July 2021 The Good Life by The Good Life

BUILDING TINY HOMES FOR VITAL BEES

WENATCHEE VALLEY’S

NUMBER ONE MAGAZINE

July 2021

OPEN FOR FUN AND ADVENTURE

Price: $3

two is better Riding tandem proves to be a labor of love

plus STARVING A WILDFIRE OF UNDERBRUSH HORROR WRITER SEEING BRIGHT SUCCESS

AT CHELAN PUD, WE’RE FOCUSED ON INVESTMENTS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN CHELAN COUNTY. www.chelanpud.org/brighterfuture Hydropower modernization helps the PUD generate more energy to keep rates low.

Rocky Reach

DISCOVERY CENTER Reopening Celebration

Save the date!

Aug. 28, 2021 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rocky Reach Park

YOU’RE INVITED

Hey, it’s your friend Rocky here, and I can’t wait to welcome you back to the completely remodeled Discovery Center at Rocky Reach Dam!

It’s going to be an awesome day of Discovery Center tours, entertainment in the park and treats! Open to all and free – one of those great benefits of public power. Listen for my radio updates and check facebook.com/VisitRockyReach for details on how to safely visit and celebrate.

It’s gonna be epic!

Contents

page 6

THESE DUCKS PREFER TREE HOMES

page 14

DRILLING HOMES FOR BEES

Features

FERTILE MYRTLE

Cactus only blooms for 24 hours once or twice a year, but her offspring have spread wide

8 two on a bike

Michelle and Chuck Carey liked to bike together, but with their unequal skill level, one was left behind. The solution? A bike built for two

10 FAR FLUNG AND ROCKY

Cyclist Ray Birks recruited a couple of friends, carefully reviewed maps and took off on a bikepacking trip from the Tarpiscan area to Vantage along the rocky and hilly west side of the Columbia River

14 BUILDING TINY HOMES FOR BEES

page 10

GOING WHERE FEW RIDERS HAVE GONE BEFORE

Some bees live alone, but they still could use help from human home builders

16 CROCHETING RUNS THROUGH HER LIFE

Hazel Cleary learned how to crochet as a child, and it’s been a source of solace and pleasure during the ups and downs of life

18 starving a possible wildfire

Determined Lief Carlsen has spent years — and invented a special tool — clearing his land so it won’t be a firetrap

20 THE HOUSE AT 30 MILLER STREET

Built by a monied fruit broker in 1930 and lovingly maintained since

Columns & Departments 6 A bird in the lens: Male Wood Duck is a beauty 24 The traveling doctor: The small but amazing thyroid gland 25 June Darling: Don’t get mad, get more flexible 29, 31 The calendar and a Dan McConnell cartoon 30 Pet Tales: Walking dogs in the park 32 History: Calling Wenatchee, in 1928 34 That’s life: Wishing for a picnic

Art sketches n Irish-born horror story writer K.K. Weakley, page 26 n Video production artist Jarod Breshears, page 28 July 2021 | The Good Life

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OPENING SHOT

Year 15, Number 7 July 2021 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life 1107 East Denny Way, Apt. B-7 Seattle, WA 98122 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, Karen Eadie, Barbara Washburn, Linda and Ken Reid, Ray Birks, Yvette Davis, Vicki Olson Carr, Lief Carlsen, Mike Cushman, Mike Irwin, Susan Sampson Bruce McCammon, Donna Cassidy, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin and Rod Molzahn Advertising: Lianne Taylor Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Dianne Cornell Ad design, Linda Day TO SUBSCRIBE: For $30, ($35 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 subscription services 1107 East Denny Way, Apt. B-7 Seattle, WA 98122 For circulation questions, email: donna@ncwgoodlife.com EVENTS: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Safeway stores, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and Dan’s Food Market (Leavenworth) ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in The Good Life, contact Lianne Taylor at (509) 6696556 or lianne@ncwgoodlife.com WRITE FOR THE GOOD LIFE: We welcome articles about people from Chelan and Douglas counties. Send your idea to Mike Cassidy at editor@ncwgoodlife.com

Peeking raccoon, by Karen Eadie.

Little furry ball of curiosity I

By Karen Eadie

live in Valleyhi on Blewett Pass, backed up to 40 acres of undeveloped forest, so we occasionally get raccoons wandering through our property. This was one of two baby raccoons. When my husband walked out of the house to the shop, it spooked them, so they went scrambling up the tree. My husband came back inside and told me they were up the fir tree, so I grabbed my camera and stood under the tree, trying to get their picture as they crawled over each other, and in and around in the branches. Baby raccoons are always very curious. I’m not sure where mother raccoon was. I didn’t see her. I used the on-camera flash,

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which at that distance is enough to light the subjects but not blind them. I took pictures for about five to six minutes, then went back inside to let them come down and go on their way. Karen’s photo of the baby raccoon was one of the winners of the 2021 Cascadia Conservation District photo contest that combines appreciation for the environment with the artistic talent of local photographers. The 2022 photo contest is open to all residents and visitors who share an appreciation for the natural beauty of Chelan County. Photo entries are accepted in six categories including plants, wildlife, agriculture, recreation, landscapes, and water. Two winning photos from each category will be chosen for inclusion in the 2022 stewardship calendar. Submit photo at cascadiacd.org by Oct. 1. For additional information contact Cascadia’s Education and Outreach specialist, Amanda Newell, at amandan@cascadiacd.org.

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July 2021

On the cover Chuck and Michelle Carey went from being “separate riders with unequal skills” to a well-coordinated team when they took up tandem bike riding. Chuck proves their tandem is not as heavy as it looks. It’s titanium which makes it strong and light-weight for international travel. Photo by Ken Reid See their story on page 8.

editor’s notes

MIKE CASSIDY

Surviving those bicycle years Some issues of The Good

Life turn into theme issues without us even thinking about it. We didn’t expect to have two fun bicycle stories in this issue — but we do. Writer Linda Reid stumbled across the tandem bike story when she went to interview Michelle and Chuck Carey for Linda’s story of “Moving Here” that was in last month’s issue. And sure, while their Moving Here story was interesting, when Linda discovered the Careys were world-roaming tandem bike riders, her reporter sense said the bike story deserved its own feature. Next, WenatcheeOutdoors guru Sarah Shaffer suggested Ray Birks’ bikepacking article for his trip along the west side of the Columbia River from the area past the Alcoa plant to Vantage. Ray and his friend’s pedal among the rocks on the deserted hills were the yin to the Carey’s rides along roads, but both brought new sights and adventures. And finally, I stumbled across a childhood friend of mine on Facebook (proving that FB is not all funny cat videos and political rants) who wrote about Surviving Those Bicycle Years, the title I borrowed for this column. My friend’s name is Wayne Wallace, who still lives in our hometown of Napavine, which is 30 miles south of Olympia. Wayne remembers a time when we and our friends were kids — and when you’re a kid on a bike, you have the scrapes and bruises of crashes to prove it. Here is a bit of what Wayne recalled from those banged-up

rides: I haven’t crashed a bike for years. Probably because I don’t ride a bike any more... I crashed and had to dig rocks out of my hand a few times. In the alley by the post office once. A second time down the Haywire Road. We rode the bikes down that road a lot to go fishing. There used to be a great big old buck with his horns in velvet in the spring in Bars Field on many clear crisp mornings. He would watch us go by and shake his head saying, “How long till the little guys are digging rocks out of their hands this time? Two on a bike going down hill on a gravel road. Amazing, but not too bright.” He was really a beauty. The biggest buck in the country and maybe the biggest I ever saw. We saw him pretty often for a couple of years. We saw him because we were riding down the road at 7 a.m. to catch some fat native cutthroat in the creek... The time I wrecked on Davis’ Hill (on the Haywire Road), my legs were tangled up in the bike and I was sliding down hill on my hands to keep my face out of the gravel. I was going pretty fast and it seemed to take forever to come to a stop. I probably said, “Ouch.” I was 14 at the time. When I think about bicycling in my youth — and then return to the same roads today — I’m surprised how the hills have flattened out so much! Keep pedaling, there are always new vistas to see. Enjoy The Good Life. — Mike July 2021 | The Good Life

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column a bird in the lens

Wood Duck: A stunning beauty that nests in trees Y

By Bruce McCammon

ou’ll be hard pressed to find any waterfowl that are more stunning than Wood Ducks. The non-native Mandarin Duck will always stand out due to its beauty but the male Wood Duck will always impress anyone with an eye for bright colors and fascinating feather patterns. Male Wood Ducks are Bruce McCammon iridescent is retired, colorchestnut and blind and enjoys green with a photographing the birds in north cenboldly patterned breast. tral Washington. The male’s crested head is worth close inspection. The shape makes the duck look like it might be wearing a helmet with white stripe accents. The bright red eye is sure to draw attention. The bold white neck and cheek pattern stand out making the bird easy to identify at a distance. The 2020-2021 federal duck stamp features a male Wood Duck. The female, while not as bright and bold as the male, is distinctive with its teardrop shaped eye ring and bright blue patch on the wings. Wood Ducks are found in wooded swamps and rivers or ponds with thick vegetation. They tend to prefer shallow ponds or slow-moving water with nearby, overhanging vegetation. They are 18 to 24 inches in length and weigh between one and two pounds. They eat seeds,

A male Wood Duck: Distinctive enough for a U.S. postage stamp.

fruits, insects and, occasionally, nuts and grains. Wood Ducks nest in tree cavities or nest boxes. They are one of duck species that has feet that are capable of gripping bark or branches using strong claws. They are also the only North

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American duck that produces two broods in one year. In the late 19th century, Wood Duck populations were declining rapidly due to nesting and foraging habitat loss. Conservation efforts introduced artificial nest boxes to replace the natural

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July 2021

tree cavities used for nesting but loss of wetland habitat, including ponds and riparian areas along streams, is still a cause of concern. Today, Wood Duck populations have increased and are stable. Ecologically, Wood Ducks are listed as “low concern.” However, climate modeling by the National Audubon Society shows that a two-degree Centigrade increase in summer temperatures would result in a 20 percent loss in the area suitable for hosting these ducks. In all of the climate modeling scenarios, the Wood Duck range is pushed far north into Canada. Most of the time, Wood Ducks will avoid people and swim for cover or move away when approached. City park ponds, however, often provide an opportunity to get closer to them, allowing good viewing with the naked eye or binoculars. A wide variety of cameras allow good photos of these beautiful birds. Slow movements and paying attention to the bird’s behavior as you approach will frequently allow you to get remarkably close. Feel free to take as many photos as you like when you get the opportunity. Good luck!

