2014 - December Walla Walla Lifestyles by Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

healthy

lifestyles in the Walla Walla Valley

GiViNG AND GETTiNG lOVE ThiS SEASON

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PENiTENTiARY PAlS, RESCUE ANiMAlS, BiG-hEARTED GiFTS AND MORE ... Supplement of the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin

452327

One Restaurant Where Two Words Tell The Whole Story:

The Brik House Steak

And what a tasty story it is! It all begins with our presentation of farm fresh vegetables, meats, and fruits. We source only the highest quality, freshest ingredients available. That way all of our hand crafted meals taste home made fresh, when you order. At The Brik your meal is a born today never frozen, never a microwaved creation. In fact, we don’t have a microwave in the restaurant. Even our chicken pot pies are hand made! Pair your freshly made meal with one of our great tasting Walla Walla Valley wines. Found your own favorite vintage? Look for our special corkage card at the local wineries. And this Holiday Season, don’t forget about our Holiday Gift cards! So if you’re hungry for consistently fresh tastes like home cooked food, look to one restaurant where two words tell the whole story:

Home Cooking!

Open daily at 11:00

1415 Plaza Way Like us at facebook.com

Only in Walla Walla

509 529 7999

www.thebrikwallawalla.com Follow us at twitter.com Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 3

the holidays have met their match

Making Spirits Bright since 1998...

locally grown locally produced 3796 peppers bridge rd. walla walla, wa 99362 w w w. a m a v i c e l l a r s . c o m

Wrap yourself in softness with our large selection of scarves, hats, gloves, and wraps.

Create a beautiful and tranquil living space with handmade Raku lamps, unique wall art, decorative art glass and décor. 4 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes

10AM-4PM DAILY 1704 J.B. GEORGE RD. WALLA WALLA WA 99362 | WWW.PEPPERBRIDGE.COM | 509.525.6502

Baby it’s cold outside! Fantastic finds at great prices

Step into a shopping wonderland at

Clay in Motion Let our friendly staff help you find that perfect gift this holiday season.

We’re setting the mood for one stop shopping! Gift Certificates Available Gift & Coffee Shop open daily 85301 Hwy 11 Milton-Freewater, OR 541-938-3316 www.clayinmotion.com

Glam up your look with our fashionable jewelry, purses, and wallets.

Add sparkle and shine to your tree and home with our great selection of ornaments and décor.

Union-Bulletin.com

2014

485075 SL

Surprise family and friends with great tasting dips, soup mixes, pepper jellies, teas and drink mixes.

485113

open daily from 10am to 4pm

BARKWELL’S

When only the best will do –

Shop Barkwell’s

Barkwell’s own greenhouse fresh Poinsettias Prices ranging from $ 4.30 to $35.00 • Fresh Wreaths • Holiday Ornamentations • Gifts and Personal Accessories • Home + Garden Furniture, Accessories + Statuary Directions: turn west at Crockett Rd + Hwy 11, Down 1/3 mi on left

53506 West Crockett Rd • Milton-Freewater, Oregon • 509-386-3064 / 541-861-0236 • barkwellfarm.com Holiday Hours: Open Wednesday-Sunday 9:00am-5:30pm

486073

Imagine… In the Heart of Walla Walla

509.527.9600

www.wheatlandvillage.com

Everything you ever wanted under one roof

Cottages Patio Homes Suites Apartments Parkview Memory Care

Wheatland Village | 1500 Catherine Street | Walla Walla, WA 99362 485066

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Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 5

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

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jennifer Colton-Jones is a freelance writer, award-winning journalist and purveyor of the interesting. She is most at home in the Pacific Northwest. WRITER

WRITER

PHOTOGRAPHER

WRITER

Susy Mendoza, a former corporate lawyer, has studied and lived in Los Angeles and London. She writes about her two favorite interests, wine and fashion. WRITER

Michael Mettler is a brandmanagement consultant based in Walla Walla who is an unapologetic champion of food and wine. PHOTOGRAPHER

WRITER

Karlene Ponti is the special publications writer for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. She can be reached at 509-526-8324 or karleneponti@wwub.com WRITER

Steve Lenz is the art director for Walla Walla Lifestyles magazine. He has been a photographer and graphic artist for 20 years. He can be reached at stevelenz@wwub.com

Janice James is a teacher. She enjoys fresh sights, sounds, flavors and viewpoints. She has advanced degrees in art history. She can be reached at jejames@bmi.net

Robin Hamilton is the managing editor of Walla Walla Lifestyles magazine. She can be reached at robinhamilton@wwub.com EDITOR/WRITER

Joe Cooke is a writer and musician who teaches business classes inside the walls of the Washington State Penitentiary. He can be reached at cannoncooke.com

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

Nick Page is a photographer, musician and history nerd. His creative background often influences his dramatic photographic style. He can be reached at nickpagephotography@ gmail.com Lindsey Thompson is the founder of the Thompson Family Acupuncture Clinic. She can be reached at thompson. acupuncture@gmail.com

WRITER

12536 Middle Waitsburg Rd

Jim Tackett NMLS # 498681

Cherie Engebretson NMLS # 1144689

Judy Hicks NMLS # 498670

At Baker Boyer, we not only want to guide you to a brighter financial futureâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;we want to get you there the best way possible. We make our loan decisions locally and get to know each of our clients personally.

It just makes sense.

485546

www.bakerboyer.com | 509-525-2000 | 800-234-7923 6 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes

Member FDIC

Country living at its best! Unique mini farm located 15 minutes north of Walla Walla on 12 acres that is completely set up for horses, livestock, and chickens, or would be a great location for a boutique winery. Includes shop, hay shed, tack room, chicken coop, quonset, and much more. Charming 1948 home has been meticulously maintained, Covered porch with new trek deck, enter to large open living/dining room with coved ceilings, hardwood floors and large picture windows. Large kitchen with breakfast nook. Gorgeous landscaping with fruit trees. Move In Ready! MLS#112778 485256JU

New Price $285,000

table of contents DECEMBER 2014

FOOD

EDITOR

Rick Doyle

Making dessert a tour de force

WiNE

WiNE MAP

DiNiNG GUiDE

GOODWill TOWARD MAN (AND BEAST)

A DV ERT ISING DIR EC TOR

Jay Brodt

Robust reds and winning whites: wines to add sparkle to your holidays M A NAGING EDI TOR

Robin Hamilton

Know where to go to taste, buy and enjoy Walla Walla’s renowned wines. A SSOCI AT E E DI TOR

Chetna Chopra

Where to go for fine fare What better time of year than the season of cheer and generosity to bolster your good karma? Here are a few gift-giving possibilities and a few great causes to give you some ideas.

GiFTS FROM ThE hEART

iT TAKES A VillAGE

Helping someone get their GED, providing food and shelter for a homeless person, offering a scholarship for the Fort Walla Walla Museum’s Pioneer Camp — just some of our good-hearted gift ideas. When Marilyn and John Stellwagen bought Waitsburg Hardware and Mercantile, they inherited 26 feral cats. Rather than disposing of the animals, the Stellwagens began a decade of saving the “thrown-away” animals of the area.

