Hometown Holidays 2021

A JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE ELLENSBURG DOWNTOWN ASSOCIATION AND THE DAILY RECORD

DOWNTOWN ELLENSBURG 2021

Happy HHolidays H from

Kelleher Ford

What’s under your our Christmas tree?

“Our family serving your family since 1911”

KELLEHER FORD

1911

110

th

2021

602 N. Pearl Street | Ellensburg, WA | 509-925-1911 | www.kelleher-ford.com 2035310

Special thanks to our 2021 sponsors:

Girls Night Out ...................................... 5 Music in the Holiday Season ................. 6 Holiday Simplicity ................................. 7 Healthy Happy Holidays........................ 8 Aspen Victim Advocacy Services ........... 9 Give the Gift of Ellensburg .................... 10-12 Seasons Change, Make the Transition Easy on your Wardrobe .................................. 13 Community Calendar of Events ............. 14-15 Recipes .................................................. 16-17 Holiday Happenings .............................. 18

Come Visit Us For Our

Holiday open House November 6th and 7th

1663 Vantage Hwy Behind Armstrong Stove & Spa

509.925.BLUE (2583)

151072-1

Fresh-cut trees, evergreen wreaths, and holiday decor including ornaments and more!

Stop by for some cookies and hot cider.

Cozy up for the Holidays with Pendleton from Fitterer’s

See the selection of blankets and throws on display today.

4th & Main Downtown Ellensburg 509-925-9828 fitterersfurniture.com ALWAYS FREE DELIVERY IN THE HEART OF WASHINGTON OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK

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SHOP TO WIN!

Tis the season to Shop Small, Shop Local and Win Big Cash Prizes!

As we approach the season of thanksgiving and celebration, I have a new sense of what I am thankful for as a result of the many challenges we have all faced this past year. We have come a long way together from where we were a year ago and I think we are all looking forward to getting out in our community with a little more face time this holiday season.

The Ellensburg Downtown Association is giving you, dear reader, a little extra incentive to connect with and support our local business this holiday season through our first Shop Local event.

It feels good to support our local businesses but do you realize by shopping local you are:  Creating jobs and investing in entrepreneurship.  Nurturing a sense of community.  With supply chain issues you don’t have to sweat getting your gift on time.  Keeping $ in the local economy to pay for city amenities and infrastructure, and support local libraries, services, schools, and non-profits (as it is local business that contribute to non-profit programs).  Supporting the environment by reducing waste and conserving energy.

What if you could also win cash prizes for patronizing Ellensburg stores, restaurants and services between Saturday, November 27 Dec. 15?

Introducing The Shop Local Contest!

Here’s how to Shop Local and win BIG cash prizes!  Beginning on Small Business Saturday, November 27th every time you spend $25 or more at an Ellensburg business, you can

enter for a chance to win!  Three random winners will be chosen at noon Dec. 16 (cash prizes are $250, $500 and $1,000)!  Simply take a photo of your receipt (be sure it shows an Ellensburg business address), and upload it at EllensburgDowntown.org  There is no limit to the number of times a person may enter.  Winners will be contacted Dec. 16 and cash prizes will be awarded Dec. 17 (must be in Ellensburg and agree to photo op to receive cash prizes).  Certain restrictions apply. Visit EllensburgDowntown.org for more information.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Fitterer’s, Cashmere Valley Bank and Umpua Bank for making this contest possible.

Our business community has done everything they can to allow safe shopping both in person and virtually. Shop Local has a new meaning as we join together and launch a six week long campaign to support ALL Ellensburg businesses.

When we support small business, we are supporting a personal dream. So before you sit down in front of your computer this holiday season to shop, step out and show you’re thanks to our business owners and their employees for staying strong and keeping our community a fun place to work, live, play and shop.

From all of us here at the Ellensburg Downtown Association-

Happy Holidays!

THANK YOU TO OUR SHOP LOCAL CONTEST SPONSORS

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Girls Night Out Thank you our Girls Night Out Sponsors!

December 9th Shop and Dine from 5-8 pm

Remember the song “We Need a Little Christmas, right this very minute….” we can all use a fun night out with friends right this very minute so mark your calendar for this year’s holiday Girls Night Out! Sip, shop and sip some more as you tour over 100 downtown shops and restaurants.

Hosted by the Ellensburg Downtown Association this event is a festive and fun tradition during the holiday shopping season.

This year we are kicking off our first Shop Local Ellensburg campaign where you can shop and win BIG cash prizes (see details

on page 2).

Additionally, you will be entered in the Girls Night Out raffle! For every $10 you spend at a participating location, you will receive a raffle ticket to win a gift basket filled with swag from each GNO participant.

Full list of participants can be found on the Ellensburg Downtown Association’s Facebook and website prior to the event.

If your business would like to be on the list as a shop stop, please email Director@ EllensburgDowntown.org or call 509-962-6246.

OPEN TUES - SAT 10am - 6pm 212 S Railroad Ave Ellensburg

25%off

your purchase Single use only.

Only valid in store at the Kittitas County Habitat Store. Cannot be combined with any other discounts.

Scan at register

This holiday season, support Kittitas County Habitat for Humanity by shopping, donating, or volunteering at the Habitat Store! www.kchabitatstore.org

Home Improvement Outlet

schedule a free donation pickup!

Scan to schedule

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Music in the Holiday Season Darkness invites introspection. We may feel inclined to cocoon ourselves in fuzzy blankets, waiting to emerge in the new year. Imagine with me that Wintertime scene. Maybe you feel the warmth from a fire (or a space heater) and smell holiday spices (or the burning of dust from the space heater). Do you hear the silence of the snow outside, or have you already turned on the orchestral classics? Maybe you have the jazz tunes swinging from A Charlie Brown Christmas album, or maybe you’re blasting away Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You and singing along! (Go ahead! It’s nearly impossible to sing well but always entertaining to try.)

