WENATCHEE VALLEY’S #1 MAGAZINE
A H t
om e
Fr for esh id the eas ho me IN
SIDE
November 2011
Open for fun and adventure
enchanting heather
The secret to getting kids high on the outdoors
plus I was a cowboy for a week
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OPENING SHOT ®
Year 5, Number 11 November 2011 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801 PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com sales@ncwgoodlife.com ONLINE: www.ncwgoodlife.com
Welcome to the herd, you sweet thing
Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Andy Dappen, Wendell Cayton, Marie Buckner, David Rodstol, Donna Cassidy, Bonnie Orr, Alex Saliby, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin and Rod Molzahn Advertising sales, John Hunter and Donna Cassidy Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Joyce Pittsinger Ad design, Rick Conant
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uzu, an hours-old alpaca, is welcomed to the herd by adult female Abby at the Shadow Ridge Alpacas farm in Wenatchee. Zuzu, a name that means sweet, was born early in the morning on Sept. 27. Abby herself gave birth three days later to a little boy, yet to be named. Suelita, Zuzu’s mother, is “cushed” (sitting) in the background behind Abby. Zuzu’s sire is Snowmass Messiah’s Legacy XX, a herdsire owned by Sue and Randy Steensma of Waypoint Farm,
TO SUBSCRIBE: For $25, ($30 out of state address) you can have 12 issues of The Good Life mailed to you or a friend. Send payment to: The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801
which is located in Sunnyslope. More information about Shadow Ridge Alpacas can be found at their website www. shadowridgealpacas.com. Owners Archie and Marlys Brown encourage anyone interested in learning more about alpacas to call and schedule a farm visit. They are located
just minutes from downtown Wenatchee.
On the cover
Andy Dappen took this photo of his daughter, Heather, enjoying the scenery atop Aasgard Pass leading into the Enchantments.
Phone 888-6527 Online: www.ncwgoodlife.com To subscribe/renew by email, send credit card info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Hastings, Caffé Mela (Wenatchee and East Wenatchee), Eastmont Pharmacy, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere), A Book for All Seasons (Leavenworth) and the Food Pavilions in Wenatchee and East Wenatchee ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in The Good Life, contact advertising at (509) 8886527, or sales@ncwgoodlife.com WRITE FOR THE GOOD LIFE: We welcome articles about people from Chelan and Douglas counties. Send your idea to Mike Cassidy at editor@ncwgoodlife.com
The Good Life® is a registered trademark of NCW Good Life, LLC. Copyright 2011 by NCW Good Life, LLC.
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Contents
editor’s notes
MIKE CASSIDY
Raising an outdoor child, part 2 A few months ago, Molly
page 5
what’s the secret to getting a kid to do this? Features
8 building a house in a weekend
Volunteering is easy, but could David Rodstol and a team from Wenatchee really build a house for a family in Mexico in two days?
11 Riding the range for a week
Wendell Cayton always wanted to be a cowboy... and now he gets his chance
14 LOVE IS THE REASON
Marie Buckner isn’t really one for roughing it — but when love and a wedding is involved, she flew to the opportunity At Home with The Good Life
16 REMADE IN COLOR
The contractor’s decor had to go — and what replaced it was lots of color and great personal style
20 good stuff
Regular columnist Bonnie Orr looks around her kitchen and finds tools that make cooking fun and easier Columns & Departments 22 June Darling: Can’t get no satisfaction? 23 Alex Saliby: The Leavenworth wine scene 24 The traveling doctor: Looking inside the affiliation 26-31 Events, The Art Life & a Dan McConnell cartoon 32 History: Was the sheriff also a moonshiner? 34 Fun Stuff: 5 activities to check out
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Archie and Marlys Brown invited us out to see the newest baby alpaca at their farm in Wenatchee. We jumped at the chance. If there is a cuter farm animal than an alpaca, I haven’t seen it. I squeezed off a photo of the downy soft baby (see page 3) and then, with our visiting 3-yearold grandson, Collin, in hand, went over to a fenced pasture with several adult alpacas.
Steere wrote about how she and her husband, Toby, were striving to raise a child who loved the outdoors as much as his parents. Molly said about the then 18-month-old son, Roper: “The truth is that Roper previously had no choice but to join us on these adventures. He was strapped in a front carrier, backpack or bike trailer, unable to do anything but go along with our half-baked ideas. This year, it’s been my resolution to make the outdoors so fun that Roper becomes a willing participant in our adventures.” Ahhh, a “willing participant…” When our kids were young, I swear that “hike” was a four-letter Collin Cassidy and grandmother Donna feed the alpacas. word when I used it in the sentence of, “Let’s Before long, blades of green go on a hike this weekend.” grass ended up in Collin’s fist, Yikes, those kids could scatter and propped up by his grandfast at the sound of that word. mother, he was a perfect lure for Yet, once on the trail, they the grazing animals. had great fun… so much so that The next day, Collin asked: their mother and I ran ourselves “When can we go back to feed breathless in trying to keep up. the alpacas?” This month in The Good Maybe that’s the best way to Life, we have the “bookend” to teach kids to love nature: Make Molly’s story with Andy Dappen it so fun they’ll keep wanting to revealing his “secret” to encourreturn. aging his 19-year-old daughter’s love of the hard work needed to It’s in our nature to play outbecome enchanted with nature’s side. Enjoy The Good Life. subtle beauty. — Mike See his story on page 5.
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WENATCHEE OUTDOORS
Magic and enchantment — cellophane waters, green life springing from inert rock, blue-tarp skies. The goats are enchanting, too ... until they harass you while you relieve yourself.
Enchanting Heather One parent’s secret to nurturing a love of the outdoors in his child Story and photos By Andy Dappen
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hat’s the secret for getting your kids to do this?” a woman hiker asks as we cross paths halfway up the rubbly route leading to Aasgard Pass. Before overtaking us, the woman and her husband have apparently noticed that my daughter has not only been keeping pace with me but that she’s been chatting pleasantly as we ascend the steep trail. It’s a complicated question and a few truthful answers come to mind: “Luck,” “genetics,” “exposure.” In the end, I settle for “patience.” The woman, a mother with two younger boys, asks my daughter, Heather, whether she’s always liked doing this stuff. From the ice axe on Heather’s pack and by merit of this being a harder-than-average hike, the woman figures Heather, 19, must be a hardcore hiker. In the presence of her all-knowing father, however, Heather comes clean. She explains how she’s always done some outdoor pursuits with parents — weeklong
canoeing and rafting trips, car-camping trips, day hikes, downhill skiing trips. “But it’s only in the last year that I’ve come around to enjoying more physical backpacking trips or that I’ve wanted to climb easy peaks.” I mention that Heather has always been a bit of adrenaline seeker, so she’s liked whitewater and downhill skiing, but formerly strenuous exercise only appealed to her if there was a ball to chase — hence her interest in soccer and lacrosse. “Now she’s figuring out that exertion, for masochistic reasons that have no real explanation, can be enjoyable. And it can get you to places like
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this that amaze.” We leap-frog the couple for the next hour and, at each passing, get some of their story. They’re parents of boys, ages 7 and 10, who are currently at summer camp. While they all get out on the occasional day hike, this is the first backpacking trip the couple has enjoyed since having kids. “It’s tough,” I empathize. “When they’re small, there’s so much stuff to take for overnight trips — it’s backbreaking. And once they’re big enough to actually shoulder a share of the load, they’d rather be playing their own sport or playing with friends.”
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I mention that some of our adult friends took the cod-liver-oil approach and forced outdoor medicine down the throats of their kids, figuring it was good for them. “We always felt these activities should be of their choosing. Trying to ‘make them’ like what we like, we thought, was more likely to backfire than succeed.” I explain how, as our kids got older, we just kept offering the opportunity, kept sharing pictures taken in beautiful places, and kept telling stories from our adventures. “Luckily some of this seemed to rub off. Toward the end of high school, both of our girls started taking a shine to some of the more physi-
cal outdoor pursuits.” At Asgard Pass, the couple mentions they should probably turn around and get back to Colchuck Lake where they are camped. We still have nearly five hours of daylight ahead, and
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Waiting for the sun. Heather enjoys breakfast and early morning light at a camp beside Sprite Lake.
I suggest they walk another mile or two down into the Enchantment Lakes Basin. “It’s magical,” I tell them. “Take a lot of pictures and let your kids see them. No need to say anything, just plant seeds.” Heather and I split off and climb the snow slopes leading to the top of Dragontail Peak. Stepping on the summit is a sobering experience — easy scrambling suddenly leaves you peering down the ultra-steep, technical cliffs characterizing the western and northern aspects of the peak. It’s been sweaty work getting here, but
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Heather enjoys the airy perch. We look north to the vanilla cone of Glacier Peak, northeast to the golden wheat fields of the Waterville Plateau, east to the brown deserts of the Columbia Basin, southeast to the green irrigated I-90 corridor, south to the white domes of Adams and Rainier, and west toward the black silhouette of Mount Stuart. “It’s like you can see the entire state from this little hole in the sky,” Heather says appreciatively. Later, we’re off the peak and hiking the main corridor interconnecting the lakes. Huge boulders of white granite litter the ground, smooth slabs of granite rim the lakes, and long shards of granite form spires accenting the skyline. Heather notes that nature is as creative with granite as were the Incas of Peru where she recently spent nine months traveling. The next morning is particularly magical as we walk through the Lower Enchantments. Golden light illuminates the spires and walls, cellophane streams rush over white slabs into emerald lakes, vibrant green trees explode out of inert rock, and the blue-tarp sky spreads over all of it.
