Family fun at Spring Dash
On Sunday, 1,237 runners of all ages participated in the annual Spring Dash. Keith Erickson and his daughters, Nicole, 20 and Brooke, 14, made it a family affair, as did Carrie Cook and her daughter, Sarah.
Chloe Hutter, 13, is already an accomplished runner so she lined up near the front of the racers prior to the start. A middle-aged man pointed out that the front of the race start is only for fast people. She replied, "OK." He warned that she may be trampled and she replied, "OK." Finally he asked if she was fast and she replied, "yes." Then he stepped around in front of her. Chloe had the last laugh, not only beating the fellow but winning her age group and finishing 11th in the entire women's field of 807 runners.
Another inspirational race was run by first-timer Tom Taggart. Having shed 40 pounds after making lifestyle changes, Tom was cheered on by his proud wife, Cynthia, who sat out this year to support her husband's effort. I also heard that renowned local runner Bill Buley took a wrong turn on the course that cost him 35 seconds. Not saying who told me that, though. :)
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The fifth time's a pink charm for Chrystal and Jason Conley with the arrival of daughter Payton Marie on April 23. Payton's big brothers, Landon, Justin, Connor and Morgan are sure to spoil their little sister, who won't have to worry about wearing hand-me-downs.
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Local photographer David Nall was shooting the wedding of Coeur d'Alene firefighter Tony Bajadali and Courtney Josephson on Sunday afternoon. I stopped by to watch the location shoot with the 1924 antique fire truck at the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department Headquarters on Third and Foster. David got some great shots and I got some shots of him shooting. See More Main Street for the photos.
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Cyndie Hammond's Women's Adventure Club held its inaugural meeting at the Blackwell House on Monday night. Using the word adventure in the broadest sense, we participated in Cindi Schneider and Jane Gross' Painting with Spirits art class. If you'd like to see WAC in action with Cyndie, Pam Houser, Melinda Butler, Terri Goedde, Barb Chambers, Sherry Wallis, Trish Smythe and Caryl Johnston, go to More Main Street.
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Two of my friends since junior high school, Tootie Teall Reynolds and her twin brother, Martin Teall celebrate their birthdays today, along with Kristina Haakenson Lallatin. Tomorrow is Janet Haakenson's birthday and sweet Emily LaCharity of Post Falls turns 91 years young. On Friday, Keith Ekness of the famous Ekness Catering dynasty, will blow out the candles on his Idaho Beer Ball cake. Louise Zimmerman also marks the day of her birth on Friday. Diane Duncan is a May Day baby and John DeLuca and Randy Hurt celebrate on Sunday. Judy Berndt's big day is Monday and on Tuesday wish Jeanette Bangs, Scott Jacobson, Rand Wichman, Scott Hayden and Brittany Smith a happy birthday!
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THERE'S MORE: New stories and photos almost every day at More Main Street. Screenings of the Pappy Boyington film by local filmmaker Kevin Gozalez are coming up. See when and where. Find the link to Spring Dash results, the Erickson family at the finish line and Tom Taggart and WAC in action. Run or the Roses derby highlights. There's a link on the righthand rail for adding your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club for 2010!
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. More Main Street blog is at http://moremainstreet.blogspot.com. Kerri can be reached at mainstreet@cdapress.com