Real trees at Christmas are gift that's renewable

Mica Flats farmer and rancher Sherry Mundt shared a perspective of real versus artificial trees that I thought interesting. Some people simply don’t like the hassle of real trees, which do require care through the holiday season. She also knows that some people may think cutting down Christmas trees is bad for the environment and offers this point to ponder:

“Those trees are raised by farmers, and buying them supports agriculture. They are a renewable, sustainable crop. Supporting those producers keeps the land in production, and prevents it from being developed. Now, THAT’S what’s good for our planet.” she says. “Even cutting your own tree in the National Forest aids in crucial thinning, which enhances the health of our forests.”

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Cathy Riorden, of Big Bear Deli fame, had a brush with fame this week while on an adventure in La La Land with an old friend from high school. The friend had scored VIP tickets to a taping of Monday night’s “The Voice,” so Cathy flew down to join her. Cathy said that reuniting with her friend Dawn held far more appeal than the celebrity hobnobbing.

The pair were seated in Voice coach Kelly Clarkson’s guest seating and had a ball. They were also seated next to the mother of Blake Shelton’s manager.

After the Voice taping they were escorted to the City Walk at Universal Studios to be part of the filming of the New Years 2019 Celebration with Blake Shelton and Kelly Clarkston. The audience donned New Years hats and enthusiastically cheered during Blake and Kelly’s performance for the cameras. Cathy recounts that there were a lot of takes and re-takes. The show will air on New Year’s Eve.

She flew back home to Idaho-ho-ho on Tuesday. So which Voice contestant most impressed Cathy? Sarah Grace. The diminutive 16-year-old from Houston performed a bluesy version of “Amazing Grace.”

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Holiday Things to Do: Rest up and put on your comfy shoes, there’s quite an array of places to go this weekend!

Thursday, 7:30 p.m., Annie at Lake City Playhouse. The show runs Thursdays through Sunday until Dec. 16. www.lakecityplayhouse.org

Friday at Post Falls City Hall, from 6 to 8 p.m., Winterfest for the family includes tree lighting and Santa Claus. There’s caroling around the historical organ at the Post Falls Historical Museum. Next door the Post Falls Chamber’s River City Leadership Academy Alumni host a Pajama Drive Party from 4 to 6 p.m. to benefit the Post Falls Police Department’s OASIS program

Traditions of Christmas 2018 opens Friday at the Kroc Center and runs weekends through Dec. 23. www.traditionsofchristmasnw.com.

3Cs Frim Fram Christmas concert at Lutheran Church of the Master on Ramsey Road. Free and open to the public, 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

The Post Falls Chamber’s Post Fallidays Tiny Tree auction and brunch at Red Lion Templin’s, 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Holiday Sing-a-Long with Santa and Mudgy at the Coeur d’Alene Library, Saturday 11 a.m. to noon.

Kootenai County Farmers Market annual Winter Market in the Jacklin Building at the fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

Athol City Hall will be the location of the town’s tree lighting festival, complete with a visit from Santa from 5 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Spirit Lake Holiday Parade, 5 p.m. Saturday downtown on Maine Street.

Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s 33nd annual Shalena’s Breakfast with Santa at the fire station. Breakfast prepared and served by the firefighters, auxiliary and their families. Photos with Santa, raffle. www.hauserfire.org Coeur d’Alene Makers Holiday Market, Sunday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Monday from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Human Rights Day Breakfast at the Human Rights Education Institute. Free breakfast, RSVPs required. hrei.org.

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Happy birthday today to Jennifer McGrath, Sharlene Scott, Marna Bateman, Annette Barstow and Anita Banta. Tomorrow Kathy McDowell, Melanie Chun, Jocelyn Stott, Jennifer Hawkins and Kylie Allen celebrate. On Friday Cheryl Fitting (70!), Patricia Marrs, Nathan Smalley, Dean Opsal, CJ Deacon, Catherine Cronin, Rhonda Newton and Randy Duncan take another trip around the sun. Saturday Tammy Schneider, Kelly Ferguson and Becky McIntire Bufeuillet are blowing out the candles. Tammie Peacock (60!), Cecilia Fehling, Brandon Quigley, Cheri Banta, Melissa Williams and Cindy Jarnagin celebrate on Sunday. Dick Wandrocke, Shannon Clark, Richard Carlson, Bert Bachelder, Matthew Lemieux, Jack Jordan, Gavin Broadwater and Donna Cushman put on their party hats on Monday. On Tuesday Christina Petit, Kathy Hughes, Duncan Mezies, Stephanie Hunter, Michael Matt, Katrina Mayer, Kym Hamby, Shawn Gunn, Leigh Sales and Aleta English take another trip around the sun.

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Postscript: If you want to feel rich, just count all of the gifts you have that money can’t buy.

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.