Good Morning it’s Tuesday April 27th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - In Phase 3 of Gov. Jay Inslee’s reopening plan restrictions relax and public skating returns to the Town Toyota Center

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story… 

 

Over the weekend public ice skating returned to the Town Toyota Center. 

 

Rink Manager France Bedard said that now that we’re in Phase 3 of Governor Jay Inslee’s reopening plan, they decided that they should try to see how the population would respond to coming back to skating. 

 

The Weinstein Beverage Rink has only been open to private groups since COVID-19 restrictions began more than a year ago. And according to Bedard, even that usage was sporadic.

 

Over the last year, rink staff saw their work hours reduced. But they kept busy by cleaning and giving the rink a facelift. Staff also helped with a food bank operated at the Town Toyota Center.

 

But that changed on Friday - with loud pop music, low lighting and dozens of teens gliding in an oval.

 

The rink was open to public skating again on Saturday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. 

 

It’s not clear yet whether the Town Toyota Center will host public skating again next week. But you can check the Town Toyota Center's Facebook page for updates.

 

Capacity is still limited, for now only 125 people, including staff, are allowed in the rink’s side of the Town Toyota Center at a time. Anyone there still needs to wear a mask, whether they’re on the ice or not. And to keep things as safe as possible, the facility is sanitized before and after any public skates.

 

On Friday, just 15 minutes after the rink opened there were already more than 60 skaters.

 

Elizabeth Gomez of East Wenatchee said that she thinks it’s kind of cool. She said that since a lot of people need activities like this because a lot of people are getting depressed. She noted that it makes people motivated to get out and do something.

 

Gomez learned how to skate five or six years ago when her cousin worked at the arena. But until Friday she hadn't gone in about two years. She was there with friends and her younger brother.

 

One of those friends, Jazmine Mejia, also of Wenatchee, said visiting the rink was once a regular occurrence. Mejia actually used to skate often since her brother used to play hockey. They both went every Saturday.

 

Another skater? Freshman Katy Putnam and her friend Kaydence Schumacher - for them, open ice was a welcome change.

 

Putnam noted that she hasn't been in a really long. She likes to skate every Friday when the arena is open, though neither she nor Schumacher has skated since late 2019 or early 2020. 

 

But luckily their muscle memory kicked in.

 

To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

Here’s what else you need to know about today…

 

The Town Toyota Center mass vaccination site now allows walk-in appointments. People can get registered on-site. One thing to note - the site will be closed Sundays and Mondays. This doesn't mean you can’t still make an appointment though. To book visit vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/

 

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As of the end of last week 36% of Chelan county residents are fully vaccinated. In Douglas, just over 29% of residents were fully vaccinated. 

 

And finally, Columbia Valley Community Health will resume the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine now that a review has found it safe. CVCH plans to distribute the one-dose vaccine as soon as Thursday.

 

The Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup, tasked with analyzing the vaccine, announced Saturday they’d found it to be “generally safe and effective.”

 

The Western States Workgroup was composed of vaccine experts from Washington, California, Oregon and Nevada.

 

Governor Jay Inslee said that the benefits of the J&J vaccine outweigh the risks associated with it. He also said that the J&J vaccine will help us get through this pandemic.

 

Many of CVCH’s clinics were dramatically decreased in size or cancelled when the vaccine was paused. Now, they plan to distribute the one-dose vaccine as soon as Thursday.

 

Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

 

Next The Wenatchee River Institute is teaming up with the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center. It’s all part of the Museum’s Environmental Film and Lecture series. 

 

The two organizations are sponsoring the presentation of the documentary “Promised Land” at 7 p.m. today.

 

The film follows the fight of the Duwamish and Chinook tribes to gain federal recognition and restoration of treaty rights.

 

Members of the P’squosa Leadership will also hold a panel to discuss issues raised in the film. They’ll talk about the Wenatchi Advisory Board and also answer questions from people in the audience.

 

Registration for the event is by donation. Once you sign up you’ll be sent a link to view the film ahead of the panel discussion. The panel will be held over Zoom.

 

For more information or to register for the event visit wenatcheeworld.com and check out our full story on the event.

 

Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR

 

Finally some … recent history...

 

The Wenatchee Valley Venom was a professional indoor football team based in Wenatchee. They were a member of the Pacific Division of the Intense Conference of the Indoor Football League. It was on June 15, 2009, when co-owner and general manager Mark Helm announced that the Wenatchee Valley Venom would become an expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association for the 2010 season. 

 

The ownership named Keith Evans as the franchise's first head coach. He was also the assistant general manager. Then, in 2010, the Venom named Kyle Skalisky team president. 

 

But the team quickly fired Evans as head coach after a bad start to the season. The defensive coordinator Brian Smith took over. 

 

In the fall that year, the Venom joined the Indoor Football League for the 2011 season. Despite a win in their first game, they ended the season poorly, losing the final four games.

 

At that point the Venom announced they had ceased operations. Why? Low ticket sales and issues drawing fans.

 

Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!

 

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday April 24th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - East Wenatchee Police Chief Rick Johnson has proposed adding a resource officer to Eastmont High School. He says this would provide much more than just an extra sense of security on campus.

 

This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

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Now our feature story...

 

East Wenatchee Police Chief Rick Johnson has proposed adding a resource officer to Eastmont High School. He says the move would provide much more than just an extra sense of security on campus.

 

Johnson says that having a positive relationship with the police department is essential to increasing public safety locally. In fact, he’s looking at creative ways to reach out to the public in a positive way instead of just responding when things are bad.

 

According to Johnson a school resource officer, or SRO is the single biggest way the police department can impact the most people at a time in their life when they are making opinions of police. 

 

On April 12th, he told the school board that the program gets sold sometimes as a deterrent for violent crime. And yes, it absolutely is, but Johnson thinks that it’s not necessarily the most important role for an SRO.

 

A resource officer is building relationships that otherwise would not exist. 

 

They’re not just a cop to students. They are a public safety advocate, a mentor, a public safety professional, and a counselor.

 

In his proposal, Johnson said the school district would have a huge role in the selection process of the SRO. They’d only move forward if they could find the right person for the job.

 

The salary would be $80,952, and Johnson hopes to have the SRO ready for January 2022.

 

But not everyone on the school board was… on board. Whitney Smith asked why the school district needs a resource officer when police could come to campus anytime.

