Raye of Hope
By Ben Olson Reader Staff For the past six years, Raye Johnson has experienced a different Christmas than most 10-year-old girls. While others are home playing with their presents, sitting by a warm fire...
Tagged: Ben Olson
Local musician Chris Paradis releases new album Way Up Yonder
By Ben Olson Reader Staff For such a small town, Sandpoint has always been blessed with an inordinately high number of talented musicians. One of the more prolific artists in town is Chris Paradis,...
If you want to honor Pearl Harbor, don’t watch the Michael Bay film
By Ben Olson Reader Staff I confess, I’m a sucker for war films. Iconic entries in the genre like Apocalypse Now, The Thin Red Line, Saving Private Ryan and Dunkirk are cinematic masterpieces, blending...
Gift Guide 2023: Buying Local
By Ben Olson Reader Staff In each December edition that comes out before Christmas, the Reader dedicates a page to help our readers figure out what the heck to buy their loved ones for...
Anthems or anathema, Christmas music is part of our identity
By Ben Olson Reader Staff It was the day before Halloween when I heard the first Christmas song of 2023. I was thumbing through some costume ideas at a local store (which shall remain...
Museum ‘Repeal Party’ fundraiser marks 90th anniversary of Prohibition’s end
By Ben Olson Reader Staff There are few better ways to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the repeal of the Prohibition than hanging out at one of the oldest bars in town, listening to...
BOCC addresses numerous county issues at special meeting
By Ben Olson Reader Staff In a sprawling special meeting Nov. 16, the Bonner County board of commissioners covered a laundry list of topics, ultimately passing several motions involving retention of outside legal counsel,...
Grateful memories
‘Home’ is a moveable feast By Zach Hagadone Images of Thanksgiving — at least the idealized ones — are of tables loaded with food in cozy, home-feeling places that are filled with home-feeling people...
Celebrity worship is peak cringe
By Ben Olson Reader Staff After college, I spent about five years living and working in Los Angeles. The plan was to break into writing and directing movies, but the highest level I achieved...
Jack Frost Fest enters sixth year
By Ben Olson Reader Staff Back for its sixth year, the Jack Frost Fest marks the coming transition between cool fall days and winter in Sandpoint. Founded by Mattox Farm Productions’ Robb Talbott, who...
