The Good Life july 2015 by The Good Life

THE iPHONE AS YOUR DOCTOR Y EVENTS CALENDAR

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

July 2015

Open for fun and adventure

Price: $3

touched by nature Photographer’s playgound is also his workshop

PLUS Married in Great-Granddad’s barn Fun getaways by travel pro Cary Ordway

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Contents

You’ve Spent a Lifetime Preparing for Retirement.

Now What?

page 7

nature inspires photographer in his play & work

10 SOWING SMILES

If you’re recently retired or planning to retire, you’re probably concerned about making the right ﬁnancial decisions. Together, we can ﬁnd the answers.

12 married in a barn

We’ll sit down, face to face, to develop a strategy designed to help your ﬁnances meet your needs over the long haul.

Features What’s a Wenatchee woman to do when she’s plunked down in Bangkok, and goes face-to-face with the struggles of refugees? But it wasn’t just any barn, it was a barn designed and built by the groom’s great-grandfather

14 return to china

Parents take adopted daughters on a grand tour of their ancestral homeland

18 WALKING NEW ZEALAND

Taking a grand walk through luscious parks and along the beaches of these islands down under

To develop a retirement income strategy that works for you, call or visit today.

20 summer travel planner

Travel pro Cary Ordway offers a variety of NCW getaways

A BRAND NEW NEIGHBORHOOD Developer creates a community, rather than just a block, of homes at Saddle Rock Cottages

ART SKETCHES

n Painter Marti Lyttle, page 32 n Cellist Matt Ryan-Kelzenberg, page 34

Tom Barrett 111 S Mission Wenatchee, WA 98801 509-665-9909

Columns & Departments 28 June Darling: I know what you are, but what am I? 29 Bonnie Orr: Friend’s recipe for zucchini slices 30 The traveling doctor: Your smart phone as doctor 32-37 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 37 The night sky: Pluto will be coming into focus 38 Pet Tales: Two dogs soaking up nature 39 History: Trading post owner a friend of Chief Moses 42 Alex Saliby: Rules for pairing food and wine July 2015 | The Good Life

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OPENING SHOT

Year 9, Number 7 July 2015 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801 PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com sales@ncwgoodlife.com ONLINE: www.ncwgoodlife.com FACEBOOK: https://www. facebook.com/NCWGoodLife Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Brian Mitchell, Andy Dappen, Steven Gnam, Linda Congdon, Marianne Cassells, Cory Turner, Cary Ordway, Alex Crane, Trish Simmons, Donna Cassidy, Bonnie Orr, Alex Saliby, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin, Peter Lind and Rod Molzahn Advertising manager, Terry Smith Advertising sales, Lianne Taylor and Donna Cassidy Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Dianne Cornell Ad design, Clint Hollingsworth TO SUBSCRIBE: For $25, ($30 out of state address) you can have 12 issues of The Good Life mailed to you or a friend. Send payment to: The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801 For circulation questions, email: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Hastings, Safeway stores, Walgreens, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Rhubarb Market, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and A Book for All Seasons (Leavenworth) ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in The Good Life, contact advertising at (509) 8886527, or sales@ncwgoodlife.com

blooms under a morning light By Brian Mitchell

ohn Muir said, “In every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” The same could be said of photography. It can be unpredictable and always provides one with far more, and sometimes less than originally thought. It consists of spending long hours researching locations, when the best light and weather

will be available, and the like — all in an effort to capture the vision in one’s own head. Every photo is a combination of hard work and the moments provided by things around you. For this particular shot, I tried to take advantage of the morning light and the recent bloom of Balsamroot. I am always amazed by the abundance in which this wildflower blooms, often covering entire hillsides. It is easily recognized by locals and is really the center of attention in this photo. Even the overwhelming beauty of the Wenatchee Valley in the background is barely able to

Keep Moving

draw the viewer’s eye from the flower. If you like this photo I encourage you to visit Lemolo Cafe and Deli during the month of July where I’ll have an assortment of canvas prints like this on display.

On the cover

Steven Gnam took this photo of his wife, Aly, as the couple were celebrating their five year wedding anniversary by doing an all-day mountain run in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area of Montana.

Physical Therapy for All Ages and Abilities

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

(509) 665-3156

www.biosports.net

PHYSICAL THERAPY

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

| The Good Life

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July 2015

fun stuff a full LISTING of what to do begins ON PAGE 33

A contest where spitting is perfectly acceptable Here are some items cherrypicked from this month’s calendar of fun. 4th of July celebration —

Wenatchee Youth Circus, kids activities, live bands, a salute to veterans, food vendors arts and crafts, elite hoops fest and the Wenatchee Valley Symphony will perform while the fireworks go off at dusk at Walla Walla Point Park. Info: wenatcheevalleyfourth.com. All day July 4. Cherry Pit Spit contest — Pybus Public Market. See the rules they will make you laugh: pybuspublicmarket.org. 1 – 3 p.m. Saturday, July 4. Loop Trail Extension Grand Opening — This adds an addi-

tional 5.25 miles to the 10-mile loop trail and 2.2 mile extension to Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park. The trail will be open to hikers, runners, skaters, walkers, bikers and other non-motorized recreationists. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, July 9. SummerFest — Craft beers, BBQ, Jimmy Buffett tribute, beer pong tournament and more. Town Toyota Center. Cost: $15. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. 4 – 11 p.m. Saturday, July 11. Rattlesnake Education —

Daryl Ansley will talk about

Fireworks are back this year in Wenatchee, with an all-day event including food vendors, salute to veterans and of course the rockets’ red glare. Lake Chelan Rodeo — Make

plans now to visit the prettiest place on earth for the greatest show on dirt. Performances

Flying cherry pits, July 4 at Pybus.

rattlesnakes and how to handle your pets around the snakes. Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. Cost: free. RSVP: mlee@ wenatcheehumane.org. 1 – 1:30 p.m., Sunday, July 12. Chelan Man — The swims take place in the clear waters of Lake Chelan, the runs are on paved paths and roads and the bike legs are along Lake Chelan and the Columbia River. First timer triathlon, a sprint, Olympic and half iron triathlons and 10K and half marathon runs. Proceeds benefit arts and healthy lifestyle programs for area kids. www.chelanman.com. Friday through Sunday, July 17-19. July 2015 | The Good Life

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start at 7:30 p.m. each night. Grounds, vendors and beer garden open at 5 p.m. Info: lakechelan.com. Friday and Saturday, July 31 and Aug. 1.

editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

The ‘Best’ is back! And, you can win Yippee! We are celebrating

our 100th this summer! No, not our 100th year — we are a little too young for that — but the 100th issue of The Good Life will be published later this year. Wow, 100 issues of sharing fun, fascinating, sometimes simply remarkable stories told by your friends and neighbors from our local Chelan and Douglas counties. To mark this centennial, we could reach back into the misty predawn of The Good Life — back to early ought 7 — to talk about how the would-be founders huddled around paperoverflowing tables at local coffee shops to ponder what this new magazine would be like. Scanning between projected cost spreadsheets and handwritten lists of story ideas, the question kept coming up: “Will this magazine work?” But, honestly, does that sound like a fun story? No, it does not.

Here’s what we are really going to do: Throughout this summer of celebration, we will publish some of our favorite moments from the past issues, starting in the August issue, along with our favorite photos and favorite magazine covers. And for the best part, we want to refresh a popular contest we held on our fifth anniversary of asking readers to write short stories about the best day of their lives during the years The Good Life has been publishing. Think about the past few years: What day and event really stands out? Did you make a seminal change, finally reach a life goal (or finally decide what your life goal should be), cross off an item on your bucket list, or start a new life? What day made you feel more like the person you want to be, or started you on a new direction, or taught you a lesson or opened your eyes? Or just pleased the

heck out of you? So, here we go. The rules are simple: Think of a good day you have had since June 2007, and send us an email telling why the day was special. You don’t need to go on and on, but tell us a well-rounded story so we can share in your joy. Something like 100-400 words will do. Attach a photo if you have one. Or even two. We want to publish a few of these stories in an upcoming issue. We are working on a few prizes. The prizes will be local and fun. But the real prize will be the pleasant feeling that will envelop you as you relive that neat day in your life. Send your emails to me at editor@ncwgoodlife.com. Don’t wait for “later” to write your story. Get remembering and then get typing. If there is one lesson we have learned over the course of publishing 100 issues is the deadline is coming sooner than you think. And if you haven’t had anything worthwhile happen to you over the past eight years, well get busy. Because, the Great Deadline is coming, likely sooner than you think. In some way, every day is worth celebrating. Enjoy The Good Life. — Mike

OUR

100

ISSUE celebration

Tell us a story about

your best day

The Good Life will soon publish our 100th issue. We’ve told thousands of pages of great stories, but have we told yours? Share a story about your best experience since we began in June 2007, and win a chance at a fun prize. Email your stories (and photos) to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com

A Correction we’re glad to make

I am alive and well Editor: On page 13 of your June 2015 edition you featured a photo of me looking at one of my photo albums. Unfortunately, the caption read in part, “Bob’s unexpected death created an urgency to collecting stories from the elderly.” This is apparently a result of confusing me with another gentleman featured in the article, a Mr. Bob Hall, about whom your writer spoke on page 12 of the same article.

Many of my friends approached me at church on Sunday, expressing their concern and their reaction upon reading of my death, as well as a number of my friends who phoned us to confirm the surprising and alarming news. I was surprised that no one informed me of my funeral or published my obituary. In any case, I am “born again” and advising you that you really need to print a retraction. Bob Reilly 1521 Willow Place Wenatchee

| The Good Life

Bob Reilly shares his scrapbook of photos and newspaper clippings from his time serving in the United States Army.

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July 2015

Steven Gnam fly fishing a tributary to the Blackfoot River, MT.

Steven Gnam - A photographer’s tale By Andy Dappen

Steven Gnam, a professional

photographer and videographer, moved to Wenatchee in November 2014 because of his wife’s work at Northwest Justice Project. His magazine work, videos and his book Crown of the Continent: The Wildest Rockies all inspire viewers to leave town and start wandering wild places. Steven’s outdoor sports include trail and mountain running, backcountry skiing, climbing and swimming. A love of wild places and a desire to keep exploring fuel his activities.

