The Good Life, October 2019

FEISTY FINN ON A PADDLEBOARD Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

October 2019

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

playing with flowers

plus ‘I love this time of the year...’ for a larch march TRAVELING TO THE END OF THE WORLD

50 Simon St. SE Suite A East Wenatchee 509.886.0700

Family & Friends...we do our best to be there for one another. Are you lending a hand to a relative, friend or neighbor? Let us help you to help them!

Contact us for FREE or LOW-COST caregiving support.

The Strength of Advice D.A. Davidson & Co. is a resource for investment and wealth planning in North Central D.A. Davidson & Co. is a resource for investment and wealth Washington, offering straightforward advice and personalized solutions. Over the years, our team of professionals has built a reputation based on trust, honesty and experience. planning in North Central Washington.

Over the years, our team We’d like to earn your trust, too. of professionals has built a reputation based on trust, honesty, Contact one of our Financial Advisors today to learn more about customized investment and experience.

We’d like to earn your and trust, too.organizations. and wealth planning services for families, businesses charitable BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

• Respite • Personal Care • Transportation • Household Chores AND more!

Robert Johnson Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor to learn more about Contact D.A. Davidson & Co. today John Peterson, Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor, Branch Manager, Portfolio Manager customized investment andAdvisor wealth planning services for Curtis Harvey Vice President, Financial SEATED, LEFT TO RIGHT: families, businesses, and charitable organizations.

Russ Fode, CWS Vice President, Financial Advisor ®

Wade Gebers Senior Vice President, Financial Advisor FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT:

Brett Peterson Financial Advisor

Serving Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, Lincoln and Okanogan Counties

(509) Kyle 664-9063 Peterson, CWS

® Financial Advisor, Asst. Branch Manager, Portfolio Manager.

D.A. Davidson & CO. Darren Goehner, CWS® Member SIPC Personalized Care & Support Options Vice President, Financial Advisor www.waclc.org 151 S. Worthen St., Ste. 201 509-664-9063 Offices in East Wenatchee, Moses Lake, and Omak 1-800-572-4459 • aaccw.orgWenatchee, WA 98801

Serving North 151 S. Worthen St. Central Suite 201 |Washington Wenatchee, WA dadavidson.com | D.A. Davidson & Co. member SIPC www.dadco.com

>>

Moving?

Contents

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

DANGEROU

S WOMEN

Y EVENTS CALEN

DAR

WENA TCHE

NUMBEE VALLEY’S R ONE MAGA ZIN E

page 7

March

2016

THE M OF A AKING

fall in FOR A march into the LARCHes

Price: $3

COWB OY From to yee-quiet scient

ist horse- hawing riding man

+

Features

7 taking fall marches into the larches

As these conifers turn golden, it’s a magical season to wander the brilliant-colored woods

10 hey, sup is a fun sport!

Despite initial misgivings, writer Jaana Hatton finds hidden joys of stand-up paddleboarding

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.

12 THE JOY OF FLOWERS

Making a big move after turning 50, Mary Rossing turns an barren piece of property into a flower wonderland

15 PASSING THE TEST AT JASPER

Eight-day backpacking trip through rugged national park in Alberta showed the mettle of family of four

18 getting to the end of the world

A “someday” trip turns into reality... complete with penguins, spiny mountains and glaciers

20 CASHMERE TUDOR

The grand old mansion was just the right size for blended family Art sketches n Rapper Sewhilkin Jimmy, page 28 n Art on the Avenues founder Adele Wolford, page 32 Columns & Departments 6 A bird in the lens: Loud and proud Belted Kingfisher 14 Pet Tales: Dogs night out 24 June Darling: Remember the positive 26 The traveling doctor: Deafness and ‘miracle’ of implants 28-35 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 35 History: The hard, hard roads to the Okanogan 38 That’s life: Get tipsy and talk

October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

3

>>

OPENING SHOT

®

Year 13, Number 10 October 2019 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, Dan Fitting, Molly Steere, Marlene and Kevin Farrell, Jaana Hatton, Jamie Howell, Susan Campbell Shell , Bruce McCammon, Donna Cassidy, Jim Brown, Tony Wright, 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 EVENTS: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Safeway stores, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, 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

The Good Life® is a registered trademark of NCW Good Life, LLC. Copyright 2019

by NCW Good Life, LLC.

Gold in the backyard W

By Dan Fitting

ater features are a wonderful addition to a back yard, especially if you can include beautiful fish.

There’s just something about the sound of running water and the calmness of watching fish swimming slowly around the

Imagine the fun you could have!

Subscribe to The Good Life for yourself or a friend� ❑ �� months for ��� in Washington ��� out of state ❑ �� months for ��� in Washington ��� out of state 4

| The Good Life

pond.

I’m no expert pond builder, in fact mine has taken four drastic changes over the years, (the last one due to the bad wind storm we had a little over 10 years ago) but each time, we included Koi. There is something to be said about variety, but having too many fish can be taxing on the filter system and the ability to keep your pond clean and clear.

That being said, I do plan to get another color of fish to add to my collection on my next trip to the big city.

DRIVING HISTORIC ROUTE 66 Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE

For other examples of my photography, visit my web site at www.danfittingphotography. com.

On the cover

Sharing fresh flowers with customers and her community brings delight to Mary Rossing.

Kevin Farrell took this photo of Mary.

See her story on page 12.

NCW fuN iN the WiNter suN Y eVeNts CALeNDAr

MAGAZINE

August 2018

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

NuMBer ONe

THERE’S GOOD NEWS TODAY Y EVENTS CALENDAR

MAGAZINE

January 2019

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

October 2018

READERS’ STORIES FROM 2018 of birth, rebirth, travel & joy

now a citizen of where her heart belongs

Second look

Some of our favorite photos from 2018

plus monsterlove art: letting the freak flag fly unlikely chelan home offers stunning lake views

Name: __________________________________ Address: ________________________________ City/State/Zip ____________________________ ________________________________________ |

October 2019

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

MY BEST DAY

becoming an american

www.ncwgoodlife.com

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

PASSAGE TO JUNEAU They finally arrived!

Brothers finish trek started 40 years ago

plus LLamas are an aging hiker’s best friend heart disease in women: more deadLy than breast cancer

Bald Eagles

Big birds hold special place in our hearts

Bold beauty

Hillside home is grand with generous space

Mail to: The Good Life,

P.O. Box 2142, Wenatchee, WA 98807 509-888-6527 • www.ncwgoodlife.com

>>

editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

Close to the eye, close to the heart We have some sweet stories

in this issue.

And when I say “sweet,” I’m not using it colloquially, as when an athlete hits a home run, the fans might say, “Sweet!” or when a grandson takes a tottering first step, I’ll reward him with a “Sweet!” or when my son-in-law hears us agree to watch the kids for an evening so he and our daughter can have a date night, and he says, “Sweet!!”

The sweet stories in this issue are of people being nice to each other as they find ways to push themselves to new adventures.

Take Marlene Farrell, for example.

Along with writing the cover story about flower aficionado Mary Rossing, she pens another story about her family backpacking in the rugged Jasper National Park in Alberta.

She could have entertained us with accounts about the mountains and valleys and spaces in between, (a task she leaves to her husband Kevin’s photos) she actually writes like a mom and wife smitten with her family’s cooperation and joy of sharing wonderful moments in nature.

Writer (and self-confessed doubter) Jaana Hatton follows the enthusiasm of a buddy to try paddleboarding in this issue — and learns not only is it a good sport for the feisty Finn, but it brings her closer to mother nature — and to her friend.

Molly Steere is funny quoting one of her dad’s favorite expressions, and admitting she groaned about it as a kid.

And now… well, the same words are coming out of her mouth, and her son is expressing the same emotions Molly

did.

But that’s the arc of life, isn’t it? As kids, we roll our eyes at our parents, and then as parents, we have to put up with eye rolling from our offspring.

Molly doesn’t stop at just talking, but makes a habit of doing “larch marches” and offers several suggestions for not-sotough hikes for the rest of us to enjoy the bright colors of fall.

Contrast our stories with this: I happened to be cruising around television the other day, and saw an upcoming series called Evil.

Really?

Now, maybe Evil will be the hit of the season, perhaps it will be the show all of us will be discussing and dissecting over coffee this fall, maybe it will be the greatest thing on TV of all time.

But, now, I’m the doubter.

From my point of view, we don’t need more evil in our lives.

We don’t need to see more made-up characters being mean and brutal to each other, with violence and hate lurking in the shadows.

We don’t need to be more fearful than we already are, to be more distrusting of fellow humans, to be more scared of strange noises in the night.

What we need is be like Marlene, Jaana and Molly, who look at the people closest to them and the world closest to them, and who can say, “I love this time of my life.”

7-Night SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN FROM SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO

Day Port/City

Get away from the made-up drama and find real life among the people and places you love.

Enjoy The Good Life.

— Mike October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

5

1

San Juan

Arrive

Depart

---

8:30 pm

2

Dominican Republic 8:00 am

5:00 pm

3

St. Thomas

7:00 am

4:00 pm

4

Martinique

10:00 am

8:00 pm

5

St. Lucia

7:00 am

5:00 pm

6

Barbados

8:00 am

5:00 pm

7

Cruising

---

---

8

San Juan

6:00 am

---

>>

column a bird in the lens

Belted Kingfisher: Loud and proud

By Bruce McCammon

Belted Kingfishers are blue-

gray birds that are about the size of an American Robin.

For most of North America, this is the only Kingfisher we get to see. The southern Texas area is fortunate to add three other species of Kingfisher (Green, Amazon, and Ringed).

Even one species of Kingfisher Bruce McCammon can make a is retired, colorday of birding blind and enjoys spectacular. photographing the They are loud, birds in north cenactive and fun tral Washington. to watch fly and feed.

Found perching or foraging along rivers, streams and lakes, Kingfishers are one bird that can be easily identified by their profile, even if seen only as a silhouette.

Their large head supports a straight, thick, pointed bill.

With short legs, a rigid, squaretipped tail and a stocky, firm body, the Kingfisher is a stand-

out from other birds that feed along water’s edge.

Typically, male birds tend to be more colorful. Not so with the Belted Kingfisher. Male and female Belted Kingfishers are easy to separate since the female has a chestnut-colored belly band that is easy to see while the male shows only white on its belly.

Both male and females have prominent, shaggy crests that

6

| The Good Life

are obvious most of the time.

The Belted Kingfisher, per its name, is a fish eater.

These birds will sit near the end of a branch leaning out over water and watch for fish to swim in the area below. When they see a fish, they fly out and dive directly into the water to catch the fish in their stout beak. They return to the branch to swallow the fish.

All this takes place in seconds so you need to be ready for the action when you spot a Kingfisher.

Belted Kingfishers are loud birds with a very distinctive, rattling call. It seems they always want you to know that they are in the area since they call when perched or flying.

You can hear a sample of the call here: https://www.audubon. org/field-guide/bird/beltedkingfisher.

Photographing a Kingfisher can be challenging. They are

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

Typically, male birds tend to be more colorful. Not so with the Belted Kingfisher. wary birds and rarely let a photographer get too close.

Professional photographers will use blinds to conceal their presence as they wait near perches that the birds favor.

The holy grail photo of a Kingfisher is one showing the bird’s beak just touching the water as it dives or lifting off from the water with a fish in its beak.

I was happy to just get a nice photo of one sitting on a branch.

Hopefully your luck will be better.

Listen for them then approach slowly and cautiously. Be ready to get your camera in place quickly.

Good luck.

Oh, joy, it’s the season for a

LARCH MARCH

Suggestions on where to find bright golden larches — without too much hard hiking

W

ABOVE: Molly’s hiking companion Erin Davidson captures the magic of Septober near Blue Lake.

AT LEFT: The rebel conifer’s bright orange needles will drop when winter arrives.

morning. And evening. And every time I see the afternoon sun filtered through the amber leaves of the cherry trees.

I think September and October (Septober) are the area’s finest months when the valley is awash with color and the afternoon sun still warms my back as I hike or work in the yard.

And it is in Septober when I am often afflicted with a severe case of Larch Fever — a common side effect of which is an obsession to log as many Larch Marches (hikes that are teeming with bright gold larches) as possible.

Larches are rebellious coniferous trees. Instead of evergreen needles, the larch needles turn

story and photos

By Molly Steere

hile growing up, as the air developed the telltale crispness around the days’ edges indicating fall had arrived, my dad would routinely step out onto the deck, inhale deeply, and announce, “I love this time of year.”

Having heard this refrain approximately 743 times in our formative years, my brother and I would roll our eyes and give the “our old man’s at it again” look to each other.

I see a similar look on my son’s face when I stand on our deck, eagerly sniff the air, and declare my love for “Septober” each fall

}}} Continued on next page October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

7

LARCH MARCH

ABOVE: Clara Lake reflects the surrounding talus slopes and larch glades.

AT LEFT: On the Swauk Discovery Trail, a canopy of larches and evergreens against a bright blue sky reminds hikers that the view above can be as stunning as the surrounding vistas.

}}} Continued from previous page

neon yellow as fall approaches and transition to golden orange in October. In winter, the needles fall, leaving the often towering, ruler-straight trees bare.

In the greater Pacific Northwest, we have two native species of larch: western larch (Larix occidentalis) found below about 5,500 feet of elevation, and alpine larch (Larix lyallii) found above 5,500 feet.

“Larch March” is sometimes mispronounced as “Death March” in my household. I graciously pretend not to notice the mispronunciation, assuming it’s due to the Enchantment Traverse being my former holy grail of Larch Marches. However, that

hike is over 20 miles, getting crowded, and the area is suffering from overuse (and quite frankly, so am I).

So, to make things fun and easy while still getting my larch fix, I’ve been exploring some of the bountiful shorter, familyfriendly hikes in our area. The following made the short list: Clara Lake (Mission Ridge) The drive up to the Clara Lake trailhead is worth the trip alone.

