November 2018 The Good Life

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Contents

Independence... Choices... It’s about You!

page 20

LIVING LARGE on the second floor of downtown

Features

7 a different way to see egypt

Temples, tombs and carvings are amazing, but wait, there is more behind the railing

10 Wife gives husband the gift of life

Connie Morris discovers she is the prefect match for her husband, in more ways than one

12 beyond just tossing around the frisbee

Chuck and Barb Dronen Administrators

Phone: (509) 782-7600 • Fax: (509) 782-1821

Email: epledalen@kashmircc.com 809 Pioneer Ave.

Cashmere, Washington 98815

Kevin Farrell is a civil engineer during the work week, but on weekends, he is an Ultimate fanatic

14 a life well lived

Willie Weinstein may be 96, but she still wakes everyday with a plan and a desire to help other people

16 the seasons of saddle rock

Molly Steere has a personal connection with this Wenatchee icon, one that requires year-around refreshing

18 up in the air

Pat Turner has always had a fascination for getting off the ground — and has not let a teenage car accident hold her down

20 second story joy

Downtown apartments getting a chic make-over to add style to second floor living Art sketches n Jewelry maker Bernice Holmes Bernatz , page 30 n Book author Tom Robinson, page 32 Columns & Departments 6 A bird in the lens: Not a Blue Jay, but a Steller’s Jay 24 Pet Tales: How a rescue dog became the hero of a book 26 June Darling: Sailing on a sea of kindness 28 The traveling doctor: Building muscles slows aging process 29 Meet our native plants: Yellow Rabbitbrush 30-35 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 36 History: The prolific Browns of Brown’s Flat November 2018 | The Good Life

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OPENING SHOT

®

Year 12, Number 11 November 2018 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life PO Box 2142 Wenatchee, WA 98807 PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

sales@ncwgoodlife.com ONLINE: www.ncwgoodlife.com FACEBOOK: https://www. facebook.com/NCWGoodLife Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Brad Brisbine, Susan Weber, Connie Morris, Marlene Farrell, Molly Steere, Pat Turner, Jennifer Burke, Vicki Olson Carr, Bruce McCammon, Jaana Hatton, Donna Cassidy, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin and Rod Molzahn Advertising: Lianne Taylor 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 PO Box 2142 Wenatchee, WA 98807 For circulation questions, email: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Safeway stores, 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 Lianne Taylor at (509) 6696556 or lianne@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

autumn patchwork quilt of beauty

By Brad Brisbine The last Saturday in September, hiking partners Len Lamb, Josh Osburn, Larry and Jolene Campbell and I were on our way to an obscure, unnamed lake high in the White River Watershed (drains to Lake Wenatchee).

Suddenly changing zones at tree-line, we left deep green forest and entered parkland.

At 5,600 feet — and this close

to the moist Cascade Crest— we enjoyed an autumn patchwork quilt of beauty.

Carpets of huckleberry give a double treat this time of year.

Super tasty berries, and leaves that when backlit, turn from deep crimson to a riot of saturated reds. Orange sumac and mountain ash sing harmony.

High lakes are scarce in the White River Watershed. The adjacent canyons are likewise limited in the scattered gems.

What a contrast to the south side of Highway 2, where the Alpine Lakes Wilderness boasts a whopping 700 lakes.

A 30-mile swath straddling the

Cascade Crest from Snoqualmie Pass to the Canadian border provides a lifetime of pleasure.

What a Good Life!

On the cover

Donna Cassidy took this photo of Cathy Resch, a designing woman, who has a few good reasons to be smiling — she and her builder husband Tim are helping to “turn on the lights” on Wenatchee Avenue by renovating residential spaces in a friends’ building. Cathy and Tim agree that moving downtown from a house five times bigger was perfectly OK. See their story on page 20.

Physical Therapy for All Ages and Abilities

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• Sports Biomechanics • Physical Therapy • Video Gait Analysis • Orthotics • Functional Testing • Pool Therapy • Massage Therapy • Work Related Injuries

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November 2018

Moving?

The post office will not automatically forward The Good Life magazine.

DANGEROU

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WENA TCHE

NUMBEE VALLEY’S R ONE MAGA ZIN E

March

2016

THE M OF A AKING

Price: $3

COWB OY From to yee-quiet scient

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— Photo by Donna Cassidy

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editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

What was your best day in 2018?

The year 2018 is drawing to

a close — (can that possibly be true?) — so it’s time to ask you readers to share your stories about your personal best day(s) of this year.

Did you climb a mountain, try a new adventure, win the lotto, win over your true love, learn a new skill, tick off an item on your bucket list, finally change your life to what you always wanted...?

Write a story — 300-500 words or so — and send it to me at editor@ncwgoodlife.com, along with digital photos.

We’ll publish a few of the stories in the January 2019 issue.

Plus, one story writer will be chosen for a $100 gift certificate to one of our advertisers. Perhaps that can be the start of a new adventure.

But, don’t mull this over too long — the deadline is Friday,

Dec. 7.

Speaking of climbing a mountain, yes, that’s me above, high over Wenatchee on an outlook next to Saddle Rock.

We made the hike after reading Molly Steere’s story about her relationship with Wenatchee’s icon — see page 16.

It maybe wasn’t my best day in 2018, but it was a darn pretty fall day and a trip my legs remembered for the rest of the week.

This was my first trip up the new trail on the south side of Saddle Rock, a nice, clearlydefined trail, but let’s be honest, quite steep in places. At the top, another hiker suggested the northside climb near the WRAC is less challenging.

Good advice for another day.

Best days are when you feel on top of the world. Enjoy The Good Life.

— Mike November 2018 | The Good Life

Cary

ordw

they built this city

ay’s

If you have a subscription to The Good Life, please let us know a month ahead of your new address.

Email your change of address to: donna@ncwgoodife.com Please include your old address.

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column a bird in the lens

This is not a Blue Jay — it’s a Steller’s Jay

By Bruce McCammon

Often mistaken for a Blue

Jay, the Steller’s Jay is a common bird in north central Washington.

It is understandable that people mistake this bird for a Blue Jay since it is a Jay and it is blue.

The Steller’s Jay is native to western North America and the Blue Jay resides in the rest of the Bruce McCammon continent. is retired, colorGeographic blind and enjoys photographing the ranges may birds in north cenbe changing due to climate tral Washington. change but if you see a blue jay around here, you’re safe saying it is a Steller’s Jay. Information about the Steller’s Jay is here: www.audubon.org/ field-guide/bird/stellers-jay.

For comparison, you can find a description of the Blue Jay here: www.audubon.org/field-guide/ bird/blue-jay.

The Steller’s Jay is a bird you can’t ignore. First, it is a medium size bird that is slightly larger than an American Robin. Next, the bright blue body and dark head with its distinctive crest create a dramatic presence.

Last, there’s the call of the Steller’s Jay. The loud call can be grating to many people but

there is no confusion about the bird that creates such a loud, coarse call.

Many people would prefer that the Steller’s Jay is seen and not heard. Personally, I appreciate a bird call that I can’t confuse with other birds.

Steller’s Jays are smart. If you put out unshelled peanuts they

will find them and haul them off to a cache for later use.

They may eat some on the spot but most will be cached elsewhere.

I have trouble remembering where I put my car keys but these birds can remember multiple locations over an extended time.

I enjoy playing with the jays that visit my yard. I vary the location of where I put peanuts out just to see how long it takes them to find the supply. It never takes long.

Try your best to ignore the Steller’s Jay call if it is irritating to you. Concentrate on their brilliant plumage and enjoy their antics.

Make sure to spell the name correctly if you record your sightings. They are stellar birds in that they are beautiful and striking but they are named Steller’s Jay. Another subtle characteristic for one of our wonderful birds.

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November 2018

Dave and Susan Weber: “We were not disappointed seeing the three great pyramids and the rock-cut statue of the Sphinx.”

EGYPT

The tombs in the Valley of the Kings contain beautiful, well preserved carvings and paintings on most of the walls.

When friends were told that we were going to Egypt the first question asked was, “Is it safe?”

I suppose the answer to that depends on your definition of “safe.”

Egypt is very safe from the perspective

By Susan Weber of getting robbed or mugged. On the other hand, from the perspective of sitting in the hree years ago, my husband Dave and back of an aging car flying across the desert I looked across the desert into Egypt from at 90-plus miles per hour… maybe not.

Israel and hugged the border for miles as Of course everyone is concerned about the we drove through the Negev desert but we instability of Egypt since the 2011 uprising didn’t get to go there. they refer to as “The Revolution” with the Then a new chance arose when we knew possibility of bombs and demonstrations, we were going to Lebanon to work with and the like.

Syrian and Iraqi war refugees on a medical The answer to those concerns is not as mission trip. It is only about an hour’s flight clear and pretty much depends on when and from Beirut to Cairo so we grabbed the opwhere in Egypt you go. We felt perfectly safe portunity to go where we’d always wanted to the whole time except when we were in wild spend some time.

Cairo traffic.

shhh — let’s take a look at a special place behind the railing

T

November 2018 | The Good Life

We felt perfectly safe the whole time except when we were in wild Cairo traffic.

The feature Egypt is most known for is probably the pyramids but the landmark that has had the most impact over the past 5,000 years is really the Nile River. This is what has and still gives life to Egypt.

Thus we thought it would be appropriate to see Egypt from the Nile and we couldn’t have made a better choice.

We spent our first arrival day in Cairo seeing the superb and hugely informative Egyptian Museum and then browsed through the Bazaar. That evening we checked into a

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Egypt: Tombs, temples & carvings }}} Continued from previous page beautiful hotel overlooking the Nile and then flew to Luxor the next day to begin our five-day riverboat tour.

Having just worked for two weeks in Lebanon on our mission trip we were more than ready for the relaxation that being on the boat offered us.

We enjoyed all our meals on the boat and joined our Egyptologist guide daily to go to the ancient sites of Egypt where he gave us the background and history of everything.

The first day we went to the massive Karnak Temple and historical Luxor Temple. Names like: Ptolemy, and Kings Senusret I, Amenhotep III, Ramses II, Thutmosis III and Alexander the Great are all connected to just these two sites.

Karnak Temple is an enormous site with 124 massive carved columns that are overwhelming in their sheer size and number.

The next day, going to the Valley of the Kings, we were again amazed at the numerous wellpreserved tombs with beautiful scenes on the walls depicting Queen Hatshepsut’s life. The temple is dedicated to worship of the supreme god, Amun-Ra, the sun god.

When visiting the various tombs and temples there are always men stationed to watch over the 3,000-5,000 year old artifacts. These would seem to be “guards” but often take on the role of “photography guide.”

This service is always followed by an expectant, out-stretched hand.

These “photography experts” were very engaging and even willing to take you to places off limits to normal traffic.

Inside one of the temples

It was all very clandestine and he was obviously taking us where no man had ever gone except for maybe the previous tourist couple. was a tomb of King Ramses II’s beloved son, King Merenptah.

The tomb was blocked off with railings and was in an area too deep to get into and obviously not meant to be entered.

The “guard,” who spoke no English, motioned for me to give him my camera and he would go in and take some pictures. I somewhat reluctantly handed over my camera. Then, surprisingly, he motioned for us to follow him in.

Dave and the man had to help me down into about a six-footdeep sub room. He kept showing us the “keep this a secret” sign with a finger up to his lips. It was all very clandestine and he was obviously taking us where no man had ever gone except for maybe the previous tourist couple.

We actually went into the empty sarcophagus itself, which had interesting carvings and was one of the largest we had seen. We had fun with our little private adventure and he received a generous tip. And… no one came to lock us up.

We sailed on to Edfu the next day visiting the temple there and then sailed to Kom Ombo to tour the double temple dedicated to the Falcon god, Haroeris, and the crocodile god, Sobek.

Egypt has a lot of gods and kings and thus there is no

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Descending underground into the multilevel tombs was a breathtaking experience.

shortage of temples and reliefs covering the walls, columns, and doorways to depict their adventures and lives. All of these are amazingly beautiful and I couldn’t not take pictures of nearly everything.

There was one especially interesting to us.

The Sobek temple was built during the Ptolemaic era and there is a hieroglyphics scene on the face of the rear wall depicting a set of surgical instruments.

You can make out tweezer-like shapes, knives, loops, scoops, forceps, a scale, flasks, and containers probably for medicines.

Given our medical background we were quite amazed.

The next stop was Aswan

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November 2018

where we saw, you guessed it, more temples, statues and tombs.

It is here we took our threehour high-speed trip across the hot (117 degrees) barren desert to Abu Simbel.