MY WORLD // A personal essay

Meet Fertile Myrtle of Leavenworth By Barbara Washburn

e call my cactus “Fertile Myrtle” for explanations shown in these photos. “What sort of cactus is it,” you may ask? Not sure at all and frankly, neither do I care. What I DO care about is that fertile gift from Mother Earth and its 24-hour-lasting beauty each year. Yes, the blooms only last for 24 hours once a year — twice, if I am lucky. Myrtle was given to me as a Mom’s Day present in 2008 by my now 22-year-old daughter, Anna. She is my little artist and always has been — not by profession but by personal passion. At the time, the non-blooming Myrtle was sitting in Anna’s painted flowerpot standing a whole inch tall. The cactus has moved various times over the years. She stays outside when it is warm, loves the heat, and lives in our slightly heated garage by a window during the cold months. Her pot has been increased in size several times since she keeps making tons and tons of babes. Recently, I noticed her plastic home was bending from the crowd of babies and she looked distressed. So I decided to do the meticulous and frankly grueling job of dividing her family. That, my dear plant-loving friends, took a couple days, a lot of bandages and Benadryl lotion, despite being careful YouTubing it beforehand and using bunched-up news pages to move them and wrap up the babies. Let’s just say, I am not quitting my day job to go into that sort of business.

Golden Retriever Max keeps a careful eye — and some distance — as Barbara works through the dividing process.

Once a year — maybe twice, if she is lucky — Barbara Washburn sees the flowery glory of her cactus.

During Myrtle’s dissection process, my driveway at times looked like a small dirt tornado hit ground. It also involved a lot of unique tools not always found in an average garden shed. I found that tongs from my kitchen drawers or tons of wadded up newspapers were needed to be able to pick up the little prickly plants. My dog Max, being the typical Golden Retriever he is, had to sit right by me. Needless to say, he only touched a cactus with his nose once. Myrtle’s offspring came in different sizes, some as small as one of my fingernails. Each July 2021 | The Good Life

one got its own pot. The Mothership herself had to be stabilized for several weeks in her now rather enormous pot to re-reinforce her. I shared Myrtle’s offspring with friends and pretty much ANYONE who wanted a cactus. She had dozens of babes. Mother cactus Fertile Myrtle is crowded by I left two in the new pot, her babies. to be close to mom. Some went to memBarbara Washburn, a Leavenworth bers of our local Cascade Garresident and Bavarian native, enjoys den Club, which I belong to but freelance writing and photography. hardly have time for. I guess I Her passions are human interest spend too much time doing pestories or capturing those Kodak culiar things like dividing cacti. moments of life. www.ncwgoodlife.com

Synchronicity on two wheels ‘Two wheels, two seats, four pedals, two riders equals double the fun’ Story by Linda Reid

When Michelle and Chuck

Carey began looking for a place to relocate for retirement, they knew it had to be a bicyclefriendly place. They were also seeking pleasant weather to help propel them onto the trails and roadways they hoped to explore. To these criteria Michelle added, “I wanted to live in a community, not a resort.” They were also looking for a community that would be welcoming and friendly. They recently decided on Wenatchee and are currently renting a home in East Wenatchee while they build their retirement dream house. When Chuck and Michelle met, she was an avid skier and hiker, while Chuck’s go-to sport was biking. Although they continued to participate in these activities as a couple, Michelle readily admits that when it came to biking, they were very much “separate riders with unequal skills.” Then something serendipitous happened. A little over a decade ago they were visiting their friends Tony and Julie on Whidbey Island, who happen to be tandem bike riders. They had two tandem bikes, so the four of them went for a ride. Chuck and Michelle were immediately smitten by this new bicycling experience. The great advantage turned out to be that Michelle would no longer be left behind to catch up with Chuck, and Chuck would

“Tandem riding is a metaphor for marriage, and not all couples are meant to be on a tandem bike. Riding a tandem takes your relationship to where it’s going, only much faster.” no longer be looking for her in his rear-view mirror and waiting for her. After their introduction to tandem riding, they started looking for the tandem bike that would best satisfy their wants and needs. They found it in Bend, Oregon and traveled south to purchase it. With the tandem bike came new titles for both of them. Chuck became the “captain” (sitting up front), and Michelle became “the stoker.” The stoker’s job is to get the bike started. When they begin from a stopped position, the stoker is clipped in and the captain is not, so the stoker is the power that moves them forward so the captain can clip in. Tandems are fast on the flat and fly going downhill. They do not do as well going uphill, even with two peddling. Michelle says, “My second job as stoker is to be the energizer bunny and give us the boost to get us to the top. Chuck’s job is

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Chuck and Michelle Carey love wearing their colorful jerseys from their ride in Cambodia. It gives them a worldly look as they ride the local Apple Capital Loop Trail in Wenatchee.

Michelle and Chuck visit Saravoan Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia during a break in their tandem tour of the Asian nation.

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July 2021

to drive, which includes They met and bonded steering, braking, gear with another couple who shifting, and watching for were also on the Croatia traffic and other safety cruise. It just so happened hazards on the road.” that these new friends Communication is one of (Randy and Michele Mosethe keys to success in this ley) were long-time resipartnership. dents of East Wenatchee. They soon came to realThese new acquainize, as Chuck put it, “Tantances have now become dem riding is a metaphor an important part of their for marriage, and not all circle of friends and had couples are meant to be an impact on Chuck and on a tandem bike. RidMichelle’s decision to ing a tandem takes your move to East Wenatchee. relationship to where it’s Their trip to Croatia as going, only much faster.” well as a trip to Vietnam They discovered this tanand Cambodia in 2018 dem partnership worked have been with a company almost flawlessly for them. Hundreds of tandems dominate the local streets when they gather for Northwest Tandem who hosts tandem tours. Michelle had no problem “We pick the ones where Rally events. giving over control to Capwe travel by boat. That way tain Chuck. “He does more of ous than they were anticipating, tandem riders. The mass start is we only have to unpack once, the work so I can socialize more with many steep hills. The good quite a sight with hundreds of and we ride in one or two differfreely with other riders.” news was it was more of a “ride… bikes and riders lined up. ent places each day,” Michelle One of the unique things stop to eat … ride … stop to eat “Usually, we have a police added. about tandem riding is that Mievent.” escort and intersection manThey have tentative plans for chelle can’t see what is directly Taking the ferry to Vashon agement as we flood the streets another cruise adventure with ahead of her. She can only see Island is one of their favorite until we reach the outskirts of their tandem to Greece in OcChuck’s back and everything ETC rides. town.” tober of this year. The question that is to her right and to her Over the past decade they In addition, they have enjoyed that first comes into Michelle’s left. have also participated in larger taking their tandem bicycle to mind as they hope they will be Michelle is grateful for how he Northwest Tandem Rally events. far-away places. able to do this trip is, “Who will handles this. “Chuck is always Starting rendezvous have taken How do they manage that? we meet?” talking to me about what he sees them from Bellingham to KlaChuck explains, “Our bike has The word “tandem” has many ahead, such as hills, turns, and math Falls, to Seattle, to Boise, quick disconnects on the frame positive connotations such as: bumps.” That helps her to be and to Albany, Oregon. which allow it to be taken apart partnership, unison, collaborasatisfied with her limited forMichelle describes it this way: to fit into a large case for flying.” tion, cooperation, in concert, ward view. “These rallies can have as many Their tandem then returns and in sync, but the last word Soon after they started ridas 400-plus bikes, which means the favor by transporting them about tandems, comes from ing tandem, they joined the 800-plus riders! They are held through those places, such as Chuck: “Both riders on a tandem Evergreen Tandem Club (ETC), around the Fourth of July and they experienced on their first can feel, with every pedal stroke, located in the Puget Sound area, are three to four days of rid“cruise-for-tandem-riders” the contribution of the other to take advantage of the orgaing and hanging out with other around Croatia in 2014. person. nized rides they sponsor and to “So, while some passers-by call make new friends in the tandem out that the stoker isn’t pedriding community. dling, they miss the sharing of When they ride with other efforts, goals, strategies, meals, tandem pairs the group is usudrinks, friendships and advenally 4 to 12 tandems. tures that are essential to a sucShe describes it this way: cessful tandem partnership.” “These group rides are a soFor these two new residents cial club on wheels, that is two of NCW, the good life comes in wheels, two seats, four pedals, part from their synchronicity on two riders equals double the two wheels. fun. There is always food and Linda and Ken Reid live in East drinks at a stop during the ride, Wenatchee and are regular conor at a minimum it will end with tributor to The Good Life. Chuck and food and drinks.” Michelle’s passion for tandem riding Their first organized ride with captured Linda’s attention when they recently moved in next door. ETC proved to be more strenuJuly 2021 | The Good Life

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FAR FLUNG & rocky Bikepacking from Tarpiscan to Vantage

Bryan Dolejsi crests the final climb and drops into Ginko Petrified Forest State Park with the Vantage Bridge and Wanapum Dam in the distance.

by Ray Birks

he Tarpiscan and Colockum areas of the Wenatchee Mountains are notoriously rocky. It’s almost as if a giant hand swept across north central Washington, moved a large volume of rocks and deposited them into this area of the world tucked in between the Columbia River and Mission Ridge. Or they were flung there in a strange ritual by a long forgotten nomadic tribe specializing in trebuchets and slingshots. I guess there’s probably a more acceptable geologic reason involving lava flows and erosion and less about medieval weapons, but I was a humanities major and one can dream. I’d been aching to explore this area for a few years simply because I didn’t know a lot about it but I understood it to be vast and underappreciated. I knew it was a seasonal wintering area for elk and I’d read a few trail reports on W.T.A. (Washington Trails Association) about hikers making their way to West Bar, which is the large sand bar across from the town of Ray Birks, foreground, and riding buddies Marlin Peterson, Wenatchee, and Bryan Dolejsi, Seattle, conCrescent Bar along with recreationalists on template the rockiness of life somewhere high in the Tarpiscan.

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I even rode the first part of the trip a few times just to get a feel for what the terrain was like and was amazed at the vastness and beauty of the region. bikes or motorcycles heading over Colockum Pass, but there were not many descriptions of bike travel from Tarpiscan to Vantage. So, out came the maps and the Google. Luckily, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife puts out some very detailed green dot maps. I picked the brains of some hunters I knew and others who had ridden their side-by-sides

and motorcycles out in the area, shed hunting and scouting for elk. I even rode the first part of the trip a few times just to get a feel for what the terrain was like and was amazed at the vastness and beauty of the region. But the most intriguing pieces of information I got were from some YouTube videos compiled by Wardenproductions of a

}}} Continued on next page

Tarpiscan Creek, near West Bar, is a reliable source of water in early spring. From here the route heads south and the climbing starts in earnest.

Bryan Dolejsi and Ray Birks search for a way down to Quilomene Bay after an extended hike-a-bike session. July 2021 | The Good Life

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FAR FLUNG & rocky

An epic sunrise disc tossing session instigated by Marlin Peterson, background, on the sandy shores of Quilomene Bay.

