Community awards recognize good works

It's awards season and there's no shortage of events, mostly in the entertainment industry where performing artists are feted for their work. There are shows that talk about the shows and who people were wearing and who accompanied whom down the iconic red carpet. Somehow it has become less about the craft and more about the show.

Happily we have opportunities here close to home where awards are presented to our neighbors, people we know. For about a decade I've had the enjoyment of chairing the Awards Committee for the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce. Nominations are submitted and a panel of past recipients convened. Each nomination is considered on merit before the selection is made. How do we know when we've got it right? When the recipient has given of their time, talent or treasure for a number of reasons with the exception of any expectation of recognition.

Tomorrow night the Community Recognition Ceremony will take place in Post Falls with a new expanded format. In addition to the annual Chamber of Commerce Business, Volunteer and Citizen of the Year awards, the Post Falls Food Bank, Post Falls Senior Center and Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County will each recognize their organization's Business and Volunteer of the Year recipients. The brainchild of Chamber President/CEO Pam Houser, it's an inspired concept to shine the light on more of the people in our community each year who make a difference in the lives of others.

For every honoree there are hundreds more who quietly do good deeds and behind-the-scenes heavy lifting in organizations throughout the community. Unsung heroes who might not be pictured in the newspaper but whose contributions are appreciated. So congratulations to everyone, this area is beyond compare in the generosity and compassion of our citizens. Win win.

So I guess there's a big football game coming up this weekend. It appears that even more than the bragging rights of your favorite team winning the NFL championship, it's about the food. So many friends have been planning their Super Bowl menus for weeks that I may have to party hop to sample the incredible edibles and declare a winner in next week's column.

Speaking of football fans and losing bets, a local woman who shall remain nameless (and I truly don't know her name) lost a bet the last time the Seahawks played in the Super Bowl in 2005. The bet with her girlfriend was that if Seattle ever made it back to the Superbowl she'd have to get their logo painted on her body. We're not talking a little logo, we're talking body paint. Artist Tara Dagastine has a business, Whimsy Face Painting by Tara, and received the unusual call for the frontal upper torso painting. I saw a photo of Tara's finished artwork, with the woman's face cropped out. Beautiful work that might not make it to a framed print hanging over the fireplace but definitely earns the woman a good sport award.

Happy birthday today to Rachel Riggs, Cindy Peugh, Allen Hildebrant, Don Waddell and David Gerzina Sr. and tomorrow to Shannon Damiano, Mel Palmer, Sierra Graham and Helen Sargent. On the last day of January Ida Hawkins (92!), Vaughn Ward, Jennifer Alexander, Robert Brown, Cassidy Peacock, Sandy Scarlett, Erik Salvador, Linda Wolff and Bernadette Myers will celebrate another trip around the sun. On the first day of February Leslie Tibbs, Tonya Myers, Kristi Rietze, Laura Little, Susan Cook, Deedie Beard, James Ownbey, Jesse Anglen and Jamie Benner are celebrating. Donna Wemple, Randy Medlock, Chad VanBrunt and Seth Yost share Super Bowl Sunday birthdays. Jackie Jameson, Leslie Damiano, Cindy Spence, Denise Lundy, Dawn Magness, Kay Burke (60!), Howard Martinson and Donna Armbruster were born on Feb. 3. Happy birthday on Tuesday to Gene Reed, Cindy Mead, Connie Johnson, Chariesse Gross and Nancy Wilson.

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 [email protected].