Set in the solid rock above the banks of the Nile River on Lake Nasser are two gigantic and very famous temples to King Ramses II and his wife Queen Nefertari.

The main temple was placed so that the rays of the sun would penetrate the sanctuary and illuminate the sculptures on the back wall on Oct. 22 and Feb. 22 (allegedly the king’s birthday and coronation day). But the rays never came over the adjacent statue of Ptah, the god of

The Webers — both retired doctors — didn’t expect to see medical instruments carved into the walls of the temples.

Two massive statues greet visitors to Luxor Temple

craftsmen and architects. As Ptah was associated with the Egyptian underworld, his image was kept in perpetual darkness.

One of the most interesting things about Abu Simbel is that it had to be moved. Yes, moved!

Both massive temples were completely deconstructed and then reconstructed in a new, man-made, mountain to preserve it from the rising waters of Lake Nasser when the Aswan dam was built. It was an unbelievable engineering feat that took eight years to complete.

After our ride back we had a lovely evening boat ride on the Nile.

The next day we flew to Cairo and the following day we saw what everyone comes to Egypt

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for, the Great Pyramids.

We felt like Indiana Jones as we descended into the hot humid air of the pyramid itself.

And of course we took our pictures of the Sphinx and finished our tour in the ancient city of Memphis.

The depth of history, as well as the people, and culture of Egypt made for one of the most memorable, interesting and intriguing trips we have ever taken.

Most reviews ask, “Would you recommend this to a friend?”

Our answer is, YES! Most definitely!

Dave and Susan Weber are retired Wenatchee physicians who regularly go on Christian Medical Mission trips and often connect those with experiencing the culture of the area or countries nearby.

Gift of life

‘He had me at hello,’ and years later when he needed a kidney to live, wife finds they were indeed a perfect match

By Connie Morris

By New Year’s 2018 he was listed and knowing it takes two to five years to receive, we began the process to find a live donor. This is where my special journey begins.

It is an unusual love story. We

met by happenstance.

But first, we were divorced from our first spouses on the same day — Good Friday 1989.

In those days, there was a column in the newspaper titled ”Dissolution of Marriage.” There we were, listed one after the other, our failed marriages on display for all to see.

However, a mutual friend saw the announcement and thought we might be good together. She called each of us and asked if we might be interested in meeting someone new and she would arrange a dinner for us to meet.

We both said yes.

Three weeks after our divorces were final, a dinner was arranged at the home of this very special friend. I arrived first — a little nervous, but excited to move into my future. He walked in, carrying the fish he had prepared.

If bringing food HE had prepared wasn’t enough, he looked at me with his beautiful green eyes and said “Hello.” Yes, he had me at hello.

A year and a half later we were married. We were to become a blended family. Two adolescent daughters, accustomed to being the center of attention, now had to share everything. Believe me, it wasn’t easy. Then another daughter arrived and she became the glue that bound us all.

In our 28 years married, we have had our ups and downs; like all couples who strive to build a life together. The fabric of life is woven with the threads of shared experience: proms, graduations, weddings, retirements and the deaths of family members near and dear.

None of that and all of that prepared us for the journey that began on Sept.17, 2017.

Connie and David Morris, just before the surgery that gave one of her kidneys to him.

It was my brother’s birthday celebration at my mother’s home. Dinner was almost over and my husband received a call.

He listened, he nodded and said “uh huh.”

He abruptly rose from his seat and left the house. Shocked at his behavior, I excused myself and followed him home.

When we arrived home, I asked him what had happened, what had caused him to leave so abruptly.

The call David had received

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was from Confluence Health.

He had a routine blood exam earlier in the day and the results showed that his kidneys were close to failing and that he needed to be prepped for dialysis immediately.

What? This can’t be! He knew he had high blood pressure that had done some damage to his kidneys, but his doctors assured him, given his overall good health, he would most likely never need dialysis or transplant.

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November 2018

We were forced to face reality. We feared the active life we shared would be halted.

Through research and consultation, we prepared for the immediate change in our lifestyle.

However, lo and behold, his deterioration stabilized. With the support of his doctors, here and at Virginia Mason in Seattle, we delayed dialysis prep and moved forward with the process to get him listed on the regional deceased donor list.

By New Year’s 2018 he was listed and knowing it takes two to five years to receive, we began the process to find a live donor.

This is where my special journey begins.

I decided to be tested for a match so that I might tell his potential family donors how the process worked.

It turned out to be quite simple. First, you must be of a compatible blood type. I was. Next, I had blood drawn in Wenatchee and that was sent to Virginia Mason to analyze potential for rejection. After a couple of weeks, they called with the results. Miracle of miracles I was a match.

Wow, how could it be so easy?

Next I went to Virginia Mason for a full health evaluation and the team determined I was healthy enough to give one of my kidneys to my husband. Boy,

did he make a good choice when he married me!

Three months later, we had our surgery and now three months post surgery we are doing great.

I now have a new mission — advocating for potential kidney donors. Like many people, I am listed as an “organ donor” on my driver’s license. It never occurred to me to be a living donor.

As I worked through the donation process I became better informed of the facts surrounding kidney donation. n Why donate? You are giving someone the gift of years of a better and healthier life. n Who can donate? You must be 18 or older, healthy (not at risk for kidney disease) and a match to someone (could be someone you know or you could become part of a donor chain or paired donation). n Will donating affect my health? Research shows that donors have a normal life ex-

Many say it was a “gift of life” for him, but it has been a gift to me, too. I have had the satisfaction of knowing my donation has made a huge difference in the quality of someone’s life. pectancy and lead normal lives without restriction. n How invasive is the surgery?

The kidney is usually removed laparoscopically, hospital stay of a day or two and back to normal activity in four to six weeks. n How is it paid for? Your recipient’s insurance covers all costs for evaluation, surgery and post-op care.

Kidney transplants have been done for over 50 years, with a 93

- WHEN -

Thu, November 15 - Sun, November 18

- WHERE -

Stanley Civic Center in Downtown Wenatchee

percent success rate after three years for the recipient.

I have had a unique view, having been a donor and married to my recipient. I see first hand the change it has made in his life.

Many say it was a “gift of life” for him, but it has been a gift to me, too. I have had the satisfaction of knowing my donation has made a huge difference in the quality of someone’s life.

If you are interested in kidney donation or want more information about the process you can visit the United Network for Organ Sharing at www.unos.org or contact NW Kidney Centers at (206) 720-3737.

You will not regret it.

David Morris is 13 years retired from Chelan County P.U.D. He spends his time hiking, doing home repairs and coaching pole vault for the Wenatchee High School track team. Connie is a Wenatchee native and in her 36th year in the dental field. She is part of the Wenatchee Valley Follies Guild and involved with Wenatchee School District and community theater.

Holiday Spice sponsored by

HOLIDAY SPICE

Richard & Connie Hoffmann

November 16 at 7pm, November 17 at 1pm Tickets $27-$35

Little Black Dress Party sponsored by

LITTLE BLACK DRESS PARTY November 16 at 7:30pm Tickets $30 • VIP Table $200

- WHAT -

View a variety of Trees & Wreaths at free public viewing, bid in the Silent Auction or Live Auction, get tickets to our annual Fundraising Events, and more to benefit the Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Live Auction sponsored by

DINNER & LIVE AUCTION

November 17 at 5pm Tickets $60-$75 • Table $500-$700

TEDDY BEAR TIME November 18 at 11am

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A sport so cool it’s called

ULTIMATE B

By Marlene Farrell

oise is an eight-hour drive or two plane rides away, but going there once a month is worth it for Kevin Farrell of Wenatchee.

Once there he lives and breathes ultimate (also known as ultimate Frisbee, however, Frisbee is the trademark of one disc company). He practices six to eight hours per weekend day with his mixed club team, Lochsa.

It’s about love of sport and community.

Kevin said, “At tryouts, I felt an instant connection. I meshed really well with everyone on the team.”

Ultimate, a 50-year old sport, has evolved into a worldwide phenomenon. Over seven million men, women and children play at varying levels, with the U.S. being the hub.

The gear is simple. Players wear cleats and need a disc. The 175g Ultrastar, made

by Discraft, sets the standard. “The lip has a nice curve to it, which is good for flying off the fingers,” said Kevin. They’re lighter and larger than disc golf models, which hit a chain-filled basket, not a teammate’s outstretched hand.

Ultimate combines the non-stop coordinated movements of soccer with the aerial passing and end zones of football for an action-packed game. Two teams of seven vie for points by throwing a flying disc to teammates while never running with it. Turnovers happen instantaneously and often, forcing players to adapt quickly between offense and defense strategies.

Ultimate attract athletes from these other sports. “I came to ultimate with a basic understanding of game style from watching and playing organized sports,” Kevin said.

Additionally, Kevin draws from his track and crosscountry background for the position he often plays, that of cutter (offensive receiver). “I have stamina for the long points and speed when I need it.” During a game, he’ll sprint over and over across the field, which is about the length of a soccer field but narrower in width.

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Kevin Farrell goes all in as he prepares to throw around a defender. Photo by Dan Ireland

He also had a solid four years of playing on a college team while attending Northern Arizona University. His teammates made up his core group of friends there, and he still reconnects with some of them at tournaments.

Lochsa’s six to eight hour practices sound intense, but they’re critical for the dispersed team of 27 men and women to build cohesion so they can challenge other club teams at five to eight tournaments each year.

“We have lots of drills to prepare for ultimate,” explained Kevin. “Most of them consist of mimicking a certain aspect of the game to improve each piece. We usually end our practices with scrimmages where we institute the pieces we worked on in the drills.”

Anyone can throw a frisbee, but ultimate requires a sophisticated repertoire of throws, plus foot speed across the field and agility to climb into the air to swat down an opponent’s pass.

Kevin, as a cutter, has to sprint, jump and dive often for a disc. He’s not one of his team’s handlers, or throwers, but everyone works on their throws. “I know all the throws, forehand, hammer (overhead, high arching throw) and scoober (upside down forehand grip, coming off the shoulder), with my best throw being the backhand.”

Some handlers are even ambidextrous, which makes it much harder to block their throw.

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Kevin moved to Wenatchee in 2016 to work as a civil engineer for the consulting firm SCJ Alliance.

During the week, when he’s not designing road, bridge or park improvements, he involves himself in the local ultimate scene.

Wenatchee Ultimate Frisbee League, established by Eastmont Park and Recreation through the efforts of Kevin and other ultimate advocates, is in its third season. There’s room for continued growth.

Nearby, Seattle’s ultimate community has grown into the thousands because DiscNW has a substantial middle school and high school program, which feeds into the adult teams. So far in Wenatchee, ultimate has been adopted by the River Academy, which competes in tournaments on the west side.

The club season just wrapped up with Lochsa’s third place finish in a tough regional final. They were one spot away from qualifying for nationals.

He’s proud to see his team ranked consistently in the top 20 in the nation, especially given they’re competing against large metropolitan areas including San Francisco, Seattle, Boston and Minneapolis.

Kevin’s not hanging up his disc though.

He’ll play indoor ultimate on a basketball court in the winter. And he plans to attend an upcoming party tournament, which is open to a wider range of athletes.

Party tournaments also emphasize another

November 2018

aspect of ultimate, “the party” after the Saturday games, when the bonhomie of the sport takes center stage.

That collegiality is connected to ultimate’s commitment to “the spirit of the game.”

The official USA Ultimate website states, “All actions are governed by the ‘spirit of the game.’

Kevin recalled a telling moment from the regional tournament. The final game they played was for second place, with the winner going to nationals and the loser going home.

“Many of the other teams stayed to watch, including the team that got first place. It was really awesome to see everyone watching and cheering from the sideline. But what really struck me was after the game was over and my team had lost, one of the standout players from the first place team came over to congratulate us on a hard fought Kevin has to sprint, jump and dive often for a disc. game and to let us know how well he Kevin looks forward to further thought we played. It was a real honing his game. “I still want high-class move and shows the to work on my field awareness, support the community has for thinking about where it’s best to each other.” be and when to cut.”

Friendship through shared The sport is gratifying beexperience motivates Kevin to cause, as Kevin said, “It’s about spend most weekends going to what you put into it.”

Idaho or tournaments. “There aren’t many outlets like this Marlene Farrell, no relation to the for people my age. Ultimate is Kevin Farrell of this story, is a Leavfor people who enjoy competenworth writer and coach of cross ing, but also enjoy each other’s country and Nordic skiing. When not company. I’m introverted, but writing, she likes to be outdoors with her family, including her husband, my team was so welcoming from another Kevin Farrell. the very first day I joined.”

