October 2013 - Walla Walla Lifestyles

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T H E VA L L E Y ’ S P E O PL E , W I N E & F O O D

October 2013

EASy RiDERS Supplement of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

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Meet Our New Friends!

17th Annual Oktober Fest Sunday, September 29th 11:00am -5:00pm

Spook House Winter Pansies, Mums Pumpkins, Ornamental Kale

53506 West Crockett Rd, Milton-Freewater, Oregon 509-386-3064

barkwellfarm.com • Open Wednesday-Sunday 9:00am-5:30pm

BARKWELL’S

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Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 3


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4 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

9/9/13 8:52 AM


A legacy of passion for outstanding red wines. Elegance. Character. Consistency.

Don’t miss Walla Walla’s pioneer, award-winning winery in the shadow of the picturesque Blue Mountains.

Tasting Room Open Daily 11a.m. - 5p.m. & by appointment

~tastings are always free.~

1793 J.B. George Rd. | Walla Walla 509.529.0900 | vapianovineyards.com

www.wallawallavintners.com | PHONE: (509) 525-4724

356009

Bordeaux Meets New World... 100% Estate. 100% Sustainable. 100% Walla Walla. Serving Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and our proprietary Bordeaux-style blend, “Trine.”

Sit. Sip. Enjoy the wine country view.

Our tasting room is open seven days a week between the hours of 10am and 4pm. We can be found just south of Walla Walla at 1704 J.B. George Road.

open 7 days a week from 10am to 4pm 3796 Peppers Bridge Road 509.525.3541 www.amavicellars.com

Find us in Woodinville, too!

356006

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Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot & Sauvignon Blanc

www.pepperbridge.com | 509-525-6502 | info @ pepperbridge.com Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 5


October Contributors Chetna Chopra is the associate editor of Walla Walla Lifestyles magazine.

Associate Editor

Robin Hamilton is the managing editor of Walla Walla Lifestyles magazine.

Photographer

Writer

Steve Lenz is the art director for Walla Walla Lifestyles magazine. He has been a photographer and graphic artist for 20 years.

Diane Reed is a writer, photographer, historian and keen observer of life. She grew up in the East dreaming of becoming either a cowgirl or a famous writer.

Writer

Joe Tierney is a photographer who grew up, and lives, i n Wa l la Wa l la , Wa sh . Joe received a degree in documentary studies from The College of Santa Fe. Photographer

Writer

Karlene Ponti is the special publications writer for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. She can be reached at 509526-8324 or karleneponti@ wwub.com

Andy Perdue is editor and publisher of Great Northwest Wine. To learn more about wine, go to greatnorthwestwine.com Writer

Photographer Writer

Greg Lehman has photographed the Walla Walla Valley for 25 years with the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, Whitman College and as a freelance wedding, portrait and fine-art photographer.

Matt Banderas graduated from Whitman College in 2004. He has worked as a photojournalist for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin and is now a photographer for Whitman. Photographer

Comfort Inn & Suites of Walla Walla • 100% Non-Smoking Hotel

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Assortment of Walla Walla Valley & Columbia Valley Wines. All of our wines are available for home purchase.

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Benjamin’s Carpet One Walla Walla 1611 W. Rose, Walla Walla 876-4446 • Mon-Fri 9-5:30, Sat. 9-4

Monday – Friday 5:30 – 9:30pm Saturday 5:30 – 10pm Closed Sunday

509-522-3500 • 1419 W. Pine, Walla Walla

www.choicehotels.com

6 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


table of contents

OCTOBER 2013

EDITOR

Rick Doyle

WinE

“Cancer was a gift, in a wicked way.” How Trio Vintners owner Karen La Bonté beat cancer — three times — to pursue her dreams of being a winemaker.

10

WinE MAP

13

FAunA

22

ROOTS OF ThE VALLEy

38

nEW DigS

41

PUBLISH ER

Rob C. Blethen

Know where to go to buy, to taste, to enjoy Walla Walla’s renowned wines. The Aviary at Pioneer Park offers more than exotic caged birds. Steve Lenz tells the story behind these feathered friends.

A DV ERT ISING DIR EC TOR

Jay Brodt

M A NAGING EDI TOR

Robin Hamilton

A SSOCI AT E E DI TOR

Chetna Chopra

PRODUCT ION M A NAGER

Walla Walla Valley’s Latino Heritage: A Rich and Complex History

Vera Hammill

A RT IST IC DIR ECTOR /DE SIGNER / W E BSI T E

Loree and Kevin Waite’s new house, at 100 Thunder Ridge Road, has a spacious feel, with high ceilings and an emphasis on warm, light colors.

SEcRET gARDEn

Kristal Hassler and Allan Gillespie, at 704 Anvil Lane, have put together a relaxing garden sanctuary.

44

cAn’T-MiSS EVEnTS

46

WhERE in WALLA WALLA?

Steve Lenz

PRODUCT ION S TA F F

James Blethen, Ralph Hendrix, Chris Lee, Steve Lenz SA L E S STA F F

Masood Gorashi, Jeff Sasser, Donna Schenk, Colleen Streeter, Mike Waltman EDI TOR I A L A SSISTA N T

Karlene Ponti

A DM INIS T R AT I V E A SSIS TA N T

Kandi Suckow

COVER: Photo by Steve Lenz. FOR E DI TOR I A L IN FOR M AT ION

Rick Doyle rickdoyle@w wub.com

Robin Hamilton robinhamilton@w wub.com FOR A DV ERT ISING IN FOR M AT ION

Jay Brodt jaybrodt@w wub.com

31

EASY RIDERS

Bill and Abigail Schwerin take a new twist on the father-daughter togetherness dance: motorcycle touring.

PLEASE LIKE US

Union-Bulletin.com

PLEASE FOLLOW US

Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 7

Photo by steve Lenz

8

October 2013


Wine

Nothing Gets in the way of Trio Vintners Owner’s Dreams By Andy Perdue / Photos by Steve Lenz