As you’re winding your way up the road toward Mission Ridge,

8

| The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

stunning alpine lake surrounded by the contrasting bright gold larch against grey granite peaks, this short hike is a classic and should be on your must-hike list. With only 1,050 feet of elevation gain, the trail is doable for almost everyone.

With forests, meadows, and a stunning alpine lake surrounded by the contrasting bright gold larch against grey granite peaks, this short hike is a classic... you’ll get a sneak peek at the larches beckoning you from among the evergreens.

This 2.8-mile (roundtrip) jaunt is 20 minutes from town and perfect for an afternoon when you’re short on time but need to get your fall color fix. The trail is wooded and well-traveled for the majority of the hike until it breaks out into an alpine lake basin surrounded by larch glades.

Marion Lake is less than half a mile up the rocky path from Clara Lake and surrounded by talus slopes of basalt. Although the official trail ends here, the surrounding slopes and hills have potential for adventurous exploring.

Mission Ridge’s rocky summit is about 1,000 feet above, adding four miles of roundtrip travel to the outing.

But the terrain beyond Marion Lake can be confusing and involves cross-country travel. You must be competent at orienteering with a map and compass to plot a cross-country route.

Swauk Discovery Trail (Blewett Pass) The Swauk Discovery Trail is a casual three-mile round trip hike near the summit of Blewett Pass.

More popular in the summer, this trail offers relative solitude in the fall if you time it right.

The hike passes by 25 interpretive signs providing information about the history of the area as well as local flora and fauna.

Twin Lakes (Lake Wenatchee) Bonus round! This “Non-larch March” is certainly worth a mention.

It is beautiful in the fall and a particularly interesting hike for all tree lovers. The trail starts among Douglas firs and hemlocks. About 1.5 miles in, the trail passes through a small grove of giant cedars. Indeed, they are not named “giant” in vain. These trees are delightfully ginormous.

At about 2,600 feet of elevation, the trail ascends a slope near Twin Lakes Creek and is surrounded by a mix of cedars, hemlocks, western white pine and Douglas fir.

In Septober, the fiery broadleaf maples, vine maples, alders, balsam poplars, and osier dogwoods are all camera-ready for your quintessential fall photos.

Erin Davidson hikes through a cornucopia of fall color on the trail back from Blue Lake.

From the high point of the trail, you can see the summits of Mount Adams and Mount Rainier.

Large portions of the trail meanders under canopies of evergreens and larches, exemplifying the larches’ proud posture and brilliant coloring. Each year I fill my phone with pictures from similar locations looking straight up at the orange and green needles against the sky’s bright blue backdrop.

October 2019 | The Good Life

Blue Lake (North Cascades Highway) There are several Blue Lakes in the Cascades and surrounding area — this 4.4-mile roundtrip hike is off of Highway 20 (North Cascades Highway) and is an absolute gem. You’ll be hardpressed to get a parking spot on the weekend, especially in the summer. But if you sneak up there on a weekday in the fall, you won’t regret it (that is, unless you get fired).

With forests, meadows, and a www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

9

This short list of hikes is incomplete, but it’s a start for anyone wondering what our collective backyard has to offer in the fall. A few other Septober adventures to consider: Icicle Loop Trail, Scottish Lakes High Camp (and the aptly named Larch Lake and Hanging Gardens) and the Chiwaukum Traverse.

The shoulder season, when the afternoons are still warm and the snow hasn’t arrived, is the perfect time to experience the rich color our area has to offer. Embrace it with open arms (maybe even some expansive inhalations and mutterings about loving this time of year).

Visit WTA.org or WenatcheeOutdoors.org for more information, including maps, directions to get to the trailhead, trip instructions and more.

Mitra Morasch and Jaana Hatton: Stand-up paddleboarding looks effortless, but it actually requires good balance and a lot of muscle coordination and strength to make the board go where you want it to. Add to that some currents in the water and you get yourself a workout. After her first time out, Jaana now wears a life vest every time and hope others do, too. Look for the kind of life vest that is designed for kayaking: they stop higher at the waist and are comfortable. Photos by Ron Hatton

Could this really be fun?

Stand-up paddleboarding opens up a whole new world 10

By Jaana Hatton

My journey to overcome biased

thinking continues: this time it was stand-up paddle boards.

I never thought much of the activity, it seemed too lazy somehow. Well, that’s because I had never tried it.

When my friend, Mitra Morasch, was bursting at the seams with excitement while accounting the fun she was having on her newly purchased stand-up paddle-

| The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

board, I listened closely.

“It’s so relaxing, Jaana,” she said. “But it’s also a good workout, for the whole body.”

Okay, which one is it: soothing or straining?

After Mitra continued to explain how you can sit down on it and paddle along quietly or stand up and give your whole body a workout as you push yourself on the water, I was beginning to get the idea.

It is what you make it to be, a little bit like life itself; some days are like peace-

October 2019

I have done the hard thing, too, making my way against the current, the feisty Finn in me demanded the trial. fully floating downstream while others make you feel like you’re fighting all the way going upstream.

“What kind of a paddleboard do you have?” I asked, my curiosity intensifying.

“It’s an inflatable one,” Mitra beamed.

Huh? A pool toy? But she seemed so thrilled with her board it could not be all that bad.

“They are very sturdy once they are pumped up,” Mitra reassured me. “You can’t even tell it’s the inflatable kind.”

That night I was busy on the computer, doing research on inflatable paddleboards. There are so many of them — when did this happen?

Mitra sent me the name of hers and by the end of the evening, I had ordered one like Mitra’s. I will not mention the brand here as I don’t feel comfortable advertising any product publicly.

A week later we met at Walla Walla Point Park for me to have a lesson in paddleboarding with Mitra.

By the way, she was as honest as she always is: the board is rock-hard and made of some extremely strong material, reminiscent of a sturdy bike tire, I kid you not, once inflated. And it only weighs about 20 pounds so a little person like me can actually carry it from the car to the water.

Pray for no wind because the board will catch the breeze like a fine-tuned sail while you are carrying it. You get the picture…

Mitra and I had both watched

Paddleboards can be navigated both standing up or sitting down. Some people even do yoga on them.

instructional videos on paddleboarding on YouTube and felt quite confident about our skills.

Getting on the board wasn’t nearly as awkward as I thought — I had educated myself, after all — and we got off to a nice start, pleasantly paddling amongst the Canada geese in the lagoon.

Neither one of us plunged in accidentally, or intentionally, even once. But, you do have to paddle and guide the board, it is work.

After a half an hour we decided to haul our boards across the lawn and head for the Horan Nature area. What a good choice that was!

I walk through the Horan trails with frequency, but the view from the river, slowly gliding through the canals, made me feel like a woman from some long-gone time, hunting for fish for the tribe to eat.

October 2019 | The Good Life

It was an oddly primal sensation, a closer connection to the natural surroundings than on a man-made path. Our route had been carved by nature, by the rivers flow.

It was amazing how close we got to the waterfowl, they must have regarded us as some odd variation of a gull gone wrong. I was within arms’ reach of geese several times, and gulls allowed me right next to them. Gulls are a bit obnoxious, I think.

I have since gone back by myself, always wearing a life vest, mind you.

It never gets boring watching the fish in all sizes dart under the board or greeting a deer who will merely give me a peaceful, passing glance from a few feet’s distance. If I were on foot, a deer would skip away in a hurry.

I have tried both the easy and the hard on my board. I have sat cross-legged and let the curwww.ncwgoodlife.com

|

11

rent carry me, only occasionally steering with the paddle. It truly is relaxing to pause on the river, adrift, with life’s demands fading away as fast as the water flows.

I have done the hard thing, too, making my way against the current, the feisty Finn in me demanded the trial. Now that is a workout.

Going against the river’s flow, I paddled with all my strength, standing up with increasingly wobbly legs, all the while watching the shoreline to mark my progress: I was only moving ahead by inches.

But, I reached my destination and will not likely fight the current anytime soon; my muscles are mad at me. Paddleboards, with their bulky forms, don’t glide through the water like kayaks.

I thank you, Mitra, for enlightening me. I can once more proceed in life a little wiser and less judgmental.

Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, they say. Or paddle a bit, that works, too.

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.

The JOY of FLOWERS Transplant rebirths an abandoned home and acreage into a flower wonderland Story by Marlene Farrell Photos by Kevin Farrell

M

ary Rossing surrounds herself with beauty on a daily basis.

Before and after work, she’s in the garden of her newly launched Wunderbar Farms.

Sunflowers, marigolds, cosmos, asters, phlox and other floral gems abound.

Mary got to this point by hard work. She moved from the Midwest to the upper Wenatchee Valley because, as she said, “I was ready for a big change after turning 50.”

Farming, while a new business venture, is rooted in Mary’s visual art and retail management background, combined with a love of gardening. The first step was location.

In 2015 Mary, along with her partner, Joel, bought an abandoned home and acreage in Cashmere.

For the first two years, they worked on the structures. Mary recalled some of the issues, “There were vines growing in the bathroom, the electrical had to be redone, the exterior paint was the color of peeling flesh, everything needed to be reroofed.”

Then they began to transform the land. Seeing it today, it’s hard to imagine that there used to be, as Mary said, “not a speck of green.”

Now her land bursts with life, flowers, vegetables, a large flock of chickens and newly turned soil for more to come.

Inside a large and airy hoop

As Mary Rossing holds up a fistful of dahlias, it’s clear why they are a premium flower for weddings.

house, snapdragons and dahlias thrive. “Dahlias are very trendy, very Pinterest right now,” Mary explained, as she walked by towering stems and blooms the size of an outstretched hand.

Some are dark and vibrant; many others of blushing creams and pinks are known as Café Au

12

| The Good Life

Lait.

The snapdragons clinging to their stems, remind one of a school of tropical fish swimming through eelgrass.

These flowers aren’t there just to please the eye. Mary, a self-described pragmatist, said, “Having something productive

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

fits my personality. I want to make a good product and share it.”

Mary’s first crop of customers love these varieties. Some DIY brides buy them by the bucketful.

This is just the beginning for Wunderbar Farms. “I’m using

What Are You Laughing At?

“I like to nudge people toward creativity. It’s fun to see what color combinations they like. Also form, texture, movement, style.”

this season to take good notes on what does well, what varieties need tweaking to produce a high quality product and figuring out how to do more succession plantings so we have product throughout the season.”

Mary is also an astute observer, learning from mistakes and successes alike. For instance, she’s seen how a horizontal netted structure helps the snapdragons stand tall, so next year she’ll add them to all her flowers.

Next up, she’ll start planting thousands of tulip and narcissus bulbs, as well as peony starts.

Wunderbar Farms, whose name gives a nod to the local Bavarian theme and also matches Mary’s sense of joyful purpose, is already on Facebook and Instagram, with a website in the works.

“We’ll use social media to announce what’s blooming, special events and also information about subscriptions.”

Mary has already held some events this season, giving people a chance to play with flowers as an art medium. She’s hosted popular Flower Bars at Anjou Bakery, where participants create exquisite bouquets while sipping a glass of wine. “I like to nudge people toward creativity.

It’s fun to see what color combinations they like. Also form, texture, movement, style.”

In addition to gorgeous flowers, Mary lets people use nontraditional plant parts like

We’re looking for fresh, true stories from local people that’ll bring a chuckle to our readers.

Limit yourself to 500 to 1,000 words and send to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

Imagine the fun you could have!

THERE’S GOOD NEWS TODAY Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

October 2018

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

PASSAGE TO JUNEAU

They finally arrived!

Brothers finish trek started 40 years ago

plus LLamas are an aging hiker’s best friend heart disease in women: more deadLy than breast cancer

BUILD MUSCLES TO FIGHT AGING Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

November 2018

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

LIVING LARGE IN A SMALL SPACE DOWNTOWN

THE BIRDHOUSE MAN Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

plus

Mary stands next to her compost tea brewing barrel, which she credits for her plants’ healthy stems and foliage.

serving probiotic tea to the flowers O

nce a week Mary mixes up 16 gallons of compost tea.

“It’s probiotics for plants,” she said.

Into a big barrel, Mary tosses a cheesecloth bag full of compost, kelp, molasses and lots of aerated water. After 24 hours, the micro-

organisms have multiplied by the millions.

Mary fills a backpack sprayer and sprays it on the foliage. It’s made a difference. Her plants’ stems have impressed buyers with their strength.

hyacinth pods, dill, carrot tops, basil and amaranth.

Mary’s ideas are as organic as the materials she uses. This fall, Mary will sell hand-made wreaths and host a Wreath Bar, again trying to open people up to unique materials like vines, rose hips, yarrow seed pods, dusty miller and feathers donated from her flock of chickens.

As the Slow Food move-

ment taught people to look to their farmer’s markets and fruit stands for local fruits and vegetables, Wunderbar Farms is part of a growing Slow Flowers movement, helping consumers shift to buying local, seasonal and ethically sourced flowers.

“It’s hard work,” Mary said of this work in progress. “But it brings so much joy. How can you not love bringing things to life?”

October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

13

PERFECT MATCH WIFE GIVES HUSBAND THE GIFT OF LIFE

July 2018

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

A SPORT SO FUN IT’S CALLED ULTIMATE

MOVE TO MEXICO One more adventure: 'We felt like kids again'

plus REVISITING THE CONTAINER HOUSE NOW THAT IT’S FINISHED They Built This City: NEW DOWNTOWN IS FlOOR kING’S lASTING lEGACy

Subscribe to The Good Life for yourself or a friend. ❑ �� months for ��� in Washington ��� out of state ❑ �� months for ��� in Washington ��� out of state Name: ____________________________ Address: __________________________ City/State/Zip ______________________ __________________________________

Mail to: The Good Life,

P.O. Box 2142 Wenatchee, WA 98807 509-888-6527 • www.ncwgoodlife.com

PET tales

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

Kate Chandler, Wenatchee

was out on a sunny Thursday evening with her dog, Avii.

