Reader_Nov15_2018 by Ben Olson

central heat and air conditioning, vaulted ceilings with

DEAR READERS, (wo)MAN

compiled by Susan Drinkard

on the street

We are heading into the season of Thanksgiving and generosity.

If you won $50,000 that you had to give away, what charity or cause would you donate to?

“Probably a charity whereby homeless animals could have their vaccinations, spay or neutering services, treatment for heart worm, ticks and fleas—or for whatever medical procedure was necessary.”

Cobey Salinas

Senior at Forrest Bird Charter School Sagle

“I would divide it between Saint Jude‘s Children’s Hospital and a German shepherd rescue.”

April Brown Server/The Hound Cocolalla

“I would donate it to charities that provide Christmas presents to children.”

Harold Townsend

Walmart department manager Coeur d’Alene

“Kinderhaven! My husband grew up in foster care ... so I have a big heart for caring for children whose parents cannot do it.”

Dominique Hernandez Walmart department manager Moyie Springs

“I would give it to a relief fund for victims of the fires in California. ... My mom grew up in Paradise, Calif., the town that burned down, and she is pretty bummed.”

Brian Kidd Cement worker Sandpoint

“I would give a portion of it to Operation Christmas Child and a portion to a spay and neutering effort.”

Tatiana Marti

Vet assistant Bonners Ferry

Greetings! As you read this, I am already across the Atlantic, traveling Portugal with my girlfriend Cadie and preparing for our transatlantic voyage from the island of Madeira to Antigua in the Caribbean in a 40-foot catamaran. The voyage should take anywhere from 18 to 22 days, depending on weather, so I won’t be back in Sandpoint until Christmas.

I leave you, dear readers, in the capable hands of Cameron, Lyndsie, Jodi and our stable of awesome contributors who have worked tirelessly to provide us with extra content so my staff wouldn’t be too overwhelmed. I’ve been burning the midnight oil the last couple months laying out as much of the paper as I could, filling it with articles that aren’t time-sensitive, and working with our advertisers to get as many ads confirmed and placed in advance. As with any vacation, you usually work the same amount of work before you leave just preparing for the time you’re away, but it’s still worth it. I’ve learned more traveling than I ever have in a classroom.

I encourage you all to be forgiving with any errors that pop up. Understand that this is already a hell of a job for our small staff when we’re all there each week. We all play an integral part of putting this paper together, so my absence for seven consecutive issues will not help matters. I owe you, Cameron, Lyndsie and Jodi.

Please send all emails you normally send to me to either Cameron or Lyndsie (cameron@sandpointreader.com and lyndsie@sandpointreader.com). Advertising inquiries go to jodi@sandpointreader.com and anything to do with bookkeeping can be directed to sandybessler@hotmail.com. My phone will not be turned on (!!!) for seven weeks, so don’t bother leaving a message. In essence, I will be incommunicado until we arrive in Antigua before Christmas.

Running with the theme of travel, we’re launching the first of seven travel stories with photographs this week. These stories came from various members of the community, including one I wrote myself.

This newspaper is a big part of my life, but it’s important to step away from the weekly grind. I trust my staff to represent the Reader well and keep the ship afloat ... er, that’s a bad metaphor. No sinking ships here.

Without further ado, I wish you all a pleasant seven weeks. I’m out.

-Ben Olson, Publisher

READER

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

www.sandpointreader.com

Publisher: Ben Olson ben@sandpointreader.com

Editor: Cameron Rasmusson cameron@sandpointreader.com

Zach Hagadone (emeritus) John Reuter (emeritus)

Advertising: Jodi Berge Jodi@sandpointreader.com

Contributing Artists:

Woods Wheatcroft (cover), Susan Drinkard, Ben Olson, Cameron Rasmusson, Travis Thompson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Hannah Combs, Kelly McMasters

Contributing Writers:

Cameron Rasmusson, Ben Olson, Lyndsie Kiebert, Nick Gier, Emily Erickson, Brenden Bobby, Sharon Bosley, Tim Henney, Hannah Combs

Submit stories to: stories@sandpointreader.com

Printed weekly at: Griffin Publishing Spokane, Wash.

Subscription Price: $95 per year

Web Content: Keokee

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

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

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

Sandpoint Reader letter policy:

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

–No more than 400 words –Letters may not contain excessive profanity or libelous material. Please elevate the discussion.

Letters will be edited to comply with the above requirements. Opinions expressed in these pages are those of the writers, not necessarily the publishers.

Email letters to: letters@sandpointreader.com

Check us out on the web at: www.sandpointreader.com Like us on Facebook.

About the Cover

This week’s cover photo was taken by Sandpoint photographer Woods Wheatcroft.

Christmas comes to Sandpoint with tree installation

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

It’s officially the holiday season in Sandpoint with the installation of the town Christmas tree.

Worker crews installed the first of several trees donated for use by local governments in Jeff Jones Town Square Wednesday morning, which is tradition-

ally viewed as the town’s official Christmas tree. Valued at around $300, the tree is donated by the Young Living Highland Flats Research and Distillery. At 30 feet in height, city officials said the grand fir struck an impressive presence beckoning residents into the holiday-season spirit from the Jeff Jones Town Square fountain.

According to Brett Packer, manager of the Naples-based Young Living Highland Flat Research and Distillery, they’re pleased to provide Sandpoint and Bonner County with a little holiday cheer. Indeed, they’re donating several trees to that purpose. In the coming days they’ll install a tree at Bonner County Fairgrounds as

County approves no-wake buoys in Hope

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

Bonner County commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to approve six no-wake zone buoys to be placed on Lake Pend Oreille in Hope.

County Parks and Waterways Director James Shannon said the six buoys will be placed near Memaloose Island. While Bonner County will front the initial cost of $1,500 to purchase the buoys, Hope man Todd Wendle will reimburse the county, Shannon said.

“I appreciate that this resident has decided to provide those buoys, as they do cost, and that’s an expense we don’t have to bear,” said Commissioner Glen Bailey.

The county, specifically the Bonner County Waterways Advisory Board, has been working to find solutions to local wake damage issues for about two years. The advisory board approved the location of the buoys discussed Tuesday, Shannon said.

Shannon said his department will now wait for a permit from the Idaho

Department of Lands before moving forward with placement of the six buoys. He said the buoys will likely be put into use this coming spring, given IDL’s approval.

well as several others in city and county offices, Packer said.

Local Travis Thompson helped arrange the tree donation between Packer and lo-

cal governments. He said it’s been an altogether satisfying experience spreading a little holiday cheer.

Northland to expand service

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Thanks to a $50 million investment secured in October, Northland Communications is rolling out a suite of upgrades to its serviceable area.

The company announced last week that it plans to roll out capital improvements that will boost network speeds up to 100 megabits per second. The company will further boost service potential by the end of 2019 with one-gigabit plans.

“We’ve received all of the necessary funding upfront to deploy the new network enhancements, and we plan to invest the entire $50 million by the end of

next year. We are excited to be able to offer 100meg internet service across our footprint to residential and business customers in our community, and we’re looking forward to testing a one-gig service next year,” said Vince Reinig, Northland Technical Operations Manager, in a press statement.

To help guide the expansion of services in smalland medium-sized areas, Northland hired Ed Butler, a commercial services executive with 20 years of experience in the field.

“We’re looking to partner with local municipalities and city organizations as well as enterprise-level customers to build solutions tailor-made for their needs,” said Reinig.

Left: Brett Packer and Travis Thompson stand in front of the Sandpoint Christmas tree following its installation. Photo by Cameron Rasmusson

Right: The Sandpoint Christmas tree is loaded up for transportation to Je Jones Town Square in Sandpoint. Photo by Travis Thompson

Understory Co ee to open second location

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

Understory Coffee and Tea — downtown Sandpoint’s often sunflower-clad coffee stand at the intersection of Second Avenue and Cedar — is opening a second location in Ponderay and kicking things off with a grand opening on Tuesday, Nov. 20.

Understory owners Evan Metz and Johnelle Fifer said the new location came into view this past summer, when owners of the medical village at 30544 Highway 200 reached out to them about bringing their business to the area.

“We weren’t necessarily planning on it,” Metz said. “An opportunity presented itself.”

Fifer said after running some numbers it seemed like a feasible option.