While recorded music is still a relatively new addition to the holiday season, humans have been making music to set the mood for millennia – from introspective solitude to sacred ceremonies to raucous gatherings.

Making music can open our hearts and minds, challenge and strengthen our bodies, and create new ways to connect with other people. There’s nothing quite like the power of music to dig deep into your emotional well. Really, “what passions cannot music raise or quell?” (Quote by John Dryden) There are many ways to welcome music into your life and home this season. Here are few ideas with my holiday recommendations:

Listen. Get on a good pair of headphones, grab that fuzzy blanket, and intentionally listen to a piece of music.

I recommend: Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, a.k.a. Ode to Joy. You’ll need a little over an hour for this historically-rich celebration. The choral lyrics

in the final movement come from a poem by Friedrich Schiller, who dreamed of peace, unity, and brotherhood, expressed within a religious context. “Be embraced, ye millions! Share this kiss with all the world!”

By the way, “Freude” (froy-duh) means “joy.”

Attend a live performance. Music has been slowly returning around the county in our local venues and there’s nothing quite like a dynamic, live performance combined with the energy of an audience. I recommend: any of CWU’s large performances coming up, including a choral event, the Nutcracker ballet, wind and jazz ensembles, and an orchestra concert.

We performers have missed you.

Move your body. Get your groove on! It doesn’t matter if you feel silly or uncoordinated to get those feel-good hormones flowing and make memories. I recommend: Merry Christmas Baby by B.B. King. (Yes, you bet I tested this song out as research for this article.)

Play. Grab an instrument and set aside some time to learn something new. You only need to learn a few chords on a guitar or ukulele to sing along with hundreds of songs! If you go for an incredibly versatile keyboard, don’t forget a methods book to get you started. Or, grab a real piano from a neighbor; they are often listed for free on Facebook and Craigslist. I recommend: Jingle Bells, of course! The chorus melody only uses five notes and is great for beginners. This American classic was written in 1857 by James Pierpont, inspired by some jolly sleigh races, to be sung at Thanksgiving.

Sing. Did you know you can subscribe to whole catalogs of karaoke recordings? Why not?! In addition to being silly and fun, singing can even reduce stress, pain, and symptoms of depression. (Please remember that singing is an easy way to spread germs, so masking & distancing in wellcirculated air are still advised when belting it out in public.) I recommend: Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters – Mele Kalikimaka (1950). Rumor has it that Bing would often stop at a café on Main St in Ellensburg on his fishing trips. I also recommend one of my absolute favorite holiday traditions: caroling! Flashmobbing someone’s front yard with a happy group of singers is an undeniably wholesome activity. As we learned from the movie Elf, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” (Pro tip: Spread even more joy by rehearsing beforehand.)

May your joy be amplified with many musical moments this season!

Jan Jaffe is the director of Make Music Ellensburg, a community music school at 103 E 3rd Ave. More information can be found at www.ellensburgmusic.com

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Holiday Simplicity

By Brenda DeVore Begin this holiday season by asking yourself “Could our family benefit by simplifying how we celebrate our holidays?” Most American families generate 25 percent more waste per week around the holiday season than the rest of the year. Author Bea Johnson shares in her book, “Zero Waste Home”, how reducing waste and clutter can simplify life. Bea has learned from experience that “focusing less on wasteful, stressful and complicated activities can open up time and resources for more meaningful traditions, based on the simple guideline: Be kind to ourselves and to others.”

Here are a few tips to free you from stress and clutter this holiday season:

Deck the Halls Sustainably It can be overwhelming as you begin bringing out all those boxes and bins; simplification in this area can be achieved by asking yourself these questions: Is it in working condition? Have I used it in the last 2 years?

Does this item bring me joy? Is it a duplicate item? Am I keeping this out of guilt? Any items you are ready to pass on will happily be accepted at the Habitat for Humanity Store, The Goodwill or other Ellensburg community organizations collecting household items.

Handmade ornaments are a unique and eco-friendly way to add some festive cheer to your home. The traditional cranberry and popcorn garlands or dried citrus make a fun family night activity.

Wrapping paper is one of the easiest ways to make a sustainable switch.

Adopt the art of “furoshiki” and support our local retailers by wrapping your gifts in reusable flour sack towels, cloth napkins or a festive scarf.

Choose reusable fabric, a t-shirt, leftover paper from last year, post-consumer recycled wrapping paper, newspaper or re-usable vessels like mason jars.

Gather your bedside reading and make magazine bows; check out YouTube videos and Pinterest posts to guide you.

Minimize extra energy costs by lighting your tree with LED lights. Lights cause 40% of indoor tree fires so sleep safe and know you’re saving energy by turning your lights off before bed or using a timer.

Greeting Cards Cards are a thoughtful way to stay in touch during the holiday season. If you choose to send them, buy cards made from recycled paper and try to avoid cards with foil, glossy or glittery finish, as you can’t put these in the recycling bin.

One of our family traditions is to gather the cards we receive and the following year we reuse the front of the card as a gift tag, gift decoration or send it as a holiday post card.

Sending a personalized email message and attaching a photo will make your greeting meaningful. The recipient has the opportunity to share and keep the photo with no carbon footprint.

Give Thoughtfully to Avoid Returns Shoppers return nearly $90 billion worth of gifts each holiday season. UPS has even declared January 3rd National Returns day because 1.5 million return packages get shipped back on this day each year! The most returned items fall into three categories: clothing, kitchen items and sweets. Clothing is hard to buy for others so opt for a gift card and a thoughtful note instead. Ask for a holiday gift list with very specific details to avoid adding to the carbon footprint of returns.

