May 2017 The Good Life by The Good Life

SEE THE WELLS HOUSE REDO Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

May 2017

telling stories of fun and adventure

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FAVORITE

My ot her is mom r e a pare than she is mnt; fri end. y

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Moments with Mom

ght Mom tanujoy me to ethat l ife sold not I wou ack look begrets... with r

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Contents page 22

WRITE ON THE RIVER

A visit to the restored beauty of the wells house

WRITERS

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Features

favorite moments with mom

Some stories are sweet, some are funny, some are poignant — and they all find mothers who are quite wonderful indeed

SUNDAY MASTER CLASS: THE WHOLE STORY STEVEN BARNES

Breakout sessions. 20 topics to choose from! Includes writing practice and open mic.

FEATURING WASH. STATE POET LAUREATE TOD MARSHALL

Conference Kickstart: Mixer and first page party with critiques by DongWon Song & Scott Driscoll

12 troubles lead to a sunny delight

Couple so enjoyed wonders of Mexican beach town they pitched in to help it grow by sustainable tourism

14 bikepacking

There are advantages to combining backpacking with trail biking... and Andy Dappen is happy to share them

16 flower alley

This Chelan woman is spreading beauty into a space where others see trash and neglect

18 Honoring the past with armfuls of love

One woman and her family remember the reason for Memorial Day

20 quilters get-away

When three passionate quilters head to the beach, what do they do? Well, quilt mostly

22 welcome to the redone wells house Volunteers and history aficionados restore a grand old dame Art sketches n Nature photographer Marshall Mahler, page 32 n Poet Erin Fristad, page 36 Columns & Departments 6 Alex Saliby: Visiting wineries, near and far 26 Pet Tales: Marmalade spreads her love 27 Bonnie Orr: Go lightly on the sauce 28 June Darling: Be attuned to the moment 30 The traveling doctor: Laughter is great medicine 32-39 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 40 History: The real people who built the Wells House 42 That’s life: Not that Alex Haley May 2017 | The Good Life

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Year 11, Number 5 May 2017 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801

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PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com sales@ncwgoodlife.com ONLINE: www.ncwgoodlife.com FACEBOOK: https://www. facebook.com/NCWGoodLife

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Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Bruce McCammon, Lisa Eidson, Judy Weaver, Susan Sampson, Shawna Hawkins, Annamarie Harden, Milly Damish, Leilani Johnson, Morgan Fraser, Andy Dappen, Michelle Jerome, Lisa Therrell, Leilani Bangs, 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

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Beauty and complexity of birds in our area By Bruce McCammon

hese images are all derived from digital photographs using a variety of commercial software including Photoshop. They are part of a collection of local birds that I prepared for the North Central Washington Audubon group. Audubon is using the images on a poster to reference and hand out during educational events with elementary school kids. Unlike other bird ID posters, this one shows only birds that we can see in our area. I have been taking pictures since I was in junior high school and began taking pictures of birds about 15 years ago. I started photographing birds because they offer a significant technical challenge. As I learned more about their behavior and migrations I began to appreciate their beauty and complexity much more than I ever thought I would. I try to find time each week to walk around or drive to areas for the purpose of bird photography. Even if I don’t come back with photos I am quite happy to have been outdoors experiencing the beauty and variety of the area.

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May 2017

Leavenworth Bird Fest, 5/18-21, all day. Celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season while enjoying field trips, events and free family activities. See calendar listing on page 38 for details.

editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

When mothers become friends M

y wife tells a story about her mother that helps make sense of the responses we received this month in our Favorite Moment with Mom contest. When my wife was a young teenager, her father died, leaving their East Wenatchee home with four girls and a boy and a widow who supported them by working in the fruit sheds. Years of noise and chaos and girls being girls ensued with a mom who tried to keep a rein on the herd with a certain amount of creative yelling. My future wife was relieved to move away. Then one day, when my wife was in her 20s, she’s visiting, playing cards around a kitchen table with her mom, her aunt and grandmother, when her mom made a witty comment. My wife laughed, and her mom looked at her with a smile, and said, “You finally woke up.” You see, when we announced the contest, I thought we would mostly get stories about when the writers were kids, remember some fine moment when their mother was Super-Mom. And, we did get one sweet story along those lines, but most of the rest came from memories made when the writers were adults — when they had crossed the line to learning their moms could be fully realized people who not only was the one who gave them life, but who had a life with its many facets as well. Check out the stories beginning on page 7 — many written by people who “woke up” to realize their mom was not just mother, but a pretty fine friend and human being, too. We have been working hard the last few months to re-imag-

ine our website (www. ncwgoodlife. com) by posting all of our stories and rotating all of our ads through the site. The goal is to expand our readership by giving web-only readers access to The Good Life experience. It’s paying off, as we are seeing increasing readership on our site. One surprising result has been extending the lifespan of stories… no longer are stories one-and-done, rather stories from months and years ago are viewed again and again by new readers. Another surprising result has been the global reach of our stories. The Traveling Doctor columnist Jim Brown reported after the last issue came out, “I sent the link to my article to some friends. I just got this back from a friend I made in Tasmania several years ago. We have stayed in touch ever since. He is a retired economics prof at Queensland U.” Great article. I went to see a doctor the other day and one of the cartoons he had pasted on his wall amused me. There was a picture of a revolver with a bullet in only one chamber and the caption said “5 out of 6 doctors say that Russian Roulette will not harm your health.” And that’s a little humor from way down under, courtesy of the World Wide Web. Take a moment to think of your parents as people to be enjoyed, as you experience The Good Life. — Mike May 2017 | The Good Life

e have the best bike rental fleet in the Wenatchee Valley. Rent bikes from us and experience riding one of Washington’s longest paved paths, the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Start riding immediately from our door and leisurely traverse along the Wenatchee and East Wenatchee side of the Columbia River. Even better, take the footbridge and visit our flagship store, Arlberg SportsDowntown, on the corner of Wenatchee Avenue and First Street. If you have little ones that are too young to pedal solo, we also rent bike trailers. We even have “trail-a-bikes” which attach to the back of any adult bike . . .it’s like a tandem and kids love it! We’ve always been firm believers that families who recreate together, stay together! So, come in and ride on!

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column ALEX ON WINE

ALEX SALIBY

Off visiting wineries, near and far Who says there is no joy in

being a wine writer for a great, metropolitan magazine? Not only is there joy, there are perks. This past March, because of a wine description I wrote way back in the late ‘90s, I made a contact with another Oenophile. Through that friendship I met another wine lover — a sommelier and marketing director at a very prestigious winery in, of all places, Bel Air, CA. On a recent trip through California, we were invited to visit the winery, taste the wines and tour the facilities of Moraga Vineyards, on 14 picturesque acres in the hills of Bel Air among the movie moguls’ mansions. The winery can be found online at www.moragavineyards. com, and I recommend you visit that link because the owner has already spent more effort than I ever could extolling the beauty of the facility, and the visit is rich with beautiful pictures. The wines — and there are only two varieties: Sauvignon Blanc and a Bordeaux red blend — were high quality and delightful. The facility was grand, and best of all, our hostess, a master-craftsman in her own

Lining ’em up at Moraga Vineyards.

right, was friendly, entertaining and pleasantly informative. The steepness of those hillside vineyards reminded us of the vineyards we saw in our visits to Europe, and for the same reason, reminded us of Malaga Springs Winery. You don’t need a passport to drive to Moraga Vineyards or to Malaga Springs, but the drive from Wenatchee to Malaga Springs Winery is a long and almost adventurous ride. Once you’re at the winery, though, you’ll be glad you made the trip because of the scenery, although the highlight is talking with Al Mathews and tasting and enjoying his wines, many of which are made from grapes grown there in the winery’s own

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vineyards. If my memory is correct, you’ll find there are 19 on the tasting sheet: five whites, two Rosés and 12 reds. Not all of those will be open and available for tasting on a particular day, but there will be a broad enough array of choices to please even the most demanding wine lover’s palate. My favorite from our most recent visit late this past March might be the 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, a powerful wine made from grapes grown there on the Malaga hillside vineyard, although the 2010 estate grown Malbec stands equally tall. Both the Cabernet and the Malbec display flavor and aroma profiles that I label as the estate character imparted by the soils in the vineyards where the grapes were grown. We had a particularly delightful experience barrel tasting the 2015 vintage Zinfandel, which was ageing in Hungarian oak barrels.

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I can’t wait for it to be bottled and released. In competition, it will undoubtedly bring another medal to add to the many platinum, gold and silver medals already earned by Al’s other wines. Mentioning new wine reminds me of the newest Chardonnay from Ryan Patrick. At a recent visit to Ryan Patrick’s tasting room in Leavenworth, we were offered a taste of the Reserve Chardonnay, and created from the Yakima Valley’s French Creek Vineyard’s grapes. As this is a wine club exclusive, you might be induced to join after tasting it. Many other new wines are being produced around the area — far too many for me to mention. The best thing you all can do is strike out on your own and visit some wineries. Email me about the great new wines you’ve recently enjoyed. We now have, after all, 100 wineries in our tri-county area. Alex Saliby is a wine lover who spends far too much time reading about the grapes, the process of making wine and the wines themselves. He can be contacted at alex39@msn. com.

FAVORITE

We asked readers to share their favorite moments with their mom... here are some of those memories:

Moments with Mom

‘If not NOW, when?’ Writer: Lisa Eidson Mother: Mary Eidson

y mom and dad began backpacking in 1959 and having four small children did not stop them. Sometimes they took me and my three brothers along on some pretty incredible hikes and climbs. We climbed Mount Katahdin in Maine and up to the Continental Divide in Colorado. We backpacked the Appalachian Trail in most of the southern states. Mom always seemed so happy in the mountains. She would say things like, “I have everything I need right here on my back,” and, “If not NOW, when?” and, “One step Lisa Eidson hikes with her mom, Mary Eidson. at a time.” My mom, Mary Eidson, is 88 years old now and quit backpacking a few years ago. The picture is of mom (on the left at 70 years old) and me on the right backpacking out of Havasu Canyon in Arizona. We had backpacked the Hermits Rest Trail in the Grand Canyon a few days prior. Mom taught me to enjoy life so that I would not look back with regrets... and so I have. Writer: Judy Weaver The Good Life magazine did a snapshot of my summit climb of Aconcagua (22,841 feet) Mother: Florence Odle when I was 57 years old. The article was in the March 2011 edition. n the winter of 1966, my plan was to spend the Christmas holidays with my mom

A giggling girlfriend moment with mom I

May 2017 | The Good Life

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in Flagstaff, Arizona. I was to drive from Pomona, California to Flagstaff as soon as school was out and the students left for vacation. That December I only got as far as Williams, Arizona about 30 miles west of Flagstaff. There was a huge winter snowstorm that impacted all of Northern Arizona. Over six feet of snow lay on the ground before the storm came to its end! Even with all of the snow removal trucks and equipment that are available in Flagstaff, city employees just could not keep up with that kind of snow dump. The result called for some creative travel plans. I spent the night in Williams, left my car there and took the train the rest of the way to Flagstaff. When I arrived, most of the streets were impassable and where the snow plows had gone through on the main streets you felt like you were moving through a tunnel because the sides of the roads were built up so high with snow. Traffic for the most part, came to a grinding halt. The bright side is that the sun generally comes out after a snowfall in Flagstaff and when the snow finally stopped, people began shoveling their way out of their homes, offices and garages. Rather than take a chance on getting “stuck” in the snow or having an accident in the car, my mother and I decided to walk to do our various errands. Fortunately, she did not live too far away from the various stores where we could get food, supplies, etc. It became apparent within a couple of days that we were going to need some staples in the house: milk, bread, eggs, etc. So Mother and I ventured out on a bright, crisp, sunny morning and headed for the store. Our trip to the store was uneventful and we were able to find the items we needed. We bagged them up and began our trek home. (This would be a good time to mention that first and foremost, my mom was a wonderful woman — smart, fun and full of life. Physically, however, my mom was quite

}}} Continued on next page |

FAVORITE

Moments with Mom “girlfriends” giggling and laughing hysterically all the way. This “moment” with my mother was just one of many that we had over the years. I was reminded as I wrote about this moment how my mother was not only my beloved parent, but also became a cherished friend.

Marching With Mom Writer: Susan Sampson Mother: Mildred (“Milly”) Goers Sampson

Judy Weaver and her mom, Florence Odle.

