and I’ll track them down and give them the recognition they deserve.

Barbs:

•I’m always amazed at the way people continue to drive like complete idiots when the roads are crazy icy. The other day I watched a guy pull out right in front of a car on Fifth Avenue and cause a near accident when he could’ve just waited ten more seconds for a real break in the traffic. One car slid sideways after slamming on the brakes to miss the guy. Let’s all remember to put things in perspective; is it worth dying over being a minute late? Slow down and take your time on the icy streets.

Got a bouquet or barb you’d like to offer? Write me at ben@ sandpointreader.com with “BB” in the subject line.

Volunteer Spotlight: Savannah Mort talks about how the Hoot Owl’s soup kitchen began

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Two years ago, Savannah Mort asked her husband what he wanted for his birthday. She had no idea his request would end up launching a soup kitchen that fed the community every week.

“For his birthday, he wanted the whole family to volunteer at a soup kitchen,” said Mort. “I got to thinking, ‘Let’s just start our own.’ We have this great community and there’s not anything like that on our end of town.”

It was out of her husband’s request that the Hoot Owl’s weekly soup kitchen was born.

“I asked my mom [Hoot Owl owner Wendy Sater] if we could use the restaurant on Monday nights,” said Mort. “We’ve been doing it ever since.”

Offered every Monday evening from 4 to 7 p.m. since February 2013, the soup kitchen serves anywhere between 60 and 100 people every week.

Mort, who serves as the “soup kitchen coordinator,” organizes the gathering every week, utilizing both donations from the community, as well as from the Hoot Owl.

“I have a group of people and we make Crock-Pots of soup at home, or casseroles and bring it in,” said Mort. “The Hoot Owl donates a pot of soup every Monday and my mom will usually make up a big dessert. We get a lot of people bringing in soup and volunteering, as well as financial donations, and I just want to make sure they know we appreciate it.”

Mort was quick to point out that her mom Wendy Sater, the owner of the Hoot Owl, does so much for the community and deserves to be recognized.

“She always tells me, ‘You do all the work and I get all the credit,’” said Mort. “But she deserves a lot of the credit, too.”

One such event that the Saters host at the Hoot Owl is the annual spaghetti feed, which raises money for the

Sandpoint Lions Club’s Toys For Tots program. This year, the event raised over $1,400 for Toys For Tots.

When asked if there are any restrictions or eligibility requirements for who can attend the soup kitchen, Mort said it is open and free for everyone.

“It’s an open kitchen, for everybody,” she said. “There are people that come in and really need the soup, and there are people who are just lonely at heart who want to find a fellowship. We get people from all walks of life.”

After spending nearly two years feeding the community every week, Mort has come to appreciate the gravity of the issues of homelessness and poverty in North Idaho.

“I feel like [homelessness] is kind of a hush-hush situation,” she said. “Nobody wants to talk about it and address it. Somebody needs to address it. If we had the resources right now, we’d open up a shelter. There are so many people who could benefit from that.”

One example Mort recalled that warmed her heart was an older gentleman who had been living in a tent and attending the soup kitchen every week.

“It was starting to get cold,” said Mort. “Every week I asked him how it was going, how he was doing. We ended up providing him with

some resources. Eventually he found a home and is doing well. There are a lot of stories like that, and it warms my heart to hear them.”

Mort considers her role at the soup kitchen a necessary duty for her community and her faith.

“I really feel like God told us to do it and put it in our hearts,” she said. “It’s important for my kids to be aware, and I want them to have hearts and compassion. That’s where my heart is at. There are people who genuinely need the food, but also some of the

people just need someone to know their name, that they exist in this world. Our world is so broken, if we can bring any light to it, we’re doing something good.”

If anyone is interested in volunteering at Savannah Mort’s soup kitchen Monday nights, please call the Hoot Owl at (208) 265-9348. If you’d like to attend the soup kitchen, it is free and open to all every Monday night from 4 to 7 p.m.

2015 YEAR IN REVIEW

REVIEW, con’t from page 7 videos “that show respectful, peaceful interactions do not make the 24-hour cable news.”

Same-Sex Marriage

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled to legalize same-sex across the U.S. once and for all. The court ruled that states cannot ban same-sex marriages, handing gay rights advocates their biggest victory yet.

The landmark decision comes nearly half a century after a riot at New York’s Stonewall Inn ushered in the modern gay rights movement. In the 5-4 ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote an opinion that spoke eloquently of the most fundamental values of love, family and liberty.

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice and family,” wrote Kennedy. “In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than they once were.”

attracted a significant minority of voters dissatisfied with the status quo at City Hall. More than any other topic, the question of whether officials maintained sufficient transparency and encouraged public participation in city business defined the election.

On the one hand, the election generated high interest compared to previous years, prompting vigorous discussion online and in community forums. On the other, the 48-percent voter turnout is only impressive when considered against other recent local elections. What’s more, far fewer residents decided to campaign for office, resulting in only two mayoral candidates and all three City Council incumbents running unopposed.

