Honor and remembrance
DEVIN WEEKS | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
A candle is lit during the 2019 Hospice of North Idaho's Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony in memory of a loved one who has passed. The 2020 ceremony is tonight. Although it's full, Hospice offers free grief counseling for those who are struggling this holiday season.
Photo by Whisper Brown
Devin Weeks is a third-generation North Idaho resident. She holds an associate degree in journalism from North Idaho College and a bachelor's in communication arts from Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d'Alene. Devin embarked on her journalism career at the Coeur d'Alene Press in 2013. She worked weekends for several years, covering a wide variety of events and issues throughout Kootenai County. Devin now mainly covers K-12 education and the city of Post Falls. She enjoys delivering daily chuckles through the Ghastly Groaner and loves highlighting local people in the Fast Five segment that runs in CoeurVoice. Devin lives in Post Falls with her husband and their three eccentric and very needy cats. | December 10, 2020 1:00 AM
Hospice of North Idaho is hosting its 39th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony tonight.
"It's in honor and remembrance of people we love that have died, and not necessarily this year," Kaylee Kron, community support services manager, said Wednesday. "That time to pause and remember your loved one is really important, so that’s what it’s for."
With social distancing in place, the event has been broken into 14 mini-ceremonies that will include live acoustic and harp music, a welcoming speech, a tree lighting to honor the memory of loved ones and an outdoor candle lighting ceremony followed by everyone singing "Silent Night."
"That's my favorite part," Kron said. "It’s really beautiful."
Last year's event hosted 236 people.
Because of the pandemic, attendees were asked to make reservations and each time slot is filled.
"We've never had to limit our numbers," Kron said. "We had to set some really hard boundaries."
However, Kron said, Hospice of North Idaho offers supportive grief counseling that is available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at no cost.
"If at any time they need to talk to someone about their grief, we offer free one-on-one counseling for people in grief all year,” Kron said.
Call 208-772-7994 or visit www.hospiceofnorthidaho.org/grief-and-loss for Hospice grief support information.
ARTICLES BY DEVIN WEEKS
DAR honors Newby-ginnings founder
An unwavering dedication to the military community and the strength to turn personal tragedy into a beacon of hope for thousands has earned Theresa Hart the respect of countless individuals and organizations near and far. The ladies of the Daughters of the American Revolution Lt. George Farragut Chapter honored Hart for that dedication during a presentation Friday morning at the Hayden Lake Eagles.
Handsome humanitarians to take stage to support local charities
Handsome humanitarians to take stage to support local charities
A new event will give local gentlemen an evening of celebrity status while shining the spotlight on several area nonprofits. Introducing: Mr. North Idaho. "For most of us, this is not our natural element, but we are folks that are going to give our best effort," Mr. North Idaho contestant Brad Leggat said Friday. "We are going to make it a very entertaining evening."
Friends, community members gather for annual Christmas meal
Friends, community members gather for annual Christmas meal
In faithful hearts, strangers don't really exist. "They're not completely strangers," Sven Black said Thursday. "They're all my brothers and sisters in Christ. That's the most important thing in life to me, is other people and not material possessions." Black and his girlfriend Zelda Loera live in downtown Coeur d'Alene but decided to travel to Hayden to enjoy the free community Christmas meal offered by True North Church.