“Y

our mother wore army boots!” some guy said. He thought he was insulting, but I just laughed, because it was true, and I was heavy. She was more than just “pleasingly proud of her. plump.”) My mother enlisted in the Women’s Army So there we were, the two of us trudging Corps as soon as she was old enough, in along in our heavy coats, mittens, mufflers 1943. She gave away her pretty business suits and each carrying a couple of grocery bags with broad shoulders and nipped waists, and and our purses. We were walking on the street since those her two-toned spectator pumps, as though she’d never see her hometown of Chicago had been plowed — when all of a sudden I heard my mother’s gasp! I turned around to again. She replaced them with olive drab woolen see my mother standing there in the middle suits to wear in the halls of the Pentagon, of the street with her “undies” puddled then with khaki slacks and those combat around her booted ankles! boots for her deployment to her tent enI looked at her — she looked at me. And then she stepped smartly out of her “undies,” campments in Australia, New Guinea and kicked them under the nearest car and con- the Philippines. The latter was good training for her martinued walking very quickly and with purriage and relocation to rural Oregon, to a pose. Needless to say, we picked up the pace house with no plumbing immediately after as we made a beeline toward home — two

}}} Continued from previous page

Mildred (“Milly”) Goers Sampson: Yes, she wore army boots.

the war. She maintained military discipline. She made beds so tightly that a child could barely turn over in it for the first three days after she changed the sheets. She kept fit. She was stern with her four kids, and she wouldn’t let us slack off from whatever projects we started. Thus, there came a day when she took me and a classmate to the nearest city to shop for graduation dresses. After hours of poking through store after

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store, we started to drag. She wouldn’t let that happen. She grabbed each of us by the arm and began marching us down the middle of the sidewalk, chanting in WAC parade ground cadence: “Left! Left! I left my home and 45 kids! Did I do right? Right!” Our laughter propelled us to our car.

Seeing Oprah, great — being with Mom, best Writer: Shawna Hawkins Mother: Trish Greene

Ever since I was a young girl, I’ve trea-

realized that this was my last chance to do it, so I better make it happen. I made it my goal to get tickets to a show in her final season. I was a stay-at-home mom to two very young boys at the time and busy beyond belief, but I spent some of the “nap time window” each day logging on to the Oprah website to try and apply for Shawna Hawkins and her mother, Trish Greene, Waiting in line for tickets. the Oprah Show. One day I saw an ansured my time with my mom. nouncement asking for all Celine Dion fans From playing make-believe together as a to write an essay about why you should be young child to watching Oprah together af- picked to be in the audience for Oprah’s ter school in my teenage years, I always have upcoming Celine show. “This is perfect!” cherished that special time that we spent I thought. “Celine is mine and my Mom’s together. favorite singer AND we love Oprah! This is In 2010, Oprah Winfrey announced that meant to be.” the 25th season of her show would be her Well, it really was meant to be. A few last. I’d always dreamed of taking my mom weeks later I got an email from the Oprah }}} Continued on next page to Chicago to see The Oprah Show live and I

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Moments with Mom }}} Continued from previous page staff saying that I had been selected to receive tickets for myself and a guest to be part of the audience for the upcoming Celine Dion show that Oprah was taping. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been happier. I called my mom and broke the news and she was practically speechless. With the support of my amazing husband, dad and father-in-law, my mom and I had the time of our lives in Chicago while they took great care of our young boys at home. My mom and I saw Oprah from the fourth row, listened to Celine sing live, jumped up and down in the confetti with the other studio audience members, and realized our dream of seeing our favorite show live. It was everything I had dreamed of and more. But something that I realized when I returned home and reflected on my amazing experience is that my favorite memories were not the ones of seeing Celine sing from A winning team: Annamarie Harden and her pickleball partner and mother, Ruby Harden four rows away or being a part of Oprahâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio audience. My favorite memories were the laughs, sport, we became very enthusiastic about great talks and the precious un-interrupted learning and becoming more skilled at playtime I had spent with my mom throughout ing. those four days in Chicago. It has been an activity that we both enjoy, Mom Those were such special moments spent and learning the sport together has allowed en w with the closest woman in my life. It was ith M ts us to bond in a distinct way. om truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip with my oneOn March 19, we had the opportunity to WI N in-a-million mom. NER put our skills to work at a pickleball tournament that was hosted in Yakima. This Writer: Milly Damish tournament was the first one that my mothMother: Sophie Grenvik er and I had entered together. We played together in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doubles. s a young girl raised in a small town Our part in the tournament started about in North Dakota, we experienced extremely 9 a.m. and we worked our way through the long, cold, snowy winters. brackets in the division we entered. In the One February when I was in the 5th grade end, my mother and I took 2nd place in our I learned some of my friends were bringing division, earning silver medals. fancy heart shaped boxes of chocolates to This experience is one I cherish. It was a fun event, and it was rewarding to our favorite teacher for Valentines Day. I asked my Mom to buy me a similar box to have my mother as a partner in the tournaWriter: Annamarie Harden give to my teacher but she explained she had ment. Mother: Ruby Harden no car available to get to the store. As I have grown older, I have developed a So I was stunned when the next day at stronger relationship with my mom as my lunch time, she arrived at school with a friend. I can understand more of what she wo years ago, my mother took the has done for my siblings and me through our lovely red box of candy for me. initiative to introduce us to a new sport we She looked cold and was red in her face. It years of life. could both do together. I am grateful to my mother for her excite- was about a 2 mile round trip walk at least, The sport that we became involved in is in bad weather. I can only hope I thanked ment in life to try new things. I appreciate known commonly as pickleball. This is the her with all my heart. fastest growing sport in the U.S. It is a com- the new experiences I get to share with my I lost my Mom many years ago at a fairly mother. My mother is more than a parent; bination between ping pong and tennis. young age and I am now an elderly grandma she is my friend. When my mom and I started playing this

A long walk in the cold by a sweet Mom

A special bond developed on the pickleball court

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Mother and daughter share in a good deed I remember this day so well

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that what we were doing was good. We knew that each time they wore their socks or cuddled in their blankets, it would generate a true hug and a feeling of comfort. We were hesitant at first to begin this endeavor, but with each delivery we make (and we’ve made a lot since the article was published), we know that it’s the right thing to do. The little lady in the picture with my mom started crying when she gave her a beautiful red blanket. She begged mom to “please don’t let them take this away from me.” We will never forget those words, that day of our first delivery and the joy that makes this all worthwhile. I’m so proud to share this with my mom. She is amazing.

if e

but I will never forget her love, devotion and effort to please her demanding first born child. She was a wonderful example for me in raising my own three children many years later. Thank you, sweet Mom.

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Troubles lead to a sunny discovery Couple so enjoyed wonders of mexican beach town they pitched in to grow it by sustainable tourism

By Morgan Fraser

hen Diana Verduzco and Jose Valdovinos first arrived in Lo de Marcos, Mexico, it wasn’t for vacation. The couple rode buses for more than 1,000 miles. They arrived on the highway outside of Lo de Marcos at 3 a.m. in the middle of December. The only light was from an OXXO, a convenience store similar to a 7-11. The only person in sight was a drunken man, who nevertheless helped them figure out how to work the pay phone. Their cell phones weren’t working, and the person who was supposed to meet them didn’t answer when they called. They had no idea if it was dangerous to be out at that time of night. They had all their luggage with them, and no idea where to go. Eventually, they reached one of Jose’s cousins from the next town over, who came and picked them up. Jose and Diana were both born in Mexico — within 10 miles of each other, in the northern state of Michoacán — and moved with their families to the Chelan Valley when they were children. Jose, now 39, got a green card, served in the military, applied for and was granted U.S. citizenship, and now works for the Forest Service. Diana, 27, didn’t have a green card and worked using false documents. Although she paid taxes on a social security number, it wasn’t hers. The couple met through Diana’s brother, and married in 2009. In 2012, Diana and Jose went

“I fell in love with Lo de Marcos when I saw it the next day. We were exploring as much as we could. I didn’t know how long I was going to be there. I took advantage of the situation.” to Cuidad Juarez on the Mexican/New Mexico border to officially apply for a green card for Diana. Her application was denied. The paperwork said it was because she’d been in the U.S. illegally for more than a year — the reason why they’d come in the first place. She was banned from entering the country again for 10 years. Although they told her she could apply for a waiver, she had to do so from Mexico — she couldn’t go back to north central Washington, where they’d both lived for most of their lives. They began calling family to try and figure out what do to. “Realistically, we didn’t have anywhere to go,” Jose said. Jose called his dad, who suggested Lo de Marcos. “He said, ‘Yeah you’ve got plenty of family there, so you should go check it out.’” The morning after their latenight arrival, they surveyed the town that ended up being

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Jose Valdovinos and his wife Diana Verduzco at the entrance to Playa de los Venados, the beach in Lo de Marcos.

Diana’s home for almost two years. “I fell in love with Lo de Marcos when I saw it the next day,” Diana said. “We were exploring as much as we could. I didn’t know how long I was going to be there. I took advantage of the situation.” Lo de Marcos is a small town of roughly 1,500 Lo de Marcos, Mexico is to the west of Guadalajara. people, 34 miles north of Puerto Vallarta on the Pacific Coast. The town sits on a Jose had to go back to small ocean bay off the highway, Wenatchee to work. He did what and is still relatively unknown he could from the U.S. to get to tourists. his wife back into the country, Sayulita, a well-known surfer’s and sent money for her to live destination, is about 10 miles on. When he came to visit, they south. would explore the area. Within Lo de Marcos is clean, quiet about a year, they began to meet and safe, with cobblestone more people, including local streets, a Wednesday night tour guides. dance in the main square, a Eventually, Diana got aplocal recycling program and a proved for a green card and was quiet sandy beach. able to move back to Wenatchee.

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trying to bring in more people that will appreciate Lo de Marcos for its uniqueness and smalltown feel. It’s already working. “The people Jose and Diana bring in know that it’s more than a tour, or a hike, or a trip to a ranch in the mountains,” said Oliver Cruz García, owner of Xplore Mexico. Cruz leads adventure tours in the greater Lo de Marcos area, both on land and sea. “It’s an experience. It’s about sharing our playground.”

... they’re trying to bring in more people that will appreciate Lo de Marcos for its uniqueness and smalltown feel.

She now works as a bilingual call center agent at Columbia Valley Morgan Fraser is a local writCommunity Health in er and Spanish teacher. She Jose Valdovinos, right, wades into the surf at Lo de Marcos for his first stand-up paddle board Wenatchee. recently visited Lo de Marcos lesson with Oliver Cruz and Flipper the Dog. However, the couple herself and had a great time had found a second home getting to know the town than its infrastructure has been Jose and Diana are interested in and its people. To read more in Lo de Marcos, and a about Morgan’s adventures, check able to support — is a local sharing the wonder of this spelot of people that they cared out her travel memoir, Confessions of cautionary tale that they’re all cific town that reached out and deeply about who had helped a Travel Addict, available at A Book took them in. them when they needed it. They aware seeking to avoid. for All Seasons in Leavenworth or on Although there are small They’re not seeking to just went back to visit, and started Amazon. You can also follow her blog beach towns all over Mexico, bring in more tourists — they’re at confessionsofatraveladdict.com. to think about ways to help the town and its people. Working with the guides they’d met, Diana and Jose created a website called Go Within Reach (www.gowinr.com). The marson and marson site promotes local tourism operators and experiences unique WESTERB984CF to the area. Tours include some Sold and erected by an of the more popular excursions independent locally owned builder. for the region, such as ocean fishing, surf lessons and whale watching. In addition to the normal tourist fare, there are also some off-the-beaten track opportunities to get to know the area Adura by Mannington around Lo de Marcos, such as a visit to a remote, off-grid jungle Less Expensive than Tile and can be Grouted! ranch and a trip to Isla del Coral, a federally protected coral island Luxury Vinyl Flooring that’s great for snorkeling and Experienced in-house installer, scuba diving. book now before Spring rush The people Jose and Diana got Over 60 years of Kitchen and Bath Design Experience. Your building can be customized to know depend on the tourism industry to make their living, just the way you want! 509.548.5829 www.marsonandmarson.com/designcenter.html but they’re also interested in 11685 US Hwy 2 in Leavenworth Hours: Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm Saturdays by appointment helping the area grow in a sus(509) 884-0555 tainable way that preserves the ◆ 3500 sq. ft. design showroom ◆ Carpet, Vinyl & Wood www.westernbuildings.com environment and the local way ◆ Cabinetry -wide selection of styles ◆ Decorative Tile 4968 Contractors Drive of life. ◆ Computer-aided cabinet layouts ◆ Expert installation available East Wenatchee, WA 98801 Sayulita — which grew faster ◆ Complete home design packages ◆ Countertops RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • AGRICULTURAL

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Bikepacking Yes, it might seem odd, but the benefits are felt on the ground

“I

Story and Photos by Andy Dappen

f any one passes us, they’re going to wonder whether we’re the two dumbest riders they’ve ever seen.” Gary Womeldorff, my riding partner, is mulling over the fact that we are not just riding up Devil’s Gulch, one of Washington’s most popular downhill mountain-bike rides, but that we’re hauling overnight gear over what most would consider a half-day ride. “Not to worry,” I tell him. “That’s not nearly as damaging as the two of us wondering about the same thing.” We’ve had moments of doubt about our tactics over the past 24 hours as we’ve each hauled an

Gravel roads are not particularly interesting to walk, but on a bike they pass quickly and, sometimes, are even a nice interlude between the more technical trails they interconnect.

extra 15 pounds of gear over our route. This has consumed extra energy and had us pushing bikes up some technical terrain we might have ridden without the added lard. But “bikepacking,” what we’re dubbing this multi-day form of mountain biking, has clear benefits. With overnight gear in tow, there’s no stress about racing darkness when we find ourselves

misplaced — we’re perfectly prepared to get lost. Yesterday we were able to start this long ride at the crack of noon rather than the crack of dawn. And bikepacking has slowed down the inexorable mad dash of time — tossing and turning on the hard ground last night had an eight-hour night feeling like 80. Finally there’s the pragmatics of completing long rides that normal riders might have

trouble tackling in a day. On this ride, for example, we combined various rides found on WenatcheeOutdoors’ on-line guidebook (Naneum Creek Figure-8 Loop, Tronsen Ridge Ride, Red Hill, Devil’s Gulch) into a two-day push rather than an insanely long single-day haul. Toting extra weight over many miles of trail has its sour side, but we found that the offsets were… sweeet.