The Enchantments are a showy flower, a billboard, that smack you, fullon, with their wonder. “I really like the word ‘encanta’ in Spanish,” Heather says as we walk. “’Enchanted’ in English can mean ‘being under the spell of,’ but we’ve diluted that meaning by using the word too broadly. In Spanish, the word is so specific in its connotation,” she says. “This place definitely draws you in and holds you under its spell — in the Spanish use of ‘encanta.’ Now I understand why so many people around here rave about the Enchantments.” Her comments make me believe the seeds of her upbringing are germinating. The Enchantments are a showy flower, a billboard, that smack you, full-on, with their wonder. If you fail to be amazed here, God help your connection to anything natural. Watching Heather as we walk, I can’t help but believe that she’s on her way now. If she stays with this she’ll soon be seeing wonder in the small, less obvious details of nature. I’m anxious to know how her journey along this path unfolds — partly because I know it to be an enchanting path, partly because (like most parents) I want to share what I love with those I love. Nonetheless, this is not my voyage. While I can expose her to possibilities, the course she chooses must be shaped and fueled by her passions. So I wait, patiently, to see where all of this leads. This story also appears on Wenatcheeoutdoors.org — the site covers such topics as hiking, biking, climbing, paddling, trail running and skiing in the region. November 2011 | The Good Life
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Volunteers
A
home in a weekend Team from Wenatchee builds a home for a family in Ensenada By David Rodstol
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ometimes you volunteer to do something, and then you wonder what you have gotten yourself into. This past spring I volunteered to go to Ensenada, Mexico to help build an entire home for a family over the Labor Day holiday weekend. As the time to leave approached, I wondered if I really knew enough about anything to make a meaningful contribution. Eventually 14 people from the Wenatchee area — including my son Brandon Rodstol— made up the team. We had a fundraiser that helped with some of our costs and the rest we paid out of our own pockets. Our home church, Wenatchee First Assembly of God, purchased the building materials. The home building project is operated by Youth With a Mission through a program they have been doing for several years called Homes of Hope that has built 1,000 homes for families in the greater Ensenada area. Families chosen to receive homes are screened by YWAM. The family to receive
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Speed builders: Jessica Steinburg paints trim, Darren Wurl and Kevin Steinburg nail on the roof, Nancy DeLong and David Fend take lumber to be cut to size and Steven Russert searches through the tool box.
our home — the parents, two small children and the father’s mother — had been waiting for two years. For some of us who have never traveled to Mexico, there were some anxious moments as we approached the border crossing. There have been so many stories of violence along the US/Mexico border that I wondered how would it be for our team. We were stopped for just a very few moments by the Mexican customs officers. After the crossing it was soon evident we were on the Mexican side of the border. The buildings, signage and a very different life style were revealed. The border fence was imposing as we saw it several times before
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our road turned south along the coastline. Long stretches of the Mexican coastline are undeveloped and the panoramic views were spectacular. There were also reminders we were in a different country as we came across checkpoints with soldiers armed with assault weapons. The indigenous Mexican family we were building the home for had moved to the area to be near friends and relatives. The father had bought the property for about $2,000 and was working to pay the loan off. He made less than $400 a month working in the fields in the area. His loan payment was $100 a month so there was not much left to provide for his family’s needs.
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es in a manner that somewhat resembled a house. I painted a side of several blocks to kind of give the feel of a small home similar to the big one that the team was working on. When I was done, I motioned to them to rebuild the home themselves and left several more blocks for them to work with. For some time the children didn’t touch the blocks. They would steal glances at me, look down at the blocks. Finally one was brave enough
David Rodstol paints, helped by Kinley Wurl, in yellow shirt, and Rebecca Wurl.
The home he and four others were living in was the size of what many of us in Wenatchee would consider a garden shed. There was a power pole next to this house, and there was a small TV in the home and one small bed and a limited amount of electricity. The home we were going to build would be 16 feet by 20 feet with a small wall that separated the home into two halves. It was to have electricity and overhead lighting, but there would not be any plumbing or running water. I know that for many of us on the team it would seem to be impossible to live in such a small space with such limited utilities. Both days the family and neighbors fixed us a meal that you could see they were so happy to be doing. They started on the meal almost the same time we arrived each day. And they fixed enough food to feed two or three teams. The first day we were treated to tamales and the second day they fixed fish tacos. My son later told me it was shark meat. Whatever it was, it was delicious. As much as we were feeling
As I looked at their happy faces playing on the dirt with those blocks I felt a sense of accomplishment. blessed by the opportunity to build this home for the family, I truly believe they felt equally pleased by their opportunity to provide the noon meal. The children wanted to be a part of everything as well. For some that was to paint. And when they made a mistake, there was a team member by their side to cover it up, encourage the child and praise them for the good work they were doing. One of my memories was a couple of small girls who watched, but were too shy to step forward to do something. These children do not have toys at all. They make do everyday with what they can find. I took some small blocks of wood, and going over to where they were sitting, built a small little house by stacking the piecNovember 2011 | The Good Life
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to reach out and began restacking them in a way to make her own little house. Soon they all were doing the same. One got a brush and started painting a side of a block. Soon all the blocks were getting painted and the children were having fun playing with something we would have just discard as trash. As I looked at their happy faces playing on the dirt with those blocks, I felt a sense of ac-
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A child plays around the construction area in the neighborhood where team members built a home in a weekend. Working on the project from the local area were Brandon Rodstol, David Rodstol, Kevin Steinberg, Jessica Steinburg, David Gingrich, Mallory Gingrich, David Fend, Terry Becker, Howard DeLong, Nancy DeLong, Rebecca Fain, Darren Wurl, Kinley Wurl and Steve Russert.
}}} Continued from previous page complishment. After the first day, the house was up, and what was left the second day was to put on a roof, paint the home inside and out and furnish it with some leftover
funds that had been collected by our team. In the little home we were able to place a propane stove and oven, a bunk bed, dresser and a table and chairs. Also there were many bags of groceries that
could be stored without refrigeration. After a small ceremony a key was presented to the father and he unlocked the door to his home and took his family inside. The team waited outside so the family could take in that moment by themselves. Eventually they let the team come in and shared through an interpreter their thanks and appreciation. It is hard to put into words the depth of love and gratitude the family had for their new home. Early Monday morning, which was Labor Day, we headed out at sunrise to begin the journey home — back over the border and on to catch a flight out of San Diego. There was a sense by all of us that somehow we wished we could have done more, perhaps built another home. It is amazing that through giving, you find you really have not given enough but wish to do more. Perhaps in the future many of us will return to do it all over again. David Rodstol owns an office equipment business with store locations in downtown Wenatchee and Omak. He resides in Wenatchee with his wife Marcia and daughter Alena.
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Riding the range ...for a week with my daughter By Wendell Cayton
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y first day in school I went all decked out as a cowboy in chaps, hat, vest and a pistol that was promptly confiscated. My heroes were Roy Rogers, Sky King and the Lone Ranger. Being a cowboy was all I ever wanted to be. It took 60 some years to get there, but I did, along with daughter Cathryn.
We joined the Doublerafter Cattle Drive (www.Doublerafter. com) outside Sheridan, Wyo., spending seven days living on the trail, rounding up cattle, washing in a stream when we could find one, sitting in a saddle for eight to ten hours at a stretch and eating Dutch Oven cooking. We shared our reality experience with 20 other guests from around the world and a dozen or so working cowboys and ranch crew.
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Operated by Dana Kerns and his family, the Doublerafter is a true, working cattle ranch, running a 500-head cow-calf operation on more than 100,000 acres of steep canyons, heavy timbered slopes and open parks and meadows on leased public lands in the Bighorn Mountains of northern Wyoming. For 18 years the Kerns family has been inviting paying guests to spend a week at a time during the summer and fall, filling in as
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Herding cattle through the fog of a Wyoming morning.
cowboys. Kerns provides horses, tack, tent, food and a promise that this will be “no City Slicker” experience. He wasn’t kidding. We worked our fannies off… so to speak… gathering cattle from the forests and open parks to move them down from the high country ahead of winter. But, with livestock, things don’t
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When the moon came out that night the cattle took off, scattering back up the mountain. The Kerns crew will have to go back and start the process all over again, without the help of the visiting cowboys. }}} Continued from previous page always go as planned. By the fifth day we had them rounded up, intending to push down the valley the next day. However, that day was colder and damp and the cattle ate all day instead of resting during
Cowboy wannabe Wendell Cayton: The horse knew what to do.
the heat of the day. When the moon came out that night they took off, scattering back up the mountain. The Kerns crew will have to go back and start the process all
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over again, without the help of the visiting cowboys. When I first talked to Dana I asked about bringing our own horses… an idea I promptly discarded after seeing what his horses were expected to do on his web site video. The Doublerafter has a string of 40 to 50 horses they match to their guest’s riding ability and experience level. What tremendous athletes they are. The first day started with a two-hour clinic from clinician Chris Ellsworth. He instructed us in what we needed to know about safety around horses and proper communication with our steeds. He easily started guests with little, or no, riding experience and made them comfortable and safe on horseback. One thing he said stuck with me all week: “These horses know they have one job, and that is to get each of you around and off these mountains safely by the end of the week.” I was given a large paint, Traveler, who was equally adept working cows in the deep forests with deadfall everywhere, fording streams, working up and down absolutely the most gnarly, steep, rocky trails, instantly turning on a dime
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(forehand and hunches for you horse folks)… and when a yearling broke free, a simple touch of the heel sent him off, correct lead and all, at a flat-out gallop regardless the terrain. I would ride that guy anywhere, any time. Cathryn rode a smaller bay that was lightning quick, and she rode him that way. She was easily one of the better riders in the group and now wants to get into ranching. As great as the horses were, I take my hat off to Wrangler, Murphy and Cricket. These diminutive Australian Shepherds and a Border collie made our jobs much easier as they bossed around steers and cows, flushing them out of the timber and back into the herd. Even the four, 2,000-pound, longhorn steers gave them wide birth. Morning and evening we were served meals prepared entirely in Dutch Ovens. The menus were epicurean delights. We devoured everything from steaks, a variety of egg dishes, terrific beans, BBQ and several different cobblers and cakes. At night, we all sat around the campfire and worked at solving world affairs. We also voted the white saddlebag to the guest who did something notable during that day. I admit to winning it one day for allowing Traveler to wander off while I stood hat in hand using my binoculars. At least I didn’t fall off. Among the guests were a young Englishman and his girlfriend. He spent the week with his camera in hand recording everything. One morning she managed to put her horse in runaway mode, bailing out of the saddle along the way. He rushed to her side to capture the moment, as she pulled herself together with the help of several wranglers. He then proposed to her that night, with ring and all. Amazing… she accepted! Had that been me with the camera and my wife on the ground, I would not have
Riding the range... lived to see the sunset. Fifty years ago I worked on the National Forest with livestock. A lot has changed since then with the adoption of a multiple use program for the land. Permit holders who use the land for profit, livestock owners, loggers, ski resorts, etc. are expected to pay fees and abide by numerous restrictions. In turn, their fees go into the Treasury and indirectly make it possible for the rest of us to enjoy the public lands, essentially free of charge. These restrictions on users such as Doublerafter do impact the profitability of the enterprise, and in some cases can put ranchers and other for profit enterprises out of business. Each year the Kerns’ enterprise spends significant man-hours dealing with compliance issues in order to stay in business. My observation was that he and his family are exceptional stewards of the land, taking great care not to overgraze or abuse the land. They practice meticulous “no trace” camping. Camps were moved the old fashioned way, by packhorse instead of pickups. They willingly share their lands with the public hunters, hikers and ATV users. We were taught lessons in this stewardship on our first day. We were instructed not to tie horses to trees as this negatively impacts tree roots and the surrounding grounds. Water sites they developed were done in a fashion that benefited all animals, big and small, including one tank we saw with an internal ramp that allowed small users like squirrels to easily exit the tank without drowning. Kerns and his fellow ranchers have formed an organization, Guardians of the Range (www.