In a world where you can shop anywhere, choose to shop with your local merchants, guarantee your gifts will arrive in time and reduce the stress on supply chain and shipping.

Surprise and delight with an experience or act of kindness.

Volunteer in your community, write a note of appreciation to someone who serves you or whose efforts you appreciate. Organize a collection event with your neighborhood, church or business. Pay it forward – offer to buy groceries or coffee for the person behind you.

Consider giving an “SFA”- Surprise Family Activity.

Designate a weekly time for the family to gather and take turns planning the surprise. Play a new game, watch a movie, cook dinner together or discover a new restaurant or activity.

With a little intention and creativity, you can enjoy and share the spirit of the season without added stress and clutter. Cheers to creating a more peaceful and joyful holiday instead of a “haul away” season.

If every American family wrapped just three gifts in reusable materials, the paper saved would cover 45,000 football fields!

F RE E C h r i s t m as t r e e recycling is available at the Ellensburg and Cle Elum Transfer stations Dec. 26th thru Jan 31. Remove all decorations and keep separate from other trash.

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Healthy Happy Holidays

By Olivia Franks ND Swiftwater Integrative Medicine DrOliviaFranks.com

The Holidays are a time for gathering family and friends sharing traditions and quality. The Holidays can also be a time of colds and flu’s. Keeping immune supportive tools on hand can be the difference between keeping something at bay and falling ill.

Preventative measures like keeping vitamin D levels up and doing immune boosts with therapeutic vitamin IV’s can help us make sure everyone has a healthy happy holiday season.

Prevention is always going to be an important part of preventing illness. Basic hygiene that were all pro’s at now, eating well and regularly, getting exercise and enough water intake make huge impacts on our wellness.

Health tips to consider for illness prevention:

 Living in Northern hemispheres though we are all prone to Vitamin D deficiencies. We are not getting enough UV exposure even in the summer where we live to keep our vitamin D levels in an optimal range. Supplementation with Vitamin D helps to keep the immune system balanced and strong and also improves energy levels and mood. As we age our ability to absorb Vitamin D from the sun and the digestive tract starts to wane. Always take Vitamin D with food – it’s a fat soluble vitamin. Those with poor digestion even without any major symptoms may be poor absorbers of Vitamin D – so testing levels with your doctor is helpful to determine the right dose of supplementation for you. Some of our clients aren’t taking enough and others are taking way too much. Please come in if you are unsure what dose of Vitamin D to take.

Vitamin shots and IV vitamin therapies can be a helpful boost to overall immunity and well-being when we’ve been burning the candle at both ends. Mom’s and Dad’s during the holidays, I’m

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talking to you!! This delivery method of vitamins is especially helpful to those who have digestive issues or are very frail and weak. But we also use these pre athletic events, travel and busy times of year like the holiday season.

Immune tools to have at home to help keep one well:

 Herbal throat sprays – we have several – are great at killing microbes before they take hold and set-up shop.  Medicinal mushrooms are excellent immune balancing and boosting medicines that can be taken daily through the winter holidays.  Teas - even just herbs in your spice drawer may be all you need.

Cloves boiled with some cayenne and thyme makes a powerful antimicrobial tea. Add some warm cider and it tastes pretty great too.  Vitamin C is water soluble and needs to be ingested daily as we don’t keep any stores of this in the body. Fruits and vegetables will provide some Vitamin C but having some in the house and taken a little extra daily is always great through winter. For most 10002000mg a day is safe and adequate for prevention. The body needs extra vitamin C when it is fighting viral illnesses and often illnesses can be shortened by taking lots of vitamin C – think every two hours when fighting off a virus.

Our goal is to guide you to optimal health by getting to the roots of the problem with modern diagnostics, restoring wellness with proven natural remedies. It is an honor to guide each individual on this journey.

We hope you all enjoy a happy healthy holiday season. Wishing you all the best!

Dr Olivia Franks and the Swiftwater Integrative Medicine Team

Aspen Victim Advocacy Services

Aspen Victim Advocacy Services is a non-profit program of Comprehensive Healthcare, located in Ellensburg, Washington, serving residents and visitors of Kittitas County. A variety of services are offered in a safe, confidential environment.

The chief concerns Aspen addresses are safety for victims of sexual assault and intimate partner domestic violence. This vision is realized through advocacy on individual and systems levels, community education, promotion of non-violent relationships, and a driving incentive for social change. Our services are FREE and CONFIDENTIAL.

Our Mission

Aspen is dedicated to the elimination of abuse and sexual assault and all other forms of oppression through social change. Aspen is committed to breaking the cycle of violence through education, advocacy, empowerment, role modeling, promoting nonviolent relationships, and taking a leadership role within the community and state. Aspen aims to end individual and institutional oppression based on gender, ethnicity, economic status, cultural origin, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, physical and/or mental capabilities, or abuse history.

