June 2017 The Good Life

ABOARD THE GYPSY WAGONS Y EVENTS CALENDAR

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June 2017

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Contents

22 gypsy wagons

These tiny trailer homes are so... yes, the word is cute

S ’ N E M O W E RIDES BIK

Features

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update: fantasy artist aimee stewart

Her fantasy art has gotten more popular — really more popular

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lief gets a lift

Electric bike makes the steep climb up Chelan’s Union Valley Road a little easier on the muscles

en r wom e h t o eet t ou’ll m cise a r y e e x r e e ! ome ” wh ht out e, and get s spot today g i n ’ s l win your r “gir er with d reserve opula n p n r i u d o an ice It’s 01 joy a n l 663-0425 n e , 63-74 s r 6 l a 9 C ride 0 . e m|5 me tim rts.co o p the sa s g lber ve | ar A e e tch Wena 25 N

12 coming back to rock climbing

Molly Steere was a rock climber in her youth... and her youth is not that far way, is it?

14 family time in peru

From Leavenworth to the high Andes and a totally different culture

16 hiking to the wave

To see this wave, you need to find your way across miles of desert — after winning a lottery

18 tiny feet, big ideas

Mom creates a business that’s good for her son — and good for her

20 They Built this city

Visiting the “best secret in the world” of the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club and the “tradition of trust” of Ballard Ambulance Art sketch n Actor David Williams page 32 Columns & Departments 6 Alex Saliby: Taking a new look at Wine Girl 26 Pet Tales: Swimming for sticks 27 Bonnie Orr: The perfect June soup 28 June Darling: Stressed? Lost your zing? Get outdoors 30 The traveling doctor: New ideas on Parkinson’s Disease 32-35 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 36 History: The plain truth about Beaver Valley 38 That’s life: Here’s looking at you, kid June 2017 | The Good Life

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OPENING SHOT

®

Year 11, Number 6 June 2017 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 FACEBOOK: https://www. facebook.com/NCWGoodLife Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Andrew Campbell, Lief Carlsen, Molly Steere, Mary Schramn, Lorna Rose, Cameron Wood, Cary Ordway, Donna Cassidy, Bonnie Orr, Alex Saliby, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin and Rod Molzahn Advertising manager, Terry Smith Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Dianne Cornell Ad design, Clint Hollingsworth Video editor, Aaron Cassidy 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 For circulation questions, email: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Safeway stores, Walgreens, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Rhubarb Market, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and Dan’s Food Market (Leavenworth) ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in The Good Life, contact Terry Smith at (509) 8854922, 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 2017

by NCW Good Life, LLC.

Gypsy wagons on vacation Gypsy wagon builder An-

drew Campbell of Plain took this photo in April of a couple of the tiny trailers while camping at Seep Lakes, near Warden, from the seat of a canoe.

He says about the photo: “The canoe is an Old Town Canoe originally part of Seattle’s Seward Park rental fleet. It was bought by a couple from Lake Wenatchee and used by them for many years.

“It was then donated to be restored by the Plain Royal Rang-

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ers outpost 404.

“I had gotten together for the weekend with fellow gypsy wagon builder Greg Kossow from Port Townsend and Bill Aho, ranger commander and fishing hunting buddy — who brought the canoe — to do a little fishing and lots of sleeping.”

To read more about Andrew and the Gypsy wagons he builds, see page 22.

On the cover

Aimee Stewart cover, April 2012.

Artist Aimee Stewart created this self portrait for her second appearance in The Good Life.

“I decided to keep the cover in the same vein as the 2012 one...

with flowers and a fantastical feel,” she said.

To view the photo Aimee transformed, see her story beginning on page 7.

www.ncwgoodlife.com

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June 2017

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editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

Spinning a life out of fantasies W

e welcome Fantasy artist Aimee Stewart back to the cover this month — her creative selfportrait in April 2012 was one of our most talked-about covers.

Aimee emailed us a few months ago about changes in her life…

“Since publication in 2012, my career has skyrocketed. In 2013 I signed with a new agent in London, and have since become one of the top selling puzzle art makers in the world. So much so, that at the end of 2016 my husband left the realms of full time work to work with me.

“He has also signed with my agent, and now they license his photography on top of him being home to help me. His presence enables me to stay focused in my studio on my artwork, and he is able to take care of everything else that would otherwise distract me.”

“We’ve worked together in the past in two different work settings, and so fully embraced the opportunity to be a ‘dynamic duo’ in this business too! And we still do this all out of a top floor studio room in our home in Cashmere, thanks to the wonders of the internet!”

The Good Life arts writer Susan Lagsdin was eager to interview Aimee again and get her follow-up story, and we were glad to be able to publish examples of her newest fantasy art.

See the story and photos beginning on page 7.

A second story this month that is totally different — but in some ways rhymes — is about Alison Talbot.

I first met Alison at a GWATA entrepreneur meeting more

than a year ago, and after some small talk (she was a friend of my daughter’s and now sonin-law’s when they were all in Wenatchee High School), she said she would email me about her business.

In the email, she explained, “I’m the local mama that started making toxin free, soft sole footwear from home.”

She said she developed the idea after her baby started crawling, and she saw the need for soft but protective footwear.

She accessed local business advice and found a mentor, and a local business that would help her create and distribute her product.

Our high school intern, Cameron Wood, wrote Alison’s story.

Check it out on page 18.

What I find so cool — so Good Life — about both of these stories is through creativity and imagination, and of course a lot of work, these women are riding the thrill train of birthing and growing a small business, from the comfort of their own homes.

I’m not a person who necessarily agrees that, “if you can dream it, you can do it,” (as I sometimes dream of being the first King of the World, or at the least, Content Czar of Facebook), I do believe latching onto a dream is the path to realizing a richer, more adventurous life.

And always, adventure is in the doing, not in fretting so much about the arriving.

Dream on, and then pick up the tools to begin your journey. Enjoy The Good Life.

— Mike June 2017 | The Good Life

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column ALEX ON WINE

ALEX SALIBY

The Wine Girl beckons us in S

everal years ago, Angela Jacobs moved her Wine Girl Wines winery from the Seattle area to Manson.

It wasn’t long before she and her wines were well known in this area.

Her wines developed a following which has enabled her to enlarge her winery and open a second tasting room in Leavenworth.

The Manson facility is home base for the winery; it is still there, remodeled, with comfortable back and side yard areas for sitting and sipping while enjoying the sunshine, the Lake Chelan air, and some excellent wines.

She and her wines have many fans, but an often-heard comment was, “I wish you were closer to us.” (Leavenworth, Wenatchee and surrounding area.)

So, almost three years ago, owner, winemaker and barrel and bottle washer, Angela K. Jacobs, made some moves. She got engaged and married, and she and her new husband opened a second tasting room in downtown Leavenworth.

Recently, Joanne and I stopped in at the Leavenworth tasting room to familiarize ourselves with the wines and taste the new ones.

In my opinion, there is something for every wine lover to enjoy, from the friendly staff to the marvelous wines.

All the wines are well made: five whites, a rosé and four reds, including a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon made exclusively from Agate Fields Vineyard grapes in the Yakima Valley.

Team Angela has also broken with tradition and changed labels on all the wines with a new

at making adjustments to the interior. Grand opening will happen in June, exact date to be determined.

In other parts of our tri-county area, so much more is coming that I have had difficulty determining where to head next.

I do know that Ray Sandidge has broken ground on his planned and Bright new wine labels from Wine Girl Wines promote a local tie-in, like this one with a Leaven- soon-to-come new wine proworth theme. Other labels feature Lake Chelan and Steven’s Pass. duction facility off Boyd Road at Lake Chelan.

Wine Girl Wine theme that is an process of moving to this new More news will be coming from attention getter to say the least.

9th Street Mall building. me on this development in the Just visit the website to preview Baroness Cellars will also be not too distant future. the new labels. celebrating its seventh anniverOne thing to keep in mind And, if you are lucky, you sary this summer at that Front is that this new CSR winery might get to see Angela and Street location.

Todds’ finest production to date: I’ve had no word yet as to what facility will also be a custom crush facility where others who a beautiful baby daughter. or who might be moving into might be aspiring to venture More new wine-related activi- the space or if another beverage into wine making will be able ties are taking place in downproducer might be coming to to take their grapes and have town Leavenworth. town. them destemmed and crushed For starters, the mall building Exactly who the other five to begin the process of making on 9th Street near the corner of wineries are that will be octheir wines.

Commercial Street has undercupying those spaces on 9th I’ll close with a confession of gone some remodeling and a Street remains a bit of a mystery. sorts: I confess to being eagerly temporary sign has been posted Please note that I’ve resisted awaiting the arrival at Pybus on the window of the door, anthe impulse to venture into the Farmers Market of the new nouncing “Coming Soon: 6 Wine arena of spreading rumors.

Lupine Cellars’ latest bottling of Tasting Rooms.”

A new retail wine and cider Viognier. Perhaps we’ll see you Details about which wineries tasting shop has opened across there sometime this summer. are coming to town remain a bit the street from this 9th Street Alex Saliby is a wine lover who of a mystery, but a few weeks mall location of coming tasting spends far too much time reading ago, Danielle Clement at Barrooms. This is the project of oness Cellars announced that Becky Driscoll and her husband. about the grapes, the process of making wine and the wines themselves. she’ll be vacating her space at The space is open for business He can be contacted at alex39@msn.

939 Front Street, and is in the now, but Becky is still working com.

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June 2017

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UPDATE

A fantasy studio for a fantasy artist: Jewel-toned fabric walls and draped ceiling, plump floor cushions, soft lamps and a computer linked to the real world.

DREAM A LITTLE DREAM WITH ME Home is where the art is, and the world is waiting for more

By Susan Lagsdin

Here’s an intriguing What-if.

What if hyper-creative fantasy artist Aimee Stewart had been born and raised on “Frontage Road,” “Junction Avenue” or maybe “Industrial Way”? Would her art be more prosaic, her life more normal?

But oh no, she had to go and get herself born and raised on Cashmere’s metaphoric “Flowery Divide,” the orchard-hugging two-lane road that winds its way far to the

northwest of town.

Aimee laughed at the supposition. She’s fully aware that her life may seem charmed, a concept that’s so fitting with many of her art themes that it’s worth considering.

First, not only did she grow up in a sweet old farmhouse but it’s still her home, the one she and her husband Larry intend to stay in forever and in which they are currently raising a cute dog and hosting siblings.

It also holds her ever-burgeoning art-mak-

}}} Continued on next page

June 2017 | The Good Life

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Aimee Stewart: Fast rising artist. |

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DREAM }}} Continued from previous page ing business, one that did not grow slowly over many years but very quickly over very few years, and remains on a steep upward trajectory.

You may remember Aimee from a 2012 article in The Good Life, when she was mostly computer-generating dreamy fantasy illustrations for the jigsaw puzzle market.

She still specializes in what her website describes as “lush, eclectic digital painting and photomanipulation.”

But she’s now a top-selling designer of puzzle pictures in the world. (“Yes,” she affirmed, “It’s true… (puzzles are) not a thing of the past at all. It seems people really are sitting around card tables with their friends and family putting puzzles together.”)

In 2013, she switched agents to one with a global reach, and, she said, “My career skyrocketed.”

Contracts for her artwork poured in as her images accumulated and major manufacturers took notice; as a top producer of puzzle art (and now wall art, stationery, calendars, journals, board games, shower curtains, scarves, totes, cross stitch…) she’s familiar with bidding wars and has the luxury of turning down offers.

(Struggling artists, take note: Aimee works really hard. Her success didn’t come easy, it came sooner than expected.)

Something else that counts in the highpaced genre she’s best at: she’s extremely prolific.

Aimee is frank about her creative energy.

“Other popular top sellers put out four new items in a year — but I can produce four a week.”

That said, she’s still stunned. “My art has taken on a life of its own; it’s become selfsustaining. This is a dream come true, and it constantly takes me by surprise.”

