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Contents
page 7
Exploring islands off mexico
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Let’s talk today. Features
7 a sailing adventure
Let’s talk: (509) 663-1131 Learn more: Homchick.com Visit us: 700 N Mission St Wenatchee
Orondo orchardist, his wife and sailing buddies visit the ‘Galapagos of the North’
10 on top of mount aconcagua
The chilly South American climb was made possible by warm support from family in Leavenworth
13 dog gone happy
School teacher switches from teaching young humans to teaching dogs — and she’s found her life’s joy
16 starting from scratch in a new county
The United States was not what this immigrant from Peru expected
18 up from the ashes
After one Broadview home burned to the ground, another rose with the same grand view but completely re-imagined
23 They Built this city
For over 60 years, Marson and Marson has been bringing high quality products to the people who need them Art sketches n Magician Jason Sims, page 28 n Dancer and dance instructor Andrea Locke, page 30 Columns & Departments 6 A bird in the lens: Cedar Waxwing 15 Pet Tales: Driving Sandy to the dog park 22 Bonnie Orr: Dreaming of raspberries 24 June Darling: Don’t fret about your death 26 The traveling doctor: The opioid epidemic 28-34 Arts & Entertainment & a Dan McConnell cartoon 35 Alex Saliby: More places to taste wine in Leavenworth 36 History: Morgan Mohler — lineman for the county 38 That’s life: An ugly hunting trip
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OPENING SHOT
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Year 12, Number 3 March 2018 The Good Life is published by NCW Good Life, LLC, dba The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801 PHONE: (509) 888-6527 EMAIL: editor@ncwgoodlife.com sales@ncwgoodlife.com ONLINE: www.ncwgoodlife.com FACEBOOK: https://www. facebook.com/NCWGoodLife Editor/Publisher, Mike Cassidy Contributors, Heidi Swoboda, Bruce McCammon, Sharon Podlich, Marlene and Kevin Farrell, Kathy (González) Hirschel, Cary Ordway, Keith Kellogg, Donna Cassidy, Bonnie Orr, Jim Brown, June Darling, Dan McConnell, Susan Lagsdin and Rod Molzahn Advertising: Terry Smith and Lianne Taylor Bookkeeping and circulation, Donna Cassidy Proofing, Dianne Cornell Ad design, Clint Hollingsworth TO SUBSCRIBE: For $25, ($30 out of state address) you can have 12 issues of The Good Life mailed to you or a friend. Send payment to: The Good Life 10 First Street, Suite 108 Wenatchee, WA 98801 For circulation questions, email: donna@ncwgoodlife.com BUY A COPY of The Good Life at Safeway stores, Walgreens, Mike’s Meats at Pybus, Rhubarb Market, Martin’s Market Place (Cashmere) and Dan’s Food Market (Leavenworth) ADVERTISING: For information about advertising in The Good Life, contact Terry Smith at (509) 8854922, Lianne Taylor at (509) 6696556 or sales@ncwgoodlife.com
Spotted in the backyard garden By Heidi Swoboda
One of the benefits of living
in Leavenworth is that we often come face to face with the local wildlife. While my garden doesn’t appreciate their visits, our family has enjoyed catching glimpses of the playful fawns each spring. This fawn was kind enough
Keep Moving
WRITE FOR THE GOOD LIFE: We welcome articles about people from Chelan and Douglas counties. Send your idea to Mike Cassidy at editor@ncwgoodlife.com
The Good Life® is a registered trademark of NCW Good Life, LLC. Copyright 2018 by NCW Good Life, LLC.
to pose in front of the blooming Sweet Peas in our backyard. I’ve lightly painted this image to give it a softer feel. I am a full-time professional photographer and owner of Swoboda Photography. My Leavenworth studio specializes in portraits, especially family portraits, high school seniors, commercial portraits and sports teams. You can see more of my work at: www.swobodaphoto.com . I also have some work on the local stock photography site www.
chelancountycommons.com. My prints, featuring Leavenworth and Wenatchee teens will be exhibited in the Washington State Professional Photographers Annual Imaging Expo open to the public March 24 and 25 in Lynnwood.
On the cover
The Good Life Editor Mike Cassidy took this photo of magician Jason Sims. See his story on page 28.
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editor’s notes
MIKE CASSIDY
A wandering path towards success We love the unusual and
offbeat adventure stories here at The Good Life, so when an email arrived from Sharon Podlich with the subject line of “sailing adventure,” we were hooked upon reading the first few words of the message: “My husband, Chuck and I live in Orondo, where we grew apples for 35 years and raised our family.” Quickly, Sharon related the tale of going off the coast of Mexico in their 44-foot sailboat to explore the life-filled waters around the fairly barren islands of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, also known as the “Galapagos of the North.” You can read Sharon’s fun story starting on page 7. I was struck by the incongruity between the 44-foot sailboat and a working lifetime of raising apples in Orondo. So, I asked Sharon how did that happen. “Chuck grew up near Annapolis, MD,” replied Sharon. “He and his siblings were taking lessons as little kids. “He has always loved it. We have had a 23-foot boat that we sail on the Columbia or in Lake Chelan. When he retired he felt it was time to answer the call of the sea. “I grew up in Vermont with no exposure to sailing but love our lakes. “I am a bit of a reluctant sailor. I really enjoy the sailing in lighter winds and not healing over more than 15-20 degrees. A challenge at times, because Chuck’s sailing lessons included many racing lessons and he likes to get every knot of speed he can out of the wind!” That’s a great explanation, but it raised another question: How did a couple from the East ever
become apple growers in Orondo? So, I asked Chuck. “I graduated University of Vermont with a degree in Plant and Soil science with emphasis on nursery and fruit production,” he replied. “I worked a couple years in nursery production on the eastern shore of Maryland and wanted to try my hand at fruit production so packed up the car and headed for Yakima with future wife, Sharon, and a dog and a cat. “An Extension Agent there suggested I might find more opportunity in north central Washington, so headed north where the Extension Agent explained to me that there were two ways into the orchard business: inherit it or marry it. “We partnered with three others with money and me with energy, sweat and determination. “It was a wandering path towards success with our net worth below zero for a while in the mid-’80s. “I credit eventual success on being ‘too dumb to quit,’ aka tenaciousness and persistence. “I loved fruit farming and retailing as much as I now love retirement.” And so that’s how a boy from Annapolis became a fruit farmer in Orondo and then the captain of a sailboat on a voyage to islands most of us have never heard of… and by the looks of the photo on page 7, he’s enjoying the ride. Life is a wandering path. Sail on and enjoy The Good Life. — Mike March 2018 | The Good Life
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column a bird in the lens
Cedar Waxwing: a colorful berry eater I
By Bruce McCammon
t is always a treat to see a flock of Cedar Waxwing in February or March. They show up as large groups and look for berries on Mountain Ash and other berry producing trees or shrubs. These beautiful birds are notable for their smooth feathers and bright colors. The tips of their wings are colored Bruce McCammon red and look is retired, colorlike they have blind and enjoys been dipped photographing the birds in north cenin red wax. tral Washington. The end of the tail has a yellow band and the face sports a distinctive black mask. To top it all off, they display a beautiful set of feathers on the crown of their head. Their call is a very high pitched chirp and can be hard to hear. Keep your eyes open for bushes with berries and be alert
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for groups of these birds as they swarm the tree and strip it of the berries. Sometimes they will have to compete with American Robins for the berries and, usually, the Robin will win the contest since Waxwing are slightly smaller and less aggressive.
extensive trails in our foothills. We see many Cedar Waxwing in the Horan Natural Area near Confluence State Park. These birds are just one more reason to enjoy this special area as we wait for spring and the next wave of migrating birds.
This photo was taken along the Apple Capital Loop trail in February 2017. Most of my bird photos are now taken with a Fuji mirrorless camera since it is light and easy to carry along as we walk the Loop trail or hike into the
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Top Cider and Second Wind crews relax after a hard day playing in paradise. Left to right are: crewmember Cathy Lyon Berk, Sharon Podlich and Chuck Podlich (owners of Top Cider), crewmember Candace Cannon and Laurin Dodd, owner of Second Wind.
Visiting the ‘Galapagos of the North’ – a sailing adventure A
By Sharon Podlich
fter 35 years of growing apples and raising a family in Orondo, Chuck and I retired last year and purchased Top Cider, a 44-foot Kelly Peterson sailboat. We spent several winter months sailing, exploring and living “on the hook” off the
Baja Peninsula in the Gulf of California. We were ready for an open water adventure when Chuck suggested Socorro Island, a beautiful place called the “Galapagos of the North.” Socorro Island is part of the Revillagigedo Archipelago, made up of four islands — Socorro, San Benedicto, Roca Partida and
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Top Cider drops anchor at sunrise at Isla San Benedicto. The water was full of life — but the land stark and barren.
He saw a few fish as he went along exploring the reef but nothing exceptional, until he looked behind him and saw hundreds following him. }}} Continued from previous page Clarion (formerly Santa Rosa). The archipelago starts about 240 miles southwest of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. We invited our sailing friend, Laurin Dodd (once of the TriCities but now a liveaboard) with his boat, Second Wind to join us. Both captains extended invitations to friends and family to beef up the crews. It would take us in the neighborhood of 50 hours to get there. That means sailing through the night, which works a lot better with more folks on board. And just in case you think we retirees found some young folks to crew for us — the youngest was 61, the others are 70. None of us act our age. After two days and nights
of sailing, we approached San Benedicto in the early morning light — it looked like someone made a large sand cone and ran a comb down the sides. Seeing San Benedicto in full daylight revealed it is indeed, a large rock cone with ridges scored by erosion from water and weather. San Benedicto is a volcano, there was only one little spot of green on the level spot we could see. There were a few birds hanging out there. I could tell because I used the binoculars. The rocks around the shore did not offer an inviting dinghy landing. After anchoring and a rest, the snorkel gear and kayaks came out. Chuck was the first snorkeler and reported being greeted by a pair of pretty blue fish who
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seemed very curious by his presence. He said he saw a few fish as he went along exploring the reef but nothing exceptional, until he looked behind him and saw hundreds following him. Eventually, we all had some version of this experience. Perhaps, the fish are not used to many snorkelers in these waters. On the morning of our third day, we pulled up anchor and headed for Socorro Island, about 30 miles further south. Socorro is also a volcanic island, but it is green. Once it came into view from 10-12 miles out, it looked like we were coming upon Ireland. We arrived late afternoon in a little bay with room for one boat to anchor comfortably due
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to the rocky shore. So we decided to raft up — we were able to bring Second Wind alongside Top Cider and position her so our mast spreaders did not become entangled and we did not bang into each other as we were tied together. We paddled, or swam into the rocky shore and portaged the kayaks over a narrow beach to “the Blue Lagoon” — a beautiful bay with a lovely beach and a reef that gave us some great snorkeling. We saw yellow, blue, polka dotted, striped and florescent fish in the coral gardens. Exploring with the kayak, I kept trying to get over what I thought were coral outcroppings. After they kept moving, I realized we had at least six very large turtles in the bay with us.
Blue Lagoon was a snorkeling aquarium and home to momma turtles.
Waves crash through the arch at Blue Lagoon on Socorro Island.
This (reef) had a small white-tipped reef shark — approximately four to five feet in length. Fortunately, he was not interested in us. Yet, even as remote and pristine as the lagoon was, we found lots of plastic trash washed up on the beach. Our time at Socorro continued like this, sailing a little to the next good anchorage and staying a day or two. One of our stops had lots of palm trees just beyond a steep shore full of round rocks that rolled up and down with the tide. The coconuts were three feet deep in that grove, having rarely, if ever, been harvested. Chuck brought back a collection representing various stages of maturity and we enjoyed them all. Again, another coral reef, with lots of pretty fish — as though we were swimming in a large aquarium. This one had a small
white-tipped reef shark — approximately four to five feet in length. Fortunately, he was not interested in us. Another fact about these reefs is, you can hear them underwater. The creatures of these formations make sounds as they grow, eat and do whatever else they do. We have learned firsthand, if these creatures happen to attach to your boat, you will also hear their sounds vibrating through your hull. Another day we all loaded up on Top Cider, leaving Second Wind anchored in our bay de jour and motored out a couple of miles to a rock outcropping. The braver ones of us snorkeled this area, seeing sea turtles, fish, and even a 12-foot manta ray. From the boat we March 2018 | The Good Life
saw a manta ray in the 18-20 foot range. Indeed the giant manta has made these islands famous. Rumor has it they enjoy the bubbles from divers’ air tanks; and a few swimmers have reported riding on the backs of these giants. As our time on Socorro came to an end, we anchored on the Northeast end. How did we spend our last day? Snorkeling, kayaking and relaxing. After a spaghetti dinner on Second Wind, we needed to stow our dinghy aboard in preparation for a sunrise departure. Turning on the spreader lights, revealed why we had seen so many turtles — both boats were surrounded by just-hatched baby turtles. Little three inch replicas of the adults — all on www.ncwgoodlife.com
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their own and heading for the great big ocean. I have never imagined cuddling a turtle, but in that moment I wanted to scoop them all up and hold them close. What a wonderful ending to our paradise island visit. We sailed and the wind was great for three days and two nights back to the mainland. I am glad my husband thought up this adventure, that our friends joined us, that the seas were fair and all had a wonderful visit to paradise. Though our daughter thought it strange it took us so long to get around “that little island,” I think the comment from one of our pre-trip consultants — “What? Only two weeks? You’ll just be getting a taste!” is truer.
