MCS Mixtape Vol 2: Pandi Playlist ‘21

Time to get your music off of lockdown. If you’re tired of the same ol’ pandemic playlist you’ve been listening to for a year now, our staff has compiled the perfect playlist for you to keep pushing through these strange, yet eventful times.

Dave: Get Up Stand Up by Bob Marley
Sammy: Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby by Cigarettes After Sex
Clay: Rise Above by Black Flag
Matt: Born For Greatness by Papa Roach
Lisa: Uprising by Muse
Stephanie: Live Like You Were Dying by Tim McGraw
Steve: High & Mighty by Colter Wall

Give the whole playlist a listen here.

Author

Jordynn Shaw

Social specialist

Love where you live: Buy local

A memory from my newspaper advertising days: the coolest, hippest, chicest and determined Cape Girl opened a new store, she called it “an eclectic array of art, jewelry and good-goods for your soul and home”, and the logo included lemons. It was as close as we could get to experiencing the fantastical Barney’s NYC window displays full of artistic delights, curiosities and designs — you literally couldn’t take it all in the first time through — and right in our own downtown. Inspired by far-flung boutiques that lifted her up and made her feel like she was treating herself to something special, she vehemently opposed marching in the same line for the same-old, same-old big chain drivel.

I fondly recall the shop during the holidays. Each year, she and a crew of family and friends would work all night Thanksgiving Eve, transforming it into a winter smorgasbord. Replete with an upside-down hanging Christmas tree as the focal point, and ready to delight visitors and passers-by on black Friday and the entire holiday season.

In our business we see every day how personalities of passionate local businesses place their unique stamp on this place we live. An especially challenging business year highlights the need to rally around our neighbors and keep our dollars in the community this holiday season — silver lining? Inspired and distinctive gift giving. 

Lemon Meringue is still a vibrant downtown fixture. From our agency’s windows on the corner of Park Avenue and B Street there are amazing merchants along every sidewalk who have similar stories and passions to share. Make a big difference and shop small. Spend where the passion and hard work build our community’s personality and warmth, plus give a gift that is as notable as the recipient.

Below is our list of some favorite shops within walking distance of our agency.**  And, here is a link to a more complete shopping list to make your shopping plan.

• WeeBee Toys
• Healing Hands Metaphysical Store
• Pandora’s Baubles & Beads
• San Michele
• Designed Living
• Lyn’s Downtown
• Idaho Mountain Trading
• Infinity Coins
• Lily’s Selected Consignments
• Shadow Domain
• Lily’s Too
• Jimmy’s All-Season Angler
• Chesbro Music
• Ingram’s Jewelers
• Lemon Meringue
• Dave’s Bike Shop
• The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho

** Apologies in advance if we omitted anyone! Cheers from MCS Advertising.

Author

Lisa Fischbach

Original cape girl

 

Sometimes, you gotta get a bit high

The limestone colosseum of The Fins with the Big Southern Butte in the background.

I never intended to become a rock climber, let alone a rock climbing guidebook author. In fact, during my college years I would drive by the local crags en-route to an afternoon mountain bike ride and shake my head at the seemingly docile figures congregated at the cliffs. Adorned with strange webbing-like things wrapped around their legs and groins, silly helmets on like they were coal miners and even sillier-looking footwear, I often wondered what the appeal was. Climbing seemed like such a lethargic, sloth-like activity and I wanted no part of it. However, I had yet to actually try it.

Fast forward 22 years. Guess who’s wearing the crotch-cinching webbing and silly shoes now?

Yup, I got hooked. A friend of mine convinced me to try it one afternoon. Initially, I was scared shitless but something was sown on those first few outings. What started that summer of ‘98 as a casual, something-to-do-before-beer:30 among friends became an all-out obsession for me.

As I befriended like-minded individuals, I began learning about more and more places for rock climbing in the southeastern Idaho region. I was blown away by how many climbing areas there were (near and far) and by their diversity. I had to visit them all. I began collecting and obsessing over guidebooks and eventually co-authoring one for the southeastern Idaho region. I felt the need to share these local gems with fellow aficionados and perhaps reciprocate the motivation and passion I still feel when visiting climbing areas new to me.

Most local climbers reading this are keen to the many climbing areas in the southeast Idaho region. However, for the uninitiated and inquiring minds, this is for you, an abbreviated list of my personal top 5 recommendations:

Heather Lords climbing at Pointless Crag. Photo courtesy Dean Lords

Pointless Crag

Perched above the scenic Snake River upstream from the Heise Hot Pools, this little gem of basalt is host to about 20 climbing routes that vary from short to tall. While primarily beginner-friendly routes dominate here, intermediate climbers will find enough to keep them occupied for a day or two. Wildlife sightings such as osprey, beaver, deer and moose are common. When your forearms are trashed you can pull out the fishing rod and drop a line in the Snake.

Climbers competing in the Pocatello Pump at Ross Park. Photo courtesy visitpocatello.com

Ross Park

Located in the active college town of Pocatello, Ross Park hosts 2 separate short, yet wide, basalt cliffs to accommodate climbers from beginner to intermediate levels. With its ease of access (1 min. walk from car), northeast and southwest facing cliffs (think summer shade or winter sun), and nearly 200 climbing routes, Ross Park is a winner-winner chicken dinner. (History tidbit: The Pocatello Pump, the longest running climbing competition in the U.S., is held at Ross Park every Sept.)

John Roark climbing on Eagle Wall at Massacre Rocks.

