Foothills Magazine March-April 2019

oothills WENATCHEE u LEAVENWORTH u CHELAN u AND ALL OF NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

March-April 2019

Photo Contest Issue

Winning images from across the region

KUBOTA Z100 KOMMANDER SERIES GIVE YOURSELF THE PERFECT LAWN

2

Foothills

March / April 2019

COMFORT AND CONVENIENCE. Everything You Need, For Anything You Need To Do. Kubota’s full line of hardworking equipment has a proven reputation

Get what you’ve always wanted-the lawn-with for high-quality engineering, versatility, perfect power and reliability.

Kubota quality and durability all while staying within your budget.

0

$

DOWN

0

FINANCING % A.P.R. FOR 36 MONTHS*

Visit us to Series find out why the Kommander is the Grand rightLzero-turn mower for RTV-X L Series Series SSV you.

Series Valley Tractor and Rentals ~ 509-886-1566 4857 Contractors Drive, East Wenatchee *$0 Down, 0% A.P.R. financing for up to 36 months on purchases of select new Kubota Z100 Kommander Series equipment from participating dealers’ in-stock inventory is available to qualified purchasers through Kubota Credit Corporation, U.S.A.; subject to credit approval. Some exceptions apply. Example: 36 monthly payments of $27.78 per $1,000 financed. Offer expires 3/31/19. See us or go to KubotaUSA.com for more information. Optional equipment may be shown.

KubotaUSA.com

© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2018

Everything You Need, For Anything You Need To Do. Kubota’s full line of hardworking equipment has a proven reputation for high-quality engineering, versatility, power and reliability.

RTV-X Series

L Series

Grand L Series

SSV Series

(509) 886-1566 4857 Contractors Dr. East Wenatchee KubotaUSA.com

www.valleytractor.com

© Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2018

March / April 2019

Foothills

3

EDITOR’S LETTER

Waiting on the

T

wildflowers

he mounds of snow piled on either side of my driveway make it hard to imagine spring as I write this in mid-February. But spring will eventually come, and with it the wildflowers that bloom in a symphony of shapes and colors in the hills and along the trails.

Balsamroot and lupine boldly steal the show each spring. And while there’s no arguing their status as the headliners of the free floral exhibit, there are many other wild bloomers worth our attention.

Husband-and-wife team Kevin and Marlene Farrell wandered the Upper Valley hills last spring to document the wide variety of wildflowers found there. Inside this issue, you can read about and see the results of their adventures. It’s a strong mix of words and photos from a pair of Foothills contributors who aptly go by the name of Team Farrell.

A large section of this issue is devoted to the top images from the 2019 Foothills Photo Contest. We received more than 200 eligible entries — all photos taken in North Central Washington during 2018. We tweaked and expanded the photo categories this year, keeping the Landscape category intact while changing the People division into two groups, Candid and Posed. I find the breadth of winning images compelling, and believe you will, too.

Thanks to everyone who submitted entries for this year’s contest. It was a strong field of candidates for judges Don Seabrook, Mike Bonnicksen and Paul T. Erickson to consider.

And speaking of Mr. Seabrook … Congratulations are in order to The Wenatchee World photo editor for winning the National Press Photographers Association’s Regional Photographer of the Year award for 2018. He beat out photographers from Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming, as well as in British Columbia, Alberta and the Northwest and Yukon territories in Canada. He also tied for 13th place overall nationally. The World is lucky to have a photographer of Don’s caliber shooting images for its publications, including Foothills Magazine.

Marco Martinez, editor foothills@wenatcheeworld.com

Follow us 4

Foothills

facebook.com/Foothills.Magazine

March / April 2019

@Foothillsmag

@foothills_magazine

PRESENTS

S VIP TICKEATBLE! L NOW AVAI

APRIL 13, 2019 • 10 AM - 6 PM

TOWN TOYOTA CENTER TICKETS ON SALE AT WEN-CON.COM $18 (11 & UP) • $5 (4 – 10) • $28 VIP (WHILE THEY LAST)

WATCH FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON GUESTS AND ATTRACTIONS SPONSORED BY

JOIN US

#WENCON2019

March / April 2019

Foothills

5

Contents 8

Royal Review

pple Blossom A Queen Gretta Wiersma looks back, forward

20 Flower power

Wildflowers coming to a hillside near you

28 Young and talented

Youth symphony hits all the right notes

36 Photo finish Top images from the 2019 Photo Contest

12 Group effort

Pair of businesses offer art classes for the masses 6

Foothills

March / April 2019

56 Red, white and you

Leavenworth is tasting room hotspot

oothills A BI-MONTHLY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE ABOUT NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

Publisher Jeff Ackerman (541) 817-4263 ackerman@wenatcheeworld.com Managing editor Russ Hemphill (509) 665-1161 hemphill@wenatcheeworld.com Editor Marco Martinez (509) 664-7149 martinez@wenatcheeworld.com Advertising Sean Flaherty (509) 664-7136 flaherty@wenatcheeworld.com Creative Director Nancy Phillips Proofreader Joanne Saliby

WASHINGTON MEDIA LLC

Foothills Magazine is published bi-monthly

by Washington Media LLC, 14 N. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA, 98801. $4.99 Retail Price Subscriptions: $14.99 annually Send check or money order to: Foothills, Subscriptions 14 N. Mission St., Wenatchee, WA, 98801 or subscribe online at ncwfoothills.com Copyright 2019 with all rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or part is prohibited without written permission.

COVER PHOTO: Karen Kjobech’s photo of her 9-yearold son while he was playing in a leaf pile earned an honorable mention in the posed photo category of the 2019 Foothills Photo Contest.

Thinking of remodeling? Think of us. At Chelan County PUD,

CONSERVATION MAKES CENTS SAVE ENERGY, SAVE MONEY

Take advantage of rebates on: • smart thermostats • LED lighting • super-efficient heat pumps

• ductless heating and cooling • heat pump water heaters • windows and insulation

Conser vationMakesCents.org

March / April 2019

Foothills

7

Gretta Wiersma Age: 19 Job: Washington State University student Hobbies: Hiking, swimming, running, watching movies, spending time with friends and writing.

SPEED ROUND Favorite ice cream flavor: chocolate peanut butter Most recent concert you attended: Watershed (country music festival) Can’t miss TV show: Brooklyn Nine-Nine Cats or dogs: dogs, duh!

Favorite holiday: Christmas Place you’d like to vacation: Kauai

Queen Gretta Wiersma talks to Isley Ellington, 6, East Wenatchee, during last year’s Stemilt Growers Apple Blossom Festival Grand Parade.

T

here are a lot of things Gretta Wiersma misses about home.

The 2018 Apple Blossom Festival queen is a communications major at Washington State University in Pullman, a three-plus hour drive from Wenatchee.

She calls her freshman experience as “both the best of times and the worst of times.” She admits to being a bit homesick for home cooking and her comfy bed, among other things. But missing those things are all part of the 8

Foothills

March / April 2019

college experience, she says, as are the classes that are proving more difficult than those she took at Wenatchee High School.

We tracked Gretta down in late January, mere days before her reign as Apple Blossom queen would come to an end with the Feb. 9 coronation of a new royal court. Here’s the interview: What are the emotions as your reign as Apple Blossom queen comes to an end?

