KITTITAS VALLEY
From the Cascades to the Columbia | Q2 2016
e v o l e w W hy
KITTITAS COUNTY Breakfast sandwiches in Ellensburg | Local author’s new baseball book
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Publication of the Daily Record $1.99
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TABLE of
Chasing history THE LIFE OF JIMMY CLAXTON
12
pg.
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Why we live in pg. 16 Kittitas County
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Barbarian at the
gate
32
pg.
MEET ELLENSBURG POET XAVIER CAVAZOS
What’s for breakfast? 36 pg.
A TOUR OF BREAKFAST SANDWICHES IN ELLENSBURG K V LIV KV L LIVING IIV V ING NG G 5 KV K V LIV LIVING I V ING I NG 3 IN
Best of Kittitas County NEW VIEW BLINDS & DRAPERIES VOTED BEST WINDOW COVERINGS New View Blinds and Draperies provides FREE in-home consultations, FREE perfect fit measuring , great design ideas, lifetime warranty, great service, and repairs for Kittitas County including: Ellensburg, Thorp, Cle Elum, Roslyn, Easton, Kittitas, Vantage, Ronald, Suncadia and Tumble Creek. All with low competitive prices!
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C.W. BARBERSHOP VOTED BEST BARBER SHOP Open 6 days a week, C.W. Barbershop, tops the category again this year. Kelsey Schmidt has owned the shop since 2007 and takes pride in her wide variety of clientele; from baby’s first haircut, to old timers, locals and students. Kelsey enjoys the barbershop atmosphere where she considers her customers her family and has learned that an important part of her job is being a good listener. Drop in, you’re always welcome.
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MYRON LINDER – LINDER CHIROPRACTIC VOTED BEST CHIROPRACTOR
Best of FP
Dr. Myron Linder and Dr. Sandy Linder graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic. They have been practicing for 25 years, specializing in a wide range of the latest adjusting techniques. Linder Chiropractic is located next to CWU, within walking distance for students. We are accepting new patients! Call to schedule an appointment.
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SCOTT ROLLINS, STATE FARM INSURANCE VOTED BEST INSURANCE AGENT Serving you for 33 years, at State Farm we offer Auto Insurance, Home and Property Insurance, Life Insurance, Health Insurance, Banking Products, Annuities, Mutual Funds. Office hours are M-F 8:30-5:30.
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CORNERSTONE PIE VOTED BEST PIZZA Fire roasted pizza, fresh salads, Northwest brews, wines and spirits. Join us for a wonderful meal in a welcoming unique environment enhanced with a touch of Ellensburg’s history.
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D&M COFFEE COMPANY VOTED BEST COFFEE Thank you Ellensburg for 25 years! Here’s to another quarter of a century! Providing fresh roasted coffee, by the cup or pound, along with fresh baked goods and savory entrees. Visit us at…
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ELLENSBURG ANIMAL HOSPITAL VOTED BEST VETERINARIAN Dr. Fuller, voted best veterinarian, practices both large and small animal medicine with special interests in avian, exotic and wildlife medicine. Ellensburg Animal Hospital is the longestserving (since 1951), most experienced (75 years of collective experience) and best equipped veterinary hospital in Kittitas County. Trusted by generations to provide compassionate, quality care for their pets, horses and livestock.
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FEVERGEON FINANCIAL, INC. – DAVID FEVERGEON VOTED BEST FINANCIAL PLANNER Fevergeon Financial is a wealth management practice devoted to educating, serving, and coaching you to meet your goals and objectives. We’d love to assist with your financial planning and investment management needs! SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH KMS FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC Disclosure: The Best of Kittitas County award was created and conducted by the Ellensburg Daily Record. Voters submitted online and print ballots to write-in their selection for Best Financial Planner for Kittitas County. This award does not evaluate the quality of services provided to clients and is not indicative of investment performance.
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NORTHWEST AUDIOLOGY VOTED BEST AUDIOLOGIST Northwest Audiology has been providing Kittitas County with the highest quality hearing health care for 21 years. We welcome Dr. Mila Nelson, AUD to our staff. Stop by and see us anytime or call for an appointment.
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THE ROOST TATTOO STUDIO VOTED BEST TATTOO BUSINESS In business for two years, at the Roost we value our craft and our love for tattooing. We promise to give the highest quality tattoo experience in the valley. We value our client relationships and that is part of the quality experience!
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SUGAR THAI CUISINE BEST ASIAN FOOD Sugar Thai has a beautiful traditional Thai interior that looks simple but striking. With authentic fresh recipes that come straight from the homeland, and service that’s not only friendly but makes you feel at home. Not to mention prices that are affordable for any family.
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NANCY BARNES – BLOOMTIME NURSERY & DESIGN VOTED BEST PLANT NURSERY Bloomtime Nursery & Design has offered the best in quality plants and friendly service since 2000. You can shop with Bloomtime at their location or call for custom landscape design and services.
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WOODS ACE HARDWARE VOTED BEST HARDWARE STORE Let the knowledgeable staff at Woods Ace Hardware provide you with great hardware products, tips, and advice on lawn care, painting, decorating, plumbing and electrical. Locally owned and operated, the Woods family has been serving Ellensburg since 1944.
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DUSTY’S NURSERY VOTED BEST LANDSCAPER OR GARDENER Dusty’s Nursery and Company has been serving the valley for over 23 years, offering gardening expertise combined with unique plant stock, beautiful garden art and great customer service. Located in Ellensburg, Washington on historic Dominion Farm, the 111 year old renovated barn is a rustic shop stocked with artisan gifts for every occasion. Dusty’s is a FULL SERVICE NURSERY.
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AROUND THE
County
F
or a full list of events in the region, go to the Daily Record’s online calendar at dailyrecordnews.com.
Market patrons flock to Fourth Avenue in downtown Ellensburg for the Kittitas County Farmers Market
Farmers markets
‘Mary Poppins’
Ellensburg and Roslyn
May 6-8, 12-15 It’s time to loosen up your tongue and practice singing supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. The Central Theatre Ensemble will bring “Mary Poppins” to the stage May 6-8 and May 12-15 at McConnell Auditorium at Central Washington University.