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LEFT: A scenic double-track ridge leads to the Tronsen Ridge Trailhead.

BELOW: A look at how Gary packaged his overnight gear. Lacking panniers, Andy strapped a largish stuff sack to the top of his seat-post rack. Panniers are more expensive but lower the center-of-gravity of the load — a good thing.

Early morning on the trail. Andy and his riding partner Gary Womeldorff had camped on a high ridge next to these trees. “The moon was full, the views over the silvery ridges and black canyons spectacular,” said Andy.

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FLOWER ALLEY One Woman’s Spreading of Joy in Chelan alleyway STORY AND PHOTOS By Michelle Jerome

When you hear the word alley what do

you picture? Well, I picture a narrow, gravel, rutted road between peoples’ back yards put there for the garbage truck to have access to the many lined up cans. I picture the unpainted sides of fences. I picture old cars that haven’t run in forever and piles of items that probably should go to the dump but haven’t made it yet. In Chelan, Linda Fankhauser has changed this picture. In the alley nestled between West Nixon and West Gibson, Linda has created a virtual floral palette. Each year she divides the flowers and spreads further down and across the alley. She adds new ones for color variety and is always keeping ahead of the blooms considering what will be coming out next to assure a continual rainbow. Spring is popping out and I recently stopped to speak with Linda about her history of the alley takeover. As she put it, she comes by gardening naturally as her mother was a “self made” Master Gardener. Linda grew up on a small farm in Bothell with a large vegetable garden her mother loved and grew many types of

ABOVE: Flowers spread on both sides of Linda’s gate, where it all began. RIGHT: Daffodils: Heralding hope, joy and renewal.

flowers. Linda’s first real job was working for a truck farm nearby. Remember truck farms? Where they grew enough vegetables for the family and sold the rest at the market or a roadside stand? As an adult, Linda worked for several landscaping firms, and, “I fell in love with the properties.” She especially loved bringing gardens back to what they had once been. In 2000 she and her husband retired to Chelan from Bothell. She describes their home as “an open slate” at the time they moved in. She set about claiming as much of the yard as she could for flowers and shrubs >> RANDOM QUOTE

So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life’s a beautiful thing and there’s so much to smile about.

Marilyn Monroe

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May 2017

“(Flowers) are like people; they have basic needs and are so beautiful when their needs are simply met. They lift you up on a bad day.” while leaving a lawn for the grandchildren to camp and play. Eventually she realized she simply did not have enough room for all the cutting flowers she needed and she took over the area in the alley associated with their house. At the same time a friend of hers was going through a rough patch. Her friend attended the church across the alley. It occurred to Linda that she could plant brightly colored flowers outside her gate and provide her friend with some joy each week as she went to church. “Once I cut the flowers I needed more to fill in for everyone and I decided to plant just as many as I could.” Thence began Linda’s alley takeover. It did not take long for her to ask the neighbors on either side and across the way if she could plant for them. Who could say no to flowers? When Linda begins to talk about her relationship with flowers, her eyes shine and she smiles frequently. She is a cancer survivor. Many of her landscaping projects in the past involved improving the physical world for other cancer patients. One large project on Hunts Point outside Bellevue allowed her to reclaim a garden that had been originally designed by a world famous landscape architect. Her client had cancer and simply wanted to see the beauty of the garden reclaimed before he died.

Linda stands among her flowers last summer in the alley behind her home.

Now, people who walk up and down the alley stop and talk with her. They always thank her for doing her bit in making the world a more beautiful place. Linda continues to reach out with flowers in one way or another to the more vulnerable and frail in our community. She says, “I started to understand how the flowers are speaking to all kinds of people. They express things without words.” There is a daycare just a few doors down. The children come on field trips walking in groups up the alley. Linda spends time talking with them about flowers and how they grow. She lets them hold worms and play with the dirt. When asked why flowers, she said it is all about the language of flowers. “Think of the daffodil. It pops up bright yellow like a trumpet of the Lord to herald in spring. It represents hope and joy and renewal and beauty.” And she said, “Flowers are something that give back so much when you give to them. They are like people; they have basic needs and are so beautiful when their needs are simply met. They lift you up on a bad day.” What I know is, I have come to look forward with almost a hunger to rounding the corner in that alley and seeing what has popped up. This week we found some small daffodils in her yard and the ones in the alley are budding out. Spring’s heralding has begun and the daffodil trumpets are beginning their cacophony of hope and beauty. There is simply no way to walk into that alley without smiling. LEFT: Luscious lavender plants line the alley.

May 2017 | The Good Life

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Honoring the past with armfuls of love One woman and her family remember the reason for memorial day By Susan Lagsdin

help commemorate the gravesites. These last 15 years since they have both or many Americans, passed away, she has used Memorial Day weekend her own home instead of means a much-needed theirs as a base of operaday off work, a camping tions. trip, a shopping spree, This year, early in the a ball game or a big ol’ morning of Saturday, first-of-the-season barbeMay 27 she will set up cue. a work station and, as They may consider always, arrange masses of veterans who lost their fresh blooms, heaps and lives in wars, or they may stacks of flowers: mums, even take time to visit the gladioluses, carnations, cemetery in homage to a alstroemeria, roses, and loved one. ferns (purchased the day But for one East before, an expense shared Wenatchee woman, the by her sisters); and blue whole weekend is tosalvia, calla lilies and tally given over to the hosta leaves gleaned from remembrance of things her own garden. past. From Friday mornShe has a thoughtful ing to Monday evening, system for creating each it is all about family piece, her skills honed (aunts, uncles, cousins, by years of providing grandparents and greatspecial-occasion floral grandparents) friends, displays. She sets up a friends of family, families kind of factory line, but of friends… and flowers. says, “I use flowers and Marilyn Fischer, 64, is colors that remind me of extending a tradition her each person for whom I’m parents Warren and Lois making the arrangement, Badger instilled in her and I include red, white when she was a child in and blue for the veterans.” Winthrop. It’s what they Marilyn will artfully fill learned to do from their around 20 containers, her parents, and what both husband will load them in her young sons did. borrowed apple bins, and Memorial Day, origion Sunday they will drive nally called “Decoration Anticipating a bountiful crop of her own flowers she’ll use this coming Memorial Day, Marilyn to the small and scenic Day,” was always a time poses on an April morning with a “stand-in” Easter arrangement. Photo by Donna Cassidy Sullivan Cemetery in to visit Sullivan Cemetery Winthrop, first to edge, and lay flowers on the who had fought for the country,” used sagebrush.” trim and clean several plots and family graves. she said. “We used flowers from With her parents, Marilyn then to grace with flowers the “When we were little, we our own and neighbor’s gardens, continued the tradition into graves of people she has known grew up learning that this was and we picked wildflowers if adulthood, returning to their and loved for years. a special time to honor people there weren’t enough — we even Winthrop home annually to After she has respectfully who had died, especially those

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May 2017

“... for the actual service on Monday, the whole cemetery is full of flowers — it’s never been a somber place, just a peaceful and beautiful place.” adorned all those familiar and familial sites — eight of them for war veterans, including her dad and grandfather who were each in the army, and a few new ones each year, she lays any extra flowers on the lonely plots that seem to be forgotten. One such untended site is the grave of Napoleon Bowes, a veteran of World War II, said to be the sole African American to live in the Valley in the ’50s. Another is a stranger who’s become close by association. “We met a man a long time ago who visited his wife’s grave every year with flowers,” said Marilyn, “so when he died, we kept on decorating both graves.” Marilyn is never alone in this endeavor. Her Chicago-born husband Rich started helping her before they were married 43 years ago. Her sister Dianne and her husband Perrin, also from East Wenatchee, are always there to help, sister Bonnie Perkins from Cheney and her husband Gary often; and sons, nephews and nieces sometimes. And, whatever their own extended-family head count, they can be sure when they arrive at the Sullivan Cemetery that old friends and other relatives related to the many Badgers, Boesels and Morgans will be there, tidying up graves and making their own floral tributes. “It’s become a kind of reunion,” Marilyn said. “So many people we know travel back to Winthrop every year for that weekend. And when we drive up

and beautiful place.” The Memorial Day service centers on a color guard lead by local veterans of Korea and Vietnam, the obligatory gun salute, a few patriotic songs, and Taps. A few years ago, a cookies and coffee reception was organized afterward, so now there’s even more time for socializing with folks who’ve grown up in, and stayed connected to, that closeknit Methow Valley community. Marilyn quipped, “Yes, Rich and I have purchased our own Arrangements are made with flowers gleaned (very small) ‘piece from Marilyn’s own garden and also purchased of property’ in the locally, each lovingly designed to suit the honor- Methow, at Sullivan ees. Cemetery…” She is again for the actual service on wistful when she speaks about Monday, the whole cemetery is the future, wondering if her own full of flowers — it’s never been close family will continue the a somber place, just a peaceful tradition.

But she knows there will always be somebody to remember her there, even as a distant relation. She also feels strongly that young people should learn about the true meaning of Memorial Day. “It’s not just another vacation day, with boating and campouts…” Then she caught herself. “Though, I have to tell you, when we return to East Wenatchee on Monday nights, we generally get together for a barbecues either here or at Dianne’s place.” For the Fischers and the Cornells, though, it’s not just another burger feast or rack of ribs. It’s the celebration of a job well done, and done for the right reasons: respect the ancestors, honor your father and mother, andappreciate a soldier’s sacrifice. There are many eloquent ways to show respect for the past. Marilyn chooses gifting the gravesites with vases of glorious, vibrant flowers.

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Quilters’ get-away three women go down to the sea to indulge in their passion away from the distractions of home

By Lisa TherRell

any years ago, my ship finally came in when I nailed down a full-time Forest Service job after working seasonally for over a decade. I moved to Idaho and enjoyed the professional stimulation of my new job. With year-round demands on my time, I gave up my sedentary hobby of sewing in order to be outdoors gardening and exercising when not at work. And then, my well started to run dry… By suppressing my creativity, I felt my life force begin to diminish. After several years of this, I finally realized that I simply had to nurture creativity in my life. So, let me tell you about quilting. Quilting is one of my passions, but my small cluttered house lacks a space to spread out and quilt. The solution? A do-ityourself quilting retreat, made all the better with the company of a couple quilter girlfriends. Three times now, Dottie, Marie and I have met up to quilt for a long weekend. My heart is still full from our recent trip to Lincoln City, Oregon, to quilt by the seaside. Here are the ingredients of our getaway. Find a nice place with plenty of room. Pack all sewing supplies needed. Bring outerwear for walks on the beach. Keep meal preparation to a minimum. We rented a house right on the ocean, with low bank wa-

Airing their quilts out in the sea breeze are, left to right: Marie Carver, Dottie Knecht, and Lisa Therrell.

terfront. Marie and I picked high school teacher Dottie up right after school on Friday, and finished loading Marie’s minivan with luggage, sewing machines, iron, cutting mats, and of course, our UFO’s. (UFO is the quilters’ term for Unfinished Objects.) Off we went on a winding Coast Range highway, from Salem to Lincoln City. Our vacation rental, called “The Captains Quarters,” had a full bank of picture windows overlooks a narrow band of vegetated dunes, and a vast expanse of sandy beach. We schlepped in all our DIY supplies, and got to work setting up. Between them, Dottie and Marie came up with three folding tables, one for each of us, which we set up in a row, looking out the living room windows. Our portable sewing machines were set up quickly. An ironing board came with the house, so we set that up with Marie’s turbo-charged steam iron. The dining room table became our cutting table with

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big mats. But quick — before dark — we needed a walk down the beach to stretch our legs. The sun was starting to set as we made our way down to the beach, the intense oranges reflecting across the Pacific, lighting the wet sands of the beach with brilliant light. Little clusters of people walked or played on the beach. We crossed shallow freshwater streams flowing over the sands to meet the sea. Flocks of herring gulls and ring-billed gulls ignored us as they gathered to sip fresh water out of streams. The black and tan sands sorted themselves out into lacy dendritic patterns, where the stream teased them apart. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we made our way back to our temporary home, walking past a hip-to-hip row of beachside homes and hotels, their windows all reflecting the orange sunset. Then out came the quilts. Marie’s plan was to machine quilt