November 2018 | The Good Life

The Good Life can be found at: Safeway stores, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Rhubarb Market, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and Dan’s Food Market (Leavenworth)

For a

Mainstreet Christmas Enjoy the holiday season in Downtown Wenatchee.

Experience the magic!

Holiday Line Up 2018: Holiday Open House and Wine Walk Saturday, November 10th • 12-5pm Sponsored by Moss Adams and Dave and Sandy Gellatly Small Business Saturday Saturday, November 24th Kickoff for “Mingle & Jingle through the Holiday’s” passport in downtown Pizza, Photos and Crafts with Santa Saturday, December 8th • 10am-3pm

Sponsored by North Cascades Bank, NCW Foundation for Youth, Parson’s Photography, Papa Murphy’s Pizza

www.wendowntown.org www.ncwgoodlife.com

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Willie Weinstein — a well-lived life aging well means using whatever health and wealth you possess to live each day as fully as possible.

And it means staying in good spirits.

S

By Susan Lagsdin

ometimes it’s instructive to look backward and outside our contemporary feast of lifestyle choices and media-driven chaos at a life well-lived in another time.

What stays the same? How have we changed? What can we learn? Making comparisons, we can draw wisdom.

An active 96, glowing, poised and positive, Willie Weinstein remains resolutely upbeat about her life. A lifelong resident of Wenatchee, she married into a prominent and philanthropic family instrumental in the city’s progress. She now lives alone and comfortably in her familiar East Wenatchee apartment, a 40-year tenant.

But she defies any easy stereotype of her generation; she’s often out and about, or on the phone and working on projects.

She said, “When you don’t do anything — what are you able to give? And if you can’t give to people, what’s the use of living?”

For Willie, aging well means using whatever health and wealth you possess to live each day as fully as possible. And it means staying in good spirits.

She said she recently received a phone call from a distant relative who said, “I just called you up to hear you laugh.”

Picture these few scenes from her life story: n A sixth-grade girl — a girl!

— practices hours a day throwing a baseball at a target so she’ll be sure to win, not once, but twice, the coveted Hole-In-One pitching award. Her prize? A thrilling tour of the newly-constructed Grand Coulee Dam. n A clarinet-playing cutie working high school week-

About her ’97 Park Avenue Buick: “Well, I do take it up the driveway to the garbage can once a week,” she confessed.

Willie Weinstein sits for a photo on a deck in her backyard where she has lived for 40 years.

ends in a swinging dance band downtown once catches the eye of the son of a wealthy investor and businessman… and the rest, after the war, a formal introduction and a first date, is love and marriage. n An earnest young surgical nurse fresh out of graduate training works backbreaking 12-hour shifts in a San Francisco hospital tending to amputees

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and brain-injured soldiers and sailors just shipped in from WWII’s Pacific Theater. n A spunky young bride, early on in a month-long California honeymoon, one night in Palm Springs finds and carefully positions a mammoth pine cone between the sheets on her unsuspecting groom’s side of the bed. n A woman just shy of 90

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November 2018

rockets confidently along an interconnected series of ziplines in the lush green upper canopy of a Costa Rican rainforest. As she said of all spectacular world travel sites she visited: “I just wanted to see the beauty of the thing.”

Willie has been variously described as “a sweetheart,” a “go-getter,” and a “firecracker,” with a pace her middle age family members find hard to match.

Granted, she depends on the kindness of others for transportation to shopping, doctor appointments and church at St. Luke’s Episcopal; with her eyesight iffy, the ’97 Park Avenue Buick stays parked. “Well, I do take it up the driveway to the garbage can once a week,” she confessed.

But she’s at work each Tuesday by 7:45 a.m. at the front desk of Central Washington Hospital, respected as its oldest and the longest-employed volunteer.

(Willie was pleased to inform a few of the young doctors, “I was your grandfather’s babysitter.”)

Volunteer coordinator Ceci Wood, also a longtime family friend, said even with big changes at the hospital, Willie is never flustered. “She’s taught me so much: stay busy, don’t hold grudges, and carry on. And she’s never afraid to start something new.”

Willie believes it was her early career as a nurse that lead her to first volunteer at the hospital 16 years ago. Trained during the war years at Virginia Mason hospital in Seattle, then on duty in the Bay area, she soon returned to Wenatchee and continued as a nurse educator at Deaconess Hospital.

However, on her honeymoon in 1947, her husband, Royal Weinstein (they’d met formally only months earlier at a mutual friend’s wedding and had a whirlwind romance), said he didn’t want her to work as a nurse. Instead, he really needed her help in The Fashion Shop, one of several family enterprises his parents owned.

“I immediately realized,” said Willie, “How awfully selfish it would be for me to stay in nursing. I’d always be giving time to other people — and my husband needed me just as much. He was right, and I never blamed him for that.”

She soon became a mainstay of the exclusive women’s wear store at 25 North Wenatchee Avenue, taking buying trips to both coasts and planning fashion shows, designing Apple Blossom royalty dresses and generally running a tight ship.

She said, “Every day when Royal walked in the front door, he’d immediately ask, ‘Where’s Willie?’”

An event early in her marriage further cemented the good graces of the society-conscious Weinsteins. She was asked by the wife of a local judge to be the single flag bearer from Washington state for the Daughters of The American Revolution convention in Washington D.C. Willie remembers, “It was quite an honor, and I know that made a really strong impression on the family.”

Though she was a working mother with civic responsibilities (including Applarians and the Lake Chelan Yacht Club) and soon three sons, Willie took time for trips with her husband to Alaska, Panama, San Fran-

“Oh, we went everywhere, all over the world — we stayed in the best hotels, ate the best food, and (son) Ed could take time off to be out tour guide.” cisco. “We had so much fun! I hated leaving the boys behind, home alone with babysitters…

Royal didn’t seem to mind it, but it hurt me.”

Her son Dick, present for this interview, assured her it was OK. “Really,” he continued, “It was fine.” He added, “Mom was always protective of us, stood up for us. We had it all — it was a really good childhood.”

In 1972, retirement and the sale of the business gave Willie and Royal a chance to travel even more, aided by perks from her eldest son’s position with Pan American Airlines. For 20 years, Willie said, “Oh, we went everywhere, all over the world — we stayed in the best hotels, ate the best food, and Ed could take time off to be our tour guide.”

She brought out a stack of small journals with short lists on their end pages like 1980, 8.25 – 10.11: Delhi, Kashmir, Bangkok, Singapore, Bali. Or 1982, 8.29 – 10.12: London, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris, Istanbul, Bombay, Tokyo.

Willie was deeply saddened but undaunted by the death of loved ones — Royal, after a long illness, in 2002; a favorite brother-in-law and traveling companion, Stearns, and her middle son John more recently.

But she keeps on keeping up, her daily life sparkled by visits, her social calendar full. Willie was a treasured companion six years ago for friends Gay Cordell and Kaytie Crandall at the helm of their sailboat, traveling up November 2018 | The Good Life

the inside passage from Tacoma toward Alaska with lively conversation and Scotch at sunset.

Not bad for 90.

Willie’s perspective on 2018 is as positive as her everyday habit of waking up every morning with at least one goal to accomplish. What’s good about young people today? “Oh, they’re so much more relaxed and confident than we were. Maybe more… self-centered.”

Manners? She decries the informality of clothing, recalling the suit, heels and gloves days of Pan Am travel. But she remarked that someone is always there to cheerfully open a door for her.

How about technology? “They are completely re-inventing the world!” (she’s not a fan of computers, but, Dick said, “She is handy with the TV remote.”)

And the city itself? “I love what’s happening in downtown Wenatchee — all the trees growing up, the lamps and signposts…” She did question the viability of parking for new condo and apartment-dwellers, and she distrusts roundabouts.

Friends and family? They’re everywhere.

With four grandchildren, four great-grands and numerous nieces and nephews, Willie’s still the special-occasion gift giver.

It’s getting complicated. She laughed, “Sometimes I’ll get a card saying, ‘thank you so much for the tablecloth and napkins,’ and I’ll have to think ‘what was that about?”

“My mother has a love of life that’s so brilliant,” Dick said proudly, “that her friends in their 70s and 80s have learned from her how to live their lives well as they mature.”

At the end of our interview, the question of regrets or, “I wish I could” came up. Willie mused quite a while, then responded, “There isn’t a thing I’ve done I didn’t want to do — and I think I’ve done just about everything I wanted to. I’ve lived a good life, a very good life.” www.ncwgoodlife.com

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What’s on your bucket list?

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

Or, have you recently celebrated a birthday that ends in a zero with a monumental moment that will stick in your memory?

Send us an e-mail — with pictures if possible — to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com. We would love to share your feat with our readers and maybe inspire others to create memories of their own.

Saddle Rock & me

Molly Steere finds a high perch on Saddle Rock to view the valley below.

From newcomer to new mom, and now recovering knee replacement patient, Molly Steere finds Wenatchee icon to be a memorable force in her life

I

By Molly Steere

don’t remember the very first time I hiked Saddle Rock.

What I do know is that I hiked it very soon after we moved to the Wenatchee area 12 years ago and it quickly became symbolic of my new home.

The rocky outcropping (that does indeed resemble a saddle) is an icon that is visible from almost anywhere in town. Every time I hike it I am reminded of the breathtaking, unconventional beauty that defines our backyard.

There are two different trail options approaching from either side of the saddle and I use both equally (you can find directions to both trailheads on WenatcheeOutdoors.org).

Both trails are short, fairly steep in areas, and deliver expansive views of the Wenatchee Valley, the foothills, Rocky Reach Dam, town, and the silvery ribbon of the Columbia running through all of it.

I’ve hiked Saddle Rock in all seasons.

I love getting out there just as the foothills turn a velvety green in the spring and the air smells of wet dirt and wildflowers.

During the scorching dry heat of the summer, I’ve kicked up the fine dust of the baked earth, my face lined with salt from dried sweat.

I’ve stood at the top looking out over the valley as leaves change to fiery shades and breathe in the crispness in the air that hints at the cold to

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come.

I’ve even stomped through (and slipped on) snow and ice on unforgivably cold, clear winter days when the view was crisp and bright.

And then there are the seasons of life.

When someone uses the word “season” to describe a stage in one’s life, I unfairly — and vigorously — roll my eyes. Maybe it’s because the term is so prevalent.

“This season of growth and adjustment is fleeting” or “during this difficult season, remember to stay positive.”

Maybe I bristle at its use because it’s so often used to describe a negative phase to be endured.

I rarely hear about someone’s “season of mind-boggling awesomeness.” However, I have to admit the word works in so many situations.

Saddle Rock has been a constant in my life as the seasons (both metaphorically and figura-

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November 2018

tively) have changed.

I love looking at pictures my husband took of me on one of our hikes up to the saddle where I’m showing off my barely-pregnant belly at the base of the rock foundations.

Saddle Rock was my first hike after I had my son, Roper.

He rode in a front carrier and quickly informed me that he did not like the wind — screaming at it with matched ferocity when we got up top.

The first time Roper hiked up to the top himself he was so proud of himself, and then promptly gave me a heart attack while clambering up the rocks after his dad (in case you’ve never been up there, there’s a lot of exposure in some areas).

Saddle Rock has many times been a warped version of a date night for my husband and me, racing to the top and back in the dark before we pick up our son.

Those are probably some of my favorite date nights, feeling like

we fit as much as possible into a small chunk of time — connecting with each other, getting in a good workout, filling our lungs with fresh air, and having the trail (mostly) to ourselves.

The hike has also been a staple for solo hikes, offering me a short window to get away from work and parenting.

I find some of the biggest shifts in my perspective happen with elevation gain. Especially when I’m rewarded with a panoramic view.

My most recent hike up Saddle Rock was my first time on the trail since a total knee replacement.

I’ve logged a lot of firsts since the replacement: first time walking unassisted, first time driving, first time setting off a metal detector, first time biking, and more.

Finally, it was my first time hiking Saddle Rock.

Saddle Rock has always been a good gauge for me after a major surgery to see how out of shape I’ve become (spoiler alert: the answer is usually “shamefully”).

My knee replacement and subsequent secondary procedure kept me off the trails for longer than previous surgeries, so this return to the trails was even sweeter.

I tested out Ebenezer (yes, I named my new knee) on flat trails, but quickly decided it was ready for Saddle Rock. I should note that I’m a tad impulsive and that my physical therapy team did not necessarily agree to this jump in activity/elevation at the time. Oh, but it was glorious! At least the uphill portion of it.

Using my walking poles, I cruised up the trail without a problem — even on the steeper, uneven sections.