Karen La Bonté is not simply the owner of yet another Walla Walla winery. La Bonté stands as a testament to someone who has overcome incredible trials and kept a laser focus on her ultimate goal. Since 2010, La Bonté has owned Trio Vintners, an operation that began in 2006 as collaboration between three graduates of Walla Walla Community College’s Institute for Enology and Viticulture. La Bonté, 55, grew up in Yuba City, Calif., not far from Sacramento. It’s an agricultural area known for orchards, rice fields and tomatoes. For after-school work, she harvested tomatoes, almonds and walnuts. Through this experience, she began to understand the hard work behind creating an agricultural product. She was in the corporate world for 30 years, as an engineering director for Verizon Communications. The job took her across the country — she has lived everywhere from Manhattan to Hawaii. In 1983, La Bonté’s son was born. Two months later, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Then her husband bailed on them. Suddenly, she was a young single mom fighting for her life. “It was one of those ‘aha’ moments,” she said. “I was striking deals with God.” Out of this came the dream of being a winemaker. As the crises threatened to encapsulate her, La Bonté looked to a future that didn’t involve a corporate lifestyle. In the midst of Karen La Bonté serves tastes of her award-winning wines. chemotherapy, she met with her financial adviser and told him she wanted to She beat ovarian cancer and put her plan figure out how to put her son through college, into action, sinking every raise, bonus and stock retire at 50 and become a winemaker. option into her retirement portfolio. While fel“He looked at me like I had a horn growing low executives were buying second homes in out of my head,” she said. the mountains and driving new Corvettes, 8 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

she drove a paid-for car and lived modestly. In the midst of this, the cancer returned. So she beat it again and charged ahead with her plans. It returned a third time, and she punched it in the face. That was 11 years ago, and she’s been cancerfree ever since. “When you get to 10 years, you start to feel pretty good,” she said. “It’s always in the back of my mind, but I don’t let it control my life. Cancer was a gift, in a very wicked way.” If not for the cancer, La Bonté is certain she would still be climbing the corporate ladder, perhaps even driving a Corvette. “I know for a fact, I never would have launched a winery,” she said. “It was a wake-up call for me in many, many ways.” Several years ago, La Bonté made time to learn winemaking at the University of California, Davis. As she moved around the country, she began to evaluate each state’s wine regions. She considered California, Texas, Oregon and Idaho. Returning to her home state was not really an option, though Paso Robles was intriguing, for a time. She had no desire to return to Northern California, that’s for certain. “To retire at 50 and launch a small winery, Napa and Sonoma are not ideal unless you have an overabundance of capital,” she said. La Bonté had fallen in love with Washington early in life, and Verizon landed her in Everett. She would spend vacations and weekends in Walla Walla and volunteer at any winery that


The Trio Vintners tasting room in the lobby of the historic Marcus Whitman Hotel.

would let her in the door. “I told them I’d scrub their floors and clean their toilets if they would give me time with their winemaker,” she said. She soon learned the culture in Walla Walla was exactly what she wanted. In many regions of the country, winemakers are less willing to share their secrets. Here, it’s all about collaboration and moving the entire industry forward. “Walla Walla stood out, compared with other areas,” she said. By 2007, La Bonté had turned 50, finished putting her son through college — he’s now a firefighter in San Francisco — and retired from Verizon. It was time to get into the wine business. She was hunting for a small winery with some brand recognition and found Patit Creek Cellars, which had sprung up in the late 1990s, in Dayton. She and business partner Ed Dudley bought the winery and moved it to the Walla Walla Regional Airport. In 2010, Trio Vintners came up for sale, so La Bonté sold her stake in Patit Creek and purchased Trio. Today, she is producing 1,500 cases. She makes the wine at Artifex, a custom-crush facility in Walla Walla that caters to small producers. In February, she opened her tasting room in the lobby of the Marcus Whitman Hotel, becoming the sixth winery with a presence inside Walla Walla’s iconic building. All the trials and tribulations have paid off for La Bonté. “The journey has been long and rough, and I love it,” she said. “Wine is my passion, something I’m serious about. I eat, drink, sleep and breathe this 24/7. I’ve waited a long time to be able to get to this point of living my dream.”

Some of the award-winning Trio Vintners wines. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 9


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St. AMAVI CELLARS 3796 Peppers Bridge Road 509-525-3541 www.amavicellars.com 2. BASEL CELLARS ESTATE WINERY 2901 Old Milton Highway 509-522-0200 www.baselcellars.com 3. BERGEVIN LANE VINEYARDS 1215 W. Poplar St. 509-526-4300 www.bergevinlane.com 4. BLUE MOUNTAIN CIDER 235 E. Broadway, Milton-Freewater 541-938-5575 www.drinkcider.com 5. BUNCHGRASS WINERY 151 Bunchgrass Lane 509-540-8963 www.bunchgrasswinery.com 6. CASTILLO DE FELICIANA 85728 Telephone Pole Road Milton-Freewater 541-558-3656 www.castillodefeliciana.com 7. CAVU CELLARS 602 Piper Ave. 509-540-6350 www.cavucellars.com 8. DON CARLO VINEYARD 6 W. Rose St. 509-540-5784 www.doncarlovineyard.com 9. DUNHAM CELLARS 150 E. Boeing Ave. 509-529-4685 www.dunhamcellars.com 10. FIVE STAR CELLARS 840 C St. 509-527-8400 www.fivestarcellars.com 11. FORGERON CELLARS 33 W. Birch St. 509-522-9463 www.forgeroncellars.com 12. FOUNDRY VINEYARDS 13th Ave. and Abadie St. 509-529-0736 www.wallawallafoundry.com/vineyards 10 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

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13. FORT WALLA WALLA CELLARS 127 E. Main St. 509-520-1095 www.fortwallawallacellars.com 14. GLENCORRIE 8052 Old Highway 12 509-525-2585 www.glencorrie.com 15. GRANTWOOD WINERY 2428 Heritage Road 509-301-0719 509-301-9546 16. JLC WINERY 425 B. St. 509-301-5148 www.jlcwinery.com 17. LE CHATEAU 175 E. Aeronca Ave. 509-956-9311 lechateauwinery.com 18. L’ECOLE NO 41 WINERY 41 Lowden School Road and U.S. Highway 12 509-525-0940 www.lecole.com 19. LODMELL CELLARS 6 W. Rose St. 509-525-1285 www.lodmellcellars.com 20. LONG SHADOWS 1604 Frenchtown Road (Formerly Ireland Road) 509-526-0905 www.longshadows.com By invitation only. Requests accepted on a limited basis. Please call to inquire.

21. MANSION CREEK CELLARS 9 S. First Ave. 253-370-6107 www.mansioncreekcellars.com 22. NORTHSTAR WINERY 1736 J.B. George Road 509-524-4883 www.northstarmerlot.com 23. PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY 1704 J.B. George Road 509-525-6502 www.pepperbridge.com

11 32

24. PLUMB CELLARS 9 S. First Ave. 509-876-4488 www.plumbcellars.com 25. REININGER WINERY 5858 Old Highway 12 509-522-1994 reiningerwinery.com 26. ROBISON RANCH CELLARS 2839 Robison Ranch Road 509-301-3480 www.robisonranchcellars.com 27. SAPOLIL CELLARS 15 E. Main St. 509-520-5258 www.sapolilcellars.com 28. SAVIAH CELLARS 1979 J.B. George Road 509-520-5166 www.saviahcellars.com 29. SEVEN HILLS WINERY 212 N. Third Ave. 509-529-7198 www.sevenhillswinery.com 30. SINCLAIR ESTATE VINEYARDS 109 E. Main., Ste. 100 509-876-4300 www.sinclairestatevineyards.com