 

Again, Johnson expressed that as public safety professionals, the mission is public safety. But an SRO on the other hand, their mission is just that of an individual campus.

 

East Wenatchee Mayor Jerrilea Crawford said she and Johnson have been working to reestablish the positive relationship within the community -- and not only for the police department but for the city as a whole.

 

It’s unclear at this point when the school board will continue the conversation about the SRO, but the budget is scheduled to be adopted later this summer on July 12.

 

And several years ago, Superintendent Garn Christensen said the school board made a decision to add two SROs. But the board didn’t know if the funds would be available to maintain the program,  so they put it on hold.

 

And this year, due to COVID, they didn’t know if they’d even have students on campus. That, and a change in city leadership. So we once again the program was postponed. 

 

But Christensen says that now with Chief Johnson here, he has a proposal that the board reconsider.

 

Johnson, who is completing his 10th month at the East Wenatchee Police Department, began his presentation to the board talking about all the changes he’s made at the agency. 

 

He noted they’ve implemented an internal training program for staff in crisis intervention, patrol tactics, de-escalation, use of force, domestic violence law updates, active shooter response, first aid, emergency vehicle operations and defensive tactics.

Why? According to Johnson, historically the East Wenatchee Police Department had a reputation of not training to the same level as the other agencies in the area. The  goal is to be on par if not surpass them.

 

He also added that East Wenatchee Police will have body cameras on all commissioned staff.

 

To stay up to date with this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

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Next, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients. 

 

This week - 26 year old Isabel Bedolla, a Child and Family therapist at the Children’s Home Society of Washington.

 

After graduating from Washington State University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 2016, Bedolla returned to the Wenatchee Valley to start her career. She went on to complete her master’s degree in clinical counseling from Bellevue University in November 2020.

 

She worked for four years as a victim advocate at SAGE, a nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child victims of violence.

 

Bedolla was one of the first and only bilingual forensic interviewers, building bridges in the community by creating partnerships with populations that traditionally have had no visibility or access to services. 

 

She also served on the executive board in organizing SAGE’s fundraising gala, “Enchanted Evening”. The Gala helps the organization continue its free services.

 

As part of her master’s program, she also completed a clinical internship at Children’s Home Society of Washington. Her goal was to become a licensed mental health counselor, one of only 5.5% of psychologists nationally who can provide mental health care services in Spanish. And now, she’s working at Children’s Home Society of Washington as a child and family therapist.

 

When we asked Bedolla what she’s proud of she told us that her biggest accomplishments at SAGE were  always related to clients. She was in a special position where she got to see someone at their most vulnerable and then ultimately see them flourish with time. 

 

Bedolla also got the opportunity to work with different populations and different age groups, which challenged her to learn new ways on how to offer services to each individual client.

 

She’s proud of the community that she serves. Bedolla told us that she’s been asked on multiple occasions why she doesn’t broaden her horizons and move out of the valley. But working with the community here has given her a chance to see that there is always an opportunity to make the community stronger.

 

We also asked what inspires her, and she said that from an early age her dad always told her that if she wanted to achieve something, then she needed to put the time and energy toward it. 

 

And now, what continues to inspire Bedolla  is for other children to see that they are capable of being successful too.

 

Being Hispanic, she hopes that she can motivate others to pursue their dreams of their own.

 

BedollaI wants to see more diversity in all professions because that gives children the ability to think to themselves, “that could be me one day.”

 

 

Now, some history…

 

Did you know that the Wenatchee Youth Circus was founded in 1952 by Paul K. Pugh? Known as the biggest little circus in the world, it’s one of the top non-professional circus troupes in the US. For almost seventy years, they’ve traveled the country and played shows to over 2 million people. While the kids who perform in the circus often go on to other careers, many have turned pro with Ringling Brothers, Cirque du Soleil, and more.

 

In 2017 they were featured in the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. 

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Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!

 

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday April 22nd, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today --- This Monday was not your typical Monday in the Wenatchee School District. The elementary schools were bustling. No more hybrid learning. Students were back in the classroom full time for the first time in a year.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

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Now our feature story…

 

Classmates are finally getting to know each other again. They haven't all been together in more than a year because of COVID-19 restrictions.

 

In a way, it felt like this was the third “first day of school” for these elementary students. 

 

There was the first of school in August when school was all online. Another first day of school in January when hybrid learning started. And on Monday, the third first day of school when students were back in the classroom all day.

 

Patti Montalvo, a first-grade teacher at Mission View Elementary School said that she feels like it’ll take a week or two to get the routine down. 

 

Even though they’ve been in the building, the student’s haven’t had this routine. 

 

Mission View Principal Jeff Jaeger said it was great to see the kids.

 

Students and teachers were equally excited. He felt like things went fairly smoothly, though some tweaks were made to pick-up and drop-off.

 

Jaeger is thankful for the three days staff had last week to set up the classrooms. 

 

At lunch, some students were using 20 foldable tables that were unpacked that morning.

 

They were set up 6 feet apart outside. The school also has a bunch of picnic tables.

 

Jaeger noted that it’s been a tradition at Mission View that during nice weather, grades three, four and five eat outside. So they’re used to it and don’t mind sitting on the grass.

 

We also spoke with Amy Kerker, a music teacher at Washington Elementary School. Kerker had not taught in-person school in more than a year. While some of the other teachers had months of hybrid classes, specialists like Kerker went from full-time online to full-time in-person very suddenly.

 

Kerker told us that she’s tired. Things are very different. She says It’s great to see the kids, but still definitely an adjustment. They all have masks on and it can be tough to recognize them. 

 

And there are a lot of restrictions in terms of what they can and can’t do. Kerker said that though they’re back in school full time it’s not just back to business as usual. They’re teaching with a ton of guidelines.

 

On top of that Kerker noted that they’re not supposed to do a lot of singing and if they do sing, 6 feet of separation is required along with a time limit.

 

So some music teachers are taking students outside to sing.

 

First-grade teacher at Mission View, Montalvo said that Monday was a blur. She was worried all weekend — Asking herself if everything was ready - if she had enough sanitizer.

 

Then the day came, and to Montalvo it was in shock to see the students all together. They were beyond excited. And she asked them how they were feeling - excited, sad or nervous. And most were beyond thrilled.

