In a letter to the New York Times, actor/columnist Ben Stein of the American Spectator takes issue with a recent Times article about Sandpoint. Although the Times article was positive, Stein believes that it missed the essence of the Bonner County town:

"I read with great interest your article very recently about my beloved Sandpoint, Idaho. I have divided my time between Sandpoint and Malibu for 24 years now. With great respect to the author of the piece, I must tell you he missed the magnetism of Sandpoint.  Simply put, it is the real “enchanted kingdom.” You usually get here on Route 95 over an enormous bridge over the peaceful, blue green Lake Pendoreille/Pendoreille River junction. Once you are over the Long Bridge, the whole world changes. There are no gangs. There is no violence to speak of. There are no sullen people on street corners. No riots. No one even honks his or her horn. I have been coming here since ’90 and never heard a horn honk in anger." More here.

DFO: I know there are Sandpoint residents who cringe whenever frequent visitor Stein speaks for the town. But I find this piece interesting.

Question: When did you last spend some time in Sandpoint?