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31. SPRING VALLEY VINEYARD 18 N. Second Ave. 509-525-1506 www.springvalleyvineyard.com 32. SULEI CELLARS 355 S. Second Ave. 503-529-0840 www. suleicellars.com 33. SYZYGY 405 E. Boeing Ave. 509-522-0484 www.syzygywines.com 34. TAMARACK CELLARS 700 C St. (Walla Walla Airport) 509-520-4058 www.tamarackcellars.com 35. TEMPUS CELLARS 124 W. Boeing Ave. (Walla Walla Airport) 509-270-0298 www.tempuscellars.com 36. TERTULIA CELLARS 1564 Whiteley Road 509-525-5700 www.tertuliacellars.com

WASHINGTON OREGON

37. THREE RIVERS WINERY 5641 Old Highway 12 509-526-9463 info@ThreeRiversWinery.com 38. VA PIANO VINEYARDS 1793 J.B. George Road 509-529-0900 www.vapianovineyards.com 39. WALLA WALLA VINTNERS Vineyard Lane off Mill Creek Road 509-525-4724 www.wallawallavintners.com 40. THE CHOCOLATE SHOP 31 E. Main St. 509-522-1261 www.chocolateshopwine.com 41. WATERMILL WINERY 235 E. Broadway, Milton-Freewater 541-938-5575 www.watermillwinery.com 42. WOODWARD CANYON WINERY 11920 W. Highway 12, Lowden 509-525-4129 www.woodwardcanyon.com

Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 11


Walla Walla

Dining Guide

clarette’s Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 S. Touchet St., Walla Walla • 509-529-3430 Open daily, 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Clarette’s offers many locally sourced foods and consistently is voted the valley’s best place for breakfast. Generations of locals have marked important occasions with its classic American-style breakfasts. Located on the Whitman College campus, one block off Main street, near the travelodge. Lots of parking. Breakfast served all day.

The Marc Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jacobi’s italian café & catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 W. Rose St., Walla Walla • 509-525-2200 • marcuswhitmanhotel.com 416 N. Second Ave., Walla Walla • 509-525-2677 • jacobiscafe.com Dinner daily, starting at 5:30 p.m. Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Using locally sourced produce, poultry and Come “Mangia Mangia” in Walla Walla at Jacobi’s meats, Chef Antonio Campolio has created an Café! At Jacobi’s Café you can enjoy our signaambitious and creative menu. try the “Bacon and ture italian cuisine and experience casual dining eggs,” a tempura-fried Red Boar farms pork belwith customer service that is second to none. ly served with a soft-poached, locally produced you may dine in our vintage train car or sit back egg. All menu items are thoughtfully paired with and relax on our patio. Because when you are local wine selections. Vegetarian dishes are as inItalian Café & Catering thinking italian ... think Jacobi’s! triguing as non-veggie options.

Mill creek Brew Pub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 S. Palouse St., Walla Walla • 509-522-2440 • millcreek-brewpub.com Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-midnight; Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. for 15 years, Mill Creek has served locally brewed, handcrafted beers. you’ll find great values on the kid-friendly lunch and dinner menu, served inside or out on the largest patio in town. Local wines, daily specials and great atmosphere, all await you at Mill Creek Brew Pub.

Patit creek Restaurant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 725 E. Dayton Ave., Dayton, WA • 509-382-2625 Lunch: Wed.-Fri., 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; Dinner: Wed. & Thu., 4:30-7 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 4:30-7:30 p.m. Named in “Northwest Best Places” as the only four-star french restaurant east of the Cascades, Patit Creek has been serving great cuisine — without the attitude — since 1978. While all the entrees are exquisite, their meat dishes are truly notable, especially the Medallions of Beef Hiebert. An imaginative wine list and remarkable desserts make Patit Creek a gem worth traveling for.

T. Maccarone’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 N. Colville St., Walla Walla • 509-522-4776 • www.tmaccarones.com Open daily, 11 a.m. - 9 .p.m. Welcome to t. Maccarone’s, a modern Washington wine-country bistro influenced by classic italian sensibilities. Join us in our downtown Walla Walla restaurant for a celebration of the senses – from the fragrant allure of white truffle to the warm spark of candles in our intimate dining room, let us help make your wine-country experience truly memorable.

Thai Ploy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 S. Ninth Ave., Walla Walla • 509-525-0971 Open 7 days a week from 11 a.m. Roast Duck Curry, Lemon Grass Barbecued Chicken, Coconut Prawns, Pad thai and more. A great menu of thai dishes, expertly prepared. enjoy a glass of wine, cold beer or tasty thai iced tea with your meal. Plenty of room for groups or just the two of you. if you’re looking for a true thai dining experience, thai Ploy is the place for you.

KEy

Breakfast

Kid-Friendly

Lunch

Outdoor Dining

Dinner

under $10

Reservations Recommended Food Past 10 p.m.

12 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes

$11-$25 Over $26

Walla Walla

Dining Guide


Hudson Hall, River Abenroth (cousin), and Andrew and Clarabelle Hall feed the popular nene geese, an endangered species that is part of the Pioneer Park Aviary breeding program.

For the Birds Story and photos by Steve Lenz

Precious cargo made its way from Walla Walla to Utah last year. Five nene goslings, hope for an endangered species, were sent to be integrated into several breeding facilities, offering a critical infusion into a shrinking bloodline. The Pioneer Park Aviary is more than an avian display that graces the park: It is a breeding facility for several endangered birds. It is also an educational tool. And it is a place for community enrichment. It is a gem that survives on community support — support that is infused, like the bloodline of the endangered nene goose, through community effort. Both of these need help to stay alive.

From children to seniors, hundreds of visitors flock to the aviary every year. By foot, by car or by the busload, they come to enjoy the variety of birds in the picturesque setting of Pioneer Park. “Many participate in organized field trips from schools, day-care facilities, summer recreation programs, Scouts and special programs,” Aviary Caretaker Joanna Lanning says. “Guided tours are gladly conducted by prearrangement,

and many times I see the same groups every year, with new faces eager to learn about the birds and their environment. Groups also do self-guided tours around the facility, reading the signage to identify the species they just learned about.” The aviary is licensed by the state of Washington and the federal government as a game farm. This authorizes it to breed and sell game Continued on pg. 17 > Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 13


Places

An Indian blue peahen and her chick eat shelled peanuts.

This wood duck is one of the colorful aviary residents. 14 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


Joanna Lanning holds a male blue-eared pheasant, a favorite with visitors to the aviary.

Lanning repairs the netting to keep the birds in and predators out.

Lanning spreads food around the aviary for the birds and the turtles. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 15


Places Top left: One of the aviary’s incubators used to hatch bird eggs.

Middle left: The remaining shells of four hatched coturnix quail after a 16-18 day incubation period.

Bottom: Approximately month-old coturnix quail chicks that hatched from the shells at middle left. They are a species of Old World quail from East Asia. The wild population is small, due to hunting and habitat loss. The domesticated variety found at the aviary is very friendly and docile, flourishing in captivity, says Lanning.

