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‘This is a treat for all of us’: Tree trimmers turned ice carvers help shoppers celebrate on East Sprague

Ice carver Matt Mellott takes a long pull on his energy drink he keeps cold in a block of ice during the Holiday on the Ave celebration on Saturday in the Sprague Union District. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
By Jared Brown jaredb@spokesman.com(509) 459-5135

Five chainsaws experts from Heindl Tree Care had their tools humming at 9 a.m. Saturday morning – but they weren’t prepping to prune a towering tree.

The five men were given three hours to carve blocks of ice into sculptures outside Bendito’s Brewpub on East Sprague Avenue for the second year of Holiday on the Ave in the revitalized Sprague Union District. The event highlights the small businesses in the area and brings in pop-up retailers for the day.

Heindl Tree Care owner Paul Heindl said the carving demonstration was his small business’ Christmas Party. The hobby among his employees began after he was invited to be a part of a similar event in the South Perry District four years ago.

Then Heindl told his employees, “Hey, let’s carve ice,” Heindl employee Matt Mellot remembered.

Heindl, who carved a Sasquatch carrying a chainsaw, said since ice is so different from wood that sculpting it is “kinda learn by fire.” For some employees it was their first year carving ice, and the sculptures ranged from fish to chess pieces.

“This is a treat for all of us to do,” Heindl said.

Trevor Jensen uses a torch to shape a chess knight piece during ice carving at the Holiday on the Ave celebration, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in the Sprague Union District. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)
Trevor Jensen uses a torch to shape a chess knight piece during ice carving at the Holiday on the Ave celebration, Saturday, Dec. 14, 2019, in the Sprague Union District. (Dan Pelle / The Spokesman-Review)Buy a print of this photo

By 11 a.m. close to 20 people were standing outside in the cold watching the men carve, chisel and glaze their creations. Soon after kids flocked to greet two reindeer that the Sprague Union District provided for the day. And Creative Catch Studio offered photo sessions with Santa. Dozens of other people milled about nearby stores.

“It’s not even noon yet!” said Tin Roof furniture store co-owner Jim Hanley, who was expecting as many as 700 people to visit the business district after an estimated 650 attended last year’s event. “I’ve been here a long time. It would be a rare occasion to see 650 come through this neighborhood.”

Hanley credited the city’s improvements to East Sprague Avenue and willingness for local businesses to come together for the vibrancy of the district.

“We’ve done so much renovation,” Hanley said. “It has given more life to our community. … It draws businesses together to promote the district, just like it does downtown.”