Big red trucks, Santa and candy canes

When budget cuts at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue caused the elimination of the volunteer firefighter program it was thought that may have ended the decades-long tradition of the Christmas time Candy Cane Run in Post Falls. But the fire trucks and Santa will be out in the neighborhoods this week. They were in Dalton Gardens on Monday and Pinevilla and Ponderosa in Post Falls on Tuesday.

Look and listen for the decorated fire trucks tonight between 6 and 9 p.m. in Woodbridge and Montrose and tomorrow night in the Singing Hills, Quail Run, Harmony Place, Fieldstone neighborhoods and the center core of Post Falls between 9th and 16th avenues.

On Thanksgiving morning I expected a ghost town at Peak Fitness in Coeur d'Alene where I headed for a pre-feast swim. There were quite a few people actually, including Press publisher Jim Thompson and his wife, Sandy. Jim was taking a breather after putting out the biggest newspaper of the year that morning. We chatted a bit about Thanksgiving traditions and family when Jim mentioned he was born in Lisbon, N.D. We've known each other for nearly three decades, back when he was publisher of the Sandpoint Daily Bee and I was publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. But I'd never heard that bit of trivia about his birthplace.

Lisbon is a small town of 2,000 in the southwest corner of North Dakota. My husband, Bert, grew up in the northwest corner of the state in the small town of Ray but was born in Lisbon. I'm sure when Bert and Jim have a chance to visit about their birthplace they'll discover shared friends and family. Small world.

Another Festival of Trees is in the books and it was again a wonderful celebration of Christmas and community. I attended the luncheon fashion show on Monday and was awed by the spectacular production. Far more than just fabulous fashion there was the most entertaining entertainment. Dan Clark of Clark's Jewelry was a surprise ... not only did he serve as a model, he warbled a song as well.

Worth the price of admission without a doubt was the Salute to America scene that featured Heather DuPree singing the national anthem with the Fairchild Air Force Base Honor Guard and uniformed active duty service members John Miller-USMC, Isaac Loren-USAF, Justin McLeod-USN, David Nimrick and Johnathan Utley-US Army taking to the runway. Veterans Bob McAdams, Donald Fabian, Jack Evensizer and Robert Allen also were featured. Beautiful tribute and a memorable event.

Winterfest is Friday at Post Falls City Hall at 6 p.m. and will include the lighting of the tree in the plaza, appearances by the Ponderosa Elementary School Special Choir and Santa, along with cider, cookies and crafts the kids can make and take home. Also starting Friday evening is December d'Lights in Rathdrum with tree lighting and hay rides on Friday and on Saturday Main Street will be filled with activities for the whole family and the Lighted Rig Parade at 5:30 p.m.

Leslie White made a single trip to Walmart on the west side of Post Falls on Black Friday morning just before 8 a.m., arriving in time to see the tail end of the pursuit of a shoplifter through the store and out the door. When he was apprehended, Leslie said all of the shoppers cheered.

There was much hoopla about Black Friday and stores opening on Thanksgiving night and people working themselves into a buying frenzy. On Sunday when my husband brought in the newspaper, which was again filled with store inserts as it was on Thanksgiving he deadpanned, "they must not have sold everything on Friday." Another reminder to shop local and support the businesses who support our communities all year long!

Happy Birthday today to Carrie Cook, Bob Brooke, Tina McWhorter, Dirk Fredekind, Doug Shevalier and Barry Corigilano. Tomorrow Jennifer McGrath, Sharlene Scott, Marna Bateman, Annette Barstow and Anita Banta blow out the candles, joined on Friday by Sam Clevenger, Jacki Ackerman, Kathy McDowell, Jennifer Hawkins, Hazel Day and Kylie Allen. On Saturday Dec. 7, Dean Opsal, CJ Deacon, Rhonda Newton and Randy Duncan will celebrate another trip around the sun. Tammy Schneider, Kelly Ferguson and Becky McIntire Bufeuillet are blowing out the candles on Sunday. On Monday Tammie Peacock, Cecilia Fehling, Cheri Banta and Cindy Jarnagin are the birthday girls. On Tuesday Dick Wandrocke turns 80 years young, Shannon Clark marks her 30th to lead the birthday parade with Jack Jordan, Gavin Brodwater, Richard Carlson and Donna Cushman.

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 2013 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com.