The insider’s guide to Music, Art, Events + News “How broken is a system where people need to choose between health care and pursuing a career in the arts?” Free February 1 - 7, 2012 www.JHweekly.com – Richard Abowitz, PAGE 4 ‘Stateline’ by Meghan Hanson. Learn more about this local artist on page 3. Don’t get sick... News Resi revived; Meet the if you’re poor Odd Fellas PAGE 6 - 7 in Jackson The struggle for Music & Culture What to do health care when Elk Attack; The Man in By Aaron Wallis Black lives; Celebrating female PAGE 9 ferocity PAGES 12 - 15 EARLYBIRD DISCOUNT EARLYBIRD Schedule your wellness tests today and save! Discounted pricing for Health Fair wellness blood screenings available Jan 3 - April 27 Save an additional $10 by scheduling before March 1* $35 Basic Chemistry Profile $10 Hemogram $20 PSA $10 HgbA1c *valid for combination of 2 or more screenings Call 739-7531 to schedule your appointment Visit tetonhospital.org/healthfair2012 for information on tests, prices and fasting sponsored in part by St John’s Clinical Laboratory By appointment, St. John’s Medical Center Monday-Friday 625 East Broadway Insured • Reliable • Honest Accepting New Clients HOUSEKEEPING: Melanie (307) 690-9912 References available 2 February 1 - 7, 2012 l www.JHweekly.com JH Weekly l Vol. 10 l Issue 6 LOCAL COVER ARTIST HOT SHOT OF THE WEEK Meghan Hanson Meghan Hanson, whose watercolor “Stateline” ap- pears on the cover, grew up in Montana and moved to the Jackson area in 2002. Hanson and her sister Kath- This leen are the owners of Hanson Illustration, focusing on technical drawings, flora and fauna, magazine illus- could be trations, logos, and greeting cards. Hanson is also a li- you! censed architect and the owner of Natural Dwellings Architecture. She received a bachelor of arts and a master’s of architecture from Montana State University in 2002. She teaches for the Artemis Institute now based in Jackson, which provides college architecture students a design-build course integrated in the community and the wild lands surrounding Jack- son. To see more work by Hanson, visit www.hansonillustration.com or email her [email protected] JACKSON HOLE WEEKLY STAFF EDITOR DESIGNERS CONTRIBUTORS Are you single Richard Abowitz Jeana Haarman Lisa Van Sciver [email protected] Jen Tillotson Mike Bressler ART DIRECTOR ADVERTISING SALES Julia Hysell and at least a little fun? Jeana Haarman Ryan Krueger Evan Huggins [email protected] [email protected] Aaron Davis Love long walks, puppies and great wine? STAFF REPORTER COPY EDITORS Aaron Wallis Jake Nichols Robyn Vincent, Amy Early Dina Mishev Do you cry every time you watch Steel Magnolias? SALES DIRECTOR ILLUSTRATOR ADDITIONAL If not, it’s okay. Someone out there is waiting to meet you. Men and women over 21 eligible. Jen Tillotson Nathan Bennett Rob Brezsny [email protected] PHOTO INTERN L.A. Times [email protected] Willie Wise Tribune Media Servies SIGN UP TO BE Publisher Mary Grossman, Planet Jackson Hole, Inc., [email protected] A TLS HOT SHOT JH LOCALLY and GET A $20 TLS GIFT CARD NATIONAL ASSOCIATTION ALTERNATIVE PRINTED ON REDUCE LOCALLY NEWSPAPER OF ALTERNATIVE WEEKLY RECYCLED REUSE OWNED AND ASSOCIATION NEWSMEDIA NETWORK PAPER RECYCLE OPERATED OWNED Submit your name and contact info to JH Weekly is published every Wednesday. 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EEE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED CCO for authentic Mission, OLLOORR Molesworth, Native American with any valentine’s day ad beadwork, pottery, baskets and textiles. * Valid for the February 8th issue * New reservations only Established 1981 375 South Cache • 307-733-2669 Four blocks South of Town Square, Jackson Terry Winchell, Owner www.JHweekly.com l February 1 - 7, 2012 3 LETTERS Money dictates the game I usually get a chuckle when reading one of Mike Bressler's editorials where he abuses Richard Abowitz. However, after Richard's piece last week about Super PACs I would have to agree, that he is an idiot. To think that money doesn't win elections (especially primaries) ig- nores reality. Take the Republican primary that is currently in Florida. Who has the most money? Romney. Who is winning? Romney. Who's Super PAC just dropped 13 million to Gingrich's 4 million in one week? Romney. Who was probably the most reasonable candidate, but had no money? Huntsman. Where is he now? Richard also seems to think that all