Hot (and cool) fun in the summer

I enjoyed time in the announcer's skybox for the Fourth of July parade, except for being nearly overcome by the heat midway through. It was a wonderfully All-American and perfectly Coeur d'Alene celebration of our country's Independence Day. With the riderless horse honoring fallen Coeur d'Alene police officer Greg Moore, veterans of many eras being celebrated and hundreds of participants enduring the scorching sun to delight the diehard spectators along the mile-long route, it was a good day.

Kudos to Coeur d'Alene Chamber parade organizer Diane Higdem and thanks again to Curtis from ROX who gets me up and onto the scaffolding and this year provided additional hydration. Anne Hagman saved the day by coming up to spell me as announcer for the last part of the parade.

Katie Brodie volunteered to drive grand marshal, World War II veteran Harold Kiel, who was having just the best time. Katie said it was incredibly heartwarming for her and passenger Sue Hennessey to see and hear the reception Mr. Kiel received from the crowds. City councilor Kiki Miller traveled the parade route, not in an open car but in the bucket of "Louie the Loader," operated by 26-year city street department employee, Dick Fields. Once again the Perfection-Nots marching band displayed exceptional creativity in its costuming, second only to members' impressive musicianship.

Saturday was the hottest Fourth of July in my memory which goes back to nearly 50 years of parades in this fair city. But it takes more than a little sunshine to deter the community from celebrating in style!

In sharp and much welcome contrast to last Saturday's sweltering skybox, this Saturday I'll bundle up and have the honor and pleasure of being an honorary captain during the inaugural Shinny Sled Fest 2015 at Frontier Ice Arena. Sled hockey teams from Coeur d'Alene, Kalispell, Whitefish and Seattle will play 15 round-robin tournament games from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The sleds allow for disabled players, many of whom are veterans, to be on the ice for some incredible hockey play.

At 5 p.m. the tournament All Star game will pit the All Star Team against the Fairchild Air Force Base Hockey Phantoms, active duty FAB military. I'll serve as honorary captain of the All Star Team, which will include veterans, a couple of paralympians and even Miss Disabled Montana! KCFR Chief Warren Merritt will be the honorary captain of the Fairchild team and rumor has it he'll suit up and play, too. I may not actually play but will be dropping the puck and trying to stay out of the way of the team's real coaches, Mark Jones and Lorraine Bourget.

All of the Saturday games have free admission and provide a great opportunity to get to know about this incredible sport for the athletes who refuse to let a disability keep them off the ice! www.frontiericearena.org

On Friday night, Hockey Fest at Frontier Ice Arena will feature the NHL Legends game with Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hull. I think they'll do just fine without me being the honorary captain of that team. :) Check the arena's website for ticket information.

Post Falls is the place to be for the three-day Post Falls Festival. At beautiful Q'emiln Park on the Spokane River, there are multiple stages with live music and entertainment, along with a large variety of vendors and a beer garden. The beach will be open with lifeguards but the boat launch will be closed from Thursday through Sunday.

The Post Falls Chamber hosts its second lawn mower races, running on Fifth Avenue south of I-90 and starting at 6 p.m. Friday with free admission.

Saturday morning is the parade on Seltice Way, starting at the earlier time of 10 a.m., followed by a noon open house at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue's Station 1. New this year is the summer version of the famous Post Falls Lions Haunted House from 5-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. On Sunday morning join the Community Worship Service in the Grand Pavilion in Q'emiln Park at 10 a.m. It's going to be a great weekend in the River City. See the complete schedule of events at www.postfallsidaho.org.

Weekend highlights: Artwalk in Downtown Coeur d'Alene, Friday 5-8 p.m. Double J Dog Ranch's second "Barking Lot Sale" on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with all proceeds going to the dogs. The sanctuary and re-homing organization for dogs with special needs does good work 8638 N. Cloverleaf Road in Hauser. Phone: 457-8600, visit www.doublejdogranch.org.

Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the Coeur d'Alene Garden Club's 18th Annual Garden Tour, featuring beautiful local gardens. www.cdagardenclub.com

Happy Birthday yesterday (7/7) to Devon Dixon and today to Taryn Thompson, Peter Finney, Bev Hammond, Dawson Brown, Ron Jacaban, Beverly Knapp and Carrie Erickson.

Tomorrow, Madison King, Jenny Seaman, Brooke Bowers, Loren Mitchell, Brooke Hell, Jenny Joyner and Renee Christensen will celebrate.

On Friday, Jason Faulkner, Collin Coles, Jim Hail, Sr., Amber Blanchette,Gene Gertson, Jan Ryan, Mike Stevens, Heather Wichman, Darren Olson, Pat Fuller and Michael Garrett take another trip around the sun. Richard Jurvelin, Jeri Lee, Bill Graves, Scott Mote, Larry Wendt and Maxine Nelson will celebrate on Saturday.

July 12 birthdays belong to BeBe Fletcher, Cheri Burila, Emily Hodgson (30!), Paul Burke and Jim Welborn (70!). July 13 is a big day for Renee Lusby, Ingrid Yates, Mark Daanen, Julia Koontz, Becky Rider, Kris Mans, Brooke Hayden, Shirley Jarrell, Lisa Goodwin and Karen Applebee.

Blowing out the candles on Tuesday, July 14 are Dee Barnes, Barb Chambers, Kathleen Esquibel (70!), John Lasher, Jim Lyons, Nancy Seright, Jaime Vanderpool and Dawnelle Garvey.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. 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.