“Junk Drawers” and “Back of the Books” are particularly difficult to write because not only are we supposed to be witty and insightful, but we’re also meant to talk about ourselves. I am an incredibly boring person. I don’t do much, and what I do do is rarely worth writing about, so I keep a running list on my phone of random ideas that might be worthy of the paper. The trouble is I usually write down one or two words that make sense at that moment but are utterly meaningless to me when I reread them. Case in point, I’ve been wracking my brain trying to figure out what I meant by writing down “Necco Wafers.” I have never eaten, let alone seen, the SweeTARTS-like confection, though, apparently, they have a long and interesting history to counterbalance the boring candy itself. Invented in 1847 by the creator of the first lozenge cutter, Oliver Chase, the wafers are the oldest American candy still in production (though not continually produced — that title goes to Good & Plenty). Soldiers ate them during the American Civil War and World War II, and explorer Donald MacMillan even carried them throughout his journeys in the Arctic, handing them out to random Inuit kids he came across. Clove-flavored cardboard wouldn’t be my first choice for a sweet treat, but if you have nothing similar to compare it to, I suppose it would taste pretty good. Thank you, Necco Wafers, for paving the way for modern candies. May your chalky texture never assault my tongue.
On a more bitter note…
People always ask me — with varying degrees of politeness — how they can get members of my generation to engage with local politics and volunteer organizations. I answer that question with another question: “How many people from ‘my generation’ do you see in Sandpoint?” Gen Z cannot afford to live in what has essentially become an upper-class retirement community. The cheapest places to rent are $1,200 a month for a basement studio apartment or $800 a month for a “private room” in somebody’s house. The rest of my generation live with their parents because they’re still in middle and high school. Do not come to me with disdain and entitlement and cast aspersions against Gen Z. I guarantee you, my peers are very involved in the cities where they actually live. Those of us in Sandpoint who are adults do what we can, and the rest are literal children who should not have to carry the weight of previous generations’ mistakes on their shoulders. Yes, kids should help to make the world better, but that does not mean it should be normal to steal their childhoods and force them to beg and fight for basic human rights. Malala Yousafzai and Greta Thunberg’s experiences should not be normal. If you’ve got a nice retirement fund and a house downtown that lets you attend every protest in Sandpoint, yippy for you, stop trying to create child soldiers and start actually fixing the society you’ve broken.
DEAR READERS,
Welcome to the 48th annual ArtWalk in Sandpoint. This is one of those events that showcases not only our amazing area artists, but also the organizations, businesses and locals who support them.
Check Page 19 for a full rundown of the event, including a map and list of participating venues.
Meanwhile, the lake is almost at full summer pool and the days are growing hot. In just over a week, it’ll officially be summertime in North Idaho. It’s hard to say goodbye to such a wonderful spring; but, when you live in a region that experiences all four seasons, sometimes you’re ready for them to end and other times you’d rather they stick around a while longer.
Either way, nothing we say or do about it matters in the slightest, so you’d better just sit back, kick up your feet and enjoy the ride while it lasts. Happy days to you.
– Ben Olson, publisher
111 Cedar Street, Suite 9 Sandpoint, ID 83864 208-946-4368 sandpointreader.com
Contributing Artists: Jenni Barry (cover), Patrick Lair, Michael Seifert, Ben Olson, Bill Borders
Contributing Writers: Zach Hagadone, Ben Olson, Soncirey Mitchell, Lorraine H. Marie, Brenden Bobby, Marcia Pilgeram, Clark Corbin, Paul Cunningham, Patrick Riceci, Lauren Necochea
Submit Stories To: stories@sandpointreader.com
Printed Weekly At: Tribune Publishing Co. Lewiston, ID
Subscription Price: $185 per year
Website Designed By: Keokee
The Sandpoint Reader is a weekly publication owned by Ben Olson and Keokee. It is devoted to the arts, entertainment, bluster, politics and lifestyle in and around Sandpoint, Idaho.
We hope to provide a quality alternative by offering honest, in-depth reporting that reflects the intelligence and interests of our diverse and growing community.
The Reader is printed on recycled paper using soy-based ink. Leftover copies are collected and recycled weekly, or burned in bonfires to appease the gods of journalism. For back issues, contact the publisher. Free to all, limit two per person, please.
Letter to the Editor Policy:
We welcome letters to the editor on all relavant topics. Please, no more than 300 words, no excessive profanity or libelous statements and no trolls. Please elevate the discussion and stay on topic. Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinons expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publisher. Send to: letters@sandpointreader.com
About the Cover:
This week’s cover was painted by Jenni Barry, POAC’s Artist of the Year.
Petition calls for return of staffing at Careywood fire station
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
Less than a month after the May 2025 election, in which local voters rejected a range of area fire district levies, some Sagle residents are gathering signatures for a petition demanding the return of firefighters to the Careywood station, which has been left without staff.
Dated June 6, the petition — posted at change.org/CareywoodFire — states: “As of this morning, Careywood is without local fire service. Following the
failure of the recent levy, the fire chief made the decision to remove our firefighters from the Careywood station, with the approval of the Selkirk Fire District Commissioners.”
Selkirk Fire Chief Jeff Armstrong — who leads the Northside, Sagle and Westside fire districts — announced on May 21 that paid staff in Careywood would be taken off the job around the beginning of June, enabling the fire service to save “a substantial amount in overtime and personnel costs,” with those funds “shifted immediately to
the maintenance of our aging fleet, fire station repairs and equipment replacement.”
The Sagle Fire District levy on the May ballot asked for a permanent increase for an override of $750,000, resulting in a tax increase to $122 per year per $100,000 of taxable value. Voters in the district rejected the levy by a margin of 62.84% to 37.16%, with 1,253 against and 741 in favor. As of June 11, the petition had gathered 133 verified signatures.
“This decision has left our community without direct, local emergency response,” the
petition stated. “In rural areas like ours, response times are everything, and removing our local team puts lives, homes, and property at higher risk.
“We understand that budget challenges exist. But removing our fire protection should never be the solution,” the petition added. “Careywood residents deserve safety, transparency, and a voice in decisions that affect our survival in emergencies.”
Supporters of the petition called on Selkirk Fire District commissioners to:
• Reinstate local fire coverage at the Careywood station;
• Involve the community in future planning and funding efforts;
• Prioritize rural response coverage in all operational decisions.
“These firefighters were more than a service,” the petition stated. “They were our neighbors, our lifeline and our peace of mind. Careywood deserves better.”
Idaho State Police partners with ICE to deport unauthorized inmates
By Clark Corbin Reader Staff
Idaho State Police have entered into a partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, to transport immigrants who are convicted of a crime and are not authorized to be in the U.S. to ICE detention centers for deportation, state officials announced June 5.
Idaho will participate in the jail enforcement model under the 287(g) program, which allows ICE to delegate specific immigration officer functions to state and local law enforcement officers, according to a news release from Gov. Brad Little’s office.
State officials said Idaho State Police will only be targeting and transporting people who have been convicted of a crime and are finishing their incarceration sentence. Instead of releasing the inmates to the community after they complete their sentence, they will be directly transported to ICE facilities in Idaho for detention, state officials said.
“Idaho is stepping up to help the Trump administration transport dangerous illegal alien criminals to ICE facilities instead of being released back into our communities,” Little said in a written statement. “These are people who have committed crimes such
as domestic violence, robbery, driving under the influence and other dangerous activities that threaten Idaho families. Idaho has taken many steps to increase our coordination with the Trump administration in the enforcement of our nation’s immigration laws, and I want to further strengthen our state’s partnership with President Trump to help address the national emergency posed by years of reckless border policies under the Biden-Harris administration.”
[Editor’s note: According to multiple media sources, Trump formally endorsed Little for a third term as governor on June 10, posting on Truth Social: “Brad Little is the strong and highly popular Governor of Idaho. … Brad Little has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!” Trump’s endorsement comes about a year before the GOP primary. Little posted June 10 on X: “It is an honor to have the support of President @realDonaldTrump. Idaho will continue leading the fight to Make America Great Again!”]
In a written statement released late on June 5, ACLU of Idaho officials expressed concern with the partnership.
“ICE and local law enforcement partnerships deteriorate trust, harm families and can lead to constitutional violations,” ACLU of Idaho Executive Director Leo
Morales said in a written statement. “This new partnership will intimidate and cause real trauma to our immigrant community. Immigrants make our communities stronger, and they deserve to be treated with dignity. Nothing will ever change the fact that immigrants belong in Idaho.”
ISP seeks funding to transport immigrants to deportation facilities
Idaho State Police is seeking $300,000 in funding to pay for the transports, state officials said. The money would be used to provide up to 100 transports from Idaho jails or prisons to ICE facilities for deportation, such as the Jefferson County Detention Center in Rigby, state officials said.
Idaho State Police will not be able to carry out any ICE transfers until the Idaho State Board of Examiners approves the funding request.
“I’m really encouraged to see Idaho making its communities safer by signing on with our 287(g) program,” acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said in a written statement. “You have to remember that we’re talking about criminals — and often, they won’t take an arrest sitting down — so when local jails are allowed to turn them over to ICE in a safe setting, we don’t need to send dozens of federal law enforcement officers into
the public to make arrests. Partnerships like this one keep offenders out of communities and protect our families, friends and neighbors.”
The new ISP/ICE partnership essentially implements the transport aspects of House Bill 83, a Texas-style immigration bill that the Idaho Legislature passed and Little signed into law earlier this year.
However, a judge temporarily blocked H.B. 83 from taking effect in March after the ACLU of Idaho filed a lawsuit against the state, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported.
Under the 287(g) program, ICE is allowed to partner with local law enforcement agencies and the state does not need to resolve the legal challenge over H.B. 83 before moving ahead with transporting people convicted of a crime to ICE detention centers for deportation, state officials said.
Earlier this year, Little also issued an executive order that
called for state agencies to continue collaborating with ICE and called on state agencies to consider formal procedures to assist with the enforcement of immigration law.
ISP officials began discussing the partnership with ICE after Little issued the executive order in February, state officials said.
It was not exactly clear how many people convicted of a crime in Idaho would be subject to transfer to ICE facilities for deportation under Idaho’s new partnership. However, state officials used the term “hundreds” several times and said that each of the up to 100 transports to ICE facilities would include multiple people.
This story was produced by Boise-based nonprofit news outlet the Idaho Capital Sun, which is part of the States Newsroom nationwide reporting project. For more information, visit idahocapitalsun.com.
