Table of Contents Special Feature 12-13 Preserving Dayton's "Ghost Signs" Dayton has several examples of ghost signs, and a project by the Dayton Development Task Force is helping restore some of its best examples. These are on the backs of three buildings on East Main Street, along the alley opposite the Dayton Historic Depot: Sterling Savings, St Vincent De Paul and the Village Shoppes. With a $20,000 grant from Walla Walla’s Sherwood Trust Foundation, artist Brian Graham has been hired to bring the signs back to life. They are being restored in an aged condition, not as new.
Features
6 A Triple Grand Opening in Waitsburg 8 Administrators Discuss School Improvement Efforts 10 Columbia County Fair: Sunshine Days & Country Ways 15 Dayton on Tour coming October 1 On the Cover
Brian Graham brings the Cleveland's Baking Powder can back to life on the back of the Sterling Savings Bank Building. Photo by Ken Graham. Cover design by Vanessa Heim.
More 5 Letter to the Editor 5 News 9 News Briefs 16-21 Calendar of Events 18-19 News Briefs 23 One More Thing... Columnist Brainwashed by Cult!
Letters Invited
(509) 540-2752 www.bluemtnnews.com
Ken Graham
Editor and Publisher (509) 540-2752 | ken@bluemtnnews.com
Blue Mountain News is mailed FREE to Tanya Patton every home and business in Dayton, Assoc. Editor & Advertising (509) 382-4458/(509) 540-4644 Waitsburg, Starbuck and Prescott. tanya@bluemtnnews.com Also available at fine retailers throughout the area. Subscriptions out of the area are $12 per year. Blue Mountain News is published 10 times per year by: Back of the Moon Press, 242 E. Main St., Dayton, WA 99328
Vanessa Heim Graphic Designer
Copyright Š 2011 by Back of the Moon Press No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.
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Blue Mountain NEWS
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Blue Mountain News welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of interest to our overall readership. Letters should be 400 words or less and should be submitted by the 20th of the month. We reserve the right to edit or decline letters. Please send to:
news@bluemtnnews.com or 242 E. Main St., Dayton, WA 99328
September 2011
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Editor's Note
A
Signs of Change
s someone who runs a business that relies on advertising for its income, it’s been particularly interesting to me to learn more about outdoor sign advertising from a century ago. Blank brick walls by the millions were covered with ads for all kinds of businesses – from chewing gum to chewing tobacco. Crews of men (I didn’t run across any examples of women doing this) fanned out across the country, negotiating small fees with building owners to put ads on their walls. Two men could complete a sign on a large brick wall in a day, for which they received less than $100. This summer, through a grant from the Sherwood Trust Foundation, the Dayton Development Task Force will spend $20,000 and several weeks restoring three of those signs in Dayton. Dayton artist Brian Graham (yes, he’s my brother) is working, brick by brick, to bring the faded signs back to where they are easily readable but still look aged. Read about it in our center spread this month. Advertising has changed a great deal in the past 100 years. Many new advertising venues have emerged since these signs were painted: from radio to television to the internet to almost every square inch of a NASCAR racer (both car A new old sign in Dayton and driver). And regulatory restrictions have made new outdoor advertising largely a thing of the past; which makes restoration of a few of those old signs a priority for local preservationists. Change is the name of the game for businesses, and not just in the area of advertising. Waitsburg and Dayton have witnessed their share of business changes in the past few months. In this month’s BMN you can read about three new eating and drinking establishments in downtown Waitsburg that have opened recently. Waitsburg Times publisher Imbert
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Matthee has converted one-and-a-half of the buildings he purchased along with the newspaper in 2009 into Coppei Coffee Company. Waitsburg residents Tiffany Standfill Laposi and Bart Baxter have turned part of the building that formerly housed the Whetstone Pub into Betty’s Diner. Winemaker Charles Smith has turned the old American Legion hall into the Anchor Bar. I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days checking out all three of these new places in late August, and wrote about it on Page 10. It was tough, but I felt I was the right man for the job. In Dayton, Reggie Mace held the grand opening in August for his new business, Mace Mead Works, offering tastings of his mead and red wine, as well as a tour of his newly refurbished facility. Dentist Norm Passmore has moved his office a block west on Main Street into a new building he refurbished mostly himself. And Scott and Yara Underwood have moved their computer business, PC Solutions, also a block west on Main Street. There have been some losses as well. The Underwoods closed their Jitters Coffee Shop after a year in business. C.W. and Friends dog grooming business has also closed. Word has it the business will reopen soon under a new name and new ownership. Not to be outdone, Blue Mountain News has undergone some business changes of its own recently. Dian McClurg came on board in the spring as Editor. But due to work and family circumstances, she has left that position, and I am back in the driver’s seat. Thankfully, it’s a place I find very comfortable. Dian has taken a position as an emergency dispatcher for Columbia County, and we wish her the best of luck in that position. Dian hopes to continue to contribute writing for Blue Mountain News from time to time. --Ken Graham
Letter
News
An Invitation to Relay For Life
Proposed Zoning Changes Clarify Permitted Uses in Agricultural Areas
Dear Editor: I am writing today to invite everyone from Dayton and the surrounding communities to this year’s American Cancer Society Blue Mountain Relay For Life. The family-friendly event is scheduled to begin Saturday afternoon, September 17, at 3:00 p.m. and concludes Sunday morning, September 18, at 7:30 a.m. Location for the event is at the athletic complex (track and football field) in Dayton. Though there are many emotional times at every Relay For Life, I believe the luminaria ceremony is the part of the event that brings everyone together and reminds them exactly why they have come to that one place at that one special moment. The luminaria ceremony is set for Saturday evening at 8 p.m. Traditionally, luminaria are purchased by friends, family members and coworkers in memory of a loved one who has passed away from cancer, to honor someone who is still bravely fighting the disease or the very fortunate ones who have gone into remission from the disease. Once they are decorated with the individual’s name or perhaps even their photo, they are placed around the inside lane of the running track. At dusk they are lit, the lights of the field are lowered, and the name of each individual is read over the loudspeaker. It is an emotional and inspirational time during the event and I invite everyone to not only come to the Relay For Life, walk a few laps and enjoy the festive atmosphere, but also to purchase a luminaria in honor of someone close to them who has been diagnosed with cancer. To purchase a luminaria, contact any Relay For Life team member or stop by the event before 7 p.m. Saturday night. Donna Hanger, Luminaria Chair Blue Mountain Relay For Life Dayton
T
he Columbia County Planning Commission has approved a revised zoning ordinance for the county. Changes in the ordinance include allowing wineries in Columbia County and clarifying more specifically what kinds of value-added activities and sales will be permitted in the A-1 agricultural zone, either outright or as conditional uses. Columbia County Planning Director Rich Hendricksen says his office has received a number of requests from the public in the past few months to allow growers in the A-1 zone to process and sell products on their land. “The intent of changes in the A-1 zone is to allow a greater variety of economic opportunities for farm owners in the county,” he says. Another important update in the ordinance is a change to the zoning map for lots owned by the Port of Columbia, which are inside the Dayton Urban Growth area. These lots will be changed from residential to commercial to be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, which will allow development of Blue Mountain Station. The Columbia County Board of Commissioners held a public hearing on the proposed changes in August and is expected to approve the final ordinance at their regular meeting on September 7th. Hendricksen says that, besides responding to requests from the public, the Planning Commission has been working on making changes to many areas of the zoning code so that it implements policies contained in the county’s Comprehensive Plan. Some of the changes in the ordinance will be substantive and others are for clarification. The following additional use to be permitted outright in the A-1 zone: • Small scale seasonal fruit and vegetable stands and direct sales of farm