The ruling has continued to come under fire from critics, including the prominent case of Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples even though she was legally obligated to do so. Davis spent five days in jail for contempt of court and emerged still defiant of the ruling.

Cameron’s top stories of 2015

Local elections

The city of Sandpoint’s 2015 elections were revealing in several respects, showing divided attitudes toward local government. While mayoral candidate Shelby Rognstad carried the day with 1,116 votes versus opponent Mose Dunkel’s 618 votes, Dunkel

If the 2015 election was intriguing, it’s only an appetizer to what awaits in 2016. With several key state legislative seats on the line, local Republican partisans are hurtling toward what could be a bruising primary election. Meanwhile, with District 1 representative seats filled by far-right politicians Heather Scott and Sage Dixon, Democrats might have an opportunity to sway moderates to their side. Suffice it to say, 2016 is shaping up to be a fascinating year in Bonner County politics.

Sandpoint hires a city administrator Local officials’ decision to

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Remember when you used to ask your parents a question and they said, “Look it up.” That used to involve combing through Encyclopedia Britannicas for the right entry, reading a bevy of useless information before finally (maybe) finding the answer you were looking for. My, how things have changed.

Now that we have Google, finding answers has become almost instantaneous. It’s actually a little scary, all this information at our fingertips. What do we do with so much power? We ask inane questions like, “Can Jesus microwave a burrito?” and plea for help with such requests as, “Help, I accidentally built a shelf.”

Discounting the big four adult search terms “porn,” “free porn,” “sex,” and “por-

hire a city administrator was tangentially linked to the 2015 election. That’s because for some, it was emblematic of a lack of public engagement, the issue that characterized the Dunkel campaign. The controversy of the new position and its six-figure salary aside, however, it represents a transformative change in city gov-

no,” (which, by the way, far outweighs any other search terms by an alarmingly large margin), you can often deduce what a region deems important by finding out what they search for the most.

The online real estate site Estately.com recently compiled a list of the top search terms each state asked Google in 2015. Want to know what Idaho searched for the most? More than any other state, Idaho searched for the term “vaccines.”

That actually makes sense, since Idaho had the highest rate of families choosing to opt out of getting their children vaccinated in the 2014-2015 school year, according to the Center for Disease Control.

There were a few other issues that Idahoans were interested in more than people living in other states. The terms “refugees” and “gun control”

ernment, alleviating the mayor and department heads of some managerial responsibilities in favor of a top-down approach. The biggest question that dogged the city administrator hiring process was whether or not the city allowed for sufficient public input. Calls for a public forum where residents could meet and question

were also searched quite a bit. Also, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2” got quite a bit of attention for us here in the Gem State. We should feel good, however, compared to some of our neighbors’ search terms. Washington searched a lot for “Leonard Nimoy” who played Spock on “Star Trek” and passed away in 2015, as well as the terms “Super Bowl,” and “Mad Max: Fury Road.”

Oregon searched a lot for “Syria” and “Iran,” but also for “Nicky Jam” (a musician) and “Shakira.”

It may not surprise many that Montana’s top search term was “wolves.” In fact, I think that was the only term they searched for in 2015.

Utah’s top search was the term “transgender” with “man bun” in a close second place.

What a strange, informed world we live in.

candidates came in letters to the editor and Internet posts. However, Mayor Carrie Logan instead formed a selection committee to choose the final candidate.

That candidate ended up being Jennifer Stapleton, who was approved by the City

31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

DJ Cakebread at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge

Ring in the new year with DJ Cakebread

“Trumbo” Film

3:30pm @ Panida Theater (5:30, 7:30pm)

The film follows the story of Dalton Trumbo, who in 1947 was Hollywood’s top screenwriter until he and other artists were jailed and blacklisted for their political beliefs.

Live Moments w/ Bright Moments Jazz

7-10pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Featuring special guest Maya Goldblum

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

Free First Saturday

Live Music w/ Ron Criscoine 5-9pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

Playing an eclectic mix from the ‘60s to present, Criscoine’s covers are peppered with originals and obscure tunes you haven’t heard in a long time New Parties

Live Music w/ Justin Lantrip 7-9pm @ La Rosa Club

Talus Rocks in the New Year 6:30pm @ Talus Rock Retreat (291 Syringa Heights Rd.)

A gourmet dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., followed by live music and dancing with the Albeni Falls Celtic Dancers, and capping off with a hot tub soak. $119 per person. Visit TalusRockRetreat.com or call 208255-8458.