Android or iPhone: iPhone Phone app you use most: Instagram

Sad! So sad. Seeing this part of my life come to an official end is really heart-breaking honestly. In the thick of it, there were definitely moments where I thought I was ready for this day to come, but now that it’s here I really wish I could rewind. I’m incredibly grateful. I’ve been given so much by this experience and I guess you could say it’s not ending for good because I know I’ll carry it with me forever.

Camille Jones, 2017 Washington Parsons Photography state Teacher of Gretta the YearWiersma

STORY BY MARCO MARTINEZ PHOTOS BY DON SEABROOK and MIKE BONNICKSEN March / April 2019

Foothills

9

Gretta Wiersma is seen here backstage at the 2018 Apple Blossom Royalty Selection Pageant.

What are some of your favorite experiences from your year as queen?

Becoming best friends — sisters if you will — with (Apple Blossom princesses) Jessica (Murray) and Sophie (Castillo). Being mobbed by children with big adoring eyes. Dancing until I was exhausted on the float.

Laughing at the Applarians’ jokes.

Getting to wear a gorgeous gown, of course. There’s too much. I treasured every second of it. The highs and the lows it was all such a gift.

What advice do you have for your successor?

Brace yourself and be ready.

Handle every situation with as much patience and grace as you possibly can. When you think you can’t do it anymore, take some deep breaths and remember how precious this opportunity is. Be present in every moment you can because it will absolutely fly by.

What was the biggest surprise during your year as queen?

10

Foothills

March / April 2019

Probably just how busy we really were! It was every day for a few months! But also how generous everyone was. I mean I knew people here were nice, but they really blew me away with how much everyone involved with Apple Blossom gives to this valley.

I read in a profile piece that you had a hard time being punctual before you were crowned queen. Is that still the case?

Funny you ask. Just the other day I was late for something and I thought to myself, “(Festival director) Darci (Christoferson) and the chaperones would not approve; I need to step up my game.” So I’d say it’s a lot better but there’s always room for improvement.

There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes when you’re Apple Blossom queen. Who are the people/ fairy godmothers and godfathers that make it all look seamless?

There are too many to name.

Siobhan (Fryhover) and Wendy (Focht) really were the glue that held us together. They kept us going with lots of coffee and encouragement. Diane (Ritter) made sure our dresses always fit perfect. Jac (Cates) was the best float driver. And then all the Applarians really just made all the ends meet.

From providing snacks to holding our dresses while we ran across the street they always had our back. There are countless people who are behind the scenes and none of it could be possible without each and every one.

Now for the serious question: do you get to keep the crown?

Yes. I’m really excited about that. I like to imagine someday I’ll show my kids.

If you could have one do-over from the past year, what would it be?

I kinda touched on this earlier but there were definitely a few days where I was exhausted and not in the

best mood or maybe just so busy and stressed I didn’t soak up every minute of the present. So if I could go back I’d want to intentionally be thankful and aware of every single second.

There’s now a group of high school juniors wondering whether they want to be involved in next year’s Apple Blossom royalty selection process. What would you tell those girls?

I would say be brave. This experience isn’t just for one type of girl; it’s for everyone. And the best part about it is no matter if it’s the Top 25, Top 10 or Top 3, you can take away something special from it that you wouldn’t find anywhere else. Giving a speech in front of your school is scary. Its outside of all of our comfort zones. But I think that’s the best place you can be. If nothing else, you’ll walk away from this with new friends and a new experience that you can be proud of. Please don’t let an opportunity this special pass you by.

It’s time to pull out the crystal ball.

Where do you see yourself five

The 2018 Apple Blossom Festival royalty — Princess Jessica Murray, Queen Gretta Wiersma and Princess Sophie Castillo — pose for a photo before the start of the Keyes Fibre Youth Parade. years from now and doing what professionally?

Ideally a broadcast journalist ... maybe in a big city. I’d like to live in a

city before coming back to Wenatchee.

I want to tell people’s stories. I’m not sure where I’ll end up career wise, but I’m thankful for all the skills this year has given me that I can take with me. F

Discover Your Tru Beauty Schedule an Appointment www.pureskin-by-tru.com

Your Journey Begins with Us Your wedding day is a lifetime event and having healthy, radiant skin is essential for every bride. Achieve that enviable “bridal glow” with our rejuvenation services.

• Facials, Peels & Body Treatments • Aesthetic Injections & Equipment • Event & Permanent Makeup Call for Free Consultation

509-885-4473 March / April 2019

Foothills

11

NCW ACTIVITIES

STORY BY JAANA HATTON PHOTOS BY PAUL T. ERICKSON

Bonding one brushstroke at a time C

reating a piece of art begins as an internal process, a brewing of an idea that eventually emerges in physical form, be that a painting, a sculpture or sheet music. It is a merging of the internal and external, a bonding of two realms.

Bonding in a larger sense takes place during art classes with Wenatchee’s Class with a Glass and Leavenworth’s Sip and Paint. They are occasions for expression and making human connections. As participants work their individual pieces, many pause and meander in the classroom, taking a peek at what the others are creating. Occasional “oohs” and “wows” express the impressions better than any refined words.

Class with a Glass offers sessions at its studio at 10 S. Columbia St. No. 205, while Sip and Paint visits various venues in the greater Leavenworth area.

12

Foothills

March / April 2019

Above: Instructor Kmbris Bond describes to the class how to make painted eyes more lifelike. Right: With a beverage or snack of their choice, students paint their pets during a painting class at Class with a Glass studio in Wenatchee.

March / April 2019

Foothills

13

With chef-inspired design, smart features and exceptional performance.

Open 8-8 WEEKDAYS 9-6 WEEKENDS

Above: Jennifer Larsen, left, takes a wine break as her husband, Allen, and son, Aidan, paint during a Class with a Glass painting session in Wenatchee. Larsen purchased the class as a Christmas present for her family.

Left: Student Aidan Larsen uses the family dog as his subject during a painting session.

14

Foothills

March / April 2019

Class with a Glass and Sip and Paint both have a sample painting as a guideline for participants and provide all materials. Instructors give step-by-step instructions —from the first brush stroke to the last — how to achieve the same image. It’s amazing how each painting ends up looking slightly different, reflecting the painter’s personality or even mood that night.

A session with Class with a Glass involved painting a moon on the canvas to begin with. One would think that would not result in a wide variety of outcomes, but each and every person generated a slightly different version of the silvery orb; some renditions were hazy and loose, while others emerged tight and contained.

Maybe the takeaway is this: What re-

1729 N. Wenatchee Ave., Wenatchee • 509-663-1671 www.savmart.net

Fur doesn’t have to be part of your home décor.

Chelan & Douglas Counties

509.663.1710

March / April 2019

Foothills

15

Class with a Glass owner Nancy Barrett, left, gets painting tips from instructor Nicole Haskey during a recent class.

Students use photographs of their pets as inspiration.

16

Foothills

March / April 2019

Instructor Kmbris Bond, center, and Maxine Glass share a light moment.

sides in the soul shows on the canvas as part of a magical interaction.

Some of the participants in that session were Gretchen and Chris Stark.