PEN PAlS

An innovative program at the Washington State Penitentiary puts inmates together with dogs. The results are amazing.

hOliDAY FUN

hEAlThY liFESTYlES

Walla Walla has loads of “Messiah” singalongs, handbell choirs and seasonal favorites to warm the cockles of your heart.

KiTChEN WiSDOM

hEAlTh NEWS

34 36

December 2014

With winter on its way, Chinese medicine has a recipe for good health through the season. Genomic testing, an expanded cardiology program and a tattooremoval program are making health news in Walla Walla.

ON lAND AND WATER

PRODUCT ION M A NAGER

Vera Hammill

A RT IST IC DIR ECTOR / W EBM A ST ER

Steve Lenz

PRODUCT ION S TA F F

James Blethen, Ralph Hendrix, Steve Lenz, Jason Uren SA L E S STA F F

Jeff Sasser, Donna Schenk, Colleen Streeter, Mike Waltman, Chris Gottfried 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: SoLow is a 10-week-old dachshund who was born at the Blue Mountain Humane Society and adopted by Jennifer Catlett, the Animals Program Manager at BMHS. 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

The Walla Walla YMCA offers 75 different exercise classes to fill every workout need.

hOMES

A rustic yet elegant cottage — Christine Broughton grew up loving this home in Dayton. Now she owns it.

38 CAN’T-MiSS EVENTS 39 WhERE iN WAllA WAllA?

PLEASE LIKE US

Union-Bulletin.com

PLEASE FOLLOW US

Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 7

Food

Holiday Entertaining Made Easy By Michael Mettler / Photos by Nick Page

All of us have a friend or co-worker who makes entertaining seem effortless. While you’d love to hate them, you might not get invited to their parties any longer if you do. Their can’t-miss soirees are productions in which no detail is overlooked. From the elegant champagne cocktails and terrines of pâté de campagne with house-cured cornichons and stone ground mustards to the well-appointed tablescapes and perfect musical playlist, the gatherings are always spot-on. If you have been nominated to host (read: badgered/conned/forced into hosting) this year’s family Christmas dinner, book-club holiday party, Girl Scout gingerbread-housedecorating social or New Year’s Eve cocktail party, you’ve already been given the best (or, depending your preferences, worst) gift of the season. This is your chance to prove your mettle at crafting seasonally inspired cocktails (with gluten-free alternatives, naturally); elegantly arranging, in crystal vases, glitter-covered holiday balls intermingled with branches (cunningly foraged from your neighbor’s yard) that you’ve lovingly spray-painted in metallic hues; and showing off your superior understanding of royal icing for the veritable boatload of nativity scene-themed sugar cookies you’ve spent two weeks baking and decorating. Luckily, living in the Walla Walla Valley, we have an embarrassment of talent at our fingertips to help make your holiday parties a smashing success at whatever level of involvement you deem appropriate. From butchers to bakers to (candy)stick makers, there are more options than one can possibly take advantage of that will help make playing host a breeze. Whether you need spaetzle, strudel, truffles or teacakes, the artisans highlighted below (amongst many others) will help you pull off one unforgettable evening after another. For those of you with a bit of Martha Stewart’s spirit in you, these sweetmakers have shared their favorite holiday-treat recipes with you. For the busier among us (OK, lazier), these delicious noshes (only part of a large assortment) are available at their shops and will certainly help make your holiday season a delicious one to remember. 8 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

Holiday Treats that Beat Candy Canes and Sugarplums A Walla Walla classic, Bright’s Candies has been keeping the Valley on a sugar high since 1934. Owners Paul and Tiffany Jenes are consummate artisans, churning out hand-forged chocolates, confections of every stripe, candied nuts, artisan popcorn and more in their quaint shop on Main Street in Walla Walla. Guests to the store can watch Paul and his team produce chocolates day-in and day-out in their galley-style workspace. As the holidays progress, you’ll see boxes of truffles and chocolates stacked to the ceiling as the team rushes to meet demand. This year, Bright’s is excited to feature gingerbread-rolled truffles as one of their seasonal features — and trust me, you won’t want to skip these decadent delights! Should your sweet tooth have more of an adult proclivity, bourbon-spiked hot chocolate from Petits Noirs may be the perfect ticket. Founded by Lan Wong and James Boulanger, Petits Noirs melds artisan-bakery training with a passion for fine European chocolates. After decades of living and working in New York City and enjoying the finest things life has to offer, Wong and Boulanger moved to the Walla Walla Valley after falling in love with its beauty, and launched their boutique chocolate company. Inspired by both the abundance of fresh produce in the region, as well as its wines, their sophisticated chocolates, nougats, sauces, drinking chocolates and toffees are sure to tickle the heart of any true foodie. One of my favorite cool-season treats is a glass of their superb hot chocolate spiked with an adult libation of your choice. It certainly will make those long winter nights much more bearable! If you don’t want to go to the hassle of chopping and mixing your own chocolate and herb base, Petits Noirs sells their signature hot chocolate in tins for on-demand use at home. If you are hosting Christmas dinner for your friends and family, and making that perfect pie crust just isn’t your cup of tea, Chef Michael Kline from the Walla Walla Bread Company

just might be your favorite person this time of the year. After spending decades cooking in top restaurants across the United States, Chef Kline and his wife opened arguably the top artisan bakery in the region. Kline’s commitment to gluten-filled decadence does not go unnoticed by visitors to the bakery. The long hours and steadfast focus on quality can been seen and smelled in everything that is presented, from the wood-fired pizzas to the rustic French baguettes to the mouth-watering macaroons and beyond. Kline and his team have an especially deep understanding of pastry crust, and as simple as it may sound, pie crust can be one of the more challenging things to perfect in the kitchen. The classic apple pie he produces is truly a culinary delight; we suggest you enjoy it with a drizzle of salted caramel and some pomegranate seeds at your next holiday dinner.

If You Go: Bright’s Candies

11 E. Main St. Walla Walla, WA 99362 509-525-5533 Monday to Saturday: 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. www.BrightsCandies.com

Petits Noirs

622 S. Main St. Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 541-938-7118 Thursday to Sunday: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., or by appointment www.PetitsNoirs.com

Walla Walla Bread Company 225 E. Main St. Walla Walla, WA 99362 509-522-8422 Monday to Friday: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. www.w2breadco.com

ReCiPe

BRIGHT’S CANDIES’ GINGERBREAD-ROLLED TRUFFLES Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • •

10 cloves 10 whole allspice 1 tablespoon molasses 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh, grated ginger Pinch of salt 7 ounces heavy cream 2 tablespoons corn syrup 3 1/2 ounces milk chocolate 7 ounces 61 percent semisweet chocolate 2 tablespoons butter, soft, but not melted 1 pound semisweet chocolate for dipping