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Aimee creates lush, eclectic puzzle designs. They can be found locally at Hobby Lobby, Hooked On Toys, and sometimes also at Fred Meyer, Target and Walmart.

Aimee is both astonished and humbled by success, and she keeps sight of what’s important. Her marriage and her home are dear to her, and two up-close and personal changes have come with her lucrative new recognition.

What had been the couple’s conservative seven-year plan for financial security as a dynamic duo became a two-year plan. In 2016, Larry retired from his local production management job to become her invaluable tech assistant and marketer, freeing her for artwork in her studio.

And the “new” studio is symbolically a fantasy unto itself.

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Aimee moved from a tiny cubby on the edge of the hallway to a large former bedroom overlooking blossoming trees. She says, “it’s a safe, stabilizing place,” a seragliolike hideaway, replete with jewel-toned fabric walls and draped ceiling, plump floor cushions, soft lamps. A glowing computer screen ties that dream world to the real world.

(Time for another what-if. What if she specialized in tracking Arctic glacial changes?

Or was an insurance actuary? What would her studio be? She suggested, “OK — gray paint, lots of Ikea, steel shelves, big windows?”)

Lounging on the studio’s cushy pillows

June 2017

Aimee’s The Amazing Animal Kingdom: Her “shelves” designs are her best selling jigsaw puzzles.

suits her.

Yet, resting on her laurels would not be a comfortable pose for Aimee. She writes about art, she spoke at Norwescon at SeaTac (a pop culture conference like April’s Wencon here), and she’s revising a previouslypublished children’s book and compiling her second, an illustrated poem entitled Moon Cow, for which she has a publisher.

In June, she’ll take a junket to Los Angeles to learn the intricacies of green screen moving-image art and likely give that a go (think CGI in your favorite sci-fi and fantasy movies).

But her growth doesn’t all result from being “out there.” This spring, in a villa on the coast of Spain, Aimee experienced the self-described absolute high point of her art life in the company of a dozen hand-

She said about the week she took off to decompress, “I came back feeling absurdly giddy.” picked artists from all over the world. It was a private unworkshop, mentored by author and illustrator Nick Bantock (creator of the Griffin and Sabine series, a best-seller in the early 1990s).

Aimee found herself irreversibly moved, challenged and inspired for 12 very full and emotional days. She was the new kid, personally invited after a standard workshop with Bantock two years ago. Most of the others were long-time returnees, and the fresh June 2017 | The Good Life

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perspectives and warm friendships make her eager to return. She said about the week she took off to decompress, “I came back feeling absurdly giddy.”

In everyday life, Aimee is neither absurd (she’s talented and serious) nor giddy (just… happy).

She’s stayed in Cashmere to pursue a dream of making art her way, and remains respectful of the diversity of excellent art throughout the Valley.

In fact, she seemed as excited about her first public art show here — a whole month at Lemolo’s this Spring in Wenatchee — as she was with a possible Milton Bradley deal.

She’s a hometown girl with a world-wide web of influence.

You can see more of Aimee Stewart’s artwork at foxfires.com. |

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My world // LIEF CARLSEN

The reluctant environmentalist powered motorcycle that could deliver much greater range, power and speed.

They didn’t seem like a good deal to me — that is until the other day when one of those bothersome pop-up internet ads touted an e-bike for the rock bottom price of $545. On a whim, I ordered it.

What I got for my $545 is a low-end mountain bike paired with the requisite motor and battery. It has disc brakes, 21 speeds and front shocks.

The components may not be of the highest quality but all the essentials are there. Its total weight, bicycle, battery and motor is a mere 50 pounds.

After hurriedly assembling my bike and topping off the battery, I went to town for the crucial test ride back up the hill.

My Cyclamatic Power Plus e-bike has a handlebar controller that gives you the option of three levels of “power assist” and also keeps you informed of how much reserve power you have in the battery.

I started pedaling on level ground without power assist just to get the feel of the bike. It handled like the low-end mountain bike it is.

As the road started climbing and my breathing became labored I pushed the button

I’m no environmentalist.

I’ve always thought recycling is a waste of time and I smell the strong odor of meddlesome Big Brother in all this talk of Global Warming and carbon footprints.

That said, in one respect I could be a poster boy for the Green Party. Let me explain.

I live on top of a mountain six miles from and 2,300 feet above the town of Chelan in an area called Union Valley. It has always seemed a colossal waste to me to use a 2,500-lb vehicle to transport my 170-lb body up and down the road to town. The vehicle burns about a gallon of gasoline to do this job.

My old Honda trail bike was less wasteful. It burned about a quart per trip but, sadly, it is no longer with us.

I have, on occasion, used a 30-lb bicycle, which burns no gasoline but has the undesirable side effect of leaving me utterly exhausted. Pedaling up the Union Valley Road is serious work.

Imagine my delight when I stumbled across what seems like the perfect solution to this wastefulness: the e-bike. Thanks to a quantum leap in battery technology, it is now possible to pack the punch of a 60-lb conventional lead-acid battery into

Lief rides the hills around his home — with a little help from his electric bike.

a 5-lb lithium battery. Match this battery with a small electric motor and, viola — the e-bike.

E-bikes have been around for a few years but until recently they cost as much as a gasoline

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So much for environmental concerns. What appeals far more to my cheapskate nature is the bottom line. to activate the lowest level of power assist. The bike surged ahead. I was not expecting that much help.

The motor produces a maximum of 250 watts of power on the highest setting. The lowest setting must be around 100 watts and even that is surprisingly substantial.

The Union Valley Road doesn’t waste time getting steep and I found myself climbing at more than double the rate I climb on my conventional bike.

Mind you, my e-bike is not one of those where you sit back and let the motor do all the work; if you stop pedaling the motor switches off. Call it a symbiotic relationship.

But that’s fine with me. I’m not looking for a free ride. I love the exercise I get riding my bike. It is just that the climb to my house is substantially more exercise than I want most days.

I carefully monitored my power consumption for the first few miles. I was several miles into the climb before the first of four battery reserve lights switched off.

While on the short flat stretches of road, I switched off the power altogether and pedaled along in the traditional manner. I didn’t want to waste any of my battery’s juice.

I needn’t have worried. I still had two lights of battery reserve at the top of the hill.

As for my body’s reserves of energy, the reserves that had been completely drained by climbing the hill on previous occasions, I felt great — capable of climbing the mountain all over again.

I switched to full power for the last hundred yards of the climb and the bike doubled its speed. 250 watts is the equivalent of what a strong man puts out so it was like having Lance Armstrong as a pedaling partner on a tandem bike — without Lance’s bodyweight to slow us down.

Once home, I burst into the house to tell Mary that my experiment had been a total success.

I now have a vehicle that will transport me to town for such errands as retrieving the mail or picking up small items without the need to lug along thousands of pounds of excess steel.

As a bonus, I get a reasonable amount of exercise.

Of interest to my environmental friends is the fact that my trip to town leaves no carbon footprint!

So much for environmental concerns. What appeals far more to my cheapskate nature is the bottom line.

The cost? I did the math:

For the numerically challenged among you, that reads: 200 watts (the power consumption of the battery charger) multiplied by three hours (the time it takes to charge the battery) multiplied by 2.7 cents per kilowatt hour (the cost of Chelan County electricity).

That equals 1.62 CENTS! I can make a trip to town and back for 1.62 cents of Chelan County PUD electricity!

Next step: I’m looking into attaching a solar panel to my bike to cut out the PUD. P.S. Accolades and awards from environmental organizations should be addressed to liefcarlsen@hotmail.com Lief Carlsen wrote about his and his wife Mary’s tandem bike ride from Chelan to Maine in the very first issue of The Good Life, June 2007.

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Coming back to rock climbing Yes, Geezers (and geezers-to-be) can still scale a wall

I

By Molly Steere

grew up backpacking with my family, but high school introduced new and unwholesome ways to spend my time and I stopped hiking.

After college, I took the Mountaineers Basic Alpine Climbing Course, renewing my love for the mountains, and went on to climb Washington’s five prominent volcanoes: Rainier, Glacier Peak, Mount Adams, Mount Saint Helens and Mount Baker.

I enjoyed the occasional easy rock climb, but found myself more suited for long glacier slogs. I can plod forever; clawing my way up the side of a rock slab was much more difficult.

After more than a decade off the rope I decided to visit the new Riverfront Rock Gym to give rock climbing another go.

The first blow to my ego came when I pulled out my old climbing harness. What once fit over layers upon layers of cold weather gear now barely slid over my tights. I had even grown out of my rock shoes. Luckily, the gym has rental gear and a retail store.

Nervous about my initial trip to the gym, I brought my sevenyear-old son, Roper, as a distraction and potential excuse.

First, though, I had to pass a belay test — where one climber runs the rope through a safety device that prevents long falls by her partner, and can be used to lower the second climber down at the end of a route.

Fortunately, I passed my belay certification test on the first try so I could belay Roper.

Unfortunately, I had forgot-

Roper laughed hysterically at my terror of being more than a few feet off the ground... ten that I gave birth to a mountain goat who didn’t inherit my crippling fear of heights. He scampered up the walls, testing out various routes, and hanging from one hand flashed me the peace sign at the top. Show off.

I made Roper (more aptly named than ever) practice his knots while I climbed the routes with auto-belays — devices you can clip in to that allow you to climb without a belay certified partner — attempting to propel myself up the routes without too much of a scene.

Roper laughed hysterically at my terror of being more than a few feet off the ground, and my initial distrust of the auto-belay system. Over and over, I’d climb part way up the route, close my eyes, say a quick prayer, and drop from the wall. Each time, I descended safely and smoothly to the ground where my son helpfully informed me that he could do that route much faster.

Thanks, buddy.

Bringing a kid as a decoy obviously didn’t pan out, so I looked into other options. Riverfront Rock Gym offers a variety of courses, from Intro to Climbing to Advanced Technique. I was leaning toward a women’s climbing course when I happened upon a class called The Geezer Gathering for old and

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Who’s afraid of heights? Molly gets up the wall after a little practice.

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June 2017

rusty climbers who want leg tap like the needle of to learn techniques to a sewing machine, and stay young and avoid I’ve thought of all the injury. Bingo! ways equipment can fail Not wanting to hog the because I’m an engineer opportunity for public and that’s just what I do humiliation, I decided — generous compliments to bring my dad as my and encouragement are decoy this time. Dad’s a very much appreciated. card-carrying, certified Toward the end of the geezer, but I felt like I had first class I was drenched to prove my geezer status, in sweat and my forearms and over-explained to were so tired I could anyone who would listen, barely make a fist, but I “I’ve had two neck surgerwas elated. ies! I’m in need of a knee It felt amazing to chalreplacement! Behold my lenge both my body and grey hair!” I may have my mind. even offered to procure Dad and I immedia note from my doctor, ately signed up for more verifying my geezerness. humiliation the following They let me in. week.

A slow motion race ensues between Molly and her dad, Charlie Cooper. Charlie pulls off the win.

The Geezer Gatherings By the end of the secare led by Mark Shipman ond class, after learnand Jeanna Perrotta. Mark is a There’s something to be said for Several times, I’d finish a route ing more techniques to haul my retired ER doctor, consummate Old Man Strength. That, and I and ask if I correctly used the carcass up the wall, I was able to outdoor fanatic, and part owner forgot he has a lot of past climb- new technique they just showed tamp down my fear of heights of Riverfront Rock Gym. Jeanna ing experience. I can’t catch a us. “Um, maybe I should demon- and finish more challenging is an accomplished climber, break with my so-called decoys. strate it again.” routes. well-known route setter, and As we tried different routes, For those of you who aren’t fluWith growing confidence, or patient instructor. I was relieved Mark and Jeanna demonstrated ent in extreme kindness, that’s perhaps because we’re gluttons to see that dad and I were the techniques that would keep us code for “no.” However, with for punishment, we signed up only students for the first class, from overstraining our upper more practice, Dad and I were for a third class, where we pracas I was going to require a lot of bodies. They showed us how to able to put the new techniques ticed bouldering and learned to extra attention. use our legs as much as possible to use. conserve energy while climbing.

