SIMPLE THINGS COLUMN: Cycling, swimming, beer and school
Groth
CYCLING STREAKS
“Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” While not the official United States Postal Service motto, it is a tribute to their dedication.
Similarly dedicated are two local cyclists, Josh Raybell and Keith Jones. Josh, a therapist who specializes in addiction, cycled from his home near Canfield Mountain to his work at Kootenai Health every day for 16 years!
Keith Jones lives east of downtown Coeur d’Alene and is natural resource manager for Idaho Parks and Recreation on Kathleen Avenue. In 2021 his older brother died, the person who had taught him to ride a bike at age 4. Keith “sorted out the loss” with daily rides to work and has now cycled to work every day for just shy of five years, and is still going!
For both Josh and Keith, these rides are in rain, snow, wind and traffic. Bravo!
MASTERS SWIM MEET AT THE KROC CENTER
The 10th annual “February Flurry Masters Swim Meet,” for swimmers age 18 and over, took place Feb. 21 at the Coeur d’Alene Kroc Center. Some of the wonderful things I observed include:
Coeur d’Alene was represented by 86-year-old Lorna Henry and 81-year-old Dexter Yeats (female, different from Dexter Yates, male).
Many records were broken by Brandon Roy from Spokane, who graduated from Gonzaga Prep and was a five-time All-American while swimming at Stanford University. In 2024, he competed in the Olympic trials. At the Coeur d’ Alene meet, Brandon set masters records in the breaststroke and was on record-setting relay teams in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle. So fun to watch swimmers of this caliber.
Local swimmer Emily Colgrove, challenged with Down syndrome, swam four events and was cheered soundly for her determination. Emily will be the only woman from Idaho to swim in the Special Olympic Games in Minnesota this June.
There were 35 swimmers from the Kroc Masters and 108 total, with representatives from San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma, Moses Lake, The Tri-Cities, Clarkston, Moscow, Kalispell, Helena, Missoula and more.
Kroc Masters coach Kerry O’Brien reported that he was exhausted at the end of the day. And all he did was walk around for 12 hours, encouraging, coaching and helping in every way he could!
This successful meet would not have happened if it weren't for the Coeur d’Alene Kroc Center, our fabulous facility with a state-of-the art Myrtha swimming pool, shipped from Italy.
BEER CHOIR AT CROWN AND THISTLE
On Feb. 26, while enjoying beverages with friends, a jam-packed Crown and Thistle crowd belted out “Sweet Caroline,” “I’ve Got You Babe,” “Friends in Low Places,” and “Folsom Prison Blues,” to name a few of the songs.
Max Mendez, the former North Idaho College choir director, led this sing-a-long with his guitar, sense-of-humor and enthusiasm.
The next Beer Choir evenings are March 16, April 23 and May 1, 7-9 p.m.
After a summer break, the joyful gatherings resume in September.
SORENSEN MAGNET SCHOOL OF THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES- AUCTION
I was a fifth-grade teacher at Sorensen in 2007 when the district announced the plan to close the school because of the declining student population in downtown Coeur d’Alene and the expensive maintenance needs of the aging building.
Parents and teachers rallied and proposed the idea of making Sorensen a magnet school for the arts, with intentions of drawing students from throughout the district.
The school district agreed to give it a try — if $30,000 was raised and there were 200 students enrolled — by July 1.
Parents quickly went to work and organized an auction that raised over $30,000, enrollment was full by July 1 and Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities was born.
It took a lot of work to organize the first Sorensen auction, and it is another level of accomplishment to sustain that energy. The Feb. 27 successful Sorensen auction was the 19th one and Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities continues to thrive.
QUOTE ON LIFE
“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” — Helen Keller
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David Groth retired in 2016 after 37 years in elementary education. His last 17 years, the favorite part of his career, were spent teaching fifth grade and juggling at Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities. He has lived in Coeur d’Alene since 1982 and has always appreciated the people, the geography, the climate, the rivers and lakes, and the simple things that make days special.