The view was amazing and, as always, I got a nerdy geological thrill thinking about the wind, rain, ice, and floods that formed Saddle Rock and the surrounding valley ages ago. For the record, this is a great sunrise or sunset hike. The sunlight on the

Columbia and the glow of the hills are spectacular.

I procrastinated at the top, scrambling around the craggy, pointed towers, soaking in the view from each angle, and taking pictures.

But I eventually had to face the fact that I needed to get down. Dread started to build in the pit of my stomach as I peered down at my car in the lot. The trail suddenly seemed much longer than I remembered.

I didn’t yet trust Ebenezer and was terrified the whole way down. There are steep sections that are slippery. I might as well have been on roller skates.

If you’re at all unsteady on your feet, for the love of all things good, bring poles! But once I was safely down to the car, my brain immediately erased the downhill portion of the hike and I drove home on a hiking high — Ebenezer and I were ready to start a new season together.

November 2018 | The Good Life

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Hot air balloon ride: “The balloons are so big yet so quiet when the burners are off.”

Loss of a leg as a teen hasn’t kept her down from the dream of being up in the air

If you never stretch possibilities, you’re missing out on what can be the thrill of your life.

By Pat Turner

My fascination with up-in-

the-air activities started in grade school.

Every year I saved my allowance to spend on rides at the carnival when it came to town during Apple Blossom. The excitement of spinning, twisting and being up-side-down sends shivers. As soon as the rides were assembled and ready, I was there, even if it was a school night.

Over the years I searched for more adventure.

Parasailing behind a motorboat on Lake Chelan was new when I graduated from high school. As I approached the watchful eyes of the people in charge, I knew I needed to convince them, “I really can do this.”

You see, the end of December of my senior year I was in a car accident and lost my right leg above the knee. The challenge was doing a land start, which took a couple of steps before

Parasailing in Mazatlán: “I had both a sandy take-off and landing. When I was safely on the ground the guys looked relieved, and we all had a good laugh,” said Pat.

liftoff.

I had no doubt I would be up in the air in no time, but I can understand their apprehension.

With a cute guy on each side holding my arms for balance, two hops and I was in the air.

A couple of years ago I parasailed in Mazatlán, Mexico. The reason I did it a second time, the line is much longer. Oh, and their were two more cute guys by my side.

Next came my birthday surprise from Joe, my husband.

Arrangements were made to go up with a pilot out of the Pangborn Memorial Airport in East Wenatchee. Over the years I watched gliders from afar. Now it was my turn to fly with the birds.

It became spooky quiet after the motored plane flew to a safe elevation and released the tow cable. We were set free to ride

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Sky-diving in Chelan: “When we dove out of the plane, there was no time to wonder if the chute was going to open. Everything happened so fast, and then we were floating in silence.”

the wind currents.

Quickly the pilot realized I really did enjoy the experience and wasn’t going to get sick.

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November 2018

Only then did we do some dives and twists, similar to carnival rides.

When a neighbor moved in

across the street from our home, I had the opportunity to ride in a small, sport plane for two. He built the LongEZE aircraft from a kit in the ’70s.

What a thrill to fly over the Enchantments, a popular hiking area outside of Leavenworth.

Since I don’t hike I would never have seen the beauty of these mountains, and lakes. For a bonus, I snapped the perfect picture of Mount Rainier against a blue sky.

Zip-lining caught my eye searching for activities while visiting Mazatlán, Mexico. What a rush skimming over the tops of the trees, suspended by a thin cable.

At the second landing I noticed the rigging was held together with electrician’s and duct tape. No OSHA rules here.

I was the first amputee not wearing a prosthesis to zip with this company. Again, I posed new challenges for the guys. The young men kept me safe to zip again. One even gave me a piggy

The LongEZE aircraft: “It is barely longer than I am tall. I did pause a minute when I walked around the corner and first saw it. Then it was just a matter getting in, locking the front wheel in place manually, and we were off.”

back ride up the steep hill when I started getting over heated.

Each up-in-the-air activity added a different excitement.

The summer of 2017 I topped them all. During a contest at WORX gym, I won a tandem sky dive with Dive Chelan. Sitting

on the edge to exit the plane, 11,000 feet above the ground, truly took my breath away.

Did I think about backing out, never! We inched towards the edge, one more scooch and we were in a 100-mile an hour free fall. My only regret, everything

happened so fast. Would I do it again, in a heartbeat.

Another floating adventure: My husband Joe and I rode in a hot air balloon last October of 2017. It was so quiet until the burners turned on to lift us higher. Floating over the fields and surveying the incredible landscape gave a unique perspective of the many colors and textures of the land.

One more up-in-the-air item on my bucket list is to jump off the cliff at Chelan Butte and tandem hang glide. This poses different challenges and I haven’t been given the go ahead to schedule. I can wait as safety comes first.

If you never stretch possibilities you’re missing out on what can be the thrill of your life.

Yes, this is my challenge to you, make it happen.

Pat Turner is a retired school teacher.

She first made her mark in the valley at Mission Ridge as a three-track skier. Now she looks to the sky, and under the ocean for her classroom.

What Was Your Best Day in 2018?

Tell us a story about your best day in the past year.

Did you climb a mountain, check off an item on your bucket list, cross an ocean, hold a new life in your hand, discover a new talent, set out on a new path, get a surprising check in the mail, make a difference in someone’s life, begin a new chapter in your life...

Write us an email -- 200 to 500 words or so -- telling us of your best day in 2018. Send along some digital photos, too.

We’ll choose one of the writers for a $100 gift certificate to any one of The Good Life’s advertisers from 2018.

But be quick... the deadline is Friday, Dec. 7.

Get writing, the prize could go to you... if you’re swift!

Send photos and stories to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com November 2018 | The Good Life

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2nd sto

in downtown The Rosvold Building on the northwest corner of Wenatchee Avenue and First Street has been improved upstairs and down, outside and in. Currently, the much-used second floor living spaces are undergoing renovation that maintains their historic ambience but adds some modern amenities.

As people return to living downtown, the spaces get a chic makeover Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Donna Cassidy

A growing stack of boxes,

bins and bundles lines the broad hallway upstairs in the Rosvold Building on Wenatchee Avenue, and there’s a flurry of deep cleaning inside an almost-empty apartment #2.

Tall windows look down on busy storefront business, pedestrians and the muted bustle of traffic. The branch of an autumn tree sways in view, sunshine fills the room.

Christie Adams is moving out of #2, somewhat reluctantly. “I love it here,” she said. “I’ve been here two years, and this is the very best apartment I’ve ever lived in — I’m kind of sad I have to leave….”

Look again. This isn’t the same downtown you knew 20 years ago.

On any given evening on Wenatchee Avenue, there’s a lively vibe untypical of most cities this size. Bars, bistros and restaurants are open for business; music, movies and art events beckon; cars line the streets and couples stroll the sidewalks. Notably, the upstairs

lights are on again in several older buildings.

Turning on some of those lights are downtown development devotees like Bob and Mike Salmon at the Morris Building, Rory Turner at the old Wenatchee Hotel Building, Roger Bumps on the Davis Furniture block, Curt Gavin above GPA printing and Dan and Cheryl Van Polen above the Performance Footwear site.

Older and affordable housing still exists on the Avenue, but this new mix of condos, rentable apartments and owner homes, with their mix of urban flair and historical ambience, signals that gentrification, in the gentlest sense, has come to Wenatchee’s main street.

In the 1940s, Community Development Director Steve King estimates, there were probably 1,000 to 2,000 people living and working in downtown Wenatchee. That number plummeted with America’s postwar suburbanization, but the people are coming back — and an estimated 400 now call Wenatchee Avenue their neighborhood.

King said, “Urban housing

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is great for the environment, in terms of efficient use of resources and fewer cars on the road — it also helps build a strong sense of community.”

The residential renaissance is a result of vision and optimism, and here’s one more example to applaud. Cathy Resch, a Pilates instructor and interior designer and her husband Tim, a building contractor, are gradually renovating the second-floor apartments above Cycle Central in the building owned by their friends Korey and Michelle Rosvold.

The Resches left their 2,500-square-foot Squilchuck Road house two years ago after a traumatic and expensive landslide evacuation, but that misfortune, as misfortunes

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November 2018

sometimes do, pushed them to achieve a long-time dream – one of greatly simplified urban living.

Their first cooperative venture in the building, destined to become their own downtown digs, was a high-ceilinged single-bedroom unit with big windows that look down on the Avenue’s busy-ness with a peekaboo view of the eastern hillsides.

Cathy said, “When we first moved here, I didn’t have a car for a year, and it was great!

We walked everywhere.” Her business, Studio One Pilates, and Tim’s Resch Renovation and Design office are close by, and shopping is convenient.

They happily adjusted to the radical downsizing. She said

ory joy

n Wenatchee

This sunny room in the Rosvold Building, with three east facing windows and a bonus tree just outside, shows a clever use of multiple spaces — dining, storage and conversation areas are flexible for any occasion.

Plenty of counter space and (generally) hidden-away storage shelves help expand the small kitchen. Notice the transom windows over the bedroom, a nod to a need for ambient light. Tenants bring their own furniture and in this case, an old-world, elegant chandelier and modern artwork.

when they entertain friends in their chic 500 square-foot space, “It’s usually cocktails here, then dinner downtown and maybe a

bridge, down to Pybus Market and the riverfront, and back around from Orondo Avenue.

They’ve discovered the

show.” (Which could mean just across the street at the PAC.) Their favorite evening stroll leads them over the pedestrian

unexpected tradeoff for moving two mature adults into a tiny space is increased flexibility and

}}} Continued on next page

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509.663.1710 owner4165@merrymaids.net

This apartment — down the hall from the Resches — furnished by the tenant, features a new-look, old-style barn door at the bedroom with a finish to match the sleek, modern chairs and rug. This distinctive flooring is consistent throughout all the remodeled apartments. Photo by Cathy Resch

2nd story joy }}} Continued from previous page freedom, as well as a friendly neighborhood.

Their work is gradual, as they each maintain other businesses, but the extended remodeling project may eventually encompass the whole upstairs, 16 apartments total. Half are studios, half are one-bedroom

units, and a unique and sensible working arrangement benefits the Resches, the Rosvolds and the tenants.

The much-used and lightlymaintained apartments have been rented out for years, but now as residents move on, each space receives a high-quality remodel of floors, appliances,

ABOVE: Cathy and Tim brought professional vision and skills to their own remodeled apartment, carefully coordinating old and new looks. This hospitable area, now light and bright, was originally a narrow, enclosed galley kitchen.

UPPER RIGHT: Wenatchee Avenue’s varied businesses and pleasures are just out their window or down a flight of stairs. The Resches refinished most walls with sheetrock but exposed and renewed the original brick when possible.

cabinetry, tilework, paint, etc.

New tenants can buy in to the re-do and dramatically reduce their rent for a time, and several have opted for that investment.

Cathy and Tim’s compatible professions mean each of the

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November 2018

varied spaces is getting plenty of attention. Older materials maintain the early-century look: deep molding, decorative radiator screens, exposed brick, original hardware. Most feature a stylish deep gray and cream

most units easily opened up for maximum utility. One bedroom has a barn-door faced in shiny metal; another is lightened by high glassed transoms opening to the main room.

Who lives there?

Years ago, several units served as transitional housing for lower income renters; a few of those are still occupied. The newly-renovated spaces attract retirees and young professionals, part-time residents with homes elsewhere, commuters who work a few days a week in town. And the occasional student.

Christie — the young woman leaving Unit #2 — newly graduated from college and headed off on a major backpacking trip around Europe, has adventure straight ahead of her and a job in Seattle this winter.

But she said she’ll never forget living in the freshly remodeled, cute and cozy space above Cycle Central — the perfect home base for her life in Wenatchee.

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Cathy reclines in the living room, one small enough to demand judicious choices of art and furnishings but spacious enough for relaxing and entertaining company. Window seats installed over radiators added extra room.

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There’s little need for teardowns, but each of the units is a design challenge.

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23

PET tales

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

Maxdog: From rescue dog to Christmas book

By Jennifer Burke

“Let’s just go take a look,”

said my husband, handing me a folded page from the Wenatchee World featuring a picture of a dog.

“We don’t have to bring him home, but let’s just look.” I glanced down at the photo of the young German Short Hair Pointer who peered back at me from the page. “This hunter likes People,” read the headline.

The article went on to describe the “Dog of the Week,” a oneyear-old stray with the markings of a fine hunter.

OK,” I agreed reluctantly. “But we are just looking. Why would we want a hunting dog? We’re not hunters.”