• sifted cocoa powder • Crushed gingersnaps

Equipment: • • • • • • • • •

saucepan with lid Wooden spoon Cheesecloth, moistened sieve Bowl to pour cream into Bowl for chocolate small cookie sheet Pastry bag with large pipe nose Double boiler or a small glass bowl with a smaller saucepan

in your saucepan, measure out cloves, allspice, molasses, cinnamon, ginger and salt, and add the cream to the saucepan. Heat on high, and stir until the cream beings to boil. Remove pan from heat, cover and set time for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes, place moistened cheesecloth over your sieve and pour the cream mixture through it into your bowl. Clean the saucepan and measure the filtered cream. Add more heavy cream as needed to bring cream mixture back up to 7 ounces. Add corn syrup and cream to the saucepan. turn the heat back to high and boil for 60 seconds while stirring. Remove from heat and pour the cream into a bowl containing 3 1/2 ounces of milk chocolate and 7 ounces of dark chocolate. Let mixture sit for 30 seconds, then stir to emulsify (if chocolate has not melted, heat brieﬂy, but do not exceed 100 degrees). Add butter to the resulting ganache, stir in, and pour onto your small cookie sheet and let it sit undisturbed. Once it is at room temperature, scrape the ganache into a pastry bag and pipe into mounds on a tray. Let these sit in the fridge for 30 minutes, then roll into balls. Return to the fridge for 30 minutes more, and then roll again. Meanwhile, temper your chocolate in a double boiler. (you could use a small glass bowl placed on top of a slightly smaller pot with some water in it. Don’t let the water touch the glass bowl. Fill the bowl with semisweet chocolate and bring the water to a gentle boil, and let the heat from the stem melt the chocolate.) Coat your hand lightly with some of the melted chocolate, roll the trufﬂe in your hand and drop into cocoa powder. Let it sit for 30 seconds or so, and then re-roll in cocoa powder or crushed gingersnaps, or dip into the melted chocolate.

Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 9

Food ReCiPe

ReCiPe

PETITS NOIRS’ BOURBON-SPIKED HOT CHOCOLATE Ingredients: • 2 cups whole milk • 2 tablespoons light-brown sugar • 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate (best quality), finely chopped • selection of herbs and spices to taste, ground (we recommend chili pepper, cinnamon, ginger and cloves) • 2 ounces of bourbon • Meringues or hand-crafted marshmallows to top

Equipment: • Heavy-bottomed pot • Wooden spoon Heat the milk and sugar in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat until it begins to boil, stirring often. Remove the milk from the heat, add the chocolate, herbs and spices, and stir until the chocolate is completely melted (it might be necessary to return the mixture to the heat for a brief period to melt the chocolate, depending on how fine you chopped it). Add the bourbon, and mix. Pour into warmed mugs, top with a meringue and enjoy alongside a roaring fire.

WALLA WALLA BREAD COMPANY’S APPLE PIE Ingredients for Pie Crust: • • • • • •

12 tablespoons very cold, unsalted butter 3 cups all-purpose ﬂour 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon sugar 1/3 cup very cold vegetable shortening 6 to 8 tablespoons ice water

Dice the butter and return it to the refrigerator while you prepare the flour mixture. Place the flour, salt and sugar in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter and shortening. Pulse 8 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse the machine until the dough begins to form a ball. Dump out on a floured board and roll into a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Cut the dough in half. On a well-floured board, roll each piece into a circle, rolling from the center to the edge, turning and flouring the dough to make sure it does not stick to the board. Fold the dough in half, place in pie pan and unfold to fit the pan. Repeat with the top crust, and return crusts to the refrigerator.

Ingredients for Filling: • • • • • • • •

12 locally grown Granny smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced 3/4 cup sugar, plus additional for pie top Zest and juice of 1 lemon 1 1/3 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg Pinch of ground cloves 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed 1 large egg, beaten

Heat the oven to 375 F. In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, lemon zest and juice, spices and ﬂour. toss well. spoon the mixture into the pie pan with the crust on the bottom. Dot with butter cubes, and cover with the other pie crust. slice several steam vents into the top of the pie crust and seal the crusts together by crimping the edges as desired. Brush the pie with the beaten egg and sprinkle with the additional sugar. Bake the pie until the crust is brown and juices are bubbling out (about 1 hour). Let the pie cool on a wire rack before serving.

10 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes

Walla Walla’s Preferred Source of Retail Therapy

Since 2005

25 S. Colville, Walla Walla 509-529-7100

Modern Washington Wine Country Italian Bistro

403401

NOW OPEN 3 DAYS A WEEK!

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15 E. Main Street, Downtown Walla Walla www.sapolilcellars.com 485551

488512

Open Daily ~ Lunch 11am • Dinner 4pm • 4 N Colville • www.tmaccarones.com Reservations 509.522.4776 or opentable.com/tmaccarones

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Wine

Robust Reds and Charming Chardonnays Wines to get you through the holidays By Susy Mendoza Congrats! You’ve survived Turkey Day with the in-laws and elbowed your way through the droves of Black Friday shoppers. And your reward? Holiday parties! The number of social events is on the rise — and that means wine will be flowing. Whether it’s with family or friends, or for the annual Christmas party at work, choosing wine for holiday celebrations is always a favorite little task of mine. In addition to the abundance of wines regularly available in Walla Walla, we also have Fall Release and Holiday Barrel, which add even more selection for the holidays. Now, the holidays are a time for something a little special, so some of the wines I mention won’t necessarily be available right here and now. You might have to hunt for them, or maybe you picked them up a while back, and they’re hanging out in the cellar. As much as I wish we had copious amounts 12 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

of bubbles produced in Washington, I am satisfied by our lovely Chardonnays — an important component in many sparkling wines, including Champagne — that are available for toasting. Tranche Cellars, with its characteristically weighty mouthfeel and solid back palate, make it a lovely glass of wine to sip whilst picking off passed hors d’oeuvres, especially anything made with crispy, buttery crusts, such as a mushroom tart. Rulo Winery has two lovely Chardonnays, but the Sundance Vineyard selection is my choice, with its crisp apple notes and clean finish. If you’re one of the fortunate ones to have snatched up a bottle of Abeja Winery Chardonnay (I’d call out a vintage, but I’m sort of in love with them all), not only do you deserve a pat on the back, but you will also be the envy of your friends. The Abeja Chardonnay keeps

getting better year after year (think stylish, striking and complex), and can even be kept for a few years — if you have the patience and self-control, which I do not. Chardonnay, kind of like green eggs, matches perfectly with ham. And, of course, turkey. Just in case your November didn’t satisfy your craving. Migration from the whites to the reds happens for me around October, or when the weather starts to dip below 50 degrees. To ease into the larger, robust reds, I start with some more fruit-forward wines. The lighter sibling to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc is starting to make a name for itself. Take the El Corazon Cabernet Franc, First Crush. Yum. The Wahluke slope-sourced wine has a fun and glittery entrance, and sticks around just enough that you want to have another sip ... or nine. It’s also a food-friendly wine, so think about

A Division of Winery Compliance Services

WFS is offering Walla Walla’s only

We are now taking reservations. Please call for pricing and availability.