}}} Continued from previous page four-day bikepacking trip that was repeated annually for a few years. These explorers did the route without the fancy bags and lightweight tents we had. They rode with older bikes pulling trailers and wearing backpacks and seemed to relish in their weighty adventure. If all worked out according to plan, we would start riding mid-morning, camp somewhere along the way and arrive in Vantage around noon the next day. The goal was to explore unknown territory and take in the sights of spring wildflowers and sweeping views. The mileage was not concerning, I estimated it somewhere near 50-plus miles but the elevation and topography had me wondering if that’s why the YouTube group took four days to complete it. After some more thought I decided it would be feasible to complete the trip in two days, although maybe a bit less enjoy-

able. So we packed up two days worth of food, water and gear and made our way to the start. The first seven or eight miles climbed up on mostly double track through areas that were obviously affected by recent flooding. The road has one major washout within the first mile that makes vehicle passage impossible so much so that we had to dismount and push our bikes up the steep cut out of the creek bed. The first bit of riding is somewhat rocky, but not “I’m walking my bike downhill” rocky. Remember I was a humanities major? That’s my inconspicuous attempt at foreshadowing. After crossing the bridge at Tarpiscan Creek, we headed south and climbed up to the junction with Brewton Road where we took a left and started the descent toward West Bar. Tarpiscan Creek is the first possible water source but we knew we’d also cross Tekison Creek at the bottom of Tekison

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This descent was rocky and beautiful with many basalt columns, birds and wildflowers lining our passage. We were greeted by a few lazy cows... Road in a few miles. This descent was rocky and beautiful with many basalt columns, birds and wildflowers lining our passage. We were greeted by a few lazy cows and happily filtered and filled up our water bottles as we knew we’d be climbing for a while from this point and it was starting to get hot. We were probably close to 20 miles in but buoyed by the ever changing landscapes and broad views. We climbed up Little Brushy Creek Road for a few more miles, very steep and rocky in

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places, and eventually gained a false plateau. Here we took stock of our camping options and mileage and decided to deviate from our original plan which was to stay on the green dot roads all the way to Vantage. Looking at a combination of Google Maps and our Green Dot maps we wondered if we could go overland for a few miles and drop down into Quilomene Bay, directly across the river from the Gorge Amphitheater and Cave B Winery, and spend the night on the river. We weren’t sure if we would get cliffed out and have to backtrack to the road but luckily our hunch panned out. After a few more miles of rugged biking and some extended hike-a-bike, we descended a scree slope and found ourselves alone on a large sandbar in Quilomene Bay. I anticipated that since it was a Friday night and one of the first hot days of spring, there would be a flotilla of boats and water-

Marlin Peterson and Bryan Dolejsi enjoy some hot camp food on the sandbar at Quilomene Bay. This bay is directly across the Columbia River from The Gorge Amphitheater and Cave B Winery.

craft, but luckily it was deserted. Our goal of getting to Quilomene Bay was not only to camp on the river but to expedite our adventure the next morning by putting us closer to our destination. Our initial route would have bowed out and away from the river and included much more climbing with no guarantees of a good camp spot or water. This was perfect and well worth some anxious moments of indecision. We set up our tent, cooked some dinner, dipped in the chilly river and tossed the disc around, all a great reward for a hard day of riding. Quilomene Bay is one of those places you see on a map that looks inviting until you realize you either need a boat or a 4×4 and lots of patience to get there so to be there under human power was sublime.

The sandbar juts out into the Columbia and is shadowed by a large basalt cliff full of roosting birds. It was a pleasant and serene night. Our trip the next morning started with a rousing climb out of Quilomene Bay, a rather rude wake up call after such a peaceful night. The next few miles were rolling and rocky with a left turn down Box Canyon Road and then a quick right on Jackknife Ridge Road which we knew would take us right down into Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park and Vantage. Cue up the aforementioned foreshadowing. Jackknife embodied the word “rocky” and at points, with a fully loaded bike, I found myself deciding that the best route downhill was to walk my bike with the brakes on. It wasn’t worth going over the bars in the middle of nowhere for July 2021 | The Good Life

such a small slice of pride. Even in a 4×4 this would be a jarring road but I think it gets a lot of attention from snowmobiles in the winter. After the jarring descent, Jackknife goes through a beautiful valley complete with a rushing creek and a mandatory water stop, lots more beautiful flowers and basalt cliffs that kept us company. A lot of miles and another few climbs and descents later and we were perched over the Columbia River at the entrance to the State Park. A long drawn out view showed the river and the Vantage bridge along with the Wanapum Dam in the distance. More rocky cruising downhill and we were at the Vantage gas station, where we stashed a car, and our journey was done, except for the obligatory unhealthy gas station www.ncwgoodlife.com

post-ride snacks. This route scratched a deep itch for adventure and knowledge and it’s one that I would do again. There is so much terrain in the Tarpiscan, Colockum, Quilomene and Whiskey Dick areas that you can get yourself lost and find yourself pretty easily. Ray Birks is a husband, father of two and an avid mountain biker who has lived in the Wenatchee Valley for close to 17 years. When he’s not pushing 1’s and 0’s around at work he can usually be found on two wheels. He is a strong advocate for responsible trail use and a robust trail user community. This story also appears on Wenatcheeoutdoors.org — the site covers such topics as hiking, biking, climbing, paddling, trail running and skiing in the region.

Tiny homes for vital bees Solitary bees live alone, but without them, we would be in a world of hurt By Yvette Davis

“If we lost the solitary bees we’d lose most of our produce in the United States.”

Greg Van Stralen didn’t

know his third career would be as a home builder. After working as a title officer and a biologist, he now builds tiny homes. They measure about three inches deep and ½ to 5/16th inches around. Construction goes pretty quick — he can make a few dozen per hour. Though a little small for you and me, there’s plenty of wiggle room for a bee. A former wildlife biologist with the Department of U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Greg spent 20 years of his career focused on native species and their habitats. One of his working goals was to empower people to make a difference, something he continues to do these days by teaching people how to help our local bees. Most of our backyard flowers, fruits and vegetables are not pollinated by honeybees, but by various native species of bees, wasps and hornets. Miner bees, mason bees, carpenter bees and leafcutter bees are a few examples. Unlike the honeybee that lives in a hive, most of these tiny critters live alone. These solitary bees do not live in a colony, nor do they have a single queen. They prefer to hunker down for the winter in a crevice or hole, after sealing up the entrance with wax or mud. The females lay eggs in the crevices, separated by walls of pollen that supply food to the larva. When spring temperatures reach about 57 degrees, the bees emerge from their homes and get to work. It’s estimated that one mason bee can do the pollinating of one honeybee. Without them we’d be in a world of trouble,

Making homes for solitary bees is easy and cheap to do, said Greg Van Stralen. Photo by Anita Van Stralen

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Greg said. “We are in decline in bees globally. The western bumble bee is threatened and may soon be listed as endangered, so that makes it important that people help bees. If we lost the solitary bees we’d lose most of our produce in the United States.” Helping our local pollinators is easier than you think. Even kids can do it. All that’s required is a piece of untreated wood about eight or nine inches in diameter and about four inches thick, a drill, a hanger, and a protected south facing wall. Greg prefers any natural wood that’s not cedar or a pine that has a lot of resin. Cherry wood donated by a local orchard worked well, and maple. Welldried fir and pine are usable. Greg drills various sized holes of ¼, 3/8, ½, and 3/16 inches into the wood about a half to three quarter inches apart, and is careful not to drill all the way thought the wood. Mason bees prefer a 5/16th inch hole, but varying the sizes will help attract other bees to the box as well. Leave a space of about ¾ of an inch around the outside edge. He normally attaches a hanger to the back, which he said is his only expense for the project, and mounts them on a nail about six feet above the ground on a protected wall facing south. “It needs to face south or southeast so it gets the spring sun and they can get warm

enough to come out of hibernation and start pollinating,” Greg explained. Under the eaves of a home or outbuilding where the unit won’t get rained on makes a perfect site. Then, watch in the fall and see if the little holes are filled in, which means they are occupied for the winter. Greg said his houses have about a 75 percent occupancy rate, while his neighbor’s has been running at 100. Normally bee houses last one to two years before the bees abandon them due to parasite or mite build up. Some folks make paper liners and put them in the holes and change them annually, others wash out their bee houses with bleach and water to kill the harmful pests. But it’s quick and easy to build new ones each year, and provides an interesting science project for the kids or interested backyard gardeners. No time to make a bee house? Costco now sells a Swiss Alps

Place the bee homes facing south or southeast. Filled-in holes indicates a bee has moved in for the winter.

bee house made of bamboo and pine. To aid the bees, plant native flowers to attract them, and

keep a moist patch of soil near their house to assist them with their homebuilding.

Greg said that for these houses, no permit is necessary and lumber prices are not an issue.

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Hazel Cleary has crocheted four copies of Michelangelo’s famous painting, The Last Supper, which she has given away as gifts.

Crocheting runs through her life by Vicki Olson Carr

Just about every pioneer fam-

ily out West had someone who liked to stay busy with knitting needles or a crochet hook and some colorful yarn or a ball of crochet thread. But why would anyone take on the daunting task of creating beautiful designs or replicas of famous paintings with a crochet hook? When I sat down with Chelan resident Hazel Cleary to find out why she has the hobby of doing filet style crocheting, an amazing life story tumbled out of her mouth as if a dam had broken. Hazel was born at home during the Great Depression. The only doctor in the TwispWinthrop area was tied up with another difficult birth. So her father acted as midwife and followed the directions the doctor gave him over the phone. “Dad said I came out screaming,” Hazel said, wrinkling up her nose and laughing, “and I guess that’s pretty much how I’ve lived my life ever since.” As the eldest of four siblings, Hazel often had to be a little mother in charge when her mother would slip away for the day and leave the children alone.

“I remember standing on a chair and frying potatoes for my Dad to eat when he came home from his day job, before he left for his other job. That was the only thing I knew how to do.” When Hazel was eight, her two brothers accidentally started a fire in the kitchen while they were making torches out of rolled up newspapers and the fire in the cook stove. She ran two blocks to a neighborhood grocery store for help because nobody else was home. Everybody called the older couple who ran the store Grandma and Grandpa, and they helped get the fire department to the house in time to save it. This disaster brought a government social worker to the home who intended to place them in foster homes for their own safety and security. “Well, I just told that woman we weren’t going anywhere… and I told her to get back in that car out there and leave us alone!” Hazel’s index finger stabbed the air emphatically, probably just like she did when she was eight. Hazel went on to explain how her father filed for divorce, got full custody of his children, arranged some child care for them

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Along with religious themes, such as Faith, above, Hazel crochets playful scenes of kids and animals.

and married Laura who brought her small daughter into the family. Soon the family was living in a 27-foot trailer in Moses Lake where Hazel’s father was working to expand the landing strips at Larson Air Force Base. Housing was tight during WWII. “We just did what we had to do,” Hazel said.

