Venue Magazine March 2016

Page 1

Walter Loper’s

FISH & CAT Resolve to LOOK LOCAL

WELCOME SPRING

IMAGINE what water therapy can do for you Competing to be

TOP DOG “BIRDING: THE NEXT GENERATION”

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival


2016

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Leave your message, please

I

n my attempt to obtain a high resolution photograph of the main speaker for the Sandhill Crane Festival banquet, I received this return email: “I am in the field learning about mountain caribou, and will have sporadic phone and email access.” It was the most interesting response I have ever had to an email. At first glance, I got a a kick out of it and thought it to be a very cool remark by a man who obviously has boots firmly planted in things of nature. Whereas, I am not a biologist, or a photographer, or a wildlife educator, I still think I will try to use his remark someday when I am away from my work station, instead of a more officey, far less adventurous response, like, “I am not at my desk at the moment because I am grocery shopping at Safeway.” After the giggle, I was drawn to spending the rest of my morning recalling old memories wrapped in the out-ofdoors. As a child, my family would pack a tent and sleeping bags into a small hand-made boat and power off across a lake to an uninhabited spot of forest to craft a campsite. A hideaway in nature. We would build out a place to dwell for two weeks at a time. In the woods. Seems there is a deeper understanding of life that is ever-beckoning when you tune

in to the natural world. There is an awareness of the escape of confining delusions when your closest neighbors are birds, or deer, or fish. It is pure refreshment. Now, as an adult, I still yearn for the time taken to go off for a while somewhere to write, receive, and reflect. It goes without saying we all tend to busy our days with projects that have no apparent pause button and no way to power it down and we all realize the need to frequently renew our source of inspiration and drive. You don't have to go far to find it. A brisk walk outdoors is a good start. A purposely planned day in the sunshine will bring new perspective. A day trip with your family can open eyes to wonders, perhaps never seen before. The mystery of nature brings with it the motivation to find balance and to appreciate new life, new growth and new beginnings. There is simply nothing more rejuvenating. So, I have a suggestion. I say we all leave a message on our computer saying: “I am at my hideaway in nature and have sporadic phone and email access for a time to recharge, and will return after I observe the puffy clouds floating above without worry, and watch the brilliant spring colors appear right before my eyes without doubt, and stop to listen to the soothing songs of a new season without trepidation. Then, I will return your email with a smile. Have a great day.”

- Melea Johnson

VENUE MAGAZINE Published by: Venue Media Group, Inc Publisher: Melea Johnson Layout & Design: Joe LaRosee Sales: Melea Johnson, Sue Tebow, Photographers: Roseanna Sales, Rosalie Black, Graphics: Joe LaRosee Contributing Writers: Shawn Erin, Jan Thacker, Rosalie Black, Judy Baker, John Brightbill

Venue Magazine, PO Box 820, Moses Lake, WA 98837 509 431-3573 Melea Johnson / 509 760-0503 Sue Tebow info@thevenuemag.com / thevenuemag.com /

Walter Loper’s

FISH & CAT Resolve to LOOK LOCAL

WELCOME SPRING

IMAGINE

what water therap y can do for you Competing to be

TOP DOG “BIRDING: THE NEXT GENERATION”

Othello Sandhill Crane Festival


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Imagine thevenuemag.com | 11

physical limitations disappearing into a pool of water... literally. By Rosalie Black

O

ne of the joyful moments of life is the realization that happens when you can do with your body, what you never thought was possible. We like to think of ourselves as limitless. Injury, age or illness can quickly bring our feet back down to earth from our limitless notions. This decline of health can be a fleeting instant, where one quick twist can put our body out of commission. Another way our body can disappoint us is through an illness that caused a slower weakening of what used to be a fully capable you. At any rate, the limitations that we develop through life can prevent us, or even our children, from having a desirable quality of life. Range of motion can be affected, posture, and simple tasks such as walking, can bring us immense pain, affecting our every day tasks. Now imagine those limitations disappearing into a pool of water‌ literally. Columbia Basin Hospital’s water therapy puts ease back into the step of their patients, and they do it while taking the pain out of the affliction and injury. Dr. John Miller, DPT, expertly does this in their therapeutic 92 degree pool,


Dr. John Miller, DPT Columbia Basin Hospital

while seeing incredible results improving the quality of life for patients of all ages. The vision of this program is really centered around helping the community. Those whose lives are touched by the therapy, are walking billboards for the success of the program. When someone feels a drastic change in their standard of health, it makes sense that they would want to share it. The staff has seen so many patients passionate about sharing what made them whole. The cherished community of Ephrata has tremendously helped support the achievement that the program has developed. With the success the water therapy has shown in the patients of Columbia Basin Hospital, there are still many that haven’t heard yet about this amazing aquatic tool being used for therapy right in their backyard. One might wonder what makes this program so effective? Besides an incredibly talented director and therapist, it works simply because the water provides you range of motion that you simply just can’t have on land. Imagine you can’t walk without hunching over drastically. Gravity has taken a hold of your body, and on land, seems to pull you closer to the ground with each step. Simple reaching, and posture is a challenge for you. Imagine stepping into the heated therapy pool, and gravity melts away as you become weightless. Your body starts to straighten, and you are now confident in standing up straight in a virtually painless environment. This is an achievement that land therapy can’t offer. The most common treatment used is that of rehabilitating injuries. Maybe it’s a broken bone, or an

injury that requires surgery. This might include (but not limited to) knee replacements, hip replacement, and foot and ankle surgery. Envision having a foot or ankle surgery, and being able to start the therapy process by walking on it a week later. That is something you couldn’t do with basic land therapy. The buoyancy of the water provides a weightless environment for you to heal in. The water provides resistance in motions that isn’t provided on land. According to Dr. Miller, studies show that rehabilitation time is an estimated 35% faster to get someone back to their normal way of life. All this just by exercising the patient in the water, rather than outside the water. He demonstrates the therapy best by explaining, “The density of the water provides a constant, accommodating resistance so that your muscles have to work harder, but on the same token they are supported by the water.” This support the water gives, has helped victims of stroke, and even paralysis. When patients have partial or full paralysis, Dr. Miller, will get in the water with them for the therapy. He expressed the confidence that the water gives to all who come in contact with it once inside the pool of water. They are actively doing things they might have never deemed possible, so it’s easy to picture where that confidence could boost the morale of the patients; patients ranging from all ages, from Junior High, to the mature 90 year old. One of the most interesting things that make Columbia Basin Hospital’s program unique, is that they have a treadmill in their pool. This treadmill gives great strides within their therapy program. There are also many other


items within the pool area that aid in the healing process. Items that help provide resistance. Pieces ranging from leg weights, flotation devices, and interesting objects that are built with different levels in mind for each unique patient. The passion that surrounds the people that work in this environment can be summed up in one word… compassion. In conversation, I felt the love for their patients. When speaking of some of the milestones they have seen in just over two years of the water therapy, you see faces light up just at the mention of these accomplishments. You feel the humanity in the program itself, and see that they treat it as more than a job. They see what they are doing as a mission. A mission that involves changing the quality of life for those that can live in less pain. It’s easy to fall in love with the idea of taking care of yourself when it involves the least amount of suffering in the journey. It’s important for a person of any age to see the strength and beauty that their body is capable of. The process of water therapy at Columbia Basin Hospital is proving just that by showing people just how much they can do.

