Remembering when the Rhythm Dawgs raised the roof; aphids filling the air

The supergroup Cream, with Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce, lasted only from 1966 to 1968; Creedence Clearwater Revival, featuring John Fogerty, lasted from 1967 to 1972; and The Beatles went their separate ways at the height of their fame.  

Not The Rhythm Dawgs. This Coeur d’Alene band, led now and always by former middle school principal Jim Lien, has continued to perform for 40 years.

In 1986, when the Coeur d’Alene School District struggled to pass supplemental levies, Pride in Education formed to rally support for the schools under the direction of Anne Ferguson. A levy vote was pending in May, and Sorensen Principal Jay Glover asked middle school teacher and talented musician Jim Lien to form a band to play at the levy watch party. Jim happily obliged. And I was there. 

Hence, “Heavy Levy and the Rhythm Dawgs” was born. The band consisted of David Hunt, John Davis, John House, Grae Smart, Stan Koep, Jim Lien, David Gray, and Bob Brunn, all of whom were Coeur d’Alene School District educators. The gathering took place at the Mexican restaurant at the corner of North Government Way and Honeysuckle Avenue.  

On election night, with a packed house and TV cameras present, the first returns came in from the Dalton Elementary neighborhood, and the vote was 80% “YES!” “Heavy Levy” immediately cranked out their first song, a cover of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s “Teach Your Children," and the party was on! Winning vote counts streamed in all evening, and the fun kept escalating. It was a magical night! 

“Heavy Levy” played two more fundraisers for PIE at the newly opened Coeur d’Alene Resort, which led to Nov. 9, 1986, when they were hired to play at a Resort convention. “We dropped ‘Heavy Levy’ as part of our name and ‘The Rhythm Dawgs’ began an amazing and fun musical journey,” said Jim Lien.

Over the past 40 years, the band has had 33 members, seven drummers, and six female lead singers. Jim shared deep respect and love for all 33 musicians and praised the unique flavor each brought to the group. In particular, he emphasized the decades of dedication from Jim Gray and Lane Sumner.  

Jim has passionately guided the group, and this past summer, for their 40th, they performed free concerts in Coeur d’Alene at Music at McEuen, at Hayden Days and in Post Falls for the River City Music and Market. In August, they returned to their roots and played for 700 people at The Coeur d’Alene Resort for the Governor’s Cup, a fundraiser for college scholarships for Idaho high school students. 

The Rhythm Dawgs' next performance is Oct. 3 from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at Prost (Oktoberfest) in Q’emiln Park in Post Falls.

Attendance Report

THE INLAND NORTHWEST OPERA presented “Die Fledermaus” in Schuler Auditorium at North Idaho College and had a significant, appreciative crowd for the two performances. Anne Solomon also made a thoughtful gift, allowing Art on the Green to use profits to purchase 100 opera tickets and give them away to children and their parents. 

BUDDHIST NUNS from the prominent Sravasti Abbey in the surprising location of Newport, Wash., spoke at North Idaho College, upon the invitation of philosophy professor Laura Templeman. The topic, "Ask Before You Assume," was led by Venerable Thubten Chodron and covered the assumptions that keep us from caring and connecting. 

Over 100 people showed curiosity about the Buddhist way of life. 

THE ANNUAL HUMAN RIGHTS BANQUET at The Best Western Plus Coeur d'Alene Inn had a full house of 350 people. It was great to see the 27th banquet sold out to people who honor the value of all humanity.

Smokey Winged Ash Aphids

They are coming soon! For decades, as I cycled home through City Park in mid-September, my clothes and face would end up covered with a mysterious, irritating swarm of insects. I learned the culprit was the Smokey Winged Ash Aphids, simply completing their life cycle. 

These aphids alternate hosts. They spend the summer underground, sucking sap from the roots of fir and conifer trees. In the fall, the winged adults emerge and swarm to ash trees to mate and lay eggs in the bark crevices. Each September, I masked up in preparation for the onslaught as I cycled home past the lake and the ash trees.

One amazing thing about our world    

The Channel Tunnel, connecting England and France, is 31.4 miles long with 23.5 miles running undersea. It averages 150 feet below the seabed. It has three parallel tubes: one for trains running in each direction and a central tube for maintenance and emergencies. The most amazing fact: Construction started in both England and France and the monstrous tunneling machines met in the middle! The tunnel opened on May 6, 1994.

Quote about life

“If you don’t allow people to experience the consequences of their actions, you’ll always be a safe place for their worst behavior.” — Unknown

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David Groth retired in 2016 after 37 years in elementary education. His last 17 years, the favorite part of his career, were spent teaching fifth grade and juggling at Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities. He has lived in Coeur d’Alene since 1982 and has always appreciated the people, the geography, the climate, the rivers and lakes, and the simple things that make days special.