Timely message can open eyes, hearts
“Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing things historians usually record; while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks.” — The Story of Civilization, Will Durant
I encourage Main Street readers to go to www.ted.com and search Baratunde Thurston. Then take 15 minutes to watch and absorb his profound and timely message. We can level up our understanding and become agents of change.
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To the citizens who gathered in Coeur d’Alene on Monday evening to protect protesters and their right to protest as well as taking a stand against those who would hijack a protest to damage and destroy private property, kudos. In a world that seems to have fallen through Alice’s looking glass, it was an example of what’s good in America.
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Congratulations to the victors of Tuesday’s primary election. Everyone who had their name on the ballot deserves a figurative high five for stamina. Thanks to the Kootenai County Elections Department for going above and beyond in a process that had more twists and turns than a mystery novel.
And to those who voted, good job. Here’s hoping that on Nov. 3 we’ll be back at our polling places.
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On Saturday thousands of Kootenai County homeowners received assessment notices in their mailboxes, a routine annual occurrence. But with the return address of Rich Houser-Assessor, it was a painful reminder that he’s gone. The assessment letter he’d compiled prior to his May 3 passing contained a note and tribute from the staff. Rest in peace.
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During the weeks of staying at home Bert was quite productive, including laying new tile in our two bathrooms. That’s the only improvement we’ve done this year on the home we’ve owned since 1987. Evidently that project must have increased the assessed value of our home by $70,000 over 2019. I’m thinking we’ll experience the appeals process with the Board of Equalization for the first time in 33 years of home ownership.
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I don’t have allergies but holy cow, the pine pollen is knocking me for a loop. From the inside out my eyes have felt like a big cotton ball. Rarely seen in the air but the coating of our patio and porch furniture is a constant reminder that we must be breathing in all of those little yellow particles, too.
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The challenge of Zoom meetings continues ... last week there was an after-work virtual gathering of River City Leadership Academy alumni. I took my laptop out on the patio to participate while Bert was grilling our dinner. At one point he reminded me to use my inside voice.
Apparently now there are rules for Zooming outdoors and they include using your inside voice outside in consideration of the neighbors who are also outside on their patios.
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Happy Main Street birthdays today to JoAnn Nelson, Mitch Heid, Scott Osburn, Matthew Huthinson, Kathy Larson, Devin Weeks, Sharon Timmons, Susan Mensching and Matt Boseth. Tomorrow Natalie Wyant, Lynsie Odd, Jay Sadler, Kirk Dady, Jessica Downs Anundson and Nikki Downs will celebrate.
Alec Steele, Evelyn Bevacqua Howe, Harold Appleby, Jr., Joel Semanko, Helen Elder, Dale Rounsville, Ron Hodge and JaNee Newby take another trip around the sun on Friday. Saturday Wendy English, Don Bradway, Dallas Dixon, DeDe Tondee and Kim Normand put on their party hats. On Sunday my better half and best friend Bert Thoreson along with John Hough, Brad Corkill, Rick Alden and Susan Lewis are celebrating birthdays.
Blowing out the candles on Monday are Tammy Rickard, Courtney Everson, Dustin Pilcher, Jaymie Starr, Emma Hoffman, Dave Haugen and Ted Pryor. On June 9 Carla Allert, Dave Corbeill, Greg Washington, Paul Deckon, James Hart, Don Fisher and Darrell Hull will celebrate.
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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.