Sticking a fork in it
I’m going to blame the remnants of the bad cold/cough and sleep deprivation on a startling absence of my powers of observation. Last week I was driving on Foster Avenue enjoying the colors of autumn and while stopped at the intersection of 4th and Foster I noticed crews putting in another bus shelter on the east side of 4th. On the west corner I saw two giant forks that function as a bike rack. So I parked and took a photo of the forks, posting it on Facebook and referring to it as newly placed.
Yowza, it didn’t take long for several of my Facebook friends to express surprise that I hadn’t noticed those giant forks in the two-plus years they’ve been on right there on that corner. So here’s to Willi Buerge, Jeanne Helstrom, Tim Shepperd, Dorene Russell, Adam Graves, Christopher Hollibaugh and Chris Guggemos for actually paying attention to their surroundings. :)
***
This past Sunday I had the pleasure of emceeing a first-time event, The Festival of Teas, at the Coeur d’Alene Library. The afternoon tea party included a vintage wedding gown style show which was a treat. The gowns are all in the collection of Shirley Young and two of Shirley’s great granddaughters, Keira and Desity Godin, also modeled.
What made the show and the models special is that it was a fundraiser for the local Kin Care Committee of the Kootenai Alliance for Children and Families. Kin Care and RAP (Relatives as Parents) are for those grandparents and other relatives who are raising the children of family members. Shirley Young is raising her great-grandchildren.
It’s estimated that in Idaho 1 in 15 children are being raised by a grandparent, circumventing the foster care system at an incredible savings to the public. If you would like more information on these programs and resources, call 676-8293.
***
This past weekend, Rev. Earl Hunter and his beautiful bride, Mabel, celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary. Congratulations!
****
For those uncrafty people like me, the crafty people will have lots of items for us on Friday and Saturday at the Post Falls Senior Center. The craft and bake sale will feature over two dozen vendors with homemade everything, including jams! 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Those fabulous Red Hat Flappers will be there, too. On Saturday the PFHS Senior Auction and Dinner is at 6 p.m. at the high school. Just $5 per person.
***
Turn back your clocks for Daylight Savings time before turning in on Saturday night.
***
Today Michael Poole, Mike Miller and Charity Thompson celebrate birthdays, as does Sgt. Jason Rzepa, recently awarded the Purple Heart from his tour of duty in Iraq. Jason’s receiving his prosthetic legs today in Texas. Tomorrow Hara Allison, Jerry Mason, Patti Harris, Kelly Tuntland and Tim Wark celebrate birthdays. Tim’s is marking the big 6-0! On Friday Alan Wolfe, Angela Cross, Chelsie Peugh, Chris Copstead, Mitchell Copstead, Nancy White, Annie Mote, Terrie Bingeman, Kirsten Donovan and twins Ryan and Zach Englebrecht will blow out their candles. Vicki Hahn and Ashley Carpenter’s birthdays are Saturday and Anna Rolphe, Kim Wilhelm, Laura Gray and Hap Hillbish have birthdays on Sunday. Sheriff Rocky Watson, Aaron Birdsall, John Williams, Mike and Lauren Dornquast, Harold Howard and Chuck Lempesis share a November 7 birthdate. Chuck’s turning the big 6-0! Tuesday Keith Allen is reaching the half century mark along with Joanne Wilhelm and Jens Jenson celebrating the anniversary of their birth.
***
Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2010 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. Kerri can be reached at [email protected]