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a spectacular quilt comprised of Tumbling Blocks and six-pointed stars. She laid the quilt top out on the floor, working to push out any wrinkles. Her fabrics were a mesmerizing juxtaposition of darks and lights, all chosen with a botanical theme, as a gift for her plant-loving son. Dottie started in on making some tiny net bait bags for a salmon fisherman friend, a perfect exchange for frequent deliveries of fresh salmon. Once that was done, she hauled out the quilt for the bus. Dottie and her partner recently purchased a Sprint van they are converting to a camper van. Dottie loves bold prints and bright colors, and this showed in her quilt design. Rectangles of bright orange, yellow, green, blue and purple boldly contrasted with solid black sashing, framing in each print. I brought along one UFO, and fabric to start a new quilt. First I got to work on the UFO, which I had previously cut but not pieced. On a trip through

I am a selftaught quilter, which means I learn from my mistakes. This can be pretty aggravating because quilting is very labor intensive and fabric is expensive to make mistakes on. Missoula, I bought a “Layer Cake,” which is a stack of precut 10-inch squares in mix and match colors and prints designed to coordinated with each other. I was doing a “whack and stack” where I had already stacked six squares at a time, and used my ultra-sharp rotary cutter to whack the squares into four asymmetrical pieces. The pieces are then shuffled to reform squares of two different fabrics. The end effect, once the squares are joined, is a scrappy looking quilt that goes together very quickly. Dinner took us no time at all because we brought along takeout from a Salem restaurant. We quilted our way to the brink of sleep, I having pieced my first small quilt top before bedtime. What a feeling of satisfaction. We fell asleep to the steady sound of breaking waves, with visions of tomorrow’s quilting plans dancing in our heads. I awoke first on Saturday morning, rising in the dark in time to watch the full moon, setting due west into the Pacific. I didn’t want to wake up the others by sewing, so I read and drank tea, watching the beach come to life with early morning risers. I am a self-taught quilter, which means I learn from my mistakes. This can be pretty

aggravating because quilting is very labor intensive and fabric is expensive to make mistakes on. On this day, I grappled with the fact that some of my pre-cut 10-inch squares weren’t really 10 inches, nor were they square. I ended up trimming them down to nine inches, hoping that would work with the eightinch template I would later use to recut my assembled quilt top, to create a “Twister” pattern of interlocked pinwheels. I sewed all the squares together, and DANG! I had my moment of truth when I realized the template was too big. Dot had elaborate ideas of how I could remark the lines on the template and still make the next cuts. Afraid of making irreparable mistakes, I decided to wait until I could buy a smaller template. My husband Rich once told a story he had heard about aging and hobbies. Taking on a new hobby helps the aging brain build new synapses. And as it turns out, researchers learned that the two most beneficial hobbies are digital photography and quilting, because of the problem-solving that is integral to the process. And so, I have come to embrace these moments of quilting setbacks, knowing that the process of salvaging my mistakes is actually good for my brain. Saturday afternoon afforded us a sun-kissed long walk on the beach, in balmy 50-degree temps on this February day. How good it was to escape walking on Chelan County ice for a few days. Our retreat served to refill our cups. Sunday morning afforded us a few more hours to quilt before leaving, enjoying easy conversation with long interludes of only humming sewing machines and breaking waves. Maybe this summer we will meet up again, near Bend or at Hood Canal for another round of quilting, hiking, and companionable friendship. May 2017 | The Good Life

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Viewed from the southeast, the Wells House turret is reminiscent of a medieval battlement and captures the eye, but the “stucco-shingle-stone” exterior of the main house is pure California Craftsman.

‘So pleased to meet you again’ The grand old Wells House hosts a grand new beginning — thanks to hard working volunteers Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Donna Cassidy

verheard in the Wells House foyer, April 5, 4 p.m.: Project manager Kris Bassett: “Um… it’s been raining pretty hard for a few days. I was there yesterday, but…” Volunteer Bob Otis, with a knowing look: “The turret?” Kris: “Yeah, the turret needs….” Bob: “I know, I know....” He turned to climb up to the boltedclosed trapdoor to the turret’s flat roof.

Read Rod Molzahn’s article on the building and early years of Wells House, page 40.

What the turret needed and what it got was a half hour of vigorous brooming that shoved a rainwater puddle into a solitary drainpipe situated just a bit above the water line. What Kris and Bob have is shorthand communication that comes from months of working together, in the company of other equally savvy volunteers, on a seemingly never-ending

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Most stained glass panels were stored for years after vandalism and theft threatened them; this 1932 lighting fixture, like many recently installed, were retrieved from a teardown in Chelan.

project. Kris said, when asked what she’ll do after this spring’s Grand Re-Opening of the historic Wells house. “Oh — I expect I’ll spend the rest of my life working on this place, in some way or another.” Designed by C.C. Cross of Santa Monica and built in 1909, the much-loved icon deserves its historic legacy, retaining its special place among the fine old structures that have graced Wenatchee for over a century. But it has developed a few flaws over time. (Actually, more than a few, but help is on the way.)

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The elegant stucco, shingle and stone facade, the porches and patio, and the surrounding lawn for years conveyed the image of tranquil grandeur. From a distance, it was impossible to see hazardously outdated plumbing and electricity and the inexorable deterioration of roof, ceilings, walls and floors. Fortunately, even with its decades of heavy use as both a private home and public venue (as well as periods of deferred maintenance) the house remains not only photogenic but sturdy, and as dozens of volunteers and donors would agree, eminently worthy of attention.

Clean and bright, soft and white, these walls and ceilings belie the tedious hours and considerable expertise it took to repair them. Drop cloths will stay on restored floors until “Grand Re-Opening Day.”

2 chances to see inside the Wells House

There are two opportuni-

ties in May to visit the restored Wells House on the Wenatchee Valley College campus. A grand re-opening is scheduled for Friday, May 12, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with a chance to meet the volunteers and craftspeople who made it happen, enjoy special “insider” tours and toast the future of this grand old house. An Historic Homes Tour on Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. includes the Wells House along with several other local grand buildings of the early 20th Century. Many of the properties on the tour are listed on the

Wenatchee Register of Historic Places and are in the city’s historic Grandview Historic District. Other highlights include the “Home of Peace” (the Miller Street Mausoleum) and the Gensinger House in East Wenatchee. The tour is self-guided, but a knowledgeable docent will be available at each location. This tour is sponsored by the City of Wenatchee Historic Preservation Board and the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. See more details for both events and purchase tickets at www.wenatcheevalleymuseum. org. May 2017 | The Good Life

Wells House is getting that attention. Love and labor have been heaped upon it daily for the last 11 months, and on May 12, it will greet visitors once again in the style to which it was first accustomed. The big story here is how dedication and roll-up-your-sleeves labor is gaining ground on the aging process. The Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center and its affiliate, the Wells House Committee, have officially been the owners since 1975. Major work — like new roofing, a new boiler and electrical panel and repair of a vandalized drain system — have been implemented relatively recently, so this current two-year grant is for reconstruction of the interior. The budget of $78,000 comes www.ncwgoodlife.com

equally from a state heritage grant, matching dollars from donors, and in-kind work and materials. Kris, the committee’s president tasked with overseeing the work, is on intimate terms with the house’s history and problems, and spends most days working there. The secretary of the organization, Joy Castellente, is a prime planner and also does lots of literal hands-on work. Other volunteers and contractors have brought hundreds of hours of sweat and skill, a vital combination. The first big job for this round of repair was replacing plaster on the ceilings and walls where both gravity and moisture had caused decay, and the settling of the traditional “balloon-framed”

}}} Continued on next page

Kris Bassett is the epitome of the hands-on, ever-ready volunteer. Besides steering the project, she’s seen here working at a typical kind of task: replacing bathroom wallpaper above a newly-acquired, very old tub.

WELLS HOUSE }}} Continued from previous page house had caused cracks. As painter/wallpaper expert Chris Wood, who’s done work on vintage properties for 35 years, said “You can’t do anything about it — these old houses move.” Modern sheetrock was not a look they wanted, and new wet “mud” created a messy disaster of falling chunks. Luckily, Kris scouted a mesh-like product that helped adhere new plaster to old subsurface and lathe. Particularly daunting was the damage in the secondfloor turret bedroom. From the outside, one day volunteers saw birds flying into a corner of the house and disappearing — they learned that possibly 100 bird generations had been entering where the turret had pulled

away from the main structure. A hole was punched in the ceiling and flashlights shone on a space filled with abandoned nests, copious droppings, asbestosladen vermiculite, The front staircase, rail and trim remain in surprisingly good shape after 107 years of use. Mrs. and dampness. Adelaide Clark is said to have designed the distinctive apple orchard windows on the landing. Carpenter Steve Fries (and an abatement crew) — notably with glue-on prodUnsightly electric conduit went to work; cheerfully, he said ucts — were onerous to repair. had crisscrossed the ceiling and about that kind of crisis at Wells Bob recalled one time Kris walls; some of that system is upHouse, “There’s never been said, “I’ve got a really bad job dated with wireless, remote conanything tedious about doing for you….” It took three people trol switches (“It’s not ‘period,’” this — it’s just a lot of problemworking over three days to peel Kris explained, “but it keeps us solving, and that’s the fun part and scrape rubber treads off the from damaging the house with of the job.” staircase. In the upstairs bednew wiring.”) Oak floors left uncovered rooms, dark brown synthetic Bathrooms are receiving a remained remarkably blemishcarpeting had adhered equally total update, or backdate, with free. But attempts to modernize well to the original floorboards. old-style tiles, a couple of or-

| The Good Life

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May 2017

Kris said, “I can count on it — there is a surprise of some kind every single day… you find stuff you’d never expect. Why do I do this? Well, I love the house! And it’s right up my alley — I love getting my hands on the work.” With guests coming in only a few weeks, there’ll be a bit of frenzy — any host wants the place to look as good as possible, and the Wells House Committee is a consummate host. But the work that’s left is bound to be less harrowing (cross varnish-stained fingers, knock on old wood). This glass-front cabinet, while not original with the house, is of the appropriate period and Ironically, it was the will be one of the few pieces of carefully-chosen furniture to replicate the look and feel of the tear-down of an old nate clawfoot bathtubs, interior. Chelan house that yieldpedestal sinks and cabined early-century sconces and etry, all in hyper-sanitary white chandeliers, and Kris said that (a desirable 1920’s look). High even she slowly exhaled a little wainscoting in one bathroom the day those light fixtures were was moved to the original lower installed. spot, and Steve creatively repli“It felt like the kind of thing cated the old wall “tiles” (or tile you do right before you move in look-alikes) by measuring and — there was an end in sight.” scoring damp plaster in exact The Wells House, despite its duplication. aches and pains and puddled Saved for a later date — Kris turret top, which floods the says it’s coming but it’s way basement, has borne its age down on the to-do list — is a graciously. refurbishing of the huge, hardWhen the stained glass is all working, multitasking basein place, the last rug has been ment; currently it’s doing its rolled onto the floors and the necessary job as a storage area. valances hung, the grand old The upstairs bedrooms, now house will graciously open its safe from water, will also have to Its wishing well now filled in, the stone patio was undoubtedly a well-used doors and welcome visitors once wait for their polishing touches. feature for family suppers and parties from the start. It’s served as a backagain. The past 11 months have been drop for many wedding parties over the years. strenuous and unpredictable.

The past 11 months have been strenuous and unpredictable. Kris said, “I can count on it — there is a surprise of some kind every single day...

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PET tales

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

Marmalade is NOT as big as

he looks in the photo! He is plus or minus 7 years old and just so,

so loving as well as ...catty. I adopted Marm (the Great Catsby) from the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society shelter in 2011 after major heart surgery and before another major one.Â Phew! He really had his work cut out for him to help me heal, sleep and rejuvenate. He is still influencing my life and encouraging me to keep promoting the WVHS, as I am the spokesperson for the Legacy Circle Program. For more information on the WVHS Legacy Circle, contact Dawn Davies, Executive Director, 662-9577 ext. 406 or director@wenatcheehumane.org, or visit www.wenatcheehumane. org or the WVHS on Facebook. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Leilani Bangs

ndre Bacha, from Reno is here visiting his grandchildren and likes to take their pet dog, Yoshi, for walks. Yoshi is a chin pug and is 12 years old. "Yoshi is a lovely, friendly dog and good companion. He's never mean," said Andre. Andre said he would like to continue their walk, but Yoshi was too pooped to go any farther.

WENATCHEE Cascade Veterinary Clinic 509-663-0793 cascadevetclinic.com

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| The Good Life

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May 2017

column GARDEN OF DELIGHTS

bonnie orr

Don’t drown spring veggies in heavy sauces Spring offers delicious treats

of sweet asparagus, peas and baby carrots. Some people eat them raw or lightly cooked, other people don them with sauces. Actually, fresh garden produce has so much flavor and texture that it does not need a lot of gussying up. My gardening buddy, Emilie Fogle, and I grow delicious veggies and talk recipes. She suggested that we need sauces or dressings free of dairy (i.e. sour cream or butter) olive oil or mayonnaise. Adding complex and sometimes smothering sauce to veggies stems from our parents and grandparents cooking. Sauces augmented flavor that was diminished with over-cooking, or was lost during canning or freezing. Sauces were also devised to hide the taste of undesirable vegetables in order to avoid unpleasantness with surly, un-cooperative children at the dinner table. Today grocery stores and farmer’s markets offer a much wider selection of fresh, quality veggies than they did even in the 1990s. So it is time to change how we dress vegetables and fruit. So let’s rethink sauces. There are alternatives to oil and dairy. Pureed avocado, honey and tahini (sesame seed paste), egg yolk and mustard are all viscous ingredients that can be used in place of oil to keep other ingredients from separating. Mustard will also hold other ingredients in suspension. Orange juice complements dozens of fruit and vegetables. Thickening orange juice with cornstarch — 1 cup juice to 2 teaspoons corn starch — will

of rustic bread. I have made it without the oil. Make aioli with eggs from a chicken you know personally or from a friend who sells fresh eggs. Eat aioli immediately rather than storing time-sensitive raw eggs.