“Let’s just go,” encouraged my husband again. What he failed to tell me then was that he had been to the shelter the previous day, and this dog had already captured his heart. There was no escaping it. The dog was going to be ours.

And so we brought him home.

Our then 9-year-old daughter

named him Max after the dog in the Little Mermaid movie and he quickly became the fifth member of our family.

Max was quite a character. He loved to eat his dog food topped with taco cheese, and he could not be deterred from sleeping on the couch until we moved an old couch into the back yard just for him.

He allowed the kids to dress him up and once marched as “Garth Barks” in the Apple Blossom Kiddie’s Parade, complete with a black cowboy hat and cardboard boots. He loved to run and chase birds and periodically escaped from our yard and took himself for walks.

Sometimes, when I walked him on the leash, we met people who were strangers to me but well known to Max. Everyone loved him. His solo escapades, however, landed him so often at the Humane Society Shelter I wondered if I couldn’t just buy him a guest pass.

Fourteen years passed. Our children had left home for college and careers and Max, like

his adult owners, had grown older and slower.

Christmas was once again approaching, and I was at a loss for ideas for gifts for my family. I wanted to do something personal.

Since I enjoy writing little stories I decided to write and illustrate Max looking forlorn, waiting for adoption. a Christmas story with Max as the main past Christmas my daughter character. encouraged me to try to publish Both the kids and my husband the story. She felt it could find were thrilled with the story and an audience and a place among it became a family keepsake.

Christmas books for children.

Several years later, following I knew I did not want to Max’s departure at the ripe old peddle the story to publishers, age 17, I reworked the story at a so I decided to attempt the selfwriter’s workshop. publishing route. I also knew my The new iteration was given as illustrations, while appreciated a gift to my grandchildren. This by my family, were in no way

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November 2018

Her illustrations are warm and inviting and appeal to “kids” of all ages.

We found an editor to help us with edits and the uploading of files to the Amazon Create Space platform. We agonized over text boxes, cover design and font styles and sizes. Who knew publishing a book could be so complicated?

When Maxdog’s Christmas Surprise became available on Amazon this year in early September we were excited and proud.

It was gratifying to see our work in print and we hope others will have as much fun reading the story as we did creating it.

Although Max did not live to see his metamorphosis from “Dog of the Week“ to star character, I feel his incredible spirit shines on every page.

I approached Wenatchee artist, Claudia Wiggins, well known for her charming and whimsical paintings, never imagining she would agree to work with me. But she did. good enough for publication. I needed an artist collaborator.

I approached Wenatchee artist, Claudia Wiggins, well known for her charming and whimsical paintings, never imagining she would agree to work with me. But she did.

And so began our wonderful adventure.

Claudia worked tirelessly to create 34 8 ½-inch by 11-inch canvases to capture the move-

Maxdog writer, Jennifer Burke, left, and illustrator Claudia Wiggins.

ment of the story.

Initially, since she was unfamiliar with the breed, she struggled to find the right per-

sona for Maxdog. But over time he transformed from a chubby furry dog to the sweet character he is now in the story.

Maxdog’s Christmas Surprise is available on Amazon.com and will be sold locally at Holiday Christmas Markets at Pybus Public Market and elsewhere.

What Was Your Best Day in 2018?

Tell us a story about your best day in the past year.

Did you climb a mountain, check off an item on your bucket list, cross an ocean, hold a new life in your hand, discover a new talent, set out on a new path, get a surprising check in the mail, make a difference in someone’s life, begin a new chapter in your life...

Write us an email -- 200 to 500 words or so -- telling us of your best day in 2018. Send along some digital photos, too.

We’ll choose one of the writers for a $100 gift certificate to any one of The Good Life’s advertisers from 2018.

But be quick... the deadline is Friday, Dec. 7.

Get writing, the prize could go to you... if you’re swift!

Send photos and stories to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

November 2018 | The Good Life

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25

>>

column moving up to the good life

june darling

Happily sailing on a sea of kindness In September while walking

the dock at Shilshole Marina in Seattle, I noticed a man with a hat and jacket on that read, “Gratitude Sailing” with a logo of a heart and a sail entwined.

Under his jacket was a t-shirt with “life is good.”

I asked about his paraphernalia.

Stephen Lamsom started talking with us and invited my husband and me aboard his 80foot sailboat.

Inside the galley, “Lammy” (as he’s sometimes called) told his moving story of once feeling like a failure because of various issues including a bankruptcy.

He suffered from three serious physical ailments that kept him bedridden and in constant pain.

He had always been a caring sort of person, but as he considered the possibility of being at the end of his life, he realized that he had never shown how deeply he cared for others. He knew just what he wanted to do

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Lammy believes kindness and compassion provokes mutual healing, happiness and fosters a deep awareness of how good life is... to change that.

Stephen decided to use his sailing skills to take other people who were in pain out on the water. He felt like a few hours on the water, seeing the beauty of nature, feeling the kindness and care of others would be a healing respite for them.

Stephen had to figure out how to get a boat and navigate many other difficulties, but he succeeded and has now taken over 1,000 people on what he calls “healing and heeling” excursions (heeling being a sailing term

for a boat’s leaning over as it’s powered by the wind).

Stephen is a man on a mission.

And he’s grateful for this opportunity to help people.

Lammy shared many heartwarming stories about various people in pain who found joy on the sailboat. In the meantime, he is also recovering from his illnesses, which is no big surprise to him.

Lammy believes kindness and compassion provokes mutual healing, happiness and fosters a deep awareness of how good life is — gratitude.

Unfortunately, kindness and compassion are currently out of vogue, according to historians like Dr. Barbara Taylor.

Taylor says that kindness was promoted for many years by the Greeks and even some of the early Romans.

Same for early Christianity.

Kindness was talked about as caritas, or charity by Christians.

It was seen as a great source of pleasure as well as an important

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| The Good Life

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virtue by people like the Stoics, Marcus Aurelius, and Cicero who thought it was essential for the good life.

In the 1700s (and really the stage had been set by St. Augustine in the late 300s and early 400s), Protestantism declared man to be fundamentally flawed. Many people still believe in the basic meanness of man (and woman).

As I look at my own life, it’s easy to see how easy nastiness comes to us. No wonder we’ve begun to doubt our basic goodness.

Psychologists like Dr. Tara Cousineau (author of The Kindness Cure: How the Science of Compassion Can Heal Your Heart and Your World), psychoanalyst Dr. Adam Phillips (popularly known as the guru of Notting Hill), and physicians like Dr. Stephen Post (author of Why Good Things Happen to Good People) say we’d better turn that around if we want to deeply experience the good life.

Neuroscientists like Richard Davidson are trying to help us see ourselves differently.

“Human beings come into

|

November 2018

... we know we ARE capable of being kind and it feels good to us. the world with innate, basic goodness. When we engage in practices that are designed to cultivate kindness and compassion… we’re not actually creating something that didn’t already exist. What we’re doing is recognizing, strengthening, and nurturing a quality that was there from the outset,” said Davidson.

I’m not sure if it’s important to believe in basic goodness — our beliefs around that obviously come and go historically. What’s most important is that we know we ARE capable of being kind and it feels good to us.

Neuroscientists have found that certain practices can prime the brain and make us all be able to pay attention to others, to notice and care about suffering without being overwhelmed, and to take actions aimed to help, as well as to be able to hold others’ accountable in ways that work.

AND when we are kinder, we become less stressed, more connected to others. Our many fears and concerns fade. We can successfully collaborate and build community together.

If you, like me, would like to strengthen your kindness and compassion, right now is a good time to start. November is the month of gratitude. Gratitude often goes hand-in-hand with compassion and kindness.

Many practices can help build kindness. Here are three sound practices you can mix up for each day this month.

Simply set aside each day for a week to remember acts of kindness you saw, or you received, or you gave.

The more you notice, the more you notice. Smiles, hugs, people holding the door open, encouraging emails, gifts.

Do an act of kindness for a friend, family, member or stranger. Buy a movie ticket or cup of coffee. Take a meal. Pick up litter.

Think about what action you can do that would be a kindness to yourself. It could be a walk, listening to music, reading something fun for 30 minutes.

Researchers have been surprised to find that all types of kindnesses — to one’s own self, to others, and just noticing and thinking about kindness have the same effect of boosting happiness.

People who work with mental illness, like Phillips, claim that it is a blockage of the need to be kind which often makes people unhappy and sends them to a psychiatrist (he claims more than any other issue!). Those who sit beside dying people remark that often the dying person’s biggest regret was not being a bit kinder.

Being kind is rewarding for us — like love, it makes the world go around. Maybe we are wired for it.

We don’t have to wait for psychiatrist to tell us. We don’t have to wait until we are on our deathbeds. We don’t have to find an 80-foot sailboat, we don’t need to be a winner in life or a big shot. We have easy ways for each of us to practice being kind right now.

How might you practice more kindness 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.

>> RANDOM QUOTE

In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.

Dalai Lama November 2018 | The Good Life

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column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR

jim brown, m.d.

As age goes up, muscles go down — and this is not good You might not have heard of

sarcopenia, but if you are over 50, there is a good chance you have it or will develop this condition to some degree.

Sarcopenia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle tissue as a natural part of the aging process.

Starting around age 30, we humans start to lose 3 to 5 percent of our muscle mass each decade.

The decline of muscle tissue with age is one of the most important causes of functional decline and can eventually lead to the loss of independence and frailty in older adults.

Around age 60 the decline may progress more rapidly.

The loss of muscle mass is twofold, including a reduction in muscle fibers as well as a decrease in the size of our muscle fibers.

As we age the body’s ability to produce the proteins that muscles need to grow decreases, and as a result our muscle cells get smaller. In addition, with age the levels of testosterone and growth hormones leads to decreased muscle growth and mass.

Females also have testosterone, although at a much lower level than males. So their decrease in testosterone with aging might play an even bigger role in their losing muscle mass.

Although aging is the main case of sarcopenia, other factors play a role as well.

People with a sedentary life style with little or no physical activity on a regular basis are at an increased risk.

Poor dietary habits and poor nutrition makes our muscles

... sarcopenia leads to weakness, increased risk of falling and breaking bones, and can lead to an older person’s loss of independence... decline more rapidly.

Older adults tend to eat less in general, and it has been shown adults over age 50 tend to eat less protein than is recommended as a daily allowance. In addition, eating too many acid producing foods such as grains and processed foods and eating too few fruits and vegetables also negatively effect our muscle mass.

Some of you might be old enough to remember Jack LaLanne, the godfather of modern fitness. He did many fitness stunts, but one of the most memorable was when he swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco at age 60 while handcuffed and towing a 1,000 pound boat.

I remember seeing him on television and in magazines and marveling at his muscle bound body when he was in his 80s.

He died at age 96.

He was a pioneer of incorporating nutrition into fitness and of informing the general public about how eating a proper diet and exercise could change one’s life.

He was so right, but unfortunately, in the general public, his message seemed to fall on deaf ears.

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| The Good Life

The symptoms and diagnosis of sarcopenia vary with the amount of muscle mass a person has lost. It becomes more obvious with the actual decrease in muscle size, weakness, loss of endurance, poor balance and trouble climbing stairs.

This may not seem to be a big concern, but sarcopenia leads to weakness, increased risk of falling and breaking bones, and can lead to an older person’s loss of independence, adversely affecting their quality of life.

We Americans like to take pills to solve many of our ills.

Unfortunately, there are no medications of FDA approved drugs to treat sarcopenia.

There is some ongoing research looking at hormonal therapy for sarcopenia, but to my knowledge there are no approved medications to date.

We can however do something to prevent or decrease sarcopenia. The old adage of “use it or lose it” certainly applies here.

Working your muscles helps maintain their muscle mass. If they aren’t used, they shrink.

It is recommended that adults, especially older ones, need to participate a minimum of twice a week in muscle building or strengthening exercise.

I think two days a week is not enough, however. We need to exercise all our muscle groups including legs, arms, chest, shoulder and abdominal muscles.

Strength training should involve resistance bands, weights and exercise machines.

If you go to many senior retirement communities, you will find activity centers including swimming pools, organized

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November 2018

exercise activities, and large exercise rooms with every kind of exercise machine equipment including free weights.

At Sun City Grand, for example, any time of the day from 5:30 a.m. to the evening there are about 40 seniors at all times working out. In general, they appear to be quite fit despite their advanced ages. Watching them makes one want to join in.

It is a good idea when starting out on a regular strengthening program to work with an exercise trainer to develop your own exercise program. Older adults should get their physician’s OK before undertaking this type of exercise activity to make sure there are no health issues to be concerned about.