Cathryn the cowgirl: At ease on her lightening quick bay.
guardiansoftherange.org), a non-profit organization dedicated to influencing public policy and informing the public of benefits to our lands that come from the work done by these ranchers. The loss of these ranches would be a significant blow to the West, depriving our nation of a heritage that goes back two centuries. As equally distressing is that I would be left with only this one memory of my time as a cowboy. For as long as they stay in business and I can swing a leg over a horse, I’m all in.
Wendell Cayton grew up in Yakima, traveled the country and settled with wife Loretta and daughter Cathryn in Wenatchee in 2002. He is a financial planner and investment advisor when he is not otherwise engaged in the Wenatchee “Good Life,” skiing, playing tennis or riding his horses. November 2011 | The Good Life
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LOVE
is reason enough
Beautiful beach scenery and friendly greetings overcome bumpy roads and tropical heat Mark and Wendy Kane — the reason to travel to Nicaragua.
By Marie Buckner
I’ll be the first to admit I’m a
princess — not by birth but by behavior. I would never go camping, hiking, biking, or engage in any activity that limits luxuries like hot water, air conditioning, good shopping areas and beauty salons. Why, then, would I travel to Nicaragua? The simple answer is love. My son, Mark, prompted this excursion by announcing his engagement to Wendy, a beautiful Nicaraguan girl. In the interest of supporting my son and meeting his brideto-be, I gathered my friends Barbara and Jim Nelson, packed an excessive amount of luggage and prepared to trek to my son’s wedding. Mark’s best man, Jim Snyder, and Jim’s uncle Les Keeney, both from Wenatchee, also flew to Nicaragua for the festivities. Mark and Wendy operate a small bed and breakfast in a house that Mark built, Nicaraguan style, on Playa Marsella in the San Juan del Sur area. Mark moved to this pristine Pacific Ocean beachfront in 2008 and guides deep sea fishing charters. He also leads mission trips on horseback into the mountains
Mark and Wendy operate this bed and breakfast not far from the beach in the San Juan del Sur area of Nicaragua. Many of the homes in the area have no walls.
taking medical personnel, medicines, food and other necessities to the poor people who live in that isolated region. They also have a catering and sales business, specializing in smoked pork and various sausages. Local restaurants and resorts are becoming their customers. The long trip to Managua gave me plenty of time to recognize that my Spanish skills are minimal. The unexpected solution to
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my limited Spanish was Wendy, whose English skills are exceptional. She possesses a degree in international business and a warm and lovely personality. The journey to Playa Marsella was arduous. Rutted roads were made completely unbearable by the lack of shock absorbers on Mark’s van. Another thing about the “no shocks” van was that the starter went out the day of our arrival. This meant that at every stop we
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had to leave the engine running or park on a hill. If this was not possible, we had to push to get it started. Our heavily loaded van with tiki torches for the wedding strapped to the top reminded me of the “Beverly Hillbillies” arriving in California. Yet, the beach scenery along the route was so beautiful that it helped us forget the incredulous ride. People along the road waved at us and shouted greetings as we passed by. The friend-
liness of the Nicaraguans was evident at every encounter. About three hours after leaving Managua, we arrived at the Mango Rosa resort, which is surrounded by flowers, trees and bushes that were exquisite. We moved into the house we had rented. It had two levels of outdoor living space and was decorated tastefully with Nicaraguan dark hardwood and local art. Of course it had hot water and air conditioning, which we found was expensive. Nevertheless, it was an absolute must for me as fans are okay but they just don’t do the job in that tropical climate. The first evening we went to Playa Marsella to watch the sunset. People were having picnics on the beach and swimming in the warm Pacific Ocean as dusk approached. It was picture perfect. On this beach we met an Australian family who built a two-story house with no walls, totally open. This fascinated me on several levels. The wife and husband left corporate positions to live their dreams on this beach. Their three children are thriving in that environment and swim like fish. Food, labor and other goods are inexpensive except for fuel and electricity. The Nicaraguan rum is extremely fine-flavored and smooth. It is the most popular drink in that country. The first night the loud noises of the monkeys and birds startled us. Thank goodness the air conditioners helped to drown out the sounds. The monkeys are Howler Monkeys and sound like large hounds barking. They are aptly named and are extremely boisterous. With no service on my cell phone, not much English speak-
On the road to the beach — beautiful but undeveloped.
ing TV, no airplanes overhead and little or no traffic noise, it was peaceful and devoid of stress. The ex-pats (foreigners living in the country) and locals are laid back and not in a hurry. It took some time getting used to this lifestyle. Meals were long, full of conversation and laughter; rather pleasant as I reflect. We took a day trip to Lago de Nicaragua, the largest lake in Central America. It was spectacular with a live volcano in view. There was no action from the mountain as the top was surrounded with white, fluffy clouds. We stopped for lunch at a local restaurant that I named “The Ugly Chicken.” Skinny, scrawny chickens ran around on the dirt floor under the tables. I decided not to order chicken, however, the others did and said it was the best chicken ever. A few problems did arise as the wedding drew near. Mark went to pick up the cake in San Juan del Sur. It had been sent from a bakery in Rivas, a larger town about an hour away, but the cake had fallen over and was destroyed. Wendy had to arrange for another cake to be baked that night and delivered to the beach the next morning. November 2011 | The Good Life
The flowers arrived a day early and were wilted but we put them in our air-conditioned house to revive. A florist friend of Mark’s and Wendy’s made the bride’s and bridesmaids’ bouquets as well as the table decorations. She had to cut flowers and greenery from around the resort to fill in for the damaged flowers. She and her husband are from Sweden and live nearby with their 10-year-old son. Many countries are represented there due to the cheap living, climate and friendly people. It was a great example of different cultures living in the same area and becoming good friends. The day after the wedding, we traveled to Granada to spend the night in the home of a friend of Mark’s. The amazing architecture featured a small swimming
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pool in the center of the house with three stories of open space above. The bedrooms were on the second floor each with a balcony overlooking the pool. Granada is a grand old city, the oldest in the Americas, and dates back to the 1500s. Stately buildings painted bright colors with contrasting trim can be seen on the narrow streets. Very high, artistically carved wooden doors adorn the entries. When it was time to fly out of Managua, my thoughts centered on the people and friends I had met. By our standards, many Nicaraguans have so little materially but are cheerfully accepting and welcoming to strangers. There is a lesson to be learned by some of us who have much more. I began my journey because of love and ended it the same. Love remains constant in any culture; the love between a mother and child; the love between a husband and wife and the love of a new daughterin-law. That’s a comforting thought at any age and leads to the good life. Marie Buckner, a long time Wenatchee Valley resident, is a retired teacher and keeps active in education and performing arts organizations.
The low profile, traditional design of the 3,600-square-foot house and the manageable front yard landscaping create a welcoming facade.
Remade in color Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Donna Cassidy
“C
hange is good,” though sometimes it’s hard to see the rosier side of upheaval.
The Cadman family of Wenatchee in a few short years has been disrupted and saddened by change, and they have also embraced it and been blessed by it. Camille and Matt divorced four years ago but recommitted to their vows and
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BEFORE (at left): At purchase, the whole house was two tone, serviceable and bland – it made a perfect canvas for the buyer’s personal artistry.
remarried this last August. Earlier, a huge Eagle Rock home was traded for this simpler place closer to town and by now, fall of 2011, both their family life and house life have proven the adage: Change was good. When Camille first walked
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with her Realtor into the foyer of the rock-fronted house up near the end of Maiden Lane, she noticed two things immediately. “I saw the view through the living room windows.” (Sage Hills looms immediately to the northwest.) “And I saw ‘contrac-
Seen from the family room, with family photos displayed at eye-level, and off the bright open kitchen, glass doors open to an outdoor dining area.
AFTER (above): Black paint makes a dramatic accent of the oak balustrade, and a whimsical pig takes the spot of honor in a hallway alcove.
tor decor.’” (Cut-rate embellishments to a high-end house.) She clearly recalls that moment, “I knew I loved the view and I could change the rest. All of it.” Their previous home high above Sunnyslope took in Wenatchee’s hearty portion of the Columbia River Valley: full sky, river below, wheat fields and mountains, miniscule streets and buildings. But the intimate scale of one big hill across from the house brought a new comfort. Straight across the patio and over an unseen ravine rose dry, rock-laden slopes that take sun and cloud play personally, that harbor wildlife and create a four-season mural just about the size of the wall of windows.
“People say, ‘Oh, don’t you miss the view?’ and I just smile. This close-up is so much nicer, more personal.” All the important windows in the house, mostly big uncurtained squares, focus on the hillside. And the patio’s slim wrought iron railing is barely visible against it. And, as for upgrading the rest of it… intent on creating a beautiful home for her family, Camille took drastic measures right away. “As soon as I walked in, I saw what needed to happen. It was all redone, in my head anyway.” Color was the first big step in a complete makeover. “Every single wall in the house was white. And oak was everywhere: oak floors, banister, trim, doors. Everything was golden oak.” Except for the cheap diamond pattern taupe carpet throughout the main floor. Except for the too heavy cherry cabinetry that made a dark cave of the kitchen.