A personal dream realized, thanks to a collective vision
Nick Runions, carrying a 67-pound load during the descent, approaches the Plaza de Mulas base camp on the Ruta Normal.
CHILLY TOES ON CLIMB OF 22,841-foot Mount Aconcagua BUT WARM FAMILY SUPPORT AT HOME
J
By Marlene Farrell
ust after Christmas Nick Runions kissed his family goodbye. He was embarking on a trip to climb Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western and Southern hemispheres. Aconcagua began as an idealized image for Nick 25 years ago. He owned a t-shirt emblazoned with an artist’s rendition of the 22,841 foot high “sentinel of stone.” Then, in his 20s, mountaineering formed one part of Nick’s pursuit of playing in the moun-
tains, though he stayed close to home. He summited the Cascade volcanoes in the summers, and he spent winters skiing and working as a ski patroller. The reality of climbing Aconcagua did not happen spontaneously. Rather, Nick based his decision upon the intersection of several motivating factors, mulled over for years. “I teach outdoor medical courses, and altitude medicine is always a component. I was motivated to get up to real altitude (for comparison, Rainier is only 14,441 feet), so I could speak about it
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from personal experience.” Traveling to South America for the first time was another draw. “Also, I wanted to be a part of an expedition climb involving the logistics of porters, mules, advanced camps and acclimatization.” Nick has a circle of friends who set and achieve adventurous goals, but none quite coincided with his dream of Aconcagua. “I knew I was on my own to make this happen.” Timing was a delicate matter. The 23-day trip was not practical when his children, Chase and
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Paige, now 13 and 10, were little. His wife, Diana, currently juggles work as a speech therapist and graduate school internships that take her from their home in Leavenworth to Waterville and Manson. They knew his absence would be a hardship, and yet this might be a last chance for Aconcagua. When Diana finishes grad school the family plans to go abroad and sail in Canada. To minimize the impact on his family during the planning phase, Nick signed on with Northwest Mountain School,
owned and operated by day of carrying gear to a his local friends, John and higher camp and returnOlivia Race. ing to the lower camp, Nick set the stage for followed by a day of movsuccess by saving money ing to the higher camp over five years and trainto stay, with rest days ing specifically for eight inserted for acclimatizamonths. He cycled, ran, tion. This occurred from climbed Mount Baker Base Camp to Camp 1, 2 again, and hiked on trails and 3. Some clients hired and on a treadmill with porters to take some of a pack weighing up to 70 their loads; Nick, wellpounds. prepared from his hiking “At work (as a paramedand treadmill training, ic on Whidbey Island) I carried all of his own have time to be on the gear. treadmill, so I’d listen Others in the group to podcasts and set it to faced physical challenges, variable terrain for 90 and only two other parminutes.” He purchased ticipants and two guides a used sleeping bag rated ended up summiting to -40 degrees and boots with Nick. “Thankfully, to add to his supply of I felt healthy and strong outdoor gear. the whole time and only Nick got a brief taste of The Runions family shares a love of bluegrass music in addition to their passion for outdoor had a hint of altitude Argentinian culture when adventures. Photo by Kevin Farrell sickness.” the group flew in to Mendoza, He got a sense of the group the capital. The participants dynamics of an expedition, how made introductions over steaks progress can hinge on each and and wine. Less than 24 hours every person’s ability to keep golater, after a van ride to Los ing, or not. The trip demanded Penitentes Ski Resort and the complicated logistics to juggle trailhead at 7,800 feet, the trek the varying needs and abilibegan. ties of nine clients, given only His companions for the expethree guides. “John Race did an dition included three guides and amazing job to make the trip a eight other clients. Mule drivers success without compromising leading trains of a couple dozen safety.” mules accompanied the group Summit day, Jan. 12, began until base camp on day three. with a 2:20 a.m. wake up. Fi“The mules moved faster than nally, Nick used all the cold we did, so they would leave later weather gear he’d been carrying, in the morning, pass us, and including a gorilla-style balathen when we got to camp we’d clava and insulated gaitors and sort through our bags where parka. “I only got chilly toes.” they’d dropped them.” By the 6:30 a.m. sunrise, They trekked through a pal“we were taking three breaths ette of browns and reds. “There with every step.” They gained were a couple trees at the trail3,300 feet, walking up the steep head and that was it. The terrain inclines of rock and snow in was rock and gravel. We saw crampons, carrying ice axes. The some free-range cattle and a few approach was non-technical; jackrabbits.” not being on a glacier meant no Trekking felt easy. “We carcrevasses. They roped together ried day packs and hiked for five for the final steepest, narrowest hours each day.” Aconcagua’s part of the ascent, through La imposing snowy silhouette Canaleta. loomed ever closer. The winds coming from the Above base camp at Plaza de Pacific Ocean can often rip atop Argentina the party shifted into Nick enjoys an unseasonably calm 20 minutes on Aconcagua’s summit, the Aconcagua, but Nick enjoyed 20 }}} Continued on next page climbing mode, which meant a highest point in the Western Hemisphere. March 2018 | The Good Life
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It’s Back,
St. Patrick’s Day Parade!
Saturday, March 17
The “Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade Route” in the World!
Corner of Orondo and Mission Street, Parade Staging 6:15ish. Parade starts at 7:00ish p.m. Trophy Award Ceremony at Pybus 8:00ish.
Mount Aconcagua }}} Continued from previous page
minutes of relative calm on the summit. He scattered the ashes of a friend’s wife, which added to his thoughts on why he was doing this. The summit crew descended at the right moment; a storm developed, and they returned to Camp 3 in a whiteout. The next day began the march back to civilization, when Nick felt his greatest fatigue. He recovered his salt balance with pizza and soda at the Plaza de Mulas base camp. Climbing Aconcagua was a collective vision of Nick and Diana. Together, they made it happen. Diana, no stranger to mountains herself, said, “Having a perspective on mountaineering definitely made it easier to support the idea of this trip.” Aconcagua was a reasonable and safe goal, more so than perhaps a climb on Denali (at 18,000 feet in Alaska) would have been. Diana continued, “You are with your partner and see what they cherish. His big dream is also my big dream, even though he was the only one to go. It’s reciprocated. He supports my dreams too.” “Diana absolutely put an equal amount of effort into this, while I was planning in the fall, helping with saving for the trip, taking care of the kids over winter
What are you laughing at?
We’re looking for fresh, true stories from local people that’ll bring a chuckle to our readers. Limit yourself to 500 to 1,000 words and send to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com Stories published will win a $100 gift certificate to any one of our advertisers.
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Aconcagua is in the Andes Mountains of South America.
break and then starting back into grad school,” Nick said. “She’s amazing. If we weren’t such a team, the trip or our marriage might have suffered.” For the sake of his children, he added, “I wanted to model to my kids the pursuit of my dreams, being diligent and planning for it. I hope they’ll have perspective on a life well lived.” The trip offered a chance to answer a question for Nick, 44, “Does this trip close the door on mountaineering for me? Am I content? Or does it reignite my passion?” His adventure, thanks to meticulous planning and training, was flawless. He’s left feeling satisfied and ready to focus on family adventures next. Through the fruition of a dream, planted as a seed long ago, comes the secret to the Runions’ happiness. With thoughtful intention, one can have both deep and loving relationships and personal growth through challenging experiences. That’s one definition of a life well lived.
Know of someone stepping off the beaten path in the search for fun and excitement? E-mail us at editor@ncwgoodlife.com
She made the switch from teaching humans to teaching canines, and now she’s
dog gone glad J
By Susan Lagsdin
ennifer Frese is excited about the near future, when she’ll have a chance to indulge her love of dogs in her own newly-constructed training facility, right next to her home. Ever since she quit her elementary school job 10 years ago, shifting from teaching young humans to teaching all ages of dogs, she’s been clear about focusing her talents and her boundaries, and she’s getting good results. In her dog training business, Positive Tails, she doesn’t prepare dogs for the show ring, hunting field or agility course. She doesn’t groom them or ken-
Dog trainer Jennifer Frese envisioned this custom-designed building for easy care and lots of activity. She is pleased with her big dog training space, and her Belgian Malinois, Tracer, seems to enjoy it, too.
“...dogs naturally want to please you, but asking too much of them too soon is like asking a kindergartener to do calculus.” nel them. What she does is help dogs become good companions
March 2018 | The Good Life
for their humans. She is generously democratic about dog breeds. For instance, “I’ve never had anyone bring me a bad pit bull. I love them — they’re funny, silly — and they’re kinda wiggly. They’ve got a bad rap, and I think that’s an owner problem.” Jennifer said some big, familyfriendly dogs have been tough to train, some little rascally-reputed breeds have been easier. Jennifer explained, “It de-
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pends a lot on their individual personalities — if you can learn to communicate with them, it takes the pressure off… dogs naturally want to please you, but asking too much of them too soon is like asking a kindergartener to do calculus.” Most dog trainers, generally open-minded about their fourlegged clients, could say, “I never met a dog I didn’t like.” Jennifer is also in the no-bad-dogs camp,
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dog gone glad
“I jumped right off the cliff — I quit my teaching job, made a big move to Southern California, learned everything I could and started training dogs full time.”
}}} Continued from previous page with one reasonable exception. She said, in the most judicious terms, “A dog who is willing to bite, to fight with me with the intent of doing harm, is not one I particularly want to work with.” She trains alone, and though she’s well-insured, an injury would put a major crimp in her career. Jennifer rarely sees that kind of behavior. She deals with puppies at the start of their long life with humans as well as dogs with problems that have come to a head, like leash-pulling, counter-surfing, reactive barking and similar annoyances that should and can be stopped. Or, she said, “Sometimes I’ll re-train an older rescue dog who’s new to the adopting family but shows a history of abuse or incorrect handling.” “In a sense, dogs train us — they know what they want and are pretty smart about teaching us to give it to them.” This 41-year-old trainer firmly believes that most dogs are capable and willing, but some owners can’t hold up their end of the bargain, and so make progress difficult. Jennifer, an Eastmont grad as a child wasn’t raised around dogs, just cats. But while she was teaching and living in Las Vegas 10 years ago, she had problems with her Bichon Frise mix, Bijou, and took the dog to a trainer. She was so inspired by the process and the results, she said, “I jumped right off the cliff — I quit my teaching job, made a big move to Southern California, learned everything I could and started training dogs full time.” She moved back home in 2011 to be with her parents, Glen and Sue Frese, who she said continue to be a tremendous help to her. The economy was still sputter-
Jennifer plays with Tracer, one of her three well-trained personal dogs.
ing, and she was new to town again, but her business grew, partially enabled by demand. “There are relatively few dog trainers here, and lots of dogs and dog owners,” she said. Hobbies and social life, sports and travel pale beside her connection to dogs. She lives with her own three well-trained companions, a Belgian Malinois, a toy poodle and the same lifechanging Bichon she had problems with years ago. The big, boxy brand-new dog training facility on five acres in far east East Wenatchee is for her the culmination of a long
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period of striving and planning. She’s made her two smaller downtown Wenatchee venues work well for the last six years, but this new home for her business has everything she wants. Besides an existing house with privacy and a view, there’s a large fenced pen and a spacious building to suit her specific needs. Stefan Swoboda designed it, and Shane Covey, of Custom Construction and Cabinetry, built it. The earth-toned cement panel and shake-look siding matches the home, and it’s no-care and fire resistant. The
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main training area, 1,600 feet square, allows plenty of room for exercise or group classes, and the rubber-matted cement floor and metal wainscoting mean it’s equally maintenance-free. Jennifer said, “Now that the building is finished, I may get some more time for myself.” That translates to “more time with dogs.” She added, “I think I’ll look into ‘nose work.’ Or maybe ‘dive dogs.’ Those sound like a lot of fun — and the dogs know they have a job to do.” (The former is the search and rescue dogs’ specialty; in the latter, dogs retrieve, jumping high and fast into water.) Working with first and second-grade school children in her 20s taught Jennifer patience and empathy. “With both kids and dogs,” she explained, “ It’s all about practice and repetition. You need to walk them through the steps at first and slowly increase the challenge. And you always have to remember that if a child, or a dog, does something incorrectly at the start, it’s very unlikely they’re making the mistake on purpose.” Jennifer’s training in psychology and elementary education helps her communicate effectively with dogs. Now, a decade after leaving the classroom, she’s enjoying a life of (almost) constant canines — putting her abiding dog love to work.
PET tales
Tells us a story about your pet. Submit pet & owner pictures to: editor@ncwgoodlife.com
M
arsha Anderson of Wenatchee was out with her dog, Sandy. Sandy is a pure Golden Retiever that Marsha got from a breeder in Moses Lake. “Sandy has a very sweet disposition and she is very friendly. She loves coming to the dog park,” said Marsha. “She talks every morning humming to get out of her kennel. Oh, and she like to chase her tail.”
R
osie, a 2-year-old Australian labradoodle, was out enjoying the sunshine at Hale Dog Park recently. Doug Craig of Wenatchee said that Rosie was a present from his parents after his wife died. “Rosie is my constant companion. She is loving and likes people better than dogs,” said Doug.
Zach Warmenhoven,
DVM
is now accepting new patients at
Cascade Veterinary Clinic 509-663-0793.