“...studies show that rehabilitation time is an estimated 35% faster to get someone back to their normal way of life.”




top dog

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Competing to be

Welcome to the all-breed dog show! Herding Champion


thevenuemag.com | 17

Conformation 1

by John Brightbill

C

ome see classy canines strut their stuff, competing to be top dog! But, really, what is a dog show? When someone says the words “dog show” our thoughts usually turn to visions of Westminster and Crufts; classic conformation shows where dogs compete for titles such as “Best of Breed” “Best in Group” and “Best in Show”. But that’s not all there is to a dog show. Every show has its own distinct type of competition. The Ephrata-Moses Lake Kennel Club holds three shows at the Grant County Fair Grounds each year: Agility Trials in March, The All Breed Show in April, and Earthdog in October. What happens there? Let’s find out. The first and most well-known form of competition is called conformation. This is what most people think of as a typical dog show. Dogs are judged based on their level of conformity to their own breed standard. For instance: Any Cocker Spaniels in the show will be judged based on how well they meet a certain set of criteria such as size, weight, and color. Likewise, any Dalmatians at the show will be rated according to their own set of standards. Based on the judge’s observations, the dog that comes closest to its own breed standard will win the title “Best of Breed” and move on to the next level: group. Once judging for breed has been completed, each best of breed dog is judged within their own group. There are seven groups: Herding, Hound, Sporting, Non-Sporting, Terrier, Toy, and Working. Within each group there are many breeds. The herding group, for example, has such breeds as Border Collies, Shetland Sheepdogs, and Pembroke Welsh Corgis. As before each dog is judged


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Obedience

“Dogs and Handlers spend years training for these events and there’s never a guarantee of victory.”

based on its own breed standard and the one that conforms the closest will win Best in Group and move on again. Ready for the big time? Now, the winners from each of the seven groups are judged to find which dog is the best example of it’s breed. Once again, the dog that most closely meets that set of standards will win the title Best in Show. Of, course that’s not all there is to the show. For some, performance is where the show really begins. The first and oldest level of performance is obedience. Dog and handler are required to execute pre-determined moves to score points. And you guessed it, the dog with the most points wins. There are several categories or events in which a dog may compete. These include Rally, Novice Obedience, and Utility but the basics are all the same: Both dog and human must perform a specified set of moves as requested by the judge. These moves can be as simple as “sit and stay” or as difficult as fetching an item thrown by the handler, waiting for a command and then hurdling over a jump to return the item. The dog and handler team always will start with a perfect score but will lose points as mistakes are made. Sound easy? It’s not. Make too many mistakes and you’ll be disqualified. Dogs and Handlers spend years training for these events and there’s never a guarantee of victory. Three qualifying scores in a category will earn your dog a title within that event and you may now move on the next level. But victorious or not, obedience is a great way to work with and train your dog. The benefits of competing in obedience go far beyond winning a ribbon. Perhaps the most exciting viewer experience is agility. An event in which dogs must run a fast-paced obstacle course filled with pitfalls and challenges. Handler-dog teams may compete on three different levels of difficulty: Novice, open, and excellent. Handlers and dogs begin at

novice and may move up once three qualifying scores are earned at that level. A standard agility course will contain these obstacles: Jumps, weave poles, A-frame, teeter-totter, tunnels, a sitstay table, and a dog walk (sort of a doggy balance beam). The handler-dog team must complete these obstacles in the order determined by the judge. As in obedience, the team starts with a perfect score and loses points as mistakes are made. If your dog takes the tunnel instead of that triple jump you were pointing at (a real problem for some dogs), you just lost points. Despite what you might think, the dog with the highest score, not fastest time, wins. At excellent level, however, no mistakes are allowed. In this case best time does win since any teams that made mistakes are disqualified. Want to get in shape? Feel like losing a few pounds? Try dog agility; your dog will keep you as active as any personal trainer. But performance doesn’t stop there. There’s also Earthdog; a contest in which terriers and Dachshunds must traverse an earthen maze to root out rodents. There are sheep, cattle and duck herding trials and even lure coursing for hounds. The list goes on and new events are in the works every year. So it seems the dog show is more than just pooches and people prancing around a ring. From tense competition in conformation to thrilling agility weaves and jumps to strict obedience moves, the dog show has a lot to offer the average spectator. But whether you compete in the ring or just cheer from the sidelines, let’s not forget what the dog show really is: Enjoying the time we have to spend with our beloved canine companions. If you would like it learn more about dog shows, visit www.emlkc.com


thevenuemag.com | 19

Conformation 2

Agility


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“Birding: The Next Generation” 19th Annual Othello Sandhill Crane Festival March 18, 19, 20, 2016

T

he Othello Sandhill Crane Festival invites you to the spring return of the Sandhill Cranes to the Columbia Basin and the Columbia Basin National Wildlife Refuge. The highlights of the festival are the tours to view the cranes, the distinctive volcanic geology, the lectures at the Othello High School, children’s programs and the art contest. Also, don’t miss the WSU Raptor Club live birds, Smokey Bear and Jimmye Firefighter. FRIDAY, MARCH 18 The Festival starts Friday, March 18th, at Stevens Funeral Home. Pre-register for a variety of specialty and Crane tours. Have a Spaghetti dinner at the Eagles Lodge, 127 E Larch Street for $10. Come enjoy a FREE entertaining lecture with the Central Washington University Geology Department, Nick Zentner on, “Central Washington is Disneyland for a Geologist.” SATURDAY, MARCH 19 Saturday is the main Festival day for the whole family held at the Othello High School Gym. Pre-register for specialty tours including a Biking for Cranes tour or the popular Ice Age Floods and the Channeled Scablands tour and morning or evening Crane tours. Starting at 9 AM and ending at 5 PM, enjoy a variety of lectures ranging

from wildlife, Ag, insects to geology, all are free with paid admission into the Festival. FOR KIDS AND THEIR FAMILY “We are thrilled to have a theme that will encourage our youth to have the passion for wildlife,” said Chris Braunwart, Chair of the festival. “The festival has always had a great abundance and variety of youth activities along with the WSU Raptor Club live birds, and this year we have added lectures for the youth to enjoy every hour and new tours.” Featured Noon speaker is high schooler Lorenzo Rohani who will talk on his book A Kid’s Guide to Birding. The festival is honored to have 17 year old Lorenzo Rohani. Lorenzo is a photographer and at the age of 12, his book A Kids Guide to Birding was published. Lorenzo loves birds and continues to learn fun facts about them. Grownups say his talk is as entertaining and informative for them as it is for kids. At 4 PM featured speaker Dave Showalter on his new book Sage Spirit. The festival is also excited to have “Jimmye Firefighter” who will be giving a lecture on fire prevention and draw cartoon characters and kids will have the opportunity to meet Smokey Bear and take the pledge, “Get Your Smokey On”.