 

But even after one day, she can see changes to make in the routine.

 

Things like handwashing took a lot longer than the school had planned. Just the overall flow of things may need a little bit of work. Despite so much planning Montalvo noted that when you actually put it into play it doesn’t always go quite like you imagined.

 

When we spoke with Erin Roberts, a parent of three students — first, fourth and fifth graders — at Newbery Elementary School, she was thrilled. She said the first day of full-time school was “awesome.”

 

Her kids all came home with great stories. They were very nervous in the morning, but were excited to go back the next day. 

 

Finally, we spoke with Alfonso Lopez, the principal at Lewis & Clark Elementary School. Lopez said it’s a new routine for the kids to be in school full time. He expects that it’ll take a few days for everyone to really adjust.

 

Lopez also noted that lunchtime went better than we expected. At Lewis & Clark, they had half of the students eating in the cafeteria seated 6 feet apart, while the others ate outside on the grass. 

 

That part is new, but the kids enjoyed it. It was like a picnic. Going forward they’ll be rotating who eats where every two weeks.

 

This crazy year of COVID has accounted for a lot of firsts, not the least of which is, first days of school.

 

For more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

 

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Next,

 

The unique soil and climate that have made Lake Chelan famous for its apples for over 100 years are now performing their magic on grapes. Dozens of vineyards and more than 30 wineries have sprung up around the southeastern tip of the scenic lake since the turn of the 21st century. 

 

And though the vineyard region is young - the optimum conditions coupled with the lake’s magnetic draw on tourists may make Lake Chelan one of the state’s premiere wine destinations. 

 

Lake Chelan became Wahsington’s 11th American Viticultural Area back in 2009. Most planted grape varieties include Syrah, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Malbec, Riesling and Chardonnay, but there are actually 20 plus grape varieties on more than 300 acres within the Lake Chelan AVA.

 

As one of the region's most accomplished wine makers, Ray Sandidge knows what makes the area so special. His 36 year career has included dozens of award winning vintages. Some of his wines have even been served in the white house. 

 

Sandidge says that there’s no other region in the state where grapes are grown like they are here. The narrow lake basin is surrounded by steep hillsides planted with vineyards ranging between one to two thousand feet elevation. The steep foothills block the westside rain and provides good airflow. And the lake cools the air in the summer and warms the air in the fall and winter. It protects the vines from weather related injury.

 

You can read more about wine in wenatchee in the May 2021 edition of Foothills Magazine. You can find the digital edition on wenatcheeworld.com

 

Also, don’t forget to vote for 2021 World’s Best before May 8th - if you participate you’ll automatically be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card - good luck!

 

Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR

 

Now, some history…

 

More than 200 pieces of gleaming and rumbling history will take to East Wenatchee streets on June 11th for the Classy Chassis Parade, the date was moved to align with the new date for the Apple Blossom Festival.

 

The Festival, originally called "Blossom Days", began back in 1919 to celebrate the importance of the apple industry in Wenatchee Valley. 

 

The classy chassis parade is set to start at 6 p.m. and will follow its normal route — beginning at Grant Road and North George Avenue and continuing along Valley Mall Parkway.

 

Event director Trina Elmes said the annual parade normally brings in about 300-400 vehicles and various bands, as well as area fire and police departments. It’s considered an official event of the Apple Blossom Festival, with the car parade taking place the night before.

 

Those interested in registering a car for this year’s parade can visit eastwenatcheewa.gov. The first vehicle fee is $12, while the second and third cost $10. Registration for commercial vehicles costs $35.

 

The official press release also noted that parade attendees are required to wear a facemask and practice social distancing.

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday April 20th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - Last week, the state Senate approved legislation that calls for fire officials to take preventative steps to avoid wildfires caused by electric utilities. So what does this mean for The Chelan County PUD?

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story… 

 

Last week, the state Senate approved legislation that calls for fire officials to take preventative steps to avoid wildfires caused by electric utilities.

 

It’s Senate Bill 5158 and it directs the state Department of Natural Resources to implement recommendations from the Electric Utilities Wildland Fire Prevention Task Force. 

 

It passed with 48 yes votes, zero no votes and one excused.

 

This task force was actually formed back in 2019. They aim to find ways to reduce wildfires sparked by power lines and other electrical sources.

 

So, what kind of steps will they be recommending local fire officials take?

 

Well, first, officials will need to cover the management of dangerous trees and vegetation. They’ll also be encouraged to develop communication protocols and education exchanges as well as investigation protocols. Finally - officials will likely create rosters of certified wildland fire investigators.

 

Reducing wildfires started by electric utilities isn’t a new topic. Especially here. And especially in the wake of  the 2018 Camp Fire in California that killed at least 85 people and destroyed nearly 19,000 buildings. 

 

And that 2018 fire was caused by a powerline belonging to PG&E. 

 

PG&E later filed for bankruptcy.

 

So, what is the Chelan County PUD doing to prevent future fires?

 

Back in March we reported that they’re studying how power cuts have been used in California and Oregon to reduce the risk of wildfire.

 

At the time PUD spokeswoman Rachel Hansen told commissioners that the risks to our communities and the risk to our utility have grown so catastrophically. She noted that they need to do their due diligence in exploring this option.

 

But the PUD has not yet adopted a targeted power-cut policy and the Fire Outage Management Plan is young. For now, they’re still working on a plan.

 

Staffers say early plans are for the cutoffs to be targeted and not broad. 

 

Areas like Plain, Lake Wenatchee and the Chumstick which are considered to have the highest fire danger in the county, are likely to be among those that are targeted.

 

But ultimately it’ll be extreme fire conditions — high winds and dry fuels — that would be the most important factors in deciding when to cut power. Though exactly how strong the winds and how dry the fuels would have to be before taking that action is still being decided.

 

The idea to develop the plan began after the Labor Day fires that devastated Douglas and Okanogan counties and sparked a spot fire in Chelan.

 

The plan is for staffers to bring their findings to the commission in June. 

 

Meanwhile, The Douglas County Board of Commissioners have been reviewing, discussing, and attending meetings around the Douglas PUD’s proposed Power Rate Delivery Fee Assessment. It’ll impact new developments like Microsoft, but also established power users already doing businesses in Douglas County.