Source(s) of funding

Aspen is completely grant funded. We receive several state grants through the Office of Crime Victim Advocacy (OCVA) and DSHS. Aspen also relies on community support/donations to provide additional needs to the individuals we serve. Community support funds are used for expenses not allowed by a grant or when funds have been depleted.  Hotel when shelter is full  Cost of medications for clients  Rental assistance or help with utilities  Legal costs such as service, paperwork, copies, travel  Transportation (bus ticket, fuel and auto repair)  Volunteer appreciation (volunteer of the month, meals for training)

Our Services

Aspen of Kittitas serves both primary (to whom the violence was directed) and secondary (other concerned parties such as families & friends) victims of intimate partner domestic violence and sexual assault.  24 Hour Access to Services  Emergency Safe Housing for victims of Intimate Partner Violence  Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Survivor Support Groups  Advocacy Based Counseling  Therapy (victims of sexual assault)  Referrals to other helping programs  Help with Housing  Support through the Legal, Medical and Criminal Justice Systems  Community Presentations and Education Aspen’s annual Christmas Wish program is a great way for community members

and local businesses to get involved. The families supported are currently in services, nominated by their advocate and often fleeing from abuse. The size of a family will vary, if you are interested in supporting a family, Aspen will work with you to assure it’s the right fit for you. If you would like to help but can’t adopt a family, we have single women and men who can use support.

Nominated families create a “Christmas Wish” list; ten things they want and as ten things they need. Children are often excited about the idea however, many parents tend to only ask for things they need when starting over; dishes, blankets, towels, laundry detergent, etc. Aspen acknowledges that a parent or individual deserve to be pampered and can have items to use for self-care which is often not allowed to them otherwise. (Photo above left: Anytime Fitness Giving Tree, December 2020).

Volunteers are also always needed! Join our team, provide individualized support to victims, by answering our hotline, where we provide 24 hour crisis intervention, support and advocacy; or help with fundraising and other exciting events. Training is offered quarterly! Next training begins October 25th. (Photo right: Aspen Volunteers, Jackie Scaduto and Samaria Moore at the Bi-Mart/Aspen Bedding Drive April 2021).

Year Round Needs:       

New clothing & shoes New bedding & furniture New baby items Diapers & wipes Prepaid Phones New locks & security cameras Gift cards for Fred Meyer, Fuel or Food

If you or anyone you know may be interested in volunteering with Aspen or adopting a family for Christmas Wish, please give us a call at 509-925-9384, contact us by email dvsa@comphc.org or stop in at 220 W. 4th Avenue.

If you’d like more information about Aspen and how to donate please visit our webpage at www.comphc.org/services/aspen/

Museum & Gallery

Unique Gifts . Artwork . Local Artists 416 N. Pearl Street Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-962-6416 clymermuseum.org Tuesday through Friday 11:00 - 5:00 Saturday 11:00 - 3:00 "Skiing off the Roof" John Clymer

Free Admission

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Give The Gift Of Ellensburg Downtown Holiday Gift Ideas Claim Clothing, Megan West

T

he holidays are upon us and if the last year has taught us anything it’s about spreading the love, and my love language is definitely gift giving. For any occasion and all occasions. Foods, sweets, blankets, cards, you name it! Over the years, probably like most of you, I have been known to go a little overboard and found that my one obsession is the creation of a good gift basket. My family and friends know that I’ll never miss an opportunity to hunt, gather and combine thoughtful items into a perfectly curated basket of goodies. I might collect an item that sparks some inspiration and hang onto it for months or I might window shop and an idea ignites instantly.

This year I’ll be taking you on a tour of some great downtown shopping spots, that will hopefully spark some motivation in putting together a “My Favorite Things of Ellensburg” basket for anyone in your life. Let’s just hope they don’t also read this article, and if they do then please act surprised when

Women’s

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Now let’s talk about a gift basket for that special woman in your life. So many options, so many styles, what in the world do you get her? Don’t worry, I struggle with this too! With so many retail shops downtown and a majority of them managed or owned by women, take advantage of their knowledge! Stop into Evolve Clothing & Gifts for those timeless silver and gemstone jewelry pieces like this stunning turquoise necklace pendant or any of their magnificent rings.

What better combination that goes with jewelry than a handcrafted pottery jewelry dish found at Gallery One. Both easy and a what a breathtaking gift they make! Stop into Claim Clothing for a new pair of jeans or browse their local artists’ collections like these Luna & Lowe clay earrings. Next stop is Flirt where you’ll find boots that are made for walkin’, cozy plush clothing items, and beautiful pieces like this western inspired Myra handbag. You can never go wrong with topping this gift off with sweet treats and some seriously unique gifts at Gallery One, like this magnet set! Easy peasy and now you’re done!

you may or may not receive the same basket of goodies! Our downtown retailers have some of the most unique items and all it takes is an hour or two of browsing downtown to put together these pairings yourself, and of course add some flare for those personalized touches.

We will be featuring a “Women’s”, “Men’s” and “Pet’s” basket along with goodies “For The Home”, “Rest and Relaxation” and of course the somewhat dreaded gift to “Someone You Don’t Know” but you can’t show up empty handed.

We would love to share in the gift giving joy with you. Please email in your downtown shopping pictures to director@ellensburgdowntown.org or tag us on Instagram #ellensburgdowntown for a chance to be featured throughout the holiday season!

Enjoy some of these great gift ideas from just a handful of the wonderful shopping experiences available in Downtown Ellensburg. Happy Holiday’s and Happy Shopping!

Men’s

Why are men so hard to shop for? Not to worry! It doesn’t matter if they’re your husband, neighbor, boss or son, we have something for everyone! Start your journey at Mountain High Sports for all the best-selling Smartwool products like this handy neck gaiter and pair of cozy socks. Let’s also be real, we reside in the Pacific Northwest, so pick up a Patagonia flannel and Hydro Flask while you’re there too! Add some fun trinkets like this Bear Multi Tool found at Gallery One or an outdoor themed hat from Ellensburg Floral and you’ll surely be on your way.

Finish off your basket with a good book from Pearl Street Books & Gifts, like this Campout Cookbook whether they’re in the woods or bringing fun to the backyard!