BANQUET

AND SILENT AUCTION Saturday Evening – 7:30 to 9:30 PM at the Othello High School Corridor

Enjoy Marie Borth of, Classy Country Catering and Culinary Delights The menu includes slow roasted Angus beef roast, glazed chicken breast with toasted almonds, a vegetarian main dish, side dishes and a shortcake bar.

Featured Speaker David Moskowitz

biologist, photographer, and outdoor educator. David takes you on a journey across the region and introduces you to some of the most fascinating animals that call the Pacific Northwest home. His presentation will be at 7:30pm. David is the author of two books, Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest and Wolves in the Land of Salmon. He has contributed his technical expertise to a wide variety of wildlife studies regionally and in the Canadian and U.S. Rocky mountains, focusing on using tracking and other non-invasive methods to study wildlife ecology and promote conservation. David Moskowitz

The Children Activities Committee will have fun activities for kids such as binoculars made of toilet paper rolls to use for “birding” in the gym by finding pictures of various birds, origami folded crane mobiles, live ladybugs as an educational tool, mask making, migration game and many other activities. New this year will be a free photo booth to take your picture with a digitized Sandhill crane in the background to take home as a memento. FOR EVERYONE Winged Migration movie will be showing at Reichert’s Showhouse in the afternoon. Food service is available starting with the Othello Rotary breakfast, Othello Senior Center lunch, and ending with Classy Country Catering by Marie Borth at the Banquet and Silent Auction. Featured speaker is David Moskowitz on his book Wildlife of the Pacific Northwest. SUNDAY MARCH 20 Sunday pre-register for our specialty tours and crane viewing tour in the morning. For a brochure of every tour and lecture, please go to:

othellosandhillcranefestival.org


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Wildlife and Agriculture in Othello A

lthough Othello is well-known for the spring Sandhill Crane Festival, birders also regularly travel to our area during the fall migration season. Our area is part of the great Pacific Flyway, a king or “interstate” for avian migration. 32 different types of mammals and over 200 species of birds have been observed at Columbia National Wildlife Refuge. At the height of the spring and fall migration, biologists have estimated the Refuge is home to up to 100,000 birds. The diversity of wildlife in our area is matched only by the diversity of the crops grown here. Agriculture is also an important part of avian life in the Basin…Sandhill cranes feast on leftover corn from fall harvest, and other crops grown here provide forage for many other species. Crops like wheat, alfalfa hay, potatoes, apples, spelt, grapes, cherries, melons, peas, onions, peaches, apricots, nectarines, and seed crops like carrot and radish provide “leftovers” for many mammals and avian in our area. Nearly 800 acres of cropland are planted specifically as part of a program designed to maintain healthy waterfowl and crane populations. According to Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, during fall and especially in March and April, refuge fields near Corfu, Road E SE, and Barton Road attract up to 60,000 mallards, 20,000 northern pintails, 15,000 Sandhill cranes, and 50,000 Canada and cackling geese. The delicate balance of nature and agriculture is an important one for our area, and the issue is one local farmers take very seriously. Our Festival enlists the help of dozens of local farmers each year – they not only provide valuable resources and time as Festival backers but volunteer to ride along on our tours to answer your questions. Thanks for your interest in our Festival, and we hope to see you soon! Be sure to “like” the Festival’s Facebook page for the latest updates and information.

Photo by Holly Stockton


thevenuemag.com | 25


Jenn Stevenson, (left) Director of The Old Hotel Art Gallery Amy Hurlbut, (right) Manager of the Greater Othello Chamber of Commerce


You can’t stay overnight, but you’ve got to visit for a day

THE OLD HOTEL ART GALLERY A unique experience of By Shawn Erin

W

community, history and art

hether you're nesting in Othello for the festival weekend or just flying through, be sure to stop in at the Old Hotel. You can't stay the night, but you can't experience the arts and culture of this fine-feathered town if you don't visit. Once a functional hotel situated at a prime location a block away from the railroad tracks, the Old Hotel has seen many seasons since its opening in 1912, and several owners. As the stories go, some owners were sweet as doves, some had crow-like business sense, and still others were vultures who preyed on the vices of young men and women. Oh, if walls could talk those of the Old Hotel would have plenty to chatter about. However, rumors became public record after a murder by the then-owner in 1975 that shut the doors of the hotel. For a while, the hotel stood officially vacant and notoriously not. Until a gaggle of ladies with an idea met on the front steps of the building and hatched a plan to renovate the building into a space for community, history and art: the Old Hotel Art Gallery. That was over 40 years ago. Today, the hotel stands its original two stories and boasts 15 rooms, with lifts and tucks in all the appropriate places. It is packed to the brim with a visitor center, gallery, and over 700 consigners' wares. A classroom is on the property. Out back you’ll find the Milwaukee Road Caboose, an interpretive museum, which holds a caboose-size history display of the local railroad systems. Inside are rooms dedicated to a multitude of art and craft mediums including glass, ceramics, yard and garden, antiques, sewn goods and even a clearance catchall for the bargain shoppers. Local food goods including Killian Korn, camelina seeds and oil, meat rubs, ancient and resurgent

grains from Lentz Spelt Farms, and much more local wares are available, as well. While browsing you are sure to also come across the Old Hotel’s top selling artists: Mike Kuest’s yard art and sport- and college-themed wares are popular and reasonably priced; Jennie Fought does everything glass, from fused bowls and magnets to dichroic jewelry and stained glass; and, Linda Boothman specializes in sewn goods including purses and home décor items. Each month, the Old Hotel features one or two artists in its gallery, and for March, the Old Hotel welcomes Suzi Vitulli, watercolor artist from Richland, and April Ottey, jewelry metalsmith from the Tri-Cities. To learn more about Vitulli's art, read the article on her in this same Venue issue. Ottey’s jewelry takes heavy elements of nature like stone and silver and delicately fuses and shapes them into elegant and wonderful tiny pieces of art for you to wear. Jenn Stevenson, the director since June 2015 and contributing artist for several years, is dedicated to helping the Old Hotel Art Gallery bring in more locals and more visitors: community outreach and education is at the forefront of her vision.