Aioli

Orange dressing made with basil, parsley and garlic is delicious over spring veggies and fruit.

create a substantial base to which you can add other ingredients to create non-fat sauces. In a sauce pan, stir the cornstarch into orange juice and gently bring it to a boil until it thickens. You can also use tapioca flour to gain the same result. I have read that some people use xanthan gum as a thickener for sauces, but I have not been pleased with the results. Thickened orange juice will sauce fruit, herbs and vegetables such as: apples, arugula, avocados, basil, beets, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, carrots, cherries, figs, fresh mixed greens nectarines, onions, peaches, plums, raspberry rhubarb, spinach, strawberries, tomatoes or watercress,

Orange dressing for sorrel & spinach salad

Basil and parsley are especially delicious with orange.

2 teaspoons fresh finely chopped basil 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley 1 clove minced garlic Salt / white pepper 1 cup orange juice thickened May 2017 | The Good Life

Stir all ingredients together and pour over vegetables.

Pestos are mixtures of greens, garlic and nuts that can be made without oil. Fresh basil is available later in the season, but now the greens can be a mixture of arugula, spinach and kale.

Pesto

3 cups of greens, chopped 1/2 cup of toasted hazelnuts 2 cloves of garlic salt and pepper Whirl ingredients in the food processor to make a quick sauce for a salad, a chicken breast or an accent for a bowl of vegetable soup.

Aioli is the Mediterranean mayonnaise-garlic and oil and eggs developed in the 1500s. Eggs can be an emulsifier just as oil can be. In Yugoslavia in the late 1980s, I enjoyed an aioli made with lots and lots of garlic. It was so delicious because it was a thick mixture that included roasted pureed eggplant, red sweet pepper spread on thick slices www.ncwgoodlife.com

1 tablespoon lemon juice 2 egg yolks 2 anchovy fillets 2 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons capers 2 tablespoons grainy prepared mustard Salt pepper Hot pepper sauce Whirl the egg yolks and lemon in the food processor. Add the anchovy, garlic and capers, whirl again. Then stir in the last of the ingredients.

Here are some other combinations that work for sauces. n 2 tablespoons chives, 1 tablespoon mustard, salt, pepper, 1 cup vegetable stock thickened, 1/4 cup wine vinegar, 2 teaspoon sugar n 1 cup tomato sauce, 1/4 cup onion pureed, 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 teaspoon zest, 1 tablespoon honey. n 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 3 tablespoons honey, 1 tablespoon lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed, 2 teaspoons horseradish n 1 teaspoon dried fennel, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger, 1 clove garlic, 1 tablespoon finely chopped onions, 1 tablespoon parsley. Bonnie Orr — the dirt diva — cooks and gardens in East Wenatchee.

column moving up to the good life

june darling

Thanks, Mom, for teaching me to tune-in My mother is a good mom.

Lately while researching essential life skills, I figured out one of her secrets. Mom is what researchers describe as being “attuned.” Being attuned may sound like so much psychobabble. But hang on. The ability to be attuned impacts our happiness, our longevity, our friendships, our

productivity, our cognition, our emotional stability, our capacity for successfully mating and especially our parenting. It’s worth our time to learn more about it. One easy way of thinking about attunement is simply as the ability to “tune-in.” When you tune into a radio station, you adjust your dial so that you can better hear and understand what’s being broadcast on a certain station.

| The Good Life

Being tuned-in to a person involves adjusting your attention so that you use your eyes, ears, head and heart to understand and be present with him or her. Then you respond appropriately. Parents often do this naturally. Recently I observed my daughter-in-law practicing attunement with her baby, Eli John. When E.J. is well-rested, alert, and fed, she holds him about 10 inches from her and looks in to his eyes. If he smiles, she smiles. If he coos, she coos. If he cries, she tries to soothe and comfort him. If he looks tired, she stops trying to engage him and lets him rest. If he moves his head around, she walks him around the room so that he can take a good look. Being attuned to your child is a super good thing for both mother and child unless… unless you cannot also be attuned to yourself, and know how to respond. Here’s an example of not being tuned-in to yourself. When I was a young mother, I was walking around dead-tired with my baby in my arms. My brain was mush. Dried spit-up marked my ratty shirt. The television was on in another room. The voice I heard being interviewed on The Phil Donahue Show sounded familiar. Wow, it was “Joe,” a boy I had dated. Joe looked all spiffy and full of energy. A tear rolled down my cheek. The tear gave me pause and caused me to stop, “adjust my dial,” and check out what was going on for me internally. I was so tuned-in to my child that I’d neglected to also consider how I was doing and make some adjustments. How did my mom do it? She was in sync with my needs, her needs and she could respond

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May 2017

appropriately without feeling guilty. Mom chose to go back to college when I was seven years old. That decision did not sit well with me. I let it be known that children should come first. A child should be met at the door with cookies and milk after school. The mother should sit listen attentively as the child unwinds from her hard day at school. My mother listened. She made it clear that she understood and loved me. She worked it out so that I could unwind with cookies and milk at our neighbor’s house. Her college homework was largely completed at school, especially in the beginning, so that she could be attentive to me when we first saw each other after our school days. As it turned out, we had a lot more to share and were both happy. Many years later, I used her example to help me make changes in my self-care. As I’ve examined the literature and reflected on what I saw mom do, I have a few ideas for being tuned-in to yourself. Occasionally (or if you’ve noticed a tear, a sigh, a pain) stop. Take a breath. Be present. Imagine “adjusting your dial” so that you can tune into your own feelings, thoughts and needs. Be curious and accepting about what you notice and hear. If you want to be better attuned with another person, experiment with those same suggestions above but aim them at the other person. Then add one extra step. Say or do something to see if your observations are correct. For example, you might think

The wheel has turned for my mother and me. Mom’s in Tennessee and I’m in Washington. In some ways, I’ve become the mother. your grandchild is hungry. You can then offer a couple of cheerios and see what happens. After we have a better idea about what’s happening in our internal “station” as well as another’s, we can decide what’s the appropriate thing to do. We can consider adjustments. We want to keep in mind that wise behavior involves sifting through options and creatively developing behaviors that address both ours’ and others’ needs in a responsible and responsive way. For example, attunement on a small scale might look like this. You get an important call; your grandchild is calling for your attention at the same time. Your action might be to take the call, ask the caller to hold for a moment while you attend to your grandchild. Then you hand your grandchild a favorite coloring book and crayons. You tell the child you’re eager to hear more right after your call. The wheel has turned for my mother and me. Mom’s in Tennessee and I’m in Washington. In some ways, I’ve become the mother. We each have a phone that allows us to talk and see each other. Now I work to embody some of the attunement she modeled to me. I take steps to tune-in to her, to myself, and to respond appropriately. “Hi Mom,” I say. I look in her eyes. Mom gazes at my image on the screen and often replies, “Well,

June Darling and her mother Ruth Carpenter attune to each other on a recent visit.

hello, my daughter.” Mostly she smiles and I smile back. But sometimes her head hangs low or she pulls at her clothes. Her eyebrows are knitted together and her lips seem to tremble slightly. She mumbles, “You need to come home.”

May 2017 | The Good Life

“I love you, Mom. I’d like to be there. You look a little sad and worried. Are you feeling, okay?” “Yes, I am sad and worried. I’m not thinking quite right” she replies. “Do you want to tell me about it? Or do you just want to know

www.ncwgoodlife.com

that I’ll be there in a couple of weeks? Holly (her care taker) and Rusty (my cousin) will make sure that you get everything you need until then.” She lifts her head up and looks at me. “Okay. That’s good, honey” she replies and smiles. As I look in to her eyes, I smile back, “I really love you, Mom.” We are suffering more from alienation and isolation. We have busy lives and many technological distractions that get in the way of being tuned-in. May is the perfect month to turn that around. Begin by stopping, breathing and being present. Do it for your mother, your kids and yourself. How might you become more attuned and move up to The Good Life? 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.

Laughter: Effective medicine and free L

ynn and I skipped winter weather this year and became snowbirds flying to Sun City Grand in Surprise, AZ. I never thought I would be doing this. I remember a patient who told me he spent every winter in Arizona. When I asked him how long he stayed there he said it depends. When the temperature in Chelan where he lived dropped to 50 degrees he went south and when it hit 100 degrees in Arizona he came back to Chelan. It seemed to work well for him. After skiing at Mission Ridge for 40 years — knock on wood, with no significant accidents — I started feeling less confident in my skiing a few years ago as well as developed less tolerance for cold winter weather. For many years we took short winter excursions to warmer spots and always enjoyed the sudden change from “winter” to “summer” in a few hours airline flight. Sun City Grand seemed a perfect place for us. It is a very active community with folks from all over the United States, many of whom stay there up to six months every year. There are all the usual out-

Lynn and I both signed up for Laughing Yoga. Yes, I didn’t have any idea what this might be about either. door activities but one of the things we really enjoyed was the learning center, which offered an amazing variety of classes in almost anything that might interest you. Lynn and I each signed up for several different classes and felt in a way like we were back on a college campus going to class. The costs were minimal too. I signed up for a Black History class taught by a brilliant black man. It was wonderful getting his perspective and an informative learning experience. My second class was about Switzerland taught by a man who had been in the state department for 38 years and spent eight of those years in Switzerland. I have visited Switzerland twice and loved it but I wish I had learned beforehand what I learned in this class about the Swiss amazing history.

Lynn and I both signed up for Laughing Yoga. Yes, I didn’t have any idea what this might be about either. Essentially it was emphasizing the benefits of daily laughter for our physical and mental health and best of all it is free and available to all of us. I remember trying yoga and pilates classes when I was much younger but both times the classes were filled primarily with women half my age who could bend themselves into human pretzels that I was too stiff to achieve. Laughing yoga is not that kind of yoga. This class lasted about two hours and the instructor had us laughing continually for that time. We all left smiling, refreshed and felt healthier. I remembered years ago hearing a speaker at a medical conference talk about the many benefits of laughter. He recommended a good way to start each day was to stand buck naked in front of a full length mirror and start laughing at yourself. I’ve got to admit we are pretty funny when we do that. I am sure at first my wife was wondering what in the heck was so funny in our bathroom in the

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morning. After taking this class I started looking into what, if any, are the benefits of laughter for our health. I think there is no question that laughter decreases stress both individually and in groups of people. Supposedly when we are laughing we stretch the muscles in our face, our pulse goes up, and mildly increases our blood pressure. Some say it results in an effect similar to exercise. Chronic stress can reduce our immune response while laughter has the opposite effect. When stressed our blood vessels tend to restrict while with laughter they tend to relax. A study at the University of Maryland showed that people’s blood vessels behaved normally, expanding and contracting normally while watching comedies while people watching dramas became tense which restricted their blood vessels. A study at Loma Linda University took 20 healthy adults in their 60s and 70s, measuring there stress levels and short term memory. One group was asked to sit quietly, not talking, reading or using their cell phones while the other group watched funny videos. After 20 minutes the participants took a short-term memory test. The humor group performed significantly better when it came to memory recall, 43 percent to 20 percent. Dr. Bains, a PhD candidate who authored the study, suggests that older folks have a better quality of life if they incorporate humor and laughing into their lives.