As far as nutrition is concerned, we need to eat an adequate amount of protein daily.

An egg a day is now OK. The USDA recommends choosing skinless chicken and lean cuts of beef. Seafood such as trout, salmon, cod and halibut are excellent protein sources.

For those who avoid meat, tofu, lentils, beans and quinoa are good sources of protein.

Aging is inevitable, but in my opinion, preferable to the alternative.

The good news is sarcopenia can be slowed down or diminished with exercise, weights and proper nutrition.

Don’t be a couch potato. The benefits are enormous.

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.

>>

column meet our native plants

Yellow Rabbitbrush: Beneficial, sure, but...

By Jaana Hatton

When most flowers have

bloomed and faded, yellow rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) is just getting started.

It brightens the landscape starting in the early fall.

This late-bloomer in the sunflower family is both delightful and beneficial.

Well, if you can ignore the pungent scent that is reminiscent of old gym socks, it is delightful. Also, beware of its sticky fingers: Jaana Hatton is a freelance writer viscidiflorus and a Wenatchee means “sticky area resident since 2013. She grew up flowers.” free as a bird in The bush the woodlands benefits elk of Finland and and deer, continues to be for example, enchanted by all things living and when other wild. forage is diminishing in the fall. The plant also offers nesting places for birds and rodents. Butterflies love it, too.

Humans can love it, as well, for its usefulness as a restoration

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plant. Depleted rangelands and roadsides can be easily revegetated with the robust yellow rabbitbrush.

Yellow rabbitbrush produces, of course, yellow flowers. The shrub can be anywhere from 8 to 39 inches tall. The stems are covered with pale green or grayish bark.

S

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It thrives in desert to semidesert habitats. This perennial can often be found mingling with sagebrush. They have an understanding: rabbitbrush will first take over a disturbed landscape and over time yield control to sagebrush; everybody lives happily ever after.

As useful as yellow rabbit-

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September 2015

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brush is, it can exhibit some “weedy” behavior: it is hard to control once established. It is, however, susceptible to the larvae of hairy yellow-marked buprestid. Nature knows how to even out the score.

As always: when in nature, be a protector not a collector, please.

Subscribe to The Good Life for yourself or a friend.

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Who made Wenatchee the livable city it is

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29

Bernice made this necklace of variscite stone cuts, a blend of turquoises, cream and copper colors, mined in Utah and Africa, with complementary copper and verisite beads.

From

STONES comes jewelry

&

a great deal of joy

By Vicki Olson Carr

Bernice Holmes Bernatz

worked for the United States Forest Service for 29 years.

After she retired she looked around for an interesting and challenging hobby. Her first passion was horseback riding and she still owns a horse named Lola, but Bernice’s riding days are over. Now her foremost passion is creating and showing stone jewelry.

Many years ago her identical twin sister Beverly invited her to come along on a trip to St. Joe in Idaho to look for star garnets.

“The people there said they would cut them for us and showed us some dome cuts with

two-point and three-point stars in them. And we did get some nice garnets with four- and sixpoint stars showing in them,” Bernice remembered with satisfaction.

Bernice’s next rock hounding happened along the Missouri River in Montana just north of Helena. “We paid a fee so we could dig and wash rocks in the river. I met Margaret Reed, an internationally-known faceter on that trip. And we did find some prime sapphires there by the river… In fact, for 10 years I took gem stones to her to be faceted,” Bernice explained.

With her growing interest and curiosity about gems and stones, Bernice decided one day to go to

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| The Good Life

Bernice Bernatz sells her jewelry at the Manson Farmers Market on a warm fall morning.

a North Seattle Rock Club Show.

Husband Joel had retired also from his work as a forester with the U.S.F.S. “I call him an amateur geologist,” Bernice said with a smile, “and he came along too. He thought it would be interesting to look at the suppliers’ specimens of rocks, stone cuts and beads.” The rock show gave her some new ideas about how to use gems and stone beads.

“Back when I was working, I had fellow workers interested in buying what I had on — you know, simple natural stone bead necklaces I had made,” Bernice said, “so that’s how it all began.

And then I went to a bead shop

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November 2018

in Tacoma where I bought stone beads and other supplies, and took some training.

“I took my work to a few Christmas shows, then the Chelan Evening Farmers Market. And before I knew it I had people interested in my jewelry.

“I buy a lot of matte finish beads... unpolished material. My matte lapis is brought by donkey or horse out of the mountains in Afghanistan. That’s a country with rebels hostile to the U.S. and I feel a little uneasy about that,” Bernice added.

“Other main sources of material are Africa and Brazil, which has nice, well-cut stones, smooth with no rough edges.

fun stuff what to do around here for the next month NCW BLUES JAM, every second and fourth Monday. 7 – 10 p.m. Riverside Pub. Homegrown Country Jam, every first and third Monday night, 7 to 10 p.m. Riverside Pub.

This two-strand necklace features natural, highly polished carnelian, a semiprecious stone found commonly in Brazil.

“My favorites are lapis and the various jaspers that are pretty much available from places all over the globe,” Bernice said.

“I buy 16-inch strings of stone beads. Sometimes I’ll buy a string just because I like one particular bead on it. I buy a lot of every-day beads with black, brown, blue and green tones.

Sometimes I’m looking for colors that will accessorize what the hot colors in the fashion industry are at the moment.

“But I touch every bead I buy. It’s just something I do, to know they are pristine and good enough for my work. Overall, I know what will sell — although sometimes I’m ahead of the game a year or two and have to wait for the fashion trends to reach the West Coast.”

Bernice has a jewelry-making studio in her home with all the necessary tools. When she settles down to work there, she feels excited and happy to be quietly and carefully doing what she loves — creating beautiful things with stone beads and rock cuts.

What is created depends a lot on what she has at hand. The colors in the rock cuts determine which stone beads will be added to the piece. Sometimes the creations are whimsical with one thing leading to another un-

til her creative eye tells her the piece she is working on has the balance and design she wants.

Bernice finds it difficult to explain what makes her creativity flow, but says emphatically that she uses all natural materials.

A few coral pieces in her early work were dyed red, but she now avoids artificially colored materials.

She also enjoys the satisfaction of making customers happy when they discover and purchase a bracelet, necklace or pendant they want for themselves or to give as a gift.

Bernice said she has loved every minute of jewelry making. ‘‘I’ve had lovely customers this summer — and I have a good following. I’m going to have to look into buying online perhaps.

Wholesale shows that used to have about 50 vendors, now have only five to 10 vendors for buyers like me who want to make bead jewelry.

“But, you know, Joel and I don’t spend much time or money on entertainment or recreation. I’ve got all that I need with my jewelry making and the social interaction I get at farmers’ markets where I show my work,” said Bernice, who has found pleasure and purpose in a new artistic adventure later in life.

November 2018 | The Good Life

Upper Valley Running Club, every Tuesday, 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Check-in at the gravel lot across from O’Grady’s Pantry. Maps will be available for a marked 3-mile trail route, partly along Icicle Creek. Run or walk, by yourself, with a friend or with your family. Participate 10 or more times and earn an Upper Valley Running Club tech tee. Info: sleepinglady.com.

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

1 million cups, every first Wednesday of the month. 8 a.m. sharp. Entrepreneurs discover solutions and thrive when they collaborate over a million cups of coffee. Come join this supportive, dynamic community and hear from two businesses that are between 1 – 5 years old.

Discover how we can help move them forward in a positive environment, fueled by caffeine. Coffee provided by Mela Coffee Roasting.

Wenatchee Valley Chamber office, 137 N. Wenatchee Ave. Shrub-steppe poetry podium, every last Wednesday, 4 – 5 p.m.

A free, poetry-only public reading. Read your own poems or the work of a favorite poet. The Radar Station, 115 S. Wenatchee Ave. Info: sfblair61@gmail.com.

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).

Writing for Clarity, every Thursday, 1 – 2:30 p.m. Bring a notebook and pen. Meet at Pybus Public Market in front of the community kitchen. Cost: free. Info: 393-6779 or 884-6955.

2 Left Feet, every Thursday, 7 – 9 p.m. 2 Left Feet is a loose organiza-

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31

tion 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.

Game Night, every 4th Friday.

Board games, card games or any games you bring. Open to families and all ages. Hosted by Pacific Crest Church. Pybus Public Market.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

Wenatchee Farmers Market, every Saturday through December, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Pybus Public Market.

Jam at the Crow, 7 – 10 p.m.

Every first Sunday. The Club Crow in Cashmere, 108 1/2 Cottage Ave. Cost: free.

Christmas Art Gallery by Dean Rainey, all of November and December, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Paintings, wooden sculptures and bronzes. 9 S Wenatchee Ave. National Novel Writing Month, 11/1, TBA. One part writing boot camp, one part rollicking party, and this event challenges participants to write 50,000 words, the length of a short novel, during the month of November. It is the largest writing event in the world.

This year the organization expects over 400,000 people worldwide to participate. Party at Wenatchee Public Library. There will also be several write-ins throughout the month at various locations throughout the Wenatchee Valley.

Info: nanowrimo.org or Cala Flamond, cala.flamond@gmail.com or 406-270-5645.

Dia de los Muertos, 11/1, 6 – 8 p.m. Live music, dancing, crafts, festive food. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Bring a photo of a lost loved one to display on a Community Altar. Cost: free.

Info: wenatcheevalleymusem.org.

Little Shop of Horrors, 11/13, 7:30 p.m. Music Theatre of Wenatchee’s live performance.

Riverside Playhouse. Info: mtow. org. Tickets: numericapac.org.

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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 First Friday Events Include: *Two Rivers Art Gallery, 11/2, 5 – 8 p.m. Featured artist Terri Meenach with her watercolors and alcohol inks on yupo paper.

Wines by White Heron Cellars.

Music by Connie Celustka on hammered dulcimer. Complimentary refreshments. 102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free. Info: 2riversgallery.com. *Tumbleweed Bead Co., 11/2, 5-7 p.m. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com. *Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 11/2, 5. – 8 p.m. Exhibit of Edward S. Curtis. Light refreshments. Info: Wenatchee.org. *Lemolo Café and Deli, 11/2, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 114 N Wenatchee Ave. *Mission Street Commons, 11/2, 5 – 8 p.m. 218 S Mission St. *Robert Graves Gallery, 11/2, 5 – 8 p.m. Sexton Hall at Wenatchee Valley College, Ninth St entrance. *MAC Gallery, 11/2, 5 – 7 p.m.

Wenatchee Valley College Music and Art Center, 1300 Fifth St. *Ye Olde Bookshoppe, 11/2, 5 – 8 p.m. 11 Palouse St. *Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, 11/2, 5 – 8 p.m. 137 N Wenatchee Ave. *RadarStation, 11/2, 4 – 9 p.m. 115 S Wenatchee Ave. *Pans Grotto, 11/2, 4 – 9 p.m.

Theme for the month is Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead. 3 N Wenatchee Ave. Ste 2. *Class with a Glass, 11/2, 5 – 8 p.m. 10 S Columbia St. *Mela, 11/2, 5 – 8 p.m. Alessandra Piro exhibits “Passages”. A new collection of paintings that explore the sculptural qualities of encaustic painting. As the various layers are peeled away they reveal veils of atmospheric wax with depth, color and luminosity that lead to subtle and unpredictable textures inviting discovery with each exposed layer.

Music by Hans Hessburg. 17 N. Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free.

Taste and Tour, 11/2, 9, 16, 23, 30, 5 – 6 p.m. Come see how cider is

made at Chelan’s newest cidery.

Taste the end product. Current cider flavors are lemon and ginger pear. Chelan Craft Cidery, 806 Manson Hwy. Cost: free. Info: lakechelan.com.

Live performance: The Capitol Steps, 11/2, 7 p.m. Mocking democracy from some of the people who have worked on Capitol Hill. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $43 advance. Info: icicle.org.

Just Us Band, 11/2, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Basket Weaving Workshop, 11/3, 4, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Join pine needle basket maker Len Sherrard for a two-day workshop to learn his craft. Sherrard’s contemporary baskets include found objects like stones and antlers as well as gourds. His vibrant work also incorporates beads and dyed threads along with pine needles and other natural materials in the traditional coiling method. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $250. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Dia de los Muertos, 11/3, noon – 6:30 p.m. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that celebrates and honors deceased loved ones.

Beautiful altars are made – decorated with candles, flowers and food – and it is believed the adult spirits come down to enjoy the festivities that have been prepared for them. Story telling, kids activities, piñatas and live music. Chelan Riverwalk Park. Cost: free. Info: lakechelan.com.