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This is the place in Hazel’s story where crocheting crept in. Laura and her mother were both handy with a crochet hook, and Hazel was fascinated with this needle art too. “Crochet thread was cheap, and you didn’t need much room to do it,” she explained. Eventually, Laura got to be called “Mom,” and her mother

Lillian moved in with the family and became known as “Grandma.” “And just about everybody in the family took up crocheting. Even my Dad,” Hazel added. “He was a leftie and could pick up Grandma’s right-hand crocheting and work on it a while. And it would have the same tension as hers. We didn’t know how Dad could do that, but he did.” As a teenager, Hazel had some problems, discipline and threats at high school over the issues of diagramming sentences and writing the proofs for algebra problems, so she dropped out of school. Her father often took her and her sister to Saturday night dances at a little crossroads village between Moses Lake and Soap Lake. One night, a young man named Kenny walked up to her father and asked, “May I dance with your daughter?” “Which one?” was the response he got. Hazel remembers how Kenny pointed at her. And that was the beginning of the romance leading to a marriage that produced two sons and one daughter. “And I was 37 when Kenny died… I had him for 20 years and five months,” and then she told the horrible story of how Kenny’s heart was compromised during an industrial accident at Rock Island’s Keokuk plant. During all this time, Hazel was crocheting. She made doilies to place under vases and lamps. She crocheted tablecloths and large bedspreads for gifts. “One of my friends was getting married. She said, ‘Oh my God!’ when she opened the package with the large table cloth I crocheted for her.” The next chapter of this energetic woman’s life was another happy time. She married her husband’s best friend, Jesse, and they lived for a time in East Helena, Montana where they joined the Eagles club. With her children grown and time and energy on

Hazel Cleary: Crocheting “gives me something to do. Keeps my hands busy. And I always give things away.” Photo by Linda Blessin

Hazel gave her youngest sister this filet crochet at Christmas time.

her hands she became president of the Eagles auxiliary, and eventually moved through the state offices of the organization as well. Hazel got the nickname of July 2021 | The Good Life

“Hazelnut” at a CB radio club meeting in Grand Coulee where the couple also lived for a time. And Hazel’s teenage idea to become a nurse one day was partly fulfilled when she took www.ncwgoodlife.com

an EMT class, passed the test to become certified and served the community as an EMT for five years. Then the couple took to the road in their RV, enjoying life and retirement until Jesse’s death after 27 of what Hazel remembers as happy years. Throughout all this time, Hazel crocheted. “It gives me something to do. Keeps my hands busy. And I always give things away,” she adds. In the past few decades, Hazel has been creating words and graphics with her crochet hooks, called filet crocheting. “I gave my first filet crochet of a copy of Michelangelo’s painting, The Last Supper, to my church in East Helena. I got into it because the pictures say something.” Hazel has crocheted four copies of this painting, which require months of work. The design on graph paper measures 27.5 inches by 20 inches, in other words 550 inches to count and crochet accurately. The latest rendition hangs in the Baptist church on Woodin Avenue in Chelan. Hazelnut has a photo album of her favorite filet crochet designs: a frog sitting on a lily pad, a dog’s head and a cat sitting in a quiet pose which she gave to pet lovers, intricate pineapple configurations. She gave to me a delicate work called Strong Faith, depicting the resurrection cross with a ladder to heaven behind it. For a lively, slim, fast-minded, fast-moving, fast-talking city of Chelan resident who has been kicked around a bit by life, it’s not surprising that Hazel Cleary would find joy and comfort while creating beauty and artful treasures with simply a Size 9 crochet hook and some No. 10 ivory-colored crochet thread. Vicki Olson Carr’s favorite winter pastimes include embroidering pillow cases and creating cozy quilt tops from bargain fabrics she finds at thrift shops and local rummage sales.

Starving a fire Determined Lief Carlsen has spent years clearing his land so it won’t be a firetrap By Lief Carlsen

When we first acquired the

20 acres in Union Valley above Lake Chelan 42 years ago, my father called it a “firetrap” — and rightly so. Tangles of dead trees and brush, crispy-dry in summer’s heat, required nothing more than an errant match or sudden lightning strike to become a conflagration. But then there were the views, oh the views! Bright blue Lake Chelan 2,000 feet below and the snow-covered Cascade mountains in the distance. I had found my heaven on earth. I promptly built myself a log house on the land with a commanding view of the lake and mountains and went about building a life complete with a wife and children, two goats and five chickens. But even as life settled into a satisfying routine, a certain unease hung in the air. There was the matter of that firetrap my father had mentioned years before. Around the middle of July each year, as the green grass turned brown and the absence of rain became a daily concern, I would look around at the fallen trees and the bitterbrush that had dropped their leaves and cross my fingers, hoping that we could skate through another summer without a forest fire. To be sure, I was not merely a passive worrier. I cut up the fallen trees near the house and trimmed the lower branches of those still living but my efforts seemed pitifully inadequate when I surveyed the scope of the problem. Twenty acres is a lot of land.

...but my efforts seemed pitifully inadequate when I surveyed the scope of the problem. Twenty acres is a lot of land. The history of our firetrap is a familiar one. The land had been logged 50 years earlier, removing the large pine and fir trees that shaded the land. With sudden access to plentiful sunlight, the hillsides experienced a surge of exuberant growth. Thousands of young trees and bushes rushed in to claim their share of nature’s resources. The race was on. But as with most moments of sudden opportunity, the good times were soon over. Like the gold seekers who flocked to California during its gold rush, there were a few winners but most were losers. Trees that had sprouted shoulder to shoulder became starved for water and sunlight as they grew — most died. They became the nearly impenetrable tangle that surrounded our home. Years passed. Seeking better employment, we moved elsewhere. The house sat vacant. The firetrap grew more combustible. Still, our luck held — no forest fires. When retirement eventually released us from the bonds of employment, we moved back to our Union Valley home and acre-by-acre Mary and I began the long process of clearing the land.

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While frost is on the ground, Mary Carlsen burns a pile as the tangle of brush and dead trees are cleared to create less fuel for wildfires.

Ahhh... an unobstructed view of Lake Chelan.

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July 2021

When the brush is clear, space is created for springtime flowers to grow.

Lief invented the “Plucker” — a “V” notch in a steel extension he bolted to a Bobcat to pull the root of bitterbrush from the ground. July 2021 | The Good Life

At first, the dead trees were the most prominent constituent of the monumental clearing task we had embarked upon. They were cut into four-foot lengths, stacked in large piles and, when the weather was favorable, burned. But as the trees were removed from the scene, it became clear that a more formidable challenge was the bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata). There was scarcely a spot on the 20 acres where one could not stand and be within an arm’s length of bitterbrush. How to describe bitterbrush for those not familiar with it? — shaggy barked, prickly branches, dusty-green foliage. It has an unsightly habit of allowing substantial parts of the bush to die and endure as lifeless gray appendages like sun-bleached bones in the desert. It then devotes its resources shamelessly to new growth like an unfaithful husband in pursuit of a younger trophy wife. For much of the year, it sheds its leaves and appears to be dead. As you may have guessed by now, I don’t like bitterbrush. Clearing our land has been a multi-year project. Mowing the bitterbrush or cutting off the top with a chainsaw proved ineffective. The following year the bush sprouts anew. A sort of arms race developed to meet this challenge. Because bitterbrush has a single, long taproot, it is this root that must be dealt with. If the bitterbrush is large (and bitterbrush can grow as large as a camper van), I fashioned a steel extension with a “V” notch at the end that I bolt to the bucket of my Bobcat. I call it the “Plucker” and, as the name implies, it pulls the entire bush from the ground, root and all. Smaller bushes are dispatched with the “Decapitator.” Commonly known as a mattock, the Decapitator is a wide, heavy hoe with a sharpened edge. One strong swing with the Decapitawww.ncwgoodlife.com

A sort of arms race developed to meet this challenge (of battling bitterbrush). tor near the base of one of these pesky bushes and, well ... you get the picture. There is irony in the fact that fire, the potential destroyer of our home, can be used as an impressive ally in the fight against fire. Ridding our land of the enormous piles of brush, branches and dead tree trunks would have been nearly impossible had we not burned them. Watching mountainous mounds of debris being reduced to a small pile of ash is truly a wonder to behold. And yes, I know that bitterbrush is winter forage for deer and that by removing it from our land, I’m depriving them of a food source. My answer to that is that the deer can look elsewhere for their winter forage. Bitterbrush abounds on my neighbors’ land. And if the neighbors should clear their land also? To quote Marie Antoinette in a slightly altered form, “Let the deer eat cake!” This spring, we burned the last of the brush piles from last fall’s clearing. The entire 20 acres has been given the once over. Of course, each year some trees die, branches fall, bitterbrush seeds blow in on the wind. Nature can be so untidy. But the most delightful transformation has occurred as a mostly unanticipated result of our efforts. During April, May and June a dense carpet of wildflowers has replaced the drab bitterbrush on the forest floor and the looming sense of unease that a forest fire could destroy all that we have built here has been replaced by the knowledge that at least now we have a fighting chance.

Long an architectural landmark with its Doric columns, cornice moldings and portico, the Miller Street brick home‘s grandiose exterior belies its many years as a lived-in and loved-in family home. Photo by Mike Cushman

The house on Miller Street Built by a monied fruit broker in 1930 and maintained proudly ever since By Susan Lagsdin

“How can we be so lucky

to live here?” Mario and Connie Fry still ask themselves after 32 years in their stately brick house at 30 Miller Street in Wenatchee. It wasn’t all luck. They needed more space for their growing family and had a limited budget when they approached the home’s seller, Judy Fishbourne, in 1989. She interviewed the young couple in their then-current home, deemed them worthy (“Your plaster is in good condition,” Connie remembers her saying), and offered

Mario and Connie Fry, who’ve lived here 32 years, are at a perfect point -- still in love with their grand old brick house and their Wenatchee community but looking forward to a change of locale that’s close to family. Photo by Mike Irwin

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July 2021

them a sweetheart deal. Fishbourne had good reason to care about the big landmark house. She was only the second owner; the first, successful fruit broker George Miller of the pioneering Phillip Miller family, had it built at considerable expense in 1930. Plumbing and electricity still worked perfectly, high-quality imported materials and exquisite handcrafting were intact. The four-level house was in pristine condition at the time of that sale, and it had a reputation to uphold. Over the decades they’ve lived there, the Frys have been respectful stewards and have maintained it proudly. Oak and maple floors gleam, bathroom tiles glow with color, multi-paned windows sparkle, dark varnished trim still wraps the doors and windows, heavy gumwood doors click securely, the chimney draws well, there’s

LEFT: The big sunny living room with its 90-yearold maple floors runs the length of the house, anchored by a fireplace that has remained in use, with a mantle and surround added by the Frys. BELOW: At the front second floor window a spinning wheel still greets passers-by who grew familiar with the original one. Photos by Mike Cushman

nary a crack in any plaster wall. And that’s after raising seven children through their rambunctious childhoods and into maturity. Mario says he’s never had to refurbish much due to wear and tear, and Connie’s description of their early home life indicates why. “They never bickered, they never fought,” she says of her four boys and three girls, adding it helped that the house was spacious enough that people could spread out over three floors. (One tribute to good parenting is that the whole bunch plus families still happily vacation together.) It was a different era for many households: “We had dinner together at 6 p.m. every night, and there was always a homemade dessert: pie, cobbler, pudding,” said Connie. (Cookies didn’t count.) Everyone had their assigned chores to do, and playtime was outdoor time. “When they went outside, they usually