Find what makes you laugh and include it in your daily routine. The funniest movie I ever recall was All Of Me starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes and almost fell out of my chair. I think nearly every movie either of them starred in has been hilarious. I still laugh just thinking about All Of Me. Lynn and I recently watched a 10-part series on Netflix starring Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda called Frankie and Grace. Every night we watched it was a continuous laugh fest. I remember the 1968 movie Patch Adams starring Robin Williams as a doctor who treated his patients with humor as well as compassion. It was an hilarious movie. Dr. Gulshan Sethi, head of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Arizona said, “laughter activates the body’s natural relaxation response. It’s like internal jogging, providing a good massage to all internal organs while also toning abdominal muscles.” Deepak Chopra says, “The healthiest response to life is laughter.” Studies have shown that laughter can have healing properties and is contagious. Have you ever been in a group when something started people laughing and it continued on and just didn’t seem to want to stop? If you haven’t seen the YouTube video about contagious laughter on a subway, you should watch it. A man gets on a NYC subway full of tired, hassled, grumpy passengers and he starts laughing. He doesn’t stop and soon a few others join in laughing and in a short time everyone on that particular subway car is laughing hilariously. Watching that video caused my wife and me to start laughing too. It’s contagious. Laughter is said to increase resilience. Resilience is the ability to see failure as a natural

progression to success rather than a negative outcome. People who are resilient are happier and more successful. People who laugh don’t experience less pain but they report to be less bothered by the pain they do experience. In Norman Cousin’s memoir, Anatomy of an Illness, he found that a diet of comedies helped his painful spine disease feel better and that every 10 minutes of laughter allowed him two hours of pain-free sleep. You will likely sleep better at night if you watch a comedy show rather than a tense crime or violent show. Make humor a priority by reading a funny book, watching a comedy, or listening to your favorite comedian. Share laughter with friends. Spend more time with people who have fun. Practice laughter yoga, which Dr. Sethi practices and teaches on occasion. Remember that life is funny. The ability to laugh at yourself makes you attractive to others and can help relieve your own stress. Focus on finding the laughable moments in your day, and then tell a friend your funny story as a way to increase the power of laughter by sharing. Know what isn’t funny. Laughing at the expense of others isn’t funny. Be discerning about your humor by laughing with — not at — people. Your ability to laugh can be cultivated with practice so start by prioritizing fun. Find occasions to be silly. Remember laughter, like smiling, is never depleted when you share it. Laughter medicine is effective and free. Proverbs 17:22 said it well: A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones. 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. May 2017 | The Good Life

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509.548.6344 SleepingLady.com Leavenworth,WA

‘You’ve gotta have the eye’ Photographer marshall mahler has created ‘the best job in the world’

By Susan Lagsdin Photos by Marshall Mahler

enatchee photographer Marshall Mahler knows the difference between hard work and good luck. One time, for nine mornings straight he woke in the dark before a cold dawn and hiked from his camper-truck to Reflection Lake at Mount Rainier. On the ninth day, he got the shot he wanted of sunrise on water. On another morning, out and about in town, he glanced down Springwater Street and noticed a fogbank on the Columbia, so he hustled down and took one shot of one tree at the water’s edge. Each of those photographs is the result of years of seeking and seeing, capturing the perfect moment — whether he has to hunt it down or it jumps up in front of him. Both pictures are also best sellers in his online and park-booth venues (Leavenworth’s Art in the Park and Apple Blossom) A bonus? He can continue to reproduce them for as long as the art-buying public wants them. “I have absolutely the best job in the world,” Marshall proclaimed. From the tick of the digital shutter on his Canon 500 to the last strap of tape on the box before the UPS guy comes to his door, for 10 years he’s had full control over his choice of subjects, printing, format, display, promotion and pricing of everything he photographs. That independence and quality control is a huge change from his previous work outside

A Mother’s Touch — This Alaskan brown bear is nursing her Spring cubs and will continue to provide for them up to three years. The clasped feet are a rarely caught image.

the art world, and even from his years as a portrait photographer. The road to taking photographs for a living was not a straight one. He switched from architecture to a forensic pathology degree at the University of Nebraska and poured himself into his work. (“I put in from 65-90 hours a week when I was first married,” he said.) Marshall’s career path veered from working at a trauma unit to land surveying — until he moved to Wenatchee, seeking a new region with a small-town feel. | The Good Life

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A photography class in college had piqued his interest, and he was fortunate to start working for the dean of local portrait photographers, Dean Parsons. Marshall, now 47, said, “It was like a nine-year apprenticeship — he taught me the basis of a good portrait photograph, and it all applies to nature and wildlife.” Light, he said, is photography’s through line, using sun and shadow to create depth, and composition entails choosing the right angle and distance. “Everybody’s got a camera in their hand these days — and that’s not

May 2017

Rainier — Winter Dawn — Three feet of fresh snow had just blanketed the mountain the night before when Marshall ventured out early to frame its vibrant colors.

Yosemite, Yellowstone. When people drop by one of his local booths, it’s not just photographs of north central Washington’s natural wonders that interest them, sometimes it’s those far-flung places that celebrate another type of geology and geography. Marshall said he often hears, “Look honey! There’s that same rock formation (waterfall, natural arch, tree line, mountain goat herd…) we saw on vacation! But our pictures don’t look like that at all.” With the benefit of his 10 years of travel, tenacity and technology, he can give them the photograph they weren’t able to take, memories of their trip they wish they’d captured themselves. He’s right — it’s a good job.

Skill (“a good eye”) and good fortune both play a part in his success. Poised in the right place and ready for the right time, Marshall Mahler brings back dramatic images of natural landscapes and wildlife.

a bad thing. But for the really good shot? Well,” he said frankly, “you’ve gotta have the eye.” Marshall’s spacious standalone workspace indicates his serious approach to the business. “It’s a really short commute,” he says — about six feet from the back door of his house, but it’s enough to delineate when he’s working or when he’s at home with his wife and two kids. He built it three years ago to replace the guest room(s) he’d sprawled into. Not intended as a studio or a gallery, it’s more like a laboratory with its squeakyclean surfaces, tidy filing sys-

tems and high quality printing equipment. As efficient and well-equipped as that space is, he leaves it whenever he can. He roves on short trips to Washington lakes, alpine forests, channeled scablands, mountain glaciers. He lies in wait with his mammoth camo-camera for eagles, bear and elk. And three or four times a year he’ll take long trips, sometimes mentoring others in a workshop setting but most often alone. Those 18-day treks have placed him in some of America’s most stunning landscapes: Moab, the Grand Canyon, the Everglades, May 2017 | The Good Life

Odyssey — Horsetail Falls in Yosemite Valley catches the last rays of sunset – Marshall tracked the weather and waited four years for the right snowpack and melting conditions. www.ncwgoodlife.com

fun stuff what to do around here for the next month NCW BLUES JAM, every second and fourth Monday. Riverside Pub. Sign up starts at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 7 p.m. 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. 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). 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 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 from May 13 to October. Stop by and explore the unique mix of vendors offering seasonal fruits and vegetables, cut flowers, one-of-a-kind artisan

Bugs, butterflies and blooms in the Entiat, Saturday, May 20, 9 a.m. – noon. Join Phil Archibald

and learn about spring wildflowers, songbirds and butterflies along the Entiat River. RSVP a must. Info: cdlandtrust.org.

Mountain Biking at Horse Lake, Tuesday, May 9, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Join Adam Vognild, Land Trust supporter and co-owner of The Inner Circle Gym to explore the area, learn some tips, and meet fellow mountain bikers. Info: cdlandtrust.org. Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market

opens Saturday, May 13, at Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Watercolor by Nicki Isaacson goods and tasty cuisine. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. 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.

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Every first Sunday. Special guest CD Woodbury. The Club Crow in Cashmere, 108 1/2 Cottage Ave. Cost: free. WVC Lecture Series: Jaime Ramierez Chicano Studies, 5/4, 2 p.m. Wenatchi Hall in the McArthur Lecture Hall room 2105.

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May 2017

Upper Valley Nature Walks at Ski Hill, 5/4, 5 p.m. and 5/9, 2 p.m., 6 p.m. Join Connie McCauley to explore the Ski Hill area looking at wildflowers, birds and wildlife. 2 to 3 hour walk. Meet at the Ski Hill parking lot in Leavenworth. Info:

WHAT TO DO

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

cdlandtrust.org. Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce Awards dinner, 5/4, 6 p.m. Mexican buffet, live music, full bar, wine pull and complimentary drink of your choice. Rancho Grande. Cost: $25. Info: lakechelan. com. Film Series: The Lovers and the Despot, 5/4, 7 p.m. Kim Jong II stars as the world’s most dangerous film geek in this true-life thriller. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $10 advance or $12 at the door. First Friday events include: *Two Rivers Art Gallery, 5/5, 5 – 8 p.m. Featuring Ellensburg artist Jeannie Rae Johnson. Jeannie is an accomplished oil painter and teacher. Music by guitarist Ron Evans. Wines by Icicle Creek Winery. Complimentary refreshments. 102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free. Info: 2riversgallery.com. *Merriment Party Goods, 5/5, 5 – 8 p.m. Victor and Kellie of VvB

Life is a cycle: learn about bike commuting KvB Art are local glass, painting and metal sculpture artists. They have been married for 26 years and making hand crafted one of a kind art together for 28 years. Come meet Victor and Kellie, see their incredible art, and enjoy sips and snacks. 23, S Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. Info: facebook.com/merrimentpartygoods. *Tumbleweed Bead Co., 5/5, 5-7 p.m. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com. *Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 5/5, 5. – 8 p.m. High School Art Show continues through May 6. Light refreshments. Info: Wenatchee.org. Native Plant Stewardship Course: Conserving and restoring shrub-steppe habitats, 5/4, 6 – 8 p.m. Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, 18 N Wenatchee Ave. Explore examples of shrubsteppe habitats around Wenatchee. The course provides 15 hours of direct training in shrub-steppe ecology, identification of native and invasive plants, restoration skills other conservation actions, supplemented by selected reading and

May 2017 | The Good Life

A special “group ride” is

scheduled in May for anyone curious about bike commuting around Wenatchee. Hosted by the City of Wenatchee, Cascade Subaru and My City Bikes, Life is a Cycle allows beginner bike commuters to experience the community’s bike lanes, paths and shared use roads with a group and local ride leaders. This event is open to the public. Registration is $1.50 before the event, or $5 the day of the ride. Proceeds are donated to the American Heart Association. videos for study at home. Info: Jim Evans, 206 678-8914 or jimevans@ centurytel.net. Awesome Blossom Festival events include: (Info: appleblossom.org.) *Memorial Park Food Fair, now until

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When: Friday, May 19. Where: Walla Walla Point Park (route is available at www. lifeisacycle.bike) Why: Every mile that you bike for transportation can reduce your risk for heart disease, save a pound of pollution from going into our air, and put $0.48 back in your pocket. Biking to work has increased by 60 percent across the U.S since 2000. Life is a Cycle will also provide strategies for blended commuting with a car or public transportation. For more information and to register for the event, visit lifeisacycle.bike. 5/7 *Entertainment at Memorial Park, now until 5/7 *Funtastic Shows Carnival, now until 5/7

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The Art Life

WHAT TO DO

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

}}} Continued from previous page *Apple Blossom Golf Tournament, 5/4, 9:30 a.m. Highlander Golf Course *Arts and Crafts Fair, now until 5/7. Memorial Park *Apple Blossom Run, 5/4, 8 a.m. *Apple Blossom Cruz-In, 5/4, 6 p.m. *Classy Chassis Parade and Car Show, 5/4-6, Eastmont Community Park *Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, 5/6, 6:30 – 10:30 a.m. Triangle Park on Miller St. *Apple Blossom Fun Fly, 5/6-7, Red Apple Flyers *Grand Parade, 5/6, 11 a.m. *Pybus Fine Art Sunday, 5/7, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. *Apple Pie and Dessert Bake-Off, 5/7, 10 a.m. Festival Office Geology of the Upper Wenatchee River Valley, 5/6, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Join geologist Kelsay Stanton for a geologic tour in the Leavenworth area, up the Wenatchee River Valley to Lake Wenatchee. The Barn at Barn Beach Reserve, Leavenworth. Cost: $35 non-members. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Wenatchee Riverfront Railway Train, 5/6-7, 1-5 p.m. Ride the mini train. 155 N Worthen, east end of the railroad pedestrian bridge. Cost: $2. Concert Series: Flying Karamazov Brothers, 5/6, 7 p.m. The zany juggling and comedy troupe has been delighting audiences for four decades. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22. Info: icicle.org. Art Lovers Sunday, 5/7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Meet and visit with local artists who are actually practicing their craft. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org. Mountain Biking at Horse Lake, 5/9, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Join Adam Vognild, Land Trust supporter and co-owner of The Inner Circle Gym to explore the area, learn some tips, and meet fellow mountain bikers. The ride will be for beginner-tointermediate bikers and will last about 2-2.5 hours. Meet at the Horse Lake Trailhead. Info: cd-

Writer’s conference offers workshops, authors & agents

orth central Washington’s only writing conference with two days of contentpacked workshops with professional editors, agents, bestselling authors and nationally-acclaimed speakers takes place at Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee May 19 through May 21. Write On The River conference attendees will also have the opportunity to pitch their projects to a literary agent. For more information on the organization and to register for the conference, visit www. writeontheriver.org. landtrust.org. Bird ID Skills building, 5/10, 24, 7:30 a.m. Join Susan Ballinger for an outing to hone your field ID skills. Walla Walla Point Park. Info: cdlandtrust.org. River Ramble at Rocky Reach Dam, 5/11, 12, 5 – 8 p.m. Learn how wildlife and plants have created traditions that have been passed down from the vibrant peoples who once thrived along our rivers. Build a tipi, play Native American sports and games, see the reptile man, dance with Native American drummers and dancers. Learn about traditional plateau fishing, flint napping and atlatl. Rocky Reach Dam. Info: 633-7522. Film Series: Mr. Gaga, 5/11, 7 p.m. An artistic genius redefines the language of modern dance. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $10 advance or $12 at the door. Info: icicle.org. Guardianship Forum, 5/12, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Learn, network and raise dialogue concerning seniors and disabled individuals who have or may need guardianship. Keynote speaker Dr. Susan Wehry. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Cost: free. Wells House Open House, 5/12, 4 - 7 p.m. A grand re-opening with