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

10am-2pm @ Bonner County History Museum

All are welcome to visit the museum free of charge, made possible by generous local supporters. BonnerCountyHistory.org. 208-263-2344

Live Music w/ Josh Firshi

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

A must-see guitar player with a wide variety of music and vocals

Sandpoint Chess Club

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

“Trumbo” Film 3:30pm @ Panida Theater

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills

7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

First Tuesday

7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Monthly music event with featured guest, hosted by Jake Robin

Bingo Night

6:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

kids (ages Stella party

7:30pm

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

“Trumbo” Film 7:30pm @ Panida Theater

SARS Northwest Cup

All day @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort Schweitzer Mountain Resort hosts the North west Cup ski racing event on Zip Down. Sch weitzer.com. 208-255-3081

Game Night at the Niner 9pm @ 219 Lounge

Come down and play some board games with Racheal... Jenga, Cards Against Humanity, etc.

Seniors Day – 9am - 12pm @ Bonner Mall

Walk the mall, listen to speakers, learn health tips, enter drawings, bingo and enjoy free refreshments. Sponsored by Bonner Mall chants, Life Care Aging Better In Home Care, and Comfort Keepers

Trivia Night

7pm - 9pm @ MickDuff’s

Charley Packard & Friends

7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Bingo, beer, popcorn, friendly bartenders, a nice courtyard. 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 House

Held on the first and third Thursday of every month, open to all

Come on down and see the one, the only, Charley Packard. He’s back, baby!

KPND Ski and Board Party 5pm @ Connie’s Cafe and Lounge Featuring prizes, specials and fun

“Theeb” 7:30pm

ful

Dec. 31, 2015 - January 7, 2016

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

to present, originals and long time

Live Music w/ the London Souls

9pm @ The Hive

Come down to the 2nd Annual New Year’s Bash with NYC-favorites The London Souls.

The rock duo have been making a huge splash on the scene since their formation in 2008, with music that reminds you of Led Zeppelin, Cream and the White Stripes. Tickets $40 New Year’s Eve at Schweitzer

Parties for all ages at Schweitzer, including the all-ages tubing party, the ever-popular ‘tween party for the kids (ages 6 to 11), and the rockin’ Stella New Year’s Eve celebration for partygoers ages 21 and older. The Stella party is held at the Lakeview Lodge and features live music with The Rub - North Idaho’s favorite party band - plus drink specials, free late-night snacks, party favors and a special cider toast at midnight

New Year’s Eve Gala at the Pearl

6pm @ Pearl Theater (Bonners)

The 3rd Annual New Year’s Eve Gala will be celebrating the New Year in Eastern Time, starting at 6 p.m., so come early and celebrate with us! Ticket includes hors d’oeuvres, desserts, no-host bar, champagne toast, an incredible dance mix, a fortune teller, and a photo booth. Tickets $25

Live Music w/ The Flying Dookie Brothers

7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Live Music w/ Tennis

9pm - 1am @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

The Beer Hall has limited space and tickets will go on pre-sale soon for $8. Come out for the tenth anniversary of Sandpoint’s favorite dance band

“Casablanca” the film

8pm @ Panida Theater

A screening and champagne toast of one of the greatest films of all time

Live Music w/ The Divided Side

9pm - 1am @ Roxy’s Bar

Ring in the new year with rock band the Flying Dookie Brothers, with opening band Shiny Jim starting at 7:30 p.m.

Live Music w/ Marty Perron & Doug Bond 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

games with Humanity, etc.

SARS Northwest Cup

All day @ Schweitzer Mountain Resort

Schweitzer Mountain Resort hosts the Northwest Cup ski racing event on Zip Down. Schweitzer.com. 208-255-3081 Resort the NorthDown. Schenter drawings, play Bonner Mall merComfort Keepers

Singles Meet and Greet

5:30-7:30pm @ Talus Rock Retreat

Single and feeling “sorta lonely and tired of doing things alone?” Come together for a fun “meet and greet” gathering and perhaps find a new friend in the same boat. No age limit. What to bring? If your last name is A-L: Bring a bottle of wine to share. Last name M-T: Bring an app or dessert to share. Last name U-Z: Bring a bottle of juice to share. Free. 208-255-8458

Karaoke Night

9pm - Midnight @ 219 Lounge

Bike Movie Night

6pm @ Greasy Fingers Bikes n’ Repair

the baby!

Bike Movie Night is held each Wednesday in January; feel free to bring your own refreshments.

“Theeb” film

Lounge

7:30pm @ Panida Theater

The movie is set in the Ottoman province of Hijaz during World War I, where a young Bedouin boy experiences a greatly hastened coming of age as he embarks on a perilous desert journey to guide a British officer to his secret destination

Jan. 8 Contra Dance at Spt. Comm. Hall

Jan. 9

Winter Trails Day at Schweitzer - free nordic trail access, plus, learn to cross country ski for free!

Jan. 9

Nu Jack City at the Panida Theater

Jan. 12

Open Mic Night at MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Jan. 15

Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness 11th Anniversary Party at Little Panida Theater

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.

A trip to the store 12 years ago this month brought home both butter and an 8 week old mixed lab and border collie pooch from the Shelter.