During the Festival

This month, the acclaimed Sandhill Crane Festival, March 18-20, gives the Old Hotel an excellent opportunity to spread the word. Stevenson and the Old Hotel is taking full advantage of the 3-day event by packing the weekend with opportunities for artists, bird watchers, as well as those who just like to have a little fun and see what Othello has to offer. In fact, the Old Hotel’s mission to bring in new customers and art appreciators, and the festival’s theme go hand-in-hand this year: “Birding: The Next Generation.” Continued on page 28


Continued from page 27 To strengthen the collaborative effort to inspire a new generation of bird watchers and artists, Stevenson joined the festival board. “We need to help out more and get involved… we need to give back and give better and do more for the community,” she declared. The Old Hotel participates and supports the festival through sponsoring an art contest, a booth with arts and crafts for sale at the festival grounds, offering books from many of the festival’s speakers, and just plain fun. Anyone that enters the art contest will receive a free entry ticket, ages birth through adult. “The next generation of birding is new optics, new technology, new stuff for birders who have been out there forever; and reaching a vaster audience,” Stevenson said. She said many of the presentations will include adult and children components in order to draw in the attention of a greater and more diverse audience. The Old Hotel Art Gallery hours during the Sandhill Crane Festival March 18-20 Friday 10 am. – 5 pm. Saturday 10 am. - 6 pm. Sunday 11 am. - 3 pm. Weekend events at the gallery include a Wine and Whiskey tasting, featuring Gingko Forest Winery from Mattawa and Whiskey Gap from Ritzville, on Saturday from 2pm until 6pm in the bakery. Available for purchase will be Sandhill Crane jewelry, DVDs and books. The Old Hotel Art Gallery located at 33 E Larch Street, Othello, WA. Regular hours Tuesday – Saturday 10 am. – 5 pm.

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Suzi Vitulli

by Shawn Erin

C

ontrol is not something Suzi Vitulli yearns for. In fact, it is quite the opposite. In her art, she said, "It's OK to let go and let things happen." This month at the Old Hotel Art Gallery, Vitulli's art is being showcased. She said she was approached by the venue, after being seen in an open studio tour event in Tri-Cities. In celebration of the Sandhill Crane Festival, Vitulli's show will include two new paintings of Sandhill cranes. When she is not painting, Vitulli is teaching watercolor classes or spending time with family, friends or pets. She describes her life as full, happy, even wonderful, and yet she believes it is through art that she is able to stay balanced. "When we paint or dance...it is only for us; it becomes personal, and when you go into the right side of your brain - your happier, artistic, colorful side - it takes out the linear thinking and gives us balance and our whole lives become better, even in the regular life," she said. “Linear thinking happens in the left side of the brain,” Vitulli said, “whereas art activates the right side.” It is this experience Vitulli works to convey in her art. "When I paint I try to make that part of the art - the wonderful feeling I get when I paint - I want them to see that joy," she explained. The same philosophy of experience over skill is present in Vitulli's classes, which she teaches for Richland Parks and Recreation and Kennewick School District. She said students often enter class afraid of the artistic process for fear of drawing, which she takes away by providing templates for the students so they are able to focus on the process of watercolor painting, rather than technicalities of form.

Watercolor is Vitulli's chosen medium for her art and teaching for specific reasons. She said watercolor painting is about the interaction of water and paint, rather than brushstrokes. "Watercolors can't be controlled like other paints, they have a mind of their own and are transparent so you are stuck with whatever you do... in my classes we have a lot of fun and go to [a] happy place," she said. “Students are able to be so present, and let go of so much stress, they even experience physical and medical benefits,”Vitulli claims. “Women especially benefit from this sort of art therapy,” Vitulli said. "Women are caretakers...we take care of our partners, husbands, coworkers...we are the one who does the caretaking, but we don't take care of ourselves like we should," she said. It was this "magic" that Vitulli continues to witness time and time again that encouraged her to choose watercolors and leave other art forms behind. She said she loves them all, however, and has been relatively successful in other mediums, including jewelry design which she designed while working as a stay-at-home mom. A rumor that Peter Fonda bought a pair of her earrings for his sister, Jane Fonda, was proven when she saw her on the television WEARING HER EARRINGS! Besides feeling better, art allows Vitulli to see the world better, too. She said since becoming a painter she more clearly sees color, light and shadow and shapes all around her. "The old adage stop and smell the roses for an artist means to look at shadows, shapes, and see the way light hits objects and move across the object. Trees become amazing and not just cool: the shadows moving through, a single leaf, looking through it to the amazing aspects of nature," she said, "everything and everyone becomes more interesting through an artistic view point."


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Look Local

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Resolve to Look Local in 2016. By Shawn Erin

M

arch 20 marks the official start to spring, but in my mind, it sprung in the middle of February when the red-winged black birds came out. Now is the perfect time to get started on spring cleaning. However, that doesn’t sound too fun, so let’s call it sprucing for spring! Give house plants a little love with a shower, some food and a new pot. I noticed tons of new shoots on my begonias, rapid growth in my spider plants and cacti, and new leaves on the philodendron vines, so I knew it was time to give them some pampering. I love the selection of soils and amendments at Skaug Ace Hardware in Moses Lake, and Ross has surprisingly big and beautiful pots. It is also time to get some starts going for your outdoor garden, too! I reuse the black-bottom-clear-topped to-go containers from Safeway as little greenhouses to start cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, watermelon and cantaloupe. By the start of spring, peas and beans can go straight into the ground. Treat your dog to a nice long walk (and don’t forget the comfy jacket from Tail-R-Made Dog Wear!), a good brush and a bone. The air is brisk but once you get moving, the sun feels so good and so do my legs after the long winter of Netflix. I’m sure you’ll be thankful you got started getting into shape by the time swimsuit season is upon us! For the pups, I like the rawhide bones pictured here, which are specially formulated for digestion from Petco. Don’t have a pet? Don’t worry, there are animal shelters all over the Basin that welcome donations or good homes for their wards. Quincy Animal Shelter, who let us borrow little Quana for this shoot, is well-ran by a wonderful staff, including shelter director Rachel Lewis, who helped us out for our photo-shoot, and who keeps us updated on all the shelter’s cute pooches, and other animals with regular photos on their Facebook page - check it out!