products produced on site subject to approval of a site plan and road access approval to insure the safety of the public and protection of neighborhood improvements and tranquility including no artificial illumination. The following additional uses in the A-1 zone will require a Conditional Use Permit (CUP): • Illuminated greenhouses over 200 square feet in area or a cumulative 1,000 square feet • Fish Farm • Development of processing and valueadded operations and facilities related to the production of agricultural products grown on-site. • On-site sales of farm products produced, processed and/or packaged on site including nursery, meat, dairy, orchard and similar products. • Abattoir (animal processing) • Dairy, feed lot or other permanent Confined Animal Operation subject to all state codes and regulations. • Winery for the crushing, fermentation, bottling, tasting or sales, of grapes, fruits or berries where at least 20% of the raw product is grown on site. In addition to the changes listed above, a number of other changes have been made to development regulations and to language in the code for clarification. According to Hendricksen, the Columbia County Planning Commission will propose additional changes to the zoning ordinance in 2012 relating to the rural and urban areas of the comprehensive plan. For more information on current and future proposed changes to the Columbia County Zoning Ordinance, contact Rich Hendricksen at the Columbia County Planning Office at (509) 382-4676. q
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Food and Drink
A Triple Grand Opening in Waitsburg
In early August, three new eating and drinking establishments opened in downtown Waitsburg and held a joint grand opening called “Triple Grand”. About two weeks later, I got around to going to Waitsburg to check them out. Here’s how it went: Page 6
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Story and photos by Ken Graham
wood floors in the shop create a historic appearance that feels perfect in the middle of Waitsburg’s downtown. Imbert told me that the shop had been busy since it opened two weeks earlier. Then he introduced me to the shop’s manager, Mark Bru. Mark is a Waitsburg resident and formerly worked at Whitehouse Crawford Restaurant in Walla Walla and Waitsburg’s Whoopemup Hollow Café. Mark created the Coppei’s menu, which includes much more than coffee. Ice cream and blended drinks are available, and the shop has a nice selection of sandwiches, including Mark’s signature grilled peanut butter and jelly. While Imbert and I talked, three young schoolgirls walked in the shop to order ice cream. The place wasn’t full, but several other customers came and went while we were there. “We get a lot of kids in the afternoons,” says Imbert. “Especially coming from the Waitsburg pool.” Imbert says he hopes to begin offering wine at Coppei Coffee later this year. He then hopes to have live music on some weekend evenings.
Coppei Coffee On a hot Thursday afternoon in August, I would not normally find myself wandering into a coffee shop. And yet here I was, in downtown Waitsburg, entering Coppei Coffee Company. The shop was created by Waitsburg Times owner and publisher Imbert Mathee, and occupies the building that once housed the Times printing shop. Fortunately, my choices for something to cool off with were extensive. I ordered an iced mocha with non-fat milk and no whipped cream – because I’m going through a phase of self-deprivation – and I sat at a counter near the back of the shop. Imbert joined me a few minutes later, and we discussed the content of the upcoming Touchet Valley Visitor’s Guide, which we’re co-publishing. The exposed brick walls and refinished old
Betty’s Diner The next day, a friend, who agreed to come along only if she wasn’t mentioned in this article, joined me for lunch at Betty’s Diner in Waitsburg. (Or maybe she didn’t. It’s all a bit unclear to me now.) It was just before noon, and Elvis was silently strumming his guitar and gyrating on the sidewalk in front. Inside, every table was occupied. “A good sign,” I said, to no one in particular. At the bar, the friendly waitress brought iced tea almost immediately and took our (I mean my) order. Betty’s is definitely a theme restaurant, evoking the car culture of the 1950s, and it’s tastefully done. Car models line shelves high on the walls, and framed memorabilia from the era hang on the walls below them. I enjoyed an excellent sandwich, and passed up what would surely have been an even more
excellent hamburger. Betty’s lunch menu also features hotdogs, French fries, and potato salad. Betty’s Diner was created by Waitsburg residents Tiffany Standfill Laposi and Bart Baxter. It is named after Tiffany’s mother, Betty Standfill. Betty’s is open daily for breakfast as well as lunch, and the breakfast menu made me wish I’d gotten there a few hours earlier.
The Anchor Bar My friend Jim Walsh is painting his house this
summer. It’s very near downtown Waitsburg, and on that Friday afternoon I convinced him (with barely an arm twist at all) to knock off a bit early and walk with me to the Anchor Bar, Waitsburg’s newest watering hole. It was still early, and the big room in front was empty. But half the stools at the bar were occupied as we bellied up and increased the attendence by two. A bartender named Lindsey served us each an IPA (that’s a kind of beer). Then I was introduced to the Anchor’s manager, Larry Davidson.
Winemaker Charles Smith owns the former American Legion hall, and he created the Anchor Bar that now occupies it. Larry told us that he was at home in Seattle two weeks earlier when his friend Charles called in a panic telling him he needed help with one of his projects. The original manager hadn’t worked out and, as Larry says, “He made an offer I couldn’t refuse.” Larry packed his bags and was on a flight to southeast Washington two days later. He assured us he’s here for the long haul. The Anchor had the feel of the neighborhood
meeting spot, where the people are all friends, even when they don’t know each other very well. The simple plywood paneling and the openness of the big front room give it a refreshing lack of pretension. We were soon joined by Nancy, a close friend of Jim and his wife Anne. (Anne was still at work, but she arrived later.) It was too early for dinner, but Jim and I had a second IPA. I scanned the food menu while Jim and Nancy debated the merits of Aviator and Sapphire gin. The Anchor’s menu features Anchor Bar Dogs and Sloppy Joes. The Anchor is open every day but Monday and has live music Thursday through Saturday nights. Larry told us the Anchor will be open for Monday Night Football, however. I walked out of the dark bar into the bright sunlight and had to wait a moment to get my eyesight and my legs back. Coppei Coffee and Betty’s Diner were only a few steps away from where I stood. They brought back great dining and drinking memories from my last two days in Waitsburg. q
Opposite page: Coppei Coffee Company owner Imbert Matthee prepares a beverage for a customer. This page, L to R: The Anchor Bar, Betty's Diner, Coppei Coffee.
Coppei Coffee Betty's Diner The Anchor Company 114 Preston Ave. Bar 137 Main Street Waitsburg (509) 337-6631
Waitsburg (509) 337-6098
128 Main Street Waitsburg (509) 337-3008
September 2011
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Back to School
Administrators Discuss Dayton’s School Improvement Efforts Dayton's school superintendent and principals hope to improve communication with community members. Story and photo by Ken Graham
Looking relaxed a few days before school starts. L to R: Superintendent Doug Johnson, middle and high school principal Andy Maheras and elementary school principal Katie Leid.