March 2018 | The Good Life
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Starting
from scratch in a new country
‘no matter where you come from, you have to deal with the reality of change forever’ By Kathy (González) Hirschel
Living in a country far from
my home land (Peru) has not been easy. Despite having lived almost 10 years in the state of Washington I still miss my country, it seems to call me to “return to my roots” year after year. I am Kathy (González) Hirschel. I was born and raised in Lima, the capital of Peru. Growing up in such a huge city with over 8 million inhabitants, you understand the meaning of a city that never sleeps. I grew up surrounded by buildings, the bustle of traffic, with people everywhere you look. This was all I had seen and experienced, until years later when I emigrated to the United States. In 2003, I was studying to complete the last few months of my architecture career while at the same time working for a construction company. My life was my home, my job, my classes in the university and my church until it came time for me to leave “my little world” when I got married and moved to this country. It was in that same year that I met my husband Leland who was visiting my country on one of his trips to do missionary work at a church that he supported from the United States. It was the same place where I served for many years in one of the neediest areas of my country, offering breakfasts for more than 50 children along with Bible classes. For me, Leland was like any other foreigner who came to Peru, spoke little Spanish and I
Kathy Hirschel learned her art skills in Peru, but started her face and body painting business after arriving in the U.S. when — as an immigrant — she needed to create multiple sources of income.
took the opportunity of meeting him to practice my English. It took only three days to realize that something “magic” was happening. After that he traveled to Peru twice per year to see me and after two years of dating, we got married. And WOW, my life took a radical turn, not just 180 degrees, more like 360 degrees. When you come from a Latin American country, you always hear about the United States as “the country that has it all”, that expectation captivated my thoughts. However, after arriving in a small, very rural agricultural town called Quincy, Washington that couldn’t even be found on the map, it made me think, “Is this the paradise
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that everyone talks about?” As I was coming to the United States I imagined the whole country would be like the pictures I had seen of New York or Los Angeles, full of skyscrapers, traffic, noise, people, similar to what I was accustomed to seeing in Lima. But the reality was quite the opposite. A reality that cost me many tears and depression trying to understand this “new world” away from my family, the friends I grew up with, my customs, music, language, the change in climate and all the missing details that you can only find in your home country. It was my private suffering that I thought no one else had felt (only me) and that it was the cost of adapting to life in a new
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country starting from zero. Having studied English for almost two years in my country, it should have been easy. But it did not help much because I had a hard time understanding people, and worse yet is that sometimes they did not understand what I was trying to say, being a Latina with a Spanish accent. Again, starting from scratch, I enrolled in English classes and little by little the shyness of speaking a new language was disappearing. Then came the cultural shock of the way people greet each other here. In most Latin countries, it is typical to be greeted with a kiss on the cheek and a hug from each of the members of the family and close friends.
The family in Wenatchee: from left: Gabriella, 11, Kathy, Daniel, 9, and Leland.
Kathy teaches Basic English to migrant farm workers as part of the Outreach Program at Heritage Baptist Church.
Here it seemed when I used this approach it was a bad thing. I think that is what brought me the most tears, because I felt that this country was very cold and indifferent. But then I understood that this is the culture here and I had to adapt to those “small changes” that I did not understand before. Every year I travel to Peru to visit my whole family. I have to do it. It’s a chance to “recharge my batteries” not just for renewing my mind, my soul and my heart, but also for my stomach because I miss Peruvian food very much. As the years go by it has been more bearable, not as difficult as the first years. Arriving in the United States after driving across 14 countries. But the fact of “the constant goodbyes” in my life, has been the moment when we got ready country taught me to be open difficult for me every time I have to go home, we did not want to to learning new things, to savor to get on a plane. do it by plane, but by car, yes, the time spent with my family In 2014 Leland and I made the driving from Peru to the USA. and friends who do not live close decision to move to Peru to live The journey took almost six to me. for two years, during which time months, 14 countries, 22,000 It has taught me to be patient he and our children Gabriella, miles and has been the most and to identify the needs of my 11, and Daniel, 9, learned a lot enriching experience we have community, being bi-cultural of the Peruvian language and had as a family. gives me a unique perspective culture. Now we are preparing to go on the needs of all sides. For the first time I felt that to Alaska and fulfill this dream This experience has caused they would be able to “get in my of traveling almost the entire me to be the woman that I am shoes,” to understand me a little length of the American continow and to do what I love the bit better. nent by car. most — to serve in my church, Those two years flew by, and Starting from scratch in a new making music, creating designs March 2018 | The Good Life
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and art. We moved to Wenatchee a year ago and so another change came. No matter where you come from, you have to deal with the reality of change forever. I ended up belonging to both cultures. My desire is that my struggles will be an encouragement to others going through difficult times in their life. I promise you good times are ahead, you can be happy in any situation if you persevere, even “starting from zero.” Currently, I run two businesses, Happy Faces Art doing face-body painting art for parties and events travelling all over the state during the summer and LIMA33 doing translations of documents and websites. I also work for a local Spanish radio station as a community reporter and writing and editing videos for my travel blog. Also, serving my community through the Hispanic Ministry of my church. I am a very active, busy and blessed woman.
Up from the ashes, with a twist
Story by Susan Lagsdin Photos by Donna Cassidy
T
he occasion was not so much solemn as it was respectful. Mike and Donna Cassidy, owners of The Good Life, both with cameras in hand, took their first official walkabout in the big, beautiful Broadview home recently built by Jeremy and Anna Peyton. The significance of the visit is stunning. After many years of living there with their three children, in the spring of 2015 the downsizing Cassidys sold their home to the Peytons, who were relocating from Ellensburg to Wenatchee for new jobs. In late June — two days after the new family moved in — the devastating Sleepy Hollow Fire devoured more than two dozen homes, many of those on the high up, far west edge of Broadview. In their easterly neighborhood of orchard, trees, lawn and canal on the lee of the hill, almost all the houses were untouched, but three near the entrance to the subdivision were presumably hit by erratic wind-blown firebrands. The Cassidy-nowPeyton house was one of them,
Subtle designer touches in the main kitchen/living area blend new amenities and older style without stamping the house with any “that’s so 2017” label. A judicious choice of pale wall color and window trim lets the floor, faux beams and just a few vintage pieces add warmth without weight.
and it immediately burned to the ground. (Toughened but not hardened by the awful irony, Anna showed great grace last month as she said of her guests, “Oh, they had it worse. The Cassidys lost their house — we just lost our stuff.”) The Peytons, undaunted, actively pursued rebuilding on their scorched and bulldozed
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site in the two-and-a-half years between wildfire and homecoming. The family really did lose all their possessions and were in diaspora, moving from an Entiat home that was too far from school and work to a series of OK-for-now rentals in town. In that period, they all received a lifetime’s worth of education in insurance, con-
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struction, city codes, engineering, and the incalculable and enduring love bestowed by both strangers and neighbors. Their experience may represent in some way the struggles and difficult choices of dozens of homeowners in similar straits. Anna was clear to point out, “We love our insurance company.” Working with their PEMCO
TOP LEFT: Elise Peyton, left, and her mom Anna, both home from school, pose in front of the home’s main view to the east of distant Badger Mountain. Winter trees line the irrigation canal on their boundary. BOTTOM LEFT: The family of five enjoys plenty of time together for meals and snacks at this white quartz countertop. Its seven-foot long sides offer plenty of prep and serving space. And, “Yes,” Anna assured us modestly, “We really are this tidy.”
representatives was one of the non-problems from the very beginning. Some TV commercials promise swift and compassionate service in time of need and may exaggerate, but the Peyton’s experience bore out their company’s promise. For the new house literally built out of the ashes, they first envisioned a sprawling one-story home, single-level living for their active family with access to the outdoors all around. However, the lot (.17 acres) is bordered by the canal and a community pocket park, and they soon found out that boundaries and setbacks on their curving, hilly site precluded “sprawl.” The Peytons and their architect, Dave Doubroff of Underdog Planning, quickly chose vertical as the way to gain space and even pick up some bigger views. “Dave was really aware of our needs,” said Anna. “At the start he came over to the lot at different times of day to see just where the sun and shade fell.” Then came the longest-running sticking point. The old driveway had entered, flatly, off Maiden Lane. The new driveway, because of the home’s official street address, needed to enter from around the curve, up the
“It took about six months for all the paperwork to be approved on the new entrance to the house.”
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The Peyton’s hillside location in west Wenatchee allows a variety of views — this small window in the master bedroom suite looks up valley to the Cascade foothills. The gray paint is part of an overall color design that shifts with ambient daylight. The disguised bookshelf door to an office is a fun surprise, one of a few whimsical touches in the seriously well-built home. Another more conventional office door opens to the upper entrance hallway. Interior elements deliberately meld “modern” with “timeless.”
up from the ashes }}} Continued from previous page hill, off Broadway Place. “It took about six months,” said 16-year-old daughter Elise, wise in the ways of the world by now, “for all the paperwork to be approved on the new entrance to the house.” The new drive higher up the hill would have met the alreadyplanned garage at a cliff-steep angle without the majority of 100 truckloads of fill and some significant engineering adjustments. Now it’s a short and simple drive to the top-level garages and a welcoming entrance foyer. That unanticipated configuration has already prompted creative problem-solving. From the formal main entrance, which is now accessed down a rock pathway and up
some stairs, Anna pointed over to the massive cement causeway that holds the driveway. “We’re thinking of making a climbing wall over there,” Anna said, “and in the summer, with plants all around, that space below it will make a great little shady patio.” By Dec. 12, 2017 all the rule-following, reconfiguring and backtracking were accomplished, and finally the 4,000-square-foot home was complete and ready for occupancy. Built by Curt and Phil Helton of Helton Builders, it brought the family everything they wanted and some unexpected bonuses. “We’re kind of a wash ’n’ wear family,” Anna admitted when she showed some features. Hardiboard siding needs little touch-up, and the upstairs
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balconies with metal powder coat railings are all concrete, as are the patios. “We knew we wouldn’t have the time, or take the time, for much maintenance. This is all easy to care for.” She grabbed a hand-crafted white stair railing and swung on it lightly. “And these are great — very sturdy. We’d forgotten we’d said ‘yes’ to metal early on and were wondering how they’d look — they’re gorgeous.” The basic configuration of the home’s interior is simple: master suite, office and full living/ kitchen area on the top floor, three kids’ rooms, three baths, guest room and entertainment/ game area (as well as mom’s glass-making and craft room) on the ground level. What’s not so simple is the angled wings that comprise the north and south sides of the house, and the grandly symmetrical stairway that not only
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connects the two levels but is its architectural heart. “I love this space,” said Anna. “It opens up to both floors, so you can hear and see what’s going on really well.” The top floor looks down on three sides into the wide-open staircase so light and air is maximized, and traffic flow is free and easy. Anna surprised herself by getting very involved in the choice of wall paint. She studied online with color guru Maria Killam to learn the intricacies of tint, tone, hue and undertones, and the result is a houseful of pale, subtle blue-green-greys with Wickham as the lead color and others related to it. Kitchen and trim are neutral but-not-quite white. “Every hour, the color shifts a little,” Anna said. “In the morning, the kitchen glows. In the afternoon, there are almost deep purple shadows.” She switched off a light in the skylit bathroom. The palest seafoam walls
Two hidden doorways, both totally disguised in the cozy living area, are still a little thrill to open... became almost turquoise. There’s whimsy and surprise in a few other places, too. Anna said her family brainstormed “just for fun” extras in their new place. Two hidden doorways, both totally disguised in the cozy living area, are still a little thrill to open: the center third of the old English bookshelf easily swings aside to reveal an office, and next to it a tall section of the white paneled wall with its craftsman-style molding opens at a touch to reveal the master suite. The zipline, indoor slide and laundry chute didn’t make the cut, but everybody’s happy with the more conventional extras: a winter-warmed outdoor living area, a room of their own for sons Asher and Isaac, built-in double cubbies in Elise’s room, and a wood fireplace. (“The boys still fight over who gets to build the fire. Who would have guessed?” said Anna.) Five days after the family unpacked their relatively new furniture and possessions and settled in, they hosted a dinner party for the whole staff and board of The River Academy, where Anna is the elementary dean. She said the house, with small tables in unconventional places, happily accommodated 40 guests. The 30 months that passed from the firestorm to their first real “open house” were a lesson in community. Immediately after their frightening evacuation, brand-new neighbors as well as school and work mates, still relatively unknown, pitched in to help with a wide range of donations. During the recovery and
TOP: Seen from the street, the house still shows its newness (curbside plantings are due this spring) and it also showcases some of the astute design and construction choices that made the 4,000-square-foot home possible on this corner lot. LEFT: This baby-grand staircase in two parts is wrapped by the top floor entrance, office and kitchen and leads to the downstairs private space. A Christmas birch branch will stay put in the stairwell.
building process, the family bonded with their fellow Broadview homeowners, those both touched and untouched by misfortune, and joined in on informal supper parties and informational meetings. They are convinced more than ever that this is the place they want to stay for a long time. The top floor of this house deliberately allows for eventual self-sufficiency when the children move away, but Anna Peyton put a new spin on permanence. “Yes, this house was designed so we could live in it long past retirement. But we’d stay anyway — we absolutely love it here in this neighborhood, with these people — I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.” March 2018 | The Good Life
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column GARDEN OF DELIGHTS
bonnie orr
Dreaming of raspberries: Summer in a bite Red raspberries are
— are the magic ingredient, but any summer fruit creates a delicious dessert.