16 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


<continued from pg. 13

birds and waterfowl, a few of which are endangered, such as the nene goose, the Laysan teal, and the cheer pheasant. Many of these birds go to zoos, breeders and hobbyists in a breeding loan program in which the aviary participates. In the last two years, the aviary’s two breeding pairs of nene geese have fledged seven goslings — a positive impact on the future of a threatened species. Often, people drop off unwanted birds and animals at the park, assuming it is good for the welfare of the creature. Chickens, turtles, rabbits and ducks are some of the orphans that are dumped there. But the park outside the netted enclosures is not maintained to artificially support wildlife, on purpose. This strategy encourages migratory birds to stay with their natural flight plans. Domestic animals that do not migrate and do not fend for themselves are not suited to the park’s environment. “When pet ducks are dropped off, they do not know how to fend for themselves, usually are unable to fly and can become easy prey for loose dogs that occasionally wander through the park. If we are able to capture them, we try to re-home them, but with our part-time workday, it takes valuable time and energy away from caring for the almost-200 birds that currently reside at the aviary,” Lanning says. Daily operating needs, such as feed, veteri-

A three-toed box turtle (left) and a Russian tortoise are some of the flightless residents at the aviary.

Continued on pg. 18 >

Fundraiser “An Evening of Foliage and Feathers” Oct. 5, 2013 Pavilion Rotunda Walla Walla Fairgrounds (Sponsored by Columbia REA) For more info: Shane Laib, chair Friends of Pioneer Park Aviary 509-629-1354 or shanelaib@hotmail.com

For more information Volunteering, feed donations or guided tours: Joanna Lanning, caretaker Pioneer Park Aviary 509-527-4403 Monetary donations: Trina Judd, treasurer Friends of Pioneer Park Aviary 509-540-9673

Steffy, a mixed-breed rescue pup, is the on-site guard dog. Since she has been on duty, there has been a significant decrease in bird deaths caused by domestic cats. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 17


Places

<continued from pg. 17

We’ll Help You Find The Right Loan

Annie, a recently abandoned pet, is one of two rabbits that live in the lower pond enclosure.

So You Can Find The Right Home Find your mortgage with Community Bank. We have a wide range of products to fit your loan needs. Give Julie a call today.

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nary expenses, utilities, repairs and wages, for the nearly 200 birds consume an annual budget of $55,000, all of which is met through funds raised by Friends of Pioneer Park Aviary. Beyond this monetary need, there are labor needs. The aviary utilizes community volunteers over countless hours to, among other things, clean, feed, landscape, assist with repairs, and build and repair nesting boxes. Many local institutions and organizations, such as Walla Walla University, Whitman College, Walla Walla Community College, AmeriCorps and the Eagle Scouts, donate hundreds of hours a year to help maintain the aviary. This is not only beneficial to the birds, but also to the young adults gaining life experience volunteering for their community. “Their efforts are greatly appreciated, as it is difficult to keep ahead of plant and weed growth in the spring and leaf removal in the fall in a five-hour workday,” Lanning says. “When they leave, they often tell me how much they enjoyed their experience at the aviary.”


A wood duck hen watches the setting sun from atop her breeding box.

Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 19


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People

Sisters Vanesa and Melissa Alvarado-Rivas and fellow-dancer Elizabeth Flores perform during a Cinco de Mayo celebration at Walla Walla High School last May. The event was organized by the Wa-Hi Latino Club. Photo by Joe Tierney.

Roots of the Valley Walla Walla Valley’s Latino Heritage: A Rich and Complex History By Diane Reed / Photos by Joe Tierney, Diane Reed

If history had taken a slightly different turn in the 18th century, we might be speaking Spanish in the Walla Walla Valley. With the exception of the Native Americans, Latinos have been in the Pacific Northwest longer than any other group. As early as 1542, Portugal’s Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo explored the coast of Washington, followed by Spanish explorer Juan Perez. In 1792, Mexican naturalist José Mariano Moziño and artist Anastasio Echeverria studied the flora and fauna of the region. There were even several Spanish settlements on the coast of Washington. Despite the influx of British and French explorers and the journey of Lewis and Clark,

the 1774 Spanish claim to the Northwest was not ceded until 1819, when the United States and Spain signed the Adams-Onis Treaty. That agreement gave Florida and the Pacific Northwest to the U.S. in return for setting the boundary between the U.S. and Mexico. Despite the boundaries drawn by the treaty, Latinos were among the earliest settlers in the Walla Walla Valley, arriving in the 1850s. Mule-

train packers — many of them from Mexico — were renowned for their system of carrying provisions and outfitting gold seekers on their way to the mines and gold claims of Idaho and beyond. Although there are few records from the 19th century, Fort Walla Walla’s Living History Company has identified one packer who settled in Walla Walla. Continued on pg. 24 >

22 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


A dancer waits to perform some Cinco de Mayo dances at Wa-Hi. Photo by Joe Tierney.

Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 23


People

<continued from pg. 22

Sebastian Colon, born in Spain in 1829, beJulio, a welder with 43 years of experience, former club members to help get the fairgrounds came a resident in 1872, opening the “Mexican recently retired after 23 years at Key Technology. ready for the Walla Walla Fair and Frontier Days, Restaurant and Tamale Factory” near the corner Their daughters — Liza, Lenore, Loreen, logging more than 640 hours of community of Fourth and Alder. He became known as the Lucita and Julianne — graduated from Walla service each year. “Hot Tamale King of the Pacific Northwest.” Walla High School and from college. Their The students are particularly proud of their By 1870 there was a significant Mexican daughters experienced a very different atmo- volunteer work with the Estrellita program at population in Walla Walla, and Garrison Night School. The ensuing generations of Latinos school provides evening ESL have called the Valley home. classes for adults, and the But the road for Latinos in Wa-Hi Latino Club coordiWalla Walla hasn’t always been nates child care — reading smooth, and the streets have stories, singing, and interhardly been paved with gold. acting with the children. Each generation of new arrivals The club provides eight to has faced obstacles to achieving 10 students on each of four the American Dream. nights a week, logging more There was a significant influx than 1,000 hours of service of Latinos in the Walla Walla Valin the school year. ley after World War II, with many It’s not surprising that newcomers working in the fields 2012-13 Latino Club Presiand canneries. dent Brenda Lopez and Vice Mary Ann Zapata remembers, President Eduardo Feria are “My parents (Manuel Armijo and proud the club received the Esther Castilleja Armijo) came President’s Volunteer Serhere from Texas in 1946. They vice Award from President moved into the farm labor camp. Obama in 2012. My father worked at Rogers asReyes has been a teacher paragus farm — he recruited and at Wa-Hi for six years, and managed workers. says the school is “very “Later, he worked at Rogers supportive. It offers a lot of Cannery in Milton-Freewater. I connections for the students. met my husband (Julio Zapata) During the school year we there when I was working at the have workshops and moticannery.” vational speakers from the Julio, who came to the area Latino community. At the in 1963, laughs, “I was too tall to end of the school year we pick asparagus, so I worked at the invite former students to cannery.” come back, and the last day Mary Ann recalls, “I think of school we have a student there was less prejudice in the panel and time for anyone Valley than where my family lived to speak about their comin South Texas, but people were munity.” not nice to my mother because she Walla Walla city councilors Mary Lou Hernandez Jenkins and Conrado Cavazos. Like many immigrant didn’t speak English.” groups, Latinos have often Photo by Diane Reed. For herself, she remembers, taken low-paying jobs un“There were only a handful of Latino students sphere, and Mary Ann notes, “They made lots der appalling conditions in their quest for the at Mac-Hi (McLoughlin High School in Milof Anglo friends.” American dream. ton-Freewater) in those days, and the teachers Today, the Walla Walla School District has an Paul Apostolidis, professor of political weren’t that supportive.” active Diversity Committee and a dual-language science at Whitman College, is the author of In time, Mary Ann realized she needed more immersion program. Wa-Hi has an active Latino “Breaks in the Chain: What Immigrant Workthan a high school diploma, so, in between Club of almost 60 members. Teacher and adviser ers Can Teach America about Democracy.” The children and with the encouragement of her Refugio Reyes, with help from volunteers Bill book is based on a series of interviews with husband, she got her college degree from Washand Diana Erickson, works with the group, immigrant workers, many of whom were workington State University. She taught English as which sponsors the school’s Cinco de Mayo ing in the meat packing and canning industry. a Second Language and second grade at Blue celebration and is active in civic and volunteer Apostolidis notes that, “in addition to copRidge Elementary School for 20 years until her programs. ing with difficult and, at times, dangerous workretirement. The club coordinates 30 to 40 students and ing conditions, immigrants work long hours to 24 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