In this picture, I think she looks like a seal. She leaps from the dock and can retrieve two balls from the water. This special, social dog has stolen our hearts. She runs to the kitchen when I’m chopping as she loves carrots, celery, cabbage, apples and even lettuce. She’s never met a stranger and announces our company with excitement, running around in circles to announce friends are here. We love this girl.

Loris Michael Sandpoint

Changing Your Mind

5 tips and tricks for tipping the scales in your favor in 2016

By Suzen Fiskin Reader Columnist

What is it about the dawning of a shiny new year that makes us hunger to be a better version of ourselves? Our compulsion for do-overs gave rise to that vexing tradition of New Year’s resolutions. These promises to ourselves feel so good when we jot them down and so crappy before February hits the calendar. Could there be a better way?

Maybe I can help. In working with clients to make life changes for a helluva long time, I’ve noticed that success leaves behind a trail of clues.

Here are five tips and tricks for tipping the scales in your favor for making lifestyle shifts that stick.

1. Focus on what you DO want, and keep going in that direction in ways large and small.

Zero in on what gets you to feel good about making that shift, and word it positively. Instead of feeling crumby looking at yourself in the mirror and saying, “I don’t want to be a fat slob who’ll never get lucky again,” you might want to reframe it to something more like, “I know I’ll be happier, healthier and a feel whole lot sexier when I’m thinner.”

Unlike resolutions of old with specific and time-locked goals, the secret here is to make sure that you keep headed in the direction of what you want. Give yourself strokes for the baby steps you make towards your goal along the way. Didn’t eat that last few bites of cake? Good on you!

2. Limit your focus to one or two shifts.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re trying to stay on top of a laundry list of personal shortcomings. Painful, too. By concentrating on one or two things (max), you’ll get some success under your belt, and feel good about yourself and the progress you’re making. This will give you the oomph to

keep on keeping on.

3. Rehearse your success every day in mental movies.

World-class athletes and other cando people run mind movies of their future victories over and over until it feels like a done deal. Your brain doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and what you tell it is real. By visualizing your wins, you literally rewire your brain to get what you want. Let your imagination run wild! Feel how good you’ll feel, see what you’ll see, and hear what you’ll hear. Make the pictures closer, bigger and brighter; pump up the volume of the soundtrack; and let the pleasure of those positive emotions spread throughout your entire body . . . You deserve it!

4. Plan for some suffering and backsliding . . . oops!

Most people don’t include discomfort and screwing up as part of their plan (I wonder why!).

The first time they feel withdrawals from nicotine and mooch a smoke from a co-worker, or scarf a cupcake in a single gulp, they feel like a failure and give up way too soon. Gift yourself with a couple of “Get Out of Jail Free” cards, shake it off and get back on track. Remember to tell yourself what a good

job you’re doing when you do feel those hunger pains or can hardly move after working out. Good on you!

5. Find new ways to get the benefits that the old behavior gave you.

One big reason people fail at making changes is that they don’t have alternative ways to get the perks that they got the old way. For example, people who drink say that it makes them feel relaxed. What else can you do to get those same feelings besides booze? Meditation? A long walk? A hot bath? A lusty romp?

In working with clients to stop smoking, I encourage them to take non-cigarette breaks where they step outside and take long, deep breaths that they hold and release—it gives them many of the same sensations and sense of peace without the cost, stench or toxins. It works!

I hope these tips help you double down on your success. Happy New Year to you all!

Since 1992, Suzen Fiskin has been a Clinical Hypnotherapist, Master of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, and life coach. She’s also the author of “Playboy Mansion Memoirs.” SuzenFiskin@ gmail.com

Council on Dec. 16. She brings with her almost 20 years of administrative experience and is motivated by a longtime desire to live in Sandpoint.

Community deals with tragic losses

This year saw the world and our country absorb tragedies aplenty, and Sandpoint was no exception. Several recent suicides among local youth forced Sandpoint students to grapple with some difficult questions and overwhelming grief. This prompted several Sandpoint High School students to form the Ten Seconds of Kindness movement, which aims to inspire selfless acts of generosity and secure help for students struggling with depression.

Several influential community members also died this year, some quite unexpectedly. In July, community activist, frequent political candidate and prolific volunteer Laura Bry passed away suddenly, prompting shock and sadness from local residents.

After a long and dynamic life, Dr. Forrest M. Bird died in August at 94 years old. The inventor of several lifesaving respiratory technologies and a legendary aviator, Bird’s death was noted by national media outlets across the country and drew a large crowd to the Bird Aviation Museum and Invention Center for his memorial service.

In a shocking and tragic turn of events, Pam Bird, the wife of Forrest Bird, died weeks later along with her friends Tookie and Don Hensley in a plane crash. An industrial adviser, advocate for inventors and a writer, Pam Bird was en route to visit family when her plane crashed on Round Top Mountain.