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W
hen Dayton School Superintendent Doug Johnson is asked to list some of the challenges local school administrators face as they enter a new school year, he recites many familiar items. These include weak academic test scores in some areas (others are strong), discipline and bullying issues and another year of very tight budgets. Another issue is high on the list this year as well. “We want to do a better job communicating with the people who pay for our schools,” says Johnson. “That means the taxpayers.” As part of their effort to improve communications with the community, Blue Mountain News was invited to sit down with Johnson, Elementary Principal Katie Leid and Middle and High School Principal Andy Maheras, to talk about some of the other things on that list. During our meeting, the three administrators reviewed the results of a Comprehensive School Review that was completed during the 2010/2011 school year. The study, which was conducted by the Center for Educational Effectiveness, in Redmond, Wash., looked at academic results for Dayton students and surveyed students, teachers and staff, parents and community members about various issues relating to the schools. We discussed the list of “Priority Recommendations” that came out of the study.
aggressive student offenders,” the report says. Dayton has students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds, says Johnson. This makes discipline a particularly challenging issue. “A lot of kids have difficult things happening in their home lives that affect them at school,” he says. “We’re trying to do a better job of helping teachers be aware when kids have issues that affect their behavior. They can deal with it more effectively when they understand what’s going on.” Leid and Maheras pointed out that Dayton no longer has student counselors due to budget constraints. “The principals are the counselors,” says Leid. “That’s part of our job, but we can’t be as effective as a full-time counselor could.” Johnson says that he hopes counselors can be added to the staff if budget constraints ease in the next couple of years. Last year the high school hired student advocate Clay Lindsey to help with students who were having difficulties in the classroom or at home. Lindsey was hired through the AmeriCorps Program in conjunction with Columbia County. “He was a big help,” says Maheras, “but he’s not a school counselor.” Maheras says he is currently interviewing AmeriCorps candidates to serve as a student advocate for the upcoming year.
Data Student assessment has become an important priority for schools everywhere. The study report recommends improving efforts in “utilizing and deeply analyzing state assessments, district assessments, diagnostic assessments and progress monitoring to identify and deliver differentiated instruction.” “If we have a data problem, it’s that we have too much data,” says Johnson. “We have to learn to separate out the data that is most important and act on that.” Maheras used upcoming changes to the high school math program as an example of how analysis of assessment data has driven changes in curriculum. Math is an area where Dayton students have fallen behind state averages. “This year, in grades seven through 12, we are increasing from nine sections of math to thirteen,” he said. “With more comprehensive test results, we’ve identified a number of areas where students need targeted help, and this will allow us to do a better job of that.” Maheras says that the expanded course offerings will allow the teachers to focus on those specific areas more effectively. Dayton students have consistently performed above state averages in reading, the data show. Leid pointed out that there is a growing effort to put a stronger focus on reading and writing in all subject areas. “Students perform better when they understand that skills like reading and writing apply to all areas of learning,” she says. “Even math and science classes.”
School Improvement Plan Beginning this school year, Dayton will have 13 early release days which will allow teachers and staff to work on developing a School Improvement Plan. The plan will establish a series of goals for the schools as well as the means to achieve them. Committees have been formed which will work on the various topics within the plan and form its goals. “It’s important that the goals are finite, with an end date, and that the results are measureable,” says Johnson. Johnson says community members will be invited to provide input on the plan over the course of the school year, and that the plan should be completed by the end of the year.
Discipline “There are significant concerns about chronic and
Communication This past spring, the Dayton Schools held a visitation day and invited community members to tour the school facilities and meet teachers and staff. The showing was poor, Johnson says, but he isn’t discouraged. “I know people are busy, but it’s important that people know the opportunity is there.” The schools plan to have another visitation event during the week of November 14th through 18th, which is the nationwide “American Education Week”. All three administrators asked us to encourage community members to contact them with any questions or concerns they have. Everyone in the community is also invited and encouraged to attend school board meetings. Meetings are held the first and third Wednesday of each month and begin at 6:30 p.m. in the District Board Room. q
News Briefs Fundraising Heats Up for Downtown Playground Organizers are within $5,000 of their fundraising goal to put a new children’s playground near the Historic Depot in downtown Dayton. The Playground Committee of the Dayton Development Task Force is renewing its push to sell engraved pickets for the fence around the playground. Committee member Cara Breland, of Crofts Floral and Gifts in Dayton, says the committee has sent out more than 100 letters to friends and community members with order forms for the pickets. “If you got a letter, please send it back, with your donation.” she says. “If you didn’t, call me. I have more.” Engraved pickets cost $35 each, and donors can have a name of their choice engraved on it. Also available are engraved top and bottom rails, for a $100 donation each. The downtown playground will be located in the parking lot near the corner of North First and Commercial Streets, next to the Union Pacific Caboose. It will include a large play structure, a climbing web and a swingset. The playground committee has placed the order for the equipment, and plans to install it in October. The final funds being raised will cover the cost of the fence materials and ground cover. To make a donation to Dayton’s downtown playground, call Cara at Crofts at (509) 382-2565. Your name could be here.
Relay For Life of the Blue Mountains Dayton’s 5th annual Relay For Life of the Blue Mountains will be held Saturday afternoon Sept. 17th and Sunday morning Sept. 18th. Twenty-one teams and 300 participants are expected to take part in this year’s event to benefit the American Cancer Society. It will be at the Dayton Athletic Complex on South Cottonwood Street. Saturday’s opening ceremony and survivor lap will start at 3 p.m. followed by a free hamburger dinner for all registered cancer survivors. The traditional Luminaria Ceremony will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday evening. Luminaria will be lit to honor cancer victims from our area. Teams have spent the last six months raising money to support the American Cancer Society’s programs and research. Fund raising will continue throughout the night, with a wide variety of speakers, games, food, lap competitions and cancer-awareness promotional items. After a night of running and walking the track, a sausage-biscuit breakfast will start at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday morning and the closing ceremony will be held at 7 a.m.
Anyone wishing to make a Luminaria donation should contact Donna Hanger at 509-382-4741. For more information about Relay For Life, contact Gerri Richter at 509-382-4124.
Sproul and Bickelhaupt Advance in Hospital Board Race Former nurse Colleen Sproul came out on top in the race for Position #2 on the Columbia County Hospital District board in the August primary election. She and incumbent Blaine Bickelhaupt will face off in the November general election. Sproul received 534 votes, followed by Bickelhaupt, a Dayton real estate broker, with 491. Garry Snyder, also a real estate broker in Dayton, finished third, with 275 votes, and was eliminated from the race. Voter turnout in Columbia County for the Primary Election was about 42%. Ballots for the general election will be mailed to voters in mid-October, and the voting deadline is November 8th. A complete list of candidates and races in Columbia County can be found on the Columbia County web site at www. columbiaco.com. Follow links for the County Auditor.
