Big ideas and chances abound
Over the weekend there were stars and fireworks in the sky but I’m thinking there might have been a figurative giant light bulb, too. What with Nick Smoot’s third annual Think Big Festival attracting an eclectic and enthusiastic group of entrepreneurs in the tech fields and the Spokane chapter of the American Advertising Federation’s second annual collective campout, Think Outside, at Camp Sweyolakan — that’s quite a creative brain trust in our little corner of the world thinking big and thinking outside.
• • •
Coeur d’Alene’s own Miss Idaho, Kylee Solberg, headed to Atlantic City over the weekend to represent her state at the Miss America Pageant. She’s beautiful, inside and out, and an extraordinarily talented ballerina. You can vote for Kylee for America’s Choice at www.missamerica.org.
If you’d like to send some love in the form of cards and letters in advance of the Sept. 11 pageant: Miss America, Boardwalk Hall, 2301 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ, 08401 ATTN: Miss Idaho Kylee Solberg.
• • •
This time of year we seem to be evenly divided into two camps; those eagerly looking forward to cool, crisp evenings, the changing colors of the foliage and a fire in the fireplace and those who cling tightly to the beach towels, sunscreen, toes-in-the-sand, aroma of fresh-cut lawns lifestyle of summer. As we head into Labor Day, count me among the latter.
• • •
Highlights: Thursday Fiber Arts exhibit closing reception, 7-9 p.m. at Emerge, 208 N. Fourth St. in Coeur d’Alene.
Safe Passage Violence Prevention Center has two dates for a free lunch (noon-1 p.m.) to learn about the services provided in our communities, Sept. 6, 15. Contact Katie Coker, 664-9303 for reservations.
Community Care Day at the Post Falls Senior Center with resource information and Second Harvest Mobile Food Bank on site. Tuesday, Sept. 6, 9:30 a.m. to noon. Info, 773-9582.
Kootenai County Substance Abuse Council is hosting a Lunch and Learn, featuring Monte Stiles, a nationally recognized speaker on drug policy, law enforcement, youth leadership, drug prevention, corporate training and maintaining safe communities on Friday, Sept. 9 at St. Pius Community Room in Coeur d’Alene. 11:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring a lunch or buy lunch for just $5, program is free. Call 773-2118 to reserve a spot.
• • •
Welcome to the newest member of the Main Street Birthday Club! Weighing in at 7 lbs., 4 ozs. and 19 and 3/4 inches tall, Dalton Matthew Backs arrived at Kootenai Health on Monday, Aug. 29. His parents, Rose and Matt Backs and big sisters Olivia and Eleanor are over-the-moon happy to see his smiling face.
• • •
Wish a happy birthday today, the last day of August, to Ron Nilson, Jill Delavan, Patti Shea, Gen Twete (93!), Craig Wilcox, Andrew Houser, Jamie Ostbert, Dan Poole, Donna Euler, Mike Gerber, Nicole Stark and Rondi Renaldo.
On the first day of September Kathy McKahn is celebrating along with Terry Lee, David Mills, Kim Routh (40!), Sharon Latimer, Missy Hansen, Paul Ebert and Travis Best.
Doug Wheeler, Tammy Kelly, Bonnie Miller, John Parmann, Kelley Inman, Stephanie Foster, Kelley Taylor, Dale Borley and Debbie Pohlmeier take another trip around the sun on Friday.
On Sept. 3 Duane Hagadone, Dave Bobbitt, Willi Buerge, Lesli Linde, Emily Davis, Kris McIlvenna, Jim Hamby, Robin Merrifield, Patty Jacobs, Jeremy Moser (40!), David Armstrong, Jeff Tyler and Taylor Valente will put on their party hats!
Sunday birthdays will be marked by Paulette Fabian, Maggie DeTar, Tina-Marie Schultz, Steve Yost and Rich Dickman.
Labor Day celebrants are Ken Bookamer and Dave Pulis.
Blowing out the candles on Tuesday are Carl Riegert, Jack Evans, Amy Carlson, Claudia Pryor, Evelyn Wegner, Dave Chamberlain and Della St.Clair.
• • •
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.