Jamie Tobias Neely

Every year at Spokane's career conference for girls, organizers observe a recurring phenomenon. Two sessions, one led by a veterinarian, the other by a neo-natal nurse, are always overflowing. Dogs and babies. They're apparently irresistible to teenage girls.

The Inland Northwest often thinks of itself as a place with little racial or ethnic diversity. Yet when The Spokesman-Review launched a diversity writing contest in January, we heard from Inland Northwest residents who had moved here from Bosnia, Korea and China, and from African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans whose ancestors have lived here for generations. We read stories of discrimination and reconciliation set in Munich and Mobile and Managua, as well as downtown Spokane, Grant Park and Ferris High School, 115 entries in all.

Point: Jennifer Salmi, a 31-year-old single mother and art gallery owner, says, "I'm into culture, arts, theater, but it seems like the guys in Spokane are into sports, chugging beer, rooting for their favorite teams." Counterpoint: Jeff Pearson, a divorced 30-year-old single father and a machinist, says, "There's a group of us single guys. We all water-ski, mountain-climb, scuba-dive. You don't find a lot of women who do that sort of thing who aren't in relationships."

Every woman has a money style. It may be marked by a spare, Japanese simplicity. It may resemble a lavish, Victorian-style abundance. Next week, two women with vastly different styles will join the lineup of speakers for The Women's Health Conference '97, sponsored by Holy Family Hospital, to talk about women and money.

1. Ray Cox can't talk about his wife, Frances, or his marriage without constant use of the word "love." The Coxes celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last summer with a cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. Ray and Frances Cox pose with their children, Steve, Jeffrey and Kathy, in a 1952 family portrait.

1. Freddie and Cecil Kruger traveled the world while he was in the service. In 1959, they bought the home in the Spokane Valley where they still live. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. Cecil and Elfrieda Kruger were married at Fort George Wright Chapel on March 10, 1946.

(photo of Henriette Klauser)

Judi Sheppard Missett is the founder and CEO of Jazzercise. She will be in Spokane on Saturday for a benefit for Odgen Hall.

Rhonda Hubbard and about a dozen other kick-boxing enthusiasts thrust and kick through Roy Harrington's Monday night kick-boxing aerobics class. The popular class combines self-defense skills with aerobic training. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

On gray winter mornings a year ago, Erin Dorsey of Spokane would often wake up feeling vaguely irritated with her husband, her house or her daughter. Dorsey still has the same husband, house and daughter. But on these snowy mornings, she wakes up amazingly happy.

Emily Hazard's grandfather handwrote his thank-you notes every year on Christmas night. They were always dated Dec. 25. "They were really quite impressive," says Hazard. "They were also a signal to the rest of us when we received them several days later that we'd better get cracking."

Every year, Bill and Nancy Hopkins decorate their Deer Park home as Santa's House. "It's just people getting together and sharing time with one another," Bill says. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Get tickets early to Deepak Chopra's lecture in Spokane on Sunday.

1. Jeanna McLaughlin, dressed up as a Campbell House servant, puts the finishing touches on a Christmass tree as people tour through the living history exhibit. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review 2. Left: Candles in the front study add to the trip back in time. 3. Below: A cherub is illuminated by a Christmas candle light on the tree.

1. Trees to be raffled or auctioned off at area fund-raisers are adorned with jewels, prizes and sometimes trips. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review 2. The trees at Christmas Tree Elegance benefit the Spokane Symphony and often include vacations. The winners of the trees are notified with an adrenaline-inducing after-midnight call. 3. Two years ago a Santa stood atop the "Home for the Holidays" tree that included an entertainment center and on overstuffed chair.

Quantity time Parents and their children find an escape from the chill and darkness of their powerless homes at the play center at NorthTown Mall on Thursday. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Mark Kelso's fans use his music as an aural backdrop during the most amazing moments. A priest listens to Kelso's "Cathedral" CD, which was recorded at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, while he prays.

Sandra Willis prepares a fruit salad for dinner at the Women's and Children's Free Restaurant. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

The YWCA leadership award winners gather for a group portrait. From left are Verna Eucker, Sandra Willis, Jamaica Vandolah, Kathleen M. O'Connor, Patricia A. Thompson, Nylah Chilton, Marjory Halvorson, Cheryl Steele and Terrie Beaudreau. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Last week's episode of "ER" ended with a particularly arrogant young surgeon stumbling through the first three lines of the 23rd Psalm. "The Lord is my shepherd," the surgeon said, standing beside a dying infant. "I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures."

1. "Thomas Hampson" appeared on the cover of the Weekend section in November of 1995. 2. Above: "Verbal Assault" from November of 1995 3. Far left: "Talking Small" from December of 1993. 4. Left: "Adoption Advocate" from October of 1994.

1. Kathy Cope wrote a new manual called "Malnutrition in the Elderly: A National Crisis." Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Cope works as a registered nurse in the intensive care unit at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Dr. John Gottman

1. Dr. Dick Herdener frowns for Dr. Joel Sears as Sears prepares to inject Herdener with Botox. The dermatologists use the botulism toxin to temporarily erase frown lines. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. A small container of Botox is enough to treat four people.