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Columbia County Fair
Sunshine Days & Country Ways T
he 2011 Columbia County Fair will feature a reorganized pavilion, a demolition derby and lots of live entertainment on the midway. The very popular “Bull Bash” will be back this year, and tons of fun activities are in store for kids and families. The fair will be held Friday through Sunday, September 9-11. A new group of live entertainers will be performing on the midway stage this year, plus an old favorite. Prescott’s own Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue are back again this year, along with piano man extraordinaire Brady Goss, the magic and mayhem of Adam the Great, Rockabilly and Blues Band CountrySide Ride and the one and only Bronkar’s Circus of Sound. Lots of local live entertainment will be featured on the midway stage as well. The Bull Bash on Saturday evening will again feature top bulls and professional cowboys from throughout the Northwest and Canada. The Dayton Days committee will host a beer garden next to the grandstands during the Bull Bash. Fair manager Shane Laib says the demolition derby, which will be held Friday night, was brought back by popular demand after a hiatus of several years. Sunday is Family Fun Day at the fair. A full day of games and activities for kids and their parents will be held in the arena. Also featured will be drill exhibitions by the Blue Mountain Riders and the Walla Walla
Wagonettes. All of the fair favorites will be back, including livestock judging, food and crafts in the pavilion, and the KidZone and Old McDonald’s Farm. Laib says the pavilion has been rearranged to better highlight the winning food and craft entries. Facing the entrance to the pavilion will be displays of the winning entries and their ribbons. Another new feature in the pavilion will be a live stage. Presentations will be made throughout each day by groups with booths in the pavilion. Fair tickets are available at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce Office at 166 E. Main Street, or by calling (509) 382-4825. See box at right for ticket prices. q
Counterclockwise from above left: What it's like at the Bull Bash. Nevada Slim and Cimarron Sue. CountrySide Ride. Adam the Great. Brady Goss. And, above, Bronkar, of the Circus of Sound.
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Lots More is Happening at This Year's Fair! Friday, September 9th– 9 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Senior Day (Discounted gate admission for those 65 & over) Free Fair Breakfast with paid admission sponsored by TEMA, Inc. 6 to 9 a.m. Livestock Show, classification and judging 4-H Western Games in the Main Arena Entertainment all day on the Columbia REA Stage Demolition Derby in the Main Arena
Saturday, September 10th- 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sausage, Gravy and Biscuit Breakfast by donation with paid admission, 6:30 -9 a.m. 4-H / Open Class Horse Show Main Arena
Thank You for Reading Blue
Mountain News
Dog & Cat Show World Famous BBQ 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. (add'l cost) Market Livestock Sale - 12:30 p.m. Entertainment all day on the Columbia REA Stage Mutton Bustin’ Bull Bash in Main Arena Street Dance
Sunday, September 11th - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Non-Denominational Church Service - 10 a.m. Livestock Costume Contest 2 p.m. 4-H Style Review - 4 p.m. Entertainment all day on the Columbia REA Stage Family Fun Day in the Main Arena
Please Note: ALL open class and 4-H/FFA still life exhibits (EVERYTHING except flowers) MUST be entered on TUESDAY, September 8th, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Get your tickets for this year's Fair . . .
at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce office, 166 E. Main Street
Daily Rates:
Adults $5 Seniors (65 & over) $5 ***Except Fri. - $4*** Youth $3 (6 & under free)
3-Day Passes:
Adults $14 Seniors (65 & over) $13 Youth $8 (6 & under free) 4-H / FFA $7.50
Separate Event Passes:
Friday Demo Derby - Adults $7 / Youth $5 BBQ - 7 & under $3 / 8-64 $7 / 65 & over $5 Bull Bash $10 Grndstand / $15 Arena - All ages
Fair Court has a Busy Summer
T
Left to Right: Ashley Myrick, Chris McHaffie and Lexus Ward
he Columbia County Fair’s parade float logged hundreds of miles this summer traveling to parades and events throughout Southeast Washington and Northeast Oregon. And along for the ride were the members of the Columbia County Fair Court: Hostesses Ashley Myrick and Lexus Ward, and host Chris McHaffie. “These kids are dedicated and they did a great job representing the community,” says fair manager Shane Laib. “And I also want to give a big thank you to their parents, who came along on many of the trips and were a big help.” Laib says the fair float won first prize in most of the parades in which it appeared. The court appeared in the Dayton Days parade and traveled to parades in Waitsburg, Pomeroy and Asotin. They also made many appearances in Oregon, including Athena, Weston, Union, Elgin, Hermiston and MiltonFreewater. On Labor Day Weekend the Court will appear in the Walla Walla County Fair parade. Laib says the Columbia County Fair Board is looking for young people interested in joining the fair court in 2012. Information will be available at the fair court booth in the Pavilion during this year’s fair. q
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Feature Stories
Preserving Dayton's "Ghost Signs" Stories and photos by Ken Graham
B
efore there were Bud Lite ads on TV internet, there were painted signs o throughout the United States (and pop stores to Coca-Cola and National Bisc marketed themselves by painting large sig warehouses and just about any other bric The heyday of painted advertising in the U the 1930s. Today, these old signs are calle cases they are badly faded but still visible. Dayton has several examples of ghost signs, and a project by the Dayton Development Task Force is helping restore some of its best examples. These are on the backs of three buildings on East Main Street, along the alley opposite the Dayton Historic Depot: Sterling Savings, St Vincent De Paul and the Village Shoppes. With a $20,000 grant from Walla Walla’s Sherwood Trust Foundation, artist Brian Graham has been hired to bring the signs back to life. They are being restored in an aged condition, not as new. “These signs were originally painted using lead-based paints,” says Brian. “They didn’t peel. They slowly faded, which gave them the ghostly appearance.” Brian says that the bricks used in buildings built prior to the 1930s were much softer and more porous than bricks used today. Lime-based mortar was used with those bricks because it was even softer than the brick. “The bricks and the mortar absorbed the paint, which helped keep it from peeling.” Brian is restoring three separate signs. The Monnett and Hamilton sign on the back of Village Shoppes was completed in August. He is currently working on the “Edwards-Hindle” sign that covers the backs of the other two buildings. Both of these signs were for businesses that occupied those buildings. Under the Edwards-Hindle sign is the lower portion of another sign for Cleveland’s Baking Powder that includes a graphic of a baking powder can. Brian will restore all of the Edwards-Hindle sign and the lower portion of the Cleveland’s sign, including the can. For the restoration, Brian is working brick by brick. “The paint has partially fallen off the mortar as it has deteriorated,” Brian says. “So since we’re trying to maintain the aged look of the signs, I’m painting mostly on the brick itself." However, he will later go back and touch up the mortar with a
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September 2011
d a Th C s p t
s
e D t
f G w
V and animated pop-up ads on the on brick buildings. In cities and towns the world), businesses from mom & cuit Company (you know it as Nabisco) gns on the walls of stores, factories, ck surface that was visible to the public. United States was from the 1880s to ed “Ghost Signs”, because, in many
different kind of paint. Brian is painting the bricks using a three-step process. First a primer coat is applied. It is an acrylic paint that is specifically designed not to peel from masonry. And it dries clear. Then the color is applied. Brian is using acrylic paints that are intended for outdoor mural painting. Colors are mixed to match the colors on bricks that are still in good condition. “The parts of the signs that have faded the least are being left alone,” Brian says. “I’m simply bringing the less visible portions out so they match the rest of the signs.” Brian is mixing the paints manually as he needs them, just as an oil painter does. Once the color in the signs is brought back to life, Brian will apply a final top coat to protect the sign. He is using an acrylic clear-coat, which he will also apply brick by brick. Before restoration of the signs could begin, portions of the brick walls had to be repaired. Brick expert and Dayton resident Tom Hardgrave repointed the mortar in several areas of the walls. Dayton Development Task Force board members Cheryl Ray and Marcene Hendrickson also helped clean the bricks. Ray and Hendrickson originated the project late last year, and applied to the Sherwood Trust for funding. The grant award was made in May. “Our community is so fortunate to have the talent of Brian Graham, the artist, who is executing the vision with such perfection,” says Ray. “We have several walls with mural potential in Dayton, and see Brian working his craft in other locations over time.” q
Counterclockwise from left: Brian prepares to climb the ladder and paint the circle blue. Mixing colors in old cottage cheese cartons. A close-up of freshly painted old-looking brick. The two overlapping signs prior to the beginning of work. (The baking powder can is at lower left.) A view of the three signs from a century ago. The top of the old Odd Fellows Hall (where Bank of America is now located) can be seen above the sign. (Photo courtesy of the Dayton Historical Depot Society.) Before (July) and after (August) views of the Monnett and Hamilton sign.