Personal Wine Storage

Whether you’re just starting your collection or you are the serious wine collector, we can fulfill your needs. • Temperature Controlled at 58 Degrees • Have your Club Shipments Delivered Directly to us • 24-Hour Security & Fire Monitored • Available to you During Regular Business Hours

509-876-2461 • Tracy@wcsofww.com 486225JU

buying two bottles — one for yourself for any given Friday-night dinner in December, and one in a Santa Claus wine bag as a gift. Trust me, they’ll love you. Now, it’s going to sound downright zany to suggest you seek out anything but Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Syrah from Washington, but Gramercy Cellars’ Tempranillo is, well, delightful. The 2011 Inigo Montoya (from “Princess Bride” fame: “You killed my father – prepare to die”) Tempranillo from the Walla Walla Valley is held for an additional six months in bottle before release, which could be one reason it can be intense, yet elegant. When you are looking to surprise someone on your gift list, seek out this lesser-known bottle of juice. Merlot, bless its heart, has been tagged with a bad rap. Ever since the character Miles Raymond uttered the words, “No, if anybody orders Merlot, I’m leaving; I am not drinking any f@#$ing Merlot!” in the movie “Sideways,” Merlot has been on the out. But Merlot is quite versatile, and can be softer than its primary blending partner, Cabernet Sauvignon. Northstar Winery’s Merlot, especially the 2010 vintage, has oodles of finesse and has earned winemaker David “Merf” Merfeld a 93-point score from The Wine Advocate. If your holiday dinner calls for duck or pork tenderloin, this is a good go-to. The accolades bestowed upon L’Ecole N°41 are numerous. We’re talking Wine & Spirits Winery of the Year for 11 years running, elevating it to only the second Washington winery to be inducted to its prestigious Hall of Fame. Recently, L’Ecole’s 2011 Ferguson won the Decanter World Wine Award for Bordeaux Varietals over £15. This is the Oscar of international winemaking. So, it’s totally not surprising that, as far as holiday wines are concerned, a L’Ecole wine is the main event. I am a big fan of the chilly 2010 vintage Apogee, a blend of 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 30 percent Merlot, seven percent Malbec and three percent Cabernet Franc. This is the prime rib, horseradish and mom’s mashed potatoes wine. We’re not messing around. Open, pour, drink, smile. Merry Christmas. Oh, and if it just so happens you hang out with, or unavoidably are related to, anyone who does not prefer wine as the adult beverage of choice, pick up a growler of Burwood beer — a super new microbrewery in the Walla Walla airport incubators. Happy New Year, too!

1491 W Rose St • Walla Walla WA 99362

486426

Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 13

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AMAVI CELLARS 3796 Peppers Bridge Road 509-525-3541 www.amavicellars.com BASEL CELLARS ESTATE WINERY 2901 Old Milton Highway 509-522-0200 www.baselcellars.com

22 29 25 28

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BERGEVIN LANE VINEYARDS 1215 W. Poplar St. 509-526-4300 www.bergevinlane.com BLUE MOUNTAIN CIDER 235 E. Broadway, Milton-Freewater 541-938-5575 www.drinkcider.com CASTILLO DE FELICIANA 85728 Telephone Pole Road Milton-Freewater 541-558-3656 www.castillodefeliciana.com COLLEGE CELLARS 3020 Isaacs Ave. 509-524-5170 www.collegecellars.com DUMAS STATION 36226 U.S. Highway 12 Dayton, WA 509-382-8933 www.dumasstation.com DUNHAM CELLARS 150 E. Boeing Ave. 509-529-4685 www.dunhamcellars.com FIVE STAR CELLARS 840 C St. 509-527-8400 www.ﬁvestarcellars.com FORGERON CELLARS 33 W. Birch St. 509-522-9463 www.forgeroncellars.com FOUNDRY VINEYARDS 13th Ave. and Abadie St. 509-529-0736 www.wallawallafoundry.com/vineyards FORT WALLA WALLA CELLARS 127 E. Main St. 509-520-1095 www.fortwallawallacellars.com GRANTWOOD WINERY 2428 Heritage Road 509-301-0719 509-301-9546

14. JLC WINERY 425 B. St. 509-301-5148 www.jlcwinery.com 15. CAVU CELLARS 175 E. Aeronca Ave. 509-540-6350 www.cavucellars.com 16. L’ECOLE NO 41 WINERY 41 Lowden School Road and U.S. Highway 12 509-525-0940 www.lecole.com 17. LODMELL CELLARS 6 West Rose St., Suite 104 206-409-4395 www.lodmellcellars.com 18. 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.

19. MANSION CREEK 6 West Rose St., Suite 105 253-370-6107 www.mansioncreekcellars.com 20. NORTHSTAR WINERY 1736 J.B. George Road 509-524-4883 www.northstarmerlot.com 21. PEPPER BRIDGE WINERY 1704 J.B. George Road 509-525-6502 www.pepperbridge.com 22. PLUMB CELLARS 39 E. Main St. 509-301-8694 www.plumbcellars.com 23. REININGER WINERY 5858 Old Highway 12 509-522-1994 www.reiningerwinery.com

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24. ROBISON RANCH CELLARS 2839 Robison Ranch Road 509-301-3480 www.robisonranchcellars.com 25. SAPOLIL CELLARS 15 E. Main St. 509-520-5258 www.sapolilcellars.com 26. SAVIAH CELLARS 1979 J.B. George Road 509-520-5166 www.saviahcellars.com 27. SOLE ROSSO ESTATE WINERY 2158 Old Milton Highway 509-252-3504 www.sole-rosso.com 28. SPRING VALLEY VINEYARD 18 N. Second Ave. 509-525-1506 www.springvalleyvineyard.com 29. SULEI CELLARS 17 N. Second Ave. 509-529-0840 www.suleicellars.com 30. SYZYGY 405 E. Boeing Ave. 509-522-0484 www.syzygywines.com 31. TAMARACK CELLARS 700 C St. (Walla Walla Airport) 509-520-4058 www.tamarackcellars.com 32. TEMPUS CELLARS 124 W. Boeing Ave. (Walla Walla Airport) 509-270-0298 www.tempuscellars.com 33. TERTULIA CELLARS 1564 Whiteley Road 509-525-5700 www.tertuliacellars.com 34. THREE RIVERS WINERY 5641 Old Highway 12 509-526-9463 www.threeriverswinery.com

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35. VA PIANO VINEYARDS 1793 J.B. George Road 509-529-0900 www.vapianovineyards.com 36. WALLA WALLA VINTNERS Vineyard Lane off Mill Creek Road 509-525-4724 www.wallawallavintners.com 37. WATERMILL WINERY 235 E. Broadway, Milton-Freewater 541-938-5575 www.watermillwinery.com 38. WOODWARD CANYON WINERY 11920 W. Highway 12, Lowden 509-525-4129 www.woodwardcanyon.com

Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 15

Walla Walla

Dining Guide

The Brik Bar and Grill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1415 Plaza Way, Walla Walla • 509-529-7999 Open Daily, 11 a.m. if you're hungry for consistently fresh tastes, like home cooked food, go to the Brik. All dishes are born when you order. Never frozen. Never microwaved. Even their chicken pot pie is handmade!

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.

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.

Jacobi’s italian Café & Catering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 416 N. Second Ave., Walla Walla • 509-525-2677 • jacobiscafe.com Mon.-Thu., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fri. & Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Come “Mangia Mangia” in Walla Walla at Jacobi’s Café! At Jacobi’s Café you can enjoy our signature italian cuisine and experience casual dining with customer service that is second to none. you may dine in our vintage train car or sit back and relax on our patio. Because when you are Italian Café & Catering thinking italian ... think Jacobi’s!

