It comes as no surprise to longtime readers or people who know me well that May is my favorite month. I love birthdays, even when they’re not mine but May happens to be the month of my birth.

Today, this first day of May 2019, is a particularly good day. After 15 months — 461 days to be exact — of being consumed by the embezzlement story that no doubt appears on the front page of today’s Press, I’m now free from part of the nightmare that began unfolding on Jan. 24, 2018.

I would like to take the opportunity to publicly thank those who were dedicated to seeing justice served. To my fellow North Idaho Housing Coalition executive board member, Amy Evans, our attorney and friend Denny Davis, Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White, Ginny Tate, FBI Special Agent Bryant Gunnerson, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Traci Whelan ... you have my deepest gratitude. To my family and the close friends who lifted and loved me during the difficult times, words fall short.

This journey of an epic betrayal of trust has been challenging in every aspect but at the end of the day what I know for certain is that there are far more good people than bad in this world. It’s my ongoing hope that the quest for justice in the most evil part of this saga will also result in an eventual conviction.

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It looks like WWII veteran Dan Rankin’s 15 minutes of fame is going on a month now. His story has appeared in regional and national news outlets and after my column last week I was contacted by a photo editor from People! magazine asking if they could use one of the photographs of me and Dan that I’d posted on my Facebook page. Not sure when the story will appear but check this week’s issue when it hits the stands.

And speaking of Dan and our Rankin connection I heard from a number of readers who had Rankin connections in their family trees. One woman in particular we’re following up with as her line follows a similar route as what we know from our genealogy ... Scotland to Northern Ireland to Pennsylvania on to Oklahoma and then to California. I’m grateful that Dan has perhaps brought so much more than just an enjoyable breakfast visit to my life. This big old world really is small.

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May is Motorcycle Awareness Month — although except for snowy winter months, we need to always be alert for the two-wheeled vehicles that share the roadways. It could be a matter of life or death for both motorcyclists and motorists to be aware of their surroundings. Checking blind spots, mirrors and using turn signals are necessary when changing lanes and when passing.

My husband has owned and ridden a motorcycle for decades. We have a joke that’s not really a joke, that he needs to ride with the thought that every single motorist is not paying attention, is impaired or distracted. He takes responsibility for riding with caution and never assuming that a motorist is paying attention, no matter if he has the right-of-way.

Those of us who are driving on four wheels do need to pay a little extra attention now that the weather has warmed up and the motorcycles are coming out of winter storage. Motorcycle safety is a two-way street.

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In a week that includes the Kentucky Derby, Cinco de Mayo and Bloomsday there are many other Things to Do ...

Tonight is the annual 3Cs Fashion Elegance style show and dinner at The Coeur d’Alene Resort from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Thursday, 7:30 a.m., Safe Passage Violence Prevention Breakfast at The Coeur d’Alene Resort.

On Friday, the 3Cs Coeur d’Aleers present the 27th annual Spring Concert at 7:30 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Coeur d’Alene.

Friday at 7:15 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m., the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra presents the Sounds of Magic at the Kroc Center Theater.

American Legion Post 154 will pay special tribute to its post namesake, Col. Manuel Schneidmiller, on Saturday at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls. The public ceremony is being held in conjunction with the American Legion’s 100th anniversary. 11 a.m.

Saturday is the annual Seeds of Change plant sale at New Vision Alternative School in Post Falls at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All plants grown by students and just $1 each.

Opening Day for the Kootenai County Farmers Market on Prairie Avenue and U.S. 95 is Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Motorcycle Awareness Rally with Abate of North Idaho, STAR, and the Motorcycle Rider Foundation at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Kootenai County Courthouse steps (Garden Avenue and Government Way). Coffee and doughnuts will be served.

Sunday High Tea for Human Rights with the Human Rights Education Institute at the Hagadone Events Center. 1 to 4 p.m.

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Happy May Day birthdays to Marlee Eldridge (21!), Jeri DeLange, Suzanne Harris and Diane Duncan. On May 2 Becca Atkinson, John DeLuca, Jan Bryant, Miranda Hamilton, Tre Lewis (21!) and Randy Hurt will blow out the candles. Friday Randy Bates, Tracy Flaa, Peter Willits, John Hayes, Robbie Canfield, Brooke Harris and Becky Camarata (60!) are putting on their party hats. On Saturday Kay Poland, Kenley Link, Jeanette Bangs, Garrett Brown, Scott Hayden, Rand Wichman, Brittany Smith and Scott Jacobson take another trip around the sun. Happy Cinco de Mayo birthdays to Faith Brodwater, Robert Cliff, Ben Miller, Joni McCroury, Carol Toomy, Lisa Peterson, Teri Farr, Angela Erickson and Andy Fischbacher. On Monday Dusty Flamand, Tamatha Dougal, Kristi Pope, Connie Clark, Steve Eachon, Jeff Rhodes, Meagan Guerreo, Dave Tester, Jerry Shriner, Karen Ouren and Kathy Sims celebrate another year. Warren Merritt, Kris Phillips, Chris Moore, Randy Williams (60!), Ruby Johnson, Pete Shepperd, Kathie Brack, Lisa Aitken, Rob Rinard, Jr., Rena Pruitt, Ramona Kaiser, David Dasher and Phil Pyseky blow out the candles on May 7.

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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.