Here’s Fourth of July parade trivia for newcomers: In June 1977 an article in the Coeur d’Alene Press announced that there would be no marching bands in the Fourth of July parade that year because high school bands were disbanded for the summer months.

So Larry and Sharon Strobel decided they should start a band for the parade, a band that would rely upon former CHS band members, area high school and college musicians, professional musicians who lived local and just about anyone who owned an instrument and was willing to play and march.

The 100-plus member volunteer band, the Perfection-Nots, is known as much for the outrageous and zany costuming of each member as it is for the surprisingly well-performed music and marching. For more than four decades it’s been a badge of honor to practice a time or two a few days before the parade and then march down Sherman Avenue to the delight of thousands.

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One of the charter members of the band with perfect attendance is Tom Torgerson. He first marched with the band as a 10-year-old, which was 44 years ago! With the exception of last year when the parade was canceled for the first time, Tom has appeared with the Perfection-Nots in every Fourth of July parade. Impressive!

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Congrats to David Dickinson as he joins the family business. David graduated from Timberlake High School in 2017 and from the University of Idaho this spring. David’s bachelor's degree in marketing and sales management will serve him well at Dickinson Insurance in Post Falls. His grandfather, the late Jim Dickinson, founded the company in 1984 and David’s father, JD Dickinson, joined the company in 1988, later becoming the owner.

Three generations in a business is pretty special.

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Here’s to Miranda Hamilton, independent agent with Insurance Northwest, who in 2020 as the volunteer director of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber’s Fourth of July Festival and Parade, spent many weeks herding cats to make it all happen. Except it didn’t happen when the parade was canceled at the last minute with concerns about COVID.

It’s 2021 and she’s back at the helm with the challenge of a heat wave. You got this Miranda!

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If you’re spectating in the vicinity of Second and Third streets on Sherman near the announcer’s skybox you’ll be treated to Brandon Michael, musical theater actor and professional opera singer, opening the 11 a.m. parade with the Star Spangled Banner following the kids street dance party with Scott Hough and me between 10:30 and 11 a.m. Well, Scott dances on roller skates and I cheer him on from the booth. :)

See you all on Sunday!

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Oh, say can you see by the dawn’s early light

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming?

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O’er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

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Happy birthday today on the last day of June to Patty McGinnis (60!), Kyle Rutley, Terry Williams, Katie Disney, Kimberly Carlson and Rosie Brown (Sweet 16!). First day of July birthdays are celebrated by Tim Riordan, Arlene Reichenberg, Bill Brown (70!), Terry Alexander, Chris Harrison, Byron Hamby (Sweet 16!) and Mark Johnson.

Friday Tonya Glinsky, Jim Dennison and Ted Wright will celebrate another trip around the sun. On Saturday Jeff Ward, Dana Merritt and Mark Durant celebrate. On Sunday the United States of America, Jedidiah Riley, Brent Regan, Jennifer Locke, Joscelyn Ramsey, Jake Campbell, Keri Roybal, Dan Brockway Sr., MaryBeth Matthews, Dick Lind, Tyson Chamberlain, Britnee Davenport, Jack Smetana, Glenda Johnson, Amber Hunt, Teresa Espe, Orla Kahl and father and daughter, KD and Keely Spalding are celebrating star-spangled birthdays.

Monday birthdays will be marked by Steve Hanson, Laurie Schwenke, John Beutler, Chris Hollibaugh, Kaila Hansen and Amy Dreps. Blowing out the candles on July 6 are Alivia Lickfold, Barb McCarley, Bill Brooks, Wade Jacklin, Suzanne Holland and Robin Ducote.

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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.