For your home, one of the easiest ways to update the look of your living space is with new accessories like curtains, pillows or light fixtures. Whatever you look for, keep an eye out for quality! You don’t want itchy pillows where you relax, or dull yellow bulbs for the kitchen. For special occasions, or just to shake the vestiges of winter, spruce up the brunch or dinner table with a bright setting: pictured include glasses from Michael’s Market & Bistro filled with refreshing tea from The Grainery in Quincy, and plates from Art Garden Pottery in Moses Lake. If you are looking for quirky art, interesting antiques, or fun collectibles, be sure to check out our Look Local location at 2 Doors Down in Quincy! I’ve known the owner, Debbie for years now, and her eye for cool quality unique antique and otherwise items makes it easy to find something special to add to your collection or nook or shrine to the sun. She has one of those stores you simply can’t walk out of without something new you love. The store’s name comes from the fact that Peggy Sue’s, Deb’s mother-in-law’s shop, is only two doors away in Quincy’s sweet downtown district. Peggy Sue’s is full of uplifting and posh accessories for yourself and your home, including the cute pooch pillow in the photo. Be sure to stop in at both stores - throw in a trip to The Grainery Café, Idle Hour Restaurant or Jones Winery and look! - you’ve got yourself a local adventure!


location - 2thevenuemag.com Doors Down, Quincy | 35 plates - Art Garden Pottery, Moses Lake glasses - Michael’s Market & Bistro, Moses Lake berry tea - The Grainery, Quincy rawhide bones - Petco, Moses Lake Quana - Quincy Animal Shelter dog coat - Tail-R-Made Dog Wear by Barbara Hunt quote pillow - Peggy Sue’s, Quincy bright pillows - Ross, Moses Lake all other furniture, knickknacks and art - 2 Doors Down

Photographed by Picture Perfect by Roseanna Styled by Shawn Erin


Buying or Selling...

...Choosing the right person to help with your transaction is the most important thing you can do.

Debby Smith 509-771-2425 debby@dunelakeproperties.com

1845 W. Broadway, Moses Lake 509-766-6700

Sheri Jacobsen 509-750-4796 sheri@dunelakeproperties.com


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h s e r F MOSES LAKE Get

FARMERS MARKET

The Moses Lake Farmers Market is bringing MORE excitement to this years Independence Day Celebration with Grant County's largest firework display! This celebration will take place Saturday July 2nd and expects to attract much more attention as thousands will travel to enjoy free music, great food, and the best fireworks show they have ever witnessed!

$50,000

Moses Lake Farmers Market is now raising funds for the fireworks, concert, lighting, and much more. If you would like more information, to help or support the market, please visit their website at


Spring Lecture Series:

A season of salons, saloons and other serious stuff By Shawn Erin

T

Current gallery exhibit: A Picture of Health March 11 – April 29, opening reception 5 – 8 p.m. March 11 A photography show that highlights stories pertaining to how people foster individual, community and environmental health. The gallery will include photos from regional and local residents who wished to share and inspire with their stories.

he Moses Lake Museum and Art Center is offering a handful of presentations as part of our new ‘Salon Series’ by local experts at 3 p.m. on select Wednesdays. Our hope is to make more activities available to those who are more likely to be out and about in the daytime, including students and seniors. Other lectures are scheduled Thursdays at 7 p.m. – Join us! Salons include March 2, when we welcome Mick Qualls to discuss historic saloons of Central Washington; on April 6, Ciara Shuttleworth will help us all discover poetry in the scablands; and May 4, stop by to hear Dennis Neff discuss the peaceful skepticism of Chief Moses compared to Chief Joseph’s supernatural beliefs and how the two philosophies may have shaped the tribes’ histories. Speaking of trying something new, have you ever eaten a bug? Join us March 31 at 7 p.m. for a chance to try cuisine by entomophagy expert and published chef, David George Gordon, who will be talking about the new frontier in food production, and offering samples! Interested in a more serious conversation about the state of the Union? Join us March 24 at 7 p.m. for Cornell Clayton’s presentation titled ‘Political Incivility and Polarization in America’. If those don’t appeal to you (of if they all do and you just want more!), stop by March 17 at 7 p.m. to hear the story of Eddie Bauer, both the man and the brand, with Colin Berg. We were able to catch up with Berg and Shuttleworth to discuss what it is about the Pacific Northwest and the Columbia Basin that inspires so many. When asked, ‘What about the brand (Eddie Bauer) do you think visually and practically embodies the PNW experience?’ Berg said, “In many ways for Eddie Bauer it’s a northwest brand without even thinking about it. Eddie was born on Orcas Island, he was brought up in Seattle and we’ve (the company) always been there. The brand has focused on outerwear: things that keep you warm, things that keep you dry... Very much like the Northwest culture that is self reliant, strong, versatile, productive, durable, the kinds of products that work in the Northwest have to be practical…[Eddie Bauer] is not as much high fashion driven, it’s about functionality. We want to look good, but first and foremost it has to function.” Berg went on to say that Bauer himself occasionally hunted in the Columbia Basin and stayed at the Travel Lodge at the edge of Moses Lake during his trips here.


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We welcome you to visit. Admission is free. Berg’s presentation extrapolates on how Bauer’s travels through the extreme conditions of Washington State - the high mountains and maybe even our high deserts - inspired the iconic, functional and still-popular quilted down jacket over 75 years ago. Whe asked, ‘What kind of experience will you share during your salon?’ Shuttleworth answered, “I hope to encourage them (attendees) to go out and read more poetry, and talk about why poetry is important. We’ll talk about how to look and watch the landscape and people, how to be aware of them and put those images into words. My hope is that the people who want to write and are afraid - to get ahead and start writing, and people who don’t want to write poetry - to know it is accessible and not just gibberish, and for people who already write - maybe this is something different for them. I’ll focus on poems I wrote in or about this area for the most part as I think it will help people access my art more easily.” Accessibility is important for Shuttleworth. She speculates why most poetry is heard at pinnacle moments such as weddings, funerals, presidential inaugurations, and yet is not present in our daily lives to help us make sense of love, loss and the human condition. The lack of poetry in the average day might be similarly compared to the desert. We look out over the vast deserts that surround us and see little besides buttes and sagebrush. However, if you go walk around in it, experience it, you will discover a multitude of flowering plants, a rainbow of lichen and an abundant ecosystem of animals, Shuttleworth said. Similarly, though you may not experience poetry in everyday life, after you hear Shuttleworth’s presentation, you will likely see it in spades. For more information, visit us online at www. MosesLakeMuseum.com or on Facebook.

Welcome to the afternoon Salon Series: It is through conversation that communities thrive. These programs are intended to bring conversation back into our modern lives –inspired by the 16th Century European movement, the “salon” was an informal intellectual gathering popular through the late 19th Century. Our version of the salon is a venue where local ideas matter. Programs begin at 3pm.