“It’s exciting when people reach out to you and like your product,” Fifer said.

While the new location is dominated by medical offices, Fifer said they’ll get creative to make the cafe a comfortable place where people want to spend time. She said there will be a selection of books and board games available, as well as indoor and outdoor seating. They’re also expanding their crew, having already hired two new employees and planning to take on more once summer rolls around.

Metz and Fifer agree that it will be fun adding the sit-down cafe option to their repertoire.

“It’s going to be a cool arena for us to show off our latte art skills, and maybe have parties every now and then,” Fifer said.

The Ponderay cafe also offers enough space to include a small retail section, Fifer said. The section will feature some of Understory’s goods — bagged coffee and hand-blended teas, coffee scrub, chai concentrate and

more — as well as goods from other local people.

Tuesday’s grand opening in Ponderay will feature buy-one-get-one-half-off drinks 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event marks exactly two years since the opening of their first location, so visitors at the downtown stand on Tuesday will receive a “thank-you-for-the-last-two-

years” goody bag, Fifer said.

Metz and Fifer agreed that this expansion is likely the first of many ventures beyond their downtown coffee stand.

“We’ll see what happens on Nov. 20 next year,” Metz said.

Understory’s second cafe is located at 30544 Highway 200, suite 303. Find more details about the new

location and grand opening event by visiting Understory on Facebook or @understorycoffee on Instagram. Also learn more about Understory at understorycoffee.com.

Chamber of Commerce seeks T-shirts for Paradise

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Sandpoint knows a thing or two about battling wildfires, particularly when it comes to the homes and property that can be lost in the destruction

That’s why the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce is bringing together local businesses, nonprofits and residents to assist Paradise, Calif., during its time of need.

Chamber staffers are organizing a T-shirt drive to collect leftover clothing from races, fundraisers and events. The chamber alone has several hundred leftover shirts from past Scenic Half marathons, and if their guess proves correct, there are likely many more shirts sitting around from the dozens of special events that occur in Sandpoint each year.

“We are a non-profit organization, so we don’t have money to give; but we

do have T-shirts. This community needs everything, so why not help in our own small way,” said Chamber President and CEO Kate McAlister in a press release.

According to Kristin Carlson, Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce communications specialist, everyone in North Idaho knows that a tragic wildfire could just as easily happen here. Driven by that basic sense of empathy, drive organizers are seeking both

leftover shirts and donations for shipping costs.

The Chamber has already received T-shirt donations from The Bulldog Bench, The Festival at Sandpoint and Dave Scherbarth, as well as cash donations from community members.

The T-shirts will be sent to Chico, Calif., the closest unaffected distribution center, which will then donate the shirts among individuals affected by the Paradise fires. Should any money

remain from the shipping donations, it will be given to the Paradise Rotary Foundation.

If you would like to contribute T-shirts or funds for shipping, call the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce at 208-263-2161 or drop off your donations at 1202 N Fifth Ave. The Chamber would like to mail the care packages by this Friday, Nov. 16

Evan Metz and Johnelle Fifer. Courtesy photo.

In Response to Mr. Rose... Caring for our Idaho neighbors...

Thank you for allowing me to express my amazement at being quoted by a Mr. Rose who apparently believes my quotes hold some sort of importance or weight. I just wish it was a REAL quote! Just a few facts (things that are real) in case you wish to quote me some more. 1.) I don’t interfere with my wife’s politics, and she doesn’t interfere with my golf. 2.) Ever since I graduated from Priest River High School in 1970 I have NEVER voted a straight ticket as both parties offer good and bad candidates and ideas. 3.) By the way, my wife didn’t run again, so what would be the point of me trying to defame the person I love the most?

In closing, perhaps we should have met before Mr. Rose started quoting me. On second thought, I’m not sure I want to meet this Mr. Rose. You may quote me on that!

Thank you for the time and space.

Sincerely, Mike Keough Sandpoint

Prop 2, the People’s initiative for Medicaid Expansion, passed in Idaho! Many Sandpoint locals, who worked on this campaign, are very proud of the grassroots activism which began in our community under the leadership of Luke Mayville and Garrett Stutzke (both SHS graduates) along with Emily Stutzke. These three Millennials recognized the need, rolled-up their sleeves and guided hundreds of volunteers along the path toward accomplishing this victory for the citizens of our State.

Do you know anyone who makes more than $6,500, but less than $17,000 a year? These are the people referred to as the “working poor” who will now benefit from this expansion. It will allow these folks to get regular preventive healthcare, instead of ignoring health issues that eventually necessitate emergency room visits.

Idahoans pay into the federal Medicaid programs, but previously none of the funds were returning to Idaho due to Republican

politics in Boise. It has been much like going to a store, paying for something, then walking-away without it.

Two years ago, Montana accepted Medicaid Expansion and according to Montana’s Dept. of Public Health, their state has saved more than $30 million. The reason being, Montana’s 10% cost for this expansion is a lot less than what they were paying for their indigent care program. It has proved to be the fiscally responsible thing to do.

Now collectively, Idahoans can be pleased that we’ll be caring for our neighbors, as we’d hope we’d be cared for if roles were reversed. Love Lives Here!

Rebecca Holland Sandpoint

Got something to say? Write a letter to the editor at letters@ sandpointreader.com. Under 400 words, and please elevate the discussion. Please no handwritten letters!

Mahatma Gandhi: Love other religions as your own

By Nick Gier Reader Columnist

“I’ve broadened my Hinduism by other loving other religions as my own.”

—M. K. Gandhi

Next year on October 2 is the sesquicentennial of Mohandas K. Gandhi’s birth, Celebrated by his fellow Indians as the “Mahatma” (Great Soul), I propose that we get a head start on the anniversary by looking at his view of the world’s religions. There are basically two responses one can take to the rich diversity within the world’s great religions. Many religious conservatives maintain that their religion is the only true faith and that the others are false. Some fundamentalists go further to declare spiritual war on all other religions, even saying that physical combat will be necessary. Muslims jihadists raising AK-47s in the air are dramatic examples of this. Just as alarming, however, is Lt. Gen. William Boykin, who, in full dress uniform in front of evangelical congregations, said this of a Somali war lord: “I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was

a real God and his was an idol.”

Equally troubling is Ed Kalnins, Sarah Palin’s former pastor, who, with reference to Iraq, stated that Jesus operates “from that position of war mode.”

The second option to religious diversity is the liberal one. (I’m using “liberal” in the original sense of liberalis, “pertaining to the free person.”) Traditionally, religious liberals were instrumental in establishing freedom of religion in the liberal democracies of the world. The religious liberal believes that there is some value in every religion, and that people should find and celebrate any common ground they can find.

Problems arise, however, when we attempt to define that common ground. When the Rev. John Henry Barrows opened the 1893 World Parliament of Religions, he blithely assumed that the delegates shared “the blessed truths of divine Fatherhood.” Although always polite and dignified, Buddhist, Hindu, and Confucian representatives made it clear that they did not embrace this belief.

More often, however, religious liberals have defined the common ground as an impersonal Godhead from which all the various personal gods are but manifestations. The most famous exponent of this view is Aldous

President’s Words Have Deadly Consequences...

Dear Editor,

Eleven worshipers were murdered in Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life Synagogue by a man shouting his hatred of Jewish people. Leading Democrats, who have criticized Mr. Trump were threatened with bombs sent in the mail by an unhinged Trump supporter. He also sent mail bombs to CNN, which has been critical of Mr. Trump. Fortunately, these bombs did not explode … but they might have.

The president has incited an atmosphere of fear, hatred and racism by his verbal attacks on immigrants, on Muslims and on people with a darker skin color. Furthermore, because Jewish people have been historically treated as scapegoats by political tyrants, the president’s use of fear inflames antisemitism in this country. Even more, Mr. Trump has vilified the free press, which is one of our basic safeguards in this democracy.

Any president’s voice commands the greatest attention in the nation. If Mr. Trump’s words have no effect, then why does he hold rallies and give speeches? Yes, his words have consequences, and deadly ones at that. He must be held responsible for what he says, as he seems incapable of doing so himself.

