Kathy Mulady

Larry Groshoff turned the debris created by last month's ice storm into holiday sculptures that decorate his neighborhood. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

1. Timmy Wood waits for the arrival of his Christmas gifts. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. Timmy Wood has presents for under the tree thanks to the caring of Artye Lee School and the Indian Trail Community Center. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 3. Timmy Wood takes his Christmas present to the tree. 4. Timmy Wood welcomes Tom Giannou to his home. Judith Giannou, Artye Lee Scott and Candice Tisor, Timmy's mother, enjoy his antics. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

It's a food fight! Students at Brentwood and Midway elementary schools are locked in fierce-but-friendly competition to see which school can collect the most canned food before Dec. 19. The prize? School pride, of course, and possession of the coveted trophy. It's the fifth year the two schools have competed in the food drive. Brentwood has the trophy now. Midway is bent on taking it back. "Brentwood was generous enough to let us borrow it to show the students here what it looks like," said Taylor Kieburtz, a sixth-grader at Midway who is helping organize the drive.

Jeb Bowell, owner of the Suncrest Supermarket and Deli, greets his customers by name. He is concerned that the unincorporated area is growing too fast. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Volunteer firefighter Warren Rose, aka Santa, gets a hand with his holiday costume before heading out on Fire District 9's annual Christmas season cruise through north side neighborhoods. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Danger! For nearly a decade, a sign standing guard over the Spokane Junkyard offered that warning. The sign will be taken down today in a brief ceremony beginning at 11 a.m. at the junkyard's Regal Street entrance.

Deb Thoen, an R.N. and fitness consultant, is helping the firemen in Fire District 9 get fit. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

It's no joke. After nearly a quarter-century in the Garland District, Novelty Nook, its counters and racks filled with costumes and gags, is closing this month. Owner Kirk Vitulli said the demise of practical jokes, fewer office Christmas parties, and more discount stores, figured into his decision to close the shop at 825 W. Garland.

Spokane plan commissioners will hear public comments Wednesday on three requests by developers to change land use designations in North Side neighborhoods. Harlan Douglass, Rod Plese and Marco Barbanti are all asking for amendments to the city's comprehensive plan. The hearing begins at 1:30 p.m. in Room 200 on the second floor of City Hall.

The Vaughns are surrounded by some of the woodcrafts they have produced. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

North Spokane residents battling to stop Wal-Mart from coming into their neighborhood clashed with Alton's Tires representatives last week before the Spokane County hearing examiner. While traffic, size and location were part of the discussion, noise quickly became the key issue.

St. Patrick's Thanksgiving volunteers, from left, Elaine Uhlenkott, Ann McKay (seated), Marlow Uhlenkott, Rita Waldref and Louise Andrews. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Bob Evanson says he feels like he's been struck by lightning - twice. The owner of Northwest Bedding moved his Valley mattress manufacturing plant and showroom a year ago because of state plans to improve Interstate 90's Sprague interchange. Now, as the state prepares to widen the intersection of Division Street and Francis Avenue next spring, he has to move his North Side business. Arby's, Northwest Bedding and several other business will be affected by the widening of Division from four lanes to six.

A growing mountain of branches is enlarged by multiple truckloads at Albi Stadium. A steady stream of people bringing ice storm debris dumped their loads in the parking lot and swapped horror stories. Many of the people brought five to 10 loads during the day. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Mike Correll stands next to a clearing that he hopes will eventually be the site of a 1,500-foot canal abutting private lots near Long Lake. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Kay Ringo is holding a photo of the town of Buckeye. The building behind her is the only structure left standing. In her photo, the building is center left. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Fewer North Side homes sold last month than in October 1995, but the average price was up slightly over last year. Last month, 182 North Side homes were sold, 13 fewer than in October 1995. The average price was $90,048, compared to $89,478 a year ago.

Leif Sorenson's McCarroll East housing project is heading back to the Spokane hearing examiner at 9 a.m. Tuesday to iron out details discussed with a neighborhood citizens group 20 months ago. Sorenson hopes to begin building next year, according to attorney Jim Frank. Eventually, Sorenson hopes to build a total of 257 homes and 30 duplexes on the 110 acres east of Indian Trail Road, between Strong Road and Shawnee. The first phase, which consists of 15 single-family homes, will start behind existing homes on Farmdale.

Marvin Carr figures a chance to see Jackie Gleason's limousine and JFK's 1962 Lincoln Continental should be enough to draw crowds to the car museum he hopes to open next month in Hillyard. But for good measure, he's throwing in a one-of-a-kind 1979 Lincoln Silver Streak and a fully restored 1946 Chrysler four-door. Also, some Chinese antiques, a huge picture of Marilyn Monroe and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. But will it be worth the $10 admission? "Definitely, that's not much when you're talking about seeing a half-million dollar car. We're talking about some very expensive, very special cars. One of a kind," said Carr.

The potential for growth in northwest Spokane motivated Bob Davis Jr. to buy the old Montana Club on Hastings Road three years ago. The demographic predictions have come true and this month Davis opened Wolffy's Old West Steak House in the Fairwood Shopping Center.

Home on the Grange. Lyman Habenthal, right, pulls ahead of Nick Wallace, 17, in an egg drop contest at the Central Grange meeting in Bigelow Gulch. Contestants used balloons instead of eggs. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review 2. Members file out of the Central Grange after their potluck meeting on Nov. 2.

Like other fraternal groups, the Grange has secret rituals, ceremonies and passwords to inspire members and recognize levels of achievement. Grange rituals are based on the Bible, farming analogies, and the seasons.

Rockwood resident Mary Kulisch applauds the City Council's decision to keep manufactured housing out of historic neighboroods. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

The owners of this new house went to great lengths to build a house that fit into the historic character of the Corbin Park neighborhood. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review