“This is our first time; we were curious,” Gretchen said. “The image captured my interest.”

“The class aims to empower the artist within. This is for fun, to share quality time with people.”

—N ancy Barrett, owner Class with a Glass The paintings are displayed in the advertisements ahead of time to give potential participants an idea of what awaits.

Tracy Ward had brought her mother, Janette Freel, to celebrate Freel’s birthday.

John Blake, one of the few male attendees in the session, said he used to draw as a kid.

“I have used the left brain at work.

Now it’s time for the right brain,” Blake said.

Class with a Glass owner Nancy Barrett said the class aims “to empower the artist within. This is for fun, to share quality time with people.”

Her business motto is “Connecting Community through Creativity.”

In art class, where only the shared experience of creating matters, it’s easy to make friends. All participants go through the artistic struggles and victories for a few hours, making it a shared journey.

Class with a Glass has five instructors: Kmbris Bond, Nicole Haskey, Jose Hernandez, Skylar Hansford and Andrea Rogers. They can walk the group through sessions in Partner Paint, Mixed Media, Kids Sessions and more.

The “Glass” in the Class with a Glass name refers to the refreshments available at every event, in addition to the light food to keep the energies flowing. The “Glass” can be wine or water, whichever suits the person.

“DON’T MAKE A MOVE WITHOUT ME.”

What Real Estate Needs Can I Help You With?

Cell: 509-679-4625 Pam@Windermere.com • www.WenatcheeValleyProperty.com

DINE IN!

Windermere Real Estate/NCW

230 Grant Road, East Wenatchee

ORDER OUT!

Join Us For Your Favorite Treats! ✔ Daily Lunch Specials & Combos ✔ Daily Dinner Specials & Combos Closed ✔ Two 7-Course Family Meals (Min. 2!)

Mondays! ✔ Hot & Spicy ✔ Vegetarian (509)884-1510

Menu in Phone Books & GoldenEastWenatchee.com!

Objective, Transparent and Unbiased Financial Guidance Independent and locally owned | Fee-only, 100% commission free Objective, Transparent and Unbiased Financial Guidance Objective, Transparent and Unbiased Financial Guidance Objective, Transparent and Unbiased Financial Guidance |100% Independent and locally owned Fee-only, 100% commission free Independent and locally owned | Fee-only, commission free Independent and locally owned | | Fee-only, 100% commission free || |

Services Provided • Comprehensive Investment Management Services Provided Services Provided Services Provided

Retirement and FinancialManagement Planning • Comprehensive Investment ••Comprehensive Investment Management • Comprehensive Investment Management Tax andand Estate Planning • Retirement Financial Planning ••Retirement and Financial Planning • Retirement and Financial Planning Corporate Retirement • Tax andand Estate Planning ••Tax Estate Planning Plans • Tax and Estate Planning • Corporate Retirement Plans • Corporate Retirement Plans • Corporate Plans Call Retirement today to schedule a FREE

Call today a aFREE Call todaytoreview. toschedule schedule FREE portfolio 509.886.8866 Call today to schedule a FREE portfolio review.

509.886.8866 portfolio review.

509.886.8866 Registered Investment Advisor | Member NAPFA portfolio review.

509.886.8866 Registered Investment Advisor NAPFA Registered Investment Advisor| Member | Member NAPFA

Registered Investment Advisor | Member NAPFA

135 S. Worthen St, Suite 300 135135 S. Worthen St,St, Suite 300300 S. Worthen Wenatchee, WA Suite 98801 Wenatchee, WA 98801 Wenatchee, WA 98801 www.cascade-wealth.com

135 S. Worthen St, Suite 300 www.cascade-wealth.com www.cascade-wealth.com Wenatchee,March WA 98801 / April 2019 Foothills

www.cascade-wealth.com

17

Class with a Glass owner Nancy Barrett gets a selection of acrylic paint during a class at her Wenatchee studio.

18

Foothills

March / April 2019

They also go to private parties accommodating up to 50 people.

Usually, Sip and Paint enrolls six to 25 participants for a session.

Their events generally run for two hours at a time. The most common materials are a canvas and acrylics, but they have also experimented with rocks and hats.

“We have regular clients. They like the teaching style and the images, and the comfortable setting,” Zimmerman said. “In the summer, we offer four to five classes a month, in the winter a little less.”

While Sip and Paint is there to teach, Zimmerman pointed out the other side of the coin: “I learn something every time: different styles of creating an image and I gain inspiration. The teacher always learns more than the student.” F

Instructor Kmbris Bond, right, leads a recent session.

Leavenworth’s Sip and Paint has been in business since 2016. Three instructors — Amber Zimmerman, Dzhan Wiley and Teara Dillon — keep it going. Zimmerman and Wiley taught at Wenatchee River Institute

before starting Sip and Paint.

“We go to different locations, local venues,” Zimmerman explained.

“That way we bring people to these businesses. We have been as far as Cle Elum and Steven’s Pass.”

On the Web: classwithaglass.com sipandpaint.org

Pick A Winner In-depth, award-winning coverage delivered to your home every day.

15/month

$

EZ-Pay No Bills.

No Stamps.

No Fees.

Save time & money with EZ-Pay. The automatic way to pay for your subscription.

Call (509) 663-5161 or log on to wenatcheeworld.com and click subscribe.

“By signing this form I agree to: Receive the WW some weekdays, holidays and bonus delivery days. Delivery and billing will continue from the newspaper after this term at the regular rate unless I notify the WW office. Services DO NOT automatically cancel. This offer is for new customers and limited to addresses within the home delivery area. I qualify for this offer because I have not received this service in the past 90 days. I also agree that by signing up for EZ-Pay I authorize the WW to charge the account specified for the cost of my subscription. EZ-Pay payments will be charged to my account once a month. Online access is included in the price of my print subscription. I also agree that if I receive a premium for signing up to receive the paper I am making a 3 month commitment. If I choose to cancel my subscription before the end of 3 months, I will be charged the full value of the premium I received. This offer ends 10/31.

March / April 2019

Foothills

19

Wild

Spring’s flower show never disappoints Leafy bluebells are an early spring flower.

20

Foothills

March / April 2019

OUTDOORS

STORY BY MARLENE FARRELL PHOTOS BY KEVIN FARRELL

Glacier lilies and western spring beauties bloom around granite rocks near Icicle Road in Leavenworth.

B

Don Schaechtel uses a hand lens to look at the details of an Idaho saxifrage. The Leavenworth resident is president of the Washington Native Plant Society.

looming flowers announce the arrival of spring in North Central Washington. There’s joy in seeing the first splashes of color dot the hillsides.

“Learning the names of the wildflowers adds another dimension to walks outdoors,” said Leavenworth resident Don Schaechtel, president of the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS). “A given species of wildflower may only be in bloom for a couple of weeks. When we learn their names, we can recognize them and greet them like old friends.”

Leavenworth Ski Hill provides ample opportunities to hunt for flowers. You can start in April and come back regularly to observe the parade of species that take turns delighting visitors throughout the season. Volunteers from the local WNPS chapter lead wildflower walks here during spring.