Moreover, the president is aware that he uses the rhetoric of fear to gain power. In a recent book entitled, “Fear,” by well-known investigative reporter Bob Woodward, Mr. Trump, when running for the presidency, said in an interview with Woodward and his colleague Robert Costa on March 31, 2016, that, “Real power is — I don’t even want to use the word — fear.” Hence, the reason for Woodward’s title. Also, in her book, “Fascism: A Warning,” former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright summarizes the contemporary history of how authoritarian leaders have undermined democracies by using language that exploits insecurities, stirs up resentments and inflames anger. This is certainly what Mr. Trump has accomplished.

We the people must demand that our president stop vilifying and name calling others, which has divided our country. The president should convene a joint session of Congress and together proclaim a stop to violence. This proclamation must denounce the hatred that has led to the violence we have all witnessed. For the sake of unity, this document must call for our nation to come together and begin the healing process — and mean it.

Philip A. Deutchman

Sandpoint

Huxley, whose book “The Perennial Philosophy,” although drawing on mystics all over the world, still has a very definite Asian bias.

At one point in his life Gandhi appeared to agree with Huxley: “What of substance is contained in any other religion is to be found in Hinduism.” Far too many Hindus have been guilty of proclaiming that “Everyone is a Hindu,” but Gandhi finally realized that this view was wrong.

Religious morality and laws based on it are one of the greatest contributions of the world’s religions. (Even some critics of religion are willing to concede this.) It seems reasonable, then, to bring the world’s religions under moral categories such as justice, nonviolence, tolerance and compassion. Insisting that “there is no such thing as religion overriding morality,” Gandhi states that “true religion and true morality are inseparably bound up with each other.”

While Gandhi believed that truth is absolute, individual views of it will always be “relative, many-sided, and plural.” Gandhi learned this from his Jain friends, followers of an ancient Indian religion that was the first to preach the doctrine of non-violence. Their most famous parable is the story of the five blind women and the elephant. By grabbing on to one part of the elephant, each woman would know something true about the

The Sco eld Bible...

Dear Editor,

The Scofield Reference Bible was first created in 1908 by Jewish Zionists to promote a Zionist agenda for the creation of a political state of Israel in the “Holy Lands.”

The Zionist plan was to alter the Christian view of Zionism by creating and promoting a pro-Zionist subculture within Christianity. Cyrus I. Scofield’s role was to re-write the King James Version of the Bible by inserting Zionist-friendly notes in the margins, between verses and chapters, and on the bottoms of the pages. The Oxford University Press used Scofield, a pastor at the time, as the editor, probably because it needed such a man as a front. The revised bible was called the Scofield Reference Bible and it became a best-selling Bible in America and has remained so for over 100 years.

The Oxford University Press has owned The Scofield Reference Bible from the beginning.

Of particular importance to the Zionist penetration of American Christian churches has been the fast growth of national Bible study organizations, such as Bible Study Fellowship and Precept Ministries.

Among more traditional churches that

animal but that truth would only be partial.

Gandhi once said that “I very much like this Jain doctrine of the many-sidedness of reality. It is this doctrine that has taught me to judge a Muslim from his own standpoint and a Christian from his. Formerly I used to resent the ignorance of my opponents. Today I can love them because I am gifted with the eye to see myself as others see me and vice versa.”

Gandhi did not foresee nor favor a single religion dominating the world, and he did not want people to convert to other faiths. He was once tempted to convert to Islam to heal the Muslim-Hindu divide, but he decided against the idea. He realized that it would be politically expedient rather than spiritually motivated.

Just as the Dalai Lama always tells his admirers who want to convert to Buddhism, Gandhi insisted that people find value and spiritual sustenance in their own faith traditions: they “should adhere to their own faiths more strictly and pay greater attention to their moral teaching.”

Nick Gier of Moscow taught religion and philosophy at the University of Idaho for 31 years. Read portions of his book on Gandhi at webpages.uidaho.edu/ngier/vnv. htm. Email him at ngier006@gmail.com.

recommend the use of the Scofield Reference Bible is the huge Southern Baptist Convention of America whose capture is world zionism’s greatest achievement.

Scofield’s notes weave parts of the Old and New Testaments together as though all were written at the same time by the same people. In many cases the Oxford references prove to be puzzling trails leading nowhere, simply diversions. Scofield’s borrowed ideas were later popularized under the labels and definitions that have evolved into common usage today — “pre-millennialism,” “dispensationalism,” “Judeo-Christianity,” and most recently the political movement called “Christian Zionism.’ Because of the hundreds of easy-to-read footnotes Scofield added to about half of the pages of the King James Edition, students of the Bible became increasingly dependent on these modern language footnotes, as the Old English grammar of the KJE has become increasingly difficult for progressive generations of readers.

In 1967 these footnotes were applied to the New International Version which is the version I own.

Lee Santa Sandpoint

Mahatma Gandhi.

COMMUNITY

Davis Grocery and Mercantile hosts grand opening Saturday

Christmas Origami workshop o ered

By Reader Staff

I like to joke that my job consists of mostly just talking with people.

It’s true. Being a reporter means a whole lot of meeting in coffee shops, asking, listening, typing and listening some more. I am essentially a professional chatter, and I dig it.

What I dig most is what comes of the conversations that start with questions about a local event or new business or album but then turn into discussions completely unrelated.

“Off the record” is my attempt to pay homage to these digressions. No, I’m not going to spill any truly off-the-record reporting details. Those are the ones where people say, “This is off the record, but ...” and proceed to give my story a little insight without the desire to have their name attached to that information. I respect those requests within reason, and have no intention of broadcasting that information here.

This sidebar’s title is more in reference to the stuff that didn’t make the story simply because it didn’t fit or make sense within the article’s parameters. It’s the stuff I couldn’t stop thinking about after the interview, and after I reviewed my notes. They’re little pieces, here and there, that stick with me because I gleaned some wisdom from them, or because it gave me some insight into my interview subject I would have never known otherwise.

“Off the record” is where plan to share the things I learn from this job outside of the figures, facts and quotes.

By Reader Staff

After several months of hard work, Davis Grocery and Mercantile will officially open their grocery store and cafe Saturday, Nov. 17, with a Grand Opening event 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

The event will feature free samples of the products Davis Grocery will offer, as well as

live music from Fiddlin’ Red. There will also be free coffee for the first 15 customers.

For more information, find “Davis Grocery & Mercantile, LLC” on Facebook.

FLYING HIGH WITH THE READER

Learn the fun and inexpensive art of Origami, or Japanese paper folding. A variety of traditional and contemporary techniques for Christmas figures such as poinsettias, balls, cranes, Santa, angels and more will be explored in this workshop.

Participants are asked to being their own thin paper; white for practice and colored or wrapping paper pre-cut into 4-, 6- and 8-inch squares.

The workshop will be Tuesdays, November 28 and December 5. The class fee is $23 per person ($3 in-city discount). The class will take place at Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave. from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

The online registration deadline is Nov. 21. Regis-

ter at www.sandpointidaho.gov/ parksrecreation or after deadline at the Sandpoint Parks and Recreation office, 1123 Lake Street. Call (208) 263-3613 for more information.

11th annual Turkey Trot

By Reader Staff

Join Sandpoint West Athletic Club and the Sandpoint Parks and Recreation Department for the 11th Annual Turkey Trot and food drive on Thanksgiving morning, Thursday, Nov. 22.

This low key event features a 5k, 10K or whatever distance you want to run or walk (no bikes and no dogs please).

This fun run is free with your

nonperishable donation to the food bank. Event will start at the Travers Park Parking Lot (1202 W. Pine Street) at 9 a.m., come early to sign a waiver (minors need a parent or guardian signature) and to drop off food donations. For more information, call (208) 263-3613. For other activities offered by P&R, visit our web site at: www.sandpointidaho.gov/parksrecreation

Laughing Matter

By Bill Borders

Eileen Esplin of Sandpoint at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2018. Thanks for bringing the Reader, Eileen!

Editor’s note: Ben Olson is on vacation until Christmas, so sta writer Lyndsie Kiebert will take over this space for the time being.

Davis Grocery and Mercantile as it stands this week, fresh paint job and all. Photo by Lyndsie Kiebert.

Emily Articulated

A column by and about Millennials

Drinking with Elaine

By Emily Erickson Reader Columnist

Elaine Amsterdam was standing on her porch smoking a Marlboro black cigarette in a long, flowy nightgown and a scarf draped asymmetrically across her petite shoulders. At 93 years old and barely 5 feet tall she looked positively fabulous.