Spring means the start of farmers market season in Kittitas County. The Kittitas County Farmers Market in Ellensburg starts the first weekend in May, and runs through the end of October. It is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays on Fourth Avenue in downtown Ellensburg. The Roslyn Farmers Market will run June 12 through Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays in downtown Roslyn. Both markets are lively community gathering spots, complete with live music, dogs, kids in strollers, fresh produce, baked goods and handcrafted goods. 8 KV LIVING
A musical is based on the similarly titled series of children’s books by P. L. Travers and the 1964 Disney film, and is a fusion of various elements from the two. Tickets are $8 to $20 and available in advance at www.cwu.edu/theatre/tickets.
Fine art enthusiasts look over the auction items on display during the Western Art Association’s 43rd National Art Show & Auction at the Kittitas County Event Center
Western Art Show
Bares and Broncs The ninth annual Bares and Broncs event is planned at 6:30 p.m. May 21 at the Ellensburg Rodeo Arena. Last year, the rodeo futurity saw its largest field of riders ever, and the Daniel Beard Rodeo Co. continues to grow the event. In addition to the action inside the rodeo arena, there will be an Iron Horse beer garden and music by Massy Ferguson.
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May 20-22 The Western Art Association’s annual May art auction and event draws people from all over the West who are interested in Western artwork. This year’s show is May 20-22 at the Kittitas Valley Event Center in Ellensburg, and will include pieces from Hita Von Mende, Karen Boylan, Naomi Gray, Karen Watland and Steve Henderson, among many others. In addition to the Saturday night auction, there will be exhibit booths where fans can meet the artists and a quick draw auction.
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Dachshunds on Parade June 18 Ellensburg is synonymous with dachshunds, at least in the month of June when hundreds of wiener dogs make their way downtown. This year’s Dachshunds on Parade event is planned on June 18, and will include the parade, races, stupid pet tricks and costume contest.
A long-haired dachshund pauses to pose for the camera during the annual Dachshunds on Parade
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LETTER FROM
The Editor
Kittitas County will see more change. Just how many new people the area can and should What brought you here? support and what growth should look like are It’s a common question for a subject of debate, especially as the county a new acquaintance, and and the city of Ellensburg work to update longthe answer can sometimes range planning documents this year. be surprising. A newfound This edition of Kittitas Valley Living isn’t connection to place is intended to answer those particular questions, usually job or spouse but to provide a few ideas on why this place related, but in Kittitas draws people in and keeps them here. It may County it might be a love for horses, a desire inspire you to do some soul-searching of your to live a rural lifestyle or Central Washington own. University. Ellensburg gets thousands of new residents each year in the form of CWU Elsewhere in this edition, writer Matt Carstens students and staff, and denizens of the Kittitas will share the results of an epic sampling of Valley are used to new ideas and perspectives breakfast sandwiches in the Ellensburg area. (no matter what people might say about your Things have evolved from simple eggs and phone’s area code). English muffins. The Kittitas Valley might have an identity as Also don’t miss Julia Martinez’s profile an academic, agriculture, outdoors-dachshund- of Ellensburg poet Xavier Cavazos. His jazz-loving place to live, but we don’t like to enthusiasm is inspiring a new generation and be pinned down. We have some Northwest leading a local revolution of words. attitude, but we come at things with a different perspective than those in the I-5 corridor. As population and housing pressures on the Joanna Markell West Side increase, it seems only certain that
KITTITAS VALLEY
Q2, 2016
Editor: Joanna Markell Writers: Nicole Klauss, Matt Carstens, Monica Mersinger, Julia Martinez, Joanna Markell, Michael Gallagher Photographers: Brian Myrick, Bryan Clark, Jesse Major, Nicole Klauss Designers: Matt Carstens, cover by Gary Peterson Publication of the Daily Record 401 N. Main St. Ellensburg WA 98926 509-925-1414 To submit a story idea or upcoming event, email newsroom@kvnews.com. For information about advertising, email: advertising@kvnews.com. www.dailyrecordnews.com
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Chasing history Kittitas County author Ty Phelan dives into the life of Roslyn baseball legend Jimmy Claxton in his new book By MATT CARSTENS staff writer
What were the origins of the project? How did you get interested in this topic? Ty Phelan: It started as a larger project, the history of Kittitas County pre-World War II and Jimmy Claxton’s name just kept coming up in the Archiva search. It was just who is this gentleman? What’s his story? Doing a little Google searching and I found out he’s the first African American ever featured on a baseball card, so it became, “Let’s see what we can find out about this gentleman’s story,” and it’s been a long five years of research.
Where did your initial research take you? There wasn’t a lot of information online at the time, there’s a lot more that I’ve contributed online
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to different sources. When I first began there was really just one article, and that was from the Tacoma News Tribune in 1964 and that was his only interview that he ever gave. He played baseball for 40 years and only gave one formal interview. Tracking it from there was difficult and time consuming because he did give some of the teams he played for in the past but he didn’t indicate what years he was there, so trying to track down where he was, when he was there, how long he was there, some times he might have played a game or two for, other teams he played for five years for them, it was just a long project. But very worthwhile. His story is just absolutely remarkable, and is so deeply imbedded in Kittitas County history, it’s just impossible to distinguish Kittitas County history from Jimmy Claxton’s actual trials on the baseball diamond.
Where does Kittitas County figure into Claxton’s life? He started playing baseball at the age of 13 against grown men. He was a semi-pro catcher at the time, he didn’t start pitching until he was 18 years old. He started here in what was called the Coal League, which was essentially towns between Buckley and Yakima along the Northern Pacific Rail Road. The Coal League was just absolutely brutal. One of the best, but one of the most brutal semi-pro circuits in all of Washington state. He went to Oakland in 1916 and matriculated up and down the West Coast quite a bit, but he came back to Roslyn in 1926 to coach and play for the Roslyn Yippers, which was a team in the Central Washington League. That was the lowest rung of organized baseball, but quite a few very good players came from the
Central Washington League. He not only pitched for them but was one of the first African American managers of a white baseball team. Coming back to Roslyn for him was more of a homecoming.