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.

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Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 17

Holidays

Gifts from the Heart: Alternative Gift-Giving in the Holiday Spirit By Diane Reed

Have you wondered whether there might be a way to celebrate the spirit of the holidays that doesn’t involve picking out yet another tie for your nephew or trying to buy a gift for your parents, who just announced they’re downsizing? How about giving a gift in their names to one of the many community organizations that make Walla Walla such a special place? Lifestyles magazine shopped around and came up with samples of gifting ideas in a range of prices for a variety of causes. Why not make a donation to fund one of the needs listed below? You can drop a check in the mail, and then send your “giftees” a card letting them know your donation is their very special gift this year. We’ve also included a contact person, in case you have questions or want to explore additional gifting opportunities.

Blue Mountain Action Council 1520 Kelly Place, Suite 140, Walla Walla, WA 99362 Contact: Emily James 509-529-4980, ext. 122 www.bmacww.org A $25 donation would pay for a General Educational Development prep class in one subject (math or verbal) or an hour of tutoring for an adult. A donation of $30 would buy a fresh set of clothing for a veteran to go to a job interview. A $50 donation would buy a box of starter dishes and silverware for a homeless family just getting into transitional housing. By giving $50-$100, you could provide weather stripping and compact fluorescent light bulbs to help lower a home’s energy bills. BMAC also accepts financial and food donations for Walla

18 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

Walla’s food pantry system, which includes The Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, The Pantry Shelf and Helpline.

� Blue Mountain Humane Society 7 E. George St., Walla Walla, WA 99362 Contact: Sara Archer 509-529-5188 www.bluemountainhumane.org With a $25 donation, you could provide vaccinations for two dogs, feed a shelter cat for one month or neuter a cat. A $50 donation would sponsor a cat adoption, microchip five shelter animals, neuter a small dog or provide food for one shelter dog for a month. A gift of $100 would sponsor a large-dog adoption, spay a large dog, feed two dogs or four cats for a month or pay for the spay/neuter of four feral cats. If you want to give a tangible gift, BMHS welcomes donations of wet or dry pet food, 33-gallon trash bags, Clorox wipes, cat and dog toys, or other pet supplies.

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Fort Walla Walla Museum 755 Myra Road, Walla Walla, WA 99362 Contact: James Payne 509-525-7703 www.fortwallawallamuseum.org By making a $30 donation, you could provide a scholarship for the Pioneer Camp for kids.

With $50, you could provide the energy to operate the museum for a day, a case of photocopy paper or two acid-free boxes for storing textile artifacts. A $100 donation would buy three books for the museum’s research library or two days of energy for the museum. Other local museums that welcome support include the Children’s Museum of Walla Walla (www.cmww.org) and the Kirkland House (www.kirkmanhousemuseum.org).

� Friends of the Walla Walla Public Library 1842 Parkview Place, Walla Walla, WA 99362 Contact: Jackie George 509-525-7527 wallawallapubliclibrary.org/friends A contribution of $25 would purchase two illustrated books for the children’s collection or three paperback books for the young-adult collection. A $50 donation would pay for a set of eight books for the Adult Book Club in a Bag program. A $100 contribution can provide a stipend for a special program presenter.

� Helpline 1520 Kelly Place, Suite 180, Walla Walla, WA 99362 Contact: Liz McDevitt 509-529-3377 www.helplineww.org A $10 donation would pay for one bus pass for someone who needs transportation. A $20 contribution would provide a familysize hygiene kit of soap, shampoo, toilet paper, toothbrushes and tooth paste, deodorant and dish soap. A gift of $25 or more would help prevent a client’s utilities from being disconnected, a huge need during the cold months.

� YMCA 340 S. Park, Walla Walla, WA 99362 Contact: Beth Swanson 509-525-8863 www.wwymca.org A $35 donation would send a child aged 3 to 5 years to preschool for a week. A gift of $37.50 would provide a week of After School Camp for a child 5 to 12 years old. A donation of $53 would fund a child for the Youth Basketball program (grades first through fourth). A $54 donation would provide five weeks of swim lessons for all ages.

� YWCA of Walla Walla 213 S. First Ave., Walla Walla, WA 99362 Contact: Anne-Marie Zell Schwerin 509-525-2570 www.ywcaww.org A $25 donation would buy a workbook for a girl in Mariposa, an after-school leadership development program for young Latinas. A $50 donation would support one hour of Girls Circle at Dayton Elementary School, helping girls to build self-esteem and self-respect. A $75 donation would provide an entire week of healthy snacks for 25 children in the YWCA After School Adventure Club. A $100 donation would fund two hours of rape crisis response in the emergency room. Keep in mind these are only a few of the many organizations you might consider for your alternative gift-giving, which include numerous religious organizations that have initiatives they support locally, nationally and globally. Once you’ve finished your holiday shopping, why not consider making a New Year’s resolution to volunteer at one of the many local organizations that could use your time and talents. It can be your gift to them — and yourself — that keeps on giving!

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Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 19

Holidays

Store cat Cougar hangs out on the counter at Waitsburg Hardware and Mercantile, home of Black Dog Rescue.

It Takes a Village: Waitsburg’s Black Dog Rescue By Diane Reed / Photos by Nick Page

Marilyn Stellwagen cradles a tiny kitten wrapped in a small blanket while it eagerly nurses at a bottle. The orphan kitten, who is recovering from its escape from a burn pile, is the center of attention around Waitsburg Hardware and Mercantile. The store is also home to Black Dog Rescue, which has been taking in cats and dogs for almost a decade. When Marilyn and John Stellwagen bought the hardware store in Waitsburg in 2004, they got far more than they had bargained for. They discovered about 26 feral cats making their home in the alley behind the store. When the Stellwagens found out the available solution to the overcrowding might be 20 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

lethal to the cats, they proceeded to trap them, had them spayed and neutered, and found homes for all the kittens. Pretty soon, folks were calling and bringing in cats and dogs in need of care and a “forever” home. Little did Marilyn and John know that those modest beginnings would lead to an ongoing effort to help stray dogs and cats in the Waitsburg area, Black Dog Rescue. The Rescue — named for a hard-to-place

category of dogs — is entering its 10th year. Tucked in the back of Waitsburg Hardware and Mercantile at 134 Main St. are comfortable cages for cats and one that can accommodate several dogs. The Rescue generally has about 16 animals at the store looking for forever homes and a number being cared for in foster homes. Serving 200 to 250 animals a year, the Rescue needs all the help it can get, and the community has responded.

Maya Blue waits for a "forever" home at Black Dog Rescue.

Black Dog Rescue involves volunteers of all ages. They take care of the animals (including providing a lot of love), build cages, sew blankets and raise funds. There is a long list of regulars, like longtime volunteers Sharon Smith and Sally Eggers of Prescott, and Rosemary Shelly and Jan Cronkhite of Waitsburg. Janetta Monfort fosters cats and, along with John Stellwagen, feeds groups of feral cats in the area. Janet Lawrence takes care of the Internet and Facebook pages for Black Dog, and takes photos of the pets to help find them forever homes — you can see the pictures on the Black Dog Facebook page and in the weekly edition of “Tidbits of the Blue Mountain Region.” An important component of the community support for the Rescue is young volunteers such as eighth-grader Devon Harshman, who came in after school every day to walk a crippled dog until the dog found a home. Rachel

Marilyn Stellwagen bottle-feeds a kitten rescued from a burn pile.