What brought a talented shooter whose work has been used by such groups as Patagonia, National Geographic, Backpacker Magazine, Outside Magazine, National Parks Conservation, and Runners World to Wenatchee? How has the fit worked out? What are the highs and lows of this place? We had the pleasure of speaking with Steven and popping him such random questions. When did you move to Wenatchee and of the many outdoor towns out there, how did you end up choosing this one? My wife and I moved to July 2015 | The Good Life

Wenatchee because of her work at Northwest Justice Project. It is a place where we can combine her legal work on behalf of women farmworker’s and our need to live near wild places with trails and lots of sunshine. Where else have you lived? Compare and contrast some of the other places you have lived with this one. I grew up in Whitefish, Montana and then went to college in Missoula. After that I moved out to Seattle for a few years and moved back to Whitefish for another year before landing here in Wenatchee. Whitefish, Missoula and www.ncwgoodlife.com

Wenatchee are all great places to live if you need daily access to the outdoors, which I do. Seattle is close to a lot of different kinds of ecosystems including Puget Sound, Olympics, Cascades, volcanoes and the islands, but in reality you have a couple hours’ drive (plus traffic) to get outside. To cope with this some of the parks in Seattle became a refuge for me when I didn’t own a car and biked everywhere. I appreciate that you can get into the high desert or the Cascades in very little time from Wenatchee.

}}} Continued on next page

Steven does a selfie on a snow day.

STEVEN GNAM }}} Continued from previous page What are your main outdoor sports and how does Central Washington stack up to other places in regard to the pursuit of those sports? My outdoor sports include most anything that lets me explore outside — trail and mountain running, backcountry skiing, bouldering, climbing and swimming. Over the last few years I’ve been gravitating towards activities that use less gear, like running and bouldering. I have been pleasantly surprised by how much access there is around here. The rock is also way better than what I’m used to in Montana. It’s encouraging to see groups like the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust protecting the foothills which would be developed into subdivisions in a flash if it weren’t for such an organization. As locals wanting to recreate right on the edge of town, we will need to stay organized and engaged to ensure open space is preserved. As a friend observed, “Development is a one-way street. I’ve seen hundreds of

acres of farm fields turned into residential developments, but I’ve never seen an acre of residential turn into farm land.” After six months here what have been the highs and lows of the area? Highs: Access to trails and year round running. Nearby access to really great mountains in the North Cascades. Good friends, family and neighbors. It’s the dry side. My clothes will not mold and actually dry when hung on a drying rack in the house. Lows: Low, really low, snow year. We live near Mission Ridge and I thought I’d get out skiing more right from our back door than I did this winter. Maybe I’ll get tired of the blue bird days? Doubt it.

| The Good Life

What drives your photography — the sense of the aesthetic, ability to pursue activities you love, desire to help others appreciate wild places, the big money (ha!)...? Definitely not the money! I never know when I’ll get paid next. As someone who is fortunate to have good health and to get outside more than most, I get to see many things that others don’t. Photography is simply a way to share those experiences, to bridge between the viewer and the subject. When I was young it was encounters with wild animals that led me to photography so I could share this with my family. Now, photography is a mixture of photojournalism and art for me.

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July 2015

Steven trail runs in the North Cascades. “If I’m alone and think that a photo might be more interesting with a human figure then I’ll hop in,” he said.

I grew up painting and drawing. I was surrounded by friends who were artists that inspired, and still today continue to inspire me. I love the way that photography changes the way I see things. Sometimes I’ll run or climb up something to see what the view is like and other times I’ll sit for hours in one place waiting for the light or for a situation to develop. I’m selective with the projects I choose and the groups I work for. I don’t want my work to cause more harm to the earth

Steven heads out on a week-long solo winter camping trip in northwest Montana while working on the book: Crown of the Continent, The Wildest Rockies.

or to people. Rather, I’d like my work to expose environmental or social injustices and inspire others to get involved. Beauty and wildness are also common themes in my work — they give solace to our complicated lives.

reminds you of what life on the continent was like before people altered the landscape and wiped out many species. I’d like to see that landscape remain vibrant for generations to come. I spent the last four years working on the book The Crown of the Continent: Wildest Rockies to support conservation of the region (you can get more info at www.wildestrockies.org). The place also inspires me to work on behalf of other lands that need restoration to help return them to an ecologically healthy state.

Of the many places you have explored thus far for your photography and videography, which places have impacted you the most and why? By far, my childhood backyard the Crown of the Continent, the land from Missoula to Banff with Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park at the center. It’s a landscape that is so diverse and so full of wildlife, even with human communities nestled in the valleys. It’s the kind of place that

What about your wife, what are her interests? What does she think of the area? Aly has a passion for justice. Growing up in Wenatchee exposed her to the worker side of the food industry and the challenges farm workers face. I’m excited for her to return to her hometown and pursue a dream to work with Latina farm workers. Aly always surprises me when we have full days in the mountains with her endurance and July 2015 | The Good Life

tenacity. My work demands that I train and be out multiple days a week. She often has to squeeze in runs or yoga around her work as an attorney. Somehow she always makes it seem like it’s her full time job too — very inspiring. She likes running and yoga (at iLa) and the Wenatchee sunshine. Epic journeys — what do you consider your most epic adventure to date and why? How did that journey/adventure shape you? A few years ago a friend and I took a week to traverse the North and South Picket Range (in northwest Washington). We bushwhacked, climbed peaks, crossed glaciers and got “picketed.” It was one of the most remote and rugged mountain ranges I’ve been in and qualifies as an epic for the Lower 48. The summer we did the trip was one of the hottest on record in the North Cascades and consequently the snow and glaciers were melted out more than usual. www.ncwgoodlife.com

There were places where rock fall was so frequent we had to abandon the route and detour to safer terrain. Glaciers had more crevasses exposed and some parts of the route that should have been steep snow climbs were either exposed glacial ice or completely melted out, leaving a muddy slope to climb with no way to place protection. In one of those situations we finally found our rappel anchor 15 feet above us where the snow line would have been on a normal year. On the rappel, which was also in the dark, heavy rock fall severed our rope so we were left with a partial rope for the rest of the trip. That experience taught me to improvise on the go and to keep a cool head in stressful situations. Andy Dappen is the content editor of the www.WenatcheeOutdoors. org website where this article first appeared. Prior to moving to Wenatchee in 1999, Dappen wrote for many of the same outdoor magazines Steven photographs for.

Some cute critters.

Sowing smiles

Six-year old Jerry and his sock kitty.

Traveler Linda Congdon spots a need and sews up a solution to help refugees in Thailand By Linda Congdon

ot Bangkok! That was my first reaction to learning that if my husband, Gordon, was accepted for another position with the World Wildlife Fund in Southeast Asia, we would be based in Bangkok, Thailand. Our respite at our home on Stemilt Hill, after working in rural Cambodia for four years, lasted just 14 months before the “call of the wild” summoned Gordon once again. Since he has a passion for jungles and untamed rivers and faraway places, I presumed that if we did go somewhere again, we’d be living and working in a rural area. Just the thought of living in a mega city was the emotional equivalent to me of trying to put a square peg into a round hole. It just didn’t fit. The largest city I’d ever lived in was Wenatchee. I wasn’t sure that I was ready for a new, stretching experience, let alone a quantum leap. Fortunately for me, it took five long months for WWF Thailand to make their final decision about which candidate to

hire. During that time, I began to wrestle with my fears; and months later, when Gordon finally learned that he’d been selected for the position of WWF Thailand Conservation Program Manager, I was at peace about going. Once we arrived in mid November 2014, I wondered what I would be doing in Bangkok and it didn’t take me long to find out. Soon after arriving, we began to hear about the thousands of asylum seekers from surrounding countries, living in the shadows of Bangkok. Because Thailand is not a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and has no domestic legislation governing refugees, there is no safety net for asylum seekers. Once their two-month tourist visas expires, they are ineligible to work and must make themselves scarce for fear of being arrested and detained in an immigration detention center for months or years. Because of the presence of the U.N.’s Refugee Agency, UNHCR in Bangkok, asylum seekers come hoping to obtain refugee

| The Good Life

Alishba, Semeena, Linda, and Shimeem having fun making sock animals.

status, and then be resettled in a safe country. However, because the UNHCR is flooded with thousands wanting refugee status and resettlement, they are severely backlogged. There is now a two to three year wait just to receive a first interview with UNHCR. The plight of asylum seekers became a reality to us after meeting a Pakistani refugee family at the church we attend. They invited us to join them for dinner on Christmas Eve. I asked what we could bring for

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July 2015

their meal and they said, “don’t bring anything except your friendship and love.” Arriving at their “apartment,” we were silently shocked to see seven family members living in one, 225-square-foot room, with no kitchen and a tiny bathroom. They had converted a small outdoor balcony into a cooking area. They were just one of several hundred families living in a four-story building, all in the same living conditions. As we sat on the few mat-

tresses on the floor, we were graciously served a traditional meal of homemade chapatti, rice and chicken curry. They were grateful that we’d come to share a meal with them and we were amazed at their generosity, sharing what little food they had with us. From this Christmas Eve experience, an idea and a project were born. I am discovering that I have a passion to help poor In the April 2013 issue of The Good Life, Linda people find ways to wrote how she helped a young couple start an ice make income. Over cream business in Cambodia. the past 12 weeks, I’ve been engaged in initiating a and passionate conservationist small income generation project who also just happens to have a to benefit some refugee families. love for remote places. Five refugee families are inAre we Tarzan and Jane? Well, volved in a project making cute not quite. Did I know what I was dogs and cats out of a pair of getting in to? Of course not. But, socks. Because refugees canI followed my heart and am so not legally “work,” I decided to glad that I did. try raising donations for their Although Bangkok was not at handcrafts through a fundraisthe top of my list for being one ing site. of the “most desirable” places to I named this project, Sewlive, it has been good to dising Socks and Sowing Smiles, cover that I, too, have a sense because not only is it providing of adventure and that I am able help to the families, but also to grow and bloom where I am their creations, through local planted. organizations, are being freely given away to needy children >> RANDOM QUOTE throughout Bangkok. (If you’d like to read more about this project, please go to To work for YouCaring.com and search with the sheer joy of it, the name of the project: Sewing Socks and Sowing Smiles.) to wake up and be I recently found out that my really excited on project was discovered by a donor who works at the Bill & Mea Monday, to love linda Gates Foundation Visitors what you do so much Center in Seattle. I’m amazed that the idea of a that I’ve been asked to put together a short story with photos long vacation looks about the project for the Center, boring — that’s so they can use it in a collection of stories to inspire others. living. A little more than 30 years Manoj Arora ago I married a man, who is, at heart, an adventurer, biologist July 2015 | The Good Life

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Married in the barn great-grandfather built By Marianne Cassells