What were the racial dynamics of Roslyn at the time, as far as him being able to become a coach? There’s always been a long history of black miners in Roslyn, of course since 1888, and their numbers were probably at their apex in 1910, when Roslyn’s population was almost 25 percent African American. There were more African Americans in the small coal mining towns of Roslyn, Franklin and Black Diamond then there were in the larger port cities like Seattle and Tacoma. There was a very predominant African American presence in Central Washington at that time.
What made you focus on Jimmy Claxton? Claxton’s career was so lengthy, and not only lengthy in its duration, but geographically — he played in 48 of the 50 states and he was just a dominant force on the pitching mound. His numbers just stood out. It was just, wow, what do you do about that? He would strike out 18, 22 regularly in a game.
Jimmy Claxton was the first African American featured on baseball card.
Did he play in the Negro Leagues? He did play in the Negro Leagues for one season, but Claxton was really intent on integrating the game, and he attempted it in many different leagues. Not only the Pacific Coast League, but the Tacoma Industrial Leauge, the Seattle Inner City League, the Central Washington League, he was always pushing the envelope and trying to push back against exclusion and prejudice.
So it wasn’t just about playing baseball, it was about playing integrated baseball? Absolutely. His nephew told me if you want to be the best, you have to play against the
best. African American baseball on the West Coast was hit and miss. You could be on some good teams but they were poor in places. It wasn’t like the PCL or the Central Washington League. The best African American teams here at the time like the Queen City All-Stars and the Yakima Giants, they would get destroyed by Central Washington League teams. CWL teams were very good. Yakima Indians, Cle Elum Athletics, Roslyn Yippers and Ellensburg Hawks were very impressive teams, they promoted a lot of players straight to the PCL.
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When did you decide you were done researching? I probably wrapped things up last year and realized the research … because you’re going into a lot of small newspapers, I just wasn’t getting anywhere with the research any longer, it just wasn’t taking me in any new directions.
Was this your first book? Yep, I’m a first-time author, absolutely. It’s (difficult) at times. As a first-time author of course you don’t have any reputation, so you really don’t have any frame of reference. It was a trying experience, but it was very rewarding. The Northwest African American museum helped me out considerably in 2014 when they did a “Pitch Black” exhibit, the history of black baseball in Washington state. From that one foot in the door, I just contributed research from what I had been compiling for the Claxton book, it opened up a lot of opportunities and a lot of other people who had more information on Claxton or had his baseball card. That’s a very expensive baseball card, not everyone has it, it’s an 8-10 grand baseball card. Finding images was fun, talking with Claxton family members, Patricia McGuinness who is married to Claxton’s son, Bob McGuinness, he was adopted by Claxton, she was just awesome in the whole process. She was very familiar with Roslyn and the black history there so it was great talking with her.
Jimmy Claxton was the first African American to play organized white baseball in the 20th century
Joyce Craven Greenwood up in Roslyn, she was just amazing as far as giving a local flavor to it. Contributing a lot of stories as far as what it was like to be an African American in the 1920s in Roslyn and Cle Elum, that was invaluable research you just can’t find in a book. Those people, those contacts mostly came through the Northwest African American museum.
Readings: Ty Phelan is taking his book on the road. Here are some of his upcoming speaking engagements: ■ May 15, Roslyn Library ■ June 2, Northwest African American museum The book can be purchased online at Amazon.com or at Bailey’s Bibliomania in Ellensburg. KV LIVING 15
Why we live in Kittitas County 16 KV LIVING
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erdant fields of timothy hay. No rushhour traffic or parking problems. Aweinspiring scenery in the Yakima Canyon and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. Backcountry camping that is close by. Performances at Central Washington University’s Music Department. The fact you can wear cowboy boots anywhere. That’s a short list of reasons why we love living in Kittitas County, but there are lots of other arguments, too.
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Because we’re safe
Ellensburg is home to the Ellensburg Police Department, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, Central Washington University Police and the Washington State Patrol
Kittitas County hosts six law enforcement agencies
I
f you drive more than a few blocks in Ellensburg, chances are you might see a law enforcement vehicle of some kind. Ellensburg is home to the Ellensburg Police Department, the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, Central Washington University
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Police and the Washington State Patrol. Washington State Patrol has 18 troopers and two sergeants assigned to Kittitas County, based out of the location on Thorp Highway. Central Washington University's
By NICOLE KLAUSS staff writer
Police Department has seven officers, three corporals, two captains, a police chief and support staff working to protect the students on campus, according to the department's website. The Ellensburg Police Department employs 29 commissioned
police officers from the rank of officer to police chief. In the Upper County, the Cle Elum-Roslyn-South Cle Elum Police Department adds to the protection of the county. The Cle Elum-Roslyn-South Cle Elum Police Department consists of a police chief, corporal, seven patrol officers and an animal control officer.
Kittitas County is a
Sheriff's Office The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office covers the whole county, but is headquartered in Ellensburg. Kittitas County Sheriff Gene Dana said his office has 35 commissioned officers in the county including himself and command staff. "It's been nice because we have enough coverage to be able to respond to things quickly, and also we can spend more time with people talking to them and investigating, which people like," he said. There's always more than one officer on the road, he added. The sheriff's citizens patrol group includes about 20 people who take turns driving around patrolling neighborhoods, parking lots and trailheads. "They're extra eyes for us," Dana said. "Everybody has a cell phone. Take a picture if you see something funny." Combined there are more than 100 trained people in law enforcement ready to protect the citizens of the county, and that's not even including those who volunteer or work as emergency medical technicians, paramedics, nurses and doctors.
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We have good times brewing
Kittitas County is home to Dru Bru, the Roslyn Brewing Company, Iron Horse Brewery and Whipsaw.
