Good morning, Spokane Valley.

Christmas Tree Elegance returns at the Davenport Hotel with 16 decorated trees and a Father Christmas raffle drawing families to support the Spokane Symphony; $1 raffle ticket sales end today at 4 p.m. with winners drawn at River Park Square (5 p.m.) and the hotel (6:30 p.m.).

The Spokane Valley Fire Department Swiftwater Rescue team helped respond to historic flooding on Saturday by staging in Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sedro-Wooley, while crews prepared for a storm system expected today.

Spokane’s River Park Square Mall will host the Global Holiday Fair and Bake Sale from Dec.

17 through Dec. 27, featuring interactive cultural exhibits, traditional costumes, and multicultural food samples. Local vendors will offer handmade goods + unique gifts.

The Centennial Hotel is showcasing Washington’s largest gingerbread house built entirely from real gingerbread and icing by Davenport Hotels’ Confectioners (and Engineering Teams) from now until December.

Guests can take photos and enjoy warm winter spices in this festive display.

Terrain, a local nonprofit supporting Spokane artists, held the Brrrzaar winter art market at River Park Square on Saturday.

The event offered shoppers a variety of handcrafted gifts to celebrate the holiday season.

The Spokesman-Review has been printing nearly 50 personal letters sharing cherished memories of the historic Crescent Department Store from Dec.

7 through Dec. 29 (highlighting decades of local tradition).

Last December, 1,122 students in local school districts faced homelessness as families struggled with job losses + high housing costs in Spokane Valley.

The shortage of in-city shelters has left families, like Kelley Kemplin’s, calling for stable housing support.

CDC data showed a rise in flu symptoms with doctor visits at 3.2% for the week ending Dec.

6, marking the start of the holiday flu season; local doctors urge the flu shot despite not covering the H3N2 subclade K (which may affect older adults more).

Gonzaga beat UCLA 82-72 late Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena as big players like Graham Ike, Braden Huff and Kennewick native Tyler Bilodeau made key shots — their efforts ended a series of losses at the arena.

Spirit Week in the Greater Spokane League begins Tuesday in Cheney at Eastern Washington University as rival schools Blackhawks and Rogers face off in the Railroad Rumble with girls’ and boys’ games — the tradition continues Thursday downtown when Ferris hosts Lewis and Clark for the Rubber Chicken contest.