Something Old…

Barn weddings have become increasingly popular but it’s not every couple who can get hitched in a barn designed and built by the groom’s greatgrandfather. Matt Hampton and Joy Thomas were married in May at that barn rich with family history on land homesteaded by the Hamptons up the Squilchuck in 1901. As an 11-year-old, Antone (Tony) Hampton arrived with his family by wagon train from Iowa and set up house in a two-room cabin on 80 acres. Neighbors included the Wards, Wheelers, Zimmermans and Halversons. In 1915 Tony married Jessie Halverson, “the girl next door” and had six children; three boys Walt, Wilmer Albert, and three girls, Dorothy and twins Florence and Shirley. Something New… Tony’s dream of a nice barn became a reality in 1946 with the completion of the 32-foot by 50-foot building complete with trusses designed by Tony himself. All of Tony’s children had a hand in the building process even his twin daughters who helped shingle the roof. In 2012 the barn was renovated by Tim and Katie Libby, the builders’ great granddaughter and is now used as a wedding and event venue. Matt and Joy were the first Hamptons to be wed in the barn, today referred to as the Hampton Hideaway. There were four generations of Hamptons in attendance including three of Tony’s children. Something Borrowed… In the early 1960s one of the Hampton children, Wilmer, a competitive and nationally recognized ski jumper, and his brother Walt began working on the establishment of

Above: Matt and Joy Hampton pose for a kiss in front of the Hampton barn. Right: Hampton children — Steve, Becky and Joyce and Linda standing — have their photo taken in front of the barn around 1948.

the Mission Ridge ski area. Wilmer passed on before seeing his dream come to fruition but the family was honored to have the Mission Ridge ski lodge named after him. His older brother Walt was named his successor and their younger brother Albert built the ski lifts. It was in the Hampton Lodge that the rehearsal dinner for Matt and Joy was celebrated. Many of the traditions in the wedding were borrowed from the bride’s Scottish heritage. Joy borrowed six pence from her mother for her shoes to meet the requirement of having something silver, the men’s tuxedo pocket squares were made from the family’s dress tartan, and a broom was laid | The Good Life

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at the end of the aisle to jump over ensuring a happy home. Something Blue… The Hamptons eventually split property and the youngest boy Albert settled in Sunnyslope where he began farming cherries, apricots, peaches and nectarines. The blue skies of Sunnyslope helped ensure the success of the orchards. In his down time he was called all over the nation and Canada to build ski lifts and always brought his bride, June, along for

July 2015

the adventure. Albert had four children of his own and his son Jim continues the Hampton tradition of working the land you were born on and taught his children Jamie, Mike and Matt the ways of farming. Albert had many hobbies, he was known to make some fine wine, dance with June and help a neighbor. In fact, he helped one neighbor with his expansive yard, that yard is today known as Ohme Gardens. Tradition… Matt and Joy met at his Wenatchee High School 10-year class reunion and 10 years later literally “tied the knot” with a handfasting ritual common in the remote Scottish highlands where clergy were often unavailable. The couple’s hands were tied with a piece of her clan tartan symbolizing their physical and spiritual union.

Worn smooth wood floors and soaring trusses — designed by Antone Hampton — frame the wedding arbor. Wedding photos by Cory Turner/CT Imagery

Thus bound, the newlyweds led their guests out of greatgrandfather’s barn and into the sunlit cherry orchard of the

Hampton Homestead.

Just after this story was completed Albert Hampton passed away peacefully at his home in Sunnyslope with, as always, his adoring bride June by

his side. His grandson Matt will be forever grateful for the lessons and legacy handed down to him by his Grandpa Al.

Rory Turner for CHELAN COUNTY PORT COMMISSIONER

New leadership for a diverse and dynamic Port of Chelan County

EFFECTIVE | COLLABORATIVE | TRANSPARENT www.electroryturner.com July 2015 | The Good Life

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Paid for by the committee to elect Rory Turner. Chris Goetz, Treasurer

RETURN to CHINA four girls adopted around the age of one TRAVEL to the home of their ancestors story and photos By Alex Crane

When my wife Trish and

I moved to Wenatchee 18 years ago, we adopted four girls from China. We traveled to China four times to adopt our daughters, who were each about a year old at the time of adoption. They are Emily, 18, Sophie, 17, Lily, 15, and Simone, 12. We had planned eventually to take them back to see the land of their birth, China. Last summer we finally made the trip. The trip was 33 days in length and began in Shanghai in the east, to the Yellow Mountains, Yangzhou, then taking a big circle south to Guangzhou and

Guilin, southwest to Yunnan province, north to Xi’an (where Trish joined us) and Beijing, then south terminating and flying back from Hong Kong. We traveled by air and train with a local guide meeting us at each airport/train station with a waiting van and driver for each segment of the trip. I brought a case of single malt scotch and gave each guide a bottle when we met them. When I was planning the trip I asked my daughters what their priorities were. Would they rather spend their time trying to visit their orphanages and home provinces, or see the main sites? They opted for the Grand Canyon experience, though we did make it to Emily’s orphanage. Traveling to China in the summer is probably never a good

Across town, across country or world wide

Debbie Gurnard General Manager

Heidi Ohta Sales & Marketing

The four girls eat dinner at their inn at the Devil’s Backbone Rice Terraces. Left to right, Sophie, Simone, Emily, and Lily (in front).

idea as it is very hot and humid. I knew that because I had been there before. I brought small battery-powered fans to cool us down. In the canal town of Tongli, near Shanghai, Lily was sitting next to an elderly Chinese gentleman and offered to fan him, he politely declined. Later as we were getting up to go, Lily didn’t have her fan. Looking over at the man, he was sitting fanning himself with her fan. I guess there was a communication breakdown.

Lily nearly got heat exhaustion as we were biking around the Ming dynasty era walls of Xi’an in 100 degree heat. I guess she was missing her fan. Fortunately we had water to cool her off with. One of the delights of traveling is eating, and China has one of the world’s most famous cuisines. My daughters are chowhounds, though you wouldn’t know it to look at them. We had many fantastic meals. Probably one of the most

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July 2015

Tibetan shaman in Lijiang, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Yunnan province, southwest China.

ABOVE: Street market in Muslim Quarter of Xiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;an, terminus of the ancient Silk Road, and famous for its ancient Terra-cotta Warriors.

A scene from Tongli, a canal town near Shanghai in the Yangtze river delta.

July 2015 | The Good Life

memorable was lunch in a restaurant that specializes in wild game. The chef brought out a live wild chicken to show us, weighed it and took it back to the kitchen. Thirty minutes later he came back with a wonderful dish, including the head of the chicken, now cooked, crowning it. One of the toughest days we had was when we were trying to fly from Nanjing to Guang-

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zhou. The flight was scheduled to leave in the evening but got cancelled. We spent the whole night in the terminal. In the morning a new flight was added for the people on the cancelled flight. Unfortunately there was an angry crowd of Chinese passengers pushing their way to the ticket counter, and myself, not speaking Chinese, got up there last. Ironically the only seats left were in first class, which we enjoyed immensely. The highlight of the trip for Emily was visiting her orphanage in Yangzhou. We decided to go there both because it was easy to fit into the itinerary and because it was

}}} Continued on next page

Rainy day at The Great Wall at Simatai, north of Beijing. Left to right, Trish, Sophie, Emily, Lily, and Simone.

RETURN to CHINA }}} Continued from previous page the only orphanage we got to visit when we did the adoptions. Our guide was great and had done her research and took us to the spot where Emily was found. We also spent the afternoon at the orphanage visiting the children and meeting the nanny, now retired, that took care of Emily when she was a baby. With the loosening of the onechild policy in China and the education of the people towards the acceptability of girls, far fewer female babies are abandoned now and there are fewer children in orphanages. Most

of the children now are special needs. The change I most noticed from my previous travel there was the proliferation of highend retail stores in the cities selling Western fashion and Swiss watches. Also, the increased presence of Starbucks in the big cities. We really enjoyed their desserts, which I personally thought were better than whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s available here. I was most struck when traveling in the countryside by the fact that the most common crop we saw was corn, not rice. Corn

is grown as animal feed and to make ethanol. At the beginning of the trip I gave each girl a money belt filled with cash. They were told to spend what they wanted on souvenirs, but any money not spent came back to me at the end of the trip. I came out pretty well because they are all spendthrifts. Ironically, in a family filled with women, I am the one who likes to shop when traveling and I came back with a lot of nice handicrafts, and shipped home some really cool Chinese classical music instruments, and a

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July 2015

ABOVE: The Hanging Monastery in Shanxi province, in northern China. (“I think all of China’s billion people were there that day!” said Alex.) LEFT: Cruising the Li river in Guangxi province, famous for its karst (limestone) peaks and caverns.

massive blue and white porcelain vase. The question, of course, on everyone’s mind is, “How did the girls process the experience of going back to their birthplace?” That’s a hard question to answer. The girls are totally westernized, having grown up in America. For them it really was like visiting a foreign country with all the culture shock involved. In fact, there was probably less culture shock for Trish and me because we had been there before. The girls were constantly being approached by the Chinese speaking in Mandarin and wondering why the girls didn’t

speak it. Though on a number of occasions the Chinese thought Sophie was Thai. The one sentiment that the girls did express more than once was that they are very thankful to be American and living in the U.S. I know they enjoyed the trip and it was a learning experience, which is what we wanted it to be. Mostly it was a big adventure. Emily very much embraced the Chinese aspect of the trip and studied up a lot beforehand, and even tried to learn some Mandarin. She even got blessed by a monk in a Buddhist temple in Guangzhou. Maybe that’s why she was approached in a

>> RANDOM QUOTE

I think people would live a bit longer if they didn’t know how old they were. Age puts restrictions on things. Karl Pilkington July 2015 | The Good Life

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Beijing bookstore by a shy young man who handed her a note in Chinese with a big red heart at the bottom. He ran off red faced before she could get a translation. The girls were appreciative of the chance to see their birthplace but it will be a while before they need to see another Buddhist temple, or participate in another Chinese tea ceremony. Alex Crane lives in Wenatchee Heights. He is an ER physician who will likely be working a lot longer than planned to replace the money he took out of his retirement account to pay for this trip. He enjoys biking, hiking, skiing, photography, reading and watching movies in his free time.

