Half century, 50 years, 18,250 days ... any way you say it, it’s a long time. My fellow Vikings from Coeur d’Alene High School Class of 1970 are planning for our 50th Class Reunion the fourth weekend in July. It made me think of today’s high school seniors in the Class of 2020. Can they even comprehend how different the world will be in 2070 when they’re preparing for their 50th high school reunion?

Coeur d’Alene was a much different place in 1970 — not better or worse, just different than today. Do I wish that we could all go back in time? Not for a minute. OK, maybe a couple of minutes just for curiosity’s sake.

Our high school was on 15th Street, the junior high school on Seventh. Downtown in our day (insert the “OK, boomer” eye roll here) included J.C. Penney, Woolworths, the Wilma Theater, Robby’s Drive In, Dari-Delight, and North Idaho College was a junior college. Independence Point was Templin’s Motel and Playland Pier and The Coeur d’Alene Resort was the North Shore Hotel. The primary tourists came from Canada and Spokane each summer. Two constants through the past 50 years are Hudson’s Hamburgers and Paul Bunyan.

Memories are a powerful thing. When I drive down Sherman Avenue I don’t mourn the loss of what once was, but I certainly can recall the homes, friends and favorite places of my youth with a smile. These days I’m grateful that the city is vibrant and beautiful and still a place where tourists come to make vacation memories and people choose to make a life.

So the CHS Class of ’70 will convene in seven months, with old friends both literally and figuratively. If you are a classmate please send your mailing and email address to: chsvikings1970@me.com so info can be distributed.

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Here’s a unique opportunity to support an organization and a program that offers equine therapy to veterans and first responders via working with wild mustangs. Running W Therapeutic Riding Center in Rathdrum has had much success. This spring it will bring in eight adopted wild mustangs for the Wild Freedom program.

What’s needed at this point are more mustang-proof fence panels and gate panels for additional runs and pens. Gate panels are $235 each and panels are $135 each, with donor plaques in the Running W arena.

Running W is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible. 6147 Harvest Road, Rathdrum, ID 83858 or 208-771-1575

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This week’s highlights:

Tonight Jacob Maxwell and Jackson Roltgen will perform at the Kroc Center Theater, with Gabriella Rose opening. Cost is $30, doors open at 6:30 for the 7 p.m. show.

The Post Falls Chamber Recognition Gala is 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday at Red Lion Templin’s Resort.

Also on Thursday a new lecture series begins with a look back at Coeur d’Alene’s historic homes on Sherman Avenue. Robert Singletary, Museum of North Idaho, is presenting. Open to the public, it begins at 7 p.m in the Coeur d’Alene Library community room.

Friday the Coeur d’Alene Symphony presents a wonderful evening of music with Family Pictures at the Kroc Ceneter. Artist Steven Shortridge will narrate Peter and the Wolf and renowned photographer Don Sausser’s images will illustrate the Mussorgsky piece. Pre-concert talk with conductor Jan Pellant 45 minutes before the 7 p.m. concert as well as before the 2 p.m. Saturday matinee. Tickets at www.cdasymphony.org or 208-765-3833.

The Marvelous Wonderettes dinner show at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center opens Friday and runs through Sunday. Presented by Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre and Black Tie Catering. Tickets at www.cdasummertheatre.com

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Happy Birthday today to Eric English, Analisa Raynor, Nora Horn, Larry Spencer, Angie Phillips, Glen Abbott and Peggy Brothers. Tomorrow Chelsea Dickinson, Sadie Lynn Fisher, Daryl Gankema, Joy Lynch, Paul Lash and Jamie Crawford have their cake and eat it, too.

Sue Myers, Marion Richardson, Tina Nowoj, Kylie Frank, Josh Adams, Cindy Shepperd, May Lynn Hammon, Ed Santos, Danelle Reagan, Jillian-Kate Scott and Acaja-Lyn Scott celebrate on Friday. Taking another trip around the sun on Saturday are Rod Heitstuman, Shauna Moore, Jonathan Madrid, Marlene Waddell, Lizzie Nowoj, Jadrian Hammon, Pearl Robertson, Jerrilou Shofner, Athena Kinsry, Michaelle Sande, Mike Erin, Sherry Farmer and Rick Demmig.

Sunday will be a good day for birthday celebrants Christa Hazel, Rosemary Goodlander, Kali Snider, Jeff Hall, Linda Hall, Austin Chadderdon, Nicholle Sheppard, David Townsend, Julie Kirking, Russell Larson and Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Jeff and Candace Smith have no excuse for missing each other’s birthday since they share the date. Mike Hendricks, Alex Jimenez, and Khloe Peacock will feel fabulous on Monday. Jenni Grimmett, Valerie Wilcox, Hope Newman, Lauren Adair, John Andres and Chad Oakland will celebrate on Jan. 28.

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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.