 

Though Microsoft will be purchasing power on the open market and not from the Douglas PUD, they have

committed to paying the PUD to construct the infrastructure necessary to deliver the future power needs. This investment is estimated to be around  $24.9 million

 

To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

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Here’s what else you need to know about today…

 

Starting this week, the mass-vaccination site at the Town Toyota Center is adjusting its hours to offer evening and weekend appointments. The site will be closed Sundays and Mondays. 

 

Chelan-Douglas Health District spokeswoman Veronica Farias said this is a permanent change to the schedule. Why? to give more flexibility for people who work during regular business hours.

 

The site is also now open to anyone 16 or older, but appointments are still required. 

 

To sign up for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, visit the state's registration website: prepmod.doh.wa.gov/clinic/search or call (509) 886-6487.

 

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Some good news - The Wenatchee City pool will open June 12 with COVID-19 rules limiting its use. The pool will operate Monday through Saturday and swimmers will need to preregister online through the Wenatchee Parks Department or by calling (509) 888-3284.

 

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Finally, The Chelan-Douglas Health District started offering doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Cashmere Expo Center.

 

You can schedule an appointment here: wwrld.us/cashmere. You can also call (509) 886-6487.

 

Keep in mind that everyone ages 16 and older is eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, but the Pfizer vaccine is only one that’s been approved for 16- and 17-year olds. The health district will not administer the Moderna vaccines to minors.

 

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And remember, for all news related to vaccinations and covid-19 visit us at wenatcheeworld.com/news/coronavirus.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

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Next we’re excited to highlight A Douglas County deputy who was recently honored for helping a homeless man find a legal campsite. The deputy also offered him cash.

 

Earlier this month Cpl. Thomas Williams was dispatched to the East Wenatchee Grange Hall on Sunset Highway. There was a trespassing complaint.

 

The man had set up a tent on the north side of the property and was homeless. It turned out that he was homeless in large part because of the pandemic. 

 

Williams learned the man was actually waiting for a stimulus check to pay his way to Missouri.

 

So he drove him to two campsites until they found one with a vacancy. Together they went to an appointment, and Williams gave him $40 to help pay for the campsite and some food.

 

Afterwards, Sheriff Kevin Morris said that although the actions Williams took weren’t necessarily unique to how he regularly conducts himself, this warrants special attention. Morris noted that Williams not only appropriately mitigated the complaint, but showed exceptional compassion and leadership.

 

Morris awarded Williams with an Award of Merit.

 

Williams joined the sheriff’s office back in 2014 and is a graduate of Eastmont High School.

 

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Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR 

 

Now, some history…

 

Over the weekend residents celebrated the 51st anniversary of Earth Day. The sky was clear and the temperature warm on Saturday morning as people streamed in and out of Earth Day Fair which was in the west parking lot of the Pybus Public Market.

 

It was in person, but other notable Earth Day events in the area, like in Chelan and Leavenworth, had to either cancel or switch to Zoom.

 

But Sustainable Wenatchee was able to coordinate with the Chelan-Douglas Health District and get the event approved.

 

Capacity was set at 400 people, and more than 1,000 people came to the fair throughout the day.

That’s more people than the 2019 pre-COVID Earth Day fair.

 

As a part of the event 350 Wenatchee Climate Conversations, an environmental advocacy group and offshoot of Climate Conversations North Central Washington, helped people write letters about their environmental concerns to President Biden and the state Department of Energy.

 

The idea for the first earth day came from Senator Gaylord Nelson, a junior senator from Wisconsin. He was concerned about the deteriorating environment. Then in January 1969, he and many others witnessed the ravages of a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.  

 

Eventually he recruited some other like-minded people, and they settled on April 22 as the official date of Earth Day.

 

The first one was in 1970 and it achieved a rare political alignment -- with support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban dwellers and farmers, business and labor leaders. 

 

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Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!

 

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday April 17th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - Between summer school and the return of full-time in-person the Wenatchee School District is in need of extra help. They now have over 100 job openings.

 

This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

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Now our feature story...

 

Between summer school and the return of full-time in-person the Wenatchee School District is looking for some extra help… well, a lot of extra help.

 

They’re hiring in every department according to Diana Haglund, the district’s spokesperson. They have 500 students registered for summer school, which is highly unusual. Usually there aren’t too many teachers employed during the summer - but that’ll need to change this year.

 

In 2019, summer school was only for migrant students, so there were 200 and 15 teachers. In 2020 enrollment expanded to 400 students and 30 teachers. This year, enrollment is even higher.

 

Outside of teaching positions the school district is hiring bus drivers, and technology staff.

 

The school district is even interviewing for two open principal positions at elementary schools. There are openings for school counselors, a school psychologist, coaching positions.

 

Haglund said that there are opportunities for anybody and everybody.

 

Haglund said they also have a definite need in special education.

 

Meanwhile. elementary students and teachers alike prepare for their return to full-time classes on Monday.

 

Students have been back at school for hybrid learning since the end of January, but now classrooms need to be resituated. They’ll need to accommodate all students at once. 

 

And there will be a lot of other changes… building staff is preparing health screenings, meal service will be different - there will be no more grab-and-go lunches to take home and eat, instead hot meals will be served in the cafeteria and at outdoor seating areas.

 

Physical education, music and library staff are also setting up their spaces for the first time -- making sure everything is socially distanced.

 

Haglund noted that they may even stagger the departure times of students from buildings to limit the grouping that could take place. 

Finally, transportation is a logistical challenge. With elementary students returning full-time and secondary students staying in a hybrid schedule they’re on a razor’s edge in terms of our staffing. As we mentioned, they’re actively looking to hire and train drivers.

 

For now, the district is encouraging families to drop off and pick up their students if it’s possible.

 

To stay up to date with this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

--

 

Next, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients. 

 

Today we’re excited to highlight 32 year old John Donaghy, the Director of engineering at Confluence Health.

 

Donaghy, graduated from Wenatchee High School in 2007 and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Idaho. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University. By then he was working for Confluence Health. He started there in 2013, and has led both clinical and non-clinical departments. He has a reputation for his customer service skills and his ability to solve complex problems.

 

In his current role as engineering director Donaghy oversees Confluence Health’s facilities and operations across four counties. He also leads the Environmental Services and Occupational Medicine teams.