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The house on Miller Street }}} Continued from previous page went right across the street, over to Washington Park.” 30 Miller served well as a joyful, kid-filled family home, and just yards away from the 147-site Grandview Historic District, it also gained some gravitas being placed on the Wenatchee Register of Historic Places. Its distinctive 18th Century architectural style, called Georgian in some sources and Southern Colonial in others, figures in the memories of thousands of neighbors and friends of the family over the years. An antique spinning wheel prominent in the upstairs landing window was lost inadvertently before the Frys moved in; Mario purchased a newer one — still there — because it had become a favorite “I spy” item for passers-by. Big birthday parties and wedding receptions often filled the landscaped yard or the 30-foot by 15-foot living room, with furniture moved aside and décor festooning the walls. One local visitor who had been there as a child remembered how beautiful the Christmas decorations were. The Frys modernized their home seamlessly as their needs changed, making their own accessories, art and furnishings a subtle complement to the home’s elderly charm. As children grew and moved on, they converted some rooms. Connie, a skilled fabric artist, became enamored of peel-andstick wall décor. “At one point I had to decide between a quilting machine and a 10-foot-wide printer,” she said. She chose the latter, and with her daughter’s tech help she designs, prints and markets custom-designed wallpaper and decals from her basement studio. Another downstairs room has become a whimsical leopardprint den. Carpeting, painted furniture and a wall-sized, upclose portrait of a leopard are a

There’s still a telephone nook in the foyer, and the soft rounded coving and Moorish arches in the main living areas add a touch of the exotic. fun contrast to the more traditional look upstairs. In the kitchen, Mario crafted the smooth and stylish concrete countertops, sink surround and center island, which besides being functional are surprisingly congruent with all the vintage cabinetry. The dining room — deliberately kept separate despite the trend toward open plans, features bold colors and calligraphy trim at the molding height. The Frys are pleased with their choice to leave most of the 1930’s décor intact. The bathrooms are lush with Italian tilework, the built-in bookcases and glassfronted cabinets are artfully crafted, brass lighting fixtures remain. There’s still a telephone nook in the foyer, and the soft rounded coving and Moorish arches in the main living areas add a touch of the exotic. A leaded glass door leads to the private walled patio and its original fountain. “Retirement is easy in a big space like this,” said Connie. “We just close off the rooms we don’t use.” In their 70s, neither she nor Mario are daunted by stairs; they freely use the basement rooms, the main floor and occasionally the second story. “There’s an attic way up there, too, Mario said, “But it’s never been finished.” He cites copious storage space as a luxurious original feature.

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Not a travel shot. In a total change from the home’s almost-completely vintage American decor, Connie designed this (peel-n-stick, removable) wallpaper for a downstairs den area. Photo by Mike Irwin

Cool modern colors and concrete countertops, a la Mario, blend nicely with the vintage lighting fixtures and cabinets in the big kitchen where Connie has prepared thousands of family meals. Photo by Mike Cushman

Mario has remodeled homes in the past, and his long career as an accountant offers insight to his care for details. He’s the on-call fixer, and he’s proud of the home’s quality and condition. “It’s totally square,” a builder’s high compliment. “And even without any insulation in the walls, the brick helps keep

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July 2021

it cool in the summer and warm in the winter,” he added, citing a reasonable electric bill. “And, listen... you can barely hear the cars going by.” Handy to downtown, the home’s front yard fills the northwest corner of Miller and Washington streets, but inside it feels a world away. There comes a time in the

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Every tile and fixture is original, with the bathtub’s lovely scene imported from Italy. The distinctive Moorish arch above the tub echoes those downstairs and on the living room fireplace. Photo by Mike Cushman

life of a long-married couple in a big old house when it’s time to move on. Mario and Connie still love their home and are content, comfortable, and connected to their community. But they are also ready for their next adventure, anticipating a move this year to a simpler home in St. George, Utah where their daughter lives. They’ve listed the house with Emilia Furmanczyk at John L. Scott and are hoping, as their predecessor did, that a buyer

(whose plaster is in good condition) will walk in and see not just a house with a historic pedigree but a place they can call their own. The Frys realize the next owners might want to remodel or re-purpose the house. So Connie is quick to demonstrate its flexibility, deftly peeling back a corner of the huge leopard-portrait wall covering, “See — it comes right off. This room can be anything you want it to be.”

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column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR

jim brown, m.d.

Our thyroid, small but mighty I have been thinking about

the thyroid gland lately. Not long ago, a friend had thyroid surgery for cancer of the thyroid. She did well, thank goodness. According to the National Institutes of Health, there are over 56,000 new cases of thyroid cancer in the United States each year. Females get thyroid cancer three times as often as males. The other thyroid issue that stimulated me to write about thyroid is the impact COVID-19 has on our thyroid gland and also how underlying thyroid disease might affect COVID. There have been 114 publications on this subject alone in the past year. The good news is being on thyroid replacement medication did not change the rate of hospitalization, mechanical ventilation or mortality from COVID. On the other hand, studies have shown 15-30 percent of hospitalized COVID-19 patients will have detectable new thyroid dysfunction. The thyroid endocrine gland is only about two inches long and lies at the base of the neck below our “Adams apple.” It may seem surprising such a small organ can have such a large impact on our health and on medical history as well. Thyroid hormones regulate much of your body’s metabolism including breathing, heart rate, the central nervous system, body weight, muscle strength, menstrual cycles, body temperature and more. If you have too little thyroid hormone or too much hormone, it will affect how you feel and how you function. If you have too little thyroid hormone, the symptoms include

If you have too little thyroid hormone or too much hormone, it will affect how you feel and how you function. fatigue, low energy, weight gain, inability to tolerate cold, a slower heart rate, dry skin and even constipation. Hyperthyroidism occurs when one has too much thyroid hormone. In this condition, the symptoms can include irritability, anxiety, weight loss, inability to tolerate heat, diarrhea, difficulty sleeping and an enlargement of the thyroid gland. A simple blood test can detect one’s level of thyroid hormone. Approximately 20 million Americans are affected by thyroid disease. I find the history associated with thyroid disease quite fascinating. I did my residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota after I served my internship at the Hennepin County Hospital in Minneapolis. At Mayo it became apparent the impact of the work done there early in the 19th Century having to do with thyroid disease was ground breaking as well as life saving. Dr. William Mayo had migrated from England to the United States in 1846. He was appointed surgeon for the Union Army in the Civil War. After the war, he settled in Rochester, Minn., and opened an office advertising in the local newspaper, “All calls answered day and night.” There were no ERs then.

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Eventually his two sons, Charles and William became surgeons and joined their father’s practice. The Sisters of St. Francis approached them, telling them they would try to raise the money to build a hospital there if they would provide the medical and surgical care. At this time thyroid disease, particularly goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid, was very common in the upper Midwest, Appalachia and the Great Lakes region. This became known as the “goiter belt” with over 26 percent of children there having recognizable goiters. Much later goiters were found to be due to insufficient iodine intake. Charles Mayo developed an early interest in thyroid surgery, which was considered by many to be too risky to operate. He and his brother William surgically removed a massive goiter in 1890. In 1904, he reported his experience with thyroidectomy in 40 patients. After performing thousands of thyroid surgeries, he became known as the “Father of American Thyroid surgery.” The Mayo’s reputation spread throughout this country, and patients also came from as far away as Europe for thyroid surgery. The Mayo brothers recruited researchers and medical specialists in thyroid issues as well as other challenging medical issues. This was the beginning of the “group practice” concept. The discovery that iodine is so important in treating goiter as well as other thyroid maladies has been life saving to many. Iodine is a micronutrient we now know is required for thyroid hormone production. It is a trace element distributed in the earth and found in soil and

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water especially in coastal areas. I find it interesting early Chinese writings in 3,600 B.C. reported a decrease in goiter size upon ingestion of seaweed and sea sponge, which we now know contain iodine. Even though Iodine had not been discovered, these remedies were being used globally and were even mentioned in Hippocrates’s writings. The discovery of iodine was incidentally made in the 19th Century From the humble beginning in a small town in southern Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic is now recognized worldwide. When I was a resident there, we would have patients from several European and Arabic counties come for specialty care. In 1924, iodized salt became available on grocery shelves and became the prime reason goiter incidence has been significantly reduced. Iodine deficiency is still a major health issue globally with over 2 billion people still living in iodine deficient areas. In 1990, the United Nations World Summit for children set a goal of eliminating iodine deficiency worldwide. This has primarily been accomplished by universal salt iodization. Considerable progress has been made. Iodine deficiency can lead to brain disorders in infants in utero, so the American Thyroid Association in the U. S. and Canada urge prenatal vitamins contain adequate iodine during pregnancy and lactation. Jim Brown, M.D., is a retired gastroenterologist who has practiced for 38 years in the Wenatchee area. He is a former CEO of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.

column moving up to the good life

june darling

Don’t get mad, instead get more flexible It is discouraging to try and penetrate a mind like yours. You ought to get it out and dance on it. — Mark Twain

he interaction starts out rather normally, even pleasantly. Within minutes of hearing this or that — it could be about politics, it could be about coronavirus, it could be about the state of the community, whatever, I am stomping out the door. Upon departure, I notice myself muttering under my breath… wondering if this person’s brain has been deprived of oxygen. What causes this friction and what is the solution? I have come to believe it is largely about rigidity and flexibility. Others are rigid. I am flexible. Hah. Okay, I am working on it. Why? I care about my relationships, I care about my country and my community. I care about living a good life. Inflexibility is getting stuck in repetitive, unproductive ways of thinking, feeling, doing which continue to get us nowhere. Rigidity is unproductive and impractical, not to mention stressful. Being flexible is associated with many beneficial outcomes including increased resilience, learning, happiness, physical and mental health, adaptability, creativity, ageing well, and… better relationships. Flexibility does not mean giving in to others. It means going at things differently, more effectively, so that we can achieve our goals and live up to our ideals. For example, instead of stomping out the door when I hear something I disagree with, I might try taking a deep breath, saying something to myself like,

Flexibility allows people to move their minds around, to switch gears, to pull up adaptive perspectives in new situations, to dump dysfunctional ideas and habitual interpretations. “here’s a chance to dance on your brain, June.” That mental image of dancing on my brain while thinking of Mark Twain twisting his mustache, makes me smile. A sincere smile instead of a frown can shift up the whole rigid dynamic inside me and also between me and whoever I am wanting to clobber. Flexibility allows people to move their minds around, to switch gears, to pull up adaptive perspectives in new situations, to dump dysfunctional ideas and habitual interpretations. Flexibility enables people to hold their thoughts and emotions more lightly. Flexibility allows us to mix up our behaviors so that we have a wider variety of useful responses to events, problems, people. This sort of flexibility is related to intelligence, wisdom, creativity, even emotional intelligence. What are some ways of increasing our flexibility? Look for people who are good examples of flexibility and steal what works for you. My husband’s mother, Ruth July 2021 | The Good Life

(Gram), was a wonderful paragon. Throughout her 100-plus years, she was curious about different views and the people who held them. Travel helped stoke her fascination. Gram recognized her emotions, but I never saw her let them rule her so that she could not live her values. Maybe it helped that she was what we might call “mindful” these days — she stayed focused on the present moment while calmly acknowledging her thoughts and feelings. (I think her love of daily poetry reading helped). Like most teachers, Gram was a planner, but knew how to move things around when life intervened. Other ideas for increasing flexibility include reading books set in different cultures or listening to politically divergent podcasts. Change up the rules of a game you play. This can be a crack up after you get over the shock. I know someone who plays ping pong more like racket ball. He hits the ball in the air and off the walls and ceiling. My husband and I never laughed so much as we did after playing his version of ping pong. Just do something different from usual. Try a bite of unusual food. Give a playful remark if your retorts are usually serious. Mix it up. Keep a flexibility quote in your mind. One I use is, “there is more than one way to skin a cat.” Now I do feel badly about the image this conjures up, but it does help me stay focused on my goals while using a different approach… not letting my thoughts or emotions get me off track. This July 4th, notice those www.ncwgoodlife.com

speeches about freedom, justice, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Like me, you may even tear up as you consider our American ideals. If you have found something that is going to help you achieve those lofty goals, stay the course. But maybe you are more like the 93 percent recently polled who are sick and tired and discouraged by what is going on around you (and within you). If you are noticing that you are not helping things get any better, consider trying a bit more flexibility… along with me. Think of Gram. She could have been the one who coined “blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.” How might you practice a bit more flexibility and move up to The Good Life? June Darling, Ph.D. can be contacted at drjunedarling1@gmail.com; website: www.summitgroupresources. com. Her bio and many of her books can be found at amazon.com/author/ junedarling.