Rest & Relaxation

With all this running around during the holiday season a Rest & Relaxation basket is the perfect gift to give and receive! Think of who you’re buying for and picture what they do on their down time. Do they love body and bath essentials? Head into Devine Wellness for their plethora of bath bombs and soap bars or stop into Claim Clothing and pick up some locally made Picket & Oak facecare products. Do they find joy in sitting down and diving into a good book or working their brain on a puzzle? Then you need to head into Pearl Street Books & Gifts for all the Best-Selling titles and some of the most unique puzzle designs I’ve seen! Top this gift off with some beautiful incense and tray combinations found at Evolve Clothing & Gifts and some restful Tea Drops from Mountain High Sports.

Someone You Don’t Know

Are we ever really strangers, or just friends in the making? While you may not see them on a regular basis there is still a way to personalize this basket. You’d be surprised how many people love history of really awesome places, like Ellensburg! Pick up some Ellensburg specific reads from Pearl Street Books & Gifts and a drink tumbler with a map of Ellensburg on it from Gallery One. Give them a reason to fall in love with Ellensburg and explore what we have to offer!

Whether they’re near or far, this basket is also a great way to tour your people around our downtown without visiting. Throw in some Stonewell Kitchen Maple Syrup or any of their other dips and salsas found at Ellensburg Floral. Make a basket of these sweet and savory treats or bring along a few jars to a dinner party. What better way to make a friend than through their stomach! Add some bath items like the ever-so-popular Frasier Fir Candle collection exclusively found at Ellensburg Floral, or head across the street to Devine Wellness and check out their bulk selection of hand soaps and containers. Whether it’s a basket you’re creating or toting along a bottle of wine from Gard, always remember the holiday card. There are so many people to be thankful for during the holidays that you might as well skip getting just one holiday card and grab a box of these beautiful sentiments from Pearl Street Books & Gifts.

For The Home

There are so many directions you can with this one! You can do cozy blankets and pillows from Collective Interiors or pick up a one-of-a-kind tapestry like this beautiful teal textile from Evolve Clothing and Gifts (pictured above). Throw in a heartfelt journal like this one from Ellensburg Floral, or a locally handmade soy candle found at Claim Clothing. For the kitchen guru in your life, they could never have enough hand towels with both classic and eccentric printed sets found at Ellensburg Floral. Grab a set of towels and combine them with an eco-friendly bamboo dishwashing brush set collected from Devine Wellness. Speaking of eco-friendly, Devine Wellness not only has great kitchen cleaning gadgets but some seriously neat wool dryer balls and essential oils to gift to someone else, or yourself. We won’t tell!

Pet’s

Here’s for all those furry friends of ours! Make Ellensburg Pet Center your first stop on the train to the “Best Human Ever” title! It’s way too easy to gather the goodies in this downtown shop with their isles full of fuzzy toys, rope toys, Kong’s and the oh-so classic tennis ball. Throw in some biscuits and a new collar, or even some pet health essentials like this Tearless Puppy Shampoo. Top off this basket with some bulk bought cat nip and cat nip stuffed toys at Devine Wellness and add a pet friendly greeting card from Pearl Street Books & Gifts.

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THE ELLENSBURG NIGHT MARKET There is a new and unique opportunity to shop this holiday season in Ellensburg, come experience “The Ellensburg Night Market”. This unique market will be hosted at Gard Vintners for the holiday season and as the name suggests, is open in the evening to give people another way to shop local after work.  Night Market Dates: November 10th & 17th and again on the following Wednesday’s in December, 1st, 8th, 15th, & 22nd  Time: 5:00-8:00 pm on Wednesday evenings  Location: Gard Vintners, 311 N. Pearl Street, downtown Ellensburg The night market is a growing concept that allows for a more leisurely shopping atmosphere with often a different vendor profile that traditional farmer’s markets. With crafts, food, and unique vendors, the night market concept is perfect for those looking for something special to do on a Wednesday night.  The Ellensburg Night Market and supports the growth of micro-businesses within our area.

Night Markets, popular world-wide, offer a dynamic way to shop, explore, and support unique and new businesses in our community.  Hoping to make The Ellensburg Night Market a standard in our community, the Ellensburg Downtown Association chose to launch this new concept during the holiday season.  Looking to the future, the Economic Vitality Committee, the engineers behind this concept for the EDA, hope to have the night market be a weekly shopping experience for Ellensburg. It will support the growth and development of micro-businesses within our community that are the backbone of small business development.

“We are grateful to Gard Vintners for their partnership with us on this engaging concept market and giving us the indoor space to keep shoppers comfortable during the holiday season. I am excited to shop while enjoying my favorite wines. It is a great way to support local business and find unique gifts for the holidays”, stated Kelle Vandenberg, EDA Board President.

Come experience The Ellensburg Night Market, where you can shop, sip, nibble, visit with old friends, meet new ones, and support your local community.

The Ellensburg Night Market is sponsored by the Ellensburg Downtown Association and for the holiday season. If you would like information on becoming a vendor for The Ellensburg Night Market, please contact Ellensburgnightmarket@gmail.com.

The Ellensburg Downtown Association empowers and preserves community by amplifying our economy and creating a sense of place for all.