Avii is a 3-month-old Husky

Your new best friend is waiting for you!

that Kate got from a breeder in Leavenworth.

Kate said, “Avii is super smart and super sweet and when she gets excited her ears roll back.”

Kate’s friend Cloie said that Avii already knows five commands.

Cloie Cornell, Wenatchee,

was out with her dog Groot and

friend Kate Chandler and her dog, Avii.

“It’s girls and dogs night out,” said Cloie.

Groot is a 4-year-old Golden Retriever.

Groot loves to swim and Cloie said he loves to dive in the water.

Cloie got Groot from Craigslist and was the last pup of the litter in Quincy.

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

• • •• • • •••• •• • • • ••• • • • • ••• ••• • • •• • • ••

• • • • •• • • • • • • • • • •• •• • • • • •• ••• • • • •• • • • •• • • •••• • • •• • • •• • • •

14

| The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

Standing on the shoulder of Tombstone Mountain, Alice, Marlene and Kevin look back on the six passes they climbed since leaving the trail.

Passing the test at Jasper Where the kids are strong, the father is encouraging and no one mutinies Story by Marlene Farrell Photos by Kevin Farrell

of the mud and the bugs . . . and the rain . . . and the wind.”

The crux occurred on day five. We were low on rations and he beginning and thus had to hike long end of our eight-day miles with mega family backpack trip elevation. in Alberta’s Jasper NaAfter hiking up and tional Park featured a down three passes maintained, if muddy, and a final uphill trail and designated bushwhack through campsites. forest to our lakeside Those sites endpoint, the rain equipped us with picstarted — a bit at nic tables, bear boxes, first, and then pelting fire rings and latrines. us.

However, for four We instantly desigdays, we left those nated a mediocre tent conveniences behind. site as the perfect We were alone in the spot. Up in a flash, mountains, camping the thin tent walls in meadows, pickQuentin, Marlene and Alice enjoy breakfast amid the rocks and heathers of Maligne Pass, elevation sheltered our soggy, ing our own paths 7,600 feet. stinky family. over rocks, heather had dug up plants, their bedRain and gale force We came across ptarmigan humps, marshes ding spots, tracks, scat and one winds lashed the tent. We and marmots, but no moose or that made our socks reek and antler.” couldn’t use our tiny camp stove bear, and not one other human. maneuvered through forests “It was harder than we in this weather, so, instead of a My husband, Kevin, said, “We of lodgepole pine and fir, often thought,” he went on. “Because }}} Continued on next page did see where large mammals miniaturized due to elevation.

T

October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

15

Hiking is relatively easy above tree line and in these places shaped by glaciers, which receded only a few hundred years ago.

Passing the test at Jasper }}} Continued from previous page well-deserved hot meal, we ate tortillas and lumpy instant pudding.

Throughout the night we took turns pushing back against the nylon walls to keep the gusts from stoving in our tent.

This trip proved to be a test of toughness.

Our children, Quentin, 14, and Alice, 12, have been backpacking with Kevin and me for a decade. They passed the test decisively, and our whole family was rewarded in the process.

Each day, as we trudged up heather-strewn slopes and strolled down lush valleys carved by ancient glaciers, surrounded by imposing peaks, I had time to ponder how my family got to this point of comfort in the wilderness.

I watched my son occasionally charging ahead on long legs, with loping gait and erect posture, totally at ease through marshland and leaping from rock to rock across creeks. He wore the same t-shirt the entire eight days, not even taking it off for bed, even with a spare in his pack.

His recent growth spurt demanded lots of fuel. Quentin said, “Backpacking dinners are the best, because I was so hungry, the scenery was so beautiful and the dinners were full of salty deliciousness.”

We brought hearty ingredients like pouches of precooked chicken, coconut cream powder, whole milk powder, nuts and dehydrated veggies, to go with pasta and rice.

Plus chocolate bars and jellybeans.

Quentin spent solitary walking time

16

Breakfast in camp includes hot drinks and food pulled out of the bear canisters.

thinking about math, and he’d burst forth with things to share. He’d quiz us about complex numbers, random number generators and probability. His mind’s analytical fancies continue to astonish me.

Alice is often mistaken for an older girl because of how she appears and acts. I’d even forget her age as she demonstrated determination and awareness.

She was conquering huge climbs, carrying a pack that included group gear — tent poles and stakes, first aid kit and food.

Whenever Kevin or I led off with a steady pace, there’d be Alice, right behind, even in shoes that she declared more than once, “Hurt my feet everywhere.”

I envision her a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hiker one day. She’s often the first one with | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

her pack on, quick to throw on a poncho to ward off rain or bugs, and works doubletime to put up the tent, because she loves to nestle in a cloud of sleeping bags.

She still possesses wonder. Alice fondly remembered, “There was a marmot sunbathing on a rock at one campsite. We watched him, and he watched us.” She pined over “Mr. Marmot” for the rest of the trip, imagining all sorts of adventures and cuddles.

This trip in Jasper reminded me of where it all started — on the PCT, where Kevin and I met and fell in love. Then and now, Kevin thinks about details and contingencies, and helps us achieve truly amazing adventures.

For instance, when we took snack breaks, at the top of a pass or by a creek, Kevin would pour over the map and gaze about,

October 2019

Creek crossings require some precarious stepping or wading through cold rushing water.

immediately translating squiggly contour lines into terrain features. It’s his way of getting to know this place.

He carried a pack from mountain climbing days, which was so cavernous it swallowed two bear canisters and much more.

He only mentioned pack weight with a positive spin, on how light it was after we’d eaten through most of our stores and hadn’t resupplied yet (which we did twice).

More than once, Kevin jumped into the creek to help Alice and me hop across pointy, slippery rocks.

He was more pessimistic than I was about the weather but became the cheerleader about our progress. “Look how far we’ve come,” he reminded us halfway up each pass.

It worked, as we never have a kid or wife

mutiny.

On the sixth morning, after surviving the storm, we climbed a mountain, elevation 8,500 feet. We named it “Tombstone Mountain” for rectangular and jutting slabs of shale that dotted the rib to the summit.

When we finally stood at the top, our camera battery died, but a few of us shoved a small rock in our pockets to remember.

Then we looked down at our descent, and Quentin and Alice said, “This is so sketch.”

I felt stiff, from the cold and from a motherly spike in hormones linked to potential disaster.

We clambered down, slowly, facing the rock, digging fingers into cracks. At the trickiest spot, Kevin shuttled our backpacks lower, so they didn’t throw us backward.

October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

Quentin and the rest of us were happy to be have completed the tricky descent from the summit of “Tombstone” Mountain.

We followed a reasonable route, and, after long moments of careful stepping, we reached the gentler shoulder with a couple thousand more feet to descend.

Doing something difficult, like this trip, empowered us all. I hope Quentin and Alice will remember it with pride, and it will inspire an urge to return to the mountains.

We can’t tell you exactly where we went; it’s a secret we need to keep.

But we hope someday you stumble across bits of wild wonderland too. They’re precious. |

17

To the end of the world — at last

Penguins crowd together as cormorants fly overhead at a tiny island supporting a lighthouse.

By Susan Campbell Shell

A

bicycle trip brochure was where I first read about Patagonia. It sounded like an interesting and challenging trip. I planned to do it “someday.”

Many years passed, and some friends and I were talking about traveling, and I mentioned my desire to go to Patagonia. One of my friends asked, “Why don’t you just do it?” And so I did this past January when it was summer in the southern hemisphere — but not on a bicycle.

Patagonia is a region located in two countries, Argentina and Chile, at the southern tip of South America. It also includes the Tierra del Fuego Archipelago. It is a region of high mountains at the southern end of the Andes chain, spectacular glaciers, pampas grasslands and national parks. It is an area for those who like to explore the out-of-doors. The towns were mostly small and few.

It is one of the few regions in

the world with coasts in three oceans. The Pacific Ocean to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Southern Pacific Ocean to the South.

“It looks like home!” was our initial reaction as we saw big, dry fields covered with some kind of brush. We — my friend Cheryl Maher and I — were looking out the windows of the bus taking us from the airport to the city of Ushuaia, Argentina.

Tierra del Fuego National Park was on our way to Ushuaia, and we stopped to take a short hike. Only a small section of the park is open to the public, but it was our introduction to the jagged peaks, glaciers and forests of Patagonia. It is known as a unique park at the End of the World.

We made a second stop to taste the calafate berry. It grows on a thorny bush and was what we had seen growing wild in the fields. Its berries are about the size of a blueberry, and have

18

| The Good Life

an interesting, sweet flavor. We later had calafate flavored ice cream.

Folklore says if you eat the calafate berry you will return to Patagonia. It is doubtful that will happen for Cheryl and me.

Ushuaia is the most southern city in the world. It was larger than I expected with a population of 60,000. It was hilly with only a few of the downtown streets paved. Located on a bay, it was also a departure point for tourists going to Antarctica.

We visited a prison built by the government in 1896. Prisoners were transported to this remote location to increase the economy of the region.

This enforced population of prisoners became the permanent residents since they could never leave. They built the town using lumber harvested from the forest, and also a railroad.

The prison was shut down in 1947.

One spur of the Pan-American highway ends at Ushuaia.

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

We took a cruise to see some of the local wildlife. We came to a small, rocky island that appeared to be a cormorant hangout. The little island looked painted white with their guano.

A tall, brick lighthouse, resembling a silo, had been built on the next little rocky island.

This one also had cormorants, and sea lions.

The elegant, mid-size (24 to 30 inches tall) Magellanic penguin populated the next island.

We could not go on shore but this has a sandy beach, so the captain pulled the boat up on shore as far as he could. They were fun to watch as they scurried about, and went in and out of the water. We had an exciting return trip as it got very windy.

The lesser rhea, and the guanaco were two other animals who were new to us.

The lesser rhea is a large flightless bird with long legs, a long neck and stands about 35 to 39 inches tall. It is similar to an ostrich, but has brown and

One glacier, located on a river, was one of the few in the world that is not receding.

Evidently because it is on water not land, it grows each year. white spotted plumage.

The guanaco was a handsome animal with light brown fur, and a long neck. It looked to be about the size of a deer, but had the erect posture of its llama relative.

Glaciers were found in each national park. The big, magnificent ones, those you see pictured in the travel brochures, could be viewed up close from a boat or a hike.

One glacier, located on a river, was one of the few in the world that is not receding. Evidently because it is on water not land, it grows each year.

Sometimes on this trip, we flew to the next site, and other times we went by bus.

The fourth park was in Chile so we had to stop at the border to go through customs. A little cloth bag, holding a glass water bottle, was on our bus seat. Plastic bottles were not allowed in Chile’s national parks. We could refill the glass water bottles at the hotel.

We had to cross a small stream to get to the hotel. There was no bridge so the bus driver calmly drove through it.

This hotel was the only one actually located in a park, and was not open in the winter.

The hotel was a long, two-story building with our rooms at one end the dining room at the other. All of the wait staff wore black berets.

Cheryl took the opportunity to go horseback riding out to a waterfall, while I explored the

Big, magnificent glaciers — like those you see pictured in the travel brochures, could be viewed up close from a boat or a hike.

Aboard a boat, Cheryl Maher, left, and Susan Campbell Shell glide past a glacier.

property. Outside a back door I found the only colorful flower I had seen the whole trip — a pink rose.

Then I wandered up the hill to the big garden that was called “the farm.” I found a gate in the fence and while I was wandering around, met the gardener, a retired gentleman from New October 2019 | The Good Life

Zealand.

He took me on a tour of the garden, which had many rows of strawberries, and he gave me sweet, ripe gooseberries, which I hadn’t eaten since picking them as a child in my parents’ garden.

The rows of peas were covered in plastic because the strong wind destroyed them. Then www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

19

he showed me a couple greenhouses that had tomatoes and cucumbers growing on strings fastened to the overhead supports. Food was grown for both the hotel and staff kitchens.

What really stood out for me on this trip were the spiky mountains at the southern end of the Andes, the unusual animals and the massive glaciers.

I did see one bicyclist, but I was glad I wasn’t riding. It would have been challenging in that mountainous terrain at the end of the world.

Susan Campbell Shell has been a teacher, cloth doll maker, folk art painter, and cyclist. She has always enjoyed traveling, especially outdoors. She is now challenged by old age but has many wonderful memories.

This street view of the home shows the original owner/builder’s distinctive Cashmere-bridge style concrete work on the driveway and the garage with its whimsical curve.

Cashmere Tudor feels like home Big and beautiful, and just what this family needed

J

A luxurious two-part living room — perhaps once a parlor plus? — lets homeowners customize the use with furniture placement.

Story By Susan Lagsdin Photos by Terry Wadkins Photography

ennifer Burleson had admired the tall, brick and handsome house in Cashmere for a long time.

“We used to drive by just to look at it. I’ve always loved this house, and I never imagined I would ever live here,” she said.

But when she and her soon-to-be husband Randy, also a Wenatchee Valley native, blended their family of six (ranging from 11-19 — two kids of hers, two of his) they needed a big home to give everyone plenty of space.

It’s a sad fact that some elderly houses have histories of abuse, and some have been shoddily built and re-built. Neither remotely applies in this case.

The 1930 Tudor on Chase Street that the couple purchased five years ago, almost on sight, featured two major positives besides its size and its classic good looks.

A full, tiled fireplace anchors one end of the living room.

The 3,472-square-foot house had been

20

| The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

Three major dining room doorways, one with a glass-paned pocket door, provide surprising convenience. This room, an early-century must-have, naturally encourages easy traffic flow.

lovingly cared for since its construction almost 90 years ago, and the previous owner (only the third to live there) skillfully re-furbished it while keeping its character, adding considerable structural and aesthetic value.

The house was perfect for the new-made family in many ways.