Local landmarks receive second life

On a happier note, 2015 also saw some beloved Sandpoint locations preserved for the future.

In June, the newly renovated Sandpoint Train Depot was formally dedicated for public use once again. The celebration

capped off a long construction process and an even longer negotiation with BNSF Railway and Amtrak, in which local officials and history enthusiasts fought to preserve the venerable depot. The result is an aesthetically pleasing and functional monument to Sandpoint’s history as a train town. Voters also approved a local option tax measure in November that will allow for improvements to Memorial Field and the reconstruction of its aged grandstands. The setting for innumerable athletic events, graduations and three decades of the Festival at Sandpoint, Memorial Field has seen more than few cherished memories spring up on its grounds. According to the city of Sandpoint, the five-year tax means that tradition will continue for future generations.

Predictions for the Future

It’s hard to predict the important news stories in the future, but we’ll give it a shot anyway. Just for luck, here’s our Reader crystal ball:

Elections

Magistrate judges Debra Heise and Lori Meulenberg will be on the ballot, and all precinct committeemen will be determined in the primary election. [CR]

New Approach Idaho

The Boise-based organization New Approach has been gathering signatures all year to support legalizing medical use of marijuana in Idaho.

The grassroots organization has already gathered the minimum number of signatures required for District 1, but are still working to gather the required total of 47,000 statewide to put the initiative on the bal-

The year 2016 will be a big one for Idaho elections. On the national level, Sen. Mike Crapo’s term is up, as are those of representatives Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson. In state elections, Idaho Supreme Court justices Jim Jones and Roger Burdick will be on the ballot, as will Court of Appeals Judge Molly Huskey. All three District 1 legislators—Sen. Shawn Keough, Rep. Heather Scott and Rep. Sage Dixon—have seats up for election.

The county elections will see Bonner County commissioners Todd Sudick and Cary Kelly’s seats open for election. Bonner County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler and Bonner County Prosecutor Louis Marshall’s offices will also be on the line.

lot. If they succeed, voters will have the chance to usher Idaho in as the next state to legalize medicinal usage of cannabis.

Currently 23 states in the nation allow medicinal usage of cannabis, while Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Alaska and Washington D.C. currently allow recreational use of marijuana. [BO]

Downtown streets will switch back to two-way

It’s almost a daily occurrence to see an out-of-town license plate driving the wrong way down a one-way street.

For some of you out there,

Those we lost in 2015

Sandpoint has always been a city of one-way streets. For those a little longer in the tooth, they remember how the city used to have two-way traffic along the downtown corridor.

In the fall of 2016, the change to two-way traffic in the downtown corridor will certainly affect daily life in Sandpoint.

Cedar, First, Fifth and Pine will all go from one- to twoway traffic, perhaps making possible the first time in recent history a situation where locals drive worse than tourists.

Community activist Laura Bry passed away suddenly in July. In a Facebook post just days before her death she wrote, “I came here to raise a son in a small town that had copious natural beauty and recreation. I have had opportunities to leave, to make more money, to live in a more progressive community. I stay here because of my original reasons and because I live with the most good-hearted, generous people I have ever known.”

treasure.

2015 FILMS IN REVIEW Top 5 Films of 2015

By Chris Balboni Reader Film Contributor

It’s just after Christmas and I have yet to see “The Force Awakens” because, despite my being a huge fan of “Star Wars” since childhood, there are roughly zero theaters in the wild world of small-town Montana where my holiday fun was located. There. Now that we have that out of the way, here are what I consider to be the best films that 2015 had to offer:

5. “Ex Machina”

A computer programmer is invited to view the world’s first artificial intelligence in the form of an android created by his billionaire employer. “Ex Machina” asks heavy questions about what it means to be alive and selfaware, making no conceits and holding no hands along the way. Combined with a minimalist approach to set design and characters (there are essentially three in the entire film), “Ex Machina” ends up being an incredibly satisfying character drama steeped in science and philosophy, and one of the most thought-provoking science fiction films in recent memory.

4. “It Follows”

Something stalks you. It appears human, but isn’t. It moves slowly, and you can get away, but it never stops coming for you. What makes “It Follows” one of the best films of the year isn’t that premise, but the execution. It is utterly drenched in atmosphere and relies on an endless sense of dread rather than a series of scary moments (though there are several of those), a task accomplished by using almost entirely wide angles and long takes that never fail to make you wonder “Is that ‘it’ back there? Is it getting closer?” With a gorgeous soundtrack and a surprisingly talented cast of unknowns, this is psychological horror at its finest.

3. “Inside Out”

“Inside Out” tackles the topic of human emotions by making them anthropomorphic characters living inside an 11-year-old girl’s head as she struggles with moving to a new city. Making topics of psychology into a film enjoyable for all ages sounds impossible, yet Pixar

wildly succeeds. More than just turning abstract issues like joy and sadness into likeable characters, “Inside Out” makes them protagonists in a story about the loss of childhood innocence that just about anyone can relate to.