I found out about Elaine through a regular bar patron of mine who encouraged me to simply sit with her for an evening over a glass or two of scotch, promising I’d have more than enough material to fuel the 700-plus words of this column.

And let me tell you, readers, was this trusty bar patron ever right.

I creaked up the stairs toward Elaine’s silhouette, gripping my weather-worn notepad tightly in anticipation. After gently reminding her why I was visiting (Elaine experiences short-term memory loss), we stepped into the light of her living room.

As I looked around her home, my heart began pounding in the way it does when you know you’re in the midst of something profound. Hanging proudly on every wall in Elaine’s living room was incredible artwork; Elaine’s artwork.

Elaine is a world-renowned artist and teacher, specializing in watercolor, charcoal, and encaustic (wax-based) painting, with her pieces having been exhibited at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, at the Westminster Gallery in London, and within her complete collection at the Pepperdine University library

in Malibu.

Needless to say, her work was really, really good. Pulling myself out of awe-inspired contemplativeness, I locked eyes with Elaine for the first time since being under the light of her living room. She was looking at me with intensity, in a way that I was sure meant she was studying my face, accounting for the shadows, for how the glow of the lamp was hitting my messy bun, or for how my mouth was turned upward in a combination of nervousness and excitement.

“What is that piece of hair doing in your face? Move that over. Is that in fashion these days?” Elaine said with both gumption and kindness. My hair was windblown from my bike ride hours before our meeting. Shit.

This was the first of many quotes from Elaine that I would reflect upon in either laughter or admiration. But because the evening was too full of warm and inspiring conversation for a single column, I’d like to just share the two quotes of Elaine’s, and their context, that I found most significant.

The first quote was in the middle of a conversation about Elaine’s teaching method and philosophy. I posed the question of whether or not she thought anyone could be an artist with proper training and consistent practice, or if there was a part of art, perhaps creativity, that was innate; to which some people are simply more predisposed.

This prompted Elaine to describe creativity like a crack in a doorway, with the sliver of light beaming through the crack looking different to each person. “To some people,” Elaine described, “creativity looks like navigating a relationship well or by seeing buildings by all the parts they’re made up of.” She explained, the more people pursue the light of their creativity, their door continues to open, letting in more and more light. Through practicing creativity, it becomes a bigger and bigger our lives and perspectives.

“When teaching art students,” she continued, “the first thing I would do is teach them how to see. Because when you look at things, really taking the time to see them in their entirety, you learn to look at them with love.”

Taking time to practice creativity in whatever way makes sense to us, and learning to look at our worlds, even at things we consider mundane, with the eye of an artist, through the lens of love, is a noteworthy endeavor, and certainly one worth pursuing.

The final quote with which I’ll leave you was a message that Elaine repeated several times. It was one that had guided her life, and that she wanted

to make sure she shared as a token of genuine advice from someone who considers herself having a life well lived.

We were talking about gratitude. She was describing the importance of being grateful for your life, for the moment you’re in, even if it doesn’t look like what you expected it to be. Because loving your life, whatever it looks like, is the key to happiness.

“But most importantly,” she shared, “remember to

treat yourself like you’d treat someone you love and cherish dearly.” Her most prized piece of wisdom was about making choices out of self-respect, of self-care, and of understanding that you are the most worthy person on earth of receiving your own love.

And those messages, my friends, were far more powerful than the morning pangs of a scotch-induced headache that followed my evening drinking with Elaine.

Retroactive By BO

Sadly, this turned

Emily Erickson.

Science: Mad about

lobsters and friends

By Brenden Bobby Reader Columnist

Everyone’s favorite status dinner! Few things beat a succulent lobster tail drenched in enough butter to send you into cardiac arrest.

What can be said about the lobster that we don’t already know? They have eight legs and two claws, and if they didn’t taste so darn delicious, they’d be a thing of nightmares. Did you know they also have blue blood? I’m not talking your hoity-toity aunt Sally kind of blue blood, but actual blue blood. Their nightmarish friend, the spider, also has blue blood because of something called hemocyanin, which has a high presence of copper. Our blood, meanwhile, is red because of the iron in it. If blood makes you squeamish, just remember: It looks that way for the same reason we call Mars the red planet.

Also, it’s an instinctive reaction to knowing we’re in danger when we see our life flowing out of us, but that’s a problem for another time.

Another cool fact about lobsters is they can live up to 50 years. Most of them don’t, because they end up being boiled alive well before that happens, but it must be soothing to know that lobster retirement is a possibility. Another weird thing is that lobsters actually gain vigor with age, with their fertility and energy improving as they grow older. This stems from a special enzyme found during fetal development of most animals, one that goes away after the developmental stage, but remains in the lobster indefinitely. Unfortunately, eating lobster won’t make you any younger.

Also somewhat related to that factoid, lobsters are able to add muscle mass throughout their lives and they grow in size each time they molt. While it’s true that humans can somewhat accomplish that feat (We’ve all heard of the 75-plus-year-old ironmen), our cells begin to degrade over time, and we eventually start losing muscle mass.

When lobsters molt, they’ll occasionally eat their old skin. This might sound gross, but their skin has probably seen less than your fingernails, and look at how many people chew those to the nub with stress. This makes sense for lobsters, as they can directly recycle nutrients from their old exoskeleton to put towards the new one, similar to when a chicken will eat her own eggs when presented with a calcium deficiency.

Usually, lobsters walk around on the seafloor. This retains their energy as they’re willing to eat anything, and a lot of anything doesn’t tend to move very fast. However, when they’re frightened, they’ll essentially do really fast crunches with their abdomen and zoom away in speeds excess of 10 miles an hour. This is called the caridoid escape reaction and it’s absolutely hilarious to watch.

When it comes to preparing animals as food, lobsters definitely got the short end of the stick. Most other animals are killed instantaneously and then butchered well before we get our grubby butter-slicked paws on them. Lobsters, not so much. In most cases, they’re alive moments before we order them, and sometimes we get to watch them boil alive in front of us. This is among the worst ways to die, I’m sure (right up there with getting

mauled by wolves or bitten by a Black Mamba), but for us to consume them it must be done. Being a bottom-dwelling oceanic species, lobsters absorb a lot of bacteria into their bodies, which deposits into the flesh. While it’s alive, its natural systems can keep these in check. After it’s dead, decomposition happens very quickly and the meat spoils, which can make us very sick. Boiling it to death cooks it and kills the bacteria before it can proliferate and sicken us.

As long as you’re cooking it immediately, you can humanely kill a lobster by driving a knife directly between its eyes. This is called pithing, and it’s not a practice limited to lobsters. In fact, many commercial animals are slaughtered this way as it’s more accurate and easier to clean than shooting it, which presents the opportunity of bullet fragmentation that could ruin meat or even harm the person slaughtering the animal.

Crayfish are relatives of the lobster, though you may know them better as crawfish or crawdads. They’re a staple of southern cuisine, but try as you might, you won’t replicate that southern taste from our crayfish around here. Like the geoduck, the taste of crayfish flesh changes dramatically based on the water quality and type of mud they happen to dwell in. I’m sure that the temperature difference between here and the South has a lot to do with the differing taste as well.

Crayfish can also be kept as pets in aquariums, but only buy them from a certified vendor. Ripping one from its home in the river is a terribly inhumane thing to do, and you have no idea what kind of diseases it could be carrying that may or

may not be transmissible to you when you clean its tank.

The woodlouse is also related to lobsters. This is pretty crazy, because the woodlouse is terrestrial and not aquatic. Woodlice are beneficial to gardeners because they help break down organic material for composting. If you happen to find a boatload of them in your house, it likely means you have a moisture problem of some kind, be it a leaky

pipe or a crack somewhere that’s letting water into places water shouldn’t be going.

Unlike lobsters and crayfish, woodlice don’t taste good with butter. In fact, people have described them as tasting like urine.

Well, there went my business proposal for “Gray Woodlouse Restaurants, LLC”. I guess I can always try my hand at selling cheddar biscuits.

Random Corner

Don’t know much about inventors? We

can help!

• Thomas Edison electrocuted an elephant in 1903 to prove Tesla’s AC current was dangerous.

• The inventor of Vaseline used to eat a spoonful of it every day.