Three levels promised privacy, a huge main floor living room and a basement family room offered flexibility, and the location made it a perfect base of operations for Jennifer, who works from her home office for Confluence Health, and Randy, who travels to the region’s apple orchards as a consulting field man.

When the family moved in, the value of the newest updates was immediately clear. The basement had been finished and a bath added, the spacious kitchen had all new (’30s-look) cabinetry, windows and Marmoleum surfaces, the plumb-

Jennifer and Randy Burleson, pictured on the front porch, brought their blended family to the big 1930 house and are now preparing to downsize, hoping for another local home as happy as this one.

ing and electrical systems were updated and most importantly, a full house HVAC system offered consistent cool in the summer, warmth in the winter.

October 2019 | The Good Life

The most dominant impression now, though, is the stopped-in-time aura of the original dwelling.

The first builder/owners, www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

21

Henry and Ida Hagman, might be proud to see their own newhouse choices respected: the leaded windows and their wellmaintained gumwood frames and trim, the old growth oak flooring, the painted newel post and stair rails, door knobs and light fixtures, built-in cabinetry, a telephone nook, the greentiled guest bath.

The previous owner’s remodeling and vintage finds followed by the Burleson’s taste for simplicity create a subtle homage to 1930, not kitschy faux history.

Archways, built-ins and glasspaned pocket doors are original, but some inviting details are a mix of original and contemporary choices.

Untypically large windows make the house light, but Jennifer also took down heavy living room drapes and substituted sheer lace panels for wooden shutters.

}}} Continued on next page

CASHMERE TUDOR }}} Continued from previous page Compact bedroom closets gain space with modern white-wire fixtures, the kitchen features a caterer’s size Wolf gas range.

The butler’s pantry has electric appliances at the ready as well as a home computer, and the gracious living areas have plenty of plugs for ethernet. Retro-look light fixtures mingle nicely with the original ones.

Harry Hagman might be especially glad that subsequent owners retained his original decorative concrete work, some of it mimicking the design of the construction he did in the area.

The pattern of the middle Cashmere bridge is most evident on the home’s street side retaining wall, but he also created tabletops, walkways, the small garage, a doghouse, clothesline stanchions, window facings and a particularly charming tiled fireplace.

Though the hillside corner lot is just a shy quarter-acre, the shade trees and plush lawn are inviting, and over the years the back side of the house (seen in an old photo as flat with few windows) has gained a spacious deck with awning, BBQ gear and lots of comfy seating. Randy said in summer the couple spends lots of quality time there, mostly early mornings and late after-

High-end appliances combine nicely with sunny yellow paint and recently-installed but old-look windows and Marmoleum surfaces for an atmospheric, but not antique, kitchen.

noons.

The family loves and lived happily with the older-style amenities like closets, bathrooms, stairways and storage from a different time.

Randy said, “It seems like every house I’ve ever lived in has needed some work, and so I’ve done a lot of remodeling. But when we first saw it, this place was completely finished.”

Jennifer is aware that another owner might bring their own creative sensibility and needs to the big brick and concrete home,

22

| The Good Life

“It seems like every house I’ve ever lived in has needed some work, and so I’ve done a lot of remodeling. But when we first saw it, this place was completely finished.”

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

which seems structurally stable enough to easily handle a major re-do.

What’s next for this family?

Three kids have moved away to pursue their own goals, with one high school sophomore left at home. Jennifer and Randy, not yet empty nesters, are nevertheless realistic about how they’d like to live going forward as a family of three, and then two.

They are ready for a smaller place, with maybe fewer floors, fewer rooms.

Realtors Cami and Kevin

Each of the four upstairs bedrooms offers a special feature or two. Shown here is a separate nook with a placid view and a possible place for crafts, homework, office, or new baby.

Lynch with BHHS-Leavenworth Properties have listed their house, and the Burlesons are starting to look for a new home.

They have plenty of choices within range of north central Washington. They love vacationing in the Curlew area and the Methow, but for the near future their jobs and their son’s schooling mean that they’ll likely stay close to their hometowns of Leavenworth and Cashmere.

Maybe someday they — or their children — will drive by the lovely old-fashioned corner house again and remember what a pleasure it was to become a family there.

Though some thoughtful updates to enhance form and function have been made throughout the house, most features of this classic 1930’s bathroom on the main floor are original.

Have an idea for a home we should feature?

If you’d like us to consider your remodel, a new home, or his-

toric, unique, grand, or otherwise intriguing house, please submit a brief project summary to Susan Lagsdin at sjlagsdin@yahoo.com.

WESTERB984CF

Sold and erected by an independent locally owned builder.

merrymaidsofwenatchee.com

Set up your FREE CONSULTATION today!

509.663.1710 509.663.1710

owner4165@merrymaids.net

owner4165@merrymaids.net

Your building can be customized just the way you want!

Safeway stores, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and Dan’s Food Market (Leavenworth)

(509) 884-0555

www.westernbuildings.com

4968 Contractors Drive East Wenatchee, WA 98802 RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INDUSTRIAL • AGRICULTURAL

Know of someone stepping off the beaten path in the search for fun and excitement? E-mail us at editor@ncwgoodlife.com October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

23

>>

column moving up to the good life

june darling

How to unstick negative thoughts And live a happier life by remembering the positive October was always the least dependable of months ... full of ghosts and shadows.

Joy Fielding, Canadian novelist

Anna, my six-year-old

granddaughter had a great time at Lego camp this year.

The problem was she didn’t realize it. At least not at first.

I observed her laughing, running around and being completely immersed in designing new creations.

Later, when I asked her how things went, she never mentioned those things. Instead she told me about the kid who cheated playing tag and criticized her Lego design.

Anna is not weird in this way of noticing and dwelling on the negative. We all do it, pretty much every day. It’s called the negativity bias.

The negativity bias, according to researchers, surfaces very early in life, 7-month-old babies begin to pay more attention to negative faces than their 5-month-old counterparts.

This pull of the negative on our attention, seeing “ghosts and shadows,” and being attracted to threats, continues

throughout our lives.

We can all attest to the truth of this in our own experience.

We remember and fret over the criticism we received 30 years ago more than we savor the compliment we got yesterday.

As Dr. Rick Hanson, neuropsychologist says, “the brain is like Velcro for negative experience, Teflon for positive ones.”

That just doesn’t seem fair, to over-notice the negative and scary.

Why is that how we’re wired?

Scientists think maybe its how the human brain developed thousands of years ago and was functional in that high-risk environment. Today, however, the negativity bias often makes us unnecessarily unhappy.

We could be more vital and more functional, today, if we could figure out how to turn things around so that our positive experiences were like Velcro and our negative ones like Teflon. Researchers are giving us some ideas.

First, don’t despair that you, like Anna (and me), have this negativity bias. It just is. But do notice it.

If you want to help your

grandchildren live the good life, you may want to help them understand the negativity bias.

I wasn’t sure how to describe the negativity bias to Anna at the time. But I probably could have said something like, “Have you noticed what things you remember more? Is it when someone says something good about your Lego designs or when they say something bad?”

And then we could have discussed how funny the brain is to not remember things equally well. We might talk about how the brain could make us unhappy, worried and irritable if we keep thinking about bad things and not noticing good things.

Second, work on re-wiring your brain. Think of a way to get your brain to notice and remember good things.

One well-researched technique is to write down three good things that happen each day and share them with others.

Some use a similar idea by keeping a gratitude journal.

After I listened to Anna’s bad things, I asked her about anything good that happened. It took awhile for her, and probably takes a while for all of us, to

learn to do this well.

When my other grandchildren are visiting, we often spend the last part of the evening singing a made-up song about everything we did that day.

After a thorough daily review, it seems easier to remember not only the bad, but also the good.

I use this same review of the day for myself, when I can’t immediately remember three good things.

My husband and I sometimes share three good things or things we’re grateful for at dinner or before we go to bed. We do this particularly if we notice ourselves griping and complaining about our day and lives.

We are not trying to deny that some bad things may have happened, nor minimize them, we’re just trying to also remember the good as well. We’re trying to make our brains be more fair.

The third way to re-wire our brains is to make the good stuff stickier.

How we make negative events stick is by dwelling on them and replaying them over and over in our mind. We can do the same

Your Hometown Station + The Latest Local News • Music, News & You • Local News & Information • Wenatchee Panther Sports

News you need, voices you trust, and music that keeps you moving 24

| The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

A comment on June Darling’s September column: Grandparenting, so vital Hi June, Sally and I could not agree more with you as to children needing parents, grandparents, and others in their lives.

(Our daughter) DeAnna and her boyfriend, Tim, decided to marry while still in high school and both had part time jobs.

After graduation, we helped them purchase a double wide manufactured home at the Dawn Lee for the kids and on Aug. 2 their child, Savannah, was born.

Since both parents needed to work, Sally babysat five days a week. She taught Savannah to read by sounding out words on buildings and billboards along with reading stories to her. She took Savannah to the dam and looked at the displays and made up stories about them. And also at the Cashmere museum.

Savannah was so used to being with us that we started taking her on trips when she was five — the Oregon coast, the Redwood Forest, Disneyland, Sea World, Las Vegas, a boat ride through the Ballard

thing with positive events.

Neuropsychologist Hanson recommends taking 20 seconds to really savor the positive event, to visualize it, to think of the sounds, the smells, to vividly implant it in our memory. This one takes the most practice, at least for me and for Anna.

I am learning to snatch that remarkable azure, autumn sky; to catch the breeze playing with the last Aspen leaves; to sense both the warmth around my well-bundled core as well as the refreshing tingle on my face.

Suuuck it in and hooold.

You can experiment with those three ways for dealing with your own negativity bias — noting the negativity bias, seeing the good, and making the good sticky.

locks, a jet boat ride on the Rogue River, Florida trip to see both the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico as well as Disney World and Universal Studies, and Hawaii to see humpback whales.

Savannah also came to church with me for at least two years, joined several clubs in high school, and worked part time at Staples.

She started at Wenatchee Valley College and then to Eastern Washington University. Knowing that she wanted to be a social worker, Savannah spent two more years at Eastern getting her masters degree while interning at Sacred Heart hospital in Spokane and after graduation working full time at the hospital helping young people with problems (mental, emotional, drug, abuse, etc).

Sally had the time and energy to teach and support Savannah while both parents had to work.

This was the nuclear family in the old days and we are glad that we could be a part of it.

— Tony Wright

You may find that October is only partly a month of ghosts and shadows, but also one of beauty and considerable opportunities. Bring out the cozy scarves, light the candles, choose a good book, sip hot spiced cider, snuggle in.

Freed from the grip of your negativity bias, you may realize something delightfully funny.

You are already living the good life.

How might you flip your negativity bias, re-wire your brain, and move up to The Good Life this October?

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.

October 2019 | The Good Life

Food & Drink Guide St 1st

St use o l Pa

(509) 66-SUSHI

St do on r O

(509) 667-8744

8 N Wenatchee Ave “Wenatchee, Thank You for supporting us over the last 9 great years!

We look forward to the next 9 years!”

M-Th: Friday: Saturday:

11am-3pm, 4:30pm - 9:30pm 11am-10pm 12pm-10pm

No Tricks!

Join Us For Your Favorite Treats This Week!

Delicious, healthy, and artistic in one!

Please follow us on

for weekly specials

230 Grant Road, East Wenatchee

✓ Lunch Specials - $7.75 to $8.25 (Served until 3:00 pm!)

✓ Dinner Special - $8.75 ✓ Two 7-Course Family Meals (Minimum 2 orders!)

✓ Hot & Spicy ✓ Vegetarian ✓ Beer & Wine

Call ahead for orders-to-go!

GoldenEastWenatchee.com Menu in Phone Books!

(509) 884-1510

OPEN Tues. to Sun.!

GT’s Barbeque and Cuisine Now On

Go to: GT’s Barbeque on YouTube.

Please like and subscribe www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

After 15 years of oohs and ahhs from family and friends I realized the best way to share my recipes was to create a YouTube Channel! Check out my videos for finger-licking, mouth-watering recipes and techniques.

25

>>

column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR

jim brown, m.d.

Deafness and ‘miracle’ of cochlear implants How we hear seems like science fiction, overcoming hearing loss seems even more amazing

In the United States there are

10 million people who are hard of hearing and 1 million who are functionally deaf.

About 25 percent of U.S. adults 65-74 and 50 percent of those over 75 have disabling hearing loss. About 2 out of 1,000 newborns are born deaf and 90 percent of these are born to hearing parents.

The average age of first time hearing aid users is 70. This subject is very personal to my wife and me who also use hearing aids and without them would be functionally deaf.

The subject of hearing impairment became even more personal when our daughter-in-law recently underwent cochlear implant surgery. She had become completely deaf in one ear and was rapidly losing her hearing in her other ear. Hearing aids were not helping her.

Untreated hearing loss is associated with a lower quality of life, depression, social isolation and cognitive decline. It can affect employment, earning ability, as well as can become a factor in accidents.

There are many causes of hearing loss, but the main one seems to be aging. In addition to that, exposures to excessive noise, viral infections such as mumps, measles and shingles as well as meningitis and diabetes are suspect.

Some medications can damage the ear and are considered

to be “ototoxic,” including a few antibiotics that fortunately are not used that much currently.

Some readily available medications like aspirin (8 to 12 pills taken daily for a long period of time), as well as anti-inflammatory meds like ibuprofen and naproxen if used in higher than recommended doses for a long time can cause ear damage.

In addition, some autoimmune diseases can damage the auditory nerve. Rarely, a tumor of the auditory nerve can cause hearing loss in the affected ear.

Our ability to hear is a very complex process.

There are two main types of hearing loss. The most common is sensory-neuro hearing loss, which is permanent. This is caused by damage to the tiny hair-like cells in the inner ear or damage directly to the auditory nerve. This nerve carries the information about loudness, pitch and the understanding of speech to our brain.

Sensory-neuro loss can also result in difficulty understanding speech even if it is loud enough to be heard.