WALKING

through the beauty that is

New Zealand

Photos and Story By Trish Simmons

Last November, I joined my

two friends, Lisa and Karen, from Wenatchee on a memorymaking trip to the South Island of New Zealand. We spent about two weeks on the South Island and celebrated Thanksgiving as we were on a “Great Walk.” Starting in the lovely town of Queenstown, we joined a small group on an organized walk called the Milford Track. This walk takes you from the eastern shore of beautiful Lake Te Anau, around the lake, following the Clinton River, over Mackinnon Pass, and then down to Milford Sound. The Milford Track runs through the rain forest. We walked in the rain for about two days, which made the waterfalls

along the way utterly spectacular. The waters were so pure and shone in a variety of colors — the pools below the falls are a beautiful turquoise. The walk covered about 35 miles over four days, with comfortable lodges each night. We enjoyed local fare for dinner and breakfast and then packed our lunches for the day’s hike. It was a spectacular way to see a piece of the island. After our guided hike, we rented a car and drove up the west coast, first stopping at Franz Josef Glacier. This glacier is receding, but there are some wonderful hiking paths in the area. This area is also known for glow worms. One evening, after dark we took a short walk to see the glow worms. This insect creates light to attract its food in the dark of the night, but to us

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July 2015

road was a little challenging — actually being in the front-passenger seat was probably most uncomfortable. The roads were narrow and we went over many one-way bridges. Approaching a short bridge, we learned to interpret the signs for which direction had the right-of-way. This seemed to alternate and luckily, there wasn’t much on-coming traffic. We continued our journey up the coast and stopped for a walk at Punakaiki, which has spectacular views of the Tasman Sea and the Pancake Rock formations. The rocks are so flat that they looked like stacked pancakes. My favorite experience of this trip was our time in the Abel Tasman National Park. We stayed in cottages near the entrance and took advantage of the water taxi’s that ran three times a day up and down the

The paths at Abel Tasman National Park wound through the coastline, dipping down to beautiful golden-sand beaches and up to lookouts with spectacular views

Tidal changes at Abel Tasman National Park meant water taxis let hikers walk down a ramp to the sandy beaches.

A playful dolphin leaps far out of the water.

coastal trail. They deposited us in the morning and picked us up in the afternoon after hiking. The paths wound through the coastline, dipping down to beautiful golden-sand beaches and up to lookouts with spectacular views. We saw many groups of teenage students with their leaders on the paths. I found out that this is a custom in New Zealand, July 2015 | The Good Life

the week before their summer break begins, many schools support classes having an outdoor adventure. The students plan for the trip during the school year, and then combine some studies of nature with a great outdoor experience. When they finish, they start their two-month summer vacation that runs through the Christmas holiday. www.ncwgoodlife.com

The bays in Abel Tasman National Park were shallow and tidal changes would move the shoreline at least a quarter-mile out. The water taxis landed at various beaches and let down a ramp for us to reach the sandy beaches. On our return water taxi ride, the company would position their boat trailers in the water for easy pick up â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it all worked well and provided great access to the approximately 30 miles of trail. We had a special treat on one of mornings, when our water taxi caught up with a school of dolphin. These playful dolphins were busy dodging the kayakers and I got a shot of one who jumped out of the water at least 10 feet. We visited New Zealand during their transition from spring to summer. The South Island was my absolute favorite. There were so many hiking options to choose from. I hope to have the chance to return to the Abel Tasman National Park. Trish Simmons loves the outdoors and lovesÂ to travel. She manages the AAA Washington store in Wenatchee.

photo credit:

Grand Coulee

he day before September 11, 2001, visitors were driving across the Columbia

the few dams in the world that

River on one of the most dramatic

not as high as Hoover Dam, but

structures one can imagine – atop

it’s wider and there’s a definite

the 550-foot spillway of Grand

rivalry between the tour direc-

Coulee Dam, a marvel to man’s

tors at these dams who each see

ingenuity. The day after Septem-

their respective dam as the more

ber 11, 2001, gates had been

awe-inspiring tourist attraction.

erected to prevent unauthorized

Truth be told, they’re both pretty

visitors from getting that close to

darned impressive.

the dam – and those gates are still there today.

can produce enough electricity to power 11 western states. It’s

It’s just a couple hours from the Wenatchee Valley to the dam,

That’s one good reason to take

give or take. You drive across

the 45-minute tour of Grand Cou-

the wheatlands of the Columbia

lee Dam where you’ll be escorted

Plateau as well as across and

by armed guard to the top of

through “coulees” where geolog-

the spillway where you can look

ical forces long ago cut jagged,

down at a wall of water much

dramatic valley-size ruts into

higher and much wider than

the plateau giving the place an

Niagara Falls. The look down is breathtaking as you watch the water make its long journey to the river below and just imagine something – or someone – falling that distance. If you’re afraid of heights, you might just want to

Peggy Nevsimal

Amazing NCW power plant well worth visit

other-worldly feel. You’ll pass through little towns like Waterville and Coulee City where even Barney Fife may think the pace is a little slow. You’ll see historic old farmhouses and come across

Grand Coulee Dam: higher and wider than Niagara Falls

general-store mercantiles piled high with groceries and good wishes for the customers the merchants will see in church on Sunday (and those they won’t, as well). Stop and get an ice cream bar or a bottle of soda and just sit and watch the local residents and clouds float by at about the same leisurely pace. Once you get to Grand Coulee, there’s no mistaking just how important this piece of concrete is. It’s the world’s largest concrete structure and it holds back an incredible amount of water that is sucked down through turbines that are constantly spinning and

stay in the tour bus. Grand Coulee Dam is not just any dam – it once was the world’s biggest dam and remains among

Cary Ordway is publisher of NorthwestTravelAdvisor.com and host of Exploring the Northwest, heard at 8:45 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. weekdays on KPQ 560 AM, Wenatchee. Central Washington EXPERIENCE is made possible by the sponsors appearing in these articles. Email: getawaymediacorp@gmail.com; Twitter: @getawayguy Summer 2015 | THE GOOD LIFE | Central Washington Experience |

humming, producing so much electricity that Homeland Security doesn’t dare let down its guard for fear of what calamity might ensue if there were an interruption in that extremely important power grid. If you stop at the vantage point coming into Grand Coulee, you can look down at the dam alongside an information board that has a photo of the dam from your location with well-known monuments and natural features like the Statue of Liberty and Niagara Falls silhouetted against the picture – just suffice it to say the dam dwarfs all those other features and buildings that you thought were really tall. The dam is huge, and that becomes more and more apparent as you drive down the curvy road to the dam

and the building near the top of the dam where you will get the tour bus. The tours at Grand Coulee run hourly and everyone is required to go through security just like you would to get on an airplane. An armed guard is with you at all times and, from what we could tell, they never crack a smile. The tour guide, however, offers plenty of levity and gives you a great overview of how the dam came to be. The dam was constructed between 1933 and 1942 and then, in 1974, a third powerhouse was added, exponentially increasing the power production. Today, Grand Coulee Dam produces 6,809 megawatts of electricity but also is the major source of irrigation for the massive Columbia Basin project. The dam’s reservoir has enough water to irrigate more than 670,000 acres. The reservoir is called Franklin Delano Roosevelt Lake and that body of water has become a prime recreation area for Northeast Washington. The tour of Grand Coulee Dam is

Lake Roosevelt

anything but boring – visitors get just about as close as they’ll ever

Houseboat trip feels like Robinson Crusoe

want to be to that torrent of water crashing down the spillways. Another part of the tour takes you into one of the powerhous-

o on, admit it – you’ve dreamed of a vacation on your own private island, basking in sunshine as the waves wash onto your pristine beach. Surprisingly, a vacation quite similar to that is just about three hours’ drive from the Wenatchee Valley.

es where it looks like a set for a James Bond movie. Everything is on a huge scale with heavy equipment and sky-high concrete walls towering over hard-hatted workers who scurry about checking this electronic console or that set of gauges in a space so vast that everything you hear is one big echo. One almost expects to see the head of S.P.E.C.T.R.E come out from the shadows -- white pussy cat on his arm -- to throw a switch to electrocute the entire tour group. But not to worry – we had armed guards and it looked like they were ready for just about anything.

For more information please go to www.grandcouleedam.org. Tours are offered April through October. ✦

The shores of Lake Roosevelt may not technically be part of an island, but the adventure we’re talking about is all Robinson Crusoe – with a lot of luxuries that were never part of that island adventure. The houseboats available for rent on Lake Roosevelt are the ideal way to get you to the remote beaches and scenic viewpoints along this 160-mile long lake. Houseboating on Lake Roosevelt

Houseboating is about disconnecting with the outside world and re-connecting with family and friends. It’s about beaching your boat far from other vacationers, then – when you’re good and ready – pulling up stakes and cruising your houseboat to the next port of call, whether it be a quiet beach or a marina where you can stock up on supplies. Houseboating is about leaving your schedule back in the day planner and traveling on a whim. Cruise the scenic shoreline to your heart’s content – or beach your boat and claim your territory for your entire vacation. It’s all up to you. Dakota Columbia Houseboat Adventures rents houseboats for a week, or for shorter three and four-day excursions. Today’s luxurious houseboats include a lot of amenities, much like a high-end RV, except that you’re on water. Big kitchens with everything you need to cook, private staterooms, living rooms with plasma televisions and satellite TV, everything you need for barbecuing and entertaining – these houseboats are comfy indeed. They’re easy to operate as well. There’s no need to have boating experience because Dakota Columbia will give you all the instruction you need. They’ll even drive your boat out from the dock and park it again for you whenever you return to the marina. Beaching the boat is as easy as driving your boat onto the shore. Dakota Columbia Houseboat Adventures, which has the newest boats on the lake, is located at Seven Bays Marina where you’ll have great access to three popular parts of the lake to explore: the Grand Coulee Canyon, the Spokane River and the alpine section of the lake with its waterfalls and vast expanse of beaches for your Robinson Crusoe adventure. For more information on renting houseboats at Dakota Columbia Houseboat Adventures, please call 1-800-816-2431 or visit www.dakotacolumbia.com. Houseboat rental rates vary by season and range from $2,995 to $5,295 for a mid-size boat sleeping 10 people. Often two or more families will share a boat. You can also save up to 20 percent if there are last-minute vacancies. ✦

Summer 2015 | THE GOOD LIFE | Central Washington Experience |

he great thingthing aboutabout all those he great all those snowmobile trailstrails at Mountain snowmobile at Mountain Springs Lodge is they turn turn into into Springs Lodge is they horseback ridingriding trailstrails in summer. horseback in summer. Just ask Erin Boyes, wrangler, ArmyArmy Just ask Erin Boyes, wrangler, veteran and your NewNew BestBest Friend veteran and your Friend whenwhen you’re out there riding horseyou’re out there riding horsebackback in theinbeautiful mountains the beautiful mountains just ajust short drive from the a short drive fromBavarian the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth. Village of Leavenworth.

Happy HappyTrails Trails

Saddle up up forfor scenic rideride at Mountain Springs Saddle scenic at Mountain Springs

The shorter ridesrides are fairly flat and The shorter are fairly flat and Erin says there are no major elevaErin says there are no major elevation gains untiluntil the eightand 10tion gains the eightand 10mile mile rides.rides. ThereThere is a combination of of is a combination narrow trailstrails through bushes and and narrow through bushes widerwider trailstrails through woods, while through woods, while ridersriders also also will enjoy meadows withwith will enjoy meadows wildflowers and riding alongside wildflowers and riding alongside a stream. The views in this of of a stream. The views in part this part the mountains are spectacular and and the mountains are spectacular guests find the ridesrides at Mounguests findtrail the trail at Mountain Springs Lodge to betoquite scenic. tain Springs Lodge be quite scenic.

