I met and asked Terry to join the staff of Idaho Gazette on January 17th. He is a very talented photographer! Many of the philosophies he shares in his bio are similar to mine, although I doubt I could have said it so eloquently. I am very fortunate to have him on board.
Afghan Girl. That’s the photograph that did it for me.
Have you ever looked at a piece, of art or listened to a song, or seen a photograph that moved you to say “Oh my God!” Steve McCurry’s Afghan Girl did that for me. And Annie Leibovitz…she has changed my life, as well.
The decisive moment as defined by Henri Cartier-Bresson is that perfect time to press the camera’s shutter to capture the perfect moment. A second too early, or a second too late and the moment has passed, uncaptured. In the movie The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, the lead character Walter (played by Ben Stiller), is busy tracking down a missing photograph which is to be displayed on the cover of Time Magazine’s last issue. The photographer Sean O’Connell (played by Sean Penn) describes his last photograph as “the quintessence” of his work, meaning the perfect composition taken at The Decisive Moment. For me, photography is my own search for the decisive moment and an expression of what I believe to be a quintessence. What will your decisive moment be?
There are many wonderful speeches given by a great many remarkable people that I have loved, but a quote in a speech given by Father Michael Himes is my favorite. Father Himes says that “…you only have things by giving them away; by offering them to others. Attend to the ways in which you can give yourself away to others.” Sometimes life gets complicated, and we get carried away with its waxing and waning ways. But for me, being a visual person, it feels like my last statement about what was important should be expressed in images that I capture with my camera. If someone handed you a camera and charged you with the task of taking 100 photographs of things you loved or the things that were important to you, what would those 100 photos look like? What sorts of things do you post on your social media sites, like Facebook? And as Father Himes asked, how do you give yourself away?
We all have something to say, and we each have a unique way to say it. Some of us are mothers and teachers and laborers. Or maybe we’re carpenters, and musicians, and bartenders. Regardless of our job title, our common thread is that we are all searching for our own way to make a positive difference. We’re trying to share what we see as the decisive moment and quintessence of life so that we have something to hold on to and to reference when times get rough.
Vivian Maier, who remains the prolific and mysterious photographer that took over 150,000 photographs of people as she worked as a nanny, might be the greatest example of someone that wanted to show us what was most important, and how to give ourselves away to others. We know very little about Vivian, except that she is one of the greatest street photographers that will ever live. What we do know about her constantly puts smiles on the faces of anyone that views her work. In other words, you won’t need money or power to convey your love of life–you just need to put one foot in front of the other and keep going and never quit. Fuel your progress with your sweetest vision.
Photos by Terry Welch
Photos by Terry Welch
Terry has shot at such great Idaho events as The Great Idaho Potato Drop every year, Art In the Park, Hempfest, Pride Day, The Western Idaho Fair, Womxn’s March on Idaho 2019, and Hyde Park Festival. He has been published in Greenbelt Magazine.
His dream is to photograph American memoirist, novelist, essayist and podcast host, Cheryl Strayed. He’s always looking for the bigger picture and shoots for free, however, my goal is to be able to pay him when the magazine gets some backing through advertising or maybe an investor.
The McCall Winter Carnival began back in 1924. It was founded by Cory Egan, who was a local resident and an Olympic Ski Champion. He, along with some volunteers, created it to fight off winter boredom. It is now a huge event that draws countless people from all over to see the fireworks, ice sculptures that are spread all over town, and to enjoy the Mardi Gras Parade.
Photos by J.D.F.
There was so much to see and do at the Carnival. Unfortunately, I was on a very tight time schedule. I only had enough time to see the Mardi Gras Parade. I have always wanted to go to Louisiana for Mardi Gras, but, I think this is as close as I am ever going to get. It was so much fun!
I love the bright colors and seeing all the people having so much fun. There was a large group of girls dancing in the parade with a drum band behind them. What fun! Their costumes were whimsical and those girls know how to have a good time. After the parade it seemed that they were everywhere we went.
Photos by J.D.F.
When watching the parade, you had an opportunity to see all the beautiful Rodeo Queens and Princesses. The rode by with their beautiful smiles, waving happily and throwing beads and candy to the crowd. One of my favorite parade participants was the alpaca, so cute! Miss Boise was also in the parade.
Photos by J.D.F.
This year’s theme was legends, myths, and superheroes. There were Batman and Robin, The Riddler, The Joker, Penguin, Cat Woman and more.
Photos by J.D.F.
Photo By J.D.F.
My favorite part, by far, was near the finale. It was the Chinese New Year Dragon. It weaved it’s way slowly from one side to the other and let the little children pet it. The colors were very vibrant and pretty.
Phots by J.D.F.
There was also The Citizens Against Poaching, and ISP, as well as a dog and trainer from the K-9 Unit, as well as representatives of The McCall Fire Department, Idaho Parks & Recreation, and The McCall Police Department.
Photos by J.D.F.
My favorite part of the entire carnival was taking pictures of the people that were really enjoying the McCall Winter Carnival. Everyone was in high spirits and having a great time! I wish I could have stayed longer.
Photos by J.D.F.
I didn’t have enough time to see all the ice sculptures, so I grabbed some of these pics off the internet, and some are from my friend John. I did, however, get a picture of KTVB’s morning meteorologist Larry Gebert. He’s as friendly in person as he is on the news.
Photos by J.D.F. and various others
Photo by J.D.F.
The McCall Winter Carnival continues through next Sunday, February 3rd. Each day is loaded with a variety of events. For the full schedule go to https://mccallchamber.org/winter-carnival/. They also have a list of where all the sculptures are located at throughout town that you can print out.