Photo courtesy of the Idaho Governor’s Office
Selkirk Loop Board calls for ‘swift resolution’ to U.S.-Canada trade war
Board chair: ‘Our region thrives on the friendships and economic ties that span both sides of the border’
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
As the fallout from President Donald Trump’s tariff policies continues to reverberate in markets around the world, closer to home the International Selkirk Loop Board of Directors issued an open letter June 6 “emphasizing the critical importance of cross-border tourism and urging policymakers to reach a swift resolution on any trade discussions that could negatively impact the economies of communities along the U.S.-Canada border.”
Trump sparked outrage across the nation’s neighbor to the north and longtime ally first with rhetoric about Canada becoming the “51st state,” then with 25% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods. That was in February. In March, then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed to reciprocate with 25% tariffs on U.S. imports and urged his fellow citizens to buy Canadian.
By April, news outlets — including the Reader — were reporting that border crossings had reached a low not seen since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to figures cited by Canada-based CTV News in April, the number of Canadians crossing the border into the U.S. fell 900,000 from March 2024. Crossings by passenger vehicles and pedestrians had fallen about 26% — the lowest recorded since 2022.
Data specific to the Eastport and Porthill border stations, in Boundary County, indicated that there were between 23,000 and 24,000 monthly crossings from Canada between November 2024 and January 2025. However, that number fell to 19,100 in February, for a 12.4% decrease year over year and a 17% decline from January to February.
Relations between the U.S. and Canada have not improved since then, with Trump most recently announcing that tariffs
on Canadian steel and aluminum would rise to 50%, while sales of Canadian-made vehicles fell by nearly 23% in April, according to The New York Times.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who won the federal election in April, called those moves “unjustified and unlawful,” the BBC reported June 2.
In a story on the souring cross-border relationship published April 17 in the Reader, two Creston, B.C. residents said that they would be skipping their annual visits to Schweitzer “nor even crossing the border,” they wrote in a letter sent to Sandpoint Mayor Jeremy Grimm in February and shared with the Reader. They credited that decision to “the threats to the sovereignty of Canada from your president.”
“That ‘51st state’ stuff was just over the top,” said Nancy, who asked that her last name be withheld.
“It was a heartbreaking decision, but an easy decision,” she later added. “Country first.”
Another Creston area resident, named Mike, who also asked that his last name be
omitted, swore never to travel to the U.S. again and committed not to buy U.S.-made products.
“For your readers, to make it especially clear, the tariffs were hurtful, but the real issue is when your president said he was going to break our economy and make us into the 51st state,” Mike told the Reader “That crosses a huge line in Canada. I don’t think I’m ever going back.”
The International Selkirk Loop is a nonprofit tourism marketing association that extends across the border to include communities in northeast Washington, North Idaho and
the West Kootenays, in British Columbia. Towns connected by the 280-mile scenic driving loop range from Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint; to Metaline Falls and Newport, Wash.; and Creston, Nelson and Salmo, B.C. — “all of which rely on seamless cross-border travel to support tourism, small businesses and cultural exchange,” the Selkirk Loop Board of Directors stated in a June 6 announcement of the letter, which was sent to Idaho and Washington congressional members, as well as the member of Parliament representing the West Kootenays.
“Our region thrives on the
friendships and economic ties that span both sides of the border,” stated Board Chair Carla Ahern. “For generations, our communities have welcomed visitors from both nations, fostering not just economic prosperity but also the deep sense of kinship that has defined U.S.-Canada relations for over 200 years.”
In addition to finding a “swift and beneficial resolution” to the trade war for the protection of small businesses reliant on cross-border tourism, the board also called for “ongoing dialogue between government leaders, tourism stakeholders and local businesses to protect and enhance the economic and cultural relationships that sustain the region.”
“The economic well-being of our border communities depends on an open and cooperative relationship between our two countries,” Ahern added. “Trade disputes and travel restrictions threaten not only our businesses but also the generations of good-neighborly trust and collaboration that have existed here for centuries.”
Sandpoint P.D. Captain Rick Bailey announces retirement
By Reader Staff
Sandpoint Police Captain
Rick Bailey will mark the end of a 36-year career in law enforcement with a retirement celebration Monday, June 16 from 4-6 p.m. at Sandpoint City Hall (1123 Lake St.). Bailey began his service with six years with the Bonner County Sheriff, followed by 30 years with SPD. During that time, Bailey filled a variety of roles as a leader and mentor. As a field training officer, Bailey contributed to shaping the next generation of officers, while his expertise as a firearms instructor helped ensure officers were proficient and confident in their abilities.
He later rose to the rank of patrol sergeant then captain.
“Captain Bailey’s unwavering dedication to the community and the development of fellow officers has left an indelible mark on both the Sandpoint Police Department and the residents he served so faithfully,” Sandpoint officials stated in a news release. “His leadership and mentorship have inspired countless individuals, fostering a culture of excellence within the department.
“As he prepares to embrace this new chapter of his life, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Captain Bailey for his extraordinary years of service,” they added. “Let us all come together to express our grati-
tude and wish him abundant happiness and fulfillment in his well-deserved retirement.”
An international border crossing between Canada and the United States. Courtesy photo
Sandpoint Police Captain Rick Bailey will retire June 16. Courtesy photo
Green Bay Campground remains closed for overnight use until host in place
Site is open for day use after renovations
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
The ever-popular Green Bay Campground still has yet to open for overnight camping after it was closed for the entirety of the 2024 season due to renovations.
“We don’t currently have a district ranger for the Sandpoint Ranger District,” USFS Public Affairs Officer Patrick Lair told the Reader. “We’ve gotten a lot of calls about the Green Bay Campground because it’s so popular and such a beautiful spot. ... The one thing we’re still waiting on and the reason we haven’t opened yet is we’re trying to get a campground host in place. As soon as the host is in place, we can reopen for the season.”
In 2024, after complaints about the condition of Green Bay, the USFS closed the campground on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille for a renovation project that saw several changes to the site. Crews repaved a road into the campground, as well as installed an enlarged parking area to accommodate more space for turning around. The campground expanded from 12 to 17 sites, adding in new concrete restrooms and a full-time campground host to manage the campsites now available by reservation only on recre-
Bits ’n’ Pieces From
east, west and beyond
According to recent media reports, the rift between President Donald Trump and ultra-wealthy Elon Musk began with Musk calling Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” “insane.” To ensure tax cuts for the wealthiest, it’s expected to add $2.4 trillion to the national debt and deprive 10 million people of health care. In addition, Musk warned that Trump’s trade policies would cause a recession He’s proposed backing a third party to fire politicians “who betrayed the American people” in following Trump’s lead. Musk’s comments prompted Republican lawmakers to anonymously deride Musk. Some surmised Musk’s vehement discontent was due to the budget bill’s impact on his businesses
He’s “lost his mind,” Trump said of Musk; and, if Musk funds Democrats to run against Republicans who voted for Trump’s bill, Musk will “pay very serious consequences.” Trump ally Steve Bannon suggested Musk be deported “immediately.” Russia’s Vladimir Putin has offered Musk asylum.
ation.gov.
The project was made possible by funding from the Great American Outdoors Act — a five-year project approved by Congress that aims to make a substantial investment in the protection and maintenance of public lands until funding runs out this year.
Lair said everything is in place to open except for the campground host in place leaving the site closed for overnight use.
“We did an outreach on Facebook a couple of weeks ago and there was an overwhelming response from lots of people,” he said.
Once USFS staff can sort through the applicants and choose the right one, the campground will open for overnight reservations, Lair said.
“That’s really the issue — that last piece of getting the campground host in place,” he said.
However, Lair did confirm that Green Bay is open for day-use.
“We did have a closure in place while contractors were still in there doing the work, moving in the giant concrete toilets,” he said, but that closure has now been rescinded.
“We hope to have a campground host identified shortly and make an announcement when reservations become available on recreation.gov,” Lair said.
Recent Trump pardons included those convicted of fraud and bribery, failure to pay $10 million in taxes, fraud and conspiracy to commit tax evasion, and a man with six life sentences, various media reported.
As nationwide news outlets have reported, protesters primarily located in several blocks of downtown Los Angeles have opposed a federal immigration sweep of workplaces, triggered by the Trump administration ignoring due process for detainees, and Trump’s defiance of court orders regarding immigrants.
As of June 7, the L.A. Police Department reported that demonstrations were mostly peaceful, but that seemed to shift with the arrival of federalized National Guard troops, then the Marines, ordered to the city by Trump. According to Axios, Trump appears eager to invoke the Insurrection Act, which would expand what soldiers can do beyond providing protection for federal personnel and property. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass accused Trump of escalating protest tensions for political gain. Right-wing organization Turning Point USA indicated that repetitions of media shots of L.A. unrest — regarded by onsite witnesses as misrepresentative — are good marketing for border control funding and immigration measures in Trump’s budget proposal.
Protesters have objected to being joined by what LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell called regular agitators who aim to cause trouble.
By Lorraine H. Marie Reader Contributor
Axios reported that some protesters blocked a major freeway, threw rocks at authorities and torched four self-driving cars. Crowd control included tear gas, rubber bullets and flash-bang grenades. Newsom called Trump’s military deployment “unlawful” and has filed suit. He also called for protesters not to satisfy Trump’s desire for trouble. Trump claimed his actions were warranted because there was a danger of rebellion or a “rebellion against the authority of the government of the United States.”
It makes sense that Trump would call in the National Guard, columnist and former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich stated: Trump wants to demonstrate power after his tariff plans were halted; his billionaire backer turned against him, and his budget bill faces congressional opposition. Federal courts in May ruled against Trump in 26 of 27 cases. Reich described Trump’s reliance on uniformed power as “the first stages of Trump’s police state,” which can be turned “on anyone.”
Reich listed five steps for building a police state: Declare an emergency based on allegations of rebellion, insurrection or invasion; the “emergency” brings federal agents to be used against civilians; militarized agents are allowed to make “dragnet abductions,” warrantless arrests and detain people without due process; more detention space is created; and with escalation or resistance comes martial law.
There are two primary ways to oppose a pending police state, Reich said: federal courts and “broad-based peaceful protests,” such as “No Kings Day,” Saturday, June 14, which occurs on Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.