voters are as sophisticated as he is and can see through campaign ads. If that were true, there would not be a multimillion dollar industry dedicated to getting the message to various groups of voters. If anyone doesn't think that the problem in elections as well as in Wahington D.C. is not people or organizations with seemingly unlimited money to influence our elected officals, they need only google FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK Jack Abranoff. Richard Abowitz – Steve Harrington Tame the beasts Recently a female mountain lion was captured by the trailhead of Hopelessly unhealthy Cache Creek Canyon, the problem being that the cat and its kittens, (nowhere was it reported how old the kittens were) resided on private This week Aaron Wallis writes law taking effect is the only chance the horizon. property. I’m a-ghast, no appalled at the care-free attitude of this feline about his life as an uninsured per- we have for the paralyzed legisla- The status quo is unacceptable and it’s offspring. son in Jackson. Did he irritate you? tive branch to treat what is a health yet things are getting worse. Un- Where do they get off believing they can traipse hither and yon around I am expecting his view of things care insurance crisis. For too many less you are on Medicare you prob- the valley without dealing with the consequences of their actions. I’m in will infuriate a lot of people. For people, keeping health insurance ably worry about health insurance one thing, Wallis does not show is the single most important factor benefits. Medicare is a huge gov- total agreement of capturing this critter, taking it to a rehab center, giving gratitude to the many locals who in life. I fear without the new law, ernment presence in health care. it a good talking to, a trespassing citation, then returning it to its family. have given generously to the non- the powerful interest combined With the boomer generation about All kidding aside, there is a real danger to the children waiting at the profits, of which services he has with partisan gridlock will result in to hit promised retirement bene- school bus stop on Cache Creek Dr. if a lion does appear the first instinct used. But what I suspect will upset no changes to an unsound system. fits, the government is already en- of the children would be to run, the first instinct of the lion would be to people more is his anger that he One of my colleagues at JH meshed as the biggest player in chase. Since lions are extending their range school children should be in- even has to go to nonprofits. Wal- Weekly just had to have an MRI health care. And, what government structed as to the proper reaction to take if such a situation occurs. lis’ story is filtered through his un- is not funding is priced, sold and I’m not an expert on lion behavior, but I believe that if the children apologetic assumption that he is For many, keeping heavily regulated by bureaucracy. would stay together forming a circle, raising their arms and yelling might entitled to health care as a basic We already have a government de- deter the lion from seeing them as prey. human right. health insurance is rived health care system. Obama- I don’t have a problem with the cat taking a deer, I have a problem In mentioning a clinic that pro- the single most im- care just divides the pie differently. with the deer, they cross my property leaving their droppings all over my vides the uninsured in the county As a motivator to focus on the lawn, I went to the store to purchase deer mitts so I could clean up after with sexually transmitted disease portant factor in life. issue of health care coverage, even these messy beasts but to no avail, I couldn’t find moose mitts either. Oh testing, Wallis makes the less hu- if a potential disaster the new law well another problem in my life to deal with, it’s just constant all these re- manitarian argument for universal has to be better than the status sponsibilities heaped on the shoulders of those of us that reside in the health care that if people go un- that costs more than Wallis claims quo. Don’t get me wrong; I think suburb wilderness of Teton County. treated others could be exposed to as his annual income. As Wallis the health care act is a lousy law. I – Butch Krichmar the contagious. This is as true for notes, an MRI is only a diagnostic would favor a true transferring of respiratory illness as for STDs.