Miller Paint is more than just a new paint store coming to Coeur d'Alene.

Building out of a 6,000-square-foot space at 245 W. Appleway, the company is 122 years old and has 38 outlets in Oregon and Washing-ton with the headquarters in Portland. This store, in what originally was a Rosauers building on the Highway 95 corner, will be the first in Idaho. Its neighbors are Fred's Appliance, Tuesday Morning, Mountain Comfort Furnishings and Priano's Billiards & Backyards.

Products specifically engineered for the Northwest are featured, according to Steve Dearborn, president and CEO. Many products are made in the region, local contractors are being used in the construction, and the company is employee owned.

The inventory includes full lines of paints, stains, sundries, lacquers and light industrial coatings as well as blinds and wallpaper on wholesale and retail bases. The six employees will be well educated for customer service for the needs of the region, Dearborn said.

Opening in April, hours will be 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Check www.millerpaint.com.

McEuen changes needed

Many readers have asked my views on proposed McEuen Field changes.

We need to trust the Coeur d'Alene City Council to make choices for the citizens. That's why they're elected, and an advisory vote would cost taxpayer money and probably be very complicated. Council members must gather input from all sides and sources as changes will be expensive. They have made good choices in the recent past such as the Kroc Center and City Library as the NIC trustees did with the Education Corridor.

Primarily, I agree the parking lots next to the boatramp and south of Front Avenue should be replaced with large lots south of City Hall and north of Sherman Avenue. A multi-level parking facility on Front Avenue may be unwise if it physically separates Sherman Avenue from the park, Tubbs Hill and the lake.

The ballfields should be relocated as they occupy large spaces with minimal attendance in minimal times. These areas could have immense public use. The park needs much improved and more restrooms, picnic and group-gathering areas and a much larger playground. Combination basketball-pickleball-tennis courts would be cool. A dog park may result in too many problems for a park with hundreds of people.

I'm undecided on the boat ramp. It's handy and brings moneyed people to downtown, but the traffic could be dangerous with the numerous people using the new park. Maybe the shoreline adjacent to the Third Street entry to Tubbs Hill could have a cordoned kids' swimming area that could be used for ice skating in the winter.

Yes, McEuen Park needs changes that will benefit the public, both residents and visitors. We need to trust the City Council to make good decisions.

Hang on for these Tidbits:

• Wow. Three new restaurants have submitted their information. Watch for information on these in the next few weeks.

• Albertson's gas stations are now Tesoros and no longer take checks.

• The Cafe Chula in front of K-Mart has died. Years ago the public fought to retain the grand Catalpa tree in the building's drive-through.

• Two openings in the downtown Plaza Shops are where Concept Kids left to join neighboring Daisy J's and Storybook Bridal moved to Northwest Boulevard.

• With the popularity of the Kroc Center, perhaps the stop signs at the Marie and Julia intersection should be reversed or a four-way stop put there.

• Style note: Capitalize Dad-Mom-Father-Mother when being used instead of a name; otherwise use lower case. Examples: "I love Mommy" and "I love my mother."

• Atheism is a non-prophet organization.

• Contact Nils Rosdahl at [email protected].