Citing a sample of historical political movements, Harvard political scientist Erica Chenowith referred to the “3.5% rule,” which indicates that a government is unlikely to withstand 3.5% of its population mobilizing against its policies in a non-violent way during a “peak event.” Her research found non-violence to be twice as likely to achieve political goals, as compared to use of violence.
Those in the National Guard or active-duty military who believe they are being ordered to violate citizens’ constitutional rights can call the GI Rights Hotline: 877-447-4487.
Blast from the past: There is “confusion all around ... But I know ... only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars.” — Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader (1929-1968)
The view from the newly renovated campsites at Green Bay Campground.
Photo coutesy of Patrick Lair
Idaho needs independent veteran voices in government
By Paul Cunningham and Patrick Riceci Reader Contributors
Idaho is at a crossroads. Our state Legislature has become increasingly polarized, with partisanship often drowning out pragmatic problem-solving. It’s time for a new approach — one that draws on the leadership, service and integrity of a cadre of independent veterans willing to step into the political arena.
These efforts should not be confined to the Legislature, but should also include veterans’ participation in city council, school board, library district and highway district elections — all of which provide an opportunity for veterans to lead and problem-solve in their communities.
As a share of the population, Idaho has one of the highest numbers of veterans in the United States. Those vet-
erans bring something Idaho desperately needs at all levels of government: firsthand experience putting mission above ego, country above faction and teamwork above personal gain. They understand sacrifice, discipline and the importance of making hard choices for the greater good.
Imagine what a group of veterans — running as independents, free from the grip of party machines — could do for the people of Idaho, whether that is as a legislator, city council member, county commissioner or highway district commissioner.
These candidates would not be beholden to rigid platforms or state or national agendas. Instead, they would focus on local issues: improving access to affordable housing, strengthening education at the local level, supporting the transportation (including multimodal) needs of local communities, protecting farmland from urban encroachment and fostering economic
opportunity for all Idahoans. Their independence would allow them to work across party lines and rebuild the trust and civility so often missing from our various seats of government, including the Statehouse.
We need veterans not just as symbols of service, but as active leaders helping reshape Idaho’s political landscape. We call on veterans across the state to consider stepping up — not as Republicans or Democrats, but as principled independents ready to serve again, this time in the helm of government at all levels.
Idaho’s future deserves leaders who understand that loyalty belongs to the people, not the party. Let’s help make that future a reality.
Paul Cunningham served in the Navy from 1967 to 1971 and is a Vietnam combat veteran. Patrick Riceci served in the Army from 1968 to 1971 as a counterintelligence agent.
Bouquets:
• Here, this is all I got:
Barbs:
• There is a lot going on right now that requires a Barb, but I’ll try to focus this on Idaho to keep with our committment to local coverage. Gov. Brad Little is yet another one of the long line of bootlicking cowards who are bending to the will of President Donald Trump, who sent 2,000 National Guard troops and even 700 Marines to Los Angeles to quell the protests against ICE that have gotten out of hand (it’s funny, I don’t remember Trump sending the National Guard to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021; instead he watched as his supporters stormed the place and held violent clashes with police officers for 187 minutes before telling the mob to leave the Capitol, ultimately pardoning 1,500 of the offenders after his second term started).
Many states are recognizing the dangerous trajectory ICE (or U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is on right now, as masked officers in tactical gear continue to round up people for deportation, sometimes erroneously. However, Gov. Little ordered the Idaho State Police to take part in a joint venture with ICE to transport “illegal immigrants” housed in Idaho jails for “processing and deportation.” ISP is authorized to spend $300,000 to conduct up to 100 transports over the next year. The ACLU of Idaho responded by stating the partnership will, “intimidate and cause real trauma to our immigrant community,” also raising concerns over potential constitutional violations, “as state and local law enforcement are not prepared or equipped to enforce federal immigration law. ... Immigrants make our communities stronger, and they deserve to be treated with dignity.”
Thoughts on mortality and living the good life…
Dear editor,
Recently I learned of the passing of Loretta Swit, alias “Hot Lips Houllihan” of M*A*S*H fame. She was 87 years old. All of us of a certain age will always think of her as a 30-something Army nurse. She played many roles both before and after M*A*S*H — in TV, movies and regional theater. Her last role was in the movie, Play the Flute, in 2019.
I’m sure that most of us, as we age, will wonder what people will say after we pass. I think that Loretta Swit had the right idea when, in a newspaper interview in 2020 (with The Express, a London newspaper), she said, “I don’t think about the passage of time, just what I’m doing with it.”
We are all put on this Earth with an unknown amount of time to spend. How we use the time we are granted is a choice we all make. Some become enamored with the acquisition of “things,” using money to keep score. To them, that is how they measure success or position in their community.
My financial adviser of many years and a Sandpoint High School graduate told me he’d “never seen a U-Haul trailer behind a hearse! You can’t take it with you!” Another saying went something like this, “You know you’ve had a good life if your last-written check bounces.”
We should take each day as it comes and enjoy it for it may be your last. Remember: Life is what happens while you’re busy making plans.
Gil Beyer Sandpoint
Give politics a rest at family events…
Dear editor,
I attended a wonderful, family horse event at Wild Horse Equestrian Connections last Saturday. There were people aged 6 to adult performing with their well-behaved horses and pony rides for the kids. The horse show was followed by a barn dance with a dance lesson.
It was all fine and dandy, until I saw the dance instructor’s shirt, which had Trump and Vance on it wearing cowboy hats, stating: “The outlaw and the hillbilly cleaning up America one Liberal at a time.”
My wife and I did not attend the dance. Why bring politics into a non-political, family event? I get enough of that on a daily basis. It does not matter what the non-political event is — drag racing at Airway Heights, skiing at Schweitzer or the county fair — can we just be nice to each other and not wear mean shirts?
If we were to get rid of all the liberals in the U.S. we would lose more than 60 million people. Trump gets to pick?
Wayne Wasserburger Sandpoint
‘Not
wanted’...
Dear editor, Donald Trump is the President of Hate. His attitude is, “If you don’t believe the way I do, then you don’t belong in the U.S.” He initiated the invasion of L.A. and
other cities (gee, could it be because they’re “blue” states?).
His inability to think before he acts is just plain wrong. He initiated the confrontations in L.A., then has the audacity to claim that these were paid insurrectionists from the left. More likely, they are paid by Trump’s group of felons that have been pardoned by Trump for such illegal actions as: murder, embezzlement, bribery and much more, but if they pledge their fealty to Trump, he pardons them.
Our president is a divisive, egotistical jerk who would like to do nothing short of declaring martial law, so he can claim the right to jail anyone who doesn’t agree with him. Trump is not presidential material — he’s more like the bully in the sandbox throwing dirt clods (with rocks inside) at any of the other kids who aren’t on his side.
Can anyone in Congress, say, impeach him for continually violating our Constitution and Bill of Rights? Stand up Congress and the judicial branches of government and do your jobs that you swore an oath to protect.
Michael Harmelin Sandpoint
Republican politicians talk tough — when it matters, they chicken out
By Lauren Necochea Reader Contributor
It takes real strength to fight for the people you serve. But today’s Republican Party has abandoned that idea completely. From Washington to Boise, they’ve replaced courage with performance, loud declarations of “toughness” that vanish when real leadership is required. Too afraid to step out of line, they cast votes that leave Idaho worse off.
Take Gov. Brad Little. He used to oppose school voucher schemes. But once out-of-state special interests started pouring enough money into Idaho elections, he changed his tune. He tried to hedge, offering tepid support with “parameters.” But when a reckless, unaccountable voucher bill reached his desk, he signed it.
He warned Idahoans that the state budget was stretched thin and urged lawmakers to proceed with caution.
Days later, he turned around and celebrated permanent tax cuts three times deeper than he said we could afford. He knew it was irresponsible, but went along with it anyway to stay on the right side of party insiders.
Then came the House budget, packed with devastating cuts to Medicaid and food assistance. Little initially opposed it, admitting it would hurt Idaho families. But almost immediately, he flipped and endorsed it.
And what’s in that House budget? The largest handout to the ultra-rich in a generation. A greenlight for unchecked artificial intelligence at the expense of American workers. Provisions designed to help the Trump regime ignore court orders, including one that blocks his job-killing tariffs.
Some Republicans claim they didn’t know what was in the bill. That’s a lie. They would have voted for the dumpster fire of a budget anyway, because they’re terrified of stepping out of line.
Republicans in the Statehouse are just as spineless. Terrified of being targeted by far-right PACs, they let kids go hungry during the summer and working families lose the child care access they need to stay on the job. They chase headlines with out-of-state culture war bills instead of ensuring that a full day’s work in Idaho means you can put food on the table.
The power behind today’s Republican Party is built on fear. Fear of
backlash. Fear of primary challengers. Fear of telling the truth.
But fear is not leadership.
Real strength looks like every Idaho Democrat in the Legislature, outnumbered, who still stands up to say: This is wrong, and we will fight like hell to change it. And no amount of smear campaigns from political operatives in Texas or Florida will change that.
Idahoans deserve leaders who show up, speak hard truths and fight for the people who sent them there. That’s the kind of leadership Idaho Democrats bring to the table.
The tough talkers have had their chance. Now it’s time for leaders with real backbone.
Lauren Necochea is chair of the Idaho Democratic Party and a former District 19 legislator. Necochea spent a decade leading nonprofit programs dedicated to research and advocacy in tax policy, health care and children’s issues.
Lauren Necochea. File photo
Science: Mad about
jigsaw puzzles
By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist
Jigsaw puzzles are a staple of every grandmother’s house — but have you ever thought of the science and engineering that goes into a puzzle?
Puzzles are a staple of human experience, an intense mental exercise that helps keep our brains sharp through practicing logic through trial and error as well as pattern recognition and memory.
A puzzle, while frustrating in the moment, carries with it several benefits. Completing sections of a puzzle offers hits of dopamine, like scrolling through social media feeds on your phone. Unlike your feed, working on puzzles provides myriad other benefits for your brain. A puzzle is like eating fruit, while social media is a lot like eating popcorn — it’s like reading a book vs. watching TikTok.
Working on a puzzle makes your brain adapt to its current situation. As you recognize shapes, patterns and colors, your brain realizes it may need to do this more often and adapt accordingly. This has the added side effect of increasing your brain’s processing speed and mental acuity, especially when performing these actions for long periods of time over several days.
