Soaring over his hometown

At 91, Coeur d'Alene natives John and Dorothy (Hauge) McDonald are home for a family reunion this week.

Now residents of Palm Desert, they're meeting all of their immediate family here to tour their old homes, schools and favorite places. John grew up in the Fort Grounds, Dorothy on Third Street. They married in Coeur d'Alene in 1945.

John will also be checking something fun off his bucket list this morning at 10 a.m., when he parasails from Independence Point over Lake Coeur d'Alene, accompanied by his youngest grandson, 14-year-old Benjamin McDonald Miller. Everyone's welcome to come cheer John on and visit with the family.

Ed Santos is an Army veteran, former law enforcement officer and renowned instructor of all levels of firearms techniques. With his wife, Peggy, he has owned Center Target Sports since 2004. What I didn't know about Ed until recently is that he's a Broadway and ballroom dancing aficionado with a never-ending passion for the theater and the theatrical arts.

He's been a supporter of Coeur d'Alene Summer Theatre for two decades and plans his New York and New Jersey police training around Broadway shows, staying at a Times Square hotel within walking distance of the theaters.

So it makes sense that he and Peggy would take a trip last month to Reno to catch "Move Live," Julianne Hough and Derek Hough's touring production. About halfway through the show, Julianne chose Ed from the audience to join her on stage for a dance. Who knows, Ed just might be appearing on an upcoming season of Dancing with the Stars!

At the Post Falls Community Picnic last week, Kelly Hughes made the day for young cowboy Dawson Dretke, who was celebrating his fourth birthday. Kelly brought Dawson onto the stage and gifted him with a kid-size guitar. The birthday boy had a great time playing with the band.

This morning at 10:30 at American Legion Post 143 in Post Falls, Congressman Raul Labrador will award Michael Atwell the Silver Star for gallantry in action during the Vietnam War. The public is welcome to attend.

Early Monday evening, we headed down to the river at Q'emiln Park to cool off. A shout-out to the several families from Real Life Ministries who were joyfully spending their evening picking up litter in the hiking trail area of the park. We thanked them for helping to keep that beautiful park clean. It's always great to see adults setting an example of community service for the young ones.

Welcome to the newest and no doubt tiniest member of the Main Street Birthday Club. Jackson James Clifford Ownbey arrived in this world Monday evening, much to the delight of his parents, Megan and James Ownbey, and big sister, Ella. Jackson weighs just 3 pounds, almost two months early. Megan has been in Deaconess Hospital on bed rest since July 8. Mother and son are reported to be doing well.

Happy birthday today to Mike O'Brien, Tery Garras, Michelle Coppess, Donna Flom and Bryan DeKeles. Tomorrow, Erin Elliott, Lisa Hutcheson, Peter Faletto, Erin Reasor, Melinda Engel, Marla Lewis, Kevin Flaa and Gene Mann will blow out their candles.

On Friday, Tracy Christopherson, Wayne Longo, Rick Currie, Anne Couser and Thomas Sorci mark another year. On Saturday wish a happy birthday to Brian Kirk, Jennifer Ross, Brandia Young, Leah Anton, Cindy Wagner, Andrea Fulks, Susan Selle, Kim Brown, Serena Carlson, Sarah McCool and Paul Sullivan.

Sharing Aug. 17 birthdates are Derek Garcia, Terri Seymour, J.R. Conrow, Kristin Largent, Amber Moss, Jennifer Klos, Cynthia Raynor, John Gertenbach, Lugene Broadsword (60!), Linda Mannschreck and Brandee Peacock.

Taking another trip around the sun on Monday are Jim Hail, III, Brandi Meeks, Jaqueline Dickinson, Toni Prince, Julie Pierce, Wilma Darby and Alethea Carpenter.

Blowing out their candles on Tuesday will be Vicky Jo Carey, Scott Noordam, Amy Elder, Peter Woods and Frank Garcia (60!).

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. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.