“…with the music, I’m trying to sort of reflect the landscape that I live in. I write music because I believe that songs these days need a larger meaning than what is currently popular in music. The world is so complex..there’s just so much material to write music about other than just all this dumb bullshit that we hear on the radio, you know. And so that’s sort of what I’m trying to do.” ( interview with Idaho PTV, Creative License, Sauni Symonds, 2016)
I first met Casey in Stanley, ID when I was playing a solo gig at The Rod & Gun Club. I had no idea at the time that he was a musician. We ran into each other again when we were all performing at The Lava Hot Springs Music Festival in 2017. I met up with Casey at Dwellers in Boise on Friday, January 19th to interview him for Idaho Gazette.
Photos by Terry Welch
As always, he is a warm and friendly person, not to mention a very talented musician. Joining him on stage that evening was Blake Warr, a guitar player, and vocalist from Boise, and a harp player that is new to the Boise area, Fred Crabtree. Casey brings his Indie Folk, Mountain Eclectic, Experimental, and Blues music to the stage with his warm voice and unique stylings.
Fred, Casey, and Blake Photo by J.D.F.
Blake Warr Photo By Terry Weich
Casey and Fred Crabtree Photo by Terry Welch
Casey is currently in production of a new music video. It’s being produced by the staff that works for Outdoor Idaho, a popular TV program on IPTV. The song is called “Winter Garden” from the album “Bluebird Blackbird”. The people responsible for helping him with this video are Bruce Reichert, the host, and executive producer, Sauni Symonds, the lead producer, and Pat Metzler, the director, editor, and videographer. These wonderful folks are doing it pro bono because they adore Casey. The video was produced at Bruce’s cabin.
Casey is a busy man! After he played at Dwellers, he headed to a gig that he played at the Bull Moose Saloon in Wyoming on Saturday, the 19th. After that, he is headed to Dornan’s in Moran, WY, for a gig on Thursday, January 24th at 7 pm. Then he is on to The Rose in Jackson, WY. That show is on Saturday, January 26th at 10 pm and has a special guest, Veronica Verdin. On February 1st he has a show at The Limelight Hotel in Ketchum, ID. He’s hoping to be able to attend The Lava Hot Springs Folk Festival this year as well.
Casey, ever since I’ve known him, has always been on the road going from gig to gig. He actually called them “Runs, whatever that means.” He has been doing this for the last 3 or 4 years. He has a CD that just came out last year and prior to that, he had a CD titled “Hat Creek Sessions”, which was produced in 2016.
He has a new album that he’s going to start working on in March with a friend that is a drummer and percussionist from L.A., CA. This drummer has opened for Coldplay. Casey said that the drummer wants to produce it for him “real cheap”, and as starving artists, we can all understand cheap. He’s very excited about it.
Beyond that, he also has a few different bands that he is working with. One band is called Lonesome Gold, that includes JP Gallagher, Jacob Gampe and Isaac Dann. They are based out of Jackson Hole, WY, and The Casey Kristofferson Band, based out of Boise.
Casey’s philosophy on music and what’s next?
We had a chance to banter back and forth on the music industry and how difficult it can be. He said, “When you’re playing music, you have to have a thick skin, and you have to develop something to protect yourself against, number 1, like the venue owners who can sometimes (expletive) you over (he made an example of one certain club that I won’t name here for obvious reasons). Also, you have to protect yourself against criticism, you know, whatever way you can. You have to own the stage. …Those are things that you learn as you play more…people can call you egotistical or call you an (expletive) or whatever.”
“I’m a really happy person, I know that about myself. But, certain times you rub people the wrong way, and they rub you the wrong way. It’s just easier to let it go, but, sometimes things build up. And, you know, girls or guys sleep with other people’s spouses and partners, and that becomes a thing, and it can just get really dramatic.”
Where does Casey see himself now and in the future? He is always working on things, he’s writing all the time. “It’s something that’s always going to be a part of my life.” He pointed out how difficult it is to make a living on the road full-time. He went on to say, “It’s a constant battle to get these gigs to where they are paying off, maybe someday they will, for now, I’m just a man of the road and I’m just going to travel.”
Photo by Terry Welch
Casey is an accomplished guitar player, harp (harmonica) player, and vocalist. He has a beautiful Resonator guitar that he plays bottleneck style on. You can see it in the video up above. I didn’t get a chance to hear him play it that night. If you have the opportunity to catch Casey I highly recommend it. He puts on a hell of a good show!
Casey Jack Kristofferson is a folk, rock, and blues songwriter from the mountains of central Idaho. He is the former guitarist of both The Trailheads and Arbor Glyph. Currently, he runs The Casey Jack Kristofferson Band and Lonesome Gold based out of Jackson Hole, WY. Kristofferson has deep roots within central Idaho and writes many songs about the influence of the scenic landscape. Among other achievements, Kristofferson has been featured in BigLife Magazine, as well as the Idaho Mountain Express. Kristofferson has been featured on Outdoor Idaho, a program run by Idaho Public Television, for his song “Lost in the White Clouds.” Additionally, he has been involved in many other musical events such as the Sawtooth Valley Gathering, Lost Trail Music Festival, and Sweetwater Hollow Music Festival. Kristofferson has supported such acts as The Black Lillies, Micky and the Motorcars, The Lil’ Smokies, and Tylor and the Trainrobbers. Additionally, his newest album release “Bluebird Blackbird” has been defined as genre-bending work and it has afforded him performances on KDPI Radio in Sun Valley as well as KHOL Radio in Jackson, WY. Casey strives to remain an authentic mountain musician who derives inspiration from the natural world and brings the music from the mountains to your doorstep.