>> RANDOM QUOTE

It’s only after you’ve stepped outside your comfort zone that you begin to change, grow, and transform. Roy T. Bennett Know of someone stepping off the beaten path in the search for fun and excitement? E-mail us at editor@ncwgoodlife.com

Full of surprises This Irish-born, Cashmere writer of horror is seeing bright publishing success

By Susan Lagsdin

ow in the world do you write a whole fiction novel that is fantastically out-of-thisworld? Cashmere author K.K. Weakley (a nickname derived from her two given K names) has no problem explaining. First, a caveat — though her books are considered a form of fantasy fiction, some so creepy they’ve lost their Young Adult shelf designation. They are always about real, universal emotions: love, fear, anger, yearning... and all the rest. There’s a very human connection. With that a given, here’s her short answer to plotting: “I start with the last line of the book, just an incident in few sentences. And the rest of the novel, no matter what genre, is really what leads up to that — then I can start writing toward it.” Easy. Maybe. We tried a sample right there. “She looked deep into the water,” this interviewer extemporized, “And watched as the box drifted first down through waves, then into darkness, to eventually rest on the endless silt of the sea floor.” K.K. was quick to respond to the challenge. “It’s all his belongings,” she said. “And she’s letting them go at last.” She thought a second. “And, they met when she was only a girl... and maybe the next line is ... ‘her water broke....’ Yes! She’s pregnant with his child!” K.K. not only has only expanded an idea for a 300-page novel from one quickly-composed sentence, she has the lead-in to a sequel. Not just full of ideas, K.K. is also full of surprises. Her writing hours are often focused on grim, nightmarish

... between chapters of her big sellers, she enjoys refinishing old furniture, puttering in the garden, maybe rereading a favorite Bronte novel.

K.K. Weakley has plenty to smile about on this sunny morning under an umbrella at Weeds Cafe in Cashmere (a favorite work spot): her newest fiction trilogy has been published and readers are clambering for more. Photos by Mike Irwin

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July 2021

themes, but one of her early books was co-written with her son when he was seven. “He told me the story, I wrote it down, he did the pictures,” she said. Her foray into nonfiction, Eternal Spring, was a memoir of a heart-wrenching life event. Not hers, her husband’s. And between chapters of her big sellers, she enjoys refinishing old furniture, puttering in the garden, maybe rereading a favorite Bronte novel. Also, you might think any tattoo on a popular author of occult gothic horror books would feature death’s heads and dragons. Not so for K.K. She doesn’t so much wear her heart on her sleeve, but her “sleeve” does reflect her heart. The rectangular designs that curl up her right forearm represent the books she’s written, anchored by a languorous literary feather pen that appears to have written “Finn,” her son’s name. County Wexford, Ireland is K.K.‘s birthplace, and you’ll read references in her books as well as hear the lilt in her voice. (She’s heard it’s “charming” but

“I want people to keep enjoying my books, to want to read more of them. And I want my mind to not stop working.” realizes it’s sometimes tough to understand.) While traveling in the U.S., she met her future husband, a singer-guitarist-songwriter who now also works for Washington Department of Transportation. K.K.’s college degree lead to work in human services, but when she and Nate moved to Cashmere five years ago, K.K., who wrote her first novel, Daughter of Arella, while hospitalized in Ireland, found herself very publishable and kept on writing. A subtle measure of her productive career features a cell phone. During this interview on Weeds Café’s shady Cashmere patio, K.K. deflected a call with a swift “Hello... OK... Can I call you back?” Turning again to our conversation, she said, “That was my editor.” We laughed at the improbability of that casual a response years ago with book number 1 in the pipeline. Another measure is anywhere she travels there’s a bookstore wanting her to sign copies of her award-winning novels. But K.K.

K.K. Weakley’s books, including these two from her current Sekhet trilogy, often encompass dark gothic themes, horror, and the occult. But they also treat readers to twists of humor, relatable characters and modern Northwest settings.

says, “I don’t want to be famous.” What does she want? “I want people to keep enjoying my books, to want to read more of them. And I want my mind to not stop working.” The last is not a typical unease with aging. K.K. was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 16 years ago, and though her periodic chemotherapy treatments at Swedish Hospital in Seattle keep the worst symptoms at bay, she says she can feel them building up again about every four years. There’s a little double vision, a drag in one leg, and an occasional noun lost

to the ethers. She’s assiduous about continuing therapies. “I am determined not to relapse,” she said. She needs her strength for these busy months ahead. Her second trilogy, the Sekhet series, is two-thirds done — the second book is just now in print and the third will be available in the fall; her readers are asking for more. And a play she wrote and staged in her native Ireland, Brotherhood of the Celt, is headed to Broadway next year. K.K. is mom to three active kids — step, relative and fos-

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ter — and assistant manager at Apple Annie’s Antiques, so she needs to carve out concentrated writing time. Her accustomed corner table at Weeds, about halfway between her house and her day job, has served well as a morning office where amidst the buzz and hum she’s written three of her books. The books she writes aren’t all gloom and grim — they have touches of humanity and humor, with relatable characters. K.K. said she’s had fun incorporating real places like Seattle, Cashmere and Twisp, as well as real people, into her novels. Some characters are thinly disguised; some friends’ names are right there, generally not villains, for the world to read. And the world seems to be reading them. Recent publishing industry accolades like Horror Novel of 2020 and a Reader’s Choice Award mean a lot to her, but she’s also eager to read reviews. “I love to know people’s thoughts — who their favorite characters were, what shocked them, what they disliked. Criticism helps you grow.” Five partial drafts are tucked away in her files, all good enough to rehabilitate, and she has newly started two other books of two different genre. “They may or may not become something. Who knows?” she said. If the ideas keep coming, K.K. will keep crafting them into her special brew of fantastical fiction.

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The Art Life

// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS

Video this Accidental side hustle has grown into production company with sundry collection of clients

By Susan Lagsdin

s a student at the University of Idaho, finishing up two majors in music and one in broadcasting, Jarod Breshears was asked to film a major event for the college when the original producer suddenly had to cancel. Among his first thoughts was, “I’ll need a name for my company.” Already envisioning a future career, he chose his dad’s childhood nickname for him, Skeeterbuggins. Cute, but does it inspire confidence? Yes, in the fast paced, get-er-done world of video production, it definitely does. In 15 years, his business has grown exponentially from what he calls “a side hustle” alongside university assignments to a full-service production company offering broadcast TV and video production, editing and graphics, and anything in between. And it’s moved from a desk at his home in Colfax to a tidy studio in Wenatchee, where he’s based downtown on Riverside Drive. (Here’s an old-world concept come ’round: his sidewalklevel “shop” fronts a new twostory townhome where he lives with his wife and two toddlers.) Though he was almost shut down by pandemic in 2020, his first year here, Jarod used the time wisely to find his footing, build his repertoire and gather his gear. Now he’s just about ready for a mini-grand opening. Jarod seemed skeptical at first about calling that which he does

for a living an art form, but he does assert that “every shoot is a performance” whether it’s a town hall meeting, an opera, a volleyball game or a tractor commercial. Creativity, particularly the problem-solving variety, is essential. Creativity plus limitless confidence. “There are no scary jobs,” he said. “If I rationally say that I Jarod Breshears, here surrounded by a roomful of video production gear, travels the country can do a project, I will find a way. I plying his craft but comes home to his streetfront studio on Wenatchee’s Riverside Drive. have a network of resources that can Anyone who’s even fumbled a recital. “It used to be you’d set make anything happen.” computer file or lost a cell signal up two or three cameras, press He regularly films shows such knows it’s generally not the conrecord for a two-hour show as Gonzaga’s theatre and dance tent that poses problems, it’s the and sit back and watch.” Then productions and U of I’s Lionel technology. he’d spend a solid week at the Hampton Jazz Festival. Jarod is a bit of a wizard with computer sequencing shots and On one mid-June weekend he all that, but even with some of angles. was booked solid with a Coeur the most sophisticated gear in Now he directs by headset, d’Alene dance recital, a local the business and good assisin real time, positioning freethree-day swim meet, Cashtants, he said, “The most nervelancers with cameras who feed mere’s commencement and two the footage to his computer. The wracking time on any shoot is virtual fundraisers. The last is the first minute — that’s when images are already composed, a format he and an auctioneer the story already told. To finesse you know how the show will go.” partner have become adept at — the final copy and add graphFor Jarod as a kid, fooling and nonprofits find rewarding around with video was much ics takes time but less of it, and — so they are in demand. less stressful. time is money. Technology allows Jarod to be His first movie, a collaboration (He added some insider informore than two places at once, with a buddy who owned a cammation. The televised Broadway within reason, so though he era, was a just-for-laughs spoof hit Hamilton? “You know, that admits it’s a crazy schedule, he’ll wasn’t all live,” he said. “They of the Blair Witch Project called manage. had to shut down the show for a The Colfax Goblin Project. They He’s helped by a new approach day to do all the really intimate managed to start a little producto filming performances, like shots. No way you could get that tion class at school, mostly with the recent Fabulous Feet dance student-created curriculum. close up.”)

