Cheers for the skilled trades workers
“Flying Spaghetti,” a fork frozen in mid-air on a plate of spaghetti created by Keith Boe of Post Falls.
Photo by Keith Boe
It’s been all about the weather 24/7 for most of January, with good reason. Dangerous cold and ice and our next round of snow all present challenges. It’s also an opportunity for the public to see and appreciate those in the skilled trades whose value and importance in our society is often overlooked.
Here’s to the plumbers, electricians, linemen, HVAC techs, damage restorers, and mechanics. And to the drivers of tow trucks, snow plows, police cars, firetrucks and delivery services ... you are all seen and appreciated.
To young people considering a future occupation, the skilled trades are absolutely essential. My friend, Vicki Isakson, Dean of CTE and Workforce Education at NIC, can assist in your decision-making.
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Meanwhile I’ve made a few colored ice balls as have some of our readers. Anita Weaver wins for making the largest batch with her grandson, probably a dozen. Coloring Outside the Lines Award goes to Tim and Becky Rice. They made ice bowls instead of using balloons and colored water in plastic bowls. My ice ball buddy, Daniella Cross, inspired me to add glitter to the water but alas it was so cold over the weekend, the balloons froze in far less time than usual so I didn’t have time to roll them around before they were solid.
In the Culinary Category, Keith Boe takes the grand prize for a beautifully plated serving of spaghetti on his Spokane River patio with the fork frozen in mid-air. Now that’s cold!
Speaking of the weekend, our friends and family in Bert’s North Dakota homeland were dealing with windchill temps 60-70 below zero. I’m thinking ice balls were the last thing on their mind!
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Happy Birthday today to Paul Anderson, Valentina Tripepi-Shoop, Eden Irgens, Michelle Martens and Charles Newman. Tomorrow, Beatrice (Bea) Fisher (101!). Bea graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 1941 and marks another year. Also celebrating their big day tomorrow are Kenna Scott Lamas, Travis Chaney, Peg Suenkel, Aubrey Davis, Mike Webb, BJ Holinka, Suzanne Courtney, Amanda Kralicek, Kristy Walsh, Mike Taylor and Nina Tikalsky. On Friday, Austin Isakson, Wade McLean, Roy Carlson, Gavin Krieg and Terry Drapeau take another trip around the sun. On Saturday, Bob Short, Mary Spridgeon and Larry Sackett celebrate birthdays. Ryan Davis, Chelsea Camarata, Nicole Jones, Carrie Beals and Mary Crosby blow out the candles Jan. 21. Eric English, Analisa Raynor, Nora Horn, Larry Spencer, Angie Phillips, Glen Abbott and Peggy Brothers put on their party hats Monday. Come Tuesday, Al Holm, Chelsea Dickinson, Sadie Lynn Fisher, Daryl Gankema, Joy Lynch, Paul Lash and Jamie Crawford have their cake and eat it, too.
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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.