the princesses of the fruit world, and one of the most popular fruit grown by backyard gardeners. So, why are we reading about raspberries in Northwest March when they won’t be ripe until the later summer pudding part of June? If your mouth is I make an angel food cake already watering for to use as a base. Alternafresh, morning-cool tively, use a sweet brioche or fruit, know that March meringue shells or a favorite is the time to prepare shortcake recipe used for strawberry shortcake. the plants for June’s lush fruit production. Serves 6, 30 minutes Finish trimming out the spent canes. Most 2 cups raspberries importantly, clip the 1 cup sliced strawberries top six inches from each 1 cup blueberries cane. This causes the Angel food cake topped with raspberries, strawberries, blueberries — oh yes, and of course, 1 cup mulberries plant to produce multi- whipped cream is summer in every spoonful. 1 cup black berries ple side branches, which 1 cup boysenberries or produce the fruit. Without this those red jewels. or whipped topping from the Marion berries topping, the cane continues to In my opinion, the yellow or freezer section at the grocers. 3/4 cups sugar or to taste grow as tall as its DNA will al2 teaspoons lemon zest. white raspberry lacks flavor and Best of all, raspberries ripen low. aroma, and it cooks up gray. So at the same time as other small Select five cups of varied berries At the end of March, a fertilgive it a miss. fruit: blueberries, black curand the zest. Combine in a bowl. Stir izer application will encourage During the ripening season rants, red currants, strawberries, in the sugar. fruit production. Set up the wain June and July, and during the blackberries. Then as the berries release their ter system; often drip irrigation second season in September, I The British serve a dish called juice, combine in a saucepan: systems don’t provide enough prefer eating the berries raw and Summer Pudding. Pudding in moisture because the heat arunadorned. Britain means dessert, thus the 2 cups black currants rives just as the fruit is swelling I try not to gorge on so many dish is not a pudding, as we in 1/2 cup sugar or to taste and ripening. that I don’t have enough to America consider something 2 tablespoons water There are many types of rasppreserve in the freezer. I freeze creamy and maybe custardy. 1 tablespoon corn starch berries. some individually on cookie It is a combination of the fresh My friend, Ruth Allen, relishes sheets, and some in freezer bags summer fruits mixed with sugar Simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and pour into the other berry mixture. the wild, low growing black depending on their fall and pressed into a dish lined with Serve berries poured over sliced angel cap vine which produces small winter use. stale white bread, then layered food cake or a cake of your choice. flavorful, although seedy, dark In November, I use bagged with more bread. The fruit juices berries. Fortunately, hybrids of berries to make jam for Christmoisten the bread. Be decadent, serve with whipped red and black cap berries commas gifts. I love to add the berBefore serving, the bowl is cream or vanilla ice cream. bine the best qualities of each. ries to cherry pies in February. inverted onto a large plate, and It is worthwhile to grow “everRhubarb’s peak coincides with the “pudding” is sliced into servSo get out to the garden and bearing” raspberries that proraspberries. I crave the comings. Alas, it doesn’t matter how care for the canes; then enjoy duce a crop in late June and anbination of tart and fragrant. I many flavorful, fresh fruit you raspberries all year around. other crop in September. I adore add the raspberries at the last use, stale white bread is stale the September crop because I moment to the rhubarb sauce white bread! Bonnie Orr — the dirt diva — cooks fill the cavity of a honey-sweet so they barely warm through I have modified the dish. Black and gardens in East Wenatchee. home-grown cantaloupe with before being doused with cream currants — my favorite currant
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Marson and Marson
High quality products for people who need them
S
supplying lumber, hardware, and building materials to the entire North Central Washington region.
It all started more than six decades ago, when Gordon and Marydell Marson bought a parcel of land where the Leavenworth Marson and Marson location still resides today – and set up shop to make a go of their very own lumber business. Ken Marson Jr. was just nine months old.
For over 60 years, Marson and Marson Lumber has covered the NCW region better than anyone out there. Our full-service lumberyard operates four locations and employs more than 60 individuals to connect hundreds of customers with experts in a wide array of services, from flooring to roofing, and everything in between.
ince 1955, the goal of Marson and Marson Lumber has been to bring high-quality products to the people that need them.
After growing the Leavenworth location for nearly 40 years, in the early 1990s Ken Marson Jr. added three additional locations to the Marson Lumber family: Wenatchee, Chelan, and Cle Elum. Thanks to the development of the new locations, the Marsons found themselves
In 2017, Marson became a division TAL Holdings, LLC, a small holdings company that owns three companies with eight lumberyards in the Pacific Northwest. You’ll still find Ken at our Leavenworth location, and his continued presence at the store speaks to the shared values of TAL and Marson and
Ken Marson, left, and Regional Manager Rodney Bullion
Marson: loyalty, hard work, perseverance, and respect for relationships, including those with family, employees, customers, and communities.
tion family owners. Susan is the great granddaughter of Tum-A- Lum Lumber founder J.M. Crawford, who founded Tum-A-Lum in 1906.
TAL owns Marson and Marson Lumber, Tum-A- Lum Lumber in Oregon and Browne’s Home Center in Friday Harbor, WA. The TAL owners, Bill and Susan Cornelius, are fourth genera-
In Leavenworth, Marson and Marson is located at 11724 Riverbend Drive. Please phone 509-548-5829 or visit www. marsonandmarson.com.
celebrate that vision and how these people and businesses have successfully navigated many challenges over the years.
mousetrap, or who may fill an important need in the Valley.
‘They Built This City’ showcases economic progress in NCW
F
or the last couple of years, readers of the Good Life Magazine no doubt have noticed the series of reports we publish under the headline “They Built This City.” These articles and sections appear periodically and are focused on a very special group of businesses and community leaders here in NCW. So what’s this all about? What do we mean by “They Built This City?”
The articles and advertorials that we include in these sections are really about progress. While Wenatchee retains a unique small-town flavor, the residents of this city enjoy many of the amenities of living in the Big City. This “best of both worlds” quality of life did not just happen -- it was created by people and businesses with vision. In “They Built This City” we
By its nature, “They Built This City” often focuses on longtime successful local businesses such as this month’s subject, Marson and Marson Lumber, in business since 1955. But we also look at much younger businesses who may just have come up with a better
MARCH 2018 | THE GOOD LIFE | They Built This City |
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The businesses we feature are written as advertorials, while the personality profiles are treated as news features. Either way, you’ll get a complete picture that helps you learn more about your fellow citizens Got a business you’d like to see featured? Phone 888-255-7735, or email getawaymediacorp@gmail.com.
>>
column moving up to the good life
june darling
Don’t fret about death, find meaning in life “As a general rule, the less one’s sense of life fulfillment, the greater one’s death anxiety.” — Irvin Yalom
L
ucinda Weatherby, an acquaintance and grief therapist from Lummi Island, told a story that caused me to take pause and my husband to weep. Later I read the full story which is captured in her book called Five Hours: How My Son’s Brief Life Changed Everything. The book is a personal memoir about giving birth to a baby, Theo, who has a chromosomal disorder and dies a few hours after birth. The book set me thinking not only about Lucinda’s encounter with death, but also about all our encounters with death. Questions began to formulate. How does death awareness generally affect human beings? How has it affected me? How might we positively use this unique awareness of our own mortality? Pulitzer prize winner and cultural anthropologist, Dr. Ernest Becker, maintained that awareness of our mortality is at the root of all of our anxieties as a species, though we may not realize it. It sounds strange to say, but I
Lucinda Weatherby and June Darling look at Lucinda’s book and a picture of her baby, Theo, that inspired the book. Photo by John Darling
found Becker’s book The Denial Of Death calming, perhaps it was because he articulated something I have felt since I was a child. When I was five, I remember having a sudden awareness that my parents were going to die someday. They were in their 20s at the time. When I tried to express the despair I was feeling, I was met with dismissal and laughter. After reading Becker’s book I finally could name what was probably going on for me, my parents, and all of humanity.
Humans are affected in many unexpected ways by their conscious or unconscious anxieties about death. We do things like cling rigidly to our worldviews, become tribal, and try to alleviate our terror in largely ineffective ways — denial, repression, risk-taking, accumulating wealth and fame. What, then, really DOES alleviate fears of death? MEANING. A life full of meaning; that is a silver-bullet to defeating death anxiety. Here are five big ways to find meaning, live the good life,
and cheat death: n Invest time in family, friends, strong relationships, intimacy, and belonging. Human connection is important for sensing that your life is significant and being well-lived. n Create significant goals. Most of us gain meaning when we feel we are accomplishing a goal which lines up with our values. It’s important that we not compare ourselves to others, nor allow ourselves to be led astray by others’ expectations and values. n Think beyond the self. This is about giving ourselves away, being involved in a cause that is larger than ourselves. When we work to make the world better in some way — more fair, more harmonious, safer, smarter, more beautiful, we think beyond the self. n Live with few regrets. If you have regret, then use it to change. For example, if you regret not telling your wife that you loved her, then start telling others right now that you love them. n Make sense of it all. When we are able to step back, look at all the pieces of our lives, and
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March can be the month we choose to smash the grip of the grim reaper by living rich, full lives of meaning. create a positive, accepting, coherent story that weaves all of our fragments together, we give our lives wholeness and significance. Lucinda, in her book, recounts all sorts of physical and psychological suffering including terror, despair, disgust, and anger, but she is able to jump back and forth from various perspectives with different tools to make sense of it all — from not even wanting to see her baby, to viewing his birth as a blessing and spiritual experience. You may have read this far and be saying to yourself that you have no anxiety around death. None of this is resonating with you. Maybe you are an exception, but also consider that pit in the bottom of your stomach as you face birthdays, aging, the death of pets and friends, retirement, moving, illnesses, it could be all part of death anxiety. That little sports car, new love, rigid diet, and multiple plastic surgeries may be ways you’re trying to cope. But, whatever, you can’t go wrong in making your life more meaningful. And, you can do it your way. You don’t have to rely on others’ recipes for meaningmaking. You can mix up your own special concoction. Observe yourself. As you go about your daily life, notice what is giving you a sense of richness, satisfaction, and meaning. Figure out how you can do more of that. I decided in January after reading Lucinda’s story, digesting the meaning research, and thinking about the good life; that I would make a goal of
volunteering at least 12 times in the school of one of my granddaughters Sophia, even though the school is in Everett. The result? Those big-eyed second graders from everywhere — Thailand, Vietnam, China, Russia, Cambodia, and the good ole US of A, just wormed their way into my heart. My mind and spirit have broadened and soared. When I reflect on those experiences, I’m more at peace. As we move into March here in the Wenatchee Valley, I see signs of both winter and spring, death and new life. March is also the month Theo was born, Lucinda reminds me. March can be the month we choose to smash the grip of the grim reaper by living rich, full lives of meaning. We can figure out our own meaning magic or look at what the researchers tell us: connect authentically with others, serve causes bigger than ourselves, achieve valued goals, live with few regrets. And, especially, we can do our best to weave meaningful, redemptive stories of our lives where tragedy and suffering are ultimately transformed into love and beauty. Lucinda does just that as she weaves a tragedy into a love story: Theo’s brief life on earth should not have happened. But it happened to us. We were the tiny pinprick in the fabric of the universe through which Theo entered this world. He passed obstacle after obstacle and came to a family and a community where his gifts of joy and wonder would not be wasted. (Excerpted from Lucinda’s book) How might you bring more meaning into your life, dispel fears of death, and live the good life?
Food & Drink Guide St 1st
St se lou Pa
(509) 66-SUSHI
St do on r O
(509) 667-8744
8 N Wenatchee Ave “Wenatchee, Thank You for supporting us over the last 8 great years! We look forward to the next 8 years!” M-Th: Friday: Saturday:
11am-3pm, 4:30pm - 9:30pm 11am-10pm 12pm-10pm
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Easter Brunch at Sleeping Lady! Celebrate this Easter holiday with a hearty, buffet-style brunch in a nature-inspired setting at Kingfisher Restaurant. Find us on Facebook for a full event list.
509.548.6344 SleepingLady.com
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. March 2018 | The Good Life
Delicious, healthy, and artistic in one!
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column THE TRAVELing DOCTOR
jim brown, m.d.
