Coeur d’Alene is sure having the national network television spotlight shined this week. The new season of “American Idol” kicked off, showing the beautiful Lake Coeur d’Alene backdrop from the auditions held last fall at the Hagadone Event Center. We’re very photogenic, and will be seen on the show next week as well.

On Monday night the blind auditions for the new season of “The Voice” featured Coeur d’Alene’s own Jacob Maxwell as the first performer. He was selected by coach John Legend so Jacob will be seen throughout the season.

Solidly on #TeamJacob is Lauri Armon, who posted Monday night: “He used to be the front desk attendant at the Peak in Hayden, sings with the worship team at Anthem Church and drinks a lot of coffee next to me and my dog at Union.” She may also have mentioned that he’s also talented, super nice and cute.

I’m guessing that the viewership of “The Voice” in North Idaho will also be off the charts as long as Jacob’s in the lineup!

•••

James Steffensen gave himself a pretty good birthday present on Monday when he bowled a perfect 300 game, his 11th career 300, during league play at River City Lanes.

•••

If you have cabin fever from this snowy, cold and long-lasting winter season, bundle up and take a stroll through Falls Park in Post Falls. The falls and trails are so very beautiful this time of year.

•••

Things to Do highlights:

Thursday and Friday, the Wild and Scenic Film Festival at Schuler Performing Arts Center at NIC, sponsored by the Kootenai Environmental Alliance. Information: dennis@kealliance.org, 208-667-9093

Friday is the Sorenson Auction and Soiree at the Coeur d’Alene Resort, 5:30 to 11 p.m.

Also on Friday the Post Falls Food Bank’s Empty Bowls with soups served in beautiful handpainted bowls you keep. Event is from 5-7 p.m. at the KCFR Joe Dollefeld Training Center, 5271 E. Seltice Way.

Friday and Saturday, the Coeur d’Alene Symphony presents the National Young Artists Winners Concert at the Kroc Center Theater. 208-765-3833

Community Library Network celebrates bees, birds, and butterflies. Making hummingbird swings begins the program season at Rathdrum Library on Saturday at noon. All materials are provided. Call the library to register, 208-687-1029.

Saturday, Red Hot Mamas auditions, 1-2:30 p.m. at Silver Lake Mall, near food court. RHMamas.com

Saturday is also filled with events for good causes. Raising money for ALS at the 4th Annual Matt’s Place Foundation Pub Crawl in downtown Coeur d’Alene, beginning at 3 p.m. at Coeur d’Alene Eagles benefiting PALS (People with ALS). www.mattsplacefoundation.com

Bingo, Brews and Blarney on Saturday to benefit the Hayden Senior Center at the Coeur d’Alene Shrine Club Event Center from 5-8 p.m.

A Night on the Red Carpet benefits TESH, Inc., Saturday from 5-9:30 p.m. at Best Western Coeur d’Alene Inn.

•••

Happy birthday today Billie Dust, Rich Winter and Adam Johnson and tomorrow to my much younger sister Janna Scharf who shares the date with Heidi Rogers, Jaime Jaworski, Todd Gilkey, Wayne Larson, James Barfoot and Julie Sandstrom. Friday Cyndie Hammond, Lisa Ferguson, Robert Page, Linda Koehler (70!), Joni Morrow, Chelsea MacEntee, Kylie MacEntee and Veronicka Peacock will celebrate.

On Saturday Karen Roetter, Bob Frazey, Giuliana Palmas-Rogers (60!), Keith Van Slate, Debbie Myles, Joyce Connolly and Megan Round take another trip around the sun. Nancy Frazey, Mary Akers and Jon Dingman will blow out the birthday candles on Sunday.

Jim Booth, Ed Robar, Clay Larkin, Heather Callahan, Mindy Newby, Jim Faucher, Travis Jank and Rachel Burkhardt turn another page on the calendar on Monday. DeAnn Johnson, Will Henderson, Sylvia McCormick, Josh Vesser, Faith Hazard Wiley, Ali Hanson, Kim Maksen, Jan Daugharty, John Neirinckx, Christel Fredericks and David Wegner will have their cake and eat it, too, on Tuesday.

•••

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.