This also builds your brain’s ability to focus on details and remain focused for longer periods. Social media has led to a shortening of attention spans as we all search desperately for that next sweet hit of dopamine. Slowing down and engaging in a more meaningful activity can help train your brain away from seeking a boredom bump doomscrolling session, which will help other aspects of your
life in the process.
Building your brain through puzzles gives it the tools it needs to release stress, especially if puzzles are completed with a person you like. This is especially important for our canine friends, though their puzzles are a little different. The brain naturally seeks engagement and stimulation, and that’s no different for dogs.
If your dog is acting up, chewing on things, peeing on furniture or just being a general menace, they’re likely bored and need a puzzle of their own.
Dogs can’t complete jigsaw puzzles, so we must engage them with different kinds of problems that stimulate their brains with the tools they have. The easiest dopamine hit for a dog comes in the form of finding food as well as figuring out how to get that food. Playing the airplane game with your dog is a great introductory puzzle that gets them to focus on you with a little practice.
To play the airplane game with your dog, you put a treat in your hand and ball it up into a fist, then make a T-pose like a video game character or an airplane with outstretched wings. Your dog will likely freak out a little bit and try to get the treat, but you have to wait until they get frustrated and make eye contact with you. Reward them at that precise moment. Do this for five minutes or so a day, and pretty soon your dog will freeze every time you make a T-pose, which is especially helpful if you’re trying to get them to behave around guests.
Another great dog puzzle is to play hide-and-seek with treats, or to hide treats in low places they can’t easily reach, such as a container toy. Dogs exert a lot of energy performing mental activities, so keep
them engaged with a puzzle like a snuffle bag or hidden treats and they’ll soon be tired, content and obedient. No one likes a chewed chair leg, and our poor puppies don’t know how to doomscroll. Pair this activity with a walk or a game of fetch for good measure.
Returning to human puzzles, have you ever wondered how a jigsaw puzzle is made?
It all begins with a piece of artwork. Most puzzle art is created digitally now, but some traditional art pieces are meticulously scanned or photographed with specialized equipment and then copied into a digital format. The digital file is then fed to a specialized high-resolution printer that uses fade-resistant inks. The image is printed onto a large sheet of paper to match the specifications of the puzzle’s final size.
Puzzle pieces are a little stiff, so it’s easier to assemble them or let them roll around the box without getting folded or bent. The picture needs to be mounted onto a sheet of chipboard, which is a form of cardboard made from recycled paper pulp. You’ll often see forms of chipboard from cereal boxes, though it’s usually a denser product when used for puzzles.
The paper print is mounted to the chipboard with a water-based glue and then pressed or rolled flush to eliminate bubbles or folds that could ruin the image. The picture is pressure dried to fuse the print and chipboard together to provide stiffness and density.
Now we are getting to the best part: the creation of the puzzle pieces. You might imagine the actual jigsaw tool used in woodworking, or maybe even a fancy laser, is responsible for cutting the
shapes. The actual process is much more low-tech than that. The tool is a die, which is a wooden board with grooves cut into it mimicking the puzzle shapes. Sharp steel blades are molded to match these patterns and mounted into the board, which is then pressed using a hydraulic press exerting thousands of pounds of pressure to neatly slice through the chipboard. It’s essentially a giant cookie cutter for paper.
Puzzles are selected randomly within a batch for
quality control testing. This is where a worker will assemble or partially assemble a puzzle to ensure that it is cut well and behaves as intended for the consumer. If random selections from the batch behave undesirably, workers may need to go back a step and address the die cutter before working on a new batch of puzzles.
After that, the puzzles are bagged, packaged and shipped to a store near you.
Stay curious, 7B.
Random Corner
• The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is part of the same family as salmon, called salmonidae.
• Rainbow trout are native to a very small region of the world, which includes the West Coast of North America and the Kamchatka Peninsula of Russia. They are very easy to raise in farms and adapt well to many different environments, making rainbow trout found in at least 45 countries.
• Steelhead trout are a subspecies of the rainbow trout. Steelheads are born in freshwater, but live most of their lives in the ocean. They get their name because their scales take on a steel-like sheen due to living in saltwater. Steelheads always return to freshwater to spawn their eggs.
• When a female rainbow trout gets ready to lay eggs, they find a bed of fine gravel in a calm, shallow area. They dig a recess called a redd in a gravel bed and lay anywhere from 700-6,000 eggs.
• Rainbow trout are predators. Their main diet is made up of various aquatic insects, feeding on the larval, pupal and adult forms. They
also eat land-based insects that fall into water nearby. Rainbow trout have also been known to eat smaller fish, fish eggs, crayfish and shrimp.
• The largest producer of farmgrown rainbow trout is not the U.S., but Chile.
• The largest rainbow trout ever caught weighed 48 pounds and was caught by Sean Konrad in Lake Diefenbaker in Saskatchewan, Canada. The fish was actually an escapee from a nearby fish farm, where they genetically modified trout to increase size and weight.
• There are 15 subspecies of rainbow trout. The species identified first — the Kamchatka rainbow trout — is now joined by other coastal forms, seven types of redband forms, three Kern River golden trout forms, one Mexican form and a mutated form called the golden rainbow trout.
COMMUNITY
Food bank partners with local gardeners to feed the community
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
This summer, the Bonner Community Food Bank, Gardens for Health Collaborative and the Lake Pend Oreille School District are partnering with local gardeners to bring fresh produce to area children and other members of the community in need. Whether it’s a tomato plant on the porch or an entire row in a community garden, volunteers encourage everyone to grow what they can to provide fresh, nutritious ingredients for the LPOSD Summer Lunch Program and the food bank in general.
“By connecting families and youth with fresh produce and summer meals, we aim to enhance food security and support the school district’s efforts in promoting student wellness,” said BCFB Executive Director Debbie Love. “We’re excited to witness the long-term impact this partnership will have on students’ health and well-being, particularly during the summer months when access to nutritious food can be limited for students and their families.”
The organizations tried out a similar partnership with local gardeners in 2020 under the leadership of Love, Kaniksu Land Trust Executive Director Katie Egland Cox and GFHC’s Michele Murphree. It began with around 70 tomato plants donated by Greentree Naturals co-owner Diane Green and handed out by Murphee, and ended with the community donating 221,000 pounds of produce. Organizers are hoping to get at least half that by the end of this growing season.
They also took on the responsibility of gathering and preparing food for the Summer Lunch Program in 2022 after much-needed renovations meant that the school district would otherwise have had to pause the program.
“We had, really, no idea what we were doing, and we had to go find commercial kitchens and get a health permit, and we needed to raise a lot of money, and that year we made and distributed 7,425 lunches,” said Murphree.
“I think that the amount of people needing access to the food bank, the amount of weekend food bags that Food For Our Children hands out
has really gone up. I don’t know how many lunches they’re anticipating they will give out this summer, but it has to be around 8,000 and then some,” she added.
This year, Green and her partner, Thom Sadoski, donated nearly 14 times their original amount of plants, for a total of more than 960 tomatoes, squash, cabbages and more. Organizers handed out free plants at various locations around town during the first week of June, giving recipients the option to donate any amount of produce they grow to the food bank — even if that amount is zero.
“The heat is on because, with 70 plants, we raised 200,000 pounds; what should we be raising with 963 plants?” said Murphree.
Murphree hopes to make this an annual partnership — especially with LPOSD — but the biggest hurdle is the work it takes to clean and prepare the fresh fruit and vegetables. A team of volunteers at the food bank has offered to take on the responsibility for the lunch programs in addition to the work needed to prepare produce for the organization’s market. The volunteer hours will take an enormous weight off the school district’s kitchen staff.
“It’s important that, when people do donate, it’s going to have a direct impact and go straight to the food bank, get washed and go immediately to one of those two programs,” said Murphree.
When dropping off donations, people can specify whether they want their produce to go into the kids’ lunches or the food bank market. Otherwise, Murphree says they’ll give the most “lunch box-compatible” donations to the kids and save other cooking necessities — like onions — for the market. Either way, the gardeners’ hard work will put healthy, nutritious food on tables throughout the county.
“Locally grown food is often fresher and more nutritious, as it’s harvested at its peak and doesn’t spend long periods in transit. This means families receive healthier options that support their well-being. It is also one of the last items that families purchase at the grocery stores because of costs and its short shelf-life. This program helps
us fill the gaps left by cuts and rising food costs,” said Love.
Love and Murphree thanked their volunteers, Greentree Naturals, Cedar Hills Church, Christ Our Redeemer Community Garden, East Bonner County Library, Kaniksu Land Trust, the Sandpoint Area Senior Center and neighborhood gardeners “Myra and friends” for making the program possible.
“There’s no better way to share love and connect with each other than through food,” said Love, later adding, “Even a small harvest can make a big difference to someone in need. If you have extra from your gardens, please think of donating to the food bank for summer meals and families.”
For more information on how to donate or volunteer, visit bonnerfoodbank.org. Deliver produce directly to the food bank at 1707 Culvers Drive, Sandpoint.
2025 Women of Wisdom to be honored at annual gala
By Reader Staff
The Women Honoring Women committee is preparing to celebrate its 2025 Women of Wisdom selectees with a gala brunch Saturday, June 14 at the Marigold Bistro inside the Sandpoint Center (414 Church St.).
Chosen from among nominees were five final honorees: Sherry Fulton, Nancy Hadley, Susan Howard, Linda Navarre and Terri Palmer, recognizing their commitment to the community, their leadership and service, and for acting as role models for younger generations.
Family, friends, previous Women of Wisdom recipients and members of the public are invited to the event, which begins at 11 a.m. Tickets cost $40 and must be purchased in advance, as seating is limited. Contact Diane Stockton at 208-290-6362, or stockton_diane@ yahoo.com, to reserve a seat.
The brunch will also include this year’s Women Honoring Women scholarship recipients.
In addition to this year’s recogni-
tion, Women Honoring Women has begun a new project to preserve the stories of its Women of Wisdom in a book, which is intended to preserve their stories and celebrate the legacy of the program.
Though still in its early stages, the book will be periodically updated to serve as an evolving archive of Bonner County’s exceptional women. The
group hopes that proceeds from sales will help support future events and fund scholarships — ensuring continued access and affordability for all attendees.
As part of the project, Women Honoring Women is reaching out to the community to collect speeches given by past recipients of the award. Anyone who has a copy of a speech — whether it was delivered by themselves, received from another, or passed along by a family member or friend — is invited to contribute. Both physical and digital formats are welcome.
