Too Close For Comfort No School, No Power: Stir-Crazy Families Seek Diversion Along With Heat

Sally and Tom Anderson’s three children scooped up ice cream floats by the fireplace the first night of the ice storm. It was practically a party.

“The next day, we’re all kind of in tears by the middle of the afternoon,” said Sally Anderson, who lives on Spokane’s South Hill. “This is no fun anymore. We’re freezing, we haven’t had showers, we’ve been in lines (to buy batteries) all day.”

In Spokane, school’s been out since the storm hit, causing widespread power outages. By Thursday, kids and parents were going stir-crazy.

Kids found many of their usual haunts closed or off-limits. City parks and back yards weren’t safe anymore. But the malls, movie theaters and fitness clubs filled up as families sought diversion and a hot shower.

“Today has been interesting to say the least, from the amount of families who have been coming in looking like they’re from a war-torn nation,” said Elizabeth Byrd, manager of Sta-Fit South.

Entire families showed up, and even brought their neighbors, for those showers. Non-members bought $7 day passes and by mid-afternoon Thursday, the showers were lukewarm.

At the downtown YMCA, membership director Harper Tripp said, “We have been bombarded with requests for showers.” The Y cut its day pass price in half, dropping to $3.50 for adults and $5 for families.

The Y also stretched its staff to provide day-long activities for Mead School District kids who usually attend its before- and after-school care.

Kids were moved to the downtown Y, and, according to Tripp, extra children were also allowed in for $22 per day.

Most families opted to wait out the bad weather together, however. At Act III Theaters and NorthTown mall, managers noticed kids arriving with their parents.

“People are just looking for a place to stay warm,” said Chuck Caraway, district manager at ACT III Theaters. The Fox Theater in downtown Spokane sold out several shows Wednesday evening.

All theaters in the Spokane chain were open Thursday, except Newport and Eastside.

Little kids tumbled through the play court at NorthTown on Thursday while older children headed for Bumpers Fun Castles for rides and miniature golf, said Sherry Burton, mall spokeswoman.

Local teens weren’t always delighted by that prospect. They endured long hours of family time at home by plugging into telephones and Walkmans.

A 16-year-old North Side girl discovered she could play the game Battleship over the phone with her boyfriend. But she found a frigid night with the family “like taking a long car trip without heat.”

On Thursday afternoon, a dozen kids avoided climbing the walls at home by heading for Wild Walls.

Rick LaBelle, a Gonzaga Prep religion teacher, brought his 14-year-old son, Vincent, to the indoor rock-climbing gym in downtown Spokane.

“I’m out of work for the day,” LaBelle said. “My son’s bored.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: AVOIDING CABIN FEVER Marg Williams, director of Anna Ogden Hall, a Spokane shelter for women and children, offered these suggestions for families struggling to avoid cabin fever: Find creative activities for children. “Take old magazines and cut out the pictures. Let each child start a scrap book,” she said. “Take buttons and string them on a thread.” Older kids can play board games or read.

Spend time outside each day. If that’s not possible, exercise together inside, or put excess energy to use cleaning house or doing other chores.

Avoid alcohol, and limit the consumption of coffee and other stimulants.

If the power is on, limit television viewing to specific times of day. Make viewing an event by cooking popcorn or other snacks.