Class began with stretching and how to stem, or push our Both Mark and Jeanna are very With the encouraging atmoled by Jeanna, and training tips body weight up instead of pullgenerous, not only with their sphere and excellent instruction, with kinesiology background ing. collective knowledge, but with I’m now comfortable entering from Mark. Climbing is a fullI watched and nodded, noting compliments and encouragethe gym without a decoy. It’s body strength training exercise, that it looked pretty straightment. satisfying to know that even as which is important because forward. When it was my turn, When I have an audience my body gets a little creaky and at age 35-40 you start losing I approached the wall with watching me flail and claw (not ornery, there are still plenty of muscle mass. confidence, started up the route the proper technique, incidenfun activities I can do.

The good news, Mark inand promptly forgot everything tally) my way up the wall, and This honorary geezer can’t formed us, is that we can build I was taught. my fear of heights is making my wait to get back into the gym. up muscle mass in a matter of months. Unfortunately, it can take up to six years for the connective tissue to catch up to that strength. This is why it’s so critical to learn good climbing technique to avoid injury.

Entering the first class, I was feeling pretty cool in my proper climbing attire, complete with a brand new harness (one size up, harrumph), new climbing shoes and all the right lingo.

Dad showed up in jeans and his Saturday socks, and proceeded to handily out climb me.

June 2017 | The Good Life

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Family time in Peru Taking the kids to an other-worldly andes mountain village

By Mary Schramm

F

amily time in South America was the reason Tony and Meleah Butruille took their children, Sarah and Evan, to Peru for much of February and March.

The trip was Tony’s sabbatical — a time away from his medical practice at Cascade Medical Center in Leavenworth and for Meleah, a time away from teaching clinical nursing at Wenatchee Valley College.

In the past, Tony had spent time in Guatemala and Cambodia working as a doctor, but this time the couple was determined to have a family adventure in South America.

Yet, Tony and Meleah also wanted to share their medical skills.

Connecting with an organization called Sacred Valley Health they chose a small mountain town in the southeastern part of Peru, 20 kilometers from Machu Picchu.

Sacred Valley Health’s mission is to promote health in the underserved rural communities of Peru’s Sacred Valley.

The village, called Ollantaytambo was steeped in ancient Inca culture, pre-dating Machu Picchu. It is located in the Andes Mountains at an elevation of 9,200 feet.

Most of the villagers dressed in similar clothing, much of

it made from wool the women had carded, treated with natural dyes and woven into fabric.

They all filtered the water they used, cooked the same kinds of food and used traditional village methods to discipline anyone who had stolen a chicken or another man’s wife.

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was done outside in large, colorful plastic buckets and hung on lines to dry.”

Evan Butruille, age 11, came to Peru loaded down with school work assigned by his teachers in Leavenworth. Each morning was study time and through the miracle of Skype, he and his classmates in Leavenworth conducted experiments for their science class, simultaneously comparing the length of time it took water to boil at the elevation of 9,200 feet where Evan was living, and the altitude in the Bavarian village he had left.

Nothing binds culABOVE tures together quicker On a cold and cloudy than sports. Evan, an day, Meleah gives a avid soccer player, child some vitamin A soon learned where and a medication for to find where soccer parasites. This was games were played. part of their mediHe asked to join a cal volunteer work. team, only to discover The village was up at his coach was Carlos 14,300 feet.

Lugo, a world famous LEFT soccer hero.

Evan, then 11 years The coach was old, and his soccer happy to have the team. They had just tall, young American won a local soccer as part of their team, tournament. His coach which went on to earn is a local hero, having a regional trophy. scored the winning Between sports goal for the 2003 South practice and basic livAmerica Cup for Peru. ing, the family hiked, “It took a lot of time just carfished for trout in mountain ing for our own needs,” Meleah streams and got to know the said. “There was no refrigeration villagers. so we spent much time at the Sarah, a freshman in high market. We had to sterilize the school, is also a soccer player but food we ate and then cooked it there were no girl’s soccer teams inside over wood fires. in Ollantaytambo.

“There was no way to take a She quickly became a magnet hot shower and washing clothes for girls wanting to improve

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June 2017

grown in the region and their English (as she did when baked or steamed, her Spanish) and enlisted taste delicious. Nutrithis tall girl for their voltional problems arise, leyball team. however, because poMeleah said when she tato diets are so basic to rode the bus with Sarah these people. The natural to a volleyball game in a health food, Quinoa, is neighboring village, no also grown and there are one had a smartphone. occasional corn fields and The girls spent the time herb gardens. A few cows singing, laughing and and sheep graze on the sharing conversation. mountain sides.

The apartment the famTraditions, such as the ily rented was often full of water carnival, similar young people who would to our Mardi Gras, takes arrive late in the evening place in the days before on old motorcycles — two Lent. A parade of bands or three to a bike. “The and dancers and people girls were very helpful to in colorful dress march me,” Sarah said. “Those along the streets. During I really wanted to know the celebration, people and share things with Meleah, Sarah, Evan and Tony visit Machu Picchu, which was about 12 miles from the village gather buckets of wawould help me with my where they were living. ter from the canal and Spanish and not correct addressed. Anyone giving birth drench unsuspecting my grammar.” practicing medicine. to a baby was required by law, to villagers who walk by.

Both Sarah and Evan took Nevertheless, he and Meleah go to the nearest medical clinic.

The Butruilles stayed healthy, Spanish lessons, enjoying the participated in the non-profit These women health providers although there seemed to be a rhythm of each day. There were Sacred Valley Health organizacontest to see who in the family limited activities available in the tion. It was started by several in- worked as volunteers, in exchange for food. had the most flea bites. small Peruvian town, but they dividuals, not to do direct mediOn occasion the family travTony said, “We have great learned to like the simplicity cal care, but to train women to respect for the people in Peru. of life there. Compared to their be leaders in their communities. eled via bus and by hiking to villages located as high as 14,500 They are resourceful, live joyexperience four years earlier of The Butruilles helped train feet. To say it took time to adjust fully, support one another and living in Cambodia where their women to assist in diagnosto the altitude is an understateare very hard workers. We felt dad volunteered with direct ing and treating the basic ment. privileged to be there and any medical care, they felt safe and health concerns in their vil“When we would look across medical help we were able to more relaxed. lages. Though most spoke both the mountains to see terraced give was secondary to our family Sarah commented that CamQuechuan and Spanish, many crops growing high above the participating together in an adbodia had hundreds of un-detdid not know how to read or venture outside of our culture.” onated land mines and Evan rewrite. Much of the teaching Me- villages, it’s hard to exaggerate the beauty of the area,” Tony members the battle with insects leah did was through pictures.

Mary Schramm and her husband, said. The irrigation system is “and huge red spiders.”

Nutrition, worm-caused John, moved to Leavenworth 23 years well coordinated and the water Tony brought with him a stack diarrhea, respiratory diseases ago where they, in their retirement, is shared equitably. of medical journals to read but (because of cooking with wood) managed the fair trade store Jubilee Global Gifts Meleah explained there are emphasized the two months flea bites and water purification 2,000 varieties of potatoes were basically family time, not were the basic problems they

The Valley’s Best Mix of Music + The Latest Local News Music The Whole Family Can Agree On! With the Biggest Hits of the 80’s, 90’s and today KOHO 101.com News you need, voices you trust, and music that keeps you moving June 2017 | The Good Life

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The wave A

By Lorna Rose

s we swerved around orange cones and navigated construction zones, we couldn’t help but steal glances at the jagged and craggy Wasatch Mountains, still shrouded in white, rising above the city.

Against the mountains the downtown buildings and highrises of Salt Lake City looked small and insignificant.

It was February, and my husband, Nathan, and I were making our way to a town called

It looked alive and fragile, like at any time this hill, this wave, would come crashing down on us.

Kanab on the Arizona border.

We had obtained a permit to hike The Wave, a sandstone formation in the Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness; you may have seen its dramatic and iconic features in photographs or on a screensaver.

Several months earlier I had put in for permission and, to my surprise, got a yes to hike the popular destination (The Wave receives around 50,000 applications a year, and only 7,300 people get permits).

Our dog Jax, a pitbull mix,

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lay in the backseat, alternating between tail wagging and head down, looking bored. He was probably half excited to be on the road with us, half wondering when the car ride would be over.

Indeed we had been on the road a while; we had departed Wenatchee the day before, spending the night in Twin Falls, Idaho. In another six hours we’d pull into a hotel in Kanab, grab dinner somewhere, organize our provisions for the next day’s hike, and turn in early.

The Wave’s official name

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is North Coyote Buttes. Geologically speaking, The Wave is comprised of Navajo Sandstone dunes that have calcified vertically and horizontally, turning into petrified, compacted rocks.

It’s a land feature at the end of a three-mile hike on trailless terrain. In the interest of preserving the unique area, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the managing agency, grants access to only 20 people per day. It’s an out-and-back hike, for a total of six miles.

The next morning our CRV

bumped and bounced down House Rock Road, the dirt drive that leads to the trailhead of The Wave. Eight miles later we were at the trailhead and the beginning of our adventure.

Dressed in long-sleeved hiking shirts and fleece jackets, we checked and double-checked our gear.

We placed our permit on the dashboard, attached a copy to one of our daypacks, leashed Jax up, and set out.

The terrain was typical desert at first: sand, cacti, and low shrubs, and became more colorful as we Jax finds his footing on the hiked. Brown ripened to red, and the straight and wave, above. Lorna Rose and Nathan Hahn were two flat became punctuated with plateaus and curves. of the lucky ones to “win” a visit to the wave.

Information we’d received in the mail prior to our trip warned us that the hike necessitated strong route-finding skills because there was no trail to follow. It proved to be true.

If we weren’t hiking on slick rock, we were on soft sand with dozens of boot prints going in all directions, making it illadvised to rely on them to find our way. GPS has failed many hikers here, so an sand. old-fashioned map and compass Then suddenly we were there, is indeed very handy. a hill of red rock before us. It Hikers have gotten disoriented wasn’t tall; it was the kind of and perished doing this hike, so hill you’d run up in someone’s plenty of water is also in order. backyard. Except it was made Physically speaking, I’d put the entirely of red rock. hike in the moderately strenuWe stood for a moment and ous category. just stared in awe. It didn’t look We still hadn’t seen another real. It looked alive and fragile, hiker, which kept us questioning like at any time this hill, this if somehow we’d gotten offwave, would come crashing track. But thanks to my husdown on us. band, my better route-finding I felt such exhilaration and joy half, we successfully navigated that we got to come there and our way. see it; I don’t think I stopped Three miles after leaving our smiling as we explored. car, with sweaty shirts and hamThe textured rock was stable mering hearts, we were scramenough to walk on, although I bling up a rust-colored hillside, did need to watch my step on giving Jax a boost on the soft the uneven terrain. Everywhere

stick to pavement).

Too soon it was time to head home. As our car pulled north and the red rocks disappeared in the rearview mirror, we talked about how awesome it all had been: our fortune in getting a permit, the satisfaction in finding our way to The Wave, and the ability to share it with Jax. I’m pretty sure I glimpsed a twinkle in his eye as we drove.

... it was as though we were walking through a photograph in a coffee table book.

June 2017 | The Good Life

we walked was another incredible view; it was as though we were walking through a photograph in a coffee table book.

Reds, oranges, and yellows enveloped us, forever changing how we see color in the natural world. An hour later, after walking the entirety of the formations and snapping lots of photos, we hiked out, stopping to chat with some hikers who had traveled from Germany.