County home to multiple craft brewers
C
raft brewers of Kittitas County are part of the pint-sized invasion that has steadily sipped away at the market share of international brewing behemoths such as InBev (brewers of Budweiser). The Pacific Northwest was an
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early breeding ground for craft brewers (typically called micro-breweries at the time). While some of those upstarts have grown significantly larger since the 1980s, or even been purchased by the international firms, Kittitas County remains home to the craft brewers who reflect the
By MICHAEL GALLAGHER assistant editor original independent nature of the industry. The beauty of breweries in Kittitas County is you don’t have to drive far to find one. The first one can be found off the Snoqualmie Pass exit. The next is off the Roslyn exit and the next two are in Ellensburg.
Top of the Pass
For years, the brewery featured two beers: Roslyn Beer (4.8 percent ABV), a mild, dark lager; and Brookside Beer (5.2 percent ABV), Brewery: Dru Bru a pale lager beer. Location: Snoqualmie Pass in Pass Life It has since added to the lineup to include: Development Roslyn IPL (6 percent ABV), golden, unfiltered Facility: Taproom and brewery beer in the tradition of an American IPA; Hours: Noon to 9 p.m., Monday to Roslyn Red Lager (6 percent ABV), a red lager Saturday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday in the same style as Roslyn and Brookide About Dru Bru: Brewer Dru Earnst beers; Roslyn Belgian Ale (6.5 percent ABV), opened Dru Bru in 2014. One notable charac- an unfiltered Belgian style ale. teristic of Dru Bru beers are many are under The taproom does not have a kitchen, but 5 percent alcohol by volume, rather than 6 allows food from nearby establishments. The percent-plus. brewery has a popular beer garden area as Dru Bru standard beers under 5 percent well. Children are not allowed in the taproom ABV include Wit (a Belgian wheat ale), Kolsch or beer garden. (German style ale), Summit (Belgian session Roslyn products are served at bars and ale), Hop Session (India Pale Ale), Alt (German restaurants throughout and are also availcopper ale), and Schwarzbier (German Black able in 22-ounce bottles in a multitude of ale). Dru Bru also offers an IPA (India Pale grocery/retail outlets. Ale) at 6.4 percent ABV. Its position in the mountains allows Ellensburg Dru Bru to make use of Snoqualmie Pass mountain water along with Yakima Valley Brewery: Iron Horse Brewery hops and imported German malts in the Facility: Brewery and brew pub production of its beers. Locations: Iron Horse Pub, 412 Main If you miss the brewery at the pass, Dru St. (production takes place on Vantage Bru is available at multiple locations (bars Highway) and restaurants) in Roslyn, Cle Elum and Hours: Pub, 4 to 9-ish p.m., MondayEllensburg. Wednesday; 2 to 9-ish p.m. Thursday; 1 to The taproom has snacks but does not 9-ish p.m., Friday and Saturday; 1 to 7 p.m., feature a kitchen. The brewery will fill Sunday growers. All ages are welcome. About Iron Horse: Iron Horse is Kittitas County’s largest brewery. Over the course Roslyn of its history it has outgrown its original Brewery: Roslyn Brewing Company location in the Ellensburg incubator off of Dolarway Road and has expanded its operaLocation: 208 Pennsylvania Ave. tions at its Vantage Highway facility. On Facility: Brewery and taproom the pub side it has gone from an in-house Hours: Noon to close, Thursday to Sunday taproom at the incubator to a downtown About Roslyn Brewing Company: The micro-pub taproom on Main Street to a pub Roslyn brewery is the oldest craft brewery in with kitchen at the Main Street location. No Kittitas County, having opened in 1990. The minors are allowed in the brew pub. brewery’s namesake, the Roslyn Brewing Iron Horse has the largest beer lineup as and Malting Company dates back to the well. Year-round beers include: early 1900s, but closed its doors due to ■ Irish Death (7.8 percent ABV). This Prohibition. could probably be called Iron Horse’s The current incarnation of the brewery is flagship beer. It is such a phenomenon it owned by Kent Larimer, Paul Angelos and can be purchased from beer vendors during Make Payne. Mariners games at Safeco Field. It’s also
available CenturyLink, home of the slightly more successful Seahawks, as well as many other locations. ■ Iron Horse IPA. ■ High Five Hefe, a ginger, wheat honey hefeweizen. ■ Light Rail Ale (5 percent ABV). ■ 509 Style (5 percent ABV). A mediumbodied, lightly malted ale. Seasonal beers include: ■ Double Rainbow (7 percent ABV). Described as a not-quite red, not-quite IPA. ■ Decision Maker (5.2 percent ABV). A pale ale. ■ Gary. Most closely resembles an Imperial IPA. ■ Mocha Death (7 percent ABV). Irish Death with the addition of roasted espresso beans and pure cocoa. Iron Horse has the most extensive distribution system in bar and restaurants and with bottles and cans sold in retail outlets throughout the region. Brewery: Whipsaw Location: 704 N. Wenas St. Facility: Brewery and taproom Hours: 3 to 9 p.m., Wednesday-Friday; 1 to 9 p.m., Saturday and Sunday About Whipsaw: Whipsaw Brewing, owned by Charlie and Debbie Tierney, is Kittitas County’s newest brewery (opened earlier this year) and currently its smallest. The range of beers potentially available includes: Smashed Blonde, a pale gold, single malt, single hop; Nutty Brewnette Amber, a medium amber beer; Buzz on Blackberry Wheat; Stump Blower IPA; Nelson IPA, less intense than Stump Blower; Wee Heavy, a rusty brown beer; and Hoot Owl Stout. The taproom offers meat and cheese trays from Glondo’s Sausage in Cle Elum and the Red Pickle food truck has been known to visit on weekends. Children are allowed in the taproom.
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If you are new to town, or simply trying to stretch your wings, there are plenty of ways to build personal connections in Kittitas County. We have the normal ways — youth sports teams, service clubs, churches, and the like. But we also have two programs with unusual names in Ellensburg and Roslyn that are building community in new ways.