The other, conductive hearing loss, can be caused by a mechanical problem or injury in the outer or middle ear. It can even occur in the ear canal by earwax blocking the sounds from getting to the eardrum.

How we hear seems to me quite miraculous.

Sounds enter our outer ear where they vibrate our tympanic membrane (eardrum).

This moves three tiny bones in the inner ear and vibrates them back and forth.

The stapes bone vibrates against the cochlea that causes the fluid in the cochlea to move gently back and forth. The cochlea is a spiral shaped organ in our middle ear that looks some-

26

| The Good Life

A cochlear implant is a neuroprosthetic device that is surgically implanted in the skull. what like a small snail shell. The term cochlea comes from ancient Greek meaning snail.

This movement of fluid releases chemical signals that stimulate the nerve fibers near the cochlea that then transmit signals to the auditory nerve and thus to the brain which then interprets them as sounds, words, music, and the like.

This all seems to me like science fiction, but it is how we are made.

In patients with deafness like my daughter-in-law’s, amplifying sound no longer helps the deaf ear to hear. Her only option was to get a cochlear implant before she was totally deaf in both ears.

A cochlear implant is a neuroprosthetic device that is surgically implanted in the skull.

Cochlear implants differ from hearing aids in two key ways.

First, electrical signals are transmitted directly to nerve fibers in the auditory nerve, bypassing the outer and middle ear entirely.

That means that the brain can detect signals from the implant even if the ear bones, cochlea, and hair cells are non-functioning, making implants effective, even for people with profound hearing loss.

Second, unlike hearing aids, which are fitted and worn externally, the receiver and electrode of a cochlear implant must be surgically placed under the skin, into the cochlea itself.

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

A microphone that is worn on the back of the ear detects sounds and converts them to electrical signals. These signals are sent to a microcomputer processor that selects and amplifies certain frequencies to make speech easier to interpret.

Those signals are passed to a transmitter attached to the outside of the head with a magnet. The transmitter sends the signals to a receiver that has been surgically placed under the skin, above the ear. The receiver sends signals to the inner ear, along a tiny cable, to a series of electrodes implanted directly in the cochlea. The signals generate electrical impulses along the electrodes that stimulate the nerve fibers surrounding the cochlea that in turn stimulate the auditory nerve, sending nerve signals to the brain.

This is very complex, but it was necessary to try to explain how these implants work. It still seems like a miraculous mystery to me.

As of 2017, it is estimated that 325,000 cochlear implants have been implanted worldwide.

There were 96,000 implanted in the U.S., including 38,000 in children.

It is estimated that the average cost can range from $30,000$50,000 which includes the pre and post op doctor visits, the actual implant, surgical and hospital charges. In some cases insurance covers some of the cost of the implant. In Britain and Australia their National Health Service covers the total cost.

After her surgery our daughter -in-law said her joy was “over the moon” when she started hearing out of her totally deaf ear.

She said that the words sounded “robotic” at first and that it will take some time for the brain to adapt as it is now learning to convert different electrical signals into sounds and words.

There obviously is a learning curve to all this, and she has exercises that eventually will get her there.

As I write this, she texted me that it is getting better and better. She just had dinner in a noisy restaurant and she was able to hear and it has only been three weeks since her surgery.

Her doctor said it will take three to six months to “hit the sweet spot.” She is well on her way already.

Our joy for her is also “over the moon” thanks to modern surgery and this advanced technology.

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.

GRATEFUL. For Our Patients. For The Communities We Serve.

Grateful for the Opportunity to Serve.

We are Grateful for the trust our community puts in us with the things that matter most in life—family and friends.

We are Grateful each day for the opportunity to improve the health and quality of life of our friends and neighbors. It’s the daily encounters with members of our community that mean the most.

We are Grateful | We are Confluence Health

WeAreConfluence.org

October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

27

Rapping Sewhilkin Jimmy ‘Rap music was at first good to listen to, then to dance to and then — wait! The lyrics… these folks are living the same life I am’

R

By Susan Lagsdin

eading the printed text of rap is about as satisfying as the recitation of a grammatically translated Elvis song (“You are not anything but a hound dog, barking all the time… You have never caught a rabbit and you are not a friend of mine…”).

It’s much better when it’s live.

However, local music artist Sewhilkin Jimmy has written down, memorized and performed thousands, maybe millions, of words since, on his first-ever headphones, he heard the hip-hop group Bone Thugs ‘N Harmony at age 11.

So, scan this excerpted passage from Broken Inside, which for him turns into just several seconds of rapid-fire, rhythmic rap.

Doing this all my life/Can it really be my biggest mistake/ Honestly/Every time I think about/it I get the worst stomach ache/I Start to convulse/My eyes roll back /My whole body begins to shake /I don’t know how much more of this I can really take /As I breathe/I slip from reality/My life’s a dream If you’ve chanced to hear Sewhilkin perform at Radar Station spoken word events, you know that he can deliver amazing complex and intimate ideas, in rhyme or slant rhyme, with a calculated rhythm so fast that you’re compelled to listen.

Granted, especially if you’ve been raised on rap and hip-hop

tunes, your comprehension score is high, but even if your ear is more attuned to the pace of Joni Mitchell, John Lennon, or Tony Bennett singing Cole Porter, there’s meaning to be gleaned.

Sewhilkin maintains that for him, and for all authentic rappers, the meaning of those emotional words comes always from experience.

No “ghostwriting.” No “covers.” Each word he sings directly reflects his own life. And it’s not been easy.

Born into the Penticton Indian band in Canada, he spent time in Entiat, Auburn and Alaska. He labored on a fishing vessel at 15 and picked up temp blue-collar jobs. He drifted close to the law, scalded by regional racism, and developed a destructive drug and alcohol habit (choosing 40 oz. Colt 45 malt liquor in lieu of high school classes) from which he freed himself in 2012.

Family abandonment meant a childhood living out of a backpack, being handed to relative to friend to foster care and back again.

Now 34, he said about a bedframe he’d just acquired, “I’ve never had a real bed before. I spent so many years on other people’s couches — if I ever had a room, the mattress was always on the floor.” (He’s feeling safe and settled now in the East Wenatchee home of his mother.)

“Rap music,” he explained,

28

| The Good Life

Wearing his trademark grin and his own brand-name streetwear with easy going confidence, Sewhilkin Jimmy looks ready to take on the rap music world.

“was at first good to listen to, then to dance to and then — wait! The lyrics… these folks are living the same life I am.” Smiling as usual, he said about being (very) poor for a while, “You get creative, and you sure move around more easily.”

A self-taught life-long learner, he audits the Great Courses and researches copiously in several subjects. “All you need is a library card,” he proclaims. “And you can learn anything on the internet.”

He’d like to someday target

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

ambitious but stymied kids with a message that, “You don’t have to follow anyone else’s ‘regular dream.’”

Sewhilkin hasn’t chosen the most standard of art forms, and it has no regular path. His personal composing process locks in memorization the hard way.

“I need a rhythm, a beat, to start. A line or two will come to me and I repeat it over and over until the next thought, or rhyme. My voice will find its own pattern,” he said. “Sometimes I’ll have six lines and

fun stuff what to do around here for the next month Rocky Reach Hydro Project, now through 11/1, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Museum, café, balconies that offer panoramic views to the dam and grounds, juvenile fish bypass system. A 90-seat theater shows movies and ample parking for recreational vehicles and buses.

Guided tours by appointment. Info: facebook.com/visitrockyreach.

Homegrown Oldies Jam, every first and third Monday, 7 to 10 p.m.

Riverside Pub. Cost: free.

NCW BLUES JAM, every second and fourth Monday. 7 – 10 p.m. Riverside Pub. Cost: free.

After totally shredding all his collected rap songs, just a boxful of loose papers, in 2015, Sewhilkin regained confidence and started fresh. He now organizes his work in dozens of these (mostly labeled) notebooks.

repeat them two, 20, 115 times until the next line… The song wants to be told in a certain way.”

A few years ago, his life in a low trough, Sewhilkin literally shredded all his writing. But, he said, then he heard about a rap contest, and he started in again.

“I gave myself one and a half years to make it as a rapper.”

Tech savvy and driven, he delved solo into every aspect of the business, started a line of rap clothing and has geared up with his own recording equipment.

Can I ever really be awake /I’m standing on a ledge /As the cliff breaks /Falling through the sky/watching the day break/ Reminiscing on a life full of heartbreak/Is this my leap of faith Incrementally, Sewhilkin’s words caught on.

He was invited to World Underground in New York in 2016, hot East Coast performer Ren Thomas linked up with him in 2018 to produce the rap Fame, and he captured radio and ethernet time. Now he has fans in 15 countries; some nag him

when he hasn’t posted a song for a while.

He writes constantly — every thought’s a possible lyric.

Sewhilkin’s writing lives in dozens of small notebooks, and much more is available in the ethers on Spotify, iHeartRadio, YouTube, iTunes, SoundCloud, Apple Music, Deezer, Amazon and Google Play Music.

Here’s another passage from Broken Inside. Rap it as fast as you can — bet you won’t hit Sewhilkin’s pace or grab the intensity. But you’ll catch a glimpse of an artist — a poet and a musician — poised to take on the whole wide world of rap music.

Did I just partake/And awake the sleeping giant/That is so defiant /Well I’ll feed him some devil’s food cake /And pray to God he gets a bellyache/Let me pump the breaks /Before my Lord I forsake /You wanted another verse /Well I gave You a multiverse./I traveled through time

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

Info: wenatcheepaddle.org.

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.

1 million cups, every first Wednesday of the month. 7:45 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. Conversations around death/ death conversations group, meets every third Wednesday, 9 – 10:30 a.m. Does your family really know what you want? Do you have a current will? Who gets what?

This is a an information group that is looking at what we or our family should expect upon our passing.

Chelan Senior Center. Cost: free.

Info: Concie Luna 630-2972.

Shrub-steppe poetry podium, every last Wednesday, 4 – 5 p.m.

A free, poetry-only public reading. Read your own poems or the

October 2019 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

29

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).

Leavenworth Community Farmers Market, every Thursday through Oct 17, 4 – 7 p.m. Local eggs, meats, cheeses and bread, produce, fruits, prepared foods, local crafts and more. Lions club Park, Leavenworth.

Village in the Park, Friday through Sunday until 10/21. Outdoor art show in downtown Leavenworth. Info: villageintheparkorg.

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 Valley Farmers market, every Saturday, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Local farmers, artisans, winemakers, bakers and chefs make up the friendly, hardworking vendors.

West parking lot of 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.

Become a Wenatchee Naturalist, September through December.

Explore local plants, animals and landscapes. Do fieldwork in beautiful locations. Learn from expert scientists. Pass your knowledge on to others…. become a steward of the Wenatchee Valley. Info and registration: ced.wvc.edu or 682-6900.

Scare Crazy in Cashmere, all of October. Self guided scarecrow tour. Get map at Cashmere Chamber of Commerce and participating businesses.

Pybus University: Getting Ready for Medicare - A Medicare Road Map, 10/1, 7 p.m. This class covers enrolling in Medicare, the A, B, C, Ds of Medicare and sup-

}}} Continued on next page

>>

WHAT TO DO

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

}}} Continued from previous page plements to Medicare. There have been significant changes in the last two years, and more to come.

Dick Anderson will cover how to avoid paying more for prescriptions, Medicare savings plans, and extra help with prescriptions. You will learn about avoiding Medicare fraud and steps you can take to get the most out of your Medicare dollar. Pybus Public Market Event Room. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Taming our triggers: an introduction to nonviolent communication, 10/5, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. This workshop offers a basic introduction into some of the core components of nonviolent communication model. Participants will receive an overview of the concepts and principals; review and practice the process and practice empathy. Wenatchee Community Center, Veterans Hall. Cost: $55.

Info: wvdrc.org.

LEAVENWORTH FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY USED BOOK SALE, now thru 10/6, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Thousands of quality used books for adults and children. All proceeds benefit the many children’s and adult programs and library expenses to benefit our community and promote literacy. Downtown Leavenworth at 8th and Commercial Streets. Cost: $1 and $2.

Chelan Ridge Hawkwatch Field Trip, 10/3, 8 a.m. Each fall thousands of hawks, eagles, and falcons fly along a high ridge above Lake Chelan on their way to winter territories. Join Wenatchee River In-

stitute for a field trip to the Chelan Ridge Hawkwatch International observation point to witness this spectacle. Learn about raptor biology and hone your identification skills. Leave from Wenatchee River Institute campus in Leavenworth or from Penny Road Park and Ride in Wenatchee at 8:45 a.m. Bring lunch, snacks and water. Hike for 30 minutes at approximately 6,000 feet elevation. Cost: $60. Info: Rachel Bishop, rbishop@wenatcheeriverinstitute.org or 548-0181 ext 5.

Trail Maintenance at Castle Rock, 10/3. 3 – 6 p.m. Join us at Castle Rock to perform annual fall maintenance on the Castle Rock trail system, and any existing trail infrastructure. This will be light to moderate work and involve hiking up to 3 miles using hand tools.

RSVP: Olivia@cdlandtrust.org or 667-9708.

Apple Days, 10/4, 6 pm. and 10/5, 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Fall family festival featuring music of Hank Cramer and Mariachi Huenachi, the acrobats of the Wenatchee Youth Circus, black-powder shoot-outs with the Shootist, face-painting, food, apple pie contest and lots of fun. Pioneer Village, Cashmere.

Leavenworth Oktoberfest, 10/4 – 27. Keg Tapping Ceremony at 1 p.m. every Saturday. Live music, polka dancing German food, arts and crafts and activities for the whole family. Info: leavenworthoktoberfest.com.

Community Science: ebird monitoring at Horse Lake Reserve, 10/4, 7 – 11:30 a.m.