Rolando Gaitan entertains the crowd at Wa-Hi’s Cinco de Mayo celebration. Photo by Joe Tierney.

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People

Mary Ann Zapata and Julio Zapata display their family’s rich heritage in the Valley in their Walla Walla home. Photo by Diane Reed.

make ends meet. Some take multiple jobs to get by, and many don’t have the time or energy to take the ESL courses that could help them assimilate into the community and get ahead.” Apostolidis points out that earlier immigrant groups from other countries often didn’t learn English for similar reasons. “My own grandmother, who came from Greece, never learned English,” he said. Apostolidis initiated “The State of the State for Washington Latinos” website in 2005, a community-based research project of the college. He also points to the organization OneAmerica, which has expanded into the largest immigrant advocacy organization in Washington state and is active in Walla Walla. Over time, and often in succeeding generations, Latinos have found their strength in the Valley. One of the first Latino firemen, Roger Rojo, served 25 years in the Walla Walla Fire Department in the mid-20th century. Gilbert Lugo, Jr. became the first Latino on the Walla Walla City Council in 1996 and was elected mayor in 26 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

2004. More recently, the Council has had two Latino members, Mary Lou Hernandez Jenkins and Conrado Cavazos. Jenkins came to Walla Walla in 1960, just as she was starting kindergarten. Her father, Jose Monroy Hernandez, was from Mexico, and her mother, from Texas. She remembers, “When we moved to Walla Walla and I started kindergarten, I didn’t speak English. There was no bilingual education in the schools at the time, and the teachers weren’t very patient. When my parents got sick, I dropped out of high school. I was 16.” Jenkins worked at a variety of fast-food jobs for a time. In 1976 Blue Mountain Action Council hired her — in large part because she was bilingual — and she immersed herself in job and training programs, energy assistance and in a variety of programs where her assistance proved to be invaluable. Referring to her willingness to help out wherever needed, she describes herself as the “chief of everything else” at BMAC. Jenkins’ father was the first Latino radio

disc jockey in the area. Jenkins followed in her father’s footsteps by establishing the first Spanish-language radio station in Walla Walla. In 2011 she was elected to the City Council. Her colleague, Conrado Cavazos, came to the Valley when he was 19 years old. When he was 25 and working as a draftsman designing cattle trailers in Touchet, he decided he wanted to go college. He enrolled in Walla Walla Community College in 1968, a year after it opened. Despite the difficulty of getting into college, he was able to graduate from Whitman College in 1972 and got a law degree from Gonzaga University in 1979. He remembers, “At first I couldn’t get financial aid (at Gonzaga), but I still attended night classes and lived in my van.” He attributes his drive to get an education as coming from his experiences as a migrant. “I didn’t want my kids to live like that.” The dreams, experiences and contributions of Latinos enrich the Walla Walla Valley. They’re found in the artistry and craftsmanship of an elegant iron gate made by Isidro Berrones of


Manuel Armijo and Esther Castilleja Armijo (second and third from left) at their naturalization ceremony in 1962. Photo courtesy of the Zapata family.

ABC Ironworks. Taste them in the wines created by winemaker Amy Alvarez-Wampfler of Sinclair Estates Vineyards and Victor Palencia of Palencia Wine Company. Savor Mexican cuisine created by restaurateurs such as Dora and Rubio Jimenez of Dora’s Deli, Rosita Gonzalez Berrones of Rosita’s, and Abelardo and Carlos Arceo’s El Sombrero restaurants. Take an opportunity to work with Latino community leaders such as City Councilor Mary Lou Jenkins; Miguel Sanchez, who serves on the board of Walla Walla Community College; or Sergio Hernandez of the Walla Walla Public Schools’ Diversity Committee. Latinos comprise more than 20 percent of county residents — an important and engaging strand in the ever-changing tapestry of the Walla Walla Valley. Across all walks of life, from multigenerational Latino families to newcomers, the fabric of the Walla Walla Valley is interwoven with the richness of its Latino heritage. For more information, see the websites: www.walatinos.org and www.oneamerica.org

Mule pack train headed for the gold fields, circa 1870. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 27


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People

Father and daughter Bill and Abigail Schwerin set off on a four-day trip to Mount Rainier recently. Blue skies, dry roads and family time made the journey memorable.

Easy Riders Father and daughter take up motorcycle touring By Robin Hamilton/Photos by Steve Lenz Bill and Abigail Schwerin are father-anddaughter business partners, winery owners and rock ’n’ roll impresarios. They are also good friends. Just ask them. Or watch: They talk animatedly together, their sentences tumbling over each other’s. They laugh a lot — Abigail has a boisterous laugh, a belly laugh; her dad’s is more subdued, all in the eyes. When she speaks, he looks at her with pride. When Bill speaks, Abigail affectionately touches her father’s arm.