Kristin Collum (D) is an Army veteran who ran for the office of the Idaho Lieutenant Governor in 2018. Kristin defeated Sun Valley dentist Jim Fabe with 88 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary, (she) said: “I’ve been a woman in a male-dominated career for my whole career, I know nothing else. And I’m ready for women to be in government leadership equally at every level, whether it’s the city level, state or nation. I think it’s time.” Janice McGeachin (R) now holds this seat under Governor Brad Little (R). (spokesman.com)
Idaho will continue to be one of the only states in the nation without a Women’s Business Center. The Idaho Business Review reports officials to say that none of the applicants for a Small Business Administration grant received a passing grade on the grant applications. (spokesman.com)
The 19th amendment guarantees all American women the right to vote. Achieving this milestone required a lengthy and difficult struggle; victory took decades of agitation and protest. Beginning in the mid-19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and practiced civil disobedience to achieve what many Americans considered a radical change of the Constitution. Few early supporters lived to see final victory in 1920. (ourdocuments.gov)
When I turned 18 the first thing I did to celebrate my birthday was to fill out my voter’s registration card. It was a proud moment for me. That was also the first year that I voted. I have always made it a point to vote, especially when it comes to the presidential elections. I felt it was my duty, my privilege, and my honor to represent myself, my gender, and to take a stand. It gave me a voice.
Continued from parts 1 & 2:
Next up to the podium was Jennifer Palmieri (D) who was the former White House Director of Communications and Director of Communications for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign and for Barack Obama. She was also the White House Deputy Press Secretary for Bill Clinton. She is the author of the #1 NY Times best selling book Dear Madam President: An Open Letter to the Women Who Will Run the World.
Alyssa Wainaina and Jennifer Palmieri Photo by Terry Welch
She opened up her speech by saying of the Womxn’s March “…this is happening all across the country and we should all feel grateful to be a part of something so powerful and inspiring…”
She spoke of Trump’s election to the President of the US and how disoriented she felt. She wanted to return to the world that she had known just a few hours before. She and many others wanted to get back to a place where they knew what to expect.
But, she said that something remarkable happened. We marched. We ran for office and we won office. She said, “Nothing draws fire like a woman moving forward.” She went on to speak about Hillary Clinton and her long political career. She said there were comments from some people along the lines of, “…there’s something about her I just don’t like.”
Jennifer pointed out that we were made for something better. By using our voices and speaking up, we are making this world better. She likes this new world we have created.
Jennifer Speaking, Rep. Melissa Wintrow (D) in the background Photo by Terry Welch
The crowd cheered loudly when Jennifer said, “I don’t want to have to be in a world where I have to fit in. I want to be in a world where I belong.” This was in reference to living in a “man’s world.” She went on by saying that she embraces her ambition to bring her full self to the world and to use her power to make a difference in the world.
Despite all of the difficulties women have had in history, she feels that there is something raising us up and guiding us to this very moment in time. We may not have always been able to articulate our feelings. This is tempered by frustration. She said this feeling was “…power, the undeniable power of an American woman.”
In closing, she said that we have changed the world because of the fact that we have changed the way we engage it. We are embracing our power for good. It was a powerful speech that touched a chord in the crowd.
Melissa Wintrow and Jennifer Plamieri exchange a warm hug. Photo by Terry Welch
The next three speakers were Charlotte Iradukunda, a young woman refugee from Kampala, Uganda that now resides in Boise and attends Boise High School, Jessica Garcia-Hernandez is 16, and Layla Bagwell is a 15-year-old poet, mix girl (I believe this was what she said), change maker, and first generation US citizen. These young women wrote a letter to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford to share their support for her, which gained national attention by reaching 117,352 signatures on change.org. Dr. Ford testified against Justice Brett Kavanaugh in September of last year for an alleged sexual assault that occurred when she was 15.
They were featured in articles from Teen Vogue, Allure and The Washington Post. They are also members of the Idaho Coalition Against Sexual & Domestic Violence, https://www.facebook.com/IdahoCoalition/, which is a nonprofit organization working to end gender violence fueled by multiple systemic oppressions by centering solutions on marginalized communities, building capacity in prevention and response, creating social norms to interrupt violence, and mobilizing the movement. All three are social activists and leaders in their community.
Here are some national statistics:
Sexual Assault in the United States
One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives (a)
In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime (o)
51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance (a)
52.4% of male victims report being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger (a)
Almost half (49.5%) of multiracial women and over 45% of American Indian/Alaska Native women were subjected to some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime (o)
91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male (m)
In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator (j)
Eight percent of rapes occur while the victim is at work (c)
Child Sexual Abuse
One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old (d)
30% of women were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their first completed rape (a)
12.3% of women were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization (a)
27.8% of men were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization (a)
More than one-third of women who report being raped before age 18 also experience rape as an adult (a)
96% of people who sexually abuse children are male, and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults (l)
34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members of the child (l)
It is estimated that 325,000 children per year are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial child sexual exploitation (k)
The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12-14 years old, and the average age at which boys first become victims of prostitution is 11-13 years old (k)
Only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities (f)
Charlotte Iradukunda, Jessica Hernandez-Garcia, and Layla Bagwell Photo by Terry Welch
Charlotte, Jessica, and Layla opened up by reading the letter that they wrote to Dr. Christine Blasey Ford which can be found here https://www.change.org/p/we-are-fifteen-year-old-girls-we-are-with-you-christine-blasey-ford-phd. These young women of color grew up in marginalized communities in which they felt that their voices weren’t being heard. No one was discussing sexual assault on young women and women of color.
They spoke at the National Domestic Violence Conference. Today they spoke of reaching out to men of all ages about the impact of violence against women. They are all working diligently to revolutionize our culture and its views. A strong point that they made was that women and girls have unlimited power and capabilities, those that have been marginalized are now using their voices to become empowered.
“We can’t do it alone. We need you and your power, and we need it to be intergenerational. We are the ones you have been waiting for!” They said. The crowd cheered loudly at this statement. Charlotte went on to say how women have been devalued and dehumanized. “This must change because being 15 should never be traumatic!”
They spoke about being exploited by young men. Charlotte made a powerful statement when she said, “…if one of us isn’t free, then none of us are! We must continue to do the work of understanding how our stories are connected. Let us embrace the beauty and the possibility of that truth and together work to end oppression and violence.”