• Leo Da Vinci’s studies of river erosion convinced him that Earth is much older than the Bible implies.

• Nikola Tesla once “shook the poop out” of a constipated Mark Twain with an experiment.

• Leo Fender, inventor of the Telecaster and Stratocaster, could not play guitar.

• The first mobile phone call was made in 1973 by Martin Cooper, a former Motorola inventor.

• A 10-year-old accidentally created in 2012 a new molecule in science class: tetranitratoxycarbon.

• Charles Richter, who invented the Richter Scale, was a nudist.

• Rudolf Diesel, who invented the diesel engine, committed suicide in 1913 because he didn’t think his invention would be successful.

• Benjamin Franklin never patented any of his inventions. He reasoned that “we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously.”

• The inventor of intermittent windshield wipers tried to sell his idea to the auto industry and was turned away. When they began showing up on new cars, he sued, and won. Ford Motor Co. ended up paying him $10.1 million and Chrysler paid him upwards of $30 million.

On the Lake:

A column about lake issues by the Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper

Introducing Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper’s new communications associate

By Sharon Bosley Reader Columnist

Water is life. Water is important to all living things; in some organisms, up to 90 percent of their body weight comes from water. Water is a fundamental human need. Each person on Earth requires clean, safe water for drinking, cooking and simply keeping themselves clean.

Greetings fellow aquaphiles, AKA water lovers! Let me introduce myself. My name is Sharon Bosley, and I am Lake Pend Oreille Waterkeeper’s new communications associate. This is a new position that involves keeping the public up to date on current issues within our local watershed. I’m excited to create a vision for LPOW’s communications strategies to make sure members of this community don’t miss a thing when it comes to protecting the health of our lake and other local waterways. We have many new and fun activities planned in the next year that will focus on keeping our lake swimmable, drinkable and fishable. Our new expanded team will continue to hold polluters accountable and keep the community informed of our progress. I have great respect for this organization and look forward to continuing to help drive their mission here on the shores of Lake Pend Oreille.

at www.lpow.org, as well as, follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to keep an eye out for our #GivingTuesday campaign. This is a day of giving in the middle of a season of consumerism. Consider giving the gift of protecting our lake this season with a membership to LPOW. We will also be working to expand our volunteer opportunities by offering a monthly volunteer orientation. In addition, we are in the process of planning some fun events in 2019 to celebrate LPOW’s 10th year as a WATERKEEPER. So get involved and stay connected to help protect and restore Lake Pend Oreille, our Lake for Life.

LPOW is a member organization of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, which works collectively to protect every community’s right to drinkable, fishable, swimmable water. Waterkeeper are a global network of grassroots leaders that work to address unique issues that impact their watersheds. Having a local Waterkeeper means you

have an organization that is committed to protecting and preserving Lake Pend Oreille and its associated waterways. Waterkeepers work everyday around the world on behalf of the common good and that’s what we’re doing right here in your backyard.

Although LPOW is a part of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, we do not receive funding from them. LPOW would not exist without the generous support of members and donors. In fact, 100 percent of our funding comes from donations, members, foundations and other grants. LPOW is truly a grassroots organization. We have no large corporate sponsors. No huge budget. Our members and supporters play a crucial role in keeping LPOW running strong and we would like to thank them for their continuing support to help protect the one thing that is important to all humans, clean water.

Feel the need to satiate your inner water warrior? Stay connected to hear about opportunities to become involved by signing up for our email newsletter

Sharon is from Michigan and graduated from Michigan Technological University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering Technologies. After college she moved to Idaho to experience all of the natural wonders and outdoor adventures that this great state offers. She worked at Micron Technologies in Boise for eight years before deciding to take a break to stay home with her two children. At that point she realized her need to be by water and chose to relocate to Coeur d’Alene.

In the meantime, Sharon and her husband focused their attention on creating a sustainable lifestyle by bike commuting, urban farming and reducing and reusing as much as possi-

ble. This focus led to Sharon’s involvement with Coeur d’Alene’s Earth Day Fair. She planned and organized the event as a volunteer which led to her to her involvement with Kootenai Environmental Alliance. She then joined the KEA board and soon after became a part time staff member as the development director. This position grew and she eventually became the executive director of the organization. As executive director, Sharon worked to expand KEA’s educational programs as well as laid the foundation for their new Water Quality testing program. Her three years of experience with KEA has given her a strong foundation for nonprofit work that will enhance the capacity of LPOW to reach a broader audience.

Sharon Bosley

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Dollar Beers!

8pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Good until the keg’s dry

Axe Throwing league

6-10pm @ Tervan Tavern

Live Music w/ Bob Beadling

C.A.S.A. Purse Party

4pm @ Pend d’Oreille Winery

$5 gets you a glass of wine as you shop and bid on designer handbags. Proceeds benefit C.A.S.A. (208) 660-6707

5:30-7:30pm @ Cedar St. Bistro Wine Bar

Where classical piano meets contemporary

Live Music w/ Devon Wade

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Celebrate Third Fridays w/ country night

Live Music w/ Truck Mills (blues)

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Live Music w/ Rob Smitty

5:30-7:30pm @ Cedar St. Bistro Wine Bar

Live Music w/ The Letter B

6:30-9:30pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Folk/rock/indie-hip-pop group from Missoula draws inspiration from the likes of the Dave Matthews Band, Atmosphere and Ray Lamontagne

Live Music w/ Lavoy 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

Spokane-based five piece alt-pop and indie band, blend and layer hints of modern alt-pop and ‘80s nostalgia

Sandpoint Chess Club

9am @ Evans Brothers Coffee Meets every Sunday at 9am

Girls Pint Out

Two plays: “Thanks 7:30pm @ Panida Theater These two one-act plays Written by locals Chris respectively

Live Music w/ Truck Mills and friends 9pm-12am @ 219 Lounge

Truck and his band will rock your blues

Live Music w/ Kevin Dorin

8-10pm @ The Back Door

Live Music w/ Mike and Shanna Thompson 5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Davis Grocery Grand Opening

7am-7pm @ Davis Grocery & Mercantile (620 Wellington Place, Hope)

Enjoy free samples and live music from Fiddlin’ Red

Live Music w/ Brian Jacobs and Chris Lynch 8-10pm @ The Back Door

Little Black Dress Fundraiser

5-9pm @ Sandpoint Event Cetner

Enjoy music, hors d’oeuvres, a no-host bar auction all while supporting Bonner Homeless tions. $25 per person. Tickets at eventbrite.com, Leaves and Sandpoint Furniture

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Cool chicks! Great beer! No dudes!

Monday Night Blues Jam w/ Truck Mills

7:30pm @ Eichardt’s Pub

Night-Out Karaoke 9pm @ 219 Lounge

Join DJ Pat for a night of singing, or just come to drink and listen

Wind Down Wednesday

5-8pm @ 219 Lounge

With live music by blues man Truck Mills and guest musician Mike Thompson

Trivia Night

7-9pm @ MickDuff’s

Bring your brain and show it off (please, not literally)

Bonner County Fairgrounds 10am-3pm @ Bonner Shop for handmade gifts the treats and coffee. Free

Lifetree Cafe • 2pm @ Jalepeño’s Mexican Restaurant

An hour of conversation and stories. This week’s

$2 Tuesday @ The Tervan Pints, tacos and more for $2.00

Magic Wednesday

6-8pm @ Jalapeño’s

Enjoy close-up magic shows by Star Alexander right at your table

Beer Hall Karaoke

7-10pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall Welcome all 21+, free admission

Happy Thanksgiving,

ful

November 15-22, 2018

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

Reader recommended

“Thanks A Lot” and “ True Believer”

Panida Theater one-act plays kick off the holiday season.

locals Chris Herron and Becky Revak,

Girls Pint Night Out

5-7pm @ Idaho Pour Authority

Cool Chicks! Great Beer! No Dudes! Join Vicki at the Big Table for an evening tasting and talking about Winter Ales.