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Because we build community in all sorts of ways
The days of a town crier shouting “Oyez!” might be long past, but community members in Roslyn come together to share experiences during the winter at these regular gatherings. They usually feature three presenters who might talk about their scientific research, read poetry or prose, or discuss the inspiration for their latest piece of art. There’s usually beer, wine and the occasional dog. (http://oyezroslyn.com)
PechaKucha
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Pecha Kucha is a Japanese word that means “chit chat,” and these gatherings at Gallery One bring together a diverse group of people who show 20 slides for 20 seconds each. Speakers in the past have talked about their experiences with education, the power of song, and what inspires their artwork and poetry. But the topics can be heavier, too, addressing mental illness, what it takes to have a successful marriage and autism. (www.pechakucha.org/ cities/ellensburg) — Joanna Markell
We have incredible music
Central Washington University’s music program offers dozens of chances each quarter to take in breathtaking performances
Central Washington University’s music program is world renowned
N
ot every small town east of the Cascades also happens to be home to one of the most decorated collegiate music programs in the country — but this one does. The Central Washington Uni-
versity music program is home to hundreds of students honing their craft, which benefits the community with hundreds of hours of entertainment each quarter. Whether it’s jazz, classical or individual instrument ensembles,
By MATT CARSTENS staff writer
there’s something for everyone to enjoy. And when you attend a performance, chances are the group you’re seeing has been invited to some regional, national or international competition and earned its fair share of hardware to boot. KV LIVING 23
We have four seasons of gardening
Whether it’s planting inside for the winter, flowers in the spring, vegetables in the summer or pumpkins in the fall, the Kittitas Valley has opportunities for gardening all year long
No matter the season, gardening is in season
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ne of the joys of Kittitas County is the fact it has four distinct seasons. For gardeners, fluctuations in temperature and precipitation can provide challenges and rewards, depending on how things grow. Each season in Kittitas Valley offers opportunities to enjoy nature at its best. 24 KV LIVING
Spring Certain plants hasten spring’s arrival, such as snow drops, crocus and hellebore. Spring is clean up time. Branches need to be trimmed, garden beds cleaned, and new plant starts added. It’s a good time to take a pruning class too! Kittitas Valley Master Gardeners offer pruning classes
By MONICA MERSINGER For the Daily Record and horticulture advice specific to our valley. Plant sales offer local plants which will grow best in Kittitas Valley conditions. It is also the time to add organic material into garden soils and thatch lawns. Perennial plants such as candytuff, carnation, hostas and delphiniums provide colorful displays year
after year. Lilacs grow well here and offer both scent and blossoms. In late spring, vegetables which can take some cold can be planted, including peas, carrots and onions. Blueberry bushes offer summer berries, dramatic scarlet fall leaves and have a nice shape as a landscape plant.
Summer This is the time for dramatic garden colors and delicious favorites from the vegetable patch. Container gardening is an easy way to display bold colorful blooms. Annuals — such as geranium, zinnias, fuchsias, petunias and marigolds — can be planted. Vegetables such as lettuce, herbs, small tomatoes can also be grown in containers where space is limited. Timers for watering plants are an easy way to water the garden when vacation plans call. Green beans, tomato, squash, potato, and corn picked fresh from the garden to your summer table add a welcome feast. Rose gardens, honeysuckle, clematis offer color, fragrance and vertical appeal.
Fall Harvest time is clean up time in the garden. As flowers and vegetables are gathered and trimmed, and summer heat dissipates, it is also best to plant new shrubs and trees to estab-
lish them before winter. Leaves can be mulched for future use in the garden. Chrysanthemums, asters, kale and red cabbage decorate the borders of fall gardens, resisting early frost and extending color into winter as well as seasonal favorites like pumpkins and gourds. Get tools sharpened prior to being stored away, and ready for the next year.
Winter Winter doesn’t necessarily mean an end to gardening. House plants can filter toxins from the air and create indoor focal points. Choosing the correct house plant is a matter of style and an understanding of plant care needs. Plants need daylight. There are cell phone apps which serve as light meters to measure the amount of daylight in the house. A quick search of the Internet will show the daylight demands of the houseplants you are growing. Seed catalogs offer endless hours of speculation for a gardener on what to grow and experiment with new varieties of old favorites for the garden. A study of snow and light on the “bones” of the garden — fences, trees, shrubs willl show the “framing” of the garden where structure can be improved. Work in the winter can set the stage for another season of successful gardening.
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Brian Myrick / Daily Record Peruvian dancers rehearse a dance routine at Rhythms Dance and Fitness in Ellensburg
By NICOLE KLAUSS staff writer
Bryan Clark Rodeo City Rollergirls play at Ellensburg High School
Get involved in all kinds of unusual hobbies
K
ittitas County may only have around 42,000 residents, but those residents make sure there's no shortage of unique activities to join. Want to get active? Try a dance class or take a hike. Have more refined interests? Stop by one of Central Washington University's musical or theatrical performances. From belly dancing to playing bingo, there's a hobby to fit everyone's taste.
Dancing If you like to move your hips, you can choose from traditional dance, Peruvian, Polynesian or belly dancing. TusuyPeru dance group was born in Ellensburg in July 2010 with the goal of celebrating Peruvian culture in the Northwest, according to its website. 26 KV LIVING
Fair and the Ye Old County Faire many times. Rhythms Dance and Fitness offers Peruvian and belly dancing, among other classes.
Music and arts
Eric Slyter, right, displays a Middle Age German longsword technique in a medieval European martial arts class in the Hal Holmes Center
Practices are at 9:30 a.m. Saturdays in Ellensburg. Visit www. tusuyperu.net for more information. Troupe Rose, which has more than a 20-year history in Ellensburg, specializes in Middle Eastern and Persian belly dancing and offers classes. They've performed at the Kittitas County
Take a ukelele class, or spin tales with the Ellensburg Storytellers Group, the YarnSpinners. Enjoy live music and theater throughout the year at Central Washington University and various spots in downtown Ellensburg. Want something hands on? Gallery One on Pearl Street offers varying art classes for adults and kids throughout the year. Hidden Treasures on Main Street offers pottery painting.
