Just in time for Valentines Day, the Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association is hosting the annual Chocolate Affair on Friday evening. I'll join Marilee Wallace and Susan DuBois in reprising our judging role from last year, and I speak from experience that there will be a wide array of the most incredible chocolate concoctions to enjoy. We're always willing to take one for the team. :)

That same night the Coeur d'Alene Carousel Foundation folks are holding a fundraising Sweetheart Dance at the Coeur d'Alene Eagles from 8 to 11 p.m. so you can dance off the chocolate calories. At the Greyhound Park on Saturday night is the annual PFCV Sweethearts Ball with Tuxedo Junction and Ruth Pratt providing big band music. Hearts for Homes is the third annual Habitat for Humanity dinner/auction at the Coeur d'Alene Inn with proceeds benefiting their programs to build homes in our communities. Looking forward to joining auctioneer Rick Sparing on stage for the festivities.***

Congratulations to Aaron Paul of Post Falls, district winner of the American Legion's High School Oratorical competition. He'll represent the five northern counties in the upcoming Area contest. Aaron's following in some great oratorical "footsteps" ... his big brother, Sam Paul, represented Idaho in the National American Legion Oratorical Program a few years back.***

Happy Birthday today to Barbara Bradley, Linda Davis, Jeff Barber, Larry O'Leary, Rocky Brockhoff, Lynn Hayes and Pamela Thoms. Birthdays tomorrow to Linda Wilhelm, Jessica Prka, Brandie Shofner, Julia Free and Alta Steele. Kiki Miller celebrates Friday when she shares the day with Tate Merry, marking his very first birthday. On Saturday Jeff Carlson, James Shepperd, Jody Hissong, Trevor Smith, Jarryn Siebers, Carole Tabkman, Heather Frayer, Sharon Link, Eleanora Capaul, Wend Petzler, Gordon Lee, Chad Salsbury and David Clark will blow out their candles. Faith Valente, Bonnie Guindon, Laura Wilson, Ann Koustrup and Chris Curlee have Sunday birthdays. Ken Martin, Sam Crawford, Virginia Wood, Fran Harms (87!) and Toby Flood were born on Feb. 13, along with Elmer Currie, who's celebrating 92 years! Valentines Day birthdays belong to Don James, Susan DuBois, Tripp Rogers, LaDonna Beaumont, Jan McDaniels, Dan Lynch, David Lunceford, Jason Hayes and Mike Shepperd. ***

Tonight's Idaho Powerball jackpot is $250 million. If the only requisite to winning is to have a ticket, I'm golden.***

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 2011 by the readers of the North Idaho Business Journal. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri is on the air Mondays and Wednesdays on 1080 ESPN AM (KVNI). She can be reached at mainstreet@cdapress.com