Runaway Symphony in concert

7pm @ The Heartwood Center

The 2018 Pend Oreille Arts Council Performance Series presents Runaway Symphony, weaving an orchestral folk odyssey through rich harmonies, dynamic instrumentation, and vivid storytelling

Opening MerHope)

music from

November Doubles Cornhole Tournament

1pm @ MickDuff’s Beer Hall

Drink in History

2-5pm @ Bonner Co. History Museum

Sandpoint has an interesting history full of murder, mayhem, and prohibition. Join this colorful tour, which stops for a drink at each stop. $40/person, must be museum member

Cetner no-host bar and live Bonner Homeless Transieventbrite.com, Eve’s

County Fairgrounds Christmas Fair

@ Bonner County Fairgrounds

handmade gifts and unique crafts, check out and coffee. Free admission and parking

Mexican Restaurant

This week’s topic: “The Bible”

La Rosa Vive

Hall admission

Two plays: “Thanks A Lot” and “True Believer” 7:30pm @ Panida Theater

Two plays: “Thanks A Lot” and “True Believer”

7:30pm @ Panida Theater

Bonner County Fairgrounds Christmas Fair

9am-4pm @ Bonner County Fairgrounds Shop for handmade gifts and unique crafts, check out the treats and coffee, plus there will be kids’ activities and Christmas fun! Santa visits from noon to 2 p.m. each day. Free admission and parking

Karaoke

8pm-close @ The Tervan Saturday night’s alright for singing

Barrel of Leaves Cake Class

1-5pm @ Mugsys Tavern & Grill in Bonners Ferry

Designer Cakes hosts this fall-themed cake-decorating course. Register at designercakes605.com/classes.

Karaoke

8pm-close @ The Tervan Best song selection in Sandpoint

Two plays: “Thanks A Lot” and “True Believer” 3:30pm @ Panida Theater

8pm-12am @ Ivano’s Ristorante Live music, guest bartenders and light snacks

Gardenia Sunday Service

10am @ The Gardenia Center

Colleen Russell speaks on “Understanding the Language of the Soul”

Nov. 23

Tree Lighting and Santa’s Arrival @ Jeff Jones Square

Nov. 24

Shook Twins Giving Thanks

Concert @ The Panida

Shanna Thompson and and friends your blues

Students compete in cybersecurity tournament

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Local youth matched their wits and tech savvy against other U.S. and international students as Sandpoint’s first-ever team members at the Mid-Atlantic Gigabit Innovation Collaboratory’s annual Capture the Flag Ethical Hacking competition.

Sponsored by Ting, the two Sandpoint teams, CtrlAltElite and

Vector90, faced off against 46 teams from the U.S., Estonia and Ecuador. The Sandpoint students were the only individuals representing the West’s coastal and inland region.

CtrlAltElite consisted of Chloe Martin, Joel Hill, Andrew Wittmann and Dylan Martin, while Colleen Morgan and Amy Morgan made up Vector90. Students tackled a series of cybersecurity puzzles set up in a Jeopardy-style

format.

Taking place Nov. 3, the competition was live streamed from the Community Media Center of Carroll County in Westminster, Md. The event offered students a crash course in the world of cybersecurity, an increasingly important

discipline in an internet-dependent world.

“The MAGIC event was a great introduction to ethical hacking and the techniques and software used in the field. I’ll definitely be coming back for next year’s event,” said CtrlAltElite member Joel Hill.

Sandpoint students took a valuable crash course in cybersecurity at the beginning of the month. Photo courtesy Ting

It’s Christmas tree season in the Idaho Panhandle

By Reader Staff

It is the most wonderful time of year on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests to find the perfect Christmas tree. Tree permits are available at any of our ranger stations or the Supervisor’s office for $5 each.

Fourth graders, and homeschooled equivalent fourth graders, are eligible to receive a free Christmas tree permit through the U.S. Forest Service’s Every Kid in a Park initiative.

To receive their free tree permit, students need to complete an activity at www.everykidinapark. gov, print the voucher and bring it to any Forest Service office. The student needs to be present and must show a valid paper voucher or an Every Kid in a Park pass obtained from the website or participating federal agency. A mail-order form is not an option for this program.

Every Kid in a Park is a national interagency effort to build the next generation of conservationists, and encourage children to visit national parks, forests and public lands.

Most of the 2.5 million acres

of National Forest System lands on the Idaho Panhandle National Forests are open for Christmas tree cutting. Start tree hunting earlier in the day to have plenty of daylight hours. Dress for the season, and be prepared for the cold and snow!

For more information, including office hours and locations, please visit http://www.fs.usda. gov/ipnf.

Sarah Brede skis her family’s Christmas tree out of the forest.

Photo courtesy of Mike Brede.

Jibe Ho!

By Tim Henney Reader Contributor

n April, 1992, five hardy lads chartered from Proper Yachts on St. John Island in the British Virgins a 43-foot Hinckley sloop. (Well, four hardy lads. I was a crew member and 61. In retrospect a mere child, yet considered ancient by my colleagues). They included son Justin, then 26, today a Sandpoint teacher, counselor and soccer coach; skipper was son Tim B. of Park City, Utah, now 60 but then 34 and already a retired Wall Street wiz and ocean-sailing vet. Rounding out the crew were a former Northwestern U. classmate of his who didn’t know a sailboat from a Buick; and a pal who had sailed competitively at Dartmouth and grown up on the Cape Cod/Nantucket sound.

Countless memories surface about that 400-nautical mile passage: the skipper using a protractor, ruler and watch to dead reckon us past dangerous reef zones, invisible islands and other lurking hazards on a pitch black night in stormy seas; Jimmy Buffett vocals blasting over the boat’s sound system on sunny days as we pounded through ocean foam while appropriately downing great quantities of rum; dropping the anchor in jungle coves, sometimes with native beach bars and steel drums at night — but always replaced by crowing village roosters at daybreak; bidding farewell to three crew members at Martinique and welcoming aboard my 1957 bride, Jacquelynn, daughter-inlaw Katherine, and grandkids Thea, then 4, and Scotty, 2, who flew in for the last passage of the trip – to Bequia, the Tobago Cays and beyond. Among the remembrances of the charter, two stand out. Both occurred before we swapped crew for family in

Martinique .

Late one stormy night, beating close-hauled in heavy seas toward the fabled West Indies many nautical miles ahead, I had just taken the helm after the required nap below decks. I had sailed the Virgin Islands before, but never steered a big boat by compass on a dark night against high waves and near gale-force winds. Water crashed over the bow as we ploughed through an increasingly angry ocean. Garrett, the seasoned ex-college sailor, staggered up into the cockpit from below, looked about, and declared, “This is not good!” And Justin and I suddenly knew the meaning of “scared shitless.” The boat was heeled so far over it was almost on its side. The skipper bounded up from below decks shouting for Garrett to drop the storm jib and Justin to help reef the mainsail. Balanced atop the cabin on the windward side of the massive boom, they started tugging at lines, releasing halyards, doing everything needed to steady the boat — in the dark and in triple time. Arms wrapped around the boom to keep from slipping overboard, they struggled with the reefing apparatus while I labored to keep on course.

And I made maybe the worst decision of my life. Misinterpreting the compass, I headed the boat up into the wind instead of bearing off to the left and keeping the wind behind the mainsail. Consequently the big boom swung toward center, backing my sons toward the slippery edge of the heeling deck. Grasping the boom, they shouted — and I spun the wheel in reverse. The boom and the boat responded. Seconds more and I would have knocked my two boys into the raging ocean on that pitch black night. And chances of recovery under those condition would have been slim.

A story of sailing and adventure on the high seas

I had nightmares for months. Tragic as their loss would have been, it would have compounded an earlier family disaster with a similar scenario. In 1963 Jacquelynn and I were living in Glen Rock, N.J., a leafy NYC commuting village. Her dad, 49, had sold his southern California insurance agency to pursue a lifelong dream. With her little brothers, ages 9 and 11, in tow, he bought a 1929-built, 60-foot wooden sailboat in Boston. We equipped them with foul weather gear, groceries and hugs and bade them bon voyage from a Long Island, N.Y., marina. With a professional skipper aboard, they motored down the inland channel to Jacksonville, then headed out to sea. When the

aged vessel broke apart in a Bermuda Triangle storm, all aboard drowned.