The opioid epidemic, my take ceuticals developed Oxycontin and marketed it for moderate to severe pain. In 1995 the FDA recommended approval for this drug. This was the first opioid to win the stamp of approval from the FDA, despite the fact that there had been no testing to assess its potential for abuse. The FDA said in their review that there was no proof of potential addiction and stated, “if used legitimately in the management of pain the potential for addiction was rare.” Purdue sent 15,000 videos to physicians promoting the drug, stating that oxycontin was less than 1 percent addictive. In response to these promotions, health care professionals began prescribing the opioid for all sorts of chronic pain including arthritis, dental pain, low back pain and migraines. The FDA first approved 40 mgm pills, then 80 mgm and then eventually, 160 mgm pills. In 2003 the FDA sent a warning letter to Purdue about its advertisements, accusing the company of minimizing the safety risks associated with oxycontin and failing to warn about abuse. In 2007 Purdue’s holding company and three executives
I suspect that many of you
readers are as puzzled as I was about how the opioid epidemic with its high death rate seemed to spread so quickly throughout our country. When I was younger, drug overdoses and death were primarily due to heroin and seemed to be confined particularly to large cities like New York, Chicago and Detroit. The overdose death rate then was nothing like it is now with death rates daily in the hundreds. The poison has now seeped into every corner of the U.S. The per capita death rate in rural America is even worse than what we are now seeing in urban America. How did this happen? Opioids are an opium-like compound class of drugs that includes illegal heroin, but also synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and other pain relievers available legally by prescription and sold as oxycodone, oxycontin, hydrocodone, codeine and others. Opioids come in capsules, tablets and liquids. Prior to 1990, doctors generally avoided prescribing opioids for chronic pain such as back pain and other non-cancer pain. In the 1990s Purdue Pharma-
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Our brains are wonderfully designed to reward us with feelings of pleasure when we engage in activities that benefit our species like eating, exercise and sex. pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of misbranding oxycontin. Between 1999 and 2014 prescriptions for opioid painkillers nearly quadrupled, and so did the deaths caused by these drugs. Why are these opioid drugs so dangerous? Our brains are wonderfully designed to reward us with feelings of pleasure when we engage in activities that benefit our species like eating, exercise and sex. These activities trigger the release of dopamine, which gives us feelings of pleasure. Opiate drugs from the opium poppy and synthetic man-made opioids can trigger similar feelings. The problem is that our bodies
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develop a tolerance to these drugs and thus cause users to want increasing amounts of them. These drugs can and do suppress the respiratory system and slow the heart rate. Most all the overdose deaths are due to the suppression of respiration. Many of the deaths are attributable to the intravenous injection of fentanyl. Physicians who do many outpatient procedures such as colonoscopy and other outpatient surgeries are trained in and are very familiar with the use of fentanyl. Gastroenterologists are trained in “conscious sedation,” which includes the use of a sedative called versed accompanied by doses of fentanyl as needed for pain during the procedure. Fentanyl, used in this manner, is not only easily reversed but safe and not addicting. When we use these drugs, our patient’s respirations, oxygen levels and blood pressure are continually monitored. If necessary, a reversal agent such as Narcan can be used to immediately reverse the effects of the fentanyl. Rarely is that necessary. I used these drugs regularly for endoscopies for over 30 years without any adverse effects. That is obviously very different from addicts injecting these street drugs into themselves, frequently causing death when they quit breathing. Synthetic opioid drugs are “man-made” drugs rather than making them from natural ingredients, like the poppy. These include drugs like methamphetamine, LSD, Ecstasy and many others.
You might wonder how these drugs made in China get into this country. A designer drug chemicallymade version of an illegal drug can be slightly altered to avoid having it classified as “illegal.” Currently these drugs can be sold over the internet without any regulation. In the U.S. some 200-300 new “designer” drugs were identified between 2009-2014. Most of these drugs were manufactured in China. Why is that no surprise? More than 650 of these designer drugs have flooded Europe in the past 10 years as well. Some contain chemicals that haven’t been completely identified, and the effects on the brain and body are unknown. You might wonder how these drugs made in China get into this country. It will not surprise you to learn that they are advertised over the internet, but the big shocker is that they are sent untracked into this country through international mail including express mail by our own U.S. Postal Service. This is the primary source for how fentanyl has become the primary street drug in this country. Four of the five biggest online sellers of fentanyl are based in
China. A Senate investigating committee on drug use subpoenaed Western Union for payment information related to six online sellers. They identified $230,000 in payments in financial transactions with U.S. based individuals and businesses. That amount translated into $760,000,000 worth of fentanyl based on U.S. street sales. Many cities have developed pain clinics offering methadone, a non-addicting opiate substitute for drug addicts who are trying to control the cravings of their habit. The reason people relapse is that the cravings for opioids are persistent for the rest of your life. Unfortunately, babies born from opioid addict mothers also have a great risk of these cravings and potential addiction. This is a terrible, costly U.S. problem and epidemic. It is depressing to think about the ramifications and costs financially and health-wise along with the inevitable fatalities. The only hope I see is to go after the illegal drug makers and distributors (especially China). We all need to be informed about what is going on. Public outcry might make a difference. Jim Brown, M.D., is a retired gastroenterologist who has practiced for 38 years in the Wenatchee area. He is a former CEO of the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center.
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We’re your local advantage. Call to learn more about our Medicare Advantage plans. 1-877-561-1463 (TTY 711). Daily 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT. Voicemail used on holidays and weekends, Feb. 15–Sept. 30. HealthAllianceMedicare.org Health Alliance Northwest is a Medicare Advantage Organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Health Alliance Northwest depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, co-payments and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year. Other pharmacies and providers are available in our network. The pharmacy network and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Health Alliance Northwest complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Spanish: ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, servicios de asistencia lingüística, de forma gratuita, están disponibles para usted. Llame 1-877-750-3350 (TTY: 711). Chinese: 注意：如果你講中文，語言協助服務，免費的， 都可以給你。呼叫 1-877-750-3350 (TTY: 711). med-WACgenad-1017 • H3471_18_61581
The Valley’s Best Mix of Music + The Latest Local News Music The Whole Family Can Agree On! With the Biggest Hits of the 80’s, 90’s and today KOHO 101.com News you need, voices you trust, and music that keeps you moving March 2018 | The Good Life
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Razzle dazzle ’em! One man’s magic reached hearts and minds Jason Sims’ magic props are so portable he can easily set up at a small table and let the magic happen.
By Susan Lagsdin
Wizard, magician, trickster, prestidigita-
Jason could develop a full stage show — more personal than pyrotechnic — and tor, sorcerer, conjuror, illusionist… no matter envisions doing a monthly magic gig at a what we call them, they captivate us. small local bistro or gallery. He’d also like to For fun or fortune they draw us in for the hit the VFW or Eagles, retirement homes, a inevitable “gee whiz,” that tiny moment children’s hospital ward. when the world tips a tad and we are caught He said, though, of his occasional house up in incredulity. party jobs, “I really like performing for Jason Sims, 35, is married with three sons, small, intimate groups. Parlor magic used to and he works as a natural resource specialist be done in people’s homes, just for friends or for the Cascadia Conservation District (as a family as after-dinner entertainment. It’s a desk ranger, he explained, he saves salmon He said, “We all became the lady screamreally comfortable atmosphere.” up the Entiat River). Ironically, Jason’s most dramatic and soulJason is also a magician, and his reason for ing, the kids staring dumfounded, the construction workers laughing. It made me fall enriching moments as a performer happened learning and loving the art has levels of comin the most uncomfortable of atmospheres. plexity, some as obvious as the ace of hearts in love with magic again.” Minimalist magic — a portable sport — is Here’s the backstory: after high school you know you’re holding, some as hidden as Jason’s chosen style. graduation, an AA in video, a brief turn a dove up the sleeve. He’s always got a few coins and a deck of in the film industry in Seattle and a few Jason has studied videography, and he’s cards with him — they’re not trick cards, months moping on the home couch in been in musicals. He’s also writer, a comic but well made, slippery, and designed to look Wenatchee, Jason enlisted in the Army. and a sketch artist. His 15-month Army deployment in Iraq has But he said, “Magic is my favorite art form. pretty snazzy when they’re fanned out. And because his type of magic has hand-held left him, after eight years, still needing and It’s performing, but it adds a layer of mysprops, all containable in one simple case, he grateful for P.T.S.D. therapies from the V.A. tery that elicits astonishment in a crowd. I can set up shop on the tailgate of a car or a But he knows that when he was stationed love being astonished… it actually causes a tavern table with equal ease. there, his magic brought to the people disruption in our thinking pattern where When he’s invited to perform at local festiaround him joy and serenity. They were both the wires cross and the real and impossible vals and conferences, all he needs is a small rare commodities in that soulless environcollide.” ment. As a child, he learned magic tricks (no, the booth or a table. He’ll haul out the cards at the drop of a hat. Driving the desert roads as driver or gunterm trick doesn’t offend) and was wowed His first real paying gig with a partner, ner took their toll on him. But he found his by the big names. But it was seeing David Fletcher Ellingson at Andante’s in Chelan, calling, not as a soldier (never again), but as Blaine’s Street Magic TV special, where the was, he said, “like busking at Pike Place and a person who could bring a moment of woncamera focused on people’s reactions, that then playing Benaroya Hall.” der that only magic offers. really inspired him.
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“We all became the lady screaming, the kids staring dumfounded, the construction workers laughing. It made me fall in love with magic again.”
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fun stuff what to do around here for the next month Write on the River writers competition is open. Categories are fiction and nonfiction, 1,000 word limit. March 16 deadline. More info and entry form: writeontheriver.org/2018-writers-competition. Homegrown County Jam, every first and third Monday, 7 – 10 p.m. Riverside Pub. NCW BLUES JAM, every second and fourth Monday. 7 – 10 p.m. Riverside Pub.
Jason shows card magic to Iraqi kids during his tour.
He said, “Iraq was always hard. It made you wish you could… burn your youth. Soldiers were always stressed. I remember ‘Hey, Sergeant Sims, show us a trick.’ I pulled out my cards, and they gathered around. And in 10 minutes, I had the whole platoon laughing.” Jason paused. “People died that day. But for a moment it was — like a pillar of light.” Equally joyful, and equally painful, were Jason’s moments with the Iraqi children living in squalor around an outpost he delivered to. “I became friends with them because I did magic. They would rush up to me, and I loved them for helping me find beauty in that sea of chaos.” This is what makes him sometimes — rarely — unable to pick up his cards: “They’d be just the right age now… to either be in ISIS or to have been murdered
“They would rush up to me, and I loved them for helping me find beauty in that sea of chaos.” by ISIS. I cannot do anything for them.” What Jason can do, he does whenever the spirit moves him, or when people seem to need a little pepping up. He snaps the cards open, picks one off the back of an ear, flicks a few into the air where they change from spades to diamonds, riffs a little, smiles a lot and makes us wonder “How did he do that??” But we really don’t want to know. It’s magic, and it makes us happy.
Wenatchee Paddle Club, every Tuesday, 9 a.m. open paddle, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 a.m. masters crew rowing, Wednesdays, 6 p.m. novice kayak paddle group, Saturdays, 7 a.m. masters crew rowing. Info: wenatcheepaddle.org. Weekly Club Runs, every Thursday check in between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Pybus Public Market south entrance. Either a 5k or 10k walk or run on the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail. Complete 10 weekly runs and receive a free shirt. Cost: free (other than a smile). 2 Left Feet, every Thursday, 7 – 9 p.m. 2 Left Feet is a loose organization of local dance enthusiasts who would like to see more dancing in the Wenatchee Valley. Beginner lesson at the top of the hour followed by carefree social dancing. No partner necessary to join in the fun. Dance style will be 1940s swing with a bit of salsa, blues, waltz or tango thrown in. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Game Night, every 4th Friday. Board games, card games or any games you bring. Open to families and all ages. Hosted by Pacific Crest Church. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.
>> RANDOM QUOTE
The trick is to enjoy life. Don’t wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead. Marjorie Pay Hinckley March 2018 | The Good Life
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Wenatchee Farmers Market comes indoors, every Saturday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Pybus Public Market. Jam at the Crow, 7 – 10 p.m. Every first Sunday. The Club Crow in Cashmere, 108 1/2 Cottage Ave. Cost: free. Leavenworth Winter Sports Club: Reverse Thursdays, 3/1, 8, 15, 22, 29, all day. Take in the view of Icicle River Trails in the opposite direction. This is a fun way to feel like you are skiing a whole new trail. Icicle River Trail Head, 7505 Cyo Road. Info: skileavenworth.com. Tourism summit and workshop, 3/1, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Prepare your business for the unexpected. Can your business bounce back from the impact of an earthquake, fire or severe weather storm? Tristan Allen with the Washington Emergency Management Division will address these issues and present a step-by-step business continuity planning workshop, including how to prepare and respond to unforeseen natural and man-made disasters. Confluence Technology Center. Info: ADMIN@NCWEDD. com. Writing for Clarity, 3/1, 8, 15, 22, 1:15 – 2:30 p.m. Do you want to get your life on track, sort out past troubles or plan for new undertakings? Writing by hand is a scientifically proven method of sorting our mental mayhem. Pybus Public Market. Info: Pat Turner, 884-6955.