March / April 2019

Foothills

21

At first glance, Ski Hill appears dominated by trees and bushes: towering pines, Douglas firs, big-leaf maples and understory plants like ocean spray and native roses. But the plant list for Ski Hill goes much longer.

Attendees of wildflower walks with volunteer Connie McCauley reap the benefits of her love of Ski Hill and her years of studying its plants.

Upon arriving for a wildflower walk last spring, she gave everyone her user-friendly handout about flowers, grouped by family, with notes on family characteristics and hand-drawn images that clarify terms like ray versus disk flowers and sepals versus petals.

From the parking lot, one is surrounded by a meadow that reaches up two hills. One slope faces north and the other south, supporting an array of wildflowers in different microhabitats.

In April last year, the big hill was studded with the tall California corn lilies. By May, a dense plume of starry white flowers topped each plant.

Western trillium, distinct with only three petals and wide pointy leaves,

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

Grateful for the Opportunity to Serve.

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

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

We are Grateful | We are Confluence Health

WeAreConfluence.org

NEED A MASSAGE? ANJA

Clockwise from top: Western trillium enjoys the moist patches along the edges of the forest.

Chickweed monkeyflowers have bright yellow petals, marked with a red dot to attract pollinators.

During a few weeks in May, the trails at Ski Hill resemble a botanical garden of wildflowers and blooming trees and shrubs, including these serviceberry bushes.

22

Foothills

March / April 2019

Schedule TODAY with Our Licensed Massage Therapists!

Packages Available Non-Members Welcome

Call 662-3544

TODDI

KIM

The

Wenatchee Racquet & Athletic Club

WWW.WRAC.ORG March / April 2019

Foothills

23

• Craniosacral Therapy • Myofascial Release • Orthopedic Conditions • Pregnancy & Postnatal Massage • Restorative Exercise • Sports & Relaxation Techniques • TMJ Relief Call: by appointment only

Small-flowered prairie stars look delicate atop their thin stems.

Spring Events

Common camas blossoms near the historic lodge at Ski Hill.

THU, MAR 14

SAT, MAR 30

THU, APR 4

- SPONSORED BY -

- SPONSORED BY -

- SPONSORED BY -

at 7:30PM

Dave & Sandy Gellatly

at 7:30PM

Sue & Rick Rose

at 7:30PM

Ford & Marlys Barrett

Lupine, which is in the pea family, is a local favorite.

Mountain lady’s slipper, noteworthy with its large white pouch is a rare find along wooded trails near Ski Hill. It is a fragile orchid that takes years to flower.

24

Foothills

March / April 2019

could be found on the big hill too, and many arrow-leaf balsamroot (commonly nicknamed sunflowers) were budding. A slightly moister pocket garden by the tow shack yielded yellow violets and chocolate tips.

While McCauley pointed out these species, she reminded participants, “First learn the flowers. Then pay attention to the leaves so you can recognize the plant before they’ve bloomed and after they’ve gone to seed.”

Across the way, beneath the historic Ski Hill lodge, common camas and death camas were popping up.

The Native Americans knew the difference and collected the former for food and avoided the latter, which is toxic. Nearby, the gardeners in the

group could appreciate the only wild peony found in the Pacific Northwest, the Brown’s peony, which has a large flower head and complex leaves.

Heading into the forest, more flowers await. You can’t miss the earliest bloomers, western spring beauties and glacier lilies, because they carpet the sun-streaked forest floor next to the trail. Other easily discovered plants include ballhead waterleaf, with its globe of “hairy” lilac florets, and small-flowered prairie stars, little splashes of white suspended atop delicate stems. Look a little closer to find the downcast flowers of the leafy bluebells and yellow bells.

Schaechtel also attended the April walk, and he and McCauley took turns

by William Shakespeare

FRI, APR 19 at 6:30PM

- SPONSORED BY -

FRI, MAY 17

FRI, MAY 24

- SPONSORED BY -

- SPONSORED BY -

at 7:30PM

at 7:30PM

Colleen Frei & Arius Elvikis Mike & Sheila Salmon

March / April 2019

Foothills

25

The Oregon anemone is a purple relative of the buttercup.

Brown’s peony is a fun find at Ski Hill. imparting some botany jargon. When someone spotted an Oregon Anemone, Schaechtel mentioned the thin filaments in the center of the flower were the female pistils and the outer filaments were the male stamens.

Most flowers have both male and female parts, though they still need 26

Foothills

March / April 2019

cross-pollination with another flower to make viable seeds.

Tools of the wildflower-spotting trade are relatively inexpensive and lightweight. The most highly recommended field guide is Mark Turners’ Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest.

A hand lens helps one see the intri-

cate beauty of tiny plants like smallflowered blue-eyed Mary, chickweed monkeyflower and Idaho saxifrage.

Searching for a steer’s head in early spring can be a fun challenge. These flowers, resembling a steer skull with two curving petals like horns, prefer rocky terrain. The deeply dissected leaves are often spotted first and then one finds the flower, with hints of pink and peach, hovering over the dirt.

Likewise, a month later, mountain lady slippers delight the wildflower fan who takes the time to find it in its preferred habitat. These orchids, with their slipper-like white pouch and wavy purple petals and sepals, need specific insect pollinators to help them cross-pollinate. They do not grow in abundance. Even if the mountain lady slippers remain elusive, the month of May grants visitors a chance to see balsamroot and lupine at the height of their glory.

“The closer you look, the more you will see,” reminded Schaechtel on one walk. “That opens the door to amazing discoveries.”

To Visit: ✿ Ski Hill is on Forest Service land and managed by the Leavenworth Winter Sports Club: skileavenworth.com/locations/ski-hill

Resources to learn more about local native wildflowers: ✿ “Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest,” a 2006 field guide by Mark Turner, describes and illustrates 1,220 commonly encountered species. ✿ Mark Turner’s website: pnwflowers.com ✿ Wenatchee chapter of the WNPS: wnps2.org/wenatchee-valley ✿ WNPS plant lists (comprehensive lists for specific locations): wnps2.org/plant-lists

Finding a petite steer’s head is a flower hunter’s treat. Not to be confused with its bushier relative, the Pacific bleeding heart.

✿ Wenatchee Naturalist is another valuable local resource: wenatcheenaturalist.com/ wildflowers F

THE VOTES ARE IN! SEE ALL THE WINNERS OF THE 2019 WENATCHEE WORLD’S BEST

Pick up a copy of the March 16/17 Wenatchee World Weekend Edition to see all the World’s Best Winners March / April 2019

Foothills

27

Co-concertmasters, Manami Sekitani, lower left, and Madelyn Larson, center, rehearse with the group, including adult instructors.

Next Level 28

Foothills

March / April 2019

THE ARTS

STORY BY MARLENE FARRELL PHOTOS BY KEVIN FARRELL

The Icicle Creek Youth Symphony prior to a performance at the Snowy Owl Theater.

Student musicians join forces as Icicle Creek Youth Symphony

T

he Snowy Owl Theater in Leavenworth packs a full house three times a year for a youthful concert. The audience is here to fall under the sway of melodies — at times complex and lively, other times majestic and moving — all performed by middle school and high school students.

Founded in 1992, the Icicle Creek Youth Symphony aligns perfectly with the mission of arts education of the

nonprofit Icicle Creek Center for the Arts.

