‘Spokane/Coeur d’Alene Living’ has it backwards

Vince Bozzi of “Spokane Coeur d’Alene Living” has seen the error of his ways.

After giving “Coeur d’Alene” the bum’s rush from the glossy’s front page during the summer, the Bozzi Media publisher has re-installed the “Coeur d’Alene” part in the title. OK, it’s still in small letters as compared to the marquee “SPOKANE” part. But it’s better than nothing.

In the publisher’s column for the October issue, Vince explained that the mag’s brain trust had played with the name during the summer. He figured that dropping “Coeur d’Alene” would clean up the cover. Said Vince: The publishers of Seattle Magazine don’t call it “Seattle/Tacoma/Everett/Redmond/Bellevue mag.”

But some protested the change, including local library officials who said it messed up their periodical system.

“We’ve decided we better end the confusion and restore the city across the border that often raises OUR city up,” explained Vince.

Huckleberries, of course, figures Vince has matters backward. The towns in his magazine’s title should be listed alphabetically, as well as aesthetically. “CdA/Spokane Living” has a nice ring to it.

Fixing stupid

First, you should know that urban renewal money has played a ha-huge role in the construction of the Coeur d’Alene Kroc Center, Riverstone development, McEuen Park, Coeur d’Alene Library and many other key projects. Now, let’s move to that resolution OK’d Sept. 26 by the zany Kootenai County GOP Central Committee, calling for the repeal of Idaho’s urban renewal law.

The silly resolution claimed that urban renewal “has provided no justifiable benefits.”

Upon learning of the action by the local elephants, Cis Gors of Bonner County said, “You just can’t fix stupid. Or ignorance. Not even with duct tape.” Bingo.

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “The wind it blowed/ so awful hard,/ rolled up the sod/ in our front yard,/ and old skinny/ Uncle Harry/ came back down in/ Bonners Ferry” – Tom Wobker, The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Windy Day”) … Going through a junk drawer of snacks recently, Jeanie Buchanan of Spokane found a piece of Dove chocolate, dated 2009. And, for those keeping score at home, it was still delicious. As a friend of Jeanie’s pointed out on Facebook: Some things in life are so wonderful that they have no expiration date … Bumpersnicker (on a dark-blue Chevy Colorado pickup at H95 & Hayden Avenue in Hayden on a recent Thursday): “Politically Incorrect & Proud of It” and “NRA: Stand and Fight” … TeeHee Shirt message at Coeur d’Alene’s City Park (worn by woman in black and white, walking a dog): “My doctor says I need glasses.” Below was a photo of various shot glasses and a martini glass. Hiccup … So what do you call it when you step outside and pull the door shut – only to realize that the door is locked and your keys are inside the house? Kris Helstrom of Coeur d’Alene calls it “Monday” … When her new iPad arrived via FedEx recently, Linette Nettester of Hayden greeted the device by saying quietly: “Hey there, Big Sexy.” Only after she saw the startled look on the FedEx driver’s face did she explain that she was talking to the inanimate object. Hey, don’t judge. Who doesn’t talk to his/her electronic devices occasionally? (Google: movie/“Her”/OS).

Parting shot

Kristi Jacobson Rietze knows the value of that school fundraising prize donated by Curtis Orthodontics of Coeur d’Alene: a $5,500 set of braces. After all, she has two middle-schoolers living under her roof. For $10, the Coeur d’Alene woman reports, friends, family and patrons can buy a chance to win free braces and other prizes and help Canfield Middle School in the process. Some of you reading this column may be more interested in dentures than braces. But you have grandkids, right?