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The Art Life
WHAT TO DO
We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com
}}} Continued from previous page Sip and Paint, 3/1, 6 – 8 p.m. A relaxing and fun night to learn to paint step by step alongside your friends. All supplies provided to complete your Two Birds masterpiece. Acrylic painting on 11x14 canvas. No experience necessary. Light fare, beer and wine available. Mountain Springs Lodge, Leavenworth. Cost: $30. Info: mtsprings. com. First Friday Events include: *Two Rivers Art Gallery, 3/2, 5 – 8 p.m. Celebrating our 9th anniversary with our members show. Wines by Gingko Forest Winery. Music by Suzanne Grassell. Complimentary refreshments. 102 N Columbia, Wenatchee. Cost: free. Info: 2riversgallery.com. *Tumbleweed Bead Co., 3/2, 5-7 p.m. Refreshments served. 105 Palouse St. Cost: free. Info: tumbleweedbeadco.com. *Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center, 3/2, 5. – 8 p.m. Light refreshments. Info: Wenatchee.org. *Robert Graves Gallery, 3/2, 5 – 7 p.m. Cameron Anne Mason and Eva Isaksen. Info: robertgravesgallery.org. *Mela, 3/2, 5 – 8 p.m. Adele Little Cammerer, Karen Dean, Kasey Koski, Marti Lyttle, Cynthia Neely, Alessandra Piro, Sheryl Smith and Niki Stewart share work that responds to the theme 220 in Black and White. Showing until 4/2. 17 N. Wenatchee Ave. Cost: free. Slim Chance, 3/2, 6 – 8 p.m. Fun country/western style music. Live on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org. Mobile Meals of Wenatchee Spring Variety Show, 3/2, 7 p.m. Featuring Mariachi Huenachi, Wenatchee Apollo Club, Levi Watts, Fabulous Feet Dance Studio, CRMC Ukulele Group, Acro Gals, DBB – Bongo Brothers, Cody Laine, Guys and Dolls, and more. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $12. Info: numericapac.org. Special Olympics Winter Games, 3/2 - 4. Alpine and snowboarding. Opening ceremonies 7 p.m. March 2 at Town Toyota Center; competitions 7:45 a.m. - 5
p.m. March 3 at various locations; victory dance 7:30 p.m. March 3; competitions 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. March 4. Info: http://specialolympicswashington.org. Nick’s Bricks… A day of Lego Play, 3/3, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. In memory of Nickolas H. Vitulli. Music, prizes, snacks, Lego displays and demos, Lego robotic demos and Lego jewelry making. Legos will be provided for a day of play. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Burlesque 101 Class by The Atomic Bombshells, 3/3, 1:30 p.m. Have a blast learning how to shimmy, shake, bump and grind from the stars themselves. This 90 minute class will include a brief discussion on the history of burlesque as an art form, along with some simple but effective burlesque moves. Ages 18 and older and all genders welcome. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $35. Info: numericapac.org. Mandy Harvey, 3/3, 7 p.m. The amazing jazz singer and song writer, who happens to be deaf, returns to the Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $32 advance or $35 at the door. Info: icicle.org. Columbia Chorale presents An American Panorama, 3/3, 7 p.m. A concert of music representing American composers from the 18th century to the present, including William Billings, Stephen Foster, Aaron Copland, Randall Thompson, James Mulholland, Gilbert Martin, Seth Houston, Eric Whitaker, Vijay Singh and our very own resident composer, Ron Lodge. Grace Lutheran Church. Cost: $8 – 15. Info: numericapac.org. The Atomic Bombshells, 3/3, 7:30 p.m. Get ready to have your socks knocked off by The Atomic Bombshells, Seattle’s internationally celebrated, polished and perfectly-choreographed, professional burlesque troupe, as they present a show that celebrates the feminine form with good humor and style. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $27 - $31. Info: numericapac. org. Bakke Cup, 3/4, 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Alpine GS, ski jumping, and Nordic. All children are welcome to participate and all proceeds will benefit Junior Alpine Team. Ski Hill Dr. Leavenworth. The Met: Live in HD: Tosca, 3/4, 2 p.m. Rivaling the splendor of Franco Zeffirelli’s Napoleonic-era sets
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// SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTISTS
Dancers: Sometimes puzzling onstage, but graceful in life “S
By Susan Lagsdin
o, do you notice how people move — out on the street, all around you?” Dancer and dance instructor Andrea Locke fielded this question with a positive, “Oh yes!” Her special interest in kinesthetics, the science of body movement, makes her a keen observer of those behaviors that might make our chiropractors wince. (Upon request she even corrected, with gentle tone and gentler touch, a few elements of this interviewer’s standing posture). She can also readily tell when someone is using their core efficiently, moving their body mass with the correct muscles. “I saw Star Wars the other night,” she said, “And as soon as I saw Rey lift up that staff-thing, I said ‘that’s a ballet dancer.’ A little martial arts, maybe, but definitely a background in ballet.” Her body-knowledge — when she’s mindful of it, she admits — also colors her own posture and actions. “I can tell when I’ve carried my kids around, with my back bowed — or when I’ve sat too long at the computer… everything’s out of line.” She does know how to ease the pinch. Because Andrea teaches seven evening classes at Fabulous Feet dance studio every week, she’s in a perfect position to help young dancers, and one small class of adults, use their bodies well. She said, “At this studio we all have different backgrounds and bring a slightly different way of thinking, of describing things, to the accepted progres-
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sion of skills — that’s why it’s probably a good idea in any art or sport to mix it up a little, try different coaches with different approaches.” Her personal emphasis within the ballet curriculum is on safety and longevity. She gave an example. “On a leg lift, I’ll see a girl using her big outer quads, thigh muscles, when that actually can cause tension and restrict movement. I’ll ask her instead to utilize her glutes and hips in a kind of rotation to do the heavy lifting and just use the quads for support…” Her brief demonstration looked effortless and smooth. And that’s as it should be. Andrea took classical ballet lessons for years in the Tri Cities, but like many little girlsturned-teens who’ve studied and performed in that time-honed tradition, she discovered a whole new dance emphasis when she went to college. Her University of Idaho dance program concentrated on contemporary dance — new moves, new aesthetic, new artistic vocabulary. After grad school she was proficient in both genres and in 2011 brought vigorous and varied experience, and a teaching degree, to Wenatchee. Her thrice-weekly dance classes, her job as a medical assistant in women’s health, her two children ages 2 and 5 and her husband Mike’s busy schedule as the Performing Art Center’s tech director give Andrea little time for the pleasures of on-stage dance performance. “But,” she said, “I was in Le Cage Aux Folles last summer —
>> TOP: Two students at Fabulous Feet dance a piece choreographed by Andrea Locke at the Spring 2017 showcase. LEFT: “People are seeing dance as more accessible,” said Andrea.
“Audiences understand plays; they are sometimes puzzled by dance. It’s not a familiar language.”
it was a lot of fun! And the last Follies, and Holiday Spice…” She said she’d love to dance more, but stage opportunities are almost non-existent. That led to an observation that any city this size can ably foster adult actors, writers, musicians and visual artists (with groups like Music Theatre of Wenatchee, Write On The River, The Wenatchee Symphony and Two Rivers Gallery, for instance) but very few have adult dance companies. Typically, concentrated dance instruction and
dance performance seem to stop short after high school. Andrea mused, “I think there’s a very deeply ingrained cultural view that dancing, especially ballet, is kind of elitist ... the tutu, the pointe shoes, Swan Lake — they evoke a certain archaic image. But at least ballet tells a story. “As for ‘modern dance,’ well, that’s often perceived as dark, odd, maybe too intellectual or abstract, too uncomfortable in its themes.” But times are changing, she March 2018 | The Good Life
said. “Gradually those old attitudes are opening up — people are seeing dance as more accessible, and realize that even when it carries a message, it can be fun, whimsical.” She’s also realistic about the performing arts. “Frankly, it costs a lot of money to run any performance company, even with volunteers: flooring, lights, sets, costumes, publicity, royalties… and people need to buy tickets for it to exist. Audiences understand plays; they are sometimes puzzled by dance. It’s not a familiar language.” Even knowing the difficulties, she said someday she would like to start a small community dance company — adults only — for instruction and performance. “But I’d keep my day job,” she said.” I love my work.” Helping women with their personal health, teaching dancers to be safe as well as proficient, maybe dancing again under the lights — Andrea anticipates some good years coming up. www.ncwgoodlife.com
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WHAT TO DO
We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com
and costumes, Sir David McVicar’s ravishing new production offers a splendid backdrop for extraordinary singing. Sonya Yoncheva stars as the title prima donna alongside Vittorio Grigolo and Bryn Terfel. Emmanuel Villaume conducts. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door. Info: icicle.org. Escape to Paradise, 3/4, 3:30 p.m. Annual fundraiser for Leavenworth Rotary Club. Live auction, silent auction, raffle items, buffet and dessert dash. Leavenworth Festhalle. Win a trip to Hawaii. Cost: $50, raffle tickets $10. Info: leaveworthrotaryfest.com. Leavenworth Empty Bowls artist showcase and gala reception, 3/4, 5:30 p.m. A fun evening of art, wine, appetizers and music by Brian Bohman and a first look at the 2018 Empty Bowls Auction Artists bowls. Meet the artists and potters. Raffle by Gala only items. Upper Valley Mend, 8977 North Rd, Peshastin. Cost: $20 suggested donation at the door includes 1 glass of wine. Info: uvmend.org. Fly Tying Evening Series, 3/ 6, 13, 20, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Do you fly fish? Would you like to fly fish? You need flies. Come learn the basics of fly tying to make you a success as you fish our local rivers. Provided by the Wenatchee Valley Fly Fishers and assisted by Trout Unlimited. Learn about fly fishing equipment, philosophy and the basic entomological connections between aquatic food sources and local fish. Wenatchee River Institute. Cost: $50. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute. org/events/fly-tying-eveningseries. Pybus University: Pack Light and Travel Safe, 3/6, 7 p.m. Instructor Carrie Carpenter. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Leavenworth Empty Bowls Artist Bowls Auction, 3/7-21, 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. Online auction of bowls and platters hand painted by local artists. Info: uvmend.org/ community-cupboard. The Wedding Singer, 3/8, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17, 7:30 p.m. 3/10, 17, 2 p.m. Go back in time when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room.
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WHAT TO DO
}}} Continued from previous page Wenatchee High School music department performs live. Wenatchee High School auditorium. Cost: $15, $10 for students and seniors. Info: numericapac.org. KPQ Home Expo, 3/9, noon – 7 p.m., 3/10, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m., 3/11, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Annual show featuring vendors from all over the Pacific Northwest. Town Toyota Center. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. Hillside House Concerts, 3/9, 7 p.m. Vicci Martinez performs. Madeleine Vandel opening. Hillside House Concerts present unique musical experiences in the foothills of the Enchantment Wilderness in Leavenworth. Cost: $40. Reservations: mshendricks@hotmail.com. Firewise Day, 3/10, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Learn to be prepared for a wildland fire that may threaten loved ones, homes and businesses. Many different local organizations will be on hand to teach and demonstrate actions that can be taken before a fire threatens ones property. Learn how to be prepared and what to have ready in case an emergency evacuation is necessary. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. White River Snowshoe Hike, 3/10, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Join wildlife biologist Heather Murphy for a naturalist’s snowshoe tour of the White River. Heather will discuss this special area’s importance to forests, birds, mammals and salmon. Stops on the tour will also highlight the American Indian and historical use of the land and current conservation projects. Carpool from Leavenworth park and ride. Must reserve spot: hilary@ cdlandtrust.org or 667-9708. Info: cdlandtrust.org. The Met: live in HD: Semiramide, 3/10, 9:55 a.m. Rossini’s masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks makes a rare Met appearance — its first in nearly 25 years — with Maurizio Benini on the podium. The all-star bel canto cast features Angela Meade in the title role of the murderous Queen of Babylon, who squares off in breathtaking duets with Arsace, a trouser role sung by Elizabeth DeShong. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Ryan Speedo Green complete the stellar cast. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door. Info: icicle.org. Photography 101 workshop, 3/10, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. This day class will get you out of automatic mode
and comfortable using your manual settings. Learn the fundamentals of ISO, F-stop, focus, depth of field, shutter speed, white balance and angle of view. From there you can learn how to start shooting artistically, diving into each of the elements of composition. The main purpose of photography and video is to tell a great story. Instructor Charley Voorhis. DSLR or mirrorless camera body required. Cost: $99. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Wenatchee Valley Empty Bowls and bread dinner, 3/10, 5 p.m. At the dinner you will have the bowl you painted returned to you with soup and bread donated by local restaurants inside. You will also be able to bid on donated silent auction items, engage in conversations about food insecurity and hunger relief, and enjoy being surrounded by other members of the community. At the end of the night, take home your bowl as a reminder of all the bowls that too often go empty in our two counties. For anyone who was unable to attend a painting but would still like to attend the dinner, just show up and give a $5 donation at the door in exchange for a bowl of warm soup and bread. Or give a $10 donation and take home one of the extra pre-painted ceramic bowls we have to choose from. Wenatchee High School. Sage Gala, 3/10, 6 – 9 p.m. Enchanted Evening Gala dinner and auction to end violence in our community. BPOE Grand Ballroom, 27 S Chelan. Cost: $100 single, $150 for two. Info: findsafety.org. Miss East Cascade Scholarship Pageant, 3/10, 7 p.m. Participants from Douglas, Chelan, Okanogan and Kittitas counties receives in-depth development training in health and fitness, interview and talent along with wardrobe consultation. It is an official preliminary to the Miss Washington and Miss America scholarship program. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $18, $12 seniors and students. Info: numericapac.org. Sip (eat) and Paint, 3/11, 3 – 5 p.m. Spend a relaxing afternoon painting step by step alongside friends or make new ones. Includes a glass of wine or beer and a small plate. All supplies included to complete your own birds on recycled vinyl record masterpiece. Sleeping Lady. Cost: $55. Info: sleepinglady. com. Leavenworth Young Life Spring Dessert Banquet, 3/11,
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6 p.m. Learn about Clint Gresham’s amazing journey, what God’s been doing with Leavenworth Young Life, and how you can be part of His plan for helping local teens. Come dressed in your Seahawk or your favorite team’s fan attire and enjoy yummy sweet treats. Leavenworth Festhalle. Cost: free. Info: leavenworth.younglife.org. Environmental Film and Lecture Series: A River Film, 3/13, 7 – 8:30 p.m. The central player in the story is the river, but the story can’t be told without a focus on the people of the region. Their story concerns complex relationships with other people, fish, and the wider Columbia Basin. Nohost bar, free popcorn and treats. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/our-events/. Pybus University: Succulent Plant Creations, indoors and out, 3/13, 7 – 8:15 p.m. Explore the advantages of using succulents in the landscape, as well as how to construct a container garden for indoors, and out. You’ll learn how to choose the correct plants and soil, and review care of your plants including watering, fertilizing and trimming. Instructor: Mike Torres. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free or $5 if you bring a container 6 inches in size with a drain hole Bison Plants will supply potting soil and plants. Info: pybuspublicmarket. org.