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Feature Stories
The Life of a "Wall Dog"
D
ayton is one of hundreds of towns around the world that are gaining a new appreciation for the old advertising signs painted on their aging buildings – now known as “ghost signs”. These are the remnants of a form of advertising that is a thing of the past. Zoning restrictions have made most new outdoor advertising virtually impossible. From the 1880s until the 1930s, painting outdoor advertising signs was a huge business. Crews of workers fanned out across the countryside, paying building owners small fees (or making trades) on behalf of their employers and then painting colorful and creative ads on brick walls. In a web site article on ghost signs (www.livinggoldpress.com/ghost.htm), a writer named Jill Livingston talks about how the sign painters worked: The painters, she says, …were undeniably skilled artists, even as they were fast in their execution. The “wall dogs” as they were called, generally worked for one of the major sign companies ... They traveled from town to town painting the signs on walls that were usually prearranged
by company representatives. The owner of the wall was often given a “privilege” for use of the wall. That is, a smaller ad for their own store or café or whatever was painted above or below the ad for the national product. The painters mixed their own paints to exacting colors. From
This photo of Main Street in downtown Dayton from the late 1800s appears to show a funeral procession. A Mail Pouch Tobacco sign is clearly visible on one of the buildings. (Photo courtesy of the Dayton Historical Depot Society.)
scaled drawings they executed the design onto walls, making sure the lettering was level (even if the wall wasn’t) and that it fit properly into the allotted space. One of the most prolific outdoor sign advertisers was Mail Pouch Tobacco. Besides appearing on brick walls, many Mail Pouch signs were painted on the sides of barns. On another website (www. ohiobarns.com), one of their painters, Maurice Zimmerman, talks about the sign painting process:
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September 2011
Two men would do a sign in half a day, but you had to learn to work into it and develop a speed which would make money for your contractor. The equipment, including the truck, was provided by the tobacco contractor, but the expenses were our own. We put a lot of miles on that old (Model
T) Ford. I still wonder how the truck stayed in working condition. Seeing all of the faded advertising signs on the walls around downtown Dayton, it’s clear that the wall dogs were busy around here in the town’s first fifty years. q
Dayton on Tour Dayton on Tour Coming October 1
D
ayton on Tour will offer a full day’s activities on Saturday, October 1st. At 10 a.m., the Historic Depot Art Exposition and Art Walk begins. The work of more than 20 local artists, including paintings, photography, quilts, ceramics and jewelry, can be seen at the Dayton Historic Depot and at various Main Street locations. Featured at the Wenaha Gallery will be the unique feather art of Sherry Orchard, inspired by the wildlife and scenery of the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Visitors interested in specialty foods and wine may join the 10 a.m. bus tour to the Monteillet Fromagerie, Dumas Station Winery, and Amo Art and jimgermanbar in Waitsburg. These destinations represent the most recent development
of food, wine and art in the region. The tours depart from the Depot and early reservations are recommended. The afternoon will feature the Historic Home Tours to four local homes, as well as the Boldman House Museum. The fall home tour has been a Dayton tradition for more than 30 years and the homes this year feature two that have had recent substantial restoration. The Broughton House, leading off the home tours, is an excellent example of Italianate design with features and furnishings reflecting the 125 year span of a prominent Dayton family. The Artist Reception at 4:30 at the Depot is a chance to meet featured local artists and to celebrate the completion of the historic sign renovation across the alley from the Depot. The 100 year-old signs span three buildings and include advertisements from the original businesses housed in them. Appetizers during the reception will be provided by local restaurants and will allow visitors to sample a wide variety from our regional cuisine. Most food and drink establishments in downtown Dayton will offer special menus for lunch or dinner during the event, and live music can be heard during the evening hours in several locations. Visit www. historicdayton.com or www. daytonhistoricdepot.org for a complete schedule for Dayton on Tour. Or call 509-3822026 for tour reservations and The Broughton House will be featured during Dayton's Historic Home Tours. information. q
September 2011
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Events
Featured Event
SEPT. 2011
Page 16
August 27
Frog Hollow Band
8:00 p.m. – midnight Tuxedo Bar & Grill Prescott (509) 849-2244. It’s ALWAYS a PARTY when Frog Hollow Band is in the house!
54th Annual Salmon Barbeque September 24 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) Don Thomas Community Building Waitsburg Fairgrounds on 10th Street
Walla Walla Fair & Frontier Days
Gates open at 8:00 a.m. Walla Walla Fairgrounds
Join your friends and neighbors for a casual evening of great food prepared and served by Waitsburg’s Commercial Club and Lions Club. The menu features fresh salmon cooked over a special barbeque pit filled with hardwood coals and served with a secret recipe sauce, baked potato, coleslaw, garlic bread and condiments. The event is for adults only. Beer and wine are available for purchase separately. All the proceeds go to support Waitsburg area programs and services. Tickets are $25 —available at AmericanWest Bank-Dayton, Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce and many Waitsburg businesses. To purchase tickets by mail, call (509) 337-6688. Don’t delay! This event often sells out!
Blue Mountain NEWS
31 – Sept 4
September 2011
Enjoy exhibits, livestock competitions, pari-mutuel horse racing, carnival rides, entertainment, Pro Rodeo events, a demolition derby and concert featuring Gary Allan and Bomshel. Get a full description of events by going to the fairgrounds website: www. wallawallafairgrounds.com Admission: Adults $6, Children (ages 6-15) $3, Season Pass $20.
September 1
Touchet Valley Call to Prayer
7:00 p.m. Redeemer Lutheran Church 601 S. 3rd Street, Dayton Pastor Greg Bye invites you to attend this important quarterly prayer meeting for the people of the Touchet Valley. This is a unique opportunity to gather together with other Christians to pray for revival in our area. Attendance has increased every quarter. Please join us!
7
Wine Night with Saviah Cellars
5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Weinhard Cafe 258 E. Main, Dayton Visit the Weinhard Cafe for a table-side wine tasting event with Saviah Cellars. A winery representative will visit your table with samples of a selection of their wines and to be available for questions.
8
Dayton Young Life Kick-off
5:00 p.m. Dayton High Football Field It's almost here! Master griller Bill Hubbard will be cooking up delicious hot dogs for hungry high school students. If you would like to be a part of this endeavor, we are seeking donations for hot dog buns, pop and bottled water and use of one barbecue grill. Dayton's Young Life is so blessed by the generous contributions of this community. A big thank you to everyone who has been involved with us and our mission of bringing kids to Christ! For more information, call Diana Frame at (509) 382-4553.