The second and happier event of our passage happened on Antigua. The diesel had died, and we entered the harbor under sail and a robust wind, shouting to the many boats moored in our path to affix their bumpers because we had lost power and could collide. It was not the preferred way to enter a crowded harbor during international race week, with enormous sailboats from around the globe jostling for mooring space. Deft skippering brought us unscathed to a dock, where we awaited a Proper Yachts rep to fly in with engine parts. We were parked next to a sleek French race boat with a crew of a dozen

or so lively young Frenchmen quaffing Heineken beer. The day’s races were over and everyone was watching boats motor in. Suddenly a roar went up from the big French boat. Beer bottles and voices raised skyward, they burst forth with the rousing French national anthem, La Marseillaise. The inspiration? A Swedish race boat, crewed by blond, athletic, waving, bare-breasted young ladies.

Antigua was our favorite island. The French crew probably felt the same.

Jacquelynn Henney and friend on the high seas. Courtesy photo.

STAGE & SCREEN

Playwrights team up for holiday production

By Cameron Rasmusson Reader Staff

Whether it be family members or local artists, the holidays just have a way of bringing people together.

There’s no better evidence of that at the Panida Theater this month than a pair of holiday-themed one-act plays to premiere this week. Written by local playwrights Becky Revak and Chris Herron, “Thanks A Lot” focuses on Thanksgiving while “True Believer” is set during Christmastime.

Revak’s play, “Thanks A Lot,” is a comedy about a case of mistaken identity and false expectations all built around the biggest meal of the year. “True Believer,” meanwhile, is a play about innocence, belief and standing up for yourself centered on Sam, a 30-year-old living with his parents who believes that this is the year he will finally meet Santa Claus. The two one-act plays provide a rare opportunity to see a full cadre of local actors and writers collaborating with one another.

According to Revak and Herron, the arrangement between herself, Herron and the Panida is the result of a fortunate coincidence. It just so happened that Herron was working on a Christmas-themed play while Revak was developing her idea for “Thanks A Lot.”

“The original intent of the play was to be full-length but, after over three years of banging my head against that wall, I decided to make it a one-act just before we decided to partake in this adventure with Becky.,” Herron said.

Both writers had to modify their work somewhat to combine more easily as a joint production. Revak made some alterations to her setting, she said, while Herron

tweaked the tone and content to be more appropriate for the intended audience.

“It was originally conceived as an excuse to see grumpy (actor) Dan Simons as a version of himself who is militantly pro-Santa,” he said. “The play was intended to be much more adult in nature but it works much better as the family-friendly show it became.”

With two one-act plays the perfect combo for a night of theater, Herron and his production company co-founded with Madeline Elliott Herron, Unknown Locals, worked together with Revak and the Panida Theater to cast and produce the plays.

“(Auditions were) bigger than I’ve ever had and (Chris said) bigger than they’ve ever had,” Revak said.

One advantage of the two holiday plays’ similarity in setting was the ability to double up on set design. Indeed, Revak said it’s a level of coordination that could provide the template for shows to come.

There are four opportunities to catch performances of “Thanks A Lot” and

Nov. 15

7:30 p.m., Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $14 and available at www. panida.org or Eve’s Leaves.

Nov. 25 - Sunday, Dec. 9 Nov. 15-17 @ 7:30pm & nov. 18 @ 3:30pm

“True Believer” at the Panida Theater:

TRAVEL FEATURE

ICELAND

By Hannah Combs Reader Contributor

Evenwhen the whole world has been found, there is a frontier of personal experience that cannot be exhausted by a lifetime of curiosity. Oops, wrong page. The shape of the toilets here is pleasant.

So began my journal documenting six weeks of travel in Iceland in the summer of 2014.

Mere months before Instagram over-exposed the little green island, three art students with three suitcases full of peanut butter, three brains half-full of dubious Icelandic vocabulary, and three very different passions stepped

off a plane onto a rocky field. One cared about telling people’s everyday stories through photos. One just loved birds. One thought she was going to discover the secrets to sustainable textile production by hanging out with sheep (this one was me). All three wanted to live and consume more thoughtfully.

We had designed our own research curriculum and studied Icelandic for six months. We had coaxed our university into giving us reign, upon our return, over its first student-curated gallery exhibit. A few benefactors expected

us to write something intelligible about the experience. We were so prepared to try Icelandic, live mindfully and learn about sheep. Then we took a rainy bus ride into Reykjavik and discovered that everyone spoke English. We could hardly afford day-old bread, much less “mindful” food. And all the sheep were already released into the mountains for summer pasturing.

After a consolation dinner of peanut butter and mashed potatoes flakes and a sunny night under the solstice sky, we woke with renewed energy. We were here, we

had a purpose (however derailed), and we were going to have to make it work one day at a time. So from Akureyri to Hvammstangi, we stumbled, uninvited, into the galleries and homes and factories of artists who taught us about the Icelandic way of creating.

Ragga told us about a card-weaving technique Norsemen learned from American Indians. They wove love poems into thin ribbons of fabric that they would wrap around the arm of their loves. Edda Borg showed us how her family tanned and dyed fish leather as a by-product of the

ancestral fishing industry. Shanko showed us her round rugs that help people spend long periods of time sitting outside in nature without getting cold bottoms. A blanket designer shared the fantastic tales of selkies and baby-snatching eagles and shamans that inspires her artwork.

Everyone we met had a thoughtful reason for creating, but we wondered if people were as thoughtful about consuming. So we asked everyone we met, “What is the most important thing you own?” Many people answered, “Family! Does that count?” Others

said “time,” “my hands,” “my dog,” and “the soul.” Gunnar, our language instructor and friend, gave my favorite response. “I do not believe in ownership; love is most important. Life is love.”

That sentiment rang true across Iceland. We received such vast love, and from complete strangers. A driver dropped us hitchhikers off at the wrong house, but when Guðrún found us in her yard, she welcomed us in. She fed us frozen shark meat (a delicacy), filled our pockets with handspun, hand-dyed yarn, and drove us 20 kilometers into town to meet her best friend, the mother of Icelandic musician Ásgeir. A few months later, we saw their sons perform together in Indianapolis and yelled at the end of the show, “We love your moms!” which inexplicably seemed to embarrass them.

The best hitchhiking experience was with Keez and Pieter from Amsterdam, who were taking their mother Veronie on a road trip for her 80th birthday. She whispered stories to us of hitchhiking in Norway as a teenager, while her sons weaved the rust-bucket rental van down the highway. Then it sputtered to a dead stop in the shadow of the mighty Vatnajökull glacier. A call to the nearest town, 80 kilometers away, confirmed that help would not be on its way for at least 15 hours. While we waited, we scrambled down the gorge and took our first taste

of “pure” glacial water, full of enough silt to scratch the enamel off our teeth.

We made more mistakes than trying to drink runoff. I ate minke whale steaks not once, but twice. Whale hunting is legal in Iceland, and the minke is not endangered, but the more I learn about whales and our fragile oceans, the more I repent of those two choices.

The biggest mistake was the time we could have been kidnapped or worse by two men making angry phone calls in a boat garage on the Reykjavik harbor pier, looking like they came straight out of a ‘90s mafia movie. They were trying to talk us into transporting stolen goods by the time we came to our senses and finally fled.

Though our carefully laid plans were shattered during the first days, good fortune was on our side throughout the trip. After a long hike, three Estonian women gave us mushrooms in a sauna and playfully laughed at our hairy legs before telling us that they had not been able to identify the wild mushrooms we had already eaten. Somehow we lived. We were invited to a remote fjord to play in the celebrated and vicious Myrarboltinn “swamp soccer” tournament. Best of all, when we passed by Sigur Ros’ house/recording studio while they were away on tour, their landscaper told us we could “go on in and take a look around.”

Speaking of taking a look

around, I would be remiss not to mention Iceland’s immortal beauty. It is greener than photos could ever capture. The geysers, puffins, waterfalls and volcanoes are ridiculously majestic. If you are one tenth as sentimental as I am, your eyes would overflow with joy watching the changing landscape. So what did I bring home from our Icelandic travels, aside from a bag of unprocessed wool smuggled through customs? The realization that being a thoughtful consumer is not easy, and perhaps never becomes so, but is still worth striving

for. The ability to find joy in upturned plans. A confirmation of my first impression: they do indeed have pleasantly shaped toilets. And perhaps most lasting, a phrase I have to tell myself nearly every day: “Þetta reddast,” or, “It will all work out OK.”

Hannah Combs is the Arts Administrator for the Pend Oreille Arts Council in Sandpoint.

Facing page: Resting on the trail in the shadow of a mighty glacier.