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Senior Tri-Dam Tour, 3/14, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Journey with Rocky Reach Dam guides and visit Chelan PUD’s dams on the Columbia River — Rocky Reach and Rock Island — and at Lake Chelan. The shuttle bus tour is for active, independent seniors adults with limited mobility who are unable to do walking tours of the dams. Seating limited, registration required. Cost: free. Info: 663-7522. WENATCHEE Valley Chamber of commerce banquet, 3/14, 5:30 p.m. Theme is “Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future.” The format will include decorated tables, social hour, dinner, silent auction and award presentations. The chamber will present the Business of the Year and the Non-Profit of the Year. Wenatchee Convention Center. Dive: living off America’s waste, 3/14, 7 – 9 p.m. Inspired by a curiosity about our country’s careless habit of sending food straight to landfills, the multi award-winning documentary Dive follows filmmaker Jeremy Seifert and friends as they dumpster dive in the back alleys and gated garbage receptacles of Los Angeles’ supermarkets. The Barn at Barn Beach Reserve. Cost: by donation. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Monthly movies on the big screen: Paint your Wagon, 3/15, 6:30 p.m. Performing Arts Center. Cost: $3. Info: numericapac. org.
>>
WHAT TO DO
We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com
Little Women the Musical, 3/15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 7 p.m. Eastmont High School drama club and choir performs live. Based on Louisa May Alcott’s own family experiences from her classic novel, Little Women The Musical follows the time-honored tale of the March sisters as they grow up in Civil War America. Eastmont High School auditorium. Cost: $15, $10 students. Info: numericapac.org. My Girlfriend’s Closet 3/16, 17, 18, 9 a.m. The shopping event that gives back. Open to the public. 212 Fifth St. #9. Vox Docs Film Festival, 3/1617. This festival showcases the best documentaries of the year and titles that have been winning awards around the globe. Snowy Owl Theater. Info: icicle.org. Winter Ice Gala, 3/16. Town Toyota Center. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. The Roberts, 3/16, 7 – 9 p.m. What was once Rusted Soul has been reborn as The Roberts. Rob, Bob, Bob, and Bob have reunited to deliver rock n roll with a jam-band flair. With focus on special interpretations of some of the finest of classic rock and R & B tunes, speckled with originals. Live on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Cold Winter Nights comedy series, 3/16, 8 p.m. Kermet Apio was the winner of the 2009 Great American Comedy Festival and has had numerous appearances on TV and radio. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $20. Info: numericapac.org. Pride Weekend, 3/17, 18, all day. Stevens Pass is hosting Pride Weekend in partnership with Seattle PrideFest. Rainbow tutu building station, buttons, stickers, spinning tunes accompanied by drag queen performances, appetizers and beverages. Costumes, dressing up and bringing your own pride flags for the parade is highly encouraged. Stevens Pass. Info: stevenspass.com. Shamrock Shuffle, 3/17, 9 a.m. Walk or run, bring your family, friends and even your dog. Lake Chelan Lions Club and Lake Chelan Health and Wellness Foundation is sponsoring this event to help in the fight against diabetes. Start at
Chelan County PUD boat launch. Dress up in your green. Cost: $25 adults, $15 students. Register: evenbrite.com. Health and wellness fair, 3/17, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Learn more about healthy aging. Fitness and dance demos, informative booths and a performance by the Wenatchee Appleaires and more. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: Wellness Place 888-9933. Hiking Challenge, 3/17, and every third Saturday, 9 – 11 a.m. Improve your health, be part of a team, take home prizes and be entered to win one of many grand prizes at the end of the hiking season. Dry Gulch. Info: cdlandtdrust.org. Caveman roar and pour 5k, 3/17, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The trail run wanders through the Cave B Familigia Vineyards, through the sage dotted desert plateau and along the cliffs overlooking the Columbia River. It is an event for all levels: walker, joggers, runners – a fantastic training run, beautiful views and a chance to get out and enjoy the majesty of the land and nature. The Wenatchee Irish Dancers are going to entertain on the new Summer Music Theater stage, while Cave B Winemaker, Freddy Arredondo, a former chef, grills up your preordered bratwurst or veggie burger lunch for some post-race fun. (bring your own blanket). Cave B Estate Winery. Info: caveb.com. O’Grady’s St. Paddy’s 5k, 3/17, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Timed 5k run will start and finish at O’Grady’s Pantry, utilizing trails throughout the property and out-and back stretch on Icicle Road. O’Grady’s at Sleeping Lady. Cost: $35. Info: runwenatchee.com. Lake Chelan Taste of the Irish, 3/17, 1 – 4 p.m. Enjoy the endless sea of green at the annual Top Dog Parade, then stay for the new ale and whiskey tasting. Tickets include: ale tasting (6) 5 oz. tastings, whiskey tasting: (4) 5 oz. tastings plus (4) 1/2 oz whiskey tastings. Various locations in downtown Chelan. Cost: $30 - $35. Info: lakechelan.com. World’s Shortest St Patrick’s Day parade, 3/17, 7ish. On Orondo St. between Chelan and S. Mission. Trophy award ceremony 8ish at Pybus. STRING THEORY, 3/17, 7:30 p.m. Cashmere Community Concerts. This band is comprised of some of the areas Bluegrass veterans as well as new faces on the Northwest music scene. CCC at Cashmere March 2018 | The Good Life
These boots are made for viewing
The Two Rivers Art Gallery is celebrating its ninth anniversary with a members only show. This annual event is where each of the gallery’s artists is asked to present one of their finest pieces to exhibit in the front show rooms. The show opens on First Friday, March 2, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. with music by harpist Suzanne Grassell and wines by Gingko Forest Winery. The gallery is at 102 N. Columbia, Wenatchee. The work above is Red Boots 24/7 by Ginger Reddington. Riverside Center. Cost: $3 at the door and pass the hat $8-$11. Info: cashmereconcerts.com Wenatchee Irish Dance, 3/17, 7:40 p.m. Live performance that will have you clapping your hands and tapping your feet. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.
of the Olympic Mountains, with 70 miles of habitat reopened to them. Come hear the story of the Elwha’s renewal with award wining author Lynda V Mapes, a Seattle Times reporter. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/ourevents/.
Awards Ceremony for St Patrick’s Day Parade, 3/17, 8 p.m. Join in the wacky antics of Dave Herald and Tom Irwin as they present the awards of the shortest parade in the world. Pybus Public Market concourse.
Sip and Paint, 3/21, 6 – 8 p.m. Paint alongside your friends. All supplies provided for you to complete your own watercolor Washington state card masterpieces. Light fare provided and wine for purchase. Icicle Ridge Winery. Cost: $30. Info: icicleridgewinery.com.
Pybus University: Annual Pybus Family Art Night, 3/20, 7 p.m. Explore the pen and ink with watercolor washes. Instructor Terry Valdez. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.
Leavenworth’s Empty Bowls Soup Supper, 3/22, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Working together to end hunger, strengthen community and celebrate. Upper Valley Mend. Info: uvmend.org/emptyblowls.htm.
Environmental film and lecture series – Elwha: A River Reborn, 3/20, 8 – 8:30 p.m. The Elwha River is resurgent with new life thanks to the largest dam removal project anywhere in the world.Elwha River Chinook are swimming once again to the foot
Trivia Night at the museum, 3/23, 6 – 9 p.m. Test your knowledge of museum exhibits, Wenatchee Valley history, natural science, music and current events. Wine and beer available for pur-
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WHAT TO DO
We want to know of fun and interesting local events. Send info to: donna@ncwgoodlife.com
}}} Continued from previous page chase. Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. Cost: $1. Info: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org. Lance Tigner, 3/23, 7 – 9 p.m. Live performance on the rail car. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info:
pybuspublicmarket.org. Carrie Newcomer, 3/23, 7 p.m. Singer songwriter live performance. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $20 advance or $22 at the door. Info: icicle.org. Mariachi Northwest Festival, 3/23. Town Toyota Center. Info: towntoyotacenter.com. Workshop with Carrie New-
presents:
“An American Panorama”
With choral works by American composers William Billings, Stephen Foster, Aaron Copland, Randall Thompson, Eric Whitaker, Ron Lodge, and many more!
Saturday, March 3, 7:00pm at Grace Lutheran Church Tickets available at the Numerica PAC Box Office wenatcheecolumbiachorale.com
comer, 3/24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. An exploration on how to resist an ideology of fear and division, while embracing a new story of empowerment, welcome and interdependence. Canyon Wren Recital Hall. Cost: $40. Info: icicle.org. Non-Profit day, 3/24, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Looking for a non-profit that could use your volunteer time, energy and knowledge? Want to learn more about the various programs offered by non-profits? Over 40 nonprofit organizations will be on the concourse with representatives ready to tell you about their programs and purposes. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Spring is in the Apple… Aire, 3/24, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Uplifting concert performed by the Wenatchee Valley Appleaires. Songs include High Hopes, Accentuate the Positive, Walking on Sunshine, Morning Has Broken, Catch a Falling Star, Singin’ in the Rain and It’s a Good Day. Under the direction of Jameson Varpness and accompanied by Melanie Nees. Emceed by Felt Viper (Puppeteers Mark Wavra and Brian Higgins) and featuring Eastmont Marimba Band, under the direction of Vinnie Lee. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $18, $15 seniors and students. Info: numericapac.org. Icicle Creek Youth Orchestra Spring Concert, 3/25, 4:30 p.m. Live performance. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: by donation. Info: icicle.org. Last Tuesdays Artists, 3/27, 4/24, 5/29, 6/26, 5 – 7 p.m. Open to all interested artists, painters, drawers, sketchers, photographers, sculptors, printmakers, weavers, writers, musicians… it’s all about joining with other fellow artists to create your own work during a 2-hour session. Canyon Wren Recital Hall. Cost: free. Info: icicle.org. Wenatchee Community Concert: Two On Tap, 3/27, 7 p.m. Melissa Giattino and Ron DeStefano take you to the days when Fred and Ginger and Mickey and Judy filled the screen with undeniable chemistry, effortless harmony and precision tap dancing. Gorgeous vocals, exciting choreography and unique musical arrangements. The duo breathes new life into classic song and dance. Wenatchee High School. Cost: $70. Info: wenatcheeconcerts.org. Pybus University: Dahlias 101: A Garden of earthly delights, 3/27,
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7 – 8:15 p.m. The class will provide a hands-on demonstration of how to plant and care for your dahlias. Learn how to get your dahlia garden started, soil preparation, how to plant and how to choose the best spot for your garden. Learn about the different forms and varieties of dahlias, how to interpret dahlia terminology, and where to find out more as the season progresses. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org. Coppermine River Slideshow, 3/28, 7 – 9 p.m. In late July of 2016, four men from Wenatchee pushed off from the shores of Point Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territory and launched down the Coppermine River. After 25 days and 350 miles of paddling, the four reached their destination: The Arctic Ocean and the Inuit village of Kugluktuk. Learn about this adventure and this northern wilderness with Robbie Scott, Neal Hedges, Paul Hessburg, and Andy Dappen. The Barn at Barn Beach Reserve. Cost: by donation. Info: wenatcheeriverinstitute.org. Invaders in our foothills, 3/29, 6 – 7:45 p.m. Find out how to identify the 15 most noxious weeds that threaten our shrub-steppe plant communities – especially after wildfire. Wenatchee Public Library auditorium. Sponsored by ChelanDouglas Land Trust. Cost: free. RSVP: susan@cldlandtrust.org. Run Wenatchee presents Trails in Motion Film Festival, 3/29, 7 p.m. The Trails in Motion International Film Festival brings the finest trail running and ultra running films to Wenatchee as part of its 2018 world tour. Overall running time for these eight short films is 1 hour and 50 minutes. Numerica Performing Arts Center. Cost: $15, $10 students. Info: numericapac.org. The Met: LIVE IN HD: Cosi fan tutte, 3/31, 9:55 a.m. A winning cast comes together for Phelim McDermott’s clever vision of Mozart’s comedy about the sexes, set in a carnival-esque environment inspired by 1950s Coney Island. Snowy Owl Theater. Cost: $22 advance or $24 at the door. Info: icicle.org. Weinstein Beverage Beat the Buzzer finalists competition, 3/31, all day. Watch the competition. Winner takes home $1,000 prize. Pybus Public Market. Cost: free. Info: pybuspublicmarket.org.
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column ALEX ON WINE
ALEX SALIBY
New spaces to taste wine in Leavenworth Wineries keep making
news, with some changing winemakers and others moving into new locations. Shane Collins, formerly at Tsillan Cellars left that position and moved to Rocky Pond as their winemaker. My dear friend Ray Sandidge became winemaker at Tsillan Cellars. Ray continues also as winemaker for his own label, CRSandidge Wines in Manson. In Leavenworth, several changes are taking place. Ryan Patrick is changing both winemakers and location. I am sorry to see the loss of Jeremy Santos as the lead winemaker, but at the same time, I also am looking forward to tasting what Kendall Mix will do with the wines when he adds his personal touches to them. Another big change for Ryan Patrick is the new location for the tasting room. The location of the new facility will be 707 Highway 2, Unit D, which brings the Ryan Patrick wines closer to the Gazebo in the center of Front Street. The big benefit, though, is that the tasting room space triples, so all those weekend visitors can relax and know there’s lots more room to taste and enjoy a glass of wine. I suggest you all try the recently released 2015 Reserve Cabernet — it’s another winner. Another important new location announcement concerns friend Danielle Clement and her Baroness Cellars tasting room. On Feb. 2, Baroness moved into the Red Rooster Kitchen and Home Shop at 219 8th St in Leavenworth. The new location will be offering the recently released Great Escape wine, a delightful blend of Pinot Noir and Syrah
Leavenworth has seen quite an increase in the number of winery tasting rooms, as five wineries new to our area have opened tasting facilities in a space on 9th Street.