Gardwohl, a Waitsburg High School student, comes in regularly to play with the cats and has adopted two of them; caring for the cats has also had the effect of bringing a shy and quiet young woman out of her shell. Groups like the 4-H, the Waitsburg High School Honor Society and Future Farmers of America volunteer and raise funds for food and supplies for the animals. Many of the members stop by the store regularly to visit the cats and dogs. None of the cats or dogs is available for adoption until it has been socialized, neutered or spayed, and given a clean bill of health. Marilyn counts on the kindness and generosity of veterinarians Dr. T. Patrick Kennedy in Milton-Freewater and Dr. Charles W. Acock at Mill Creek Veterinary Hospital in Walla Walla to treat animals that need to be brought back to health, as well as for spaying and neutering. Waitsburg Fire Department and Ambulance

Service gives Black Dog its expired medical supplies. Marilyn and volunteer Janet Lawrence administer medications, vaccinations, fluids and oxygen, when needed. The Rescue also works closely with Blue Mountain Humane Society and its executive director, Sara Archer. BMHS often takes adoptable dogs when Black Dog has more than it can handle, and the Rescue, from time to time, takes cats that would do better in the quieter environment at the store. (BMHS and Black Dog Rescue stress there is no need to dump animals on the road, just give them a call.) When you’re in the neighborhood, stop by the store and visit — it’s the kind of place that invites you to linger. Chairs are clustered around the wood stove; a tin of cookies and a warm drink welcome you. Hanging over the counter are handmade Christmas ornaments, each with a picture of a cat or a dog who has found its forever home Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 21

Holidays

Marilyn Stellwagen (left) visits with Black Dog Rescue volunteers Rosemary Shelley, Sharon Smith and Jan Cronkhite.

thanks to the efforts of Black Dog Rescue and the greater Waitsburg community. Cougar, one of the store cats, is generally occupying most of the counter. Right next to him is a glass jar for donations to support the work of Black Dog Rescue. You can also bring along towels, blankets and food for the cats and dogs. Stop in back to meet the cats and dogs looking for forever homes. Maybe you have a place in your heart and a home for one of them. The adoption fee is $50 for cats and $100 for dogs. Have a meowy Christmas and a happy, howling New Year!

If You Go: Black Dog Rescue

134 Main St., Waitsburg 509-337-6671 Follow it on Facebook

Volunteer Jan Cronkhite of Waitsburg brushes a kitten at Black Dog Rescue.

22 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

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Holidays

Best friends, dog handler Donald Elliott and Sunny in a moment of mutual affection in their shared space.

Pen Pals By Janice James / Photos by Steve Lenz

A yellow lab-and-retriever mix fell off the back of a pickup truck. A pug was given up when its owner developed dog allergies. A terrier mutt was rescued from a home where 40 dogs were kept, and if they were offered a piece of bread for dinner, it was a good day. Five years ago, Blue Mountain Humane Society reached out to the leadership of the Washington State Penitentiary for help. Could ragtag, unfortunate and poorly socialized dogs like these — Sunny, Otis and Susie Q — be reformed by prison inmates in a structured program that offered professional training and material support? Since 2009, more than 147 dogs have gone through Pen Pals, aka Concrete Paws, an “offender-based dog training program.” At present, seven dogs reside at the penitentiary: four in close custody (maximum security) and three 24 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

in minimum. The dogs are short-timers compared to most of their handlers; their average stay is six weeks. The goal for each dog is to reach “Canine Good Citizen” status and be adoptable. Most dogs complete the program successfully. Perhaps not surprisingly, a fair share of the dogs ends up being taken home by Department of Corrections staff. Inmate Donald Elliott has been a dog handler for several years. “I fell under the three strikes law: life without parole,” he says. “With the medication I was

on, I slept, I didn’t eat. Depression was just awful. Custody staff gave me an opportunity to have a dog — either shape up, or move to a protective-custody unit. “After I got my first dog on July 16, 2012 — Victor, a German short-haired pointer — with supervision, I eventually stopped taking my meds. I’ve had 22 dogs, to date. The dogs come in broke and really messed up, too. My payment is watching each dog go out to a home. We all shake. They let me watch my dogs go out the door. It’s my payoff. “They come in a zero, they leave a hero. They

Sunny sits patiently while Elliott signals the booth officer to open gate for â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dog Yard.â&#x20AC;?

Above: Off leash, Sunny romps through the agility course in the unit kennel. Elliott says his homemade treats accelerate the learning process. Right: The long walk back into the unit. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 25

Holidays

Dog handler Aaron Brown holds Susie Q. Upon graduation from the program, Susie Q was adopted into the home of an elderly woman.

Susie Q — holding her own and ready for anything. Unit Sergeant Roop says, “Having dogs brings a positive, upbeat note to the unit.” 26 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

go out knowing something. That’s my biggest gratitude, too. When they come in broken, I fix them.” The Humane Society gives WSP-bound dogs an initial assessment. They must get along with other dogs. Other than that, some are shy, others might be considered “too much.” All breeds are eligible, from Chihuahuas to pit bulls. Each dog is assigned a primary dog handler, an inmate who has been vetted through a screening process. Criteria include no history of animal abuse and demonstration of positive, pro-social behavior. Since “the primary” might have a job or be enrolled in an education program that would take him away from the dog, “a secondary” is enlisted for backup. In one close-custody unit, two “baby sitters” also join the team. The dog is never left unsupervised. Dogs enjoy time in an outdoor unit kennel, in a small paved unit yard, and in the grassy Big Yard on a regular basis. The rest of the time, the dog shares a cell with its handler. Most dogs adapt quickly to the structure and routine and learn to master the standard commands — Sit. Stay. Come. Down. Some dogs pick up other commands such as “Bang” (lie down and play dead), “Stand for Search” (get into position to be patted down), “Roll over,” and “Shake” (left or right). Once on the hill, if a dog develops an aggressive attitude, it is shipped back to the Humane Society for a 10-day timeout before being given another chance, not unlike comparable treatment meted out to inmates for outbreaks of aggression or disruptive behavior. Institutional safety for inmates and staff remains the guiding principle. Newbie dogs wear an orange leash or “dog-dana,” a dog version of a bandanna, signifying the dog should not be approached. Once acclimated and showing signs of proper manners and behavior, a dog advances to a yellow leash, meaning a person can approach and pet the dog with the consent of the handler. In the third and last stage of training, the dog wears green, a sign

it is approachable and would appreciate some petting and adoration. In all cases, proper etiquette entails seeking permission from the dog handler before touching the dog. The Humane Society and Corrections have a lengthy and detailed contractual arrangement. The Humane Society assumes complete responsibility and liability for each dog. Each Saturday, a volunteer dog trainer from the Humane Society visits the dogs and offers advice and training assistance to the dog handlers. The Humane Society’s responsibility includes providing veterinarian care, vaccines, food, toys, treats, leashes, collars, etc. For each Pen Pals adoption, the Humane Society adds $50 to the customary adoption fee, which goes directly toward future program costs. In a show of support for the program and its contribution to society, some inmates have made financial contributions to the program. The secret to the success of this winners-all-around program? “The powerful testimony to a program like this is the impact of the human-animal bond on the human spirit,” Humane Society Executive Director Sara Archer says. “It changes us. It makes us our best selves.” For dogs, inmates and Corrections staff, the program has warmed the characteristically harsh setting of prison life. It’s a privilege for inmates to be involved in the program, and that informs the choices they make in a very positive way. Without a doubt, Sunny, Otis and Susie Q get a second chance. I bet any one of the dogs in the Pen Pals program would shake on that.