Erin is theisone will give Erin the who one who will you give the you the insideinside scoopscoop on how to ride your on how to ride your horsehorse safely and make sure sure you get safely and make you get on a on horse that’s perfect for you. You You a horse that’s perfect for you. may may end up “point and shoot” endonupa on a “point and shoot” horsehorse that that basically follows the basically followsrear the rear end of theofhorse ahead of it or, end the horse ahead of itif or, if you’re moremore experienced, you might you’re experienced, you might get aget horse that that will more readily a horse will more readily respond to your lead. Whichever type type respond to your lead. Whichever is required, Erin knows whatwhat horsehorse is required, Erin knows will fill the bill. will fill the bill.

Prices rangerange fromfrom $27 $27 per person Prices per person for two to $135 per person for for for miles two miles to $135 per person the 10-mile ride and picnic. Riders the 10-mile ride and picnic. Riders can also get aget lesson for $45, which can also a lesson for $45, which includes two miles of riding and pracincludes two miles of riding and practice in aninarena. tice an arena.

Lots Lots of families and novice ridersriders of families and novice showshow up for at Mounupthe fortrail the rides trail rides at Mountain Springs Lodge, many of them not not tain Springs Lodge, many of them actually staying at the WhenWhen actually staying atlodge. the lodge. you meet up with Erin, she’ll spend you meet up with Erin, she’ll spend time time goinggoing over over basicbasic instruction, instruction, answer whatever questions you have answer whatever questions you have and then headhead ‘em up ‘em ‘em and then ‘emand up move and move out –out the–horses, that that is. is. the horses, TheyThey are, in fact, all beginner horses are, in fact, all beginner horses and there are 19 altogethand there areof19them of them altogether. Some will let a little bit bit er. Some willyou let exert you exert a little of control, whilewhile others are pretty of control, others are pretty muchmuch pre-programmed to provide pre-programmed to provide the least experienced ridersriders withwith a a the least experienced fun, fun, safe safe ride. ride. Erin Erin had extensive experience ridingriding had extensive experience as she growing up. “Iup. was a a as was she was growing “I was horse-crazy kid, ” she remembers. horse-crazy kid,” she remembers. “I’d muck stallsstalls and get “I’d muck andto getride to ride horses. Then I joined the Army and and horses. Then I joined the Army traveled for 10 and got traveled foryears 10 years andback got back into into ridingriding – now I’ve got the job – now I’ve got theofjob of my dreams. ” ” my dreams.

The minimum age is eight, but there The minimum age is eight, but there is noislimit as toashow old you no limit to how old can you be can be to ride. “If they can get up on the to ride. “If they can get up on the horsehorse withwith a step stool,stool, they they can can a step ride,”ride, Erin” said. Erin said.

All types and ages of people havehave All types and ages of people beenbeen enjoying the Mountain Springs enjoying the Mountain Springs Lodge trailstrails – families, couples Lodge – families, couples visiting for their anniversary, grandvisiting for their anniversary, grandparents taking theirtheir grandkids riding, parents taking grandkids riding, reunions and large groups. Erin says reunions and large groups. Erin says one of her typestypes of cusone offavorite her favorite of customer is the one who has had bada bad tomer is the one who has ahad experience on a on horse. She says it’s it’s experience a horse. She says fun to show them what riding can fun to show them what riding be can be like and themthem whilewhile they they see see like observe and observe it’s not had built up up it’sas notbad as as badthey as they had built in their minds. SomeSome of her in their minds. ofhorses her horses are quite gentle and perfect for are quite gentle and perfectthe for the nervous rider.rider. nervous

Erin Boyes: your your New New Best Best Friend on Mountain Springs trailstrails Erin Boyes: Friend on Mountain Springs

to know her horses. “It’s “It’s different to know her horses. different whenwhen you’re riding the same horse you’re riding the same horse vs. 19 horses -- when you have vs. 19 horses -- when you have different personalities and have to to different personalities and have knowknow who who is going to go well with is going to go well with that that horse. ” horse.”

The trail ridesrides at Mountain Springs The trail at Mountain Springs NowNow she spends a lotaoflot time getting are offered in different she spends of time getting Resort Resort are offered in different

lengths – two four four miles, 6 6 lengths – miles, two miles, miles, miles, 8 miles and aand 10-mile trip trip miles, 8 miles a 10-mile

Located at Plain, WA, Mountain Located at Plain, WA, Mountain Springs Lodge has log and and Springs Lodge hascabins log cabins to the a mountain where the the otherother totop theof top of a mountain where lodging units available for lodging units availablerent for rent in addition to such activities as zipas zip ridersriders havehave a picnic. The number of of in addition to such activities a picnic. The number hiking and swimming. For more hiking and swimming. For more participants varies withwith the time of of lines,lines, participants varies the time information on Mountain Springs information on Mountain Springs weekweek and Erin if it’sifmid-week, and says, Erin says, it’s mid-week, Lodge and lodge activities, please go Lodge and lodge activities, please go there’s a good chance it willit just there’s a good chance will be just be to www.mtsprings.com or phone to www.mtsprings.com or phone 800-858-2276. ✦ ✦ youryour partyparty on the 800-858-2276. onride. the ride.

Fun Factor

New, lower-cost SeaDoo Spark making waves

lot of people are spending at least a small part of their summer in the Doghouse – Doghouse Motorsports, that is, where the fun-seekers of North Central Washington congregate each summer to check out the latest in motor toys. The SeaDoo Spark seems to be a particular object of attention this summer. The new Spark personal watercraft has broken the $5,000 price barrier, down from the normal $9,000 to $17,000 range for larger vehicles. The pricing is so attractive that Doghouse sales guy Mark Lenicka bought one to take home to his family.

“The fun factor of the Spark is pretty amazing,” Lenicka said. “I’ve been out on it quite a bit.” The Spark is a complete re-design and is smaller and quicker than the rest of the SeaDoo watercraft. It’s 15 percent lighter than anything else on the market and just half the weight of the larger 4-cycle SeaDoo’s. It’s the ideal craft for a first-time buyer and for people who, like Lenicka, use them to complement their ski boats. “It’s a play boat,” Lenicka explained. “It’s kind of a cross between a snowmobile and a motorcycle and similar to riding a little bit of both, but you’re in the water.”

The Spark uses about half the fuel as a larger SeaDoo and is powered by a 900cc advanced combustion engine. Another Doghouse thrill-seeker is Taber Murphy who pointed out that this summer there are some roads in Chelan, Douglas and Okanagon counties that are now going to be legal for side-by-sides, those small four-wheel-drive vehicles, often two seaters. Murphy said that generally they are roads that have a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less. The Forest Service also is going to be opening up some designated roads. What’s the appeal of a side-by-side? “It’s nice to be able to experience something with somebody,” Murphy pointed out. “It’s much easier on your back (than a bike) and you don’t have to tear up a $30,000 Jeep to get into the hills.” Side-by-side prices run from $8,500 to $25,000.

Summer 2015 | THE GOOD LIFE | Central Washington Experience |

Mark Lenicka gets air on SeaDoo Spark Doghouse Motorsports, your local Wenatchee Honda, BRP dealer, offers a variety of motorsports vehicles including ATVs, side-by-sides, street bikes, dirt bikes, snowmobiles, watercraft, lawn mowers and snow-removal equipment. For more info, call 509/663-0075 or visit www. doghouse-motorsports.com. ✦

A little old brand new

neighborhood

This singular amenity has lots of potential â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a big community green space for play and relaxation, plus connection without closeness with across-the-way neighbors.

Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Donna Cassidy

lana and her husband Jason, with two young children in tow, took one final walkabout

through their house and found it (almost) ready to move into, with fresh carpeting, gleaming fixtures and still that new-wood smell. Two more days of finish

}}} Continued on next page

The beauty of hardwood but completely waterproof

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A little old brand new

neighborhood }}} Continued from previous page and touch up would do it. She grinned with pleasure at the prospect. “Look out there,” she pointed to a spacious newly-mown lawn ringed by dozens of tall houses with old-fashioned front porches. “That’s all community space — we’re going to hang a screen and show movies out there this summer.” Meanwhile, Jason asked a final quick question of the developer. “What about recycling?” Finding it’s not yet fully in place here, he said, perhaps with a get-it-done agenda, “Hey — we could be trendsetters.” They’re good neighbors already, with plans in place for joining in and making a development into a community. En route to Mission Ridge south of Wenatchee, Stimac Construction and Complete Design have collaborated to build The Cottages at Saddle Rock, an experimental development perched above Squilchuck Creek, some with views of orchards, grassy hills and the

Columbia River. They have built 44 homes, ranging in size from about 800 to 1,500 square feet and costing far below $200,000, a rarity in this real estate market. Clustered on just under six acres, the homes have quasi-condominium amenities; buyers own their Coming home up the driveway off Squilchuck Road is a pleasure with sunshine, the Malaga yard and fencing hills, distant orchards and a street pattern decidedly not like a tract-home grid. but are provided with driveway But it was their popular stand- housing, planners researched and yard mainalone condominium homes off other cities’ solutions and opted tenance, garbage collection and Columbia Avenue near the Loop for high density infill. community space. Trail in East Wenatchee that The city, aware of the success What’s “experimental” is the lead directly to this even more of Edgewater in East Wenatchee, concept, not the product. affordable community. approached the builders about Both the builder and designer Gary Bates, a private consulthis venture. These homes have years of experience here, tant, shepherds the developers would be almost half the size with 400 homes slightly to the through municipalities’ codes and half the cost, to be built at south at Saddle Rock Estates and conditions. He explained the southern tip of city limits and Saddle Rock East already on the Stimac’s small remaining fully occupied, and several more that when it became evident that Wenatchee’s growing popu- acreage perched between the beyond Fancher Heights and off road and the canyon. Empire Way in East Wenatchee. lation needed more accessible “The Cottages at Saddle Rock,” with the first groundbreaking in July of 2013, were a natural outgrowth of need and opportunity. “Cottage” is a zoning term, a special designation, not just a buyer-friendly descriptor. It allows more living space per acre than a typical development and therefore saves everyone money in land cost, infrastructure and construction. Driving the few curving streets that wind past the separate homes, it’s easy to see that space has been carefully planned. Some open carports and storage units are street side, some across the way, but mostly the houses are approached with a simple, unassuming back