Baroness Cellars’ Great Escape wine is made from Chelan county grapes.
made from local Chelan county grapes. Leavenworth has seen quite an increase in the number of winery tasting rooms, as five wineries new to our area have opened tasting facilities in a space on 9th Street. They are joined March 2018 | The Good Life
by a familiar area star, Plain’s Napeequa Cellars. Dave Morris pulled up stakes at his facility in Plain and joined these five at the Wine Cellar on 9th Street. I’m familiar with three of the wineries in that 9th Street Wine Cellar: Basel Cellars, Isenhower Cellars and Napeequa, having for several years tasted and purchased their wines. I’ve been aware of the existence of Patterson Cellars, but I’m completely ignorant about their wines. I look forward to becoming familiar with them, too. But for this article’s conclusion, let’s talk about Sigillo Cellars winery. Sigillo Cellars is a small family winery belonging to the Seal family of Snoqualmie. While family members and their friend, winemaker Steve Bailey, made wine as far back as 2005, that was what is called homemade wine for personal consumption with family and friends. In 2010, sons Michael and Ryan Seal convinced the family to take the giant step and become a certified, licensed winery there in Snoqualmie, where they’ve been successfully producing their wines. www.ncwgoodlife.com
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Looking to expand, they succumbed to the lure of Leavenworth, and in 2017, the Seals opened a second tasting room in the 9th street Wine Cellar. As wine lovers, we know that the beauty and quality of what’s in a wine lies not only in the skill of the winemaker, but in the origins of the fruit used to make the wines. Hard work and diligence paid off for the Seal team. They found and were able to procure grapes from some of Washington’s best vineyards: Bacchus, Dionysus, Shaw, Lonesome Spring Ranch, Les Vignes le Tendre and Weinbau. The Leavenworth tasting room experience offers a guest five one-ounce tastes from its array of wines that are open during the visit. The fee is the typical area fee of $10, but waived with the purchase of a bottle of wine. If you’re looking for some new experiences in wine tasting, visit any of these tasting rooms and meet the friendly staff while enjoying the ambiance of each location. Alex Saliby is a wine lover who spends far too much time reading about the grapes, the process of making wine and the wines themselves. He can be contacted at alex39@msn.com.
>> RANDOM QUOTE
It’s amazing. Life changes very quickly, in a very positive way, if you let it. Lindsey Vonn
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column those were the days
rod molzahn
Morgan Mohler – lineman for the county Morgan Mohler couldn’t lift
the tree that had fallen bringing down the phone line to Old Blewett. Instead he cut the line and pulled out the two ends, intending to splice them back together. The day was harsh and cold. Mohler stood on his snowshoes, pulled his gloves off and grabbed the ends of the line. When he touched them together the surge of electric shock knocked him onto his back in the snow. He got back up and tried two more times with the same result. He hooked his handset to the line and called the Bell Telephone office in Spokane and asked them to turn the power off to the broken line. It was the transcontinental line connecting New York to Seattle and places in between. It took a lot of power to run that line. With the juice off, Mohler could splice the wires and make the repairs. He couldn’t feel his fingers by the time the line was rehung and he was starving hungry. He had snowshoed in from the Allen Ranch just below Ingalls’ Creek. He dug in his backpack of tools and supplies and found the sandwich he had packed. It was unbiteable, frozen like a stone. He headed on up the trail, making Old Blewett just before dark. All in a day’s work. Morgan Mohler was a lineman and troubleshooter for Bell Telephone in 1900. His territory included Wenatchee, Waterville, Brewster, Chelan Falls and west to the summit of Blewett Pass. If you had telephone service in those places it was because Morgan Mohler kept the lines
electric power company but soon went to Bell Telephone as a lineman. He learned to climb poles without a safety belt claiming it was faster that way. At the top he would jam one spiked boot into the pole, wrap his other leg around the back in a tight grip and do his work. Years later family and coworkers convinced him to please start using a safety belt. On his next climb he took a belt along. At the top of the pole he clipped one end to his tool belt, wrapped the belt around the pole and clipped on the other end. Only it wasn’t clipped. He leaned back against the belt and kept on going, landing across a braided wire fence. After Morgan Mohler, co-founder of Wenatchee’s a few days in bed he was first power company. Wenatchee Valley Muback to work but, in spite seum & Cultural Center 012-51-3613 of the fall, he did use a safety belt from then on. Bell Telephone transferred him to Wenatchee in 1900. The first person he met at the Wenatchee office was Mae Stevens, the switchboard operator. They were married the next year. That convinced Morgan to give up the traveling life of a lineman and its dangers. His timing was good. L.V. Wells, local educator and businessman, was spearheading a plan to build the Wenatchee Valley’s first hydro-electric plant and wanted Morgan as his partner. Wells would handle the business end and Morgan would be construction foreman, humming. building the powerhouse along Mohler was born in MichiSquilchuck Creek at Pitcher gan in 1874. He finished the Canyon and stringing wire down third grade and when he was to town to connect to homes and big enough he got a job with an
He learned to climb poles without a safety belt claiming it was faster that way. At the top he would jam one spiked boot into the pole, wrap his other leg around the back in a tight grip and do his work.
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businesses. He connected 200 lights to dropdown wires from ceilings. The Wenatchee Electric Light and Power Company was incorporated July 1, 1901 and on July 5 they appropriated, by court order, 10 cubic feet of water per second from Squilchuck Creek. The water was diverted at a point about 500 feet above the Wenatchee Heights turnoff then dropped through 4,000 feet of ditch and flume to the powerhouse. With the construction done, Wells and Mohler waited for the arrival of the Pelton wheel turbine from San Francisco. It was late and didn’t arrive until January. Two hundred light bulbs waited for power as Morgan Mohler worked in the cold to install the wheel. By the time all was ready Squilchuck Creek had frozen over. The turbine wouldn’t turn and power didn’t flow and those 200 light bulbs stayed dark. Wells made a deal with Charles Morrison who had a steampowered sawmill at Second and Columbia Streets in Wenatchee. Morgan pulled the generator from the powerhouse on the creek and hauled it down to the sawmill where he belted it to the steam engine. After a bit of wire restringing, the boiler was fired up and the steam engine wheel began to turn. Those 200 light bulbs glowed and the people of Wenatchee came out in the cold night and cheered. Everything worked as long as someone kept a coal shovel working. Morgan and a hired man shoveled 12 hour shifts, 7 days and nights a week keeping the boiler hot and the lights on until the creek thawed out and
People said that when Compton’s cow drank from the creek all the lights in town dimmed. the generator could be hauled back up the hill and reinstalled in the power house. Power flowed all spring, summer and fall but it was spotty. There just wasn’t enough flow in the creek to meet the growing demands in town. People said that when Compton’s cow drank from the creek all the lights in town dimmed. It was surely true that when the flourmill in town turned on its equipment the lights didn’t just dim, they went dark. Customers complained that for service that poor they shouldn’t have to pay the 25-cent per light bulb monthly charge. The company couldn’t raise the money to improve the power delivery and, in 1904, sold out to Arthur Gunn who had deep enough pockets to make Wenatchee’s first electric power company a success. For his share of the company Morgan Mohler got property along Chelan Street where he and Mae built a fine home for their growing family. Morgan stayed on with the company as construction foreman until 1916 when he took the same job with Z.A. Lanham’s new Farmers Telephone and Telegraph Company where he stayed until his retirement in 1939. By then the lineman had installed nearly 10,000 telephones in the Wenatchee Valley. Historian, actor and teacher Rod Molzahn can be reached at shake. speak@nwi.net. His third history CD, Legends & Legacies Vol. III - Stories of Wenatchee and North Central Washington, is now available at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center and at other locations throughout the area.
Ugly hunting trip }}} Continued from page 38
bitter cold air. At the airport the tub weighs 63 pounds, and the cooler weighs 81 pounds. Each basic bag will cost $25, each additional bag will cost $35, overweight bags between 51-70 pounds will cost $60, and bags between 71 and 100 pounds will cost $100. On top of that I’m told that my cooler is oversized and will cost another $150. It’s almost $400 for baggage fees. I’m speechless, again. I do my best to strip down
weight by stuffing meat into our carry-on bags. By now quite a crowd has built up, I guess to watch the incensed traveler. I ask two janitors if they will take the cooler and use the meat. They say yes, so there goes my $110 cooler, and a whole bunch of good meat. We make it to Dallas no problem, and then to Seattle. About the time we are ready to board for Wenatchee the sign reads, “Flight Delayed,” and a few minutes later, “Flight Cancelled.”
By now I’m sure it’s a conspiracy to see if they can make me go postal. My options are to get a hotel, which will not be paid for by the airline, or to get a rental car. One rental car agency wants $180 for a one way to Wenatchee, and the other wants $250. Ugh! We get a hotel, and eventually make it home the next day. We still laugh when we talk about that trip. There is no price equal to our father/daughter time, and that will last forever.
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the back page: that’s life
I
By Keith Kellogg
One ugly hunting trip
have three real passions in my life: family, travel and hunting. When I can put all three of those together it usually amounts to a good day, but not always. On the last day of January a few years ago, my youngest daughter, Kirsten and I left for New Mexico for a Barbary Sheep (Aoudad) hunt. Kirsten is my favorite hunting partner, and she has hunted internationally with me a few times, as well as in many western states. Besides the adventure we love good quality wild meat, and I make every effort to utilize every piece we harvest. I had purchased this hunt at an auction, so there was no opportunity to check references. We were going in blind.
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Red flags should have jumped up when the outfitter, Vince charged me $800 each ($1,600 total) for lodging and meals, and told me there would be no refunds even if we took our sheep within a day or two. On top of that I had to pay trespass fees directed to the land owner, and for licenses. In total I was into the hunt for $4,360 (outside of the initial auction fee, and airline costs). It’s just money, right? With no direct flights, it took 18 hours to get to camp outside of Roswell, NM. Camp was an ancient farmhouse in the middle of nowhere. We were sharing camp with two gentlemen from Wisconsin, who had also purchased an auction hunt. In the morning we head out to hunt. Kirsten and I were with a guide named Dexter, a real life cowboy and bull rider. It was 8 degrees and a strong wind. It was cold, but Dexter gets us on some sheep, and Kirsten harvests a really nice ram, so that period of cold wasn’t too bad. We get Kirsten’s ram back to camp, and find out that both guys from Wisconsin had harvested small rams. We then have a late breakfast. I have hunted in enough camps to have certain
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expectations with the money I pay. Mushy eggs, sausage and tortillas did not match up to my expectation. It kept getting colder and the pipes in the house froze. We were forced to get buckets of water from an outside well to flush the toilet. Vince and Dexter take me out that afternoon. The weather was horrible, and we see nothing. They were referring to the weather as a 50-year storm. That night we get hamburgers and soggy oven-baked French fries. In the morning we get cold cereal. Expectations? I am on a slow boil. Vince and Dexter take me out. It was now -2 degrees with a strong wind. Eventually I spotted some sheep on a hillside, and after getting set up they tell me the sheep are at about 300 yards, or so they say. I miss the shot. The sheep are then running across the hill. Barbary sheep are an odd species in that both the males and females have horns, though the female horns are smaller, so when they are running through the brush it is hard to tell what is what. The sheep slow and Vince tells me to shoot the last sheep in the line. By this time I’ve been able to measure the distance and know it is 409 yards. I shoot and the sheep drops on the spot. Vince grabs the gun and takes a shot at a sheep. I was totally confused. I guess he had a tag of his own, but this never was clear. Vince misses and we walk across the canyon to my sheep. A mature ram is a beautiful creature, with long backward sweeping horns, and long hair on the chest and legs. This unfortunately is not a ram, it is a ewe. Vince, in his infinite wisdom
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says, “I guess that’s not what we were hoping for.” I was speechless as I stared at him. We drag Keith Kellogg, East the sheep Wenatchee, was back to the forced to retire afvehicle. ter suffering from a work related injury. Vince then He is now living the says, “That outdoor lifestyle, will be some traveling, and emreally good bracing time with eating.” family. I stare at Vince, through clenched teeth. My expectations were to have a reasonable chance at a good sheep, to have decent accommodations, to have decent meals, and more than anything to have a guide give me accurate information (i.e., accurate distance, and the right animal to shoot). None of these expectations have come true. What else could go wrong? We get back to camp, and everyone is in agreement that we need to get back to civilization. I’m on hold with the airline for 67 minutes before they forward me to another line, which will not connect. Finally while on the road I get through to the right person and get the tickets changed, but because of the bad weather the airport in Roswell is closed. We need to go to Albuquerque. After a four-hour drive Vince stops at Arby’s, and gets us lunch before he drops us off at a hotel. Nice guy! What happened to all my money? It is -8 degrees. That night all the pipes froze in the hotel. I boned out both sheep that night in the hotel room. I divided the meat into a large cooler I had brought, and into a plastic tub. The meat freezes solid in the
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