Sports Bubble ball soccer and rugby are only for Central students, but
there are other sports opportunities available to those with and without children. The Ellensburg Parks and Recreation Department offers youth and adults sports like soccer and basketball. The city also offers fencing and knight school classes. Yoga studios offer a chance to stretch out and decompress from a long day at work. If you're willing to strap on a pair of skates, the Rodeo City Rollergirls* will teach you how to play roller derby, or go out for the Ellensburg hockey team.
• Estate & Business Planning • Tax Planning & Preparation • Financial Statement Preparation • Accounting & Payroll Services J e r r y W. G r e b b , C PA R i c h a r d A . W a c h s m i t h , C PA M a r i e L . R i e g e l , C PA J a c q u e l i n e M . O ’ C o n n o r, C PA F e l i c i a M . P e r s s o n , C PA M e l a n i e R . R o s e c r a n s , C PA
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Misc. For those of you who enjoy a different kind of playing, play the numbers at bingo night. The Ellensburg Kiwanis Club hosts a bingo night every Tuesday at the Moose Lodge. The early bird game begins at 6:45 p.m. and the regular session starts at 7 p.m. It's open to the public and no membership is required to play. Those in search of an adventure can go rockhounding or geocaching. Rockhounders collect rocks or mineral specimens from the natural environment, while geocachers look for hidden containers that are not natural to the environment. To find geocaches in Kittitas County, download the Geocaching app. You never know what you might find while exploring the county.
Toll Free 855.925 .9876 209 E. 5th Ave. | PO Box 460 Ellensburg, WA 98926 www.GJRW.com 1400615 KVLiv16 GP
We’re proud to be Kittitas County’s one-stop shop. SALES S ALES | PARTS PARTS | SERVICE
www.washingtontractor.com ELLENSBURG (509) 962-6801
*Full disclosure, the author of this article is a skater with the organization. She promises it's a very fun, challenging and rewarding experience. 1441830 KVLiv16Q2 MW
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BREWERIES & WINERIES OF CENTRAL WASHINGTON Chelan
CHELAN COUNTY
Peshas nWine & Beer E F FP Leavenworth
DOUGLAS COUNTY
Wenatchee
GRANT COUNTY
Roslyn
Quincy
Cle Elum
B
KITTITAS COUNTY
2
C
Moses Lake
Ellensburg
1
YAKIMA COUNTY
Selah
A
Yakima Y a
D PA I D A D V E RT I S E M E N T
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BREWERIES & WINERIES A
B
YAKIMA CRAFT BREWING CO.
MUNCHEN HAUSE
Yakima Craft Brewing Co. is a craft beer brewery located in the heart of North America’s leading producer of hops, the Yakima Valley in the state of Washington. We produce high-quality craft ales and lagers with an emphasis on full-bodied taste and unique character.
Your senses will awaken as you enjoy premium, mouthwatering sausages cooked on an open grill, served with our famous apple cider kraut and numerous specialty mustards. Refresh yourself with a locally crafted Icicle Brewing beer or a glass of Washington wine on our balcony! Family friendly!
TAPROOM AT THE BREWERY 2920 River Road (#6) Yakima (509) 654-7357
TAPROOM ON THE AVE. Downtown Yakima 120 East Yakima Ave. (509) 571-1468
Hours: Mon. – Thurs., 4PM to 8PM Friday, 3PM to 10PM Saturday, 3PM until 10PM Sunday, CLOSED
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 3PM to 10PM Sunday, CLOSED
709 Front Street Leavenworth, WA 98926 www.munchenhaus.com
Wine & Beer F FP
WHIPSAW BREWING Whipsaw Brewing is a 3 Barrel system artisan NANO-brewery. Every batch of beer is personally hand-crafted and tasted to ensure the highest quality product for our Patrons.
704 N. Wenas Street Ellensburg, WA 98926 (360) 463-0436 Closed Monday & Tuesday Wednesday & Thursday 3 – 9 pm Friday & Saturday 1 – 9 pm Sunday 1 – 7 pm
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E
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IRON HORSE BREWERY We make beer for your mouth parts. We think it is delicious, but we can’t speak for you, since we are not friends. Unless we are friends and you are reading this, in which case, why aren’t you at [the pub], friend? We now have food and beer.
BALE BREAKER BREWING COMPANY
D
Just minutes from downtown Yakima and in the center of Loftus Ranches’ hop field #41, Bale Breaker Brewing Company sits in one of the more unique locations for a craft brewery – on a commercial hop farm. Founded by fourth-generation hop farmers, Bale Breaker brews handcrafted ales that showcase the world-class hops grown in the Yakima Valley, one of the leading hop growing regions in the world.
1801 Birchfield Road • Yakima WA (509) 424-4000 • balebreaker.com info@balebreaker.com
935 Front Street Leavenworth, WA 98926 (509) 548-2739
THRALL & DODGE WINERY Located on Manastash Ridge, Thrall and Dodge is a family-owned Columbia Valley AVA winery and the oldest commercial operating winery in the Kittitas Valley. Our premium wines are produced, cellared, and served on site. We offer FREE wine tastings to visitors from our small tasting shack Saturdays and Sundays noon to 5pm (May thru Oct) or by appointment. With lots of open space, regional views, an informal atmosphere--Bocce Ball court!--and even a music stage, we will also host your special event.
111 Dodge Road Ellensburg, WA (509) 925-4110 • thrallwinery.com info@thrallwinery.com
PUB - 412 N Main St. • Ellensburg, WA (509) 933-3134 • ironhorsebrewery.com Hours: Monday – Wednesday 4pm – 9ish pm Thursday: 2pm – 9ish pm Friday & Saturday: 1pm – 9ish pm Sunday: 1 pm – 7pm
ICICLE BREWING COMPANY While experiencing downtown Leavenworth, visit our production craft brewery and family friendly tasting room. Here you will enjoy fresh ales and lagers with locally produced artisan foods. From the top of the mountains to the bottom of your glass! Cheers!