Celebration Dinner, 11/2, 6 – 9 p.m. Make new acquaintances, catch up with old friends, enjoy great food and refreshment, talk with Land Trust board and staff, and learn about Land Trust projects accomplished with your support.

St. Joseph’s Kuykendall Hall. Cost: $39. Info: cdlandtrust.org.

Bourbon Bash, 11/3, 6:30 p.m.

Over 50 premium bourbons, 10 tokens for sampling, appetizers.

Rivertop Bar and Grill. Cost: $50 or $90 per couple advance or $60 or $100 per couple day of. Info: rivertopbarandgrill.com.

Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra, 11/3, 7 p.m. Live performance presenting Beethoven and Borodin. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $21 - $40. Info: numericapac.org.

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// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS

First came the publisher’s call, and then came the book

By Susan Lagsdin

Megan Robinson was about

to apply for a plum teaching job at Seattle’s University Child Development School, and she was determined to wow the interviewers.

She asked her dad, Tom Robinson, to help her construct a science experiment. Not just any experiment, but the dazzling one about density that he’d first field tested on her and her brother Matthew 17 years before, prior to including it in his first publication, The Everything Kids Science Experiments Book.

“I think that’s a symbol of what’s most satisfying about my work,” said Tom, a Chelan teacher and author. “I love that she remembered that moment so clearly.” (Megan got the job) Tom’s book was a success too: in 2001, 750,000 copies were sold; it had #12 ranking on Amazon. Elementary teachers bought singles for their classrooms, grandparents bought it for rainy-day projects and parents and kids clamored for it.

Tom, then teaching at Kentridge High School, realized that his love of experiential learning translated perfectly into publications, that he could reach and teach kids far beyond his own science and math classrooms.

That first book’s back story is untypical. Every yet-unpublished author of fiction or nonfiction who’s yearning to be read — pay attention: the publisher contacted Tom, a neophyte writer, and asked him to write the book.

Doesn’t happen.

But it, did, and here’s how:

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By the late ’90s, Tom had been teaching interactive, story-based high school physics classes; his lessons were fun, and students learned the material — why not share this with adults who may be intimidated by physics?

With no prior publishing experience, he did his research into the industry — as a good scientist might — and submitted a partial manuscript of Forcing Out: A Guide to Better Physics Fitness to about 100 niche publishers. No go. They were interested but not interested enough.

But. Arbordale Publishing liked his approach and just then needed a hands-on science book to fill out their extensive Everything Kids series for elementaryaged children. Would Tom like to write it? Certainly. Success ensued.

Later, to ride the Harry Potter marketing wave, they asked for a second book about the magic of science, and Tom was happy to comply, but with a caveat: science is not magic, but he’d write about things that are puzzling and seem magical.

Publisher and educator were both pleased with The Everything Kids Magical Science Experiments Book.

Tom, who moved his family from westside to eastside and taught at Chelan High School for eight years, dexterously teaches what he loves to precollege scholars and at-home toddlers and sees no contradictions.

He most recently published with Arbordale a picture book entitled The Fibonacci Zoo introducing primary-aged children

When Tom’s now-adult children Matthew and Megan were toddlers, he’d try out his picture-book experiments with them, and this density demonstration enthralled them all.

Tom Robinson stands next to his three books. He recently learned The Everything Kids Science Experiments Book has been translated into Korean.

to patterned math sequences as well as the scientific method.

This one was a real stretch, but he learned about readability formulas and was able to tell his story, complete with alphabetized animals, in a total of 450 words.

“There’s a point somewhere in a kid’s early years where they stop loving science and math and start hating it. That shouldn’t happen. I want to catch them early and keep the pathways open,” Tom said.

Wisely, he kept his own pathways open and it worked out fine. The early physics book he just couldn’t sell to the bricks-and-mortar publishers?

He self-published on Amazon in 2012 and says, “Looks like I have almost cracked the top 16 million in terms of sales.” He’s

proud that the book is being read, that his initial impetus to clarify physics was sound.

Tom is passionate about solving the problem of children’s early disassociation from math and science, so he’s applying for a rigorous course of study with State University of New York in Buffalo, where he’ll hopefully earn a PhD with his dissertation.

“I had never really thought of teaching as a career,” he admitted, “but I started coaching a little basketball after playing for UW and found it really satisfying to work with kids.” (Currently he spends summers managing overseas travel arrangements and tours for college basketball teams; this year the job took him to Spain and Paris.)

Science and math have always November 2018 | The Good Life

been part of Tom’s life. After he graduated from college, he worked with computers at Boeing.

But while teaching a single classroom computer course for the company he was convinced to change careers. “I quit my job and got my master’s degree, so I could continue teaching.” That lead to 20 high-energy years in secondary classrooms.

How does Tom find the time to raise a family, teach, travel, write books, pursue a doctorate?

Though he loved his 20 classroom years, his early part-time work since 1997 with the late Paul Allen’s Apex Learning, a nationwide online school, lead to his current position where he administers its math program

and teaches (currently overseeing 22 staff members and 197 active students).

He explained that the stay-athome job gives him some extra breathing time.

It’s tough even for a mathematician to calculate the ripple effects of teaching and publishing, but personal feedback reassures Tom he’s definitely made a difference.

“A former student who’s now in his 40s said he took his 4-year old son to the Santa Barbara zoo, just after they’d read my book (The Fibonacci Zoo) together. He said the little guy was really excited, and he carried his trusty notebook just like Eli in the book, already acting like a scientist.”

For more information contact Dawn Collings, Wells House Coordinator/Facility Rentals Manager, at (509) 885-0619 or by email at dcollings@wvmcc.org

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WHAT TO DO

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

}}} Continued from page 32 Try Lacrosse, 11/4, 2 – 3 p.m.

Come check out lacrosse, one of the fastest growing sports in America. Meet the coaches and varsity players. Open to any 1st to 6th grade students. All equipment provided. Wenatchee Apple Bowl.

Cost: free. Info: ncwlax.org.

Sip and Paint, 11/4, 2 – 4 p.m. Create your own autumn tree of life. All instruction and supplies provided.

Acrylic painting on 11x14 canvas.

Kingfisher Restaurant. Cost: $35.

Info: sipandpaint.org.

Horse Lake Reserve eBird Monitoring Project, 11/5. Meet at 6 a.m. at the end of the pavement on Horse Lake Road to carpool up the gravel road. Walk a 5-mile route, stopping at 7 points to conduct 10-minute counts. All data is entered into eBird. Learn about bird use within the variety of habitats that include areas burned in 2015 wildfire. Info: susan@cdlandtrust. org or 669-7820.

Water, 11/6, 6 – 8 p.m. A four part scientist speaker series, Tuesdays in November. Hear four local scientists talk about the Wenatchee Valley beaver project, fish populations and water use in our valley. Robert Parrish, from USFW will speak about Wenatchee Valley Beaver Project. Milepost 111 in Cashmere.

Cost: $100 for all four nights. Info: wenatcheeriverinsititute.org.

Pybus University: Foster Care Mythbusters with Hayley Steobner, 11/6, 7 p.m. Find out if fostering a child is right for you.

Learn the fostering process and ask questions. Pybus Public Market.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

False Promises: The lost land of the Wenatchi, 11/6, 7 – 9 p.m.

Respected Native American historian E. Richard Hart talks about the current status of Wenatchi Fishing Rights on the Wenatchee River. The evening includes a screening of the newly updated False Promises, a film documenting the history of events leading to the Yakima Treaty of 1855 and the Wenatchi Band’s quest for the fulfillment of treaty rights. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $5 donation. Light refreshment and no host wine bar. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Trail maintenance/building in Foothills, 11/8, 2 – 4:30 p.m.

Weather dependent, work on new trail at Horse Lake Reserve or trail maintenance on Foothills trails.

Snacks, water, gloves and tools provided. Info: cdlandtrust.org.

Cascade Education Foundation’s big event, 11/8, 5:30 p.m.

Fall Harvest Dinner by Ravenous Catering, wine raffle, silent and live auction and a dessert dash. Alpine Lakes Principal Kenny RennerSinger will be emcee and Blackburn Financial’s Brad Blackburn will be auctioneer. Leavenworth Festhalle.

Cost: $45. Info: cascadeedfoundation.org.

Movie on the big screen: Mrs. Doubtfire, 11/8, 6:30 p.m. Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Cost: $3. Info: numericapac.org.

Osborn Elementary School’s Veteran’s Day Assembly, 11/9 12:45 – 2 p.m. Front Street gazebo, Leavenworth. Cost: free. Info: cascadesd.org/Osborn.

Lance Tigner, 11/9, 6 – 8 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org Andrew Rivers, 11/9, 7:30 p.m.

Rotten Apple returns with a night of comedy featuring comedian Andrew Rivers. Campbells Resort, Lake Chelan. Cost: $25-$35. Info: lakechelan.com.

Full Circle Theatre Company presents: The Hound of the Baskervilles, 11/9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 8 p.m. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s most celebrated Sherlock Holmes story gets a gloriously funny makeover. Cost: $15. Riverside Playhouse. Info: numericapac.org.

Holiday Bazaar, 11/10, 10 a.m.

Vendors and crafts. Lee Elementary School. Info: Wenatchee.org.

Holiday Bazaar, 11/10, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Wenatchee Senior Center.

Coyote’s corner free art class, 11/10, 11 a.m. – noon. Join David Hockney, an English painter, draftsman, printmaker, stage designer, and photographer is known as an important contributor to the pop art movement of the 1960s.

Learn to create a photo collage.

Ages 4 – 11. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: free. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Downtown Holiday Wine Walk, 11/10, noon. Sip, stroll ad shop through the heart of downtown.

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Cost: $35 or $60 per couple pre purchased or $40 and $70 per couple day of. Ticket includes tasting glass and 12 tasting tokens.

Check in at Wenatchee Chamber of Commerce, 137 N Wenatchee Ave. or Davis Furniture. Info: wenatchee. org.

Ladies night out, 11/10, 6 – 8 p.m.

Plain Hardware. Info: skiplain.com.

Wenatchee Riverfront Railway Train, 11/11, 1 – 5 p.m. Ride the mini train. 155 N Worthen St., east end of the railroad pedestrian bridge. Cost: $2.

The Met: Live in HD – Marnie, 11/11, 2 p.m. Snowy Owl Theater.

Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door. Info: icicle.org.

Water, 11/13, 6 – 8 p.m. Jeremy Cram from WDFW will speak about new and emerging fish population trends in the Wenatchee River.

Milepost 111 in Cashmere. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Pybus University: African Safari, 11/13, 7 p.m. Plan your trip of a lifetime and hear stories about past trips with Steve and Jan Lutz and Bruce and Mary Jo Bendickson.

Pybus Public Market. Cost: free.

Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Return of the Wapato: Native foods, 11/13, 7 – 9 p.m. Emily Washines, Yakama tribal member and scholar, talks about the

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November 2018

intrinsic link between culture and food and the heartbreaking consequences to a community when those links to the past are broken.

Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $5 donation.

Light refreshments and no host wine bar. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Wenatchee Valley Brewing: Ninkasi featured brewers night, 11/14, 5 – 8 p.m. First 100 people will get a Ninkasi glass plus giveaways all evening long.

Wenatchee Valley Brewing, Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

North on the wing, 11/14, 6:30 p.m. In this illustrated lecture, naturalist and ornithologist Bruce Beehler will recount his 100-daylong 2015 field trip following the spring migration of songbirds from the coast of southeastern Texas up the Mississippi and then into the boreal forests of northern Ontario— breeding ground of many of the beautiful and vocal North American wood warblers. Barn Beach Reserve. Cost: free. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Sip and Paint, 11/14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Complete your own autumn lovebirds masterpiece. Acrylic painting on 11x14 canvas. All supplies provided. Icicle Ridge Winery.

Cost: $35. Info: sipandpaint.org.

>>

WHAT TO DO

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

Get Lit, light-up Christmas Card workshop, 11/14, 6:30 – 9 p.m. Learn how to make your Christmas Cards Pop. Learn the basics of card circuitry and create three different styles of Christmas cards that use LEDs and circuits.

Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $15 adults only. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Mountain Home Preserve eBird Monitoring Project, 11/15.

Meet 6 a.m. at the Safeway store in Leavenworth. Susan Ballinger will pick up carpoolers in Wenatchee at 5:30 a.m. at the Penny Road Park and Ride. Walk 2.2-mile route stopping at 5 points to conduct 10-minute counts. Info: susan@ cdlandtrust.org or 667-7820.

Festival of Trees public viewing, 11/15, 16, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

11/17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 11/18, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Live trees, wreaths all decorated by volunteer community members. Bid in a silent auction.

Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Cost: free. Info: numericapac.org.

Columbia River Flute Choir, 11/15, 6 – 7 p.m. Live performance.

Pybus Public Market. Cost: free.

Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

NCW Audubon Society: Dr. Bruce Beehler, 11/15, 7 – 9 p.m.

Respected ornithologist and author Dr. Bruce Beehler will lead a talk and give a slide show featuring his fieldwork. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

How to succeed in business without really trying, 11/15-17, 12/1, 7:30. 11/17, 12/1, 2 p.m. Wenatchee High School Choral Department performs live.

Wenatchee High School. Cost: $18.

Info: numericapac.org.

Slim Chance, 11/16, 6 – 8 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Holiday Spice, 11/16, 7 p.m. 11/17, 1 p.m. Numerica Festival of Trees weekend is Holiday Spice, a poignant holiday revenue featuring the area’s best performers saluting the season through dance, music, comedy and theatre performance.

Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Cost: $21-$33. Info: numericapac. org.

Film: Yugen, 11/16, 7 p.m. Following the journey of snowboard mountaineer Rafael Pease and crew as they travel throughout the corners of the world, trudging gear into unseen locations the crew works tirelessly to capture the true essence of being one with the mountain. Experiencing the most unique untold stories of the ecological conscious that resides deep in the soul of the mountains, told through the perspective of legendary humans who coincide in these very places.

Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $15. Info: icicle.org.

Little Black dress party, 11/16, 7:30 p.m. You deserve a girl’s night out! Grab that little black dress, your favorite party shoes, and dance the night away at the premier ladies event of the season.

Wenatchee Convention Center Ballroom. Cost: $30. Info: numericapac.org.

Trail Maintenance/building in Foothills, 11/17, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Weather dependent: work on trail maintenance. Lunch, snacks, water, gloves and tools provided. Info: cdlandtrust.org.

Holiday Artisan Fair, 11/17, 9 a.m.

– 4 p.m. Over 40 local and regional vendors including crafts, holiday gifts, décor, jewelry, art, giveaways, photo booth with Thanksgiving and Christmas props and more. Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Bavarian Boondockers SnowFest, 11/17, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. A snowmobile winter power sports event.

Avalanche seminar, raffle, industry professionals, giveaways, swag, food and a movie premier. Bavarian Boondockers, Leavenworth. Info: bavarianboondockers.com.

Festival of Trees dinner and live auction, 11/17, 5 p.m. Enjoy dinner with friends, a live auction featuring experiences and grand trees you cannot purchase anywhere else, along with live entertainment by Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra. Cocktail hour begins at 5 p.m., followed by the dinner and auction hosted by Cody Hodges and Numerica PAC Executive Director Matt Cadman. Plus, there will be the popular Golden Ticket raffle! All funds raised go to benefit the Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $75. Info: numericapac.org.

Plain Valley Nordic Team dinner and auction, 11/17, 6 – 8 p.m. Dinner, drinks and auction. Benefit to help cover costs for young ski athletes. Wildflour, November 2018 | The Good Life

20700 Club House Dr. Leavenworth. Cost: $45. Info: skiplain. com.

Whiskey Deaf, 11/17, 7 – 9 p.m. Live traditional bluegrass, old time and early country music. Cashmere Community Concerts, 201 Riverside Dr. Cashmere. Info: cashmerecommunityconcerts.com.

Live: Justin Kauflin, 11/17, 7 p.m.

American jazz pianist, composer, producer, educator and Quincy Jones artist plays live. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door. Info: icicle.org.

Spanskgiving – Gobble til you wobble, 11/18, 10 a.m. Apple City Roller Derby’s event. Open to any skater who has passed all minimum skills and has current WFTDA insurance. Bring canned food or cash donation. Leavenworth Festhalle.

Info: applecityrollerderby.com.

Water, 11/20, 6 – 8 p.m. Jason Lundgren from CCFEG will speak about the history of salmon and their decline in the Columbia. Milepost 111 in Cashmere. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Banff Mountain Film Fest, 11/20, 6 p.m. Traveling to exotic landscapes and remote cultures, and bringing audiences upclose and personal with adrenaline-packed action sports, the 2018/2019 World Tour is an exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. Leavenworth Festhalle. Info: skileavenowrth.com.

Fowl Play 5k, 11/22, 9 a.m. Start at the city gazebo and take a quick run through the streets and park finishing at the gazebo. Downtown Leavenworth. Cost: $15. Info: leavenworth.org.

Turkey on the run, 11/22, 9 a.m.

12k and 5k run and free kids run.

Start and finish at Rotary Park.

Bring non-perishable food for Women’s Resource Center. Info: runweantchee.com.

Christkindlmarkt, 11/23, 11 a.m.

– 7:30 p.m. 11/24, 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. 11/25, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Annual Bavarian style Christmas Market.

Bavarian foods, handmade arts and crafts and other Bavarian Christmas themed entertainment.

Downtown Leavenworth. Info: christkindlmarktleavenworth.com.

Holiday Lighting Ceremony, 11/23, 5:45 p.m. Watch the concourse be instantly turned into a festive holiday spectacle. Live music from 6 – 8 p.m. Pybus Public

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Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Nic Allen, 11/23, 6 – 8 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Wooden Holiday Ornaments paint and drink night, 11/26, 6 – 8:30 p.m. Hand paint 2 sided wooden ornaments in two varying styles. Instruction by artist Sarah Elizabeth. Wenatchee Valley Brew Pub, Pybus Public Market. Cost: $35. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Water, 11/27, 6 – 8 p.m. Aaron Penvose from TU will speak about water use in the valley. Milepost 111 in Cashmere. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.

Bronn Journey Harp Concert, 11/27, 28, 29, 12/4, 4, 6, 7:30 p.m.

Community United Methodist Church, 418 Evans St., Leavenworth. Cost: $17. Info: leavenworth. org.

Stage Kids WA presents Beauty and the Beast Jr, 11/28, 12/1, 6:30 p.m. 12/1, 1:30 p.m., 12/2, 4 p.m. Live performance. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $13$22. Info: numericapac.org.

Film: All In, 11/30, 7 p.m. Matchstick Productions 2018 epic ski film delivers a first of its kind experience. This concept is spearheaded by a talented group of hard-charging women who wanted to disrupt the male-dominated ski film formula. Skiing isn’t exclusionary, true fun in the mountains can be shared equally by everyone. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $15 advance or $17 at the door. Info: icicle.org.

Village Voices: Christmas in the Mountains concert, 11/30, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Traditional and new arrangements. Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene, 111 Ski Hill Dr. Cost: $20. Info: leavenworthvillagesvoices.org.

Leann Rimes, 11/30, 7:30 p.m. Live performance singing her holiday classics and hits. Town Toyota Center. Cost: $48. Info: towntoyotacenter.com.

Christmas Lighting, 11/30, 12/1, 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16. Live music, carolers, roasted chestnuts, sledding, free cookies and lights on around 4:30 p.m. Downtown Leavenworth.

Info: Leavenworth.org/events/ christmas-lighting-festival.

Mike Bills, 11/30, 6 – 8 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

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column those were the days

rod molzahn

The prolific Browns of Brown’s Flat On Nov. 1, 1884

Deak Brown and Tom Owens walked into the Wenatchee Flat.

Deak Brown later All their recalled, “I ran across water had to be Tom Owens down in carried from Vancouver. Tom had the river by some traps here in the bucket full. the Wenatchee ValMattresses had ley. So, together we to be sewed set out with our rifles, and stuffed our blankets, a frying with straw. All pan and a little flour the cooking and salt. We walked and baking all the way over.” was done over When they reached an open fire. the top of the Horse Sagebrush was Lake Trail, Deak grubbed out looked down on the for a garden. upper Wenatchee Deer were Valley and told Tom plentiful and Owens, “If there are Deak was a 160 acres in that flat, good shot. that’s where I’m going The Deak and Lucy Brown family (around 1910): top from left, Maude, Dude (Noble Leon), Ora (Othello), and Excess game Sam; second row, Abbie (Mary Abigail) and Grace; third row, Melvina, Lucy (mom), Deak (Rueben Austin – dad) to make my home.” was dried or and Lutie May; fourth row, Bob and Effie on Deak’s lap. Photo courtesy of Jack and Nadine Pusel Owens stayed for smoked for a time and claimed winter. Wild a homestead but soon collected letters to his brothers headed berries were harvested and fireand kind to all, be true to yourhis traps and furs and headed south on a steamer to San Franwood was cut split and stacked. self and the one who promised back to Vancouver. cisco then to Stockton and San Nine months later Samuel to protect you.”

Reuben Austin “Deak” Brown Jose where Noah and George Lyman Brown was born, the Lucy’s sister added a rhymed picked out a homestead, moved lived. Letters to Lucy went on to couplet, “May your virtue grow first white child born in the upin with Alex Brender for the Fern Prairie. per valley. He was the first of 11 and spread like butter on hot winter and began building a Deak wrote about the virtues Brown children, seven of them ginger bread.” one-room cabin on his own of the Wenatchee Valley. To born in the one-room cabin.

Three weeks later, April 28, land in what would come to be Lucy he wrote about, “how this Lucy made friends with the they made it to the one-room known as “Brown’s Flat.” new country would make a fine local Indian women, especially cabin at Brown’s Flat. A friend, That winter Deak began two home for a young fellow if he Mary Felix who lived across the James Weythman, came with letter writing campaigns. One had a wife to help him.”

Wenatchee River with her husthem, another of Deak’s conwas to his brothers, George and Lucy wrote back that, “She verts to the Wenatchee country. band, Indian Felix.

Noah, trying to convince them knew a girl who’d marry him The Indian women and their Weythman had a wagon and to join him in the Wenatchee and be glad to come and live in team and Deak had pack-horses. husbands were impressed by the country. The other was to Lucy the Wenatchee country.” Deak clothes Lucy made with her sewThey came over Colockum Pass Rosetta Cole, a girl he knew answered, “Do you want to ing machine. Indian Felix had and had to leave the wagon back in Fern Prairie near Vancome?” Lucy’s response was even at the Miller/Freer store. The Deak bring a sewing machine couver. shorter, “Come and get me.” back from The Dalles for Mary Wenatchee River was full of the Deak would leave his letters Deak and Lucy were marand Lucy taught her to sew. At spring flood, too high to ford. with Sam Miller at the trading ried April 8, 1885 in Vancouver. the request of the Indian men They took what they could on post where they waited for a Lucy’s father wrote her a wedLucy also taught the women to the packhorses over an Indian traveler headed for The Dalles, ding letter that included advice. bake bread. trail above Horse Lake Road Oregon. From there they would “As you are going away among Lucy Brown was also a healer then down to their new home. go by boat to Portland then strangers to live, be courageous and shared her knowledge of There was much to do.

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natural cures with the Indian women who, in turn, taught Lucy their medicines. Lucy made a variety of medicines including an all-purpose, sticking salve that wouldn’t rub off using rosin, burgundy pitch, bee’s wax, mutton tallow, spermaceti, and something called British oil.

As with many new settlers, Deak did some work for Sam Miller. That summer of 1885 Sam had 60 logs cut up the Wenatchee River. He offered Deak $70 to bring them down to the confluence.

Deak went to work tying then into rafts to float down the river.

He was more than half the way down when a raft stuck on a rock and the following logs piled up on it. Deak had to separate logs from the jam and swim them, one at a time, down to the confluence.

He earned his $70 and Sam Miller’s respect.

Deak’s second letter campaign was also successful.

On Sept. 3, 1885 brothers George and Noah Brown along with Noah’s wife, Addie, set out from Fern Prairie bound for Brown’s Flat and the Wenatchee country. They brought a full wagon, two cows and a calf for

Deak and Lucy and a horse for George.

They traveled by boat up the Columbia to The Dalles where Deak was supposed to meet them. When Deak didn’t show (his letter from George and Noah was late reaching him) they headed north to Goldendale, Noah and Addie by stage and George with the wagon and stock following.

They found Deak in Goldendale then headed for Yakima.

As they forded the Yakima River the wagon high-centered on a rock in mid-stream. Everything in the wagon had to be

unloaded and carried, by hand, to the shore before the wagon could be floated free.

They arrived at Brown’s Flat on Sept. 17. George located and filed on a 160-acre homestead.

Noah and Addie bought Tom Owens’ claim.

Brown’s Flat was filling with Browns.

Historian, actor and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake. speak@nwi.net. His third history CD, Legends & Legacies Vol. III - Stories of Wenatchee and North Central Washington, is now available at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center and at other locations throughout the area.

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