Since its inception in 1999, the organization has recognized more than 140 Bonner County women who have contributed to the betterment of the community through their service and leadership. Candidates must be 65 years or older to be nominated, and the final honorees are chosen by the committee on a number of criteria. The committee looks for women with vision, who achieve goals through collaboration, who love to learn and who are committed to serving the community.
Those who are selected demonstrate “dedicated leadership that results in admiration and respect from others,” and are “an inspiration to others and an example for future generations of women,” organizers stated.
A Woman of Wisdom “faces life’s challenges with grace and courage and lives with dignity, integrity,” they added. “The fact that there are so many exceptional women in our community makes the selection process difficult.”
The 2025 Women Honoring Women committee members include: Sue Brooks, Barbara Buchanan, Cassandra Cayson, Kathy Chambers, Patti Clemons, Deanna Harris, Alana Hatcher, Jenni Hewitt, Julie Jurenka, Carrie LaGrace, Pat Lewis, Barb Merritt,
Jeralyn Mire, Marlene Rorke, Sandy Ross, Kari Saccomanno, Tina Sleyster, Diane Stockton, Sally Transue and Cherie Warber.
Clockwise from top left: Sherry Fulton, Nancy Hadley, Susan Howard, Linda Navarre and Terri Palmer. Courtesy photos
dumb of the week
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Popcorn sales spiked last week as two of the biggest toolbags in national politics decided to stage a cringe-inducing national breakdown. It was like watching an old Godzilla vs. Mothra movie, but in a bizarro universe where Godzilla was an orange-faced racist conman trying to sell you real estate and Mothra a drug-addled oligarch techbro who still considers himself “edgy.”
Big, blubbery fascist monsters edition
including a poll asking if there should be a new political party in America, retweets of articles pointing at the bill’s impending failure in the Senate and writing that Trump only had “3.5 years left as President,” but Musk would “be around for 40+ years.”
The Trump-Musk breakdown started like a house fire. Musk announced he was leaving his position as the self-appointed “DOGE-father” of the Department of Government Efficiency. He showed up at the Oval Office sporting a black eye — which he claimed his 5-year-old son gave him after being invited to punch him in the face — and accepted a gold-plated key from Trump that, as the president pointed out, he gave to “several different people.”
As it usually happens with anyone close to Trump leaving his orbit, Musk lobbed the first volley the day after his Dollar Store key ceremony with a social media post blasting Trump’s “one big, beautiful bill” as a “disgusting abomination,” and throwing shame onto those who voted for it.
The next 48 hours turned out to be more exciting than any Godzilla movie could hope to be. It was like watching two disgusting insects battle each other — no one cared who won, as long as they both lost.
Trump/Godzilla fired back by telling reporters he was “very disappointed with Elon,” and claimed the oligarch only started mouthing off, “when he found out we’re going to cut EV mandate.”
Musk/Mothra responded with a catty, “Whatever. Keep the EV/solar incentive cuts in the bill, even though no oil & gas subsidies are touched (very unfair!!), but ditch the MOUNTAIN of DISGUSTING PORK in the bill,” and also criticized Republicans for passing the bill in the “dead of night so fast that almost no one in Congress could even read it!”
Before Trumpzilla responded to that attack, Muskra wrote, “Without me, Trump would have lost the election...” and later wrote, “Such ingratitude.”
Musk famously donated $288 million to Trump’s campaign, proving the old adage of “You pay for what you get,” correct yet again.
Muskra then sent a schizophrenic series of posts on his X platform,
Trumpzilla came roaring back with a post on his social media platform, saying Muskra was “wearing thin,” and that he “asked him to leave ... and he just went CRAZY!” He then concluded by posting, “The easiest way to save money in our Budget, Billions and Billions of Dollars, is to terminate Elon’s Governmental Subsidies and Contracts. I was always surprised that Biden didn’t do it!”
Girl, no you didn’t!
Muskra retorted with, “Such an obvious lie. So sad,” followed by, “Time to drop the really big bomb: @realDonaldTrump is in the Epstein files. That is the real reason they have not been made public. Have a nice day, DJT!”
Ooooh!
Muskra then flexed his appendages and fired off another X-cretion: “In light of the President’s statement about cancellation of my government contracts, @SpaceX will begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately.” The post has since been deleted and Musk later confirmed “... we won’t decommission Dragon,” which means the astronauts currently residing on the International Space Station will, in fact, be able to come back to Earth at the end of their mission. Phew!
Muskra then shared a video showing Trumpzilla at a party with Epstein with a “raised eyebrow” emoji.
Fanboys of both Trump and Musk filled social media with disappointed statements, the funniest coming from the imploded musician formerly known as Kanye West writing, “Broooos please noooo. We love you both so much.”
Musk has since deleted all the posts and, on June 11, wrote, “I regret some of my posts about President @realDonaldTrump last week. They went too far.” I guess the ketamine wore off.
As these two blubbery monsters fought out their breakup on each of their own social media platforms, it’s important to point out that, yes, this is real. Yes, this is the president. No, this isn’t a nightmare. There is no waking up from this, folks.
Lay in a supply of popcorn, lobotomize yourself with a ball-peen hammer and enjoy the show that never ends.
Local artist to host ongoing art appreciation talks
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Art is one of those mediums that gives back just as much as it takes. Stare at the same painting for long enough, you’ll reach new levels of depth and understand, perhaps, what motivated a particular artist to create the piece.
In that vein, local artist Alison Barrows-Young is hosting a series of ongoing “art appreciation talks” in conjunction with POAC to help art lovers better understand why they might be moved by a style or medium.
The talks will take place throughout the summer, from Friday, June 20 until Sept. 12 on a variety of subjects. The classes will take place at the POAC Gallery (313 N. Second Ave., in downtown Sandpoint) and attendance is $18 per session; but, as Barrows-Young said, “If someone can’t afford to attend, I’ll find a way to make it possible for them.”
Barrows-Young has not only been an artist all her life, but also a teacher, making her a great choice to guide
participants into a better understanding of art around them.
“I’ve been a teacher my whole life and an artist my whole life,” she told the Reader. “I haven’t done anything else. I was able to continue and be inspired through conversations I had with my mother, who was also an artist.”
After her mother passed away, Barrows-Young said she felt something was missing.
“I was lonely,” she said. “So I got a studio downtown and, since we talked a lot about abstract art toward the end of her life, I’ve been trying to discover abstract art in my own voice for about a year now.”
Barrows-Young began to host art nights on Fridays at her downtown studio, mostly teaching abstract art. She said she was astounded to see how many people showed up regularly.
“Now we have this wonderful community of people who come here on Friday afternoons who make art and talk about art,” she said. “I said, ‘I need more.’”
So Barrows-Young partnered with
POAC, establishing a plan to host six art appreciation talks in the hopes of getting more people interested in art.
“There’s a lot of negative stuff going on right now,” she said. “One of the things we don’t do on Fridays in my classes is talk about politics or stupidity. We really just try to focus on this fabulous world that is art.”
The June 20 session is titled, “An Ancient Cross-Cultural Language for Understanding Art,” in which Barrows-Young will explain how visual arts cut through the idea of having to learn something linguistically. She’ll talk about everything from 14,000-year-old cave paintings to the elements of shape, color, movement and composition.
On Friday, July 25, she will focus on “When American Voices Rocked the World,” a session exploring the prolific period when expressionist artists gathered in New York City, establishing the city as a cultural center of the world.
The Friday, Aug. 8 class will be dedicated to “Women’s Voices,” a lecture on how women have been a part of visual arts, and what their impact has been on the medium.
“Black American Voices” will be the focus on Friday, Aug. 26, recognizing the need for Black artists to retell their histories and share their culture.
The series will conclude on Friday, Sept. 12 with “American Indigenous Voices,” a deep-dive into how various Native American cultures are reflected in art.
Those interested in signing up for one or all classes can contact Barrows-Young at Violetbluestorm@gmail.com.
Alison Barrows-Young. Courtesy photo
COMMUNITY
Bonner General Health Foundation announces T-shirt design contest winner
By Reader Staff
The Bonner General Health Foundation announced Ruthie Laughridge as the winner of the 2025 Find Your Strength Fun Run T-shirt design contest. A sophomore at Sandpoint High School, Laughridge received a $200 cash prize and a commemorative race T-shirt featuring her winning design.
The annual T-shirt design contest invites local high-school students to submit artwork reflecting the event’s superhero theme and the Bonner General Health Foundation’s message “Heart of Our Hometown, BGH.”
“There were several entries submitted for the Find Your Strength T-shirt design competition from our local students,” said Race Director Amelia Boyd. “The Race Committee chose Ruthie Laughridge because she captured the essence of the Bonner General Health Foundation’s superhero theme while incorporating the ‘Heart of Our Hometown, BGH’ message. Her design was thoughtful, bold, and creative — exactly what we were looking for.”
This marks Laughridge’s first win in a design contest, though she has entered others in the past. She enjoys digital design and is considering working in the
profession after graduation.
“When meeting Ruthie, I discovered she is a student-athlete at SHS. She participates in the very sports — track and cross country — I had in my youth and coached as an adult,” Boyd added. “She’s an impressive young lady who, on top of her busy schedule, likes to design in her spare time. I also love that she and her family have participated in the Find Your Strength Family Fun Run for a few years.”
The fourth annual Find Your Strength Fun Run will take place on Saturday, June 21 at Sandpoint City Beach.
Visit bonnergeneral.org to register for the race. Select “Find Your Strength” under the “Foundation” dropdown menu.
Amelia Boyd hands Ruthie Laughridge a check for her winning T-shirt design. Courtesy photo
Ten String Smile to feature on Little Live Radio Hour
By Reader Staff
It’s time again for the monthly Little Live Radio Hour, hosted by Panhandle Community Radio, 88.5 FM KRFY — this time featuring Ten String Smile on Tuesday, June 17 at the Panida Little Theater (300 N. First Ave.).
Produced and engineered by the Festival at Sandpoint, the show is scheduled for 7 p.m. with a live performance in the theater accompanied by a simultaneous broadcast at 88.5 FM. In-person attendees to the free show should show up a few minutes early to find their seat before the broadcast begins.
At-home listeners can tune in on their radios or stream on krfy.org.
Ten String Smile is the duo of Drew Browne and Pam Burns, with instrumentation
including violin/fiddle — and sometimes mandolin — playing celtic/Appalachian folk-inspired renditions of traditional tunes as well as originals.