9
Acoustic Jam Night
Starts at 6:30 p.m. Skye Book & Brew 148 E Main, Dayton (509) 382-4677 Musicians of all ages come together to make music together. Every jam is fresh and exciting. Participate or just sit back and enjoy the music!
9-10
Wheelin Walla Walla Weekend
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Downtown and throughout Walla Walla This two-day classic car show draws entries from all over the Northwest. Events include the Friday night cruise, a car show on Main St. and a Saturday Main Street dance. Visit www. wheelingwallawalla weekend.com for details.
and provide entrance to all ten gardens. Other features will include a raffle for pond & garden accessories, featured vendors of garden art, musicians, and "Artists in the Garden". Tickets are limited, and must be purchased in advance. Cost is $20 per person. Tickets may be purchased at Bright’s Candies & Gifts, 11 E. Main Street or at the WWCH Office at 1067 Isaacs Avenue. Tickets may also be mailed for credit card orders placed by phone to (509) 525-5561 ($2.00 per order shipping and handling).
Live Music: Rubberneck
2nd Annual Salsa Under the Stars
9:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m. Woody’s Bar & Grill 214 E. Main, Dayton (509) 382-2364
6:00 – 10:00 p.m. Castillo De Feliciana Vineyard & Winery Milton-Freewater, OR
9-11
Columbia County Fair - Sunshine Days and Country Ways
Columbia County Fairgrounds, Dayton (Off Main Street behind Dayton Mercantile) Enjoy 4-H and open class exhibits, livestock competitions, lots of local entertainment on the Midway Stage, delicious BBQ and exciting grandstand events – Demolition Derby on Friday, a Saturday evening Bull Bash and Sunday Family Fun Day. See the article on pages 10 and 11 and the ad on page 22 for more information.
10
Music from Dos Gardenias will accompany your dinner and dancing. This year we will be serving food from the salsa dancing countries of the world. Tickets are $75 per person, reservations are needed before Sept. 4th, 2011. To make reservations please call Katie at 541-558-3656 with your credit card information ready. Ticket price includes two glasses of wine or sangria.
Karaoke Night 8:00 p.m. – midnight Tuxedo Bar & Grill Prescott – (509) 849-2244
11
Touchet Valley Unity Church Service 10:00 a.m. Columbia County Fairgrounds This annual event is a great time for the churches of the valley to worship together and support our Columbia County Fair. Incidentally, the worship service is being held on the 10th Anniversary of the terrorist attack on our nation in 2001 and will be an appropriate time to pray together for our nation.
14
Christian Women’s Connection Luncheon
LET’S GET A MOVE ON 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lion’s Club Building Waitsburg Fairgrounds Cost: $9.00 Catered by Holly Roach - Caterer for Small Events Our special speaker, Jerilyn Jackson, recently moved to Longview, WA, and has traveled extensively with her husband since her husband’s retirement. She’s lived in a variety of settings - motels, apartments, trailers, condos, as well as houses, and encountered numerous challenges along the way. She is a pro at packing, everything from carry-ons to trucks to storage units and has moved in all kinds of weather. She is quite content in being out of step with the rest of the world and loves every experience that comes her way. Dayton resident Lois Hemphill will present Etch a Stretch, our special feature. She will educate you on how to breathe and stretch. Lois has been a
10th Annual Pond and Garden Tour 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Walla Walla Community Hospice This hospice fund raising event is a selfguided tour of ten gardens in the Walla Walla area. It is a delightful tour of unique and creative gardens incorporating ponds, creeks & other water features! Tickets for this event include a tour map
September 2011
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News Briefs Dental Office Moves to New Digs
Dr. Norm Passmore has moved his dental office a few doors to the west, into this office at 202 E. Main Street. It was home to Zastrow's Jewelers for many years. The office opened August 22nd. Dr. Passmore did much of the renovation work himself on his days off. Dr. Passmore says he hopes to restart Zastrows clock one of these days. For more information, call (509) 382-1260.
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Blue Mountain NEWS
Lower Snake River Wind Project Phase I on Track for 2012 Completion Nearly 1,200 oversized truck-trailers have passed through Waitsburg and Dayton this year, delivering components to the Phase I portion of the Lower Snake River Wind Project in Garfield County. According to Puget Sound Energy, the project’s developer, all of the components have now been delivered. PSE expects Phase I to be completed in the spring of 2012. The trucks carried components measuring up to 160 feet in length and weighing as much as 82 tons. Component deliveries occurred almost daily since March. The trucks traveled from the Tri-Cities through Waitsburg and Dayton before reaching the wind project site about 13 miles west of Pomeroy. Jay Takemura, environmental and communications coordinator for the PSE wind project, says that by early August, PSE crews had erected 109 wind turbines at the Lower Snake River site. When Phase I is fully operational, 149 wind turbines will be generating up to 343 megawatts of electricity.
September 2011
Harvest Christian Center Hires New Pastor The congregation at Harvest Christian moving to Dayton. He owned his own Center has hired Tony Sykes to lead the custom cabinet shop for 25 years before church as pastor. Sykes and his wife becoming an ordained Baptist minister Pam moved to Dayton two years ago five years ago. He is a member of the from Basin City, WA. “Harvest has a Touchet Valley Ministerial Association wonderful group of people who love and an executive board member for Bailie the Lord and have a desire to make a Memorial Youth Ranch in Basin City. difference in the community,” says Sykes. Sykes fills the position left open when “We are excited to see what God has in pastor Joe Wyatt passed away in January store for the future of Harvest Christian 2009. Center.” Sykes will remain employed as Minister/Manager of Camp Touchet, a facility owned by the Columbia Basin Baptist Association and available for rent to groups of all kinds, located on North Touchet Road 12 miles outside Dayton. He has overseen the completion of several large renovation projects at the camp since taking the helm two years ago. Sykes was pastor of the Basin City Baptist Church for three years prior Pam and Tony Sykes
News Briefs Local Pot Bust Mace Mead Works Open for Business May Be Largest in State Since mid-July, law enforcement agents have located and eliminated more than 34,000 marijuana plants in Columbia County. The final bust, on August 18, included the seizure of 25,765 marijuana plants from the Eckler Mountain area. According to Columbia County Narcotics Deputy Jeff Jenkins, the plants had an estimated street value of $25.7 million. "I've been advised that this is the biggest grow eradicated this year in Washington state," Jenkins said. “Every time I make a big grow bust like this, I remind myself that it may be only 10 percent of what's out there in our county." Three earlier marijuana busts, between July and August, included the eradication of a combined 11,000 pot plants from the Robinette and Tucannon watershed areas. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the earlier busts and are being held in Columbia County and Garfield County jails. All have been charged with being aliens in possession of firearms and manufacturing marijuana.
Mace Mead Works is open for business. Reggie Mace held his grand opening August 19th, offering tastings of his mead (honey wine) and red wine. In September, Mace Mead Works will be open 5 p.m. to midnight Fridays and Noon to Midnight Saturdays. Reggie plans to feature live music on most Saturday nights. Mace Mead Works is located at 250 E. Main Street in Dayton. For more information, call Reggie at (509) 540-0000.