Explore even more shopping in Downtown Ellensburg for great gifts

 Unique and whimsical gifts found at When Life Gives You Lemons  Home décor, cozy home textiles and more at Collective Interiors and Restorations in the Burg

 Beautiful gifts and regional treasures found in the gift shops at Clymer Museum & Gallery and Gallery One  Furniture, home décor and accessories from Shaw’s Furniture & Appliance, Fitterer’s Furniture and Cramer’s Home Furnishings  Used, new and antiquarian books from Brick Road Books

 Books, journals, gifts and puzzles at Pearl Street Books & Gifts

 Records, CD’s, vintage and contemporary clothing at Old Skool’s

 Bikes and accessories for the cycling enthusiast at the Recycle Shop

 Handmade, pure herbal soaps, lotion and more at Purity Soapworks

 Baking supplies for every occasion found at Central Party & Costume

 Beautiful floral arrangements by Keira Grech Designs and Ellensburg Floral

 Kids toys, clothing and supplies for mom at Cascade Kids 12

 Trendy fashion and accessories at Maurices and House of Hart Boutique

 Yarn and knitting supplies at Yarn Folk

 All your outdoor adventure finds at Mountain High Sports

 Comics, board games, card games, toys and tabletop games from Central City Comics

Seasons Change, Make the Transition Easy on your Wardrobe Flirt Ellensburg, Maren Peterson The warm summer sun begins to dim, the leaves change in shade & the crisp fall air returns to remind us that change is upon us. We have so many shifts in our lives taking place as Fall approaches.

We inevitably return from our summer vacations, work resumes, kids are back in school, sports are in full swing, and we are consumed by the rapidly approaching Holidays. With all that bear in mind, the last thing we need to stress over is our wardrobe!

The shift in style can be quite drastic from Summer to Fall but don’t let it overwhelm you. It provides an opportunity to be creative and maximize the use of your clothing. For instance, take your favorite spaghetti strap dress or short sleeve and layer a sheer long sleeve or turtleneck underneath. Finish the style by swapping your sandals for boots and throw on a denim, corduroy, or leather jacket for extra warmth!

For maxi dresses, try layering a sheer sweater over the top, or a button-down, collared shirt. Either layering piece can be tied up & knotted in the front to create a more emphasize waistline. Sheer tights are also fun to play with by throwing them under your favorite skirt, denim shorts or overalls. Adding a customer fall favorite—flannel—underneath a jacket or adding it over your favorite summer graphic or band tee makes for a spunky eye-catching look.

Take your favorite summer maxi skirt and wear it back with platform or combat boot. For shorter skirts, wear them with a taller, over the knee boots!

Finally, layer a cardigan or blazer over any tank top or short sleeve to add some warmth!

Once we have adjusted to the seasonal weather changes, our attention is quickly diverted to the approaching Holidays, which calls for family photos in the Fall! We prepare to send out our Christmas cards and want to capture the past year in one single snapshot. Commonly, customers run to their local retailers in Ellensburg to frantically throw together outfits for the whole clan. So how do we coordinate all members outfits to make for a great photo? Local photographer, Kailey Wallin gives a few pointers.

First and foremost, you want to consider your

photography location and dress accordingly. Aim to coordinate with your backdrop, playing with neutrals – they do ot necessarily need to match or blend in but tones and hues that play off the surrounding colors is key. Kailey recommends avoiding brighter, highlighter colors for it generally distracts from both the family and the setting. When it comes to pattern, choose one member to wear the bolder pattern such as plaid. Dress the rest of the family in solids, pulling the colors from the patterned garment through each member’s outfit, blending everyone’s individual looks together. Last but not least, Kailey highly recommends going “extra” on hair and makeup, resourcing local beauty artists in Ellensburg and don’t hesitate to spoil yourself with a new outfit to boost your confidence in front of the camera!

Trends to stay on top of as 2021 comes to an end is the resurrection of 90’s and early 2000’s fashion.

Streetwear and oversized items are commonly seen in most fashion brand today. Leather skirts, shorts, pants, and even button-down shirts are making their debut in all colors and silhouettes. Denim is becoming the focal point of our ensemble— taking center stage as a statement piece… Move aside skinnies and make room for wide leg flares, tapered mom jeans, straight legs and more. Fun new textures are coming to the pant scene such as corduroy and flowy fabrics! Silk dresses are a hot new trend, perfect for holiday festivities and special outings. Platform shoes and layering lots of gold jewelry especially various chain and pendant necklaces, hoop earrings, and chunky rings bring together any look and dress it up! Style this season is bold, and fun so feel free to play around and let your personality express itself through the means of fashion this season!

Although the hot summer days may be behind us, don’t despair! There is so much to look forward to with Fall and holiday fashion. So many layers and unique styles to create dynamic outfits! Ones that are meant to weather the elements and make you shine bright amidst the darker fall days!

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Community Calendar of Events NOVEMBER Fri., November 5

First Friday Art Walk Downtown Ellensburg, various venues 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Fri., Nov. 5 - Sun., Nov. 14

Dusty’s Holiday Open House

Dusty’s Nursery & Company 9:30 am - 5:00 pm

Sat., Nov. 6 - Sun., Nov. 7

Holiday Open House Blue Sky Garden Center Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Sun: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm

Thurs., Nov. 11

Annual Veteran’s Day Parade

Downtown Ellensburg 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Kittitas County Veterans Association /Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce

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Sat., Nov. 13 - Fri., Nov. 26

Gobble Wobble 5K Virtual Fun Run

Thurs., Nov. 25 Sun., Jan. 2

Winterfest

Register: gobblewobble2021.square.site

Suncadia - Cle Elum

Mon., Nov. 15 - Sun., Nov. 21

Annual Snowmobile Kickoff Party

Holiday Ladies Week Knudson Lumber Mon-Fri: 7:30 am - 5:30pm Sat: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Sun: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Sat., Nov. 20

Christmas Bazaar

Ellensburg Presbyterian Church 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Wed., Nov. 24

Ellensburg Community To-Go Thanksgiving Kittitas Valley Event Center 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm Adult Activity Center / FISH Food Bank

Thurs., Nov. 25

Thanksgiving Dinner Basalt 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Reservations required