Would you like to spend a weekday morning hiking, viewing wildlife, wildflowers and snow-capped mountains, while being part of a small team collecting bird species data? Learn more about becoming a CDLT citizen scientist volunteer by contacting Susan Ballinger at

susan@cdlantrust.org or 667-9708.

Creating healthy, wildfiresafe and wildfire-friendly forests, 10/4, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Learn to identify and manage common conditions, how to examine trees, get ideas for improving and protecting wildlife habitat in our woods, acquire hands – on experience measuring trees, learn about programs that will help you improve forest health and meet foresters, contractors and family forest owners. Chelan County Fire District #3, 228 Chumstick Hwy., Leavenworth. Info: forestry.wsu. edu.

Mahogany Merlot Festival, 10/4, 5, 6, 11 a.m. Fun filled weekend of hydroplane exhibitions that includes vintage boats, antique and classic boats, classic cars, vendor village in Don Morse Park, waterfront beer garden, street dance and many other activities. Lake Chelan.

Info: lakechelan.com.

Wings and Wheels Festival, 10/4, 3, p.m. Cruise starts. 10/5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Car show. Dozens of activities including bouncy houses, games and enter to win a prize and vote for your favorite vintage vehicle. Miss Veedol on display at Pangborn Airport, the Red Apple Flyers will be having a remote control airplane demo and live music throughout the day. Eastmont Community Park and Baseball Fields. Cost: free. Info: www.eastwenatchee.com.

First Friday Events Include: *Class with a Glass, 10/4, 5 – 8 p.m. 10 S Columbia St. *Collapse, 10/4, 4 – 9 p.m. 115 S Wenatchee Ave. (in front of RadarStation). *Gypsy Lotus, 10/4, 5 – 8 p.m. 1 S Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free.

Come Inside & Play!

Silver & Fit / Health Alliance Facility 30

| The Good Life

*MAC Gallery, 10/4, 5 – 7 p.m.

Wenatchee Valley College Music and Art Center, 1300 Fifth St. *Mela, 10/4, 5 – 8 p.m. Nosh provided. Cost: free. 17 N. Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. *Mission Street Commons, 10/4, 5 – 8 p.m. 218 S Mission St. *Pans Grotto, 10/4, 4 – 9 p.m. 3 N Wenatchee Ave. Ste 2. *RadarStation, 10/4, 4 – 9 p.m.

115 S Wenatchee Ave. * Robert Graves Gallery, 10/4, 5 – 7 p.m. Sexton Hall at Wenatchee Valley College, Ninth St entrance. *Tumbleweed Bead Co., 10/4, 5-7 p.m. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com. *Two Rivers Art Gallery, 10/4, 5 – 8 p.m. Featuring the watercolor sketchings of John Lane. Music by Jeanne McPerson on piano. Complimentary refreshments. 102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free.

Info: 2riversgallery.com. *Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, 10/4, 5 – 8 p.m.

Opening of My Sky exhibit. Get your hands on an enormous 5-foot wide model of the moon; explore close-up images of what the sun looked like on your birthday last year, invent your own new constellations. 137 N Wenatchee Ave. *Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 10/4, 5.

– 8 p.m. Light refreshments. Cost: free. Info: Wenatchee.org. *Ye Olde Bookshoppe, 10/4, 5 – 8 p.m. 11 Palouse St. Dos Dudes, 10/4, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus

PICKLEBALL - RACQUET SPORTS FITNESS - AQUATICS - MORE! The

TRY US TODAY! 14 DAYS for $14 www.ncwgoodlife.com

*Lemolo Café and Deli, 10/4, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. 114 N Wenatchee Ave.

Wenatchee Racquet & Athletic Club

662-3544 / WWW.WRAC.ORG |

October 2019

>>

WHAT TO DO

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

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

Recycled Treasures, 10/5, 7 a.m.

– 5 p.m. and 10/6, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The IOOF Prosperity Lodge #301 is hosting a way for anyone who has nice stuff they want to get rid of but don’t really want to give it away and don’t have the time for online selling. Cash and carry only. Donations appreciated. 601 N Chelan Ave. Info: 669-8742 or prosperity301wenatchee@gmail.com.

Oktoberfest Marathon and half marathon, 10/5, 7 a.m.

Marathoners will start near the renown Alpine Lakes Wilderness area, loop through the Icicle Canyon through wooded riverfront trails.

Bus loads at Leavenworth Fish Hatchery at 5:45 a.m. Info: leavenworthmarathon.com.

Bra Chandelier Unveiled, 10/5, all day. One of a kind bra chandelier will be unveiled as part of the nonprofit’s commemoration of October breast cancer awareness month.

Will be on display for the whole

month. Pybus Public Market.

Lions Club community breakfast, 10/5, 8 – 11 a.m. All you can eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and milk. Proceeds go to Lions Club projects. Lions Club Community Park, Leavenworth.

Icicle Canyon Cleanup, 10/5, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. Trash pickup at Icicle and Tumwater Canyons. Free camping available for 35 vehicles Friday and Saturday nights at Eightmile Campground Group Site. A bonfire, beverages and grill provided along with trash bags, gloves, maps and more. Info: leavenworthma.org.

Lake Wenatchee Geology Tour, 10/5, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. This geologic tour in the Leavenworth area heads up the Wenatchee River valley to Lake Wenatchee. See Chumstick sandstone and the glacial features from the Icicle Creek and Lake Wenatchee glaciers. See the Leavenworth fault, identify glacial moraines, discuss how streams change with time and examine 90 million year old igneous rocks and even older metamorphic rocks.

Meet at the Wenatchee Valley Museum to board a tour bus. Cost: $35. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

PUBLIC POWER IS COMMUNITY POWERED!

It’s time to celebrate Public Power Week Oct. 6-13 #PublicPower in Chelan County is customerowned and: • Clean Powered – carbon-free hydropower

Hike for a cause: 5,000 steps for 5,000 kids, 10/5, 11:30 a.m.

– 2 p.m. Join Chelan-Douglas CASA and Wenatchee Valley YMCA for a hike for a cause. Every step taken will help a child in our Valley. Walk, run, or bike, costume contest, raffle and games. Dogs welcome on leashes. Walla Walla Point Park.

Cost: $10 or $20 a family. Info: cdcassa.org.

Orchestra Classics, 10/5, 7 p.m. Wenatchee Valley Symphony Orchestra performs live. Featuring young talent from the PNW including 2019 Young Musician competition winner, cellist Stephanie Strong, and violinist, Rachel Nesvig and violist, Jessica Jasper. Numercia Performing Arts Center. Cost: $21-$40. Info: numericapac.org.

Dare to Believe, an illusion spectacular, 10/5, 7:30 p.m. Jay Owenhouse is a legendary escape artist and one of the most acclaimed illusionists in history. Town Toyota Center. Cost: $39-$79. Info: towntoyotacenter.com.

Painting workshop, 10/6, 7, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The Lake Chelan Arts Council and Main Street Gallery will hold a 2-day watercolor workshop

by Joan Archer, an Edmonds artist,

SEARCH FOR THE SUPER BATTERY

• People Powered – a great place to work

ADMISSION IS FREE

Fall Harvest Roundup at Rocky Reach Dam

• Broadband Powered – super-fast internet

Oct. 22 7 p.m.

ADMISSION IS FREE

October 2019 | The Good Life

Tips for getting photos off your phone and into view, 10/8, 7 p.m. Come learn how to develop a system to get those photos off your phone. Instructor Mary Henson. Pybus Public Market Event Room. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Pacific Salmon in a Changing Climate, 10/9, 7 – 9 p.m. Join local biologist Tracy Bowerman in a discussion about the adaptations salmon have evolved to persist in a highly dynamic environment, and how salmon have responded to recent climate shifts. The Red Barn at Wenatchee River Institute. Cost: by donation. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Get lit! Canvas Constellations, 10/9, 6:30 – 9 p.m. This project is inspired by the night sky.

Participants will choose a constel-

}}} Continued on next page

JOIN US IN THE

• Conservation Powered – saving customers $$s and increasing comfort

Oct. 13 1-4 p.m.

who has taught many classes in Chelan. Day one: work on drawing, perspective, values and color mixing. Day two: more demos and paint your piece. Community room of Chelan Fire Station. Cost: $125 one day or $195 for both days. Register: joanarcher@yahoo.com.

The quest is on for a “super battery,” and the stakes are much higher than the phone in your pocket. With climate change looming, electric cars and renewable energy sources could hold keys to a greener future...if we can engineer the perfect battery.

Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center Environmental Film Series

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

31

>>

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 lation to feature on their canvas then paint, wire, and light their constellation to create a masterpiece. Wenatchee Valley Museum.

Cost: $35. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Community Science: ebird monitoring at Mountain Home Preserve, 10/10, 7 – 10:30 a.m. Would you like to spend a weekday morning hiking, viewing wildlife, wildflowers and snowcapped mountains, while being part of a small team collecting bird species data? Learn more about becoming a CDLT citizen scientist volunteer by contacting Susan Ballinger at susan@cdlantrust.org or 667-9708.

Pruning Trees for structure and longevity, 10/10, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Presented by Paula Dinius, Urban Horticulturist WSU Chelan County Extension ISA certified arborist. WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, 1100 N Western Ave. Pre-registration required. Cost: $10. Info: 667-6540.

Fence Removal at horse lake reserve, 10/10, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Enjoy wildflower season and great views at the Horse Lake Reserve while helping to remove hazardous fencing. Work involves cutting brush that has grown through the fences, removing and rolling rusty barbwire and pulling out fence posts. RSVP: olivia@cdlandtrust. org or 667-9708.

Space Camp, 10/11, 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Come look up, explore the sun, the moon and the stars and be inspired by the wonder of it all.

Wenatchee Valley Museum. Cost: $25-$35. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

The Nate Weakley Project, 10/11, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus Public Market.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

An evening with Jake Shimabukuro, 10/11, 7:30 p.m. Ukulele master performs live. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $28$40. Info: numericapac.org.

Lions Club community breakfast, 10/12, 8 – 11 a.m. All you can eat pancakes, eggs, sausage, coffee and milk. Proceeds go to Lions Club projects. Lions Club Community Park, Leavenworth.

Nason Creek Alcove Stewardship and trail maintenance, 10/12, 8:30 a.m. – 3 p.m. Join Chelan-Douglas Land Trust and Butte Brand for a fun fall day of volunteering at Nason Creek Alcove.

Meet in Wenatchee and carpool to the site. RSVP: Olivia@cdlandtrust. org or 667-9708.

Walking the Wild Side: The nature of nature, 10/12, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Take a walk with writing in mind and find a world of inspiration. Write on the River and the Wenatchee River Institute bring together three north central Washington writers with unique perspectives on observing, recording and sharing words about the natural world. Writers are Ana Maria Spagna, Heather Murphy and Derek Sheffield. Barn Beach Reserve, Leavenworth. Cost: $60-$70.

Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org or writeontheriver.org.

The Met: Live in HD - Turandot, 10/12, 9:55 a.m. Christine Goerke plays the title role of the icy Chinese princess who has renounced all men. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door.

Info: icicle.org.

My sky family day, 10/12, 10 a.m.

– 3 p.m. Learn about the principles of flight, stellar navigation, sky stories and the space race. Wenatchee Valley Museum. Cost: $10. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Historical walking tours of Leavenworth, 10/12, 10 a.m.

Town Walk tour will take you down into town and see where many places were: RR track, city hall, movie theater and tell about the history of Leavenworth. Wear good walking shoes and bring water.

Walks start at the Lions Club Park and are one to two hours long.

Cost: $5 donation. Info: Upper Valley Museum, 548-0728.

Pay it forward day, 10/12, 11 a.m.

– 3 p.m. Come to Pay it Forward Day and receive free groceries, coats, hats, dental products, fillings and extractions, hair cut and nail services, free lunch and more.

Calvary Crossroads Church, 1301 Maple St. Info: payitforwardday.net.

Fall Harvest Roundup, 10/13, 1 - 4 p.m. Sponsored by the Chelan County PUD. Rocky Reach Dam. Cost: free.

How to earn an A+ in college planning, 10/15, 7 p.m. Kathleen McNalty, Michele Townliand and Pat Phillips will demystify the college admission process and provide

32

| The Good Life

you with a written guide to use as your family’s college planning too. Discussions on what colleges to consider when reviewing applications for admission, when to start planning and what steps to take, the difference between the ACT and SAT standardized college admissions tests and how to decide what is best for your student.

Pybus Public Market Event Room.

Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

Fall Mushroom Forage, 10/17, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Leavenworth resident Brian Luther will guide you through a fall mushroom forage. The day will include foraging instruction, identifying what is collected and learning about how the bounty of fungi can be used. Transportation included to forage sites. Cost: $40.

Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org.

Trail maintenance at Jacobson Preserve, 10/17, 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. This work will be light to moderate and involve hiking up to 3 miles using hand tools. RSVP: Olivia@cdlandtrust.org. or 667-9708.

Princess Cruises night, 10/17, 5:30 – 7 p.m. Learn how Princess brings on board the colors, cultures and flavors of the regions you visit.

Learn the advantages of booking with AAA with experienced travel agents, reduced deposits, on-board spending credits and other exclusive AAA offers. AAA Wenatchee, 221 N Mission St. Cost: free. RSVP: 665-6299.

The Addams Family, 10/17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31, 11/2, 7:30 p.m. 10/26 and 11/2, 2 p.m. Music Theatre of Wenatchee performs live. A comical play that embraces the wackiness in every family, featuring an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare. Riverside Playhouse.

Cost: $20. Info: numericapac.org.

Haunted Museum, 10/18, 19, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 6 – 10:30 p.m. Scary and thrilling creatures with special effects. If you are not afraid of the dark, you will be after you go through this maze of horrors.

Wenatchee Valley Museum. Cost: $10-$25. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Hike for Health, 10/19, 9 – 11 a.m.

Improve your health, be part of a team, take home prizes and enter to win one of many grand prizes.