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“My biggest life lessons from that time did come from the music department. I had a jazz percussion instructor whose constant theme was take responsibility for yourself. Always. ‘Trust no one.’” Jarod didn’t consider majoring in film at college, instead thinking of architecture or urban planning and then choosing music composition, but when he saw Digital TV Production in the catalogue one year, he jumped straight into the profession. When asked if the music degree helped him in this career (maybe soundtracks?) he had a surprising response. “Ironically,” he said, “my biggest life lessons from that time did come from the music department.” Then he explained. “I had a jazz percussion instructor whose constant theme was take responsibility for yourself. Always. ‘Trust no one.’” But in a good way. “And Business in the Art World, a six-week class, was indispensable. Everyone I knew in that seminar went on to be successful,” he said. So, considering that a quartermillion dollar a year business, just coming into view, would make him and his family comfortable, what’s another measure of success? Jarod was clear on this point: “Seeing people happy with the product we create. I did a job two weeks ago; the client booked me right away for 2022. Every time I hear someone wants us back it makes me proud.”

fun stuff what to do around here for the next month We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com

Please check all events to make sure none has canceled. NCW Blues Jam, Mondays, 7 – 10 p.m. Riverside Pub. Wednesday night live music, every Wednesday through Labor Day. 4 – 6 p.m. on the concourse. Pybus Public Market. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Shrub-Steppe Poetry Podium, every last Wednesday, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. A free, public, poetry-only reading. Read your own poems or the work of a favorite poet. Collapse Gallery, 115 S Wenatchee Ave. Info: sfblair61@gmail.com. Chelan Thursday Evening Farmers Market, 2 – 6 p.m. through October. Fresh locally grown produce and local artisans. Fun for the whole family. Riverwalk Park, Chelan. Cost: free. Info: lakechelan.com. Leavenworth Farmers Market, Thursdays, 4 – 8 p.m. 303 Evans parking lot. Quincy Farmers Market, first and third Saturday through September, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Downtown Quincy, B Street. Wenatchee Valley Farmers market, 8 – 1 p.m. Every Saturday May through October. West parking lot at Pybus Public Market. Evening Alphorn Serenade, every Saturday, 7 – 7:30 p.m. Front Street Park Gazebo. Greater Leavenworth Museum Historic Walking tours every second and fourth Saturdays through October. Walk begins at the Lion’s Club Park at 10 a.m. Tours last 1-2 hours and cover roughly 2 miles on city sidewalks and trails. Masks required. Tours on the second Saturdays will be the railroad/mill walk. The tours on the fourth Saturdays will be the town walk. Cost: $5. Info: 548-0728 or leavenworthmuseum.org. Two Rivers Gallery: All of July. A new show begins with featured artist Jill Timm. Jill is a graphic artist of many talents. Her show includes July 2021 | The Good Life

serigraphs, original miniature artist books and more. Show includes many new artworks including the four winners of the Plein Air Paint Out of events from the Washington State Apple Blossom celebration that has returned to Wenatchee this year. Two Rivers Gallery. Cost: free. Info: 2rivedrsgallery.org. Village Art in the park, 7/1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. A vibrant outdoor art market in downtown Leavenworth. Guided Nature Walks, 7/1, 2, 4 – 6 p.m. Join the Wenatchee River Institute for a two-hour, guided nature walk through Waterfront Park. Learn about local plants and animals, geology, the p’squosa (Wenatchi) people and the history of Leavenworth. Must register. Cost: $18, free for kids 5 and under. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Live at Tipsy Canyon Winery: Full Vinyl Jacket, 7/1, 6 – 9 p.m. Grab your picnic blankets and enjoy an evening of live music with great views and even better wine. Tipsy Canyon Winery. Cost: free. Info: tipsycanyon.com. Ron Fowler, 7/2, 6 – 8 p.m. Live music on the concourse. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Icicle Creek Chamber Music Festival, 7/2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24, 7 – 8 p.m. Info: icicle.org. Siren Song Farm’s Summer Concert Series: Justin Young Band, 7/2, 7 – 8 p.m. Bring your picnic, blanket, or lawn chair, and enjoy our beautiful natural amphitheater. Siren Song Farms. Cost: $25 includes a complimentary welcome glass of wine. Info: sirensongwines.com. Wenatchee Riverfront Railway, 7/3, 7, 31, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Home of the Nile Saunders Orchard mini train. If over 90 degrees trains will not run. Wenatchee Riverfront Park. Cost: $2. Info: facebook.com/ thewenatcheeriverfrontrailway. Even Keel Roadhouse: Dan Quigly, 7/3, 6 – 9 p.m. Live music from local Lake Chelan, Dan Quigly. Even Keel Roadhouse. Cost: free. Info: evenkeelroadhouse.com. Alpenfolk Bavarian Music, 7/3, 4, 17, 18, 24, 25, 5 – 9 p.m. on

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Saturdays and 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Sundays. Live authentic music, singing, and yodeling. Front Street Gazebo, Leavenworth. Cost: free. River Run on the Fourth, 7/4. 10, and 5k. Apple Capital Loop Trail, Pybus Public Market. Chelan Summer Concert Series, through Sept 5, featuring live music every first and third Sunday from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Riverwalk Pavilion along the shores of Lake Chelan. Free. Music includes: July 4: Dimestore Prophets July 18: Fort Vine August 1: Deseo Carmin Aug. 15: The Kevin Jones Band Sept 5: TBA Live at Tipsy Canyon Winery: Vertigo Zoo, 7/8, 6 – 9 p.m. Grab your picnic blankets and enjoy an evening of live music with great views and even better wine. Tipsy Canyon Winery. Cost: free. Info: tipsycanyon.com. Lake Chelan Boating club poker run, 7/9, 6 – 10 p.m. Halloween in July is ON! Registration and Participants’ Boat Show on streets of Manson. Lake Chelan Boating Club poker run, 7/10, 8 a.m. breakfast, 10:30 a.m. drivers’ meeting, 11:30 a.m. Boats flag start. This is not a race but a fun ride up the lake from Manson to five locations on the lake to pick up sealed cards for your poker hands. 4 p.m. poker cards from the run are due at the clubhouse, 6:30 – 9:30 dinner, costume contest and awards at the grounds of Lake Chelan Boating Club. Info: lcboatingclub.com. Rylei Franks, 7/9, 6 – 8 p.m. Live music on the concourse. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. The Sound of Music, 7/9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 29, 30, 21, 8/5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21, 8 p.m. Live musical story of Maria and the von Trapp Family. Leavenworth Ski Hill Amphitheater. Info: leavenworthsummertheater.org. Tomfoolery Game days, 7/10, 11, 24, 25, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Board game

}}} Continued on page 31

PET tales

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

It was a beautiful day for a

walk at Riverwalk Park and that is exactly what Carol Sutcliffe,

Plain, was doing with her dog Tessa. Tessa is a rat terrier and is 15 years old. Carol said that she walks Tessa everyday and that Tessa is a well-behaved dog.

Bev Thompson, left, and

Collette Shrader, both of East Wenatchee, have been walking with Barkley for well over a year. Barkley, 6, is a Boston terrier whose owners are Jordan and Rachel Kelly of East Wenatchee. “We walk with Barkley every Monday, Wednesday and Friday,” said Bev. “Her owners work full time and we enjoy him. He is sweet and loves to walk and so do we.”

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July 2021

WHAT TO DO

}}} Continued from page 29 fun like: Clue, Sorry, Uno and more. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org. Lake Chelan Bach fest, 7/10 – 17. Celebrating its 40th Anniversary with classical, jazz and pop concerts at the Riverwalk Park Pavilion and area wineries in Chelan and Manson. Live concerts feature Artists-in-Residence, Tango Cowboys and the Festival String Quartet. Virtual offerings include a Young Musicians’ Recital, Vocal Soloists and Hansel and Gretel for children of all ages. Admission to all concerts is by donation. Festival schedule at: bachfest.org. Lions Club Breakfast, 7/10 and 7/24, 7 – 11 a.m. Lions Club Park, Leavenworth. Intro to Beekeeping Workshop, 7/10, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Join local beekeeper Walt Kursave for an introduction to beekeeping. Learn about the basics of beekeeping, advantages of local honey and how to tell if honey has been altered (cut with syrups), medicinal properties of pollen, bees wax, propolis and bee venom. Wenatchee River Institute. Must register: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Siren Song Farm’s Summer Concert Series: Elvis, 7/11, 3 – 5 p.m. Bring your picnic, blanket, or lawn chair, and enjoy our beautiful natural amphitheater. Siren Song Farms. Cost: $25 includes a complimentary welcome glass of wine. Info: sirensongwines.com. Scouting for butterflies, 7/15, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Join David Droppers trekking through the trails of Mountain Home Road in search of summer butterflies. Learn what makes each species unique and how Lepidopterists study them. Will use catch and release method to observe them up close. Bring your camera. Walking maximum of 3.2 miles with 800 feet elevation gain. Wenatchee River Institute. Cost: pay what you can. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Live at Tipsy Canyon Winery: End of the Line, 7/15, 6 – 9 p.m. Grab your picnic blankets and enjoy an evening of live music with great views and even better wine. Tipsy Canyon Winery. Cost: free. Info: tipsycanyon.com. Plaza Days, 7/16, 17, all day. Methow Street in Wenatchee will be turned into a gathering place with

activities and food from Yakima Street to Orondo Ave. East St Men’s Choir, 7/16, 6 – 8 p.m. Live music on the concourse. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Lake Chelan Pro Rodeo, 7/16, 17, 7:30 – 11 p.m. The largest and oldest professional rodeo association and the recognized leader in Pro Rodeo. This means the bronc riders will be tougher, the bulls will be wilder and the entertainment value will be out of this world. A crowd favorite will be the McMillan Family Trick Riders. Chelan Rustlers Saddle Club, 1099 N Bradley St in Chelan. Cost: $13-$20. Info: chelansaddleclub.org. Corvette Club Show, 7/17, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Wenatchee Convention Center. Board Game creation, 7/17, 18, 11 – 3 p.m. Create your own board games, materials provided. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatacheevalleymuseum.org. Adaptive cycling, 7/17, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. A free community event for ages 5 to 105. Bikes include handcycles, trikes and more. East side of Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Apple Cup Open Golf Tournament, 7/17, 18. Golfers will compete in 2-player teams and the format is Best Ball competition on Saturday and Combined Score on Sunday. Tournament includes Side Games, Closest to the Pin contest, a Horse Race and Gross and Net payouts. There will be up to three Net Divisions based on handicaps. Tournament proceeds help support High School Golf Student Scholarships and the Boy’s and Girl’s Golf Teams at Chelan High School. Lake Chelan Men’s Golf Club at Lake Chelan Golf Course. Cost: $250. Info: chleangolfclub.com. Siren Song Farm’s Summer Concert Series: Dmitri Matheny, 7/18, 3 – 5 p.m. Bring your picnic, blanket, or lawn chair, and enjoy our beautiful natural amphitheater. Siren Song Farms. Cost: $25 includes a complimentary welcome glass of wine. Info: sirensongwines.com. Lake Chelan Lavender Art Festival, 7/23, 24, 25. Artist exhibits, workshops, food and wine, live music, auction and more. Siren Song Farms. Cost: $20. Info: chelanlavenderart.com. July 2021 | The Good Life

