OPINION: Celebrate the Democratic past

This Saturday, July 29, your Kootenai County Democrats will host the 2023 Big Blue Huckleberry BBQ.

The theme of this year’s summer get together is a Look Back at Good Times, when Democrats had a share of the political power, and could do good things for Idahoans.

The story of the good times included protecting Tubb’s Hill from developers, and securing it as the beautiful public space that we all enjoy today.

That story included Sen. Frank Church, who spearheaded the Wilderness Act that preserved and protected millions of acres of land from exploitation.

Those were good times when North Idahoans overwhelmingly took a stand for human rights — long before anyone called for banning books in libraries.

For at least this one evening, we will keep that story alive. What’s more, we will write a new chapter.

Our featured speaker, University of Idaho Professor Kirsten Pomerantz, will tell a story about the gifts that Idaho has given her.

Before moving to Moscow, Pomerantz spent 19 years in Coeur d’Alene raising her boys and teaching English in our public schools, Pomerantz converted the land surrounding her downtown home to a “yarden.” She writes: “I will be telling the story of my relationships with this beautiful and complex part of the western United States.”

In addition to a good story, attendees at the 2023 Big Blue Huckleberry BBQ can expect to be treated to tasty food, good music, a photo booth, a silent auction and much more.

Four Peace, a group of “old guys,” will play blues, country and popular folk tunes. Noah Garrett, a keyboardist, will perform standards with a melodic soulful touch. And Tuesday Afternoon, an upbeat string quartet, will offer classics and popular songs.

Auction items will include: several great lifestyle gift baskets, a boating tour on Lake Coeur d’Alene, golf rounds, bowling games, fine art, floral designs, handmade quilts, homemade pies and plenty of beer and wine.

The 2023 Big Blue Huckleberry BBQ will leave all who attend feeling better than good.

Saturday, we will look out over the landscape and over Tubbs hill, and enjoy the music, the food, the drinks and the mutual affection that comes from being among friends.

The politically active need these moments of inspiration in order to renew our spirits in the soul-stretching fight for the soul of Kootenai County.

The gratitude for the musicians, the cooks and others whose efforts will make the evening such a pleasure will last.

And the warm mutual affection that comes from being among friends will live on.

All in attendance will make note of the citizens and businesses who care for the environment, care for youth and care for universal civil rights.

And they will know that if Frank and Bethine Church were alive today, they and we would be vigorously chasing down global warming; that they and we would not be allowing our schools and libraries to be destroyed and our community college to be hobbled.

They will wrap all those good thoughts together in their minds and come away knowing that Kootenai County is a unique community full of wonderful people; that there is no other county like it in the country; and that we are lucky to live here.

They will leave the 2023 Big Blue Huckleberry BBQ knowing this period of strife and regression will not last forever. And it will be looked back on as a mere bump in the proverbial road of American history.

At the end of the evening, attendees will leave as friends with the conviction that, working together, we can build a better Kootenai County, a better Idaho, and a more perfect union.

The 2023 Big Blue Huckleberry BBQ takes place 4 to 8:30 p.m. July 29 at Elk Point Events, 4176 E. Potlatch Hill Road. Tickets are $75 at bit.ly/BigBlueHuckleberryBarbecue

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Evan Koch is chairman of the Kootenai County Democrats.