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Remade in color }}} Continued from previous page Camille demurs when she’s praised for her artistry, but her dramatic changes have resulted in multifaceted, color-enriched spaces that blend and contrast. Cinnamon and mustard, lime gold, mist gray, peach toned bronze and russet, paint colors — luscious to name and even better on the eye. Ironically, the walls of cherry cabinets were all painted over to become bright white, opening up the kitchen. The ugly taupe carpet gave way to wide hand-grooved birch planks. (“We love to walk on it shoeless — it feels so good!”) The personal pieces of art, which Camille herself re-matted and re-framed to better coordinate with the brilliant hues around them, hang refreshingly low at eye level. Throughout
Built-in shelves frame two sides of the formal living area; the top half of the opposite wall is a dimensional birch forest brought inside.
there’s a mix of family homage and whimsy. Stark but sentimental black
and white photographs (of an embrace at their recent wedding, and of their son) chronicle
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the family’s progress, and the rest sing out with color. Camille has displayed a few significant gift items she savors every day, her son Colby’s early art class projects, several larger pieces from her artist brother‘s collection, and bright prints of puppetry figures calligraphed with apt sayings. The living room was transformed with built-in shelving on both sides and a stand of tall, pale variegated birch branches angling naturally up one wall to the ceiling. Filling an otherwise ho-hum kitchen nook is a low U-shaped banquette which opens up the room to the view and is the social epicenter of the house. Even the formal dining room was customized: their long table, one of two items retained from the first house, needed to slant on the bias to fit the room, so the lateral chandelier (one of dozens of stylish light fixtures replacing the same-look nickel plated ones) was rehung to follow the slant. New furniture was chosen not just for looks, says Camille, but
The Sage Hills, across a steep ravine, are easily accessed from a point up the road (or the fearless might climb down a neighbor’s rope ladder).
to fit two big men — son and husband both top six feet. (Close friends with two local furniture purveyors, she says she alternated purchases carefully to keep the peace.) Two office/away rooms — Camille’s downstairs, husband Matt’s upstairs — were theirs alone to personalize. Hers features a double-sized chaise where she often works with her laptop, professionally guiding organizations like the Performing Art Center, which she chairs. Matt, who teaches at Eastmont High School, has gone with walls of group photos from his years with Music Theater of Wenatchee and a cozy media center. Outside, the hill-facing patio centers around a freeform swimming pool, just a few feet away from house and hot tub, and there’s a protected alcove for summer dining. The gentle trickle of a three-tiered fountain tucked near the front entrance greets visitors on the walkway. Camille nurtures her garden, but appreciates that the landscaped pocket lawn in front is all she really has to care for — the zero-maintenance side and back yards are a relief after three-and-a-half labor-intensive
acres on Eagle Rock. Is the house done? Probably not. A few projects linger on her to-do list: a bathroom enlargement, laundry room tiles, more white covering
Curves galore, in repeated archways, the painting, and the oval table and chair backs of the well-used dining set, add a softness to the entrance hall.
more cherry cabinets, maybe a side feature near a rock garden… Camille realizes now that when she made the first big alterations in 2007, she anticipated the family being reunited,
and now all three love being there together in its warmth and comfort. She grins with satisfaction, “It’s a house that makes us smile. Every day.”
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good STUFF // Ideas for the home
B.
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A. Functional spoons are sturdy but soft — and come in bright colors. B. Easier-to clean whisks with little balls on the end rest in a flat-sided prep and scrap bowl.
tools for the kitchen By bonnie Orr
Some utensils and implements you didn’t
know about are actually necessities. You will love them once you start using them. Mary Woods, the manager of the Kitchen Sync in downtown Wenatchee, says some people become so enamored with a gadget they come back and buy a dozen for their best cooking pals. My most memorable gifts have been kitchen tools. When I start to use a new utensil in the kitchen, it makes cooking more efficient. Here are a dozen of Mary’s and my favorites.
1. The whisk with little balls on the ends of the wires, rather than those devilishly difficult to clean traditional egg-shaped wire whisks, is what made me realize that innovative utensils make cooking more fun. ($2025) 2. Silicon is a cook’s best friend. Not only is this material easy to clean, available in grand colors, but it also can be used in high heat. A most functional spoon ($8) is sturdy but soft enough to stir heavy batter, takes the place of a scraper and works as a spatula. Three in one! Mine is red. 3. At the top of my list are space-saving utensils. I love the silicon vegetable steamer
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($14) that lies nearly flat in my storage drawer and is easy to clean. The mini-collapsible colander ($6) has a snap on base to prevent water from dripping on the counter. 4. When my friend Anne gave me the herb scissors ($12), I thought it was just a gadget — but it is the best, very best way to snipe any herbs or soft greens for salads or garnishes.
E. A
Bonnie Orr gardens and cooks in East Wenatchee.
5. One of the problems with grilling is storing and cleaning the skewers. The FireWire skewers ($12) are made with flexible wire so the meat and veggies easily fit in a marinade container and can be more easily turned on the grill. How easy they make grilling kebobs. 6. The scraper/chopper ($7), which Flo gave me, I use daily to efficiently lift chopped material to the cooking pan. Now clean-up is even easier with a flat-sided prep and scrap bowl ($9) that snugs up to the cutting board and cleanup is mess free. Another fabulous bowl is a Mixer Mater ($19) for use with a hand beater. There is no splatter, and beaten ingredients such as cream or egg whites mix very rapidly.
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E. Herb scissors — not just a pretty gadget, but an essential tool.
I bake every week, especially bread and pies. The silicone brush ($11) spreads butter, milk or egg yolk evenly on the dough’s surface. To be sure my bread is baked through, I use a digital thermometer ($18) to check that the interior temperature is 190-200 degrees. Perfect bread every time! 8. One of the reasons that meat loaf, a favorite comfort food, is difficult is the grease the completed loaf must be lifted from. This meat loaf pan has an insert ($29) that drains the meat as it cooks. And the heavy-duty pan can be used without the insert to bake bread. And for those oven burns on the back of your wrist, the Lavender Treatment Stick by Pelindaba ($12) is the soothing solution. 9. To be sure I have not overlooked an ingredient, I assemble everything on the
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D.
C. Silicon vegetable steamers take up less space in storage and are easy to clean. D. Colorful recycled plastic stack bowls add a little cheer to a kitchen.
kitchen counter. When preparing a recipe, lots of little containers are essential for the ingredients. Sets of little glass bowls ($2.50 each) that hold up to 1/4 cup are handy for the chopped ingredients. At the Kitchen Sync, I found Le Creuset silicon Prep Bowls ($16) that are even more convenient because they can be squeezed for easy pouring and are measuring cups as well.
My most memorable gifts have been kitchen tools.
10. If your favorite cook lacks a micro plane grater, there are dozens available. Some are special ones for chocolate, zesting, and cinnamon/nutmeg, fine or coarse grating. Others have attachments for measuring the grated ingredient or have multiple surfaces. I love the texture of grated material for garnishes. Every cook needs a micro-grater or zester ($18-22). 11. A colorful kitchen addition for gray winter days is the set of four recycled plastic stack bowls in variegated reds, oranges, greens and yellows. ($40). These could replace the noisy stainless bowls and add cheer as well. 12. The oddly shaped decanter cleaner ($10) cleans into crevices and the bottoms of bottles and vases. I can’t clean without this one. Don’t forget Christmas is coming. Some of these tools are life-changing implements. Try them.
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column moving up to the good life
june darling
Can’t get no satisfaction? Dr. Schmidt often noticed
that some people had more than he did. Others had more money — planes, boats and vacation homes in Tahiti. Their wives were also prettier and their children were smarter than his own. Some were quite accomplished and had graduated from Ivy League colleges. When Dr. Schmidt thought about how others were better off than he was, he felt both envy and anger, which eventually turned into self-pity and depression. Social psychologists have theorized since the early 1950s that human beings have a need to look outside themselves in order to evaluate themselves. Lately researchers are studying related questions like: why we choose to look outside ourselves to make decisions about our happiness, what sort of people compare themselves more often, what happens to our moods when we compare ourselves, and how we decide who will be in our comparison group. The studies turn out to be more complex than expected, but generally speaking, those people who do a lot of social comparison don’t feel so good
about themselves or about their lives. They feel particularly bad if they choose to frequently compare themselves to people who seem to have life much better than they do, that is, make upward comparisons. You may be saying, “Well, duh, who funded that research?” But most of us are more like Dr. Schmidt than we want to admit. How much of your dissatisfaction, your credit card bill and your unwillingness to partner or socialize with others is caused by this very behavior — looking at what you don’t have rather than noticing what you do have? How much suffering is caused by using external measures rather than your own internal benchmarks of success? If you answer truthfully, you may be ready to use this research to drastically improve your satisfaction with life. A number of antidotes can help us address the curse of negative upward comparison. For one, we could choose to become inspired and perhaps concentrate on learning something from those who seem to have it better. Or we could choose to look at people who have it worse than we do (downward comparison). Perhaps we
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could get really clear on our values and become determined to live by them. The best approach, however, is to learn to be deeply grateful — that is, more thankful and appreciative. All religions urge their adherents to be grateful in order to live a good life. According to researchers such as Dr. Robert Emmons, gratitude, in addition to squelching social comparisons, turns out to have a number of benefits including better health and happiness and leads to better work outcomes, longevity, more energy and stronger connections to others. Many researchers suggest that if we want to become more grateful, we need to become more intentional around being right here, right now. We need to be “mindful,” fully present to what is going on, particularly noticing what’s going well. We frequently fail to notice what’s wonderful in our lives. For example, in the Wenatchee Valley, we are eating delicious fresh fruit from our orchards. Last week I made a protein shake for my husband, John, filled with peaches right from the tree. He didn’t notice it. I made the exact same shake again the next day. This time John told me, “Wow, that was a fabulous shake, I’d like to have that again. What’s in it?” He was surprised to find out that I’d served an identical smoothie to him the previous day. He’d drunk it without even realizing how good it was. Emmons and his fellow researchers know that many people benefit from forcing themselves to direct their attention daily to what’s going well by keeping a gratitude journal. Each day or perhaps weekly,
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they list five or so things they’re grateful for. Some choose to share their “blessings” each evening at family meals. When I’ve asked clients to keep a gratitude journal, some have resisted. They are focused on what’s not going well, it’s very difficult for them to shift their attention. They’ve asked, “May I first write about everything that’s not going well?” The latest research indicates we can, indeed, both grouse and be grateful. In fact, when we accept ourselves as being human with a full spectrum of behaviors and emotions, we may be more willing to “taste our treats” and feel our gratitude. Resentment and entitlement often seem to come naturally, but a dedicated practice of gratitude establishes a worldview that says in effect that all of life is a gift. German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote that, “In ordinary life we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.” As deeply grateful human beings, we experience less need to look over our shoulders to see what others have. Some say they finally get what they were truly seeking, inner peace. How might you move up to The Good Life by comparing less and appreciating more? June Darling, Ph.D., is an executive coach who consults with businesses and individuals to achieve goals and increase happiness. She can be reached at drjunedarling@aol.com, or drjunedarling.blogspot.com or at her twitter address: twitter.com/ drjunedarling. Her website is www. summitgroupresources.com.