The orchestra is under direction of Annie Chalmers, who has been involved for 15 years. “I started as a brass coach,” she said. “I later started organizing the youth symphony summer camp, and I’ve been the conductor now for three years.”

March / April 2019

Foothills

29

Recent high school graduate Kaleigh Michael practices her solo during rehearsal.

The Icicle Creek Youth Symphony was founded in 1992.

30

Foothills

March / April 2019

The orchestra includes band students from all over the region, while most of the string players are from Wenatchee and East Wenatchee, coming up from the school string program. There are also a number of home school and private lesson students.

The first step is an audition.

“There’s an expectation that the student is proficient on his/her instrument,” said Chalmers. “They need to prepare; an audition is challenging.

We want to give them the opportunity to see what that’s like.

“They come because they want to interact with other musical kids. They love the challenge of taking their music to the next level. Most of the students are eighth to 12th grade and beyond, but the program is open to younger students who are excited and ready to work hard.”

This orchestra, of about 40 youth,

is small compared to ones associated with large metropolitan areas.

John Dimond, the double reed coach for over a decade, said, “There’s more friendship here. In the larger programs, I don’t get to know all the students.”

Dimond is connected to musical communities on both sides of the Cascades, splitting his time between Bothell and Leavenworth. He is one of several musicians and private teachers who devote time to mentor youth symphony students.

Every fall and spring season, Chalmers picks out the music, most at the high school level. “I’ll maybe add one piece that is a little easier,” she said “Then three in the middle and one that stretches them.”

She makes sure there’s one highquality classical piece. For fall 2018, they played the First Movement from Dvorak’s “New World Symphony.”

“The arranger kept this piece very close to the original,” she said. “It’s legit and similar to what a community orchestra would play.”

For “Music from Apollo 13,” Chalmers knew trumpet player, Kaleigh

Annie Chalmers directs the youth symphony. She has been with the group for 15 years, starting as a brass coach.

2019 GMC SIERRA THE TAILGATE TO END ALL TAILGATES

FIND OUT MORE TODAY

509-662-6134

Ninth & Miller, Wenatchee www.sangstermotors.com

March / April 2019

Foothills

31

Madelyn Larson, first chair, is in her sixth year with the Icicle Creek Youth Symphony.

32

Foothills

March / April 2019

Michael, had the finesse for the long, haunting solo. “Kaleigh just graduated from high school and works hard.”

The solo came as a nice surprise for Michael. “I found out about the Apollo 13 piece at the first practice,” she said. “I thought, ‘There’s a lot of just me playing.’”

The symphony meets Sundays for two and a half hours at Wenatchee Valley College.

Students must also have the discipline to practice regularly at home. “Halfway through our season, I reiterate the need to practice,” said Chalmers. “Memory won’t be good otherwise, and we won’t be successful.”

Little tips sprinkled throughout the rehearsals hone these young musicians into confident players.

At one practice, Chalmers reminded them, “You can’t depend on anyone else to count for you.”

Coaches are key to the level of excellence. Four to six coaches attend every rehearsal. “Most youth symphonies don’t have coaches on a weekly basis,” said Chalmers.

Students rehearse prior to a concert.

2131 Sunset Hwy.

www.bobfeil.com

East Wenatchee

Mon.-Fri. 9-6

509-884-3558

Sat. 9-5 March / April 2019

Foothills

33

Instructor John Dimond fills in on the oboe during a youth symphony rehearsal.

The Icicle Creek Youth Symphony is comprised of students from throughout the region.

34

Foothills

March / April 2019

“It’s priceless to have students sit next to them and hear them play and to have their expertise available.”

The students are drawn to be part of the Icicle Creek Youth Symphony because it’s not like anything else.

For violinist and co-concertmaster Madelyn Larson, who’s in her sixth year with the symphony, it’s different from solo, duet and ensemble opportunities. “I fell in love with playing classical music,” she said.

“Orchestra is the best, the most epic.”

Kaleigh Michael, first trumpet, knew four years ago the symphony was for her. “I had a couple friends who were in it. I came to a concert, thought it was awesome and joined.”

Mixing strings, drums, brass and woodwinds creates a unique sound.

Dimond distinguished symphony from band by saying, “In a band, you’re often playing as part of a group. In orchestra, each person has his/her own part. It’s like solo play-

Mo The Gy st m Un in iqe To wn !

Try t for ek ou we us REE eF on

ing in addition to blending with other instruments. You have to pitch match and listen across sections.”

Friendship around music is strengthened by the musical retreat the kids attend before each concert. They stay in the cabins at the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts and rehearse on the Snowy Owl stage several times.

During one of these final rehearsals, Chalmers took the time to educate students on the background of some pieces. Dvorak, a Czech, came to New York City to start the New York Conservatory, and while he was there, he taught, conducted and composed. The “New World Symphony” blended his ideas of American folk music, especially that of African Americans and Native Americans. “Given the tumultuous times, there are undertones of sadness in this piece,” she said. She then asked, “How can we show the sadness?” The young musicians came up with the ideas of using a lot of vibrato in the opening cello and being very dynamic with volume changes.

If they want an even deeper musical experience, the musicians can attend the youth symphony summer camp each June. Junior musicians from all over the state travel to Leavenworth to attend, resulting in a high level of musicianship. They rehearse from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It’s intense, but they have the long summer evenings for fun, and they get to perform at both the Leavenworth Farmer’s Market and a concert at the end of the week.

Instructors and students share a passion for playing music because it moves them and is a part of their identity.“When it all comes together, I can see it in the faces of the kids.

They’re proud and love the sound they’re making,” she said.

Larson said her first concert gave her goose bumps.

“I think all performers would agree, it’s a high when we perform,” she said.

The audience can share this experience because it’s free by donation.

“We want the community to come, and not just because they know a student,” said Chalmers. “Young families can attend and introduce symphony to their children. By making it accessible, it helps the future of this music, which is an important part of our culture.” F

509-668-9394 • www.chieffitness30.com Exercise and Training options for the whole family • Functional training • Yoga • Fitness Kickboxing • Martial Arts/Self-defenses

• Weight lifting • Barre classes • Kid’s classes • Massage

Our workouts are anything but BORING! No matter age, shape, or experience – Everyone’s Welcome Here We all want somewhere to escape, relax, and unwind at home.

Create your picture perfect backyard retreat with a Bullfrog Spa.

(509)662-1590 PooltoSpaServices.com March / April 2019

Foothills

35

FOOTHILLS PHOTO CONTEST FIRST PLACE, LANDSCAPE Photo by JACOB HOPKINS, Leavenworth I took this photo up at Tuck and Robin lakes in the springtime.

Judges’ comments

In Focus Photo Contest winners are a dazzling bunch 36

Foothills

March / April 2019

The judges awarded first place in the landscape division to a photograph of the sun setting or rising on snow covered mountains with a person enjoying the scene from their hammock. The judges liked the contrast between the blue shade and orange sunlit areas. The valley leads the eye to distant mountain peaks. We can put ourselves into the place of the hammock dweller to enjoy the scene alongside of them. The image is well composed, well exposed and captures a wonderful moment in time.