We spent three more days in Kanab and the surrounding area hiking, enjoying scenic drives, and me attempting mountain biking (southern Utah is a premier mountain biking area, and I learned the hard way why I’m a road biker and will most likely www.ncwgoodlife.com

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How to do it: • Go to http://www. thewave.info/CoyoteButtesNorthCode/Permits.html for information and application to hike The Wave. It is a lottery system. December through February is their low season and your best chance of obtaining a permit. Twenty people total are granted permits each day: ten via an online lottery four months beforehand, and 10 are in-person walk-ins via lottery (if you are in the area and want to give it a shot, the BLM office is on the edge of Kanab as you head toward Page, AZ).

• More tips for obtaining a permit can be found here: http://localadventurer.com/ the-wave-permits-coyotebuttes-north-vermillion-cliffs/.

• Be prepared with sturdy footwear, lots of water (the hike is very dry), and strong route-finding skills. Like the article states, there is no signed trail, and hikers have gotten disoriented and have even perished trying to find their way.

Once you obtain your permit, the BLM will send you information about the hike. Read it. The hike itself is six miles roundtrip and moderately strenuous.

• If you take your dog, take care for rattlesnakes and other things. Bring water for him or her too.

• Wenatchee to Kanab is about 16 hours drive time. Twin Falls, Idaho is roughly halfway.

After nomadic living for several years, Lorna Rose got married and has called Wenatchee home for the past nine years. She also contributes to the Wenatchee Mom Blog. Currently she is writing a memoir about her time on a trail crew in Alaska.

Tiny feet, healthy dreams footware business is more than a business for this mom who is also raising ‘the coolist little human’

By Cameron Wood

An idea popped into Alison

Talbot’s mind as she watched her son crawl on the splintery wood floors of her home, an idea that would soon sprout into a thriving local small business called Little Rutz.

“I started making moccasins for my son when he started crawling to protect his feet,” Alison recalled. “I didn’t really think to do this as a business until I’d made quite a few pairs for friends and family, at that point I realized if there was this much interest just in my immediate network, maybe I ought to pursue it more seriously.”

Alison, as one of those “crazy people who decide they’re going to do something and just do it,” jumped right into chasing after her idea. She picked up scraps of leather from Dustin Spencer, the owner of Vermilyea Pelle, a local leather goods company, and began picking up sewing tips from the employees at the American Shoe Shop.

“I just kept testing and playing with the leather and my patterns — I even busted my home sewing machine trying to power through thick leather I shouldn’t have. I bought an old industrial sewing machine from Dustin and was back in business. This machine (her name is Stella) is a beast with a powerful motor.

Surprisingly, my fingers have only gotten caught in the belt once, ouch, you live and learn.”

Through trial and error, Little Rutz was born. With the mission of handcrafting toxinfree footwear for our valley’s

“I think a lot of stay-at-home or work-at-home mamas are looking for this type of personal growth, something they get to call their own, outside of raising little people.” children, Alison uses only the best materials and puts love into each product. Her website, www.healthylittlemoccasins. com, reads: “Inspired by mine — made for yours” as a testament to her primary source of inspiration: her son, Jasper.

“My business has developed pretty organically, without huge startup costs, and mostly on my own schedule. This has been ideal for me since I’m also raising the coolest little human,” Alison gushed.

Alison’s mama gene is what drives her passion for creating safe and comfy shoes.

“I am very passionate about children’s health and am an advocate for living a life as free of toxins as possible to give our children the best chance at a happy, healthy life. More and more we are becoming aware of the effects of toxins in our environment and what that means for us and our family members of all ages — but especially the youngest members of our fami-

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“I am very passionate about children’s health,” said Alison Talbot, whose idea for a business leaves plenty of time for raising her son, Jasper.

lies during their early years,” she explained.

And due to her efforts, Little Rutz has bloomed into an ongoing business.

“When it comes to producing a retail commodity I notice a big difference in production depending on the time of year.

Most of my sewing occurs around the holidays,” explained Alison. “If I look at last year’s

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June 2017

production I’d say I make a couple pairs a week on average and that has been a really nice organic growth for me.”

However, monetary income is only a small part of what Alison gets out of her business.

She also gets the satisfaction of using people skills from her past career in dental hygiene and her tech background from her IT and admin degrees.

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Examples of Little Rutz shoes: “More and more I see the value of locally-crafted products,” said Alison.

On top of it all, she has the freedom to stay active and get the “adult connection” she craves from the natural remedy classes she teaches.

“I think a lot of stay-at-home or work-at-home mamas are looking for this type of personal growth, something they get to call their own, outside of raising little people.”

Alison has used her business as an outlet to find like-minded individuals in the valley, building a circle of people who care about family health. She urges others to check out her website or email her at aktalbot@gmail. com if they are interested in joining a “beautiful community of people filled with love.”

For others interested in following in her footsteps and making a business out of their own spontaneous ideas or passions, Alison has some advice: “I would recommend reaching out to others in the industry. Finding a mentor who can encourage you and also give you realistic expectations is so valuable. We have a lot of amazing, giving entrepreneurs in our valley who

are happy to help. We have a Central Washington SCORE office that offers free advice to small businesses — this is a great resource to get started on your business venture.”

In the end, it took a jump of faith and a little backbone to find success in her craft.

“Some people call this stubborn. I call it embracing dreams and living life to its fullest...

More and more I see the value of locally-crafted products and what it means to support these businesses, our community and these families.

“So, if you’re considering starting your own business, just know that it will be hard work, but that there is a whole community here that wants to see you succeed in your dream.”

Organic Garden Tours Join our garden staff for a tour and earn your gratis Green Thumb patch! June 10 th or 24th at 10 am.

Meet at the east gate. Tour is free to the public.

Be sure to drop by O’Grady’s to enjoy a delicious bite to eat, prepared with the freshest local ingredients, many straight from the garden!

509.548.6344 SleepingLady.com 2.6 miles down Icicle Road, outside Leavenworth

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We look forward to the next 7 years!”

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Par excellence

Local golfers rate Country Club among the best

by CARY ORDWAY

W

enatchee may not be Augusta, Georgia, and the golfers here may not be playing their hearts out for a green jacket, but local “masters” of the game maintain the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club is “the best secret in the world.”

So says Al Chandler, one of the longtime members of the club, who has played some of the best courses in the world and still loves to come back to his hometown course. “This golf course is so challenging, you never get tired of it,” he said.

That’s really saying something considering Chandler has played on the course since he joined the club in 1971. Similar sentiments were expressed by Dalton Thomas, who was born and raised 300 yards from the first tee and became a paying member in 1963.

“I rank it quite highly among the courses I play,” he said. “It’s a challenging little course.”

The club first opened in 1923 with nine holes, adding the back nine holes in 1958. The total property is about 110 acres and it includes formal and casual dining facilities, a lounge, men’s and women’s cardrooms, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a swimming pool and a boardroom.

Today, the Wenatchee Golf and

Country Club has 475+ members which include a lot of golfing and social members.

“The typical golfer back in the day would be Dad, who would come and play on Saturday mornings,” explained Club General Manager and Golf Pro Rob Clark, adding that today the club includes a more diverse membership because of many more group and family activities, entertainment and dining opportunities.

GM Rob Clark says Golf and Country Club has wow factor

Clark said, “Research clearly shows it’s not just about golf anymore.”

The extra activities are needed nowadays because of so much competition for the entertainment dollar, and for people’s time. The club wants to provide maximum value and incentive for members to make the club a recreational priority, Clark said.

The focus on value has also translated into a new tiered fee system that is based on the members’ age and will help make the decision to join a lot easier.

As the member grows older, the dues increases would match with the member’s opportunities for increased income. Currently if you’re under the age of 30 dues are $99 per month.

Along those lines, the club recently approved a $2.5 million renovation project that will create an entirely new restaurant/lounge area with dramatic views of the Wenatchee Valley. The project was approved by 93 percent of the members, who agreed with club management that not only will the project create a “wow” factor for current members, but it also will help recruit members in the future.

Of course a great place to play golf is the chief advantage of membership in the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club and golfers find that, as members, they can decide on a whim to play golf and not have to make reservations days in advance as they generally do at the best public golf courses.

Membership also offers a sense of community -- a certain camaraderie that makes it easy to make new friends and to conduct

Cary Ordway is president of GMC, which produces They Built This City for Good Life Magazine. This section tells the untold story of how Wenatchee-area businesses and agencies were created and have improved our quality of life. It is made possible by sponsors appearing in the articles in this section. Email Cary at getawaymediacorp@gmail.com.

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business.

The club also has put a new emphasis on charitable giving, last year generating about $7,000 for three local charities by donating a one-year golfing membership to each charity.

Clark has been general manager for a short time, but he has been the club golf pro since 2006. As you might expect, he brings a lot of playing experience and expertise to the job, having played PGA Preferred Class tours from 1996 through 2001. During that time he played in tournaments all over Southeast Asia, Australia, India and the West Coast of the United States.

Today Clark has the best of both worlds -- a hefty helping of golf played on a great course, and the comfort of staying at home right here in the beautiful Wenatchee Valley.

For more information on the Wenatchee Golf and Country Club, please visit www.wenatcheegolfclub.org or phone 509-884-7105.

FIFTY YEARS

Ballards have built ‘Tradition of Trust’

T

he Ballard brothers are in their mid-fifties now with 30 years at the helm of a local institution, Ballard Ambulance. And you might say the soundtrack of their lives has been a crackling police scanner.

They were just grade-schoolers when their family started Ballard Ambulance in 1967. Shawn and Scott Ballard remember there was always some sort of portable radio or ringing phone nearby -- at their bedside, near their toilet -- or alarm bells going off in their East Wenatchee backyard. They hadn’t even reached puberty and they already had learned an important part of the ambulance business.

“If you’re going to provide ambulance coverage,” Shawn explains, “that means listening to the radio. That’s just the way it is.”

They also listened to their parents, Clyde and Ruth Ballard, pillars of the Wenatchee Valley community in so many ways. The Ballards started the ambulance company out of their home and for many years their only family car was an ambulance. Calls were dispatched directly from the house and frequent EMT and firstaid classes were held right in their living room. There were always a lot of police and firefighters coming and going, and all three Ballard boys -Jeff, Shawn and Scott -- were always in the thick of it.

GM Rob Clark says Golf and Country Club has wow factor Shawn (left) and Scott Ballard have grown up in the ambulance business and took it over when father Clyde Ballard went into politics

“We lived the business,” Shawn recalls. “We sat through all of the first-aid and EMT courses and we knew it all by the time we were in Junior High School.”

Scott remembers when a big wreck would come over the radio and the whole family would jump in the car and go see how they could help.

When wildfires would break out, Ruth Ballard would make sandwiches and they’d take big milk jugs full of refreshments for the emergency crews. In fact, local emergency responders would often stop by the Ballard home for a meal and to hang out at what had become Wenatchee’s Emergency Central. One year, Ruth cooked 3,500 meals for local responders.

Clyde Ballard eventually went into politics -- big time politics, eventually becoming the Speaker of the House for the state of Washington. The Ballard boys had learned so much of the ambulance business through osmosis that, when it came time for Clyde to sell the business to his three sons, they didn’t even require further training.

The sale took place in 1986 and the

brothers were more than ready to take over and carry on the “Tradition of Trust” that Clyde and Ruth had created.

The three sons each had their own preferences. Jeff decided he would like to pursue other interests and eventually sold his interest to his two brothers. Scott, who had earned his EMT certificate, got just enough experience that he decided that part of the business was not for him, and instead put his degree in accounting to work by taking on the business aspects of Ballard Ambulance.

Shawn had been an EMT since age 18 and a paramedic since age 21 and he loved it -- he was more than happy to take over the emergency services part of the business.

Having worked together for three decades, Shawn and Scott offer effusive praise for one another.

Shawn says Scott is an “amazing” problem-solver who understands the nuts and bolts of the business and can navigate all the complications the business can encounter.