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| The Good Life

// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS

A poet works an Alaskan fish boat and she recounts tales that actually get it “These guys have seen enough to know the difference between discomfort and danger. They’ve learned that laughing at discomfort is the only way to survive. When the weather went south the circle of eye contact between us was constant; I knew they were both professional and trustworthy on deck. On the beach, I consider them reckless and indecent, but I remember such judgment passed on my own behavior and it was easy to find myself sitting on a bed in their hotel room drinking cheap, thin beer. The ocean had knocked us around enough to skip the formalities and I was critiquing their shaving techniques and telling them which jeans to wear. Then, of course, we discussed the outlook for the season and everything irritating about the job. They find Cap’s constant nagging tiring, he acts as if they’ve never crabbed before. Joe says king crabbing would make Cap cry, ‘My buddy was cut in half on deck. We had to put him in the freezer and finish the trip. Everyday I climbed over him to get bait out.’ What Joe said sucked the oxygen out of the room. I managed to ask how it made him feel and there was a long pause. Preston was quiet and looked away. As the pause continued I regretted my question, fearing I’d get some canned answer about ‘that’s the way it is on a crab boat.’” — Letter from the Coast ne night about a decade

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May 2017

ago at the end of crab season, 200 loud and garrulous fishermen jam-packed an Astoria bar to hear and tell sea stories as part of the town’s annual nationwide fisher poets gathering. Erin Fristad stepped up to the microphone to read a prosepoem piece, a letter to her friend and workmate Mike (excerpted above) previously published in Alaska Fisherman’s Journal. The room dropped into silence. When she stepped off the stage, a stranger walked up, handed her a cold beer and said, “I didn’t know you could do that — put what we do into words like that. You actually get it.” She said she’ll never forget that fisherman or the taste of that beer. Once from Port Townsend and now a Wenatchee resident, she harvests her personal, richly visceral recollections from 15 years in sometimes fearsome Northwest waters as a deckhand on crab boats, research vessels and purse seiners. Like cowboy poets and logger poets who’ve also labored hard in nature and lived to tell the tale, fisher poets congregate to share their love/ hate/love of the life they’ve chosen, and Erin is one of them. Comfortable and competent in a majority-male world, she’s gained a good reputation not only among fellow writers who celebrate the sea but among fishermen. “Women are increasingly being hired on fishing boats,” she said. “It’s not that we have similar strength (to men), but we have generally more endurance.” That includes not just a toler-

“It inspired me to speak the truths she never could. Her silence… caused her great suffering, and I don’t have to live like that.” ance for 20-hour shifts and very confined spaces where your quirkiest outriders and your most trusted companions are always at elbow’s length. It also means accepting the daily death-dealing hazards of weather and equipment. Commercial fishing is not the only untypical occupation Erin has pursued in between college degrees (University of Oregon and Goddard) college administration (also at Goddard) and college teaching (currently at Wenatchee Valley College). As a child in rural Redmond outside of Seattle, she raised dogs and learned to ride horses, and that ease with animals lead her to a two-year stint as an itinerant dog groomer, animal sitter and farm laborer. During that period, she happened upon Wenatchee and decided the cliffs, the river, the long dry slopes — and the sunshine — were much to her liking. Her adjunct English teaching job keeps her hand in academics, and she’s recently delved more into photography. Though she travels to the Coast for readings at fishermen’s gatherings, her current writing life is centered on the completion of a memoir motivated by her mother’s death three years ago. “That knocked down the walls around my authentic voice. It inspired me to speak the truths she never could. Her silence… caused her great suffering, and I don’t have to live like that.” Investigating her own childhood,

On a bright and eye-squinting sunny early Spring day in her Wenatchee backyard, Erin Fristad gets ready to read her poetry about the lives of people who fish in Alaska.

parsing her parents’ marriage and dealing with the discovery of an unknown family have given her, she bluntly stated, “a kick in the butt to write.” However, she said, “I know I can’t just write. I’m a restless spirit and I need to engage with the world in multiple ways.” She said of one period blessed with time to only write (and not go to a job) “It was like crossing a mountain ridge in a small plane – suddenly there’s nothing before you but wide-open territory.” Town chosen, job assured, Erin arrived here last summer sans family encumbrances but with a childhood dream of a horse: Sapphire, a gray Andalusian-Percheron filly who’s just started her dressage training. Those breeds make her both very beautiful and very big, and her owner loves the challenges of raising her well. Erin says of their relationship, “She has the ability to set me free and keep me grounded.” Notably, the horse has a starring role in the memoir, which is entitled The Road to Sapphire. Although she holds that one May 2017 | The Good Life

simple moment in the Astoria bar from a decade ago as a literary life highlight, Erin continues to read her poetry in front of major audiences and has been published in 11 journals and anthologies. The title of her first book, The Glass Jar, reflects the commonality of men and women in the maritime industries — fisherfolk — whose difficult truths are often hidden away from the world, held in tight, like the tales of war veterans. Her storytelling in both prose and poetry helps to open that metaphorical jar, as she explains, “before it gets too full and shat-

ters.” She gets it, not just the traumatic moments but the wistful ones. These are the last lines from Untying: …our chatter ends. We coil lines, Tie up buoy bags, Tighten down the hatch covers. Each one of us will pause Standing near the rail, Eyes closed, the salt air Tingling our faces. We’ll listen To the slowing of our pulses, Our bodies becoming lighter, The noise of our lives Growing distant behind us.

Sunday, May 21 10am to 4pm

Tickets are $20 in advance $25 at the door • Docents on hand for self-guided tours of local historic homes • Reception and no-host bar at the museum from 4:30 to 6:30pm. • Sponsored by: Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center City of Wenatchee’s Historic Preservation Board

Historic Homes Tour

A self-guided tour of seven historic buildings 

Docents on hand for self-guided tours

10am to 4pm



Tickets are $20 in advance $25 at the door



Reception and no-host bar at the museum from 4:30 to 6:30pm. Sponsored by: Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center

Sunday, May 21 of local historic homes www.ncwgoodlife.com | 37

(509) 888-6240 WenatcheeValleyMuseum.org 127 S. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA

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}}} Continued from page 36 a chance to meet the volunteers and craftspeople who refurbished the house. Also part of the Historic Homes Tour 5/21, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. on the Wenatchee Valley college campus. Cost: free. GS Long’s Hell on Hooves Rough stock rodeo, 5/12, 13, 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Bull riding, saddlebronc riding, bareback riding, barrel racing, bull poker, mutton bustin’, pony rides, mechanical bull. Touch a truck on 5/13, Town Toyota Center. Cost: $20. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. Manson Apple Blossom Festival, 5/13. Kiwanis breakfast at the Grange Hall basement, 6:30 – 10 a.m. Pig Jig Fun Run, Manson’s Business Center, 8:30 a.m. Street Fair, downtown Manson. Quilt Show, upstairs at the Grange Hall. 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Parade downtown Manson, 11 a.m. Apple Blossom Dinner at the North Shore Church 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. 3 on 3 basketball Tournament. Info: mansonappleblossom.com. Dahlia Tuber Sale, 5/13, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. NCW Dahlia Society will be selling and offering tips about growing and caring for dahlias. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Iris Show and Sale, 5/13, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org. Eastern Washington BBQ Championship, 5/13, 14, 8 a.m. Live music and public sampling of BBQ pork, chicken, brisket and ribs. BBQ cooking demos from the pros, beer and brats. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Historical Walking Tours of Leavenworth, 5/13, 10 a.m. Railroad and mill walk. Upper Valley Museum. Cost: $5 donation. Info: 548-0728. Geology Hike at Mountain Home, 5/13, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join geologist Brent Cunderia for a hike from atop Mountain Home Ridge. RSVP required. Info: cdlandtrust. org. Central Wash U Opera: The Magic Flute, 5/13, 7 p.m. and 5/14, 2 p.m. Opera students present Mozart’s classic live on stage at the

Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22. Info: icicle.org. Benevolent Beer night, 5/15, 5 – 10 p.m. Drink for a good cause. 25 percent of all sales will go to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust to help protect land, water and recreation access in our area. Icicle Brewing Company. Info: cdlandtrust.org. Coffee with a Cop, 5/16, 10 – 11 a.m. No agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns and get to know the officers in your neighborhood. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Environmental Film and Lecture series: Ten parks that changed America, 5/16, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $5 donation. Info: cdlandtrust.org. Leavenworth Bird Fest, 5/18-21, all day. Celebrate the return of migratory birds in the midst of peak wildflower season while enjoying field trips, events and free family activities. Info: leavenworthspringbirdfest.org. Bird fest events include:

art with Maria Coryell-Martin. Meet at Canyon Wren Hall. Cost: $65 includes lunch.

*5/20, 9:30 a.m. Magnificent migrations. Meet at Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery.

*5/18, 19, 20, 1 p.m. Paddleboards and birds, meet at Leavenworth Outdoor Center. Cost: $30.

*5/19, 3 p.m. Casual Friday. Meet and greet keynote speaker Clay Taylor. Bird Fest Central.

*5/20, 1 p.m. Wild flower walk. Meet at Ski Hill parking lot. Cost: $5.

*5/18, 7 p.m. Dinner and a movie: “A Birder’s Guide to Everything.” Snowy Owl Theater for movie. Cost: $10.

*5/19, 3:30, p.m. and 5/20, 4:30 p.m. 5/21, 7 a.m. Birding by River Raft. Meet at Bird Fest Central. Cost: $35.

*5/20, 6 p.m. Birders BBQ. Red-Tail Canyon Farm. Cost: $20.

*5/19, 6 a.m. Birding by pontoon boat. Meet at the Cove Resort on Fish Lake. Cost: $30.

*5/19, 6 p.m. Sip and Paint. The Barn at Wenatchee River Institute. Cost: $30.

*5/19, 6 a.m. Songs of the sage. Meet at Bird Fest Central, 347, Division St.

*5/19, 8:30 p.m. and 5/20, 9 p.m. Owl prowl. Meet at Bird Fest Central. Cost: $20.

*5/19, 6 a.m. Wetland birds. Meet at Bird Fest Central, 347 Division St. Cost: $45.

*5/20, 6 a.m. Birds and blooms on Horse Lake Reserve. Meet at Bird Fest Central. Cost: $35.

*5/19, 6 a.m. Birding at Badger Mountain. Meet in East Wenatchee, 19th St parking lot at the Apple Capital Loop Trail. Cost: $35.

*5/20, 6 a.m. Birding by ear: Flycatchers, Warblers. Cost: $30.

*5/19, 7 a.m. Birding by ear for beginners, Waterfront Park. Cost: $10. *5/19, 8 a.m. Birds and flowers of Sauer Mountain. Meet at Bird Fest Central. Cost: $15. *5/19, 20, 21, 8 a.m. Early birds and Kayaks. Meet at Leavenworth Outdoor Center. Cost: $30. *5/19, 9:30 a.m. Backyard birding. Meet at Bird Fest Central. Cost: $10. *5/19, 20, 10 a.m. Naturalist bird

| The Good Life

*5/20, 6 a.m. Birds and wine near Leavenworth. Meet at Barn Beach Reserve. Cost: $55. *5/20, 8 a.m. Sleeping Lady bird walk. Meet at gazebo in the organic garden at Sleeping Lady. Cost: free. *5/20, 8 a.m., 1 p.m. Bikes and birds Wenatchee. Meet at Penny Road Park and ride near the Confluence. Cost: $15. *5/20, 9 .m. Migration marketplace. Bird Fest Central and Barn Beach Reserve.

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May 2017

*5/21, 6 a.m. Morning on Mountain Home. Meet at Bird Fest Central. Cost: $35. *5/21, 6 a.m. Birding Blewett Pass and Table Mountain. Meet at the park and ride and the Big Y. Cost: $35. *5/21, 6 a.m. Birding in the Coulee. Meet at Bird Fest Central. Cost: $75. Must reserve, no walkups. *5/21, 8:30 a.m. Birds of farm, field, pond and woods. Meet at Bird Fests Central. Cost: $20. *5/21, 9:30 a.m. Birds and brunch at Grunewald Guild. Cost: $20. *5/21, 10 a.m. Sense of place. Meet at River Haus Sunroom and Barn Beach Reserve. The Lion King Jr., 5/18-20, 6:30 p.m. 5/21, 1:30 p.m., 5/21, 4 p.m. Experience stunning artistry, unforgettable music, and exhilarating choreography as Stage Kids WA brings the African Savannah and Disney’s The Lion King Jr. to life. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $15 advance or $18 at the door. Info: numericapac.org.