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column ALEX ON WINE
ALEX SALIBY
What’s new on the Leavenworth wine scene? Several new tasting rooms
have opened in Leavenworth since last I wrote of the place. At the top of the list is the formerly “by appointment only” Boudreaux Cellars. Tamara Newsom has had her shop — called Inside Out — in Leavenworth for all the 22 years that we’ve been living here. It’s a rustic home decor shop I never entered, until now. I just had no interest in looking at or buying things with which to decorate. My wife, on the other hand….! Enter Boudreaux Cellars. Rob and Tamara devised a clever way to divide the shop’s space, creating a comfortable wine-tasting spot complete with a tasting bar and a dining room table for those who want to sit and enjoy a glass of Rob’s great wines. I’ve been in the shop now four or five times since the tasting bar opened in April. Not only is there a lot to see in the shop, but better still, there’s good wine to taste, drink or buy. Newest of the new, though, is Mannina Cellars, which has been in existence since 2004. The physical home of Mannina Cellars is 710 C Street in Walla Walla, but recently, owners Don and Nicole Redman opened a tasting room in Leavenworth on the second floor of 939 Front St. Currently, Mannina Cellars has the Leavenworth tasting room open only Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Their space upstairs is small, sitting in the front almost in the corner of the room, and surrounded by the antiques and collectibles that occupy 80 percent or more of the two floors of the building. Got a good story to tell? email: editor@ncwgoodlife.com
But the place is easily singled out, and the tasting quarters accommodate tasters comfortably. Wines on the tasting menu include the 2009 CALI, a blend of wines from Bordeaux-style grapes blended with the Tuscan Sangiovese. The day we stopped in to sample they were pouring a 2009 Sangiovese, a 2009 CALI and the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, which incidentally had a hint of fresh raspberry on the nose. There are no white wines on the list, and all of the reds are vinted from Walla Walla AVA fruits. After sampling the Mannina wines, we walked next door to Baroness Cellars to sample the wines offered by owner/winemaker/general manager Danielle Clement, who is usually in the building somewhere, if she’s not actually standing behind the tasting bar pouring wines for the visitors. I’m here to tell you right up front, this was a most delightful wine tasting experience. Danielle started us off with the latest release of her Grenache, the 2009. If you’re a fan of Grenache, I must tell you the 2008 sold out the day before we tasted. We found the 2009 even more delightful than the excellent 2008.
We took the entire tasting tour: Mourvedre, Cab-Merlot blend, Mountain Meritage — a non-vintage wine blended from juice of both the ’07 and ’08 harvests of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc and Malbec — and then the 2008 Walla Walla Merlot, a fascinating wine rich with cinnamon and spice on the nose. The first word off my pencil on this wine was “WOW.” Later that evening, we drank a bottle of this Merlot with my chef du jour’s Moroccan Lamb stew, an outstanding food and wine pairing. To finish, Danielle poured the dessert wines of Port (excellent with the cinnamon/vanilla pecans from Almond Blossom next door) and the 2009 Late Harvest Muskat Ottonel. We ended with a sip of Engelwein, a white Glühwein served hot or cold as the season demands. The staff at Baroness was excited to learn on the day we went in for our tasting that the state had approved the beer permit for the establishment. You may now visit Baroness Cellars, sample wine and purchase it by the bottle or the glass, or one of you may do that while the other sits and enjoys a glass of imported beer and samples cheese and snacks in Baroness on the Balcony.
“We plan to offer only imports that aren’t generally available anywhere else in town,” Jasmine told me as she stocked the fridge with beers. One more new Leavenworth winery-related item involves a winery that itself isn’t new: although Swakane Winery opened in 2010, it recently added a bistro touch to the tasting room at 725 Front St. The menu is rich with snacks, salads, sandwiches and a kids’ menu to accommodate the hungry little ones while the adults busy themselves tasting the wines. A final note: Ryan Patrick Vineyards, a popular downtown tasting room, has enlarged its inventory of wines. Returning are a 2010 RPV Rosé, 2009 Syrah, 2009 Barbera, 2009 Reserve Chardonnay, and a 2008 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon; joining these are a new 2010 Leavenworth Alpine Rosé and 2009 Grenache, with more news to come.
Alex Saliby is a wine lover who spends far too much time reading about the grapes, the process of making wine and the wines themselves. He can be contacted at alex39@msn. com.
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column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR
jim brown, m.d.
A look inside an affiliation of WVMC & CWH From the news we know that
nationally health care is currently undergoing monumental changes. Locally the proposed “affiliation” of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center (WVMC) and Central Washington (CWH) potentially will have a significant impact on our regional health care. Many residents in our area are asking, “What will this mean? Why is this happening now?” and “How will it affect patients?” Dr. Peter Rutherford, current CEO/Chairman of WVMC, invited all the local retired WVMC physicians to meet with him to find out the answers to these questions. There were 15 of us in attendance.
We all had spent most of our professional lives practicing our specialties at WVMC. We were concerned and interested in what the impact of the proposal to integrate these two institutions will be on the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, which we helped build and in which each of us takes great pride. Dr. Rutherford informed us that for 12 months CWH has been exploring strategic alternatives to address its deteriorating financial situation. The two organizations have been in discussion for several months about the future of health care in our area. For several reasons CWH has been struggling financially. Due to our area’s demographics, 70 percent of CWH’s patients are covered by Medicaid and Medicare, neither of which covers the hospital’s expenses. Most Seattle-area hospitals get approximately 40 percent of their revenue from Medicaid or Medicare with the remaining 60 percent from private insurance. In addition, due to our nation’s current economic downturn, people have been delaying or canceling elective surgeries and other procedures. With the large number of Americans without health insur-
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ance, CWH is providing care to a large number of patients without the means to pay their medical bills. Hospitals also are required by law to provide a certain amount of charity care as well. On top of all this , in the past two years, three general surgeons have left our area for personal reasons and two very busy orthopedic surgeons had serious accidents that have removed them from their surgical practices. It takes time to build up practices like that. CWH’s recent building project was undertaken when the hospital’s economic future appeared brighter. Now with declining revenues, debt coverage is a greater challenge for CWH. Thus, concerns have arisen that some other hospital organization outside of our area might acquire CWH. This could result in some types of care being transferred out of our area, and no one wants that. As a result of this possibility, it was agreed that a new affiliation between CWH and WVMC was a viable alternative. This affiliation has the potential for significant cost savings to the hospital. The WVMC and CWH will still be doing their share of charity work. (As
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an aside, if we end the current 50,000,000 uninsured in our nation, that should be a significant boost to providers and hospitals who are currently caring them for no reimbursement.) The WVMC will not be financially subsidizing CWH in any way. The WVMC should gain through decreased expenses as well, and remain in a good position to continue to attract new, talented doctors and health care professionals. Dr. Dave Weber, recently retired WVMC CEO, told me that the proposed national changes in health care reform have actually helped our recruiting. That is evident to me by the outstanding well-trained physicians still moving into our area to work at the WVMC. One reason is that small specialty groups will have an increased challenge to survive compared to larger medical centers like we have here. Losing local control of CWH might adversely affect our recruiting. We see this affiliation offers the likelihood the Wenatchee area will become an even more competitive medical draw and in the long run increase personnel needs. Many local vendors rely on both CWH’s and WVMC’s business for a significant portion of their business. They are job providers too. This affiliation is not a merger, which would actually be prohibited by law. WVMC is prohibited by law from acquiring any assets of CWH. On the other hand, CWH legally could acquire the assets of the privately owned WVMC but lacks the financial means to do so.
...we realized from what we heard that there may be no better alternative. Under the new agreement a third, separate not-for-profit foundation will be formed, which would integrate the operations and oversee some administrative management of the two institutions. To reflect the regional scope, the new foundation will have a new name, which is yet to be determined. One of the retired doctors suggested “Central Washington Health Services.” We shall see. Under this proposal, the new health system foundation would be governed by a 15- member board of directors comprised of nine community members, six of whom are from CWH’s current board and six physician members from the current WVMC board. The board will be responsible for management, general oversight and planning for the future. The CEO of the new foundation board will be Dr. Peter Rutherford, who will resign from his duties at the WVMC. The chairman of the board of the new foundation will be Ken Martin, who is currently CWH’s board chairman. Shaun Koos, the current WVMC administrator, will become the chief of operations of the new foundation after resigning from his position at the WVMC. All of the non-physician WVMC staff and most of CWH’s employees will become employees of this new foundation. CWH will remain a nonprofit organization, and WVMC will retain its current status as a physician-owned professional service corporation. The Wenatchee Valley Medical Center Board will continue to oversee it’s physician affairs, and
WVMC will retain 100 percent ownership of its assets. CWH will also retain 100 percent of its assets. Because of the challenges facing health care, our situation is not unique, and others have come up with a similar solution. For example, Kaiser-Permanante has a non-profit hospital arm, non-profit management foundation, and a private physician group much like what is being considered here. You are probably wondering by now how all this will affect you, the patient. For one thing, it guarantees that our hospital will remain under local control. Local community oversight of health care will produce better-coordinated health care and less duplication of services. Cost reductions will be produced by consolidating overhead and management. It will allow better vendor contracting and better access to capital and there will be certain tax benefits.