Speaking to the LGBTQIA+ community, they told them that they aren’t alone. They went on to say that women have made great strides in making our communities more aware of the social issues of violence against women. Charlotte called it resilience in action. She pointed out that we need to utilize our priveledges to create space and opportunities for everyone. She thanked all of the black women who have paved the way for her.
A pertinent point that was made by Layla was that young girls need to know that their bodies are their own. They know how it is to feel that your voice is not being heard as a 15-year-old girl. When you become liberated, you liberate others as well. It’s important, they said, for us to empower others, and to be a force for change.
A group of young people got together and imagined what they call the emergent world view. Their philosophy is a world where everyone loves and lives in harmony with the Earth and every identity that it holds. They want to address violence and oppression and to make them stop. She closed by saying that no matter what your age it is never too late to stop oppression and violence. She said it is never too late to heal ourselves and our communities. ” A new America must be born and we are the midwives.” All three of these young women had powerful speeches that touched a chord in me and deeply touched those that were in the crowd.
Charlotte Iradukunda giving her powerful speech. Photo by Terry Welch
The last speaker to take the stage was Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb. She is the Assistant Minority Leader serving on the Idaho Legislature. She is a native Idahoan and has received many prestigious awards, including the 2010 Community Hero award from Boise State University; the Excellence in the Arts award; the Idaho Governor’s Award in the Arts; the Jefferson Award for public service; the 2012 NAACP Heritage Hall of Fame award; American Mothers Inc., the 2012 Idaho Mother of Distinction and 2013 Idaho Mother of the Year; and the Gandhi, King, Ikeda Award. She won her Senate seat in 2012, and prior to that won her seat in the Idaho House of Representatives. She is also the first elected African-American state legislator.
Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb (D) Phot by Terry Welch
She opened with a quote by Maya Angelou, ” The woman who is in harmony with her spirit is like a river flowing. She goes where she will without pretense, prepared to be herself and only herself.” In speaking of women she said that we” identify the need, and we address it, …we strategize, organize, and we deliver. We mediate, we negotiate, we lead, we meditate, we skillfully use both sides of our brains. We listen, and we humanize, we innovate, and we empower, we plan and develop, and we produce. We walk in power with passion and purpose. We build partnerships. We engage”
She spoke eloquently about the power of coalition building and being equipped to bring about positive change. Continuing on she spoke of our commitment, our ability, and having the equipment, the determination, the resources, and having a vision of the future that is “bigger, brighter, better, and inclusive.” She spoke of changing the dialogue and lifting each other up in the fullness and completeness of who we are, unique.
She spoke about raising our awareness of racism, and sexism and other inequities that undermine us all. “We do not have the luxury of building social movements that are not intersectional.” She went on to say, “Because we are free women, born of free women, who are born of free women back as far as time begins we celebrate your freedom. Because we are wise women, born of wise women, who were born of wise women we talk about it! We celebrate your wisdom!”
“Because we are strong women, born of strong women, we are born of strong women, we celebrate your strength. And because we are magical women, Lord have mercy, born of magical women, look out men, we are born of magical women, we celebrate our magic!” She said this with grace and power, and it was very heartwarming.
Her speech was so powerful that I felt it was best to quote her directly rather than trying to write the words that I felt would probably fall short of her eloquence. She states that “My sisters we are gathered here today to speak your names. We are here because we are your daughters. We are, and just as surely as you have conceived us, nurtured us, carried us in your wombs and then sent us out in the world to make our mark, and see what we see, and be what we be, but better, truer, deeper. Because of the shining example of your whole incandescent light, we are here to speak your names because we know that we are walking in the footprints, the footprints made deep by the confident strides of women…like the forces of nature that they were, say yes!”
“We are here to speak your names because you taught us that the search for truth is always the truth. That when people show us who they are, we need to believe it. We are here because you taught us that sister speak can continue to be our native tongue. No matter how many languages we learn as we move about civilization, no matter how many languages we learn as citizens of the world, and in this ever-changing universe, we are here to speak your names, because of the way you made for us. You conjure up, hoping that we would be strong enough, that we would have strength enough, and discipline enough, and talent enough until you do, and learn enough to step into the light.”
“That it was your turn and your direction, and just smile about it. We are the ones that we hoped we would make our foremothers proud. Because of all of our hard work, if it makes you proud, then if we can make something better, and truer, and deeper, we are you..as steady and unforgettable as the beat of our hearts and the collective of our hearts, we speak their names.”
“We speak your names mothers. And, one more thing, all I can say is Amen!” She closed by getting the crowd to join her in singing amen. She has a beautiful singing voice that is filled with power and dignity. The crowd loved her speech, you could tell by the cheering, crying out from the tops of their voices, and clapping of 100’s of people gathered together to celebrate women.
This has been an amazing 3-day journey writing and publishing this rather lengthy article. It was well worth the time I invested to be able to share this wonderful story in the magazine. Thank you for joining me on this journey. J.D.F.
Idaho Lieutenant Governor, Janice McGeachin (R). She took office on January 19th this year. She is the 43rd Lieutenant Governor of Idaho and took over the reins from Phil Batt. Her family owns the Celt Pub & Grill in Idaho Falls.
Ada County Commissioner, Diana Lachiondo (D). She is the commissioner of District 1 in Ada County. She has Basque roots and is a fourth-generation Idahoan.
Ada County Commissioner, Kendra Kenyon (D). She is the commissioner of District 3 in Ada County. She was elected to office on November 6, 2018. She is a business owner, mother, educator, and conservationist.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Sherri Ybarra. Her focus is on education. She is long in the tooth as a teacher and education advocate. She has spent eleven years as a classroom teacher, and six years as an Assistant Principal and was a Principal.