Scott says he can see Shawn morphing into his father, Clyde. “Actually, Shawn is just like Mom and Dad. He

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enjoys helping people in every way that you can imagine.”

As Shawn explains it, “You just meet some wonderful people out there.

When we first started we were meeting people born in the 1880s -local pioneers with stories to tell.” He enjoys talking with war heroes and other interesting local residents like one man who got his pilot’s license from Wilbur Wright. And he tells the story of the man who had a cardiac arrest on the night Shawn’s son was born. Shawn left his wife at the hospital to help the man and 16 years later the man showed up on his son’s 16th birthday to thank Shawn for saving his life.

Throughout these many years, Shawn has been sleeping with his radio, virtually on call around the clock and only last year decided to turn it off.

“But I still have my phone on,” Shawn admits.

Ballard Ambulance is celebrating 50 years in business in August 2017.

The company is located at 1028 N. Wenatchee Avenue. Phone 509-6625111.

Gypsy wagons Former boat builder loves crafting these land-yachts as an homage to the past Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Donna Cassidy

OK. Ground rules.

When describing tiny houses in general, and these featured ones specifically, it is illegal to use the word “cute” more than once OR to proclaim, “I could totally live in this full time for the rest of my life!”

The first is true; the second is improbable.

Andrew Campbell, who lives in Plain with his wife Becky and three growing and grown sons, has been following the tiny house movement for years, and now

Milk paint and an eclectic choice of wood (the top of the Dutch door is from a friend’s 70-year old beachfront stairway) add a rustic charm to the wagon.

Andrew Campbell often uses this as a getaway camper for himself. Tiny and light, it still shows the scrolled corbels, porch, arched roof and high “mollycroft” windows of traditional Gypsy wagons.

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he has time and tools to jump right into it by building authentic but cleverly modernized Gypsy wagons. Since 2013 he’s built three of them on his timbered property; two are available for renters and one is his own tow-able retreat.

He built his own carpentry and cabinetry shop, Beaver Hill Woodcrafters, after he built his own (surprisingly spacious) house.

Business has flourished, he believes, because he strives to create whatever he believes the client really wants: “That’s just what I had in mind” brings him a certain joy.

He also thinks that drive to please and to second-guess a client’s imaginings led him from strictly commissioned work to his first Gypsy wagon — a creative project he could puzzle out just for himself.

The first wagon took him a year to build, working just on weekends, and when you consider that it’s almost all non-linear, with invented furnishings, that seems brisk.

Andrew had some valuable background, though.

An early carpentry job when he first lived in Anacortes was the cabin of a V-berth boat, meaning nothing was flat; bed, shelves, and closet — their curves rivaled his learning curve. “The owner just pointed to the space and said he’d be back in two weeks,” Andrew recalled.

He did the job to his own and the owner’s satisfaction and continued boat work for years, honing his craft and eventually moving to little landlocked Plain, where since 2008 his skills have served him well.

A few close friends from Port Townsend built classic caravans that intrigued him (he also harbored a childhood fantasy of living in the wagon in Roald Dahl’s Danny and the Champion of the World) so Andrew bought himself a trailer — not a trailer house, just a sturdy, tow-able floor on wheels — and four years ago taught himself by building his very first (modern) Gypsy Wagon. “I had more enjoyment building that than anything else I have ever done,” he said.

“Gypsy wagons are really just ‘land yachts,’’ Andrew explained, “Everything about their interior is boat-like.”

He heartily dislikes conventional RVs and trailers, not just the materials but the intention. He said, “For me the aesthetics of a large house smashed down to fit on a trailer has never worked.” Any time he’s in one, he said, he wants to gut it and remodel it.

Andrew is a master craftsman and a lover of the aesthetics of wood, but even he readily acknowledges that his Gypsy wagons are darned ____ (the aforementioned “C” word)

ABOVE: This most recent and easily towable home is built for everyday use.

It expands for easy comfort and sleeps two on a trundle platform. The brass handle above the two drawers pulls out a small tabletop. left: Andrew knows that light and views are important when the interior space is limited.

This kitchen also features a woodblock countertop, copper piping, and an authentic ship lantern.

}}} Continued on next page

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Gypsy wagons }}} Continued from previous page and always have been.

He cites their cultural history — they’re modeled after the 18th Century wagons pulled by Romany gypsy horses in England, though they are less ornate on the exterior. Andrew explained, “Those early caravan wagons were a way to show the Gypsys’ wealth,” but these are simpler; the shape is the same, with mostly trim, color and curve serving for decoration.

He also knows each wagon intimately. “There isn’t a single part of any of these,” he said simply, “that hasn’t passed through my hands.” No wood or metal came to him ready-tobuild or cut-to-fit; every dimension was “non-stock.”

Cleverly fashioned trundles and pull-out tables extend the interior, the traditional arched “mollycroft” tops (like a clerestory window arrangement) add height and light, and handhewn cabinetry stows just about anything useful.

Andrew uses pieces of wood he’s hauled and stored for years, harvests his own pine trees tooled with a small mill and recycles wood whenever he can.

He imports some hard-to-find brass fittings from England or Australia but often digs through his own stock of odd antiques and accessories that somehow

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The ledge style of caravan wagon allows a narrower footprint on the road with incrementally more space in the interior, culminating in the distinctive lightwell centered on the top.

This wagon was deliberately built one-half ton lighter than the first. The marine stove on the left burns small kindling and is ideal for reusing the many scraps from the Beaver Hill Woodcrafter’s nearby shop.

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TOP: The firstbuilt Gypsy wagon in the trio, Red Wagon features a castiron wood stove, stone countertops, a plank table, bathroom and generous storage. It was an immediate hit with non-traditional overnighters.

RIGHT: The accompanying covered porches on both big wagons, mirroring the roof curves, offer what Andrew calls “some of the best views in Plain.”

all fit together: marine gimbal lamps, a door repurposed from trailer flooring, tiny woodstoves that burn woodworking scraps.

All his Gypsy wagons have versions of modern technology like solar and electric power, composting toilets, running water.

All are street legal with tires, brakes and lights, and they comfortably sleep two or three, just like a conventional travel trailer.

He admits, though, their looks definitely create a Pied Piper following if he drives to a populated camping spot.

The first experimental one, Red Wagon (17.5 feet, 5,200

Visitors have said that just reposing in the wagon and enjoying the play of light and color on the intricate woodwork is relaxing; the view and the surrounding timber are a bonus.

pounds) incorporated some of Becky’s interior design ideas.

Blue Wagon, its successor (at 16 feet, 4,200 pounds, a triumph of weight loss) came quickly on the heels — or wheels — of the first. It was designed with their college-bound son in mind.

The most recent one, Green Wagon (10 feet, 2,500 pounds) is the most agile, and it’s all Andrew’s. “I can pack it up, hitch it up and be out of here in a half hour,” he said. “Sometimes when I’ve got 14 projects going at once I need to just get away. I can do it really easily.”

The bigger wagons have June 2017 | The Good Life

served the family well.

The Campbells took Red traveling a bit and then parked it in a pretty spot and posted it on Airbnb (as “Mollycroft Glamping”) just to see if it appealed to overnighters. Yes, it certainly did — it’s become a favorite of the bare-bones hotel crowd that wants solace and simplicity after a day spent out of doors.

“It’s so popular it’s grown roots,” Andrew said of the semi-permanent porch and fire pit.

Blue Wagon sits on a more private knoll and is available until fall. And both wagons spurred him to build an eventually-rentable ruby-red caboose, modeled after a train engineer’s living and working quarters, with a loft window that allows an unobstructed view down the www.ncwgoodlife.com

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tracks.

He’ll probably concoct a few more moveable houses — just because he can.

Andrew, originally from the seaside city of Durban, South Africa, had design and architecture training before coming to the United States in 1994, and he sees this current venture into the half-fantasy, half-history Gypsy wagons as a great way to bring together all his aesthetic and practical experience.

“I have always wanted to create memorable spaces,” he said.

“For people to stay in these and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings, both inside and out, brings me so much joy.” (Yes, they are cute. And yes, you feel like you could live in them forever.)

PET tales

Tells us a story about your pet. Submit pet & owner pictures to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

Koda, 2, loves to play,

said Joe Earll.

Koda is a lab that was playing fetch in the Columbia River. Connie Earll said she loves the energy of Koda.

When asked what Joe liked best about Koda he said, “Everything and he is a great dog.”

J

erald and Cheri Mattes, East Wenatchee, were enjoying the sunny weather on the riverfront near Pybus Public Market with their dog, Maya.

Maya is a 13-year-old Shitsu they bought from a breeder.

Cheri said Maya’s favorite thing to do is walk Riverfront Park.

“She is a wonderful companion and we spend a lot of time together,” said Cheri.

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>>

column GARDEN OF DELIGHTS

bonnie orr

The perfect soup for June Sometimes I

read a book that inspires me to cook.

I read John Baxter’s book, The Perfect Meal, where he traveled around France sourcing authentic ingredients. His description of Potage St. Germaine made me think of June.

June gardens produce fresh, sweet veggies, and two of my favorites are peas and lettuce, which are the stars of this versatile soup. It is served hot or cold. It can be thickened. It can be pureed. It can be creamed. It can be created with barely cooked veggies.

In previous columns, I gave recipes for beef and chicken stocks. But this delicate, early summer soup needs a vegetable stock. And as John Baxter notes, stock cubes that come in little blocks don’t quite do the job.

The beauty of this stock is that it is created open-ended with your favorite ingredients. Sometimes I save up odds and ends of veggies in the freezer until I have about two quarts of raw veggie leftovers and trimmings.

Or, in the middle of the summer when the garden is hopping and you are eating three veggies with every meal, make up a gallon or so of the stock with fresh ingredients and freeze it — you can relive summer smells and tastes with a wonderful winter soup.

Right now, save pea pods after you have shelled peas. Save the tips you cut from string beans.

Use carrot peelings, turnip,

Potage St. Germaine is a classic early summer soup made with lettuce, leeks and peas.

minute. They will be crisp and light brown.

An alternative, less laborintensive method is to combine all the ingredients and spread them in a single layer on cookie sheets and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Early Summer Soup Because the ingredients are lightly cooked, the fresh greens of the lettuce and peas shines through the nearly clear, pale green stock that you made in advance. Frozen peas can be substituted for fresh peas.

Serves 4 20 minutes

spinach, the leftover onion (green and white), the large green leaves of the leak, the droopy leaves of the celery and the base of the celery and some parsley. (Although, I would only use moderate amounts of cabbage cousins since their leaves and stems are strongly scented and flavored.)

This is a good start. Add these veggies to two quarts of water and simmer for about 30 minutes. That is all. Then strain out the veggies bits and compost those. The stock is now ready to be the base of the soup.

I prefer to add the spices, herbs, salt and pepper at the end of the cooking of the entire soup so the stock’s flavors don’t dictate what type of soup I make with the stock.

Croutons add a finishing taste and texture to this and any soup. Purchased croutons are not worth the crunch. They have too much salt and too much oil and are sometimes stale. It June 2017 | The Good Life

is easy to make your own with the ends of the special loaves of bread that you made or purchased.

Croutons do not have to be little cubes. They do not have to be browned on all sides. They do need lots of garlic. Make a big batch and store them in the freezer. They thaw out readily to be sprinkled on soup or even incorporated into a salad.

No Problem Croutons 3 cloves of fresh garlic pressed.

1 tablespoon salt 3 quarts of stale bread cut in small pieces 1/4 cup olive oil or unsalted butter Use a large-bottomed pan that allows the bread pieces to be in a single layer. You may have to make several batches.

Heat the oil gently. Add a layer of salted bread. Cook for one minute stir; cook one minute, stir; cook one www.ncwgoodlife.com

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2 tablespoons butter 2 shallots finely chopped 1 large leek, white part finely chopped 3 cups vegetable stock 2 cups fresh-shelled peas 3 cups coarsely chopped iceberg or romaine lettuce 1 tablespoon of cider vinegar Salt/white pepper 3 tablespoons cream, optional 1 tablespoon freshly chopped mint (peppermint is my preference), optional 2/3 cup croutons Heat the butter and cook the shallots and leek until they are wilted.