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Well-cared for and with the feel of an older traditional neighborhood, this row of new cottage homes looks out at Wenatchee’s south hills.

entrance. In a twist on the usual impersonal condo styling, these units actually face not outward, but inward to the center, their back yards surrounding and accessing the outdoor common area, a long half acre of carefully tended green lawn. In most, the wide back door off the living area leads to a small fenced yard and covered patio. Alreadysettled owners have lawn furniture, barbecues and big pots of tomatoes and flowers decorating their no-care yards. Construction of the units started in 2013 and is nearly complete, with only two homes

remaining available of the 44 built. “Those are both carriage houses, Lori Stimac explained. “Each one has a two-car garage below and a 768 square foot apartment above it.” It’s possible to live large in small space, particularly if you’ve taken control of the bulky or redundant furnishings, unnecessary closet hogs, shelfgrabbers and drawer-fillers that amass over years of living. It also helps if the small space is well-designed, with flexibleuse areas, sensible traffic flow and rooms of efficient shape and size. If you’ve lived on a boat or travelled in an RV you’ve

glimpsed that reality. So — what kind of buyer buys small? “Just about every kind,” Lori said. “We have single professional people from Alcoa and the hospital, school teachers. We have retirees and empty-nesters. We have young families in their first homes. One couple moved here just to be close to grandchildren, one owner works at Mission Ridge.” A few out-of-towners have bought second homes for quick access to the outdoors. Their gear, whether it’s bikes, kayaks, sleds or skis, fits nicely into the storage units, as do those can’t-leave-’em-behind boxes of belongings. That leaves no room for hoses, lawnmower, weed whacker or tiller. Not needed. The well-traveled road to the south of Wenatchee en route to Mission Ridge may be less familiar to non-skiers, so it’s good to know that the Cottages are also a 10-minute drive (about 3.3 miles) from the Loop Trail, the

...these units actually face not outward, but inward to the center... PAC and Pybus and the other numerous attractions of downtown Wenatchee. Alana and Jason and their kids are excited about move-in day. They are also perfectly content to settle into a relatively small (1,401 square foot) house with a family of four. They’ve recently moved here from their first home on the west side. “We like living small,” said Alana, “We’ve got three bedrooms and two and a half baths — just what we need. And the price was right.” Very right. That’s one of the distinct charms of this cottage community, but certainly not the only one. Feeling at home in the neighborhood is even better.

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column moving up to the good life

june darling

That’s one way to look at it, but… Sometimes my husband is

obstinate, bordering on pigheaded. One time, 35 years ago, my husband left dog poop on the floor for a week. I am not pig-headed. Nor am I obstinate. What I am is consistent and firm. Sure, I left the dog poop on the floor for a week too. But even though I can’t remember the exact circumstances — it had something to do with who should be the one to clean up his mother’s dog’s doo-doo, I am quite sure that I was simply being true to my convictions. If I take a step back and observe this situation closely from several different angles, I see my behavior is a little nutty. I’m not talking about leaving the excrement on the floor, though that is quite an odd thing to do. The even weirder thing, from a scientific viewpoint, is how very partial I am toward myself. Dr. Ellen Langer calls this self-preferential bias a type of “mindlessness.” We are unfair and incongruent in our assessments of each other’s behaviors and characteristics. I may refer to myself as “perse-

vering,” but call you “stubborn.” I am assertive and forceful, you are domineering. I am prudent, you are guarded. I am helpful, you are enabling. Bottom line, we can improve our relationships — become more forgiving and appreciative, bring out the best in others, and be happier if we learn to become more mindful. When Langer talks about becoming more mindful, part of what she means is being fully aware of our sensations, beliefs and perceptions; noticing our inconsistencies, becoming more observant of what we are doing (and what’s being done to us). Suppose you realize that someone, let’s call her Anita, is bugging you. What are you saying to yourself, what are your beliefs and perceptions about Anita’s behavior? Ah, yes. Anita is “impulsive and flighty.” But hold on. Become a little more mindful. Look at what Anita is doing from a less unfavorable, less biased, more nuanced angle. Might it be that Anita could just as well be showing “spontaneity and openness to new experiences?” Now you see from this different perspective that perhaps Anita doesn’t need a total

overhaul after all. You are more accepting, even appreciative. Maybe you even see Anita as attractive, someone you would like to have as a friend. We can also better bring out the best in others by being more mindful. My doctor tells me that he doesn’t believe I’m as much of a hypochondriac as I claim. “You’re just very aware of little changes in your mind and body,” he says. Hmm. I never thought about it that way — not a hypochondriac, but rather sensitive to my mind and body. I like it. It’s useful. It might even be true. Mindfulness like anything else, takes practice. Start your practice with someone you generally like, but who occasionally annoys you. Notice those little spurts of frustration, contempt, or disgust in your encounters. Observe your automatic negative perceptions of this person’s behavior. Then think of a more favorable, less biased perspective. Consider the strengths that could be underlying this person’s imperfect traits. Mindfulness not only allows me to reframe my perspective of others, but also allows me to see myself from others’ perspective.

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That insight may also allow me to better influence others. Suppose I want to go out to lunch today with Donna. I think to myself, “Donna is really rigid; she won’t go. Worse yet, she’ll insult me for even asking. She plans her life weeks in advance. She’s probably doing nothing more than washing her hair.” But as I practice more mindfulness, I realize that Donna’s rigidity when seen from a more favorable, less biased perspective is her organization and forethought — very valuable traits. I can appreciate that. Now I realize how I (and this invitation) may look from her vantage point, I see that it could be viewed as “flighty and thoughtless.” If I want Donna to accept my invitation for lunch today, I’d better not just call her up and say in an irritated voice, “I suppose you can’t have lunch today, can you?” A more mindful approach would be to acknowledge and appreciate her thoughtful planning. Then I might inquire if she could squeeze in an unexpected opportunity to get together. Seem like too much work? Researchers have studied what most causes people’s biggest highs and lowest lows. In both cases, it’s relationships. Mindfulness could be worth the effort; it’s a major tool for the good life. How might you move up to The Good Life by becoming more mindful in your relationships with others? June Darling, Ph.D. can be contacted at drjunedarling1@gmail.com; website: www.summitgroupresources. com.

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column GARDEN OF DELIGHTS

bonnie orr

A tasty zucchini recipe between friends There is nothing as stimulat-

ing as sharing multiple interests with a friend. My friend Diane Payne (well, actually, after 57 years, I consider her another sister), and I have been blessed to share life’s optimism and gifts. We both remember the time when we were 13 and bored — for about 20 minutes or so — until we sat down with a pile of fabric scraps and starting making a patchwork quilt. We remember this event because it is the last time either of us has been bored. Diane is a superb needlecrafter; I knit, and we exchange pieces. We both suffer from rock lust, and I cannot tell you how many hundreds of pounds of rocks we have mailed to one another since we no longer live within two blocks. Diane creates beautiful jewelry from the rocks she has selected to polish and cut; I merely stack piles of distinctive rocks in my garden. The one interest we both do well is cook. We love to cook and can. You have to have a special friend to can with since this activity is precise, and you want to work as a team to process all the quarts and pints. We both are avid gardeners and share seeds as well as the products of our gardens. Again, the post office has been our best friend since we mail special preserved food to one another. We have never had a bottle break in shipment. Diane has convinced me that zucchini is multifaceted and versatile since it can be used for everything from cakes and breads to ragout to pickles. This recipe is the winner that Diane sent me for Christmas last year. I think it is a grand pickle

Cinnamon Red Hots color these zucchini slices, which are more firm and dense than might be expected with this fruit. The slices can also be canned for eating during the Christmas season. AT RIGHT: Bonnie and Diane Payne.

for holiday dinners. Diane said that these pickles are a four-day process.

Crisp Cinnamon Zucchini Slices

Crisp and dense are not two words I would use to describe zucchini. These delicious sweet slices seem to be everyone’s favorite. The secret is the zucchini log. Yes. Those fruit that hide under the leaves until they jut out and nearly trip you because they are two feet long. Try to find a couple of them that are only about a foot and a half long. You want them to be at the point where they have tough skins and thick, firm flesh. The pickling lime is available anywhere canning supplies are sold. Try Stan’s Merry Mart or Bi-Mart. July 2015 | The Good Life

Use a glass container because the pickling solution can pit a stainless steel bowl. Actual time 1 hour Total preparation time 3 days Creates 8 pints of slices 8 pounds of zucchini log 1 cup pickling lime 3 cups water 1 cup white vinegar 3 cups water 1 cup vinegar Syrup: 2 cups white vinegar 2 cups water 7 cups sugar 1 tablespoon salt 2 six-ounce boxes of cinnamon redhots www.ncwgoodlife.com

Day 1 1. Peel and seed the zucchini and cut it into one-half inch pieces. 2. Mix the pickling lime in 4 cups water and stir thoroughly. Add the pieces of zucchini. Stir thoroughly. Let sit for 24 hours. Day 2 3. Next rinse the slices carefully, at least three times in cold water. It is important that all the pickling lime is washed off the surface of the zucchini. Cover the slices with fresh water and store overnight in the refrigerator. Day 3 4. Make the cinnamon syrup by combining all the ingredients and cooking gently until the candies are melted completely, and the syrup is hot. 5. Heat the vinegar and water in a large pot. Add the zucchini pieces making sure there is enough water to cover them. If not, add more water and vinegar in proportion of one part vinegar to three parts water. Simmer gently for two hours. 6. Drain the vinegar water from the zucchini. Pour on the cinnamon syrup, and store overnight in the refrigerator. Day 4 7. The slices are now ready to eat. Don’t eat them all yet. Preserve some for Christmas presents by canning them in half pint or pint jars. Pack the jars according to canning instructions and process them for 15 minutes in a boiling water bath.

It is really wonderful to have friends share special recipes.

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

column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR

jim brown, m.d.