Sitting in their tasting room-cum music venue, Sapolil Cellars, they recount how they came to this latest iteration of the father-daughter dance. “We’ve always been able to do something together,” Abigail says. “But I need to satisfy my sense of danger and adventure; I’m not going to do something that’s docile. I mean, if Dad wanted to take up power walking, I don’t think I’d be up for that.” Laughter. The sports the two have taken up to spend

time together are varied: white-water kayaking, snowboarding (the only one that didn’t stick, Abigail says), road-bike riding — and, now, motorcycle touring. It started with a solo motorcycle trip Bill took last winter. It was such a frightening, lonely, yet thrilling, experience for him, he talked of little else. “All my life I’ve had support of one kind or another,” he says. “Mechanics, vets, people — in everything I’ve ever done, there’s always been Continued on pg. 34 > Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 31


People

1980 Moto guzzi V 1000 g5 • 1,000 cc • Shaft drive • Four-stroke engine • Air-cooled • 556 pounds • 61 horsepower

2012 Triumph Bonneville • 865 cc • Multipoint sequential electronic fuel injection • Air-cooled • 495 pounds • 67 horsepower • 5-speed

32 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes


“The roads around Walla Walla are fantastic for cruising,� Bill Schwerin says. here, Abigail and Bill roll along Middle Waitsburg Road.

Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 33


People

<continued from pg. 31

someone to help me out of a jam. This time, I was literally on my own.” The trip was full of trials and tribulations, including the Moto Guzzi breaking down 100 miles into his 5,000-mile trip and running out of gas at night on a freeway outside Phoenix, Ariz. — but it also gave Bill a sense of freedom he hadn’t had for a long time. He began riding with a group of friends. “It was so much fun,” he says. “You have to get where you’re going, somehow, and, on a bike, you have the experience of being out in the elements, enjoying the road. Then you camp, sit around a fire and drink whiskey.” More laughter. Abigail began to take notice of her dad’s exploits. “I felt left out. He was having such a good time. I wanted in on that.” Another factor came into play: Abigail saw the clock ticking on her relationship with her father. “I watched my grandparents — they’re aging, naturally, and can’t do as much as they used to. I realized I needed to spend time with my dad.”

Abigail readily admits to being a daddy’s girl — and a bit of a tomboy. She learned to drive wheat truck on the family farm, rode a dirt bike and loved to spend time trying to keep up with the men in her life. “It’s been my experience that men like challenges. They like adventure.” At 5 feet 4 inches tall, Abigail is diminutive for a motorcycle rider. Her bike, a 2012 Triumph Bonneville, is considered an excellent all-around bike by motorcycle experts, since it has plenty of power and forgiving handling. “It’s such a beautifully performing bike. It corners so well, and I love taking corners.” Finding the bike was pure kismet, she says. “My husband, John, was looking at all kinds of bikes for me. I’m limited by my size, so when we found the Triumph Bonneville — it was a steal because it was a demo bike — it seemed perfect. Even better, it was in Elk Grove, Calif., where my brother lives. As it happened, my parents were on their way down there to visit him.” Bill laughs and says the best part of the deal was that he got to ride the bike back to Walla Walla. “It’s a wonderful touring bike. I had the

best time riding that baby.” Someday, Abigail says, she’d like to be “enough of a rider” for a Ducati Monster — bigger engine, trickier handling, known for its “naked power.” Bill’s 1980 Moto Guzzi is a classic touring bike, and was previously owned by a policeman in San Francisco. A family member bought it and left it at Bill’s machine shop. Bill began riding it to and from work. “That was that,” he says about the motorcycle he affectionately calls “The Goose.” (He has another, unprintable name for it, too, when it misbehaves.) “Even if I could have another bike, I wouldn’t ride anything else. I know it inside and out.” Bill and Abigail’s most recent trip was a four-day tour to Mount Rainier and surrounding areas. The beauty of that mountain on a warm, sunny day was just one of the rewards of the trip. Bill’s wife and Abigail’s mother, Lynda, came along — a rare event, since they were tent camping. Bill smiles broadly while describing his

Abigail bought a high-performance jacket, gloves and boots (above right) to give her optimum coverage and function, but to also look good. 34 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


wife’s love of order. “We’ve had some camping disasters in the past,” he says, laughing. “Lynda’s an interior designer; she likes things to be perfect. If she sees something out of place, it drives her crazy, and that’s camping for you.” But this time it all went well, and the family — John came along, too — had a wonderful time. It’s easy to see that Abigail gets her sense of adventure from her dad and her girly-girl nature from her mother. “There’s no reason to look bad, even when you’re tent camping,” Abigail says. “I may wear the same shirt three days in a row, but I always wear lipstick and have a cute hat to put on.” She’ll have plenty of opportunities to practice that dichotomy — Bill is planning to take her on his ultimate motorcycle trip — up the Alaska-Canadian Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska. In the meantime, the two continue to run their winery and tasting room, provide a music venue for the downtown crowd and take off on short motorcycle trips. “We’ve become even better friends,” Abigail says. “It’s just the best.”

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People

Bill and Abigail used to go on road-bike trips together. “One of the best things about motorbiking is that you can carry weight, which means more comfort when you’re camping,” says Bill, Right: Bill likes to go old school with his gear, which includes a well-used leather jacket and gloves.

While most bikers wear motorcycle boots with rubber soles, Bill prefers his cowboy boots: “I have to be able to dance when I get off this thing.” 36 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


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New Digs

Loree and Kevin Waite’s home shows painstaking attention to detail, inside and out.

Right at Home in a New House By Karlene Ponti / Photos by Matthew Zimmerman Banderas

Loree and Kevin Waite began looking for the right location and design about a year before they built their new house at 100 Thunder Ridge Road, southeast of Walla Walla. The actual construction began in April 2005, and now they are right at home. They had liked the location, off Cottonwood Road, and had tried to buy a lot there. Only one was available then, and the sale didn’t go through. But, suddenly, the situation changed. “Our real estate agent contacted us and said this lot was open, and we’d have to do this right now,” Kevin says. It was a corner lot — perfect for their needs, and all the details just fell into place. Then came the house plans and deciding what they actually wanted in a home. “We bought these thick house-plan books,” Kevin says. “We knew the layout of the lot; we knew we wanted a two-story, the stairs and the rail thing. We wanted living space on the back side of the house.” 38 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

This would include a deck outside the upstairs master bedroom, a lot of light and a view from the kitchen. One of Loree and Kevin’s goals was also to make more yard space by having a smaller footprint on the lot, by building up two stories. The couple narrowed down the designs to a dozen “possibles.” “We kept coming back to this one,” Kevin says. It was a good start — then they modified the plans. And then they changed them some more. The laundry was moved upstairs, near the bedroom. “We added a shower to what would have been a half bath,” Loree says. “We liked the

bay window off the back and off the master bedroom.” There is a balcony/small deck on the second story. Upstairs, they also have a bonus room that serves as an office, kids’ play area and multipurpose room. And Loree loves having the laundry upstairs; the couple agrees her idea was a good one. Loree and Kevin credit contractor Dan Preas for “making it all happen.” “It was exciting to build a house,” Kevin says. “We’d go out there every day and see what was going on.” “It was amazing how much it would change each day,” Loree says. That spring, there was a flood that tested


A sweeping view of the main floor shows the open kitchen design, the cozy breakfast nook and large living room.