Some of the teachers I had in school had a very positive impact on my life. They shaped the person I was, and that I would become as an adult. One of my favorite teachers of all time was Joel Redmond. He was my 6th-grade Reading teacher and my tennis coach. 38 years later, we are still in contact. He’s is as wonderful now as he was then. We are both older, but, he is still fabulous! Thank you to him for instilling in me the love of reading and knowledge. I have been a writer for years, and I ‘m now fortunate to be the Publisher of this magazine. He’s the major reason I went to ISU and studied English and Philosophy, although, I could have lived without the huge bill for each semester.
Continued from Part 1:
The next speaker at the Womxn’s March on Idaho was Sonia Galaviz. She’s a 5th-grade teacher from Garfield Elementary School in Boise and has been a teacher for 15 years. She is amazing! I would have loved to have her for a teacher. She is thought-provoking and brilliant when it comes to her students and pushing them to learn and think beyond the “what if” possibilities.
Sonia Galaviz Photo by Terry Welch
Before she takes on a new class each year she learns about each student individually. She wants to learn about the diversity of each student and the dynamics of their family in the community. Sonia won the NEA award for Teaching Excellence in 2017. She drives her students to reach beyond their limited means, disadvantages or advantages in their given situation, and to see things beyond what may be their limited scope of vision.
She is a “proud” teacher who doesn’t take her position lightly. In her words she says, ” There have been many who have fought for the right to educate our girls, our children of color, our marginalized, and our underrepresented. And, when I think about why I am here, why we are here today, I am moved by those ties that unite us and together make us stronger.”
Her family came from Jalisco, Mexico. There were 12 brothers and sisters, including her father, that made the long trek from central Mexico to the border. They all picked cotton in the fields outside of border towns in southern Arizona. For a 100 lb bag of cotton, they would receive $3. Her father emphasized education. He didn’t want his Mija to have to struggle the way that he did. He envisioned a better life for her, a brighter future, and he always emphasized education. It wasn’t whether you would go to a university, but where you would go to university.
Proudly, Sonia has received her BA and MA from BSU and is currently seeking her doctorate in education at BSU. I am sure her parents are incredibly proud of her achievements. It goes far beyond this for Sonia. She teaches from a deep place of love. She teaches her students to reach beyond limits. Her students and Sonia create a contract each year laying out the classroom rules that they all agree to abide by. They are:
#1 Be Kind, be responsible, be respectful, do your best, and most of all DON’T POKE THE BEAST! That means that you don’t annoy someone on purpose.
#2 Seek to understand. Ask yourselves: Do we take the time to figure each other out? Are we so quick with our judgments and feelings that we dismiss others who may think differently? In her own words, Sonia explained that “…just because we are progressive, doesn’t mean we can’t learn to listen a little better to each other. The Author Brené Brown wrote, …’if we only listened with the same passion we feel about being heard.’ ”
“Whatever cause brings you here today, whatever cause you champion in your daily life, listen to each other, seeking to understand one another, they’ll bring stronger allies than you ever dreamed possible,” Sonia said.
#3 (Her Favorite Lesson in the Classroom) Speak the language of possibility. Of her students, Sonia, who is affectionately called Miss G by her students said, “There is intolerance for bureaucracy and…impatience to act and make the world a better place (she was referring to her student’s outlook on current government policies)…If they hear about injustice, they want to stop it. “A wall between Mexico and the U.S., Oh miss G we have to protest,” They told her, “Single-use plastics are destroying our planet? Oh, Miss G, We’ve got to campaign!”, “People in developing countries don’t have clean water? Oh, Miss G, we’ve got to raise money to buy filters!”
In closing, Sonia said, “The absolute power of “Why the hell not?” is intoxicating…Look around. I see nothing but the language of possibility here today.”
Sonia is amazing! She’s an inspiring teacher and a phenomenal woman! Speaking of inspiring women, the next speakers were Jennifer Palmieri, former White House Director of Communications and Director of Communications for the Hillary Clinton 2016 presidential campaign and Layla Bagwell, Jessica Hernandez-Garcia, and Charlotte Iradukunda. These three young women that are students in Idaho came to the Womxn’s March to speak out about violence against women. Their speeches were powerful and endearing!
As the publisher and writer for this magazine who also happens to be a woman, I have to be honest here. I thought I could do this in two articles, but I can’t, nor do I want to. This very important social issue requires much more attention to detail than a simple byline in a newspaper or blurb on a website. I feel that as a woman, and the publisher of this magazine, that I have a responsibility to the women that toiled to put together this great event. So, stay tuned for part 3 of The Womxn’s March on Idaho tomorrow.
Alyssa Wainaina & Representative Melissa Wintrow (D) Photo by Terry Welch
Senator Cherie Buckner-Webb (D) representing Idaho, elected in 2012, she is an African-American
Representative Melissa Wintrow (D) representing District 19 in Idaho, elected in 2014. MC for the Womxn’s March on Idaho.
Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D) representing Arizona, second openly LGBT person to be elected to the U.S.Senate in 2018
Representative Sharice Davids (D) representing Kansas, elected 2018. She is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin (Winnebago)
Representative Debra Haaland (D) representing New Mexico, elected in 2018. She is a member of the Laguna Pueblo people.
Representative Ayanna Pressley (D) representing Massachussettes, elected 2018. She is an African American. She aspires to impeach Trump.
Did you know that of the 535 members of the U.S. Congress, 127 of them are females? Of these members, 22 are African-American, 13 are Latina, 8 are Asian or Pacific Islander, 2 are Native American, and 1 is Middle Eastern or North African. 46 out of the 50 states have women as elected officials.
On a historical level, I think you will find this interesting. In 1916, Jeanette Rankin (R) from Montana was the first woman that was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. This was before the 19th amendment was passed in 1920 that gave women the right to vote. How amazing is that?
Of the 50 states in our beautiful country, 44 women have served as Governor. The first woman to act as governor was Carolyn B. Shelton, who served as acting governor of Oregon for one weekend –9 a.m. Saturday, February 27, through 10 a.m. Monday, March 1, 1909. Soledad Chávez de Chacón (1890–1936) was the first woman elected to be the Secretary of State of New Mexico, and the first Hispanic woman elected to statewide office in the United States. (wikipedia.org). Currently, we have 11 female Governors.