2. “The Martian”

“The Martian” is without a doubt the best science fiction film of the year, and possibly of the last ten. Between Matt Damon’s spot-on, intense-yet-humorous portrayal of astronaut Mark Whatney (left for dead on Mars after a botched expedition) and the script’s steadfast adherence to real science, we’re left with a compelling drama set on another planet that is absolutely believable and enthralling from start to finish.

1. “Mad Max: Fury Road”

There is nothing like “Fury Road,” not this year or any year. The original “Mad Max” trilogy pales in compar-

ison, as does every other attempt at an action film this year (looking at you, “Age of Ultron” and “Jurassic World”). It’s a lean and fast film with no excess; every scene is paramount, every shot crammed with details about the exceedingly bizarre, steam-punk western world that never stops moving and engulfs you for two straight hours. There’s little overt CGI and cleverly subdued performances from Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron, but what makes

“Mad Max” the best of the year is under the hood: Masked in the spectacle of modern action is a film about gender equality, a feat of filmmaking that never once feels heavy-handed. It’s the unlikely beating heart of a movie that also features a man in a onesie playing a flame-throwing guitar while strapped to a semi-truck barreling through the desert. “Mad Max” is a wild, intelligent ride that everyone should take.

nominee, as TRUMBO is filled with commanding performances.

a young Bedouin boy experiences a greatly hastened coming of age as he embarks on a perilous desert journey to guide a British officer to his secret destination

The Straight Poop: The quest for dog-friendly businesses in North Idaho

By Drake the Dog Reader Pet Columnist

Where am I taking my humans today? Here are some paws-up clues:

•Aficionados spend 2,555minutes waiting in line for this item annually.

•This product was originally chewed.

•Beethoven enjoyed this product daily and was extremely particular about its preparation. He insisted that this item contained exactly 60 units.

•This product is second only to oil, as the world’s most valuable commodity

•Annual global consumption is about 12 billion pounds.

•It’s a fruit!

•This product has over 850 flavor compounds.

•This business was the official host of the FIRST Yappy Hour, and the tradition continues every year.

•Frank Sinatra sang a song about it.

•The Mister and Missus have this product everyday, sometimes twice!

Paws up … anyone? Here’s three more:

1. Top three winner of America’s Best Coffee House Competition in Portland, 2015

2. 2016 and 2013 Good Food Awards winner, San Francisco

3. Home of my BFD, Roxy

You guessed it! Evans Brothers Coffee, located at 524 Church St. We open the door, and the smell of coffee is amazing—just like home. We are

greeted by Roxy, my BFD, the official shop dog, and brothers Rick and Randy Evans. Roxy is somewhat of a mystery; she may be part Shepherd, part Sheba Innu and part Yoda from “Star Wars.” Four years ago, Rick adopted her from the Panhandle Animal Shelter. She already had four or more owners (not her fault— dying, jail, etc). She visits with every customer, and is more comfortable at the shop than at home. She even has her bed here! We started our friendship rockin’ to KHQ’s Sean Owsley’s band, The Blue Mustangs at Oktoberfest, and now we enjoy coffee weekly in the Evans Brothers living room.

Evans Brothers’ passion is to bring the best and highest coffee to their customers daily. They recently added some dog day morning and afternoon comfortable leather chairs, sofa, tables, woodstove, and a coffee bar. Everyone is drinking amazing coffee, reading and conversing. It is so great to see so many of my four-footed friends in the local living room. I love this place in the summer too. We are able to enjoy the summer sun outside on the patio.

As the Missus and I talked to Rick, we learned the shop has been here for almost seven years. Rick and his brother Randy moved to Sandpoint to raise their families in a nurturing community, and Sandpoint offers the best of everything, including skiing.

Evans Brothers stands out among the rest of local coffee shops because they source exceptional raw beans. The owners want to know about the origin, the farmer, the cultivation, processing and storage. Randy and Rick are seeking relationships with producers who share their beliefs and passion for providing the best coffee. They will travel to faraway places in efforts to cultivate those relationships. And here’s the Straight Poop –Evans Brothers will be unveiling a new coffee

from Brazil soon!

Rick says, “Coffee is exciting because we get to be a part of the tremendous, impactful world of specialty coffee. It’s a fascinating business, connected to so many inspiring people, including not only our producer and importer partners but our customers as well. I enjoy every day at work. For example, we have learned to ‘cup’—a technique that involves slurping and spitting a tablespoon of coffee to analyze the aromas and flavor. This is similar to wine tasting. We will ‘cup’ countless samples before we purchase a single bag of coffee. Then we roast and ‘cup’ that coffee at the shop until we have created the optimal roast: a perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, body and aftertaste.”

I’m all into that slurping technique, as I have mastered the Evans Brothers water bowl! The team offers customer ‘cup’ demos, which are led by Randy and Daniel Gunter. Let’s go slurp!

