Where there's smoke there's fire
Labor Day weekend of 2017 will be one for the record books. Not only did our soggy start to summer delay warm-weather activities, the end of summer has been defined by the choking smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in the western states.
We spent a few relaxing days of the weekend camping on the beautiful North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River where there was a barely noticeable haze. By the time we woke up in our Post Falls home on Monday morning, it smelled like our house was on fire. Familiar landscape was no longer visible, including Rathdrum Mountain, Signal Point or anything more than a mile in the distance. By Tuesday it was even worse, creating dangerous air quality for just about everyone.
I don’t know if we’ve ever had a more devastating or smokier forest fire season but I know this is the first that I’ve documented smoky air with photographs. This summer sun lover is actually praying for rain in all of the western states.
- • •
I’d like to give out a group Good Sport Award to the hundreds of kids, from kindergartners to seniors in high school, who let their parents take ‘first day of school’ photos on Tuesday to post on Facebook. I enjoyed seeing so many smiling faces on a smoky morning. It’s been over two decades since our youngest graduated from high school so when I took our little dog out to do her morning “perimeter check” of the backyard, I put her atop the inflatable rainbow unicorn in the pool to pose for a photo. It’s what empty nesters do on the first day of school. :)
- • •
Patriot Day “We Will Never Forget” commemoration of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States will take place on Monday at 8:30 a.m. at the PFC Robert J. Gordon Veterans Memorial Plaza at Hayden City Hall. The public remembrance is coordinated by the Hayden Veterans Commission.
This marks the 16th anniversary of the horrific and historic day that most of us will never forget. For the families of all who perished in the attacks and for all of those who have since and continue to serve in harm’s way in the military battling terrorism, the world has changed irrevocably. Take a moment to remember and honor the heroes and the fallen.
- • •
Things to Do Highlights:
Friday, Artwalk in downtown Coeur d’Alene 5 to 8 p.m., www.artsandculturecda.org.
The Maui Murders 7 p.m. with Coeur d’Alene Murder Mystery Theatre at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center.
Saturday, Kootenai Health Triathlon for Kids, 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., designed for children, ages 4-12, to promote health and fitness. $20 first child, $10 each additional sibling. (208) 625-5311 or visit: kh.org/kidstriathlon.
Sound of Music Sing-a-Long at the Kroc Center at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, sing out loud to the movie. www.lauralittletheatricals.com
The ninth annual Break the Silence — Suicide Awareness and Prevention Walk at Riverstone Park Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The 5k walk is hosted by the Suicide Prevention Action Network (SPAN) of North Idaho.
The seventh annual Anna Schindler Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday at the Links Golf Club in Post Falls. The 9-Hole Scramble starts at 1 p.m., and/ or for the catered dinner, live/silent auction at 4 p.m.
Hayden Outdoor Market on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., 831 E. Miles Ave.
On Sunday the Coeur d’Alene Public Library celebrates 10 years in the building on Front Avenue with a party at noon. The celebration begins with the ninth annual Mudgy & Millie Birthday Party in the community Room and then moves to the pavilion at McEuen Park with live music, entertainment and vendors.
- • •
The newest member of the Main Street Birthday Club is Maddux Michael Capaul who was born on Sunday Sept. 3, weighing in at 6 pounds, 14 ounces. His happy parents are Alex Capaul and Heidi Nelson. Maddux joins a family with generations of fire service, including his dad who’s with Kootenai County Fire and Rescue. He’s loved a lot by first-time grandparents Ken and Toni Capaul and more experienced grandparents Doug and Patty English, first-time great grandparents Tom and Dixie Reid with experienced great-grandmother Fran George. Maddux was eager to meet everyone, arriving a week early!
- • •
Happy birthday today to Carl Riegert, Jack Evans, Amy Carlson, Claudia Pryor, Evelyn Wegner, Dave Chamberlain and Della St.Clair.
Thursday, Keri Alexander shares a birthday with her mother Sherry Krulitz, Vicki Fulton, Laura Umthun, James Arras, Lori Millsap, Kathleen Cavender, Nikki Luttmann and Jim Brannon.
Sept. 8 is a special day for Anne Mitchell, Juli Stratton, Vicki Currie, Lisa Gould, Sheena Dunn, Angie Demmig, Lorna Price, Gayle Simpson, Imogene Sverdsten, Irina Ponomarenko, Brad Marshall, Sonya Fernandes, Rosemary Dickson and Bob Coles.
Nine is the lucky number for 9/9 birthday celebrants Mary Larson, Dani Zibell-Wolfe, Kibbee Walton, Seth Anderson, Dominick Pokosa, Daniel Connelly, Krysta Azzollini, Marty Meyer, Donna Boise and Chase Price.
On Sunday Gregg Gain, Mary Ellen Denton, Tami Martinez, Mark Browning, Helen Terway and Annette Kennedy celebrate.
Jim Pierce, Hannah Epstein, Cameron Epstein, Cyndie Brubaker, Jeremy Siegler, Kelly Hanson, Mark Compton, Patty Roberson, Lily Hollibaugh and Darrell Dlouhy take another trip around the sun on Monday.
On Tuesday Rose Backs, Nelson Gourley, Tiegan Horton, Nancy Adam, Norman Oss and Polly Gava will blow out the candles.
- • •
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.