November 2011 | The Good Life
Merging functions like billing, laboratory procedures, insurance, or certain hospital services will be more efficient. This affiliation between WVMC and CWH will ensure the stability of our local economy, jobs and local business partners. Patient access to service locations or to providers will not be affected. What will the effect be on physicians? Independent physicians in the community will not be affected. However, they will gain hospital and surgical privileges at the Wenatchee Valley Hospital. Current Central Washington Hospital employed physicians will be offered partnership in the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center. If they choose not to do this, they are free to move their practices to their own private facilities. Some physician specialists at the WVMC campus might move their practice to the CWH campus if they have a predominant hospital practice. Some
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CWH physicians might move to the WVMC campus. There are a number of potential changes yet to be determined. One thing Dr. Rutherford emphasized is that WVMC has no financial gain by this affiliation. We are most interested in preserving the excellent health care that has been delivered in our community for many years by CWH and the WVMC. The retired WVMC physicians all seemed to be in agreement with these proposals, and we realized from what we heard that there may be no better alternative. Before any of this is to happen, it needs to be approved by the Washington State Attorney General’s office as well as the Federal Trade Commission. Hopefully, by the time this is printed, that will have been accomplished. Jim Brown, M.D., is a semi-retired gastroenterologist who has practiced for 38 years in the Wenatchee area. He is a former CEO of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.
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WHAT TO DO
We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com
Mission: Improv, 11/1, 7 p.m. & every Thursday. Free open workshop, theater games for novice and experienced players. Fun and casual. Riverside Playhouse. Info: www.mtow.org. Live music, 11/2, 9 and 16, 7 – 9 p.m. Local favorites every Wednesday night at Icicle Brewing Company, 935 Front St. Leavenworth. Info: munchenhaus.com. Popovich Comedy Pet Theatre, 11/2, 7 p.m. The Comedy Pet Theatre features an amazing cast of housecats, dogs, parrots, even geese and mice. Critics describe it as a unique blend of comedy, world-champion juggling, and the extraordinary talents of more than 30 performing pets. Gregory Popovich has rescued the animals from shelters all over the country and transformed them into Las Vegas stars. Performing Arts Center. Cost: $25 - $30 adults, $15 children 12 and under. Info: pacwen.org. Princess Cruise Presentation, 11/3, 6 p.m. Wenatchee Senior Center, 1312 Maple St. Hosted by AAA Travel. Cost: free. Wenatchee First Fridays, 11/4, 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. Walk downtown for art, music, dining and entertainment. Downtown Wenatchee. Judith Frisco, 11/4, 5 – 8 p.m. First Friday reception. Live music by harpist Suzanne Grassell, wine and complimentary refreshments. Two Rivers Gallery, 102 Columbia St. Cost: free. Info: 2riversgallery.com. Gallery 4 South, 11/4 - 30. Potter Karen Dawn Dean known for her turquoise, sugary-matte glazes will feature her functional bowls, organically shaped vase forms and large platters. Gallery 4 South, downtown Wenatchee. Annual Gear Swap, 11/4, 6 – 8 p.m. Just not a ski swap, but also kayaks, mountain bikes and lots of goodies. Benefits Chelan County Mountain Rescue and Wenatchee Outdoors. The Inner Circle Gym, 525 Piere St. Wenatchee. Cost: $5. Info: theinnercirclegym.com. River House, 11/4, 7 – 8 p.m. Book signing. Leavenworth Library with author Sarahlee Lawrence with her award-winning River House about breathtaking adventures on the world’s wildest rivers culminate in a daughter’s return to build a
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log house by hand with her father. Cost: free. I Remember Mama, 11/4 & 5, 7 p.m. Cascade High School auditorium. Cost: $5 and $7. Info: iciclearts. org. Menorahs and Dreidels, 11/4, 5 – 8 p.m. In honor of Hanukkah, which is Dec. 20-28 this year, Alex and Amanda Taub of Leavenworth are sharing their collection of menorahs and dreidels in an exhibit in the museum’s lobby cases. A menorah is a nine-branched candelabrum used on the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah. A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top used in playing a traditional Hanukkah game. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheewa.gov. Scott Cossu in Concert, 11/5, 7:30 p.m. Scott is an internationally known composer, pianist and recording artist whose most recent CD, Tides Between Us, is dedicated to the Puget Sound area of Washington State. Icicle Creek, Canyon Wren. Info: icicle.org. Because Cancer Sucks, 11/5, 7 p.m. This ’80s party will feature Hell’s Belles from Seattle, DJ Isometrix, special drink offers, great raffle prizes, the Roller Derby Girls, Lip Sync contest, lots of neon and much, much more. Ballroom above Club Level, 27 S. Chelan Ave. Wenatchee. Cost: $27. Info: wendowntown.org. Icicle Brewing Company Tours, 11/5, every Saturday at noon through 12/31. Curious about the brewing process? Learn more about the history of beer and explore the world of craft brewing. 935 Front St., Leavenworth. Reservations and info: iciclebrewing@gmail.com. Der Rink Raising, 11/5, 5:30 p.m. The Leavenworth Pavilion & Ice Rink fundraiser will include Country Boys BBQ, music from Mugsy’s Groove and Cascade High School Jazz Band, Silent Auction and more. Leavenworth Festhalle. Cost: $30 advance, $40 at the door. Info: skileavenworth.com. Book Buzz, 11/5, 1 – 3 p.m. Four authors. In River House by Sarahlee Lawrence, breathtaking adventures on the world’s wildest rivers culminate in a daughter’s return to build a log house by hand with her father. Karen Estes’ Plane of the Ecliptic shares an ordinary woman’s extraordinary journey for meaning into a realm where lives intertwine beyond the veil of space and time. Northwest history expert Kurt R.
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Nelson shares both his comprehensive 200-year history and his latest exploration of a formative sevenyear period of Northwest treaty building and breaking. In Pam Stucky’s debut, Letters from Wishing Rock, Ruby finds passion and companionship — but will she be able to open her heart to true love? A Book For All Seasons Bookstore, Leavenworth. Multicultural Fest, 11/5, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. More than 20 local ethnic groups will be represented through music, dance, food, cultural booths and children’s crafts. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheewa.gov.
Wenatchee Blues Jam, 11/7, 7 - 10 p.m. Open blues jam every first Monday of the month. Bring your own instrument or voice. Drums and PA provided. Caffé Mela. Info: Tomasz Cibicki 669-8200. Art on the Avenues Recognition and Fundraising Luncheon, 11/7, 11:45 – 1 p.m. Honoring Mike and JoAnn Walker as the Adele Wolford Founder’s Award recipients; Guest speaker Kris Tucker, executive director Washington State Arts Commission; Lewis and Clark Elementary School Beauty of Bronze student artists. No charge for the luncheon; tax deductible donations will be requested. Fund-
November 2011 | The Good Life
ing sustains and supports AOTA’s yearlong outdoor art exhibit featuring visiting and permanent sculptures in Wenatchee and the Greater Wenatchee Valley. Wenatchee Golf and Country Club. . Reservations and info: 662-0059 or artontheavenues@gmail.com Birding 101, 11/9, 6:30 - 9 p.m. Susan Ballinger leads a course co-sponsored by NCW Audubon Society for beginning birders. Participants in this interactive workshop will be introduced to the basics of bird biology, view images of common birds of the Wenatchee Valley and learn how to use field characteristics as an aid to bird identifica-
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tion. Susan will also discuss field guides, audio tools, binoculars and birding organizations. Chelan Douglas Land Trust office, 18 N. Wenatchee Ave. Info: cdlandtrust. org. The Great Russian Nutcracker, 11/11, 7:30 p.m. & 11/12, 2 p.m. Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker tells the Christmas story of the girl who falls in love with a Nutcracker Prince — with Russian flair. Audiences love the Christmas party with magical toys, battles with an evil Mouse King and a journey through the glittering Snow Forest. Performing Arts Center.
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}}} Continued from previous page Veteran’s Day Pancake Breakfast, 11/11, 8:30 – 10 a.m. The Apple Valley Kiwanis Club will present a pancake breakfast at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. The meal includes pancakes, ham, eggs, coffee, tea and orange juice. A short patriotic video compiled by Fredi Simpson and featuring several local veterans will be shown at 8:30, 9, 9:30 and 10 a.m. Cost: $6, no charge for veterans. Info: wenatcheewa.gov. Veteran’s Day Parade, 11/11, 11 a.m. The Chelan VFW Post 6853 is sponsoring the Veteran’s Day parade in downtown Chelan. The parade is an opportunity for the community to honor all who have served our country. All veterans are invited to meet at the corner of Sanders and Woodin at 10:45 am. The parade runs two blocks down Woodin Avenue. Dog Days, Raven Nights, 11/11, 7 – 9 p.m. Book signing. Join authors John and Colleen Marzluff at A Book For All Seasons. A young couple heads deep into backwoods Maine to try to understand ravens, ultimately following over 300 birds.