401 S Balsam St, Moses Lake (509) 764-3830 / moseslakemuseum.com


Walter Loper’s O

fish an

ur friend Walter Loper (not his real name, I’m protecting his privacy) has a tank of fish. Make that, our friend Walter had a tank of fish. A single fellow, his daughter not long ago decided he needed a cat to keep him company. Oh, it was a happy family. The cat got along extraordinarily well with the fish. The cat loved the fish. Just loved those fish. No! I know what you’re thinking. Of course the cat didn’t eat the fish. The fish were interesting but far more fascinating were all the tubes and cords behind the tank. They were perfect for a cat to bat around when the master was off at work. Well, Walter came home not long ago and the cat had batted the filter hose right out of its moorings. Nearly 40 gallons of water were siphoned onto the floor. Unfortunately, many of the fish didn’t make it and the few that were still alive were struggling to keep their noses in the scant bit of remaining water. They will need intense therapy to recover from the trauma of it all. Now Walter was really fond of his fish. He doted on his fish. Wading across the sopping carpet he grabbed the cat and put him in a plastic tote and they went for a ride to the Animal Lost and Found. He never really liked the cat in the first place so it wasn’t as if it was a painful decision. I went to bed a few nights later, thinking of the cat and fish story. I snuggled there in the dark and thought about our friend Walter and his cat and fish and I thought about how funny it would be if I called him the

next day and said, in a high screeching voice: “Mr. Loper, this is Priscilla Putz at the Animal Lost and Found. I just want to remind you we have your cat.” And Walter would say something brilliant like, “Huh?” And Priscilla would say, “I just want you to know you can pick your cat up any time today. We are open until 5 p.m.” And he’d say, “No. You’ve got it all wrong. I don’t WANT a cat. I took my cat to YOU.” “Yes, I understand. It’s a very nice cat. And I see here on the form that you are willing to readopt the cat as soon as possible. We have her all ready to go. There’s a $25 fee, of course. And we do recommend neutering.” And Walter would get mad and fuss. “This is ridiculous. I do not want a cat. I didn’t want the cat I had. I took him to you to find a home. Not my home. I do not want that cat in my home.” “Mr. Loper, I don’t know why you are so upset and why you are yelling at me. You checked the readopt box. I have it right in front of me. A big check-mark right there in the readopt box. It says right here on this paperwork that you’re the one who wants a cat. Not me. I just work here. Personally, you couldn’t pay me to have a cat and I think yours is particularly obnoxious. I am just doing my duty and telling you that your cat is ready to be picked up. Frankly, we need the space.”


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h and cat Anyway, I got laughing so hard imagining this scenario I was shaking the bed. I covered my head and it didn’t help. I knew if I didn’t stop I’d wake up Troy and he’d mutter, “what’s so funny?” and I’d try to explain and it would ruin all the funniness of it because it was one of those tickleyour-mind things that happen every once in a while and set you off. I finally had to get up and go to another room and just let loose. I chuckled about it for days. And if I could have pulled it off without bursting out in hilarity, which I never could, I would have done it. I would have called Walter Loper and pretended I was Priscilla Putz, keeper of the cat. Being able to pull off things like this takes talent. I’ve never been able to master the skill of coming across totally serious when inside I know it’s all a joke that’s going to have a crazy end. I think you have to sort of get above

By Jan Thacker

yourself to do these things. Maybe while you’re saying the words you’re thinking of your pet dog Spooky that died when you were seven. There have been only a handful of times where I could pull off such things without totally falling apart. Once was years ago when my daughter had a few friends over, including the boyfriend of the moment. I carefully peeled a big bunch of bananas and put them in a bowl where they looked really ugly and naked. Going from one person to another I asked, “Banana? Care for a banana?” No one took one. They looked at me like I was crazy. I made it all the way to the kitchen without laughing. Lisa was properly horrified. Maybe it just takes practice. Maybe with practice I could pull off doing things like pretending to be Priscilla Putz and calling Walter and demanding that he come and get his cat. Better yet, I could pretend I was from PETA and question his ability to take care of fish.


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Our Town opens Friday, April 22 and runs through Mother’s Day, May 8.

Directed by Cliord Bresee Auditions for Our Town will be Sunday, March 6 at 1:00 pm, and Monday, March 7 at 7:00 pm. For more information visit the Masquers Theater website at www.masquers.com


thevenuemag.com | 43

r “This is the way we were: In our growing up and in our marrying,

and in our living and in our dying.” -- Thorton Wilder Director, Clifford Bresee Talks About “Our Town” “It is rumored that every single day, for more than 75 years now, audiences somewhere are hearing these words from Thorton Wilder’s Our Town. Our Town is one of the true classics of American Theater that has stood the test of time and continues to speak to audiences today. The Pulitzer Prize-winning story tells of life in a small American town through the everyday lives of its citizens, and in so doing explores the questions of human existence with great realism and acuity. While the show may be familiar to many, I am re-imagining how the story will be told on the Masquers Theater stage.” “I have such a deep respect for Wilder’s script. It is important to me to avoid doing a nostalgic period piece of some mediocre show so many have either done or seen in high school. Instead I really want to convey a meaningful story worth telling in a fresh and relevant way. I intend to present an intimate, inventive and imaginative new staging of this American classic in such a way that audiences leave having seen and heard the story for the first time.” Described by many as “The greatest American play ever written,” Masquers Theater is pleased to present the 75th Anniversary version of Our Town by special arrangement with Samuel French in cooperation with the Thornton Wilder estate. This 75th Anniversary version is said to be the playwright’s definitive version of Our Town. This edition of the play differs only slightly from previous editions, yet it presents the version of Our Town as Thornton Wilder wished it performed. Auditions for Our Town will be Sunday, March 6 at 1:00 pm, and Monday, March 7 at 7:00 pm. For more information visit the Masquers Theater website at www.masquers.com.

DAAuditions For Aces speDDirector Beverly Hasper will be holding auditions at 7PM on Friday, March 18, and at 2PM Saturday, March 19. This will be for Masquers’ upcoming show, Aces are Feverish. It is scheduled to open in June. “This is a large cast,” she says, “So you are very likely to get a part.”r will be holding auditions at 7PM on Friday, March Aces ar Feverish, another world premiere, hilariously written by Moses Lake’s own Matthew Weaver will be the summer play at Masquers. Ace Valentine is a young but well-seasoned, hard-boiled detective who knows the lay of the land. Nobody, I repeat, nobody could pull the wool over her eyes. She is usually packing heat, and she knows how to use it fearlessly. Her only weakness seems to be handsome young men, and she is acquainted with quite a few. Well, she does have one other weakness, and that would be an over-powering doughnut addiction.


Yeeeee Hawwwww!

