Welcome to pumpkin spice season

I’ve not yet surrendered to the end of summer by draining the pool and putting the floaties and patio furniture into the storage shed. While I truly enjoy fall, I love summer best. Everywhere in our neck of the woods — pools, cabins and river campsites are being closed, boats coming out of the water and into storage. On Sunday, the last calendar day of summer, the collective sigh of lovers of sunshine and warm weather could be heard for miles.

For everyone who prefers pumpkin spice everything, this is now your season.

I'm not unhappy though to have spent the past few days basking in triple-digit temps in the Arizona sunshine as my last hurrah. 

Not to worry warm weather affectionados, summer will return in just nine months!

• • •

If you’re reading this, you’re obviously a newspaper reader so you know there’s an election coming up Nov. 4. That gives you about six weeks to look at the issues and candidates for a variety of positions in our communities. Try to drown out the noise and look beyond sensational headlines and social media memes in your research.

Every election, large or small, is important. These local councils and commissions have the authority to tax. Your vote counts this year and always. If you’re not registered, now’s the time to do it.

To see what’s on the ballot: voteidaho.gov

• • •

Happy birthday today to father and son, Charles Alexander and Scott Alexander, John Hawkins, Tracey Vaughn, Debbie Michalak, Justin Capaul, Steve Evert, Dorothy Benoit, Carlena Shove and Cathy Schaede. Tomorrow, James Hagman, Linda Riley, Susan Evans, Beck Jacobsen, Brenda Watkins, Gladys Sullivan, Michael McGee, Ronald Schlepp, Rebecca Greer, Marcia Hughes, Cheryl Snyder, Cate Kuhlmann, Teri Oliver and Charlie Taranto celebrate. On Friday, Darci Allert, Hannah Riorden, John Oaks, Lisa McElwain, Teresa Hooker and Dan Tesutov do the birthday dance. On Saturday, my great-grandson, Bennett Snider, turns 1, sharing the date with Cindy Lash, Delraya Anstine, Kaley Fowler, Julie DeGon, Robert Hoyt and Paul Landers. Sunday celebrations for Linda Snider, Kayla Troxell, Kylie Solberg, Meg Elyard, Natalie Loval, Ken Cook, Wayne Riddle and Bryan Czarapata. On Monday, our oldest grandson, Matt Snider, A’mya Ohlig, John Holley, Gina Myers, Peg Mettalia, Phil Corliss, Greg Youngman, Jim Rosenlund, Shellie Mundy and Marilyn Griffitts blow out the candles. On the last day of September, our youngest daughter, Sarah Polk, shares the date with Steve Griffitts, Chickie Albright, Debra Raymer, Don Schmitt, Jeff Baltzell, Wilma Mort, Dan Grimmett, Valerie Mesenbrink, Brett Hollenbeck, Ann Siebert and Donna Cooper.

• • •

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 [email protected].