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Events massage therapist for several years and has helped many people live a healthier life with less pain and more movement in their body parts. Ginny Jones will sing with good friend Sheila McIlroy’s piano accompaniment. Ginny recently moved to the area and is a retired preschool teacher. She enjoys using her voice to move and inspire others. Reservations are required and babysitting is available. Please call Judy Jackson at (509) 399-2005 to reserve your lunch and let her know if you need a babysitter for the luncheon. Please honor your reservation, “gift” it to a friend, or call Judy by noon on Friday, September 5th to cancel if your plans change; otherwise, we are obligated to pay for your meal if you are unable to attend. Sponsored by Christian Women’s Connection and Stonecroft Ministries. www.stonecroft.org
14-17
101th Annual Pendleton Round-Up Pendleton, OR The world-famous Round-Up and related Happy Canyon Night Shows offer a week full of activities including parades, concerts, PBR bull-riding competition, barbecues, dancing and more. For more information, call (800) 456-6336 or visit www.pendletonroundup.com
16-18
Walla Walla Quilt Festival
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. each day Walla Walla County Fairgrounds This annual event attracts guests from all over the Northwest. Highlights of the festival include a quilt show of new creations as well as those from years past. Special workshops, demonstrations and an auction put the finishing touches on the festivities. The featured quilter this year is Meg Hawkey of CrabApple Hill Studio. Admission is $5 and one admission is good for all three days. For more information call (541) 938-6130 or visit www.wallawallaquiltfestival.org
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Annual Fall Festival
Kirkman House Museum 214 N. Colville Street Walla Walla Enjoy a day of sheep shearing, spinning and weaving demonstrations by local craftspeople and a delicious lamb BBQ. For more information, call (509) 529-4373 or visit www. kirkmanhousemuseum.org.
Backyard Chickens 101 Workshop 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Sustainable Living Center WEC Classroom, Walla Walla
16
DIY Gardening Workshop
10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Delany Room Dayton Memorial Library 111 S 3rd Street This free workshop is the last one of the series for 2011. The topic is “Root cellars, crop storage & winterizing your garden.” Call (509) 382-4131 for more information.
Learn about raising chickens for eggs and meat in your backyard. Students will walk away with a get-started equipment list, plans for chicken coops, information on breed selection, and resources on disease prevention, predators and butchering. Instructor: Theodore Carlat. Call (509) 524-5228 for more information.
MEETINGS American Legion Legion Hall, 211 E. Clay, Dayton 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m.
Dayton City Planning Commission Dayton City Hall 111 S 1st St, Dayton 3rd Monday at 5:15 p.m.
Blue Mountain Artists' Guild Delany Room at Dayton Memorial Library, 111 S. 3rd Meredith at 509-382-2372 Last Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
Dayton Development Task Force Board The General Store W. Main St, Dayton 4th Wednesday at noon
Blue Mountain Heritage Society Delany Room at Dayton Memorial Library, 111 S. 3rd Contact Elizabeth Thorn at (509) 382-4820 2nd Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. Columbia County Commissioners Commissioners’ Chambers 3rd Floor, County Courthouse, Dayton. Call (509) 382-4542 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. and 4th Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Columbia County Fair Board Youth Building at the Columbia County Fairgrounds, Dayton 3rd Monday at 7:30 p.m. Columbia County Fire District #3 Commissioners Fire District #3 Station 206 W. Main St, Dayton Call (509) 382-4281 2nd and 4th Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Columbia County Levee Roundtable Dayton City Hall 111 S. 1st St, Dayton Last Friday at 10:00 a.m. Columbia County Livestock Association Columbia County Fairgrounds Youth Building Randy James (509) 382-2760 1st Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Columbia County Motorcycle Club Dayton D.O.T Building Contact Bret Harting for more information. (509) 382-4602 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m Columbia County Planning Commission County Planning Office 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m. Columbia County Rural Library District Board Dayton Memorial Library 111 S 3rd St, Dayton Call (509) 382-4131 3rd Monday at 7:00 p.m. Dayton AA Group First Congregational Church, 214 S. 3rd St. Tuesday & Thursday at 7:00 p.m. & Wed. at noon Dayton City Council Dayton City Hall 111 S. 1st St, Dayton Call (509) 382-2361 2nd and 4th Monday at 7:00 p.m.
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September 2011
Dayton Historic Preservation Commission Dayton City Hall 111 S 1st St, Dayton 2nd Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Dayton High School Alumni Association Sand Trap Restaurant 3rd Thursday Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Meeting at 7:00 p.m. Dayton Kiwanis Delany Room at Dayton Memorial Library 111 S Third St, Dayton 1st & 3rd Thurs. at Noon Dayton Lions Club Delany Room at Dayton Memorial Library, 111 S. 3rd Contact Terry Hoon (509) 386-8889 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. Dayton School Board Administration Building 609 S. 2nd St, Dayton Call (509) 382-2543 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. Dayton Young Life 227 N. Cherry 2nd & 4th Mondays at 7:17 p.m.
Prescott Lions Club Call Chris Scudder (509) 849-2478 Prescott Parks & Rec. District Board Community Center of the Lion’s Hall, corner of D St. & Hwy 124, Prescott. For more information contact Joan Tatum at (509) 849-2690. 2nd Thursday at 7:00 p.m. Prescott School Board Last Thursday, 7:00 p.m. Starbuck City Council Starbuck City Hall 200 Main St, Starbuck Call (509) 399-2100 2nd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Starbuck School Board Starbuck School Library 717 Tucannon, Starbuck 4th Thursday at 5:30 p.m. TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Dayton Dayton Methodist Church 110 S. 3rd St, Dayton Every Tuesday at 8:45 a.m. Touchet Valley Men's Golf Club Touchet Valley Golf Course Clubhouse, Dayton Call (509) 382-4010 1st and 3rd Thursday 6:30 p.m. Waitsburg City Council Ye Towne Hall Call (509) 337-6371 1st and 3rd Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Waitsburg Commercial Club Ye Towne Hall, Waitsburg (509) 337-6533 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Dayton Wyldlife Dayton Elementary School Waitsburg Historical Multi-Purpose Room Society 302 E. Park St, Dayton Call Jeff Broom for 3rd Friday at 7:00 p.m. more information: Friends of the Dayton (509) 337-6688 Memorial Library Waitsburg Legion and Dayton Memorial Library Auxiliary 111 S 3rd St, Dayton For location information 4th Wednesday call Ike and B.A Keve at 10:00 a.m. at (509) 337-6546 Friends of the Prescott First Monday at 7:00 p.m. Library Waitsburg Lions Club Dayton Memorial Library Lions Memorial Building 103 S D St, Prescott Scott Branson, President 3rd Tuesday (509) 337-8895 Port of Columbia 2nd & 4th Tuesdays at Commissioners 7:00 p.m. Port Office Waitsburg School Board 1 Port Way, Dayton Preston Hall, Main St 2nd Wednesday 2nd and 4th Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at 8:00 p.m. Prescott City Council VFW Post 5549 Prescott City Hall Legion Hall, 101 S D Street, Prescott Call (509) 849-2262 211 E. Clay, Dayton 2nd Monday at 7:30 p.m. Contact Jerry Berg at (509) 382-4525 Prescott Community 3rd Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. Club Prescott Lions Hall (509) 849-2892 Second Thursday at 2:00 p.m. Prescott Fire Commissioners Call Tim Mayberry for info: (509) 849-2262
Events 17-18
Book and Bake Sale
8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Prescott Lions Community Center The Friends of the Prescott Library will be selling books, magazines and delicious homemade baked goods during the Lions Club community breakfast time. Come for breakfast, and pick up a book and some dessert for the road! All proceeds from the sale go to the Friends of the Prescott Library. For more information, contact the Prescott Library or email prescottfriends@wwrurallibrary.com
All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. Prescott Community Center Enjoy a hearty home-cooked breakfast and help raise money for the Prescott community. The menu includes eggs, hashbrowns, pancakes, sausage, bacon and the works. Contact Jeanne McIntyre at (509) 849-2425 for more information.