Women have served as political incumbents for more years than most people realize. Nellie Ross served as the Governor of Wyoming from January 5, 1925, to January 3, 1927. Miriam A Ferguson served as the Governor of Texas from January 20, 1925, to January 17, 1933.
I’m a musician, artist, and writer. I am an all-around Bohemian Hippy and pain in the ass to some people. I have worked in the construction and music industries my entire life, and it has never been easy to deal with the selective brand of BS you have to put up with as a woman, a female construction worker, and a female musician. I am also the publisher of this brand new online magazine. As a woman, and a person that has dealt with misogynism my entire life, I knew instinctively that I had to get out to see this event. “Womxn’s March on Idaho” was well worth the speeding ticket, if I had gotten one. I really didn’t know what to expect. I have to tell you that it was amazing!
Photo by Terry Welch
It was a drizzly Saturday morning on January 19th. I woke up late and had to race to the Capitol Building in Boise to be there. I hate speeding, but I think I broke so many laws trying to get there on time! I raced to the Capitol and got there just in time to listen to the opening statements by Representative Melissa Wintrow (D) and Alyssa Wainaina, who is a student that is a social change activist that attends BSU. They started making their opening statements and introductions just as I arrived. Thank goodness Terry, the photographer for Idaho Gazette was there!
Alyssa Wainaina & Idaho State Representative Melissa Wintrow (D) Photo by Terry Welch
Melissa and Alyssa MC’d the event. They both had powerful statements that opened up the event. They spoke of the women serving in the Government offices, their key roles in the empowerment of women, and a change in a “man’s world”. To quote them in reference to the women’s movement, they said, “Our work doesn’t end here, it doesn’t even begin here. It continues, it builds, it grows, it persists.”
With that great opening, they introduced Percephone Bias, a transgender woman that is a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. She was powerful in her statements regarding the LGBT community. One statement that really struck me was when she said, “I never was a boy. You just didn’t know I was a girl until I was ready to tell you.”
She spoke on the difficulties she suffered as a child in school, and still does. The misunderstanding of people in the community. She discussed how she and others of her community would like to be treated with dignity and respect. She said it best when she said, “Trans people are still that, just people. We understand that you make mistakes and misgenderize. A simple sorry is sufficient. You don’t need to stop the world and yell it from the rooftops.” She was eloquent and to the point.
Percephone Bias Photo by Terry Welch
The first speakers up to the podium after Percephone were Maddie Oppenheimer and Kylie Casper. These are two amazing young women who created the “People for Unity Organization” https://www.facebook.com/peopleforunityy/. Maddie is 17 years old, Kylie is 16. They are the co-chairs on the 2019 Womxn’s March on Idaho and created this March two years ago. Think about that! Maddie was 15, and Kylie was 14 when they started this amazing movement!
Kylie Casper and Maddie Oppenheimer, People for Unity Organization Photo by Terry Welch
They said it best when Maddie spoke of their mission. She said, “People of America, as a young woman activist, I am here today to encourage young people to get engaged, to speak up, and to vote like your future depends on it, because it does!”
They went on to say, “To all the young girls in the audience, I know your potential. I know that you can do anything you set your mind to. Never hesitate to express your voice, have confidence in what you’re saying, and stay true to yourself and what you believe in, and it is never too late to start doing these things. We must raise our voices together. Women’s rights are human rights, and human rights are for us all!”
At this point, Kylie got very emotional and said, “This year we emphasize inclusivity. Everyone plays a key role in empowering women. It is so important to recognize everyone’s identity and individuality. We must recognize people for who they are. We must recognize the inherent value of everyone.”
Kylie Casper giving an emotional speech Photo by Terry Welch
In closing, they pointed out that Idaho is one of the lowest ranking states when it comes to all of the areas of women’s rights. They explained that they added the x in “Womxn’s March on Idaho” to represent every person willing to fight for equality. On the X issue, they said, “Civil rights have never been won by the oppressed alone, it takes all of us, standing side-by-side, as we are today, demanding of society, equal protection for us all.”
Kylie Casper and Maddie Oppenheimer give each other a hug at the close of their speech Photo by Terry Welch
There is so much more to write about regarding the March on Saturday. Please stay tuned for part 2. I will be publishing it tomorrow, January 21. Thank you for reading this. Please enjoy the photo collage, there will be more photos published tomorrow with part 2.
Clockwork Heart painting by J.D.F. Photo by J.D.F.
Valentine’s day is just around the corner, so we thought we’d give you a heads up on some of the events that are happening locally and around the state. Some of these events are before Valentine’s day because it is on a Thursday this year. Some of the events are after Valentine’s day so that people can celebrate on the weekend instead of the middle of the week. Either way, make sure you plan ahead and get your reservations.
Sat. Feb 9th, 12-5 pm price $5-$7. Valentine’s Bazaar at Indian Creek Winery, Kuna. Enjoy tasting new releases of White Pinot Noir and 2015 Petit Verdot; music by Travis Ward (1-4 p.m. both days); and food trucks (Off The Grid Pizza on Saturday and Grid Waffles on Sunday). Plus local artisans and vendors, featuring Mama Celia’s of Idaho, Nezzy’s Brazilian Sweets-Brigadeiros (Sunday), Scenic Route Goods, Miss D’Arcy’s Bakeshoppe and Catering, and Idaho Wild Rose Farms. (208) 922-4791. Indian Creek Winery, 1000 N. McDermott Rd, Kuna, ID. https://www.facebook.com/indiancreek/
Wed. Feb 13th 11am-1 pm price FREE. Valentine Heart Suncatchers at Gem County Recreation District, Emmett. Come down to the Recreation District for a Free Adult and Me craft project for Valentine’s Day. (208) 365-5748. Gem County Recreation District, 107 E Main St, Emmett, ID. https://www.facebook.com/Gem-County-Recreation-District-113562625338065/
Thu. Feb 14th, 7-11 pm price $150 per couple or $75 per person. Valentine’s Night Take 1 at The Downtown Event Center, Idaho Falls. Join us for a Valentines Day with Live Jazz Music. Beautiful Buffet Dinner featuring Prime Rib, Chicken Breast, Scampi Shrimp, Crab Cocktail Claws and more. Limited Tickets are available! https://www.facebook.com/ifthedec/
Thu. Feb 14th, 6-10 pm price $100 limited seating. Steve Fulton Music & Friends Valentine’s Concert Event at Cinder Wines, Garden City.