Browne and Burns just dropped their first CD on June 6. Get more info by signing up for the band’s email newsletter at tenstringsmile.com.
As with other Little Live Radio Hour events, the show will likely include a short skit with local actors halfway through the show.
By Reader Staff
Area residents will have the opportunity to get a first look at the ambitious project to bring an aquatics center to Ponderay, with a free and open community launch event Wednesday, June 18 at the Wellness Center (30544 Hwy. 200, in Ponderay).
Hosted by board members of the nonprofit Ponderay Aquatics Center Endowment, the gathering is set to take place 5:30-7 p.m., and will feature several different stations, where attendees can see plans and ask questions.
As envisioned, the center would include a competition-sized indoor pool adequate for swim and dive meets, water polo, synchronized swimming, deep-water rescue training, SCUBA training, lifeguard certification, and kayak and boat safety events.
In addition, the facility would feature a leisure pool geared toward providing a space for swim lessons and water aerobics, as well as a hot tub, scoreboard and seating for up to 600 spectators for competitions, and a subterranean viewing area.
Along with accessible pool lifts, restrooms, locker rooms and showers, the center is also proposed to include meeting rooms, a field house for indoor sports and events, a community kitchen, workout and fitness area, indoor walking track and an NHL-sized indoor ice rink.
With an agreement with the city of Ponderay, PACE plans to locate the project within the Field of Dreams, adjacent to The Pond presented by STCU public ice rink, which opened in December 2024 and was spearheaded by nonprofit North Idaho Ice and the city of Ponderay.
Though the plans are robust — and will likely require tens of millions of dollars, or more, to bring to fruition — the 501(c)(3) PACE anticipates a 10-year timeline.
Meanwhile, “This project represents a bold step forward for our region — not just as a hub for recreation and wellness, but as a resilient space where our community can come together and thrive,” stated PACE Board Member Michael DiBenedetto.
For more info, visit ponderayaquatics.org.
Pam Burns, left, and Drew Browne, right, are Ten String Smile. Courtesy photo
A rendering of the proposed Ponderay Aquatic Center.
Courtesy image
Learning on the stage
By Soncirey Mitchell Reader Staff
Nova High School’s student body will put on four performances of the Broadway musical Hadestown on Friday, June 13 at 6 p.m.; Saturday, June 14 at 2 and 7 p.m.; and Sunday, June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Panida Theater (300 N. First Ave., in downtown Sandpoint). The story, inspired by the classical Greek tragedy of Orpheus and Eurydice, will be the students’ final show before the school closes due to rising costs.
Teacher Michael Seifert chose Hadestown as the group’s swan song to help students explore and understand its themes of love, hope and poverty, which will in turn help them to navigate adult life going forward.
“With Hadestown, students are immediately connected with the characters, their struggles, the love stories and the themes,” Seifert said. “Our curriculum is designed to connect our students with the world, inspire them to act to make it better, engage them in critical thinking and develop emotional maturity. Hadestown makes all of this possible.”
The musical, by Anaïs Mitchell, had its first performance in 2006, steadily gaining traction until its Broadway debut in 2019. It then swept the Tony Awards, earning 14 nominations and eight wins, including for Best Musical and Best Original Score. Despite the well-known tragic ending, the story remains hopeful and inspiring for both performers and audiences.
“It allows you to express yourself — the deepest parts of yourself — through the subtleties of the characters,” said Aspen Gill, one of the actresses starring as the character Eurydice. “Even if you haven’t experienced it — I obviously haven’t experienced going to Hadestown — but it lets you express your pain and your fears and even your love for other people.”
Hadestown follows the love stories of Orpheus and Eurydice and Hades and Persephone through the trials and tribulations that arise in a heavily industrialized, poverty-stricken world. Orpheus and Eurydice struggle to survive as they weigh the price of their love against a full stomach and a dry place to sleep, ultimately inspiring one another to fight to create a better world.
“Loneliness, economic struggle and dehumanization in the workplace are themes our young adults relate to
Nova High School students perform final musical before school closure
as they enter the world,” Seifert said. “Most of us at some time or other have taken up the chase for wealth to keep us out of poverty and the resulting toll it takes on us.”
Aside from minor alterations to suit the students’ young voices, Nova’s teen version of the musical stays true to the original and does not flinch from portraying the desperation, alcoholism and abuse integral to the story.
The performances will switch between an “A” and “B” cast, starring Cairn Rookey as Orpheus; Melody Whitlock or Gill as Eurydice; Thorston Wright or Leo Hart as Hades; Beatrice Lawson or Ava Rose as Persephone; River Corcoran as Hermes; Mercy Whitlock, Maryah Pratt and Charlie Wardle as the Fates; and Mason Wesala, Tashi DeLong, Melody Whitlock, Gill, Rose, Hart, Lawson and Wright as the workers.
When asked what they appreciate about performing Hadestown — and theater in general — the students said it provides an opportunity to practice introspection and empathy.
“Expressing yourself, your emotions, through a character ... I guess you’re being vulnerable in some ways, but you’re expressing it through somebody who’s not you, through a mask, so it’s a way to express without that fear,” said Rookey.
“Being able to take on somebody else’s face or image or character that lets you look at yourself through that character’s eyes and then that in turn helps you think about, ‘OK, what can I do different in my life?’ I become a better person from having a different perspective on my life,” added Corcoran.
The cast members are veterans of the stage, having performed their
interpretation of the Broadway musical Little Women in 2024, in addition to hosting a Halloween experience in which they played various terrifying and ghoulish roles. Many of the students said they will continue performing on the stage in the future, whether that be through another local high school or at a higher level.
“It has been a true privilege to work with these students. I wish to especially
thank the parents for not only entrusting their children with us, but also for all the sacrifices every family makes in bringing this show to fruition,” said Seifert.
Tickets for Hadestown are $25 for adults and $20 for students at panida. org. For more information, visit novahigh.org.
The cast of Hadestown on stage.
Photo by Michael Seifert.
Send event listings to calendar@sandpointreader.com
THURSDAY, June 12
Toshi’s Trivia Thursdays
7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Yotes
5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ Rockabilly and Americana
Live Music w/ Headwaters
5:30-8:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Bluegrass jam band
Live Music w/ John Firshi
8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Live Music w/ Traveling Huckleberries
5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill
5:30-8:30pm @ Barrel 33
June 12 - 19, 2025
FriDAY, June 13
Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs 6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Live Music w/ Jake Robin 5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Hadestown: Teen Edition (June 13-15)
6pm @ Panida Theater
Nova High presents the Tony award-winning Broadway musical by Anaïs Mitchell
Live Music w/ Ken Mayginnes
6-9pm @ 1908 Saloon
Awakened Alignment: Part 1
10am-12pm @ The Yellow Room
Part 1: Ayurvedic Walking Massage and Breathwork. $45 per class
Live Music w/ Saturday Morning String Band
5:30-8:30pm @ Smokesmith BBQ Rockabilly and Americana
Live Music w/ Ty Stonehawker and friends
8-10pm @ Mitzy’s Lounge
See Page 21 for story. $5
Live Music w/ Wolfchild
7-9:30pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Folk-rock from Portland, Ore.
Live Music w/ Kipp Riley
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Alternative rock from Spokane
Live Music w/ Ian Newbill
5-8pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
Live Music w/ Tucker James
5pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Live Music w/ Chris Paradis
6-8pm @ Baxter’s on Cedar
Sandpoint Chess Club 9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee
Magic with Star Alexander
5-8pm @ Jalapeño’s
Monday Night Blues Jam w/ John Firshi
7pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
Trivia Night
6-8pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Little Live Radio Hour: Ten String Smile
SATURDAY, June 14
Hadestown: Teen Edition (June 13-15)
2 & 7pm @ Panida Theater
Free Fishing Day
All day in the state of Idaho
No fishing license needed to fish on June 14 in the state of Idaho
Veteran Community Yard Sale
9am-6pm @ Sandpoint VFW Hall
Interested in selling? 208-263-9613
Schweitzer Summer Community Day
All day @ Schweitzer
Check out Bonner Co. nonprofit organizations, food trucks, musicians and more. Chairlift rides are discounted, and village activities abound
Live Music w/ Bright Moments Jazz
6-8pm @ Arlo’s Ristorante
Tai Chi at City Beach
9:30-10:30am @ Sandpoint City Beach
SunDAY, June 15
Live Music w/ Abe Barber 4-5pm @ Idaho Pour Authority
Hadestown: Teen Edition (June 13-15)
6pm @ Panida Theater
monDAY, June 16
Outdoor Experience Group Run 6pm @ Outdoor Experience
3-5 miles, all levels welcome
tuesDAY, June 17
POAC ArtWalk Opening Reception
5-8pm @ POAC Gallery, 313 N. 2nd
It’s the 48th annual ArtWalk! Stroll through town at participating venues to check out local art. It’s free and city-wide. Opening reception at the POAC Gallery (see Page 19)
Gallery Notes: Art & Music at MCS
5-8pm @ Little Carnegie Hall, MCS
Join the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint for art and music with artist Heather Mehra-Pedersen
Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin
6-8pm @ Baxter’s on Cedar
“No Kings” protest 12-2pm @ First Ave. and Lake St. Bring a sign and a peaceful attitude
Injector’s Club BBQ and car display 10am-2pm @ Sandpoint Senior Center $12/adult, $6/12 and under. Raffles and live music by BTP
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market 9am-1pm @ Farmin Park
Fresh produce, artisan goods, live music by Bright Moments Jazz 2025 CHAFE 150 bike ride chafe150.org
One of the top charity rides in the U.S. See website for distance options
The Waiting: The music of Tom Petty 8:30pm @ The Hive $30/$35 tickets. Tom Petty tribute
An Evening with Monty Python 5pm @ Eichardt’s Pub
An immersive art experience with Monty Python-themed dinner specials. Free to attend. Costumes encouraged!
