Paying it forward, four paws style

One person can and often does make a difference. One person and a dog ... now that's an unstoppable combination.

When Sydne Spink Watson brought a 6-week-old chocolate lab puppy home it was a match made in heaven. Within a few weeks AJ had a mild seizure and veterinarian Dr. Dennis Thomas became a friend and a blessing to Sydne and her pup. At close to a year old AJ was diagnosed with dysplasia in both hips, requiring surgery that Sydne couldn't afford. Putting the pup down seemed to be the only option. Dr. Thomas performed the surgery gratis and that act began the pay it forward in AJ's story.AJ was plagued with many health issues but possessed a warrior's spirit and lived almost to his fifth birthday in 2006. It was while she grieved the loss of her companion that Sydne was inspired to start the AJ's Tails and Trails 5K. Now the AJ Foundation, in its fifth year, raises money to provide for the veterinary costs for the much-loved pets of the low income elderly in our community.

On Sunday morning, Oct. 9 at Farragut State Park, this year's event will take place. Go to www.ajstailsandtrails.org for more information. I'm quite sure that AJ will be there on the trails in spirit, running alongside his good friend Sydne.

***Those who set lofty goals and then work hard to achieve them are inspiring. Fresh off his victory in the Relish Shopping Cart Dash, Post Falls' Derek Garcia is in Kona, Hawaii right now, preparing to compete in the 2011 World Championship Ironman on Saturday with a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycling and a 26.2 mile marathon. Go Derek!

*** Love stories make me smile and on Saturday it was a treat to share the special day with Eve Knudtsen and Wayne Cofield as they exchanged vows. Decades after Eve's schoolgirl crush on Wayne, the long and winding road of life brought them together. With several of their lifelong friends in the wedding party, including Wayne's 7th grade locker partner Russell Smolden, it was genuinely a happily ever after kind of evening. Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Cofield and to all of those who continue to believe that love will find us at any stage of our lives.

***One of the best things about the Pleasant View School's Cowboy Breakfast each year are the folks you meet over the biscuits and gravy ... very much enjoyed the stories of lifelong residents Janice Bentley and her brother John, as well as Wray Rollis. So interesting to hear the stories of yesteryear and life in Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene.

***Just because it's October, don't think that there are any fewer worthwhile events to fill your weekend. Coming up on Saturday the Walk to Defeat ALS at Riverstone Park, Sunrise Rotary's Passport to the World to benefit local food banks and scholarships, Smart Women-Smart Money free conference at NIC and Lake City Harmonizers' spaghetti feed and cabaret at Lake City Center. On Sunday, a $5 pancake/eggs breakfast at the Crossroads on Highway 41 from 9 a.m. to noon will benefit the National Guard's "An Honored Night" coming up in November, the AJ's Tails and Trails at Farragut State Park and the SIDs Memorial Walk at Riverstone. On cdapress.com is a full calendar listing of local events and a tab to enter your event.***

Today wish a happy birthday to Tim Turrell, Jan Lindquist, Jonalyn Clayton, Pat Riley, Amber Butler, Margie Basaraba and Debbie Mcenespy. Turning 40 tomorrow, beautifully I might add, is Brooke Miller sharing a birthday with Gary Marian and Kate Bennett. Friday is the special day for Midge Smock, Vicki Gehring and Mark Michalak. Bev Finney, Pat McGaughey, Dale Bennett, Josh Hissong, Suzanne DeTar and Craig Hampton celebrate on Saturday. Marking their birthdays on Sunday are Randy Wells, John Rook, Ron Deering and Kathy Epstein, who's turning 6-0. On Monday Oct. 10 it's quite a party with Nancy Kosonen, Allan Knight, Connie Peterman, Lori Gravelle, Lynn Jackman, Mollie Sommers, Marlea Carle and Mike Way blowing out their birthday candles. Tuesday Greg Worley, Michael Pereira, Chris Pasquale, Genie Riegert, Warren Anglin and McCabe Brown share a birthday.***

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. Listen to Main Street on KVNI AM1080. Kerri can be reached at [email protected]