Evans Brothers is my home away from home. These guys make dog lovers and their owners feel welcome. Coffee and dogs: What a winning combination! But wait, there’s more. Just as we were leaving, our friend John Hatcher, owner of EzyDog, brought us some coffee and some special news. Starting with this issue, all of our featured Straight Poop business owners will receive a new leash and collar for their ‘shop dog.’ EzyDog also provides each shelter dog with a collar when adopted. A pawliday for a safe 2016! Thank you EzyDog!

When you visit Evans Brothers, take time to smell the coffee, and:

1. Leashes and collars are optional—if you behave.

2. Slurpping ‘a cupa’ is ok.

3. Relax on the rug by the woodstove.

4. Share treats with Roxy.

5. Do not interfere with the non-dog owners enjoying their coffee experience.

6. Take some coffee home for your friends and family

7. Coming soon—grain free dog treats.

YUM MO!

Look for the PAW sticker in the

window of the following dog friendly businesses:

•Cedar St. Bistro

•Sunshine Goldmine Company

•The Alpine Shop

(Sandpoint and Schweitzer Mtn.)

•Flying Fish Co.

•Taylor and Sons Chevrolet

•Eve’s Leaves

•Evans Brothers Coffee ... and more on the way!

Dance classes offered

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

Have you ever wanted to learn how to dance? It’s easier than you think, folks.

Diane Peters has announced her January dance schedule, which includes instruction of both Salsa and Country TwoStep.

The classes will be offered during the month of January, every Monday and Thursday night at Sandpoint West Athletic Club (SWAC).

Mondays, Peters will be teaching Salsa. The fun dance features hot, fun, easy footwork and great lead and follow patterns to learn. Classes will be held on Jan. 4, 11, 18 and 25 at 7 p.m.

Thursdays are for the Country Two-Step, a fun, feel-good dance that gives a nice, gentle aerobic workout. It’s fun even if you don’t particularly like country music. Classes wil be held on

Jan. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 7 p.m.

Members of SWAC receive a discount, but membership is not required to attend the dance classes.

To register, please call SWAC at 263-6633 and indicate which dance you’d like to attend. Sign up for a whole month’s worth of dances, or attend just one class.

Peters is also available for private instruction for a number of different dance styles.

2015 Albums of the year

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

“Carrie and Lowell” by Sufjan Stevens

Every now and then, a piece of art sneaks up on you and sucker punches you right in the emotional core. You get the feeling it was made specifically for you. A few years back, I experienced this with the graphic novel “Blankets.” I felt it again with Terrence Malick’s film “The Tree of Life.” Early this year, it happened a third time with Sufjan Stevens’ album “Carrie & Lowell.”

Both Ben and I are big Stevens fans and have written a few times about “Carrie & Lowell” in the Reader already. Perhaps that in itself is indicative of its enduring quality. A rumination on the death of his mother and the emotional and spiritual crises that followed, Stevens’ album is a vulnerable and frank

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

meditation on grief and despair.

It’s certainly not an album you’ll turn to for bouncy road trip music. But if you’re like me, you’ll find beauty in Stevens’ simple melodies and instrumentation, his incisive songwriting, his invocation of vivid childhood memories and, perhaps most of all, his bold honesty.

“I Love You, Honeybear” by Father John Misty

In his second studio album released after departing the critically acclaimed Fleetfloxes, Josh Tillman (aka “Father John Misty”) scored big with “I Love You, Honeybear.”

Tillman’s themes are at the same time universal and murky. His irony is thicker than hipster snot, as Tillman pokes just the perfect amount of fun at sacred cows like love and modern life dominated by social media. It’s as if “Honeybear” is the swan song of the American Dream.

Living in harmony with Tillman’s fantastic songwriting, his melodic sensibilities are as spot on as Father John Misty as they were in his time with the Fleetfoxes.

By Patrice Webb Reader Contributor

I really enjoy a song that forces me think about how it makes me feel. Especially in this modern era of overt bubble gum pop and too-serious indie folk, Tillman’s balance between sadness, ridiculousness and intimacy is spot on.

“Strangers Again” by Judy Collins

I am a child of the ‘60s, so when a ‘60s icon comes out with a new album, I am first in line to give it a listen. Enter Judy Collins, perhaps one of the classiest of the singers of the ‘60s folk rock era with her new release “Strangers Again.” This album of duets features the talents of Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Don McClean and Jimmy Buffett. It transports to a time and place when folk music meant melodies with meaningful lyrics.