Add the vegetable stock and heat until boiling.

Turn down the heat and add the peas.

Simmer two minutes.

Add the lettuce.

Simmer 1 minute.

Be decadent and add cream if you wish.

Serve the soup. Garnish with mint and croutons.

Enjoy the taste of June.

Bonnie Orr — the dirt diva — cooks and gardens in East Wenatchee.

>>

column moving up to the good life

june darling

Stressed?

Lost your creativity or zing? Get outside in nature One Saturday morning in Being outside

the middle of April, I was feeling blah — even a bit nauseous.

I was considering going back to bed.

Meanwhile, my husband was babbling on about a hike some friends were taking. John mentioned it was tempting to jump in and go with them, it was a beautiful day. Too bad we had a lot to do.

John is an outdoor enthusiast.

He loves to fish, ski and hike. I admire his love of nature, but I often opt out, usually it’s the “to-do” list. Sometimes I just don’t have the momentum.

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also seems to make us act with more kindness and generosity.

We have a great need for more of those behaviors in our communities.

Yes, I know, hiking can be healthy exercise. Nice to be with friends and get a dose of vitamin D. All good, but not enough to move me that day.

When John acknowledged we both had a lot to do, I was relieved. Except…

Except that I was reflecting on the research I had been re-examining the week before. These studies were going beyond the past research around physical benefits of being outside in nature. The newer research examined the psychological, prosocial, and particularly cognitive effects.

Being in nature helps us destress and become less anxious.

The Finns found just 20 minutes of walking in a park had a significant positive impact on lowering anxiety of city folks.

Others have found just looking out a window or seeing pictures of nature can lower stress.

Being outside also seems to make us act with more kindness and generosity. We have a great need for more of those behaviors in our communities.

The main thing I was mulling over on this day, however,

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Beginning the outdoor in nature experiment. Posing creatively left to right: Lisa Lee, Betty (the dog), Jan Evans and Rick Evans. Standing: Kathy Archibald and Susan Sears.

was not the de-stress effects of nature, nor the prosocial effects, but rather the cognitive effects of being outside in nature, particularly the impact on creativity.

I care about creativity for a number of reasons — not just because of the arts, although that’s important. The real kicker for me is creativity may be linked to resilience, hope and resourcefulness. We all can use more of those attributes if we want to live the good life.

A fun experiment began to

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June 2017

form in my mind. John was interested too. We quickly pulled ourselves together, and headed out to meet the pack.

The hike was to the Ancient Lakes near Quincy. I wondered if our little group would become more creative after being in nature for at least 20 minutes.

I would simply ask our group members to strike a creative pose before we headed out on our hike (see picture 1). When we stopped for lunch, about an hour later, I asked them to pose creatively again (picture 2).

As I observed the poses, it appeared to me the second one was more creative. But that wasn’t what ended up interesting me the most.

We seemed, despite our fatigue, happier. At least I was, but I really didn’t notice my emotional state until later when I heard myself telling John something like, “I feel really up.

It seems like all is well with the world.”

Then I remembered I had started this day feeling lackluster, even sick.

I can’t say for sure nature affected our creativity, but the whole adventure — being outside, hiking and being with friends certainly lifted my

Creative pose after being in nature for about an hour. Front, left to right: Jan Evans, Betty (the dog) and Lisa Lee. Back, left to right: Rick Evans, Kathy Archibald and Susan Sears.

Now, of course, this isn’t real research. There were too many variables. Nevertheless, it was interesting to consider — might we, human beings, really become more creative after being in nature?

If so, why would that be, how might it work?

One theory about how it works is called the Attention Restoration Theory (ART). The original idea was suggested in a book by Rachel and Stephen Kaplan in the 1980s, The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective.

The Kaplans proposed nature ES

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abounds with “soft fascinations” which a person can reflect upon in “effortless attention,” such as clouds moving across the sky, leaves rustling in a breeze or water bubbling over rocks in a stream.

In other environments, a more focused attention is often required. Eventually we become depleted, irritated, distracted and impatient from using a part of our brains called the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex may become restored by being in nature (or while looking at nature scenes).

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spirits (and all our tasks got finished).

June is the perfect month and the Wenatchee Valley is the perfect place for conducting your personal outdoor experiments. Try camping, hiking, fishing, gardening, biking. Go for a nature drive. Look out your windows. Be intentional about noticing the effects of nature on your well-being.

How might you move up to The Good Life by getting outdoors in nature?

June Darling, Ph.D. can be contacted at drjunedarling1@gmail.com; website: www.summitgroupresources. com. Her bio and many of her books can be found at amazon.com/author/ junedarling.

>>

column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR

jim brown, m.d.

Parkinson’s: Old disease, new ideas A short time ago a reader

of The Good Life suggested I write about Parkinson’s disease.

Shortly after that I was told a friend of mine about my age was just diagnosed with that condition. That same week there was a report on the nightly news about a promising treatment approach to Parkinson’s.

In 1817 the London doctor James Parkinson wrote a medical essay that was published entitled An Essay on the Shaking Palsy. He based his essay on six cases he observed in his own practice. Sixty years later a French neurologist, Jean Charcot, recognized the importance of Parkinson’s work and named the disease after him.

Parkinson’s disease affects one million Americans and as many as 10 million people worldwide.

The disease is a progressive disorder of the nervous system that effects movement. It seems to start out gradually, often with a tremor in one hand and often when the hand is relaxed or at rest. Over time patients notice a reduction in their ability to move, making their steps shorter when they walk or having more difficulty getting out of a chair.

Patients note muscle stiffness, more stooping of their posture and the development of balance problems.

In Parkinson’s, patients have a decreased ability to perform unconscious moments including blinking, smiling and swinging their arms when walking.

Speech can become affected with slurring or hesitation before talking and speech becoming increasingly monotone. It may become harder to write.

It is important to emphasize that not all tremors are signs of Parkinson’s disease.

Max Little is an applied mathematician who has developed a simple 30-second inexpensive test to make the diagnosis (for Parkinson’s). He claims his results in making the diagnosis are 99 percent accurate.

“Essential tremor” is a condition that also can start out gradually, sometimes on just one side of the body. Contrary to Parkinson’s, it is worsened with movement.

It can include a “yes-yes” or “no-no” motion of the head. It can be aggravated by emotional stress, fatigue, caffeine or temperature extremes.

Hand tremors in Parkinson’s are most prominent when one’s hands are at rest while essential tremors typically occur when patients use their hands. Essential tremor does not cause other health problems although patients with this can develop an unsteady gait.

Typically essential tremor involves hands, head and voice while Parkinson’s tremors, which often start in the hands, can also effect legs, chin and other parts of the body.

Essential tremor is thought to be the result of a genetic mutation, so at times it has been called a familial tremor. The gene has not been identified. It is not life threatening. If your

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parent has this disorder, there is a 50 percent chance of developing the disorder yourself, typically after age 40.

In Parkinson’s disease, certain nerve cells or neurons in the brain break down and/or die.

Many of the symptoms are due to the loss of neurons that produce a chemical messenger in our brains called dopamine.

Dopamine has been described as the secret to what makes us human.

Not having enough dopamine can cause mental retardation as well as problems in ADHD, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, depression, bipolar disorders and addictions. Too much dopamine is implicated in causing some cases of psychosis.

We all need dopamine in the right place and at the right time.

Aren’t we amazing complex creations?

Some of the risk factors for Parkinson’s are age — usually over age of 60 — heredity if one has a close relative with the disease, sex as males are afflicted more frequently than females and possibly exposure to herbicides and pesticides.

There have been no specific blood tests, biomarkers or other laboratory or x-ray tests to diagnose this disease. The diagnosis is typically suspected by your physician and typically confirmed by a neurologist based on the physical findings.

That might be changing, however.

Max Little is an applied mathematician who has developed a simple 30-second inexpensive test to make the diagnosis. He claims his results in making the diagnosis are 99 percent accurate.

His Ted Talk is impressive and worth watching. He makes the point that our vocal cords are af-

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June 2017

fected by Parkinson’s just as our muscles are. Using precision voice analysis software they can detect vocal fold tremor, weakness and rigidity.

All it takes is a 30 second phone call with a smart phone.

Unfortunately for iPhone users, it has to be a phone with an android operating system.

Hopefully that will change. For further information see www. parkinsonsvoice.org.

Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease cannot be cured although medications might help control one’s symptoms.

I have a copy of the 1899 Merck Manual that suggests treatment for known conditions at that time.

Interestingly, in 1899 the treatment for Parkinson’s tremor, also called “paralysis agitans,” included arsenic, borax, cocaine, cannabis, and opium among many other chemical treatments.

Physicians generally recommend lifestyle changes including aerobic exercise, physical therapy focusing on balance and stretching as well as speech therapy.

One of the most exciting treatment developments I have heard of is related to forced exercise that improves motor function in Parkinson’s patients.

This was first noted in 2003 when a Cleveland Clinic physician rode a tandem bicycle with a 48-year-old female Parkinson’s patient on a week-long 200-mile recreational bike ride across Iowa.

He was in the front seat and she in the rear “stoker” seat.

He was doing the ride with his patient to show that Parkinson’s does not have to be a life-alter-

There was a 35 percent improvement in motor functioning in those who did forced exercise compared with exercisers pedaling at their own voluntary pace. ing disease and that an active life style can be maintained after diagnosis.

After two days of tandem riding, the patient reported improvement in her symptoms and in her handwriting.

Prior to the Iowa ride she had trained on a stationary bicycle where her voluntary pedal rate was 60 revolutions per minute (RPM); however, during her tandem ride, she averaged 85 RPMs for the week. During their ride the doctor in the front seat was “forcing” the patient to pedal 30 percent faster than she had done previously on the stationary bike.

In a later study at the Cleveland Clinic, Parkinson’s patients were divided into two groups, with one group pedaling their stationary bikes at their normal rate and the other at a forced rate 30 percent greater than their preferred rate.

Those in the forced exercise group had a 35 percent improvement in the motor function and manual dexterity vs. no change in the other group. It is thought that forced exercise causes a release of neurotropons affecting neuroplasticity in the brain.

This has led to the development of the Theracycle, a motorized exercise bicycle that replicates the 80-90 RPMs needed for their study.

The effect on Parkinson’s symptoms has been impressive.

There was a 35 percent improvement in motor functioning in those who did forced exercise compared with exercisers pedaling at their own voluntary pace.

The improvement lasted for four weeks after the cycling ended, although it tapered gradually over time.

This indicates that, just like everyone else who starts any exercise program, Parkinson’s patients also must be consistent in their forced exercise activity to see continued results.

The television program I saw on the nightly news was impressive and certainly the most encouraging treatment I have heard of or seen that made a significant difference in those afflicted with the condition.

Recent research from the famed Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University of Southern California suggests the possible relationship of Parkinson’s etiology with the gut.

The study recently reported in the Journal of Neurology offers some evidence for this theory, but at this time, it is far too early to speculate on what the future ramifications might be.

Jim Brown, M.D., is a 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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All The World’s a Stage teacher and actor lives the dramatic life

David Williams goes all out in a culminating song and dance routine from May’s Apple Blossom musical Young Frankenstein.

By Susan Lagsdin

David Williams greets his

third-grade students with a high-five every day at the classroom door, he sings along with them to learn multiplying by 12’s and equivalent fractions, and he admits his lessons get a little theatrical-goofy in the service of capturing and keeping interest.

A dramatic background, or at least a leaning, helps with any age “audience,” and that sense of creative fun is a dominant force in his own life.