Top left: Decorated with honey and candy as part of a performance art piece by Maria Isabel Vargas, an artist in residence from Colombia.

Top right: Celebrating the halfway point of the Laugavegur trail with handstands at the picturesque Álftavatn (Swan Lake)

Bottom right: A cavelike formation, common along the edges of glaciers, creates a dangerous air pocket under the surface.

Bottom: An illustrated map of Hannah’s trip through Iceland. By Hannah Combs. All photos by Kelly McMasters.

MUSIC

A storyteller’s homecoming

North Idaho-grown band Runaway Symphony to play shows in Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint this weekend

By Lyndsie Kiebert Reader Staff

When reading up on Runaway Symphony, those seeking a simple genre label risk being misled. The word “folk” may jump out, but upon listening to the multi-layered, dramatic instrumentation and captivating lyrics, the simplistic label makes less sense.

Runaway Symphony lead singer Daniel Botkin explains that the term “folk” can take on more meanings than the low-key acoustic music that comes to mind.

“The ‘folk’ aspect is in a lot of the storytelling,” Botkin said, noting a more accurate description may be ‘orchestral folk.’

Percussionist Jason Oliveira elaborates: “We really enjoy the fullness of an orchestra, and the intricacies of it. It’s something that you can just sit back and take in, and it lends itself really well to the idea of storytelling. There are so many different instruments that can put off different emotions.”

Storytelling is an obvious tenet of this band’s artistic philosophy. Oliveira said it’s a way to create an extra layer of meaning that will hopefully stick with the listener long after the song has ended.

“When you finish a song and maybe you click pause or something and you’re still thinking about it and reflecting on that, there’s something powerful there — just being able to sit there and stew on a line that really struck you,” Oliveira said. “If you’re (going to) create a more meaningful experience, that will happen with the lyrics.”

This is especially apparent on their 2016 album “American Blood.” The songs on that sophomore album — their most recent full-length release — “unfold like chapters in a novel,” the band said, weaving a sweeping

commentary on “subject matter from postmodernism and the American dream to the Incarnation of God and the personal accounts of peers.”

Despite the connected nature of the tracks on “American Blood,” Runaway Symphony’s members — Botkin, Oliveira, Chris Lowe on guitar and AJ Stevens on bass — actually recorded their parts separately from the different cities they lived in at the time, then compiled the album remotely.

“There was a conscious effort to write something more cohesive, and I think that was just from growing as a band,” Botkin said.

Now, Botkin said the band is working on new material, this time together in Moscow, Idaho.

“It’s really exciting to be able to actually play stuff in the same room and come up with stuff in that more organic way,” Botkin said. “We have

some new music that we’re working on, and we’re excited about it.”

“Some which may or may not show up in Bonners Ferry and Sandpoint,” Oliveira added.

Runaway Symphony will play two shows this weekend: Friday, Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. at The Pearl Theater in Bonners Ferry, and Saturday, Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. at The Heartwood Center in Sandpoint. The Pend Oreille Arts Council and Mattox Farm Productions are behind both shows.

“We’re particularly excited about this show because POAC hasn’t taken a performance to Bonners Ferry for many years,” said POAC Arts Administrator Hannah Combs. “Our mission is to bring arts education and experiences to the people of North Idaho, and while our education programs serve schools all over the area, we felt that we could do more to serve the

public in the northern parts of the panhandle. It has been an honor to work with The Pearl Theater in the beautiful venue they have renovated.”

For Botkin, this weekend’s shows are a homecoming. Having grown up in Bonners Ferry, he said he’s excited to bring his music back to the most northern reaches of the state.

“It’s really special and super humbling,” he said.

Tickets to this weekend’s Runaway Symphony shows are $15 for adults and $10 for those 18 and under. Purchase tickets online at artinsandpoint. org or at the door. Tickets to the Bonners Ferry show are also available at Bonners Books and Mountain Mike’s Health Food Store, and tickets to the Sandpoint show are available at the POAC office, Eichardt’s, Eve’s Leaves and 7B Bistro.

Runaway Symphony, from left to right: AJ Stevens, Daniel Botkin, Jason Oliveira and Chris Lowe. Courtesy photo.

‘Giving Thanks’

Shook

Twins’ holiday concert has become an annual holiday tradition

By Ben Olson Reader Staff

The holiday season around Sandpoint wouldn’t quite be the same without the annual Shook Twins “Giving Thanks” concert, with John Craigie opening.

The show takes place Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at the Panida Theater. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and advanced tickets are available for $20 at Eichardt’s Pub in Sandpoint, or online at shooktwins.com.

This year’s show marks the eighth year Laurie and Katelyn Shook have returned to their hometown for a holiday concert.

“This is always our favorite show of the year, for me and for Katelyn too,” Laurie Shook said. “In the beginning, we tried to do something totally different (at the holiday show) from what we were touring with. We didn’t always have our band based in Portland available to come over to Sanpdoint, so we’d do different things, invite different openers.”

Over the years, Shook Twins have been joined by various performers such as Gregory Alan Isakov, Josh Hedlund, Bart Budwig, Justin Landis and others.

“One person who is always involved is John Craigie,” Shook said. “He’s a staple now. He’s the M.C., the opener, the sit-in musician. We love Craigie. He’s our best friend and so good for morale. He loves Sandpoint, too. He comes to our family Thanksgiving dinner.”

Shook said this year’s show will be extra special because it will be the last performance with Shook Twins’ current band.

“Niko is staying with us, but our drummer Barra and bassist Sydney Nash are moving on to do their own thing,” Shook said. “So this will be a nice end show for all of us.”

These annual holiday concerts are more than just another show for Katelyn and Laurie – they are a time for homecoming, for connection with loved ones and a time to showcase their latest music. It’s also a connection to their early days, before they blazed onto the music scene.

“The first performance we ever did was on that stage,” Shook said. “Katelyn and I were lobsters in a production of ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ I don’t really know why we were lobsters, come to think of it.

We were like five or six years old.”

The twins regularly found themselves performing on the Panida’s main stage over the years, for plays, choir performances, and later for their own performances as Shook Twins.

“It’s such a great theater,” Shook said. “That’s why Katelyn and I decided this year, and for years to come, that we’re going to start donating and raising money for the Panida, maybe get a little silent auction going. Most of our shows, we donate proceeds from our merchandise to a worthy cause, but we’ll do something extra for the Panida.”

Shook said the band has set their sights on releasing their long-awaited next album Feb. 8 with Portland-based record label Dutch Records.

“We decided to go with a small outlet from Portland, and now we

just need to start promoting it,” Shook said. “The album will be called ‘Some Good Lives.’”

The last few years, Shook Twins’ holiday concerts have sold out, so make sure to purchase tickets early to guarantee entry.

When asked why this show is so important to them, Shook said: “It’s the feeling of home more than anything. It’s where we get our most concentrated support, I think. It’s the show that I’m most affected by the audience. The audience is such a huge part of it for me. We always love to see our friends and family singing along in the front row. It’s just amazing.”

Catch the show Nov. 24 at the Panida Theater.

READ

One book I stumbled upon when I was in college is “A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering the Appalachian Trail” by Bill Bryson. I’m so glad that I did.

Bryon seamlessly blends humor, adventure and reflection on the state of the famous trail in the Eastern U.S.

While he is probably better known for his layman’s book on science called “A Short History of Everything” (also excellent), I think Bryson hit his stride in “A Walk in the Woods.”

There are a handful of albums that complete my soul in a way. Radiohead’s “In Rainbows,” and Bon Iver’s “For Emma Forever Ago,” are definitely up there. One other is The National’s 2007 release “The Boxer.”

For extra points, listen to it on a scratchy vinyl record when you’re hungover. Works every time. This

LISTEN WATCH

While frontman Matt Berninger’s brooding, contemplative vocals are the workhorse of this indie rock band, everyone contributes something amazing to the soundscape that is The National.

Mike Judge has become one of my favorite comedy writer/directors of late.

His 1999 cult opus “Office Space” is probably one of the best comedies out there.

When corporate drone Peter Gibbons has an existential crisis and undergoes hypnosis, his whole world changes.

Filled with spot-on comedic cameos and bit roles, “Office Space” is one of those movies that’s fun to watch for the thirtieth time. If you haven’t seen it, first get your head checked, then stream it, mmkay?