When your iPhone becomes your doctor Technologic advances in all

fields are coming so fast that it is difficult for many to adapt and keep up with all these changes. This is particularly true in the medical field. Even with the advances to date, we haven’t seen anything yet as to what the future holds for the average patient. Smart phones and even smart watches with medical applications (apps) and attachable devices are empowering patients to take a more active role in their own health care. The mobile device industry estimates that there will be 500 million smart phone users that are using medical apps by the end of 2015. By 2018, it is estimated that 3.5 billion smart phone, smart

By 2018, it is estimated that 3.5 billion smart phone, smart watch and tablet users will have loaded medical apps onto their mobile devices. watch and tablet users will have loaded medical apps onto their mobile devices. This is only the beginning. The apps currently in use can wirelessly collect blood pressure, weight, blood sugar and oxygen saturation, and temperature

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data using sensors placed on the skin or on your scale. This information can be graphed for trends and be transferred to a physician’s office. As these devices get more powerful, they will be able to assess information currently available only in a clinic laboratory or a hospital. It is now possible with attachments to check visual acuity and visualize one’s optic disk (ophthalmoscope), check eardrums (otoscope), and show an electrocardiographic heart rhythm. Just think of all the doctor visits a parent makes to have someone look at an ear drum when they think their child might have an ear infection. With an app for this, they can

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July 2015

visualize the eardrum and the app can let them know if it is OK or if there is a need to see a doctor. With the right app, a picture taken of a rash can be evaluated by an algorithm, which can diagnose the rash and recommend an over-the-counter lotion or a referral to a physician for a prescription. Dr. Eric Topol, who was voted the most influential physician executive in the United States in 2012, is a leader in this rapidly expanding field. He is the director of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and chief academic officer of Scripps Health in La Jolla, California. I did a year fellowship at Scripps back in the digital dark ages when the research Dr. Topol is currently doing could not even be imagined or would have seemed like science fiction. Not only is he a practicing cardiologist, geneticist and digital medicine researcher, but he is also a prolific author. He has published hundreds of professional journal articles and several books. His 2013 book, The Creative Destruction of Medicine, examines the wireless revolution on the health care system, and his 2015 book, The Patient Will See You Now, Doctor, explores how smart phones, big data and technology will democratize health care. Dr. Topol predicts that digital technology will make medical care more efficient in the future. He states that it has the potential to reduce overuse of physicians, cut costs, speed up the pace of medical care and give more power to the individual patient.

... it will be possible, with certain attachments, for a patient to use his or her phone to take an x-ray of a bone they think might be broken... He mentions that if he can gather data in the exam room rather than having to send the patient to a laboratory requiring a return a day or two later for the results, he will have more time to discuss, explain and demonstrate the significance of the results with the patient. He thinks this will enhance the doctor patient interaction. In addition, patients with many of these smart phone apps will have already forwarded the results to his office wirelessly before they arrive for their appointment. In a video of his talk at a TED conference, he demonstrated the ease of getting a heart rhythm recording with the patient merely placing his thumbs on his smart phone. He also demonstrated that he could check his blood sugar at any time via a sensor on his skin without a needle stick to get blood for the test. Using his phone he showed how easy it was for him to get a

heart ultrasound of a patient’s heart in the exam room rather than having to send the patient to an ultrasonic technician on a future date. He said in the near future it will be possible, with certain attachments, for a patient to use his or her phone to take an x-ray of a bone they think might be broken and wirelessly send it to be read for a possible fracture. EMT’s in ambulances could do ultrasounds or x-rays of injured passengers in the ambulance and send them ahead to the ER while still in transit, alerting the ER to the patient’s issues even before they arrived. It will be possible to get an array of comprehensive blood tests done at home with results sent to their doctor. This is essentially the opposite of the way it works now. In the future, patients discharged from the ICU or post surgery will be monitored at home, gathering the same monitoring information via their smart phone that is gathered in the ICU today. Dr. Topol talks about a future where patients will have a tiny sensor that floats in their blood stream that will be able to monitor every organ system at all times. He also mentions the ability to put a tiny micro stent fixed to a tiny blood vessel wall that can predict days in advance that a heart attack is likely. It sounds to me like the brave new world of medicine is just around the corner.

A significant concern with the availability of all this digital data has to do with patient privacy, keeping this data from being sold and securing it from hacking. Physicians in the future likely will carry a separate cell phone for medical purposes that will have a HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliant communication system to address patient privacy and security issues. Hopefully, patients’ phones will

also have an app for security purposes as well. To many of us, this all seems difficult to comprehend, but the future is arriving faster now than we ever could have imagined a decade ago. Digital technology is changing everything, and the future of healthcare is exciting indeed. Jim Brown, M.D., is a retired gastroenterologist who has practiced for 38 years in the Wenatchee area. He is a former CEO of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.

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Picnic Pears, 12-inch by 12 inch.

If not now, when?

Marti Lyttle: “I did stained glass, sculpture and printmaking, but for some reason I was intimidated by the idea of picking up a paint brush.” But no more.

with her own practice. The second led to a vigorous 17 years of impressionist and abstract painting that has burgeoned with her recent retirement and a move with her husband Alex to Wenatchee. Marti respected those several significant By Susan Lagsdin mid-life dreams, which stopped when she finally started painting. “The figures were ome dreams are distant, hopeful viundefined, but they were all clearly paintsions. Some deserve very close attention. ers using different techniques on a canvas. After high school graduation, Marti Lyttle I realized I was counseling people to underhad dreams of being a painter. However, tak- stand their own dreams — and I needed to ing the cautionary advice of her parents, she pay attention to my own!” opted out of attending the California School Her artistic creativity had never been of Arts and Crafts and chose a more practidormant. “I did stained glass, sculpture cal career path: nursing. and printmaking, but for some reason I was Thirty years later, in Seattle, she had a seintimidated by the idea of picking up a paint ries of compelling and quite literal dreams of brush.” She tried working in pastel (like artists painting at easels. Those were closely drawing, and so it felt safer, she said), but followed by a bout with cancer. Marti said, “I after five years the dusty pigments became realized life was very short and thought, ‘if bothersome. not now; when?’” Heeding her instincts, she The time was right. set out to become a painter. With a switch to non-toxic acrylic paints The first juncture eventually led to an adand their enticing color range, she finally ditional college degree and a long, successful made the leap and started really painting; career in mental health as a psychotherapist easel, canvas, brushes and all.

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“I realized I was counseling people to understand their own dreams — and I needed to pay attention to my own!” She gave herself what she calls an “a la carte” arts education, taking workshops and classes from painters she admired. Marti said with her steep learning curve it was fortunate that she paints fast, and that acrylic is a malleable and forgiving medium. Many artists with day jobs need to relegate creativity to their “left over” hours. Then working full time, Marti learned to capture images with her journal, sketchbook and a camera when she could and use them later in her studio. She said, “I had to hope my Muse would make herself available when I was.” The muse complied. Marti was soon recognized in a Pastel Journal competition, accepted into the Women

July 2015

WHAT TO DO

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

NCW Blues Jam, every second and fourth Monday, 7:30 – 11 p.m. Columbia Valley Brewery, 538 Riverside Dr, Wenatchee. Info: facebook. com/NCWBluesJam.

Beyond The Road, 20-inch by 36-inch. (“One of my favorite walks behind my home,” said Marti.)

Painters of Washington, and represented by west side galleries. She amassed a reputation and a collection of paintings ready for exhibit, sale or “resolving.” (She’s fearless about painting over, starting over.) By now, she said humbly of her local sales, “I’m able to cover my painting expenses.” Marti and Alex’s well-researched choice of Wenatchee as a retirement place has been equally rewarding. The geography, the sunshine and the pace and the size of the community are a satisfying trade for the urban art milieu. And, although Marti would call herself shy, she brought with her a strong urge to merge with other artists in her new hometown, and has made connections through McDee’s, orangutan, Pybus, Scott Bailey’s Wenatchee Valley College class and Two Rivers Gallery (where she’s currently featured in a show). Raised in an arts-aware family in the vineyard and ranch country of the San Joaquin Valley, Marti learned to appreciate the beautiful organic patterns in any natural setting, and she said that the Wenatchee area has given her endless inspiration. Her current burst of regional landscape paintings started on a house-hunting trip a few years ago and has continued, with our sage hills, river, meadows and cliffs re-translated in her soft impressionistic style: rich with color, glowing with light. Patterns, horizons and atmosphere

are paramount, with strong attention to values of light and dark. (“The Japanese term for that contrast is ‘notan.’ That’s some of my art-geeky stuff,” she said.) She still seeks out scenes with her camera on frequent hikes, but after 18 satisfying months of painting north central Washington landscapes, she confessed, “I’m ready to go more abstract for a while, try some mixed media; I’ve got to take a little break from representational art.” Marti can travel with confidence in whatever artistic direction she chooses. She explained that each painting she does has simply “a few parameters and an intention, like a creative compass to help me reach my destination.” Painting has become a fulfilling daily journey. It’s no longer just a dream. To see more of Marti’s art, visit www. martilyttle.com/links.php?137591

July 2015 | The Good Life

2 Left Feet, every Thursday, 7 – 9 p.m. 2 Left Feet is a loose organization of local dance enthusiasts who would like to see more dancing in the Wenatchee Valley. Beginner lesson at the top of the hour followed by carefree social dancing. No partner necessary to join in the fun. Dance style will be 1940s swing with a bit of salsa, blues, waltz or tango thrown in. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Sage Hills Trails open to Dec. 1. Pack Walks, every 4th Saturday, 9 a.m. Bring your friends and dogs on leashes and walk the riverfront trail. Meet on the loop behind Pybus Public Market at the boat launch. Info: wenatcheefido.org. Wenatchee Farmers Market, every Wednesday, 4 – 8 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pybus Public Market. Village Art in the Park, now through Oct. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Downtown Leavenworth. Sleeping Lady Birdwalks, 1st and 3rd Saturdays through September, 9 – 10:30 a.m. Heather Murphy, local wildlife biologist, nature journalists and artist has recorded 109 species of birds in the Sleeping Lady area, join her for these walks. Info: sleepinglady.com. Icicle Creek International Chamber Music Festival, 7/2-18. 7 - 9 p.m. A celebration

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that blends unforgettable musical experiences with the breathtaking beauty of the Cascade Mountains. Locations vary. Info: icicle.org. TWO RIVERS ART GALLERY, 7/3, 5 - 7 p.m. Featuring the latest glass and pottery/ceramics by our talented members The Works of artists Ann Bixby Smith, Stan Price, Randy Knox, Kellie von Beck, Terry Johnson, John Barrett and other will be featured. The gallery also has an all new show of works by more than 50 other members. Music by pianist Joseph Philip Groves. Wines by Ryan Patrick Winery. Complimentary refreshments. 102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free. Info: 2rivergallery.com. Merriment Party Goods, 7/3, 5 – 8 p.m. Snacks and beverages. 23, S Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. Info: facebook.com/merrimentpartygoods. Tumbleweed Bead Co., 7/3, 5-7 p.m. Moksha Malas by Lauren Head. Handmade Meditation Malas made with love, precious and semi precious stones, infused with a mantra and positive vibes. Meet Lauren at Tumbleweed. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com. Small Artworks Gallery, 7/3, 5 p.m. Local artists works will be on display at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wvmcc.org. Erin McNamee, 7/3, 7 – 9 p.m. Live music. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Into the Woods, 7/3, 11, 16, 18, 22, 24, 31, 8/4, 7, 13, 19, 22, 26, 29, 8 p.m. Leavenworth Summer Theater presents Into the Woods. Ski Hill Amphitheater. Info: leavenworthsummertheater.org.

