Renewing friendships at class reunions
It's that time of year when classmates reunite to mark the decades since graduation. I encourage everyone to attend yours, especially those of you who still live in the area.
Often the locals take a pass thinking that they see many classmates regularly but there are just as many who are traveling back to their hometown in hopes of reconnecting for a weekend. So if you haven't already signed on for your reunion, do it! And to those of you who've taken on the sometimes thankless job of organizing ... kudos.
Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1960 will celebrate its 55th reunion on Friday, July 24 and then the class will host a CHS Golden Grad Reunion on July 25 at the Hayden Eagles from 2-6 p.m. for all CHS graduates who have already celebrated a 50th class reunion ... Class of '64 and before.
My own Coeur d'Alene High School Class of 1970 will hold a 45th reunion on July 24-25, Friday night downtown at the site of the old Woolworth's, now Sherman Park, and Saturday take a lake cruise followed by dinner at the pavilion at McEuen Park.
Post Falls High School Class of '85 will reunite to celebrate 30 years since graduation on July 24-25, Friday night at Nashville North and Saturday at Black Bay Park.
Next month Post Falls High School Class of '95 marks its 20th reunion on Aug. 14-16 at Curley's on Friday night, a Lake Coeur d'Alene cruise on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon picnic at Kiwanis Park.
That same weekend CHS '75's 40th reunion will be at the Coeur d'Alene Eagles downtown on Friday and at the Eagles Pavilion on Saturday.
Most area high school reunions have Facebook pages with information, check out yours.
Highlights of summer fun ... Thursday, Tails at Twilight will benefit the Kootenai Humane Society at the Coeur d'Alene Casino Resort.
Saturday is the eighth-annual St. Vincent de Paul Steak Fry from 5-10 p.m. with Kelly Hughes, Colby Acuff and Justin Sherfey performing. Also on Saturday is the Coeur d'Alene Tribe's summer cultural experience at the Cd'A Casino Resort, free and open to the public. On Sunday, Heart of the City Church hosts its eighth-annual Blessing of the Bikes (motorcycles), 1:30 p.m. at 521 W. Emma in Coeur d'Alene, followed by a ride to Schweitzer Mountain for a late lunch.
Happy 100 years young to Ralph Ward of Post Falls today. Michael Ward's dad is celebrating with his beautiful wife of 55 years, Kazuko. Ralph is a retired Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, who flew in the Berlin airlift. The couple met after World War II ended and American Forces occupied Japan. Ralph was a young officer and Kazuko worked at the Officers Club. The pair didn't marry until 1960 but have made every minute count since then.
More Main Street birthday wishes today to Logan Virgil (13!), Kris Siebers, Katie Mans, Laurel Flerchinger, Loretta Lyon (30!), Angela Olson, Andreas John, Julie Ingram, Marisa Buffaloe, Brian Bunch, Wayne Huckabee and Glen Collins.
Sandi Morrison,Yvonne Smith, Marcy Clutter, Loretta Lyon, Angela Olson, Andreas John, Rich Doughty, Cindy Wiedmer, Patrick Ryan and Doug Jaworski celebrate tomorrow.
On Friday Terry Werner, John Malloy, Erik Nelson, Rick Souza, Janet Brock, Belinda Rowe (30!), Amber Flinn, Lori Larkin and Emily Crawford will blow out the candles.
Eric Wurmlinger, Jessica Ohlig, Annette Davis, Kathy LaTourrette, Dustin Peacock, Lori Nelson, Sandie Husby, Joanne Anglin and Cody Jones will put on their party hats on July 18.
July 19 birthdays belong to David Kilmer, Vic Grilli, Bill Noordam, Hillary Main, Sherri Dust and Micheala Cocoran.
On Monday Louise Gillespie, Linda Litalien and Kymber Baker celebrate and Tuesday salutations to Jim Lien, Cathy Meeks, David Miller, Todd Jenicek, Janet Allen, Shane Bell and Matt Gardner.
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.