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, which means locking down plans. If you were thinking of going out for a very cut and dry dinner and a movie, think again. Join Steve Fulton Music and a bunch of his super talented friends for a night of dinner, wine AND music. Let us be your one-stop shopping by scoring tickets to this KNOCKOUT Valentine’s Day event!
Your ticket price includes: A catered meal by Open Table Boise Catering 1 bottle of Cinder Wines per table (choice of white or red). 1 amazing night of music.
Fri. Feb 15th, 6-9 pm call for prices. Valentine’s Sushi-Pop Up at Mad Swede Brewing Company, Boise. Happy Valentines Day! Surround yourself with loved ones this Valentine’s day and enjoy a delicious sushi dinner prepared by Genki Takoyaki! Hosted at Mad Swede Brewing, eat, drink, and be merry as we celebrate love in all its forms! (208) 922-6883. Mad Swede Brewing Company, 2772 S Cole Rd, Ste 140, Boise, ID. https://www.facebook.com/madswedebrewing/
Sat. Feb 16th, 5, and 6:30 price is $18.95 per person. Valentine’s Day Dinner at Nathan’s Greenleaf Cafe, Greenleaf. This will feature Nathan’s famous steak, a live music performance, and a few other little surprises. Call ahead for reservations (208) 453-1146. Nathan’s Greenleaf Cafe, 21513 Main St, Greenleaf, ID. https://www.facebook.com/nathansgreenleafcafe/
Sat. Feb 16th, 7:30-11pm price $15. The Fabulous Chancellors Valentine’s Concert at The Riverside Hotel, Boise. Saturday, February 16th, 2019 General Admission: $15 (21+) Doors at 7:30pm, Music at 8pm. Valentine’s Room Package: $184, plus occupancy tax, per couple (Saturday, February 16th only). (208) 343-1871. The Riverside Hotel-Boise, 2900 Chinden Blvd, Boise, ID. https://www.facebook.com/TheRiversideHotel.Boise/
I sat down with Roger Daniels yesterday. He’s the father of Nathan Daniels, owner of Nathan’s Greenleaf Cafe. It was one of the easiest interviews I have ever done! The man can talk, and stories, he’s got a ton of ’em.
This family-run restaurant may be a little off the beaten path, but it’s well worth the journey for plates of food heaped with goodness, and friendly people. The service is fast and the food is hot and delicious. When I say the plates are heaped with food, that is an understatement! They are not shy about putting food on your plate!
Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs Photo by J.D.F.
Biscuits & Gravy Platter Photo by J.D.F.
They had tried to purchase the cafe in ’08, but the price was too high. One day, while driving by, it was locked up and out of business. So, in July of 2015, they finally got their wish. They purchased the cafe and went right to work renovating it into the warm and inviting cafe you see today. The renovations were not easy as the cafe was pretty run down.
The equipment was ancient, and let’s not even discuss the bathrooms! They spent 4 1/2 months remodeling. Roger was there every day while Nathan worked. Roger was retired, or so he thought. People with that much drive can’t just retire, it doesn’t work that way. The end result, $50,000 later, is the very cozy restaurant you see today. The atmosphere is lively and fun, the decor is very much cute country living. The interior is brightly lit from the large windows that are hung with the adorable curtains that their waitress Jill made for them. It’s lovely!
Nathan got his start some 30 years ago as a prep cook at what is now The Sunrise in Caldwell but was called Olga’s back in the day. Eventually, he moved up the line to fry cook, and worked from 2:30 in the afternoon, right after school let out, until 10:30 at night. He worked every day that he could. Nathan had a natural gift for line cooking and absolutely loved it. It was a natural transition to go from working in a restaurant to owning one, and it shows.
Nathan and Roger handpicked their staff. They have a philosophy about their employees and the restaurant, including their customers. Roger explained it best. He said, “It doesn’t matter what you’re selling… the rules are the same. If you don’t have a good product, at a fair price, and people, people, people, (referring to the customers and the staff), you don’t work here. If you don’t want to be here, don’t try to get a job here.”
They have 3 main waitresses, Aspen, Nathan’s daughter, who is mainly a full-time line cook, Jill, and Mona. Their wait staff also includes Jenna, Katie, Vern, and Peggy. On the line cooking, they have Nathan, Aspen, and Nathan’s son Reid, who attends BSU. Mona is a volunteer EMT and works at Sizzler a few days a week. Her husband is the Chief Deputy Coroner of Canyon County. Roger says she knows just about everyone. He affectionately calls her a “Spark plug”. She’s been waiting tables for 30 years.
When speaking about their customers, Roger had a great story to tell me. “It was a slower morning, between 9:30 and 10:00 o’clock in the morning… Danielle, one of the waitresses, and Mona was here, and this guy comes through the front door, sits at the counter by himself. So the girls, if a guy comes in like that, they’re going to gang up on him. You know, make his morning great! So, he is sitting there, and he’s really being grumpy. Mona, she doesn’t even understand what that is. So, she kind of gets in his face, and says, “Listen, you can’t be here, and not be having a good time, because that’s all we do here.” So, they gang up on him. They are just giving him a rash. “
“He came up to pay, and Mona was standing there. His bill was $7.95 plus tax. He pays with a credit card. Mona says, “Oh, you made a mistake on the tip.” Because it was $100 on an $8 bill, and he says, “No, I know exactly what I did. I was having the worst day of my life, and you guys just made it wonderful. One of the best days of my life, leave it alone.”