T

he 2019 Foothills Photo Contest received more than 200 qualified entries. The variety of images from throughout North Central Washington are an impressive collection of photos that help describe what makes the region a special place to live.

Judges spent nearly two hours reviewing images before picking three winners in three categories — Landscape, Posed and Candid. Those winners are on display in this section, as well other photos the judges found

worthy of Honorable Mention status.

Contest rules required that entries had to be shot in North Central Washington in 2018 and that the image couldn’t be dramatically manipulated electronically.

The top finishers in each category will receive $100, while the secondand third-place finishers receive $50 and $25 respectively.

We extend a big thank you to all photographers who submitted an entry this year. To view all entries, visit ncwfoothills.com.

THE JUDGES Wenatchee World photo editor Don Seabrook, World photographer Mike Bonnicksen and frequent Foothills photo contributor Paul T. Erickson reviewed entries on Jan. 25. They did not know the names of the photographers or caption information as they selected their favorite images.

March / April 2019

Foothills

37

SECOND PLACE, LANDSCAPE

Photo by DAVID ERHO, Wenatchee A late sunrise above Saddle Rock in winter. I had hiked above Saddle Rock on a winter morning early in 2018 hoping to see some wonderful colors at sunrise. However, there were too many low clouds in the sky.

On my way back down the trail, I could see that the sun was about to pass through a small break in the clouds. I hurried to set up my gear and caught this shot right in time.

Judges’ comments In second place, the photographer captured an ordinary subject – Saddlerock – but in a new perspective and dramatic light. The small snowy trails in the foreground and the sun’s rays in the background lead our eye to the rock formation. The fog-filled valley in the center of the frame leading to the left adds to the drama of the image.

38

Foothills

March / April 2019

THIRD PLACE, LANDSCAPE Photo by PHIL MARINO, Leavenworth Most people think of Colchuck Lake as a summer hiking and swimming destination. Pat Riffie clearly thinks the ski terrain is inspiring. Away from the crowds high on Colchuck. Beautiful backdrop of Mt. Cashmere. I like the way the snow slope intersects the lake and is a different view of a very popular destination.

Judges’ comments We were struck by the contrast between the snowy glacier on one half of the photograph and the vast forest in the distant half. The skier in the middle of the glacier adds to the visual impact and gives our eye a focal point in the frame.

March / April 2019

Foothills

39

FIRST PLACE, CANDID

Photo by JUSTINE WOOD, East Wenatchee I used a Canon camera with a 18-400 mm Tamron lens. It was taken at Sterling Middle School while my niece and I were sledding. She was all happy until she had to hike back up the hill. I love this picture because I captured her spunky personality.

Judges’ comments Judges initially passed over this photo and its almost too good to be true expression, but this girl’s sledding adventure with her aunt won our hearts. Expressions and body language convey our subjects’ attitudes sometimes more than we like. Just a really nice moment, as all of our candid winners share, captured with the camera.

40

Foothills

March / April 2019

March / April 2019

Foothills

41

SECOND PLACE, CANDID

Photo by MANDY McLAREN, Wenatchee Ten-month old Declan plays in a field near our campsite at Steamboat Rock. I love the warm tones in this photo and the giant sunburst.

Judges’ comments Another great moment captured. The judges liked the backlighting, yet with enough fill to show the subject. Having the large weed at left in the foreground helped balance the image from what could have been heavily weighted to the right side.

42

Foothills

March / April 2019

THIRD PLACE, CANDID

Photo by ANDREA DAVIS, Wenatchee This is a picture of my son, Jax, playing in a large pipe that was set up as a slide at Annie’s Fun Farm in East Wenatchee.

I used my Canon 80D camera with a 50mm f1.4 lens.

I love this photo because of his playful silhouette that he’s creating within the pipe and the autumn colors in the background. It’s the simple things in life that can be the most enjoyable!

Judges’ comments This photo exhibits great composition.

The photographer waited for the child’s arm and legs to have space from the body, adding much to the silhouette effect, as do the leaves in fall color in the background.

March / April 2019

Foothills

43

Photo by MARY ANNE WEBLEY, Quincy Since we couldn’t make it to the royal wedding last spring, we dressed for the occasion and still showed our support for the wedding of fellow royals.

44

Foothills

March / April 2019

FIRST PLACE, POSED Judges’ comments The top pick in this category was an easy choice. The photographer was able to convey the children’s individual characters while using an overall theme in the photograph.

The lighting was well done. Using black and white as the format added to the overall tone of the picture.

SECOND PLACE, POSED

Photo by MARY ANNE WEBLEY, Quincy Living adjacent to a blueberry field gives us hours of fun in the summer. These two brothers, my grandsons, are best friends and often visit and explore with me there.

Judges’ comments Coming in a close second, the photograph of the two boys in a blueberry patch (although there aren’t any blueberry stains on them — yet) is wonderful. We like the mood it gives of the best buds. The photographer kept them from the direct center of the photograph for good composition. We also noted the band aid on the chin of the boy at left which adds even more to the mischievous story line.

March / April 2019

Foothills

45

THIRD PLACE, POSED

Photo by NEIL NELSON, Waterville Pictured are the Nelson siblings Ty, 8, Lexi, 5, and Hanna, 10, with a 1952 Ford pickup on their farm in Lamoine. I absolutely love the photo for many reasons, but mostly because that pickup was bought new in ‘52 by their great grandfather and still remains on the farm today. They get to grow up on the farm their great-great grandfather started in 1888.

46

Foothills

March / April 2019

Judges’ comments The photograph of the three children on a vintage farm truck was well done. The sunlight adds to the backlighting but doesn’t over-dominate the picture. We like how the photographer kept separation between the subjects and gave the scene some room and space.

HONORABLE MENTION, LANDSCAPE Photo by CHUCK COCKBURN, Wenatchee Anticipating a possible sighting of the aurora borealis, I was looking for somewhere close to Wenatchee and home that allowed an excellent view to the north and with minimum light pollution. I decided on the area around Waterville. I figured I could find a decent view from the open farmlands and it would just be a bonus if I could find some old barn or homestead for a little foreground. As fortune would have it, I completely stumbled upon this location on a crisp November pitch-black night. After waiting for several hours, the glow began and it was a spectacular show. A wonderful night out on the plains of North Central Washington.

Judges’ comments The judges admired the technical skill to capture the stars, the northern lights and barn all in wonderful detail. It’s good to note that the photographer put the structures in the lower third of the frame, giving the drama of the sky the dominant portion.

March / April 2019

Foothills

47

HONORABLE MENTION, CANDID

Photo by MARY ANNE WEBLEY, Quincy I shot a personal project of some of the different cultures in my community last year. In the process I would also interview each person about their lives and how they came to be there. This is Zenaida. She is originally from Mexico. She was orphaned at 8, married off by her grandmother at 13, and the first of her nine children was born at home when she was 14. We spoke through a translator, and I was very touched by her strength.

Here she is showing me members of her family, just a small pile of photos she has.

Judges’ comments The photographer used what looks like natural window light to illuminate the subject, the tones falling to black in the background. Good, sharp focus on the subject helps isolate her from the background, too.

