According to Oscars.org in describing their membership, "They are the more than 6,000 artists and professionals who bring the magic of the movies to life. They are the men and women who transport audiences to galaxies far away and to worlds long ago and who create the previously unimagined for the big screen. They are the entertainment industry's preeminent filmmakers." One of these voting Academy members, who happens to have received one of those exclusive Oscar trophies, calls this community home. The year was 1962 when Anna Pearce became the youngest thespian to be presented an Academy Award. As "Patty Duke" she received the honor for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Helen Keller in "The Miracle Worker." Her co-star Anne Bancroft was named Best Actress that same year.

What kind of a year was it for incredible films such as "The Miracle Worker?" On the silver screen were "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Manchurian Candidate," "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?," "Bird Man of Alcatraz," "Lawrence of Arabia," "Days of Wine and Roses" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to name a few. Wow.In advance of this Sunday's 86th Academy Awards broadcast, last week when I interviewed Anna about her own experience, I'd asked if she'd bring her Oscar to the studio. She's such a treat, possessing a gift for connecting authentically with people as well as a quick and mischievous wit. I've been smitten with Ms. Anna for several years but when she brought out that beautiful and iconic Oscar and set him in front of me, I was gobsmacked. Being at a loss for words on live radio is not something to aspire to, but I was. Which delighted Anna no small degree.

To be chatting up an Oscar winner is pretty heady stuff but then to see and hold a tangible piece of cinematic history just about gave me the vapors. Oscar is quite substantial, weighing in at just under ten pounds, and as handsome in person as in photographs.

I daresay Oscar also possesses some magical qualities, along the lines of a genie's lantern. Thanks to Anna and her Oscar I'm inspired to dust off the in-progress screenplays I've intended to finish for years. Without hesitation, in my future Oscar acceptance speech for Best Original Screenplay, the first thank you will be to my BFF Anna Pearce. ***

Happy Birthday today to Mark Sales and Tami Crawford and tomorrow to Corinna Hunter, Marion Brendis, Denise Willbanks and Holly McNee, who's turning the big 4-0. Friday it's party time for Sheila Wooley and Ingrid Allen. On Saturday Nathan McLeod, Barb Dietrich and Jimmy Conrow celebrate their big day. Sunday birthdays belong to Carolyn Peterson, Brad Medlock, Clara Hester, Steve Groene, Ron Gonzales, Ivy Fox and Tina Hough. On Monday Karen Cocoran, David Sheridan, Tawny Brown, Eddie Jerome and Mary Herrick will blow out the birthday candles. Don Pischner, Bridgette Lowry, Gary Dagastine, Al Telles, Allison Gerzina and Robin Gerzina celebrate their birthdays on Feb. 28. ***

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