 

Outside of work, Donaghy serves the community as a member of the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center Board of Directors. He’s also a member of the WestSide High School Senior Mentor program and an Elder’s Quorum President for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

 

We asked Donaghy what he’s most proud of, and he said it’s serving others - that’s what bring him joy both in and outside of work.

 

As a child, he learned from his parents that hard work and genuine service are powerful tools to find true success. These principles have been the cornerstone to his motivation.

 

He now has two sons and a daughter. Providing experiences for them to learn, grow and develop inspires him. Donaghy also noted that he hasn’t done all of this alone. He wouldn’t  be where he is today without the support of his wife and most importantly his faith.

 

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Now, some history…

 

Wenatchee Valley College opened as a private institution in Wenatchee in 1939. It opened after 51 local citizens donated to the cause. Two years later, it became part of the state's public education system. Classes were held on the third floor of the Wenatchee High School building on the corner of King and Idaho streets until the donation of the A. Z. Wells home in 1949.

 

We’ve talked about the Wells House on this podcast before - it’s a large house on a five-acre tract on Fifth Street. It’s made of stone from the Columbia River and has castle-like turrets. The building housed offices and classrooms and later became a dormitory. Eventually, landowners nearby agreed to sell property to the college and the campus expanded. Today, it sits on 56 acres. The Wells House is still on college property, but it’s now owned by the Wells House Committee.

 

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Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!

 

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday April 15th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today --- In response to a state Supreme Court ruling in February that struck down Washington’s drug possession law, officials in Chelan and Douglas counties have passed a new ordinance criminalizing the possession of controlled substances.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story…

 

In response to a state Supreme Court ruling in February that struck down Washington’s drug possession law, officials in Chelan and Douglas counties have passed a new ordinance criminalizing the possession of controlled substances.

 

Back on February 25th, The state Supreme Court ruled the state’s law around unlawful possession of a controlled substance was unconstitutional. Why? Because it lacked a knowing element. The decision came from an incident in Spokane where a woman was arrested while wearing a pair of jeans that she didn’t know had meth in the pocket. The jeans had been given to her by a friend.

 

And since that ruling in February, police have not been able to arrest anyone for simple possession of drugs.

 

Craig Meidl, the Spokane police chief discussed the complications that this has led to shortly after the ruling

 

But on Monday, The Douglas County Commission announced that on April 6 they had passed an ordinance that makes possession of a controlled substance a gross misdemeanor. The misdemeanor is punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $5,000.

 

The commission explained that the ordinance was adopted to protect the public health and safety of the community. They also explained that it was put in place in response to the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision in State V. Blake.

 

Chelan County passed a similar ordinance on Monday. According to Chelan County Prosecutor Doug Shae it deems possession of a controlled substance a misdemeanor. Their ordinance takes effect April 23.

 

Prior to February Washington was the only state in the country that didn’t have an element in its law that required authorities to prove a suspect knowingly possessed drugs.

 

To address this the Douglas County Commission said its ordinance includes the required mental element, making it constitutionally sound. They also noted that they believe in protecting the community from the unlawful use of controlled substances, the increase in crime that comes along with it, and the physical and mental harm it can create.

 

For more on this story, and to stay up to date on developments, visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

 

--

 

Next, we’re excited to highlight an upcoming event.

 

The Associated Students of Wenatchee Valley College at Omak will be hosting a webinar called Respect the Earth and She will Always Take Care of You featuring Dr. Jeannette Armstrong. The event is part of the Earth Day celebration on Tuesday, April 20th.

 

It’ll be on Zoom from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and it's free and open to the public. 

 

Armstrong is an award-winning Okanagan-Canadian author and artist. She’s also a traditional knowledge keeper of the Syilx Okanagan people.

 

Armstrong will discuss the ethical concepts that underpin the traditional ecological knowledge practiced from her perspective. You’ll hear about how people interact with the lands they occupy, and how that’s intertwined with how people interact with each other.

 

Armstrong will also address how seeking ancestral knowledge can impact the next generation. The importance of intimacy with the land, taking responsibility for relationships, and building resilient communities in the face of cultural and environmental destruction will all be at the forefront of the talk.

 

You can find a link to register for the event on our website, wenatcheeworld.com.

 

Now, some history…

 

Buried in the backwoods near the Bavarian themed mountain town of Leavenworth is the Old Leavenworth cemetery. To get there, visitors will follow a winding road until they reach the Icicle rail station. Across the road is a dirt driveway that eventually leads to the cemetery. It’s small. Easy to miss. Tucked behind evergreens. It’s a place of mystique and many names. To some it’s the old leavenworth cemetery, to others, the north road cemetery, and to some locals the pioneer cemetery. 

 

According to Matt Cade, the board president of the Greater Leavenworth Museum it’s believed that it was the town’s first cemetery, and the resting place of its first settlers.

 

Construction began on the Great Northern Railroad during the 1890’s, and it was then when the area began to see its first settlers - mostly miners, fur traders, and loggers. Then in 1906 the town of Leavenworth was officially established. And just a year later the cemetery was sold to the Leavenworth Cemetery Association. The organization is now defunct. Since then the city  doesn’t coordinate maintenance, instead it’s owned by those with plots. Family members are responsible for the upkeep.

 

But since 2014 members of the Upper Valley historical society along with some community volunteers have taken on some responsibility - cleaning up twice a year. 

 

You can read more about this story in our latest issue of Foothills Magazine. 

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday April 13th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - A surge in outdoor trail use in the Wenatchee Valley may mean even larger crowds at places like Saddlerock or Colchuck Lake this summer.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story… 

 

There’s been a common theme among trails across the Wenatchee Valley since last year…. Growing popularity.

 

According to local outdoor organizations the surge in trail use could mean there will be even larger crowds at popular spots.

 

Wenatchee resident Stacey Hill, took her first hike of the season on Sage Hills last week. Hill was one of a few hikers out Thursday morning, soaking in the sun while catching first glimpses of wildflowers.

 

She noted that a lot of people have been hiking in the foothills, in fact the parking lots have been full at Saddlerock. Hill says she doesn't remember them every being so full. 

 

But this isn’t unique to Saddlerock. Trails across the Wenatchee foothills area started opening April 1. Since then, more people than usual have been out.