Saddle Rock to summit 2 miles, 2.5 hours. Info: cdlandtrust.org.

Wells House Nooks and Crannies tour, 10/19, 10 a.m. Have

}}} Continued on page 34

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

//

Adele Wolford Maven of Arts on the Avenues looking to pass on her love of visual arts

A

By Susan Lagsdin

dele Wolford, clipboard in hand, turned away from inspecting the popular bronze statue To Life at the east end of Wenatchee’s pedestrian walkway and greeted her interviewer in mid stride. “I’m working,” she called out cheerfully, gesturing to a clipboard with her maintenance notes.

As a founder, board member and curator of Art on the Avenues (or AOTA), she’s intimately knowledgeable about over seven dozen pieces of public art on the Loop Trail and on downtown streets, having carefully burnished most of them.

Adele explained the process of cleaning a bronze piece: washing (“five drops Ivory in five gallons of water”), waiting, waxing, waiting, buffing. “We generally take about four hours on each sculpture,” she said.

The we is figurative. Often, it’s Adele herself doing the handwork, but the city’s new ownership of the carefully-acquired pieces means that by next summer Parks Department employees, personally tutored by her, will be scrubbing the sculptures.

Adele’s great pleasure is sharing and encouraging art in her community. In addition to steering AOTA and BOB (the whimsical name for the Beauty of Bronze project), she’s also been closely involved in the past

SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS

“Teenagers love Rock N Roll on a Skateboard,” said Adele Wolford. She spent the seconds before this photo was taken to clean leaves from the sculpture, as is her habit as founder and worker of Art on the Avenues.

decades with Allied Arts and the creation of the Performing Arts Center, all gratefully acknowledged by a 2015 Stanley Lifetime Achievement Award.

“My life has always been focused on improving life and sharing what talents I have,” she said. And Adele especially wants to provide the tools of art to young people “to enhance their lives, as art has done for me.”

Complementing her consistent involvement in Wenatchee’s art life, Adele also has maintained a long career with her own business, Columbia Designs.

She believes in form following function, and brings strong traditional arts principles to landscapes, public buildings, homes and interiors.

Adele’s life was not always art.

Born in Ephrata and growing up October 2019 | The Good Life

in the then-rural Spokane Valley, she loved the vast bare hills and rode (and showed) horses through her teens. Marrying young, she had babies, worked a family store, kept a garden, remodeled two houses and even started doing non-profit volunteering. College became a distant dream, with her days full of domestic concerns.

Divorced in 1968 and with two youngsters, Adele made a brave career step. She studied diligently, first at Big Bend Community College and then at the University of Washington where she says she “found her true art capabilities” and received an architecture degree.

She wasn’t alone — her parents moved from the Basin to a home in Issaquah to help the dedicated single mom achieve her goal. She recalled simply, “That’s what you can do when there’s love in the family.”

Degree in hand, Adele moved to Wenatchee and worked at the Pybus Steel Fabricating, now our iconic marketplace, where, as the sole female, she detailed steel; the Rock Island fish ladders were an early project.

Marriage to Ephrata friend William Wolford and the decision to start her own design business came a few years later.

In 1977 Adele started, literally, to help shape Wenatchee via designs for The Morris Building, the Washington Trust Bank and numerous homes. And she soon started an almost 40-year love affair with the creative component of her community.

Driven by admitted perfectionism and a sense of duty, she is unerringly positive. “Nothing in my life’s work causes me any pain. Without challenges, life has no purpose and no satisfying benefits,” Adele said.

Even in 2000, commuting from near Quincy, dealing with her husband’s dementia and surviving a medical complication of her own, she stayed active, though, she understates, “I was www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

33

“My life has always been focused on improving life and sharing what talents I have.” a little under the weather for a while there.” Her life-load was soon compounded by overseeing the care of other elder relatives.

With her husband’s death, Adele moved Columbia Designs to the garage, of course nicely re-purposed, at her home close to downtown Wenatchee.

And she’s still a designing woman.

At the peak of her career, she often woke from a deep sleep to solve a problem at her drawing board; she fully intends to retire from business soon but said, “How can I turn down requests from people I’ve designed for, and re-designed for, over the past 40 years?”

A pressing concern on her always-full civic agenda is the annual Beauty of Bronze project, which she co-founded.

Since 2003, thousands of fifthgrade students have been treated to a full day of arts exposure, culminating in the creation and public exhibition of an individual marquetté, a three-inch bronze sculpture.

This year’s September event momentarily seemed rudderless with the sad loss of a key volunteer.

But, at age 81 Adele is a teambuilding veteran. Countless acquaintances who’ve become friends have heard her determined words, “I need you. You really have to help.” She’s solved the logistical problems of the unforeseen loss and the show will go on, smooth as silk.

Adele Wolford is as determined as ever. Art will thrive on the avenues and children will make beautiful bronze statues.

You can depend on it.

>>

WHAT TO DO

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

}}} Continued from page 32

instrumentals with Appalachian old-time music for a truly unique band sound”. CCC at Cashmere Riverside Center. Cost: $3 at the door and pass the hat $8-$11. Info: cashmereconcerts.com.

you wondered what the rest of the Wells House looks like? Join an exclusive small group tour led every hour for up to 10 people. Register: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Ivan and Alyosha – a black Box concert series, 10/19, 7:30 p.m. A Seattle-based five-piece rock band.

Numerica Performing Arts Center.

Cost: $22. Info: numericapac.org.

Chelan Chase, 10/19, 10 a.m. A USATF course-certified 5k run/walk with chip timing. This Lake Chelan Rotary Club event helps Lake Chelan Community Hospital by providing mammogram screenings for those in need and a portion goes to Wellness Place. Riverwalk Park downtown Chelan. Info: lakechelanrotary.org.

Practical tools for calming inflammation, 10/22, 6 – 8 p.m.

Join Dr. Allegra Hart to find the keys you need to address inflammation at its source. Learn the tools to help support detoxification, nutrients required to reduce inflammation, what foods increase and decrease inflammation, how to choose the best supplements and daily rituals to proactively manage inflammation from the inside out.

Wenatchee Valley College Sexton Hall. Cost: $29. Info: Dr. Hart 6635048.

Volta Piano Trio, 10/19, 7 p.m.

Jennifer Caine, Oksana Ezhokina, and Meta Weiss in concert. Canyon Wren Recital Hall, Leavenworth.

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

JOHN REISCHMAN & THE JAYBIRDS, 10/19, 7 p.m. Cashmere Community Concerts. World renowned, John Reischman & The Jaybirds, “seamlessly blend original songs and

Film series: Search for the super battery, 10/22, 7 p.m.

The quest is on for a super battery and the stakes are much higher than the phone in your pocket.

Wenatchee Valley Museum. Cost: free.

Putting Your dahlias to bed, 10/22, 7 p.m. Dahlia tubers often freeze in our cold winters. NCW Dahlia Society members will discuss different methods of storage and have a hands-on demonstration of dividing clumps and labeling tubers, tools for digging, dividing and labeling will be shown. Attendees will receive a coupon for a free tuber in April at the Tuber Sale at Pybus. Pybus Public Market Event Room. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Get lit! Canvas Constellations, 10/23, 6:30 – 9 p.m. This project is inspired by the night sky.

Participants will choose a constellation to feature on their canvas then paint, wire, and light their constellation to create a masterpiece. Wenatchee Valley Museum.

Cost: $35. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Red Barn event: Water rights, 10/23, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Join attorney Erin McCool as she presents the introduction to water rights law in Washington. Discussion will include some current issues in the private market as well as local issues that arise between competing interests for limited resource. The Red Barn at Wenatchee River Institute, Leavenworth. Info: wenatcheeriver-

34

| The Good Life

institute.org.

Job and resource fair, 10/24, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Come dressed for success. Sponsored by The Bunker and Pybus Market Charitable Foundation and Wenatchee Female Veterans. Check out WorkSource to perfect your resume and brush up on your interviewing skills. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: Eileen Boylston, eboylston@esd. wa.gov or Terrie Garcia-Hernandez, mgracia-hernandez@esd.wa.gov or DeeAnne DeAngelo, kizmitjean@ aol.com.

Protecting Trees During Construction, 10/24, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Presented by Ben Thompson. Discussion on how trees are affected by development as well as policies and practices used to reduce construction impacts on trees. Confluence Tech Center. Info: pdinius@wsu.edu.

Guided Tours for kids, 10/25, 9:30 a.m. These tours are designed for children and their caregivers seeking ways to explore interesting and fun destinations, which are easily accessed with Link Transit’s fixed-route system. Ride the bus to a blacksmith shop, church, school and apothecary at the Cashmere Museum at Pioneer Village. The museum features 13,000 feet of exhibit space filled with displays reflecting the rich local history of the region and featuring Native

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

American objects, pioneer artifacts, geological specimens, taxidermy and ornithology. All tours begin and end at Columbia Station. Cost: free. Info: 664-7624 or sdanko@ linktransit.com.

Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium, 10/25, 6:30 p.m. Jump in and explore unknown ocean depths where prehistoric marine reptiles lived eons ago using actors, technology, puppets and science. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $11$35. Info: numericapac.org.

Seth Garrido, 10/25, 7 – 9 p.m.

Live performance on the rail car.

Pybus Public Market. Cost: free.

Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Film: Winterland, 10/25, 7 p.m.

Winterland is a celebration of ski and snowboard culture. Snowy Owl Theater. Cots: $15 advance or $17 at door. Info: icicle.org.

Four minutes of fame, 10/25.

Want fall color and a sparkling literary evening. Expect a full evening of reading and listening to original work. It’s casual, it’s easy and it’s free. Hosted by Write on the River.

Sun Mountain Lodge. Register to read: info@writeontheriver.org. To spend the night at Sun Mountain Lodge: sunmoutainlodge.com.

The Met: Live in HD – Manon, 10/26, 9:55 a.m. A tale of passion, excess and their consequences.

Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22

>>

column those were the days

rod molzahn

Profits, pain and terror on the roads to the Okanogan Colockum Pass – spring 1888

“A

t that time the road along the plateau and the summit of the Ellensburg mountain road beggared description.

“The snow was of great depth, and for several miles the road was strewn with wrecks. There were broken sleds and broken wagons, with household goods piled up in many places, which goods could not be moved except in small quantities.

“Some families were compelled to spend the greater part of a week getting through that wilderness of melting snow.”

The Northern Pacific Railroad brought emigrant trains with

>>

The Burch Brother’s Ferry was first put in service in 1885 about at Olds Bridge site near Wenatchee. Later, it was cut in half, hauled to Lake Chelan and rebuilt as steamer “Queen of Chelan.” Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center 012-51-37

settler families, wagons, teams and stock to Ellensburg. There they unloaded, resupplied and

lined up to cross Colockum Pass.

The road was a challenge anytime of the year, steep and

rough. Spring snowmelt turned it into a morass of mud and torrents.

Frank Bromiley, with his brother Wilson, and their wagon crossed the pass from Ellensburg in the spring of 1888. His description of the conditions evokes the labor, suffering and determination of every settler in search of a new home.

When the Moses/Columbia Reservation was returned to public domain in 1883, the Chelan, Methow and Okanogan valleys west of the Okanogan River were slated to open for homesteading in 1886.

The Washington Territorial government understood, right-

}}} Continued on next page

WHAT TO DO

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

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

Make a difference day, 10/26, all day. To submit project ideas, list your planned activities, or learn how you can participate, visit the website wenatcheemkdd.com or call coordinators, Laurel Helton 663-6662 or Margie Kerr 6705684.

Make a difference day at horse lake reserve, 10/26, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This work will be light to moderate and involve hiking 2 – 5 miles using hand tools. RSVP: Olivia@cdlandtrust.org. or 6679708.

May a difference day headquarters, 10/26, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Drop in to learn what you can do, visit booths and get information about specific programs that are year-round, bring donations to collection boxes, celebrate the volun-

teer spirit of Make A Difference Day by finding a project listed. Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Coyote’s Corner drop-in art class, 10/26, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Create a collage inspired by Henri Matisse. Children 4 to 11 and their guardians are encouraged to attend art lessons hosted by Maria Gonzalez. Wenatchee Valley Museum.

Cost: free. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org.

Hallow-Queens Drag Show, 10/26, 8 p.m. Fund raiser for YWCA who serves women, children and families experiencing a housing crisis. The YWCA offers an emergency shelter, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing. Wenatchee Convention Center.

Cost: $25 - $45. Tickets: ywcancw. eventbrite.com.

Ski and Gear swap, 10/27, 10 a.m. – noon. Sell unused equipment. Watch ski flicks, enjoy music and socialize. Leavenworth Winter Sports Club. Info: skileavenworth. com.

October 2019 | The Good Life

The joy of bird feeding, 10/29, 7 p.m. Participants will learn how to attract the widest variety of birds to their yards without the mess and without pesky critters like mice, rats, squirrels and pigeons. Pybus Public Market Event Room. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Monthly movie on the big screen: Hocus Pocus, 10/30, 6:30 p.m. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $3. Info: numericapac.org.

Community Science: ebird monitoring at Horse Lake Reserve, 10/31, 7 – 11:30 a.m.

Would you like to spend a weekday morning hiking, viewing wildlife, wildflowers and snow-capped mountains, while being part of a small team collecting bird species data? Learn more about becoming a CDLT citizen scientist volunteer by contacting Susan Ballinger at susan@cdlantrust.org or 667-9708.

Wenatchee Riverfront Railway, 10/31, 5p.m. – 8. p.m. Home of the Nile Saunders Orchard mini train. All train runs are weather

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

35

permitting. Wenatchee Riverfront Park. Cost: $2. Info: Steve Sleeman 663-2900.

Trick or treat the avenue, 10/31, 3 – 5 p.m. Join us in celebrating Halloween on the Wenatchee Avenue for a fun and safe trick-ortreating environment. Downtown Wenatchee. Cost: free. Info: wendowntown.org.