This story exemplifies their philosophy about their customers, staff, and their attitudes. They are upbeat, happy, and definitely not grumpy people! They also have a great philosophy about the products they are selling to their customers. They screen all of the products beforehand. When it comes to meat products, they sample them first, amongst their family, before presenting it to the customers.
The portions are huge, you get almost 2 meals for the price of one. The prices are great, and they don’t believe in cutting corners when it comes to serving sizes. Another one of their philosophies, as Roger puts it, “What’s the difference between a little bitty dab of hashbrowns? (comparing a large dab to a small dab). What are we talking? Is it a nickel? Probably not. So why would you serve a little dab?” It obviously works, because they have a strong local, regular customer base, as well as customers that travel from Boise, Eagle, Emmett, Horseshoe Bend, Nyssa, Adrian, and Homedale. They come that far just for the great food, great prices, and a warm atmosphere. As a first time customer myself, I can tell you the drive is well worth it!
Once a month they have a special event where they stay open late. The hours of the restaurant are 6 am to 3 pm daily, and closed on Sundays. However, once a month, they host a dinner that is held on a Saturday. The next one is this Saturday, January 19th. During the winter, they only have 1 dinner at 5 pm. At times, they have upwards of 120 customers, and they will have more time slots for dinner. They are held at 5 pm, 6:30 pm, and 8 pm. Roger recommends that you call and make reservations.
They have a back room that is perfect for banquets, parties, and meetings. It is filled with great posters, paintings, flags, including an antique flag with 48 stars, and these cool old aprons from places such as Lloyd’s Lumber and Harvey Hoff that are no longer in business. A majority of the items garnering the walls were gifts from customers.
Roger Daniels Photos by J.D.F.
I had an opportunity to visit with some of the customers and take photos of them. I met Rick, who looks exactly like what you would expect from a small town in Idaho. He has character, and I love his brown hat! I also met Dallas and Micky. They eat at the cafe every day, and Roger says that they are their “best customers”. Next Saturday is their 62nd wedding anniversary. Guess where they planning on spending it? Nathan’s Greenleaf Cafe, of course! I also briefly visited with Harold Tisch. The love the customers have for this cafe and the owners is plainly obvious. The owners love the customers right back!
Dallas & Micky Photo by J.D.F.
Harold Tisch Photo by J.D.F.
Rick Photo by J.D.F.
On a final note, they have a huge event coming up. On Saturday closest to Valentine’s Day, they host a special dinner. Roger looked at me with a sly smile and refused to disclose the details, it’s top secret, but he said that it’s always packed. There will be some form of music performance and some special surprises. They definitely recommend reservations.
With that being said, if you haven’t been to Nathan’s Greenleaf Cafe, it’s a wonderful cafe, in a little nook of Idaho, that if you didn’t know it was there, you’d be missing something great!
Nathan’s Greenleaf Cafe 21513 Main St, Greenleaf, ID 83626 (208) 453-1146
We decided to go to the Great Train Show at the Expo Idaho in Garden City on Saturday and it was packed! I had no idea that there was such a great interest in model trains. Children really love the trains, but the great surprise was the enthusiasm the adults have in their trains. They take their trains very seriously and one display imparticular must have taken hours to set up.
Photo by J.D.F.
The display pictured above was an amazing display. It had so many things to see on it. There is a fair at one end with a huge Ferris wheel. On the other side of the display, there is a town complete with a fire engine with flashing lights. There is also a police car that had red and blue flashing lights. The entire set up was a town, complete with a campground and tiny people. I couldn’t keep track of exactly how many trains were circling this tiny town, but I believe there were 4 trains.
Photo by J.D.F.
The smaller children could climb aboard a train that they got to pedal around and around on a track. They had their own personal train conductor (first photo) who was wearing overalls and a conductors hat. Whenever the children got tired of pedaling, he would take hold of the train and drive it around the track for them. They absolutely loved it!
Photo by J.D.F.
At the end of the day, it was so much fun! The show was well worth the $9 that we paid to get in. My husband walked away with a train of his own, courtesy of our friend John. It’s a replica of the Hooterville train as seen on the television program from the ’60s, “Petty Coat Junction”. It was a wonderful day, and we both had fun!
Aquarium of Boise is a wonderful place to visit whether you are a child or an adult. It opened to the public in 2011 and sees over 25,000 visitors a month. It’s a nonprofit organization that relies on donations and the money it earns from its visitors.
Their mission statement is as follows: “The mission of the aquarium is to educate and inspire the conservation and enhancement of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems through hands-on interaction. The aquarium strives to enhance the quality of life for all terrestrial and aquatic animals by teaching and inspiring people of all ages to better understand, care for, and conserve all life on our planet to ensure a greater future for us all.”
Photo by J.D.F.
If you haven’t been yet, you should go and see the lovely fish that are so very brightly colored. They also have reptiles and tropical birds that have been donated.
While you are at the Aquarium of Boise, you can visit the shark and puffer exhibits. One tank has a large pufferfish nicknamed ‘Letterman’. These exhibits also include wonderful shark and ray pools. This is where you can feed the rays and sharks and get up close and personal. If you’re feeling brave, you can run your hand down the back of a ray. The rays are such gentle creatures, they make you laugh and smile.
Photo by J.D.F.
Other exhibits include the Shark Nursery, the Amazing Angels exhibit that has over 35,000 species of reef and marine life and tide pools that are loaded with starfish, sea urchins, and Spanish lobsters. There is also a bird aviary where you can interact with one of the many tropical birds on display.
Idaho Gazette 