Pool tournament ($10 entry)
6pm @ Connie’s Lounge
6:45pm @ The Little Panida Theater (listen at 88.5FM)
This month’s guest is Ten String Smile. Please be seated by 6:45pm
Sandpoint Farmers’ Market
3-5:30pm @ Farmin Park
Fresh produce, artisan goods and more
wednesDAY, June 18
Sandpoint Teen Center: BBQ & Boating
1pm @ Sandpoint City Beach 509-319-9493 to sign up
Pints for Pups: fundraiser for Better Together Animal Alliance
4-7pm @ Powderhound Pizza, 201 WE Superior
Live Music w/ Mobius Riff
5-7:30pm @ Hope Memorial Community Center
Benny on the Deck
5-7:30pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Join Benny Baker and this week’s
guest Jacob Robin
Live Music w/ John Firshi
5-7pm @ Matchwood Brewing Co.
Live piano w/ Jennifer Stoehner 5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
National Pollinator Week kids’ activity 10am-1pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum KNPS will supply chalk and the museum will give its cement walkway over for pictures of pollinators to be drawn
Live piano w/ Bob Beadling
5-7pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery
ThursDAY, June 19
Live trivia ($5 entry)
7pm @ Connie’s Lounge
Celebrate 48 years of creativity at Sandpoint’s beloved ArtWalk
By Reader Staff
Now in its 48th year, Pend Oreille Arts Council’s Annual ArtWalk returns to downtown Sandpoint on Friday, June 13, with festive opening receptions from 5-8 p.m. The event features 27 participating venues, each paired with a local or regional artist to showcase original work all summer. Held every summer since 1977, ArtWalk has become one of Sandpoint’s most cherished community traditions.
“It feels like the unofficial kickoff to summer,” said POAC Visual Arts Coordinator Claire Christy. “Locals come out to support their friends and neighbors, and there’s this beautiful mix of familiar faces and new ones. Every year I hear people saying ‘Happy ArtWalk!’ and it fills me with joy. It’s like a big family reunion where we all emerge from winter to celebrate the arts and this town we love.”
Each location will host a unique exhibition and offer light refreshments, with several venues planning special experiences for opening night.
One exciting newcomer, AM Gallery, will feature the Ross Hall Collection alongside live jazz guitar and a wine tasting. At Sotheby’s International Realty on Second Avenue, visitors will find Randy Wilhelm’s whimsical Sandpoint Series, which has become a beloved visual tribute to the community. Lake Life Wellness, now in a brand-new location on Main Street, is showcasing the flowing watercolors of Jean Spinosa. At the POAC Gallery, art lovers can view work by Jenni Barry, recently named 2025 POAC Artist of the Year.
Beyond the art, ArtWalk serves as a powerful connector between artists, businesses and the public.
“It takes a village,” Christy explained. “POAC is the catalyst that brings the venues and artists together. I try to create ideal pairings, matching the art to the vibe of the business, so everyone involved feels seen. It’s a lot of work, but I love every minute of it.”
The event continues to evolve year after year, with new venues joining and fresh talent stepping into the spotlight. For businesses, it’s a way to become more rooted in the creative culture of Sandpoint. For artists, it’s an opportunity to share their work with a broader audience, often sparking new relationships, connections or sales.
Printed ArtWalk brochures, com-
plete with a map, artist listings and venue details, are available now at all participating venues and the POAC Gallery (313 N. Second Ave.). A digital version of the brochure, as well
as full event details, can be found at artinsandpoint.org/ArtWalk.
Exhibitions will remain on display through August, giving residents and visitors ample time to enjoy the work
and explore downtown Sandpoint at their own pace.
For more information, contact POAC at poacasst1@gmail.com, poactivities@gmail.com or 208-263-6139.
Left and top: “Black Cherry Bear” and “Redwoods” by POAC Artist of the Year Jenni Barry.
Bottom: A map of the participating ArtWalk venues in Sandpoint. Courtesy image
By Marcia Pilgeram Reader Columnist
Did you know Father’s Day was established by Sonora Smart Dodd, a Spokane woman? The first celebration commemorating fathers in the U.S. was held June 19, 1910, right in Spokane. Sonora wanted to honor her Civil War veteran father and she worked hard to have the holiday recognized. At one point, a joint Parents Day was discussed, but defiant women everywhere rebelled against sharing their holiday and the ill-conceived notion was abandoned.
While Mother’s Day feels synonymous with brunch, handmade cards and the first color of flowers popping forth in the gardens, Father’s Day just seems to scream: Hello barbecue season!
There is no shortage of grills for dad: electric, gas, charcoal and pellet are all popular choices. But I just discovered on a recent trip to Spokane that there’s also a plethora of gadgets for the grill of your choice. For instance, you can clean up your outdoor cooking efforts with a Grillbot. That’s right, folks — it’s a Roomba for your barbecue and moves around the grill, scraping off all the scorched bits you left behind when you forgot to brush down the hot grates.
My Roomba days were short-lived due to my threelegged cat, who was unnerved every time Roomba rounded a corner. These days, I’m kept company by Crowbie, a spoiled and well-fed crow, and I’m not about to jeopardize that relationship with a spaceship-looking grill apparatus, so I’ll continue to scrape my grates by hand.
The Sandpoint Eater Grill talk
I spied battery-operated gravity salt and pepper shakers that automatically grind as you tilt them. For a couple of bucks more, you can purchase a set with LED lights for those nights when the cocktail hour never ends, and you find yourself cooking in the pitch dark. Burger accessories abound as well; and, thanks to our friends at Cuisinart, you can snag a press for stuffed burgers, a wide spatula for smashing burgers and a melting dome for cheeseburgers.
Should you need to shred smoked pork or brisket, fear not — let a set of meat claws handle the heavy work of shredding for you. These “bear claws” are necessary — I was shocked to find more than a half dozen brands on Amazon.
Take note: If your crew is
starving and becoming impatient for those pulled pork po’ boys, there’s yet another tool for you. Meat, meet “the Porkinator.” It’s a drill attachment, delivering (they promise) tender shredded meat in mere seconds.
Still, there are even more gift options for you to consider for your well-loved grill master that won’t break the bank: specialty condiment dispensers for when the standard store condiment holders aren’t worthy of your setup.
You can even buy a holster for them, which looks a bit like North Idaho, to be honest.
Better yet, sturdy industrial aprons with condiment belts are available. These serious aprons remind me of the ones the farriers used to wear when they showed up at our ranch to shoe the horses. It seems
they’re making a comeback.
While there’s a seemingly limitless number of tools for burgers and smoked meats, I didn’t see a lot of gear for steaks, and that made me happy. I’m pretty fussy about my steaks, and they require little else than tempering the meat and a healthy shake of sea salt and coarse ground black pepper. Sometimes, I’ll add a sliver of creamy blue cheese if I feel adventurous.
The best steak I ever ate was one I cooked on a simple hibachi on the rear platform of a luxury rail car. After 10 days of preparing meals for 16 guests aboard a private charter, I was exhausted. The guests disembarked in Seattle, and another crew member and I were deadheading to Whitefish to reset for the next clients.
When we departed in the late afternoon, I began my inventory, discovering a nice thick steak in the cooler. I remembered we had a hibachi onboard in a storage compartment. I have no idea where it came from, but I am still grateful to that genius crew member. The sun was warm and the steak was hot and deliciously unforgettable. Talk about a moveable feast.
Whether you have all the trappings to turn your backyard into a smoking meat mecca or, like me, a little salt and pepper will do you, there’s something real satisfying about a backyard barbecue.
Don’t forget you’ll need a side dish or two. This week’s zesty pasta salad can hold its own on any occasion.
Zesty Mediterranean pasta salad
Capers add a tangy and slightly lemony flavor profile to this salad. It’s a perfect summery side dish. With a little bread and wine, it can be served as a light supper entrée, too. Use a hollow pasta, like penne, to give the dressing more coverage for a bolder flavor. Yield: 8-10 servings.
INGREDIENTS: DIRECTIONS:
• (16 oz) short pasta, preferably penne
• 1½ cups pesto (homemade or a good-quality, store-bought)
• ⅓ cup good olive oil
• 3 tbsp capers in brine, drain, rinse and shake off water
• 1½ cups shredded carrots
• Bell peppers, 1 each red, yellow and orange, diced small
• 1 6.5-oz jar of marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
• ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Fresh basil, chopped
Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and rinse under cold running water.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, carrots, diced bell peppers, artichoke hearts and capers.
Add pesto and gently toss until the pasta and veggies are well coated. If it seems dry, add a little more olive oil.
Toss in Parmesan, then taste and adjust with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for a couple hours — or overnight, if possible. Garnish with basil and serve.
Refrigerate leftovers.
MUSIC
‘I feel like I’m coming home’
By Ben Olson Reader Staff
Those who have been around the Sandpoint music scene for a while will undoubtedly recognize the name Tyler Stonehawker. The gravel-voiced troubadour has traveled the American West for years, from dive bars to music festivals, reeling out his brand of cosmic country, bluegrassy Americana and roots rock.
Stonehawker will play a special show Saturday, June 14 at Mitzy’s Lounge (807 Fifth Ave., in Sandpoint) for just $5 at the door. The show goes from 8-10 p.m., but Stonehawker said be prepared for the party to continue longer.
Accompanying Stonehawker will be Tony Powell of Tonedevil Guitars on the mandolin and Tanner Brown from Coeur d’Alene on the bass.
Stonehawker said his music has taken on more thoughtful qualities in recent years.
“I have more of a John Prine vibe now,” he told the Reader. “That’s how he toured, actually — a guitar, mandolin and upright bass, but we’re using an electric bass at Mitzy’s because it’s more danceable.”
Ty Stonehawker returns to Sandpoint for a night of music
drifting in and around the music scene for 24 years, leading various bands and chasing the dream with a notebook full of songs and guitar licks.
Ty Stonehawker
Saturday, June 14, 8-10 p.m. $5. Mitzy’s Lounge, 807 N. Fifth Ave. in Sandpoint. (208) 263-0596. Listen at tystonehawker.com
“I moved to Nashville one year ago because I’m a slut for attention,” he said. “I moved out there to half get discovered and half get better at my craft.”
In 2022, Stonehawker went into a studio recording as his former band Stoney Holiday and the encounter started off a new phase of his life.
Stonehawker has been
“I went in all tuned up — half a bottle of wine — and
went up and introduced myself to this famous producer, Mark ‘Mooka’ Rennick, and said, ‘How much to make a record for me?’ He said, ‘I’ll do it if you get sober.’ I went to rehab directly after, called him up three months later clean and sober and said, ‘When do we start?’ I’ve been clean and sober now for two years.”
Stonehawker said it started out tough, but the will to make music and be in control of his craft — and wits — encouraged him to stay sober.