Collins has impeccable taste in not only her choices of songs but also in how she chooses to perform them. Her duet with Willie Nelson on the late songwriter Dave Carter’s “When I Go” is one of the standouts of the CD, pairing of Nelson’s world-weary voice

New Years' Eve Music Line-up

The New Years’ Bash at the Hive with the London Souls

This rock duo has been making a huge splash on the scene since their formation in 2008, with music that reminds you of Led Zeppelin, Cream and the White Stripes. Not only is the music great, but the venue is guaranteed to please with a great party atmosphere. The best part is, the show is a fundraiser for the Angels Over Sandpoint. Tickets $40, with VIP booths available. The doors open at 9 p.m. and the show starts at 10 p.m. Check out www.LiveFromTheHive.com for more information.

Tennis at MickDuff’s Beer Hall

The three-piece dance band will be rocking the house at the Beer Hall starting at 9 p.m. Tickets at the door are $10 while space is still available. Tennis has been playing music in Sandpoint for 10 years, and have been well-known for their fun, catchy originals and spot-on covers. Call (208) 209-6700 for more information.

Schweitzer rings in the New Year

The Stella party is held at the Lakeview Lodge and features live music with The Rub—North Idaho’s favorite party band—plus drink specials, free late-night snacks, party favors and a special cider toast at midnight

The Flying Dookie Brothers at Eichardt’s Party with rock band The Flying Dookie Brothers at Eichardt’s, with openers Shiny Jim starting at 7:30 p.m. Call (208) 263-4005 for more information.

The Divided Side at Roxy’s Bar

Celebrate a dive bar new year with The Divided Side with special guest Tipsy.

DJ Cakebread at Niner

Come down to your favorite five star dive bar and listen to DJ Cakebread spin some tunes.

This week’s RLW by Cameron Rasmusson

against Collin’s more pristine soprano. Another standout is the stately “Belfast to Boston,” a duet with Marc Cohn that is sung with a heartbreaking tenderness. Tracks such as “Bring in the Clowns” and “Someday Soon” are well-trodden ground for this singer but shine nonetheless.

“Strangers Again” proves for me that ‘60s folk can still shine.

READ LISTEN

What characteristic helped homo sapiens become the dominant species on the planet? That’s the question behind “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari, who offers theories that could reshape the way you view human history. The book’s central idea is that our ability to collectively believe in fictions—imagined ideological, economic or political realities—gave us the edge for mobi lization and cooperation. Both comprehensive and accessible, “Sapiens” is a sweeping and intellectually heady work.

I’m excited for the Jan. 22 release of “Jet Plane and Oxbow,” the latest album from one of my favorite bands, Shearwater. To make the wait less painful, I’ve been listening to the band’s past albums. The 2008 release “Rook” still strikes me as Shearwater’s best work. It’s an album that alternately whispers and roars, carried by the powerful voice of band frontman Jonathan Meiburg.

WATCH

Between documentaries like “The Jinx” and podcasts like “Serial,” this has been a big year for the true crime nonfiction genre. The 10-episode Netflix documentary series “Making a Murderer” entered the fray this month with the fascinating story of Steven Avery, a man imprisoned and later exonerated for sexual assault. When a body turns up on his family property after his release, Avery is yet again arrested and charged with murder. Take my word for it: This stranger-than-fiction documentary series will enthrall and perplex you.

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 J.C. Penney store on Cedar Street at the corner of First Avenue. The woman second from the right is Nellie Powell

The same view today. The building is the former site of Snow River (now with a great Carabou mural on the west side of the wall). Storm Sports consignment store is to the right.

CROSSWORD

ACROSS

Competent

Religious splinter group

Typeface

Perch

Operatic solo

Visage

Aroused

Adolescent

Sound of contempt

Youths with shaved heads

Hotfooted

Besmirch

27. Be uncomfortably hot

30. Not these or those 33. Lurched

35. Mountain crest

Citrus drink

Aqualung

Spy agency

A forehead dot

Bettors

Smells

Get worse

Hops

Nothing (British)

Paving material

Tattles

Humdinger

Wear away

Corrections: Nothing to report. Go have a glass of champagne and stop trying to find mistakes! 1. Twin sister of Ares

Anagram of “Sage”

Wall uprights

Solution on page 17

68. Generous slice of the pie

Where a bird lives

Cease

Views

A soft sheepskin leather

Unable to express

Germless

Genus of macaws

Fronts of ships

Glances

Inuit

Meal provider

Component of urine DOWN

11. Misled 12. Bronzes 15. Basic belief 21. French for “Head” 23. Laugh 25. Lairs

27. Anagram of “Cabs” 28. Gulleys 29. Record (abbrev.) 31. Container

Mixes 34. Excavated 36. Convenience 39. Tavern

40. Ends a prayer 43. Repel

44. Writing fluids

46. An indistinct shapeless form 47. Anarchical

49. Toys with tails 50. Athletics

53. Muzzle

55. Custard dessert 56. Olympic sled 57. Beers

58. Cocoyam

60. Scottish hillside 61. U-boats 64. Clairvoyant’s gift

In the first castles, I bet a common mistake was putting the torture room next to the master bedroom. Boy, you’re just not going to get the good sleep that way.