Trick or Treat in chelan, 10/31, 5 – 7 p.m. Historic downtown Chelan invites all goblins, ghosts, ghouls, princesses, cowboys and their mummies to fill their bags with treats. Costume contest. Cost: free. Info: lakechelan.com.

Trick or treat in the Pioneer village, 10/31, 3 – 5 p.m. Cashmere.

Halloween Costume Contest, 10/31, 5 -6 p.m. Three age categories. Free gelato from Ice, participation ribbons and healthy Crunch Pak apples for all participants.

Pybus Public Market. Cost: free.

Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

THOSE WERE THE DAYS

As if roads weren’t bad, there were terrifying ferries }}} Continued from previous page fully so, that Colockum Pass road would be a primary route for new settlers heading north.

In 1880, the trail over the pass had been widened to accommodate wagons and in 1884 the spur road from the mouth of Colockum Creek to the Wenatchee River was surveyed and constructed. By 1887 and 1888 the road was bringing hundreds of settlers and miners bound for the Okanogan country through the Wenatchee Flat.

It was estimated that, for a time, there were 100 commercial freighters carrying goods over the pass. Add to that the homesteader’s wagons and there could have been 100 wagons and teams spread out over the road on any day.

They bought supplies at Sam Miller’s store and, later, at McPherson’s new store. They lined the pockets of the Burch family who ran the steampowered side-wheeler ferry that crossed the Columbia just north of the Wenatchee River mouth.

The ferry could carry two wagons and teams and crossed the river following the same route as the Odabashian Bridge does today.

Once across the Columbia the settler’s wagons were driven up Badger Mountain, following Corbaly Canyon, and over the Waterville Plateau. From there they headed down to cross the Columbia again on the Central Ferry near present day Brewster just above the mouth of the Okanogan River.

They had a couple of options for crossing the Okanogan.

Depending on the season the river could be forded. At times of higher flow the wagons were unloaded then driven into the river to soak up water. The boards swelled and, with the help of rags and grass for caulking, the wagon box was water

The Condon Ferry loads up to cross the Columbia River. Okanogan County Historical Society photo General Collection, # 3285.

tight — mostly.

Loaded back up, the wagon could be floated across the river to the new promised land, the Okanogan.

There were still days of difficult and primitive roads, or no roads at all, to reach homesteads. This was especially true if the destination was the Methow Valley. It could only be reached by steep and torturous trails over the ridge of mountains separating the Okanogan and Methow valleys.

The second route to the Okanogan involved entrepreneurial capitalism at its best; big demand and small supply plus a monopoly.

The Northern Pacific also brought emigrant trains to the bustling, rowdy railhead of Sprague, southwest of Spokane.

There, homesteaders could resupply and repair before jolting across 60 miles of eastern Washington desert to the new town of Wilbur and Wild Goose Bill Condon’s ferry at the Columbia River. By 1875 Wild Goose Bill was developing a horse and

36

| The Good Life

“... my mother was terrified and insisted that the boys and I go in the same dugout with her. If we were to perish she wanted us to all go at once.” cattle ranch on Goose Creek above the Columbia.

By 1883 Condon knew three important things: The Northern Pacific would soon arrive in Sprague, the Columbia Reservation would soon open to white homesteaders and the road from Sprague to the Okanogan country would pass through his ranch.

His profit making skills kicked in. He platted the town of Wilbur (his middle name) on his land, built a store and hotel with outbuildings and began a toll ferry service to cross the Columbia.

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

He soon added a toll road from the ferry landing to the Okanogan River where he fashioned a toll bridge made of boards on top of rock piles in the river. He borrowed wagonloads of rocks for the piers from graves in a nearby Indian cemetery.

The first Condon Ferry was a small fleet of Indian dugouts that hauled people and goods across the Great River of the West.

Anna Green was 5 when her family crossed on Condon’s canoes. Two canoes were lashed together to carry large wagon parts.

Greene remembered the ordeal. “We spent five days alone crossing the Columbia River, a perilous and awesome undertaking. The river boiled downstream at an unbelievable speed. Indian dugouts were used to make the crossing. They were treacherous and only the skill of the Indian paddlers made the crossing possible… my mother was terrified and insisted that the boys and I go in the same dugout with her. If we were to

perish she wanted us to all go at once.”

Condon soon enlarged his fleet with a small scow (flat decked boat) that he and his Indian wife, “both exceedingly strong persons,” rowed across the Columbia carrying passengers and freight.

By early 1886 Condon had a new and larger ferry. He chained five large logs together to build a raft that was pulled across the river by swimming horses.

Early Okanogan homesteader, Ray Foster, described the feat of getting a team of horses and a wagon on the ferry. “The driver would strongly urge the horses,

against their own good judgment, to make the final jump from shore, a performance that had to be perfectly timed so that horses, wagon and driver landed neatly on… a vessel just long and wide enough to hold them.” A ferry ride cost the driver $2.50.

That included the toll for the road and the bridge over the Okanogan River.

There was a third way to reach the Okanogan used by only a few settlers and without the difficulties and terrors of Colockum Pass or the Condon ferry.

A person on foot, horse or wagon could follow the Okanagan River from its source at Lake

Okanagan in British Columbia across the border to Washington Territory.

Regardless of the route taken to reach the Okanogan country, settlers spoke of their new home with words of great satisfaction.

After traveling from Spokane to the Okanogan Highlands near Chesaw, L.B. Vincent described arriving at their new home.

“Next morning, after a month on the trail we made a climb of about 1,000 feet. The panorama that greeted us at the summit was beautiful. Our gently sloping land was covered with knee-high bunch grass. Lupine

was in bloom over the whole landscape and green mountains surrounded us. We had reached the Okanogan.”

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.

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

Marketplace Insurance

Plumbing

Contractor Specialist

Insurance Planning

OPEN ENROLLMENT HAPPENING NOW! CALL FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!!!

• Custom Homes • Outdoor Living • Remodels • Decks 30 years Experience 509-668-6747

Knutsonbuilders@yahoo.com

The Chamber

s ampion

Ch

our Community’s

quality of life!

Habitat for Humanity

Kathy Z. Smithson

• Medicare Planning • Individual Health Insurance • Exchange Plans • Group Medical • Medicare PDP Rx

509-884-5195

Robb Knutson Owner-General Contractor WA Lic.#KNUTSB*821QE

720 Valley Mall Pkway E. Wenatchee smithsoninsuranceservices@gmail.com

General Hauling

Real Estate

615. S. Wenatchee Ave. Th-Sat 9:00-5:00 509-667-1638 • Remodeling Supplies • Gently used Furniture • Hardware/ Appliances • Doors and Windows • Paint and Paint Supplies Donate • Shop • Volunteer

www.wenatchee.org October 2019 | The Good Life

8

8

8

•

5

8

6

5

You Call, We Haul!

Debbie Senseney

Serving North Central Washington junkhaulers@hotmail.com

509.293.1408

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

37

LICENSED BROKER | REALTOR

509.315.3630 | agent509.com Each office is independently owned and operated.

the back page: that’s life

TIPSY TALKS Learning unleashed at the Bushel & Bee A

By Jamie Howell

nthony Lubetski, 29, showed up drunk for the lecture, a little wobble in his step, soft edges where his words were beginning to blend ever so slightly into one another.

Now, that’s one thing if you’re a college student making decisions impaired by boredom. It’s another thing entirely if you’re the one giving the lecture.

As Anthony straightened himself at the mic, checked the screen for his PowerPoint presentation, forgot momentarily and checked it again, he was simply fulfilling the evening’s contract to the letter.

Anthony was on the agenda as the featured speaker in what has to be the most entertaining educational experience I’ve been to in decades — Tipsy Talks at the Bushel & Bee Taproom in Leavenworth.

Inspired to some degree by Comedy Central’s hit show, Drunk History, the premise is simple — get liquored up, give a lecture.

Bushel & Bee owner Kayla Applebay credits employees Rhia Foster and Isaac Butler for concocting the idea, but with 10 lectures already logged, she’s convinced of its value.

So far, the Bushel & Bee has hosted presentations on the history of Leavenworth, neuroscience, bees, Shakespeare, animé and more. You’ll be sorry to hear you missed the one entitled, “Houseplant Porn.”

Kayla has established four key rules to govern the pickled presenters: n Be passionate about your topic n Bring a PowerPoint presentation n Be willing to get “solidly

tipsy” prior to the talk n Have a ride home Beyond that, everyone is left to enjoy the thrill of seeing what transpires.

On this particular Thursday evening, Anthony had prepared for us a series of inebriated insights into the History of Graffiti.

I joined Anthony and his wife, Alex Rosenfield — both teachers who relocated to north central Washington a couple of years ago from Wisconsin — at a delightful downstairs speakeasy known as Pika Provisions where Anthony was faithfully fulfilling the terms of Rule #3 with some skillfully crafted whiskey sours.

The conversation swerved freely from rattlesnake sightings, to rock climbing, to the Crohn’s Disease that prevents him on occasion from enjoying the outdoor splendors that drew them to the area, but does little to dampen his spirits.

I learned, too, that Anthony, taken in as a young man by the graffitied boxcars rolling through his hometown out into the Great Midwest, had ultimately devoted his thesis at the University of Wisconsin to the subject of unsanctioned artistic expression.

Whiskey and time-keeping don’t always mix, so it was 8:12 p.m. before we made it back to Bushel & Bee for an 8 o’clock lecture start.

Graciously, Kayla has not established any hard and fast rules about being on time.

Roughly 30 people — among them a linesman, a lesbian, locals and lookie-loos — laughed heartily as the emcee set the tone for the night, joking that the word “Graffiti” is Italian for, “Who drew this (unspeakable piece of anatomy) on my wall?”

38

| The Good Life

Anthony Lubetski and his wife, Alex Rosenfield, (aka his ride home) prepping for his Bushel & Bee Tipsy Talk.

And with that, Anthony was lit. Lit in the best possible light.

Lit by the whiskeys, lit by the subject matter, lit by a graciousness and energy in his sharing that enveloped the room. Had my own college lecture experiences approached the genuine joy contained in this one lighthearted evening of learning, I’d be a double-Ph.D. by now.

Couched in the context of humankind’s primal need to make a mark, Anthony took us from the carvings of cave dwellers, to the trench graffiti of the Great World War, through Basquiat and Banksy to the modern mosaics and sculptural variations being created by artists and collectives with names like SLU TOO, KID ALT and iNDECLINE today.

To the benefit of everyone in the room, the alcohol had done its job — removing any remnant of self-consciousness, inhibition or awkwardness as he spoke.

If he got off track, the PowerPoint was there providing rails for the boxcars of his mind (there is wisdom in Rule #2).

And while Anthony did find

www.ncwgoodlife.com

|

October 2019

himself apologizing periodically for the peppering of profanity that had wormed its way on the back of the whiskey into his delivery, we were in a taproom, not a classroom, and it served only to enliven the lecture.

Anthony didn’t shy away from the downsides of graffiti, either — the destruction of public property when it’s done maliciously; the tagging perpetrated by gangs in turf wars; his own run-ins as a younger man with the Milwaukee PD and a spray can in his hand.

But ultimately he deemed it a supremely democratic art form and, when graffiti artists adhere to Wheaton’s Law (look it up Star Trek fans) by restricting their unsanctioned public art to canvases that can actually be improved by the work and without harming the broader society around them, “I just don’t think art everywhere is a bad idea,” Anthony concluded.

The room erupted with applause and the free-ranging Q-and-A that followed was perhaps the first I’ve ever witnessed where watches and doorways weren’t being earnestly eyeballed for escape routes.

I paid my tuition in the form of a bar tab and a tip and left having learned a great deal about graffiti, certainly, but more importantly having been reminded of just how much fun learning can be when you take it off the leash.

Tipsy Talks take place on Thursday evenings at 8 p.m., once or twice a month. To find upcoming events, check the Bushel & Bee Taproom page on Facebook or visit their website at bushelandbee.com.

Jamie Howell is a writer, filmmaker and owner of Howell at the Moon Productions based in Wenatchee.

Come Back New® With Princess®

October is Princess® Month at AAA! Join us and explore the new, enriching experiences offered by Princess Cruises® – including the new Princess MedallionClass™ upgrades.

Also discover the advantages of booking with AAA: exclusive offers, reduced deposits, spending credits and more!

AAA WENATCHEE STORE 221 N. Mission St. Tuesday, November 5 at 5:30 p.m.

RSVP: (509) 665-6299

Imagine the fun you could have!

THERE’S GOOD NEWS TODAY Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE

THE BIRDHOUSE MAN Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE

MAGAZINE

October 2018

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

July 2018

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

PASSAGE

Price: $3

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

August 2018

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

MOVE TO MEXICO

TO JUNEAU They finally arrived!

Brothers finish trek started 40 years ago

DRIVING HISTORIC ROUTE 66 Y EVENTS CALENDAR

MAGAZINE

One more adventure: 'We felt like kids again'

plus LLamas are an aging hiker’s best friend heart disease in women: more deadLy than breast cancer

plus REVISITING THE CONTAINER HOUSE NOW THAT IT’S FINISHED They Built This City: NEW DOWNTOWN IS FlOOR kING’S lASTING lEGACy

becoming an american

now a citizen of where her heart belongs

plus monsterlove art: letting the freak flag fly unlikely chelan home offers stunning lake views

Subscribe to The Good Life for yourself or a friend. ❑ 12 months for $25 in Washington $30 out of state ❑ 24 months for $50 in Washington $60 out of state

Name: __________________________________ Address: ________________________________ City/State/Zip ____________________________ ________________________________________

Mail to: The Good Life, P.O. Box 2142, Wenatchee, WA 98807 509-888-6527 • www.ncwgoodlife.com

*Space is limited. Agency #178-018-521 Job #4771

2 full months FREE with a 6 or 12 month lease signed at the storage units.

509-664-1808

3572 and 3606 Territorial Way.