When Clifford Knudtsen opened a car dealership in Coeur d’Alene in 1939 he likely didn’t envision the longevity and generational success that little company would achieve. During Knudtsen Chevrolet’s 80th anniversary party last week, his granddaughter/dealer Eve Knudtsen, shared a sweet story.

In late 2001 when the business made a big move to Post Falls, Eve and her father, Wayne, were standing in their new offices above the showroom floor taking in the new view. It was a crisp, cold blue sky winter day. Wayne, who passed away in 2014 at the age of 87, said to his daughter ... “I think this is going to work out.”

Clifford and Wayne can take pride in the fact that the third generation is taking good care of the family business. The fourth generation is in the wings with Eve’s daughter, Lauren Benedict, learning the business now.

Congratulations to the Knudtsen family for their success and thank you for your investment in our community.

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Dan Clark’s family business on Sherman Avenue is home to the iconic clock that’s been there for maybe a century. On Tuesday Clark’s Jewelry added something that just may reach icon status in the future. A pair of 6-foot-tall wings made of amethysts that is sure to be a backdrop for thousands of photos before summer’s end. Absolutely stunning and well played Diamond Dan!

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Since the very first year that Ironman came to Coeur d’Alene, I’ve embraced the experience. Never as a competitor but as a volunteer and enthusiastic spectator.

I’ve met athletes and their families and fans from all over the country and the world. I’ve been behind the scenes with media credentials and been out on the lake at the crack of dawn to watch the swimmers. I’ve volunteered at runner’s aid stations for local charities, as a pointer in the bike segment, as a Doping Control escort for the pro racers, sunscreen application and as a finish line catcher, always choosing the last shift before the race cut-off where the inspiration of seeing regular people who had set a goal finally, blessedly crossed the finish line and became Ironmen.

As a volunteer, I like the 70.3 half Ironman simply because it ends late afternoon instead of midnight.

If you’ve never volunteered, believe me, it’s incredibly rewarding to be in the company of people who are achieving at the highest level, people who might not consider themselves athletes in their regular life. Maybe they’ll never do another Ironman again but on June 30 there will be people who will amaze themselves with what they’ve accomplished. There’s still time to sign up to volunteer!

www.ironman.com/coeurdalene70.3, cdavolunteers@ironman.com or Ironman Coeur d’Alene Volunteer on Facebook.

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Things to Do Highlights:

Tonight Live After 5 at McEuen Park, Kelly Hughes Band. 5 — 8:30 p.m.

Movie in the Park on Friday featuring Despicable Me 3 at Tullamore Park in Post Falls, 7-10 p.m. Free for the family.

Saturday from 12:30 - 4:30 p.m., Coeur d’Alene Gathering of the Bands at City Park. Regional pipe bands invite the public for a free family event, hosted by the Coeur d’Alene Firefighters Pipes and Drums. Over two dozen bands from Idaho, Washington, Montana and Canada! Bring lawnchairs and enjoy an afternoon of bagpiping.

Blazing Fiddles for the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra at Rockin’ B Ranch on Saturday. Cowboy supper, silent auction. 208-765-3833 or info@cdasymphony.org

Tuesday, June 25, Arsenic and Old Lace staged reading with Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre at the Kroc Center, 7:30 p.m. www.cdasummertheatre.com

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Happy birthday today to Jim Morrison, Jake Capaul, Peggy Beebe, Jennifer Smock, Kelly Gwinn, Doug Harwood, Mel Swatzenberg, Paul Ivie, Genia Wortman, Lauren Hoffman, Sue Shibley, Bill Cope, Twyla Cope and Joey Flood. Tomorrow TR Williams (85!), Kristen Enders, Lynda Nutt, Christi Fleischman, Daniel Davis, Sherin Diehl, Mark Appleby and Eva Jones do the birthday dance. Happy First Day of Summer birthdays on Friday to Wayne Newby, Jaymee Paul, Lynda Pym, David Wold, Shirley Bade, Randy Watkins, Kelly Rice, L.C. Schell and Stephen Larson. Joe Butler, Nathan Walker, Lynne Hamm, Camille Lang, Ronda House, Jamie Johnson, Scott Shepperd, Mike Saunders, Bianca Olson and Caitlin Parmentier celebrate on Saturday. On Sunday Dawn Forest, Nancy Nick, Lynne Hammond and Carly Cline will put on their party hats. Jim Reynolds, Kathy Bush, Kimi Coles, Rhonda Ellis, Ian Sadler, John Phelps, Sara Wegner and Laura Lahr start the party on Monday. Joann Hildebrant, Bill Reagan, Mikki Stevens, Patty Vogt, Addison Johnson, Jim Guy, Jan Olsen, Angela Mort, Connie McGee, Kylie Gibson (30!), Shanda Johnson, Sally Mackin and Megan Ownbey celebrate another trip around the sun on Tuesday.

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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.