Hours: Saturday & Sunday noon to 5pm
2
GÅRD VINTNERS Award-winning wine, local craft beers, and savory appetizers, Gård Vintners has been voted Kittitas County’s Best Winery three years running. Founded in 2006, the boutique winery serves a wide variety of estate white & red wines sourced from their family vineyard located on the Royal Slope. Family owned & operated, the Gård name, meaning “farm or estate,” originates from their Scandinavian heritage. Ellensburg tasting room available for group meetings or special occasions, as well as live music throughout the month.
311 N. Pearl St. • Ellensburg, WA (509) 925-1095 • GardVintners.com Open Tues.- Fri. at 2 pm, Sat.-Sun. at noon Open late Friday and Saturday nights KV LIVING 29 1442437 KVLiv16 GP
Because we love the rodeo
The Ellensburg Rodeo is a focal point in the community and a draw for top talent around the country.
By Joanna Markell managing editor
A rich rodeo tradition is felt all year round
T
here’s no avoiding it — rodeo and Ellensburg go hand in hand. Since 1923, the Ellensburg Rodeo has been a focal point for the community, and a draw for top talent around the country. The Labor Day weekend show is just one part of the picture, though. Groups like the Top Hands, the Rodeo Posse and the Kittitas County
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Roping Club help keep traditions alive throughout the year. Cowboy Traditions Ranch Roping puts on events in February and June at Bloom Pavilion at the fairgrounds, and the Cle Elum Roundup is bringing crowds to the Washington State Horse Park. This year’s third annual roundup is July 29-30. For a quick introduction to the ro-
deo world, Bares and Broncs is May 21 at the Rodeo Arena. The Ellensburg Rodeo continues to evolve with the times. The Cinch Shootout, which brought top names for a high stakes competition last year, will be returning. When combined with Xtreme Bulls and the daily rodeo events, it’s non-stop action in Ellensburg.
We’re not afraid to talk about our rat problem Other communities might be skittish when it comes to rat problems, but not Ellensburg. The number of rat sightings in Ellensburg increased significantly last fall, and residents haven’t been afraid to speak out about it. Rats have been known to cause power outages in the city by chewing between the fuse and transformer, causing a short circuit. In August 2015, a rat did just that. There were no reported rat-related power incidents in 2014, but there were seven incidents between 2012 and 2013. Residents approached the Ellensburg City Council at a meeting last October, and expressed their concerns about the issue. One man even brought in a dead rat in a bag that he found on his way to the meeting. A pest control company even brought in a rat expert, known as an urban rodentologist, from New York to give input. Dr. Bobby Corrigan spent a day in Ellensburg viewing properties in the Railroad Addition neighborhood, identifying rat evidence and problems. He said pest control is a community problem and that everyone has to buy into keeping their properties clean. Compost piles, pet feces, uncovered trash cans and yard waste are property issues that can attract rodents. The Ellensburg City Council is looking into potential code updates to help aid in vermin control. — Nicole Klauss
Dr. Bobby Corrigan, an urban rodentologist from New York, points to sebum left on a tree by rats last fall in the Railroad Addition neighborhood near Central Washington University.
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Barbarian at the By Julia Martinez Photos by Brian Myrick
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gate
llensburg has a poetry problem. One of the causes? A man named Xavier Cavazos. Cavazos knows his way around a poem; the flick of every “l,” the pop of every “p” and a seamless assembly of letters into words that resonate with anyone daring to listen. His game is simple: appear at a poetry slam with poems in hand, stand in line with other poets trying to make their mark, scuffle with verses and learn your numbered fate by glancing at the judges’ table. No person is safe from scrutiny and there is no such thing as a topic that’s off limits. Racism, sexism, drugs, communism, homophobia and everything in between weaves its way into poems. The Moses Lake native has been around the country once or thrice, bouncing from bars to cafés to music venues and universities with a bellowing voice for all to hear.
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He spent a decade, starting in his 20s, traveling across America as a performance poet and working as a tattoo artist. He descended into Ellensburg as a visiting writer at Central Washington University. He commands audiences’ attention with his performances: marching around the stage, tattoos across his arms and neck. His unfaltering voice is the medium through which he tells the world about the injustices faced by the most vulnerable. Cavazos lets his words do the talking. He first drafts a poem by the way it sounds, recording himself, then later writes it down and plays with it until it’s good enough to perform. “I always let the sound of a piece direct where it’s going rather than the form itself,” he said. His first poem, called “The Brown Picker,” was published when he was 16 years old and told the story of what it was like to be a migrant farmworker. He
The life of slam poet Xavier Cavazos
took on the voice of his mother, Juanita, and dedicated the poem to his grandfather, Lorenzo. At an early age, he said issues of identity came into play. “I think that struggle to formulate a narrative as to who we are as Mexican-Americans in America today is at the forefront of what I do in my writing,” he said.
Disturbing the peace Now 45, he’s stayed true to his theme of casting a light on stories that deserve to be heard. Good poets are those who set out to disturb the peace, Cavazos said, taking a note from James Baldwin. His work has since been scattered in various publications, some of which have earned prestigious awards in the literary world. He was named the 1995 Nuyorican Grand Slam Champion in New York with a poem about the United States’ involvement in Somalia, and before that he spent his time traveling across Thailand with master poet Navarat Pong-
Xavier Cavazos reads a sample of his work during a performance in the art studio at Dick and Jane's Spot as part of "Baudelaire's Birthday Bash" poetry prowl in downtown Ellensburg in early April
paiboon. His poems began entering famous anthologies. “I don’t think that there’s a good or a bad poem. I think poems are pieces of art and they just exist the way art exists,” he said. He understands that some poets are considered the greatest and get scooped up into anthologies exhibiting exceptional work. “That doesn’t mean that writing that’s not in there isn’t the best,” he said. “What I believe is that a piece of writing or a poem is just a piece of art and it exists to make
an impression on the audience, whatever the audience takes away from that, that’s the work of the art.” These pieces of art are nothing to be afraid of, he assured audiences at the first ever poetry prowl in Ellensburg on April 9. He reminded everyone that poets like to be paid, and the currency is listening and applause. Cavazos cheered the loudest, clapped the hardest and hyped up the crowd so much his voice was hoarse by the end of the day.