When the school day is over and Washington Elementary locks its last doors, David, 51 and a veteran teacher, has a few tasks in front of him. Tidy up and prepare for the next day, finish up paperwork, and, as he has for much of his adult life, get

a little food and maybe catch a nap so he can be sharp at that night’s play rehearsal.

David has been an actor starting in high school, through college, then for a five-year stint in two Southern California theaters and since — his happy homecoming 12 years ago — with Leavenworth Summer Theater and Music Theater of Wenatchee.

Married and proud father of three grown children, he adroitly combines his teaching career with a full-on life in theater.

He was interviewed a week short of the opening of Music Theater of Wenatchee’s Apple Blossom Festival production of Young Frankenstein, in which he played the lead.

That day, he marveled at the visual elements: “It’s an incred-

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ibly complicated set — so many different pieces… most of the actors will be moving scenery at some point.”

(Updated note upon seeing the play: “complicated” was an understatement: the Numerica PAC stage was jammed with mammoth, breathtaking sets and superslick pyrotechnics.)

David stoically described Hell Week, with the coming weekend’s 12-hour days, the arduous cue-to-cue tech rehearsal where the actors feel like chess pieces, and final dress rehearsals, in which, with a cast of dozens and multiple changes, something always goes awry (a rule of theater?). His summary? “Exhaustion!”

But his overwhelming attitude was appreciation for the closeness of the cast and crew. “It’s al-

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June 2017

ways like that,” he said. “Theater people are kind of… free spirits.

There is so much camaraderie and laughter. Lots of laughter!”

A volunteer cast and crew means everybody’s doing this for love, and many of the actors are known by day as earnest students or calm, staid professional people.

That changes when they walk into the theater, where zany rules. David said, “They kind of cut loose on the stage — it’s really fun to be somebody else for a while.”

Freeing oneself from the everyday persona and taking on another under the lights is a strong appeal of acting. “I find performing to be much less stressful than actually speaking in front of adults,” he said.

Being “somebody else” was

“I’m not going to lie; I love the applause and the accolades — but I also enjoy making people laugh and escape the realities of life for a moment.” important to him from the start.

He said when he was in high school, his home was not a place he wanted to be, and the chance to be a different person after each school day, valued for his singing and acting chops, was alluring.

Musical mentor Dan Jackson at Wenatchee High School pushed him in that direction, Dick Lapo encouraged him to hone his talents after his Wenatchee Valley College drama classes — and he thrived.

Being somebody else is a little tricky when a musical becomes a movie known to most audiences.

“You have to make it your own,” he said.

David has tried NOT to play, for instance, Rex Harrison in My Fair Lady, Albert Finney in Annie, Robert Preston in The Music Man or, now, Gene Wilder in Young Frankenstein.

(Updated note: He adroitly avoided mimicry; this was Dave William’s version of Frederick Franken-shteen.)

Musical comedy, the zanier and more exaggerated the better, is David’s forte. “I played Perry Mason once — that was just too serious! I think I had the most sheer fun as King Arthur in Spamalot … or maybe the really crazy guy in Bat Boy. What I love is the chance to use my voice, facial expressions and comic timing to get the line just

The bucket list Have you recently crossed out an item on your bucket list — that list of goals you want to reach before you kick the bucket?

Send us an e-mail — with pictures if possible — to: editor@ncwgoodlife.

The many faces of David Williams: As Lumière — with candles for hands — from Beauty and the Beast (MTW 2006).

King Arthur in Music Theatre of Wenatchee’s Spamalot (2015).

Daddy Warbucks in Annie production in Southern California (2000).

as I think the writer intended.

“I’m not going to lie; I love the applause and the accolades — but I also enjoy making people laugh and escape the realities of life for a moment,” David said.

He’s frustrated that some schools are starting to defund and dismantle arts programs.

“Some kids are just wired that way,” he insists. “I’m not a mathematician or a mechanical thinker, so I’ve always used my creativity. I believe the arts got me through my high school years.”

David’s not going to let any disturbing budget-balancing

trend affect his students, however. He’ll keep reading dramatically, acting out science, singing math and putting on the big holiday show.

“Every year, we put on A Christmas Carol for the school — it’s really fun. I just change the script and the casting around depending on the students in my class.”

David is contemplating taking on a new part — he’d like to try directing his fellow actors on Wenatchee’s big stages sometime soon. After years of practice under various directors, he knows he’s ready for that role.

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fun stuff what to do around here for the next month facebook.com/merrimentpartygoods.

NCW BLUES JAM, every second and fourth Monday. Riverside Pub. Sign up starts at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m.

*Tumbleweed Bead Co., 6/2, 5-7 p.m. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com.

Wenatchee Paddle Club, every Tuesday, 9 a.m. open paddle, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 a.m. masters crew rowing, Wednesdays, 6 p.m. novice kayak paddle group, Saturdays, 7 a.m. masters crew rowing. Info: wenatcheepaddle.org.

*Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 6/2, 5.

– 8 p.m. Light refreshments. Info: Wenatchee.org.

Mountain bike racing, every Tuesday during the summer. Racing for all ages. Squilchuck State Park.

Info: wenatcheevalleymtb.wordpress.com

Hot Stove Society, 6/2, 7 p.m.

Cooking demonstration featuring Tom Douglas Corporate Executive Chef Schwarz. Mana Restaurant, Leavenworth. Cost: $55. Info: icicle. org.

Weekly Club Runs, every Thursday check in between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Pybus Public Market south entrance. Either a 5k or 10k walk or run on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Complete 10 weekly runs and receive a free shirt. Cost: free (other than a smile).

Chef Fest, 6/2-3, 5:30 p.m. Six renowned Washington chefs will compete in a light-hearted headto-head competition and you get to be the judge. Raffle drawing, food, spirits and live music. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $75. Info: icicle.org.

Leavenworth Community Farmers Market, every Thursday, 4 – 8 p.m. Local eggs, meats, cheeses and breads, produce, fruit, prepared foods, local crafts and more. Lions Club Park. Cost: free.

2 Left Feet, every Thursday, 7 – 9 p.m. 2 Left Feet is a loose organization of local dance enthusiasts who would like to see more dancing in the Wenatchee Valley. Beginner lesson at the top of the hour followed by carefree social dancing. No partner necessary to join in the fun.

Dance style will be 1940s swing with a bit of salsa, blues, waltz or tango thrown in. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Tread Lightly Fridays, noon. This concept is simple – as a business or employee, do something environmentally mindful each Friday. This could mean riding a bike to work, utilizing a self-container for takeouts, selling locally sourced foods, composting waste, or something else entirely. It can be as simple or complex as you like. This project, as part of the Our Valley What’s Next community visioning and development initiative, aims to help reduce the community’s carbon footprint while having fun at the same time.

Participating businesses and individuals will receive attention on the Tread Lightly Friday Facebook page.

There also will be classes held to educate businesses on how they

Say hay — Volume Five performs on the main stage at the 2016 Bluegrass Festival. This year’s festival in Cashmere is Friday though Sunday, June 16-18. can “tread lightly” and save money at the same time. Contact Tandi Canterbury with The Hunter’s Wife Health Bar at 509 264-7466 or tmcanterbury@gmail.com.

Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market every Saturday 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. and every Thursday starting 6/15, 3 – 7 p.m. thru October. Stop by and explore the unique mix of vendors offering seasonal fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, oneof-a-kind artisan goods and tasty cuisine. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

City of Quincy Farmers Market, every first and third Saturday through September, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lauzier Park. Cost: free. Info: social media.

Pack Walks every Saturday, 9 a.m.

Loop trail behind Pybus market. All dogs must be on a leash and bring doggie waste bags. Cost: free. Info: wenatcheefido.org.

Jam at the Crow, 7 – 10 p.m. Every first Sunday. Special guest. The Club Crow in Cashmere, 108 1/2 Cottage Ave. Cost: free.

Tech Talk and Happy Hour: Point of Sale Systems, 6/1, 3:30 – 6 p.m. Five local companies will share different point of sale options for your business. Badger

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Mountain Brewing. Cost: free. Info: info@gwata.org.

American Red Cross Blood Drive, 6/1, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Events room at Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Cruizin Chelan Kickoff Party, 6/2, 5 – 9 p.m. Happy hour, wine tasting, registration, live music by the Lake Boys and dinner. Wapato Point Cellars. Cost: $29.99. Info: lakechelan.com.

Just Us, 6/2, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance on the Railcar. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Cruizin Chelan Show ‘n’ Shine, 6/3, all day. Classic car show. BBQ competition. Fireworks at Don Morse Park. Downtown Chelan.

Cost: free. Info: lakechelan.com.

First Friday venues include: *Two Rivers Art Gallery, 6/2, 5 – 8 p.m. Featuring. Music by. Wines by. Complimentary refreshments.

102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free. Info: 2riversgallery.com. *Merriment Party Goods, 6/2, 5 – 8 p.m. Apron Men specializes in high quality aprons and gift boxes for men. Perfect for a Father’s Day gift. Sips and snacks available. 23, S Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. Info:

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June 2017

Bavarian Bike and Brew, 6/3.

Bike race, music and beer garden.

Pre-registration only. Gibbs Organic Farm. Info: rideviciouscycle.com Sunrise Apple Century Bike Ride, 6/3, all day. Starts and finishes at Pybus Public Market.

Proceeds benefit Rotary’s local projects. Info: wenatcheesunriserotary.org.

Adrienne’s Dance Academy presents: Applause, 6/3, 2:30 p.m. Dance recital of all styles of dance along with a fun variety of music. Kids, adults and dance teachers of all ages will perform.

Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $20 adults, seniors and students, $18, children $3. Info: numericapac.org.

Leavenworth Spring Wine Walk, 6/5, noon – 5 p.m. Stroll, sip and savor through downtown Leavenworth and taste at 20 tasting rooms and special tasting sites.

Wine glass, bottle tote, prizes, specialty cheeses, live music. Cost: $45 or $80 per couple. Info: cascadefarmlands.com/events.

Washington Leadership Summit, 6/7, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Have you ever wondered what makes Washington’s best places to work so effective? Join 13 speakers from award-winning organizations share how they attract top talent, grow their leadership and build cultures of success. Wenatchee Convention

>>

WHAT TO DO

We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com

Echo Valley Trail Runs, 6/11.

1m kids race, 10k, half-marathon, marathon, 50k. Chelan. Info: evergreentrailruns.com.

Center. Cost: $85 chamber member or $95, lunch and snacks included.

Effective Pesticide Use, 6/15, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Learn about reading and understanding the pesticide label and the proper handling and effective use of the product, proper mixing rates, calibrating spray equipment and practical application of pesticides. Rocky Reach Dam Visitor Center and Park Arboretum. Pre-registration required.

Info: gormley@wsu.edu.

An Evening with Fred Beckey, 6/7, 7 p.m. Rock climber, ice climber, mountaineer and author. A slide show featuring Fred’s expedition to Mount Kenya and China, video of the 1949 second ascent of Lighthouse Tower in the Enchantments of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $15.

Info: icicle.org.

Slim Chance, 6/9, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance on the Railcar. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Lions Club Community Breakfast, 6/10, 24, 8 – 10 a.m. All you can eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee or milk. Lions Club Park, Leavenworth.

Bike and Juice Festival, 6/10 -11, 9 a.m. – noon. Bike racing, obstacle courses for all ages, juice, cookies, lunch, raffles, face painting, bike decorating and more. Wenatchee National Forest, 10701 Ski Hill Dr., Leavenworth. Info: bikenjuice.com.

Historic Town Walk, 6/10, 10 a.m. Find out what the buildings and shops in the Bavarian Village use to be. Where was City Hall?

What about the old Opera House?

The jail? What buildings were first to be remodeled to the Bavarian theme? Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: donation $5. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum. org.

Fabulous Feet Dance Studio #28: On your feet, 6/10, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $15-18. Info: numericapac.org.

