Quiet good deeds don't just happen

In our communities, there are countless things that occur that most people never give thought to the how and why or the who.

One of those people who did things that other people think just happen was Chuck Estell. Until cancer came calling more than a year ago, Chuck was up at dawn every Memorial Day to place more than 100 flags on veterans' grave sites at both Evergreen and Pleasantview cemeteries. Before sunset he'd remove them, too. Quietly, without fanfare or fuss.

Chuck was a veteran of a quarter-century with the Army National Guard and spent countless hours serving the veteran community. As a member of the American Legion Post 143 honor guard, he volunteered his time to provide military honors to veterans at funerals throughout the county ... for years, for strangers.

Chuck passed away this month at age 64. He will be missed, as will his good deeds. Chuck's life will be celebrated on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the American Legion in Post Falls. All are welcome to honor his service to country and community.

Small world ... my sister, Ronna Rankin Park, and her daughter, Emily, are here visiting from Blackfoot, Idaho. On Tuesday morning they braved the drizzle to hike around Tubbs Hill. Also hiking were the Pack family from Blackfoot. The Parks are neighbors of the Packs and there they were, crossing paths in our park.

On Friday evening from 5-9 p.m. in Building 1 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, there's a benefit dinner, dance and auction for Lance Deacon, who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer.

Lance and his wife, Jaime Meyer Deacon, have been mainstays of the North Idaho Fair and Rodeo and 4-H for years. Proceeds will help the family with medical bills during Lance's treatment.

I've been immersed in the writing of the history of the Post Falls Library for months and what an interesting journey it has been. If you have a story about the library or about how reading and learning have affected your life, please share with me via the email contact at the end of this column.

No need to sing the blues ... there will be some of the best blues singers and musicians around doing just that this weekend at the Coeur d'Alene Blues Festival. Blues Cruise, Roof Top Blues Party, After Blues Cruise, all things blues are happening. Go to www.cdabluesfestival.com for more info.

Happy birthday today to Jame Davis, Ray Oliver, Colleen Brown, Jerry Ausburn, Alyssa Romero (16!), Mike Carle and Alexander Carle. Tomorrow, Dave Fair, Julie Harris, Julie Readel, Nancy Noordam, J.B. Romero, Lorna Griffin, Mike Bennett, John Hart, Mistie Cooper (40!) and WJ Lazerus put on their party hats.

On Friday, Lila Kimm (80!), Theresa Hart, Jamie Green, Katherin Pope (20!), Dan Dunham, Sharon Erickson, Chris Magera, Susan Reynolds, Lynne Wiedemann, Alie Hotchkiss, Ralph Nelson, Irene Bowman and Julie Harris will celebrate.

Saturday birthdays belong to Cindy Sweeney, Brandon Clearwaters, James Heilman, Barb Forgacs, Robert Durflinger, Richard Wegner, Chris Camarata and Page Hibbs.

On Sunday, Bob Koep (50!), Mary Hawkins (60!) and Bo Gerzina mark another year. Sue Sausser, Gloria Weidner, Tabetha Brisbin, Linda Schmidt, Bren Grace and Kathleen Perez were born on March 30.

Tuesday, Priscilla Baker, Rick Vernon, Annika Baltzell, Chris Jones, Joey Nowoj, Patrick Reagan, Shirley Christie, Crystal LaFountain, David Holloway and Chris Clayton will have their cake and eat it, too.

Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.