48

Foothills

March / April 2019

HONORABLE MENTION, POSED

Photo by KAREN KJOBECH, Wenatchee Raking leaves in the fall, my son decided to bury himself. We have a picture very similar to this from when he was 2 or 3 and I love that nine years later he still finds the same joy in leaves. Taken with my phone, a Moto G6.

Judges’ comments Surrounding the subject in leaves brings our attention right to the child’s face. The bright blue eyes are dramatic in the field of brown fallen leaves.

March / April 2019

Foothills

49

HONORABLE MENTION, LANDSCAPE

Photo by JANET BAUER, Winthrop Early last May, I paddled along the shoreline of Patterson Lake near Winthrop on a very still morning when the water was like glass. I noticed a beautiful painted turtle basking in the morning sun on a log and couldn’t resist taking its picture as its reflection was shining perfectly in the water below.

Judges’ comments We liked the mirrored effect with the turtle on the log floating in water. The photographer used shallow depth of field to eliminate any distractions.

50

Foothills

March / April 2019

HONORABLE MENTION, CANDID Photo by MATTHEW TANGEMAN, Wenatchee Leavenworth bouldering was how I got my start in climbing, so returning to those blocs on Icicle Canyon’s sunny slopes is always a joy. Here, Owen Massey tops out a classic boulder on Mountain Home Road.

Judges’ comments Rather than capture a rock climber, the photographer framed the climber with foliage in the foreground to give the image depth.

March / April 2019

Foothills

51

HONORABLE MENTION, POSED

Photo by DALE BLAIR, Wenatchee Smiling Millie. I caught this shot of Amelia (Millie) Dundas while she was wearing her dad’s hat. I love her smile and twinkle in her eye on this shot.

Judges’ comments The baby’s smile and soft lighting on her face made the judges smile. Sometimes the subjects steal the show.

52

Foothills

March / April 2019

HONORABLE MENTION, LANDSCAPE Photo by STEPHEN HUFMAN, Leavenworth Sunrise over the Methow Valley. I love the sun highlighting the valley clouds and the pine forest silhouette.

Judges’ comments We liked the drama of the cloud and fog formations and sense of movement in the photograph of the valleys of white and yellow. The photographer saw the potential of the light and captured it.

HONORABLE MENTION, POSED Photo by REILLY McCAIN, Yakima This self portrait was taken in my apartment in Wenatchee. I set up a self timer, and used the blinds for creative lighting. I like it a lot because I find it to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, and I really enjoy the lighting presented in it.

Judges’ comments We liked the attitude conveyed by the woman with lighting coming through blinds. The dark wall behind her simplifies the photograph.

March / April 2019

Foothills

53

HONORABLE MENTION, CANDID

Photo by MATTHEW TANGEMAN, Wenatchee Lake Valhalla and the surrounding terrain have become somewhat of an annual Christmas Eve ski tour for me. Aside from providing some of the best backcountry skiing terrain in the Stevens Pass area, the scenery is spectacular. On this day, the peaks were dancing in and out of the low cloud layer.

The ambience and mystique was incredible.

Judges’ comments This mountain photograph had great lighting that accentuated the fog and included great clarity where the skier is moving along. The photographer captured the moment where the skier’s legs had some separation to show movement.

HONORABLE MENTION, POSED

Photo by OSCAR GOMEZ, Bridgeport This picture was taken behind the mountains, behind my school.

The process was a little difficult since there was a lot of smoke going through my model’s face, and was hard to communicate since it was her first photoshoot. I like it because it was a challenging picture for me and a challenge for her since it was her first photoshoot. We also caught a lot of attention with the smoke. It’s the best shot I’ve done through my two years of doing photography. I get a lot of doubt and hate and just want to be out there.

Judges’ comments The orange color billowing out of the smoke bomb creates a dramatic background. It was good that the model is in a school sweatshirt to bring the photograph’s story into perspective.

March / April 2019

Foothills

55

THE VINE STORY BY RICK STEIGMEYER PHOTOS BY REILLY KNEEDLER

Tasting room boom makes Leavenworth a major wine destination

L

eavenworth’s magnetic pull on worldwide tourists has grown along with its Bavaria-style charm set in the natural scenery of the Cascade peaks and confluence of the Wenatchee and Icicle rivers.

More recently, the tinseled village has sprouted a new draw for those thousands of visitors who want memorable experiences to go along with the spectacular views.

With more than 25 wine and cider tasting rooms scattered throughout its condensed downtown streets, Leavenworth has quickly become one of the state’s — and perhaps the nation’s — most popular wine destinations.

Thanks to recent state liquor control board regulations, wineries can now operate two tasting rooms in addition to their production facility. Several wineries have jumped at the opportunity to expand their wine sales and marketing by opening a tasting room in one of the Northwest’s most successful tourist towns.

56

Foothills

March / April 2019

Bethany Stumpf, center, visits the Milbrandt and Ryan Patrick tasting room in downtown Leavenworth.

Liquid hotspot

March / April 2019

Foothills

57

Top: Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery is one of the newer additions to the Leavenworth wine scene. The winery now has tasting rooms in downtown Leavenworth and in Wenatchee. Bottom: Milbrandt Vineyards shares a joint tasting room with Ryan Patrick Winery in one of downtown Leavenworth’s newest buildings.

58

Foothills

March / April 2019

“Leavenworth is an opportunity to reach out to tourists from the West side, really from all over the country and the world,” said Jessica Piestrup, tasting room manager for Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery, 636 Front Street. Chateau Faire Le Pont also has a tasting room at its winery in the Olds Station area of Wenatchee.

Piestrup may be new to Chateau Faire Le Pont, having been hired when the new tasting room opened last November. But she’s an old hand to Leavenworth wine tasting rooms and other local restaurants and taverns.

And she’s seen a lot of change.

“Leavenworth has changed over the years,” she said. “It used be a place where people came to visit and go into shops and buy souvenirs. It’s a different dynamic now. Younger people want an experience rather than a souvenir. Millenials want to do stuff rather than buy stuff. Wine tasting rooms, breweries and restaurants do really well here because they offer an experience.”

Jessica Stoller, media director for the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce, said the wine scene only adds to the year-around festivals and events, shopping, recreation and art and theater that makes the Bavarian Village attractive and enjoyable.

“Wine tasting dovetails beautifully with our guests’ interests and will certainly help us be acknowledged as a wine destination,” she said.

Local wineries like Boudreaux Cellars, Eagle Creek Winery (D’Vinery), Stemilt Creek Winery and Ryan Patrick Winery opened Leavenworth tasting rooms nearly a decade ago. The number has grown since then with other local local wineries like Villa Monaco, Plain Cellars, Icicle Cellars, Swakane Winery (now called WooHoo Winery) Bergdorf Cellars and Baroness Cellars as well as wineries based near Lake Chelan (Hard Row to Hoe, Wine Girl, Napeequa Vintners) and the Columbia Basin (Milbrandt Vineyards, Isenhower Cellars, Goose Ridge Estate). Icicle Ridge, Eagle Creek, Silvara Vineyards, Boudreaux Cellars, 37 Cellars and Bergdorf also have wineries close to Leavenworth.