Otis, with dog handler Jose Zamora, enjoys fresh air in the unit yard. The dogs help alleviate stress and promote a sense of calm.

“I’m kickin’ it with Rugby on a hot day in the big yard,” says secondary dog-handler Kevion Alexander. Wall a Wall a Lifest yles 27

Holidays

A must-see is “The Nutcracker,” at Cordiner Hall, on the Whitman campus in Walla Walla.

A Feast of Holiday Entertainment “The Nutcracker,” Scrooge, steel bands and more — Christmas fun in the valley By Joe Cooke / Photo by Joel Rogo It’s time again for trimming a tree, wrapping presents, mulling cider, roaming the streets and lanes for Christmas-light displays, and all the other family traditions, old and new, including the music and theater of the season. This month of public festivities kicks off with a uniquely Walla Walla event featuring local choirs and ensembles from around the Valley — the Feast of Carols. Presented as a joint effort between Whitman College’s Department of Music and the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, this annual family event marks its 30th consecutive year at Cordiner Hall. Five choirs, from experienced college ensembles to groups of elementary-school kids, sing everything from traditional carols in Latin to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and while the groups file in and out, the choir director leads the audience in popular hymns accompanied by pipe organ. This is a great family event and draws a packed house. “Awe-inspiring,” says Carl Christianson, who has been to “at least a dozen, if not 20” performances over the years, without a miss. Expect preshow entertainment by local handbell choirs, and don’t forget to bring bells or keys to jingle during the audience singalong version of “Jingle Bells.” 28 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes

Although the event is free, organizers ask attendees to bring a nonperishable food item as a donation for the canned-food drive. Feast of Carols Sunday, Dec. 7; 7–9:30 p.m. Cordiner Hall, Whitman College This event is free and open to the public

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For a slightly different slant on the holiday season, drop in on one or more of several offerings at the Gesa Power House Theatre. The “Celtic Christmas with Aﬃnití” show combines the classical, rock, and Celtic music styles of soprano Emer Barry, harpist Aisling Ennis and violinist Mary McCague into an incredible evening of musical elegance, with baritone Howard Crosby, nephew of the legendary Bing Crosby, joining Aﬃnití as a special guest. The Power House is intimate and elegant, and inviting for kids of all ages. For a bit of a nonmusical break, the Power House will host a holiday shopping and entertainment event with more than 20 local vendors, cookie decorating, games for the kids, and an appearance by Santa Claus. And then, in the same theater, the Adventist

Health Little Watt’s Children’s Series of Family Entertainment will bring the Traveling Lantern Theatre Company in from Portland, Ore., to present Charles Dickens’ classic holiday parable, “A Christmas Carol.” This shortened stage version is adapted for young audiences. Gesa Power House Theatre Events “Celtic Christmas with Aﬃnití” Tuesday, Dec. 9; 7 p.m. Tickets: $25, plus $2 order fee, available at www.phtww.com Home for the Holidays Saturday, Dec. 13; 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Free admission “A Christmas Carol” Thursday, Dec. 18; 6 p.m. Tickets: Adults, $9; youths: $6; plus $1 order fee per ticket, available at www.phtww.com

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The Walla Walla University Church presents a big band and steel band family holiday concert in the Melvin K. West Fine Arts Auditorium and an annual Christmas concert in the church.

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Steel Band and Big Band Holiday Concert Wednesday, Dec. 10; 7:30 p.m. Melvin K. West Fine Arts Auditorium

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For ballet fans, The Walla Walla Symphony presents Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker,” featuring the internationally acclaimed Eugene Ballet Company under the artistic direction of Toni Pimble, joined by students from Walla Walla's The Dance Center, for two shows. This gorgeous ballet is a holiday tradition that will thrill bunheads and non-dancers alike.

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Blending Old-World perspective with the pioneering spirit of Walla Walla Open Thu-Mon 11am-5:30pm

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“The Nutcracker” Saturday, Dec. 13; 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Cordiner Hall, Whitman College Reserved seating. Tickets available at 509-5298020; 13 1/2 E. Main St., Suite 201; wwsymphony.org

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If all this weren’t enough to satisfy your holiday musical cravings, Green Park, Berney and Edison elementary schools have all scheduled holiday caroling tours at various care facilities during early December, and on Dec. 18, you can expect to see the Walla Walla High School band performing at various locations around town. Not to be outdone by its big neighbor to the north, Milton-Freewater plays host every year to Bob Moon’s annual “Sounds & Sights of Christmas” light show, synchronized to traditional holiday theme music. Tune your radio to 105.9 FM, wait for a chance to park at a convenient vantage point and spend about 15 minutes watching the dancing lights at 804 Jacquelyn St. up on the hill above the library. And, as always, be on the lookout for random carolers — in the plaza across from Starbucks, on your street, in oﬃce buildings and stores — and if you listen closely on Christmas Eve, you might hear Uncle Charles wheeling around town on his bicycle, towing a speaker on a cart, braving the cold and dark so he can bring you one last dose of your favorite holiday tunes while you tuck the kids in to bed and settle in for that special night once again.

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The YMCA offers pool classes for all fitness levels.

Wisdom 31 Kitchen With winter on its way, Chinese

medicine has a recipe for good health through the season.

News 32 Health Genomic testing, an expanded

cardiology program and a tattooremoval program are making health news in Walla Walla.

Land and Water 34 On The Walla Walla YMCA offers

lifestyles in the walla walla valley 30 Wall a Wall a Lifest yles

75 different exercise classes to fill every workout need.

Healthy

By Lindsey Thompson, EAMP, L.Ac.