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BACH Fest, 7/10 – 18. Nine days of live music and concerts from classical to jazz to show tunes, chamber music to full orchestra chorus. Lake Chelan. Info: bachfest.org.

Breakfast for Heroes 7/4, 7 – 10:30 a.m. Cashmere Valley Bank presents a pancake feed. Veterans eat for free. All proceeds go to support local veterans’ programs. Pybus Public Market. Cost: $5.

SummerFest, 7/11, 4 – 11 p.m. Craft beers, BBQ, Jimmy Buffett tribute, beer pong tournament and more. Town Toyota Center. Cost: $15. Info: towntoyotacenter.com.

4th of July celebration, 7/4, all day. Wenatchee Youth Circus, kids activities, live bands, a salute to veterans, food vendors arts and crafts, elite hoops fest and the Wenatchee Valley Symphony will perform while the fireworks go off at dusk at Walla Walla Point Park. Info: wenatcheevalleyfourth.com. Cherry Pit Spit contest, 7/4, 1 – 3 p.m. Pybus Public Market. See the rules they will make you laugh: pybuspublicmarket.org. Heroes River Run, 7/4, 8 a.m. – noon. 5k and 10k run. Start and finish at Pybus Public Market. Info: runwenatchee.com.

Manson Fireworks, 7/4, dusk. Manson Bay Marina.

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Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival, 7/10 – 11, 7 p.m. Icicle Creek Center for the Arts. Cost: $20 advance, $24 at the door, $10 students. Info: icicle.org.

Chelan Rockin’ Fireworks Show, 7/3, dusk. Best viewing locations are at Lakeside Park and Don Morse Park. Info: lakechelan. com.

Kinderfest, 7/4, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Games, prizes, crafts, bike parade, face painting, cupcake walk, balloons, cotton candy, shaved ice, popcorn and more. Downtown Leavenworth. Cost: free. Info: Leavenworth.org.

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The Art Life

WHAT TO DO

Loop Trail Extension Grand Opening, 7/9, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. This adds an additional 5.25 miles to the 10-mile loop trail and 2.2 mile extension to Kirby Billingsley Hydro Park. The trail will be open to hikers, runners, skaters, walkers, bikers and other non-motorized recreationists.

Ohme Gardens Wine and Food Gala, 7/11, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Enjoy wines from NCW Wine Country vintners, paired with gourmet food made by top NCW chefs, using locally farmed food. Live music. Ohme Gardens. Cost: $60 pp. Info: ncwwine.org. Rattlesnake Education, 7/12, 1 – 1:30 p.m. Daryl Ansley will talk about rattlesnakes and how to handle your pets around the snakes. Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. Cost: free. RSVP: mlee@ wenatcheehumane.org. NCW Junior Tennis Championships, 7/14, 15, 16, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Watch kids compete. WRAC. Cost: free. Anything Goes, 7/15, 17, 23, 25, 30, 8/1, 5, 8, 11, 14, 20, 28, 8 p.m. Leavenworth Summer Theater performs. Hatchery Park Stage, Leavenworth. Info: leavenworthsummertheater.org. Kelly Thibodeaux and Etouffee, 7/16, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Live music. Ohme Gardens. Info: ohmegardens.com. NCW CCA Salmon Derby, 7/1618. Fish from Rock Island Dame to Wells Dam. Info: wenatcheesalmonderby.com.

Michael Powers Group, 7/9, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Live music. Ohme Gardens. Info: ohmegardens.com.

Film Series: Just Eat it, 7/16, 7 p.m. We all love food. So how could we possibly be throwing nearly 50% of it in the trash? Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $10 advance, $13 at the door. Info: icicle.org.

Film Series: Unreal, 7/9, 7 p.m. Film on mountain biking. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $10 advance, $13 at the door. Info: icicle.org.

Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band, 7/17, 7 – 9 p.m. Live music. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

Summer Concert Series, 7/10, 17, 24, 30, 7 – 10 p.m. Free concerts. Centennial Park.

Chelan Man, 7/17-19. The swims take place in the clear waters of Lake Chelan, the runs are on paved paths and roads and the bike legs are along Lake Chelan and the Co-

Eden Moody, 7/10, 7 – 9 p.m. Live music. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.

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July 2015

// SKETCHE

Cello man On a musical mission By Susan Lagsdin

A lifetime of vocal and in-

strumental instruction starting at age 4, then advanced music degrees and years of professional classical concerts have made Matt Ryan-Kelzenberg an accomplished cellist. He knows what it means to make beautiful music. And recently, one of his adult cello students at Columbia River Music Conservatory inadvertently taught him what it means to teach. “We’d had a lesson,” Matt explained, “And when my student came back he played a difficult passage really well. ‘Wow! Can you do that again?’ I asked. ‘How did you do that?’ He looked a little puzzled — then he said: ‘I just did what you suggested yesterday…’ I had to laugh. Of course. I should have known it would work.” Matt knows that now he has much more to give to his cello students than he did years ago as a graduate assistant at the University of Arizona. “For one thing, there’s more joy in it. And I realize that if there’s a problem, over time I have probably already thought about it, played it through and actually have a workable solution.” Playing for the last several years with the Orquestra Filarmonica de Minas Gerais in Brazil in the company of other professionals strengthened his technical skills and bolstered an already healthy work ethic. But in 2014 Matt, with his wife and three kids (all musically

ES OF LOCAL ARTISTS their midst. “One thing I appreciate is the diversity of experience, and the fact that many of the them are doing just what music educators intend — they’re in other occupations but they’re playing their instruments life-long, for pure pleasure.” Matt also shares his talents with Trinity Church in Wenatchee, arranging, planning and playing music for church services with a chance to adapt favorite works into a liturgical setting. This is a perfect addendum to the years in Tempe, Arizona where he and Shelley, both musicians, were involved in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. You might think that a musician’s aspiration would be to get better and better, to meet the challenge of increasingly complex music. But Matt’s creative ambitions are refreshingly not selfabsorbed. He’s intrigued with the idea of reaching out into the community with live perforMatt Ryan-Kelzenberg plays in his front yard, just above a park in Cashmere. He is doing mance, to re-make a this for the purpose of a photo, but believes in reaching out to the community in diverse tangible bond between ways with more live performances. music and people. We inclined) moved to Cashmere, principal cello position with the instinctively crave it, he thinks, where Shelley has returned Wenatchee Valley Symphony but with so much quick and home to family and an elemenOrchestra. easy technology — radio, video, tary teaching job. Since then The teaching job is sometimes iPods, CDs — we seem to have he’s expanded his perspective draining because he meets with given up on it. on the intrinsic value of music, a total of 18 students from 2-6 in “Someone once said to me: branching out in areas he had the afternoons, prime time for ‘Oh, I love how you play. You no time for in the South Amerihis own family, but he feels that could do a concert in my living can sojourn. it uses his creativity in a good room.’ They meant it lightly, but As a result of some welcoming productive way. what’s wrong with that? A celconnections in Wenatchee, he The Symphony is something list in the living room is a great now teaches private lessons at definitely worth giving to. These idea.” Hoping to close the gap, the Conservatory, and also was are all serious musicians, he he’s initiated a series of inforinvited last July to take over the said, and he’s pleased to be in mal live music nights in a local July 2015 | The Good Life

www.ncwgoodlife.com

“Someone once said to me: ‘Oh, I love how you play. You could do a concert in my living room.’” church (Cashmere Arts Nights) that he hopes will grow in scope and diversity. In addition to these community musical responsibilities, Matt sets a rigorous practice schedule for himself and the circa 1750 cello resting in the corner of the dining room of his Craftsman house. He practices two hours each morning, about four hours daily if there’s a concert coming up. He plays scales (yes, students: he’s 40, he’s a pro, and he plays scales); then he plays “etudes,” short compositions meant to teach a certain technique. For a musical dessert, for his own pleasure and because “it makes everything right,” he will end with a little Bach. “Cellists love Bach,” Matt noted, “Because he wrote six unaccompanied suites just for us.” One important facet of Matt’s musicality only his dog and perhaps his closest Cottage Avenue neighbors would know is that when he practices his cello, he sings. Maybe just “la-la-la-la,” but sometimes words of his own devising. Musical instruments were designed to replicate the human voice, and he feels that freely vocalizing while he plays the notes brings him closest to what the composer intended us to feel. Matt has melded comfortably into his new community as a musician, as a teacher, mentor, arranger, soloist and symphonist — but in homage to the composer’s art he describes himself simply as “a singer and storyteller who uses a cello as my medium.”

WHAT TO DO

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

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lumbia River. First timer triathlon, a sprint, Olympic and half iron triathlons and 10K and half marathon runs. Proceeds benefit arts and healthy lifestyle programs for area kids. www.chelanman.com. Dog Days of Summer, 7/18, 10 a.m. – noon. Helping your lawn and trees thrive, including water wise strategies with the help of Chelan/ Douglas County Master Gardeners. Community Education Garden, 1100 Western Ave.

Gardens. Info: ohmegardens.com. Film Series: Behind the Beautiful Forevers, 7/23, 7 p.m. India is surging with global ambition. But beyond the luxury hotels surrounding Mumbai airport lies a makeshift slum, full of people with plans of their own. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $10 advance, $13 at the door. Info: icicle.org. Mike Bills, 7/24, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

Pops in the Park, 7/18, 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. Live music. Riverwalk Park, Chelan. Cost: free.

Lake Chelan Summer Fine Arts and Crafts Show, 7/24-26. Campbell’s Resort. Includes glass of wine, raffle tickets and entertainment. Proceeds benefit Lake Chelan Food Bank. Info: lakechelan. com.

Classical guitarist Victor Toral, 7/22, 7 – 8 p.m. Live music. Victor is a native of Spain, now resides in Austria, fluent in five languages and first time to visit Washington. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.

Godspell, 7/29, 8/6, 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 27, 8 p.m. 8/1, 8, 2 p.m. Godspell tells the familiar stores of Jesus and his apostles in clever, unexpected and often hilarious ways. Live performance. Festhall Theater, downtown Leavenworth. Info: leavenworthsummertheater.org.

The Lloyd Jones Band, 7/23, 6:39 – 8:30 p.m. Live music. Ohme

Peter Rivera Band, 7/30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Live music. Ohme Gar-

dens. Info: ohmegardens.com. Film Series: Showbusiness, 7/30. The real drama happens behind the

curtain in this fascinating and rare look at four high-profile Broadway musicals. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $10 advance, $13 at the door. Info:

COMING UP AT ICICLE CREEK CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN LEAVENWORTH

FILM