“It was hard at the beginning, but now it’s really easy for me,” he said. “I was in a bad place. It had started as a psychedelic experiment to
expand my mind, but the experiment ended long ago and I was just left with addiction.”
Stonehawker recently released two albums: Gamblin’ Man and, just this year, Songs of a Ramblin’ Man, available on streaming services or at tystonehawker.com.
Both albums contain Stonehawker’s songs written about his life. In the meantime, he’s looking forward to playing again in Sandpoint.
“I love it here,” he said. “When I hit the Long Bridge, I feel like I’m coming home.”
A snapshot of notable live music coming up in Sandpoint
The Waiting, The Hive, June 14
With more than 10 years spent faithfully replicating the soul and sound of Tom Petty, Montana-based band The Waiting is more than prepared to rock The Hive at a special, over-21 show on Saturday, June 14. The band explores Petty’s entire discography from his time with the Heartbreakers to the Traveling Wilburys years and his solo work. Lead singer Chris Gillette is as close to the real
thing as it comes, capturing Petty’s range — high, low, smooth or gritty — and crafting a meaningful tribute to a voice that helped define the late-’70s, ’80s and ’90s.
— Soncirey Mitchell
7 p.m., $30 online or $35 day of, 21+. The Hive, 207 N. First Ave., 208-920-9039, livefromthehive.com. Listen at thewaitingmontana.com.
P.O. Chorale and Orchestra, First Lutheran Church, June 13 & 15
The Pend Oreille Chorale and Orchestra will present two concerts Friday, June 13 and Sunday, June 15, featuring chorale, orchestra, instrumental solos and ensembles, with a program including works by the likes of Mozart, Copeland, Vivaldi, Grieg and more — including Sandpoint’s own Mark Reiner, who composed “Alleluia,” which will close out the performances.
This week’s RLW by Zach Hagadone
READ
Historian Heather Cox Richardson’s substack, “Letters from America,” has for years offered the finest analysis of the too-long Trump era, but her June 9 post on the ICE protests in L.A. is a cut above — in large part because she connects the dots between the “spectacle” of the National Guard and Marine presence on the streets and providing political cover for the unpopular “big, beautiful bill.” Read it at heathercoxrichardson. substack.com.
LISTEN
Admission is free, though donations are welcomed to help continue the group’s 32-year mission of uplifting classical music performed for the community.
— Zach Hagadone
Friday, June 13, 7 p.m.; Sunday, June 15, 3 p.m.; FREE, though donations welcome. Sandpoint First Lutheran Church, 526 S. Olive Ave., 208-263-2048.
For a while in the late-’90s, the Buena Vista Social Club’s titular album rarely left my CD player. Almost 30 years later, the ensemble — which formed as a group of Cuban musicians in 1996 — has morphed, including into a Broadway musical adaptation set in Revolutionary Cuba that won four Tonys at the June 8 awards show. That means it’s time to get reacquainted with the original. Find it on all the online streamers or check it out at the library.
WATCH
Netflix released the fourth season of its series Love, Death & Robots in mid-May, and it may be among the strongest installments yet. While some entries in the anthology can come off as style-over-substance, the bulk of Volume 4 is well worth the relatively minimal investment (considering no episode is longer than 17 minutes). Standouts are “Close Encounters of the Mini Kind,” “The Other Large Thing,” “Golgotha” and “For He Can Creep.” Definitely Skip “Can’t Stop,” though.
Ty Stonehawker will play Mitzy’s Lounge June 14 from 8-10 p.m. Courtesy photo
From Pend Oreille Review, June 11, 1925
TOURIST PARK HAS LARGE SHARE OF VISITORS
The tourist park down on the lake front is always ready for company and especially in the evening when it gets along towards supper time. Samuel Wigton, man in charge, puts on a nice fire and starts the kettle boiling, so to speak. Mr. Wigton then lights his pipe and waits for visitors and he is not often disappointed.
Thursday night eleven cars spent the night there. Friday went one less and Saturday brought only eight. All were loud in their praises of the beautiful view the park commands and only an occasionaly grouch kicks about the accommodations.
One stormy night last week Mr. Wigton gave the campers the privilege of making their beds in the cook house owing to the rain. Sixteen parked in old-time western style and went on their way rejoicing next day that they had been given the best there was.
LAKE GIVES UP BODY OF VICTIM
The body of Karl Kesti, who left home December 18 and was never heard of since, was found Wednesday on the Berry ranch near Laclede. Sheriff John Amblie, in company with the county coroner, went down to claim the body which was later identified by its clothing, the body itself being in a greaty decomposed condition. That he drowned in the lake is a conclusion that leaves no ground for dispute.
Mr. Kesti resided on the Dover road and at the time of his disappearance had gone to Bottle Bay on a fishing trip. After he failed to return home, only his mittens and sled were found frozen in the ice of the lake.
BACK OF THE BOOK
Trump is wading into the Rubicon
By Zach Hagadone Reader Staff
The past two or so weeks have to be among the bizarrest in U.S. living memory. It’s hard to even know where to begin. On May 30, President Donald Trump gave billionaire drug addict/faux tech savant Elon Musk some kind of golden key “to the White House” as a blatant kiss off from the disastrous Department of Government Efficiency.
Obviously tripping on some pharmaceutical cocktail — and with a black eye apparently given to him after he invited his toddler to punch him in the face — Musk went back to whatever kind of hermetically sealed supervillain bunker he uses to house his true alien form and proceeded to rage tweet against Trump.
In the grip of a clear psychotic break, the world’s richest man called for the president of the United States to be impeached, alleged that he was part of a notorious child sex ring and took the dubious credit for getting the ungrateful Trump elected to his second term.
For his part, Trump threatened to cancel Musk’s billions of dollars worth of federal contracts (correctly pointing out that such a move would be a great savings to the American people), and the MAGAsphere erupted with a paroxysm of dissembling, hand-wringing, projection and viciousness as coherent as a medieval village in the throes of mass ergot poisoning.
That was all just leading up to last weekend, around the time that Trump ordered a large-scale military incursion of Los Angeles by federalized National Guard troops and active duty Marines, narrated with an insane stream
of raving social media posts alternately claiming that L.A. would be “obliterated” without his protection (despite the protests being isolated to one small part of downtown) and threatening to use military personnel to commit retaliatory violence against protesters opposed to a wave of high-handed Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids in the city: “If they spit, we will hit,” and, “I promise you they will be hit harder than they have ever been hit before.”
Oh, and he called California Gov. Gavin Newsom “Newscum” and indicated it would be “great” to arrest the top elected executive official of a state that represents the largest economy in the nation and the fourth largest in the world. Arrested by whom and for what is unclear, though Newsom came right out and called the whole episode what it is: an “unmistakable step toward authoritarianism” and a “deranged fantasy” perpetrated by a “dictatorial president.”
It’s not accurate to say that what’s happening — physically — in L.A. is unprecedented in U.S. history. Presidents have deployed military forces against protesters numerous times in the 20th century alone: from the Bonus March in 1932 to several instances throughout the 1960s and even up to the 1990s in L.A., no less.
What’s different and most chilling this time is how rooted Trump’s orders are in his personal belief in the unchecked, and uncheckable, power of his office. These are actions being taken from a philosophical and political place of autocracy. It’s Czar Nicholas II siccing the Imperial Guard on worker protests at the Winter Palace in 1905; it’s the Chinese Communist Party mobilizing troops on Tiananmen Square in 1989 to oppose anti-corruption demonstrators.
Obviously those incidents resulted in mass bloodshed; and, so far, no one has been killed amid the (objectively minor) unrest in L.A. — though there have been injuries, including at least 20 reporters “assaulted or obstructed” by authorities, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
However, the broader significance of this unfolding event is that Trump is toeing into the Rubicon — a few more steps toward executive supremacy and he’ll have entered into a category of presidential imperiousness that has rarely been seen in our history and, once crossed into, is as difficult as it is dangerous to come back from. Meanwhile, if there’s one truth to be taken so far from the L.A. ICE raids and militarized response to protests: No one who doesn’t eat paint chips for breakfast should ever again listen to the Republican Party or anyone in the conservative movement writ large about the sanctity of “states’ rights” or limiting federal power. They are the radicals, the proto-monarchists and the anti-Americans, and I predict that will be the resounding truth expressed when Trump’s ludicrous strongman military birthday parade in the nation’s capital is met with countless “No Kings” demonstrations across
Photo illustration by Ben Olson
Laughing Matter
Solution on page 22 Solution on page 22
By Bill Borders
carillon
/KAR-uh-lon/ [noun]
Week of the
Corrections: In the June 5 story “Self-sufficiency, compassion and the philosophy of ‘chugal,’” we incorrectly reported that LPOHS students built the East Bonner County Library garden. Though the students have put a great deal of work into the site, it was built by library volunteers and staff members. We regret the error.
1. a set of bells hung in a tower and played using a keyboard or pedals
“The campus’ carillon hadn’t been played in decades until it was restored last year.”
People laugh when I say that I think a jellyfish is one of the most beautiful things in the world. What they don’t understand is, I mean a jellfish with long, blonde hair.
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Gunk
5. British dandy 9. Specter
14. Angelic headgear
15. River in Spain
16. Audio communication device
17. Mastermind
19. Make amends
Coronet 21. Divulges
23. He covers walls
25. Gradual deterioration 28. French for “End”
Cry loudly 32. Wear away
33. Dog with a wrinkly face 34. Beige
35. Defeat decisively 36. Ground beef with peppery powder
38. Discharged a debt 39. Otherwise 40. Lair
41. Attached 43. Seated oneself 44. Dung beetle 45. In an incorrect manner
Elating to metabolism 48. Four-string guitars
Uninterested
Shopworn
Squander
Lace tip
58. Auspices
59. Skin disease
60. Category
61. Expunge
62. Its symbol is Pb
DOWN
Voucher
Hindu princess
Arm bone
Nameplate
Anagram of “Eat”
Lacking in discernment
Not back
8. Emphatic 9. Engraved 10. Bigot 11. Scent 12. Transgressions 13. Foot digit 18. Legitimate 22. One of a kind 24. Short tale 25. Challenges 26. Deadly virus 27. Outer layer of the Earth 29. Climb 30. Bay window 31. Chum 33. Bowling target
34. Kind of church 37. Foreshadowed 42. Excuse 44. Erase 45. Anything extinct 46. Metric unit of length 47. Ecru 48. Desire