 

Accessible and open trails include Balsamroot, Sage Hills, Saddle Rock, Castle Rock, Horse Lake Reserve and the Jacobson area. 

 

Hanne Beener, the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust trails program manager, told us that people want to get outside, somewhere close to home. That trend seems to have continued over to this year.

 

Beener says that the increase in popularity comes from a number of reasons. For example, last summer there were a lot of new train users who discovered something they really like. 

 

But the crowds have made some things complicated from a management point of view. Beener says that more people on the trails, especially those new to hiking, often means more management issues for landowners or anyone managing recreation.

 

New folks might be unfamiliar with recreation etiquette or stewardship. This can lead to people walking off of the main trail, potentially hurting neighboring wildlife. More popular areas like Saddle Rock are seeing extra litter and people not picking up after their dogs.

 

Branching out of the Wenatchee foothills, trails across the Wenatchee Valley have also seen more use.

 

Mat Lyons, the director of the Wenatchee-based TREAD Map app, is trying to solve potential overcrowding issues by helping people find out where else to go.

 

Lyons spoke about the mission recently on the WVC Rec Center podcast.

 

Ultimately, Lyons encourages people to check out the dozens of other great places nearby. He’s also working on an in-app pop up window that will show people alternatives to the more crowded trails. 

 

The TREAD Map app was released last July and has seen 1,600 downloads since then. Most of the app’s users are from North Central Washington, but he also is seeing users from the west side.

 

The goal with TREAD — which stands for trails, recreation, education, advocacy and development — has been to teach people how to recreate responsibly while sharing a variety of local trails.

 

The app gives users a virtual map, listing trails, photos and reports from trails.

 

Lyons said he is hoping people will look for other places to go. He doesn’t want us to love one place to death.

 

Mountain bike traffic throughout the valley is also expected to grow as soon as more snow melts off and extra trails open.

 

Central Washington’s Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance president Tony Hickok said trails in the valley have probably never seen more use than they did last summer.

 

Maintenance will be their main focus, right out of the gate. 

 

Hickok told us that trails are kind of like a living thing and change over time. And the more use there is to a trail, the more damage there can be.

 

To him, the biggest thing that needs to be communicated is not to hurt trails. If a user can see their footprint or tire track, then it is too wet. A lot of harm can be done if people ride on trails that aren’t ready.

 

But Hickok also said he hopes the high level of trail use continues this summer. He hopes people will keep being active and getting out.

 

After all, that’s what makes this area so amazing.

 

To read more on this story, find a link to the TREAD app, or stay up to date on outdoors news in North Central Washington, visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

Starting on Thursday this week everyone 16 and older across the state will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccinations. You can make an appointment online at vaccinelocator.doh.wa.gov/

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A recent change in how counties are being evaluated for COVID-19 gives Chelan and Douglas counties a better shot at staying in Phase 3 of the “Healthy Washington” reopening plan. Until Friday, counties needed to pass two state measurements. But now, counties would have to fail both metrics in order to get sent back a phase.

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After an issue arose with a refrigerator that stored vaccines at Safeway Pharmacy in Wenatchee last week, they were forced to use the doses immediately. We’re excited to report that they were able to use all 60 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

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And remember, for all news related to vaccinations and covid-19 visit us at wenatcheeworld.com/news/coronavirus.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

-

 

Next we’re excited to highlight a new business in our community.

 

The Salad Bar finally opened to the public at the end of March.

 

It’s located in the Swim and Gym building, where the Brick Deli used to be before it closed at the beginning of the pandemic.

 

There are too many salad toppings to name but there are at least four types of dressings, five types of meat and over a dozen different types of vegetables to choose from.

 

Owner Micaiah McCreary  told us that they’re so excited to finally be open and provide a healthy option for the community. They wanted to carry on what the Brick Deli had started, so they didn’t stray too far from what options they had. But they did add in a few of their own personal touches and upgraded some of the products.

 

Salads are sold by weight at $8.99 a pound. They also have sandwiches, paninis and flatbreads.

 

You can stop by Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 

Also, if you’re looking for a new job, McCreary said they’re hiring!

 

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Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur .

 

Now, some history…

 

The 1954 film “Appleland” looks at the apple industry in the state of Washington. It discusses everything from the geology of Washington, to the irrigation of apple orchards from the Columbia and Yakima Rivers. And of course, the Apple Blossom Festival. The 28 minute color film was narrated by Patrick MacGeehan.  It was presented by the Washington State Apple Commission, and created by Joseph Yolo.

 

Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!

 

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Saturday April 10th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s newest podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - The popular Oktoberfest in Leavenworth won’t be happening this year. But… if city officials have their way it will return in 2022. 

 

This episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story...

 

The popular Oktoberfest in Leavenworth won’t happen in 2021, but if city officials have their way it will return next year. There also may be a new organization leading the way.

 

Oktoberfest in Leavenworth is an event that takes place for the first three weekends in October. It’s operated by the nonprofit group Projekt Bayern. Projekt Bayern has a mission to promote the Bavarian theme in the area. 

 

The event usually attracts around 20,000 people each weekend.

 

The future of Oktoberfest was the topic of the Leavenworth Resident Advisory Committee meeting earlier this week. More than 50 people logged on to listen. 

 

The RAC is made up of city residents who meet once a month to give feedback on issues for the city council.

 

Leavenworth City Administrator Ana Cortez said that the meeting was the first opportunity for stakeholders to give their input on Oktoberfest.

 

Cortez noted that residents, merchants, council, and the  mayor will all be giving their best ideas on what they think the new concept for Oktoberfest ought to be.

 

Ultimately, the city will issue a request for proposals. After that, the city will evaluate and determine the right partners.

 

The city’s current contract with Projekt Bayern to operate Oktoberfest has been in place since 2012. And Cortez said it was Projekt Bayern who canceled the 2021 Oktoberfest.

 

Apparently the group could not secure the different elements that make the event an authentic event. They decided not to move forward since the quality of the event would have been impacted.

 

But, Projekt Bayern is planning to operate a different event this year on the same dates with the same blueprint. On that, more details are expected by June 1.

 

For now, the city has provided Projekt Bayern a notification of termination of contract according to Cortez.

 

Still, RAC Board member Mike Bedard said most of his neighbors like Oktoberfest - even though they’re affected by it.