The home has many windows for ample natural light and the relaxing views of the landscaping.

everyone. Kevin says most houses were just swamped. “We were glad we had decided to raise the foundations higher,” Loree says. “Those were exciting times.” They run the Tell It Media company from home, so they needed a large work area. Loree said their experience in work has been beneficial to researching and building a house. “What do we want? How to maintain it? How to get things fixed? Work training skills help in building neighborly relations,” she says. The work space and living space are close to each other, but comfortably separate. Another idea the couple implemented came from a house they had rented, built in the 1930s or 1940s — it had countertops under cabinets in rooms other than the kitchen. There is also a pull-down ironing board, so you can iron a shirt at the last minute — very practical. Those details of the home are some they love the most. The Waites’ favorite room is the large family room on the main floor. “It’s an odd-shaped room,” Kevin says. But they spend a great deal of time there. It is a large, open space that intersects with the kitchen, so one person can be in the kitchen and still interact with family and guests. Loree and Kevin did have plans to put the TV above the fireplace, but it was too high for comfortable viewing. So plans were changed and that area was sheet-rocked in, and the mantel for the fireplace was finished. “It’s a really pleasant room,” Kevin says. The room has several accent walls, one in a striking greenish blue. Sunlight from one angle makes it look blue, and from the opposite side it looks green. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 39


New Digs “The light is interesting,” Loree says. “I love the eating-nook in the bay window. I finally found curtains for it. It’s cozy, and I feel wrapped around in it,” she says. The nearly 2,800-square-foot home has three bathrooms, four bedrooms and a lot of good energy. The main living room has huge vertical walls — 13-foot-high ceilings on the sides and, in the center, the walls are about 20 to 22 feet high. The couple wanted to maximize the high ceilings and the spaciousness they create. Most rooms downstairs have 11-foot ceilings; the upstairs has 6-foot-high ceilings. The floor plan is open — the main room, dining area and kitchen only have a short wall in-between. It makes a circle that the kids and dog can run and chase each other around in. “When guests come, you feel connected. The person in the kitchen isn’t isolated,” Loree says. “The serving-deck is great for a potluck.” “It’s a home that’s inviting and welcoming,” Kevin says. “The whole house and yard and everything, we wanted it to be us, to build memories, not just build a house.” “I give Kevin a lot of credit here,” Loree says. “He put so much into the landscaping — the design and actual physical labor: the walls and rock, plants and sprinkler system.” The Waites are very happy and well-settled, but they might do something different with the back patio. It might be possible to put in a big pergola to take the living space outside, Kevin says. It’s designed with their personalities, needs and dreams in mind. The staircase is mirrored above the fireplace in the large living room on the main floor. This room is a favorite with the couple.

The rooms are spacious and uncluttered, with clean lines and large windows. 40 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


Secret Garden

Kristal Hassler and Allan Gillespie enjoy the garden and the relaxation of being outdoors.

The Garden Constantly Blooms By Karlene Ponti / Photos by Greg Lehman

Kristal Hassler and Allan Gillespie, at 704 Anvil Lane, have put together a relaxing garden sanctuary. They have flowers, vegetables and a patio for their “outdoor living room.” “I just put flowers in the ground. Kristal is the genius. We work on the garden together — I just do what I’m told,” Allan says.“We love living there. We really enjoy it.” He says the key to the whole project is that they do this for themselves, to have a place that’s comfortable, to relax on the patio. They have a small vegetable garden with lots of tomatoes. And the garden is constantly improving. “In the last five years, it’s stepped up nicely,” he says.

“It’s my mental-health therapy,” Kristal says. She also is inspired by her mother’s and grandmother’s gardens, with a big focus on perennials. “My goal is to have flowers that bloom all summer. I have 60 rose bushes; they are my love and my nemesis.” They have a large hosta garden, wine barrels, a sitting area with yard art and decorations. They also have a flair for the practical — they grow many types of vegetables for their table.

“He grows 29 heirloom tomato plants,” Kristal says. “We also have corn, onions and cucumbers. But roses are my big thing.” The garden is constantly growing and changing. At some point in the future, a fountain may be installed, but right now Kristal and Allan are very happy with the garden. There are many flowers in pots so some color spots can be moved. Some are too large to really be movable, but it’s all a labor of love. And the result is comfort. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 41


Secret Garden

The Anvil Lane garden features different textures throughout.

A sitting area is decorated with wine barrels and a variety of plants. 42 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

Allan and Kristal still spend time outdoors on crisp fall evenings.


The garden offers the perfect balance of sunlight and shade. Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 43


October Through Oct. 26

Oct. 6

Oct. 24-27

“Cowboys & Indians: Prints by Andy Warhol.” Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton. Details: 541-966-9748. Through Oct. 27

The AAUW Walla Walla Valley Kitchen Tour shows off some of the area’s most beautiful kitchens in its annual tour. Tickets are available at Earthlight Books, Sweetwater Paper & Home and Bright’s Candies. Kitchens are open for touring from noon-5 p.m.; participants begin the tour at Jacobi’s Cafe, 416 N. Second Ave. Details: 509-520-9760 or 805-459-7324. Oct. 8

A performance of “Tartuffe” entertains at Harper Joy Theatre, Whitman College. Details: 509-527-5180.

Every Sunday, Living History interpreters portray the people of the past. 2 p.m., Fort Walla Walla Museum. Details: 509-525-7703. Through Oct. 31 Venture into the Corn Maze and find your way. Thursday-Sunday. 853 Five Mile Road. Details: 509-525-4798. Oct. 3 “First Thursday” Concert at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church features pianist Ethan Maier. 12:15 p.m. Details: 509529-1083. Guest lecture by visiting writer Mark Strand. 7 p.m., Maxey Auditorium, Whitman College. Details: whitman. edu/visiting_writiers Oct. 4-5 DeSales Catholic High School’s annual Sausage Fest. Details: 509-525-3030. Oct. 4-6 Walla Walla Drag Strip hosts more races. Details: 509301-9243 or visit wwdragstrip.com “Art Squared” sale benefit for ArtWalla: Oct. 4: 6 p.m., Charles Smith Wines, 35 S. Spokane St.; Oct. 5-6: 10 a.m., The Garden Vegan Café, 230 E. Main St. Oct. 5 Walla Walla Symphony Soirée featuring Katherine Audas, cello, and Jacquelin Audas, violin. 7:30 p.m., Walla Walla College Performing Arts Auditorium. Details: 509-529-8020. Historic Dayton shines with a tour of some of its many historic buildings. Details: 800-882-6299. Oct. 5-Dec. 31 The Dayton Historic Depot hosts the “Columbia County Art Show,” featuring the work of many area artists. Details: 509-382-2026.