Relay For Life - Dayton Check in 3:00 p.m. Saturday Luminary lighting 8:00 p.m. Dayton High School Athletic Complex, South Cottonwood Street See article on Page 9 for more complete information, or contact Gerri Richter at 509-382-4124.
18
39th Annual Pioneer Fall Festival & Buffalo Feed
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Bruce House Museum 4th & Main, Waitsburg This wholesome, family-friendly event is sponsored by the Waitsburg Historical Society. Community church service begins at 11:00 a.m. followed by the honoring of the Pioneer of the Year. Enjoy arts and crafts vendors and demonstrations all afternoon as well as live music by local musicians. A vintage clothing fashion show with the theme Westward Ho begins at 1:30 p.m. The Lion’s Club will be selling
delicious Buffalo BBQ beginning at 12:30 p.m. Cost for the BBQ is just $10. The Bruce House Museum will be open all afternoon for viewing. Interested vendors should call Jeff Broom at (509) 337-6688.
of garden produce. The format will be lecture and demonstration, with samples for tasting. Yum! Instructors: Debra Callahan and Cindy Hurlbutt. Call (509) 524-5228 for more information.
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October 1
54th Annual Salmon Barbeque
6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6:00 p.m.) Don Thomas Community Building Waitsburg Fairgrounds on 10th Street
Dayton on Tour
Dayton, WA
All the proceeds go to support Waitsburg area programs and services. Tickets are $25 —available at AmericanWest Bank-Dayton, Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce and many Waitsburg businesses. To purchase tickets by mail, call (509) 337-6688. Don’t delay! This event often sells out! See more details on Page 16.
Spend the afternoon touring some of Dayton’s finest historic homes. Enjoy the work of local artists as you stroll down Dayton’s historic Main Street, and an afternoon reception at the Historic Dayton Depot. Board a bus in the morning to enjoy a four stop tour of local gourmet eating and drinking establishments. See article on page 15 for more complete information on this premiere event.
Women’s Carpentry: Power Tools Workshop
Art Show & Reception
1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Sustainable Living Center Builder's Resupply Walla Walla Novice women are invited to learn about the safe and proper use of power tools for basic home repair. Participants will practice using woodworking tools and drills to give them confidence for home use. Instructor: Dan Mallery. Call (509) 524-5228 for more information.
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Food Preservation: Dehydration, Freezing, and Canning Workshop
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Sustainable Living Center WEC Classroom Walla Walla This workshop will cover a variety of food preservation methods. Food dehydration, freezing and canning will be reviewed in relation to their effects on and appropriateness for specific types
Live Music - Amarillo Band 8:00 p.m. – midnight Tuxedo Bar & Grill Prescott – (509) 849-2244
2
Dessert Banquet & Fundraiser Dayton Young Life 4:00 p.m., Running T Ranch 802 N. Touchet Road, Dayton Come enjoy a piece of delicious homemade pie and learn more about how Dayton's Young Life and Wyldlife programs are reaching out and making a difference in the lives of the community’s youth. Admission is free, but donations are welcome and a lively pie auction will help raise money for the 2011-2012 program year. Call Diana Frame at (509) 382-4553 to reserve your spot.
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Wenaha Gallery 219 E. Main Street, Dayton Meet artist Sherry Orchard and enjoy her acrylic portrayals of wildlife and landscapes painted on feathers! Sherry’s art is unique, detailed and simply amazing! For more information, call the gallery at (509) 382-2124 or visit wenaha.com.
4 Club Trap Shoot 1:00 p.m. Touchet Valley Golf Course Dayton (509) 382-4851 Grab four of your favorite clubs and have some fun on the links in Dayton. This annual event was started by the late Harry Gladden and is carried on by Linda Harting at the Sand Trap Restaurant in memory of Harry who was also passionate about trap shooting. A $15 registration fee includes dinner at the Sand Trap. This event is open to the public and everyone is welcome to join the fun.
September 2011
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Blue Mountain NEWS
September 2011
One More Thing . . .
Columnist Brainwashed by Cult! By Ken Graham
S
everal months ago, one of our neighboring newspapers ran a short article which mentioned that Blue Mountain News was moving its office in Dayton. In it, the author (who is also owner of a new coffee shop in Waitsburg) referred to BMN as “the tabloid”. My pulse jumped for a moment when I read this, but then settled back down. In the technical jargon of publishing, most newspapers come in one of two formats: broadsheet or tabloid. The neighboring newspaper mentioned above is published in broadsheet format, as are the Walla Walla UnionBulletin, the New York Times, and most other mainstream newspapers in the U.S. However, the format of the newspaper you’re reading now is tabloid. Somewhere along the line, a century or more ago, the word tabloid began to gain weight; and not in a good way. Tabloid-style newspapers became known as sensational, gossip-mongering, non-serious publications. Think National Enquirer. They were obsessed with digging dirt on celebrities and publishing outrageous stories about UFOs and Sasquatches. As I write this column in late July, international news is dominated by a big scandal about a British tabloid called “News of the World”, which is owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. It’s alleged that some of its reporters illegally tapped into the voice mails of innocent parties, including not only celebrities, but also crime victims, to gain scoops for stories. So you can understand my concern when I heard our innocent little local paper being referred to as a tabloid. Even if I wanted to do it, hacking into people’s voice mail is far beyond my technical capability. But I got to thinking: wouldn’t it be fun to turn Blue Mountain News into a real tabloid? We could dig up dirt on people, and spread gossip, and just make stuff up. It would sure beat writing stories about zoning. One of the issues most “tabloids” face is that the majority of their copies are sold on newsstands, one at a time. Therefore,
the headlines on the front page are all-important. They’re what sell papers. As inspiration for my future as a tabloid journalist, I did a little searching online and found some excellent examples of tabloid headlines. One of the most famous tabloid headlines of all time appeared in the New York Post in 1982, filling nearly all of its front page. Headless Body in Topless Bar, it read. This accompanied a story – apparently true – about a waitress in a Manhattan club who decapitated her boss. Some of my other favorites are: Warning: Tiger on the Loose. Lock Up the Waitresses. (About a certain golfer) Stick a Fork in Weiner (About a certain former New York Congressman) Oprah Brainwashed by Cult (About… well, you know) Brown Toast (From the Sun in Britain, after former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown lost an election) Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster (This is another very famous one, also from the Sun, about a British comedian and a sandwich he may or may not have eaten.) UFO Hits Wind Turbine (This one could appear some day in the Blue Mountain News.) People all over the world love to read tabloids. I think it’s because it’s always comforting to learn about people who are a lot weirder than we are and some of the weird things they do. Here’s another headline that might appear in a tabloid one of these days: Newspaper Publisher Caught Up in Wild Booze, Drugs and Sex Scandal. I’m afraid it’s not true in my case. But you’re all welcome to call my voice mail and describe lurid details there. Then we’ll see what happens. q
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