Winter is ideally the time of hibernation, rest and restoration. Our bodies need some down time through a day, a week, a month, a year, to repair themselves. Winter is that season of rest and repair. In Chinese medicine, winter is the season of the water-element organs: the kidneys and the bladder. These organs are in charge of our bones, teeth, the hair on our heads, and our deepest reserves of strength. Our adult body composition averages 5065 percent water. Water is the “backbone” of our human structure. With that knowledge, we can begin to understand the importance given to the water-organ pair in Chinese medicine. When we overuse the strength reserves held in the water pair, we end up feeling a deep fatigue that infiltrates all aspects of our life. This is the kind of fatigue that causes one to need to lean against walls instead of standing upright. Our low backs and knees also have a tendency to ache when we consistently overuse our kidney and bladder reserves. Chinese medical theory maintains that we can rebuild our energy reserves with proper lifestyle choices during the winter. If we allow adequate rest and time for contemplation, and eat well during the winter, we set the stage for our health for the rest of the year. Just as the water pair is in charge of our basic foundational structure — i.e., the skeletal system — proper lifestyle choices in the winter are the foundation of our health for the entire year. For instance, good habits in the winter will prepare your immune system for the springtime cold, flu and allergy season, as well as bolster your energy levels. It is a common thought in China that, if you have springtime allergies, the best time to treat them is the entire preceding season: the winter. Nourishing the winter water elements will,

in turn, provide the energy and the liquid lubrication for the burst of energy that naturally occurs during the spring months. The water element is considered the mother of the springtime element of wood or foliage, which translate to our connective tissues, tendons and ligaments. By eating the right

foods and choosing the right exercises in the winter, we are less likely to injure our tendons, ligaments and connective tissues when we naturally become more active as the weather improves in the spring. Eating well for this season involves making and cooking with bone stocks, eating “black” foods, and warm, fully cooked foods. By consuming mineral-rich bone stocks, you are directly nourishing the kidneys and bladder. If you are a vegetarian, mushroom stocks can be substituted for bone stock. Black is the color of the water-element pair, hence the “black” food connection. Foods considered black are black beans, black rice (wild or forbidden black rice), shiitake mushrooms, black hijiki seaweed and black sesame seeds. Eating warm, fully cooked meals in the winter is considered one of the most impor-

tant aspects of health care during these cold, dark months. There are many easy ways to tuck some of these black foods into your winter diet. Use black sesame seeds as a garnish for stir-fries, curries, steamed vegetables or even plain rice. Start using black rice instead of white rice, or blend the two. A Thai curry over black rice is exceptional. Start adding or substituting black beans into chilis, burritos and soups. If you are brave enough to try hijiki seaweed, just add a few tablespoons of rehydrated hijiki into rice dishes, stir-fries and curries. It is a crunchy type of seaweed, so it blends easily into Asian-style dishes. Since winter is cold, it is important to eat warming foods to support your internal body temperature. This is often the most controversial idea from Chinese medicine for patients. In the metaphorical understanding of disease pathology in Chinese medicine, various weather patterns can sneak into the body and injure various organ systems. Cold is one of those weather patterns. In the winter, it is more likely for cold to invade the body and cause trouble, and the digestive system is particularly susceptible to the negative impact of cold. Chinese medical nutrition would advise avoiding salads, raw fruits and vegetables, and cold smoothies during the winter months. Instead of salads, focusing on eating side dishes of lightly steamed, roasted or pan-fried vegetables is considered ideal for winter diets. Soups are also excellent in the winter, especially when rich in vegetable content and made with animal stock or mushroom broth. Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes 31

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Kitchen Wisdom: Winter Culinary Tips for Optimal Health

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Health News Story by Jennifer Colton-Jones

Tattoo Removal at Walla Walla General Hospital You might think your ink is permanent, but it doesn’t have to be. Walla Walla General Hospital has been offering its community service INK-OUT program for about a year-and-a-half to remove tattoos for people formerly involved in gangs or drugs who wanted to reverse their lifestyles. Now, Q-Plus C laser technology is available for removing unwanted tattoos for anyone. The equipment uses a laser that passes through the surface of the skin and breaks up the ink to form tiny particles, which are then carried away by the skin’s own immune cells, leaving little to no scarring. The number of treatments and the cost vary, depending on the size and color of the tattoo, but the hospital does offer free estimates and custom tattoo-removal plans. In general, if the tattoo fits within the size of a standard business card, each treatment will cost $50. Other Medical Spa Procedures at WWGH include laser hair-removal and microdermabrasion. Gift certificates are available, and if you would like to give the gift of tattoo removal this holiday, pick up a tattoo-removal gift card from the Walla Walla General Hospital Medical Pavilion, 19 Southpoint Lane in Walla Walla, or call 509-527-8356 for more information.

Genomic Testing at Providence St. Mary When tackling cancer, the focus of patients, as well as that of the treatments offered, usually tends to be on the location of the tumor — lung cancer, breast cancer, skin cancer — but research suggests the genetic makeup of a tumor may better indicate the best treatment. Unfortunately, so far there has been no way to do genomic sequencing 32 Wall a Wall a Lifest yLes

on a mass scale to build information about each specific type of tumor. Now there is, and Providence St. Mary is a part of it. Providence Health and Services recently formed a relationship with the Can Soon-Shion Institute of Molecular Medicine to create a clinical network for whole genomic sequencing. The technology gives a comprehensive view of each patient’s disease and enables medical practitioners to base treatments on the exact type and genetic mapping of the tumor. One genomic sample can help inform treatment options for other patients with similar tumors. In Walla Walla, the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center has begun offering the test to some patients with advanced-stage cancer. Oﬃcials said they believe they will eventually be able to expand offering the test to nearly every cancer patient. The new test could mean reducing the “one-size-fits-all” treatment of a particular tumor — which led to treatments like chemotherapy that kills healthy and tumorous cells — and replacing it with targeted therapies and treatments.

WWGH Expands Cardiology Program Walla Walla General Hospital has added an additional cardiologist to its cardiology program, which means it can now provide 24/7 local emergency-care for heart attacks. A previous expansion of the program allowed for 24-hour coverage five days a week, with patients transferring to the Tri-Cities during those coverage-gap periods. But, the problem was, the longer the wait between symptoms and treatment, the higher the risk of serious heart damage — or death. WWGH’s cardiac-care program includes a cardiologist oﬃce on the hospital campus, the Chest Pain Center and Cardiac Cath Lab located in the emergency room, diagnostic testing services and a cardiac rehabilitation program. The new cardiologist will start next month.

DECEMBER

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December 9, 7pm “Celtic Christmas with Affinití”. December 11, 6:30pm “James and the Giant Peach”. Movie Night. Children 12 & under get in free! December 13, 10am-5pm Home for the Holidays. Local vendors, Santa, kids’ activities. FREE.

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December 18, 6pm “A Christmas Carol”. Little Watts Children’s Series presented by Adventist Health. $9/adult, $6/child. December 19, 7pm “Dual Pianos”. Gary Hemenway and Mark Brown perform in a fundraiser for Friends of Children of Walla Walla. December 27, 7:30pm Blue Mountain Spanish Sound perform live in the Direct Current concert series. Only $10.

For tickets and details, go to www.phtww.com or call the Box Office at 509.529.6500 111 N. Sixth Ave., Walla Walla, WA

460-B Williams Blvd • Richland • 509-946-5560

*Hearing aids help many people hear better, but no hearing aid can solve every hearing problem, nor restore normal hearing.

Find the right solutions to your health and medical needs. We specialize in providing you with a unique approach to helping you in your everyday needs. Founded in 2010, we are pleased to present affordable, quality in home care. We will provide hospitable care from our family to yours allowing you to live a plentiful retirement according to your desired lifestyle. • Personal Services: Bathing, showering, dressing & grooming, diet & wellness, transferring, medication assistance, toileting and mobile assistance, incontinence, and catheter care. • Homemaker Services: Housing keeping (light & full service), meal preparation, laundry, linen changes, plant care, and pet care. • Companion Services: General errands, grocery shopping, provide company to restaurants, movies and other activities, safety checks, and personal hygiene assistance.

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