A salute to friendship, and love enduring

For 40 years, the boys of summer - aka the Birthday Boys, Art Flagan, Warren Bakes and Ed Hatter - have celebrated their August birthdays together and this year is no exception. The trio was once a quartet and will be missing a great friend: Bill Stamps, who passed away in July last year. A trip to Walla Walla with their lovely brides is on tap this year. Here's to enduring friendships and happy birthdays!

And 64 years of marriage is a testament to love and endurance. Last week, Bob and Coke Hough's family gathered from near and far to celebrate the occasion. They held a party Tuesday at their family float house on Lake Coeur d'Alene, with music and dancing - as is always the case when the Hough clan gathers. Four of their five children and more than a baker's dozen of their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as family friends, went into a Plan B mode when the skies opened up and the wind and rain and lightning hit in early evening, putting the kibosh on any outdoor activity.

A testament to a great family was that everyone continued in the float house, the crowded quarters adding an element of adventure while the thunder rolled. Bruce Hough made a lovely toast to his parents, comparing the storm outside to the ups and downs all couples weather in a lifetime.

What was interesting for me also was that despite two of the Hough grandchildren being incredibly well-known as actors, singers and most certainly mirror-ball winning dancers, Derek and Julianne are two of the most normal and genuinely nice young people, as are all of the grandchildren of Bob and Coke.

In fact, the famous siblings had just wrapped a months-long live show national tour and Derek was in the middle of his book tour in which "Taking the Lead" had just made the New York Times bestseller list. Julianne was introducing her beau, NHL hockey player Brooks Laich, to her family. But in the midst of the anniversary celebration for their grandparents they were simply enjoying the time spent with family.

Nothing signals the home stretch of summer like the North Idaho Fair, which opens today and runs through Sunday. Gov. Butch Otter will help dedicate the additions to the fairgrounds in honor of Kootenai County's Sesquicentennial (say that three times really fast!) Perhaps the governor can also declare that no calories will count from all food consumed during the fair, including in those homemade apple pies I'll be judging on Saturday morning while subbing for Commissioner Todd Tondee.

A special nod to all of the 4-H kids and their families who've worked so hard on their projects and who make such a commitment to participate.

There will be something for everyone this weekend including the annual Cops and Kids and Rodders from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Post Falls Police Department, with a car show and demonstrations, the Smoke on the Water Idaho State Championship Barbecue competition at McEuen Park on Saturday and Sunday. The fourth annual Sophie's Sluggers Homer Dome co-ed softball tournament at Chase Field, benefiting childhood cancer kids, will be both days, too.

I love small towns ... the Bayview Community Center is holding its annual yard sale on Labor Day weekend at the Grandy's pole barn. How's that for a location description!

Happy birthday today to Mary Condie, Nancy Scofield, Elaine Carda, David Buerge, Christina Gardner (30!) and Art Elliott. Tomorrow, Crystal Shofner-Moore, Jared Phay, Matthew Behringer, Doris McCaulley, Mike Warren, Ed Hatter and Kelly Chadderdon put on their party hats.

On Friday, Brett Seright, Mary Gomer, Cathy Smith, David Walrath, Cecilia Peterson and Lilliana Raynor are celebrating.

On Aug. 23, wish a happy birthday to Chad Chalich, Beth Dagastine, Debbie Berger, Eileen Mann, Bobby Bunch, Art Flagan, Donnie Goodnature and Rod Robins. Sharing Aug. 24 birthdays are Mike Dodge, Linda Fox, Sarah Sistek, Lori Chissie and Eric Burgeson.

Taking another trip around the sun on Monday are Jeff Selle, Ali Shute, Angie Penzkover (40!), Rhonda Budvarson, Staci Anderson, Cindi Carlson, Mack Mannschreck and Lydia Myers.

Blowing out their candles on Tuesday will be Andrew Evenson, Pam Grenny, Cam Crollard, Juilianne Rinard, Perry Peterson, Warren Bakes, Troy Blood, Lita Balbin and Phil Higgs.

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.