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Icicle Creek Piano Trio Concert Showcase, 11/12, 7:30 p.m. Jennifer Caine, violin; Sally Singer, cello; Oksana Ezhokina, piano, will perform a program of Romantic masterworks. Icicle Creek Center for the Arts, 7409 Icicle Rd. Leavenworth. Info: icicle.org. Grapevine Bluegrass Band, 11/12, 7:30 p.m. This straight ahead bluegrass band celebrates traditional and contemporary music in the Pacific Northwest. Cashmere Middle School Auditorium, 300 Tigner Rd, Cashmere. Info: cashmerecoffeehouse.com. Family ArtVentures; German Puppetry, 11/12, 10 a.m. – noon. Workshop on Kasperle, a puppet tradition from Austria and Germany whose roots date to the 17th century. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Pre-register 888-6240. The Starbirds, 11/12, 7 p.m. The Starbirds from Vancouver and Victoria play a mix of Folk, Celtic, Gospel and Latin music. The band consists of Tom Landa, Kalissa Hernandez and Nick La Riviere of the Paperboys. River House in the Pines, 9690 East Leavenworth Rd,
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Leavenworth. Cost: $35 includes dessert. Info: riverhausinthepines. com. Holiday Wine Walk, 11/12. The Wenatchee Downtown Association and Wenatchee Wine Country welcome wine enthusiasts into downtown stores to sip, shop, and get ideas for holiday gifts. The fun starts at Davis Furniture, 125 S. Wenatchee Avenue, where guests can pick up a complimentary glass and 15 tastes for $25. Noon to 5 p.m. Guests can stroll through the downtown merchants for wine tasting, holiday sales, and other special events. For more information, visit www.wenatcheewines. com or call 669-5808. Romeo and Juliet, 11/13, 3 p.m. Moscow Ballet will perform at Performing Arts Center. Info: 663-2787. Environmental film: Tapped, 11/15, 7 – 9 p.m. The documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that should never become a commodity: our water. It paints a compelling portrait of individuals and communities adversely affected by the bottled water industry. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $5 suggested. Info: wenatcheewa.gov. Piano Lover’s Spa Retreat, 11/1620. Icicle Creek campus, Leavenworth. Info: 548-6347. BB King, 11/16, 7:30 p.m. Live concert. Town Toyota Center. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, 11/16 – 19. Wenatchee High School presents Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Directed by Paul Atwood. Saturday, Nov. 19 matinee 2 p.m. Wenatchee High School Auditorium. Tickets at Pak-it-Rite. Write on The River, 11/17, 7 – 9 p.m. Writers meeting. Attendees welcome to come early for networking and optional dinner from 6 p.m. Caffe Mela. Info: writeontheriver.org. Travel: Ethiopia, 11/18, 7 p.m. Pat O’Brien and Nadia Hakki are experienced, independent world travelers who enjoy exploring countries and areas that are “off the beaten track.” Barn at Barn Beach Reserve, 347 Division St, Leavenworth. Info: barnbeachreserve.org.
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The Art Life
// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS
BLUE COLLAR MUSIC MAKER loves to improvise Glenn Isaacson hobnobs
with virtuosos and commands the rapt attention of 18-piece bands, and he’s rewritten Follies music that is used all over the country. One of Wenatchee’s homegrown local treasures for his arrangements and rearrangements of musical scores, his conducting and his collaborative work with area musicians, Glenn is a natural. What he doesn’t mind admitting is that except for the two years of piano lessons in his teens, he has never formally studied music. Not a note. No tutor, no mentor, no recital. He doesn’t even find the time to practice, between juggling his day job as an optometrist (an early career choice) and music projects. And yet, he’s been named Volunteer Artistic Contributor by the Performing Arts Center, and Active Volunteer of the Year by Music Theater of Wenatchee. If it’s not rigorous training, what does it take to push a career-weight hobby to the max and make it look easy? It takes natural musical ability. For two years between age 12 to 14 Glenn took piano lessons from a teacher who, forsaking the classical canon and competitions, taught him simply to use and enjoy music. “He gave me the building blocks, music theory. I learned from the start the patterns in music, how the notes and chords fit together.” Glenn’s varied musical career sprang from those lessons — trying drum, bassoon and baritone sax, playing the calliope for the Wenatchee November 2011 | The Good Life
Glenn Isaacson holds music-lover Bella, who, unlike his disapproving cat, enjoys napping near the piano when Glenn plays.
Youth Circus, arranging and conducting for his father’s Wenatchee Big Band. And that was before graduation from high school. College, the Navy, and a Southern California sojourn kept him away, but then 20 years ago Glenn returned home and got on with the music, what he realizes was always “the through line in my adult life.” With a calligraphy pen and score paper, he transcribed thousands of notes for various Big Band instruments and vocalists (relatively recently switching to a labor-saving computer program — tough to learn but worth it). Piano has always been his go-to instrument, but he took up the string bass 10 years ago. “I learned just enough about how to play it, to make me reasonably functional,” he understates. From years with the Big Band and the Follies orchestra to main stage musical “pits,” with blues soloists and jazz combos and even an oompah polka www.ncwgoodlife.com
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band, Glenn’s done a little bit of everything musical in this town. And he does it his way. “I’m not very structured,” he confesses, “I’m not much for just playing the notes that are on the page.” In his Franklin Street Wenatchee home, which is packed with fine cabinetry, his “other hobby,” Glenn opened his laptop computer and glided through 20 sheets of instrumental parts to show the extent of one project he’s working on. Then he needed to make a point about chords. He slipped onto the bench of the goldengrained Baldwin grand piano that curves its way into the living room to share a little tune. It was a short tutorial in the essence of jazz — totally engrossed in the range of possibilities, Glenn described the process of spontaneously creating an improvised piece from the simplest of skeletal scores. Like any pro, he made it look easy. — by Susan Lagsdin
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}}} Continued from previous page Festival of Trees, 11/18-20. Visitors can bid on silent auction items, view the trees and buy raffle tickets. Viewing is Friday 3-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Performing Arts Center. Cost: $2, children 2 to 12, $1. Also as part of the Festival of Trees at the PAC: • Ladies Night, 11/18, 6:30 p.m. dance the night away to a live DJ on the PAC stage, sample hors d’oeuvres, preview the trees, meet
the designers and bid on silent auction items. Cost: $25. • Gala dinner and live auction, 11/19, 5:30 p.m. Four-course meal, appetizers by Ivy Wild, salad by The Cellar Café, Entrée by Visconti’s and dessert by Fame. Cost: $100 • Kids’ Gingerbread Factory, 11/20, 1 – 2:30 p.m. Santa will be available for pictures and the gala finery will be replaced by frosting and gingerbread as the PAC stage is transformed into the Kid’s Gin-
gerbread Factory. Ages 5 – 16. Cost: $12 children, $16 adults. • holiday spice Variety Show, 12/1, this closes the festival and features local acts including musical numbers, dance groups, instrumentalists, comedy skits and the Holiday Big Band. Winner of the raffle tree will be drawn at Holiday Spice on 12/1, 7 p.m. Cost: from $10 to $15. Info: Sarah Wilkins at sarahw@pacwen.org. Images of America: Leavenworth’s History Through Photographs, 11/18, 7 – 8 p.m. Leavenworth Library & 11/19, 1 – 3 p.m. A Book For All Seasons book signing. Rose Kinney-Holck gathered and compiled Leavenworth area family and historic photos for the “Images of America” series — a series dedicated to celebrating the history of neighborhoods, towns, and cities across the country.
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Coyote Finishes the People, 11/19, 1 - 3 p.m. Author and member of the Entiat tribe, Wendell George will be at Hastings for a book signing. Coyote Finishes the People is a collection of Indian coyote stories, new and old, telling about the evolution of human consciousness. Ron White, 11/20, 8 p.m. Town Toyota Center. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. Pipes, Camera, Action!, 11/20, 7 – 9 p.m. Silent movies, pipe organ and handbell concert featuring Mark and Lynn Andersen. Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. Info: 888-6240. Banff Mountain Film Festival, 11/22, 6:30 p.m. This international film competition features the world’s best footage on mountain subjects visiting over 30 countries. All proceeds from the night goes toward children’s winter recreation
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programs in Leavenworth. A silent auction, beer, wine and refreshments will be available. Leavenworth Festhalle. Cost: $13/$15 adults, $8/$10 kids. Info: skileavenworth.com/banffmountain. Charlotte’s Web, 11/25, 2 p.m. & 6:30 p.m. TheatreworksUSA brings E.B. White’s classic story life in this endearing musical of bravery, selfless love and the true meaning of friendship. Performing Arts Center. Cost: $16 adults, seniors $13 and students $10. Info: pacwen.org. Fall Barrel Tasting, 11/25- 27. Lake Chelan wineries duck back into the cellar for barrel samples and other treats. Info: lakechelanwinevalley.com. Savor Leavenworth with Morgan Fraser, 11/25, noon – 4 p.m. Morgan Fraser releases Savoring Leavenworth, a wine-pairing cookbook from our own Wenatchee River Valley. She presents a beautifully illustrated and richly diverse who’s who of our region’s talent, showcasing all new recipes paired with area wines. Book signing at A Book For All Seasons. Cost: free. Christkindlmarkt, 11/25 – 27. Food, music and activities for children at City Park in downtown Leavenworth. Info: 548-5807. Warren Miller Movie, 11/25, 6 p.m. Silent and live auction benefits Mission Ridge Volunteer Patrol. Wenatchee Convention Center. Info: wenatcheevalley.org. Fall Barrel Tasting & Open House 11/25-27. Local wineries and tasting rooms welcome you with tastes of wine before bottling, new releases, food and merriment to start the holiday season. Go to www.wenatcheewines.com for a list of participating wineries. Night at the Museum, 11/26, 6 – 9 p.m. Enjoy local wine and cheese and guided tours given by the Nutcracker Lady, Arlene Wagner as seen on the Conan Show. Live music. Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. Info: 548-4573. The Nine Lives of Christmas, 11/26, 1 – 3 p.m. What do a shy woman in need of a makeover, a commitment-phobic fireman, and a cat on his ninth life have in common? They’re about to find out in bestselling Sheila Roberts’ humorous Christmas novel about a matchmaking cat and his endeavors to bring a couple together in time for the holidays. Books signing at A Book For All Seasons. Cost: free.
The Art Life
// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS
loving to tell personal stories with photography S
o, what’s a nice girl like this doing hanging around an old rail siding warehouse on a back street in Cashmere? Kathryn Stevens has created an atelier/office/conference room in the town’s attentioncatching Mission District as a home base for her newly-established photography enterprise. The big glass doors open onto freshly painted, airy, pastel serenity tucked amidst the building’s shops, pub and vintners. Her artful eye has made the environment she works in mirror the look of her favorite photos — intimate and unique. Kathryn’s move last year from an eight-year journalism career (at The Spokesman Review, then at The Wenatchee World) to portrait photography was seemingly sudden but carefully calculated, with research, networking and on-the-job tutorials all in place. A clear indicator of her goal-centered prior planning is the name of the business: “Atlas and Elia Photography” refers to two prenamed but as yet unconceived children she and husband James intend to have someday. “I guess I’ve always been self assured,” she demurs (sweetly, but with vigor). That social savvy and sense of purpose brought her years ago to the edge of a law career. “Then,” she says, “one college semester in Florence, Italy, on a trip out of the city I forgot my camera. It was that day I realized my photography really helped me see, helped me connect with the world. I was helpless without it.” A masters degree in photoNovember 2011 | The Good Life
Kathryn Stevens: Looking for relaxed, natural beauty.