 

Bedard said that with the experiences we’ve had during COVID people love to see this kind of environment. He noted that it may make sense to make Oktoberfest more of a town event that restaurants and bars can participate in more readily.

 

RAC Board member Kenzie Converse said she has worked downtown for 12 years during Oktoberfest. She loves the event and said she and her peers enjoy working during those weekends.

 

Converse did say that it can tend to be a drunken, aggressive, almost unsafe environment. She emphasized that it’ll be important to address the environment. Converse would like it to be more family-friendly and less focused on booze.

 

Local businessman Oliver Brulotte also gave input. Brulotte said the values the city should look for in a new organization include, respect, professionalism, customer service mindset, transparency, community focus, mutually beneficial and inclusion.

 

To him, it’s not too much to ask.

 

To stay up to date with this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

--

 

Next, our weekly profile of one of the World's 30 Under 35 award recipients. 

 

Leavenworth resident Chelsea Murphy graduated in 2007 from Tacoma’s Franklin Pierce High School and earned her associate degree from Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. She went on to manage Aldo shoe stores around Washington and Colorado, before getting married and starting a family.

 

Now, Murphy is a stay-at-home mom running her own business. From freelance speaking, writing, consulting and marketing on and off for social media, she creates awareness around diversity in the outdoors. 

 

Murphy is sponsored by brands like L.L. Bean, Salomon and REI. She works to create a more inclusive outdoors for all.

 

Her efforts have focused on caring for nature, raising awareness and educating her community on Black, Indigenous and People of Color’s relationships to the natural world.

 

Murphy’s projects have ranged from organizing a fundraiser last winter for the Colville Confederated Tribes Children & Family Services to speaking at Chelan-Douglas Land Trust’s Wild Ideas events. She also is a member of the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust.

 

Murphy and filmmaker Erin Joy Nash are also now working on a local short-film documentary about 12 BIWOC. We spoke about the film in an episode of our podcast last week. Check it out.

 

Murphy and Nash are currently raising money for the production phase and hoping to be able to reach our goal by the beginning of April.

 

When we asked Murphy what accomplishments she is most proud of she said that becoming more involved in my community and finding her voice in Leavenworth as an activist for social and environmental issues is a big one.

 

Murphy has become known as the mama who organizes trash clean ups that are kid friendly. 

 

Murphy is most proud of the community that she’s built with help from some other rad women in Washington to get the film project up and off the ground. 

 

We also asked what inspires her. It’s Murphy’s little girls. She wants to be a representation in the outdoors and on trails for them so they can have a role model who allows them to believe that they can do anything. 

 

Murphy says her kids are the reason she can be vulnerable and show up to see the change in this world that she wishes she had growing up. 

 

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Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur .

 

Now, some history…

 

The Liberty Theater Pipe Organ is fully operational. Made in 1919 the Wurlitzer pipe organ from a local movie theater was restored and installed in the Wenatchee Valley Museum’s performance center in 1989. 

 

https://koho101.com/2019/06/a-century-old-gathering-place-liberty-theater-its-wurlitzer-organ-celebrate-100th-year/

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Tuesday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Thursday April 8th, and this is The Wenatchee World’s podcast, Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today --- Ohme Gardens turns over a new leaf after a year spent closed because of the pandemic.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story…

 

After being closed for the past year Ohme Gardens is coming back strong. 

 

The garden’s staff took advantage of the 2020 closure to make the improvements. They’ll open for the 2021 season later this month on April 15th.

 

The gardens now have a new 1,200-square-foot building at the entrance. The building houses an office space and a gift shop for visitors. 

 

We spoke to Jason Browning, the Ohme Gardens director, who also spoke about a new walkway that uses the garden’s original stones. 

 

Browning has been in charge of Ohme Gardens for more than two years now. He’s been working to bring the garden into the 21st century.

 

Browning said that the gardens have been operated like a tourist attraction, but he’d like to make it more of a community-dwelling place. One of the garden’s main attractions is its views of Mission Ridge, the Columbia River and the Enchantments.

 

Ohme Gardens is a major tourist draw for Chelan County, with 80% of its visitors coming from outside the county. It attracts about 16,000 people annually. Believe it or not this is a decrease from the over 30,000 that visited each year in the 1970s to 1980s.

 

According to Browning the state took over ownership of Ohme Gardens in the 1990’s with the agreement that Chelan County would operate. Chelan County only agreed to operate it if it didn’t cost the county anything. The state managed the garden on a shoestring budget.

 

But in 2008, the county took over operation of the garden fully. Now, the county uses its general fund to support operations. 

 

The garden has a special history. It was originally started by a man named Herman Ohme in 1932. Browning says that Ohme envisioned the garden as an alpine meadow. 

 

Back in 2009, we interviewed members of the Ohme family who had grown up working on the gardens. 

 

Kevin and Brian Ohme described helping out as a kid…

 

During that interview we also spoke with Carol Ohme-Peterson.

 

Unfortunately, the state failed to keep up with the Ohme family’s original vision. The trees eventually grew taller - blocking views.

 

Browning has been working hard to restore the original vision for the gardens. In the last 18 months alone he’s removed 50 trees that were sick and dying.

 

One of his goals is to transform the garden so more community events can happen. The garden is even purchasing a stage that it can place on its main lawn. In the near term he plans to bring back the movie nights that the gardens hosted back in 2019.

 

Browning also said he’d eventually like it to be free for residents of Chelan and Douglas counties to visit.

 

As for weddings, the garden is booked already for the season, he said. The park’s rates are competitive and they are flexible with what guests want to do, which is why people like using the space.

 

For more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com.

 

Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

 

Next, we’re excited to highlight Kim and Matt Martin who are bringing a taste of Maui to Entiat…. though not necessarily in the form of pineapple and coconut.

 

They are turning a near 1-acre vacant commercial lot on Highway 97A into a central location for food trucks. It’ll be called Tulla’s Food Truck Alley.

 

Kim said that they first got the idea while on vacation in Maui. There, they saw a food truck lot that was a vibrant community gathering place.

 

A year after the trip, they came across the highway property. Ten, they purchased the land. 

 

That was in 2019, before the pandemic prompted restaurateurs to get innovative with curbside, takeout and outdoor dining options.

 

Last fall, after noticing a host of business licenses being issued for food trucks across the region, they decided the timing was good to put the plan into action.