Dog Days of Summer: A Family Show, 6/10, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. All well-behaved dogs welcome but must be on a leash. Enjoy a day of discovery including an animal hospital, education about dogs and handling, view or participate in obedience training, agility training, rally events, a doggie and me photo booth, paw tattoos, vendors with samples, advice and information, doggie fashion show, doggie yoga and jazzercize and more. Town Toyota Center. Cost: free. Info: towntoyotacenter.com.

Echo Challenge, 6/10, 30-mile, 60-mile mountain bike race. Chelan. Info: evergreentrailruns.com.

Leavenworth International Accordion Fest, 6/15-18. Playing at the gazebo, jam sessions, competitions, workshops, free lessons, vendors and more. Downtown Leavenworth. Cost: free. Info: accordioncelebration.org.

Mike Bills, 6/16, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance on the Railcar. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

WENATCHEE RIVER BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL, 6/16-18. One of the longest running Bluegrass Festivals in Eastern Washington. IBMA Award winning National bands; Balsam Range; Kenny and Amanda Smith Band; Cedar Hill, along with Northwest favorites; DownTown Mountain Boys; North Country; and Rusty Hinges. Cost: $25 - $30. Camping available. Info: WenatcheeRiverBluegrass.com or call 548-1230.

Aviation Day, 6/17, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Pancake breakfast, aircraft displays, WWII B-25 Bomber “Maid in the Shade,” beer garden featuring Miss Veedol Ale, airplane and helicopter rides, drawings, kids activities and much more.

Pangborn Memorial Airport. Info: flywenatchee.com.

The Buzz about Pollinators, 6/17, 10 a.m. to noon. Learn the hows and whys of attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to your yard and discover the wonderful world of beneficial native bees that can thrive locally. WSU Master Gardeners Community Education Garden at the corner of Western Ave and Springwater. Cost: free.

Ale Trail, 6/17, noon – 5 p.m.

Featuring breweries and cideries from across the state. Eight tasting tokens and a signature 5 oz. glass. Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center and Tasting Room, 137 N Wenatchee Ave. Cost: $20 advance or $25 day of, additional tastes $1. Info: wendowntown.org.

June 2017 | The Good Life

Wenatchee Riverfront Railway Train, 6/18, 24, 10 a.m. – 2 pm.

Ride the mini train. 155 N Worthen, east end of the railroad pedestrian bridge. Cost: $2.

Spektral Quartet, 6/18, 7 p.m.

Clara Lyon, violin, Maeve Feinberg, violin, Doyle Armbrust, viola and Russell Rolen cello. Live performance. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22 advance or $24 a the door.

Info: icicle.org.

Julian Patrick Vocal Camp, 6/21, 6 – 7p.m. Live performance on the Railcar. Pybus Public Market.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

Entrepreneurial Panel on Succession Planning, 6/22, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Confluence Technology Center. Info: info@gwata.org.

Cooking Demo, 6/24, 10 a.m. – noon. Ruth Leslie, baker, nutrition coordinator, bed and breakfast innkeeper, teahouse proprietor and cooking instructor will cook using ingredients from Pybus Public Market. Pybus Public Market commercial kitchen. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Living with Autoimmunity, 6/24, 10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Allegra Hart, ND will talk about the effects and healing of stress. Amy Duncan, MS, NTP will talk about food as a tool for better health. Tracie Carter, PAC Internal Medicine will talk about how to rebuild en-

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ergy through productive thinking.

Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Cost: free. Register: a3autoimmunity.org.

Summer Stage Kids presents: Night at the Wax Museum, 6/29. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $5. Info: numericapac. org.

Summer Symphony Finale Concert, 6/24, 11 a.m. Join in this musical celebration of young musicians from throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ice cream social following. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $8.

Info: icicle.org.

Parkway Pile-Up, 6/24, 5 – 9 p.m.

Cruise-in car show. Cash drawings, awards and prizes in 5 categories.

No entry fees. Live music. Enter on Ninth Street via Sunset Highway, East Wenatchee. Info: 886-6108.

Grand Opening Celebration, 6/29. 6:30 - 8 p.m. Saddle Rock Natural Area trailhead across from Appleatchee. Info cdlandtrust.org.

Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival, 6/30, 7 p.m. Canyon Wren Recital Hall, Leavenworth.

Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door.

Family Game Night, 6/30, 7 – 9 p.m. Board games, card games or any games you bring. Open to families and all ages. Hosted by Pacific Crest Church. Pybus Public Market.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

>>

column those were the days

rod molzahn

The plain truth about Beaver Valley A group of archeologists

working for the U.S. Forest Service in 1986 began a survey and exploration of lands along the upper Wenatchee River. Just downstream from the river’s beginning they found signs of

house pits and fire pits.

Four layers were excavated revealing habitation from 300 years B.P. (before present) for the top layer to 8,000 years B.P. for the deepest. Stone and bone projectile points and tools were found at all levels. It’s believed

The people of the villages lived their lifestyle with few changes for 8,000 years, fishing, hunting, gathering berries... by some scientists that deeper layers hold even older evidence.

Signs of more village sites have been identified all along the river to the beginning of Tumwater Canyon.

The people of these villages hunted deer and elk as well as smaller fur bearing animals.

They fished for whitefish and salmon and built large middens of discarded river mussel shells.

There were village sites scattered along the river all through the valley that now holds the village of Plain.

The people of the villages lived their lifestyle with few changes for 8,000 years, fishing, hunting, gathering berries, digging roots and moving with the seasons.

In the early 1800s a small number of European men arrived and made a deal with the native people. The Indians could trade fur pelts to the white men in exchange for new technology; metal and cloth — knives and axes, shirts and pants. Sometimes they got smallpox and measles along with the technology.

The fur trade held sway through the 1830s until the natural resource — fur bearing animals — grew thin.

The traders stopped coming and the people of the villages went back to their now changed life in the valley.

Contact with white men held

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June 2017

at almost zero until the late 1850s. In 1856 Colonel George Wright and a contingent of army soldiers made a show of force march across the mountains from the Kittitas Valley to the Wenatchee River at the mouth of Peshastin Creek. They were looking for renegade Yakima Indians.

The soldiers didn’t travel up the river to the valley and its villages but word of the white men surely found its way to the village people.

Two years later soldiers did come to the valley. Lt. George Crook and 60 men came looking for Yakima and Sinkiuse Indians accused of attacking a party of white miners at the Wenatchee/ Columbia Confluence.

At a village near the site of modern Plain they found and executed four of the accused then, low on food, returned down the Wenatchee River to their main camp at the Columbia Confluence.

By 1860 nearly a thousand Chinese placer miners were panning for gold along the Wenatchee. Some had worked their way to the upper river and were mining through the Plain valley and up the Chiwawa River as far as Alder Creek.

By 1880 the Chinese were gone and the village people (who called themselves P’Squose) had the valley to themselves again.

Over the next 10 years settlers and farms moved up the lower Wenatchee Valley towards the Tumwater Canyon.

Beaver Valley and its villages, difficult to reach, were overlooked.

That ended in 1891 when Edom (Charlie) Shugart homesteaded on a big flat that would, in time, bear his name. John Mathews

must have claimed land about the same time because he sold his claim to W.W. Burgess the next year.

The arrival of the settlers marked the beginning of logging the forest that covered the valley. Fields had to be cleared for crops and stock, fences built to surround them and houses and barns put up. The P’Squose people had neighbors.

In 1893 a government survey crew came to the valley to locate a six mile square (township size) reservation at the confluence of the Chiwawa and Wenatchee rivers. The reservation was for all the P’Squose people living

along the Wenatchee River from the Columbia River to Lake Wenatchee.

The 1855 Yakima Treaty with the U.S. government had promised the P’Squose people a township sized reservation surrounding the great salmon fishery at the forks of the Wenatchee and Icicle rivers.

No P’Squose people ever moved to the reservation at the Chiwawa.

In 1904 the Lamb Davis Sawmill began operation in Leavenworth. The company owned 55,000 acres of timber in the Lake Wenatchee, Chumstick and Beaver Valley areas, They

intended to log it all.

For the growing number of farmers in Beaver Valley logging was an income bonanza. The promise of irrigation for cropland came to the farmers in 1911 when a real estate development company bought substantial land holdings from Lamb Davis to plat into farms. They built a 13-mile long irrigation ditch to serve the farms. The company went bankrupt but the irrigation ditch survived.

The farmers had always called their home Beaver Valley. When the Wenatchee Park Development Co. was formed and platted out their farmland they

also applied for a post office.

They said the town was called Wenatchee Park.

The postal service turned that down saying it was too easily confused with the town down river.

A list of new names was submitted including Beaver Valley.

A postal bureaucrat in Washington D.C. chose the name Plain.

Historian, actor and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake. speak@verizon.net. 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.

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the back page: that’s life

Here’s looking at you, kid

By Molly Steere

After a particularly heavy

snowfall, my son invited four of his friends over to go sledding after school.

As I worked at my computer I kept an eye on the window, making sure the boys were staying out of trouble. All was well until the front door opened and boys started filing into the house in various states of disarray: a bloody nose, inconsolable tears, shaking fury, frantic explanations, and one case of stony silence.

Individual interrogations, calls to parents, and numerous reenactments led to an overall consensus that a friendly snowball fight turned into a five-kid brawl. Unsurprisingly, there were five different versions of

how it all went down.

After everyone went home, my husband and I sat down to review the footage from our security camera. As Toby scrolled back in time on the app on his phone, I idly wondered why parenting manuals never mention this sort of thing.

Our security camera is set up so that its view includes the front door and a good chunk of our yard.

A Christmas present for my husband, it boasts color video, audio, night vision and the capability to send video clips of activity when we’re not home.

As we watched tiny little figures in the snow laughing and throwing snowballs across the screen, I realized that we’ve never actually used the camera for security purposes.

Wake up with

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Weekdays on.....

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In the video we could see the boys throwing snowballs, laughing and hollering, and then right at the critical moment, three of them disappear from view behind the deck posts...

Mostly, the camera provides entertainment, or quells curiosity: there’s my son peeing off the porch, the dog trying to herd the cat into submission, or a transformer blowing in town in the middle of the night.

My son and I wave at it in the morning on our way to the bus stop and dance a little jig to make my husband laugh.

We check the camera remotely on our phones to see if the dog has returned home from her most recent adventure, and review footage to figure out why an unrecognized couple keeps showing up on our doorstep.

Spoiler alert: I listened/watched

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June 2017

live from the confines of my bedroom and learned that they would like to save my soul. They also wonder why our Molly Steere is dog always a local freelance appears to writer who is have rolled always in search in poop.

“So, what’s of ways to challenge her mind the verdict?” and body.

Toby asks after we watch the snow brawl video several times.

“Inconclusive,” I sigh. In the video we could see the boys throwing snowballs, laughing and hollering, and then right at the critical moment, three of them disappear from view behind the deck posts. As they emerge, the brawl is already in progress.

It’s hard not to giggle watching the tiny figures in the snow, wearing 17 layers of snow gear like the little brother in A Christmas Story. We couldn’t discern who was who as they bobbled around, hitting and pushing and yelling until a silent cue signaled them to elbow their way to the front door, trying to be the first person into the house to tell me their version of the story.

“Maybe next time,” Toby says and I laugh, because despite my son’s protests to the contrary, there will always be a next time.

And we’ll have the video to prove it.

Know of someone stepping off the beaten path in the search for fun and excitement? E-mail us at editor@ncwgoodlife.com

Build a Team & Join us for the Wenatchee Walk to End Alzheimer’s

REGISTER YOUR TEAM AT WWW.ALZ.ORG

Saturday, October 7, 2017 Pybus Public Market • Registration begins at 8am • Opening Ceremony 8:45am • 2-mile walk 9 am

For more information contact Pam Draggoo at Aging & Adult Care of CW 509-886-0700 ext. 229 email:draggp@dshs.wa.gov

Contact The East Wenatchee Events Office at 509-886-6108 for more information.