Gone, gone, gone: Huckleberry beach lake cruise — gone. NIC wild game feast — gone. Mae McEuen baseball fields—gone. Central Bark dog park — on auction block. NIC Summer Theatre — gravely ill. Those of us giving our money, our volunteer time, our attendance, our love, our verbal support watch as things giving our lives pleasure and value turn to dust. What should we do? What could we do? What SHALL we do to preserve the lifestyle and beauty of Coeur d’Alene? Before part of Coeur d’Alene City Park becomes a parking area for city vehicles. Before Memorial Field is sold to be office buildings. Before riverside properties on Dike Road become condo heaven/Cecil Kelly III, letter to Coeur d'Alene Press editor. More here.

DFO: The letter writer appears to be a 9/10ths-empty-glass guy. He only sees things that are gone from Coeur d'Alene venues and activities, some of which are marginal. He doesn't see the improvements abounding all around, including the McEuen Field park that will replace the 3 softball/baseball diamons, the Education Corridor, the Kroc Center, Centennial Trail, etc. Today's Coeur d'Alene is light-year's better than the 1980s version, when Cecil's late mother, Peg, along with Betty Stone, helped save Forest Cemetery from privatization.

Thoughts?