Sat., Nov. 27

Easton - Parkside Cafe/ Turtle Lounge 8:00 pm - 12:00 am

DECEMBER Fri., Dec. 3 - Sat., Dec. 11

The Nutcracker

Morgan Performing Arts Center Dec 3, 4, & 11 - 7:00 pm Dec 4, 5, & 11 - 2:00 pm Central Washington Dance Ensemble Nov 1 - Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets

Fri., Dec. 3

First Friday Art Walk Downtown Ellensburg, various venues 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Community Calendar of Events Sat., Dec. 4

Sat., Dec. 11

Wright to Pennsylvania Ave 6:00 pm - Parade 7:00 pm - Fireworks Cle Elum Downtown Association/ Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce

Teanaway Hall - Kittitas Valley Event Center 10:00 am - 2:00 pm Kittitas County Farmers Market

Christmas in Cle Elum

Sat., Dec. 4

Christmas Bazaar

Putnam Centennial Center 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Winter Farmers Market

Sat., Dec. 25

Christmas Dinner Basalt 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm Reservations required

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER

Friday, November 26th Plaid Friday Downtown Ellensburg All Day

Rotary Pavilion Lighting Rotary Pavilion 5:45 pm

Street of Bethlehem

4th Ave, Alleyway Between Pearl & Pine Street 6:00 pm

Thurs., Dec. 9

Holiday Girls’ Night Out Downtown Ellensburg, various venues 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm Ellensburg Downtown Association

SANTA SIGHTINGS Sat., Nov. 27

Sat., Dec. 4

Old Mill Country Store 10:00 am - 1:00 pm

10:00 am - 2:00 pm Knudson Lumber

Santa Is Coming To Old Mill

Photos with Santa

Sat., Dec. 4

Fri., Dec. 24

11:00 am - 3:00 pm ARRF - Roslyn

6:00 pm

Santa Paws Pictures

Santa Visits Roslyn Fire Dept

Fri., Dec. 3

Photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus

211 W 3rd Ave 5:30pm - 8:00pm Kittitas County Recovery Community Organization 15

Gumbo, just the way daddy didn’t make it.

Chef Tana from Julep

When the autumn weather turns blustery and cold in our little valley, one can’t help but dream of soul satisfying comfort dishes. Bring on the pot pies, the casseroles, the soups and stews! This is the season for home cooking, for lingering over the stove in a warm kitchen as the rains turn to snow.

What better dish to turn to during these times of solace seeking cookery than gumbo, a true icon of soul food? Layered with bold yet nuanced flavors and slowly simmered, this southern style stew offers the perfect amount of spiced heat to warm you through and satisfy those comfort cravings.

Ultimately customizable, there are endless recipes and variations for gumbo, and spice levels and proteins choices are entirely up to each cook’s preferences. Most experts would agree that the defining features of a true Louisiana Gumbo are as follows: a dark, chocolate-ly colored roux to bring depth, a rich stock for strong savory tones, the use of the Creole ‘holy trinity’ (onions, celery, peppers), and a selection of proteins (commonly shrimp, sausage, and chicken). The varied influences from Africa, France, and the Caribbean on southern cooking have created, at least in this author’s mind, one of the richest and most vibrant cuisines available to us. The complex and diverse array of ingredients and cooking methods offered by the food of the south is a true treasure cove of culinary delights. One could cook ‘authentic’ southern dishes for a lifetime and barely scratch the surface of what ‘southern food’ truly means.

This cook’s father was born in Arkansas, far from the Louisiana homeland of gumbo, but that doesn’t stop one from enjoying the richness of other regional delights. If a cook has yet to dabble in southern cookery, gumbo is beautiful place to start. Simple cooking methods and humble ingredients give way to a deliciously complex dish that is truly more than the sum of its parts. Each cook should feel free to customize their gumbo to their personal tastes and serve it, if desired, with the traditional accompaniments of white rice, hot sauce, and finely chopped scallions. Okra can be found locally in the freezer sections of Safeway and Super 1 Foods, and lends interest by way of flavor and also in texture, as its natural thickening properties add a lusciousness to the body of the gumbo.

This dish needs time to layer the flavors, so be sure to read through the recipe for a proper sense of timing. Gumbo, like most other stews, has improved flavor the day after it’s made, so don’t be afraid to make it a day ahead of serving. A large heavy Dutch oven works best for this cooking project. Bon appétit, y’all.

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Recipe, four servings: Ingredients: • 4 bone-in skin on chicken thighs • 3 teaspoons kosher salt, divided • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper, divided • ½ cup high smoke point neutral oil, such as grapeseed, rice bran, or canola • ½ cup all-purpose flour, or ¾ cup GF flour of choice (no nut flours) • 1lb yellow cooking onion, diced fine • 1lb celery, diced fine • 8 oz red bell pepper or roasted red pepper, diced fine • 10 cloves of garlic, or more. follow your heart.

• 1 teaspoon dry thyme, or ½ teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste • ¼ cup hot sauce of choice, we prefer Crystal brand • 12oz dark or amber beer • 5 cups rich stock, such as chicken or shrimp • 1lb okra, cut into ½ inch rounds • 1lb andouille sausage, cut into ¼ inch rounds cut on the bias • 1/2 lb shrimp, cleaned and shelled. We prefer 21-25 size 1. Preheat oven to 400F. Season chicken thighs with two teaspoons of the salt and one teaspoon of the black pepper. Heat a large heavy bottomed pot over medium high heat and add the ½ cup of oil. Once the oil is hot, but not smoking, add the seasoned chicken thighs skin-side down in the pot. Cook until deeply browned before turning to brown other sides.

Turn off heat and remove chicken from pot, placing it in an oven safe dish and covering it tightly before placing it in the oven for 45 minutes.

