Father's Day is a bit bittersweet as I mark the seventh since my father's passing. I always was and always will be Daddy's girl and know that being blessed with a father who set an example of unconditional love, the value of doing good deeds quietly and the healing power of laughter was an absolute gift.

My own three daughters have been blessed to have an incredible father for a quarter century who wasn't there when they were babies but has been there for them for everything else that matters. Technically society would label Bert their step-father. But for him and so many other good men who have loved and raised children under the same circumstance, I'm convinced there's a special place in Heaven for their grace.

One local father is discovering the generosity of spirit that exists in our community for a little girl many of us have never met, his daughter, Sophie. Jake Medlock and his wife, Nicole are buoyed by the outpouring of support for their little girl, who at just two-years-old is undergoing treatment for recently-diagnosed leukemia.

On Monday friends teamed up with Pizza Hut in Post Falls for a fundraiser, with more than $1,000 contributed by the restaurant representing a percentage of the days' sales. On Sunday another event will dedicate all proceeds to the Medlock medical fund ... Singing for Sophie. At 4 p.m. at the Q'emiln Park you just might hear event organizer and Post Falls city councilor Linda Wilhelm and Chamber president/CEO Pam Houser warble some tunes during the karaoke contest.

This example of friends and neighbors coming together for each other is just the latest chapter in my "I Love Where I Live" book of life.

John O'Brien served as President of the Board of Directors of Kootenai County Water District #1 for more than 20 years, retiring in February of 2010. A slow sand filtration plant that took five years to design, plan and build was finally completed in March of 2011. A plaque will be permanently mounted on the SSF plant, with the following inscription:

"This Slow Sand Filtration facility is dedicated in the name of John J. O'Brien for his 23 years of leadership on the Kootenai County Water District #1 Board of Directors and for his decades of progressive and unselfish service to the benefit of all District patrons."

John's had some health issues that prevent him from attending the dedication but the current board members will pay a visit to his home on Friday so he can see the plaque. Dedicated friends for a dedicated man.

The good folks at Coeur d'Alene's Heart of the City Church hold an annual Blessing of the Bikes at the start of summer. On Sunday, surrounded by a sea of motorcycles, Ryan Davis had his racing bicycle there for the blessing. It certainly can't hurt since in just a couple of weeks Ryan will be competing in his first Ironman and riding his two-wheeled transportation for 112 miles ... right after a 2.4 mile swim and right before a 26.2 run.

Coeur d'Alene Summer Theater goers to the Sunday matinee of The Wizard of Oz not only saw a fabulous performance but might have also caught a glimpse of Ellen and Margaret's baby brother, John Travolta. John and family flew in for the day and I'm pretty sure the big private jet that flew over our house around dusk Sunday night was piloted by the actor.

Rest up, this weekend has some great events you'll want to take in ... Friday night is the annual Car d'Lane cruise on Sherman Avenue with the event continuing on Saturday. And how could you not love Spirit Lake's annual Big Back-In Lawn Mower Drag Races down Maine Street on Father's Day? Starts at 11 a.m. and then at 4 p.m. you can come to Post Falls' Lions Pavilion at Q'emiln Park for the Singing for Sophie fundraiser karaoke contest with raffles galore and hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner.

Happy birthday today to Sharon Bruno, Joseph Hutchinson and Bob Friske. Tomorrow Tim Shepperd, Rebecca Morelli, Sarah Cook, Shelly Cunnington, Richard Wegner, Taylor Brockhoff and Bill Dick celebrate. More birthdays ... June 17 - Raydeane Owens, Susan Reilly, Vicky Houle, Leigh Cossette and Jennifer Smith; June 18 - Jim Hammond, Bob Thomas and Sean Watson; June 19 - Jim Morrison, Jerry Riggs, Sue Shibley, Twyla and Bill Cope, Doug Harwood, Kelly Gwinn, Mel Swatzenberg and Lauren Hoffman; June 20 - Mark Applebee, Kristen Enders, Daniel Davis, Eva Jones and Sherin Diehl; June 21 - Shirley Bade, Lucas Schell and Stephen Larson.

THERE'S MORE: New stories and photos almost every day at More Main Street. There's a link also for adding your birthday to the Main Street Birthday Club! Access at cdapress.com, columns tab.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. She was voted Best Local Writer for 2010 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press. More Main Street blog is at http://moremainstreet.blogspot.com. Listen to Main Street Monday on KVNI AM1080. Kerri can be reached at mainstreet@cdapress.com