Old Time Fiddlers entertain with local play-outs By Judy Baker

N

o other single group in our local counties has done more to increase the remembrances of traditional old time music than the events generated by the Washington Old Time Fiddlers Association (WOTFA). If you are into old time country, bluegrass or any of those genres of music, then you would surely enjoy some of the best music events that are happening spontaneously with the Old Time Fiddlers entertainment group! According to Steve Matern; the District #11, Grant and Adams counties members, is an association of musicians who enjoy getting together to create ‘old time music’. He tells us about the group. “Most of the members have retired from other career fields, although some have had professional music experience at various levels. The current president of the organization is Charlie Root, who retired from a local ‘telco’ company, and plays guitar and banjo along with great vocals. The group does ‘play-outs’ at many

of the senior, and assisted-living facilities in the Moses Lake and surrounding communities; as well as special care living areas like Summerwood in Moses Lake. The actual makeup of the participating musicians at any given play-out varies, depending on who is available at that particular time. There is not a specific ‘program’ for the play-outs. The players will take turns selecting a song they want to do, and the others play along. The range of music varies considerably, and the players also try to provide seasonal nuances during the sessions. One of the members plays an accordion, and brings a variety of polkas and reels, along with songs from musicals and folk genres. While we are members of the Old Time Fiddlers Association, we currently do not have an ‘active’ fiddler, although we have great hopes that a new member who is a violinist will become active with the group. Some of the more ‘seasoned’ members are in their 80’s, and are still


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Full Time, Full Service Real Estate Broker active with the group. The state association also conducts annual ‘workshops’ and training sessions for new fiddle, guitar, and banjo players, of all ages and experience levels.” Monthly meetings are on the third Sunday of each month, at the Moses Lake Senior Center, 608 E Third Avenue, Moses Lake; followed by a jam session from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Anyone interested in learning more about this group is welcome to attend. For contact and connections please contact S. E. Matern, PO Box 485, Moses Lake, WA 98837

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If you are into old time country, bluegrass or any of those genres of music, then you would surely enjoy some of the best music events that are happening spontaneously with the Old Time Fiddlers entertainment group!


46 | thevenuemag.com

e y r u t l n a e t v I d in A its a w a

Wish you were here

10/1/2016

You can sti

Call the Moses Lake Chamber for more information

(509)-765-7888 ext. 100

ll register f

October 1-1 • Rome

• Almalfi C oast

or Italy

3 2016

Florence Venice

Upcoming 2017 Trips!!! Spring

“Music Cities”

Fall

“South Pacific”

Australia Nashville Memphis New Zealand Fiji New Orleans


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This magazine would look lovely on your phone. thevenuemag.com


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By VENUE Magazine Lisa Boushay-Ownby Renie Melcher Penne Ferris Jay Ballinger David Jordan Jim Thorn Juan Quintero Brett Moser Wendy Thomas Cynthia Dano John Gamboa Lacey Radel


C

Real people. Real stories. Real truth.

ourage is found in the most unlikely places. On a day in February, one year ago, I saw the face of courage at the Thorp Fruit Stand outside of Ellensburg. Walking in I spotted Cynthia Dano’s husband, Brian, meandering through the foods on the main floor. When he saw me, he pointed upstairs where Cynthia was scouting for vintage salt & pepper shakers to add to her eclectic collection. I hurried to see her. I will never forget the moment I reached to hug her...she stopped me because she had recently received an implanted port in her chest, which was necessary for the type of chemo treatment she was about to begin. Her hesitancy to receive a hug was the moment it became real to me. My friend has cancer. I drove home to Moses Lake with a sorrow that reveals itself when something is so real. Her friends, me included, know Cynthia as a person who lives life to the fullest-a captain of her own ship sort of gal. So now what? A few days later she called me with an idea. She wanted to meet for lunch to discuss it-we did. We talked about her vision to make something good out of a bad situation. She wondered...” Could we bring awareness to ALL types of cancer...and the faces that go with that cancer? Could we provide a platform for their stories to be heard? Could we give hope to someone who has cancer? Could we encourage people to go see their doctor before it was too late?” Yes, my friend with cancer....we can. ~Melea Johnson

W

hen I was given the cancer diagnoses I was afraid...afraid of dying. When I stepped back and suspended the fear, what I realized was I felt an immense loss of control. And while none of us can control the “when” of the inevitable, I realized I could control so much else. I could educate myself about the disease, I could choose treatment and what kind, I could become an advocate for my health... I could help someone else. Perhaps I could help someone with cancer...manage, recover or potentially even help prevent her/him from getting cancer. That sounded like the most rewarding thing I could imagine. ~Cynthia Dano

Faces of Cancer magazine is a collection of stories written about heroic people in our community. People who fight an enemy that has waged against them. Cancer. Some of the faces featured are in the trenches right now struggling to find hope, and some are experiencing the victory hoped for. We invite you to know them better and be inspired by their courage.

Print magazine: available at VENUE locations. Online magazine: thevenuemag.com/facesofcancer/ FACES of CANCER magazine is the beginning in a series of real stories about the reality of life with cancer, brought to you monthly in VENUE. If you have a story to tell, please let us know. You may call 509 431-3573, or email to faces@thevenuemag.com. Thank you.


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Journey of a

Pathfinder by Robin L Green

T

raveling horseback across the United States is not the same as having cancer. But the paralells to daily struggles, ups and downs are close enough that they can not be dismissed. People do not choose cancer, or any disease; but people do choose to answer a calling, a challenge, a mission. Once committed to that, then they begin to endure unforseen elements that they either rise to or fall from. Journeys, whether they be planned or not, tell us what we are made of. Journeys accomplish more than getting to the end of where it is we are destined to travel. Journeys define our core being. On Mothers Day 2011, in Ocean City WA, Tracy Delp, her mare Sierra, and her dog Ursa set out to ride across the United States. With no more than a voice telling her this is what she needed to do, and a desire to honor her mothers passing from cancer, she set out. Simple as that. Or was it? The United States? On a horse? With a mere $200 in her pocket? Yes. It was that simple. The mare, a dark dunn pulled from a

mountain pack string in the Northwest had a reputation for being difficult. Big, hard-headed and sure footed, she may have had the perfect disposition for an undertaking such as a cross country adventure. More than once Tracy had cussed and questioned the animal. Time wore on, the bond grew stronger and she knew she had the right horse for what she was doing. Ursa completed the team, and state after state, mile after mile, the three of them moved forward and endured everything from excruciating heat, rain and even hurricane Sandy. Daily, survival and determination were key to getting through that day. It is during times like these that a person begins to fully realize what is important in life. And, what is not. Her pickup and horse trailer were driven ahead of her to destination points by different people -some she could call friends and some that were total strangers. Her trailer was a plain horse trailer--she was camping out without any conveniences. Some days a simple shower was enough to renew her spirit. Showers, food, hay, gas money--it all came from those along the way that wanted to help. Not only did Tracy learn how to receive with grace, but truly understand that for people to be able to give is a gift to them as well. People want to help, they don't always know how. Staying open to the giving creates more giving, more feel good for everyone kind of moments. And then pretty soon this awareness of the cancer plight takes on this huge human effort, and it is not just one woman and her mothers memory traveling this lonely road, its an entire country engaged in the awareness of cancer and all of the heart-strings attached to it. Each area of the country with their differences, united like some human chain-link path. A path lit with empathy and clear and certain brotherhood.


