On Monday a quote by Mr. Rogers played over and over in my head. As news reports shed light on the horrific events of the day I looked for the helpers and there really are so many. They will always outnumber the evil doers.

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers)

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I didn’t have to look far to find helpers on Monday morning as I joined the good folks from Habitat for Humanity North Idaho to officially welcome Nathan Smalley at the groundbreaking for his Post Falls home. Nathan is quite a guy, a long-time Special Olympic athlete who regaled with stories of downhill skiing in Austria at the World Games and meeting Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Welcome home to Post Falls Nathan and thanks in advance to all of the volunteers who will help him achieve the dream of home ownership over the next several months.

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After attending the majority of annual Post Falls Historical Society Oktoberfests, dating back to more than two decades ago when it was about a dozen of us standing around a burn barrel at Q’emlin Park, this year was memorable.

Town founder Frederick Post’s great-great-grandson Monte Martin was attending his first Oktoberfest in his grandfather’s namesake town. We had a nice chat and he said he was impressed with the esteem in which his grandfather is held here. When we posed for a picture he joked that maybe he shouldn’t smile, so he’d more resemble the large mural of Frederick Post in the rotunda of City Hall. With or without a smile, there’s definitely a family resemblance.

And as if meeting a direct descendant of Mr. Post isn’t exciting enough, I was one of two lucky attendees to take home a jar of Vic “The Pickleman” Eachon’s famous garlic dill pickles. The 91-year-old World War II veteran Vic and his bride of over six decades, Kathryn, always donate the pickles for the Historical Society’s auction.

This is the first time I’ve ended up with the prize. And for the record I lasted about one hour after getting the pickles home before opening the jar and sampling one. Happy to report they live up to the legend.

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This week’s things to do highlights:

On Friday, the Post Falls Lions Haunted House opens for the season from 7-11 p.m. The haunted house will be open on Fridays and Saturdays and then from Oct. 26 nightly through Halloween. Special free “lights on” Sunday, Oct. 29 from 6-8 p.m. for kids 10 and younger. At Fourth and Post in Post Falls.

Friday, 5:30-10 p.m., Maison de Couture St Vinny’s 5th Annual Fashion Show at the Coeur d’Alene Inn features fashions from St. Vincent thrift stores and local models. Benefits the St. Vincent de Paul Warming Centers. stvincentdepaulcda.org, 208-755-3596.

Friday (7:30 p.m.) and Saturday (2 p.m.) the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra presents Discover Europe! concert at the Kroc Center. cdasymphony.org

On Saturday, Guardians of the Children Inland Northwest Chapter Annual Biketoberfest Ride. Motorcycles register starting at 8:30 a.m. at the Falls Club in Post Falls, kick stands up at 10:30 a.m. Ride ends at Curley’s in Hauser.

Stomp Out ALS is holding an event on Saturday that includes literal stomping ... of grapes! A trio of Steves who also happen to be mayors will be a highlight in a grape stomping contest. Coeur d’Alene’s Steve Widmyer, Hayden’s Steve Griffitts and Dalton Gardens’ Steve Roberge already win the good sports award for participating. HarvestFest 2017 will benefit Matt’s Place Foundation, which provides housing and support for people with ALS and their families during their battle with ALS. 2-6 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene Cellars, $10 per person.

Also on Saturday, Disco Inferno ’80s Dance Explosion presented by the Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership to benefit Coeur d’Alene School District 271 school libraries. Coeur d’Alene Eagles Lodge, 6-11 p.m. discoinferno.brownpapertickets.com

On Sunday the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association’s Burgers and Brews at North Idaho Cider will benefit local veterans including Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Family friendly, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. www.northidahocvma.org

Also on Sunday, Run for the Angels and Family Fun Day at McEuen Park, noon to 4 p.m. Inland Northwest SIDS Foundation. 208-557-4371

Tuesday, Oct. 10, North Idaho College Cardinal Chorale and Chamber Singers Fall Choral Preview concert at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 521 E. Lakeside Ave. in Coeur d’Alene.

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Happy birthday today to Ozrik Hutchison (1!), Mary Wolfinger, Jada Olson, Jim Wilund, Michael Hillman, Barbara Lovett, Teri Grubbs, Valerie Queen, Ami Manning, John Beebe, Mike Bryan, Tommy Lynn and Nicole Sobelman.

Tomorrow Jan Lindquist, Pat Riley, Amber Butler, Margie Basaraba, Jonalyn Clayton, Debbie McEnespy, David Kamka, Joe Eatherton, Steve Staaben and Tim Turrell will have their cake and eat it, too. An Oct. 6 birthday shout-out to Ellen Travolta, Gary Marian, Brooke Miller, Rochelle Seher, Katrina Slater, Kyle Messier, Kate Bennett and Ricky Blaski.

On Saturday Nancy Harlocker turns a beautiful and ageless 86 and Midge Smock, Vicki Gehring, Mark Michalak (70!) and Erin Paisley blow out their birthday candles. Mr. Wonderful (aka Pat McGaughey), Dale Bennett, Craig Hampton, Suzanne DeTar, Laurie Rumore, Joel Elgee, Barbara Baltzell, Chris Nicastro, Josh Hissong and Jeff Hill toast the anniversary of their birth on Sunday.

On Monday Randy Wells, Kathy Epstein, Greg Luraski, Lyn Harris, Ron Deering take another trip around the sun. 10/10 birthdays belong to Bill Everson, Nancy Kosonen, Jessica Moore, Steve Fitzhugh, Lori Gravelle, Bob Cox, Allan Knight, Lynn Jackson, Mollie Sommers, Marlea Kruger and Mike Way.

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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.