Just US, 7/23, 6 – 8 p.m. Live music on the concourse. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Siren Song Farm’s Summer Concert Series: Cascadia Groove, 7/25, 3 – 5 p.m. Bring your picnic, blanket, or lawn chair, and enjoy our beautiful natural amphitheater. Siren Song Farms. Cost: $25 includes a complimentary welcome glass of wine. Info: sirensongwines.com. Hapa zome: a natural dye and printing technique, 7/28, 4:30 – 6 p.m. Learn how to transfer color from flowers and leaves onto cloth to create unique and colorful designs. Class begins with a nature walk down on the trails following the Wenatchee River to collect plant material to create designs with. Brittany from The Plant Ally, will also provide other plant materials to use. Wenatchee River Institute. Cost: $30. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Live at Tipsy Canyon Winery: Older and Wiser, 7/29, 6 – 9 p.m. Grab your picnic blankets and enjoy an evening of live music with great views and even better wine. Tipsy Canyon Winery. Cost: free. Info: tipsycanyon.com. Basket Weaving workshop, 7/31, 8/1, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Workshop taught by two local p’squosa (Wenatchi) band members, Julie

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Edwards and Bernadine Phillips. Wenatchee River Institute. Cost: $60 per day. Must register: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Drop-in makerspace: junk bots, 7/21, 8/1, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Create a vibrating and moving junk bot using everyday junk or items in your recycle bin. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org. Erin McNamee, 7/30, 6 – 8 p.m. Live music on the concourse. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Peshastin Library ice cream social, 7/31, 7 – 9 p.m. Enjoy a slice of pie or cake for $3, scoop of ice cream for $1 on the library lawn at 8396 Main Street in Peshastin. The Saddle Rockers will be performing throughout the evening. Adults and kids can browse the used book sale. There will be a Cake Spin and a few carnival games for the youngsters. Info: 548-5043. Cascade Medical Foundation’s 25th Annual Garden and Art Tour, 8/7, noon to 5 p.m. Ten diverse gardens and artwork by 12 local artists. Stroll through gardens at your own pace. Wine tastings and a coffee cart too. Various locations around Leavenworth. Cost: $20. Fund raiser for ambulance safety equipment. Info: cascademedicalfoundation.org/fundraisers/ home-and-garden.

column those were the days

rod molzahn

Calling Wenatchee, in 1928 The Pacific Telephone and

Telegraph Company, headquartered in Seattle, brought the first telephone service to Wenatchee in 1900. Phones were installed in homes and businesses in the town core at reasonable cost. For ranches outside of the town core, installation and service charges were considerably higher. The ranch didn’t have to be very far out of town. It could be on Washington Street, Western Avenue, Springwater or Ninth Street, Olds Station or Sunnyslope. They were all faced with exorbitant charges. By 1903 the ranchers had had enough. They held a mass meeting that resulted in an ultimatum demanding that Pacific Telephone lower its installation and service charges or the ranchers would put in a phone system of their own. Pacific Telephone believed these were empty threats and did nothing. They were wrong. In October of 1903, under the leadership of Zadok A. Lanham, with a ranch on Okanogan Street, the ranchers founded the Farmers Telephone and Telegraph Company with $10,000 in

assets. The Pacific Telephone equipment was removed and replaced with new phones and exchanges. Eventually a deal was reached that put Farmers Telephone Company in control of local calls and used Pacific Telephone’s lines and equipment for long distance calls. The December of 1928 Farmers Telephone directory provides an interesting view of life at that time in The December of 1928 Farmers Telephone directory Wenatchee. provides an interesting view of life at that time in Wenatchee. A year and a half later, in 1930, the federal census would town addresses as well as ranch show Wenatchee with a popula- listings. The ranch listings made tion of 11,627, up from 300 in up 40 percent of all phones. 1893 when the first Wenatchee In December of 1928 the town City Council met. had eight fraternal organizaThe directory shows both intions and associations including

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the American Legion, the Eagles and Elks clubs, the International Order of Odd Fellows Hall, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (It was the middle of Prohibition) and the YMCA. There were 21 law offices with 24 attorneys in town including Sam Sumner, the dean of Wenatchee lawyers. Sumner in his early years served as City Clerk, City Attorney and County Attorney. During a short-lived smallpox outbreak in Wenatchee, Sam Sumner officiated at the “smallpox wedding.” He stood outside a quarantine fence with wedding guests and shouted vows to a young couple inside. In 1928 there were 13 auto dealers of various makes and models including Ford, HudsonEssex, Nash, Buick and Studebaker. Peck Brothers Motors offered Willys-Knight and Whippet automobiles. There was also what must have been the first auto detailing shop in town — Niccum Brothers Auto Beauty Parlor at 331 S. Wenatchee Ave. Eighteen service stations did some auto repair work and kept the fuel tanks full.

The Ferguson– Ross Insurance Company promised, “You won’t have cause to worry when you hear the fire alarm if you have your fire insurance taken care of through our office.” Wenatchee was served by four banks led by the Columbia Valley Bank, the first in town established in 1892. It was called “The old strong bank,” one of only two banks in North Central Washington that survived the financial panic of 1893. The other was the Waterville Bank. There were two billiard parlors, one billiard hall and one pool hall — all four in the area around Orondo Street and Wenatchee Avenue. The city boasted eight churches; Baptist, Catholic, Christian, Christian Scientist, Free Methodist, Methodist, Presbyterian and Salvation Army.

There were five purveyors of men’s furnishings led by Mills Brothers along with two women’s clothing stores. The Fashion Shop offering “Ladies exclusive wearing apparel at moderate prices.” And Webb’s Shoppe with “Exclusive ladies wearing apparel and millinery.” There was one corsetiere in town. Downtown Wenatchee had six department stores including Montgomery Ward, J.C. Penney, The Wenatchee Department Store and The Emporium. There were seven druggists in the downtown core; Columbia Pharmacy, Mission Drug, Owl Drug, Public Drug, Wenatchee Drug, Wheeler’s Drug Store and White Cross Drug Company. Eleven dentists practiced in town along with 17 physicians and surgeons. The list included one female, Doctor Minnie Simmons, the first woman doctor in Wenatchee. Groceries were available from 32 stores and 15 meat markets including Thompson Grocery offering “Quality Groceries at Right Prices” and phone-in ordering. The downtown area bristled with 19 hotels. The Wenatchee Hotel at Orondo and Wenatchee Avenue, home to one of the billiard halls, promised a “pri-

vate exchange with local and long distance telephones in all rooms.” Only the Bruce Hotel remains today. Seven schools educated the children: Columbia School, Lewis and Clark School, Lincoln, Stevens and Whitman Schools and the High School on King Street. Fifteen restaurants and cafes kept the citizens fed. That included several locations of Matt’s Filling Stations featuring “Good eats, soft drinks, confectionery, hot tamales and Chile Con Carne.” A guy named Pete operated his own “Filling Station.” Seventeen Insurance Agencies offered to protect the people and their belongings. The Ferguson– Ross Insurance Company promised, “You won’t have cause to worry when you hear the fire alarm if you have your fire insurance taken care of through our office.” The Liberty Theatre and the Mission Street Theatre brought movies and live events to Wenatchee. The Liberty remains today. The Buster Brown Shoe Shop had your feet covered and four shoe repair shops could fix shoes that wore down. One, American Shoe Shop, then on South Mis-

sion Street, is still filling that need. Oddly, it seems, for a rural area, the phone book shows only one veterinarian in town — Dr. C.P. Fay at 327 S. Mission Street. Seven taxicab companies plied the streets of Wenatchee to get people where they needed to go: J.A. Graham Cab, Owl Taxi, Red Top Taxi, Fred Sheffield and Triangle Taxi Service. There were two motorcycle taxi services: Chuck’s Motorcycle Taxi and Taxi 275 that offered “half the price of others” with a $2.25 fare to Cashmere, $1.50 to Malaga or Monitor and $7.50 to Chelan. Patrons could choose between an open or closed sidecar. They likely used Indian Motorcycles since the only motorcycle dealer in town was the Indian Motorcycle Sales and Service at 520 S. Wenatchee Avenue. There were no saloons in Wenatchee though you could likely get a drink in Shack Town — but perhaps no phone service. Historian, author and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake.speak@nwi.net. His recent book, What They Found, Stories of People in North Central Washington, is available at ncwstories.net and at retail locations throughout the area.

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Wishing for a picnic T

By Susan Sampson

he social event I miss the most won’t be coming back, even when COVID-19 is crushed, unless I organize it myself. I’m talking about those idyllic summertime group picnics. For me, picnic season started on July 4, or “Forchuly” the way my immigrant Grandpa pronounced it. That was the biggest family event of the year except for Christmas, camping on the banks of the Smith River or in a farmer’s field on the banks of the North Fork of the Siuslaw. One year my boy cousins built a raft and launched it into the Smith River. My dad rushed into the water to haul them back to shore before they washed downstream. That year all the kids in camp came down with three-day measles. We waded in the Siuslaw to catch crawdads with our bare >> RANDOM QUOTE

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The plumbers filled up the bed of a pickup truck with pop and ice cream bars packed in dry ice. We were allowed to eat as much as we wanted. hands and to corral them in rock pens in the river. When a friend named Jack LaChapelle commented that crawdads were edible my dad snorted, “You Frenchmen would eat anything.” After lunch, the men tossed horseshoes and the kids waited for an hour to pass — we couldn’t swim for an hour after eating so we didn’t get cramps, even though we only waded. The river was too shallow to swim in. We also had to wait at least until dusk to light our safe and sane fireworks, sparklers only. When my cousin Patty and I went to Girl Scout camp, we discovered s’mores, so after that, when we finished roasting hotdogs over a campfire, we got to melt marshmallows on sticks to make s’mores. Besides family picnics, I got to go to organization picnics. Dad belonged to the plumber’s

union, and their picnic was one of the best. The plumbers filled up the bed of a pickup truck with pop and ice cream bars packed in dry ice. We were allowed to eat as much as we wanted. The food was all potluck — cold fried chicken, red Jello with banana slices and deviled eggs, which I liked, and Mrs. Goodman’s lime Jello with shredded cabbage and sliced green olives in it, and potato salad with sweet pickles, onions and mayonnaise in it, which I would not touch. I left home for college and years passed before I attended another potluck group picnic. Then I was invited to a picnic for an assembly of employees of the Washington State Highway Department. I eyed the table where all the older women sat, next to their fully frosted perfect three-layered cakes. I was so disappointed that after lunch, the men left to play softball and the women broke out cigarettes. Nobody cut into those cakes or offered to share. Any group picnic I’ve attended since then was catered by professional chefs. Their beef tournados and individual strawberry cheesecakes were wonderful, but I understand that an organization couldn’t take the chance of offering potluck. How could the

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organizers allow us to eat deviled eggs or potato salad with egg mayonnaise that’s been sitting on a picnic table out in the sun? Susan Sampson retired with Who fixed her husband to that chicken? Wenatchee in 2009 Did they use after practicing all precaulaw in Seattle for tions against 35 years. salmonella? My best bet for attending a group picnic will be to host it and prepare the food myself. I’m dreaming up a menu. I’ll have the classics: hot dogs, cold fried chicken, enough pitted black olives to cap the fingertips of every kid in the group, potato salad with dill instead of sweet pickles, four-bean salad (Costco’s would suffice), baked bean casserole with hamburger and four kinds of canned beans, coleslaw without its lime Jello matrix, and a three-tiered chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. I’ll make enough to have leftovers. Finally, I’ll add some modern touches, like a big bowl of pico de gallo with tortilla chips, and a bottle of Washington chardonnay.

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