In November, sisters Patricia and Marion Richardson, along with hundreds of onlookers, had a grand time when Idaho’s Capitol Christmas Tree stopped in Coeur d’Alene enroute to D.C. This past week the pair were visiting family in our nation’s capitol and had the opportunity to see the 80-foot-tall spruce all set up and ready for the official lighting. Patricia said it weathered the cross-country trip well and looked wonderful on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol.

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Decades ago when our daughters were little they loved seeing the Post Falls Fire Department truck carrying Santa and the firefighters handing out candy canes in the neighborhood. Now Kootenai County Fire and Rescue has continued that tradition in Post Falls and in Dalton Gardens.

A few years ago I took a ride-along on a KCFR Candy Cane Run and it was such fun. It wasn’t just the little kids who were delighted to see us, it was their parents, too, many coming up to the truck saying that some of their fondest childhood memories in Post Falls were seeing the big red trucks and Santa each year.

Firefighters and their families volunteer to be Santa’s helpers so check the routes for Dalton Gardens from 6-9 p.m. tonight and in Post Falls tomorrow night! They will also collect new toys for Toys for Tots and non-perishables for the local food banks if you’re so inclined. www.kootenaifire.com

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Another tip of Santa’s hat to the good people who live in the Highlands neighborhood in Post Falls. For over a decade they’ve held a golf cart parade for the holidays and in 2009 added a food drive to the activity. This year they raised $1,000 in cash and 1,500 pounds of non-perishables for the food bank!

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Read, Run, Pet, Eat and Ooh and Aah:

Novel Destinations, Saturday from 7-8 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene Public Library. Mary Sanderson will spend the evening sharing photos and stories from her nine-day kayaking trip in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. Snacks, wine, and beer. Free event, donations for beverages are appreciated.

Third annual Reindeer Run 5K, Saturday 8-10 a.m., registration 6:45-7:30 a.m. The festive 3.1-mile run is a flat out-and-back course using McEuen Park, City Park and the "Dike Road." A portion of the proceeds and any donations will go to Idaho Community Action Food Bank. Cost is $22. All registered participants receive a Reindeer Run pint glass! Registration available in person or by phone at Fleet Feet CDA.

The Coeur d'Alene Downtown Association, First Presbyterian Downtown, and Trinity Lutheran join up for a Live Neigh-tivity! There will be a live animal petting stable, manger scene photo booth, carolers, hot chocolate and gifts, all for free at Sherman Square Park from noon to 4 p.m.

Sunday 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hauser Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s 31st Annual Shalena's Breakfast With Santa at the fire station. Breakfast prepared and served by the firefighters, auxiliary and their families. Photos with Santa, raffle. www.hauserfire.org

The historic Roosevelt Inn, 105 E. Wallace Ave., is celebrating the Christmas season with an open house on Sunday, noon to 3 p.m. Refreshments and live music, bring a can of food for the food bank or a donation to the Christmas for All Program.

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Hope Connally turned 92 years young on Dec. 2 last week and because I overlooked a mention in Main Street Birthdays she gets to celebrate every day in December. Happy, happy birthday to you!

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Happy birthday today to Dean Opsal, CJ Deacon, Catherine Cronin, Rhonda Newton and Randy Duncan.

Tomorrow Tammy Schneider, Kelly Ferguson and Becky McIntire Bufeuillet are blowing out the candles.

Tammie Peacock, Lori Isenberg, Cecilia Fehling, Cheri Banta, Melissa Williams and Cindy Jarnagin celebrate on Friday.

Dick Wandrocke, Shannon Clark, Richard Carlson, Matthew Lemieux (30!), Jack Jordan, Gavin Broadwater and Donna Cushman put on their party hats on Saturday.

On Sunday Christina Petit, Stephanie Hunter, Michael Matt, Katrina Mayer, Kym Hamby, Shawn Gunn, Leigh Sales and Aleta English take another trip around the sun.

Twelve is the lucky number for Alexis Davis, Sialas Tripp, Dr. Mary Sanderson, Amy Alderman, John Austin, Mary Finley, Teresa Capone, Mark Orlowski, Konrad Hochhalter, Monte Miller, Richard Stevenette, Colleen Williams, Dave Sayers, Lynn Knapp and Jessica White for their 12/12 birthdays.

Catherine Jacobson, Brian Golly, Kim Buer and Denise Higgs mark their birthdays on the 13th.

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Post Script: If you want to feel rich, just count all of the gifts you have that money can’t buy.

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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 mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.