It is possible to make a living as a poet, Cavazos said, as long as you’re willing to perform your work. The vagrant lifestyle accompanying the ways of a performance poet got old for Cavazos and he decided to shift his sights to the classroom atmosphere. “You’re just getting enough money to get to the next gig to get to your next check to get to your next gig. There’s no security, you’re not going to raise a family being a performance poet,” he said. “Slam is just a young per-
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He received his bachelor’s at Central in 2010 and made his way to Iowa to earn his masters of fine arts. He returned to the valley as a visiting writer at Central and has been teaching creative writing for three years.
Academia Come C ome and and explore explore the the Yellow Church Cafe
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The transition from performance poet to academic is one he’s addressed in his book called “Barbarians at the Gate.” As a slam poet he’s the barbarian, and the gates are those opening into the life of academia. “For a long time there was a real divide between academia and slam poets,” he said. “And then right about the late ‘90s, slam poets started trickling into the academy and now the strongest academic poets all have their roots in slam performance. There’s so many of us now teaching at the university levels that there’s really not a distinction anymore.” He points out that a lot of retired slam poets don’t perform any more and are now more text-oriented. Cavazos still shows up to perform with what he calls the young guns, to make sure he can still play ball and stay relevant. He says it’s a point of pride for him. “We have so much energy, power, and voice that it just decimates academia. So that academic poets that
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1443436 KVLiv16 GP
don’t get behind us really get crushed by us in some ways,” he said. He points out that the Internet was barely being birthed in the ‘90s so social media was nonexistent, but a lot of the issues that were important back then are still important now. Slam poetry, he says, is about voicing against inequality and creating safe places for the LGBT community and for those from all religious backgrounds, and standing against bigotry and xenophobia. “That’s what slam is about. Slam’s about really protecting our most vulnerable,” he said.
Creating a culture Cavazos helped start the Inklings Creative Writing Club at Central to give his students a chance to find their own voices. The club has quarterly poetry slams at Brooklyn’s Pizza as a fundraiser for their club. On average, about 100 people show up per slam, which Cavazos says is an amazing community response. “It’s really empowering because it gives our students an opportunity to voice who they are, what they stand for,” he said. “Poetry slams have that phenomenon on people, they’ll go to it and they want to respond by writing a piece themselves.” One of those students is performer Kimii Kalamity, whom Cavazos introduced at the poetry prowl. He made sure everyone knew that Kimii’s work was going to be popular around the world. As she recited her post-apocalyptic work, Cavazos looked on with a proud smile etched on his face, laughing at every joke and nodding his head at every line of truth. “It helps that I think kids respond to me well. I’m tattooed and I’ve been
around the world so to speak ak and have a lot of experiences to draw from and I think that helps keep the classroom om fresh,” he said. Cavazos said artists need d community. The gap between the college ge and the public narrows with poetry slams, a space, he said, where writers can be together. her. “I learned a lot as a youngg 20-something from the poetry community, y, so it’s what we do. I’m just paying it forward,” rd,” he said. Creating a poetry culturee in a community is a way to pay it forward too people who inspired him, like his good friend riend and famous beat poet Allen Ginsberg. But success for Cavazos is defined broadly. He’s not worried rried about his next big book, but ut about what he’s doing dailyy in his writing life. He has been en invited to readings all over the country, with a performance at the Tucson Poetry Festival to name one. All of this wouldn’t have been possible without the many friends who shared their heir couches and opened their homes to Cavazos during his performance ormance days, tral’s English and most importantly Central’s os said has supDepartment, which Cavazos ported him the entire way. “Having from a dean, to a chair, to a n alignment faculty member all being in with what we want to do with the writing stice and advoprogram and with social justice le really helps so cacy for the most vulnerable much that if I didn’t have support at those three levels it’d be a tough thing to do,” he said. In conjunction with the English department, Cavazos has helped bring novelists eak with his and poets to Central to speak students. Earlier last year, American poet
Barbarian at the
gate
Jennifer L. Knox made an appearance and had a reading on campus. “After her visit here, she said, ‘I think Ellensburg’s getting a poetry problem,’” Cavazos said. “I kind of like that — the idea that we have a poetry problem in Ellensburg. I think that’s a good thing to have.” ■
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What’s for breakfast? Your guide to morning sandwiches in Ellensburg
Utopia Frozen Yogurt 706 E. University Way A frozen yogurt shop might not be the first place you look for breakfast, but this dessert haven doubles as a coffee shop, and can get your day started with a variety of sandwiches. Those looking for lighter fare might try the veggie, egg and cheese sandwich, which comes with avacado, spinach and pepperjack cheese for a little kick in the morning.
Campus U-Tote ‘Em 810 E. University Way If you feel like eating a burger at 7 a.m., but don’t want to be shunned from society, Campus U-Tote ‘Em might be your perfect choice. The sandwich includes two eggs, your choice of meat and mayo, all served on a hamburger bun. “I think the secret to our breakfast sandwiches is that we cook pounds of bacon on the griddle,” said employee Alissia Ready. “Then when we cook the sandwiches there’s all the bacon grease left over.” 36 KV LIVING
Jennikas 1300 N. Dolarway Road Every breakfast sandwich is filled with the basics, but they also are unique. Jennika’s Coffee House uses grilled cibata bread along with special spreads to separate their sandwich from the competition. “Everyone hates on the artichoke spread because it sounds weird,” said employee Ashley Glover, “But it’s awesome.”
Koletty’s Koffee 105 E. Umptanum Road If you hate the way some places make you choose which meat to get, Koletty’s Koffee has your ideal sandwich, and it’s all thanks to one brave lady. “There was one lady that started coming in said, ‘Can I get some extra meat on that?,” said owner Ken Beedle. “So we might as well offer all three on there. It’s actually our biggest seller.” KV LIVING 37
LAST Look Photo by BRIAN MYRICK
An Ellensburg High School baseball team runner reaches out for a base during a game against Ephrata on April 2. 1441083 KVLivQ216 MW
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