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Faces of Cancer feature / March, 2016 Then the mind starts to realize what matters when it is all said and done at the end of the day. Food, shelter, friends---PEOPLE who care, health. This is what matters. Things and stuff don't really amount to much in the scheme of life. As the mind changes, the outlook on the world changes. Simplicity feels good, it feels light. Sharing a meal with someone you did not know yesterday, and will never forget after the day is done, those are the 'things' you want to hold on to. Oh what would your mother say Tracy? "My mother was a worrier" she points out. "She would have been worried about me the whole time, and she would have been happy to see me finish." Quite sure her mother was with her, Tracy feels she had

more than one angel traveling with her. She hopes to create a relay across the country and continue to raise both funds and awareness . COAST TO COAST FOR CANCER may be found online at www.coast2coastforcancer. com. Now with the help of others it will grow, and perhaps one day all of the human kindness in this world will outgrow illness and sorrow. The ride instilled a new faith in people for Tracy Delp. The ride instilled a new faith in herself. It is that core response to challenge and the deep seeded tenacity needed to get through--to travel that journey, to face whatever might come tomorrow with today's pride and dignity knowing you did your best that day. Tomorrow is another day, tomorrow we try again. Three-thousand miles later in Cape Henlopen, the southern cape of the Delaware Bay along the Atlantic coast of the United States, the three of them stopped traveling. They had made it, and they would never be the same again. Everything looked different now, for the better. Journeys do that.


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thevenuemag.com | 53

St. Patrick’s Day Fun March 17th, 2016 Food & Green Beer

Easter Brunch

March 27th - 10am to 3pm Fresh Seafood

Open To The Public

Easter Egg Hunt for the kids Friday Night Prime Rib Special

Catering on and off site Happy Hour Tues – Fri 4pm-6pm

Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Tues – Fri: 11am – 9pm / Sat: 11am-9pm / Sun: 9am – 5pm 1373 Rd F.2 NE, Moses Lake (just off I-90) / 509-765-8131


ay D s ’ k c i r t St. Pa

y t r a P must be 21+

Thursday March 17th Green Beer Party Favors

FREE BEER NUTS will play at 8pm

509-766-7650 1177 Stratford Rd., Moses Lake www.groceryoutlet.com/MosesLake-Wa

“Where Good Friends Meet”

509-765-9975 507 E. Broadway

Est. 2003


Monday – Saturday 7am-9pm • Sunday 8am-8pm 221 W. Broadway • Moses Lake • 509.765.4177 • www.michaelsmarketandbistro.com


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Join us this Easter for our famous brunch buffet featuring: Carved Ham, Sausage, French Toast, Fresh Fruit, Biscuits and Gravy, Homemade Pastries and Much More!

March 27th / 9am-2pm Adults: $19.99 / Children $11.99

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ecial p s h t n o m e h t of

HAPPY HOUR

930 N. Stratford Road | Moses Lake, WA | 509.766.9000 www.rocktopburgersandbrew.com |


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Red Door Cafe Booking a party, conference, group meeting, or anything else that needs a bit of privacy? Consider our spacious conference room that seats 40+. We have a projector for Power Point or presentations and an oversized screen. We do catering and boxed lunches. Desserts, espresso and paninis are our speciality! Did we mention that everything, from soups to desserts to salads, is made from scratch? Hours: Monday - Saturday, 7:30am to 5pm, Closed Sunday 202 and 206 West 3rd Ave, Moses Lake, WA, 98837


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Small Town Charm ...at its best

Visit us online at www.VisitRitzville.com for a complete list of our festivals and events!

Ritzville Area Chamber of Commerce (509) 659-1936 • chamber@ritzville.com

509-681-2013

www.couleecity.com Painting by local Don Nutt

See our website for a complete calendar of local events & signup for our monthly enewsletter. Become a fan of LakeTown Landing & MLBAcares.org on MOSES LAKE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

509.764.1745 • www.mlbacares.org


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306 Midway Hwy 155 • www.grandcouleedam.org

The city we’re all proud to call our home. home

Ephrata

Chamber of Commerce

1 Basin Street SWSW • PO 112 Basin Street - POBox Box275 275• -Ephrata, Ephrata,WA WA98823 98823

(509) (509) 754-4656 754-4656

info@ephratawachamber.com Info@ephratawachamber.com• -www.ephratawachamber.com www.ephratawachamber.com

Cara 509.989.2679


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Big Bend Community College Foundation invites you to the Basin’s 15th Annual premier wine dinner and auction May 21, 2016

Cellarbration! for Education

painting by Rie Palkovic

Support Students. Support Scholarships. Support the Big Bend Community College Foundation. For more information or to RSVP call 509.793.2006

Exclusive Cellarbration Underwriter


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Do your home loan locally with

Clete Hoiness Loan Officer

WA-MLO-1198383

509-793-4092 choiness@guildmortgage.net

S

top by Guild Mortgage and see Clete Hoiness, one of their top loan officers for your home loan. Clete has been part of the Moses Lake community since 1986 when he moved here after graduating from Central Washington University. He met his wife Kim there and they chose to start their life together and raise a family here. They have three sons. Clete and his family enjoy all the seasonal outdoor activities of camping, boating, skiing and golf. He loves being a grandpa to his growing grand kids. He has many athletic accomplishments. In 1996 he was inducted into the CWU Sports Hall of Fame and 2013 inducted into his High School Sports Hall of Fame. Call Clete today for all you home loan needs.

Apply online

Guildmortgage.com/moseslake COMPANY NMLS ID 3274

509-766-7788 or 1-888-766-9712 506 E. Hill, Moses Lake WA 98837

“All loans are subject to underwriter approval, terms and conditions may apply. Subject to change without notice.�


LOANS We Finance APPLY TODAY!

Moses lake

1704 S. Clover Dr., Moses Lake, WA 98837

Moses lake SAFEWAY BRANCH

601 S. Pioneer Way, Moses Lake, WA 98837

EPHRATA

260 C Street SW, Ephrata, WA 98823


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