 

The food truck alley will be anchored by Tulla’s Sweet Retreats, a bakery stand that’s operated by Sarah Stenberg.

 

Martin says she’s about three weeks away from opening.

 

From there, the first two food trucks — Blue Skies Food Shack, from East Wenatchee, and Frickster’s BBQ, from Yakima — are expected to start serving on Mother’s Day.

 

Food truck operators can lease space by the month or by the day — or somewhere in between.

 

The hope is Tulla’s Food Truck Alley will be active year-round. 

 

For now, Martin is working with the economic development council on some grant funds that could help them expand the idea.

 

Expansion would include adding more electrical pedestals for additional food trucks.

 

If all goes well, the longer-term vision is to add food truck support services — like a commercial kitchen where food truck owners could prepare their food.

 

This is the Martins’ first commercial venture. They also own several rental homes in the region.

 

For information on Tulla’s Food Truck Alley, call Martin at 509-387-3112, or check out Tulla’s Sweet Retreat’s Facebook page.

 

Before we go, some local history,  Wenatchee Valley History is brought to you by NABUR [this is pronounced just like neighbor] – your trusted neighborhood community. NABUR is a free online forum you can trust to connect with your community, focus on facts & make a difference. Join the conversation! Visit wenatcheeworld.com/nabur .

 

Now, some history…

 

The East Wenatchee Clovis Site is a deposit of prehistoric Clovis points. They date to roughly 13,000 years ago. The Clovis points were found in 1987. 

 

The documentary "Search for Ancient Americans" tells the story of how they were found.

 

Thanks for listening. Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Saturday!

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Good Morning it’s Tuesday April 6th and this is Slices of Wenatchee. We’re excited to bring you a closer look at one of our top stories and other announcements every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. 

 

Today - The Eastmont School District plans bring elementary students back full-time starting later this month on April 26th. They plan to bring middle school and high school students back on May 3rd.

 

Today’s episode is brought to you by Equilus Group Incorporated. Equilus Group, Inc is a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. Equilus Group, Inc- Building Your Financial Success. Learn more at Equilusfinancial.com. Member SIPC and FINRA.

 

Now our feature story… 

 

The Eastmont School District plans bring elementary students back full-time on April 26 and middle school and high school students back on May 3. A May 3 return is about a month before the school year ends.

 

Last week, the state Department of Health reduced COVID-19-related social distancing requirements for students from 6 feet to 3 feet. This prompted the change.

 

Here’s Governor Jay Inslee’s announcement about the change.

 

Eastmont Superintendent Garn Christensen said the rule change means the district can move forward with its plans to give elementary and secondary students more time on campus. 

 

Right now, students are on a hybrid schedule. They attend in-person school every other day. This means only half of the students are in classrooms at a time.

 

But now, with the new guidelines Christensen says they are encouraged to maximize the campus. 

 

And that’ll be a challenge. 

 

Christensen said that even with the 3-foot distancing it’s still going to be challenging. It’s a hard task for educators to comply with - on top of instruction. 

 

On Monday, The Wenatchee School District decided it will bring back elementary students full-time starting April 19th. Older students will continue hybrid instruction through the end of the school year.

 

This summer, Christensen said the school district is planning a comprehensive K-12 summer school. The summer school will include transportation. He anticipates that most students will be eligible. Summer school will start in June and run until the end of July.

 

Christensen noted that typically summer school is always limited by funding. They’re also usually only allowed to invite students that are behind on their core areas. But this year they think there will be quite a few students that are behind in many areas. 

 

To read more on this story visit us at wenatcheeworld.com

 

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Here’s what else you need to know about today…

Governor Jay Inslee announced that everyone 16 and older across the state will become eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations on April 15.

 

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The state's eligibility tool, Phase Finder, is no longer required to verify eligibility. Instead, the state Department of Health released a new web tool that helps people find a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. 

 

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The state's vaccine rollout plan is currently in Phase 1B Tiers 3 to 4. This includes everyone 60 years and older, restaurant workers, and other congregate settings. People from previous tiers and phases are still eligible for COVID-19 vaccines. 

 

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The Town Toyota Center mass vaccination site's hours have changed. The site will be open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. 

And remember, for all news related to vaccinations and covid-19 visit us at wenatcheeworld.com/news/coronavirus.

 

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Before we continue, a special thanks to our friends and sponsors at Confluence Health. The team at Confluence Health is grateful for the trust the community puts in them every single day. They are diligently working to improve the health and quality of life for our friends and neighbors. They are Grateful | They are Confluence Health.  Learn more by visiting them at ConfluenceHealth.com

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Next we’re excited to highlight that The Icicle Fund has awarded $2 million through a series of grant programs in the arts, environment, and cultural and natural history sectors.

 

Like many nonprofits this year, the Icicle Fund has experimented with different ways that it can effectively improve the quality of life in North Central Washington. The Fund’s board of directors is composed primarily of nonprofit representatives. They decided to more than double the grant funding available in 2021.

 

Through their Operating Support Grant Program, 32 organizations have received unrestricted operating support. This allows the organizations the flexibility to be strategic and nimble during a year of high uncertainty.

 

In partnership with Icicle Creek Center for the Arts and Methow Arts Alliance, Icicle Fund also provided 130 COVID relief grants as direct support for working artists in Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties. 

 

Artists have been particularly hard hit during the pandemic and their work is sorely needed as we build a post-COVID future together.

 

We have heard from so many of our grantees that this support is coming at just the right time to get their programs restarted.

 

Recently, REBECCA RYKER the Icicle Fund Executive Director spoke about how community members can help.

 

Now, some history…

 

The Wenatchee post office features an oil on canvas mural. It’s called The Saga of Wenatchee and it was painted in 1940 by Peggy Strong. 

 

Strong was a prominent regionalist artist in Washington state during the Depression. She attended the University of Washington.

 

Thanks for listening. We’d also like to thank our sponsor again, Equilus Group, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisory Firm in the states of Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

 

The Wenatchee World has been engaging, informing and inspiring North Central Washington Communities since 1905. We encourage you to subscribe today to keep your heart and mind connected to what matters most in North Central Washington. Thank you for starting your morning with us and don't forget to tune in again on Thursday!

Support the show: https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/site/forms/subscription_services/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.