WHAT TO DO

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

Future Planning with your parents, 5/19, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Are you caring for a senior now or have questions regarding future planning with your parents? May is National Aging Life Care Month. Come celebrate by meeting your local Aging Life Care Manager. Kerri Walker will be hosting an open house to answer questions regarding senior resources in our area, caregiving issues and the importance of advance care planning including financial and legal issues pertaining to seniors. Wenatchee Public Library, 310 N Douglas St. Cost: free. Info: primepointcare.com or 509 433-8735. Life is a Cycle Bike event, 5/19, 6 p.m. Every mile you bike for transportation can reduce the risk for heart disease, save a pound of pollution from going into our air, and put $0.48 back in your pocket. Biking to work has increased by 60% across the US since 2000. Learn about bike commuting from the experts who build your local bike infrastructure. Life is a Cycle will also provide strategies for blended commuting with a car or public transportation. Walla Walla Point Park. Cost: $5. Proceeds go to the American Heart Association. Info: lifeisacycle.bike. Writers’ Conference, 5/19-21. Wenatchee Valley College. Info: writeontheriver.org. Friends of the Wenatchee Public Library book sale, 5/19, 5 – 8 p.m. 5/20, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Paper and hardback books, CDs, DVDs, videos and books on tape. Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Girls on the Run of Columbia Valley, 5/20, 9 a.m. 5k run begins at Pybus Public Market and continues around Apple Capital Loop Trail. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Being Mortal, 5/20, 9 a.m. – noon. What matters near the end of life will be discussed by a conversation on the reality of Being Mortal. Speakers: Dr. Steve Voorhies, co director of Confluence Health Hospice, Julee Linderman RN, palliative/hospice care, Dr. Lance Jobe, emergency room physician, Jeff Wilson, director of Heritage Memorial Chapel, mortuary concerns, Dr. Cici Asplund, family practice/ advance care planning, Scott Langager, Hospital Chaplain, Conflu-

ence Health and Neil Molenaar will be panel moderator. Saddlerock Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 140 S Miller. Bugs, butterflies and blooms in the Entiat, 5/20, 9 a.m. – noon. Join Phil Archibald and learn about spring wildflowers, songbirds and butterflies along the Entiat River. RSVP a must. Info: cdlandtrust.org. Opera Series: Der Rosenkavalier, 5/20, 9:55 a.m. Strauss’ rich romantic masterpiece. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22. Info: icicle.org. Red Devil Challenge, 5/20, 8 a.m. 25k, 10k and 1.7m trail runs. Starts at Sandcreek Trailhead, Wenatchee National Forest. Info: funwenatchee.com. The Running of the Grapes, 5/20, 5k vineyard challenge, 5k fun run and 2.5k fun run. Bring the dog and stretch your legs. Includes a silent auction, kids games, hot dogs on the grill and a wagon ride or two up to the winery for a tour. Sponsored by Lake Chelan Rotary. Proceeds go to scholarships for Lake Chelan valley students as well as a future park project. Info: chelanvineyardrun.com. Historic Homes Tour, 5/21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. A self-guided tour of seven historic buildings. A reception and no-host bar 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $20 advance or $25 at the door. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org. Chamber music series: Adult Piano Concert, 5/21, 5 p.m. “Who’s on First” — a duo-piano recital for one, two, three and four hands with William Chapman Nyaho and Lisa Bergman. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22. Info: icicle. org. Stars on Ice, 5/21, 4 – 6 p.m. U.S. Champion and 2016 World Silver Medalist Ashley Wagner, reigning two-time U.S. Champion Gracie Gold, and 2015 U.S. Ice Dance Champions and two-time World Medalists Madison Chock and Evan Bates, will highlight a star-studded cast that will also include reigning Olympic Ice Dance Gold Medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White, and four-time U.S. Champion and Olympic Bronze Medalist Jeremy Abbott. Town Toyota Center. Cost: $33. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. Valley Academy of Learning Spring Concert, 5/23, 5 – 7 pm. The music students of Connie Celustka and Jimmi Wilson May 2017 | The Good Life

BEING MORTAL: What matters at the end lee Linderman RN. What matters near the Emergency room physician — end of life will be discussed by a local panel in May during a conversation on the reality of Being Mortal. This conversation will be May 20, from 9 a.m. to noon at Wenatchee’s Saddlerock Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 1400 S. Miller St. This conversation is open to the public. The format will feature an Interactive panel composed of individuals with expertise in: Hospice — Dr. Steve Voorhies, co-director of Confluence Health Hospice. Palliative/hospice care — Ju-

will perform on piano, guitar and in a children’s choir. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Wildflower Walk in the Foothills, 5/24, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Join Susan Ballinger and bring your camera for a walk that will cover less than one mile at a slow pace. Jacobson Preserve. Info: cdlandtrust.org. Memorial Day Parade, 5/25, 7 – 7:30 p.m. Honoring police officers, soldiers and firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty and those that have served and are currently serving our country. Downtown Chelan. Film Series: Peter and the Farm, 5/25, 7 p.m. A hard-drinking farmer and rugged individualist confronts his own legacy on the land. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $10 advance or $12 at the door. Family Game Night, 5/26, 7 -9 p.m. Pacific Crest Church will be hosting, games include board, card or any game you would like to bring. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

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Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. Anonymous www.ncwgoodlife.com

Dr. Lance Jobe. Mortuary concerns — Jeff Wilson, director of Heritage Memorial Chapel. Family Practice/ Advance Care Planning — Cici Asplund MD. Hospital Chaplain, Confluence Health — Scott Langager. The panel moderator will be Neil Molenaar. Panel members will not only share their personal experiences with what matters in the end but will also be available for questions from the audience.

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rod molzahn

How ‘Cobblestone Castle’ became Wells House To help understand the historic importance of the Wells House — which is undergoing a remodel, see our story on page 22 — here is a repeat of a Rod Molzahn article from March 2011.

ers approached Clark with a proposition. He had gained efore it became “The a reputation for Wells House,” the imposing building a large Wenatchee home fronting Fifth irrigation project Street was known as “Clark’s in the Yakima Cobblestone Castle.” Valley and the In its 107 years it has been men wanted home to only two families; Wilhim to do the liam and Adelaide Clark, who Adelaide Clark designed this house on 10 acres for her husband and five children. Photos from same for the built it, and Alfred and Emogene the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center Wenatchee ValWells, who gave it away. ley. Clark took the job, moved to ing porches and two bathrooms. Constructed in 1909 for Wenatchee and began work on The smaller third floor held $50,000 and designed by Adthe Highline Canal. three bedrooms and two more elaide Clark, the house features William Clark wasn’t an ensleeping porches. several wonderful stained glass gineer. He was a promoter and The Clarks finished the intewindows, also the work of Mrs. builder on a large scale. Clark rior with hand-made cabinetry, Clark. The house is large with a also had friends and through floors, moldings and railings. basement and three floors. them he raised $225,000 for The exterior design by Adelaide Originally the basement held construction costs. When that Clark uses a “Craftsman” style a ballroom for dances, a billiard was gone and the canal not half for the first floor and Tudor on room, a fruit storage area as built, Clark was accused of graft the second and third floors. well as the furnace and laundry and mismanagement. Eye-catching and surprising, Builder: William Second owner: rooms. He persisted, raised more Clark A.Z Wells Designed for entertaining, the a turreted, three-story, round money and completed the canal tower stands at the southeast first floor included a reception local stonemasons. in 1903. After that he was called corner of the home. All the hall and living room, the kitchWilliam and Adelaide Clark “The Water Bringer” and “The exterior walls, including the en and dining room as well as a and their five children were Father of Wenatchee.” dining porch and sun room. The tower, are built of local “coursed farming in the Yakima Valley in He soon went to work prorubble” and river stones from second floor had another large 1902 when a group of Wenatchee moting an automobile bridge the Columbia, hand-hewn by hall, five bedrooms, two sleepbusinessmen and landownacross the Columbia that would also extend the Highline Canal to the east side. Clark had purchased tracts of land along the river and when the water crossed the river in 1908, Clark Receive 10% OFF Stressless Furniture. profited. See store for details. In 1910 the Clark family moved into their new castle on 10 acres, which they immediately set out to landscape. A driveway entered through stone pillars at Fifth Street and wound past If your room needs extra assistance, trees and gardens ending at the Highway 2 • Wenatchee ask Buffy or Teresa for Boswell’s carriage porch on the house’s 663-2548 west side. complimentary Design Service. www.boswellfurniture.com

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In the late 1960s college officials announced plans to bulldoze the house. Clark went on to build large irrigation projects in the West and Southwest including one in Montana that brought water to 50,000 acres, but the economic troubles that followed World War I diminished his fortune. In 1919 he and Adelaide sold their castle to Alfred Zachariah and Emogene Wells. The Wells had come to Wenatchee in 1902 where A.Z. began a long career in the hardware business and orcharding. With his nephew he bought Wenatchee’s only hardware store. In 1915 he partnered with J. M. Wade to form the Wells and Wade hardware and fruit company. Business was very good as demand for irrigation equipment rose. A.Z. Wells continued to buy and develop new orchard land through all his years of business. The large holdings at Azwell, below Wells Dam, are testimony to his ideas and hard work. A. Z. and Emogene Wells had no children. In 1949, shortly before his death, the couple established the A.Z. Wells Foundation to use the ongoing profits of the businesses to support a number of nonprofit community causes.

Since its beginning the Foundation has dispersed more than $4 million. That same year A.Z. and Emogene made another gift. They gave their “castle” to the Wenatchee School District to be the home of the valley’s new junior college. A.Z. then set about twisting the arms of neighboring property owners, convincing them to sell adjacent land to the district at “cut-rate” prices. In the years since, the Wells House has served as the college’s only building, holding classrooms and offices and as the girls’ dorm and cafeteria. For years it housed offices of the Camp Fire Girls and the Wenatchee Valley Symphony. The grounds around the “castle” have seen countless weddings as well as Shakespeare performances and Renaissance Faires. In the late 1960s college officials announced plans to bulldoze the house. Community members formed the Save the Wells House Committee and worked to have the grand home added to the National Register of Historic Buildings.

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Living as the less famous Alex Haley By Alex Haley (But not that Alex Haley)

iving as the less famous Alex Haley has been, to say the least, interesting. I haven’t met many other people who share a celebrity’s name so I’m not sure what the general experience is like. It’s not necessarily a burden like it is for Michael Bolton in the movie Office Space, but it is interesting. Especially someone like the famous Alex Haley, who is only marginally famous among my cohorts. That is not to say the famous Alex Haley is marginally famous, to certain generations and communities, he is a household name. To librarians, English teachers, and the African American community, the famous Alex Haley is one of the most important figures of the 20th Century. For example, I was booking a comedy show one time and the headliner, who was black, recounted the story of when he first received a phone call from the less famous Alex Haley (me). He colorfully recalled his thoughts to the audience, “I think this mother (bleep) wants to write a biography about me!” The audience laughed, I laughed, fun was had by all. From a young age, I had this

fun little secret that I could use to my advantage whenever possible. Anytime I wanted to impress my friends, which was often, I would go to an encyclopedia and place a wager with them that my name would be listed inside. This scam won me all the deserts a young boy desires. Perhaps these small moments of faux celebrity shaped who I am today, but as someone attempting to make a name for themselves, it’s challenging to do so when you don’t even show up on Google. I stopped looking after page six. Let’s back up. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the work of the famous Alex Haley, he is an author whose most well-

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We’re looking for fresh, true stories from local people that’ll bring a chuckle to our readers. Limit yourself to 500 to 1,000 words and send to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com Stories published will win a $100 gift certificate to any one of our advertisers in the past year.

known novel is Roots: The Saga of an American Family. It’s the story of Kunta Kinte, an 18thCentury African, captured at a young age and sold into slavery. A real fun read, lots of laughs. The novel was followed by an iconic television series appropriately named Roots and starring none other than LeVar Burton of Reading Rainbow fame. Unfortunately, my generation is far more familiar with the latter than the former but for those coming of age during the late ’70s or early ’80s, famous Alex Haley was required reading. These days, about once a month, someone will reference the similarity in our names. It’s usually a pleasant interaction that lasts between 12-25 seconds depending on whether or not they are a fan of his material. They often ask what I think of his novels. Here’s the bombshell, I’ve never actually read his books. Blasphemy? Perhaps. In my defense though, I do own most of them. I didn’t buy them but people always give them to me as gifts. I have seven copies of Roots alone which always feels a bit narcissistic to have displayed on my bookshelf. As someone who performs and writes, I’ve considered adding my middle name to the mix —

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Alex Andrew Haley, which put me in the likeness of James Earl Jones and Tommy Lee Jones, but also, unfortunately, Lee Harvey Oswald and Mark David ChapComedian, writer, man. Do all actor, promoter, the assassins emcee, dancer, grown-up, go by three philanthropist names? admirer, skier, beer The quessnob, cinephile, tions I ask chainmail myself: Is it forwarder. presumptuous to assume anyone would confuse the two of us? His work deals with the plight of enslaved Africans in the U.S and is considered to be some of the most important work of the 20th Century, while my writing consists of jokes about the Space Jam Soundtrack and how if I was a stripper I would go by Charity so people could write it off on their taxes. What started out as a fun trick to score Oreos has now become a bit of a moral dilemma. After all, this is a man with an inspiring legacy who has ships and libraries named after him. I, on the other hand, only share his name because my parents picked a unisex name in 1987, just in case I was a girl — you never knew in the ’80s. I don’t know if writing content under the same name is bait and switch or if my comedy angle is a disgrace to his accomplishments but, for now, I’m simply a comedy writer trying to bump up his placement on Google. Hopefully, without assassinating someone. No promises. Got a good story to tell? email: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

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