“I felt a shift in my heart. I truly fell in love with photography all over again.” journalism and a solid working foundation in time-urgent, onthe scene-newspaper photography followed. “I made the switch to portraits because it was always the people, not the incident, that I was attracted to, and I wanted more time with each shot to do the work well.” Camera work in journalism honed her reflexes, and she was often acknowledged for her artistry, but her own creative sensibility paired with an academic background in documentary photography made her yearn for more. With the career change, she says, “I began to blend my goal of ‘capturing the decisive moment that tells the story’ and creating beautiful images of www.ncwgoodlife.com
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my subjects. I felt a shift in my heart. I truly fell in love with photography all over again.” Kathryn knows her cameras, but she’s less concerned about technical gear than she is her relationship with the subject. “I love hearing people’s stories, learning what’s important to them. We talk a lot first and establish trust — then at our photo session everyone is relaxed and easy with the process.” She usually stages her portraits in outdoor settings (against rock, river and sage) or at-home interiors (the old rocking chair, a big bed). She can set up more formally posed studio shots, but ”I think people are much more relaxed and natural in their own environment.” She tries to photograph the essence of special unguarded moments using friendly surroundings, soft focus and natural light. Kathryn’s working premise is that, “everyone has their own special beauty — everyone. And I want to find and capture that.” — by Susan Lagsdin
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column those were the days
rod molzahn
Was the tough sheriff also a moonshiner? I
n darkness, just before 11 p.m. on July 23, 1928, Chelan County Sheriff Pete Wheeler Jr. and his deputy, Ralph Hand, were dismantling an illegal still east of Leavenworth. As they were hauling pieces to their car a voice shouted out, “Put up your hands!” Wheeler and Hand dropped the still parts, drew their guns and fired toward the voice. For several minutes, from behind rocks along the canal, both sides shot at the flashes of the other guns. Nearly 30 shots were fired
before a voice cried out, “You’ve shot me and I’m a federal agent!” Wheeler shouted back, “And I’m the sheriff!” Federal Prohibition Agent Ludwig P. Johnson lay wounded in both arms, his stomach, right hand and shoulder. He died of his injuries three days later. Sheriff Wheeler suffered minor injuries to his hand and neck. Deputy Hand and two other men, who were also federal agents, were not injured. Wheeler and Hand claimed they thought the men in the dark were the owners of the still.
The federal agents claimed the same. There was never a full investigation or explanation but rumors persisted that the still the sheriff and his deputy were dismantling belonged to them. Peter Wheeler Jr. was 11 in 1884 when he crossed Colockum Pass with his parents and four siblings. By the next year the family had settled 160 acres on the plateau between Squilchuck and Stemilt creeks. The area was known as “Wheeler Hill” for more than 80 years until it became Wenatchee Heights. Pete Wheeler Sr. is credited
Photo from Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center #83-84-152 The Studebaker Sheriff and former Wenatchee Chief of Police Pete Wheeler poses in the 1920s.
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by some for planting the first “Moorpark” apricot tree in the area in 1885, though others claim the tree was planted that year by Herman Simmons in South Wenatchee. Pete Jr. rode his horse down from Wheeler Hill to attend Wenatchee’s first school on the corner of Washington and Miller streets. The teacher was Charles Davis. During the winter months when snow made travel difficult, Pete stayed in town with Davis and his family, the Blairs. Pete Wheeler’s law enforcement career began when he served first as deputy then Wenatchee City marshal at the start of the 1900s. As marshal under Mayor Francis Scheble in 1906 he was charged with enforcing the city law that required Sunday closing of all saloons. The Wenatchee World reported that the marshal was threatening saloon owners with arrest and prosecution if they refused to obey the closing law. The marshal’s office was replaced that year by the town’s first uniformed police force with Ed Ferguson as chief.
By the next year rumors and suspicions were building that the sheriff and his deputies were protecting the Three Lakes Tavern and the moonshiners that supplied it. Pete Wheeler married Elsie Allen and bought 470 acres next to his parents. For the next 20 years they farmed the land, growing a variety of crops from fruit to alfalfa. In 1926, as prohibition took over the country, Pete Wheeler was elected Chelan County sheriff. By the next year rumors and suspicions were building that the sheriff and his deputies were protecting the Three Lakes Tavern and the moonshiners that supplied it. It was believed by many that the sheriff had his own stills operating in the canyons and hollows between Wenatchee and Leavenworth. Wenatchee got a new mayor that year, Perrin Cornell, and a strong, mutual dislike quickly developed between the mayor and the sheriff. The situation worsened when the mayor called for a federal investigation of the sheriff and illegal liquor in Chelan County. In February of 1928, Mayor Cornell along with a local constable and federal agents raided the Three Lakes Tavern, arresting everyone there. They were brought to Wenatchee where a magistrate found them guilty and sentenced them to jail. The next day Superior Court Judge W.O. Parr threw out the convictions saying that Mayor Cornell and his constable had no jurisdiction out of the city. It didn’t take the sheriff long to act.
Only weeks later Chelan County Deputy George Strevel arrested Mayor Cornell, his office assistant, Harry Potter and a woman from Seattle named Mabel Phillips in Leavenworth as they returned to the mayor’s car after dinner. Deputy Strevel produced illegal whiskey and morphine from the mayor’s car. Mayor Cornell was convicted but Judge Parr overturned the jury’s decision saying he didn’t like the evidence. Before a new trial could be held, a Federal Grand Jury in Spokane began an investigation of Sheriff Wheeler and his deputies on a number of charges. In a deposition for the Grand Jury, Deputy Strevel claimed that Mabel Phillips had planted the booze and morphine in the mayor’s car and that when the mayor was convicted Sheriff Wheeler was heard to say, “We got him didn’t we!” Sheriff Wheeler was indicted by the grand jury. His trial ended in a hung jury voting 10 to convict and two for acquittal. A second trial ended the same way. In the midst of the trials Wheeler lost his re-election bid for sheriff and returned to his farm on Wheeler Hill. A year later, on July 10, 1931, Pete Wheeler was arrested by an Indian Agent and charged with possession of liquor on an Indian Allotment. Two bottles containing moonshine along with 20 empty quart bottles were found in Wheeler’s car while he and his wife attended a dance at Wapato Point. He spent a night in jail and his car was confiscated, but, once again, Pete Wheeler Jr. escaped conviction. He was 91 when he died in 1964. Historian, actor and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake. speak@frontier.com. His third history CD, Legends & Legacies Vol. III - Stories of Wenatchee and North Central Washington, is now available at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center and at other locations throughout the area. November 2011 | The Good Life
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New Senior Health Plans for 2012 Would you like your Health Insurance Plan to help pay for your Fitness Membership? Call for Meeting Dates and Times in your area
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1325 Princeton Ave N, Wenatchee Senior Insurance Services of NCW, llc is an independent insurance agency. A sales agent will be present at these sales and education events. Restrictions on enrollment may apply.
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FUN STUFF // check out these activities
5 reasons to venture out With the loss of daylight
savings time and darkness falling before quitting time, the tendency this season of year is to hunker down in the easy chair, stock up on cookies and hot tea, and flip around the channels. Resist! Just say “no” to hibernation and the drug of mindless TV for the next couple of months. Instead, experience the everincreasing activities the local area has to offer, such as:
Pet tricks —
If the only trick you have ever taught your pet is to come running when food is poured in its dish or to scratch on the door to be let out in the last seconds of over time during the big game, you might wish to see what a professional can do with housecats, dogs, parrots, even geese and mice. Gregory Popovich has rescued animals from shelters all over
the country and transformed them into stars. Advance word describes the show as a unique blend of comedy, world-champion juggling, and the extraordinary talents of more than 30 performing pets. Nov. 2, 7 p.m., Performing Arts Center. Info: pacwen.org.
Gear grab —
Kids can have fun in the outdoors with just a rock, a stick and a puddle, but we adults seem to need gear — lots of it rather expensive. An annual gear swap that includes ski stuff but also kayaks, mountain bikes and other goodies happens Nov. 4, 6 to 8 p.m. at The Inner Circle Gym, 525 Piere St., Wenatchee. It’s also a benefit for Chelan County Mountain Rescue and the WenatcheeOutdoors website.
Set ’em up — Schools around
Western Washington used to take kids to the Olympia Brewing Company to see how beer was made — and to show the marvel of mass manufacturing of consumer goods.
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for you during a 3 p.m. performance Nov. 13 a the PAC. Info: 663-2787.
Tree-mendous —
Well, Oly is gone from Olympia — and can you imagine the trouble teachers would get into now by introducing children to the wonders of brewing beer? But if you — as an adult — are interested how craft beer is made, the Icicle Brewing Company offers tours every Saturday at noon through the end of the year at 935 Front St., Leavenworth. Reservations and info: iciclebrewing@gmail.com.
Oh, Romeo —
You know the story — a couple of crazy teenagers who should be in school studying for careers and listening to pearls of wisdom dropping from their parents’ lips instead listen to their hormones and end up — well, not to give away the ending, but bring a tissue or two. While the story may be familiar, the Moscow Ballet might put a fresh look on it
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Kicking off the holiday season is the Festival of Trees — one fine event that has evolved into a series of activities. On Nov. 18 through 20, you can stop by the Performing Arts Center to bid on silent auction items and view the exquisitely decorated trees. Viewing is Friday 3-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. On Friday, a Ladies Night starting at 6:30 p.m. offers dancing, hors d’oeuvres and an opportunity to meet the tree designers. Cost $25. Saturday night at 5:30 is a four-course meal during a gala dinner and live auction. Tickets $100. On Sunday, Santa is available from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Cost $12 kids, $16 adults. And then to close the festival, the Holiday Spice variety show featuring local acts of musical numbers, dance groups, instrumentalists, comedy skits and the Holiday Big Band takes place on Dec. 1, 7 p.m. Cost: $10-$15.