I really enjoy a quiet walk on the west end of Q'emiln Park when the yellow Glacier Lilies are in bloom as they are now. 
Labor Day falls late this year, on September 7, so back-to-school will come early, on August 31. But what about all of those kids with summer jobs who would exodus early, long before the last tourist has headed home? Here's the story. If you were calling the shots, would you start school on Sept. 8 or August 31?
Keith Ekness is today's birthday boy. Keith and his family are familiar faces at their North Idaho Beer Ball booth at the North Idaho Fair, A Taste of Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls Days and anywhere there's a community celebration. If you'd like to add your upcoming birthday to the club, post it in the comment section below or enter it directly into the birthday alarm reminder here! *See this week's birthday celebrants on the top left of the home page.
At North Idaho College beach (the dike road for you longtimers) Canada geese raise their gooslings this time of year. It's one of my favorite places in the spring to take a mid-day break and watch the babies learn to swim with their mothers.
I've known Gary Ingram since I was a teenager in the 1960s. He's spent a lifetime involved in our community as a tireless advocate of open government. On Saturday Gary will deservedly receive the Idaho Newspaper Foundation's 11th Annual Max Dalton Open Government Award. Gary served in Idaho's House of Representatives from 1972-80 and is the author of the state's Open Meeting Law. The Max Dalton award recognizes an "outspoken advocate of openness in either public records or public meetings on the state or local level." Sounds like Gary, that's for sure. Congratulations old friend!
John DeLuca is celebrating a birthday Saturday. If you'd like to add your upcoming birthday to the club, post it in the comment section below or enter it directly into the birthday alarm reminder here! *See this week's birthday celebrants on the top left of the home page.
In the current Main Street column the story of Bob Pearl's 20-year journey of closure after a tragic boating accident is told. Brian Walker's feature story is a must-read, too. Pictured are Bob, his mother Donna and Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin at City Hall on Friday. Bob and Mayor Larkin corresponded for five years before this past week's visit to the site of the accident at the third channel dam on the Spokane River.
