Cindy Hval

Friday the 13th turned out to be a lucky day for two Garfield Elementary students. Carson Baldwin-Bonney, 7, and Ashley Sullivan-Garcia, 9, each won a new bicycle last month, courtesy of the North Hill Masonic Lodge’s Bikes for Books program.

For several weeks the ponies have patiently waited. They’ve been stoic when little noses pressed against the glass and looked longingly at them. Meanwhile, in the silence of the Carrousel building they’ve submitted to the tender, loving touch of Bette Largent, president of the National Carousel Association, and restoration expert. Their ears have been touched up, their saddles painted, their stirrups polished and some of their tails replaced. In addition, each horse’s shoes received a fresh coat of silver paint. “My dad used to say, ‘You can’t go out unless your shoes are polished,’ ” Largent said with a grin. All this sprucing up is in preparation for the reopening of the Looff Carrousel and a yearlong celebration of the Spokane icon’s 100th birthday.

For several weeks the ponies have patiently waited. They’ve been stoic when little noses pressed against the glass and looked longingly at them. Meanwhile, in the silence of the Carrousel building they’ve submitted to the tender, loving touch of Bette Largent, president of the National Carousel Association, and restoration expert. Their ears have been touched up, their saddles painted, their stirrups polished and some of their tails replaced. In addition, each horse’s shoes received a fresh coat of silver paint. “My dad used to say, ‘You can’t go out unless your shoes are polished,’ ” Largent said with a grin. All this sprucing up is in preparation for the Monday reopening of the Looff Carrousel and a yearlong celebration of the Spokane icon’s 100th birthday.

Rows of toes clad in pink ballet shoes stretched along the barre at Dance Emporium on a recent afternoon. But the size-14 black shoes stood out, as does the wearer, 15-year-old North Central freshman Christian Brower. Not only is the 5-foot-11 dancer the tallest in the room, he’s also the only boy. Those extra-large feet will soon be taking him all the way to China. Brower and 13-year-old home-schooled student Eilis Smith have been selected as members of the 2009 Ballet Ambassadors to China summer intensive program with the Long Beach Ballet. The two students from the North Side dance studio are part of a 45-member group chosen out of hundreds of hopefuls who auditioned throughout the nation.

For several weeks the ponies have patiently waited. They’ve been stoic when little noses pressed against the glass and looked longingly at them. Meanwhile, in the silence of the Carrousel building they’ve submitted to the tender, loving touch of Bette Largent, president of the National Carousel Association, and restoration expert. Their ears have been touched up, their saddles painted, their stirrups polished and some of their tails replaced. In addition, each horse’s shoes received a fresh coat of silver paint. “My dad used to say, ‘You can’t go out unless your shoes are polished,’ ” Largent said with a grin. All this sprucing up is in preparation for the Feb. 27 reopening of the Looff Carrousel and a yearlong celebration of the Spokane icon’s 100th birthday.

Discussing the weather is often regarded as a banal conversation starter – a topic to banter about before moving on to more substantial things. But not for Evelyn Conant. When she talks about the weather her eyes sparkle and her hands fly. In 1944, while still a senior at Rogers High School, Conant, along with six other girls, was asked to be an observer for the U.S. Weather Bureau. Prior to World War II, the organization listed only two women as observers or forecasters. “The government was in a real bind for weather observers,” recalled Conant. “Our school was picked as an experiment to see if girls could understand (the job). All seven of us got special wartime appointments.”

On a recent morning the pounding of hammers and whir of saws filled the air as members of the River City Modelers prepared for an open house. They were working on the railroad – and for some of them, it’s in their blood. Bob Deem, a member since 1997, lived on a farm in Eastern Montana, across the river from railroad tracks. The shrill of the whistle and the rattlety-clack of wheels on rails is as familiar to him as his own heartbeat. “My granddad was a depot agent,” Deem said. When his father was in the service and stationed in Germany he sent Deem an electric train. “I was 9 or 10 at the time,” he recalled. “That’s when I truly got bit.”

“If you want to have a good life, first of all you have to have a good woman and then you’ve got to dance!” said Stan Jones. As Jones explained his words of wisdom, he grinned at Arlene, his wife and dance partner for the last 11 years. Arlene, nestling next to him, nodded in eager agreement and launched into an in-depth analysis of the tango.

For over 70 years the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol has been the eyes and ears of the mountain. It’s an organization rich in leadership and history. The patrol was the fourth to register with the National Ski Patrol system, which began in 1938. Clad in bright red jackets, the 131 members, who range in age from 16 to 73, ensure guests experience a safe and enjoyable visit. “Whenever the mountain is open, our patrollers are there,” said director Dan Edwards.

Discussing the weather is often regarded as a banal conversation starter – a topic to banter about before moving on to more substantial things. But not for Evelyn Conant. When she talks about the weather her eyes sparkle and her hands fly. In 1944, while still a senior at Rogers High School, Conant, along with six other girls, was asked to be an observer for the U.S. Weather Bureau. Prior to World War II, the organization listed only two women as observers or forecasters. “The government was in a real bind for weather observers,” recalled Conant. “Our school was picked as an experiment to see if girls could understand (the job). All seven of us got special wartime appointments.”

For over 70 years the Mt. Spokane Ski Patrol has been the eyes and ears of the mountain. It’s an organization rich in leadership and history. The patrol was the fourth to register with the National Ski Patrol system, which began in 1938. Clad in bright red jackets, the 131 members, who range in age from 16 to 73, ensure guests experience a safe and enjoyable visit. “Whenever the mountain is open, our patrollers are there,” said director Dan Edwards.

Discussing the weather is often regarded as a banal conversation starter – a topic to banter about before moving on to more substantial things. But not for Evelyn Conant. When she talks about the weather her eyes sparkle and her hands fly. In 1944, while still a senior at Rogers High School, Conant, along with six other girls, was asked to be an observer for the U.S. Weather Bureau. Prior to World War II, the organization listed only two women as observers or forecasters. “The government was in a real bind for weather observers,” recalled Conant. “Our school was picked as an experiment to see if girls could understand (the job). All seven of us got special wartime appointments.”

If bad things happen in threes, then the Baumann family has had its allotted share of misfortune. In April 2007, Tami Baumann, then 46, underwent open-heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. The unexpected surgery came as “a total shock,” her husband, Mike, said.

Like any kindergarten class, Dave Fender’s students did plenty of cutting and pasting. But instead of blunt scissors and Elmer’s glue, the tools they used were more sophisticated – as were the students. That’s because this was Computer Kindergarten, offered through the Institute for Extended Learning Seniors Program. IEL provides dozens of classes about everything from Line Dancing to Norse Mythology at various locations around Spokane.

Vina Mikkelsen dreamed about him every night as she cried herself to sleep in a home run by the Sisters of the Good Shepherd in Helena. “He was tall and wore a khaki uniform and a funny hat, and had a book in his hands,” she said, and she knew he was the man who would love her. Her father was dead and her mother couldn’t or wouldn’t care for her large brood. “Welfare came and took us away from my mom when I was 14,” she recalled. “I cried at night. You didn’t cry during the day or the girls would’ve teased you.”

Music frequently echoes through the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The soothing chimes of the handbell choir, the awesome tones of the tower’s carillon, the rich harmonies of Gregorian and Anglican chants performed by the Cathedral choir. But Sunday night, a different type of melody will fill the sanctuary and warm the stone walls with a rich, upbeat sound.

Karen Fournier knows what it’s like to be homeless. The instability of a chaotic family life led to a series of bad choices. She started using drugs at 13, and while still in high school was arrested for dealing.