2. While chicken is cooking, reheat pot with oil over medium heat and add the flour. Using a spatula or flat wooden spoon, move the flour around to mix it into the oil, scraping any browned bits of fond up as you go. Adjust heat so the roux mixture is at a gentle simmer and continue cooking and frequently stirring for 45 minutes or until roux takes on a deep milk chocolate color. Take care not to scorch it, as this will result in a bitter flavor.

3. Check the oven chicken for tenderness, then pull it out and cool to a handling temperature.

4. Once the desired shade of roux is achieved, add in your finely diced holy trinity vegetables (onion, celery, peppers) and stir vigorously for a minute or so until the vegetables begin to soften and caramelize. After a minute, add in the garlic cloves, thyme, pepper flakes, and remaining salt and pepper. Cook for a further minute before deglazing the pan with the beer, scraping the bottom of the pot and stirring constantly until mixture comes up to a simmer.

5. Add your stock of choice and any accumulated cooking juices from your chicken dish to the pot, along with the hot sauce. Bring back up to a simmer, reduce heat, cover, and allow to simmer for an hour.

6. Meanwhile, shred the chicken from its bones and finely chop chicken skins, discarding bones and cartilage bits. Brown off the sausage rounds.

Add chicken, chicken skins, sausage, and okra to the pot. Simmer for an additional hour until chicken is cooked down to shreds.

7. Add the shrimp and cook until cooked through.

The viscosity of the sauce should be similar to a thin gravy, if too thick then thin with a little water until desired consistency is reached. Taste gumbo for seasoning, correcting with salt, pepper, and hot sauce to taste.

8. Serve gumbo hot over rice, or chill to serve another day.

Southside

Directions

• 2oz London dry gin

The Pearl Bar & Grill

• 1 oz Lime juice

Creating gin drinkers since 2019; the citrus, rosemary, and mint profile will have you asking for a refill with haste. A staple on the menu since the day we opened, and a flagship cocktail for our program that won us “Best Cocktail” in Kittitas County. Come in with your friends and work your way around our ingredient focused food and cocktail menu!

Mrs Claus Tea

• .75 oz Rosemary Simple syrup • 3 dashes angostura bitters • 5 mint leaves

Shake all ingredients, pour over fine strainer, into a coupe glass. Express the oils from the mint leaves, and float as garnish in middle of the glass.

Directions

The Mule Cocktail Bar and Restaurant

• ¾ oz Peppermint Schnapps

Oh how I love this time of year. Snowflakes, Christmas trees, and smiling faces. It’s exhausting though isn’t it? Working with all those mischievous elves can wear you out in no time. That’s when I reach for a few of my favorite things; my rocking chair, a crackling fire, Santa by my side, and a cup of my favorite tea. The perfect way to relax and unwind.

Joy to you and yours, Mrs. Claus

• Tea bag

• ¾ oz Bailey’s • Hot water

In a mug, pour peppermint schnapps and Bailey’s, add hot water to fill, add tea bag.

Top with whipped cream and garnish with candy cane.

Chocolate Revel Bars Recipe Hayday Bakery

When my kids got to around middle school age, they started asking for this for their birthday instead of cake. I used to freeze it and pull it out on weekends or nights when the kids ended up bringing home the team or friends unannounced. I would also cut it into 2 inch squares and add it to the Christmas cookie tins I gave out each year.

Chocolate Revel Bars Recipe Prep: 30 minutes Bake 350 degrees for 25 minutes Ingredients: 1 cup butter 2 cups brown sugar 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups quick cooking oats Filling: 1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chip 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk 1/2 cup chopped nuts 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Set aside 2 tablespoons of butter In a mixing bowl, mix remaining butter with electric mixer on medium for a minute. Add brown sugar and baking soda. Beat until combined. Add eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in flour and oats until combined.

For filling: In a medium sauce pan, heat butter, chocolate and milk over low heat until melted, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Add vanilla.

Next, press 2/3 of the cookie dough into the greased bottom of a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan.

Spread the chocolate mixture evenly over the cookie bottom. Dot the remaining oats mixture over the chocolate filling.

Bake until top is golden brown. Cool, cut and enjoy!

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Holiday Happenings

Board Members Spotlight:

Darren Reid

Cashmere Valley Bank

Jodi Hoctor City of Ellensburg

One of my favorite holiday traditions we have done the last 3 years also promotes downtown Ellensburg. Each December my sister and I do a “shop local” day in Ellensburg where we go to the downtown shops, while mixing in plenty of stops for a cocktails and appetizers at the local bars/ restaurants. This year we can do it the same night as the Christmas market in Gard. So fun!

My mother, Jeanne, loved setting up her holiday village. It can take up to 4 tables. My favorite is the ice skating pond.

I could watch those skaters for hours. She really enjoyed watching people, especially children, discover all the details of the town.

Jeannie Bayles

The Early Bird Growing up, Christmas Day was one of the only days off for my parents so we would always make the most of it.

We would wake up early, open presents then head out for an adventure, often go skiing or snowmobiling or whatever got us out as a family!

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Kelle Vandenberg Habitat for Humanity

My favorite holiday season memory was in 1999 and I was a single mom with three kids, and very little money. I brought the kids downtown to enjoy Moments to Remember and there we were bundled up, noses running, and somewhere, a magical switch was flipped and a dark cold night turned into a holiday celebration of twinkling lights. Every building that I could see was lit up with holiday magic. The streets were packed with people cheering and singing carols, but the best sound was the sound of wonder, the gasp of aww, from my kids.

Happy Holidays to you and yours

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“I was shocked to find that level of care...in this little town.”

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