Plunging into the New Year
Once again the best New Year's party was held on New Year's Day at Sanders Beach for the Polar Bear Plunge. As fifth time plunger Dani Zibell-Wolfe remarked, "the most fun packed into 30 minutes all year long!" It was a cold but incredibly sunny, blue sky day and down the beach in front of Robert and Susan Cliff's home was a welcome bonfire and about three dozen celebrants, including Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor, Dennis Franz. Back in 1994, as Sgt. Andy Sipowicz, Franz bared his backside in a controversial scene on NYPD Blue. On Saturday, he spectated the Cliff crew's faux bare backsides. Wearing red and white striped boxers with plastic backsides, it was a hoot of a rear view as the group took the plunge into Lake Coeur d'Alene. Judi Messina and Terry Lee were spotted in the fun attire.
Once was not enough for STCU's Alan Wolfe (7th plunge) and Bernie Koepsell (2nd plunge) so they plunged back into the 37-degree water for a "double dip." Craig Wilcox came down to cheer on friends and was so caught up in the excitement he became a spontaneous first-time plunger. Canfield Middle Schooler Lindsey Sales made her 3rd plunge this year, joined by her family's Netherlands exchange student, Merel Eigenhuis. They waited for the crowds to depart, splashing into the lake at 1:11 p.m. Taylor Grace Campbell celebrated her 18th birthday on New Year's Day by taking the frosty dip. Chris Burnham must have heeded weather guru Cliff Harris' advice to wear a "fur bikini" for this frigid New Year's tradition ... he was sporting board shorts in a white plush fabric as he hit the water. Alan Brown strolled down the beach in the warmest attire of the day ... as a skirt-wearing gorilla! And Bret O'Brien of Yacht Club Sales, escorted a grinning polar bear to the festivities by boat.
***La Venia Jacobson celebrated her 90th birthday on New Year's Eve surrounded by lots of family and friends. Traveling from far and near to help her blow out the candles were daughter, Candi Applegate, sons Cliff Stoffer and Jim Jacobson, grandsons Tyler Bush, Brice Williams and Marcus Williams and great-grandson, Jackson Williams. If you enjoyed a New Year's Eve fireworks show in northwest Post Falls on Friday night, it was likely part of LaVenia's milestone celebration.***
Governor Butch Otter's Inaugural Black Tie and Boots Ball in Boise on Saturday will feature homegrown talent. Kelly Hughes and his band will headline the ball. Says Kelly after seeing Butch in the National Finals Rodeo arena in Las Vegas last month ... the Governor's the real deal on a horse.***
The first wishes of the Main Street Birthday Club for 2011 go out today to Jamie Lynn Morgan and Bobbi Doupe. Tomorrow Gary Allen aka GA marks another year on the anniversary of Elvis' birth. On Friday Sydne Watson turns the big 4-0, beautifully! Skip Hissong's theme song for the year will be Paul McCartney's anthem ... "When I'm 64," which Skip will be on Saturday. Pat Mitchell, Ester Webb and Chuck O'Malley have Jan. 9 birthdays and on Monday Mary Jane Hahn, Jan Harris, Katrina Jaeger and Ronan Kennedy will blow out the candles. On Tuesday, 1/11/11, Kathy Kress White, Cindy Mitchell and Luke Gonzales will be celebrating another year.***
With all the talk about New Year's resolutions and holidays filled with parties, family gatherings and copious amounts of food and treats, I start the year filled not with excess calories or weight gain but with gratitude for those who are supporting and encouraging my quest to get fit and feel good. Being public with such a personal struggle was a difficult decision but one I'm glad I made last fall. Would love to have you follow along at my blog journal, http://losingbigwinningbigger.blogspot.com.***
THERE'S MORE ... at More Main Street see photos of people and places, including the Polar Bear Plunge and the beautiful, icy Post Falls Dam. Add your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club, too. Access More Main Street under the columns tab at www.cdapress.com. Listen to Main Street Monday on KVNI AM1080.***
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