Massacre Rocks

Roughly 10 miles southwest of American Falls as the crow flies, among the sagebrush and junipers, lies Massacre Rocks. Comprised of basalt cliffs exposed over 14,000 years ago when Lake Bonneville (Utah) breached its northern shoreline, the numerous cliffs at Massacre Rocks are home to over 700 climbing routes. Beginners to advanced climbers are entertained here nearly year-round. Warning: don’t pet the rattlesnakes.

Climbers on the patinaed west face of Flaming Rock at the City of Rocks. Photo courtesy City of Rocks National Reserve.

City of Rocks

Nestled within the hilly landscape of southern Idaho, City of Rocks is a collection of towering granite monoliths that protrude from the arid landscape just west of Almo. With over 600 climbing routes that attract novice climbers as well seasoned veterans, City of Rocks is literally a mecca for climbing. No B.S. (History tidbit: City of Rocks lies along the historic California Trail used during the Gold Rush era of the mid 1800s.)

Sarah Anne Perry climbing on the impressive Discovery Wall at The Fins. Photo courtesy Nate Liles / Orographic Visual.

Author

Matt TeNgaio

Pixel pushing
rock enthusiast

Lifelong Activism: Lessons from Betty Reid Soskin

Betty Reid Soskin | Photo Copyright: AK Sandhu

“Democracy has been experiencing these periods of chaos since 1776. They come and go. And it’s in those periods that democracy is redefined.”
– Betty Reid Soskin

Political elections, devastating hurricanes, even celebrity marriages are all subjects that have come and gone in waves of sweeping news. They captivate the nation for a micro-season, and then quickly fade into the background. Some argue that news is history in the making, while others claim it has devolved into a form of entertainment–– and both opinions hold some form of truth. When streaming a video or scrolling past a Facebook post, it can be difficult to absorb modern news with the appropriate sympathy; it is only human to derive some form of fascination when the drama of real life does not affect us directly. But true history is made when people are capable of carrying the subject beyond the narrative of scandal, and into the realm of societal disruption.

In recent weeks, the public has faithfully stood by the waters as news media has once again swept the “wave” of civil rights into its tides. But how do we keep the fight for equality from ebbing at the advent of a new scandal, as it has so many times in the past? What happens when proclaimed allies grow weary of posting the trending war cry on Instagram? How do we take the movement beyond popularized infatuation? How do we keep ourselves disrupted?

While we’re in no position to take authority on definitively answering these questions, we do find it important to engage in conversation that might lend to finding individual answers. Rather than inflate ourselves with assumed wisdom and a list of manufactured bullet points, we turned to a source with both past and present day experience: Betty Reid Soskin. 

Civil rights heroine and oldest serving National Park Ranger in the US, we featured Betty as our June Cape Girl of the Month. Aside from being Glamour’s Woman of the Year at the spry age of 97 in 2018, Betty’s life has been one of improbable victories. Currently known for her vigor in educating all who enter the World War II Home Front National Historical Park on the trials and triumphs of women and people of color, Betty is no stranger to the hardships of overcoming oppression and bigotry herself.  

As a woman of Creole and Cajun descent, Betty experienced the emotional and sometimes physical pain that came with being a person of color in the early decades of the 1900s. She and her husband were even subject to death threats after building their home in a white suburb. Inspired, rather than intimidated by such events, Betty clung to the idea that pain is the usher of progress. “History has been written by people who got it wrong,” Betty said, “but the people who are always trying to get it right have prevailed.” With adversity acting as her call to action, Betty has prevailed in using her voice to transform the flaws of written history into real social change. 

From her time as a servicewoman in WWII to her days pounding pavement as a field rep for women in politics, Betty has made it her life’s mission to use her experiences to encourage and enlighten those within her sphere of influence. Betty’s passionate reputation eventually recruited her involvement as a board member in the development of what would later become the Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front National Historical Park. 

With a committee of mostly white men as her fellow board members, Betty noticed a one-sided narrative developing in the plans for the park––intended to memorialize the role of women at the forefront of WWII. Rather than be intimidated, Betty used her voice to disrupt the social norm and ultimately pave the way for other minority voices and stories to be heard at the park. “There was no conspiracy to leave my history out,” she said, “there was simply no one in that room with any reason to know it.” To this day, the park includes findings from scholars with all backgrounds of knowledge to assist in the planning of their exhibits. It’s now a site where people can remember the contributions women of all kinds made to the war effort.

So, how does a 99-year-old’s experience as a park ranger inform a modern movement? By reminding us that being a force for good takes a lifetime. 

Servicewoman, field representative, park ranger–– Betty has never held the most prominent title, yet her life has made a profound difference. Even after having a stroke earlier this year, Betty has never found a reason to stop her voice from being heard––she lives her life fighting for the bigger picture by doing what she can. Betty reminds us that significance is found in the seemingly insignificant. 

The cry for civil equality is not another wave on the sands of news media. It’s an unresolved pattern. So how do we keep it on the shore? How do we make it more than just another event that will drown in the tidal wave of the 2020 tabloids? While we may not have the prescribed answer, we can begin to remedy symptoms by learning from advocates like Betty. We can make the decision to individually dedicate ourselves to change, no matter how small our role. We can commit ourselves to the proven method of maintaining morals, no matter how often they are challenged. And we can remind ourselves that while progress can be made with the collective voice, it is absolutely crippled in the practice of individual silence. 

For ideas on how to get more involved with Black Lives Matter, check out the following resources:

• Learn what it means to be an ally 
• Get up to speed on current events
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Official Website 
• Black Lives Matter Official Website

Author

MCS Staff