The Wine Cellar, which opened last year near the corner of 9th and Commercial streets, created space for six new tasting rooms, most of them based in Western Washington — Sigillo Cellars, Patterson Cellars, Basel Cellars, Isenhower, Obelisco Estate and Water from Wine, a nonprofit organization that sells wine to fund clean water projects.

Tasting room managers say they work with other wineries and often recommend other tasting rooms as a next stop or ones that offer a style they don’t offer. Thanks to the town’s abundant restaurants and lodging, customers can easily take in a few different tasting rooms in walking distance before dinner or calling it a night. It’s a synergy that still has room

VAMONOS

* Yard Debris * Appliances BIG OR SMALL WE * House Hold CAN HAUL IT ALL! Junk FREE ESTIMATES * Construction Debris * Moving Service

ncwcalendar.com

FIND EVENTS ADD EVENTS GO

PLAY SEE

WATCH

JUNK HAULERS

Always Lowest Price In Town

Nina and Miguel Sosa

(509) 668-7672

ENJOY

www.vamonosjunkhauler.com

EXPLORE

Vamonos Junk Hauling (Foothills) Barb - no proof - np 0228.00066585.1x2.25.Foothills

Tasting Room Now Open

Friday-Sunday, 12 to 5pm • (509) 679-0152 3450 Cathedral Rock Road, Malaga • MalagaSpringsWinery.com

Check out our list of family friendly activities every Thursday at: momblog@wenatcheeworld.com

T hank You to our Sponsors! wenatcheemomblog.com • #wenmomblog Let’s be friends!

March / April 2019

Foothills

59

Clockwise from bottom left: Kelly Miles of Sigillo Cellars laughs with customers during a tasting at the winery’s Wine Cellar location in Leavenworth.

Visitors pass by the Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery tasting room on Front Street. The Wenatchee-based winery opened a Leavenworth tasting room in November.

The Wine Cellar opened in 2017 on the corner of 9th and Commercial streets in Leavenworth and has space for six tasting rooms.

60

Foothills

March / April 2019

Jessica Piestrup, Leavenworth tasting room manager for Chateau Faire Le Pont Winery, pours a glass for Sharon Bradbury, of Lynnwood. for growth, they say.

A new building on Highway 2 but facing Front Street Park offers a ringside location for Leavenworth festivals. Milbrandt Vineyards snapped up the prime location for its tasting room shared with Ryan Patrick Vineyards, which moved from its original space below Visconti’s Italian Ristorante.

Milbrandt purchased the Ryan Patrick label six years ago.

“It’s really a lovely space. We call it the fishbowl,” said Lindsey Reynolds, tasting room manager. “It’s good to be at the heart of Leavenworth.” Milbrandt and Ryan Patrick source their wines from more than 3,500 acres of family owned vineyards.

“We think we’re pretty unique.

People can sample phenomenal wines from five different Washington AVAs (American Viticulture Areas) and three different price ranges. There’s something for everyone,” said Reynolds.

Vivian Flanagan is a co-founder of Ryan Patrick Vineyards and can often be found pouring wines on Ryan Patrick’s side of the new tasting room.

She said she had been looking at new

Vivian Flanagan pours a sample in the Ryan Patrick tasting room in downtown Leavenworth. spaces after nearly 10 years at her previous site below Visconti’s.

“I mentioned this new building to Milbrandt and they immediately jumped on the idea,” she said. The new site brings in more traffic, she said, and offers a great view of what’s going on in town.

Chateau Faire Le Pont moved into

the former Ryan Patrick site, which has turned out to be a good fit, said Piestrup.

“We’re excited to be in Leavenworth and expose our product to people who come from the other side of the mountains and elsewhere,” she said. “This is really one of the hottest destinations in the country.” F March / April 2019

Foothills

61

UPON FURTHER REVIEW

A TASTE OF NCW WINES WITH BARB ROBERTSON

Horan Estates Winery 2015 Mike Horan Merlot, $26 Merlot is second only to Cabernet Sauvignon as the top red grape varietal grown in Washington state. The grape loves our basalt rich earth, vast diurnal range and our low rain fall.

The combination produces smooth, powerful and complex wines. The Mike Horan Merlot delivers a nice snapshot of Merlot for the area. It begins with a pleasing aroma of Cherry and spice that lifts from the glass with no coaxing. The cherry continues onto the palate and is joined by ripe black plum, a bit of olive tapenade and more spice. The tannins are in check, and give a nice finish. The Mike Horan Merlot also has a cool label that depicts an old Buick that the late namesake bought with money from an apple-growing contest. I sipped this with smoked brisket, and it was divine.

Malaga Springs Winery 2016 Muscat Canelli, $17

Snowdrift Cider Co. 2015 Cornice, $9.99

The grape’s official French name is

The Ringsrud family has grown

Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains, which translates as “muscat with small berries.” The Canelli comes from the Italian name for the grape. The small berries mean that there is more skin contact, which gives the wine a slight pleasing bitterness that offsets the fresh “grapiness” of the wine. One of the tricks of making a nice Muscat is to find a balance between the sweetness and acidity while maintaining the distinctive grape character. Winemaker Al Mathews captures the essence of all things good in the Muscat grape. Aromas of jasmine and honeysuckle greet you before the first sip. Grapes (surprise), tangerine and flowers linger in the mouth. The wine is off dry and lends itself to an after-dinner treat quite well. My family often makes a fruit tart for celebrations, and the Malaga Springs Muscat Canelli makes a lovely match.

apples locally since the 1940s. They grow more than 40 varieties of apples, many much different from the apples you see in the grocery store. Cider apples are not particularly edible and can be homely in appearance, but their beautiful character shines through with the right cidermaker. A cider craftsman will select different apples for certain characteristics such as body, color, mouthfeel and flavor. The Ringsrud family are master cidermakers. The Cornice is a cider that has earned international acclaim. It is aged in bourbon barrels, which lends depth and a round caramel note to the apple, pear and dried apricot flavors. The tannins are fully integrated, and the finish is long and gratifying. You can find Snowdrift ciders at many restaurants and retail shops in our area, as well as their East Wenatchee tasting room.

Barb Robertson City: Wenatchee Credentials: Earned advanced certification through London-based Wine and Spirit Education Trust; currently working toward higher-level diploma through WSET. Earned degree in marketing from Central Washington University. Owned The Wine Bin retail shop in Wenatchee for five years, as well as the Mission Street Bistro Wine 62

Foothills

March / April 2019

Bar for 14 years. Has worked in the Northwest wine industry for more than 15 years, including sales, production and marketing. Was a judge for the 2011-16 Wenatchee Wine & Food Festival wine competition, the 2017 and 2018 Cascadia Wine Competition and the Washington State Fair 2015-16.

Join us in

Congratulating

Don Seabrook Wenatchee World Photo Editor for being awarded

The National Press Photographers Association Northwest Region Photographer of the Year for 2018 Don also won the award in 2010. He grew up in East Wenatchee and graduated with a communications degree from the University of Washington. He has worked for The Wenatchee World as a full-time photographer since 1983.

You can view Don’s work each day in The Wenatchee World and check out this online photo gallery of award-winning pictures at www.wenatcheeworld.com/seabrook

wenatcheeworld.com • 663-5161 March / April 2019 Foothills

63

64

Foothills

March / April 2019