The Walla Walla Symphony “Dynamic Duo” features Rossini, Tchaikovsky, Kodály and Bruch. 7:30 p.m., Cordiner Hall, Whitman College. Details: 509-529-8020. Oct. 12 The Italian Heritage Days Festa, sponsored by the Italian Heritage Association, includes historic exhibits, music, costumes, great food, contests and famous grape stomp. Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. Details: 509-529-9418. Oct. 14-Dec. 14 “Frank Munns Retrospective” on display at Sheehan Gallery, Whitman College. Details: whitman.edu/sheehan Oct. 18

Oct. 25 Whitman College Music Department presents the Sampler Concert. The evening includes the Whitman Chorale and Chamber Singers directed by Jeremy Mims, Orchestra directed by Paul Luongo, Wind Ensemble directed by Gary Gemberling, and Jazz Ensemble directed by Doug Scarborough. 7 p.m., Cordiner Hall. Details: 509-527-5232. Oct. 25-26 The Sweet Adelines Annual Show “SWEET! Mardi Gras Madness!” 7:30 p.m., Performing Arts Center, Walla Walla Community College. Details: 509-526-0499. Oct. 25-27 Walla Walla University Family Weekend. Students’ families and friends are invited to campus. Details: 509527-2656. Oct. 26

Whitman College Department of Music presents the Fall Composers Concert, directed by John David Earnest. The evening features new works by current Whitman composition students. Performances by both students and faculty. 7:30 p.m., Chism Hall, Whitman College. Details: 509-527-5232. Oct. 19

The Walla Walla Symphony fundraising gala: Evening Serenade. 6 p.m. Marcus Whitman Hotel. Details: 509529-8020.

The Fall Furr Ball, annual fundraiser for the Blue Mountain Humane Society. Dinner, live and silent auction, and dancing to the music of The Penrose Lane Band. 6 p.m., social hour; Historic Pavilion; Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. Details: 509-529-5188. Oct. 20

Oct. 31

The YMCA Spooktacular offers plenty of games and treats. Free. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Details: 509-525-8863.

The Walla Walla Choral Society presents “A Celebration of North American Music.” Assumption Church, 2098 E. Alder St. Details: wwchoralsociety.org

Poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil, author of “Lucky Fish” and “Miracle Fruit,” presents her work. 7 p.m., Kimball, Whitman College. Details: whitman.edu/visiting_writers

Oct. 27 Walla Walla Valley Bands present their “Spooktacular” concert. 3 p.m., Performing Arts Auditorium, Walla Walla Community College. Details: wwvalleybands.org Little costumed trick-or-treaters visit merchants. 3-5 p.m., Downtown Walla Walla. Details: 509-529-8755.

The Columbia County Art Show will feature works by local artists, including Nick Page, who will be showing the above photo at Weinhard Café. 44 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles


Regular Events Each month, the Blue Mountain Artists Guild in Dayton sets up a new exhibit at the Dayton Public Library. Details: 509-382-1964.

The first Friday of each month, free admission at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute, Pendleton. Details: 541-966-9748.

The Walla Walla Valley Farmers Market at the Walla Walla County Fairgrounds. Details: gowallawallafarmersmarket.com

Monday

Music. Dayton Wine Works, 507 E. Main St., Dayton. Details: 509-382-1200.

Live music. 8 p.m., Laht Neppur Ale House, 53 S. Spokane St. Details: 509-529-2337.

The second Friday each month, acoustic jam. Skye Books & Brew, Dayton. Details: 509-382-4677.

Most Saturday nights, live music. Vintage Cellars, 10 N. Second Ave. Details: 509-529-9340.

Most Monday nights, live music at Vintage Cellars. 10 N. Second Ave. Details: 509-529-9340. Tuesday “Trivia Game Night.” Red Monkey Downtown Lounge, 25 W. Alder St. Details: 509-522-3865. Wednesday First Wednesday of the month, wine tasting. Plateau Restaurant at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800-654-9453. Music. Rogers’ Bakery, 116 N. College Ave., College Place. Details: 509-522-2738. Record your music. 5 p.m., Open Mic Recording Club at Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509520-5258.

Live music. 9 p.m., Wildfire Sports Bar at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800-654-9453. Live music. 9 p.m., Vintage Cellars, 10 N. Second Ave. Details: 509-529-9340. Live music. 9 p.m., Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509-520-5258. Music or DJ. Music, 9 p.m.; DJ, 10 p.m.; Marcy’s Downtown Lounge, 35 S. Colville St. Details: 509525-7483

Live music. 9 p.m.-midnight, Anchor Bar, 128 E. Main St., Waitsburg. Details: 509-337-3008. Live music. 9 p.m., Wildfire Sports Bar at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800-654-9453. Live music. 9 p.m., Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509-520-5258. Sunday The Downtown Farmers Market sets up shop at Crawford Park, Fourth and Main. Details: 509-5298755.

Saturday The Downtown Farmers Market sets up shop at Crawford Park, Fourth and Main. Details: 509-5298755.

Calendar items compiled by Karlene Ponti.

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Music. 7-9 p.m., Walla Walla Wine Works. Details: 509-522-1261. Open mic. 8 p.m., Laht Neppur Ale House, 53 S. Spokane St. Details: 509-529-2337. Karaoke. 8 p.m., Wildfire Sports Bar at Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800-654-9453. Thursday “Blues and Barbecue” with live music and “West of the Blues BBQ.” Charles Smith Winery, 35 S. Spokane St. Details: 509-526-5230. Comedy jam. 8 p.m., Wildfire Sports Bar at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino, Pendleton. Details: 800-654-9453. Open mic. 7-10 p.m., Walla Walla Village Winery, 107 S. Third Ave. Details: 509-525-9463. Live music. 9 p.m.-midnight, Anchor Bar, 128 E. Main St., Waitsburg. Details: 509-337-3008. Friday Pianist Carolyn Mildenberger. 5-7 p.m., Sapolil Cellars, 15 E. Main St. Details: 509-520-5258.

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Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 45


Photos by Steve Lenz

Where in Walla Walla?

Last issue’s clue: On which body of water can this bridge remnant be found?

Answer: Walla Walla River

Last month’s winners Clue: This antique motorcycle is parked in front of which business?

Mike Prior Steve Weber Anne White Judy Carlson Trevor Ahlers

Dale Clarke Jorge Lopez Claudia Ford Delle Mae Allerman Kathy Binder

Contest rules If you have the answer, email it to rickdoyle@wwub.com, or send it to: Where in Walla Walla? 112 S. First Ave., P.O. Box 1358, Walla Walla, WA 99362. The names of 10 people with correct answers will be randomly selected, and they will receive this great-looking mug as proof of their local knowledge and good taste.

Visit the Walla Walla Lifestyles Website! wallawallalifestyles.com

46 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes


The Third Cover A late-summer storm over Walla Walla. Photo by Steve Lenz. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 47


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